Title: Milk White and the Seven Thingamajiggers (1/3)
Genre: Fantasy/Comedy/Romance?
Rating: For children at least 10 years old and above. Ehm … come to think about it … no, this is for people no younger than 13, and those who approve of yaoi.
Disclaimer: Slam Dunk belongs to Inoue Takehiko. Snow White is a story that I can borrow without infringing anything, right? Ragnarok (the online RPG) is not mine, and damn, I don't play anymore. So there.
Notes: I conceived of this idea long just a few months after I learned about Ragnarok (which would be October, I guess, 2003.Yeah, the idea is that old.) I should have finished this sooner, but school's an even bigger bitch than I am, so … oh well. Warning: this is full of puns only my friends and me can understand. I do hope I kept them IC, but if I haven't … Gomen, gomen.
Summary: Slam Dunk people living out Snow White's story in Midgard. Confusing? Hell, yes.
ONCE UPON A TIME, there was a young man, with warm bespectacled brown eyes and chocolate hair. He was very kind, gentle, helpful, and smart. All the people loved him. His name was Kogure Kiminobu, and he was the son of the Viscount of their land.
At that time, the Crown Prince of the realm, his Majesty Mitsui Hisashi fell in love with him, hard. He wooed the Viscount's son almost to the point of harassment; his feelings were sincere, he was only too persistent. Kogure, with a shy smile and after six months of courting, finally agreed to an intimate relationship.
They had been lovers for a year when the Prince Mitsui proposed. The populace almost went mad in indignity when the brash Prince really did marry Kogure. Prince Hisashi must secure the throne with an heir. Even the Old King, fond as he was of his favorite son's lover, was steadfast.
It posed as a problem, since Hisashi didn't want to produce an heir out of wedlock. However, of all the four siblings, he was the only one fit for the throne, so he had grudgingly agreed to his parents' advice.
The Crown Prince told his predicament to his Prince Consort, stressing that he would not want to be with anyone else, for the sake of the throne or no. And so, with great reluctance, the brown-eyed aristocrat revealed that he knew magic, a great and terrible enchantment, which would let him transform into a woman in a span of two years. Mitsui was ecstatic. They wasted no more time, and, true enough, Kogure's body became that of a woman. The Kingdom then had no complaints, and they were left undisturbed.
Aware of the implications of the spell, the Court waited in bated breath as, one day, almost ten months after the spell was performed, during a particularly harsh winter, Kiminobu's birthing screams echoed throughout the Castle.
Hisashi was no longer the Crown Prince; by then, he was the King of his realm, and he was busily chewing his lip, running his hands through his hair, and pacing in a spacious hall, mad with anxiety. The cries from the labor chamber were hair-raising. He stopped walking, suddenly, when a new cry swept away the exhausted outbursts of his 'wife'. It could only mean one thing: that he was a father, and the throne had been secured for yet another generation.
The baby was named Kaede, after the tree that Kogure so loved while he was pregnant. The boy (the royal advisers noted with relief) had the jet-black hair and azure eyes of the King, and he had the delicate beauty of the 'Queen'. Everyone affectionately called Kaede 'Milk White', because of his pale skin.
To spite and nettle the traditionalists in his liege, Hisashi dubbed his son, 'Rose Princess', which would have been the title of Kaede's eldest sister, if he'd ever have one, or any woman successor to the throne after the Princes. The sensational news made the critics do more than raise eyebrows, but the King's steadfastness and charisma immediately quelled the reluctance and rebellion of the somewhat traditional peers.
A few years passed by, idyll. Milk White was then a totting kid with a teddy bear when disaster struck the Kingdom. The people were racked with a plague of sorts; those afflicted suffer high fever in addition to insomnia, ranting nonstop for hours – even weeks, and suddenly died as soon as they manage to fall asleep. They do not know how the blight was passed on, and so, it took almost an tenth of the population of the realm.
One of these unfortunates was the 'Queen' Kiminobu (who had reverted to his original gender a few years back). Another was Hasegawa Kazushi. He was a Knight of Heaven, an elite force whose sole purpose was guarding the lives of Royal Lineage. Hasegawa in particular had been one of King Hisashi's dearest friends and close companion.
The 'Queen' held out the longest among all of the afflicted; his throat was raw and his voice was hoarse from screaming and raving for five straight days. Even in his delirium, though, he had not forgotten about his son, or his husband. And so, before passing away, Kogure had made one of his ladies-in-waiting, Fuuji, take care of Milk White, and advise the King as he would have. She swore she would, and that was when the 'Queen' closed his eyes to sleep forever.
In due time, the realm was delivered from the plague by a coven of masked magicians. To methods unbeknownst to the masses and nobles alike, they rid the land of the malicious magic. In exchange, they only asked refuge for their kind, which was immediately granted.
The Kingdom, though it regained its former splendor, was never the same again. Even though the King did not let the catastrophe ruin his reign, he nonetheless mourned, spending at least an hour in the ice grave, where the deceased Queen was preserved, frozen, forever. Milk White ceased to be the smilingly cheerful kid he had been; he began to be known as Ice Prince; it had been said that he became so much the arctic prison of his 'mother's' mausoleum.
But something worse was to happen. A strong magic, to counter the enchantment performed by the well-meaning magicians, was unleashed. It trapped the wandering soul of the Knight Hasegawa, who had been pining after the King, and warped the will into an evil entity. This ominous spirit resided in a shield in the battlements of the Castle, moving inexorably towards the King, until it became trapped in a bewitched hand mirror that the 'Queen' once owned.
When Fuuji saw that the King was breaking down inside and slowly wasting away in spirit, she sought to fulfill her promise to her liege. Knowledgeable in the arts of sorcery herself, she tried to contact the spirit of the demised 'Queen', to try to coax it to appear in a vision for the King. She would have succeeded, had the mirror remained an unoccupied vessel. For when she found the mirror, she became bound to the spirit trapped within it. With one glance, the loyal Fuuji became malevolent, her soul consumed and twisted as Hasegawa's soul was distorted.
Fuuji, now harboring and infected with the evil that possessed Hasegawa, strove to seduce the King into marrying her. Hisashi was then vulnerable, so it was only a matter of time before she succeeded. The spirit in the mirror advised her to send the King on trips that would take him away for several years, and to acquire more land for colonization. And slowly, as the years went by, as the King's free will deteriorated, the malicious attention was turned hungrily to the only legitimate heir to the throne, if ever anything should happen to the King: Ice Prince.
Milk White was utterly captivating. A marble statue glazed in ice, he was, his inborn beauty all the more enhanced by his glacial features. True to his looks, he was distant, aloof, and chose to spend his time alone. He was no longer the open and jovial child before his 'mother' had been taken away from him. Yet, all the people loved him still, for although he remained remote, he was sympathetic to the needs of his subjects. He was fair and just, and an obedient son, even showing military aptitude at such a young age. The new Queen hated him for it.
When Milk White saw his eighteenth winter, Queen Fuuji found out about a young and handsome Princeling, one of the many Prince Charming scattered throughout the world, with a large Kingdom. The said nobility was looking for a bride. At once, the Queen thought of a design as to how she would secure the Kingdom she had and the Kingdom she will have when she discards Mitsui for the younger Prince.
Being the vain person that she was turned into, Queen Fuuji held the mirror, in the seclusion of her chambers, and whispered.
"Mirror, mirror, in my hand. Who's the fairest in the land?"
Hasegawa's face floated to the surface. "My Queen, no one can compare, young Milk White is the most fair. Though if the dead be included in the deliberation, Kogure, before his son, would surely win without competition."
"Nani!" she exclaimed, almost hurling the bejeweled accessory to the hard, elaborate bed post. She took deep breaths to calm herself, thinking of a probable solution. After a few minutes, there came a knock on her door.
"Come in," the Queen said irritably. She turned the mirror face down the table and sat facing the kneeled figure in front of her. How the young Knight resembled her husband, King Mitsui, who was on a distant Kingdom to talk about stupid things like world peace. She had hoped the trip would kill him, but that could be arranged for later. She had more urgent matters at the moment, like her body massage and getting rid of Milk White.
"You summoned me, Your Highness?"
"Yes, Captain. I have work for you. That is, if you want to redeem yourself and reenter the service of your King." Queen Fuuji smiled wickedly, laughing to herself as she imagined the scene in her head. "Retiring from the Knights of Heaven to a small farm is not betrayal, Captain," she emphasized the title.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Fuuji frowned at the man. He usually was more volatile than this. Why he would continue supporting the puppet King was beyond her. She remembered her plan, and smiled. She could use that loyalty.
"I want you to kill the Crown Prince this afternoon."
Because of the bowed head, the monarch did not see the gritted teeth or the frown. Seconds ticked by. "Well, Captain?"
"As you command, Your Highness."
"I want his eyes, and his heart, and his brain, do you understand? Present it to me bloody and raw in a silver platter. Leave his body for the wolves. I want him dead, or you will be."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will obey as you command." He stood up, a sick feeling in his stomach, and left he chambers, the Queen's soft, evil laughter haunting him.
May Inari give him courage to do what needs to be done.
"Run away, Kaede-sama. Fast."
Milk White raised a cool eyebrow at the serious face the Captain of the Knights of Heaven was presenting him. He was running a hand through his black hair, muttering to himself, looking constipated and angry at the same time.
"The Queen wants you dead, both you and your father, the King. She ordered me to … to kill you. This is the reason why I brought you here in the woods. But I serve the King, and not the usurper. So run, Kaede-sama, and don't look back."
There was no indication of emotion in the Prince, but he did nod, and started off to the dense forestry. He glanced hesitantly at the Castle looming over in the distance, before walking calmly into the deeper growth of trees.
"Chotto matte," the Capain called, "Kaede-sama. Don't stop until you find a house, a small house. That would be well over the borders of the Kingdom. You can take refuge there. The house …" he paused, rather reluctant. "It's where the Kanagawa Guild resides. They will take you in. Please." He stared back at the glacial blue depths. He showed the Prince a Talisman of Bone. "This will protect you from the forest, but if you provoke its inhabitants … Be careful, Kaede-sama. Remember; don't tell anyone your name. You are the Crown Prince," and with a slight smile, added, "and the Rose Princess. Our hope rests upon you. You must be vigilant." He saluted. "Sayonara."
"Arigato, Koshino-san." Without any more questions, Milk White did as he was asked, to escape the wrath of the Queen unscathed and safe.
Meanwhile, Koshino hunted a fox with blue eyes, and from it, got the things required from him by the Queen. He buried the corpse properly, praying to Inari that he may be forgiven to the desecration. It was all to protect his chosen one, after all. At that thought, Koshino smiled to himself. If, after, he would get the chance, he would tally the score with his cousin.
The Prince wandered for days, sustaining himself with the nuts and berries he can pick from around him and water from the clear bubbling brook that winded steadily down by his path. By the time that he had reached the place Koshino had tipped him about, his clothing were in tatters, and he was exhausted beyond imagination; his pauses for sleep and rest were at bare minimum, an astonishing feat considering that the Prince's favorite and only hobby was sleeping. To sum it up, he looked positively dreadful, and dead at his feet, he almost had to crawl to the front door of the modest brick cottage to knock.
The door opened promptly, and only then did he allow himself to collapse and let the fatigue overcome him and claim him completely.
He was in a semi-coma of a week before he woke up.
Somberly relieved faces stared back at him. The occupants of the house, it seemed, were all worried about the stranger whom they had no clue of, and who had been sleeping undisturbed for a duration of seven straight days.
"Didn't I tell you?" Austere face gently reprimanding, sable hair and dark eyes bespectacled, bringing to his mind the image of his late 'mother' immediately, the person was fiddling with the bedside table and handed him a glass of water. Milk White took this gratefully and drank from it; draining it in small, steady gulps. "All he needed was rest."
"You've got us worried," another one piped up, his curly brown hair partially hidden by a boy's cap he wore on his head in a jaunty angle. A blue stud on the left ear gleamed, reflecting the flickering flames from the candles.
A new voice spoke, and its owner smiled down at him; glittering sapphire eyes and cherubic lips. "You're okay now, that's what matters."
"You gave us such a fright, showing up at the doorstep in the middle of the night like that!" A loud boisterous voice shattered the feeling of peace. "We thought you were a friggin' …!"
"Don't be so rude!" There was an elbow aimed at the ribs, and the former speaker was suddenly clutching his side painfully. "We're sorry; it's so rude of us. We ought to have introduced ourselves first." The nice smile in the tanned face was so inviting; the brown hair in warm waves on the sides of his face. "My name is Oldie. I'm a Blacksmith."
"Hey, mate, the name's Shorty. I'm a Rouge." The blue stud gleamed yet again.
Large doe-eyes blinked down at him pleasantly, a hand outstretched to grip his in a firm handshake. "Nice to meet you; my name's Pretty. I'm a Mage."
"Hi. I'm the Wizard Beauty." He was the owner of the 'cherubic lips' and sapphire eyes. Milk White nodded politely.
A flash of a mischievous smile. The speaker had blue eyes like his own, cerulean eyes that both Beauty and Pretty had. "Hey there, cutie. Nice to see you awake and functioning. I'm Smiley, and I'm a Hunter." Only then did the Prince notice the wolf contentedly napping by the professed Hunter's ankles. The hawk on the Hunter's arm rustled its wings, preening. Milk White glared, disliking the insinuation of his tone, and his smile.
A boisterous youth pushed his way forward brusquely. "It's Noisy, I'm a Swordsman, and you better remember that or else …" The Blacksmith gave him a light tap on the head. "Behave yourself, Apprentice."
"And I'm Friar Wise, a Monk, of course." The eyeglasses shaded the brown eyes momentarily. "And you, what might your name be?"
Milk White thought for quite some time before opening his mouth. From Koshino's words, these 'Kanagawa Guild Members were to be trusted, but he should be very careful. Certainly, he can't introduce himself as the Crown Prince of the Realm, much less the Rose Princess. He can't tell them the truth, yet. "I don't remember."
Noisy snorted, and this earned a tug from Pretty. Beauty frowned, while Smiley stroked his pet's fur in lazy contemplation. The bird cawed and flew out of the window.
"Oh, dear." Pretty was looking Beauty, who was conversing with Friar Wise in low tones. The Monk, a finger pressed to his lips, was shaking his head. "It can't be helped, unfortunately."
"But we can't have that! What about…" Shorty started, biting his lips. He snapped his fingers. "Ah! Why don't we call you Rukawa?"
Oldie shook his head, crossing his arms. "It doesn't concur with our names."
The Rouge shrugged. "True. Demo, look at it this way. The guy there," he indicated Milk White with his chin, "is our guest. And don't you recall those water sprites who keep on following us home ever since we brought him in?"
Milk White tried the given name in his mind. Rukawa meant flowing river. It sounded quite okay, with nothing to give away his identity.
"It's a lame-ass name, perfect for you," Noisy said, pointedly looking at him. The Prince glared back stonily. "Noisy Nozaru."
The Monk stood up, before anymore fighting commenced. Oldie had the impish and infuriated Swordsman by the ear. "Well, then, Rukawa, we'll leave you now. Rest."
Milk White nodded, and instantly fell asleep.
While the Prince was still weak, the seven Guild Members did not leave for work, and only stayed home to watch over their recuperating guest. Over the days, as his body regained strength, Milk White did not-so-strenuous activities for his benefactors, like cooking for them, and they returned to their work, which was anything under the sun. One time, they were down at the sewers of the Capital, cleaning the place of disgusting creatures that resided there. They frequently go to the Skull Island, the Museum, the Cave, the Dungeon, the Sunken Galleon and the Village. Most of the time, they stay for days in the Collapsed Mines and the City Ruins. What they did was for money, of course. Almost every time that they return from their expeditions, they have an amount of loot that could be considered illegal.
"You have to venture out, too, you know," Shorty suggested to him one day, as he stared out of the window. They were about to leave him again, for the Forest. The King had called for arms; strange creatures were suddenly popping out of nowhere and scaring the wits out of the Novices who needed to deliver wares.
He was better now, and he could go about the house as he pleased, not having to sit down every other meter. In fact, he could clean the whole house, if he only felt like it.
The Rouge continued talking, as he tugged on the tight fur-lined boots he would wear for the journey. "Staying cooped up won't do you any good."
"You'll never regain your strength if you'll never venture out," added Pretty as he stoppered various phials containing a wide range of Tonics.
"I agree," Oldie nodded, biting his lip as he examined the War Axe he used. With fluid movements, he began to sharpen it. "But you will need appropriate clothing, like what we wear."
Noisy smirked at him, brandishing his Ashandrei, Chain Vest clinking. His helm perched askew on his head. The runes engraved on the side told him that it was enchanted to enhance his Energy. "You do know about the Red Bats that live near, don't you? They don't like anyone, and they attack the innocent, at any time of the day."
Milk White only raised an eyebrow at him, and he bristled.
"In any case," Wise interrupted, moving his fingers in the tight knuckle weapons he wore, unruffled, capturing the Prince's attention, "you must be protected. Though I'm afraid we're rather low on stocks right now … We'd have to do on surplus, I guess…" The light caught the mithril he wore on the left hand.
Smiley, with a smile like his pet's plastered on his face, spoke up. "I believe we still have some armor of some sort. Girl clothing. It's up there, in the attic, formerly owned by one of those who abandoned us. It would fit you, though." The apprentice swordsman guffawed, and the Hunter smiled wider, if it were probable. "Ne, Rukawa, what do you think?" The falcon cawed from its perch.
The Prince shook his head. Beauty frowned at him, carefully placing his Scrolls with several enchanted Staves inside his pack. "I suppose you'd rather rot here inside the house, instead. The Talisman of Bone you had had been most interesting, but I'm afraid it's perishable."
The Blacksmith was now inspecting the glinting Holy Bolts the Hunter had made at top speed. "We'll be gone for two weeks. The food stock would last long, and so will firewood, I suppose, if you use it sparingly, but water needed to be drawn everyday, outside." He did not look up from what he was doing. "I don't have the right materials to make armor especially for you, and none of us have spares …"
Milk White sighed, shoulders sagging with defeat. "Do I have a choice?"
Noisy was about to speak when a long-suffering glare from Oldie shut him up. He shrugged instead. The Hunter's face looked about to crack from the size of his smile. Not even the Opera Mask he was trying on covered it.
So, the next day, the Prince tugged at the uncomfortably clingy leather breeches he wore. Even the Hunter would not dare wear them, Milk White was sure, if children were in the vicinity, about a 2-mile radius. His footwear was a comfortable fit, quite snug. There was a low-slung sheath for a dagger hanging from the low waist, within reach of his right hand. He wore a light vest with nothing underneath. His lower arms were bandaged and he held a Money Dagger in a gloved hand. His black hair was kept from his eyes by a bandanna, the kind you can see Japanese ghosts wear. He was not a happy Prince, even beneath the Iron Mask he wore in hopes of disguising himself.
True enough, creatures of several kinds attacked him while he was outside. 'Funny that I was not attacked on the way to the Guild House my first time', he noted; as he killed the fifth Red Bat that barred his way. 'It must have something to do with what Koshino gave me.' After quickly going through his task, he went back in the house.
Meanwhile, in the other Kingdom, the Queen was yet again busy with the process of beautification, this time, a sauna. She was readying herself for the nobles who would be visiting the realm to pledge alliance. Her husband paced, unable to sit still; he had only returned for the ceremonies, and Mitsui would soon be leaving the Palace for skirmishes that would warrant him to the countries as colonies.
"What I don't understand," he was saying, "Was why Koshino would quit the order of the Knights! And not only that, he ran away to join the Archers' Guild of the Other Kingdom …"
"Trouble yourself no more about it," Fuuji interrupted her husband impatiently, cutting off her words with a wave of her hand. Mitsui fell silent, not exactly twiddling his thumbs, but close. "Now. What I want you to reconsider is the Treaty offered by Count Ikegami …"
The King nodded wordlessly, acquiescing without complaint to the instructions given to him. "And leave the search for your son to me," the wicked Queen added afterwards. "Prince Kaede will be found." Her tone became sickeningly sweet, obviously fake; she did more than speak as she worked her brand of magic. "How does sleep sound, Hisashi? I believe you are very tired. And you do have to go in a week's time. You really should have all the rest that you can get."
"Hai," Mitsui mumbled sleepily. He stood up drunkenly, sapphire eyes dull and negligent of the hand mirror his wife held. "I'll go to bed right now."
Fuuji's face almost cracked with the effort of keeping her smile, unfortunately needed for the spell to work. Dealing with her husband had been draining, especially of late, when inevitable questions arose, first about his 'missing' heir, next concerning the runaway former Captain of the Knights of Heaven. The latter was peculiar, most peculiar, in a way she could not fathom, but Fuuji did not deem it too important. Traitors to the crown would be dealt with when she wills it. A sheen of condensation clung to the bejeweled mirror, but it did not hinder the cruel face on the glass.
The lines were said by rote now; Fuuji didn't believe that Milk White would still be alive. Even rebirth of the Prince's eternal soul was impossible with what she did. "Mirror, mirror, in my hand. Who's the fairest in the land?"
"None save for you, my cohort Queen, is the fairest the land had ever seen."
Fuuji nodded, satisfied by the answer, but a part of her hung back. For all she knew, it might be due to the heat; she asked the mirror a different question. "Mirror, mirror, heed my call. Who's the fairest of them all?"
"Unfortunately for you, Queen dearest, Beauty and Milk White are the fairest." The Mirror sneered.
"What!" Fuuji screeched. "I knew it! Yet … This cannot be! Oh, woe is me, woe is me!" She started pacing at the confined space, sweat dripping from her. "Mirror, mirror, answer me true. Where is Milk White, do you have any clue?"
Hasegawa's face frowned at her. "To answer to any rhyme, I am bound yet I know not if the Prince can be found." The glass misted, and not from the heat. Swirls of a myriad of colors appeared. A chibi version of Hasegawa wearing the uniform of the Knights of Heaven began to dance around.
Suddenly, Milk White's face replaced that of Hasegawa's dancing chibi. The Prince was dressed like an ascetic, a large Chinese Turban of red coloring decorating his head. He seemed to be collecting berries from a not-so familiar forest grounds. The Queen gritted her teeth, quickly thinking of a rhyme that the mirror would answer to.
"Where is Milk White? To know is my right!" The statement sucked, but she couldn't get her mind to thinking properly.
"The answer is hidden from my eyes. That is the place where you haven't got spies."
"I've gathered as much," she snapped irritably. "Very well, then, I've no use for you now." She replaced the looking glass on its stand by the wooden shelf. She should have known it was foolish to try to make others do the dirty work for her. It was time to return to her greater calling, and to recall her cunning yet limited witchcraft.
"Don't just let anyone in, okay?" Wise repeated for the nth time. The party was yet again setting out for the Beach, trying to clear it out of mutated wildlife that caused the decline of tourists there. "The forest could be dangerous, especially at night."
Milk White nodded, bored, not bothering to waste his energy to remind the Monk that he haven't gotten deaf yet. It was about the millionth time he heard the admonition. He knew that his companions meant well, but this was getting way out of hand.
"Baka can't understand, Wise-san, all he does is sleep, the baka," Noisy taunted, sticking out his tongue at the unresponsive prince. "Baka, baka, baka, baka, baka …"
"Ah, Noisy-kun, yare yare, desu ne …" Pretty tugged Noisy's sleeve, pointing at Oldie.
The professed Blacksmith glared at the pouting Apprentice. He hefted the Hammer he was holding, squeezing the handle. "Damatteru yo."
Chastened, the wild-haired Swordsman did shut his mouth.
Wizard Beauty shook his head in exasperation. He turned to Rukawa, who was yawning, and fighting to stay awake for formalities sake. After all, it was more comfortable to sleep on the bed.
"Well, it's time to get going." He smiled. "Is there anything else you want to know?"
Rukawa shook his head.
Oldie snapped his fingers. "Oh, yeah, I almost forgot." He handed the Prince a large bag. "I've assessed all those Wings you've gathered. It's yours. You earned it."
He thanked the Blacksmith, which he acknowledged with a nod.
Shorty leant close to him for a moment, whispering, "You want me to get you a Walkman? It's much cheaper than an Electric Guitar, and even though it might not work, I'm sure Oldie can do something to fix it, you know …"
He nodded, thanking the Rogue. Relief washed over him when he realized that when they come back from their mission, he wouldn't have to endure countless hours listening to Noisy bitch around and be the wild monkey that he was.
"Take care, honey," Smiley purred, winking as he shut the door behind him.
Milk White did not spend some effort to roll his eyes at the irritating Hunter, and was about to sleep the morning off when the doorbell rang.
"Probably just Noisy, who forgot something again," he thought to himself as he opened the door. "Or maybe that stupid Hunter out to harass me alone before leaving …"
"Good morning! Oh! You must be the new Guild Member I heard about! You are Rukawa-kun, right? My name is Haruko. May I draw your attention to my wares? You might find something that would be worth your while," the girl said, smiling. She was a Merchant, and beside her is a flowery cart. A green dragon with a star clip on its frill hid behind her. "I have all sorts of new items from the Dock City that I offer in reasonable prices …"
Rukawa frowned at her, crossing his arms. There was something weird about the girl, something that Oldie had told him … "I'm just a housekeeper. Go away. I'm not interested."
The Merchant smoothed her dress, brushing stray brown locks away from her blue eyes. She may look innocent and naïve, but there was a glint in her eyes that shouted: I'm a shrewd businesswoman, damn it!
"Oh … that's all right … I guess. They won't mind if you buy anything from me, would they, Rukawa-kun?" She batted her lashes at him.
Poor, hopeless girl. As if trying to charm her way into the Prince's affection would get her somewhere.
Totally annoyed by then, Rukawa began to close the door but stopped when the girl spoke again. "Chotto matte! I have Quest items in stock!"
Quest items? He steeped out of the house and took a few steps closer to the girl. "Do you have working Earphones?" the Prince demanded.
The girl smiled at him. "Of course, okyaku-san!" Her hand disappeared beneath the clumps of flowers that decorated her cart, and she pulled out a pair of Earphones. She handed it to the eager Prince, who turned it over his fingers.
Haruko returned to her cart, her head disappearing in the canopy, before returning with a Radio. "Here, you can try the Earphones out. The Radio's not for sale …"
Rukawa nodded impatiently as he slipped the device on and waited.
Haruko, the Merchant, smiled at him, and plugged the Earphones in the Radio.
That was when the Prince realized what he had missed.
Oldie had told him about a Novice, his partner during the Merchant Test, who had passed. They gave each other deals and discounts. But she was detained in the Collapsed Mines the day before she had to take her Alchemist Test.
Her name was Haruko. And she looked exactly like the Merchant who was standing before him.
Rukawa tried to pull away the Earphones, to back away, but it was too late.
"Good bye, Ice Prince." She smiled at him. "I win."
And everything went black.
>>>TBC
Ashandrei. It's a sort of spear. It's Mat's weapon. Lifted from Wheel of Time. Property of Robert Jordan. I don't claim it, don't sue me!
List of Japanese Words Used:
Gomen - Sorry
Nani - What
Inari - God of Fertility. (Sort of.) One of the animals sacred to him is the fox.
Chotto matte - Wait
Sayonara - Good bye
Arigato - Thank you
Nozaru - Wild Monkey
Ne - Hey
Hai - Yes
Baka - Stupid
Yare yare desu ne - Hey leave it off (At least that's how I would translate it as Pretty used it)
Damatteru yo - Shut up
okyaku - customer
The Thingamajiggers (Alphabetical Order) Just in case you want to be sure who they really are:
Wizard Beauty - Fujima
Swordsman Noisy - Kiyota
Blacksmith Oldie - Maki
Mage Pretty - Jin
Rogue Shorty - Miyagi
Hunter Smiley - Sendoh
Friar Wise - Hanagata