The Red King is Born
Tatsumura Chimon was a gorgeous woman that was absolutely adored by all her people. She had beautiful, voluptuous curves, shiny blonde hair, and warm blue eyes. Chimon was the woman that would help the elderly cross the road, the woman that would donate her time and money to the less fortunate, and the type of person that would sit and listen to one's concerns. Needless to say Tatsumura Chimon was the nurturer, the exact opposite of her husband, Tatsumura Daiki.
Tatsumura Daiki was an intimidating man. He was tall and easily loomed over his people, he had bold black hair, and fierce red eyes. This was the man who would not think twice about killing someone, the man that was hard on his children, and the man that his people feared and admired. However cheesy it would sound though, Tatsumura Chimon was his only weakness. The only one that would that would make him stop and reconsider his actions. After all, they had their own love story. A bond developed after years of pursuing, a love that has been through hell and back. Another unconditional love.
Chimon had remembered when Daiki had proposed to her and his parents were ecstatic. After all Tatsumura Chimon was a girl that was well off, she was from a wealthy family and she had excellent noble manners. Which was a plus for the traditional Daiki, however the thing that attracted him to her was that Chimon was, well... a rule breaker. She didn't seem like the type to break the rules, which made Daiki originally lose interest in her. It was her mischievous smile and flirty eyes that had caught his attention.
"I would never be attracted to such a rigid man such as yourself~" Daiki's eyebrows shot up all the way to his hairline that day. He couldn't believe that this seemingly innocent girl would say such a suggestive thing. Daiki responded with a wolfish smirk and leaned closer to the attractive woman. "Who said I was rigid." Chimon peered at his handsome face through her lashes a small smile playing on her lips.
"You're a man that bends to the will of your parents." Chimon stood up definitely and looked down at the man who had excitement dancing in his eyes. He stood up, looking down at the woman in a sultry manner.
"Soon this will all be mine…" At that moment Chimon did not truly understanding what he had meant by that, but what Chimon did know was that she wanted this man. Yes, he was sexy but he was also an intelligent creature. Chimon loved to uncover the mind games that he would try to throw her way.
A couple years after their first meeting they had their first child.
Tatsumura Hideki, a handsome young boy with promise. He was gifted, a fire commander, Papa Daiki's heart swelled with pride, but there was a thought running through his head.
The next Tatsumura heir is a male with red eyes
Chimon would remember the conversations the two would have, she remembered what Daiki had told her before they got married.
"I have a country to run." She would recall all those moments were he would act like a cold jerk, when he would look at her with disappointment in his eyes when she would give birth to his children.
Chimon would look at the way Daiki would stare at his children with disinterest, he was waiting, he was waiting for her to bear the next heir of their country.
2 years later, Chimon gave birth to another child. Tatsumura Kameko. As soon as word got out that this was a female with blonde hair and blue eyes, Daiki had not even bothered to show up to the birthing. It's almost as if Kameko knew that she was being rejected that day, for her cries echoed throughout the castle for 3 days straight.
"Can you please shut her up!" Hideki would cry to his mother stuffing his pillow over his head in distress. Hideki who was only 2 years old at the time and seemed to already develop a deep understanding of his position. Yes Hideki was a male, so of course he would have it better than his younger sister. The only thing Hideki had to think about was the possibility of another sibling that fit the requirements to a T.
"Hideki." Mama Chimon's voice cracked through the air like a whip, causing her boy to stop squirming around his bed. He slowly peeled his pillow from his face and peered at his mama who started back in disappointment. Hideki hated those eyes, he was used to seeing them on his father, but seeing them on his mama, the woman who would always believe in him, coo at him (even though he claimed it was embarrassing), and support him hurt like hell.
"Respect you sister." And that was the only time that Mama Chimon had to remind the boy. However as the time passed by, it looked at if sister Kameko needed this reminding as well. After 7 years, Hideki being 9 years old, Kameko being 7, and the newest edition Tatsumura Ryujin Rory. Kameko remembered being at the delivery room when her Mama Chimon was giving birth to their new sibling.
Tatsumura Kameko remembered being a nervous wreck. If the child ended up fulfilling her father's requirements, then that simply meant that all of her efforts would be in vain. Sure, she was in constant competition with her brother, but that didn't mean that her chances were at a zero. Kameko was gifted by the dragons, she was a water commander. And sure the water didn't listen to her commands 100 percent of the time, but she had great physical strength and was extremely intelligent. Kameko was a hard worker, and much to her irritation, what she completed with her hard work, Hideki matched with natural talent.
She remembered her father attending this child's birth because their royal birth specialist had said that this fetus had a high probability of caring the red eyed gene. Kameko stood outside the delivery room fidgeting with her blonde locks, pacing back and forward. If her father had seen how nervous she was, no doubt he would have been disappointed.
"A Tatsumura always carries themselves with pride and will never be hesitant" Hideki hadn't even bothered to show up and he was probably out fooling around with his friend that he made at the Academy. Kameko could feel her father's overwhelming presence in the room, along hearing her mother's cries. Not so long after that Kameko's ears were graced with the cry of a baby.
"It's a girl." Chimon exhaled with relief, a proud smile gracing her pale face. Her blonde locks disheveled and her whole being radiated pride and exhaustion. She glanced to look at her husband who had a blank look to his face. It was hard, cold, and calculating. He didn't have the tender love for when Hideki was born, nor the sasified half-smile when Kameko was born. He seemed as if he was more worn than the Queen herself, who had literally just went through labor.
The newest Tatsumura was indeed a female who looked like the splitting image of her father. The curly black locks and those fierce eyes that were covered with layers of tears. Tatsumura Daiki looked at this child and he saw….well potential. He saw two possible outcomes to this. One, his dear wife Chimon seemed to be getting both older and tired of having children. He could roll the dice and see if she could bear another one of his children, or if he should tell a simple white lie and say that this is his new son.
"No." Chimon looked up from her babbling daughter to her Daiki. The birthing lady took time to peek from the child's birth certificate that she was filling out. "This is our son."
Chimon pursued her lips, her brows furrowed in confusion, "What are you saying?"
"This is not our daughter. This is our son. Tatsumura Rory, the next heir."
"Rory," Chimon parroted. That was the name that two had decided for their child if it were to have red eyes. Rory was the name for their next son, the next heir. But this was their daughter, Daiki gave her a crazed smirk as he snatched their daughter.
"This is now our son. Not a daughter. I shall raise him to be our next heir." The birthing specialist tried her best to keep her expression blank as she swiftly checked the male nova box and carefully printed the boy's name.
"Congratulations on your son." She took a bow before excusing herself, obviously uncomfortable with the new turn of events.
"What is the meaning of this Daiki?"
"Kameko enter the room." Kameko had never felt this way before. The drop in her stomach, the hitch in her breath, and her face flushing in jealousy. She stared at the child in her father's arms, she analyzed his face and she could see that his face was beaming with happiness .
"This is your brother, Rory." Kameko clenched her fists and did a brief curtsy in the presence of her parents. Kameko stared harshly at the new lump of flesh, her blue eyes taking in the baby's pale skin, it's black tufts of hair, and most importantly it's bleeding red eyes. Rory, as if noticing Kameko's glare began to cry, much to her annoyance.
Rory, the red king. His very name was mocking her. Telling her that she would never get to be the rutler of their country.
The seven year old girl moved her glare to Mama Chimon, as if she was demanding an explanation. Rory was the only child who had inherited their father's gleaming red eyes, which stabbed at Kameko's confidence. Kameko had thought her only competition to the throne would be her elder brother, Hideki. Who was capable of course, he wouldn't have the Tatsumura name if he wasn't. But Kameko had thought that if she worked hard enough to please her father, he would overlook the fact that she was a female, and maybe give her a chance.
"King Daiki allow me to take Prince Rory for his medical review" One of the nurses bowed at a perfect 90 degree angle. The nurse's blonde hair whipped forward and her bird nose protruded out of her pale face. Kameko distastefully looked at the nurse and her grace, or lack thereof. Mama Chimon took the child from her husband, humming a calming tune for Rory to finally settle down before hesitantly handing him over. Kameko scoffed slightly before aggressively turning her heels away from her mother, blaming her for having another child.
"Excuse me, I'm going to collect Hideki" Kameko bite out, speed walking out of the delivery room. Kameko made heavy steps in the halls, briefly noting the room that the bird-nurse was taking Rory. Rory was a new variable in the equation of being the next ruler, but Kameko was known for being headstrong. She never backed down from any battle, making her the 2nd strongest at the academy. Of course the 1st being the eldest brother, but Kameko was hot on his heels. The fact that this new lump of flesh had red eyes didn't scare her one bit.
At least that's what she told herself...
It was with this new resolve that made Kameko confidently knock on the golden door. Blue eyes stared at blue. Kameko smirked and she closed the distance between the two, touching foreheads. They stayed like that for three seconds before Kameko made her way into Hideki's room.
"Brother."
"Sister."
"He has red eyes." Kameko snapped her blue eyes upward. Staring at Hideki, of course he doesn't look worried at all, he wasn't stiff and his posture was relaxed.
Kameko scoffed.
'He thinks that because he is the oldest he doesn't have to worry' All Kameko knew at this time was that she wanted to knock him down his pedestal. She wanted to hit him where it hurts, make him anxious like how she was feeling.
"Father said that the child with red eyes would be the next one." Hideki laughed, running his hand through his matching locks. The siblings were a splitting image blonde hair with matching orbs, tan skin, and even were the same height.
Except their personalities were the exact opposite.
Kameko was a planner, she was always anxious about the future and a hard worker. Were as Hideki was careless, he didn't have to work for all the recognition that he got at all. And the fact that this baby would make him feel the way he made her feel. Well… Kameko was feeling smug.
"So what's his name?" He didn't know what to say, for once in his smug life the eldest Tatsumura was left speechless. Hideki was uncomfortable, he was actually scared for once. And at this moment Kameko forgot her worries, she was on cloud nine.
"Rory.." Kameko watched as Hideki winced at his name, the name of the next heir. And for once in her life Kameko felt understood.
The fact that Tatsumura Rory was born on the day of the Dragon Festival was extremely annoying. It was June 7th and the mainland was bustling with energy, all the women adorned their best kimono and the men their best yukata. No doubt the royal family had to make an appearance, and of course that meant showing off the newborn red-eyed devil.
Kameko aggressively bite into her meat. Her father, King Daiki sat at the head of he table. Calmly eating, his eyes surveying everything and no doubt noticing the vulgar way that Kameko was stuffing food in her mouth. But at this point the girl did not care, perhaps she was in denial earlier, but now that they are having a family breakfast Kameko had accepted the dire situation.
A red-eyed child had been born.
Meaning the Kameko and Hideki no longer mattered. This baby. Rory was now the one. The next ruler.
*Clink*
Kamko blinked. The broken plate stared right back at her, and the gravy the garnished her meat gracefully flowed onto the table and on her white kimono. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Hideki smirked and that all she needed.
She slammed her left hand on the table and propelled herself forward towards Hideki, his eyes widening. Eyes glazed over with tears she let a battle cry out, fist glowing blue Kameko pounded them towards her brother. Hideki snarled as he blocked her attack his own wine-colored fists.
Kameko's hands shook as she couldn't exactly match Hideki's strength. But no matter. Keeping her hold with her left hand, Kameko used her right to grab onto Hideki's lengthy blond hair.
"That enough!" Daiki's voice boomed around the entire room, sit down immediately" His tone left no room for argument, and Kameko's hands were sweating as she returned to her assigned seat. Hideki followed suit after confirming that the threat was gone.
Kameko's nostrils flared at her father's glare.
"What has gotten into you Kameko, this behavior is not acceptable. Especially not today." King Daiki's eyes were an intimidating, striking red. A red that controls the whole land, a red that demands respect, a red that Kameko desperately wanted.
She stared back, dull blue clashing with brilliant scarlet.
"Father, Rory has red eyes, what does this mean for us!" Kameko cried out, passionately gesturing towards her older brother, who was actually seemed nonchalant about the whole situation. Making her seem more crazy.
"Kameko!" Daiki matched her volume, obviously disgusted with the disrespect that she was displaying. He too stood up, his tall figure freezing both of the Tatsumura offspring.
"It doesn't matter if Rory carries red eyes. You too carry the Tatsumura name and I expect you to carry it with pride and respect…" Kameko lowered her head in shame. Her resolve that she carried in her fit of rage dissipating rapidly. Her eyes began to unfamiliarly water and on the inside she further shamed herself for displaying her emotions. For some reason Kameko could feel everyone's eyes burning whole into her, as if she were invisible.
The apology was leaving her lips so fluidly that the princess didn't even register that it came from her. Daiki sat down his small blip of rage gone and replaced with a new emotion. One that Kameko completely hated, especially since it was directed at her.
Disappointment.
Kameko walked out of the room, the tears uncontrollably falling out of her eyes. Her loud footsteps echoed throughout the entire castle and Kameko knew that she had to leave. She had to get out of that suffocating place. Once she had left the back gate, Kameko broke out into a run. Her wooden sandals long forgotten at the hallways.
Kameko had only stopped when she could not longer feel her feet and she let out a roar. The roar echoed along the cliff that she had naturally stopped at. The waves at the bottom on the cliff clashed violently, clouds was suddenly filled with precipitation that rained on her. Her legs could no longer carry her weight, snot and tears flowed down her face. Her dream of being the next ruler was gone, by the simple birth of her younger brother. And Kameko wanted nothing more than to get rid of the younger sibling.
Kameko's heart was heavy as she let all her sobs out.
Rory babbled nonsense as she stared at the man before him. She blinked owlishly blinked at the man in front of her. His presence felt too strong. Rory blinked again, her eyes begining to water at his overwhelming being.
"Rory huh…" The man studied the girl, his new son. Who undeniably carried his red eyes and his black curls. Mama Chimon frowned as she also studied her newest creation, putting her pinky in the baby's small hand. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to confront her husband about the matter of changing their baby's gender. She didn't know if that topic was up for discussion, after all Mama Chimon knew King Daiki best. She knew when to question matters and when she would be able to voice her opinions. Which, yes, it did suck. It sucked to be content with all the decisions that your husband makes. But Queen Chimon wasn't sure what she could do.
"You could kill him." Chimon had remembered when her daughter Kameko had made that suggestion, freezing her in her tracks. Which yes, killing him would solve her problems. Only the thing stopping her was her unconditional love and loyalty towards the man.
With that in mind, Mama Chimon disregarded the fact that her daughter was now her son. As long as she would be able to be with her child was all that truly mattered to her. One of the issues would be the fact that the Tatsumura woman were known to develop quite impressive curves. They would have to see a specialist about that.
"He's beautiful." Chimon's smile increased in size as her daughter tightly gripped her finger. "Kameko's upset." Chimon added as an afterthought, she sideglanced her lover, whose eyes never left their son.
"Kameko's feelings are duly noted. However, Kameko was never destined to become Novatera's next ruler." Chimon frowned, goosebumps appearing around her arms. No doubt her body was still sensitive after extensive hours in labor, even though Novas were supposed to heal quicker.
"Kameko is your daughter" Chimon put a little more force into her words that made Daiki snap his head in her direction. The only one that openly opposed him would be his loving wife, that he gave his last name to.
"I recognize that Kameko is mine, but she is not fit to run this country. Anyhow if no child had not been born with red eyes than Hideki would be the next one in line for Novatera." Daiki meant no disrespect with his words, he was simply telling the truth because his wife deserved it. And Daiki is not an idiot, he knew that the second eldest child desperately wanted the throne. But Kameko did not have the strength or the maturity that Hideki had. Sure Hideki had seemed uncaring and nonchalant about the idea of ruling, but Daiki had seen him lead, had seen him work. In other words, Hideki was a natural plain and simple.
Daiki does respect Kameko for her struggle, but he needed her to know that she was never close to the throne, that it was never truly a competition between her and Hideki. And now that Rory has been brought to the world he would have to train the "boy" to be the next ruler.
Chimon hummed caressing his arm as both of their attention has been brought to infant, who was quietly staring back. As if she had understood their entire exchange.