Pretty Face-Yuna the bandit King
I don't own Pretty Face or its characters,but Yasuhiro Kano does
Randoh the Protector.
Sorry about the delay. The writer block and new job took my time away. But I am back and ready to write the third chapter already. Please enjoy it.
"Rina, it is bad idea to visit to other villager in the north east county. You should know the bandit activities are there is much heavy" Soujiro warned, as his eyes scans everywhere in the area, for every tree in the forest, huge boulder that could hide a person and even small stone lying on the side path as they heading to the destination. He was alert, stand by to protect his precious Rina.
"Don't worry, I feel save with you here. Beside it is good deed to us for doing the charity work to save more lives. I think the bandit would not rob the money from us. If they understand" Rina looked up the horizon, wondered how lives she could save.
"They will, in their dead body" Soujiro mumbled himself, he knew the bandit will never change into a good citizen, even so, they probably in next life. It is so naive for the Rina simple mind to think but could not be helped because her involvement to outside world was limited. Beside, Soujiro think of her is kind of cute and sweet, suitable as his wife. Most he will make his move for marriage proposal there.
"I have an eye of the eagle, there nothing can miss from my sight." He proudly admiring his natural ability, giving boast to morale of his 50 soldier to protect the two he didn't realize that, 200 meter from his front position, a small band of bandit keep the lookout for the convoy. It was Randoh and his comrade was away in front, acting for a scout unit.
"What we are doing here again?" Tekuya asked again, But his two best buddies shrugged, same as Tekuya- no idea the plan that hatched by the bandit leader mastermind.
"Probably hunting." Takahiro said, noticed the equipment they had carrying today. Spears, leather tunic, rope, potion and sling shot, the only ranged weapon they could know how to use so far. Also they never forget that tucking under their tunic was the destructive weapon in human mankind weaponry is Randoh's provision (the most poisoning food could stop cause serious stomach cramp, paralysis or body seizure)
As they keeping guess their main purpose, Randoh was in front of them, gritting his teeth with unbelievable of stupidest mind bestowed to his follower mind. He had explained to them earlier the important mission- escort his beloved to safely. Hunting, Raiding, stealing...the guessing game kept on playing by them until Randoh shouted them to stop.
"What wrong Randoh?" The guys seem shocked but so a minutes their face returned back as their normal self again- blank look.
"What seem wrong with you guys?" Randoh looked at them with both hand pressing against his waist.
"Nothing?" They replied casually.
"What is our purpose for today?" Randoh asked with soft and polite way, testing them again before he refreshes their mind with the actual goal. Well, it was Randoh fault to drag them from slumber sleep before sunrise and force to followed the convoy with their slowly zombie pace and the mind of half asleep. No wonder they would missed the leader boring speech. Now they fully awake and it was the time to tell again.
"Raiding" Tekuya quickly answered before Takahiro could answer the same thing again."Hunting"
"No, stupid. We always use quarterstaff for raid. You know our code. No hurting people." Shiyuuji raised with his fingers and wave repeatedly.
"What kind of stupid code is anyway? We get almost get slice and dice and we faint them with our... what call this? That is pretty unfair. " Tekuya asked, raising the spear and paused for awhile. Noticed the so called stick have a sharp point thing and the rest of the members also noticed it.
"Why we carry this anyway?" They looked up to the leader, being to sweat after Randoh gave a grin, something bad is brewing.
"I had received information that there is a convoy, we need to protect from and not raid." Randoh explained the objective.
"Rina is inside there." They guessed.
"The convoy is containing gold for the charity. It is noble deed for our country leader..." Randoh tried hard to say some good word but he was is not good praising.
"Rina do the charity. Oh sweet Rina..." They being to humming a tone, a love tune.
"Hey, we also are doing charity work too. Scouting for free..." Takahiro sneered.
"Oh shut up." Randoh yelled them, instantly stopped them. His face turned red in shy embarrassment, all the thing he did today was for Rina and it was not good example for a leader like himself- bandit king to misuse the man power.
"So what with the spear" Shyuuji smartly asked and Tekuya snapped with his finger, soon figured out the weapon name that he holding in his hands "so this is call a spear".
All of them shook their head.
"Because they are going to the northern part region. The flaming dragon will probably strike the convoy. Then we will ready for them" Randoh said.
"What! Do you know flaming dragon? They are crazy bunch outlaws." Takahiro shouted
"They will do anything for gold. You know –burning people. "Tekuya could not think other thing that wickedness of the flaming dragon bandit would do except burning people. Because the name, it must be related with burning thing.
"I, Randoh the bandit king will perish anyone will stand in my way" Randoh did as what he liked to do, boasting himself in front his comrade with his fearless look on his face.
"Even facing a hundred of rushing bandit, screaming madness, crying for blood" Tekuya said. "No problem." Randoh replied.
"They are not doing Slice and Dice only; They do mince meat on us." Takahiro added his word. "That why you have spear." Randoh raising his hand.
"You don't mind fighting to the dead alone, just to prevent Rina get caught." Shyuuji asked.
"No prob... Hey, what the hell?" Randoh realised almost fell for it. He raised his fist; ready to punch them all but he had stopped after sudden he heard battle cry and sword clashing echoing the land.
"Let's go" Randoh rushed with his full speed, his blood rapid pumping, hunger for a fight as well as his love for Rina.
"Protect her." Soujiro shouted with his might, prevent his troop morale diminishing in the thin air. He slashed two of the bandit down in front of him. "Die!" One of the bandit shouted, leaping toward with the sword raised high up, ready to slash Soujiro head. But his attack stopped as Soujiro thrust his bloodily rapier on his body, leaving his body fell lifeless to the dusty path. Soujiro stare the incoming enemies rushing toward, he was prepared to make the kill.
They being overwhelmed and surrounded. Soujiro and troop didn't except the ambush party hidden well in the trap hole on the side of both path and spring their attack. Quick as the bandit tried to surprise, slaying any possible unguarded troop as they see before the recovery could be made. "Perfect plan" The leader of the bandit said, watching his victory had soon came to him. It was matter of time that Soujiro troop could gave up.
Beside of him, was a healer, wore the white robe with the deep blue pointy hat. He had a thin brown unshaven beard and wore spec made of the thick black rim which made look like a timid geek. The healer seems shaken, witness the onslaught battle. He never see so much blood spilled on the ground and flesh red exposed, especially it was his first time.
"Why do you have to kill? Can you surprise them and knock them down." Manabe suggested his plan with his timid voice. Then he closed his eyes as he saw the horrible where one of the troop had his head separated.
"Are you afraid? Wizard." The leader sneered at his cowardly act.
"My job is to save people. I am not seeing the head or hands chop off." Manabe said, tried to open his eyes but close quickly as he heard the scream of someone dying voice.
"Look. Wizard"
"Healer!" Manabe hated someone could not make different between the wizard and healer.
"Whatever, you can cast some magic. I don't care what are you." The leader didn't care what he called Manabe as. Magician, mage, sorcerer, wizard or any name that so bizarre. The important he had someone can make his raid success.
Finally he put Manabe in the good use, after watching Soujiro slay his troop one by one. He impressed with Soujiro swordsmanship and bravery relentless protecting one of the convoy. He supposed to be his second in command in his rank but too bad he is an enemy.
"Fireball that person." The leader asked Manabe to cast the spell, pointing his finger on Soujiro
"What?" Manabe stunned and then shook his head, show his refusal
"You heard me. Do it blast him" The leader narrowed his eyes, displease.
"I am healer. I know healing spell only."
"I am going to kill you. After I kill him and roast you" The leader whistled his nearest guard to keep watch on Manabe. He rushed to meet Soujiro, pitting his sword skill.
"Rina!" Soujiro shouted, asking Rina to escape from capture by bandit. Knew he had reached his body limit, could not swing his rapier well. He quickly pulled Rina out and ran to escape. "Don't be afraid! Stay close." Soujiro cuts down another bandit, but leaving an opening for the bandits stab Soujiro left leg. Soujiro breathes heavily as he kneel in one foot. He watched Rina helpless caught by the bandit.
"Don't touch her!" Soujiro shouted angrily. He saw a shine light reflected at him as the blade swing toward him.
"Don't kill him. I want him." The leader ordered his men to stop. He walked toward injured Soujiro and took the rapier off. Soujiro bid as he didn't want anything happen to Rina. "You are strong. I like you. Do you want to join my band?" The leader offered him.
"No way, I will never join. I am the captain of Lord Kurimi army. I am fight for noble lord and I will serve only one-lord Kurimi" Soujiro pledged his loyalty. The leader gave a smirk as if it was a joke to him.
"What if your little lady on hurt?" The leader asked, watching Rina struggled to break.
"Then I will send all of you to hell. One trip for free and no returning back" Randoh growled in anger, walking pass the lying motionless bodies that he dispatched them earlier. The other surviving bandit stood aside, felt the fear radiates out by Randoh.
"Who are you?" The leader noticed that he was not belong to the army or his own member because the clothes and the gear he carried. Randoh wore a dark green tunic with a dark black robe stitch on the back, carry one tonfa in his left strong arm and other tucking in on his belt.
"I am Randoh the bandit king." He announced himself. The crowd laughed at him so as the leader. "Bandit King. The king of all bandits. Then I am god" the leader sneered.
"You." Soujiro remembered him. He was the one, cause the problem to his county. He gritting his teeth as he had lost his chance to catch him and let Randoh watched him being caught.
"Then...king, what do you want? Gold?" The leader laughed and the rest followed.
"The Girl." Randoh pointed his tonfa at Rina
"Then your head."
To be continue