As I start typing this, Chapter 12 of The Phantom of Marukawa Publishing has just been posted and I should currently be writing Chapter 4 for Nostalgia, considering it's been like a week since I updated that. (Well, maybe not a week, but it's getting there.)
Anyway! I'm super excited to start writing this, even though I know this idea has most likely been done plenty of times and is probably really run-of-the-mill and cliched. If I could be bothered, I'd look up how many fics there are with a medieval AU, but I just don't want to be discouraged about this.
For those of you who have ever played Neopets: The Darkest Faerie (in other words, no one), you will see some similarities between this fic and the game, or at least in Act 1. Because, as glitchy as the game is, and as awful as it may seem, and though it may of taken me four years to finally beat it, it's a part of my childhood!
I MEAN WHAT IT SO DIDN'T TAKE ME FOUR YEARS TO FINISH IT PFFT.
Summary (it's awful): He was a common sight in the Kingdom of Emerald, until his memory was lost in a farming accident. Now, with his brother's leg broken, he's sent back to the town to deliver a package to the castle - though perhaps it could turn into something more then a task, after his run in with the Prince - or, is it Princess?
Warnings: There will be eventual sexual conduct.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.
Wow, I promise you my Author's Notes will never be this long.
Masamune Takano was seventeen when his memory was lost.
He was unsure how exactly this came to happen - whenever he asked his brothers about this, they would simply respond with a mutter of, 'An accident on the farm,' though would never elaborate with this, always attempting to change the subject when he'd pester them. His so-called 'brothers' were two tall, broad men, though he only looked alike to his eldest brother, a tall noirette with piercing azure eyes. His youngest brother was a tailor, a boy who could pass as a prince if not for his peasant attire, light brown hair mussed in all the right places, though had the middle child's hazel eyes (though with a much kinder, soft look to them). The three lived on the outskirts of the Emerald Kingdom, a rickety little house with corn fields surrounding it on all sides, a barn larger than the house housing two cows and one horse, a white mare that his younger brother was particularly fond of over everything else on the farm. Everyday, before the Sun rose, his younger and older brother would hook up the carriage to the mare, riding out on their way to the Kingdom with a goodbye placed to the middle brother, who was never allowed to return to the Kingdom after his accident, for reasons he was not sure of and reasons his brothers would not explain. His older brother was the owner of the only tavern in the Emerald Kingdom, and his younger brother the only tailor.
Look at him, actually referring to them as brothers - they didn't even have the same last name, and Masamune just figured they were three lonely orphans that had banded together.
Masamune Takano was nineteen years old, and a few hours short from being eleven months added, when his younger brother's leg was broken.
That white mare, the one he loved, had thrown the boy off her back while on the run - from what, the brother was not sure, but whatever had spooked the young horse was enough for her to buck up and barrel around the farm for a good half an hour, breaking down stalks of corn and effectively scaring their cows as well. The older brother had helped carry the younger brother up their porch and into the house, dropping the brunette not-so-lightly at a chair at their kitchen table.
"That horse!" snapped the eldest brother, hands clenched into fists, "I told you not to ride her around when there was no point to, Kou!"
Even with his leg broken, the younger brother mustered a bright smile, looking at the noirette and smiling, "Ahh, but, Takafumi-"
Takafumi cut the younger boy off, Masamune appearing at the bottom of their creaking stairs, "No buts, Kou!" he snapped, and Kou had made sure to look away before rolling his eyes. "You had to deliver the new dresses to the Kingdom!"
Kou hesitated, glancing back at his older brother, "Had too?" he questioned, and gave a shake of his head, "No, I have too."
"The dresses can wait, Kou! You are to stay in this house until your leg is fixed!"
At that, the younger brother stood, seeming to forget about his leg - he gave a cry, falling back into his chair, and Takafumi looked down at him with a superior look in his blue eyes. "Takafumi, I have to deliver the dresses, though!" he objected once the pain had dulled down to a bearable level, "The Royal Family is counting on me! I promised the Princess!"
At the mention of the Princess, a fire blazed in Takafumi's eyes, and he shook his head with finality, "No, Kou, and that is final!"
"Can't you do it?! You have to go to town tomorrow anyway! You can stop by the castle on your way to the bar!"
Another shaking of his head, "I said that's final! And to make sure it is, I am staying home with you! The tavern can wait!"
Kou's mouth fell open, and his eyes took on a desperate glance, "Takafumi, you can't do that! You're just being immature right now-"
"I'm the immature one!" hissed the older brother, and Kou's head nodded.
"I'm glad you agree with me, Takafumi, but that's not the point-"
"I can deliver the dresses for you."
The two brothers at the kitchen table hesitated at the new voice, turning their heads from their quarrel to the stairs - they had not heard Masamune coming down over their argument.
Takafumi's face fell, "Absolutely not, Masamune-"
Kou's face however lit up, beaming at his older brother, "Really?! See, Takafumi, Masamune can take them into the Kingdom while you're here with me!"
Takafumi notably panicked for a moment, eyes glancing from one younger brother to the next, "But, Kou - you know we can't do that." he said, and his voice was not hushed enough for Masamune not to able to hear.
Kou rolled his eyes, though this time faced his brother, "Come on, Takafumi, we can't keep him locked up in the house forever! He deserves to able to see the Kingdom at least once." Takafumi stared at his brother, a helpless look in his eyes, and when he didn't object further Kou turned back to Masamune.
"You can take Aiko-chan-"
Takafumi finally spoke up once again with a scoff, "Good idea, give him that little demon that broke your leg."
Kou turned back to his older brother, "Don't talk about her like that! Aiko-chan's a good horse, she just got a little scared, is all."
This seemed to do no good to change Takafumi's outlook on the mare, though before one of his brothers could begin another argument, Masumune spoke up.
"No, it's fine. I don't need Aiko-chan, I can walk."
Takafumi started, shaking his head, "But - there's bandits! I'd rather have you ride that demon than walk!"
Kou waved his hand in a dismissive pattern, "Make up your mind, Takafumi!" he said, turning to Masamune in his chair, "Upstairs, in my room - I have a map. Just follow the road, Masamune, and once you see the green flags, start following those. There's a sword up there for you to borrow, too."
"Don't encourage him!" snapped Takafumi, and Kou waved his hand again.
"He's gotta be let out sooner or later, Takafumi! I think Masamune'll do just fine." Kou said, receiving a glare from his older brother, "Go on, Masamune, it's fine."
With the permission from at least one of his brothers, Masamune nodded and started heading up the stairs once more. As soon as he'd disappeared upstairs, Takafumi reached across the table, smacking Kou upside his head.
"Ow!" yelped the youngest brother, hands flying up to protect his head in case Takafumi's hand came back, "What was that for?!"
"Giving him a sword again!" snarled the oldest brother, and Kou rolled his eyes once more.
"Just because you are the only one who's never learned to use one doesn't mean you have to scorn it."
"I'm not scorning it, I'm disagreeing with it!" he hissed, and Kou shrugged with a mutter of, 'Same difference.'
Masamune Takano was nineteen years and eleven months old when he stepped foot in the Emerald Kingdom once more.
A sword was strapped across his back, an amazing gold color, engraved with Emerald's symbol of a rabbit on its hilt. It sparkled in the November Sun, dazzling whoever were to look at it - Takafumi's warning of bandits had at first scared him, with such a prized looking possession on his back, though none bothered him; he was unsure if perhaps they were busy with other things, collecting food and such for the oncoming Winter. Hanging on his shoulder was a bag filled with skirts of dull colors - the only one that had caught his eye when he'd seen Kou carefully folding them was a dress a carnation pink, and that seemed to be the only interesting one. The rest were pale blues and yellows; not even the dark green dress had looked all that pretty. The bag was heavy, and even with switching it off to a different shoulder every few minutes, his arms ached. The guards at the gate to Emerald had opened their mouths to speak to him when he'd walked up, though they had hesitated slightly, their steps faltering before they fell back to the positions at attention, allowing Masamune to pass through the stone arch, which he could only figure had bars on it once nighttime struck; at least, he hoped, to protect the town.
Buildings surrounded him on both sides as soon as he passed through the arch - he did not know if they were houses or shops, though considering there was no labeling on any of their brick walls he could only think them to be houses. There was town square, a fountain placed in the exact middle of it, and directly behind the stone square was the palace, two guards placed in front of the moat surrounding it, the bridge pulled up. Stone walkways branched out on either sides of the town's square, and, according to Takafumi, the road to his right led to the tavern and the apothecary, while to his left was the smithy and the Knight's recruitment center, where he was to head - for whatever reason, Kou had told him he was not to simply march up to the castle, but in stead deliver it there, and that the recruiting officer there would know what to do. (He had said this while Takafumi was upstairs collecting the sword, muttering curses under his breath, and it led Masamune to wonder if perhaps this was not what the older brother had planned.)
He could not help but feel self conscious, as he turned down the road to his left, noticing the eyes of the villagers following him as he walked down the stone streets. When they were sure he'd passed them, they turned to each other and muttered hush words, before continuing on their daily lives - Masamune's ears were not well enough trained to pick up their words, though he was still able to hear their muttering voices. He walked past what he assumed to be the smithy, a sword engraved on its sign as if they could not be bothered enough to write out 'Blacksmith,' stone stairs leading up to its door, unlit torches hanging on each sides of the doorway. He briefly wondered if the was the blacksmith to forge the lovely looking sword upon his back, though had given it no more then a minute's time before thinking more of the task at hand. When he passed by a market, full of fruit and other objects, he thought he had already past by the recruitment office, and was about to turn round when he caught sign of a quaint little building, a sign hanging from above its door, labeling it to be the Tailor's in a cute font, and he felt himself nodding to himself, remembering Kou had told him the office was past his shop. Walking along, he glanced into the windows of the shop; the Sun shone through, and he was able to see a desk beside the window, sketches littering the top, and along its back wall were several dresses of much better color then those in his bag, though not of quality. Turning back away from the tailor's shoppe, he noticed a certain building in the distance, made of looming dark stones, torches held beside its doors just as the smithy's. Stones led up to its doors, and though this building did not seem to have a sign in front of it, he felt drawn to it, and could only think that this place had to be the recruitment center. He walked up those stairs, opening the doors, hearing a bell jingle from somewhere above to note his arrival; the inside of the building had a high ceiling, the flooring a dark wood that he thought to be oak, and lit torches hung round the room, giving off a smokey smell that he was surprised to be fond of. The door closing behind him, a man glanced up from the desk at the fair end of the room, brown bangs almost hiding his blue eyes; as soon as those blue eyes caught sight of Masamune, however, he froze up, before shaking his head with a laugh.
"Ahh - boy, what can I help you with?" he asked with a chuckle as Masamune crossed the velvet carpet, walking over to the desk.
Masamune hesitated for a moment, before his hands went up to the strap of his bag, slowly pulling it off his shoulder, his muscles burning. "Oh - my-" he paused for a second; what should he call him? "- ano, brother told me this bag was to be delivered to you, Sir." he dropped the bag atop the man's desk, careful to avoid any papers, and the man leaned forward, opening the bag to take a look inside, "Dresses, Sir. For the Princess, my brother had said."
The man hesitated once again, glancing up from the skirts, "You're - the tailor's brother?" he asked, and then suddenly stood up so fast that Masamune was unsure how he didn't get dizzy, the cup of ink spilling onto his desk from his knees coming in contact with the wood, his quill falling out.
Masamune hesitated, and had to force himself not to take a step back from the man's outburst, "Ano - Sir, I-"
He was cut off by the sound of the bell tinkling at the doorway; he turned round, mostly just to avoid the man's gaze, and there stood a man of the castle - he could tell from the expensive looking clothes he wore, and Masamune was unsure if he should bow or not. The man glanced over Masamune's shoulder, and beamed.
"Kaoru! Do you know who this is?!"
The brunette at the door hesitated, though did not seemed all that surprised at the enthusiastic yell he was greeted with, "Excuse me, Ryuichiro-sama?" he asked, calmly walking over to the desk with his hands clasped in front of his stomach, and the man left his desk to meet Kaoru halfway.
"Kaoru, just - look!" Masamune wondered briefly why this man - Ryuichiro - greeted the royalty so informally, while Kaoru added that respected suffix, and he had been too caught up with this to object as Ryuichiro walked towards him, spinning him around, the sword swinging around on his back.
Kaoru hesitated, glancing at Ryuichiro, "Is that-"
"It is!" Ryuichiro interrupted, spinning the boy back around, who had suddenly gone dizzy, "Boy - we need to get you to the castle right away!"
Masamune hesitated, swaying on his feet slightly when the man started pulling him along, almost falling to his face, "I - what? Where am I going?"
Ryuichiro however just chuckled, and from behind them, Kaoru gave a sigh, "To the castle! We have to tell them that Kou was right along!"
"Right about what?" snapped Takano, yanking his hand away, suddenly feeling enraged and curious.
Ryuichiro smiled, turning back to him, "That you'd return, of course!"
Masamune hesitated, watching Kaoru walk over to Ryuichiro, "Return, I - what?"
Kaoru gave another sigh, placing his shoulder on the man's shoulder, as if this action would calm him down, "Ryuichiro-sama, please - let's slow down a bit, alright?" The bag of dresses swung at his side, "Remember what happened before - it seems as if we have to give the boy a little bit more time to remember things, alright?"
Ryuichiro hesitated, turning towards the man with a pout, "But, Kou said-"
"I know what he said, Ryuichiro-sama, and that's perfectly fine." said Kaoru, looking back at Masamune, "Boy - if you don't mind me asking, what is your name?"
Ryuichiro rolled his eyes at this question, though when he opened his mouth to speak Kaoru gripped harder onto the man's shoulder, effectively quieting him.
Masamune hesitated, and gave a hasty bow, "Ano - Masamune Takano, Sir."
Kaoru nodded, his grip loosening on Ryuichiro's shoulder, "Well then, Sir Masamune, would you mind coming to the castle with us while we deliver these skirts to the Princess? We can discuss this further there in front of the Royal Court."
Masamune hesitated, and that seemed like such a large request spoke in such a calm voice. "Ano - I suppose so, Sir." he replied, straightening himself out, feeling the tip of the sword's sheath hitting at the small of his back.
Kaoru gave a nod of his head, turning and walking towards the door, holding it open for both Ryuichiro and Masamune.
Masamune Takano was nineteen years and eleven months old when he also met the Princess.
After a few words spoken to the outside guards, the bridge was lowered, allowing access to the inside; there was a dark green carpet covering to cold stone of the flooring, pillars holding up the walls. As the three of them walked further in, hallways led off to the sides, and in front of them were two staircases, placed on either side of another, larger hallway; at the end of that hallway, Masamune caught sight of two more guards placed on the sides of the grand door, exquisite carvings of vines decorating the wood. Everything in here seemed beautiful, sunlight drifting down from the second floor, though he could not see up the stairs well enough to see what was on that floor.
Ryuichiro smiled, gesturing with his hand to one hallway, to their right, "Down there," he began, "is the Knight's quarters, and at the end of the hallway there's a door that leads out to the courtyard."
Kaoru nodded to confirm the man's words, walking along, beginning to head in-between the staircases and to the two guards, "And to your left, Sir Masamune, is the kitchen, and at the end of that hallway you shall find the ballroom. This hallway, here, Sir, leads to the throne room."
"Oh - Sir Kaoru!" the voice echoed off the walling, and the brunette glanced up to the second floor, where a blonde girl stood, leaning over the railing of the floor, where light filtered through.
He hesitated, walking up one of the staircases; it seemed to not matter which one you took, for they both led you to the same room, "Ah - good even, Miss Ana." he said, bowing his head to her as he stopped at the top of the stairs, the two men down below still able to see the girl and Kaoru from the second floor's balcony, "I trust you are doing well?"
Ana nodded, wavy locks of blonde hair bouncing with her movements. She curtsied back to him, bowing her head as well, "Yes, very good, Sir Kaoru, and I trust you the same." she said, her turquoise eyes glancing back up, looking down at the bag, "Those are my Lady's dresses, are they not, Sir?" she questioned, and Ryuichiro became moving up the stairs, Masamune unsure what to do other then follow him.
Kaoru hesitated, before nodding his head, "Ano - yes, they are, Miss Ana. I am sorry - I was not aware the Princess was up today, or else I would of just delivered them to his room."
Ana took the bag from Kaoru, not bothering to look inside, "Yes, Sir Kaoru, my Lady is feeling much better today. He was saying earlier about heading to the library, Sir. I believe that's where he is right now."
Perhaps Masamune was hearing wrong, but it sounded to him as if they were calling the Princess a he.
Kaoru gave a smile, "That's good, Miss Ana."
The girl smiled back, nodding her head, "Yes, it is, isn't it? Though-" she hesitated, glancing at Ryuichiro as he reached the top of the stairs, "Sir Kaoru - why isn't Master Kou delivering the dresses today?" she asked, and Kaoru hesitated.
"Oh, Miss, I'm not sure-"
Masamune cut off the man as he paused beside Ryuichiro, bowing to them. "Kou broke his leg, Miss. He apologizes for not being able to deliver them himself, and he sent me."
He stood straight once again; Ana's gaze went to him, and the girl suddenly jumped as if she'd seen a ghost, her skin going pale; freckles were suddenly noticeable on her skin, much more then before.
"... Sirs, is that-"
Kaoru held out a hand for the girl to stop speaking, and she did, turning back to him, her color still drained, "Yes, Miss, it is. If you'd excuse him, though - he's yet to fully return, Madame."
She hesitated, before slowly nodding, "I - I see, Sir Kaoru." she said hesitantly before glancing back at Masamune, "... Sirs, if you do not mind me asking, why is that that you've brought him back to the castle?..."
Ryuichiro spoke up before Kaoru could, stepping forward, "Why else, Ana-chan!" he said, and she hesitated, glancing over at the recruitment officer, "To get him enrolled as a squire, just like Kou said!"
She hesitated, her cheeks puffing out for a moment before she regained herself, "I know what Master Kou said, Sir Ryuichiro, but don't you believe this is all too sudden for the poor boy?"
Ryuichiro rolled his eyes, "It's not too sudden!" he objected, turning back to Masamune, "Well, Masamune? Do you want to be a squire?"
He hesitated, looking as if he were thinking this option over; however, when he blurted out, "Of course," it seemed as if it were against his own will.
Ryuichiro gave a bright smile, turning back to Ana with a mocking look, "See, Ana-chan! It's not too fast!"
Her cheeks puffed out again, and this time she did nothing to attempt to correct herself, "... Fine, then, Sir Ryuichiro, though we'll have to speak with his Highness first."
Ryuichiro rolled his eyes, "We don't have too." he said.
"But you will." retorted Ana quickly, with such a look in her eyes that all three men took one step back.
"... Yeah, yeah, Ana-chan, I know what I'm doing! I'll talk to the King!" Ryuichiro amended quickly, and the girl gave a curt nod, a look in her eyes that said, 'You're darn right you will.'
"Good, Sir Ryuichiro." she said, before turning to Masamune, curtseying to him, "Welcome to our castle, Sir. I am Ana Kiyoshi, the Princess's assistant and tutor. I hope you shall end up staying." He was unsure if she was sarcastic or not.
"Oh - um, thank you, Madame. I hope I do as well." he said, bowing back to her, she at his response she stood, turning to head down a hallway when a voice stopped her.
"Ana-chan, are you in here?"
It came from the hallway opposite to the one she was about to walk down, and she hesitated, turning on her heel quickly to face that hallway.
"My Lady?" she asked, and a boy appeared at the end of the hallway, enthusiastically holding a leather bound book to his chest.
At the sight of this boy, Kaoru and Ryuichiro both bowed, and, after an awkward moment, Masamune did as well.
"Oh, Ana-chan, there you are!" said the boy, and Masamune allowed himself to glance up at the boy.
His skin was a shocking pale, almost sickly, appearing especially white against the dark green dress he wore, which was made of an expensive looking silk, beading stitched so detailed and lovingly at the collar that Masamune could only think it was something Kou had made. Settled atop a mess of chestnut colored hair was a modest tiara, the diamonds glinting in the Sun, though that appeared to be the only sort of gems in the boy's attire, no other trinkets of jewelry present on him. His eyes matched the emerald green of the Kingdom's flags, sparkling in a way that could not even rival the diamond's of his tiara when they met Ana.
"Ana-chan, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run off to far from you." he said, bowing in an apology, and Ana shook her head with a kind smile.
"No, it's fine, my Lady. I knew you were in the library, everything's alright."
The boy gave a nod before standing, the book once again held against his chest - he hesitated at the sight of the men bowing, and held out his hand to them; when Kaoru and Ryuichiro both rose, Masamune did too.
However, at the sight of Masamune, the boy started in the same way Ana had; a hand went up to his heart, and Ana gave worried steps forward, only to be stopped with another wave of the boy's hand.
"Ano - Ana-chan, who is this?" asked the boy, turning back to his tutor, and she hesitated.
"Oh - this, my Lady, is-"
Masamune interrupted the blonde, not remembering ever giving the girl his name, "Masamune Takano, my... Lady." he said, and Ana gave a look at the man's back before nodding.
"Yes, My Lady, Sir Masamune Takano. Sir Ryuichiro is planning for him to be joining our castle soon as a squire." she continued, and the boy nodded slowly, looking back at Masamune.
"... I see." he said after a moment, and there was a tense silence for a few seconds, before Ana broke it.
"Ano, Sir Masamune, this is the Princess of the Emerald Kingdom, Ritsu Onodera."
Masamune was unsure whether to be surprised or not that their Princess was male.
Masamune bowed once more, "Lovely to meet you, my Lady."
Ritsu held out his hand to the man, and he took it as a sign to stand up straight once more, so he did. "Yes, indeed. The same to you, Sir Masamune."
Green eyes looked into hazel ones, before looking away, back to his tutor. "Ana-chan - is this boy to be seen by my father?" he asked, and Ana hesitated, nodding her head.
"Ano - yes, My Lady. We were about to go see His Highness." she responded, and Ritsu nodded, lowering his book to his hip.
"I see. Ana-chan, if you would, see this man to the squire's quarters. I will put in a word to my father so none of you have too."
Ana hesitated, and Ryuichiro beamed at the Princess. "But - My Lady, your father should see all those to join his court..."
Ritsu shook his head, his tiara almost falling out of place, "No, Ana-chan, please, do not worry about it. The same as for you, Sir Kaoru, Sir Ryuichiro. I will talk to my father of this and all will be settled."
Ryuichiro cast Ana a look that clearly stated he'd won, and that the girl had lost. She hesitated once more, before nodding her head, "Yes, of course, My Lady. I'll see the boy to his quarters as soon as possible."
She slowly approached the boy, hand holding up her dress so as it wouldn't drag on the floor, "Come with me, Sir."
Masamune Takano was still nineteen and eleven months when he'd apparently become a squire.
[ACT ONE - SCENE ONE:
END]
And, as I finish this, Chapter 13 of Phantom of Marukawa Publishing was published last night, and I should still be working on Chapter 4 of Nostalgia. Oops. And this won't be posted until after the last chapter of PoMP is, which will hopefully be tomorrow night!
So yeah. Was this absolute crap? I fell pretty okay about it. It's a pretty boring set chapter though... Much more will happen! :D I already have a lot of this planned out in my head, but I'm not sure how many Acts there will be, nor how many Scenes. I'm really excited for this, and I hope everybody else is, too! :3
Review, maybe? :3
I think I might play The Darkest Faerie again~ I hope it won't take four years to beat it again...
I MEAN WHAT I CAN FINISH IT IN A WEEK PFFT.
