Muromachi Era.
*sigh*
This was the story when I met that one who changed my life forever.
I lied down on my futon, feeling exhausted. Life was sure hard. After my father's death, I was the only one whom he entrusted to be the Head of this house. This Princess Haya Kougami would be the so-called Empress. Well, I was the only child, after all.
Suddenly I heard a commotion far away from my room. I was about to look out from the window when I heard someone was running towards my room. I felt like I knew those hurry and heavy steps belong to. Hence, I stepped outside my room and hiding behind the pillar.
"Master Hanazono! Please, wait a moment!" one of my maid suddenly screamed. I was sure she was kneeling down the porch to stop him. I already told her that I didn't want to met anyone right now, especially that one. "Our master has died, and the funeral isn't over yet. Missy says she doesn't wish to see anyone, including you who will soon marry her."
"I only wish to comfort her! Is that wrong to do so?" the Head Guard of the Castle snapped. Yeah, being the Empress of Kougami Family meant you had to have the 'Emperor' or 'fiance', and good grief, he was the only person left for me to marry. He was so arrogant, and I knew he had that impure motive of marrying me. I was never met a man beside my own father in my entire life, needless to say I have to meet one. I didn't seek for any man, because I wanted to marry a proper man: the one that I loved. Well sadly it turned out like this, though.
"Missy is greatly depressed, and doesn't wish to be seen in such a weak state.."
There was a brief of silence. I unconsciously held my breath. The commotion was getting closer, and I was wondering why this bastard guy was still here?!
"If that is the case... then there's no choice," he finally said. "Please, tell my fiancee that.. there has been many dangerous thugs emerging at night recently. And to take care," then I could hear his running step again, but now those step were away. So the commotion was because of the infamous thug, and I heard the name was Kuronekomaru. What a funny way to give a name for a thief. I laughed a little.
"Hmph. You're the dangerous one, Hanazono.. Who knows how you'll 'comfort' me.."
"Missy!"
I turned from the pillar and faced my maid. "I heard that he once had a concubine who left because she couldn't tolerate him. He must be a really cruel person. And the thug causing unrest.. Kuronekomaru, may be a better person than him. Before father died, Father arranged for me to marry Hanazono. But I don't love him."
"Missy, please don't..."
"I understand, there's no way out of this.." I left her and walked back to my room. There was a small door near the window, led to my private porch. I loved this space; secretive, hidden from outside because of the big sakura tree that grew in front of it. I took my sacred dragon scroll and opened the door, walked to the porch. The commotion was nowhere to be heard nor to be seen. Well, that wasn't my priority-or I could say I didn't care at all. I stood on the porch, stared down on the dragon scroll. This dragon was my family guardian, or so to say. I didn't believe in such thing like that, before now.
"For the Kougami family, hm? Bound to serve the family's interest, why was I even born?" I was whining, near depressing, I thought. "Are you listening.. dragon guardian who is sealed in this scroll?"
Nothing happened. The scroll was still in my hand, not opened. I broke down, and I cried. "Aren't you supposed to be the guardian?" I gripped the roll tighter. "Then, please, send me a more proper men.."
"So that's the magical dragon scroll that grants wishes?"
I surprised, and looked to the tallest branch in the tree in front of me; the source of the sudden voice. I saw a man wearing a black yukata stood there, but I couldn't see the face. I hurried to take my bow that hung next to me. I thought it was the thug so I screamed, "Kuronekomaru!?" and then I heard he chuckled. I felt anger inside my body and left the arrow and took the small knife from the inside of my obi instead.
"So it's the scroll that you want?!" I placed the knife on the bow and aimed for him, "Then go meet your maker!"
I didn't look whether the knife hit him or not, and I hurried back again to take the arrow. Everything was happened so fast. I heard a whish from the yukata, light step on the porch which wasn't mine, and as I pulled the arrow on my bow and was ready to aim to him, "You shall die under my arrow..!"
But he wasn't there. And then I felt something cold and sharp was shoved next to my throat, and I was frozen. Then, a man's voice behind me said, "A rough lady suits my appetite just fine, milady..."
There. This was the end. I would be killed by this man. He would get the scroll and fleed out. I lowered both my bow and my guard. I didn't care anymore. "A dead end's fine, too.. Hmph."
"I'm just a thief, not a murderer," the way he said it like I was insulting him. Funny, I felt a little disappointed.
"What a pity. If I was killed by you, I won't have to get married."
"Get married?", he said and then he laughed out loud. "Hahahaha! Such a dangerous lady wishes not to get married? Why, you must be stronger than a man, and have a plain looking face, right?", he grabbed my neck and turned my face toward him. From the dim lit of the moon, this was the first time I've seen the thief's face. He had a good-looking face, and his long hair was black, tied up. What was more surprising me, he was still young. Probably my age. I saw he was surprised to see me too. He looked at my face for a brief, but I did that too. Maybe we both was mesmerized on our first face-encounter.
I felt he endured his grip on my neck. And then he whispered, "You're very skilled.. and really beautiful."
For most women, they would be blushed if they hear those words coming from a good-looking guy. But not me. Either way, I plainly responded, "You're pretty good-looking. I thought you were some middle-aged man with hunchback. Since you favour me, why not take me away?"
He looked surprised. Before he could answer my respond, there were sounds behind me and I heard the guard yelled, "Missy! Did Kuronekomaru break his way there?" and knocked the my room's door but we both ignored the commotion and still stared to each other, in a mysterious way.
"Hahaha! You must really hate your fiance."
"I do."
"Interesting.."
Wondering why he took it as an interesting answer, but I did tell him the truth. So maybe he thought it was interesting because that words was coming out from me, the only soon-to-be leader on this village.
Suddenly, he took his black coat that fell on the porch. "I don't specialize in abduction," he wrapped the coat on my body and grabbed me closer, ".. but I love beautiful things!" and then he jumped up to the roof as the guard has broke into my room.
"Missy!"
"Quick! This way, Missy has been abducted!"
He kept jump on and on. From roof to roof. We were in silence while noisy sounds was chasing us. But then, I thought of something. I grabbed his shoulder tighter.
"What will happen to me? I don't want to be sold."
He chuckled. "Well, why don't you marry me then? I may be better than your fiance!"
To be really honest, my heart skipped a beat at the time he said those words. And the worst part, I knew that I blushed, and he saw it! "You mongrel! Don't talk rot!" I yelled, angry because I was embarrassed.
He stopped jumping. "Since you're unwilling, I can only sell you or let you go. But..." he pulled me close. I felt uneasy on the way he pulled me. Not to mention he was the first man who ever touched me. He smiled on my respond, and continued to say, "..if you follow me, at least you don't have to be bound to your family."
What did he say? Did he overheard my prayer to the dragon scroll? Must be it. But.. to be gone from the Kougami family.. was all I ever wanted. We stared to each other again, for a moment.
"How about it? My dear restrained beauty?"
I've reached my decision. "Put me down. I can't abandon my family."
He looked at me again, and it always felt like he saw right through me. And then I knew, that I was suppressing myself for answering that way. So, I gave him my reason. "Everyone in my family.. no, even me, my opinion isn't as important as the family."
I pushed my body away from him. Strangely, he didn't held back. He just stood there, like he was examining me. It was so irritating. He crossed his hand, like he already found my real reason: that I wanted to run away. "Hmph! But I doubt you'll understand, you being a thief."
"I am used to being carefree, and I don't wish to understand, " he smiled. It was surprising to hear the answer from him, not mine to expect. "You're very interesting, but we don't get along. So I shall just leave, with the dragon scroll!"
I was shocked when he pulled out the dragon scroll that he hid inside the yukata. When did he take it? I could not find any words to respond, I tried to take the scroll back but then I held off. The dragon scroll was no longer of use.
"You.. you've got what you want, so leave. My mischief is done with. We won't meet again," I said. It was fine, besides.. anyone who wasn't a Kougami attempted to open the scroll.. will die. Then I heard sounds below us; the guards had finally catching up. They released a bunch of arrow to his position so he had to duck. And I moved back away from him to avoid the arrows too.
"Over here! Quick!" some guards yelled.
In this situation, even though he still insisted to take me away, he wouldn't make it. I bet he thought of that too, because he took his black coat off from me and called me, "Lady!" I lifted my face upon him, but the moon was nowhere to be seen so I couldn't see his expression, well neither did him. Thus he yelled again, "You must treasure yourself! "For your family" is such a pathetic excuse!"
He ran away, but my heart was so flustered. He wasn't just a mere thief, his words were like it came from a noble advisor. But then I remembered the scroll-what made me frightened: I didn't want him to die! I called him right before he jumped out the mansion. "Ku, Kuronekomaru!" but he didn't stop. So I continued to shout, "If you don't wish to die, do not untie the string of the scroll! The scroll is very dangerous, so return it if you change your mind! Take care!"
And that was it, the black cat thief was disappeared in the depth of the night. I could heard people behind me, tried to take me down. I stared blankly on the right spot where he had leave. "..bring it back.. to me..," I muttered.
****
I kept thinking about Kuronekomaru the next day. What if he died? But I knew he was a clever man, he wouldn't take my words as a joke. I was the Princess, after all, and the right owner of that scroll. Feeling uneasy, I sat down in front of my late father's ihai. I took a pray to him.
"Father.. That man, what happened to him?" I said. Kuronekomaru.. was he the man that the dragon god has decided to grant me?
Suddenly I heard dashing sound of feet outside my room. And then I heard my maid shouted, "Master Hanazono please slow down!" and then that man's voice, "No matter what, I want to see the Lady today!"
Argh, it was that troublesome Hanazono. What did he think, running inside the mansion and shouting out to my maid, said that he wanted to see me? Even there was a sacred regulation that prohibited him to see me before the marriage. And now I could see his shadow from my nearest wall.
"The Lady.. should know better, did she fall ill from grieve? I'm worried that her heart may fall ill, just like a young man who suddenly died in the market this morning, after throwing up blood.."
What?
I rushed out from my room without thinking. Could it be..? "Master Hanazono, are you telling the truth?" I shouted to him. Both of my maid and him were surprised to see me out from the room.
"Lady!"
"My Lady..."
Then I saw Hanazono's eyes were examining me. Well this was his first time to see me in person, face to face. I stood up before his eyes, waiting for the answer. "Oh.. the daughter of the Kougami family that is about to wed me.. I heard you were grieving over the news of your father's death and fell sick. However, you're so beautiful, and you don't look that way to me at all.."
I startled by his words. I forgot that I was pretending to be sick in order to not meeting him. "Ah! I'm sorry, Master Hanazono.. It's because my mood has yet to improve, which is why I tried to avoid meeting with you."
"You don't have to apologise, I understand. That a lady's heart is very fragile."
Nonsense. "Could you tell me what the man that died looks like?"
He scrubbed his chin and tried to remember. "Fat and solid, short, dressed in ordinary clothing. You seem to be very affected, do you know him?"
Ah.. I felt so glad. It wasn't him. "I thought it was a friend. But it doesn't appear that way," I answered.
"Leaving that aside, Lady..," Hanazono walked to me and place his hands on my shoulder. I flinched. "You appear healthier than what I expected, it looks it's time for you choose the date for your wedding."
I closed my eyes in despair. It seems my willfulness.... it has to end here.
****
"What are you doing here? Hanazono!"
Hanazono came abruptly to my room that night, yelled at my maid not to bother us. He rushed out to open my blind and came toward me. I was scared, I didn't know what this man might think.
"We have yet to get married, we're not a couple yet. Didn't you return earlier?"
Then he pulled me, I screamed then he just laughed and said, "Your shouts are futile, no one will come here, lady. I have already chased them away."
I tried to push him away, but he was to strong. He gripped my hands on the back with just one hand and tried to open my kimono. I screamed again, didn't care that was the only thing I could do to save my life. He slapped my face to shut me up. "In the future, there will be chaos around. Choosing me as your husband will be beneficial to the Kougami family!" he shouted back to my face. I cried and still screaming. Suddenly, the small door was slammed open. And I was so surprised to see the man standing there was.. Kuronekomaru.
"Didn't I tell you not to enter? Who are you by the way?" Hanazono shouted to Kuronekomaru. But he ignored him. He just walked slowly to us, his eyes pierced to mine. The strange feeling flew inside my heart; the combination of glad and angry.
"Lady, I'm here to kidnap you once again. I am still unable to let go of beautiful things."
I stared to him blankly. Deep inside our heart, we already knew the answer too. I felt my tears were coming out. "Foolish man. Why is your reaction so slow?" I said. He looked surprised to see me cried. But I gazed to him that this was my final and exact answer. "I need to uphold the Kougami family!"
"Damn it! Who are you?"
I startled and turned my back and saw Hanazono already aimed an arrow to Kuronekomaru. "Stop it!" I shouted to him but it was too late. The arrow already released and I did all I could to prevent it. I saw Kuronekomaru's shocked face getting closer as I threw my body in front of him. Just in second, I could feel the most painful thing-and maybe the last thing I would ever experience.
"What...!" I could hear Kuronekomaru was shouted. But I couldn't see anything. My breath had became heavier, my head was spinning, my vision became blur, all of my body was trembling it felt hurt. I could feel the warm blood dripping against my cold skin, like it was sucked out from my veins. Kuronekomaru's hands were holding me tight. Why did I found this so comfortable? To be died like this, by your fiance and in a thief's hands.
"La.. la.. Lady!!" Hanazono screamed.
"What happened to the unfeeling side of you, you switched too fast. Why did you have to save me?" he asked calmly, but I could sense he was shocked more than before.
"Haha. I only.. did what I wanted to do, that's all. At that moment, I had live as freely as you did," I answered, my voice had became faint too. Then I dragged my face to face his, all I could see was a blurry vision from the dim lit of the candle in my room. But I was able to see his eyes, frightened more than ever, holding me carefully like I was fragile; I could break anytime I moved. I caressed his face with my hands, leaving a trace of blood there. I was thinking of one thing.
"Kuronekomaru, let me ask you..."
"What is it?"
My heart flustered again, yet now it felt hurt like hell. I smiled, the widest I could do to him.
"Are you.. the kind man the dragon god granted me?"
And then, it was all black.
........................................................................................................."where am I?" I mumbled.
I knew it was bright outside, but I couldn't open my eyes.
We met again.
"Who is it?" I asked. That voice was faint yet it felt so close. The voice of a man, with a strange dialect.
I was the one whom you prayed to before.
"The dragon god?"
That was the way they called me.
"Well then, what happened to me? Why can't I open my eyes? Did I already died?"
Yes, you did. But I saved you.
"So I live now?"
Barely. I could give you back to life, just in one condition.
"Spill it!"
Hmm. I wasn't aware that you wanted to live more than anyone. Anyway, I have an agreement that I had to protect the line of Kougami family, and if you died, it means that the Kougami family is end. So I gave a curse to that foolish thief for killing you and he shall dedicate his everything to the Kougami family, and protect you whole-heartedly in my place.
"Wait, what? Thief? No! No, you mistaken! The one who killed me was Hanazono! Not him!"
No. The truth is it was the thief's fault. If he had not intrude your room, you would not be killed. Now he shall serves you, and this curse shall be passed on to the countless generations to come.
I shook my head. What kind of gibberish thing he was talking about? I didn't want Kuronekomaru to be my servant. "But......" I tried to deny.
No buts. You have to accept this condition. In order to keep the Kougami family, and you being the last Kougami alive. The Kuroishi thief shall be your servant, and there is no guarantee to end it.
Before I could say anything, I felt like I was threw down from a very high cliff. But I couldn't scream. And then it all was warm, my body felt lighter. I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the ceiling..... on my room. I tried to move my hand to my face. I tried to breath deeper then exhaling loudly. So I really came back to life, huh.
"Missy? Are you awaken yet?" my maid asked from the outside of the blinds.
"Yes," my voice was still rough.
"Missy was fainted last night, you were drenched in blood but no wound has found other than a healed wound in your chest. We did not know what had happened last night, and we thought that Master Hanazono was with you but he wasn't in this very room," my maid explained. I touched my chest, to the place where the arrow has stabbed me. I barely could remember that accident too, but I just remembered Kuronekomaru's face. I tried to wake up and sit down, felt healthier than before. Like I was reborn.
"Do you need help, Missy?"
"No. So where is Hanazono now?"
"Uh, well.. Master Hanazono has found dead."
I surprised. "What?!"
"Master Hanazono died from a knife wound in his chest. He died this morning at the bay of the river," she answered. How did Hanazono died? Who killed him? Could it be.. Kuronekomaru? No, he said he wasn't a murderer. But who knows he got angry because he thought that I was dead?
"..and Miss, a new housekeeper would like to give you his respect." she continued and I startled by her words. It must be him! I stood up as fast as my feet could, and ran towards the outside of my room.
"My Lady!"
And there he was. Knelt down before me, in the ground. He didn't wore the black coat, just his usual yukata and he was bathing in the sunshine. It didn't suit him as Kuronekomaru, but now he was my servant... for a lifetime.
"My name is Haya.. could you call me just by my name?" I asked. He bowed deeply, and I didn't like it.
"I am but a lowly servant that serves the Kougami family, I can only address you as "my lady"."
Ah, this was the dragon's curse. "Since I have taken your freedom from you, I would like to know your real name."
He lifted his face to me; calm and steady. His eyes still the same; drawn to mine but it was felt different. Because he looked at me as his Lady, not a mere Princess who wanted to run away. "Arashi. It is a wind that has found freedom, worth much more that a man who would swap his life for objects," he answered in the same calm tone. I felt a little bit relaxed. I would always have this man by my side, after all.
I smiled to him, putting every feeling that I had. "This is the first time that I'm looking at you under the sunlight, Arashi Kuroishi."
****
"Are you there, Arashi?"
"I am always by your side, my Lady.."
"The date of my marriage has been decided. And my fiance.. well, I think I will grow more fond of him."
He scoffed. "Good for you, then."
"Don't you dare laughing," I pouted. Then I moved closer to him, to the other side of the blinds. "By the way, I have something to talk to you, before I get married."
He seemed confused, but I went on saying. "A year ago, when my chest was stabbed by the arrow on that time..," I untied the obi on my kimono, and showed him the scar that left in my chest. That confused face changed into a shocked face. "The scar won't left off, even though the dragon's god has brought me back to life......."
"As long as this scar still here.. even though I am in another man's embrace, my soul will never forget about you."
