Husky was in pure shock, he knew Nana could be an air head at times but this extent was new to him. He didn't even consider Nana would deliberately disobey him and his sister to come to his rescue. If he wanted to escape he could have done so easily. He couldn't speak his jaw was wide in shock. Although he had bigger things to worry about his largest concern was the fact he was wearing women's clothes and a wig in front f her. He was in total shock.
"Husky, you're alright!" She whispered, she came into the room and hugged him. Husky let himself enjoy the hug but then there was a fierce knocking on the door.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" Husky shoved Nana off and hid her under the four poster bed. He straightened his wig as the maid came in.
"My Lady Princess?" The head maid asked.
"You dare disturb me when I am trying to sleep." He snapped, the maid took a step back.
"I apologize; I thought I heard voices My Lady Princess."
"Well there is no one else here."
"But I heard…"
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"Of course not but-"
"Then you must have been hearing things; now take all your maids and leave my quarters so I can sleep and not have to endure further interruptions."
"Yes my Lady Princess." The maid left. Husky waited until the shuffling had quieted then he dragged out Nana.
"What the hell are you doing here, you almost ruined everything." He hissed. Nana grinned sheepishly.
"I needed to make sure you were safe, and I needed to rescue you." Husky stared at her.
"Did Meho give you my message?"
"Yes."
"Then what the hell are you doing here!" He hissed to show he was angry without yelling. She whimpered.
"I wanted to save you."
"I thought Meho would have told you this is a battle for the royal families, this is not your fight Nana."
"But-"
"Leave! I'm telling you to go away, leave the city and go hide. When war break out stay hidden, keep a low profile, and be safe." He wasn't looking at her.
"Why can't you come?"
"Because I can't Nana, now please go and don't come back."
"Husky, there's something important I have to tell you."
"Whatever it is, it can wait."
"But I-"
"Go!" Nana hovered outside the window and watched as he made some kind of gesture to leave then wrapped himself in the cotton sheets. Nana watched him for a moment.
"Love you." She whispered barely audible. She let a single tear roll down her face then she left. She flew all the way back to the Outlander's main house where a very irritated Meho was sitting by the front door with a blanket wrapped around her. The moment Nana walked in the door it was the equivalent a volcano explosion.
"Where the hell were you!? I have been so worried about you! Do you know what Myrrha would have done to me if something happened to you?! He would have murdered me and everyone else here! Do you even know how scared I was?! You're so inconsiderate! Myrrha would not want you running around the city slums in the middle of the night!" Nana really couldn't believe how much alike Meho and Husky were, she had always thought that Husky was snappish and moody while Meho was kind and sweet. Turns out those were only sides of their personalities, when she was angry she was every bit foul-mouthed and rude as Husky, not to mention violent. While Husky really was kind and sweet but afraid to let down his barriers fearing that he will be hurt again.
"Meho cam down, I let Nana go." Duchess clad in her nightclothes looking gorgeous as always.
"Lady Duchess, why did you do that she could have been killed for trespassing!"
"Dear Meho, she has the heart of a girl in love so she is now as stubborn about seeing him as your mother refusing to be your father's wife. You can just call me Duchess by the way." Meho didn't seem to be willing to accept that as an answer.
"Come on Nana let's have a drink, Meho, dear, would you join us?" Meho grumbled and nodded.
So all the three girls were sitting at one of the tables drinking hot tea. Meho was very sullen for being made to worry, she would glare at Nana often, and Nana shrunk under her gaze. Duchess kept smiling pleasantly.
"Hey Lady Duchess, how did you decide to start the Outlanders gang." Duchess looked surprised by her question.
"Well after running away from my palace when it was attacked I wandered with Joseno for two years then I came to the city. There assumed me an orphan they didn't recognize me luckily but they threw me in the slums. Joseno kept me safe and we bought this place with some of our money. Eventually I started taking immigrant orphans and imported slaves. They began getting jobs and we made more and more money and I started buying out the houses next to us. We got threats and attacks from the Dragons and Lionesses. But the children of this gang were trained in foreign fighting styles and plus anima found acceptance with us as well. In Anah plus anima are called divinities, children loved by the gods so they were saved. We disagree with Sailand even though we are allies. Anyway we became bigger and stronger. I felt out of touch by the time I was sixteen, I always felt alone despite the fact I was surrounded by people like myself, foreigners. I started to runaway through the slums and then come back a day or two later. My children were disturbed by this behavior and began to worry, Joseno as well. But I could not say what I was feeling to any of them. None of them would understand. I was feeling guilty that I had abandoned my people like I did." She paused for a moment.
"Then, one day I was on one of my runaway walks, this time planning to never come back I heard crying. I followed until I found the source, a little boy. He was small there was dry blood caked on his lips, his eyes were blue and his hair was silver, I thought he had been a girl at first. I thought he looked familiar but I couldn't place it. He looked up me and sniffled, he seemed to not trust me at first, then I realized who he was, he looked like Queen Marien, and judging by his clothes he must be a relation. I told him who I was, Nanali, crown princess. Then he seemed to trust me and told me he was Prince Myrrha of Sailand, then I felt as if I finally got what I was looking for. I took him home with me and I stopped running. I had someone I could relate to; although he was seven he was intelligent and seemed to feel the bond of royalty. Once I told him about my guilt and he stared at me for a moment then he said 'If you had died back there knowing there was a chance you could live then wouldn't that be abandoning your people anyway. If you're alive then you can still save them, you're not much use to them dead.'" Duchess smiled softly.
"He made me, so happy; I never loved anybody like I loved him. Majesty was like my son. I loved as if I had given birth to him myself. He would pick flowers for me and make shoddy handmade gifts; he acted like my son when it was just us, or even Joseno. To everyone else he was cold as a glacier until he was comfortable with them. When he disappeared my heart broke, it really did. It was my fault; I let him wander around by himself. I knew it was dangerous but I couldn't refuse much of him. I forgot that he was child, a small one at that. It's my fault that he suffered as he did and I hope that two of the most important women in his life could forgive me for bringing him so much pain." Nana and Meho blinked, they hadn't been expecting Duchess' life story to lead to an apology.
"I would never blame you Duchess, you made my brother happy when you took him in, and I'm a memoria like him so I could feel every bit of happiness he felt when he was in your care. You made him very happy." Duchess wiped away a tear.
"Thank you Meho. Yet now I regret not saving him again. I have contacts servants in the palace and even one of Majesty's maids in a loyal Outlander; I was told today that the Prince of Astaria seems to be fond of the dear boy." She sighed.
"This is quite troublesome." Duchess sighed again taking a sip from her tea.
"Not necessarily." Said Meho, she also took a sip of tea thoughtfully.
"Eh?"
"We can work this to our advantage, if the Prince is infatuated with me a.k.a my brother then he would do anything to please him-I mean me so we can manipulate him to our will."
"Well done Meho I have no doubt your brother is already thinking the same thing." Duchess smiled sadistically.
"I will alert the contact to make sure he knows we can relay messages." Duchess said getting up.
"Wait, Lady Duchess, I can't just sit here and wait for Husky to come home. I have to help somehow. I need to help him get home safe. I love him Lady Duchess please let me help." Duchess was quiet as was Meho.
"Well the contact is very good at what she does so I suppose, since you are in love with my darling boy I can arrange for you to help us somehow." Duchess smirked, a weird sinister smirk. Meho and Nana exchanged glances, Duchess never smirked.
The sun rose over the courtyard. Golden rays reflected off the pond on to the castle. Quincy swam contently through the crystal waters. The flowers opened to the sun. A maid went to Husky's bed and shook him gently. He awoke like a prince should, gently and majestically. This had been the first time he was not afraid to sleep alone. The maid blushed lightly. Husky sat him and reached to ruffle his hair a habit as a child. He froze, his hair was short, and he saw his wig had fallen off. He panicked and looked at the maid the he froze, he recognized this girl; this was Jaclyn. Jaclyn was a maid/spy for the outlanders. She was a brothel girl originally born from a brothel girl herself, a foreigner mother and Astarian father. Jaclyn favored her father so she could pass herself off as an Astarian.
"Hey Majesty." She chirped
"Jaclyn?"
"Yup, I volunteered to be your maid. If you favor me I could help you keep your secret."
"Thank you. Now just say you help me change, so turn around." Husky brushed out the wig and placed it firmly on his head. He was dressed in boy's undergarments but pulled on a dress provided for him. Jaclyn helped him fasten it and styled his wig. She also put a little makeup and a silk scarf to cover Husky's neck markings. When Husky looked in the mirror he could have sworn he was Meho. Jaclyn let the other maids in.
"I like this one, what's her name?" He asked gesturing to Jaclyn.
"Uh, that's Jaclyn My Lady Princess."
"She will be my personal maid, she alone will help me dress and style my hair."
"Are you sure My Lady Princess? She is but one maid."
"I'm sure." The maids started to tidy up the room. Then a knock sounded on the door.
"Hello, the researchers are here." A maid let them in. The researchers measured his height and weight. They took about a pint of blood for studying and attached weird devices to his head then asked him to probe a maid so they could record brainwave patterns. Husky saw a lot of things he would rather not see again.
Meanwhile The Prince had finished his morning lessons and exercise. He came to his father's throne room and approached him.
"Father?"
"Yes William."
"Princess Meho, I was wondering, are we supposed to keep her in her room all day?"
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow at his son.
"I was wondering if I could take her for a walk around the palace gardens, I could win her favor."
"If it will make her more cooperative. Do you think it will?"
"If she likes me." There was a pause
"Son, she's a Sailander, I doubt she will like you."
"I'll try Father!"
"Hey I never….." He sighed that boy was in for something bad.
Prince William ran all the way to the Princess' quarters. He walked in as casually as he could into her room. The researchers just finished taking blood samples and were on their way. They all bowed to him on their way out but he ignored them. Husky allowed the maids to fuss over his puncture wounds and his sleeves. When one suggested a change of clothes he simply waved it off.
"Princess?" Husky ignored him the first time, not being used to referred to as Princess.
"Princess Meho?" Husky glared this time then spun his head toward the window dismissively; the Prince however was not going down without a fight.
"I was wondering if you would accompany me on a walk through the gardens." Husky contemplated this for a moment, the decided he could work the Prince to his own advantage.
"Fine." He stood up lifting his skirt just enough so he could walk without tripping. He followed the Prince through the gardens; he had to admit it was nice being outside. The Prince never once took his eyes off the so called Princess. He tried to hold Husky's hand but Husky just ripped it away. They came to the pond where Quincy the fish lived. Husky felt a yearning to the water.
"Hey don't get too close My Lady Princess." Husky ignored him and put a hand toward the water. He felt a trance claim his senses. Quincy reared from the water.
"Princess!" William shouted. Husky didn't move from his spot and did not even acknowledge Quincy at first. Quincy went back into the water then came up slowly this time just his head and pressed his head to Husky's hand. Husky ran his white fingers over the fish's enormous head. His plus anima markings burned. The fish continued to let the plus anima rub his head. Many people didn't know this but animals feel a close bond to plus animas of their species. In this case Husky and a fish, they were not afraid of him so it made it easy for him to catch them. Husky was ripped away from the pond by William and Quincy, disgruntled by the removal of the smooth hand splashed William and in the process Husky with a wave of water. Husky snapped out of his trance and regarded his soaked dress with annoyance but no open opinions. William on the other hand was very verbal about is displeasure.
"Damn you Quincy now I'm wet!" He shouted to the pond.
"Princess are you alright?" He asked Husky who stared blankly at him and said nothing. He simply turned and walked back toward the palace.
"Wait Princess I'll call some servants to bring some towels."
"It's fine I can find my way back." He didn't look at William.
"Princess, are you mad at Quincy?"
"No, I'm mad at you."
"Huh, why?"
"Quincy wasn't hurting me or anything, he just liked me."
"Quincy doesn't like anyone, but my father. Why would he like you?"
"Ever consider that maybe I'm good with animals?"
"Doesn't matter Quincy could have eaten you!" Husky glared.
"I'm fine; I can take care of myself." He said calmly keeping his temper in check. The Prince grabbed his wrist and pulled him off the stairs and into a tender, but forced, kiss. The Crown Prince of Astaria was kissing the Crown Prince of Sailand. Prince William enjoyed the soft pink lips of who he thought was Princess Meho. For a moment or two Husky was too shocked to act, then he slowly brought back one hand. He swiftly slapped the Prince across the face and ran to the safety of his maids.
"Don't ever touch me you bastard! I'm the favorite daughter of the King of Sailand if you ever touch me again I'll see your decapitated head on a pike!" He was so angry and embarrassed he almost forgot to disguise his voice.
Husky stormed to his room and washed his mouth out vigorously. How dare he try to kiss a princess of an enemy nation? Just because Meho was the daughter of one of the King's harem woman he felt that there's nothing wrong with kissing him without consent like that. Disgusting pest thought he was worth something but he was being fooled like everyone else in the palace.
"Princess?" It was Jaclyn.
"Come in." Jaclyn walked in and it was the first time Husky had ever really noticed the uniform maids wore. They wore blue knee length or ankle length dresses with short or long sleeves depending on age and season. Younger maids wore knee sock and slippers while older maids just wore pantyhose and slipper under their long skirts. All maids wore lacy hair bands; older maids put their hair in buns while younger one wore pigtails or single plaits. As a decorative touch the aprons all had a frilly edging and a glass brooch shaped like the Astarian symbol sat at each maid's collar. Jaclyn was a younger maid.
"I saw that kiss." She smirked.
"Don't go telling anybody about it, I'd rather maintain some dignity around my sisters."
"Ah, don't worry; I'm just here to bring you the gift Lady Duchess told me to give you."
"Oh, what is it?"
"It's in the other room, come on." Husky followed her into his bedroom and sitting in the chair, dressed in the Astarian palace uniform was a girl with blond braids; and not just any girl with blond pigtails.
For sitting in the chair was none other than Miss Nana Alba.
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Princess: If you're reading this it means I'm back home. I was miserable all week; my allergies drove me up the wall. No internet and nothing to do but read, listen to music via i-pod, and write on my computer. I would have done more writing if my sister hadn't kept stealing MY laptop to play games, just because we share a game she feels entitled to my computer whenever she wants. Not to mention it rained all
week, the boring part. So let's recap, I was crammed in a dusty hundred year old house, I have terrible allergies, my sister stole my laptop for the most each day, my family didn't even come until the tail end of the week. The end of the week wasn't as bad it was pretty fun being with all my family. Anyway enough about my problems now about the story. Husky has been kissed by force again; I really need to stop being so mean to him. But I have say, he's really not taking crap from anyone, maids or the crown prince. Nana is extremely stubborn and Duchess explains how she went from crown princess to gang leader. I have fun writing for Meho and Husky, they're so much alike but their normal, day to day behavior is so different even though they have the same personality and if it had been Meho in Husky's position she would act the same way Husky does now. If anyone's wondering I am friends with a pair of twins but they aren't identical (far from it actually, but they're both girls), but they really do get along well and share friends, I wonder how they do it I couldn't even share cousins with my sister. XD
Review Time:
Grace Raven: Ah come on Husky + cross-dressing equals funny. Anyway I'm back now.
SasuXSaku: Yeah ha ha, I don't even know why I put that moon blood thing in, it just felt right.
Twilinden: I'm back and you are so lucky to have dreams about this, I wish I did, my dreams never make sense.
Jeikobu Kyoudai-tieru: Wow that's a long penname. Anyway, thanks for the support.
ur guardian angel: what's the fun of a cross-dressing prince without another one falling in love with him?