Disclaimer: Prince of Tennis won't mean anything if it wasn't for Konomi Takeshi-sensei, I'm sure.
Summary: Little Prince Genichirou had chosen Little Lady Seiichi to be his future wife since he first met her. The two of them created a world of their own full of love and care. Unfortunately, fate will come in their way a couple of times to test their love. Will they last?
Notes: Dear readers. This story originated from the plot in the fifth chapter of my other story Sanada Writes. I just love this plot that I finally managed to come up with a suitable story for it.
I hope you like it, and please, do leave a review before you go out.
Warnings: Genderbending, Fem!Yukimura for this chapter, others for later chapters. AU, perhaps a little bit OOC, but I hope not.
If you asked anyone about the Crown Prince of Rikkai, Sanada Genichirou, they'd tell you immediately that he's the most charming boy you could ever find or encounter. The boy was just a special mold that no other person could make another.
His appearance was what made people love him first; he had short strands of hair that fell to cover half of his ears on the sides of his face the color of black nights. His dark eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul were in the color of mocha brown that was just that degree away from being completely black. His posture.. oh, God, his posture. He acted like a man; demure and straight, his head always raised proudly, not arrogantly, and his back and shoulders always straight and strong looking.
People who began to know him loved his manners and heart secondly. His parents, King Kenji and Queen Kyoko raised him to be the perfect man and the perfect king in the future. It was as if both royal parts took hold of each good value in the world and together placed it a seed in their little boy's heart to grow with him.
He looked like a child, but his heart was that of a man, while his mind was that of a wise old man who saw and experienced a lot. It was probably due to his love of spending most of his time with his father and his grandfather, Former King Gen'emon.
Prince Genichirou made it his mission to continue holding the perfect, powerful and peaceful kingdom on land when he grew up, already planning ahead and learning all kinds of education that would benefit him.
His parents couldn't be prouder of their only son.
In a few days later, there would be a huge celebration in the whole kingdom; King Kenji and Queen Kyoko's ninth marriage anniversary.
The royal castle buzzed with life as servants and butlers all around rushed to prepare the halls for the grand celebration in the name of eternal love between the royal highness. Prince Genichirou was just moving around, making sure to stay out of the workers' way, and observed everything happening. Why was this very important? Is it because of his parents?
He was wondering about this thing called 'Love' that always seemed to hang around in the air whenever the King and the Queen were in the open. Everyone seemed to whisper with each other about different sentences like "It's love", and "This is true love" and so to the point that he got curious.
Just what was this 'Love'? A person? A feeling? Art? Could there be a miraculous encounter in which he could see or feel love, too?
He badly wanted to know, but for some reason felt shy to ask his parents or his grandfather. Little Prince Genichirou decided to start searching for it on his own.
On his own, apparently, meant going for the maid that he was pretty familiar with and relaxed around, seeing that she was the one who tended to all his needs- even if they were few- since he was little. The maid's name was Mia, and she was a gorgeous young woman.
"Excuse me, Mia-san." He said with a little bow of his head, something he insisted on doing to all people he spoke to, never mind them being a mere merchant or a royal counterpart.
The blonde woman turned around and blinked when she saw the Prince staring at her. She smiled. "Yes, Your Highness?"
He reached for her hand and took hold of it in his smaller hand, "I ask just a moment of your time, please."
Mia chuckled softly, "Of course, Your Highness."
Prince Genichirou led her to the royal back garden and pulled her to the small pond there then stopped. He walked to the pond and looked down, following the colorful fish's moves as they swam in all random directions.
"What is it that you ask of me, Your Highness?"
The Prince turned to her then rubbed the back of his neck, thinking of how to start his question. He looked up at her cheerful, lime-green eyes. "What is 'Love'?"
Mia was not expecting anything like that, but when she realized that she was staring at the little boy, she cleared her throat and kneeled down on the ground, sitting down and ushering the little boy to do the same in front of her.
"Why do you ask that?" she asked gently, having been the one to witness the early adorable maturity of the little Prince, knowing that there was a purpose behind his every word.
The Prince looked away for a second before returning to her eyes. "Love is always around my parents. Is it someone I can meet?" the innocence of a child reflected in his sparkling dark eyes.
Understanding downed on Mia, and her smile softened even more. She thought of her words for a minute before replying as simply as possible, "You know how that there are a lot of ways to feel for people, right?" at his nod, she continued, "Love is one of them. When you feel so happy around a person, so safe and relaxed that you wish to stay all your life with that person, then you love them."
Prince Genichirou seemed to consider the answer when she touched a finger to his chest, "It feels like your heart jumps softly, and it goes 'doki~doki'," she poked gently with a smile, "as if it tells you that this is your love."
A small smile bloomed on the little Prince's lips as he placed his hand on his chest after Mia removed her finger. He looked up at her again, "Will I feel love, too?"
She nodded, "Of course. As our Prince, you will someday find a nice and perfect girl who you will love-.."
"My heart will jump softly?" he interrupted her.
She chuckled, "Yes, your heart will go 'doki-doki'. When you find that girl who will love you back, you will marry her so she becomes your wife."
He seemed satisfied with the answer for her nodded his head firmly. "When will I feel it?" he felt that he needed to ask.
Mia placed a hand on his head affectionately, "Someday, when the right time comes, and when your perfect girl comes."
And as much as he appeared understanding and patient, he felt excited to feel it.
And the awaited day of the celebration came.
Everyone in the kingdom was happy for the Kind and the Queen. Nobles and counts all around the land of Rikkai came to wish them splendid life together, giving their blessings. Even messengers from the other kingdoms, Seishun and Hyoutei, came carrying best wishes of a happy life together.
The castle was so beautiful by that time that all the different lights twinkled in the dark night and reflected the heart of the sky. Prince Genichirou lowered his head from staring at the starry dark vast. Guests started to flood in, and he had to move to his parents' side immediately.
Swiftly, he made his way through the royal garden between guests, bowing low in respect at the ones who greeted him even though he was a little boy of seven years old.
But there, somewhere between the tall bodies, he saw it.
A flash of navy blue that hid between all others, accompanied by a soft face that had an angelic smile. For a little while, he stood there, looking around, but the figure he saw had almost disappeared as if it was a figment of his imagination.
He looked down at his chest.. was it really his imagination? Then.. why did it feel like his heart went 'doki-doki'?
He looked up again and searched with his eyes but still couldn't find an answer. A little sigh left him as he continued his way to his parents.
Halfway through the celebration, Prince Genichirou felt his heart weighing heavy for some unknown reason. If Mia was around he could have gone and asked her about it, but she wasn't. He didn't want to bother his parents when he saw how much happy they were together, so he chose to go for a further place where he could think alone.
He walked confidently with a straight back aimlessly, just passing people and going through. He reached the side garden and strolled slowly towards the big, marble fountain in the middle, looking down on the water surface to see his reflection. It wasn't so happy, and he wondered why he suddenly had low spirits during such a pleasant occasion.
He sighed again. What was wrong with him? It seemed as if he was completely in a different world, not suited for this kind of cheerful mood, but why? He was happy at the start of the party, so what went wrong?
The night-haired Prince resumed walking much slower as he looked around. This place had almost no guests in it since all of them were in the front royal garden.
Suddenly, there was a faint sound coming from somewhere that got him all alerted. He ceased all moves and concentrated on trying to figure what was that sound. There it was again, so low that he almost missed it between the buzz of loud conversations hanging in the air. The little Prince tried to pinpoint the source carefully.
At one place, the sound was getting stronger, and it ended up with him standing in front of the bushes. Hidden by some rose bushes, what he saw took his breath away.
Prince Genichirou saw pale skin that shone in an ethereal way under the moon, lovely blue hair that looked so soft and pretty with the curl it had. The little body was clad in a baby blue dress while a single white ribbon was carelessly applied to one side of the figure's wavy hair.
The sounds he heard appeared to be soft choked sobs that the little figure emitted and it hurt him to hear such a sad sound.
Slowly, as to not startle the person in front of him, he crouched down. "What's wrong?" the little Prince asked softly, and the head rose to look at him with wide sapphire gem-like irises that made him want to get lost in them, with a small nose and rosy lips. The only thing that was messing with this pretty face was the trails of tears falling down the cute chubby cheeks.
And then it hit him. When the head lifted, it seemed a familiar movement, and he finally recognized the flash of navy blue that made his heart jump softly earlier. This was the same person he saw earlier, he was sure.
And then, a voice like hundred little pleasant bells entered his ears and lulled him into calmness, "Who are you?"
The boy sighed, almost dreamily, "I'm Prince Genichirou. May I know the name of my fair lady?"
A pink blush tinted her cheeks and he found himself smiling at the endearment of it, "Seiichi.." she mumbled shyly.
He nodded and repeated his question in a gentler manner, "What's wrong?"
"I-I.. lost my shoe somewhere here and couldn't find it.. then I got lost from my mommy and daddy." Little Lady Seiichi said.
Prince Genichirou looked at her feet then nodded and went to search for the missing article himself, all the while wondering, what should he say to her? If what 'doki-doki' meant was what he felt, then this was sure to be 'love'.
After a little while of looking, he found it; a white doll-like shoe with a little ribbon at the side. He went back to the girl.
"Is this it?" he asked her, showing the shoe, even if he knew it was the one.
"Yes!" she said happily and made a move to take it from him, but he pulled it away and bowed his head to her, "Allow me, my Lady."
With a huge blush, Lady Seiichi nodded and took the extended hand helping her up. The little Prince led the little Lady out of the bushes, pulling her gently and allowing her to lean on his arm so she won't step on the ground barefoot. The black-haired Prince kneeled down in front of her with her shoe in his hand.
Little Lady Seiichi placed her hand on his shoulder for support as she embarrassedly lifted her foot and slipped it in her shoe then stepped on the ground to adjust it while Prince Genichirou tightened the strap for her then stood back up.
He guessed it was one of those times that he could use a charming smile, knowing how it worked with females of all ages, and reached with his thumbs to wipe her tears away, "A pretty Lady like you must smile. If the moon sees you crying, he'll get sad, too."
Lady Seiichi chuckled behind her hand softly before she completely wiped the remnants of her tears from the corners of her eyes. She leaned up to press a thank-you kiss on a tanned cheek then pulled back to bow to him. "It's an honor meeting you, Prince Genichirou."
Said Prince couldn't be happier. Not only had he managed to make her smile, he had also received a kiss from her, too. Although it didn't help his heart in the least bit.
Soft music rose in the air between them, and he realized it was the time for the dance. This was a perfect chance to know the origin of this feeling welling up warmly inside him, so he held out a hand to the girl in front of him like a gentleman, "May I have this dance, my fair Lady?"
Little Lady Seiichi smiled coyly and took the offered hand, stepping elegantly closer to him. Prince Genichirou held the paler hand in his gently and slid his other around her waist, while the bluenette's hand went for his shoulder.
"Umm.. I don't know how to dance." She confessed with a troubled expression, but he shrugged and said, "I don't know either, but I've seen how people do it." But at her still uncertain furrow of eyebrows, he gave her another smile and nodded his head, "Let's try."
Lady Seiichi smiled back finally and nodded. Both of them took a careful step to the side, then went in an innocent dance full of mistakes, stepping on foots and apologizing, but it was a dance that they enjoyed nevertheless.
After a bit, he thought that it was time they return to where everyone was or his parents would be worried when they see that he was absent for a long while. Plus, the little Lady in his arms was lost from her parents as well. No doubt they'd be looking for her worriedly, too.
"We must return now." He told her gently and watched her nod. Before they go, he let go of her and took off the ribbon clip from her hair, brushing soft strands of lilac blue with his hand then re-attached the clip neatly to the side of her hair. He decided she looked cute like this.
Prince Genichirou got his answer for his confusions earlier and the mysterious jump of his heart just then, making sure that, yes, this was his love and he must not let go of it.
When they went to the front garden, he sought out his parents for an important matter he had firmly made his mind on. He needed to tell them that he had already chosen.
He finally found them.
King Kenji and Queen Kyoko were majestically returning to their chairs after their dance.
The little Prince tugged at the softer hand in his, "Come with me." He said and hurried his steps towards the older couple, not noticing that another couple was following them.
Both little nobles were smiling at each other when they reached the King and the Queen, but not one of them expected the Prince to take hold of both hands of little Lady Seiichi and say, "Father, mother, I chose my future wife."
The royal couple looked surprised at the innocent declaration, while the cute little girl beside their son gasped and flushed adorably at him.
The couple behind the little ones, a beautiful woman with blue hair and a handsome man with light brown hair, gasped in surprise, too. The little Prince chose their daughter to be the Princess?
Queen Kyoko was the first to give a reaction as she smiled gently and tugged her husband's hand who returned her smile and looked at the little couple before them tenderly. The two royals then looked over the two behind the children in question. After a silent discussion between them, the two finally nodded with smiles, too.
"Well, son, why don't you ask your princess then?" The King said.
Prince Genichirou nodded and turned to face his first true love, determination etched on his face and asked, "Lady Seiichi, will you give me the honor and accept to be my princess?"
The bluenette was speechless, she tried saying something but her voice couldn't come out from the whole shock of the situation. She totally didn't expect the boy in front of her to ask something like this of her. What was she supposed to do? She looked up at her parents for help and found them smiling and nodding encouragingly at her and she felt confident again.
She looked at their joined hands for a moment and thought of the question as deeply as her child-mind would allow her. The decision was up to her, did she want to be with this more than gentle Prince for the rest of her life when she grows up, just like her mother and father?
Little Lady Seiichi looked at the prince's face and her eyes softened as she made up her mind. His face was a mix between worry and plea with hope shining in his eyes. She smiled and nodded, her face still red, "Yes."
Prince Genichirou's face broke into a wide happy grin as he heard that one word and he brought her hand up to his lips and printed a feather-light kiss on her knuckles.
Little Lady Seiichi let out a small chuckle as she felt her heart jump softly in harmony with the happy beats resounding in her. She felt truly like a princess.
She could never ask for a better prince.
A/N: This is probably going to be a slow updated story, but I wanted to write it badly.
The chapters will hopefully be long so it will make up for the absence.
Please, the review box is just below, would you spare a minute or two for telling me what do you think of it? Please?