Notes: Thank you to the one person who reviewed the last chapter. You most certainly get a cookie. And thanks for placing me on your recommends spot. It's an honor. I'm totally in love with Raiken too. But what can we do? Anyway on with the story. Thanks.
Eternity's Passing: Kaede's Tale
Chapter Eight: Visitors and Secrets to be Revealed
Kaede felt considerably better the next day. Other than the queasiness in her stomach, she was well recovered. All her hard work and determination had caught up with her and left her body exhausted. Nidoriko surmised that it was probably its way of letting her know that she needed to settle down and quit being so focused. The priestess thought back on when she had met Raiken and all the work she had done to avoid her feelings for the gray eyed man. The recent memory of her feeling so weak and powerless had hardened her resolve to make sure she did not recklessly endanger her health like that again. She still felt a little weak, but she stood on her own and she moved around freely. Whenever someone tried to object, she would shoot a glare in their direction. Raiken was the only one who did not seem intimidated. He still insisted that she have an escort for wherever she wanted to go, and he happily volunteered.
Their first destination was the shrine where she wanted to offer up prayers to the gods so they may bless her village for being so kind. Raiken happily waited for her outside while she kneeled before the small alter inside. After she had finished, she found Hiroshi speaking with Raiken.
"There are some men outside the village looking for someone with dark hair, gray eyes, and was possibly injured. Tanosuke said that it described you and wishes for your presence. Your people perhaps?"
Raiken took all this information in and Kaede swore that she had seen a spark of hope light up in his eyes. He nodded at Hiroshi then glanced towards where Tanosuke may be waiting.
"Inform Tanosuke that I should be there shortly."
They bowed towards each other before Hiroshi went off to deliver Raiken's message. Kaede placed a hand on his shoulder. He smiled down at her before taking her hand and leading her away.
"What will you do if they are here for you? Will you leave with them?" And leave me behind? She thought. Raiken just shrugged, as if he were not aware of the small fear gripping her heart. As if he was trying to be indifferent to the tempest of emotion that was welling within her. "I do not know, Kaede. I suppose we will see once we meet whoever it is looking for me."
She nodded, but more questions pricked at her mind. As if he sensed her troubling thoughts, he lightly squeezed her hand to offer some form of assurance. The small action instantly quelling any comment from leaving her mouth. They shared companionable silence on their way to meet with Tanosuke. Upon meeting the guard, Tanosuke explained what was discussed with the group. Kaede noticed that one of the men, the leader no doubt, was waiting for Raiken to acknowledge him. After speaking with Tanosuke, Raiken noticed him and a smile of recognition appeared.
"Azuma." Raiken greeted as he released Kaede's hand and met with the warrior before them. He wore full samurai armor, but helmet had been removed. He held a banner with an odd symbol with a weird knot intertwining with itself intricately. The two man greeted one another warmly with warm slaps on the back. Azuma looked Raiken up and down, his warm brown eyes relieved to see him so well. He stepped away from Raiken and bowed reverently before speaking.
"I am glad that we have found you alive and well, my prince."
His statement received an response of collective gasps. Kaede stood in shock as she watched Raiken rub the back of his head, a slight flush spreading across his cheeks in apparent embarrassment. It was an action that Kaede would find absolutely adorable had this been another situation, yet she was not sure what to think.
"We have never thought we would find you otherwise. Though I will admit that we did have some doubts. None the less, we never gave up in our search. Only if we found your body, we would give up." Azuma stated. Raiken patted Azuma's shoulder comfortingly.
"I am glad for your concern and you have my gratitude. Yes, it was touch and go there for a moment and you probably would have found me dead if it wasn't for the people of this village." He turned to Kaede and smiled while gesturing towards her. "Their priestess, Kaede, had treated my wounds and made sure I would not succumb to infection. It was for her diligence that I stand here today."
Azuma moved towards Kaede and bowed low before her expressing his gratitude.
"You have done us a great service, my lady, in caring for our prince. We owe you our lives for all you have done. I, on the behalf of our village, swear a life debt to you." When he looked up and noticed her puzzlement he quickly explained, "It means that whatever you wish and as many times you wish it, we will go through all kinds of terrain to do your bidding."
Shocked at such an offer, Kaede remained speechless. First she found out that the love of her life was a prince, now she has someone making such an oath.
"I am very flattered to receive such an offer, but I'm afraid that I must refu…"
"To refuse his offer, Kaede, would mean that he must kill himself for supplication." Raiken interrupted quickly, preventing his friend from such a state. Kaede took note of the pained look in Azuma's eyes. He looked to be Hiroshi's age, but it was hard to believe they would have someone that young commanding a small group.
"I will accept this humble offer you make then, though I still believe its not necessary. It is my duty to help those in need, and with the condition that your…prince was in, he was certainly in need. Thank you." she bowed, but Azuma waved off her action while insisting that it wasn't necessary. After speaking with Azuma, Kaede determined that he and his group meant no ill-will towards her village and had invited them all to rest and replenish their supplies for awhile. Eternally grateful for her past generosity towards their prince, Azuma could not refuse her offer. Raiken volunteered to greet his men and assist them, leaving the priestess to go back to her hut and sort through her scattered thoughts.
A tear threatened to spill from her eye as she thought of Raiken leaving her. At first she wondered if he would decide to stay, but finding out his status she was not so sure. Of course he would decide to leave and go back to his village. He had no other choice, he was a prince of all things. It meant he had many obligations and duties. Now how could he desert all that tied him to his title in order to stay and consort with some priestess? He was most likely betrothed to marry some little princess tucked away in some far off village, so marrying her was out of the question. She refused to be his concubine, a status that was very loathsome to the priestess. The more she thought of their upcoming separation, the angrier she became. How dare he love her and then decide to leave her upon the first opportunity? She slumped down against the wall and pulled her knees up to tuck them under her chin. Why did love have to be so complicated? She wondered at the past few weeks. Giving in to the sorrow that weighed on her shoulders, she allowed the tears fall so heavily that she thought they fell from her missing eye as well. Eventually she dozed off, too exhausted to dream.
Raiken's entrance into her hut had quickly roused her from her short nap. Groggy from sleep, she had momentarily forgotten about the past few moments until she was fully awake. Raiken bent to feel her forehead for a fever, concern written on his face.
"Are you feeling alright? I should not have kept you out so long. I mean you practically were an invalid yesterday. We should not have expected so much of your recovery." He went to assist her from her position on the floor but she angrily pushed his hands away while glaring at him. Quickly taken back by her actions, he wore a hurt but puzzled expression. It almost tore at her heart strings to see him so, but she was the one getting hurt here.
"Kaede?" He whispered in question.
"You plan on returning with your men." It was not a question. He stared at her before lowering his gaze to the floor. "Yes."
"When?" She demanded.
"Within two days. They need time to replenish their supplies and I have previous obligations to some of the villagers here to meet. We will set out at dawn the day afterwards."
A tear threatened to fall once again, but she quickly willed it not to. She refused to cry in front him. She had cried enough tears for this one man to create a new sea. He started to speak, but her angry glare halted any words that were forthcoming. Raiken was really leaving her. He was honestly going to leave her behind. Apparently she thought that part out loud and he had this look of shock on his face. She continued glaring at him. What was his problem?
"You honestly believe that, Kaede?" He asked incredulously. She looked up at him, stunned.
"Well, is it like you have a choice? You are a prince which means obligations and duties you must attend to. You can't stay here and play house with some priestess." She pointed an accusing finger at him. "You had lied to me about who you were. If I had known I would never have…" Realization dawned on her about the past few weeks of soft caresses, and whispered pleas in the dark. She buried her head into her knees in shame.
"I had acted like a complete… Oh gods, what everyone must think of me now. I feel like I'm some cast-off whore, and I'm not even getting paid for it."
If it had not been a heartbreaking scene to see the proud village priestess reduced to such, he could have shaken her for saying such an idiotic thing. Yet here she was feeling as if he was abandoning her.
"Kaede, you are not some cast-off…never mind. You have a great sense of morals, besides, the entire village was practically pushing us together. I value what we share and we both share something precious, Kaede. Not many people have it."
He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms. She was too weary to fight the action and pressed her face into his chest. He combed his fingers into her hair while she listened to the strong and steady beats of his heart.
"Never think lowly of yourself, for I cherish you above all things. I deeply care for you. I would not callously toss you aside. Kaede, I would never leave you behind."
At this, she lifted her face up to meet his silver gaze. He kissed her forehead lightly.
"You wouldn't?" She replied, wanting confirmation she had heard right.
"I would never leave you. I want you to come with me."
Notes: Okay, my second cliff hanger in this story, but I'm already part way done with the next chapter. There are too many iffy sections of this one that I want to change, but will leave as is for the moment. I swear that this was a hard chapter to write. When I first tried to write this out, I had this major plan but it went a totally different direction. I think the only part that came out the way I wanted it was Kaede's emotional breakdown. I mean our beloved Rai is actually a prince and apparently has lied about several other things. What other secrets is our dear priestess to uncover? Talk about sleeping with strangers. As depressing as this one chapter seems, I think one aspect of her break down was slightly humorous. That's just me I suppose.
Anyway, two or three more chapters exclusively on the lovers then on to other aspects of Kaede's life. I mean she has about forty or so more years left doesn't she? Anyway this was more or less a pacifier to my faithful readers out there. Sorry if this chapter sucks, but I'm actually slightly pleased with it. (It would not even be here if I wasn't) Thank you so much for reading this, and please review. It doesn't take much. I even still have cookies. Thanks! Jul-chan