Chasing Dreams (Discontinued)

Chapter 231: The Number Three Separates You and Me

She had lost her father. Lost her best friend. Lost her lover. Lost her child. And later even lost her life. However, she never lost her drive to fight for everything beautiful in the world.

"Maija?" Ren struggled to speak. His mouth was heavy, like it was filled with wet cement. He tried to move his fingers, but his repeated attempts became fruitless endeavors.

"W-what did you do? My body won't move the way I want it to." Ren groaned. His voice sounded odd, like a concoction of pain and fatigue.

"I did what I do best. I knocked some sense into you." Maija kneeled and felt the back of Ren's head. After getting a good feel, she removed her hand and glanced at her fingers. They were sticky with blood, her king's blood. "But if you want to get into specifics, I crushed your cerebellum. You won't be moving for a while."

Maija gently rubbed Ren's cheek. He could tell she was trying her best to soothe him. "Pasensiya na." she apologized. "I wish this didn't happen to you. But the Gods are immoral and unforgiving. Everything in our world is for them to play with including this foolish game Mataji chose to involve you in."

Maija lifted Ren and tossed him over her broad shoulder. He found it embarrassing that Maija could easily move him like a child, but he was thankful nonetheless. Maija placed Ren on Ninka's back next to Manasa.

"I'll be taking guardianship over Renji Tachibana, and Manasa Tachibana for the time being." Maija announced. "I'm sure there won't be any objections towards me removing these nuisances out of your village."

Manasa nearly gasped. "Nuisance?"

"Just go with it sugar." Maija whispered.

"On the contrary." Ulan grumbled, managing to get back on his feet. His face was matted in blood, but after a slow swipe of his hand, most of the blood cleared from his face.

"Oh no..." Manasa mumbled. Much to her surprise, Ulan's wounds weren't as severe as she initially thought. Considering how viciously Ren had attacked him, Manasa thought her father was close to killing him. In actuality, most of the blood on Ulan's face was Ren's.

Manasa looked at Ren's hands. The torn skin from his knuckles and fractured fingers were slowly mending themselves together like a forged weapon.

"Renji and that runt need to be judged by the elders. I can't just let you leave. If you'd like to stay fine, I'm more than willing to make some arrangements. But you'd have to give me something in return." Ulan grinned.

Maija frowned, immediately understanding what he was initiating. "You see. Shit like this is why I hate Fujiwara men. They're rabbits who don't know how to operate unless their second head is somehow involved."

"I reject your offer." Maija said bluntly. "I'm not interested in weak men. Besides, I only like a man who can take me."

Ulan's grin twisted into an excited smile. He liked the challenge. Fiery personalities only made the hunt better. After all, that's how he wedded his three wives.

"Oh no." Manasa trembled. "They aren't going to let us leave, are they?"

"Not likely." Maija admitted. "But don't worry I'll get us-"

Maija froze like a dear stuck in the headlights when fully turned to see Manasa's face. She saw Manasa's nose was horribly bruised, and her lip was busted open.

"Manasa, who did that to you?" Maija suddenly asked. Manasa rarely got hurt and when she did everyone knew why. 

Manasa's eyes gave her an answer. She couldn't look at Maija directly. She looked away in shame before mustering up the courage to speak. "Him." She pointed. "They call him Ulan. He kicked me when Tachi and I were trying to escape. Tachi got really angry and tried to defend me, but...."