Inspired by an Elephant Princess marathon at my Beta's house in which it was decided that there is never enough Kuru, and even Alex isn't good enough for him. I have not finished watching Season 2, nor do I plan on it anytime in the immediate future because Zamira is horrible and annoying. Thus, everything in this fic will stay roughly within Season 1 canon.

Attention: After today, updates will be on Thursdays! As the Book of Elzak says, "A kind review is the surest sign of a pure heart." Kuru approves this message.

Chapter the First

Kuru did a thorough search of the house one last time before moving on to the garage, seeking his princess for approval. She was distracted of late; more interested in band practice and 'dates' with Marcus than polishing her magic or learning of Manjipoor. It was unlikely she would even treat his request with the appropriate seriousness required. Still, he needed the princess's permission to claim an inheritance, and he would not forgo protocol.

He found her sitting on a tall stool, plucking out the melody for a new song she'd written. Kuru was glad the others were not there. It was difficult enough to gain her attention, and JB and Amanda were even less interested in Manjipoor customs than the princess.

"Hey, Kuru!" she said when he entered. "Check this out!" She stood abruptly, nearly knocking over the stool in her eagerness. Her hand flew up and down as she created a messy noise with her guitar. "Cool, right?"

"Yes, it is very impressive how you create such a unique sound with strings. But, Princess, I have come here on an urgent matter of business."

"Well, what do you need?" she was already back on the stool, and as Kuru expected, not paying him much mind.

"I would like to ask your permission to claim an inheritance. A distant cousin has died, and I am informed that being the next living kinsman grants me a portion of his wealth and property. Though I do not think he was very wealthy, and I cannot take a house in Manjipoor while teaching you magic, I am curious to visit my hometown once more."

"Okay, so why are you asking me?"

"I am your servant and must have your approval before claiming an inheritance. Perhaps you do not think me worthy of more than my current allowance from the council. Or you may wish to delay my departure to help you with magic."

At the sound of 'delay,' and 'magic,' she looked up, grinning. "No, I'll be fine! Go ahead and get your inheritance or whatever."

"Thank you, Princess," he nodded with gratitude, "I will return by nightfall."

"Cool. See you later."

As Kuru walked through the markets and villages of West Manjipoor, he wondered what the princess would do in the few hours he'd be away. If she had a question concerning her magic, he would not be there to answer. This troubled him; not because she would be ignorant of the answer for a little while, but because she might try to use a spell without being fully aware of the consequences. She often acted heedless of laws and standards, concerned only with her present goal. Kuru began to despair of ever teaching her properly, as she rarely listened to his warnings. But she was the princess, and he only a servant from West Manjipoor.

He hoped he would not return to any irreversible disasters.

The road taking him to what used to be his cousin's house was a wayside path through a grim forest. The villages here were few and far between. Neighbors were not neighborly, and the decrees and delegations of the royals did not affect the inhabitants as much as in other parts of Manjipoor. There were no vibrant gardens or elephant festivals like there were near the capital. People mostly tended to their dull lives, happy enough if they could survive without interference.

Almost too late, Kuru remembered that it was customary to bring a gift to the arbiter of the will. He backtracked until arriving at a small market, searching each stall for a prize worthy of the inheritance. It was not in good taste to bring a gift too large or expensive; just a show of gratitude for the arbiter's time.

Most of the stalls held fabrics and jewelry, but Kuru was able to find a small piglet before he'd quite given up on his quest.

His cousin had not been a good man, and his house attested to the man's carelessness, and inability to tend to anything but his drinking.

Kuru crossed the threshold, holding the piglet close to him. The creature had incredibly short legs, and could not keep up with the strides necessary to get him to his destination on time. Now he put the piglet down. It did not run away, squealing as he thought it might, but sat down blinking, just inside the door.

"Kuru! You've arrived. Please, come forward."

As he did, nodding to the arbiter, a servant girl placed fruit and water before him.

"You must be thirsty and tired after such a long journey," the arbiter remarked.

"It was not far. Anala transported me very close to our village. I had only to walk from Daspus."

"Ah, yes. I had forgotten your role as elephant boy… I mean… servant to the princess."

"There is no official title, but I accept either of those descriptions," Kuru did not manage to keep back a smile.

"Well, then. Shall we get down to business? You are here to accept the inheritance from your cousin, Obed. I am sorry to say, he squandered what little money he had on strong spirits and immoral pursuits. What you gain will not be monetary."

"This is no great surprise to me. But I am very curious as to what he did own that would have any significance in the will."

"You, girl," the arbiter called. "More fruit for me. No mangoes, this time." As the girl obeyed, the arbiter nodded his head in her direction and said to Kuru, "Pretty little thing, isn't she?"

Kuru was confused by the sudden change of subject, but he humoured the arbiter by stealing a glance at the girl. She was skinny, and fair haired, with long, curly tendrils matted in knots; no shoes, and a dirty, brown deerskin skirt and top that looked older than she was. She had large eyes that were both sad and wary, and her lips were cracked, but shapely. Kuru had to admit, she was pretty.

He nodded. "Yes, but what does she have to do with the inheritance?"

"She's it!" the arbiter exclaimed. "The one possession your cousin didn't gamble or drink away was his slave girl! She's yours, now. Just place your mark here on this paper, and you can go."

"But I have no use for a slave."

"What do you mean? Who can't use a slave? You're young and fit. If nothing else, have her warm your bed. "

"I have no wish to keep a slave. I would have to be responsible for her…"

"If you don't take her, she goes to Brando. I don't think I need to tell you what kind of a master he'd be." The arbiter narrowed his eyes at Kuru.

Kuru swallowed thickly. Brando was… mean. He had only been a boy the last time he'd seen him, but the memories of Brando's bullying and the pleasure he found in hurting small creatures were still clearly planted in his mind. As he thought of it, his cousin, Obed, was not a good man by the lowest of standards, either. His eyes wandered back to the slight girl of their own accord. He did not wish to dwell on what she might have already suffered.

Never one to turn down opportunity to help another in need, Kuru signed his name with a quick flourish.

"Excellent," the arbiter declared. "I'm off. Don't forget to claim her by the third day."

Kuru blanched. He had not considered that aspect. He stared at the signed document as the arbiter stashed it under his arm with some other papers and books, and strode out the door with the docile piglet under his other arm. It was too late now. Unless he refused to claim her before the three days were up, and let Brando take over…

He could sense her watching him, but the moment he looked up her head shot down.

"Would you like to sit for a moment?" Kuru gestured to the seat across from him.

She fidgeted, eyes flitting to and fro like a captured rabbit.

"Ah. I am sorry. Will you sit, please?"

Her steps were quiet from practice. A slave was meant to be invisible.

"Will you take some fruit?"

Her eyes grew twice their size, and he saw they were a green like unripe almonds.

"You do not like them? A thousand pardons, master! Let me cut you some new fruit!"

She stood up and threw herself at his feet. Thinking she had fallen, Kuru leapt up to assist her. She cringed when his hands closed around her slender arms. "I am sorry! They did not tell me which fruits you preferred! I will cut more at once!"

"It is quite all right. The fruit is delicious. I only wanted you to eat and rest before we go."

"You are not going to punish me?" Her eyes darted upwards, but she could not meet his directly.

"Of course not. I must speak with an advisor and friend before heading back to the princess. You must eat while I think on how to proceed."

Warily, she returned to the table and put a single slice of fruit in her mouth, expecting at any time to be told she was doing wrong and would be severely punished.

"Do you have any family or friends here?"

"Friends? No, master."

"And family?"

"All I know of them is my father who sold me. We have never met."

"Please, continue eating," he said, noticing that she would stop each time to answer a question.

"It would not be appropriate to eat as I addressed you."

Kuru laughed a little, thinking how it was he who was used to saying such things to the princess. "I will not tell anyone that I encouraged you, then, but I am anxious to get back. The princess is very unpredictable, and I do not like to leave her without the little guidance I can offer." Her expression showed only confusion. "Do you know of the princess?"

She shook her head and slipped a grape between her lips. Kuru took the opportunity to explain his role as servant to the princess, asking questions now and then pertaining to her own experiences. There was much the girl did not understand—had never even heard of, even in Manjipoor—and Kuru was reminded of his first days in the princess's adopted hometown. He realized he'd allowed himself to get carried away when the bowl was emptied and he had not even had a chance to speak of JB and Amanda. "…but she progresses quickly with the runes, and I am certain will be ready to rule before too long. Ah. It is getting late, and I believe we should be off. Where are your things?"

She barely spoke louder than a whisper. "My… things?"

"Your clothing, bedroll; any articles you will take with you."

"I am wearing them, master. Please… please forgive me," she murmured, "I have no gifts or articles to offer you."

"Do not be troubled on that account. I only meant to see if you needed help with your bags."

"You are not to help me!" she cried softly into the bowl, "If you are testing me, I will try harder not to displease you! I will carry your things!"

"No, you misunderstand. I am not testing you. Please understand I am not like your previous master. I want to be a good master to you, and perhaps, someday, your friend, as well."

Silence befell them until Kuru asked, "Tell me what you are thinking."

"A slave and master cannot be friends," she said, consternation evident from her features.

"Perhaps not here, but where the princess now lives, there are many strange and wonderful things. The princess and I have become friends, and if that is possible, I see no reason why we cannot also be so. Well. If you are ready, shall we go?"

The girl followed Kuru so silently that were it not for the sense of another's presence, he would not have believed she was with him. He often looked back over his shoulder to see that she was, indeed, there, and each time her eyes would shift away from him and to the ground, instead.

"I must speak to Omar." Kuru told her when they reached the outskirts of the palace gardens. "Anala will look out for you."

He knew she was not permitted to question him, so he warned her first of Anala's largeness, smiling at her wonder when the noble elephant first appeared. She flinched again when he held her wrist, reaching her hand towards the spot behind Anala's ear, but she seemed more frightened of Kuru than the elephant.

"Do not be afraid. Anala will not harm you."

Kuru looked back to see a slight smile form on her face as she stroked the giant beast. She was almost happy, and it lightened Kuru's heart as he continued his errand.

"I cannot simply take her with me, Omar. I would need sanction from the council. Besides, Anala must be favourable, and I do not think…"

"You are not suggesting I keep her here?" Omar frowned.

"Perhaps that would be for the best."

"Well, then!" an all too familiar voice was followed by a man in black robes emerging from the bushes where he lurked. "If you are not going to use the slave girl, I can always persuade Brando to give her to me. Good help is hard to find, you know." He tilted his head, smirking a challenge. "And if the ritual is not performed within three days, she will go to him anyway, and your problem will disappear." He emphasized this with the flourish of his hand.

"No," Kuru decided. "I will take her. The council will hear of our plight."

"Ah, yes! Inform the council! Tell them all about how you put a halt to your duties in order to pick up a slave girl. I'm sure they'll be very enlightened," Vashan sneered. "Pity if the princess's training should be delayed over a mere slave."

"I will not fail the princess," Kuru promised. "Of that, you can be certain."