The Four Kingdoms

By Elle Pellano

Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King

A/N: I'm finally back! I'm sorry for the very delayed update. I just had several things going on in my life but rest assured I have no intention of discontinuing this story. I'll try to post a chapter every week if possible.

Chapter XXVI. The Other Kasai Prince

Kanna irritably threw the old scrub she was using to clean the dirty kitchen floor into the pail of murky water. The impact had caused several drops of cold water to splatter on her face but not even those could cool her temper. She had so many chores to do that morning but she had to stop for a moment because the head palace servant had called out an assembly by the front doors. Apparently the king had returned from his short trip and they had to welcome him back with warm greetings.

She was sick of it all. She hated this monotonous impoverished life. It had not always been this way. She was born into an affluent family of traders from the kingdom of Kouri and had enjoyed a privileged childhood. However, her whole world was shattered when her parents died of an accident at sea and left their business bankrupt with her. She had to sell their mansion, their family's only remaining asset to pay off the loans to her relatives. They refused to assist her financially or even take her in. She was abandoned and was totally on her own. She lost everything at the age of 18.

To save face, she immediately left the kingdom of Kouri. She wanted to be far away from all the hurt and humiliation. She wanted a new life in Kasai but it was not easy to start one. She waited tables in rowdy pubs and cleaned smelly animal barns in exchange for free lodging and meals. She would cry every night out of pity for herself. She was not used to this kind of life. She was never brought up to be someone else's servant. She had never touched a scrub, a rug or a feather duster not even out of curiosity before.

Her depression got the better of her so one morning she went to a cliff. She was pondering on whether to jump or not when a young boy of about ten years emerged from the bushes on a white horse.

Flashback

"Are you trying to attempt suicide or just marveling at the deep ravine below?" The long-haired boy who sat with an air of authority looked down at her with a smirk painted on his face.

"GO away! Little kids should leave adults on their own." Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"What's taking you so long then? If you wished to end your pathetic life, do not hesitate on jumping," the boy raised an eyebrow. "That's a very painful way to die though. By the time we find your body, you will be nothing but a lump of bloody mess. Too bad your pretty face will become too unrecognizable for people to give you the credit you deserve during your funeral."

"People treat me as trash. No one would attend my funeral anyway." She moved a step closer to the edge of the cliff.

"You're such a wreck. Do what you want. I'm going now." the young boy motioned his horse to turn around. "But before I go, I'm giving you another option. You can choose to jump and die miserable or you can choose to live and follow me. I can make people who have hurt you miserable."

"Huh! What can such a young boy like you do?"

"In case you don't know me, I am the heir to the Kasai throne. You can postpone your death and meet me on this very spot next week. If you're not convinced with what I can do, you can jump off the cliff. I'll even push you to your death if you ask me to. But first, I believe we have not been introduced?"

"I am Kanna… Kanna Bismarch."

"One of the Bismarchs of Kouri kingdom? How interesting. See you after a week then, Kanna."

Kanna walked away from the cliff feeling stupid after the boy left. She couldn't believe why she had listened to a ten-year old. Perhaps she didn't have the courage to take her own life after all. Perhaps the arrogant boy who claimed to be the heir of Kasai gave her a renewed spirit. He reminded her so much of herself when she was a child. She was really a strong woman and her family's tragedy should not make her drop down to her knees in despair.

Six days after the meeting, news of a fire that had ravaged the Bismarch mansion spread across the kingdom. The whole structure and all its new occupants were burned down to ashes. The cause of the fire was unknown but two explosions were said to be heard from each wing of the mansion. The following day Kanna hurried to the cliff and found the boy waiting for her there with his horse.

The next thing she knew she had become the personal maid to the future king of Kasai but her happiness only lasted for a while. The prince had been sent away by his father and the right to the throne was granted to his weakling twin. It's been seven years since he was gone and she missed him so badly. She was miserable again but she would opt to feel miserable inside the palace while she waited for the return of her prince.

Kanna took her usual position between her friends, Marion and Matilda among the palace servants. She noticed the gap in the front row and her blood boiled with jealousy. The blond girl called Anna was missing from the line-up again. It was one of the privileges of being a personal maid to the new heir of Kasai. Her duty was to always accompany the prince so she was not prompted to leave him for other tasks. Besides the King of Kasai always went on foreign trips that he no longer required the presence of his family to welcome him back as he returned to the palace.

I wonder where everybody is… Anna went down to the usually busy kitchen to bring the breakfast tray she used to feed the prince only to find the place deserted. The soap on the dishes had already dried, the potatoes and carrots for today's lunch soup were half-peeled, and a bucket of dirty water was left lying on the floor. If the head palace maid could see the place now, someone would surely get some severe spanking and scolding. The blond girl decided to leave the premises immediately before the head servant arrives and blame her for the chaos in the kitchen.

As she was climbing up the stairs, she remembered that the king was to arrive that morning from his trip abroad. This could be the main reason why she did not see a single servant around the palace. That would also mean Prince's Yoh's lovestruck fiancée, Tamao would be back to spy on them as if she was stealing her future husband-to-be from her. Anna decided that she had better get the lazy Yoh off the bed in time for the arrival of his father and fiancée.

The palace servants bowed down as soon as King Mikihisa entered the grand wooden doors followed by his exhausted pink-haired niece. Tamao brightened up upon seeing her fiancé slowly approaching the group but her smile quickly faded when she spotted his blond personal maid promenading behind him. To the very observant eye, it was more like Prince Yoh reluctantly walking to join the welcoming crowd while Anna pushed him to go faster.

"Welcome back father," Yoh gave out a timid smile.

"Oof!" The prince tried to untangle himself from the pink-haired girl's tight embrace. "Hello Tamao…"

"I missed you Yoh! I hope you didn't do anything to make me feel bad while I was away," Tamao shot an irritated look at the blond girl. She finally let go of her grip on Yoh when she spotted the queen and the former rulers of Kasai drawing near.

"Welcome home Darling," Queen Keiko sashayed towards her husband to give him a warm kiss on the lips.

"It's good to see my family complete again," King Mikihisa seemed elated. He did not expect that he would be greeted by the whole Asakura family upon his return. After all, he was just away for a couple of days. He needed some form of positive energy especially after coming back from an emotionally draining activity such as a funeral. "It will be more complete once I show you who returned to the kingdom with me."

As if on cue, the carriage doors flew open and a smirking young man of seventeen years alighted from the vehicle. He had a pompous air about him and his long hair swayed with the breeze. Kanna couldn't hide her delight. Her prince had finally returned.

In the Royal Patch Academy's dining hall...

Chocolove rested his chin on his hand and ate his evening meal with a bored expression. His best buddy Ren was ignoring him the whole time and was busy chatting with his new found friend, the princess of Kouri. They became really close because of their Society of Royals homework to the point that Prince Ren had invited Princess Pirika to their favorite dining table. It seemed that they had shared enough stories to write into several pages of essay already.

Chocolove sighed. He couldn't wait for his other best friend Lyserg to come to school again. At least somebody would talk to him even if the conversation would turn out to be an entire derision of his comic personality (or oddity according to Ren). He can't wait for Lyserg's cousin, Jeanne to appear by the table again. Her seat was currently taken by the bubbly princess of Kouri. If Jeanne were there, he would have some inspiration not to mention a very good view as he gobbled up his dessert of chocolate truffles. Chocolove thought it's really unfair that Ren always gets the attention of good-looking girls in the academy. On the other hand, maybe it was better that way knowing how the Kaminari prince had recently lost the love of his life.

It was good for Ren to make friends with Pirika but what Chocolove couldn't fathom was how easily the two forgot about the brewing hatred between their kingdoms. The Tao heir, in particular, would consistently voice out his deep suspicions for the two kingdoms on the other side of the Great Spirit's river. Apparently, it would only take a few days for Ren to leave his speculations in the past and make friends with the enemy.

How very ironic if Ren would fall for the talkative Pirika. Chocolove taught. But that would complicate matters because of Lyserg's feelings for the girl which Ren didn't know about. And then there were Jeanne's feelings for Ren, too although she won't admit it to her cousin or to him. Chocolove grabbed his hair in frustration. He was starting to feel the pressure building inside of him. He must quickly find a girl of his own so that he won't get stuck in the middle trying to fix whatever broken relationship would result from all of these nonsense.

"Acting funny again Chocolove? What's wrong with you?" A familiar voice asked from behind him.

"This is nothing Lyserg... I'm just eating so much chocolate truffles, they are hurting my head." After pausing for a minute and realizing who he was talking to, Chocolove shot up from his seat with glee. "Lyserg! Jeanne! I'm so happy to see you both! Renny is being a meanie!"

The pair sitting across him also stood up to greet the two.

"My deep condolences Jeanne…" Ren took the girl's hand and squeezed it hard.

"I heard from Lyserg about your loss, too. I'm sorry about what happened to your fiancée," Jeanne responded with a pat on the Kaminari prince's shoulder.

"Condolence Jeanne…" Pirika lowered her eyes. That was the first time she had talked to the elegant Duchess of St. Michel.

After giving Ren a confused look, Lyserg greeted the Kouri princess with a friendly smile. It's good to see you, Pirika. It was what he wanted to say but "Pirika… you're here.." were the words that came out of his mouth. Lyserg wanted to slap his face.

"Oh.. I'm just discussing homework with Ren. I'm sorry for intruding your place… Maybe I should go now…" Pirika took her books from the chair beside her.

No, don't go. It's okay for you to stay here. But Lyserg only let out an inaudible whisper.

"Thanks for the stories Ren. Maybe we could continue tomorrow?" The princess of Kouri smiled at him.

"Sure, I'll see you after classes, same time, same place," Prince Ren waved at her.

"Why are you giving me that suspicious look Lyserg?" the Kaminari prince asked his friend as soon as Pirika left the dining hall.

"Nothing. It seemed a lot of things had transpired in here while we were away. Would you care to orient us?"

"Amm… do you want some chocolate truffles?" Chocolove shoved the plate in between the two. This is going to be difficult.

At the Kasai palace lobby...

"Hao, my son!" Queen Keiko wept as she embraced her other child whom she had not seen for seven years. The young man stood still and did not return her embrace. The queen lovingly touched her son's face. "You look so much like --"

"Yes, I know. I looked like my twin brother but I'm smarter and a hundred of times more good-looking."

Anna rolled her eyes. She had never known anyone as conceited as the other Kasai prince. He was ten times more arrogant than Ren. Besides the length of the hair, Hao and Yoh were physically identical yet their personalities were totally on the opposite sides of the coin.

"Prince Hao will not be going back to the Dukedom of St. Michel. He's staying here with us for good," King Mikihisa announced to the crowd.

"Welcome home brother!" Yoh grinned at him but his twin gave him no response. Hao's gaze was apparently fixed on the blond girl dressed in a palace servant's uniform behind him.

"And who might you be?" the other Kasai prince approached her with keen interest.

"She is Anna," Yoh introduced his personal maid. "She is --"

"…not from here," Hao eyed her from top to bottom.

"Er…" his twin brother began to panic but the quick-thinking Anna responded well, "Yes, I'm new here my dear prince. I'm one of those people you haven't seen before you left as a child. I would perfectly understand if you won't consider me as someone who belongs here."

"Of course, of course. I'm sorry for being rude. Shall we introduce ourselves? What's your name?"

"Anna."

"And your last name?"

"I have… no last name. Everybody just calls me Anna."

"Brother, Anna is Amidamaru's distant relative. Amidamaru doesn't have a last name, too. I think it's part of their family tradition not to use last names," Yoh laughed nervously.

"You know Yoh, I did not expect you to make a statement that makes any sense but that last one did. Anyway, hello Anna, I am Hao Asakura." The long-haired Asakura twin offered his hand.

Anna reluctantly shook it but Hao did not let go of it at once so she had to forcefully pull it from his grip.

"For a palace maid Anna, you got soft hands."

"She was never really a servant before," Prince Yoh came to her defense. "Her former job was that of a governess. She is tutoring me right now about what I need to know about our kingdom."

"Oh.." his long-haired twin's lips spread out into a smile. "Maybe you could also teach me. I have been away for seven years I don't know anything about Kasai."

Liar! Anna fumed with rage. She's beginning to hate Yoh's brother even more.

"What do you say King Miki?" Hao addressed his father casually.

"I think that's a good idea," the king of Kasai scratched his chin. "Anna, you can start tutoring Hao tomorrow after you're done with Yoh."

The blond girl wanted to melt away into nothingness that very minute.

End of Chapter 26