A/N: Hey everyone, I know I should be updating my other fics but after seeing this pixiv artist's lovely artwork ( member_ ?id=3742025) this idea just wouldn't leave my mind so I HAD to write it. MikoRei is a pairing I've always wanted to write for and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. This fic is planned for 10 chapters and I'll be releasing a chapter each month. I hope you all enjoy this fic because it's been a blast to write, although a bit emotional. Enjoy and don't hesitate to let me know what you think!

Illustration of young fox Reisi and Mikoto drawn by the artist I mentioned above: member_ ?mode=manga_big&illust_id=41752352&page=6

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Chapter 1 – Prologue

Long ago, a war broke out between the rival Red and Blue fox tribes of the north. In the final battle the opposing kings from each tribe faced off in one of the most beautiful and terrifying displays of power either tribe had ever seen. In the end, however, the Blue fox tribe king was victorious and the Red fox king was killed. This sent the Red fox tribe into almost a decade of disorganization and inner strife over who would take over the throne next. The Blue fox tribe did not have it much easier. Only a few years after the defeat of the Red fox king, the Blue fox king fell ill and died. The exact reason for his illness was never known; some speculate poison and others say the exertion of defeating another king finally caught up to him. Either way, the incident left the former Blue fox king's only son as the heir to the throne. Since the tribe could not agree on an intermediary ruler and there was no threat of an immediate attack from any enemy, considering the Red foxes were at a far greater loss than them, they decided to let the council rule as a unit rather than any one person. Until the young son of the late Blue King was old enough, there would be no true king for the Blue foxes to serve. Both tribes underwent a long King-less period where each of their strengths declined. This was not the first time something of this magnitude had happened to either tribe, but very rarely did an incident like this coincide in both tribes. Many saw this as an omen, or curse upon the tribes, an established and twisted destiny neither could escape. From the formation of the tribes to the foreseeable future, their fates would somehow be intertwined.

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"It's cold," a young blue fox whispered as he stepped out into the forested terrain behind his large home.

"Well, that's a strange thing to say master Reisi, it's barely the beginning of winter and our tribe isn't usually so sensitive to the cold. On top of that you're so warmly dressed," a servant commented, as she stepped outside with him.

Reisi was indeed adequately dressed for the frigid weather outside. On top of his own warm fur around his tail and ears, he had on many layers of traditional Blue Fox robes and a bulky white fur shawl that matched his tail. His garments were elaborately decorated with embroidered patters around the neck, cuff, and hip areas of each of his robes. All the symbols carefully etched into the fine material were of relevance to the Blue fox tribe and its royal linage. The color scheme of his clothing was also a symbol of the Blue fox tribe. He was dressed head to toe in different shades of white, blue and purple, that both complimented his fur and matched his violet eyes. On the front of his outer robe were the symbols of his status as the heir to the throne; two gray-blue royal tassels that hung just above the obi tied around his waist.

The young fox wrinkled his nose, "I'm aware that foxes from our tribe are far less sensitive to the cold than many other tribes, but I'm still young. It could just be that my body hasn't acclimated to my powers and environment properly yet," he eloquently said in response to her comment.

The maid laughed, "You sure are a smart boy, aren't you master Reisi?"

Reisi gave her a polite smile but did not answer the maid this time, and although he usually enjoyed her company he chose to silently rub his hands together and walk further into the thicket. When the maid made to follow him he finally spoke again, "Please don't follow me Ryoko, I won't wander too far, I promise. I would just like to be alone for a little while."

"But master Reisi what if-" She began to protest, but was cut off by the raise of Reisi's hand before she could fully express her worries.

"Nothing will happen, Ryoko, I'll be back before dinner," he assured her, lowering his raised hand as he smiled at her, reassuringly.

Ryoko heaved a sigh, "Alright, but don't go too far down the mountain and don't let the council know I let you wander in the woods alone," she warned.

"Don't worry, it'll be our secret Ryoko, I'll see you back at the house in a bit," And with those parting words and another reassuring smile sent Ryoko's way, Reisi was finally left alone in his exploration.

It had been about two year since his father had passed and this was the first time since then that he had been able to explore the woods alone. For a while Reisi was unwilling to leave the house, but after a year of being cooped up he longed to go outside and see the world that his father had taught him to cherish, while he was still alive. He hadn't even checked on the bed of snow drop's he and his father had planted together all those years ago, and he feared they were no longer there. As he made his way through the forest that had grown almost unfamiliar to him, he regretted not having the initiative to come earlier. When he arrived at the familiar clearing where the delicate flowers had been planted he was surprised to see that there was someone already there, tending to the small flower bed. The young boy pulling weeds from the bed was probably around his age and Reisi was even more surprised to see the crimson red tail and ears that immediately identified the boy as a member of the Red fox tribe. Reisi had always heard that the Red foxes were violent and brutish, but had never taken most of the talk about them seriously. Upon seeing the boy in front of him lazily, but gently, taking care of the small bed of snow drops, he knew he was wise to ignore such idol gossip.

He stepped closer to the other boy and made himself known, "Hello," he called out clearly.

The Red fox boy stopped what he was doing and slowly turned his head in Reisi's direction. His vibrant amber eyes met Reisi's violet ones and the little prince was stunned momentarily. "Did you want something with me?" The red fox replied rudely.

Reisi was taken aback by the curt response but tried his best to not let the other see his surprise. He cleared his throat a bit before answering, "Well, not you specifically, no. I came here to see those snow drops you're tending to," he explained.

The red haired boy raised a brow, "The flowers? Were you the one that planted them or something?" he asked.

This time Reisi was ready for the rude reply and answered without hesitation, "My father and I did, yes, although I haven't come to see them in two years. I'm surprised they're still alive. Have you been taking care of them?" Reisi returned.

The other boy was quiet for a moment, contemplating his response, before he finally answered, "Sort of. My mother was the one who originally started taking care of them. She loves flowers so she tends to a lot of beds around the forest. Sometimes she makes me help her and this is the one that's the farthest away from her other beds, so she asked me to look after it for her. I mean it's a pain but I don't hate flowers or anything."

Reisi was amused by the boy's response, especially the rasp in his voice that made it seem like he had just woken up and was still groggy. Reisi smiled softly at the boy and stepped closer to the bed of snow drops, "Well thank you, to both you and your mother, for keeping them alive." He knelt down next to the small buds and stared at them fondly.

Since he was completely absorbed in looking at the small white flowers, he missed the red foxes' curious stare and was subsequently surprised by his question, "Hey, aren't you a Blue fox?" he asked abruptly.

Reisi turned to him, unfazed, "Yes, I am aware of my own tribal affiliation."

"You talk funny, too," the other boy added, looking at Reisi more intently now.

"Well that was rather rude," Reisi responded quietly, he thought his speech was clear and proper what was so 'funny' about it?

"You do know I'm a Red fox, right?" The boy asked, still wearing a look somewhere between confusion and curiosity.

"Yes, it's quite easy to tell what you are by the color of your fur," Reisi affirmed, still slightly peeved by the boys' words.

"Then why are you taking to me?" The boy asked again, even more perplexed by Reisi's indifference.

"Excuse me?" The little prince asked, forgetting his annoyance and focusing on his newfound confusion.

"My dad said that all Blue foxes think they're better than everyone else. He said if I ever met one they'd either try to kill me or not even give me the time of day. You're way different from that," The red head explained.

Reisi had to let out a light laugh at the explanation, because the red fox boy had just accurately described almost every council member Reisi knew. "Well the things some Blue foxes say about Red foxes aren't that pleasant either. The only thing I had heard was that Red foxes were all dangerous and violent, but after seeing you tend to the flowers, I knew those rumors weren't true," Reisi said as he offered the boy another smile and this time it was returned.

"You're a little weird, but definitely not bad. My name's Mikoto, what's yours?" The boy, Mikoto, greeted as he lazily grinned at Reisi.

Reisi smiled even wider at Mikoto's newfound friendliness, "My names Reisi, It's nice to meet you Mikoto," he replied.

At the ripe ages of eight, Mikoto and Reisi overcame the many centuries of accumulated strife between their tribes on their first meeting in that small clearing. It took one afternoon for Reisi to finally make a true friend. He knew he could count on Seiri but he didn't have someone whom he felt didn't judge him or hold him on a pedestal because of his position; someone whose honesty he felt he could truly value. Mikoto finally found someone who wasn't awe-stuck or intimidated by him upon first meeting him and he appreciated that more than the young Blue fox would ever know. As the snow drops that were so lovingly tended to began to bloom, so did a new friendship.

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A/N: And so it begins! R&R and see you all next month! =)