The Lost Princess
A/N: Waaaaaa….Gomenasai…haven't updated this for a long time…been soooo busy lately ^^
Chapter 15
Yellie picked up the story from there after narrating what had happened during the fight, minus Deshi's thoughts.
~XXX~
"Yellie?" her surprise was cut by Nadeshiko's gentle inquiring voice. She glanced at her and saw her on the ground, aiding Fujitaka. Her emerald eyes urged her to follow Deshi. She nodded.
"Did you see it?" Nadeshiko asked quietly, looking at Fujitaka.
"Yeah. Pure love, hon… I saw it there before he managed to shut it." Fujitaka shared.
"He's in love with her." Nadeshiko stated in quiet awe.
"But don't know it yet." Fujitaka added quietly.
She saw him sitting on the huge boulder just beside the river (the same boulder that Sakura has sat on once). His gaze was fixed on the clear running water. She approached him and leaned her back on the same boulder.
"You knew… you knew I couldn't kill you so you took his part and dueled with me." The quiet and hard voice of the prince made her guilty.
"I'm sorry you lost her… but… both of you would have been unhappy if you two married." She tried to reason out, her gaze on the water. She sensed rather than saw him jump from the boulder and stand beside her.
"You lost me a wife…" he stated quietly.
~XXX~
King Deshi smiled wryly in recollection of the event that transpired.
~XXX~
Deshi wanted to tell her that it was okay, really. That he would have hated himself if he killed her, if he could. He wanted her to know that between her and Nadeshiko, he would still choose her – not Nadeshiko.
But before those, he wanted badly to kiss her senseless and he followed that urge. One thing led to another and though he knew that consequences are waiting, he damned it all and continued, unable to prevent the burst of confused emotions. All that matters was her and that he'll kill anyone who'll get as close to her as he was now.
"What do you mean she's gone?" he demanded of Nadeshiko the next morning. He had gone to Nadeshiko's abode in the hopes of confronting his little Yellie about what had transpired the day before. But he received the shock of his life when Nadeshiko told him that she'd left that dawn, not saying where she was going.
"Damn it! Where'd she go, Nadeshiko? Where did that little imp go?" his frustration was evident in his hazel eyes and his raking of his dark hair repeatedly.
"I don't know Deshi. All I know is that she left to give you freedom. She wanted me to tell you that you'll hear no complaints or anything from her." Nadeshiko imparted quietly and calmly though she wanted to strike the guy for hurting her bestfriend.
"In short, I won't be hearing anything from her…" his frustration showed in his edgy and hard tone.
"Yes. That would sum it all…" she agreed, "And isn't that what you want?" this was coupled with sarcasm.
"No. I don't run from responsibility. Deshi told her seriously.
"That's what scared her off, Deshi! Your stupid sense of responsibility!" Nadeshiko fumed quietly.
"What do you mean?" Deshi asked in total confusion.
"Ask yourself!"
"Come on, Nadeshiko. Tell me where she is!" Deshi demanded 6 months later. He was weary with frustration and hadn't slept properly since Yelan's disappearance. He had hired all the professional spies to locate her but to no avail. Yelan was too damned good at hiding that she could beat the criminals with it. This only increased his annoyance and frustration.
"Why should I?" Nadeshiko couldn't seem to forgive him for his one-time mistake.
"I'm going crazy here, wondering if she's okay or not…" he answered truthfully.
"You deserve it!" Nadeshiko snapped, emerald eyes flashing.
"Nadeshiko?" he protested.
"Look for her yourself!" she added sharply then her voice dropped into a serious one, "And you better find her fast before it's too late…"
Deshi looked at the simple cottage that was Yelan's current residence – according to one of his spies. His heart constricted, his stomach knotted in total nervousness.
This was his chance…his only chance to make her agree on his plans, to persuade her to return. He had memorized a script, but everything flew from his mind when he saw a man leave the cottage.
In fury, he stomped towards the cottage without reservations and entered without permission. He saw her sitting infront of a table, face flushed and more beautiful than 8 months ago. She was talking to an old woman. They hadn't sensed his arrival yet and he took advantage of it. He let his eyes roam her face and feast because he had missed her terribly then his gaze landed on her bulky stomach.
At the sight, his heart literally skipped a beat, his eyes widened, his jaws fell. All he could think was, 'Mine… the baby is mine.'
"What are you doing here, young man? And who are you? Are you one of Yellie's countless suitors?" the old woman's voice penetrated his dazed mind. His gaze focused and met Yelan's widening ones. He felt impish and wicked at her reaction that he grinned boyishly and bowed gallantly.
"Yes, ma'am. One of her countless suitors." He replied, eyes never straying from hers.
"Okay… I'll just be in the next room. You go on and entertain your suitor, dear." The old woman told the unmoving lady.
"Finally… we meet again, my little imp." Deshi announced quietly the moment the old woman had left them alone.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" she stammered, looking away from his probing gaze.
"I came to talk to you." He announced simply, his emotions masked by his cool tone.
"If you're here to make sure that I won't cause any trouble, don't worry, I won't. I give you my word." She vowed solemnly then tried to stand up, with difficulty.
"What are you going to do with the baby?"
'Our baby' he wanted to add but stopped himself. Though he didn't doubt the child's parentage, he was still scared that Yelan would deny it just out of spite.
"Nurture him… Bring him to this world and teach him its ways. Don't worry… never would I kill my own flesh and blood and besides, I love him." She answered, touching her rounded belly fondly.
"How about a father?" he almost choked the words out, fear clogging his throat.
"Don't worry… He'll have one… someone who'll love him as if he is his own." She reassured him, alarmed at his silence.
"I want him." He announced.
"No!" her reply was instinctive, even the hands that went to her belly as a protective gesture.
"For goodness' sake, Yellie! He is my first born! The future heir!" Deshi's control also snapped because of the frustration and annoyance that had bottled up inside.
"He's also mine, Deshi!" she countered, "And I want to give him a normal life! A life with a complete family! Please don't deprive him of such happiness!" she almost begged, eyes filling with tears. At the sight of the tears, Deshi was unnerved but he couldn't give up – mustn't, wouldn't!
"Deshi, if he stays with you, he might need me… and you can't always give him attention because you are busy. Please… leave him to me… I promise… I'll choose a decent man to be his father… Just don't take him away from me!"
At the mention of another man, his hands clenched, his eyes darkened, his vision became red.
"No!" the image of his little imp and his son in the arms of another man made him want to commit murder.
"No! I won't let you! That child is mine! I'll not let any other guy raise him! And that goes the same with you, Yellie! You are mine! I'll kill any guy who'll try and take you from me! I'll kill him!" he knew he was raving like a lunatic but he was beyond caring. He was already desperate, scared of losing her and his child.
"Deshi?" she was confused. He went to her and hugged her tight.
"I love you, Yellie! I don't want to lose you… Please… stop torturing me… Return home with me and be my wife." He laid bare his feelings for her scrutiny. Silence followed… and lasted for almost eternity. He pulled her from him and looked into her eyes, searching… She was crying…
"I will…"
XXX~
"But… the story didn't end there, did it, my love?" the familiar voice of her husband inquired, the moment the young lady had left.
"Yes… it didn't." Yel agreed, facing her husband and giving him a wry smile.
"The months that followed that last scene was a shaky one…" he husband stated quietly as he gathered her into his embrace.
"Yeah… full of fights and insecurities… It's good that it didn't get worst." Yel's voice was muffled because she had burrowed her face on her husband's warm and unyielding chest.
"His Majesty wouldn't have let it. He loves his Queen very much and would have done anything to keep them." Was her husband's reply.
A grin tugged the corner of Yel's lips, "I love you…"
"And…I…you…always." And he kissed his wife's forehead fondly.
