Target spotted!
Passing below the tree was the second prince and his close companions including the red headed castle herbalist, but there was one that held the hiders interest. She shifted on the branch she was perched on, weapon clenched in her left hand. An excited grin pulling at her face as she waited for the moment she had been preparing for for six years.
The group passed under the tree, and the hiding girl revealed herself. Jumping from her branch she readied her sword swinging it towards her target. As leaves scattered down along with her a battle cry erupted from her just as her sword collided with another.
Mitsuhide, her target, had barely managed to unsheathe his sword and block her attack with a steady hand. The girl could see the unwavering effort in his brown eyes as he fought back against her attack.
"Mitsuhide!" the red haired girl cried.
"Kiki take Zen and Shirayuki away," he grunted.
There was brief debate, but soon the other three started back towards the castle, yet just as the girl jumped back and swung for another blow something snagged her hood and yanked her backward. Stumbling to the ground Mitsuhide crashed his sword into hers disarming her with an unpleasant yelp. As she sat on the grass, hood still being held revealing her face, she glared up at Mitsuhide who's battle ready expression shifted into surprise and bewilderment.
"Kumiko?" he questioned.
"Brother," the girl hissed.
Before anyone could blink Zen, Shirayuki and Kiki were back at Mitsuhide's side with wide eyes. They stared from their tall friend to the girl with black hair that had a single silver lock along the right side of her face. The only resemblance between the two were the matching light brown eyes.
"A tiny Mitsuhide, how interesting," Obi chuckled. He was the one behind Kumiko holding her hoodie with an amused shine in his bright cat-like eyes.
Kumiko shot a glance over her shoulder at him only to click her tongue and return to leering at her older brother.
"Mitsuhide, you have a sister?" Shirayuki questioned. Turning to the prince she asked, "Zen, did you know?"
Shaking his head Zen replied, "I had no idea."
"I'm not surprised," Kumiko muttered. "He doesn't exactly like me."
"What?" Mitsuhide gasped. Dropping his sword he scrambled to explain; the truth to Kumiko, and what was happening to his friends. His hands flailed about as only half sentences left his mouth. "That's not it. . . You guys don't understand. . . I had a duty. . . Kumiko was only. . .I tried to. . ."
Not wanting to hear excuses Kumiko hopped to her feet and swiped at Obi's legs causing him to release her hood, which allowed her escape. Dodging around the guy who had interrupted her plan Kumiko took off across the courtyard jumping back into the trees to disappear from view.
"Master?" Obi inquired as he got back on his feet.
Zen was staring at Mitsuhide who was retrieving his sword and the one the girl left behind. His forehead was creased and his expression taut like piano wire. Obi followed his master's gaze and raised a brow at the aide.
"Mitsuhide?" Obi asked curiously.
With his own sword sheathed and the other tightly clenched in his hand the silvery-blue haired man glanced around at his companions with his mouth pressed into a thin line. "Let her go," was all her said.
Kiki, face unreadable as always, stepped over to Mitsuhide and punched him hard in the arm.
"Ouch! What-?" he groaned.
"Go after her," she stated.
Mitsuhide's brown eyes narrowed at the blonde, who stood unmoving.
"Kiki's right," Shirayuki jumped in. Green irises wild with sincerity. "She came to see you."
"She was swinging a sword," Zen pointed out.
Kiki and Shirayuki both rolled their eyes at the boys.
"Mitsuhide," Kiki prompted.
He shook his head. "Kumiko won't listen even if I go after her," he muttered.
"You won't know if you don't try," Shirayuki fought.
Mitsuhide turned to her with cold distant eyes and replied, "I have tried."
With a stomp of her foot Shirayuki took off after the girl with her brows furrowed and her eyes determined. Zen stepped to follow her, but a guard called to him, his presence needed for work. Groaning he looked to Kiki who nodded in understanding, before giving Obi an order.
"Keep an eye on Shirayuki," he said.
"Yes Master," Obi saluted.
Then they all parted. Mitsuhide tucking the spare sword into his belt as he followed after Prince Zen.
AAA
Kumiko didn't run far, she knew her brother that well at least. After making it over the castle wall she found a tree branch big enough for her to curl up on to sulk her anger away. She had failed at showing him how strong she had become, that she didn't need him to protect her, that she never needed him around.
She punched the trunk of the tree with a fierce growl. The impact shook nearby branches and rustling the leaves around her.
"Ow," she murmured.
Pulling her hand into her lap she watched blood bead up along the cuts on her knuckles and roll down onto her fingers. Kumiko released a long irritated sigh as she stared up through the green branches at the pieces of blue sky she could see between the swaying leaves. Today was suppose to be her day.
"Kumiko!"
Startled, the girl looked down to see the red haired herbalist jogging about searching for something.
"Kumiko?"
Searching for her.
Kumiko pulled her feet up so she was crouched on the branch, hoping not to be found. She couldn't believe her proud knight of a brother would send a little girl after her. He never had chased after her before, so why start now.
"Kumiko?" Shirayuki called.
Kumiko Lowen quietly watched as the girl ran by her hiding place and deeper into the forest. Just when Kumiko thought she was safe a deep voice sounded behind her.
"Found you little Mitsuhide," he whispered.
Scared, Kumiko slipped from her branch and started falling to the ground. Before she could scream she found herself dangling from her wounded hand and staring up at the smirking yellow-eyed guy from earlier.
"It's Kumiko," she grumbled.
"Right right," Obi nodded. "Miss, I found her!" he called out.
As he lowered her to the ground Shirayuki came sprinting towards them. She frantically grabbed at Kumiko's wrists pulling her hands into view so she could inspect the damage. Her face was scrunched up in disapproval, while Kumiko just stared down at her in confusion. What was with this girl? If she was sent to drag her back why care about her hand?
"I need to treat this right away," Shirayuki stated. Looking up at the black haired girl with narrowed green eyes she gestured to Obi.
"I'm fine," Kumiko protested.
"The Miss can do great work," Obi said.
Just as Shirayuki released Kumiko, she was tossed over Obi's shoulder, who began carrying her back towards the castle. Kumiko tried to fight her way free, but Obi restrained her leags and didn't react when she wailed on his back. After a while the pounding began to hurt her own hands, so with a gruff sigh of defeat she gave up.
"Good girl Little Mitsuhide," Obi teased.
"It's Kumiko," she mumbled.
"Right," he chuckled.
AAA
Snipping away the excess bandages Shirayuki said, "Done."
Kumiko fidgeted in the chair she sat in, glancing about the herbalist room she had been dragged to. The Head Pharmacist was busy working at her desk while a small boy wrote something in a book as he was lying on the floor. Shirayuki was putting her tools and medicine away as Obi snacked on some berries while sitting in the opened window.
"You should thank her," Garrak said over her teacup.
Kumiko muttered, "Why? She bullied me into this."
Garrak burst into laughter and was soon joined by Obi, while Shirayuki flushed as she put everything away. Kumiko crossed her arms as she frowned at the older woman.
"Sounds like Shirayuki," Garrak tittered.
"She was hurt. I couldn't leave her alone," the redhead said.
"I would have been fine on my own," Kumiko stated. Getting to her feet she moved towards the open door, but paused before leaving. Glancing back at the younger girl she quietly said, "Thanks," then hurried out.
She didn't make it very far before Shirayuki ran out grabbing her good hand and pulled her to a stop. Shirayuki planted herself in front of Kumiko, her face serious and arms crossed. Kumiko adverted her gaze to the decorative hall around them.
"Why did you attack Mitsuhide?" she asked.
"Because,"" Kumiko muttered.
"He's your brother," Shirayuki countered.
"Was," Kumiko corrected. "He was my brother."
"Don't say that," she pleaded. "Mitsuhide cares, I'm sure. He's always so kind and protective," she rambled.
"Not for me!" Kumiko shouted.
The other girl stepped back startled as Kumiko's breathing turned into heaves. Yanking her gray cloth hood over her head to hide her face she added, "It's none of your business okay? I'd like to go now."
"Or you can stay," a new voice suggested.
Kumiko spun around to see the blonde aide, Kiki, standing at the other end of the hall. Her hands were crossed behind her back as she eyes down Kumiko, sending chills down the girl's spine.
"She can?" Shirayuki inquired pleased.
"No thank you," Kumiko declined.
"Wouldn't you like your sword back?" Kiki challenged.
Feeling her hip for her sword, the tool she spent nearly ten hours a day practicing with, but it was gone. Sheathe empty and hands clenched.
"Give it back," she hissed.
"Mitsuhide has it," Kiki stated. "So if you want it back you'll have to wait until this evening."
"Why can't you just bring it to me?" Kumiko fought.
"I have work," Kiki simply replied.
Clicking her tongue Kumiko internally debated whether to stay or just leave without her sword. But it was hers, and she deserved it more than Mitsuhide did. She wanted, no, she needed it back. Yanking her hood down more she scuffed the heel of her boot against the floor as she made her decision.
"I'll wait, but I'm not staying. I want my sword them I'm gone," Kumiko announced.
Nodding Kiki said, "Very well. Obi!"
Appearing on the railing over looking the courtyard was the cat-eyes man ready to listen to the blonde.
"You are to watch over Kumiko until tonight," Kiki informed.
"What about the Miss?" Obi questioned.
"Zen believes in her," Kiki said.
Then she walked away.