Akane stared hard at their uninvited guest, trying and failing to understand the words coming out of his mouth.
"A-a concubine? Me?"
Mikado Sanzenin nodded proudly, looking like a preening peacock standing before them in his fancy outfit and cap-toe shoes. As Prince Kuno's royal aide, he was dressed to impress. A gaudy golden belt was tied around his waist, and his overcoat's many buttons gleamed brilliantly in the flickering light of their cottage's sole lamp.
A single one of those buttons could have easily fed her family for weeks.
"Indeed," he replied with a dramatic bow and a wink. "You are one fortunate lady, Miss. Out of all the women in Clarines—in all eight kingdoms, in fact!—his Royal Highness chose you. Why, you should feel honored!"
Akane's eyebrow only mildly twitched this time. "I feel something, alright."
"Oh my," Kasumi fretted as she wrung her hands in dismay. "But she's still so young."
"She's eighteen, Kasumi," Nabiki reminded her wryly, staring appreciatively at the attendant's golden belt. Akane wouldn't be surprised if her sister had it in her possession before the man left. "The same age you were when you married the good doctor. If anything, we should be celebrating! Looks like little Akane here finally hit the jackpot."
"Indeed she has," Mikado replied with an eager nod, as if finding a kindred spirit at last. "I'm not one to brag, but women have killed to be in her position."
"Then why are you here?" Akane muttered. "You should go find one of them."
"Wow. That is a feat," said Nabiki, pushing her aside as she shamelessly egged him on. "It's such a pity I'm not as brutish as my dear sister, for I too would have loved to lay myself at his glorious feet. Are his soles made of silver or gold, by any chance?"
"Oh. Well, no. Not that I know of, I'm afraid."
"I'm sorry, but there must be some mistake," Akane cut in, not able to stomach this anymore. She just knew there had to be some other girl out there stupidly awaiting this summons. "You see, I've only met the prince once and it wasn't under the best of circumstances. I'm absolutely certain he doesn't like me. Not even a little!"
"Oh, but he does," Mikado assured her with a slow, indulgent smile. "Make no mistake, he likes you quite more than a little. He's spoken of little else since you two last met."
Akane grimaced and shuddered at the thought. She didn't want the prince of Clarines thinking about her at all. Not ever.
"That can't be right," she insisted again, determined to make him understand. "I was fighting for a spot in his imperial guard, not a place in his bed! Besides," she continued. "If the prince likes me as much as you claim, then why did he disqualify me from his military exam? If he let me pass, which was my right, he could've seen me whenever he wanted. I might have even been grateful!"
"Well, of course you didn't pass," he told her with a short, dry laugh. "You're a girl!"
"Oh no." Only sheer willpower and Kasumi's gentle hand on her arm stopped Akane from going straight for his throat.
"Oh?" Nabiki replied, wide-eyed and innocent. "And here I thought she failed because she punched Prince Kuno in the face."
"Yeah, but he deserved that!" Akane defended while gripping Kasumi's arm like a lifeline.
Not to mention, his men had pulled her back before she could do any real damage. Frankly, she'd gone easy on the pervert! Anyone else stupid enough to grope her like that would've been paralyzed for life.
But sensing her rising ire, or maybe it was the manic grip on her arm, Kasumi sent a nervous glance at their esteemed guest, and gently cautioned, "Akane-dear."
"Sorry." Ashamed at causing her pregnant sister to worry, Akane took a deep breath and slowly released it. She needed to control herself. The last thing they needed was trouble.
Or attention.
So, although it physically pained her, she fought back the desire to argue, to put this jerk back in his place. Instead, she forced a too-tight smile.
"Why does it matter if I'm a girl or not?" She asked, careful to keep her voice level and a scowl off her face. "Just so we're clear, before he made me remove my helmet and realized I was a girl, I'd already beaten every one of his challengers. I even beat him!" Boy, had she beaten him. She'd like to do it again." So it's not because, as a girl, I wasn't skilled enough. . ."
Actually, this decree reeked of revenge.
If he'd wanted to, Prince Kuno could have easily sentenced her to death for daring to strike him after the match. And considering how hard she'd hit him, she'd gotten off relatively unscathed.
But now, his false chivalry made sense. All this time, Prince Kuno must've planned to discipline her in a more degrading way.
HIS CONCUBINE?
She'd rather die!
"My apologies. Please, allow me to better explain," Mikado said, speaking much more passionately than was probably proper. "My darling girl, you did not fail the exam because you were unworthy. Oh, no, no, no, far from it! Prince Kuno was adamant that a warrior as lovely, as courageous, as fierce as you, were far too precious, too majestic, to be relegated to a mere barbaric knight! That's why he chose to valiantly challenge you himself. Our lord hoped to steer you back to a pure and righteous path. One more befitting a maiden of your stature."
"By beating her senseless," Nabiki added in case they'd missed that part.
"Righteous path?" Akane repeated as she raised her voice in disbelief, all sense of propriety and good sense forgotten. Her voice was like iron. "So, what you're saying, then, is because I beat him, because I ruined his plans to 'rescue me' and didn't grovel at his feet, he's ordering me to be his concubine as some sort of punishment?"
"Punishment?" he repeated dumbly, uncomprehending. "Why, to be invited to the castle, to live in luxury, and want for nothing—my dear, that's a fate few could even dream of. It's an honor!"
"Oh yes, an honor indeed," Kasumi insisted before Akane forgot herself and swung. "But are you quite certain Prince Kuno isn't suffering from a concussion of some sort? Our Akane here has quite the little uppercut. Perhaps he's still unwell."
"That's right. Have you had the prince's head examined?" Nabiki questioned with a shrewd eye. "If we send our beloved sister to the castle and he tries to back out of this arrangement, we'll have to insist on at least a thousand jewels for the inconvenience."
"Nabiki!" Akane narrowed her eyes, refocusing her ire on her money-grubbing sister.
The most shocked, stunned look came over Mikado's face as he blustered, "Well, I-I'm afraid I don't have that kind of authority, but I can assure you, my master is quite healthy and very sincere. He's been love-struck since the match and has talked of nothing but Miss Akane ever since."
Satisfied that he'd served his lord well and won their awe, the loyal aide looked to the lucky girl and frowned. As if expecting to find her swooning or demurely blushing.
Akane was sure her face was beet red, and that she looked disgusted.
She didn't have the energy to fake it anymore.
And as he slowly realized she wasn't pleased or packing up her bags that very minute, he turned aside and put a fist to his mouth in anguish, distraught. "So. It seems I've done it again."
"Done what?" Kasumi asked when it became clear no one else cared enough to ask.
With a sigh and a dramatic flick of his royal blue cloak, Mikado turned back to face them. "It seems my overbearing good looks, charm, and stellar upbringing have stolen the heart of yet another of my master's beautiful ladies . . . curse this unerring perfection. I fear it shall lead to my downfall."
A little disturbed, Kasumi quickly placed her hands over her enlarged stomach, hoping to save the little one inside from hearing such debauchery. "Yes, well, thank you for stopping by," she told him as she hurried towards the door and threw it open, the smile on her face visibly strained.
Too oblivious to notice, Mikado bowed low to Akane, his eyes on her alone. "Well then, my lovely, I shall take my leave and be back to fetch you three days hence—for I fear, despite our mutually painful attraction, neither of us can fight the will of the heavens. You shall belong to my lord or no one at all."
"Wonderful," Akane muttered, then turned away, her jaw clenched.
"It truly is. We simply can't wait!" Nabiki assured him as she sidled up to his side, smiling brightly. "But before you go, kind sir, may I ask that you leave behind a token of your visit? Your golden belt, perhaps?"
"My-my belt?"
Nabiki nodded and then glanced demurely at the floor. "This is a bit embarrassing, but I'd love a way to remember this auspicious visit. This way," she added, lifting her gaze to shyly meet his. "I shall think of you every time that I gaze upon it. . ."
"Oh, fair maiden, but of course!" Mikado smiled and wiith nimble, talented fingers, undid the ties of his belt and held it out to her like it was something precious. "I have many more just like it," he boasted.
"Oh, do you now?" Nabiki asked with a smirk, intrigued.
Akane wanted to gag.
Satisfied with a job well done, Mikado bid farewell to the three beauties in the modest hut, his gaze lingering an extra moment on Nabiki. And then he took his leave.
After he left, Kasumi shut the door behind him, and Akane went straight for the closet. She grabbed the largest bag she could find and started throwing in every scrap of clothing in sight, whether it was hers or not. She tried to fight it as she packed, but angry, humiliated tears stung her eyes. Furiously, she brushed them aside, focusing on the task at hand.
"Akane," Kasumi began helplessly because there was nothing else to say.
Nabiki, not suffering the same issue, abruptly grabbed the bag out of her younger sister's hands. "Slow down and think for a second, Akane," she ordered, knowing her well enough to know she wasn't packing for the castle. "This may be the best chance we have. Sure, you won't be Queen, but there's already a handful of people who want Princess Azusa dead . . . if you're patient, all that power and wealth may be up for grabs, and if you keep him happy, you could be a shoo-in!"
"Nabiki!" Kasumi gasped, appalled.
Akane glared at her. "If you like the idea so much, why don't YOU go and sleep with him then?"
Nabiki instantly shivered, betraying her cool and calculated demeanor. "Alright, point taken," she admitted without shame. "Although I still think you're letting a golden opportunity get away from you. It's a much better plan than your crazy idea to gain allies and influence by becoming a knight. At least this way, you'd have money and a potential army at your beck and call!"
Akane snatched back her bag. "I don't want an army," she muttered as she resumed packing with a much angrier edge.
Without a word, Kasumi went to the closet, withdrew her favorite pack, and began reaching for her stuff as well.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Nabiki asked, exasperated. "You can't go with her, Kasumi."
"Well, I'm not about to let her go off on her own," she said, keeping right on task.
Akane sighed, and this time, she was the one pulling her sister's bag away. "I appreciate the gesture, Kasumi. Really, I do, but you're seven months pregnant. You need to stay here with Doctor Tofu."
"Don't be silly," she replied, though it was a token protest at best. "We're family."
Afraid her sister's hormones would start acting up and make refusal impossible, Akane decided another approach was necessary. "Honestly, Kasumi, you act like this is the first time any of us have gone on the run before." Putting on a brave smile tailored just for her, she added firmly, "Really, I'll be fine. Once I get settled, I'll write to both of you every chance I get, and if I can, I'll even sneak back for a visit. I promise."
"But this is different," said Kasumi, looking stricken. "You've never left on your own before. It's not safe. Especially for you. You look the most like mother."
"I know," Akane replied softly, ignoring the familiar ache the memory of their mother brought. The pain may have dulled throughout the years, but it never fully went away. "But we haven't heard anything in three years—it's been so quiet. I doubt they're even looking for us anymore! Maybe we really did convince them we're dead. . ."
"Besides, what would you have her do instead, Kasumi?" Nabiki asked, playing devil's advocate. "If you tried to go with her, you'd only slow her down, and Kuno would find her within days. And you know she'd never be happy staying in Clarines, not as some pervert's plaything. Worst-case scenario, without you there to curb her temper, she'd likely snap and kill the prince—and can you imagine the kind of attention THAT would attract? If you're worried about her being recognized, Sis, that's a surefire way to make it happen."
"And here I thought you loved the idea of me entering the castle," teased Akane, but with a grateful smile that reached her eyes.
Nabiki waved her remark aside. "That was different. If you're not going to aim for Queen and utilize all the power it entails, it's better to leave now than risk exposure later on. Otherwise, you'll be living with a giant target on your back. We all will. We can't risk attracting the old witch's attention now, not with Kasumi expecting. We're vulnerable."
"But in a good way," Akane hastened to add as Kasumi's eyes welled with tears.
"The best way," Nabiki echoed, nodding.
"I still don't know," Kasumi replied, her heart speaking louder than reason, though the truth was getting harder for her to deny.
"How about this," Akane suggested now that Kasumi's resolve was crumbling. "If I cut my hair and make myself look like a boy again, there shouldn't be a problem, right? Traveling that way will be much safer, and no one will have any reason to suspect who I am. They're looking for three sisters, not some boy traveling alone."
"Oh, but Akane, you love your long hair," Kasumi protested as she lovingly fingered the long, glossy locks. "You were so proud when you could grow it out again. You hated having to pretend to be a boy."
She was right, of course. But this time was different. "Trust me," she told her, putting a hand to her heart with all the sincerity she could muster. "I would rather shave off ALL my hair than submit to that buffoon. Or live as some pampered mistress in Kuno's castle. This time, I'm doing it because I want to. I won't regret it, Kasumi. I promise."
Besides, they'd already forsaken their true names and their birthright. After that, what was a little hair?
Finally, reluctantly, Kasumi's shoulders slumped, and Akane knew she'd won when her sister began avoiding her eyes. "Alright," she said at last, quietly. "Even if I say no, you're just silly enough to sneak away in the middle of the night anyway, so I understand. I understand, but even so, I want you to write just like you promised, Akane. And if I don't hear from you often enough, I guess I'll have to go and hunt you down myself."
Akane rewarded her sister with a warm smile and then hugged her. . . well, as close to a hug as one could get with her little niece or nephew obstructing the way. "Thanks, Kasumi," she told her sincerely. "I will."
Kasumi hugged her back. "Well then," she said, returning to her unruffled, composed self. "Aside from a haircut, I guess there's just one last thing to take care of then."
Akane and Nabiki exchanged confused glances as Kasumi disappeared into the room she shared with Doctor Tofu. A minute later, she emerged with a palm-sized case covered with elaborate markings.
Akane and Nabiki recognized it immediately, and both sets of eyes widened as Akane held her breath.
"I won't let you leave without this."
With the utmost care, Kasumi carefully removed their most prized possession: a beautiful necklace bearing the Tendo family crest. The emblem, embossed in gold, depicted a roaring phoenix in flight, with the characters for Tendo elegantly engraved within the flames consuming it.
Pushing Akane's hair back, Kasumi fastened it around her youngest sister's neck.
"Kasumi," Akane breathed, at a loss for words, even as her fingers lightly traced the priceless image over and over again.
Her mother, her father, and all of their ancestors—so much love, trust, and history were contained in this small, precious pendant. But despite its weight, as she set it back down, it felt light and warm against the coolness of her skin, like it belonged there, like she was carrying a piece of every single one of them.
"You know what this necklace means, Akane," Kasumi cautioned. "It can be a curse and a charm, so be careful and keep it hidden. If you're ever in trouble, then and only then, use it—at the very least, it may serve as a bargaining chip. But if the wrong people should see it, you know what will happen."
Akane nodded her head, and fingering the necklace again, asked uncertainly. "But is it really alright for me to have this? What about you two?"
Beside her, Nabiki gave her a genuine smile. "We'll be fine," she told her, and in a rare burst of honesty, added, "Besides, if it's with you, I'll be less tempted to pawn it."
Akane laughed at the harmless jest. At least, she hoped she was kidding. "I'll guard it with my life," she promised them both, clutching it tighter.
"Good. Then let's take care of that hair," Kasumi told her, and motioning towards a chair, went to retrieve the scissors. As Akane sat down, Nabiki doubtfully fingered one of the long dark strands.
"You sure you want to go this far?" she asked, knowing how much pride Akane took in her beautiful long locks. "It took you years to grow it out again, and you could probably keep it hidden. If anyone gives you trouble, you'll just grind them to dust anyway."
Touched by her sister's concern, Akane smiled and shook her head. "Thanks, Nabiki, but it's alright. I'm alright—it's just hair. If cutting it off will give Kasumi peace of mind and protect us, it's worth it. Besides," she continued, clenching a fist. "If it's going to draw creeps like Prince Kuno or his idiot aide, then I'm better off without it. Maybe if I go back to looking like a boy, he'll lose interest, and I'll be able to come home that much sooner!"
Nabiki snorted and patted her shoulder condescendingly. "I doubt a haircut will change that, but keep deluding yourself if it makes you feel better."
"T-thanks, Nabiki."
Soon, Kasumi returned and began setting up her supplies, and Akane silently prepared herself for one of the harshest cuts of her life.
But not the most painful.
That reward belonged to a cold, snowy night eight years ago.
Removing her bright pink ribbon, Akane set it on the small table beside them and tried to keep still as Kasumi skillfully worked her magic. A knot formed in her stomach, but she stubbornly pushed it away.
With every strand that fell, she tried to convince herself that her heart felt lighter too, that she was truly excited to leave. Outside, beyond these constricting walls and this awful, hateful kingdom, a new adventure awaited her. Maybe she'd run into one of her Masters or meet someone new, someone who would teach her more than she ever could've learned in Prince Kuno's guard.
Everything will be fine, she told herself as she bravely lifted her chin.
And by the time that final strand of hair had fallen, Akane had begun to believe it.
End of Prologue
Authors Notes
Happy Ranma-remake-release day, everyone!
To celebrate, here is the story I've been working on for (roughly) the last eight/nine years LOL. However, unlike my other stories, I'm happy to report that this one is almost entirely written (I only have a few more chapters to go). So from here on out, I'll be trying to follow a strict release schedule.
Weekly releases will be on Friday evenings (give or take a rare Saturday/Sunday).
This will give me time to edit and write accordingly.
Story Info
This story is based (very) loosely on the anime, Snow White with the Red Hair/Akagami no Shirayuki-hime. While watching it, I was frustrated with the FL's backstory and kept wanting her to be a secret princess (lol) so I kept imaging the Ranma-gang in their world instead, which is how this story was born. So rather than present day Japan/Nerima, it's more of a fantasy-version of Japan, with the eight kingdoms made up of names pulled directly from the characters/kingdoms of Snow White.
However, just to warn you: Ranma will not be cursed in this story. Instead, female Ranma will be her own seperate character named Ranko.
I hope you enjoyed this prologue. I didn't bother with a beta, so any mistakes are entirely my own.
See you on Friday, October 11, for Chapter 1: Meeting.
Guess who's coming ;)