"So Black Cat, we meet again." One of the soldiers says.
Black Cat? Ruuka's not even a brunette, let alone a black-head. What the hell?
They help us out of the hole and I turn my head over to Ruuka in worry. I mean this wouldn't even have happened if Natsume and I hadn't disturbed him awhile ago.
"It was our fault..." I begin. To my surprise the soldiers grip tightly onto Natsume.
Wait what?
"Hey let go of me! He's the one you want!" Natsume says, jerking his head towards Ruuka.(His hands are held back by the soldiers you see.)
"He stole these clothes!"
"Yes, well. We'll deal with him later. For now you are our main concern, Black Cat. You two will come along. And we haven't forgotten your crime blondie."
The other guards restrain Ruuka and me and we humbly comply. Although my head is hurting so much right now from confusion. Natsume won't stop shouting at the soldiers who continue to adress him as Black Cat. Ruuka seems confused too.
"See that girl you're bringing along too? She's the princess!" I hear Natsume say.
But the guards take no heed. ("Yah right. Like we haven't heard that one a million times. Why would the princess be with you guys? She's in the palace safe and sound.")
We walk along the desert sand. And somehow I regret that I ever left the palace. No more adventures for me. I've had it.
Above us vultures start flying around. Weird...we're not dead...are we? My feet start to hurt and the hands of the soldier restraining me seem to go lower and lower, down my back.
"Hey! No funny business, mister! Father will hear about this!" I yell. Who the hell do these jerks think they are? Am I really that unrecognizable? Ruuka didn't seem to have any problems recognizing me.
Why don't these guards recognize their own princess? I mean I knew her right at the moment I saw her. Well, that may have something to do with my always staring at her from the rooftops. But that's not an excuse. Grimace. Wonder what that werecat is in for. I mean, I thought I was the one they wanted. What is going on?
We now march towards the palace, Natsume and the soldier restraining him leading and Ruuka bringing up the rear. I notice now that another guard is holding onto a very fidgety rabbit. Poor guy. Ruuka wants to scartch an itch but his guard just won't let him. And for the past ten minutes Natsume has done nothing but complain, irritating the soldier restraining him and once or twice giving him a good whack to the back.
Finally! We reach the palace. The soldiers lead us up the stairs towards the big brass door that leads through to the main receiving area of the palace. Ruuka stumbles a few steps and a guard pokes him hard with a stick to the ribs.
"Ouch!"
Before we reach the top of the wide stairs though, several more of the guards come rushing down. The guard leading us stops and talks to one of the guards who is frantically running down the stairs now.
"What is it, Durmahall?" the guard who captured us says. Durmahall looks extremely aggrieved, although his face is all I can see from where I am. Durmahall says something into the ear of the other and his metal chain hanging from his waist clanks loudly with his sword.
Right then father storms out of the door.
"Well Durmahall! What are you and your men waiting for? Go look for the Princess!"
He takes a few steps and sees our group blocking the way.
"Ahh, Bruhem! You have prisoners?"
"Yes, Sultan, we have captured Black Cat and his accomplices."
"Well done. What is it you are waiting for Durmahall! GO!" he says turning back to the more burly of the guards.
He takes a few more steps then meets my gaze. He immediately darts down towards me and grabs Bruhem's sword.
"What is the meaning of this, Bruhem! Why do you have my daughter in chains?"
At this, the guard restraining me immediately jumps back and releases me. Bruhem's sword is brandished before his neck as he stutters and stammers something I could not quite catch.
"But...she?...they...princess? With felons!...." Something along those lines.
"I shall deal with you and your men later, Bruhem!" Then he turns to me, letting go of Bruhem's sword.
"Oh Mikan! You had me so worried! Where on sand dunes have you been?" He pulls me in for a strangling hug. I feel like I'm turning blue, I can't get a word out. I start feeling a little faint before father breaks the hug and looks at me sternly.
"Well. Where have you been?"
"Exploring." I say lamely. "Oh, and father, these two men are my friends."
Bruhem looks like he's swallowing a rock. He finds his voice, "But, Sultan, this is Black Cat! And we've been looking for the blonde for days as well!"
Father looks at Natsume. I'd say that his eyes were calculating, though to someone who didn't know Father completely, they'd say his eyes were sparkling with childishness.
"This can't be Black Cat, that's Mikan's werecat." he says eyeing Bruhem scornfully.
They unchain Natsume and once his arms are free he punches Bruhem in the face.
Bruhem staggers back onto the steps clutching his jaw in pain. He looks as if he's going to retaliate, but thinks better of it.
"Hey! What about me?" Ruuka squeaks.
Father turns to look at Ruuka and seems somewhat startled.
"Father, please, he helped Natsume and me. He's my friend!"
This time Durmahall speaks. "Sultan, I for one am not sure about Black Cat, but this blonde one I know. He has been thieving for a long time now in the marketplace. He's caused so much trouble for..."
Father puts up a hand.
"Put him in the dungeon prison."
"Father no!"
I knew this day would come, well I didn't imagine that I'd be caught after running errands for the Princess. But I knew that I'd be caught. I don't know if Usa-chan can take it. He's too soft for prison.
The cell is not so bad though. It's quite wide and the little bed is probably the most comfortable I've slept in for weeks. They've put Usa-chan in a cage inside my cell, so it's as if he's in double prison or something. I don't even know what my sentence is. Do they give life sentences for thieving? Or maybe I'll get out with good behavior. I'm not sure if that's the way it works.
I've never really given a thought to what I'd do if I was caught. I pace back and forth in my cell. The other prisoners share cells but I have one all to my own. Special treatment? I don't think so.
The heavy door that leads upstairs opens and enters a feeble looking Princess Mikan. She looks uncomfortable inside the prison. It must be her first time near any of the prisoners. She looks around for awhile then spots me.
"Ruuka!" She walks towards my cell and pushes what she can of her face into the spaces between the bars. "I'll get Father to set you free! I promise, just wait for a while, okay?"
I manage to nod my head, overcome with happiness that she'd come to tell me she was bargaining for my release with her Father.
She stays a few moments, her eyes getting a little teary. And I wonder if it's because she feels guilty about my capture or because of the jeers of the other prisoners. Having a hard time with either or both, she leaves with her hands on her eyes.
I slump back on the bed. The other two prisoners in the cell to my left seem to be starting a routine fist fight so I turn to look back at the heavy door. I get startled by a man looking in from the bars. A man, whose face you can never forget, not because of handsome features, but because of the hate and scorn in it.
"Hello, boy. We meet again."
Looking at me with a cold penetrating gaze from the bars into my cell is once again Grand Vizier Persona.
Hey y'all so whatdya thunk..boohaha... Sorry for Narumi's weird line. "What in the sand dunes..." I couldn't come up with a better pun for desert living. XD If you have something better in mind tell me! I'll use it and give you credit!
Please Review...Please...