The sound of Bella's sheets being ripped off of her caused me to awake with a heart attack. My attention went immediately to the small chaotic girl throwing her bedding from her body and running out of bed with panic taking her over. "What the hell," I shouted vexed at the Princess's rude interruption to my sleep.
"The suns already up, I should have woken up hours ago!" She ran all over the large trashed room throwing clothes around and other miscellaneous garbage. I grumbled and leaned my head back into the seat trying to get just a few more minutes of precious rest. Every night this past week I had been insomniac due to constant thinking of goals, wishes and impossiblities. By the time I had finally fallen asleep, this little disaster would jump out of bed and try to leave the room without me.
Bam, smash, crack
The items in her room were tossed carelessly around rousing me awake. "What are you looking for?!" I was beyond annoyed with her eccentric moods recently. Yesterday she refused to get out of bed for anything- even to train with me, and today she was a little ball of spastic energy. Why couldn't she be like this yesterday, I really wanted to train yesterday.
BAM!
She threw a trinket across the room in hopes of finding whatever she was looking for. I was so close to strangling her, my will restrained my last nerve from breaking- but I was so close to ringing her little Princess neck. You're so lucky that I can't afford to fail this mission.
This was her cycle I discovered. She'd start out acting like this then she'd move on to act like a sassy brat- then a sweet sexy women- then back to causing mayhem. Damn women, giving me whiplash. I don't know if I should like you or kill you.
"I need something to WEAR!" she said screamed and threw a shoe across the room.
I sat back into my chair, as I deemed it now. "You never care what you wear, why all of a sudden-"
She cut me off. "Because I do Madara," I waved off her snippy attitude.
At long last she picked up a purple satin garment off the ground of her walk in closet and smiled with relief. "Here we go," she skipped with the dress in hand over to her wall divider to change into the clothes- I as just glad she was done throwing shit.
From behind the screen she tossed her night gown and her panties sloppily across the room. Even her briefs were purple I had noticed which provoked a question I had been wondering for awhile. "What's with you and purple?"
"It's my favorite color." She answered simply, walking out with the dress on. It covered her feet-that were at all times bare, and the neckline dropped down low in between her breasts to show off a generous amount of cleavage. It was on that grey line between sexy and slutty. Is that what she's aiming for?
She turned around and flashed me her bare back. "Zip, please." I didn't enjoy being her personal servant, but I couldn't help but agree to put my hands on her body. I walked behind her pressing my cold hands on to her warm skin, "stop!" she wailed and turned around to hit me.
I chuckled and turned her back around so I could have access to the zipper, It's so fun to fuck with you. "No bra today?" I questioned her.
"Nope," she said not even slightly embarrassed over my observation. The dress was tight around her curves but the zipper went up her spine with ease.
"Classy," I teased.
She walked over to her mirror and admired herself vainly. There's that sassy brat attitude. Her thin agile hands picked up the mess of white locks that hung just bellow her chest and threw them up, then back down, then up again, then back down. "Uh!" She frustrated herself.
"Up," I advised.
Unexpected to hear from me, the woman turned around and gave me an amused expression and peered back in the mirror to move her hair up submissively to my request. A smirk turned the corners of her pink lips upwards as she enjoyed the sight of herself. Not the modest one are we? I couldn't help but smirk also as I admired her exposed neck and shoulders. "Why up?" She brought me back from my oblivious state.
"Personal opinion." I went back staring at all the vital spots that she had unveiled to me.
She pinned it in a messy bun giving off the faint motion that she cared about her appearance today- but not really. "You're right, this is much better."
I brought us back to our previous discussion as I lauded over her nearly naked upper body. "Your father's favorite color must be purple too." Hmm, I wonder how soft her skin is. I never really felt it before. I could see several kill points, and in the manner she dressed herself I could easily access them. She was vulnerable to me in so many ways- I imagined she couldn't even count them- but I can. It must be my brute Shinobi side, but her complete trust that she held in me not to hurt her was overwhelmingly provocative.
"What makes you say that?"
"Haven't you noticed this entire mansion is decorated in purple?"
She smiled to herself and her little secret, "yes I have. It's also White and Gold."
White, gold, and purple… Ha!
"Your hair, eyes, and color. He's turned this place into a shrine of you!"
She shook her head turning down the notion, "My biological mother designed the house."
Well that doesn't make sense. I lied down on her bed- stretching myself across it. I was getting very annoyed with her secrets. "What gave her that authority?"
She came to the side of the bed and lied down next to me placing her head on the pillow opposite to mine. She really has no personal boundaries. "My biological mother was an artist; she was hired by my father and Carla to decorate the house with her inspirations." Bet the old bitch regrets that decision.
"Well…" Bella paused with a smirk dragged across her full lips. Their's that sexy side. "It wasn't until after I was born that my biological mother actually found her inspiration." She turned her head to the side lying it an inch from mine. She beamed me a victorious face, the pride was oozing out of her. "Once Carla found out about me and the affair she wanted the entire palace burnt down, although my father didn't like that idea too much and fought with her on it. I've always been the topic of their arguments." She concluded. She seemed to be at peace with the outcome of her life but I couldn't imagine how. It wasn't exactly the typical princess fairytale.
She jumped up from the bed and danced across the room, spinning around in circles. The hem of her dress flamed around her ankles and revealed her spinning feet. "Today is going to suck so bad!" She sang.
I couldn't take my eyes off her, "Why?" The way the satin hugged her hips and waist and propped up her bare breasts, it made me want to rip it off her. I'm on a mission, I can't mess around. I need to get paid; it's for the good of the clan.
She paused her spinning abruptly and growled. "I'm supposed to meet a suitor today."
Great, I get to see the mating ceremony of socialites…
Here he was prince charming, riding his gallant steed to come and rescue me. Golden wavy hair, dressed in a white formal suit, literally on a horse riding towards the front door; he was like a fairytale prince out of a book.
Madara grumbled under his breath, nearly making me laugh aloud. Oh my... he's jealous?
The handsome man jumped off his horse and bowed before my father and I. "Lord Shijimi, Princess Isabella. I am honored to make your acquaintance." He arose from his bow and marched towards me, out of instinct I moved my hand towards him- and he kissed the palm. "My lady," he flirted. "I am Prince Haji."
I nearly burst with laughter with his silly introduction. Haji began a conversation with my father, and I took the chance to see what my faithful bodyguard was doing. He had his jaw clenched, his hands tightly in balls and was overall tensed up from head to toe. "Relax" I whispered.
He glared at me and bent over my ear, his breath tickled as he whispered "he's not just a tool, he's the whole damn box."
I waved him off, "Shush, he's a nice man." I hope, please God let that be the truth.
Madara straightened himself as my father eyed us peculiarly. "Let's adjourn inside!" he suggested.
The prince and I sat adjacent to one another on the white sofa. I wasn't someone who was big on personal space, but when it came to the prince- I felt rather uncomfortable being close to him. It was probably my nerves- I knew I had to marry this man; there was no choice in it.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Madara leaned against the door frame of the sitting room and watching the prince diligently. He looks rather unhappy, I'll have to make him a very nice dinner later for yesterday's annoyance and today's boring schedule. Hmmm Stir-Fry, I think he'll love Stir-Fry.
My father sat across from us in one of the velvet chairs identical to the one in my bedroom sipping on tea as he usually did in his down time. "How is your father, Haji?" My father began
The Prince smiled, "The Daimyo of wind is doing well. He plans to retire soon. Although my father wants me to get married before I start my reign, so he is holding on to his post for now. He's always been fond of the expression; behind a great man- is an even greater woman." He beamed at me.
Oh great, the Queen talk again. I really don't want to do that...
"I completely agree with your father." He nodded.
"Where's your greater woman, Dad?" I sassed earning an unpleasant cracking noise as he grinded down on his teeth.
Madara glared as Carla and Beniko walked in the room sourly. "She's right here," Carla hissed.
"Haji," my father stood at once next to his wife in the doorway. "This is my wife Queen Carla Shijimi and my eldest daughter Princess Beniko Shijimi."
The Prince stood and bowed before them, "It's an honor." He said graciously.
Beniko puckered her lips, pleased with his submission. "So you're my sister's suitor, "she blanched as she willingly admitted our relation. "What, must I ask, have you done to deserve such a fate?" Haji's eyes widened in shock over her rudeness.
"Beniko!" My father hushed her. "I'm sorry Haji, you know sibling rivalry and all." He rubbed the back of his head sorely with an injured laugh.
Haji nodded in understanding but said nothing further. He sat back down beside me and pet my hand lightly with his thumb.
"I apologize for intruding; I need to speak to my husband." Carla requested my father's attention- who reluctantly obliged.
As the three of them walked into the hallway the prince whispered in my ear, "you're very beautiful."
Madara narrowed his icy gaze, he must have had astounding hearing to have heard his compliment. He's a Shinobi, of course he has good hearing. "Thank you," I whispered back.
"You're welcome," his breath blew down my neck making me shudder in alarm. His hand brushed mine and he grazed up and down my arm with a gentle touch.
"Watch it," Madara growled out of nowhere causing Haji to recoil his hand back in surprise.
He had almost forgotten we weren't alone. "I'm sorry, who are you?" Haji attempted to belittle him.
Madara wasn't amused, "I'm the bodyguard, and the next time your hand touches her- you're not getting it back. Problem?"
Haji frowned, "no." he held his hands in his lap and looked down at his feet to avoid Madara's gaze.
I gave Madara a brief reassuring smile Thank you.
My father walked in moments later alone, he looked exhausted from his talk. "I apologize for my rudeness."
The prince let the shame wash from his demeanor and he proudly greeted my father, "don't apologize, I was actually about to ask if Isabella if she enjoyed horses." He rejoiced.
"Bella, please." I corrected.
"I'd prefer to call you by your birth name," he argued. "It's what's proper."
Haji and my father shared a look of agreement, "See Bell, this man has manners!" My father prided.
Oh no, I can't handle this.
"but how about it, Isabella. Would you like to go on a horseback ride with me?"
I shook my head, no longer amused by the man. "No I don't particularly enjoy horses. They're menacing."
My father frowned, "Bell you know that's not true, you love horses." He attempted to correct my disrespect.
I flashed him a repulsed look, "Horses are scary." I pressed.
The Prince grabbed my hand and pulled me up. "Oh nonsense, better to face your fears sooner or later." I quickly looked to Madara who was lurched forward towards Haji like a lion stalking its prey. He was nearly ready to pounce on him when my father covertly waved him off while the prince wasn't looking.
I was forced to walk outside with Haji to see his repulsive horse. The Princes large white horse stood at the bottom of the porch and snorted as I approached. I broke away from course and took a few steps back away from the large animal. I had directly reversed into Madara's chest and tripped on my feet; he grabbed my bicep and pulled me up to keep my body from falling to the ground.
The Prince turned around to inspect what the holdup was about. "Isabella, come- he's a good horse."
I nodded and hid my fear, "I can see that, he looks like a very good horse from over here."
The blonde man stroked the white main of the horse and bid me to come closer, "Would you like to go on a ride?"
Madara caught a glimpse of my concern and answered for me, "that's not a good idea." He counselled.
The Daimyo who was just a few steps behind the scene acknowledged Madara's misgivings. "Don't worry Madara you can stay here while they go on their ride. Haji is a gentleman, they don't need a chaperone. Go ahead Haji, don't take too long though."
I shivered under Madara's menacing grasp. He kept a hold of my bicep and firmly kept it close to him, but after several looks of disapproval from my father he was forced to let me go. I knew he was stuck between a rock and hard place just as I was so I couldn't blame him- but I really really didn't want to do this.
I should have ripped his head off when I had the chance. Why did I even heed that old senile man? Like he knows what's best for her! That idiot Prince, dragging her off like that, like she's a toy… I should have followed them, why did I let that old Daimyo convince me not to?
It had been an hour and they weren't back yet from that ridiculous horseback ride that she didn't even want to go on in the first place. I was about to go searching for them when I heard the clicking of hooves coming down the trail. I stood up from the porch step and crossed my arms angrily at the approaching couple. I had grabbed my Katana from her bedroom while they were gone and I held it on my hip threateningly.
Bella was red faced and shell shocked as she sat side saddle in front of the prince on his horse. When they finally came to a halt the Princess jumped off disregarding the Prince's helping hand. "I will see you later my darling!" He called after her as she approached me.
I inauspiciously sneered, "What the fuck is going on?"
"Nothing, just come on." She said shortly.
Why must you always keep secrets? "Did he touch you?" Please give me a reason to carve his pretty boy face up.
"No." FUCK... I'll get you later you little fucker. I glared at the unconcerned blonde boy.
Her father busted through the doors with open arms and a proud smile on his face, "you're back, how was it?!" He greeted his daughter and the Prince.
The Prince shouted out before Bella had the chance to answer, "Your daughter is a spirited one! She is so in tune to her inner Goddess!"
Bella whispered lowly so only I could hear, "He means I was nasty to him the whole time."
The Prince went on, "She has a very active body-"
"I tried to run away from him and his stupid horse."
The Prince finally ended with, "but after our journey I asked her to marry me, and she agreed!"
My heart sunk into my stomach. So soon, they met only this morning! I've known her longer than him, damnit! Bella grabbed my hand discreetly while her father and the Prince jousted at each other and gayly rejoiced in conversation.
I walked behind her, not knowing what to do or say. This is why I'm here, I'm supposed to protect her while she picks a suitor. Why did I allow myself to like this girl? I should have just stuck with thinking of her as a spoiled brat…. but she's not… DAMNIT!
The prince noticed our departure and shouted out a farewell to his Fiancée, "Good evening my darling, I will think of you fondly tonight- Until we meet again."
The doors slammed behind us as we evacuated to her bedroom. She stomped the entire way shouting and cursing, "He's disgusting, what a depraved child he is! Think fondly? He means my name will be on the tissue he jacks off with quietly and pathetically in his bathroom."
Oh, I mouthed at her rant. I couldn't help but release a chuckle at the way she burned her now future husband. The fuming beauty grabbed the handle to her door and threw it open, making it slam against the opposite wall harshly. "Close it!" She ordered me intensely as I walked in behind her.
I locked it as well, sensing she wasn't going to want any visitors walking in her door unannounced. "If you hate him so much, why are you marrying him?"
"Like I have a fucking choice," she grabbed a vase from her dresser and threw it at the wall. Never had I heard her swear, not once had she let it slip, but this Prince was capable of bringing this side out of her so swiftly. I applauded him briefly in my mind, smirking at her as she let her temper wage war on her room.
"Stop looking at me like I'm an amusement park. Standing there smirking while I silently lose my mind- you're horrible!"
"For one you're not being silent," I corrected. She picked up a pillow and chucked it at me. I let it hit my abdomen.
She plopped down on her pillow and wailed into her mattress. She was kicking and screaming, rolling around and throwing everything that came near her. "Calm your ass down," here is the mayhem. She's so predictable.
"No," she lurched upwards and turned on me. "You aren't forced to marry anyone, You have no commitment to any laws and regulations, You have no idea what it's like to have to wed someone for title and security. If it weren't for the recent events- I'd never marry!"
I went quiet, all humor leaving my veins rapidly. "What recent events?"
She shook her head silently cursing herself for slipping lip, "nothing- it doesn't concern you."
I advanced towards her vehemently and captured her jaw in my hand, "Everything you do concerns me," I spat. "Now tell me why you're forced to marry this man!"
"No, let me be. You do not need to be concerned with my life!"
"I am to protect you, which means I must be involved in your life. Why do you think I took care of you the other day, why do you think I am always around?!" I was snarling at her now.
She tried to pull her face out of my hand but failed, injuring her delicate jaw from the struggle. "Madara you're hurting me!" She cried.
"Stop fucking moving then, you're going to listen to me!" She stopped her struggle and the defiance drained out of her honey eyes. Fear was all that stood now. I'm going to end up losing this mission…. I don't care anymore. "You frustrate me and keep secrets from me, how can I protect you when you snake around my back!"
"I don't," she insisted.
"Yes you do!" I pushed the matter. "Just yesterday you snuck out of the room to God knows where and came back- refusing to tell me what happened and where you went!"
"I don't want you to know!"
"FUCKING WHY!" I was sure the servants down the hall could hear us now.
My face was inches from hers; blood pulsated under my skin changing my cool complexion into a fierce red. She whipped her hand out so fast I hadn't time to react. The slap against my face caused an echoing WHAP. I instantly let go of her jaw and grasped the stinging area where she struck.
"FUCKING HELL, how can something so small- hit so damn hard!" Her hit was equivalent to one I would expect from an experienced Shinobi.
"Don't you touch me or speak to me in that way again. I am not some whore you can toss around and flame at." She pointed at me.
I reflected on what I had done and frowned deeply. My weak point was when it came to controlling my emotions, I've always had a problem with it- even when I was a kid. I had been in the moment and wasn't thinking about the implications of what I said and did. "I'm sorry." I said hurriedly.
Her jaw was red and turning slightly purple from where I gripped her. Please don't bruise. I prayed to whatever God would still listen to me. She was adjusting herself. Her earlier horseback ride, temper tantrum, and my assault had done a toll on her image. Her pinned up hair was hardly holding on, looking as if she had been just fucked unmercifully. The light make up was smudged and wearing thin, and that damn dress of hers was falling off her shoulders. Of all days for you not to wear a bra. I couldn't look away from her, even when roughed up she looked alluring.
I put my earlier statement into a compact calm one. "I want you to share with me what you know and what you do." She gazed up at me, her melancholy rich eyes did something to my spirit, pushing me to say things I knew I would regret saying. "If not because I'm your bodyguard, but because I personally care for your safety." If Izuna heard me say that he'd never let me live it down.
"Personally," she mouthed. "Why would you bother caring for me personally?" I have a feeling there is more behind that statement than what she originally intended it to say.
I shrugged, "I don't know- you tell me. What is it about you that draws out of me this possessive and lusting side?" She sat on her bed with her mouth dropped open, she was silent and contemplative. I could see her looming over the word lusting.
Was that the right word to use… I looked her over again, gazing down at her lips and her tight body. Yes that is definitely the right word.
She rubbed her jaw sorely. "Carla knows something about me that could have me killed. My only option is to get married out of the country so that if she tries to tell the authorities what she knows the law can't follow me."
What could she know that could have her killed?
"By law I need to marry someone who is of equal status with me or higher, otherwise the union cannot be legally documented. This is the only Prince left that I can marry in the surrounding continent." She paused. "That sounds so horrible, the only person in the Continent who will marry me." She mourned over the thought.
"If you don't marry him?"
"If I don't marry him" she answered. "I'll be executed via beheading."
The image of her on her knees with a bag over her head as a man dressed in all black aimed a sword at her head. Over and over I saw the sword swing at her fragile neck that I had admired earlier this morning. That couldn't happen, who would willingly kill her? She's the most innocent thing I've seen in my 24 years; I don't even think I could stain my hands with her blood. "What does she have over you that could put you on the executioners block?"
"Please drop it," She went up on her knees using the mattress as a platform. She placed her palms on my cheeks and held my face firmly in between them. "I need you to drop it. I can't lose you, not now. If you were to know my secrets you would abandon me."
"Don't be so sure." I placed my hands over hers, "I've killed more people in my life than I can remember. God himself has probably lost count." She looked at me with boredom and confusion as to where I was taking this. "I've ransacked towns with my clan and ravaged landscapes with war. I can't imagine you'd have a secret that would make me tuck my tail in between my legs."
Throughout my speech she didn't flinch nor blanch at any of my confessions. She took them in as if they were harmless misdemeanors. "I do," she whispered. "I have a secret that has turned loving suitors who had their hearts and sights on me- into assailants. The first suitor proposed as soon as he saw me, but I slipped up and he found out. He threw fire on my bed while I slept. The second suitor bought me hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of presents to dote upon me and he nearly slit my throat when he saw what I was."
I observed her neck, but no scar was present. "How did you stop him?"
"Stop, please." She begged and wrapped her arms around my neck- pulling me down into her. I hunched forward and buried my face into the crook of her neck. Vanilla? That's definitely the smell of Vanilla. I fell into her arms, pushing her back down on to the bed and pulling up her dress so that I could place my knees in between her legs.
My hands rubbed down her sides curving around her hips and stopping as they touched the bare skin of her thighs, her skin is softer than the fabric. I held firmly on to them as I nibbled on her neck. She curved her back up and moaned into my ear warmly. "Madara stop being naughty, I'm engaged." I moved my hands up and down her dress again. "Madara please, I don't like this." I can hear the smile in your voice, you little liar.
"He's a ridiculous little pansy," I murmured into her neck.
"I agree, but that doesn't make this right."
I growled and propped my weight off of her, facing my face to hers. I knew it, you were smiling. "When he finds out what you're hiding what will you do if he tries to kill you like the rest?"
"He won't find out."
"All secrets are found out eventually, Princess- I'm not contracted to protect you forever."
She bit her lip and looked away nervously, almost as if she were afraid I'd see her secret through those large doe eyes of hers.
I imagined what my clan would say if they saw how I was performing my mission. Easily I could assume the elders would try to cast me out for my heinous approach towards my dutiful task of protecting the Princess, my father would disown me surely, and Izuna would chew my ear off about how I was growing soft. but for some reason I still don't care- I desire her more than I've desired anything else. She sits on a throne alongside my childish dream world.
A knock came at the door followed by a shaking of the door handle. "Bell why is your door locked?"
She groaned, "I don't want to talk right now." She pushed my shoulders up, trying to unwrap herself from me. I held tighter and chuckled.
"We need to, sweetheart. Open the door."
I kissed fervently down her chest, reaching her cleavage causing her to stir underneath me. "Madara stop," she whisper-yelled.
"Nope," I went back to kissing her collarbone.
"Bell!" her father shouted and jolted the doorknob.
She was shoving at me weakly, trying to get me off. "One second!" She snapped at her father. "Let me go!"
"Nope, if you keep trying to push me off of you I'm going to give you a hickey." Show that damn Prince what's mine.
"What do I have to do to get you off of me?"
"Take a bath with me later."
"Hell no!"
"Bella if you don't open this door right this second you're going to be in big trouble!" He threatened her like a toddler.
She nervously looked to me and then her father again and growled frustrated. "Fine, whatever you pervert. Fine!"
I let go of her satisfied with myself and sat down in my chair. She ran to the door and unlocked it for her father who stomped in fiercely. "Bella what is the matter with you- and why is your jaw bruised?!" He narrowed his sights on my earlier handy work. "-And WHY is this room a mess?!"
"Nevermind it, what do you want?!" She turned away from him and gave me a covert glare.
I felt shame for my earlier abuse, but it couldn't be helped now. I'd make it up to her later.
"We need to talk about wedding plans. This is going to have to be a rushed wedding. It'll have to be done next week." So I have a week. Great… "I've made several appointments for tomorrow- flowers, dress, and you'll need to have a meeting with the priest."
She rolled her eyes and walked to the door, "fine, goodnight Father." She held the door open for him and he reluctantly did as she bid.
"Goodnight Sweetheart, please don't hate me for this."
"I don't," she said simply and closed the door.
I was on her instantly, pushing her hard against the door- locking it when she was thoroughly distracted. I picked her up and threw her back down on to the bed, laying myself on top of her before she had the chance to evade me.
"How about that bath, you look like you could use some time to relax." He whispered in my ear as he pulled at my dress. I pushed at him trying to rid myself of the obnoxious man. He grabbed my arms and pinned them above my head, "What did I say about pushing, it's not nice is it?" He tucked his head into the crook of my neck and started to suck on it.
"Stop, stop, stop, I'm sorry!" I cried not wanting him to show evidence of his assault. I couldn't lose this suitor, even if I wanted to. If he saw a hickey on his fiancée he'd leave me in a heartbeat.
Madara waited for my answer, "not tonight- later."
He unburied himself from my neck and stared at me intently, "I don't believe you."
"I never break my promises."
He gave a tight squeeze to my wrists causing me to cry out, "you better." He gave a brash unwarranted thrust against my pelvis.
"Stop that!" He just smiled.