Heirot

Chapter one: The Key.

It was like thunder rolled across the sky as a large stone door was being pulled open. It felt menacing as if it were going to rip you apart with the vibrations.

"Is this it?" Someone asked behind a well dressed man looking into the room that was now opened before him.

"Yes we have finally found it." said the Man as he walked into the now open space. A subordinate lit a torch and walked in, his rich employer followed him. 'Now all that remains is getting the key. That will be the greater task considering we have no idea who has it in that family.

Ruriko stirred in her bed, it was almost noon and she was still asleep hard to believe she was almost 19. All the servants in the home knew thier least/most favorite person's sleeping schedule. She stays out most nights doing whatever she wishes when she really should be training to be a better gaurdian. Some nights she came back drunk and often slept naked but with all her drinking she was still 'pure' as she says anyway.

Otome wandered the halls doing odd jobs, she had been training with her teacher early in the morning, she did this each morning and usually escorts Ruriko back to the house before the sun comes up if she hadn't returned. Usually Otome would go everywhere with Ruriko but at night there were two different maidens that go with her. The maidens however refused to escort the 'drunken fool' back to the house early in the mornings because of her attitude. So this duty fell to Otome she didn't mind.

Otome knew several different types of fighting and was immensely strong with a hard-to-please type of teacher but her teacher often bragged about Otome when he talked to his friends; she was that skilled. After helping the kitchen crew haul fire wood, water and doing various jobs to help out around the house, the masters wife called her to her chamber.

Otome changed clothes immediatly and went there as fast as humanly possible. She opened the door to the Wife's chamber and bowed.

"Please come in Otome." A soft voice called.

Otome complied quickly and entered. There was a small table with a tea pot and two cups on it. Otome kneeled next to the table and filled the empty cups.

"My Lady it is an honor.." Is usually what a servant says when entering a room after she or he is called by the Master or his Wife but Otome was told by the Wife not to do that when she entered. Everyone in the house gave all sorts of special treatments to the maids of the current gaurdians. Otome was no exception. The Wife began speaking once the tea cups were filled.

"How long have you been a Maid to my daughter?" She didn't want a specific answer, she didn't really care.

"Serveral years." She answered. She had been a gaurdian for almost 7 years; she and Ruriko were almost the same age.

"So you know her inside and out. Do you believe she is qualified to be a gaurdian?"

"Yes My Lady, that is if she chooses to." Traditional answer.

The Wife nodded and sipped her tea, Otome looked a bit confused. "What do you honestly think of her as a person?"

Otome opened her mouth then closed it, she didn't know and The Master's Wife could see that but waited patiently. She hadn't thought about Ruriko's personality or anything since she met her. "Well," She began with a deep breath, "despite her bad habits and lazyness she's a good person. She's a sensitive but tries to hide it by reacting wildly and always put on a strong front..." This question and answer session went on for a few minutes before being dismissed.

Otome saw Ruriko wandering around half in a daze and half dressed; she robe open in the front and barely tied just above her hips. Otome felt herself blushing as Ruriko smiled at her from across the hall.

Otome waited until no servant was in sight and Ruriko had passed her before she slapped herself. 'Dang it! Lady Ruriko even embarrasses me!'

Ruriko felt a little odd after she stopped laughing, she had seen otome blush. She liked jokes and all that but she didn't know that Otome would act like that. A chill crept up her spine as she changed into her regular clothes then she remebered.

'I have lessons today!' "He's gonna kill me if I'm late." The second part she said outloud.

"Too late." Came a voice from behind her.

Ruriko's heart suddenly started pounding as she turned around. When she did she flew out the door in her room leading outside and into the garden. A small red mark appeared on her cheek.

"What did you do that for?" Ruriko shouted at him.

"You haven't been coming to lessons like you should even though it's only once a week." He walked from the middle of the room into the noon sun.

Ruriko recieved another blow this time to the stomache sending her tumbling. This time she kneeled before her teacher, "Teacher Ken'ichi, please forgive me I.."

"I don't want to hear excuses." Ken'ichi shouted. "I will be here until you have caught up in your training. This time I will not allow you to slack off as I have for the last two months." His expression changed to a gentler one and he touched her head. "It's alright, I forgive you."

Ruriko sat up, she was dirty and a few scratches were on her face but more or less she was unharmed.

Ruriko swept her dark scarlet hair into a bun and put it up with the appropriate hair ties. Ruriko's eyes were a light green that resembled a shallow sea. Her skin a natural tan from being outdoors; she often trained naked in a body of water when she was younger so everywhere was evenly tanned. The only feature that made her seem like a noble was her pouty small mouth.

"Well then if you are ready, lets start." Ken'ichi told her.

"Yes teacher." When Ruriko stood up, they began.

Otome was sent to town to buy a few things for dinner. Since she left late and because they lived so far out of town Otome didn't return until late. She saw Ruriko and Ken'ichi training, 'I'm glad, she's finally gotten serious.'

Ken'ichi threw a punch and Ruriko dodged it. She threw a punch and he blocked it. Otome didn't notice it at the time but Ruriko's fists were glowing a little. Ruriko was being trained to fight with the power of the key through her emotions. The key they can created a small 'layer' of energy around themselves, this energy can be concentrated in one place, say your fists or feet. This created stress on the body and mind, if a gaurdian uses his or her powers too much they can go insane, but that's another story.

Student and teacher both had sweat glistening on thier foreheads from using thier energy for so long. It was sunset when Otome had returned.

An hour later they were called in for dinner. Ken'ichi had a satisfied look on his face and Ruriko looked wiped out.

Otome sat behind Ruriko as she ate, as custom, the servant cleared the table after each meal; Otome always volunteered though.

That night Ruriko had a strange dream. Ruriko was walking through a forest with many flowers growing on the ground, huge trees; it was beautiful. As if at the right moment, the forest seemed to be peeling away as she looked up. When her head was all the way up, it was completely black.

Ruriko held up her hand, she could see herself clearly as if a bright light was shining on her but it was totally dark around her. A corner appeared off to her left, a small boy was kneeling there with his face against the wall, his hands covering his face.

He moved taking his face away from the wall looking straight at her. His eyes were blood color with no pupils but black 'crowns' around the place where the pupils were supposed to be.

"You." He whispered, he sounded like a normal boy but it was creepy.

"Who are you?" Ruriko all but whispered.

"I am in you." He said pointing to his chest.

'The key.' Was the first though that rushed through her mind.

The boy stood up and sarted walking towards her. "They will be coming for me soon."

"What are you doing?" Ruriko shouted above his words.

"You must not.."

"Stay away!"

"...trust anyone.."

"No!"

"..who comes to you.."

"What are you doing stay away doin't come any closer!"

"..for your help."

"Ahh!" Ruriko screamed as she woke up. Ruriko's eyes rolled back and she heaved.

Ruriko ran to the window and stayed there until she felt better. In the morning she was in the corner just as the boy was in her dream.

Otome entered the room where Ruriko slept and was surprised to see her in the corner or even out of bed at all.

"Lady Ruriko?" She quietly said.

Ruriko turned towards Otome, her eyes heavy from exhaustion and on the verge of crying. Otome kneeled beside Ruriko. Ruriko suddenly burried her face into Otome's shoulder and cried.

Otome was surprised at first, her face slowly gave way to a kind smile and put her arms around Ruriko, "It's alright."

It was early in the morning when otome had entered. She thought she would ask Ruriko to train with her but ended up comforting her until she fell asleep again.

Otome began with her usual run in the morning but stopped at a stream which usually marked the point where she turns around. But for some reason she stopped that morning and watched the stream.

Two fish were all that anyone ever saw in that stream, they were also rarely found anywhere. About as long as Otome's pinky and as round as a coin; they were bright and showed many different colors, one for each season. Those fish were the only things living in that stream, Otome often though, if one was troubled so would the other one, if one died so would the other from being lonely. Now Otome was troubled because Ruriko seemed troubled. Just like the two colorful fish in the stream.

Ken'ichi saw her while on a run on his own.

"Admiring the small wonders of nature?" He shouted.

"Oh, teacher." She stood. "Kind of, I was on my run and I stopped here."

"Well then would you like to run together?" He asked her.

"Yes." Otome ran at his pace along side of him.

"Something on your mind?" He said after a few minutes of silent running.

Otome nodded.

"You wanna take about it?" Ken'ichi asked.

Again she nodded.

The dew wet the ground early that morning and Otome's clothes soaked it up as she sat down. She drew her knees up to her chin. "I have been friends with Ruriko for a long time now. I never really thought about what I should feel because I am supposed to be willing to give my life for Ruriko if needed. Everyone said being her friend would help. Then just the other day I was asked to think hard about Ruriko and give a report of waht I think and feel about her. I stated all my thoughts except one. I don't know how to say it exactly but.."

"You don't have to explain. I understand." Ken'ichi smiled at Otome. "I was always wondering why you seemed to always be absorbed in your training. I'm happy you finally realized what I had suspected all along."

Otome thought for a moment, "Thanks for talking to me Teacher."

"Let's head back I have lessons to teach and I'm sure you have things to do."

Otome nodded and they ran back to the house. When they got there a man dressed in ordinary clothes was standing a few feet from the door. He noticed them and turned around.

"Excuse me. Do you know the owner of this place or live here?" He asked.

"Yes of course." Ken'ichi said to him. "How may we help?"

"I have a letter from my master addressed to the Gaurdian of the Key."

Otome suddenly said, "I'll take the letter to the right person. Thank you for coming all this way. Is there something you need sir?"

"Oh no, I wouldn't want to burden you. I planning on heading back to my masters home anyway. Good bye to you." With that he left quickly.

"A letter for Ruriko?" Ken'ichi said after the man had left and they entered the front door.

"Seems so."

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"Money goes a long ways these days. Now I can find the gaurdian of the key and get her to unseal what I need." He smiled to himself.

The day before.

Inside the room was a large carving, it had an angel on it. It was a terrible representation of what was actually inside. The picture portrayed a woman angel with long hair looking down, her hands holding something.

Back to real time.

The gentleman remembered the picture and smiled smugly with himself. 'That was a sinch. I wonder if the Gaurdian will be gullible enough to give me the key. I hear she likes to drink as well. He stroked a bottle of alcohol and smiled wider.

Ruriko had awoken while Otome and Ken'ichi were gone on thier morning run so when the two returned Ruriko was eating a casual breakfast.

"There is a letter for you." Otome told her.

"Take it to my father." She said inbetween small bites.

"But it's addressed to you." Otome protested.

"I know that but I'm telling you to give it to him, not me!" Ruriko was still a bit frightened and paranoid.

"As you wish." Otome said in a quick bow and ran off to deliver the letter.

Once Otome was out of sight Ken'ichi began a short lecture, "You shouldn't treat her like that, even if she is your servant. Even servants are still.."

"..People with emotions that can be hurt even if it doesn't seem like it. I know; I have heard you say that a lot." Ruriko interupted.

"If you've memorized that lecture, why don't you heed it?"

"Because it's just as you said; they are my servants. They have no need for emotions." Ruriko seemed a bit cold that morning.

"When your finished I expect you to be ready for your training." Ken'ichi stood up and walked out the door slamming it behind him.

Ruriko's heart pounded, she didn't know what to expect as she headed outside.

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Otome sat in the master's chamber as he read the letter, it read.

Dear Gaurdian,
You are the only one that can help us. Our country is in grave danger of being over run by our enemies. I hope this message gets to you in time to help us. If we are overthrown by our enemies, the next country he will go after is yours. We need you to unlock the ancient power you are gaurding and save us. Please, you are our only hope!

-King Baukmen-

An unknown seal was placed at the bottom of the letter.

"This is my daughters decision." He finally said outloud. "Take it to her, force her to read it if you have to; don't allow her to throw it away."

"Yes M'Lord." Otome took the letter and went to find Ruriko.

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That day was an extra hard training day. So much so Ruriko was all but doubling over in pain at the end of it all.

Also at the end of that day was a visitor.

Ruriko sat outside on the porch sipping tea when he came by.

"Hello," a friendly voice called, "would you like to have a drink with me?" When Ruriko looked up there was a handsome gentleman with a bottle of something on his hip. He stood there smiling at Ruriko.