I placed my hood over my head as we entered the town, not wanting to be recognized. A part of me wanted to talk to my future people as their future queen, but another part wanted me to have genuine interactions with them first. Ikuto followed suit, his eyes seeming darker under the shade of his hood.
"What do you do when you come here?" I asked.
"Eat, talk, drink." He explained vaguely, he seemed genuinely uninterested in a conversation so I took the time to look around. It was more of a run down city, the streets were littered and I could see homeless people sleeping on the benches. To say I was shocked was an understatement, how could a town within two miles of the castle be doing so poorly?
Two kids were running around and playing, their clothes visibly dirty as well as their faces. Yet, they had these huge smiles plastered on their faces and the sweetest giggles coming out of them. I smiled gently as I saw them play what I thought was tag, something Rima and I used to play during our free time.
"Miss, you're it!" While I had spaced out, the little boy had touched my thigh. I laughed as he started to run, chasing after the little girl he was playing with. With longer legs I got her with no problem, grabbing her under her arms and lifting her up. She was breathless from laughter and sprinting, so she didn't mind me picking her up. I bounced her on my hip, realizing she could be no older than six. Her blonde hair was tied into two braids, her eyes shimmering with a child-like innocence.
"You're rather pretty, missy! You could be the princess!" She complimented me, not realizing who was holding her.
"I think you are far more fit to be one." I told her, a blush building on her face. I looked at Ikuto, who was just observing with his hands shoved in his pants pocket.
"If you were a princess, you could probably do better than the current king and queen!" Her friend exclaimed, she giggled while I just went wide-eyed.
"What do you mean?" I looked at the boy whose height only went to my waist.
"Look around miss, mommy and daddy don't talk about what's wrong but anyone can tell." He stuck his arms out to gesture at the entire town.
"Kids have a sixth sense for this kind of thing, but you don't have to be a genius to see something is wrong." Ikuto finally spoke up, approaching us.
"But there is a big bird on fire that will save us, and we'll be fine!" The girl said and I rose a brow.
"Big bird?" I asked, the little boy tugged on my jacket. He started walking towards an alley and I followed after him. Once we reached it, I put the little girl down to examine the graffiti tag. There it was, the phoenix engulfed by treacherous flames. This was the rebel group they mentioned in the meeting, but there was something on the bottom that they hadn't mentioned.
To the royal family, this marks a rebirth.
"A rebirth?" I was shocked, not able to tell if this was a serious threat or a stunt some kids pulled.
"Dragran used to be the favorited country with the most loved family, but these have been popping up." Ikuto explained, my eyes were still wide.
"Is it just this town?" I asked, my knees feeling weaker by the second.
"Not sure, I haven't ventured further than this." He told me, and I could tell he was not lying.
"It can't be true. My parents have worked hard to do the best for this country, one town failing is nothing." I spat. I knew better, this was the act of the terrorist group. If Ichiro was correct, than they have these tags in neighboring towns and probably spread along the coast as well.
"It's easy to say your parents have been working hard from where you stand, but look at your people." Ikuto pointed out and I shook my head.
"Are you saying your country doesn't have poorer areas?" I challenged him.
"The longer you deny, the harder it will hit when you realize what the truth is." He glared at me.
"The truth here is that you're disrespecting my family. You can what you'd like to me but continue with this, and I promise you will regret it." I snarled, not noticing I was getting closer to his face for an intimidation factor. But he just smirked once again.
"You have a passionate fire in you princess, if only you'd put it to good use." He commented.
"Princess?" The two children looked at us, them being there had completely slipped our minds.
Today's events made it hard for me to pay attention at family dinner, which was an issue because my parents usually tried to fit in proper etiquette and political lessons over a glass of wine. The tag was embedded in my mind now, no terrorist group acted without reason. There must be something my family or this kingdom has done to wrong this entire group, but what was it?
"No elbows on the able, Amu." My mother scolded me and I took them off, apologizing silently.
"Any news on the group who has been painting the phoenix all over the kingdom?" I brought up, seeing I stuck a chord in my father when his eye twitched.
"That is none of your concern, Amu." He wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"It will be as this country's future queen, and I do not appreciate being left in the dark about such matters." I fought back.
"Where do you think you are coming from? Do you think that your father and I cannot resolve an issue before your ceremony? Put more faith in your parents Amu, you're acting like you do not know any better." My mother snapped and my head went down, feeling guilty for even mentioning it. They were right, they would be able to handle this. They are the trusted king and queen, and my faithful parents.
Dinner was over and I walked down the hall, letting out a heavy sigh. I was acting selfishly, first leaving the castle walls and now questioning my parents. Ikuto was tainting my mind with these thoughts that my parents made decisions without their people in their best interest. I had to ignore his words, what would an outsider to this country know?
"Rather defensive for parents." I heard and saw him standing there, lurking in the shadows.
"Your words are toxic prince, you doubt this family and I will not listen to you any longer." I attempted to walk past him but he stood right in front of me.
"How did it feel? Talking back to your parents, even if it was for only five seconds." He mocked me and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Eavesdropping? Is there a line that you won't cross?"
"Lines are meant to be crossed, and you crossed one tonight. Face it Amu, a part of you is dying to rebel. You're sick of the goofy dresses and ceremonies, and you don't want to be wed in a couple of months." I felt a bubbling frustration in me.
"Why are you so hell bent on doing this?" I snapped.
"I see the strings above you, they're planning every move and you're following along like a puppet." He continued and I couldn't stand it anymore. I raised my hand and slapped him across the cheek. It was all in one fluid motion that lasted a second, but it felt like a year.
"No more, as prince of Hinyst you will stay out of Dragran affairs. I will remain loyal to my family, and I will soon be taking over as queen. I will prove that I care for my people and make decisions that reflect that, and that rebel group will eat their words and bow before me when I take the throne." My speech left me breathless, my dominating choice of words left him with an open mouth and wide eyes. I could not believe I spoke in such a tone, but I meant every word that I said.
"I hate you." He breathed out, but before I could reply, his lips crashed against mine. There was such a passion in the way his lips glided against mine, his hands holding my face. I could not help it, I kissed him back with the same amount of desperation. This boy that has been taunting me and mocking me made me felt things I had never imagined before. Whether it was that fire in my stomach whenever we argued, or the tingling sensation that travelled deliciously up my spine, it was always new with him.
His hands moved down to my waist, pulling me forward as he found the closest door and opened it. Without detaching his lips from mine, we entered the room and he shut the door again. Slamming me against the wall, he left my lips and trailed feverish kisses down my jaw and neck. He got lower and lower until the fabric of my dress got in the way. Sliding the straps of my shoulders, he pulled the dress low enough to where my cleavage popped out.
Instinctively, my hands quickly went up to cover them but he grabbed my wrists to stop me from hiding them. He kisses one of my breasts, biting down and sucking on the sensitive skin and I had to stop a noise that was building in the back of my neck. He teased me by kissing around my nipple, but let his mouth attach on it soon after. Delicately sucking and licking the hardened bud, I threw my head back and pushed my chest closer to him.
"Iku-Ikuto." I breathed heavily, feeling a wet warmth growing between my legs. He used his hands to reach behind me, I could feel his nails scratching through the cloth of my dress but the dreaded thing dulled the feeling. I felt his smirk against my skin, his nails attempting to dig further and I clutched his shoulders tightly.
"Are you begging, princess?" He questioned in a low tone.
"I have…I have never done something like this before." I let out betweens gasps for air.
"Do you want to stop?" He asked, I felt slightly embarrassed but I nodded. I thought he would get upset, but he just stood up and helped me readjust the top of my dress. Once I looked presentable enough, he grabbed my chin and went for one last kiss. He ended it by biting my lip and tugging on it, earning a moan from me.
"Wait five minutes until leaving after me, wouldn't want a patrolling guard to get the wrong idea." He shot me a crooked grin.
"It wouldn't be wrong." I commented.
"Goodnight, princess." He said before closing the door behind me.
Some dirty things I felt like writing.