-My Beloved Beast-

Chapter 1

In the huge hall of The Wind Kingdom, two knights stood at the front, standing straight and tall.

"Hiro-san, how much longer do we need to wait?" Nowaki grumbled and let out a long and loud yawn catching the attention of some of the guest that was nearby. They were looking at him with faces of disapproval at his behavior. As the left hand man to their prince, such behavior is not often tolerant.

Hiroki hissed at him. "Stand still, moron!" he threw him a cold stare.

Nowaki flinched, obeyed, and straightened himself.

But not long after, Nowaki felt restless again. He let his eyes wonder through the hall. The hall as he remembered used to be cold and dark. It was not frequently used. During his time serving in the royal army, he had not once seen the doors and windows of the hall opened.

The chandelier that has spider webs covering it were cleaned and lit. Soft music filled the hall as demons mingled and whispered about the huge event going to take place in the hall. He even spotted some familiar faces in the crowd and made eye contact with them. He smiled at them, acknowledging their presence, while doing that, he could feel bad vibe pouring from beside him.

He turned and saw Hiroki glaring at him. He gave him a weak smile.

"I get it." he mouthed to Hiroki. He turned and face the front once more. He prayed in his mind hopping the time would pass quickly and the ceremony would be over in a flash.

The sound of the wooden door creaking opened caught the attention of all those in the room.

The thoughts that Nowaki had before was gone in a flash and he became tense as he stared straight at the opening door. The music stopped and the crowd quietened and turned to look at the door with curious eyes.

Nowaki and Hiroki were the first to bowed with one knee on the floor their right hand over their chest. The other guests in the hall followed suit. They stood in position and waited.

They kept their head down, in a form of respect as the door creaked opened, slowly.

Their lord, Usami Aikihiko, stood tall and proud at the door. The sliver-haired man was dressed in long black robe with the kingdom's royal symbol embroidered on the back of the robe. Aikihiko kept both of his hands inside the sleeves of the robe as he walked into the hall.

Step by step, he made his way to the front and walked up the small steps and onto the platform. He flipped his robe and turned to face the crowd, his back facing his knights.

Akihiko scanned the room, and looked at demons of different kinds bowing down to him. He took in a deep breath, raised his voice and said "Citizens of Wind Kingdom, please raise your heads."

He stared at the crowd as the slowly raise their heads to look at him. Some looked at him with respect, some looked at him with fear, just the way he likes it, the corners of his mouth raising slightly.

He raised his hand indicating for his guest to take their seats. One by one, his guest took their respective seats, their attention not removed from him.

"I welcome to all who attends my wedding ceremony." he announced. "But before I introduce my bribe." his voice turned cold and hard, "I'm letting you know that I want everyone to respect him the way you respect me, or I will deal with you personally."

Absolute silence was the replied he got. Satisfied, he raised his hand and gestured towards to door that he just came through.

The heavy door crept opened once more and revealed Misaki, dressed in a robe similar to Aikihiko's but it was white in colour. He was wearing one of the kingdom's sacred treasure, the gold head-band with the rare black diamond, was secured on his head. It signify that he was to become the king's bribe, and soon-to-be one of the royals.

Misaki slowly lifted his head. He could see all eyes was on him, some looked at him with shocked while some looked at him with disbelieve, like they were expecting someone else. Misaki trembled slightly as he took a step forward.

He felt the stares from the crowd following him as he made his move to the front of the hall. He clenched his hand tightly and it hurts but bravely, steadily, he focused his attention to his love who stood in front of the hall.

Aikihiko looked right at Misaki, his eyes glowed with happiness. Misaki blushed and avert his eyes, looking at the ground. Aikihiko smirk at his mate's reaction. The flustered reaction with the blushing cheeks always never failed to turn him on.

It was at the exact moment, his senses hyped when he heard soft growls within the crowd. His knights standing behind him heard the same thing and they were scanning the room to find the source.

Aikihiko found the human-like beast who was making the growls first. He had long dark green hair that just reached his shoulders and a black eye-patch across his left eye.

He wad glaring at Misaki, with eyes of disgust and hatred. Aikihiko saw he had lifted his claws and was ready to attack. He jumped up high from his seat and went straight at Misaki.

The crowd gasped when they saw the man jumping from the crowd. Misaki looked up at the source of the commotion. He could only see a shadow charing towards him. He staggered backwards and fell on his butt.

Unlike Misaki, Aikihiko could see his attacker clearly. Akihiko caught the demon's hand, his claws just inches away from Misaki's throat. His two knights that was just behind him, Hiroki and Nowaki, had their spears aimed at the demon's throat. Any movement he made would cause the spears to piece through his wind pipe, ending his life instantly.

Sweat droplets form on the demon's forehead, his fangs bitting his lip, causing it to bleed. He would not dare to move for the fear of his life.

Aikihiko's voice was dangerous and cold. "What do you think you are doing?" he hisssed.

"He's human, my lord, he does not deserve to be here!" he spat with hatred, his eyes never left the confused Misaki.

Aikihiko's gripped on his hand tighted.

"Arh!" The demon screamed from the pain.

"I thought I made myself clear. Misaki will be respected you respect me!" he scowled, his gripped tighten on every word he said. By the time he finished, everyone could hear his bones smashed. The crowd kept still, fearing their lord.

"Ah!" he yell in pain. His yell slice through the silence in the hall as Akihiko released his hand.

Aikihiko was furious.

This insolent fool dare to disrupt the scared ceremony.

He lifted his hands, his nails sharpen, take aim at the demon's heart. He demon looked at him with fear. Aikihiko felt his blood turned hot.

It had been a while since I tasted flesh blood.

He was excited. His eyes turned red with excitement, his smirk revealed his fangs. Just as he was about to go for the enemy throat, he felt someone grabbed his arm. He was about to attack the person that dared to stop him.

But when he turned to look, he saw it was Misaki, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Don't do it," he whispered softly, his hand trembling.

Akihiko stared at him for a while before he sighed as he held Misaki's hand, giving it a light squeeze. The blood from his eyes faded and he signaled for some guards to restrain the demon. They went forward quickly and tied his hands to his back.

Hiroki and Nowaki then finally stood straight and removed the spears that was pointing at the demon.

"Take him away, "Akihiko ordered coldly.

The guards immediately dragged him away. But before the demon was dragged out of the hall, yelled over his shoulder, "there is no way the people is going to accept you." his voice was filled with hate. "A human like you will never fit to be part of the royal family!" His words echoed through the hall even after he was gone.

For a moment, no one in hall dared to make a movement or a sound. Silence once again filled the hall.

"We will continue the ceremony," Aikihiko said, his voice slicing through the silence. His guest could hear the command in his voice and they knew better than to object. Hiroki and Nowaki once again took their places.

Akihiko stretched out his hand and offered it to Misaki, who is still in shock. Misaki looked at the hand offered to him. He reached out for Akihiko's hand but his hand froze halfway.

Is this the right thing to do? Doubts flooded his mind.

Akihiko saw Misaki was hesitating so he took a step forward. He took Misaki's hand and put it on his.

Misaki looked right at him. He saw that Akihiko's eyes was gentle but firm with no hesitation. The doubts he had vanished into thin air.

What was I thinking! Misaki scolded himself mentally. This was all that mattered. I was sure wanting to spend the rest of my life with this man!

With confidence regained, Misaki held onto Aikihiko hand and lifted his head up high.

Music begun and Akihiko led Misaki to the front. They stopped before the steps of the stage and the music stopped, silence fell in the hall once again. A moment later, the side door in front of the hall opened and revealed one of the oldest priest in the kingdom. He was dressed in robe of black with white kimono sleeves. He made his way into the front of the couple and bowed to Akihiko.

"It is an honor you invited me to perform the ceremony." He then stood straight, his eyes fixed onto the crowd behind them.

His voice rang loud and clear, "we have gathered here to witness the exchange vows of Usami Akihiko, Lord of Wind Kingdom, second son of Usami's family and Takahashi Misaki."

He paused for a moment, his eyes met Aikihiko, before continuing, "whoever objects, be prepared to die or forever hold your peace."

Misaki's eyes widened in shock.

Die!? No one is stupid enough to object with their life on the line!

Misaki turned to look at Akihiko and he saw him revealing a bit of his fangs and the corners of his mouth lifting.

I should have known. It was his idea.

Misaki shook his head in defeat and turned back to look at the priest.

After a moment of silence, he continued. "Now, will the groom Usami Akihiko repeat after me?"

Aikihiko turned to face his bride, his gaze met his as he repeated after the priest, making sure to be louder than him to let his people hear his vows.

"I Usami Akihiko, take you Misaki Takahashi as my Royal Mate. To have and to hold, from this day forward, to love you and only you I would offer my soul until my existence fades from this universe that I stand upon. And here to, I pledge to you my life and soul."

Misaki felt his heart beating faster with each word Aikihiko said, his face turning red. But his eyes never left his. He knew this man was finally going to be his. He could see himself in his eyes.

"Now, will the bribe repeat after me."

Misaki took in a deep breath and repeated after the priest, his voice strong and sure "I Misaki Takahashi, take you, Usami Akihiko as my mate. To have and to hold, from this day forward to love you and only you I will offer my soul until my existence fades from this universe that I stand upon. And here to, I pledge to you my life and soul."

After Misaki finished his vows, the front door creaked opened again.

Takahiro Takahashi stood proudly at the entrance, tears gathered at the corner of his eyes, with a smile on his face. In his hands was a red velvet cushion with two gold rings. Ancient symbols were craved on the rings with a white diamond encrust on it.

Takahiro slowly made his way to them until he stood right in front of them and looked at his younger brother.

"You have finally grown up." He flash him a smile, his voice fill with happiness.

"Usagi-san, please take care of him." He said as he handed him the rings. Akihiko nodded and took the rings from him. He placed the rings on the stand in front of them and looked up to face the priest.

The priest indicated for the winged knights to step to the front. Nowaki stood in front of Misaki and Hiroki stood in front of Akihiko

.

"We will now begin the scared blood exchange ceremony." he announced and made his way to the side to observe the ceremony.

Misaki knew clearly how the ceremony was going to be. A few days before, he was given intensive lessons on what will be happening today. Hiroki made sure that he memorized the whole thing before letting him off.

But now that is was really happening, he still felt nervous. He wet his lips and waited in anticipation.

Misaki saw the knights lifted their spears and that was his queue. He lifted his right hand and at the same time Akihiko lifted his left hand. They place their hands right above the wedding bands.

With no words spoken, Misaki stared at Nowaki who slowly lowered his spear to his hand. It took all his courage not the move his hand away from the sharp object. He felt a slight pain as the tip of the spear cut his palm.

Blood gathered at his wound and slowly, it flowed down of his hands and onto the ring beneath it. Misaki saw the gem came in contact with his blood, and slowly, the gem took the colour of his blood, losing its brightness. It grew darker in colour and finally, the whole gem was tainted with the colour of his blood. It had a colour of a ruby but Misaki knew it was more than that. There will only be one of it's kind in the world.

Nowaki then took something from his chest pocket. It was a weird colour paste and applied it on his hand. His hand stopped bleeding but the scar caused by the spear has still there. The winged knights went back to their original position and the priest came forward again.

"The bride and groom will now exchange their blood rings." he announced.

Misaki carefully took the ring from the cushion and Akihiko did the same. They looked right at each other as Aikihiko took his hand. Misaki smiled at the familiar warmth that was touching his hand, their fingers brushed against each other. Then very gently, Akihiko lifted his hand and slipped his ring onto his middle finger and it fit like a glove. He then did the same, he lifted his hand and slipped his ring onto his finger, his eyes never left him.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Without further ado, Aikihiko slipped his hands to his wasit and whispered to him, "Finally, I've been waited all day to do this." and he lowered his lips to his.

The crowd which was silent before stood up and cheered.

When their lips parted, Misaki could still felt the lingering warmth on his lips, his face burning at the touch. He looked up and saw Aikihiko looking at him proudly. He took his hand and they turned to face the crowd.

He saw them one by one get down on one knee. "Long live your majesties." They all said in unison.

Misaki Takahashi is now officially the Royal Mate of Usami Akihiko and the new ruler of The Wind Kingdom.