Kingdom of Lies

Fuji Masaru was walking impatiently through the halls towards his wife's chamber. One of his domestics had just told him, that the labour pains had started. His daughter Yumiko was by his side.

"Daddy's looking serious." The four year old child called up to her dad. It was hard for her to keep up with the tall man.

"Your daddy is worried."

"Why?"

"Because your mum is just about to give birth."

"But that's great, isn't it?"

"Of course."

At least I hope it is. Let it be a boy, please let it be a boy. If it's not I'll be in trouble. A girl is not allowed to become the leader of this kingdom. And if I don't find an heir, this brat of my brother might become king in the future. I don't want that to happen. This is my kingdom and I'll do anything to prevent those two from terrorizing my people.

The two of them arrived in front of a high door. The king hesistated. He was afraight of what he might find inside.

"Why are we not getting in, daddy?"

"I – You're right."

He moved his hand towards the doorhandle, when the door opened and a nurse stepped out.

"My lord." She smiled at him. "We've been waiting for you." She stepped aside making the way free for Masaru and Yumiko to enter. At the large bed he found his wife laying. She looked exhausted, but happier then she had for month. In her arms there was the small form of a baby covered in clothes.

"Mummy!"

"Shhhh, Yumi-chan. Don't be so load."

"Can I see it? Can I? Please!"

"You can, if you promise me to be quit."

"I promise."

Fuji Sayuri let her daughter climb onto the bed and look at her new sibling.

"Uh, it... it looks kinda ugly."

"Don't be rude, Yumi-chan. You didn't look much different when you were that small."

"Really? You're saying it'll look cuter later?"

Sayuri smiled at her daughter. "I'm sure she will."

"She? So it's a girl!"

"I' have a baby sister!"

While Yumiko was laughing and grinning at the new born child, her parents stared at each other. The happiness vanished from Sayuri's face and with pleading eyes she looked up at her husband. After a few seconds Masaru turned around. "This is not my child then." He stated in a quite voice and left.

"What's wrong with daddy? Why doesn't he want to look at my baby sister?"

"Your daddy is disappointed, cutie."

"Why?"

"He wanted your baby sister to be a boy."

"But –"

The nurse stepped at the side of the queen. "I think it might be better, if you leave now, my princess. Your mother and the baby need rest and as far as I know you're lessons are starting soon."

"Oh, you're right!"

Yumiko hopped off the bed and left running out of the room.

Sayuri sighed and looked at the sleeping face of her youngest daughter.

"Did you think about a name, my lady?"

"Syusuke."

"Syusuke? But. I beg you pardon, my lady, but it's a name for a boy and –"

"I'm well aware of the fact, that it's a boy's name."

The nurse didn't ask any further. She knew about the pressure that was laying on the queen. The couple had hoped for this child to be a boy; a prince that would one day take the place of his father.

---

Days passed and Masaru kept ignoring his youngest child completely. He didn't want his wife to have the child with her around him, instead he ordered to give her the smallest and darkest room of the castle to sleep in. Not even Yumiko was allowed to see the small girl any longer. Only a nana was told to care for the girl, but soon Sayuri decided, that it was no good for the child to grow up under such circumstances. Thinking about what to do, she remembered one of her closest friends she hadn't seen since she became queen. She might still live in that small village in the north of the kingdom.

One day she finally made up her mind. Without telling her husband she travelled to the far north taking her child with her. She was dressed in rather casual clothes hoping that she wouldn't be recognized. Arriving in the late evning she was happy to find out her friend hadn't moved at all.

With Syusuke on her arm she knocked at the wooden door. A small women in grey clothes opened the door and stared at her visitor in disbelieve. "Sa- my lady!" She was about to fall to her knie, when Sayuri spoke. "Don't Hiroshi. I don't want you to bow to me and I'd prefere you to call me by my name." The women looked at her in confusion not sure what to say about it. "May I come in?" "Of course."

Hiroshi prepared a can of tea for them and Sayuri told her what had happened ever since she had left the village about ten years ago. Of cource Hiroshi already knew the most important facts. "So why did you come here? You're the queen of this country and a mother of two children. You ought to be happy." "I'm not." "Obviously. So what is wrong?" "My husband doesn't accept Syusuke, our youngest child." "He doesn't accept his child? Why?" "Because she's a girl." "But – you just said her name was 'Syusuke'. That the name of a boy." "I know it is. I had hoped, that it would help him to accept her, but it didn't at all." "I see." "Can I ask you a favour?" "Of course you can." "I don't want to sound rude. In fact I simply want the best for my child..." "Every mother does. So what is it?" "Would you please take care of Syusuke?"

---

One year later Sayuri gave birth to a healthy boy. Happy and relieved the king announced the birth of his son and heir Fuji Yuuta to the people and the kingdom celebrated. Masaru had never asked about his youngest daughter. He assumed that his wife had brought her somewhere else for she was aware that he didn't want her around. And he was pleased that now their son was born, she too, was much happier again…

---

"Na, Fujiko-chan! Why do we have to run?"

"I promised Hiroshi-san to help her with cleaning the windows today!"

"That doesn't explain the running."

Fuji Syusuke stopped running and turned around to face Kawamura Takashi, who was one of her closest friends. "She told me she would start directly after lunch. And it's already 2 pm."

"I see. Ok, the butcher's over there. See you tomorrow, Fujiko-chan."

"See you and take care!"

"That counts twice for you!"

"Bye!"

Laughing Fuji started running again. With her trousers and the way to long white shirt she was wearing one might easily mistake her for a boy. But she didn't mind, she never did. In her opinion it was way more fun to be a boy. Boys didn't have to help in the household and always be extra friendly. Boys could simply do what they wanted, didn't they?

Arriving at the small wooden house, she found Hiroshi already busy cleaning the kitchen window.

"You're late, Syusuke."

"I'm sorry. Taka-san's parents asked me to stay for dinner and –"

"It's alright. Don't worry. There's a second bucket of water and a rag inside. The windows of the bed rooms have still to be cleaned."

"Ok."

Fuji didn't argue. She was happy that Hiroshi wasn't mad at her for coming that late. And so she took bucket and rag with her to the bed room and started.

In the evening they sat down together in the small living room and Hiroshi let Fuji read out loud from a book. They didn't have the money to send Fuji to a proper school, but Hiroshi had tried her best to teach the girl how to read and write. But at the age of 17 it was still a little difficult for her to read.

If they weren't reading, Hiroshi would teach Fuji counting or show her how to stitch or ask Fuji to help her with the basketry. The later was quite important, for it was there way to earn some money. Fuji had proved that she was quite a talent at whatever she tried. She was good at Maths and therefore Hiroshi would let Fuji sell the baskets at the market, knowing that Fuji enjoyed being at the market. Plus foreign traders often mistook her for a boy and so didn't try any cheating.

"It is market day tomorrow and I finished some baskets the last week. I want you to sell them. Plus we need some bread. You'll use the money you get for the baskets to buy it."

"Yes. – Hiroshi-san?"

"Would you mind me coming home a little later tomorrow?"

"Why? What do you have in mind?"

"Taka-san asked me to help him with something in the afternoon."

"You're sure hanging around a lot with that boy."

"Of course, after all he's my best friend. I think whatever he wants me to do, it has something to do with Hitomi."

"Hitomi? Isn't that the girl always selling the flowers on the market?"

"Yes, that's her. And Taka-san has fallen for her, but he simply doesn't admit it."

"If he doesn't, how come you know?"

"You should see how he acts around her. It's so obvious that he's in love with her."

Hiroshi laughed a little. Fuji had been good at seeing right through other people and their feelings. Whenever Fuji thought somebody was not worth to be trusted, it proved to be right later. She wondered with whom that girl would end up one day.

--- --- ---

Here it is. Another story. I think I never wrote that much in the past… oÔ Well, this one was inspired by Renewed's "Blood Rush". (But there won't be any vampires in here!) There won't be any tennis in here, but I guess most of you don't mind.

I know that not much happened so far, but I hope you'll comment anyway, telling me what you like/hate and what ought to be improved.