Akiko stared despairingly at the spinning wheel sitting next to an intimidating pile of straw. How in the world was she supposed to turn that into gold? Who came up with that ridiculous story? Well, whoever did got her stuck in the wicked queen's highest tower, door locked from dusk until dawn
(
Read more... )
The violence of the maneuver would be quite at odds with the skinny youth strolling on in, pushing some of his thick blue hair from his face, gaze turning around the room until it alighted on her. His eyes widened the tiniest bit- the rumours of her beauty had not been exaggerated.
"Miss?" he said, simply, voice accented with something from a faraway land. "Here to rescue you."
Reply
"Ah, what? You're here to...are you hurt?" she asked, noticing the blood on his sword and the rips in his clothing.
Reply
...he said, while bleeding. Minato does seem to be gripping onto his sword arm with his other on the approach, stopping in front of Akiko. The boy glanced around a bit before taking up a fold of cloth from a nearly table, wiping his sword clean before returning it to its sheath with a metallic click.
Minato extended his hand to her now, a gesture of placation; she could be safe with him, it seemed to promise. Her escape was at hand.
"We need to go."
Reply
"I'm ready."
Reply
There's the tiniest smile again, before his face hardens again into the expression needed to hold himself in battle. All pain ignored for now - freeing this woman was more important, no matter what else was going on - he began to lead her out and down that long, long stairwell. She'd get to see exactly how possible escape was when the backup retinue of guards started their attack, intent on recapturing her; for every large, bulky guard recklessly charging in false confidence, Minato showed exactly how important skill was.
His blade span and swung, sending heavy boots to their stomachs, sending guards tumbling back down the stairs as they came. Each hit to himself was borne stoically, free hand coming back again and again to clasp hers every time they had a free bundle of moments. Might have been more than thoughts of golden reward in his head, each time he glanced back at how well that peasant dress accentuated her curves...but that was for later. Now was escape time.
Reply
But she was quite a lucky woman that he had decided to come save her. She acknowledged that to herself, gratefully squeezing his hand each time it was taken. Each time she saw him hit, she hissed in a breath, planning on giving him whatever he wanted if they got free of this. Including first aid.
Reply
"Still unhurt?"
Reply
Reply
Hurt and bleeding, certainly; definitely bruised up. But if he could still stand, that meant he could still defend her. Minato's ears are pricked for more danger, but that sixth sense that kept an adventurer one step ahead of death told him that they were safe for now.
His gaze flicked down to her body too, but only for a second in the inappropriate way, remembering himself. Her face was just as bewitching as her body, he found, having to pause for a moment just to take in her beauty. Only then could he nod an answer, accepting the thanks silently.
"My pleasure."
Reply
"We should get out of the town. I'm sure the queen knows by now what happened," she suggested, trying her best to cover up the blush rising in her cheeks.
Reply
With a flush on her cheeks, it was even more difficult to resist the urge to kiss her, right then and there. Minato could definitely feel things growing tighter down there, but simply took a long, composing breath; not here, where she had lain captive for who knew how long. The boy simply took her hands, clasping both with his own, and looking her right in the eye.
"You'll be safe with me. Promise."
Reply
"I know. I trust you," she said earnestly, the sword roughened hands warm around her own, making her shiver a bit. It had been cold up in that tower. "Please, let's go there."
Reply
Nothing left to do but leave that place, then, and disappear into the back-roads of the land. Thankfully, the journey would take less than a day, Minato keeping on high alert the entire time. As much as he could, anyway, with this lady next to him- no guards were following them, at the least. He almost dared to hope that he'd actually killed every single one of them, sent a message to the evil queen that this sort of villainy would not be tolerated.
The safe haven turned out to be a small roadside inn, owned by old friends that he'd made thanks to other assorted heroics. The pair would enter just after night fell, through the back, coming up to a hidden room of Minato's; but for a bed, a chair and desk, and a rack of swords, the room was almost entirely bare.
"Here. Make yourself comfortable."
Reply
"Thank you again," she murmured, watching him as well as taking in the simple room. "What's your name?"
Reply
Once it was bare, it was clear just how hard battle had been on him. There were no heavy wounds, the boy too agile and learned in the ways of battle to get hit much, but bruises and lightly bleeding wounds were evident all over his chest. He examined his tunic, wrinkled his nose a moment, then tossed it into the trash.
"And you're Aoshika Akiko."
Reply
"I'll make you a new one," she murmured, nodding at the disposed tunic. "How did you know my name?"
Reply
Leave a comment