Kingdom of Animals
Story by: Sohma Star (Star-chan)
Tohru caught up with Hatori just as he pushed the door to the kitchens open. He allowed her to catch her breath then, proceeded through the door.
Inside the kitchen, Tohru was greeted by a fellow servant, and shown the locations of all the essential cooking materials, meanwhile Hatori stood nearby explaining her work schedule, "This is where you will report in the morning, you will prepare breakfast then, follow the orders of the princes until lunch time. At 12:30 sharp you will return here, and make their lunch, as for supper, it should be ready by 5:00, but if you are occupied with other chores it can be as late as 6:30pm. You will go to bed at 11:00pm unless there are extenuating circumstances, and anything you wish to do outside the castle MUST be cleared with the King at least three days in advance. Now if you'll follow me again, it's time to meet the princes."
Tohru nervously followed Hatori out of the kitchens, and into the serving hall. She walked with her eyes glued on her feet, and accidentally bumped into Hatori when he abruptly stopped. She quickly apologized, claiming all the responsibility for the incident, and bowing repeatedly. After he had assured Tohru it was nothing, and managed to calm her down, he bowed to the princes then addressed them, "Prince Yuki, Prince Kyo I'm here to introduce your new servant Honda Tohru."
On cue, Tohru stepped forward, and bowed to each Prince respectfully, her eyes never left her feet, and her face was still red with embarrassment from her previous actions. Prince Yuki was the first to approach her, he gently reached forward, and tilted her face up, changing her gaze from her feet to him. She immediately blushed, and attempted to look away. Yuki however, kept a firm hold on her, "Honda-san we can't have you looking at your feet all the time, and walking into things can we?"
'N-no, I guess not" she stammered. He gave her a small smile of approval, released her, and stepped back. Now looking forward she took in their appearance for the first time. Prince Yuki had dark silver-ish grey hair, and large purple eyes, he wore a completely blue outfit, and had a very pale complexion. Prince Kyo had an unusual hair color, it appeared to be orange, or very close to it... his eyes were smaller than Yuki's, and they were colored a deep crimson. He wore an entirely red outfit, and his complexion was very tan unlike Yuki's.
"Well, I'll leave you three to get aquatinted better" Hatori's voice snapped Tohru out of her trance, she blushed once again, then resumed studying her feet. He bowed to the princes, and stepped out of the room, leaving Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru alone.
Hatori's mind was spinning as he made his way back to Akito's chamber to report the "incident." Why hadn't he transformed? He couldn't figure it out, he reached the large door of the main chamber, and lightly nudged it open. Akito was lying across his throne, with his feet hanging over one arm. He was staring out the window, and appeared to be in deep thought... Hatori studied him for a while then, turned to leave deciding it would be best to come back later, and not disturb him now.
"Hatori, was the introduction of the servant successful?" Akito spoke suddenly, without even bothering to look at him. He turned back towards Akito to answer.
"Yes, it was..." His reply held some reluctance, Akito noticed this, and spoke again...
"Was there something else Hatori?" He now sat up, and turned to face Hatori, his dark eyes burning him as they had done Tohru. Hatori shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"She bumped into me... and I didn't transform" he spoke calmly, but inside he was anything, but calm.
"Really... then it's just as I thought..." Akito's voice seemed distant as he spoke, and there was a hint of something Hatori couldn't place. Akito returned his gaze to the window "You're dismissed" his voice was calm, but still laced with something. Hatori bowed, and gratefully took his leave.
"Yes... it's just as I thought...." Akito mused to himself.
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Gomen, I was a little slow with this chapter, mainly because I was fixing a few things in the first 2 chapters. ^_^* Everything should be fixed now... Yes, Tohru bumped into to Hatori in this chapter, and NORMALLY he would have transformed, but like I said I'm changing the rules a little, and well... you'll see. One last thing, I'm still trying to avoid that deadly illness... *coughREVIEWcough* See you next chapter ^_~ Ja!
* Clow Angel - Oh yeah, *smacks her forehead* gomen gomen, cookies
are no good without milk, have some milk too chocolate , strawberry, or
white?
* Yo Yo - *Takes a deep breath* Ah, the healing power of reviews
^_^ Thanks! I guess this chapter answered your question.
* Shawna - Well, I've continued dun dun dun! As for the outfit...
yeah, I made it up... ^_^*