Part IX

Lost and Found

Kotori awoke slowly blinking her eyes then immediately shut them against the blinding sunlight that hit them…..sunlight? Sitting up stiffly and sourly she looked at her surroundings. WHAT THE….? She thought.

Looking she saw that when she'd originally been in the castle library at night she was now outside on beautiful summer's day lying on the ground right on Gummadoon's doorstep.

Shielding her eyes she collapsed back onto the ground and groaned what a headache. Hitomi was sure gonna be mad at her when she found her she could imagine the lecture already. 'Kotori Gummi how dare you stay out all night I've been worried sick about you and doing things like that could make you sick, have you no respect for other people's feelings'. Etc, etc, etc.

So wrapped up in her thoughts she barely even noticed a gummi approach her side until she was knelt by her side.

"Hello" she greeted.

"Hi" Kotori replied, thinking for sure she'd never seen this gummi before, strange considering she knew just about everyone in the city.

She looked this new gummi up and down and saw she had golden fur, much like Sir Plucki's she thought off handedly then the mousy brown hair, which hung loose around her shoulders with the usual onyx eyes and wearing a light pink dress.

"My name's Cyndi, what's yours?" she asked.

"Err…" she started when she was interrupted by someone else coming out of the castle.

"Cyndi, you really shouldn't be out here" admonished Councillor Wooddale.

Kotori just watched and listened to the conversation in dumb struck horror, she must have gone back in time somehow; I mean she was stupid and a nutcase in most cases but even she could see the councillor looked many years younger. Must be about a hundred or two years thought Kotori.
"Greetings child, and welcome to Gummadoon" said Councillor Wooddale.

"Hiya!" Kotori replied.

"What is your name?" asked Councillor Wooddale.

Panicking Kotori realised she could hardly go using her real name as it would cause much confusion in the future when she first arrived ransacking her brain she finally found a suitable name she was familiar with that she'd remember. It was her other friend besides Hitomi in the world she once inhabited, her name was Kitoma.

"My….my name's Kitoma" she said quietly.

Present

Daylight had come and gone and now another night drew near to find a very worried and concerned Hitomi.

"Any sign of Kotori yet?" Hitomi asked hopefully.

"None, Hitomi. We have searched the castle high and low and she is nowhere to be found" answered her mate, Sir Plucki.

"What if she's in the forest and is hurt or something?" Hitomi asked pleadingly.

"Hitomi" Sir Plucki sighed placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her.

"If Kotori really is out there then she must stay the night and she is more than capable of surviving the night" he answered.

"But, she could be dying for all we know" said Hitomi.

"That is extremely unlikely Hitomi, but if so we still cannot go until first light in the morning" he said waving his hand toward the window where the dark sky lay above.

"Can we do nothing?" Hitomi asked frustrated.

"We've done all we can until first light" he answered pulling Hitomi into his arms.

Minutes passed in lapsed silence until a strangled sob escaped making Sir Plucki look down into the eyes of Hitomi which brimmed with tears. "I just want her back and safe" she whispered.

"We all do, Hitomi" Sir Plucki soothed.

Again silence reigned only broken occasionally by Hitomi's sobs, but even they gradually subsided and her breathing even out, she'd fallen asleep in Sir Plucki's arms. He picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed where he laid her down. Wiping away the tears for her eyes he stroked her hair fondly.

"She will return, Hitomi" he whispered to her sleeping form.

He sat beside her leant against the headboard looking down upon her. The fire was lit casting shadows into the corners but throwing light upon Hitomi's gentle features making her fur seem to glow. He looked about the room, first to the fire roaring away giving the room a warm and calm feeling bathing the rest of the room in its warm and soothing light, the outside where stars from a clear night sky shone brightly and a surprisingly warm spring breeze playing with the curtains. Then his eyes reverted back to his calmly sleeping mate, now in the folds of sleep, she was at peace, something she had rarely been since the discovery or Kotori's disappearance. He leant down and kissed her forehead in a loving manner happy to see her in a state of much needed rest, yet he knew it wouldn't last. A knock on the door startled him from his thoughts and carefully and quietly he quickly answered the door so as not to disturb Hitomi. Once open he saw one of his guards obviously ready to report. Rather than disturb Hitomi from her rest with the presence and discussion with his guard he stepped outside and began to lead his guard away to a smaller room down the corridor. Once inside the guard began, "Sir, I have been sent by the councillors with news most urgent, sir, the medallion reported missing has been found"

"Where?" he asked.

"The library, sir" the guard answered.

"Very well. Thank you for your report you are now dismissed" Said Sir Plucki.

"Yes, sir" answered the guard turning and walking out of the room leaving his captain alone.

Hitomi lay sleeping on the bed just where she had been left. She drifted between sleep and the waking world occasionally glimpsing the world for a second before darkness, but she was always conscious to the noises around her. She heard the familiar voice of her mate through the wall so she knew he must be in conference with one of his guards and hadn't wished to disturb her. She also heard the familiar rustling of trees from the forest nearby the castle and the whistling of the wind. What seemed unfamiliar to her foggy mind was the scraping of something on stone, it was unfamiliar. It got louder and closer so trying she pulled herself from her distant dreams back to consciousness to investigate. She yawned and stretched slightly; blinking the sleep out of her eyes she looked about the room. Everything was as it should be however the scraping noise that had originally woken her had now deceased. Curling back up facing the window she made to go back to sleep, but the feel of a soft cloth pressed against her muzzle covering her nose and mouth jolted her awake again. She opened her eyes with great effort, which became harder to keep open by the second; looming over her she saw a lean and strong figure bent over her. She recognised the figure even in her obviously drugged state and tried to scream. Her body felt heavy and wouldn't respond to the movement for escape she so desperately wanted to make. Her silent plea came out in a strangled whimper which was muffled by the cloth forced over her face. Gradually she felt her body unwillingly submit and relax before going limp and her eyes slowly close. The figure stood above her cloth still in hand pressed over her face slowly withdrew it. He smirked, so far his plan was successful, and now all he had to do was get out of this castle. He tenderly reached down and swept some hair out of Hitomi's face that had strewn across it in her feeble struggle. He looked down at her unconscious form and smiled; now she was his. He leant forward and placed a soft kiss upon her unresponsive lips before scooping her up in his arms. He walked over to the window checking for guards, there were none they were too busy stationed at the wall looking for him, as if he'd make his move so obvious, the fools he thought. The scraping of a door a couple of rooms down alerted him the guard had finished his report with his former captain, he didn't have much time. Climbing out the window he wrapped the rope securely around them both so neither would fall and began his descent.

Sir Plucki meanwhile slowly sat down in a chair behind a small wooden desk contemplating the new information. The missing medallion was a serious matter and with Kotori's sudden disappearance at the reappearance of it, made him wonder if somehow she was connected to it, but then thought he knew Kotori better than that. Kotori he knew was a prankster and someone generally out for fun, but she wasn't a thief and she wouldn't steal something she knew to be of great value to them. She was missing now however which did leave him suspicious as to why she'd suddenly disappear when she'd practically been inseparable from Hitomi. He couldn't think of any reason why she would just disappear unless of cause it was not of her choosing, which meant Sir Timmi could be behind all of this. He rose from the chair and opened the door. Blowing out the candle he made his way back to his chamber where he knew Hitomi to be sleeping.

Feet set upon the ground Sir Timmi tugged on the rope hard making it uncoil from one of the balcony supports, then dove into the shadows, with Hitomi clutched to his chest. He heard the door open quietly, knowing it was his captain and the discovery of Hitomi's disappearance was about to be made he knew he had to hasten his retreat, yet he had to stay and hear this pathetic fools panicked sobs when he realised that his precious Hitomi had been taken from right under his nose. He heard footsteps approach the bed then all was quiet as his former captain lingered around there. A triumphant smirk spread across his face when he heard the gasp of realisation and the hurried steps of his former captain, but at the call of his own personal knights in such distress he knew they too would soon be here, so throwing the dark cloak over himself and shielding Hitomi from searching eyes he snuck away out of the castle in ways long forgotten, as the alarm was raised and the search began.

Past

Kotori walked arm in arm through the streets of Gummadoon with Cyndi talking amiably. She'd found a bit of a kindred spirit in the young gummi and fun to talk to. Councillor Wooddale had left then once they were safely inside the walls of Gummadoon entrusting her to Cyndi's care, which was just fine until just about to walk into one of the towers the door opened and a young knight stood before them.

He had light brown fur with slightly long light blond hair and wearing the standard knight uniform. Kotori looked to her side to see Cyndi's cheeks aflame as she dropped her hold on her preferring to have her hands behind her back instead.

"H...Hello Amius" she said nervously.

"Oh…hello Cyndi" he replied seemingly just as nervous.

'Oh, man, how do I get myself into these situations' thought Kotori deciding to make a move.

"Hi, I'm Kitoma and you must be the famous Amius, you know Cyndi's told me all about you" she said taking hold of Amius's hand and shaking it.

"Sh...she has" said Amius looking at Cyndi.

"Oh yes" said Kotori making Cyndi flush scarlet, but whether it was in embarrassment or anger Kotori couldn't tell.

"Say, are you off duty now?" asked Kotori seemingly eager.

"Err...yes...I...uh…just got off" he answered.

"Really, that's great, why don't we grab a drink?" she said, accidentally knocking Cyndi into his arms when she turned around.

Kotori facing away from them all but screamed, 'I cannot believe I am playing match maker' before turning around to look at the couple.

Cyndi had wrapped her arms round Amius to stop herself from falling and in turn he had also wrapped his arms around her to save her. Now the two were just staring at each other, both a little flushed and not totally sure what to do.

"Wow, they sure work fast' thought Kotori as she said, "Um, guys…are you com'in?"

Both turned to look at her shocked and turned cherry before answering, "Sure"

"Great" Kotori answered trying to sound excited.

"May I escort you, Cyndi" Amius asked.

"Certainly" she answered meekly.

And so the couple left oblivious that the third of there group, Kotori, had seemingly vanished without a trace.

Present

Plucki sat down on the bed in his and Hitomi's quarters. He sighed taking off his helmet and placing it on the nightstand. Hitomi had been gone a full day now and still there was no clue to her disappearance. The emptiness of the room was cleared away by the soft, warm glow of a candle flickering nearby dispelling the darkness of nightfall. Today had been a sad day for everyone, knowing that both girls were now gone, with no indication where. But, he especially had found it changed. Life seemed empty without Hitomi's smiling face or Kotori's stupid antics to make them laugh.

He unclasped his armour and removed his shoes and lay them beside the bed, then sat up again. He caught a glimpse of a small portrait of Hitomi on the nightstand and reached out to pick it up. She looked so happy in the picture, yet he doubted wherever she was now she would be the same. He knew Sir Timmi was responsible for her sudden disappearance, he just wished there was some clue as to how he did it, right under his very nose. But that was not solely on his mind, what bothered him more is that he'd broken his promise to Hitomi and their unborn child. He wasn't there to protect them when they needed him most and because of that they were now gone.

His grip tightened round the picture, he would not let Sir Timmi win, his family's lives depended on it. He would see his family return to the castle.

TBC…