A/N: This chapter contains reference to sensitive subjects such as rape. Even though there ISN'T an actual rape in this, I felt like I have to add the warning, just in case.
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Once Hakuyuu was determined to leave and head to Reim there was no way to stop him. He had no trouble conniving Aiko and Hiro about the reason why we should go instead of the old man, and he had even managed to get Aiko to agree to take the risk and try to sell the healing products she crafted, using her magic and the plants and vegetables that grew on their farm.
They were the same products she had been given to us, especially him.
"I may not know Much about sellings... But don't We need a permit to sell this kind of thing?" I asked Hakuyuu, watching while he arranged the small cristal bottles into a box. It was the same kind of box used to transport the bottles of wine we were talking to Reim, along with many wine wooden barrels.
"Exactly. That's why I hide them in this box" The prince replied, never taking his eyes away from his task.
"Look at you. Who would've thought that the all serious and well-behaved first price would be the head master behind a smuggling deal" I teased with a smirk, leaning back and crossing my arms over my chest. Hakuyuu lifted his gaze from the box to face me.
"I'm not a prince anymore. I'm just an ordinary man, who needs to find a way to, somehow, repay the people who have done so much for me. Nothing would ever be enough, but I have to try, even if that means going against what I believe is right." He explained, and the determination and conviction in his voice made me feel so guilty. Here I was, making jokes while he was trying to find a way out of all this mess our lives were now.
"I'm sorry Hakuyuu, it was just a joke. Please forgive me" I apologize, gazing at the floor. A moment later I feel his hand over my arm. Gazing up, my eyes meet his blue ones.
"I know. Don't apologize. I didn't mean to sound so harsh. Besides, you are one of those people" He smiles sweetly to me and all I can think is how happy I am that he is with me. Before I can even think about what I'm doing, I wrap my arms around his torso, pulling him into a tight hug. I feel his body tensing up at the unexpected contact, and I quickly pull away.
"Sorry, I..." I take a step back, trying to hide my face from him, that's probably red as a tomato.
"It's ok." Hakuyuu chuckles, going back to his task.
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Only a few days later Hakuyuu and I were at the port. It was a beautiful sunny day in Kou, and the smell of salty water filled my nostrils. Some sailors were running from here to there, loading the last parts of the cargo, while the second in command gave the orders. All the wine barrels, along with the boxes, were already in the stowage.
I was carrying only the few clothes that the Aiko gave me, while Hakuyuu was carrying the little belongings he had, along with Hakuren's sword. While we were saying goodbye to the couple who had done so much for us, I could see how Aiko just didn't bother to hide the tears that kept falling down her cheeks, while Hiro hid them behind a sad but proud face. In the month we had stayed with them, they have grown to love us as part of their family. The couple hugged us both and we promise to come back and visit them soon. I hoped we could keep that promise. Once it was announced that we were about to leave, Hakuryuu and I boarded the ship, waving them goodbye.
I was going to be a journey that would take several months and, for my distress, the moment I set foot on that ship, I felt completely out of place. Even though it was a small crew, it consisted entire of men. I was the only woman there. There was the captain, a middle age man whose face was marked by wrinkles product by the long hours under the sun, but whose stare conveyed confidence and leadership. Then there was the second in command, a younger man, with a more jovial and adventurous spirit but no less deserving of respect. He was responsible for transmitting the captain's orders and making sure that they were fulfilled. And then, there was the rest of the crow, who consisted of the cook, his assistants, along with about 10 sailors, and finally me and Hakuyuu.
Once we were introduced to them, the captain asked his second command to show me to my room cabin. It was a small ship, so all the men were supposed to share one big room, where they would sleep in hammocks that were hanging around the room. The only exception being the high command and me. As I was the only woman there, the captain had decided to give me a separated room. Something I was very grateful for, especially after seen the look some of the sailors were giving me. Hakuyuu had noticed it too. He had soon stood in front of me, giving his back at me and staring at the men in a protective manner. Luckily he had relaxed once I was taken to my room.
The first weeks went by without much trouble. The weather was nice and I spend most of my time in my room or with Hakuyuu. As part of payment for the trip, I had started helping in the kitchen, while Hakuyuu helped the sailor. Even tough he was a prince, Hakuyuu had also been a General, in command of many soldiers during campaigns and even a war. All this past experience had made him very capable of handling heavy work, as well as being experience in guiding the other men even when he didn't intend to. Hakuyuu was a natural leader. After all, that was what he was born to be, and as much as the former prince tried to mix with the rest of the sailors, his skills hadn't passed unnoticed to the captain.
Meanwhile, I was getting along pretty well with most of the crew, especially the people I worked with in the kitchen, with the notable exception of some of the sailors, especially one, who had tried to make some kind of move on me. Some of them would make some nasty comments, whispering when I was near, and one of them had even tried to go a bit further a few times. One of those times he had caught me off guard, while I was doing some of the cleaning. This nasty looking sailor had grabbed me by the arm. Even thought I had felt really nervous I had defended myself, kicking him between the legs while pulling my arm away from him and walking out of there. The second time the captain was near and he had stopped this sailor how this time had brought another man with him. I believe they were intending to corner me in the kitchen, but the captain come in just in time. He had threatened to throw them off board if they keep messing with me. Of course, all of this hasn't gone unnoticed to Hakuyuu, even when I was doing my best to keep him away from the situation. I didn't want him to get into trouble with these men, especially since he had to work and sleep in the same room as them. I thought I could handle it myself. But I was wrong.
One night I excuse myself and got back to my room without touching my dinner. A storm had hit us and the ship kept rocking in a way that have had me feeling dizzy for several hours. Hakuyuu had laughed at me at first, but he had soon stopped after seeing how sick I was. He was the one that suggested I went to bed, which I had no problem agreeing on.
Once I entered the room, I was feeling so bad that I forgot to lock the door. I just proceeded to take off my clothes and put on my night wear. I was about to lay down in bed when the cracking noise of the wooden door made me look back. My eyes grew wide when I saw that same sailor that had been attempting to mess with me all this time. His smirking face was lighted by the only oil lap I had in my room.
"What are you doing here? Get out!" I yelled, standing up from the bed while looking for something to throw at him. The man walked in, locking the door behind him. As he did, I could hear the brave storm outside, and the sound of the waves crashing against the sides of the ship.
"I'm here to give you what you want" He exclaimed with a wide smirk on his face, walking closer to me while I stepped back.
"What are you talking about!?" I shouted, grabbing a big book I had borrowed from the captain's right handed man. In my mind, I knew it was stupid to consider that a possible weapon, as the man in front of me was well built and trained from all his years of service in the sea. He grinned, looking at the book on my hand.
"Are you going to read to me?" He teased, pointing at the book " Come on, a pretty girl like you, alone with all these men... You are telling me you weren't looking for this to happen?" He asked, cooking his head to the side.
"Are you insane!? Of course not! Now get out!" I barked angrily, throwing the book at him, which he dodged without a problem. He approached quickly, trying to grab me. To his surprise, I punched him hard in the face before he could do it.
The man stared at me in surprised, he probably wasn't expecting me to know how to fight. Sadly, he was bigger and stronger than I expected.
"You are just making this more interesting" He explained, smirking again. I yelled when, in one quick move, the man grabbed both of my wrists, pushing me onto the bed.
"Get off!!" I growled, kicking and twisting under him. Even when I had plenty of training from my life at royal Palace, I was feeling sick and weaker than usual, so I couldn't help the fear that was starting to struck in my heart at that moment.
"You like it rough, huh? Good" He whispered close to my ear, trying to pull my night nightgown up. "Now stay still and... AHHH!" he didn't get to finish his sentence, for he yelled in pain when I buried my teeth in one side of his face.
"YOU BITCH!" He snapped, letting go of me just the right amount of time for me to push him off, kicking him in the face. The man stumbled back, falling on his knees, while putting his hand on his cheek, which was dripping blood due to my bite. He glared back at the me, and I could see the anger in his eyes. He was going to kill me.
I gazed at the door, wondering if I would be able to get to it in time, before he could get a hold of me again, or if it would be the best to just stay and fight back.
Overtaking my intentions, the sailor got up, ready to try to grab me again.
"Let's get over with this" He hissed, and his cocky attitude got replaced with a far more dangerous one.
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A/N: First of all, sorry for not updating this story sooner, I have been struggling a lot with my writer's block. Second: sorry for leaving this chapter like this. It wasn't my original intention, but this got carried away and It was turning out to be one loooong chapter, so I have to split it in two.
Please let me know what you think! All your comments and votes are always welcome! Thank you!