Translation notes:
purinsesu (princess)
koushakufujin (duchess)
Reijin (lady)
-chan (a suffix for a familiar female person)
-kun (a suffix meaning Mr., master, or boy)
Animals Mentioned:
Cats: Katara, Kasumi, Kyou, and Satoshi
It has been said that for every species on earth, thirteen have been chosen to be immortal and to rule over the species. These thirteen are more intellegent, faster, and all around better than the rest of the species, which is why they are fit to rule over them. Each chapter is connected by the thirteen rulers. (Note: the next part is read up to down, left to right)
Elite 13
C...
H...I
A...C
P...H
T...I
E...G
R...O
1...
Iriomote Wildcat
1 of 5
Lonesome Princess
"There is a legend in which it is said that there are thirteen of each species specially born to rule. They are better in every way and cannot be beat by others of thier own kind. There are even some for humans. Meddling with these rulers can cause havoc to those who dare to mess with them .. . or so the legend goes. Hey Jack, another cup 'o rum, will ye?" called the pirate. He was old and had a short gray bearding, which was curling with age. Masaya Aoyama, a young sailor, was in his company, along with a few other friends.
Masaya and a few others around the place were crew to an old pirate ship. They were usually interested in legends and myths. Or that just could have been Masaya. At any rate, Masaya headed back to the ship. They had a "special" passenger today. All passengers stayed in the same room, except the rich people paid more thinking they were getting a better thing. This girl was supposedly a purinsesu. A koushakufujin from tokyo.
The crew assembled at the side of the ship to greet the wealthy lady. They were surprised and love struck to see a young girl there. This girl wore a long kimono whichhidalltrace of any womanly features. She had pale skin and purple eyes, which one could easily get lost in. Her hair was long and silky with the air of never having been cut. Her deep pink locks were the only reason Masaya could see that she was name Ichigo, after the strawberries.
Ichigo looked upon the ship with empty eyes. She looked upon the crew. Violet eyes rested upon a mere boy. Maybe slightly older than her, give a few years. He had dark hair and deep chocolate pools for eyes. Ichigo quickly averted her gaze and walked up to the ship. She boarded, followed by her maid, Berri. Berri had longpale blonde hair, almost like an angel's. Her eyes were a shining deep pink. She wore awhite kimono with an intricate gold design weaving around it. The kimono ended half way down her thigh, with slits where the cloth flared out to allow her leg movement. It highlighted every curve and made her seem as womanly as Ichigo seemed mysterious and cold. The crew eyed her with pleasure.
When Ichigo was on board, along with her maid, Masaya was given the task of taking them to their room while the rest of the crew brought up the cages. The silver cages held Iriomote Wildcats and were to be a present to the king of China.
Masaya walked down the stairs leading to Ichigo's room and offered her a hand to help her down the steps. "I need no help. Whatever you wish to do to me, you may do to my maid though," Ichigo stated, helping herself down. She stepped beside Masaya and he took Berri by the waist and lifted her to the floor. Berri smiled followed him along with Koushakufujin Ichigo. Ichigo stopped at the wooden door and waited for Masaya to open it.
The handsom pirate opene dthe door and let Reijin Ichigo enter. The pink haired beauty looked around with cold eyes and sat on the bed. The men with the cages and Berri entered. Berri sat my Ichigo's feet and the cages piled up around them. The men left. "You may go," Ichigo told Masaya. "Yes, reijin," He answered, leaving. "Bolt the door," Ichigo commanded Berri. Her maid nodded and did as told. Ichigo then went around and unlocked the cages, setting the large black cats free. They curled around Ichigo and purred. Berri knelt by Ichigo's feet and the cats surrounded them, as in a protective barrier.
Masaya climbed on deck and was greeted by the crew. They all began talking about the Rejin Ichigo and her handmaid, Berri. Comments were made and other things were said. Masaya said nothing, and listened quietly. He saw Ichigo's face in his mind's eye and zoned out, thinking of her. Another crewmate joined him. "Thinkin' 'bout the reijin, Masaya-kun?" He asked. Masaya nodded, "And you, Tasuku-kun?" The darked haired boy nodded. "Only thinkin' o' her handmaid, Berri." Both boys sighed and looked out at the ocean.
Footsteps resounded down the wooden steps and the crew looked up. Captain Artemisia Fowl stood upon the deck. Today she wore a creamy white top. The long sleeves puffed out at the bottom and ended with white cuffs. The ruffle collar was not far above the brown corset, which was laced with thick black strings. A forest green skirt billowed out from beneath her corset and shirt. Knee length, high-heeled boots protected her feet. Her amber eyes looked the crew up and down. "Okay boys, if any of you are caught or reported harassing the Reijin, you will face all punishments our law and her homeland's law requires. Understood?" The crew nodded. Artemisia smiled. "All right then, let's get moving!" Artemisia shouted. The crew leapt into action. They scuttled up the mast and undid the strings holding up the sails. One climbed all the way up and took his place at the crow's nest. Others quickly scurried back down and to other chores.
Artemisia, who had been steering, passed the wheel to Tasuku. "Hold the helm," she commanded. Tasuku took immediate control. Artemisia went down to mingle with the crew and see how they were doing. Everything was in running order.
Masaya leaned over the maple woodwork and out into the sea. Reijin Ichigo's violet eyes filled his mind's eye. They shrunk until they filled her face and her magenta hair. Masaya gave a start as Artemisia spoke. "Well, it seems you need a break, Masaya-chan. Go check up on the reijin," Artemisia ordered. Masaya looked up at the captain and nodded. "Done." Artemisia watched as the dark haired pirate disappeared below deck before heading back up to the quarterdeck.
Tasuku took the wheel and looked out into the ocean. Many a time had he imagined himself the captain of this ship. He could feel the breeze ruffle his black hair loved the feeling of control it gave him. He spun the wheel, then held it steady. He looked down upon the deck and spotted Masaya and Artemisia. Masaya. . . he was probably thinking about Koushakufujin Ichigo. Tasuku could already tell Masaya was in love with the young purinsesu. His eyes roamed about the deck and his mind wandered off to Berri. He smiled to himself. "Ay, Masaya-kun, we're both in the same boat," Tasuku said quietly to himself. He turned his attention to Captain Artemisia, who was walking up to him. She looked at him for a moment and said, "Tasuku-kun, would you accompany Masaya-kun as he checks on the reijin?" Tasuku nodded and handed the wheel back to Artemisia. "Ay, cap'n."
Ichigo looked about her room and sat quietly. Berri laid her head upon that of one of the large cats and dozed off. Quiet footsteps echoed through the short corridor leading to Ichigo's room. One of the wildcats raised its head. Ichigo gracefully turned her head. "Is someone coming, Katara?" Ichigo asked the wildcat. She nodded and jumped into her cage, closing the door with her tail. The clank awakened the other wildcats and Berri. The other ten silently bounded into their cages. The last door clinked shut as the room door opened. Ichigo sat quietly on the bed, Berri by her knee.
Masaya's dark head poked in through the doorway and Berri rose to meet him. The dark haired pirate fully entered the room and closed the door. Ichigo stayed seated and silently watched him. "I was sent to see how you were doing, Purinsesu Ichigo," He smoothly said. "I and my lady are doing fine," Berri answered for Ichigo. Masaya nodded. The door opened once more and Tasuku poked his head in.
"Hello 'mates," said he. Ichigo and Masaya nodded and Berri smiled at him. Tasuku blushed slightly and entered, closing the door. "I was sent to make sure you were okay, Masaya-kun," he told Masaya. Masaya nodded and said, "I was sent to make sure they were okay, Tasuku-kun." They both turned toward Ichigo and Berri. "Well, are you all right, reijin?" Masaya asked Ichigo.
Ichigo nodded her pretty pink head and Berri said, "We are fine, Masaya-kun." "Do you need anything, Reijin Ichigo?" Masaya asked. Berri looked up at Ichigo, who shook her head, before saying, "My lady does not need anything." Tasuku stepped forward, "Do you, yourself, need anything, Berri-chan?" Berri smiled. "No, but you may check on us later, Tasuku-kun." Tasuku smiled and nodded. "I'm going back on deck, Masaya-kun," He said and winked at Berri before going back up top. Berri blushed a brilliant bright pink. Masaya smiled and said, with a great flourish, "I shall also be going, Reijin." Masaya silently slipped out of the room and clsoed the door quietly and walked back up the stairs.
Once the room was devoid of pirates Masaya and Tasuku, Berri turned to Ichigo. "Did you not want them to stay?" She asked.Ichigo stood and let the cats out before shesaid, "No one fully human may know who I am, or even familiarize with me." Berri sighed, petting Katara, "I know we've been over this, but could it really hurt you to let someone new into your life?" "No, Berri-chan. That must not happen. If I got too friendly with that person, then the secret would be out. I'd end up telling," Ichigo tried to thwart Berri's idea. Another black iriomote cat called Kyou sat down by Ichigo. "Then be a little more careful. All you'd really have to do is say two or three words youself," Berri argued asanother cat, Kasumi, sat in her lap. Ichigo sighed heavily and sat down. "I mean, your life is so empty, all you have are the cats, yourself, your father, and me. That's all, Ichigo-chan. You need more. Even I have more in my life than that," Berri continued, petting Kasumi. Katara walked away from Berri and sat in Ichigo's lap. "But what would happen if my tongue should slip? Where would we all be then?" Ichigo asked, strokingSatoshi's black fur. "You're too careful to let that happen. You haven't said so much as four sentences to anyone on board, excepting myself and the cats," Berri cried.
Ichigo sighed once more and said, "Berri, you know I cannot. My father would highly disapprove of it and so would most of them. Right, Katara-chan?"The black iriomote in Ichigo's lap nodded in consent. Berri turned to Kasumi, "Do you think Ichigo-chan should let someone into her life?" Kasumi nodded her head. "See, Kasumi-chan agrees with me," Berri argued. Ichigo sighed. Satoshi and Kyou laid down and closed their eyes. Ichigo sighed once more.
Berri looked into Ichigo's eyes and spoke softly, "Will you destine yourself to be a lonesome princess forever?"
