Jiyu No~chapter 1

[Egg Drop Soup]

‘ Thinking ’
“ Speaking ”
// Song lyrics //
Flash backs or dream sequences
(Interruptions)


Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing. I do however own the plot and story line.
Description: It seems a lot of people like my prologue! Yeah! That makes me happy; I have to warn all who read this that there is a lot of violence in chapters to come. I even surprised myself when I began writing down my ideas…that’s really sad…scaring yourself…ok folks, I’m in need of a confidence booster…what are you waiting for? Read and praise me, darn it! LOL, j/k. Please read and review.


Jiyu No
By: Egg Drop Soup


Chapter 1…

The cumulous clouds draped over the grinning crescent moon in dark cascades of irate waves, hiding the shadows, themselves, from the luminous satellite that revolved around the earth.

With the moonlight gone, neither star from north or south showed a hint of their renowned splendor, but instead, laid waiting, for their constellational companion to join them in their place amongst the sky, yet again.

The owls cooed and the nightingales sang in their absence, amidst the cold wind that blew and ruffled the slender leaves of the old aged trees. The night was of a prolix, tediously slow and verbose, the minutes creeping like hours upon them.

And that only strained the tensional atmosphere that hung around two young girls…

“Hurry! They’ll spot us for sure.” One said, her voice stricken with fear. Her body shook in spasms as she felt her nerves threaten to leave her. The girl clutched at the bars of iron that made up the cage, so as to steady herself, or so she reasoned.

The flesh of her palm met its cold surface and she quickly drew it away, hastily. It had startled her. She felt a giggle stray her dry lips and she lifted a hand to her mouth to suppress them. Yes, she was foolish to fear the bars…but something else troubled her…

Had the bars always been so cold?

She couldn’t remember…

She had spent her lifetime, enclosed in the walls of iron, and oh, how she longed to get away, away from this place, and return to the free woodlands and the fertile hills that called for her feet to walk upon.

Her only comfort was that of her companion and she watched the movements of shadows at the other side of the cage. The sounds of the rattling of chains appeared to have been faster and louder than before, confirming that her friend had indeed heard her fearful whisper.

“Not if you keep quiet,” the other persisted. Her hands fumbled clumsily with the chains that held the locks. “Damn…where is that thing…”

Her hands hit a smooth like surface amongst the rust covered chains they had already combed through. Her fingers went onward until they came upon what felt like a latch.

On the latch were three hooks. It was, at least she thought, the 2nd hook that contained the lock. “Yes!”

She had found it.

She felt confident, more than before. She had found the lock and all that needed to be done, was to pick it and run like hell.

When upon having hold of the lock in her right hand, she summoned a string-like wire from deep within her ragged garments with the other, and earnestly struggled with the job of breaking free from the cage-like prison.

Her fingers stumbled blindly in the darkness. The two objects in her hands shifted uncertainly, it was a harsh gamble, and she couldn’t afford to waste what little time she had.

But, aside her determination, the keyhole resisted the bent wire that sought its entrance.

She scowled at the iron piece bitterly, and she tried to push it in again. It was a fruitless fort. Still… she persisted.

Every ounce of desperation in her body went into her futile attempts.

She was greatly rewarded for her trials as the lock, reluctant though it seemed, slipped off the bars, falling to the ground with a large THUD, muffled by the shrill stirring of the fallen chains, under it. “ I did it!” She cried, her voice carrying a boasting air.

The door of the cage slowly opened, the old iron creaking with its age. Quietly they strode from the stockyard, trying not to alert their master from his sleep. “Lets go.” The words were a mere whisper, but if listened to closely one would have heard the husky emotion they held.

The earth was cold against their bare feat. Their calloused hands gripping in fists as they swung on loose limbs at their side. The iron chain clasped around their sore heals, rattled violently against their flesh.

As they ran they felt the short tremors of cramping from their overworked legs. It resonated from their thighs down to their calves, muscles contracting involuntarily. Steam, created from the gasping breaths of their lungs, was visible after making contact with the cold air, in intimate relations. Their legs trembled uneasily, supporting the weight of their bodies. But still, they purged forward.

One of the girls gripped at her sides sharply. She winced and shook her head fiercely, trying to clear it from the unwanted nausea.

She remembered the wound. Oh yes, she remembered its cause too well. The broken ribs were supposedly a lesson. One her master had graced her with when she had refused to comply with his orders.

He had beaten her.

Not with a stick or a whip. Oh no, far worse was her fate. He had taken an iron rod from the hotly stokes of fire that burned warmly in the cobblestone hearth of her master’s household. The cold stones that made up the hearth were far from comparison of the flames that burned wildly inside.

He had of course, showed a little sign of humane dignity. He wisped the rod around menacingly, waiting for it to cool from the red light that it glowed.

She was on her knees, before him. Tears ran down her cheeks, paving lines amidst the dirt that resigned there. She pleaded with him. Her cries like that of the gulls on the sea, desperate and full of exasperation.

Her words, evidently, didn’t catch his ears, and if he even heard them, he didn’t show any indication of it. She thought him cruel; no, he was far worse than cruel, for even cruelty has its limits. What he was, no words could describe, as he pulled out the now cooled off rod, and struck her.

The sounds of bones cracking, their resistance being broken by the iron rod, did not come near to mirroring the image of horror upon her pain stricken face.

She remembered his laughing, and it still, even now, as far away from him as she was, haunted her.

Her friend’s attentions were drawn to her and she cursed sharply. “That Bastard! How could he do that to you, Noin? When I get my hands on him I’ll…” she didn’t finish but put an arm around her comrade’s shoulder and helped to try and support the weight of her friend. She was not sure her own body would be able to manage with its own burden let alone that of her friend. But such things don’t ever truly matter after you have already chosen to proceed and do them, and quite frankly Une was not particularly one to care very much for her own welfare. “Does this help?”

“Yes, thank you Une.” Noin stated as she seemed to be able to hobble around easier due to Une’s body supporting hers, occasionally limping from rising fatigue. “ How long do you think it’ll take them to realize we’re gone?”

Une shook her head. “Probably when they do a check. Most likely they’ll notice your gone first.”

“Why is that?” Noin asked curiously.

Une hid an angry look, as her face was an emotionless mask, shielded by the night. “You’re the master’s toy. Remember? He’ll probably want to play and what a pity his little friend isn’t home.” She jeered tauntingly.

Noin glared at her but the expression quickly changed to one of panic and concern. “Do you think they’ll find us?”

Une cackled. “No, poor creatures. The gods might give them a clue or two but they’re surely hopeless.”

Noin rested a bit by leaning a bit more of her weight on Une. “I’m afraid they’ll find us. If they do…I’ll…you…I don’t want to have anything happen to you. If we get caught… I’ll take the blame. You just run, alright?”

Une laughed at Noin and gingerly took more of the weight that the girl had pressed on her. Noin was indeed afraid and Une didn’t dare blame her. Fools who express their fear are far more courageous than those who hide it in mock bravery. “Noin, I would never let you take the punishment alone. You know I’d take your burden as well as my own.”

Noin nodded a warm smile etched her features. “That’s what I’m afraid of. You’re always sticking up for me. You helped me a lot when we were out in the fields to. And when I got in trouble, you took the blame for my foolishness. Why? I don’t deserve your kindness.”

Une laughed again. “Noin, don’t worry. Those beating were nothing. They are weak to beat on women anyway so I did not mind taking some of your crop loads. And don’t think you don’t deserve my kindness.” Une tightened her hold of the Noin’s shoulders, protectively. “You were the only one who was kind to me and so I owe you. Yes, Noin I owe you more than you owe me. You were the only one man or woman to treat me like a human being.”

Noin looked at her friend. “NO. I am not the one who is undeserving. You gave me your meals, when I had already had my share. I don’t see why you still owe me. NO, I am the one in your debt.”

They walked in silence down the deserted streets, hastily. Noin noticed something that had not been there before. She eyed her companion almost unsurely and her pace slackened at contemplating of what to do.

With Une, this did not go unnoticed and she shot Noin a worried glance. “What’s wrong?” Une asked, slowing down her long strides, to that of Noin’s pace.

Noin still stared at Une’s arm. It was strong, a lot stronger than Noin’s that was sure. The well-defined muscles that had so brilliantly been placed along her arms by many years of hard labor and heavy crop loads had been violated by the touch of a cracking whip. The wound looked terribly frightful as it went from her right shoulder almost to her elbow.

Noin said nothing as she hastily tore a piece of fabric from her already ruined skirt and tied it skillfully against the revealed flesh, shielding the already infected wound with care. Une glanced at her, after Noin had finished her haste covering of the wound. Her usual sardonic smile was softer now, her face no longer harsh looking “This is how you treat me different than any one else has. You are the only one to ever see me as a human being…or at least what’s left of the empty shell I make.”

Noin lowered her eyes. “The beatings got harder as we grew older. I’m only still a child and I have backaches only an elder should have.” She let out a shrill laugh, and then stopped. Une’s ways were quickly rubbing off on her. “Do you think we’ll even live long enough to be elders?”

Une laughed at this, her friend’s innocence and na?ve outlook always amused her. “With our luck?” she replied sarcastically. “We are free now. We can go anywhere we want. And I want to be away from this place.”

She started to walk on but Noin held her back. “Wait! What about Sally?”

Une nodded, “I almost forgot, we promised to meet her. Well, lets go.”

“Right!” Noin confirmed and they sank within the shadows of the cottages and cellars. They ran fiercely from shadow to shadow, until they stopped, hidden in the alley overlooking the town square.

“Where can she be?” Noin asked tugging on her friend’s shoulder.

“I don’t know.” Une turned her head in every direction, hoping to catch a glance of their friend. “I think something must have happened. She’s never late.”

Suddenly they heard pounding footsteps. Une and Noin turned into the direction of which it came from and saw the cloaked figure of their friend Sally wonder around the square, glancing each way, looking for her companions.

Her French twists were following close behind her, as heat crept over her face and her mouth gasping for breath. Her healer robes were filthy from traveling on the dirt roads and square. Sally carried a small bundle in her arms. She hid it partially under her cloak pressing it tightly against her breast.

Sally peered around her for a while, ever cautious, till she caught site of her two friends. “Une? Noin? Is that you?”

Une waved a hand out in greeting and whispered, her voice in a hoarse strain. “Come now friend, you don’t recognize us? Your only remaining kin?”

“Oh, Une, you were always one to joke so.” Sally let a small chuckle escape her lips, rolled her eyes at the spectacle before her and slowly crept over to them, ever so quietly. “I’m sorry for not meeting you on the time we agreed upon. The King’s mistress has been with child and I had to deliver it.”

Noin’s eyes grew wide at this. “The King’s mistress has given birth to a child? What is the new heir’s name? Is it a boy or girl?”

Sally tensed when Noin mentioned the word “girl”. Her eyes were sorrowful but the smile that her lips formed, hinted a type of supposed hope. “The mistress has given birth to a girl. See.” She unfolded the blanket covering the bundle to reveal a face, closed eyes, a mouth steadily sucking on a thumb.

“Why do you have the child?” Noin asked.

Sally’s eyes were downcast as she replied. “The mistress died giving birth to the child and it’s quite a shame. The baby looks just like her mother, but has her father’s eyes. When the King saw that the child was a girl, he was deeply distressed. Since she is female she will never be anything higher than a slave. It is truly awful, the only child to born to the High King other than the Prince Millardo, must be stripped of her well-deserved title. The only thing she can expect here in this country is becoming a mistress to some noble.”

Sally shook her head and clenched the baby tighter. “The King insisted I take her far from this land until his son has taken the throne, or at least until the slavery of women has been abolished. But, enough talk, we must go now. He has ordered less security tonight, so I could escape without being seen. I am not sure when the guards will be coming to secure this area. So let us be on our way, a lot counts on us getting far away from this kingdom as we can. The King counts on us and so does this little one here.” She said as she tightened her hold on the baby. She placed her cheek in contact with that of the sleeping bundles one. Gaining a low murmur of reassurance that she was having sweet dreams. Her softened eyes changed hastily into hard determined ones. “Not only that but our freedom is right outside of those gates.”

“Just wait a second!” Noin whispered confusingly. “Your saying that this girl could be another slave like us?”

Sally nodded. “Yes, here no one cares about your parentage or birth right. It only matters upon being male or female.”

“Men have always dominated over women, and so it will always continue.” Une whispered as the wind in the town square brushed throw her short hair. Her torn skirt rustled around her knees.

“Une…” Noin stared at her with pang filled eyes. “Don’t say that! Just because it looks like we may be the defeated doesn’t mean it’ll always be like this. We’ll get our liberty, women will be free someday.”

Une turned sharply and glared at Noin with fierce brown eyes. “When Midi? When will our companions, friends, family, or any one else be free?”

Noin bit at her lower lip, and clenched her fists shut. “I…I don’t know.”

“That’s right you don’t know! You never knew or understood anything! Your just a weakness to me!” Une yelled as she pushed Noin away.

Noin staggered with the weight that had uneasily settled on her legs, for she could not stand alone, by herself, just yet.

Sally rushed to Noin’s side. “Noin…” she glared at Une. “Une! How dare you do that to Noin! She has done nothing to you.” Sally latched her free arm, the one not holding the baby, around Noin, helping her sit up a bit.

Sally peered closer at her fallen friend. “Scars?” They were everywhere on Noin’s body. Sally felt a flash of sorrow hit her. How come she hadn’t noticed them earlier? Were the scars always this bad or was it the fact that the night hid much of the truth in its shadows?

Sally raised a hand to her mouth to stop her lips from parting to scream. A far greater set of wounds had been revealed, blood entwined in the strands that made up Noin’s hair.

“My God.” Sally quickly tore at her robes. Bringing the strips of fabric to wrap around the younger girl’s head. “Who did all this to you Noin?” Sally felt tears stinging her eyes.

“My…my master.” Noin whispered hoarsely. Her throat throbbed with pain and she gripped at it with her hands, trying to put out the toxic flame that burned, pulsating. She let her head rise and fall with an attempt to fight the darkness that threatened to over take her; she lost and became limp in Sally’s grasp.

Une saw all of this and knelt near Noin. She took her frail form in her arms and whispered revelations of apology into the now soaked fabric of Noin’s shirt. “Noin…you should have told me he hurt you so badly…I’ll kill him…that bastard! He did this to you! Why didn’t you tell me? Why?”

Une held Noin closer, the young girl relaxed at the comforting warmth of her friend’s body. “Une…” Sally whispered and placed a hand on Une’s shoulder. “You’ll have to carry her.” Une nodded and picked Noin up, holding her close to her chest, protectively.

Sally did the same with the baby, wrapping her arms tighter around the fragile bundle, placing her close to her breast, a mother’s embrace. “All will be well, little one…” Sally cooed in a soft low voice. “All will be well for you, Princess Relena...” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“I promise you this…”


AN: so…what do ya think of it? Getting to be pretty good, ne? If it is at of interest to anyone at all…and I mean anyone, I’ll continue to write…but only if I get some people to read and review…ok… *Falls on hands and knees* PLEASE! I beg you! Read and Review!!!!!! Pretty please? With sugar on top?

Ok…now that I’ve scared many of you, onto me next chapter! …if its at least posted by now…you can never tell with me, these days... <( ^ _ ^ )>

Love,
Egg Drop Soup

[APerfectSoldier87]

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