Okay all here's the next chapter of The Prince and The Slave. I hope you all like it. I warn that there will be themes that may disturb greatly. Apart from that let's get on with the chapter.
Also, a great big thank you to everyone who added me to their faves and alert lists. I really appreciate it. Also thanks to everyone who read and reviewed.
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The Prince and The Slave.
Chapter Twenty-One.
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(Ten Ten's P.O.V.)
I followed as Guren led me around the house. She led me through the kitchen. A large woman looked at us both venomously. "Who's this Guren?" The woman asked.
"Her name is Fei Lee. She's Lord Orochimaru's new slave." Guren replied. I felt awful when I noticed her voice was empty of any emotion. The woman laughed.
"Well good luck, Fei Lee. Most girls start out in the master's bedroom and end up in the bowels of his kitchen when he's bored of them." The woman stated. I wasn't quite sure how to answer that. I wanted to hit the miserable sow as hard as possible, but decided to act as though I didn't understand what was happening instead. After all, hitting the woman would ruin Ibiki's carefully thought out plan. He needed me to act innocent.
"Be quiet! Can't you see she's just a child?" Guren hissed. That sounded more like the Guren I had known. The woman gave Guren a filthy look.
"So? You were younger when you got here. She'll learn soon enough, and you'll be down here scrubbing like the scrubber you are, when she does." The woman stated and walked off laughing. That made me want to hit the woman even more.
"It's alright Fei Lee. She's always worked in the kitchens. She'd like the opportunity to have been in the Master's bed. Unlike most of the girls who were bought here for his pleasure." Guren told me. Her voice was soft and gentle. It reminded me of when she'd brushed my hair, when I was a little girl. We came to a door at the back of the kitchen and Guren opened it. I followed her out and saw a bath house opposite us. "That's where all the servants go to bathe. The Master has his own private bathing room." Guren said. "Go ahead and I'll go and find you some clothes." Guren added. I nodded feeling like Guren had changed far too much. She never would've allowed any woman to call her a scrubber before. But then again, I knew that she must have suffered here. How could she not change? I'm sure that just becoming a slave changed me, and I couldn't imagine being a slave for Orochimaru himself, the man that destroyed my world. I walked into the bath house, feeling very self conscious. No one was around but I still felt like there were eyes on me. I looked around to see where I needed to go and a hand landed on my shoulder. I jumped in shock only to see Ibiki. He gave me a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry kid. Everything is going to be alright. Guren will make sure nothing happens to you. At least not until tomorrow." Ibiki said to me kindly. I nodded and that was when I saw Guren coming back. "I'll come and find you later alright? Remember what I said. Innocent and clueless alright?" Ibiki questioned, his voice barely above a whisper. I nodded. I knew better, then to question the plan. I knew I was doing the right thing. Ibiki greeted Guren kindly as he walked off and Guren gestured me to follow her. I couldn't help but still feel self-conscious. She led me to one of the baths.
"You'll be safe here. Go and get in the bath. I'll go and get you some towels. I'll be right back." Guren told me. Her voice was soft. She sounded more like the Guren I had known before and I did as she asked. She went to get towels and I got undressed. Though I still felt extremely self-conscious, so I stripped off the cloth sack and got into the bath as quickly as possible. I still had the awful feeling I was being watched. I wasn't sure by who, I couldn't see anyone, but I was almost positive someone was watching me. That was when Guren came back. "Sit back and I'll clean your hair." Guren said kindly. I did as I was told, and I felt Guren put shampoo in my hair. It smelt like camellias. I felt my hair and scalp being scrubbed. Then I felt Guren's finger brush along an old scar of mine. I felt her hands tense and then she carried on. She took a jug and filled it with water from the bath and told me to close my eyes. I did and I felt the warm water flow over my head and drip down my face. She did this a couple more times before she declared my hair clean, and gave me some soap and a flannel. "I'm going to go and get some things for your hair." Guren said softly. I was quick to bathe. I didn't want to be in a tub forever. I'd rather talk to Guren and not feel self-conscious about someone watching me bathe naked. I grabbed one of the towels and stood up quickly, wrapping the towel around my body. Something still told me I was being watched. Guren came back then. She gave me a smile and led me to a side room so I could dress. I wrapped my hair in another towel and took the clothes from her timidly. I knew I had to act shy to a degree, and I went to get dressed in the little room. I looked down at the clothes and noted that I was looking at a white kimono, with red camellias printed on it, with a red obi to match. I dressed carefully, and slipped my feet into a pair of geta sandals. I was about to leave the room when I heard a whispered argument going on outside. "You were watching the girl bathe Orochimaru." I heard Guren hiss angrily.
"Why does that bother you Guren?" Orochimaru replied softly.
"Because she's just a young girl. She shouldn't be here to be used by you." Guren spat. I felt my eyes widen. I knew someone had been watching me, but I had no idea that it had been Orochimaru. That made me feel more violated and nauseous then I had felt before.
"I think you forget your position here Guren. You are a slave. You have no rights, and neither does my new pet. Do you see dogs hiding when they clean themselves?" Orochimaru said. He didn't even sound angry, or irritated, or even amused. He sounded like he was stating a fact to a stupid child. It made me furious to think of Guren being talked to in that way. But if everything went according to plan, Guren would be free, along with all the others who were enslaved here. I heard Orochimaru leave and then I stepped out of the little room. Guren gave me a soft, sad smile and then told me to follow her. I still had a towel wrapped around my hair, and I must've looked curious as Guren turned to me.
"We're going to go and sit in my room, so I can do your hair. I'll tell you a bit more about this place then too." Guren said kindly. I nodded and followed, wondering what Guren might reveal.
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I could see my face in the mirror, and I saw Guren sat behind me, brushing my hair. She brushed it gently, as she had when I was a child. "You know, Fei Lee, you remind me of a girl I used to know." Guren said gently.
"Really?" I asked cautiously.
"Yes. I knew her before I was a slave. In fact she was like a little sister to me." Guren told me. I felt guilt well up within me. I wanted to tell Guren who I was, here and now, but I couldn't, it might ruin Ibiki's plan. Especially with Orochimaru running around spying on me at given opportunities.
"Is she with you here?" I asked.
"Yes, she's sitting right in front of me." Guren stated. I felt myself tense up. "Orochimaru has gone to see the King, and he'll be back tomorrow Ten Ten. I knew it was you as soon as I felt that scar. I remember when you got that scar. I was there when you tripped over and hit your head on that rock. I was so scared you'd die, I remembered you crying when you came back to consciousness because your head hurt so much." Guren said softly. I turned to look at her.
"I wish I could've, just told you who I was, straight away. But Orochimaru can't know who I am. We'll never be able to set you all free if he connects me to you. He'll know my plans." I pleaded with Guren. She smiled at me, tears dripping down her cheeks.
"I missed you so much Ten Ten." Guren whispered to me. She pulled me into a tight hug, and I couldn't help but hug her back. "I know I have to keep calling you Fei Lee. At least for now. But... I understand what you're trying to do." Guren told me gently.
"I never forgot you Guren. I never forgot what you told me either." I told Guren plainly. I could see Guren's top lip trembling.
"Do you even know why I told you what I did Ten Ten?" Guren asked me. I knew she must have been raped by Orochimaru. That first night and every other night that came afterwards. I knew only too well what young, female slaves were used for. I knew what had happened to Guren after the first night I spent in the Hyuga household. I remembered going past Lord Hyuga's room and hearing the tears of a young girl and Lord Hyuga's grunts, and I knew exactly what had happened. I understood perfectly. But I didn't know why Guren never fought back.
"I know. But why didn't you fight him Guren? That first night that he took you away? I was too young to know what had happened then, but when I understood later on, I always wondered why you never fought back?" I asked. I needed to know the truth. Guren bit her lip harshly. She looked at me carefully and I had a terrible feeling in my gut.
"I'll tell you Ten Ten. But you won't like what I tell you." Guren told me softly.
Guren saw Ten Ten's frightened face, as she was pulled away from the cage by the brutish guards. She could see Ten Ten screaming for her through the bars, reaching out her small hand, and tears dripped down her cheeks. Guren was dragged along and into Orochimaru's tent, and then the guards threw her to the floor. The snake-like male stared down at her as though she were a piece of meat. Orochimaru smirked evilly. "Well, we'll see what's under that ratty dress of yours, shall we?" Orochimaru stated. He ushered the guards to leave. Guren stood up quickly and made to run, but she was grabbed by the throat. Orochimaru smirked and threw the teenage girl onto his bed pallet. Guren made to scratch Orochimaru but he held down her wrists. She made to kick him, but he pinned her to the makeshift bed like a collectible butterfly. "You will do as your told girl, or I'll go and bring your little friend in here to amuse me instead, while you watch." Orochimaru hissed. Guren's eyes widened.
"You leave her alone, you bastard!" Guren spat out angrily. Orochimaru grinned.
"That all depends on you, doesn't it?" Orochimaru stated. Guren was shaking with terror but she no longer struggled. She wouldn't subject Ten Ten, her young, adopted sister, to this man. She would rather suffer in the child's place. Guren was shaking once Orochimaru was done with her. She was pale and frightened. She looked at Orochimaru, and felt the bile rise to her throat. "Well, you have interested me greatly. I can keep any slave I choose to, as spoils of my victory. I've decided to keep you." Orochimaru hissed down at her. Guren glared.
"I'm not anybody's possession." Guren hissed back.
"Well I could always take that pretty, little, brunette child. She would make a fantastic bed warmer. Such an innocent child too. I can imagine her screaming for mercy. In fact, I can imagine her calling for you like she did when my soldiers bought you to me. Guren? That's your name, isn't it? Yes, I can just see it now. That little girl calling for you, while she shares my bed, but you'll never come for her." Orochimaru stated coldly.
"I won't let you hurt her!" Guren yelled angrily.
"Well you have one of two choices don't you. You can refuse to be my slave, and I'll take her in your place, or you can submit to me now and save your precious little friend from all she'd experience as my possession." Orochimaru stated. Guren's hands were shaking as she agreed to Orochimaru's terms.
Guren finished her tale, her eyes welled up with tears.
"I never knew Guren." I heard myself utter. I never wanted Guren to suffer like this, and she'd suffered because of me. She'd been used and abused and broken, and it was all my fault.
"Don't blame yourself Ten Ten. I wanted to protect you. I wanted for you to keep some form of innocence. I wanted you to be safe, at least for a little while. I prayed every morning when I got up, and every night when I went to sleep, that you'd be taken in by good people. That if you had to be sold on as a slave that it would be to people that wouldn't abuse you in such a way. It was my choice to protect you. Knowing what I know now, I would still make the same choice." Guren told me seriously. I shook my head, feeling confused.
"Why would you go through so much for me Guren? I could see it in your face when I was bought in. I could see how much pain you were in. Why was my safety so much more important than yours?" I asked her.
"Because you were the sister I never had and I loved you dearly. I still love you like my own sister." Guren replied. I couldn't help but embrace Guren again and pray that this nightmare would soon be over for her.
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(General P.O.V.)
The next day, Orochimaru was knelt on one knee, in front of King Fugaku. Prince Itachi, stood on the right-hand side of the throne. Kabuto, knelt down behind Orochimaru, to his right. Very few others were in the throne room. Hiashi Hyuga was one of the few. "Orochimaru how is your search for these renegades going?" Fugaku asked irritably. Itachi didn't speak a single word. He knew better than to say anything whilst his father was angry. Orochimaru stayed knelt on the ground, his own anger peaking.
"The Akatsuki seem to be growing in number. The last infiltration against the slave trade was headed by two women. They haven't been noted before apparently. Leaders of Akatsuki appeared afterwards. I've taken every precaution with the main slave market and outlying slave trade posts. To move the position of the slave market would have to be done under your orders, your majesty." Orochimaru replied. Fugaku stayed silent for a few moments before he answered.
"Do it. These bandits have been running riot for too long, to just have good luck. They're planning, building their forces. We must close ranks and finish those rebels of Akatsuki without mercy." Fugaku stated sternly. Orochimaru nodded. Once the King gave Orochimaru leave, he left the throne room with Kabuto. As the two men walked to the rooms they were to stay in, they were confronted by Prince Itachi.
"Where the hell did you come from?" Kabuto hissed angrily.
"I'd watch what I said if I were you, Kabuto Yakushi, I can kill you in moments and I wouldn't stand trial for doing so. In fact I'd rather enjoy killing you. I may even decide to kill you on a whim, when I feel bored. So watch what you say." Itachi stated blankly. Kabuto felt a stab of raw fear go through him as he looked into the Crown Prince's eyes. Itachi showed no emotion in his jet, black orbs.
"Your highness?" Orochimaru questioned, hoping to find out what Itachi was there for exactly.
"I just thought I'd tell you to make sure not to screw up. My father won't forgive anymore mistakes." Itachi stated. Then he walked off confidently, leaving the two men behind him.
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Okay all. That's the end of this chapter. I hope it interested you all, at the very least. Please R&R and let me know what you think.