Dark Ronin - The Woman with No Master

Chapter 10

Staring up at the ceiling, I saw nothing but Ryuu's words swirling around my head. His confession pounded my head and attacked my heart; but my walls stayed strong. At least, that's what I thought. I felt tears welling on the brims of my eyelids.

The last time I cried was after the day my brother died. Since then, I vowed never to shed a tear again- a vow I planned to keep-and that no one was on my side. But I guess I didn't notice that one person, yet it's probably already too late. So why should I care? Plus, I could never be the woman for him with who I am, not now. Sliding his shirt onto my lap, I started to slowly repair the seams. I mindless well fix it; if he didn't want it, I'll keep it. I don't know why I should even bother, though, it's nothing special.

It's funny how life goes; it takes someone else for me to realize what I really want. But I guess that's how life is, at least for me. I wonder if it's just me or this happens to everybody. I want him to be happy but I don't know. Being with him is something I can't or am ready to do.

I don't even know if I feel the same or understand what is going on in my own head. Pushing the shirt aside, I saw the tiny red pricks on my fingers. I was so consumed in my thoughts that I didn't even notice them. I guess I'll figure it sooner or later.

*One Month Later*

"Ryuu! Ryuu, Ryuu!" I squealed, running into the record room where he stood alone (this is where the entire country's old records are kept on file in the palace before they knew what computers was); "I'm guessing this is something big your about to tell me," he brightly smiled.

"Yes," I shortly shouted, "remember what today is?" Ryuu laughed and mischievously smirked, "No, I don't think I do-," he said; "Bou, don't play with me," I said with a pout, interrupting him.

"Okay, okay. Yeah, I remember. How could I forget? It's your birthday, the only day I'm gonna even try to remember," he genuinely smiled, while leaning lightly on the tall book shelf. I sighed greatly and smacked my hand the side of my head.

Should I punch this fool or no? "You surprise me with how much you forget. Are you sure you're not older than 18?" I retorted with a glare; "Boy, y'all funny," Ri Ri stated, propping her feet on the mahogany desk, just chilling her life away. While I placed my hands on my hips, Ryuu stated confused, "What? It is," he directed to me, then to Ri Ri, "-and where did you come from?"

"Yeah, you're supposed to be preparing for coronation," I directed to the little chick. "Well dang, I like how y'all just gang up on me," Ri Ri said ghastly; "-She's okay for now. That is until Miss Jammy finds us.

Plus, coronation is a couple months away," her brother, Tii, entered. Shaking my head, I couldn't help but smile; and even Ryuu was giggling. "Well, anyway, I'm gonna need you to quit with the little games, sir, because there is a beauty waiting for me outside just a calling my name.

And we both are getting impatient, so time to go," I said as a matter of fact-ly, whirling my attention to Ryuu. "Ah," he huffed as he remembered and rubbed his head unsure and pained. "Wait, how come she gets to drive your BMW, which you always say no one else can ride but YOU, and y'all won't even teach me some of y'all martial arts?" Ri Ri spat angrily.

Ryuu looked cornered, the prince watched amusingly, and I looked on with exasperation. "Well first, I can do what I want 'cause I'm older. Secondly, I still can do I want 'cause I'm ME. And thirdly, you don't even go to class which you're supposed to be in right now. Owh yeah, and lastly, you don't need to learn our fighting skills 'cause- hold up, wait for it- 'cause..... I said SO," I spoke with a sarcastically high head and a smirk, "and why do you wanna learn anyway? You ain't 'bout to fight anyone," I cocked my head with sudden seriousness while she remained silently defeated.

But what's that little glint in her eyes? "Nothing, just..." she mumbled off weirdly while avoiding my eye. What the heck is up with her? Grabbing Ryuu's keys out of his jacket, I shrugged the spec of uneasiness and patted her head. Skipping with delight, I popped into the plush, leathery driver's seat.

The rest of the group jumped in behind me with a slightly nervous Ryuu sliding in the front. "Don't worry so much, I know how to drive. I won't hurt your baby, trust," I stated with a wide grin and pulled his stiff, grief stricken cheek.

Ah yes, let's get it. We rode at 90 for a while, then dropped off by the busy marketplace. Ryuu walked off to the iron furnace to get a glimpse of some antique swords, and the two kids scouted the rest of the concessions and shops.

As Ryuu met up with us, someone almost bumped into Tii, who stood in the middle of me, Ri Ri, and Ryuu. Before they could accidentally crash, I stopped the woman – whose head was so high she couldn't see below her – and the group.

Well dang, what she looking for? "Hold. Ma'am, don't you think you should walk with your head a little more leveled so you won't bump into someone," I stated while the lady's head shot down with a striking glare to where I could actually see her broad face.

A surge of astonishment, anger, and so many other mixed emotions knocked my head off my shoulders. Glancing at Ryuu's pale, and pain stricken face, I noticed the long standing stare between him and the well-known stranger.

Finally, I started remembering back to Ryuu's fifteenth birthday, and instantly noticed the unfathomable, cold, stoned looking stranger from then was the same woman perched in front of me. Oh yeah, that's his ma... Oh no, her again? Poor Ryuu; but it's time to escape.

"Wanna be left alone?" I whispered with my eyes glued to Ryuu's mom. He lightly glared at me through the slits of his eyes; and I returned a reassured, demanding look. "That was a no." he huffed. Turning to leave, I brushed his arm and spoke, "I had no intention of giving you a choice. Talk to her." The kids and I retired to a nearby clothes stand to eavesdrop on the steamy conversation.

"Ma'am,"

"Ryuu... hm-"

"No. Unless you have something important to say, I don't really care to hear," Why he gotta be so mean to her?

Silence. Ryuu started walking.

"Ryuu. I know you hate me and that won't change. But I'm not asking for you to forgive me, though I plan on being in your life from now on. As a Takashi, you are now old and strong enough to take care of your duties. Later on, I shall stop by the palace to discuss this with you further. I don't expect any intruding's," the seemingly estranged woman said before striding off. Now I remember why I have such a distaste for her bougie butt.

Slowly tiptoeing back to Ryuu's side, my eyes threw daggers at the rigid woman's back. "Are you okay?" the group stammered simultaneously. Running my hand to his arm, I watched his emotionless figure. And without looking, he stated, "I'll meet y'all later," and walked off, shrugging my hand off of his arm. "Wish I could help him," I mumbled to no one. The rest of the crew walked a little longer while Ri Ri squealed at the different objects and materials stationed on the train line of tables; and her brother bought everything she picked.

A bit of unwanted nausea flew over me as I silently watched. Quit thinking 'bout him. As the time tediously ticked away, I came across a stand holding a stunning black leather choker with small diamond shaped rubies brightly encased in the leather forming a line around the necklace, a huge round ruby embedded in the middle with tiny diamonds circling it, and a medium-sized blue quartz in the shape of a droplet hanging lone from the rest with a chandelier like clasp holding it to the necklace. An enchanted like ring stood by its where a ruby was perched in the middle with tiny, pebbled diamonds danced around it like perky leaf stems traveling up a wall.

The whole set was so gorgeous that I almost gasped. Too pretty for my ruff hands. "Neera, come on. Ryuu might be waiting in the car," Ri Ri yelled from a little distance. Ops, how'd I forget 'bout him so quickly? Thinking of the unfortunate encounter earlier, I started walking just as I caught a glimpse of a watching shadow. It disappeared in a flash, so I couldn't tell who it was or if I really even saw it. Come on with the mind tricks. On the way to the car, I determined it was too mind-boggling to ponder on.