Chazz: Why is the Prologue in two parts again?
Sakura: Because me and Die came to a compromise!
Chazz: And what was that?
Die: That we'd have a little bit of small children stuff, set the scene, and then get to the romance!
Chazz: ...
Jehu: Sakural7865 and Black Die own nothing but OCs and the fic's plot!
Die: Good Jehu, here's your Haou. *chucks Haou at him, smirking*
Haou: *smirks while carrying his love to their room*
Die: Enjoy the next part of the prologue! Only one part more!
Prologue, Part Two
Koharu settled herself on Daichi's lap, the two young thieves gazing around the bar intelligently as they ate on the gold of what they had stolen, their fingers tingling from the elements just at hand to protect them. They had to be careful, the Thief King had brought a fair amount of tightening to the security and besides, the two of them were still young, barely into their teens. A man made to grope her breast in spite of the arms around her, but she glared daggers at him, her tawny eyes narrowed so much that he uneasily backed away before even taking a glance at Daichi's own threatening gaze.
A loud bang shot through the small tavern as the doors burst open to reveal a sexy brunet man in a long black trenchcoat with gold sidings. "Hello everyone!" the male cried, striking a pose. "The party can start now since the Blizzard Prince has arrived!"
"The Blizzard Prince?" Daichi asked under his breath, the two young teens watching the newcomer saunter up to the bar and order a pint.
"Uh huh," Koharu answered, her contacts more accurate than his. "No one knows his real name, not even the women he's claimed to have bedded, but what we do know about him is that he's possibly the only one to steal from both Haou-sama and the Thief King and live to tell about it."
"Impressive," Daichi murmured, but he didn't get another chance to say more as there was a thump from across the table, causing the two teens to look up to glare at their interloper.
"Hey there," the Blizzard Prince said charmingly. "You two looked like you were in need of my company, especially that pretty girl in your lap there…"
Her eyes narrowed. "I'm thirteen," she growled, noticing the quiet entrance of a man with pale green hair and soft lavender eyes as he settled against the side of the wall closest to them. "Hardly your type of catch, Blizzard Prince."
"So, the best catch is the one where patience is needed," The Blizzard Prince said in a husky tone. Koharu and Daichi gave him a disgusted glare.
"Fu- Blizzard Prince," the greenet said warningly.
The Blizzard Prince gave the greenet a winning smile. "And who are you, cutie?"
Daichi tugged on her hair, getting her attention as he whispered into her ear, "Careful, Koharu, this one has the symbol of the royal guard on him."
Koharu nodded. "No one special. So rumor has it you stole from the Thief King and Haou-sama. That true?"
The Blizzard Prince rewarded Koharu's challenging gaze with one of his own, "Why do you ask? More of a 'seeing is believing' kind of gal?"
She smirked. "No, I'm just looking to confirm a rumor I heard, and I figured that if your rumors are true, you'd know whether this one is or not."
"And what, pray tell, is this rumor, fair maiden?" The Blizzard Prince asked, going for Koharu's hand but instead stopping when the greenet's own slapped it. Daichi glared at the brunet flirting with his friend, but Koharu knew what she was doing and every thief knew you could trust the gossip the Blizzard Prince would tell.
"I've heard rumors that someone's found a flaw in young Judai-sama's guard," the copper-haired girl murmured, pillowing her chin in her palm and leaning her elbow on the table, "and that Haou-sama would pay handsomely to know that flaw."
"That rumor is, unfortunately, true. But that's all we know for now," came the Blizzard Prince's serious reply. Most of the hooligans in the bar were paying attention to the four, trying to make it seem like they weren't in order to get the information they desired.
"Hum, that's too bad," Daichi replied, moving Koharu off his lap. She pouted at her friend for removing her from her comfortable seat but didn't say anything.
"It is, I could use the money from that reward... Let's go, Wisteria," the Blizard Prince stated, turning towards the door to leave the bar with 'Wisteria' behind him… and giving a sign only expert thieves could know as 'Follow me later.'
Koharu noticed and settled back, spending another quarter of an hour in the tavern stalling before she and Daichi slipped out during a brawl, following a subtle trail of ice until they found the Blizzard Prince in an alleyway. "I presume you have a place here," she stated, calm despite Daichi's obvious unease.
"Yes," Wisteria answered, "it's really the only safe place we can talk privately in." With a nod to the Blizzard Prince, Wisteria opened a door made of solid rock. With a quick glance in all directions, the Blizzard Prince and Wisteria hurried their guests into a homey-looking room.
Daichi aligned his back to a wall, where he would be able to observe everyone, while Koharu settled herself on the couch, her legs tucked up underneath her. "This is a nice place here," she stated approvingly, tawny eyes gleaming in the way that only a thief's could, "far better than the corner of rooftop Daichi and I share."
"We do what we can," the Blizzard Prince stated, "care for a drink? We have much better liquor then any old tavern."
"I wouldn't mind a swig, just as long as you don't spike it..." Koharu replied.
"Touché!" The Blizzard Prince came back with four mugs of red wine. Wisteria took one while Koharu took the two meant for her and Daichi and gave Daichi his.
"So now," Koharu said, looking slyly at the pair of more-experienced males, "what business is on your mind that you would call upon thieves as unskilled as Daichi and myself?" Her partner made to protest, but she cut him off. "Save it, Daichi, we're nowhere near the league the Blizzard Prince plays in."
"Actually, it's what the King wants," Wisteria answered instead.
Before the duo could try to fight, the Blizzard Prince chuckled, confusing Koharu and Daichi, "You always hit the nail on the head, Yusuke!"
"And when were you going to tell them the truth, Fubuki?" Yusuke retorted.
"Ne, ne, you know how us thieves are, Yusuke. I would have told them in due time..." Fubuki said cryptically.
Yusuke just rolled his eyes. "Sometime I wonder how we're friends..."
"Hey, don't go all Ryo on me!" Fubuki cried, looking for all the world to be genuinely hurt.
"Stop playing, Fubuki, and just tell them!" Yusuke ordered.
Fubuki pouted but turned to the stunned duo either way. "Well, Yusuke stated why we summoned you. Haou-sama is in need of undercover thieves like me to get intell and the like for him. The pay is good, as you can see-" Fubuki dramatically swept his arm out here to accentuate his point, "and you're automatically bailed from jail if you get into a sticky situation. Any questions?"
"I'm in," she replied, grinning and holding out her hand.
"Koharu, what about the catch?" Daichi asked, his eyes narrowed as he lunged forward to snatch her hand back by the elbow. He didn't trust them, not one bit, especially with the way this Fubuki was eyeing his friend. "There's no way they'd offer us a deal this sweet. There must be another reason."
"Fine, fine," Yusuke sighed, "there is another reason we asked you, other than the one that Fubuki here took an interest in your fine companion." He laced his fingers together, gazing at them. "We're looking for the Seven-Sided Star."
Daichi and Koharu gasped. The Seven-Sided Star! "But that's just a myth! Why would someone as intelligent as Haou-sama be looking for it?" Daichi asked, through the promise of a wish did seem worth it.
"He's hoping to use the Star to destroy the Black Queen Yubel," Yusuke stated soberly. Every Elementalist knew who the Black Queen was. She was the cause for so many Fulls' deaths over the years, even the death of the late Queen Akasuki, Haou-sama's mother.
"If Haou finds the Star and uses it to kill the Black Queen, the main source of Black Magic will be destroyed, and hopefully Haou-sama won't be next..." Fubuki stated coldly, a deep glare in his hate-filled eyes.
"Hmm," the girl murmured, tapping her chin, "Daichi is good at research... and I do suppose my own network isn't too shabby either... And I do suppose that you two won't get into some contacts due to your own popularity and the need to not have it traced back to either of you, let alone both…" She nodded, firming herself. "Very well, I accept, on one condition."
"What is it?" Fubuki asked eagerly. "Whatever your price is, name it, and we'll do our best to fulfill it."
Koharu smiled, showing the slightest edge of her canines, which were just about as pronounced as a human's could get. "I want to become the Blizzard Prince's new partner."
The rest of the ride to the palace didn't take as long as Haou expected. Maybe seeing Jehu tease his baby brother the rest of the way distracted him enough so the ride was more bearable. Or maybe it was the fact that the instant he dismounted his horse, he was attacked by a little chocolate blur that clung to his legs. "Judai," he stated, twisting his torso to lift Jehu down as well and set the bluenet on the floor, "you're cutting off the circulation to my legs."
"No! Ah-oh-nii-chan pwomised to be home on time! You pwomised!" Judai cried, giving Haou his best sad face. The elder brunet chuckled at his brothers antics. Jehu hid close behind Haou when he saw all the servants staring at him. Jim chose that time to walk up beside Haou and set Johan down in front of the brunet toddler. Judai instantly zeroed in on the newcomer, pouncing on the younger bluenet. "Hi!" he cried, "I'm Judai, who awe you?"
Haou chuckled, looking behind him at the elder bluenet. "It's all right, Jehu," he murmured, "no one's gonna do anything to you."
Jehu shot a glare at the ruler and in response stood up as tall as he could to show he wasn't scared, earning another chuckle from the young lord.
"I'm Johan! Nice ta meet ya, Judai!" Johan hugged the older toddler, enjoying being treated nicely by so many people, especially Jim!
"Come on, I'm gonna make you mweet Jun-kun!" Judai chirped, dragging his new friend along upstairs, no doubt intending on disturbing a napping Manjoume, who was still worn out from the traveling he'd had to do just to come back before the rest of the group.
Haou rolled his topaz eyes at his little brother's antics, patting his horse affectionately before he strode off towards his study, intending to catch up on some of the work that had been neglected in his absence.
Since Jehu wanted to be away from the brunet lord, he followed Johan and his first friend (that was his age) to protect them if needed be. The stairway wasn't hard to climb, even for the two toddlers running in front of him. When he finally got up the stairs on his tired legs, he came into a beautiful room fit for royalty.
"Jun-kun!" Judai yelled, jumping on the bed and on top of a ravenet who groaned at the sudden weight.
"Judai-sama, that hurt," he muttered, shoving the toddler off, though he was careful to push the brunet in the direction where he would land on the soft bed, then blinked at the sight of the two bluenet. "Hello there."
"Hewwo!" Johan chirped, waving his hand from his spot on the bed. Jehu just stared at the soldier.
Manjoume fell back on the bed again, and Judai pouted, scrambling onto his chest. "Jun-kun," he whined, "you've been sweeping awl day, pway with me!"
"You have those two, and I'm still tired. Go torture Jehu..." And the ravenet was soon dead to the world.
"But I want you," the toddler murmured sadly, sliding off the bed.
"Don't worry, Judai-chan, we'll have so much fun, Mr. Stick-Up-His-Butt will never want to miss out on you again!" Jehu said, an evil gleam in his eyes.
Johan decided to emphasize the point by giving him a big hug, yelling "Fun!"
Judai grinned mischievously. "Let's go pway on the roof!" he cried, scampering towards his balcony.
Manjoume, who'd been reawakened by all the loud voices, sat up and grabbed the brunet royal and the littlest bluenet by the backs of their shirts, hoisting them up to his tired gaze and figuring Jehu had enough sense to stay put. "You children," he sighed, "are nothing but trouble."
Judai grinned at him happily, snuggling up to him with Johan doing the same a moment later. "But we're your twouble, Jun-kun," the royal stated happily, delighted his playmate was paying attention to him again.
Manjoume just sighed. "Come on, you two," he said, setting the toddlers on their feet as he got up, "Let's go find Jim-san and we'll go explore the city." He raised his head, clearly addressing Jehu now despite the delighted Judai bouncing at the end of one arm and the quiet Johan clinging contentedly to the other. "You, however, will have to stay here at the castle, Haou-sama's orders."
"What!" Jehu's voice raised a pitch in the screech, "I'm not letting Johan go anywhere without me!"
Johan toddled over to his brother, looking up at him with big, tear-filled eyes. "Pwease Jeh-hu?" he pleaded, lower lip quivering. "Jim will be with us. He won't let bad people huwt us."
Jehu tried to resist, he really did, but the fight left him as soon as he looked into Johan's eyes. He sighed, "Fine, just be careful. And behave for me, okay?"
"Otey!"
Jehu petted his brother's thick hair before Manjoume took his hand and walked to find the Aussie. "What should I do, Mr. Stick-Up-His-Butt?" Jehu asked, the evil gleam back at full force.
Manjoume's eyes narrowed but Judai clinging to him in the circle of his arms kept him calm enough to refrain from replying meanly to the elder bluenet. "Haou-sama would likely not mind if you sat with him in his study," he answered, preoccupied with the brunet in his arms. "A servant can direct you there."
Before Jehu could retort, Manjoume and his two charges walked out the door. He huffed, "Why would I want to hang around that pervert?" But not knowing what to do, Jehu left the room in search of a servant. "Stupid prick! Forcing me to stay! I bet if I ask, I'll be led right to his room! Well, I'll show that dick! Now, what kind of trouble can I cause here..?"
Koharu focused intently on the flame in front of her, her brow creasing as she tried to get it to subtly flare to life in a manner that wouldn't attract a guard's attention should she ever need to make use of it.
Fubuki was close by to his new partner, Daichi right next to him for he didn't trust the brunet near his friend. The guild they were raiding in Human Country was rumored to have artifacts dating to when the first Queen of Ayora, Sakura Senshi, who first starting the country, meaning a clue to the Seven Sided Star could be there.
"Run me through what I have to do again," she requested softly, pulling her tawny eyes from the flame. "I want to make sure I have it right."
"You just need to be as unnoticeable as possible, and when you get to the alley where the kitchen is, set it on fire. Daichi and I will take down the guards and put out any fire that gets near the treasure room. Then you disarm the traps like Daichi showed you and grab as many artifacts as possible. Any questions?" Fubuki explained.
She yawned, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Yes, yes, but trust me, the fires won't go anywhere I don't want them to and that's that." Boredly, she blew over her fingers again, summoning the fire-born dragon again and stroking it absently before it burned itself out.
"And I trust that, now let's get this show on the road! I'm late on sending my reports to Haou-sama..." Daichi rolled his eyes at Fubuki's sheepish grin while Koharu gave a soft giggle. Then Koharu moved from their hiding place to her starting point. After a deep breath, she began walking towards the alley as casually as possible.
Her brow furrowed as she stopped moving, a confused look in her eyes. She tapped her boot down a couple times on the ground, her head cocking to the side as if she was hearing something, then she shook her head, biting her lip as she sauntered back to them. "It's no good," she stated quietly to herself, looking frustrated. "They're not there."
Koharu walked back to her partners to tell them the bad news. But something shiny captured her eye and she ducked quickly to avoid the metal heading for her throat.
"Street rat," a drunken man slurred, pawing at her, "wanna come home w'me? I'll show ya a good time!" He laughed, amused with his cleverness.
"No thanks, I don't do pigs," Koharu stated cooly, "And I don't take kindly to people who tried to kill me..."
"Aw, but that was befer I saw how purty ya were," he protested, forcing her chin up and bringing himself closer to her.
Before the drunk knew it, a punch sent him a few feet away from Koharu, courtesy of Fubuki and Daichi.
"You heard her, back off!" Daichi growled, putting himself between her and the man.
Fubuki all the while gave him a cold look, then grabbed the front of his shirt ruffly, "I want answers, so start talking! What do you know about the guildsmen who run that guild over there?" Fubuki pointed to the guild with his free hand. "And why did you attack my friend?"
The man sniveled, cowering under the Blizzard Prince's anger. "They packed up and moved some place elsewheres a few days ago!" he whimpered, "but before they went, they paid me to take care of anyone doing anything unusually strange in front of or around the building for a fortnight!"
"Thank you for your cooperation," Fubuki stated coldly, knocking out the man before turning back to his partners.
"Well, Fubuki? What's the plan of action?" Koharu asked, brushing off imaginary dirt in a casual way.
"We meet back at my place back home. Then we'll join to the capital with Yusuke. I still got to report back, and if Haou-sama sees that I'm late..." Fubuki left the threat unspoken, gulping in mock fear.
"I'll go with you," Koharu murmured, taking his hand. "It's the least I can do to thank you for saving my life."
"I did say 'we', dear maiden. But I'm glad you're going on your own choice," Fubuki smiled sweetly at the girl.
Daichi moved himself so he was between the two. "If Koharu is going, so am I. And I wouldn't mind seeing the capital..." He got a dreamy look in his eyes, as if picturing a grand place.
She pouted, subtly drawing on some of her other powers to caress Fubuki's cheek with the wind. "Well then, I guess we'd better get going, the capital's a few hours off..."
"Look, Johan! That looks cool!" Judai called his new friend as he ran towards a statue in the center of town. But Manjoume grabbed the small child before he could run too far.
"Remember? I said not to run off, Judai-sama!" Manjoume turned to check on his other charge, seeing Jim keeping the bluenet out of trouble by explaining the things around them as best as he could.
The brunet pouted up at his keeper. "But Jun-kun," he whined, "I just wanna show Jo-kun the fountain!"
"And you will, with me and Jim-san steps behind you," Manjoume reassured the young prince, hoping against hope that the child will listen to him.
"Ooo! Pwetty!" Johan cried, reaching for a colorful piece of cloth on one of the market stands.
But Jim stopped the bluenet before the merchant could scare him with his hateful cursing. "'lil turtle, you can't take that! The mean man selling it will try to hurt you if you do. Stay by me, ok?" The little toddler let out a little scared noise, hiding behind the Australian's legs cutely without even protesting the nickname in his fright.
"Oi, Jim! Hurry up, or we'll leave you behind!" Manjoume yelled, keeping a squirming Judai tightly in his grip.
Jim picked up the scared toddler so he could catch up to the dark haired soldier. "Don't worry, 'lil turtle, I won't let any mean man hurt you," he whispered into the child's ear.
Johan relaxed in the elder's strong arms, cuddling into the muscular chest happily. "No 'lil turtle," he protested, snuggling up to the man.
Judai let out a little noise of triumph, escaping Manjoume's arms when the ravenet froze with shock and quickly managing to get himself lost in the clamor of the market. "Judai-sama!" the soldier yelled, scanning the crowd wildly with a blush on his face. "Judai-sama!"
But Judai was returned seconds later pouting by a man with brown hair and honey brown eyes, followed by a greenet, a ravenet like Manjoume but his hair wasn't spikey and instead was gelled back neatly, and a copper-haired girl the same age as the black-haired boy. "I believe this is yours, Manjoume-san!"
"Thank you, Yusuke-san," Manjoume gasped, picking Judai up and firmly scolding him. "Don't you do that again, Judai-sama, you had me so worried! I thought I lost you! I didn't know what I was gonna do, especially with how mad Haou-sama would be at me for losing you..."
Judai's eyes filled with tears of regret for worrying the other. "I'm sowwy..."
"No worries, the little prince is back safely with his keeper!" the brunet exclaimed, getting blank stares from his companions. "What?"
Manjoume felt guilty for making his little Judai cry, so he cuddled the royal to his chest. "It's okay, Judai-sama," he murmured, petting fluffy chocolate locks. "I'm just glad you're safe now."
The redhead merely shook her head. "Nothing, let's just go."
"Where you going?" Johan asked, cuddling into Jim more. Judai's sobs stopped when Manjoume started to pet his fluffy hair, snuggling into the ravenet's chest for more comfort.
"We're heading to the castle," the younger male of the group stated.
"Say hi to Jeh-hu, otay?" the little bluenet cried, chubby fists tightening in the fabric of Jim's tunic.
"Who's 'Jeh-hu'?" the well-dressed brunet asked.
"This 'lil turtle's nii-chan," Jim answered, bouncing the bluenet in his arms to emphasize who he meant.
Johan giggled as he bounced, though he still protested, "No 'lil! No turtle!"
"Aww! He's so cute!" the goofy brunet cooed, moving so he could tickle the bluenet's chubby belly.
"Mind being accompanied? With Judai-sama's most recent stunt, I don't think we should continue exploring." Manjoume picked up his charge so the child wouldn't try to run again.
"But-!" Judai tried to protest, but Manjoume's stern look killed it.
"You could have been taken by some mean man with that stunt! I'm grateful Yusuke and Fubuki grabbed you when you ran off!"
Judai's face fell when he heard this. "I wouldn't have gone far," he sniffled, obviously fighting back tears. "I only wanted to look at the pwetty fountain."
"And you would have, if you had been patient, Judai-sama," Manjoume stated, petting his charge's head again in comfort.
"We don't mind! And besides, I'm gonna need Judai-chan's cute face to sate Haou-sama's rage..." the brunet stated, giving a hearty laugh.
The little royal refused to accept it, however, crossing his arms and pouting. "You're just being mean cuz I kissed you!" he declared childishly, sulking.
"And where did you learn that, Judai-chan?" the redhead asked softly, her eyes flickering with every loud sound even as her ravenet companion kept a close watch on the flapping clothes.
Judai was happy to tell her. "I watched Ah-oh-nii-chan do it to some ugly lady once!" he informed her with a grin. "She'd let him pet her hair, so I though Jun-kun'd let me go see the fountain!"
"You mean the lady ambassador from Human Country? I agree with ya there, Judai-sama, she was ugly..." Jim agreed, but had to turn his attention to Johan who was shaking, whimpering and clinging to Jim's tunic in a vice grip.
"What's wrong with Johan-chan?" the red-haired girl asked, looking back and forth between the two warriors for answers.
"Bugger if I know," the Australian answered, cuddling the little toddler close and petting his soft teal hair. "Hey, you're all right, mate. We won't let anyone hurt ya, 'lil turtle." Johan continued to whimper and shake but relaxed somewhat from Jim's comforting.
"I think we should head back, Jehu may know why Johan-san is behaving like this." Manjoume began to walk towards the castle, showing that his suggestion was anything but.
"And I still have to report... com'mon, gang!" The brunet followed Judai's keeper, expecting his companions to do the same.
"Same ol' Fubuki..." Jim remarked as he followed the two, Yusuke and their younger companions following as Jim tried to calm his 'lil turtle down.
Sakura: 'lil turtle! *cuddles chibi Jesse*
c!Jesse: No lil! No turtle! *tries to escape to Jim*
Jim: May I have him back now?
Sakura: Nope! You get him on scene for an implied 14 years. Off scene, he's MINE!
c!Jesse: *escapes when Sakura's not looking and hides with Jim*
Sakura: *cries when she finds c!Jesse gone*
c!Jehu: GET HIM AWAY FROM ME!
Haou: *is cuddling with chibi Jehu, petting his hair*
c!Jesse: *feels guilty and goes back to hug Sakura*
Sakura: *forgives the cute chibi and hugs him gently*
c!Jehu: *trying to escape Haou's grip*
c!Jesse: *giggles and hugs Sakura back before toddling back to drag Jim over to her*
Haou: *sighs and lets chibi Jehu go*
c!Jehu: *runs for life*
Sakura: *picks up returning c!Jesse* Please review, and remember! All flames shall heat the dungeon fernas'!
c!Jesse: What's a fur-nas?
Jim: Doesn't matter, just go along with it.
c!Jesse: Otay! *smiles and waves as chapter ends*