Today, April 15th... IS MY BIRTHDAY! WHEEE! *jumps around ff.net I'm getting hyper again ^^;
Now, on with the fic! ^_^
The next day...
Ake woke up very early the next day. Unsure why she was waking up so early, Ake picked up a paper that she left on her night stand that was next to her bed. "THE TOURNAMENT!" She hissed quietly as she jumped out of bed and tidied everything before rushing to the washroom and in 1 minute flat she came out in a towel rushing around the room looking for what she was going to wear and how to put her hair up so that no one would realize she was a woman.
She then paused. "Why am I rushing? 'Tis only 5 in the morning..." Ake then yawned and stretch. "I guess being ready is better than rushing and being late. I must remember, I CANNOT be recognized as the princess or a woman..." Ake then went to get a long cloth and began to bind her chest to her body. After that fairly hard task was done, Ake took some of the clothing that once belonged to her father and put them on.
She wore a loose white shirt which was puffy around the writs and she tied up the collar near her neck so that the bandages she used to bind her chest were hidden. Ake then wore a blue deer hide vest. She decided not to tie up the vest like most men would and decided to wear it on loosely instead. Next she put on a pair of loose brown breeches and brown leather boots that went right below her knee. Since the boots were fairly large for her, Ake had to tie them up with the strings that were already attached to the boots. Everything was almost done. All she had to do now was her face.
Looking at the mirror, Ake moved a few strands of hair in a certain way so that her style of hair would look different and more masculine. (I don't know how that would work but it's true... sometimes the way you put your hair makes you look different... *note* SOMETIMES). She then took a band to tie her hair in such a fashion that most men wore. Being satisfied with her handy work, Ake turned around to see if everything was in place and that she hadn't forgotten anything. Finally she went to her wardrobe and pulled out a black cloak with a hood and laid it on her chair. She had 5 hours until the tournament began and she needed to be there around 11 to sign up and register.
Finally hunger settled in. Ake slowly got out of her room so that no one would notice as she crept toward the kitchen downstairs. Once there Ake had grabbed two apples, and orange and a glass of water. Putting the apples in her pocket and carring/holding the glass of water and orange, Ake then quietly and quickly raced back upstairs. *Almost home free...* Then suddenly...
"Who are you sir? And why are you entering the PRINCESS'S chamber?" A voice called out.
Ake sighed and turned around. It was Aiyame. Aiyame didn't looked convinced. "Sir, what are you doing going into the princess's quarters!" Aiyame repeated.
"So... you really do not recognize me Aiyame?" Ake said with a mock grin.
"No, I don't, now who are you?"
"Akegata..."
"Well, Akegata, you have no right to be here so -- AKEGATA! Princess!?" Aiyame said in complete shock.
Ake nodded.
"Dear Lord Mercy! I had no idea! You! Princess Akegata, what are you doing wearing men's garments!? Do not tell me that you have become...."
"No!! no no...!" Ake said shaking her head furiously. "I am not in love with women. Of course not!" Ake said forcefully. "Aiyame... come inside." Ake opened the door and Aiyame entered.
"What is this all about Princess?"
"There is a tournament today... And I want to enter..."
"Tournament! Princess! You have never entered one before!"
"I know Aiyame! But please... do not tell mother... I don't want her fussing over me... Please do this? As a wedding gift I suppose? Please? Let me do something of my passion!" Ake pleaded.
Aiyame was torn in her decision but since this was the princess she was arguing with, Aiyame soon agreed. Not long after, Aiyame left and Ake began to eat her small 'breakfast.'
~*~*~
9 AM
Yamato woke up late that day since he spent most of last night reminiscing about that mysterious girl he had met the night before. Getting out of his bed, Yamato went to wash. When he came out, he chose to wear a black tunic with off white breeches and leather boots. (Imagine older Link from Zelda, basically that minus the gauntlets and hood ^^;) He then went down stairs to eat a quick breakfast and began to train in the fencing room. He didn't want to tire himself out before the tournament so he decided to train enough to warm him up for what he was about to face at noon.
~*~*~
11 AM
Ake snuck out of the house and jogged her way to the clearing in the forest where the tournament was being held. She got in line along with the other players and when it finally got to be her turn to sign up the woman stared at Ake with a dreamy. Ake began to feel weird and so she snapped her fingers to bring the woman back to reality. "Excuse me," Ake said.
"Oh Excuse me sir!" She said with a giddy voice. The woman seemed to be in her mid 20's. "My, look at the sweet thing we have here!" She teased. Ake blushed. "Well my little rascal, write your name here and that's it! So simple!" The woman said bashing her eyelids at Ake.
Ake hesitantly picked up the quill and was about to write her name when she realized if she wrote 'Akegata' she will be exposed. So instead she quickly wrote the first name that came to mind. 'Sirus' (it was the first name that came to my mind! ^^; well... Siren did but that wouldn't work.. ^^;). The woman then looked at the sheet and grinned. "Well, Sirus, good luck in the tournament today!" She exclaimed. "How about you give me a little kiss for good luck!" The woman said in a sweet voice.
Ake froze. "Uh... Aren't you supposed to say that the other way around, Mi lady?" Ake said as smooth as possible.
"You're right!" The woman said. "So comm'ere! Time for a little kiss!" The woman said. Ake shook her head rapidly as she quickly raced away from the crazy woman. She then bumped into someone and fell backwards landing on her butt.
"Pardon me," Came the voice of a young man stood up and reached his arm out to Ake.
Ake stiffened slightly. *I know that voice* she told herself. She looked up and met the gaze of two rich blue eyes. Ake paused the blinked twice. "No no, I was at fault." Ake said as she took his hand. *His hand is so soft... not coarse or hard...* She noted.
*Why does that face seems so... familiar?* Yamato wondered. "How about we say we were both at fault." He said grinning as he lifted Ake up.
"Thank you."
"Not at all... well, good luck, I believe I will be seeing you later today right?"
"Yes. Good luck to you too." Ake then walked away to see what she had first in the tournament. Reading the sheet she was to do archery first. Ake walked to the field, bow and arrows in hand as 20 or so other contestants were there as well getting ready.
A guy with a red flag walked to the field (not in the way of the archers of course!) and stood behind them for safety measures. "Ready, GO!" The judge yelled as everyone used 5 arrows to hit the red target in the middle of their haystack. At the end of the test, only 10 men hit the red target and so are still eligible to win 1000 gold coins.
In the next challenge the 10 remaining men will place themselves on horses of their choice, wear armor, and hold a lance which will be used to knocked the opponent off their horse. (I think it's called Jousting?)
Ake went behind a hitched tent to put on her armor. Putting on the mail was easy enough but the outer armor was a little tricky since Ake had never worn armor before.
"Need of some assistance?" A voice spoke (Yamato! ^_^) as it walked towards her.
"Yes... It's a little tricky to get everything on." Ake admitted.
"I agree. It was a struggle for myself the first time I had to wear armor. The trick is to get everything else on first then put on the chest armor last. Here, I'll help."
Ake was unsure at first but agreed since she only had another few minutes before the jousting began. Once Yamato had finished Ake had to go off and pick her horse. Right before she was away to leave Yamato called out to her. "What's your name?"
Ake turned around about to say her REAL name but then remembered the name she put down on the contest sheet. "Sirus." She said simply.
"Well, I'll see you later then Sirus." Yamato said as he too went to find his horse.
~*~*~
Yamato found a beautiful white stallion and from what he checked, was very healthy. The 10 men then went to a scoring sheet to see when they will go. Yamato was first. *Great... first...* he thought as he mounted his horse and head for the Jousting field. On the other side a man slightly larger but not by much mounted his horse and looked as though he was a boaster since his helmet was off. When the flag went down both of them charged at each other. Yamato saw an opening and poked the guy on the chest with his lance before the other guy would noticed. Losing his balance the guy fell off his horse and Yamato won.
~*~*~
Ake felt nervous. She was second and her opponent was a VERY LARGE and TALL man. He over powered Ake's height by a few feet. She wasn't sure if she would be able to win or survive nonetheless. Ake mounted her horse and got ready for her turn. When she rode to the field her opponent was laughing hysterically. "This bwahahahah is my hahahaha adversary!? bwahahahah! He is such a mangy little thing!" The man hollered. Ake grew angry but kept her temper cool as she put on her helmet.
A judge went waved his flag and the two riders charged at each other. The big guy aimed his lance for Ake's head but she ducked and so he missed. They rode to the end of their track and turned around for another try. This time Ake was ready. Her adversary aimed for her head again and she aimed for his chest. Ake ducked but the lance knocked into her slightly and she slipped off her horse. Fortunately she did not fall off but was hanging on by the reigns. She made her turn and this time was fully ready and knows where to aim for. Ake rode off and waited for the other person to aim for her head. Once he did she ducked under the lance and aimed for his back and pushed hard enough that the man fell off his horse and she won.
~*~*~
At the end of the jousting only 4 remained. It was supposed to be five but the last two riders both knocked each other off their horses and so both lost.
In the last challenge, it was going to be a sword fighting competition. Everyone had taken off their armor and were now in the clothing they came in. The judge had told everyone to roll up their sleeves. The men were then given swords of the exact same kind.
This time Ake was first. She was up against a man no bigger than herself. He had brown hair which was cut short. (Kinda like a mushroom cut) Ake positioned herself and got ready.
"FIRST TO DRAW THE OTHER'S BLOOD WINS!" The judge yelled as he dropped his flag.
*Blood?* Ake stood there for a second taking in what was just spoken. She didn't have much time to think as her opponent charged at her. Ake then moved out of the way and went after him. Their swords clashed at sparked. Ake was blocking every move that was thrown to her. When their swords clashed another time, she pushed the man (that is a legal move if anyone thought it wasn't ^^;) and he fell to the grass. Taking this opportunity, Ake nicked of the man's arm with her sword. Her strike was light and the cut was just small enough to draw a little blood but not too much.
~*~*~
Yamato was up. Being fairly confident that he would he win, he got to the field and readied himself. Unfortunately his opponent never showed up. It seems that he had to leave due to emergency reasons. Yamato heard from one of the people from the crowd that he was expecting a baby and so he had to leave to take care of his wife. So by fault, Yamato won.
*Damn it!* He thought inside. He only had a few minutes to calm down and get ready for the final round. And this time, it will be against Sirus.
~*~*~
Ake went to get ready, hearing that she was up against Yamato, she began to get nervous. It was much easier facing off with someone you don't know but it is sometimes harder to face off against a friend. (And possibly a crush?)
When the two went to the field the judge dropped his flag and the final round started. Yamato and Ake then lunged at each other and they fought each other. Ake tried to nick off Yamato at the arm but missed because of a block. Yamato then tried to give her a small cut on her leg but Ake moved back and so his sword hit the ground. The battle went on like this.
*He's pretty good* Yamato thought as he continued his attacks.
*He's hard to beat!* Ake noted as she blocked each of the attacks.
Like in Ake's battle in the beginning, their swords clashed and this time, Yamato twisted his sword in a way that Ake's slipped out of her hands and fell to the floor along with Ake.
"You are a formidable opponent but the battle has now come to end." Yamato then swung his sword lightly at Ake's leg. Thinking he had won, Yamato turned around and started to walk away.
Ake looked down at where Yamato had swung and noticed that he only ripped the pants and did not cut her. She then raced to get her sword and lunged at Yamato.
Yamato heard the sound of running feet and turned around. *What?* But before he could give a counter attack, he was pushed to the ground. Ake stood above him. "Didn't anyone tell you never to turn your back on your opponent until the battle is completely over?" Ake said as she grinned.
Yamato grinned as well. "Yes, but I have forgotten." Ake then swung her sword and nicked Yamato on the arm. She had won.
~*~*~
Ake was now facing the audience and had to speak with the King. *KING!? Oh no...* Ake thought as she kneeled.
"Sirus, you have shown to be the best of them all today. And for this, you have won the hand of my daughter, Princess Mimi." (Hey, it suits doesn't it? But the thing is Mimi won't appear any other time... well I'm not too sure but she's going to be a very MINOR character in this story... ^^;)
"Marry your highness!?!?!" Ake said in complete shock. "You paper had not mentioned any of that sort!"
"It did not?" The king said as he furrowed his eyebrows. "JOSH!" He yelled. A drunken man then clumsily walked up to the king.
"Yes, your... highness?" He slurred.
"Did you change the 1000 gold coins to my daughter's hand?"
"Why yes your highness! I got them redone and then...." The man slurred. "I... forgot it on the desk your highness."
"What!?" He yelled smacking the man upside his head. "That is the last time I let your drink while doing your work!"
"But your highness! You let me drink! You were there with me!" The man admitted.
The king turned red. He then glared at the drunken man. The man then gave a high pitched scream and ran off before the King would do anything.
"Well, it seems there's been a mix up." He said sighing. "You will marry my daughter. You have won this contest." He said forcefully.
"I cannot sire..." Ake said slowly.
"And why not?"
"Because..."
"Because what? Come come now..."
"Because... I am a woman your highness."
Everyone burst into laughter. "Woman! HA! What a funny joke." The king said while slapping his knee.
"Father..." Princess Mimi whispered. "Let him... or HER finish what they were saying."
"Now, what have you been talking about Sirus?"
"I am a woman your highness." Ake said once again. To prove it, she pulled out her ponytail and pushed her back into it's original style. "Believe me yet?"
A large gasp was heard from the crowd. "Si-- I mean whoever you are, dost thou know of the crime of a woman entering a contest."
"No sire..."
"'Tis your first?" He said understandingly.
"Yes, your highness."
"Then 'tis all right. A very interesting day indeed. You, a woman have won the tournament against many of the large and very skilled men here. And for this, you have earned honor among my kingdom. If thou art not a man called 'Sirus', who art thou then?"
"A --" Ake paused. She did not want to say she was a princess and then have the whole news be spread around and then finally reach her mother. She thought very quickly and then remembered an old name that she was called when she was younger. "Sora."
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WHAAA~! I'm done with this chapter! There'll be more! I was planning on finishing the whole story today but I guess I can't... ^^; I hope I'll have it done soon. But I can't today... GUNNA CELEBRATE! ^_^
peace!
~Hito-chan~ ^_______________^
*does her hand insignia and leaves the room* Bai bai! ^^