Antecedents

Chapter Two

-Injustice-

A hooded figure rode fast and hard through the woods, a small entourage of men behind him. They were all dressed for travel, and it was clear that they had been at their journey for some time. Sharp hazel eyes took in the scenery, before landing on the kingdom he could just barely make out on the horizon. Finally, he had reached Kalcona. He kicked his horse to go faster, hearing his men speed up.

They raced through the city, not slowing until they came upon the palace gates. A couple of guards moved into their path, making them stop. "Halt!" one of the men said, holding up a hand. "Who comes calling upon our great King Sasuke?"

The leader of the group straightened and flipped back his hood, revealing shaggy, dirty blonde hair. He gave the guards an easy smile when he saw their surprise. "Y-Your Highness." They stuttered, before bowing. "Please, enter. We will announce to His Majesty that you have arrived."

"No need." The blonde said. "I will announce myself."

The knights exchanged an uneasy look, but nodded and moved to the side. "Very well Sire." The nodded.

The group moved forward then, stopping once they were at the steps leading up to the palace. Servants ran over as they all dismounted, and the blonde man handed the reins to his horse off to one of them. "Clean them up and feed them, they've ridden hard." He instructed, heading up the steps. "And help my men unload."

"Your Grace, perhaps one of us could come with you?" a knight spoke up, only to be waved off.

"You will only be dismissed anyways. My words for the kings are of a private matter." He smiled, entering the large palace, where his fate was surely to be decided.

Sasuke nodded as Gaara explained to him the details put into a wedding in Vis Varis. "I think we can incorporate all of the themes into the wedding so that both of our countries are properly represented." He said. "Have your daughters come around to the switch yet? I know Akito has been trying to spend as much time with Princess Satomi that she will allow over this past week."

"Unfortunately I think both of them are in the mindset to kill him before any of that can happen." Gaara chuckled, looking over the plans once more. "But they are proper ladies and will soon accept the idea."

The doors to the room flew open as Satomi stormed in. Today she was wearing a black dress that hung over one shoulder with Akito following after her. "I have already refused this man time and time again! He is so asinine I can hardly stand it! Kyo will not be pleased I am being harassed so."

"I am not harassing you." Akito said, stopping next to the pink haired woman when they were before their parents. "It only makes sense for us to try and get to know one another before the wedding, so that is what I'm trying to do! But you won't let me!"

"Because I don't want to marry you. I'm already engaged, and you haven't even gotten the okay from Kyo, so I don't understand your haste." She snapped at the prince. "Besides," she looked him over. "You wouldn't stand having me as your wife for more than a week."

"You don't know that. I doubt Prince Kyo even cares anyways. From what I've heard of him, he's a pretty easygoing man." He argued.

Sasuke held up a hand. "Children, please, stop your bickering. While we still haven't heard back from Prince Kyo, we are going to proceed with the wedding plans. Because Akito will marry either you or your sister." He said, his gaze moving to Satomi. "So you might want to try having an open mind about this."

Just then a servant ran into the room, hastily bowing to the royals in apology. "I am sorry My Lords, My Lady, but a party just arrived at the palace, and it's none other than-"

"Kyo, Crown Prince of Farrion." Another voice said, and everyone turned to see a blonde man enter the room, dressed in traveling clothes, though it was obvious that he was wealthy. He stopped in front of the group and bowed. "Your Highnesses." He said, before smiling at Satomi and gently taking her hand. "Princess." He greeted, kissing the back of it and straightening. "You are even more radiant than the last time I was privileged enough to lay eyes on you."

Satomi actually smiled, even though it was small. "Kyo. What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Gaara asked, seeming confused.

"I have come as a response to your letter, Your Excellency." Kyo said, turning his attention to Gaara, though he didn't release his hold on the princess' hand, something that Akito noticed. "While I can see your problem, I'm afraid I'm only going to make it worse. For while Princess Natsumi is a delight, Satomi was promised to me first, and she is the only one my heart will accept." He smiled over at the pink haired woman.

Akito blinked. "So you refuse to marry Natsumi?"

"That is correct." The blonde nodded, finally seeming to notice Akito. "I'm assuming you're the man who thinks he can take my love from me?" he arched a brow.

He crossed his arms. "Yes. I am Akito, Crown Prince of Kalcona."

"He's the one harassing me." Satomi clarified, looking over at Akito.

"It was not harassment. If we're going to be married we should get to know one another." Akito argued once more.

Kyo frowned slightly. "I see." His smile came back to his face then. "Well, sorry to say that your efforts are in vain. I'm not giving up a treasure such as Satomi simply because you're too arrogant to appreciate the daughter King Gaara has graciously offered you."

Akito stiffened. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Kyo said, running his thumb over the back of Satomi's hand. "Satomi is mine, and you can't have her."

Gaara sighed. "Good God…"

Ignoring the redheaded king, Akito took a step towards the other prince. "You don't own her. Besides, I bet I can take better care of her than you."

The blonde scoffed. "How? I'm just as wealthy as you are, she'll still be a queen if she marries me, and, each and every day I will remind her of her beauty, and shower her in my adoration and love." He nodded decisively.

"That may be so, but I can take better care of her. I'm stronger, faster, and better looking." Akito said confidently.

For once the smile was not present on Kyo's face. "If you're so confident, then I propose we engage in a dual for the right to Satomi's hand in marriage. That way we can prove which one of us is better for her."

"Deal." The raven haired prince nodded.

"This is ridiculous." Sasuke muttered, crossing his arms.

Gaara went slightly wide eyed. "This is bad."

"Are you kidding me?!" they all heard from the doorway, where Natsumi had arrived. "You're fighting over her now?!" she demanded, storming up to the group. "What's wrong with me you insensitive prick?!" she demanded, glaring up at Akito.

"Well…not only was I under the impression you don't really have any opinions of your own, you're obviously overly-emotional, and prone to rude outbursts. Those aren't really good qualities for a queen, nor the mother of my future children, despite your looks." Akito shrugged.

Natsumi's jaw dropped. "You're the most insensitive person I have ever met!" she snapped, smacking him in the face before leaving. "I don't want to marry him anyways!"

Satomi blinked, before glaring at Akito. "What's wrong with you? Idiot. I'm not going to marry you, I'm marrying Kyo." She said harshly, before following her sister out.

"Well now you've gone and upset both of them." Kyo sighed. "We'll arrange the terms of the duel later, I need to go console my woman." He announced, following after the pink haired princesses.

Akito frowned. "What? I'm going to come as well." He left after the blonde.

Left alone with his friend, Sasuke sighed and looked at him. "This has quickly become more complicated than it was supposed to be."

Gaara nodded. "Maybe I shouldn't have told my sweet little angel to behave…after all I picked Natsumi for your son for a reason." He chuckled, heading out with his friend.

"Did you really? And what would that be?" Sasuke wondered.

The red headed king smirked. "My daughter could probably kick his ass."

"Can't we just leave now since there's not going to be a wedding?" Natsumi hissed, pulling back the string of a bow and shooting an arrow towards the target that was now a painting of the prince she hated. The arrow hit straight between his eyes as she drew another one and let it fly, hitting his eye directly.

"Because father is going to try and work things out so he gets both his alliances." Satomi explained from her spot on the fence.

"So what? Why would we want an alliance with this horrible place?" the younger twin growled.

"Satomi!" a voice called out. The two princesses looked over to see Kyo walking towards them, a smile on his face. He stopped next to her by the fence, leaning on it to be closer. "Hello my beautiful, radiant love." He beamed, taking her hand and kissing it like he always did. "I have come to lift your spirits."

The elder gave him an odd stare before pulling her hand from his. "It's not my spirits that need lifting."

Natsumi rolled her eyes. "I don't need to be cheered up." She said, pulling another arrow back and hitting the painting in the other eye.

"Do not be so upset Princess." Kyo said, looking over at Natsumi. "I would be more than happy to marry you if I hadn't met Satomi first and fallen in love with her. But you're still witty, kind, headstrong, and very beautiful. Prince Akito is just a blind idiot."

The younger twin sighed. "I'm not jealous Kyo. I'm glad you're in love with my sister." She said looking back at him. "I just don't understand why everyone is fighting over her. Everyone always fights over me!" she huffed, pulling out another arrow and hitting the one that was already stuck in the picture Akito's forehead.

Kyo chuckled, shaking his head and looking up at Satomi. "I promise I will not allow you to marry Prince Akito." He told her, reaching up and lightly stroking her cheek. "I'm trying not to sound possessive over you…but I did see you first." He smirked slightly.

"I don't want to marry him either, so you and I are on the same page." She said, watching as her sister fired away at the painting. She glanced off and sighed. "Well…speak of the devil."

He followed her gaze and saw Akito coming towards them. He stopped next to the two, but his deep gaze was on Natsumi, and what she was shooting at. "It appears I underestimated the depths of her temper." He observed, taking in her form before looking at Satomi. "Do you know how to fire a bow as well?"

"Yeah right." Satomi scoffed. "I'm a lady."

Natsumi gasped. "Hey!"

Akito chuckled. "True. It's not entirely conventional for women to know such things."

"At least she's a good shot." Kyo shrugged.

Satomi nodded. "My mother is really good with throwing knives, and my dad didn't want us to be defenseless. She just took it farther."

"I just don't want to be like every other stupid princess." Natsumi protested, pulling out another arrow and notching it.

"So what else can you do?" Akito asked out of curiosity.

She scoffed. "Nothing you need to worry about, since you mean nothing to me." She said, dropping the arrow in the quiver and walking off.

Kyo snickered. "Harsh."

The ebony haired man just shrugged. "It would be, if I actually cared about her opinion of me."

"Well you mean nothing to me too…so you might as well stop trying." Satomi said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I never give up, so you might as well stop trying to convince me to." Akito smirked.

Kyo rolled his eyes. "Well I don't give up either, so you're pretty much out of luck where my princess is concerned." He said, suddenly scooping the pink haired woman off of the fence. "Go get your own." He huffed, turning and beginning to walk away with her in his arms.

Satomi stuck her tongue out over Kyo's shoulder before returning her gaze to the blonde and actually smiling. "Way to tell him prince charming." She said, trying not to giggle and ruin her strong façade.

"Well I'm right." Kyo said, smiling down at her. "We may not be married yet, but I and everything I am belong to you, and I'd like to think you have a same mindset towards me."

She smirked. "Well…we'll see if you actually deserve words like that." She said, but then sighed. "I don't want to marry him Kyo. So you better win."

"Don't worry my love, I shall." He assured her, continuing on into the palace. And he meant it too. Winning Satomi's hand in marriage would be the hardest thing he ever worked for, next to earning her heart.