RIZENJU
Disclaimer: I own neither Tsubasa nor Cinderella. Tsubasa copyright CLAMP and Cinderella belongs to Hans Christian Anderson (I think.) (Sweat Drop)
Intro: Sixteenth fic for the FaiKuro Cinderella take. I wrote one for the KKM! fandom and it was just so much fun. (smiles) It is chapters. I will update both this one and the KKM! one the same time… I'm not sure on a good time frame. Anyhow, enjoy my first chapter for the KuroFai epic.
Strand Rating: Brief Violence, Sugesstive/Sexual Themes, Language, Shounen-Ai, ect.
Pairing: Fai x Kurogane – Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE
A/N: I added different characters everywhere. Twist in the story later. (smiles)
ACT – 1 – OVERTURE
Once upon a time, there was a magical kingdom. King Eriol and Queen Tomoyo ruled with equality, love, and justice. The land of Clow loved their royalty and paid tributes often. They built elaborate buildings and obediently obeyed their rule. Indeed, the land was peaceful and loving.
However, within the few years of their great reign, Sir Yukito, a noble and wealthy duke, passed away suddenly. His husband, Lord Toya, was still saddened by his husband's death and so he married a woman of equal status. The reason behind his sudden marriage was no secret. Fai, the adopted love child of Yukito and Toya, was left 'motherless.'
Knowing how hard and horrible it is to live life without a mother-figure, Toya felt his love-child's pain. He decided the best way to fix the problem was to marry a loving and caring mother, even if the relationship he had with her could never rival his former. Toya found what he sought in Naruku, a noble lady from a nearby land.
The relationship wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either. The lady and lord often fought concerning financial problems. It became apparent in less than their first week of marriage that his family name and fortune was what she was after. It was that one day, when it took Lady Naruku no time at all and so she killed her loving husband.
Loosing one parent was depressing, but loosing the both within the same time frame was completely devastating. To make matters worse, Fai's step-mother squandered all of his fortune shamelessly on herself, her pet Soupy, and her two daughters, Ruri and Hari. She abused his family name by inviting herself to wonder balls and parties of different sorts.
Fai was sent to clean the house, do his step-sisters' chores, cook the meals, and tend the animals. It was hard work, considering the size of the house and his new family's appetite. Even so, Fai enjoyed his work and made the best of the situation. When the family thought they'd make his life even more of a living Hell, all he had to do was smile, and they would instantly become bored with him. Thus, he learned to smile always.
Fai was lonely, though. Ruri and Hari never even made an attempt to befriend or like Fai. They never acted civil toward him and piled all their chores atop him. They made him run errands for them and only talked to him when trying to expose a weakness. Fai never let up, though and continued to stay strong.
Somewhere, deep within his mind, Fai wished for a friend. Someone to talk to and share his problems, dreams, wishes, and wants with. The blonde reconsidered this. He wanted more than that. He wanted passion, love, excitement, and exhilarating sensation. But that would never be. Because now he was the single son of a blotted out dynasty.
-O-
"Kuro-Kan! Come over here, dear! Your hair is a mess! At least comb it!"
"It doesn't look any different, mother! My hair isn't long enough!" A flustered boy made his way out of the possessive mother's clutches. It wasn't easy being a prince, but to have his mother was a living Hell.
"On other terms, son. Have you found a suitor yet? You are our only son. We hoped you would find a happy marriage, but time is running out on us." King Eriol found that the boy's mother had already grabbed him and stuck him in place, and so he backed away slowly. "If you have not, we have no choice but to hold a ball in your favor. We shall invite all the women of status."
"Father! Surely you can't mean that! I have no means for a woman! I can take the throne alone!" Kurogane stood up from his mother's lap and stormed away.
"Well, we'll get everything settled in a week dear. Let's let him roam about town to see if he fancies anyone. If he does, we shall let him have her, if not, he must choose a candidate at the ball." They always said a mother's words are the best words, and Queen Tomoyo's idea was truly ingenious.
"…I suppose that sounds about right. We shall do that. Ogata! Take my son out to the town now!" Eriol thought this idea might be fun. He smirked with pleasure as a stressed-out blonde man shakingly made his way into the room.
"Sir! I'm going out to gather materials for Icchan, Sir!"
"That crazy scientist can wait. Do it now, I say! I will make it worth his while."
-O-
"…And that's all I need! Wow. I ran the errands pretty fast today. I think I have some time to myself!" Fai smiled happily as he skipped down the sidewalk. His arms were held down with heavy luggage but that didn't faze him. His quirky smile stretched across his face before he saw the most intriguing creature in his existence.
Long, broad, black features set off pale skin and a muscular body. Fai stared in awe of crimson eyes before the subject realized he was being watched and followed.
Turning around Kurogane saw cerulean eyes and a bright smile gleaming at him, slightly flustered. "Uh… What do you want?"
Seeing that Fai had been figured out, he straightened out and gave his best smile. "I'm lost."
"Huh. So am I. I've seem to have strayed from the psycho…" Kurogaen started looking about, wondering where his escort wandered off to.
"Ah! Really! I'll buy you a drink!" Fai shoved all his contents into one hand before grabbing the taller man with the other. "I'm not really lost, but I know a great place to eat!" Fai smirk as he pranced with the confused man.
-O-
"And so that's my story. Sad, huh? Well, what about you?" Fai wasn't sure why he was telling a complete stranger about himself and the things he loved and hated and his background or anything at all. He just knew it would be all right to tell this single person everything.
"Me? Ah. Well, I'm Kurogane and I'm the-"
"Kuro-Run? Kuro-Rin? Kuro-Ran? What works?" the blonde teased innocently
"Wh-Wh-What the-?"Kurogane started stuttering. He had only been called, 'prince,' 'Kurogane,' and 'son' his entire life. This cute, new ending to his name shocked him. "NONE!"
"Oh, How sad. Well, call me-"
'This guy is impossible,' Kurogane thought to himself. 'Wait… Is he/she even a guy?' The blonde figure looked like a boy but carried himself like a woman.
"Wow! Time flies by! I'm done. Pay the check? I have to be somewhere!" Fai got up suddenly and walked out briskly.
"Wait! I didn't get your name!" Kurogane skipped out on the bill and chased the figure down. He was able to follow the blonde considering how tall he was.
"It's Flowrite!" the blonde called out quickly turning around and smiling. He turned around again and blurred into the masses.
"Prince! Prince! There you are! I lost you! Don't wander off like that! I'll get in trouble!" Ogata frantically tried to calm down, checking all of the jet black-haired boy's body for any suspicious markings or doings.
"Ogata. Does Flowrite ring a bell?"
"Flowrite? No… Not for me, at least," the puzzled man confessed.
Kurogane looked in the blonde's direction and sighed. Why did he suddenly want to know? Well, the stranger was refreshing to Kurogane in the least. He returned to reality, seeing that the mysterious person seemed to have dropped a single bag. After walking closer he found that it really was one of the bags the blonde had. He picked it up and examined it. It looked safe and so the prince looked inside to take a small peek at what was in the bag…
"Ogata. Let's go back. We have some research to do," Kurogane said shortly. He closed the bag quickly and put his hand over his mouth to refrain from a nose-bleed.
"Do you feel sick, prince? You… look rather pale."
"Not sick. And it's just what's in the bag."
END - 1 - OVERTURE
Afterthoughts: Ho ho ho! What is in the bag? You'll know in the next chapter. The CLAMP cross-over will really kick off and the whole Cinderella story will start in motion next chapter. Yes, I'd rather start off with the introduction for a whole chapter. (dies) And Rizenju is a made-up word with no significance by any means, thank you. Until next time.