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: continuing on from last chapter's semi-cliffhanger, the Prince makes Naoko an offer, the bandits join forces with Hiromi and the Aralon knights, and Naoko is left choosing between nuptials or captivity. Fun fun.
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Arigatou
Chapter fourteen
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"Dearest lady, what ever is the matter now?"
"Matter now, sir?"
"Yes, for as the days progress you are always looking sadder. Have I not been a good host?"
"A more thoughtful one I've never had before, I assure you."
"And do you take delight in my company?"
"Err…it is not unpleasant."
"You miss your homeland then?"
"Yes, that is most certainly it." Though Naoko wasn't sure if that was wholly true.
"But Princess, when you are to marry you must leave your homeland. That is, if you marry someone outside of Aralon. You must become used to these things."
"And who is to say I shall marry outside of Aralon? It is most likely I shall marry someone in my father's court."
"It was once likely for that yes, but times are changing are they not?"
The Princess just looked at Takuya not knowing how to respond.
She had been sitting peacefully in the courtyard, the trees above shading her from the afternoon sun. Most of her visit to Honrako Palace was spent outdoors in the gardens and courtyard, as it brought back the happy recent memories of traveling through the wilderness. She only wished she could have the solitude to reminisce on those memories without the consist bother of the Prince. His presence was becoming more and more tiring.
"My dear maiden, I take this chance at your silence to relate something to you. We cannot pretend any longer that there is no sparks of passion here. Constant flirting must not go on without acknowledgment. Secret desires must be fulfilled."
Naoko simply blinked at him, and he took it as encouragement to go on.
"You are much in love with me, I can tell, and so I feel it my duty to put your mind at ease and bring you happiness like never before, in telling you that I humbly accept your feelings and will return mine."
Princess Naoko wasn't totally surprised. For sometime she had some feeling that the Prince wouldn't take long in declaring his affections. She should of course feel honoured, because he was a most ideal husband. Rich, handsome, caring and obliging though he was, she couldn't help but feel he still lacked something. Only for those past days, as much as she was dreading his proposal, she knew that when it did come she was of course going to accept it.
Because she was no fool, she would not let the opportunity slip. So she opened her mouth slightly about to agree with him and accept his offer, but then she bit her lip and thought, 'why should I settle?'
- - -
"Bandits, you say?"
"I repeat, yes, we are the four Bandits of Quentia."
"Then what stops me from putting you under arrest and executing you at this moment, bandit?"
"Because we are the best thing you got Prince. We could have easily escaped your grasp just now."
"But you didn't, you called to me and admitted who you were. Why?"
"Yes why?" Mikitao added stupidly, looking at Ryo.
All the bandits wondered why, when they had safely got by the Prince, Ryo decided at the last moment to confess everything. No one knew what he was thinking, but Shinji, who guessed it must have been because of some conscious guilt, came the closest to the true reason. The truth of course, was that Ryo himself was not yet sure why he had done so.
"Listen Prince, we can remain here for as long as you want and discuss this, or we can set off to Honrako Palace right away and start forging a plan of rescue."
"Rescue? So you mean to go rescue my sister and her friend from the terror you placed her in?"
"Precisely." Ryo nodded.
"Would it make any difference that I should proclaim your logic madness?"
"Your sister was handed over for gold, and now that it is obtained, she has no need to remain there. Shall we leave at once to save them? Or shall we waste a day's time here?"
"And what stops me from simply having you all imprisoned, and then going to get my sister myself?"
Ryo couldn't suppress a grin at these words. "Because you need us. You won't succeed without our help. We know the fastest ways around these woods, secret ways into the palace in question, and helpful information about Prince Takuya and his men that you will need."
"So you say thief! Surprise me now then, tell me something helpful."
"Your highness, my comrade's right. The more time you waste, the longer it takes to save the Princess." Shinji urged.
"Give me reason not to kill you on the spot and then we'll leave." Hiromi growled with his deep voice.
"Besides the fact that you would lose in any battle against myself," Ryo answered calmly, "I will leave that little fact out and satisfy you with this piece of information. That man who rides by your side," he pointed to the knight in question, "I believe his name is Harue right? He works for Takuya."
"Ah, so your Harue, are you?" Yukio laughed lightly, looking at the now frightened man.
"Harue, what are these men's claims on you?" Prince Hiromi looked back at him.
"I—they—it must be some mistake." Harue pleaded, his eyes shifting back and forth.
"Wait, the guy Takuya paid to keep the soldiers out of our way, his name was Harue right?" Mikitao asked.
"His name's Harue, he was sent a year ago to join the knights and his skill is reading tracks." Ryo smoothly noted.
Harue grabbed his horse reigns and made a flea into the woods.
Hiromi grabbed his reigns and was about to chase him but Ryo stopped him.
"Let the man go. He's going the opposite way, so we don't have to worry about him warning the Prince. We've already wasted enough time as it is."
Hiromi nodded and they all set off.
- - -
"I have given you a day to think about what I said in the courtyard. So, what is your answer?"
"I'm afraid Prince Takuya that you were most mistaken when you thought I loved you. Indeed I do not."
The Prince gazed at her for a second. "I see. And you don't jest with me, as females are known to do?"
"Indeed I don't. You are a charming man, but not one I can see myself truly happy with."
"Do you reject me simply because you don't think I will be a good husband, or is it because you have another man whom you love?"
"I know of no man I can marry, no."
"That was not my question milady."
Naoko sighed. "I know, but that should be sufficient. There is not man I know of whom I could possibly marry."
"But there is a man who you have affection for? Who you love and cannot love less then me?"
Naoko looked into his face and felt pity for him. "I'm sorry Prince, I cannot marry you."
"No matter, I have ample sorts of women ready to accept me. It grieves me though, because now your stay here won't be as pleasant." He shook his head in sorrow.
"Oh don't look at it that way." Naoko smiled. "We can both forget about this whole affair and I promise I'll be just as friendly with you as if this never happened. My stay won't be miserable at all I assure you."
"Oh, but it will."
"No, no trust me, I will erase this whole ordeal from my mind."
Prince Takuya just stared at her grimly. "I speak and yet you do not hear me. You will have a horrid stay here, not due to any uncomfortable feelings you might feel over this, oh no. Your stay will be terrible because I will make it so."
"I beg your pardon sir?"
"You will either be my wife, or my hostage. Your choice milady."
Naoko looked at him for a second trying to detect a sign of jest in his face, but none she found. It was impossible to believe he told the truth though, no! This man couldn't possibly be serious. He had been so kind and attentive for the past couple of days, and now this?
"What has happened to the charming prince?" The Princess asked aloud, though she meant to only think it.
"That man stands before you, and he can be charming once again, if you would accept him."
"Indeed, I will not. I…I don't love you in the least."
Takuya laughed carelessly at this. "Since when is that of circumstance? Have you, all this time, been expecting to marry for love?"
"Well now I—" But Naoko stopped herself.
He had such a point proven within her thoughts. In her years of growing up, she always knew she would marry some courtier or noblemen, even a prince or king from a far away land. She never expected love though. How was one to be as lucky to fall in love with someone who was rich, had a title, and respect of her father. She never expected that she would be in love with her husband at the wedding. She had always hoped she might learn to love him in the later years of their marriage.
So why now, had she suddenly changed her mind? The Prince was ideal for the job as her husband, more than any man she had ever encountered. Once the war was over, her father would love the alliance of the two countries. She even went as far to think that their marriage could bring an end to the war, which it would certainly, should she choose to marry him. Her brother would even call the match fate, that is, only if Naoko truly wanted Takuya for a husband.
So now she had a way to end this war, and yet, for the first time in considering it for a while, Naoko couldn't bring herself to accept him. There was something in the back of her mind, stopping her. Something forbidding her to marry a man she had no love for.
"I repeat. I cannot marry you. I never thought love would be important to me in a marriage. I was taught to find a suitor who was wealthy, could take care of me, and could rule over whatever it was he owns, in your case, a country. But I have changed since I was last in Aralon, and I cannot marry for those purposes."
"This is ridiculous, surely you are not well?"
"I am well in body as well as soul, arigatou sir. You are charming but I can not bring myself to love—to marry you."
"But you have only been here but four days. Take more time to know me. Your father has yet to send word for your rescue so you still have time to change your mind. Let him come and find you happily married."
"Quite impossible your majesty! Happiness is out if the question. Chain me up as a prisoner if you must."
"That won't be necessary, my darling Princess."
- - -
"Why can't we attack tomorrow evening?"
"Because once we arrive there, we need a day to go over all strategies."
"Besides your highness, we won't reach there tomorrow. It will be the day after tomorrow before me make it to the palace."
"Who are you again?" Prince Hiromi asked irritably.
"I am Shinji your highness, and as I say we are not half way there. It will take more than another day till we reach that point."
"Is he reliable?" Hiromi turned to Ryo.
"Shinji is better with direction than any of your man, that's for sure."
"Back to what you said about strategy though, why does it require so long a time to go over?"
Ryo shook his head in disbelief. "Do I question you on how you run a country, your lordship?"
Hiromi simply looked at him in an irritated way.
"Then I ask you not to question me on my plans. I'm a bandit, it's my life's job to make plans like these."
"Alright, so we arrive in the Palace's region after tomorrow, and then go over plans till when?"
"Till the nightfall of course. We attack after dusk. Yukio come over here."
Yukio, who had just produced a fire on the ground as the night was darkening, stood up and walked over to Ryo.
"Yes commander?"
"Conjure up a map of Honrako Palace please."
Yukio took out his dust and after saying some foreign words, the blueprints to the palace appeared in his hands.
"So you've got magic help, do you." Hiromi stated rather then asked Ryo.
"It has its advantages as you can see." Ryo answered, taking the map from Yukio.
Yukio then left them and went back to the fire where Mikitao now sat with the other two knights.
"Alright," Ryo began a moment later, "Here is the castle's inner makings. The throne room is here, and over here on the west end the Prince's chamber resides. The King, his father, sleeps in the Northern part. The servant's corridors are to the east, and the south is for guests. The front entrance gates are guarded by several dozens of men, along with the south garden pass. That is why we will be sneaking through the servant's way on the east side."
"Yes, but how?" The Prince pressed.
"One of the servants that work there had a brother who was a bandit, a part of our group back a couple of years ago. I happened to talk to him the day we spent there after delivering your sister. I asked him out of curiosity about their own little doorway to and from the palace. He says only the servants' use it, but the palace gates surround the entire palace and the only way through them in the entrance."
"So to get to the servant's door, we have to get passed the entrance first." Hiromi noted.
Ryo shook his head. "We'll penetrate the east side of the gates, slip through and get to the servant's door. It will be late at night and we won't be spotted. Then somehow we must find the Princess and Suki. They will be staying on the south side so we must find their chambers and sneak back out. That's the plan so far, but once we are near the palace the details will be made up."
"And what is the risk of this plan? How likely is it to work?"
"By the time I have completed every detail and planned it all out, it will be almost a guaranteed success."
"His plans always are." Shinji nodded, reassuring the Prince.
"Then men, it's time for us all to rest and prepare for tomorrow's ride." Hiromi ordered, and went to find a place of his own to sleep.
- - -
End of ch.14
A/N: Four chapters left! Four chapters left! Arigatou to everyone who reviewed, the replies are below! A shiny star for anyone who says something extra mean about Prince Takuya.
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Tami, yes, go bug your friends, because it looks like it'll be a good couple of years until the final English FB manga volume is released. The mouse is Yuki, not to be confused with my character Yukio…oh dear, you just made me realize…Yuki/Yukio, Kyo/Ryo…ah! But in all fairness, I wrote this story BEFORE I even knew what Fruits Basket was, so I did not steal names. Anyway, thanks for reviewing, yes I think anyone would find the constant attention he gives Naoko annoying.
Necia, your virus sounds serious and I'm hoping you've completely recovered from it, or will do so as soon as possible. As for the story, don't be sad, the sequel is another ten chapters.
Bingo5, yes I did stop, and yes I will update soon, I just thought that would make a fun cliffhanger if I ended it there. That is, fun for me, not so fun for you :D
Narnialover, you are very smart, and the Prince is very fake. I feel bad about his treatment to Suki yes, but Naoko hasn't even noticed it, she's so caught up in her own thoughts. As for Ryo and Hiromi, well judging by the other bandits' surprise he's doing something that isn't in the plan…did you just squeal? (squeals back). I hope you'll like the sequel.
LialaSword, Ryo has seemed to change his mind but I don't guarantee a happy ending. And yes, this story is mostly dialogue, but I'm happy it helps you! I would have in turn asked you to help me in description 2 years ago, but thankfully I've learned since then.
like i'd tell you, I will update soon, you know I always do, and if you felt bad for Naoko in the last chapter then you'll certainly feel bad for her next chapter. And yes, Ryo has decided not to sneak out of the Prince's clutches but instead help him.
Traceykiwilee, (rayko dodges computer), yes of course they are. Like I said before, they'd be idiots not to. Sit there and wait no longer, for I shall update…now!
- rayko