Troublemakers
The girls had landed in what looked like a farm, their fall cushioned by soft grass. Darla was the first to leap to her feet, and began surveying the land around them.
Rising to her feet a little more slowly, Alora shaded her gaze with her hand. "Well this definitely isn't home," she said unnecessarily.
Darla shook her head, her lips parted in silent wonder. Her eyes were bright, and soon she bared her teeth in a wide grin. Turning around, she spied an enormous roan stallion grazing just a few yards behind Alora. A soft "oh" slid from her lips as she automatically moved toward the horse with her hand outstretched, palm facing upward.
"Uh, Dar?" Alora stood her ground, staring incredulously at the blonde, who in her opinion was definitely fitting her stereotype. "I really don't think you should do that. We're probably trespassing!"
Quietly so as not to spook the stallion, Darla called back to Alora in a teasing voice. "There's probably no one home, it's the middle of the day. Besides, I doubt we'll be arrested for petting a horse."
She had just made it to the horse, and she reached out her hand to softly stroke his nose, cooing about how beautiful he was. Alora, unable to dissuade Darla from this foolishness, decided to join her. The magic of what had just happened was not lost on the girls, but sometimes a moment of normalcy is necessary when your world has just been flipped on its side. Darla ran her fingers through his black mane, her other hand stroking the dappled grey coat along his side.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the lord who lived on this land took that moment to walk around the side of the barn.
"You two! What right have ye to trespass here?"
Startled, Darla and Alora stepped back from the horse at hearing his angry shout. Before either could explain that they were lost – what else could they say? – the man marched toward them with his hand on the hilt of the sword at his hip.
"I'll not tolerate horse thieves and harlots. Guards!"
Darla grabbed Alora's wrist and made to run, but upon turning around she realized it was too late. They were surrounded, and there was no way out.
Alora reached up and yanked a lock of Darla's hair. "Won't be arrested for petting a horse, eh?" She hissed between her teeth.
Darla reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it away from her face with a sigh. "Sorry. But at least we know now that we can understand the language here!"
With a groan of frustration, Alora turned to the lord of the land who was almost right before her. She held her hands out palms up, and tried to speak politely. "Sir, please, we are lost and have no idea where we are. The sight of your beautiful stallion kept my friend from panicking, and we only sought comfort. Might you point us the way to the capital?"
Darla marveled at Alora's speech, noticing how her language took on a more sophisticated quality. Doing her best to stifle a laugh, she inwardly grinned. Guess all those books we've read about ancient times came in handy after all! Although why did I have to be the damsel in distress? Panicking my ass…
The lord glared at Alora, who felt herself step backward closer to Darla. "I'll do more than point you toward the capital, girlie. Guards! Arrest these two thieves!"
As she saw Alora lurch toward the hulking man, Darla grabbed her just in time. Turning around, Alora saw a look of warning in Darla's eyes. With no other choice, the two allowed their wrists to be tied together. Each was hoisted into the saddle of a guard, and with the lord taking the lead, they set out for the road.
Darla looked over at Alora, and upon seeing her friend staring back, nodded and held her head high.
The capital is where we want to go, after all. Darla thought to herself. Let's hope I'm not wrong about who's waiting for us there.
The march to the capital seemed to take forever, although it was only an hour at most. Their "escort" consisted only of the lord and the two guards riding with Darla and Alora. Darla was enjoying herself far too much for someone who was currently being held prisoner. How could she not? She loved riding, and the landscape was beautiful in every direction. The path they were taking at the moment was through a forest, and the trees around them were obviously ancient as they stood tall and proud.
Alora was having a different experience. She loved Darla, but damn that girl could be so thick-headed! She TOLD her they were trespassing, TOLD her they shouldn't pet the horse but nooo Darla has to do whatever she wants! And what if they weren't even in Konan? What if they were in Kouto? Or one of the other two countries? What if they made it here just to find out everything was different, or not as they expected?
Just as she really started to get steamed up – she would never admit she was worried – Alora felt something brush against her butt. She shifted forward a little, away from the guard, and then felt a distinct pinch on her rear.
Twisting around in the saddle, Alora screamed at the guard. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Don't you dare touch me!"
Disturbingly, the guard smirked and leered at her. "Don' fret now missy, you should be grateful. Soon you'll be locked in a cell beggin' fer my company!"
"I wouldn't let a pig like you touch me to save my life!"
The guard's face turned blue from rage, and he backhanded Alora hard enough to knock her out of the saddle. With her hands tied behind her back, she had no way to break her fall and landed on her shoulder in the dirt of the road.
"Alora!" Darla, knowing a fall like that from that height could be bad, lifted her leg over her own horse's neck and jumped off the saddle. Unable to balance herself, she landed on her knees, but ignored the sharp pain and ran over to her friend. Darla stood over Alora and glared at the guard who had thrown her from the saddle.
"Touch her again and you'll lose your hand." The threat was empty, and everyone knew it, but Darla couldn't stop herself. She was angry, and for the first time that day, she was scared.
Darla's guard sneered and swung from his mount's saddle, slowly approaching her like a cat trying not to scare his prey. The girl stood her ground, knowing it was useless. But Alora still hadn't moved, and she didn't know what else to do.
Suddenly the advancing guard howled in pain and looked around wildly, his hand clutching his left eye. Reaching down with his right hand, he drew the sword belted at his waist and held it aloft, scanning the road.
No one ever thinks to look up, do they?
A dark figure fell from the tree just behind Darla. She crouched down to Alora's side, and held her friend's hand as she stared at the impossible scene playing out before her. A man in a dark blue traveling outfit stood facing the lord and his guards, a smirk playing across his lips.
"Didn't you know it's not polite to hit ladies?"
Darla grinned. That's definitely Tamahome! Oh man he's just as gorgeous as I imagined. Shit, this is totally not the time or place. She looked down as she felt Alora's hand tighten on hers.
"Alora! Wake up! Tamahome's here!" Darla helped Alora to a sitting position, as Alora reached up to rub her shoulder.
"Did I really get knocked out? I swear I'm gonna kill that asshole."
Darla giggled. "Sorry love, I think Tamahome's already on the job." The two girls stared as the second guard slipped off his own mount and drew his sword. The pair of them advanced on the girls' rescuer, grim determination in the set of their mouths.
Tamahome chuckled, and threw himself forward. Crouching low, he ducked beneath the first guard's sword then turned sharply. He kicked out one of his long legs and landed a heavy blow right between the guard's shoulder blades, sending the man sprawling to the ground. The second guard, the one who had hit Alora, swung around and up with his blade. Tamahome leaned back, the metal sweeping right past him. He dropped to the ground and kicked out again, this time aiming for the backs of the guard's knees. The guard lost his balance and fell backward, letting out a startled yelp. Guard one was back, raising his sword above his head prepared to swing it down on Tamahome's skull. The warrior reached up and caught the man's hands in his, then kicked up and out into the guard's stomach. The man had the wind knocked out of him, and released his sword into Tamahome's waiting hands. He hefted the weapon and slammed it down on the guard's helmet, effectively knocking him out, then turned to face the second guard who had since regained his footing. With a snarl, the guard rushed toward Tamahome who easily side stepped the attack, and brought the sword crashing against the man's armored back. The blow was hard enough that the guard dropped his weapon and fell to his knees, turning to see Tamahome had raised the borrowed sword to his neck.
"Cease this foolishness by order of Lord Kohei!" The lord took that moment to ride up to Tamahome, who had still not lowered his sword, and stared down at him with the most condescending look he could muster. "I speak with His Majesty's voice here. You sir are under arrest!"
Darla stared in horror, and Alora started to grumble under her breath before Darla clapped her hand over the brunette's mouth. Yeah okay, I'M the one who gets us in trouble…
Tamahome, however, snorted and returned the lord's gaze. "Lord Kohei, huh? I heard you were kicked out of court and stripped of your title and lands for abuse of power. You have no authority in Konan now, and never again. Your lands were salted and destroyed, you lost everything, so what poor farmer did you kill for the horse you now ride?"
The now exposed "lord" sneered at Tamahome. "I am taking these girls to his Imperial Highness. Surely this discovery will be enough to return me to my former graces."
Tamahome shook his head. "You go no farther." He lifted the sword and brought it down on the helmet of the second guard, putting him in the same state as the first. Quickly, before Kohei could react, Tamahome pulled him from the saddle to the ground, and stripped him of his sword. He bent down and picked up the third and final weapon, then grabbed the stallion's reins, handing those to Darla and the swords to Alora. He winked, then went to each of the other horses, slapping their flanks to send them running through the trees. Turning one final time to the man who had yet to rise from the ground, a dark look shot through Tamahome's eyes. "Leave. Now."
Perhaps thankful to at least not be a crumpled, unconscious – or dead – heap on the ground, Kohei got to his feet and ran from the warrior.
Darla too rose from her place on the forest floor, and helped Alora to stand. They turned to face Tamahome, both girls' eyes glazed over in wonder and admiration. Darla's lips parted slightly, and her heart started to beat a little faster. He's beautiful. Watching him fight was…oh man. Wait, he's coming over!
Darla grasped the reins in her hand tighter as the warrior walked over to them. He stopped barely two paces away, and held his hand out to Alora.
The brunette stared at his open palm, and rolled her eyes. "We don't have any money. Sorry."
The warrior blinked, then threw his head back and groaned. "Dammit! I save you and I get nothing?!"
Alora shook her head. "Just our thanks. We really owe you for this. I'm Alora, and this is Darla."
Darla came to her senses, and nodded to Tamahome. He tilted his head to the side, then walked over and took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Although…" he mused, "I could spend some time with this one as payment."
Darla couldn't help but giggle, and Alora reached out to slap her upside the head. Scowling, Darla rubbed her head and smiled alluringly at Tamahome. "Actually, I need to ask you for another favor."
Sighing, the warrior rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. "What do you want?"
Alora stepped toward and said excitedly, "We need you to take us to Hotohori."
Tamahome looked confused. "Who?"
Nervous now, Alora repeated herself. "Hotohori! You know him!"
As Tamahome shook his head and took a step back from the crazed girl, Darla reached out and lightly touched his arm.
"We need you to take us to Emporer Saihtei. We need an audience with him. Will you, please?"
A/N: Hey darlings! Sorry it's been a couple days, I just started a new job and I'm wiped when I get home. Allie keeps me out late. Actually we're on the phone now...at 3am...when we gotta be up at 8. Ain't that a bitch. Anyway! I'm so so excited to get into the story! You might have noticed something strange about Tama...but it will all be explained soon! Well mostly all ;) Anyway, I see that I've had a couple readers from outside the States - yay! That's so exciting! I hope everyone is enjoying this so far. PLEASE REVIEW! I've never gotten a review, since this is my first one, so even one would pretty much make my life. Enjoy!