Akemi: Princess of Bandits
Chapter 3: Akemi's Fiance!
Disclaimer: I own no characters or concepts from King of Bandit Jing, but I do own Akemi. But for the most part, a fanfiction is just that therefore most of the concepts are not mine. Meh.
A/N: Meh. The delay is due to the fact that I'm losing inspiration. Sorry peoples.
But, in any case, not sure if I mentined this or not (and am too lazy to open the other documents to find out), some "screen caps" and sketches of Akemi, Jing and Kir can be found at my sheezyart account. Feel free to tell me what you think. (sheezyart sn: saviisav)
x x x x
Jing and Kir hadn't noticed her absence on the last mission. Or at least she didn't think they did. She quickly slipped out of the allies next to Jing and then in front of him, grabbing randomly at his pocket in the process. She turned and walked backwards grinning at him miscieviously, "Heya."
"Hi," he returned the grin.
They walked like that for quite some time in silence. Suddenly, Jing stopped and smirked, "Can I help you?"
"Nah. Got it covered."
Kir was perched on Jing's shoulder just watching in confusion. Apparently, there was some situation happening between the two that was completely invisible to anyone watching. This seemed to happen a lot with Jing and Akemi. Several times throughout missions together, just a glance at one another and they could perform a complicated, synchronized display of their skills.
"So...Akemi, where were you that last mission?" Kir decided to interrupt their little 'telekinesis' connection.
Akemi shrugged, "Had something to take care off."
"Really now?" Jing said crossing his arms.
"Yu-huh," she stuck her tongue out at them both.
Jing approached her and pulled something of hers out of his pocket, "What's this?"
Akemi went wide eyed as she saw one her books, her journal, in the hands of the king of bandits, "Give that back!"
He moved away before she could grab it, "Tell me what it's about! I enjoy a good book from time to time!" he'd never seen her lose her cool like she had right that moment.
She flustered, "None of your business!"
"Well, then I think I'll go have it analyzed then..." he put it back in his pocket.
"Argh! You damn thief!" she lunged at him angrily.
Jing jumped out of the way, "Look who's talking!"
He would've been free of her if he hadn't forgotten that she matched his skills almost completely. He went to jump back thinking there would be enough time to step aside and trip her, but she was faster than that. She launched herself up at him, wrapped her arms around his neck, did a 180 degree swing to his back and tightened her grip choking him from behind, "Give it here damnit!"
Jing was taken aback at first but then smirked, "I suppose you earned it..."
He picked the book out of his pocket and held it out for her. Keeping one arm around his neck, she used her left to grab it. He pulled it away quickly, "But first I want that back."
Akemi knew what he was talking about. She giggled and pulled the crystal with a woman in it from her own pocket and they traded, "Been nice doing business with ya." Jing put his precious into his pocket, as did Akemi.
Kir went back to his perch on Jing's shoulder and sighed, "Jeez, and this is was happens when two bandits 'team up'...C'mon, lets get back to our room. I'm beat...and wanna visit the two girls in the room next to ours!"
Akemi rolled her eyes, "You know, women aren't prizes and things..."
"You're just jealous...but you had your chance..."
Akemi grabbed him by the beak and pulled him closer, "I swear you'll never be able to woe a woman ever again if you say that!"
Kir whined in fright and Jing was leaning his head away from them, "Done yet? Y'know, you pulling him like that actually adds weight on my shoulder and it hurts."
Kir and Akemi glared at him and he laughed, "Hahaha! How cute!" he pointed.
"Why you evil little...!" Akemi jumped on Jing as Kir flew off his shoulder just in time as the two teens plummetted to the ground.
Jing was still laughing, "Wow. What was that?"
"That was a warm up. This is me killing you!" she pinned him to the ground and help a dagger over his face.
Jing laid there grinning up at her coolly, "I'm waiting."
Akemi made the mistake of hesitating, because he heaved up and easily flipped her over putting her into the same position he'd been in. She glared at him, "I hate you."
He grinned, "I know."
The sun was beginning to set on the horizon by the time they returned to their room. Much arguing and fighting occured along the way, not unsual. Exhausted, the three quickly took to slumber, Kir sleeping in Jing's coat pocket, Jing and Akemi sleeping back to back on the bed. If Kir hadn't been so tired, he'd have said something smart about it.
x x x x
Jing woke up sweating and shaking with the loss of breath in the middle of that night. He couldn't remember the nightmare, but it shook him pretty badly. He turned over the find Akemi missing from her place. His slight surprise was settled when he found Akemi's fragile figure sitting in a pool of moonlight under the window. For once, she didn't look so rough and childish. She almost looked pure and free of flaws. Was he still dreaming?
Akemi's head snapped up in his direction, the moonshine catching in deep, poisonous green eyes and making her skin ghostly. This was a different Akemi than he knew.
"Jing..." her voice rang through his mind like a soft bell.
Two options ran through his mind; this was the real side of Akemi nobody ever saw...or a new one she never knew she had. Her eyes bore into his like daggers.
"Jing..."
"Yes, Akemi? What is it?" he knelt down near her, but before she could answer...
x x x x
"Jing! Wake up! It's time to go!" Akemi's voice was normal again and she was slapping him with his boot.
He slowly opened his eyes once the bludgeoning stopped, "Hnn? Sleep..." he rolled over.
Kir began laughing from across the room and Akemi flustered, "Jing, King of bandits, get your ass out of this bed before I take your precious jewel!" she picked up his coat and picked through the pockets.
"Alright! I'm up!" he flew out of the bed and grabbed the coat.
Before he knew it, they were on the next ship to Locke. None of them had any idea where or why they were going. Just that the town was called "Locke" and supposedly there was something legendary there called the "Moon Stone". Obviously, the people there claimed it came from the moon and that it had special "powers" of sorts. Akemi didn't seem to buy into it, but Jing and Kir would believe anything for the sake of dangerous "fun".
When they docked, they were at a loss of where to go! Suddenly, a man on a motorbike sped up beside them and stared at Jing, "A moon is located up high, right? Maybe search higher, rather than lower, would help your search," and with that, he sped away.
Akemi cocked a brow, "What the hell! Who the hell was that? Jing?"
"Higher..." Jing was gazing up at the buildings. That's when he saw it, "That building right there! If you look at it the right way it almost looks like a crescent."
Kir and Akemi tilted their heads several ways before they got it, "Ohhh! You're right!"
"C'mon, you two. Lets get a move on," Jing said as Kir perched on his shoulder and they began heading for the building. They were barely into the town square when somebody stepped in front of them.
He was very tall with long, flowing auburn hair, hazel eyes and a somewhat feminine face. He wore very expensive looking satin clothing, obviously royalty. He immediately approached Akemi, "Excuse me if I'm being rude and too forward, beautiful miss, but..." he kissed her hand, "I believe I'm staring pure beauty in the face!"
Jing cocked a brow, "Jeez, and I thought it didn't get worse than Kir..."
The man ignored Jing and continued, "I am Prince Caim, and judging from your beautiful plum coloured hair, green irises, dark attire and...this..." he pointed to the chain sticking out over the collar of her shirt, "You must be Akemi, the Princess of Bandits."
The chain had a silver skull and crossbones for a charm and was given to her by a very advanced bandit she'd outwitted some years back. It was from that point on that people had begun to know her as the princess of bandits. It was known as the "charm of the bandit princess" in some peoples' views. She pulled her hand away, "Maybe...I forgot..." Akemi raised an eyebrow similar to Jing.
"Hehe...well in any case. if you didn't hear, my name is Caim, my princess."
Jing, having seen quite enough of this, stepped in and threw a chicken bone at Caim's head, "Y'know..." he spoke with a mouth half full of food, "That...is one way of treating a girl, but not the way for her. No offense, but all I'm saying is...she hates you, if you can't see that."
"And what makes you so sure of that, huh?"
Jing shrugged and stood next to Akemi, "Jus' lookit 'er face...it says it all."
"Not your princess, not anyone's princess. Go away," Akemi walked away with the most freaked out look on her face.
Jing grinned, "See? Told ya," he and Kir caught up with Akemi.
They entered the building liked they owned it and were in and out quicker than they thought they'd be. They'd run right past the guards with ease and found a huge room with millions of valuables, obviously belonging to the king. Jing had, of course, come for only one thing that he'd found interesting; the moon stone. He mumbled something about it but Akemi couldn't make it out.
"You ready?" he asked once he got what he came for.
Akemi was admiring a giant painting up on the wall of a couple and their baby. She had a pretty good idea of who they were, in fact, she knew exactly. That prince Caim and his family. They didn't look like a happy family; they looked detatched. Like it was only so because it had to be. Jing stood next to her and observed the painting as well, "I don't think we can fit that out the door honestly..."
Akemi shook her head, "Never said I was gonna take it."
"Jus' saying!" he grinned.
"Lets go," she quickly swooped down and picked something up that Jing couldn't see as she made her way to the door.
After the big excape, the three ended up sleeping under a bridge for the night. Akemi enjoyed it there more than their times in the tavern. Rooms made her feel trapped. Especially with the doors closed. She slept easy that night.
x x x x
They were woken up the next morning by loud music. Akemi glared groggily in its direction, "Ugh, such annoying sounds."
Jing was still on his back and yawning, half awake, "Uh-huh..." suddenly, he sat up and yelled causing Kir and Akemi to jump out of their skin.
"Aaaahhh! Don't you make noise!" Akemi yelled back at him.
"Ow. Leaned on something sharp," he picked up a sharp piece of glass that looked like it had once been part of a bottle.
She glared at him, "That's it!"
Jing sweat dropped, "Um...yes?"
Akemi rolled her eyes and sighed, "Shall we getgoing now that we're so nicely awake?"
"Sure!" Jing was suddenly wide awake.
She twitched slightly and then stood with him, "Don't get too excited, you might hurt yourself."
The moment they climbed the ladder up to the bridge they were bombarded by a band and many people. The three stared in confusion. Prince Caim moved to Akemi and took her hand like before, "The fair and beautiful Miss. Akemi, I'm so glad to have found you!"
It was Akemi's turn to sweat drop, 'You can't honestly tell me he couldn't find me under that bridge...'
"Hey, I thought Akemi told you to beat it!" Kir growled portectively.
That amused Akemi, but Prince Caim was not pleased. Though, the frown on Caim's face turned to a grin when he said, "Welcome, the two of you..." he pulled Akemi close to him, "To our wedding!"
Kir and Jing were in shock just then, "WHAT! Wedding! Akemi, when did this happen!"
Akemi was just as freaked out as they were about the whole situation, "Never! I am not marrying you!"
Prince Caim laughed and held her hand up for her for all to see, "Oh, don't you remember? This is the engagement ring I gave you last night! You weren't saying no over our dinner..."
"What the fuck! What dinner!" Akemi was getting truly frightened now. Had she sleep walked? What was going on?
Jing looked at her seriously, "Did you really, Akemi?"
"No! I don't even remember doing anything last night except sleeping under the bridge!" she pulled away from Caim back against the side of the bridge.
"Well, you must have forgotten. No matter, you said yes and you will marry me...and be queen of Locke!" he advanced on her and tried to kiss her.
"Whoa!" Jing stepped between them and pushed Caim away, "As far as I heard, she denies it happening. And she denies your request for marriage. So she will not go through with it. Got it?" he sent Caim a death glare from behind black bangs.
Kir hovered in front of Jing, "Yeah. Got it?"
"Oh! Is that a challenge?" Caim grinned.
"I...uh..." Kir looked to Jing who never faultered.
"As a matter of fact, yes it is!" Jing's sword appeared from within his sleeve.
"Fine then. We'll do battle and whoever wins become Miss. Akemi's groom. Deal?"
Jing was too preoccupied on keeping him away from Akemi to realize what he was agreeing to, but Kir stared wide eyed at all three of them. Akemi was looking down...hiding a blush. Kir smirked to himself.
"Lets get this over with. I've about had it with you!" Jing yelled and waited for Prince Caim to attack first.
He easily dodged the beautifully designed sword made specially for the prince with ease. Jing smirked as he immediately knew he had the advantage. Caim didn't seem to be too skilled in swordsmanship and not only that, the sword was heavy in his grip. Jing's advantage would be speed and most likely trickery. He stepped back as Caim attacked once more.
"This should be over quick..." Jing swung his sword and their blades clashed.
The sad part of all this was that thesheer force of Jing's blade was enough to shatter Prince Caim's! He cut him across the chest a little to scare him off, which worked nicely. The villagers all ran away along with their Prince leaving the three alone. Jing cleaned his blade and put it away, "We should leavenow, before they decide to come back."
"Jing...are you okay?" Akemi was almost scared of his serious tone.
He turned, grinned and laughed happily, "Of course! I just don't wanna humilliate him again!"
Kir and Akemi let out a suspenseful breath they'd been holding. She smiled, "Wait a minute..."
Akemi removed the ring from her finger. She suspected that he'd slipped it on when he'd grabbed her hand, but then again, she did sleep like a rock. She leaned over the bridge, skipped the ring off the surface of the water and watched it sink quickly. It was followed by a stone skipping the same path. Akemi laughed and shoved Jing in the shoulder, "Copy cat."
He shoved back, "Princess!"
She shook her head with a smile on her lips, "Do me a favour...and never call me that again!"
"Princess! Princess! Princess!" he chimed playfully and ruffled her hair.
"You twerp!" she ran at him and pushed him over.
"C'mon kids, play nicely now," Kir sighed and rolled his eyes.
Jing and Akemi exchanged glances and then gave Kir puppydog pouts, "But but...we don't wanna!"
"Alright, that's it. I'm gone," he flew over the bridge.
"Hey! Get back here you!" Jing jumped down onto the shore next to the water and was about to run after him when he realized Akemi hadn't followed. He stared back up at the bridge and went wide eyed when she wasn't there, "Akemi! C'mon!"
There was no answer. Just silence. Kir circled around and perched on Jing, "What's up?"
"Akemi...she's...gone."