This was meant to be a one-shot but it was longer than I expected it to be and I wanted to get something out today it's now a two part, maybe three, depending on how long this turns out.
Enjoy!
I don't own Hetalia!
Hetalia Tales 5:5 : A Fairy Tale Job Pt 1
Sleeping Beauty...
Kiku Honda looked toward the house next door to his in Rome as three men moved in, one of them, a man with messy blonde hair, green eyes and big eyebrows, was carrying a sleeping baby with auburn hair and a little springy curl. The others, one who's blonde hair was held back by a Nordic cross barrette and fathomless blue eyes and the other, a strawberry-blonde with red eyes, began carrying in belongings, the first being a crib for the child.
Kiku had been waiting for their arrival, had moved into the next house for just this moment and decided to introduce himself. He approached the three men as they came out together to gather the last of their belonging from their cart.
"Excuse me!" he greeted, politely and, when they turned toward him, he bowed. "Kon'nichiwa! My name is Kiku, I live in the next house and came to present you with a welcoming gift." He held out a bowl filled with cookies and sweets. The three men looked a little wary for a moment and then, being the polite gentleman he was, the green-eyed man stepped forward and accepted the gift.
"Thank you," he replied. "My name's Arthur and this is Lukas and Vladimir." The other two nodded and Kiku bowed again.
"It's an honour to meet you!" he said. "I hope you make a happy home here." Kiku did not mention the baby. He knew exactly who these men were and who the child was and he did not want to put these men on their guard by showing too much interest in the infant.
"I look forward to being your neighbour," he bowed again. "Sayōnara!" He turned and left but he could heard the men whispering as he walked away.
"Should you have talked to him?" the one called Lukas asked. "Considering what we have to protect!"
"We can't shun all contact," Arthur replied. "It'll draw attention!"
"I agree with Arthur," the last one, Vladimir replied. "I don't get a bad aura coming from him, I think he's just being polite. I don't think he poses a threat to little 'Italia'."
Kiku smiled as he walked away. Let them keep their secrets! He already knew all about them and little 'Italia'!
As one of the Keepers of the Tales, it was his job to know!
Christmas Day, 3 years later...
Kiku knocked on the door of The Three Fae bearing gifts for the three year old 'girl'. The Fae trusted him enough to allow him near the child and it was the best part of this job. Italia was the sweetest and loved the nickname he gave 'her'. 'Chibitalia' meaning 'Little Italy'.
Lukas answered the door to find the Japanese man on the doorstep with parcels and Kiku bowed to him.
"Kon'nichiwa," he greeted. "I bring gifts for Chibitalia!" Lukas did not smile but then he never showed much emotion and he invited Kiku to come in. The little three year old was sat among the new toys and clothes as Arthur and Vladimir sat around her, smiling at the happiness on the child's face which grew a huge smile when she saw the Japanese man and waved at him.
"Ve~ Ciao, Kiku," she greeted. "Buon Natale! (Merry Christmas!)."
"Kon'nichiwa, Chibitalia," Kiku replied. "I hope you have been having a good day."
"Si!" she said, excitedly and held up a little brown, stuffed cat. "This is Pookie!" Kiku smiled.
"Pretty cat!" Kiku smiled and presented two prettily wrapped parcels to the child. "These are for you, little one!" Chibitalia took the gifts, excitedly.
"Grazie!" she thanked him and sat back down, pulling the wrapping from the first gift. It was a lovely child's kimono, printed with flowers and big sleeves. Chibitalia hugged it to her chest.
"Ve~ Pretty!" she declared in a child's way. "Grazie, Kiku!" And she unwrapped the other present. Inside was another cat toy with a little pink dress and a bow on her head with no mouth but Chibitalia love it.
"A friend for Pookie!" she giggled, hugging the toy and then she hugged Kiku. "Grazie, Kiku! Grazie!" She let go and stood back still hugging her new cat and Kiku smiled at her.
"You are most welcome, Chibitalia," he replied and Kiku ran to Vladimir wanting to wear the kimono and he took her away to change.
"Thank you, Kiku," Arthur said. "You didn't have to do that but you made Italia's Christmas even better." Kiku bowed.
"You are most welcome," he replied. "I will not interrupt your day any further, Sayōnara!" He turned to leave.
"Would you like to join us for Christmas dinner?" he asked, wanting some way to thank Kiku for his kindness to Italia. He had long since become comfortable with Kiku and truly believed that the man was not a threat to Italia. "I think Chibitalia would like your company!"
"I would not like to impose," Kiku replied.
"No imposition," Arthur said. "Please stay!" And so Kiku enjoyed a pleasant day and meal with The Three Fae with Chibitalia dressed in the pretty kimono and hugging both cat toys. Kiku reflected that, sometimes, his task had its pleasant moments.
Two Years later...
Kiku approached the house in the Kingdom of Bulgaria to give the information to the house's occupier that Natalya's minions on the move. He was the only one who knew the location of The Three Fae and Prince Feliciano but only Kiku knew that.
He knew everything!
He knocked on the door and a black-haired, green-eyed man answered. Kiku knew that this was Aleksander of the Drakon, dragon-shifter and lover of the Fae, Vladimir of the Drakulya Line. Kiku bowed.
"Forgive the intrusion," he apologised. "I have news of Natalya's movements." Aleksander looked around to see if anyone was about and waved for Kiku to enter the house.
"What have you heard?" Aleksander asked after offering Kiku refreshment which he refused and Kiku sat down.
"I heard a rumour that Natalya is sending minions to Rome," Kiku replied. "To search for the Missing Prince of Italy. If the young prince is there, I would hate for him to fall into her hands."
"Indeed!" Aleksander agreed, thinking that he needed to get this information to Vladimir, that he and the other Fae needed to get Prince Feliciano out of Rome quickly. "Do you know when?"
"I heard that they were seven days away," Kiku replied. "That was two days ago."
So they only had five days to move! Aleks needed to get the information to The Three Fae fast.
"Thank you!" Aleks said. "Anything information on Natalya's actions is very welcome. Anything else you hear, I'd like to know about!"
"Hai!" Kiku agreed and stood. "If I hear anything more, I will tell you." He bowed and left. As Kiku walked away he looked back in time to see a white dragon take to the skies and smiled.
Kiku had arrived back at his little house when Lukas and Vladimir came out of theirs in a state of urgency. They locked the door and as they turned, they saw Kiku and Lukas approached him.
"I have a favour to ask, Kiku," he said. "We have to find Arthur and Chibitalia quickly. If they return before we find them, please tell them not to leave again!" Kiku bowed.
"Hai!" Kiku agreed. Lukas thanked him and he and Vladimir left to find them, leaving Kiku to guess that they had been warned about Natalya and went inside his house because he knew when they would arrive.
An hour later, Kiku looked out of his window to see Arthur and Chibitalia going to their door and hurried outside to catch them.
"Arthur-san!" he called and Arthur turned toward him, looking pale like he had just had a bad shock. Kiku bowed, politely. "Kon'nichiwa!" Then he turned to the five year old.
"Kon'nichiwa, Chibitalia," he greeted. Chibitalia smiled and waved. Kiku turned back to Arthur.
"Your brothers are looking for you," Kiku told Arthur. "It sounded most urgent! They asked me to tell you to stay home if they should not find you." Arthur looked a little concerned.
"Thank you, Kiku-san," Arthur replied, ushering Chibitalia into the house. She turned back to Kiku.
"Arrivederci, Kiku-san," she called to him. Kiku smiled at her and bowed again.
"Sayōnara, Chibitalia," he replied and looked at Arthur. "Sayōnara, Arthur-san!"
"Goodbye, Kiku-san," Arthur replied and Kiku turned and left as Arthur closed his door. Kiku knew it would be the last time he saw the family.
The Three Fae and Chibitalia left that night and Kiku left too, his task done. He returned to the Hall of Chronicles where his lover and fellow Keeper, Hercules awaited him.
"Everything done?" he asked.
"Hai!" Kiku replied as Hercules gave him a hug. "I've done as much as I can! How did things progress?" Hercules moved the book from its pedestal to one that stood by a mirror. When the book was set down, the mirror lit up, showing a grown up Italia meeting Prince Ludwig in the forest that The Three Fae had run to. Then Italia discovering her true identity and gender as Prince Feliciano and Natalya enacting her curse against him. Prince Ludwig and Natalya's battle, ending with Natalya's destruction and the kiss of True Love awaking Feli from the curse.
"It looks like things progressed just fine," Hercules reported. Kiku smiled.
"Now, it's your turn," he said. "Time to help the older brother!"
The Prince and the Pea...
Hercules appeared in Prince Antonio's tomato garden in the palace in Madrid, cuddling a cat. He remained hidden as what he knew what was going to happen, happened. Prince Antonio and Prince Lovino were working in the garden, weeding and watering the plants but Antonio kept looking at Lovino. Hercules watched as Antonio approached Lovino and touched his shoulder. Lovino turned to face Antonio.
"Romano," he said. "Why are you trying to pass yourself off as Prince Lovino?" Lovino's face tightened with stubbornness.
"Because that's who I am!" he replied, adamantly. Antonio looked frustrated.
"If that's true," Antonio pressed. "Where have you been all this time and why reveal yourself now?" Hercules already knew the story but that did not stop him from listening.
"I was taken by Natalya, the Dark Sorceress, and change into her pet crow," Hercules could see that Lovino was happy to tell someone about his past. "I became human again when she was defeated." Antonio mulled over what Lovino had said.
"It's been over a month since Natalya was destroyed," Antonio still sounded unconvinced. Hercules knew it would come a time when Antonio would believe that 'Romano' was Lovino but it was not now.
"I had to learn to walk like a human," Lovino remembered the days he struggled to stay on his feet for any great length of time, walking with the grace of a ten month old baby. And learning to speak. "And talk too." Antonio teetered on the edge of belief.
"I don't know if you're tell the truth or just a clever story," he replied, playing with Lovino's hair with his fingertips. "But if it is made up, please, stop now before you land in even more trouble." Lovino was getting a little unnerved at Antonio's actions.
"I'm not lying and stop doing that!" Lovino sounded like he had trouble getting his breath.
"Doing what?" Antonio asked as he continued to play with Lovino's hair. He took the curling strand between his finger and thumb and pulled all the way to the end. Hercules knew what reaction this would get and braced himself for the explosion.
Five, four, three, two, one! Lovino went a funny colour and a variety of emotion ran over his face, finally settling into trap animal mode.
"DON'T TOUCH MY HAIR, TOMATO BASTARD!" Lovino screamed, swinging round and ramming his fist into Antonio's stomach. Antonio doubled over and fell to his knees, gasping for breath. Hercules watched as Lovino ran from the garden with a look of fearful disbelief on his face. Lovino was right to be afraid as he had just punched the heir to the Spanish throne which carries the death penalty. If the Lord Chamberlain were to find out...
The Lord Chamberlain already despised both Lovino and Antonio.
Hercules waited for Antonio to catch his breath and stand back up again. Then he put the cat down and nudged him the direction of the prince. The cat padded up to Antonio and meowed
"Are you all right, Your Highness," he asked Antonio who looked up to stare at him. Hercules picked up the cat and stroked him as he looked back at the Spanish prince. " Please, don't be too hard on the boy, Your Highness. It was shock. Touching that strand of hair caused a reaction he wasn't prepared for."
"You saw that!" Antonio sounded panicked. Antonio was worried about him carrying the tale to the Chamberlain. If he did, Lovino was as good as dead!
"Don't worry!" Hercules replied. "I'll say nothing and nobody else saw. I shall be leaving soon anyway but before I go, do you want me to find Romano and reassure him?" Antonio was in two minds.
"Shouldn't I find him myself?"
"No," Hercules replied. If Antonio went after him, Lovino might feel under pressure and would never know if the feelings he had were real or obligation, "I think it would be better if he came to you. He'll need to trust you if you want his love." Antonio seemed shocked .
"What makes you think I want his love?" he asked, red-faced.
"Don't you?" Hercules just stared at him and Antonio did not say a word.
"I'll find him for you," Hercules promised. "Wait at the fountain in the inner courtyard. And, Your Highness …..!" Hercules knew that Antonio had ethics about messing around with those of lesser rank.
"If you love him, it's not taking advantage." Hercules began to walk away.
"Who are you?" Antonio asked.
"A friend but you can call me Hercules."
Hercules knew just where to find Lovino! Hiding in the dark abandon room, Hercules could almost hear Lovino wondering how long it would be before the guards came to drag him away. Poor boy! He had a hard time ahead but it would all come out right!
"He hasn't told anyone and no one saw," Hercules said. Lovino yelped at the sudden voice. Once again, Hercules's cat padded forward first and Lovino looked a little wary but considering that Lovino spent most of his life as a crow, that was to be expected. As Hercules walked out of the darkness, Lovino really became afraid.
"His Highness will not tell the guards," Hercules reassured Lovino who still looked suspicious.
"Who are you?" He asked with distrust.
"My name is Hercules Kapusi," Hercules replied. "I just came from the prince. He's worried about you!" Lovino snorted.
"Worried I'll hit him again!" Lovino said. "I don't know why I did that. When he pulled my curl … " Lovino went red as he remembered how he felt when Antonio touched his curl.
"It's sensitive," Hercules replied. "You were not prepared and just reacted." Poor Lovino still looked confused.
"What do I do now?" he asked.
"Just talk to Prince Antonio," Hercules replied. "He's waiting at the fountain in the inner courtyard." This was the turning point. Lovino had to meet Antonio or the whole story would fall apart. You could not have a romantic story without the romance!
"How do I know this isn't just a trick so the guards can catch me?" For goodness sake, this boy's suspicion was unbelievable. But, considering the boy's life up to now …..
"Because I could have brought the guards straight here." Hercules moved towards the door.
"Don't worry, Prince Lovino," he said "No matter how bad things get, they will work out in the end." Hercules went out of the door, followed by his cat and opened the portal and went through it. It vanished just in time before Lovino came after Hercules after realising that Hercules had called him Prince Lovino!
Hercules watched from a hidden corner as Lovino went to Antonio at the fountain. He watched as Antonio kissed Lovino and, for a moment, Lovino reciprocated and then he stepped back with a shocked look on his face, leaving as quickly as possible.
Yes, Lovino would resist for a while but the seed was sown. It was just a matter of time before it blossomed!
The book still laid on the pedestal in front of the mirror with Kiku watching Lovino and Antonio's story unfold in the mirror's reflection when Hercules sprang out of the book. Watching as Lovino was accused of treason by the Chamberlain, spared by Queen Isabella, the attempted murder of Lovino by the Chamberlain and the reunion with Lovino's family but Kiku was slightly confused by the lynch mob chasing the Chamberlain into the sunset.
"Everything as it should be?" Hercules asked as he came to Kiku's side.
"Hai!" Kiku replied. "Except who is the lynch mob? I'm sure they're not supposed to be part of the story." Hercules watched as the Chamberlain ran in fear from the screaming group.
"I don't know," Hercules admitted. "But they're not interfering with the Tale so I'm not worried. They don't like the Chamberlain, do they?"
"No," Kiku replied as 'Kill the Chamberlain' sounded from the mirror. "Ah well! Another task done!" And he turned the page to the next tale and it was his turn. He had to sort out a story about an arrogant albino prince and an oppressed young girl. This was going to be fun!
The book glowed and Kiku disappeared into it!
That's part 1! Watch out for part 2 next week (fingers crossed!) and watch out for Saturday and my Halloween story. A little tale called Please Take Me Home!
Till then,
Hasta la Pasta!