Disclaimer: I own nothing
'Thinking'
"Speaking"
SPELL/ABILITY
(********) = Scene/Location/Time Change
Chapter 3: A Man's home is HER castle
Saito looked up at the best friend of his former master and felt a tugging at his heart as he looked at the Princess. He saw in her eyes a mixture of emotions welling up. Before he could say anything to her she spoke first.
"A maid from your school informed me of the arrival of Duke Valliere and voiced concern for your safety. Are you alright?" she said calmly keeping her emotions in check.
"I suppose I'm fine enough for a stray dog recently abandoned." Saito replied as he rested back on the ground.
"I understand how you must feel, but if you stay here you'll be found and executed." The purple haired princess told the boy.
"Hime, if you were to assist me you would be betraying the will of your friends family." Saito responded with his eyes closed.
"If I were to not assist you I would be betraying a duty to my kingdom to protect people from needless death." The princess responded coolly.
Saito sighed and replied, "You aren't going to give me much of a choice are you?"
"You are correct in that assumption Saito." Henrietta said with a smile as she saw the boy give in.
She admitted that he had a certain charm about him, he wasn't Prince Wales, but there was something about him that drew her to him. She knew it was the same thing drew everyone to Saito. His defiant attitude, fearlessness, stubbornness, and courage were all things that made up who Saito was. As the dark haired boy helped her into the carriage she couldn't help but feel this would be the start of a new way of life for the people of Tristain.
(********)
Saito and Henrietta arrived at the castle several hours later. Saito was snuck into the palace for precautionary measures and shown to the room he would be staying in. Outside his room awaited a raven haired maid whom Saito recognized as his friend Siesta.
"I'm glad you're alright." Siesta said as she hugged the boy.
"Thank you for sending help," Saito said as he hugged her back, "I'd still be on the run if you hadn't sent for help."
"Things aren't over yet Saito we still have to end the hunt for you." Siesta reminded him.
"I know, but I can still be happy for what has happened." The young swordsman said as he opened the door to reveal his new room.
The room was just to his taste. It contained a simple bed, a small desk, a book case, and a dresser. The desk sat in front of a window adjacent to the wall with the book case and dresser. Saito walked over to the bed and fell down on to the bed after setting Derf leaning up against a wall beside the bed. He felt the events that had caused this change venue catch up to him and he couldn't help but let a tear escape.
"It's certainly an upgrade partner." Derf said trying to cheer his friend up.
"That princess certainly knows how to read people." Saito commented as he looked around the room that he felt in place in.
"I take it that means you like the room?" Henrietta questioned from the doorway.
"It's perfect," the dark haired commoner replied, "What are we going to do now though? I can't have you guys protecting me forever."
"Why not?" Henrietta blurted out without thinking.
'Where on earth did that come from' the two thought in unison.
"Excuse me?" said the voice of a familiar maid.
"What is it Siesta?" Saito responded wondering how long she had been there or if she had left at all.
"Saito this is by far the safest place for you," Siesta began, "but if it's that you don't wish to be a burden why don't you do various jobs for her highness."
"That's a wonderful idea Siesta." The princess told the maid.
Saito couldn't find anything wrong with the maid's idea, and it would allow him to continue to search for a way home. He continued to ponder the idea and came to a conclusion.
"Alright I'll take the deal." Saito relented.
"Before I can send you out on any jobs you're going to need to go through training." Henrietta told him.
"Why?" the young boy asked.
"It's because you aren't a full Gandalfr anymore partner." Derflinger answered.
"Saito's a Gandalfr?" The two girls said in unison.
Derf ignored them and continued his explanation to Saito, "You are no longer the girls familiar. You hold the same ability but without training you'll remain a novice."
Saito sighed. "Alright I'll accept you're training."
Henrietta was still stunned to find out Saito was a Gandalfr. 'I just didn't want him to get himself hurt… oh well, I suppose if it gets him to agree…'
"Rest up tonight your training with Agnes begins tomorrow morning." Henrietta said as she and the maid left the room.
(********)
'Damn it I lost the carriage' Leon thought to himself.
Leon had seen Saito reluctantly board the carriage and ride off. Leon had tailed it to the city, but once they arrived he lost sight of it. Suddenly, clouds began to gather overhead and rain started to slowly fall. Leon put his hood up and continued to walk through town. The vendors closed their shops and stands and returned to their homes. The street was dimly lit and empty.
'I need a place to hide or I'll catch a cold' Leon thought as he walked into a covered alley outside a pub.
Leon rest there, wondering if Saito was ok. His senses told him Saito wasn't in danger, but he still couldn't stand knowing his best friend was alive, and in this world with him, and not be there to keep him safe like he'd promised.
(********)
An 8 year old boy sits on a hill beside a girl roughly the same age as him. She has short cropped black hair and glassy green eyes. The two are sitting side by side almost holding hands. The girl looks troubled.
"Hey Leon?" asked the voice of a girl.
"What is it Lelah?" Leon asked.
"I'm going away for a while." The dark haired girl said to the boy. "Could you watch over my little brother for me?"
"Where are you going?" replied the dark haired kid.
"Some place far away." She said sadly, "By the time you find me it'll be too late, so please don't look for me."
"I don't want you to leave." The boy said.
"Just promise me you'll protect Saito for me." She said obviously not wanting to leave either.
"I promise." Leon swore to the girl.
The girl smiled and pulled to charms out her pocket. One was shaped like a wolf's head and the other a heart. She smiled and handed the wolf to the boy.
"The wolf will help you keep your promise." Lelah told him.
"What about the heart?" Leon inquired.
"The heart is where you belong." The two smile and laughed at each other…
(********)
Suddenly, Leon was hit by a wall of water and woken from his daydream. He looked up angrily to see who the culprit was only to pause at the figure of a beautiful girl.
"What the heck was that…?" Leon said still in a bit of a daze.
"I'd say sorry but it's your fault for sitting right outside the door." The beautiful long haired girl replied.
Leon coughed and stood up to leave.
"Wait." The girl said.
"What now?" Leon turned to faced her directly.
"Would you like to come in and dry off?" the beauty said, "It is kind of my fault."
Leon paused for a moment. 'What does she want from me? ´
"Don't get the wrong idea," she added with a huff "I don't like you or anything."
"Jessica darling what's taking so long." called a feminine voice from inside.
"Nothing dad just a difficult guy with no place to go." Jessica said.
'Dad?!... and who said I have no place to go…' Leon thought begrudgingly.
"Tell him if he works we'll give him a place to stay." The voice called.
"So do you want to come in?" Jessica eyed him.
He couldn't help but laugh and say, "Don't I have no place to go?", and walk in to the pub.
(********)
'How did I get myself into this mess…?' Sienna thought to herself in her new room at the school. A few months ago she was excited for school to start, but this wasn't her school. She wasn't a mage, she was a normal highschool girl with abnormal circumstances.
"Don't sit there and mope about not being able to chase Leon and Saito. I'm sure they'll be fine." Her fox spirit, Aria, assured her.
"They both looked so different though…" The fiery haired girl responded lifelessly.
"What do you mean by that?" questioned her familiar.
"When Saito was sleeping he looked so at peace here, like felt like he belonged, and when Leon chased after him it looked like he felt alive in this new world." She confided to her partner, "And here I am still lost in this place, wishing for home."
"Then find your way." The fox said simply.
Sienna just looked at the fox and resolved to do just that. Then, she would continue her search for her friends. The fire haired girl and the fox spirit climbed into bed and went to sleep. Both were ready to start their new life.
(********)
Early the next morning Saito woke up. He went to his dresser and opened the drawer to find long black pants and a white shirt. When he changed into the new clothes he threw his sweatshirt into a basket for laundry. He examined himself in the new clothes and found the shirt's sleeves to be too baggy.
"Hey, Derf?" Saito called to his as he took the shirt off.
"What?" Derf questioned somewhat nervously.
"I'm gonna borrow you real quick." Saito said as he drew his sword.
Saito began to use the sword to cut off the sleeves. While cutting off the second sleeve there was a knock at the door.
"One minute!" Saito said as he threw the shirt on and walked towards the door.
(********)
Henrietta stood on the other side of the door and what she saw amazed her a little bit. Saito stood in front of her wearing the clothes she had picked out for him except for the fact that sleeves were gone revealing Saito's arm. He wasn't buff but the jacket had certainly hidden how fit he really was.
"Is everything ok?" Saito questioned.
"Um… nothing…" Henrietta said with a slight blush.
"You sure you look a little sickly." Saito reached out and put his hand on her forehead making her blush even more.
"Agnes is waiting for you in the courtyard." The princess said quickly and rushed off.
"I hope she's ok." Saito said to Derf as they left the room.
"You're oblivious." The blade said with a sigh.
"Did she want something?" Saito asked his companion who seemed to understand.
"Yes." The legendary blade said flatly.
"Really? What was it?" Saito questioned, "Oh! Was it a thank you? I haven't thanked her for taking me in yet."
"You're an idiot." The blade exasperatedly told his master.
"What? Did I say something?" Saito continued to pester the blade but received no answers.
(********)
Leon woke up early the next day and changed his clothes. As he took off his hoodie a wolf pendant fell out. Before it could hit the ground Leon caught and slipped it into his pocket. A knock came from the door.
"It's open." Leon said.
Jessica opened the door and found a shirtless boy. She quickly shut the door.
"You didn't tell me you were still changing." She shouted at the boy as she could feel the red on her face.
'Why does he get to me?' Jessica thought to herself 'I've never been this uncomfortable around guys before.'
As she pondered the thoughts the door opened behind her and she fell back. When she opened her eyes she realized she had been caught by Leon. The two stared at each other until they finally realized what position they were in. They quickly stood up and blushed furiously. It didn't help when they heard giggling down the hallway. Leon quickly grabbed his bag and rushed out.
"I'll be back by the time my shift starts." Leon called as he left.
(********)
'Late, Late, Late' Sienna thought to herself as she rushed down the hallway.
She had been put into the sophomore class, due to the fact that she had summoned familiar, despite the fact that she insisted that she couldn't use magic. She was dead if she was asked who her parents were or what kind of magic she used.
"You'll be fine, I'm allowed to come with you." Her carefree familiar spirit reminded her.
"Only in your human form!" Sienna shouted
"Problem?" Aria asked.
"Why couldn't you have looked a little less noticeable?" She asked her friend.
There were many noticeable things about her familiar's human form. From the girl's oddly jet-black hair, she found that odd for a fox, to her overly perfect figure that would make any girl feel bad about themself. On top of that her familiar had yet to master transformation magic and had maintained her ears and tail.
"I didn't choose to be like this!" Her fox spirit countered as they entered the classroom.
"Ah and here is our new student and her familiar." The teacher said to the class.
There was silence throughout the class as they looked at the two. This only added to how nervous Sienna was.
"New student or not you were late to class," the man said, "So today you'll be our demonstration in fire magic."
She noticed collective sigh throughout the class. 'What's that about?' the girl thought.
"Well?" the teacher said.
"Yes sir…" Sienna raised her hands and began the one spell she had learned.
(…)
Heyo. Sorry to those of you had wanted a different MAIN pairing for this character. I do plan on doing other stories on this anime in the future in which Saito is paired up with someone else because I am aware that SaitoXHenrietta is pretty common. I felt this was the best path I could take with where I plan to lead the story in the future. I hope you guys are still enjoying the story if you have any suggestions I promise I shall read them and take them into consideration. Also, rest assured Saito will be in a love triangle and I'll add a love triangle to Leon too. Stay tuned! - Lion