I started this a long time ago and I wasn't going to post this, but my friend who I put in these stories wanted me to, so (shrugs) I'm posting it.
A few things you people need to know if you are reading this:
1) There are, like in all my other stories if it isn't obvious by now, original characters. Actually, there are original characters in almost every story in the FY section so it really shouldn't seem new.
2) As you'll find out soon enough, due to the fact that Hotohori is not emperor, Konan is in a desolate state and I ain't changing it.
3) I DESPISE Miaka and Taka; it may not show or anything, but I really do hate them. So if you like them, well, keep your opinions about my 'being mean to them' to yourself because I won't listen.
The wind blew ferociously, causing many villager's hats and cloaks to fly up. It was amusing to watch but yet, no one dared to utter a single laugh. It was almost as if a single expression other than a negative one was completely outlawed. The children's faces were serious and devoid of the smile that was generally present on scheming children's faces.
A woman's hair blew out from under her cap and she muttered angrily, snapping at the surrounding children for not having enough courtesy to catch her cap for her. The children simply looked at her and did nothing. To say that something was not right in this town was an understatement.
Two women – not even women, teenage girls – stood off to the side in the shadows of a tall building, quietly observing this.
"If I had paint to color this, it'd all be gray" one said softly. Wisps of red hair blew in the wind and her piercing blue eyes looked like she had seen things beyond her years, this being one of them.
Her companion, with long dark hair nodded and her red eyes seemed to glow, "This just…" she clenched her fist, "C'mon…let's go"
"Yeah"
They walked through the town, getting curious whispers from the few town gossips every now and then, but a simple glare would shut each one up quite efficiently. They reached the harbor and stood in front of a ship with black sails and dark mahogany wood. It was a sleek ship, with black, red and silver decorations that made it seem deadly. With amazing grace, they leapt onto the ship and walked around like they owned it. Of course, they probably did.
"Where is my son?" the Empress Motaiko asked. She peered expectantly at the messenger and crossed her arms, "Well?"
"I do not know your highness" he said, trying not to stutter.
"Then go find him!" she ordered.
"Yes, your highness" with a frightened squeak, the messenger hurried off.
The Prince of the Crimson Kingdom, also known as Konan, to the educated noble, was currently hiding. Gracefully hiding of course. He was atop a tree in the royal garden, a book in his hand but his mind elsewhere.
The royal healer smiled to himself as he listened to the leaves rustling when the prince shifted. As he gathered herbs for his medicine, he wondered how the prince had gotten that way. When the Emperor had been the same age, he had been spending time on the throne or in the harem and the Empress was never too much of a thinker. The result of their marriage, however, was a deep thinking, noble and cared not for the women of the harem. He knew that they were all just looks and had close to no personality at all.
"Oi!" a messenger came running, "Have you seen the prince?"
"I haven't seen him, no" the healer said truthfully. He hadn't exactly seen the prince. He knew where he was, but to see him? No.
After the messenger left, the healer heard a soft whisper said in a deep voice, "Thanks, Juan"
"Not a problem, your majesty"
A pause, "Please don't call me that. Saihitei will suffice"
"Alright then…your majesty"
"Why do I bother? I tell you the same thing every single day"
"That you do"
"Well, thanks anyways, Juan" Unlike most of the royal family, Saihitei was uneasy being referred to as higher as someone else. No matter what Motaiko or his deceased father had done, Saihitei remained set in his ways.
Saihitei went back to his book and Juan left the gardens. An hour later, the messenger came out into the garden and spotted him, "Prince Saihitei!"
"Yes?" Saihitei inwardly cursed the messenger.
"Your mother wishes to speak to you"
"Very well" Saihitei sighed and went to the throne room. There stood his mother's court and he stood politely in front of her, "You called, mother?"
"Yes, Saihitei; I'd like to introduce you to Lord Yujin; he is the one leading Konan's forces against the Water Kingdom – Kutou"
"We're attacking?" Saihitei frowned.
"Yes, my son; soon, our power will grow" Motaiko said, mistaking Saihitei's expression for one of happiness.
Saihitei nodded, "Very well. It was a pleasure to meet you, Lord Yujin"
"My prince, the pleasure was all mine" Yujin said, bowing. Saihitei nodded again, "Well, if that is all, Mother, I'd like to go back to my studies"
Motaiko frowned at her son. He studied too much but she supposed if that made him happy…
"Very well. You may go"
Saihitei bowed to her and left the court room, his face an emotionless mask.
Motaiko sighed, "That boy…is so different"
He was at home when he heard the news. Home for him was a small cottage out in the country where his family resided. Apparently, Konan was going to attack Kutou. This was disturbing news, for that meant he would have to choose which side to support. It was a game of chance in which the lucky won.
The carriage of the messenger raced through town and he listened carefully. Empress Motaiko was confident that she would win. Very confident. She had the main rule in Konan, seeing as her son was never around and always disappearing off somewhere. Rumors in the city were that he was meeting a woman in secret, but that was absurd; the prince never paid attention to his harem, which consisted of the most beautiful women in the country.
He sighed when he saw his wife on the horizon. She tripped and rolled down the hill and he winced when she crashed into the well. She had always been a klutz; the fact that she had an endless appetite never helped either. He sighed. It would be a bothersome year, he could tell. They needed more money to feed her too…
He looked at the messenger again.
He smirked. He knew his decision.
The violet haired man was angry. Why did Konan choose such a time to attack Kutou? There was no way Konan would win. Looking at the state of its towns, there was absolutely no way. These people wouldn't know the meaning of spirit if it danced in front of their faces and slapped them a million times.
He was also angry at his men. They were such idiots sometimes. He knew he shouldn't have allowed his second-in-command, Genrou to bring sake on board last night. They were still drunk from the alcohol. At least Dokun – known on board as Sharp – was smart enough not to get horribly drunk the night before a big mission. Sharp as a tack that one was, hence the name.
It was a common rule that no outlaw would ever use their real name if they were smart. Real names could be traced and that would lead to weaknesses being found out. Many men – and women – had suffered that fate many times. Their families and loved ones would be murdered, often before they could reconcile things.
He sighed. Such depressing thoughts were common these days. That General Yujin was always sending bounty hunters after people such as himself. He was a pirate, through and through and let it be known that nobody in Willow's crew had ever been killed while he was in charge.
"Willow!" Sharp came up to him, frowning, "We're almost at our destination and they're still half drunk!"
"Well then, Sharp; you know what to do. Round up the ones that are only a quarter drunk and tie up the rest of them so they don't mess things up" Willow flashed one of his grins, "And you and I will have all the fun"
Sharp nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement at the prospect of going along alone with Willow, in his opinion, the best captain The Phoenix ever had. He always kept a level head and he was damn scary when he was pissed off. Sharp found it a privilege to be allowed on the ship at thirteen. Everyone else was older than he was, but Willow had taken a liking to him and nobody had dared pick on him except in a friendly manner after that.
Willow only had to wait fifteen minutes for Sharp to come back. He had with him Kouji – which mostly likely wasn't his real name seeing as Kouji had amnesia, a best friend of Genrou who could hold his liquor really well. He had probably drunk more than Genrou had and here he was, standing like he hadn't drank a drop. A few others were with him and Willow nodded, satisfied at the number. He could work with this.
"Alright; this is a big mission. I should brief you again. See that big ship o'er there? Well, that there's a Konan merchant ship. We…are going to loot it o'course. Kouji, you'll be in charge of the deck and stuff; make sure no one gets off the ship. I'll leave ye to the strategies. Sharp and I will be going in and taking out the captain and taking care of the loot. I'll give the ordinary signal when it's okay to come"
"Aye, Willow!" Kouji said, happy at being in charge of something.
They started the mission.
Sharp was a bit slow seeing as he was still younger but Willow was patient and ran slower than he usually did. Of course, if Genrou wasn't half drunk – at this, Willow scowled – he could have had Genrou go ahead and scout everything so Willow wouldn't have to be so paranoid. Genrou was definitely the fastest in his crew. But he was so damn dumb sometimes.
The captain was a fat, sleazy looking man who had obviously enjoyed the comforts of his ship very much. Well, that was about to change fast. His laziness made it easy for even little Sharp to overpower him. Willow sighed as he looked through the captain's things. He decided that he didn't have enough time to look through everything of the sleazebag's so he dumped everything on the table into the nearby chest and sent out the signal. Soon, Kouji and the others arrived and they were loading the chests onto their own ship.
Willow looked happily at this. Piracy was the life. No rules. No loyalties. No need to get involved in the Konan-Kutou war. Just a whole lot of looting.
A pirate's life for me.