Childhood part 2: The Shiro edition. Enjoy!

On the other side of town lived a boy identical to the prince in every way except in his colouring. Where the prince had hair as orange as fire, Shiro's was white as snow which matched his lily white skin. Shiro had golden eyes with sclera as black as a starless night. Shiro lived in a small cottage on the edge of the kingdom with his mother, she was his only family and even at the tender age of six he knew that he would die for her if she asked it of him because in his eyes she was the only thing that mattered, well her and his long lost brother that the king had stolen when he was only a baby. Shiro loved his brother fiercely and was determined to one day get him back so that they could once again be a family.

Shiro had no friends and barely any contact with anyone other than his mother and the occasional client of hers. He knew that his mother was a witch and occasionally helped her make potions and broths for her clients but it never occurred to him that if he was her true son then why he had no magic of his own.

Shiro grew up with a strong sense of justice and a mind for business and money he was academically clever as well as physically so. Shiro was a natural fighter and when he first picked up a sword at age four, albeit a short sword made with a lighter than steel especially for him, it was like he had been fighting since the day he was born.

As happy as he was at home his heart yearned for his stolen twin brother, so one day when Shiro was barely 8 years old he made the trek from his home into the city centre to the castle. They day was long and the weather hot, Matsumoto & Shiro had little money so even though Shiro's clothes were always bought new they had to last for an age and the outfit he had on was beginning to look very tattered and his wrists and ankles were starting to show where he had grown. Sweat was making Shiro's snow white hair stick to his head and made him feel entirely uncomfortable, but the boy was determined to get back what was stolen from him.

It took some hours for Shiro's little feet to trudge down to the castle but he made it at twilight, the sky dyed pinks and oranges that Shiro always loved.

"What are you doing boy?"

Shiro was greeted at the castle gates by a guard dressed in the royal uniform of red and gold.

Shiro didn't look at the man, he kept his eyes fixed on the castle. "I've come to get my brother."

The nameless guard burst out laughing. "And who might that be?"

"My twin brother... I-I don't know his name..." Shiro faltered a little sadness struck him as he realised... He didn't even know his brother's name. "B-but I'll know him when I see him! He looks exactly like me! My momma told me the king stole him when we were babies..."

Irritation flashed across the guards face. "I don't think so boy. What would the king want with a peasant's son?!"

Shiro stood his ground, his eyes still boring holes in the side of the castle. "I don't know, ask your stupid king!"

Fury rose in the royal guard and he hit Shiro on the head. "You're mommas a lying wench boy! She's a bad woman filling her sons head with such tripe!"

Shiro's hand flew up to his head, protecting it from further blows, anger rose in Shiro like he'd never felt before as he glared at the guard before kicking him hard in the shins.

"Don't talk about my momma like that!"

The guard was filled with fear... Those black on gold eyes... A demon?! That had to be it! A demon in childs form sent here to wreak havoc on the royal family and drag them all in to sin and damning their souls. The guard hit Shiro again making him lose balance and fall to the ground, before raining kicks down on the demon child.

"Demon child! I will not let you do your masters bidding!"

Shiro had never felt pain like this in his life, he was in agony, he had no idea when the guard stopped kicking him but as soon as he stopped Shiro began to crawl away, he had to make it home to his momma.

"That's right crawl away demon!"

Shiro didn't know how far his faltering body carried him before he collapsed on the dirt path that lead back home, or how long he had been laying there, teetering on the edge of consciousness before he heard his mother's panicked voice.

"Shiro! Shiro! What happened?! Baby talk to me!"

Matsumoto felt panic and fear grip her heart like an icy vice as she turned her wounded son over. To her relief he was still alive.

"Baby who did this to you?!"

"R-royal... Guard..."

Fury boiled and bubbled up inside the witch as she lifted her horribly wounded son out of the dirt and carried him home.

Shiro hurt, from his head to his toes, and unconsciousness pulled at his senses but his mother's caring voice cut through the murkiness as it claimed him.

"When you're all better Shiro, I'll let you in on a plan to exact our revenge... On all of them."

And so it was done. The wheels of fate where in motion. Two very different families with two very different sons, hurtling down the path of destiny, to their fated meeting. A meeting which would change their worlds and the kingdom forever, 10 years from now.

Awww poor Shiro! He's not a Demon! ;( I really felt sad writing this ch. I love Shiro to bits. 3

I wonder what their revenge will be? How is Matsumoto planning to make them pay for hurting her baby? How much does that coincide with her original plan? Is it genuine love she feels for Shiro, or is she much more cruel than that?

I'll answer those soon, promise. Stay tuned. : ) please review!