Makoto Tachibana was the first princess of the Iwatobi Kingdom. She was polite, caring and perfectly beautiful among the royals. It wasn't shocking that the princess was gorgeous; all Tachibana women were at the top of the breeding chain. All were perfectly shaped and groomed and had an exceptional family enrichment. That was why the Tachibana family had a long line of arranged marriages. Of course the family was always fair toward their children and only the first child was arranged to wed the last of another royal family.
And that was why Makoto gazed worriedly as her mother that took the pen and crossed the line from her picture to the other. "Then it is settled; our eldest daughter, Makoto, will marry your youngest son, Haruka." Makoto wanted to interject, but didn't know what to counter act with. She glanced at her childhood friend and pulled a smile when he looked back at her. She didn't have a real reason to deny the marriage; Haru was Makoto's best friend and they know a lot of one another. It was just something about wearing his ring and holding his hand as they walked down the stairs, smiling to the cheering crowd, that made her feel this wasn't real. Like it was just a story.
And she was only thirteen; she didn't know what she wanted out of life. Maybe she was just overacting a little, maybe she'd get used to Haruka as a husband. Maybe she'll learn to love him like a husband and not a brother. But it didn't get her to sleep at night so she decided to sneak down to the kitchen when the clock hit twelve to get away from this just for a bit. To take a little pause from this story. She tip toed slowly down the steps and looked around cautiously as she turned the knob and cringed at the creaking sound of the door.
She took a peek through the ajar door and waited a moment before slipping in and tip toeing further unto the wooden floors. She took a glance from right to left as she stuck her hand in the cabinet and pulled out a jar of jam. She sighed when she realized she didn't bring a spoon and then just decided she'd use her own tips as she slid the lid off. She almost wanted to lick her lips as she gazed at the blue and purple liquid that was almost spilling out of the metal guard. All the meals at the dinner table were so plain and unsettling she wondered why anybody smiled when they bit into the old looking meat.
"It isn't good manners to eat with your fingers." Makoto fumbled with the jar and then held it tight, shooting her head at the source. She felt the jam almost spilling out as she squeezed it tight and blinked at kitchen boy that looked just as surprised. "..I didn't scare you, did I?"he added quickly and tilted his head, his eyes going up and down and over her, trying to check if she had any injuries of some sort. She pursed her lips and furrowed her brows, staring at the boy. She hasn't met a lot of boys in her life; other than Haruka, her father and her little baby brother, she didn't know how to act. She just stood there, staring at him with a heavy weight on her chest.
"I..what are you doing here?"she asked in a small voice and ticked on the jar. He smirked and stared with bright eyes. They were red in that light, she noted. "I can ask you the same thing. Y'know, princesses shouldn't be out this late at night; dragons might come out and gobble you up." Makoto couldn't help but grin at that and fumbled with the jar a bit. "..I'll keep that in mind.."she whispered and didn't know what else to say when she felt her voice getting smaller in her throat. He took a glance at the jar in her arms and looked around the kitchen behind him.
"I can get you a spoon,"he glanced at her as she looked up at him, "but then you need to get back in bed or else we're both gonna be in big trouble." Makoto nodded and followed behind him as he rummaged through the box of utensils. The boy took her to her room and hurried her to climb in bed when they heard footsteps. When he turned to go out of the hallway, she tugged at his sleeve and twisted her lips when he looked back. "What..what's your name?"she squeaked and he grinned. "My name's Rin. Rin Matsuoka. Goodnight, princess Makoto." She didn't believe it when he turned to leave. Like it was just a dream when she woke up the next morning, holding an empty jar.
Makoto Tachibana was the first princess of the Iwatobi Kingdom. She grew up to be a beautiful, talented and caring princess for her kingdom. Everyone adored her and all the girls wanted to be her as she linked arms with the charming prince Haruka. With her busy and pressuring schedule as a princess and the wife-to-be, Makoto forgot about the boy in the kitchen that helped to find her spoon. She forgot about the nights after that encounter down in the kitchen, chatting with the boy about his biggest dreams and fairy tales. She forgot about the supportive servant boy that always called her princess when she felt down. She almost forgot that he wasn't just a little princess's childhood imagination.
Almost.