In celebration of fifty the following chapter is an excerpt from Tatsuki's family book. All characters are OC the Princess Tatsuki is who she is named after. Regular story resumes with fifty-one.
Chapter Fifty
Story of the Past…
Renji took out the book that belonged to Tatsuki's grandmother, now her's. He was heavy into reading it despite how busy he was.
Renji reading: 'The halls were quiet and empty when I tried to escape…'
With a quick look in each direction Tatsuki took the opportunity to make her escape. A mere six feet from her doorway she was spotted. Her attending shouted Tatsuki's name as she followed in hot pursuit. It wouldn't be long before guards joined the escape. With few alternatives she stopped hoping the attending screams would stop as well.
"Lady Arisawa you know that I wish you no harm," Utano said catching her breath.
"Then call off the guards. I will return to my room," Tatsuki said.
Sinking to the floor she lamented her rotten luck. Her timing off but she needed to be by the bridge. If she couldn't make it in time what would happen, she wondered.
"Go to him," a voice interrupted her thoughts. She lifted her head to find her fiancé grinning stupidly at her.
"I…I didn't intend to go like this. I'm sorry," Tatsuki apologized.
"At least your honest enough to admit you intended to leave," Ozuru said his black eyes staring at her.
"How did you know," she asked.
"The guards were in a rush for some reason," he replied leaning against the wall his pale features contrasting against his long black hair.
"Not today. I mean how did you know about him," she clarified.
"He's always been around and the way you look at each other anyone could tell," he said.
"I can't leave with so much security I'll never make it out of here," she lamented.
"Leave it to me," he said.
Ozuru's plan worked wonders and she used the diversion to make her escape from the palace. Tatsuki made it far but ran into obstacles.
Clothes worn to look royal hindered a quick escape. Her plan was simply pretend like she belonged and hope she went unrecognized by workers at the river. This area of the palace ground was the weakest hands down. She spent a precious five minutes arguing that it was completely normal for a princess to travel unaccompanied down the river. Even the most gullible worker dug his heels in suggesting they take her back. They all questioned why she would attempt to escape.
Finally one of the workers spoke up reasoning that if she were in any danger the guard would have made it there by now. He went on further to suggest the entire group was wrong to question the princess and apologized.
Unbelieving of her fortune to find a group like this she "forgave" them and went on to step into a small boat. Seconds later the man who argued for her leapt into the boat winked and smiled at her as he pushed off.
"An escape," he leaned down and whispered out of earshot of the others in her ear.
"I may not look it but I can defend-
"Nonsense I'm only accompanying a princess to her destination. I look for nothing in return…for now," he said smiling brightly his brown eyes lit up.
"For now," she questioned this benefactor.
"My family needs to eat. What else is there that I would ask you a person far above my means," he asked.
"You mean no harm," she said guessing as much from his expression.
"I could care less about status or threats. I only wish to secure my family and opportunity knocked so there you have my motives can I ask what are your motives," he questioned.
"Stupidity. Craziness," she laughed.
"You're not at all what I expected," he commented.
"Then I suppose I am running for the freedom to express that as well," she added.
"And your first reasons are," he asked.
"Love," she replied.
"Ah of course," he said continuing to steer the boat.
"If I could stay here in the palace I would fight to change things for your family but they want him dead…," she trailed off.
"Him?"
"Nevermind I said too much as it is and I don't know your name," she said.
"Hysoka is my name. Saying too much to the right person…I know about love and the palace. Years ago I fell in love in a similar situation. My advice then dealt with duty, honor and tradition. I can see it on your face you are not ready to abandon all that," he said.
"I can," she argued.
"You will not do so. I would ask that you carefully consider everything on this boat ride. Do not give false hope to men like us," he said.
It was silent for a while after that. She didn't know the man but kept thing about where she might have seen him before. His dark hair was tied back and he did not stand out from any of the other working villagers. They then reached a bend in the river.
"You can stop here," she said.
He pulled up to the shore silently and helped her off the boat. She fidgeted with her traveling sack and pulled items out setting them on the wooden dock. He finished tying up the boat and fixed a questing look her way.
"What is all this," he asked.
"All that I took with me from the palace…you were right," she said standing to her feet.
"About?"
"If I am committed to this escape I can't bring the palace with me. So please take these items and help your family," she said.
"All I'll say to you is good luck. I'll always wish I made the same choice," he said.
Gathering the items Hysoka began to walk opposite the river.
"Wait a minute. Where are you going," Tatsuki asked.
"My job is done," he called out waving.
"That's not what I asked," she skipped ahead of him cutting off his progress.
"You are just like me. I should have known you'd have her eyes. Farewell Tatsuki," he called out as he left once more.
"What are you saying," she continued to step in front of his progress.
He remained silent as he walked away not even looking at her now. The fact he ignored her irritated her but something else caught her attention. In the distance she spotted reflection from weapons.
"Go now or it will be for nothing. You'll never get your chance," he said.
She looked in his pained eyes and ran off away from the eyesight of the soldiers.
ooo
The soldiers questioned Hysoka to no avail. He simply pointed the opposite direction of where I fled showing an item I had given to him.
I watched from a distance Hysoka's words echoed in her mind, 'I'm helping my family.' This man was my family? We had the same smile and hair color I had to wonder if this were my father. I had a feeling that he was trying to convey just that to me...
Renji closed the book having read to exhaustion. He tried to picture himself in that world while he read but had no wish to dream of it. The time setting must make this Karakura village similar to the Seireitei.
In each chapter the story built up to its inevitable conclusion. The Princess left to be with the man who would attempt to kill her. The twist that she didn't know the plans of the Prince or kingdom for that matter. Ultimately meant nothing the would be assassin was flawed having been in love with the princess for some time.
When the Princess' birth father leaned of the assasin's feelings he set a plan in motion that would save his daughter and bring his family peace. Legally free he used his daughter's valuables to achieve that peace. In the end the Princess did not wish to abandon her kingdom and she did return cleaning out all traitors but she could never be with her love. He would watch from afar but never did they achieve happiness they dreamt of.
Renji continued to read all the moments they passed each other in the halls of the palace were well transcribed. All the times he lined up in her security detail and each and every moment spent at her side made him question if the writer left something out. He was sure the two were secretly together all along. How did the generations pass if they had no children after all, he wondered and would continue to read.