Chapter 8

Lost Daughter

"The time has come," were the words of the King's most trusted adviser as the discussion in the coference room died down to muted complaints and hushed whispers.

With heavy steps, King Faust set out to discuss the situation with his advisors. To his regret, his right hand and his first counselor Amidamaru were not there at the meeting. Instead those present were those hungry for power, those who were ready to overthrow the king for their own greedy purposes. These men were like piranhas and would take advantage of this situation, and the King was aware of that.

"When will Anna understand that Kings actually have so little power?" He asked himself as he looked through the window. The dark sky perfectly reflected his current state of well-being. "That could cost the throne to our family. Anna my child, come back home to us ...before it's too late."

xXx

"I can't believe a word he is telling me anymore! And why had he brought me here in the first place?" The girl grumbled to herself as she donned the gauzy fabric Yoh claimed to be clothes.

"From all the places we could have gone to, he had chosen such a filthy one! Not only did he bring a noble such as myself to a brothel, he also put me in danger by leaving me alone, thus withdrawing from his duty to protect me. But the worst part of all that was the fact that he seems so familiar with this place and especially with these... women."

She bit her lips, pausing in her task of dressing herself up.

"Does that mean he often goes to such places and likes to be flattered by these women?! Or even share the bed with them?!"

Anna shook her head ‑ she did not even want to imagine that. The thought of another woman in his arms, the same way he was holding her so tight just a few moments ago, flooded her with different emotions. She could not sort her feelings. On the one hand she was disgusted with her thoughts and on the other hand she was angry at him. Maybe even jealous? No! A princess should never show such ugly emotion as jealousy. If you take it exactly, a princess should never show any kinds of emotions at all. It is a sign of weakness, they say. If a princess wants something, she shall have it with a flick of her finger. But can she have a person in that same way?

"Of course not for the rest of my life. I want to have my own life too, you know? A wife and my own family."

She bit her bottom lip once more as she remembered his words.

"So, he would dare leave me" Robe in place, she nodded to herself and patted on the imaginary wrinkles to straighten her attire. "Don't worry, bony boy, I will make you stay if you want or not."

The Princess said, self assured, with a smirk on her face. But as she turned around to looked at her reflection in th mirror, the smirk turned into a frown. The dress Yoh bought her was sheer. Even though she wore many layers, her shoulders and arms were visible through the fabric. People would assume she was... well, one of them.

Just when she wanted to storm out to talk to the person responsible for this sorry thing of a dress, there was a knock on the door.

"Prin-...eh, are you done?" The voice of her idiot of a bodyguard could be heard through the opposite side of the door.

"Come in."

And the door slid open and Yoh entered the room, who faltered at the sight of her and couldn't help but let his eyes roam over her. Anna raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, as his eager eyes checked her out.

"I almost didn't recognize you in that dress. The color suits you very well!" He grinned.

"Is that so?" She asked and raised an eyebrow. "Or are you just playing over with the fact that this dress is translucent, huh?"

"I… uh… this was the thickest material they had! I am sorry." he said, bowing so low down he fell to his knees, arms and forehead touching the floor.

"You better be! People will assume I am a courtesan." She whispered the last word with contempt.

Anna did not know why she was uncomfortable will all this. And if that was not all that exhausting enough, Yoh started to laugh, noticing her discomfort. He stood, dusting his clothes.

"At least then they won't think you are a Prin‑" Before he could complete the sentences, Anna covered his mouth with her hand.

"Shut up, they could hear you!" She snapped, only releasing his mouth when he frantically nodded. That, and his face had turned a mighty shade of blue, signaling that she had covered his nose as well and he could hardly breathe.

"Sorry, but what should I call you then?" He asked, whispering too, although it could be because he was still wheezing.

The blonde girl sighed. "I am allowing you to call me by my first name, alright?"

"Alright... Anna."

The way her name slipped his lips – softly, like a caress of a lover ‑ while a fine shade of red adorned his cheeks had her blushing. She found that she liked hearing her name escape his mouth, though for what reason she'd rather not investigate.

Instead, she huffed.

"Let's just leave!"

xXx

Back in the palace, the guards rode out to find the missing princess. King Faust imagined innumerable events that could happen if Anna never came back.

"As you all probably already heard, the Princess disappeared." He gritted his teeth. His precious pearl just slipped through his fingers like water. How could he have been so lenient?

"Your Highness, what are your plans now?" One of the men asked.

"The guards have already set out to find her." He replied, almost robotic, his eyes unfocused into the distance. "She can not have come very far yet."

"Your Majesty..." An older man with gray hair started carefully. "I am truly sorry for your loss, but what are your plans for the Kingdom?"

"Loss?" King Faust breathed, cutting him off as his eyes focused on the man who dared to speak those words. "Nothing is lost yet. How dare you?!" His tone was harsh but calculated. "To even think that? The Princess will come back safely."

The glare King Faust sent the man was terrifying.

"Forgive me! Forgive me, your Highness!" The man bowed down, ashamed at his choice of words.

"But he is not wrong, Your Majesty." Another one chimed in. "We should be prepared for such cases. The Princess is your only daughter, your only child. The next in the line of succession is Prince Hitachi."

King Faust clenched his fists, his face expressionless. "What are you aiming for?"

"My King," started the King's most influential advisor, Takezaki Leyasu. "If the absence of the Princess reaches the enemies' ear, they will not hesitate to attack us. Without an heir, we are vulnerable. You should acknowledge the next heir for the throne just in case."

"And who is the next heir, Takezaki?" King Faust asked through gritted teeth, even though he knew the answer. But would he dare?

"That would be Hitachi." Takezaki answered, a dirty smile playing at the corner of his lips.

"And you do not just say this just because Hitachi is your son?" King Faust knew that Takezaki would take advantage of this situation to put his side of the family back on the throne. He was cunningly waiting for this chance all along, the sly rat that he was.

"He was prepared for it just like the Princess since he was just a child. Unlike you, I think of the future of the Kingdom" He spoke snidely, causing the others to gulp hard at the tone he took in front of the King. "And my son is the best choice."

"He is the only choice. Not the best!" The King snapped, the tone of his voice full of anger. "I will not acknowledge anyone! The Princess is not dead. The meeting is over!"

And with that, the King left.

"She will be dead by sunrise." Takezaki muttered, his malicious grin still on his lips before he started writing something on a piece of paper.

"You know what to do?"

"Of course, my Lord."

More riders stormed out of the Palace on the way to the village.

xXx

To Anna's relief, they finally left the brothel. She could only take so much whining and fake tears before she and her bodyguard – who, by the way, had a hard time untangling himself from those women's clutches ‑ plunged into the dark maze that was the alleyways of the village. Yoh said it would be safer to avoid the main road, as the King's guards were mostly there. He had a point; however, the Princess had problems keeping up with her bodyguard. She had to watch her steps so she would not to stumble on the uneven ground, lifting her skirt as she ran and avoided the countless excrement thrown along the streets. Not to mention the inconvenience of wearing such revealing clothes! Frustrated she reached out to her bodyguard.

"Yoh!"

Upon hearing his name he stopped and turned around.

"Hm?"

He was too busy with watching their surroundings for any danger that he left her in the cold... again.

"Can you slow down?"

Her dress was already drenched with mud at the very bottom, even though she tried to keep it lifted. The image of her was priceless. The very confident, almost to the point of arrogance, and strong Princess was struggling for once. He watched her deciding which spot was safer for her to step on. This caused him to laugh.

"Stop laughing and help me instead!" She demanded, the frustration in her voice unmistakable.

"As you wish, my Lady." With that he took a few steps forward and without any warning, he lifted her up.

Anna gasped at his sudden move, but found herself wrapping her arms around his neck immediately. "T-That's not what I meant."

But he just sent her a cheeky smile and continued their path.

After several minutes of silence, she could no longer hold back her curiosity. "So, you seem very familiar with those women at the brothel. Like, they know you for a long time already."

"N-not what you're thinking!" How curious it was that the first thing he thought was to defend himself. Anna frowned. "I-I just went there once!" He reasoned out, but the blush on his face was not helping.

"I don't care what you do in your free time, pervert." she mumbled the last word. "You men are all the same, controlled by your own desires. Pathetic."

"It's not what you think!"

"Whatever, bony boy."

The two reached a few stalls with a variety of goods. But what caught the eyes of the Princess was this particular stall at the end of the street. Not exactly the stall, but the color red of a piece of silky cloth.

Yoh noticed her glances but continued. At a bifurcation, he stopped and set her down gently. Before turning to her, he studied their surroundings. "Stay here, I will be right back."

Before she could even complain, he was gone. She leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. She left the Palace just a few hours ago, but she was already so exhausted, hungry and cold. Just when she wanted to close her eyes, she noticed movement in the corner of her eye. Two men were walking in her direction. They were simply clothed, no armor, so they were not associated with the royal guards to Anna's relief. She leaned back once again, hoping to blend in with her surroundings and not catch anyone's eyes. Unfortunately for Anna, the two men stopped in front of her.

"Oh my, a beauty all alone in this part of the village." One of the men, a balding fellow with a huge belly, started.

"No, she belongs in this part of the village! Look at her clothes, only courtesans show so much skin." The other one, a ratty-looking thing with thick facial hair, leered and spat on the ground, causing Anna to back away.

"I have never seen such a pretty courtesan before." He ogled her. "Now don't be so shy, we will pay you." His smile was vile.

Anna frowned, knowing what was going to happen next. The situation back at the brothel was still fresh to her, and she did not want a repeat of it to ever happen in this lifetime again. She immediately began thinking of a way to get out of this situation. Her sword was hidden under her skirt ‑ if she wanted to get it, she first would have to lift up the skirt to her hips. Not a plausible plan.

Another way would be by losing the belt around her waist, but that was also not the best option. She cursed Yoh for choosing such a dress. And especially for leaving her all by herself again. So she chose to scream at them, hoping for Yoh to hear her. "Stay away!"

"Now now, why do you refuse?" The bald one asked and reached out to her.

Without hesitation Anna started to run, but she did not get far and was grabbed by ratty-looking one. The man slammed her against the wall. Anna gasped in pain.

This village was a nightmare, she concluded! Nowhere was a girl like her ever be safe. There was little to no choice but to get the sword under her skirt and defend herself. Just when the man reached out for her again, a shadow fell over them suddenly.

Someone stepped in between her and the two men.

"You better back off."

A deep voice sounded. The threatening undertone in the voice made the men shudder. Anna had heard this tone in his voice before. Back at the brothel, when he had intervened and protected her from another man who had dared try to harm her.

"What if we don't want to, lad?"

In response, his right hand reached for the grip of his sword and the left for the sheath. With a flick of his thumb the blade came off from its protection and aimed at the throat of the bald man. His rat of a partner backed off instantly, his arms raised in surrender.

"She is mine."

He growled firmly. His tone was new and, dare she say it, very manly that it caused Anna's breath to hitch and her face to heat up despite the circumstances.

"Leave, or you will be hurt."

At the sight of the sword the men left, but not before spitting in front of the Samurai's feet.

When they were out of sight, he turned around to look at her. As Yoh's eyes met hers, they turned soft immediately. But not fast enough for her to oversee all the anger, the guilt, the anxiety and worry written in one single glance.

"I am so sorry. Are you alright?" He asked, worried, and held her arm to steady her.

She should be angry at him, but all she could do was to nod tiredly.

"I am fine."

He placed shaking hands on her cheeks and shoulders, looking for injuries. "I am so so sorry, Anna."

Sighing, he reached into his pocket and pulled something red out.

"The reason why I left was this piece of cloth." The boy placed the fabric around her shoulders, covering the revealing fabric of the dress. It was the same cloth she saw at the stall just a few minutes ago.

Anna eyes widened. "You noticed?"

"Nothing escapes the watchful eye of a Samurai, my Lady." He smiled gently, patting the red cloth he had placed on her almost reverently.

"Thank you, Yoh." She returned the smile.

In the whole time they had spent together, he saw her glaring, frowning or smirking. But this was the first time he saw her smile at him. It made his heart beat faster. He really tried to block these feelings, because he knew he would never have the chance to have her and call her as his. But the more time they spend together, the more he found himself falling deeper for her. Only God knew how good it felt calling her his just moments ago.

They would have kept their eye contact for eternity if it wasn't for the drumming sounds of horses' hooves.

Yoh listened carefully.

"They are on the main road." He whispered and without hesitation he took hold of Anna's hand as they started to run. They meandered through the narrow alleyways, looking for a spot to hide. They stopped in a dark spot, away from the lanterns and people, the sounds of footsteps coming nearer.

"They will walk over here." He murmured more to himself than to Anna.

"What should we do, Yoh?", She asked, breathless, trying to calm down her own raging heartbeat.

He pulled the hood of his cape over his head and turned to her.

"Please. You have to trust me now, Anna." It was easier said than done, but she had no choice and nodded.

In the darkest corner of the alley, he pressed her firmly against the wall and placed the red cloth over her head to cover her blond hair. She clutched to his yukata, wondering what his plan was. In the corner of her eyes she could see some guards walking past the small alley they were hiding in. But just when she thought it was over, a guard walked into the alley. Her grip on his Yukata tightened and she looked up, hoping Yoh would know a way out.

The Samurai just smiled down at her.

"Trust me."

Those were his last words before he bent down to press his lips on hers.

xxx What an ending you guys!~ Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! R&R Pls ^-^ So, I know you guys want more~

shout out to my beta reader Fruitysmellz! for taking the time to correct any grammar mistakes! Thank you so much bruh!

At this point Yoh and anna will get really close... if you know what I mean 7u7

Stay tuned friends xxx