Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Checkmate: Royal Aquisition ❯ Captured Prey ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1: Captured Prey

I shouldn't have left Kyoto.

Tokio said it over and over in her head but it did not change the harsh reality she was in. Loose shackles kept her attached to the dark stone walls. Straw was under her but failed to do much for warmth or cushioning against the hard slab floors. Rodents of various sizes scurried from shadow to shadow and there was something cold and wet dripping down her collar. Fujita's dungeon was no four star inn, that was for sure.

Father was right. I was wrong. There. I said it. I'm a spoiled, selfish, arrogant, pig-headed, conceited brat who should be laid over someone's knee and given a good spanking.

I just want to go home.

She would not cry. Not now, not ever. She was alive, unharmed and only a little cold. Crying would not solve her current problem. Then again, wishing for her father would not solve it either. Goodness knows King Hiko would not be happy to hear she was captured, but neither would he come blazing to the rescue. He was big on you-did-it, you-fix-it methods of handling situations, especially where his daughter was concerned. His useless daughter.

“Oi, girl, on yer feet,” a guard said, keys jangling in the door. An ear piercing creak opened the lock and he pulled the heavy dungeon door open.

Now what?

 

“Please, my lady, sit down,” a kind voice said as she was led into the room. A very short man with a kind smile was sitting on one of the plush couches of the parlor room. She did not bother to admire the room. All palaces looked the same, really. Décor changed a little from palace to palace, but they all had that extremely expensive showy interior.

“May I inquire as to who I am addressing?” she asked, neatly sitting. She looked down at her hands and grimaced. Dirty nails. Ugh. Old habits died hard.

“I am Okita Souji, Chief Advisor to his majesty.”

“Ah…and I assume you know who I am,” she said carefully.

“Princess Tokio, only daughter to King Hiko the first….although currently I believe you are going by Master Bard Takagi.” Well there was no lying to this man, that was for sure. Tokio gave up all pretenses.

“My lord, I beg of you. I know not what problems lie between Kyoto and Fujita, but I am not here to spy. I simply wanted to get away. Please tell his majesty I am extremely sorry for the inconvenience. If ransoming me back is the only way I understand….but…” Okita held up his hand.

“I think you are going too fast for me to understand, my lady. Why don't you start at the beginning?”

“The beginning?” she asked, thinking hard. “Which beginning?”

“Why are you traveling as a common musician instead of being properly pampered and surrounded at court?”

“Oh…you want me to start there,” she said with a sigh.

 

Tokio began her tale, her voice dull and toneless.

By the time I was ten I knew the Crown of Kyoto would never rest on my head. After countless generations of powerful rulers I was proclaimed the dud. No magic whatsoever flowed in my veins. Nothing. Needless to say my father was less than amused. My mother, the powerful sorceress of the Eastern Tower, was not exactly jumping for joy either. Not that their relationship lasted long, but I hardly gave them any grounds to continue it.

I did, however, have one thing many other princesses do not easily get. Good looks. Ha! Whoever said beauty was a blessing obviously did not have much. By the time I was twelve men were already seeking my hand and not just for my position of power. At fifteen I kept myself secluded from most of the court and any male except my father and Kenshin. Kenshin, yes, my adopted brother. He was all of five when he came to the palace and was proclaimed the heir to the throne. Much too young for me…thankfully. Even at his tallest he'll still be shorter than me. Most men are.

On my sixteenth birthday my father did something I never thought he'd do. He told me what he was planning. Father never tells anyone anything….especially not Kenshin or me. I was shocked and all too pleased. I should have known better. Father was never a caring man. Why should he start now?

I was to be a political tool. At some point he figured he'd need a powerful alliance with some lord, prince or king who was single and his perfect plan was to marry me to them. Did I get any say in this? Of course not. No surprise there. I'm a princess right? I sacrifice my life for crown and country. So what was I to do in the meantime? Wait.

So wait I did. Well, only for about two months. That's how long it took for my temper to get the best of me. So I snuck out. I decided I wanted to see the world before I gave my life…well, what little life I was allowed, to King and country. Bards could easily travel without much questioning so I joined the first professional group I could find and was having the time of my life.

I was so stupid. Furoto-san, our leader, said coming to Fujita was a bad idea, but I didn't want to miss seeing just who my father's supposed archenemy was. Foolish, now that I think about it, but at that time it was excitement and thrill. I had managed to evade my father. What was another King? King Saitou, it seems, is no fool. Since all of my friends were released I assume he knows not only who I am, but has probably already decided I am just the thing to adorn his next execution block.

 

Tokio finished, the weariness of a woman far beyond her years etched in her eyes.

Okita blinked in surprise. For a sixteen year old girl she had incredible maturity and reflection over her own actions. Not only was she a stunning beauty, but it seemed she had the brains to boot. Pity no magic ran in her veins. She would have made a formidable Queen. The stubbornness of her father was there, but a willingness to accept mistakes and learn from them was also there. Not a usual combination.

“You are not scheduled to adorn his majesty's execution block yet. If you are really holding out for it I could put in a good word,” he joked. She looked up, the solemn expression disappearing from her face instantly as she gave a light and sweet laugh.

“Forgive me, I am so morbid. A week in the dungeon hardly leaves one with a sunny disposition. Well, now you know why I am here. If it is not too bold to ask, what can I expect to happen to me?”

“Well now, there are several options. We could send the appropriate ransom to Kyoto and eventually send you home to your father….if he gives us what we want of course.” A look of utter horror crossed her face.

`Face father after all of this? I'd rather die. Goodness knows who he's marry me to as punishment.' She shuddered at the thought.

“And the other options?” she asked in a weak voice.

So you don't want to go home little one? Okita thought.

“We could keep you a political prisoner in the dungeons….for the rest of your life….although those dungeons were not built with long term occupancy in mind,” he said with a smile. She seemed more relieved with that proposal….how odd. “Of course my suggestion is that we keep you as a political prisoner but hide you as the permanent court Bard. You would lead a life of luxury that you were accustomed to so long as you remain here. You would be killed if you tried to escape. His majesty is many things. Excessively merciful is not one of them.”

“That can't be true,” she responded. “Otherwise I'd already be dead.”

“I'm afraid you've got me there, Lady,” Okita said with a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head. “Let's just say you have your step-brother to thank for it.”

“Kenshin? What did he do?”

“Just let me say that his majesty and your stepbrother are opposing forces. No hate could be more terrifying than theirs.”

“Hate? I didn't think Kenshin could hate anyone. He's always so gentle.”

“You might be surprised,” Okita said in a low voice, his mirth gone from his voice. “Well, enough of that. I'll have the guards show you to your new rooms and maids. I am sure you would love a bath right about now.”

“Am I that obvious?”

“Positively twitching,” he said with a smile.

“I am not twitching.”

“Your left eye twitches every time you look at your hands. Dirt under your nails?”

“You damn advisors are so intuitive,” she swore. Okita's eyes grew as round as saucers.

“Language, language. Perhaps you would rather be in the dungeon?”

“I'd rather be in the middle of a forest, all alone….” she said solemnly. “But wishes were not meant to be true for me. You bid me go and I shall go, whether to a feathered bed or bloody block.”

“I hope you never see a bloody block…” Okita said softly, smiling down at her. He raised a hand and the guards moved from the door to escort her. Tokio gave a very graceful curtsy and followed them out.

“Not bad, Okita. You make confession seem like drawing water from a bottomless spring,” a deep voice said, moving from the shadows of the dark curtains on the far side of the room.

“You aren't going to make a liar out of me and send her to the blocks, are you?” the young man asked, hope in his eyes. Where Saitou's eyes were amber, cold and hard, Okita's were soft and warm. Two deadly men yet such different personalities.

“No. She is far more useful alive…even if just to keep you happy.” Okita gave a deep, lung racking cough, his hand covering his mouth. No surprise, blood spattered his hand. Saitou's eyes narrowed.

“I just hope I live long enough for you to find another use for her once I am gone. Such a strong spirit.”

“You are a hopeless romantic. Military genius, deadly swordsman yet romantic,” Saitou scoffed.

“Who? Me?” came the innocent reply.