A/N: Maki's name is pronounced maw-key
Hui's name is pronounced hue
There was an echoing howl of frustration through the long empty halls of the icy palace of Aisugakure. Heels clacked along the marble floors and anger as they stormed around the throne room of the giant palace; their crystal blue glass glimmered in the sunlight as they moved around the room. Pale arms moved around wildly as the slim body they were attached to grumbled to themselves under their breath. A floor length light sky blue dress, with a slightly darker blue trim, glided along the glassy surface of the floor as the body continued to walk around in circles angrily; with each step the glittering toe of their heels poked out from under the dress. They couldn't believe what was happening right! How could Kazeku do this to them?!
"Princess?" a young man clad in the royal guards armor inquired softly.
The Princess whirled around quickly with a look of seething anger on her normally beautiful face, "What?!" Seeing the face of the guard her look changed almost immediately. "Maki…" she breathed happily, rushing to the young man.
The man in question wasn't extraordinary in any significant way on the outside. He was a foot taller than the young Princess, making him 192 centimeters, and he surly towered over her. His eyes were a deep, deep blue, like sapphires while his surprisingly black hair was short and messy, all the time. It seemed no matter what he tried to do with his hair it never wanted to obey. The parts of his body that weren't covered in silver armor you could tell where well defined from years of training to make sure he would always do his best at protecting the Princess. She slammed against his armor, her white crown echoing against the metal but she paid no heed as she embraced him. At first, he was taken back by this action as it was unbecoming of someone of her high stature to do but, half a second later he smiled down at her.
"Setsuko…" he sighed happily returning her embrace.
Without letting him go her happily closed eyes opened, looking out the nearby window solemnly, "Kazeku told you the news I suppose."
An armored hand rested against the back of her head gently, "He did."
"I guess this is goodbye right?" she asked, tears beginning to well in her glassy eyes.
She could feel his grip tighten around her slightly, "…No, actually I was just here to tell you that Kazeku is on his way."
Setsuko's eyes widened, blinking the tears away and looked up at him and his cheerfully sheepish grin. She glared darkly at him, "Sneaking a touch of the royal body are you then Maki?"
"Wh-What?" he asked quickly removing his hands from her and slowly, very slowly, trying to inch away from her. "I…I have no idea what you're talking about your Majesty."
"I see your game Maki," she hissed as she pushed up a bell sleeve of her dress. "Trying to get fresh with the Princess is a serious crime you know."
A scared grin was plastered on his face as he was half way out the door, "It was nice seeing you Princess," he said as he slipped out of the throne room.
"Maki!" she shouted throwing a nearby painting from the wall at his direction just as her royal advisor Kazeku entered the room.
The painting hit the older man in the face causing an exasperated groan from the man, "Princess Setsuko! This is no way for a young woman of your standing to behave!" he scolded.
"Oh please! He deserved it," she scoffed angrily shooting her advisor a glare before turning her back and walking towards the giant chair in the center of the room.
"Why do you put up with him?" he asked with a sigh, putting the painting back on the wall.
She gracefully sat down, "Sometimes I wonder such things myself." Huffing a pout, she looked over at the annoying killjoy, "What do you even want Kazeku?"
Swiftly he spun around to face her, a look of a stern, disapproving parent on his face, "Setsuko Ayani! You are the Princess of our village, show a little more dignity and grace when you speak to people! You are the figure head of our nation, when people see you they are supposed to know what it means to be from Aisugakure. Now act like it!"
The young Princess couldn't help but sink back in her seat, staring at the floor pouting. Of course he was right, but it's not like she ever asked to be Princess. Glancing in Kazeku's direction she saw that his look hadn't waivered at all. He was definitely adamant about his view of what she stood for, she had to give him that much. Looking back down at the floor she thought about his words and their many meanings. Stern lashing like this was normal for her; she was only eighteen, still learning what it meant to fill such a large role. The people in her village, they looked up to her not just as a figure to rule them, but as a symbol. To them, she was a symbol of hope to look to the future. She sat up straight, regained her royal composure and sighed softly to herself; he was always right.
"I'm sorry Kazeku. Forgive my temper, it's just I've been out of sorts lately with this whole idea," she answered calmly, looking him straight in the eye.
His rigid frame visibly loosened, "I understand Princess but this is something we have to do, for your safety." He made his way towards the throne as he spoke, "With these frequent assassination attempts mounting, we need to have you moved to a place where they would never look. What better place then a desert?" He towered over her from her sitting position.
She stood quickly and gracefully causing him to quickly take a few steps back, "These attempts on my life are absurd! I've never done anything to warrant such behavior," she sighed heavily and turned from him with a disheartened look upon her soft features. "All the things I've done, they were for the people. I've only ever had their well being in mind."
"You know how some people can be your Majesty." Kazeku placed a gentle hand on Setsuko's shoulder, "Some hold a grudge no matter what. Jealous of the position some were afforded in life."
She pushed away his hand, turning to face him, "No! It's not fair to me or the people if I run away! They need me and what would it say of me if I were to just disappear when I am needed? I can't abandon them." Her hands were clenched into fists as she glared up at him, firmly planted in her belief.
He put his hands up as a way of making himself vulnerable, "I understand your side Princess but wouldn't it be worse if you were hurt? Or worse, if one of these assassins succeeded?"
"I…" she trailed off thinking about what he just asked. Her squared shoulders dropped a little, her demeanor changing to a sad and unguarded one. "I do suppose you're right. But how can I help the people all the way from a desert?!" she asked turning back to him.
"My Lady, we will tell you of the things going on here so you can rule your people as you have for so many years," he reassured her.
Her head dropped, beautifully done pale blonde hair curtained her face, "When do I leave?"
"Tonight my Princess. In the dark of the new moon, some things have already been packed for you and an outfit laid out for your journey," he said, placing a hand against her back and walking with her out of the throne room.
Setsuko walked through the giant French doors to her bedroom, her face showing all the despair she felt currently. Sure, she kind of understood the logic behind Kazeku's plan but these were her people, her village, her clan. She could never just abandon them, especially when people were trying to kill her. They expected her to stand tall and face the threat head on. They would think she were a coward if they found out she was running away. Her eyes shut tight and she exhaled a sigh of discontent. How could she just run away from everyone? Flopping onto her bed, she looked over to see her packed trunk near the door. Glancing up further she saw the outfit Kazeku had mentioned. Silently she stood from her bed, her keels the only echoing sound against the icy marble floors. Her glassy eyes looked upon the black fabric, running her fingers along the fine silk. A simple but ornate kimono. All was black except for the large black sash with floral print and the dark, forest green belt to tie everything together.
Dressing out of her royal dress, she put the new dress together on her own. For a Princess, she was rather independent, something Kazeku hated about her. Her blue heels discarded for silent black flats, she walked to the full body mirror set up in her room next to a large window. Running her hands down her hips to help straighten and pull everything into place, she looked up taking note of the long sleeves that came to a point at the back of hands. Her small waist was far more visible with the belt tied around her; her fingers absentmindedly played through the long silk as she admired the adorable simplicity of it. She had never been one for fancy things anyways; this suited her much better.
Turning from her reflection, she fell against the window frame lazily as she sat in the built in bench that was at her window. The silk pillows helped prop up her back and the cushion of the seat was soft enough that her legs wouldn't go numb from sitting too long. Placing one leg over the other as she turned to look out the window, she sighed to herself. A light snowfall was happening outside, covering their already white land in a new fresh covering. No matter how many times she saw it, the falling snow was always so beautiful and calming. To her, it seemed that it melted away all her fears which was ironic given its freeze properties. A mischievous grin crawled across her face as she looked away from the window and into her room. Rubbing her fingers together, the air around them seemed to drastically begin to drop as her breath was now able to be seen. Sitting up straight, facing her room, she rolled her hands over each other, never touching skin and watched as a snowball was formed between them. Smiling big once it was formed, she threw it into the air watching as it exploded into her own personal snowfall.
Getting up and dancing under the flurry that now fell from her ceiling, she giggled and twirled around happily. She may have been a Princess on the outside, but she didn't have to play one behind the closed doors of her room. Touching her hands to the nearest wall, she watched as frost sprung to life from beneath her hands and quickly cover the entire room. Playing in the snow like a child, she built snowmen and threw snowballs at no one but the objects in her room. Her squeals of joy were heard by the young guard standing watch over her room, Maki, who couldn't help the smile that came to his face hearing her.
However, soon her joy turned to caution as she heard a knock at her door and someone trying to come in, muttering about the door being stuck. Looking around the room, she cringed knowing what Kazeku would say if he saw. Quickly rushing to the door, tripping in the snow as she did so, melted ice covering the door and opened it slowly, poking her head out. It was none other than Hui, Captain of the royal army. Her long white hair almost seemed to melt into the silver helmet adorning her head, while her blue eyes were piercing and serious. She was also taller than the Princess, but only by about three inches and even though it was tough to see, Setsuko knew she was toned and in great shape. Hui took her job very seriously and trained relentlessly to get to her current position.
Looking around Setsuko took note of the fact Maki was no longer standing at his post, "Where's Maki?"
"I sent him to patrol another sector of the palace," Hui replied, her voice was gruff but feminine. The Captain gave her an accusatory glare, "Princess, why is there snow powder in your hair?"
"Uh…" she quickly tousled her hair to get rid of the snow and looked back up at the scary woman. "That is a very good question. And…I have a very good answer for you!" she paused a moment to think of this 'very good answer' she had. "Oh! Yes, I opened my window to let in some fresh air and it seems that some snow got into my room."
"My Lady! Given the circumstances that if a very dangerous move. Someone could have easily killed you!" she stated, concern laced with her stern disapproval.
Setsuko smiled, "Fair point you make! Now, why are you here Hui?" she asked, her fingers moving with each inflection made.
"It's time Princess," Hui said matter of factly.
"Oh, uhm…" she trailed off looking over her shoulder at her snow covered room. "Can you give me just one moment I…I wish to have a moment alone seeing as I will be leaving for a long time."
Hui bowed respectively, "Of course my Princess."
Closing the door softly, Setsuko turned to her room, back leaning against the door. She had to leave now. Who knew how long it would be before she was able to come back. Walking back towards her large window she undid the brass clasp that held it shut and opened it, allowing the sweet song of the snowy wind to sing to her one last time. She smiled blissfully and leaned against the ledge of the window, wishing she could stay longer. There was a distant cry from the sky and she let her eyes travel up. At first, she couldn't make out what made the sound, but hearing it again, closer, she knew. Her eyes brightened as she saw the large, white frost falcon descending towards her. Sitting up, she let the bird perch on the ledge, watching as it ruffled its feathers a bit and look up at her.
"Yuu!" she exclaimed happily, running a finger down the birds feathers.
It gave a sweet purr of affection and nuzzled into her hand.
"Oh, I missed you too." Her eyes seemed to sadden as she continued to touch the snowy feathers of the bird. "I will continue to miss you my friend. I have to leave and have no idea when I may return."
Yuu looked up at her, its neck jerking quickly as it listened to her speak sadly. It cawed in response, hopping closer to her.
"Don't do that. It will only make this a harder goodbye than it already is," she sighed as she placed her arm out towards the snowy bird.
Without hesitating Yuu perched on her arm and cawed again, this time softer.
Extending her arm out the window, Yuu flapped its wings furiously for take off before balancing out and gliding in circles around her window, "Goodbye my friend! We will meet again I promise."
With one last shriek from Yuu, Setsuko dissipated all the snow in her room and slowly shut her window. Latching the window she sighed softly, her head hung low. Opening her door, two guards came in to carry her packed trunk as she walked out, Hui walking close beside her. Looking down at the young Princess, the Capitan of the guards noticed how downtrodden she looked and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Although Hui never looked the part, she was actually a very passionate and caring person; willing to give her life for the people and the things she believed in. Setsuko looked up from the floor, seeing a smile sent her way by the normally stoic and harden Captain. She returned the kindness and looked onward, finding a new sense of pride in what she was doing.