Nakietra
"Nake!...Nake!...Nake!...Nake!" Mokona is saying over and over again while jumping on me. When he goes up, his voice gets higher and when he comes down his voice gets lower. I'm amazed he can be this coordinated. I breathe in deeply and blink my eyes open. I wonder how long I was asleep for.
I push off the wool cover on me and carefully sit up. Kurogane probably put it on me. Mokona stops jumping and stares at me. He doesn't say a word but frowns. I brush the space between his ears and get up. I must look pretty grim for him not to say anything. I really don't want to see Ron though.
Mokona hops to the floor on his own and I start stretching out my arms. I'm going to need everything I've got to keep Ron from killing me. My breath catches in my chest. No, he won't kill me tonight. There are far worse things than death I know though.
I look toward the stairs as Jack comes down. He stops on the bottom step and watches me. I drop my arms at my side and wait for him to lecture me more. I don't want to be lectured, not by him or even my group. I already know they care and that's the problem.
"Are you ready Nakietra?" He asks somberly. I nod my head. "Let's talk with the others in the kitchen then," He says and steps down and toward the kitchen. I take a deep breath and follow him. My fingers find their familiar holds in my hand and I dig my nails in. I don't feel confident at all with my plan. Ron is murderous and will torture me til death.
Syaoran and Kurogane are standing on either side of the table and looking at each other while a man in a guard's uniform stands at the head. All of them are silent and none of them are happy. I look at the man. He's one of Ron's men and must be the captain because of his age. I don't see Fai or Nero. I'm glad. I can't handle dealing with either of them right now. I don't look for Nero with my mind to keep him away. Sakura and Dawn are upstairs and Mokona has wandered away somewhere.
"Here's the plan," Jack starts and takes a stance at the other head of the table near us. I stand next to him. I don't look up at either of the boys. "Nakietra, you will go to the front door and wait to be let in. The guards have already told him that you are currently in town and he's told them to catch you. When you knock on the door, a guard will answer and bind your wrists to make it seem like you were caught. Ron will come down to personally take you upstairs. Meanwhile, the rest of us will meet the rest of the guards at the back door. While Ron is distracted by you, we'll be taking everything of value and moving it up to the temple by horse. I'm going up to the temple as soon as possible to help unload and store everything while you two will help load everything onto the horses," Jack said, pointing to the boys during the last part.
"What happens if Ron discovers you?" I ask. If for some reason I'm knocked out, Ron could easily hear the horses or if they break or drop something.
"As long as you're distracting him, he won't notice us. His room is sound proof so he won't hear us unless there's absolute silence," Jack said, looking to the captain for confirmation. The man nodded his head.
"You can back out right now if you want," Jack told me seriously.
"I'm the only one who can do this," I respond. My palm starts bleeding and I take my hand away. I start removing the relics in my hands and around my waist.
"Why are you taking those off?" Syaoran asks unsurely.
"If I was capture by the guards, they would have taken anything dangerous off of me. It'll look suspicious if I have these or my knife on me," I say as I drop them on the table. The knife comes off last.
"Be careful," Kurogane states and then closes his eyes. I nod my head and then undo the clasp on my bracelet. I don't want it to break again. Everyone files out with me and Kurogane last.
"I've never seen that bracelet before," He states. I pull my shoes on and pause.
"I don't it to break again," I tell him and step out the door.
"How did it break last time?" He asks and follows me out.
"Toya, stop!"
"A friend pulled it when I stopped him from killing himself," I respond. He didn't speak for the rest of the journey. I swallowed hard as we approached the house. It looks much worse than last time I was here. Every window is lit in dim yellows while a ten foot wall of brick surrounds it. It's like a prison. I see the barbs on the bars over the windows. I remember climbing them once to try and steal back the money he took an old man in town. I remember running when the guards saw me.
"Be careful," Kurogane reminds me one more time as we pass through the gate. I nod my head and head to the front door as he follows the others to the back. My chest is suffocating. I haven't been this scared since…since Benji killed everyone. I breathe in deeply and knock three times. The guard that opens the door has ginger hair. I walk inside and hold my wrists out. He binds them with fairly strong rope but only twists the ends in instead of tying them. I'm grateful.
"I'll go get him. Stay here. Good luck," He says and disappears into the house. I wait and watch the place where he disappeared. Ron comes around the corner soon and I stiffen. He hasn't changed.
He's a tall, burley man. He wasn't as tall as Hiro but he was still the most intimating man around. He has rich brown hair and even richer brown eyes. His clothes are made of shimmery silk that I know were worth a fortune in themselves. Goosebumps prickled on my back as he smiles sinisterly and runs a finger down my cheek.
"I didn't think you would ever come back to this town," He says and runs his finger back up the length of my face.
"I couldn't let you keep going on as you have been," I say.
"And what did you think you would accomplish then?" He asks. His hand curls around my shoulder and he squeezes sharply. I wince.
"I'm going to break you," I respond strongly. He smiles and then stirs me into the house. I follow him through the twisted hallways and up two flights of stairs. He stops me in front of a door. I watch him remove his keys from his belt and unlock the door. He pushes me inside and I watch him slid them into his pocket. I need to get those keys. I look around the rich room. I see the feather in a glass box on top of the fireplace. I need to get that feather as well.
Ron shuts the door and I turn to face him He's still smiling as he cracks his fingers one by one. I back up and pull my hands free. I don't let the rope fall to the ground but keep it twirled up in my hands. He keeps coming until I'm backed up against the bed. I give the rope some slack. I can strangle him with it just for a minute if I'm careful.
"What did you think a child like you could do to a man like me?" He asks and pushes me against the bed. I roll to the side and climb to my feet. He grabs me by the hair and lifts me up to my feet. I bring my hands forward while his concentration is on my. I push the rope against his throat, wrap it once around, and then pull tight with both hands. He reaches for the rope but I don't let him get a finger underneath it. He falls to his knees and I run. I dart to the fireplace and grab the whole box. He's pulling the rope away. I see the keys on the floor by him and I scoop them up. He puts his knee on my dress and grabs me by the throat.
"You little bitch," He says dangerously and squeezes. I grab his hand and dig my nails into it. It does nothing. I take one hand and shove my fingers into his eyes. He yells and I'm free. I grab my fallen objects and run to the next room. It's a walk-in closet. I slam the door shut and look around. There's only one window.
He's shouting and pounding on the door. I grab one of his shirts and punch the glass. It's tough but I'm able to break it after a few tries. The door splinters and I rush. I push the box out first. My arm scrapes against the broken glass. The door cracks again. I can see Ron through it. I throw the keys out and then the door is smashed open. I look over and watch Ron climb through the broken door. Please hurry Jack, I don't think I can hold him off for long.
The guards were the only ones allowed to ride the horses. The captain had a fear that Kurogane and Syaoran would get lost on the way to the temple so they were only allowed to load the horses. There wasn't a dull moment as new objects were brought to them and new horses were saddled up as time passed by.
"Captain, I found the thing Jack told us to look out for," A guard shouted as he rode up on a horse. He held up his hand and in it was the pink feather.
"Good work," The captain said proudly and took the feather. Syaoran ran up to the captain.
"I don't know why you guys want it, but here," the man said and handed Syaoran the feather. Syaoran tucked it deep into his front pocket.
"The girl has to stay in there until we're done I'm afraid. Don't worry though, the faster we work, the sooner she gets out," The captain said with a sort of knowingness as he took the keys from his guard. Syaoran nodded his head and joined Kurogane in loading up the new horse that just arrived.
A few more hours passed then. The house had been filled with rice treasures and by the end of it everyone as exhausted. One by one, the tired horses were lead away toward their distant stable until finally, Jack showed up with a guard riding in back of him.
"Everything of value is gone from the house?" The captain asked his men as they gathered around him. Jack jumped off the horse and joined the group near Syaoran and Kurogane.
"Yes sir," The red haired guard who had previously led Nakietra inside said.
"The deeds and important papers were burned?" The captain asked.
"Yes sir," The guard repeated.
"Now we get the girl then. Start the plan," The captain shouted and waved him off along with all the others.
"Yes sir," The boy said and headed inside after several guards that were his seniors. Kurogane and Syaoran started to follow but Jack and the captain stopped them.
"You two should head back with Jack. I'll make sure the girl gets out," the captain said. Without any argument, the boys retreated with Jack only because they knew that they were only allowed on this mission because of Nakietra, not because they were actually needed.
Smoke filled the air as the prison looking house crumbled to the ground from the flames bursting inside. Nakietra was safe now, somewhat. The captain made sure of that. He was the only one he trusted with her right now. Her dress was gone, but he made sure she was covered with a soft silk blanket they took from their ex-employer's bed. Ron was gone though, fled to the next town over. Without the feather or any money, he wouldn't get very far.
"Get a doctor to Jack's right away for this girl," The captain told one of his guards. The man in question nodded his head and ran as fast as he could to town. Meanwhile, the captain lea his men to Jack's where they had been promised shelter.
A weary Jack was the one who opened the door for them. He stepped back as the men filed in, filling up the kitchen first before spilling out into the living room to allow those already there some space. Everyone except the girls was in the living room. Jack shut the door behind the captain, his eyes following Nakietra's limp body. Blood was tickling from her mouth and her face was gaunt.
The boys stood up in order to get a look at her. Fai had watched Nero wither and fall unconscious in the past few hours and he had immediately told the other two once they arrived home. Both men wanted to run back and help Nakietra, but Jack stopped them. They wish he didn't.
Jack looked at them first before going to the men's bath. "Bring her through here," He said hurriedly and pushed the door open. The captain disappeared inside with only a glance to the boys. A few minutes later, the doctor arrived with his face redder than the guard who had retrieved him. All the guards in the living room pointed to the door their captain disappeared to and the doctor was gone. No words were spoken. No words needed to be spoken.
Moments later, Jack and the captain came out, both with very tired looking faces. The captain joined his men while Jack glanced over all the guards. He looked behind him to the three boys who still hadn't sat back down.
"Fai, go help the doctor," He said and then looked back at the guards. Jack licked his lips and started giving orders. "Rus, go upstairs and check out the room on the left. See how many of your men can sleep there for tonight," He stared. The captain nodded his head and disappeared up the stairs. "I need two guys to push these couches together against the wall," He continued pointing to the two couches facing each other. Two men in the living room stepped away and went to work. Jack went to the covers in the corner and threw one to Kurogane and the other to Syaoran. "You two go sleep upstairs with the girls in Dawn's room," He told them and turned to one of the chests.
"I'll stay down here," Kurogane stated. Syaoran tiredly looked to the bath door before going upstairs like he had just been told.
"That's fine, I'll send Fia up when he's done then," Jack said absently while he pulled dozens of covers out of the chest, "Can you start handing these to the men then?" He asked and got up as the captain descended the stairs.
"Six can stay up there," he told Jack and then turned to his men. Kurogane grabbed a bunch of the folded covers and handed everyone one. The captain sent six of his men upstairs while he waited for Jack to tell him to do something else. Jack closed the now empty chest and stood up while Kurogane still handed out covers.
"The rest of you can sleep on the floor here or in the kitchen. Someone can have the one couch over there," Jack said pointing to the untouched couch, "No one is to disturb the doctor or Nakietra. We all could do with some sleep," He continued mindlessly. He was obviously tired and losing his senses from the lack of it. Jack took the remaining covers from the floor, leaving three for himself, Kurogane, and Fia, and started making a bed on the two couches pushed together. Kurogane strolled up to the Jack.
"Who's sleeping here?" He asked quietly.
"Nakietra once the doctor's done with her," Jack answered while he worked. "I shouldn't have let her do this," He said once he was done. His hands supported his upper body on the couch arms and looked as though he was ready to topple over from lack of sleep. Kurogane couldn't blame him. Nakietra was impossible to stop when she put her mind to something.
"You need to sleep," Kurogane said to the other man. Jack stood up straight but it was only a second before he was slouching again over the couch. He swallowed hard.
"Do…do you know about Nakietra and her thing?" He stuttered. Kurogane just looked at him with silent confusion. Jack took the lack of answer as a "no" and turned away to make a spot for himself on the floor.
"What do you mean?" Kurogane asked.
"Never mind. Go to sleep," The boy said and collapsed onto the ground. Absently he pulled his cover over him with some difficulty and then went to sleep. Kurogane took a spot against the other bath door and left his mind to wander.
Morning came a few hours later and Nakietra was put to bed. Even though Jack should have been asleep, he was up as soon as he heard the door open. Him and the doctor talked near the door while Fai stumbled upstairs to sleep. Kurogane kept still and listened closely.
"Jack, you are a magnet for tragedy," The tired doctor said and shook his head.
"I wonder, how long did it take you to think of that?" Jack tiredly joked. The doctor didn't react. "Never mind, tell me about Nakietra," Jack said somberly and there was a creaking sound as he leaned against the couches. The doctor looked down at the woman with Nero stretched out beside her. Touching his nose was Nakietra's gold knife, which the wolf had stolen from the kitchen table and brought to his friend. The gold touched her skin from underneath the covers, but neither man said anything about it or questioned the wolf as he cuddled up next to the woman.
"There's bruising around her neck which indicates strangulation as well as numerous marks all over her body from someone grabbing or touching her roughly. I found no evidence of rape, but the marks show that he at least attempted it if something hadn't stopped him…The main bone in her right leg is fractured, and there are some extensive burns on her torso, especially her stomach. It almost looks like he took some type of metal plate, heated it up, and then laid on her bare stomach. Her wrists show evidence of being bound, and her forehead looks like she may have head-butted him," The doctor named off, looking toward the girl multiple times with each new injury.
"I can believe that," Jack said with a small smile. It disappeared right away and his face was serious again. "What about her sickness? I saw the blood coming from her mouth."
I doctor breathed a long sigh. "I don't know. I have to talk to her and find out how long she went without medicating first, but it looks bad. There are three stages to this disease, and she's either nearing the end of the second or already in the beginning of the third."
"Is there anything I can do?" Jack hesitantly asked with a grim face.
"I'm going to go home and rest, but I'll be back later to see your sister and check on Nakietra's burns. I would like it if you could find a vial of her medicine and give it to me. Whatever she's using will tell me exactly what stage she's in," The doctor said tiredly. Jack slowly nodded his head.
"I'll look around. She's here with some friends, but I don't think they know," Jack said as the two men walked to the door.
"Nakietra was babied all her life because of her condition. I've seen it before many times over. For whatever reason, her brother isn't here to continue that tradition so she's allowed to try and live a normal life until her time comes. If she hasn't told them, you shouldn't. You'll only make them pity her," The doctor told him.
"I never thought about that before," Jack said quietly. The front door was opened and the doctor stopped before going outside.
"You're young, and you've never seen this before like I have. Too many young people, like your sister, get sick and then are pitied for the rest of their lives. I've seen them act out by doing dangerous things and I've seen them run away from their loved ones just so they can try to live a normal life," The doctor finished, "I'll see you later." He stepped outside and Jack closed the door. With a long tired sigh, Jack shuffled into the kitchen to start cooking. Kurogane opened his eyes once he was sure the boy was gone, and mulled over this new information.