a/n; though it is said in the first chapter that the country's name is Karasuno, this time frame is set in feudalism era in japan. i just named it Karasuno because i can. XD there's errors in this so please take note. ^^
CHAPTER TWO
"Today, you will have to meet a few of the noble family from the west. There's also a chance that your father will come today to meet your brother, you know.. To discuss your future spouse." Nishinoya, as always, was beside the Prince every morning. The food that the Prince supposed to have for breakdfast has gone cold because it needed to be tested for various poisons. Who knows how long has it been since Shouyo ate something warm, fresh from the stove. Not that Shouyo complains. The food is always delicious despite its temperature.
"Before I go meet with the nobles, may I please have a bit of time to go the literature archives? There's something that I wanted to read for it occupied my dreams last night. If that is alright." Shouyo tried his best to speak as elegant as he could in front of Sawamura and Sugawara, and though it sounded unnatural, that's how he was taught to.
He looked at Sugawara's face, pleading a little, gauging if he can get away with it as he rarely gets what he wants when it comes to schedules. The people that surrounded him doesn't tolerate imperfections, and it's hard for him cause he's far from being one.
"Ha.." Sugawara sighed. "I understand, I will give you at least an hour to read, but you will have two guards with you always and you will stay in the archives. Can I have your word?" Sugawara was standing beside him holding onto rolls of scripts that he needed the Crown Prince to look into. He's been busy with what's going inside the palace and he knew that he's been neglecting the Younger Prince lately.
"I suppose spoiling you from time to time is something I can do. Be advised though that you can't act like this always. People are looking for things to throw at you. You have to be on your best behavior, always." He reminded Shouyo with a concerned tone. He really cares for the man and he wants Shouyo to know that.
"Thank you!" was the redhead's response, wide grin present from his face.
"Yuu and Ryuunosuke shall accompany you." Sugawara looked at Nishinoya and called for the maid to notify Ryuunosuke of his duty for today.
"Then, I am done eating. We'll head there now!" Shouyo stood up and excused himself from his seat and Nishinoya held him by the hem of his clothes.
"Hold it right there, we still need to notify the people from the archives, and we also need to secure the surroundings first, so you stay here and finish your food while we wait for Ryuu."
"Nishinoya-dono! Your attitude towards the prince is unsightly!" Sugawara noted how the man handled Shouyo without any reservations and Shouyo laughed heartily together with Nishinoya. "There's no need for that when it's just us." the redhead added.
"Ha. Do as you like, but be sure not to let others see. We need to abide to the rules here." Sugawara resigned himself to accept what Shouyo wants.
.
"Kyaha! What is this your highness, felt like studying for once?" Tanaka is one of those spear men who belongs in the close security of the royals. His strength is parallel to Nishinoya and they both share the same passion: Stalk the beautiful priestess Kiyoko-dono.
"Ryuu, you're being rude to his highness. He must have dreamed something good for him to decide to come all the way here and read up on it, nah? Who was it? Was it Princess from the Yachi family? Is this the type of dreams where you feel good when you wake up?" Nishinoya leered and the two men snickered as they tease Shouyo.
In an ordinary day, Shouyo would show his irritation at the two, maybe puff his cheeks or verbally express his displeasure. These men are the closest he have for a friend, but Shouyo was unsure with that. Sometimes he can sense that there's still reservation towards him and it's only obvious that there is. They're still employees of the royalty, it is still their duty to protect the Prince after all.
"It'll be faster if you two gentlemen help me find what I am looking for." he ignored them and the two guards looked at each other and scratched their faces before they took the paper Shouyo wanted them to search for.
"'The legendary white-haired Sōjōbō (Sojobo) 僧正坊), King of Tengu'." Nishinoya paused, shocked about what he had read just now. - "Tengu?!" he wanted to confirm first and Shouyo fixed his sleeves before he traced a scroll with his hand and opened it. He looked at the two and nodded and didn't say anything else.
"'The tale of the Primordial God Susano-O'. Why do you suddenly want to read up on these?" Tanaka asked, but he still asked the archivist to give them any materials that has relation to this matter.
"I had a dream that I was visited by a Tengu." Shouyo said and unrolled the scroll he has. Reading of the story of the beings called Tengu that lived in the Mountains of Kurama.
"Shouyo-sama! That is a bad omen! Please tell me what kind of Tengu did you dreamed about?!" Tanaka moves his face closer to Shouyo and the latter scooted away.
"Wha- What is this all of a sudden?! You- You're scary!" the redhead's reply.
"He's true." Nishinoya crossed his arms on his chest and nodded knowingly. "Tell us what kind of tengu is this." he added.
"What kind? Isn't there just one kind of tengu?" Shouyo, to be honest, was a bit confused.
"This is why your teacher says you're a very poor pupil.. Listen, there are at least two identifiable types of Tengu. Ah, here it is, Ryuu open up the scroll and read it out loud, please." Nishinoya said and Tanaka nodded. They both grabbed a chair to sit in and Shouyo's eyes shone with delight. He's never been the type to listen and sit still and somehow the two find this behavior cute rather than being odd.
"Okay, here's one. The Yamabushi Teng (山仏師天狗Mountain Monk Tengu). These Tengus are said to have become more human in appearance and takes on a protective role in the affairs of men. The Tengu can transform itself into a man, woman, or child, but its preferred disguise is to appear as a barefooted, wandering, elderly mountain hermit or monk (yamabushi) with an extremely long nose."
Tanaka paused to look at Shouyo's face and the man has a permanent 'O' shape in his mouth and his fist is in a clench. They both understood that this is going to be the man's new fascination and they felt themselves sweat.
'We're going to hear about this for a long while.' The two exchanged looks as if by some telepathy, they both agreed that that's what's going to happen to them.
As the two continue to read about the tengu, Shouyo's mind wandered to the Tengu he named Tobio. From what they have read so far, it seemed like they haven't mentioned Tobio's quality just yet. He now doubts that this was all just a part of his dream.
"And here, theKarasu Tengu (烏天狗Crow Tengu) patron of martial arts. The birdlike Tengu is a skilled warrior and mischief maker, especially prone to playing tricks on arrogant and vainglorious Buddhist priests, and to punishing those who willfully misuse knowledge and authority to gain fame or position. They're also said to have inflicted their punishments on vain and arrogant samurai warriors. There are a few beliefs that this Tengu would abduct human beings, only to release them later, but the lucky survivor would return home in a state of dementia called Tengu Kakushi, meaning'hidden by a Tengu'."
"Wait, now I'm confused. Are these types of Tengus different from one another? Are they bad? Why did you say that it's a bad omen?" Shouyo asked and rubbed his sweaty palm on his haori. The hair ornament he has on today jingled as the maid by his side fanned him softly.
"Well, generally, Tengus keep it to themselves. They are said to be divided into two major classes. The Yamabushi's are said to be monks who protects the humans while the other one called Karasu are said to be the protector of nature and often plays mischief on us. They can manifest themselves in dreams and something like that. If it happens that this Karasu is the Tengu you've dreamed about, then tough luck. It may be planning to abduct you for your arrogance!" Nishinoya tried to kid the prince, but Shouyo's color drained and his face paled. The creature did say that he will come back tonight, and if so, will he abduct the Prince?
"Shouyo-sama?" Nishinoya tried to touch the Prince and the latter flinched.
"Ah! I'm fine. It's just a silly dream. Still, it piqued my interest so I would very much want to read up on where these Tengus originated." He said, It's better to be prepared than not. Not that he will stand a chance against the being.
"Then let's read this one. 'The offspring of Izanagi and Izanami: The creator of the earth'. Susano-O and Amaterasu are off springs of Izanagi and Izanami. It is said that the Tengus emanated from the primordial god Susano-O, so let's read this one." Nishinoya encouraged the redhead and the latter agreed.
All three of them read up and it felt like it has been a really short time since they came in. The time has pass and now they are being summoned to meet the guest. Tanaka and Nishinoya enjoyed what they have read as well. Since the two are just bodyguards of the royals, weaponry and martial arts are their forte, but you can never learn enough. This was somehow good for the Prince as well, since he's the type to despise studying.
Shouyo, from birth, was fascinated by Martial arts and anything that involves in it. In particular, he is always the one who wants to study up on is Kyūjutsu (弓術"art of archery") But as one's fate is in order, their family; the Emperor and its offspring, are a decoration that held the ceremonies and none holds any power as to compare to the Shogun. That said, even though they are in fact important, their lives is not for them to control over.
Secretly however, Shouyo wanted to do the things like a true warrior should. He wishes to learn the art, not rely on anyone to protect him. But there's nothing he can do, as they are now, they are very much walking on a thin thread.
.
"Have a good night Shouyo-sama." the parlor maid bowed her head and left the Prince after the meal. She placed the Prince's tea on top of the table and Tanaka smelled it before he gave it to the redhead.
"How about a bath before you go to bed, though it's still early." he suggested and the redhead thought about it for a second before deciding he wanted to take one.
After he took a bath, the guards outside waited as always and left the Prince to himself after they'd secured the facility. It's not easy to access the palace as its in the inner location of the estate. Its surroundings heavily hidden behind trees as a design to fool any intruders that the location of the said Prince's palace is humble enough to mistake it from a residence of the court officials instead.
Used for ceremonies or not, royalties like him can be a pot of gold for terrorism and kidnapping.
"Ah, I'm still not sleepy. My curiosity is rather killing me." he said and went out of his bed to walk towards his desk, where rolls and rolls of scripts, drawings, literature about Tengus awaits to be read and analyzed.
"Ah!" the redhead lets out a startled scream and the guards not far from his door knocked once before asking what's wrong.
"It's nothing, I just tripped on something. I'm about to rest so leave me be." He said while his heart beated loudly.
"Why did you lie?" The Tengu asked. He's wearing silky black yukata and while it still has his beak mask on, his wings were not seen.
"I cannot say that there is a mythical creature in my room. I already have a bad reputation, I do not wish to be branded as crazy as well." the redhead took one chair to sat in front of the Tobio and the other one just silently gazed at him.
Behind the mask, Tobio's face twitched a few times, feeling irked at the fact that he has been considered a mythical creature, only living in humans' weak minds.
"Tobio-sama, why are you here?" the redhead inquired while he looked at the Tengu from head to toe. No matter how he sees it, the being in front of him is not like them. Though he looked and dressed as they are, there is a certain aura around the said man Shouyo cannot fathom.
"I am here to study about humans, and while I kept searching for people whom I can exchange conversations with, all have been hostile, rude, treated me like a deity and worshiped me. Many feared for their life. You were the first one to talk to me head on... Now I understand why is it so." Tobio shifted from his seat, took one scroll and opened it.
Shouyo gulped before he asked the Tengu again. "What did you understand?"
Tobio unraveled the scroll some more and sighed heavily. "Simple. You are an idiot."
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a/n: Susano-O is a god and is the big brother of Amaterasu [ not to be confused with Uchiha Itachi's jutsu. XP ] You can read all about this in various Japanese folklore. anyway, next chapter is about Tobio's life in the mountains before he met Hinata. sorry this chapter is short.. I'll try to update soon. see yah..