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She folded her hands, and brought them up to her lips to breathe on them. "It’s cold for this time of the year...” Her breath misted from her mouth in the autumn air She thought to herself with a mildly annoyed tone. Shrugging feminine shoulders, she continued on to her destination. Long silver locks flowed behind her like swirling gracefully in an ocean tide. The wind had picked up, and she was far from being within reach of a rest spot for the night. crystal blue eyes gazed around her current surroundings, as though she felt like she were being followed. They darted left, than right...Back, to front...In reality she were trying to get her bearings back. She had lost her way some time ago. She stood in the middle of a darkening pathway. endless woods on either side, nothing to go by. No land marks, no check stations...No sign of any sort of civilization save the path she stood on. So, she continued forwards in hopes that she would eventually find some sort of lodging. The woman sighed deeply as she quickened her pace. “This is no place for a lady...” She spoke the words unintentionally, but to herself. Her voice, even in whisper, was sweet, quiet, but held a certain degree of pride. A sort of pride that came in rare occasions. She pulled her royal blue cloak around her tightly as a small light appeared in the distance. “ Finally! ” She said to herself in a pleased tone. Picking up her skirts, she jogged towards the beacon as though possessed by unknown demons. She was about halfway there when the woman suddenly stopped in her tracks. Something was blocking her way, something she couldn’t see. Yet... She had heard the twig snap some seconds before she froze. She knew somehow that she had no chance of going further without contestation. Her eyes narrowed as she waited for her quarry, and stood tense in anticipation. Her breath sharpened as a figure came from her left, then one from her right. “There were two?” Her thoughts reeled,” I could’ve sworn there was only one...” Not a fraction after she had processed her own thoughts, one of the figures spoke. “Now...Now...What have we here...”, A deep almost sensual voice, from the left... “Im not completely sure M'Lord...” A wiry, almost insane tone to this ones voice from the right...The woman couldn’t tell if it were male or female. “Well then I guess we'll simply have to find out wont we Trist...” The deeper voice again. The woman Still couldn’t see there faces. Only a glimpse of there outlines. The light as dim as it was, her eyes couldn’t properly adjust. Her breath quickened. There intentions couldn’t be pure, not in a situation like this. It would be utter lunacy to think otherwise. It was obvious she was getting nervous, her numbness betrayed her survival instincts, and her reaction time cut in half. The man on the right, or what The woman assumed was a man, stepped forwards, after the man on the left motioned with his hand. It seemed this one was a servant, or a slave of some sort. Either that or a very submissive goon of his. With what she could see of this ones posture, it seemed he carried himself lower, his back hunched over, arms hanging limply at his side, and with a skinny frame. The other man however, held himself with a dignified posture. his left hand never left his chin, causing the woman to think he had facial hair. he stood straight, and tall. Had a knights build, broad shoulders, and what she assumed were rather large arms by the way he moved them to 'command' his subordinent. The woman crouched low, ready to defend herself at any point, she growled at them, pointed teeth showing slightly under her lips. She was not about to get caught up in this when the light was so close. Her thoughts swirled around what seemed to be a cabin in the distance, her only intention to get there before she froze to death, or was further harassed by these two. The skinny one came closer and closer, and the woman found herself backing up with each step. Getting further and further from her goal. She stifled a scream, which would only lead them on to their hunt more diligently. Instead she did the only thing she could think of at the moment, She leapt into the woods to her left, opposite the skinny man, and far enough away from the other that he couldn’t simply grab her. She wove through the trees for what seemed to be forever, until she stopped. She couldn’t hear anything behind her, had they not tried to pursue her? Not that she was about to complain, but it seemed rather strange. She pulled the thick cloak tightly around herself once again, and went back in the direction of the cabin. She didn’t walk, but she didn’t run either, making sure not to make to much sound as she continued on. Even her breathing was silent as she came closer and closer to the beacon. She was maybe 100 paces from the light when suddenly she was grabbed from behind. Her first reaction exploded from her throat in a scream high enough to send dogs cowering at their masters feet. it was loud enough to be heard from at least a mile away in this quiet place, so she hoped beyond anything that if anyone was in that cabin, they had heard her. She found a hand forced over her mouth to quiet her, and another holding her tightly around her slender waist. This most certainly wasn’t the skinny man. her legs kicked frantically as she was pulled backwards in an attempt to kick him, and to prevent anyone from getting in front of her. If she was to be caught she wasn’t going to be an easy consort. She freed one of her arms from the limb that held her, and began to scratch at the mans hand with her long nails. Somehow managing to scrape him enough for him to let go of his grip on her mouth momentarily, and she let out another shrill scream, just as loud as before. An extremely angry, and dominant 'shut up!' came from the man, and she was forced to the ground on her back. The man straddled over her legs, and held them firmly between his own, so she couldn’t kick, and held her wrists with one large hand so she could not scratch or otherwise. He unsnapped her cloak, and roughly tore it off her. This revealed her dress, white in color, trimmed with ice blue on each hem, long sleeves, and breast. This was not peasant clothing. She heard a gruff laugh as the man proceeded to try and rip this off as well. but the woman wasn’t about to lose whatever it was this man was out to gain. She managed to flex her upper body towards him, and caught his hand in her rather sharp teeth. For a human woman, her canines were uncharacteristically well developed. The man let out a groan of pain, and decided he had enough of this womans fighting. She found herself dazed moments after her bite and was unable to move. Suddenly, sharp pains shot through her head, neck, and shoulders. he had squared a rather powerful punch to the side of her head. She could taste blood on her teeth, but couldn’t decern if it was her own, or this mans. She went limp, finding herself unable to do otherwise. "That’s better!" He shouted at her. a snicker heard from her left. must be the other man. Why hadn’t she heard them coming...How did they move so silently. Her eyes closed as she felt her body forced nude, breasts free from their restraints. Soon after, the woman couldn’t find herself, and saw only darkness. He had knocked her from this realm, and she lie as though dead. She woke from what seemed to be a moment, but was actually three days. Her vision was still blurry, and she felt sore all over. Her thoughts swam around what happened, trying to remember, and failing in her attempts. A sore groan came from her lips as she tried to speak. Her voice was still numb, and she still shivered. Slowly she was beginning to become aware of her surroundings. A dimly lit room, what looked like a wooden...wall? A closer look around the room would reveal simply decorations. On the wall facing the woman was a large woven tapestry. It depicted a summer field, with a coat of arms in the center, almost circled in the fields flowers. It had a lion on one side, and a gryphon on the other, locking claws above the shield. On the inside of the shield it had the initials MH written with calligraphy, and some phrase in something the woman wouldn’t understand; Umtuthe Kieh Constotutin Tomen Rah. A small table with one drawer beside her bed, with a lit lantern upon it. Her hearing came back to normal, and she heard the faint crackling of a fire nearby. “He.....Hello...?!” Her voice was raspy, and labored, “Wha....Where am....I...” She tried to move but was stopped by some sort of restraints. A closer look revealed blankets tightly wrapped around her body. She began to think the worst as memories drilled back into her mind. More than ever, she found herself trying to get up. Her voice hurt to much to say anything more than small moans and grunts as she tried to unwrap herself from the blankets. She finally found herself undone, and stepped onto the floor, trying to get up from her bed. She stumbled as the cold surface touched with her apparently bare feet. She inhaled at the surprise that she was dressed in a long white shirt instead of her dress. What had happened? She took the blanket she was wrapped in and pulled it tightly around herself for no other reason than modesty, and then wandered out of her room. The door opened with a small click, and she peeked out around its frame suspiciously. She wondered if this was her attackers home, and if they brought her here for a reason. Her feet made little sound as she walked down the dark hallway, to what seemed to be a living area. The fire she heard roared lively in the fireplace, and several chairs and a long chesterfield were in a semi-circle around the it. Made of wood, most likely from the forest around what she assumed was the cabin she so desperately tried to get to, and lined with thick layers of fur. It looked like bear skin, and maybe some badger, by there colors. The largest chair, perched facing directly towards the fire held an occupant. Her position was betrayed by a small crash behind her. Apparently she had knocked into a small table, which caused something to fall upon the floor. She didn’t know what it was, and really didn’t care at this point. The person turned around, and the woman froze. “Ahhh......So your awake I see....” He stood up from the chair, and began to walk around it. The fire light gave her some view of his features, welcome considering she now knew who she was looking at. The woman must’ve looked as though she were about to bolt, because he raised his hands in an apologetic manner, “Please...It’s alright, I’m not here to hurt you....” He stopped, waiting for her to respond. In the light, her crystal blue eyes looked as though they could pierce the soul. His features were quite unique. He was of slender build, but not nearly as slender as one of the men who attacked her, and he most certainly wasn’t the other man. His face was strong boned, with bright eyes, and framed by very long straight black hair. The combination of the dim light, and his dark hair, cause his skin to look almost moon pale. He looked unlike anyone she had ever seen before. “Who......Are you...” She panted, feeling out of breath, “Where am I?!” Her knees began to buckle, and she braced herself upon the table she bumped into, almost knocking other things off. All seemed to be breakable. He rushed over to her, “No! Stay away from me!” “Relax....Its ok..If I do anything funny you have permission to wreak what ever havoc you can manage to throw at me...” His voice held a certain degree of sarcasm, but was soft none-the-less. He went to help her to her feet. Humor?! He dared to use humor? But he was speaking the truth, he helped her up, and escorted her towards the fire. She took a seat on the chair he was sitting in, which was surprisingly comfortable, and warm from the fire, which burned not 20 paces away. Being such a small woman, she raised her legs and hugged her knees to her chest. She could be little more than 100lbs, and only about 5 feet tall, maybe a slight bit taller. She began to shiver again, eyes wide as though the thoughts running through her mind were haunting her to no end. The mans eyes squinted as he looked her over. In the state she was in, it could be hard to think of her as attractive, but that was hardly what he was looking for. His head cocked to the left in curiosity as he stood a good distance away from her, not wishing to test her reactions much more. Noticing her shiver, he left the room briefly, coming back quickly with another fur blanket. This one pure white in color. She flinched when he began to cover her with it, “Please...Trust me...” His voice almost screamed a caring gesture. He wrapped her in the blanket as though she were a child being tucked into bed. “...Who are you..?!” Her thoughts towards this man were strange ones. He felt very familiar, but she had never seen him before in her 21 years. After finishing he stepped back and took a bow politely, and went to stoke the fire some more. “I suppose it would be only fair for me to introduce myself first.” He turned to look at her again, his eyes having what seemed to be a constant state of kindness, ”My name is Makai....Makai no Sono Hikari...This is my home. I...Heard your screams 3 days ago, and came out to find the source. Im sorry for such a surprise as to wake up in nothing but a shirt...But your dress was rather mangled, and you needed something dry or suffer from hypothermia otherwise...Please believe me, I did nothing to violate you.” She looked at him as though he had two heads. He came to see the source? What kind of person blindly follows a screaming woman into unknown places? Only a fool would be so....Well foolish. Was he lying to her? Not once in her life had anyone tried to help her, or at least care enough to do so without any knowledge as to who she was, so it seemed hard to believe. “Makai...How did you find me...” she wanted to know if he had stopped the two brutes, or if they had already left her to die by that time. “I found you, well...Not alone...I was well aware that sort of thing might’ve been under foot, which is why I tried to find you as quickly as I could. I almost didn’t make it to you, but your second scream led me to your position. Those two have been plaguing this area for sometime now, and this only gave me the opportunity to make sure they were dealt with...Rest assured M’Lady, they will never do this to anyone again...Its quite difficult if your unable to breath...” Makai smiled kindly and sat on the chesterfield next to her chair. The womans eyes following his every move as though she were a hawk preying on a mouse, “Now....If your ready to...might I have the pleasure of your name miss?” She was thrown aback by this man, it was as though he had never left these woods, and did nothing but practice ways to confuse her. “He killed them?” Her thoughts surrounded this, “How did he kill such men as them...” Snapping out of it, she felt it only fair to oblige his request. He seemed truthful enough, there wasn’t a scratch of ill intention on him. “My name...is Kimagami Li Kuro... I’m sorry to have brought you such trouble...I was traveling on my own...From my home, trying to find someone that I missed...” Kimagami stared at the floor, following the grains in the wood like it were a puzzled to solve. “Well now miss Kimagami...What is a Lady such as yourself doing traveling alone?” “It didn’t start off that way...”She looked up at him straight faced, “I had an escort for a while...3 men and 2 dogs from my home...But slowly after 2 months they kind of...Dropped out of my company. Left, got tired, missed home...I don’t know what exactly, but they were gone, and I found myself alone. Have been ever since, living off the mercy and kindness of others. It hasn’t been easy, but I must keep trying to find her...” His curiosity had been peaked, but he decided it best not to push her. He got up form his chair. “Are you hungry? You must be after 3 days...Ill make you something to eat...Just sit here and relax..” He headed towards a stove, and pulled out several things. What looked like eggs, bread...and what she assumed was milk. He didn’t even wait for her to respond, like it was his duty to do so. “Um...Thank you..Makai...” She said this quietly, just load enough for it to carry towards him. “My dear...The only thanks I need is your health...Now after you eat, I must insist you head back to bed, your still not fully recovered.” He smiled, and continued preparing her a meal. She did as she was told after her meal, eggs, bread, and some pork as well as a glass of milk She felt as though she hadn’t eaten in weeks, and it certainly did the job. She lie in the bed from before, and closed her eyes, A long sigh escaped her, and she turned over to her side. She felt safe here, felt it from the very walls she was harbored in, but it seemed the memory of her capture made her somewhat, paranoid of her surroundings. Long after she closed her eyes, she finally fell asleep. Her dreams not very pleasant, but she did not wake. Makai sat in his chair., his elbow propped on the arm, and the side of his face leaning on his hand. He pulled out a ring from a small drawer in the desk beside him. Surly Kimagami would be asleep by now... It was silver, and had a dark sapphire imbedded neatly in the center, shaped like a delicate rose. A slight smile sparked over his face as he gazed at it. To any who would look at him, it would seem he were dreaming, until he shook himself out of his thoughts and stood from his chair. Bed time. He headed to his room, down the hall, one door to the left of Kimagami’s, but it seemed he couldn’t go any further than her door way. He stood in front of it, left hand and his forehead resting on the door softly. His face felt hot, and a tear began to streak down his cheek. Control over his body seemed to cease as his knees found themselves firmly planted on the ground. He hunched over, and his arms went limp upon his legs and his head hung low and grim. “Kima...I’m sorry...” He whispered quietly to the shadows around him, his thoughts swirling around what he had prevented from happening. He sat there, quietly, for what seemed an eternity, and whispered another apology to the sleeping maiden within the room before he finally got to his feet, and started to his own room. Upon entering it one would surly notice its decor, or lack there of. A large bed in the center, between two windows that were no larger than four feet by four feet. Both were with curtains, and the bed was covered in fur blankets that couldve graced a royal chamber. Besides this, the walls were bare and the single night table he had possessed nothing but a lantern, a book, and a picture that was so worn out only he could make out its subject. He released himself from his robes, and pulled a night shirt over himself, along with a pair of loose cotton pants, both white in color. Sighing he laid himself to bed, and pulled the covers lazily over his body. Resting his head upon a fur covered pillow, Makai slowly drifted off, thinking of the child within his house, and the plight she would undoubtedly have to face from this point on. Morning came quickly to the cabin in the woods, but Makai was up to meet it. Kimagami woke, still wrapped in the blanket he had given her the night before, she went to the fire place, and took a closer look at his surroundings. She liked his taste, simple, but all the same traditional. The furniture looked to be made out of cherry wood, generously covered in common beast fur. Rabbits, beavers, bear, and even badger furs lined each inch, making them comfortable and warm. The tables were decorative, each having one drawer, and a lantern on top. Three in total; one between each seating place. Turning to look at the mantle of the fire place, Kimagami found many figures made of what seemed to be plaster, six of them lined the stone shelf, with something else in-between them. A large, obsidian orb, settled on top of a flat based slag of volcanic glass. Kimagami’s eyes widened at the sight of it. “Something so grand...placed on top a fire place so...Ornately...” She reached up to touch it, almost feeling compelled to do so. Like something was pulling her hands towards it. A load thunk was heard outside, and Kimagami’s attention was brought abruptly to it instead. She walked over to the window on the opposite wall, and looked out curiously. She found Makai, Shirtless and working away with the wood pile. Every time he lifted his ax, it fell with such power and accuracy she felt a chill down her spine. No matter what size the log he was chopping away at, it fell into two equal pieces at his feet, and then he would replace it without even breaking a sweat. The woman smiled as she thought how odd he was. Such a thin man, yet he was well defined, and wasn’t short handed when it came to his fitness. His skin was pale and bright, flawless features. Polite, articulate, kind, and seemingly powerful. Her nurse was actually quite attractive...For some reason Kimagami couldn’t keep her eyes off his movements. They were fluid, smooth, he moved with grace even when doing manual labor. He confused her so much she found herself thinking on him all day. After he finished chopping the wood he came in and made a large fire for her. They talked for a short while, exchanging greetings over tea, and he was off again. Apparently to feed the animals. Kimagami didn’t even know there were any animals. She couldn’t hear them, see them...but he had told her there were 2 horses, one black, one white. A cow, about 10 of chickens and a rooster. When he had money, he had told her, he would buy a pig from town. ?She occupied herself all day reading one of Makia’s many books. A lot were fairly advanced. Books about religion, spiritualism, physics, alchemy, and a whole shelf itself devoted to books about magic; Spell books, dictionary’s, demonology, even some that she had never even heard of before. By the time he returned she had finished one of the spell books, and had started on the biggest demonology one. The chapter she was reading turned out to be about Inugami’s, Werewolves, and Blink Dogs. She had an affinity for anything canine, so she was so engulfed by this she didn’t hear his hello when he walked through the door. “...Kima?!” Makai poked his head around the chair she was sitting in, his tone sarcastic. Obviously amused by her interest. She snapped out of her reading at her name, suddenly the voice seemed very close. Looking up at Makai, who by this point was standing directly in front of her, Kimagami gasped as she was startled. Her nurse chuckled and walked over to the fire to check on its embers, which were smoldering quite nicely. The cabin was always warm. Always clean, and always inviting. But soon....Kimagami knew she had to leave... “I’m sorry Makai...I hope you don’t mind me reading these....”She closed the Demonology book and handed it to him, to which he put his hands in the air, telling her to keep it, “Whatever you see here my dear, feel free to satisfy your curiosity.” “Are you sure?” “Positively..Thats what book are for...If not to read, they would serve no purpose.”He smiled warmly and petted her on the head teasingly, to which she tried to bite him. Chuckling at her rebuttal, he moved to the chesterfield and pulled a pad of parchment, and some charcoals out of the drawer, “Don’t move...Sit just like that...” Kima looked up from her book and a brow raised uncertainly., “Why...What are you doing now?” “Im going to draw you...Or rather sketch you..If thats alight of course...”He gave her an inquisitive look, and cocked his head to the left slightly. He was an artist? Was there anything this man DIDN’T do? “Only if I get to see it later....”Kima smiled at him. With his currently impeccable track record, she hoped his rendition of her turned out to be well done. As he sketched, she read..Or, at least, made it look as though she were reading. Sadly, she would leave this place. Which was not a promising prospect to her. For the first time in her life, she felt safe. Wanted. Cherished. And all the while, by a man she had only met not 5 days ago. She knew nothing about him, or anything about where she actually was. And still, she felt she should stay. But no. she had troubled him long enough. She would burden him no longer after tonight...And would leave in the morning. She was pulled out of her thoughts by Makai, kneeling at her feet and looked wide eyed at him, “Kima...I’ve been calling you for a bit now...And you haven’t turned the page either... Is there something wrong....” “Oh!...Im sorry, I was just thinking. Nothing to worry about, I promise.” She hid her thoughts in a horrid attempt at being honest, and noticed his frown as soon as she placed the now closed book on her lap. Instantly. She felt guilty about it. The look on his face spoke volumes. She had lied to him. She owed him more than this, if not only for taking her in. As Makai made to stand again, she found her hand on his, as if to tell him to stay. Eyes downcast, so her hair fell over them, she made the slightest of pleas. Almost inaudible. She didnt want to let him go. Felt like crying..Held back her guilt as her fingers lightly laced through his. In the whole 5 days she was at this place, how was it she became so attached to this one man, in such a short amount of time. He stood above her, looking down on her like a watchful parent, but at he same time admiring her in every way. She was stronger then she seemed. Had to be. How long has she been alone? Makai couldnt even imagine the plights that a young female alone must endure in such a fuedal, declining world. What she might have to choose. Decisions a woman should never have to make. He slowly kneeled again, his left hand resting gingerly on her knee. Out of cumpulsion, his thumb brushed it in sympothy.She wouldnt look at him.Kept her eyes to the floor. She didnt have to say anything. He knew already. She was leaving. If not now, very soon. He lifted his right hand to cup her cheek, found it hot. Brushing her silver hair aside to see her sobbing face-beautiful, painful to see-He spoke,"Kima. Its ok. You have no need to feel guilt in leaving. Theres somewhere you need to be. I always knew you would leave me someday.,"He ventured a detached approach. Maybe, it would make her more comfortable if she thought he saw her as only a friend, a foundling, However, it also might have the opposite effect: She may hate him, loose what ever trust she had left. He had to take a chance. break her somehow. |
