Chapter 6
"Akihiko, I'm getting tired", complained Hiroki.
They were dressed in simple clothes of commoners. They had walked around the village and had been searching the green eyed mystery boy for an hour.
"Fine let's stop for a drink there." Akihiko said and pointed the tavern near.
"He isn't here. Should we head home?"
"We can search a little longer before father realizes that we're gone." Akihiko said determined. Hiroki had never seen him like this. So strong-minded about anyone.
Silver haired prince turned to stare out fo the window and saw a familiar brown hair passing by. In a second he was up and walking to the door of the tavern. "There he is." Hiroki followed him and payed the drinks. "Where?"
"We have catch up to him." Akihiko said and fast went after the boy. "Is this a good idea. We seem like stalkers." Hiroki said.
They ran around the street corner, searching. "There." Akihiko pounted towards the boy at the nearby bakery. They peeked inside the shop and noticed the boy talking to the shop owner at the counter.
"There he is. How are we going to find out his name?" Akihiko thought out loud.
"Do you think you can run into him again?"
Misaki payed the bread and made his way outside to the street. He had to get home soon as possible and couldn't enjoy the sights. He had to get work done and hopefully able to finish the dress. He kept his face lowered same time as he walked and failed to notice the silver haired stranger in his way until it was too late.
Bam
Misaki stumbled backwards and would have fallen if a hand hadn't grabbed his arm. Misaki shook his head to clear his vision.
"Pardon my dear." He heard the helper say and looked up. So familiar.
"Are you alright?" The man continued.
It's him! Misaki thought and felt his heart beat faster and blush rising to his cheeks.
"Good afternoon. We meet again." He said with a charming smile that made Misaki's feet feel like noodles. Misaki nodded and swallowed unable to look away from the handsome man.
"Y-Yeah", he said quietly.
He was even more handsome than he remembered. His face fas really masculine but soft and finely boned. His eyes, so perfect and his lips were thin and looked really soft. How would they feel pressed against mine? Misaki realized what he was thinking and shook his head. Just staring at the man he felt all hot inside and outside too and his chest felt tight.
"I'm s-sorry but I have to go, I don't have time-" He tried to say. He was really confused and wanted to escape from the glorious man's stare.
"You have something to do I assume." The man said and kept holding Misaki's hand again. "I'm sorry to interrupt", he continued.
"No!" Misaki fastly tried to correct. Oh, why can't I ever speak clearly. "You didn't interrupt anything, I'm just busy right now."
"Well I'll let you go. Oh, I didn't introduce myself yesterday how rude of me. My name is Akihiko." He said and bowed like a gentleman and of course making Misaki blush even harder.
"I just wanted to thank you about yesterday." Misaki hurried to say.
"You already did yesterday. You don't have to thank me. I wanted to help."The man..well Akihiko said.
"I'm sorry but I have to go now," Said Misaki and walked away from Akihiko.
Fast he hurried away. And he commited the name to his memory against his will. He wanted to remember that name forever. He aldo didn't want to. He wouldn't likely ever get to talk to him more or get to know him any more than this.
The beautiful boy disappeared again and Akihiko realized that he failed the mission. It was like he forgot everything when he saw those pretty green eyes. Everything rolled around the boy and only him. At least he got to see him again.
"Hiroki, do you know the name of my mystery boy?"
Hiroki was stalking behind the fruit stand. "Desolé Akihiko. I haven't ever seen him before."
Akihiko looked down sadly. His only hope now was his father's ball.
"Wait.." Hiroki said and put a finger under his chin. "Now that I think about it there was something familiar about him. I might know his relatives or something. He's really young. I have to search if something jogs my memory.
Akihiko nodded and sighed. Yeah, the boy looked really young and he was really small. Hopefully he was at least 18 otherwise Akihiko would consider to be a some sort of pedofile.
Hiroki gave Akihiko a sympathetic smile before putting an arm around his shoulder. Two men made their way back to the castle.
Finally it was the night for the ball. Erina and stepbrothers gave orders after orders and kept Misaki really busy. "Tigher Misaki." Erina demanded as she stood in the stepbrothers room. Misaki was currently helping Mizuki to tight the fabric on the waist area of Mizuki's suit. He pulled harder so that his fingers hurt and tried not to whimber. Mizuki was gasping like a fish on a land.
When the suit was so thight it could be, Misaki sewed the waist back together. He did the same to Sumi's suit and Erina as he tighened her corset. After that he had to style their hair, apply Erina's makeup, put their jewerly and polish their shoes.
Finally they dismissed him as they went to wait their carriage to the ball. Misaki ran off to his dress to make the last changes. He had finished the dress last night fortunately.
He put it on and admired his mother's old dress on him. Hopefully his family wouldn't mind him going in the dress.
The dress was light purple. It was decorated with pink lace on the chest. He had white old slippers on his feet and a green necklace that brought out his eyes. Then there was a dark purple ribbon on the waist and its fabric was from Mizuki's old suit and it looked stunning. Surely no one at the ball would know he was a servant boy.
He arrived in the main hall just as the carriage pulled up. Erina and Mizuki and Sumi were ready to go.
"Wait for me Madame!" He called happy and excited hurrying down the stairs.
Erina and stepbrothers turned around to mock the small boy. What they saw made their mouths drop. Misaki looked really beautiful. Even if he was wearing a dress it made him look enchanting and a total beauty. The dress complimented his feminine curves and left the three in his shadow.
All they could do was gape at the magnificent vison Misaki presented. They had always been jealous of Misaki's beauty. Erina broke the silence.
"Oh my, a dress. Where did you get that?" she asked with anger in her voice.
"I-It's one of my mother's old dresses. I just made a few adjustements." Misaki answered.
Erina furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes.
"Y-You said that if I got a-all my work done and found something suitable to wear I could g-go with you." He reminded nervously.
"Yes." She said in low evil voice. "So I did." She turned to her sons who were still gaping at Misaki and his dress. "Mizuki does that ribbon look familiar?"
Mizuki looked at his mother, confused before looking at the ribbon on Misaki's waist. Suddenly his face turned furious.
"You little rascal, thief!" He shouted striding forward. "That's from my suit! You stole it!"
"B-But y-you said you didn't want i-it!" Misaki cried startled. "You told me to throw it out!" Mizuki tore the ribbon off of Misaki's waist.
"Hey that's my braid from my suit." Sumi joined in.
Sumi pulled at the shoulders of the dress toring it. Stepbrother ripped at the seams. Misaki tried to shield his form and face from the boys' scratching. Misaki knew his dress was reduced to shreads. "You weirdo. Going to the ball with a dress!" They mocked making Misaki cry.
"Boys, boys!" Called Erina half-heartedly. It worked. Boys backed off from the trembling boy who stood in the scraps that once was his dress. His eyes watered even more and looked down at his mother's old and now ruined dress. All that hard work and all those hours he spent for the dress. He returned his gaze to his stepfamily.
Mizuki and Sumi walked out of the door their noses in the air. Erina took the doorknob in her hand and stepped out too. She looked at the shaking boy and smiled evilly.
"Good night." She said with a small nod and with that she closed the door.
Misaki broke down and started to sob uncontrollably and covered his face with his small hands. How could they? After all I have ever done for them. After everything they put me through.
Blindly Misaki ran through the chateau trying to find a quiet place to lay his head and cry. He finally made his way to the garden. He fell to his knees and lay his head down on one of the stone penches and sobbed. Tears spilled like a waterfall from his eyes. Misaki noticed that he was talking to himself.
"No, there's nothing now", he whimbered. "There's no hope."
And to his suprise he heard a voice talking back to him. "Isn't there?" The voice asked.
Misaki sat up fast and glanced around. A big glowing orb was hunging there in the dark. Misaki almost screamed but held it in. The orb started to chage and it took a shape of a human. It revealed a young man, glittering in a blue suit. He had a dark hair and glasses on his nose and he looked kind. He was smiling at Misaki.
"Who-who are you?" Asked Misaki nervous.
"Why, my name is Takahiro, and I am yuor fairy godbrother, Misaki.
"Fairy godbrother?" Repeated Misaki.
"Oui oui petit", nodded Takahiro.
"Um why are you here?" Misaki asked.
"I came over to help you of course. I heard you crying and I hurried over."
Misaki looked confused.
"You're strong Misaki, a lot stronger than you think. You have always been able to handle anything what the awful Erina the snake and your horrible stepbrothers have wished."
'Erina the snake' Misaki giggled.
"But tonight is all yours. With my help you're going to the ball tonight!" Takahiro continued.
"But how?" Misaki said tears still in his eyes.
"Oh don't worry I'll come up with something. But we have to hurry cause even miracles take time." Takahiro said and put a finger under his chin.
"Miracles?" Asked Misaki.
"Hmm let's see, I'll say that first thing we need is a carriage. Do you have a pumpkin somewhere?"
"U-Um, yes I do, in the garden I think so." Misaki answered more confused.
"Oh wonderful!" Takahiro raised his hands and a stream of blue sparks flowed from his hands. The stream reached the pumpkin and picked it up and brought it up to them. "Good! Now some magic," He wiggeled his fingers. More sparks surrounded the pumpkin and it became to change and glow blue. Misaki amazed as the pumpkin grew and grew and it changed to white from orange. And in a flash it was changed to a magnificent coach which had gleam white leaf scrolling and trimmings. Misaki's mouth dropped and formed a big O at the scene in front of him.
"Oh it is so beautiful", Misaki admired the pumpkin carriage.
"Isn't it? Then we need some horses." Takahiro said.
"But there's only one-"
"Is there in any chance mice in the house?"
"Mice? Oh yes there is. In the kitchen." Misaki said and hurried to the kithcen. He brought four mice in his hand.
"Perfect!" Takahiro clapped his hands. Before the mice could escape, Takahiro waved his hands and the mice turned to a blue light and suddenly four glorious horses were in front of him. Misaki's eyes got even wider but fell in love with the beautiful horses too.
"Okay. Hmm, let's see. Oh you can't go to the ball without a horse!"
"One more?.." Misaki asked confused.
His only horse he could kept when Erina and the stepbrothers came was his father's horse named Frou. In a flash he was changed to a handsome carriage driver. He climbed to the drive's seat and took the veins.
"Clear. And to finish this we need… A footman!" Takahiro waved his hands at the Bruno dog and was changed to a small lackey.
"Hop on Misaki we have to hurry!"
"Yes but..I mean thank you so much, but my dress.." He said and looked at his torn dress.
"Oh it's lovely..Oh! God heavens child! You can't go in that."
Misaki shooked his head agreeing.
"Now let's see," Takahiro stepped beside him measuring. "Your size and shade of eyes. Something simple."
"Is it really ok for me to go in a dress? Won't people look at me weirdly?" Misaki asked nervous.
"Oh don't say that. Everybody is going to admire you. You'll look fabulous. Just leave it to me."
Bringing his hands together and closed his eyes. A shimmering white glow surrounded Misaki. It swirled around his small body, caressing his skin and little tickling. As he watched in amazement, his old and torn dress vanished.
"The glow settled and Takahiro opened his eyes and smiled. "Voila!" He said, proud of his work.
Misaki looked down at himself and gasped. Takahiro gave him a beautiful, big dark green dress. The dress brought out his eyes even more than the old one. He had a huge green bow at the back of the waist and in his hair there was a pretty and small red rose behind his ear.
"Oh my." Misaki breathed. "I haven't ever seen a dress so beautiful." He gasped more as he looked down at his feet, "Glass slippers. Green glass slippers! It's like a fairytale a wonderful dream, oh merci." Misaki said dreamily.
"Oui petit. But like all the dreams this isn't going to last forever. At midnight the magic is broken and all changes back to normal."
"I understand. This is more than I wanted. Merci Takahiro." Misaki thanked and smiled with tears. But these were happy tears.
"Now now don't cry pretty. Today is your day. Have fun at the ball." Takahiro said as Misaki climbed to the carriage and waved goodbye to his fairy godbrother who disappeared in a burts of light.
Petit=Little one