Chapter 12: After The Accident
Both Naru and I turned to Len-san just in time to see the darkness consume us as the car went over the rail- of the highways.
"Murasaki-no-ue, please come this way quickly!"
"What is going on," she asked quickly and quietly as the guard led her down a secret hallway.
"We are under attack, your highness," the guard replied quickly.
"Who is attacking us," she asked as they rounded a corner.
"The Yasha-clan, your highness," the guard replied almost as quickly as the first.
"What about my parents," she asked.
"His and her majesty insisted that us guards lead your highness to safety first," the guard replied and rounded another corner.
"Then how will they get out," she quickly asked.
"There are others, your highness," the guard replied and stopped in front of a wooden wall. He pressed his ear against it and listened for movements on the other side. When none was heard, he gave three knock in various places. A door swing out and the guard got in first. "Please be careful your highness," the Guard reached out for her hand. She gratefully took it and he helped her inside.
"Where does this tunnel lead to," she asked.
"It will get you far enough from here, your highness," the guard replied.
"What about you? Are you going to stay with me," she asked, a little hesitant. She didn't want to be left alone under these circumstances.
"There is someone waiting for you. He will take you to safety, your highness," the guard replied.
"Then what about you," she asked.
"I will return to the castle," he said quietly.
"Oh," she said quietly, knowing perfectly well that it's suicide to go back.
Scene Changes
"Here we are your highness," the guard stopped in front of an old oak tree in the forest and removed shrubs out of the way between two huge tree trunk, "Please stay inside until someone comes for you." Between the trunks was a middle size opening. Inside, there was enough space for three people.
"How will I know if that person is not an enemy," she asked as she got inside.
"Only he will know that you are under here," the guard said and then got down on his knees. His head bowed down, almost to the ground, "I am sorry that I can not protect her highness to the end. But I am grateful for leading her highness this far."
She frowned sadly as she sees his tears, "What is your name?"
He looked at her for a moment… and then he smiled, "My name is Yoshitaka Kaeda, your highness."
She gave him a warm smiled, "I will pray for you, Yoshitaka Kaeda-kun."
He smiled and nodded, "I best be going now your highness."
She nodded.
"Please take care of yourself, your highness. And may the gods be with you," he said in a whisper and quickly covered the opening with the shrubs.
She chocked back a sob as his footsteps faded. She scooted back toward the darkness and hugged her knees. 'I wonder how long until someone comes for me,' she thought, 'it's scary being here all alone."
An Hour Later
She was starting to doubt someone would ever come for her. What if the person that was supposed to come for her is killed? Does that mean she will have to wait here all her life? She knew if she leaves this hiding place, she will be killed, so what is she going to do?
'Someone, please,' she prayed, 'please find me.'
Suddenly, a bundle of leaves started rustling outside. She quickly sprang her head up at the opening and gulped cautiously. 'Whoever it is,' she silently prayed, 'please let it be someone I know.'
She could make out faint footsteps coming closer and closer. She closed her eyes tightly and anticipated for the worst outcomes as the footsteps stopped right outside the opening. 'Please,' she prayed.
"Your highness?"
'That voice,' she looked up at the familiar sound and burst into tears when her eyes fell upon whoever it was that came for her.
"Hikaru," she said quietly.
The dark grey hair guard smiled and sighed with relief, "I am sorry for being late," he apologized and proceed to help her out.
Suddenly, loud footsteps were approaching them. She scooted back and he got inside, covering the opening quickly. He stayed in front of her, protecting her in case whoever it is discovered them.
"So, did you find the princess," someone asked from outside.
Murasaki moved closer to Hikaru and gently gripped his armor. He stared at the opening cautiously.
"No," someone answered back, "I bet the bitch made it out of the castle."
"What do you mean," someone else asked.
"Well, we did burn the damn place to the ground, even the king and the queen perished in the fire, but the princess's body isn't found."
Murasaki covered her mouth, holding back her cries and bury her face in Hikaru's shoulder. Hikaru glared venomously at the opening. He wanted to go out there and kill them all, but if he were to do that, he would put her in danger. He closed his eyes tightly and held himself back.
"Come on, let's get out of here," someone said, "If Yasha-sama knows we're out here, he'll kill us."
The two waited until the footsteps faded and then waited for another couple of minutes before Hikaru cautiously and hesitantly moved the shrubs out of the way. He looked around before getting out and helping her out. Murasaki wipped away her tears.
"Where are we going from here," she asked.
He looked at her, "We're going to Shibuya Castle."
"To Hiroto's castle," she asked.
"Yes," he replied, "It is the only way to ensure your highness safety since he is your fiancé."
She nodded, "But how will we be able to cross the border without the Yasha-clan finding us out?"
"We'll come up with a plan as go. We can not stay here for long," he explained, "the Yasha-clan is looking for you."
She nodded, "But how is it that you were the one to come for me?"
He stiffened for a moment, and then he relaxed with a sad look on his face, "My partner was supposed to come for you. But… he lost his life trying to come here."
She frowned sadly, "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, it's not your fault," he said quietly and reached for her hand, "Let us get going your highness."
She placed her hand in his. He gently held her hand and pulled her along as they rushed out of site.
"…ai!"
"Mai!"
"Ah," I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Ayako on top of me. She had her hands on my shoulders and tears in her eyes.
"Mai," she cried in relief and hugged me tightly.
"Ngh, A-Ayako… i-it hurts," I managed through gritted teeth.
"Oh, sorry," she quickly moved away.
I gasped for air. Once I felt the pain subsiding, I looked around the room and saw Monk-san by the foot of my bed with a relief smile on his face, Madoka and John-san was on my right side and they too was smiling, Masako was beside Ayako on my right. And then something hit me, "Where am I," I asked.
Masako smiled softly at me, "You're alright now. You're in the hospital."
"What happen," I asked. My memories were a little hazy right now.
"Len-san said that while he was driving through the highway, he saw someone standing in the middle of the road. He couldn't make out whom it was. He was going to stop, but he said his leg suddenly didn't respond. He couldn't stop and he said as the car got closer he saw Yukiyo Takumi," John-san explained, "It was then that he lost control of the car."
"Oh," I said quietly. Hm, something isn't right. There's something they're not telling me, "Wait, where is Naru?"
Everyone looked at me and then frowned with a sad look on their face.
"What," I asked, waiting for their answer, "Where's Naru… and Len-san?"
"Don't worry about Len," Madoka gave me a small smile, "He's fine."
"Then what about Naru," I asked, feeling a lump in my throat.
"He…" Madoka began crying.
"He what," I asked, feeling my heart started break.
"Mai," Monk-san said quietly, "I think you should see for yourself."
I felt something awful washed over me in that instant. I gulped and nodded hesitantly. Ayako helped me up. "You shouldn't even be getting up," I heard her whispered. I gently placed my hand on top of hers and gave her a reassure smile, "I'm fine."
Monk-san insisted that I sit on the wheelchair; if I refused he would not let me see Naru. I begrudgingly sat on the wheelchair and have Monk-san wheeled me down the hallway. As I focused on my surrounding, I started noticing the rooms with glass walls and some of the patients even have tubes and machine attaches to them. "What level is this," I asked.
"ICU," Monk-san replied.
"How bad is my injuries," I asked, looking down at my body. I finally noticed then that I was wearing silk, white pajamas and I even wore slippers. 'Huh, I didn't even realized that,' I thought, 'Ayako probably put it on me when I was arguing with Monk-san about the wheelchair.'
"We're here," Monk-san announced.
I looked up and looked inside the room. It was pearly white and there was only one bed. Len-san was sitting beside the bed, typing on his computer. Yasuhara-san was reading an old ancient-like book by the window. Between them, on top of the bed, was Naru. He was sleeping soundly. His face looked nothing but with relaxation. "He doesn't look any thing different to me," I said to Monk-san.
They probably heard me since that was when they looked up from their occupation, "Mai," they said in relief and in unison.
"Len-san Yasuhara-san," I said with relief as well. It was good that Len-san isn't hurt, though he did have bandages wrapped around his head. Monk-san wheeled me into the room. Len-san helped me up and helped sat me down on the chair beside Naru's bed.
"I'll let you two talk," Monk-san said and then he and Ysuhara-san left the room.
I turned to Naru and examined his face. He doesn't have any bruise or any major wounds on his face. He only has a few scratches here or there. I turned to Len-san afterwards. He was looking at Naru and he had a sad look on his face. "Len-san?"
"I'm sorry Mai," he said quietly, not making eye contact, "If I was just stronger, we wouldn't have to go through this."
I frowned, "Go through what?"
He was silent for a moment, and then he finally make eye contact with me, "Naru… is in a coma."
AN- I am sorry for the long wait, here is chapter 12 of Finding the Princess. Please stay tune for the next chapter! Oh, and please review! I love you guys and you're reviews!