Here's a little sth: guess which one I based it on. There is one story from Grimm's that I chose to use as my fic's backbone but I didn't like the ending and so, changed it^^ Kekekeke~ The joys of being the writer^^ If anyone guesses the right story, I shall put the first one that answers correctly as a character in my ficcie as best as possible and give you a cookie too!^^
Hope you people like this chap too... It's quite long, I think... took me 2 days to write it out o_O Anyways, I hope to finish this story and not get discouraged during it... So, plzzzz R&R!!! XP
...and sorry for the inconviences of my poor writing... *sob* ish just not a good enough writer > thankies to my many muses once again^^ u people know who you are =D
As I, the narrator, have said before, this story takes place in a peculiar kingdom. Where peculiar kingdoms are, peculiar things happen. Where peculiar things happen, there must be peculiar people doing peculiar businesses in order for these peculiar things to happen.
And as such, there are a lot of peculiar people living in this peculiar kingdom. Whether they be red haired, orange haired, blonde haired, white haired, black haired, brown haired, gray haired, even silver haired. They are all part of this kingdom. Nope, I don't think there's green, blue, or pink haired fellows in this kingdom. You must be thinking about the wrong country, old chap. Anywho, these people do all sorts of peculiar things. Peculiarity happens regularly in this kingdom since it is ruled by 3 females: King Uo, Queen Hana, and of course, our lovely Princess Tohru. Why did I mention all of that, you ask? Well you see, I, the narrator, is a part of this kingdom as well. XD
Inside the palace.
"I wish to nominate myself to go on the quest of ridding the kingdom of the wild boar, your Majesty."
"And who might you be?"
"I am but a humble man that lives under your reign, your Majesty. I volunteer for this quest because I, too, also care for this kingdom. And, if slaying this boar shall bring peace to this land, I will be happy to oblige."
"...You talk too much... But, very well. If you choose to be a participant on this quest, so you shall be. What is your name, young man?"
"My name, your Majesty, is Sohma Akito."
After a hard day's of work, the young man with lavender eyes slowly makes his way home.
"Tadaima."
"Yuki, my dear brother, you're back!" Comes the cry of a 23 yr old man, turning chibi-like at the sight of the arrival of his brother.
"Yes, yes, I'm back..."
" *ahem* "
"...*cringe*... dear brother, Ayame."
"Well now, that wasn't so bad was it, dear brother Yuki!" said Ayame. "You promised that you'll be nice to me for today since it's my birthday! And you won't go breaking your promise now, would you?"
"No, I won't, dear brother."
"Very well, I shall make you dinner today since I'm in such a good mood! Just sit and wait a minute. It won't take long at all..."
"Wait a second, you're making dinner??? Where's Mine? She's the one that takes care of our meals. Where is she???"
"Oh~ I've let her off for the day since I feel so happy today. She deserves a rest once in a while too, Yuki."
[Yuki sweatdrops]
"Ummm... aniki, since it's your birthday today, why don't we go out and eat instead of having you cook. You know, as a celebration sort of thing, plus you don't have to work!"
' I'd rather die than to eat his cooking! His cooking is as worse as mine! " '
"Why, Yuki, that is a splendid idea! Whyever did I not think of that? Ok, then, let's go out and eat!" Said the man as he drags the other behind him out the door into the cool air of the evening.
As the two brothers made their way towards a table in the Great Hall of Feast in the village, they caught voices murmuring around them...
"D'you hear? I 'eard 'ere's a proclaimation made by the King, saying that he who rids the boar in the forest shall be made groom of the Princess!"
"So? What's that got to do with me? I've better things to do than go around running in a forest looking for a boar that no skilled soldier can find except lunatics squeeling about it."
"Eh, I've also 'eard someone's volunteered to go 'ake on the boar in the forest already!"
"Then let the fool go. He will have the luck like the soldiers did when they roamed around in that same forest looking for the stupid boar."
" 'At is true. No other woodsmen said the boar 'cept them wierd orange heads."
"Are you finished your meal? I've still work to do, shall we go?"
"Yeh, I've me work to do also. Let's go."
But, before the 2 men beside the table where Yuki and Ayame is sitting gets up. Yuki stops them and asks the men:
"Excuse me, kind sir, but do you know the one that volunteered for the quest?"
"Ah, Yuki, are you also interested? You young ones are always having time on your hands. Very well, I shall tell you, 'tis the young lad in this village also, by the name of Sohma Akito."
"...Akito~? Why?"
"Well, we best be off laddie. Can't spend more time chitchatting like some pregnant women now can we? We've them work to do."
"Oh, I beg your pardon. Please, do go right ahead," said Yuki as he bows slightly at the two men courteously.
The two men returns the gesture by tipping their caps a bit and sets out the door. Yuki sits back down and joins Ayame in their dinner with his eyebrows slightly furrowing.
"What's the matter Yuki? Is the business of Akito helping out the kingdom worrying you?"
"Uhhhh... no. Why would it?"
"I dunno... just intuition..."
"Intuition? Don't sound like a girl, aniki."
"A girl... hmmmm... that could be another reason. Since, you're not worrying about a guy, then you must be worrying about a girl!"
"What kind of logic is that???"
[a wicked smile slowly stretches across Ayame's lovely face]
"I think I'll go see my dear friend Shigure tonight."
"Aniki, Shigure's gone missing for months already."
[O_O ... brows furrowing]
"Oh yea~~ I forgot."
A light breeze gently blows across the lush green grass that someone's using as a soft green bed. His dark gray hair waves at the soft sunbeams that shine on him. His eyes closed, shielding lavender tinted eyes.
' Why did Akito volunteer? And so willingly too? It just doesn't make sense... There's something wrong with this whole thing, I just know it! But... I can't pin-point the exact problem... This is wierd! ... ... I remember the notice saying something about that "he who rids the boar will be able to marry the Princess" ... marry the Princess ... marry... the Princess... could it be? ... '
"Yu~~~~~~~ki~~~~~~~~"
Yuki sits up from where he's resting on the green grass, stretches, and looks to see his brother coming up the little hill, calling him.
"Aniki? What is it?"
"They're having a hearing at the palace for the recognition of Akito's bravery for volunteering the quest. You want to go and watch?"
The young man ponders for a second, gets up, brushes some stray grass from his trousers and sets off with his brother towards the palace.
The palace was filled with people already when the two brothers reached it. They fought their way towards the front of the excited crowd to get a better view of the whole hearing. When Yuki reached the front, he saw Akito already standing in the court with a man standing beside him. This man, as Yuki saw closely, was Sohma Hatori. Both the King and Queen have already seated in their respective thrones. The King as usual, had her left hand on the arm of her throne, supporting her head, looking as complacent as always. The Queen, looking very clairvoyant as usual. The Princess was no where to be found.
" ...and so, to express our Majesty's gratitude, you are to be awarded with this medal beforehand for your bravery in volunteering for this quest." Proclaims the announcer.
' Beforehand? The peculiarity of our kingdom strikes again! ' Thought Yuki glumly.
"Thank you, your Majesty."
"Sohma Akito, your quest shall begin tomorrow morning at the break of dawn. I will send one of my soldiers to lead you to a safe entrance into the forest. You may bring anyone or anything you wish that you think might be of help to you. Shall you need any assistance in any form, make your request now." Said King Uo unanimately.
"No your Majesty, I have no request. But, the reward for my finishing of the quest still holds true, isn't it, my Lord?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Thank you, that is all I wish to ask."
"Very well, all is settled. Tomorrow you shall begin your quest." As the King finish saying these words, Ayame suddenly bursts out of the crowd.
" 'Tori!!! Why are you out there? I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Everyone in the court turns their heads and stares at Ayame. Since, bursting out loud was not something you should do in front of royalties, especially not when they are speaking.
"You there! Who, are, you?" The King asks Ayame as veins at her temple throbs dangerously.
"Good day, your Majesty! I am a common village tailor, by the name of Sohma Ayame. Everyone calls me Aya san though!^^" says 'Aya san' cheerfully.
' Great! Just go and do what you're best at, aniki, make a fool out of yourself. I'll just stay right here and pretend I'm one of the other commoners and I don't know you, at all.
"... and this is my dear beloved little brother, Sohma Yuki!^^"
* O_O *
The King narrows her eyes towards the two as the other people separates from them.
[ o_O ] "Sohma Ayame, Sohma Yuki, Sohma Akito... Is there a reason why you all have the same last name?(1)"
"Because we're cousins, your Majesty," exclaims Ayame energetically, "and 'Tori is also our cousin as well!"
"I see. But your being cousins gives you no right to speak in my presence now, does it? Therefore, I shall sentence you both to death! Guards!"
"What~~?! Why must we be sentenced to death??? My brother has only spoken a few words, and I none! That is injustice!"
"You dare question me?!"
"... King Uo, I have a better idea."
"Queen Hana, what do you propose we do to them then?"
"Send them on the quest as well. Isn't it better to have more people working for us? It'd be a waste of time to just and kill them when the boar will do that job for us."
"What if they escape?"
"Then, we shall keep one of them here while the other goes on the quest. Is that acceptable?"
"That is a splendid idea, Queen Hana. Your brilliance strikes once again! Very well, one of you will stay behind as a prisoner while the other will take part on the quest. When you finish the quest, the one we kept as prisoner will be free to go. But, if you shall fail, both of you will die. Choose wisely for who will go on the quest, for it shall determine the destiny for 2 lives."
"Yuki dear, I will go since I'm the oldest! I have more experience than you do! So, I should go!"
"Experience? When did you ever have experience in hunting and killing something? All you ever do is stay inside and sew!"
"Have you decided?" retorts the King.
"Yes, I wil..."
Ayame's voice is suddenly cut off as Yuki clasps his hands over his brother's mouth.
"I will go."
To be cont...
HK's little glossary of random jap words:
aniki = (slang for) older brother
HK's little Ed note:
(1) In japanese and chinese, or even most asian cultures, the last name is put first. Once I realized what I've done, it was too late and since I'm just too lazy to go and change all of them back to standard English, you'll see the last name put first from now on =P
