Femme Fatale

Hi. My name's Kouichi Kimura. It's nice to meet you. I'm 18 years old. I am the holder of the sᴘɪʀɪᴛs ᴏғ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss. Beware the crippling dark. [Brave Heart]

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

[thekaiserreborn]

Ken stopped walking, his back stiffening at the wording of her request. “Address me properly or don’t address me at all, princess.” He stalked up the stairs, leaving the guards to escort her to her new room. It was probably modest in comparison to what she was used to, but at least he was giving her a bed. That was a lot more than he gave most men who were unlucky enough to come into his grasp.

The seamstress was sent up and took the girl’s measurements, with a promise to return with more comfortable and appropriate clothes tomorrow. The windows were barred and the door was kept locked, but Ken soon opened it to invite her down to dinner. No reason to starve her, after all. And she might make for interesting company if she remained civil.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

“I will call you what I want until I get the respect I deserve,” she replied solemnly. The room was nice, but nothing like her home. The seamstress was nice, too, but far too jumpy and paranoid and she left the moment Kouichi’s last measurement was taken. Kouichi sighed and sat on her bed. This was going to be horrid.

…so she’d be horrid too. “I’m not hungry!” she insisted, crossing her arms and turning from him. “I have no desire to join you.”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

[thekaiserreborn]

"Get up," he said tonelessly, touching her shoulder. He’d prepared a more appropriate place for her to stay on the second floor, and tapped her temple to get her moving. Ken scooped up her heels, striding over to the opened door and expecting her to follow him and behave.

There were three guards waiting to escort her at the top of the stairs, anyway.

"Now I don’t often deal with women. I’m unmarried and intend to remain as such for as long as is allowable. So tell me what you expect and you’ll probably get it, if you aren’t a brat about it. I’ll send a seamstress up later to take your measurements and find you something that fits."

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

She was a bit slow to wake, but when he tapped on her temple, she forced herself up and followed him, trying to balance when tired. It wasn’t that difficult. The guards made her uneasy, moreso than Ken.

…if every servant in this place was male, she might go insane. She missed Kouji already. However, she was quickly distracted by something else, a growing pain.

“If I may request, I’d much enjoy some food, Sire.” She was not saying ‘Your Imperial Majesty’ every time. She was a prisoner, so that would be a way of spiting him.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

[thekaiserreborn]

That was a weak hope and she knew it. “Reconsider? Really? What, because you say please? You don’t seem to understand how conquest works. Your country is nice enough. I want it, and when I want something I take it.”

He took a step away, hands folded behind his back. “So yes. I’ll keep you here as long as I see fit, though ‘here’ might change tomorrow morning, if I’m feeling generous. Do try to get some rest.” Ken turned on his heel, striding away and back up to the ground floor, leaving her there for the next dozen hours.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

So this is what it felt like to be a prisoner. Kouichi sighed and sat back down, though she was uncomfortable in these clothes. She wasn’t going to shed a single layer, no matter how uncomfortable. She was a lady!

There was a single wooden bench that hung from the wall by chains, where she’d been out cold before. She was reluctant to return to it, but kicked off her heels and laid down anyway. Sleep didn’t come easily.

By the time the Kaiser returned to her cell, she was curled up peacefully, finally getting some rest.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

[thekaiserreborn]

He scoffed, looking at her in disbelief. “Really now? You’re their sole heir. It’s not as if there’s a line of others waiting to take your place. If they want even a semblance of stability, they’ll give me what I want. It’s not as though I’ll be outright asking for your entire country at once, and if they want to keep their thrones, they want you.”

He wasn’t about to outline his entire plan to her, but he would be destroying them from within, not from without. His demand would lead to their complete economic collapse, and with control of a few key ports and cities, they would easily fall to him in the months that followed. But whatever the idea, they needed their daughter back if they hoped to hold on to their kingdom while they could.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

“It’s still possible to produce another heir,” she replied, though her resolve was failing. Surely, he could see that. Her hands were shaking. “Nevertheless, I implore you to reconsider. My country has done nothing to your empire. We don’t warrant this kind of…”

She trailed off. Sighing, she started up a new thought. “Why do you desire my country? Do we have so much to offer that you will keep me locked away down here to see our downfall?”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

[thekaiserreborn]

"You really are an idiot, aren’t you? Clearly you still have no idea who you’re speaking with. I am a Kaiser. That is the equivalent of an Emperor to you. Don’t little princesses get taught proper forms of address? Or is it your goal to annoy me into killing you? Because that’s not working, you’re far more valuable alive.”

Ken knew very little about the Crown Princess, apart from the fact that her name was Kouichi. What he was learning now was not impressing him. He straightened his back, turning to finally face her door and peer inside. “You’ll need a change of clothes at some point. I suppose I should send someone to take your measurements and make something, but that seems like such a waste of my valuable time. Maybe you’ll just stay as you are until your parents come. Word has already been sent.”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

“…I apologize.” She kept her cool, since she needed to. She could lose it when he was not around. She looked up and was startled to see part of his face. Those eyes were so familiar. She’d certainly seen them somewhere before. She gulped.

“It’s not wise of me to waste your time, your Imperial Majesty,” she replied, curtsying. The title felt disgusting on her tongue. “But my parents will not meet your demands. Your time is being wasted on this endeavor.”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

[thekaiserreborn]

He couldn’t stop himself—he laughed. Loudly. “Well aren’t you an insolent little brat. Do you think I’m a fool? Of course I want a war with your country. I will crush you. Maybe if your parents submit meekly for your safe return, it will save your military some bloodshed.”

A smirk rose to his lips. “Your crown means little to me, Your Royal Highness. Simply another acquisition to my holdings. Figured out who I am yet?”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Insolent? Kouichi felt her face heat up in anger. It didn’t get better until his last few phrases, when her expression fell and face paled. Of course she knew now. It was no doubt the Kaiser that the royal court had been so concerned about—that her father had been so concerned about. That’s why he sent their best men with her. Could it be that they were traitors?

“Ah…y-yes. My apologies, your Highness. I didn’t realize with whom I was speaking with.” Her fingers twisted the skirt of her dress nervously. Her crown? He meant to take her country. She wouldn’t allow it.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

[thekaiserreborn]

The Kaiser hadn’t exactly been wanted at Hunt’s Ball, but to not invite him was a dangerous move the host was not willing to make. All it meant was easy pickings for his next target. He’d extended his territory a considerable amount already, and his latest holdings brought him right to the edge of yet another kingdom to conquer…one that happened to send their Crown Princess to attend.

It wasn’t difficult to drug her and bring her back to his dungeons. And it seemed as though the girl was finally awake. He smirked, leaning against the outside of her door. “If it isn’t Your Royal Highness, finally awake. Hope you don’t mind the accommodations too much.” His voice was smooth, and he made no move to either identify himself or release her from her current confines.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

She stood, barely catching herself. She still felt a bit wobbly; maybe she shouldn’t have sampled the wine her dance partner offered her. She shook her head to clear it and frowned.

“Release me at once. This is unacceptable. Do you wish to start a war with my country?” She strode to the door, but could not see who was talking from the outside. “Release me. This is the last time I shall say it. You will be charged with treason to the crown of Kurayami for this if you don’t.”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Into Darkness || thekaiserreborn [AU]

The first thing she noticed when she woke up was that she was not in her own room. The second was that she was still completely dressed in her ball attire. As the Crown Princess, she’d been forced to attend the Hunt’s Ball, an annual get together of royalty and nobility in the neighboring kingdoms.

She remembered dosing off in the carriage on her way home, but beyond that, she had no clue. Sitting up, she looked around.

“What in the--?” She heard shuffling outside the dungeon door. “Guards! I demand you to release me this instant!”

[strikingblows]

She noticed the other looking away after saying her name. Was she scared? “Hey.” She leaned a bit. “No need to be like that, I won’t hurt ya.”

"Then Kou-chan it is!" She declared proudly, fisting the sky with a chuckle. "You don’t mind right? I give everyone I meet a nickname." She put out her hand in an act of friendship. "So, where we ya goin’ with your nose in that book?"

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

“Al-Alright.” The rambunctious attitude reminded her of Takuya and she stole a glance at the other. Yeah, a lot like Takuya. Taller and more muscular, but a lot like the gogglehead she knew so well.

“I-I was headed home. I got stuck doing all the after school chores again.”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"Hey, you alright? You look pale."

"Fine!" Except she's totally teetering and looks ready to pass out.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

fallenthensucceeded replied to your post:"You’re kind of adorable when you’re sick. You know, in a pathetic way."

"Tacos are much better than I am; and they don’t insult you when your sick. I can see how you’d come down to that decision."

"Never speak to me again."

[fallenthensucceededarchive-deac]

"Babe, plz."

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"No."

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"You have to take the medicine, or you won't get better!" Dusk tried to force her down, a bottle of cough syrup in his hand.

"Neverrrrrr!"

[vampirictwinsofshibuya-blog]

"That wasn’t too bad, Kouichi. Do you want something to make it feel better?"

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"Chocolate sounds good!"

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

fallenthensucceeded replied to your post:"You're kind of adorable when you're sick. You know, in a pathetic way."

"Tacos are much better than I am; and they don’t insult you when your sick. I can see how you’d come down to that decision."

"Never speak to me again."

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"You have to take the medicine, or you won't get better!" Dusk tried to force her down, a bottle of cough syrup in his hand.

"Neverrrrrr!"

[vampirictwinsofshibuya-blog]

With a smirk, he shoves the table spoon into her mouth, dumping it into her mouth, “Swallow now. It’ll help you feel better.”

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Kouichi gagged, but knew she had to swallow it. She did and coughed.

"Ewwww! Mean!"

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"You have to take the medicine, or you won't get better!" Dusk tried to force her down, a bottle of cough syrup in his hand.

"Neverrrrrr!"

[vampirictwinsofshibuya-blog]

"Oh come on. Cough syrup isn’t that bad." He poured a table spoon of it and squeezed her cheeks, trying to force her mouth open.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

Kouichi clenched her jaw trying to keep her mouth closed....except her nose was stuffed and she had to breathe eventually.

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"You're kind of adorable when you're sick. You know, in a pathetic way."

"I love tacos more than you."

[cripplingdarkness-blog]

"You have to take the medicine, or you won't get better!" Dusk tried to force her down, a bottle of cough syrup in his hand.

"Neverrrrrr!"