Dark Arrow
By Marie Darkholme
3. Carriage at dawn
The two lonely drivers drove their horses through the fog that had previously installed in the dark forest. Koushiro was momentarily awaked from the top of his horse, when Sora motioned to Thunder to stop. The horse obeyed immediately releasing a small neigh. The red haired man looked to his side to notice Sora was no longer there. Her voice coming from his back was the only thing that kept him from panicking.
"Let's take a rest." She said to him as he climbed lazily off Autumn Leaf. Sora watched his aspect. He had a deep cut on his right arm, but for the rest he looked fine, just exhausted. The same happened to her. Though she didn't felt much tired, she needed to do some things, like stopping the bleed on her forehead that seemed to continue and was making her dizzy by the lost of blood.
Pushing the horses into the forest, she made sure she was going always in front, so she could go back without getting lost. With a long dry branch that must have fell from one of the trees, she tried to clean evidence of their tracks, though, that might not be exactly necessary, since the rain had already covered them. But it was best to be safe than sorry. That was the most important mission on her entire life and therefore she couldn't afford to get caught by lack of careful.
When they were distant enough from the road, Sora took a small told from her bag and tying it to two trees she created a small shelter for the two of them, which sat there over the trees' branches. Then picking a small case from her bag as well, she approached Koushiro. The red haired watched as she carefully and lovely tied a bandage around his arm.
"Thanks!" he said. Sora motioned him to leave it. "You are injured because of me." She replied, her back facing his, some tears threatening to come to her surface. Koushiro looked shocked to her. "Of course not, Sora. It was those drunks' fault." He said, resting his hands over her shoulders. She turned to meet his eyes and once more he noticed how they resembled the sunset. "You are a great friend Koushiro. I know you will rather stay with a certain brown haired girl." She blinked to him, making him blush, but she didn't notice, being dark and all. "I am sorry for dragging you into this." She smiled weakly. "You did not drag me. I had to come." "Shush!" she replied, putting a finger over his lips. "Go get some rest. You were sleeping on the top of your horse." Koushiro looked hurt to her, but she only laughed. "I take the first watch." The auburn haired replied. He looked distrusted to her. "Don't you dare leaving me in the middle of the night." He replied. She assured him that she wouldn't and he leaned against a tree branch, falling asleep almost immediately.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't leave you here alone. She thought to herself. Then shushing the horses with some quiet words, the two disappeared in the middle of the forest. She allowed them, knowing they were faithful to their owners, especially her Thunder, the black pure race stallion. Walking under the protection of the improvised shelter, she took some bandages and potions from another bag that she had took from her horse and proceeded to take care of her wound.
After days and days of rain and wind, the new day had brought freshness to the kingdom with a shy sun, brightening the melodramatic lives of the villagers but also the nobles. The trees seemed more beautiful with the blink of the dew illuminated by the sun. And the animals, so long hid from the blast of rain that tormented them, adventure themselves out of their homes. A young blond seemed to be the only soul awake in the all castle, not counting the night guards of course. Humming a song to himself, full of happiness, even if his thoughts were filled with darkness, he walked down hill to the stables.
"Good morning, Hika." He replied to the horse, a brown female, with a black spot on her forehead along with the line above her skulls. The horse neighed approvingly as the blond caressed her mane. "Let's go for a ride." Takeru said as he prepared Hika.
Breathing in and out, he felt the fresh air of the dawn, the sun still barely visible, but already illuminating everything, hid behind the horizon and some clouds that threatened some rain, but the blond didn't care about the rain now. He just wanted to ride his horse for a few hours, until he had to get back to his duties, and feel free for a while. Free from the blood bonds that connect him to someone that he did not wish to recall. Not his name, not nothing that had to due with him. Galloping through the woods he felt free from all that, but still, he couldn't feel free from his destiny that day after day haunted him.
He was young and careless by then, but after that he would never be the same. Even remembering the moment brought shills to him and it felt like Hika, his lost love was right behind him, blaming him for her death. A tear rolled down his face, before he realised it. He tried to push those thought away, but being them the reason he had runaway made it difficult. They were the reason he had abandoned his country, his friends and all he had have as granted. All because he fell in love with the wrong girl, and because of that love she had died. But now he had new friends and a new love. Not that he had so easily forgot about Hika, it had been three years since her death and there wasn't one day that he did not recall that, but the young brown haired girl, Hikari, had brought a new light to his hear, a new hope, a new love. Despising or ignoring the love that bounded the two of them was like forgetting about the battle he had swear to raised against his father and dirtying the grave of Hika with hate.
He shook his head, trying once more to forget about it, and his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of skulls not far from the place he was. By the sound it should be at least three horses, and they seemed to be pushing something, a carriage perhaps, and therefore, it would have to be four horses. Thinking it was strange that a carriage like that would be crossing the castle's lands, he decided to go investigate the odd presence.
Being careful not to be spotted, he incited Hika to go towards the sound and the horse did so. He saw what it looked like a black carriage, pushed by four fine horses. The windows were completely covered by curtain from the inside of the carriage, and it didn't carried any type of crest or symbol that he could associate to a family or kingdom, which was also strange, since no ordinary family could afford such carriage with such fine horses. The driver was also a dark man, to whom he couldn't see the face since it was covered by a hood of his cloak. Seeing the carriage stop, Takeru tried to come closer.
Climbing off Hika, he was careful not be seen or heard, and hid behind some bushes. Lying on the dirty floor, full of death leaves and wet from the previous day's rain, he saw a person come out of the carriage. Once again, he found that very suspicious and strange, after all, there was nothing there except for one of the castle's wall. The figure was also unrecognizable, wearing a large long cloak that covered it from bottom to top, with a hood covering his face.
The figure appeared to be talking to the driver of the carriage that with a nod, drove the carriage away into the woods where Takeru was hidden. He eyed the carriage for split seconds to be sure it wasn't coming his way and then turned his attention to the figure next to the wall. The figure was definitely a male, since it was too tall to be a woman, but then again, he could be a very unusual tall woman. The figure looked around, and Takeru could almost see its face, but then the figure turned again to the wall. What is with him and the wall? Takeru thought to himself annoyed by the figure's behave.
Then, the stranger began to feel the wall, like he was looking for some kind of fault. Takeru's jaw fell opened as he saw the stranger press one of the wall's rocks and a passage opening before him. The figure quickly glanced around and not seeing anyone he entered the passage that closed behind him. The blond could not believe what he was seeing. He had often wondered if there were any secret passages in the castle. There were legends that said that the king who had built the castle, had lovers and that he had ordered the architects to built an unknown number of secret passages so he could meet with them whenever he desired. And now he had seen one of them. But knowing that they really existed only worried him more than he had been till then.
Whistling he called Hika that came within seconds to meet him. He climbed on her and started galloping as fast as he could. I must inform Hikari of this. She must know. He thought as the horse galloped through the woods not being disturbed by the animals that crossed her path or the branches that exploded under her skulls.
The morning came for Sora and Koushiro as well. The auburn haired girl was still on guard. She had properly bandaged her jaw during the night, but having other affairs to do and think she decided not to disturb her friends that remained asleep. Looking around her, she decided to pick the rest of her night job and hid it under some leaves. Then she began to prepare to leave. Guarding her medical stuff back on the bag, she whistled and Thunder came running to her presence followed closely by Autumn Leaf. With all the noise, Koushiro awake.
He looked around, surprised to see it was dawn already and it appeared to be a bright day. At leas brighter than the last he had had. The next thing he saw, was Autumn Leaf coming up to him and starting to give him small kicks with her front paws. Koushiro mumbled something as he got up. "Okay Autumn Leaf. I'm awake." He replied standing up and caressing the mane of his horse. He searched around for his friend, and saw Thunder and next to the black male, Sora was packing her stuff. He picked also his stuff and began to put them on his horse's back, when he made a double take to Sora's new appearance.
"My God!" he exclaimed, so loud that made Sora jump off her place frightened, reaching almost immediately to her sword. "What? Where?" she asked looking around trying to spot whatever had frightened Koushiro. He, though, remained with his eyes fixed on her, pointing. Looking back to him, Sora made an effort to understand what had caused such exclaim.
"Your hair…!" Koushiro started, his voice trembling. "What have you done to your hair?" he asked pointing directly to Sora's now short auburn hair. Sighing relieved, she faced him. "Humph, so, you like it?" she asked as it wasn't a big deal. "You cut your hair. Why?!" the red haired asked, still surprised. "Because, like this," she said passing her fingers through her hair. "it is easier to wash and easier to pass as a man." She stated. Koushiro was out of words.
"Oh, okay. I guess that will be worthy than." He replied, beginning to pack his things again. After a couple of minutes he had everything ready. Sora was already set and was sitting in a branch waiting for him to finish. "Done." He replied as he put the last stuff over Autumn Leaf's back. Jumping from the branch she was Sora climbed her horse and began to direct towards the road. "So, where are we going now?" Koushiro asked, acknowledging he had no idea where she was planning to go next. Sora looked behind to him. "Now, we go to Oita's port." She replied as she hit Thunder with her feet and the horse began to gallop faster. Koushiro followed her, inciting his own horse to go faster, intrigued by the reason of their destination.
Awaking in the morning after sleeping over the floor was the only thing that reminded Captain Motomiya to his task as he opened his eyes. Searching for the sun's position in the sky, he acknowledged they should have started their way a long time ago. He searched for the man that was supposed to have stayed on guard to find him sleeping against a tree. Sighing, he walked towards the man, wishing to kill him immediately for being asleep when he should have been on guard and awake the rest at the dawn. He contained himself and only punched the man, putting him right awaked and with a possible black eye in the follow hours.
"Awake, you lazy. Were not you suppose to be on guard?" he snapped as the man immediately began to apologize for falling asleep. Thinking he had more important stuff to do, the captain resumed the discussion with a "I will deal with you later." And got back to his business. After awaking all the camp and packing all their things in less than two minutes, the squadron was back on the road.
As riding to the village they should have got to the day before, if it wasn't for the fog that prevented them from going any further under possibility of getting lost, the captain was completely lost in thoughts. Having to stop in the middle of the road wasn't a thing he was expecting. He had planned their arrival to the village where Lady Sora would possibly be or have been and catch her or at least get on her tail, but due to the fog they had had to stop and now, because of a lazy soldier they had lost several critical hours on their search.
He glanced over to the soldier that was very embarrassed and regretted from what had happened and sighed. If his calculus were right, Lady Sora would no longer be in Okayama village and she should have left it at the dawn, which meant several miles of delay for him. Scratching the back of his head, he wondered why he hadn't continued, even with the fog. Maybe getting lost wasn't such a bad thing. He doubted deeply that Lady Sora would stop because of the fog if she had not reached the village. She continued. I'm sure of it. She so rebel and fearless. I know she would not stop. He thought. But the question, the real enigma is the reason for which she ran. He had not been informed by the queen, that had only said that she had runaway and that left him almost clueless about her objective or where about. Besides, she is an excellent fighter. I have never seen a woman manipulate a katana like she does and let's not forget her target skills with the bow and shaken.
Looking out the window of her room, Hikari, the princess' maiden decided that it was already time for her to leave and take care of her mistress. She sighed, cursing her role in the castle. It was not the case that she did not like the princess, it was just that she wanted to be free to do or go wherever her heart desired. But her stepfather had arranged everything for her to work at the palace and she could do nothing to go against his orders.
She exited the room that was usually her hid spot, after dressing herself and entered the room directly besides hers. It was a much larger room, maybe three times big, and that was only the sleep room. There was also the dressing room and of course the bathroom. Once again, she admired the lust in the room, the queen made sure nothing was missing to her child. The room was decorated in pink tones; it had a large bed with pink mattress and sheets. In it, the princess lied asleep.
Hikari went towards the window, outside which was an enormous balcony with a view to the castle's garden, directly above the flowers, where lilies, tulips and all of the most beautiful flowers in the kingdom were preserved and cared by the most brilliant gardener of the kingdom. She opened the heavy curtains and allowed the light to get into the room. Almost immediately she heard a yawn coming from the princess' bed. Walking carefully to her side, she sat by the bed as she watched her future queen awaking. Without even noticing she started comparing the princess with her cousin, Lady Sora, and once again, she found herself thinking that maybe her friend Sora would give a greater queen. Shaking those thoughts away, and forcing herself to believe that the princess, in spite of her fragile and childish look would be a great queen, she greeted her mistress.
"Good morning, princess." She replied as the woman opened her eyes to the new day. Stretching her arms, she blinked a few times before greeting the maiden back. "Good morning Hikari." She replied. Hikari began to push her sheets and mattress so the princess could stand up or sit if she wished. The princess had long brown light hair with soft threads of gold, and brown light eyes with a tiny blink of pink.
Standing, the princess started to walk around the room while Hikari made her bed. Then, she walked over to her dresser. "Hikari, which clothes should I put on today?" She asked the brown eyed girl. "I do not know, Princess Mimi." Hikari replied coming closer to the dresser and starting to show some dresses to her mistress. Princess Mimi looked to the dresses, making a funny face while she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Oh, you are so boring Hikari." She replied annoyed by the young woman's indecision. "I think I should wear this one." Picking one of the dresses in the dresser, Princess Mimi watched herself in the mirror and sighed. Hikari allowed herself to giggle, knowing the reason of her mistress' sighing, but then, remembering the night before, she looked sadly outside the window, hoping to see Lady Sora or her loyal friend in the fields, which she didn't. She sighed, sadly thinking that it would pass much more time, before she could see them again.
Ignoring her maiden's sighing and looks, Princess Mimi walked over to her bed and sat putting the dress by her side. Then with a forced cough, she asked Hikari's attention and the young maiden immediately turned and began to help Princess Mimi getting dressed.
"Where is my cousin?" Mimi asked as Hikari struggled to tie her corset. Not knowing what to say, Hikari decided to ignore the question, choosing another theme of conversation, even though she knew Mimi would ask again and again until she got some reply. "The weather is great today, is it not, my Princess? It is the best weather you could ask for a romantic walk with Prince Yamato." Hikari replied. This, though, against all expectation caused the desired effect and the princess forgot momentarily of her cousin, turning the issue to the so called "romantic walk with Prince Yamato".
"First of all," she said as Hikari began to comb her long hair. "It is King Ishida now. Do not forget that his father died. And what walk are you talking about? Today I should be meeting with my professor, Izumi Koushiro, for a Latin lesson." The princess replied. Hikari tried her best not to giggle over the immense blush that was spreading across her mistress' cheeks as she thought about Koushiro. Calming herself she prepared her words carefully as she began to make a braid on the princess hair.
"Well, your mother, Queen Natsuko, invited King Ishida and she planned a horse ride for both of you." Hikari replied being sure to underline the word King over the neighbour kingdom's ruler, Yamato Ishida. She could feel Mimi's anger raise to her head. "What?!" she shouted. "What about my lesson? I do not want to spend my precious time with King Yamato or whoever." The princess stood angered with her arms crossed over her chest. Then picking her cloak, she exited the room leaving Hikari to think alone.
The young brown haired girl immediately exited after her mistress had left and ran towards the stables. In her head, she could understand her mistress anger. For years, princess Mimi had been secretly in love with hers and Lady Sora's Latin professor, Izumi Koushiro. He had become a great friend of Lady Sora, but the feelings he had for the princess were pushed away. Hikari herself could remember to hear Koushiro talking with her lover, Takeru about the princess and how they could never be together, saying she was a princess and he was simply a professor. She felt sorry for both him and her. And now, Mimi's mother was pushing her into a relationship with King Yamato Ishida, the ruler of the neighbour country. Hikari didn't like him one bit. Something in the deepest of her soul told her that that man was not to be trusted, but then again, she had those feelings about the queen herself, so she felt very confused.
As she rushed to the stables, she noticed a carriage parked in front of the main gate of the castle. A dark carriage with the Ishida's crest painted on the doors. Inside it, the king awaited for his servant to open his door. She stood there watching the scene, momentarily forgetting her will to see Takeru as soon as possible.
After a couple of minutes that seemed like an eternity to Hikari, the servant came to the door and opened, revealing a young blond, maybe around Lady Sora's age. She noticed how he resembled Takeru. He had blue sapphire eyes that marked themselves over the colours the King was wearing: soft blue and black. He had short blond hair and his features were amazingly like Takeru's. The young King entered the palace in quick pace and the carriage disappeared from her view between the nearby trees of her majesty's private hunt woods.
Breaking from her trance state over the similarities between King Ishida and Takeru, Hikari started rushing herself to the stables once more. She ran with her long skirts held in her hands, not really paying attention to the way that she had made so many times in the middle of the cold winter nights, when the snow powdered the kingdom to meet her lover in the silent night. Hearing a neigh from behind, she turned to see Takeru riding on his animal companion Hika. She had never really understood what kind of a name was Hika for a horse, but she saw how Takeru loved that horse and so she never questioned him. And neither had she questioned about his past life, before he started working at the castle as a stable boy. Nevertheless curiosity always catches up, and after testifying such a great déjà vu she could not keep her mouth closed.
"Hikari!" the blond replied embracing her in his strong arms. She embraced him back feeling as safe as she could ever be in his arms. "What are you doing here? I was not expecting you." Both started walking towards the stables where they could have a more private and unseen conversation of any matters. "I wanted to see you." She replied kissing him on the lips. She had longed for them in the cold night that had been, as she had longed for his warm embrace and his soft breath over her neck.
"I missed you too." Takeru said kissing her hands as he held both of them near his chest. Hikari then released herself from his welcome grip and sat in a bunch of straw. The blond followed and sat by her side. "I am glad you came. I was going to meet you anyway…" he started but her voice interrupted his, making him quite just for the pleasure of listening to it. "I saw the carriage of Prince Yamato." She replied. Takeru was silent, but she spoke again. "You never told me from where you came…" Hikari stated leaning on her head over his chest. The blond caressed her shoulder length hair, held by two small hair clips, barely visible in her hair, but he remained in silence.
"You wouldn't hide anything important from me, would you?" she asked raising her head to meet his blue eyes. He narrowed them. He wanted so badly to tell her, but was it the right time? Should she know? Should he even think of telling her? "Is my pass of such importance?" he asked rising from his place and walking to the stable's door. Hikari followed him and rested her hand over his shoulder. "I just want to know." She replied. Takeru sighed and turned to her, resting his hands on her waist, he pushed her against him. "What does my past has to do with the love I have for you? It will not change it. I buried my past, and the only future I know is the one I am willing to have with you. Will my past change the love you feel for me?" he asked. She trembled. What the pass could hide was of no matter to her. She loved him and nothing could ever change that, but why was he so closed about his past life? They were both children. He had reached his nineteen and she had only seen eight winters in her life. What could he have done in seventeen years that was so vile that he could not trust it to her? Forgetting all the questions that assaulted her in that moment, she had only one thing to say.
"No." was her honest, sincere answer and the only her heart could ever give. "Nothing in this world, not your past, not mine, no person or God could change the way I feel for you." She replied and sealed her vow with a sweet kiss that she planted on his lips, tasting them. Takeru kissed her back with all the passion he could ever feel in one simple kiss, wishing the moment would last forever as they sealed both their promises. The promise of never falling apart. The promise of unconditional eternal love.