Hi everyone. Behold chapter 9 of 'Breaking the chains'.
I have been getting a lot of requests to write longer chapters for a while but you must understand that I write only that much which is necessary to maintain the curiosity of the readers regarding the story and doesn't make the chapters boring…plus I can write only so much at once in my hectic schedule. That's why to make it up to you people, I am trying to update as frequently as possible. So please bear with me and no name calling from next time! *Ring any bells?- to a certain guest*
Disclaimer- I do not own KWMS.
Previously~
"Now I want you to meet my special friend-"
'Oh no! No more friends…' she groaned and hung her head in fatigue.
"- Erika-san, Princess of the Myabigaoka Estates."
Misaki's head snapped up in surprise and was greeted by the familiar face.
Erika smirked knowingly as she said, "I believe we have met before."
Moving on~
"Is that so?" Suzuna asked, her eyes reflecting the confusion that stretched in her mind.
A frown marred on Misaki's usually calm face as she narrowed her eyes at Erika, recalling their last encounter.
The said female continued to wear the smug grin on her face, amused at Misaki's predicament.
After receiving no further details from either being, Suzuna piped in impatiently, "May I know how?"
"Oh my…" Erika gasped out loud. "Misaki-chan, please do not tell me that you have kept your elder sister in dark about our first 'meeting'!"
Misaki widened her eyes, fearing what she was going to blurt out.
"Well you see Suzuna-san, we met-"
"We met at the marketplace!" Misaki squeaked, cutting off Erika before she could voice out anything that could put her in deep trouble.
"Marketplace? What were you doing there Misaki?" Suzuna asked suspiciously.
"Well…I-I had gone there to buy a present for…you!"
"For me?" Suzuna's eyes lit up.
"Y-Yes for being such a dear sister to me." Misaki lied through her teeth.
"Oh it's nothing….but thanks anyways." Suzuna waved it off.
Misaki forced a smile as she stole glances at the other female whose eyes seemed to search for something…or rather someone.
"Anyways, I need to attend the other guests. I hate to leave you Erika-san all by yourself but please enjoy the party." Suzuna excused herself before giving Misaki the 'give-me-my-present-as-soon-this-gets-over' look.
Acknowledging her look, Misaki nodded and smiled.
'Time to bid farewell to my ruby pendant.' Misaki sighed.
Her trail of thought was brought to a sudden halt by a gentle voice.
"Keeping secrets now, are we?" Erika cooed.
"I don't see how it's any of your business Erika-san." Misaki firmly responded.
Smirking at the sudden change in her attitude, Erika decided to get straight down to the point.
"Where is he?"
She had enough of looking around for a particular pair of emerald eyes.
"Somewhere safe and alive," came the reply in a low yet dangerous deep voice.
"Usui!" Misaki smiled as she recognised this new presence.
"You know the name of your slave?" Erika wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Atrocious!"
"Exactly my thoughts for you." Usui commented apathetically, which made Erika's perfect face puff up and redden in anger.
"Stubborn and out-spoken as usual! Had always been a rebel…a nuisance. I should have finished you off that day itself!" Erika squeaked, her voice draped with menace. "I see your slave is still off the hook, Misaki-chan. Better teach him some manners…he should know better than backchat to his superiors."
"How to treat my sl-acquaintance is for me to decide only. I require no advice from an outsider, thank you very much." Misaki replied 'politely'.
Two pairs of eyes gazed at the said female- one in amazement while the other in sheer rage.
"Why you-" Erika choked out only to be cut off my Misaki.
"I greatly appreciate the fact that you attended on my father's request, but I believe you might need to make a move now for it is highly dangerous for a beauty like you to wander alone at this time of the night. You must understand that the safety of the princess of the Myabigaoka Estates is Seika's top priority."
'Ouch! That must have hurt. A perfect blow to dignity.' Usui wanted to laugh out loud but skillfully restrained himself.
Embarrassed and insulted at being shown the door, Erika clenched her fists as her nails bit small crescents in her palm to force back the tears of humiliation that threatened to leak out.
"I will not forget this Misaki. Seika will pay." Erika hissed before stomping out.
"That was harsh." Usui smirked.
"Serves her right." Misaki huffed, crossing her arms.
"I didn't know Misa-chan is capable of such animosity." Usui cooed.
"D-Don't you start, mister!" Misaki sputtered as she blushed a pretty red.
'Acquaintance…she doesn't even acknowledge me as a slave, let alone treat me like one.' Usui smiled as he recalled what she had said earlier.
How to treat my sl-acquaintance is for me to decide only…
He wanted to ask her about this but then decided against it when he saw the anger that was still evident in her eyes for a certain auburn haired princess.
"Well on a serious note, what you have done Princess is against the law."
"Wh-what?" Misaki widened her eyes, the anger that resided in them quickly washed away and filled with new found fear.
Slowly bringing his face near her ear, Usui whispered, "It is against the law to look so beautiful…Misa-chan."
Misaki stiffened as she blushed red from head to toe. She was definitely not prepared for this.
"Hey Misa- I mean Princess you have to meet a few other people. So quit loafing around and come with me." Honoka chided as she dragged the stoned Misaki along with her.
"Wow Misaki-chan, you have really improved your footwork." Hinata chirped as he swirled her with a hand at the rhythm of the slow music that gently played at the back.
"Last time I had danced with you, I remember going back home with a squashed toe," he shuddered at the memory.
Misaki giggled seeing him reminisce. "Being a princess is quite demanding."
This only made Hinata smile even more.
The gentle music quietly died down and was eventually replaced by a soft romantic tune.
"Time for a second round, Misaki-chan!"
"B-but-"
A finger tapped on Hinata's shoulder as he turned around to acknowledge the interruption.
"Huh?"
"May I have the pleasure to dance with the Princess now?" the figure asked in a deep gentle voice.
"S-sure Lord Tora!" Hinata squeaked bowing deeply before excusing himself from the dance floor.
"May I?" Tora stretched out his hand which Misaki took hesitatingly.
"Su-sure."
Smiling warmly at the acceptance, Tora gently grabbed her waist and pulled her close to his form as they both began to move slowly to the rhythm of the music.
A thick mist of uncomfortable silence stretched between the two as Misaki squirmed under the intense gaze of her partner.
"Ano…may I know who you are? I remember Hinata calling you Lord." Misaki ventured.
"Oh how rude of me not to introduce myself. Got lost myself in the beauty of your eyes and forgot my manners, you see."
'What a sappy line!' Misaki smiled nervously.
"I am Igarashi Tora, soon to be crowned Lord of the Eastern Land," he gloated.
"Shintan Hinata is the supervisor of the Eastern royal army, so he knows me well."
"L-Lord of the Eastern Land!" Misaki repeated alarmingly. "Seika Estates falls under the Eastern land, if I am not mistaken."
"You are absolutely correct Princess. I see you are well informed about your lands. A beauty with a brain, I suppose." Tora praised as he pulled Misaki closer.
Misaki's eyebrow twitched in annoyance as she tried to maintain a decent space between the two.
'Way too clingy for my liking!' she silently complained.
All along a pair of emerald eyes carefully studied the two, narrowing each time the gap between them lessened and the discomfort became more evident in Misaki's face.
"Stop fooling around and make yourself useful." Honoka scolded. "Go attend the guests. Serve them drinks…they might be thirsty."
Dropping the item he was fiddling with Usui complied reluctantly, his eyes never leaving a certain female.
"Indolent lad!" Honoka murmured and was about to leave when her eyes fell on a circular and twisted metallic object that lay where Usui once stood.
Picking it up, she examined it carefully and gasped out loud, "Was this a …spoon!?"
Before any confusion arises, I want to clear that Usui has no psychic abilities…its just pure strength.
Anyways, let me know how you think about this chapter. Please review.
Until next time.