A/N: Really wanted to post this one. I've been working on it for awhile, I wanted something a little different and more fairy tale-ish. I'm not gonna lie and say it will be a quick one, because it won't and I may not update it as quickly as most of my others. I still haven't decided how I want it to end, kinda like some of my other long stories; however, it will be finished eventually. I refuse to allow any of them to not finish, even if it takes a long time. I hope you like it. 8) This one will be rated for content, language, and possibly citrus.

Into The Forest

Chapter 1

Once upon a time there was a... Oh screw it... We've all heard that line before and we all know what follows. Cute little fairies, cuddly forest creatures and little birds that adore a downtrodden princess, the Big Bad Wolf, the Evil Witch, and the list goes on. What if the princess refused to be the delicate little flower that needed to be saved? What if the prince was a Grade A jackass? What if the Evil witch in the forest, wasn't so evil?

It was painful, every time she thought about it. At the age of 16 she left the village that she had been abandoned in or should she say, sold in. At this point in her life she was no stranger to being used as currency. First it had been her mother when she was the tender age of 6. She'd been left at the manor in payment for room and board. She had worked her fingers to the bone to avoid being turned out into the streets.

When the young lord of the manor had approached her with sweet words and innocent, tender touches, begging her to run away with him, she jumped at the chance. It wasn't until they reached the little meadow, where she'd met a boy, she'd believed was a fairy when she was small, did she realize that perhaps she should have put more thought into the adventure and her choice of travel companion.

"Come on Kyoko, this way. Hurry up before someone comes looking for me." No, he didn't say us. He didn't say it with the sweetness he'd used to persuade her. He commanded her. Just as he always did, and how he spoke to the all of the servants. He spoke to her as the kitchen maid that she had been trained as.

She closed her eyes and fought off the bad thoughts. Maybe she was misinterpreting his attitude or it could be that he was just not used to being out in the forest. "Sho... We can't go that way. It's not safe." She warned. There had been many stories and rumors about that part of the forest. Not that she truly believed them, but why tempt fate?

"Stop being such a baby. It's just made-up stories to scare little kids." He groused and disappeared into the brush that lined the opposite bank. Into the ominous, shadowy darkness.

She took in a deep breath to calm her nerves, pulled out the little blue gem that had given her comfort and courage over the years, and closed her eyes. "Everything will be okay. I'll be alright. It's okay." She opened her eyes, held the stone up to the sunlight, and watched the blue turn to amber... The same color of her unique eyes.

Sho's head poked back through from the inky blackness. "Are you coming or not?!" He called out in irritation.

"Coming Sho!" She called out as she carefully placed the stone back in the small pouch she'd stitched to keep it in, tied up her skirts and petticoats, slipped off her boots, and put her stockings in a pocket of her smock. She flung her pack over her shoulder and carried her boots in the other hand, then gingerly tip-toed from stone to stone, across the babbling brook, finally reaching the other side, and taking care not to dirty the hem of her skirts.

"Hurry up, Kyoko!" Sho complained as she quickly slipped her stockings and boots back on.

"Okay! I'm putting my boots on!" She fought to keep from grousing or snapping at him. She'd decided if she didn't stay calm, this venture wouldn't be as pleasant as it could be. After all, he'd brought her with him and she was determined to be a good companion, and possibly a future wife.

It had been several days since they entered the dark part of the forest and they were running out of food. All they had left were a few crumbs of bread and the berries that Kyoko had picked. They probably would have had more, but Sho had insisted that he simply couldn't go any further without more food, so she'd even given him her portions at different points.

Lost in the forest, she was starting to see his true, selfish colors. He'd brought her along as a servant and a pack-mule. She was only there to take care of him and carry his belongings. He hadn't said it straight to her, but she had her suspicions; however, she would reserve that judgment until he came out and said it clearly. He was a very spoiled young man by nature. She felt that in a pinch, he may prove her horrible, nagging feeling wrong.

"Meat... Do you smell that? I smell meat." He stopped and turned to her. "Roast venison... Mutton... pheasant... basted in rich juices... dressings... fresh, hot rolls... parsnips... apples... carrots... dates and figs! So delicious..."

She furrowed her brow, and sniffed. Honestly, she really couldn't smell it. She shook her head in response.

He huffed in irritation. "I smell it all. Probably too refined for your common palate. Perhaps squirrel or rat is more suitable for your kind of taste." He commented blithely with a snort of derision.

She furrowed her brow. Seriously, she was quickly tiring of his haughty insults. It had been a constant stream of them from the very beginning and she'd reached her limit days ago. Had she not been a very conscientious person, she would have left him to starve on their third day. He didn't even know how to hunt. What kind of nobleman's son was he, that he didn't know how to hunt? She sighed as she watched him disappear through a thick copse of bushes. "I suppose I should follow to make sure he doesn't get hurt." She groused.

To be perfectly honest, she'd expected the bushes to be quite thorny from the way they looked, but it was like walking through nothing, or more like walking through thin sheets that had been hung to dry on the line, in the sun. When she emerged from the unusual bushes, her eyes went wide at the sight. Before her stood a stately cottage with a small lake, and garden next to it. Suspiciously, the owner had left what seemed to be a feast out on a table near the front. It appeared that they were preparing for guests, and Sho was making himself quite at home with it, by tearing into it and helping himself to everything in sight.

"Hmph, he seems quite at home." A gruff voice commented from behind her.

She nodded absently, then froze realizing that they weren't alone and the owner of the cottage or whomever they had set the feast for, was behind her. She turned to find a dark, cloaked figure behind her, with eyes the color of the forest peering from the inky-blackness of his hood. She shivered and fell prone before him. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive us. It's been a few days and we haven't eaten."

She felt a soft touch on her shoulder as he knelt next to her and chuckled. "You aren't the one to apologize, Milady. You've done nothing." He told her as she felt the stress and hunger from the past few days overtake her. She fainted.

The dark figure shook his head as he scooped the unconscious young woman into his arms and carried her to the cottage. Her companion was still so engrossed in the mystical meal, he'd not noticed anything at all.

"Ah, I see that she's finally arrived." The occupant of the house commented. "I've prepared her room for her. Just place her on the bed." The resident instructed.

It had been a few days since he brought her into Magus Lory's abode. Her companion was neatly kept in a cage in Lory's study, still gorging himself on whatever was offered to him.

Lory sighed at the sight. "You know boy, if you continue to eat like that, you'll turn into a pig." He warned. "Then I'll have to put you with the rest and have you slaughtered for a feast." He smirked.

Sho's eyes went wide, and for once, he quit eating.

"Ah, so you've finally come to your senses." Lory nodded and strolled to the cage.

Sho looked around and finally noticed his surroundings. "Please don't eat me. Let me go and I promise I'll never come back."

Lory cocked his head in curiosity. "And how do you intend to pay for your room and board? You have eaten quite a bit during your stay."

Sho's eyes scanned the room and fell upon the shawl that his female servant had been wearing. "Kyoko! She'll stay. She's my servant. She can cook and clean. A-And she'll do anything she's ordered to do!" He exclaimed.

Lory had expected something a bit selfish, but he didn't expect the boy to use her as payment. Lory shook his head and then said the most shocking words that Sho would ever hear at that point. "Kyoko my dear, is that tea ready?"

Sho glanced to the corner of the large study and saw the girl in question. Sad golden eyes glanced away from him. She nodded and then a look he'd never seen on her, shot his way. It was of pure fury and hatred. He'd used her as currency, just as her own mother. He knew in that moment that he was dead to her.

"K-Kyoko? I promise I'll come back for you when I get free!" He stammered, trying to repair the damage.

She gave him a sweet smile, that sent shivers down his spine and giggled. "No you won't Shotaro... I'm only a servant. Remember?" She then blew a powder that had been in her palm, into his face.

Lory turned to her after watching the boy fall into unconsciousness. "Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked her with concern. "Don't you have family to return to?"

She shook her head. "I have no one, Milord. I am firm in my response to your offer." She bowed to him and left his study. She had chores to do, and a evening meal to prepare. Voluntarily... On the next day, she would begin her new life as an apprentice to the great Magus Lory Takarada, King Kuu's personal Sorcerer.