R&R please! C&C would be wonderful. Is this too OOC, PWP, or TWT? LOL, I hope not. (Ha, if you couldn’t tell, I’m just trying to fit as many acronyms as I can into a few sentences. Did I do a good job? ^_^ )
By Kat
Chapter 3: Prelude
“Your Highness!”
Sanosuke’s head snapped up at the sudden interruption of his noonday meal. Food was one of his few pleasures left in life and he preferred eating without any distractions. They tainted the taste.
“Highness!” the breathless messenger boy cried out, coming to a halt at a respectful distance from the emperor. “Highness, the Hitokiris have attacked our eastern border. Again. But this time they made off with military documents of great importance!”
Lifting his glass and gently swirling the blood red liquid inside, the sovereign slowly sipped as he pondered his country’s current situation. Sighing in fatigue, he asked, “Was anyone killed in this latest raid?”
“No, Your Highness. Some were severely wounded, but none were found dead,” the messenger, Soujiro, replied hastily.
“I’ll handle it then,” Sanosuke rejoined definitively, leaving no room for argument. “You should go rest now. Did you travel here directly from Ansutam?”
A little stunned at his emperor’s open concern for him, Soujiro quietly admitted, “Yes, Highness. I…I rode for a day to bring you the news.”
“Go rest, then. Have one of the servants show you to a room. And the kitchen is yours; just tell them I sent you,” he directed, his voice no longer sounding like that of a ruler, but like that of a…friend...
The boy was shocked, to say the least. Barely audible, he whispered, “Thank…thank you, Your Highness.”
After the messenger had left the dining hall, Sanosuke sighed and let his eyes wander over the many intricate details of the room. High, curved, pentagonal arches framed every doorway leading into the expansive room, as well as all other doorways in the palace. Lustrous white marble served as the walls and flooring, extending out to the impressive balcony that seemed to encompass as much space as the room itself. The curtains, composed of brightly colored velvet, were drawn off to either side of the arch leading to the balcony and wafted gently in the breeze. In short, it was awe-inspiringly beautiful.
Sanosuke hated it.
It’s not that he hated the architecture or design or even the palace itself; he despised the loneliness that echoed from every wall of the cavernous structure. Even with his brother living in the palace as well, he still felt an amorphous twinge of pain that seemed to accompany the very sight of the many happy people working in the palace, as well as the city. Every time he observed or overheard two lovers speaking the complicated language of love…
You need a woman, Sagara, he repeated to himself for what must have been the hundredth time that day. It was fast becoming an annoyance.
Deciding that he should put his mind where it was needed, he turned his thoughts to the news that had interrupted his meal. So, the Hitokiris were on the move again…
A few years ago, the arrival of the now infamous band of marauders had portended a great many things: the people’s fear for their safety, the military’s frustration at their inadequacy, the guarded looks people kept securely in place when walking about in the markets. But there was one thing in particular that Sanosuke had not been expecting in the least. Their leader.
A man who was referred to by his men as “Battousai,” he was, without a doubt, the most baffling person the emperor had ever dealt with. He was a riddle wrapped in a mystery and packaged in an enigma. He never hesitated to attack a defenseless town, but would forbid any murder of the townspeople. He was known for the fierceness and great skill with which he commanded the sword, but never engaged in a battle that was unfair. He never drank with his men after an attack, never fraternized with the women at their camp, always paid for the supplies instead of stealing…
In short, he was the most gentlemanly bandit leader the world had ever known.
The one thing above all else that haunted the citizens of Kahaktri was that the invincible bandit leader had no description. Obviously, he was a living, breathing human being, but so few people actually knew what he looked like that by the time they realized who the newcomer in their town was, it was far too late. His only definable attributes were his swordsmanship and the turban he was always seen wearing. The dark material hanging from the actual turban covered every part of his face except for… his eyes.
His eyes were quite possibly the most mysterious things about him: sometimes, when persons were actually near enough to discern his visible features, his eyes were said to be a vicious shade of amber. Those times were when he fought with a particularly lethal accuracy and ferocity. Other times, when he seemed to be more forgiving, his eyes were said to be a darker shade of violet.
It was like he had two completely different souls trapped within the same body.
Usually the emperor was able to foresee upcoming raids and able to adequately prepare the suspected town. But this latest attack was something Sanosuke had not seen forthcoming at all. What interest did Battousai have in military affairs? And why would he want to stir up such trouble for the emperor? After all…
Himura, I think it’s time your old friend paid you a visit. Even though I’m sure you’re already expecting me …
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