A Prince for Mikan
By: Esa MaRie
Chapter 4 – The Legend of the Hyuuga Kingdom
-
…No one is to know that a nullification alice existed.
The last words in the letter caught Natsume's attention as he opened the letter and carefully read the contents.
- o -
Your Majesty,
It would be a great honor for me to grant upon your request. But forgive me for being blunt, I have to refuse. We all made a promise to Heihachi-san. I, on my part, wanted to give him credit for all that he had done for us. He deserved to be written in all the history books of this new kingdom as a hero. He even gave his own life to give us the win, although it meant betrayal against his own kingdom.
But he made his request, his death wish. He wanted to die without letting his name be known to all of the Hirazaki Kingdom as a traitor who caused the defeat of the kingdom of his birth.
My lord, let him be. Let us fulfill his wish. No one is to know that a nullification alice existed.
Your servant,
Higoma Seiji
- o -
Natsume's brows furrowed as he stared at the letter. 'Nullification alice, huh?' he thought. As far as he knew, there was no record of any person having such an alice. There were some speculations before, related to a certain folktale that had challenged the great history of the Hyuuga Empire, and brought suspicions that Hyuuga Satori, the first king of the kingdom had won over the dominating Hirazaki king centuries ago through the help of a person who had the nullification alice. But it had never been proven. And the said legend had been subject to cold shoulder and reluctant acceptance from the proud men of the Hyuuga Kingdom.
Natsume flopped himself over his bed, still holding the letter… the only object that seemed to be the missing proof that the nullification alice did exist. It couldn't possibly be a prank, could it? The yellowish surface of the paper was proof enough that it had survived through hundreds of years. Besides, the name of Higuma Seiji was recorded in history as one of the trusted men of King Hyuuga Satori during the war. Natsume frowned at the implication of this discovery. If there was one person who had the nullification alice before, it is possible that it still exists in the current times.
'Maybe I should investigate on this,' he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
--
With the three wicked witches from the West gone for a visit to one of their friends from the social circle, Mikan couldn't help but feel happy and free. She visited Hotaru in her old home to catch up with the lost times, but unfortunately, she wasn't able to stay long since Hotaru had somewhere else to go to. So she decided to visit the orphanage that was just a few distance away from their home. The orphanage had been her haven for the past years every time she felt the unhappy and depressed with her life. The children loved her and she adored them back. Whenever her stepmother and stepsisters were out, she would complete her chores, and try to find some time to visit the orphanage. She would prepare some cookies and bread to share with her little friends while they would go through their usual storytelling sessions.
As soon as she was within the view of the children, they all cheered and jumped onto her. Mikan couldn't help but laugh gaily as she saw them exclaim with happiness on the food she brought. Although she was annoyed as hell with the pervert boy she met in the market, she was still thankful for the money that he gave her. She just wished it wasn't stolen as he claimed; else she would have battle it out with her conscience for using the money.
Mikan guided the children into their favorite spot near the woods and began to tell them the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp.
--
Natsume had escaped again from the castle walls and was walking near the woods when he heard joyful laughter and cries a few distance from where he was. He followed the voices and found himself staring a group of young children dancing and cheering with a familiar graceful and pretty young maid with pigtails. He leaned at a tree trunk and observed the girl's happy chatter with the kids
"Onee-chan…" a small girl pulled at the young maid's dress.
The pigtailed girl smiled down and touched the girl's face. "What is it, Kairi-chan?"
"Please tell us another story…" the girl pleaded.
The boys also flocked around her. "I want a knight's tale!" one boy shouted.
"Mikan nee-chan, I want the story of the Hyuuga prince and the dragon!" exclaimed another.
"Hey, I can only afford to tell one story now. I have to go back to work," the girl named Mikan told them patiently.
"Onee-chan, do you know the legend of the fire kingdom?"
Mikan glanced at the boy. "Huh? Which one?" There were many legends and folklores in the Hyuuga Kingdom, most of them regarding the war wherein the Hyuuga Kingdom was established after Hyuuga Satori and his men defeated the Hirazaki Kingdom.
"I heard sensei arguing with someone about it. He said the story is trash and that the author insulted King Satori for writing that he only won because of someone who can nullify a person's power," the boy explained.
"Ah, I heard about that too. But my okaa-san won't let me read it. She said it's not a good story," a girl interjected.
"I'm curious. What is it all about?" another boy asked.
Mikan sighed. "I think you should choose another story. That tale is quite controversial. Besides, it's a tragic story."
"It sounds interesting. I want to hear about it," Kaede said as she clapped her hand in anticipation.
"Me too!"
"Mikan-chan, please…"
"Onee-chan…"
That brief overview had sparked the children's interest. Mikan sighed as she stared at those puppy looks they had been giving her. She knew that particular legend by heart. It was a book that her father had given her during her 10th birthday. Though many didn't like it, she had loved the story because there was an attached sentimentality on it.
"Okay, but don't tell anyone I told you about this, okay?" she winked at them, and all the children nodded.
Mikan settled herself against the tree trunk and the children also followed suit. They sat scattered in front of her, with expectant faces.
Mikan smiled and started her story…
"Once upon a time, a goddess fell in love with a human and descended into earth to be with her loved one. The couple had twin sons named Hira and Huga and they lived happily for several years. But a goddess was not meant to live on earth for so long. She had no choice and the time came that she had to go back to the heavens and left her husband and two sons. The husband, had drunk himself in grief, and after a few months, he died."
"What? Somebody died already?" one of young boys commented.
"Shhhh!"
Mikan laughed. "I'm just starting. Anyways, the two young boys, being sons of a goddess developed powers that are beyond that of a normal human being. The eldest son Hira was gifted with the power of control water, and the second son Huga was gifted with the power to control fire. And though the two were twins, Hira was more ambitious and greedy compared to Huga. Being younger, Huga followed and helped Hira to fulfill his ambitions and to build his kingdom. But as years passed, Huga began to realize his brother's selfishness and cruelty. When at one time, he tried to stop Hira from killing a peasant because of a minor crime, Hira got angry and used his power and injured his younger brother. After that, the two brothers walked their separate ways and Huga managed to build his own kingdom and stayed away from interfering with his brother's affairs."
One of the boys snickered. "This sounds like the Hirazaki and Hyuuga Kingdoms."
Mikan sighed inwardly. That had made this particular legend the subject of a lot of criticisms. After all, it was acknowledged that the Hirazakis and the Hyuugas were distant relatives and that Hyuuga Satori was once under the Hirazaki's rule before he revolted against the king's cruelty and was banished. In addition, those born of Hirazaki blood had the water alice, while the Hyuugas had the fire alice. She continued her story. "Even though Hira managed to build a vast and powerful kingdom, he was not contented and still continued to seek for more power. He conquered the other less powerful kingdoms and made them bow down to him. He granted his men a part of his own power that allowed them to develop powers of their own and thus became invincible as against the opponents' armies. Time came when he was the ruler of almost all the land except the Kingdom that Huga ruled."
"The kings of the Hirazakis had always been selfish and cruel," a girl said. "That's what grandpa had said."
"This is not about the Hirazaki and Hyuuga Kingdoms. This is just a tale," Mikan tried to explain.
"The powers of the brothers were equal in strength and though Hira wanted to conquer Huga's kingdom, he knew it would end in stalemate. One day, a prophecy came to the knowledge of Hira that could destroy the other kingdom and make him rule over all the land. The prophecy showed that a pair of lovers will be the cause. The king searched for the lovers using the limited clues provided and when he found them, he fell in love with the girl. Believing that the girl Yuka was the one in the prophecy, he then ordered that her lover Heihachi will be taken as a front line soldier to die in the battle."
"King Hira forcefully married Yuka and ordered the attack on Huga's kingdom. On the other hand, Heihachi was placed into battle against his choice. After the clash between the armies, the young soldier lay wounded and weak. Beside him was another man, an enemy who was also wounded and almost dead. The enemy asked him to kill him as to not prolong his suffering. But Heihachi, being kind-hearted, lifted the enemy, despite his weak self, and helped to cure him. It turned out that the man he saved was no other than King Huga himself. Huga was extremely grateful and made Heihachi his trusted friend and soldier."
"The news of the defeat of one of the huge platoon of the enemy's kingdom brought ecstasy to King Hira. Thinking that since he had already married the girl of the prophecy, he would win the war. So he ordered a full scale attack on the Huga Kingdom. Yuka, who had overheard the news regarding the supposed death of her lover had come into grief. She went inside the temple and offered herself to the gods in exchange for the defeat of her husband's army. When her ladies-in-waiting came for her, she was already dead."
"The attack on Huga's Kingdom was brutal and since Hira's army was more powerful, they were placed in such a compromising situation. It was then that Heihachi learned that his beloved Yuka had died. He grieved for her death and offered his soul to the gods in exchange for Hira's defeat. A sudden glow appeared from his body and began to spread all over the land. After that, he was severely weakened. But before he died, he told Huga to lead a full counterattack on the Hiras, that he had nullified the powers of the Hiras. Huga followed his advice and as Heihachi had said, the Hiras were rendered powerless after they lost control of their power which caused the army's downfall. The Hiras lost the war and their kingdom heavily damaged. But because he was still his brother, Huga forgave Hira and let him continue to rule his kingdom. Over the years, Huga's kingdom prospered more than Hira's and his descendants continued his legacy. It was the age of the rise of the Fire Kingdom. The end," Mikan finished as she turned an expectant look over her audience.
The kids were looking at her with awe.
"I don't know," a boy commented. "But it lacked action. I think I like legend wherein the Hyuuga king summoned the fire god and destroyed the whole Hirazaki kingdom more."
"But… it doesn't seem like a bad story," another boy added. "Why is it many seemed to hate it?"
One of the older kids just ruffled the boy's hair. "It's because many had said that the story was the closest to the truth of what had happened during that war. But it stung the Hyuuga pride that the legend gave credit to someone unknown for causing the enemy's defeat rather than giving the full credit to the king and his army.
Mikan smiled at them. "Actually, legends are just fictional tales. I don't think any of those stories resemble the actual event that happened. It should have been part of our history if that was the case."
The children seemed satisfied with her explanation. And after they have finished packing up, the children bade their farewell.
Mikan waved at the children as they ran back to their homes. That small interlude left her light and cheerful. Despite all the sufferings she had experienced from her step family, she still felt loved whenever she was with those young and energetic children. She whistled gaily while gathering her things, when she heard a loud snicker behind her.
She turned her head and gasped as her eyes befell a boy with black raven hair and crimson eyes leaning against a tree, and looking at her with amusement. The pervert!
"You!" Mikan exclaimed loudly. "What the hell are you doing here? Are you stalking me?!"
Natsume snorted and stepped forward towards her. "Stalk you? Dream on, polkadots girl."
"I have a name and it's Sakura Mikan, not Polkadots," Mikan snapped in irritation.
Natsume just shrugged. "Whatever, polkadots."
Mikan glared at him. "I believe I told you my name. I think it's rude not to introduce yourself properly."
"Why should I?" Natsume lifted a brow. "What good would it do to me if I give my name to you?"
Mikan lifted her chin up and turned her back against him. She continued to clean up some of the items that the children had missed. "Since when did you arrive?"
"Since you were starting that dumb story. I never heard such a lousy storyteller as you," he replied.
"If you're just here to insult me, better leave," Mikan said quietly not bothering to look at him. "By the way, I forgot to thank you for the money you gave me. Truth is, it was more than what I lost during that day."
Natsume smirked. "Really? So, you're beginning to like me?"
Mikan snorted in reply. "I'm not like other girls. I'm only thankful for your help but that doesn't mean I like you."
Natsume's brows rose at that. "Not like other girls, huh? I bet if I were the prince, you'll be begging for my attention."
"Hah! How conceited. Dream on, moron," Mikan countered.
"So you're saying you're not interested with the prince," Natsume asked, genuinely interested in her answer.
"Truth to tell? I hate his guts."
Natsume was surprised. "You've met him?" 'Does she know me?'
"I saw him once when I was still small. That was enough for me to know what a bastard he is," Mikan shrugged her shoulder as she replied.
"Unbelievable," Natsume mumbled in amusement. "A girl who's immuned to the prince's charm, eh?"
"Tsk. Charm my ass," Mikan snorted.
"Prove it, little girl," Natsume challenged. Well, he couldn't help it. It was HIM whom they were talking about.
"How?" Mikan raised her brows.
"Whatever. You can call him names or whatever you like," Natsume said as he shrugged his shoulders. As far as he knew, no one would dare call him names even outside of the castle.
"Is that all?" Mikan asked, her lips lifted in a grin. She walked towards the boy and looked at him in the eye. "Prince Natsume is a jerk!"
Natsume looked aghast. It was the first time someone, much more a girl, said such things against him.
"He is a stupid moron who does nothing but mopes all day in the castle. He's a lazy, incorrigible loser who thinks people are all his slaves. He's so conceited thinking all the girls in the kingdom likes him just because he's good looking. Well, I say he's a monster inside out! He…blah…blah!"
Mikan continued to rattle for God knows how long until she was panting after she finished screaming at the boy in front of him. Natsume, on the other hand was left dumbfounded.
Mikan suddenly straightened and a slow grin crossed her face as she studied the boy's indignant reaction. "Well, since you won't give me your name. I know a perfect name just for you," Mikan drawled slowly. "From now on, I'll call you Natsume since you're a freaking bastard and pervert just like your prince!"
She lifted her brows and smirked at him as she turned to leave the stunned prince. "Bye, Natsume no baka!"
--
I know it's been months since my last update... sorry for that... This story is getting more complicated than I originally planned it to be... Anywayz, please read & review... :-)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter...
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