Part X
So….unexpected
Hitomi lay in a dark and damp place. She knew by the total darkness that surrounded her even with her eyes closed and that the place was damp because her dress was moist almost as if she'd been out in the rain and slowly her dress had been drying, but it hadn't been raining last night. She tried to open her eyes and found them to be sore and heavy just like her body as she tried to move. She found she could but her progress was slow and painful, she looked at what she could see through her half closed eyes at her surroundings. It appeared to be some kind of cave, the walls were of earth material, which was why she concluded it was probably damp in here and freezing she thought as she reached to grab a shawl, but found it missing. She curled up drawing her legs up to her chest and let out a shaky and unsteady breathe which clouded into mist before dissipating. She was trembling with cold and fear, remembering that she herself did not come here and the attack, when last night she thought not really sure how long she'd been out for. Her hands went instinctively to her abdomen where her unborn cub lay safe and secure, it kicked and she smiled happy that so far the child was unharmed, but fearful for what was yet to come.
Heavy footsteps made her look up and in the direction or a small narrow opening in the wall. Her eyes fixed upon it and getting easier by the second to see in the poor light soon let her see the stiletto of a gummi squeeze through, to reveal Sir Timmi. He looked down at her a moment and she stared right back at him never breaking eye contact. After a minute he turned his back on Hitomi and stuck his hand through the narrow opening that Hitomi now thought must be some kind of entrance into this cave she concluded, but she thought 'how big was this place?'.
Sir Timmi pulled back and in his clutched hand revealed a blanket; he stood again then approached Hitomi. Naturally, she flinched and withdrew from him making him stop in his tracks.
"I won't hurt you"
Hitomi looked at him with clear distrust evident on her face and refused to budge, but as her back hit the wall she knew she was trapped. Sir Timmi advanced again this time making it to crouch beside her. He opened up the blanket and wrapped around her.
"Why?" Hitomi asked clutching the blanket like a shield.
"I said I won't hurt you Hitomi" he said now sitting down beside her. "And I won't let you freeze either"
Silence reigned for a moment and their clouded breath filled the air before Hitomi asked, "Why did you bring me here?"
Timmi looked at her oddly a moment before replying, "So, we may be together, my love"
"I'm not your love Timmi, I already have a mate" she spat.
"There's no need to pretend anymore, love, we are alone" he said.
Hitomi shivered from cold and disgust and pulled the blanket tighter. She heard movement and looked to her to find Timmi right by her.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"You, just you" he answered, stroking her cheek.
She recoiled from his touch with fear in her eyes and he smiled. Standing he looked at her then shook his head and left the little cave he'd placed her in. 'Once she truly realises we are alone' he thought, 'then her true feelings will be uncovered'. With that thought in mind he left the cold sanctuary of the cave in search of food.
Past
Kotori swayed unsteadily on her feet waiting for a moment until the world stopped spinning. Once it did she noticed that where she'd once been in the market stalls she now once again stood outside the castle doors. She looked up and the sun shone in her eyes before she felt someone's hand upon her shoulder.
"Where have you been?" a familiar voice scolded
Kotori or Kitoma as she was known in the past to save confusion in the future turned to face her friend Cyndi. She smiled before her eyes practically bugged out of her sockets.
"I've been travell'in, but what happened to you?" asked Kotori looking at Cyndi's rather swollen tummy.
"Oh, I'm pregnant" Cyndi announced very cheerfully.
"Since when?" asked Kotori still gaping like a fish.
"Oh, since about August"
"What month is it now?"
"You must of lost track of time Kitoma, it's the end of May"
"End of May, that must mean you're due any day now"
"Yes, about a week or so" Cyndi replied happily.
"Well, we better get back inside the castle" said Kotori taking hold of Cyndi's arm and guiding her back.
They walked round the side of the castle in silence and through the main gates, all the time Kotori thinking how much time in total had passed.
"Erm Cyndi, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Not at all" she replied cheerfully.
"Well it's gonna sound stupid, but how long have I been gone?"
"18 months" Cyndi replied almost instantly.
Kotori opened her mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by a handsome young gummi dressed in knight uniform come running towards them.
"There you are my love" he said taking hold of Cyndi's hands and kissing her cheek.
"I thought I'd lost you"
"You shouldn't worry so much, Amius"
"Amius!" asked Kotori incredulously.
"Kitoma!" he asked surprised.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure if you'd remember me, I left in quite a hurry" said Kotori nervously trying to be as truthful as possible.
"Of course I remember you, if it wasn't for you I don't think me and Cyndi would ever have gotten together" he said sharing quick kiss with Cyndi.
'Gimme a break' Kotori thought looking at the two.
"Where are you staying, Kitoma?" Cyndi suddenly asked.
"Oh, err…I don't know I just got here" Kotori answered truthfully.
"Oh, then you'll have to come stay with us" she said grabbing Kotori's hand and dragging her away.
"Dah!…sure why not" Kotori answered while being led away by Cyndi who was trying to ignore the dull stabs of pain in her abdomen.
Present
Two weeks had now gone by since the disappearance of the two girls and after long hours of searching and finding nothing the knights patrolling the forest, shook their heads sadly sideways, disappointed that they had not found the victim whom had betrayed them.
Disheartened with their day's work they slowly and silently began to make their journey home, the unicorns whinnying and their hooves lightly beating on the ground.
A loud thud, behind them and they were immediately on guard, staff in hand, and their eyes searching the nearby bushes. Silence reigned and they were about to dismount and investigate further when a young stag shot through the bushes and past them, it's hooves lightly thudding on the ground, as it went.
Frowning at their discovery, they mounted the unicorns again. They had hoped if only for a moment that they had found the traitor Sir Timmi and they continued on their way home.
When out of sight and hearing range, the bushes they just previously been studying began to rustle and the figure of Sir Timmi rose, scowling and he rid himself of the mud that splashed onto him, when he fell. He had been tracking them for the last hour trying to guide them away from his hideout and now they were gone he silently berated and cursed himself for his stupidity, knowing that had he not been so careless they would not have suspected him in the first place. But as luck would have it, a young stag came just in a nick of time, saving him from being caught.
Sighing a huge relief, when the young stag had diverted the knight's attention away from him, he allowed himself to breath. They had been a little too close to him for comfort and he left the sight and preceded to find his sanctuary, which he knew, was close by.
Past
Kotori had now been in Gummadoon two days when a young medic sought her out in the market and reported to her that it was time. So running faster than the eye could see, Kotori ran from one end of Gummadoon to the other, leaving others to wonder what had caused such distress.
Dashing round the corner she collided with someone hard and they went down to the floor in a mess of limbs. Cussing, Kotori untangled herself from the intruder, whom dare step in her path, and she turned round red in the face, about to chew their ears off, when she saw it was one of Cyndi's friends.
"Kitoma. Thank Gum above I've found you. Cyndi's been asking for you." Was all she said before Kotori was literally dragged down the corridor, their destination to Cyndi's house, and hoping beyond all that they weren't too late.
Like lightening she charged through the corridor, when she found herself looking upon a familiar tower door, Kotori burst through it without a second thought, making everyone there jump with fright, shout and glare at her. Paying little attention she bolted to Cyndi's room and unable to stop herself, her legs having a mind of their own, she went colliding against the bedroom door where her friend was giving birth.
Sure to be left with bruises, Kotori rose from the floor biting her lip, drawing blood and she tried with all her willower to ignore the pain that shot through her leg, and she raised her hand and knocked on the door.
"Please don't say I have to see a medic after this?" she muttered to herself when she heard Cyndi's weak answer granting her entrance.
"You called?" announced Kotori, opening the door and walking to her friend's side and taking her hand in hers.
It seemed that Cyndi gave a huge sigh of relief and stated. "Thank you for coming".
Giving a wave of her hand, Kotori brushed it off, and pulled up a chair to sit down, and she looked out the corner of her eye and could see that one medic's who was helping to prepare Cyndi was giving her a quick look, and Kotori hurriedly stated calmly yet coolly.
"Don't even think about it, I shan't need attending too, though it would seem my friend here could use you're assistance".
She was facing the young medic now almost daring her to object but it seemed that she took the hint and backed off. Turning back to her friend, she became concerned again hearing Cyndi gasp as the final contraction hit her.
'Geez, if this is how painful it is giving birth to cubs. I never want cubs' thought Kotori and grimacing at the thought of what Hitomi would have to go through.
Cyndi screamed and Kotori's jaw dropped trying not to cry out as she felt for sure Cyndi must have broken her hand. She heard the medic say something like 'last push' and wished it was the end. A final painful scream permitted the end and Cyndi fell back against the bed exhausted and sweaty as her Amius attended to her. Kotori expected to hear a wailing little cub by this point, yet strange enough all was quiet. Turning to look at the medics to see if everything was all right she saw the cub nestled in blankets gently sleeping and smiled. It was rather cute. She watched as the cub was placed in Cyndi's arms and together the new parents cooed over there little cub. Cyndi turned to look at her then extended the cub to her for her to hold. Not wanting to be rude Kotori took the cub in her arms surprised it didn't start bawling its eyes out and smiled. It had golden fur just like Cyndi, yet light blonde hair like Amius and a cute little red nose.
"What's its name?" she asked absently.
"Plucki" answered Cyndi causing Kotori to nearly drop the cub in shock.
"P…P…Plucki" she asked making sure she'd heard right.
Cyndi nodded and Kotori looked back at the cub in her arms which sleepily opened its eyes at her and smiled.
"Nice name" Kotori said as the cub drifted back to sleep.
"Congratulations" she said passing the cub back to his parents.
Immediately the parents began to fuss over their little cub again and Kotori smiled thinking it would probably be like this when Hitomi finally had her cub. 'A nightmare, but totally worth it' thought Kotori.
"I'll see ya around" she said as she walked out the door.
Cyndi nodded her head in acknowledgement before going back to talking with Amius and kissing her new born son.
Kotori chuckled quietly hardly believing she'd just witnessed one of her friend's births, then rubbed her now tender hand as once again she flickered and disappeared from sight.
TBC…
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