Its 10 years in the past at the Tokugawa household, a year before the 2nd Great Turf War. A group of children play in the huge front yard with many servants tending to them; a trio of boys were there running around, these boys were young Ao, Jengai, and Arokei, the three heirs to their respective clans. Today, their parents were all having a meeting about the current situation with the three boys weren't the only ones there though; there was also a girl who stayed over to the side, this girl was none other than the daughter of the proud martial artists, Renji and Cara Citra.
Ao notices that she hadn't joined the boys in their game and decided to ask her what was wrong-also becoming interested in her as he got a closer look at her-seeing she's just also in her transitioning phase like he and his friends were; unfortunately, she crosses her arms and looks away, showing no interest in conversing. He stays persistent, continuing to give her his attention as he follows her; the other two boys notice her and begin to assume the obvious in Ao's actions. The girl runs away from Ao yelling "leave me alone!" but Ao doesn't heed her, instead he picks up his speed with her and ends up overtaking her, grabbing her by both hands restraining her from any escape; they're out in the garden surrounded by a myriad of roses, dandelions and petunias.
"Why won't you play with us?" Ao said, making sure his grip was as loose as possible, not wanting to hurt the girl.
"Why do you care!?" she barked, crossing her arms and glaring at him.
"Why are you so hostile? I only wanted to know why you're excluding yourself from us…"
The girl sighs, calming down a bit and beginning to shift closer to him, "Our parents aren't friends, so that means that we aren't friends…that's why!"
Ao laughs at her hysterically; she stares at him, wondering why he-a proud samurai in the making- be so joyous and bright. She begins to warm up to him, telling him her name.
"Tangie, huh..? I like that name, it's beautiful…"-he reaches over and picks out a bright orange rose-"just like you."-handing her the flower; she blushes as she received the rose, although she was young, Tangie had grown up seeing her dad show as much affection to her mother as possible, even learning from her mom that when she gets older, she'll find someone that she wants to be with for the rest of her life.
I…I've found him…? She thought, as her young 6 year old mind tried to recognize what to respond with, gazing into his red eyes as they stood alone in the garden, with the only noise audible being the birds that were chirping periodically and the soothing running water in the stream running from the garden. She looks around quickly to find something to give to him in return so that she doesn't feel like she'll need to be in his favor. She then eyed his Cobalt Blue tentacles that were wrapped in a bun fitting nicely with his traditional Cobalt Blue Yukata that he was wearing as well.
"Cobalt!" she shouted, having a light bulb moment. "Your name from now on is Cobalt!" she said, crossing her arms with satisfaction beaming on her face.
"What? Why would my name have to be that?" Ao asked in confusion, scratching the side of his head as he tilted it just a tad bit.
"Because, you gave me this flower, so I'm giving you a new name! What? Don't you like it?" Tangie hissed, expecting him to reject the name and show the villainous side that she had him and his family to be.
Ao smiles with such a sweet gleam, "I love it…"
An arrow penetrates through her heart as she began to see him in a new light, she had already fallen for him from the moment he handed her that rose, and those words were the seal. She blushes heavily as she holds the rose tighter, flinching as he came closer to her, unfamiliar with the weird feeling that was becoming too real to her. But suddenly, they both heard their parents' voices as they got louder and louder; Ao recognized other voices that must have been Jengai and Arokei's parents.
"This war is an ultimate revelation! Either way, we were destined to fight those damn 8 tentacle freaks!" shouted a man in a Green Yukata; Jengai's father.
"Whoa there..! We might be having issues with them, but there is no need to use that kind of language! The kids might be around here!"Responded a young woman in an Orange Keikogi; Cara, Tangie's mom.
"I second that! Who knows, maybe those kids ran off and are in this very garden!" laughed a man with strong resemblance to Ao; his father, Arosuke.
"Perhaps our little Tangie and your son..? I did see her gazing at him earlier!" guffawed the man with Cara, Renji, Tangie's dad.
"Well maybe we should arrange a marriage for the two! It'd surely bring in to different families together!" proposed the woman with Arosuke, Simone, Ao's mother.
Both Ao and Tangie blush at the possibility of being together in the future, both exchanging a quick glimpse of the other-then shy away quickly as they heard their parents' joint laughter. Tangie runs away, not wanting to hear anymore about him.
I have to hate him! He's a filthy samurai; I'm supposed to be with a person like daddy, one who'll be a martial artist! She hides deep in the garden, covering her ears as she tries to rid her thoughts of him; Ao catches up to her, taking a seat on the ground next to her.
"Tangie…I know this is pretty early, and we're only kids…but I believe that you need to hear this…" readied Ao, taking a deep breath; Tangie puts a finger to his mouth.
"No…you listen first! I don't like you! I don't want to be near you, and I don't want a dirty samurai in my life!" she claims, throwing a fit in an attempt to keep him at a distance.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that you shared what was on your mind…"-staying in a calm tone and placing his hand on hers-"But what I have to say may not be something that will sit well with you at first... I…I may not be the person of your desire, and I may not be the person of your need"-leaning closer to her, close enough for their eyes to touch-"But by all means, I am the one that will protect you…I am the man of your protection"-raising a hand in the air, as if to make a pledge with his eyes filled with a strong resolve-"As of this day, I, Cobalt Ao Tokugawa, pledge to be your protector for as long as I live…so, will you allow me to be that?" extending out a hand to help her up; she hesitates, it was so sudden, and hearing him say something so strong like that…it was unimaginable for anyone so young to say something like that and have the resolve in the eyes to back it up, but Tangie knew at that moment, that lover or not, she had a friend for life.
"I accept…" she answered, letting him help her up as they heard Jengai, Arokei and the servants calling out for them to tell them that supper was ready, a giant feast among the families awaits!
Cobalt returns back from his brief flashback, seeing his fellow competitors staring at him as he looked around, to the huge cheers and jeers as the entire audience from the track event were now present, with Squidcom and company sitting over by Tangie, rooting for him.
