A/N: I don't know how to write a coronation… so… yeah… it'll just be before and after.
Doremi's coronation dress IS based on a dress that I found. I legitimately googled 'pale pink tudor gown.'
Chapter 3 - Coronation
Osaka Castle
23 June 073
A young girl, no older than fifteen, walked alongside an even younger girl. The older girl's gown was made of different shades of orange and gold, with a hint of red on the sleeves. The younger girl's gown was less impressive, made of red and pink fabrics. They walked together in silence up to the entrance to Doremi's chambers.
"We wish to see the Lady Harukaze," the older girl said to the guard at the door.
The guard nodded his head and turned around to open the door, "My Lady, there are two ladies here that request an audience." He said, looking inside.
"Show them in," Doremi said, looking up from the sewing she was doing with Megumi.
The guard stepped to the side to allow the two ladies to enter, and Doremi gasped, "Poppu, my dear sister!" she jumped up to hug the girl in the red gown, "How have you been?"
"Quite well, sister; I trust you have been also?"
"I have," she looked at the other girl, "And you are?"
"I am Lady Hazuki Fujiwara, daughter to Akira Fujiwara, Duke of Nagoya, and Reiko Fujiwara, Countess of Chiba, my lady." The older girl said.
"Daughter to a duke and a countess? Impressive." Doremi said, kindness lacing her words although she felt a little threatened by the information.
Hazuki smiled, "My mother was the only surviving child to the Earl of Chiba, so she inherited his title. When she married my father, he let her keep the title because of this."
"I see. So you'll be the Countess of Chiba, too?" Doremi asked.
"And the Duchess of Nagoya, but only if I don't have any brothers; I am currently an only child," Hazuki paused, "My Lady, I am sorry, but you look quite familiar… have I met you somewhere else?"
"I don't recall such a thing…" Doremi gasped as a memory hit her, "Wait… I think I was your companion when we were merely small children. Then you moved away."
"Ah, that's right. My Father, the Duke, was given a newer, better estate by the King, so we moved there, and it was too far from you to continue being companions."
"I see," Doremi said, "May I ask why you have come here to court?" Poppu was invited by her; Hazuki wasn't.
"His Majesty, the King sent me to become one of your ladies-in-waiting. If I am correct, there should be a few more ladies coming soon, also." Hazuki explained.
"Well, I'm not objecting to his decision. Please, come and sit with us. We were doing some sewing. Poppu, you too."
Hazuki and Poppu smiled at each other and sat in two of the empty chairs. Now there was five of them; Doremi, Megumi, Hazuki, Poppu and Hiriko, the wife to the Duke of Takayama, another lady Akatsuki had sent to serve Doremi. They all sat together in a small circle, sewing.
The door opened again, "The seamstress is here, my Lady."
"Show her in, please." Doremi said.
The same young lady that had recently taken Doremi's measurements walked in, a pale pink dress bundled in her arms. "I have nearly finished your coronation gown, my Lady. I just wish to see if I need to make any adjustments before tomorrow."
Excitement showed on Doremi's face, "Come into my bedchamber," she said, standing and leading the way.
Doremi's ladies helped her out of her current gown and into the new one, layer by layer.
"Now, my Lady, I haven't attached the sleeves yet. I wasn't sure how to put them on exactly." The seamstress grabbed a few pins, and, with a few moments thought for each, pinned each sleeve into a position where she thought fit.
"What do you think, my Lady?"
"Oh, it is quite stunning. I am in love with it." Doremi replied happily.
The dress had a pale pink skirt over the top, with a cream kirtle underneath with flower designs. The pale pink travelled around the back of the bodice with the cream at the front. The sleeves clung to her upper arm, but draped around her lower. Delicate embroidery in the cream colour outlined the neckline and the edge of the dress in the pink colour. The headdress matched the pink.
The seamstress smiled, "I am glad. Would you like to try the headdress on?"
Doremi nodded. Her ladies quickly brushed and braided her hair to make it easier to put the headdress on. It sat nicely on her head, little pearls studded around the edges.
Doremi turned to the seamstress, "Thank you so much."
"It was my pleasure."
Doremi was helped out of her dress, carefully, so that the sleeves would remain pinned on, and the seamstress left to make her finishing touches before the coronation the next day.
"It looked so good on you, my dear sister. I am so sure that the King will love it." Poppu said.
Doremi smiled, "I hope so. And I also hope he will be wearing something as brilliant as what I will."
Osaka Castle
24 June 073
Akatsuki stood in front of his mirror, surveying himself. Today is the day where he would be declared King formally to all of his people. He hoped it would go well. At least he had Doremi there with him.
"Don't worry, brother," Fujio told him, being the calm person he always is, "This has been planned through and through. Everything will be fine."
"That's easy for you to say. You'll probably never be King. You're the very last resort. You get to just live a carefree life, doing what you want. You'll never have to experience this." Akatsuki said.
Fujio sighed, "Yes, brother. And it's times like these when I wonder why our other dear brothers were born before me. Everyone believes that neither of them could do a good job at being King. It would have to be you, Akatsuki. You're our leader now. You have to do everything you can to stop Leon and Tooru starting a huge Civil War because they can't decide who the older twin is."
"Even though we all know it's Leon…" Akatsuki said, with a small eye roll.
Fujio chuckled, "You know Tooru. He won't accept that."
Akatsuki sighed. He turned towards his baby brother, "How do you think I look?"
"Very regal, brother. You certainly look like a King."
Akatsuki smiled, "Thank you."
Akatsuki wore deep purple robes with hints of white and red here and there. Considering the fact the purple was a regal colour, Fujio had a good point.
"Well, let's go." Akatsuki straightened his jacket, "We don't want to be late getting to Osaka Abbey, do we?"
Fujio shook his head, "Of course not, brother." There was a moment of silence as both brothers remembered the fact that their father had been buried there the day before. Akatsuki, Fujio, and their other two brothers were unable to attend due to strange laws. It will be strange for them to know that their father will be buried somewhere in the Abbey.
Fujio recovered himself and rushed over to the door to open it for his brother. Youhei stood outside.
"Are you ready to depart, sire?"
"I am. Let's go. I do not wish to keep the Lady Harukaze waiting." Akatsuki said.
The three of them made their way through the castle to the entrance. Youhei and Fujio opened the doors. Outside stood Doremi with her four ladies, Leon and Tooru.
"Ah, Akatsuki, my bro, my King!" Leon said, being completely informal, as usual. Leon whispered into Akatsuki's ear, "The Lady Harukaze looks pretty good, don't you think?" he winked.
Akatsuki rolled his eyes. Typical Leon. Always hitting on any girl he can find, even if she's the King's betrothed. He was so glad he had a marriage arranged for him. Maybe that will shut him up.
"Let's go." Akatsuki said, "We need to get to the Abbey."
Osaka Abbey
24 June 073
Doremi sat with her King. She was now his Queen, even though they were not yet married, and would be called by similar titles to Akatsuki. They rode back to Osaka Castle, with the residents of Osaka cheering on their new rulers. They had hope for these two. They were young, and they hadn't had a young monarch in a while.
"I can't believe how many people there are here…" Doremi said.
"Well, they all want to see a glimpse of their new King and Queen," Akatsuki said, "I think nearly the whole city has turned up." He waved at some people as they screamed about him having a long life and lots of heirs to ensure that Leon or Tooru will never become King (much to the chagrin of Leon).
Doremi looked across to Akatsuki's three brothers who were sitting opposite her, "What's wrong, Prince Leon?"
"Oh, you wouldn't understand," Leon said, with an eye roll, "Everyone's opposed to me becoming King; even my father. It's not like I've been King before. How can they know what I'm going to do?"
"It's because you're Tooru's twin… everyone's worried what would happen…" Doremi said cautiously. Akatsuki put a hand on her arm, as if to stop her.
Tooru snorted, "They're only worried because they know that I'm so much stronger than him. I even have a bigger army. They can't accept the fact that I would be King."
Doremi opened her mouth to argue, but Akatsuki stopped her. She glanced at Fujio who looked out of the carriage at the waving people. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. Always pushed down by his brothers, simply because they're older than him. The world is cruel.
Osaka Castle
24 June 073
Akatsuki sat on his large, velvet covered chair; a slightly smaller one next to him with Doremi seated in it. Next to each of them were smaller chairs of the same size for Leon and Tooru, being heirs to the throne. They were, however, empty.
"Your Majesty, where are your brothers, Prince Leon and Prince Tooru?" Doremi inquired
"Leon is off flirting with the ladies of court I assume, and that is quite annoying, since I have a lady here that I wish for him to marry. I'm not sure about Tooru. He's probably off somewhere building up his ego. I swear that boy has an ego the size of a planet." Akatsuki said.
"And Prince Fujio?"
Akatsuki smiled, "I found him a while ago. He appears to be talking with your maid, Duchess Fujiwara."
Doremi looked over to the spot where Akatsuki had his eyes fixed, and found Prince Fujio talking with Hazuki… she thought they looked quite cute together; their orange robes complemented each other nicely.
"That's sweet." Doremi said.
"It is. They should marry. Duchess Fujiwara is of a high rank… it would do him good."
Doremi was about to ask Akatsuki who he wished for Leon to be betrothed to, when she was interrupted by a servant.
"Your Majesty, the Princess of Albany is here."
"Show her to me, please." Akatsuki said.
The servant bowed and hurried off, coming back a few moments later with a blonde girl.
At a first glance, she was quite beautiful. Her eyes were pale green, and the hair that snuck out of her headdress was bright blonde. Her gown was made of layers of yellow and orange fabric. She definitely looked like a Princess.
She curtsied low, "Your Majesty. It is truly an honour to be in your presence."
"You may rise," Akatsuki said, "As you know, from the letter I sent your parents, I have an offer of a betrothal."
The Princess nodded, "I am aware. Whom do you wish for me to marry?"
"My brother, Prince Leon of Kyoto." Akatsuki turned to a servant standing close by, "Go and fetch the Prince of Kyoto."
He bowed, "Right away, sire."
A few moments later, the servant brought Leon back, having managed to pry him away from some Viscountesses.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Leon asked, trying to sound formal.
It didn't work for him.
"I have a marriage suggestion for you, Leon: The eldest daughter of the King and Queen of Albany."
Leon's eyebrows rose and he turned to the blonde next to him, "I'm guessing that is you?"
"Y-yes, Your Grace." The Princess replied.
"Well. Do tell me your name." Leon said.
"Momoko."
A/N: HAHA! CLIFFHANGER! How do you feel about that xD. Now all of the FLAT4 are introduced… Aiko will be in the next chapter.
Momoko is the Princess of Albany because the capital of New York is Albany, and because it sounded cool. I DON'T SUPPORT MOMOKO/LEON, DON'T FREAK OUT.
Hazuki is referred to 'Duchess Fujiwara' because Duchess is of a higher rank than Countess, and she doesn't particularly like being referred to as a Lady.