Red River Fan Fiction ❯ A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE ❯ V1 C2 A virgin sacrifice? Are you out of your mind? ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: Baran

Tracked by soldiers in an ancient city, Miyuki made an encounter that will left her breathless. We can only hope that she will not loose her head also.

Anime/Manga: Red River Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.31.2006 | Updated On: 02.20.2007 | Pages: 8 | Words: 8.3K | Visits: 315 | Status: Work In Progress

A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE

WHERE THE RED FIRE AND RED RIVER MEET

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Miyuki Kanzaki.

Note: Did you notice? It was Lina who said that she will find Miyuki again and not Eric. Why? Well, you will not know until the retelling of the manga nÂ° 21. By the way, I have only translations in English of the nÂ° 1 to 9. If anyone can just only send me the dialogues, (no need of description of actions) I and my readers will be eternally grateful.

Vol 1 Chap 2: A Virgin sacrifice? Are you out of your mind!?

In a darkened stairway, a hooded silhouette was kneeling before a natural spring. Another cloaked person was lighting the spring with an oil lamp. “Looks like you got away…”

The familiar-looking hands with jeweled rings and bracelets of the female voice were withdrawn from the surface of the water. “This is truly disappointing. Just a little bit more and I could have brought you here… But she is certainly within this kingdom. She should have arrived in one of the other six springs in the city.”

“Well, let's call for some soldiers. The girl will be before you soon, your highness.” The face of the man speaking was still hidden by the darkness of the cloak.

“Naturally.” The woman stood up on bare feet with a bell-ankle bracelet. “I summoned that girl for a reason. No matter what happens, her blood is needed…” She was a magnificent but cold-looking woman. Long and flowing blond hair in a bun with a golden crown and commanding eyes of light violet, she was obviously a person of considerable power.

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Miyuki was running almost panicking in the strange city. `This isn't Japan…' Temples of ancient design but not of appearance, of perhaps Greek or at least Mediterranean origin were visible. `This isn't my city.' Well-maintained stone walls of medieval design were encircling the area. `Where are Eric and Lina!?'

She advised a stone stairway to the top of the wall and went to have a better view of where she was. `This is not the feeling of a Kekkai (`closed world', a pocket dimension created for occult battle to minimize collateral damage or by entities to procure a `home advantage'). Is this the twilight zone like in those old American series?'

She shook suddenly under a sudden dizziness. `Ugh! I've never felt so drained before. What happened to me?' On the top of the wall, she turned around to see what was around. `Where the hell is this place!?' She froze, completely stunned by the sight. `Where…'

She was beholding a large city sprawled on and around three hills. A large stone-walled city, a large stone-walled city of very ancient style of construction. Clay-brick, stone and marble were visible in the building materials. There was absolutely no sign of any modern contraptions. There was no such a large city at the surface of the earth that she known.

“I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS! WHERE AM I!? WHERE IS THIS PLACE!?” Now, Miyuki was panicking.

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Let's leave our main character for a moment, and give the reader a special lesson.

This is Hattusa. Capital of the Hittite Empire, in the 14th Century BC.

In the 20th Century, this area is now known as Central Anatolia in the republic of Turkey.

Our heroine doesn't know it yet, but she has been drawn far from her own place… and time (a mere 3400 years in the past, a trifle, really).

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The young Miko was still contemplating in disbelief the formidable city around her. “…No way… This is all just a bad dream… Yeah, that's it… It's just a bad dream…” She couldn't accept what she was seeing. Even if she knew of the existence of countless others dimensions. After all, she was a defender of the Nexus, but that… She closed her eyes.

“When I open my eyes, everything will be back to…” It was something she hadn't done since her first sighting of a demon. “…normal…” No such luck. `Rolling hills covered in lush green to the horizon…A city of reddish brick surrounded by stone walls!' Her Zen-state was beginning to unravel a `little': Her hands were shaking. “What happened…? All right, Miyuki, calm yourself and think…” She knelt on the ground, too weary by her ordeal, and tried to gather her wits.

“I was…on a date with Eric and Lina… We'd just watched a movie and we're walking in the park… Then the same hands of the aquarium caught me and dragged me down the water…puddle?” What was freaking the Japanese priestess was the total absence of any magic perceptible and no way was that possible without the use of a powerful ability. Even if the phenomena was scientific, psionic or natural in origin, she should have felt something, she had the experience. “How did this happen?” Too drained and worried by what happened until now, she didn't remark that she was no longer alone on the wall-pathway.

“&#@€Â¤Â£$*Â§!”

“Soldiers?!” Men with sandals, loin-clothes and leather straps were pointing in her direction.

“&#@€Â¤Â£$*Â§!!< /b>”

Alarmed, Miyuki saw that the weaponry was real: Short spears and short swords of Mediterranean design. She began to run again. `Where is this place?'

The half dozen of soldiers came to her pursuit. `I have no idea what's going on…but I don't like the looks of those guys. I get the feeling that I should run away until I know better… That voice I heard when I got sucked into the water…the voice felt as cold as ice…' She could still feel the fear that the voice had generated in her. `I've caught you, my girl!' She shook her head. `I don't understand but I'd better run away until I can catch my breath and prepare one or two spells! Damn it! I lost my backpack with all my supplies. I have only basic Ofudas now!'

As she ran among the people of the city, she absently remarked that the paved streets have a central gutter canal. `But even so, where should I run to!? These brick-red clay walls are like a maze… I don't know where I'm running! Is this hopeless? No! Never let it go no matter what… DAMN!' In front of her, another group of soldiers have cut off her path. Was she trapped?

No! A side-street allowed her to escape capture and she ran inside a small park. But a cloaked silhouette blocked her in the middle of it. `Damn, there are people this way too!'

“&#@€Â¤Â£$*Â§.&# 8221; The person shed her cloak and Miyuki gasped.

“&#@€Â¤Â£$*Â§?” He was a handsome tall young man with shoulder-length blond hair and amazing amber eyes. His face was thin with earrings and a headband. He was garbed in a rich cut but simple clothes and leather sandals adorn his feet.

Miyuki blinked as she detailed the young man in front of her. `You're not…a soldier, are you…?'

“&#@€Â¤Â£$*Â§.&# 8221; The sound of angry voices and sandaled feet remembered the Miko of her precarious situation. `It's the soldiers! What should I do now? There's nowhere left to run to!!'

The man was contemplating the young girl in front of him and then advanced on her.

`What should I do!?' She suddenly felt a hand catching her arm. “Huh!?”

The young man swept her into his arms and covered them with his cloak.

“Wha...” The priestess was too surprised and feeble to even mount a semblance of resistance. The deep kiss he delivered to her achieved to completely floor her.

The soldiers tromped in on a very strange sight: A couple making out in the garden.

Miyuki was on the ground maintained by the strong arms of her…aggressor? `What…!? Whoa! I don't even know this guy…this is nothing like Eric's gentle kiss…' “Hmm?” `I can't breathe! This hurts…! WHAT THE HELL!?' As the kiss deepened, magical energy penetrated the Miko. A spell was cast on her as the kiss continued. She was too low on her reserves to attempt to try a counter-spell.

The soldiers spoke anew to the strange couple. “Hey you! A girl came this way.”

“Which way did she run?”

The man stopped the kiss. “A girl?”

“Huff…” At last, sweet air tried to reboot the brain of the young girl.

“Well. I must not have noticed her. When I'm with a woman, no other woman can catch my eye.” The blond man maintained Miyuki concealed by the cloak and clamped down her mouth.

“Mmmph…” `What the hell is he doing, now?'

Intense surprise and some fear were visible on the faces of the soldiers. “It…it's Prince Kail!”

“Prin…Prince Kail! Why are you in a place like this, your Highness?”

The soldiers obviously didn't know what to do in this situation. “Uh…Um…We seek a girl…We're sure a girl in strange clothes must have passed this way…”

Kail looked on the soldiers from his shoulder. “Must I repeat myself? I did not see her. Can't you see I'm occupied?! I finally reached a high note with the woman whose heart I've won…so don't intrude!”

Miyuki gasped and her emerald eyes widened. `His words…I…can understand his words!?'

“Away with you! Get out of my sight!” Now Kail was manifesting irritation.

“Y…YES MY PRINCE!”

Kail looked at the soldiers going away then turned his attention on Miyuki who was still unnerved by the fierce kiss she has received. “Hmm, your clothes ARE strange.” True, now that he was examined her, he never seen this sort of blue coloration for her top clothes. She was also wearing…pants? “From what land do you hail?” His curiosity was genuine, especially considering who was pursuing her. “What did you do to get the Queen's own guard chasing after you?”

`The Queen's guard…!? Then that means…this guy saved me? And also…why are his words suddenly…!?' It hit her like a freight train. `The spell he cast on me…A translation spell?' Now, now that she has touched him and after the magic he performed on her, she could sense his power. `No way, now I can sense it…and was it necessary for him to use the kissing method?'

Kail was smirking. “Perhaps you're still distraught. I, for one, hate to start things and not finish them. Since the fair flower I was awaiting has not come. Perhaps you will take her place.”

Miyuki gasped at the audacity of the remark and quickly stood up.

“Hey, Wait!”

Still distraught by the actions of the man she had unconsciously began to trust, the Miko decided to run away. `What a jerk! I can't trust anybody here!!'

Unfortunately the young priestess still didn't know her way in the maze of this city and soon she find herself in the same street she had flew off. `Why was I brought here!? What a nightmare!'

She cursed under her rather short breath and gingerly search for an escape. `Why did he cast a translation spell for me?' She absently `tasted' the matrix of the magic within her. `A permanent AND universal enchantment at that? It needs a rather nice energy source to empower it.'

She didn't have time to ponder on the spell in fact she didn't have time to reflect on the situation now. `None of this makes sense! I need clues!'

Around her, the people were reacting to her presence and appearance. “AAAH! That's the girl who appeared from the spring!”

“She appeared from the spring?”

They were unfortunately not the only ones to see her. The Queen's guard was closing on their quarry. “It's her! Over there!”

Miyuki found herself abruptly encircled. `No one to turn to and no free way! Damn it!'

But if the soldiers were thinking of a simple capture, they were quickly disillusioned. A palm strike broke the lock on her arm and a knee in the belly brought the next guard back to his comrades and trying to regain his breath. Blocked from escape, the young girl revealed herself as a cornered tiger. Eyes blazing with defy to her aggressors, her body in a defensive stance, Miyuki was far from being helpless.

And then, it happened. A sudden wave of weakness submerged her. `OH NO! NOT NOW!'

Sensing the failing in the defense of their prey, the soldiers rushed the priestess. `Mama, Papa, my friends!' “No…” She was unable to mount a correct defense and was reduced to feebly struggle against the guards.

“All right, let's take her to her majesty.” They have her now. She will not escape them again.

`Help me Eric!' She was still struggling in their grasps. “No! Stop! Let me GO!” Even adrenalin was insufficient to break the lock on her arms. `Somebody help me!' But she had no one to help her in the strange place she was. “NOOOO!”

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Miyuki was imprisoned in a palace and restrained in an empty room. On her knees with her back to a pillar, cords ensnared her wrists up to her head. Her ankles were likely secured at the base of the column.

`This is really not good.' Once again she attempted to loosen her bonds but they were too tight. `And I still feel weakened. Why can't I renew my energy? It makes no sense!' Since the moment she was in a, relatively, restful position, she had tried to gather enough energy to power up her spells to no avail.

“It was a mistake to let her be seen by the common folk.” The voice was coming from outside the room and gained in strength as the person approached. “I had to put an end to it before the uproar spread too much.” The Miko gasped as she finally recognized the voice.

`That voice!' She turned her head in the direction of the door. `It's the one of the person who dragged me into the water!'

Two persons entered the room. One was a tall silhouette completely hidden by her large hooded robe. The other was a tall woman with long golden hair in a bun and light-violet eyes. She was garbed in a magnificent long skirt with a floral top leaving her midriff bare and bore a crown. “Welcome to Hattusa.” She smirked.

“You…you're the one who brought me here?” At last, Miyuki was facing the responsible of her presence in this place. “Why? What do you want with me…!?” As the woman put a finger on her throat, the young girl was able to sense the enormous power irradiating from her. It was…priestly power?

“Just stay still. I shall slit your throat like this…right here and let your life's blood spill out. Your freshly flowing red blood is essential.”

“What?” `My blood? She can't be serious!'

“His majesty, the Emperor is very old. I want my son, a prince to succeed him on the throne.” She brought up her power. A chill submerged the young girl. “But he is the youngest of the princes. For him to become crown prince, the five older princes will have to die.”

The nature of the energies was too familiar to the Japanese priestess. She faced it enough times during her defense of the Nexus. “I need a blood offering to make the Death-curse I put on the princes work. I prayed to my god to grant me a sacrifice. I didn't care what country the person was from. I asked for the most worthy human sacrifice, and you were the one who was shown to me.”

`Me…a sacrifice?!' “Even if I'm from the 21Â° Century, you will dare to spill the blood of a priestess! This kind of things isn't allowed between faiths!”

“21Â° Century…Is that where you're from? And a priestess? Really? Well, this is the Hittite Empire. I am the Queen of Emperor Suppiluliumas, the King of Water (king of the Hittites from approx 1380-1340 BC). There is nothing I cannot do.”

`The King of Water…?' Where did she heard this particular title?

At this moment the voice of a servant outside interrupted the rather intense discussion. “Your Highness! A message! His majesty the Emperor is on his way here now!”

Nakia frowned. “His majesty is coming here? Why?”

The black-clad kneeling servant turned to her. “Perhaps word of the disturbance in the city has reached his ears.”

The Queen slowly nodded. “Hmm. I can't let the Emperor know of my plan.”

“The Emperor…” It was a ray of hope for Miyuki. `Maybe he can stop the Queen from sacrificing me!'

“Very well. The important thing now is that we spill this girl's blood. I have an idea!” She quickly gagged the Miko.

“Mmph!”

The grey-bearded man who entered the room was an elderly but he still bore a forceful appearance and noblesse. “My Queen…I was told of a girl who appeared from a spring. Why is she in your palace?”

“Have you forgotten, my Liege? I am not only a Queen, but I also serve as priestess of the great temple. The spring is in the jurisdiction of Teshub's blessed temple. It is no coincidence that this girl has come to me.”

The Miko blinked as she recognized that name. `Teshub? Isn't that a weather or storm god of the Assyrians or the Babylonians? Oh, for Kami-Sama sake! Please help me! Don't listen to her!'

The Emperor was caressing his beard. “Hmm. So what do you plan to do with the girl?”

Queen Nakia smiled. “Well, if indeed she came from Teshub…then perhaps returning her will bring prosperity to the empire.”

Miyuki frowned. `Return me…?'

“You mean to sacrifice her to Teshub? If that is your will… If you deem it best, I have no objection.”

“Yes your Majesty. Then we should take her to the great temple. Issue an edict informing the city that there will be a ceremony tomorrow.”

`What! This can't be!!' Unfortunately the young girl, still gagged, was roughly bring up and taken away. `Nobody can help me.' Her energy was still too low to do anything and she was still suffering from the last wave of weakness. `She is going to sacrifice me! I must do something!' Miyuki was perhaps physically impotent but she still had determination in spade.

`If I can't stop the sacrifice…I can still make sure my blood will not be employed by her…I hope…' As a priestess of the Japanese pantheon, Miyuki had sworn certain oaths. By using these oaths she could…could deflect the sinister purpose of that Queen and bring the backlash of the Death-curse directly on her. But it demand time and energy and she didn't know if she had enough of those.

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As the ritual was prepared, the city of Hattusa was in effervescence.

“A ceremony at the great temple?”

“That's rare for this time of the year isn't it?”

In the central court of the great temple, people were massing to assist to the ceremony.

`This is unbelievable! No one is objecting to my death!' During the night, Miyuki had attempted everything to escape or rendered the sacrifice worthless. Nothing had worked and already she was escorted outside.

“BRING OUT THE GIRL!” The young girl had been purified and clothed in only a white long tunic. She was still gagged and her hands and feet were bound.

`This is…this is it! Courage Miyuki!' She couldn't stop herself to shed tears.

A servant was placing the Royal family. “Tabarna (title of the Emperor like Caesar or Pharaoh), please be seated. His Highness, crown Prince Arnuwanda (son of Suppililiumas, reigned for one year after his father), and…”

`Komera has said it: there is always a way out, even from a black hole.' She would give anything and everything for the arrival of the Circle.

On the upper levels, numerous girls and young women were waving to someone. “Prince Kail!”

The servant continued to announce the arrivals. “…the third prince, his Highness Kail Mursili (son of Suppililiumas, reigned for 33 years after Arnuwanda), please be seated.”

The emerald eyes darted everywhere. `There must be a way…'

“Older brother. How is your health?” The young man who took his place among the Royal family was a shock for the Miko.

`That man!?' It was the same man who kissed her in the park. The person who had cast a permanent translation matrix for her. `The third Prince…is that guy!? He's going to assist to the sacrifice which will kill him?'

Behind the Japanese schoolgirl, the Queen, garbed in her priestess robes, was advancing. Her sacred staff with the Stag, symbol of Teshub, lightly tinkling. “O great Teshub, god of gods!

I pray to you for the blessing of rain and for the fertility of our land.”

Two masked men forced Miyuki on her knees and denuded her neck and top of the chest. They parted her long black hair, exposing the vulnerable pale skin underneath. “I send to you this untainted virgin.” The Queen smirked under her hood. “Please O god! Receive this tribute and answer our humble prayer! Grant my wish!”

Kail, goblet of wine in the hand was neutrally looking at the scene. His amber eyes narrowed as he saw the naked despair and fear of the young girl.

`Please O Amaterasu-Sama! (goddess of the sun and protector secular of Japan) Take the soul of your humble servant in your bosom! I beseech you to help my family and my friends!' A jolt of adrenalin raced in her blood. `NO! I don't want to die!' She struggled but the grasp of the executors were too firm. A third masked man was preparing to cut the head of the young priestess with an axe. She must do something to prevent this use of her blood, if nothing else. The Japanese prayed to the local gods. `O great Teshub, god of weather and storms! I know I can't speak on your behalf, but please, let my blood stains the hands of the one who abuse her power.' As the axe fall, Miyuki could only closed her crying green eyes and wished it will be fast.

And miracle! A goblet launched with strength make the executor let go of his axe.

If the Japanese priestess felt surprised, the same could also be said for the Queen. “Who dares?! Who dares incur the storm god's wrath?!”

“That wasn't an insult at all.” Kail was calmly standing up from his chair. “In fact, it was quite the opposite, mother dearest.”

The displaced student blinked. Talk about a turnover of the situation. Although she was still in great danger, Miyuki felt the warmth of hope blossomed in her heart. `He intervened in my favor?'

“Prince Kail! Were you the one who threw the goblet!?” The Queen was furious. “What do you mean, `opposite'? It doesn't matter that you are one of the Emperor's sons! Under these circumstances, your actions are inexcusable!”

“Hold on, mother dearest. I do not wish to deceive our god, so I intervened.” Kail, smiling, approached the frightful girl and take off her gag. “Let's see…”

“Huh!?” The Shinto priestess was confused by the actions of Kail.

“Ah. So it IS that girl.” Amber eyes met tearing green eyes and softened. Kail turned to the Emperor. “Dear father, isn't purity a requirement for our offerings to Teshub?”

“Of course.” The King of Water was perplexed. What have done his son again?

“Then knowing that the tribute is impure, and keeping quiet…That is also inexcusable, is it not?” Kail was manifesting guilt and repentance. “It seems I have no choice…I must confess.”

Miyuki could only blink as she listened to the surrealist conversation. `Wha…What's he going to say?' She had just been sparred from being sacrificed. What the hell was he talking about?

Taking the young confused girl in his arms, Kail launched his bomb. “I have already made this girl mine once. Unaware that she was a tribute, I stole her chastity.”

“WHAAAT!?” The young girl erupted into a full-body blush.

“THAT'S…THAT'S A LIE!” The Queen was not buying it. `I just summoned that girl to this kingdom yesterday!'

“And how is it that you can be so sure about that, mother dearest?” Kail was eyeing the Queen with a little smirk. He tightened his embrace on Miyuki. “Surely, even you have not forgotten what we did yesterday in the cool shades of the trees…Hmmm…?”

The young girl was furiously blushing and stammered. “TH…THAT WAS…”

Suppililiumas palmed his face. Yes, his son had done it again. The Emperor suppressed a sigh.

Miyuki was building a steam at the plain exposition of her supposed deflowering. “YOU FORCED ME TO…”

Arnuwanda was sighing in his goblet. Like always, his little brother had done it again.

Kail whispered to the ear of the flustered Miko. “If you want to keep your neck and your body…”

“…kiss…” This stopped nicely the flustered girl.

“…wouldn't it be better for you to play along?” He achieved his strike to the full-body blushing girl.

`He's right, if I want to live, I'll have to go along with his disgusting lie!' Although the situation was serious, Miyuki was simmering. “Don't touch me!!” She whispered. `Even with Eric, I only kissed, and just one time…'

The Emperor took the situation in hand. “Ahem…Girl, does the Prince speak the truth?”

Miyuki blinked and gulped. This was it, life or death was hanging on her response. She turned to the visage of Kail who was looking straight to his father and showing nothing. She pondered for a second then nodded affirmatively.

Nakia was dismayed. `How can this be possible?' Now, the Queen was confused. How Kail had managed to claimed this girl in the limited time of her escape.

“Therefore, I'll take responsibility for rendering her useless as a tribute.” Kail threw Miyuki, still bound, on his shoulder. “I'll take her into my custody”

“Prince Kail! I won't allow this selfishness!” The Queen was not beaten yet.

“I will make amends to the temple. I will send a hundred virgin cows and goats…” He smiled and turned to the Emperor. “That should comply with the usual custom, right father?”

“Yes…” The gaze of the King of Water revealed nothing of his thinking.

“Your majesty!” This time, she could not go against a Royal wish.

“Kail. I don't care that you're a womanizer, but please try to shape up and settle down with a proper princess.” The Emperor was trying to encourage his son in the right direction.

“I agree with you, father.” Kail smiled to his father. “But there are more beauties in this world than there are stars… How can I decide on just one?” And still with his prize on his shoulder, Kail leaved the temple. “…Well then, Farewell.”

The `prize', however, was less than happy. `I'm saved! For the moment, at least. And even then, is this where I have been rescued to…? But I don't like this either! I hate it here! I want to go back to Japan! I have to find a way home and fast!'