The Four Kingdoms
Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King
Chapter XLVII: Funbari Inn
"So... How are you Tamao?" Princess Pirika asked before sipping her tea. They were sitting on a table overlooking one of the many hot springs that dotted the area.
It was the first time that the Kouri royal had visited her friend in her new abode. Before Prince Yoh had left months ago, he had turned over his dead father's ancestral house to his ex-fiancée and distant relative, Tamao. Although King Mikihisa had bestowed the property over to his son in his last will, the prince saw it befitting that the girl should own and take care of his father's original home on their side of the family.
The large wooden house was situated near the boundary of Kouri and Kasai. There were several natural hot springs next to it and Tamao had the idea of converting it to an inn so she could generate her own income. Since the Kasai palace was struggling with its finances, the girl deemed it best that she should stop living the royal life and depend on no one but herself.
The Asakuras were very kind to her even after King Mikihisa's death. The new Kasai ruler, King Hao had released her three most trusted palace maids, Kanna, Marion, and Matilda from his employment so they could help in setting up her business. After all, the king was encouraging people to be entrepreneurial so he could tax businesses more while providing jobs to idle people.
Her ex-fiancé approved of the idea before he left. Prince Yoh told her that as her dear friend, he would support everything that she wanted to do. Tamao had already given up trying to make him love her more than he had loved the Kouku queen. It was such a shame that she had let him go only to find out that Anna had also let him go. His absence had helped her move on from the heart break. Right now, there was nothing else she loved the most but this inn.
"Probably exhausted from overseeing the repairs and renovation of Uncle Mikihisa's ancestral house." Tamao replied to her friend. "Everything's ready for our soft opening. I just hope that guests would come pouring in from all over the land. I had spent all my fancy clothes and jewelry on this. This is all that I have left."
"Well, you can ask my brother for a loan if you need one..." the princess suggested. "He was quick to grant a loan to Hao who he strongly dislikes. It's for the Great Spirit's River Bridge that they are currently building between Kasai and Kouku.
"No, I'm all good... for now... Thanks for being our first guests by the way. I'm sure your brother is enjoying the private hot spring I have reserved for him. I can clearly hear him splashing around. Is he with your lover?"
Princess Pirika blushed. She wasn't used to Lyserg being referred to as her lover. They were still in the dating phase even after their graduation from the Royal Patch Academy. The group of friends had decided to go back to finish their studies despite the fiasco that was the Friendship Ball. King Ren was lucky that his fiancée had agreed to return there for a few months more. The same thing couldn't be said for Jeanne who had locked herself up in her mansion. Marco wouldn't let someone outside the family come and visit her. Even Lyserg was tight lipped about it. She was so curious but she respected his choice of silence. But if they were to get married, she would impose a no secret rule... She hated secrets more than anything.
Princess Pirika blushed again. Why is she thinking so far ahead? She brushed off the idea and responded to her friend, "Yes, along with Tona... Lyserg was ecstatic to come here right after our graduation. Good thing his father had agreed."
"Well, he is a grown man. Hopefully your brother doesn't drown him with all the crazy stunts he must be pulling off in the pool." Tamao scoffed.
"I think Horo Horo likes him although he doesn't show it." Princess Pirika grinned. "Oh, I remember something... " The Kouri princess took out an envelope from her purse. This was probably the reason why she had thought of those things in advance. "Ren gave this to me after the graduation ceremony. He said that Anna wanted you to come." She handed Tamao the white envelope with the seals of Kaminari and Kouku.
"They are still doing it, huh?" Tamao squinted at the details in the invitation. "I pity Yoh... But I do understand Anna's decision. Sometimes.. a girl just got to move forward..."
"Just like what you did, Tamao. I'm so proud of you," Princess Pirika squeezed her friend's hand.
"Don't be yet. I still got to make this inn break even at the very least."
"Hi girls!" Lyserg appeared by the door wearing a bathrobe. "Did you miss me?" He smiled and sat down next to the Kouri princess who grabbed an empty cup and poured him some cold tea.
"I'm sorry. Was my brother a handful?" she asked.
"No, I'm not." The Kouri king appeared by the door wearing only a towel around his waist.
"Oh please, indecency is not permitted in the premises." Tamao scolded him.
King Horokeu spread his arms so that Tona can slip him into a bathrobe. He then sat down in the middle of the table together with his bodyguard. "I'm famished. What's for dinner?"
Tamao clapped her hands and the kitchen servants came in with trays of seafood hotpot, steamed lobster and crab, a slab of steak, garden salad, roasted pork, and cakes of different flavors. The Kouri monarch's eyes sparkled with joy.
"Help yourselves."
After they were satisfied with dinner, Princess Pirika and Lyserg excused themselves so they could take a scroll outside.
"Keep an eye on them," the Kouri king instructed Tona who followed the couple a minute after they went through the doorway.
"You know... Pirika is old enough to take care of herself." Tamao eyed her guest who was still not yet finished devouring the assorted cakes.
"I know... But that's what big brothers do. Girls are strong independent creatures, I get that.. However, it's nice to have somebody else take care of you." King Horokeu gave her a toothy smile. "I like it here. I would definitely go back a couple of times. This place is so relaxing, the food is awesome and the hostess so beautiful!"
Tamao smiled back at him. She didn't like the idea of such an annoying person popping up to her inn from time to time. Yet she had to endure it for the sake of success. "Your Highness, you have chocolate on your teeth."
At the Kouku palace...
"I've had my measurements taken by the tailor this afternoon. The suit will be done in about a month. The gardener also assured me that all the flowers he planted would bloom in time for our wedding." King Ren dried his wet hair with a towel as he stood by Queen Anna's dressing table. He had just finished bathing in her indoor pool.
The Kaminari king had been dropping by the Kouku palace at sunset to give an update to his fiancée about their wedding preparations. He had been doing that everyday since the queen had given him the go signal to initiate the pre-wedding activities. Well, that's ever since Yoh Asakura left months ago.
After the war, Ren wasn't sure that Anna still wished their marriage to push through. It was apparent that she and the Kasai prince were in love. He did not want to lose her again but he did not want to force himself on her either. Anna wasn't the type of person to talk about her feelings but he rather hear her say to his face if she wished to break off the engagement. So he gathered enough courage to propose to her - - - something that he had long wanted to do even before the arranged marriage was agreed upon by their fathers. When the blond queen said yes, his happiness was over the moon. He was really expecting that she would give the opposite response. He was elated when he saw that she was still wearing the diamond ring that he gave her.
The Kouku royal eyed him as she was brushing her blond hair in front of the mirror. She could see her fiancé watching her from that view. Normally a palace maid would do it for her but after being subject to the life of a servant, she had learned to do menial things without requiring any help. She had also managed to change into a night gown by herself while Ren bathed in her pool. She wasn't aware of any recent change in the protocol but the servants would automatically leave her presence as soon as the Kaminari king entered her chamber.
"I, too, have spoken with the royal seamstress. She would be presenting to me her designs before taking my measurements. Then it would probably take months before the dress would be finished. It's always easier for you, men. Your clothing styles are very limited."
King Ren chuckled. He recognized that slight annoyance in her voice with which he was so acquainted.
"I've also sent my royal cook to yours so they could finalize the menu for the wedding banquet. I do hope they would come up with something without slicing each other's fingers off as they are both ill-tempered men. I've already agreed to have the wedding take place in Kaminari palace since you have a bigger ballroom but I'm hoping that the Kouku cuisine would be showcased during the banquet."
"Whatever you want, my love. I'll talk to the royal cook as soon as I come back to Kaminari." King Ren placed his hands over her shoulders and began to massage her. "Don't stress about this too much... You know what... Pirika was raving about this newly opened inn with hot springs near the Kasai-Kouri border. We could spend our honeymoon and relax there for about a week if you like... It's owned by her friend... I forgot her friend's name though... Pirika mentioned it during our graduation ceremony at the academy. She was Yoh Asakura's--"
The queen accidentally dropped her brush. "It's Tamao." She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "Her name is Tamao."
Her fiancé picked it up for her. "I'm sorry for even mentioning his name. I know you're still upset with him going away..."
"A hot spring sounds good... We should go right after the banquet." She put the hairbrush down, stood up and took the towel from him. She wiped off the drips of water from his neck and nape. "Before you jump into conclusion, I'm doing this so we can already retire to our own beds."
She had assigned the guest room next to hers as his so he could spend the night at the Kouku palace everytime he finds himself there after dark which was more frequent now that he was a full time king. She wasn't ready to share her bed with him just yet.
She gave him his sleep wear and looked away as he put them on. She needed to get used to his presence in her room. She would be spending her lifetime with him soon. They have agreed to live in both palaces, half the week in Kouku and the other half in Kaminari. This meant that her room would become a marriage den eventually.
"You can turn around now although it's no big deal to me even if you peeked." Her fiancé smirked at her.
Queen Anna rolled her eyes and pointed at the door.
"Can I atleast get a kiss?" King Ren pulled her to him then gently cupped her face. "I have missed you all day..."
She nodded then closed her eyes. She felt him plant several soft kisses on her lips. They were different from his usual ones which were always passionate and intense.
His gentleness reminded her so much of someone... Someone who left her months ago and broke her heart. Someone whose heart she had broken as well. She tried to block the thought of him from her head but all she could see was his goofy smile.
End of Chapter 47