Dragon's mistake
by Star Mirage
The standard disclaimer – the same as before.
Part 4
"There is Sakuragi-kun!" Haruko pointed out at the redhead, who was returning from a balcony.
"Yo, Gori and Mitchi! You came to congratulate the Tensai?" Exclaimed the said redhead noticing the newcomers.
"Idiot!" Akagi gave a gentle slap on the birthday boy's head and handed him a box wrapped in a brown paper. "Here, your present."
Hanamichi, wincing, rubbed his head but took the present. Bringing the box to his ear, he shook it, listening to the dull sound from within. "What's there?" He asked intrigued.
Akagi smirked. "Open it." He threw a significant look at Mitsui.
Hanamichi impatiently tore off the wrapping paper and opened the box.
"A running shoe?" Surprised, the redhead stared at the only one Nike shoe, lying in the box. "ONE running shoe?" He asked again with bewilderment.
Akagi, Mitsui and several other witnesses of this scene, laughed their heads out. Only Haruko, confused, shifted her gaze from her older brother to Hanamichi and back. Then Mitsui held out his own present.
"Here. This is the second one."
Hesitantly Hanamichi took the gift, hastily tore off the wrapping, and found yet another running shoe in the box. Fortunately, the pair to the previous one, presented by Akagi.
Now, the redhead also laughed.
"Ha-ha! You've played a trick on Tensai! Ok, let's go to the tables." He pointed to the tables with snacks and drinks. "While there is it something left to eat. You are pretty late today."
Mitsui, chewing a canapé with the slices of lemon and salmon, answered. "We were busy, looking for our prince."
"Prince?" Haruko pricked up her ears.
"Yep." Mitsui took a sip of champagne. "The prince was supposed to return 3-4 days ago. He was coming back from his studying abroad." Mitsui took yet another canapé. "Well, the prince has not arrived yet. So we began to search all surrounding areas, but found only the prince's horse with his luggage. The groom in the Imperial castle identified it as the horse that belongs to prince. However, the prince himself just disappeared."
Misui paused, for the sake of his snack and drink, and then continued. "While we are talking here, our guardsmen keep looking. We ourselves came to a brief visit, to congratulate you. After this we will return to search."
Akagi, who stood nearby and was greedily eating all food that was in his reach, just nodded his head. "What could happen with prince Kaede?" He said thoughtfully.
"The prince's name is Kaede?" Haruko asked with a keen interest.
Her brother nodded.
Haruko smiled. "The same name as Rukawa-san has. He is staying here, in Sakuragi-kun castle, and his name also is Kaede."
Akagi and Mitsui stopped chewing and turned abruptly to the girl.
"What did you say? Repeat."
Haruko blinked, startled, but repeated. "Rukawa-san that stays at this castle also is named Kaede… What the matter?"
Akagi and Mitsui exchanged a glance and then stared at Sakuragi.
"The matter is," Akagi said menacingly, "that our prince's name exactly Rukawa Kaede." Haruko gasped, surprised. Meantime, Akagi banged the redhead on his head. "Sakuragi, you idiot! Take us to the prince right away!"
Hanamichi faltered a little, looking at the shocked by the news Haruko, whose subject of adoration turned to be the real prince. Then he looked at Akagi and Mitsui, who were expectantly fixing him with their stares.
"Well… you see…" He mumbled under those heavy looks. "Some guy earlier has swiped your prince and flew away on a dragon."
"What?!" Akagi and his people gawked at the birthday boy with a pure terror on their faces. "You idiot! And you did nothing? Ever didn't try to stop that guy?"
"Come on, who needs that stupid kitsune," Hanamichi grumbled. "Let him be gone for good!"
Haruko clasped her hands. "Sakuragi-kun! How could you let that happen? Please, save Rukawa-san!"
Akagi quickly pulled himself together. "Mitsui inform the guardsmen to be ready to depart at my command. And you Sakuragi, spit it out, who and when has kidnapped our prince! What guy? How did he look like? What dragon he rode on and what direction they left to?" Akagi moved closer to Hanamichi and menacingly hissed so Haruko didn't heard his words. "Besides, I really want to know how prince Kaede appeared to YOUR castle instead of moving to the Imperial Palace. And moreover, if you don't want to be sent to prison over the prince kidnapping, you'll help us to find him."
Hanaimchi was indignant with the need to take part in the search of the stupid kitsune. Whether that one was a prince or not. But Akagi was right, and the redhead didn't want to end up behind bars. So he told everything as detailed as he could.
Half an hour later, after showing off all his guests, Hanamichi saddled his dragon Akai, whose wing barely healed, and started off to the North. Direction, where the person that has stolen the prince flew to. Beside the red dragon a few other dragons guided by Akagi and his guards were ripping the air with their huge wings.
Night silently wrapped up the world with a dark veil.
The pursuit began.
To be continued...
Author's note: Waiting for your comments :)
© Star Mirage