Hello Minnasan! I've been busy lately with work and trying to update this chapter because I'm down to one computer. The original computer I was using the internet isn't working, so now I'm lucky if I get a few paragraphs a week now. Plus the homework I receive as well and my job interferes with my writing as well. Heh, well that's enough ranting because I want to get this chapter started. Sorry for the late update! Again I apologize.
Well anyway here is the chapter.
Some of the characters are probably going to be OOC just for a warning.
Pretear and the Seven Children
Preview: While the princess and the child were nestled snug underneath a warm blanket, the blue irises that were watching them disappeared behind the closed door.
Chapter Nine: Mannen's new look
The next morning everyone was awakened to the sound of screams belonging to a certain blue haired ex-prince. Immediately this alerted the rest of the family members residing in the household to follow the noise to the source. Converging toward the location their brother was situated, their brows raised in curiosity.
"Hayate-What's going on?" Sasame inquired, concerned by the red tinge across his cheekbones.
His answered was received non-verbally as Hayate's index finger quavered forward in the direction that gave his complexion an odd tint. Averting his gaze to where his sibling's hand was raised, Sasame as well experienced the same condition such as him.
There in the bedroom that once Sasame, Hayate, and Kei shared was a sleeping princess with Shin wrapped in her hold as well as Hajime, Mannen, and Go snuggled into the massive bed. Although the scene seemed innocent to the outside appeal, Hayate however didn't enjoy Mannen and Go cuddling with Himeno considering their normal ages beneath their cute exteriors.
Without even thinking, Hayate launched himself on the bed, shaking his perverted twin brothers senselessly. Automatically the duo succumbed to rising only to be irritated once they realized who awakened them. Identical scowls were etched on the faces of Go and Mannen who immediately shoved their eldest sibling aside, peeved by the rude disturbance.
"Hayate what the hell? Why'd you have to wake us when we were having a pleasant dream?" The two shouted at the top of their lungs, not at all being considerate toward the girl who slowly stirred from her slumber.
"What is my problem? How moronic of an answer did you just spout?" Grabbing their faces in each hand, he began pulling their cheeks roughly. Their cries of agony fully aroused the sleeping beauty who's brows furrowed at the sight displayed before her. Acting on feminine instinct, she made a fist and bashed her hand onto the head of the highly suspicious youth. Falling onto the cold wooden floor after being struck by a right hook, Hayate rose infuriated by the misunderstanding.
"Nani the hell tulip head? Why do you always strike me the moment you arise?" Hayate bellowed while scratching his repetitively abused head. Himeno who was rudely awakened from her slumber was irritated beyond reasoning for the action she saw taken place before her eyes. Emerging from the many blankets the bed held, she began interrogating Hayate.
"What's my problem? First off, you were being rough to your younger siblings and second, you woke me up rudely. Don't you have any manners?" Crossing her arms in a vexed manner, she hmphed at the fuming sapling.
Gawking at the incredible demeanor she possessed, Hayate snarled at himself for believing she'd understand him. Balling his hands into fists, he slammed his fist into the doorframe.
"What's my problem? My dilemma is you sleeping with those two urchins?" Raising his index finger in the direction where the troublemakers were situated, the mentioned duo grinned from ear to ear. "It's indecent to be in the same bed as them!" Hayate finished spouting his last complaint as he paused momentarily to see if the girl would understand his reasoning for letting his brothers sleep in the same bed as her.
"Why is that?" Himeno asked quirking an eyebrow at the oij (prince) curious about Hayate's objection.
Now it was Hayate who was stumped over his own actions. Flustering over his stupidity, he tried conjuring up lies to the hime without revealing too much. Although it was near to impossible because of the response he gave her.
"Well…you see their minds aren't the proper age to their bodies."
"Hmm…what do you mean by that?"
Hearing the bizarre answer the prince gave to her, the princess's senses were entangled with curiosity and intrigue over the entire ordeal. Of course she always pondered about the odd family of seven living by themselves in the wilderness, she was however thoroughly fascinated by the eldest ex-prince the most. She couldn't quite understand the reasoning behind it nor the frequent mirage of an older version of Hayate standing in his place she saw every once and awhile, but Himeno sensed a strange aura about him that she was drawn to. Snapping out of her trance like state after hearing Hayate's pre-puberty voice, she brought herself back to the tail end of conversation.
"Grr, just forget it! It's not like you would understand toots." Huffing for the inefficient explanation he shouted aloud, he quickly dashed downstairs to avoid anymore discussion over the secretive manner.
"Wait! Kuso, now I'll never get my answer." Hanging her pink head low, she averted her gaze to the youths. "Shall we get breakfast ready?" The scowl that was smeared on her visage instantly turned upward at the sight of the remaining children. Receiving the boys nods as their only reply, Himeno and the children descended down the staircase unaware of the events that would unfold that day.
Upon reaching the bottom floor of the abode, a ruckus was already brewing inside the kitchen. Pots and pans were scattered across the wooden floors as a blue haired sapling vigorously searched for a wide skillet to cook in. Growling for the mess he was producing, the pans clanged against each other as Hayate dragged the many cluttered containers outside of the dark cabinet. After numerous pots and pans were exposed to the sunlight streaming through the blinds, Hayate smirked when he found the skillet. Hopping over the shiny pans in order to reach the pantry, he was halted in his steps when a certain female spotted his mess littered around the room.
"Hayate! What are you doing in here, are you trying to make cleaning an even harder task for me?" Leaping over a few of the scattered pots laying astray on the floor, Himeno approached the youth. "You know someone could trip over these if you have them laying carelessly-OWW!" In the process of warning the young prince of the consequences, she herself tripped over the very pans she was arguing about.
The boys that were standing on the other side of the dinning room door spying, quickly rushed into the room concerned with the hime who experienced a nasty fall. Even Hayate himself gasped at her clumsiness not expecting the invincible Himeno Awayuki to trip so easily. Relief etched across his face as he turned away from the scene embarrassed for worrying over the tulip head.
"Y-You were saying?" The mocking words he spoke with quivered slightly with hints of anxiety. Hidden behind the facade of his stubbornness, Himeno saw through Hayate's headstrongness to the very core of his worry. Instead to take the bait he laid out in front of her in which usually lead them both to arguments, Himeno's emotions diverted into a complete three hundred and sixty degree direction.
"It's okay Hayate, I'm alright. I know your worried about my terrible fall I just had but-" Lifting her head to meet his bemused gaze, Himeno allowed her lips to cruel upward. "I promise to not let you feel uneasy again."
For the second time that morning, Hayate had experienced another sharp intake of breath. On numerous occasions, the prince was exposed to the princess's alluring smile, and it was at these precise moments that his heart would beat ceaselessly. Feeling unfortunate for again encountering this overwhelming pounding in his chest, Hayate inhaled a large amount of oxygen into his lungs before he resumed his usual squabble with the princess.
"Tch, don't bother lumping me with those bozos over there I have no concern over your welfare. And putting that trivial matter aside, I'll be doing the cooking today because I'm tired of eating the same meals everyday." Shifting the position his body was currently situated in, Hayate made it so that his back was facing everyone in order to mask the pink pigments across his cheeks. The said girl he was shrouding his tinted face from was peeved by his arrogant response.
"Grr, what did you say!" Himeno shouted. Raising a shaken fist in the direction where Hayate left to fetch food from the pantry, a promising beating seemed highly for the eldest oij to receive from observing the evil flare surrounding the hime.
The boys watching the fight transpire between the two immediately led them to instinctively wrap their arms around the enraged female in order to protect their brother from ceasing to exist. Thrashing around in their tight squeeze, Himeno groaned when she sensed that her efforts to clobber the sapling seemed futile. Calming her vexation toward the bewitched man, she cooled her anger by relaxing her shoulders and taking a few deep breaths. Once doing so, she was released of their hold left now to observe Hayate prepare breakfast.
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"Hmm...so Hayate and Himeno are both arrogant about their feelings for each other. HA!" A woman's voice spoke.
In the midst of darkness, a woman clad in a lavender gown laughed at the pathetic pair shown through violet hues. The pupils that reluctantly observed the prince and princess misted over as the scenery in place of the irises shut off its light. However, when the light inside the room penetrated the dimensional mirrors of gazing, upon opening them, the eyes retained their natural color once again. Peering at the cheerful madam, the gifted eyes narrowed in sorrow.
Blinking away the tears that collected in her emerald irises, she grinned at her sadden vassal. Sauntering in the direction the ex-oij was situated, the girl grabbed the metal chains supporting his slant physique. The chains jangled as a suppressed moan escaped from the man's mouth. His body was roughly pulled forward to forcefully face the visage of the witch. Her lips curled slightly as she placed her pallid hands beneath his chin. The grim expression that was plastered across the servant's face mellowed at the instant his queen's eyes met his.
"M-Mistress..." A coarse reply emitted from the shackled man. The normally captivating vocals the youth possessed had succumbed to a harsh tone due to repeated abuse from his queen and her pet, Tanaka. Inhaling another breath, he was ready to talk when a finger was pressed against his lips.
"Shh-Sasame, you need not speak for I already gained the knowledge I was seeking, and as your reward..." Stopping purposely, she inched her face at a proximity to Sasame's until she gently pecked his lips. A tingling sensation ruptured inside the man's body as the queen left the young man there to relish the feel of her warm lips.
After a suffice amount of minutes transpired, a vague shadow was cast upon the lone staircase inside the room. Straining his neck to see the unknown visitor, his muscles tensed slightly surmising it was Tanaka who came to give Sasame another beating. However, when the shadow expanded to the full extent of the chamber, he gasped at identifying the person who enter the concealed room. 'Mawata...' The handsome man mouthed as she quickly dashed to his side.
"S-Sasame, what are you doing here?"
Worry was etched in the princess's face that Sasame could clearly make out, however; there was a question that itched at the back of his throat in which he couldn't quite form into a sentence. Never was his majesty concerned about his well-being, but this young lass had the compassion of a saint. Although on the surface she had the aspect of a passive adolescent, beyond that he could sense the genuine caring and loving person she truly was. Shifting his gaze away from her sadden stare, he recited the very same words the young lady spoke to him.
"What am I doing here? I should be saying the same to you."
At the sound of her words being mimicked by Sasame, Mawata blushed at her foolish interrogating when she herself was in the same boat as him.
"Uh...I was actually trying to find a book to brush up on my etiquette..." Twiddling her fingers nervously, Mawata refrained from revealing why she needed a book such as that when she herself was quite mannered. Though unknown of her colored cheeks clearly giving her secret away, Sasame smirked slightly at her tinted face. "However, the next thing I knew the bookcase had made an opening, and so I entered not knowing what laid ahead of me and here I am."
"Mawata..." Lifting a hand to her pale face, Sasame had an urge to touch her though he knew not why. But sadly in mid strive, he dropped his shackled wrist from proceeding. Slumping his body in his bounded state, Sasame hid his eyes so that Mawata could not see the eyes that nearly betrayed his affection for his master.
Cocking her elegant head to the side, Mawata was curious about the man's odd reaction. Though that thought melted away when she finally examined Sasame's physique. Up till now, the princess's attention was focused on the ex-oij's countenance but after closely inspecting his body, she had to gasp in horror at the awful sight in front of her.
Chained by metal clamps, the handsome youth was imprisoned in the cold cellar like room with clothes that were too tattered to protect him from the frigid air. The air inside the room immediately dropped to a lower degree as his body quaked from the chilled atmosphere. The scars that were slashed across his milky white torso seemed to glow in the candlelit room as old injuries from his wrists bled due to the tight metal bonds.
"Who done this to you?"
Jumping from the abrupt question, Sasame was surprised by the sound of her voice. Not accustomed to having company just yet, he felt a little awkward with no silence between them. Draining his mind of useless pondering, the adult assumed he could string the girl along with lies. However, the young lass was too enraged to hear them.
"This is my punishment for staying out too late-"
"Don't say anymore! No one has any right to harm someone under those rules. That's just cruel!"
Shaking from her tears, Mawata plodded to her knees disgusted by the torture Sasame endured. The agony of not being of any help to her love gripped tightly at her heart as all she could do was weep for his behalf. After several minutes have past, Mawata ascended her head from the ground inspecting the chains wrapped around his muscular body. Instantaneously, an idea sprung to her mind for a way to free the man from his restraints. Rising to her feet, she rummaged through every draw for the key to break him loose.
Alas Sasame knew what the girl was contemplating about doing and so he took it that he was reprehensible to tell her that her efforts were vain.
"If you're thinking of releasing me, I would refrain from doing so. There is no key in this room to free me."
Sighing for having her hopes crushed, her desire to help the adult was too overwhelming to bear. Although Mawata understood that she was useless for trying to rescue him, she couldn't surrender her thoughts from prying into unwanted interrogation.
"Can you at least tell me who had done this to you?"
Averting his lilac irises to the floor, Sasame tried his hardest to withhold that information from spilling. He did not want Mawata involved with the danger her step-sister was presently in, nor did he want Mawata to know that her step sister was alive and well while Mawata's heart currently consumed by hatred. And besides, he did not want his mistress's identity to be revealed either.
"I'm afraid I can not reveal that information to you. Not when your heart is wrapped in misery and vengefulness."
It was undoubtedly true that Mawata harbored spiteful feelings toward her sister, but she couldn't do as Sasame instructed and abandon those feelings. No. Not after Himeno tried to snatch him away from her before she meet her death. Yes her step sister's death. Though she loathed the very thought of the aftermath, she was quite content that her sister wasn't around. But immediately when that cruel thought crossed her mind, Mawata shook her head to rid herself from malice thinking. Although it seemed like the young princess despised her older step sister, inside her heart there was a tiny sliver that cared deeply for the tulip head more than anyone else.
Changing the topic, the young hime was determined as ever to aid the man in any way possible.
"Well...can I at least clean your wounds?"
Smiling at her courteously, Sasame nodded approving the girl to clean his injuries.
"If it will set your heart a little at ease then hai."
Hiding the smirk of excitement off of her countenance, she grabbed her handkerchief out of her skirt pocket and gently cleaned the open wounds around his wrists. It wasn't long before a few intakes of breaths indicated the prisoner was in pain, but the girl being persist on tending to his injuries, deliberately ignored his slightly jerky movements and insisted on cleansing them. As more groans surpassed his normally apathetic lips, the girl couldn't resist the urge to laugh.
"Heh, Heh."
Instantly, this attracted Sasame's attention that was just seconds ago fixated on Mawata's nimble hands.
"What's so funny?"
The immediate response had Mawata stop her giggling fit as she bashfully averted her gaze to the restrained man.
"I'm sorry but I remember a time when this same predicament occurred."
"That wasn't long ago was it?"
Tilting his head in the fourteen year olds' direction, Sasame at once became speechless by Mawata's up close beauty.
"A week to be exact," she replied.
"Heh, it's been that long huh."
Chuckling at the time that had pasted, the vassal couldn't help but smile at the princess. As silence bathed the scene, Sasame grew enticed by the young girl. Straining his neck toward the hime, he did not acknowledge how his countenance inched closer to Mawata's ivory visage, nor did he care. The girl blushed at the proximity of his face as she too mirrored his actions.
The atmosphere seemed superb for the two but like with almost every romantic scene, there always comes an interruption as the aftermath.
As their lips were mere centimeters apart and they could feel each other's breath tickle their partner, a loud thrashing noise was heard from the other side of the secret chamber. Blinking at each other with confused gazes, they were awakened from the trance of attraction in which they had momentarily fell victim too. However with that split second dissipated, so was Sasame's actions as well.
"You should be on your way Mawata."
Stomping her foot in anger, Mawata was irritated that Sasame was being as selfless and uncaring for his own safety as usual.
"Nani? But I can't just leave you like this-"
"It's alright, now go before you are seen."
Impatience was in his voice as the noise increased in volume.
Opening her mouth speak to again, she closed it knowing no matter how much she dawdled about rescuing Sasame, she couldn't get a word nor agreement in edgewise. Then a quick thought burst into mind. Clasping her hands together, she pleaded for visitation rights.
"I will take my leave now, but I can I visit you again?"
Squeezing her eyes shut, Sasame was once more surprised by her childish demands. Briefly closing his eyes to contemplate on her question, he opened them when he reached a decision.
"I believe it's best that you don't, but if your so persistent as to not heed my warnings, then to let you know when it is safe to enter here, I will produce a knocking sound that will resonant throughout the corridors."
Beaming at the handsome youth, Mawata vacated the cellar with their promise kept close to her heart. And as for the stoic man, his smile didn't falter even when Tanaka entered the cellar with a leather whip in his possession.
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Bacon and eggs sizzled on the skillet the prince was currently frying them on as the aroma of the meat and eggs drafted into everyone's nostrils stimulating everyone's taste buds. From the moment Hayate took control of the cooking, many of his brothers hovered over his preparations eagerly awaiting to take a bit into his food. Even the tulip head's stomach growled with impatience as the youth shut off the stove.
Grabbing the plates stacked on top of the counter, he scooped an equal portion of eggs and bacon onto each of them. One by one, everyone took their plate to the dinning room anxious to feast on their breakfast. Once everyone had seated themselves, they each cuffed their hands together saying a prayer to show their gratitude to the kami above for the meal that laid before them. However in the mist of praying, a couple of the boys grew bored of praying and instead played a round of kick the shins. Of course this didn't settle too well for the eldest brother who immediately stopped praying in order to give the twins a lecture. However by only this simple commotion had rippled into a wave of snickers as Hayate returned to his chair digging into his food. He ignored the ceaseless giggling as he ate.
As the conventions at the table switched to various topics, the subject had somehow lead to Mannen's grooming. Of course it wasn't a very pleasant thing for the nine year old to hear his hair being poked fun of, Mannen did in fact tried his hardest to bear the pressure the girl of his dreams was putting him through.
"Wow Mannen you have beautiful hair, but you know… I think it would look a lot better if you got it combed and maybe trimmed too."
"N-No way, I prefer it this way. This look makes me…think better. Yeah that's it!"
"Oh come on Mannen. Can't you think of a better excuse than that?" Go said nudging the flustered twin who growled at being taunted by his porcupine haired brother.
"Hmph, the day when Mannen has his hair kept accordingly will be the day when Hayate loses his stubborn streak. Of course that's near to impossible." Kei replied contributing to the conversation all the while taking a sip of his tea in a sophisticated manner.
"HEY!" Both Mannen and Hayate shouted in unison as the room was again filled with laughter. It was one thing to make fun of Mannen for his lack of grooming but to tease someone for their behavior, now that was hitting below the belt.
Wiping the tears that fell from her eyes, Himeno regained her composer and ability to speak.
"Well putting Hayate's manners aside, we could do something about Mannen's problem." Lifting herself from her chair, Himeno strolled out of dinning room only to return with a comb and a pair of scissors.
The second Mannen eyed the shinny beautifying tools in the himes hand fear had succumbed his being as the boy made a mad dash through the kitchen doors. However with the pots and pans still carelessly laying inside the scullery, they heard shouts of aches and pains as well as the sound of a run away nine year old clash with metal. Silence soon followed after as everyone in the other room tiptoed to the kitchen door in order take a gander at the disaster. But what they witnessed once they peered at the mess was a massive crash.
In the center of the kitchen where there once was a neat circle of pots and pans, now laid a body entangled in the metal pile. Seeming almost invisible buried amongst the surrounding pots and pans, the only thing that could diagnose Mannen was underneath the cooking utensils was his messy hair jutting out from beneath the heap. Shifting his weight below the mess, he froze when his eyes meet fuchsia ones. His face paled as he prepared to jet out of the kitchen not at all desiring for his hair to be touched. But before he ran out of the scullery completely, Mannen heard the girl's request repeated once more.
"Oh come on Mannen, this won't take all day. Just at least let me comb your hair and trim your bangs a little-"
N…NEVER!" And with that blatant response, Mannen spirited out of the room with only a trail of white smoke left in his place.
After the little runt was gone from their sight, Himeno entered the filthy room and sighed as she picked up a pan. Peering at the litter that surrounded her, she at once began cleaning up the kitchen that was tidy since the day she arrived at their abode. The others that were standing around doing nothing pitched in lending Himeno a helping hand. Though what the princess contemplated about while sprucing up the scullery was the ordeal about Mannen's grooming problem.
"Hmm…I wonder how I'll get Mannen to corporate?" Voicing her question to herself, she didn't expect someone to reply immediately after.
"Forget it toots, you can't convince him to cut his hair. It's just not that easy." Hayate replied while he scrubbed the pans he received from his brothers.
"And why not?" Himeno asked arching a pink brow however the sapling grew quite soon after. No one dared to speak out the truth behind Mannen's terrible hair problem except for one small flaxen haired youth.
"Because our mother was the last person who had touched his hair."
Instantaneously, all eyes averted to the innocent six year old who answered above a whisper. With his hazel eyes peering straight rather than their usual downward gaze, Shin bravely announced Mannen's dilemma.
Gawking at how outspoken Shin was becoming, Himeno was one of the first to break the awkward silence.
"Shin? If what you say is so, then why won't he let me just trim it for him?" Feeling slightly dismayed, Himeno couldn't help but feel a little envious over Mannen's affection for his birthmother.
" It's not that he hates having his hair trimmed, it's more of a fact that he doesn't trust you."
Whipping her head toward the direction of the sink, she saw the smug smirk the eldest brother gave her. Suppressing the urge to growl at Hayate's normal taunting, she instead sighed sadden more by the twin's mistrust in her than the teasing.
"Nii-san is wrong, Mannen has faith in you. It's just that he's not used to having someone handling his hair is all."
"Hajime? I guess you're right." Upturning her frown into a wondrous smile, the girl once again regained her confidence in herself. However, there was one morsel that was quite puzzled by the girl's determined outlook.
"How is it that you could stay so determined over trimming someone's hair? Why waste all your energy?"
"Huh?" Cocking her head slightly in Hayate's direction, she responded with an answer that surprised everyone in the room.
"I guess you could say that this family is like a second family to me and I want to contribute something for you guys in return of me staying here."
"Himeno…"
"Am I not considered a part of your family?"
Giving off her normal chirpy grin a loud thumping noise made its presence known. Surmising that everyone in the room could hear his heart pounding, Hayate clutched his torso trying to conceal his inner feelings he felt for Himeno to himself. Unfortunately, there was one brother that witnessed his actions. His mouth formed a u as he averted his attention back to the girl.
"Now that we got this matter cleared up, let's get this place cleaned up so we can hunt Mannen down." Raising her arm in the air, she used her other hand to grab her bicep. Squinting one eye shut, she tried to encourage the boys to join her.
Of course her silly gesture made the guys perspire on the back of their heads, they were however content on her plan to capture their brother. What more adventures will they embark upon? None of them knew. However, they knew for certain that they did not want Himeno to ever leave their side.
Grabbing the remaining pots from the ground, they resumed cleaning eager to find out what Himeno had in store for their terrified brother.
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In a remote location of the abode, a child at the ripe age of nine was curled in a fetal position inside a dark compartment. His eyes were clasped as his body shook with uncontrollable shivers. The eerie silence the room in which he was hiding in gave off frightened him more than if he were caught at that moment. A sudden creak from downstairs made Mannen fasten his arms around his knees as he began chanting something to himself.
"No one's going to touch my hair…No one's coming to touch my hair…" Mannen mumbled this underneath his breath simultaneously to himself as if it were a blanket of comfort. But sadly, the words he tried to sooth his scared soul was non-susceptible against the terrifying past he wish not to recall.
"GET HIM!"
He remembered their screams so vividly as he was slammed to the floor restrained of any movements. Oh how scared he was when he happen to catch a glimpse of his siblings eyes during the struggle. Like carnivorous beasts of the night, their pupils appeared as cruel as the wicked prank they had inflicted upon him. The instrument they used on Mannen cut across his hair silvery mane as his hair was mowed into strands that swayed to the floor like a shower made of his own hair. After agonizing minutes of trimming and whimpering, the boys released him.
As soon as Mannen realized the hellish torment had subsided, he wasted no time dashing to the restroom to see what damage they had done to his beautiful hair. However, the instant he saw his appearance in the mirror he was at first surprised by the odd creature he had not recognized as himself. But as the gears in his head turned and he finally figured out whom was gazing back at him from the mirror, he unleashed a shrill of a scream.
Hearing his loud outburst frightened his brothers who assumed something had befallen Mannen, they had quickly ran toward the bathroom where they had last seen him. However, once they took a gander at the hysterical youth in front of the mirror, they couldn't contain their laughter that they so held inside. Seeing him comb his fingers through new hairdo while his mouth gaped open from the entire situation, they believed that it was well-worth torturing Mannen for a quick laugh. And from viewing his distraught behavior was prove that it was fun and a great prank to pull indeed.
Though as for the victim on the other hand, it was another story. Rather than feeling a huge puff of fluff for hair, Mannen instead felt in its place cropped up hair that sort of resembled his twin brother's spiky dew. But the difference between the two was apparent. Instead of his being long and pointy, it was short and close together. What they had gave him was a crew cut.
A creak from the floorboards was all that Mannen needed to snap out of his memories. His skin prickled as he tried to suppress the memory away from his current thoughts and focus solely on how he'd be able to get out of this predicament. But no matter how much tried to forget about it, he couldn't get the image of that hideous hairstyle he had to endure for months out of his head. Fortunately for him, those thoughts we're easily set aside as the creaking of footsteps were nearing closer to his location.
The noise increased in volume as he heard small murmurs amongst his brethren who were eager to capture him like once before in the past. He held in his breath as he heard the doorknob turn. Then suddenly, the rush of noise was silenced. Seconds waved on by and still Mannen heard not a sound nor an intake of someone breathing. Saliva collected in his throat as he gulped it down and took a deep breath after keeping it in for several seconds longer.
Alas, that was the last exhalation the boy had until his hiding place was revealed by someone who yanked the closet door open almost completely ripping it off its hinges. The brother with multicolored hair smirked as his cocky eyes meet eyes that resembled that of a frightened animal. Reaching his tanned hands into the darkness, he immediately pulled them back with his twin in tow.
"I got him fellows!" He said, smiling with glee.
Though they had successfully retrieved the fugitive, one of the brothers was however, displeased by their violent act of catching their prey.
"Kuso Go. Did you really think it was a great idea to nearly break the closet door? Would you have paid for it if you had broken it?"
Giving his incompetent sibling a glare that would perhaps freeze hell over, the accused youth returned the glare back at him along with his own retort.
"Relax sourpuss. We at least found what we were looking for so take a chill pill."
Now Hayate was extremely peeved.
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
By this time when the saplings sensed trouble, they knew that they had to step in before either of them decided to lash out with physical violence. Kei being the bravest of the brothers tried his shot at calming his elder brother down.
"N-Now Hayate you should maintain your temper because it was merely a joke."
Growling was all Kei heard momentarily as his response until Hayate completely shrugged it off surprising everyone in the room.
"Grr, okay. But enough of this, let's fix up Mannen so we could find something better to do."
Normally the youth would at least complain over the matter a second or so before submitting to his brother's coaxing, but today it seemed like he was not fixated on arguments but more on the objective at hand. Numbly nodding at their brother's command, they fastened the struggling boy to a chair to begin the process.
"Now Mannen there's no need to worry, I'm fairly good at trimming hair. So please relax and I'll take care of you." Rubbing his soft and tousled hair, Himeno tried to cajole the nine year old by using a gentle tone to her voice. Though her efforts were in vain for Mannen was too stubborn and riled up with terror that he refused to be swayed by his own affections.
"N-No way! Not after what they had done to my beautiful hair years ago!" Struggling inside his bind, he managed to undue one hand to point at his brethren whom were the perpetrators.
"Years ago?" Himeno said voicing her question out loud. Blinking in confusion, her head tilted slightly as she pondered about the probability of the boys ages might actually being older than they appear. Though as prompt as the idea invaded her thoughts, she forcefully shoved those occurring speculations aside.
Although there were times when her mind stumbled upon the subject of the boys true identities and real ages, Himeno was a little skittish about discovering the truth. After being betrayed by her step mother and her vassal Sasame, the hime knew that she wouldn't be able to handle it if she found out that the brothers that she loved as a second family we're also lying to her as well. But little did the princess know, that the following of events would reveal something that could perhaps change her destiny forever.
"Huh? I thought he was afraid of anyone touching his hair except for his mother."
Appalled by the false news he heard, Mannen whipped his head toward the boys.
"You lied to her? How could you not tell her the gruesome fact that you guys gave me a hideous hairstyle?" Cringing from remembering his past horror, Himeno faced the brothers who were nervously shuffling their feet across the wooden floors.
"Is this true?"
Without even giving the hime a glance, the brethren sighed in defeat knowing they couldn't extend their lie any further.
"Hai…."
Stomping her foot in rage, Himeno unleashed a mouth full of lecturing.
"You guys are terrible to make your brother suffer through that. He was very young and yet you traumatized Mannen to think that anyone who cuts his hair will do that."
Sighing to herself, she clasped her arms together and pouted. Muttering complaints underneath her breath, Himeno wasn't aware of everyone eavesdropping on her one sided conversation.
"Great, now Mannen won't let us spruce him up so that he will look good for the ladies. Even though he is handsome now, he won't be able to catch the eye of the girl he'd love in the future."
Catching the tail end of the girl's muttering, Mannen's ears twitched. His lips curled slightly intrigued by Himeno's words as his heart thumped furiously in his chest. If he were to actually win the girl's love at the cost changing his appearance, Mannen would surly be able to transform back into his original body and have the teenager all for himself. Snickering below a whisper the ex-prince reached a decision.
"Alright I'll do it!"
Silence soon hovered over the large group as their mouths gaped open with surprise. Sensing the weird atmosphere going around, Mannen averted his eyes toward them only to blush from seeing his brothers react like that.
"What are you all staring at, just hurry up at get this nightmare over with!"
Snorting at their gawked expressions, Mannen grabbed the chair's arms and braced himself for the haircut. Although the nine year old seemed confident by his words, his posture however betrayed his false bravery that he tried to use as a well guarded mask. Though that didn't fool anyone except the tulip head who grinned for her victory she believed she earned.
"Okay!" Himeno replied as she untied Mannen and began fixing him up.
"That's one truly remarkable woman." Said Kei who was from ears lengths away, he also smirked at the young spirited girl. Sasame who was beside his younger sibling nodded his head in agreement.
"Indeed. Don't you agree Hayate?" Peering at his elder brother with a mischievous grin plastered across his face, he predicted what Hayate's actions would be. He imagined his brother to first blush profoundly, then shrug of his embarrassment as if his comment had not phased him. And just like clockwork, Sasame's prophecy came to a head.
With a 'hmpth' as his only response, Hayate strolled over to the doorway to observe everything from afar.
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"There all done!" With once last snip Mannen's new look was done. Himeno who smiled in satisfactory of her sprucing the kid up graciously handed the boy a mirror to see for himself.
However when the child gazed at the reflection of himself, he first seemed shocked. Though when his fingers ran through his now tangle-less hair, he grinned when he found out how much smoother his hair really was. Glancing back at his beautician, Mannen wanted to show his appreciation for what she had done but the moment his purple hues meet pink ones his words formed on there own accord.
"Wow I look…better. But all you did was brush, comb, and trim my bangs. How is it that I look a lot different even though you did so little?"
After he heard the last remark slip from his royal mouth, he immediately bit his tongue in regret surmising it would offend Himeno. But instead, the interjection was the complete opposite of what Himeno said next.
"Well that's because you were already handsome to begin with." Wrapping the child in a mother like embrace, Himeno winked at the pink pigmented youth in her hold. The boy who was enjoying the hug to its fullest extent lowered his head shy about making a huge commotion over his untamed hair.
"Himeno…" Murmuring her name below his breath, he was then pulled from her hold on account of his brother's jealously. Though at the primordial of what seemed to be another argument was quickly dissolved once they heard Himeno's statement.
"Phew I'm soaked in sweat thanks to all that fuss, I think it will be best if I take a bath now." Wiping her forehead with her sleeve, the hime turned toward the door ready to advance to the bathroom. But a pair of meddlesome twins halted the girl to reach her desired destination.
"Can we join you Himeno?" Instantaneously as they heard her remark, the twin's knew they had to voice their 'innocent' question. Since the seventeen year old had no idea they were same age as her, they figured she wouldn't mind letting them bath with her.
"Hmm? Sure since I know that you guys are only children so I guess that's fine."
"Yah!" Go and Mannen shouted jumping up and down with joy. But one of the siblings that heard the agreement quickly stepped into the conversation completely offended by the idea.
"Now wait just a minute!"
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Well…I finally updated this demo I couldn't finish it before the beginning of college for me. I'll try to do the other chapter whenever I get a opening in my schedule, but until then, please make do with this one now and bear with me for the following one okay? Oh and sorry that a year really pasted. I hope this story was alright, I'll try to make the next one even better.
The next one is going to be my favorite called, "Meeting Ojiisan, Secrets Revealed Part One"
See you in the next one bye!
