I slowly opened my eyes, 'I must have fallen asleep.' I thought, as I felt something warm on my forehead.
I slowly turned my head to see what it was and found myself face to face with the still sleeping Himeko.
'What the…when did she get there?' I thought, as I slowly sat up straight.
I noticed that I was holding her hand and she had covered my hand with both of hers. She was curled up right next to where I was sleeping. I couldn't help the smile that made its way to my face.
'She must have felt the warmth of someone was near her and so she went towards it…' I lowered my head back down on the bed and rested it on my free arm.
'Her breathing has calm down a lot and she looks alright now…' I thought, as I moved forward to check her fever I placed my forehead against hers.
'Her fever has gone down, but it's not entirely gone yet…she needs a lot of rest.' I thought, as I was slowly moving.
Right then I noticed that her violet eyes slowly opened.
"Good afternoon. How do you feel?" I calmly asked, as I soon noticed I was still right in front of her.
I slowly pulled away and was sitting up straight with a smile on my face. I looked at the 20 year old who looked really confused, once she noticed she was holding onto my hand she quickly released me and quickly backed away. I noticed that she was getting to close to the edge of the bed and before she knew it she was going to fall off. I quickly rushed forward and grabbed her right arm and was trying to keep her from falling, but it didn't work I was too late and she was already to far back so I pulled her closer to me and into my arms so that I was under her. We both fell off the bed and my face felt a little warm, as I noticed my idea worked and the wounded 20 year old was on top of me.
'She's so warm…and I don't think it's her fever. It's just…she feels so warm.' I thought, as I noticed she slowly opened her violet eyes that still looked so beautiful even if they are soulless now.
"Are you alright?" I asked, as I noticed her face was a bright shade of red and she quickly tried to get off of me.
I removed my arms from there place around her waist as she quickly backed away from me. She stopped moving once she hit the bed frame and had no where else to go, as she quickly lowered her head to me. I couldn't help but smile as I sat up and sighed.
'I guess living in the cells must have made her terrified of men…and if I was a normal stupid guard I would have hit her for touching me…than again if I was like them I would never have tired to stop her from falling. Or token care of her wounds…' I sighed, as I decided to see if I could try to show her that I would not harm her.
"My name is Tsume…would you do me the honor of telling me your name." I calmly asked, as I noticed she didn't move an inch.
I sighed again as I tried to think of something else.
"You know your eyes aren't as kind, as I remembered." I noticed that this time she flinched, as she slowly lifted her head, but she kept her eyes lowered to me.
"We've met before?" She softly asked, as I smiled.
'I finally got her to talk and what a sweet sounding voice…I'm grateful for my training because without it I probably wouldn't have heard her.' I thought, as I nodded yes to her.
"In a way…we didn't officially meet I saw you the night you were captured. I was kind of hiding in the bushes…." I smirked, as she looked confused and then froze, as she finally was looking at me.
"I saw you…" She said a bit louder then the first, but she quickly lowered her head.
"I thought so since you did look right at me…I was really surprised. I'd never seen eyes like yours before so pure and kind…I really wanted to see them again. I'm glad we get to meet officially this time…my name is Tsume and it's an honor to meet you Himeko." I lifted my knee so it looked like I was kneeling to her, as I lowered my head.
I soon looked up to see Himeko's red face looking at me.
"How do you know my name?" Himeko asked, as I smirked I noticed she was started to talk in a normal range instead of really quiet.
"Well Makoto told me about you and your name." I explained, as I saw her eyes light up.
"Mako chan is here?" She asked, as I could hear her happiness.
"Yup she's my brother Souma's female partner so she lives here with me and the rest of my family…Himeko would you like to stay here as well?" I asked, as I could see confusion all of Himeko's face.
I smiled, 'She's so cute.' I thought.
"I have an idea on how to get you to stay here…that is if you would like too." I soon noticed my tone of voice had changed from calm to happy.
'I only sound like this when I'm talking to Otoha…I don't even sound happy when I'm talking to my brothers…' I thought, as I waited for Himeko's response. I
soon noticed she was looking at me with a look like I was up to something. I smiled at her.
"I give you my word as a prince that I'm not up to anything…I just want to make sure your safe. Besides Makoto would kill me if I did anything to you right." I explained, as I stood up and put my hand out to her.
"Your still very ill and wounded you should get some more rest." I smiled, as I noticed she looked at my hand and then at me, and back at my hand.
"I promise Himeko I mean you no harm." She slowly placed her hand in mine, as I helped her to her feet.
I think I pulled her up a little to fast, because as soon as she was up she was about to fall. I quickly put my arm around her and pulled her close to me.
"That was close…are you alright?" I asked, as I noticed Himeko's face was a really dark shade of red.
"Did your fever come back?" I went and pressed my forehead against Himeko's.
'Her forehead feels really warm…it could be her fever or…' I thought, as I slowly pulled away and saw her face was even darker.
I smiled and was trying really hard not to laugh, 'She's burning up not from the fever, it's because I'm so close to her. She's embarrassed…' I thought, as I decided to move away and help her back into the bed before she passed out.
Once she was covered and relaxed I returned to the chair and sat down. I soon remembered I had something that belonged to her, as I sat up straight.
"Himeko is this yours?" I asked, as I picked up the pink crystal from under my dark blue chihaya.
Himeko looked and nodded her head yes, as I saw she was fighting to stay awake. I smiled, as I removed the necklace from my neck.
"Here I'll put it on you…that is if it's alright with you." I saw that she nodded yes again, as I stood and went over her and put the crystal around her neck.
"There now it's back with its rightful owner." I smiled and noticed that Himeko was smiling back at me.
I felt my face warm up a little, as I backed away and sat back in my chair.
'How could she make me so warm with just a simple smile…?' I thought, as I noticed Himeko had fallen asleep once again.
I felt releaved, as I relaxed in my chair. I soon felt a smile come on my face.
'I can't seem to stop thinking about how cute she is…I think I really am acting like a boy. Then again…if I do end up falling for her it would make me being a boy more believable, but for now I should just think of what I'm going to do next and how much my brothers are going to kill me for bring an unknown female into our home.' I sighed not looking forward to dealing with my older brothers.
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Hours later.
I heard a knock on my door and stood up.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"It's me Tsume and Makoto too." Otoha's soothing voice answered, as I smirked.
I looked at the still sleeping Himeko and decided that it would be best for Makoto to know right away. After all I wouldn't want her to get mad at me for not telling her that her best friend was here.
"Come in just please stay quiet." I answered.
'I don't think that she's going to be quiet once she sees Himeko.' I sighed, as my door opened and the 22 year old Otoha came in along with the 21 year old Makoto.
Both in there light blue chihaya's and black hakuma's, since there cloths do let everyone know they are female partners to the royal family. Kazuki came up with the idea so that nothing would happen to them, if none of us were with them.
"Hey Tsume what are you up too!" Makoto happily sounded, as she was now at my side.
"See for your self." I calmly answered, as I looked at Himeko and saw that Makoto did the same thing.
She froze and for the first time ever Makoto was speechless, as I looked at Otoha who understood and left the room.
"Is she…who I think she is?" Makoto asked, as I smirked.
"Why don't you find out?" I moved aside and Makoto went and smiled, as tears of joy started coming down her face.
I don't think she was really thinking, because the next thing I knew she was hugging Himeko tightly. I could tell she scared the living daylights out of Himeko, but once she realized who it was she returned the embrace, as they both were crying. I decided it was time for me to leave, as I walked away and left the room without either of the friends knowing.
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"So who is she?" Otoha asked, as she was at the door.
I had just closed the door, as I turned and smiled at her.
"That's Himeko she's Makoto's best friend and…my female partner." I noticed that Otoha was giving me a confused look since she knew my secret.
"Otoha are my brothers back yet or are they still in the thrown room?" I asked, as I snapped Otoha out of it.
"They are all in the thrown room." She answered, as I walked away.
"I'll be right back I have to talk to them about something…please watch over them while I'm gone." I calmly ordered, as I smiled and saw she was smiling back at me.
I left the west wing and was walking to the thrown room.
'I know what you're thinking Otoha…how can Himeko be my female partner if I'm really a female myself. The truth is I don't really know why I'm making her my partner…sure it would make Makoto happy, but that's not my only reason. Ever since the night I first saw her…back when I was 12 I felt drawn to her. Like I need her to be with me…I want to know why. Who knows she might even be a good thing for me, after all everyone keeps telling me how cold I'm getting, maybe having a kind hearted partner will make me some what human.' I sighed as I felt a smirk on my face, as I kept walking.
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It didn't take me long to reach the thrown room, as I entered I saw that Tsubasa was still sitting on his thrown while Kazuki and Souma sat at his sides.
"Well now Tsume what are you doing here?" Kazuki teased with a smile.
He knew full well that I hated the thrown room and never went into it unless I really wanted to speak with them.
"I have something to ask and tell you. So which do you want first?" I asked with a smirk, as my brothers all looked at each other and then back at me.
"Tell us first and than ask." Tsubasa calmly answered, as I made sure no one else was around.
"Well I chose a female partner." I said and saw my brothers look surprise and confused.
"That's not funny Tsume." Souma coldly spoke, as I could feel his cold cinnamon eyes on me.
"Good because I'm not joking." I calmly answered, as I returned his cold stare with my own royal blue eyes.
Ever since he finished his training both Souma and I have been extremely cold to one another. I'm not sure why, but that's just how we are. Something changed him and I really want to know what.
"But Tsume we all thought…giving your condition you wouldn't be choosing a partner." Kazuki spoke snapping both Souma and I out of are staring contest.
"I know you all told the nobles I have a condition that effects my body, but that was just to protect me besides what better way to prove to those high up pigs that I am a full blooded male." I smirked, as I noticed Tsubasa wasn't speaking and looked like he was thinking of the idea.
"Well Tsubasa what do you think?" Souma asked, as he was avoiding my eyes, since we both knew we would go back into another staring contest if we looked at each other.
"I think it's a great idea…Tsume's right what better way to show the nobles and people that he is a full blooded male. After all it doesn't matter who you are ever male chooses a female partner at some point." Tsubasa smirked, as both Kazuki and Souma sighed, but nodded their heads in agreement.
"But if you're telling us this and not asking I'd say you had already chosen your partner. So is she already within our home." Tsubasa coldly responded, as I lowered my head.
"Yes she is…" I calmly answered.
"Tsume! You know full well not to bring unknown people within our home exceptionally females! What were you thinking?!" Souma yelled, as I kept my head down knowing that if I looked up we both would just get caught in another staring contest.
"I had too! She is very ill and extremely wounded! If I had not brought her home with me and treated her she would have died!" I yelled back.
"That's enough!" Kazuki ordered, as he noticed Souma was going to start yelling again.
"Tsume told you his reason and it's a good one. Let's just leave it at that." Kazuki calmly ordered, as I looked up just in time to see both Souma and Tsubasa nodding in agreement.
"Now then what do you want to ask?" Tsubasa asked, as I sighed.
"I wanted to ask once again to be put in charge of the cells." I saw all three of them sigh, as they all looked at me.
"We've been over that already and we all said no to it…it's too risky." Tsubasa calmly explained, as I sighed.
"Tsubasa none of us had to go there to choose a partner, but…they all came from there except Miyako. Makoto told me that there's no order in the cells and the guards spend more time raping them then their jobs. I'm asking you to send me there to reestablish order." I calmly spoke, as I lowered my head to my brothers.
"Raping? Makoto has been teaching you more about her home land." Tsubasa coldly asked, as I lowered my head once again.
"Yes…she's taught me a lot about it, but that has nothing to do with this." I calmly answered.
Understanding that Tsubasa was trying to teach me that her world is nothing like ours there was no such thing, as rape. Besides I'm sure not even half of our kingdom knew what that word means.
"I am sorry Tsume, but you're a prince and that is no place for a prince. Now than you should return to the west wing and tell the others we will be back soon." Tsubasa calmly ordered, as I bowed to them and left.
'If I can't go because I'm a prince than I'll go as a normal towns person.' I thought, as an idea popped into my head, as I ran back to the west wing.
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I entered and was greeted by Otoha who told me Girochi and Miyako where out for a walk and Makoto was still in the room.
"Otoha I'm going to tell you something, but you have to promise that you will not tell anyone." I calmly said, as Otoha could tell from my tone that this was important.
"I promise." She answered, as we sat down.
"I'm not going to sit back and let what's been happening in the cells happen anymore…I'm going to go work at the cells, but not as prince Tsume. I'm going as simple normal Tsume from one of the near by towns." I smirked, as I started telling Otoha my plan.
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I fixed the ages in this one as well I thought about how I made them so old before and thought it would be best to change them to 20 instead, but that's really the only change ^-^
(Please review ^-^) Sorry for any mistakes and THANKS FOR READING ^-^
