Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Of Legendary Creatures and Mystical Beasts ❯ Temptations ( Chapter 1 )

I don't own Rurouni Kenshin (oh, did you already know?!) and this fic is only for my own amusement.

Warning:Be warned. It will include violence, some use of profane language, and will include some extent of sexual references . So keep on reading at your own risk.

The story begins a few months before the events of KyotoArc, so it will include spoilers and some elements from it as well as from the Revenge Arc too, although my fic will not follow neither the anime nor the manga, and I will break some rules

Remember I'm not a native English speaker, so if you do have complaints about my spelling, please, don't flame me, but help me to improve...Note: Paragraphs between 'italics' mean unspoken thoughts.

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I want to express my gratitude towards Mir, from the Tales from Meiji Era site. (http://tfmeijiera.tripod.com/ )Mir has been helping me with this and the improvement in the vocabulary and grammar through this chapter is due to Mir's kindness and supervision.Thanks, Mir! I hope there are more people like you around!

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Of Legendary Creatures and Mystical Beasts

By Firuze Khanume

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A very dim light bathed the spacious and royally furnished room. It was obvious that the real intent of the place was creatinga deliberated mood of humbleness in the visitors. There, overthat platform, covered in sumptuous carpets , there were three old women, wrapped in rich dresses and jewels that accentuated their air of dignity and power. They sat on high chairs, presiding the meeting, the detail adding to the sense of authority emanating from them.

Their eyes were fixed in a severe glare upon a younger woman, probably in her late teens. She knelt on the ground in a submissive stance in front of them, her head bowed, almost touching the floor as if she were waiting to hear a verdict. Finally, the eldest woman spoke, her voice carrying a barely suppressed tinge of censure.

"Out of the question. Humans are trouble."
"Besides, he's a male," a younger member of the trio hissed in disgust.

She shuddered slightly at the sickening thought and the pearl studded hairpin woven into her bun waved with her dismay.

"But I've found out that he is not a pure human... The spirit of the Great Tiger roars through his blood," the youngster retorted, trying to justify herself.

Finally the last member of the trio spoke, voicing her disapproval, and frowning in a deep loathing gesture.

"Tsk-tsk! A half-breed! This makes it even worse... Mystical Beasts should be locked away once and for all… If not utterly eradicated… Ah if it weren't for the curse… When they breed with humans, catastrophes befall both Kingdoms."
"This further defines our decision and makes the outcome even clearer."

The determination in the oldest woman's voice, sounding like a death verdict in the young woman's ears, made it clear to her that this was a lost battle. But certainly, she wasn't one to give up so easily.

"But…he is almost one of our own kind… at least part of him is. If he was conceived by a Mystical Beast, it's because he has a higher goal top fulfill… We shouldn't let him die there! It's a bad omen!"

The girl raised her head and it was evident for all the persons gathered in the assembly that she had lost all pretense of humbleness, since her voice and her mood changed abruptly from submissive to defiant.

"This is outrageous, silly girl! How dare you, a mere child, speak to the Elders in such disrespectful manner!"

The exasperation in voice of the older woman was evident. She got up from her throne and walked towards the girl, still kneeled in front of them. Then, she proceeded to parade royally around her, in a display of her authority. The young woman refrained the urgency to snort at the pompous ass.

"Asiyah, you came to us fifty years ago, asking for sanctuary when your own Western clan expelled you. We had accepted you because of our blood bonds. We expected that you'd learn the lesson from the pain you was experiencing. After all, being cut from your kin and friends and everything you loved once is indeed, not a pleasurable event."

The woman made a pause, locking her gaze on the girl's. However, after a few seconds of crossing stares, it was evident that instead of getting the desired humbleness and obedience, she had only created more defiance and stubbornness.

"We had hoped that you would become an useful, productive, and obedient member of our community."

The old crone was more pissed by the minute, while her voice achieved an uncomfortable pitch to the younger woman's ears.

" Out of generosity, we decided not to pay heed to the advices sent by your own people. The warned us against your obstinacy and your constant violation of Laws and rules. We were also told about your insolent demeanor. However, we dismissed these serious breaches in your behavior because we thought it was a mere product of your own age."

"Indeed," the second hag assented "After all, you have just barely surpassed the two hundred years. You are nothing but a child… You should know better than behave like a spoiled, ungrateful brat."

The last harpy finally spoke, adding her own dose of scolding to the mix.

"We expected that you'd eventually change after several decades of reflection, far away from your loved ones. However, while you have indeed changed, you did it not in the way we expected you to," her voice had a tone of sheer exasperation. "You are even worse now than you were the moment you were accepted among us."

Finally, the first gorgon made a gesture to her companions, and these left her in command of the speech again. She turned around the girl, as to add a deeper dramatic effect to her next words, her gaze holding silent reproach.

"I'm determined to put you in place, once and for all. This is your final chance to come to terms with that that is the basis of our society, and the last warning we will give to you, young lady. You won't interfere with the human's fate, no matter whether he is half-breed or not. And this decision, the Elders' decree, is final."

The young woman called Asiyah, shuddered, a mix of fear and wild rage coursing through her untamable spirit. She wanted to yell and protest, but this time, the Elders seemed determined to have things their way. She had no other choice left, just obedience.

"No male is allowed to taint the sacredness of our realm with his presence, be Jinn, human or of other nature." The woman had sat down again, and was addressing her again, but in a more conciliatory tone. At least it seemed to her at first.

"We do this in your best interest, Asiyah. We are like mothers for all our subjects, and sincerely wish only their happiness. That's why we suffer when he are forced to be harsh with rebellious youngsters like you,"

The woman paused and sighed, shaking her head. Then she pronounced a severe warning.

"If you ever break our command in any way, even slightly, you'll be banished from this Clan forever, and as you've lost your own too, you won't find any shelter within this Kingdom. You'll have to live among humans for the rest of your natural life as an outcast from your own kind."

'Well, yes, they are determined to make me bend to the rules this time,' the girl thought, biting her lips, furious.

"There is only one other Clan you can look for shelter, in case you finally make an unwise choice, but as they have been our mortal enemy for the past millennium, I'd suggest you to stay away from them." added the second woman, suavely, to make their point clear.

An eternity of banishment among humans wasn't a pleasant perspective, even for a curious, open-minded Jinniyeh like her.

"Think about your future carefully, young one. Because of your reckless nature, you haven't allowed us to give you a smoother path. So be it! As for your insolence here today, you'll be banished from the community for the next thirty days in complete isolation. May silence as your only companion help to regain your senses and to become humbler. Now, you are dismissed," the old lady concluded, waving his hand to send her away.The knuckles of the young girl called Asiyah were white as she clenched her hands in tight fists. However, she bowed as she retreated out to the gate, keeping her head low. Of course, it was not out of repentance or humbleness. She simply wanted to avoid crossing her enraged and defiant gaze with theirs -- even through she was aware that the Elders knew her well enough not to be fooled by the false gesture. After all, she had shown her temper openly through all the audience.

'But better safe than sorry', she though. She had challenged them enough for a few centuries.Growling curses and profanities under her breath in all the languages she could think of, she took some clothes and books for her forced vacation. She would spend it in the place she knew too well from the past chastisements dealt upon her. At any rate, this was the longest penitence she ever got, a whole month without any company.

However, before leaving the room she saw the glowing reflection of the magical mirror hanging on the wall. She couldn't help herself against temptation, and she decided she would give a last glance to the source of her present misery.

The man was reeling among the dunes. He fell on his face. She didn't know exactly why, but she felt strongly drawn by his suffering, and couldn't help but suppress an anguished cry coming from her throat at the sight. She saw him rise, only to fall again shortly afterwards. She was positive he'd never get up again. It wasn't fair. They had been given a half-breed. They should be saving him, instead watching calmly his demise.

'God dammed old hags!'

Why on Heaven couldn't the Elders can't be more open-minded and reasonable? He was just a mere human male! He was certainly not a threat to any of their kind, much less to them personally. Besides, he had a connection to their Kingdom through the blood of the mystical beast in his veins.

She sighed. She knew where laid the answer. Since the last Great war, males were viewed with contempt, as unworthy creatures in the kingdom. Since the end of the war, the Elders thought they were dangerous enough to prefer them dead than alive. They have a one and only use for them, and when they had produced offspring, they were banished if they were lucky enough, or even slain to avoid complications of a long-term association with any female.

However, the girl was not thinking of the half-breed in such terms. Granted, he was a male, as he had the Tiger's blood coursing through his veins, she was sure that he had a purpose to be walking the Earth. And this could not be disregarded for a gender biased opinion.

Besides, she had he own ideas about the issue, as revolutionary as most of hers for that place.

She wanted to save him, to keep him alive unaware of his surroundings, and then to set him once again on his way after his recovery. It was the logical thing to do, due to his nature. Quite simple. Quite uncompromising, and a good gesture of mercy to these poor creatures she was fascinated with.

No she wouldn't allow him to die that way, all along in the sand... but what could she do? Moreover, she was now under complete isolation, and all people were to be kept away from her.
Suddenly realization hit her full force. She'd be in isolation... nobody could have any contact with her... neither her with anyone....

'Perfect. Just perfect.'A sly smile crept over her face.
That was the answer to her problem. She'd save the young silver-haired man.
She dropped her frivolous luggage and ran towards the little trunk she used to protect all her magical treasures and books. She'd surely have a good use for them for the next thirty days....