Chapter 3: ch 2
(Kaoru pov)
I woke up the next day to my sister's voice as she talked to a man in a white robe.
"Kaoru! You're finally awake!"
My sister said relief evident in her voice as she suddenly hugged me tightly.
"W-what happened, M-maiko-onesama?"
I asked her as things started to clear off my mind.
"That mutt! How dare he harm his master!? After I took the indulgence of taking him in!"
She said as her onyx eyes glared in thought dim in absolute rage.
"What?.....What happened after I passed out?"
I said as I felt my head pang severely that I could only compare it to the lunar gong of the sixth moon.
Feeling the sensation in my throat rising in the surging pain in my head, I retched.
"Kaoru! Let me get the doctor!"
She said as she then left the room in panic as I heard the shoji doors clack.
Yesterday's events came flooding back like a storm. I gasped in exasperation of bewilderment.
I looked frantically at my surroundings like I was going insane feeling the cacophony of chaos in my head.
Around me was a traditional Japanese room, just like in old houses and fiction.
I.... reincarnated....
A sudden spinning memory resurfaced my mind from yesterday's hazy events..
The figure of a rose haired boy appeared in the visage of my thoughts..
What even happened?...
That's right I went to Maiko-onesama's room last night...
She had a gift for me..
Feeling the realization arrive, My nerves crackled a storming frenzy as I gasped air harshly running my throat.
That boy!..
Despite my head still hazy as a rippling lake after the rain, I stood up.
I ran out across the
halls as my heart rose at its seams barely holding on whilst the blood rampaged my blood vessels.
As the lake in my mind slowly began to still and clear, I felt the reverberating whisper as if I was losing my mind.
I needed to make sure...
Was it really him?..
That thought echoed across my trembled lips as the urge to find the boy raged whilst I ran around looking for him.
"Insolent mutt! You dare harm your master!"
I heard a familiar voice shout in the nearby room behind the shoji.
Despite my maddened rampaging state, I ceased running yet I felt like a full speeded car crashing a wall.
"Look at what you've done! because of you, Lady Maiko will forsake me!"
A woman's voice rumbled in the room as I heard struggling growling and crashing.
The growl was nearly animal like and savage but I wasn't foolish enough not to know it was human.
Like I was in a heavy trance, I harshly slid the shoji open.
Inside, the woman, Maiko's maid, looked to me in grave shock, stumbling over the wall.
Beside her on the floor, was a boy rampantly raging at the thick rope caging his body whilst he could barely move.
He looked at me in rabid eyes and if he was foaming in the mouth I would've thought else where.
Saliva leaked gleaming in his skin through the painful wooden gag stretching his mouth.
I turned my head to the maid whilst I was heaving, my running catching up to me as my lungs begged for scarce air.
"What are you doing to the boy?"
I asked her as the woman's shaking form panickingly composed herself.
I heard her swearing at me for suddenly entering the room , surprising her terribly, but I could care less about dignities at the moment.
"I.... punish the lowly one for harming a member of the Sengoku clan! As the duty of a loyal servant, Kaoru-sama!"
She said confidently sneering at the boy.
Looking again at the bound boy, I noticed red gashes on his back, bleeding and painting his ragged robes red.
Despite so, he was still growling almost as if he didn't feel the wound exposing the inside of his skin.
Although, if one was to look closer, they will be able to notice the slight wincing of his eyes.
The gash looked frightening that in the back of my mind if I wasn't dazed at the moment I would've vomited in disgust.
"I must punish him, Kaoru-sama! How dare he harm a noble! Such insolent things, this servant will make it suffer!"
The maid exclaimed loudly regaining her composure as she took what I realized was a bloody whip from the floor.
I heard the boy's growling surge louder as the maid approached.
Despite my bewildered state, a sudden panic ran through my veins.
"Stop this at once! You've no need to punish the boy!"
I yelled as the maid was about to give the boy a hard forceful slash that promptly went to the floor.
"You are truly kind, Kaoru-sama! Instead of this one who has harmed you! Pity this maid! I have served Maiko-sama loyally but because of this boy I was forsaken!"
She said farcely with emotion begging me to aid her despite her being so heartless enough to harm a child.
"Leave. You forget that this boy is my servant. Punishing him is my duty."
I told her ,ignoring her pleads. She began to beg profusely but I deafened my ears refusing to hear it.
It didn't take long before she gave up and grunted in anger as she left the room.
'Then again, it isn't like a mere concubine's daughter has any power I could cling to..'
I heard the maid mutter as she left the room.
I sighed lightly still a bit bewildered as I heard the maids footsteps far.
In the room full of old boxes and dust now, were only me and the boy who was roaring loudly despite the wooden gag.
I walked towards him whilst his roaring began to strengthen the struggle.
As I bent down about to undo the seams of the rope caging him, I remembered what he did the last time he was free.
I don't believe I suffer grave injury but it still hurts and it wasn't pleasant.
I can't gain any scars lest my clan throw me away for being a tainted woman.
My chest thumped filling with caution.
I can't exactly just free him suddenly..
I don't know what he'd do..
He looked rabid enough like a wild dog after all. He might kill me.
Gazing contemplatedly at him who was looking even more less human as he violently struggled and growled, I had subtle thought.
I remember once a scene of a man having the same situation with a real bound wild beast.
Despite the violent gaze it gave him, the man only gazed at it calmly and somehow the beast calmed as the man gently offered his hand.
Looking at the boy, whose skin was starting to bruise under the ropes because of his wild struggle...
I pursed my lips..
I don't think it could work on a person but..
What other choice do I have?...
The urge to affirm those visions is driving me mad.
I gnawed at my lips as I slowly raised my two hands assuring him they were empty and I didn't plan to whip him.
He still didn't tune down.
I sighed calming myself as I looked at him.
Screw it..
"I'll free you if you promise not to harm me."
I told him although I myself am questioning my actions watching him growl even harder.
Well....he was kidnapped and brought to be my slave...
I don't think he's in any way pleased that's for certain..
And after what those people did under my name, I better hope less for a good impression...
He was madly moving against the rope binding him in what I could translate was close to..
'After all that! You think I'll trust you!'
His voice was severely muffled but I can surmise that much.
I gulped unconsciously as I slowly went closer.
"If you attack me, there's still several other guards around. You won't be able to run. "
I told him whilst I gritted my teeth trying to even get a hold of the rope before his rampant movements pushed me back.
This isn't working...
"If you don't hurt me, I'll help you escape. Even if you run, you'll just get lost. I on the other hand know where there aren't any guards and the way to get out."
I reasoned with him and after a few minutes despite hesitantly he stopped trying to violently push me away but now he looked like a predator waiting to pounce.
My guts were queasy.I can't exactly trust him, I gently tugged on the gag first.
As I took it off his mouth showing the red strain in his cheeks whilst he groaned, I found myself silently staring at him.
"Aren't you going to untie the rope? I could care less about the gag!"
He complained harshly. I would've found it scary if I didn't notice that the reason was simply how painful ropes were digging his skin.
I decided to still.
He, despite his irritation began to wait trying to tell me perhaps he wasn't going to harm me for now that is, I thought whilst looking at his glaring eyes.
A little content with the silence, I began awkwardly tugging at the ropes trying to untie them.
The knots were a bit difficult. It might take a while but I can still untie it.
Whilst tampering the knots free, I looked at the boy's rose colored hair wet and dripping with sweat as his brown eyes looked weary yet livid.
In a trance even deeper...
"What is your name?..."
I asked him.
He seemed as if he found it irritating to be asked that but thinking I might refuse to untie the ropes, his main worry, he tutted.
"Shouldn't you at least tell me your name first, you damned girl!? Hurry with those useless fingers!"
He replied foul to the tongue.
"Forgive me. My name is Sengoku Kaoru."
I said despite my throbbing slight annoyance only subdued by the fact that I was partly to blame as well.
I ceased untying the ropes as I waited for his answer, feeling my mind blank and empty, anticipating his words.
He growled noticing that I stopped untying him but after glaring at me silently, he relented.
I did hear him curse under his breath that when he's free he'd kill me straight away.
Despite the shiver in my spine, I decided to ignore it.
"I don't have a name."
He tells me as I finally freed him the ropes.
Before I could process it, he lunged at me but...
Unceremoniously passed out...
And that... could've gone better or...
Perhaps worse..
Looking to the boy, passed out on the ground...
His chest was rising up and down...so I suppose he was probably alive...
I couldn't just leave him like this can't I?...
I sighed kneeling down to face the weary boy's face on the ground.
His eyes were tight shut and dark...
His eyes were so sunken and he looked as if he faced a war on his own...
Despite my thoughts...
He looked pretty peaceful...
I gently took his head towards my lap... unsure of what to do with him...
Could he really be the man who would become the demon of this world?..
I felt unsure.... everything still felt unreal...
All of a sudden....the world around me started to feel like an abstract dream that I couldn't quite place....
It felt like I just went mad without my own knowledge...
.....
"Kaoru-sama!!!"
I heard a voice call to me. With a sigh, I looked at the sleeping boy and decided to leave him sitting as he leaned on a nearby wall.
I went out of the room,my back against the shoji. Asides from that, I have other more obvious problems to think about.
"Kaoru-sama! Where were you!? Lord Genji is already waiting for you in the dining hall!"
A maidservant with a said to me as she forcefully grabbed my wrist and brought me to the dining hall to face that crooked man.
.....
(Ryo Pov)
A boy drowsily looked around a messy old room with confusion in his eyes.
He found himself in an unfamiliar place as he hazely reminisced on the the memories that still seem like a foggy storm in his mind.
He remembers waking up one day.....not sure how long it's been.
It was far too early since the sun has barely risen but he could hear the voices of the villagers in the road outside chattering.
Forced to awake by the noise, he despite his throbbing irritation and heavy eyes went towards the gossiping crowds.
In the middle the often desolate road was a parade of horses and a gaudy palanquin at the center as a manservant dressed in fine silk shouted loudly announcing his master.
A noble seems to have been passing the street of the village that was often abandoned to the edges of the shogun's land.
No wonder it seemed that every villager was curiously watching the unusual sight like watching a bloody circus.
The sound of loud and rowdy horses filled the village paths as the rushing servants following the rampant marching soldiers...
No wonder no one could get a wink of sleep this late at the night, the boy thought in irritation as he yawned.
Suddenly the entourage stopped, the array of horses ceased marching as respectful servant walked towards the old and stout snobby village chief.
The boy couldn't hear what he said to the old man but whatever it was....
It was causing quite a ruckus as the sound of the servant's furious yelling reverberated a rumbling in the earth on the boy's feet.
"You dare disrespect Lady Maiko! How dare you say you have no lodging for my lady!"
The manservant yelled at the shivering old man frightened as the iron clad heavy soldiers began marching forward and pointing their sheening blades.
"This village is very poor! We have no inns my lord! The best we can offer are the stables!"
The old chief begged. The boy nearly scoffed at the fools for demanding a proper inn at dilapidated village like this.
The villagers didn't even have enough to feed themselves and like today it was another famine.
And to think some fool just because they were born a noble could just demand something they don't even have.
"The stables!? How dare a lowly one like you offer such a feeble thing to her ladyship!"
The manservant said enraged as he began throwing delicate porcelain dangerously shattering at the sharp pieces fled towards the old man who's skin began to cut and bleed .
A soldier violently swung his sword as his blade swiftly cut the old man in a large gash as the elderly eyes quivered in fear begging on the ground for his life.
...
In the end, the village chief offered his own home.
.....
The boy watched as the silent hungry villagers began to work and panic at the arrival of that demanding noble.
It was almost as if the whole village suddenly became another set of servants in the already huge entourage.
"Work faster boy! If we don't serve the tea now, it'll be your head!"
A servant shouted as she shoved the boy who was washing the dishes.
Outside he could hear either disgusting giggles and screams agony or pleasure he couldn't tell.
The brothel he worked in was ransacked by the noble's soldiers and currently the boy was pretty sure he didn't have a place to sleep tonight because of the multitude or rowdy guests demanding women and alcohol all night.
He began to sigh as he set aside the plate he was washing. At this rate, he knew he wouldn't finish. The soldiers finished eating everytime and before he could even finishing cleaning one plate.
They ate in a way the boy could only think of as like the swine in the pens that would probably starve to death because of how much these men ate!
They ate so much even though not a single one of the villagers have eaten in days!
The boy was starving yet he was to his anger forced to serve the soldiers who were probably going to make this famine last longer than it should without a care.
He felt his guts rumble like thunder in his core yet he bit his tongue. Even if he was starving and anger was filling his head, he wasn't foolish enough to wish to die just yet.
A though he sometimes questioned. What sort of life was he even living?..
He sighed as he heard a someone enter the room in a frantic state.
"Give this to them now! They've killed one of the other servers! I'm not going in there!"
A woman who was pale to the face said as she shoved a tray of food in the boy's arms.
"Cursed boy! If any else needs to die due here, it's better you do!"
She says in desperate spite as she harshly pushed the boy out the door.
He sighed as he walked the halls towards the loud drunken soldiers yelling across the room.
The boy found himself chuckling. The scent of food was tempting his empty stomach to the point of madness but he knew he couldn't even get a tiny bite of it.
Staring at the silhouettes of the soldiers laughing drunkenly at the other side of the shoji, he then gazed at the steaming dumplings on the tray.
They were stacked and there was so much. Would they really notice if he took just one?
He had to work even more in the next few hours and he still hadn't eaten anything in days.
Just as the the boy felt his hand unconsciously tempted to take from it, another hand violently shoved him aside into the wall.
"You cursed orphan boy! You dare try to steal!"
A woman yelled as she harshly pulled on the boy's ear as the skin turned redder rose than light like the boy's hair.
In the stinging pain, she led him across the halls and threw him outside into the open as the warring raindrops fell to the earth as the boy's small figure grunted in pain.
The shoji was shut as the boy was left outside in the cold hearing the villagers chatter among themselves.
"That cursed mutt!"
"You shouldn't have survived!"
"You're better off dead! Just die!"
"Cursed son of a brothel whore!"
Those damned words echoed in his mind again as he shut his ears.
He was sick of it. He was tired of the pathetic life he lived. He didn't choose to be cursed.
He didn't choose to live or be born. He didn't want to be born to a brothel woman who abandoned him as soon as someone came to marry her.
He didn't want to live this life....
It was cold....he felt his body shiver under the intense frigid air as his stomach burned inside....
He was sure he just might die the next morning.
Then finally he could forget about all this but...
He didn't want to die just yet.
The voices of those villagers echoed in his mind as they mocked him day and night.
Treated him like a mutt in the streets and beat him down every chance they got...
Slowly in the silence, the quiet blood in coursing through his veins began to boil and sear...
Why should he be the only one....
They always told him it was easy....all he had to do was die....
He wondered.... what would they have done if they were the ones sitting in the rain with gut wrenching hunger..
He wondered would they say the same thing...
For some unusual sense, the thought was the first thing that brought such a feeling of satisfaction he felt in his life...
A feeling he didn't understand but he knew he wanted to feel it again....
Anything away from what he felt now...
He was then pulled away from his thoughts as he felt his stomach growl wildly like a savage beast rampaging his guts.
He scoffed and began to find shelter form the rain in a nearby tree.
As he was about to fell asleep from exhaustion, he heard the chatter of two maidservants in the distance.
"Lady Maiko really needs understand her position! She's a mere concubine but she acts like she's the lord!"
One of them complained exhaustion in their eyes.
The boy in some odd curiosity followed them.
By that he found himself following them towards what seemed a luxurious tent as he two maidservants chuckled amongst themselves.
He didn't know what happened next but he remembered his growling stomach and a sudden bash to the head.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone