RP!! wooo! (private)

[maloliente]

'And if you can gain proof of their rebellion... Do not hesitate. Do you understand, Huyu?'

'I understand, master.'

'Mercy is a weakness, kindness a flaw. Crush them.'

'There is nothing left to crush.'


It was raining, in soft clouds of billowing mist, as Huyu approached the neutral palace. His cloak was dark with dampness, his hood pulled up over his face to protect from the chill water. His horse was tired. Of course it was, he had come all the way from the Northern Empire's Imperial Palace, with no rests along the long and hard journey. He dismounted after passing the impressive gates, handing the reins of his mount to a passing servant, for though he was technically a servant as well, he was the personal servant of Imperial Lord Hisoka. If one were to put him on a rank, he held more power than nobles, even some princes. Also, he had a somewhat deadly reputation. Some said he could bid shadows to do his will, others that from his mouth dripped deadliest poison, yet others claimed he was an immortal and immune to all forms of age and deadly force. None of that was true, but it might as well have been. He was deadly enough to warrant fear, that was true at least.

He stepped into the reception hall where soon the princes and princesses would gather to meet each other for the first time, and the weddings would be formally announced. Huyu pulled his hood down, revealing a surprisingly childish face for his calibre of killer. He peered around the room, before he decided to slip into an obscure corner. He wasn't hiding as such, but the shadows of the corner mingled with his shadowy cloak and his unnatural ability for stillness meant he seemed to disappear to the eye. There he would wait, and observe. Lord Hisoka had ordered him to protect the Northern Empire's heirs, but that was superficial. No one outside the Imperial Court knew that Hisoka's children seemed to intend to start a rebellion, so it would seem natural for the Lord to send his body guard to protect from any possible betrayals and assassinations. Anyone who knew the Hisoka family would know better though. Huyu was here to find proof they were rebelling, and to kill them as soon as he found that proof. He was here to make sure they never had a chance to rise up against their father, to make sure they never even had a chance to leave this castle.

[maloliente]

The carriage clattered to a halt, having carried it's occupant to their destinantion, and after only a brief moment whilst a footman ran to open the door, a slender woman stepped out of the carriage. Accepting the parasol offered to her with a small smile, she walked across the short courtyard, carefully keeping the hem of her kimono off the wet ground, and quickly climbed the stairs, entering through the front doors into the reception hall.

Mei handed the parasol to another servant giving another small smile, but as she turned the smile quickly died as she noticed the still, dark cloaked man standing in the corner.
A rather less elegant frown appeared on her face as she glared at him, but it too quickly died as she moved her eyes, and her thoughts, to a different place. She moved to sit on one of the several couches placed around the room, thinking over the reason that she, the man in black, her two brother and the rest of her party were meeting together at this castle.

Mei had never expected to have a marriage initiated by love. She had never even bothered wondering whether her marriage would contain any love at all. As the only Princess of the North Kingdom, a political marriage was one of the facts of her life. And now, unavoidable as the break of a new day, the time for her marriage, and those of her two brothers, had arrived.

[maloliente]

The air shifted as the outer door was opened for the first guest. Huyu lifted his eyes, just as she swept in. Just like always, blown in as graceful as a petal. What wasn't so graceful was the dark look she threw in his direction. He wasn't surprised she knew he was there. After all, she'd gotten used to spotting him when they were young in their incessant games of hide and seek. He returned her frown with nothing. Nothing passed his impassive face; it never did. Not even when he stood by Lord Hisoka. In fact, since that day years ago, no emotions ever showed on his boyish face. He just had that same expression all the time. Calm, collected, slightly cold, but with a touch of a polite smile for the benefit of those above him in rank.

It wasn't long before the others entered the scene. Akira, who immediately approached Mei with his usual gentle, soft smile, was dressed just as ornately as Mei, though he wore the robes of a prince instead of a kimono. He held a fan, as always, and he used it to tap Mei on the head. An affectionate gesture, apparently.

Kurama wasn't far behind, dressed in riding gear. Of course, he wouldn't have taken a carriage even if it was offered without any hidden traps. He hated Lord Hisoka too much to accept even that. Not to mention, he had a strange philosophy that he shouldn't rely on servants all the time. Very unnatural, and pretentious. He made a beeline for Akira, holding his younger brother by the shoulders and seemingly inspecting him for any kind of damage. Of course, he had feared Akira harmed by Lord Hisoka, being so helpless against him. Kurama had always had a rather over zealous protective sense towards his younger siblings, but especially Akira. His little sister Mei could handle herself, well enough to beat him in any fight. That thought tipped Huyu's smile a tiny touch larger.

"What news sister?" Kurama asked, after releasing a wryly chuckling Akira and turning to Mei. As always, he asked his question in a strong voice, the voice of a leader.
"Good, I should hope." Akira added, in his soft, musical, slightly faint voice, a smile colouring his tone as he hid no doubt a wry grin behind his fan.

[maloliente]

A warm smile grew on her face as Mei looked up at her two brothers, her dismal thoughts being banished to the far corners of her mind, so as to keep this moment untarnished.
"No news in particular, brother." her own cultured tones replied as she basked in the normality of the conversation, the clouds of nostalgia that surrounded them almost visible.
"I see that you still believe in keeping in touch with the elements." She noted dryly, glancing at the small puddles forming at Kurama's feet.
Unwillingly her eyes flicked to the corner where Huyu stood, and her happy bubble popped as reality came rushing back, with the distance between them and Huyu's expressionless smile serving as the pin.

And reality continued to press on her, as the front door was opened and the three fiances stepped into the room.

[maloliente]

Akira chuckled softly, and Kurama simply laughed, shaking his head so that water droplets sprayed across his siblings. Akira shielded his face, lifting an arm up so his long heavy sleeve blocked the attack. It was almost as if they were children again. Or at least it was, until Mei's eyes flickered over to the corner and alerted the other two to Huyu's presence. It was a case of once you knew he was there, it wasn't so hard to see him. Noticing him was the tricky bit. Akira looked away, silent, and Kurama cast a cold glare in the spider's direction. Huyu didn't respond, just stared back.

The awkward tension in the room was broken by the arrival of the fiances. First entered Princess Evelyn. She was somewhat different to the Northern Empire's noble women. Unlike what was normal for the Imperial sense of beauty, Evelyn was curvaceous, pale but not so much as Mei, and her dress clung to her hips before falling in a curtain of silk to the ground. Combined with her long, loose blonde hair and bright blue eyes, she looked rather exotic. Well, for the Northern people she looked exotic. To her, the still, almost feline, appearance of the siblings was what was exotic. With Akira and Mei standing there, graceful and dressed in exquisite and complex robes, not to mention Kurama with his shock of white hair and amber eyes, they looked like something out of the folk tales of her land. Evelyn quietly moved to take her place, no noticing Huyu.
She was followed by Caoilainn, the Princess to be wed to Kurama. She was a woman with somewhat of a reputation. She'd once been engaged to the High General of her kingdom. When he was killed in battle, she took his place as leader of her kingdom's armies. She was a strong looking woman, tall with a stern face. She had long brown hair, half pulled back to reveal sharp green eyes. She stood with Evelyn, as they were cousins and their kingdoms had always been close.
And finally entered Prince Darius, the man to be wed to Mei. He was tall, with a face that was neither handsome nor ugly, but his brown eyes were superior and mocking. He was dressed much more ostentatiously than Evelyn and Caoilainn, but he was sadly outclassed by the beauty worn by Mei and Akira. After all, Darius's kingdom was young and small in comparison to the Northern Empire, kingdom of a thousand years. The Northern Empire was superior in most crafts, and could make nearly anything with a skill and delicacy unseen in other kingdoms. Goods from the Northern Empire were highly prized in the other kingdoms. But he was even outclassed by Kurama, despite Kurama's simple clothes. Kurama had the air of a great leader, but this man in comparison seemed small.

Huyu observed silently.

"Welcome, sons and daughters of the Kings and Queens of this world. We are here to formally announce the marriages of empires and kingdoms, that peace and prosperity may be brought to all. To this end, Imperial Crown Prince Kurama Hisoka shall marry Crown Princess and General Caoilainn de Insefredi. Imperial Prince Akira Hisoka shall marry Crown Princess Evelyn Hollifair. Imperial Princess Mei shall marry Crown Prince Darius de Debabaroque." the announcement was made by a man dressed in the uniform of the head butler of the castle, and his voice was very abrupt and matter of fact as he announced what would become the life long fate of these six people.
"May all this come to prosper."

[maloliente]

Silence filled the room as the 6 princes and princesses viewed each other and their chosen partner, all eyes evaluating and calculating.

Suddenly Akira stepped forward.
"Evelyn! It is wonderful to finally meet you. You are as beautiful as I had imagined you would be."
The eyes of all the other couples widened as Evelyn moved to stand with Akira in the center of the room, the two conversing with obvious familiarity.
"Thankyou. You are just as charming in real life as you are in your letters." Evelyn replied smiling, ignoring the shocked stares coming from around the room.

"Brother" interrupted Kurama, his amber eyes like saucers, "you know her?"

"Of course I do." said Akira with a tone of mild surprise, turning to look at his brother.
"Didn't you all get into contact with your fiances?"

Another long moment of silence began.

[maloliente]

Kurama opened his mouth to answer, but at that precise moment Huyu stepped forward from the shadows, eliciting shocked gasps from those who hadn't yet realised his presence, and cold suspicion from Akira and Kurama. Huyu looked harmless enough, with that quiet smile on his lips, but even those who didn't know his identity felt a chill from his presence. It was instinct, something told them that this was a dangerous person despite his childish looks and disarmingly calm smile.

"Lord Hisoka sends his regards, Prince Kurama. He regrets that you weren't informed of your fiance's identity before now. He feared you would back out of the agreement." Huyu said quietly, calmly, but he was baiting Kurama. Kurama hated Lord Hisoka, and Lord Hisoka had purposely hidden Caoilainn's identity from him just to put him off balance. Huyu was there for one reason and one reason only, to shake loose some kind of information from Kurama that gave him a license to kill all of them. All the siblings would have to tread carefully if they were to escape this spider's web.
"Lord Hisoka hopes you are in good health, Prince Akira." he said, bowing towards Akira. He didn't bow for Kurama, since Kurama had officially defected, but Akira still technically required honour. He turned to Mei. They had not spoken for so long, but he looked as impassive as ever as he delivered Lord Hisoka's jab at his daughter.
"My master also hopes you find his choice of servants pleasing." he tilted his head in a half bow.
Both of them knew to what Lord Hisoka referred, but Huyu made no sign.
"In any case, the luncheon is to be served soon. I have secured the castle, so you are all free to explore as you will without fear. I leave you now, masters and mistress. Welcome, on behalf of my master." he said, bowing once more, totally ignoring the royals from the other kingdoms, and then left the room.

That exchange was intended to shake loose some emotions, put the Imperial siblings off balance so that they would slip up and give away their plans. But for now, he had to test the food for poison. Lord Hisoka was going to kill his children, but he would hardly let anyone else do the job easily.

-twenty minutes later-

Huyu had just finished, satisfied that everything was free of poison when he stumbled, his eyes swimming. He lurched, falling against a wall. The other servants shrieked, but he calmly pointed in the direction of one dish and informed them it was poisoned with the deadly 'Convola'. Forcing himself to walk straight and as quickly as possible, he left the room with people marveling at how little effect such a deadly poison had on him. As soon as he was out of sight, he half collapsed against a wall, sliding down to sit as the convulsions began. He was immune to this poison, meaning it wouldn't kill him, but this was a large dose. Larger than normal, and even he couldn't escape the bad effects.
Just like when he was young, he pushed his back to a corner. An old habit, whenever he felt threatened. Easier to defend yourself, so he said. He pulled his knees up to his chest, clamping his arms around them so the convulsions weren't as obvious. His entire body was burning, and everything hurt. It would pass.
It would...

He closed his eyes, biting down any sound of pain that might escape his lips.

It would be nice if someone could pass by and kill him now. He wouldn't be able to fight back, and then he'd be dead. Out of the way. What a relief that would be. If only. Maybe someone would take this one chance to kill him. He'd thank them. But who would even see him in this shadowy corner, curled up as small as he could be?

No one, he was sure.

[maloliente]

Mei walked through the corridors of the castle, in mild despair over her fiance. Her short talk with him had revealed that he was as arrogant as he looked, his every word and expression designed to show off his superiority.
He even believes that he's being wonderfully clever and subtle about it she thought wearily Father must have known all about him. Pairing me with a man who will constantly try to push me down. And Huyu...
The bitter taste in her mouth worsened.
Nothing about that man resembles a father.
She had to smile about Akira and Evelyn's relationship though. Only Akira would have been able to exchange letters with a stranger after finding out that he was engaged to them.

As she turned a corner and walked along, still smiling at the one happy pairing, her eyes latched onto the dark cloaked figure that she could never avoid noticing.
Again the nostalgia hit, seeing the small huddled figure hunched over in the corner. Instinctively she ran towards him, once again the young girl worrying over her closest companion, running with only the thought of him being in pain.
She across the hall in a flash, kneeling down at his side and about to touch his arm when she saw the brand on his hand, and she was once again an 18 year old girl, staring at the young man who had left her to stand at her fathers side.
Mei's hand froze, outstretched to touch Huyu's arm, her mind whirring with one hundred different voices telling her to move, to pull her hand back and leave him, that he no longer needed or deserved her help.
But the voice and the memory of the 11 year old girl inside her nailed her there to the ground next to him, unable to leave him when he was in such pain.

"Huyu?" She asked, withdrawing her hand slowly, kneeling upright and composed on the floor.
A compromise she told herself, it would be wrong to leave anyone in pain, anyway.

[maloliente]

Focus.

Huyu sucked in a hissing breath.

Pain is irrelevant.

His body twitched uncontrollably.

Do not seek help, do not cry out. Your only thought should always be the desires of your master, no matter your physical state. That is the Iron Law of the Clan-

'Huyu?'

Huyu started, his head snapping up to focus his pained eyes on a face in front of his. A familiar face. He blinked a couple of times, before he turned his face away, biting his lip in an expression used often in his childhood. He couldn't be so in control when poisoned this badly, he couldn't stop the expressions that leaked on to his usually impassive face.
"What do- you want- my- lady-" he was obviously forcing himself to speak, since his voice was broken and wavered in ways unimaginable for the normal calm Huyu.

He was silent for a moment, before he looked back at her, a harsh smile on his lips.
"Here to kill- me?" he was baiting her, being needlessly cruel to someone who was being kind. If it worked... maybe she would snap and take her chance to kill him. She probably was the only person who could do it, but when he was well even she wouldn't stand a chance. Sure, she would probably come closer to defeating him than any other, but she wasn't like him. She hadn't been trained in the brutal way Lord Hisoka prescribed for Huyu, she hadn't ever reached the level of killing machine that Huyu now was. She was too kind.
He flickered his eyes away, burying his face in his knees again as he bit his lip to stop himself crying out. Of all the poisons, Convola was among the most painful, even for someone like him.

[Jamsandwich]

wow, amazing! (and your story's pretty good too.)
seriously though, i very much like your plot
but is it really an RP? shouldn't it have gone in the Gallery, as it's only you?