A/N: I promise I'm not dead! Been dealing with a lot of personal things, and preparing for both of my amazing partners to visit for two weeks next month. Can't wait!
Warning!: This contains backstory and stuff. Seriously tame compared to the last chapter.
With love,
Korrupted.
SHOUT OUTS:
WeirdRaptor: You wanted the 'how', and here you go!
Shaoran009: More, you asked? Here's more! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!
Disclaimer: I still own nothing about Sailor Moon, but I DID manage to get both of my partners to watch PGSM. And they LOVED IT.
When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.
-(Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)
Minako stood gingerly from the chair beside Makoto's bed, her wrapped back aching horribly from the action. Two days had been one of the worst days of her life, and now her injured friend's fever was starting to crawl back up. Though she wanted nothing more than to remain by her side, the blonde had to get something to eat and fetch Ami again. The poor healer was running herself ragged trying to keep them both from disturbing the poultices and salves she had slathered their backs with, but Minako helped her change the wraps on Makoto faithfully each time; she felt partially responsible for them. If only she had gotten there sooner, or not been so easily tricked by such an obvious tactic.
The soft growl of her stomach reminded her that she had to move to fill the void, and so she began her slow trek to the kitchen, where Ami was brewing some foul smelling substance.
Minako had never known that so much movement stemmed from her back, but almost everything sent jolts of agony through her being. Walking hurt, breathing hurt, thinking hurt. Sometimes even the thought of the pain hurt worse than the pain. Shuffling down the stairs, she grunted slightly, clinging to the banister. She had only suffered one lash of the scourge while Makoto had taken so many; the madam would swallow the agony down happily at the small hurt compared to her charge. But a slightly angry conversation caught her attention.
"Do you have one of the girls already agreeing to see you?" The terse voice of Haruka questioned rather coldly.
"Well, no. I just always come at this time. Why is the brothel still shut down?"
The conversation between the guard and patron grabbed Minako's full attention now, peeking around a corner gingerly to spot a young man frustratedly glaring at Haruka. "We are taking care of one of our employees. If you don't have a girl already agreeing to come to you, then you won't see any of ours today. Go visit another brothel."
The blonde woman was clearly getting more agitated by the man, already repositioned to slam the door.
"What about us patrons? Do you want us picking a new brothel over yours? Is that it?"
The guard snapped at long last, all but bellowing, "I don't give a damn what you choose! We're closed and you annoying me isn't changing that."
"But, what am I supposed to do?!"
"We're closed! BEAT IT!"
With a final slam of the door, Haruka ended the conversation, kicking a small metal tankard in her fury. It clanked a good several feet away before she sat heavily back on her chair, obviously awaiting the next idiot who would ask the same questions as this one had. It seemed that this wasn't the first patron to harass the woman, and judging by her scowl, certainly not the last either.
Minako turned at a labored grunt from behind her on the stairs, jaw dropping at the sight of Makoto glowering at her. The slave looked awful, her face red from the fever, green eyes a bit glazed, body hunched from the pain. Other than a loin cloth and the bandages, the woman stood utterly naked before her, hair in a very high bun instead of her usual horse tail."Mako!" She hissed, looking at her in concern. "What are you doing up? You should be resting! Come, let's get you back in bed."
As she moved closer to usher her charge back up, Makoto stood at her full height, her features full of hate and rage. The chilling cold that was rolling off the former general was enough to halt her, blue eyes worried, scared even. "I won't let them do this, you bastard." Makoto snarled to her master, taking another pain-inducing step closer. "I'll kill you here and now for this!"
Without any other warning, Minako found herself slammed back first into the wall, Makoto's hands firmly around her throat. She clawed at the powerful grip, kicking the wall as she fought hard for air, her back in searing agony. Vaguely, Minako could hear others rushing to break them apart, but her attention was focused solely on the tall Kishu. "I won't let you do this to my men! Your damn treason won't go unpunished, Nephrite!" She all but roared at the choking blonde.
A swift punch from Hannah to Makoto's head sent the woman reeling, allowing Minako to collapse to the ground in a gasping heap.
"You spineless cowards are NOTHING! I'll rip you ALL APART!" Makoto bellowed as they restrained her.
Ami yelled at them to get her back to her room, blue hues full of terror. "Tie her to the bed, please! She's hallucinating, and tearing her wounds back open!"
As the group of struggling guards slowly dragged the slave back upstairs, Minako followed at a slow stagger, her head still spinning as she followed the furious roars of rage. Whoever this Nephrite was, it was clear that Makoto hated him with ever fiber of her being. As Minako finally reached the top of the stairs, enraged bellows had started shifting into screams of uncertain fear and pain, but with an underlying tone of hate.
It was a sound that Minako knew very well from when she had first started being a prostitute. She had voiced these herself, and it shook her to her very core to hear the powerful Makoto create them.
As quickly as she could manage, Minako moved to the slave's room, seeing her friend tied face-down to the bed as Ami tried to re-clean the wounds. Makoto screeched, flailed, threatened, fought, but ultimately could not free herself, breaking down into tears in her feverish state.
The blonde madam panted in horror, pushing her way closer to the bound slave. "No... Untie her. Untie her this instant!" She demanded in a frantic tone. "Toddrick drugged and raped her! She's confused! She doesn't know it's us!"
Haruka had taken hold of her employer, keeping her away from the bed and freeing the delirious woman herself. "Mina! Mina, calm down! She has to be restrained, she's dangerous right now." The guard insisted firmly. "She'll attack someone, or hurt herself. We have to do this."
"She didn't know it was me! Heildar damn it all, UNTIE HER! You're scaring her!"
Setsuna joined Haruka in trying to keep the blonde back, though the smaller woman kept twisting out of their grip, forcing them to constantly scramble for purchase. "UNTIE HER THIS INSTANT, ALL OF YOU!" Minako screeched, tears running down her cheeks. Makoto had done so much to protect her, become such a dear friend to her. Watching her scream and sob on the bed was unbearable. "MAKO! MAKO, I'M RIGHT HERE!"
Every time the two guards made any headway, Minako jerked her way back to where she had been, trying desperately to reach her friend. "Haruka, Setsuna, let her go!" Rei finally ordered. "Just... Let her stay with Makoto."
At the sharp tone of the former miko, the duo released their boss, only to have the raven haired woman take firm hold of her next. "Minako. You can't untie her. Please, you have to understand." Rei pleaded, violet hues imploring. "She's hallucinating. She'll injure herself. But she needs you, so please. Stay with her."
Though she was crying and whimpering, Minako slowly nodded, hurrying over to take hold of Makoto's hand. "Shhhh... Shhhh, Mako, it's me. Please, please calm down."
Though Ami was still tending to the ghastly wounds on her back, causing pained shrieks to fill the brothel, Makoto seemed to respond to the voice. She gripped her master's hand hard, ultimately passing out after wearing out her voice.
Minako found herself sat in a chair beside her charge, the young healer looking over the reopened wounds on her back as well. "You'll have to lean forwards. And take off your shirt."
As quickly as the injuries allowed, Minako tugged off her tunic, moving to turn the chair around so Ami had better access to the bleeding area. She held Makoto's hand, wincing and hissing at the salves applied to clean the marks, then allowing fresh cloth to be wrapped around them to keep dirt out. It hurt, yes, but Minako knew that Makoto was in far more pain than she could dream.
Makoto whimpered in her uneasy sleep, mumbling and shifting as much as the ropes would allow. Minako knew she dozed off every so often, each time a small cough waking her to prompt another drink to be eased into the parched mouth of her charge, whispering soft words of comfort and assurance in an attempt to keep her calm.
"It's okay, Mako. Shhhh... It's okay. Rest."
Max walked smoothly to the palace, her dark hazel eyes sweeping over the area around her covertly. Renny was recovering from another training session with her link to the queen, leaving the older woman to venture to the meeting alone. Generally, she hated meeting with the advisers at the best of times, but now that it was clear how they thought of her rambunctious charge, she loathed them even more. Even the tightly sealed letter in her hand couldn't quell how much she wanted to pummel them to the ground.
Her shadows drew close as she marched through doors that guards opened for her, smiling seductively as she passed out of habit. The second an adviser was close enough as they walked by, Max shoved the letter into her hand. "A letter from Renait to her family. See it is sent. Anything for her?" She hissed covertly.
"Nothing for the Beacon." The word made Max twitch "I will take care of the letter."
As quickly as they had come close to each other, they kept on their paths, the madam closing in on the main chamber for the advisers.
"Did you hear about that one slave woman in Landenholt? Her master stopped a beating and everything to save her." A servant whispered hastily to another as they tended to their duties.
"I dinnit." She grunted back. "D'ye wanna share?"
A soft voice picked up from what was likely an enchanted stone, the audio of a spell-captured moment replaying at the command of the creator. A voice that the spy master knew very well.
"I was being robbed in an alley, and she armed herself to save my life! Serf's Law states that a slave may arm themselves if their master is in jeopardy. Either she is fulfilling her role and protected by that law, or she is not a slave and you need the get these blasted shackles off of her!"
Max halted, drawing closer.
"Well, mebbe there be hope fer slaves there after'll, huh?"
"Maybe." The first agreed.
"Minako... You little minx." Max breathed with a vague smile, returning to her route. "Changing the world, I see. Hmmm. Maybe there's hope for things."
Minako was stiff and sore from two days of her vigil by Makoto's side. Two days of the woman being restrained, feverish, and whimpering. She and Ami had made certain to keep the bed and area as clean as possible, the healer in training not even fazed by anything anymore; the horror of the wounds had made everything else completely tame for both women.
"Mi...nak...o?" A hoarse voice ground out.
Ocean hues snapped up from her hands to see a stirring Makoto, the stronger woman moving weakly against the bindings. "Here, let me get you." She rushed, lunging forward to untie her.
The second one hand was freed, Makoto's limb flopped to the bed, her master almost finished with the other. As she was freed, Makoto lay on the bed, her healing back still facing the ceiling as Minako coaxed her into drinking more water.
"How long...?" Makoto inquired.
Minako worried her lip, fiddling with the cup. "You've been feverish four days now. The fever broke around half past the second bell this morning."
Verdant orbs met hers. "Four days? Jakli's spear..."
"Mako?" Minako's voice wavered, trying to carefully order her next words. "You also were hallucinating for the last two days. You called me Nephrite." She watched the woman stiffen, hearing her instantly hiss in pain. "Do... You want to tell me who he is?"
Makoto frowned, gripping the pillow below her cheek firmly. Could she trust this woman with her past? With what little of herself remained untainted by slavery? A loud voice bellowed that of course she could; Minako had taken a lash of the scourge to protect her. She had fought verbally to free her from the unjust punishment. The choice was simple, far more so than speaking the words she knew she had to.
"I guess... You have a right to know. I was a general for the Furaji king years ago. Nephrite, was a general for your King Andrew." She took a deep breath. "He's the man who made me a slave."
Makoto grinning from atop her horse, watching her men proudly as they stood in flawless formation. This was a moment to cherish as they prepared to move out, her finest to stand and fight along side their neighboring ruler's forces. Drawing her sword, the Kishu woman hoisted it, pointing towards the forests. "Forward!" She bellowed, drums pattering out the command.
As she moved, the almost melodic sound of marching feet followed. Battle awaited her men, and she feared many would not return here to see their families again. It would be a shame to lose even a single soldier, but was was never a picky hunter; even she could fall to it's murderous appetite.
Another horse drew close, a rich voice speaking up. "Henso, all is well." Olik stated. "We will arrive in four days to Landenholt."
"We arrived at the castle, and met with out fellow captains, and the general Nephrite." She explained, looking at the floor boards. "It took us three days to plan out how to fight the Boshni to the north. Nephrite and I worked together often, trying to formulate how our troops should be placed to best work together."
Minako listened quietly, her expression concerned. She didn't quite understand why her friend was being so indirect, but there had to be a reason for it. Well, one aside from the fact that she had been carrying around this secret for years. Minako herself knew of the war, but not that Makoto had been leading the forces from Furaji.
"That war hadn't been nearly as difficult as we had thought it would be. The Boshni hadn't even been giving us too much trouble, but in the end, they were dug in at the mountains to the southeast."
Makoto stood next to Nephrite in his command tent, the duo pouring over maps with scowls on their features. Three days and they had made almost no progress; it was as if their foe was always just one step ahead of their plans, and that typically meant that there was a spy among them.
"If we try to take the left embankment-" Makoto started, but a firm shake of the male's head cut her off.
"We tried that already. They were waiting with trenches and pikes."
"Then a feint to the left, with a hit and run force from the south to stop their supply?"
"For all we know, they have suplies in that cave."
"Then we STARVE THE KA'YUI OUT!" She bellowed in frustration. "Why in the name of Karuui are they so far ahead of us?! It's just two hundred men!"
Nephrite smirked at her shouts, his armored hand hiding the smile. "Now, now. Such profanity." He chuckled to her, earning a withering glare.
"I'm a soldier, not some court maid. I swear, as do my men, whenever I damn well please."
He raised his hands in a defensive gesture. "As you desire. But, I think I know how to win this, Henso Kino."
Her eyes turned to him as he tapped the map with his hand, looking over the markers and flags idly. "You and I march our troops to the north west, where the main Boshni troops are stationed."
Main troops? Why was this the first she heard of this? His voice was silky, too soft, as if he was trying to compel or hypnotize her. Something felt off about his tone.
"Once there, we meet with Karn Urr Coito alone."
She faced him fully, her emerald hues watching his hazel. This didn't sound good to her, it seemed too cunning to be a trap.
"We join with his forces, and we march to Landenholt, taking it by surprise."
Makoto's hand was on the hilt of her sword, backing away. "You... You're a turncoat..." She breathed. "You're the spy."
He stepped closer. "Now, I know this sounds terrible, but consider this; if you help the Boshni, you can also search for other Kishu villages and keep them safe. I would give you an army of your own just to protect your people." Another step closer as she tried to put another step of distance between them. "Wouldn't you want to protect them? To keep another massacre from happening?"
Her hand faltered at trying to draw her sword. Protect other villages? She would give her life for the chance to keep another Kishu child from suffering as she had. But could she sell her very soul to do so?
She clenched her jaw and drew her sword, making her choice. "Never. My men and I won't be going into your little ambush. We won't be part of your scheme." She growled at him.
A hard force hit the back of her head, Makoto dropping heavily to the dirt as darkness threatened to drag her under. Her armor felt heavy as her ears roared, everything spinning though her eyes were closed.
"-we do now?" A male she didn't know growled.
"I need to vanish. Tell Rachile exactly what I said. We still need her men there." Nephrite replied in a irritated tone.
"And what do we do with her?"
She twitched trying to move, but everything was still too foggy.
"Sell her to slaver traders. We have to remain sparse, and she would be far too loud to be hostage. We will need every copper we can get for now. Besides, I'd give her six months before that spirit of hers gets her killed. No loose ends, no blood on our hands."
Makoto groaned weakly, but a boot to her head sent her into the darkness she had been trying to avoid.
"So, I woke up a slave. Bastard was right about my spirit. It almost got me killed a few times."
Minako was sitting in shock as tears she couldn't feel poured from her eyes. She hadn't known just how cruel fate had been to her brave friend, but now that she did it was so incredible that she remained so untamed and unbroken. "But... We must tell the King about this. He can free you, and then-"
Makoto shook her head. "He's out there. The second he finds out I am here, I know he will come to finish me off. And maybe even try to take Landenholt. I can't be discovered."
"But we have to tell the King of his betrayal! Everyone thinks he died in combat." The blonde implored.
"And it would raise suspicion that your king knows. Too many questions, to many ears that could be his."
"And are we to simply wait while he could still be out there, planning his assault on us?!"
"Your king knows of the unrest! Don't hasten his attack while you noisily prepare! He's a gifted strategist, and he will attack before you are fully ready." The slave snapped, wincing in pain. "Request slow improvements. Ones that seem natural. Ones that will go unnoticed. Too much will raise questions. A bit here and there won't."
Minako was stunned into silence, her mind whirling far faster than she thought possible. She had to protect Makoto, especially while she was recovering. "So, Mako." She drew her chair even closer, taking gentle hold of her friend's hands. "What do we do now?"
Emerald orbs softened, but a fire sparked in them through the pain, a smirk on her lips. "Now, I get better and you start sending those messages to the king. We need to get started, and I need to get back on my feet."
However, the madam glared at her. "Now you listen here. You aren't doing anything until Ami clears you."
"But-!"
"Nuh-uh! No buts! So you best get cozy there, because Healer Minako will be taking care of you."
A look of panic spread on Makoto's features. "Oh no..."
A wide grin broke onto Minako's lips. "Oh yes. So, sit tight while I fix you some food!"
As her master bolted off, Makoto groaned softly. "Please Gods, kill me now..." She pleaded to no one.
