Samurai Princess
Disclaimer: I don't own Swan Princess or Samurai Deeper Kyo.
Chapter 3: Since We Were Young
"Ne, Tora-sama. Have you seen Kyo-sama?" questioned Mahiro. "Maahirooo-chaaan! Why are you always looking for Kyo-kun? Have you forgotten all about me?" whined Benitora. Mahiro smiled at his antics, "Queen Okuni wishes to see him." Benitora was interested, "Well then we'd better go look for him, huh?" The only reason the Queen would summon her son of late was to introduce another prospective bride to him. Mahiro couldn't help but feel sad, eight years ago, Princess Yuya had disappeared along with her father. Her father's corpse was discovered, but the Princess was never found. Everyone went with the story that they were dead, but somehow Prince Kyo refused everything, even if the proof was shouting in his face that the princess was no more. Since then, many things had changed. With no ruler for the deceased King Migeira's kingdom, Queen Okuni had taken over both hers and his kingdoms. Benitora had finally persuaded Mahiro that he wasn't too bad and had started courting her about two months prior. Kyo… Kyo was being not very Kyo-like at the moment. Usually he was off hunting or practicing archery or doing sword-katas, today he was nowhere to be found.
The black haired young man of twenty-three sat on a log by the road. The canopy above him barely allowing light through to fall on the well worn road. This road was famous and well trod. Not only because it was the fastest route to the harbor, but because of that occurrence eight years ago. Kyo raised his head to look around, no one was traveling the road just now as it was quickly descending into dusk but he knew that come sunup, the clatter of hoofs and the chatter of voices would be able to be heard. His hands toyed with something within his palms. His ruby eyes stared coldly around as if challenging someone or something to face him. His katana rested by his feet. He tipped his head back looking at the sky. Thunder grumbled; waiting for the prince to return to the palace before releasing it's storm upon the land. Nevertheless, he didn't move. This was Kyo for you; stubborn till the last breath.
That was of course until Kyo heard the distinctive yell of his mother, "WHAT!!!" Oh yes, the shout that could make Atila The Hun quake in terror. Languidly, Kyo sat up tying his sword to his hip. At a snail's pace he returned to the castle. When he finally threw the doors open to the castle, the matriarch was tapping her foot impatiently, "KYO! Where have you been? And why are you wet?" she said looking at the wet, black cotton and leather that was Kyo's uniform. True, it was no longer a light drizzle out and it had turned to a full out gale, but that didn't stop Kyo from skirting his mother and dashing up the stairs. Before he even reached the landing he heard, "Kyo, you must come see Lady Tokito. She's been waiting hours to see you." Kyo sighed, if the lady was still here, she wouldn't be traveling back in the rain. No doubt his mother already had a bed prepared. Turning around he faced his mother.
Queen Okuni was another one of the things that had not changed much over the years. She was still slender and now in her late forties though she would never admit it. Before she used to wear a forest green dress but now she had gone or royal purple. Her loooong…ebony hair still hung loose to her hips and there were only few strands of grey around her temples.
Kyo said to his mother, "Where is she?" Okuni beamed, "In the library," then she said as Kyo walked past her in the general direction of the library, "Shouldn't you change first?" Kyo stormed into the library and walked over to the slight figure in the high backed chair. Coming to stand in front of her he was shocked to discover that se couldn't be a day older than fifteen. She stood up and bowed humbly simultaneously beaming, "Good evening Prince Kyo, my name is Lady Tokiko and this is my escort Lord Akira." Kyo noted that the way se had introduced her escort was not the way one would introduce a brother or friend. He was reminded of a carrot-haired girl from this young girl's face. Turning to Akira he said, "Long time no see Akira." Akira inclined his head, "Indeed it had been Kyo. But I believe that you are here to talk to Lady Tokito, not me." With a bored look Kyo said, "Lady, don't lie to yourself and me. You don't want to marry me and neither do I want to marry you." Turning to Akira he said, "Take good care of her." "And in what way do you mean that?" Kyo smirked, "Use your imagination." Akira smiled sweetly, "Oh don't worry Kyo, I won't become like you." Kyo growled and took a swing at Akira, but seeing how he hadn't been serious, the punch never connected.
Kyo stalked out of the room and walked right into his mother, "Kyo! How could you do that? She was young, beautiful and her father was very wealthy. Sighing Kyo said, "Mother, you know I'm looking for her." Okuni cut her son off, "It's been 8 years Kyo. No one has seen her. All you have as proof was something that fell from her person. She would be dead now." Though Kyo could take any number of insults, an insult directed at his betrothed pushed him over the edge, "She is alive! And I will find her!" Point made, Kyo didn't bother to excuse himself from his mother's presence before walking off to his chambers.
He flopped onto the bed after untying is sword from his belt. After finishing cursing his mother in his head, Kyo got up to sit on the window-seat. He rested the side of his face against the cool glass and listened to the drops of water hitting the pane. He looked at the piece of jewelry that he had pulled out of is pocket. The diamond heart lay in his palm innocently. It had been eight years to the day that Princess Yuya; his betrothed had disappeared. He didn't want to continue looking for her, but he was a man of his word. The smooth rounded piece of jewelry contained a small phoenix that actually seemed to be made of fire. He smiled gently at the memories it stirred. That alone was amazing as Kyo never smiled, unless it was to send someone to their doom. The weather was the same as well. Kyo looked out the window as he remembered.
After the king and princess had gone, Kyo and Benitora had gone to play some chess (or maybe mahjong cause I'm tryin to not Westernize this story too much). Kyo had been pouring through a book he had gotten from the library and had already beaten Benitora in all the games they had played and was on his way to another victory. Just then Mahiro the Princess's personal handmaiden had burst through the doors. Both boys looked startled to see her. "What are you doing here?" Benitora had asked. Mahiro seemed to be in a fit of hysterics, "She- They left me here!" No sooner had she finished her fit and Benitora had managed to subdue the girl before the doors were thrown open once again. This time it was a man in armor who stumbled and fell onto the floor. Kyo jumped to the ground and lifted the man's head, "It's King Migeira's captain," he informed Benitora. The half-unconscious man struggled to say, "It came so suddenly. We couldn't stand it. It killed all of them…" Kyo watched in horror as the man drew his last breath. The only thing going through his mind was…,'Yuya!'
Thrusting the former captain to Benitora, Kyo raced out the door and into the stables. He didn't bother to saddle Arashi and rode bareback out of the stable. It was quite dark already and the only thing to light his way was the full moon. He urged more speed from the mount below him, regardless that he could feel Arashi's sides heaving and it was dangerous to be giong so fast when it was so slippery. He could see the overturned carriage now. His blood was stagnant; it had turned to ice just looking at the scene of gore that rushed towards him. Sliding off Arashi's back he rolled in the mud till he could get his footing. The first thing he did was open the carriage door and call out, "Yuya!" in a hopeful voice. The empty carriage, the upholstery of the plush leather seats torn to ribbons, dashed his hopes.
He turned around, hoping to find the mischevious princess, "Yuya!" he called again. A shimmer caught his eye. Looking down he stared at the space by his boot. There, lying innocently, not belying a trace of Yuya, was his first present to the princess when she was barely a year old, a diamond heart shaped pendant. He picked up the necklace by it's golden chain. Within, the jewel shined a spectrum of colours. his last link to the girl and she had dropped it. A groan sounded nearby. Spinning around his hopes were slightly diminished when he saw Migeira. Running over he bent by the monarch, "King Migeira! Who did this?" The king seemed to be having difficulty breathing, "It came so quickly, a monster" His resolve not failing him he asked, "Where is Yuya?" King Migeira seemed not to notice him, "Listen to me, Kyo! It's not what it seems, it's not what it seems." Kyo was becoming frantic, "What's not? Where is Yuya?" King Migeira came back to the matter at hand, "Yuya she… Yuya she… she's gone…" and King Migeira drew his last breath as his eyes closed for an eternity. Kyo lowered his head in reverence to the king's passing. Tilting his head up in a plea and promise he shouted, "YUYA!"
Kyo jolted at an amazingly loud clap of thunder. He looked out the window into the inky darkness. But it was not all darkness; in the dark he could see a spec of light. His immediate response was that it was one of the village houses. Common sense told him it was too far away to be a house in the village. The light was so small; one wouldn't notice it at first. He walked to his worktable in the middle of the room. Over it was spread a map. Beside the map were small pieces of paper with notes filling each sheet; the byproducts of his search for Yuya these past eight years. Meticulously he roughly calculated the distance between him and the light source and ended up somewhere in the heart of the Eastern Forest. Frowning he grabbed the map off his table and walked to the window, searching for the light again but nothing rewarded him this time. It seemed that whatever it was had disappeared. Kyo threw the map back against is desk as he tiredly crashed on the bed. Massaging his temples he recalled King Migeira's last words, "It's not as it seems…" murmuring these words a strand of thought came to mind. It was late and dark so Kyo decided to act on that thought the next day.
Mahiro walked into the library yawning and stopped dead in her tracks. That morning, barely after the crack of dawn Lord Benitora had come knocking at her door. At the time she hadn't known who it was and opened the door thinking it was the cook. So in her flimsy nightgown that was a blessing during the warm summer nights, she had opened the door stretching. Realizing her mistake too late, Mahiro had tried to salvage the situation by feigning indifference. Lord Benitora had requested that she join him and Kyo-sama at the library for breakfast. Breakfast was of course to be brought by her into the library. Now Mahiro knew why he had asked her not to bring the breakfast straight in. Every available surface was littered with books and scrolls. Her eyes widened and just stopped short of popping from their sockets.
"Mahiro-chaaannnn…." shouted a voice that was no doubt Benitora.
Mahiro blushed crimson as she looked up at him. He was on the second floor and beckoning her up. He shouted again, "Bring the food!" Then his head disappeared completely. Another voice came, "Oi! Girl! You better get up here before your lover boy decides to run off with another kitchen girl. 'Ah! Kyo-sama' "I wouldn't worry too much Kyo-sama!" she shouted back, "Tora-kun's weakness is my blueberry muffins!"
Kyo's face appeared as he raised a speculative eyebrow, "Really? His weakness is the taste of your food? Are you sure it's not how you taste?" Mahiro blushed redder than a chilli as Benitora squawked up on the second floor. Mahiro brought the trays of foor carefully upstairs to the balcony that lined the whole library. Benitora began wolfing down all he could get his hands on while Mahiro ate her breakfast in dainty bites. Kyo completely abstained from eating. One moment he was at one end of the library, leafing through a book and the next moment he was on the other side on another ladder grabbing some scroll. All his freedom of movement wouldn't have been possible if not for the sliding ladders situated on each bookshelf.
The library was a large rectangular room that had bookshelves at least 7 feet tall in the middle of the room; these too required sliding ladders. Then there were also a few reading desks that were placed in front of the library though there were more comfortable couches placed strategically around the room in secluded corners. The amazing part of the library wasn't the balcony around it, but the fact that the wall shelves were literally that; floor to ceiling they stretched and the ladders were only hindered by the presence of the outcrop of wood and paneling; otherwise, the ladders would have been at least 20 feet tall.
Finally Kyo came to eat. The fact that the eggs were cold didn't seem to bother him in the least. He simply pulled out another book and proceeded to pour over it while he ate. Mahiro exchanged a worried glance with Benitora. She nudged him in the ribs, prompting him to speak, "Ano…Kyo… Why did you call us here?" Kyo looked up form his work long enough to spare them a scathing glance, "I didn't call you both here. Benitora invited his girlfriend, that's all." Mahiro huffed, "In that case, I need not be here." Not going more than two steps she heard him sigh, "Wait. I need to finish this fast… so the more eyes there are, the easier it will be for all of us."
Mahiro grinned smuglu as she retook her seat, "What do I have to do?" Kyo and Benitora simultaneously placed two large stacks of books in front of her. "Look for anything suspicious that illustrates the transforming of a man into a monster or a powerful sorcerer." Mahiro thought, 'Hey, how hard could it be?' An hour later she was cursing herself. She had a splitting headache, her hands were tired and her nose was beginning to itch. She slammed yet another book shut, when was this going to end?
Apparently not soon, as they worked right through the day until dinner and after supper. Long after Benitora and Mahiro had retired, Kyo sat propped up against one of the ladders as he leafed thorough another book. Suddenly his flipping stopped as he scanned a page. His eyes lit up in glee; finally he had found it!
The book was a description of King Migeira's advisors. The first till the last was carefully detailed. It was the princess's diary. Kyo thanked every deity that he had overseen the princess' work years before. Apparently the princess had been quite fond of taking detailed notes. The project that she had started however had not been finished as Kyo found out. He slammed the book shut and slammed his head into the bookshelf behind him, 'So close!' There was writing along the spine of the book in gold. Kyo had a little difficulty reading it but he thought it read, A Compilation of Forbidden Acts as Well as The Forbidden Arts. Sliding the ladder around the room, Kyo stopped the crcular progress when he found the section. There it was, The book was red with embossed gold lettering like most of the other books. Sliding down the ladder, Kyo made himself comfortable on one of the couches. He stayed there until morning, reading. Finishing the book, Kyo was hit with a new revelation of what King Migeira's words meant.
"KYO!" came Okuni's voice successfully breaking the stillness of the room. Kyo groaned and slipped into the sanctuary of the bookshelves hoping to evade his mother. He made it up the stairs and to his room in one piece. Crashing onto the bed, he took a well deserved rest.
A/N: Um… HI! Just warning u guys dat updates on my story r gonna b very slow 4m now on. I'm sadly failing my History n I need to get my grades up before Oct. Just to tell u n 4 reference 4 myself when I choose to cont dis story da next chapter is gonna b about the archery practice. I'm gonna try n replicate it with a few differences. It's midnight so my spelling isn't top form. Don't get me wrong, I AM gonna fin dis story! I ALWAYS finish a story once I start it. Thx 2 all my reviewers. I will b back. Soon hopefully.