challenge
this is a fic i wrote to answer a challenge called mask(s).....it is an AU onehshot...propably the longest oneshot i've ever wrote but since LJ says that the entry is too large i'm gonna put in in two parts....this is the first part.......if you like it i'll post the second one
Summary: A masked hero arrives to rid the village of an evil lord Kaoru finds herself falling in love with the man behind the mask. Who is he? Can they ever be together? Come for the magic, mystery, thrills, and romance, An AU fic.
The warm scent of magic and fresh cut grass surrounded the air, as young woman no older than 18 years of age sat in a crimson rocking chair on the porch of her medium sized house. She watched the cherry blossoms take their annual fall to the ground. The wind playing with her long raven hair tied up in a high ponytail. Her name was Kaoru Kamiya, an ordinary girl with an ordinary life living in an ordinary village that was located in meadow next to the Twin Mountains, ruled by a powerful yet cruel lord.
Kaoru sighed remembering how cruelly Lord Raijuta treated the villagers. He used his wealth and his skills in magic to force himself in command and he made the people pay taxes regardless of their age, gender or occupation. The men worked in his gold mines and their pay was just barely enough to buy a loaf of bread and a small bucket of water and anyone who dared to complain or come against lord Raijuta, would be first be choked to death slowly and painfully by one of Raijuta death spells then hung his body in the town square as a reminder to anyone who would even think of stepping forth.
Until one day, Kaoru had laid her eyes on the bravest man to have ever lived in her village. He wasn’t the tallest man she had seen, only a bit taller than herself, and he wore a white hakama with a black gi. His hair was the most beautiful shade of red tied in a low ponytail at the nape of his neck and cascaded to his waist. His face however was unknown.
He wore a mask, a black mask to be precise, and it covered his entire face save the eye holes. She always had been curious about the colors of his eyes, but up until now, she had never caught glimpse of them. Kaoru’s mind began to remember the first time the red head hero cam to appose Raijuta.
Flashback
Kaoru was on her weekly grocery shopping trip when a loud crash startled her; she turned towards the noise only to find Raijuta on his black horse towering over a man in his late twenties. Kaoru slowly began to walk closer to them, trying to hear what was going on.
“You dare steal from the great Raijuta, do you have a death wish?” yelled one of guards as he slapped the poor man. He tried to get up but the guards yanked him back under Raijuta’s horse.
“Please my lord……..I only wanted to get some medicines for my mother….she is gravely ill and-”
“SILENCE” yelled Raijuta cutting off the poor man “you will die now” he raised his hand held it his palm towards the man’s neck.
The choking spell, no….I won’t allow this to happen….someone has to stand up to them” thought Kaoru as she stepped in between the man and Raijuta, not thinking of the consequences that might follow.
“Stop this” she yelled stopping Raijuta from completing the spell.
“What is this? Get out of the way girl” yelled Raijuta
“No…this has to stop….I won’t allow you to inflict more pain to the villagers……obviously why this man had to resort to stealing is because of the low wages you give and the high taxes you charge...how do you expect them to live” she said standing firm in her position.
“Oh and you are going to stop me? Don’t make me laugh” laughed Raijuta; soon a crowd began to form around the scene.
“I may not be strong enough to beat you…..I may not have enough magic to stop you…..but I do know that someone has to stand up to you sooner or later” she yelled.
“Then so be it……..you will die with him” said Raijuta murmuring a spell
Kaoru was suddenly lifted off the ground and was hung a few feet in midair, she hands went around an invisible rope wrapped around her neck to prevent it from strangling her, but she could already feel her strength weakening as the rope tightened around her neck, but she felt no regrets, no sadness, just happiness that she is going to die trying to help one of her villagers people.
The next thing she knew, a blur of red and black appeared in front of her then suddenly the rope around her neck broke loose and she began to fall back to the ground. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact. It never came; instead she felt a pair of strong arms around her, preventing her from her fall. She heard some gasps from the crowd and slowly lifted he eyes to gaze upon her savior.
Red hair, muscular body, a sword in his belt, and his arms wrapped around her and carrying her in bridal style, Kaoru blushed as she felt his warmth emitting from beneath the black gi he was wearing. The only thing she didn’t see was his face concealed in his black mask. They were still flouting a few feet in the air and Kaoru guessed that he must have used a levitation spell to do it.
“Are you alright?” the stranger asked her huskily.
“Ummm……yes….but….who are you?” she answered as he lowered them back to earth and set her back on her feet.
“A friend” he simply answered turning his attention to Raijuta. “Please stay back Miss….this could get dangerous”
“Who the hell are you?” yelled Raijuta
“They call me Battousai….and I am the man who will make an end to your filthy days as a ruler here”
“Battousai? That sounds like a nickname….I wonder who he really is” thought Kaoru as she began to head back into the front of the crowd as Battousai told her so.
“You? I would like to see you try…attack me if you could” challenged Raijuta climbing down from his horse.
“With pleasure” said Battousai before suddenly disappearing from sight.
Kaoru gasped as she tried to search the whereabouts of Battousai, she knew that he had used magic make himself disappear like that. A very powerful form of magic, even more powerful that Raijuta.
The next thing she knew, Raijuta was pinned to the ground with 6 ninja stars that had appeared on his clothing after he was hit from behind by Battousai with the dull side of the sword he was carrying.
“Damn it……what are you?” cursed Raijuta.
“As I said before……my name is Battousai….and I will be protecting these people and give them the justice they deserve…..so know this Raijuta…for as long as I am alive I will never allow you to hurt these people ever again,” said Battousai as he disappeared from sight.
End of flashback
And from that instant Kaoru found herself longing for Battousai’s appearances everyday, which he always did whenever Raijuta tried anything towards the villagers. As always he manages to save the day, becoming very popular among the people. Whenever he appeared there was always a crowd cheering him on and Kaoru was always in front of those crowds.
One day during one of matches with Raijuta, one of the guards was able to injure battousai’s right arm and Kaoru realized that she was afraid for him; afraid that he might loose. But he was able to heal himself in time with a quick healing potion he carried.
After that day, Kaoru discovered that she had fallen in love with him, attracted to his muscular form and adored his braveness and his belief in fighting for others even though it would be his death if he was ever captured.
“His mask” how she longed to gaze at the face behind the mask, to see what he looked like, how his features were, how he looks like when he smiles, oh the possibilities.
Though his mask hid his identity, Kaoru felt that to more than that, she could see it whenever he’s in a battle. The want to live a normal life but cannot put down his duty to protect others, and guilt of what, she doesn’t know.
Kaoru suddenly remembered that she promised her friend Tae she would pick up some groceries for her since she is too busy with her new twin sons.
She walked into her room and changed into a crimson kimono with gold dragons embedded in it, tied her hair in a crimson ribbon then murmured a spell to place a light blush on her cheeks and thin eyeliner. She wasn’t an expert in magic, quite the opposite; she could only do simple practical spells that are little things compared with other spells. She grabbed her basket and headed towards the market place.
K
N
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Kaoru placed her purchases inside the basket, which already contains other food supplies.
“That was my last stop…..I’ll go over to Tae right now and give her a hand with the babies” she thought as she began to walk towards her friends house when she noticed two senior citizens down on their knees in front of none other than Raijuta himself.
“Please my lord, I promise that I will pay the taxes fully next week” the old man begged.
“I won’t take them.”
“What” the old man, woman and Kaoru were surprised with that statement.
“There isn’t really much point is there…you already look half dead anyway so I will just go ahead and end your miserable life” said Raijuta as he began to raise his arm to use a double chock spell when from out of nowhere, a medium sized pot came flying towards his hand, disturbing the spell
“Battousai? You dare challenge me again? Where are you?” yelled Raijuta as he began to scan the crowd for the masked samurai.
“Battousai isn’t here…I was the one who threw the pot” said Kaoru stepping forth from the crowd.
“You again…I remember you from last month, when the Battousai first came out”
“You’ve stooped to a whole new level Raijuta….harassing old citizens now...I won’t allow you to touch them.”
“And how are going to stop me”
“I will pay for their taxes…how much do they owe you?”
Raijuta stared at the brave woman in front of him, as a thought passed his mind; he smirked as he began to advance towards her.
“So you will pay?”
“Yes…..what is he price for their taxes?” she asked.
“You want to know? I tell you” he said as he grasped her chin and wrist and whispered his price in her ear.
“WHAT?” yelled Kaoru; there is no way she is going to do that.
“You know you’re a pretty one and feisty…..I’m sure going to have fun with you” said Raijuta as he tightened his hold on her wrist.
“Let me go…I am not a whore”
“You will be when I’m done with you” said Raijuta as tried to yank her towards his horse but Kaoru kicked him in the groin making him release her.
But before could get far, Raijuta yelled out a spell, which resulted in chains wrapped around Kaoru’s wrists and neck while the other part was in Raijuta’s hands.
“Now maybe you will cooperate” said Raijuta as he roughly began to tug on the chain making Kaoru follow behind him.
“Let me go” said Kaoru as she tried to struggle but with no use.
“Please sir, she doesn’t have anything to do with this let her go” begged the old woman.
“Silence…..a deal’s a deal….she shouldn’t have butted in from the first place” yelled Raijuta as he continued to drag Kaoru away.
“Please help me”
The chain suddenly snapped by a sword from what Kaoru was make out, the sudden release made Kaoru fall back to the ground and bum her head, making her loss consciousness.
i hope you liked it....tell me if you want me to continue
^_^