Complete summary: Princess Naoko knows her father is a horrible ruler, but no one suspected his selfish ways would end in her being kidnapped. Now traveling through her Kingdom Aralon, across wilderness into the enemy country Honrako, Naoko and her servant friend Suki soon learn that their kidnappers, the four bandits of Quentia, might not be so bad after all.
A/N: We're finally half way through the story! In this chapter is one of my most favourite parts of the whole story, you'll see why (even two years after writing it, it still makes me blush).
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Arigatou
Chapter Nine
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"Yukio, what exactly do you say when you create the fire?"
"It an incantation in Tyapilis. That's a form of magical language. You see, different magical beings belong to different types of magical language. My grandmother was a Tyapilis witch, so her incantations were in that language, as are mine of course." Yukio explained, taking his bag of silver dust out.
"With Tyapilis though, we need this magical substance to go with your words. In some magical cultures, they can use other substances, and in one of two, they don't use anything but words. It depends on the level of magic you have. This dust helps make my incantations come to life." Yukio took out some and threw it on the ground.
After saying his incantation, a blazing fire appeared and he put the bag away.
"But where do you get the dust?" Suki enquired on.
"I never run out. As a child of magic, you are presented a small bag with the dust inside, and it never runs out. How such incredible things can come in such small packages." Yukio laughed to himself, looking down at Suki.
"So every night you do this? As the others make ready for bed?"
"Yes, especially as it is a cold night. If only I knew how to summon an extra blanket and pillow for your friend, but alas, she may have to bear the cold. That is, unless she will give I and except someone else's blanket."
"If it was big enough I would share. I think I will talk to her about it though." Suki got up and went in search of the Princess.
Mikitao was already peacefully sleeping. As usual Ryo was nowhere in site, as he generally escaped after dinner to go and sleep in private peace. Suki knew Naoko would be with Shinji by the stream not to far off.
She walked a small distance and soon reached them. Shinji was standing and playing his flute. He looked out onto the water as he played. Naoko was sitting on a stump of a tree near him, and listening to the lovely sound.
"Hello," Suki whispered to Naoko as she came up. She didn't wish to interrupt Shinji as he played.
"Suki, isn't the melody beautiful?" The Princess whispered back to her dear friend.
"Enchantingly gorgeous, yes. But Naoko, there is a cold wind out tonight. Do you not feel it?"
"Yes, it is most chilly, but I can bear it."
"I must protest. The sun has only gone done but an hour ago. As the night goes on, it will grow most increasingly cold, and you forget you are not even wearing a full gown. You shoulders are exposed, thanks to this unwise sorcerer's outfit you so chose to wear. You will become ill with such unwelcoming frost."
"Don't think another thought of it," Naoko answered, half annoyed because she knew her friend was right.
"I implore you, take one of the bandits blankets, or even take mine. Just don't rest so unprotected from the cold."
"I am more then ever determined to prove myself not a weakling after today's affair." Naoko's mind was set.
"Princess, listen to her." Shinji, who had now stopped playing, turned to add.
"No, you are to sleep comfortable and forget me. I am to be stubborn and no one can stop me."
"We shall awake in the morning to find you frozen over then?" Shinji asked.
"You most certainly will indeed." The Princess unwaveringly concluded.
"She has a mind like her father Shinji, and there is nothing we can do about it." Suki sighed.
Naoko looked at her for a second, wondering if she truly was being as ridiculous as she knew her father was over the war. Shaking her head in protest to what Suki had said, they all ventured back to the pit stop where Yukio was looking into the fire with great thought.
Mikitao snored on, as he slept not to far off. Shinji gave Naoko a last glance and shook his head, knowing she was going to be most sorry in the morning. He took up his blanket and pillow and walked a bit off to sleep. Suki yawned and asked one more time if maybe she would change her mind. Naoko shook her head and Suki finally gave up.
After talking about ten or so minutes with Yukio, Suki went off to sleep. Yukio went back into deep thought as he stared at the fire. Naoko, who had been sitting by the tree she had picked to sleep by, got up and walked to the fire and sat down.
"So Yukio, what are you thinking about?" She asked, looking over to him.
"I am dwelling upon personal matters. Most personal matters indeed." He mumbled, still staring into the fire.
"Then I won't ask you to tell me what they are," Naoko bowed her head politely, "for it would be intruding."
"As I have not yet finished my trail of thoughts I agree with your decision. But if you ask me tomorrow at such time as this, I will tell you the matters I have thought of, for I may need your advice. To catch a doe consult with an elk, as they say." He mumbled on.
"Yes." Naoko nodded though she has never heard that quote before.
"It is getting late," He said looking away from the fire, "Are you sure you will not accept my blanket? It is getting most cold, and I will not mind if you take it, I can bear the winds. I am always the first to arise, so I can wake you early and no one will ever know that you gave in to the comfort of protection from the frost." Yukio pointed out.
"That sounds most tempting but I must object to it. The tree over there is not that far from this fire, I will be alright."
"I will not press you any further then. Goodnight milady." Yukio got up and spread out his blanket and pillow.
Naoko went back to her tree, knowing it would be another cold night against the hard bark. Her back was still aching from the pervious days of sleeping against something so rough. She closed her eyes and tried to force herself to fall asleep, only the wind was picking up and goose bumps formed all over her chilled body. She had to stop her teeth from shaking as she wrapped her arms around her legs to keep them warmer. She bore the cold the best she could for a couple of hours, wondering how many more hours she would have to wait for the sun. The fire was too far away for her to feel it, but there wasn't any tree close enough she could move to that would get the fire's feel.
Getting up, she walked over to the fire and sat down by it. She knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep on the grounds, so she would just have to stay up all night and morning by the fire. Either that, or freeze. Naoko seriously began to wish she hadn't been so stubborn, as she grew more and more tired and longed to sleep, but knew she couldn't, especially not so close to a fire. Torn between little warmth and fatigue, she grew more and more weary and began to think maybe she was hallucinating when she saw a figure of a man approach from the forest trees.
Only moments later, when this dark figure came up to her, looked down and said, "still awake?" then she knew she couldn't be dreaming.
"It is too cold to sleep." She yawned, glancing up and making out the features in his face, as the fire's light unmasked them.
"As the same with me. But I know it is worse for you, since I have layers on."
"Yes it is worse, but I am tolerating it best I can."
"I know you would not take up a blanket tonight, so I won't bother asking you why you didn't. But what if there was a way where we could both be warmer? Mind you, it might not be agreeable, but both of us are so cold."
"I don't care." She yawned. "If there is a way that I don't have to stay like this I'll take it."
"Yes but, it's a little inappropriate. For you I mean. I am a bandit, nothing is improper for me, but you are a princess."
"Ryo I am cold, and tired. If you have a way for me to be neither, then I do not care." She yawned again.
"Well," He began almost reluctantly, "one way to be warm is a blanket which neither of us have. Then the fire is ruled out because you cannot sleep next to a fire. The other alternative is body heat."
"Body heat? I do not have enough to keep myself warm."
"Exactly. Neither of us have enough for ourselves, but, if we-"
"Oh, that's your answer, is it?" Naoko no longer talked as if she were half asleep.
"Well, it is something you are taught when you're young. If it's cold then you stick together with your brothers or sisters to keep warm-"
"But we are not brother and sister."
"Which brings us back to me saying it was improper. Look, you detest me, as I dislike you, so there is nothing to worry about. I feel too much resentment towards you to try anything. You are safer with me then you would be with any of the other bandits, who grow fond of you. I promise not to touch you; I'm just too cold to go on any further in the night without at least suggesting it." He explained.
"But if the others should awake and find us—"
"They won't. I never sleep around the others, as you know. We will go somewhere else where they can't find us."
"Bandit, you expect me to go off somewhere alone with you to sleep? That is not very likely, is it?"
"No, I suppose not, though as I told you, I'm far from trying anything. You annoy me far worse then anyone else I know, and if I was not frigid in the dead of night trying to sleep, then I would never suggest it."
"Yes, I believe you. You do hate me to much to ever try anything."
"Then stop being so damn stubborn already. I am exhausted and I know you are too. We will sleep, wake up, and no one will know the better of it. Otherwise, stay awake by the fire all night." He finished, walking away and disappearing into the darkness.
After a second thought had passed, the Princess sighed and got up. "I'm coming."
She walked slow as she was not entirely in control of her balance in such a tired state. She soon found Ryo resting by a tree. He looked up at her.
"So you came after all. Come, I know how you hate having to rest on the bark of the tree, so I will instead and you can rest your head on my chest. Or do you change your mind now?" He noticed the unsteady look on her face.
"No, I am not weak. I can stand a whole night by your side and I will think nothing of it. If you think I am not enduring enough to, you are wrong! If you can do it without shame, then so can I."
"Ah, everything is a competition to you. I do not ask this of you because I wish to put your determined constitution to the test. I ask it because I know you suffer in this weather as much as I do."
"What would Kana think if she saw me now?" Naoko laughed to herself in defeat.
"Come, lay in front of me. I will keep you warm if you do me."
Fighting off hesitant thoughts, the Princess seated herself in front of Ryo, and then taking courage, she leaned back against him. She couldn't deny that resting her head on his chest was ever more comfortable then a tree. Ryo clasped her in his arms, and she immediately felt warmer.
"Was I right, or was I right?" He chuckled.
"I admit it, this seems like a good idea now, though a hideously improper." Naoko yawned and closed her eyes.
"See, the warmth is making you fall asleep as we speak." He whispered back.
"Goodnight." She snuggled a little closer then fell asleep.
- - -
"Wake up Princess."
"Oh Ryo." Naoko giggled in her sleep.
"Naoko, wake up." He shook her a little.
"What?" She yawned and opened her eyes.
"Morning." He said, letting go of her.
Naoko sat up at once taking her arms away, and Ryo was free to stand up.
"Listen Princess," he began, raking a hand through his hair. "As good as it was to finally be able to get to sleep, I hope you realize I was already half asleep last night and not thinking too straight. Sure it was a good idea and all, but please understand it's not something I would think of off hand."
"I comprehend completely." Naoko assented, getting up from the ground. "But I am still glad you thought of it, or else I would of stayed up all night by the fire."
"Yes well," Ryo was a little surprised by her response, "I'm glad we understand each other here. Shall we go back to the others? No doubt Yukio is up, he always is the first, but maybe we can think of some excuse for him."
"Like what? That you and I went for a morning walk together? There is no excuse he'll believe." Naoko reflected.
"How about that you yourself went for a walk, and bumped into me. Just say you woke up before him and left."
"I suppose that's logical." Naoko nodded as they walked past the trees.
"So, now I just have a question for you."
"Alright?"
"Before you woke up, you were dreaming I think, and you said my name and giggled." Ryo smirked.
"I, I did?" Naoko turned her face away from him. "I'm sorry, you know, one can have such strange dreams."
"So what exactly was your dream about then?" He asked on.
"Oh, nothing of importance. You know I had no idea I could talk in my sleep. Don't give it another thought."
"Hmmm…alright well, we reach the others just past those two trees up ahead, so make sure you got the story straight."
- - -
"Solders, explain yourselves!" Prince Hiromi yelled.
The group of men that were sitting about half drunk in the forest all looked up at him in awe.
"Just stopped for the night, my Lord. We were getting ready to ride on, honest." One of them said.
"So this is the trail your group has been following, and you have found no bandits here?" Kanitsu asked.
"No sir. We have found no such trails or anything."
"Then that means the trail we've been following all this time has been yours?" Hiromi barked.
"That would seem correct my lord."
"Harue! I thought you said this trail showed marks of strange horses. We have been following another search party this whole time!"
"I am sorry my lord. I must have gotten them mixed up. Please forgive my incompetent perception."
Prince Hiromi turned his glance from Harue, to the drunken men on the ground. "I want all of you to get up and join my search party, now!"
"Yes your majesty." They all got up, bowed, and then mounted their lazy horses.
"It seems we have been following a wrong trail. Now since the castle of Honrako is more this way to the west, we might as well keep to this trail, but we must make quick time. You are at least sure about that Harue, are you?"
"Most certainly sir if there is one thing I know, it is that Honrako Palace is due West."
"Then off we all go." Hiromi declared and they all set off.
"No, I still think that Harue is mixed up. I am sure the Palace is due east." Takashi thought to himself.
- - -
"It is such a lovely, sunny noon, considering the pervious night," Shinji sighed, as he ate his lunch.
"Yes, and I still am surprised at waking up this morning and finding you weren't a frozen block of ice." Suki remarked quite seriously to her friend, who in turn, kept her face as passive as she could.
"Today's fish taste better then yesterday's." Mikitao mentioned mainly to Yukio, as he ate on.
"That is because this morning Suki and I found a better stream with fresher fish then yesterday." He answered.
"Yes, as much as I hate waking up early, it was worth it to learn how to catch fish." She laughed.
"Oh, I'm sure it was." Ryo grinned, trying to suppress his laugh.
"Yes, I am also very sure that getting up to catch fish is the best reason to get up early with Yukio." Mikitao joined in.
"To be sure, there is not much other reason to arise so early unless he's is giving fish lessons." Shinji smirked.
All three bandits laughed and Yukio gave them dirty looks. Suki simply blushed and bent her face to her food, and the Princess was slowly catching on to what they were hinting at.
"Eat your food, and pray that it won't be poison for tomorrow's lunch instead." Yukio sneered.
"Ah come on, we're all just playing." Mikitao patted his friend's shoulder.
"No, Yukio's right. Hurry and eat your food, we leave in but minutes." Ryo commented.
"Well, I'm done." Shinji said, getting up from the ground. "And for the record, it really was good fish."
"Yes, but next time, why don't you two spend a little more time out there to get me another one." Mikitao added.
Yukio took their plates and said nothing. Suki took Naoko's once the Princess was done, and gave their plates to Yukio. Ryo handed his in, and Yukio magically washed them.
"Alright, let's continue the journey then. Only two and a half days to go, seeing how this one is half done."
"Um Ryo, before we go, I have to thank—I mean I have to say arigatou, to you."
"What for Princess?" He turned away from his horse and looked down at her.
"Well, because I forgot to say so yesterday. I mean, when you saved me from that beast. I was so traumatized I—"
"Princess, don't bother. I didn't save you for your own sake. You're no good to us dead, we won't get our money that way." Ryo cruelly informed her.
"Oh," Naoko responded, clearly disappointed.
She couldn't help being hurt by this, previously hoping the bandits were her friends, but Ryo proved otherwise.
"Ah, don't mind Ryo, Princess. He is all bark and no bite, as we all know." Shinji stated happily.
"What do you mean by that Shinji?"
"Only, that you secretly have a heart of gold kept hidden away, and you've been thinking as I and the others have."
"And what have I and you all been thinking?"
"Why, of freeing them of course. Surely you've thought about aborting the mission and letting the girls go."
"Hah! You jest with me! No, I see it in your eyes. You seriously want to free them? To fail our mission which we have already accepted and lose that amount of gold promised to our names?"
"Commander, I agree with the Musician. Maybe we should let them-"
"Keep out of this kid." Ryo grunted.
"Kid! I am only two years younger then-"
"But you are still my junior, and so I say shut up! Now Shinji, what is this about setting them free?"
"Come on Ryo. Gold is good and fine, but these ladies are our friends. You wish to hand them over to an enemy, a horrendous prince? You know he is a sick man, that Takuya. Do you really trust him around these woman—?"
"It is none of our business what he does or doesn't. The point is, in three days they are going to Takuya and we are leaving. That's the mission and that's what we are going to do."
"Mikitao, help me out here." Shinji implored.
Mikitao took a second to think about it. "They really are nice girls, Ryo. Think about what he might do to them-"
"Mikitao, I expected more from you. Since when is it our concern to what becomes of our loot? They go."
"Forget it Shinji, it's hopeless." Naoko went to his side and said in a low voice to him.
"You." Ryo addressed her. "You are the cause of all this. Oh yes, you are a clever one aren't you? I knew that if you spent time and rode with any of my comrades you fill their heads with thoughts of setting you free."
"Ryo-" Shinji began, but Naoko stopped him.
"You are quite right, this whole ordeal is my fault alone. I won't ride with Shinji anymore, so not to continue on."
"Oh, you think you are crafty, don't you? That you would ride with Mikitao instead so that you could win over his regards as you have Shinji's. No, I don't think that is wise."
"I had no intention of it. I will once again ride with you, if you allow it." She responded coolly.
"Princess, are you sure you want to do that?" Shinji whispered to her.
"As you said before, I have but a couple of days to convince him to let me stay, and I will convince him."
"Are you two done with your secrets, for we all wish to get a move on," Ryo barked.
"We are done. I will ride with you." Naoko said resolutely and strode up to his horse.
Shinji and Mikitao mounted their horses. Yukio helped Suki mount, and then got on behind her.
Ryo stood by his horse with an obvious grin on.
"What are you so amused about?" The Princess asked hotly, reaching his horse.
"Why, we are once again at an impasse. You cannot possibly mount my horse, as it is bigger then Shinji's, but you will not take my assistance. So how are you going to get on this time?"
"Noble bandit, be so kind as to aid me on mounting your valiant horse."
Ryo just looked at her. "That's it? No fight, no struggle? You just come out and ask me, without trying?"
"Why should I try when I know I cannot mount the horse, I have tried numerous times and failed."
"Alright Princess, I will assist you."
Moments later, they were once again riding along the familiar open dirt path that cut through the forest.
- - -
End of ch.o9
A/N: so…what'cha think? I know, I know, that part shocked me too (and I wrote it!). Whoa, and I surpassed the gargantuan chapter 4! Anyway…
ObsessedReader, of course I couldn't tell you who she's gonna choose but it's pretty obvious, no? OR IS IT! Hmmmm….you never know, there's still Prince Takuya…but you're actually the only person who seems to like poor Shinji, he's actually the handsomest and most charming one of them all. Still, I'm sorry to say he's not for Naoko. As for her brother, no, he's nowhere close and he has his knight Harue to thank for that.
Necia, Poor Naoko indeed, but she's doing better in this chapter, don't you think? I told my cousin about the blocker thing, she's pretty new to ff so she didn't know about it. She says, "Thank you Necia!" for mentioning it, and then she hit me over the head for not thinking to inform her about it myself beforehand. Owwww.
Bingo5, read it in one sitting eh? Wow, I'm impressed, your legs must be tired. Anyway, thanks for reviewing, I shamefully admit that I had a thing for Ryo too, the tough bad bandit thing is var var sexy.
Traceykiwilee, hey, thanks for reviewing! If you love this story then you'll be happy to know I update around an average of twice a week, it's pretty fast. I hope you liked this chapter as well! (If you like Ryo, then how could you not!).
-rayko.