My Heaven

-Unhappily Wed-

By Michael James

Part 1

The ceremony

In the bride's tent...

“Mojo, I understand you are pretty angry about this. But this is essential to the future of peace between our clans.” Yukio told her as she was being prepared. He took a snow flower and put it on her hair, right behind her ear. Despite her anger she was looking very beautiful. “Mojo, I will compensate you for this one day...”

“Request permission to speak freely?” Go ahead. “You ungrateful and unjust son of a bit... I have served you loyally since I could hold a sword. I have given the oath of loyal service to the Rabbit Clan. Only to be betrayed by being forced to marry some random prick. Which may or may not do Rabbit any good in the long run. I will remain loyal to Rabbit, but I never want to speak to you again!” Though she was blind she faced Yukio and her eye was twitching from seething rage. Yukio gave her permission to still speak freely.

“I do not want to spend my fu... days in a camp looking after my children. I am like a horse, the wildest one in your stable. Now after doing this to me, you have broken me and my life is over. If you had any sense in your head, you would understand the hell you are sentencing me too. I hate you future king of Rabbit!”

In Kazeyuki's tent...

“My prince, you sent for me?”

“Hiroto, I understand you have a wonderful evening to look forward too. I just have some words of advice.” Hiroto told his prince he was listening. “This girl showed me dishonor, I want you to hurt her tonight. I want to hear her scream, no get off me, from your marriage tent. I want her to have a black eye and a swollen lip. When I see her in the morning. If you please me, I will reward you, now go.”

Hiroto walked out of the princes tent thinking to himself. What a scumbag to order him to do this to his new wife. He was looking forward to making her happy. Now he was ordered to hurt her... He wasn't going to stand for this. He would never hurt his bride.

As the sun set,

and the ceremony began...

The priestess who performed the marriage was Usagi. It went off without a hitch. Mojo didn't make a scene. She even smiled as much as possible through the whole thing. After the dinner banquet. The newly weds went to the marriage tent. Mojo had been hearing all the bullshi... Kazeyuki had been telling her husband all night. She dropped her robes and put a stick between her teeth.

“Please get under the furs, or you will catch your death of cold.” She took the wood from her mouth and told him to just get it over with! “What do you mean?” Did his prince not tell him to hurt her uncontrollably? “Yes he said that, but I'm ignoring him. Please get under the furs.” Mojo had a confused expression.

“Do you not know what the prince will do to you if I'm not wounded tomorrow?” Hiroto told Mojo that he wouldn't hurt her. Now could she hold out her hand? “Why?” He had a gift, it was his mothers. Mojo felt a stone on a silk ribbon being placed in her hand.

“This owl eye gem has been in my family for decades. My mother bore no girls. As the oldest son, it was passed to me to give to my love. It would honor me if you wore it.” Mojo didn't understand why he was being kind to her. She put it around her neck and her eyes started to tear up a bit. She got under the furs and was very comfortable. Hiroto wearing his pants got in with her. He wrapped his arms around her tummy and asked her to sleep now. Mojo thought about what was happening.

“Am I actually feeling compassion for being forced into marrying this boy. No one has ever spoken so kindly to me. I don't want this, I don't want to be happy because this was forced on me!” She said to herself in rage. Then he pulled her tightly towards him.

“Are we cuddling..?”

Part 2

Separated

As morning came...

Mojo woke up hearing her husband sleeping beside her. She got free of his grasp and put on normal clothes. She came out of the tent where Usagi was waiting.

“Men are strange” Mojo said to her as she splashed water on her face from a bucket. Usagi asked if he hurt her? “No why?” Because the dipsh... prince got drunk last night. He was bragging about how he forced your husband to hurt you. There is a greater divide between our clans now than ever before.”

“No, he didn't hurt me. We didn't even mate, he just held me all night. And I don't understand why.” Wait what happened? “He was the perfect gentleman, yet he was ordered to be a monster. I don't understand men at all.” Usagi told her to come at once.

In the camp center...

“Father! Please do something, I don't deserve to lose my head over this!” Kazeyuki was on his knees bent over a stone. Nodachi was forced to behead his own son to keep the peace.

“STOP!” Usagi screamed in a loud voice. “Mojo was not abused by her husband. She says that he was kind to her. There is no need to continue this execution. Kazeyuki looked at Mojo's well rested preserved face in anger. He ordered her husband to hurt her. But before something stupid came out of his mouth. An arrow went into his fathers neck. Following that, dozens of arrows started raining down on them.

Mojo heard an arrow going strait at her heart. She simply side stepped it, as she did many others. Usagi blew into a horn to give the order to scatter. Mojo left her pet rabbit, Lefe in the marriage tent. She ran for the tent and smelled blood. Hiroto's leg was hit with an arrow. She got her rabbit and got him out the tents back.

“Where are we going?”

“Anywhere, but our current location!” Mojo heard the chaos behind them. She could hear a creek bed in front. She followed the sounds of the water. Getting further from the fighting behind. Yet, she heard a pack of wolves closing in on them. “Hiroto, I need you to let go of my shoulder for a moment. They set their beasts on us.” He did as instructed and rested on a tree.

The pack leader rushed her with 7 following close behind. Mojo decapitated the leader and sliced up the rest. But it wasn't over, she could hear soft laughter in the distance. The guy laughing was an assassin who was hunting them. He decided for some reason to turn back. She was puzzled by this. Hiroto fell to the snowy ground in extreme pain. He even blacked out a few seconds later...

“What, where am I?” He was in the woods laying on grass that she dug too. Mojo was clinging to him trying to keep him warm. She smiled when he started talking. “My leg, it feels like its burning.” She told him that was what happens when a wound is branded shut. “You saved me... and you stayed with me.”

“For better or worse, you are my husband. I will honor you like a wife is supposed to do. And you have been nothing but kind to me.” Hiroto put his arms around her and hugged her. He asked what was the next plan of action? “We need to get to the bridge. After we cross it, there is only one way for them to get to us.” What about her kin? “I'm confident that they all got away. My biggest worry, is Nodachi is dead and now that and little prick is in charge.” He wouldn't serve the heir. “What?” It had been discussed by the clan that they wouldn't follow him...

At the time,

of the attack...

“Someone untie me... please I don't want to die. Karasu get over here and get me free!” He looked at his prince knowing full well he wouldn't follow him. But, he couldn't just leave him there to die. He ran to the boy and a arrow hit him in the shoulder. “Get up, GET UP AND FREE ME BEFORE YOU DIE! Kazeyuki saw a wolf clan member walk towards him. He was scared to death, that he was going to die.

“You are the prince of Owl?” Kazeyuki told him that his father was dead, he was now king. Any ransom they asked for, would be paid on his safe return. He was not to be harmed and... “Shut up you little maggot.” He looked to the marriage tent.

“My lord Yama, I swear I saw them enter it!”

“Don't worry, they cant have got far. Daichi...” The guy walked to his lord. “Find them and kill them. I will not risk the two clans uniting.” Daichi smiled and thanked his lord for prey.

Part 3

I cant cross that

As night fell,

and weather picked up...

Mojo and Hiroto found a hollow dead tree to take shelter in. Mojo stripped to her underwear and cuddled with him to keep him warm. Hiroto was not doing well. He had an infection in his leg. Her doctrine skills were not the best of curing his leg. Mojo knew in her head he might die tonight. All she could do for Hiroto, was keep him warm. They fell asleep, in the trunk. When she woke up, he was all healthy. Hiroto felt her moving and opened his eyes.

“How are you better?”

“I prayed to our gods last night. I wanted the strength to keep you alive. I guess they heard my prayer.” She looked a him in shock. This is what he chose to ask the gods for? Her head suddenly jerked to the side. She softly told him to be silent.

As she put her clothes back on. Daichi was walking around the area. He had 2 wolves with him, but she hid their scents. By leaving a dead animal on the ground in a clearing a bit away. The wolves were fighting over it while they were supposed to be working. Daichi was walking around for a long while, but left in the end.

“Who was that?”

“An old warrior Hiroto. He makes a living hunting high profile kitsune. I hid because I don't know if I could beat him.” Hiroto stood up and asked what now? “We need to cross the bridge. There is a neutral village on the other side where you will be safe.”

“I don't like the way you said that. By implication do you plan to leave me there alone?” She had to find her kin. If he was safe then she could do that without worry...

As afternoon set in,

on the bridges north side...

“You got to be kidding, I cant cross this, and you cant cross it either!” Hiroto was looking at three ropes going across a huge drop. One to walk on, the other two to hold on to. Mojo told him there was no choice here. They needed to get across. “You cant cross this, you are blind, one false step and...”

“Hiroto, I cross bridges like this all the time.” He shouted this wasn't a bridge. It didn't make any sense why someone would build something like this! Mojo turned her head telling him he needed to man up and go, Daichi was close.

“No way this doesn't make sense was it just cheaper to not use wood!” Mojo told him he needed to go. Death was the other option. “Death is the option for attempting this bridge!” Then she hoped he knew how to fight.

Hiroto looked behind them and saw Daichi approaching with two wolves. Mojo took out her two short swords ready for a fight. Hiroto was a scholar, not a warrior, he started crossing the bridge. “Love, start crossing!” Mojo knew she had to stay behind.

“So, you are the infamous little twerp, who hunts her kind.” Mojo told him that he better ready his scythe. “Oh I will, but first I will let your newly wed get halfway.” She pleaded to Daichi to not hurt him. “Only if you drop your weapons, right now!”

She did as she was told. Daichi kicked them off the cliff and whistled. His two wolves attacked her and bloodied her up a bit. Hiroto was now 2/3rds across, afraid to turn his head. Mojo heard him slash his weapon. With the sounds of rope snapping.

“NO! You told me you would let him live” she cried. Daichi informed her that he had lied about that part. Then he kicked her in the head and she got knocked out.

Hanging on,

for dear life...

“Where is she, why isn't she holding on to the rope like me?” Hiroto looked to the cliff and saw a wolf throw Mojo tied up over his shoulder. “He took my love, I cant let him take my love. All he could do was descend the bridge slowly. He reached the bottom which was in the forest area. Hiroto saw her weapons in the distance, and someone saw him...

Part 4

Captured

At a wolf camp,

in the alpha's tent...

“What happened...” Mojo woke up on a bed of furs with her neck chained to a pole. Also her hands tied behind her back, so tight she couldn't get loose.

“Go tell Gekido she is awake.” Mojo asked where she was? “You're in the heart of wolf territory girl. Or to be more precise you are in hell. A wise child would have pretended to still be asleep.” Where was her rabbit? “Oh that little thing was breakfast.” NO! Gekido walked past him. Mojo shouted how could they eat her familiar? Gekido kicked her hard right in the stomach telling her quiet.

Mojo had a little bit of blood come out of her mouth after that kick. She gasped and coughed from the pain. He may have even cracked a couple of her ribs.

“I cant believe my man brought a scrawny girl. You aren't even something fun I could throw to my men.” Mojo asked what was to be done with her. “Well, I'm going to torture you to death. I rarely get such healthy toys. Be blessed you haven't grown breasts. Otherwise every guy would get a shot at you... Daichi, go drill a hole in the ice, I'm going fishing.” He took the chain off the pole and dragged her by the neck out of his tent. And through the camp of vicious men.

“Listen up boys, we have a rabbit to keep us busy today. Not just a rabbit, she is supposed to be one of the most skilled. Anyone care to punch or kick her..?” After that announcement Mojo went through horrendous pain. The men did all kinds of things to her. All she could do was lay there and take it. But the worst was yet to come.

27 minutes later...

“Alright let her get some air.” Gekido ordered. His clan mate used the crank to bring her up from the ice cold water. She had a weight tied to her feet and her hands tied to a hook above her head. They had her over a hole in the ice and were ducking her in.

“When I get out of this, I am going to pay you back 10 fold wolf.” Gekido waved his hand and ordered his men to untie her. He tossed 2 daggers to her and said bring it on. Her body was shutting down from the cold, yet she still had strength to fight. She picked up the weapons and got to her feet. Gekido took a ball and long chain out.

“Well come on, aren't you going to kill me?” He had a crazed angry look on his face. As if he was insulted that she threatened him. She ran at him as fast as she could go. As she shook from the cold and felt the inflicted pain on her body. Gekido swung his weapon around in a circle. The ball hit her in the stomach and she passed out.

1 day later...

“Oh my... wait where am I?” Mojo was chained to a stone slab. She realized after everything she had been through, it wasn't over. She was going to be sacrificed.

“You really did it you little runt.” Mojo asked what could she have done? You angered our head by challenging him in your weakened state. He is really pis... at you.” She asked what was to become of her? “You are going to be sacrificed under the full moon tonight. I personally would reflect on your stupidity while you have the chance.”

Hours later...

A wolf member came to her and started drawing sacrificial runes on her body. Gekido was in his tent beating the living hell out of his slave. It wasn't a lie to tell that he was livid. He just really was angry that she thought she could harm him.

The sun started to set and the clan gathered around their leaders tent. He came out shirtless also having runes drawn on him. In his hand was a crudely fashioned dagger. He started to hum a tune. The other members also started too hum the tune. Mojo knew the song, she had already tried to get free with no luck. Tears came from her eyes she had been holding in all her life. It was clear she was about to die.

As she heard the song drawing near. There was a sudden pause in the humming. She had no idea what brought it to a halt. Now because she was blind she could not see the whole area becoming blacker than a lit less night. Gekido couldn't see his hand in front of his face. Nor the savage punch to his gut that came moments later.

At the alter...

“Little one, I need you to remain calm while I get you out of here.” A woman's voice told her very softly. Mojo was freed in less than a minute. All she could hear was brutality in the distance. Something was assaulting the wolf clan and who was this woman freeing her. “Can you walk?” Mojo stood on her feet and fell to the ground. The woman picked her up in her arms gently.

By the time it was over and the darkness cleared. 1/3rd of Gekido's clan was dead. And Gekido himself had a knife in his shoulder. The clan had no clue what just happened. But Gekido remembered hearing about a forest kitsune named Pitch Black...

Part 5

Fish out of water

In April's privet city,

laying in Tiffany's bed...

“Oh, by Inari's wrath do I feel terrible.” Mojo spoke coming out of her medicinal coma. To rewind... Tiffany was hunting nearby when the bridge was cut. Pitch was off in the distance. Tiffany saw the bridge and young Hiroto come down. She dropped what she was doing and ran to his aid. After he told her about Mojo it was a matter of finding the wolves before a rescue was made. April's kids had little love for the wolves already. Pitch seemed more than a match for them. Which brings us to now. Mojo was allowed to rest in Tiffany's bed. While the medicine did its work. Mojo sat up and listened for who near.

“I'm glad you survived the fall, love.”

“How could you know that I am sitting here?” Hiroto asked sounding shameful. Mojo told him to come hold her. “Of course.” Tanya walked out of the tree hut and left them alone. Mojo wrapped her arms around her husbands body.

“I'm happy you didn't try to rescue me yourself. I would have died with a broken heart if you died trying to save me.” Hiroto told her that he did offer to go with the rescue party. But the big guy told him that he would only slow them down. “Hiroto, I actually was going to die. Because of you I cheated death. I am no longer unhappily wed. He kissed her on the forehead. “You missed.” Hiroto kissed her lips and she kissed him back. April walked in on them making out.

“I don't mean to interrupt your love scene, but I have a couple questions.” Mojo told her shoot. “At the top of the list, where exactly am I going to drop you both off. Once you can walk on your own feet of course.” Mojo told her west of the 3 peaks. “Okay 2nd thing, a member of Wolf came looking for you both this morning. I was going to have him killed unless you say otherwise.”

“What did he want?”

“Oh he came to my trees shouting it was a breach of territory rules. My daughter and her husband involving in their affairs. I told him that Wolves come down from the mountains often and cause me trouble. Then he told me I was just a hick, at which point Trevor popped him in the face.” Mojo told her she would trouble them as little as possible. “Do not get out of that bed young lady. I assure you that you are no trouble.” Tommy walked into the house saying a woman named Usagi was here...

In a dinner,

in April's city...

“Well I had to see this to believe it. Another marked priestess, what a rare treat this is.” Skip disclosed walking up to Usagi. She looked Skip in the eye and asked her to recite a prayer with her. They took the position of worship, as April walked in.

“I didn't mean to intrude on your moment. I can come back.” Skip asked her ladyship to just give them a moment. The two women prayed to the mother fox Inari and their bodies illuminated. April put her hand to her face to show respect. Finally the two were done and the whole place was showing them respect.

“Now then, lady April. Please take me to the children.” Usagi was escorted to Tiffany's home. Mojo was hugging Hiroto in a suggestive manner. Usagi confessed she thought this was an unhappy marriage. Mojo told her to be quiet.

“Well it seems that I came at a bad time. I'll leave the two of you to rekindle your marriage.” Mojo told her for the love that is holy shut up! She shouted as her face reddened. April added to be married at such a young age. It must have been a dire situation.

“We got hitched to unite two clans, lady April.” Mojo sat up and tried to stand on her legs but fell once she stood. Usagi rushed to her as April told her that there was no rush to leave. “Lady April, don't take this the wrong way, but I am not in my element here. I feel to much like a fish out of water already.”

“Very well, when you can walk out of this hut and to my city gates. That will be the time you can leave.” Usagi agreed, she needed to let her body heal.

16 days later...

Mojo was walking to the tree portal with her kin. Before leaving she bowed to those of Forest. After they were through she wanted a report on how bad things were?

“Kazeyuki abolished the alliance and turned his clan on ours. Right now the only chance for this to have a happy ending is for them to stay married. At least that's what Usagi thought...