Disclaimer: I do not own KWMS.
"That was a close call!"
"Indeed," Sakura agreed whole heartedly while keeping a wary eye.
Misaki heaved a sigh of relief from behind the pillar where she and her companion had been hiding to elude the palace guards.
"I can't afford to get caught."
"But princess," Sakura whispered, "is it necessary that we should sneak out of the palace at such an odd hour?"
The raven haired maiden nodded meekly as her eyes took in the darkness of the night sky. Sakura was right. Eloping from the castle at such a time without any protection was indeed a dangerous stunt but at that moment, Misaki refused to let that logic get in her way of digging out the truth.
"I am afraid so, Sakura-chan," she replied apologetically. "According to Honoka's informer, that man can only be found in the city after dusk."
Seeing her companion's face pale with fear, guilt poured into the brunette's heart. Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, Misaki spoke softly, "I understand if you do not wish to come, Sakura- chan. It is indeed a very risky feat to pull through and I should have thought twice before agreeing to endanger your life by allowing you to accompany me."
Sakura furrowed her eye brows before giving Misaki's hand a gentle squeeze.
"You misunderstand me, princess. I may be weak, clumsy and worthless in times of combat plus I agree that right now my knees are shivering but I would rather be damned before bailing out on my only friend in her time of need. If u had not been there to support me mentally in my rough days, then perhaps I -" she stopped midway when she heard Misaki gasp. "Finding the truth is important for me too. The queen was a mother figure to me and the sight of my lifeless body lying before me haunts me till date, and you should think twice before asking me to chicken out," she threatened playfully to lighten the tense mood.
"Sakura," Misaki said admiringly before giving her a watery smile.
Giving her friend one last hug, the two gathered whatever courage they could muster before making a dash to the royal gardens.
"How are we going to go past the castle gates without getting noticed?" Sakura wheezed out after coming to a halt.
"That's when Honoka comes to save the day!"
The two whisked their heads to the source of the voice and the sight of a confident older brunette greeted her.
"Honoka!" both the girls echoed in unison.
"Hai that would be me," Honoka curtsied. "Just leave everything to me and both of you try not to get manhandled out there for my head will be at stake."
Had the situation been a little different, they would been laughing their hearts out but considering the predicament they were currently in, the girls settled to give a curt nod of reassurance.
"Your horses are waiting for you not too far away from the castle," she called out behind her.
"Do you think she can manage?" Sakura asked dubiously.
"It is Honoka we are talking about," Misaki scoffed as she watched the said female walk confidently towards the palace guards.
As she got near to the two buff males cloaked in iron suits who stood outside guarding the royal gates, her pace slowed significantly and soon she broke into a limp.
"Oh no she got hurt!" Sakura exclaimed and was about to go to her aid only to be stopped by Misaki.
"Her acting skills must have improved for her to have fooled you," she replied nonchalantly.
Clutching her chest tightly, Honoka plopped down on the ground with a groan. Her efforts did not go to waste.
"Lady Honoka!" one of the guards exclaimed as his eyes fell on the slouched female.
"Help," she coughed out as her face scrunched up in 'pain'.
Right on cue, the guards pushed the gates open to run to her aid.
"Are you alright?" one of them asked worriedly while the other pulled her up in a sitting position.
Seeing this as her golden opportunity, Honoka cautiously signaled the girls to make their way out.
They did not need to be told twice.
"Perhaps my old bones are finally giving out," she mumbled while her eyes watched the two females as their forms slowly disappeared in the mist of darkness.
'Kami-sama, I hope I did not just sign my death sentence.'
"Misaki, do you know the roads well?"
"It is not my first time sneaking out to the city, Sakura- chan. Just the timing is a tad bit different."
Misaki's reply earned her a giggle from the other female. She silently congratulated herself to be able to calm her friend. The poor girl was going through enough as it is and pulling her into this ordeal along with her wasn't helping her guilt reduce any less.
Stealing another look of the female who was galloping by her side, Misaki's heart cringed in pain as she imagined what Sakura was going through. Being someone's slave wasn't a very bright thought; living with a curse was what exactly her friend was doing but her face showed no pain, no sign of the torment that always raged in her mind, soul and body.
Slavery. Enslavement.
How the words rolled easily off one's tongue.
Slave.
A simple word bearing a dark meaning. It was a curse, a sign forever etched onto one's forehead which distinguished that person from the society, sealed his fate and threw him at the owner's mercy.
Slave.
How a single word stirred so many emotions in her was beyond Misaki but whatever they were, not all were bad. It was that very word she despised with all her being but it was that very word which she was grateful to. For it was that very word which brought her to the person whose name had been etched in her soul forever.
"Takumi."
His head snapped up with widened eyes as the breeze played gently with his blond hair.
"Is something bothering you, sonny?"
Happosai's voice brought him out of his mild daze as he shook his head slowly.
"It's nothing. For a second, I thought I heard my name." Usui replied imperviously.
"Really? Perhaps someone is calling out to you with all her heart." Happosai reasoned and continued to wipe his katana with a muslin cloth.
The blond male lowered his head while his bangs shaded his eyes.
"How can you be so sure?"
"It's just a hunch." Happosai shrugged.
"How do you know it is a 'her'?" Usui enquired softly.
"So you want a 'him'? Oh Lord, I had no idea that you swing that way," Happosai teased while nudging the male with his elbow.
Usui did not dignify that statement with a response.
"Princess, are you sure this will work?" Sakura asked dubiously while she tried to adjust the hat that kept on blocking her sight. "Ah! It's too big," she exclaimed frustratingly.
"Here try this on," Misaki stifled a giggle as she offered hers to the struggling female.
"What will you put on then? Remember, the disguise is more important to you than me. Nobody recognizes me but havoc will wreak upon us if anybody identifies you!"
Panic laced her tone and dread filled her eyes as Sakura imagined the consequences that would ensue if such a thing actually occurred.
"Calm down and do not fear for no one is likely to recognize me," Misaki tried to console the other female but to no avail. "Look! I will be wearing this!" she piped in while holding up a wig.
"Where did you get that from?" Sakura sputtered while gaping at the brown afro bundle of hair.
"I have my sources." Misaki grinned. "Here, how do I look?"
"Now, I have nothing to worry about. Even I cannot recognize you." Sakura burst out into a laugh as she took in her new look. "But won't you stand out too much, Princess? Such a hairstyle is quite rare in these lands."
"I can be a traveler for all they care. Have no worries. With this shabby dress and my worn out get up, I can't be looking anything less than a pauper." Misaki replied confidently.
"I hope so, princess."
"Now all we need to work on is your addressing to me. Remember, I am no princess now nor have I any dealings with anything royal. If anybody asks us about our foreign look then this is what we are going to narrate: I am a traveler coming from a far away land in search of adventure with you as my companion. That's the story of our life. My name is Zuka and you will be Taru. Understood?"
"Hai Princess," Sakura chirped eagerly while secretly admiring Her Highness' well thought out storyline.
"Oh boy, you need work." Misaki sighed dramatically.
A/N: Hey that's the best story I can think of, okay? Anyways, what their actions entail is likely to be discussed in the next chapter and I am thinking about a little encounter between two certain people. Keep guessing what is gonna follow but don't forget to review while you are at it! Peace!