Razeluxe and Sakura
Sakura had decided not to go along with the other three that had left to find a woman that Willow had tied up to a tree. She cringed inwardly, unable to really imagine being sunken into a tree as she'd overheard. So, she stayed at the campsite and inside the tent where she was currently folding up the blanket and bed roll she'd used the night before. Shyc's was already done up. It seemed a morning ritual for him as it was the very first thing he'd done before leaving. The princess hummed lightly to herself as she worked the bed roll into... well, a roll. It wasn't really cooperating with her though. She sighed a bit as she sat back and stared at it with a small frown.
In great contrast to the 'peaceful' setting that Sakura was in but moments ago, Razeluxe decided to crash that as soon as he entered the tent, as abrupt as his entrance in. With the subtely of a honeybadger tearing a cobra apart, he made his way into the tent, along with a particularly apprehensive expression plastered on his face. "It doesn't look like I can keep my focus on other things at the moment, so I'll be more blunt than normal, Sakura." the young man was of course directing his gaze at the only other person in the tent, and his tone was more serious than normal. He crossed his arms and then simply said, "What are you?
Her heart lurched in her chest as the sound of the tent flap being ripped back filled the air, breaking her humming into a small squeak of surprise. Whirling around on her knees, she laid eyes upon Raze whose facial expression was of stone as usual. Except his voice was much more serious and cold. Her face paled from the words, her heart thrumming hard at the shock and a slight pain starting to brew there. Clenching her small fingers, she willed it to go away.
"Raze!" she breathed in shock. Her mouth opened and closed for a moment as she tried to comprehend his question, "W-what am I? I... I don't know what you mean, Raze. What are you talking about?" her color returned then, dusting a faint blush across her cheeks and nose.
His eyes narrowed a bit, indicating the response he got only irritated him to a degree. He'd have to be more clear, it would seem, and since he knew she was hiding something (and at this point, he was unlikely to be wrong about what that 'something' was), he really was not in the mood for any games. "I've respected your privacy up until now, and I would have much preferred it if it could remain that way, but that is no longer the case, Sakura. You need to explain to me why you're being targeted by mercenaries, and you need to do so now".
Sakura's gaze widened in shock. His narrowed eyes and sharp tone told her that she'd irritated him in a way that wasn't very good. She reached up, her fingers curling tightly over her chest. Unable to meet his hard gaze, she looked down at the floor of the tent. Clenching her teeth she tried to think of what to say. Nothing came to mind. The princess had been stupid to think that they wouldn't ever find out about her origin's. The moment they found out, they would haul her back to the castle and there'd be nothing for it. The thought alone trigged a cold, haunting feeling. When she spoke her voice was hollowed and soft.
"I'm sorry, Raze. I'm Sakura Dieriean," she said knowing that the last name alone was enough to tell him who she was alone. Taking a shaking deep breath she continued only for a moment longer, "I left because my mother had always locked me in the castle, in my room. I'd never been allowed out because of my condition. She's afraid that I'll die from this... heart disease I have... what ever that means," she whispered the last part. She could already feel the dull pain aching there. The emotions weren't quite strong enough yet. She couldn't bear to look at him.
Razeluxe had never once claimed he was someone who had never experienced the emotion of fear. Contrary to popular belief, the mostly stoic man had oftentimes felt this both on and off the battlefield, with the most common cause being the 'what if' of the possibility that someone from his group were to perish in battle. He was too prideful to admit it, obviously, but that never changed the fact that he did indeed exhibit such emotions on an almost daily basis. However, it had been quite the while since he had ever openly displayed fright, and were any of the other members of the mercenary group here at this moment, they may or may not have thought this to be a dream. You see, Razeluxe took his hands and ran them through his hair before sighing... audibly. His expression more or less turned pale as a ghost and he took a few deep breaths inwards as he attempted to calm himself down.
He had essentially just committed a crime so big it would have an entire country after not only him, but the people he considered family. Even if he were to attempt to explain the situation to the country, it was very unlikely they'd even give him the few moments of life to spare it, as he was likely just considered a group of mercenaries by them. After all, that's exactly what they were, but the added title of 'kidnapping' could not be argued before they were executed. And if he ever claimed to want something less than pissing a country off, he was surely lying.
But he had lived quite a long time, compared to a normal human being. He had much knowledge and wisdom, right? There had to be some way out of this without the death of him or anyone else. He thought long and hard, but at the moment, nothing would come. "Right... right..." being 'stumped' for a plan wasn't a situation he often found himself in. But neither was finding out your newest member was actually royalty who had ran away. Nonexistant royaty, mind you. If he knew about the daughter before, he'd have suspected her almost immediately. "...So you're royalty and we've been keeping you in a peasant's tent. That's likely not going to imrpess anyone...." What was with him? No, he couldn't say anything of significance right now. There was just a dreadful feeling and image of him being beheaded. It replayed over and over and over and over in his mind. While he was thankful thoughts of the others weren't apparent, it was still nothing to laugh at.
"What... why would you stay with us, then?" he managed to ask as his composure returned to him.
His heavy sigh made her wince and she chanced a quick glance upwards. His face had lost all color and that scared her. She wasn't sure what it was he was thinking but it obviously wasn't good. His long silence was driving her crazy and her heart was seemingly seizing up as she knelt there. Eventually his voice filled the tent again and she jumped yet again, flinching openly as he spoke. She'd looked down again as he mused out loud about keeping her in a peasants tent. Not that she had ever minded, she'd enjoyed it actually. It was far better than her bedroom back at the castle. However, she couldn't get the words to come free from her lips, frozen in shock and fear.
Her voice hiccuped a moment, a shaking breath that filled her lungs before she answered his question, "Because. I... I really like it here. Its so much better than being stuck in that room, everyday. Everyday! Raze. I was never allowed out of that room! I never say my mother, and I never saw my father. He died without my knowing it until weeks later! Is that anyway someone should be living? I can't..." she choked a bit, "I won't go back. I know that my staying with you will probably make my mother angry. But I can tell her that I left on my own will. If it helps you, I can just leave. But I'm not going back. You can just... pretend I was never here and you won't have to say anything to my mother.".
"It is too late for that."
The king of Duun was already aware of who she was staying with, and it could be at any time that this information leaked to her mother. All they would really be doing was 'dumping her and running', which would look worse from a noble's viewpoint. The fact of the matter was that it was neigh impossible for them to rid themselves of her and get off scotch-free. Besides, the others had grown attached to her, no, they had grown attached to her. She was now a member of their family, even if she was royalty. Simply ditching her to save himself would leave Razeluxe with a very nasty taste in his mouth. Like he was betraying her, and he would never do that to a friend. She wouldn't be going away from them, not if she wasn't headed towards her mother, and with her determined tone, that was unlikely to happen anytime soon, if she had any say in it.
He was not oblivious to the girl's pleas. From how she described it, she might as well have been dead if she were to remain locked in her room. That kind of life - isn't. "Now that I've thought about it..." he began, stroking his chin a bit. "We might not be dead just yet, but you're going to have to go home --- at least long enough to help explain something to the Queen. I've my doubts she's informed about where you are as of yet, considering we haven't any royal guards or men pursuing us. Would this be fine?" he'd ditched his panicked self for the more usual, calm one he typically wore. It was how every leader should act, he had just been a fool for a moment. Emotions like fear were, as aforementioned, fatal to have.
Sakura's breathing quickened rapidly. Too late... she could feel warm tears edging their way to her eyes. Then he continued after a long while. Looking up at him, she listened quietly though she didn't like it all that much. Biting back her quick disagreement to the plan, slowly she nodded. He wanted her to explain to her mother that she had left on her own, but was her mother really going to listen to her? Sakura knew the answer to that already. She could already hear the cage doors slamming shut, but she didn't say anything more. The princess knew that if she fought anymore, she'd be a burden to them and more importantly, they'd had to deal with her mother who wasn't an easy woman to confront to begin with. The least she could do for their kindness of allowing her to go with them was to go back and talk with the Queen. Sakura could return the hospitality to them by keeping them out of trouble with the royal guard.
Curling her arms around her waist, she closed her eyes, "Alright." she whispered back.
"It's likely to ease matters if you're there when we explain to her that the King of Duun was plotting to kidnap you." He uncrossed his arms and his gaze reverted back to its norm. As far as he was concerned, this information alone was enough to satisfy the original request made by her Highness. Since she wished to discover Duun's intentions, this would prove hostility more than movement within the army of Duun. For them to know where a nonexistant Princess was before even her own mother meant that they had to have had an eye on her since before she even ventured away from the castle. If they hoped that capturing her would somehow give them an edge in the war or something, it was beyond anything Razeluxe could comprehend with the information present.
"Sakura," he began after a brief moment of silence. "I'm not willing to just let you off without a fight. I hope you're aware of this. Willow'd have my head even if your mother if I didn't, were I to do such. Plus, I'd never hear the end of it from Shyc."
Looking up sharply, she watched him for a long while, "Duun's King... wants me?" she breathed. She looked down at the floor again, not entirely sure how to take that information. It was silent for a while before he spoke again. This time her heart skipped a beat not from fear or anything like that. Sakura took a deep breath, raising her head again she watched him carefully. Her cheeks flared a darker red this time, "You... want me to stay? Really? Can I truly stay with you?"
"I am not the kind of man who goes back on his word." the hybrid responded, this time so much as allowing a small, reassuring smile on his face to appear. And he had grown quite attached to her since the few days ago that she had first arrived. She was brimming with energy, but spent it asking meaningful questions rather than annoying him as Shyc did often. And while that was endearing in a way, Sakura's childish curiousity was also a refreshing change from him. He did not dislike Shyc, but he DID need a break every now and then.