"Fractured!"
Chapter 1
xX "'Why does the princess ask impossibilities?'" xX
The tall, dark doors flew open and a small monster walked inside, panting with his hands on his knees. He shook his head violently, staring at the floor.
"What is it?" asked the king, sitting in the black throne, arms crossed.
"Your ambassador has just returned from the kingdom of Bellaham, Your Majesty. The king still guarantees the match, but won't send the princess until she is somewhat happy. The ambassador was unable to persuade her." Said the tiny creature, in a frightened, breathless voice.
The king shook his head, flipping his thin black hair around, and glared at his messenger. "Why was she not pleased?"
"You and your kingdom do not appeal to her, Your Majesty. According to him, she did not take the gifts."
He pondered this for a few moments and then banged his fist on his armrest, frowning behind his mask. "I've never been so insulted in my life! Who does this runt think she is to reject me?"
The little monster cowered before his irate master. "Sire, she must be, you know she must have-"
"If I might suggest something, Your Majesty," The doors opened again, revealing the royal ambassador. The tinier demon hid behind him, fearing the king.
"Yes, go right ahead," said the king.
"Why don't you use…him?"
The messenger gave him a frightened and confused look, burying his head in the ambassador's leg. Body shaking, the little creature whimpered in fear.
The king stroked his chin. "You might have something there, although…we must make certain that he does not try to escape,"
"I hardly think he will try to do so," said the ambassador. "They say in his hopelessness he has lost his rebellious spirit,"
The king also pondered this point for some time. "I can strike fear into him either way," he finally answered, "I've been doing it for so long. Well then, little freak, go clean him up for his journey. I'm sure he'll be…elated."
The short monster screamed in terror. "No, please, Your Majesty, he is an honor too great for me! Please send someone else! I am not worthy!"
"So, you think highly of him," The king said, "He is dirt and should be in your mind. Go fetch him,"
Shaking horribly, the little one crept out of the room, whimpering as he tiptoed up the curling stairs. The king and the ambassador continued to converse about the situation, their voices becoming fainter as the demon grew closer to the cell.
He reached the tallest tower of the gloomy castle, where at the top lay a lonely room with a not-so-lovely view of the stormy world the king ruled over. The demon opened the door slowly, making it creak. "H-h-h-h-el-lo," he stammered, "H-h-ow…are…you…?"
The prisoner, whose name the king rarely spoke to anyone but the prisoner, was in his seemingly perpetual spot across the window, sitting on the ground with his back leaning on the stone wall. His arms and legs were chained up so that he couldn't move, his body heavily scarred and dirty. The only thing left beautiful was his face and his locks- he had a head of flaming red hair and piercing green eyes, now closed in agony, to match. It was the king's orders that no one hurt those parts of him, not even His Majesty himself.
Opening his eyes, he turned his head to glare at the creature. "What do you want?" The prisoner asked, his voice scratchy and cold. He seemed, to the small demon, like a man of tin who was rusting quickly.
"The k-king wishes you to go to B-bellaham as an ambassador, to g-g-get the p-p-princess to agree to his m-m-marriage. They obviously believe that your…skills…will come in h-handy."
His eyes narrowed. "Very well," In vain, the prisoner tried to get up, but he just appeared like a flailing fish. The messenger, as he always did, was torn between his fear and his sympathy for the powerful man. Those eyes were cold, but behind them the little monster swore he could see a tinge of unbearable despair. "I'll do…as he asks,"
From underneath his little yukata the monster pulled a set of keys and walked towards the prisoner. Determined not to make eye contact, he unlocked the chains and allowed the prisoner to stand. At first, he fell, but picking himself up again he walked. The messenger walked right behind him, trying to guide the man. "Let's get you cleaned up…" He said the next part softly so that no one would hear, "Kurama."
xX "'I could get it back for you,' said the frog, 'but what will you give me in return?'" xX
"We're just telling you that you could have been a little nicer to the ambassador. He meant no harm to you, in fact, the rather opposite,"
Botan, Royal Princess of Bellaham, would not look her mother in the eye. At this point, she hated her mother more than anything in the world. She would never, ever, ever marry King Karasu, no matter how many gifts she was offered. She would die thousands of painful deaths first.
"Anyone who thinks highly of the king," she said, "Obviously has as much character as a rock, mother. He didn't deserve even my kindness."
"I found him quite flattering," said her father, fiddling with his pacifier. "You should have consented."
"But don't you think I should base my opinion on the man himself and not his pawns?" Botan cried, in desperation. She couldn't marry the king. She just couldn't!
"That is the truth, my daughter, but you were given all sorts of information about the king." Said her mother. "I would be handing myself to him,"
The princess shook her head. "I am afraid I have different standards than you,"
The queen looked down on her daughter. "Very well then, my dear," the parents exchanged looks. "It is no matter. We have received word that another ambassador is to come to persuade you."
Botan's mouth nearly hit the floor. "Isn't one enough?"
Her father shook his head. "No. We don't want to have to force you."
Botan's mouth hit the floor this time, her heart sinking fast. "You mean to say that- that-"
"That the match is almost guaranteed? Yes," Her mother shooed her. "We need our alone time."
Botan walked out of the room, leaning against the wall and staring at the ceiling. So, this was her destiny…this was fate's cruel plan? She was going to marry a creepy king in a gloomy country, bear his children, and die? And it was as soon as the ambassador pleased her? She knew that no one ever could, but Botan wondered how long it would be before she was forced. This wasn't what she wanted at all, and she was determined to get out of it.
Feeling an urge to go outside, she ran through the palace halls and out the door, bumping and possibly knocking down a few servants on the way. She stopped to catch her breath once she stepped across the moat, looking around the pretty, flower-filled world. That she could leave this place for Karasu's land any time soon…she couldn't even think about it! Botan walked towards a large marble fountain that had stood for generations and took a seat, biting her lip in worry and trying with everything in her power not to think about her inevitable marriage.
"Hey!" She heard a male's muffled shriek and began to look around for the source. "Your ass is pretty sexy, but I can't breathe."
Botan stood up, straightening her skirt. "I'm horribly sorry about sitting on you, but you're not all that flattering,"
"Yeah, yeah, I get that a lot," It was a frog, which Botan found most peculiar, that she had mistakenly sat on. "How about a favor for your sitting on me?"
"Well, what do you need? I can at least try," said the kind princess, sitting beside the frog.
"A kiss," The frog replied, smirking.
"And how do I know you're not just a pervert?"
He rolled his eyes. "I promise on my father's, who I might add is a duke, name that if you kiss me, I'll be a person again. And while you're pretty hot, I'm getting the impression you're not my type."
Botan's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "You really don't know how to flatter girls, do you?"
The frog sighed. "Damn it, can you just do it? I've been stuck like this for a whole year, as of yesterday, all because I stole some stupid little thing from some crazy old hag! I can get you as much jewelry and cash as you want if you just do it!"
Botan wasn't about to agree to kiss a frog, kind as she was, for little reason, but something in the back of her mind pressed her to agree. She tried to ignore it, in her moody state, but a cry begged to be heard. An escape plan…
Yes! That was it! Somehow, she could twist this whole thing into a master escape plan. If he really was a lord…she could…she could run away to wherever he ruled, totally unknown! And if not that, surely she could find a place to live somewhere where no one knew her. Botan had done it. "On one condition,"
His eyes lit up immediately. "And what is that?"
"I'm going to run away for good…and you're going to help me,"
"I've never met a princess who wanted to run away…"
"You aren't supposed to marry King Karasu, are you?"
The frog almost fell over. "Okay, never mind…at your service as long as you kiss me."
Botan shuddered, thinking how bad the king really could be. Seeing their disgusting wedding in her mind, she frantically swept the frog up in her hands and planted a quick kiss on its lips, spitting from the nasty taste. Feeling the winds pick up, she looked on anyhow, seeing an explosion of pink smoke and then a booming noise like a bomb that made her ears bleed. Wincing, she tried to see if she could see a body in the smoke, but it was too thick, and Botan ended up waiting a long time before the former frog would show his face.
xX "Then the girl threw her long braid out the window…" xX
"Okay, first things first…you are a really bad kisser."
Botan looked on to finally see the frog, who, to her surprise and joy, had not been joking: Embroidered on his tunic was symbol that obviously stood for royalty, though she hadn't a clue what country. His outfit was very fine indeed, though torn in a few places, and he had a sword around his waist. The boy didn't seem to have anything else, which from what Botan knew, was out of the ordinary. His eyes were brown, but flickered red at times, and his hair was dark and appeared to be pulled back by some wonder substance. Botan thought he seemed…all right for someone to run away with, except for the lack of daggers.
"I mean, even if that was your first," said the noble boy, spitting on the ground, "You spat in my mouth! Nasty!"
"Kissing a frog isn't the most delightful thing to do," Botan answered, her arms folded.
The boy didn't respond for a while, seeming to be worried about his hair. Finally, he said, "Well, thanks anyway, I suppose. I was missing myself.
"Yusuke Urameshi, helping you to get away from homosexual kings."
"Oh, yes! I'm Botan," she said, pulling out her oar from behind her back. "If you wouldn't mind going up to my room like this…I don't want my parents to see you."
He took a seat on the oar in sort of a confused trance and Botan flew them up to the window in her bedroom. Stepping inside via the window, she ushered Yusuke in as well. He gave a quick glance around her bedroom, which was a pink and blue color scheme, and wincing, sat in a blue chair.
It was at this moment that Botan realized she had no clue how to run away.
"I suppose I should take a bag-"
"You won't be able to carry it," said Yusuke, "Unless you have a horse, and horses are too slow."
"Too slow?"
"Compared to me, and that flying thing of yours, yes,"
She doubted any man could be faster than a horse. "If I don't take a bag, please tell me how I'm going to feed myself."
"Berries and hunting. It's simple, actually," Yusuke answered.
Questions were coming into Botan's mind at breakneck speed. "And where am I going to end up?"
He pondered this for a short time. "Do you mind demons?"
Botan giggled. "Demons don't exist."
"Then what do you call Karasu? Or me?"
"You're a demon?"
He pointed his finger at the symbol on his chest. "Psst! The picture!" Yusuke seemed quite proud of it. Botan didn't see how that demonstrated anything demonic until she looked harder.
The symbol was two obvious monsters devouring humans quite gruesomely. She was at a loss for understanding how anyone could wear that proudly. "Are there any nice demons?"
"Duh." He was looked around, apparently trying to amuse himself. There was nothing. "Besides, I'm only half demon." The admittance seemed hard for him.
"Well then, no, as long as it's not Karasu." Said Botan.
"If that's the case, then, you could live at my place- you might find it boring, but you can bring along someone…"
"Should I leave a note?"
He looked up, putting his arms behind his head. "What kind of note?"
Botan shrugged. "I don't know, something intimidating, like, 'Mwahaha, you'll never catch me'?"
"I don't know about that, but-…wait for it…yup. I just got an amazing idea."
"Really, did you?"
"Just listen- what if you left a note that you wouldn't marry Karasu unless a shitload of deeds were done, and then make the deeds impossible!"
"But I don't know any impossible deeds," Botan replied, letting her shoulders down in sadness.
"Well, I do," said Yusuke. "Get a piece of paper and a pen,"
Botan opened one of her drawers, pulling out a slip of parchment and a writing pen. Handing these items to Yusuke, he said that she was writing, so she started. "If the king so desires my hand, his ambassador shall carry out these tasks…what now?"
"Have you lost any jewelry lately?" Yusuke asked.
"Yes, a ring, but that was a month ago,"
"Where?"
"In the fountain."
"Write 'fetch my ring from the forest'," Botan did. "Anybody big and tall that you know?"
"Only Bui, but he stopped courting me several years ago," she replied.
"Put 'Kill Bui',"
"Why? That's hardly fair,"
"Because it's almost impossible," Shaking her head, Botan wrote down the deed. "Now, do you know a place with freaky water?"
"What do you mean, freaky water?"
"Water that does something weird, like give people warts and stuff,"
"Like the spring that gives eternal youth?"
"That's good. Make the sucker get you some water from that spring." Botan wrote that down as well. "As for the rest of it…here we go. Write as I talk.
"Wake up Jin Kaze Tsukai and bring him, awake, to the palace."
"Wake him up?" Asked Botan. "Is it really such a horrible task?"
"First you have to find him, and then…" Yusuke smirked. "If the ambassador's a guy, he's going to find the remedy a bit…unnerving. Anyway, have him take a diamond from the mouth of Chuu and a toad from the mouth of Rinku. Rescue Shishiwakamaru from the evil field mouse and bring him back to Juri. Stop the Beautiful Demon Battler's reign of terror and return the infants to their mothers. Capture the evil fairy and stop him from terrorizing innocent people and fairy tales… Oh yeah, and one more…ride up Elder Toguro's beanstalk and kill the overly muscular giant.
"That's all I've got. Sorry."
Botan stared at Yusuke, wide-eyed, and quite sarcastically said, "That's all you've got?"
"Well, I am quite a popular guy- all the animals used to tell me what was going on. Some of those guys are my friends, too."
Botan finished writing down all of the tasks. "Okay, so this is it- Get my ring, kill Bui, get the water from the spring of Youth, wake up Jin Kaze Tsukai and bring him to the castle, diamond from Chuu, toad from Rinku, rescue Shishiwakamaru and take him to Juri, stop Beautiful Demon Battler and return babies, capture the evil fairy and kill the giant atop the beanstalk. Is that it? Only ten?"
"Those deeds will take a long time, trust me, if the guy can even survive, which is unlikely."
"This does seem sort of cruel, though," Botan commented, looking at the paper untrustingly.
"Cruel? Haven't you heard of Hansel and Gretel? Enticing kids with candy so the witch could bake them? That's cruelty right there," Yusuke began to fidget in his chair again. "Just think about it: You're royalty. If you do this, they'll try to do those tasks and die, and you won't have to marry Karasu. If you don't…"
Botan hated being wrong. "Fine…"
"Good," said Yusuke, standing up. "Now when are you planning on leaving this dump? The pinkness is starting to get to my head,"
And he wonders why he was turned into a frog, Botan thought to herself. "I don't know…"
"Hmm…What are your parents doing right now?"
Botan scratched her chin. "If I had to guess, they'd be having their afternoon tea,"
"Does the room have windows?"
"No."
"Then why don't we leave now?"
"If they go into a room with windows, then-"
"I'm sure you can fly pretty fast," Yusuke stretched out his arms. "So let's go."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Botan materialized her oar and placed the list in plain sight, but she still wasn't sure that going was the best thing to do.
"'Course it is," Nervously, Botan sat on her oar, allowing Yusuke some room. Carefully flying over to her bed, she took her only doll and tucked it under the ribbon on her dress. She was halfway through the window when Yusuke said, "Go South." With an enormous burst of speed, they were gone.
And although she'd met a number of more flattering people in her life, Botan couldn't help but think that she had made her very first friend.
xX "'If your mother only knew, her heart would surely break in two.'" xX
Kurama looked out the window of the black carriage, seeing a sign that told him he would be at the castle in a day and a half.
And yet…why did he get the feeling that this was going to be a much longer journey?
End of Chapter 1
Katie's Note: Hey there, you guys!...Well, um, if anyone reads it, which I surely hope that you do because I really enjoyed writing this chapter! Welcome to "Fractured!", and while this was a relatively serious chapter, this is going to be a mostly humorous story, as you can tell by Kurama's tasks. Ouch. I'm putting my poor sweetheart through so much torture in this story! Also appearing, but involved with Botan, will be Keiko, Genkai, Kuwabara, Shizuru, Yukina, and others that I haven't decided on yet. In addition, there will be fairy tales with Botan's part. It should be funny.
If you're wondering, Botan's story is based on the fairy tale "The Tale of Pretty Goldilocks". The quotes in the time and POV changes are from fairy tales that are parodied in this story. Maybe I'll start a contest to see if someone can name all the fairy tales.
You know what's coming now…this is basically a test chapter. I've got a lot on my plate right now, so if no one likes this I won't keep going. Just add this to your faves, alerts, especially review, and if I get a nice turnout I'll go on. I don't want to be mean, but I just want some love!
Until my next update…guess who won the Pacific Life Open? That's right, Roger did! –does a little dance-