Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic.
As per the request of KandyMiraj and neverchange5986. I hope you approve!
Chapter Two: The Imperial Market
"Two hundred forty-eight. Two hundred forty-nine. Two hundred fifty. Two hundred fifty-one…." Kouha Ren heaved a tremendous sigh. He lay spread-eagle on his large, luxurious bed fit for one five times his size. Gazing upwards, he had spent the last ten minutes counting the scales on the giant golden dragon that was emblazoned on the ceiling. One miniscule little scale at a time until Kouha thought he was going to lose his mind to boredom. He had already explored every nook and cranny that could possibly exist in the palace, and driven every servant crazy with his incessant nagging. He couldn't bother his brother Kouen with such a trivial thing as a way to stave off boredom, and his brother Koumei was holed up in the library surrounded by mountainous towers of books that Kouha dared not disturb him.
Why was life so monotonous? He had tried time and time again to convince Judal that he was ready to conquer a Dungeon, but the Priest continually refused him with nothing but a sly grin. Kouha had even tried to convince his father to let him serve in the Imperial Army, but his scheme had been shot down the moment Kouen had caught wind of it. He was too young, they had said, that he should 'enjoy the freedoms of childhood'. At the time, he had respectfully submitted, but in private he raged. He was not a child! Why could they not see that he wanted to be of use to his family? And thus he suffered through each and every day of absolute tedium, wallowing about in despair trying in vain to find something to occupy his time.
Kouha groaned a long, frustrated noise that rumbled from deep within his chest. He sat up and stretched his disused limbs, looking up and picturing his fingers wrapping themselves around that wretched dragon and dragging it down so that he could chase it or kill it or something. Unfortunately, the great beast remained frozen on the ceiling, its maw opened wide as if snickering at the Third Prince's predicament.
"Oh, shut up." Kouha growled at it before jumping down off of the bed. With a resigned sigh, he proceeded to wander out of his chambers and into the hall, looking for something to amuse him. The occasional servant scuttled by, bowing their head respectfully before hurrying on their way. Kouha interlaced his fingers behind his head before heaving another sigh. He would surely go mad from the sheer dullness of his life. He couldn't even leave the palace without an army to guard him because of his father's paranoia.
Kouha reached the end of the hall and rounded the bend, not even paying attention to where his feet were taking him. Soon, the wall on his right vanished, leading into a large, open courtyard. Standing near the center was a young woman, her back to him. Her long ebony hair was tied back with a simple white ribbon and she wore plain robes of pallid pink. In her hands was a long scimitar which she wielded with a fluidity of one with many years of practice.
Kouha paused, turning to watch as the woman engaged in a complex Imperial sword drill. She lunged forward, the tip of her blade plunging into an imaginary foe's chest, then she danced back, the sword flashing back and forth in defensive parries. Her movements a blur, she turned to the side and swung in a deadly half-moon arc, a move that would have cut an unsuspecting enemy from collarbone to hip. She finished the exercise with a horizontal slash meant to sever head from shoulders, then calmly sheathed her sword, taking a deep breath.
"Whoa," Kouha breathed. He himself was none too shabby with a sword, but neither his skills nor his speed could hold a candle to those the woman had just demonstrated. Moreover, he only owned a long dagger – a weapon that was more for show than actual combat – which would be about as useful as a wooden stick when faced with a broadsword or a battle axe. Her scimitar, on the other hand, was a thin yet sturdy blade of cold steel that was made for lightning-fast attacks to incapacitate or kill. It was obvious from the way the woman moved that she had seen actual battles, not just training with the sword masters of the court.
Intrigued, Kouha approached the woman. "Hey," he called out.
The woman started, turning to face him, surprise written across her features. Seeing her face, Kouha frowned slightly. She looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place it…. "Hey," he repeated. "That was pretty impressive. I haven't seen many people move as well as you. Have you seen many battles?" He halted several feet from the woman, staring at her face intently. She was several years older than him, maybe sixteen or seventeen? and had fair skin and clear blue eyes set in a heart-shaped face, framed by long black tresses. A small smile seemed to be the permanent set of her mouth, and a little mole accented the left side of her chin. The woman joined both hands in front of her and bowed.
"My lord Kouha," she acknowledged. "I thank you for your benevolent words. I have seen several skirmishes along the border of the Northern Tenzan Plateau where I served in the Imperial Army."
Grinning excitedly, Kouha rocked back on his heels, his hands clasped behind his back. "What was it out like there? Did you fight anyone from the Kouga Clan? I hear that they're all seven feet tall and ride giant horses across the plains. How about any slave traders? Is it true that they're cannibals? I don't actually know what a cannibal is, but I heard Koumei talking about it–"
The woman chuckled, amusement glittering in her crystal-like orbs. "I'm afraid the warriors from the Kouga Clan were not quite seven feet tall, but they were all excellent horseman and worthy adversaries. A cannibal is one who eats the flesh of his own kind, and though we encountered a few slave traders, they were fortunately not cannibals."
Kouha absorbed this new information with fervor. It was not often that he got to hear news of the world outside of the palace, so he relished the mystical tales that his brothers would tell him after they returned from tours of the Empire. Perhaps this woman could tell him more stories of her exploits beyond the palace walls. "What is your name?" he queried. He knew he had seen her somewhere, but where?
Once again, the woman clasped her hands in front of her in the traditional Kou greeting. "I am Hakuei Ren, First Imperial Princess and daughter to the First Emperor, making me your cousin and step-sister."
Kouha blinked in surprise. That's why she had looked so familiar; why hadn't he recognized her sooner? As this new revelation sunk in, he realized it was better than he could have hoped. With her being a member of the Imperial Family, Kouha would have more opportunities to see her and it wouldn't be viewed as inappropriate by the aristocrats. "Well Hakuei, I'm Kouha Ren, Third Imperial Prince and son of the Second Emperor of the Kou Empire." He announced, puffing out his chest only slightly.
Hakuei tried to hide her amusement but failed. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lord. It is a pity that we have never been formally introduced."
Recalling his brother's words, Kouha asked eagerly, "Aren't you a Dungeon Capturer? What's your Metal Vessel?"
"I have captured the 9th Dungeon, Paimon. As for my Metal Vessel–" She withdrew a feathered flabellum with an ornate golden handle from within the folds of her robe. "I have had this since I was very young, and it is very important to me."
"Wow," Kouha whispered in awe, but his smile fell and was replaced with a frown of disappointment. "I wonder when I can go and capture a Dungeon…. I keep asking Judal but he tells me that I'm not ready."
Hakuei paused, then tucked her fan back into her robes. "I was only a little older than you when I captured my Dungeon. I'm sure your time is nigh, don't worry."
Kouha huffed with displeasure. "They keep treating me like a child. I tried to join the Imperial Army, but En refused me. I can't even leave the palace without supervision. It's infuriating." He scuffed the dirt with the toe of his shoe. He stopped mid-scuff when an epiphany came to him. He snapped his face up to meet Hakuei's, then reached out and grabbed her hand. "Come with me!"
Surprised, Hakuei allowed herself to be pulled after the Third Prince. "Where are we going, Lord Kouha?"
Kouha glanced back, a mischievous glint dancing in his crimson eyes. "Outside of the palace."
"What?"
Ignoring her incredulous query, Kouha continued to unceremoniously drag the First Princess toward the front of the palace. When they approached the large scarlet door inscribed with the symbol of the Kou Empire, two guards stepped forward to block them. They were tall and broad-shouldered, towering over Kouha and Hakuei. They bowed their heads respectfully to the prince and princess, but did not move from their position obstructing Kouha's path.
"May we inquire as to where you are headed, my lord?" One asked, his voice low and gruff.
"I'm going to the marketplace," Kouha said haughtily, trying in vain to make himself appear taller next to the two gigantic men.
"I'm afraid you cannot leave the palace without a bodyguard," The other told him, his head still bowed.
Kouha sniffed disdainfully. "I have a bodyguard, can't you see?" He indicated a baffled Hakuei. "Surely a Dungeon Capturer – a person said to have power enough to destroy an entire army – will more than suffice as my guardian."
The two guards exchanged uncertain glances. "Well…."
Now for the finishing blow, Kouha thought. "I'm sure the First Princess will be able to handle any trouble we might encounter. She's dealt with barbaric Kouga clansmen and cannibalistic slave traders after all."
Hakuei raised a delicate eyebrow at his bold statement. Kouha winked at her, praying she would remain silent.
The guards looked at Hakuei, then at one another, then at Hakuei again. Finally, they conceded, bowing their heads further and stepping out of the way. "Please have a safe journey." They spoke in unison.
Kouha struggled to hide his triumphant grin as he strode proudly through the grand arch that was both the entrance and the exit to the Imperial Palace. Hakuei followed behind him, a dubious expression on her face. Kouha halted at the top of the stone steps that led far down into the Imperial Market. He took a deep breath and savored the smells of the rich spices and incents that floated up from the mass of stalls. Giving a little laugh, he turned to Hakuei and grasped her hand. "We're outside! Can you believe it? And it's only the two of us!"
Hakuei stared down at Kouha, a smile creeping onto her features. "Yes," she agreed. "Have you never been to the Market District?"
Kouha shrugged. "I've gone a few times, but I had about twenty servants following me around, and I didn't get to talk to anybody because everyone was too busy bowing." He glanced toward the busy street. "This time will be different though."
As he turned to head down the stairs, a hand on his shoulder stopped him short. Hakuei reached out and plucked a golden hair ornament from Kouha's fuchsia locks.
"If you wish to mingle among the commoners unnoticed, I believe it would be prudent to remove any articles that would identify you as a member of the Imperial Family." An amused smile curling at her lips, Hakuei held out his hair stick.
"Err, right." Kouha grabbed the golden accessory and shoved it into his pocket. "Better?"
"Quite, my lord." Hakuei answered.
Taking ahold of her hand, Kouha towed her down the stone steps and into the busy street of the Market District. Both sides of the street were lined with hundreds of tents, each stand boasting different things, from jewelry to swords, silks to spices. Everything he could have possibly imagined, it was there. Vendors yelled out to passing customers, throwing out good bargains and sales ploys. Thousands of people milled from one kiosk to the next, many ethnicities the likes of which Kouha had only heard from his brothers' tales. Men and women pushed and shoved their way around him, but he was too enthralled to care.
"My young lord, how about a nice ivory comb for your beautiful lady companion?" A vendor called out, eyeing Kouha and Hakuei with an eager countenance.
Kouha turned to regard him. The merchant's tent contained lavish hair accessories, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and ornamental knives. Each piece was exquisitely hand-crafted and of the utmost quality. Scanning the merchandise, a pair of elegant golden hair cuffs caught his eye. The gold was smoothly molded with a single, rose-colored, oval stone set into the center. As he admired the ornament, the merchant looked on with anticipation, rubbing his heavily bejeweled hands together. "Does one catch your interest, my young lord?"
"This is a fine piece," Kouha commented, picking up the ornament to test its weight, only to find that it was feather-light.
"Oh, indeed!" The merchant squeaked. "They were made by the goldsmiths of Parthia. Made from the finest gold in the Eastern Reaches and inlayed with a kunzite stone, said to be blessed with good fortune and purity. It is quite the find, but I'm willing to sell it to you for a bargain price of 35 Huang."
Kouha considered, then leaned forward and whispered, "I don't have any Huang on me, but how about this?" He fingered an ornate bracelet that encircled his wrist.
The merchant's eyed widened slightly at the expensive bracelet. "If I may," he said, indicating the bangle.
The Third Prince obliged, removing the piece and handing it to the man. The vendor held it up to the light and turned it this way and that, examining the fine engraving and the embedded stones. Finally, he set it down on the table and cleared his throat. "I believe it would be a fair trade."
"Great," Kouha grinned.
Several minutes later, Kouha left the stall with the two hair cuffs wrapped and placed carefully within the inside pocket of his robes. Hakuei waited a few paces away, falling into step behind him as he continued down the busy street. "Did you find something that you liked?'
Before he could reply, Kouha jumped when he felt something rubbing up against his leg.
"Meow."
Looking down in surprise, Kouha found a small white kitten nuzzling its face against his calf. As he watched it incredulously, he noticed that the way it stood was off, as if it was unbalanced somehow. He reached down and plucked it from the ground, holding it aloft so he could get a better view of it.
Hakuei gasped in pity, and Kouha's brow knit together. The white kitten was missing one of its back legs, leaving only a useless lump just above the knee. As it was, the feline was terribly undernourished, and its fur was so dirty one could easily mistake it for being brown. The thing mewled piteously as it hung in Kouha's grip, its tail twitching. He stared at it, his mouth a grim line. Several moments passed, then he suddenly turned to Hakuei.
"I'm going to keep it," he announced.
Knowing she should have seen it coming but taken aback nonetheless, Hakuei stared at boy and cat. "Keep it?" she echoed.
"Yes," Kouha said stubbornly, turning to stare at the kitten again. "It obviously doesn't have a home, and it'll get killed out here sooner or later with a leg like that. Besides, it'll be a good way to keep me entertained."
Heaving a sigh, Hakuei shrugged. "Very well. Do you know how to take care of a cat, Lord Kouha?"
Kouha blinked. "How difficult can it be? Just give it food and water. Anyway, you will help me, won't you Hakuei?"
"M-me, my lord?"
"Of course. You and I found it, didn't we? We can be its parents."
Hakuei didn't know whether to laugh or despair. Choosing the former, she gave a small chuckle. "I see. I certainly did not expect to have a child this early."
Kouha grinned. "Now all we have to do is name–" Just then, a passing man jostled Kouha's shoulder, causing him to lose his grip on the kitten. The cat fell to ground with a startled squawk before taking off into the mass of people, weaving in and around bustling feet with surprising agility. "Wait–!" He cried, plunging into the crowd after it.
"Lord Kouha!" Hakuei called out, rushing after her charge. Kouha, being of a smaller frame, had an easier time maneuvering through the throng, soon leaving Hakuei behind. He had eyes only for the escaping cat. He saw it leap up onto a table, slowing down enough to look around at its surroundings. Seeing his chance, Kouha pounced, tackling the kitten – along with a tankard of ale that a man had been about to take a swig of, sending the murky liquid all down the man's front.
Just as Kouha's fingers closed protectively around the cat, the man gave a bellow of outrage, grabbing the prince's collar and holding him in place. "What's the big idea, brat?" He spat, his eyes bloodshot and drunken.
Kouha tried to wriggle free, his face pressed unceremoniously into the dirt, but the man's burly arms held him in place. "Let go!"
"You just cost me a drink and a set of very fine clothes." Said the man, indicating his 'very fine' garments, a set of ragged, stained drudge's attire. "How are you gonna pay me back, huh?" He shook Kouha slightly.
"Let go! Do you have any idea –" Kouha stopped short when he heard a familiar voice say, "Excuse me, sorry. Please, let me through." Hakuei pushed out of the accumulating crowd watching the spectacle in front of them. She stopped and took in the sight, accurately guessing what had transpired while she had been elbowing her way through an unrelenting horde of people.
The princess stepped forward, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "Good sir, please forgive my charge. He meant no harm. Please, take this to buy yourself a new drink and a set of clothes." She produced a small pouch filled with gold coins.
"You think I can overlook such an insult with just money?" The man snarled, turning his beady black eyes on Hakuei.
"He is just a child, he meant no offense. Please–" Hakuei stepped closer, hands outstretched, one holding the coins, the other toward Kouha.
"Don't mess with me, bitch!" The man screamed suddenly, roughly pushing Hakuei to the side, sending her sprawling to the ground. Two of the man's friends grabbed her and she disappeared from Kouha's sight.
"Hey!" The prince yelled in outrage. "Don't touch her!" He struggled harder against the man. In his desperate squirms, the golden accessory that Hakuei had removed from his hair earlier came tumbling from his pocket and clattered to the ground.
The man's bloodshot eyes flickered to the ornament. "What's this?" A malicious grin crept onto his face. "It seems we have ourselves a little thief," His hand moved to pin down Kouha's arm. The cat, buried between Kouha's chest and the ground, gave a muffled meow in protest.
"That's mine you moron!" Kouha shouted. "I didn't steal anything!"
Ignoring him, the man continued in a repulsively silky voice, "Thieves get their hands chopped off, did you know that? It's to keep them from stealing ever again."
Kouha froze when the sound of steel sliding against steel reached his ears. He craned his neck to see the man drawing a wicked-looking cutlass from its sheath. "Wait!" He cried frantically, increasing his struggles tenfold.
"Hold still," the man said softly. "I won't be able to make a clean cut if you squirm." He raised the cutlass above Kouha's arm, then swung it down.
Clamping his eyes shut, Kouha prepared himself for the lancing pain of the blade.
...
It did not come.
Instead, he felt a whoosh of wind and he dared to open one eyelid. A flutter of pale pink and white met his gaze as Hakuei's robes flapped around her, her scimitar poised at the man's throat. Her hair was disheveled and her clothes were a little smudged, but she seemed otherwise fine. All traces of civility were gone from her voice and her eyes were like chips of ice. "Withdraw."
Where in Solomon's name did she hide that sword? Kouha thought dumbly, eyeing her dress incredulously. His turned to gape at the two goons who had converged on the First Princess, only to find them in unconscious heaps slumped on top of one another.
Kouha's attacker had gone a deathly white, and Hakuei's sword at his throat seemed to have caused the alcohol to run cold in his veins. He hastily released his death grip on the Third Prince and backpedaled away from the deadly blade, then turned tail and fled into the street.
Hakuei watched him go for a moment, then promptly sheathed her blade and turned to offer an outstretched hand to Kouha. Still stunned as to this turn of events, he numbly accepted her assistance and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. The kitten was still clutched in his hand, but it had quieted after the crushing weight on top of it had been removed.
"Are you all right, Kouha?" Hakuei asked, concern written on her face. She looked over him carefully, her eyes scanning for injuries.
"Err, yeah." He noticed that she had forewent the honorifics that she was normally so keen on using and had simply referred to him by his name. "I'm fine."
Relief washed over her face, but she quickly replaced it with her usual small smile. Turning to face the tavern keeper who stood several paces away, anxiously wringing his hands, she said, "Forgive us for the trouble we have caused. This should be more than enough to cover your losses." Hakuei handed the man previously said coin pouch.
The tavern keeper bowed. "Thank you kindly, milady."
Hakuei nodded and bent to retrieve Kouha's fallen hair ornament, then beckoned for him to go back into the street. Kouha exhaled deeply when they were far from the tavern. "Do you know how much trouble you caused?" he asked the kitten nestled in his arms. The cat gave a disinterested yawn and curled itself tighter into a ball. Kouha sighed. "Are all cats like him?"
Hakuei gave a little cough. "My lord, that is a female."
Kouha paused. So, she was back to using honorifics. "A female?"
"Yes."
"Hmm." Kouha gazed down at the adorable bundle in his arms. "Is that right, little fereshte?"
Now it was Hakuei's turn to pause. "Fereshte? Angel?"
Kouha shrugged, stroking the kitten's soft fur. "Fereshte. My little white angel."
Smiling, Hakuei bowed her head slightly. "I see. It is a fitting name, Lord Kouha."
"Oh, that reminds me…." Kouha dug around in his pocket until he found the package that contained the hair cuffs. "Here,"
"For me?" Inquired the First Princess in bewilderment. She accepted the package as if it were as fragile as porcelain. Carefully, she unwrapped the bundle to reveal the golden accessories. She gasped.
"A thank you for coming with me today; I had a lot of fun." Kouha said sincerely.
After a moment of stunned silence, a beautiful smile bloomed on Hakuei's features. "I require no thanks, my lord Kouha. I too had fun today – it is I who should be thanking you. Nevertheless, I will treasure these for the rest of my life."
Grinning, Kouha turned in the direction of the Imperial Palace. "Let's go home."
Author's Note: Fereshte means 'Angel' in Persian (or so I've been told). If I'm mistaken, I'm sorry... Anyway, I hope it was to your liking. I've never written Kouha before, so I hope he's not too OOC.