So, I come again :) Another story for this fandom, a little different I must say ;)

A Tale of Imprisoned Queen

"By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil

and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are."

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Chapter 1

He stared out the window at the paddy field alongside the road. The harvest had already done leaving only empty fields. He couldn't expect better view in the end of March. He sighed in boredom, the trip was dull.

"What do you think? I'm quite excited actually," his father said.

"You surely are," Kai said.

"Come on Kai, it's a new start," his father said.

"For you not for me," Kai said under breath. He kept gaze outside. The car turned right and the road become narrow. He saw a wooden board eaten away by age saying: Welcome to Yunishigawa. The letters smeared.

"I know you're still mad at me," his father said. "But I think this is the best. You'll get used to this place. Well, you loved to come over in your childhood, don't you remember?"

"Just one or two, I didn't even remember when," Kai said. His father gave light laugh. In fact he had visited the city before, with his parents. His mother was there too but now he didn't want to think of it.

The car entered a small path through cedar forest. The trees were huge, it must be over hundred years, he thought. The car was pulled over in front of a house. It was his grandparents' house.

"Here we are." He glanced at his son and saw no excitement in his face. "I'm sorry you have to stay with them, but I promise will return as soon as I could."

"Not new thing," Kai said. He tied his shoelaces. "Don't be worried, I'll be fine."

"Let's get out then," his father said.

Kai took his backpack and guitar. His father had already stood at doorway. He looked up at the old Japanese style house. His father beckoned him to come.

"Look at you, you're a handsome man now," Mr. Kawachi senior said, a seventy-two, being a farmer for the whole of his life . "When is the last time you're here? Is it ten years ago?"

"I guess around that," Mr. Kawachi junior said.

"Come on in then, you must be tired," Mrs. Kawachi said.

"Yes, grandma," Kai said. He followed her into living room. He put his backpack and guitar case on the floor sitting down.

"Let's have some tea," Mrs. Kawachi said, heading for kitchen.

"I'm really happy to see you," Mr. Kawachi senior said. "Your grandma always asks when you'll come to visit us, she's really happy to know you're moving here."

"I wished we could," Kai said and shrugged. He glanced at his father.

"I'm sorry dad. You know, my job got me tight all the time," Mr. Kawachi junior said. "By the way, I couldn't stay today."

"You've just come," Mr. Kawachi senior said. "Your father is really a businessman."

"You know him," Kai said. Mrs. Kawachi came up with tray in hands. "Let me help."

"Thank you Kai," Mrs. Kawachi said. "Where are you going? Checking your new house? I thought it's not yet finished."

"No, I've got appointment with client in Shizuoka," Mr. Kawachi junior said. "And for the new house, they say we can move in next week."

"It means I can see you every day. Maybe not every day, but at least more than once in a year," Mrs. Kawachi said.

"He can stay every weekend," Mr. Kawachi junior said.

"Dad," Kai said. He mentally rolled his eyes.

"For some time until he gets someone else to visit," Mr. Kawachi said jokingly.

"Dad really," Kai said in annoyance.

"Anyway, I've been wondering though. It will be only the two of you in the house. Do you need any help? I can find someone to clean the house. I doubt you can do laundry and cooking," Mrs. Kawachi said.

"Actually we can handle it, but I'd be grateful if you can," Mr. Kawachi junior said. "I'm just worried to leave him alone when I've got trip."

"I'm not a kid dad, besides you never been worried before," Kai said. He sipped his beverage avoiding his father gaze.

"Why don't we continue the rest of conversation while having lunch?" Mrs. Kawachi said. She turned to Kai. "You must be hungry. After lunch I will show your room."

Kai nodded. He didn't bother to glance at his father and left to dining room.

"It must be hard for both of you," Mr. Kawachi senior said. His son rubbed his face and sighed.

"He's changed a lot after his mother died. He's really close to her," he said. "He prefers to be alone lately. He refuses to talk with me. He also has problem at his former school. That's why I decided we moving out. Honestly, I don't know how to get him back, like before."

"It needs time, just little by little," Mr. Kawachi senior said. "He must feel lost right now. Anyway, how about you?" He looked at his son. He wasn't better than Kai.

"I don't know dad," he said. "She's always with me these twenty years, and to find that she's suddenly not here anymore…" he trailed off.

Mr. Kawachi senior took his son's side. "Don't be hard on yourself."

"But I have to," he said. "For him."

"What are you going to do from now?" the older Kawachi said. "You don't consider moving your job here, or somewhere nearby?"

"I need that job now."

"But Kai needs you here. You are the one he can rely on now."

"I know," he said. "I'll think of that, I promise." Mrs. Kawachi called from dining room.

"All right then."

The lunch was splendid, stewed beef and potato, miso soup with yuba or tofu skin-one of the famous foods in the city, fried chicken, stirred spinach, simmered radish and grilled salmon. It was better than the food Kai had eaten in the last three months which had egg in every meal. Not to mention their lack of vegetables.

After lunch Mrs. Kawachi showed him the room in second floor. "This is your room. The one you had used before when you visited was now a storage room." She pulled curtain open. "Here is chillier at night than Tokyo, you will have to use heater. The old one got broken last month so your grandpa bought new one for you."

Kai looked at carbon heater stood against wall. "Thank you grandma. I like it."

"And one more thing," Mrs. Kawachi said. She took him on shoulder. "This one has secret room."

"Secret room?" Kai said. Mrs. Kawachi nodded and took a stick.

"You will have to use this," she said and pointed toward the ceiling.

Kai took the stick trying to hook the head through a latch. He pulled it open. The ladder glided down. "I never have one in my life," he said. "This is awesome."

"Glad you like it," Mrs. Kawachi said.

"Can I take a look?"

"Sure," she said. "But be careful."

He nodded, excited already. After she left, he climbed up the ladder. It was dark. He turned his iPhone flashlight on and stepped into the room. He found light switch next to the doorway. He put light on. "Oh damn, this is incredible."

He looked over at the room. It wasn't so big and he had to bend his back for the low ceiling. An old sewing machine covered by tent, boxes filled with books, toys and Christmas lights took almost half place of the room. He found window and opened it. He could see his father's blue Toyota Prius parked at the front yard and cedar forest. "I so love this place."

He left window and found a closed box at corner. It was an antique box. His grandpa loves antiques, he knew that. He removed the cloth cover and pulled it out. "Wait, what if it's a treasure box? Golds and diamonds." His jaw dropped for a moment but he shrugged the thought away. "That's impossible. Besides if grandpa has treasure box he surely won't keep it in attic." He looked over at the room. "Or maybe this is the best place." He got excited. He blew the dust off. It formed smoke around. He covered nose and mouth with sleeve coughing. He took the handle but it didn't move. The box was locked.

"Great, it's locked," he said, disappointed a little. He then heard his father's voice. "Coming!" He left attic and headed for living room. His father was ready to leave.

"Be a good kid, do not trouble your grandparents," his father said.

"I won't," Kai said. He kept arms folded as his father leaned to hug him.

"I'll be home as soon as my job done," Mr. Kawachi junior said. "Sorry for troubling you."

"Don't be," Mr. Kawachi senior said. "He'll be fine with us, don't worry. Did you check your tires?"

"Yeah, just got it checked last week…"

"I'll be in my room," Kai said and left the elders.

"Kai," Mr. Kawachi junior said. "I'll call you, okay?"

Kai gave a nod over his shoulder, clearly not looking forward. His father and grandfather then went outside. He followed his grandmother to dining.

"Do you need something? Drink or something else?"

"No, I'm fine."

"All right then, you can have rest now."

Kai nodded. "Grandma,"

"Yes?"

"I found a box, an antique one, but it's locked."

"Oh yes, your grandpa's," she said. "But I don't remember lock it though, you can find the key inside sewing machine drawer. It's supposed to be there."

"I'll look for it," he said.

"Are you sure you don't need anything?"

Kai nodded. "I'll take it by myself." His grandmother smiled. "I'll be in my room then." He left dining and climbed to his room. He went to attic and looked for the key. He found it inside drawer as she had told him. He smiled and approached the box.

He thought it would be something important or precious. But turned out there were only books inside. Feeling his excitement faded he grabbed the lid to close it. His hand stopped as he caught something. A book with leather cover. It looked really old that got his curiosity. He took it out and closed the box.

"What's this?" The book was quite heavy in his hand. He put it over the lid. He brushed dust off and read the title. "A tale…" Unfortunately the letters were eaten away by age. It increased his curiosity. He opened the first page and was relieved to see readable letters.

The book says: Once upon a time, in a Kingdom called Zentheera…

"Zen…theera? A weird name," he said. He was about to read on when something fell onto floor. He looked down and found a feather. Gold feather. "Never know a bird grows gold feathers."

He froze for a moment when it sparkled. Suddenly there was bright light over the room. He brought hand up to cover his eyes. For his horror the light came out from the book. "O-kay, now it's getting creepy, what the…"

Kai couldn't finish his sentence. The light faded as fast as it came. The feather fell gracefully on the floor. The room was now empty.

That's the opening, hope you like it. Until next :)