Chapter 7: Life of Fear

The darkness already covered the blue sky as we, mostly me carrying the princess, walked through the frosty forest. It was already getting cold, and to tell you the truth, I don't know how long can I carry the hime. My feet is already hurt, my wounds are still healing up, tired, and sleepy. Basically, I'm already at my exhaustion. Luckily at the distance, a flicker of torches and lights can be seen.

Finally, a town. It look quite a popular town. The house and stores are build with stones, a stone wall surrounding it, and few guards are station. Seems like a protected place I might say. Even at night there were lots of people going here and there, but if you look closely most of them are either guards, townsmen or mercenaries, and maybe a few 'pay-girls' walking around the street.

Most shops are closed, except for the bars, which is quite understandable, brothel, which is also quite understandable given the fact that it function mostly on night time and some inn. A place that we quite needed. I entered one of the inn, I think that's not quite crowded with drunkard men looking for some room for god knows what to do with it. A place that's quite decent.

Well I found one, it's nothing special with it, just a simple inn and a bar, which only few people drink. The lady who was behind the counter bar, has white as a snow hair that reach right down to her knee, and calm, warm smile and a calm demeanor.

"How my I help you?" she ask as she said down the glass she was wiping and greeted me.

"I would like to have a room for both of us please" I said with a tired and worn out voice. I was tired, exhausted to be exact, my legs feels like giving out, my back is hurting and I feel like the wounds in me are opening up.

I guessed my voice really gave out a lot, because I can see in her eyes the worried looked she giving me. I only gave her a weak smile, understanding what I meant she quickly brought out a log book and opened it.

"OK, My name is Haku Yowane, the owner of this inn, and your name would be?" she ask, waiting for it so it can be written at the log book.

"Kaito. Kaito Shion. And her name is Mei-" I was quickly stop to my thoughts, "-Mei Shion, my wife." I quickly averted. I'm sorry hime-sama, for this.

"Mhh..aaand done!" she finished up writing and quickly brought away the book and she grab one key and walked out of the counter, "please follow me, I would escort you into your room." she said as she walked in front of us as we follow up the stairs.

"This is your room and here's the key. Hope you enjoy your stay here" she said as she bow in front of me and went back downstairs. The room was... actually quite better than I expected, and window few of the moon, a bed made for two, and sofa and a coffee table in front. How can I say it, the ambiance of the room really is taken from the concept of a normal house from the western land.

I carefully laid the princess down the bed. Removed her shoes and the exterior clothes she was wearing, I didn't have indecent things in my head mind you, and covered her with a blanket. She looked really peaceful, it's like the thing she had suffered just went away. I don't know what the future holds for us now. No... I already knew what my future holds for me. To serve and protect hime-sama, even if I have to die doing it. Do I like it? Yes. It's an honored, to the clan I once serve and to the king I always and still believe.

I just hope that hime-sama can find what she want's to do. Because even if she went to the ends of the world, I will gladly followed. As her loyal protector.

'Meiko! Run! Save yourself! Leave me be and save yourself my dear, for you are my precious treasure!'

Those dreams, those nightmares. They will keep on haunting me. I know they will. I fled and leftmy family, my clan, my people, as they burn down. They will keep on haunting me, and I just know it. And yet I'm still scared of it. Even if I know, I'm still scared of it.

As I opened my eyes the only light I could see was the light from the moon. I was breathing hard, sweating, and my head hurts from those dreams that keeps on and on, relaying the horrible scene. Why wont it stop. Why?

My eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. I was laying on a soft bed, covered in a warm blanket. How did I get here? I remember being carry through the forest by- where is he? Where is that soldier, Kaito? I don't know why but I'm scared. Why do I feel like this? Without him...I'm scared. I don't want to be alone.

I weakly stand up, supporting myself from the edge of the bed. It was still dark, I still could see the whole room. Where are you Kaito? Please... Don't leave me alone. Please...

"Huh? Hime, your awake?" I heard the familiar voice from the darkness. "your still tired, hime. Please go back to the bed and rest some more hime" said the man from the darkness as I heard a footsteps come closer and closer to me until I feel a warm hands support my weak body and led me back to the bed.

He laid me down on the bed and softly said, "please rest some more hime." I felt his warm, gentle hand brush through my hair before it finally separated from me.

I don't want to be left alone again. I just don't, I'm scared. "...Kaito" I whisper, holding his hand before it left me. "Please don't-" I said looking right through his dark blue sky that shows the beautiful starry sky, "-leave me...I'm scared"

I felt his warm hand hold tightly, yet carefully, my hands as he kissed the back of it and smile warmly, "I will always be at your side, hime-sama." he soothed, "Just close your eyes hime-sama, you'll be alright. No one can hurt you now. Sleep and wake up, knowing I'll be next to you."

There at the moonlit night. In the time of darkness. I hold his hand as I fell asleep. No nightmares, no painful memory, no fear. I fell asleep. His warm, gentle hands, caress me to sleep.