Dark Arrow
By Marie Darkholme
9. Tied
Some days before in the Ishida's kingdom, a soldier in surveillance of the castle's bridge saw one of his King's messengers approaching at high speed in his horse. As the messenger got in, the low soldier could see this was no ordinary messenger for he wore a special crest on the back of his uniform. He was immediately taken to his Highness King Yamato's presence, but unfortunately, the news brought by the messenger weren't the greatest.
"Tell me, why did you leave your post without my orders?" Yamato interrogated the messenger. The room where they were was cold and the tall grey walls were able to give shills to the most courageous soldier in the entire castle. The messenger trembled just to hear Yamato's cruel voice.
"My King…" he stuttered. "I heard things in the palace that I thought would be too important to await your Highness next visit." Yamato eyed the man with an evil look. He didn't like when his servants didn't obey his orders and this man had clearly disobeyed him when leaving his post as a spy in Natsuko's kingdom. Nevertheless, he knew he could punish him later, and perhaps the matters that brought the man to so foolish ignore and order from him would be quite significant. Lately it seemed like nothing was going as he had planned. Things just seemed to be going down and he was beginning to doubt that his mission would be successful.
He pushed those thoughts away as he sat on his throne and motioned the man to continue his story. The man, of young age and dark green eyes, stood cowardly, with his feet threatening to collapse leaving him to the floor and cleared is throat, preparing t make the narration of what he had seen and heard over the last days.
"I've heard that princess Mimi stubbornly refuses to accept the marriage between her and your majesty." The man began. "She made a vow to her mother that she would never marry King Ishida and that if someone tried to make her marry she would runaway never to be seen again." He finished. Yamato rose from his throne and looked at man in front of him with an angry look. "You've heard?! I do not wish to know about murmurs around the court but facts. Besides, that doesn't affect me in anyway, since Princess Mimi doesn't have the power or the courage to runaway. She would be captured in less than an hour." Yamato replied. The messenger was frightened by his rage and fury and quickly tried to regain his composure so he could continued his story and give his King motives for not having him killed.
"My King…that is only a part of what I came for." He stuttered, his voice cracking between every word. "Then tell me the important matters, you piece of man." King Ishida yelled. The messenger was forced to walk backwards as Yamato approached; such was the fear that consumed him.
"It appears that Queen Natsuko is afraid to loose her only daughter and his planning something to outline this situation." King Yamato turned his back on the messenger at these words. "Do you have anything else to report?" he asked in a less enraged voice. "N..no…" the messenger mumbled. "Then leave me." Yamato ordered. Without waiting for any other order, the messenger left the room in a quick stumbled pace.
Just what I needed.Yamato thought as he sank in his throne. Not only my assassins have lost the trace of their prey, and now I have to deal with a confused queen, that nevertheless can be danger once she acknowledges she had the means to refuse my deal. What should I do now? That woman is not intelligent enough to use her army against mine, but if she tries to fight against this marriage I could be in troubles. It would be no good to expose her true identity, since that would only cause an empty throne that legally I cannot occupy, and if I did that, it would attract other kingdoms' leaving me in hands a war. And a war is far from what I need right now.
He stood up and began to circle the room as he thought of a solution to his problems. The fact was that he could not risk having Natsuko exposed. His army was not what it used to be and the court was almost failed. That had been the main reason that made his father architect such plan to take over the next kingdom. An open war would not serve him anything. No, he had to resolve the problem by old means.
Days after, he arranged everything to make another journey to Natsuko's kingdom. A voyage that he hoped would be his last one.
"Mother, what is he doing here?" Mimi practically yelled as she entered the room. This time, Queen Natsuko didn't bother to scowl her daughter and the simple absence of that, made Mimi tremble to the thoughts of what could be happening, but she wasn't the only one scared by Yamato's presence. Hikari avoided facing the King's eyes. She was afraid that through them he would find where her beloved Takeru was.
"That isn't the most kind way to treat your soon to be husband?" King Ishida replied as he approached the girls. He picked Mimi's hand and bowed to kiss her, but the Princess abruptly took her hand from his grasp. Yamato's blue ice eyes darted her, but Mimi stood firmly on her place, even though her eyes were clearly betraying her, showing off the fear she was trying to keep inside. In a fraction of seconds, she could feel Yamato's strong grip around her wrists as he pushed her into the wall.
"No. Let her go!" Hikari screamed, but her mouth was closed by a hand, but the hand on her mouth was nothing compared to the hand that she felt next on her but. A laugh from behind her told her who her attacker was. Fujitso had grabbed her preventing her from helping her mistress as Yamato pressed her thing wrists against the wall. She had not noticed before, but besides King Ishida and Queen Natsuko there were also three other men and two of them were being necessary to restrain Queen Natsuko. Knowing what she was Hikari couldn't help but being sorry for her. What kind of things had she done during her life, and now, she was ready to stand against the man that had made her who she was now, to give up on her cover, for the love she had for her daughter.
"Leave her alone, Yamato. I give you the kingdom. I tell the people who I am, but please, leave my daughter alone." Queen Natsuko had collapsed on her knees, begging. She didn't seem to mind that Hikari was there listening, maybe she knew Hikari already knew about the truth, but for Mimi it was flash news. "Mother, what are you saying?" she asked, but Queen Natsuko was no able to respond, gagged by one of the men.
"Nothing Princess. Your mother is not feeling well lately." Yamato grinned. "You let me go, or I call the guards." Mimi threatened, but for her despair that only caused some laughs from both Yamato and Fujitso. "The go ahead, Princess. The guards around the place, or better, the ones that could actually hear you are from my army, so I don't think they could be of much use." Yamato grinned. He pulled some threads of her chestnut hair behind her hear. "Now, lets get back to out previous conversation." He continued. Mimi was getting freaked with what was happening. This was all too much for her. What was mother trying to say? Why is he doing this? Questions floated through her mind but the answers she wouldn't get them at the moment.
"As I was saying, you should treat your soon to be husband a lot better." He said grinning. "I won't marry you." She yelled. Yamato laughed as he puller her from the wall and tied her hands. "We'll see about that when you get to my castle. You won't have momma and little Hika to protect you." He replied, glaring at Hikari. She knew what this meant. He had discovered them. "Her name isn't Hika, you stupid, it's Hikari." Mimi scolded. "I know that my love." Yamato replied still grinning. Queen Natsuko could only watch as Yamato took both Hikari and Mimi through the secret passage he had used so many times to get into the castle.
"Yes, I've found out your little secret." Yamato continued glaring at Hikari as Fujitso dragged her down the stairs. Another man had occupied himself with the princess, and the third had closed the passage behind them, making sure Natsuko couldn't follow. "Did you knew that your soon to be brother-in-law works here, my dear Mimi?" he grinned widely as he watched Mimi's confused reaction. "What are you talking about?" she replied angrily.
They had reached the last steps of the dark passage. Outside, Yamato's black carriage was already waiting. One of his guards opened the door and both Hikari and Mimi were thrown inside with Yamato following them closely. Then the guards rode their horses and gave signal to the driver to make the horses gallop.
Inside the carriage, Mimi and Hikari could do nothing except to hear Yamato. Hikari's mind though wasn't in the carriage. It floated outside searching for Takeru. My God! What have we done?! Now there is no one to save us. Takeru please be alright. She pleaded in silence watching the castle diminish as they rode away to Ishida's kingdom.
Mimi on the other hand wanted Yamato to talk. She wanted him to start spilling the beans about what he had said. She was confused. She couldn't understand why he had taken them. She couldn't understand his words, as they were encrypted. But somehow, Hikari understood him very well. Maybe that meetings that made Hikari so busy, weren't just love meetings with her stable man. Maybe the girl knew something that she didn't. But if she did, why wouldn't she tell her? Maybe what she knows will trouble me greatly, because I can't possibly see another reason for not telling me. Mimi thought. She too looked outside the window, watching the place that she had never left the comfort disappearing from her eyes range.
Yamato had stopped talking, seeing as both the girls had drifted away. There would be plenty of time to give his beloved soon to be wife the news about her identity and right now he had more important issues to worry about. He just hoped his plan wouldn't have any more surprises. In less than two days it should all be over. He would have killed his brother, his lover and the inopportune tomboy lady. Only then he could have peace. Only then, he would start preparing his marriage and then take over Natsuko's kingdom, becoming the largest ruler in the country. But he wouldn't rest then. He would sail to conquer the rest of the kingdoms. With Natsuko's army, he would be unbeatable. He grinned as the thought of supreme ruler of Japan crossed his mind.
The night was falling quietly over the lonely ship crossing the waters, the so fearless Dark Arrow, when they finally sighted land. For some, it was the most brilliant word they could have heard, but for others it was the time to break apart, the time to say goodbye, and as much as Sora's heart would like her to stay, her mind and a minor part of heart screamed her to go.
"The sunsets will always remind me of you." The brown haired man sighed with a sad smile s his eyes settled in the crimson star across the sea. A small blush rushed to the auburn haired woman besides him, as she too watched the sun go down. "Maybe will see each other again." She confidently replied. Taichi couldn't help but smile to her statements. His hand somehow managed to grab hers that was on the wooden border of the ship. "I wish you would stay." "I can't." she replied, her head going down. A tear was threatening to overcome her. She still wondered how such strong bound could have born between the two in such little time. A bound that she was forced to fill with a gap. She knew she couldn't stay, he knew she had to go, but it still hurt, even if neither of them was ready to admit it.
"Why?" Taichi broke the silence that had once more fallen between the two. He desired to hear her voice, to record it in the deepest corner of his heart so he could always remember it, but she didn't speak. He sighed. She had told him before the reason. Personal motives, she had claimed earlier that morning when he had asked her to stay just a little longer. "Please, at least tell me why?" he pleaded. "I cannot." She replied once more, retrieving her hand from his. He grabbed her arm and pulled her next to him. Their eyes met; deep brown in reddish. "Sora…I…I…" the words were stuck in his throat. In his mind he screamed at full lungs, but the words didn't come out. Say it Taichi Yagami. Say it. I love you. It isn't that hard. Why can't you say it? Both his thoughts and words were interrupted by a single finger that gently landed on his lips. "Shush, say nothing." Sora asked.
They remained like that for a few more moments, his hands strongly holding her next to him, pleading her not to go. Her head against his chest, listening to the soft sound of his heart beating, her arms hanging next to her body. "We will see again. I know." She replied. Her heart told her that they would see each other again. She didn't know how or why, but she was positively sure that they would. Taichi, on the other hand was afraid to let go. He feared loosing her forever. That was the exact same feeling that had brought him to the place where he was today. The feeling of loosing someone dear to him. The feeling of loosing the only two persons that were left for him in the whole world. At the time, had had swore vengeance, but he was sick, delusional. The time had passed and he couldn't get back. He feared to be rejected for what he had become. A corsair, a pirate. Now he had to face that feeling again. She had hope, but he had lost his.
Watching them, sited in two chairs, Sam and Koushiro played one last chess match. Ken was nearby as well, sitting in a barrel watching the moves of the two experts. But all three pairs of eyes would occasionally watch the scene occurring between the one that had become a close friend and their courageous, fearless captain.
Sam watched the board once again. He moved his horse in Koushiro's queen's direction, leaving the way clear for Koushiro to eat him. But the red haired had spotted the trick. Once he had eaten the horse, Sam's bishop would take over his precious queen. He pondered the benefits of such risky move. If he ate the horse, he would loose his queen, but he noticed that that move would leave an empty way for his own bishop to move towards the king. It would then be a great move, but what if Sam had already noticed that and was preparing something else? He studied the board with an inquisitive air, trying to see every possible move from his adversary and his own moves. But he couldn't see any trick in it, so he moved forward, taking Sam's horse. The dark haired grinned as his hand moved to his bishop, but it suddenly stopped. Koushiro immediately acknowledge that Sam must have noticed that his king would be at risk.
From the barrel, Ken too was studying the board. This was being one time match. Both players were penetrated in the job of check mating the other. It suddenly came to his mind a match between himself and Sam, when for the first time he had defeated his elder brother. The circumstances of that match were similar to this. I would take the king to other place. He thought, and he thought well, as Sam moved his king to the side, so he could perform his next move and eat the queen. But he know, although, that Koushiro wouldn't just leave his queen there for him to eat it. Once again, the red haired was forced to move his eyes across the board, picturing in his head what moves could he perform.
Sam allowed himself to be distracted as he watched the couple once again. This was going to be a difficult situation for both of them, but he knew Taichi best and therefore he knew how deeply this would affect him. But he had talked to the young woman as well, and he knew this wasn't going to be any easier for her. He could tell this was the first time that she had ever fallen in love, and leaving a first love behind…he knew how hard that could be.
His thoughts were interrupted by his younger brother. "Do you think he'll be okay?" Ken inquired as he too glanced occasionally to the couple. Sam sighed as he moved his eyed back to the board. "I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. It always hard to loose someone dear, especially for the second time." The words had barely escaped his lips and he was already regretting he had said them. "Second time?!" Koushiro asked curiously. Sam gave himself time to think whether he should or should not tell Koushiro what had so clumsy escaped him. "Well…" he started, not really at easy with issue. "Taichi lost more than one person before, and all at the same time. His mother and his sister." Sam revealed. Koushiro was astonished. "They died at the same time?! Poor Taichi." He exclaimed. "No, they didn't die. They thought of him as dead. He didn't had the courage to go back." Ken explained. "A long time ago, when Taichi was about eight, he almost drowned. He was in bed for weeks and when he finally woke up, he couldn't remember anything." Sam told him. "Amnesia." The red haired man intercalated. "Yes, he had amnesia. Our father took him and started teaching him the way of the sailors. Meantime, his mother and sister had been told he was dead. When he could finally remember everything about his life, he was ten and he didn't have the courage to go back and face his sister and his mother. It cost him dearly to loose them like that, but he couldn't look back." Sam finished.
There was silence between them. Koushiro was out of words and at the same time, Taichi's story reminded him of something but he could not put a finger at it. He had heard about some drown kid, yes, but he wasn't just any kid. He moved his queen out of the way, leaving a trap for Sam with his horse and king, trying to clear those thoughts. "Your time." He replied. Sam fitted the board. His concentration was broke, however, by another question. "Where is Taichi from?" he asked, looking not at Sam, but at Taichi. "I'm not sure, but I think he was from pretty near the castle of your kingdom. We used to live near it as well. But I'm not sure." Sam replied. "Why?" "Nothing. Just curious." Koushiro replied.
The game continued, as the sun went down, and the large ship approached the coast. But not just any coast. They were approaching the large port of Nagasaki, the most beautiful city of the island. "Captain, we've reached the port. Should I duck?" a sailor came next to the couple. "Yes, Ray, we're going to duck." He told the sailor that immediately disappeared. Taichi turned around to see what his sailors where doing. He spotted the trio playing chess, but he didn't care. "Turn around. Fold sails. Prepare to duck." He yelled his orders, not in an abrupt way, but in the tone of voice to show he was the one uncharged and they had to obey him. He then turned around to meet Sora again.
"This city is beautiful." She stated in a melancholic voice. She knew the time to leave as coming. "Yes, it is." Taichi replied. There was nothing else to say, because what he really wanted to say, he couldn't. The city was indeed beautiful. It had small torches lightened, nailed to the houses' walls, illuminating the streets. The houses were as well out of the ordinary. They were all small and wooden, but what she was admiring the most, was the brilliant way they were organised. They were almost glued to each other, forming lines since the port to the exit gates, since the small city was surrounded by large fortifications to protect her from outside attacks.
Sora moved her eyes from the beautiful landscape in front of her, to face the man that she had so violently fallen for. He was mirroring Nagasaki, but she couldn't help but seeing the sadness in his eyes. She could not bear seeing him like that. She had to leave, now. "I'm going to prepare my things." She whispered as she passed him by. In her way down, she told Koushiro to go pack his stuff as well. "I have everything ready, Sora. It just pick and leave." He replied, returning to his game. Most of the pieces were now gone, his queen, one bishop and several peasants along with the two horses. But Sam had his share of lost as well: his queen and two bishops were gone, some peasants and a tower had gone, and at the moment, Koushiro was just preparing to take his second tower down.
The auburn haired entered her rented room. It felt odd to her leaving. She felt as she had always belonged to that place, in that ship. She started putting her few clothes in her bag. Some books that she had brought with her about practical things, like medical herbs, poisonous mushrooms and herbs and things like that. Some bandages for first aid. She finally sat on the bed, two items in her hand: her katana and her purple scarf. I'm doing this for you mother. I must know. She replied, clutching the silk scarf next to her skin. Then she put it back on her cloak that lied on the bed. She picked her katana and put it in the proper place at her waist. Then, she picked two small knifes and put one in each ankle. Finally, her bow and a bunch of arrows over her shoulder, and she was ready to go. A feeling of nostalgia invaded her. A tear formed in the corner of her eye, as she traced the familiar wood frame of the bed. She wiped the tear with the back of her hand and exited the room without further goodbye. We'll see each other again. She told herself.
"Koushiro?!" she called her friend. He was already waiting by their friends with his own bags over his shoulder and his cloak on. A sudden wind crossed the sky, waving their hair. The two visitors eyed their three new friends. "I think its going to rain." Ken replied, out of the blue. Sora eyed the sky. It was beginning to fill with dark blue clouds that had already covered the sun set that earlier she had been watching. The silence then returned. No one wanted to say goodbye. Koushiro took the lead. He paced silently to Taichi and they shook hands. "Bye." He told him. Then he moved on to Ken and Sam. "Don't think you're going to win me next time. I still want a rematch." Sam replied as they shook hands. "Hope to see you guys again, under less suspicious and dangerous conditions." He replied, remembering how they had first met. The tension lessened and for a few moments they all laughed. It was Sora's turn now. She said goodbye to Sam and Ken with a handshake. They admired her. Most women would have wanted them to kiss their hands or something, but not her. "Bye guys. Be good. We'll see again." The auburn haired assured them. She then moved on to Taichi. They suddenly didn't know how to act around each other. She stretched her hand to him, but before she could even retaliate, Taichi pulled her into a deep kiss, uniting their lips in the strongest feeling she had ever felt. Ken couldn't help a little chuckle. The others suddenly found the sky very interesting. As the two lovers broke apart, their cheeks went a deep red. "Take care." Taichi stuttered. "You too." Sora replied in the same embarrassed way.
Taichi watched sadly as the love of his live walked out of Dark Arrow. The wind had increased slightly and made her hair twist to his will. The point of her bow and her arrows' bag was visibly as she walked away. Not once, the auburn haired looked back. Always look forward. Jyou had taught her, but now it seemed very difficult to do it, but she didn't look back.
When the last of her frame was out of sight, Taichi allowed a depressed sigh escape his lips. Sam rested a friendly hand over the captain's shoulder. "She said we would see again." He assured him. Taichi lowered his head. "Yes, more than once, but somehow, I cannot believe it. I feel that I lost her forever." He told his closest friend. Ken just listened, he too a little sad with the departure of the two friends, but like Sora, he had hope to see then again, and if she said they would meet again, he believed her. "So, how was that kiss?" he asked, intently to try and light the mood. Both Sam and Taichi hit him playfully in his head, making the youngest curse. "Hey, what was that for?" he asked as they walked around. "For being impolite." Sam replied.
Back in the kingdom the night had fallen rather quick too, but for the young blond, it had turned to be just another point on his favour. He crawled within the trees, hiding himself at every odd noise he heard. Sometimes he heard a deep howl from the wolfs or the cry of the owls in the night would make him more attentive. When a small animal would crackle in the shadows, he would turn to see the source of the noise. His breathing was accelerated and he was beginning to get tired. He allowed himself to rest against the hollow log of a tree, crawling inside it. Some spiders and squirrels ran out as the human occupied their places. Feeling a little more protected in the shadows of the woods, Takeru went back in time, reviewing everything that had happened to him.
"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.
Takeru sat back on the table in the centre of the room. His head seemed like an hurricane with all the thoughts that crossed it and how they seemed to be so disorganized and torn. He just couldn't get the clues together. He knew that if he could, he would be able to do something and since he couldn't do something, it was driving him mad. It just felt like everyone was playing an important part and he was just sitting there, doing absolutely nothing in a time that could determine his faith along with the faith of many others.
Tired of walking in circles, the blond decided to go out for a while. He walked to the small fireplace in the corner and put his hand on it, touching the borders from where he took his perfectly conserved weapon. It was a strange one, thought. Maybe not strange by its forms since it was often used by the guards in the palace, but strange for the use on self-protection and battles. It was made of metal and a very good wood, partially protected by the metal. It was like a long stick with two sharp blades on each side. The blades were, unlike the katana and other swords, larger in size, but short and very sharp with a curve. They were positioned in a way that if you made circles with it, the blades would cut in the same direction and that was the main motive why Takeru had chosen that particular weapon as his. He was very good with swinging.
He picked up and put it in the proper bag he had over his shoulder. Then searching the border of the fireplace again, he retrieved a small hunt bow and some arrows. He would distract himself hunting a rabbit for his dinner. He put his cloak on and left the small wooden house.
He had barely walked for five minutes when the strange feeling of being watched assaulted him once again. Nevertheless he continued his path. If he was being followed he would attract his stalkers to a place where he could have an advantage and since he knew that woods as the palm of his hand, it wouldn't be too hard to find the perfect spot. But as he walked further, he could notice that it wasn't just one person following him. He could count at least three, but maybe there was more, even though he doubted. He knew how bad Ishida's kingdom was when he left, and he knew it couldn't have gotten better in the last couple of years. That was partially the main reason that had led him to the conclusion that his brother was after the kingdom and not properly Mimi. His brother had never been a gentleman anyway and from women he just wanted his satisfaction, which any peasant from his court could offer him, or that he could force into.
He led those thoughts away, as he forced to rethink his status once more. More than a good place to start the fight, he needed a good strategy. He led his stalkers into an opening in the woods. Kneeling in the ground, he took his bow and two arrows that he placed in it. He tried to concentrate like Sora had taught him to do. Focus in the target, she had said to him. He focused and prepared to shoot. Anyone watching would say he was preparing to shoot a rabbit. He aimed, but suddenly turned and released the two arrows in the bow. Crossing the small plants from the ground, the arrows hit their target that immediately alerted his presence with a groan of pain before falling death to the ground. It had started.
Before Takeru could tell, there were two men charging towards him. He took his weapon and prepared to fight. The men were armed with a wakizashi one and the other a weapon similar to a kung-fu sword, only that the handle was much bigger. It was like a kung-fu sword in a stick. That was the first one to reach the blonde's range. He charged with the blade forwards, but Takeru deviated the blade from the target with one of his own, swinging his weapon in a circle, instinctually charging for the man. But the other was already attacking him from behind. He avoided the wakizashi and hit the man with a strong kick. The opponents stopped. For the first time, the bond could take a good look at them, and for his horror he recognized one. The man could tell that Takeru had recognized him, by the anger that suddenly appeared in his eyes.
"You remember me, Prince Takeru." He said amused, bowing playfully. "How could I forget?" Takeru said bitterly. "Yes, in fact it was a little hard, wasn't it? After all, I killed your girl." The man smirked. Takeru glared at him, anger and rage clear in eyes. But the words of a certain auburn haired girl screamed in his head: do not fight in rage. It blinds you. She had taught him more than he could have ever dreamed knowing. She and Jyou had been his foster teachers.
"Yes, you killed Hika." Takeru agreed. For a moment, he swore he could have heard the girl's screams as she was dragged by that same man to stage, specially made for her hang, while he watched helpless, both hands and feet strongly tied and guards surrounding him. He blinked as to come back to reality. "And now I will have my revenge." He shouted as he ran to his opponent. The blades collided, the sound of the metal clinking. "Your brother, King Yamato, request your presence for your new fiancée death." The man replied. Takeru was taken by surprise with this new, and distracted by it. The man took immediate advantage, throwing him to the ground, followed by a kick on his stomach. But Takeru was far from defeated and rolling he put himself up again.
"What do you mean?" he asked, keeping his distance, as he searched for an opening to attack. The second man seemed to have taken a nap, because he wasn't moving. He was just standing there, not doing anything. "I mean that your girlfriend is on her way to Ishida's castle." The man replied. Hikari had been captured. He had to think quickly. He could not possibly go there by himself. He knew that more than wanting him to see Hikari die, Yamato wanted him killed as well. But, due to his sadistic mind, he would not kill her unless Takeru was there to watch. That's how he thinks, so, as long as he wouldn't be caught, Hikari would be somehow safe. For now, that was all he needed to think.
He charged towards the man mercilessly, swearing to make him pay for what he had done. The two blades collided once more; steal with steal, the sharp sound echoing through the forest. Takeru avoided another attempt from the man to hit him. As his enemies wanted him alive, the man was containing his attacks, but the blond had no reasons to do it and that was another thing on his side. Sliding down, he made him loose his balance and with a continue movement, he made the thing that his heart had longed for so long. He trespassed the man's chest with the large blade.
It seemed then that the other man awoke from his slumber and the anger for his lost friends, one of them still bleeding in the ground, took the best of him and was as well his doom. Takeru attacked first, but the man blocked his head attack with his kung-fu like weapon, but with that, he left the lower parts of his body exposed, just as Takeru had thought, and taking the chance, the blond hit him square in the stomach with his knee, making the man stumble some paces back. However he quickly recovered charging this time, making a semi circle movement at waist high. Takeru couldn't possible avoid it, and trying to block it would sound craziness, so he did the best he could and ducked backwards, the blade passing inches from his stomach. With the blond on the ground, the man saw the best opportunity he could have to kill him and immediately raised his weapon in the air, the blade pointing down. But as he attacked, Takeru rolled away and stood and once again surprised his adversary, and with a continued movement he decapitated the man.
As he walked out of there, he could feel a strange feeling rising in his heart. For the first time in his life, he had decapitated someone, and it wasn't the most amazing show in the world. Nevertheless, as he saw the headless body on the floor, he couldn't help feeling a little guilty for leaving such a hideous scenario for someone to find. But at the moment he had more important things to worry about, so he quickly made his way out of there.
Now, resting in the hollow log, Takeru's thoughts returned to the decisions he had to make. His mind divagated. Natsuko isn't going to help. I'm sure he took Mimi too. Hikari was just a bonus. He probably thinks I'm going to be an easy prey and will be there in no time. But this time I'll be smarter. He told himself. I have to find help, but everyone I trust is out or dead. I have to find Sora. That's it. Only her and Koushiro will be able to help me. I know Koushiro was going to search on Oita's port, so that's where I'm going. And resuming his thoughts, the blond started walking again. It would be along way to Oita on foot, so he knew he had to get himself a horse. Another problem. He thought. He would have to go back to get his horse. Fortunately he wasn't so far from the castle. He still hadn't crossed the walls. Without further thoughts, he turned around and began to ran back to the stables.
Well, sorry for the long delay. I can't even have my own time in stupid christmas. But no time for excuses. I'll try update sooner next time but I won't promise anything. Thanks to all reviewers. You make my work worth.