O~ha Minna-chan! Well, I'm at it again. I was thinking about
the plot for this fic for a long time, and finally wrote it down....2
years later! ^^;; Well, let's all hope it was worth the wait, ne? ^_~
E-mail can go to: [email protected]
Flames can go to: I_Don'[email protected].
On with the show!
---------------------
Turn Back Time
1/?
PG-13
By Bunny-chan
---------------------
Serena Tsukino yawned and streached leasuerly at the sound of
her clock radio going off. The song that was playing at 9:15am that
morning was "Carry On My Way" by her favorite pop group SPEED. Climbing
out of bed, she turned up the volume and grabbing a hair brush proceeded
to sing along to the song and brush her hair. Serena had always had a
great voice, and she had been told more then once that she should have
tired out at Okinawa Acting and Music School*. Her musical voice was a
perfect match to Eriko and Hiroko* and she danced along to the music
watching herself in her full length mirror.
When the song finished Serena had decided on her outfit of choice, black,
low riding, jeans, a pale pink tank-top with spagetti straps, and black
boots that went up to mid-calf. As the announcer called out the weather,
a balmy +25C Serena pulled her shiny honey-blond hair back into to long
pig-tails and then twisted them into her trade mark buns and 'tails'.
Another song came on the radio, SPEED again, "Starting Over".
Serena smiled, as she sang along, and clasped a silver heart locket
around her neck. Two pairs of silver studs in each ear completed the look.
Applying a little lipstick and some silvery eyeshadow, she blew herself a
kiss in the mirror, then grabbed her black bag and keys, and hurried out
of her aprtment to catch her bus.
When the elevator doors opened, Takashi-san, the doorman of Crystal Towers
waved to her and bid her a good day. Smiling she thanked him, then saw
her bus pull away from the curb...
"Oh no!!! YAMATE~~!!!" She hollered after the evil bus driver,
"STOP!", and ran down the street after the departing vehical. When he
didn't, she glared at him, and silently hoped that he would get a flat tire,
a ticket, anything....the baka....
Just then the bus pulled over to the curb about 2 blocks down. Running,
Serena caught up to it and flashed her pass at the driver, glaring at him.
"You know Henry, just once you could have a heart and not make
me jump for the bus as you drive it down the street!!"
"That day, Serena 'Just 5 more minutes' Tsukino, will be the
day when you remember to set your alarm and not hit the snooze button
20 times." Henry said good naturedly as Serena dropped herself onto
the seat nearest the door.
She smiled at him, "You know me too well, Henry J. Wilson." The
elderly bus driver laughed and they pulled into traffic.
****
"Oops! That's my stop!" Serena called, pulling the 'stop line' that
hung hear the ceiling of the bus,
"See you later Henry!" She yelled as she jumped off the last step
and ran into the park. Glancing at her watch again, Serena let out a
frusterated cry. It was 11:15am.
"And I thought that having an 11:30am job was so nice because
I'd 'never be late'...." She grumbled to herself putting on an extra
burst of speed. Maybe, if she ran really fast, she could cover the 10
blocks in time.
As Serena raced through the park, something changed. It wasn't
really noticable...the air grew cooler for a few seconds...and the sun
seemed to glow brighter....but then it returned to normal....or--
Serena skidded to a stop. The park looked different somehow. She
glanced around. Nothing that looked really obvious, but still something...
She climbed what she had thought was the last hill before she
hit down town Tokyo again, and stopped short. Before her were what
looked to be unending hills and vallys. Serena spun around thinking
that she would see the other end of Tokyo Central Park, after all, she
was on top of 'Look Out Point', the tallest hill in the park. Instead
the same hills and vallys greeted her. Her heart started to beat faster.
"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore...." Serena whispered to herself,
trying to calm her breathing. A short ways away, she could hear running
water, and she cautiously started toward it. At the top of the next hill,
she crouched down, in the tall grass, and peared down what she had discovered
to be a bright blue river. She found her gaze suddenly locked, not at the
sight of water, but at the person down beside it.
The man looked to be in his early 20's and had silky looking black
hair. His hair, however, was notwhat captivated her. It was the fact that
he was bending down to drink thewater clad in only a pair of black trousers
and tall black boots. His otherclothing was in a pile beside him and a horse
was grazing nearby. Serena tried to turn away, but the sight of a well toned,
tanned, half naked man is hardly something one can look away from easily.
Not sure if she wanted to risk going down to talk with the strange
man right away, and posative that her nail file, her only 'weapon' at the
moment, wouldn't do any good for protection, Serena started to back quietly
down the hill to look for a solid walking stick. However, Serea misjudged
her next step and the next moment found her tumbling down the hill, a startled
cry escaping her lips..
****
The man at the water looked up, then, deciding that he had heard
nothing, bent back down to drink again.
****
Serena cursed herself for making any noise, and waited nervously,
sure that the man would be at the top of the small hill in seconds. Seconds
passed and nothing happened. She breathed a silent sigh of relief and
continued on through the knee high grass looking for a stick. Spotting one
several meters away, Serena hurried forward, jumping across the rocks that
blocked her way. But....not having grown out of her childhood klutzyness,
Serena caught her foot in a crevice between 2 rocks and fell heavily into
the dirt, biting her lip hard in an effort not to yelp in surprise and pain.
Her foot throbbed painfully.
"Just great," she muttered, "What else could happen?" A low rattle
sounded to her right. Serena froze, twisting her body so that she could look
over her right shoulder. Not 6 feet away, a black and yellow rattle snake was
coiled, it's beady eyes unblinking.
Not caring anymore, Serena opened her mouth wide and let loose a
bloodcurling scream.
"Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!"
****
The man at the water jerked around. Now he was sure that he had heard
something. Wiping his face on his tunic, he dropped it back on the sand, grabbed
his sword, and ran up the hill. Just down the other side he could see a girl,
somewhere in her teenage years, laying on the ground. Off to her right, he could
see a rattler poised, ready to strike at any moment. Mind and body working
automatically, he ran foward and let loose a battle cry, ment to distract the
snake, echoing off the rocks as he closed the distance between the snake and
himself and jumped forward ready to hack it's head off.
****
Serena twisted around the opposite way from the snake, at the sound of
a man's shouting, an found the man from the river flying through the air, a
deadly looking sword held in front of him, and heading right for her!!!
With another cry of fear, Serena flung her arms over her head, flattening
herself to the ground, and contemplated which was the worse way to die, by snake
bite or by beheading. Neither appealed to her, and she prayed feverently that this
was all just a nightmare, and she would wake up before either one could hurt her.
****
Slicing the snake in half, the man landed on one knee, with his sword
pointing left, his hands clasping the handle expertly. The wind blew the bangs
of his hair slightly as he got to his feet and turned to look at her. Serena
heard his feet hit the ground, and breathed a sigh of relief to find her head
still intact. She peeked through her arms at him. He was standing and staring
at her. Ok, now she was really freaked out. Where on Earth did people carry
swords now days??? Where was she, somewhere in the Twilight Zone???
"Are you alright Miss?" the man asked, his voice deep and sexy. Serena
tore her eyes from his perfect 6 pack abs and slowly removed her arms from her
head. When she didn't answer, the man took a step toward her, his expression
concerned.
"Are you alright, did it bite you?" he asked again.
Serena finally found her voice, and stared up him with impossibly wide eyes.
"Alight?" she said softly at first, her voice rising as she continued,
"Alight?! Aside from the fact that a snake nearly bit my head off, my foot's
stuck in these blasted rocks, I'm lost, alone, and a man --who bares a striking
resemblence to my childhood tormenter-- is pointing a sharp sword at my throat,
I'm fine!!!" She yelled up at him, her vioce boardering on hystaria.
The man glanced at his sword, which he was holding only slightly forward,
and sheathed it.
"My apologies Miss." he said, without emotion, as he walked over to where
she lay and as gently as possible removed the offending rocks from off of her
right foot.
Serena carefully pulled her leg toward her body, trying not to wince at
the pain that her ankel was giving her. Sucking in her breath sharply, she bit
her lip and tried to stop the tears that rushed to her eyes. She wasn't crying
from the pain....not really....it was more from the reality of the situation.
The man looked at her uncomfortably for a moment, but didn't move to do anything.
Hot tears spilled down Serena's cheeks and she lowered her head trying
not to let him see her distress. He stepped toward her again and held out his
hand.
"Can you stand?"
Swallowing hard, Serena blinked rapidly and tried to stop crying.
Then she reached out a shaky hand to his and he clasped it and pulled her
to her feet. However, the moment that she applied pressure to her injered
foot, she gasped in pain and fell forward, unbalenced.
Startled at the girls sudden movement, the young man took half a
step forward and caught her against his chest before she could fall to the
ground.
Serena cried out from the trobbing pain in her right ankel, and
stiffened as she fell into the arms of the handsome young stranger.
"I guess not." He said, a smile in his vioce. He didn't losen
his hold on her any, rather, held her gently and shifted his position
so that she was sort of laying in the crook of his left arm, his right
arm across her waist and holding her hip securely.
Serena blushed hotly when he made no move to release her, and fel
t her body start to shake. This man both terrified and intrigued her.
"Who are you?" she asked softly, her hands splayed over his chest,
if she moved an inch she would upset the balence and slip from his grasp.
"It is I that should be asking you that question, child." he replied,
his expressoin clouded as he searched her eyes.
Serena felt her pride sting. Child? She certainly was not!! Narrowing
her eyes she glared up at him and said cuttingly,
"I'm not a child. I'm 17 and a half !"
He was looking at her oddly. Finally he spoke,
"17? Then where is your husband?"
"Husband?" Serena repeated, now returning him an odd look of her
own, "I don't even have a boyfriend right now! Besides, I don't want to
get married yet."
"You're already 17 and haven't been married yet?" the man asked in
disbelief. "Didn't your Father arrange a suitable match for you?"
"Of course not!" Serena said ajitated, and pushed against his chest
uncomfortably, "If my Father had his way, no person of the opposite gender
would ever get near me, let alone marry me. Now please let me go."
He smirked at her, "And if I don't wish to?"
Serena felt her blood boiling, this man was soooo much like Darien!!!
"If you don't, then I will have to make you, jerk!" She snapped back.
She noticed the way the man's arms tensed around her body, and
pushed against his chest again. She could tell that he was annoyed with
her. She silently counted to 10, and when he had yet to let her go, she slid
a hand up his chest and reached up to his shoulder.
"I hope I'm right!" Serena prayed silently as she pressed her fingers
into his shoulder. She knew that there was pressure point around the inside
edge, near the neck.
"Ow!" The man yelped and his arms came back from around her abruptly.
Serena landed on the hard dirt with a startled cry herself. Instently
she was worried. The stranger had a sharp sword, rather useful for putting
big mouthed girls in their place, she thought with a shudder. White hot pain
shot through her ankel in protest of being smacked against the ground when the
man had dropped her.
He was glaring at her. Not good. Deffinetly not good. Serena swallowed
hard, and looked up at him. At least she knew that her knowledge of pressure
points was still good.
"You're sorely testing my patients, girl." He said, an edge to his voice.
Serena slowly stood, well aware that the man could back up any threats
he decided to make.
"Well, it's your own fault," She retorted, giving him a glare of her own,
"If you had let me go when I first asked, I wouldn't have had to hurt you!"
He raised an eyebrow at the younger girl standing before him; daring to
defie him yet! Well her little trick had given him cause to be startled, but it
certainly was no wheapon. She had a lot to learn if she was to survive in this part
of the country. Well, she was no longer his concern. He pointed toward his right.
"That way."
Serena looked at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Town's that way. I don't believe that you'll last the night, but, as of
this moment, I wash my hands of you."
Serena gaped at him as he turned and began to walk away. Then, doing her
beset not to fire off a few choice comments at the retreating back of "Mr. I'm
All That", Serena turned around, picked up her walking stick, and started to
navigate her way over the rocks in the direction that he had pointed.
****
As he watched the strange girl pick her way over the rocks toward the city
gates, the young man shook his head. She was immpossible. She was thick-headed.
She was beautiful. He mounted his horse and kicked it into a canter, heading in a
wide arc around her, by cover of a nearby forest, and headed back into the city. By
this point in the day, he knew that his father would want words with him, and he
guessed that he knew just what they would be discussing.
****
It was nearly dusk by the time the city finally came into view. Serena
noticed immediatly that she was dressed very different then the other women there.
They were all wearing dress for one thing, if not old fashioned, fairy-tale type
ones at that.
The poorer girls wore blooses and lace-up corest type vests, with long
skirts in solid colors like red, blue and green, the richer women wore silks and
satins, in numurous shades, had fancy feathered hats on their heads, and carried
umbrellas --er, parasols-- or delicate fans; more for decoration then for actual
purpose Serena supposed. The men all wore slacks with suspenders and plain shirts,
or fancy silk waistcoats and vests, accomanied by tall hats. Nobals, she assumed.
A young man wearing black pants, tall boots, and a white shirt with billowy
sleaves that laced half way up the front, gave her a look over as he passed. Serena
raised her eyebrow at him and continued walking. She had no idea how to get proper
clothes here, and had a feeling that the several 10,000 yen bills in her handbag
wouldn't cut it.
The sun had set by the time Serena had finished exploring the shops of the
village, and she neared the south gates. Over the tops of the trees, that grew
just outside them, she could see turets of a castle. Serena felt exausted. This
had been a long day, and she was hoping against hope that her fatigue was a sign
that she was only dreaming, yet again, and that if she were to 'go to sleep here'
she would, in the end, 'wake up there' and be back in her own bed. Figuring that
it was worth a shot, Serena curled up against a tree, just off the road and through
the gates, and was soon fast asleep.
****
"Endymoin!!!" the voice echoed off the palace walls and the young prince
sighed heavily as he unsaddled his horse.
"Endymoin! Where in Terra is that confounded son of yours???" the voice
came again, this time answered by a passive, if not some-what strained, famale
voice.
"Calm down, dear, he'll be back soon. Boys his age need their own space,
and you're certainly not helping him stay on the grounds with that temper of yours!!"
Endymoin smiled at his Mother's comment. She didn't know just how right she
was. Minutes later he entered the throan room. His Mother smiled at him and his
Father glared.
Noticing the straw in his hair and the dirt on his boots, King Omorious
stalked over to his son. Plucking a piece of straw off his head he glowered at
him,
"Conversing with the peasents again, Endymoin? How on earth am I going
to marry you to anyone if you refuse to act like your station requires?!"
The King spun around and stormed out of the room. Queen Vashti placed
her hand on Endymoin's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Darling, he's just in a bad mood. There's been another
uprising in the lower vally."
"It's always something, isn't it Mother?" Endymoin said. Then, kissing
her on the cheek, he turned to leave the room.
"Endymoin!!" She called out to him, her voice pained.
"Goodnight Mother, I wish the retire now, a future King needs his rest."
Thelast part was said with a certain sarcastic twinge, which the kindly Queen
didn't catch, or pretended not to hear.
Endymoin left quickly. Once in his room, he removed his armar, tunic, and
boots and streatched out on his bed clad in only his black pants and white laced
shirt. He sighed. What a day this had been.
****
Serena was somewhere between conciousness and deep slumber, but something
was bothering her. Slowly she dragged herself out of sleep and rubbed her eyes.
Something was very wrong. First of all, she wasn't in her room. Secondly, she
wasn't in a room at all, but outside. Thirdly, there were 3 very strong looking
young men standing in front of her. One was pawing through her backback, and the
other two were standing off to the side talking. The one standing to her left she
recognized as the young man that had been looking at her as she walked down the
street earlier. Serena sat up. She was -not- happy to be here.
"Excuse me, but it's very rude to go through someone's bag without their
permission." She said hotly.
The three men turned to look at her. Serena instantly wished that she
hadn't drawn attention to herself and tried to sneak away when they weren't looking.
The man in white leared down at her, then made an exagerated bow, nearly
falling on his face as he did so.
"My humblest aplogies, M'lady." He slured.
Serena realized then that all three of them were extremely drunk, in
fact, she could smell the alcohol radiating from their cloths and their breath
stank of it.
Serena stood slowly, cotemplating how likely she was to be ble to dash
past them safely. She knew that she could run faster sober then they could drunk,
but she didn't really see how much of a chance that she had of getting past them
in the first place. She had to try.
Serena found herself thinking sourly.
Gathering her courage, Seren faked to the left and then when the men started
to follow her movement, she pulled back and ran for the right. Seconds later, she
found herself on the ground with the familiar white clad man on top of her. Her heart
jumped up, firmly lodged itself in her throat, and neatly caused her breathing to
start coming in jerky gasps.
Serena closed her eyes.
The man's wieght was enough to pin her to the ground, and Serena shuddered
when his hands brushed agains the bare skin of her collerbone. Moments laters she
felt the straps of her tank top begin to be pushed down her arms.
Seerna thought, her mind scared, but determined. She
opened her eyes and nearly threw up. The man had just leaned down and kissed her
throat. She shuddered, but took a deep breath, forcing her heart back into its
proper place as he pressed his lips agains her own. Counting to 3 she let loose a
loud scream and, yanking her arm from his surprised grasp, Serena made to ram her
palm into his nose. However, she wasn't quite fast enough, and the drunk man was a
bit more in tune with what was happening then she had counted on. The next thing
she knew, the man had caught her wrist, then, holding it tightly, forced it back down.
Then, when she attempted to pull her other arm free, he hit her.
Serena felt her head recoil from the force of the man's hand on her face, and
lay back stunned for a few moments, not struggling at all. She felf her shirt being
pushed up and the cool breeze blew on her stomach. She closed her eyes again, her
head pounding, and prayed that she would pass out.
"Now, isn't 3 against 1 a little unfair, boys?" a voice broke her thoughts,
and Serena opened her eyes. She couldn't see the owner of the voice, but it wasn't
familiar.
Her attacker paid the new man no mind, and Serena cried out brokenly, tears
starting to slip down her cheeks, as she felt the mans's hands begin to invaid places
that they deffinetly weren't supposed to be.
Suddenly, he was yanked from her and Serena cried out again as his nails
scratched her arms and torso as he scambled for a hold on her. But the new man was
stronger and sober, which put him in a better position to deal then the drunk man.
Serena took in his uniform and concluded that he was some sort of law man.
While the uniformed man slugged her asultant and tied his hands behind him, Serena
noticed that the other two men had fled, evidently they had more sense then their
friend.
Moments later, the police man had secured her attacker to his saddle and was
walking back over to where Serena had sat, unmoving. She had rearranged her shirt and
pants back to a modest position and was watching him. He drapped his simple navy
cape over her shoulders then gathered her scattered things back into her bag before
handing it to her.
"Are you alright miss? Did he--"
Serena cut him off, "Th-thank-you so much Sir. I'm so greatful that you--
that you came...oh God..." She placed her hands over her face, her shoulders shaking
violently; tears coursing down her face.
____________________________________
Well, that's chapter 1! See ya soon! E-mail's at the top Folks! ^-^
the plot for this fic for a long time, and finally wrote it down....2
years later! ^^;; Well, let's all hope it was worth the wait, ne? ^_~
E-mail can go to: [email protected]
Flames can go to: I_Don'[email protected].
On with the show!
---------------------
Turn Back Time
1/?
PG-13
By Bunny-chan
---------------------
Serena Tsukino yawned and streached leasuerly at the sound of
her clock radio going off. The song that was playing at 9:15am that
morning was "Carry On My Way" by her favorite pop group SPEED. Climbing
out of bed, she turned up the volume and grabbing a hair brush proceeded
to sing along to the song and brush her hair. Serena had always had a
great voice, and she had been told more then once that she should have
tired out at Okinawa Acting and Music School*. Her musical voice was a
perfect match to Eriko and Hiroko* and she danced along to the music
watching herself in her full length mirror.
When the song finished Serena had decided on her outfit of choice, black,
low riding, jeans, a pale pink tank-top with spagetti straps, and black
boots that went up to mid-calf. As the announcer called out the weather,
a balmy +25C Serena pulled her shiny honey-blond hair back into to long
pig-tails and then twisted them into her trade mark buns and 'tails'.
Another song came on the radio, SPEED again, "Starting Over".
Serena smiled, as she sang along, and clasped a silver heart locket
around her neck. Two pairs of silver studs in each ear completed the look.
Applying a little lipstick and some silvery eyeshadow, she blew herself a
kiss in the mirror, then grabbed her black bag and keys, and hurried out
of her aprtment to catch her bus.
When the elevator doors opened, Takashi-san, the doorman of Crystal Towers
waved to her and bid her a good day. Smiling she thanked him, then saw
her bus pull away from the curb...
"Oh no!!! YAMATE~~!!!" She hollered after the evil bus driver,
"STOP!", and ran down the street after the departing vehical. When he
didn't, she glared at him, and silently hoped that he would get a flat tire,
a ticket, anything....the baka....
Just then the bus pulled over to the curb about 2 blocks down. Running,
Serena caught up to it and flashed her pass at the driver, glaring at him.
"You know Henry, just once you could have a heart and not make
me jump for the bus as you drive it down the street!!"
"That day, Serena 'Just 5 more minutes' Tsukino, will be the
day when you remember to set your alarm and not hit the snooze button
20 times." Henry said good naturedly as Serena dropped herself onto
the seat nearest the door.
She smiled at him, "You know me too well, Henry J. Wilson." The
elderly bus driver laughed and they pulled into traffic.
****
"Oops! That's my stop!" Serena called, pulling the 'stop line' that
hung hear the ceiling of the bus,
"See you later Henry!" She yelled as she jumped off the last step
and ran into the park. Glancing at her watch again, Serena let out a
frusterated cry. It was 11:15am.
"And I thought that having an 11:30am job was so nice because
I'd 'never be late'...." She grumbled to herself putting on an extra
burst of speed. Maybe, if she ran really fast, she could cover the 10
blocks in time.
As Serena raced through the park, something changed. It wasn't
really noticable...the air grew cooler for a few seconds...and the sun
seemed to glow brighter....but then it returned to normal....or--
Serena skidded to a stop. The park looked different somehow. She
glanced around. Nothing that looked really obvious, but still something...
She climbed what she had thought was the last hill before she
hit down town Tokyo again, and stopped short. Before her were what
looked to be unending hills and vallys. Serena spun around thinking
that she would see the other end of Tokyo Central Park, after all, she
was on top of 'Look Out Point', the tallest hill in the park. Instead
the same hills and vallys greeted her. Her heart started to beat faster.
"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore...." Serena whispered to herself,
trying to calm her breathing. A short ways away, she could hear running
water, and she cautiously started toward it. At the top of the next hill,
she crouched down, in the tall grass, and peared down what she had discovered
to be a bright blue river. She found her gaze suddenly locked, not at the
sight of water, but at the person down beside it.
The man looked to be in his early 20's and had silky looking black
hair. His hair, however, was notwhat captivated her. It was the fact that
he was bending down to drink thewater clad in only a pair of black trousers
and tall black boots. His otherclothing was in a pile beside him and a horse
was grazing nearby. Serena tried to turn away, but the sight of a well toned,
tanned, half naked man is hardly something one can look away from easily.
Not sure if she wanted to risk going down to talk with the strange
man right away, and posative that her nail file, her only 'weapon' at the
moment, wouldn't do any good for protection, Serena started to back quietly
down the hill to look for a solid walking stick. However, Serea misjudged
her next step and the next moment found her tumbling down the hill, a startled
cry escaping her lips..
****
The man at the water looked up, then, deciding that he had heard
nothing, bent back down to drink again.
****
Serena cursed herself for making any noise, and waited nervously,
sure that the man would be at the top of the small hill in seconds. Seconds
passed and nothing happened. She breathed a silent sigh of relief and
continued on through the knee high grass looking for a stick. Spotting one
several meters away, Serena hurried forward, jumping across the rocks that
blocked her way. But....not having grown out of her childhood klutzyness,
Serena caught her foot in a crevice between 2 rocks and fell heavily into
the dirt, biting her lip hard in an effort not to yelp in surprise and pain.
Her foot throbbed painfully.
"Just great," she muttered, "What else could happen?" A low rattle
sounded to her right. Serena froze, twisting her body so that she could look
over her right shoulder. Not 6 feet away, a black and yellow rattle snake was
coiled, it's beady eyes unblinking.
Not caring anymore, Serena opened her mouth wide and let loose a
bloodcurling scream.
"Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!"
****
The man at the water jerked around. Now he was sure that he had heard
something. Wiping his face on his tunic, he dropped it back on the sand, grabbed
his sword, and ran up the hill. Just down the other side he could see a girl,
somewhere in her teenage years, laying on the ground. Off to her right, he could
see a rattler poised, ready to strike at any moment. Mind and body working
automatically, he ran foward and let loose a battle cry, ment to distract the
snake, echoing off the rocks as he closed the distance between the snake and
himself and jumped forward ready to hack it's head off.
****
Serena twisted around the opposite way from the snake, at the sound of
a man's shouting, an found the man from the river flying through the air, a
deadly looking sword held in front of him, and heading right for her!!!
With another cry of fear, Serena flung her arms over her head, flattening
herself to the ground, and contemplated which was the worse way to die, by snake
bite or by beheading. Neither appealed to her, and she prayed feverently that this
was all just a nightmare, and she would wake up before either one could hurt her.
****
Slicing the snake in half, the man landed on one knee, with his sword
pointing left, his hands clasping the handle expertly. The wind blew the bangs
of his hair slightly as he got to his feet and turned to look at her. Serena
heard his feet hit the ground, and breathed a sigh of relief to find her head
still intact. She peeked through her arms at him. He was standing and staring
at her. Ok, now she was really freaked out. Where on Earth did people carry
swords now days??? Where was she, somewhere in the Twilight Zone???
"Are you alright Miss?" the man asked, his voice deep and sexy. Serena
tore her eyes from his perfect 6 pack abs and slowly removed her arms from her
head. When she didn't answer, the man took a step toward her, his expression
concerned.
"Are you alright, did it bite you?" he asked again.
Serena finally found her voice, and stared up him with impossibly wide eyes.
"Alight?" she said softly at first, her voice rising as she continued,
"Alight?! Aside from the fact that a snake nearly bit my head off, my foot's
stuck in these blasted rocks, I'm lost, alone, and a man --who bares a striking
resemblence to my childhood tormenter-- is pointing a sharp sword at my throat,
I'm fine!!!" She yelled up at him, her vioce boardering on hystaria.
The man glanced at his sword, which he was holding only slightly forward,
and sheathed it.
"My apologies Miss." he said, without emotion, as he walked over to where
she lay and as gently as possible removed the offending rocks from off of her
right foot.
Serena carefully pulled her leg toward her body, trying not to wince at
the pain that her ankel was giving her. Sucking in her breath sharply, she bit
her lip and tried to stop the tears that rushed to her eyes. She wasn't crying
from the pain....not really....it was more from the reality of the situation.
The man looked at her uncomfortably for a moment, but didn't move to do anything.
Hot tears spilled down Serena's cheeks and she lowered her head trying
not to let him see her distress. He stepped toward her again and held out his
hand.
"Can you stand?"
Swallowing hard, Serena blinked rapidly and tried to stop crying.
Then she reached out a shaky hand to his and he clasped it and pulled her
to her feet. However, the moment that she applied pressure to her injered
foot, she gasped in pain and fell forward, unbalenced.
Startled at the girls sudden movement, the young man took half a
step forward and caught her against his chest before she could fall to the
ground.
Serena cried out from the trobbing pain in her right ankel, and
stiffened as she fell into the arms of the handsome young stranger.
"I guess not." He said, a smile in his vioce. He didn't losen
his hold on her any, rather, held her gently and shifted his position
so that she was sort of laying in the crook of his left arm, his right
arm across her waist and holding her hip securely.
Serena blushed hotly when he made no move to release her, and fel
t her body start to shake. This man both terrified and intrigued her.
"Who are you?" she asked softly, her hands splayed over his chest,
if she moved an inch she would upset the balence and slip from his grasp.
"It is I that should be asking you that question, child." he replied,
his expressoin clouded as he searched her eyes.
Serena felt her pride sting. Child? She certainly was not!! Narrowing
her eyes she glared up at him and said cuttingly,
"I'm not a child. I'm 17 and a half !"
He was looking at her oddly. Finally he spoke,
"17? Then where is your husband?"
"Husband?" Serena repeated, now returning him an odd look of her
own, "I don't even have a boyfriend right now! Besides, I don't want to
get married yet."
"You're already 17 and haven't been married yet?" the man asked in
disbelief. "Didn't your Father arrange a suitable match for you?"
"Of course not!" Serena said ajitated, and pushed against his chest
uncomfortably, "If my Father had his way, no person of the opposite gender
would ever get near me, let alone marry me. Now please let me go."
He smirked at her, "And if I don't wish to?"
Serena felt her blood boiling, this man was soooo much like Darien!!!
"If you don't, then I will have to make you, jerk!" She snapped back.
She noticed the way the man's arms tensed around her body, and
pushed against his chest again. She could tell that he was annoyed with
her. She silently counted to 10, and when he had yet to let her go, she slid
a hand up his chest and reached up to his shoulder.
"I hope I'm right!" Serena prayed silently as she pressed her fingers
into his shoulder. She knew that there was pressure point around the inside
edge, near the neck.
"Ow!" The man yelped and his arms came back from around her abruptly.
Serena landed on the hard dirt with a startled cry herself. Instently
she was worried. The stranger had a sharp sword, rather useful for putting
big mouthed girls in their place, she thought with a shudder. White hot pain
shot through her ankel in protest of being smacked against the ground when the
man had dropped her.
He was glaring at her. Not good. Deffinetly not good. Serena swallowed
hard, and looked up at him. At least she knew that her knowledge of pressure
points was still good.
"You're sorely testing my patients, girl." He said, an edge to his voice.
Serena slowly stood, well aware that the man could back up any threats
he decided to make.
"Well, it's your own fault," She retorted, giving him a glare of her own,
"If you had let me go when I first asked, I wouldn't have had to hurt you!"
He raised an eyebrow at the younger girl standing before him; daring to
defie him yet! Well her little trick had given him cause to be startled, but it
certainly was no wheapon. She had a lot to learn if she was to survive in this part
of the country. Well, she was no longer his concern. He pointed toward his right.
"That way."
Serena looked at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Town's that way. I don't believe that you'll last the night, but, as of
this moment, I wash my hands of you."
Serena gaped at him as he turned and began to walk away. Then, doing her
beset not to fire off a few choice comments at the retreating back of "Mr. I'm
All That", Serena turned around, picked up her walking stick, and started to
navigate her way over the rocks in the direction that he had pointed.
****
As he watched the strange girl pick her way over the rocks toward the city
gates, the young man shook his head. She was immpossible. She was thick-headed.
She was beautiful. He mounted his horse and kicked it into a canter, heading in a
wide arc around her, by cover of a nearby forest, and headed back into the city. By
this point in the day, he knew that his father would want words with him, and he
guessed that he knew just what they would be discussing.
****
It was nearly dusk by the time the city finally came into view. Serena
noticed immediatly that she was dressed very different then the other women there.
They were all wearing dress for one thing, if not old fashioned, fairy-tale type
ones at that.
The poorer girls wore blooses and lace-up corest type vests, with long
skirts in solid colors like red, blue and green, the richer women wore silks and
satins, in numurous shades, had fancy feathered hats on their heads, and carried
umbrellas --er, parasols-- or delicate fans; more for decoration then for actual
purpose Serena supposed. The men all wore slacks with suspenders and plain shirts,
or fancy silk waistcoats and vests, accomanied by tall hats. Nobals, she assumed.
A young man wearing black pants, tall boots, and a white shirt with billowy
sleaves that laced half way up the front, gave her a look over as he passed. Serena
raised her eyebrow at him and continued walking. She had no idea how to get proper
clothes here, and had a feeling that the several 10,000 yen bills in her handbag
wouldn't cut it.
The sun had set by the time Serena had finished exploring the shops of the
village, and she neared the south gates. Over the tops of the trees, that grew
just outside them, she could see turets of a castle. Serena felt exausted. This
had been a long day, and she was hoping against hope that her fatigue was a sign
that she was only dreaming, yet again, and that if she were to 'go to sleep here'
she would, in the end, 'wake up there' and be back in her own bed. Figuring that
it was worth a shot, Serena curled up against a tree, just off the road and through
the gates, and was soon fast asleep.
****
"Endymoin!!!" the voice echoed off the palace walls and the young prince
sighed heavily as he unsaddled his horse.
"Endymoin! Where in Terra is that confounded son of yours???" the voice
came again, this time answered by a passive, if not some-what strained, famale
voice.
"Calm down, dear, he'll be back soon. Boys his age need their own space,
and you're certainly not helping him stay on the grounds with that temper of yours!!"
Endymoin smiled at his Mother's comment. She didn't know just how right she
was. Minutes later he entered the throan room. His Mother smiled at him and his
Father glared.
Noticing the straw in his hair and the dirt on his boots, King Omorious
stalked over to his son. Plucking a piece of straw off his head he glowered at
him,
"Conversing with the peasents again, Endymoin? How on earth am I going
to marry you to anyone if you refuse to act like your station requires?!"
The King spun around and stormed out of the room. Queen Vashti placed
her hand on Endymoin's shoulder.
"I'm sorry Darling, he's just in a bad mood. There's been another
uprising in the lower vally."
"It's always something, isn't it Mother?" Endymoin said. Then, kissing
her on the cheek, he turned to leave the room.
"Endymoin!!" She called out to him, her voice pained.
"Goodnight Mother, I wish the retire now, a future King needs his rest."
Thelast part was said with a certain sarcastic twinge, which the kindly Queen
didn't catch, or pretended not to hear.
Endymoin left quickly. Once in his room, he removed his armar, tunic, and
boots and streatched out on his bed clad in only his black pants and white laced
shirt. He sighed. What a day this had been.
****
Serena was somewhere between conciousness and deep slumber, but something
was bothering her. Slowly she dragged herself out of sleep and rubbed her eyes.
Something was very wrong. First of all, she wasn't in her room. Secondly, she
wasn't in a room at all, but outside. Thirdly, there were 3 very strong looking
young men standing in front of her. One was pawing through her backback, and the
other two were standing off to the side talking. The one standing to her left she
recognized as the young man that had been looking at her as she walked down the
street earlier. Serena sat up. She was -not- happy to be here.
"Excuse me, but it's very rude to go through someone's bag without their
permission." She said hotly.
The three men turned to look at her. Serena instantly wished that she
hadn't drawn attention to herself and tried to sneak away when they weren't looking.
The man in white leared down at her, then made an exagerated bow, nearly
falling on his face as he did so.
"My humblest aplogies, M'lady." He slured.
Serena realized then that all three of them were extremely drunk, in
fact, she could smell the alcohol radiating from their cloths and their breath
stank of it.
Serena stood slowly, cotemplating how likely she was to be ble to dash
past them safely. She knew that she could run faster sober then they could drunk,
but she didn't really see how much of a chance that she had of getting past them
in the first place. She had to try.
Serena found herself thinking sourly.
Gathering her courage, Seren faked to the left and then when the men started
to follow her movement, she pulled back and ran for the right. Seconds later, she
found herself on the ground with the familiar white clad man on top of her. Her heart
jumped up, firmly lodged itself in her throat, and neatly caused her breathing to
start coming in jerky gasps.
Serena closed her eyes.
The man's wieght was enough to pin her to the ground, and Serena shuddered
when his hands brushed agains the bare skin of her collerbone. Moments laters she
felt the straps of her tank top begin to be pushed down her arms.
Seerna thought, her mind scared, but determined. She
opened her eyes and nearly threw up. The man had just leaned down and kissed her
throat. She shuddered, but took a deep breath, forcing her heart back into its
proper place as he pressed his lips agains her own. Counting to 3 she let loose a
loud scream and, yanking her arm from his surprised grasp, Serena made to ram her
palm into his nose. However, she wasn't quite fast enough, and the drunk man was a
bit more in tune with what was happening then she had counted on. The next thing
she knew, the man had caught her wrist, then, holding it tightly, forced it back down.
Then, when she attempted to pull her other arm free, he hit her.
Serena felt her head recoil from the force of the man's hand on her face, and
lay back stunned for a few moments, not struggling at all. She felf her shirt being
pushed up and the cool breeze blew on her stomach. She closed her eyes again, her
head pounding, and prayed that she would pass out.
"Now, isn't 3 against 1 a little unfair, boys?" a voice broke her thoughts,
and Serena opened her eyes. She couldn't see the owner of the voice, but it wasn't
familiar.
Her attacker paid the new man no mind, and Serena cried out brokenly, tears
starting to slip down her cheeks, as she felt the mans's hands begin to invaid places
that they deffinetly weren't supposed to be.
Suddenly, he was yanked from her and Serena cried out again as his nails
scratched her arms and torso as he scambled for a hold on her. But the new man was
stronger and sober, which put him in a better position to deal then the drunk man.
Serena took in his uniform and concluded that he was some sort of law man.
While the uniformed man slugged her asultant and tied his hands behind him, Serena
noticed that the other two men had fled, evidently they had more sense then their
friend.
Moments later, the police man had secured her attacker to his saddle and was
walking back over to where Serena had sat, unmoving. She had rearranged her shirt and
pants back to a modest position and was watching him. He drapped his simple navy
cape over her shoulders then gathered her scattered things back into her bag before
handing it to her.
"Are you alright miss? Did he--"
Serena cut him off, "Th-thank-you so much Sir. I'm so greatful that you--
that you came...oh God..." She placed her hands over her face, her shoulders shaking
violently; tears coursing down her face.
____________________________________
Well, that's chapter 1! See ya soon! E-mail's at the top Folks! ^-^