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: A night of talking with Yukio, that's what this chapter's about.
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Arigatou
Chapter Ten
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"So Yukio, guess what time it is?" Naoko said quietly, sitting down by the fire.
"Night time?" He suggested.
"Well, yes it is. But Mikitao is asleep, as is Suki. Shinji is off somewhere playing his flute and Ryo had disappeared. This is the exact same way it was yesterday, give or take a little. It's the same time anyway."
"Ah, yes, now I remember. Last night I told you I would tell you tonight what I was thinking about."
"Yes you did, while you were looking into the fire as you were just doing now." Naoko stuck her hands out to feel the burning flame's warmth.
"I believe I told you I needed your advice about something as well." His gaze rested in the fire still.
"Yes, you did. Tell me, for I wonder what someone can ponder with such deep concentration as yours."
"Well, I know this can come as no shock to you," Yukio took a moment to collect his thoughts, "but I am profoundly in love with Suki."
Naoko was silent for a moment, then said, "I know. Everyone knows I imagine. Suki might even know, though she might not realize she does. I believe she is too distracted with her own feelings towards you to notice."
"So you concur that she loves me back? I thought she might have some regard for me but-"
"Regard! Oh Yukio, it is much more than that! I am sure my friend loves you. It is plain on her face, she holds you in highest opinion of all the bandits. At first, when she was too afraid to talk in front of you all, she began to only address you, don't you remember? She always liked you the best of them all, I am sure of it."
"I know I am her favourite, as she is mine to any woman, but does she esteem me enough to sincerely love me?"
"From what I see, I am sure of it. But don't just take my word or any others. You must address the matter to her."
"But whenever my comrades make the slightest jest towards the issue, she grows timid and blushes."
"That is a good sign Yukio. It means she is embarrassed because it is true. Talk with her about it."
"I am almost determined to. The only thing holding me back of course is that I may be horribly mistaken."
"Don't think so. What are you planning to tell her? That you are most fervently in love with her?"
"Well yes. But, I also sort of wanted to offer her my hand, if she'd take it." Yukio looked doubtful. "Do you think she would consent to have me?"
"Yukio! Oh that is pure bliss! Yes, you must. I am sure she will marry you, and then how happy you two will be. You'll take her out of her servitude and into a higher living as a lady."
"I am not a rich man, Princess. I am very poor and very young. How old is Suki?"
"She is nineteen since the spring."
"Ah, I am only two years older. Do you see how I can not offer her anything grand or spectacular?"
"Your love and care towards her will be most grand and spectacular in her eyes, Yukio."
"I can only hope so. If she says yes, I will whisk her away, and give up my bandit ways. I will find a job, and work hard enough to give her a comfortable living. I can work as a normal respected man would, or I could find a special job that calls for my powers, as those jobs always pay better."
"It sounds like a glorious dream, and I suggest you act on it. Tell her tomorrow, or even the next day."
"Yes, because the day after tomorrow is the last day of our journey." Yukio thought aloud.
"But is that not another problem you have?" Naoko commented. "Convince Ryo to let Suki stay with you?"
Yukio laughed bitterly at that. "If Suki says she will marry me, then I do not care what the Commander thinks. All in all, he is a good man though he sometimes can seem rough around the edges, but he is a good man none the less and he won't deny me my bride if I tell him the circumstances. Even if he were to turn malicious in the next two days, I would not listen to him. I would take Suki with me, and we would set off to start new lives."
"But you would tell me where you would go, so that I could visit sometimes?"
"Naturally. A star is always welcomed into a heavenly cluster."
"It's funny how you call Suki by her name. I thought you once said you would never call anyone by their real names."
"Yes Princess, as you know, I have never called you by your first name, as others by theirs. But Suki is different."
"I see. That is most romantic. I am so happy for the both of you. Make sure you ask her tomorrow."
"I will try. I have a feeling I won't get it out till the last day though."
"No matter, just so that you do. If I can't be freed, I want her at least to be."
"Yes, that is something I wonder at." Yukio looked away from the fire and settled his gaze on her.
"What about?"
"The Commander is one confusing man. This morning, I was sure he thought just as we all did. I was sure you'd both be free. I even went a little further to think that maybe Suki wouldn't be the only lady to marry a bandit."
The Princess chose not to respond. It was her turn to look in the fire as she took in his words.
"Please, do not think me to bold and out of line, but I must relate to you something that happened this morning. Suki and I were up early searching for the stream to find fish, and we came upon both you and Ryo, fast asleep and locked in an embrace. Never more shocked were we, but we figured you were both so cold last night, and something must have happened. The Musician and Warrior have suspected sometime that you two had private affection for one another, and when I saw you two there, well I finally agreed. You two both had the most blissful looks on your faces, looking so comfortable together. Suki and I left and vowed not to say a word to the others."
"Well—you see…uh—I, we—um…" Naoko stammered at a loss for words. "It's not what you think, honestly."
"Please do not become uneasy. I am not asking you to explain. I won't say another word of it. I am only retelling this as to point out why I am so shocked that he is still resolved as to trade you in for gold."
"He is still trading me in for gold because what you saw was nothing." Naoko commanded her voice to be firm and steady. "What you saw were two people desperately cold and tired, who weren't warm enough to fall asleep. When someone is freezing and half asleep, then they don't think straight. He had an idea of how we could keep warm, body heat. That's what happened."
"I see. Body heat, huh? What that his excuse?" Yukio snickered.
"Excuse?"
"Oh sure, I mean, there were times when it was deadly cold and our blankets weren't enough but us men refused to share body heat. Men do not sleep around other men, it is just not done. But he had no troubles sharing body heat with you, though we have slept in colder nights."
Yukio paused a moment, remembering something and the adding, "It reminds me of a trick Mikitao once told us about. There used to be a couple of female bandits back in the day when Mikitao's brother was the leader. His brother used that reasoning on cold nights too, just for another excuse to cuddle with the women. Mikitao always told us that story to make us laugh at the old times."
"So you believe Ryo only did that so he could sleep with me?" She asked disbelievingly.
"No, Mikitao's brother was that sort of man, but Ryo is too honourable, though he doesn't show it. What I mean to say is that, Ryo has lasted by himself in much colder nights, though obviously you haven't. I don't think he suggested it to you for him to keep warm, so much as he suggested it to help you keep warm. He knew the cold would affect you more and it was partly his fault you had no blanket. I believe he was being a complete gentleman last night."
"Now that is unbelievable. If he was so keen on being a gentlemen to help me out, then why is he still firm on his decision to give me in to Prince Takuya?"
"That, my Princess, is the root of the matter. It's what I have been wondering since you told me that he suggested body heat to keep warm last night. Why a man should be so steady in mind to trade in what he protects…"
"I am tired. Yukio, I hate to ask this of you, but tonight is once again another cold night, and I will not be subjected to either being frozen or falling asleep in that bandit's arms again. Would you mind if-"
"Don't say another word of it. Take my blanket and pillow. My robes will do me well enough. As I said before, I've slept in colder weather, and besides, I owe you for the advice about Suki." Yukio smiled, handing her his pillow and blanket.
"Arigatou." She yawned, got up, and found a stop a little off to sleep by.
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"Still up?"
"Just thinking."
"I can tell. You always look attentively into the flames of your fire when you have something on the mind."
"So I take it you couldn't sleep either Commander?"
Ryo walked over to the fire and sat down by it. "I've come to apologize."
"For what?"
"Because you really are only two years my junior, so I had no right to call you a kid."
"Good." Yukio answered, staring back into the fire.
Ryo looked around at everyone sleeping. "Well I'm happy you gave Naoko your blanket. She finally gave in."
"After a night a frigid winds, I don't blame her." Yukio began, "look Commander, can I ask you something?"
"You never needed my permission before."
"By now, you are no stranger to my plans—that is, you have eyes as a wolf has smelling sense, and you are aware as the other bandits are, of the attachment that has been forming—"
"You and the Princess' servant? Yes, the girl is undoubtedly infatuated with you, why of course is a mystery."
"I mean to make her my wife, that is, if have me as a husband. You know what that means though."
"That we only hand over the Princess to the enemy?"
"I was hoping more of handing over neither of them—"
"And you would be a fool, to think that after all this trouble of bringing them here, that I would set them free."
"No matter, for the Princess will be given back to her father, but what of Suki? Let her stay with us if she desires."
"Out of the question." Ryo shook his head without giving it a second thought.
"If Mikitao and Shinji agree then there is little you can say, leader or not."
"Ah, but they will not agree, and you weren't either, after I have told you why."
Yukio looked back at Ryo and studied his face in frustration.
"You are so selfish you forget of the Princess. It has already been confirmed that we give her over. Prince Takuya is not a trusted, honoured man, and who knows what horrors he can place before her. Naoko will be lonely, and without companion or aid. Do you really believe Suki will allow this?"
"Well now—"
"Yukio, think of the Princess all alone forced to bear with the Prince's mercy, or lack there of. Suki will think of this of course, so you cannot convince her to leave her friend's side, no matter how much of love and devotion you profess to her. She will go to watch over her friend; sacrifice her happiness for Naoko's. You must see that."
Yukio closed his mouth, and thought a second before opening it up again.
"How foolish I've been!" Yukio muttered bitterly. "I can not tear her apart from Naoko, she will be needed. It is not like Suki would accept me while knowing her friend is to be in danger."
"Now, we have a two days journey left, so get some sleep." Ryo said gravely, and then got up.
"Wait Commander. Just answer me this!" Yukio looked up with a wild look in his eyes. "Answer me this, because you know it pains me to know I can not have Suki, and you are the one who can change that."
"I will answer you to whatever you have to ask." Ryo looked back calmly.
"Why do you contradict yourself so? You care enough about the Princess as to make sure Suki is there to bear her company and aid, and yet it is you in the first place that puts her in such horrors that calls for Suki to go as well."
"Yukio I—"
"It is you that prevents me from marrying her! If she would accept me, then I would be a happy man."
"Yukio, please understand that you are not the only one sacrificing something great here. Be strong and tolerate it."
"But why? Why should I, or you tolerate it?"
Without another word Ryo left.
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End of ch.1o
A/N: In aprox. three weeks school starts (senior year!), and I want all my fanfic stories done by then. So for the next while, I'll be posting around every 2-5 days, so I can get this story up completely before September. That means updates are going to be incredibly fast, so if you can't keep up with the story, sorry! (Eight more chapters to go!)
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Gina, I'm sorry I didn't get to reply to you in chapter 8 before, but as to Ryo yielding…errr…we'll just have to wait and see, won't we. I'll certainly keep it coming.
ObsessedReader, yes they both do have too much pride, don't they? As for Suki and Yukio, yeah, I love them together, they make the cutest couple. Prince Takuya is like mustard disguised as honey, if that helps.
Necia, why is Harue leading Hiromi in the wrong direction, indeed. Is he just plain stupid, or could it be something more? Takashi, it seems doesn't have enough faith in his own knowledge to say anything. As for Ryo, yeah, I agree, shame on him. Oh well, he'll get his due soon enough.
Traceykiwilee, yeah, Ryo aggravates me too. If it were up to me, he would have freed them long ago, got down on one knee and professed his undying love for Naoko, but as it is I can't control him so, sigh. Anyway, thanks for reviewing again.
like i'd tell you, hey I hope your vacation was good! Yeah Ryo is pure attitude, but that's what I like about him, the infuriating little bugger that he is.
-rayko.