Hello! I intended to post two chapters this weekend, but so far I've only finished one. So, maybe I'll end up posting another one on Sunday since this one was shorter than I expected, but it was a good introduction to another Ideal Type OC. Prince Akashi is coming, and he is not what you expect.

[Kuroko No Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki]

[English isn't my first language, so please be kind]

9

The Melancholic Princess

Sana P.O.V.

We left the restaurant as quickly as we could after saying goodbye to Murasakibara and Suki. She seemed a little confused by our haste, but was kind enough to offer us breakfast which I made sure to pay for after Kise broke the bed. Of course, we left there before the couple realized the damage and it was fun to see Murasakibara dressing his kids for school.

It was almost therapeutic to see those two tall people being so careful and loving and I caught Kise sighing at that scene more than once. I was afraid of what he thought about family, but we would eventually discover our pace together.

If I thought that maybe that little blue-haired brat had given up on blackmailing us, I was wrong, because as soon as we set foot on the street, Kuroko appeared with his short pants and the focused look of a child demon. His pink-haired friend didn't accompany him today, but one was enough to ruin my morning peace.

He walked with us for a few minutes as the movement on the street grew. People seemed to be moving more and more hurriedly and the stores that opened seemed interesting and different. A big city was really impressive.

- I'll wait there - he pointed to a small stone bridge that connected this part of the city to the other side of the river where more houses were lined up with each other. - I'm going to stay here until noon every day, for four days, after that I'm going to tell Mr. Murasakibara everything and he doesn't like being deceived.

Kise listened attentively, but I was tired of it.

- And who will believe you, you nosy little brat...

I was ready to attack that "little oni" until Kise grabbed me by the waist.

- Sanacchi, don't hit the child! People will come after us!

- What? Why not? - I complained - We're already married, this story can be over and we can go home!

I struggled a little until I got tired, then Kise let me go. Kuroko looked at us with the same expression that seemed at the same time empty and full of interest. People passing by seemed to think we were playing with the child because they didn't seem to care.

- I have an idea! - Kise was still holding me, but I brought my face closer to his - Why don't you do some fox magic to get rid of him?

Kise sighed, then pressed his face into my neck. That wasn't a good sign.

- I can't.

- Why not?

- It's this city, Sanacchi - Kise released me, then whispered: - I think I underestimated Prince Akashi's power, he must have placed protection talismans around the city and your wedding gift left me exhausted.

I punched Kise's shoulder with all my strength, which wasn't much, so he barely moved. But then I regretted it, because his face was a little different. His eyes seemed brighter and one of his fangs was too visible. He was almost too non-human for curious eyes that stare at him for more than two seconds.

- Don't be mad at me, Sanacchi - Kise interrupted my thought - but if we don't help Kurokocchi we will end up being persecuted and arrested.

I looked at Kise, then at the annoying child who was still there, in disbelief.

- Did you just call him Kurokocchi?!

Kuroko showed us the way to the palace, but of course we couldn't follow the regular road for long, so we ended up cutting through the forest that surrounded the city when we found a gap away from the crowd that started the day. I was still angry with Kise, first because he had made that beautiful wedding gift that cost him his magic, and second because I had taken too long to accept his marriage proposal, which now made us stuck in this city... But I wouldn't say to him that I accepted half the blame for this situation.

Despite Kuroko's instructions, Kise guided us with the help of his sense of smell and hearing, as we advanced there were more patrols and more soldiers with their katanas and iron helmets. Kise held my hand the whole time, but I started to notice that he started squeezing my fingers too tightly, and sometimes he shook his head as if something was bothering him.

- Kise, Kise - I called him twice until he looked at me, he was sweaty - let me look at you!

I held Kise's face with both hands, he looked stressed and tired and no longer the playful, beautiful ray of sunshine he was, which was so strange because I've never seen him like this and he definitely didn't look sick when we broke the bed last night.

- I don't know anything about magical talismans, but I think you're ill.

- I will be fine.

- No, come here - I made him sit next to me on a large rock near some bushes and trees - you need to rest. So what if Kuroko wants a toy, why doesn't he ask his parents to go get it?

- Kurokocchi is threatening a kitsune - he seemed amazed - he is so brave!

- If you don't stop calling that little brat Kurokocchi I'm going to hit you again.

Kise put his nose against mine, which was like a small show of affection, but his hands were shaking a little.

- I need to find the talismans before I get any closer to the castle - He stood up - you stay here, understand? I'll be back for you before nightfall.

He seemed so determined and concerned about me that my heart softened a little.

- You turned red all of a sudden, Sanacchi.

- I know - I sighed - it's because I have an incredible husband.

- Don't do that - Kise covered his eyes so he wouldn't see me - I can't waste any more energy now!

I smiled when Kise walked away, still covering his eyes, then, when he was far enough from me, it disappeared so fast that my eyes couldn't keep up. I stretched my legs and leaned my head against the trunk of a tree and I made sure that the money we earned at Suki's restaurant was safely stored in a small bag inside my robes. There was nothing to do but wait now, I just regret not having brought more food.

It was impossible not to take a nap while waiting for Kise to return and I only woke up because I started to hear footsteps and male voices echoing in the distance. The footsteps seemed heavy, and there was also the sound of clanging iron, which indicated that perhaps those men could be soldiers.

So far I hadn't noticed any signs of danger in the city, but I didn't want to be alone near soldiers, so my first impulse was to hide among the nearby trees.

"What are they doing here?" I thought, as it didn't seem like a place for patrols. "I wonder if Kise..."

- Kise is fine! - I hit my face with both hands at the same time to remove any sign of concern for my fox. Of course Kise was fine, he was more experienced than me in this sort of thing and had survived worse things than soldier patrols.

Any scenario where he didn't come back to me was impossible, but the small possibility of that happening still made me nervous.

- If we don't find her soon, the prince will tear our eyes out! - The voice sounded in the distance, the desperate scream of a scared soldier.

I shrank further into the empty space between the trees and bushes that camouflaged me. I couldn't see the soldiers, but I could hear them, which meant they weren't that far away. But who were they looking for? Who was so important that they were afraid that their mistake would cost them their lives before the prince?

They hadn't caught Kise.

I heard footsteps again, but this time lighter and more hurried, I continued hidden, hoping not to be seen, until someone tripped over me and I felt their body fall over mine and their clothes covered my face to the point where I couldn't see anything. When I easily threw the person aside, that's when I realized it wasn't a soldier, but a girl.

She held a bundle of cloth that fell beside me and which she searched for with determination while staring at me with a frightened expression. Her skin was so white that she could easily be mistaken for a ghost during the dark night, but her black hair was tied up awkwardly and strands were falling out of her face.

- Are you running away from them?

The question seemed to make the girl even more desperate, she was no longer able to collect her personal items, she just put them inside the cloth bundle and tied it carelessly, but the soldiers seemed to be much closer now. I saw their helmets when I tilt my head out of the bushes.

I was terrible at acting under pressure, so I didn't know whether to run away with her or hug her so they couldn't see us here, but the girl threw the bundle of cloth into my arms and dragged me out with her.

- What are you doing?! - I asked.

- Saving our lives! - she replied - just be quiet and do what I say!

- But what does that have to do with me?

I was confused and surprised until the soldiers arrived and I automatically hid behind the girl. There were six of them, and if they were after her, either she had committed a serious crime, or she was someone very important.

They came running, but assumed a respectful posture in our presence. In the girl's presence.

- Princess Hayami - the middle soldier said - we came to escort you back to the palace.

I tried to keep my mouth shut. That couldn't be true, the princess couldn't just stumble upon me in the middle of the forest!

- It wasn't necessary - she spoke calmly and confidently - we were just walking and my maid got lost, we were already heading back.

I shook my head to better understand what she was saying, did she say maid?

- Your maid, miss? - the soldier asked, I finally managed to face them, everyone kept their eyes on the ground, as if it were a crime to look at the princess.

-Yes, she is new in town, look, she still holds her belongings.

The speaker looked up quickly, but only because she allowed him to. He looked at me for a moment.

- Forgive us for the misunderstanding - the soldier said - we will make sure that better maids are assigned to your residence.

- It won't be necessary - the princess said, she then looked at me with melancholic gray eyes - I like this one.

The soldiers made way for the princess to pass, and she held my hand so that I followed her obediently.

I didn't say anything as I had found a way to the palace before Kise.