{ Prince Nagisa Shiota of the Dragon Kingdom }

"Must I have to?" whined Prince Nagisa,"Isn't Prince Karma a ruthless killer? He'll probably kill me on the spot since I look so weak,"

"As the Prince of the Dragon you are required to visit the kingdom of the Phoenix. It's his birthday today," Nagisa's assistant, Sugino, tried to reason with the blue-haired royalty.

"Why? Can't the kid celebrate his own birthday rather than bother me with this duty that I'm ordered to fulfill?"

"Once a prince from one of the four kingdom turns fourteen, the other three younger princes must visit the older other prince and stay there for a year. It's a tradition passed down from generation to generation. It was the reason-"

"The reason the Dragons and Phoenixes didn't go into war after Queen Hiromi was deathly poisoned. I was there, and I don't think too many generations passed the tradition,"

"...right, but you know what I mean, your highness," Sugino bowed and proceeded to hand the prince his bag. Nagisa took the bag and headed for the large castle doors. He stopped to look back at Sugino, who was walking towards the kitchen to check on the cooks. The Dragon Prince looked back to the huge spruce doors that laid in front of him. They were planks of woods and he was a prince capable of killing thousands without a second thought. But why was he so hesitant to approach them? If anything, the doors should be so afraid, that they would crumble into ash.

But they didn't. Instead, they stood tall and proud, and in the prince's way. Slowly, Nagisa pushed the door open. A small breeze hit him as soon as the door gave in and opened with a creak, but it was so cold that Nagisa flinched. Damn kid, had to be born in the middle of winter, did he? Well, there's nothing he can do about it, so he proceeded to walk through and resist the cold.

In the distance, the huge castle seemed to get smaller and smaller with every step he took. After about a half an hour, he looked back at the castle. It was about the size of his little finger, and that made him determined. Why?

Because there's only one way to go now, and that's towards the Phoenix kingdom.

{ Prince Karma Akabane of the Phoenix Kingdom }

"Are you sure that it's wise to let the prince walk through this snowstorm?"

"The servants who went to pick up Prince Nagisa came back with the carriage stating that Prince Nagisa refused the carriage and would rather walk," Karma's assistant, Nakamura, stated loud and clearly to the red-haired prince.

Prince Karma only stared out through the window, wondering how anyone could get through that type of storm. Nakamura raised an eyebrow slightly, before asking the prince, "Pardon the question, my young prince, but are becoming soft for him?"

"What?! What would make you think that?"

"Ever since we've mentioned Prince Nagisa coming to visit you for a year as a new tradition, you've been getting as red as your hair, my prince,"

"I have?"

Karma looked back to the window, looking for nothing in particular, except for a blue-haired prince trudging through the snow,"Will he think that I'm cruel for not getting him a carriage to ride in this storm?"

"Well he refused it for a reason, a reason we have yet to discover. If he does get mad or disappointed, you could remind him that he turned the carriage away," Karma nodded in relief, still scanning the perimeter of the castle through his chamber window.

"Nakamura,"

"Yes, my young prince?"

"Why is it that we are called the Phoenixes and they are called the Dragons?"

"Ancient Asian culture. I believe it's a Chinese belief, that Phoenixes and Dragons, who are auspicious characters, live in peace and harmony, much like the expectations of our kingdoms,"

"Interesting. Go get someone to gather some books on that topic from any library. Only two or three should be fine,"

"Yes, my prince,"

Karma continued to stare at the window, hoping for a trace of life in this white storm.

Then, as if magic, Karma saw someone with sky blue hair walking towards the castle. Gears shifted in the prince's mind and he screamed, "Prince Nagisa is here! Maehara, Isogai! Open the doors!"

The two servants pulled the doors open, welcoming the prince into the castle. Karma walked down the stair to greet his guest, whom he'd have for the next year. The slam of the heavy spruce doors signaled that his guest was inside the castle and waiting for Karma's to greet himself.

He watched as the prince brush the snow off of his navy and gold cloak and blue hair. Karma stared at the figure in surprise.

He was expecting a fearsome prince, who was rumored to have killed thousands. But instead, he got a tiny, slender, and pale boy who seemed like more of a princess than a prince due to his pigtails. His bangs obscured his eyes as the prince looked down to brush the snow off of his pants.

As he looked up to face Prince Karma, he was greeted by azure eyes with a deathly glow that nearly suffocated Karma and it sent shivers up his spine, "Hello, Prince Karma Akabane,"

"J-Just Karma's fine...,"

How could describe the eyes? Without them, the prince looked like nothing more than a small village boy who barely ate anything and was pale. But with those eyes, well, they released a snake from within to suffocate the prey.

Like the snake kills the bird. And a Phoenix is a bird.

Nagisa cleared his throat, "I am Prince Nagisa Shiota of the Dragon Kingdom, however it pleases me to just be called Nagisa. It's a pleasure to be here and to be your guest for the year to come,"

His honey-like voice echoed throughout the castle. Live in peace and harmony like the Chinese culture states? Hah, more like live in fear and terror. Are the rumors true? Had this little prince killed thousands?

"Master,"

"Yes, Nakamura?"

"Y-You're supposed to show the prince around the castle...,"

"Right,"

Karma cleared his throat, "It's a pleasure to meet you here as well, and I'll be looking forward to your stay. I hope you are doing well, being that you walked through a harsh snowstorm such as this,"

"I'm alright, but thank you for your concern for my health, Pr-I mean, Karma,"

"I will now show you around the place you'll be staying in for the following year. And I must thank you for coming on my birthday,"

"There's no problem, it was nothing,"

Karma raised an eyebrow. Quickly realizing that he had used improper communication, Nagisa corrected himself, "You're most certainly welcome, Karma,"

Karma lowered his eyebrow. So he uses improper communication too. I would tell him that I do the same, but with the servants around, I can't have them realizing that, lest that carries on to my etiquette teacher. Oh, how mad she'd get, and I don't want an old hag swinging a rolling pin at me.

The Phoenix Prince led the Dragon Prince around the castle, pointing out the kitchen, the dining hall, the bedrooms, everywhere Karma could think of. Then, Nagisa mustered up courage to ask about the other other princes, "Are the other princes here yet?"

"No, we are waiting for their arrival. Since you are closer to my kingdom than the others, it's only natural that you have arrived earlier,"

"Of course, yes,"

Karma pointed outside, "That's the private royal garden. No servants, just royalty, are allowed to enter the garden. Would you like to have a look?"

"Yes, that would be nice,"

Karma opened the door and led the Dragon Prince into a secluded area. There wasn't snow, since there was a roof over it. A series of small holes that littered the stone wall gave the plants light. But what interested Prince Nagisa the most was the abundance of flowers.

He didn't know what flowers they were, but he knew that there were flowers shorter than his ankle height all the way to flowers reaching his shoulders. The colors were extravagant, painting the garden green, red, blue, pink, all sorts of colors. Nagisa bent down to touch one of the shorter flowers. He took off his white glove on his right hand and caressed the flower petals. Karma gazed at Nagisa.

How could one's skin look so pure, as if angels had blessed it? The pale skin contrasted the dark cloak he was still wearing. Karma forgot for a minute about the rumors about this prince killing many. How could someone this pure be a ruthless killer?

"I've been fascinated by flowers,"

"How come?"

The small prince smiled warmly up at the prince, "See those roses?"

Karma looked in the direction of Nagisa's finger, which was pointing towards a rose bush littered with thousands of roses, "Yes,"

"They look beautiful, almost pure. The vibrant red color pierces the soul of anyone and shares their beauty around," Nagisa picked a rose from the bush and examined it in front of Karma, "But if you let your guard down and let the dazzling beauty pull you in, let it suffocate you in its glory,"

Nagisa was gone in an instant. Where is he? I could've sworn- Karma felt a cold metal object press against his throat lightly, careful not to draw blood or harm the prince in any way. Nagisa's smooth voice rung in Karma's ear, "If you let your guard down, it'll attack. It lures, attacks, and kills before you could even finish your thoughts,"

Nagisa released the dagger from Karma's neck and let the shocked prince collect himself. How...how did he...get from there, to there? In just a fraction of a second?

It lures, attacks, and kills before you could even finish your thoughts.

Nagisa propped the door opened, "You coming?"

Karma snapped back to reality, "Yeah, just, just give me a moment to gather myself, if you don't mind,"

I'll have to watch him. If I get on his bad side, he might kill me in my sleep, and I certainly don't want my life to be taken yet. I guess this is what they mean when you are more likely to die on your birthday. I can't let my guard down if he gets mad. It's too risky.

Karma staggered towards Nagisa, who was propping the door open for him, "Are you well, Karma?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, thank you,"

Nagisa stretched his arms and yawned, "Could you show me to my bedroom? I'm afraid walking through the storm like that has worn down my energy and bl- nevermind that last part,"

"Secrets now? Don't worry, what happens in the Phoenix Castle, stays in the Phoenix Castle,"

"I thank you for your kindness, but I'd rather this secret stay in Dragon Kingdom,"

Karma's nodded and led the Prince of the Dragon Kingdom to his room. Nagisa slumped onto the bed and was sound asleep. He hadn't bothered to take the cloak off. Karma thought, The fire is especially hot in this room. The poor prince will burn up in that cloak. Maybe I'll take it off and set it beside him.

Karma glided over to the slumbering prince, gazing at his closed eyes. Long lashes like that of a small child. Karma smiled warmly, but then caught himself. He was here to take care of Nagisa, since he hadn't brought his assistant, it was Karma's duty it take care of his guests.

As he slid the cloak off to reveal Nagisa's outfit, well, let's just say that the small body wasn't the thing that concerned Karma.

It was the consistent jingling of metal hitting each other. As Karma curiously inspected the cloak, he saw something that would disturb him for a while.

They say curiosity kills the cat. Well, now it mentally scarred the Phoenix.

They were daggers of all sizes, knives, swords, all so cleverly hidden.

—

BOOM.

CLIFFHANGER (SORTA)

I HAD FUN WRITING THIS CHAPTER, AND I'M GOING TO DO SOME FIRST PERSON POV FROM THE NEXT CHAPTER ON. THIS CHAPTER WAS WHAT I CALL THE EXPOSITION, WHERE SOME CHARACTERS ARE INTRODUCED AND THE SETTING AND TIME AND BLAH BLAH BLAH, SO THERE WASN'T REALLY A GOOD PLACE TO FIT IN THE POV. ANYWAYS, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER AND PLEASE REVIEW IT BECAUSE IT REALLY MOTIVATES ME TO WRITE MORE AND MORE!

~WIS