Kuro lived purely because she had fend for herself as well as Shiro after being ‘spared’ by her current employer. Carrying a traditional Japanese katana was a sign of her allegiance to her current organisation, which shall not be named.
Merciless and heartless, she had been a natural for killing, never turning another cheek or abandoning her missions, she always completed what she had been given without fail or delay. This made her climb the hierarchy of positions in a small amount of time. Being the only female who was able to easily finish her duties, she was then known as the clan’s princess for being the highest ranking one by far.
However, there was also another organisation clan who rivalled that of her own, one set to be against her clan until the end of time. After being set up by her own members, she was caught by the enemy clan.
"To think that we have actually captured the princess of xx, this is indeed a special omen to tell us that we will emerge victorious among them.” The clan head rejoiced, lifting up a cup of wine of his own and starting a toast with his brethren.
'Tch,' Kuro muttered. Escaping here would be no easy task, she mused to herself. Her hands and feet were bound and her skin bruised. She was just in the next room, for god's sake.
The sliding doors of the room slid open, a young man entered the room with a tray of unknown substances. She blinked her eyes open and realised it was the man who was with the group that assaulted her. He was probably young, no more than a few years older than her. She remembered him vaguely as the one who hesitated for a second and allowed her to strike him in the arm with her sword.
She stared blankly at him, his face seemed blank as well. He put the tray aside and knelt down in front of her.
"Shh," he murmured, pointing to the other door which was occupied by the higher-ups of the clan. He must’ve secretly slipped in, she thought. He took some bottles off the tray and began applying the medication.
She glanced to the side and sighed, since when did she become so vulnerable?
"You know, the only reason why you were able to make me bleed so horribly was because I stopped for a moment. I stopped, because of you. I don’t know why, but staring at you killing my men just made me stop. Not like I’ve never seen people drop dead before… But… It was mesmerising," he began to murmur in a superbly soft tone.
Her eyes faltered slightly. She turned to look at him but he had left by that time.
The commotion outside the room she remain trapped in ceased as the celebrations finally ended, dawning the ambience with silence and tranquility.
"How is your wound?" The commander’s voice sounded in the air. It seemed that there were still people present in the room.
"I’m fine. My training was more brutal. I never expected her to drive the sword in so deep, though." The voice of the man from before said.
"She’s the princess of a clan, what do you expect? What’s more, a clan that does not define the hierarchy by birth but by ability."
"That’s right, I suppose."
"So? Have you considered her? A man with such budding talent as yours and a woman with powers like hers would be a good match, wouldn’t it? You’re around the same age, anyway. Plus, stealing the princess of that clan would sure deal a huge blow in power to them."
"The higher-ups have already decided. The both of you will wed when the full moon strikes, and that is tomorrow."
'Pfft. What's this? Are they that desperate?' She thought.
Many hours of the night had passed when the sliding doors banged open. “What on Earth-” she began.
"I set the place on fire. Get out of here now." It was the young man from before.
"I set the place on fire so you can escape. Follow me. Here, your katana." He cut the ropes loose.
He pulled her by the wrist and they ran out of the room together, exiting the clan’s headquarters. They reached the outside and ran down the hill. The structure began to crumble as heat surrounded the towering inferno.
"Wait, why are you doing this?" She asked as she was dragged.
"Talk later- Ugh-" He said but abruptly stopped. He clutched onto his arm which she had wounded earlier. An arrow dashed through the air and hit him in the ankle as he kneeled on the ground.
"Go on without me. They’re bound to catch me, anyway." He smiled. His black hair shined in the light of fire as embers made their way towards where both of them stood.
"Why are you doing all this? Aren’t I an enemy to you?"
"You were the most beautiful thing I ever saw while fighting. I wanted to preserve you as they wanted to hurt you. Escape while you can."
"What is this…." This was the first time she ever heard something like this.
"Go on, Kuro. I like you, you know." He smiled, sweat dripping from his brow as she glanced at him. The background was entirely flames.
"Remember me by as much as you can... My name is…" He began to say, but the crackling fire censored out his name. She left. That was the first time she ever experienced compassion. The first time she… Liked someone for starters. What kind of like that was, no one would ever know. Maybe he died, maybe he didn’t.
Until now, she had never been merciful. She returned to her clan, slaughtered those who betrayed her, and lived emotionless up to date. That was the first time she ever regretted wounding someone. Perhaps if she didn't, he would be by her side now.
"All those in my path die. I have no time for compassion or a heart."
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