♦⊱ Chapter 27 - Present and Past ⊰♦

Ruka pov:

"Manager, I'm heading home for the day!" I called to the man who handled the restaurant I worked at.

"Sure! See you on Thursday," he called back with a friendly wave.

I waved to my colleagues and left the restaurant. The walk back to my house was about fifteen minutes but I decided to take a small detour today through the park so I could play some tennis as exercise...and to get my mind off some thoughts that had been bothering me quite a bit off late.

Six months had gone by since I returned from the past – everything had fallen back to the way it was before I had traversed to the past though my lifestyle differed from what I had thought I would make it to be. I decided against studying and graduation for I had got far too used to the carefree lifestyle I had had when with Kichiro sama. Well, that wasn't the only reason – I knew that paying for the graduation exam would be difficult in our current financial condition. As such, I took up a full time job at a five star restaurant that ensured a good enough salary that not only took care of the extra expenses from my arrival but also relaxed the intense restraint we had on other things we all wished to buy.

The main reason why I was able to get a salary higher than most of the other waitresses in the restaurant was my knowledge in four different foreign languages. With customers from different countries flowing in, I was able to have fluent conversations with them and ensure that their visit to the restaurant was pleasant.

Besides how we had settled into the routine, Mother, Papa, and Kojiro had noticed that I had become a lot silent compared to how I was before. They were worried that I was affected by whatever accident had happened in the two years I had been missing, even worried that my hallucinations of traveling to the past was yet to go away after numerous counseling sessions – I felt guilty for worrying them so I had forced myself to be cheerful again, for the most part anyway. Behind the smiled and cheerfulness that I expressed, I was still sad, lonely, and hurt. With each passing day, I missed Kichiro sama more and more. I wanted to see him. I wanted to fall into his warm, strong embraces. I wanted to feel his soft lips on mine.

I missed him so much.

During the times I was alone, my thoughts wandered. I would zone out, everything around me fading into a blur. I would be hit by the past brutally and when I couldn't endure it, I would cry.

The weekends were better though – I hung out with Kiyo, Yuri, and Akira. Being with them took my mind off all the stressful thoughts. I even got a good workout for my body, playing basketball and tennis. We played songs together every now and then too, fine tuning our coordination to become a better band. If Mother and Kojiro were free, we took long walks through the park. Other times, we'd just do window-shopping in the local mall. We couldn't buy anything but we never missed eating a cone of ice cream from the famous ice cream store just outside the mall.

I returned to the presets when I made it to the tennis grounds in the park. I kept by belongings away and reached for the free racquets. I stood in front of the tennis ball machine and waited for it to begin its constant onslaught at me. I was a decent player and with the machine's level set at normal, I was able to return every single shot. I alternated with both hands so I got an equal amount of exercise on both sides of the body. I soon began to tire out, my muscles burning from the over-exertion, but I didn't stop.

"Goodness, just look at her! She's been playing without a pause for almost two hours! She's going to get injured if she doesn't stop," I heard someone say as they passed by me.

I ignored their words and continued playing till the last ball shot out of the tennis ball machine on my third round. I finally relaxed my stance, dropping the racquet to the ground while heaving through my mouth. I shut my eyes as they prickled but wasn't spared from heart ache as, yet again, Kichiro sama's face flashed in front of them. On this day, six months ago, I had been separated from him and I hadn't been able to stop thinking about him in the least.

I fell to my knees on the ground keeping my eyes closed and covered them with a trembling arm. I bit my lip and took deep breaths to calm down. When I was calm, I lowered my arm while opening my eyes. Exhaling deeply once, I got up while wiping off the tear stains and cleared out the tennis balls, putting all of the equipment including my racquet in their respective places. I picked up my things after that and left.

I stopped for a moment in front of a vending machine to get myself a can of apple juice. It was thirst-quenching enough to make a little energy return to my body. I then took a seat on a bench in the main park, drinking my juice as I watched the people who passed by with no thoughts in mind.

Kichiro sama pov:

Blood splattered across my face as I sliced off the arm of another rebel who attacked me. He screamed in pain but was soon silenced when my katana pierced through his heart. I shook the blood off the blade and stepped forward to take out the other rebels who had gathered on this battlefield to kill me.

The b****** Ruka had called her friend and who had miraculously survived on the day I had killed him in his village had brought all of these men to commence the war that was long overdue. They had tried to kill me on the day I wed Ruka and take her away from me again. She had disappeared in a flash of light though and I hadn't seen her since. Not once in the six months that had passed.

I had only been fooled again. There was not one person in the world who could be trusted, for what they were on the outside was not what they were on the inside. Ruka had promised me that she would never leave me, she had spouted lies about loving me – she had only made a fool out of me. She had made a fool out of me, Lord Kurai! And she would not be spared. That filthy wench would not be spared!

However, no matter how angry I was at her, I could not, even for a moment, forget the warm smiles she had given me. I could not forget the sense of belonging and completeness I had felt in every moment she was with me. Despite the unbearable rage I felt, my chest felt tight every time I thought of Ruka. It was painful and suffocating and a sort of desperation to see her bubbled fiercely within me. I felt even more enraged at this weakness and wished nothing more than to slaughter every last person on these lands.

Since she disappeared, a full blown war had broken out with the Red Eagle Organization – they had an army much bigger and stronger than what I had expected. But they were still no match for me. Two months after the start of the war, they went into hiding and returned a week ago with an even bigger army trained in all variations of combat. They were putting up a good fight but it was only a matter of time before they lost.

I blocked another attack and killed another rebel without a bat of an eyelid. I walked through the numerous bloody bodies that littered the battlefield, unaffected by the dark red that soaked the earth. It was the blood of traitors and foolish soldiers who were not worthy to be under my command, for they were weak! All of these people were fools!

"Your Majesty," a commander spoke when he and the remaining soldiers of my army gathered behind me as I looked over the now silent battlefield. This battle had been won and there was just the capital of the enemy to be taken down so the last province was fully under my control.

"Send out a message for the remaining troops to gather. We are going to crush them," I seethed, venom dripping off every word I spoke.

Kijima flinched but spoke, "Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but shouldn't you rest for a bit before-"

"SILENCE!" I bellowed, breathing heavily. Kijima lowered his gaze and bowed with a noticeable tremble. "I will not stop until everything is dirt at my feet and I will not hesitate to slaughter anyone who tries to get in my way, even you."

"F-Forgive me, Your Majesty. I will relay your message to the other troops immediately," Kijima answered and left.

I got on my horse and turned to face the man who stood behind me, ready to attack on my command. They were soon joined by another troop twice as big and I turned to face the direction of the capital, the palace of the enemy who would soon be dead by my hands.

I momentarily glanced at the dark clouds that had gathered above us, thunder and lightning striking every now and then. I then looked ahead, my eyes narrow in anger at the thought of the b****** that Ruka had called her friend once, the b****** that I was going to kill along with his precious emperor.

I kicked the sides of my horse with my heels and my men followed me to the final battlefield. The leader of the Red Eagle was fighting some of my men I had sent in prior to my arrival along with a few others of his subordinated. He was wounded here and there, blood staining his clothes, but he did not seem ready to give up. When he heard my horse and met my gaze, rage flashed in his eyes. However, there was also a noticeable spark of fright – he had understood that his chances of winning or even living had been crushed.

I dismounted and unsheathed my katana, my blood boiling in anger. I noticed him eye my blood-soaked katana before meeting my eyes again, having understood that it was the blood of his fallen comrades. My men followed suit but didn't have to deal with any resistance. The leader dropped his katana, shaking his head in helplessness. He knew he had lost this war and he had given up.

I stepped to him, narrowing my eyes as he met my gaze with immense pride and ego still lingering. It angered me and I raised my katana to behead him, to wipe that damn expression off his face. He closed his eyes and waited for his demise but an ear-piercing thunder that echoed through the skies caused the ground below us to shake. The ground shook more and began to split.

We jumped out of the way but it gave the b****** a chance to attack me. He had picked up his katana and he lunged at me. Despite the violent quakes, we fought each other, sharp clangs emanating every time our blade met. I found an opening soon and thrust my blade forward, leaving a blood-oozing gash in his side. My eyes went wide though and I coughed, tasting blood in my mouth. I looked down to see that he had managed to strike me as well, leaving a deep wound in my torso.

"Your Majesty!" Kijima hollered, having seen me injured.

Both I and the enemy stumbled back, pulling out our katanas from each other. I clutched the wound and hissed in pain, feeling blood trickle down my chin. I was used to pain, I was used to wounds like this, but I knew that I had to be treated quickly. If I wasn't, I would bleed too much and lose my life. The b****** in front of me was in the same condition, coughing up blood as he collapsed to his knees.

He was weak and this was my chance to finish him. I raised my katana to give the finishing blow but stumbled as the earth below us split again, quickly and wide this time. We both fell into the deep depths of the crevice. I cursed under my breath as I was unable to get a hold on anything to stop my fall.

"Your Majesty!" Kijima called and I soon saw him jump into the crevice to follow me.

I clenched my fists at how the tables had turned now – all the effort I had put in to becoming the Supreme Ruler was for naught. Just when everything was in my hands, it had slipped away so easily. Everything was over.

I closed my eyes with my jaw tightly clenched. It was not long after that I landed on the hard ground. It sent a jolt of immense pain through me – something that had been a memory of the past until now. I could hear Kijima call out to me, call my name, but my consciousness was quickly fading. Kijima's voice too faded out and everything was enveloped by darkness.

Ruka pov:

I threw my empty can of apple juice in the trash can as I stood, ready to head home. I stretched once when I was standing, groaning at the strain I felt in my arms from all the tennis I had played today. I then exited the park and walked through the deserted streets to my apartment.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" I heard a familiar voice suddenly and I stopped walking. I frowned, narrowing my eyes and followed the anxious voice to a side street. I came to a halt, my eyes as wide as dinner plates when I saw something I had not even dreamed to see.

"K-Kichiro sama? A-and Kijima san?" I mumbled.

Kijima san looked up at me upon hearing my voice and his eyes went wide, "Your Highness, Ruka sama?"

My surprise was cut short when I noticed blood on Kichiro sama's clothes and the slowly enlarging pool of blood below him. My heart rose to my mouth and I hurried to them.

"Oh my goodness, Kichiro sama!" I hollered and cupped his face with my hands. His body temperature was hot but he was pale and breathing heavily, blood dripping down the sides of his face. I soon noticed the hideous wound on his side. I heard a groan to my left and my eyes went wide again at the person I spotted a few feet from us. "Tomoki? What the-what is going on here?! Shit!"

I reached for my phone, seeing that I had no time to waste and dialed the emergency number.

"Hello? Yes, there's been an accident here on Abc street, in Jkl locality! Two people are bleeding! Please, you have to send help quickly!"

Once I was off the phone, I touched Kijima san's arm. "Kijima san, you shouldn't be shaking Kichiro sama like that – he'll only bleed more!"

"Don't tell me what to do!" he snapped, his eyes swirling with both anger and worry.

"Please, Kijima san, you have to calm down. I've just called for help and some people will be here soon to help Kichiro sama."

The ambulance was quick to arrive. Kijima san got startled by the vehicle and even more by the four people who rushed towards us. He reached for his katana but I placed my hand on his before he could draw it. I flinched and retracted my hand at the icy glare he gave me though – it was the first time he had given me such a vicious expression, after all. I inhaled deeply to keep my cool.

"These people are trained doctors who've come to help Kichiro sama," I said. "They will be able to help him. Please, you must refrain from attacking them."

He was reluctant but allowed the doctors to move Kichiro sama and Tomoki onto stretchers before they were loaded into the ambulance. I took a hold of Kijima san's hand and had him get into the ambulance along with me.

If this was any other time, I was sure Kijima san would have been wondering how the ambulance was moving and where we were being taken and questioned me about it. But he was too worried about Kichiro sama at the moment to notice any of his surroundings properly. He did seem a bit wary of the doctors who were tending to Kichiro sama though – he was eyeing the oxygen mask on Kichiro sama's face uneasily.

I gently touched Kichiro sama's cheek with the back of my fingers once, worried and feeling a pang of hurt to see him in such a state. I also momentarily glanced at Tomoki and placed my hand on his. Despite everything that had happened, I couldn't leave him to die. He had been a good friend to me before he had changed and besides, I wasn't so heartless that I would not help someone who was this badly injured.

Thanks to quick driving, we reached the hospital soon. Kichiro sama and Tomoki were rushed into the hospital with me and Kijima san following them close behind. In fact, I was running next to Kichiro sama's stretcher while holding his hand and pleading the heaven's to save him. Kijima san was on the other side calling his name and trying to wake him.

When we reached the operating theatre, I stopped and let go of Kichiro sama. Kijima san didn't leave his side though and a few doctors had to stop him from going inside. He got enraged and was about to attack them with his katana, but I tugged at his arm to stop him. He glared at me but I shook my head, silently telling him that he couldn't do what he wanted to do. He cursed under his breath and looked through the glass doors of the operating theatre where Kichiro sama and Tomoki had been taken.

"Don't worry, Kijima san, they are going to be treated by very skilled doctors now. We'll be allowed to see them after they're done with the treatment," I said.

Kijima san clenched his fists tightly and I sighed. I hesitantly gave his arm a pat before taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of the operating theatre. Kijima san shuffled about in worry for a bit before he too sat down, though two seats away from me.

I rubbed my face with my hands as the seriousness of the situation fell on me like a ton of bricks. Kichiro sama, Kijima san, and Tomoki were in the modern world, in a world where nothing would make sense to them. What's worse, they were badly injured – which made me wonder how I would deal with the police investigation that would ensue – and I was so sure that Kichiro sama would be furious upon seeing me when he woke. I had suddenly disappeared on the night of our wedding and, well, I wasn't expecting Kichiro sama to deal with me well...

I sighed deeply and glance at the doors of the operating theatre. I guess I could worry about the police investigation later. For now, I just hoped that the two of them would be alright.

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I'm sure you didn't expect the three of them to turn up in the modern world, did you? XD BUT THEY'RE INJURED!!! O.O I hope they'll be okay...well, they have to be because they're going to be treated by modern doctors.

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;D