Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Auguries of Innocence ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

(Author's Note: This is an AU fic set in Ancient China, although I have altered Ancient China around a bit, as you'll see soon enough. This fic also contains yaoi and shoujo ai. So, anyone who doesn't like homosexual relationships, toddle off to a safe Ryo/Mia story, all right? I'm not going to say what the pairings are right out, but you'll probably guess them by the time their relationships begin. And here's the deal with the names. Seiji, Touma, Shuu, Ryo, and Shin will be called by their Japanese names, while the Warlords will be called by the Americanized version. Sorry if that confuses anyone. I hope you enjoy the first chapter of Auguries of Innocence, and please try to review! ~Cinaed)

Auguries of Innocence

Chapter One

The young men who stalked through the forests looked far too young to be the battle-worn soldiers that they were. Most of them looked around twenty or so, though the ones who were more tired than the rest seemed a little older than their actual ages. The oldest of the group of soldiers, a dark blue-haired man of twenty-five years, turned towards the others. A frown lingered on his mouth, twisting the long scar down his cheek unpleasantly. He motioned with his hands that he had heard something a few yards in front of them.

The youngest of the group, a purple-haired youth of nineteen, swallowed hard, the fear obvious in his face. The scarred soldier ignored his fear, choosing to let the younger man keep his pride, and instead motioned them all forward, signaling with his fingers the order that the group should go in. Each soldier clutched at his weapon as they silently trooped through the unfamiliar woodland. Their enemies, the Xiongnu warriors, tended to strike without warning, charging atop their fearsome beasts of horses. The scene that met their eyes, however, made the scarred man halt in astonishment, gazing at the youth who knelt in the middle of a tiny clearing.

The young man who knelt before a recent grave had his head bowed, his full lips moving in a soft, accented prayer. His thick mane of auburn fell to hide his eyes, but his frame was thin and delicate, the hands that were clasped together dainty and yet roughened at the same time. He wore the clothes of a commoner, and his weapon, an odd-looking spear with three blades instead of one, known by most as a Fu Pa, a `tiger fork', was laid by his side. One of the famed horses stood docile at the opposite edge of the clearing, munching on some leaves that had fallen to the earth.

Without tearing his eyes from the Xiongnu warrior, the leader of the soldiers motioned for them to surround the youth. The group of four wordlessly encircled the praying lad. The youngest of the group was the one who gave them away, for he moved too close to the horse, and the beast whinnied, a sharp, challenging sound that made the youth cut his words off and instead jerk his head towards his mount. Now the soldiers could see his eyes, which were an intense green, wide with suspicion. His hand sidled towards his weapon-

"Don't even try it, Xiongnu warrior." The leader's cold tone cut through the air as he and the rest of his band stepped into the clearing, their weapons ready. "We'll cut you down before you can even lay a finger on your-whatever the hell that is."

"It's called a Fu Pa," was the youth's growled reply, his look defiant even as his hand stilled. "How dare you disrupt my prayer for the dead, you barbarians." The hatred was evident in his accented voice.

"That dead you were praying for probably took a couple of us down with him." That matter-of-fact comment came from an odd-looking soldier, whose uniquely-shaped eyes assured everyone who glanced at him that he had snake blood in his veins.

The Xiongnu warrior narrowed his green eyes, the hatred of his enemies a roaring pale green fire in his irises. "This grave is my mother's, who one of YOUR soldiers killed while she slept three years ago!"

"Well, soldiers are taught to get rid of the weaker ones first." The green-haired man shrugged, a cool look his only reaction to the youth's savage growl.

"Au-Yong, be quiet. Every warrior deserves his dignity." The last member of the group spoke up, his voice quiet but firm. The one called Au-Yong shot the older man a startled look.

"Fine," he acquiesced after a moment, still glancing oddly at the second blue-haired member of their group, "whatever you say, Rei Fuan."

"Hey, I'm the one giving orders!" The one who had been giving orders before mock-scowled at his group. He paused. "Sekhmet, hold your tongue. Shuu, the same goes for you. Dais-" His words were cut off by the purple-haired man's shriek of pain and the horse's scream of challenge.

The captive burst out laughing at the scene as Dais pressed himself against a tree, staring wide-eyed and fearful at the horse, who was baring his teeth at the common soldier, human blood clearly evident on the white teeth. Dais clutched at his upper arm, where dark redness could be seen spreading from the bite.

Sekhmet, the soldier who had seemed so cool and collected, was immediately by the younger man's side, concern on his face. "Dais, are you all right?"

"It…bit me." The solider sounded stunned; even as Sekhmet pried his hands away and pushed back the sleeve to reveal a nasty looking bite, bleeding and definitely going to leave a bruise.

"We have to get this cleaned up," Sekhmet stated in a soft, soothing tone, frowning down at the injury. He turned his dark eyes upon the leader of the group. "T'ian, can we please hurry to the camp?"

"All right." The leader's experience was obvious as he stepped forward and retrieved the prisoner's weapon, tossing it over to Sekhmet, who deftly caught it. He prodded the prisoner with his weapon, a no-dachi. "You, stand. Shuu, I want you to find a way to bring the horse. Sekhmet, carry the Fu Pa and keep an ear out for any other Xiongnu. Dais-" The leader paused to sigh as the purple-haired soldier flushed in embarrassment. "You help Sekhmet."

"Yes, sir!" The entire group responded, moving about to do their duties, except for the prisoner, who glared in defiance at the leader. T'ian noticed the look and rolled his eyes, prodding him with the no-dachi again.

"Don't glare at me like that, boy. We captured you because of your own stupidity."

"Praying for the dead," growled the prisoner through gritted teeth, green eyes glittering, "is NOT stupid!" Ignoring him, the leader dragged him to his feet and forced the prisoner to walk in the direction of their camp.

Shuu gazed at the horse suspiciously, who bared his teeth at the soldier. "You'll bite me if I try and grab your bridle, won't you?" The horse snorted and tossed his head. "Right then, follow your master." The soldier pointed in the direction the Xiongnu was being lead. The horse gazed after his rider with intense dark eyes for a moment, and then snorted once more and began to walk after the group. Smiling in victory, Shuu followed, very pleased that he had not received a bruise for his attempt.

~*~

"Boy, what is your name?" Shin Mouri remained silent, his eyes fixed upon the ground as hatred burned in his heart. He would not answer the questions of these barbarians, these murderers who had killed so many of his people and family! The same sword that had been prodding him since he had been captured poked him painfully in the side, but he kept his lips firmly sealed. "Xiongnu, it is a simple question! Answer me!" Someone grabbed the prisoner by his auburn locks and pulled hard, making Shin gasp in a mixture of surprise and pain as his neck was wrenched backwards.

Startled green eyes met black ones, and the one called Sekhmet Au-Yong smiled coolly.

"You might as well answer him, boy. Your name doesn't matter at all anymore." Shin attempted to snarl, but his throat was tight and he couldn't manage a sound, his neck was pulled so far back. The tresses were released, and Shin gasped for breath and blinked as he felt dizzy for a moment. "Just answer him."

"No."

"Perhaps we need to…negotiate?" The question came from the one called T'ian, and Shin raised his gaze to stare in horror at the no-dachi that was now ready to slice his beloved mount's throat.

"Shi…" His horse's name was out of his lips before he could help himself.

"Shi? Is that your name?" The one called T'ian sounded deadly serious as he continued to press his blade against the beast's throat. Shin swallowed hard, and his shoulders slumped, the Xiongnu warrior drooping in his bent-knee position before he glowered at the solider.

"No. My name is Shin Mouri." The pride of his heritage was obvious, even as he watched the scarred man's eyes widen in shock.

"The Shin Mouri? The leader of one of the Xiongnu bands?" The smug look on Shin's face was all the answer the soldier needed. "By the gods…." The no-dachi moved away from the horse's neck, and Shin let out a quiet whoosh of relief, having been holding his breath.

"We captured a leader?" The incredulous question came from the one Shi had taken a bite out of, his youthful face betraying his shock. His arm was in a sling, having been bandaged as soon as they had arrived. "A LEADER?"

"Dais, be quiet," the soldier called Sekhmet murmured, stepping away from the prisoner and closer to the other soldier. "Don't make a scene. There could be Xiongnu around." Shin glowered at them both, not the slightest bit amused at their stupidity. Unless he could work their idiocy into his plan to escape…

"Well, Shin Mouri-" The Xiongnu was snapped from his thoughts as T'ian gently pressed the tip of his blade to the flesh just beneath his chin. "-you'd best prepare yourself. The Emperor will be very interested in you…." There was a hint of dark promise in the soldier's words, and Shin felt a sudden, icy shiver run down his spine, though he stayed silent.

After a moment, T'ian moved his blade away from Shin's throat and smiled a bleak, almost sad smile. "As I said, prepare yourself." Dark blue eyes flickered over to Dais and Sekhmet. "Dais, Sekhmet, take him to his cage." The two soldiers nodded and moved to drag Shin to his feet and away, but the prisoner resisted for a moment, glaring at the leader of the group who had captured him.

"Might I be allowed to know the names of the ones who captured me?" Shin tried not to betray the fact that he desperately wanted to weep and crawl into the arms of the man he secretly loved.

The scarred man leveled an unreadable look towards him. "Very well. Introduce yourselves, soldiers."

"I'm Dais Bing," the man who Shi had bitten informed Shin, giving him a small, almost friendly smile. He looked far too young and innocent to be a fighter.

"I'm Sekhmet Au-Yong," murmured the green-haired, emotionless one, his tone distant.

The blue-haired man who had been in charge of Shi gazed at Shin for a long moment, an equally unreadable look on his handsome features. At length, he spoke. "I'm called Shuu Rei Fuan."

"And I'm Cale T'ian," finished off the leader with a slow smirk gracing his features. "Aren't we a lovely bunch?"

"Not really." Everyone gazed at Dais, who flushed. "Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes…" Sekhmet's tone was cool, and the purple-haired youth looked crestfallen for some reason unbeknownst to Shin.

Cale T'ian snapped his fingers, frowning a little. "Dais, Sekhmet, escort Xiongnu Mouri to his cage." Without a word, the two soldiers followed orders, dragging the reluctant prisoner to his pen.

~*~

"Sir?" Shuu gazed at Cale, knowing his long-time friend all-too-well. Something was troubling the scarred warrior.

Cale had been sitting on his makeshift bed, gazing moodily into space, before Shuu had spoken. The single word jolted him from his dark thoughts, and his eyes rose to meet Shuu's. "What?"

"Something about the prisoner is bothering you." The tone was matter-of-fact, and made Cale frown at his companion before motioning for the warrior to have a seat. As Shuu made himself comfortable, Cale spoke, his tone quiet.

"I never thought the Xiongnu would have such a young leader…"

"He's only five years younger than you, Cale," Shuu pointed out.

"Which makes him only twenty, a year younger than you." Cale's tone was gloomy. "Too young for a leadership role."

"It's how old you were when you became the leader of our group."

"That's not the point." The scarred man brooded for another long moment, the frown lingering on his face. "Why are we forced to be warriors at such young ages? Can't we grasp at our innocence for just a bit longer?"

Shuu sighed, and patted his friend on the shoulder. "It's our way of life, my friend. We're common soldiers, and life is always harsh for us." He smiled gently. "Come on, cheer up. We're certain to get rewarded for the prisoner. Who knows, he might give us positions at the palace and we'll be free from the war at last!"

"We can always hope," Cale commented, his tone still dark, making Shuu roll his eyes and resist the urge to slap his commander over the head.

(To be continued…)