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(Please begin with this midi while you read)
The halls were silent, other than the flicker of Shampoo's flame. The three stepped lightly, their hearts pounding hard in their chests. The marble floor repeated no pattern, and the portraits on the walls seemed to darken.
Ranko's hand gripped Ranma lightly on his shoulder as she awoke.
"What? Where are we?" she mumbled.
"The hallways. Tsubasa left. We're looking for the other two princesses."
Ranko slid off of Ranma's back. Her hands slowly clutched Ranma's arm without even realizing it. Ranma nearly jumped.
"Tsubasa . . . left?"
"Yes," Ranma observed how Mousse and Shampoo were silent. Ranko's grip tightened.
"Please don't let her take me away. Ranma . . . ." Ranko's hand slipped into Ranma's slowly.
"Here's where the rooms start," Mousse pointed out. "Shall I open the door, Soatome?"
"Be careful," Ranma told him.
The door screeeeched open. The library? Or perhaps the parlor. Mousse nodded for them to follow.
There was a window on the far end, a large, open window. The velvet curtains blew with the flow of the breeze, flapping against the wall.
They observed the room carefully. The wall on the east was completely filled with books. On the west, a fireplace and a painting of Princess Kasumi at a young age. The furniture was of a couch, a chair, and a wooden table. The room was very plain and empty, very tidy.
"There's nothing in here," Mousse released his arm. He moved it in a way of testing it.
Mousse closed the door behind him as the re-entered the hallway. Shampoo's flame vanished in a windy blur.
They stood silent in the dark, their harsh breathing peircing the silence.
Two at a time, the candles in the hallway lit from them, to the end of the hall.
Ranma glanced down at Ranko, who looked as frightened and helpless as ever.
There stood a woman at the end of the hall. Princess Nabiki, dressed in a dark red dress, had her hand on her hip.
"What are you all doing. It's pretty late. Shouldn't you be in bed?" She grinned arrogantly.
"Princess Nabiki," Ranma took a step forward.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Nabiki laughed behind the back of her hand. Without any notice, her body fell limply forward, her skin burnt into nowhere. There lay the princess, gray bones, red dress, brown hair.
The candles lit past her. Tsubasa was floating above her body, her sharp eyes meeting theirs.
"Get it now? Get out! Queen Kasumi is also dead! Everyone is . . ."
"Why you do this?!" Shampoo huffed.
Tsubasa was silent, but came to her words. "Leave the castle. Leave everything behind before I burn Carnela with you."
"What should we do?" Ranko asked for Ranma's answer.
"Let's go," Ranma told her. "We're leaving, Tsubasa. Just let us get our belongings."
"Well I hope you can run. Because you have one minute before I burn this place down!"
Ranma didn't wait. He ran up the hall, back where the throne room was. He turned to take a right, Mousse, Shampoo, and Ranko following him. Because Ranko didn't really carry any belongings, she stuck with Ranma.
Ranma could feel his heart pounding hard in his chest, but he needed to get the voodoo doll, to save Ranko and Akane from getting hurt.
Mousse could hear his heart ticking as if it were a clock. Ranma ran out, past Mousse's room, which is when he came out, Shampoo at the end of the hall, back where the halls met.
"Let's go!" Ranma dashed with the three right behind him.
Neither one of them spoke after that. They left the castle, bounded down the stairs, and rushed for anything to protect them, such as the water fountain up front.
The castle was in a silence for maybe a moment after that, before it ripped into fire, first by an explosion. The castle caught aflame, at least the objects inside did. There were no peices flying, but the heat startled them all.
"I didn't think she'd actually do it," Mousse was in awe.Tsubasa stood where she was, where the halls met, right in front of the throne doors. The fire avoided her, curling around whatever could burn.
"It's mine, now," Tsubasa thought aloud.Ukkyou stirred her special red sauce in a pot over the fire proudly.
"What are you . . . . making, Ukkyou?" Ryoga crawled up to her, the auroma of it all making his stomach growl.
"Haven't you ever had okonomiyaki before, Ryoga?"
"N-No."
"It's really good. You'll like it!"
There was a shy pattern of knocks on the door.
"Should we get it?" Ryoga asked. "Akari's out in the field feeding the pigs."
"Could you?" Ukkyou asked him. Ryoga came to his feet and answered the door. Three, no, two and a half feet tall, there stood a woman, old in her age, clad in a white priestess robe, with a staff in her hand.
"Hello there, young man. Is there a young lady here?"
"Yeah. Two of them . . . Akari and Ukkyou. Why?"
"I'm looking for a woman with long dark hair, an elf. I am on search for her-"
"-From the camp?!" Ryoga's heart skipped a beat. "You can't have her!" Ryoga halfway closed the door, but the lady stopped it with her pole and forced it open.
"'Camp?' I really don't know what you mean young man. I was sent here by the King Bakuchioh himself."
"From King Bakuchioh?" Ukkyou asked them from the fireplace. "Ryoga, let her in!"
Ryoga glared down at Cologne as she made her way in, and slowly closed the door.
Cologne sat down on the floor properly, her legs tucked.
"The King Bakuchioh is in search," Cologne inhaled slowly, "for his daughter."
"The king has a daughter?" Ryoga twiddled his thumbs. "I thought he had only a neice."
"No, no. He has a daughter." Cologne smiled up at Ukkyou. "Good thing I found you,
Loklin. Princess Loklin."
Ukkyou didn't even jump. "Princess Loklin? I'm no princess, sugar."
"Oh, yes you are. The king sent you away temporarily a couple years back, for your safety. Apparently, the castle was under an attack. You were put under an amnesia spell for a little while. Has it worn off?"
"'Amnesia spell?!' What on Earth?!" Ukkyou nearly dropped her pan. "When was this?!"
"A couple years back."
Ryoga frowned at Cologne.
"A couple years ago, huh?" Ryoga crossed his arms. "Like, oh let's say . . . Ukkyou was sent to a concentration camp 'for her safety'?"
"'Concentration camp?'" Cologne blinked. "Is that where he sent you, Princess Loklin?"
"I told you, I'm not a princess. How did you find me, anyways?"
"Well . . . . I'm the one who placed the amnesia spell on you. Because you still have a trace of my magic floeing through your veins, it was easy to find you."
The room was silent.
"I could give it all back, your memories, I mean."
"I don't have any memories missing."
"You think that. That's only because I created memories for you to think of in your past. I spent many nights working on them and-"
"I thought you said the castle was under attack!" Ryoga folded his arms tightly, towering over Cologne. "Was it under attack for 'many days'?"
"Oh."
"I wasn't sent to the camp," Ukkyou told Cologne. "I was sent to the town of Tea Leaf. That's where I met Ryoga."
"Wasn't it the king that sent soldiers throughout that town in the first place? They were under orders from the king to remove warriors!" Ryoga picked Cologne by the back of her robe. "I don't think you have the right to be here, Granny."
"I don't like you." Cologne pressed the end of her staff in Ryoga's abdomen. Ryoga hunched onto the floor, grasping his stomach. "It'll only be numb for a few hours. I can't have you getting in the way."
"Ryoga?" Ukkyou came to his side. "Are you all right?"
"It won't hurt him. He won't be able to use his legs for a while, that's all."
"Make it stop."
"I'm sorry." Cologne pushed her staff into Ukkyou's stomach. She too, fell limp to the floor.
"You old witch!" Ryoga barked. Cologne lifted Ukkyou slowly at first, by the power of her staff. Ukkyou was lifted into the air out the door. Ukkyou could hear Ryoga from outside, "Come back here, ye old cow!"
"See you laterrrr!"
"Pl-Please, put me down!"
"You don't want that. You'll be covered in grass. I'll have your memories restored in no time."
"Put me down!" Cologne stared at Ukkyou before she agreed. Ukkyou fell in the grass harshly. She felt something poke at her shoulder lightly and turned her face to find a woman in the grass.
Just a few feet from Cologne. With the legs hunched . . . . and pounce! Cologne found herself pinned to the ground by a woman ninja.
"Who are you? Get off of me."
"I can't let you do that!"Akari turned her eyes onto the front lawn, shading her eyes. Bright red on the ground? She began to run towards it, wondering what it was.
"You aren't taking Ukkyou anywhere!" the ninja nearly screamed.
"Get off me!" Cologne forced some of her magic into the ninja's body. She didn't hold back.
"You want to be like that?! Fine!" the ninja swiped out two knifes, about one foot long each. With them, she pinned Cologne to the ground through the hands. She carried Ukkyou, glanced back at the old woman, and ran for the hills.Akari stopped short at Cologne and screamed.
"Young lady, please free me."
"Y-Yes! Yes! I will!" She placed her hands around the blades' handles carefully, closed her eyes, and yanked the knives out simultaneously. "Are you all right? There's a lot of blood!"
"Akari! Are you all right?" Ryoga called from the front door, still on the floor.
Akari lifted Cologne up with a respectful bow, and carried her inside."Um, do I know you?" Ukkyou asked her.
"You should."
"Really."
"Yes." The ninja wasn't even breathless from her run.
"Who are you then?"
The ninja came to a halt. She placed Ukkyou against the body of a tree, sitting down.
"Hold on," she rearranged some of her weaponry on her body.
"Why were we running? Take me back."
"I won't Ukkyou. King Bakuchioh only wants you so for unjustified reasons."
"Who are you?"
"Don't worry about it," Konatsu finished her weaponry. "We're going to a town." She picked Ukkyou back up, placing her on her back.
"Piggy-back," Ukkyou mumbled sarcastically. "Swell."Ranma trudged slowly, having no idea what to do next. All four of them were traveling on their feet, much less luxury than what they had gotten used to. Shampoo had suggested going to the Slick Cat Cafe in Wonton for awhile.
Ranma had remembered the elf-woman at the castle gates as they left."Please, get away from here," she crawled on the ground. "You must . . . revive Princess Akane."
"What?" Ranma crouched low to comfort her. "Are you all right?"
"You must revive Princess Akane . . . at Fire Womb."
"What?"
"Fire Womb is the only place you could revive . . ." and she died.All four of them were quiet. None of them felt hungry, or thirsty, or tired. All of them felt lost in a daze of vibrance, lost. Alone from their attachments. So much had been lost.
Wonton . . . . it was dark, hardly any activity. Their feet felt burnt from the distance of a few miles after such a hard day. They crashed into an inn for the night.
Thay all slept in the same room, dirty and amazed, none of them able to sleep, except Mousse, who hugged Ranma in his sleep.
"Nnn, Shampoo . . ."
Normally that would have been funny, but at the time, none of the others found it humorous.
Ranko drifted to sleep soon after that, her and Shampoo on their side of the room. Ranma sat up to avoid Mousse, leaning his side against the wall. Shampoo crawled on her hands and feet in a cat-like manner to Ranma to join him.
Neither one of them said anything. They were silent, but enjoying the protecting feeling that someone else was awake.
"Mousse looks pretty angelic in his sleep, huh?" Ranma halfway chuckled. Shampoo rolled her eyes.
"Ranko too." She jabbed him lightly with her elbow. "Ranko cute. Ranma like?"
"Like Ranko? Not really."
"Ranko like Ranma. Shampoo tell."
"Nah, I think she was just scared."
"Shampoo . . . . scared." She grabbed his arm lightly. "Is work on Shampoo too?"
"What? Are you really scared? I never thought Shampoo could be scared!"
Shampoo cupped his face, placing her thumb on his lips to silence him. Ranma felt more serious, not knowing what to do. Shampoo was half a foot from his face, her eyes gushing with shy cuteness.
"Shampoo apoligize of early attempt."
"What?"
"The spirit . . ."
"That wasn't your fault, Shampoo. But . . ."
"Shampoo really do love Ranma." Her hand left his face, missing his warmth already. "Spirit only knew that to humiliate Shampoo." Shampoo sat against the wall, on purposely hiding her face with her hair. She stared at her hand that she touched Ranma with, closing it into a loose fist. Ranma's hand suddenly appeared on top of it. Shampoo turned to see Ranma, who was red.
"Shampoo."
She didn't let this chance go by. She crept a little closer to Ranma, and slowly brought her face up to his, so that he knew she was prepared to kiss him, and vise-versa. Her lips blanketed his only for a moment, until his caught on, enjoying her lips. They placed their free hands on each other's face lightly, their hands still clasped.
"Shampoo," Mousse hugged his pillow. Neither one of them seemed to hear it until he pushed the pillow away and began crying in his sleep. "Sham-nnn-pooo." Shampoo ended the kiss, her eyes darting down to Mousse.
"Sh-Shampoo go to bed now," she shyly came to her feet. She nudged the pillow back into Mousse's arms.
Ranma dreampt that night of nothing, but thought of his first kiss, as Shampoo did the same."It's late," Ukkyou mumbled into her ear, still slumped on her back. "Aren't you tired?"
"Hm? Oh yes. I am. I was thinking that we camp out side of town. But it would have to be in a tree."
"In a tree?" Ukkyou said thoughtfully. "I know someone who lived in a tree."
"Really?"
"Yes. He lived in the forests . . . . He saved my life."
"Sounds like a great guy. They're so hard to find, Ukkyou."
"How do you know my name?"
"I just do."
"What's your name?" Ukkyou asked for the hundredth time.
"My name isn't important. Can you stand?" Ukkyou slid off of her back. Her knees shook at first, but she managed. Ninja crawled up the tree to the lowest branch, reaching back down for Ukkyou. Ukkyou accepted and helped herself up.
"Like deja vu," Ukkyou thought of Konatsu regretfully.
Ninja offered the widest branch to Ukkyou, climbing to the next one over.
"She promised she'd take me back. Not like I had a choice, but she did rescue me."The next day was tough. Ranma was practically merciless to their travel, trying to cross as much land as possible. He had recieved a map in a Wonton store that early morning, and was well on his way to Fire Womb.
Shampoo was silent, which began to bother Mousse. He tried to cheer her up with some sort of playful joke, or offering her some flowers from his sleeve.
"Is something wrong?" he finally asked her.
"No," Shampoo answered quickly.
"Fire Womb . . ." Ranko allowed the name to roll off the tongue. Is that by the sea?"
"Yeah," Ranma shifted his bag. "It's in Uirha though. So there aren't any cities."
"They're a pretty sad country," Mousse told them his conclusion. "Have had a lot of civil wars. I hear they're about ready to divide themselves up."
Until then, we have fields. The next city is Ikun Lot. We'll stop there for a meal a little after mid-day, but it'll be awhile."
"Is hungry already." Shampoo complained to herself quietly. Mousse offered her a peice of his bread cheerfully."This is it!" Ranma felt overjoyed. It's in this tribe's territory. I can't believe that we got here so quick!"
"Um, no...." Mousse looked glum. "You're too optisimistic. We've still got a lot of miles to travel, Soatome."
"Let's not waste any time. It should be ahead."
Ranko heaved a sigh. She knew this would be the end. She would no longer see Ranma. No longer see Mousse, or Shampoo. She would no longer be Akane."I was buried at Fire Womb," she had told Ranma. "That's why I don't die off. I never really thought about it before, but there is a legend that a baby dragon exits that hill every nine months. The dragon flies around for three months and goes right back inside of the hill, like it's its mother's womb. Whenever the dragon is inside of the hill, the hill moves, literally, up and down, like it's breathing. Many of the natives of Uirha believe that it is the breath of Earth.
"I was killed by a merman. Sort of happened out of disagreements, although we loved each other very much. We sort of . . . . killed each other." Ranko grew quiet, her head low and her eyes on the ground. "It broke my heart. I couldn't believe that things ended that way, but I mean, I'm still here.""We only have a few miles left," Ranma tried to encourage them.
"I wonder how I'll live after this."
It wasn't too long after their noontime meal. They were pretty powered up for whatever they faced, and determined to get to their destination.
"Qing lai, qing lai, Nekohanten. Hao chi le, hao chi le, Nekohanten," Shampoo sang to herself.
"I'm sure gonna miss you guys." Ranko peeped with a heavy heart. "I know I can not stay in this body. I always knew. But . . . . I didn't expect quite an adventure like this."
"Why did you take Akane's body? Why not someone else's?" Ranma asked her.
"I-I've been in a lot of bodies. They never last. Only a few years or so before I grow too weak. But Akane . . . . a princess. And . . . well . . . ." Ranko shrugged, tears building up in her eyes. She realized that she was on the verge of crying and quickly wiped them away, but more came in a light flow.
"It'll be all right," Ranma placed his hand on her shoulder. Mousse tried to chuckle.
"Maybe I'll meet you when I'm a spirit too! It'll make it all worthwhile for me to die then."
"Ranko such sweet girl," Shampoo tried to have a word in it too. Ranko's eyes met from one to the next, these three circled around her.
"Oh," Ranko sat in a squatting position and began to cry. Shampoo came down to comfort her, but Ranko only pushed her away. "I'll be OK, thanks. It's just . . . I'm always alone when I get new bodies . . . . I'll never die! I wish I could! I just want to be dead like every one else!"
Ranma brushed his fingers through her hair lightly. "Well, at least you're cute."
"Just wait until Akane hears that, Ranma," Mousse folded his hands with a grin.
Shampoo and Ranma made eye contact. She gave him a you really think so? look and he exchanged a nuthin serious look.
They came to a hault at the edge of a somewhat steep cliff. The wind seemed to pick up quite a bit, pushing them back. Mousse lifted his arms, allowing his sleeves to flap in the wind.
"Mmm," he closed his eyes. "I wish I could fly."Ukkyou lived with the ninja for the night, in a tree, on the outskirts of town. That morning while Ukkyou was awakening, five scrawny young boys pointed up at her and laughed at her.
"Look at her! She's in a tree!" one would say.
"What's the matter, lady? Are you too poor to get into town?"
"Or too ugly!"
Ninja jumped down from the tree in perfect ninja grace, one hand blocking her mouth.
"Do you got a problem, boys?" she glared down at them hard.
"Who are you?"
"That is none of your concern. I think you should treat your elven maidens with more
respect."
"You know her?"
"Yes. I suggest you leave, now."
They didn't respond in any way except their tracks. Ukkyou rubbed her eyes.
"Let's go to town," Ninja suggested. "We can buy you a nice new dress."
"'Dress'?" Ukkyou repeated. "I-I haven't had a dress-a real dress, in years."
"We'll have you more beautiful in no time." Ninja began to chuckle.
"Wh-When am I going to go back?" Ukkyou climbed down the tree. "When am I going home?"
"You'll go home."So here they were in the dressing room in a small clothing shop in the corner of a shopping area. Ukkyou had invited Ninja in, hoping that she could get an opinion. There were no silver or gold reflectors, those were for the wealthy, and this was a small shop. Because she needed an opinion before stepping out, she insisted that Ninja came in with her.
"I feel like a blimp." Ukkyou held her arms up to examine the looseness of the dress.
Ninja rubbed her chin.
"We can do better."
"This dress isn't really my color," Ukkyou noted at the bright yellow cloth.
"Hmmm, you're right."
"T-T-Too t-t-t-tight!! C-Can't breathe!"
"Uh yeah."
Ninja snapped her fingers.
Ukkyou found herself dressed in a short emerald green dress that revealed most of her thighs and arms. A belt was fastened around her small waist, a hairpeice added for extra effect.
Ukkyou especially like the hairpeice. It was a golden tiara, with two large half-spheres right over the ears. There was a white opal that twinkled on Ukkyou's forehead. Ninja stood back to examine her and gave her the thumbs up.
"Looks good!"
"Um, how are we gonna pay for this?"
"Money I stole from some travelers!" Ninja swung her hand behind her back and began to laugh. Ukkyou looked down at herself in second thought.
"I don't think it's right."
"I was kidding, Ukkyou. I sold some of my belongings here about a moon ago. I do not come to town often, so I had it on me for some time."
"I still feel akward."
"Why should you?"
"I'm wearing a really short dress in front of a ninja who has an ungiven name, spending this stranger's money on luxury that I don't need."
"My name . . . ." Ninja grew solemn. "Do you really want to know what it is?"
"Y-Yes I do."
"If I tell you, you won't like it." Ninja told Ukkyou to stay in the room. She came back with a pile of dark boyish clothes and began to change. Ukkyou casually turned around, as Ninja had done when she changed. "There."
Ukkyou turned, and her eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
"I'm a deformed female!" Konatsu laughed.
"Oh my god!" Ukkyou nearly punched him, but in a friendly manner. "Konatsu!"
"H-Hey, not so loud, Uk-Chan."
"Konatsu," Ukkyou covered her mouth with her fists. "What are you doing here? And in the dressing room, yet!"
"I was wondering where you went. I was about two hours behind you when you left. I had little trouble tracking you down. I have very keen senses. So . . ."
"Konatsu," Ukkyou's eyes fell to the floor. "I'm sorry I ran away. I was looking for someone and I should have told you."
"Did you find her?"
"Mm, yes, I found him."
"Oh, that kinda of 'someone'."
"He and I ran away from the camp together. I brought him back to life, but I'm worried about him. I gave him one of my lives so he could live, but I'm an elf. Elves don't live very long."
"-So neither will he," Konatsu finished for her. Ukkyou shook her head.
"I don't want to wear this," Ukkyou removed her headband. I don't want to be feminine anymore. Especially if your going to cross-dress."
"Does it look that . . bad?" Konatsu cocked an eyebrow.
"N-No. I just don't like these kind of clothes. I'm not a warrior or a princess . . ." Ukkyou's mind snapped. She was a warrior. That's why she was taken from Tea Leaf. She fought for the town, to help reduce the goblins that lurked around there. And princess . . . . What had the old woman called her?
"Ukkyou, do you love the guy?"
"What?"
"You heard me."
" . . . . I don't know."
"Ah." Konatsu opened the flap to the dressing room and left. Ukkyou froze, staring at the sheets. A few moments later, a pair of pants and a shirt was slipped under the sheets.
Ukkyou stepped into the boyish clothes. There were less customers now, she observed, and Konatsu was gone.
Cologne set foot in the store.
"Princess Loklin," she pointed at Ukkyou. "You will come with me, or the king will send out men who will be much less understanding than I am!"
Ukkyou was trapped in the store, Konatsu gone. She suddenly began to hate Konatsu for leaving her.
The world froze. Cologne and Ukkyou both seemed to glow in a way that only they could notice. It all faded away . . . ."This is your cousin, Tsubasa," King Bakuchioh told his daughter. "She will be staying with us from now on."
"Loklin, do you like having me around?" Tsubasa blew a flower from her hand.
"I sure do!" Ukkyou grinned. "You're a good friend. I get lonely at the castle." Tsubasa clapped her hands and twirled in circles in her dress."Who are they?" Tsubasa asked Ukkyou inside the castle. "Why were they in a cage? Aren't they people, too?"
"They are being sent to camps," Ukkyou sighed.
"Did they do something that was bad?"A boy's face flashed into her mind. Long black ponytail, armor, a knight
for the king. During the knighting, they made eye contact and knew something was there . . .Moonlight . . . . a balcony? Ukkyou in a long black velvet dress, tears running down her eyes. He was there. He was solemn, he looked hurt to watch her cry, but he was there.
"Ranma?" Ukkyou lay in the grass. "Will I ever see you agian . . . .?"
But it wasn't Ukkyou. It was Princess Loklin.
Loklin . . . .
Ukkyou fell to the floor in tears. She knew it all now. She was Loklin. Why? Why couldn't she have been a normal girl? What was wrong with Tea Leaf and her father she had there? Was he warped too?
"Do you see it now?" Cologne slowly stepped to her. "You seemed dazed for a second there. . . . . Do you remember?"
She nodded.
"Ryoga was right . . . . I was sent to Tea Leaf so that I could have been sent to that concentration camp by the king and not know it. All of those other warriors were sent there just because I needed to be."
"Your father had good intentions. He wasn't going to let you be killed. He merely wanted to make you stronger."
"What the hell for? What does that jackass care about?!"
"He wanted you to be ready to lead the knights when you took over the throne."
"I don't believe it. He got pissy because . . . ." she stopped herself. "So, am I Loklin now?"
"Yes," Cologne kept an eye for anyone who might have picked up on the conversation. "He cares for you very much."
Loklin narrowed her eyes. "Fine. I'll go back. But I'm not going alone." Loklin's eyes glinted at a person sitting in the corner, body covered by a towel. "Konatsu's coming with me!" Konatsu shyly stood up, dressed back into feminine form."Ryoga?" Akari crept up to him quietly, a wooden tray of steamy potroast and a glass of milk placed on top of it. "I made you some dinner. Are you hungry?"
Ryoga sat in the darkest corner, his eyes dazed into some other thought.
"Ryoga, aren't you hungry?" Ryoga didn't respond. "All right, but I'll set it right here in case you get hungry." Akari placed the tray by Ryoga's side and slowly left.
"He's been like this for the past day." Akari thought. Ever since Ukkyou was taken, Ryoga had moped around and hardly ate, and whenever he did eat, he didn't let Akari see it.
That night, Ryoga fell asleep in his corner. Akari was quiet as she approached him, and carefully set her quilt on top of him. She brushed some of his bangs with her hand, staring into his closed eyes in a squatting position.
She took the tray and left.
He hadn't eaten any of it.Tsubasa held fancy male outfit up against her body. Long pants, slightly baggier at the knees that were pale in color. Her long vest was worn over the matching blouse, with a belt over it all. "I forgot how much fun being a man can be." Tsubasa smiled, patting his chest as he tossed the dress aside. "Maybe I should tell Uncle . . ." Tsubasa began to chuckle. "I'm coming for you, my love."
"Isn't that much easier than walking?" Cologne chuckled as she and Loklin entered King Bakuchioh's castle. It was charming and colorful.
"Never seen a green castle before," Loklin told Cologne, observing the lime-green walls.
"I know, isn't it great? Your father is very colorful and loves anything fancy."
The doors were large and open, and in their place hung golden stringed beads that twinkled in the light. Loklin followed Cologne, unsure about herself.
"Nice place," Konatsu whispered in her ear. "Remember, if anyone asks, I'm your protector. You know, a bodyguard."
"Yeah," Loklin nodded.
There were strings playing at the left ear, drums, and flutes. The music was dull, but to Loklin and Konatsu, it was magical.
"I can't believe how much you look like a woman," Loklin told Konatsu. "Some people could take that to an offense."
"Well, you look like a guy, Uk-Chan. They might mix us up and think I'm the princess!"
"Greetings your majesty! I have returned with Princess Loklin!" King Bakuchioh leaned forward in his seat. Loklin kept her eyes to the floor, slowly raising them to her father. Were her visions true? The golden beard, the arrogant, bored eyes . . . .
They're eyes met.
His eyes were a light brown . . .
Golden curls . . .
Chubby build . . .
"Oh!" Loklin collapsed onto her knees, covering her face. She shook her head again and again, make the world go away! This was the man who's foolishness resulted many years of suffering.
"Princess Loklin . . .?" He arose from his seat. "My daughter?" He slowly approached her, quietly coming down the stairs. That's when she realized that the music stopped. She felt Konatsu's hand wrapped on her shoulder. King Bakuchioh offered her his hand.
"No!" she stepped back against Konatsu. "Get away from me!"
"What's the matter, daughter?"
"YOU-!" Loklin pointed at him, "-You're the one who sent me to a damn concentration camp, you jackass!"
"I'm your father, Loklin. Try to understand. There was no one else in the family line to pass the crown to. I needed a strong leader for Arrald. I can understand that you'd be a little upset, but try to be reasonable-"
"SHUT UP!" Loklin screamed like a child. "I will never forgive you! So many people died and suffered, and all because you needed to make a secret attack on me! Why'd you have my memory erased?"
"Because I knew it would be dangerous to send you to the camp with your memory. Everyone would have thought you were insane and given it a better reason to only kill you."
Loklin's eyes narrowed. " . . .I thought . . . you told the camp not to kill me. . . . that you told them who I really was!"
"Try to understand, Loklin-"
"-That's enough." Konatsu stepped in front of Loklin in defense.
"Who are you?" King Bakuchioh narrowed his eyes in questioning. Giving him the what right do you have? look.
"I am Konatsu. I am Loklin's bodyguard."
"It's Princess Loklin, Konatsu," King Bakuchioh sniped.
"No, he can call me dirt for all I care," Loklin huffed. "H-She has all right." Konatsu looked at Loklin in surprise over his shoulder.
"So you won't reason with me?"
"No I won't!" King Bakuchioh heaved a sigh.
"Guards, take Loklin to her room. And take her to one as well." The guards narrowed in on them. Loklin clutched onto Konatsu's back. That's when he realized how badly Loklin was trembling.
"I am her bodyguard sir. I insist that you allow us to be together or we have the right to leave what seems to be threatening."
"'Threatening? This isn't a threat, this is for her own-"
"This-" Konatsu waved his arm at the soldiers, "-looks plenty threatening to me. It is my duty to protect her."
"I have my memory back," Loklin glared at her father. "I know my own way to my room." Loklin clutched Konatsu's arm in anger as she left for her room."Ryoga?" Akari washed his face with a warm washcloth. "If you're so concerned about Ukkyou, why don't you go find her?"
Ryoga was silent. His eyes were empty. He hadn't heard her, at least, she didn't think so.
"We'll just be lost again. I'll be a lost boy, and I hate that." Ryoga thought. "Ukkyou knows this location. She . . . she . . ."
"Ryoga, please? Please talk to me . . ."
Ryoga was in his stare.
Akari heaved a tiring sigh. "All right, Ryoga. I'm going to bed. You're, uh, welcome to see me if there is anything you need." She began to walk away, but stopped herself. She felt her heart beat faster, with a rythem of a swift song, her face hot and red. She skidded to Ryoga, and sat on her knees. "Ryoga . . ."
He didn't respond in any way.
"Please?"
Nothing. He just wouldn't respond.
She clutched his blouse with both hands sternly. "Ryoga, look at me!" To her surprise, he did. His spaced-off eyes latched onto hers, the moment before she forced her lips upon his. It was a fairly light kiss, but its length was good and soothing. Ryoga found his hands upon her shoulderblades lightly as he kissed her back. She brushed her hands through his dark hair, enjoying every moment, every movement, every breath.
Ryoga ended the kiss. His eyes were upon hers again, very briefly, before he placed his gaze upon the floor. His hands landed limply on his knees as Akari loosened her grip on his chest.
Akari kept her eyes on his strongly, gasping from the lack of air and voltage of the kiss. Her fingers somewhat tested the hardness of his chest through his blouse before she released him completely.
Her hand slowly came to his face. Her fingers curled as the tips lightly tapped his cheek. Ryoga's breathing began an up-take, his heart beating faster. He came to his feet. He towered over Akari, who looked somewhat surprised that he didn't stay. Glaring down at her, proving in a way that said that he wasn't enjoying any of this.
"What did you expect?" Ryoga swung open the door. "I love Ukkyou."
Akari felt her heart tear in a matter that the flames in her fireplace did. She dropped completely, laying down on her back with her legs bent, tears building in her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand and felt her cheeks burn. The tears dove into her mind deep enough that her body lost control. She clutched the rug that she lay on and cried fiercily.
The fire soon died out as the night dragged on.
