Title: The King is Unveiled...
Part: 1/7
Pairings: None
Genre: AU, Non-yaoi.
Ratings: Up to you.
Author: Mia_Alexia
Email: Angelic_approdite@hotmail.com
Warnings: Actually none really. Though let me warn you, I have a twisted
sense of humour.
Notes^ I said that I wanted to retire, why haven't I?
Disclaimer: All these characters belong to me! I wish... (In case some
people misunderstood the meaning of this message, it literally means that
NONE of these characters belong to me, well with the exception of Midnight
and Soar, they belong to me! No suing should the breed and name coincide
with any character you own).
----
Seventeen years ago, the King's favourite minister, Reyes, prophesied the birth of the new King.
King by birth, From both worlds, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, By his father's hand.
After his death, which the whole country mourned, the King continued ruling without his most trusted aide and under the influence of his loss and his good-for-nothing court advisors, the King had his common borne Queen cast out of the palace for unknown reasons. They burned all documents containing the prophecy of the new King's birth. The good name of the King tarnished so much, that good people no longer trusted his judgement, but they kept in mind the prophecy and their hopes.
Seven months later, in a house upon a hill, Cries of pain echoed from the house in the dead hours of the night. A mother laid in labour; perspiration ran down her forehead as the mid-wife prepared her for delivery. Moments later, a strangled cry that progressed into a full-blown wail erupted from the mouth of a newborn baby boy. The mother held her son in her arms and cried.
'Kaede Rukawa, my Prince, my son,' Queen Minaru, whispered through her tears, thinking that no one could hear her.
Perched upon the windowsill, a hawk watched. And below that windowsill, a panther laid sprawled, both watching a 'common' mother nurse her hungry baby, vowing to protect the mother and son forever.
Sixteen years later, Approaching his sixteenth birthday, Kaede became annoyed with the consistent pushing from his mother to get a girlfriend.
'Mother, for the very last time NO! I can find a girlfriend by myself especially a wife, I do not need an arranged marriage,' Kaede turned to face his mother, anger seeping out of him the moment he met her glistening eyes.
'But Kaede, I don't want to wait for grandchildren and I am not getting any younger. If your father were here, you would have been married at fifteen, just as I was!' his mother stated firmly even though her lip was trembling.
'Mother, how could you say such a thing, you are barely in your early thirties and quit using father's name, maybe if he had stayed around, I might just believe it,' Kaede said, hate filling back into him at the sound of his father's name, the man who did not even stay around for his birth.
'Oh Kaede, if only you knew...' Minaru mused to herself, looking above her son's head, a jewelled crown of brilliant workmanship glittered, making her give a slight smile as she knew that one day her son would be King.
'Mother, why are you staring at me?' Kaede asked, frowning as he turned and caught his mother staring.
'Nothing, I thought I saw something. Why?' Minaru said, looking closely at Kaede.
'Nothing, it's just that the people in this village have always been staring at me, I always wonder why,' Kaede said, shrugging his shoulders.
'It must be something about you then,' Minaru said passively, reminding herself to cloak his crown.
'Oh well, I think I will go for a walk before dinner,' Kaede murmured over his shoulder as he walked out the door, closely following him was a sooty black panther and upon his shoulder perched a golden hawk.
Musing to herself on how the hawk and the panther came to be, they had been there for the birth of her son and the animals have not left their side ever since, protecting her son for her when she could not. Minaru chanted softly cloaking both their crowns so that the people would not suspect them of being royalty. Once or twice in the past she had let her son and herself go about with their crowns uncloaked and that had drawn a lot of unwanted attention.
The problem, she mused about these crowns was that they were there but they were invisible and only the commoners could see them. The royals were born with crowns or any significant sign of their royalty; you simply could not get rid of that sign or crown. She had earned her crown by marrying her beloved the King, and had borne his lovely son but before she could tell him that she was pregnant, she was thrown out of the palace by those evil, money-hungry so-called court advisors. She set to work, mumbling the old prophecy told to her by Reyes and adding in the missing parts that had been only for her ears.
King by birth, With true sight, From both worlds, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Christened Kaede, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, On his sixteenth birthday, By his father's hand.
The time is near, she thought to herself.
***
'Mum's acting weird again, I hope she is not still thinking about him, I mean it's been sixteen years for heaven's sake. I still can't believe that she is bugging me to find a girlfriend much less a wife. She won't rest till I find either one, what am I going to do?' Kaede telepath; to the sharp hawk and the slick panther beside him, hearing the mental laughter.
'Do it then, make her happy,' telepath the hawk whose name was Sky Soar replied, still screeching with laughter.
'Yeah, go on, find a nice girl and settle down,' the panther whose name was Midnight replied as well, purring with laughter.
'After all, you may not be able to find someone you love and can get married to after your sixteenth birthday,' Soar said, seriously as he gave a piercing screech full of pain.
'Why is that?' Kaede demanded of the two animals, twin sapphires glanced from the hawk to the panther waiting for an answer.
The two animals looked at each other, conferencing on their own private telepath. Finally, both appeared to have come to a conclusion and they both looked at him.
'That is because you are His Serene Royal Highness, Crown Prince Kaede Rukawa,' Soar said, looking intently at Kaede.
'No, that can't be true, I mean I was named after him that's all. I am no Prince much less a Crown Prince,' Kaede stated firmly, his eyes disbelieving.
'But you are, your mother though commoner by birth wed you father and bore you and has been using her magic to cloak your crown ever since you were born, we were both present,' Soar replied insistently, using his wing to point at Midnight.
'Yes your highness, we were both witnesses to your birth, we swore that we would stay by your side always and protect you as will our sons and the generations to come until the day that you die,' Midnight purred out, mentally serious.
'But, this can't be true, you have definitely gotten the wrong Kaede,' Kaede said as he lowered himself down to the ground, too weary to stand and sat beside the panther as he used to when he was young.
'Remember the stories that we told you when you were young and the skills that we taught you? About the villagers having true sight and only they could spot people of royal blood, wizards and witches? Shape shifting, telepathy and telekinesis? And when we told you to keep your skills a secret. Ever wondered why you are the only one who has ever heard of Crown Prince Kaede Rukawa? Well, from the moment you were born, the whole town has known you were the Crown Prince. They cannot see the crown that is above your head at the moment as your mother has cloaked it and only she can unveil it. The crown cannot be removed by magical or physical means, it is a sign of your royal blood,' Soar elaborated, his focus still directed at Kaede.
'Ok, maybe I believe till that far, but how is it that my mother can actually veil these crowns if she is a commoner by birth? Commoners are not suppose to have any magic at all and they have the true sight, I don't have true sight like the commoners or personal magic like the Royals,' Kaede said scrutinising the pair.
'Your mother is a commoner by birth but remember she married your father and even that comes with a little magic even though it is not much. She has true sight but does not use it because true sight reveals all and you have the best of both worlds, you have true sight and personal magic, you are the only royal to ever be so blessed. However, since you have personal magic, true sight is bonded to your magic and Royals only gain their magic at the age of sixteen,' Midnight said in a nonchalant manner, slowly surveying their Prince. Rukawa felt and looked incredibly flabbergasted, this was the most shocking news he has heard in a long time. Seeing the seriousness in their gazes just proved to him that the animals were not joking about his recently revealed identity.
'So what if I am a royal, it doesn't mean a thing!' Kaede said, raising his voice in exasperation.
'Kaede, if you were a royal, especially a Crown Prince, you are the one who will claim the throne and rule Kanagawa,' Soar replied calmly even though his patience was running thin.
'But you don't have proof!' Kaede yelled, refusing to believe the proof that was placed before his eyes.
'Oh but we do, your mother has been hiding the truth from you all these years,' Midnight replied, gracefully getting up.
'Come on, we shall seek her word on this; we must see her now. The time draws near for her departure,' Soar said sharply as he took off.
'Shape shift and hurry about it, no one must see you. That is if you remember the key rule,' Midnight snapped as he looked around carefully, not to miss an inch of the area he scouted, leaving Soar to watch over them from above.
Choosing to adopt Midnight's shape, Kaede felt his limbs shift and become loose of its human confinements. New power filled him and he felt free, energised and ready to pounce. He let out a delighted yowl and took off at top speed; racing for his house. Nearing his house, Kaede smelt chicken stew brewing in the pot with his sensitive feline nose. Leaping through the window, Kaede landed with a soft thud as he feet connected with the ground in front of his startled mother.
'What in the world? Midnight!' Minaru exclaimed in astonishment, immediately jumping to her feet. She walked steadily towards the panther to reprimand him. Usually Midnight was a perfect gentleman who would walk through the front door. As Minaru closed the distance between the panther and herself, she began to realise the difference between this panther and Midnight. For one, Midnight's fur was soot black whereas this panther had a bluish hue to his black fur. And also, a more startling fact was when the panther looked at her. He had twin sapphires staring out at her, an unusual combination for a panther. Midnight had yellow-green eyes that suited him just fine. And just as Minaru managed to put together that this panther was not Midnight, the panther began to take another shape. Minaru watched, fascinated as the panther's shape contorted and moulded itself back into the form of a HUMAN! Minaru bit back a gasp as she now saw Rukawa standing before her.
'Rukawa! How did you do that?' Minaru asked, eyeing her son curiously. 'First things first, I want you to tell me all about my father because these animals here tell me that my father is the King and I am refusing to believe them till I hear the truth from your mouth. They tell me that I am and I quote, 'His Serene Royal Highness Crown Prince Kaede Rukawa', is that true, Mother?' Kaede asked, the questions spilling out in a rush, desperate to know the truth.
'I... Kaede, I'm so sorry; I never meant to keep it from you. I was going to tell you the day before your birthday,' Minaru managed, looking at her son's pained expression.
'How could you do this to me? I could have had my future planned, I may not have wanted to be the King, and did you ever consider that? All I want to know is why, Mother,' Kaede asked; feeling lost that the only person he trusted could hide such a valuable secret that decided his future.
'Kaede, your father's ministers had me thrown out, they thought I was worthless because of my being common-borne and therefore not fit to be their precious Queen. They were in power at that time and they could have order anything to be done. I was grateful enough to not have been thrown into prison or beheaded. I did not dare seek out your father when you were born because your father was still under their influence and would or rather could have done harm to you, I wanted the prophecy to succeed, to show them that they were powerless to stop Reyes' prophecy,' Minaru said tearfully, looking at Kaede, hoping that he would understand.
'But Mother! How could Father do such a thing? To listen to ministers that want to do him harm. And what does the prophecy have to do with me? I know I have always felt a bonding with it but never once knew why,' Kaede said, giving his mother an incredulous look.
'Kaede, you must see reason, Reyes, he was your father's best friend since their youth. He was the ultimate minister, intelligent, powerful and quite handsome. But when he died, your father was just simply devastated, so was Hairra. They were nearly mad with grief. When another of your father's ministers proved to be as loyal and efficient as Reyes, your father just fell for it. The council used your father to gain power and riches; they used the imperial army to plunder the villages and as you can see, the kingdom is in a state of chaos,' Minaru said sadly, gazing at Kaede's face and thinking of her King.
'Right, I see. But where does the prophecy come in?' Kaede asked, looking curiously at his mother.
'Kaede, the prophecy describes you!' Minaru said, looking at her son, her eyes filled with love.
'Huh? What do you mean it describes me? How?' Kaede said, looking not so sure anymore. The prophecy, it was left behind by Reyes. It was to describe the future King. It described you, recite the prophecy Kaede,' Minaru said forcefully, seeing that Kaede was going to refuse to believe this.
'No... but, oh all right,
King by birth, From both worlds, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, By his father's hand,' Kaede recited, the prophecy buried deep in his head since the day that he heard it. The teachers did not keep texts of it but Kaede memorized from the day he heard it. The teachers said that the King did not allow any evidence of the prophecy to exist.
'Not quite right, Kaede, Reyes knew that his death was imminent, he also knew that I would be cast out of the castle so he told me the missing parts in the prophecy.
King by birth, From both worlds, With true sight, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Christened Kaede, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, On his sixteenth birthday, By his father's hand. Now you know why you fit the prophecy?' Minaru murmured as her eyes filled with tears as she thought of the people that she missed ever since she left the palace.
'Mother, I'm so sorry I ever doubted your word...,' Kaede said, squatting on the dirt floor in disgust, shaking his head as tears fell freely from his eyes.
'Cheer up Kaede, you are the new King, the people know that if they know the prophecy. No one can take that knowledge away from the people and from you,' Midnight said, nudging Kaede's knee with his soft felt head.
'Well, now that I know and since everyone knows, what's the use of hiding?' Kaede asked Midnight, rubbing Midnights smooth head, hearing him purr, forgetting to use telepathy.
'Kaede... are you talking to Midnight?' Minaru asked after a moment of silent observation.
'Yes, is it unusual? You talk to them too,' Kaede replied, looking at both Soar and Midnight.
'You know how to shape shift as well, right? How about telepathy? Telekinesis?' Minaru persisted, her eyes glistening, a wide grin pasted on her face.
'Well, I know how to shape shift, telepath, and telekinesis. But all these I learnt only several new moons ago, my telekinesis is still weak though. I also know how to heal and cast several spells but I am only just beginning,' Kaede answered in a very puzzled manner.
'Oh marvellous!' Minaru said, her eyes twinkling in joy.
'Why? Is this suppose to mean something?' Kaede asked, still extremely puzzled.
'Kaede, this means that you belong to the highest level of Royal! You see, royals have levels in their gatherings as well. The lowest level can only cast several simple spells for healing and protection. The highest level can do what you can do now, shape shift, telepathy and casting really strong spells. But even they have ranges, their powers may be weak or really powerful,' Minaru explained, seeing that Kaede had gotten lost in her rapid exclamation.
'Is it a good thing to be part of them?' Kaede asked, still uncertain about it.
'Is it good? Of course it's good, you are going to follow your father's footsteps,' Minaru chattered on excitedly, thinking of how proud the King would be of his son.
Suddenly, Minaru stopped, a blank expression took over and a fearful look flittered across her delicate features and she sank to the ground in a dead faint.
'What in the world? Mother!' Kaede exclaimed as he caught his mother's limp body before it hit the ground.
'Kaede! Your father is leaving the world sooner than we expected, your mother will be following him soon. Heal her, use the method we taught you,' Soar telepath urgently.
'Yes, I understand,' Kaede replied numbly, raising his hand, he held it above his mother's head and began to chant softly. As he chanted, his palm began to glow and as the light became brighter, Minaru began to stir.
'Mother, are you all right?' Kaede asked, searching her face frantically.
'Kaede, my Prince and my son, your father is leaving this world soon. He is coming for me is a couple of days time. You see, in a marriage, we are tied together in life and in death according to our vows. I will go with him; you must let me go. But before that, he will come to coronate you. Remember Kaede, I love you...' Minaru murmured as she fell into a deep slumber.
Kaede kept vigil by his mother's side for two days, on the third day in the wee hours of the morning; which was his birthday, as he fell into a light slumber, he felt a presence in the house and immediately awoke from his doze. He saw a ghostly apparition of a man with a crown. His built was once tall and proud but the years or rather sickness and grief had aged him and made him once magnificent body hang on his broad shoulders.
'Get away from her! You have no right to be here!' Kaede yelled angrily, full of hate for the father he never knew.
The ghostly figure turned towards him, the sad soulful eyes bore into his soul. Kaede saw the once proud face, handsome with amazing features that had been once flawless with perfection. The face had a stubborn tilt to the chin and once brilliant sapphire eyes and a shock of raven hair.
'My son Kaede, I glad I could finally meet you. I regret the years that I was never there for you but I kept watch over the two of you from the palace. But now, I am truly sorry, for both our times are up. I have come to take her with me to the heavens that await us,' Minamio said, glancing at his Queen whom his people never got to know.
'You can't, you mustn't! She's the only family that I ever had. Looking out for us from the palace is not enough, taking care of us personally is! You refused to see the mistake of your choice and let us suffer the consequences. In your own selfish need to be comforted, you trusted your lousy good-for-nothing, money hungry ministers more than your wife!' Kaede yelled, wishing that the apparition were real so that he could rip him apart limb from limb.
'I know, I have realised my mistake, I truly have and I and really sorry my son. But I must take your mother now, it is and have always been this way,' Minamio pleaded with Kaede to allow Minaru to go with him to the heavens.
'Can't you try and break that connection?' Kaede suggested, looking into his father's eyes, sensing the soulful connection between them.
'No, I won't try it; I have lost for most of the time that I have been married to her. I won't lose her for the rest of the time! Surely you are not going to deprive me of her once again?' Minamio said forcefully with resolution.
'I...' Kaede began, struggling to do what is best for his mother.
'Kaede... let me go. I want to go with your father, I love him and would have willing spent my entire life with him. But now our time on Earth is up, let us go... Remember, I, we will always love you,' Minaru whispered, getting up from the bed. Going over to Kaede, she embraced him on last time.
'But... Oh very well, you win... again,' Kaede said; his voice breaking as tears glistened in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. He began to release his spiritual hold on his mother.
Standing and watching his control of her soul slip, Kaede watched his mother physically wither away in front of him. Suddenly, a brilliant white light filled the small room and in front of him stood a couple very much in love. They both wore crowns of the utmost splendid craftsmanship. The beautiful young woman wore a white gold crown, with elaborate yet delicate designs that captured the beauty of the precious gems that decorated the crown, proclaiming feminine grace, a beautiful and gentle nature among other things. The young man beside her wore a crown whose design was both strong and bold. The jewels caught in the brilliant design enhanced his virility, proclaiming chivalry, strength and charm of the Royal family. They were both swath in garments of rich purple and their black hair and blue eyes were enhanced by the deep rich colour of their wardrobe.
'Mother? Father? Is that you?' Kaede murmured, seeing in wonderment why his father, a King would decide to marry his mother, a commoner.
'Kaede, step forward and kneel. It is time to coronate you as the next King. As you know, you will never be able to escape your fate or will anyone be able to steal it from you. A golden light will surround you in a month, proclaiming you, the King when the time is right for you to be made known. The fate and the people of Kanagawa rest in your hands, free it of the evil and by it, do good. Use the gifts bestowed upon you by your ancestors and keep Kanagawa in order,' Minamio said as he placed a newly carved crown on Kaede's raven head. One made of white gold, with several precious stones attached. The biggest jewel, a brilliant blue sapphire, enhanced the deep ocean blue of his eyes. Handing Kaede a second crown of equally as delicate designs as Minaru's, Minamio motioned for Kaede to stand. 'This crown, is for your bride. Since we are not going to be here to present it to her, we want you to present it to her on our behalf. Good luck my son,' Minamio said, clutching Minaru to his side.
'Kaede... make us proud,' Minaru said, her arms wrapped around Minamio's waist as she gazed at Kaede, glancing back to her husband with love.
'Yes Mother, no problem,' Kaede said as he watched them disappear, tears rolling down his cheeks as he put a smile on his face.
Kaede watched as they stood there, watching him. The brilliance began to fade. Somewhere in between, Kaede felt Midnight's head rub his leg and Soar's wing brush his face as he gently landed on Kaede's shoulder. Minamio and Minaru waved their last goodbyes as they vanished along with the light.
'Well guys, it look like it's going to be just the three of us from here on now,' Kaede said as he looked at the body, which had once been the vessel for his mother's spirit. He took her body and buried it in the hills that faced the palace, which his mother had always climbed to gaze at.
Setting off to the next village with Midnight and Soar by his side, Kaede was a formidable force, though still learning to master his magic... He now had the time constraint of a month to get to the palace and claim his rightful place as King.
~ The End ~
Seventeen years ago, the King's favourite minister, Reyes, prophesied the birth of the new King.
King by birth, From both worlds, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, By his father's hand.
After his death, which the whole country mourned, the King continued ruling without his most trusted aide and under the influence of his loss and his good-for-nothing court advisors, the King had his common borne Queen cast out of the palace for unknown reasons. They burned all documents containing the prophecy of the new King's birth. The good name of the King tarnished so much, that good people no longer trusted his judgement, but they kept in mind the prophecy and their hopes.
Seven months later, in a house upon a hill, Cries of pain echoed from the house in the dead hours of the night. A mother laid in labour; perspiration ran down her forehead as the mid-wife prepared her for delivery. Moments later, a strangled cry that progressed into a full-blown wail erupted from the mouth of a newborn baby boy. The mother held her son in her arms and cried.
'Kaede Rukawa, my Prince, my son,' Queen Minaru, whispered through her tears, thinking that no one could hear her.
Perched upon the windowsill, a hawk watched. And below that windowsill, a panther laid sprawled, both watching a 'common' mother nurse her hungry baby, vowing to protect the mother and son forever.
Sixteen years later, Approaching his sixteenth birthday, Kaede became annoyed with the consistent pushing from his mother to get a girlfriend.
'Mother, for the very last time NO! I can find a girlfriend by myself especially a wife, I do not need an arranged marriage,' Kaede turned to face his mother, anger seeping out of him the moment he met her glistening eyes.
'But Kaede, I don't want to wait for grandchildren and I am not getting any younger. If your father were here, you would have been married at fifteen, just as I was!' his mother stated firmly even though her lip was trembling.
'Mother, how could you say such a thing, you are barely in your early thirties and quit using father's name, maybe if he had stayed around, I might just believe it,' Kaede said, hate filling back into him at the sound of his father's name, the man who did not even stay around for his birth.
'Oh Kaede, if only you knew...' Minaru mused to herself, looking above her son's head, a jewelled crown of brilliant workmanship glittered, making her give a slight smile as she knew that one day her son would be King.
'Mother, why are you staring at me?' Kaede asked, frowning as he turned and caught his mother staring.
'Nothing, I thought I saw something. Why?' Minaru said, looking closely at Kaede.
'Nothing, it's just that the people in this village have always been staring at me, I always wonder why,' Kaede said, shrugging his shoulders.
'It must be something about you then,' Minaru said passively, reminding herself to cloak his crown.
'Oh well, I think I will go for a walk before dinner,' Kaede murmured over his shoulder as he walked out the door, closely following him was a sooty black panther and upon his shoulder perched a golden hawk.
Musing to herself on how the hawk and the panther came to be, they had been there for the birth of her son and the animals have not left their side ever since, protecting her son for her when she could not. Minaru chanted softly cloaking both their crowns so that the people would not suspect them of being royalty. Once or twice in the past she had let her son and herself go about with their crowns uncloaked and that had drawn a lot of unwanted attention.
The problem, she mused about these crowns was that they were there but they were invisible and only the commoners could see them. The royals were born with crowns or any significant sign of their royalty; you simply could not get rid of that sign or crown. She had earned her crown by marrying her beloved the King, and had borne his lovely son but before she could tell him that she was pregnant, she was thrown out of the palace by those evil, money-hungry so-called court advisors. She set to work, mumbling the old prophecy told to her by Reyes and adding in the missing parts that had been only for her ears.
King by birth, With true sight, From both worlds, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Christened Kaede, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, On his sixteenth birthday, By his father's hand.
The time is near, she thought to herself.
***
'Mum's acting weird again, I hope she is not still thinking about him, I mean it's been sixteen years for heaven's sake. I still can't believe that she is bugging me to find a girlfriend much less a wife. She won't rest till I find either one, what am I going to do?' Kaede telepath; to the sharp hawk and the slick panther beside him, hearing the mental laughter.
'Do it then, make her happy,' telepath the hawk whose name was Sky Soar replied, still screeching with laughter.
'Yeah, go on, find a nice girl and settle down,' the panther whose name was Midnight replied as well, purring with laughter.
'After all, you may not be able to find someone you love and can get married to after your sixteenth birthday,' Soar said, seriously as he gave a piercing screech full of pain.
'Why is that?' Kaede demanded of the two animals, twin sapphires glanced from the hawk to the panther waiting for an answer.
The two animals looked at each other, conferencing on their own private telepath. Finally, both appeared to have come to a conclusion and they both looked at him.
'That is because you are His Serene Royal Highness, Crown Prince Kaede Rukawa,' Soar said, looking intently at Kaede.
'No, that can't be true, I mean I was named after him that's all. I am no Prince much less a Crown Prince,' Kaede stated firmly, his eyes disbelieving.
'But you are, your mother though commoner by birth wed you father and bore you and has been using her magic to cloak your crown ever since you were born, we were both present,' Soar replied insistently, using his wing to point at Midnight.
'Yes your highness, we were both witnesses to your birth, we swore that we would stay by your side always and protect you as will our sons and the generations to come until the day that you die,' Midnight purred out, mentally serious.
'But, this can't be true, you have definitely gotten the wrong Kaede,' Kaede said as he lowered himself down to the ground, too weary to stand and sat beside the panther as he used to when he was young.
'Remember the stories that we told you when you were young and the skills that we taught you? About the villagers having true sight and only they could spot people of royal blood, wizards and witches? Shape shifting, telepathy and telekinesis? And when we told you to keep your skills a secret. Ever wondered why you are the only one who has ever heard of Crown Prince Kaede Rukawa? Well, from the moment you were born, the whole town has known you were the Crown Prince. They cannot see the crown that is above your head at the moment as your mother has cloaked it and only she can unveil it. The crown cannot be removed by magical or physical means, it is a sign of your royal blood,' Soar elaborated, his focus still directed at Kaede.
'Ok, maybe I believe till that far, but how is it that my mother can actually veil these crowns if she is a commoner by birth? Commoners are not suppose to have any magic at all and they have the true sight, I don't have true sight like the commoners or personal magic like the Royals,' Kaede said scrutinising the pair.
'Your mother is a commoner by birth but remember she married your father and even that comes with a little magic even though it is not much. She has true sight but does not use it because true sight reveals all and you have the best of both worlds, you have true sight and personal magic, you are the only royal to ever be so blessed. However, since you have personal magic, true sight is bonded to your magic and Royals only gain their magic at the age of sixteen,' Midnight said in a nonchalant manner, slowly surveying their Prince. Rukawa felt and looked incredibly flabbergasted, this was the most shocking news he has heard in a long time. Seeing the seriousness in their gazes just proved to him that the animals were not joking about his recently revealed identity.
'So what if I am a royal, it doesn't mean a thing!' Kaede said, raising his voice in exasperation.
'Kaede, if you were a royal, especially a Crown Prince, you are the one who will claim the throne and rule Kanagawa,' Soar replied calmly even though his patience was running thin.
'But you don't have proof!' Kaede yelled, refusing to believe the proof that was placed before his eyes.
'Oh but we do, your mother has been hiding the truth from you all these years,' Midnight replied, gracefully getting up.
'Come on, we shall seek her word on this; we must see her now. The time draws near for her departure,' Soar said sharply as he took off.
'Shape shift and hurry about it, no one must see you. That is if you remember the key rule,' Midnight snapped as he looked around carefully, not to miss an inch of the area he scouted, leaving Soar to watch over them from above.
Choosing to adopt Midnight's shape, Kaede felt his limbs shift and become loose of its human confinements. New power filled him and he felt free, energised and ready to pounce. He let out a delighted yowl and took off at top speed; racing for his house. Nearing his house, Kaede smelt chicken stew brewing in the pot with his sensitive feline nose. Leaping through the window, Kaede landed with a soft thud as he feet connected with the ground in front of his startled mother.
'What in the world? Midnight!' Minaru exclaimed in astonishment, immediately jumping to her feet. She walked steadily towards the panther to reprimand him. Usually Midnight was a perfect gentleman who would walk through the front door. As Minaru closed the distance between the panther and herself, she began to realise the difference between this panther and Midnight. For one, Midnight's fur was soot black whereas this panther had a bluish hue to his black fur. And also, a more startling fact was when the panther looked at her. He had twin sapphires staring out at her, an unusual combination for a panther. Midnight had yellow-green eyes that suited him just fine. And just as Minaru managed to put together that this panther was not Midnight, the panther began to take another shape. Minaru watched, fascinated as the panther's shape contorted and moulded itself back into the form of a HUMAN! Minaru bit back a gasp as she now saw Rukawa standing before her.
'Rukawa! How did you do that?' Minaru asked, eyeing her son curiously. 'First things first, I want you to tell me all about my father because these animals here tell me that my father is the King and I am refusing to believe them till I hear the truth from your mouth. They tell me that I am and I quote, 'His Serene Royal Highness Crown Prince Kaede Rukawa', is that true, Mother?' Kaede asked, the questions spilling out in a rush, desperate to know the truth.
'I... Kaede, I'm so sorry; I never meant to keep it from you. I was going to tell you the day before your birthday,' Minaru managed, looking at her son's pained expression.
'How could you do this to me? I could have had my future planned, I may not have wanted to be the King, and did you ever consider that? All I want to know is why, Mother,' Kaede asked; feeling lost that the only person he trusted could hide such a valuable secret that decided his future.
'Kaede, your father's ministers had me thrown out, they thought I was worthless because of my being common-borne and therefore not fit to be their precious Queen. They were in power at that time and they could have order anything to be done. I was grateful enough to not have been thrown into prison or beheaded. I did not dare seek out your father when you were born because your father was still under their influence and would or rather could have done harm to you, I wanted the prophecy to succeed, to show them that they were powerless to stop Reyes' prophecy,' Minaru said tearfully, looking at Kaede, hoping that he would understand.
'But Mother! How could Father do such a thing? To listen to ministers that want to do him harm. And what does the prophecy have to do with me? I know I have always felt a bonding with it but never once knew why,' Kaede said, giving his mother an incredulous look.
'Kaede, you must see reason, Reyes, he was your father's best friend since their youth. He was the ultimate minister, intelligent, powerful and quite handsome. But when he died, your father was just simply devastated, so was Hairra. They were nearly mad with grief. When another of your father's ministers proved to be as loyal and efficient as Reyes, your father just fell for it. The council used your father to gain power and riches; they used the imperial army to plunder the villages and as you can see, the kingdom is in a state of chaos,' Minaru said sadly, gazing at Kaede's face and thinking of her King.
'Right, I see. But where does the prophecy come in?' Kaede asked, looking curiously at his mother.
'Kaede, the prophecy describes you!' Minaru said, looking at her son, her eyes filled with love.
'Huh? What do you mean it describes me? How?' Kaede said, looking not so sure anymore. The prophecy, it was left behind by Reyes. It was to describe the future King. It described you, recite the prophecy Kaede,' Minaru said forcefully, seeing that Kaede was going to refuse to believe this.
'No... but, oh all right,
King by birth, From both worlds, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, By his father's hand,' Kaede recited, the prophecy buried deep in his head since the day that he heard it. The teachers did not keep texts of it but Kaede memorized from the day he heard it. The teachers said that the King did not allow any evidence of the prophecy to exist.
'Not quite right, Kaede, Reyes knew that his death was imminent, he also knew that I would be cast out of the castle so he told me the missing parts in the prophecy.
King by birth, From both worlds, With true sight, He will come, To set wrong right, Fulfilling his birthright.
Born of night, Eyes of twin sapphires, Features so pure, Virtues of gold, Christened Kaede, Upon his father's death, He shall be coroneted, On his sixteenth birthday, By his father's hand. Now you know why you fit the prophecy?' Minaru murmured as her eyes filled with tears as she thought of the people that she missed ever since she left the palace.
'Mother, I'm so sorry I ever doubted your word...,' Kaede said, squatting on the dirt floor in disgust, shaking his head as tears fell freely from his eyes.
'Cheer up Kaede, you are the new King, the people know that if they know the prophecy. No one can take that knowledge away from the people and from you,' Midnight said, nudging Kaede's knee with his soft felt head.
'Well, now that I know and since everyone knows, what's the use of hiding?' Kaede asked Midnight, rubbing Midnights smooth head, hearing him purr, forgetting to use telepathy.
'Kaede... are you talking to Midnight?' Minaru asked after a moment of silent observation.
'Yes, is it unusual? You talk to them too,' Kaede replied, looking at both Soar and Midnight.
'You know how to shape shift as well, right? How about telepathy? Telekinesis?' Minaru persisted, her eyes glistening, a wide grin pasted on her face.
'Well, I know how to shape shift, telepath, and telekinesis. But all these I learnt only several new moons ago, my telekinesis is still weak though. I also know how to heal and cast several spells but I am only just beginning,' Kaede answered in a very puzzled manner.
'Oh marvellous!' Minaru said, her eyes twinkling in joy.
'Why? Is this suppose to mean something?' Kaede asked, still extremely puzzled.
'Kaede, this means that you belong to the highest level of Royal! You see, royals have levels in their gatherings as well. The lowest level can only cast several simple spells for healing and protection. The highest level can do what you can do now, shape shift, telepathy and casting really strong spells. But even they have ranges, their powers may be weak or really powerful,' Minaru explained, seeing that Kaede had gotten lost in her rapid exclamation.
'Is it a good thing to be part of them?' Kaede asked, still uncertain about it.
'Is it good? Of course it's good, you are going to follow your father's footsteps,' Minaru chattered on excitedly, thinking of how proud the King would be of his son.
Suddenly, Minaru stopped, a blank expression took over and a fearful look flittered across her delicate features and she sank to the ground in a dead faint.
'What in the world? Mother!' Kaede exclaimed as he caught his mother's limp body before it hit the ground.
'Kaede! Your father is leaving the world sooner than we expected, your mother will be following him soon. Heal her, use the method we taught you,' Soar telepath urgently.
'Yes, I understand,' Kaede replied numbly, raising his hand, he held it above his mother's head and began to chant softly. As he chanted, his palm began to glow and as the light became brighter, Minaru began to stir.
'Mother, are you all right?' Kaede asked, searching her face frantically.
'Kaede, my Prince and my son, your father is leaving this world soon. He is coming for me is a couple of days time. You see, in a marriage, we are tied together in life and in death according to our vows. I will go with him; you must let me go. But before that, he will come to coronate you. Remember Kaede, I love you...' Minaru murmured as she fell into a deep slumber.
Kaede kept vigil by his mother's side for two days, on the third day in the wee hours of the morning; which was his birthday, as he fell into a light slumber, he felt a presence in the house and immediately awoke from his doze. He saw a ghostly apparition of a man with a crown. His built was once tall and proud but the years or rather sickness and grief had aged him and made him once magnificent body hang on his broad shoulders.
'Get away from her! You have no right to be here!' Kaede yelled angrily, full of hate for the father he never knew.
The ghostly figure turned towards him, the sad soulful eyes bore into his soul. Kaede saw the once proud face, handsome with amazing features that had been once flawless with perfection. The face had a stubborn tilt to the chin and once brilliant sapphire eyes and a shock of raven hair.
'My son Kaede, I glad I could finally meet you. I regret the years that I was never there for you but I kept watch over the two of you from the palace. But now, I am truly sorry, for both our times are up. I have come to take her with me to the heavens that await us,' Minamio said, glancing at his Queen whom his people never got to know.
'You can't, you mustn't! She's the only family that I ever had. Looking out for us from the palace is not enough, taking care of us personally is! You refused to see the mistake of your choice and let us suffer the consequences. In your own selfish need to be comforted, you trusted your lousy good-for-nothing, money hungry ministers more than your wife!' Kaede yelled, wishing that the apparition were real so that he could rip him apart limb from limb.
'I know, I have realised my mistake, I truly have and I and really sorry my son. But I must take your mother now, it is and have always been this way,' Minamio pleaded with Kaede to allow Minaru to go with him to the heavens.
'Can't you try and break that connection?' Kaede suggested, looking into his father's eyes, sensing the soulful connection between them.
'No, I won't try it; I have lost for most of the time that I have been married to her. I won't lose her for the rest of the time! Surely you are not going to deprive me of her once again?' Minamio said forcefully with resolution.
'I...' Kaede began, struggling to do what is best for his mother.
'Kaede... let me go. I want to go with your father, I love him and would have willing spent my entire life with him. But now our time on Earth is up, let us go... Remember, I, we will always love you,' Minaru whispered, getting up from the bed. Going over to Kaede, she embraced him on last time.
'But... Oh very well, you win... again,' Kaede said; his voice breaking as tears glistened in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. He began to release his spiritual hold on his mother.
Standing and watching his control of her soul slip, Kaede watched his mother physically wither away in front of him. Suddenly, a brilliant white light filled the small room and in front of him stood a couple very much in love. They both wore crowns of the utmost splendid craftsmanship. The beautiful young woman wore a white gold crown, with elaborate yet delicate designs that captured the beauty of the precious gems that decorated the crown, proclaiming feminine grace, a beautiful and gentle nature among other things. The young man beside her wore a crown whose design was both strong and bold. The jewels caught in the brilliant design enhanced his virility, proclaiming chivalry, strength and charm of the Royal family. They were both swath in garments of rich purple and their black hair and blue eyes were enhanced by the deep rich colour of their wardrobe.
'Mother? Father? Is that you?' Kaede murmured, seeing in wonderment why his father, a King would decide to marry his mother, a commoner.
'Kaede, step forward and kneel. It is time to coronate you as the next King. As you know, you will never be able to escape your fate or will anyone be able to steal it from you. A golden light will surround you in a month, proclaiming you, the King when the time is right for you to be made known. The fate and the people of Kanagawa rest in your hands, free it of the evil and by it, do good. Use the gifts bestowed upon you by your ancestors and keep Kanagawa in order,' Minamio said as he placed a newly carved crown on Kaede's raven head. One made of white gold, with several precious stones attached. The biggest jewel, a brilliant blue sapphire, enhanced the deep ocean blue of his eyes. Handing Kaede a second crown of equally as delicate designs as Minaru's, Minamio motioned for Kaede to stand. 'This crown, is for your bride. Since we are not going to be here to present it to her, we want you to present it to her on our behalf. Good luck my son,' Minamio said, clutching Minaru to his side.
'Kaede... make us proud,' Minaru said, her arms wrapped around Minamio's waist as she gazed at Kaede, glancing back to her husband with love.
'Yes Mother, no problem,' Kaede said as he watched them disappear, tears rolling down his cheeks as he put a smile on his face.
Kaede watched as they stood there, watching him. The brilliance began to fade. Somewhere in between, Kaede felt Midnight's head rub his leg and Soar's wing brush his face as he gently landed on Kaede's shoulder. Minamio and Minaru waved their last goodbyes as they vanished along with the light.
'Well guys, it look like it's going to be just the three of us from here on now,' Kaede said as he looked at the body, which had once been the vessel for his mother's spirit. He took her body and buried it in the hills that faced the palace, which his mother had always climbed to gaze at.
Setting off to the next village with Midnight and Soar by his side, Kaede was a formidable force, though still learning to master his magic... He now had the time constraint of a month to get to the palace and claim his rightful place as King.
~ The End ~