The Swan Prince
Title: The Swan Prince
By: arashiforyou
Genre: AU/ Romance
Rating: PG
Pairing: Yamada Taro x Mimura Takuya (Sakumiya)
Summary: In an AU setting, Yamada Taro and Mimura Takuya are in fact princes of a faraway land. Unbeknownst to them, a powerful sorcerer kidnapped Mimura and changed him into a swan. Only the power of everlasting love can break the spell.
Notes: Based on The Swan Princess
Chapter 2
Deep in the woods where the leaves and branches dripped with evening dew, small animal critters hurried to their den. The night sky cleared any rain clouds, but the moon was still hidden behind a few strays. Passing over a quiet stream and a perfect perpendicular waterfall, a staircase led to a forgotten shrine. At the entrance was a tall arched gate to greet any visitors, and it opened out to a spacious courtyard. The shrine was grand and stretched around the courtyard, and farther behind it was a lake; the source of the water.
It pooled between the back of the shrine and a steep hill. At the top, a tower loomed over the lake like a dark shadow. There were crickets and frogs chirping, and the stone tiles from the shrine's garden slowly merge with the waterline, tracing halfway around the lake. On the shallow water edges of the lake, a majestic swan floated gracefully, however it looked solemn and dejected. A mysterious man dressed in black watched it from ashore, and his female assistant fed it bread crumbs. The man was bald and ghastly pale like a corpse. His hollow cheeks sunk in deep and his body was lean and thin, and yet he stood firm.
"Such elegance you possess," Gantz spoke. "Despite your transformation. I must admit, you have been my greatest creation."
The old assistant threw more bread crumbs at the swan, but the pure creature turned its head away.
"Do not turn down a simple gesture," Gantz chuckled. "A prince must ravenously devour."
The swan swerved its head towards him.
"I promise the transformation is only temporary," Gantz assuredly declared. "So long as you are on the lake, and when the moonlight touches your wings..."
As if he controlled the weather, the stray rain clouds that covered the moon were drifting away. The lake brightened with its light, however, where the swan floated, it glowed. The swan was surrounded by a heavenly light. The water started to encase the swan, rising like a pillar until it flushed back down with grace.
Mimura stood in place of the swan. He flexed his fingers and touched his face before he glared back at his enchanter.
"And that's how the magic works every night," Gantz said with a menacing smile. "Despite your cold eyes, I sense your curiosity. You must be on this lake in order to change back into a human. The only way to break the spell is to share a bond with someone. A vow of everlasting love much be received and proven to the world. Nothing more. Now...let's talk."
Mimura instantaneously turned his back and crossed his arms, his anger nearly fuming the top of his head. He could make a run for it, but the sorcerer was too powerful. Mimura knew who the man was after all. Gantz, the wretched soul who murdered his parents and his grandfather. The very thought made his throat tighten and his eyes sting. He'll never forget the way his grandfather warned him to stay inside the carriage. It all happened so fast. The carriage flipped over, Mimura fumbled out of the wreckage, and he saw his grandfather and his knights covered in blood. He remembered a powerful knock to the head and he passed out. The next thing he knew, he woke up as a swan. He was all alone, kidnapped, and cursed from his free will. He walked away from the shore, but he sensed Gantz approaching him from behind.
"For many years, I have reclaimed my powers with the help of science," Gantz said. "I am now unstoppable, but as you would imagine with such powers, what can I use it for?"
Mimura stayed silent, his back still facing Gantz.
"I will let you live, the sole heir to the late King Hijirichi, and I will help you break your spell if you let me have thy kingdom."
With his relatives completely gone and Taro far away, Mimura didn't care for anything. He has lost so much already, he damned his own heritage. Mimura whirled around, feeling his anger about to explode.
"Take it then!" Mimura shouted. "I care not. I have already lost. You have enough power."
"No need!" Gantz chimed. "Taking over the throne had been my original plan, but you know how it ended. When you steal something, you spend your whole life to keep it." He lightly touched Mimura's chin and turned his head towards his gray face. "No, my dear prince. I shall claim it through unorthodox means."
Suddenly, the lake vanished and Mimura was back in his castle. However, it was overly decorated and the colors unnaturally saturated. Gantz could easily conjure up illusions as he did creating his own royal clothes and a crown to top his head.
"We'll rule your grandfather's kingdom together legally...and mutually," Gantz uttered. "In time, love can blossom between us as well, and I'll make a vow of everlasting love to the great and most handsome prince of the land." He got down one knee, surprising Mimura as his outfit changed to formal wedding attire. "I ask the Prince of the Mimura Kingdom for his hand in marriage."
"Never!"
The illusions evaporated back into the shrine's lake, and Mimura turned on his heels again, walking towards the exit on the other side of the courtyard. He heard Gantz laughing behind him.
"Where do you think you're going, love?"
"You were a fool to change me back into a human," Mimura said. "You can cage me here all you like, but I will find a way to escape. And I will never agree to your terms!"
Gantz chuckled at first, but then it turned into a maniacal laugh. "My dear prince. Flee if you want, but when the moon leaves the lake, you'll turn back into a swan. No matter where you are."
Mimura's heart sank. He barely knew where he was, and if he did venture out into the woods, it'll take him forever to find Taro before the night ends. Taro will only see him as a swan, and he can't change back unless he was on the lake. The dreaded feeling of helplessness came back, and he sank to his knees, gazing up at the forgotten shrine. It may be beautiful, but it was his prison. His freedom sapped away from him, and he might never see Taro again.
****************
Despite his call for a massive search, none of his knights were able to find Mimura. It's been nearly five days since Mimura went missing, and not a word of his whereabouts. He hardly slept, but he will not rest properly until he knows what had happened to his love. Taro wished he could take his harsh words back. He wished he had been more honest with his feelings and confessed that he did love Mimura, and that he wouldn't want to be with anyone else but Mimura. For the first time in his life, his mind wasn't on his kingdom, his garden, or his siblings. His main concern was finding Mimura.
And it starts with archery training.
"It has been awhile since I used a bow," Ikegami said, squinting one eye to look down her arrow. "I hardly use such weapons anymore since my father built a new fence around the barn."
"I'm glad you could still come," Taro said. He removed the arrow tips and attached soft color paddings. "You're the only one who would understand my need to find Mimura. I have to make sure I'm at the top of my game if I were to find him on my own."
Ikegami gazed up at him with kind sympathy. "Prince Takuya is very lucky to have you, Taro. I know I would be doing the same thing if something happened to you."
He paused midway in filling his quiver.
"It's alright, Taro," Ikegami grinned. "I am glad we can still be friends."
"Takako..."
"Okay, Brother. We're ready!"
Taro glanced up and saw his six siblings strolling towards them donned in clumsy animal disguises. His mother held a score chart, but gave him a look of concern.
"This is a bit far-fetched, Taro," his mother said. "Why must your brothers and sisters dress as game?"
"They're not game, Mother, they'll be points," Taro explained. "It was Jiro's idea. The numbers on their chest represents their difficulty to target. You know how fast they run, so it's good practice."
"I feel like an idiot," Itsuko pouted, pulling up loose trousers.
"Endure, dear sister," Yoshiko smiled. "We must do what we can to help Brother find Prince Takuya."
"Taro, I don't understand your desperation," his mother whispered to him. "We have searched everywhere but we could not find him. My son..." she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "he's not coming back."
"You're wrong," Taro frowned, shrugging her off. "He's out there somewhere, I know it. King Hijirichi told me of a great animal, and I bet it's what kidnapped Takuya. I'm going to find him."
His mother nodded, "As you wish."
"Alright, animals. Assemble!" Jiro cheered. He seemed to be enjoying it. "Taro is counting on us to help his archery skills. We have to give our 110% to this training. Be like the animal! I want you to strike fear into my heart!"
Suddenly, little Mutsumi made a good impersonation of a vicious roar despite his size.
"Mutsumi, you're suppose to be rabbit!" Jiro whined, but the cute vigor rabbit jut his hip out with such posh.
"I am always up for game," Ikegami said, filling her quiver. "We'll see who's the better shooter."
"I've also gather a few servants to help make the game more interesting," Jiro grinned, waving behind them. A row of maids and butlers popped their heads from the shrubs. Taro readied his blindfold and waited for the countdown.
"On your mark," his mother called. "Get set..." He heard footsteps running away. "Go!"
The blindfold was pulled off and Taro fired his nearest target.
****************
Mimura bundled himself comfortably under the shades of a calming gingko tree. The leaves felt nice under his feathered belly, but he still sulked as his small head drooped down. It was weird growing accustom to his new animal body. He felt foolish having to wobble around in his short legs and webbed feet. He couldn't feel any articulation where his fingers should be, only feathers. It was even more strange to stretch his neck out so far away from his shoulders.
Everything was so foreign and frightening. He was starving, but he refused to be fed by Gantz's assistant. He would not succumb to receiving aid from them, so he had to resort to finding food himself. There were other critters living in the lake, but she would only throw bread crumbs at Mimura as if she was ordered. He couldn't imagine how anyone would want to serve such a villainous man. Perhaps she was manipulated as well, or she just wasn't as intelligent. The woman would occasionally attend to the shrine and swept the leaves off the steps, but she would fumbled and slip because of Mimura's wet tracks. He learned this prank when he was tricked by Taro's youngest brother.
Mimura sighed.
He missed Taro. He had been trapped in the shrine for days, but Mimura believed Taro will find him, and he knows Taro will not stop until he was certain. If only there was a way to reach him, let him know where he was or even give a clue who he will be dealing with. Gantz has grown tremendous power, and Mimura worried how they'll ever defeat him. The sorcerer never left his tower since the night Mimura came to the shrine. The past few nights had been awful. Gantz would routinely come to the lake, sickeningly try to woo him, and then leave. Mimura wondered what scheme he'll do next.
Suddenly, a heavy thud landed on his head.
He winced away his pain, "What the-"
A frog fidgeted on his head until it rearranged itself again. It leaped off and landed in front of Mimura. "Pardon me, graceful cob, I did not intend to land on your head."
Mimura's beak hanged open. "You...you're a frog...and you talk!"
The frog made a skeptical look. "But of course. However, I am not just a frog." It puffed up as if presenting himself with dignity. "I was cursed by the dark sorcerer Gantz. I come from a distance land to the north where I was kidnapped against my will and brought here as an experimental subject. My name is Prince Matsumoto Jun."
Jun made a small bow. Mimura had never heard of this prince before. His family hardly had any business with the lands up north, but this Prince Jun was speaking the royal dialect. After everything that has happened, Mimura would believe anything.
"You were cursed as well?" Mimura asked. "I, too, fall the same fate. I am from the south of the Mimura Kingdom. My name is Prince Mimura Takuya."
"I know you, Prince Takuya," Jun nodded. "All the creatures laid witness to the magic performed on that night. I saw your true form and was bestowed by your stunning beauty. Alas, I hoped to prepare myself, but it seems I have made my appears early."
"An appearance most unusual," Mimura smirked, but he lowered his head depressingly. "It has been lonely for the past few days without company. If only we were free."
"Worry not, dear prince! I have the solution!" Jun chirped. "My spell works differently from yours. I am eternally stuck as a frog, but the only way to break the spell is a kiss."
"A kiss?"
"I must be kissed by someone who is gracefully, beautiful, and wields a pure heart," Jun said. "And when I saw you standing by the lake, I knew it had to be you. Tonight, when you change back into a human, we shall bask in the moonlight and share sweet tender lips. Once I am free of my spell, I will send help and stop Gantz once and for all and-"
"I cannot," Mimura answered quickly.
Jun's face fell. "You...you can't? Why not?"
"It would contradict with my own spell," Mimura said. "I cannot just kiss any other prince. I have to kiss my prince. He has to make a vow of everlasting love and prove it to the world in order to break free. Believe me, Prince Jun, I do wish to help you. But for me, I only get one chance or death finds me."
"That Gantz is a piece of work," Jun croaked menacingly.
"That he is," Mimura sighed. "I am very sorry. Perhaps if we work together with a different plan, we can still change back to humans again."
Jun the frog prince lifted his head up and smiled. "Aye! I have waited many years, so a few more nights wouldn't make a difference. I shall help you find your prince. In exchange when we retrieve your happy ending, I ask but a small kiss."
"I permit it," Mimura grinned, standing up on his short swan legs. "Let the Prince of the North and the South join hands together."
"More like webbed fingers and feathers," Jun snickered.
Mimura opened his wing as Jun reached out with his short slimy hands. It was clumsy, but Jun managed to gentle hold onto Mimura's feather and they shook.
****************
"Time!" His mother called out.
Taro stopped his arrow from slipping just in time. All the servants looked exhausted, but his siblings were still giggling and laughing in the fun game of chase. They were all marked with Taro's color, and he was satisfied with his skills. There wasn't a single color marking of Ikegami. However, she approached the front with a look of confidence and smug. As his mother counted the markings, he spotted little Mutsumi dabbed with Ikegami's markings. The youngest prince was worth the most points.
"Wonderful job, Taro," his mother cheered. "You outscored even our most accomplished archers. And Ikegami..."
"I believed that's 100 points more," Ikegami smirked. "Looks like I beat even Prince Taro."
He raised an eyebrow at her amusingly. "Not so fast, Takako."
He beckoned Mutsumi to step forth. He turned around and there was one single color marking of Taro, which meant he won the game. Ikegami pouted and crossed her arms.
"Sorry, Takako," Taro chuckled before he whispered into her ear. "Maybe you should practice targeting instead of cheating."
"Oh whatever!" She fumed. "It was a dumb rich people game anyway."
"It was a dumb game," Saburo smirked. "Perhaps we should make it more challenging. Brother, you should do catching fire. With Ikegami, of course."
Her face turned pale. "C-c-catching fire? With me?!"
"Great idea, Saburo!" Taro grinned. "You never know when the skill might come in handy, right Takako?"
"W-wait a minute-"
Princess Yoshiko, Itsuko, and Nanami approached Ikegami with sweet and innocent grins.
"Come, Lady Ikegami," Itsuko said. "There is a female armor you can wear." And they dragged her away.
When she returned, she was coated in a suit of armor with an apple tied to her head. Taro thought the armor fit her image quite well. Ikegami was strong-headed and bold. If she wasn't the only daughter to farmers, she could easy change careers as a dame. He first met her when he was caught picking her crops. He didn't meant to be a thief, he just wanted to know how she grew more plentiful vegetables. At one point, Taro sensed she was growing affection towards him, but when he told her of his troubles and feelings about Mimura, she took it well. He felt sorry that he couldn't accept her feelings, but she still stayed as his friend, and he truly appreciates her trust.
"Remember, Ikegami...aim for the heart," Saburo told her. "Right between the shoulders."
Ikegami gulped nervously and they gave her a sharp tip arrow instead of a padded one. The Yamada family spaced away from firing range, leaving the miserable farmer girl completely alone.
"A-are you sure Taro doesn't need an armor as well?" Ikegami fumbled.
"I'll be fine," he reassured her. "The tricky part is my aiming, not yours. After all, we don't want an arrow through your head, right?"
She gulped nervously.
"Alright, Taro. Go wait over yonder," Jiro said, waving his hand away.
Taro quickly jogged across the courtyard, estimating the right amount of distance the arrow takes to soar and for him to turn around. He braced himself with his bow ready at hand. His foot crushed into the gravel to ready himself for the turn. He could hear Ikegami stuttering nervously.
"It's alright, Takako," Taro muttered. "You can do this. I'm counting on you."
"P-please..." She whimpered until she screamed. "NOW!"
Taro started counting. Just when he finished, he heard the faint whistle of the arrow. He spun on the ball of his foot and he extended his arm out, catching the arrow. Reflexively, he equipped the arrow to his bow, aimed, and fired at precise speed. Ikegami stood absolutely still as the arrow halved right through the apple successful.
"Ten out of ten!" Jiro cheered. "Well done, Brother!"
His family applauded him while poor Ikegami fainted. His younger sisters quickly attend to her while still giggling.
"That was amazing, Taro," his mother praised him. "You hardly ever practice your weaponry, but I still believe this wasn't necessary. I just hope your search doesn't end up fruitless."
Taro remained silent. The practice was just a simple check up on his abilities. His heart was set on one goal only: to find his prince. Everyone seemed to be going along swimmingly without much worry for Mimura, as if they already accepted he was gone forever. No one would believe him, but Taro could almost feel he was out there. While his family was still giggling and laughing at Ikegami, he was the only one not smiling. He turned his gaze up towards the woods.
"Wherever you are, Takuya," Taro moaned. "I'll find you."
****************
The sun was setting and the fireflies were glowing again. Despite the shrine being his prison, he enjoyed being with Jun. It was nice to talk to someone civil again, and Mimura was beginning to feel hopeful. He even started having dreams once they defeated Gantz. He and Taro can return to the shrine as their private sanctuary. They could sit in the shrine and watch the sunset, feeling the summer heat sooth their faces. How Mimura wished for that moment...
"You must meet my assistant," Jun started. "He was also kidnapped with me and has been cursed as well."
"Does he require a kiss too?" Mimura questioned.
"Oh, nothing like that," Jun said. "His spell is bound to mine. Once I break free, he will as well. Come. He must be slowly walking his way towards here."
Mimura titled his head in confusion. He didn't understand why Jun's assistant would be walking slowly. He followed Jun's hops around bushes and reeds until he spotted in the distance a tortoise. The poor thing looked like he was walking as fast as he could, but he only made short slow steps.
"Ohno! I have found Prince Takuya here to help us!" Jun called. "We shall assist him to break his spell so that he may break ours!"
"Excellent news, Your Highness," Ohno the tortoise spoke. Mimura tried not to laugh, but it was quiet amusing. Even his voice was slowed down. "May I ask, had the catapult worked?"
"It did, but I landed far too short of our target," Jun answered as they arrived at Ohno's side. "We must make it reach higher if we want to get to the windows."
"Catapult?" Mimura asked. "You were trying to reach the tower?"
"Indeed," Jun nodded. "It is the only place where a map is treasured. We cannot devised a plan unless we know where we are. Thus, I've built my own contraption. Out of reeds, sticks, and mud."
"His Highness is particularly found of mechanics," Ohno slurred.
"You don't have to build a catapult to launch yourself," Mimura said. "I can fly up there and get it for you."
"Oh, but of course!" Jun bellowed. "It must be the fireflies blinking my thoughts away. Do fly and see if you can find us a map."
"Sure," Mimura nodded, spreading his wings.
He had never flown before, but if it was anything like he dreamed, it shouldn't be hard. He started to take off. He stumbled a bit, dipping his wings into the lake until he flapped harder to get wind under him. Still, he was not used to it. He never tried flying before, and he was getting tired quickly. It wasn't like someone taught him how to fly like a mother bird and her chicks. His wings gave in and he crashed into the mud on the other side of the shore.
His feathers were covered in mud, but then he realized he was glowing. He was still on the water and he gazed up. The moonlight shined down on the lake again, and the water started to rise around him. He was completely covered until he felt his body changing. The water receded back, and he turned into a normal human. However, he was still sitting the water, feeling like a failure. He wiped away any mud on his face.
Soon enough, Jun hopped into his view and Ohno slowly stumbled behind him.
"I am sorry," Mimura sobbed. "I...I'm not so used to my swan form."
"It is okay, Prince Takuya," Jun said, gently. "We can still find a way."
"You are too kind," Mimura said, shaking his head. "I just need to practice and I can fly properly."
"But how will you fly without a mentor?" Ohno asked. "Even a toddler learns to walk from watching others."
"Ohno! How can you be so insensitive!" Jun retorted.
Ohno gasped, and bowed his tortoise head low. "Forgive me, Your Royal Highness."
"It's fine," Mimura mumbled. "He is right, after all. I do need a mentor."
"I'm sorry, but the only creature here with wings is you, Prince Takuya," Jun said. "Unless you dare to venture into the woods..."
"I wouldn't dare risk it," Mimura said. "I would be like a sitting duck to predators."
Jun looked disheartened. "Come out of the water, Prince."
Mimura slowly stood up, ignoring the dampness of his clothes and walked towards the shore.
"Please...call me Mimura," he said.
Jun made a frog noise that was probably similar to a chuckle. "You may call me Jun."
Since Mimura was tall again, he picked up Ohno's tortoise shell while Jun hopped onto his shoulder. He carried them towards the shrine where it was drier and more comfortable to sleep in. They faced the courtyard and Mimura set Ohno down next to him. Jun hopped off his shoulder and sat down on top of Ohno's shell.
"You walk with such grace," Jun said, admiringly. "As expected of a prince such as yourself."
"Thank you."
"I find it amusing your clothes are black while you change into a white swan," Ohno mumbled.
Jun's webbed hands lightly hit Ohno's rounded head. "Where are you manners tonight?! Hold your tongue!"
Mimura laughed. "You two are quite the pair."
"Aye, we go way back," Jun said.
"I have the night," Mimura smiled. "Do tell."
"My home land is to the west, ruled by the Marquis Enomoto Kei, until I left to find work in the north." Ohno said. Mimura crossed his legs for a more comfortable position. "I have been serving His Highness for twenty years. Never did I left his side, nor do I intend to. It is why I was also captured and chained to the spell. I was stubborn not to leave Prince Jun from my sight. I am his and his alone."
Jun looked bashful as Mimura smiled at the tortoise.
"Your loyalty is profound," Mimura said. "You remind me of my family butler, Isogai. He is as gentle as you are, Ohno. Dutiful and never wavering. I never had a personal assistant myself, for I had always done things alone...until I met Taro."
"Your prince?" Jun asked.
Mimura nodded. "His kingdom is a neighbor of mine, and every summer since I was ten, I would stay at his castle. We played games and chased around in the woods. I didn't realize until I was late into my adolescence that I had feelings for him. Feelings that I realized could last far longer than forever. I was suppose to wed his sister to unify our kingdoms, but she is much too young. And Taro...well, he's so..." Mimura sighed, amorously.
"Have you confessed your love to him?" Jun asked. "Had he to you?"
Mimura frowned. "Not...in the sense of exchanging words."
"Had you bed with him?" Jun asked smugly.
"Your Highness, be considerate of other's privacy," Ohno said, sternly.
Mimura chuckled again. "I do not mind. All you need to know is that I do love Taro. His kindness and generosity to others can captivate hundreds. Even as a prince, he takes the time to listen to his citizens. He surprised me when he befriend a commoner."
"Prince Jun could learn something from this Prince Taro," Ohno murmured. Jun just pouted at him.
"But I don't know what he truly thinks of me," Mimura said, wrapping his arms around his knees. "I think I do, but I am not certain. I only wish to know if he thinks of me separately. Not just the Prince of Mimura to help save his kingdom, but as Mimura Takuya."
"If your prince seems as caring as you say, then you should have no-"
There was a wailing squawk that interrupted Jun, and the three cursed men looked up. A puffin crashed into a tree and fell branch by branch down until it lay stiff. Mimura got up and ran to the poor bird. He found a short arrow stuck to its wing. He kneel down and observed closely. He gently stroke the puffin's head, feeling the bird was still moving.
"He's alive," Mimura gasped.
"This looks painful," Ohno pointed out to the arrow.
"Hold him down for me," Mimura asked.
As Ohno propped himself over the puffin, Mimura held onto the arrow and snapped one end off. The puffin jerked, but Mimura continued his work. Quickly, he pulled out the arrow, surprised to find hardly any blood. The arrow was very tiny after all. Mimura reached inside for his under shirt and ripped off a piece of cloth to wrap around the wing. As soon as he was done, the puffin started fidgeting and its eyes opened. The bird was strong and squeezed himself out of Ohno's weight.
"Who dares experiment on me?!" It shouted.
"This one talks too!" Mimura gasped, his eyebrows shooting up.
"A human!" It turned towards him. "Stay back you, or I'll bite your hand!"
"That is no way to speak to a prince!" Jun croaked at him. "And one who saved your life!"
The puffin's eyes widen in shock. "A prince?" As if a change of behavior, the puffin lowered its head. "Forgive me, prince. I was only suspicious since my escape from that dreadful scientist. He keeps a zoo of animals from around the world and I am lucky to escape."
"Are you cursed as well?" Ohno asked.
"Cursed?" The puffin smirked. "Of course not! I am Aiba Masaki, Lieutenant of the Eastern Bird Cavalry of Chiba. At your service." He bowed again.
"Bird Cavalry?" Mimura titled his head. "The natives of Chiba train birds for combat?"
"Eh, not really," Aiba mumbled. "We mostly do work by ourselves."
"It's just a name you made up yourself, didn't you?" Jun said, cynically.
"I have many dreams" Aiba smirked.
"But how is it that I can understand you?" Mimura asked. "Ohno and Jun are cursed humans like me, so they can talk. But you-"
"Tis the workings of the mad scientist that I have escaped from," Aiba answered. "I would thank him for the ability, but I scorn him for his monstrosity. Let us not speak of him again."
"Well, you're in no luck, Lieutenant," Ohno sighed. "You've landed in the home of another evil doer. One who relies both magic and science."
"Magic?" Aiba chortled. "You mean those silly hand twirling, berry-potion mixing, and magic spells that makes things appear from nothing and-"
At his words, a flower popped out of the ground and he made a startled squawk. Mimura stood up and saw the shrine slowly changing its appearance. He knew what this meant. Ohno and Jun dragged Aiba away to safety as the shrine transformed from abandoned and dark to new and bright. Cherry blossom petals drifted across the sky, and the shrine gleamed a golden light. Someone was climbing up the steps and dashed into the courtyard, pausing when his eyes met him.
"T-taro!" Mimura gasped, jogging up to him. "But...how?"
He reached his hand out to touch his face, and Taro lean into his palm. Mimura thought he was going to cry, and Taro wrapped his arm around his waist, gently pulling him closer. He gazed down at Taro's lips, waiting to taste them again. He was about to do so, but he saw Taro make a most unlikely toothy grin. Mimura stiffened as Taro leaned close and flicked his tongue up his jawline to his earlobe, making crackled breathy moan. This was not Taro.
Mimura gasped and shoved him away. Taro's face melted away and Gantz stood before him.
"How is my prince doing?" He grinned.
Mimura glared at him crossly. "You repulsively, hideous, loathsome bastard!"
"You know I could make anything happen for you if you wished," Gantz said, circling around him. "A prince deserve better than staying at a shrine. We can end this quickly. All I ask is one simple word."
Mimura folded his arms and looked away.
"Prince Mimura Takuya," Gantz started again. "Will you offer me your hand in marriage?"
"Every night you ask me the same question," Mimura sneered, "and every night I give you the same answer."
"Don't-"
"I'll die first!"
Gantz's pale face turned into a deeper shade of gray as if it was his angered blush. The bright shrine faded back to its original state and they were in the night again. It was as if Gantz was trying to restrain himself from hitting Mimura, but he did nothing to harm him. He knows without him, Gantz could not rule his grandfather's kingdom. Many nights he wondered why Gantz didn't just steal it like before, but it'll mean Gantz would have to protect it from the Yamada Kingdom.
He needed Mimura alive.
"Must you be so stubborn," Gantz grumbled.
"Must you be so surprisingly dense?" Mimura snapped back.
"That's it!" Gantz shouted. "You are really trying to test me, and you don't want that! I can only keep my patience for so long, but one day you will regret crossing with me!"
"Torture me all you like," Mimura said, bravely. "But my answer will still be the same."
"You will be eating those words, Prince," Gantz hissed. But then a sly grin spread across his face. "Perhaps I'll give you another day to think about it."
The first morning rays appeared over the hill. The moon was fading in its light, and Mimura walked solemn back to the lake. He felt shameful as Gantz laughed at him from behind. In a way, this was his torture: humiliation. He could hear Ohno, Jun, and Aiba following him, but he didn't felt like talking. After such an embarrassment from earlier, he wanted to be alone. Mimura's foot touched the water and he stood on the shallow edges. The magic started again and he changed back into a swan.
He let the current drift him out to the center, nestling his head back down to his chest.
"Taro...where are you?"
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End of chapter 2
To Chapter 3 http://arashiforyou.livejournal.com/52350.html
it's quite ironic i made aiba the puffin when he has a fear of birds XD
oh well.
Swan out!