Love in feudal times.

[Guest]

Posted by Ravenloft

Hi Achi:

"Ah, but the bird is free of its golden cage..." Hi Achi whispered as he drew Mikaeri into his arms and placed a kiss on her lips. "And she will soon learn to spread her wings... I only hope that this wolf has legs sure enough to follow.." He whispers as he lets her go and holds her to arms length, looking her in the eyes. "Stay here, I will bring common cloths for us to wear..." He said, with a smile under his mask.

A moment later Hi Achi slipped out of the tunnel. Five minutes passed before he returned, a bundle of clothing tucked under his arm. He handed half of them to Mikaeri. They were drab and grey, and slightly worn. He started to strip out of his Gi, his chest bared as he began to remove his pants.

Bunjiro:

Only a few minutes had passed before Bunjiro stirred in his bed. He was having flashing dreams of the explosion that had knocked him senseless. Finally waking with a start, he gasped. "Mikaeri!"

The men who were posted looked at him with hard eyes. One slipped away to give word to the emperor of Bunjiro's awakening, the other simply continued to stare.

Bunjiro looked about the room, his eyes wide, his vision seemed washed out, everything seemed fuzzy... He shook his head and blinked, but it didn't help, only caused him to hiss in pain as he entire face felt like it was on fire. He laid back with a groan. "Mikaeri..." Closing his eyes, he envisioned her bed, remembering it had been empty... "Where are you?" He asked aloud.

At this the man who stood guard spoke up. "Dead! Because of your faliure..." Bunjiro turned his head to look at the man, who glared at him without pitty. Slowly he turned his head away and closed his eyes again.

The emperor was escorted into the room then but bunjiro did not look... He heard the emperors voice draw near his ear. "Bunjiro... My daughter... Is... Dead... You were her protector... You have dishonored yourself..." Bunjiro's face contorted in disgust... For himself... He could not bare this dishonor, could not bare failing his emperor, nor the thought of having lost Mikaeri, the child he had grown to look upon as his own daughter.

One thing stuck in the fore front of his mind though... Her empty bed... The emperor had paused until he was sure Bunjiro was listening again. "I leave it to you... Live with your dishonor... Far from my sight... Or..." And with that, the emperor stood, letting his words trail off.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

Mikaeri simply stared. She had no idea a man's body could be so beautiful The muscles of Hi Achi's chest rippled as he moved. She longed to touch him, to...

She turned away and began to remove her own shinobi shozoku. The bundle of clothes Hi Achi brought her were male. She looked at Hi Achi with respect before putting them on quickly, The rough cloth made her grimace as it came into contact with her skin. He had brought a cap too and Mikaeri put it on, tucking her hair underneath it.

"Good thinking, Hi Achi. The Shogun has spies everywhere and they will know what I look like. I had not thought of this. Hopefully, I will attract less attention if I go out dressed as youth."

 

[Guest]

Posted by Ravenloft

Hi Achi:

Turning to face Mikaeri as he pulled his stolen pants about his waste, Hi Achi smiled as he looked upon her dressed as she was. "Hopefully you won't have to wear them for long..." He said, a strange glint in his eyes. He reached down and picked up the shirt he had brought for himself. Slipping it over his frame, he adjusted it slightly.

"Come, I know of a place we can hide in safty, no one will bother us as long as we stay there... Though... It is nothing you are used to..." He said with a knowing smile as he opened the trap door and hauled himself from the tunnel and waited for Mikaeri to follow.

Bunjiro:

The emperor spoke to the men left to guard Bunjiro. "Give him three days to recover... He is to be left untouched. It is to be his own choice what happens to him." He began to speak louder, so Bunjiro was sure to hear. "Live in shame and exile, or die by his own hand with what little scraps of honor he has left to him..." The two men nodded grimly as the Emperor left.

Bunjiro felt their cold stares but could not face them, he turned away, not wanting them to see the pain written on his face, both physical and emotional... If it had been true, that the emperor's daughter was indeed dead, he would not hesitate in committing harikari, but he knew she lived, he was the only one who knew... "This will be my cause..." He whispered to himself. "I will find you Mikaeri... And I will be your protector as I have always been..." He felt the war of his emotions in his heart then, eventually a healing sleep won him over...

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

The look in Hi Achi's eye had warmed Mikaeri to her toes. She broke into a shy smile, full of anticipation. Hi Achi didn't see it. He had already gone threw the opening in the ceiling and nimbly, Mikaeri followed him.

The princess emerged into a world that she had never experienced before, a place of squalid poverty and dirt. Her hand flew to her face. They were standing in a narrow alleyway and the refuse of humanity littered the ground. The smell of garbage permeated the air. Mikaeri nearly screamed as a rat shot out in front of them, disappearing into the shadows.

Mikaeri looked at Hi Achi and released his arm. She had unconsciously gripped it when she had been startled by the rodent.

"I apologize, Hi Achi. I have been trained to control my reactions better than this. You mentioned a place we could find safety..."

Silently, Mikaeri prayed it would not be too horrible.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

"Yes, a place only I know about, my jewel..." He paused, eyeing the rat as it scurried away, not making mention of her reaction. "It is a distance, we must find ourselves mounts if we wish to make it there before night fall..." He ran his eyes over Mikaeri's features once more, a desirous glint showing through. The longer he was with her, the more keenly he felt an ache to hold her...

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

"Do you know where we can find horses?"

Mikaeri paused.

"Hi Achi, I do not even know if you are a native of Kyoto. Indeed, I know nothing about you, save that you are an assassin."

A look of doubt flickered in her eyes.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

"Yes, I have spent time here in Kyoto many times... I have a good knowledge of the place..." He said. "Come, my Jewel..." He said softly, emploring her with a wave of his hand.

He paused for a moment and looked upon her for a moment, as if to weigh how much he would tell her. "I am not native of Kyoto... I... Wander... I have for over a decade... I... I will tell you more... When we are arived at my safe place..." He sighed, a genuine look of promise in his eyes as he looked into her eyes. Perhaps the hardest thing for a man like he was telling secrets, and for his kind to live... Everything had to be a secret...

No more than five minutes had passed when they were both mounted upon horses and riding free of Kyoto's sqwaller, and into the clean, open countryside. Hi Achi took a deep breath, looked over toward Mikaeri with a happy glint in his eyes. Reaching over, he took hold of her mounts reigns for but a moment, snapping them. He shouted. "Yah!" Loudly, laughing as both their mounts burst into a wild gallop. At this pace, they would only have a hand full of hours travel, and he couldn't wait to have her, alone, and to himself, that was what drove him on now...

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

Mikaeri let Hi Achi lead the way, reining her horse to fall slightly behind his. She wished they were not in such a desperate hurry to flee Kyoto. The unfamiliar landscape flashed pass at a breakneck speed and she had to focus her attention on riding. Even so, it occurred to her that the elevation was increasing as they rode.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

He pushed the horses to their very limits for near onto two hours, knowing that their destination was just over the ridge that had now come into veiw. He drew them up top of it and looked down. A wide stream flowed through a knifed out valley through the ridge. It spilled down over a water fall of sorts. Stabing his finger toward the crystal blue water as it fell, he said. "There... That is where we will stay for a time..." He said happilly. He dismounted his horse and made his way down along the streams edge, and walked up to the water fall. He looked back toward Mikaeri. "Come my Jewel..." He called back knowingly. And with that, he walked through the falling water and dissapeared.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

How very clever, Mikaeri thought. A perfectly hidden hide-out. Much as she loathed getting soaked, she ducked under the falling water, following Hi Achi. The icy water drenched her completely and she let out a little yelp as she walked under it. The hidden cave behind was not much warmer. The air was damp and cold. Mikaeri hugged her arms to her, partially for warmth but also because her clothing was now clinging to her, revealing her body.

The cavern was dark. Mikaeri had trouble making out Hi Achi in the gloom, but she could almost feel his warmth. She reached out a tentative hand and came into contact with his chest.

 

[Ravenloft]

Posted by Ravenloft

Hi Achi:


The moment he'd slipped into the cave, Hi Achi had removed his wet cloths, and slipped back into his Gi. The light touch of Mikaeri's hand pressed against his bare chest drew Hi Achi's attention away from the flint and tinder he was just about to strike together, against a pitch soaked, and bamboo bound torch. He looked up, he could see her in the pitch blackness of the cavern, better than she could see him, he knew. Tucking the flint and tinder into his belt he folded his hands over hers. His hands were warm and dry, and he began to massage heat back into her cold, wet fingers.

Once her hands were no longer bitterly cold, he drew one to his lips and kissed her finger tips in the darkness. "My jewel..." He whispered. "I will make a fire to warm us, you must shed these cloths though..." He emplored, reaching a hand along her waist, and pulled at the icy, clinging fabric. "I have a few extra Gi's, and several heavy blankets for you, if you like, while I prepare this fire." And with that, he released her hand, and lit the torch he'd been holding between his knees. The light flared for a moment, then started a constant, flickering glow, the cave was illuminated then, there was a mass of risen stone in one corner. It had been chizled out inside, and below, along the sharp edge of the stone's cut was a hole, with a thick cork placed securely into it. An Iron pot sat next to the large block of stone. A make shift bed, of straw, down, and various other components all bundled together, under a scattering of furs looked to be used as a bed. There was a small pit, obviously used for a fire place just a pace off to Hi Achi's right. And from the curved roof of the cave hung several bundles of dried plants. One of these plants hung down, just within reach of Mikaeri's hand between herself and Hi Achi.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

Mikaeri blushed a charming shade of pink and bit her lip, her expression shy but determined. The desperation of their flight was not longer a distraction and she felt his presence acutely as she undressed. She drew her damp shirt over her head and her wet hair fell across her bare shoulders, causing Mikaeri to gasp. Hi Achi turned and his gaze seemed to burn into her naked flesh. Turning away from him and quivering in embarrassment, she removed the rest of her wet clothing. She reached for one of the woolen blankets and wrapped it around her tightly as she sank down to the bed. By then, Hi Achi had a blazing fire going, Mikaeri saw through half-closed eyes. She couldn’t remember feeling more exhausted and as her body began to warm, her eyelids closed completely and she drifted off into sleep.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

It took Hi Achi a good several minutes to get the fire going to his tastes. Then he stood, arching his back, stretching the kinks out of it. He sighed, looking up, he toyed with the low hanging, dry plant for a moment. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Mikaeri laying in his bed, he smiled, he'd tried not to show his wide eyed lust for her while she was undressing, but now it was in his eyes as he walked over to her. He knelt down. "Mikaeri..." He whispered. He listened then, and realized she'd already fallen asleep. Smiling even more broadly, he slipped in next to her, his finger tips hovering above her lips as she slept. He admired her slumbering beauty. "My jewel..." He sighed as he closed his eyes as well. Sleep came easily.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

I stood over the fallen man, my hands damp with blood. At that moment, I felt calm, serene even. My duty had been done. Almost. My footsteps were soundless as I walked across the room, away from the body and its crimson pool. From my sleeve, I withdrew a clean white cloth and spread it on the floor at my feet. My fingers stained the white red where I handled it, but it could not be helped. I fell to my knees upon the cloth. Clasping the sides of my Gi firmly, I ripped it open revealing my breasts and belly. My hand went to my side. The ninja-to made a silky sound as I unsheathed it. The ivory hilt felt cool to the touch, but somehow it seemed comforting in its familiarity. I grasped my sword firmly and turned the blade inward, towards my stomach. I said a prayer to Amaterasu Omikami, the words spilling over my lips silently. Upon the last word, I thrust the steel deeply into my abdomen. There was no pain. I managed to jerk the blade to the right before I fell forward. A breeze from above and my head was severed from body. My spirit saw the face of Hi Achi standing over me as a last sigh escaped my lips.

Mikaeri screamed as she opened eyes and saw that same face inches from hers. Instinctively she lashed out, dragging her nails across his cheek.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

He'd awoken only minutes before, sencing that Mikaeri was having a nightmare by the way she breathed, and the soft murmurs she was entoning. He reached out to lightly touch her brow when she snapped awake with a scream. Her nails bit across his cheek and he flowed with the strike, lessening its force. He held his head to the side, feeling a small welling of blood along his cheek. Slowly he turned his gaze back upon Mikaeri. It was an empty look for but a second, then it filled with warmth, and he reached out to embrace her, bringing her head down on his chest, running his hand through her hair.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

"I'm sorry for striking you. I had a dream."

Mikaeri could hear the steady rhythm of his heart beating beneath her ear. She could feel her own breathing calm as she Hi Achi stroked her hair. Her eyelids fluttered close again. She had never felt so safe. Strange, since she was laying in the arms of a man who had been sent to kill her. Mikaeri sighed with contentment.

Sent to kill her!

The thought came to her at the same moment she realized her own nakedness. She rolled away and stood up in a single fluid moment, wrapping the blankets around her body as she moved. It took her quite awhile to find her voice, but when she did, it was determined and strong. The voice of an Imperial Princess.

"Do you not think it is time to tell me why you were sent to kill me, Hi Achi?"

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

With a tilt of his head, Hi Achi replied, not even pausing. "My employer wished you dead... You were a nuicence to him I would suppose..." Hi Achi sat up on his bed, patting the back of his hand against the three red streams along his cheek, looking at it before he wiped it upon a wolfs fur that lay across his lap.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

The incompleteness of his answer was maddening. Mikaeri struggled to contain her anger.

"Hi Achi, that was a perfect answer. Just as I am sure you were trained to give if interrogated, answering the question, but revealing nothing. However, if you expect me to trust you..."

Mikaeri's voice trailed off as her eyes filled with tears. When she continued, there was a temor in her voice.

"To trust you, to understand you, to come to love you...."

She took a shuddering breath.

"For any of this to be possible, you need to stop speaking so cavalierly of my death. Help me to understand who it is that wanted me gone and why."

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

After drawing a long breath, his brow creasing with thought, Hi Achi spoke. "Men who knew of your plans for the Shogun, they think you dead now, there is no reason for them to expect you to be anything but... You, my Jewel..." He stood at that, the wolf skin no longer hiding his naked form as he stood in all his nature before her. "Are dead, and therefore have the hand of surprise upon your sword... When it strikes..." He stepped toward her, his hip shifting with the move, making his muscles shift. He watched her gaze upon his nakedness. "...Do you like what you see?" He asked out of the blue.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

In the flickering light of the fire, Mikaeri's eyes grew large as she feasted on her first sight of a naked man. The shadows danced over his body as did her eyes. Her lips parted slightly as she took in the strength of his chest, the ripples of his abdomen, the beauty of his manhood, the power of his thighs. She couldn't stop staring and it took her a long time to find her voice.

When she did, Mikaeri ignored the vulgarity that was Hi Achi's question.

"Then my father's plans to kill the Shogun were known. I am in your debt. If you had not spared my life, I would have been unable to fulfill my duty. Hi Achi, we must be on our way soon. I have to complete my mission regardless."

Mikaeri flushed. Her voice as taken on a husky quality as if it had been infused with smoke. She hoped Hi Achi would not notice.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

Continuing to stride toward Mikaeri, slow as a wild tiger stalking prey, Hi Achi looked her over and smiled. "Yes, your mission..." He sighed as he came within arms reach of her and slid a hand up along her arm. "The sooner your mission is done..." He trailed off as his head lowered for a brief moment to look upon the curve of her breasts, then back into her eyes. His lips parted and his eyes showed with nothing short of admiration for her beauty.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

"The sooner your mission is done."

The sooner she would die. Mikaeri closed her eyes. While she knew it was her duty, she was nevertheless afraid. She shivered and the spell was broken. Mikaeri retreated several steps.

"Indeed. The sooner my mission is completed, the power of the Imperial order can be restored."

She took another step backwards.

"Which means I have wasted time with sleep. Perhaps we should eat and then be on our way."

Mikaeri knew she was speaking too fast in a desperate attempt to break the almost tangible sexual tension that hung in the air.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

His gaze turning sober, Hi Achi nodded. "Yes, first we must eat..." He looked back toward the fire that was in its last couple hours of life. Five minutes later, he had it roaring again, ready to cook them a meal. He beconed Mikaeri over to the fire with a wave of his hand and sat across from her as he did.

 

[Siren's Voice]

Princess Mikaeri

Briefly Mikaeri wondered what he would be able to come up with to eat in a place like this. Then she scolded herself. Those were the thoughts of a spoiled Imperial princess.

She was amazed at his comfort with his own nudity. Mikaeri still couldn't take her eyes off his body and she was afraid he might catch her staring. Wrapping the blanket tighter around her own nakedness, she walked over to the fire and gracefully sat down.

"Is there something I can do to help with the preparation of the meal?" she asked politely.

 

[Ravenloft]

Hi Achi:

"Yes." Hi Achi says simply as he pulls a burlap sack close to his side and pulls a couple diferent vegetables from it. He pulls out his tanto and begins to slice up a carrot. "Just some of these up, into quarter inch slices if you would..." He said with a smile as he looked into Mikaeri's eyes. There was a hammered, low brimmed pot off to his other side with a pat of animal fat in its bottom, and a metal stand beneith it, waiting to be placed over the fire.