Disclaimer: I do not own BB, just the OCs.
Summary: The war between two empires has gone on long enough. Now the Emperors pass down their grudge to their grandchildren. But what happens when they find themselves escaping their worlds, and finding love between one another? Pairings
Key:
"Talking"
"Thoughts"
:: Communicating with Sacred Animals ::
Chapter 7
"Oh and Kai, the second thing that that fire brings is an enjoyable taming..."
Kai couldn't get that voice out of his head. His grandfather had finally turned perverted. That was his conclusion. Boris had molded Voltaire into what he was now. Kai finally could see how perverted the sorcerer was now. He never wanted to believe it. He never really wanted to believe the way the sorcerer had been treating Tala, Spencer, and Bryan...
"Speaking of Bryan, where the hell has he been?" wondered Kai.
Walking back towards his private quarters, he remembered that that ookami girl was behind him. He had saved her from his grandfather's room. Why? He couldn't understand why he was doing that. It just did not make any sense to him. She was his slave. Worthless. A speck of dust.
And still, he couldn't help but try and glance back at her. It was her eyes. Even though her back was scorched with blood and wounds, she still had that same fire in her eyes that she did when Tala first presented her to him.
"Damn Tala."
Mika walked silently behind the Houou prince, thoughts muttering around in her head. Why did he do that? Why did he save her? She had almost gone with the Emperor into his chambers. And that was one place she knew she would never want to go. Losing her virginity to Rei was better than an old man. She shook at the thought.
Every so often, she couldn't help but look up at the bluenette prince. She probably never would fathom as to why he just did that. So owed him. If anything she owed him to be a bit more down to earth. That encounter finally woke Mika up. She wasn't home. But she could get home. She just would have to play her cards right.
Hiromi still walked quietly beside Mika, her eyes casting over the wound and blood stains on her attire. She could tell that if they did not get treated soon, Mika's wounds would become infected and she could get sick, possibly die from them.
Approaching the quarters, Kai stopped before entering the room. "Take the girl and tend to her wounds. I don't want to have the servants clean up a corpse." Kai opened the door and went into the room. Both girls let out a sigh and hurried back to their quarters.
Hiromi came back with a bucket and some materials such as medicine and rags. Mika lied on the cot, after removing the top of her dress to reveal the nasty gashes from the studded whip. Hiromi cringed at the sight of it, and carefully dunked a few rags into the medicine-filled bucket and started to clean off the wounds.
Mika strained her hands as she gripped the cot tightly. She never realized how much this was going to hurt her. The whipping, the cleaning. They were equal in pain. At least by the end of the whipping, Mika had been feeling a bit numb to it. Hiromi carefully tried to apply as little pain to the ookami princess as she could. But knowing it was agony to the girl; she couldn't help but try and move the process along quicker.
"You were lucky there, Mika," whispered Hiromi. Mika cringed again as another application of cleaning the dried blood ran along her tainted back.
"I know, Hiromi-chan," she replied. "I still don't understand the reasoning behind the prince though."
"Who knows what goes through their minds, Mika-sama," sighed Hiromi. "They are different than those back at home."
"No one back at home would ever try to tame a slave the way these people would," clearly stated Mika.
"True."
"We have to get out of here."
"Mika-sama. Look at what just happened to you! You are going to be killed!"
:: Mika. ::
:: Beo? Beo-sensei, is that you? Where have you been?::
:: That is not to debate now. What has happened? Your voice, it trembles.::
:: Hiromi-chan is tending to my wound-::
:: You're what! What has happened, Mika-chan? I am coming over there right now!::
:: No, Beo-sama. You will be killed! It is nothing to worry about. Please, trust me, Beo.::
:: I do, Mika-chan. I just don't want anything to happen to you.::
:: They don't know who I am, don't worry. I'll be fine.::
:: OK, If you are sure. I just spotted my dinner running by. I shall keep in touch with you, Mika.::
:: Bye, Beo.::
Mika sighed, he was alive, that was good. Hiromi finished cleaning the wound and then draped new rags soaked in the medicine across her back and rapped it so it would stay on to heal and prevent any more infection.
--
Kai sat in his bed, gazing up at the ceiling, thinking over what had just happened. He couldn't believe his grandfather. True Kai never had been with a female, but that did not mean that he was going to start with some trash like ookami women. He kicked himself.
"Why did I do that?"
"You OK, your Highness?" questioned Takao as he walked into the room, carefully shutting the door behind him.
"It's just my grandfather again," he groaned. Takao nodded. "He wants to break one of the slave ookami girls."
"The short one?"
"Correct," replied Kai, running his hands through his hair. "She tried to run, suposively. And he found her in the hall way and Boris was on his way to dragging her into Voltaire's quarters." Takao cringed at the idea.
"I might be too bold asking this, but is she OK?" asked Takao.
"She is fine. At least I think so," stated Kai. "She's having her wounds treated by the taller one." Takao nodded.
"Are you in need of my assistance?"
"No, not now, Takao."
"Alright, then I shall go and inform the chefs to prepare dinner again," stated Takao.
Kai was alone again. He hated it. The feeling just made him feel so empty.
--
A few weeks passed and life was running smoothly. Or at least as smoothly as it could go. Voltaire and Boris were inseparable as usual, probably plotting more plans on how to over run the Ookamikei. Voltaire had stayed away from Mika, and Mika had been contained to just her quarters and Kai's ever since the accident.
"Go and get the laundry," ordered Kai from behind his desk. Mika put the washrag back in the bucket. She finally had gotten the handle on cleaning. It wasn't as bad as she had imagined and how she had made it appear to be. She also had gotten use to being alone in the room with Kai. Mika left the room.
Sighing, Kai continued to scribble on the parchment with the quill. Mika did not come back in the amount of time Kai had imagined she would. Then he heard the familiar squawking sound coming from the window and the night sky, and in swooped the beautiful phoenix bird. The bluenette held out his arm and offered it to the willing avian. Dranzer carefully wrapped her claws around Kai's forearm.
"Where have you been, Beautiful?" asked Kai, rubbing her cheek with his index finger.
Dranzer seemed quiet disturbed. She ruffled her feathers and continually squawked and pecked at his cheek. "What is it?" Dranzer spread her wings and took flight towards the door. She kept circling it. Kai got up and walked down towards the door. Opening it, Dranzer soared right out of the room.
Kai followed Dranzer down the hallway, coming across a spilt bucket of water. The wooden crate was lying on the floor, and the rag was hanging out of the bucket. Kai's eyes popped open and his anger rose off the charts. Tala was walking pass Kai, when he noticed the disturbed Imperial heir.
"What is wrong, your Highness?" asked Tala, raising his brow. Standing next to Tala was his trusted wolf, Wolborg. The ookami had been distrusted at first, but Tala had been able to convince both Voltaire and Boris that he was not like other Ookamis. The wolf had been found by Tala as a pup and trained by him alone. Wolborg cocked his head towards the Prince's attitude, just as confused as his master.
"Tala. Go and saddle up two horses. Pack all you can. Don't ask questions. Don't tell anyone. Get my servant, the blue haired boy that's always with me. Get him and tell him to be ready to ride off," stated Kai. "Don't let anyone see you." Tala nodded, and he and Wolborg walked down towards the stables.
--
Ten minutes prior to Kai's exit of his room, Mika was walking down the corridor towards the washrooms. She was mumbling in her head how she could get out of the Empire. But as she continued to walk down the way, a hand suddenly pushed her against the wall, forcing her to drop the bucket at her feet.
. mika's pov.
Looking up, my eyes latch onto a pair of dark cold ones. I recognize that man. He was the same man to be the one who had accompanied the Emperor those weeks ago. I am trembling in fear. Fear, something I really had never shown before.
"I see the young Heir has not done his job," states Boris. "Just as the Emperor and I expected." He runs his other hand down my stomach and finds its way towards my pelvic area. Then he spins me and grabs me by the back of the neck. His fingers pinch into my spine and he pushes my down the hallway.
I am dragged all the way towards a hallway I was never down before. The sorcerer opens the door and throws me in it, and slams it right behind me. I land in a clutter on the ground. Pushing myself up, I turn for the door and start to bang on it. It was bolted shut from the outside.
"Well, I never should have trusted my grandson to fulfill a job he is clearly not qualified for," states a voice from in the back of the room. Slowly, I spin my head around, and look to see the old Emperor sitting in a chair. I turn back and continue to bang on the door, screaming my head off. But no one is coming. The old man chuckles. "You are too wild, ookami girl."
Voltaire gets up and walks over towards me. I turn around, pinning my back to the locked door. I look around. There had to be a way out of there. He was old. He would be slow. I am small and quick. There, a window is in the back of the room. A balcony. It appears to be the same as Kai's. I've been in there so much that I can run through here in the dark and know where I am!
I run for it. Please legs, let me be swift. I run around Voltaire, but his hand snaps out and seizes my arm. He throws me into the nearby wall, and I smash my head into the cold stone. My world is in a daze. Everything is moving too strange. Dizzy. I'm dizzy. I can feel something warm drip down my neck.
I am pinned up against the wall. Voltaire presses his body up against mine. He's taller than me, a good three inches. I feel his arousal growing. He grinds his hip into my pelvis. I can feel it getting harder and harder. I start to breath harder. No, this can't be happening.
One of his hands clenches around my throat, choking me and lifting me onto my tiptoes, I am having a hard time gasping for air. The other hand snakes down underneath me and moves aside my dress and undergarments. I feel his frail fingers rub up against my lips. I moan escapes my lips. Wait! What did I just do! I look into his eyes. He's smiling and licking his lips. He continues to stroke me, constantly.
Then I feel the finger wiggle between my lips, finding my sweet clit. I groan again. And his pressure against my throat tightens. I gasp for breath. Pain and pleasure. He's a beast, a monster. He continues to do this to me for I don't know how long. Finally he removes his hand from me and in a split second I feel a pressing against my lips.
My eyes pop open. No... Kami... No! BEO! I need you! Someone! Help me! Oh my Kami. Please. Please let this be a nightmare!
Suddenly I hear a grunt and then all the pressure on me let go. The hand on my throat releases and I fall to the ground in a clutter. Coughing, that is all I'm doing. I can't stop at first.
"You OK?" asked the soft voice. I look up through my hazy eyes, and notice a pair of blue triangles on the pale face. It was... Kai?
.end pov.
"Come on. We have to get out of here right now," he stated, holding out his hand to help her up. Mika took it and stood up. She stood up too quickly and felt really dizzy and the area around her turn slightly white. Her legs gave out and she fell forward into Kai.
The prince caught the girl, and held her on to him. His hand was placed over her head, but something felt wet. Removing his hand, he looked at the crimson liquid. She was bleeding. No wonder she was dizzy.
"Can you stand?" he asked. Mika nodded, and this time went slower. "Listen. We have to get out of here now." Kai grasped her hand and dragged her out of the room, careful so no one was coming down the hallway. Kai broke into a run and Mika was forced to as well.
"Wait, where are we going?"
"We are leaving the Empire," he replied hushed.
"Hiromi. I won't leave without Hiromi," Mika stated.
"Hiromi? Who is that?"
"The other with me." Kai groaned and they turned around and headed back down towards Mika's quarters.
Hiromi was sitting in the room, falling asleep in the new cot that Takao had brought in for her. Mika rushed in and woke up the wearisome girl.
"What is wrong?" asked the sleepy girl.
"We are leaving," stated Mika. "Come on."
"Last time you tried that-"
"No, we have help this time," stated Mika. Hiromi looked up and saw the Prince and the newly found Dranzer on his shoulder in the hallway, watching. Hiromi pushed herself out of the cot and the two girls ran out of the room.
"Now we are going. No more talking," he stated. "Dranzer, lead the way."
The phoenix took flight and the three ran after her. They had to dodge several Palace guards but they finally reached the stables undetected. Kai snuck them in through a hidden side door behind a pile of grain bags for the horses and let them past rows of stalls where the horses were resting and munching on their hay, their tails flicking every so often.
"What took you so long?" Kai looked up and Mika recognized the red-haired teen that dropped from the rafters gracefully as the guy from the temple, the one who abducted them.
"You!" Mika exclaimed wanting to rush over and strangle the boy, but she was earning dual glares and shushing noises from Hiromi and Kai.
"Shut up! The grooms next door don't need to hear you!" Tala warned him. Kai laid a hand on Tala's arm and shook his head.
"Never mind, Tala. Let's just get them out of the City before anyone discovers Grandfather is unconscious in his quarters."
"What did you do now, Cousin?" Tala questioned. Kai waved the comment away and Takao appeared from one of the stalls.
"Good, Takao. You're here. Now we have to go."
"Why are you doing this?"
"There is no time for explanations," stated Kai, towards Mika.
"Yes there is!"
"Don't be stupid. If you want your freedom, Slave, if you want to live, you will do exactly as I say or we'll all be caught and all our heads shall be in a nice bucket in the morning!" As he spoke he stepped right up close until they were nearly toe-to-toe, Kai looking down because he was taller than Mika.
"Why should I trust you?" Mika didn't flinch away from the intensity of Kai's eyes on hers at such a close distance. If anything she moved closer, unconsciously drawn as if by some sort of strange magnetism. Hiromi rolled her eyes; Takao did the same. Tala tapped his foot on the ground and Wolborg growled. "Tranquillo, il cucciolo." Quiet, pup. The ookami nodded his head and shut his trap. Tala was flabbergasted. Wolborg never listened to anyone but him before. And what had she just said anyway
"I don't care if you trust me or not, Ookami. I just saved you from my Grandfather. Must I say anymore?" Kai stared down at the gray-eyed teen and had to fight off the insistent urge to just lean down a bit farther and press his mouth to Mika's, to find out if she tasted as good as Kai thought she must. No. Wait. He did not just think that. He was going senile.
"If you're going, Kai, you'd better move it. Dranzer's restless." Tala pointed upwards and Kai looked up to see his companion ruffling her feathers anxiously.
"Yeah...what are you still doing here, Tala? Go on." Kai waved him off. "Go to bed. And thank you."
Tala shrugged and gave him a sarcastic bow after handing over the three cloaks that were in his arm. "As my royal cousin orders." He flashed a grin at Kai's growl of annoyance and disappeared out the door.
Kai moved to the door after him and made sure no one was around before calling, "Dranzer!" and holding out his arm for her as the phoenix soared down from the rafters. "Let's go." Takao took the coats from Kai and handed them to Mika and Hiromi, and was right behind Kai, and he waved the girls on after them.
:: Beo. Please. You have to meet up with us.::
The girls went along with the dual-haired prince out of the Palace by way of a servant's gate with their cloaks covering their faces and then through the streets of the Imperial City.
Kai finally stopped at a tavern that was built up against the high city walls. "We're here. Let me do all the talking inside. And keep the hoods of your cloaks up. You're entirely to identifiable and unforgettable with those eyes of yours." He instructed.
"And your eyes aren't anything to recall?" Mika muttered. "Those were rather remarkable and memorable to me."
"Why, Ookami! Were those words of grace?" Kai smirked, hiding the little thrill of happiness that went through him at the comment. "Now hurry and don't say anything."
Mika pulled up his hood after giving Kai a scowl, and she and Hiromi reluctantly followed Kai and Takao inside the inn.
They waited while Kai conversed with the innkeeper quietly for a brief moment and slipped the man some silver coins in exchange for a key. Kai came back over to Hiromi and Mika and instructed, "Follow me."
Kai took them back outside and around to the stables, where guests could leave their horses for their stay when they didn't require to get somewhere. At the back of the barn, in the very last horse stall, there was a well-hidden door that was locked by a huge iron lock. It was buried in the bedding and straw that had been built up over all the years. Kai used the key he had acquired from the innkeeper and pushed the door open.
"There. Your freedom." The crimson-eyed teen said. "Be careful when you go through. There are some prickly thorns on the rose bushes that hide this door on the other side. You'll find two horses and some supplies in the saddlebags tied out there waiting for you." Kai pulled out a small cloth pouch that clinked slightly and pressed it into Hiromi's hand. "There's a bit of money and some valuables that you can trade for more coins later. It's not much but it should be enough to get you out of the Empire if you spend it wisely."
Mika and Hiromi stared at the purse in surprised gratitude. "I...I don't know what to say..." She looked up into Kai's eyes and offered a tentative smile. "I don't understand why you are helping or why you even care, but...thank you."
"Yeah, well, I don't like what my grandfather has done these last few years and I am ashamed of the man he's become. And what he was going to do to you... you would never escape it if you stayed. I also didn't want to see you scrubbing my floors with that taint on your shoulders." Kai looked over his shoulder and frowned at a noise.
"Someone's coming." Hiromi tugged Mika through the door.
"Let's go...while we still have the chance," stated Hiromi.
"Alright. Careful of your skirts, Ookamis." He cautioned as Hiromi stepped over the branches and avoided the problematic rose undergrowth. Kai went with them, intending to make sure they got the horses he'd had Tala procure then leave ready and waiting for their escape.
"Ow! That's my foot!" Hiromi yelped
"Sorry! I can't see in this darkness," Mika apologized.
The four escape artists pushed through the last of the bushes and stepped out into the open...and found themselves surrounded by armed Imperial Guards, on horses, each aiming arrows at them, many had their swords drawn. Kai stepped forward, placing himself between Mika, Takao, Hiromi, and the guards.
"Stand down!" He snapped the order piercingly. He saw some of the guards hesitate and begin to lower their weapons but another voice spoke up and all the weapons remained aimed at them threateningly.
"Do not. We must take these Ookamis back to the Palace and our your Prince, here, must face the penalty for betraying the Emperor's decree so impetuously." A man in armor wearing a black cloak rode forward through the guards and stood tall and proud. Boris.
"It seems as though someone disturbed the Emperor when he was trying to take the ookami wench," snarled Boris. "Now she will be going through some rigid training. As well as you too, your Highness."
"Go to hell," snapped Mika. Hiromi, Kai, and Takao's eyes popped opened wide.
"Enough! Guards, seize them all! Bring them to the Palace at once!"
"You heard the ookami, Boris," Kai glared at the General, pure fury flaring in his eyes. He let out a sharp, high-pitched whistle and seemingly out of nowhere Dranzer swooped in, fire spreading around the guards and Boris.
While the fires and phoenix kept everyone busy, Kai shouted over the rumpus, "Let's get out of here!"
Not about to argue, Mika and Hiromi ran after Takao and Kai along the city walls until they reached a grove of trees where two horses were tied.
"We'll have to double up for now." Takao said, quickly helping Hiromi mount one horse then swinging up into the saddle behind her himself and taking up the reigns. Kai did the same with Mika, untied both horses, and led Kai off, away from the city and the guards.
--
They hadn't ridden far in to up coming woods when a light cry of a bird sounded and Dranzer swooped down, landing on Kai's offered forearm and settling on his shoulder when he moved her there.
"Thanks, Dranzer. That was very appropriate back there." Kai smooth talked to her, making her tut happily in his ear. "We'd better ride hard and fast to put as much distance as we can between us and them."
"I can comply with that," Mika sighed. She hesitated a moment then leaned back on Kai's chest to his attention. "I misjudged you. You put yourself in danger for me back there, for us and now you're in huge trouble, too. I thank you, and at the same time, I am sorry for the nuisance I've instigated towards us."
Kai looked down at her for a moment. He nodded towards her and then looked forward. His face felt heat rush to his cheeks. He was not going to let the ookami see him like this. How was she doing this to him anyway?
"By the way, I have yet to learn your name. Either of you too. Well I know Hiromi's but yours," he stated.
"I am... Michi."
"Michi, well I must say no one's scrubbed my floors more interestingly than you." Mika blushed. She had never scrubbed floors in the life before.
"I know a place we might go, if you're interested." Hiromi's eyes almost popped out of her head, and she snapped her face towards Mika. What was she thinking?
"As long as it's outside the Empire then yes," Kai replied, noting the change of pitch and tempo in her voice and wondering at it. "Never mind, Kai. Escape now, have hentai daydreams later Wait! What did I just think?" He reminded himself.
"It is. A little village just outside the Torabuzo. It is pass the Ookamikei lands. It is quiet and clear of guards of such. It is like a sanctuary for travelers. I was around there a few times growing up." Mika focused her attention on trying to stay awake.
Kai nodded. "Good enough. Let's ride as fast and far as we can tonight. I want to get as much distance as possible between us and the danger we leave behind." He looked back at Takao. "You up to it?"
"I'm okay, your Highness. Lets ride on." Takao told him. Kai nodded.
"From now on don't address me as 'your Highness' or 'my Lord' or anything, okay? I'm just...Kai. That goes for you all. Try to refrain from calling my by my surname, please."
"Like I was going to call you that anymore anyway," thought Mika. "Where's Beo? I hope he can find us."
"Yes, your...I mean, Kai."
Kai nudged his horse into a run and Takao followed, close behind. The two girls prayed for the boys to hold them tightly.
They rode all night and a good deal through the morning. The sun was high into the sky and huge clouds had begun to form when Kai finally slowed his horse to a walk then stopped. His horse needed a rest, he was about to fall asleep in the saddle, and something was irking him. He glanced at his hand. It was red. Blood. Michi's head!
Takao and Hiromi pulled up beside him. Hiromi was already asleep, curled against the bluenette's chest and Takao had once arm wrapped around her waist to hold her in place. "What is bothering you, Sir-err Kai?" Takao inquired.
Kai frowned and shook the sleeping Mika awake. "Michi, wake up. Your head. You were bleeding quiet much last night. We have to tend to that."
"Huh? Mmmph. More sleep..." she mumbled, swatting her hand as Kai, accidentally hitting him square in the noise.
"I'll survey for a good place to rest." Takao offered, preparing to dismount. Kai held up a hand and waved him back.
"No need. Dranzer will lead us to a safe place." Kai nudged the lethargic firebird on his shoulder. "Dranzer? Wake up!" She opened her eyes and blinked at him owlishly, disheveling her feathers. "I know. Help us find a safe place to camp and you'll get back to sleep faster." Kai pointed out. Dranzer chirped in his ear before hopping down onto his forearm and launching herself into the air, soaring high and fading from view.
They waited in silence for about five more minutes (Mika getting more uncomfortable with the quiet by the second as she was feeling rather light headed) when Dranzer returned with a squawk and circled her human companion thrice to gain Kai's attention. Then she flew ahead of them and they followed close behind.
She led them off the path they were following deep into the forest, until they reached a very beautiful, secluded clearing - complete with a babbling, clear rivulet that streamed through it.
"Wonderful. Thanks, Dranzer!" Kai gave his avian companion a grateful smile and she bobbled her head at him in return, landing on a tree limb to roost. Takao shook Hiromi awake gently.
"Hey. We're resting here, Hiromi."
"Huh? Oh." She sat up straight stiffly and looked around. He slid off the horse, reaching up to lend her a hand down.
Kai had already done the same with Mika and had sat the smaller teen down on the moss-covered floor, propped up against a dry, dull log. "Michi? How're you feeling?"
"I'm okay..."
"No, you're not." Kai sighed. "Hiromi. In your saddle bag are bandages. Can you wrap Michi's head?"
"What happened to her head?" asked Hiromi as she was digging through the saddle bag.
"Nothing," quickly replied Mika, not wanting to relive those memories. "I am fine. Nothing's wrong with my head. We have to keep moving."
"We don't want you to fall ill on us, Michi," stated Takao. "Now sit here and let Hiromi wrap your head." Mika frowned at Takao and grumbled under her breath. Takao removed his cloak and helped Hiromi move Mika's hair around to find the large surface gash in her head.
"Kami..." Hiromi breathed. "What did he do to you?"
Kai felt a boiling anger stirring up inside him again at the remembrance of what he had found Mika in when he went to his grandfather's room. He stood abruptly, walking off away from the others where he found a large mass-covered tree and kicked it as hard as he could. He continued to kick and punch the tree and ignored everyone and everything, too occupied with controlling his formidable anger.
Mika watched him in a mixture of fear, concern, and uncertainty as the two finished up wrapping her wounded head. She made a move as if to get up and go talk to the furious prince but stopped when Takao put his hand on Mika's shoulder and shook his head side to side.
"Don't, Michi. It's best to let him sort things out for himself, right now." Takao advised softly.
Mika wanted to argue but decided against it. "I suppose."
"Michi, come with me. We need to clean off those back wounds of yours. They should be almost healed, but we best not want to have a mishap," stated Hiromi. Mika nodded, glancing once more towards the fueding Kai, and got up and walked with Hiromi down a bit into the woods along the stream.
Hiromi, staying away from Kai as best she could, followed Mika down the line and helped her undress to go into the fresh spring. Hiromi started to bathe Mika's elder wounds gently carrying a clean set of clothes and some emergency bandages and ointment she'd found in the saddlebags. "Good thing they packed this stuff. It's sure coming in handy now."
She sighed as Hiromi used little of the ointment on the worst of her unhealed injures and bandage her up as best she could. The clothes were entirely too big on her since they were packed with Takao and Kai in mind. Besides, they weren't even clothing she usually would wear. They were mens clothing. It consisted of a long sleeved shirt, baggy trousers, a leather vest, and a sash for a belt. But after a few adjustments, Michi was clothed again.
"There. Better. Now, lets get back to the guys." Hiromi stood up and brushed herself off before they returned to where they had left Kai and Takao..
Once they'd returned and together with Takao's help gotten a fire going, and a modest meal of the fresh fish Takao had caughten was prepared, the three sat companionably together and ate.
Mika, the entire afternoon and well into the evening, kept glancing at Kai, who hadn't moved from his spot on one of the limbs of the tree he had beaten up. Takao had called to him when their meal was ready but all he got was an indifferent grunt in reply, so the bluenette reluctantly left him alone again.
Since Hiromi and Mika had napped on most of the ride earlier, Takao stretched out comfortably beside the fire at a safe distance and dozed off for a while.
Eventually, however, Kai finally did move from his tree. He sulked over to the fire, where Hiromi was sitting and poking at the burning sticks with another stick idly, and said gruffly, "Wake up Takao. We'll travel at night from now on until we get out of the Empire. If Grandfather or Boris sends people after us - which either probably has - it'll be easier to avoid them under cover of darkness."
Hiromi turned towards Mika who was looking out into the woods contently. She felt sorry for Mika. She knew that she was looking for her trusted Beo.
"We're leaving, Michi," Kai stated, smothering their campfire with dirt. "Pack up." He turned away, fighting the urge to go over and find out why the girls' face was so down.
"Oh. Sure," Mika said snapping out of her trance and went to it.
Hiromi helped Takao and Mika clean up the area an remove all trace that they had been camping there. Every so often Mika would glance over at the woods, hoping to see the oddly colored ookami kami.
Kai glanced up from a folded sheet of parchment he was studying that he had pulled out of one of the saddlebags. "It should take us about another three night's ride to reach the border. Then another how ever long to get through Ookamikei and to the village. We have to ride hard and fast if we expect to stay ahead of any pursuit parties."
"Let's go!" Hiromi exclaimed, tugging Takao to their horse. "We've got a long ride ahead of us."
Mika followed behind Kai, and got up into the saddle first. She looked back across the brook. She couldn't help but feel a presence there. Like she had to wait for something.
"What's wrong?" asked Kai. Mika turned back down to look at Kai and shook it off like it was nothing.
"I was just thinking," replied. Mika. "Don't mind me!" Kai nodded slowly and mounted up onto the back of the horse, sitting behind Mika and gathered the reins.
"I probably should tell him once that I know how to ride," thought Mika. "Later. Oh Beo, where are you?"
"Come on!" said Kai as he nudged his horse forward, but Dranzer soared in front of them and squawked, blocking the path the horse was taking. "What is it Dranzer?" It was faint, but Mika's heart skipped a beat. She swung her leg in front of the saddle and slipped from underneath Kai's arms. "Where are you going Michi?" Mika ignored them.
"It is him. He's back!" Mika ran towards the brook, and started to wade right through it. Kai spun his horse around and nudged it forward going after her.
"If you go into that water, you'll get sick in this cold night air!" shouted Hiromi, unaware of what was going on.
"No, Hiromi!" stated Mika as she started into the water. "He's here! He's coming!"
"Who's coming?" asked Kai.
As if to answer his question, a white wolf appeared out of the forest clearing and on the other side of the bank. He had a gray crescent moon on his forehead and stripes underneath his crimson eyes and around his legs. The ookami yelped at Mika's direction and sprinted off towards the water. They met each other halfway there and the white ookami jumped onto his haunches and placed its drenched paws on Mika's chest. The girl wrapped her arms around the Kami.
:: Beo! It is you!::
:: I am sorry it took me so long to find you. I have been dodging Houou soldiers all night and day. They are headed this way.::
:: We are on our way out of here. I heared your footsteps and Dranzer also helped halt Kai.::
:: Kai as in the Heir to the Imperial Houou Empire Kai?::
:: Yes, Beo. He has helped us escape from the Houou Emperor. He's a fugitive too now.::
:: Well, if I'll be damned.::
"Come on!" exclaimed Hiromi.
"We don't want to run into any Houou soldiers," stated Takao. Kai stopped his horse right at the water's edge and dismounted. Mika and Beo waded out of the little river.
"Who is that?" asked Kai, pointing towards the oddly colored ookami with eyes that matched his own. It resembled Wolborg slightly, if he didn't have the markings or the eyes. Mika patted the ookami on the head, and walked pass Kai, getting into the saddle all on her own.
"That is Beo, my guardian," stated Mika. Kai nodded, and Dranzer soared over towards Beo. She landed on his back and the two barked and chirped at one another.
"It is like they know each other," whispered Hiromi.
Kai mounted up and with Dranzer leading the way in the dark of night and Beo keeping a close eye on what was surrounding them, they all their journey to escape the certain death was closing in from behind.
A/n: sorry it took so long. Been busy! Please read and review! Complinets recieve cookies! (not really, but they are nice). Flames are used to improve with.
Ja ne
padfootop
Jap Dictionary:
Ookami wolf
Kami God