A/N

I forgot to mention this in the previous chapter, but there will be minor implied relationships between Sawamura and the other characters of this story, this'll be a character development between our lovely prince and the rest of the kingdom ;)

I Have So Much To Tell You

Honestly, way before when he had all those boring old tutors who had the tone of a droned out walrus, he had always dreaded the idea of waiting for them to begin his lesson. How could he be excited for something that would just put him to sleep after a couple of minutes into the lecture? Sawamura didn't understand how some people could stand this type of education at all.

But it wasn't until a certain individual came along and offered to take the position of his previous teacher, who had to leave the kingdom due to a family emergency from another district. And this man, made Sawamura see the true light of studying*.

… Or not the kind of "studying" that one would think.

So when the prince was getting out his study books, he was more than excited when a familiar soft tap on his door got his attention. He grinned and quickly finished putting everything down. "Come in!" He called out enthusiastically.

The door slowly creaked open and in walked his daily tutor: Takigawa Chris. Oh how Sawamura practically worshipped the man, he was like a father figure to the boy and the prince would always be happy whenever he would see him.

"Chris-sensei! Good morning!" Sawamura chirped and bounded over to the man as he was just closing the door, "What are we learning today, huh? Something good right?"

Chris chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm, finding it pleasing this early in the day. "Well if you find the history of Seido 'something good' then yes, we are going to be having an interesting lesson today, your majesty."

Sawamura laughed in minor embarrassment as he sat himself down at his desk, "You don't have to use 'your majesty' with me Chris! It's weird if you call me that." He smiled softly, looking up at the older man. After all, if it was his favorite teacher calling him that, he doesn't know if it'll leave a good taste in his mouth.

Chris looked at him skeptically, bringing up another chair to sit beside the young prince and placing down his books and belongings on the table. "If you say so- so you'd like me to just call you Sawamura instead?" The corners of his lips tilted up as he looked down at the now grinning prince.

"Yes! I mean- it's weird when people call me that, so just call me without any labels." Sawamura laughed nervously, adjusting himself on the seat and reaching over at one of Chris's books, and picking one up to start flipping through the pages.

"Woah, that's a lot of words in a tiny book! Do I really have to learn all of this?!" He gawked at it with his mouth open as his eyes went back and forth through the onslaught of pages.

His teacher chuckled and plucked the book out from his hands as he set it down and passed Sawamura a different book. "Not quite, we're just going to cover the basics and origin of the three kingdoms first, and then get into specifics later on. Starting out in small steps is better than throwing a bunch of information at you, am I right?"

Sawamura nodded in agreement and grinned, "Yes! It's always a pleasure in learning with you," He flipped open the book to the first page and noticed a strangely colored map, words were faded away but the outlining of lands could be made out with three individual areas that are in proximity of the other.

"A… a map?" He asked in confusion as he squinted at the content and brought the book closer to his face.

"Indeed it is, that map was how the original three kingdoms stood: Seido, Inashiro, Yakushi- it looks different back then than it does now. Because if you look right here," Chris leaned over and pointed to where the borders touching, "There weren't any checkpoints or outsider lands between the kingdoms, all of it just collided with one another and we were only separated by a thin marked line."

Sawamura continued staring at the map in awe, the land masses look more widespread than it does now, it was like three pieces of a puzzle that fitted altogether. It was different now though, with more and more people wanting to reside outside of the three major territories, many have built up their own residential towns that strayed far away from monarchy rule. They called them 'Outsider Lands', a name that signifies those who oppose the royal families.

Of course, the head of the three kingdoms had no objections over this, they let them built up their towns outside of the border lines, and left them alone, it was as simple as that. They had passed a law where there shall be no affiliations between the Outsider Lands and the three kingdoms, to maintain a stable relationship and prevent an all out war.

Although this was the case, it wasn't safe to say that the three kingdoms had grudges against each other.

It all started with an unintended thievery from Yakushi in the Seido and Inashiro district, after that had happened, Inashiro began to develop a major distrust from both of the other two kingdoms. Seido had tried to stay out of the issue but was dragged in nonetheless when Inashiro began sending over troops to the north- Seido and to the east- Yakushi, proposing that they start letting their knights live within their territory.

Both kingdoms had refused. Angered, Inashiro had launched a surprise attack on to Seido, the north was a war ground for many innocent villagers as well as for the Outsider Lands. The territorial war lasted two days before Yakushi entered and countered Inashiro's advancement into the north, halting the invasion and stopping the war.

This happened twenty years ago. The Outsider Lands and kingdoms have subsided and the peace that had followed was what many had hoped for during the days of war.

But Inashiro's grudge still stood, and Seido had only recently found their people hiding out within their neighboring village

Sawamura had heard of this story many times, in different versions, sometimes his guards would tell him that this happened instead of that, and vice versa. But only one thing still stood the same: that the kingdoms are still suspicious of each other, and one must be careful when mentioning an opposing district.

It was depressing, was what he would think from time to time.

His gaze lowered and he placed the book back on the table, closing the cover gently. "Chris-sensei, do you think our kingdoms will ever make up? I mean, I get that we still have a grudge with Inashiro, but that was in the past- what matters is the future and not something that is covered in cobwebs and dust." the prince glanced up at his tutor who also had his gaze fixed on his.

Chris blinked and a small smile formed on his lips, "Sawamura, if that is what you think, then I support your cause. It is true that what had happened during the war is what some would call 'ancient history', but what matters is how we can fix what was wronged, and- like you said, look towards the upcoming days where it really matters."

"So yes, I do believe that peace will finally find its way around soon."

Excitement sprouted within his chest as his eyes lit up: a world where the kingdoms would be at peace with each other, just the thought of that lighted something inside of him.

He grinned and threw his arms around a surprised Chris as Sawamura laughed, "That's great! Now I'm even more excited when that day finally comes around!"

Taken aback by his Majesty's sudden movement, Chris only sighed and patted the prince's head, smiling a bit, "I applause you on your enthusiasm, but we really need to get back to the lesson."

At his words, Sawamura immediately pulled away and laughed nervously while rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, you're right. But really, it's nice to have those thoughts now and then right?!"

"Yes, it is, now take your journal and start writing down important facts about Seido's territorial lands."

ლლლ

Two hours have passed ever since his lessons and after indulging in Chris's lessons, Sawamura finally had his break time. He bid his farewell to his tutor who in response, praised him for his willingness to learn. Ah how the young prince loved it whenever Chris praised him, it made him feel as if he did something right for a change. That's not to say that he had a thing for compliments, it's just that if it's Chris, it felt more 'at home'.

But as always, after he would attend Chris's lectures, Sawamura would leave the castle walls and go wander around the gardens: Seido's paradise. The kingdom was well known for it's beautiful and lush green fields and buds that would sprout into blossoms. There was a pavilion that was centered in between the luscious grass that would attract the sunlight and lighten up the fields beyond.

If there was a day that Sawamura wasn't in the middle of lessons, attending meetings or being bothered by Miyuki, you could find him here, under the pavilion or sitting under a blossom tree.

So that was where he was now, the young prince let out a tired yawn as he stretched his arms over his head as he strolled over to the bench residing within the canopy, and sat himself down as he stared out at the garden in front of him.

Mmm, it's really nice out today, much better than when I came out here a few days ago when there was a huge downpour, now that was crazy. Sawamura smiled and leaned back against the wall of the pavilion. Now what should I do today? See what's for dinner tonight? Take my horse out for a ride around the village? Catch some beetles? The amount of things he could be doing right now was endless, and he sure had that much time to perform them.

A pair of footsteps caught his ear as he twisted his body around and noticed his two friends walking towards him. A grin brightened up his face as he waved his arm out at them.

"Haruichi! Satoru! Over here!" He called out to them.

The pair wandered over to the boy, and the smaller one smiled at the prince. "Eijun, you're here by yourself again?"

"Yeah, I just finished my lessons with Chris and now I'm just taking a break. It felt nice out so I thought to myself 'why not'?" Sawamura laughed and reached out to pull on the two other boy's arms. "But enough with that, since you guys are here now, we can have some real fun!"

Furuya sighed as he was being pulled at by his Majesty. "We just finished with our daily exercises and sparring practice, can we at least take a short nap before, err 'playing'?" The dark haired knave shook his head as Haruichi laughed nervously and Sawamura grinned some more.

"Satoru, please? Just this once, let's go enjoy ourselves with the three of us!" He blinked pleadingly and smiled.

Haruichi nodded his head in agreement, "I think it's about time we had some time off, and besides, we don't have anything else to do for the rest of the day so it's perfect!" The shorter glanced up at the still poker faced boy to see any signs of reaction from him.

"Heh heh, I know exactly what we can do actually!" Sawamura beckoned them closer until they were in whispering range. Apparently, Furuya had no choice but to abide as he sighed once more and listened to what the prince had to say.

"Let's go out to the village and explore! I haven't been out there in ages since the Captain caught me trying to sneak out!" Sawamura laughed rambunctiously as Haruichi and Furuya glanced at each other in uncertainty.

"... Eijun, are you sure that's a good idea? Didn't Miyuki already tell you that it's getting pretty dangerous out there with Inashiro spies lurking around-" Haruichi tried to explain the situation to the brunette but he brushed it off.

"Miyuki can go babysit me some other time, but right now I wanna go out and have some fun time with my best buddies! What do you say? Please?" He looked up at them with big eyes as he pouted his lips and held their hands firmly.

Haruichi and Furuya looked at each other once more before the smaller sighed and smiled while the taller looked away with a distant expression.

"Alright, if it's for you, then I guess we can accompany you this time." Haruichi nodded, feeling the excitement radiate off from Sawamura as he let out a cry of victory and leaped off of the bench. Furuya and Haruichi took a step back to let the prince cool down.

Sawamura grinned happily, finally something to do around here besides attending meetings and listening to boring old men talk about things he didn't really care about!

Something exciting is about to happen, he could feel it in the marrow of his bones.

"Yes! Okay, so I have this fool proof plan that is sure to work! I just need three things: a large wagon, a horse, and a whole lot of shit. Think you guys can help?" he waggled his brows smirkingly, and the faces on the knaves paled, almost as if they're thinking "what have we gotten ourselves into this time?".

ლლლ

"Hey, where are you knaves off too with those things?"

"Sir, we've been asked kindly to by the prince himself to take out this mass of garbage." Haruichi smiled, the corners of his lips twitching as the guard glanced at him and Furuya suspiciously.

To back track on the prince's so called "plan", what it was, was yet a simple hide and escape through moving objects strategy. Sawamura would bury himself within a pile of mixed compost and dirt, courtesy of the family's royal gardener, and sit tight while Furuya and Harichi wheel the mound outside towards the village where they would dump off the load in the local waste hole.

Of course, Haruichi blantaly refused the very idea of this, calling it revolting and that this isn't what a prince of the kingdom should be doing. Furuya honestly didn't like the idea either, but after Sawamura promised him lunch in the village's finest eatery, the dark haired boy compiled by heaving pounds of dirt and tossing it on to the laughing prince.

And Haruichi just shook his head embarrassingly, as the gardener only chuckled as he watched the youngsters helped him take away the excess compost.

Now this is where their current situation stood: Haruichi riding atop of a black stallion while Furuya held on to the reins, and a giggling prince under the piles of who knows what.

The guard continue to peer at them with a brow raised before backing away and giving them the go-ahead. "Alright, you kids can pass, but please tell his young Majesty not to give Miyuki a hard time, that kid was complaining about how the prince was always calling for him at the earliest hours of the days and ranting to us how he couldn't get enough sleep."

Haruichi stiffened as he immediately shifted his head towards the now moving pile of dirt.

Sawamura fumed as fisted his palms together. What- that bastard Miyuki telling people that I'm responsible for his sleep loss?! Why I oughta-!

"W-well, okay we'll make sure we tell him that when we see him- have a nice day sir!" Haruichi immediately signaled to Furuya who nodded his head and leapt on to the horse, seating himself behind the boy as he took the reins and galloped away from the confused guard.

When the trio wasn't within hearing distance from the front gates, Haruichi craned his head over Furuya's shoulder to glance at the mound. "Eijun! You almost gave us away! Please hold your anger in after we get to the village."

Sawamura popped his head out from the pile of dirt and threw his arms up, "That damn bastard complaining about me that I make a fuss about him? Are you even kidding me- that guy always wakes me up at the crack of dawn and he's saying that I'm responsible?!" Sawamura rambled on and on as Haruichi sighed heavily and turned his attention back to the front of the road.

He looked up at Furuya, "Is the ride to the village not that far? I've never been out here before either."

"Yeah, it's not that long- see? You can see a couple of those houses from here now." Furuya nodded his head at the upcoming cluster of small buildings at the end of the road. The rickety wheels of the wagon creaked as they neared the small village, with each gallop that the horse took, Sawamura felt his heart beat faster. He did it, he finally left the kingdom unnoticed.

Now let's just hope that no one suspects of him being gone for a while, and then he can rest easy.

"Eijun, we're almost there, do you see it?" Haruichi's voice called out to him as he pointed to the upcoming sight.

The prince pulled himself up from the pile of compost, not caring that he was getting dirty, and slowly made his way towards the front of the open wagon. His eyes widened and he could feel a grin slowly becoming apparent on his face.

"Woo hoo! Go faster Satoru!" He yelled happily.

Furuya blinked as he smacked the reins slightly, "Please don't yell- I'll go a bit faster." The horse let out a cry and it picked up pace, pulling the wagon behind it with an over excited prince.

As they passed by more unmarked landscapes, the trio finally made it to Seido Village. Furuya steered the horse through the cramped town streets, searching for the place where they could drop off the pile of dirt and waste.

After a bit of scouring the town and politely asking fellow citizens for directions, the trio finally found a place to park off their ride and get themselves settled. Sawamura let out a whoop of excitement as he leaped out from the dirt pile and brushed himself off unceremoniously. Haruichi frowned at the prince's unsightly behavior.

He went up to the brunette and began to help him pick out debris from his clothing. "Eijun, a prince mustn't be see like this, what do you think the citizens will say if their future king was playing around in a pile of compost?" The smaller boy picked off a few leaves from the prince's hair.

Sawamura grinned, "Haruichi, don't think of it like that: think of it as a way of telling those people that I'm a prince who is true to himself rather than presenting myself as someone who I'm not. It works out better that way." He finished cleaning himself (or as decent as he can get), and began walking towards the streets.

"Come on you guys! We have a lot of exploring to do!" He pointed to the crowds of people whom were bustling around the street shops.

Furuya nodded and tugged at Haruichi to follow in tow.

The dark haired boy unconsciously brushed his hand against the hilt of his sword which was strapped by his side and stared at the back of the prince. If something were to happen, then he would be ready, he was trained for this sort of procedure and would not let anything harm the prince, for whatever the cost.

After all, Furuya owed Sawamura his life.*

Haruichi noticed that his fellow knave in training had stiffened ever since they had arrived at the village. He saw how content and set his eyes looked when he was around Sawamura, and that made Haruichi think that he too his job seriously.

A gleam of amusement brighten in the young boy's eyes as he walked alongside his friend. If Furuya was getting serious about this trip to the town, then so shall he- it was the least he could do for a fellow rival* who was fighting for the same position as him.

Sawamura noticed that his friends had fallen behind and he slowed down a bit so that he may walk alongside them. "Hey you guys are walking pretty slow, what's up?" He wrung his fingers behind his back as he peered at their faces curiously.

"... Don't tell me you guys are really hung up on 'guarding' me throughout this entire escapade?"

The duo flinched at his words and began sweating.

"W-what makes you say that?" Haruichi manage to get out, not wanting to look at the prince's face. Furuya nodded at his question, refusing to say anything to him.

Sawamura pursed his lips and went in between the two, placing a hand on their shoulders. "Look, didn't you remember what I said? That I wanted this trip to be fun with the three of us? I get that you want to do your job too, but when I'm here, there's nothing to worry about!"

His expression changed as a grin lighted up his face and he slung an arm around the two apprentices shoulders playfully, pulling them closer to him. "After all, you guys are my best friends, and best friends do fun things together- so let's make this a memorable trip!"

Haruichi gawked at him for a mere second before smiling: how his Majesty had said that made him feel warm inside. It warmed his heart knowing that this prince was always optimistic about his surroundings and with the people he was with. Honestly, how was he supposed to keep up his duty while making memories with this guy?

Furuya also felt the same, his eyes widened and he looked away from Sawamura. "I... - You still owe us lunch." Was what came out of his mouth instead.

Sawamura blinked at the taller boy and then laughed. "Of course! What ever you guys want! Hell- I'm probably gonna treat myself to some of that grub too!"

Furuya rolled his eyes as Sawamura tugged them along all too happily. His hand had never left the hilt of his sword, but as they continued walking through the busy streets of Seido Village, he felt his grip loosen from the weapon. He loosened up and walked alongside his two friends- thinking about what he should get for lunch.

Notes:

1. The story behind how Chris and Sawamura met will be revealed later on in the story, though it might not be as tragic as how they met in the actual show.
2. Sawamura in fact did save Furuya's life in the past, and that is why you will begin to see a sort of devotion and respect he has for him, waay different than in the show thats for sure. Their back story will again, be shown as the story progresses.
3. Haruichi and Furuya are rivals, I wanted the two to have something in common and strive for- thus having them bang heads against each other will develop their sense of trust for each other

Comments:

This is a slow build fic, so if you are expecting hardcore smutty action, then be patient, and what you wait for will be well worth it~ ;))