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I hung my head low, as I followed Keisuke through the village.
Back home, I would never have imagined doing all the things I have in the past thirteen days.
Cooking... cleaning... farming... battling... None of it was involved in my plans for my future...
I cast my eyes up at Keisuke's back.
He'd been criticizing my work this whole time. I wanted nothing more than to take one of my swords, and...
"If I did so badly, back there, why didn't you do it yourself?" I asked.
I didn't really want an answer, but, I asked anyway.
Right then, Keisuke stopped.
I stopped a little ways' behind him, becoming aware that he may punish me for asking such a question.
Slowly, Keisuke turned to look at me.
"How would you learn how to plant them properly if you didn't get to plant them yourself?" He asked.
Hmm. Sharp point...
"I don't have to! I am a war lord's daughter!" I said. "I have servants to do this for me, once I get home!"
"And, until we find your father, and he comes to get you, you have to pitch in, and help us." Keisuke said. "It's a fair trade, isn't it? We will protect you, feed you, and house you, just as long as you help us with some of our daily chores?"
Put that way... and said aloud... it sounded as though I was getting the better end of the deal.
However, I knew otherwise.
I was working out in the sun, where my skin would burn, and turn an ugly brown color. And I'd be in the mud, slipping, getting dirty, and wet. My hands were blistered, and scratched up from everything I'd been through.
"Hardly!" I said, folding my arms into my sleeves.
Keisuke sighed, shaking his head, as he turned to continue onward.
"What do they teach young ones in those grand palaces?" I heard him whisper.
I did not see what that had to do with anything.
But, I had been taught many things. Manners. Grace. Poise. Everything one might need to impress other royals.
My mother'd tried to teach me about silly things... plants, and animals... stories for children... all stupid things.
Why she tried to teach me those things, I didn't know. She was always very spontaneous, with reasons that she felt were very good. She must've hit her head a lot when she was young.
Somehow, though, I've managed to grow up without her ridiculous character traits, and become a sensible woman...
However... that face of hers... she was almost always smiling... she was always beautiful... yet, she never painted her face... I had yet to accomplish such beauty...
All of a sudden, I bumped into something, bringing me back to the world before me.
I had continued following Keisuke, without even thinking about it, and he'd stopped right in front of me.
"Ojou-chan, get out of here!" Keisuke whispered.
"Eh? What is it this time?" I asked.
"If you don't want to get hurt, you will turn around and run, right now!" Keisuke hissed.
I glared at the back of his head, turned, and started away.
"Geez. What's wrong with these pheasants?" I asked. "Making royals work is bad enough! But, telling them what to do, and, the moment they're nearly done, tell them to do something else is absolute insanity!"
All of a sudden, I began to feel an eerie aura... something dangerous was watching me.
Was this what Keisuke was trying to warn me about?
I picked up my pace, now jogging away from Keisuke, back toward the fields.
Behind me, I heard a loud crashing sound, followed by Keisuke's own cry. What caused him to make such a noise, I couldn't be sure. I didn't care.
I was going to escape. I was going to live.
I started running as fast as I could.
The wind whipped around me, creating that loud rushing noise, and drowning out all else.
I didn't hear it, as something ghosted up behind me.
I didn't know it was there until something struck my feet, causing me to fall forward.
I cried out in shock as my face collided with the dirt.
Something heavy landed hard on my back.
I gasped, as all of my precious air was forced out of me.
"Ojou-chan!" I heard Keisuke's voice.
I began struggling to get up.
The creature on my back began growling, taunting me.
Panic set in. I was fighting for all I was worth to get up.
I heard a cry of pain behind me, and saw Keisuke go flying forward.
Some kind of a cat creature walked up to him, lifted him, and began beating him.
"I said to myself 'just get it and go'." It said, throwing him down in front of me. "But, it's just too much fun to knock you around!"
I could only watch as this creature beat up the man who'd been nothing... but...
I wanted to say rude. I wanted to say cruel. But... my head would only say... kind... caring...
Despite pushing me to do all forms of ridiculous chores... Keisuke had been the only one to stand in my favor, when I needed a place to stay... All others were ready to simply send me on my way out of there...
During my chores, he would teach me how to make them just a little easier, and faster.
He would bring me food and water as I needed them.
Now that I was thinking about it... he was only stern when I refused to do chores... even the ones that turned out to be so simple... just like...
Keisuke let out a roar of pain, as the cat creature raked its claws across his chest.
Watching his blood fly... something was different. This wasn't like those soldiers I'd killed, or the youkai I defended myself from.
I put my hands on the ground in front of me.
"Keisuke..." I said.
A strange heat ran through my whole body, as I pushed down on the ground.
"No..." I grunted, beginning to fight with the weight of the creature on my back.
Its claws dug into my back. I couldn't find it in me to scream. I was focused on pushing on the ground.
I felt space between me and the ground.
Quickly, I brought my knees up under me, giving myself more space.
That was it.
"BAKA!" I screamed, forcing my feet flat on the ground, and standing, knocking that creature to the ground.
Keisuke looked at me, holding his chest as he went down on one knee.
"Ojou-chan... run..." He said.
The cat creature on the ground began rolling to get up.
The cat attacking Keisuke turned its attention to me.
I had no idea where my sudden increase in anger, and confidence came from, but, I was not going to waste the strength that came with it.
"I am not so cowardly as to run from a couple of lowly tom cats!" I hissed. "I will stay right here!"
Both cats came at me. I put my arms up to defend myself, as their claws closed in...
Ojou-chan - Young lady.
Keisuke no baka - Keisuke you dummy.
Maybe this was a bit short, but, I'm in love with this chapter! I hope y'all liked it, too! Please review!