AN: This came from my sudden desire to rewrite the beginning of The Prince's Harem to fill in the missing pieces. (I blame it all on Taichi for deciding to fall in love with Yamato. That but a big monkey wrench in the planned ending of Harem. Tai: But he's SO cute and cuddly and...) I am working on the ending to that story, or the next chapter, whatever it ends up being.
Prince Ken rode down the street. He had gone out riding through the country-side and was coming back home though the village. He enjoyed riding thought the country; it was a welcome change from the capitol. He sighed. His brother, Osamu, had inherited the throne two years ago. He was tired of the politics surrounding the throne, and it was for this reason that he had helped his brother make sure that his place was secure and then had left. Sometimes he felt like he would never be clean from all that he had done. But Osamu was safe, and that was more important than any amount of blood that had to be shed.
Now he had time to think about his life and what he wanted.
What I want, Ken mused half out-loud.
"Yes, my lord?" asked the young groom following the prince.
"Just thinking," responded Ken. Just then he saw something that made him stop dead in his tracks. His groom came to a halt behind him, surprised at the abrupt stop. He stared at the young man who was standing in a pen with his hands tied together. He was dirty and dressed in rags, but none of that mattered to Ken. What he saw was someone who looked lost and sad, someone who needed him. Ken didn't question his feelings about the slave – he had spent too much time judging people at first glance to worry about why he was making this decision. He just knew it was the right thing to do.
"Wait here," Ken instructed his groom as he dismounted and walked toward the slave pen.
"Good afternoon, my lord," said the slave master. "Can I help you?"
"Yes. I want him," Ken motioned to the blond-haired slave.
The slave master brought the slave to Ken, who gave the slave master some gold coins. The slave master looked at them, and then put them away. He did not want to anger the Prince, and he knew that if the Prince wanted the slave, he would get him. He was just glad he was getting paid something for the ragged blonde.
Ken untied the slave's hands and then led him toward his horse. The slave went docilely, and Ken helped the slave mount his horse and then got on behind him. They continued on toward the palace.
Ken rode slowly through the rest of the market place. He stopped outside of a store and told his groom to wait outside. He went inside towing his new slave behind him. Ken enjoyed feeling the slave's hand in his and thinking of the surprises he had in store for his new slave, but he didn't let any of his pleasure show on his face. Inside the store there were many bolts of silk and clothes made of silk. Ken led his new slave to the shop keeper.
"I need some clothes for him. Preferably in blue or white."
"My lord, silk clothes on a slave would be…," the shop keeper's voice faded away as he looked at the expression on the Prince's face. Ken was very angry at the thought that he didn't know how to run his own household. He quickly went to the back of the store and brought out several sets of clothes.
Ken looked at them. "How much?"
The shop keeper quickly named a figure, and Ken paid it. He then took the clothes and led the slave back outside to the horses. Ken gave the clothes to his groom and then mounted both the slave and himself on his horse.
The fact that his slave was still very quiet bothered Ken somewhat. But he also noticed that the slave was very scared. He probably didn't understand what was happening. Ken had not wanted to let him know what was in store for him. It wouldn't do for the people of the village to know of his decision surrounding this slave before the blond adjusted to the idea himself. Of course, no one back at his palace would understand this sudden decision either. But hopefully, when he had brought his blond-haired beauty home and gotten him clean and fed, he would relax.
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Koushiro was surprised when the Prince sent for him saying that he had someone for the harem. He had been made head of the harem, but he had always done the odd jobs that Ken needed someone he trusted to handle, not actually taken care of anyone in the harem as the harem had been empty. And Ken had once told him not to expect him to find a consort or concubine. When Koushiro had asked why, he had been told, "People like me don't find soulmates. My soul is too tainted for that. And I don't want to just keep people around for show. Besides, you know that I don't like women in that way. And everyone who is offered to me is female. Therefore, I will have no harem." So Koushiro didn't expect to have to take care of anyone in the harem.
Well, outside of Jyou, Koushiro mused to himself. But Ken knew when he hired me that Jyou came along too. And Ken did need a healer.
Koushiro came up to where Prince Ken was waiting on him. He was standing in the formal waiting room of the palace. Beside him was a blond-haired slave. Koushiro bowed. "Yes, my Prince?"
"I want you to take him and clean him up." Ken gestured to the person beside him. "I've already bought new clothes for him." (Koushiro was glad to know this, as the clothes the slave was wearing needed to be brunt in his opinion.) "I also want the largest suite in the harem prepared for him."
Koushiro nodded. "Then he will be staying for awhile?" Koushiro was still trying to get his mind around the idea that Ken had found anyone to be in the harem.
"Yes. I just bought him from the slave market. He's probably tired and hungry."
"I'll have Jyou look him over then. What is his name?"
Ken's face went blank. Koushiro wondered if Ken had even stopped to ask, or if in his typically tyrannical way just had swept him up and took him home without asking. Ken and Koushiro both looked at the slave.
For the first time, the slave spoke. "I'm Takeru, Master."
"I'm not 'Master'. Call me Ken, or at least my Prince." Ken told him.
Takeru nodded.