Disclaimer: I do not own several characters in this Fic. (such a Tasuki and Chichiri) Yuu Watase does. The rest (Reiko, Ryo and such) is technically my own, so like I said, hands, paws and fins off. Thank you.
Author's Note: Ok, so I was disheartened at the pathetic number of reviews (one and only one) but, this isn't what it's about right? hahaha. yeah, so I'm back, whether anybody reads this, or whether anybody reviews it, cos I'm in a good mood. It's got something to do with exam grades. hahaha! Heck, just enjoy the chapter.
Chapter Eleven: Hokkan Imperial Militants
Reiko lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Everything started to turn out for the better.
There is some hope left afterall, Reiko smiled to herself. With Ryo here, Empress Houki's help, Chichiri and his idea on going to Mount Taikyoku, and Tasuki too.
As she was about to fall asleep, a dark face appeared in front of her. She opened her mouth to scream but the intruder's hand stopped her. The dark figure then tied a piece of cloth around her mouth. He carried her over his shoulder. Reiko kicked and squirmed, but the intruder didn't budge. He made his way towards the door.
Tasuki ran. Something's wrong, I know it.
As he ran around the corner to Reiko's door, he came face to face with a panting Ryo. Both of them grabbed onto the door handle.
"What are you doing here?" Each one demanded the other. They glared at each other.
"What are you doing at Reiko's room at this time of the night?" Ryo snapped.
"What's it gotta do with you?" Tasuki answered him with a question.
The doors kicked open and the two (turned SD) got hit in the faces and fell flat on their backs. The figure in black didn't notice them and stepped over the railing casually and stepped off onto the ground.
"Hey! Where're ya taking Reiko!" Tasuki grabbed his tessen and started to stand. He was about to shout the incantation when Ryo stood and stepped on his face. (This was done in SD style. lol)
"Oops," Ryo acted innocent, "Didn't see you there, fang-boy." He drew his sword at the figure clad in black. "We could do this the easy way if you want to. Just let the Princess go and we'll forget anything happened.
"Tsk," Tasuki clicked his tongue. "What do you think this is? Some Action/Drama film?" He stood up with the tessen in his hand. "LEKKA SHIN'EN!!" A swirl of fire erupted from the fan towards the black figure. The intruder jumped out of the way easily.
"Great shot, fang-boy," Ryo said sarcastically. Holding the sword with both hands, Ryo charged at the intruder. The black figure swiftly held Reiko in front of him. Reiko squeaked and shut her eyes as Ryo came running towards them.
Ryo, fortunately, was able to stop in time before cutting through his own cousin.
"You almost killed her you moron!" Tasuki shouted.
"Unlike you, I've got superb reflexes," Ryo kept his eyes on the intruder. "Moron" he added.
Tasuki and Ryo stood before the intruder with their weapons at hand. They couldn't attack, not with Reiko in the way.
"Gentlemen," the man clad in black had a young voice. "Sorry to spoil your fun, but I can't stay long. Can't keep the Princess up all night now, can we?" As he turned something shiny hit him in the face. He fell, along with Reiko still squirming.
"Princess, you alright?" Chichiri's full body appeared and he looked thoughtfully at the unconcious man. "He should be out cold for a while, no da." Chichiri helped Reiko up. He then took the intruder's black hood off. It revealed a boy's face, not more than 16. He had a band around his forehead with the Hokkan Imperial Mark on it.
"Chichiri," Reiko pointed to his head. "It's the Imperial Mark."
"No doubt, no da. But who is he?"
Tasuki and Ryo walked over to see his face. Chichiri stood and pulled their ears.
"We need to talk, no da." Chichiri sounded more like an old nagging grandma. "If not for me, we would have lost Reiko. With the two of you fooling around, it would have been more than easy for this boy to escape, no da."
"But he started it!" The two men pointed at each other. Chichiri tugged at their ears.
"No buts," Chichiri let go. Reiko sweat dropped. "Tasuki, bring this stranger to the dungeons. Ryo, go find the Cheif Guard and tell him to be on the lookout for more intruders." They went off obediently.
Chichiri walked Reiko back to her room. "Princess, don't worry about anything. You need your rest, so go to sleep. I'll be outside your room guarding." Reiko nodded. She was too tired to say anything.
The young man woke up to see himself behind bars. Outside his cell, slept a red-haired man snoring noisily against the wall. He walked over to the bars and started banging on them.
"LET ME OUT!" he shouted.
The red-haired man woke up startled. He scratched his head. "Do ya have to shout so loudly this early in the mornin'?"
"LET ME OUT!" he shouted again.
"Why should I? Afterall, you DID try to kidnap the Princess. That definately doesn't give you a ticket outta here, does it?" Tasuki crossed his arms and hung his head. He started snoring immediatly.
"I SAID LET ME OUT!" Tasuki looked at the prisoner irritably. "WE DON'T NEED FOREIGN INTERVENTION! HOKKAN CAN HELP HERSELF! THE PRINCESS DOES NOT NEED SUZAKU WARRIORS TO HELP HER!"
"So what're you saying?" Tasuki still did not move from his spot. "That your attempt to kidnap the Princess is all for a good cause, huh?" Tasuki hung his head again. "Go to sleep, kid. It's not even dawn yet."
"LET ME OUT NOW!" he banged harder.
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT! STOP SHOUTING!" Tasuki stood, losing his patience. "What's your name."
"HOKKAN DOES NOT ANSWER TO OUTSIDERS."
"You wanna shout? Fine with me," Tasuki walked over towards him. "YOU'RE IN KONAN YOU IDIOT, NOT IN HOKKAN, SO WHEN I ASK YOU SOMETHING, YOU ANSWER."
The prisoner spat at him. Tasuki grabbed his tessen and lifted his hand. Someone gripped on his wrist. "Wrong move, fang-boy." It was Ryo. "This boy could prove useful, you know."
"GRRR" Tasuki shook with anger. Ryo ignored him.
"So," Ryo spoke to the prisoner. "What is a young Hokkan boy doing all the way here, at Konan?"
"Why should I answer that."
"Shouldn't men of the same people be at least on nodding terms with each other? Surely you could answer Ryota Takahashi, only nephew of the late Hokkan Emperor and cousin of the Princess Reiko?"
The boy, realising who he was talking to, turned red with embarrasment and knelt on his knee. "I'm sorry, Master Ryota, I didn't know it was you."
"Stand up boy, tell me who you are, and why you tried to kidnap Reiko."
The boy hesitated. "I'm... I'm Kaishi of the Hokkan Imperial Militants, sir. I didn't mean to hurt the Princess or anything, Sir. I just wanted to bring her back. Hokkan needs her."
"You could have just asked politely instead of sneaking in the night you know."
"Hokkan does not wish to have outsiders poking into our business sir."
"And who's to speak on behalf of Hokkan, boy? As I know, the Imperial Family no longer rules Hokkan."
"N-no sir. I didn't mean it in that way. I meant the people of Hokkan sir. Most of us do not want any foreign intervention. We can save our own country. We do not need to depend on others sir."
"Well, it's been several months, kid. Nothing's improving. It doesn't show me that Hokkan is strong enough."
"That's because we need the Princess, sir. The people would not believe us that the Princess is alive if they don't see her. They are losing hope, sir. We need the Princess."
"It's too dangerous for her to go back, Kaishi. You know that."
"But we could protect her sir. There are many in Hokkan who would die for her."
"So I'm not the only one, huh." Tasuki muttered to himself. Ryo didn't take notice of him.
"I'm sorry Kaishi, but the Princess has other plans." Ryo told him then walked off. Tasuki sat back down at his original spot.
"So, you'd die for Reiko, huh?" Tasuki asked him.
"Yes." Kaishi replied him briefly and he too, sat down in his cell. Looks like I'm not getting out of here any time soon.
YAY! Chapter 11. I couldn't keep myself away from FanFic.net. oooh well. anyways, I've drawn up pieces. One with all the major characters (including Tasuki, oooh!) and one on Ryo's recollection of his childhood with Reiko. It's a pretty picture i must say. no color though. not yet? I've yet to improve my coloring skills. Why am I mentioning this anyway? It's not like i could post it up some where cos I don't have a freaking scanner! =X maybe if i get a hold of one I'd post it up and you ppl could take a look? haha. Like you'd want to.