Love and Friendship
Chapter One: A New Life
By KellyQ
The sun beat down on the small kingdom as people walked through the crowded streets. The kingdom was wealthy and prosperous–ruled by King and queen Jenrya. Outside the kingdom–three miles away was a slave market. People would go in and out of the market.
Every now and then, but not too often, Prince Lee would come and buy a slave. The Prince was a handsome young boy about 12 years of age. He had dark black hair, hazel green eyes and fair tan skin.
Right now was one of those times that he came. He looked around and found two that would work. The first one was a scrawny boy about his age. He short straight black hair, black eyes and peach colored skin. He wore an orange dirty shirt and gray pants.
The boy that was sitting next to him appeared to be at the same age. He had rich brown frizzy hair, tanned skin, and cherry red eyes. The Prince watched them closely. I could buy them and hand that one over to Hirokazu, and I'll keep that one so they could be together. With that in mind, the Prince found the slave clerk and asked him how much the two slaves were that he was interested in having.
"Ah, you decided already?" The clerk asked. The Prince nodded his head and pointed to the slaves. "Oh, perfect choice, but are you sure you want Takato? I hear nothing but complaints about that particular slave."
"Which one is Takato?" The Prince asked narrowing his eyes, not liking the tone that the clerk was using.
"He is the one with brown hair, and the one with darker hair is Kenta," the clerk answered, not paying attention that the Prince did not like the hospitality he was providing.
Both Takato and Kenta looked up when they saw the slave clerk and the Prince making their way over with a couple of guards.
"On your feet you two!" The slave Clark ordered, cracking his whip at their feet. Both slaves jumped to their feet. "The Prince has decided to buy you!"
Takato was the first to glance at the Prince. He was shocked that someone his age was even doing something like this, let alone having thoughts of owning a person.
"Have Kenta sent to Hirokazu's house," Lee spoke up, snapping Takato out of his thoughts.
Takato flinched with shock and before he knew it, the guards were taking his friend away. "Wait! Where is my friend going?" Takato asked in a rush.
"Don't worry about me, Takato-kun!" Kenta interrupted. He didn't want his friend to worry about what was going to happen. The two guards had stopped and allowed Kenta to look over his shoulder to see that his friend was in a state of panic. "Try and be brave! I'm sure will see each other again!"
"Kenta …" Takato whispered tears sliding down his cheeks, watching the guards drag his friend away. He stood there for a moment before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell back in Lee's arms.
The slave clerk let out a grunt of disapproval and anger. He took his whip and brought the tip of it to Takato's head only to have it blocked by Lee's arm.
"You touch him with that thing again–" the Prince warned, yanking the whip out of the clerks hand," I won't hesitate to have you whipped to death. Do I make myself clear?"
The slave clerk sighed and nodded his head. "You can have them for free," he grumbled, not wanting to deal with a meaningless threat.
Kenta followed the guards all the way to the castle without saying a word. By the time he was inside, he decided to take the opportunity to distract himself by looking at the wide narrow hallways of the castle. He noted that the royal family had a taste in dark lavender. The paint on the walls proves that. The chandeliers that hung on the ceiling gave off a warm glow.
After what seemed like hours, they came to a They stopped right in front of a door at the end of the hallway. The guard knocked on the door and waited for a moment.
"Come in."
The guards opened the door leading the boy in a big white room with a double bed, a marble desk and a shelf containing books, stuffed toys and various items. Standing in the middle was Kenta's new master. He was Kenta's age, but taller with brown spiky hair. He wore a black shirt and gray pants.
"Master Hirokazu, Prince Lee brought you a slave."
"That is all. You may leave."
The guards turned and walked out leaving the two boys alone. Hirokazu slowly walked up so not to scare his new slave. Once he got closer, his eyes grew wide; Kenta watched nervously as his master froze.
"Oh my god, it is you?" Hirokazu breathed. He then ran up and hugged his old friend. Kenta stiffened, feeling uncomfortable. He did not know how to react to his new master's outburst. "... I thought I'd never see you again!"
"I beg your pardon master for speaking out, but I don't think we met." Kenta had not moved yet. He was still in a state of confusion.
Hirokazu flinched and stepped back so that they were staring at each other in the eyes. "You got to, Kenta ... we were both slaves at Master Kevin's."
Kenta blinked for one moment, trying to remember. Then his eyes grew big, and he turned white as a sheet staring back at his long lost friend before he fainted.
TO BE CONTINUED ...