Dark Arrow
By Marie Darkholme
9. Dark Prince, Evil King
Between the pine trees and the ulmus, acacias and other great trees, through the forest, a dark escort could be seen. A black carriage with its windows completely covered with dark curtains was at all speed, directed by a pair of black great horses and escorted by tall knights dressed in dark armours. It looked like a ghostly ride, intertwined with the trees and the fog growing between them it was as if the dark spirits of the forest had decided to make a trip.
It was next to night fall when the dark carriage finally reached a stop in front of a huge castle. The servants with fear obvious in their faces, hurried to welcome their sir, their king. One of them opened the door of the carriage and two figures stepped out of it. They were both tall and with a large structure, but the differences between them were many and they started with their positions within the kingdom.
"Welcome my King." One of the servants bowed respectfully, stretching a carpet so his king didn't have to dirt his boots. King Ishida Yamato didn't bother to look at the insignificant man, and continued his pace, followed by his most trusted man, his counsellor, a man with few scruples or even none at all. He had black skinny hair, mostly cut too short, having several flaws over the entire head, flaws that the man kept on purpose, because they gave him a more nasty look. His eyes, dark as a pitch bounced from one servant to another as to make them fall with his only look. The one who bended first would be his next victim in the chamber of torture. He was considered by many as a sick, vicious man, but the wiser, considered him as a dangerous enemy, a person to fear. Yamato kept him as his right arm, knowing he could trust him his most …delicate issues.
The two men quickly entered the palace. A servant led them to the dinning room where the table was set, and other servants were already ready to serve their sir. As the King entered, they all bowed respectfully, most of them wishing to stick a dagger on his back. Yamato was as hated as he was feared in his kingdom and that was his greatest power. His father had told him once that once you inner fear in people you can do to them whatever you want, because they will be too cowards to contradict you. The previous King Ishida could have not been the perfect King, he had been far for being a role leader, but he could never be as cruel as his son had became, and since the day he had been brutally murdered, at the hands of his own son, Ishida kingdom had forever crept into a time of darkness and fear. Fear controls them all. Yamato always had thought.
He sat at his throne, immediately followed by the counsellor, his name Fujitso. Two women that had been holding jars of wine approached them and served them wine. Yamato drowned in anger, knocked down his glass, dirtying everything around him, including the girl, that stopped midway, petrified in fear of what he would do next. "Clean up, you cow." He growled. The girl put the jar by her side and torn a piece of her dress beginning to clean immediately. Next to her, Fujitso launched her nasty glares, smirking with all his teeth which were very healthy for a guy like him.
"What is bothering you, your majesty?" he asked in a fake concern. Yamato shot him a death glare. "Things aren't occurring as I expected." He admitted. "That princess seem to have adopted some of her adopted cousin most delightful manners." He growled, hitting his fist over the table. "She refuses to marry me, even knowing she had no choice." A small smirk appeared on his lips. "But that is not what is disturbing you, right?" Fujitso replied, knowing perfectly the reason why the King was so upset and angry. "No it actually isn't." "I wonder if it had something to do with a certain runaway." "Yes. I hadn't recall of him for quite a long time now. Hmhf, I knew sooner or later I would probably meet with him again. I could have guessed he couldn't have got too far." He paused and took a sip of his cup of wine, stopping it in middle, rotating the cup. "I just didn't think he would be so close. Destiny, though, it's a funny thing. He ended up living with my enemy. I know she was the one who sheltered him." "Then you are sure it is him?" Fujitso asked, curiosity rising in his veins, along with a small inspiration for a sudden assassination. "No, I'm not sure. But I'm dangerously close to being." "And when you do?" "You'll have a new goal." Yamato grinned.
Meanwhile, the girl had finished cleaning the floor and was standing up. Fujitso continued to eye her and the girl controlled herself with all her strengths not to show any fear or sadness…or disgust. She just felt like to run away as far as she could from that place, but then her family would be in danger and she could not allow that. So she stood up all that, hoping that everything would be over soon and she could get back to a relaxed life with her family. But things didn't seem to be going very well.
"What about the other bitch?" the counsellor asked. "You mean that tomboy lady?" the other nodded. "That one, I would like to squeeze her in my hands." He replied as he held a tomato and squeezed it, making his hands turn red. "Yeah, but she had quite a nice body, huh?" Fujitso replied. Yamato smirked. "Well, having her as my personal slave would work as well, but she would eventually get me too much trouble. I would rather use her once and then dump her unworthy dead body. Unfortunately I won't have that opportunity since I've already someone in charged with her execution." He laughed. "Do you have any orders, your devilishness?" "Yes, send two men to spy on that boy, and…no, that's all for tonight." He replied. "You can go and have fun." He made a gesture to the jar girl. The poor creature felt like she had just been delivered to the devil itself. Fujitso didn't even wait to get to his chamber, as he grabbed her and pulled her into a forced kiss, breaking entrance through her long dress with his hand, the other already over her breasts. Yamato watched them for a while, amused by his counsellor sexual appetite. He, himself was getting excited, and pondered to bring some girls to his room as well, but he hold it back. How would I like to have that tomboy bitch with me tonight. Her fierce spirit. I would love to break her down. He sighed as he exited the room, leaving the disgusted servants behind, obliged to see the scene he had allowed, the poor girl screaming,
The night had fallen in the neighbourhood kingdom and the princess along with her maid descended the stairs into the dinning room. To their surprise, the queen that had been unreachable during the whole day was already at the table. Hikari noticed how she looked so much tired and sadder than usual. Nevertheless the old lady received them with a smile. Mimi, though, didn't retribute. She was determined not to go ahead with her mother's idea of marrying Yamato and she would do anything to boycott that marriage.
She waited for the usual servant to pull her chair and help her sitting without glancing once at her mother. The old queen noticed and her eyes searched Hikari's for an explanation but she could not find them, as the girl seemed to be out in thoughts. Mimi finally sat down and the servants began to serve dinner. Not a word was exchanged between the presents and the dinner was eaten in silence. The queen, nevertheless was beginning to get annoy with her daughter's silence and lack of attention. After the last plate was served, she cleared her throat. "Mimi, is there something wrong?" she asked cleaning her lips with the napkin. The princess eyed her mother with an angry look. Like she does not know what is wrong! She thought to herself.
"Yes, there is mother." she replied. "This marriage is ridiculous!" The queen sighed and her face darkened again. Hikari listened to the conversation with an unusual attention. She had a huge will to ask Natusko about her secret talk with King Yamato, but she knew the consequences that could come from that. It angered her how someone could be as dissimulated and false as she was. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her, knowing it was not her entire fault and that she had been forced to do it by the Yamato's father. But above all that fake ness that seemed to surround the castle and most of the people in it, she was worried with two persons that weren't inside the castle. She couldn't stop thinking about her friends, Sora and Koushiro. King Yamato's words made her fear the worst, but they also rose a lot of questions in her mind. What was the importance of Sora's quest that made her such an important shooting target? She distrusted it had something to do with queen Natsuko, but how, was the question she could not answer.
Hikari was disturbed from her thoughts when Mimi's voice was heard again. "I will not marry that hypocrite, mother, and there is nothing you can do about it." Mimi stated as she stood up and walked out the dinning room, leaving queen Natsuko sitting speechless in her armchair. Hikari immediately followed her mistress with a slightly amused smile on her face. When both girls were distant enough from the room, Mimi allowed herself a laugh. "So, how do you think I was?" She asked. Hikari smiled. "I think you were great." "Yeah, I just wished Sora was here to see it. She would be so proud."
Sora had lied down on the soft bed of the room she had been lent. She stared at the ceiling thinking of all the things that had happened since she had left the comfort and safety of the palace. This is my kind of life. I could get used to this. Travelling from a place to another, just for the pleasure of meeting new people and living new adventures. She thought. I could even stay at this ship, become a corsair. She laughed with her own thoughts. It was then that they began travelling to the young man that owned the ship and had so kindly offered her ride to the other side. She just loved his eyes, his hair, his lips… Damn, what am I thinking? She interrupted herself. I cannot start thinking of him like that.
A knock on the door, interrupted her thoughts. She stood and went to open it. Koushiro was on the other side, a smile on his face. She invited him in and they both sat on her bed. "So…" he started. "How are you doing?" Sora glanced at him with a confused look. "How am I doing? You were the one who said: are you crazy, sailing with pirates?" she replied amused with his questions. "Well it isn't so bad, after all." The red haired boy replied looking outside the small window of Sora's cabin. She eyed him again, with a smirk. He glanced over at her. "Oh, don't look at me like that." He replied. "Then you'll have to explain that to me. Why isn't it so bad anymore?" she inquired him. Koushiro assumed a thoughtful look. "Well, you know how they always tell us that pirates are dirty scum bags, murders and things like that?" Sora nodded in understanding. "I don't think any of these guys are like that. I mean, see Ken and Sam for instances…" "Who?!" Sora interrupted. "Those two dark haired guys that were with the captain before." he explained. "What about them?" the auburn haired girl replied. "They know how to play chess." Koushiro replied. Sora released small chuckles. "Then, your theory is that murderers don't know how to play chess?" she laughed. Koushiro turned his head, offended. Sora stopped laughing and turned serious. "No, I know what you mean. They aren't the usual sea travellers." She replied. "They have knowledge and skills that are unusual among them."
They were interrupted by a small knock. Alerted that someone might have been listening to them, Sora whispered to Koushiro. "We should not reveal them our real identities." And then she continued louder. "Who is it?" From the other side the answer was quick. "Ken, you should be coming up, my lady, because dinner will be served soon." Ken said from the other side. He waited for her response but Koushiro's voice cam instead. "We will be right there, Ken." He replied at ease to the younger. Sora eyed him with curiosity. "Already treating the men by their first name?!" she joked. Koushiro smiled. "Even if I wanted to call him by his last name I don't know it." He replied and they continued their conversation.
Outside, Ken walked away from the door with a small smirk on his face. He climbed the starts two to two and ran to his captain that was giving some instructions to his older brother. "So, with this wind, it will take us the maximum of three days to get to Nagasaki." Taichi commented with Sam. The elder man agreed. "Yeah, I guess we were lucky this time." Sam replied. "The wind is with us. If there was any chance of anyone catching us in the root now there it none." He continued. Taichi patted him in the back. "Don't be so sure Sam. I mean, of course Dark Arrow is faster than any ship around here but we also know that if the kingdom was aware of our presence, their battle ships have a higher range of power than us." The brown haired man replied with wisdom as he walked to the deck shore, feeling the wind in his face, blowing his hair. He simply loved this sensation of freedom that navigating gave him.
"Fortunately for us" Sam said. "…the queen is too busy with the arrangements of her daughter's marriage with King Ishida." He was about to continued his conversation when Ken interrupted him. Approaching Taichi from the back he smirked widely to him. "I've already warned the lady about dinner." He grinned. He could see Taichi's face contract a bit as he smiled, even if the captain was not turned to him. "What about her friend, Koushiro, is it?" he asked turning to face the younger. Ken smiled. "Well, he was with her so I caught two rabbits in one shot." The dark haired replied. He waited to see Taichi's reaction, and Sam turned his attention from the steering wheel to the captain as well, not moving, however, his head. "He was, huh?" Taichi repeated as he walked away from Ken. The dark haired smirked once again. Getting where the conversation was leading, Sam interrupted.
"Taichi…" He started as he motioned Ken to take the wheel and walked down the deck along with Taichi. "…you don't…like, like her, do you? I mean, you barely know her." he stated. Taichi sighed. "Yeah, I know, but she attracts me, you know what I mean?" Sam nodded. "You fought with her, she has a passion, a fiery spirit that I never saw in a woman." The brown eyed captain said dreamily. "I know what you mean, but something about them doesn't smell good. I mean, why where they hidden in a cargo ship, when you can just look at them to know they have money to afford a passage? Besides, no common woman can fight like that. That requires not only skills but entrainment and you know what I mean about that." "You basically mean that she must be some noble assassin or something. But, what about her friend? Give me your expert advice." Sam looked thoughtfully into the sky where the few clouds that had remained from the morning floated. "I think they are hiding something. They want to go to Nagasaki because they have something or someone that they need there. Someone is also pursuing them. I don't know how the man moves, but he is very smart. My final judgement is that they are dangerous." Sam finished. They started walking again, this time towards the dinning room, where some men where already sat. The rest were sailing the ship.
Sora and Koushiro had finished their conversation and were walking up deck to try and find the so called kitchen. They were beginning to realise how hungry they were. "Those fights and excitements gave me hunger." Koushiro replied. They sighted Ken and asked him where they where supposed to go.
"Oh, yeah, right, I completely forgot." He said, scratching the back of his head. Sora chuckled and the memory of her friends hit her. I miss Takeru and Hikari. She thought as the smile simply disappeared from her face. I hope they're okay and haven't got into any troubles with my aunt. This guy reminds me of Takeru and how he used to do silly things round Hikari. Those two are so cute together. I wonder how my little Princess Mimi is going.
Koushiro eyed Sora as she seemed to have spaced out. "Sora?!" he called for her. "Huh, what?" she asked as she awoke from her thoughts. "What were you thinking?" he asked lowering his voice, so Ken, who was a little ahead couldn't hear them. "I miss Takeru and Hikari and cousin." She replied with a sigh. Koushiro sighed too. "Yeah, I miss them too." "I miss Jyou." Sora sighed, maybe a little louder, causing Ken to raise an eyebrow. She misses Jyou? Who's Jyou? He thought.
When they entered the small room that served as dinning room the dinner was already served. Sora looked around. It was a room like any other in the ship just a longer with a long table in the middle, where the men where already eating. No one seemed to notice or care about the new crew's presence. Ken indicated them a spot that had been reserved for them. "You can sit here." He motioned to the sit near the captain. The other was on the other side of the table next to Ken and Sam. Sora looked at Taichi that had noticed her presence. "My lady, feel at home." He replied after chewing a piece of chicken. He felt rather uncomfortable in her presence and was, for the first time in his life, wishing they had better eating manners. He smiled shyly as did she. This was unnoticed by the others as they had already attacked the food.
Sora sat down and picked a piece of chicken as well. "I've told already not to call me Lady, Captain. My name is Sora." She smiled. Taichi liked her smile. "Sure, I'm sorry. I will not call you lady again, Sora, if you stop calling me captain. Like I said earlier no one ever does."
It was like that, that between the five, friendship began to grow. In less than a day, Koushiro, Ken and Sam had already turned inseparable palls. Ken had taught him how to climb the mast and Sam how to guide through the stars at night. At night, they liked to lie on the upper deck, feeling the cold breeze as they identified the stars. Koushiro had taught Ken some strategies to play chess and discussed with Sam about literature and mythology. They seemed to have many common interests. Sora spent most of her time with the captain. They too had exchanged opinions. He was amazed with her clear view over a battle field as they discussed famous battles in the kingdom and how they could have been won or lost by either sides. They liked to talk about weapons and fighting techniques, but Taichi had managed to surprise Sora with his culture. Not only he knew the history of most of the kingdoms around, he was skilful in geography, literature and science. He had taught her everything she could wish to know about sailing, about the winds and the tides. At night, they usually joined Koushiro, Sam and Ken and would stare at the sky, their hands touching sometimes, blushing under the stars.
Meanwhile, in Queen Natsuko's kingdom unexpected things were about to happen. A slim figure walked silently between the woods, being careful not to step a dry branch on the ground, trying to make the lowest noise she could. Her head looked around and above, making sure she wasn't being followed. The dresses that she tried to keep up so they wouldn't touch the dirty leaves on the ground, were bothering her as she walked, slowing down her pace. The lifting of two birds, made her heart jump and she frightened looked around, to once more assure no one was following her. This secret that Takeru made around their meetings since the last few days, made her wonder what kind of trouble was he seeing. She could swear there were no dangers for them at the palace, for no one knew they were too much into the kingdom's internal issues. But Takeru had turned suspicious over everything, she could almost say obsessed.
She breathed of relief when she finally made it to the small entering of an old abandoned wood house that Takeru had found in one of his travels in the castle's woods. He was sure no one knew about that small wooden house that surely had belonged to some hunter in past decades before the castle was built. It was constituted by a single division with one place for fire, a bed and a simple table in the middle of the room. The blond was already waiting for her, pacing back and forward in the small compartment. He ran to embrace her, before asking her to sit.
"No one followed you?" he asked, his tired eyes looking through the only window that illuminated the room. "No, no one followed me." She replied as she sat on the only chair available. Takeru walked from the window to the table and sat over it, in front of his loved one. "Why must we meet like this?" she asked him. Takeru sighed and looked opposite from her. "I told you before. Why do you keep asking that?" he replied. Hikari stood and walked to him, clutching his head between her hands, making him look at her, the long sleeves of her dress both sides from her elbows. "Because I feel there is something troubling you that you are not telling me." She stated. Takeru closed his eyes. "This last four days, ever since King Ishida was here, you've been acting so secretive and cautiously. Why?" Takeru forced himself to open his eyes and look at her. Taking her hands in his, he kissed them and then pulled her next to him, kissing her lips.
"You're right. I feel someone is watching me." He whispered. "That's why I've been asking you to meet me here. I think my brother sent someone to watch me." Hikari covered her mouth with her hands. "Do you think he knows?" she asked him. "I don't know, maybe. That's why we must be really careful now. We're getting closer to who Miyuki really is and what happened to the real king and queen." Takeru concluded. "But we already know they were murdered." Hikari replied. "Yes but we don't know why." "Why?! That's so obvious; they were killed for their kingdom." Hikari stated. Takeru allowed himself a laugh. "Yes, but what is the connection between Miyuki, my brother and Sora? That's what I don't get. Let's suppose the night when the king and queen where killed, Miyuki was the one who did it for my father's command. She assumes the throne and years later, Yamato takes her daughter as wife and both the kingdoms unite in a political correct situation, without wars." Takeru explained. "For what we know, Miyuki might have faked her birth papers, pretending to be king's sister. But where does Sora fits? She is an orphan that was taken under the queen's care because she was daughter of some cousins of the queen, but now that we know that the queen is a fake, maybe Sora isn't who she was told she was, but why is she so important that makes my brother want her dead?" Takeru asked more himself than to anyone else. There were just so many questions running through his mind. But he wasn't the only one, Hikari too was having problems in controlling the amount of questions that filled her head and above it, the worry that conserved since the day she knew her friend was in deep troubles.
"I didn't find anything new." Takeru returned to their previous conversation. "I don't know where else to look. What about you?" the blond asked his mate. Hikari shook her head negatively. "Nothing. I'm sorry." She apologized. Takeru took her in his arms once more. "No, it's not your fault. It's all my family's fault. Be careful when you get back to the castle." He kissed her forehead and then they shared a long passionate kiss. Then, Hikari left to the castle, to meet Princess Mimi.
In Oita's port, the day was beginning to sleep and all its inhabitants made their rituals of getting back home. In the bar owned by the grey eyed man that had tried to kill Dark Arrow's captain, Captain Motomiya took a sip of his cold drink. His men, spread around the town, hadn't manage to find a single trace of the Lady of her companion ever since he had entered that bar for the first time and four days have passed since then. He was considering getting back to the castle where there where more important business to take care of. Unfortunately, he had received a letter from his queen, telling him to stay there until he found the auburn haired girl.
He put down the cup brutally, making the owner eye him, fearing to loose another glass in the captain's hands. But seeing as nothing had happened he continued organizing the amount of empty bottles he had on a box. Shortly after, a loud noise coming from the door, made both the man and Daisuke turn to see who was entering so noisily. A fat man with dark brown eyes and broken nose entered the bar followed by some sailors. They sat rudely on the tables and started to talk loudly. The owner immediately went to them.
"Bring us something strong." The dark brown eyed captain asked with an angry tone. Then turning to his men, he continued his rambling. "Pirates… that sea scum. And they have the guts to get on our ship and play for one of us. How was his name, Chen, Len…" "Ken, captain sir." One of the sailors replied picking the drink the bar owner had just put over the table. "Yeah, whatever. And his brother, Sam, that smartass. I knew they weren't good." The captain continued. He paused to take a sip of his drink, spilling it partially over the table as he put down the cup. "And if it wasn't enough having pirates on board, we still have too rats on the cargo deck."
The Captain was partially listening to their conversation, as he took another sip of his drink. He motioned the grey eyed man to bring him the bill, but the man was too busy serving the old sea dogs. Meanwhile the captain kept mumbling over and over. "Hiding in the cargo deck and no one noticed them." The captain said as he slapped a sailor on his forehead. "But, captain sir, I heard that the girl had tried to save you before she got caught by the traitors?" another sailor interposed. The captain though, was too annoyed to admit it and getting to drunk to remember it. "What girl?!" he shouted raising his arms in the air. "Give me another." He ordered the owner who quickly prepared three more drinks, knowing the other two would be asked in no time.
The word girl, caught Daisuke's ears and his worry to leave was delayed as he listened carefully looking for signs of what he wanted to know. "The girl that the pirates said to have saved his life." The sailor tried in vain to re-establish the captain's memory. But now it wasn't only Captain Motomiya who was interested in the story but also the bar owner that approach the group with curious eyes. "You were attacked by pirates?" he asked. "Attacked?!" one of the sailors repeated with irony. "That was an invasion." "There were two in our ship that took control of it and then the other came over too. And there was a girl, that we all thought to be boy until the captain of the pirates ship arrived and told his men to stop attacking her because she had saved his life." Another sailor told the owner. "How did the pirate looked like?" the grey eyed man asked, looking to Daisuke after. "He had brown hair and…, well he looked like the usual scum. Bandage on his head, corsairs…" the first sailor replied. "And the girl?" the two sailors that had been giving information looked at each other. "She had red spiked hair and…" the other sailor slapped him on the back of his head. "That was her mate, moron. The girl had auburn hair, not red and it wasn't spike. It was short but fell straight." "Oh, yeah right, that was it." "I think you already had too much alcohol." the other replied.
The owner came back to Captain Motomiya and presented him the bill. "Isn't that the girl you're looking for, Captain?" he asked. "Yeah. I guess now I can go back, since I'm cannot go after her to the neighbourhood kingdom's." he replied taking some coins from his small leather bag. "You are leaving then?" the owner continued. "Yes, let me know if you find anything knew, okay?" the captain replied, throwing a last coin into the counter and leaving.
Mimi had arrived the large salon for some time and was sitting on a large comfortable chair, waiting for her maid to come back from another of her mysterious meetings when she disappeared without sight. She combed her hair with her fingers as she thought. It had been five days since her beloved Koushiro had ran after her cousin Sora who had runaway to find the truth about her parent's death. All this matters still seemed complicated to her. Why was her cousin so determined to know what had happened to her parents now? Why not later? But above it, she had difficulties in understanding why her beloved Koushiro had gone after her.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Hikari entered the salon. "My Princess, sorry for the delay." She apologized bowing respectfully before Mimi. The chestnut haired thought didn't seem to be paying much attention to it. "Oh, don't bother Hikari. I'm already used to your secretive escaping." Mimi replied as she stood. "I was waiting for you so we could go and meet my mother." "May I ask what the motive is?" Hikari asked cautiously trying not to sound snoop. Mimi sighed. "I don't know. She just sent one f her maids to tell me she wanted to see me on her rooms."
Without further talk, both women walked to the queen's rooms, Hikari fearing some unexpected happening. When they arrived, the guards allowed them to pass, but for their surprised, the queen wasn't alone.
So sorry fro the long delay. Hope this chappy pleases you. If it doesn't use the botton on the right bottom of your computer to send a review. Flames accepted. Reviews too. Say whatever, criticise. I'm waiting.