Disclaimer : I don't own Detective Conan
Apologize for any grammatical errors
Prince Heiji Hattori started the day cheerfully. This morning, err, more precisely since this dawn, his mood has been very very good.
Since dawn, he had woken up (it seems like he didn't even sleep all night), soaking in warm water until his skin becomes wrinkled, then washing his hair with expensive shampoo belonging to his mother and continued by rubbing his whole body with liquid soap from goat milk which makes his skin smooth and silky, shining, shimmering, splendid.
When he came out of the bathroom, Heiji became super confident and super err ... fragrant.
After being convinced that he was already super handsome, Prince Heiji confidently stepped out of his room into the dining room.
Hmm? Oh? Apparently it's still quite dark outside. That's odd, because for him, everything shines brightly.
However, whether he realized it or not, Heiji's feet instead took him to Kazuha's room, which was in the opposite direction to his original destination, the dining room.
"Alright, let's see if Her Highness is awake or not!" Heiji muttered cheerfully while chuckling, as he drew closer to Kazuha's room. Seems like he deliberately walked towards her room.
Fortunately, the rows of guards standing in the aisle were able to maintain their professional attitude by staying quiet and putting on a serious face without even the slightest smile, even though they were also amused inwardly.
It's well known, since the rumors that say that Prince Heiji is in love, has now spread quickly and uncontrolable among all the palace dwellers, including it workers. But, no matter how pleasant it was to see firsthand, it's impossible for the servants and palace guards to laugh, or even smile, they're not that insolent. However, they still glanced silently at him, who crept like a thief to the princess's room.
Arriving in the front of the door of Kazuha's room, the first thing Heiji did was clearing his throat while smoothing his hair before he raised his hand, intending to knock, and the door was already open even before he could knock it.
The two young royals were both equally shocked.
"Dear God, Heiji! What the hell are you doing in front of my room in the middle of the night like this? You almost gave me a heart attack!".
Although in fact he was also as surprised as she was, but Heiji was amazed because it turned out that Kazuha had extraordinary hearing. Eh ... Heiji forgot that Kazuha's hearing was super sharp like a ninja. But then he realized there was a slight error in her words.
"Actually, it's morning, Your Majesty!". Heiji smiled as he watched Kazuha's messy appearance.
Her hair blooming like a lion's mane. Her eyes, though alert and full of suspicion, still looked sleepy and red, and now it's rolling because she's annoyed. But strangely, somehow for him, she looks cute.
Realizing what he had just thought, with a little blush, he cleared his throat "You should thank me for waking you up! You'll be late for school if you ... don't get ready soo-..."
Heiji suddenly became hard to breathe and couldn't concentrate on continuing his words as Kazuha began leaning toward him while sniffing.
"Wha-what?".
With both of her adorable eyes, she looked up at him while raising her eyebrows. "You smell nice! Did you shower with perfume?".
Too fascinated when he saw her cute face, Heiji's smart answer was only, "H-huh?", before Kazuha waved her hand, shooed him away. "Go back to your room and go to sleep for a bit more! Don't come here before the sky is blue. Bright blue!". What she means is morning when the sky is clear.
Realizing that Kazuha had just kicked him out, which of course Heiji didn't want to accept it, Heiji hurriedly took out his acting style "Ow, my head! It suddenly hurts!".
Kazuha groaned in annoyance seeing his poor acting. It didn't take long for her to know right away that Heiji was just pretending.
"That's why you should go back to your room and get some rest. Who told you to take a shower this early, anyway!" Indifferently, she intended to close the door, when Heiji's hand held it open. "Kazuha! You're so mean, you closed the door?! My head really hurts!" Heiji glared in disbelief.
Never had he been ignored like this before! Other girls, his fans, must've asked anxiously, stroking his head then pampering him.
Too bad, Kazuha is not one of his fans.
Not even close.
She sighed wearily "Then ask the guards to call the palace doctor, he can treat you! I'm still sleepy. Besides, there's nothing I can do!". She yawned without hesitation and without even closing her mouth, makes Heiji want to pinch those adorable cheeks!
"Alright then, see you in the morning! Get well soon, Heiji!".
"Hey! I said wait! Besides, it's morning already ..."
Then, there's a funny scene where both of them pulled the poor door to each other, between Kazuha who wanted to close the door and Heiji who held it open.
They only realize when they heard that one of the guards in front of them cleared his throat, because those guard could no longer hold back from laughing. Luckily he was still able to disguise it as a cough.
"Eehhh! What are you laughing at? Is there something funny?".
Now it was Kazuha's turn to clear her throat, asking for his attention. "Ya, look at you! If you get angry like this, it means your head doesn't hurt anymore! Now go back to your room and rest a little longer. Soon we have to go to school!".
Almost never accepting rejection, Heiji persisted though he didn't dare to hope anymore, "Kazuha ..." he whined like a little boy to his mother.
For a few moments, the said girl just stared at him while biting her lower lip, it seemed like she was considering how she should answer him. Tsking because it seems she was forced to take that decision, she finally answered "Alright, fine! Wait in the dining room, I'll be there. I'll take a shower first!".
Not expecting that he would finally succeed, Heiji smiled triumphantly, before finally pouting again "You want to take a shower first? But why?". So that means, he has to wait again? Well, that sucks!
Meanwhile with Kazuha, she looked at Heiji as if he was a kindergarten child "Uh, Heiji? Of course I have to take a shower. Don't you see how my face looks like now?". Shouldn't Heiji be smarter than this?
And the smart prince even said, "What if I just waited in your room?".
E-egh! The veins in Kazuha's temple throbbed with annoyance at the answer of the dark-skinned prince, who now smiled broadly at her, while showing his white teeth to her.
What did he just say? And what's even more frustrating is, Heiji doesn't seem to be aware of the answer either!
He made the situation even worse by adding "I'm lonely if I have to wait outside alone!".
The pulse of irritate on Kazuha head was getting faster and faster.
This pervert prince!
Having come to a girl's room in the early morning, now innocently, he asked to wait inside her room while she's taking a shower?
Really?!
To be honest, since Heiji had no lewd thoughts in that direction, he was confused when suddenly Kazuha's eyes glowed red, like a laser beam that could burn anything or anyone who upset her, which in this case, was him.
"What's wrong Kazuha? Hurry and let me in! It's uncomfortable standing in front of the door like this, eh?".
Now Kazuha was really ready to 'explode'. With a low intonation, slowly and intimidating, she called out his name, making him shudder "He-i-jiii ..."
"Wh-what?".
"Ara, Heiji ... When the maids told me you're awake, I couldn't believe it, but here you are! Why I'm not surprise, though? Ohohohoho ..."
Thankfully before the gruesome scene happened, where Kazuha intended to punch Heiji, Lady Shizuka, Heiji's mother appeared. But for the two teenagers, especially Kazuha, they didn't know they had to feel embarrassed or relieved, or maybe both.
"Mo-Mom! We-well, I'm waking up this lazy princess! Look, she hasn't even taken a bath yet! Aha-ahahahahaha ..."
Awkwardly, Heiji patted the shoulder of the girl in front of him "Hurry up then, take a shower! See you in the dining room!" Without saying anything else, Heiji hurriedly walked past his mother to the dining room.
"And for your information, Kazuha-chan ..." Shizuka said after she's sure that her son was out of earshot. "This is the first time I've seen Heiji behave like this in front of a girl! He must really, really likes you!" She ended it with a witty smile and wink.
"Oh, wow! I'm honored, Aunt Shizuka!" Well, there's no way she would bad-mouth Heiji in front of his own mother.
"Trust me, Kazuha-chan, Heiji is a good kid. Well, he can sometimes be an annoying brat, but, my son is a good kid. Oh my! Why am I babbling nonsense. Alright then, I won't bother anymore. Take your time to shower. See you in the dining room, Kazuha-chan, ohohoho ... "
Kazuha watched until Aunt Shizuka turned the end of the hall.
She smiled softly. Heiji is really lucky to have a mother like Aunt Shizuka! He certainly never felt the loss of love and affection of a mother, he didn't need to worry about it, unlike herself, who was separated from her own mother since she was a child, because it's required so.
By the way, she hasn't seen her mother in a long time. And now, since she's in Japan, closer to the country where her mother lives. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Kazuha decided that there's still time to text her mother before she went to take a shower.
Actually she wanted to call, she missed hearing her mother's voice, but ...
Once again Kazuha glanced at the clock.
It's still too early to call. Her mother might not wake up either, but ... Oh well, there's no harm in trying!
Kazuha pressed quick dial number one on her cellphone, which directly contacted her mother's phone.
Trrr ... Trrr ...
Trrr ... Trrr ...
Yep, as expected. Her mother is still sleeping. She was about to give up, when the call was answered.
"餵? 媽媽?" (Hello? Mama?).
When she heard her mother's voice, she smiled softly, only for a few moments, before finally her face turned flat and tense.
"媽媽, 我打電話是因為我想念你. 但 ...
好吧, 你想讓我做什麼, 媽媽?"
(Mama, I ... Actually I called because I miss you. But ...
All right, what do you want me to do, Mama?).
In the dining room where his parents are now also there, Prince Heiji Hattori moved his legs impatiently. His eyes continued to glance at his watch.
Ugh! Why is she taking so long? Why on earth, do girls always spend a long time just to shower?
This was why he intended to wait for her in her room! But she got angry, for some reason ...
Eh ...
Heiji's face suddenly turned red when he finally found out why Kazuha was angry.
Of course, she didn't think he's like that, did she?
For God's sake, he's not a pervert!
"Ah, Kazuha-chan! We've been waiting for you! Ara? You're a little pale. Is everything alright?".
Though at first he didn't dare to glance at Kazuha, since he was afraid if Kazuha was angry with him, but when his mother said that Kazuha's face was a little pale, Heiji automatically turned his head to look at her face.
Yep, she does look a little pale. Heiji is confused. What's wrong? Wasn't she fine when he visited her room?
"Ah, I'm fine, Aunt Shizuka, thank you. Uncle Heizo?".
Inwardly, Heiji flinched. For a young girl who just saw his father's wrath last night, Kazuha was considered to have guts, a great one!
"Yes, Kazuha-chan?".
"Did you receive anything for me yesterday? A letter or something?".
Heizo's narrow eyes glared at the young girl before him. She was still so young, still a child, Heizo considered her as his own daughter. And no matter how much Heizo Hattori's fatherly instincts wanted to protect her, just like he protects Heiji, but unfortunately, he couldn't.
"Actually, yes. I planned to give it to you today".
Nodding, Kazuha continued "Was it written in Chinese?".
"I believe it's written in Japanese Kanji".
This time Kazuha did not answer, she was thinking.
Hmm, that's strange. As far as she knows, that woman can't speak Japanese. But, she really hasn't seen her in a very long time. Plus, she's also a smart person. It does make sense that in the end she becomes fluent in Japanese.
Heiji, who was curious, finally couldn't bear to ask "What's the matter? What are you two talking about?".
When he was only ignored by the two, with a look of despair and curiosity, Heiji turned toward his mother, hoping to get an answer, or at least, seeing the same confusion in his mother's eyes.
However, how shocked Heiji was, when he saw his mother just bowing and continuing to eat calmly, as if she hadn't heard anything.
What the hell is going on?
Is he the only one who doesn't know anything?
"All of you! This conversation is over! Please finish your breakfast at once quietly!".
Finally, Shizuka decided to end the tension and the three of them immediately obeyed. Seeing how Heiji and Uncle Heizo immediately 'furrowed in fear' upon hearing an ultimatum from Shizuka, it seemed like Kazuha didn't need to ask again and better just imitate what her husband and son were doing.
Don't wake the sleeping tigress!
Heiji was still curious about what Kazuha and his father had spoken in the dining room earlier.
And why is he the only one who can't know? Even his mother knows, although she doesn't interfere! Then why didn't they tell him? Do they underestimate him or something?
Speaking of the girl, where is Kazuha, by the way?
After breakfast, his father and Kazuha immediately left the dining room.
Heiji actually wanted to follow them, but his mother, instead chose that moment to ask questions about his school! It seems like his mother did it on purpose, making Heiji want to pull his own hair out of frustration!
"So this is the only letter you received? Only this one sheet?".
Heiji hastily hid, he pressed himself against the wall, when he suddenly heard Kazuha's voice.
Finally! Found her, too!
"Yes," his father just answered curtly.
Kazuha chimed in again after a few moments later. "I don't know, but, it seems harmless!".
"Kazuha-chan, please don't lie to yourself! It certainly a threat to me!".
Hearing his father's answer, Heiji's throat immediately felt dry.
What the ...
Is someone threatening Kazuha?
"Mishil never threatened, Uncle. That's not her nature. Moreover, writing a warning letter like this. She's not that noble!".
Mishil?
Who the hell is this Mishil?
"I didn't mean to scare you, but ... some predators chose to play with their food before killing it in the end!".
Alright, what really happened?
Why does it seem like Kazuha was hunted down by a group of terrible people?
Heiji was still wondering about what really happened, hoping he would hear more information, when his father said, "Kazuha-chan, recently I heard a rumor circulating, that it seems like Heiji is pretty fond of you. Have you heard?".
DEG!
Suddenly Heiji's heart pounded.
Oh Dear God! What kind of question was that just asked by his father just now?
Seriously?
At a time like this?
"No need to worry, Uncle. It's just gossip! As you just said, it's just a rumor circulating among palace dwellers. Nothing more!".
If at first Heiji felt ashamed, now he feels hurt.
What does it mean? Does she think his feelings for her are nothing more than gossip? Just for the maids and servants' talk?
Fine, fine! He admitted that he had feelings for Kazuha. Then why? Does anyone want to complain?
No one?
Alright, go back to the story!
Heizo just smiled.
Of course he hoped it was indeed just a rumor. But, as Heiji's father who really knew how his son was, Heizo suspected, Heiji didn't just like Kazuha, but he had even begun to love her.
"Is that so? I actually don't mind if he falls in love with you!"
Heiji was immediately shocked. Does that mean his father blessed his relationship with Kazuha?
'Focus, ahou! Listen to your father's next words! Don't be complacent!'.
Fortunately, his brain rebuked him, because Heiji was indeed almost lulled and didn't listen to the continuation of their conversation, just as what his brain predicted.
"It's just that, as his father, I want him to stay safe. Kazuha-chan, please, I beg you! Please don't involve Heiji in this matter! Let him have a normal life!".
"Of course Uncle, don't worry! I actually never imagined this would happen either, since he always seemed to hate me!" Kazuha chuckled while Heiji gritted his teeth.
He doesn't hate her! Never! It's just, he was ashamed, so he acted as if he hates her. Can't she see it? Can't she understand it?
"... I plan to leave the palace and maybe rent an apartment ..."
Huh? What did she say?
She wants to leave the palace?
"... so Heiji doesn't need to see me every day, every second, every hour. I guess, after a while he would forget if he ever liked me ..."
Heiji's eyes widened, his back felt cold.
She intended to leave the palace and also leave him! And she's hunted by a maniac!
Oh no! He won't allow it!
Once again, driven by his instincts, Heiji emerged from his hiding place.
"Allow me to give you a suggestion! Shouldn't you ask for the opinion of the person concerned if this is about their future? You can't decide however you want, while I have to endure it!".
"He-Heiji, wha ..."
But that was all that Kazuha was able to say, because suddenly, Heiji was already standing in front of her and pointing at her nose.
"It's a big mistake if you think you can just ran and leave me!".