Chapter 8: Men Get Furious Easily, Especially when it Comes To Their Wives.
Hellooo: Thank you for reviewing, I'm really happy that it interested you! I hope you like this chapter too, and I think your expectations might be met, no spoilers though! Thank you for the good luck, the exams are going pretty smoothly! Hope you like this chapter too!
nathan19bane: Thank you for the review and the motivation! I'll definitely try my best to keep it up till the end, so please do continue to read and encourage me! Hope you find this chapter worth the wait!
Putxi: I really felt bad for Kagura myself too while writing, but hopefully, happier times await her! And yep, Sougo is really in love with her by now. Thank you for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this chapter too!
Akely: I'm really happy that the chapter interested you, though even I am not sure if it could really be called a twist, hee hee. And I totally agree that a few people are going to be in big trouble when Sougo gets mad… Thank you so much for the beautiful review, I hope this chapter meets your expectations too!
Torarara: You're welcome and thank you too for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter too, and I'm really grateful to you for leaving a review!
Now, let's get back to the story!
Silence was not Sougo's cup of tea in the morning, at least not since a certain China doll had begun to stay in the castle. Absolute silence, like that which filled the entire building at the moment, was nearly always a sign of impending trouble. The last time it had been this quiet was when she wasn't in the castle….
Sougo got up with a jerk. Is China here in the castle right now? It should never be this peaceful in the morning…. Wait, why the hell am I so worried about something so vague? She probably overslept today, that's all. How she'd laugh at me if she knew what rubbish I was thinking just now… Smiling a little, he went back to sleep, but the uneasiness still remained, mixing in with his dreams.
Two hours later, when he finally woke up, Sougo was quite alarmed to find it almost as silent as before. Sure, he could hear faint voices from downstairs, a distant tapping of boots and a rather loud bark, but there was no trace of her usual laughter, or the sound of gunshots and crashing noises. He got ready as quick as he could and hurried downstairs, hoping that somehow, she would be there and he could annoy her for making him worry needlessly. But when he reached there, he could only see Kondou, Hijikata, Matsudaira and a few maids who were serving them breakfast. There was no sign of his China.
Trying to keep his face as deadpan as usual, he too sat down at the table, ignoring Hijikata's and Kondou's disbelieving stares. Well, he assumed that they were justified; he had woken up an hour earlier than he usually did, and that too without anyone yelling at him.
"Sougo, are you fine? Is something troubling you? Tell your parents and we'll do our best to help you!"
"I don't recall being this brat's parent, Kondou san! Sougo, you had better not be planning any new deviltry."
"In that case, do me a favor and just go and die Hijikata san. Then I won't have to make any further plans."
As soon as the meal was over, Sougo walked away into the gardens, his eyes the only indication of how troubled he was. Matsudaira spoke as soon as he had left, "So, doesn't he know that his wife isn't in the palace yet?"
"He doesn't know for sure yet, which is why he went to the gardens to search for her. He probably woke up only because he missed her. I never thought I'd see the devil himself fall in love…"
Matsudaira frowned at that and said, his voice filled with disapproval, "You sound like an old lady now, Toshi. Is that any way for a man to think? A real man should never be blinded by love or any other sentiment! Ah, there comes Sasaki."
The prince of the Mimawarigumi strode into the room, carrying a bunch of papers, looking as disinterested as ever, though his monocle glinted curiously. Hijikata glared at him, but he had no choice, for Edo and the Mimawarigumi were working together for once to catch the unknown psychopath.
"So, Sasaki, have you found out anything about the royal family of Rakuyou, with all your elite skills? Please enlighten us 'commoners' then will you?"
"As coarse as ever, aren't you, Hijikata san? And indeed, I've found out a few interesting details about your queen. The first, as all of you may know already, is that her father is known as the fiercest and best warrior of the continent. Her mother died very recently, but the lady is truly a mystery. It is not known where exactly she came from, and I admit that all my elite sources have failed to find that out. The China princess has almost no blood relatives, except a long lost older brother. It is likely that he is dead, for he has not been heard of for nearly ten years. In other words, the most likely possibility is that your queen herself is the psychopath murderer."
"Sasaki! You don't know what you're saying! I still will not believe that China san can do something like that!"
"We do not have much of an option, Kondou san. As much as I hate to admit it, the guy's right. And if she does happen to be innocent, why the hell has she run away from the castle? As of now, she's the main target of the investigation, and we will be proceeding as such."
"Whom did you just call a psychopath, Hijikata san? Are you sure you haven't lost your head, accusing my China doll of murder? You're the reason why she's gone, aren't you?" Sougo stood at the doorway, gripping his sword. His face was as deadpan as usual, perhaps even more so, but the lack of expressions frightened them more than any sadistic grin, furious yell or glare could have. Kondou exclaimed, sensing imminent death, "Sougo, you're misunderstanding! We never considered China san to be a murderer or anything like that!"
"Is that so, Kondou san? Then what was it that I just heard about her becoming the main suspect of the investigation? Well, Hijikata san?"
"I get that you're angry, Sougo, but try and face the facts. This case is connected to her, and-"Hijikata stopped as he felt the tip of a sword lightly touch his neck. To make it worse, it was drawn.
"I don't want to hear a single word more about some stupid investigation you've done. I don't care if you find hair just like hers on the scene either. But what I do care about is that she isn't going to get hurt. You hurt Aneue enough, Hijikata san, don't you dare hurt my China too." Sougo's eyes were burning, their hue too similar to blood.
"Sougo, take that sword away immediately, before I have to fire on you. If that girl does turn out to be the criminal, will you keep trying to protect her like this? Have you forgotten your duty as a prince?" Matsudaira's voice was a frightening rumble, but it hardly seemed to have any effect on Sougo.
"Duty of a prince? Totsuan, doesn't preventing an innocent citizen from being framed for what she would never do come under the duty of a prince? And if China is somehow guilty, then as her husband, it's my business to bother about it, not any of yours."
Sasaki sighed softly to himself. He had expected, being the elite he was, that the prince would never allow an investigation against his wife, no matter how much proof was placed before him. Well, all of it did sound ridiculous anyway. However, there was still a lot of work to do yet. He calmly drew a tranquillizing gun out of his inner pocket. After all, unconscious royals hardly interfered much with one's plans. But suddenly,
CHOMP! Everyone looked up at the unexpected crunch; Sadaharu had happily bitten down on Sasaki's head. Blood trickled down the Mimawarigumi prince's face as the gun fell to the floor. Sougo grinned a little at that, "Good dog, Sadaharu. It looks like we're going to have to retrieve your idiotic owner soon. So knock out this Mayora, Gorilla and Madao for me, will ya? Kill the Mayora if you like, I don't mind."
"WAN!"
Meanwhile, in another part of Edo, the worst sibling fight in history was going on, leaving nothing but destruction everywhere within a two mile radius. Kagura felt guilty about destroying so much of Edo, but she hardly had the leisure to consider others, given the situation she was in now. Kamui had truly gotten crazy strong within the last few years and it was taking all her effort to barely match him, without snapping the last chains of her sanity. No matter what, she wouldn't lose herself, because that would just mean that she was as terrible as her brother; she too was a total monster.
Grabbing her parasol, she rushed at him, jumping as he aimed a kick at her and bringing it down on his head. The impact pushed both of them away momentarily, before Kamui charged again, shooting wildly. One of the bullets ricocheted off her umbrella and to Kagura's horror, went straight towards a little girl who had just appeared out of the ruined buildings, crying blindly. She let her instincts take over as she rushed to push the idiotic, helpless child away from death. Almost instantaneously, a sharp pain shot through her, causing her to bend over in agony. The bullet had struck her, embedding itself in her side.
Kamui stopped, looking highly amused at his sister's condition. "Sister dear, how foolish have you become after all these years. What made you save a brat you never saw before, at the risk of your own life? You were never going to beat me, but I think I'll just finish you off now. You're really a disgrace to the name of the Yato clan, you know that?"
"I'd prefer being a disgrace to the name of my clan than to be a disgrace to my people. Try and kill me, Baka niichan, and you're going down too. We'll listen to Mami scold us together, yes?"
"My, my, I'd like it if you refrained from mentioning that person…. But it still intrigues me, how are these trash your people? You aren't the queen of Edo, after all."
"Sorry to surprise you, Baka niichan, but I am the queen of Edo, because I accidentally got married to the jerk who calls himself the King. So all these people are mine and it's my duty to protect them, uh huh."
"So you got married, Sister dear? Well, I guess I have another person to send to hell after I am done with you."
"I'm afraid not, Baka niichan; you aren't going to lay a hand on the Sadist- Ahhh!" For Kamui had sprung forward, smashing his sister's head into the rocks. Smiling as widely as ever, he stepped on her hand and crushed the bone within seconds, causing her to scream louder than ever. Kagura felt every inch of her body explode in pain as she was thrown and beaten up like a helpless doll, her injury preventing her from attacking back. But hell, she so wasn't going to lose to her idiot brother like this, not because of some stupid injury!
Kamui's eyes widened in surprise as blood suddenly spurted out of his hand, for Kagura had dug her nails into it with all the strength she had. The moment he loosened his grip on her, she kicked him in the stomach, jumping away. Seems like that crybaby did become a little stronger… But there's no way she can stand up to stop me any more, not after this! His eyes burning with a crazed light, he rushed towards the girl with inhuman speed, punching her with all his might, his fist devoid of any mercy. The girl choked, vomiting blood and fell down, shaking from the blow. Kamui smiled in satisfaction; she didn't get up again.
He looked around him in resignation; all hopes of him remaining incognito were gone now. He'd have to listen to Abuto's annoying lectures again…. Well, it still had been interesting. Ever since he had left Rakuyou, he had wandered through many countries, trying to get stronger, forget the people who would just be a burden to him and become the most idiotic psychopath pirate captain ever. He hadn't expected to meet his sister at Edo, nor learn that she was married. Well, the last part could be taken care of soon enough. Suddenly, he heard paws thudding a little distance away and the whole area was abruptly filled with killing intent, which surprised even him. Kamui smiled as he turned around, things just looked like they were going to get more fun.
Sougo could barely think straight. All he saw in front of him was China, his China, lying still on the ground, almost, almost as if she was…dead. Her body was battered and bruised like hell and her pale skin was dyed red and brown with her blood. Her hands were bent at awkward angles, proof enough that they had been brutally broken. In fact, she looked no better than a broken, muddy doll. And whoever hurt his only doll was going to pay for it with more than his life, more than every iota of his existence. Even the deepest depths of hell would hardly be fitting for the bastard who had dared to lay a hand on his beloved rival.
"Oh dear, you look quite upset, did that weakling mean much to you? I should probably say sorry, she won't be getting up for a very long time."
"Be sorry that I won't send you to hell for what you did to China."
Kamui's eyes widened in shock as Sougo lunged at him, his eyes emptier than pools of blood. He leaped backwards, feeling blood gush from his chest, even as his opponent slashed at him again. The two went at it wildly, their eyes and movements no longer human. Neither of them noticed a tear run down the fallen girl's cheek as her dog whined over her, licking her wounds.
You idiot sadist, why the hell did you come here? Don't you understand that I don't want to lose you too?
A/N: So there ends the eighth chapter! I hope it was an exciting read; fight scenes are not my best skill, honestly. A huge thanks to everyone who read, liked and reviewed this story, you always make me keep grinning! Do take the time to leave a review; your support never fails to keep me going! Feel free to send me suggestions, requests, anything you wish, I love to know what you think about it. Constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement are also greatly appreciated!