Kurogane's Return, Chapter 2
"Kurogane, welcome back." A young woman stood up, smiling. Standing on a raised platform at the center of the large room, she bowed her head slightly. Her long black hair was tied up delicately in a bun, the symbol of the moon resting on a golden tiara on her forehead. Clad in light purple, pink and gray robes, she stood proud and tall.
"To…Tomoyo?" Kurogane's eyes widened. This woman…was the Princess?
"Kurogane-kun! How many times do I have to tell you not to address the Princess like that!" A taller woman with dark skin frowned, coming out from the screen behind the Princess.
"Sôma?" Kurogane's jaw dropped. "But, you're…so old!" Sôma's fair face went red, and she growled with anger, yet kept quiet. "Fheh…" she turned, facing Tomoyo.
Tomoyo sighed, shaking her head. "I see you haven't changed much, Kurogane."
"Changed? What, you expected me too? Good luck!" Kurogane huffed, crossing his arms. "I'm even bigger and badder then before." He grinned, fangs showing.
Tomoyo shook her head. "You are incorrect." She gestured to Syaoran, Fai, Mokona and the now-awake Sakura. "I see you've made friends along your journeys?" Kurogane turned, giving his companions one of his famous glares. "They're NOT my friends."
"Oooh, KuroPuff, don't lie!" Fai danced over to a fuming Kurogane. 'GET AWAY FROM ME!" the shinobi yelled, attempting to give Fai a well-deserved smack. As always, the wispy man dodged it. "Ah-ah-aah, KuroRin!" "SHUT UP!" "You know you can't hiii-iiit me!" Fai sang, spinning back to a speechless Syaoran.
Tomoyo giggled behind her fan. "If you say so, Kurogane." She looked up at the glass ceiling, sighing. "Now, Kurogane, we have to talk." Kurogane froze, looking up at his Princess. "Your damn right we do! Sending me off to that bitch-who, by the way, took Ginryû! You better get it back!" he growled, hunched up in his heavy cloak.
Tomoyo sighed, flapping her fan slightly. "That is of no importance right now. You can get a new sword." Ignoring Kuroganes yells of anger and protest, she turned to Sôma. "Please, take..." she trailed off, looking over at Syaoran and the others. "I'm sorry, I am afraid we haven't been properly introduced! My name is Tomoyo, I am the Princess of this world."
"I'm Mokona Modoki!" squealed the white rabbit-like creature, jumping off Sakura's head and dancing around on the white tile floor. "A talking manju bun…" marveled Tomoyo. "Amazing!" she giggled yet again behind her fan. "Damnit…" groaned Kurogane.
"This is Sakura!" Mokona pointed to the young brown haired girl. Sakura blushed, then bowed stiffly to Tomoyo. "Hi! I..I'm Sakura!" "And this is Syaoran!" Mokona hopped into Syaoran's arms, waving his own stubby assets around. "Hello, Princess, and thank you." He bowed his head, unable to move due to an injury to his right side.
"Oh dear, you seem to be injured. Let me help you." "Ah, Princess Tomoyo-please, I-" Syaoran was cut off by three white clad woman swarming him. Sakura blinked, watching her friend being half-mauled by the nurses. After a few minutes of gauze being whipped around and Syoaran being tossed about, he stood blinking, arm and side neatly bandaged. "Uhmn, thank you!" Syaoran bowed again.
"The pleasure is mine." Tomoyo smiled, turning to Fai. "I don't believe I caught your name?" Fai smiled, bowing, getting a little arm action in. "My name is Fai D. Flowright, at you service, your highness". Tomoyo nodded her head, smiling.
"Now; getting back on topic, Sôma, would you please show Kurogane's friends-" "THEY ARE NOT MY FRIENDS!" "To the quarters they may stay in?" "Oh, Princess Tomoyo-we don't need to stay he-" Syaoran was cut off by Fai cupping a hand over Syaoran's mouth. " Why thank you for your hospitality, Princess."
A happy Fai trailed after Sôma, followed by a bouncing Mokona and a dazed Sakura being half-dragged by Syaoran.
Kurogane sighed, grinning. "Thank god they're gone." Turning to Tomoyo, he sighed. "Now, what do you want already? I have stuff I need to do."
Tomoyo also sighed, wincing. "Please, Kurogane, sit." Reluctantly, the shinobi plopped onto the tile yawning. "Make it quick? I have a certain person I need to see." He cracked his fingers, yawning.
"I believe you are referring to Lady Yumi?" Kurogane froze. "How…did…you know about her?" Tomoyo sighed, clasping her small, pale hands. "Well, after about two weeks of your absence, Yumi-chan came here, asking about you. If you were safe, that is." Kurogane blinked. "How long have I been gone? Two, three, four months?"
Tomoyo looked down at her hands. "Kurogane…you've been gone for five years."
In the silent hall, all that could be heard was the clatter of a maid cleaning in another part of the huge palace.
"Five…years?" Kurogane jumped up. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, FIVE YEARS?" Tomoyo looked up briefly. "Yes, Kurogane. You have been on your mission, away from this world for five years- at least our time." She sighed. "I'm afraid…many, many things have changed."
Kurogane's eyes were glazed over, deep in thought perhaps even pain. He could feel a cold hand gripping at his heart. "What….kind of things?" Tomoyo looked up at the ceiling, fanning herself lightly. "Well, I am afraid I do not know much when it comes to this Yumi, besides the fact she came seeking you five years ago. Our Country was under attack-" she was cut off by Kurogane standing up.
"Tomoyo?" Kurogane mumbled, facing the door leading out.
"Yes, Kurogane?"
"Fucking drop dead." With that, Kurogane ran out of the castle, fuming. The bitch had the nerve to send him away, not only loosing his dignity and sword, but having to stoop to the level of becoming 'friends' with a deranged little manju-bun, a fruity blonde, a princess and a little brat. Kurogane had to admit to himself-the brat Syaoran and the princess Sakura were okay, they let him do his own thing, and the squirt was a pretty loyal kid…
Kurogane shook his head, bursting out of the palace ground. He needed to find the others, get them out of his Country. He needed to get his sword back. He needed this damn curse off. He needed to kill some grunt ninjas. He needed to go home, and sleep peacefully. He needed to find her. He needed to find Yumi.