Hello! Whoa, my first AU story! Sorry to my readers who are waiting for my other story to be updated, but I got so excited about this one and I already had the whole chapter planned out. I'm on break next week, so I'll update more often. Don't worry!
Since this is my first AU, be honest with me guys. Leave reviews so I know what I need to fix and such. I'm not very confident in my writing. X3
Enjoy~!
-Chapter 1-
Childrens' laughter echoed through the grand hall as they ran, chasing each other merrily. They slid around servants and officials, ignoring their calls. They turned a corner into a more isolated hallway, stopping to catch their breath.
"Come on Onee-san," Five-year-old Ritsu urged, "Catch me if you can!"
"Wait, Ritsu!" Six-year-old An called, but her little brother kept running. She saw the boy turning the corner on the other end before Ritsu did, calling out to him again.
Ritsu suddenly crashed into something, not paying attention. He looked up to see another little boy. The boy must have been older because he seemed to tower over Ritsu a few inches, a bit more than An did. The mysterious boy had hair as black as the night and warm amber eyes. He too wore the fine clothes of a young prince as Ritsu did.
Ritsu was initially frightened, since the boy seemed to look down at him with disdain. But suddenly the boy broke into a warm smile, giggling slightly.
"What are you playing?"
"U-um…," Ritsu stumbled, "J-just tag."
An had reached them, looking at the stranger with the same confusion and awe Ritsu did.
"How old are you?" The stranger asked.
"I'm Princess An of the Onodera Kingdom and I'm six years old," An curtsied, practicing her perfect etiquette.
"A-And," Ritsu stuttered, always shy around strangers, "I'm Prince Ritsu of the Onodera Kingdom and I'm five years old."
The boy opened his mouth to reply, but a woman came around the corner.
"Masamune-sama! There you are, Kimiko-sama was looking everywhere for you!" The woman scolded.
'Masamune?' Ritsu pondered the name, wondering why it was familiar.
"Ah!" Ritsu hit a revelation, "You're Prince Masamune of the Takano Kingdom!"
The Takano Kingdom was the neighboring kingdom. Ritsu's father wanted to become "allies" with them, a word little Ritsu didn't understand until his father said it meant friends, in a sense.
"It's nice to meet you," Masamune politely bowed and the woman curtsied respectfully.
"I'm glad you're making friends, especially with the Onodera family Masamune-sama," The woman acknowledged. Her cobalt blue eyes twinkled when she smiled. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a bun with a silver clip. The simple dress she wore matched her eyes.
"Why don't we bring your friends with to your mother?" The lady suggested, already leading the way back.
.
.
Ritsu recognized they were entering one of their parlors as they followed the lady. He clasped the hand of his big sister, looking around the luxurious room. A man and a woman sat at a small square table by the floor-to-ceiling windows, both dressed magnificently.
The lady – Ritsu still didn't know her name – who led them curtsied before speaking.
"I found your son Your Majesties," She informed them.
"Good! Masamune, you know better than to run away from your caretaker! You almost gave Masami-san a heart attack!" Masamune's mother scolded, gesturing to Masami.
Masamune's mother looked like her son with the same raven-black hair and golden-amber eyes. Though she wasn't as beautiful as Ritsu's mother, her angled face and porcelain skin was desired by most women in the kingdom. Her hair was exquisitely done, the bangs twisted with a flourish and pinned back into an elegant braid-bun. She wore an fine cream-colored silk gown.
"I'm sorry. I was just so bored," Masamune pouted, tugging at his silk blue shirt.
"Hmm…well that's no reason to misbehave," his mother reiterated. She noticed Ritsu and An, instantly brightening up.
"Oh, you must be the young prince and princess!" Ritsu and An automatically bowed and curtsied, respectively, out of habit.
"Good morning," They said with grace. She nodded back with a dazzling smile.
"I'm Queen Kimiko and this is King Takeshi," Kimiko gestured to the man sitting across from her, who continued with his paperwork.
"Okaa-san, can I go play with them now?" Masamune asked, a bit whiny.
"Alright, you may. But be careful," His mother warned with caution. Masamune eagerly shook his head, immediately running out with Ritsu and An, giggling.
Short little chapter, but it's just an introduction. Let me know if you want more!
See you next chapter~! :)
