THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS

Chapter Three- The Midnight Feast

AN:  Yay! Another reviewer! *happy smile* THANK YOU!

Spoiler: A Fruits Basket character *that I didn't include in the info page* is revealed!

*Tohru's Bedroom*

          "Wait a minute, Tohru! What the heck do you mean by the chosen one?" Uo asked, who was utterly confused.

          Before Tohru could reply, the door slightly creaked and a person fell heavily to the floor with a loud thud. And before either of them could react, the person jumped up and screamed at the top of their lungs, "I'M SO SORRY! I HEARD NOISES, SO I CAME TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS HURT… AND I ACCIDENTALLY OVERHEARD YOUR CONVERSATION, AND I, AND I AM SUCH A COMPLETE LOSER WHO HAS DOESN'T DESERVE TO BREATHE THE SAME AIR, OR TAKE UP MASS—"

          "Ritsu? Is that you? Calm down, for Pete's sake, you'll break our eardrums!" Uo said in an amazingly calm voice. (Whereas Tohru looked like she was about to pass out on the floor.)

          "I'm sorry." Ritsu whimpered, as he kneeled on the floor before Uo and Tohru.

          Tohru, who was flabbergasted by the beautiful woman (we know it's a guy), stood up and yelled, "AAHHH! PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE! I'M TOHRU, AND I'M GLAD TO MEET YOU, MISS RITSU!"

          Ritsu, who had just calmed down, jumped up, and bowed a dozen times while shouting, "OH, PRINCESS TOHRU! I AM SO HONORED! I AM RITSU, THE TRAVELING ACROBAT. MY COMPANY IS STAYING HERE TO PERFORM FOR THE FEAST!"

          Uo stared at the two  shouting people- one a princess, the other a traveling performer- and broke out into a hysterical laughter, which caused the two stuttering stooges to stop apologizing.

          "You guys, *hoot* stop it! *hoot* You're making me laugh too hard! *hoot* My guts *hoot* are killing me!" Uo said in between spurts of laughter.

          When Uo was able to overcome her laughter she said, "Tohru, this is Ritsu. Oh, and he's a guy who is the same age as us. So don't call him Miss Ritsu. Ritsu, this is Princess Tohru; and please don't hyperventilate! It really does make things even worse when you run around squawking like a wet chicken."

 Both Tohru and Ritsu blushed cherry-red when they realized that everything Uo had just said was true.

          Suddenly, Kyo's reckless voice filled the air as he asked, "What the hell is all the racket for?"

          Tohru looked up to see Kyo, Yuki, and Momiji standing at the doorway, all dressed up for the banquet in their new suits. She quickly replied, "I just met one of the performers that are performing tonight!"

Then she pointed towards Ritsu and said, "Kyo, Yuki, Momiji, this is Ritsu. Ritsu, these are some of the princes that have come to visit the castle."

          "I am honored to meet you all." Ritsu said politely as he arched his back deeply.

          "I hope we'll be the best of friends! Then you can teach me some acrobatics!" Momiji exclaimed, as he began a long conversation with Ritsu about his life-long dream of becoming a performer.

          "Princess Tohru, aren't you getting ready?" Yuki asked, his amethyst eyes gazing into Tohru's sapphire-blue ones.

          "Yeah, you should get ready!" Kyo said, as he came between the two people, much to the dislike of Yuki.

          "Oh, I was just about to. Wait here!" Tohru said happily, as she ran into the next room. (The two rooms are connected by a door)

          As soon as Tohru was out of sight, Yuki asked in a quiet, cold tone, "Why did you come between Princess Tohru and me? We were talking, you fool!"

          "Hm… Really? I couldn't tell, since you were having a staring contest with her!" Kyo said, whose voice was on the edge of yelling.

          "You are a bothersome pest! Don't get in the way of Princess Tohru and me!" Yuki whispered warningly, whose lilac-colored eyes were glazed over with contempt. And with that, he went out of the room, and shut the door quickly behind him.

          Both Ritsu and Momiji stopped their lively conversation and stared at Kyo, surprised at the sudden argument.

          "What are you guys staring at?" Kyo roared, and the two guys ducked their heads and tiptoed into a corner.

          "Geez, Kyo, they were just looking." Uo said in her tranquil voice, which now had a hint of sarcasm. "I mean, if you're gonna pick a fight with someone, fight someone that can fight back. That is, unless you're too chicken to actually fight someone stronger than you."

          Kyo's fists clenched into tight balls as he said through gritted teeth, "You know, Uo, I'm the one who had that sicko arrested! And you haven't even said a simple 'Thank you, Kyo!' or some kind of gratifying phrase! Who the hell do you think you are?"

          "Aw… Is Prince Kyo gonna throw a tantrum now? Did I make you upset?" Uo cooed in a sweet tone of voice.

          Kyo growled fiercely and hollered, "Damn it all!" before running out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

          Just then, Tohru entered the room huffing and dressed beautifully for the feast. Her face was lightly touched with make-up, her hair in a loose bun, allowing a few strands of her silky, brown hair to fall on her face, and she wore a lovely, yellow gown that fell to the floor like a flowing waterfall.

The gown had short sleeves made of delicate yellow lace, and modestly showed a little bit of her shoulders and neck. Small, pearl dangling earrings and a thin, gold chain with a pearl pendant marvelously accentuated her yellow dress. She looked exquisite, and neither Prince Kyo nor Prince Yuki was there.

          "Oh," Tohru said disappointingly. "I guess they already left for the feast."

          Uo quickly replied with comforting words, "Tohru, you look wonderful! The guys just went to save you a special seat at the feast. They were complaining that they couldn't escort you to the banquet, but Momiji volunteered to take you."

She then added with a genuine smile, "Isn't that right, Momiji?"

          "Right! Toh—I mean Princess Tohru, I am Prince Momiji, the handsome prince who will accompany you to the banquet." Momiji said with one of his heart-warming smiles.

          "Thank you, Momiji! Ritsu, would you like to come with us? I'd love to hear about tonight's performance agenda!" Tohru said cheerfully.

          "It would be my pleasure!" Ritsu said as he bowed gently.

          The three teens soon said their good-byes to Uo and went on their way to the feast.

          Uo whispered as she saw the three people moving away from her sight, "Tohru, be safe."

*The doorway of the ballroom*

          "Wow! Look at all the food!" Momiji exclaimed as he pointed excitedly at the long tables heaped with piles of delicacies, huge pots of gourmet chickens, turkeys, and pork; to different sorts of foreign dishes, and an entire table stacked with desserts and cups filled with rich coffee and peach tea (King's favorite).

          "I must leave you two! I have to get ready for the performance!" Ritsu said ruefully.

          "That's okay! We'll be looking for you, Ritsu!" Tohru replied and as Ritsu disappeared into the crowd of guests, Momiji tugged at her arm.

          Momiji said quietly, "Tohru, I'd like you to meet some people."

          "Alright." Tohru replied instantly and when she turned around, she saw six people, staring at her fixedly.

          "Tohru, I'd like you to meet Amy, she's my friend and servant." Momiji said while motioning towards an extremely serene girl with curly, black hair that was braided in one long braid that ended at her hips. The color of her eyes was like a deep blue ocean, calm and mysterious but barely hiding the raging hurricane within. Tohru was mesmerized by her eyes, and thought that if she hadn't known any better, she would have thought Amy was Saki's little sister.

          "Amy, this is Tohru, princess of the Kingdom of Spades." Momiji said and then pointed towards an attractive male and a young girl. Momiji explained, "This is Hatsuharu, the first-born prince of the Kingdom of Jacks, and his younger sister, Kisa."

          Tohru gazed at the two teens, amazed at the difference of appearances between the two siblings. Whereas Haru had black and snow-white hair and dark gray eyes, which seemed to command respect and silence, Kisa had honey-colored hair and soft, brown eyes that radiated warmth and generosity.

          Momiji then pointed towards the two boys that seemed to be around Kisa's age and said, "This is Hiro, the only child of the Kingdom of Diamonds, and his friend and servant, Paul."

          This was when Tohru became astonished, for although Amy, Haru, and Kisa were all interesting people, the two young boys in front of her were like day and night.

Hiro looked like a spoiled kid, right to the core. He had slightly slanted, brown eyes that seemed to demand authority and a natural frown on his face, which showed he was not easily flattered or satisfied.

Then there was Paul, whose appearance showed that he was a shy and good-natured boy inside and out. His short, light-blue hair covering his heart-shaped face perfectly, his aquamarine eyes staring peacefully at Tohru, and a small, awkward grin on his face.

          "And finally, Miss Sakura Okinawa, Haru and Kisa's main tutor and friend." Momiji said as he motioned towards the beautiful woman, who seemed to be in her twenties.

          Tohru gaped at the woman, who had incredibly long, pink hair, which came to her knees. She had cool, lavender eyes, flawless complexion, a slender nose, and rosy lips that were situated in a breath-taking smile. Sakura was dressed in a white kimono with pink cherry blossoms and carried a small, pink purse. Everything about her seemed Ayame-like, and for that reason, as well as many others, Tohru liked Sakura Okinawa.  

         With the introductions finally out of the way, Momiji exclaimed, "Okay, let's go upstairs! Kyo, Yuki, and Kagura, are waiting for us in the balcony dining room!"

          The eight guests went up the narrow, spiral stairs, which led to the balcony dining room.  

          Tohru was amazed at the splendor of the balcony dining room. Its walls were a deep cranberry color, and the room was furnished with elaborately decorated vases and fresh, red roses. There was also a beautiful landscape portrait of the kingdom and the rose garden. But the most impressive item was the long dining table, which appeared to be made of Rose wood,  which were expensive carving trees found exclusively in the eastern lands beyond the Kards River. There were lovely china plates and dishes on the table, and at the table sat Shigure, Ayame, Kagura, and Yuki and Kyo glaring daggers at each other.

          Shigure stood up and said, "Welcome to the balcony dining room! Please, come in and sit down!"

          Everyone sat down at the table, with Shigure at the head of the table and Ayame at the end. To Shigure's right was Yuki and on the other side was Kisa. Next to Yuki were Tohru, then Kyo, then Kagura, and then Sakura. Next to Kisa was Hiro, then Paul, then Momiji, and then Haru. (Confusing, I know!)

          Shigure politely said "Ahem" before saying, "Now, all of you must be wondering why we are not enjoying the feast with the others downstairs. Unfortunately, I am the messenger of bad news.."

Shigure stopped, opened his favorite blue fan, and continued by saying, "The bad news is that Emperor Akito, or whom you are all familiar with as Shadow Emperor, and wants an empress— by New Year 's Day. Today is June 1st. That means that there are precisely 213 days, not including New Year's Day, to prepare the new empress for the role as the Emperor Akito's wife and to the liking of his court."

Shigure waited a few moments for his words to sink in before continuing, "However, Emperor Akito has changed his mind a little bit. He had demanded that a maiden of royal blood be given to him, well now, he wants to choose the maiden. He has sent a letter to us saying that he wants all suitable maidens of royal blood to be trained and that he may come at any given moment, most likely at the Annual Winter Ball. Akito has also changed another factor. He has decided that since he has no diplomats or ambassadors over here to see what is going on, he has sent his cousin, Adam, to serve as his eyes and ears. Adam will arrive at the castle in three days."

The people at the table stared stonily at Shigure, waiting to hear more of the terrible news, but all Shigure did was smile and say, "Well, let's enjoy the play! It's starting in a few moments!"

Before anyone could mutter a word, the candles were dimmed and the curtains revealed the stage to the audience. The play began with the sound of a Nohkan, a Japanese flute, and the silent beating of drums, which produced a haunting, sweet melody. Tohru immediately recognized that the performance was going to be a Noh play (One of the four classic Japanese plays, in which masks, instrumental music, elaborate costumes, and symbolic movements portray the characters and the story.) because of the square-shaped stage, which had a sloping roof and a pine tree painted on the back panel of the stage.

Inside the ballroom and the balconies, the people hushed as the play unraveled. It was a wonderful play about an enchanting demoness who fell in love with a man. But she was forbidden to see him by a powerful demon lord. When she refused to obey the dark lord, she was condemned to walk the Earth as a lowly spirit forever, until she met a wandering priest, who was able to guide the demoness back to her world, where she was finally able to rest in peace.

When the play ended, everyone in the balcony dining room had momentarily forgotten Shigure's bad news and enjoyed the food with relish. Everyone talked and laughed and when the sun rose the next morning, everyone in the castle dragged their sleepy bodies to beds. By 7 A.M., everyone in the entire castle was sound asleep.

The magnificent banquet was later called the Midnight Feast because it began precisely when the play ended—twelve 'o' clock, midnight.

AN: Did you like it? Hate it? I NEED REVIEWS!!! Please submit reviews peeps! I can't write without motivation! Thanx!

Me: Um, Yuki?

Yuki: What? *annoyed*

Me: I am so sorry! You and Tohru just don't seem to fit in the story line!

Kyo: *snorts* Well, no duh! Tohru and me are a couple!

Yuki: *glares* We'll just have to see about that! I am older than you are, little brother!

Kyo: # Yeah, by like, five seconds!

Yuki + Kyo: *getting their swords out and fighting*

Me: ^ ^;;; Uh, guys! Watch out, you're gonna kill somebody!

Kyo + Yuki: Exactly! *fighting continues*

Me: *sighs* Peeps! I made up the Noh play in the story! I just used some basic themes and plots of Noh plays to create it! Please don't sue me! (besides, I'm broke) Anyways, sorry it was so damn descriptive in this chapter! The introductions to Haru, Amy, Kisa, Paul, Hiro, and Sakura took me forever to write! (nearly killed me) I'll try to have some interaction between the characters in the next chapter! Bye now!

Reviews! Reviews! Reviews! *just reminding you ^ __ ^*