In this fairytale Tohru is indeed a princess. She's engaged to Prince Yuki. However, things gets complicated when Tohru begins to develop feelings for a certain palace guard named Kyo….

Chapter 1- Meeting

Tohru was happily enjoying her tea set in her study room on a Sunday afternoon. The air felt cool and lovely as it was just about turning Spring in the valley of Junishi. Her lace white dress billowed in the gentle breeze, and sunlight poured in through the glass window with golden arches. She was sitting at a large oversized white dining table on a white chair to match. A set of fine dishes decorated with paintings of beautiful flowers lay before her , each holding small selections of cookies, scones, and bite size treats. In one hand Tohru sipped her omija tea and in the other she flipped through the pages of a large book. The edges were worn from being flipped too often. She was so absorbed in the details of the novel that she didn't notice a certain cough from someone behind her. The person coughed a second time but with more emphasis to indicate his presence.

Tohru jumped almost spilling her tea, and quickly set it down in front of her. She turned and got up apologizing. "I-I'm sorry, who is it?"

Shigure smiled at her with his hands folded in front of him. He wore an amused yet exasperated expression looking at Tohru with the many books in her lap.

"Uncle Shigure!" Tohru smiled and felt immense relief. She had been so caught up in her book, that if Madam Rin had found her, she would have immediately been scolded for being so unladylike*.

"Ah your highness, you're looking even more lovelier than the month ago I saw you." Shigure grinned and watched as Tohru took in his compliment growing a soft shade of pink.

"I-I'm not that lovely-" She stammered feeling unaccustomed to being praised by a family member so openly. "But what brings you here Uncle Shigure?"

Shigure sighed and leaned on one of the book shelves in the room. His fine robe of blue and gold silk reflected against some of the sunlight giving him a more noble feel. He scratched the handle of the metal sword on his leather belt and sighed once more. "I don't really know if I should have come to see you today Tohru. But I simply had to find out." He looked up at her with his poker face, serious yet ready to turn opposite in any second. "Do you know?"

Tohru blinked. "Know? Know what?" She had no idea what Shigure was talking about.

Shigure leaned in a bit closer daring to check his surroundings to see if they were alone in the room. The maids had left a few moments ago so they were free from listening ears.

"I mean about your engagement."

Tohru instantly grew wide eyed as his words sank into the bottom of her heart, giving her a strange aching pain. "E-Engagement?!" She almost shouted, but Shigure whispered "Shh!" Covering his lips with a finger. "Not so loud!"

Tohru gasped in alarm and covered her mouth quickly. She glanced around them before turning her full attention back on Shigure. "B-but father never mentioned..I mean A-Akito sama has never…im much to young too-!" Her head was beginning to feel a bit dizzy from the new information. This was much too early!

"I'm sorry, I thought you knew." Shigure sighed glumly. Obviously he had brought on more burdens than he had imagined to Princess Tohru. "I just heard it in a cabinet meeting with your father. He said it was set a few days ago, but the day of the wedding is still being discussed."

Tohru's mouth almost hung open as she racked her head for any memory of a notice of this. No one had told her until now!

"Engagement? To who?" She asked desperately. Even though she was 18 years old, and the Princess of the Palace of Junishi, she really hadn't expected to be engaged so early on. And even without her approval first!

"That's the thing." Shigure sighed glumly. "I have no idea! They won't tell me who it is until your birthday ball on the 17th."

"B-but that's.."

"Tomorrow. I know."

Tohru sighed. This was very short notice. The revealing of her engagement partner on the day of her own birthday party! But she couldn't really change anything about it until she at least knew to whom she was engaged to. Tohru racked her brain for possibilities, but couldn't think of anyone in particular.

"I'm sorry your highness. Next time I'll ask your father before I tell you." Shigure glumly frowned.

Tohru looked up at him her face beginning to grow a bit hot. "No. It's fine. Thank you for telling me earlier Uncle Shigure. This helps me to prepare myself."

Shigure nodded. Even though this was new to her, Tohru had begun to show signs of her maturing as the princess of Junishi. She wasn't trying to worm her way out of the marriage, but was instead calmly processing and planning in her head what was best for her and the kingdom.

"Well, I'll be going. Enjoy your tea time. And I'll be here if you need me." Shigure gave her a light pat on her shoulder, grabbed a few scones, and left feeling miserably like a bad messenger.

Tohru sighed and dropped into her chair suddenly feeling very tired. An engagement…who could it be? She calmed herself knowing it would be revealed soon enough and concentrated on the agenda for her ball the next day. She would be holding a grand ball for her family, friends, and palace assistants for her 19th birthday. There was to be a large dinner of healthy food and a slow dance in the end.

But when was the engagement going to be revealed during it? Would she be able to meet him?

Tohru sighed and took a sip of her tea that had turned cold during her conversation with her uncle. She would soon find out.

…..

"Kyo, you're not doing it right."

"Damn right I am. Look you turn it left, then you put this through the loop-"

Kyo's forehead scrunched up in concentration as he tried on his new uniform sash for Junishi Palace. He had been admitted as one of the top ranking officers that year, and had transferred over from being a knight, to one of higher position after his successful exams. However, he really wasn't digging the new uniforms he had to be wearing everyday.

"Ugh." Kyo tugged at it and finally it set loose and settled over his uniform in a seemingly acceptable fashion. "Why the hell do we even have this. I don't have any medals to put on…"

"That's what it's for." Officer Haru grinned and smacked Kyo's back. "You're supposed to earn the medals kitty kyon."

"Don't call me that." Kyo laughed smacking away Haru's intimate closeness half angry half amused. "At least you get to be somewhere less formal. This guard thing is going to have so many regulations to follow." He sighed already seeing the list of agenda for him to fill each day.

"Well, isn't this what you wanted?" Haru grinned and nudged Kyo. "Top ranking officer of Junishi Palace. What an honor!"

"Honor huh?" Kyo scoffed, but couldn't help smiling. He had worked extremely hard to gain this position. It was the same position his dad Shishou had had. And now he was in the same spot, working for their country. He held an incredible sense of pride and humbleness.

"Well, don't be late. You gotta go to your next duty right?"

"Oh. Right. Thanks." Kyo almost smacked his head. He couldn't let his new position make him forget his important tasks. His first job was to guard the palace dinner thing for…the princess?

"Hey do you know how old the princess is turning?" Kyo asked Haru suddenly realizing he knew absolutely nothing about whom he was guarding.

"Hmm?" Haru looked up from bandaging his arms for martial arts training. "Um..i think she was around your age. Turning 19 I think."

"19?" Kyo blinked. They were the exact same age. He had imagined babysitting a preschooler. "Then isn't she married?" Most royals married early at the age of 17 or more.

"I don't know. Guess his highness is saving her for someone special." Haru whistled and finished taping up his arms.

Kyo frowned and scratched his head. He guessed he should have researched more about her if he was going to be guarding her for the whole day, but how was he supposed to know if he had never met her?

"Alright. Well I'll get going now. Don't want to be late for the party." Kyo grabbed his sword leaning on the crate besides the door and clasped on his dark navy cloak.

Haru grinned at him. "Have fun, officer Kyo."

….

"Princess, please stop fretting with your dress." Madame Rin's lips pursed as she inspected Tohru's demeanor. "And try to relax."

Tohru fidgeted uncomfortably. She wasn't exactly feeling relaxed when it was her birthday, her engagement announcement day, and her body had on a super tight corset with a large golden silk skirt, embellished with roses and gold leaves. It felt heavy, and she almost couldn't breathe in it.

"Madame Rin…may I please take this off?" Tohru whimpered feeling how heavy her arms felt through the many layers of fabric. "I won't be able to dance in this."

"It's the kingdom's symbol of virtue and royalty all in one dress. Please wear it with some dignity." Madame Rin frowned but eyed the back of Tohru's corset making sure it wasn't too stretched.

"Fine." Tohru sighed. The dress was very lovely. She looked elegant and small all at once. However it didn't mean it would be comfortable to wear all night. She made a side note to change into an evening gown when most of the guests had left. Her thoughts snapped shut when she heard a loud knock on her bedroom door. The two turned in surprise.

"Ah…yes! Princess, I wish to introduce you to one our newest guards in the Imperial Wing of the Palace." Madame Rin smiled for the first time in days. She glided to the door and held it open for the visitor. "Please come in."

Tohru smoothed her dress and when she looked up she saw the tall visitor step into the room. A man with bright orange hair and startling autumn eyes walked in and bowed low for them. His navy cloak billowed around him and his eyes were low to the ground not wavering upwards as he solemnly introduced himself.

"Your highness. Pleased to meet you. My name is Sohma Kyo." He said in a low voice.

Tohru's immediate first impression was that he wasn't used to such formal behavior. His voice held a certain childishness that was hard to distinguish as his personality or just his voice. His hair wasn't perfectly kept like how her male butlers had, but a bit messy in the back. He looked a bit stiff, but at the same time mysterious and handsome. Handsome? Tohru blushed slightly realizing what she was thinking. She nodded to him and indicated that he should rise up.

Kyo stood up from his crouched position and Tohru offered him her hand smiling brightly. "Pleased to meet you, Officer Kyo."

Kyo took her hand and bowed low over it giving it a gentle kiss. He was surprised by how small it was despite the fact that they were the same age. When he looked up he was almost taken aback. She was definitely not what he had been expecting.

Princess Tohru was smiling at him with a dazzling smile. He had served many royals in the past, but none were as welcoming and inviting as the way she smiled at him. He also noted how motherly she looked despite her young face. She held an air or responsibility ('of course she's the princess.' He thought) and patience. But most of all, what he noticed was that she was one of the more beautiful girls he had ever met.

He almost blushed and forgot what to say next for a moment before he released her hand and bowed once more. "I'm sorry to visit short notice. I had been assigned to be your personal guard tonight for you birthday."

Tohru nodded as he spoke understanding perfectly the situation.

Kyo then blinked feeling like he had left something out. "Oh..Happy Birthday by the way."

Tohru blinked at him taken back. No one had ever spoken so directly to her before. "Oh…um…thank you Officer Kyo."

Kyo almost smacked his head. He had been so rude! Just because they were the same age didn't mean he could treat her the same. She was the princess of Junishi for God's sake.

He bowed murmuring "Forgive me." And turned to walk away leaving her and Madame Rin alone.

Madame turned to smile at Tohru. "He came out as the top of the class for your new personal bodyguard. He even ranked higher than some of our existing official guards."

"Really?" Tohru commented absentmindly. She was still replaying the words and expression Officer Kyo had worn as he said the words "Happy Birthday…by the way."

…