Title:Trials of Time
Part: 3/?
Author: Nanako
Genre:Romance, au
Pairing:RuHana, KoshSen, MakiJin, HanaFuji (Hanagata)
Rating:PG
Archive: 1. it's ok for me if you archive this fic to sdfic ML
2. This fic is not posted in any other archive
E-mail:ishpoof@i-manila.com.ph
Warning: the characters are extremely ooc, bad choice of words, cursing
Author's notes: Haruko bashing ^^. I couldn't find anyone else who would do anything to get Kaede's love.gomen. Oh and this chapter is longer than my usual.
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is Takehito Inoue's and will never be mine (sob)
CHAPTER 3
Prince Kaede charged at Princess Akira, but the princess being the one with more experience was able to evade all of the younger prince's attacks.
And when she finally got fed up with her brother's attitude, Akira ended the spar with her blade a mere centimeter away from Kaede's throat.
"I win"
Prince Kaede sheathed his sword, said nothing, and angrily walked away from the training grounds.
"Fiery temper," Prince Hisashi muttered and Prince Ryota nodded his head in agreement.
The crown prince, though, thought otherwise. He knew that Kaede was a very cheerful and friendly person, but there was something he was hiding right now, something which seems to be the reason for his agitation. So Prince Kiminobu decided to go talk to him.
But, as he was taking his first step, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back at his elder sister and gave her a questioning look.
The princess shook her head and said, "Leave him be Kiminobu. He will come to his senses once his head clears and will accept our father's decision. I know that Kaede is not a person who allows his emotions to interfere with his decisions."
Kiminobu could do nothing but agree with his sister. Akira was right. Any further intervention would only confuse Kaede even more. But still, Kiminobu was worried for his younger brother's sake.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Damn them!" Prince Kaede cursed as he entered his bedchamber. He put his bearings down and lied down on his bed.
He stared at the ceiling and thought of the earlier happenings that day. "Why did father arrange a marriage contract between me and that Haruko?" he wondered out loud. He sat up on his bed and gave an exasperated sigh. He turned his head sideways and picked up the sakura branch on his bedside table. He stared at it and thought of his lively redheaded girlfriend. "I wonder what Hana would do in a similar situation?" He smiled and began thinking about that day when he first met the love of his life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was a bright, sunny day and the five royal siblings were as lively as ever, for the imperial army had just won against the Northern invaders and had recovered another city which the pas dynasties had lost before.
The five of them went to their parent's chambers.
"Why have you come here?" the empress asked, tone scolding. "All five of you know how busy your father is."
Prince Kiminobu stepped forward, a few steps away from his quite boisterous and excited siblings. "Mother we would like to ask permission to go on a hunting trip."
"Hunting trip Kiminobu?"
"Yes mother."
Empress Ayako turned to her husband, sighed and asked, "What do you think my lord?"
The emperor looked up from his load of paperwork, looked down at his children, gave them a warm smile and asked the crown prince, "Why did you think of going on a hunting trip Kiminobu?"
Prince Kiminobu clasped both hands before his face and smiled as he bowed his head, "The five of us agreed to go on a hunting trip to celebrate our victory against the Northern invaders."
"And how long would this trip last?"
"At least 2 months and at most six months."
"Alright then. All five of you have my permission to go. You have freedom to take as many troops, slaves, horses and supplies with you. So you could practically take anyone with you in this trip."
"Thank you father."
"Remember Akira, Kiminobu, that both of you are responsible for your brothers and of yourselves, okay? All five of you are very important to this dynasty."
"Yes father."
"Good. You may all go now."
The five siblings left their parents' chambers quietly, but once outside, they once again began on their loud chatter.
"He allowed us! He actually allowed us!" Prince Ryota exclaimed happily.
"Of course," said Prince Kaede. "As long as it's Kiminobu who sweet talks father, he will allow us to do almost anything." He put an arm around his elder (and quite shorter) brother and smiled at him, "Right Kiminobu?"
Prince Kiminobu returned Kaede's smile and replied, "It was not because I sweet talked to him or anything. He was just so happy that we won the war against the invaders."
"You are always so humble beyond your years Kiminobu," Princess Akira said, walking ahead of her brothers and tossing her hair as she turned around to talk to them. "You are the most intelligent and capable among us yet you never take anything to credit yourself."
"Akira's right," Hisashi agreed. "Big brother, you are always so humble!"
"I am?" Kiminobu asked, big, brown and innocent eyes blinking back at his siblings.
"You're a hopeless case big brother," said Ryota.
"Hey guys," Princess Akira said, changing the subject since she knew that they were going to get nowhere trying to convince Kiminobu that he was too humble. "Who are we taking along with us besides the slaves and troops?"
Prince Kaede removed his arm around Kiminobu's shoulder. "We could bring the generals with us," he said thoughtfully after thinking awhile.
"General Toru or General Shinichi?" Prince Hisashi asked.
"Both of them," replied Kaede. "Both the generals and their wives, Lady Kenji and Lady Souichirou."
"Sounds okay," agreed Prince Kiminobu. "The generals and their wives are very close to us after all."
"Let's go invite them then!" Princess Akira exclaimed as she pulled her brothers along with her through the palace grounds to the private quarters of General Toru.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lady Kenji was walking in their little garden when she spotted the five royal siblings, excitedly running towards their private chambers.
Although they were sometimes very irritating with their loud chatter and
annoying little jokes, Lady Kenji and her husband had grow quite fond of them all, after all they had been there ever since the five were just little bouncing balls of energy.
Smiling, Lady Kenji daintily ran to greet them. "Highnesses," she said as she curtsied before them. "What brings you here to our humble abode?"
"Oh do stand up Lady Kenji," said Akira as she waved a dismissive hand. "We are not strangers you know."
Lady Kenji straightened herself and her long brown locks swayed as she did so.
"We have come to seek an audience with General Toru, Lady Kenji," Prince Kiminobu explained as they made their way through the garden and into the general's private chambers.
"General Shinichi is with my husband right now," Lady Kenji explained. "If you want to have a private audience, I could..."
"General Shinichi is here?" Prince Kaede interrupted, with a big smile on his face. "Great!"
"So you would like an audience with both generals?"
"Yes," replied Princess Akira. "Both generals. Lady Kenji, is Lady Souichirou with her husband?"
Lady Kenji looked at the princess and raised a brow as she replied, "Yes she is Princess Akira."
The princess smiled at her and said, "Don't worry nothing is wrong Lady Kenji. I know your questioning look every time I see it."
Lady Kenji returned the princess's smile and said, "I know Princess Akira, I know." She stopped before a door and announced, "We are here majesties." She slowly opened the door and inside were the two generals and Lady Souichirou, all three were drinking tea and laughing over some joke which General Shinichi absent mindedly said.
But when the five royal siblings entered the room, all three hushed and while the two generals bowed, Lady Souichirou curtsied.
"Stand up guys, I mean we are all friends here aren't we?" said Prince Hisashi, quite exasperated. "You do not need to be so formal around friends right? Unless we are in the Imperial Court or with an audience with our parents."
The three did as they were told and everyone sat down around the table, with both Ladies sitting at the right side of their husbands.
"What has brought you here Majesties?" Gen. Toru asked the five once everyone was settled down.
Akira sighed, "Why are you always so straight to the point Gen. Toru? We haven't seen each other ever since you and Gen. Shinichi have been promoted to General and all you ask is what we're doing here?"
Gen. Shinichi smiled at the princess and said, "Gen. Toru is a very straightforward man Princess, I hope you understand his situation. And ever since we got back from the war, he became even more straightforward."
"As Akira had said," said Prince Ryota, "it has been a long time since we've seen each other."
"I agree," said Lady Souichorou. "The last time we saw each other was 2 years ago when the war started and the last time we ever had a heart to heart talk was so long ago that I have already lost track of it."
Lady Kenji smiled warmly at the five and said, "But I must say Majesties, you have all grown up so quickly! The last time we talked, Prince Kaede was almost half my size and now he is even taller than Lady Souichirou and myself!"
"I am flattered Lady Kenji," said Prince Kaede. He smiled at her and Lady Souichirou and said, "And both Ladies of the house are certainly blossoming now more than ever."
Lady Kenji and Lady Souichirou blushed at that comment and Gen. Toru said, with mock jealousy, "My prince! Please do not take our wives away." Then he doubled over in laughter.
Everyone else in the room just sweatdropped. Because no one understood why the general was laughing so hard.
"Anyway," said General Shinichi, trying to change the subject while Lady Kenji tried her best to silence her husband and stop making a fool out of himself. Gen. Shinichi looked at Kaede and said, "You are a man of flowery words my prince. I believe any woman you would court would obviously fall for you."
"You are a good jester Gen. Shinichi."
"But it is no jest my prince."
"It's true Kaede," said Prince HIsashi. "Some of the girls in our father's harem could barely stop drooling over you even if our parents are around. And with your cheery attitude, I doubt you would not marry in a few months time."
"Big brother, stop that!" Prince Kaede said as he pouted. "I don't want to be married yet, I am too young and I certainly have no desire to be caught up in the webs of marriage yet."
"But being married is not that tough as long as you find the right girl," said Gen. Toru once he was done with laughing. He put an arm around Lady Kenji and said to Prince Kaede, "Look at me and Shinichi. We got married earlier than most soldiers but that was because we found our perfect match. Remember, that beauty is something which exists deep within a person's heart, never be fooled by external beauty."
"I will keep that in mind Gen. Toru."
"Hey hey," Prince Ryota interrupted. "We aren't here to talk about Kaede's love life."
"Oh yeah," said Prince Kiminobu. He turned to the generals and their wives and said, "We have come here to invite you to go with us on our hunting trip."
"A hunting trip?" Gen. Toru asked.
"Yes," replied the crown prince. "We have already asked father's permission and he allowed us to leave anytime with whoever we want."
"I see," said the other general. "Could our wives come with us?"
"Of course. We would be very glad if all four of you would come with us."
"Princess Akira," called Lady Souichirou.
"Yes?"
"I think we should also invite Lieutenant Hiroaki with us."
"Lieutenant?!" Akira managed to croak out in a very unladylike manner.
"Yes," Lady Souichirou replied, chuckling. "Captain Hiroaki just got promoted to Lietenant Princess."
Prince Ryota grinned, "Yes, I think we should invite him with us."
"Ryota...!"
But before Akira could tell him to stop, Prince Ryota along with Prince Hisashi left the room to go find the newly promoted lieutenant.
"Oh well," said the princess, sighing.
"There is no need to be so private about your relationship with Hiroaki princess," said Gen. Shinichi. "Everyone in the kingdom knows that he loves you very much and that you have the same feelings for him."
"But I ..." Akira began as an innocent blush became darker by the second.
"You still haven't answered him yet haven't you," said Lady Kenji, tone almost scolding and Akira looked up at her questioningly. And she continued, "You hardly find a rarer match princess. Hiroaki is perfect for you, he's handsome, rich, capable, kind, every thing you would want in a husband is in him!"
"I...I really don't know...," Akira finally stammered.
"Well, Lady Kenji is right," said Kiminobu. "Hiroaki loves you very much and will do anything for you."
"I know Kiminobu, I know," whispered the princess. "But I'm not ready yet, please, let me be until I find the chance to confront my own feelings ok?"
Kiminobu nodded and everyone in the room dropped the subject, afraid to hurt the princess' feelings.
"Who else will we be bringing along in this trip then?" Lady Souichirou asked as Prince Kaede wrapped an arm around his elder sister. Although he found her annoying, Kaede had always looked up to Akira. She was the only person he could find, aside from Kiminobu and their parents, who had the patience of a saint or a martyr, and that alone made him respect her that much. Of course he also admired her sword skills, but in his opinion, she was only better than he is because of experience and practice, nothing more, so he didn't exactly think of her ability as "skill" or the like.
"I know!" Gen. Toru suddenly said. "Why don't we bring Haruko with us?"
Upon the mention of the name, Kaede's comforting eyes turned to hate filled ones as he turned to the general. "Don't you dare invite that bitch to the hunting trip," he said, with deadly poison seething in his voice.
Gen. Toru looked shocked at the prince's choice of words. "But Prince..."
"Stop it Toru," said Lady Kenji as she shook her head. "Don't you know how tired our young prince is already with that Haruko? He wants peace and quiet yet all that girl ever gives him is a lot of noise and a lousy headache."
Gen. Toru just gave his wife a questioning look.
"Oh Toru," said Lady Kenji exasperated. "I'll explain things to you some other time." She turned to Prince Kaede and apologized for her husband, "My prince, please excuse my husband, he does not understand matters such as these."
Prince Kaede waved a hand dismissively and said, "No offense was taken at all Lady Kenji. Hardly anyone notices how annoyed I am of that Haruko."
"I understand my prince," said Lady Kenji as she nudged her husband disapprovingly then sat up straight on her chair once again.
"Oh look at the time," said Kiminobu as he stood up. "I guess we must be going now. Gen. Toru, Gen. Shinichi, Lady Kenji and Lady Souichirou, thank you for the wonderful time. We will meet again tomorrow for the hunting trip to celebrate your victory against the Northern invaders."
Prince Kaede and Princess Akira stood up as well and bade the four people goodbye.
tbc
Part: 3/?
Author: Nanako
Genre:Romance, au
Pairing:RuHana, KoshSen, MakiJin, HanaFuji (Hanagata)
Rating:PG
Archive: 1. it's ok for me if you archive this fic to sdfic ML
2. This fic is not posted in any other archive
E-mail:ishpoof@i-manila.com.ph
Warning: the characters are extremely ooc, bad choice of words, cursing
Author's notes: Haruko bashing ^^. I couldn't find anyone else who would do anything to get Kaede's love.gomen. Oh and this chapter is longer than my usual.
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk is Takehito Inoue's and will never be mine (sob)
CHAPTER 3
Prince Kaede charged at Princess Akira, but the princess being the one with more experience was able to evade all of the younger prince's attacks.
And when she finally got fed up with her brother's attitude, Akira ended the spar with her blade a mere centimeter away from Kaede's throat.
"I win"
Prince Kaede sheathed his sword, said nothing, and angrily walked away from the training grounds.
"Fiery temper," Prince Hisashi muttered and Prince Ryota nodded his head in agreement.
The crown prince, though, thought otherwise. He knew that Kaede was a very cheerful and friendly person, but there was something he was hiding right now, something which seems to be the reason for his agitation. So Prince Kiminobu decided to go talk to him.
But, as he was taking his first step, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back at his elder sister and gave her a questioning look.
The princess shook her head and said, "Leave him be Kiminobu. He will come to his senses once his head clears and will accept our father's decision. I know that Kaede is not a person who allows his emotions to interfere with his decisions."
Kiminobu could do nothing but agree with his sister. Akira was right. Any further intervention would only confuse Kaede even more. But still, Kiminobu was worried for his younger brother's sake.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Damn them!" Prince Kaede cursed as he entered his bedchamber. He put his bearings down and lied down on his bed.
He stared at the ceiling and thought of the earlier happenings that day. "Why did father arrange a marriage contract between me and that Haruko?" he wondered out loud. He sat up on his bed and gave an exasperated sigh. He turned his head sideways and picked up the sakura branch on his bedside table. He stared at it and thought of his lively redheaded girlfriend. "I wonder what Hana would do in a similar situation?" He smiled and began thinking about that day when he first met the love of his life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was a bright, sunny day and the five royal siblings were as lively as ever, for the imperial army had just won against the Northern invaders and had recovered another city which the pas dynasties had lost before.
The five of them went to their parent's chambers.
"Why have you come here?" the empress asked, tone scolding. "All five of you know how busy your father is."
Prince Kiminobu stepped forward, a few steps away from his quite boisterous and excited siblings. "Mother we would like to ask permission to go on a hunting trip."
"Hunting trip Kiminobu?"
"Yes mother."
Empress Ayako turned to her husband, sighed and asked, "What do you think my lord?"
The emperor looked up from his load of paperwork, looked down at his children, gave them a warm smile and asked the crown prince, "Why did you think of going on a hunting trip Kiminobu?"
Prince Kiminobu clasped both hands before his face and smiled as he bowed his head, "The five of us agreed to go on a hunting trip to celebrate our victory against the Northern invaders."
"And how long would this trip last?"
"At least 2 months and at most six months."
"Alright then. All five of you have my permission to go. You have freedom to take as many troops, slaves, horses and supplies with you. So you could practically take anyone with you in this trip."
"Thank you father."
"Remember Akira, Kiminobu, that both of you are responsible for your brothers and of yourselves, okay? All five of you are very important to this dynasty."
"Yes father."
"Good. You may all go now."
The five siblings left their parents' chambers quietly, but once outside, they once again began on their loud chatter.
"He allowed us! He actually allowed us!" Prince Ryota exclaimed happily.
"Of course," said Prince Kaede. "As long as it's Kiminobu who sweet talks father, he will allow us to do almost anything." He put an arm around his elder (and quite shorter) brother and smiled at him, "Right Kiminobu?"
Prince Kiminobu returned Kaede's smile and replied, "It was not because I sweet talked to him or anything. He was just so happy that we won the war against the invaders."
"You are always so humble beyond your years Kiminobu," Princess Akira said, walking ahead of her brothers and tossing her hair as she turned around to talk to them. "You are the most intelligent and capable among us yet you never take anything to credit yourself."
"Akira's right," Hisashi agreed. "Big brother, you are always so humble!"
"I am?" Kiminobu asked, big, brown and innocent eyes blinking back at his siblings.
"You're a hopeless case big brother," said Ryota.
"Hey guys," Princess Akira said, changing the subject since she knew that they were going to get nowhere trying to convince Kiminobu that he was too humble. "Who are we taking along with us besides the slaves and troops?"
Prince Kaede removed his arm around Kiminobu's shoulder. "We could bring the generals with us," he said thoughtfully after thinking awhile.
"General Toru or General Shinichi?" Prince Hisashi asked.
"Both of them," replied Kaede. "Both the generals and their wives, Lady Kenji and Lady Souichirou."
"Sounds okay," agreed Prince Kiminobu. "The generals and their wives are very close to us after all."
"Let's go invite them then!" Princess Akira exclaimed as she pulled her brothers along with her through the palace grounds to the private quarters of General Toru.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Lady Kenji was walking in their little garden when she spotted the five royal siblings, excitedly running towards their private chambers.
Although they were sometimes very irritating with their loud chatter and
annoying little jokes, Lady Kenji and her husband had grow quite fond of them all, after all they had been there ever since the five were just little bouncing balls of energy.
Smiling, Lady Kenji daintily ran to greet them. "Highnesses," she said as she curtsied before them. "What brings you here to our humble abode?"
"Oh do stand up Lady Kenji," said Akira as she waved a dismissive hand. "We are not strangers you know."
Lady Kenji straightened herself and her long brown locks swayed as she did so.
"We have come to seek an audience with General Toru, Lady Kenji," Prince Kiminobu explained as they made their way through the garden and into the general's private chambers.
"General Shinichi is with my husband right now," Lady Kenji explained. "If you want to have a private audience, I could..."
"General Shinichi is here?" Prince Kaede interrupted, with a big smile on his face. "Great!"
"So you would like an audience with both generals?"
"Yes," replied Princess Akira. "Both generals. Lady Kenji, is Lady Souichirou with her husband?"
Lady Kenji looked at the princess and raised a brow as she replied, "Yes she is Princess Akira."
The princess smiled at her and said, "Don't worry nothing is wrong Lady Kenji. I know your questioning look every time I see it."
Lady Kenji returned the princess's smile and said, "I know Princess Akira, I know." She stopped before a door and announced, "We are here majesties." She slowly opened the door and inside were the two generals and Lady Souichirou, all three were drinking tea and laughing over some joke which General Shinichi absent mindedly said.
But when the five royal siblings entered the room, all three hushed and while the two generals bowed, Lady Souichirou curtsied.
"Stand up guys, I mean we are all friends here aren't we?" said Prince Hisashi, quite exasperated. "You do not need to be so formal around friends right? Unless we are in the Imperial Court or with an audience with our parents."
The three did as they were told and everyone sat down around the table, with both Ladies sitting at the right side of their husbands.
"What has brought you here Majesties?" Gen. Toru asked the five once everyone was settled down.
Akira sighed, "Why are you always so straight to the point Gen. Toru? We haven't seen each other ever since you and Gen. Shinichi have been promoted to General and all you ask is what we're doing here?"
Gen. Shinichi smiled at the princess and said, "Gen. Toru is a very straightforward man Princess, I hope you understand his situation. And ever since we got back from the war, he became even more straightforward."
"As Akira had said," said Prince Ryota, "it has been a long time since we've seen each other."
"I agree," said Lady Souichorou. "The last time we saw each other was 2 years ago when the war started and the last time we ever had a heart to heart talk was so long ago that I have already lost track of it."
Lady Kenji smiled warmly at the five and said, "But I must say Majesties, you have all grown up so quickly! The last time we talked, Prince Kaede was almost half my size and now he is even taller than Lady Souichirou and myself!"
"I am flattered Lady Kenji," said Prince Kaede. He smiled at her and Lady Souichirou and said, "And both Ladies of the house are certainly blossoming now more than ever."
Lady Kenji and Lady Souichirou blushed at that comment and Gen. Toru said, with mock jealousy, "My prince! Please do not take our wives away." Then he doubled over in laughter.
Everyone else in the room just sweatdropped. Because no one understood why the general was laughing so hard.
"Anyway," said General Shinichi, trying to change the subject while Lady Kenji tried her best to silence her husband and stop making a fool out of himself. Gen. Shinichi looked at Kaede and said, "You are a man of flowery words my prince. I believe any woman you would court would obviously fall for you."
"You are a good jester Gen. Shinichi."
"But it is no jest my prince."
"It's true Kaede," said Prince HIsashi. "Some of the girls in our father's harem could barely stop drooling over you even if our parents are around. And with your cheery attitude, I doubt you would not marry in a few months time."
"Big brother, stop that!" Prince Kaede said as he pouted. "I don't want to be married yet, I am too young and I certainly have no desire to be caught up in the webs of marriage yet."
"But being married is not that tough as long as you find the right girl," said Gen. Toru once he was done with laughing. He put an arm around Lady Kenji and said to Prince Kaede, "Look at me and Shinichi. We got married earlier than most soldiers but that was because we found our perfect match. Remember, that beauty is something which exists deep within a person's heart, never be fooled by external beauty."
"I will keep that in mind Gen. Toru."
"Hey hey," Prince Ryota interrupted. "We aren't here to talk about Kaede's love life."
"Oh yeah," said Prince Kiminobu. He turned to the generals and their wives and said, "We have come here to invite you to go with us on our hunting trip."
"A hunting trip?" Gen. Toru asked.
"Yes," replied the crown prince. "We have already asked father's permission and he allowed us to leave anytime with whoever we want."
"I see," said the other general. "Could our wives come with us?"
"Of course. We would be very glad if all four of you would come with us."
"Princess Akira," called Lady Souichirou.
"Yes?"
"I think we should also invite Lieutenant Hiroaki with us."
"Lieutenant?!" Akira managed to croak out in a very unladylike manner.
"Yes," Lady Souichirou replied, chuckling. "Captain Hiroaki just got promoted to Lietenant Princess."
Prince Ryota grinned, "Yes, I think we should invite him with us."
"Ryota...!"
But before Akira could tell him to stop, Prince Ryota along with Prince Hisashi left the room to go find the newly promoted lieutenant.
"Oh well," said the princess, sighing.
"There is no need to be so private about your relationship with Hiroaki princess," said Gen. Shinichi. "Everyone in the kingdom knows that he loves you very much and that you have the same feelings for him."
"But I ..." Akira began as an innocent blush became darker by the second.
"You still haven't answered him yet haven't you," said Lady Kenji, tone almost scolding and Akira looked up at her questioningly. And she continued, "You hardly find a rarer match princess. Hiroaki is perfect for you, he's handsome, rich, capable, kind, every thing you would want in a husband is in him!"
"I...I really don't know...," Akira finally stammered.
"Well, Lady Kenji is right," said Kiminobu. "Hiroaki loves you very much and will do anything for you."
"I know Kiminobu, I know," whispered the princess. "But I'm not ready yet, please, let me be until I find the chance to confront my own feelings ok?"
Kiminobu nodded and everyone in the room dropped the subject, afraid to hurt the princess' feelings.
"Who else will we be bringing along in this trip then?" Lady Souichirou asked as Prince Kaede wrapped an arm around his elder sister. Although he found her annoying, Kaede had always looked up to Akira. She was the only person he could find, aside from Kiminobu and their parents, who had the patience of a saint or a martyr, and that alone made him respect her that much. Of course he also admired her sword skills, but in his opinion, she was only better than he is because of experience and practice, nothing more, so he didn't exactly think of her ability as "skill" or the like.
"I know!" Gen. Toru suddenly said. "Why don't we bring Haruko with us?"
Upon the mention of the name, Kaede's comforting eyes turned to hate filled ones as he turned to the general. "Don't you dare invite that bitch to the hunting trip," he said, with deadly poison seething in his voice.
Gen. Toru looked shocked at the prince's choice of words. "But Prince..."
"Stop it Toru," said Lady Kenji as she shook her head. "Don't you know how tired our young prince is already with that Haruko? He wants peace and quiet yet all that girl ever gives him is a lot of noise and a lousy headache."
Gen. Toru just gave his wife a questioning look.
"Oh Toru," said Lady Kenji exasperated. "I'll explain things to you some other time." She turned to Prince Kaede and apologized for her husband, "My prince, please excuse my husband, he does not understand matters such as these."
Prince Kaede waved a hand dismissively and said, "No offense was taken at all Lady Kenji. Hardly anyone notices how annoyed I am of that Haruko."
"I understand my prince," said Lady Kenji as she nudged her husband disapprovingly then sat up straight on her chair once again.
"Oh look at the time," said Kiminobu as he stood up. "I guess we must be going now. Gen. Toru, Gen. Shinichi, Lady Kenji and Lady Souichirou, thank you for the wonderful time. We will meet again tomorrow for the hunting trip to celebrate your victory against the Northern invaders."
Prince Kaede and Princess Akira stood up as well and bade the four people goodbye.
tbc