Yeah...this fanfic is defiantly ending soon. I'm getting that feeling. Anways. Keep the reviews coming for the last few chapters. Thanks for all my readers. I love all of you so much.
Chapter 33: Unwelcome Visitor
Misaki was dressed in a familiar man's outfit. She had strolled through the stables and stole the stable boy's clothes but she made sure to leave him a generous sack of coins to buy new ones.
She stood in front of the mirror adjusting the loose tunic. Misaki no longer dared to dress up as a man to venture out. After having the babies, Misaki's body developed more feminine curves. It would be hard to be mistaken as a young boy now. Also Usui threatened to chain her to the bedpost if he caught her again.
For now Misaki was content with practicing swordsmanship in the gardens. Her children always kept her company when she was lonely even if they were simply sleeping.
Misaki tied her hair back and grabbed her sword. She bounded down the stairs and outside.
Misaki was surprised how much she still remembered. Some harder moves were a little rusty but Misaki's body seemed to remember the movements. She jabbed and sparred with an imaginary opponent.
"You still have to defeat Takumi one day" Misaki reminded herself as she quickly did a side step.
"Duchess Usui!" a voice called.
Misaki paused. "What is it?" she called back.
Honoka rushed over. "My lady" she said. "We have a visitor" she whispered.
"Who...?" Misaki asked. Usui wasn't home right now and surely no one had any business with her...
"Tis the marquess!" Honoka hissed.
Misaki froze. "What in heavens?!"
"He is in the study right now" Honoka said.
"How did you let him in?!" Misaki demanded. She sheathed her sword.
"He claimed to want to discuss a treaty" Honoka explained. "It was my fault, Duchess" she said. "I told him that he would possibly be seen by you if he left all his men, including his horse at the first gate. I didn't believe he would actually walk all those miles"
Misaki nodded. "I understand. I will go see him"
Peace treaty my foot...the Marquess was going to be lucky if he left in one piece today. Misaki stormed back into the mansion.
"Your clothing!" Erika gasped. Misaki looked down and realized that she was still in her men's clothing.
"Just fetch me a cloak" she instructed. Erika draped a rich violet cloak around Misaki's shoulders. Misaki quickly tied the clock tightly around her neck and boldly walked into the study.
"Marquess Igarashi" she greeted coldly as she sat down behind the large desk.
"Why so formal?" Tora asked. He leaned back in his chair looking without a care in the world.
"How may I help you?" Misaki asked. "Surely you know the Duke is not here"
Tora chuckled. "I crave your counsel, my dear"
"It is Duchess Usui," Misaki corrected him. She did not want any form of endearment on his lips to her.
"My apologies...Duchess Usui" Tora amended. "You are very intelligent" he mused. "Smarter than me even- I do not give this compliment lightly"
Misaki smirked. "Simply because you are a fool?" she asked.
Tora didn't seem bothered. "Never have I met a woman like you. My deepest desire-"
"Marquess Igarashi, I hope you keep this discussion proper and to the point" Misaki snapped. "I will not tolerate your sly tongue in my household"
Tora innocently held his hands out. "I did not mean to offend you with my compliments," he chuckled.
"What do you want?" Misaki asked.
"You, of course"
Misaki jerked up and pulled her sword out at Tora. "You snake!" she hissed. "You tried to destroy my family and probably hundreds of others. I'd rather be dead than to have anything to do with you"
Tora smirked and carefully pushed Misaki's blade away from his neck. "Let's keep in professional then?" he suggested. "I just wanted to chat..."
"Speak now before I grow impatient" Misaki warned.
"Before you go ahead and wave your blade about like a madwoman" Tora said gesturing to Misaki. "I propose a duel" he said. "If you win, you choose the prize and if I win...I choose my prize."
Misaki froze. Tora saw her hesitation. "I did not think of you as a coward" he teased. "Maybe you don't meet my expectations after all."
Misaki gritted her teeth. "What is your deal?" she asked.
"If I win..." the Marquess said darkly. "...You will be mine"
The blade clattered onto the ground. Misaki knew this duel was much too risky. The very thought of losing and the consequences made Misaki feel sick.
"Too much to handle?" Tora continued to taunt. "Just win and you can name any prize you desire"
Tora pulled out his sword. He moved at a lightning fast pace. His blade carefully sliced the cord that held Misaki's cloak together. The violet silk drifted to the ground.
"Beautiful" Tora said. "I can not wait to see more-"
Misaki couldn't hear anymore. She kicked up her blade."I am going to kill you!" she yelled. "How dare you defile me like an object to be won!" she swung at him but Tora blocked.
"Women are merely objects" he said. He knew this woman couldn't handle such defiling. She'd soon make a mistake in her sparring.
"You monster" Misaki spat. The study wasn't open enough for sparring. Misaki kept having to step over things or knocking into bookshelves and other decorations. Misaki slowly back out of the study. Everything was in chaos. The guards were everywhere in the hall. Erika and Honoka were pale and wide eyed.
"Put your weapon down" the guard said to Tora. Several guards stood with swords ready.
"Give up" Misaki said, keeping her sword level.
"Fighting one to ten" Tora tsked. "How dishonorable" he said.
"You have no right to speak of honor" Misaki reminded him. "You have no honor. You are a shame to your family name"
"At least I can carry my family name unlike you...a mere woman"
"Step back!" Misaki ordered the guards. "I'm going to personally finish you" she screamed at Tora.
"No!" Erika screamed. "My lady stop! You will get hurt"
Misaki couldn't swallow her anger or her pride. Tora wanted her like a prize and shamed her in front of all these people. How dare he say such things to her!
"The Duke is no better" Tora continued. "Does he not see you as an object too? Does he not show you off during all these balls and feasts?"
"Don't you dare speak ill of my husband" Misaki warned.
"Be my Marchioness" Tora said. "I will truly give you anything you want"
"I want you to never show yourself to me again!"
"No matter how you act or dress...you'll never be a male" Tora said. "You can never be equals with any male"
Misaki and Tora's blade clashed together as Misaki glared at him. "That's what you believe" Misaki countered. "I'd rather be an honorable woman then a cowardly man like you"
"How harsh" Tora said. "We'll see who's the coward when they lose. I prefer my women willing but unwilling suits me fine too..."
Misaki felt her anger begin to boil. Tora continued to annoy her by faking his blows. He'd move to the right and quickly jerk back to the left.
"Seize him!" a voice commanded. The guards quickly did as they were told. Misaki gasped as Usui wrenched her away.
"Are you alright?!" he demanded. Misaki stared wide eyes and slowly nodded.
"Escort the Marquess off my land" Usui ordered. "He is never to step foot here again. Kill him if he does...he has been warned.
Tora smirked as the guards held him and took his sword. "Coward" he yelled at Misaki. "Hiding behind a man like a woman always does!"
Misaki stormed toward him but Usui caught her around the waist. "Let go!" she snapped at him. "I'm going to kill him!"
"No!" Usui said. "You are not going over there."
Misaki jerked against him. She wasn't going to let Tora get away with all those things he said.
"Coward" Tora continued to taunt.
"I'm going to kill you!" Misaki screamed. Usui pried the sword out of Misaki's hand and tossed it on the ground.
"What are you doing?!" Misaki exclaimed. "You're going to let him say those things to me?!" she shrieked.
"Get rid of him!" Usui yelled to the guards. They escorted Tora out.
"No!" Misaki yelled. "Tora! You coward! Don't run away- Takumi unhand me!" Misaki swung her elbow out but Usui easily caught it. Misaki's desperate struggles simply made him sigh.
Usui pinned Misaki's arms behind her back. "You need to calm down" he said.
"I can't!" Misaki yelled. "He ridiculed me in front of all these people. Why would you just let him leave!" Misaki tried to pull away from Usui but he was so much stronger than her.
"Let go!" Misaki yelled as loud as she could. She fought against Usui's hold but that only made Usui hold her tighter.
"Once you calm down I'll let you go" Usui told her in his ever calm voice.
"I order you to let me go!"
"You and what army?" Usui asked.
Misaki stomped her foot. "You women oppressor! You women hater!"
"Hey now" Usui said. "Don't get angry at me. It really wasn't me this time."
"You let Tora leave without a scratch!"
"It won't end well with anyone if you skewered the Marquess" Usui reasoned. "You'll regret it too. Taking a life, even as low as Tora's, has consequences."
Misaki just couldn't swallow her pride. Tora just walked away after calling her a coward, insulting her pride and simply being wretched. He was the coward!
Usui let Misaki go and walked her into the study with a firm hand on her shoulders. Misaki felt rather like a prisoner as Usui closed the door behind them. Misaki turned and kicked over a chair. That hardly made her feel better and threw her scabbard on the ground.
"Why are you in men's clothing again?" Usui asked, noticing her pants.
"Because I am just as good as you!"
Usui ignored the jab on his character. He didn't ever recall oppressing women...especially not Misaki. "You do realize you look different now. I hope you weren't planning on leaving again. No one would believe you were a male..." he said.
"I know that!" Misaki snapped. "I can wear pants of I want! I can-" Misaki tripped over the scabbard on the floor and crashed into a marble pedestal. Usui leaped up to grabbed Misaki. He ended up grabbing a fistful of her shirt though.
The worn fabric easily tore as Misaki tumbled onto the floor. Usui stood with a handful of Misaki's shirt balled up in his hand.
"Good heavens, Misaki" Usui said helping her up. "Stand still, will you?" he asked. He immediately checked her for wounds.
"You tore my shirt!" Misaki exclaimed. There was a large gaping hole at Misaki's chest.
"My apologies" Usui said, clearing his throat as Misaki tried to cover herself up.
"Don't look" she said pushing Usui's head to the side. Misaki stared in horror at herself. No matter how she tugged, she was completely exposed.
"Nothing I haven't seen before..." Usui muttered, unbuttoning his vest and handing it to Misaki. Misaki quickly put it on. Usui walked over and easily scooped her up. He tightly pressed her to his chest as he carried her out of the study.
"I'm not hurt" Misaki said, trying to get down.
"Let's not run into anymore objects" Usui said.
Misaki glared at him. Usui sat her down in their bedchamber and went to get Misaki something to wear.
"I don't want to wear gowns anymore" Misaki said flatly.
Usui sighed. "You're going to walk around in pants from now on?" he asked, looking slightly amused.
"Preciously"
"You want everyone to see your legs?"
"Everyone sees your legs" Misaki said, raising her chin.
"Uh huh..." Usui said sitting on the arm of the chair. "So, I often don't wear a shirt when its too hot...are you going to as well? I faintly remember someone being embarrassed with a hole in their shirt..."
Misaki paused. "But..." she said, not sure how to respond to that.
Usui placed a finger on her lips. "I promise that if Tora ever shows his face here again...I'll skewer him for you. I know thats why you're angry. It not even about the clothes"
"Now why won't that ruin your conscious?" Misaki demanded.
"Because" Usui said leaning toward her. "For you...I'd slay thousands without hesitation..."
He leaned in closer so their lips touched. Misaki couldn't fight the tiny smile on her lips as her eyes slowly closed and she lost herself in the mixture of emotions that coursed through her veins.