THE FINAL CHAPTER IS HERE!
[Kuroko No Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki]
[English isn't my first language, so please be kind]
12
The Spider Lily
Sana P.O.V.
I thought the prince would kill us, but he didn't.
- Let's go back to my residence - he said, always in a formal tone, but at the same time friendly - I don't want to disturb Hayami.
Kise and I looked at each other. I think even for a kitsune that was a strange decision.
We decided to follow him anyway and Kise helped me get up, because although the prince didn't have guards by his side, some could have been watching us. In fact, in just two days in the palace I realized that this must be the secret of the prince's troops. The nobility could live in peace if they forgot that there were soldiers in their halls, so they must not always be in sight.
I still managed to catch a glimpse of the princess and her impossible love as we left, they didn't cry, on the contrary, they just smiled because they were together, it was as if there was nothing but them in the garden.
- Be careful, Sanacchi - Kise helped me with some steps. I think he could tell my mood had been shaken.
What could I do? I was a hopeless romantic.
- You did a dangerous prank - the prince said - you were lucky that I thought it was funny.
I looked at Kise with concern as we entered the prince's residence. I couldn't believe Kise had been discovered for something so silly!
- You told me you were curious! - I complained.
- And I was! - Kise said - But the scholar was rude, he deserved it!
It was even worse when we passed through the first gate and reached the prince's quarters. A man in green robes and an extremely red face was there, his hair was disheveled and his hands were stained with ink.
That must be the scholar.
- So this is a kitsune! - he pointed at Kise and approached him with a dangerous air, but the prince and I acted at the same time: I placed myself in front of Kise, while Akashi cleared his throat, which made the scholar stop.
- There's no need to worry, Shintarō, the spell will only last a few hours, you'll be able to write normally after that.
The scholar did not seem satisfied, but he obeyed the prince's orders anyway. He was taller than the prince and stronger too, but he followed the thin young man without questioning twice. When I looked at the prince, his left eye had a strangely disturbing orange color.
- Please accompany Hayami back to her residence and remind your assistant that he will not be able to return.
The scholar closed his eyes and nodded.
- Yes - he then looked at us one last time before leaving - excuse me.
Kise stuck his tongue out at the man as he left, and this time I stepped on his foot to make him stop.
The prince smiled after the scholar closed the sliding door.
- You two are very peculiar - he indicated the low table in the corner of his room - let's have tea.
I looked at Kise as the prince took a seat and began serving tea. Kise didn't seem worried, he just tried to stay close to me as we took seats in front of the prince.
- How did I manage to do magic here? - Kise asked.
- This building has no talismans, as you can see, but the princess's residence is protected, that's why he couldn't enter there, it's nothing personal, but a kitsune tried to take a princess decades ago.
- And what happened to the fox?
The prince took a sip of the tea, assuring us that it was not poisoned.
- What happens to kitsunes who break their bond - he said with some naturalness, then looked at me, realizing that I was in the dark - you don't know.
He then looked at Kise.
- Didn't you tell her?
- I hit my head, I don't remember many things.
Akashi nodded.
- I hope this poor girl isn't here against her will then.
- Actually, she was the one who wanted to come - Kise said. His expression was different now.
Akashi looked at me in surprise. His different colored eyes gave me chills, but Kise held my hand.
- I changed my mind - I replied, wrapping Kise's fingers into mine - Ryōta and I are married now.
- Hum, so why did you come to the castle? - the prince asked, he must have been really worried about the princess's safety.
- It's a long story - I sighed - at first I thought I didn't want to marry him so we looked for someone who knew how to undo the bond...
My voice cracked, I didn't want to tell him we were being blackmailed by an annoying child.
The prince nodded again. Every gesture of him was endowed with elegance and good manners, just like Hayami. Even if people like them wanted to act informally, I don't think they could.
- A kitsune who conquered his prey - the prince smiled, which caused me a mixture of calm and discomfort - so, how did you make her fall in love with you?
I thought I heard wrong, but Kise took a sip of tea to respond.
- I slept naked next to her, so...
I covered Kise's mouth with both hands before he embarrassed me even more. His playful behavior had returned and I didn't know whether to be happy or nervous about it. The prince looked at us a little confused.
- Ryōta was persistent - I answered for him - he listened to me, he never forced me into anything, like, for example, locking me in a castle to get married.
It was stronger than me. I didn't like the princess, but after what I saw I couldn't stay quiet. Kise was on my side, he would defend me if necessary.
I was ready for the prince to yell at me, to call the guards and forcibly arrest us, but Prince Akashi was too young for that. He lowered his head, full of sadness in his eyes.
- I know that Hayami doesn't love me completely - for a moment I almost felt sorry for him, but when he looked back at us his sad look was gone and his orange eye was shining while he smiled lightly - but it's only a matter of time before may this change. Tell me, how do you prepare the tea, miss? First you must wait for the water to boil, right? Hayami and I will marry while water is still being prepared, and her love for me will grow over time, just as water takes time to boil. But you two got married on the spur of the moment... Who's to say you won't change your mind again?
He poured some more tea for Kise.
- As for the castle, it is tradition for the princess not to leave the castle after the wedding, so I want her to be surrounded by kind maids who she can talk to, and a nice garden, but I still haven't been able to find a flower that will truly win her over. .
He pointed to the side of his room, where there was another path that led to the back of the residence, where we could see a red garden.
- Those are red spider lilies, symbols of the Akashi family. I gave Hayami a bouquet the day she arrived at the castle, but I was told it made her melancholic.
I tried to control my frightened expression. Handing a bouquet of red spider lilies to the bride on the day she arrived in a strange place... What a disaster! Kise looked at me, I think he shared the same thought as me. Suddenly I was glad my fiancé showed up naked and not holding a bouquet like that.
- So you know that she tries to escape? - the prince nodded - And yet you keep her here.
- It seems like a selfish love - Kise said, and I was happy that he was the one who expressed this feeling.
The prince's expression changed again. This time more clearly, it was as if we were talking to two different people.
- So you wouldn't be selfish like me if your wife decided to break the bond? - Akashi asked.
Kise nodded. We knew he was different, because from the first day, even though he was eager to win my love, he didn't try to lock me up. And that made him better than the prince.
- How kind - Akashi said, but I felt irony in his voice - so, miss, do you want to know how you could break this bond if you wanted?
Kise didn't respond, leaving the decision completely up to me.
- Yes, sir - I said with a sigh. I think it would be good to know, after all I didn't know if Kise would ever recover his memories, maybe he would want to know too.
- You would have to kill him - the prince said, and he didn't hesitate to reveal the information.
- Me...?
- Yes, you, the person he loves more than anything. You would have to stab his heart with a blade.
I swallowed hard, the image in my mind of a bloodied Kise, crying my name as I stabbed him made me scared and sick. I couldn't do that, not even if I was in love with Kagami like I thought I was.
The fox quickly held my hand again, noticing my discomfort and I was grateful that he supported me at that moment. I quickly kissed Kise's face, not caring that we were in front of the prince. I couldn't hurt Kise. Never.
- I'm glad you gave up, Sanacchi - Kise sighed in relief. He then smiled widely which made his eyes get smaller for a few moments. His ears twitched. I never got tired of looking at my Kise.
- Who was the oni you killed? - Kise asked the prince. He told me everything was resolved, but he still seemed to have doubts.
- Don't worry, the half-oni you're looking for didn't come to the city, he'll be safe if he continues to lead a life without harming humans.
Kise nodded while listening to every word carefully, I think I underestimated his friendship with Aomine.
- Now, I have a small request for you before you leave.
Kise and I had to write a list of things the prince could do to make Hayami fall in love with him faster. I wish I had said that she didn't despise him, after all she defended him in front of me and called him by his first name. I just think the prince was too insecure, but with time things would work out.
I didn't like arranged marriages, that's why I was so opposed to this whole story with Kise at the beginning, but since I couldn't change Hayami's destiny, I could at least try to help her journey.
- Please don't come back here - Prince Akashi said when we said goodbye. At least we had gotten our clothes back and the money we had earned at Suki's restaurant.
Even though I didn't like her very much at first, I wanted to say goodbye to Princess Hayami, but Akashi didn't allow it. At least now she wouldn't receive any more bouquets of spider lilies.
I was filled with a sense of relief as we left the palace. I liked doing nothing, but doing nothing within those walls was suffocating and I couldn't imagine myself being unable to see the world behind the palace walls again.
We walked a little more until we finally moved away from the palace gate and saw the beautiful houses lined up with their sloping roofs again. Then we saw the river and the bridge where Kuroko showed us the way.
Outside the palace Kise didn't need a hat to hide his ears since his magic was back to normal, so he waved excitedly to Kuroko when we spotted him on the bridge.
- Here - I handed the ball back to the boy - please don't talk to me again.
- Thank you - said the boy, trying to free himself from Kise's touch, who was constantly trying to pat the top of his head.
- I admire your courage, Kurokocchi, but be careful, not all magical beings are cool like me.
- I don't think you're cool either.
-WHAT? - Kise and I exclaimed at the same time, but with different intonations. I was horrified and angry, but Kise looked like he had just had his heart broken.
Kuroko shrugged, that child was too bold. He thanked us once again, then turned and ran to one of the houses where a girl in pink clothes was smiling excitedly at him. They must have been the same age, maybe in the future, they would even be together, good.
- Let's go, Sanacchi - Kise said, it was still mid-afternoon and the city seemed lively as always. But I really wanted to go home.
I thought we would go through the station, but Kise took me to the forest that surrounded the city and put me on his back. One moment we were on the ground, the next I felt my clothes being pulled by the wind and my bun carefully made in the palace falling apart. Kise was still Kise and not a giant fox, but I kept my eyes closed as he leapt across the rocks and mountain fields.
- Look who's waiting for us! - Kise finally stopped, putting me down with ease, even though it was difficult for me to walk again, as my head was spinning.
When my vision returned to normal, it was Aimi who I saw first, with her purple clothes and her dazzling smile. I hadn't seen her since we left her still injured in Imayoshi's care, so seeing her up and well made me emotional. I hugged her, and then pulled away, afraid that I might open her wounds.
- I'm okay - Aimi said - you can hug me, Sana!
- I can see it! - I tried to hold back the tears as I hugged her again, barely noticing the sullen figure that was right behind us.
- You scared me, Aominecchi! - Kise said to the half demon that stopped him from hugging Aimi. If he was here I think we were on the border of the city. - where have you been?
- I went looking for a potion that would help Aimi heal faster - he looked sullen as always, with his horn in the middle of his forehead, but his gaze became more tender when he looked at the girl.
- We thought you had abandoned her there! - I said angrily.
- OF COURSE I WOULDN'T DO THAT!
Aomine behaved like a boy, but he was still half oni, and his fangs and horn made him scary to me, so I hid behind Aimi. He was a different creature than Kise, who was softer and more attractive.
- After Aimi got better I tried to teach that traitor a lesson, but she stopped me - Aomine grumbled, he was still holding a big iron club.
I tried to imagine an angry Aomine chasing a terrified Imayoshi. It didn't seem so bad to me.
- You are very generous, Aimicchi - Kise said.
- I would have pushed him off a cliff! - I interrupted their conversation, and Aomine seemed to agree with me.
- But now we can't stay in the forest anymore, so we thought about coming after you, I didn't think you would actually get to meet the prince and stay together after that.
- Sana learned that she loves me unconditionally - Kise smiled, proud of himself- so everything ended well.
- Almost well - I replied - we still need to go home and recover my parents' memories.
- My in-laws will be fine - Kise stretched his arms - they will be happy to meet Aimi and I think Aomine can hide in the forest near the village road.
- We can build a new house! - Aimi's eyes shone - And I can learn to cook new dishes from Sana's village...
They started to go ahead, Aomine listened while Aimi talked about her plans for the future. The half-oni was silent, but there was a smile on the corner of his lips.
- Will we be neighbors? - I asked Kise, who just hugged my waist and placed his head on my left shoulder.
I guess I would have to get used to his supernatural friends now that I was his wife.
- Let's walk a little - Kise said, taking me by the hand - then I can put you on my back again later.
- I was thinking about that - I said - why didn't we travel like this at the beginning?
- I'm not stupid, Sanacchi, you were so scared of me that you could run away for good. And I didn't want the trip to end, I needed time to seduce you.
- That would have saved us so much trouble - I rolled my eyes, but smiled anyway. He was right. If we had avoided the road trip we wouldn't have gotten to know each other better along the way and I wouldn't have gotten these beautiful shoes with fox designs stitched on them.
We were different from Aimi and Aomine, our story was just starting and I still wanted to do several things, like stop hiding my new blonde hair and make sure Kise could live with my parents and my younger brother. We still had a long way to go home, but I was excited for our future.
Hello everybody! Thank you for following Kitsune's Tales until the end. This was a very special story that I made as a gift for a friend, so I hope she liked it too!
Kuroko no Basket was an anime that accompanied me through several difficult moments and I'm happy to continue writing about these incredible characters. My stories will continue here.
See you next time!