Chapter 15: The Tale of Murasaki-No-Kimi Part 2

She let go of Mrs. Takumi and lay down on her bed. She closed her eyes and began drifting to sleep.

Murasaki gently tugged on Hikaru's sleeve as the two made their way down the mountain path. Hikaru stopped and looked at her, "Yes, Hime?"

"Why are we going down the mountain," she asked.

"It's the safeties route to Shibya castle," he explained.

"But if we follow the Haruko River, we'll be able to make it in three days," Murasaki suggested.

"I know, but that's exactly what the Yasha-clan is expecting us to do," Hikaru replied, "it's best to avoid the river."

"Then, where are we going," she asked.

Hikaru gave her a reassured smile and began walking down the mountain path again, "There's a little village down the mountain path, Hime. We need to stay close to the villages incase the Yasha-clan comes looking. And we also need to change out of our clothes. It will be harder for them to find us that way."

Murasaki nodded unsurely. She held the sleeve tighter and tried her best to walk in her long kimono.

SCENE CHANGES

Murasaki looked around the market place and beamed with awe. There were all sorts of shops and people going about their daily life. She felt so out of place since she didn't know what to do but stand there in the middle of the road as people walked passed by. Little kids were running and playing happily. She couldn't help but smiled after them.

"Hime."

She looked up at Hikaru, who just got out of the shop. He held a packet wrapped in gold paper in one hand and a blue bundle tied around his chest. He had already changed out of his ninja suit and into a peasant kimono. "You're finish," she asked.

"Yes," he reached his hand out, which she gladly took. The two began walking through the market place as Hikaru looked around for an Inn or a place that no one can easily see inside.

"Where are we going," she asked.

"A place for you to change, Hime," he explained, "We cannot stay in one place too long."

"Okay," she said quietly, trying to keep up with Hikaru's fast pace.

SCENE CHANGES

She looked nervously around the cave and scoot closer to the bone fire. After they managed to find a place for her to change, Hikaru decided it's best to rest somewhere far from the village and hidden from the eyes of the night. She pulled the blanket around her shoulder closer and blow at her hands to keep them warm. 'I wonder if my parent is alright,' she thought as she waited for Hikaru to come back from hunting.

She looked up as she heard footsteps approached. She let out a relief sigh as Hikaru appeared through the opening. "Welcome back," she smiled.

He nodded, "I'm back, Hime."

She stood up and walked toward him. Hikaru watched as she stood in front of him. Murasaki slowly brought her hand up to his face, but he instinctively step back to give some distance between them. Realizing what she was doing, Murasaki quickly withdrew her hand, "Um, y-you got some blood stain on your cheek."

Hikaru wiped the blood with the back of his hand, "I-I'll um… cook this rabbit for you," he said quickly, avoiding eye contact. She gave a nod, allowing him to passed her and get the rabbit ready.

SCENE CHANGES

Murasaki looked over to Hikaru, who was sitting by the entrance, from her sleeping place. She slowly got up and approached him. He looked up at her, "You should stay inside, Hime. It's cold here."

She sat down beside him, "Then shouldn't you stay inside as well?"

He looked up at the stars, "I am merely a guard; I have no right to share the fire with her highness."

She looked at him for a moment and then followed his gaze up to the stares, "You are not a guard. You are my protector. I can't have you die before getting me to Shibuya Castle, can I?"

He looked at her, and slowly a smiled spread across his face, "Thank you… Hime."

She smiled, not looking at him, "Mother used to tell me that the stars are our ancestors. When a person died, they became the stars, so that they could watch over their loved ones. When I die, I want to become a star too, so that I can watch over my people."

"I won't let you die," Hikaru said quietly, not looking at her or the stars.

She looked at him, "What if I did?"

"Then I would have died before you," he said even quieter than before.

She frowned, "No you won't."

He looked at her, not saying anything. She turned back to the stars, "Because we're together, if we die, we die together," she looked back at him with a bright smile, "It's not as scary to die if you die with someone, right?"

He looked away, giving a little nod. She beamed, pulling the blanket closer to her.

SCENE CHANGES

Murasaki tried to run as fast as she possibly could as the Yasha-clan chased after them. "Ah," she let out a painful cry as she tripped and fell onto the ground. "Hime," Hikaru quickly went to her aid, "Are you alright?"

She looked at her ankle and grimaced, "My ankle…"

He quickly examined her ankle, "I think you twist it." He looked around the forest path, 'Damn! No place to hide!' He turned back to her as soon as she let out a whimpered. "Get on, Hime," he said as soon as he turned his back to her, "I'll carry you."

She hesitated, but got on his back nonetheless. "I'm sorry," she whispered as soon as he got up.

"Hime doesn't have to apologize for anything," he replied, moving quickly through the forest, "I should be the one to apologize. I should have known better than to put Hime in harm. Please accept my apology."

She quickly shook her head, "Please don't ever apologize for something that is not your fault. I don't want Hikaru to blame himself for something he didn't cause."

He didn't reply; instead he kept his eyes straight ahead.

SCENE CHANGES

Hikaru tried his best to protect Murasaki as the Yasha-clan surrounded them by the edge of the waterfall. "Hikaru," she said with panic, clinging onto his sleeve.

A man dressed in a red samurai uniform stepped out from behind the soldiers. He wasn't wearing a helmet, letting down his long silky hair. He had a deathly pale face and dark red eyes. He smirked wickedly, "It's been a long time hasn't it, Murasaki?"

She flinched and held Hikaru's sleeve tighter, "Yasha,"

His smirk widen, "I'm delighted that you remember my name," he stepped closer, "Now then, come with me," he reached his hand out, "You were promise to me first. Hiroto has no right to come and take you away from me!"

She shook her head, stepping closer to Hikaru. Hikaru step back to shield her, "Stay close to me, Hime." She nodded frantically.

Yasha glared at Hikaru dangerously as he withdrew his hand, "Hand her over."

Hikaru glared back, "Over my dead body."

Yasha narrowed his eyes, "That can be arrange. Kill them!"

Hikaru bit his lower lips and looked around anxiously, partially for a weapon to use and to count how many enemies were coming at him. When he couldn't find a weapon, he closed his eyes and turned quickly to Murasaki, "Do you trust me?"

"Eh," she looked at him with confusion.

"Do you trust me," he asked again.

She looked into his eyes, looking for an answer. But all she found was his will to protect her. Knowing this, calm her somehow; she nodded, "I trust you."

He gave her a soft smile and pulled her into his arms, holding onto her tightly. He sent a glare at Yasha, who was glaring daggers at him, and then he jump off the edge, holding her closed to him.

An- I hope you like this chapter. Sorry that it's so fast. I wanted to get to the part where Murasaki and Naru's love blossom, though there are some hints that it's blooming between them. Anyway, hope you guys stick with me till the end, oh, and don't mind the mistakes, i'm too lazy to correct them... Till next time!