I'm sorry about Ryuu and Ryo, but I just can't concentrate on that right now. I don't know where it's going but the idea for this story was bothering me me in my dreams...GOMEN NASAI!
Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis, but I do own the plot.
Summary: In his world, the rich are with the rich. With his fiance, it doesn't matter. Now that they're engage, how would Seishun get used to Prince Ryoma, their future co-monarch? TezuRyo.
Full Summary: In Les Angels and Seishun, as a matter of fact, in the whole world, having a child bearing son is a great honor and brings great fortune. Seishun, ruled by the Tezuka family, has made an alliance with Les Angels, ruled by the Echizen family. Ryoma, of course, is initially against the whole thing, but would that opinion change in time? Would Tezuka be able to tell his fiance of his past? I don't know, read to find out!
The sun shone brightly above the large castle, buried deep within the hills and high mountains that ran along the Northern border of the foreign country.
The castle itself wasn't large. It was enormous. Large stone and marble towers ran into the clouds. Interconnected buildings spread through acres upon acres of lush land. Many gardens made the castle appear like it was a fairytale. Vines ran upon the oldest of the stone buildings, and little vines sprouted along the newer marble towers. Silver and red flags and pennants fluttered in the early morning breeze. A large flag stood in the middle of all. It bared the royal crest; it was a silver crown with a sword that resembled the Tenu (tennis) lance (racquet) going through it on a field of red.
Maids hustled in and out through the outside paths that connected the castle to the palace in the back. The palace was as grand and large as the castle. It was connected to the castle, which was there as a façade, by pathways and some underground tunnels.
The maids were wearing flattering red and silver dresses that stopped just above the knees with silver stockings and black shoes.
"Mino, I need you to wake the prince up!" An elderly woman told a younger maid. The woman, Sumire Ryuuzaki, was the castles healer and the second prince's nursemaid.
Mino's blue eyes filled with dread. Everyone in the land knew that the second prince hated to be awakened. The young woman swallowed and squared her shoulders. "Hai, Sumire-baa-chan, I'll go right now."
Mino turned away and walked down the lavish hallway to the giant blue doors at the end.
She turned the doorknob and entered. In the middle of the chamber was a large bed with a tiny body in the middle. Large blankets covered the boy but she could see his unique black emerald hair.
The brunette walked up to the bed and shook the boy.
"Prince Ryoma! Please wake up!" She said loudly as she roughly shook the limp body.
Ryoma rolled over and Mino gasped at the sight she saw. His lips were blue and he was pale in the light.
"Oh my goodness, Prince Ryoma, wake up!" Bleary gold eyes opened.
"Hmm," The young prince answered, unaware of the maid's panic.
"Your lips are so blue!"
"Oh, I ate blueberries. Where'd they go?" Ryoma lifted a hand and rubbed his face. He felt something wet and kind of warm on his face.
"Oh crap," Ryoma shot up and looked at his blue juice stained hand.
Mino laughed and grabbed the basin and towel that was on the nightstand. She dipped the towel in and washed the prince's face with it.
"You should not eat in bed."
--
Ryoma walked through the doors of the dining room and was met with the admonishing glares from his parents and siblings.
"You're late." Nanjiroh, the Emperor, stated as Ryoma sat down.
"I woke up late." Ryoma said quietly as he looked down.
No he didn't. He stalled and played with Mino's mind while she was trying to get him dressed.
For you see, today was the day that he would be meeting with another country's heir apparent and their ambassadors for a marriage contract.
"Ryoma, you know how important today is." Ryoma's older sister, Nanako, said in a worried voice as she clasped Ryoma's hand in hers. Sometimes, she marveled at how feminine her younger brother seemed.
Nanako, like her mother and every other woman in their lineage, had milky white skin and long silky hair of the finest quality. Their skin was always flawless and had ruby red lips.
Ryoma was the alternate version. He was small, lithe, and petite- not to mention short. He had unique greenish black hair that was soft to the touch and seemed messy all of the time. His skin was lightly tanned but flawless. His eyes seemed cat like for they were golden with a glint, but they were hidden by thick black lashes that casted shadows on his cheeks when they were closed.
"I know," Ryoma whispered as he looked at his older sister. Across from her was his older brother, the first prince, Ryoga. Ryoga grinned wolfishly.
"Neh, you'll be meeting your husband today!" Ryoga laughed as he lightly punched his baby brother in the arm.
Honestly, Ryoga didn't know what his brother was worried about. Seriously, the contract was to be arranged now, while Ryoma was twelve, and the actual ceremony was when he was eighteen. That's six years!
--
Ryoma sighed as he brought his legs up to his chest. He wore the traditional clothes for the royalty.
It was a pair of light gray pants that flared out and gathered at the ankles, creating a balloon effect. His shirt was white and hung off of his shoulders. On his forearms were plain silver cuffs, while his brother and father wore the gold version. His hair, which went to his waist, was tied in a knot on top of his head and held in place by a silver replica of the Tenu lance.
Sumire ran through the halls as fast as her weary legs would permit her.
"Prince Ryoma, they have arrived!" Sumire's gray eyes were alight in excitement as she grabbed the boy's hand.
"I've seen the prince, and I must say, once again you're luck has shown through."
Ryoma gave his nurse a blank look and then yawned.
They arrived at the large assembly room.
Ryoma quirked an eyebrow. "Surely they didn't bring this many people!"
Sumire closed her mouth. "I don't know." She shrugged and opened the door.
Two doormen were on the other side with trumpets in hand. They automatically brought them to their mouths, but then they saw Ryoma.
Ryoma smiled shyly at them and nodded his head. "Gustav, Yumai, how are you two doing?"
"We're good Prince Ryoma." Gustav, a red haired man with a tall build. Yumai was tanned darkly with pure black eyes.
"Yumai, how's your wife?" Ryoma inquired quietly.
All three adults looked at the boy. They all knew he was just stalling.
"She's good."
"And how's the baby?"
"He's good."
"How's his older sister."
"She's good." Ryoma frowned.
"Can you reply with something else than two words?"
"Nope." Ryoma rolled his eyes.
"'Nope' is a one word reply." Gustav put his two cents in. Ryoma turned toward him.
"Help me stall for time-"
"Ryoma, there you are my darling!" Rinko, the Empress, called as she raised a hand to wave her youngest son over.
Ryoma looked over the banister to his mother. He saw the huge table below covered with papers and scrolls. The young prince blanched and quickly turned away. He was met with the grinning face of Ryoga.
"Come on brat!" He hoisted Ryoma over his shoulder and laughed at the younger's protests.
"Put me down! Ryoga, I'm serious!" Ryoma pounded on his back.
Ryoga did put Ryoma down eventually. In a chair. At the table. Across from a guy with brown hair, glasses, and sharp hazel eyes. He seemed like a stiff broom.
There was young man sitting next to him.
"Hello, Prince Ryoma. I'm Syuuichiro Oishi. It's nice to meet you." The bowl-head-shaped green eyed man said as he waved at him. Ryoma closed his eyes and bowed his head.
"Hello," he managed to murmur.
"You'll have to excuse our son. He's not social like our other two." Rinko chuckled nervously as she sent Ryoma a little glare.
Ryoma caught it and held his breath for a second. He knew that he had better behave. His parents wanted this alliance, they were willing to give a son to another boy.
--
Ryoma glared at the paper before him. In his hand was a small brush that he was to use to sign his life away. He could feel the eyes of his parents burning a hole in him.
Should he?
He really didn't want to. If he signed this, when the prince and his ambassadors left, he would too. The paper wasn't to finalize the marriage; it was just to say that he knew what was going on.
Gold eyes widened in surprise and he bit his tongue to stop from crying out in pain. He looked at his father.
Nanjiroh was glaring at Ryoma with his dark brown eyes.
Sign it.
Ryoma signed his name in elegant strokes on the line provided.
'My life is given to another just like that.' He thought sadly. He watched as his parents signed the other papers.
"It is an honor to make this arrangement with you, Prince Tezuka." Nanjiroh said politely as he bowed his head to the future monarch.
The brown haired youth rose and bowed low to the Emperor.
"No, thank you very much. This alliance is a great accomplishment for my grandfather."
Ryoma's jaw was closed by Nanako when she realized that it had dropped open.
She couldn't believe him! He didn't know that he was sitting across from his intended!
Ryoma abruptly stood. "I have my studies to attend to, good day!" He said in a rush as he ran out of the room.
He ran to the front of the castle and out the little hole he found a few years ago. He crawled through it, not caring whether he got his clothes dirty, and ran into the forest.
'No! I hate this life! I hate being a prince!' He thought as he felt the wind blowing in his face. He leaped over a fallen tree and continued to run at his fastest. He felt adrenaline rushing through his veins as the only going through his mind was to get away.
He broke through the forest line and into a meadow. But he didn't stop. He ran back into the forest on the other side. It was only when Ryoma heard the running water of a river did he slow down.
'Almost there,' He thought as he dipped his head into the water. He brought it back out and drank some of the clear liquid. He rose and walked a little. He saw a small cottage not too far away and picked up his pace.
The young prince knocked on the door of the cottage. A young girl, no more than his age, came to the door.
"Ryoma!" The girl gasped as she saw his tired state. "Come in."
Ryoma dragged his gray slipper clad feet into the small house. "Sakuno I don't wish to go home."
"Why not? Oh, the contract." She simply said.
"Is signed," Ryoma laid face first on her couch.
Sakuno looked down and twirled one of her braids. "I'm sorry Ryoma, I know that you don't want this. But, you could learn to love him. You won't marry him until six years from now."
"I don't think so."
"Why not?" Sakuno took a seat next to him and started to rub his back and shoulders, getting the tension out.
"Their Emperor couldn't come. They said that he was too sick."
"So you mean the marriage might not be until six years?"
"I don't think it's going to be a full year before it." Sakuno looked at her love. Not that he would ever know.
Ryoma was special. In their land, no, in their world, very few males could bear children.
If you were one of those few, and you were prince, every single kingdom would be after him.
Since Ryoma was born, the kingdom knew that he was going to be in an arranged marriage. They just didn't know who.
Seishun Kingdom. A fierce kingdom known for their powerful warriors and the intellectual prowess. Sakuno admitted that it was sad that Ryoma wasn't going to be there anymore. No more secret meetings. No more nights together under the stars. It was through those moment that Sakuno fell in love with him.
"Is Emperor Kunikazu that ill?" A nod was all she received. She bent down and hugged the slightly smaller boy from behind.
"Don't worry Ryoma, you'll learn to love the High Prince."
"He's a stiff broom."
"Loosen him up then," She giggled. She felt more than heard Ryoma snort before silence filled the small area of her living room.
She looked at Ryoma to see that he was sleeping already. She removed the hairpin and let his thick, silky locks fall to his waist. She ran her hands through it and smiled. She removed his slippers off of his tiny feet and moved him into a comfortable position before putting a blanket on him.
--
Tezuka sighed as he looked out the window. It was past dinner and the second prince hadn't come home yet.
He had to admit that he was beautiful. When he first saw Ryoma, he thought that he was a girl.
But despite the benefits that might come out of having an appealing spouse, he never wanted to get married. It was so restricting. When you get married, you can't do this, or you can't do that anymore because then your spouse would start nagging you.
Tezuka knew that it was wrong to judge a book by its cover, but the second prince looked so weak and fragile. When they were to be married, Tezuka had a feeling that he was going to need to hire bodyguards to protect the small boy.
He had no clue how wrong he was.
--
Ryoma cursed his life right then and there. 'What the fuck is this!?' He mentally growled as he looked at the encampment of men outside of the castle.
They were all in black uniforms with red dragons running along their arms.
'Iopines, dammit,' Ryoma thought as he stalked through the trees surrounding them. He drew is his double bladed glaive. He didn't draw it, but he took out a double bladed dagger, he put his hands together and pushed something in. It elongated into a five foot pole with two wicked blades.
Hint: Ryoma's not even five feet tall!
He brought one of the finely sharpened blades to a man's throat and cut it swiftly. Red blood poured down onto the ground. He repeated this action over thirty times until he came to the last man. Naturally he was the smallest one out the group of mercenaries.
He took one the four sashes around his waist, part of the royal dress code, and gagged the boy. He took two more and bound his hands and feet.
The small red haired opened his eyes. He tried to screen but was silenced not only from the gag, but the scene of his comrades slain.
"You're coming with me." A voice rang through his ears. The young murderer shivered at the voice. It was soft, breathy, and at the perfect pitch. It was too seductive.
The boy, about fourteen, turned his head to meet is capturer. The boy he saw was breath taking.
Ryoma didn't put his hairpin back in so the black locks were wild. The moon shined down, giving him a heavenly glow.
Ryoma's eyes glowed brightly.
"You're an Iopine aren't you?"
The boy nodded.
"Good."
Ryoma dragged the boy to his feet and roughly led him back to the castle.
A guard saw the prince holding a dagger to another boy's throat.
"Open the gates and call my father!" The young prince called up. The guard nodded and ordered some other men to open the gates while he ran to awaken their monarch.
--
"What's the meaning of this Ryoma?" Rinko asked worriedly as she saw her son with untamed hair.
"Iopines were outside hidden in the forest. Here," he shoved the red head toward his parents.
Rinko and Nanjiroh were dressed in their night clothes with robed over them.
Nanjiroh looked at his youngest child. "Where are the rest?"
Tezuka watched in high interest. Maybe he was wrong. The boy wasn't as weak as he looked.
"Doesn't matter where. They're all dead."
Tezuka and Oishi's eyes widened. He killed them all?
"How many were there?"
"About thirty to thirty five."
Daaaaammmmmnnnnnn!!!
Tezuka definitely needed to research this boy.
"Bring the boy down stairs. Interrogate him!" Nanjiroh ordered the guards they took the boy by his arms and took him down to the hold.
--
Ryoma hugged Sakuno one last time. He was leaving Les Angels (what? He came from LA in the series!) to go to Seishun.
"You'll come back to visit Ryoma, you know that." Sakuno whispered as she inhaled the unique smell of grapes and rain that was Ryoma.
"I don't want to go. But I don't have a choice either."
Sakuno rubbed his back. Ryoma stepped back and looked at his only friend with sad gold eyes.
She didn't know what made her do it, but she took a step forward and pressed her lips against Ryoma's. She stepped back and smiled softly. Ryoma gave her a little smile in return.
"Bye Ryoma, come back soon."
"Ah, I will." He began walking backwards while still looking at her before turning around.
--
"BYE CHIBISUKE!" Ryoga waved enthusiastically at his little brother in the carriage. Prince Tezuka was sitting next to him, reading a book, and Oishi was fretting over if they had anything. Another carriage behind them had all of Ryoma's things.
Nanako was little more subdued in her goodbye. She waved at her baby brother. Rinko and Nanjiroh each had some tears trailing down their cheeks.
Ryoma waved once more before turning around as they began to move.
--
Oishi wouldn't voice his concerns but he was worried. Both princes had never said a word to each other-
"Why are you so stiff?"
Never mind.
Tezuka looked at the small boy.
"I'm not stiff."
"So you're tense?"
"No."
"Oh, okay," Ryoma looked forward. He looked at his future spouse from the corner of his eyes.
POKE!
Tezuka looked at Ryoma.
POKE! POKE! POKE!
"Will you cease to poke me?"
"Not until you're doughy."
"Doughy?"
"Soft, formable, not stiff."
Oishi snickered behind his hand. Maybe, someone like Ryoma could be what Tezuka needed.
--
Tezuka was scared to move. No, seriously, he was scared. On their way to the port where they would board the royal ship to Seishun, Ryoma had fallen asleep on Tezuka.
His head was leaning against Tezuka's arm but he somehow managed to crawl into his lap. Tezuka couldn't even remember how he got there!
"Oishi, get him off of me!" Tezuka whispered as the carriage drew to a halt.
Oishi smiled as he picked the future second Emperor up.
Tezuka rose and left the carriage. Oishi handed the boy back so he too could leave.
"Prince Ryoma, you need to wake up." Tezuka lightly shook the boy. Ryoma buried his head into Tezuka's chest.
"No."
Oishi was given a stare that told him to do the waking.
He held Ryoma like a baby and took a piece of dried meat from the basket of snacks in the carriage and waved in front of his face.
A small, feminine grabbed the piece of jerky and began to suck on it.
"Yummy," Ryoma jumped out of Oishi's arms and stretched with the jerky still in his mouth.
Tezuka and Oishi gaped at the boy as he walked around to get the blood moving.
"Food wakes him up." Tezuka said as he made a mental note.
"Prince Ryoma! Yay! Hi Prince Ryoma!" A group of little four and five year olds ran up to the boy and hugged him.
Ryoma kneeled down and let the kids hug him. Some were crying.
"We heard you were leaving! Don't leave us! WAAAAHHHH!" The kids all began to wail.
Ryoma smiled kindly at them and hugged each one. "Don't worry, I'll come back to visit. I promise."
A little girl ran up to him with a little doll.
"Here, take my dolly, Ms. Tulip!" She held out the slightly dirty doll. The doll had purple hair with blue eyes and a pink dress.
"But Alice, you love Ms. Tulip."
"I know, but we want you to 'member us."
Ryoma smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "I will, don't worry."
Tezuka and Oishi were watching from the outside as Ryoma interacted with the peasant kids.
In Seishun, this never would have happened. In Seishun, the rich interact with the rich and the poor with the poor. There was no 'rich and poor' communication. Both teens were born into families in the upper class, if someone from the lower class were to even try to talk with them, they could be killed on the spot. Ryoma might receive some trouble for this.
--
The ship creaked slightly as it sailed for three days on the Placid Ocean.
Ryoma was in his suite on the ship. In his hands was Ms. Tulip. He played with her hair as he looked at the endless blue of the ocean surrounding them. He sighed as he went to his chest and pulled out some clothes.
He took out a pair of dark blue Les Angels' traditional pants and some white scarves to wrap around his hips. The silver shirt he picked out stopped above his abdominals. The sleeves were sheer blue and hung off his shoulders. He slipped on a pair of blue, silver beaded, slippers and silver forearm cuffs with small silver chains that made a jingling sound when he moved. He tied his hair in a knot and placed the silver pin in. Last but not least, he put the blue scarf around his face that hid his nose and mouth.
It was custom in Les Angels to cover your face if you were in an arranged marriage and going to your future spouse's homeland.
Ryoma grabbed Ms. Tulip and ran up the stairs, leaving the sound of chains echoing behind him.
When he got to the deck, the crew looked at him oddly. He was dressed so oddly, when compared to Seishun's way of dress. The young prince ignored them and reached for the dagger in his band of scarves. He cleared away some ropes and threw some crates behind him.
He put the dagger in between his hands and pushed in. It expanded as he swung his arm out and brought it back while spinning it rapidly. Some crewmen stumbled back as they feared he would kill himself if he missed.
Ryoma spun on one foot and tapped the end of his glaive on the wood before jumping and swinging it under his feet.
Everyone stopped at what they were doing to watch in amazement. Ryoma seemed to be dancing rather than wielding a dangerous weapon.
After coming to a graceful close, he collapsed his glaive and picked up Ms. Tulip before walking to a sailor by him.
"Do you know where I could get something to eat?" The man tall and muscular with a ruddy face, yet he seemed scared.
He fell to kneel before the prince but didn't say anything.
"Mr. Sailor, do you know where I could something to eat? You don't have to say anything if you want, just point me in the direction." Ryoma asked again. This time, the man pointed towards the back of the ship where there was a giant elevated section.
Ryoma nodded and walked that way.
--
"Mr. Oishi?" Ryoma asked the ambassador.
"Yes?"
"How come no one but you and Prince Tezuka talks to me?"
Oishi sighed as he tried to think of a way to tell him. Three of them were in the dining room, eating some fresh lobster when Ryoma voiced his question. Luckily for Oishi, Tezuka was there.
"In Seishun, if you are part of the Aristocracy, you do not talk, and even more seldom, look at someone of the peasant class like them."
Ryoma furrowed his eyebrows. "So how do you function?"
Tezuka looked at the twelve year old. "Excuse me?"
"How do you function? I mean, how do you know what everybody on your land needs if they're all lower class?"
"We assume what the cities need and provide it for them."
"But if you're wrong? What about a certain group of people in every city?"
"What do you mean by that?" Oishi asked; he was intrigued by Ryoma. He was smarter than any other little kid he knew.
"Well," He paused to think of an example. "What of the mentally challenged?"
"You mean the Idiots?"
Ryoma scowled. "That's such a cruel name! My mother told my siblings and me to call them challenged."
"Well, we send operatives to each city or village to collect them and bring them to the Center of Order."
"What's that?"
"It's where we send the challenged to prevent them from causing disorder."
Ryoma frowned slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"They are a danger to society," Oishi answered.
"No they're not! In Les Angels, we treat them like people! If you're part of a family and you're sibling is ill like that, we give you lessons on how to communicate and teach them. We keep them at home."
Tezuka looked at Ryoma. "Your father approved of this method?"
"Of course. You know, I really don't like Seishun by what you're telling me. Les Angels used to be that way. As a matter of fact, it used to be called La Morte de Vie, The Death of Life. But when my parents were crowned they changed the names to Les Angels de Terre, The Angels of the Earth. They did a complete overhaul of the government and changed every single policy and law. Every since then, we've been prospering."
"That is remarkable!" Oishi gasped.
Ryoma smirked. "Only something as grand as that could be pulled over by the Echizen family."
"Indeed." Tezuka nodded as he drank from his wine glass.
"I'm known for being slightly random." Ryoma said out of the blue.
Oishi and Tezuka looked at him. "We can tell." They said in unison.
"Well, I saw Prince Tezuka drinking and I'm wondering. Are you really that old?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you look thirty, but then my parents would never make me marry someone that old. So how old are you?"
"I am fifteen."
"Me too," Oishi stated.
"How are you ambassador then?"
"Well, my father broke his leg shortly before the trip to Les Angels so I took his place."
Ryoma nodded and sat back before wiping his mouth. He placed the scarf over his face once more and rose. "I'm going back to bed."
"It's right after noon!"
"I need a nap." Ryoma left and went downstairs to his bed.
--
Ryoma stepped off the ship and the first thing he saw was a large group of people on expensive looking thoroughbreds with rich robes and jewels adorning them.
Ryoma was wearing red Les Angels' pants. His shirt was red and white that reached his hips before separating into two flaps that fell on his front and back and showed his pants. The shirt was a turtle neck with no sleeves and had a silver dragon that wrapped around the boy. He wore the same forearm cuffs and black slippers. His hair was down but only some were tied into a knot that was held with the royal hairpin. He had a red scarf covering his face with small silver chains holding it in place.
"Prince Echizen," All of the welcome guests bowed deeply before turning to Oishi and Tezuka. "Prince Tezuka, Ambassador Oishi."
Tezuka and Oishi bowed back and Ryoma stood there like a stupid rock. He didn't know Seishun courtesy! Was he supposed to bow or nod his head? How low was he supposed to bow? What if he insulted them by not bowing? Maybe he should just bow as low as they did to Oishi and Tezuka!
Ryoma put his hands on his knees and bowed so deeply he thought he was going to fall over.
Gasps and shrieks sounded around him and he felt a woman's hands pull him straight by yanking him back.
"Oh my goodness! A prince should NEVER bow that low!" The woman was a light brunette with light gray eyes. She was pretty in a light pink dress that reached her ankles and white sandals.
Ryoma regarded her, then ignored her completely for he had to sneeze.
"Bless you." Everyone said together.
Ryoma looked at them. "Thank you."
Everyone was silent. Ryoma felt as though he was supposed to just ignore them.
"Enter awkward silence." Ryoma said before going to the markets on the other side of the piers.
"Where is he going? Nya," A red haired man asked as he hopped off his horse.
"To the markets I think," Oishi said as he watched the prince walk away.
"He doesn't know Seishun's etiquette," Tezuka said.
"Crap!" Oishi shouted as he ran after the boy.
He stopped abruptly at the sight he saw. He thought that everyone would be ignoring Ryoma in fear of execution, but it was the opposite. Ryoma was talking to a lady merchant over some hot buns on sale.
Tezuka came up behind him with everyone else.
"Now, even though chicken is yummy, the traditional is the best." They heard the old lady say as she pointed to a steaming bun.
"Yes it does, I tried it once. But the pork looks exquisite."
"They look the same."
"No, a true food-fanatic can spot the smallest of differences in food. The pork is fatter. I'll have five pork buns, please."
The lady laughed and wrapped five buns up and put them in a small bag. Ryoma paid her and took one out the bag and ate it.
"I love it!" Ryoma said as he turned toward Tezuka.
"Neh, Prince Broom, do you want a bite?"
Tezuka quirked an eyebrow but nonetheless shook his head. The lady stopped laughing when she saw the High Prince and curtseyed.
Ryoma didn't seem to notice the rising tension and ran up to Tezuka. He, in all of his twelve year old excited-ness, shoved the steaming bun into his intended's face.
"Take a bite!"
"No th-," Tezuka's rejection was interrupted by a pork bun shoved in his mouth. He closed it immediately and a large chunk remained in his mouth and it was HOT!!! Tezuka, as High Prince, couldn't just spit it out. He began to chew it and swallowed it quickly. Luckily he didn't choke.
Tezuka felt his breath hitch in his throat. Never mind about that whole 'luckily he didn't choke' thing. He swallowed too fast.
Ryoma noticed that Tezuka was becoming slightly red so he patted the older teen on the back. Tezuka began coughing and everyone went into a panic.
Guards went to the lady merchant and seized her before dragging her out of her stall. Two guards drew their swords and were about to decapitate the old woman for trying to murder the High Prince and possibly, his spouse-to-be.
Ryoma saw the glint of shiny metal and drew two daggers from under his cuffs. With a flick of his wrists, the daggers imbedded themselves into one hand of each guard. They cursed loudly and looked for any possible assassin.
"Don't you dare hurt her! She did nothing wrong." Ryoma's voice carried over the ruckus easily. Tezuka had long since recovered from choking and was trying to get everyone to stop hitting him in the back.
"If anything here, it's Prince Broom's fault!" Ryoma continued. "Now, where'd the other buns go?"
He started walking around and found the bag on the ground where he put them down. He took one out of the bag and ate it as he went up to the guards. He mercilessly pulled his daggers out before wiping the blood on them on the guards. He placed them in his belt before walking over to the lady.
He helped her up and led her to her stall.
"Now, I do believe that Prince Broom likes the pork buns. I'll take ten more, please." Ryoma smiled at the old lady and she smiled back shakily. You would too if you almost lost your life. She packaged ten more pork buns and took the money offered.
Ryoma walked back towards the party and gave Tezuka the bag.
"You're a big boy. Carry them." He ordered and walked away before Tezuka could reply.
Tezuka growled quietly and followed the brat so he could dump everything on him. Ryoma turned back and winked playfully at the older boy before running away. Tezuka turned back around and threw the bag at Oishi before going after the boy.
"Where are you going?"
"To get him before he gets lost!" Tezuka called back as he ran even faster
--
Ryoma slowed to a stop and… 'Oh crap, I'm lost.' He thought as he looked around at the area he was in. There was a high stone wall with ramparts he could not too far away. He heard footsteps behind him and turned around to see Tezuka come out.
Tezuka brushed off his black breeches and shirt of any leaves.
"Where are we?" Ryoma asked innocently.
"You're by the Royal Palace."
"Is that the wall over there?" Ryoma pointed to it.
"Yes it is."
--
Momoshiro Takeshi was curious about the prince's fiancé. Or was it fiancée because he could bear children? Momo cleared his head of that problem. The fact was: the boy was weird. He saw Ryoma throw those daggers with such accuracy and precision, it was scary. And he was only twelve?
Violet eyes swept over everyone in room. Oishi was this close to calling a massive search party, but Kikumaru kept him at bay…by sitting on his lap.
Kaidoh and Inui were playing a game of chess.
"Fshuu," Kaidoh hissed in victory. "I win."
Inui's glasses flashed. "Impossible! The data never lies!"
Fuji was smiling as he and his sister talked over about the new boy coming to live with them.
The door to their 'Ultra-High- Secret- If- You- Come- We'd- Have- To- Kill- You- Clubhouse- Room!', or the Clubhouse for short, opened and Tezuka walked in.
Tezuka's naturally layered, slightly messy hair, was mess as he finger combed it.
Ryoma walked in with his hair looking like a bird attacked. In his hands were four hawks, already headless and plucked.
"What happened!?" Oishi practically screamed when he saw the thin line of blood on Tezuka's cheek.
"Prince Ryoma thought it would be fun to see hawk chicks in their nest in a tree in the forest."
Tezuka sat down and Ryoma plopped down next to him.
"It's not my fault it was the mother's time of the month!"
Tezuka scowled at him. "You kidnapped the chick!"
"It was too cute."
Tezuka withheld the urge to roll his eyes.
"Besides, we got dinner!" Ryoma grinned as he held up the four hawks.
"You killed them?" Momo asked.
"No, I killed one. Broom prince here killed the other three. The first two he took out with his knives, but the third one just scratched him and he threw it into a tree and its neck broke."
"Nice one Tezuka, nice one," Fuji chuckled.
--
Tezuka sighed as he removed his shirt. He was dead tired and tomorrow…oh my gosh, he didn't even want to think about that.
Tomorrow was the presentation of Ryoma and the official announcement of their engagement.
Tezuka wondered why his grandfather was rushing things. The engagement should have been announced six years from now.
But Tezuka couldn't- wouldn't- let himself be fooled. His grandfather was dying. Slowly but surely, each day Emperor Kunikazu's health would weaken. Tezuka, when Kunikazu died, would become Emperor since he was next in line. His parents were murdered when he was six years old.
He might become the new Emperor at only fifteen years old. The youngest ever.