Authors Note: SOOO this is my 4th story! I hope you guys like it and I'm just going with the flow, I'm not sure what's going to happen. PLEASE REVIEW…it keeps me motivated! Ps. I did quite a bit of research 4 this one. Updates will be slower because I'm in boarding remember?

Hey: The characters are a bit OOC but they still have what makes them…well…them.

*italics*= Ryoma's thoughts

Ch.1 Behind the Image

Fluttering eyelids open up to reveal beautiful, brown golden tinted eyes which take in the scene before them. The golden solar light crept past the purple confinement that tried to push it away. The room shimmers as the light reflects off of the golden lining on the walls and golden adornments around the room. The figure look up at the ceiling of his canopy bed, the many layers to it seem to want to suffocate him. He struggles to get out of the pile of silk quilts he was under and sits up, fully registering the room once more. By his bedside was a beautifully carved drawer which held more than twenty cabinets. On the drawer there was a golden telephone, perfumes of all sorts, and many daily items. He slides off his bed, slowly creeping across his extremely spacious room in order to enter the bathroom.

There is a knock at the door and a servant enters, "Good morning prince Ryoma."

Ryoma sighs heavily, "Cant I ever have a morning to myself?"

The servant enters, followed by four more, "Absolutely not. You know how strict your parents are when it comes to your well being. A prince should be pampered and not do menial things like make his own bath."

"Che' you are so annoying Kano…"

Three of the servants set up the bath as Kano and another servant undress Ryoma. "It's my role as your main servant to shape you into an ideal future emperor, whether you like me to or not."

Ryoma frowns and walks into the bathroom with only a towel around his waist. The servants leave and Kano rolls up the sleeves of her kimono. Ryoma slowly dips into the water and sighs with relief. "Can't I even bathe myself?"

Kano laughs, "Yes, after I wash your back. We've argued about this ten million times. Don't make my job any harder Ryoma."

Ryoma grunts, "Fine."

Kano leaves Ryoma alone after washing his back and returns to her other duties. Ryoma cups the water in his hand and slowly lets it slip through. He leans his head on the rim of the unnecessarily big tub. He closes his eyes and dives his head into the water. He opens them and just blurry white, a vast ocean of emptiness. He comes up again, "That's what I feel like…"

Ryoma dries off and walks out the bathroom only to find Kano and her evil minions ready to suffocate him with purple chains.

Ryoma mumbles, "I am sick of purple."

Kano smiles evilly, "Nineteen years and you are still complaining about the color! It's the color of the imperial family, you have to wear it!"

Ryoma spreads his arms, "Che'"

Kano laughs, "You see, it's easy just to give in."

Ryoma smirks, "And it's easy for you to be a witch Kano."

Kano slaps the back of Ryoma's head, "Don't disrespect people older than you."

Ryoma smiles, "Yes I shouldn't disrespect the elderly."

Kano gasps, "Being thirty-five is not old!"

Ryoma walks to his mirror and looks at himself. He was now prince Ryoma, not his normal self. Kano fixes the top of Ryoma's beautiful purple kimono, "You are very handsome Ryoma, you should get married soon. Go find yourself a good girl you'll fall in love with."

Ryoma sighs, "I don't want to…"

Kano smiles softly, "Breakfast is ready, let's go."

Ryoma follows Kano solemnly out of his room and down a few halls and stairs. He bows respectfully to his father and kisses his mother on the cheek. "Good morning mother. Good morning father."

Ryoma's mother smiles gracefully, "Good morning Ryoma. How did you sleep?"

Ryoma takes his seat and looks at the plate a servant places in front of him. "Very well mother. Father how is the problem with the Hong clan?"

Ryoma's dad gives him a goofy smile, "It was solved but let's not talk about work at breakfast. Ryoma, we have something we want to talk to you about."

Ryoma looks up from his plate, "And that is?"

Ryoma's dad glances at his wife, "We want you to get married to the daughter of the ruler of the Ran clan."

Ryoma's fork drops with a loud clang and he stares at his parents wide eyed. His dad clears his throat, "She's beautiful, very intelligent, and charming. Mioko would be a perfect wife and future empress."

"Che'. She would also be a perfect way to establish a strong relationship with the Ran clan, wont she? No, I don't want to marry her."

His mother smiles gently, "But honey, give her a chance."

"No."

"Get to meet her, maybe you will like her."

"I highly doubt that."

Ryoma's father sighs irritably, "You two will have monthly meetings with each other."

Ryoma glares at his father, "I am not going to meet with her."

His father slams his hand on the table, "Your marriage is in the spring of next year and that's final!"

Ryoma slowly stands up from his chair, "I lost my appetite, excuse me."

Ryoma storms to his room but finds maids making his bed, "Get out of my room "

The maids look at Ryoma, "But Prince we have to make your bed."

"Out! Now!" He slams the door and closes it after they hurry out. Ryoma sighs and flops on his bed, bringing the pillow over his face. *Why the hell does being a prince have to be so annoying? Shouldn't it be like the books, the prince charming with all the money and luxuries rescuing damsels in their spare time? NOOOOO…I have to rule a stupid empire.*

Ryoma sighs and sits up, "I'm so helpless, I know myself too well…I want to rule the empire."

Feeling tired of being enclosed in the prison of his room Ryoma walks down the hallway and opens a beautifully carved wooden door. Relief passes through his face as he inhales the different scents of the flowers. He walks around the vast but lonely garden which shined brilliantly under the midday sun. This was mostly his garden since he asked his parents a few years back to have it made and he seemed to be the only one who visited it. Ryoma walks to his favorite part of the garden, the Chrysanthemums which are ironically the imperial family's seal. He stares at the flowers, admiring their beauty and pureness.

"Their beautiful aren't they?"

Ryoma jumps a bit and stares at the person in front of him, *Is that a girl or a guy?*

The guy gives him a closed eyed smile, "These are my favorite flower. I've seen them many times before but they look even more beautiful in this garden.

Ryoma clears his throat, "Wha-Who are you?" That came up snobbier than he expected.

"My name is Fuji Shusuke, you are?"

Ryoma scoffs as if that wasn't obvious, "I'm prince Ryoma. Why are you here? Only imperial family members are allowed in the palace." *How can a guy look so feminine?*

Fuji's smile drops, "Do all princes give such bad first impressions?"

Ryoma's eyes widen and he glares at Fuji, "Don't be so rude. You shouldn't use that kind of tone when talking to a prince!"

Fuji smirks, "Just because you're a little spoiled prince shouldn't make you think everyone is willing to follow your orders. Also, you should think who is being a rude jerk in this situation." Fuji walks out of the garden, leaving Ryoma feeling astonished. Ryoma stares at the flowers once more but his mood changed his perception of them so he walks sullenly to his study.

He opens the door and finds a stack of papers on top of his desk. "Right…I forgot that stupid father of mine wanted me to read all the civil cases that have been occurring this week." Sighing for the billionth time this day, Ryoma takes out the imperial seal from one of his drawers. He starts reading the first case, *they are arguing over cattle? It's not the guys fault he accidently killed his neighbor's cattle.*

"Just give him one of your cattle or pay him, sheesh." Ryoma writes his decision in neat script and stamps it with the seal. Just before he started reading the fifth case, he hears a knock on his door.

"Come in."

Kano walks in with a sympathetic look on her face, "Working, huh?"

Ryoma keeps reading the paper, "Yes, I have to finish this pile by tonight."

"Ryoma…you know your parents only want the best-

"Please drop the subject."

"But Ryoma!"

"Is that all you came to talk to me about Kano?"

Kano sighs, "No. I came to tell you that your father hired a bodyguard to protect you."

Ryoma looks up in surprise, "What? Why now? I don't need one."

"There have been problems with rebels on the border. Your father sent out word for our nation's best guards, had them battle each other, and the winner became your personal guard."

Ryoma groans, "Fine…I won't have a problem ignoring him."

Kano smiles, "Then it's settled." She walks to the door and opens it to let the guard walk in.

Ryoma looks up and slams his hands on the desk, "You!"

Fuji smirks, "Well what a coincidence, I get to have the life of this spoiled prince in my hands."

Kano stares at them, "You guys know each other?"

Ryoma walks straight up to Fuji, "Quit! Now!"

Fuji laughs, "No way…they pay too well."

Kano walks out, "I guess I'll leave you guys to acquaintance yourselves."

Ryoma walks back to his desk, "There is no way you can be the best, you are as old as I am!"

Fuji stops laughing, "Why would you assume that?"

Ryoma arcs his eyebrow, "How old are you?"

Fuji sighs, "Twenty years old."

Ryoma starts reading his papers again, "Exactly my point, you are one year older than I. You should just quit and not deal with more than you can handle."

Fuji glares at Ryoma, "Don't assume you know everything little prince."

Ryoma ignores Fuji's burning glare, "Really? So you are the best? I won't believe it until I see it."

Fuji takes a sword being displayed on Ryoma's wall and points it at Ryoma, "Do you want me to make you believe it?"

Ryoma smirks, "You are challenging me? I've been trained by one of the best generals of our clan." He blocks Fuji's sword with the back of his chair and grabs the sword being displayed above him.

Fuji ducks Ryoma sword and tries to trip him but Ryoma jumps up, "Why do they need me if they have trained you?"

Ryoma laughs, "Over protective parents." Ryoma backs flips landing behind Fuji and puts the sword to Fuji's neck. "Who's the best again?"

Fuji grabs the wrist which Ryoma holds his sword in and flips him to the floor. This causes the sword to flip in the air and come down straight at the prince on the floor. Fuji catches the sword by the handle two inches away from Ryoma's chest, "I still am."

Ryoma feels himself breathing once more, "Che'". He stands up but feel a burning sensation make its way through the side of his chest.

Fuji opens his eyes to reveal worried oceans, "You are bleeding!"

Ryoma walks to his desk and opens his last drawer. He takes out a bottle of a light bluish substance, a cloth, and bandages. "It is not a serious cut."

Fuji sighs and walks over to Ryoma, "Your parents are going to fire me the minute they find out I hurt you. Aren't you happy?" He unties the obi holding the upper part of Ryoma's kimono.

Ryoma blushes slightly, "Can you not touch me like you know me!"

Fuji ignores Ryoma's complaining, "Just sit still, I'm only going to bandage your wound. Don't make such a big deal about it."

Ryoma sits quietly and stares at the floor while Fuji bandages his wound, "I won't tell them."

Fuji looks up at him, "Hnn?"

Ryoma pulls up the upper part of his kimono and incorrectly ties the obi, "I can deal with you being around me. I am not going to tell my parents about this."

Fuji smiles, "So you are not a total spoiled and snobby prince."

Ryoma smirks evilly, "I can always change my mind."

Fuji opens the door and turns his head to look back, "Thank you, I am looking forward to protecting you prince Ryoma." He closes the door behind him, once again leaving Ryoma astonished.