The heart is our destiny.
It beats with the sun and moon,
for the one we love and need.
The heart is more than a muscle.
It is our path...
Can our mind be the heart?
Does our drive for the hearts desire drive our decisions and make us?
My heart has brought me to decide for others,
to think about what the outcome will be in the future..
My heart made me decide for my kingdoms future.
I love more than I show, care for people I have never met...
but that is how big and grand my heart is...
A queen can never see beyond...
their hearts desire...
I inhaled sharply for the pain that waved through my body; I have never really been in pain or harms way. I had only been in safe places, castles filled with royals, there were to never be pain in a castle. If there were pain then the royals aren't fit for their crown.
Slowly opening my eyes my vision was blurred and everything mixed with color. I could see a cloud of my breath tickled my cheeks while my raven locked stirred.
As everything became clear. I was in the woods, back against a large tree covered with ice, the grass crackled under my touch as I tried to slid up the tree to my feet. I groaned as my heels slid softly on the grass trying to make me fall. " Ouch!" I yelled when the arrow from my side touched bark and pulled on my flesh.
I looked down to my hip, the site of ice covering the arrow wasn't surprising to me. When I got sick as a child, my mother would find me in layers of ice, it was my body's way of fighting threats. The arrow was my bodies new threat.
I bite my lip while gaining the courage to touch the arrow with my chilled fingers. As I got closer the ice grew thicker causing the arrow to crack under weight. I held my breath as I gripped the arrow. A scream leaped in the air from my lips, the arrow had shattered and broke from my body, trickled to the ground and took the ice away making the grass-green and bark brown once again.
My eyes went wide when I looked down and saw the ice leaving the grass and creeping through my skin; it was returning home since the threat was killed.
A wave of relief washed over my soul as the pain vanished. I bowed my head and took deep breaths to regain my composure. I lifted my head and glanced over the forest, there wasn't a sound of knights or a village near by. There was only the sound of nature, birds, leaves and harmony. It was peaceful.
" I'm free" my voice cracked slightly at the realization that I was only in the woods. There were many stories that my mother told -even Momo and the servants- but they were all about vicious monsters eating the innocent and brave.
It wasn't long till the shadows felt like a cave filled with dragons and the branches held monsters who wanted to eat my flesh. I might have gotten away from my kingdom but I was now alone with more dangerous things.
My heart stopped when a twig in the distance snapped and a slow growl filled my ears. I looked around but there was no one near me, which frightened me more. When another deep growl echoed my ears I turned and ran down the hill to the path below.
The soil caked my heels and made me jerk heavily against my run. I looked over my shoulder, there stood a large shadow from behind the tree, I trembled in fear and began to run faster to escape. Tears streamed down my cheeks as my lungs burned from the lack of air, since the corset was still clinging to my body.
I spun head first when I tripped over a rock sending me down the hill quickly. A scream left my lips as I rolled down the hill and came to a dusty stop on the pathway. My vision was blurring with stars and fogging from impact but I attempted to get up to my feet, I stumbled and fell back down to the ground causing a wince to interrupt my gasps of exhaustion. " You're going to die if you just lay there!" a voice screamed in my ear.
Once I gained my strength I wobbled to my feet and held my arm tightly from the stones scrapping my flesh. The dirt, soil, mud, leaves and sweat stuck to my face as I looked around the path. There wasn't anyone around and no sign of travel on the gravel. No knight dared to look for me out there yet, but it was only a matter of time till they come this way and find me.
The thought of being found sent a horrifying chill down my spine and an un-easy feeling to my heart. If I were to be found and taken back to the kingdom my father would force me to marry Renji, who would kill my family and make me into a sex slave. I can't be found and have that happened, there wasn't a chance I would want such a thing.
Determination grew in the pit of my stomach causing me to walk deeper into the woods.
As I got further away from the kingdom I could feel relief cover my soul and I began to relax slightly. I looked above me to see the long branches of the tree's with leaves covering the sun but there were a few holes that covered my path and lite my way to the next kingdom in the distance.
I didn't have a plan for what I was going to do, but anything was better than what awaited me back home. Maybe I should live deep in the woods, in a little cabin where I would live in peace and be free. I could see a little house in the woods with a herb garden near a stream and animals hopping around in joy. I would come twirling out of the cabin with a cape and dress made of leaves.
It seemed like a peaceful idea, but there would come a day when the news of my father's death would spread throughout the land. Since I wasn't there to care for the kingdom... Renji would take the crown and he would win even though I escaped. My efforts would be for nothing.
I shook my head making my loose hairs to sway. " I can not let that pig rule my land" I huffed before closing my eyes, the image of my mother appeared through the darkness, she was smiling and twirling around the kingdom. The land she married to keep her family alive, her efforts would be lost too.
There hast to be a way I can gain my crown without marriage.
" Or... you marry in secret and go back with your husband-" I blushed for the voice and looked behind me. My thoughts went to the blacksmith that I left during my tumble. The chill of my skin pricked with heat as I remember how he touched me and danced with passion in my room, how close we came to kissing and betraying all the rules. A simple kiss would be a sin in my fathers eyes but there was apart of me that wanted to kiss him more than my fathers approval. Just one little kiss and I would feel... something unbelievable, I don't know how to describe it.
I would marry and bring a man back so I wouldn't have to marry my suitor, but knowing my father he would kill my husband and then make me marry. My heart would be crushed if I watched my love be killed by my father, not to think about how I would be forced to marry again so soon. I make it seem like my father is evil, he isn't, he just stubborn and loves being over others.
As the lightning of the path began to dim I felt alone and tired. I'm too used to having people around me all the time, there was never a moment that I was alone, usually a maid, servant, chief, or a person was around me. Now that I'm alone, there's nothing that made me laugh or smile like everyone else did. I was close to my servants, they're my friends and family, I want what best for them and for all those who follow me.
I turn around with my eyes on the pathway, my tracks were clear in the dirty, if there wasn't any rain soon it'd be easy to track me and find me. I wouldn't be able to hide and plan properly. So I went to the grass and took off my heels, it was nice to have the grass on my feet and feel the earth vibration underneath me. I grabbed my dress and walked gracefully (I was taught to walk that way, I can't change that).
The sound of the birds calmed my mind and made me at peace, I began to hum with them and closed my eyes.
I was back in the castle, warmth filled the room and laughter covered each corner. " Shall we" a voice whispered in my ear, a hand appeared inches away from my vision and I looked up to see the blacksmith.
Looking into his eyes I could see myself, hair pinned up with a bun and pearls, an elegant white gown fitted my body. But the finest detail that I noticed was the ring which slept on my marriage finger. I'm married?
I turned my head to see the kingdom's people dancing and my father sitting on a regular chair... not the throne. " Am I not good enough to dance with? I am the King after all" Ichigo snickered. I felt my cheeks warm and my hand in his as he lead me to the dance floor.
He twirled me around and I felt alive, over-joyed and loved. This was the way marriage was supposed to be. We stepped as one and moved together in harmony, my eyes never left his nor a worry came to my mind.
As we moved the room began to disappear and smoke caused me to look around but there wasn't smoke.
Finally I opened my eyes and the woods covered my orbs. I could hear a running stream not far from the trail and smoke peeking through the woods. Someone was resting. I looked up to see the sun was setting and it was nearly night. I could see the flames of the fire burning and the shadow of the person.
I quickly scurried behind a tree letting the bark rub against my naked back. The bark scratched my skin and opened old wounds my abilities didn't heal because they weren't big.
The fire crackled and a horse huffed near by, I looked around but saw no animal and thought it was my imagination getting the better of me. When I heard the sound of water breaking I looked to the river, there stood a naked man washing himself from his long journey.
I watched with a close eye as I slipped around the tree letting the fire glow on my skin, the burning amber crackle in my ear. I held my breath while I crept towards the clothing laying on the ground.
He stretched his arms with a deep exhale before diving down into the water, I went full speed into the clothing; searching for something that I could wear instead of my dress. Finally I could a red male blouse and went to scurry away. When I thought my escape seemed perfect my dress held me back and got caught on a something sharp. I turned and saw a large sharp blade that was used to defend the man, the sight made my chest tighten and mind race with thoughts. What would he do if he caught me taking his shirt?
I tugged my dress causing the material to tare and break off. I rolled into the woods and tried to get far away from the site.
When I was a safe distance I began to take off my dress. The cold of the air pricked my skin and made me shiver; the leaves ruffled while I pulled the dress off my body.
My fingers grasped the corset squeezing me but I couldn't manage to get it off. I kept trying to get the blasted corset off but gave up.
I quickly pulled the shirt on, it immediately having it cover my low-thigh, slowing buttoning the shirt I looked around worried to be caught. My eyes stayed on the river, the rippling of the man had stopped and there wasn't a sound, only the night in my ears as I searched for the shadow of him.
I would have left the area and I did start to, but I thought about the benefits I would have if I stole his material. Having a horse, different clothing, food, weapons and possible money would help me disappear. My journey could be cut-short and I could get to a kingdom quickly.
With all the benefits playing in my head I hide in the bushes with my palms burning with a blade of ice. I looked over the blade as it shimmered in the burning lumber, glimmering like crystals and sharper than knives. Winter may be beautiful but it can become deadly.
A sigh entered my ears, I looked over and saw the man leaning forward, drenched in water, pants covering his legs and a towel over his head; leaving him unknown. I could hear him muttering something, I tried to listen but his words were too scrambled.
He stopped as his eyes glanced over to the tattered clothing on the ground; had he noticed the intrusion? I held my breath when he noticed the material stuck to his blade. The grip on the blade in my hand tightened when he stood .
I can do this... This is the only way to make it easier.. I thought to myself before rolling out of the bushes and leaping into attack. He stumbled back as my blade cut his chest softly, letting blood drip down his skin.
With one hand he lifted his blade and swung for my head, I ducked and fell to the floor and rolled to the left. My eyes widened at my reflection in the metal of the blade stuck in the ground. " You cannot win" a deep but familiar voice, it dripped with excitement and pleasure.
His shadow grew over me, I have lost this battle in his eyes but he doesn't know my power and secrets. The dirt dragged as he kicked my blade away and went to lift his own. I grabbed his blade making it stick to ground like rock. In my head I could hear the soil freeze and the blade become coated in ice.
The mystery man tried pulling the blade from the ground, leaving me time to thinking about my next move. I circled leg sweeping him away to the ground with a thud. I crawled to my weapon and straddled his body.
One of his hands grabbed my wrist and twisted me to the ground. A glance of orange caused flash-backs of the blacksmith to play in my head. His muscular structure and clause covered palms.
The way he fight he would give me played in my head as my body grew heavy. The cold blade touched my throat " R-Rukia" I opened my eyes and saw sweet amber.
" Ichigo" I choked in a gasp, he dropped the blade and crawled off my body. " W-Why are you out here?" there wasn't any harm in the kingdom for him.
He leaned against a trunk and dried his hair with his towel. " I chased after you... because you stole my horse" he growled, why was he angry? I needed to get away quickly and his horse was the only way. " When I saw how serious your father was on capturing you, I knew he would think I was apart of your escape... they would kill me-"
" Your horse... how is he?" I remembered the tumble. " He fell pretty hard..."
" No really! I did not notice" he exclaimed, his eyes were filled with anger. " H-How could a royal, of all people, crash a horse into a gate? Are you that pig-headed"
" Crash? Crash? Are you out of your mind? A horse should be able to leap a fence, your horse was just... just stupid" I argued, riding was my passion and specialty. I never screwed up with a horse.
" Zangustu is not stupid!"
" Yes he is! Just like you!"
He glared and gritted his teeth trying to intimate me. " Says the one who ran away from their suitor and kingdom!" my eyes narrowed at him and clutched the blade at the side of me.
" I will not let someone murder the innocence of my kingdom..." I whispered, he muttered something under his breath and leaned back.
" Whatever the case is... you are stuck here with me-" I dropped the blade and sat straight. If I were in his position I wouldn't want the person who hurt Sode in my presence, I would kill them for touching her. Why would he help me? Does he know what Renji's plans were? Perhaps he's apart of the plan and was going to gain my trust before returning me.
I clenched the shirt softly in my palms. Everyone I trusted betrayed me and used me for their own selfishness. It hurt to remember and think about but it was reality. I didn't want to be used again.
A sigh left his lips as he stood and walked over to the river. " Is this your first time outside your castle walls?" I turned my head quickly to see where he was, I hadn't noticed he went to the river, I was lost in my own thoughts.
" No, I have been to other kingdoms and traveled my mother-"
" Never been alone in the woods" he interrupted. What was the difference? " You have never been in here alone or without a knight. You are practically blind now" he ringed the towel out and slowly walked in towards the fire.
He was right, I was only allowed in the woods with a knight and other royal. They would tell me that it was too dangerous for me to be alone. But looking around now, I didn't see the danger or need for a knight. There wasn't any harm. " How would you know that?"
Ichigo crouched down to my height and pulled a leaf from my hair, his eyes were breath-taking and memorizing. " The leaves in your hair and mud on your face" a deep blush covered my cheeks as he wiped the dried dirt from my skin.
The towel was soft on my cheeks and the water washed away make-up and dirt from before. " C-Can..." I tried but I couldn't say, I didn't want to sound weak in front of him. A Kuchiki isn't weak, we are the strongest and don't need help, but I needed his help now. " Can I journey with you?"
My eyes shut in embarrassment and crimson covered my face as a cold breeze covered the air. " Why should I? You cannot ride a horse"
" Did Sode jump the gate?" my voice was strong and filled with determination.
"... Yes" he stopped wiping away the dirt and looked over to the horses. "... She did"
" She is my horse... I trained her to jump and most royal horses can" I glanced over to Sode and she whipped her mane with grace. Her back was bare and eyes glowed in the fire light.
He raised a brow " You thought Zangustu was a roy-"
" I thought he could jump like a royal horse" I nodded. Ichigo shook his head and continued wiping my face. " Fine" I looked into his eyes and held my breath " You can come with me but stay away from my horse"
I placed my hand on his chest causing blood to cover my finger tips. " If you betray me in any way... I will freeze you to the core" he looked down and noticed the ice coating his cut from my touch. A white glow shimmered from my fingers as the skin healed, I could hear his heart racing in my ears as his chest rise and fell quickly in shock.
The ice cracked and shattered, I slide my palm away from his chest as the white shimmer dimmed. I watched as his hands dropped the towel and touched the spot quickly. He was the first to feel my power on his skin but I didn't want to think about the injury.
" H-How..?" he stumbled backwards. I grabbed the towel from the ground to wipe the blood from my hands.
" I shall tell in time" my head rest on a tree behind me and towel soaked my neck, it was in pain from the fall I took earlier.
The rest of the night was silent with only little talking. When we weren't speaking I listened to the fire crackling and the song of the night; it was peaceful and relaxing. The sound of owls hooting and crickets chirping was soothing to my soul. Water rippling as fish kissed the surface, frogs crooking as fireflies coated the darkness.
Ichigo was sleeping soundly when the fire died and the dark covered my orbs. He seemed peaceful in his slumber, I never watched someone sleep before, I wasn't allowed to be in the same room as another.
Now that I was observing someone sleeping, I wanted to get closer and feel what it was like, curiosity was my motive.
I crawled on my hands and knee's causing the ground to scrap my fragile knee's in the process. As I got closer I could feel the curiosity burn brighter in my soul, I stared at his face, his mouth hung open as he snored and muscles relaxed.
My eyes warned down his chest, covered with sweat and old scars, down his arms that were strong and made from fighting. I looked down to his hands, my eyes softened and lips created a grin for the memories racing through my mind. I found myself holding his hand softly in mind and lips pressed against the knuckle.
" Thank you... Koursaki Ichigo" I thought.
When his hand tightened on mine I was startled and went to pull away, but he pulled me closer with force. My eyes widen and cheeks burned as my skin touched his chest, the sweat was sweet on my flesh and the sound of his heart-beat was soothing.
" I-Ichigo let me go" I ordered in embarrassment but he didn't listen. His grip on me tighten making his scent coat mine. " Baka..." I yawned while my eyes got heavier.
" Sleep..." I heard in his thoughts. I jumped slightly and turned into his chest, arms tight to my chest. I felt his head rest in my neck before leaning to the right making us fall. I wanted to scream in embarrassment, freeze him for the action but I wasn't sure if he was awake or sleeping.
We laid on the ground, both sleeping under that stars for the first time. But in the back of my mine there was worry for what my father was planning for me and the blacksmith. He was never one to give up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sakura~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A strong blanket of fog covered the ground causing a dark shade to coat the castle. The servants weren't joyful or smiling, but pouting and filled with anger. Knights stood around the castle with their army covered in metal, blades ready for a battle and horse's waiting to be rode.
The windows were lite with light and servants stared out to the land wondering where their princess was. " Abrai!" a strong voice screamed throughout the castle.
Inside stood the king dressed in his armor and eyes filled with anger. He stared up to the guest room where the suitor slept, he didn't seem to mind the run away of the princess. " Yes Milord" the red-head yawned while peeking out of the room.
The king raised a brow, he wasn't impressed with the suitors attitude to the run. He thought the man would be more anxious to find her and not calm. " Do you not wish to find my daughter?" he asked with annoyance.
Abrai groaned to himself and looked into the room where a woman laid unknown to the king. After the princess ran away, the king lost his cool and went storming around the village looking for her or someone who helped her escape. The young suitor was stressed with the information she knew and took an innocent woman to his chambers, it was easy since she was quiet drunk. " Of course I do, Milord. I was just strategizing upon what to do about the situation" he fed the king a lie.
" What have you come up with?" the king asked with a hopeful eye.
Abrai leaned against the doorway and scratched his head. " I heard of a witch in District 4... she used to help woman with their children, some were lost and some taken by kingdoms. There were stories that she could see them in her dreams and find their hearts, so the woman can get their loved ones. Perhaps we can find her and ask her to find the princess"
" Which kingdom does this witch live?" the king questioned, there were few kingdoms where they names their groups districts. It was mostly found in the kingdoms that are known for kindness and logic, not fighting and war. They were more peaceful royals.
" About five days travel away from my kingdom" the suitor answered.
The king nodded " Aizen!" he yelled causing the commander to run over. He bowed on one knee and glanced up to his nephew " Get the horses and carriages ready for travel. I want the knights to find the witch in fourth district" he ordered.
" But, Milord-" Aizen resisted.
" Commander, I wish to find my sinful daughter and have her wed before end of this season. If leaves start to fall there will be limited hope to finding her", he spoke with worry. He knew his daughter wasn't alone, he could feel the presence of her and another in his heart, there was a deep connection between the two and there was soon to be more. If winter fell and there was no princess, there would only be a war that he cannot win, the war of winter against his sakura pedals.
" Milord, it is just a myth" Aizen continued. " We know the way she fled and that was towards Karakura kingdom, the castle where the blacksmith lives. According to my wife, the princess and the blacksmith had been alone before her escape".
The King was still and shaken by the news. He didn't understand why they would allow the two to be alone " Why would she alone such a thing?!" he exclaimed to the commander. Aizen tensed and relaxed as he thought of his wife being innocent, but her humanity became her enemy with the princess.
" Milord, she was told that the princess was talking about his journey back to his kingdom, she wanted to make sure he had supplies to journey safely because of the beauty the rings held" the royal held a growl and fit of anger within him.
" Get the carriages ready for the journey. The blacksmith is whom she is with, but there is also a kingdom beyond Karakura called Soul Society, we have to think wisely and figure which he may be from" Aizen nodded before vanishing to prepare the carriages.
" Suitor, get dressed and ready to leave"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sakura~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I gasped awake with sweat dripping from my body, breathed laboured from the nightmare I woke from. I sat up quickly with my eyes searching for someone...anyone. I noticed Ichigo wasn't laying near me anymore which set me on edge and worry. Did they find me?
" I-Ichigo..." I exclaimed. I looked over my shoulder and saw the him sleeping, he must have rolled onto the other side and stopped holding me.
I sat up and tried to steady my breathing. The warmth of the sun covered my body while I stood and headed towards the river. I always calmed down near the water since it took away energy.
The river softly sang as I crouched down and stared down at my reflection. I held myself tightly and sighed as I thought of my father, he was going mad without me.
Ever since I was child I would dream about others, see what they are doing and where they are heading. When a war was rumoring around the village, I would dream of the knights dying and how they were going to attack, that's how my father won every battle. He had a little piece of the future and knowledge of the leader.
So, now that I'm gone and there's no one to tell him where I am, he hast to find someone and fast. There was only a matter of time till I vanish from the pathway. With the wind I my scent would be swept away, there would be not sign of me. I needed to keep running until winter settled in then I would be safe.
" I wont let you win" I whispered repetitively. I waved my hand over the water as a face appeared within the ripples. " You will not have my kingdom" I hissed as the red hair floated in the waves, the thick tattoo's reaping of death and brown evil orbs. A large orb of water floated into the air with the face of Renji.
He laughed loudly in my ear mocking me of my cowardly escape. I could see the blood corpses rotting in his heart and the hate he held for my family... for everyone I love. My fist clenched tighter causing the water to freeze slowly and the image to begin to choke. A smile covered my lips while I felt his life slowly drain his face. " Kurushimu" my voice was murderous as I muttered the order. The orb exploded and flakes of snow swirled in the air.
I heard a branch snap and turned to see Ichigo startled for what he had just seen. " Blacksmith" he tensed in fear.
Kurushimu - death
The title of this chapter is " The Arrow and Carriage"