"As you wish, Miku," Kaito continued to smile, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Kaito watched the princess leave, then just as he was about to fall asleep he heard the door open and felt forceful hand grip his shirt and pull him forward...
"What do you think you were doing?!" A familiar voice asked between clenched teeth as he tightened his grip on Kaito's shirt.
"Oh, Gakupo, nice to see you too," Kaito replied nonchalantly.
"Answer my question!" The purple haired gardener commanded.
"I don't think I fully understand your question."
"I mean, what one earth were you thinking?! You could have been beaten to death!" The purple -haired man asked with a layer of concern under his harsh tone.
"Calm down, it was only an act," Kaito replied calmly waving it away like it was nothing.
"An act?! What do you mean an act?! You might have died you fool!"
"Gakupo, please, I had the whole thing under control-" Kaito began but was cut off by his friend's dramatics.
"Under control!? I just spoke with one of the servants and they tell me you were covered in bruises whilst spitting blood! And you have a broken ankle now?!"
"Look," Kaito grabbed Gakupo's wrists trying to calm him and spoke in a level tone, "I'm fine, like I said, it was an act. I paid those men to pretend to be assaulting me for a petty crime."
"Oh really?!" Gakupo replied not believing a word, "And how do you explain the ankle, blood and bruises?!"
"That blood I spat wasn't really blood, it was some red mixture I quickly held in my mouth and spat out at the right moments. See?" Kaito pulled out a tiny glass vial hidden in his sleeve that was a thick blood-like red, "The bruises are fake too." He added and let go of Gakupo's wrist with one hand, licked his finger and rubbed it against one of his 'bruises' to show it washed away like paint.
Gakupo's eyes widened in surprise.
Kaito grinned. "Come now, you don't honestly think I'm that stupid or weak do you?"
Gakupo heaved a sigh of relief, and let go of his grip allowing Kaito to fall back on his pillow.
"You scared me there for a moment," He then looked up with a concerned expression that was no longer followed by anger, "But what of your broken ankle?"
"An act as well," The bandit assured his companion.
Gakupo smiled, "Clever, yet also risky, what if she had checked your bruises and ankle?"
Kaito shrugged, "I would probably just cry out in protest before she could check and say maybe it's best if she didn't touch them. Also, I did have the men inflict a few real bruises, just to make it more realistic."
The purple haired man shook his head in disbelief, "Only you would go to such an extent for a bet."
"Only because I knew it would work," The blue haired fiend said with a mischievious grin.
"Is that so?" Gakupo crossed his arms with a raised eyebrow, "Do tell."
"Yes, see I asked around and was told the princess was well-known for her gentle heart. She may have a keen and level head on her shoulders, therefore not too easily trusting to others, but once she sees a person in need, all that will immediately escape her thoughts. She would never think of mistrusting a seemingly innocent and injured man. And she will probably check on me daily to make sure I was doing alright, which gives me plenty of chances to get closer to her and win that little heart of hers."
"How did you know it would be her that would find and help you? What if it was another kind soul?"
"Well, I ended up finding an inn close to the castle, giving me the chance to wait for her to enter the village, which was where I planned the spectacle to take place. Once I saw her leave the castle I prepared my act and then followed her for a bit. When she seemed prepared to head back, I snuck through the alleyways to get ahead of her and sprung my trap!"
Gakupo nodded, "Rather impressive, for you at least. You really aren't holding back on winning this bet are you?"
"Certainly not."
"Well, then I suppose I need to step up my game as well then," Gakupo said.
"Depends, how did you get to ending up here?" Kaito asked.
"Luck, mostly. My mother happened to be friends with the gardener here, and so I knew him fairly well. When I remembered that I went to pay him a visit and he told me he had recently been feeling under the weather, so I may have hinted towards him to allow me to take over his job for awhile. He agreed once I told him he would still be paid."
Kaito looked at Gakupo with an odd look. The devilish glint faded from his eyes, and his eyebrows wrinkled into a look of concern.
"Gardening? Are you sure that'll be okay?"
"It'll be fine. I'm over that now. I think I am old enough to handle it."
Gakupo chucked but Kaito's expression remained.
"I hope so. Just...if it gets to hard on you..."
"Don't worry, it'll be okay," The gardener assured his friend.
Kaito nodded. "Alright, if you say so."
At that moment the doctor came back in and told the visitor he must allow the patient some rest if he is to get better. At that Gakupo glanced at Kaito who looked like he was trying hard not to laugh, and then left.
The next day, as Kaito predicted, the princess came to visit him.
Her long green hair was braided today and decorated with colorful flowers. She wore a short sleeved light purple dress with white lace.
He had to admit she was truly breathtaking, her green eyes were luminous and gentle. Her skin looked so soft and pure he actually had to prevent himself from reaching out and brushing a hand against it. She looked down when she walked, as if trying to hide her beauty with humility, but it hardly worked considering the instant she looked up under her long thick eyelashes even the most heartless human would feel a warmth in their chest.
"How are you feeling?" She asked as she sat beside him her hands folded in her lap and her back straight as if she was posing for a portrait.
"Better, though very sore," Kaito lied through a fake, weak smile.
"That was a terrible thing those men did to you, I will have them punished accordingly," The girl said trying to sound stern.
"Do not do that princess, I was at fault in the situation. I had thrown a few insults after they accused me of the crime, which was wrong on my part."
"Nonsense! That is still not an excuse to hurt an injured man!"
"Thank you, but really, I do ask you don't harm them, they were doing their job." Plus they won't be too happy once they discover I was the cause of them being thrown into jail, Kaito thought.
Miku sighed, "Well if that's what you wish, though I can't understand why you'd want to leave them be!"
"They we're merely doing their job, I am sure if I was really a criminal you wouldn't feel the same about me."
She was quiet a moment and then said, "Perhaps, but I know you are innocent."
"How are you so sure?" He replied truly curious.
"Any half-intelligent man would never steal during a time when people are sparse. If there are less people it would make it easier to see the crime being done, which is why most criminals do their worst during the middle of the day when the square is crowded."
Kaito nodded, then said, "What if it was on a whim?"
"Even if it was on a whim, you probably would've still given it some thought before you actually committed the crime, like looked around to see if anyone could see you, or made sure you did it at a good time. Plus, do not take this as a insult, but a man in your condition would take extra precautions in case he was put in the position of running."
"I'm impressed, Miku, you really are quite intelligent."
Miku smiled, more because the man called her by her first name than his compliment.
"M'lady!" A female servant called, "The king requires to see you."
Kaito noticed the girl made a disapproving face before she turned to say she would be there soon.
"What was that?" He asked.
"What was what?" She asked.
"That face, it was rather...sour."
Miku sighed, "I'd hate to bother you with my problems, it is something petty anyway."
"I don't mind, it's lonely here and talking to others is comforting," Kaito answered and meaning it, it really was quite lonesome in the large infirmary. He didn't much care to hear other people's problems, having plenty of his own already. But the princess didn't seem like one to complain about it. She didn't seem like someone who was just itching to tell everyone her problems so they could make her feel better.
"Well..." She paused hesitant, and then when Kaito made no protest went on, "You see my father is trying to find a suitor for me. As you may know I am looking for a husband, and so my parents have been searching all the kingdoms for a prince I might take a fancy to. I really love my mother and father, and I know they want the best not just for me, but the kingdom as well..."
"But?" The blue haired rogue asked as the princess paused to bite her lip.
"But...I just don't feel like I am ready for love, much less marriage."
Kaito thought of the best way to answer this, but couldn't think of one so just replied with, "I see," and a small nod.
"I'm sorry, I must be bothering you with my complaint."
"It's hardly a complaint since it makes perfect sense. No one likes to be forced to do what they don't want, especially when it comes to marriage of all things," He answered.
"Thank you for understanding," She then stood up and said, "But I think this is something I must do, whether I like it or not. I might be even able to strengthen the kingdom if I choose wisely."
So, there really are some royals who actually look out for their kingdom. Kaito thought thinking of the royalty that ruled the land he lived in.
Buru was well known for it's location, which was a large isle surrounded by ocean, and for it's clean water. However another thing many people knew, but never really talked about, was it's corrupt monarchy. For the past fifty years, Buru had the unfortunate luck of having a self-centered, money-driven king, the next one sometimes worst than the last. The current king, Lord Kawagishi, however was the worst of them all. He raised taxes drastically since he was crowned and since the kingdom was on an island, many didn't have the skill to make, or the money to buy a boat to flee to another kingdom. The economy was dreadful, and the king did nothing to try to help. He didn't have any children, and so it was impossible to merge kingdoms.
Even the mindless knew a revolution was soon to come, however that little spark to set it off hadn't come yet. But it was only a matter of time. If anything, Kaito was glad to have finally left that place. The reason he never left before was because of it's clean water and vast ocean of fish which made easy access to food.
"I will come back later," The princess said breaking through Kaito's thoughts.
"Oh, yes, thank you, I would appreciate that," He answered with as charming a smile as he could muster.
With that he watched her turn and leave again, not noticing he waited until the door closed behind her before he tore his gaze from her direction.