KANAGAWA PLAY
CAST:
Miakaede: Kaede Rukawa (Miaka)
Tamakira: Akira Sendoh (Tamahome)
Hotosashi: Hisashi Mitsui (Hotohori)
Nurikenji: Kenji Fujima (Nuriko)
Chirikoshino: Hiroaki Koshino (Chiriko)
Chichitoru: Toru Hanagata (Chichiru)
Mitsugami: Ryoji Ikegami (Mitsukake)
Taskuragi: Hanamichi Sakuragi (Taski)
Yohei Mito (Reader)
Tetsuo (Reader)
Makigo: Shinichi Maki (Nakago)
Kiyuita: Kiyota Nobunaga (Yui)
Soi-ichiro: Soichiro Jin (Soi)
Miyaboshi: Ryota Miyagi (Amiboshi)
Moroboshi: Dai Morohoshi (Suboshi)
Tomoichi: Hikoichi Aida (Tomo)
A/N: We do not own the SD characters, they belong to Inoue. Anyway, a new character is revealed in this chapter and, er, we hope you'll find him interesting.
PART IX
Rukawa's eyes grew wider in surprise, the tallest one was none other than Hanamichi Sakuragi who continued,
"Have you no respect for mother nature? In the land of Shohokuto I've never witnessed anything as blatant as this, tsk, tsk, tsk. What a scene, such a handsome couple, but I'm afraid I will have to take you to the emperor for desecrating this-"
"You speak before the emperor, young man." Hotosashi said nobly, restraining his despise. This shut Sakuragi up, his two companions stopped sniggering, their smiles faded. For a moment, the silence seemed forever until,
"I know, we were just, er, testing your, er, mental keenness, your mastership." Sakuragi said stupidly yet proudly. A malicious grin was playing in the corners of his lips.
"You have disturbed a moment of peace; I do not tolerate this attitude, but for now I grant you leave if you do it at once." The emperor said.
With this, Sakuragi burst out laughing as well as his companions who were now on the ground laughing their heads off. Rukawa stood still, he didn't seem to understand. But the emperor himself couldn't explain why such reactions arose as well. He was losing his temper but before he could speak,
"My beloved emperor, do you not remember this face?" Sakuragi asked, sneering. Hotosashi didn't know what to say; his anger and confusion were at its peak. Sakuragi went on,
"Well, then, allow me to reintroduce myself, I am Taskuragi the Thief, well not just an ordinary thief but the King of Thieves, nyahahaha! Now tell me, your highness, does that satisfy you or do you want more of my names?"
Hotosashi froze at the mention of the name. He remembered. I know of him, famous thief Taskuragi who stole my father's precious stones, but how did he manage to cross my boundary? He thought. Before he could recall more of Taskuragi's identity, two hands held his as they were tied and carried off to the carriage,
"Come, your majesty, for I will bear you to your kingdom and there they will learn that their beloved ruler has fallen in to the hands of this mighty tensai. And so ends his reign because of his misplaced sentiment and passion. Anyway, I don't blame you for this lady is the fairest I've seen so far." Taskuragi mocked. Rukawa, however snorted.
"If you enter my kingdom, my soldiers will decimate you," Hotosashi answered with dignity.
"But my lord, your kingdom is already in my hands for my allies have overtaken yours even before we captured you. I knew of your whereabouts, I have sources," Taskuragi said, evil was his grin.
"You dare send your barbaric allies in my realm and scatter spies within my authority?" Hotosashi's teeth clenched his rage he couldn't keep to himself.
"Well, yes," Taskuragi answered casually, curling his red hair with his index finger.
They rode until they reached the kingdom. When they entered the palace, men in black were scattered everywhere. The royal household was already held captives. Hotosashi had never been so upset in his whole life.
"My Lord, these people, they demand your treasure! What should we do?" Hotosashi and Rukawa heard Nirukenji's voice, he was tied to a pillar with Tamakira and Chichitoru.
Hotosashi turned to Taskuragi, "Take whatever you desire if that would save my kingdom from harm." He offered.
"Then I demand all the riches that are kept in your safe and," his eyes on Nurikenji, then to Rukawa, "the loveliest maidens under this roof. I am of course, referring to her and her." He said pointing at Nurikenji and Rukawa, his eyes more malicious than before.
"NO!!! Anything but that!" Tamakira and Chichitoru yelled in unison. Nurikenji looked as though he was going to faint.
Maidens my ass, we're not maidens, do'aho. Rukawa thought, his eyes rolling in disgust.
Nurikenji turned to Hotosashi and said, "My Lord, what shall we do now?" his voice was soft. The emperor turned to Taskuragi,
"I am willing to give you more than what you ask, but not these maidens. Please ask of something else."
Taskuragi's evil grin faded. "And why is that so? Is it because you will soon be married to that lady there and the other one, well, with her, you know such happiness?" He asked mockingly. These words hit Hotosashi hard, how would he explain to the Lady of Shoyokkaido? Everyone fell silent, even Tamakira and Chichitoru who were struggling to break free. Nurikenji looked utterly perplexed.
Insufferable bastard, why can't he just shut his mouth? Rukawa thought angrily.
Taskuragi broke the silence, "Oh, sorry to divulge something so private…" he couldn't help grinning as he continued, "Well if you are not so willing to give them to me, I'm afraid I will have to take them myself." He made his way towards Rukawa. "This I will take," he said as he lifted Rukawa's chin with his fingers as the latter scowled. Taskuragi then stepped towards Nurikenji, rubbing his chin, studying the pretty boy. "This one, my Right Hand shall have." Two of his men grabbed Rukawa by his arms as two others untied Nurikenji.
Hotosashi fell on his knees, "I beg thee, anything you ask…"
Taskuragi began to laugh hysterically. No one in the royal household had ever seen anyone laugh that hard. "That's it, bow to me, emperor of Shohokuto-" he was cut short when he felt a hard knock on his head. It was Tamakira. He and Chichitoru managed to escape when Nurikenji was being untied. Taskuragi turned around to see that a sword was pointing at him, about an inch from his face.
"Tell your men to leave the palace in peace or I will smite all of you." Tamakira said, his eyes were on flame.
Everyone looked aghast except for Taskuragi. "Itai, what did you that for?" he complained.
"I said I'm giving your men a choice, either to leave this place without their captain or perish with him." Tamakira said. Nurikenji was beaming with adoration, he didn't seem to notice that Chichitoru was watching him intently.
TBC