The Water Phoenix

Chapter 5: Small Chat.

The entrance was yanked open. But no one came. The wind was playing tricks on me. I sighed. A bead of sweat rolled down my neck.

And so I started waiting. Minutes stretched into hours. Hours became meaningless. I started to go numb where they had blocked my arms and legs. I looked around in the tent. A dark red, with heavy curtains to block out the pale winter light. After having stared at the walls for more than thirty minutes, my eyes slowly started closing themselves. My vision became hazy. Finally, sleep pulled me in its arms.
The FireBird Ruler, no where in sight.

After, I don't know how long, I opened my eyes. An arrow of pain pierced my neck. Sleeping without a pillow is hard. I groaned and turned it in circles. In the middle of a one of them, I felt a presence in the tent. My eyes narrowed. They darted around, quicker than light.

And finally, I saw a stunningly beautiful man in a corner. He was wearing a blue silk shirt. It cascaded over his body perfectly. His legs were enveloped by dark blue pants, with a wonderful drawing of the sea during a storm. Clean boots winked at his feet. His body looked muscular and strong. His face was in the shadows, I couldn't make out the details, but I could tell the girls in my village would go crazy over him.

A small smile spread on his face. "Good morning. Have you slept well? I hope you won't get mad I asked your clothes to be changed in a more lady-like style." He said. His voice like pure velvet.

I look down at my body and realised, I was not chained anymore by rusty old loops, and my dress had changed. Just as the pretty stranger had said. I was now wearing a dark green kimono. It had the picture of a sunset in a forest onto it. It felt like water, and shielded me from the cold. I had never wore something so beautiful. But wearing this kimono didn't distract me. I whipped me head up and glared at him.

"Who are you?!" I tried saying, but since I was still gagged it came out like, "Mmmmmmmmmmu!"

His smile turned into a frown. "I told them to take your gag off. Some of them are so stupid." He said.

With that he started getting up from his chair. The shadows detached themselves from his face and body, tracking the details. My eyes widened.

He had beautiful dark hair pulled up in a bun. His nose was perfect. His jawline sharp. A scar ran lightly from his ear to jawbone. His eyes glimmered softly. They were a beautiful coal black colour. Something dark nestled in them. A tattoo peaked out from his chest. Before seeing him properly, I didn't feel well. His presence dark and menacing. But now that I could see him in his terrifying beauty, from dark and menacing morphed into pure terror.

I felt my limbs block, but I told myself to let them go. I was captured, yes. But I wouldn't let anyone, and I meant anyone scare me in this stupid camp. So I made all my fear slip away and seep in the ground.

The stranger came close. His hand went to my mouth and ripped the gag off. I felt my mouth free of the intruder that had been my for too long. The taste of the cloth still lingered. I sat up and wiped my mouth. "Who are you?" I repeated. This time, my voice low.

The stranger smiled. "Well, since you ask, I will give you an answer after having learned your name. And why you were in the army." His smile turned brutal. I slightly coward back.

I then sat straight up. "My name is Keiko Shoge. I joined the army for my parents. My brother having gambled with our money." After I said that, I realised I gave too much information.

The stranger smiled. "My name is Natsuhito. And I am the ruler of the FireBirds."

I had felt that, but not that it was proved I shivered. "How long will I stay here?" I hissed.

Natsuhito turned around. "Oh forever."