[Only Cookie & BCNSDJ please and thank you!]

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A woman come to kill of the Prince on behalf of her kingdom now has fallen prisoner to the spoiled brat. He is abusive and most distasteful, rude and sexist. She is like his slave in his home, he can do anything to her. Beat her, leave her hungry and cold, humiliate her and even mock her in public. What will the girl assassin do? Will she win over his heart? Will his abusive manners stop? Read, to find out ;O

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Name: Yuki Echizen
Age: 24
Appearance:

Bio: You shall find out later ;O

Name: Victor Kozlov
Age: Twenty-six
Appearance:

Bio: Born and raised in the royal lineage of the Kozlov family, Victor's ancestors were given a section of the mighty nation of Russia long ago and have lived in the land since they day they were given it. Now the ruler of his people, Victor plans to change things from the "old fashioned" ways of his relatives and their history. He plans to spread the empire into Asia and slowly take control.

Yuki was dressed all in black, she blended in with the beautiful dark night lit only by the crescent moon hanging low in the sky. Her noticeable teal hair tucked underneath her mask carefully, she had taken pain in clipping each little part so it wouldn't come loose and give away her position. If it did fall loose it would be very noticeable against the pitch black clothing. She was creeping against the castle wall dodging the guards, she had almost gotten caught by one of them.

She ran through the hallway quiet as a ninja her footsteps light. She climbed up the stairs quickly and unseen, she took off the mask off her lips and wiped her sweating rose coloured lips. Yuki eyed the room the Prince was too be in, she opened the door thanking the lord it didn't creak. It was heavy for the small female, she pushed it open with all her might it was beautifully decorated.

The room took her breath away, it was grand and obviously no expense had been spared while decorating it. Yuki noted the male body lying there motionless, except the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. She looked around, 'You have to do this fast Yuki. Before someone catches you' she told herself. She walked up to the sleeping male and drew her dagger and raised it up before she brought it down with all her might.

He dreamed he was alone. All alone in the giant castle he called home. It was daytime, the sunlight spewing in through the stain glass windows, creating a whole array of colours to dance across the stone walls. When Victor turned his head towards the light it did not hurt him.

He was in the castle church. Long, brown benches were placed row upon row for miles and miles. They seemed to go on forever, although he knew his church was nothing like that. In front of him stood the alter, but it was larger than normal. The giant stone angel seemed to stared down at him with her cold gray eyes, as if taunting him, saying he would never be as powerful as her...

A scream filled the air. Victor turned. A woman with long snowy hair was running towards him, her pale face twisted in fear. She clutched his front, sobbing into his robes. She begged and pleaded for help, for him to save her. Victor tried to touch her and push her off. He tried to free himself of her iron grip but something at the end of the hall caught his attention.

There at the entrance of the church was a figure. He couldn't make out the shape, or whether it was female or male, or what kind of clothes they wore. Even without knowing who it was, or what they looked like, he sensed the danger. Victor tried to grab the woman in front of him but she was gone. Instead the hazy enemy started coming closer and closer.

Victor awoke in his bed with a start. He lay very still, trying not to breathe too hard in fear the guards outside would hear and come barging in. They were highly trained, and they could hear him even when he rolled over on the soft mattress of his bed.

The moonlight coming in from one of the windows was bright and Victor waited until his eyes adjusted to it. When he could make out the shape of his dresser on the opposite side of the room, he blinked again and began turning over on his side.

Suddenly he saw it. The looming figure above him with the knife held high. He wouldn't have seen them had the moonlight reflected on the weapon's blade from the angle he lay at. Fast as he could, the young Kozlov rolled fast to the side, just barely dodging the knife as it plunged into his bed.

Victor leaped to his feet. The blankets and sheets fell off his body, exposing his bare upper torso. He didn't bother asking the intruder what his name was. Nor did he care to waste time trying to act a hero. "Guards!" He called. This was their duty, not Victor's.

The guards came swarming in, lanterns in hand. Instantly they saw the black-cloaked figure and grabbed him by the arms.

The gleaming dagger pierced the Princes pillow the soft snowy white feathers scattered everywhere, her eyes flashed to him he was awake? How! She had made sure he was asleep, the female gave a low growl and lunged at him once again as he called for his pathetic guards. Her slim body tensed underneath the black stealth outfit. If they caught her, she would be done for. The light shone, reflecting off of her clear golden eyes she tried to make a run and she was almost at the door but alas, they were too many off them to weave around.

Yuki let out a frustrated scream as they grabbed her, this was bad! They thought she was a man, their arms snaked around hers and held her down with more force than required. It was hurting her, she squirmed and kicked. In all this commotion she had dropped her dagger too, she saw the blade gleaming underneath the luminescent moon rays she looked at the Prince and growled once again.

Yuki's eyes bore into his, the Princes body gleamed in the moon, she could see sweat on his body. To think she had been so close, the muscles in her arms were tensed, the instinctively tightened. In the calmest voice she could manage she spoke, "You are hurting my arms...loosen your grip" she said, her teeth clenched and her voice stubborn and proud. Yuki was already formulating a plan in her head, 'The moment they take me to the stairs their attention is going to be shifted, thats when I'll break free and run...then come back another night to finish off this bastard' she thought to herself.

Her golden eyes were blank and cold as she let her gaze look over the Prince again. The hatred in her eyes visible even through the mask that covered her young face. Oh how she despised him, her face twitched with hate the Prince had killed of her family and now...she would kill him. Yuki's furious eyes were hungry for the Princes blood, he would pay no matter what she was an assassin and she would have his head even if that was the last thing she ever did.

Victor now heard from the voice that the intruder was female. Imagine that, a woman tried to kill him. He narrowed his eyes at her words. Loosen their grip? Who did this sneak think they were? Did she honestly believe she deserved to have her request granted?

"Take her to the cells," he ordered. "Leave her there until morning when I come down. Do not feed her nor speak to her." He really didn't have to tell his men that part, but just to be on the safe side. Sometimes they didn't listen...

Before she was taken away the fiery tempered young woman spat at the Princes feet, "I'll have you head if its the last thing I do you damn bastard!" Yuki yelled uselessly. Her golden eyes brimmed with tears of fury, she had failed in her mission and to top it all of she had gotten caught! Was there no end to the shame she was feeling?!

Their grip on her hand had not loosened, and she could feel ugly bruises forming already. Yuki spat in the direction of the Prince before they pushed her out of the room they showed her no kindness as they hoisted her out of the room, one of the men took off her mask and sneered at her face.

"Thats what you get when you try to kill him! Women belong in the kitchen too cook, they don't fit as an assassin because they'll be worthless!" she watched with deadly eyes as he made fun of her, the other men chimed in too laughing stupidly. 'Damn pigs' she felt like she was going to explode from rage! Her body shook as they took her down the stairs, she knew this was her chance. She felt the guards arm loosen the slightest, she stepped on his foot and watched the bastard yelp. She ran down the stairs as gracefully as she could.

On the last step of the grand staircase she felt herself trip. Yuki let out a scream, she saw one of the guards grinning. He had thrown his sword at her foot to trip her, she felt hot tears of humiliation pouring down her face faster and faster. Yuki had no chance off getting out now, her leg was injured.

One of the guards slapped her, she looked at him astonished. He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to the cells, "You are lucky the Prince ordered for you too be locked up 'ere, next time he'll have your throat slit" he growled in a deep set voice, she turned her face away. The pungent odor of rum stung her eyes, they had chained a single leg too the wall.

The stone floor was cold and her clothes were thin. The chill seeped into her every corner of her bone, she let out a wild scream to who ever could here. "I CURSE ALL YOU BASTARDS! I HOPE YOU ALL DIE! BURN WITH THE WRETCHED CASTLE!" she screamed, but no sooner had she screamed that she collapsed onto the floor. Crying. Crying, wailing and thrashing her hands against the stones.

Yuki lay there unmoving as dawn broke, it only lighted the miserable cell clearer for her. She saw skulls and skeletons of people still chained against the wall, her body retreated and she drew her arms and legs closer to herself until she was a tight ball of black with exotic dull teal hair. Her face was tear strained and tired, she closed her eyes and put her head against her knee. Then...there was blackness.

As the guards left Victor remained standing in his room. He breathed in, filling his lungs, and tried to calm his fast beating heart. One guard remained behind, as if to watch the Kozlov heir and make sure he was alright. The woman's screams echoed down the castle hallways, her words nothing against him. She was the one who tried to kill him and there she was hollering about how he should be cursed? Rather hypocritical... and pointless.

He motioned to the door. "You may leave," he ordered. The guard standing awkwardly alone nodded and quickly scampered out, leaving Victor the only person in the giant bedroom.

The Russian rubbed his hands. That woman... she wore the clothes of the Asians. She had to be from the east... Was it some kind of rebellion? Were they fighting against him? Had they heard of his plan somehow? He didn't have any Asians in his castle. Nobody who knew about his ideas had such ancestry, he made sure of that.

Yet this happened. She tried to kill him. Was this only a coincidence?

He wanted to crawl back into bed but his pillow was destroyed and his nerves a little shaken. Not that he didn't have a million and one of those damn things. It was more or less because his brain kept jumping around thinking someone was behind him, and his eyes kept flickering all over the place.

Victor scowled. He snatched up his robe from the back of his desk chair and slipped it on. No point attempting to do something he knew was impossible. Exiting his room, he passed by the guard at the doorway and nodded to him, as if to say 'stay here'. The guard only blinked and watched his master go, wondering if he should listen or disobey the order...

Victor wandered down the corridor and down a flight of stairs before entering another hallway. There were about a dozen rooms in his wing. Each room was large enough to hold three people. He knew her's off by heart.

It was the third on the left and he opened it without bothering to knock. Three figures lay sleeping in their beds, their maid uniforms nice and clean sitting on a nearby desk. Victor moved to the bed against the right wall and peered down at her. She was his age, maybe a little older, with long, long dark hair and a pointed face. Her skin was porcelain, much like his and when he reached out to touch her shoulder.

"Natalia," he mumbled. The woman stirred, eyes flashing open before his hand even made contact with her shoulder. Her senses were just as sharp as his. She sat up in bed, bright eyes beginning to narrow. She was silently asking him why he was there, what he wanted. Victor motioned to the door and the woman glanced at the other two maids before following.

"What is it?" She asked, wearing a simple nightgown. Her bare arms looked cold so Victor handed his robe over. She hesitated for only a moment, then took it and wrapped herself inside of the clothing.

"An assassin tried to kill me," he said.

Natalia's eyes flashed. Rage? Fear? Worry? "What?"

"She was young. My age. Asian."

"Are you certain?"

That dark gleam in the murderer woman's eyes could never be forgotten. "Her knife missed me by inches. She was aiming for my head."

Natalia leaned against the wall. She seemed at a loss for words. Her gaze kept flickering all over the place, finally landed on him after a moment. "What will you do?"

Not sleep for a couple nights. "I'll get information out of her, then kill her."

"Victor..."

"She's an enemy! You know that!"

"You're trying to eliminate her people," Natalia hissed. She leaned towards him so close their faces were almost inches apart. "Victor, listen to me, this plan of yours is futile. They're a culture of ancient arts! They will never disappear no matter how hard to you try!"

"Stop it!" Victor snapped. He looked left and right, hoping to God nobody was around. "Don't talk about it like that!"

"You're not listening to me!" Natalia lowered her voice. "Victor, I'm your sister, you have to understand I'm thinking of your well-being."

Yeah, his sister he had to keep hidden. His sister he had placed as a maid so he could watch over his. His sister his father had in an affair with a townswoman, a sister who Victor searched high and low to find once he heard his father speaking of her as a child in hushed voices. A sister he cherished almost more than his own life. But not as much as his plan.

"I can't," he whispered. "I can't stop the plan. It needs to happen. Those barbarians--"

"They're living people." Natalia glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. She turned on her heel. "I'm glad you're okay, Victor. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to bed. Good night."

She left him standing there alone. This was not what he wanted. He wanted his sister to make him feel better, to sooth him. Instead she was annoyed at him and he still couldn't go back to sleep.

He stalked back to his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Victor was mad. This was useless. Totally useless! Nobody was helping him. He flopped onto his bed with a scowl. He was too tired to be dealing with this. Maybe he'd be killed in his sleep. Or maybe not.

Regardless, Victor found himself falling into darkness and dreams of churches and colourful lights. The next thing he knew it was morning and he was alive.

Yuki woke up coughing, the tears that had long dried on her face were once again fresh and running down her cheeks with life. She was a long way from home, her clutched her aching leg groaning she closed her eyes and put her head against the wall. She was like a Japanese doll, perfect light colored skin, large bright eyes and a small full rose bud lip too top everything off. Her movements were slow, her bones ached from the chill of the floor.

She had slept a short painful sleep, the stupid throbbing her ankles did not allow her to sleep more than two hours at a stretch. Yuki stripped herself of the black top that clung to her slim figure, underneath it she was wearing a sleeveless Japanese kimono top it was a beautiful piece of art made on silk with delicate threading which seemed to flow from the shirt and make it alive.

Yuki ripped the thin fabric and wrapped it tightly around her injured leg. The fresh crimson colour had faded into a red rust making the wound look sickening and almost infectious. It took the young female a lot of will power to not scream, her breathing became faster as she tied the cloth tighter and tighter around her wound. She blinked the weak useless tears away from her eyes.

'You need to be strong, these bastards are heartless! You need to be like them, show no mercy to these damn men. They like destruction and nothing else!' she told herself over and over again. Yuki grabbed a piece of rock she in front of her, taking it she turned to the wall behind her. Yuki wrote yesterdays date on the wall in a beautiful slender Japanese writing, then she put a tally mark for today. If she was going to be here for awhile she would need too know the date.

Closing her eyes she envisioned herself to be in her own little home with the cherry tree's in blossom. A small smile stretched over her lips, she wanted to forget the deary cell she was being held captive in. She felt the cool Japanese winds blowing her hair playfully around, she smelled the sweet smells of sushi and fried fish. Yuki sat there in her own world undisturbed by the Russians, she only dreamed of Japan.

Her sad eyes opened, her longing to go home had worsened. She had known from the start taking this mission on was going to be something she would regret for the days too come.

"Master Kozlev?"

Victor adjusted the collar on his shirt to be less tight. In front of him was a maid with brown hair and blue eyes. She was very pretty, but nervous. Her fingers quaked as she buttoned his shirt and Victor's piercing gaze did nothing to help. In the doorway stood a guard, spear in hand.

"What?" Victor asked, eyes still boring a hole into his maid's face.

The guard shifted slightly. "We've just received word that Lord Losev is to be here in two days time."

Great. Just what he needed. That stupid fat old man and his little toyboy. Victor growled. The maid in front of him jumped, startled. "Fine. Dismissed." As the guard closed the bedroom door, leaving only Victor and the maid in the room, the young master continued to gaze at the brunette before him as she finished clothing him.

"What's your name?" He asked.

The maid hesitated in her work. Those big blue eyes lifted to meet his, but dropped almost instantly in fear. "Agalii," she whispered.

"Agalii; Russian form of Greek Aglaia, the myth name of one of the three Graces. Meaning beauty, splendour..." Oh yes, he knew names well. He knew a lot about his Russian history. "Very fitting."

A blush graced the maid's cheeks. She bowed her head. "Thank you, Master Kozlev." His clothes now completely finished, Agalii stepped away. She folded her hands over her lap and bent her waist. She couldn't leave without his dismissal, and so she stood, waiting.

Victor cupped her face gently. He tilted it up. Those large blue eyes widened in shock and fear. She was wondering what he was going to do to her? Abuse? Rape? No, Victor was not a rape kind of man. Beating, yes, although he preferred others to do that for him. Blood didn't suit his clothing. It was hard to get out too. "Yes, very fitting..." And he dipped his head to kiss her. It was soft at first, and she didn't respond. Her shock was too thick and it froze her in the spot.

Victor ran his hand down her throat. His fingers lingered there, kneading the soft, warm flesh. As he pulled away from her lips, he saw that she had never closed those eyes of hers. They were wide open, staring at him.

"Dismissed," he said. She left fast, hardly able to keep herself from running. Victor rubbed his fingers together, staring off into space. She was too scared, to weak. He needed someone stronger. More defiant, yet not too much...

He left his room and motioned to the guard to follow. Together the two travelled down into the cellar where the female assassin lay chained to the wall. "Feeling good today?" Victor's guard asked. Another one joined them at the iron bars. Victor stood between them in his fancy clothes, eyes cold and lifeless as he stared at the disgusting woman who tried to kill him.

Yuki's formerly soft honey looking eyes instantly hardened and froze. Her teeth gritted and the look of defiance and smug appeared on her face anymore. "I would have felt better if I saw your basterdous head in front of my legs instead of it still being attached to your body." she told him sneering. Her words came out slow as she thought of what too say since English was not her first language. She hoped her weak threat had made her point.

She smirked yet again. "It seems that you are afraid of me you bratty little Prince. I am chained and weak yet you still stand behind the safety of the cell and you bring another man too guard you?" she asked laughing. Her laughter was like a chiming bell, it echoed in the cell ringing from stone too stone. "Are you sure you are a man? Because in Japan a man as weak as you...he would be overlooked like trash." Yuki knew she was pushing his limits and that was good.

She was hoping if she continued too insult him he would eventually make his way into the stone cell that held her. And oh when he came in he would find her fingers wrappd around his stupid princely neck. Yuki's eyes were vicious as she locked her gaze with his.

Her chin was pointing up much like the Princes. She was mocking his behaviour, she smirked at him. Challenging him, she knew she might as well end up dead for this but this was her nature. When she saw an enemy she would taunt him till he fell, she was not the kind to back away with her tails in between her legs. She was fierce like an untamed lion.

Victor's anger boiled inside him. But he pushed it aside and forced himself to be strong, just as his strict bringing up taught him. "These guards are not my doing," he told the Asian. He saw her eyes gleam and narrowed his own. "You see unlike poor, useless, disgusting people like you, I am seen as a figure of power and importance. My guards are trained and raised to protect me. I do not ask them to, for it's not allowed. Should I die, my land and it's inhabitence would suffer greatly."

He tried at a short smile. Of course, those were extremely rare for him, and it came out wire and fake. "Of course, pathetic little Asians like you wouldn't know what being important means. You don't equal to anything."

The Russian heir turned and one of the guards moved with him. "Treat her however you want," he told the other guard guarding the female assassin. "Find out who she works under, or if she works alone." He snorted a short laugh. "It won't matter either way. Superiors always win in the end." He left, his guard trailing behind him like a shadow, his orders his last echoing words.

"A figure of importance?! Please do not make me laugh. The only reason people find you important is because they know you will kill them if they do not side with you!" she threw her head back too laugh. "I might be useless and disgusting but at least I can sleep peacefully at night. How can you even dare to go to sleep when you have the blood on so many innocent beings on your head?!" she questioned him fiercely. She knew something had to make him snap, one chance. That is all that was needed.

Her mouth formed into a tight line, her left eye twitched lightly. "Pathetic little Asians? Your damn castle would not have even been built if you did not have pathetic little Asians too build it for you! You would have never learned the way of the sword if us pathetic little Asians didn't teach it too you! We helped you build all this and if you aren't careful we will rip it back from your ungrateful, filthy, blood shedding hands!" she growled out. Yuki spat in his direction, "You call yourself a ruler?! You are nothing but a spineless coward!" she screamed out her words.

"This time! I will not let a superior win, mark my words you bastard!" she yelled after him. After the Prince left one of the guards came into the cell sneering at her in the most disgusting way possible. He had a whip in his hand, she eyed it. Yuki's eyes showing none of the fear she felt inside.

He grabbed her roughly by the hair, her mouth became a firmer line than before. If he thought that she could make her scream out in pain...he was wrong. "Well, yer gonna get what you deserve miss" he said in a thick Russian accent, she just growled back at him in response.

He threw her harshly against the wall, no sound came from her mouth and no tears welled in her eyes. Only the rattles of the chain could be heard. The man brought down the first lash hard and firm on her back, her fists clenched up as she felt the weight of the whip. It struck her fast, nearly taking her breath away. She gasped for air but failed too get a big gulp as it came down on her back again and again.

Yuki's hand shook as she tried too stay up on her arms, the basterdous man grabbed her again by her silky hair and ordered one of the watching guards too chain her up to the wall. Her face was dirty and tear streaked, her porcelain skin barely visible under the darkness of the mud that lay in patches across her face.

The guard whipped her sensitive areas, her arms, her chest and her neck. Yuki didn't cry out once, instead she took too biting on her lips. She was biting so hard that the skin became raw and sensitive and blood overflowed from it, her fresh crimson wound stung as it soaked in her tears and dirt residing on her face.

The guard had asked her numerous times who she had worked for but Yuki had steadily ignored him. It seemed to anger him more and more as she continued to pay no attention. After what seemed like ages to Yuki he ceased, "This slave has had enough for today, we will come back tomorrow and reopen your wounds and we will do so everyday until you decide to open your damn mouth and tell us." he said with a smile. Obviously taking pleasure in her pain.

One of the guards unchained her from the wall without a warning and she fell too the ground barely managing to break her fall. Yuki's body lay there unmoving, she was broken all over. She heard the cell door close, looking up too see that the coast was clear she let out her tears, she hugged her knee and her lean body shook with fear and pain.

He was back in the church again. Victor's eyes shifted over the rainbow lights dancing on the walls. Why did he keep coming back? What did any of this mean? Then hands touched his back. He felt fingers digging into his shirt. A voice. It was familiar. So, so familiar. Victor wanted to run away from that voice. He wanted to shove the woman with the snow white hair aside and duck behind the religious statue before him. He wanted to push away all the horrors and fears he had inside of him that appeared from hearing that voice.

The hands shifted from his back to his shoulders, then slowly they worked their way up to his neck. He felt the cold fingers stroke his cheeks, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Victor's eyes fluttered closed. These feathery touches were killing him. They were making his conscience scream for help, but at the same time they made him crave for more.

A breath tickled his nape. More words uttered in that horrible voice. Victor's eyelids flew open and suddenly he was laying face-up in bed, staring at the canopy above. The next thing his eyes locked onto nearly made him piss himself.

Bent over him with her long hair falling from her shoulders was Natalia. And she did not look happy.

Victor sat up, eyes set in a glare. "What?" He hissed, trying not to raise his voice. Beside him sleeping with her chestnut hair splayed out around her was little Agalii, bare shoulders peeking from the blankets.

Natalia's gaze hardly moved from him, even as the Russian heir glanced sideways to the maid. She motioned to the bed room door. After making sure Agalii was still snoozing, Victor pulled on a pair of pants and followed his sister into the hallway.

"Your men beat that poor Asian women half to death!" Natalia snarled, glaring at her siblings.

Victor could only blink and leer back. This was why she woke him up? This was why she shattered his sleep and pulled him out of bed? Because of some stupid, big-talking girl?

"Well, say something!"

"There's nothing wrong with it!" Victor snapped back. "They were doing what they were told!"

Natalia's eyes flared. "You ordered them to do that? Have you seen the state she's in? Victor, she won't last another day under such circumstances!"

"What do you want me to do?" Victor demanded. "Let her go? She tried to kill me, Natalia! Is an assassin more important than my life?"

"Of course not," she said, voice lowering and becoming more soothing. Her anger was calming and in return Victor's did too. "Just... Give her time to heal. Feed her. Bathe her for God sakes. The poor woman is probably so scared and alone and hurt..."

My sister is weak, Victor thought this to himself as he stared at the dark haired female standing before him. Weak and emotional. She will never be a leader. She'll never become anything strong with such pathetic traits.

But she was still his sister, and if there was one thing they shared it was stubbornness. Natalia would never back down. So Victor did what was easiest for him. "Fine. Take her tomorrow morning. She's your responsibility now. However, do not let her leave her cell."

Those his final words, and the smile of his sister the last image in his mind, he stalked back to bed and slipped his pants off again, snuggling under the blankets. Agalii stirred in her sleep, blue eyes blinking open. Victor placed his hand on her head and stroked back her soft hair. "Sleep," he murmured. The maid's eyelids closed again and Victor shifted closer to drape an arm over her waist. Within seconds sleep took over his body.

Yuki was awake as dawn broke through the dark horizon. She was up all night, coughing up blood and shivering. Her shirt was slit in many places exposing the slowly healing red skin underneath. She lay still on the floor. Her long legs curled inwards towards her aching chest. Her mind was screaming, she wanted too cry out in pain but her defiance didn't let her.

She coughed vigorously again, this time though no blood forced its way through her mouth. Yuki pressed her forehead too the cold stone floor to get some ease, her eyes burned with sleep but she ignored the weak desire. She was parched, her stomach ached for food and water. Her mouth was dry, she felt like if she spoke it would crack and fall right off of her face.

Pushing hard against the floor it took Yuki all her strength too prop herself up against the wall behind her. Yuki breathed heavily, every gulp, every breath she took burned its way out of her lungs. The wretched taste of blood lingered in her mouth, she felt her body tilt too one side. The chains rattled noisily as she tried too sit up right again but failed.

Her eyes closed, her mind was somehow not responded too her wishes and body movement. 'Is this what death feels like? Mother always told me you would feel internal bliss before you die. But all I feel is pain, am I going too hell? Is that why I am hurting?' so many questions ran through the innocent girls head. She coughed weakly again, but there was no one around to pay attention too her.

Yuki's body gave another twitch like spasm before she felt her body tilting and her head hitting the concrete floor with a small thud. Next there was only darkness and screams.

Agalii was dressing Victor, hands less shaky this time and an embarrassed blush on her face, when Natalia came barging into his room. Victor raised his head ever so slightly, annoyance creasing his brow. "What is it?" He snapped to her.

Natalia, having to act the perfect little maid in front of people, bowed. "Sir, we have a problem with the slave."

Translation: I'm not happy with you and you're going to hear about it.

Victor scowled. He stopped Agalii's hands with his own and motioned for her to leave the room. She did with a bow, and nodded in greeting to Natalia as she passed. The door clicked closed behind her. Victor turned to his sister, the top half of his shirt still unbuttoned. He started doing them by hand. "Please, tell me she's dead."

"She's not," Natalia snarled. "But it would better if she was with the state she's in!"

"Oh goody! Then kill her, put her out of her misery." Victor fumbled with a button and glared. Damn. How did he forget to do this in such a short amount of time?

Natalia stalked over. She slapped his hands away, which he growled at, and began finishing the job Agalii was neglected from. "I'm taking a branch in the medical wing. Just one room. She and I can share. I'm going to watch her and have one of the nurses monitor her everyday."

Victor spluttered, "A room in the medical wing? Absolutely not! Do you know how expensive that is?"

"And do you know that Lord Losev is a very particular man about wanting slaves to be treated well?" Natalia asked coolly.

Victor stiffened. Damn. Damndamndamn. She knew this was the day Losev was coming. She knew this was the perfect chance for her to ask such a thing. "Fine," he spat. "Take the wench! Bathe her quickly then move her to the wing. Keep her chained to you though and have a guard."

"Victor, I don't need a guard--"

"She tried to kill me." Victor gripped his sister's wrists as she finished buttoning his shirt and stared at her. Their eyes, the same wonderful shade of bright lavender, connected and battled together. Natalia, a woman who never backed down, suddenly sighed and ripped her hands from his grip.

Without another word she stalked to the door. As soon as she gripped the handle and swung it open she squeaked in surprise. Standing on the other side of the door was a guard. He blinked down at her, then moved out of the way as she skittered past, long dark skirt swishing in her steps. She was heading to the dungeons. To that disgusting slave.

The guard turned to Victor, back straight. "Lord Kozlov, Lord Losev is here."

"Very well." Victor folded down his collar and moved across the room to where the rest of his robes lay. Picking up the magnificent cloak that symbolized his royal heritage, he draped it over himself and stood before a mirror.

His hair was neat and combed, his face pointed and flawless. With his tall, slender frame the robe almost looked awkward, but his cold expression made everything fit. He was powerful. He was merciless. He was the perfect noble.

Pivoting on his heel, the lord walked to his guard and out the door. "Let's go."

()()()

Natalia almost ran the entire way to the dungeons. Her dark dress kept trying to trip her rushed feet so he held it high with her hands to clear the area. Her black heels clicked loudly with every hurried step she took. As she passed to the stairs she paused at the entrance. There were a few guard standing around doing nothing. Might as well do what Victor said instead of getting in trouble...

"Excuse me, Lord Kozlov ordered a guard to accompany me into the dungeons," she said to one of the men loitering. The youngest of them, with bright hair and dark eyes, grinned at his friends before parting with her.

"And why would you require such a thing?" Asked the guard, a hint of teasing in his tone. "Going to go talk to a big, scary criminal?"

Natalia ignored him while they descended the stairs to the dungeon. It was dark down there. Only a few candles lit the area. As Victor's sister stepped slowly, peering into each cell, she finally came across the Asian's and she stopped dead in her tracks, sucking in a sharp breath. It took all her willpower not to burst out in rage and start beating down the iron bars in front of her.

"Open the door," she ordered the guard who was in charge of the dungeons. He stared at her, then to the man behind her, and after a moment did what he was told. The cell's entrance creaked open and Natalia stepped inside.

Her amount of knowledge on Asian languages was very small and limited. She only knew a few greetings in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Regardless, she mumbled them all, trying to catch the girl's attention. Nothing. No response. No words uttered back. Natalia leaned in closer. "Oh my Lord..."

Blood was seeping from the Asian's head. Natalia instantly stumbled back, queasy from the sight. "Help her!" She cried to the guards standing outside the cell.

The young one who followed her into the dungeons was by her side in an instant. He bent down to the younger female whose green locks were almost completely soaked in crimson. He swore under his breath and barked to the other guard to unlock the chain around her heel.

After the girl was freed, the guard scooped the small assassin into his arms and with Natalia by his side rushed her to the medical wing. "Treat her," Natalia told one of the nurses who came to their aid. "By Lord Kozlov's orders, treat her!"

The nurses rushed off, Asian within their grasps. They placed her into a room, presumably to wash out the blood because one man followed them minutes later with a bucket of water and a wash cloth. Natalia wrapped her arms around her middle, beginning to pace back and forth.

Yuki lay there still, she heard voices but had no energy in her too open her eyes. She felt her body being lifted and groaned at the pain it was causing her. Tears dripped down her eyes as she fought to stay alive, she had too stay alive. Her job wasn't done yet, the murderer...the Prince...that bastard was still alive and she would need too be too.

She felt her back being lying on something soft and a small smile appeared on her face. 'The clouds of heaven' she thought to herself. Yuki forced her burning eyes too open and she saw people...lots of people. Where was she? Her head and mouth urged her too scream but no sound came and her partly open eyes shut close.

Yuki felt her head burn as her body shook, she was freezing why was she so cold? She let out a soft groan as a wet cloth touched her hurting head, her head lopped of too the side and she found a gentle hand steadying it again. The cool sensation gone quickly from her head, she now found something tight being wrapped around her head.

She felt her body being stripped of her clothes and she felt the water on her body. It was warm and her body ceased shivering slightly, just as quick as she had been getting washed she felt the soft threads of fabric being slipped onto her body.

The fabric was soft and it smelled clean, the complete opposite of her mission clothing. Her head was burning again, and the violent shiver returned too her body. She felt someone push something in her mouth, a thermometer. It was pulled out after a few minutes followed by a gasp, the thermometer read hundred three. She was well above the normal body temperature, she heard urgent voices and people fussing.

The cool cloth was back on her forehead trying desperately too bring her fever down. After what seemed like hours sleep finally got too Yuki and she fell into a deep troubled sleep.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After what seemed like days Yuki seemed to awake from the deep trance. Her eyes flashed open as she gasped and looked around, her first reaction too draw the sheet closer around her body as if she was naked. She looked around, her large golden eyes disturbed and her temple frowning slightly.

She saw a young lady dressed up in what she presumed was a maid outfit. Yuki opened her mouth and spoke. Ignoring the burning rough feeling in the back of her throat.

"Were am I?" she whispered. Her eyes scared for the first time, she continued too look around the strange room as she waited for the girl too answer. Yuki shifted her gaze back too the girl, her expression growing warier by each passing second.

Natalia had been pacing outside the room for what felt hours. One, two, three, turn. One, two, three, turn. The guard who had accompanied her simply leaned against the wall watching, eyebrows raised, as if he thought it amusing to see a woman so flustered.

Natalia's fingers were at her mouth. She kept tapping her pointer against her bottom lip, eyes flickering everywhere in front of her but the door. She almost seemed scared to look at it. What if the girl died? Then how would Victor act? Like normal, of course. But it was Natalia that would change. Her own brother treating a person in such a way! Horrible! Mind you, he was raised by the monarchy and she by her peasant mother. Two completely different ways of life... But that wasn't the point! His childhood should not excuse him for harming a human girl! A child!

Then again, the Asian had been trying to assassinate him. Maybe a locking her up was a good thing. However the beatings--Oh for God sakes, she was starting to sound like a hypocrite in her own head!

Natalia cried out in rage and stomped the ground with her foot. Temper tantrum. Victor had those too. Beside her the guard's eyebrows were so far up his forehead they practically became one with his hair line.

"You sure don't act very proper for a maid," he commented quietly.

Natalia shot him a dirty look. Before she could reply the door to the girl's room opened and out stepped one of the nurses. She spoke to Natalia, explaining that she had bathed the Asian and dressed her wounds. However, her fever was running high from the abuse and would probably stay asleep until her body cools down.

And so, for the next hour or two, Natalia sat by the girl's bedside, simply fiddling with her dress or reading a novel. There wasn't much to do. The guard in the room kept moving around, antsy. Young men like him didn't like to watch over women. No action. No work. He was thirsty for adventure.

"Boy, sit down," Natalia said after he had moved from one chair to the other in the last three seconds. "You're annoying me."

"Awful bossy for a lowly maid," the guard muttered. However he did as he was told and took a seat against the opposite wall.

"You're awful rude for a simple guard," she shot back.

They glared at each other. Lavender sparking with dark hazel. Finally Natalia looked back to her book, ready to absorb the words once more. But the guard had been spoken to, and now his only source of entertainment was conversation. Great.

"So, maid, what's your name?" He asked curiously, leaning forwards onto his knees.

Natalia shot him a look, thinking how she would probably be the one to fix his uniform when he ripped it bending like that. "Natalia," she answered in a stiff tone.

"Very Russian. I'm Ivan."

Natalia just bobbed her head, hardly caring. Before Ivan could speak again though, the girl saved her. She stirred in her sleep and Natalia leaped onto her feet, bright eyes large and worried as the child before her slowly woke up.

"Hello there," she greeted. The girl didn't reply to this. Instead she asked a simple question of where was she. Natalia smiled as kindly as she could muster in this scenario. "In the medical room. Don't worry, you'll be alright here."

"Medical room..." she whispered as if tasting the words on her tongue. Yuki looked around and her scared gaze met the curious guards eyes. Her look instant gave him a cold glare, turning back too the maid her voice soft as she spoke. "I do not want that man here. Please ask him too leave immediately" her golden eyes -equally as wide as the maids- pleaded silently.

Yuki bunched up the sheet further around her body as she waited for the guard too wait outside. "What is your name?" Yuki asked raising an eyebrow, the look in her eye was slightly gentle it was nothing like the glare she had given too the guard. She tucked her clean dark green hair behind her ear and she curiously gazed at everything in the room.

The grip on the sheets loosening as she shifted her body closer too the window beside her. Yuki pressed her face to the window and looked outside, it was a bright and beautiful day. A few delicious looking clouds flitting here and there and the beautiful sound of birds singing songs.

Yuki saw a child playing in the streets and her brow twitched. Her grip hardened in the delicate window frame, her mouth puckered as if she had tasted something sour and warm tears slipped down her cheeks. She closed her eyes as the tears poured down. Momentarily forgetting the maid, she saw her best friend and her lover...Sanzo being burned in front of her eyes. She remembered racing back home and grabbing Eichi their two year old son, she remembered the last sweet kiss she had given Sanzo before the attack.

Her arms wrapped around her chest as she felt the sensation of Eichi being ripped from her hands, she had fought desperately to get him back but had been attacked from behind. Yuki remembered waking up too the ashes of her burnt village, she remembered wailing, her heart hurt. She was the only one who had survived...she didn't know how or why. Yuki deemed it was her bad luck that taunted her, it wanted too kill her slowly. Slowly and alone.

Yuki had wandered for days searching desperately for Eichi, but had found a dead end everywhere. She had no meaning too her life until she met the resistance group, they were a group consisting mainly of men and a few strong willed women. She had joined them too get revenge against the leader of Russia...Lord Kozlov.

Yuki snapped back too reality with a violent shudder. Her breathing was heavy as she wiped the tears away from her eyes, she gave a small suppressed smile at the maid pretending like nothing had happened. She gave one last longing look at the child in the street before shifting away from the window, she needed to focus.

At the woman's request, Natalia slid her lavender eyes to Ivan, who sat now with a 'you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me' look on his face. Her gaze narrowed and her chin jutted out. Her expression was screaming for him to obey the Asian. Ivan motioned with his hands 'you're the one that told me to come! The Lord's orders!'. Yes, Victor wouldn't be happy that Natalia was going to sit alone in a room with a woman who tried to kill him. But then again, Victor wasn't happy about a lot of things.

Reluctantly, and only after Natalia practically threatened to lodge his teeth into his throat, Ivan threw his arms in the air and stood. He muttered under his breath about needy women and their inability to understand ranks as he left the medical room, boot dragging on the ground, words shifting to become more fowl with every step.

Once the doors closed, Natalia turned back to the girl on the bed. She was crying, tears leaking down her face. It almost broke the Russian woman's heart to see another female in so much pain. Natalia didn't know if she should comfort the child. The greenette was so much younger looking. Victor had to be a few years older than her, and if that were so Natalia was at least half a dozen above this girl. Would the Asian try to kill her if she hugged her? What if she just touched her shoulder, or stroked her hair?

Instead Natalia kept her hands to herself, wringing them in her lap. She gazed at the girl and waited for her tears to subside, politely ignoring the fact the female had just all but mentally broken down for no obvious reason.

The maid met the golden orbs that stared at her evenly and replied to the earlier question with a calm voice. "My name is Natalia. I work under Lord Kozlov as a maid. He has allowed me to take care of you from now on, so you don't need to worry about being hurt anymore." She smiled. Or tried to. Smiling wasn't something Natalia did often. Yet another similarity between her and Victor. "What's your name?"

"Natalia..." Yuki pronounced the name a bit awkwardly at first. Her accent interfering with the pronunciation, she smiled up at the maid. "It is a pretty name. Does it have a meaning?" Yuki stretched out her legs in the bed, glad that the guard was gone. He made her feel most uncomfortable, she sighed as she tried too use her legs.

Kicking them out from underneath the sheets she lightly put her weight on one of the legs, instantly wincing. Yuki frowned slightly, "How long have I been here?" she asked quietly as she stood again, gripping the bed tightly. Her legs were weak and they felt strange from not being used.

Yuki looked at the female and nodded, "My name is Yuki Echizen. I am from the West kingdom of Japan" she said smiling slightly. "How long have you been working here Natalia?" she whispered too her. She continued too gaze around the room, it was much different than her infirmary back home...it looked a bit advanced.

"Thank you," Natalia said when the Asian girl complimented her name. "It symbolizes the birth of Christ."

As the girl, who Natalia now knew to be Yuki, attempted to climb out of her resting bed, the Russian woman gripped the assassin's arm to stable her. She was dizzy and stumbled a bit, as if not quite understanding her surroundings.

"You've been here for only a few days," Natalia replied, trying to keep her voice low and soothing as she helped Yuki walk to the water jug across the room. "How do you feel?"