My Regret
Story by Winterfeline
Author's Note: Advisor Toh is the property of Toshubi, 
I only own my Original Characters in his world.
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My name is Kuwabara Hideki. I was born twenty one years ago into a large but happy family. I spent most of my early years helping my family take care of the orchard we owned, thinking that we did not have much but we were happy with what we did have. I dreamed of marrying a girl I liked and raising a good, honest family as well. Then a tragedy struck. The feline soldiers came, and declared our little village their property, searching for any that would resist.

I wanted to fight, and so did many of the other young men of the village, but our elder spoke loudly. He declared we were simple farmers and did not wish to see a bloodshed in the lands our father and their fathers before worked on. The elder gave in to the felines, saying we would go along with their demands. I did not understand then, I felt he betrayed us all, but later on, I understand he saved most of us. 

The way those soldiers looked at the village girls, a fight would have left many of them orphaned, dead, or enslaved. The men in turn would likely have died, or ended up in chains as well. At least by accepting this sudden demand the elder saved us from most of it, though the harsh soldiers mocking us while they ransacked the village made me want to fight them.

It wasn't until they dragged Aki out of the buildings by her hair that I acted. They dragged her kicking and screaming, two soldiers holding onto her arms. Brought her before their sergeant, who began questioning her. I tried to get to her, but a spear's blunt end was shoved into my stomach with force that made me nauseated and unable to stand. I blacked out.

When I awoke, I heard they took her with them as they left. I couldn't believe it. They had ravaged our village, taken anything worth taking, and left a small guard to watch over the village they had forcibly annexed to their territories so. I wasn't sure how I should react to all of that before, but taking the girl I was hoping to marry was too much.

I gathered my things and set on the road. The guards watched me, but didn't stop me since I was unarmed. I knew I was stupid, and that I'd likely end up dead, but I had to find her. I had to save her, if I could. I followed the road until it was too dark to see ahead, but I still kept going for a while. Reminding myself of the horrors that soldiers could commit to young women. 

It drove me forth, that fear of what the soldiers might do to her. I did not wish to see any of them lay a hand on my beautiful Aki. I did not want to see her harmed. Whatever I would find on arrival, I would take Aki back and take her as my bride even if she had been shamed. I cared not for that, I only cared for Aki. They could all be damned, but I'd steal her back and save her, if she would take me I would take her. 

Finally exhaustion forced me to rest, but I kept moving each day as long as my feet would carry, eating and drinking what little I had with me, rationing it out so it would last till my destination. Until finally I arrived there, to Kenogi castle. The places I had passed through before spoke of soldiers passing with a handful of captured women, towards Kenogi. People that were too afraid to speak loudly of it hushed me and only spoke when pressed on till they found it faster to tell me than to try and throw me out. 

They were afraid, and I was getting worried. 

Arriving near the castle, I started to look around for a way in, but I never expected to end up in the castle the way I did. It was supposed to be a heroic rescue of my beautiful Aki. I wanted to make sure she would have a future, and I wanted her to my side. It was a selfish wish, but I hoped that it would be granted.

My family name is meant to ward off lightning. Perhaps I should have chanted it, for as I approached in the dark, a lightning lit the sky and revealed me. The soldiers captured me in a mere moment, and dragged me into the jail. There I saw Aki, trapped in another cell with many young women. I shouted her name but the guards struck me until I was quiet. 

A man they called Advisor Toh came in, and paused before the cage with the women. He spoke something quietly while my head was still ringing from the beating I had gotten. When I heard Aki cry out I saw the bastard walking away with her, and another girl. 

I shouted and screamed insults at him and the guards, challenging him to a fight too, and shouting Aki's name. He seemed amused by this, but only laughed at my attempts. Sometime later, the other woman returned, escorted by a guard. There was blood in her hands, and in her hair, Aki's ribbon, also coated in blood. 

My beautiful Aki was dead.

I failed. I am no hero. 

I only hope one day someone will end this bastard's sick game, the girls told me about it when there were no guards present. They seemed to pity me, but I grieved not only for Aki but for their fate. 

I heard someone say I am to be executed soon, that the advisor is no longer amused by my raging insults, no longer amused to see the hurt in my eyes at the knowledge that I hate him with everything I am for what he did to Aki. I welcome death if that brings me together with Aki again, but before that, I still wish that one of the guards got careless and I might escape. That I might find him.

That I might drive the small knife I fashioned from bone in my cell into that smug bastard's neck.

My only regret is that its all too late for my sweet Aki.