Hidden Roses

Chapter 1 – Rejection (Again??)

Yeah, I now have three fics going that I'm currently working on. Oh well, with summer and all, I'll have time for all six fics (three original, three fanfics) I'm currently working on, and probably also returning to he remainder two DK fanfics that I've been oh so lazy on working and making my readers angry xD Gomen gomen ;

Anyway, the pairing is slightly awkward and some characters will be OOC. So if you don't like that, tough it P Family system: weird, but workable (I guess…) Pretty much almost all of the characters have their powers…Ah, you'll have to read to find out the rest of the stuff.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the DK charas, but original characters are mine.

"Cesia-chan! Wake up already!!"

The girl moaned as she clutched the pillow closer to her face. "Iun wanna…" she mumbled in reply as she tried to block the muffled noises from outside.

"Onee-chan!!" another cried from behind the door. "You'll be late for work!!"

At this Cesia jolted out of her bed. "WHAT?!?! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP EARLIER?!"

Dealte sighed from the other side as the loud thrashings of Cesia falling out of her bed and rampaging around her room could be heard. "We only tried to wake her up for the past half hour…"

Kitchel chuckled as she ruffled Zoma's hair. "Well if it wasn't for little Zoma here she might not have woken up at all!"

The boy's face reddened for a moment before he yelled, "I just don't want Cesia to lose another job!"

The door burst open as Cesia flew out of her room and leaped down the stairs, still putting on her light sweater as she grabbed a piece of toast. "Itekimas!!"

"Iterashai!!" they yelled back. A small scream of surprise and the sound of something crashing were heard shortly after.

"MY GARDENIAS!!" Dealte wailed.

"Who wants to bet that in five minutes or less she'll crash into someone next?" Kitchel smirked.

A large sweatbead appeared on Zoma's face as he sighed. "Cesia onee-chan…"

"I'm gonna be late, I'm gonna be late, I'm gonna be late…" Cesia kept repeating as she zipped down the cobblestone streets, dodging people frantically as she made her way to her part-time job at the local café and giving quick waves to anyone who greeted her. As she skidded around the corner, she glanced up at the clock tower rising to her right. She had five minutes.

"OUT OF MY WAAAAY!!" she yelled as she found her second wind and barged through the crowds slowly gathering on the streets. Luckily, everyone heard her and quickly stepped out of her path, chuckling in the process as she zoomed past.

"That Cesia," one laughed. "I wonder if she knows…?"

"From what I can see, I don't think so," another said and sighed. "Well, she'll find out when she gets there."

"If she knew, she would still be in bed," the first laughed again.

"He's been only trying, what, three times now?"

"You do have to feel sorry for the poor guy. But…rejecting the prince!"

A third nodded solemnly. "If she hadn't been his childhood friend, I wonder what would have happened?"

The first smiled. "Nothing, of course. Lord Lykouleon would not have done anything at all."

"And Lady Raseleane wouldn't have permitted it, either," the second added.

The three turned and watched the girl disappear around another corner. They were dressed in official garments, the ropes of royalty slung down from their shoulders. One was yellow, one blue, and the other black. Many of the citizens of the city tried not to stare at them, though it was hard not to. They rarely came out to interact with the people.

Kai-stern grinned at his two comrades. "Shall we watch?"

"Do you think Alfeegi would mind if we strayed from our work?" Tetheus asked skeptically.

Ruwalk slung his arms around both of their shoulders and gave them a sly grin. "Not if he doesn't find out!"

Tetheus sighed. "What am I doing…?"

"Having fun!" Ruwalk laughed as he dragged the Black Dragon Officer behind him and Kai-stern.

One minute. Cesia had one minute left and the café was just within a few feet from her. I…I WON'T BE LATE!! she thought gleefully as she slowed her pace slightly and closed her eyes as she tried to regain her breath. She reopened them just in time to find herself on a collision course with someone standing directly in her path with his back turned to her.

"Ah…ABUNAI!!" she screamed as she tried to apply her brakes.

When the person turned slightly, she felt her face redden slightly before bracing herself for the impact. Instead, she felt strong yet gentle hands around her shoulders as they somehow stopped her pace and steadied her gasping body.

"Are you alright?"

Cesia turned her face upward and held back a gasp as she just stared at the concerned face looking down at her. The man had the deepest red eyes she had ever seen, the long strands of dark purple hair trailing over his shoulder standing out from the black clothing he was wearing. His clothes seemed casual yet…formal? Whatever she was classifying the clothing she did not give it a second thought. Instead the girl found herself just staring up at the stranger that still held her.

He blinked and turned his head slightly to the side. "Is…something on my face?"

The question snapped Cesia out of her reverie and she quickly pulled away. "N-No!! I was just, er, thinking!" she half lied. True, she was thinking, but not about anything not related to the stranger before him. When she looked at the person again, she noticed his pointed ears and blinked. "Wait…are you a –"

"Cesia-san!" a voice cried out to her and the sound of running feet reached her ears.

She looked past the mystery person and her eyes widened. "RATH?!?!"

The red-dyed haired young man broke into a grin as he reached her. "I've been waiting for you."

"No."

The sudden response made Rath falter. "Wh-what??"

A smile flitted across the stranger's lips as he gave them both a quick bow and retreated. "I'll let you two alone," he said as he walked off. "Take care, young miss."

"Eh?" Cesia looked quickly at the retreating back before she felt Rath's firm hand on her arm, making her turn to face him.

"Cesia, why won't you marry me?" Rath asked almost desperately. Confusion and agony filled his bright crimson eyes as he stared into her golden ones.

She stared at him for a moment and sighed. It had hurt her to reject him the first time, but now his insistency was getting somewhat bothersome. "I'm sorry Rath," she said softly as she pulled away from him and rubbed her arm. The grip had been stronger than previous ones. "I…I'm just not ready for that yet."

"But I love you, Cesia! I can't stand being behind those walls knowing you are here!" he exclaimed. "…Do you not love me?"

Cesia placed a gentle hand on his cheek and give him a sad smile. "Rath, you know I love you, but just not the same way you love me." She glanced at her manager watching from the doorway. "I have to work now. You don't want me to lose another job, do you?"

Rath watched silently as she walked past him and inside the café. Three times. Rejected three times. Did she…forget? With slumped shoulders and a last glance into the café, the prince of the Dragons slowly made his way back to the castle, a plan already forming in his mind. Some way or the other, Cesia will become his bride.

Told you there would be OOC-ness. So whaddya think? XD Rather fast paced, eh? Short chapter (not even a complete three pages! What am I doing?!) Well to be honest, I'm stuck here in school for like 7 hours because I don't have to take any exams except for one, and that was first period. So…yeah. I'm here. Writing. A new fic at that xD

::sharp objects are thrown at her::

Readers: WHAT ABOUT YOUR OTHER FICS?!?!?

X.x;;;; They're at home T.T

Readers: o.o Oh. ::take back everything::

…readers…never make them mad…x.x;; Oh, and if you don't like how I make the characters…TOUGH IT XP

This edit thing is weird...and I can't do my actions the normal way anymore!! With the asterisk!!!