Hey, guys! It took some time for me to translate this chapter and come here to publish. It's a very hard work, and sometimes I think I have to take much more English classes before try to translate my fanfic. But it's okay, I believe you can undestand my idea. Sorry if my sentences are simple or something.
Well, last chapter a reader asked me what my story has in common with Inuyasha's Universe, so I'll remember you, people, who Hitomi Kagewaki (Kagewaki Hitomi, whatever) was: he was the man from whom Naraku stole the appearance. You can see this character in Episode 24, if I'm not mistaken. Well, this fanfiction begins before the events that occurred in the episode in question. Soon, things will have the same cronology as the TV Series and you will feel more familiar with it, I promise. What I can say for now it's that all that will happen in the first chapters will be very important for my narrative's direction. This is not supose to be a Fairy Tale. Oops!
Hope you enjoy what I'm bringing to you today! Let's read!
Chapter 2 - Prisioner
"There she goes, arrest her!" The leader ran after Annabelle accompanied by five more soldiers, however, she was lighter and faster and jumped the stone steps hoping to get away from the castle.
"How fast she can be!" One of the men complained as he stumbled down the stairs and almost rolled it down.
"Get out of my way!" Another soldier pushed him aside and moved on.
He managed to reach her as they entered the forest, but he stumbled over the great root of a tree. The man could swear he have seen it moving upward after the woman had jumped it, and yet he was close enough to grab her ankle.
Annabelle fell with her face sunk in the black earth and her fingers nailed to it. Slightly, she turned her body and felt something heavy over herself. It was her captor, who tore the shroud off her orange head to look at the precious turquoises up close. The only light to shine above themselves came from the silver moon in the sky.
"You deserve a nice punishment for your behavior." His smirk made her freeze.
Annabelle showed no resistance and lined her arms on the floor, her hands stretched to her hip as the guy snuggled between her legs to begin to climb her long skirt.
The moment the cloth curled up over her knee and up her thighs, Annabelle folded one of her legs and wrapped the soldier in it. She slyly stretched her fingers to her boot, reaching a silver handle, and pulling it.
"Ah!" The man moaned when an object stabbed under his jamb at the height of his armpit. It certainly was not a fatal injury, though it hurt like hell. "You bitch!"
She pushed him aside, and freed from his weight, would try to proceed with the escape.
Swords surrounded her.
"Where do you think you're going?" That hateful samurai again, the most loyal to the feudal lord.
Shit! – Annabelle rattled – just in thoughts.
"My lord, you must punish her in some way, it happened three times, and only in a week!" The samurai of his confidence commented irritably. "And look at this," he tossed the refined dagger to the floor, precious stones adorning the silver handle. "The woman was armed! She could have killed one of my men!"
"She must be punished, allow me to beat her, sir." the stabbed man asked.
"No, father, please. It is more than clear to everyone that this approach is not working, I ask you to let me speak with that lass". Hitomi suggested, shocked at the idea of the soldier.
"And do you think some conversation will solve that?" The lord laughed.
"I think if she's treated well, she can stay with us by her will." the son said convict. "Leave it in my hands, that's all I ask," he said, bowing to his knees. They were sitting, facing each other.
"Whatever" The master did not seem to care about his son's methods.
"Thank you." He cheered, thanked him and left.
"The young master is attracted to that woman." "The warrior who served them faithfully for many years gritted his teeth.
"Then let him take her for himself, make her his courtesan, I do not care, as long as she makes me some profit. The peasants' harvest has not been enough." He sighed in annoyance. "There's been something wrong in these lands for some time. We need to find other ways to earn something, and I'm sure a lot of people will pay to see this woman's gift, or else they'll be encouraged to make deals with me. She's been a hit since the first night ..." He flashed an ambitious smile.
"Would not this woman be the cause of the soil being infertile? We do not know how long she'd been around us." The suspicious samurai said.
"If it's her, we'll find out."
Anabelle heard the lock opening, then she heard the light footsteps and wondered who was approaching. It was him. She looked at Hitomi sideways, but did not leave the place. The lonely prisoner kept her back to him, admiring the gardens through window's bars.
"I'm sorry for all this... I really do" Hitomi took a deep breath before spoke carefully. "I didn't want that for you."
"Then why don't you release me?" She asked harshly.
"That's beyond my power. At least now I'm allowed to approach and try to help you, if you let me so. Would you come with me?" he opened the door, no bars or chains to lock it.
She heard his footsteps and realized they were alone, there was no one but the young master walking forward her. It was real, the handsome son of the castle lord was pulling her out of her prison, and there were no guards around them.
Is it the perfect chance to escape? She wondered.
Annabelle followed him from distance through the corridors, analyzing the paths they walked, trying to understand how the giant castle was divided so she would not make mistakes next time. Finally, the girl came across open doors that led into an extensive and luxurious room and stopped to look inside, he was at her side.
"Come inside." He guided her.
Annabelle questioned him with her eyes, and his response was a friendly smile that made her feel warmed within.
"What are you waiting for? Come in." He indicated, and she, a little suspicious, followed the direction.
The foreigner circled the room, touching the furniture chosen by someone who had good taste, and suddenly she came upon an ark.
"Open it" The young master suggested. She immediately raised the lid and saw her dresses folded inside.
"Why are you doing this for me?" She turned to him. At last, they stood face to face as in the time they first met.
"If I cannot grant you freedom, at least I can offer you some comfort. I do not want you to feel like a prisoner, but a guest instead." He bowed cordially. "Your musical instrument will be brought here as well, I will provide it..."
"You must want something in return." She still suspected his good intentions.
With a kindly smile on his face, Kagewaki Hitomi¹ approached her, watching her intently, capturing in his memory her different and mysterious nuances, unlike any person he had ever met. Although he was always respectful, there was something in his eyes that disconcerted Annabelle and made her wish to be imprisoned at the same time.
"What do you want from me?" inspired by the moment, she took a step closer, always keeping eye contact, trying to cross his own and unravel the young lord completely.
"I want to know about you." He felt as if the answer was torn from his throat, as his heart was almost taken from his chest. "Who you are, where you came from, how people live on your land ..." and before he knew it, he was turning red and she was smiling.
"I'll tell you if you take me for a walk in the gardens every day. I'm tired of being trapped between walls and I know I will not be allowed to walk outdoors only by myself." Annabelle paced the room again, tossing her skirt and whirling around the large chamber. "Will you take me?"
"What if you try to run away?" He breathed slowly, trying to keep his composure.
Still dancing, she came to him and said in his ear, "Then you shall catch me." And she turned away suddenly, laughing.
The lad was bewildered until he understood everything as a joke and laughed discreetly. Before leaving the room and letting her have some privacy, the girl's voice caught his attention again:
"My gratitude is yours, my lord²."
"That strange word you say, what does it mean?"
"It's the way we treat a respectful man there, where I came from."
"From where?"
"As I said, I'll tell everything when we meet in the garden."
And they said a friendly goodbye. Hitomi believed that he would make her feel comfortable after all, and she would give up running away.
Early in the morning, just after the first meal, when the rays of sun were still gentle, they walked side by side, her blue dress dragged along the grass while she, excited, told about her origins:
"I was born in the Highlands, I lived part of my childhood there with my parents and sister. Unfortunately, my mother died of fever, after that misfortune my father decided to stop being a simple farmer and began to work as a merchant. Since then, my little family has started to travel a lot, we knew several countries, I have learned to read, write and speak at least four different languages, including yours." While Annabelle was telling her story, she touched some flowers that adorned the gardens. After that, when the girl found some herb in the path, she collected it and continued the walk. Hitomi gazed her in delight.
"I'm sorry for your loss." He was talking about her mother.
"Oh, it's been a long time… I barely remember her face."
"I lost my mother early as well…" Kagewaki remembered.
"We are more alike than we could imagine" she smiled softly "as I was saying, my father didn't mourn for much more time, a year after my mother's death he met a woman and joined her. My stepmother knew about many things and she taught my sister and I as we explored different places".
"And your sister, where is she?" His question made Annabelle suddenly stop walking.
"We followed different paths" her voice trembled. "Would you like to know how we call it in my native language?" The woman changed the subject and spread her hands on the trunk of a large tree.
Kagewaki was a very attentive and sensitive man, although he knows Annabelle must have some secrets, the young lord chose not to dwell on it and turned his attention to learning a little of the vocabulary she intended to teach.
"Craobh" Still touching the brown oak, the ginger woman told how "tree" suppose to be called in Scottish Gaelic and the man tried to spoke it. Obviously, Hitomi failed and Annabelle couldn't help but laugh of his funny accent. The poor lad blushed and kept his brown eyes fixed on the grass beneath his feet. "Don't worry, you'll learn in time. Your language was not easy to learn as well" the girl said sweetly and made him smile a little embarrassed.
"And you accent is also weird" he made fun of her too. They laugh together for instants and then they both stared each other, cheeks were tired, an uncommon silence grew between them as the lord and the foreigner exchanged glances.
He is pretty handsome… Annabelle thought as she sighed, rolling her eyes through the light suit he wore, through his long, wavy dark hair sprawled across his chest. Hitomi's features seemed to be as if he was a serene and benevolent person. Her heart started to beat faster and when the woman could realize, she was the one who was blushing now.
"So, how your people call this in your native language?" Hitomi picked a little yellow flower from the lawn and offered it to the beautiful prisoner.
"Flùr" her fingers brushed against his and covered them gently.
Kagewaki shuddered because he was not used to such proximity. Women from his lands and culture were more demure and distant, but she? No, such formalities didn't suit her. Her indigo eyes didn't run from contact, all her movements were graceful and spontaneous. That girl was intimidating, wild as a forest animal, and at the same time she was delicate as the little flower in her hands.
His shy fingers slipped of hers, ceasing the gentle touch. Annabelle, still holding the flower, put it over her ear, gracing the orange locks.
"You are a kind man" she noticed softly. And very good-looking – the lass complemented just in thoughts. Her chest warmed as her heart started to race again, another bland smile of the man dressed in white was the cause. Why am I fixing so much on his appearance?
"Young master" a samurai approached "Your father is calling for you." The man told Hitomi, after the announcement, he turned to Annabelle and said in a bossy way: "And you, follow me".
That "warrior", or whatever he should be, was ready to draw his sword and point it at the Scottish lass face, but Kagewaki held the blade's handle and prevented the guy to act violently.
"There's no need of this, escort her peacefully, please" he whispered.
"My lord…" Annabelle was frustrated by that pleasant moment has being interrupted. She sighed before grasping the velvet blue skirt and bowed to him cordially, as a Western lady would do. He, on the other hand, bowed to the ginger one in the Eastern way and thanked her for sharing the morning together.
As soon as the maid arrived in the room, she felt cheerful and confused. Annabelle threw herself on the bed and stared at the ceiling, her mind was torn between thoughts of escape and thoughts of staying:
Can't let myself give in to temptation; I have to go out this place! But I wonder, could this be the opportunity I've been waiting for so long, to fixate myself, to belong somewhere?
Her reveries were dispelled when two maids entered the room, they where there to help Annabelle dress herself for an evening event. Oh, she knew what was coming… once again the woman would be displayed as a freak in the noble hall of the castle lord. Since being dragged there, the foreign lady lived the same hell every night. She sighed, surrendering to the thoughts of freedom once more. So, those women braided Annabelle's hair and threw a dark blanket over her body. A man came to carry the golden harp, and though it was heavy, the redheaded beauty insisted that she could take it herself.
"Behold this exotic spectacle" Hitomi's father announced her to his vassals and noble allies. "The freak that sings like a Tennyo³" That was the way he introduced her to the audience every night. People said she was deformed and so she needed a veil to cover her horrendous face.
The girl was humiliated by all the smiles and impressed, but mocked looks craving on her. The only one who did not look at her in an air of arrogance and ambition was the man who took her for morning walks. And days passed by, with pleasant mornings and nights of slave labor.
No matter how much Annabelle liked to be with Hitomi, it hurt inside her to be exploited, to see nobles paying to listen to her music without being able to reveal her identity or to gain some credit. That was not the life she dreamed of.
"You're sad, aren't you?" Her only friend asked, sitting by her side under a Cherry Blossom tree.
"Springtime in your country is very beautiful" the melancholic lass ignored his inquiry. Her empty eyes focused on horizon skies.
"I can imagine how hard it must be for you and I'm very upset with your condition" he pulled out a pink petal wrapped in her flaming hair. "I care about you, Anaberu Rosu³" Kagewaki pushed some wavy strands away from her pale cheek. "Look at me…" even he wasn't a warm person by nature, Hitomi was learning to be affectionate because of her and was getting used to touches and cuddles. His soft fingers caressed the corner of her lethargic face. The lad felt a mess inside himself. That was the effect she caused on him.
"I would like to see my horse, I know he is in your stable" she finally stared at him, still apathetic.
"Of course, come with me." The host raised his hand to the guest and helped her to stand up. Annabelle held it firmly and did not let go, even when they were already up and ready to start the walk. The man stood still, contemplating her gesture, a little confused but pleased.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go to the stables!" The Western girl linked her fingers to his, and finally she gave him a charming smile.
"Y-yes, we shall go now"
The couple walked, hand in hand, to the large wooden stable and between several horses, there was hers – well treated, with fresh water to drink and a pill of hay to eat. As long as she saw her journey companion, Annabelle let Hitomi's hand go to caress the shiny horse's hair.
"I missed you, my friend!" She pressed her forehead to the white spot above the equine's snout and smiled. "A horse riding! What do you think? Shall we?" the maiden turned to him and made the proposal. Her sudden excitement commoved him and he could not deny the request.
"Alright, we can ride to the stream nearby, no further. Okay?" and that was his only condition: staying around. Annabelle didn't complain.
The horses trotted side by side through the small valley, until they reached the river described by Hitomi. There, the young miss carefully descended from the saddle and allowed the animal to drink some water as she knelt by the riverside to wash her face, her neck and throbbing lap.
Standing his feet over the greenish grass, Kagewaki held the horse's reins and admired the woman's beauty secretly. He watched her graceful hands washing her sweaty body and she did not even notice him there, for her long red lashes were sealed. The girl seemed to be comfortable and vulnerable. Her fingers skimmed the design of her breasts, steep because of the tight corset she wore. The droplets flowed through the rounded shapes, drawing them and wetting the gold embroidery at the neckline. Hitomi tied the saddle of his horse on a tree trunk near the stream and then he joined her. The castle heir washed his face and drank some of that crystal clear water.
He let himself be distracted more than he should. When his almond-shaped eyes opened, he did not see the lass' reflection at his side, nor was the golden horse there. His heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
Annabelle fled.
To be continued…
Kagewaki Hitomi¹: So, as I've explained above this chapter, Kagewaki Hitomi was the Castle Lord's son in Anime/Manga. He also sheltered Sango when she was injured for Kohaku's sake. Well, I'm not saying much more, you'll have to read to know the rest.
My lord²: I wrote this fiction in Portuguese first, and there I put Annabelle calling Hitomi as "my lord" in english, because that is one of the languages she can speak. But here I'm writing everything in English, so what would be the point of this expression? Well, I put it in black for you know that they were spoking in Japanese and that expression she spoke in english. Se will do it more times, and I'll try to remember putting the word in black always :)
Anaberu Rosu³: Oh, how cute, isn't it? That's how Japanese people may pronounce her name.
Well, friends, I'm waiting for reviews. Please, tell me what do you think about my Original Character! Are you anxious for Naraku's entrance? I am! It won't be long. All I can say is that if things seem a little stuck right now, the next chapter will start to heat up.
In Portuguese, this fiction already has 21 chapters posted on this site, I hope I can find some time to translate more and more and let the two versions at the same point.
Kissuuuuuus!