♦⊱ Chapter 20 - Escape ⊰♦

This chapter is dedicated to reavenprincess! Happy reading!

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Ruka pov:

I was lost in thought as I walked behind Tomo kun to my 'room' after a long and tiring dinner, him holding one hand and me clasping my guitar in the other. Well, dinner itself wasn't tiring but all the commotion and fussing after had drained me of energy. I barely concentrated on any conversation after playing my guitar for I was uneasy and feeling guilty. I was afraid that I had almost no chance of escaping and I felt bad for being the reason for Akari's sadness.

When we reached my room, I waited silently for Tomo kun to leave so I could just wallow in self-pity and misery. However, my wish was far from being granted immediately.

"Why did you try to push me away when I kissed you?" he asked, making me look at him.

His gaze was narrow, almost like a glare. I had to resist from flinching back. I swallowed thickly, averting my eyes. I couldn't bring myself to tell him that I actually disliked it – I was worried that he would get angry and yell at me or, in worst cases, hurt me.

"T-there were so many people watching...and the smell of sake was too strong..." I answered lamely.

He was silent for a few minutes before he stepped up to me and lifted my face with a hand on my chin. I met his eyes, cringing at the mischievous spark in them. "You're adorable when you're shy."

My heart ached and my eyes stung when I recalled the kiss he had forced on me. I felt even more wistful when he brought me into an embrace that felt so strange – Tomo kun had become stronger but he wasn't as well built as Kichiro sama so his embrace wasn't as...warm. I closed my eyes as Tomo kun caressed my head and I recalled all the tender moments I had had with Kichiro sama. The numerous times we had held hands, that I had sat in his lap, that he had held me when we slept, the gentle way he ran his fingers through my hair and traced the back of his fingers on my cheek...I remembered it all so clearly, yearned for it so desperately.

My heart picked up speed as I opened my eyes while wondering why I was thinking about him so much. I gripped Tomo kun's clothes tightly in my fists as realization hit me like a ton of bricks. In the time I had been trying my best to show him affection, to give him a little of what he should have had as a child, as a human, I had fallen in love with him. I had fallen in love with the stern, cold, cruel man who was actually an innocent, lonely child inside, a child yearning for love, yearning for someone to see him as something besides the ruthless ruler he had to be to keep everything in his empire running smoothly.

It was because I was in love with him that I missed his warmth, his strong hold, his kind gestures towards me...everything.

I hadn't pushed Tomo kun away before merely because I didn't like it or was embarrassed – I had pushed him away because it was wrong. When I loved Kichiro sama, how could I possible be okay with kissing someone else? It was as if I was cheating on Kichiro sama!

I returned to the present when Tomo kun pulled out of the embrace. I didn't look at his face – I couldn't because I knew my real feelings now. I couldn't bear to look at him knowing that he saw me with emotions I could never return.

He made me look at him though and kissed me softly. I tensed and clenched my fists so tightly that they hurt. My heart hurt and my eyes stung when he pressed harder against my lips, silently expecting me to return it. I did, as convincingly as I could, and he pulled away when I whimpered as he slid my yukata a little off my shoulder. He was smiling but also breathing heavily. However, his expression turned to one of shock when he saw the tears that had welled in my eyes. He wiped them off gently, ran his hands through my hair and then cupped my face to touch the redness of my cheeks that had risen not from his kiss but the fluster I felt for realizing my feelings towards Kichiro sama.

"I'm sorry, Ruka, it's just that it's so hard for me to resist when I'm around you," he said gently, pulling up my yukata. "I'm very eager for these three days to pass."

I swallowed thickly. Was he really so desperate to claim me as his? No...I didn't want that to happen. I couldn't let it happen! I had to do something to prevent this wedding from happening!

"I-I need to prepare...I'm just nervous," I said, my voice as soft as a whisper.

"Of course, Ruka," he said with a soft laugh, "I love you and I wouldn't want to rush you. Besides, we will be husband and wife in three days anyway, and you will be mine alone. I can control myself till then. And I promise to be very gentle."

I felt queasy at his words but said nothing. I allowed him to guide me to the silk mattress. I sat down while he kneeled and my eyes went wide when he shackled my ankle to the wall with a chain that had been fixed there.

"Tomo kun, what are you-"

"It's just a precaution," he interrupted. "Sleep well, my love."

He got up and left without another word. I scoffed, flabbergasted by his words and actions. So, he was aware of my intention of escaping and he wasn't taking any chances.

My breathing became hasty in anxiousness. I had thought that I could use these three days to plan my escape but my chances were close to none now. I would never see Kichiro sama again, would I? I would end up being with Tomo kun forever and, worst of all, in just three days...I shuddered just thinking about what was to happen then.

I sat in a daze, my mind reeling with chaotic thoughts until I heard footsteps. I tensed, momentarily thinking that Tomo kun was back to check up on me. Or maybe he was coming to tell me that he had advanced the date of our wedding. All negativity possible began to rise within me, however, eased when Akari entered the room with a ceramic glass in her hand.

She placed the glass of milk in front of me silently and bowed. "Tomo kun asked me to give this to you. It's to help you sleep well."

"Wait!" I hollered when she got up to leave. "Please, help me!"

She scoffed before looking at me in bemuse, "Help you? Why should I? You took away everything from me....happiness, my calm village life and even the person I love more than life itself. What more do you want to take away from me?"

My heart twinged at the tears that welled in her eyes. I shook my head though and said, "If you help me, both of us can get what we want."

"You're a very good actor, Ruka, so good at making everything work your way. But I don't want to be a part of it. Congratulations, for becoming the happiest person possible," she said with a bitter laugh.

"You don't understand! I want you to help me escape!" I said before she could leave the room.

She turned to look at me with a frown, "What?"

"Help me escape from here."

"What are you saying? You're not making sense," she said, narrowing her eyes.

"First, make sure there's no one who can hear us talking and then come here so I can tell you about more clearly." She did as I asked and came to sit in front of me, coaxing me to tell her what I meant by my earlier request. I inhaled deeply, meeting her eyes with determination, "I know you love Tomo kun. I've known ever since I came to live in the village dojo. I have always considered Tomo kun as a good friend and nothing more. I don't want to marry him. I don't love him, Akari, but I don't know how to tell him that."

"You don't love him?" she repeated curiously.

"You know the kind of person he's become after I was kidnapped and I have understood it too. When I found the entrance of the cave before dinner and tried to escape, he caught me and was angry...he didn't openly express it but I could tell. To be honest, he actually scares me a little."

"That's why you want to escape..."

"Not only that," I said, tears falling from my eyes. "I know this probably sounds crazy but I love Lord Kurai. I love Kichiro sama. I want to go back to him and you're the only one who can help me escape. If you help me, both of us will get what we want. Please..."

"You...you love Lord Kurai?" she asked in disbelief. "And, what – Kichiro sama?"

"That's his real name, Akari. I know he's always been harsh and scary and cruel, but he's actually not. He's so gentle, so kind to me, tender even, and I want to be with him. I want to heal the deep wounds he has in his heart that has made him the cold-hearted man he is now. Please, Akari, you have to help me go back to him. I love him so much," I begged, holding her hands in mine.

"That means I'll still have a chance with Tomo kun," she mumbled, her voice laced with hope. She let a small smile come to her face, "I'm sorry for not knowing the truth, Ruka. I always thought that you liked Tomo kun and I refused to accept what I saw in your eyes. I will help you escape. I'll try to come up with a plan to help you."

Much to my surprise, she embraced me. I held her back, smiling, glad that I had found an ally and a light that could guide me out of this mess.

"Thank you, Akari, I'm really counting on you."

>>Time Skip

"Tomo kun! What do you think of this necklace?" I asked, sprinting to him to show him the piece of jewelry that had been stolen from a member of the third-tier royal family. One of the men had suggested that it would look nice during the wedding.

"I'm sure it will look beautiful on you," said Tomoki, touching my cheeks with his fingers. He leaned in to whisper into my ear soon after, "I can't wait to hold you tonight."

I suppressed the shiver that ran down my spine but blushed in embarrassment of his words. I used it to my advantage, acting shy by averting my eyes from him with a forced smile. He laughed softly, pushing some strands of hair behind my ears, "You're so adorable."

"I have to get ready now!" I stuck my tongue out at him childishly before sprinting away from him to go to my room to dress up.

I had slowly warmed up to Tomoki in the three days I was here, polishing my acting skills to gain his trust and make him believe that I was actually excited about us getting married. I had tried to avoid kisses as much as possible but, unfortunately, we had ended up sharing one which I had to respond to as convincingly as I could. He was otherwise quite touchy with me and I did my best to not react too much to it.

I had kicked up my acting skills a notch along with Akari, convincing Tomoki that she had apologized for her rude behavior and that we were now good friends. She was to be my bridesmaid and so, was always close to me. We had worked out an escape plan that was actually quite risky and mostly based on luck. Just before the wedding ceremony, Akari would distract everyone to give me a chance to escape.

"Are you ready?" she asked, entering my room after making sure everyone else was in the common area.

"Yes, let's do this," I answered with a nod, clutching tightly the sash-strap of my guitar. I was dressed in the same clothes I had worn on my excursion with Kichiro sama – they were most comfortable for the escape.

With a nervous inhale, I followed her to the entrance of the cave. We made sure we were absolutely quiet while we walked through the tunnels carefully. When we did reach the entrance of the cave, I said my goodbyes to Akari, feeling a little sad that we were splitting up when we had finally become good friends.

"Thank you, Akari...I have no words to express just how grateful I am to you for helping me," I said while giving her a hug.

"I'm helping you selfish reasons too so there thanks needed."

I returned her smile and turned to look at the forest in front of us. Taking a deep breath, I sprinted forward, both nervous about the risk I was taking and excited to see Kichiro sama soon. I clearly remembered which direction I had to head in, to retrace the steps taken when I was kidnapped. I'm sure if I could get to the meadow outside the village, I would be able to find my way back to the palace, back to Kichiro sama.

A sudden loud thunder that roared through the skies nearly made me jump out of my skin. I glanced up at the sky, eyeing the dark clouds uneasily. Of all the times for a storm to make its appearance...

With every minute that passed, the storm progressed. Thunder and lightning became frequent along with the start of a light drizzle, making me flinch every few seconds from the sound and light. The thought of being in Kichiro sama's arms soon gave me the strength to push forward despite the overwhelming desire to curl up in fear of the brutal storm.

"I don't care! Find her and don't let her fall out of our hands ever again! Ni sama is very angry and he will make her his without wasting time on the wedding!" I heard a voice suddenly and it sent a jolt of fright through me.

It seems Akari had not been able to stall Tomoki for very long and his men were already out looking for me. My heart raced and my breathing was quick as adrenaline rushed through my veins. I picked up my pace of running, desperately wishing to get out of this in one piece.

Kichiro sama! Please, give me strength! Please, let me see you again!

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I hope all of you are keeping your fingers crossed for Ruka to reunite with Kichiro sama! >.W<

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