Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Checkmate: Royal Aquisition ❯ Stubborn Women Hold Their Own ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11: Stubborn Women Hold Their Own

 

“Absolutely not,” Saitou said over the board. Outside the rain beat upon the castle like war drums, forcing everyone to stay indoors. Tokio sat across from him, picking at the meal she'd picked up from the kitchen. She always brought him meals now. Otherwise the damn man wouldn't eat.

“Why not?” she asked and the golden eye shifted their gaze to meet hers. He was less than amused at being questioned but she was tired of being cooped up, told what to do and not doing much of anything. A seventeen year old girl only had so much patience.

“Women do not belong in war,” he said curtly, his tone implying this was the end of the discussion. Any other day she may have just left it at that. Today, however, was not one of her more intelligent days.

“And yet you start wars over them,” she commented. “So Tomoe and I are good enough to be used as political tools, manipulated by you men and your damn sense of honor, but god forbid we ever see a battle field. It must be nice to utilize double standards to your liking. Tell me, oh great king. Is it just women or do you enjoy treating all your subjects like stepping stones? Afraid the repercussions of your actions will soil your perfect hands? Or do you just use discontentment as a mask to hide the truth that you really don't give a damn about anyone or anything?”

Saitou regarded the woman before him with serious amusement. Not care for his people? Was she mad? Or just oblivious? Every waking moment he was caring for his people. That was why he'd left her in charge. She was the only one with half the passion he put into his country. She was the only one not in it for financial or political gain.

She was pissed about something. He was not going to rise to her bait. Not today anyway.

“Fucking rain,” she cursed, looking out the window when he did not bother to answer her. Tokio didn't know why she wanted to get a rise out of him. Just for the pure selfish satisfaction that she could probably.

“Having Sano in this castle has not improved your tongue,” he said calmly.

“What do you care about my tongue? The Council never hears it. They all think I'm some perfect little play thing of yours. Dancing to the tune of your strings.”

Ah, so that was why she was mad. The council. Idiots, all of them. She knew that…so why did she care?

“You know what's really funny?” she asked, still looking out the window. “They think I have influence over you. Fools.”

Saitou cracked a smile. At least she knew she didn't have influence over him. He valued her opinion, yes, but only because it often coincided with his own.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and the door swung open. A guard let a rather muddy young messenger into the regal suits. The poor boy stumbled, nearly falling. Tokio was up in a flash, catching him before he could hit the ground.

“Attack….on the border….” The young man gasped, water dripping off him in buckets. “Prince Kenshin….has taken…the trade city by force. All leaders….are dead.”

Tokio paled, looking back at the King. Saitou didn't bat an eye, waving his hand to dismiss the poor boy. The guards stepped forward and hauled him away, presumably to a warm bath, dry clothes and food. The front of her clothes were soiled and wet from holding him up. Saitou gave her a brief glance, obvious annoyance at the dirt flickering in his eyes.

“Well?” she asked.

“Well what?”

“You're not going to DO anything?”

“Not right now, no. Sit down,” he ordered. When she did not do as he ordered he looked up from the board, his eyes locking with hers.

Fire burned in her eyes, the flashes of anger so easy to read across her face a newborn would have sensed it. For a women with no power she had an incredible amount of energy swirling around her. He watched as she clenched a fist. Was she going to attempt to hit him?

Tokio turned on her heel, walked out and slammed the door behind her, shaking the old walls. So he'd pissed her off had he? Perfect. And it was still before lunch.

 

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“Kenshin,” a voice said, immediately waking the red head leaned against the wall. An unrolled futon lay beside him. Amber eyes blinked open and focused on Lord Aoshi, the General of his army. “A letter from your wife.”

Kenshin sighed and took the folded paper from the taller man. Aoshi showed no reaction to who it was from or anything beyond just giving it to him. He was a deadly man…but had little interest in anything that didn't have a sharp and pointy edge.

“Sire!” a guard said from the doorway. Kenshin removed his finger from the unbroken seal, looking up. “There's news from Fujita's capital!”

That got him up. Stuffing the letter in his pocket Kenshin rose and made his way out into the room that was now the war council room. All his advisors and men were already surrounding it, all older, wiser and taller than he. How they managed to loyally follow a 15 year old boy was beyond him. Kenshin adjusted the sword at his hip, motioning for the report.

“Lady Megumi is being kept hostage. Prince Sanosuke has been allowed to stay as a guest by order of Princess Tokio.” That raised a few eyebrows. Tokio had authority in Fujita? Wasn't she just a prisoner?

“Has he married our Princess without our consent?” one lord asked.

“Perhaps she was willing,” another offered.

“If they had been married she would be Queen,” Aoshi stated.

“What game is he playing at now?” Kenshin asked. “Tokio would not try to escape unless he tried to harm her in some way or forced her to break one of our laws.”

“Hard to find that kind of honor in a woman,” Aoshi observed. Kenshin frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Perhaps he means to do what you did.” Aoshi did not elaborate, but Kenshin knew of what he spoke. A hand went to the letter in his pocket. The letter from the woman he deeply loved. The half sister of his enemy.

“Tokio cannot marry him without Shishou's consent.”

“Can she not?” the general asked.

Kenshin did not answer, his brow furrowed in thought. If Saitou married Tokio it would make things very tricky indeed. As the older sibling Hiko could, if he so chose, name Saitou heir. And Shishou did not tolerate fighting within the family, no matter how much you hated the other person. That was how Aoshi and Kenshin got along. Aoshi would have loved to kill Kenshin, but the fact that he was in the inner circle of the Court meant he and Kenshin had to lay their differences aside. No one dared piss off King Hiko.

“For now she is not married to him. We should not worry over what has not happened yet.” Aoshi gave a brief nod of agreement and said nothing more.

“Will we be staying here for a while, sire?” a lord asked.

“Fujita has a month long rainy season. Unless you want to get stuck in the mud I would advise not traveling far,” Kenshin commented with a light smile. The lords groaned. They were used to far drier weather. This rain was unbearable to many, the steady downpour turning streets into rivers and dirt floors to mud. It was no wonder there were large stones all over the place. How else did people make it from place to place within the town?

“Tomoe will not be visiting then,” Aoshi commented, more stating than asking. Kenshin nodded sadly. He hated leaving his new wife alone at Kyoto. She did not thrive well alone. But the harshness of the battlefield was no place for a refined woman such as her. Tomoe would feint at the sight of blood. And god knows what she would think if she ever saw him come in off the battlefield, covered in it, and eyes glowing amber.

“Tokio….just what are you up to?” Kenshin said softly.

 

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“What do you mean she is gone?” Saitou asked, one hand stretched out on the throne as he regarded the troop before him with annoyance.

“The stable hands never saw her. No one is really out this time of year. They noticed the horse was missing around feeding time, all the tack gone as well.”

Where would she have gone? Why? He knew she was mad, but mad enough to go out into the rainiest month of the year trying to travel on horseback? The girl was asking to be buried in mud till the dry season. If they ever found her.

“Well, no surprise,” Lady Yura said happily. “We did give her surprising free rein for a prisoner. It was only a matter of time. May the Council turn His Majesty's attention to the document containing the list of eligible women?”

Saitou frowned. The document was before him, listing women and their ranks. Momentary panic internally gripped him. It was evident they intended to trap him into a marriage to one of these women. Funny how Lady Yura's name was not first, that would have been obvious, but it was on the first page, about halfway down. She thought she was so clever.

Where was that damn princess when he needed her? He didn't have time to go through all of these candidates! Hell, he already knew he wouldn't want the majority of them.

“Now, a few lords already objected to-” Lady Yura was cut off as King Saitou rose, effectively cutting off the meeting. “Your Highness!” she squeaked. “Where are you going?”

Saitou glared at her and left in a swirl of robes, never answering her question.

 

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Tokio felt bad having the horse out in this sort of weather. The complacent animal was less than happy at being dragged out of a warm dry stall to stand in the cold rain. But she had to get away.

Away from the Court. Away from the intrigues of the Council. Away from the gossip. Away from Him.

“Why do people want power?” she asked the horse. It didn't so much as bat an eye. “Is power that great a thing? Do they all hate each other that much?” Rain dropped from the trees onto the horse's head, causing it to snort and shake itself. Tokio pulled it up under a rather dense tree, dismounting. The stable would have her head for the condition she was putting the saddle in. But a saddle was replaceable. Sanity was not.

Tokio curled up next to the base of the tree, kicking off her boots. The rain was relentless and cold, but she wanted to feel it. The grass beneath her. It was a calm reminder of how real the land was. Being locked in a castle day in and day out made the simplest of things seem so….gratifying. Saitou would certainly never be caught with the grass under his feet.

Rain trickled down her forehead as she closed her eyes. Tokio heard the horse shift and come closer to her position, probably in an effort to move out of the rain more. Warm breath tickled her cheek and she crackled an eye open.

The horse was shoving its nose in her face, warm air blowing across her face as it sniffed her. Tokio gave a light laugh. Was this how normal people could live? Able to take pleasure in something so simple and trivial? She blew back into his nose and the horse jerked his head up, giving an indignant snort. Must have tickled.

She sat there all day, soaked but uncaring. The horse occasionally shifted, sometimes giving a great sigh as if he were exhausted, but did not make any move back to the stable, even as it began to grow dark which signaled the normal feeding time. Tokio was grateful for such a gentle animal. She doubted she would ever be able to get on anything more energetic after the accident. It was bad enough she froze like a rabbit on this one when his trot picked up.

“I shouldn't keep you out this long,” she said to the animal, standing up. The horse's head suddenly flew up as his eyes began searching the vicinity for some unknown danger. Suddenly Tokio thought perhaps this was not the best of ideas. No one knew where she was. She had assumed no one else would be out in such foul weather. She reached for the horse's bridle, watching his nostrils flare in alarm. The gelding rolled his eyes, pulling on the reins gently. He began to move restlessly, turning in tight circles as she tried to calm him.

Tokio was no horse expert. She'd ridden enough, but had no idea what to do with a frightened animal. Unable to calm him enough to get on she decided that perhaps riding was not the best idea unless something truly dangerous popped out of the woods. Like a bear. She shivered at that thought. Did bear live in these woods? Would they be out in this weather? Animals were not as restricted by weather as humans having adapted to the elements long ago.

The horse was really frightened now. It caught wind of something and decided it no longer wanted to be held. Instinct told it to flee. Half rearing, it ripped the reins from her grasp, sending Tokio sprawling in the mud. She heard the splatter of mud as the horse took off, intent on the safety and security of its stall. Then she heard a growl.

 

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“Sire, I advise against this. We don't even know what direction she went in! Let the guards fan out and try to find her,” a lord said as King Saitou mounted the large retired war horse. It was the only horse he would not risk breaking a leg on in the mud. The older horse reluctantly heeded his command to walk, head down in an effort to escape the rain beating down upon him.

“Get out of his way, you idiot,” Saori hissed, having come down from the kitchen when she'd heard the news. “Ain't it obvious his majesty is going to do what he's going to do? We should be more worried about how they are going to return!”

The lord looked shocked that a servant, even if she was the head maid within the castle, would dare to talk to him that way. Between her and the rain he retreated into the dry stable overhang. Saitou gave Saori a brief look as he passed.

“OPEN THE GATE!” someone yelled. They were not looking at him though. The guard was focused on something outside the palace wall. The gate was pulled open on one side, allowing a great deal of room. Why were they opening the whole side? Any rider could get in and out the smaller opening on the side.

A mud splattered, sides heaving, terror stricken gelding came sliding in the gates as fast as his legs would let him. The horse fell to his knees, jumping back up and trotting over to the tack area where he suddenly stopped, legs trembling. It was evident his tendons were bowed from running in the mud, the strain too much on his muscles with that much force. What could have scared the horse that much?

Then Saitou noticed the horse was riderless. A stable boy confirmed what he already suspected as the saddle was ripped off the poor beast; its true color evident in the area the saddle had been on. It was Tokio's gelding. And it was frightened out of its wits. The calmest horse in the stable looked like the hounds of hell had been on his heels.

Where was Tokio?

Saori watched in amazement as the King stopped long enough to confirm who the missing rider was, then spurred his horse into a sloppy canter out of the already open gate, guards scrambling to follow. A slow smile spread over her face. So the king was a tad concerned about his missing princess? Somehow she doubted it was just for her head for strategy. The king, whether he would admit it or not, was quite attached to the princess.

“Just like a man,” she mused. “Can't stand to know he doesn't have control over everything.” A stable hand gave her a strange look as she laughed, walking slowly back into the castle.

 

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The war horse stumbled, but didn't fall as they went sliding through the mud. It was deep and the horse had to resort to outright jumping sometimes to get out of the deepest parts. Saitou's royal robes were covered in mud, the rain falling down upon him in a heavy sheet. Where the hell had she gone? The glade within the forest? She would have had to cross a creek and by now the creek was a raging river. Where would she have gone instead?

He pulled up sharply, peering into the gray mist the rain created. It was hard to see more than ten feet in front of him. Was he even going in the right direction? He couldn't even see the forest from here. Not that it would be easy to see anyway. The month of rain often dampened the green upon the trees, turning everything into a dull gray.

Something caught his eye and the horse snorted, tossing its head. A figure was coming toward them, making its careful way through the mud. The horse didn't like the smell of it though and half reared as he nudged it to move forward. No matter how much training an animal had, you could never make a prey animal as brave as a predatory one. As much as the horse fought him, though, he would not let it move away.

The figure came closer, stumbling again in the mud. He could almost make it out, although they were cloaked and covered in mud. Something about the way it walked though. Women walked that way. And only a woman unused to mud would walk in a fashion that suggested they did not have much experience in it.

Tokio stumbled again, one arm carefully holding the cloak around her chest. She heard a horse snort and looked up, seeing the most unlikely thing.

Saitou, sitting on a horse, breathless and covered in mud….still in the silken court robes. Amazingly he did not look mad. Not that he looked happy either. In fact, she couldn't think of a title for the look on his face. The war horse snorted, side stepping away from her as she neared, eyes wide in fear. Sheepishly she held open her cloak.

A black wolf cub covered in mud blinked back at the great king. It was the size of a large house cat, but so skinny its ribs were poking out. The horse shied again, only to be given a great kick to the side that suggested it not move again if it wanted to avoid confrontation.

 

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“I think it's funny,” Tokio said as she leaned over the board. Saitou was wrapped in blankets, sitting propped up in his bed. “I'm the one out in the rain all day and you are the one who gets sick.”

“Sick looking for you, brat,” he snarled and then sneezed, ruining the effect. Tokio laughed. “Now I can't even polish my sword thanks to you. I'd probably sneeze and slice off my own finger.” That made her laugh harder. A knock on the door interrupted and she got up to see what they wanted.

“Dinner for the king,” a guard said. “And your…..hound, my lady.” Tokio stifled a giggle. The wolf pup was hardly a hound, but the man had no idea what else to label it. She took the tray and closed the door, the pup obediently following her as it smelled the scent of food.

“I should order that thing killed,” Saitou said with a sniffle.

“Nonsense. It's just a baby. Besides, it's just what I need.”

“Why can't you just want a pony like a regular little girl?” he exasperated.

“I can't sleep with a pony!” she said sternly. “Oh look, soup broth. Open wide,” she said, holding a spoon up to him. Saitou gave her an evil glare.

“I am not that sick, woman.” Laughing she handed him the spoon and placed the tray on his bed. The pup she picked up, feeding a good portion of her meal to it. The pup eagerly ate, tail wagging profusely.

“Just why do you think you need a wolf cub?” he asked after downing some of the soup. He didn't want soup, but it was about all his throat could handle. Damn the girl for making him worried enough to leave the castle without a cloak or proper clothes.

“To keep me company,” she said, picking it up and nuzzling its nose. The pup wiggled, annoyed at the interruption of its meal. “It gets lonely here.”

`Lonely?' Saitou thought. Now there was a thought. There really was no one for her to talk to was there? When he was gone she had to keep herself distanced from all others. Megumi was a prisoner, Sano an idiot, the Council members were all power hungry vultures and the servants gossiped.

“If you train him properly you may keep him. Should he become aggressive, I will not hesitate to have him killed,” he said, setting the soup aside. Tokio smiled, hugging her puppy.

“It's a she,” she commented. Saitou looked at the pup who was struggling in its mistress's arms, trying to reach the tray of turkey cutlets.

“Just keep it out of my way,” he growled, closing his eyes.

“Oh no you don't,” she said. Half opening one eye he realized she was talking to him. “Part of the reason you got sick is cause you don't eat enough. You either eat something off this tray or finish that soup!” she ordered.

“Or you'll what?” he challenged.

“Tell the Council you agreed Lady Yura is the perfect wife,” she said with a smile. “You won't be able to refute it until you are well, there will be uproar when you do and she'll make Council hearings a living hell for you for as long as she is on it.” She crossed her arms, defying him to challenge her.

“Bitch,” he snarled, reaching for the soup.

“Why, your majesty! Have you been hanging around Prince Sano?”

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Another fun filled fact (these are actually hard to come up with. I don't have tons of time to do research): Many princesses like Marie-Antoinette, were not only borderline literate (why bother when someone can read and write for you?) they often had limited education. Queen Elizabeth was an exception to this rule. Not only was she well educated in literature, being able to read several ancient languages including Latin and Greek, she also studied geography, mathematics, philosophy, navigation and many other subjects normally reserved for upper-class or merchants (men…not women).

Let's compare notes here. Elizabeth: highly educated, intelligent, one of the most beloved monarchs of England and a formidable woman in history…although she never married and was known as the “Virgin Queen”. However, she was greatly loved by her people. Marie-Antoinette: Poorly educated, spoiled, forced into an arranged marriage to a king, moved to a country she did not know, and beheaded in her prime. If that doesn't make you think twice about getting a higher education, I don't know what will. On the down side Elizabeth was the Virgin Queen (whether that's true or not, who knows, she may have had a tryst or two we didn't know about) while Marie-Antoinette was married....of course her husband had a little problem (not impotency, he actually had a problem that required surgery. Something about him being unable to ejaculate properly until the whole was made larger.) that didn't get fixed until a couple of years into their marriage. Talk about awkward! I think I'd rather deal with the virginity myself….