Thank you for reading the previous chapter. I was happy I got quite positive feedbacks. Again, this story is Yui-Nakago and this is for Princess-of-doctors and all YuiNak lovers. Please also read my other stories: One Night, Just Play the Melody, Serendipity, and The Pretend Boyfriend.
Sonzai Taz: Thanks for reading and leaving a review. You did receive the reply I sent you right? Anyway, the situation will be really complicated and I hope you'll read through to the end. Thanks again!
Princess-of-doctors: I am so happy you liked the initial chapter. How was your exams? Ahaha. Anyway, the rating might go up, but right now, I'll stick to T. Don't worry, everything will be illuminated (or not) once Nakago arrives. Yes, there will be intense romance here and I can't wait to write and post it!
Khryztinne: Thanks for the review! The intend to finish this but I don't know when. As you know, I have other stories to update every now and then. Then again, thanks for reading and hope you continue reading the story until the end.
Disclaimer: Wish as I might, FY is not mine.
Leave-taking
By Slavedriver2008
A JOLT RAN through Yui's consciousness and her body was forced awake. She sat slouched on the bed, her hands on her chest, trying to subdue the palpitating beatings, but the normalcy would not come. Panic was still wringing in her system. The dream had been closer to real than any dream she had. And it sent a shiver down her spine. Still heaving, Yui hastily pushed the blanket and rushed to her wardrobe. With heart on her throat, she rummaged through the clothes and put on a thin robe to cover herself. Graceful strides brought her to the door and she called out.
"Open my door. I wish to see my father." Silence answered her. "Respond soldier. If you do not do as I will, you will regret it," she commanded, her voice breaking. Still, silence answered her. Annoyed, Yui pushed the door and was surprised to find that not one guard was stationed at her door.
The shogun always made sure she was guarded and the absence of his warriors on her chamber roused suspicion within the girl. Yui paced toward her father's room, careful to not make noises, wary of crossing paths with another being in the gloomy dimly-lit corridors of the Kutou palace.
The blond girl's strides became a run after a few minutes of hearing nothing but her own breathing. The corridors were barren. Yui had the feeling that the palace was itself unguarded. She reached the Emperor's chamber and slowly opened it, momentarily regretting not bringing her dagger. It was a peaceful but stirring night, death lurked silently on every shadow of her once safe abode.
Yui entered the room slowly, her ocean eyes struggling to make images out of the pale light from the moon. She decided not to call out to her father, any voice could endanger them both. She saw the unsheathed sword on his bed. His father slept with the sword. He told her once that all the emperors in their family did so—one can never be completely safe in the Palace chambers.
With controlled steps, she moved toward the bed and raised her hand toward the bulky sheets. But before she could reach his sleeping form, he turned to her and a hand gripped her wrist. In a heartbeat, he pushed her to the wall. Pain shot through Yui's body and she let out a scream of protest, but strong hands covered her mouth and a dagger was placed underneath her throat. Fear gripped her and a familiar image appeared.
"What are you doing in my room, Yui?" the Emperor hissed as she let go of her. "Why are you still here? I asked the shogun to hide you." His face was serious and the light of the moon reflected on his blue irises. The face, that was once handsome and pleasant, looked awry and tired. The Emperor's long grey hair was free from being tied and now laid tousled over his shoulders. In the dimness of the room, Yui thought her father resembled a wolf.
"I had a dream, father. The empire—"
"—is falling. After tonight, my leadership will be no more." Yui gasped and the man looked gloomily on her. "The time for my punishment has come, Yui. I am sorry but I could no longer be a father to you."
"What are you saying, father? You are a good man. You have done nothing!" Yui choked and tried to fight the tears that threatened to fall. "Is Kutou under siege? From what country? We can—"
"No, Yui." He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. "You must survive." He took her small hands and pushed a round figure into her ring finger. "This should belong to you. Do not ever lose it." The silver ring molded itself into her finger, fitting perfectly as if it was made for her alone.
Yui instantly recognized the ring and her eyes widened. He had done the Passing and it scared her. "Father! This belongs to you. It can protect you! You are the rightful—"
"It belongs to you now." The Emperor pulled a small glittering dagger from the table and sheathed it. He gave the scabbard to her daughter and was met with a protest. "This is the sign of your identity. It has been with our family for generations. This is the only thing I could give you." The tears streamed down Yui's face and her father planted another kiss on her forehead. "May Seiryuu bless you, daughter. Trust but with a grain of salt."
Before Yui could say anything, his father pulled the sword from the bed and faced the door. Heavy footsteps abound and Yui unsheathed the dagger. In a heartbeat, the door opened. She walked toward his standing form to fight but a pair of hands wrapped on her waist and covered her mouth. The disembodied arms pulled her toward the wall, where she was earlier pushed, and to Yui's surprise, she got engulfed in a black mass.
"The time for your death has come, Emperor," a deep voice rang in the darkness and Yui struggled to break free from the grasp. She tried in vain to look at the intruder's face but she was engulfed by darkness. The hands let go and she abruptly fell on the ground. She looked around and realized she was in a different room. The smell of burning incense filled her senses and when she looked up to the man, her mouth fell open.
"Hin-san! We have to go back! We have to rescue father!" The bard shook his head slowly and reached out to help her up.
"I am afraid it is too late, hime-sama. He would be dead by now," he said solemnly and Yui felt anger rose inside her.
"Who killed him? And why did you rescue me? I could have helped him!" Her heart was angry because he came. Yes, he saved her but he left her beloved father to die.
"That man is a skilled swordsman and a trained killer. You could not do anything to defeat him," he said as he pulled her hand toward another room.
Yui struggled to break free but his grip on her wrist wouldn't wane. "Then I shall go back! If my father dies, I will die with him!"
"NO! Don't you understand?" the bard bellowed, his blue eyes piercing her. Yui gaped at him, surprised at his anger. "Your father has risked his life to save you. He stayed longer inside his room to give you the chance to live. He prolonged the conversation so you could escape." He looked intently and tears started to flow on her face. "Don't put his sacrifices in vain."
"How can I survive without him? He's the Emperor…You should have rescued him, not me…" she said, crying bitterly. She grew up without a mother, and now that her father was gone, Yui doesn't know if she could continue living.
Hin Ryu placed his hands on her shoulders. "Everything is destined, hime-sama. Your father has fulfilled his destiny. And so, you should start fulfilling yours."
She looked up to face him. "What am I destined to do?"
"Come, let us find out." He pulled her hand and Yui followed, trying to stop herself from crying. Once the tears have dried from her face, Yui looked around and awe filled her eyes. They were in a beautiful palace with big columns and rich ocean blue draperies. From the top and bottom of each column were beautiful sculptured images of a dragon made of glinting sapphires. The eyes were made of the smoothest and biggest pearls.
Ahead of the pathway was a huge wooden door made of what Yui could guess as oak, a tree that seldom grew in the country. But aside from the large doors, two large golden images of the dragon stood at both sides, like guards in a palace hall. Yui thought they were real and was momentarily scared they might move and devour her.
When they came closer, the door opened and they stepped inside. The sound of flowing water filled her senses and when she looked ahead, she could not help but let out a fascinated gasp. Inside the doors was the most beautiful place she has ever seen. The floors were made of the cleanest and smoothest marble and on the sides of the room, clear water flowed, creating a cascading wall of glistening falls. The place looked ethereal and Yui felt a certain unexplainable calmness filled her senses. It was as if the hurts and pains and everything she felt earlier disappeared with the spray of liquid as it fell to the marble pool.
Yui looked ahead and saw a beautifully-made marble dragon, its head reached the roof of the room and its slithering body and foot were firmly rooted to the floor. From its mouth came out the water that flourished within the room. At the foot of the dragon, an old man was kneeling and giving praises. He was wearing robes of a monk, a group that Yui thought were living in the north of Kutou. Beside him was a small bald child from another tribe that she only learned from books.
"We are here, sensei," the bard said and Yui looked intently at the older man. The child immediately smiled. The sensei turned around and Yui gasped when he saw an opened eye on his forehead.
"Hime-sama, I am glad to finally meet you. You were kept in the palace that only nobles were lucky enough to see your face," he said calmly, in a deep old voice that made Yui's back prickle.
"Who are you?" She asked and the he smiled.
"You can call me Miboshi. I am the high priest of the empire. We have never met before. Like you, I am forbidden to leave the temple," he stated and Yui's eyes widened.
"Temple? Where are we? I did not know such a place could exist within the palace," Yui asked dumbfounded, textbooks never described a place like this, she felt stupid not knowing such a beautiful place.
"You are in the temple of the Dragon. You cannot find this because it is hidden, only those who seek Seiryuu could find it," he explained.
"Why are you in such a place? And would someone find us here?" Yui asked, curiosity evident in her features.
"Only those who seek Seiryuu can find this place," the old man repeated. "Only the high priest stays here, he is tied to the temple as the emperor is tied to his empire." The mention of the emperor brought back the sadness inside the girl's heart. Her face contorted in disgust.
"How did the other countries infiltrate the castle? How come the oracles never saw the attack?"
"Because there is no attack," Miboshi stated and Yui was taken aback. She opened her mouth to ask him another question but he cut her. "Time is running out, please listen to me." He looked at her intently. "Hime-sama, please gather the seven warriors of the eastern sky," he said with authority and coldness seeped through the princess's system.
Yui lost her voice. She had not thought the situation—the apparition—was gravely serious. The seven warriors and the priestess only showed themselves when the country is in danger. Yui would do anything to save Kutou but there's a limitation to what she can do.
"But only the priestess can gather them," she stated solemnly.
"Then look for the priestess, hime-sama. The fate of Kutou rests on her hands—and in yours. Please find them before the rise of the crimson sun," the high priest told her and her eyes widened.
"The crimson sun?" Fear gripped her, she has heard much of what happened to earth after the rise of the crimson sun. Why would the legend happen? She wanted to ask but her guts would not let her. For the first time in her life, Yui felt helpless.
"Yes, and so, only Seiryuu can prevent it. The darkness is stirring and the spirits of the lower earth are dying to break free. Find the six seishis and bring them here. I will wait for you," The man and the child turned around, kneeling before Seiryuu to continue their prayer.
"Six?" Yui stammered.
"Yes," the old man answered briefly. "You see, hime-sama, I am one of the warriors." He turned and smiled. "Will you look for them and bring them here?"
Yui stood straight to face him. "Hai, I will find the warriors and the miko if that's the only way to save Kutou. But how would I know who they are? And how do I find them." The sheer thought of looking for seven people sounded impossible. Kutou was a large empire, there were numerous villages and towns beyond the capital.
"You will know, hime-sama. You will know," he said softly and returned his attention to the statue of the Dragon before him. "Let Seiryuu lead the way."
Silence filled them before a thundering explosion filled the air. Yui closed her eyes and dust filled the air of the temple. The side of the temple was blasted down and Yui felt her body fall to the cold marble. Another explosion occurred and she slid down the pool of rushing water. Terror gripped her—she was sinking and the pool seemed endless. She used her legs and swam toward the glittering light on the surface. Voices filled her ears and she heard them called to her from the depths. She pushed herself further; she was losing air and it won't be long before she suffocated.
Yui let all fear leave her and she pushed against the current, the want for survival gripping her system, urging her to swim faster. She would never let her father's death be in vain. She would survive, as he wanted her to, and come back to Kutou. She will look for the warriors and the miko. They will summon Seiryuu and Kutou will be saved. The sheer thought of a good and pleasant tomorrow brought back the strength in her legs, and she swam desperately for dear life.
It felt like a lifetime when she finally reached the surface. Her head bobbed out of the water and she breathed in the most air that she can, filling her lungs which have been constricting. A strong hand gripped her and she was pulled into the marble floor. Yui's back contracted and ached at the abruptness of the pulling and she hastily let go of being held. The bard looked at her calmly and she continued to gasp in air. He was also breathing hard and his dripping form told Yui he also fell into the depths.
Another explosion rang in the air and sprays of water washed over them. Marble flew from all directions and headed toward the girl. Before the debris hit her, the high priest stood in front and cast a shield. A shining symbol appeared on the back of his neck. The symbol shined on his skin and Yui looked intently at it.
Miboshi. Winnowing Basket.
"Are you hurt, Yui-sama?" the bard asked and she shook her head. Yui wanted to ask him how he was but another explosion rang and the marble roof gave way. Stone rained on them.
"You have to leave now, hime-sama," the child said as he assisted her up. "Miboshi-sensei cannot hold the barrier any longer. Please Ryu-san, protect the princess. Use your powers and flee!" he ordered.
"But what about you?" Yui asked, frustration gripping her. "You'll both die here. We can't summon Seiryuu with a missing Sei!" The older man turned to her and smiled.
"I will meet you again, hime. You are very much like your mother. You even look exactly like her, only you have your father's eyes." The blond bard pulled her up. Before Yui could respond to the priest, she was pulled into another dark mass that made itself on the floor. The bard held her and they sank into the abyss.
They were halfway underneath when another explosion occurred and a ray of silver light hit the priest. Yui screamed as Miboshi instantly turned to stone. She was screaming when the black hole engulfed her and her voice. She was weeping when they fell on a damp soft earth.
"Miboshi-san…Is he dead?" she asked, her body shaking.
"Let us wish that he is not. The curse directly hit him. We need to leave now," the bard said and Yui nodded. Hin-san was a stoic and sensible man. Instead of wallowing in depression, he would act. It was surprising that someone like him could be a bard when he could have been a shogun, a minister, or possibly, an emperor.
"What is happening? Why does this have to happen? I do not understand anything!" Yui screamed at him, frustrated, mad that he remained calm in the situation. Two people have died tonight: her father and the high priest. She wanted to scream and cry herself to death and the bard did nothing but pulled her into a dark hole and gave her an expressionless face.
"Calm down, people might hear us. We are not far from the Palace," he said and Yui wanted to slap him.
"Why should I even trust you?" she shot back and he stood before her with an expressionless face.
"I did not ask you to trust me," he said. "I am doing this not for you, but for a friend," he said solemnly and Yui lost all urge to fight with him. It was useless; the bard was the only one she have at the moment. Even the shogun or her ladies-in-waiting have not saved her tonight.
Still confused, she wiped her tears away and faced him. "Where are we going?"
"To the border, we need to leave Kutou for awhile," he said as he turned and walked toward the forest. Yui followed him and was momentarily surprised when she saw two horses tied to a nearby tree. "I have anticipated this to happen tonight," he explained when she looked at him strangely. Yui took his explanation and nodded.
"If we leave, what would happen to the warriors?" The bard pulled the horse and handed her the rein.
"They will stay in Kutou and let's hope that they are still alive when we find them." He reached under his robe and pulled a sapphire-hilted dagger. "I believe this belongs to you." Yui reached out to get the dagger and pulled it to her chest. The scene with her father in his room seemed like ages ago.
"I don't want to leave Kutou."
"You must. They will realize you are alive and look for you. Survival lies in another country," he said matter-of-factly and Yui chose to not argue with him. He spoke sense, she thought, it would not help if she's wary of him all the time. But who would want her dead? Who would want her father dead?
"Where are we headed?" she asked again as she turned around to tie the dagger around her right hip.
"Sairou," he muttered as he placed the saddle on the horses. Yui covered the dagger with the damp robe and looked up at the bard.
"Why Sairou?"
"I know someone in Sairou. You can stay with them and I will come back for you when the disturbance has subsided," he explained firmly. Ryu assisted her to the horse and his gaze fell on her bare legs where the dagger was tied.
"No one would suspect I keep such a thing," Yui said and covered the robe over her skin.
"We should get new clothes once we are out of the country." He looked away and went to his horse. "But for now, we ride," he stated and Yui nodded.
IN THE COLDNESS of the night, the bard and the princess galloped toward the West. Yui was unaware of the place and had never been outside the capital. She followed the blond man as he led the way, eyeing him intently. His robes clung to his body, showing off a muscular form. His light blond hair, which now lacked luster because of age, was tied in a long braid. He sat on the horse with a certain arrogance fitted for nobility. He was probably in the same age as her father. With his back on her, Yui could easily mistake him as one of her father's warriors.
"Who killed my father?" she asked when they reached a dark clearing, the figure of trees surround them, standing like soldiers in a battlefield. The man didn't answer and she continued to talk to him. The act somehow relieved her. "You described the assassin like you know him."
"A man knows his own kind," he said plainly and her brow creased. Everyone spoke in languages she does not understand. First, it was the dashing man in her dreams then it was her father before he died. The high priest spoke in verses too and the bard was annoyingly like them. The thought of everything that happened brought back numerous emotions within the girl and her body felt tired. But despite the aching muscles, she was wide awake and expecting the worst. Her senses were alert and she was afraid thinking of sleep would diminish it.
"Why did you save me?" she asked, afraid at where her own thoughts were bringing her.
"I told you, it was to fulfill a promise," the bard said, his back still against her.
"To whom did you give the promise?" Yui asked.
"To the man who is the reason why I am still alive," he stated and she frowned. He was still not telling her anything. "I will give you one piece of advice hime-sama. Never trust a man who has my hair and eyes."
"Are you implying that I do not trust a Hin?" Yui asked and the bard snorted.
"A man can have my hair and eyes and not be a member of my tribe," he stated. "Just remember this then: Trust but with a grain of salt."
"My father told me the same thing," the princess answered.
"Then keep it in mind," he said, partly annoyed. "Your father is a wise man." The bard said no more and his horse paced ahead of her. Yui chose to keep the silence and follow him.
They were almost across the hill when the sound of horse hooves filled the air. Yui's heart started beating faster and her eyes widened when a throng of palace guards showed themselves at the top. In the middle, standing ahead of the others, was the dark-haired shogun of Kutou. Contempt filled her. Where was he when her father needed him? If he was in her father's room, he wouldn't be dead or he could have found time to escape. The bard rode back to her horse and whispered something in her ear.
"If I die tonight, search for the warriors the way a Hin would look for the Blue Flower."
"Give us the hime, traitor," he shouted and confusion filled Yui. Why had the shogun called Hin-san a traitor? And what was the Blue Flower? Why would a Hin look for it? "You are surrounded, surrender now. You shall pay for killing the Emperor," he stated and one thing formed in her head: TRAP. The bard looked straight at the shogun and smirked. Yui felt the blood rush to her face.
"If you want the princess, you have to come down and get her." With a force, he pulled the reins. They ran back toward the forest and Yui clung to the mane to keep her balance.
The shogun's horses ran after them and the sound of running hooves filled Yui's ears. Her long hair clung to her face and she leaned lower to her horse, trying desperately to keep herself from falling. They entered the forest and twigs slapped against her skin, leaving red marks of throbbing flesh. She veered away from the leaves and tried to focus on the road. The horses galloped with speed and a force hit her horse's leg and it fell limply to the ground. Yui was thrown off and fell harshly on the earth. The bard stepped down from his horse and immediately ran back, pulling her up and guiding her toward the trees. Despite the pain in her ankle, Yui ran behind him. The sound of the horses followed them and Yui was too scared to make a sound. The two figures ran and stopped when they reached the edge of a thundering and high waterfall. The bard cursed and looked intently at her.
"Stay behind me." Yui nodded and a few seconds after, the shogun's crisp laughter filled the air.
"You're losing your touch Ryu. You brought yourself to a closed trap." He laughed mirthlessly and he went down from his horse and unsheathed his sword. Palace guards were shortly at his heels. "You have an option, my blade or the water. Either way, you die," he taunted. The bard pulled a shabby sword and walked briskly toward the shogun.
"It is you who made the wrong turn, Kei." He smirked. "You cannot win against my blade." Yui stepped further back and fear gripped her when she realized she was standing at the edge of the cliff. One wrong step and she could fall.
"Hah! You've always been behind Shin and what have your friendship brought you?" the shogun teased. "He sacrificed your tribe to keep the throne and you are still protecting his daughter!" Yui gasped and the bard smirked again.
"We both knew who prompted him, Kei. Tell me, what would you do to the princess once you have her?"
"I'll tell you this because I know you won't survive. It's either she dies or she marries one of the ministers' sons. Kutou needs a new leader, Ryu. I'm afraid the people look up to the emperor too much to want a new one," he stated and glanced briefly at the shocked princess. "This man killed your father, hime-sama. He deserves…death!" the shogun screamed and slashed toward the bard. Ryu blocked his attack and the sound of clashing steel rang in the air.
The two fought, blade against blade, warrior against warrior. Yui stood and watched. They were fighting mercilessly against each other, each swing of their swords showed off the level of their skills. Even the guards stood firmly, watching them dance with death. The bard moved with speed and with one quick thrust, his blade ran through the shogun's armor and sliced a piece of flesh on his shoulder. Blood dripped from the steel and the shogun cried in pain. Angered, the shogun pulled a dagger from his back and threw it, not at his enemy, but toward the standing girl.
The bard ran to her and Yui saw the way his face contorted as the dagger sank in his back. Yui screamed when another blade slashed through his body and the shogun's wicked smirk appeared on the bard's shoulder. The dark-haired warrior pushed the blade further into the bard's body and the bard looked at her intently, mouthing one word.
Jump.
The bard gave one last shook and stood limply. Laughter erupted from the shogun and he unsheathed the blade from the dead body. Blood flowed to the barren earth. With a smile, the shogun walked slowly toward her. Tears flowing from her face, Yui spread her arms and let her body fall into the cascading waters. Her image caught sight of the shogun, looking down on her, victory evident in his dark eyes. He smiled under the beautiful eastern sky. Her body hit the water and Yui screamed when her shoulder hit a hard limestone rock. But her screams were engulfed in the rushing and angry tide.
A/N: This is the first time I wrote an action piece and it took me quite a long time editing everything. You see, Yui can't take part in the action yet. I do love some parts of the chapter and I know there are numerous questions running in your beautiful heads because of this chappie. Don't worry, everything will be illuminated. I will edit this piece once I've published the whole story. Don't forget to drop reviews and suggestions to improve the story! Thanks again! :]