A:N
Because I died a very long time...
Because I think you may have forgotten the course of this fic...
And because I do not wish for you to go "huh?! What was the story again?"
I'll provide a recap here.
Gomen for the slow slow updates. X_X Reality really takes its toll.
RECAP:
This is a story of how the Lady Anezaki, prim, proper, pretty -- alpha female of her time, got entangled with a certain Hiruma Youichi, devious, deadly, demon-like -- omega of husband options.
She strikes a deal with him because she needs his name. He agrees to her bargain because he deems her useful.
His name... in exchange for one night of passion.
Marriage? Sealed and done.
Lovemaking? Almost.
If it only went his way inside the carriage...
But she betrayed him and got him thrown into prison again...
Aftermath? He's pissed. She feels guilty.
Need more? Read on.
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Setting: The Isle of Ojou
Musashi watched as Mamori gently placed her cup on the saucer, adding a few more blocks of sugar to her morning tea.
It was hardly dawn, but they were already having breakfast at a local cafe. They were, after all, preparing for their voyage back home to Deimon.
Wordlessly, he bit into another stale bread as he continued to ponder about his lady.
The sky outside was dark and gloomy, as if it boded something ill.
From the corner of his eye, he continued to watch her.
And then he saw her release a heavy sigh as she looked at him purposefully.
"If you've got something to say Musashi-kun, please do so at once. I grow weary of these furtive looks you've been giving me all morning."
For a moment, he stopped his chewing, surprised to hear that he had been so transparent.
"Well?" she insisted.
But then again, he chuckled to himself, perhaps she had just been too observant, as she always is. He placed the loaf back on his plate as he began.
"I did not ask you what happened inside the carriage, but frankly, I've got me'self a lot of worries."
He was responsible for her safety. Lord Shouji would most certainly have his head if at the least one hair on her body was not in its proper place.
"A lot you say?" she said with an unmasked exasperated tone, "Let's begin with one," helping herself to the scrambled eggs.
"You... ahh, that is to say, are you still..." he peered at her, scratching his ear in the process, unable to phrase the question in a way that she would not be offended. "Did he--"
"I was not violated, if that is what you wished to ask," she quickly retorted. Not fully at least, Mamori thought with pursed lips.
"I remain as I was before" she continued. Flashes of his hot mouth on her breast suddenly permeated her mind.
"Untainted" she clarified, forcing the thought out of her brain. Unpenetrated was more the right word really, if it existed.
She could feel her cheeks burning. Almost.
To Musashi, she sounded as if she were assuring herself more than him.
He squinted at her, "Really..." giving her a look that bared through her very soul, assessing the truth in those words.
In response, she squared her shoulders considerably. This was not a full-fledged lie, she told herself. She need not worry.
After all, although that bastard did come very close, (she shivered in the memory of their raw nakedness rubbing against one another), in the end he was unsuccessful in claiming her virginity.
Oh the horrors if the carriage was delayed a second later.
"Musashi-kun, do you think me such an improper woman that I would gladly bed him right then and there?"
His eyebrows raised to a substantial degree. "No, my lady, I do not doubt your propriety of course." By now, he could see the vein popping in her forehead. "However, his decency is a completely different matter."
She relaxed a bit. "Rest assured, noth-- I was not taken within that short span of time." She was about to say 'nothing happened' but she knew that would have been the lie. "Next?"
Although barely satisfied, he proceeded with "...Before I left him at the dungeon, the man seemed to be under the impression that you owed him something."
At this, Mamori visibly faltered, but hastily added a more blocks of sugar to cover up. "Really? He raves for reasons we may never know about."
Musashi peered at her intently. "Lady Anezaki...Did you or did you not cheat on the lad?" he clarified.
"First you question my modesty, now you question my honor?!" she stood up, pounding the table with her fists.
Musashi was taken aback at her sudden indignation. He held up his hands up front and said "Relax yourself lass. I have not done so, it is you who guiltily think of otherwise."
She huffed, "Your tone was accusing." With her eyebrows still tightly crossed above her annoyed eyes, she sat down and continued "...the bargain is met. I have his name and he still receives plenty of physical comforts. Is that not fair?"
Musashi crinkled his brow, "The question was not one of fairness, but whether or not you've kept your promise." He could sense her lying. Her panicked gestures tell him so.
He watches as she continues to add more sugar on her cup and more jam on her bread.
He let go of a heavy breath, understanding finally dawning on his weary features. "Lass, a word to the wise, I have seen and talked to men aplenty, others more deceitful than most. Tis a dangerous game you play, striking a deal and not meeting it fully, especially to that lad. He is one strange character, I cannot read him beyond the facade he puts up. I wouldn't cross him." He paused.
"Why do you choose to side with the devil's words over mine when you've only met him for an instant?"
"Because lass, I know the sprite that you are and have seen the thunderstorms you construct after waves of men fall upon your feet. This man, is not one of those foppish fools. He had a good head on his shoulders when we met, and a good deal of a vengeful aura when we left. Should the time come that he claims what is his---"
"HE WILL NOT. HE CANNOT. I KEEP NOTHING OF HIS."
"Nonetheless, should he haunt you," he continues calmly, "I pray you realize it in time that men are not sole beasts for your amusement, before he devours you for the wrong you did him."
He paused as a thunderstorm struck out of nowhere. Flustered and annoyed, she was silenced to bear the gravity of his words.
She hasn't denied that she did betray him, and for a split second, she flinched as the effect of his admonishment scared her so.
With her good looks and her good fortune, the gods have blessed her, of this she is sure. But what would happen if the gods favored him this time, instead of her?
Musashi could sense that she was deliberating this carefully, and so he pressed further. "There is still time before our journey home, will you or will you not fulfill what is due to him?"
A pause.
"NAY!" Her eyes flared wide open. "I have done my share in letting him see sunlight before he dies. The bargain is met. It is met. IT IS MET!"
Thunder struck again. Musashi sighed. Their discussion was over as she stood up to make preparations.
"Today, we shall ride the Ballista, captained by Ichiro Takami, as planned. Tis perfect, riding home in my father's ship. If Takami asks you questions, do not answer and allow me to weave the story myself."
"Aye, mistress." Standing up himself, "That nosy git will hear none from me." He stared at her retreating figure and once more at the gloomy sky.
He ponders loud enough for her to hear, "I don't know if you've noticed Mamori, but a storm is comin'."
She paused on the landing of the stairs. "We best be ready for the journey then." And so proceeded to her room.
"Aye. You best be prepared for what you've brewed" he muttered.
Setting: The Isle of Zokugaku, The Fort
"Is this all the trash you can cough up?" asked a tall and well-toned gentleman as he strode along the row of prisoners.
"Aye gov'na. Only ones who aint gonna be missed since the lot of em are headed for teh gallows," spat Rui.
The man considered the men carefully, most of them were, "Old. Limp. Diseased. You are most ungenerous with your prisoners Rui-san" came again the cold voice of Ichiro Takami.
"Well, ye see, the gold ye offer aint enough to purchase yer slaves of qual'ty," he replied, greedily rubbing his two palms in the process.
"Tch." The gentleman slowly unraveled another brown purse of gold coins, tossing it to the shorter figure. "Will that be enough?!"
"Indeed..." Rui's eyes glinted with the gold. "I'll get yer fresh livestock sir," bowing crookedly before leaving.
"Scum" whispered Takami with a disgusted look. He brought his hand on his chin as he paced and surveyed once more, the men chained to their wrists and ankles.
Pausing at random his voice reverberated in the hollow room, "Slaves," few of the men looked up.
"This is what you'll be because I've purchased your pitiful lives. Your names are dead. You are dead. And my men," indicating the brawny figures standing at attention on either side. " have been given permission to do just that, should you try to escape."
He paused, allowing the prisoners to glance their guards.
"In other words, your lives are forfeit. In the Isle of Deimon, you shall... from this day forth, be in the service of my lord, Shouji Anezaki."
Upon hearing the name, a small figure from the leftmost end suddenly squeaked. Takami paused, slowly moving eyes toward the direction of the sound.
Casually, the taller man paced toward the interruption, found a boy with beads of sweat cascading down his face.
Silence...
Before the boot of the man collided with the boy's chest, throwing him backwards.
"What is your name brat?" Takami asked, his voice barely a whisper. "S-Sena, sir."
A light glinted against the taller man's spectacles. "Sena." His cold voice echoed once more in the shadows. "Does the Lord's name displease you so--"
"--N-Nay Sir. NAY!" "--That you dare interrupt me TWICE!!!" driving his foot deeper at the last word to emphasize his irritation.
"Oof. P-Please, I meant no disrespect. I-I have heard of his greatness, tis all I swears. Tis all..." he whimpered. "Please sir..."
"Hmm..." Takami feigned a sigh, wiping off a single sweat drop from his forehead. "Be thankful that I am most merciful..." His foot still lay placidly atop Sena's hulking form.
"My Lord would never tolerate such rogue and peasant-like behavior." "I-I shant forget sir." Finally moving his foot away he looked at the man beside Sena who stood in rigid observance.
Blond hair, shaggy trousers, an unkempt stubble and piercings on his ear. "Tch. Typical riffraff," he sneered.
He wondered for a moment why this 'riffraff' appeared transfixed at Sena, before deciding it really didn't matter and so moved toward the only opening of the room. Slits of eyes moved to watch Takami as he did so.
"They're all waitin' ta meet ya." greeted Rui, referring to the fresh batch of prisoners he gathered.
And he bellowed to the others, "Com' 'ere ya no good fer nothin' thugs, line up!!! We better prepares ye fer yer journey."
By that of course, he meant, tightening the chains.
As the row of men walked slowly to follow Takami, the blonde-haired man continued to watch Sena, uselessly dusting his pants.
The boy suddenly felt himself being jerked back, well outside of earshot.
"Fucking shrimp..." the blonde began in a slow dangerous tone.
The boy could only gulp, feeling slightly more chilly than usual. He couldn't quite get it, but he felt a sudden a murderous aura in the air.
"H-Hai?" said Sena, involuntary reacting to fucking shrimp.
"I know who you are." Sena stared curiously at the other fellow.
"More importantly," he grinned, revealing fangs that were almost inhuman.
"I have an offer that you can't possibly, fucking, refuse. Kekekeke."
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
And as he gazed, mystified more likely, into the man's green orbs for eyes, he realized one grave thing about his situation.
Salvation.
It came in the form of the devil.
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A/N: I've died a lot of times in the course of writing fics. X_X And I doubt if you will continue to read this. But as I have assured plenty of readers, I will not abandon these fics. When I do get jolts of inspiration, I immediately work.
Bear with me. Gomen. Gomen. Gomen. Oh and good news, school vacation is coming up. :3
To Takami fans, O_O do not kill me for making him the bad guy. I LIKE him well enough, however this side has a point. I SWEAR.