I realized I write faster during weekends so I probably should write mostly on weekends before I do it on a daily basis, like I used to. Haha. I'm adding this chappie up because I don't know how to go about this story and this fact intrigues me because I seldom start stories without knowing how it will course through. (And because nothing much has happened yet. Haha.)
Btw, I realized I got the names wrong. Shuurei's father is Shouka and they are Hongs in the anime, not Kou. I believe they were Kou in the manga but they share the same last name with another family so it was changed to prevent disambiguation. :D All these details are corrected in this chapter now.
LeeRaRa: Yes, Seiran is such a sweetie. But I like his secretive and dark side too. :D I hope I can explore it more in the future, though.
ThePinkMartini: Well, its really a very political story so I'm simply getting some parts from canon. If I depend too much on the plot, it'll be too political and technical. _
Disclaimer: FY and SM are not mine.
Undefined Mission
By Slavedriver2008
The day Yui first arrived in Kutou was a blur. She could not remember much of the surroundings, the faces of the people, the broken roof tiles washed in colors of the sky. She did remember one incident vividly and the thought always made her stomach clench in disgust and anger. Sure, she was still a virgin. But she was sexually harassed, touched, tampered on the surface. She doesn't remember the faces of those men but she remembered the feeling of being rammed to the ground with her clothes being torn off her body. Everytime she remembers, the same fear creeps through her spine, upward, until it finally wraps around her heart, freezing her from within. And from then on, she knew she will never be the same again.
These sickening thoughts made her skin prickle under the afternoon sun in Kiyou, the capital of Saiunkoku. She was in the middle of a bustling marketplace and for the longest time, had been eyeing a delicate silver hairpin. All these memories of Kutou nagged at the back of her head for days, coming without invitation, permeating her thoughts and awakening numerous emotions within her. Yui fingered the wings of the butterfly pin and unconsciously heaved a sigh. The sound of Shuurei and Juusan talking fleeted through her thoughts. The two girls brought her to the market today and even arranged the veil over her head to hide her short-cropped hair. Yui was not in the mood to go outside the Kou residence, especially after her recent disappointment. The melancholic in her wanted to squeeze herself inside a thick blanket and lament on her existence.
Kutou disappeared many many years ago. The country was included in the great kingdom Sou Gen united: Saiunkoku. Yui had no idea if Kutou became one province or if it was divided into numerous other city-states. History was not something that was well-written in Saiunkoku, especially since all annals of war perished before the country was made. She placed the pin back in the seller's table and smiled thinly. Shuurei wanted go shopping before she returns to the Palace, where she works. Shuurei had given her some coins so Yui can buy what she wants. Yui declined but Shuurei insisted. In the end, she had no choice but to accept and accompany their shopping.
"You will not buy it?" a familiar deep voice asked and when she looked up, found Seiran standing a few steps behind her. "It will look good on you," he added and she shook her head.
"Its beauty will be wasted if I put it on my hair…" she answered, looking around, hoping something else would catch her attention. She was merely looking for a way to leave Seiran. She wanted her peace, her solitude, her thoughts. No matter how sickening and deadly they were, those memories were still hers. "Maybe I could buy something useful for the household…"
"You should use the money to enjoy yourself," he insisted. Yui turned to him and raised an eyebrow.
"Seiran, why are you here?" she asked and the man was taken aback. He looked uneasy. The Hong residence only had him as the sole retainer and the big house was being shared by three people, well, four including her. And in the brief period she stayed in the household, she noticed that Seiran was always everywhere.
"I… I was ordered to look after the first princess of the Hong family—"
"Shuurei is over there, with Juusan…" she said, pointing to the direction of the two girls. The silver-haired man was always in the look-out for Shuurei and the fact annoyed her a bit. But who was she to question, she was only a guest. Some quirky girl who fell from the sky Seiran would never notice. Yui blinked. What was she thinking?
"—and her guest, who might get lost in this crowd."
"Unlike Koyuu, I'm good at directions," she said, still looking away. Koyuu was Shuurei's cousin, the adopted son of her Uncle Reishin. He was beginning to get to her nerves. She hated being tailed; even Nakago would not send his soldiers to guard her!
"The streets are not safe for—"
"And surprisingly, I can defend myself, thank you." She smiled, a wide forced smile. A warning smile, one she's used to giving to men who annoyed the shit out of her. Seiran, however, didn't seem to notice.
"Well, girls are always—"
"Girl?" she repeated with disbelief. "Do I look so little to you? I'm a woman, I'm already 21—I told you, I can—" she stopped herself. She was agitated, frustrated with the lack of leads to where Kutou was, that she was venting out her anger on him. He was eyeing her intently, surprised at her sudden outburst. "I'm sorry… Gods, I'm sorry…"
Yui cupped her face, wanting the ground to cover her. She didn't mean to raise her voice against him. One of her bad habits was her tendency to place her anger on something—someone—other than what ignited it. Nakago had been at the end of it countless times. But she doesn't want to do the same for Seiran. No, not for Seiran.
"Yui…" he called but she didn't look up. No, she was too ashamed of herself to meet his cold dark eyes. She was afraid that if she does, all the pent-up emotions she kept these past few days would come to surface and she'll end up crying. No, she will never show such acts of weakness. Especially not in a public place. And especially not in front of a stranger like Seiran. These tears were the reason why Nakago manipulated her. She will not let another man use her for his personal gains.
She raised her face and looked up to him. "Seiran—" But before she could speak, a running man bumped into him and Seiran lost his balance. "Seiran!" She wanted to assist him but the force was too strong she lost her footing as well. He immediately wrapped his arms around her before they fell into the stall she was looking into earlier.
A loud crashing sound filled the place but it was not alone. Numerous other stalls were ruined because of the man's intrusion. There were loud sounds of rustling feet as a palanquin passed, carrying one of the secretaries of the Palace. The crowd parted and gave way, eyeing the noble. All the sounds, the cheers, the whispers, disappeared when Yui opened her eyes and found Seiran looming above her, looking at her in those intense dark eyes.
"I'm sorry… I should have been more careful…" he whispered and she shook her head. His voice was still as gentle and his nearness made her feel warm. "I'm right, it looks good on you…" he said and Yui raised her hand to finger the butterfly pin that stuck to her hair after the fall. He smiled and for the first time in years, Yui's heart started to thump unbearably loud.
Seiran slowly stood up and raised a hand to help her. Yui took it, still looking away. It was not right to feel this way for Seiran. He was someone from this world, someone she'll eventually leave behind. These feelings, she realized, should be nipped in the bud.
"I'll buy it, for the lady," he told the seller and Yui's cheeks burned. He picked a few coins from his pocket and paid the woman, who eagerly thanked him.
"Seiran, you shouldn't—"
"We should join them," he said, cutting her. He pulled her hand from the stall and into the crowd. The palanquin was passing by but Seiran managed to usher her away from the throng. His fingers weaved through hers and the warmth from their joined hands sent her heart palpitating again. She clutched her chest, willing it to stop. These feelings, these warm feelings that breaks through her frozen heart, she doesn't need it.
"Seiran—"
"You need to go to Kutou to get home, right?" he said. He stopped walking and turned to her. Then it hit her. She was too preoccupied with going home for the past days that she had caused them—him—to worry for her. She smiled thinly.
"Seiran, it's fine. Kutou no longer exists—"
"I'll find another way to send you back to your world…" he said finally and Yui's eyes widened. "It's a promise… I will send you home. You have my word." He tightened his hold of her hand and Yui smiled in response. She nodded, looking at their intertwined fingers. Seiran's hands, she realized, cups away the trembling in her hands. They were calloused but gentle, unlike the hands of the men who abused her. But should she trust these hands? Can she trust him?
Shouka Hong always finds pleasure in seeing children studying. Shuurei had been the eager one since she was a child but her current role as the Emperor's consort had deprived her father the chance of seeing her nightly ritual. Today, however, he was seeing such a joyful sight. In the Imperial Archives, Yui and Kouyuu have been rummaging through the books for any leads on Kutou. It had been a week since the blond girl looked through the archives, and another week before that after she fell from the sky.
She was accepted in his household and have been cooking every now and then for him and Seiran, a role that usually belongs to Shuurei before she left for the Imperial Palace. A few days ago, Shouka had the girl registered as his daughter. It was a sudden but strategic act. Under his name, the girl will be safe. He was not influential but his family was. The move caused some whisperings within the palace. After all, who adopts a girl who was old enough to get married?
Shouka looked up and saw two men dressed in luxurious robes walking toward the archives. It briefly surprised him since people seldom visit the archives. The man who was leading the walk was his younger brother Reishin, the head of the Hong family. Behind him was Kijin Kou, the minister of taxation.
"Ah, Reishin. And with Kijin too. Why are you two here?" he greeted the two. His younger brother opened his fan.
"It's been the talk of the palace, brother—you adopted a woman. My dear brother, why didn't you adopt a man instead, someone who will continue the Kou family name like what I did with Kouyuu?" he asked. It was like Reishin to cut through the introductions.
"Shouka-san, Kouyuu found it!" a female voice cut through the conversation and Shouka kept his silence when Yui stepped into the view of the two men. Shouka noticed the mixed fascination that sketched on his brother's face. "Oh, I'm sorry. You were talking to someone. Please excuse me."
"You came at the right time. Let me introduce you to my younger brother Reishin and the minister of taxation, Kijin Kou." Yui bowed at the two. Reishin and his companion nodded, still eyeing her intently.
"It's nice to meet you," Yui said.
"This is Yui. These gentlemen came here to look at you." Yui flushed and Shouka laughed. She blinked innocently at him and he smiled wider. "I will attend to my brother and will come for you shortly."
"Hai! Please take your time," she said. She bowed down again before leaving them in the entrance of the archives.
"I can find the most suitable husband—"
"Thank you but I do not intend to have her marry anyone for political reasons," Shouka cut Reishin and the latter looked at him with surprise.
"Are you crazy, brother? That hair and eyes—any man in the Palace would want her! Imagine what Grand Minister Shou will say!" he said but he immediately regained his composure and started fanning himself. "When I look at her, I see… Sou Gen's fabled goddess."
"She was sent by the gods for some reason. We don't know the purpose yet," he said and the latter nodded. "But until she finds her way home, she will be my daughter. And that being so, she is under my guidance and the Hong family's protection. Do you understand, Reishin?"
"If you will so, brother. If you will it, I will protect her as well. I hope our brother Kurou doesn't disapprove of this," Reishin said, finally smiling. He eyed the blond girl inside the archives, talking to his adopted son Kouyuu. He nodded. "I guess it is better for her to be in our family than outside it."
The day was fast ending and Yui stretched her muscles as she and Kouyuu walked outside the Imperial Archives. Shouka-san allowed them to look into the files to find information on what happened to Kutou after the war. They had successfully inferred that the capital of Kutou, Eisei, was probably one of the towns in Sa province, which was directly situated in the South of Kiyou.
Yui had no idea if finding out where Eisei, the old capital, was can help her go home. All that she knew was that she wanted to resurrect the place in her memories. She wanted to feel like belonging somewhere, even if it were an ancient ruined empire that was famed for instigating wars that led to its demise.
"Kouyuu thank you for helping me out," she told the man beside him. They were en route to his office. Shuurei had whispered on her ear earlier that Kouyuu has no sense of direction and it would be best to send him off to his office to avoid any problems.
"I only did so because I can't say no to Master Shouka…" he whispered and Yui turned to him.
"What?"
"Nothing. Nothing," he crooned easily. The man had been acting uneasy. Yui smiled.
"Seiran couldn't come because he was deployed to the other side of the city. And Shuurei is busy with a secret job," she said, running through the names in her head. "And Juusan is… well, I don't know where she is… She suddenly disappeared." It was true, after the brief shopping in the marketplace, Juusan went home and was never seen since then. "Ryuuki works here doesn't he? What does he do?"
"You don't want to know," Kouyuu said in a flat voice.
They were almost in his office when a familiar figure appeared. Ryuuki turned to them, wearing the most luxurious robes. His eyes widened and a smile appeared on his handsome face. Kouyuu panicked beside Yui but before he could speak, Ryuuki immediately ran toward her and wrapped his arms around her neck, like a little boy.
"Yui-chan!" he screamed, embracing her tight. Yui saw two old men ran toward them, both wearing Imperial robes.
"Your Majesty!" the men called Ryuuki. Yui turned to him with surprised eyes.
"Majesty?"
"Let us discuss those matters tomorrow. Can't you see that my favorite concubine has come for me?" Ryuuki said in a surprisingly stately voice. The two men raised an eyebrow and looked through her form. Yui tried to smile.
"Favorite concubine?"
"We are leaving now. I miss this woman dearly. Please forgive me," Ryuuki said, pulling her away from the two. "Kouyuu, come on." He pulled Kouyuu away too and Yui was still trying to process everything that she had seen and heard. "Yes! I managed to get away from that dreadful minister!" Ryuuki said after they were away from the men.
"You—You're the Emperor!" Yui said, pointing an accusing finger at the brown-haired royalty. "And you're a lazy one too!" she said, like a verdict. She hated people who were lazy, even if it had to be an Emperor in the same age as hers.
"Gomen! Gomen! I really want to see Shuurei," Ryuuki told her. "Please understand, Yui-chan!"
"It's okay Ryuuki. I understand," she answered, sighing. She was not dense to realize that Ryuuki was in love with Shuurei, a love that was secretly reciprocated. Only, Shuurei was very much like her. They both don't know how to let such trivial things show.
"I knew you would, Yui-chan!" Ryuuki said, embracing her tightly again. "Could you put in a good word about me when you're together?" Yui nodded and Ryuuki screamed in joy. "Yay! Yui-chan is the best!" Yui laughed and patted the man's head.
"I can't believe I'm seeing this: The Emperor being treated and acting like a dog," Kouyuu told himself. It was weird seeing how Ryuuki transforms from capable responsible Emperor to a sickeningly pathetic dog in front of Shuurei—and lately, of Yui.
"But you know you don't have to say I'm your concubine," Yui said and Ryuuki smiled, still clinging to the girl. Kouyuu heaved a sigh. He will never understand why Ryuuki was very fond of this blond girl, who—Kouyuu reminded himself—was younger than him by a few years.
"Why not?" Ryuuki said as they resumed walking. He was holding on to the sleeves of Yui's dress, like a little boy who was afraid to wander away from his mother. "No one would think otherwise. Your beauty is something that surpasses all other women, you know."
"I look like a boy. How can you say such a thing?"
"Yui-chan, you have light hair and eyes. It's a very uncommon combination. There's only one person who has the same features," Ryuuki pointed out and Yui raised an eyebrow. Was it possible for one of Nakago's tribe people to survive in Saiunkoku? Maybe one of those men was her warrior, someone who'll bring her to Taiitsukun so she'll finally know her mission.
"Oh, who?"
"The goddess of war," Ryuuki said in a dreamy voice. Yui heaved a sigh. Yeah right, he was talking about a legendary creature, one that exists only in myths remembered through oral tradition.
"It was never confirmed if she's really a goddess or just some princess from the Kutou empire," Koyuu said, finally joining the conversation. "It is believed that Sou Gen met her and it was her words that gave him the courage to fight the demons and create Saiunkoku."
"He had many consorts and concubines but Sou Gen only gave his heart to one woman. Like my father," Ryuuki said proudly. "That is why, men have such high regard for women with light hair and eyes, which seldom appears in our women." Ryuuki smiled wider and wrapped his arm around hers. "And because you are really beautiful Yui-chan. Even my aniue is captured by your beauty."
"Aniue? Brother? You have a brother?"
"Did I say aniue, Yui-chan? All my brothers are dead you know," he said defensively, wrapping his arms around her neck and snuggling to her. "Let's go see Shuurei."
"Stop clinging to me," Yui threatened him but he only answered with a laugh. She sighed, how could she kick him around after knowing he's the Emperor? "So childish," she muttered as they walked. But then, one of Miaka's warriors was the Emperor. Maybe Ryuuki will be very useful in the future.
A strong force of wind immediately descended upon them and threw them off-balance. "Ahhhh!" Ryuuki was immediately thrown off her back and before Yui knew what was happening, a dark cloak wrapped around her and strong pale arms carried her off from the palace grounds.
"Yui!" It was Kouyuu. Yui's mouth was muffled by a cold hand and when she looked up, she found a breathtakingly handsome pale face of a man with long silvery white hair. The man's red eyes turned to her and a smile crept through his face when their eyes met.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, clinging to him as he continuously jumped away from the palace, away from the people she knew and trusted. The man smirked and moved closer. To her horror, he gently licked her right cheek in a long tedious stroke.
"To my kingdom… I told you, you are only mine," he purred in a deep cold voice that made the hairs on her back stand on ends.
A/N: Yes, there's movement in the story. The promise of the story, I think, will be revealed in the next chappie. Thanks for reading and please do leave reviews!