So many hits, so much interest. And that was only the prologue! From now on, this is the space in which I'll address any concerns brought to me via pm or review. I'll select one or two reviews and respond.
ZenithTempest: I probably wasn't clear enough in the prologue and the summary. 'Ren Ashbell' in this fic is not Kamito. I'm mainly using the light novel depiction of characters. In it, there was one other person sharing Kamito's appearance, only with different colored eyes and skin. And a slightly different hair style. I do, however, appreciate your warning, and will keep it in mind.
benny6150: Thanks for your support! I hope I don't disappoint with this chapter.
And on we go!
|Sometime in the past.|
"Ara?" Restia asked herself out loud. Something about her situation was amiss. Rather, something had been added, and it was currently squirming around in the frilly party dress she deemed 'clothes'. Now that she thought about it, that 'something' felt an awfully lot like a hand.
Without even looking, Restia grasped the offender's arm in a vice grip, squeezing it just hard enough to make the bone creak. She was a bit irritated, but, more than that, perturbed. As a spirit that took the form of a slender beauty, she was used to being courted. Throw into the mix an outfit that showed off her shapely legs, gleaming black hair, and bewitching eyes with a mischievous allure, she tended to draw in the more aggressive type of suitor. In short, Restia was used to entitled imbeciles trying to cop a feel. Not that they ever succeeded.
Except this one did. And they did it without her even noticing.
Turning to gaze upon her new captive, Restia found her focus upon a child of no more than eight staring right back at her. He was gaunt and unkempt, his long hair both gleaming with oil and matted with dirt. He wore a pair of shorts that had most definitely seen better days and a ribbed tank-top, exposing his thin arms and shoulders.
Looking into his listless eyes, Restia could only marvel at how hollow they appeared to be. But, what absorbed her attention the most was his complete lack of presence. If not for the fact that she was currently crushing his arm in her grip, the spirit could have sworn that nobody, or rather, nothing was there. It was as if he simply didn't exist.
"Um...excuse me, Miss? You're kinda hurting me." the boy spoke, causing Restia to jump slightly at the sudden statement. Quick as lightning, however, she regained her wits.
"Then you shouldn't have tried groping me. You are very lucky I'm a rather forgiving and nice woman, or else you wouldn't have an arm left to feel pain with." she retorted.
Despite the cold words, the spirit loosed her grip to a less firm pressure, although she did not let go. This boy was very interesting, and she didn't want to lose sight of him.
"I'm sorry." he said. "I didn't see pockets on your dress, so I wanted to see if you had anything inside it."
Restia just looked at the boy, dumfounded.
"I was trying to pickpocket you." he clarified.
"Wait wait wait. Time out." Restia demanded. "Did you just admit to the intent of thieving from me?"
"Yes."
The darkness spirit began pinch the bridge of her nose with her free hand. This was not happening. A little kid did not just attempt to pickpocket her and was most certainly not admitting to the fact.
"If you let me go, I promise not to try to steal from you again."
It was happening.
"Is that all you want to say?"
The boy seemed to think for a moment. "Please?"
She sighed. Interesting as the child was, it seemed the situation would bring nothing more than frustration. Reaching into a pouch hidden in her modest cleavage, Restia pulled a golden coin from within, handing it to the boy.
"Here. Get yourself something to eat and some clean clothing. Do not let me catch you groping me again. Now begone."
She then let go of his arm, his confused face the last thing Restia saw before he slipped from her notice.
"Thank you, Miss." a voice called out to her from nearby.
And that was how the boy met Restia for the first of many times.
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|Three years ago from present.|
"I shall not permit it. Not at all. As soon as she is awake, she is to be returned to where she belongs." a voice vehemently whispered.
"There is no problem letting her stay until she is recovered. Humans do not just heal from injuries like that over the course of two days, need I remind you. Besides, we've had this conversation many times over the past two days, and not once have you come up with a valid reason to not let her stay a while." a second whispered back.
"She looks to be a vixen in doe skin. I will not let our Kamito be ensnared by-."
"Oh do knock it off. We haven't even exchanged a proper word with her yet. You of all people should know better to make judgments based on appearances."
A sigh.
"Fine. But if an incident does occur, do not say I did not warn against."
"Don't listen to her, Neithy! Candy's just afraid the new girl will steal Kamimi's affection and she'll be forgotten!" a third voice chimed in, none to gently.
"Shut your mouth, Kiwidinok!"
"Hush! The child wakes."
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When Fianna came too, everything felt sore. Her neck, shoulders, back, legs, arms, feet...everything. Especially her back. Despite the bed she found herself in being very soft, if a bit rough, and a fresh set of sleepwear, they only aggravated the aches. On top of that, a pounding in her head began to form, pulsating with each heartbeat. Her throat felt dry and scratchy.
All in all, the young woman felt miserable.
The notion was furthered when an attempt to open her eyes was rebuffed by the morning sun, its glare causing them to close immediately. An added side-affect was the worsening of her headache.
"How are you feeling, dearie?" a kindly, beautiful voice asked her.
Fianna tried to respond, but her voice came out as a croak.
"Please...water..."
She suddenly found herself sitting up, drinking the purest water the young girl had ever tasted. Sweet to the pallet, she drank the soothing liquid greedily, caring not for the source. Cup after cup was downed, little time spared for the frivolities of breathing. Inevitably, one mistimed swallow lead to another coughing fit as her lungs forcefully expelled the foreign substance, splattering the refreshing drink on her lap.
A small hand rubbed her back, mildly comforting her. Eventually, the coughing died down, replaced by a feeling of complete exhaustion. Her eyes were tearing up due to the fit, and Fianna discovered her nose has begun to run. But she didn't care. Now that her thirst had been quenched and lungs cleared, all Fianna wanted to do was sleep.
So sleep she did.
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"Good morning, Miss! My friends say you're really tired and need to rest up lots!" a young, cheerful voice said, entirely too loud for her comfort.
Turning to face the veritable loud-speaker, Fianna opened her eyes just enough to catch a glimpse of the source.
A rather pretty girl came into her vision, similar to herself in many ways: long black hair, dark eyes, feminine facial features. A slender frame encased in radiant white skin marked her to be a very beautiful woman once puberty had its way with her. The only real difference between them was that Fianna had dark eyes, the other girl had vibrant aqua-marine ones. A slight crack in her voice made Fianna wonder briefly, but squashed the thought. It would be uncouth for a lady of her status to question the development of other young women.
"Ah, um, good morning, friend." Fianna greeted, mentally kicking herself for the slip. Princesses did not mungle and stutter their words, no matter how tired they were! "How long have I been sleeping?"
"Mmmm..." the girl hummed, hand under chin, elbow supported by the other hand. "I think two days? You were really hurt when we found you, so we took you back here since we didn't know who you were and since you couldn't talk we couldn't find out! But now that you're awake, we can get to know each other and get you back home!"
Fianna was flabbergasted. Was she so obscure in the common populace that she couldn't be recognized on sight? Despite her position shifting in the court after the 'incident', to be unknown as a princess was simply unheard of.
"My name is Fianna Ray Ordesia, and I graciously thank you for sheltering and looking after my welfare for these past few days, Miss...?
"Kamito. I'm Kamito Kazehaya." the girl said whilst pointing her thumb at her chest.
"That's a rather odd name for a girl." Fianna said spontaneously, covering her mouth up immediately after.
"That's because Kamimi's a boy!" a cheery voice chimed in.
Looking behind 'Kamimi', the royal brunette noticed three hovering figures.
One had flaming red hair, cascading in waves down her back. She wore a frilled ballgown of deep crimson which exposed her face and hands. The bodice was plain with minimal trimming and everything below was a plumage of frills and ornate embroidery reaching slightly passed her feet. Upon her brow was a simple decorative circlet.
The second wore a simple blue gown that stopped mid-shin. Straight blue hair crowned her head. A caring smile could be seen on her face and a twinkle in her eyes. All in all, she reminded Fianna of her own mother in her more tender moments.
The third and final was was absolutely beaming with joy. If looks were infectious, the entire world would have found peace through death by glee-induced diabetes. As it was, she had blond hair and green eyes. A white pixie dress, looking more akin to a strap of cloth than an actual piece of clothing, was 'covering' her body.
"Wait wait wait wait. She," Fianna pointed directly at Kamito. "is a he?!" As a princess, she had seen some rather effeminate looking men, but this was simply absurd!
"Of course I am!" the now identified male exclaimed irritably while flushing. "Do I look like a girl to you?!"
Fianna took a long hard look at the boy before her...for all of two seconds.
"There's no way! You're almost prettier than me!"
The deepening blush on Kamito's face would have made Fianna laugh if she herself hadn't been so shocked. Giggling and a bit of snickering could be heard from behind the boy.
Examining the three closer, the princess noticed a few more things about them. Namely that they were radiating divine energy continuously.
'Spirits.' She though. 'Powerful ones at that, being able to take on such beautiful human form.'
A question formed within Fianna's mind, and unable to contain her bubbling curiosity, she put forth the thought into words.
"Miss Spirits?"
The trio quieted their amusement while turning to face the young girl.
"Why do you stay with Kamito?"
As incredulous expressions began to form on their faces, Fianna continued.
"I mean, you don't seem like you're bound here by anything, and you are all powerful spirits seeing that you each can be seen as humans. You could enter a contract with powerful elementalers who live in better places and would treat you much better."
"I know this isn't the coolest place, but I thought it was at least nice..." Kamito sulked.
"Do not be disheartened, Kamito. The home you have provided for us is more than adequate." said the fire spirit. She smiled at the hopeful look on Kamito's face, but then frowned and faced the young princess again. "Is that not a bit rude, Lost Queen? Many times has he proved his character beyond reproach. Each day, from the time we have met, he has cared well for us in word and deed. His body may be unfit for a contract as you know it, but his mind and soul are just as pure as a princess maiden on her day of birth. Not understanding what you have experienced for yourself is unbecoming for a lady of your rank."
"Candice, that was a bit harsh. She's only just come to know about us and of our situation. Of course she'd be curious." the water spirit admonished, giving the one of fire a hard look.
"Fianna, what she means to say is that Kamito has always acted for the betterment of those who need it most. If we were to abandon him despite his exemplary treatment of us, it would be an insult to our honor as spirits of Astral Zero."
"Yeah! What Neithy said! And even if Kamimi isn't a girl, he's definitely pretty enough to be one!"
Thus proclaimed the wind spirit, giggling excitedly.
Candice groaned while palming her face. "Kiwidinok..."
The wind spirit ignored her friend, wandering into another room as the sound of drawers being opened reached her ears.
"Kamimi, what'cha doin'?"
"Looking for scissors. Do you know where they are?"
"They were lent out to a woman of the village for her sewing of that wretched dress. You have not yet retrieved it from her."
"Candice!" gasped Neith. "That dress is very lovely! How could you say such a thing about that beautiful gown?"
"Not as beautiful as Kamimi!" chimed Kiwi from another room.
"Sharp thing! Now!" Kamito hollered, voice cracking. The opening and closing of containment units intensified.
Fianna, forgotten momentarily while the shenanigans flowed forth, watched on in a bewildered state of amusement.
Meanwhile, Kamito had managed to get his hands on a kitchen knife. He was spurred on by Kiwi's excitable descriptions of how 'cool and awesome he'd look with short awesome-guy hair and how it was a shame because his long hair was so pretty and if he wanted to he could keep it and pretend to be a girl and get all the rich guys and live in a big house and have maids and butlers and then get found out and be told to do things if he didn't want word getting out and then he'd be found out anyway and forgiven but told he wouldn't be allowed to live there anymore' and on and on she chittered, oblivious to the mental chaos she was wreaking upon our young protagonist.
Which is why as Kamito used the knife to cut his hair, streams of anguished tears rolled down his face. Of course, him using a knife, it was by no means an even cut, resulting in various lengths of hair to be displayed. Somehow, it all worked out to be somewhat presentable, if a bit scruffy. Don't ask how. It just did.
"Oh, do not get the wrong idea, Neith. The dress itself is pleasing to the eye. In my humble opinion, far too pleasing."
"Then what is wrong with it, Candice? If the dress is fine, and the woman is beautiful, there is nothing to complain about!"
"But there is! It is scandalous! Exposing both the shoulders and the ankles. Why, back a few decades, that would be enough to get a woman branded as a harlot! It is simply indecent!"
And so an average day went on in the life of this cozy home as Candice ranted about the affairs of modern times, Kiwidinok harassed Kamito into tears, and Neith placated the fire spirit and tempered the wind.
"Um, might I ask where the...restroom is, perchance...?" Fianna asked to her embarrassment, temporarily interrupting the chaos.
After having been given instructions to the room in question, Fianna sat down to take care of her business when a thought struck her.
'Hold on a moment. Which one of them changed my clothes while I was sleeping?!'
And that's a wrap! Please, if you have any questions or concerns, message or review. I'll do my best to clear up any confusion without spoiling what little plot I have planned. Next chapter should be out within a week or so.
Cheers!
"I don't know these stories as well as they know me, I've discovered."- Joan Gould