Title: As the Darkness Falls Part 5
Rating: Pg-13 for now
Pairing: RuHana and some others too. Still in the process of deciding
Author: Harsha
Hanamichi whistled cheerfully to himself as he made his way back to his cottage. The prince had been so humiliated when he realized that Hanamichi was really the gardener. The redhead smirked as he recalled the look on the prince's face. It was utterly priceless. Meanwhile, back in the castle, Kaede fumed inwardly. Damn that bloody redhead. The gardener had made him look like a fool.
Lady Ayako turned to the prince and said," Your highness, your mother asked me to pass this scroll to you. It contains information of vast importance." Kaede frowned and asked," What does it concern?" " Your future" replied Lady Ayako. Kaede snatched the scroll out of Ayako's hand and stormed out of the room. He quickly proceeded to his room and shut the door. With trembling hands, he unraveled the scroll and scanned its contents. He gasped as he took in the words written on the scroll.
" Kaede,
The time has come for you to take on your responsibilities as the heir to the throne. You will be eighteen soon and it is time you found a suitable wife for yourself. She must fit all the essential criterias and she has to have royal blood. I will not allow anyone of less than royal blood. Make sure she is wealthy and is able to bear children. You have permission to choose your own bride in whatever way you deem fit. You will have to visit all the princess's and choose one. You are allowed to take one companion with you to help you. However that companion has to be male. You will leave the day after tomorrow. When I return from Aries, you must not be in the castle. That is all
Your Mother"
Kaede felt all colour drain from his face. This was the worst news he had ever heard in his life. He buried his face in his hands and groaned in despair. He did not want to get married and most importantly, he didn't want the throne. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to have much of a choice. If he didn't obey his mother's commands, there would be hell to pay. He decided to obey his mother's command just this once. He would leave the kingdom and visit the princesses, but he would not marry them. He pulled out his haversack from under the bed and started dumping clothes into it. It suddenly hit him that his mother had said that he could have a companion to travel with. " Hmm. who should I take with me?'' he pondered. A malicious smile crossed the usually somber face of Prince Rukawa. He had the perfect idea of who to take with him. The irritating redheaded gardener would be the perfect choice. He could irritate the man and at the same time keep a watchful eye on him. That way he would be able to unravel the gardener's secrets. He smirked to himself as he made his way to Lord Kogure's chambers.
Kogure almost jumped out of his seat when he heard the door to his chamber bang open. He looked up to find Prince Rukawa looming over him with an unusually satisfied expression on his face. He quickly bowed to the Prince before asking, " Your Highness, was there something that you wanted?" The Prince nodded and in an icy tone, said " I want you to summon the new gardener and tell him that he has been ordered to accompany me on a trip. He will serve as my escort." Kogure bowed and replied, " At once, your highness"
Hanamichi grinned to himself as he lay down on his bed. Finally, he could get some sleep. That stupid prince had disturbed him so early in the morning. Just as he was about to doze off, he heard a tapping noise. He realized that some other jackass was knocking on his front door. He swore he would kill whoever it was. He opened the door, ready to kill that person, only to find Lady Ayako at his door. He immediately bowed and then asked, " Lady Ayako, what brings you here?" Lady Ayako smiled at the startled look on the redhead's face. She replied, " I have been sent here to inform you that you are to accompany Prince Rukawa on his journey to find a bride. You will serve as his companion as well as his protector. You cannot decline this position. Be ready by tomorrow as you will have to set off tomorrow morning at dawn."
Hanamichi just gaped at Lady Ayako as he took in all she said. He was fuming, " How the hell did he manage to get himself in this situation!" He sighed and replied, " I realize I have no choice in this matter. Please inform the Prince that I will accompany him on this journey." Lady Ayako smiled and nodded," Thank you, Hanamichi. Your acceptance makes matters much easier for me." She turned and left his cottage. He watched her make her way back to the castle before he wearily leaned against his door. Why did all the bad things have to happen to him.
The rest of the day passed peacefully for Hanamichi and he spent the time packing his stuff for the trip. He just took one haversack filled with necessities because he figured, the prince, being the spoilt brat he was, would bring too many things. He also had a sneaking suspicion that he would land up lugging all of the Prince's stuff. He figured he might as well go prepared. Those were his last thoughts as he fell asleep that night. Tomorrow was going to be a toture and he needed all the rest he could get.
Hanamichi whistled cheerfully to himself as he made his way back to his cottage. The prince had been so humiliated when he realized that Hanamichi was really the gardener. The redhead smirked as he recalled the look on the prince's face. It was utterly priceless. Meanwhile, back in the castle, Kaede fumed inwardly. Damn that bloody redhead. The gardener had made him look like a fool.
Lady Ayako turned to the prince and said," Your highness, your mother asked me to pass this scroll to you. It contains information of vast importance." Kaede frowned and asked," What does it concern?" " Your future" replied Lady Ayako. Kaede snatched the scroll out of Ayako's hand and stormed out of the room. He quickly proceeded to his room and shut the door. With trembling hands, he unraveled the scroll and scanned its contents. He gasped as he took in the words written on the scroll.
" Kaede,
The time has come for you to take on your responsibilities as the heir to the throne. You will be eighteen soon and it is time you found a suitable wife for yourself. She must fit all the essential criterias and she has to have royal blood. I will not allow anyone of less than royal blood. Make sure she is wealthy and is able to bear children. You have permission to choose your own bride in whatever way you deem fit. You will have to visit all the princess's and choose one. You are allowed to take one companion with you to help you. However that companion has to be male. You will leave the day after tomorrow. When I return from Aries, you must not be in the castle. That is all
Your Mother"
Kaede felt all colour drain from his face. This was the worst news he had ever heard in his life. He buried his face in his hands and groaned in despair. He did not want to get married and most importantly, he didn't want the throne. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to have much of a choice. If he didn't obey his mother's commands, there would be hell to pay. He decided to obey his mother's command just this once. He would leave the kingdom and visit the princesses, but he would not marry them. He pulled out his haversack from under the bed and started dumping clothes into it. It suddenly hit him that his mother had said that he could have a companion to travel with. " Hmm. who should I take with me?'' he pondered. A malicious smile crossed the usually somber face of Prince Rukawa. He had the perfect idea of who to take with him. The irritating redheaded gardener would be the perfect choice. He could irritate the man and at the same time keep a watchful eye on him. That way he would be able to unravel the gardener's secrets. He smirked to himself as he made his way to Lord Kogure's chambers.
Kogure almost jumped out of his seat when he heard the door to his chamber bang open. He looked up to find Prince Rukawa looming over him with an unusually satisfied expression on his face. He quickly bowed to the Prince before asking, " Your Highness, was there something that you wanted?" The Prince nodded and in an icy tone, said " I want you to summon the new gardener and tell him that he has been ordered to accompany me on a trip. He will serve as my escort." Kogure bowed and replied, " At once, your highness"
Hanamichi grinned to himself as he lay down on his bed. Finally, he could get some sleep. That stupid prince had disturbed him so early in the morning. Just as he was about to doze off, he heard a tapping noise. He realized that some other jackass was knocking on his front door. He swore he would kill whoever it was. He opened the door, ready to kill that person, only to find Lady Ayako at his door. He immediately bowed and then asked, " Lady Ayako, what brings you here?" Lady Ayako smiled at the startled look on the redhead's face. She replied, " I have been sent here to inform you that you are to accompany Prince Rukawa on his journey to find a bride. You will serve as his companion as well as his protector. You cannot decline this position. Be ready by tomorrow as you will have to set off tomorrow morning at dawn."
Hanamichi just gaped at Lady Ayako as he took in all she said. He was fuming, " How the hell did he manage to get himself in this situation!" He sighed and replied, " I realize I have no choice in this matter. Please inform the Prince that I will accompany him on this journey." Lady Ayako smiled and nodded," Thank you, Hanamichi. Your acceptance makes matters much easier for me." She turned and left his cottage. He watched her make her way back to the castle before he wearily leaned against his door. Why did all the bad things have to happen to him.
The rest of the day passed peacefully for Hanamichi and he spent the time packing his stuff for the trip. He just took one haversack filled with necessities because he figured, the prince, being the spoilt brat he was, would bring too many things. He also had a sneaking suspicion that he would land up lugging all of the Prince's stuff. He figured he might as well go prepared. Those were his last thoughts as he fell asleep that night. Tomorrow was going to be a toture and he needed all the rest he could get.