Disclaimer: I do not own Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji (Wolf Girl and Black Prince) or any of the characters
Kyouya brushed his horse and noted that it was much more relax than he would be in the past. Looking over the horse's back, his eyes caught Erika's. She had insisted that she helped him brush the horse and he wondered if her angelic presence was the horse was so calm.
"Aren't you a good boy, Midnight? Here's a reward for being such a patient horse."Erika fed him a carrot and it whined happily. Usually, Kyouya would only give his horse a reward after a battle but Erika handed it treats much more frequently. Even if the horse was still loyal to Kyouya, he knew that it was showing much more affection to Erika as of late.
"Don't treat my war horse like a dog." Kyouya ordered Erika and she flinched at his tone. Even if her expression made him feel guilty, he knew that he couldn't show her kindness and create false expectation. He turned away from her and went to saddle his horse. "If you give him too much kindness, he'll become soft. Soft people don't last long in the Demon Realm."
Erika heard him state a similar thought many times and she wondered if it was true. She dearly hoped that it wasn't true since she wanted to believe that all people were kind. Many would call her naïve and trusting but thinking that one had to be cruel to survive was a depressing thought. "He's my horse and my procession so it's not your place to decide how I treat him."
"But you love Midnight, don't you? You wouldn't have chosen him for this journey if he wasn't important to you or if you didn't trust it." Kyouya raised his brow at the word love. "If you treat someone you love as a procession, you'll make him feel trap and you don't want to be loved for a reason like that. Love should be something comforting and freeing."
"Have you ever been in love? Felt an unconditional love that doesn't stem from obligation through blood ties, I mean. Tell me, Little Angel, about your experience with love." He said in a mocking tone and Erika couldn't answer him since she had never fallen in love with a man. She knew that he had guessed that fact already when he spoke coldly. "Don't lecture me about love when you know nothing."
"Then tell me about the love you experienced!" Erika asked him. Kyouya turned to her in shock since no woman would snap back at him such. She puffed her cheeks and he knew that she was waiting for an answer that he wouldn't give her. "I won't listen to you speak of love like this so tell me about the woman that broke your heart. I know that it must've been painful but I'll convince you that-"
"Angels really are something," Kyouya laughed under his breath. She was more stubborn than he first thought she was and he wondered why she thought so highly of love that it triggered her reaction. Love was something intangible and he couldn't trust it. "Hearing my experience won't change your mind any more than anything you can say will change my mind."
"I grew up seeing my parents support each other and my father said that they're able to withstand anything because they love and support each other. I know it exists." Erika told him and he rolled his eyes. She thought of her parents in the heavens and felt a little lonely. She consoled herself when she told herself that they would be safe once she helped Kyouya.
"I'll show you! Once we open the gates and they move into castle for protection, you'll see how they act around each other." Erika pointed out and he wondered about her parents. He never seen his parents interact but thought that it couldn't be with love since his mother ran away with another man. "I promise I'll show what love is."
Erika held out her hand to him and offered the strangest proposal he ever heard. Without meeting her eyes, he gently moved her hand away so he could saddle his horse. "Do whatever you want but you won't change what I know as truth. Our agreement was that you help me open the gate and I'll offer you protection in return, nothing more. Love is not a part of our relationship."
"I understand…" Erika said softly because she couldn't raise her voice any louder. She couldn't understand why his words hurt her but she couldn't deny that her heart tightened either. Her eyes followed him as he saddled Midnight but his eyes never drifted to her. A part of her knew that it wouldn't do anyone any good if their relationship progressed and tried to bury the feelings.
Kyouya used his power to move the trees so that Midnight could maneuver through the forest easier. In his mind, he debated if he should quicken their pace since he needed to reach the gate before his father returned to the castle and find him missing. On the other hand, he didn't want to push Midnight and Erika any harder then he already was.
Is that angel worth all this trouble? Kyouya wondered as they continued down the path. The journey would be easier if he didn't need to accommodate for her needs. He could travel much faster if he took her necklace instead.
"How much further is the gate?" Erika asked behind him and he sighed since he knew that she would start to complain eventually but he didn't think she would start only after an hour of riding. He told her that they would be riding throughout the day, she looked worried. "Will Midnight be able to handle that? He'll get exhausted if we push him too much."
"Will you stop calling my horse that silly name Takeru gave it? He's just a horse. Anyways, he's a strong companion so he'll be able to handle anything on this journey. We've been through worse and we'll get through this." Kyouya told her and she wondered why he refused to call the horse by name despite how fondly he spoke of the animal.
"And shouldn't you worry about yourself more than my horse?" Kyouya asked her and she thought that it was only natural to worry about others. When he looked over his shoulder at her, he could see that her intention matched her words since her eyes reflected her emotions. "The women in court were weak and could never road their horses for long even during an outing."
"Maybe they aren't used to riding. It's not right to judge people as weak." Erika defended and he didn't know how she could do so when she never met them. She was different from them to say the least and it was as humorous as it was refreshing. "My family is modest so I've always wonder about what life's like in the castle. They always wear such beautiful dresses."
"But they're dull to look at if you're forced to converse with them and find nothing to speak about. My father would always force women onto me to continue the family line." Kyouya found himself telling her and was surprised that he found it easy to speak with her. He would usually find conversation tedious but felt comfortable around her. "All they want is my title."
"I'm sure you'll find someone that would love you for yourself." Erika encouraged him but she didn't know what made her do so. The thought of him with another woman made her heart tighten painfully for a reason she couldn't explain. He was so cold towards love, she wanted him to be able to open his heart enough to let love in.
Worrying about the Dark Prince, what a silly thing to do? Erika thought to herself. She doubted that she could change him. "And I know that you're capable of love even if you don't want to admit it. You love your people and you're working so hard to bring them the sun. I'm sure that you would a kind king since you're offering my family protection."
"Remember those words when we open the gates since I can't promise that everything will be easy once we do. There might be war and the people within the castle won't accept angels easily even if you're there under my protection. I'll help you find work in my castle but the best I can probably do is hire you as a maid. Will you be able to accept that?"
"But my parents would be safe and that's all I really care about. Anyways, you promised that you'll protect us and I'm making sure you keep your promises." Erika told him and he knew that she meant the words. It was as admirable as it was foolish. "I'm much more willing to work as a maid than to be an assassin. I don't understand why I was even sent on this mission."
"Because you're much too easy to manipulate when your parents are involved," Kyouya guessed. He himself had been able to convince her to help him when he offered her family protection. "It's obvious you love them but that blind loyalty will hurt you someday."
"Must you be so pessimistic all the time?" Erika sighed and Kyouya grunted in answer. She found it rather ironic that Kyouya, a person so cold, was searching so hard for something as bright and warm as the sun. "Look at all the stars in the sky! You can't be so angry at the world when it's so beautiful. I wonder how the Demon Realm will change when we bring back the sun."
"My people will have hope and opportunities the night could never give us." Kyouya answered him and she wished he was facing her so she could see what emotions were playing in his eyes. She leaned her head back and stared up at the moon. Erika didn't know if it was the quiet of the seemingly night or the lure of the moon above her, but she found herself becoming tired.
"The stars are beautiful, aren't they?" Erika asked behind him and Kyouya started to ask what she meant but stopped when he felt her head fall lightly against his back. She had stayed awake for most of the night to keep watch so he wasn't that was tired. What kind of woman could fall asleep around the Dark Prince? But he gently took her arms and placed it around his waist more securely.
"Damnit," Kyouya cursed when they reached a ravine. He took the same path he did when he was a child but he couldn't remember crossing a ravine. In fact, he knew that it wouldn't have been possible for him to cross at that age. When he touched the edge of the gorge, he felt a powerful magic and knew that the ravine wasn't natural.
Kyouya lifted a rock with his magic and tried to move it across the ravine. His magic failed him when a more powerful force forced the rock to the bottom of the cliff. It wouldn't be possible for him to use his power to fly them across the river. But he came too far to let a simple ravine stop him from reaching the gate. "Midnight won't be able to jump so we need to find another way across."
Erika, who was still seated on Midnight, studied the ravine and tried to think of a way the three could cross. "Maybe-"
"We can't use magic to cross since there's a curse that forced anything above it to fall to the bottom. My magic's not strong enough to resist it so I doubt that you'll be able to fly us across." Kyouya told her and she puffed her cheeks at his dismissal. When she once against tried to tell him her idea, he turned away from her to study the ravine again.
"My father's probably the one that created this ravine so we shouldn't break it or else he'll know that we're going to the gates. Maybe we can follow the ravine to see if it ends," Kyouya spoke to himself quietly. Erika tried to get his attention again but he ignored her. "If it's not too deep, we can try climbing but we won't be able to take my horse and I don't want to abandon him."
"Listen to me!" Erika screamed and he turned to face her when she shook his shoulder. Her cheeks were puffed and it was obvious that she was frustrated. To him, she looked like a dog begging for attention but he knew better to speak the thought out loud. "I can help you figure out a way across the ravine. I'm sure I can help you with my powers."
"I doubt you have the strength to carry both me and my horse while flying." Kyouya rolled his eyes. To be honest, he didn't know how powerful her angelic magic would be against his father's curse. She huffed and he raised a brow when she turned away from him to start pushing at a tree. "What are you doing? Attacking a tree won't help us cross."
"I'm trying to make a bridge while you're standing there being an arrogant jerk!" Erika told him on a frustrated breath. He didn't know if her idea held any merit but told himself that they had nothing to lose if it didn't work. "When this works, I want an apology for ignoring me."
"No Cerberus will speak to me the way are," Kyouya muttered under his breath. While he tried to sound annoyed, it amused him. He looked up and studied the tree and was trying to push. "If you want to make a bridge, we'll have to choose a larger tree. This one's too small to reach the other side. I doubt that any of these trees will be large enough so we'll have to find something else to make a bridge."
Erika looked up at the tree and thought for a moment. She placed both of her palms against the tree trunk again. This time, Kyouya watched her as he wondered what she would do. The ground shook slightly as the tree began to grow larger. Her brows furrowed as she concentrated on the tree. "Please tell me when it's large enough to use."
Kyouya watched the tree grew but from the corner of his eyes, he could see her exerting herself. He knew that she was straining herself with the spell and wondered why she was trying so hard to help him. The moment he saw the tree was large enough, Kyouya pulled her away from the tree. "That's enough."
"Thank God," Erika stepped back and Kyouya caught her.
"Are all angels as foolish as you or is it just you?" Kyouya asked even as he gently lifted her into his arms. She must've been too tired to argue with him since the only reply she made was an irritated expression. Erika's heart stopped for a moment when he gently placed his hand on her head. "You did a good job. I'll take care of the rest."
His words made Erika feel happier than she thought it would. Why did a simple praise make her feel warm and content? She tried to find the answer as he climbed onto Midnight. She told herself that using so much magic made her too tired to think properly, she pushed the thoughts from her side and rested her head against his chest.
"Let's go Midnight." Kyouya maneuvered his horse to face the ravine. With his power, he cut the base of the tree and watched it fall across the ravine until it was caught on the other side. The curse began to pull the tree downwards but it held steady. Kyouya quickly rode his horse over the tree trunk before it could break. He didn't know if the tree could hold their weight but trusted Midnight's speed.
Once they reached the other side, Kyouya turned back to see the tree cave in on itself and fall into the ravine. He let out the breath he was holding and patted Midnight's neck, thanking it gently. Feeling Erika's weight in his arms, he looked down at her to find her grinning up at him and he knew that she was expecting similar words. "Fine, I'm sorry for not listening to you earlier."
"I got the Dark Prince to apologize to me!" Erika cheered triumphantly and Kyouya rolled his eyes. He didn't realize it at the time but a smile tugged at his lips as she spoke to Midnight excitedly. There was something in her laughter that made him feel strange. She was more dependable than he first thought and was glad he brought her on his journey.
"If you're tired, you can rest," Erika told Kyouya when she saw that he was struggling to stay awake. He didn't reply and she felt hurt by the silence. She thought that he would be able to depend on her more since she helped him cross the ravine but it seem that wasn't the case.
"We need to ride through the night. I doubt you can control a war horse or support my weight if I do fall asleep. I would rather not fall off my horse," Kyouya told her and she couldn't blame him for thinking so. She could only be hurt from his cold tone. "I want to reach the gate as soon as possible and, if that ravine was any indication, there could be more traps up ahead."
"All the more reason for you to sleep," Erika pointed out. "What if we face an enemy and you don't have the strength to fight? I'm only saying this because I'm worried about you and I don't want to see you get hurt. So can you put aside your pride and rest for a bit? You can trust me to protect you while I sleep."
"Why do women like to argue?" Kyouya sighed and he knew that she would only continue to do so until he relented. He knew that it was better to continue but he could feel her concerned gaze on his back. Despite his better judgement, he pulled his horse to a stop. "We'll make camp if you're so insistent but, know this, I won't go easy on you tomorrow. Why do even care so much about me?"
Why am I so worried about him? Erika asked herself. She was assigned to murder him and she heard awful tales about him but after meeting him she couldn't get him out of her mind. She was painfully aware that he was using her but something about the prince he showed only her made her wonder.
"Isn't it normal to worry about your friends?" Erika asked in a quiet voice but even as she said the words, she knew that friendship didn't explain the feelings she felt entirely. Kyouya didn't reply to her words as he dismounted to help her down. Their eyes didn't meet as he helped her off his horse so she asked, "We are friends, aren't we? You're not using me anymore so we're friends now."
Kyouya didn't reply as he set her down. She realized how important his answer was when he didn't give her one and the question echoed in her mind. What did she expect him to say? What did she want him to say? Those questions raced through her mind as she watched Kyouya take supplies out of Midnight's saddle bag. She couldn't stand the silence so offered, "I'll go and find some firewood."
"You can do whatever you want," Kyouya said as she left but his voice was distant. For a moment she thought he wouldn't speak with her further since he turned away from her to set up camp. His voice only became louder when he looked over his shoulder at her. "Be careful while you're looking for wood and don't go too far. I'll set up camp here."
His words made her feel more assured of their comradery and she nodded happily. Erika made sure not to wonder too far as she searched the ground for twigs for a fire. Soon her arms were filled and she started to walk back to the camp. Despite the cold tone he used at times, she felt like they were becoming closer. No matter what happens after they open the gate, she was glad she didn't kill him.
In the distance, she heard Kyouya scream and she dropped the wood instinctively. With her heart racing, she ran to the camp and saw that he was frantically trying to keep Midnight from running away. She didn't know what scared the horse but she ran to calm it. To her shock, Kyouya threw a glare over his shoulder at her. "Stay back!"
"But Midnight needs help!" Erika protested. "What's wrong with him?"
"It's another of my father's curses." Kyouya explained. He had barely started to set up camp when Midnight started to attack the ground. Its movement were so frantic that he knew that the horse could hurt itself and anyone close to it. The only rational he could think was that his father placed a curse on the forest near the gate like he did with the ravine.
Kyouya had owned the horse for most of his life and not once had the loyal animal turn on him such so Kyouya was at his wits end. He held onto its reins tightly since he knew that it would run if he did. He hesitated to use his power to subdue the horse since he didn't want to hurt it.
"Damnit!" Kyouya swore when Midnight knocked him away. He landed roughly against a tree but forced himself to his feet again. When he glanced at Erika, he could see that she was worried but knew that she couldn't defend herself against Midnight's power. Logic told him to rid himself of the horse but Kyouya couldn't bring himself to do so.
The horse lifted itself onto its hind legs and stomped on the ground next to Kyouya. His inactiveness would only damn him but Kyouya continued to search for a way to save the horse. He tried to use the trees to restrain the horse but it broke away easily.
Not able to continue watching Kyouya struggle with the horse, Erika stepped forward. She didn't want to hurt Midnight either so she focused on protecting Kyouya. He looked shocked when she stepped in front of him but she concentrated on materializing the air before them to create a shield. She wasn't sure she could maintain it for long but it was all she could do at the moment.
"Please calm down, Midnight!" Erika begged the horse but Kyouya doubted the animal could understand her, let alone hear her over his father's curse. He wanted to pull her away from the animal when it stood to attack once again. Before he could pull her out of its path, her wings appeared and stunned them into stillness. He watched her as she close the space between them.
"Now that's the Midnight I know." Erika spoke softly when she saw that he wouldn't attack her. Gently, she stroked its mane to keep him calm. As she did so, she found a small creature in its mane and pulled the bug free. Kyouya quickly took the bug from her and killed it quickly. Once it was dead, Midnight nudged them with his head. "You're trying to say you're sorry, aren't you."
"You're a good boy." Kyouya praised. He felt relieved and was glad that he didn't have to kill his horse. Midnight rested its head on his shoulder but his eyes were on Kyouya and he realized what he kept the creature's gaze. He found himself staring at Erika's wings as well since they held the same soft light as the sun. "Erika, your wings are still showing."
"Sorry. I wanted to distract Midnight without using my powers to hurt him." Erika quickly hid her wings again since she knew that its light would attract too much attention. Even after her wings faded away, Kyouya found himself staring at her as if she was the sun. She didn't notice his gaze since her attention was on Midnight.
"You're bleeding, Kyouya." Erika finally turned to him and noticed a cut on his temple. Even though it wasn't deep enough to leave a scar, she fretted over it and used her magic to heal it. The warmth of her hand stayed even when she pulled away. "All better now. We should set up camp now."
"I'll get the firewood this time. Midnight seems to be more receptive to you so you can deal with him if he becomes agitated again." Kyouya stepped away from her quickly and turned his back to her. He could feel her confused gaze on his back but he ignored it. He looked down at his hand and found it shaking. He ran the hand through his hair and tried to calm the confusing feelings in his.
"What are you doing to me?"
The light didn't fail to catch the attention of the king since it stood out against the dark night so starkly. He scowled when saw it since he knew that the light could only belong to an angel. Even though the light was far in the distance, he knew exactly where it came from. The forest in front of the gates.
He remembered the angel he saw with his son and scowled to himself. At the time, he thought little of the angel since she seemed loyal to his son. But knowing that his son was once again trying to reach the damned gates, he had to question the relationship between the two. What was his son planning?
"I should've killed her then." And the Demon King never made the same mistake twice.
I know this have been taking a long time to update but I've been studying hard for my midterms. They're not letting up soon but I'll continue to update whenever I can.