~ Chapter 1 ~
Hoshina Palace: mid-morning (9 o'clock-ish) Breakfast
"Mamma, can I have a new playmate?" Princess Utau asked looking at her mother with pale lavender eyes. "Would you like a new one darling?" her mother asked. "Yes please. Please Momma," Utau said bouncing out of her seat. "Of course. Go ask your father if Kukai will take you." (A/N : Kukai isn't considered to be a servant but more of an adopted son. He's 15.)
~ Utau's P.O.V. ~
"Daddy?" I called as I poked my head in his study and looked around curiously. "Hello, Daddy?" I called again. I shrugged my shoulders, "Maybe he went to the garden," I said thinking aloud to myself. I walked down the hall not paying attention to where I was walking. It wasn't long before I bumped into some one, I fell flat on my butt and I heard the person chuckle.
My blood boiled, I was about to yell at this person for not helping me up until I saw his face come level with mine. His emerald eyes held mine, his russet hair stood up straight, and a smile was playing along the edges of his lips. "Kukai!!" I jumped in to his arms, and he willingly wrapped his arms around my in a tight hug. "Good morning Princess Utau," I pulled away from him so that I could see his face, "Kukai-kun do you know where daddy is?" I asked innocently. I watched as he thought this over,
"Hmmmm… well I do believe I saw him preparing to leave for the auction," I slid out of Kukai's arms, "That's perfect!" I said pulling (more like dragging) him down the halls until we reached the stables. My father was grooming my favorite horse; Haru, a beautiful chestnut stallion. I greeted my father and explained to him how mother said I could have a new play mate if he would allow me to go to the auction. He finally agreed only if I behaved myself like a proper young lady….
~ King's P.O.V. ~
I watched as Kukai helped Utau onto Haru, how could I deny her anything? Kukai seemed relatively pleased about something, I wonder what? Someday when Utau is old enough she will marry Kukai, and she will have a fine young man as her husband.
~ Utau's P.O.V. ~
" Come on let's go, or it'll be too late… I want some one who's around my age… this time." I sneered the last part of my sentence unintentionally remembering the last playmate I had. The memory was vivid, her name was Lulu, she was 16. All the time that she was with me (all 3 months) I watched her with curiosity. She always seemed to be flirting with Kukai even when I was around, the girl had some nerve! It was an accident but I walked in on Lulu trying to kiss Kukai. As the gentleman I knew him to be he tried to push her away but not to be rough about it. I sighed and shook this memory from my thoughts.
As we arrived in the town square I noticed that the female auction had just begun, perfect. I saw that the girls ranged from 6 years old to 18. Most of them had dark hair and eyes. I looked the girls expectantly, some seemed to be too juvenile while other looked solemn and uptight. I approached the end of the line when I saw a girl she was clearly different from the rest of the girls.
She caught my eye; her hair was soft pink and her eyes were a golden honey, her skin was like ivory and her smile told me that (much unlike the others) she took pride in what she did. She held her position nicely; not loose or restrained but casual. I noticed that she was around my age. She was beautiful (no I am not lesbian) she was pure and untainted. I tugged on Kukai's sleeve, "Kukai-kun, I want the girl with the pink hair," He nodded and left quickly. I walked over to the girl, she acknowledged my presence by sinking into a deep and graceful curtsy. Her voice was soft and clear as crystal, "Hello imouta-san," (little sister) I was befuddled, almost speechless. "Hello,"
Kukai returned and whispered in my ear. "The auctioneer informs me that you are not the only one who has taken an interest in the young girl," he paused waiting for my response. "Alright give him what he wants, but nothing above 150 million yen. (1.6 million U.S dollars) Daddy wouldn't mind," Kukai nodded and left again. The pinkette raised her head, "How old are you?" I asked looking at her. Her eyes held mine and her voice sounded, " I am thirteen imouta-san," "Perfect," Kukai returned once more, "The auctioneer has requested 100 million yen," I nodded my head not taking my eyes away from the girl. I held out my hand to the girl, " We have to get your boring paper work now," She took my hand without hesitation.
~ General P.O.V. ~
Early after noon (11 o'clock-ish) Hoshina Palace
Utau ran through the foyer looking for her mother. Utau found her in the garden, "Mother, mother!! Come on you have to meet her!" Utau seized her mother's hand and began pulling her to the entrance hall. As the queen saw the new girl a smile of satisfaction played across her face, "Come here my dear," She said beckoning to the pink haired girl. She stepped slowly and awkwardly toward the queen. "What might your name be?" the queen asked. The girls voiced echoed throughout the room, "My name is Amu Hinamori," she sank into another curtsey. The queen was enthralled, "What a lovely name for a lovely girl. Except your clothes aren't exactly suitable for your stature as of now," The queen said now slowly circling Amu. "Yes, we'll have to get you all cleaned up and don't think of yourself as a servant but more of Utau's best friend," Amu bowed her head and thanked the queen, "Momma can Amu's room be next to mine?" The queen smiled at her daughter, "Of course dear," with that the queen departed.
~ Utau's P.O.V. ~
"Amu I want you to meet Nadeshiko, she's well I guess you could call her my nanny," I said pulling Amu into Nadeshiko's workshop. As Nadeshiko examined Amu she 'tsked' and shook her head. I began once more " I guess you've noticed that we don't treat our 'servant' the way other royal families do. Very few families do treat their 'servants' as actually people. I can only think of two other families that do the same as us; the Hotori family and the Tsukiyomi family. Even though father doesn't approve of the Tsukiyomi family…" my voice trailed off with my thoughts. Nadeshiko turned to me, "Utau the clothes Amu is wearing are well, I don't think that there is a word for it," I watched as Nadeshiko wrapped the tape measure around Amu's neck, arms, stomach and well pretty much every where.
"Nade, isn't her hair just gorgeous?" I asked. "I've never seen anything like it before," Nade said pulling several boxes of materials off a shelf. "Dresses that are blue, red, pink, and gold will be perfect," "Nade when will her first dress be done?" She thought this over carefully, "By this evening and she will have two dresses and an evening gown," Amu as polite as ever thanked Nade and left with me.
Early evening (5:30 p.m.)
I took Amu on a tour of the rest of the house, finishing with her room, which was next to three guest rooms. I pushed the door open to her room and ushered her in, "This is your room," Amu fell backwards on the king sized bed that was next to her balcony. "Amu why did the auctioneer want so much money for you?" I asked laying down next to her.
