Chapter 12:
Outside Ginsu shouted the orders and over saw the men’s training. They were quite good but in Hiatsu’s eyes could be better and Ginsu knew this well. Alura watched in awe and excitement from the sidelines at seeing how strong they were, and how fluid they were in executing their practiced skills. “How long have they been training?” she asked after seeing Ginsu had finished giving instructions, looking up at his face as she approached a few steps closer.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOrLVm6a2J
“Uh…let me see…about…eh….three months.” Ginsu answered, trying to give a rough estimate for how long the men had been training under him.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIsUUZgZ6V
“Three months! Wow. They’re really good. What are they training for?”1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOvNcNhV6U
“They are training to protect the people. When Hiatsu says they are ready they’ll be dispatched into the towns and cities to protect the people, from terror and danger.”1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDFkxxi94O
“Oh wow. That will make so many people happy. I hope they can help everyone who needs it.” Alura said with joy at the thought, envisioning the soldiers helping defend people from evil. This lead her to remember Flora, and her face to slowly fall. Like in Flora, She thought, silently remembering the day the soldiers chased her and her brother, trying to kill them. I hope mom’s okay. Her face fell a bit more with worry as she looked down at the soft grass under her feet. Ginsu looked to the soldiers before shifting his blue orbs over, glancing down at the girl and noticing her expression with body position. He sighed quietly, thinking of someway to help her out.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriCc693CZJ
He could feel guilt settling into his gut. He didn’t enjoy seeing her shoulders slumped down or expression fallen to look so depressed and sad. Moving his eyes away he bit the inside of his cheek. He hated not letting her knew they could had intervened to help her mother at least but, if they had stepped in that action would had carried its own repercussions. What could he do to help her feel better? He knew what would make her ecstatic but it was something he couldn’t make happen without consequences for himself, and possibly her with her family.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZytdlHkkK7
Finally the sun began to set and the men headed back inside to their quarters. Ginsu stepped alongside Alura who walked about the grounds surrounding the palace slowly, as the evening bird began to caw out as it always did. It had been some minutes of silence as they strolled along. Alura kept her eyes down at the green grass and Ginsu looked from the sky to the horizon then her. Taking a breath he looked away from her, trying to figure out if it was safe to say anything. Putting his hands into his pockets as they walked, having a new shirt on of a blue color with gold embroidered designs and sleeves stopping at his elbows, he decided it couldn’t hurt to break the silence. “Are you thinking about your mother?” Ginsu asked quietly, receiving no answer so looked to see Alura’s eyes never leaving the ground.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fKFktTPJ8
He sighed looking up and scratched the side of his head. “…I guess I could help you out in being stronger…” Ginsu began slowly, now thinking of taking her seriously for training. Would that ease the blame inside, eating away at his heart and soul? Or would coming clean ease this feeling he has dealt with the most? “You see…” he sighed not sure how to word it right. “We…um….already knew of what Amoxious plan was. We already saw him head to Flora….and take it over.” Ginsu explained with hesitation in his voice. He was afraid she might take it badly and that concern was confirmed to him when he saw her body starting to tense, taking in each word to leave his mouth. “Your father wasn’t always a great man but…when he found your mother…he changed and was great to the very end. We…saw how the first battle turned out…and…” he drifted off, feeling a bead of sweat slip down the side of his face.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbEJLAeZdJ
His words shortly after coming out caused Alura’s body to come to a complete stop in its tracks, the wind blowing warmly to move her hair to her side then as it died down, allowed it to rest back into place on her back. A tense silence lingered for moments that dragged on at a snail’s pace, feeling like minutes were flying by before she would speak in a low trembling voice. “…If you knew…why didn’t you do anything?” the words she spoke came out with spite and hate, now causing Ginsu to flinch and look away, feeling ashamed and he sighed not knowing what to say. He avoided looking to the girl now, not able to help feeling unable to look at her directly. There were reasons why he didn’t help stop Amoxious either time but would she believe it? That he didn’t help because of reasons within and outside his control?1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNs1a4avQI
Quickly her body turned to face him as her eyes glared daggers with tears at the corners and anger flaring within them. “Tell me! Tell me now! Why didn’t you stop him?! Why did you let my dad die?! Why did you let mom get arrested?!” she snapped in rage. “Answer me!” Alura screamed, stomping her foot as her fists clinched tightly so much her knuckles almost immediately went white.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w4bWudc6M
Ginsu bit his lip, starting to rub the back of his neck as the guilt feeling got worse. He felt the temptation to point out her mother was only arrested because she had taken a necklace and hidden it, but he thought better than to do that when Alura was already so emotional. He didn’t want to be a huge asshole, even if that fact was the truth. If Alura hadn’t stolen the necklace then Amoxious wouldn’t had been able to have fuel to use for a fake item, and he wouldn’t have been able to get the guards to accompany him. “Because….” He took a breath, sighing out his next words after dropping his eyes. “When battle comes you are no longer a person, you are only a soldier, a tool and weapon to kill. You obey orders from those stronger than you. I had my orders to stand down and not do a thing when Amoxious invaded the first time and second time. I followed my orders to not stop him either time. Just like how I had orders to not step in when your mother was arrested.” His voice was soft with regret for following orders after knowing the outcome.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7wfETKUKc
Alura found this hard to believe the more she heard. Wasn’t the reason for Gods was to protect people? Her eyes grew darker, colder, and her frame shook to try and contain her ever growing rage. “Orders?!” she snapped with her voice cracking. “Who ordered you to let people die and be taken over?!” Alura screamed loudly at the Water God who glanced to her upset face, then adverted his eyes once more. This was breaking his heart, knowing she wouldn’t like the answer.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T3wAXmkvc
Tilting his head down so to hide his eyes with his bangs, his shoulders tensed before lower some, bracing himself for backlash from the human he found so adorable and sweet. He heard thunder rolling in the distance, nearing towards them but it didn’t matter. He just hoped she wouldn’t resent him for too long or say she hated him, even though he wouldn’t blame her. She had every right to hate him right now. “…….Hiatsu….” he whispered just barely auditable, lowering his head so his eyes would be shaded by his bangs as he bit his lower lip after, speaking the name of his eldest brother. That word did not calm Alura’s rage only increased it by ten to a hundred fold. She didn’t speak though, only stood with tightly clinched fists, her knuckles turning whiter.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYegRj6pUHZ
After some tense minutes passed by Alura would finally speak, though it barely came out past her clinched teeth. “Fine.” She growled lowly and turned quickly running off away from Ginsu towards the forest that was miles away from the palace. He reached out for her as he looked up but let his hand drop to his side, knowing she wouldn’t listen or want to speak to him after what he allowed to happen. Doubt and misery filled him, making his body feel heavy and his soul like dirt for allowing such wrong orders to be given and followed. Reaching to his side his right hand grasped his left arm, listening to the roll of thunder that brought the smell of rain with its dark clouds.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XMFEQdnP2
Alura ran with tears falling and questions racing through her mind, wondering if they were just playing around and pretending nothing happened just to get something from her. I can’t trust them anymore. They are liars. They can’t be trusted. Rain began falling starting to dampen her clothing and hair with the landscape around her. She didn’t slow down, running off emotions, even her own heavy footfalls becoming deaf to her ears as she ran deeper into the forest. They only want power. They hurt my family and Flora. They let the people die. She thought, still running with her legs burning in exhaustion until she finally slowed down, entering a denser part the forest. She was now a few miles, give or take, away from the entrance and her hard panting form was slowing further, coming to a stop.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbofldE12n
Alura’s shoulders trembled with her sobbing she had tried to hold back but now came out. Above her storm clouds rolled in more, thunder sounding softly before the gentle rain began to fall harder upon the land of the three God Brothers. “Why me?! Why did this have to happen?! Is it because I took that necklace?!” She screamed in anger at the sky, receiving nothing in reply except a roll of thunder. Her brown blue eyes glared at the dark rolling sky for a time only to start softening, thoughts sinking in as her wet face began to downturn and voice falling to a normal level. “Is that why mother was arrested when they didn’t even really find it?” Alura asked aloud between sobs, her words broken as was her breathing.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDjymbWhs1
Walking over she sat down on a log and sniffed, trying to cease her crying as the rain began to pour harder, soaking her and everything else it touched that had no cover. About an hour had passed of her sitting and feeling lost in thoughts. She had gotten her tears to stop and now she felt bad for how she behaved. It wasn’t fair to Ginsu when she ran off after yelling at him. Yes she was mad at him but that didn’t mean she should have yelled at him, and the more she thought the more she felt she shouldn’t be mad at him either. She should be mad at Hiatsu for giving such bad orders. Alura began thinking over what she’d yell at Hiatsu, momentarily forgetting that might result in Ginsu getting punished for her mouth, before the sound of footsteps snapped Alura back to her surroundings. Her body jumped at the new sounds, scared of who was there as she looked around, surveying her surroundings until her eyes began to spot something through the mist formed by the rain. Staring ahead she saw the outline of a black body. “…Gin…Ginsu…?” she asked softly hoping it was him.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD3oV4Xdc5
A low seductive laugh quietly began to fill the air as the body neared closer. “Sorry, little girl, but wrong.” A woman’s voice spoke with a crocked grin as she neared, coming into sight so Alura could see her wearing armor on her right arm and left leg with, nothing to protect the rest of her body that was draped in a short, long sleeve crop top shirt with one sleeve coming down, her left arm and a small ring latching it delicately over the back of her hand. Through the mist Alura could start making out what looked like jeans where one leg came down to the ankle on her right leg, and the left leg it was cut short so to not pass the armor much. Seeing the woman walking on the balls of her feet, like one would in heels wasn’t what freaked her out. No, it was the fact of the sharp talon like points of her toes. Her short spiked out black hair added to the menacing look of her cold eyes.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSbAt51MfN
The woman watched Alura’s fear creep into her eyes and chuckled, a thirst for blood in her sharp yellow eyes. Alura squeaked and started moving back clumsily to get from the log, but instead stumbled over it and fell backwards to the muddy ground. Scrambling to her feet she continued to back up while keeping her eyes set on this inhuman female that continued walking closer. A sword on the woman’s back slowly came into view causing more distress to build inside the girl, and a knot to form in her throat. “Uh…wh…who are you? What do-do you want?” Alura stuttered out, not able to hide the panic flowing through her.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHtbYOOJT4
“Aw how cute. The mouse is scared of the cat. Guess I couldn’t ask for a more perfect prey.” The woman grinned wider showing sharp fangs and pointed teeth. This caused Alura to scream and turn quickly once on her feet, taking off running though her steps sank into the muddy ground below, slowing her down some due to some slipping at times. The woman let out a low breath of excitement, enjoying the hunt as she took off after Alura, not fazed by the muddy slick ground. Alura ran panting hard as she found it difficult to run in the muck and mud caused by the still pouring rain. It wasn’t helping that the water falling was cold and that bite was sinking into her bones, causing both shivers of fear and trembles of chills from the cold.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqPNGIjIoU
Please! Anyone! Someone! I beg for anyone to save me from this monster! I’m sorry for what I said and thought! I don’t want to die! Alura screamed in her head, closing her eyes tightly in pain from her wheezing chest and stabbing joints. With eyes shut she had no idea where she was going or if she was heading to a way out. Stumbling she caught herself and tried to continue, her lungs feeling tight and like they were on fire. Yelling she fell forwards over an upturned root and laid still on her belly panting like a tired dog, and slowly started to get up with shaky arms.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjbShBO1fn
The woman had her sword drawn and was tapping it on her shoulder then moved to her open palm, as she stepped closer slowly finding the sight grand, not even slightly out of breath. “Oh what a grand sight this is.” Her words hit Alura’s ears just as the mortal’s exhausted body forced itself over, plopping in the mud on her butt. Alura looked up seeing the woman grin as she continued, “a human on God land and in my sights…about to become my next meal. Oh how I love it when one of those idiots goofs up!” She laughed, almost cackling which brought Alura’s face to lose its color. The girl’s brain tried screaming at her limbs to move, to run and flee but to no success. They were spent and felt like dead weight. The woman jabbed her sword down into the ground beside Alura’s face, causing her body to completely freeze in fear as the blade reflected her terrified, muddy and wet face.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHd82Jp9i0
“Now then, shall we just end this?” The woman cooed mockingly with a hungry lust in her eyes. “Tell me, before I kill you, of how you’d like to be prepared. Roasted? Raw? Boiled?” This woman was sick then again as Alura knew by her teeth and feet she wasn’t human in the slightest, except her face and body was human but had those inhuman features. No answer left Alura’s slightly gapping mouth. “Come on and tell me your wish for how you’d like to die today.” The woman had a fresh look of insanity on her face, silencing Alura’s voice from a second attempt to speak, wanting to beg for her life but only a squeak coming out. This made the woman laugh hard and raise the blade into the air. “Oh well. Guess I’ll just kill you and eat the meat right from your bones, raw!” She shouted with thrilled words that didn’t bring comfort to the human as Alura’s eyes widened in terror, not wanting to believe this was to be the end but didn’t know how it couldn’t be. All sound seemed to cease, keeping her from picking up on the new quickly approaching noise, her thudding heart pounding in her ears.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1Vg3NUwy5
Alura gasped and quickly closed her eyes tightly, looking away, terrified of the end and waited for the blow as the blade started to come down swiftly. I’m sorry Ginsu, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. She thought then flinched as the clang of another blade rang out into the air sounding like a tuning fork only higher pitched. Then a grinding sound came to her ears, causing confusion to who else was there. Slowly she opened her eyes looking up hesitantly. She saw familiar boots, dark pants, a soaking wet blue shirt, and held down wet blue hair. Quickly her eyes shot open to stare at the figure that stood over her with hair no longer tied back. It was down and drenched with water making it stick to his back and face, much like how his light clothing was sticking to his smoothly muscle define body. “Ginsu?!” she asked quickly in shock, finally able to speak though her voice cracked in saying his name.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBkXgzapVC
Ginsu looked back to Alura from over his shoulder and gave a kind of cocky grin. “Hey. You shouldn’t worry me like that. I was so scared you’d been killed I decided to come looking for you. Glad I did or you’d be dead right now.” The Water God pointed out, his blue eyes seeming to sparkle in the dimness of their surroundings.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaVa2FmJ7P
Alura was still shocked, not sure if she was dreaming or not. Seeing how he was straddling her legs some and holding the flat of his blade against the demonic woman’s own weapon, combined with the water dripping down his face and body was breathtaking, magical even. Regaining herself she snapped to her senses and locating her voice spoke as steady as she could. “How did you know where to look for me?” She never knew any forest to be small or difficult to get lost in.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDDRuhLT4B
Ginsu shrugged, trying to play it cool so to have her feel confident she would be safe. “Oh your scent is hard to get rid of. Plus…I could hear your heart beating. It was a dead giveaway when you panic.” He answered then turned his face forwards to watch the woman before grunting as he pushed her sword back with her body as well, a couple feet to have distance between her and Alura.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZPc7j5Y8I
This shove caused her to slide to a stop, growling and glaring at him she couldn’t believe he would stop her from getting her meal. She thought the deal was any humans to somehow get onto the forbidden land were hers to eat. “You bastard! How dare you take away my prey! She’s mine! I found her first so leave now and let me have my meal!” The woman snapped glaring colder with rage as Ginsu turned his back to her, helping Alura to stand up and looked back at the woman.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWFCHBAIg6
Ginsu couldn’t keep the smirk off his face when seeing her so angry. “Sorry but I was always told not to help out strangers. And you are a stranger as we don’t know each other.” He grinned chuckling softly. This only increased the demon woman’s rage more. Wanting him to know not to mock her she screeched out a high pitch noise that made Alura yell in pain, falling to the ground on her knees, crumpling forwards while holding her head to cover her ears in pain. Ginsu’s breath caught as he looked at the curled up human. He growled glaring at the woman as she charged to attack, his body turning to face her fully as her blade ready across to her side sliced outwards. A loud clang came as the blade was knocked away and flew into the air, stabbing into the ground has it landed some feet away. He swung his blade down, releasing a strong burst of water into the chest of the demon. The woman flew back screaming before slamming into a tree, coughing as the air was forced out of her lungs.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB9Sq1Qhpr
The demon woman coughed sitting in the grass and dirt as Ginsu stepped closer to her with no emotion of warmth or kindness in his cold eyes, as he glared down upon the demon woman who had slowly started to get to her knees looking up, her form looking like a piece of garbage about to beg for life. “Pl-pl-please…don’t kill me. Look, I didn’t mean to hurt her. I didn’t realize she was with you.” She spoke quickly to try and save her own neck, giving him a wary smile as he came to stand in front of her silently. “So…let’s just forget this ever happened and be on our way.” Her voice was calmer feeling confident he was listening and would spare her, pausing at times from being out of breath and swallowing. She carefully stood using the tree behind her for support, waiting hopeful for him to speak.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz8swi6Fg8
Unfortunately for her no words came from Ginsu. This caused her face to slowly fall as she saw her words meant nothing to him. His blade suddenly shot up from his side to press firmly against the side of her neck then, slowly more pressure was applied and began to cut into her flesh, drawing blood. She screamed out in pain but it was quickly resolved by a strong increase of force on the steel item, ending her dying screams by cutting them short when the blade sliced through her vocal cords. Then finally, exiting the other side of her neck her head fell to the ground with a dull ‘thud’ and, rolled to his feet as the body fell over on its side dead and bleeding. Ginsu kicked the head to the body without remorse or respect for the dead creature, and turned away while pulling out a rag, wiping off the blade then sheathing it.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcG8xilBeh
He stepped back over to Alura while hiding the stained fabric in his pocket. Noticing she was slowly starting to sit up and open her eyes he briskly took his place in front of her, offering her a kind hand and helped her stand again. He remained in her way so she wouldn’t see the beheaded corpse of the demon woman, not wanting her to have nightmares. “Are you alright?” he asked concerned as he kept his body in her view, in a way forcing her to look at him.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGSLa6iT6h
Alura was silent, listening to the rain before answering. “…yes…” she whispered while watching his eyes as he hugged her into his chest, kissing the top of her head.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3pVMjcz67
“I’m glad.” Ginsu expressed gratefully with a breath. Gently he picked her up into his arms and began to walk out of the forest. The rain starting to lighten was the only sound to bring peace as he had her low enough she couldn’t see over his shoulder, only look up to him or out the way they were going.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mvV4NfZiF
“…thank you. I’m…sorry for what I said earlier.” Alura whispered quietly, resting her head against his chest with her eyes half open, listening to his soft heartbeat. It was nice and sounded as kind as he was.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbeUAh4Lav
Ginsu looked down to her softly, gently shaking his head. “It’s fine. I know it’s hard but…please, just give it a little more time. I know you’re upset and want answers. I can give you answers if you are willing to give me time to figure out how to present them.” He explained taking a slow breath, honesty reflecting in his eyes. “Everything will be alright. Trust me.” Alura nodded softly and yawned, slowly closed her eyes, resting against his chest as she drifted into a peaceful sleep. I just hope things don’t go out of control during the days you’ll be here. Ginsu thought and continued on to the palace. He hoped she would never see him have to kill, not wanting her to see him as anything other than helpful and kind.1004Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFyETkOV7S
He carefully began to pick up speed, allowing his aura to surround them and they vanished, appearing in the large entryway of the palace. Water dripped off them and it wasn’t exactly quiet as he made his way upstairs, calling for a maid to get Alura dried off and into a dry outfit, not wanting her to get sick if that hadn’t happened already. Seeing Alura was taken care of he made his way to his own chambers to get dry and changed.
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