Special Kingdom

[kanu_x]

Edited: 2012.11.28

Title: Special Kingdom
Feature/Pairing: Arashi, Ohmiya, JunAiba, Yama (onesided)
Rating: PG (incest, language)
Genre: romance, historical fiction (everything is purely fictional!!)
Summary: Mostly thoughts, memories, and some plot in First Person from different characters.
Trouble in the Royal Court. How will the five: Satoshi, Sho, Masaki, Kazunari, and Jun deal?
Part: 3/7
A/N: My first Arashi fic. :0


Characters: (##) = age
only those in red are important
Royal Family: *#=order of birth
Emperor Ohno IV (69)
Wife #1 (60)
*1 --> Daughter1 (42)
Wife #2 (54)
*2 --> Daughter2 (38)
*4 --> Son2/Second Prince (29-30) Ohno SATOSHI
Wife #3 (53)
*3 --> Son1/Heir (32)
*7 --> Daughter4 (27)
*8 --> Daughter5 (20)
Wife #4 (44)
Wife #5 (45)
*5 --> Daughter3 (29)
*6 --> Son3/Third Prince (27) Ninomiya KAZUNARI
Wife #6 (34)
*9 --> Son4/Fourth Prince (05)
Others:
Royal Scholar - Sakurai SHO (29)
Royal Guard - Matsumoto JUN (27)
Commoner - Aiba MASAKI (28)

1-Emperor Ohno IV
2-Ohno Satoshi

* * *

Aiba Masaki:
My family owns a restaurant. We aren't dirt poor, but we aren't rich either. I love to cook, but that doesn't mean I want to inherit our business. There is nothing wrong with our dear restaurant, but I have bigger dreams.

I still have those dreams even now, and no one inspires me more than Sakurai Sho. Yes, one of the Royal Scholars! I cannot remember the day in detail. Was it sunny? Raining? I only know that I was in high spirits that day. And maybe I was eight. Yes, definitely eight! Or nine.

I love adventures more than anything. I want to be a hero. Once, when I was seven, I dragged a boy from a burning hut. Yes, it was dangerous! And I dragged because the boy was very small, but I was young too. My parents would have killed me if they knew, but they didn't. It had only been that one boy in the hut. I received a bad burn on my arm, but it didn't matter. The boy's eyes were full of gratitude. That was satisfactory.

Now on the day I met Sho, I had planned a great adventure! It was not foolish, really. Yet, in the end they did not understand my intentions and accused me of being a spy. I was to be taken in to be questioned. That would be the end of me.

I am dirty, cold, and frightened. The strangers around me only stared in pity.

Then among the crowd of onlookers, one young boy steps up. I later find out that he is older than I, but he is really, really small. Though he is a total stranger to me and me to him, he vouches for me!

Who is he? None other than Sakurai Sho, of course! Wearing the robes of a scholarly student, he courageously claims to be my friend. Ah! I am forever grateful. I am freed due to his insistence, prestige, and position. Thereon, we become fast friends. It does not matter that I am always bothering him while he is trying to study.

Then he turns sixteen. He enters the Palace to become assistant to some Grand Scholar. Something like that. Whenever I make my rounds to greet my friends, I visit his place and remember that he is not there. I will never find him there again. For a while, I grow depressed. That is how the idea came to me.

Oh, I'll find a way to sneak into the Palace! And I do so, too.

Sho is surprised, confused, and then angry. How endearing. I know it was for my sake. I calm him down and he relent with the knowledge that I will never stop no matter how much he scolds me.

Even though he has gone up another level in status, Sho still isn't high and mighty, isn't too arrogant to think himself better than a commoner like me. We are still friends; foolish, silly and happy.

But I realize I am no longer the only person in Sho's life. Who is this other person? Whenever he comes, I am forced to hide. I see a sweet faced boy, always with that dazed look on his face. He always appear sleepy-eyed and will come in through the door gloomy, but when inside with Sho he beams. I notice he wears rich silk. I guess right away. A Prince!

"Sho, Sho! A real Prince!"

He tells me to keep quiet.

Ah! Then I begin to see. It took a while, but it did come. I realize that Sho adores this older boy, the Second Prince. I wish to get to know this boy better, someone Sho cares about very much. So, why not? Everything is worth at least a try.

Excited, I ambush the Second Prince. He is not afraid at all! Rather, this adorable, dazed boy let me approach with a blank look on his face! Maybe he does not understand what is going on, but his reaction vexes me. He should be more aware and careful! Already I'm protective!

And so kind he is. Not arrogant like the rest. So quiet and willing to let me talk. I want to befriend him. I wish to know more about this man-boy, so childlike. "I come to see Sakurai all the time. Whenever I'm with him, I don't want to hide if you come in." He nods. Sure. That is enough for me to add him to my list of friends.

After that, more than ever I climb over the Palace walls. The three of us have great times together in the archives. Sometimes, Satoshi brings someone else too; his younger half-brother Kazunari. It is hard for us to get along at first. How smart-mouthed that brat can get at times! But he is not distant, a little less arrogant. We soon accept each other. Plus, all three of us, me, Sho, and Kazunari share the common duty of protecting Satoshi.

Around this time, I finally meet him. He aggravates me! That is the only reason why I'm sure I clearly pay attention to the weather. The skies are blue splashed with wisps of clouds. The sun shines, but not as brightly as on a hot summer day.

Unluckily, I jump over the wall and instead of falling gracefully down to my feet, I crash into a Guard. It's that bad. Someone I should avoid!

He has me by the neck with a knife. "You picked the worst place, thief."

Sweat pours down my face. No good! I can only move my eyes as he pushes me to walk onward. I desperately search my head for a plan to escape. What should I do!? I have no idea how dangerous this Guard is because he bob into clarity back and forth at the edge of my vision.

Luckily, a familiar voice calls out, "Jun! He's with me." Sakurai Sho! I am always astounded by Sho's network.

Reluctantly, the Guard releases me. Before I can step away, he shoves me hard towards my savior, angry that he had lost a catch. I stumble and fall.

"Dammit!" I curse before I realize. And then I stand and take one good look at my rude ex-captor.

Matsumoto Jun is an extremely handsome man! But he has a stern and hard look in his eyes. He is sure pissed, isn't he?

"Don't let me catch you again, or I'm throwing you in the cell next time, even if Sakurai puts in a word for you."

His arms are crossed and he stands there in all his armor glamour. And darnit, I am enchanted again. But am I going to make friends with him too? No way!

A few months later, this love-hate relationship I have with Matsumoto continues. I try to be friendly, really. I try. He just won't have any of it. He is content to be angry at me every time he sees my face. How can there be such a stubborn person?

Not only do we meet at the wall, sometimes he will come greet our group at the archives. Of course, he never comes in, just stands outside the window and respectfully, and humbly, bow his head to the Princes and Scholar. Me? He ignores me! Oh how intolerable this man is!

I hate him! So I say. I don't think I really do. I can't bring myself to hate anyone, even the inflexible Matsumoto Jun.

I think that the biggest problem between Jun and I is that we cannot understand each other. I do not know why he is grumpy all the time. I believe it is a waste to frown constantly, especially for him who has such a good-looking face. It is just hard for the both of us to communicate.

One time, I jump over the wall. I become too confident. This time instead of landing perfectly, I fall over onto my face. Right-into-the-dirt.

"Blhg!" Ugh. I had to get the taste of dirt out of my mouth! Nasty. Just then, someone bends over me. I look up and it is Matsujun with the first grin I had ever seen on his face. I will believe if someone says he's got the most beautiful smile.

"You're such an idiot." He crouches before me, his left hand curled against his chin.

I feel a rush of heat and hear the drums of my heartbeat.

It is the silence that ensues that break the spell. In that instant, Matsujun turns cold right before my eyes. He restores the crack in his demeanor. He straighten and glare down at me. "Dirty as always." Ah, that disgust in his voice. It has always been there, hasn't it? And then he leaves.

Sometimes, the most surprising things happen. That is, myself falling for Matsumoto Jun.

No doubt, he hates my hide. But, I want to see him, even if he gives me that hard glare. Even if he turns away with a face of stone! I spend more time trying to talk to him. I don't think he hears me. And then when I lose hope he answers. Those short sentences make my day!

This is a one-sided love. Like Sho's. See? We have something in common after all. And I guess like Sho, I will never tell the other person. I'll just spend the rest of my life staring.

It has been that way for... how many years now?

The Blooming Ceremony approaches. My father says our uncle, a farmer, will be providing the Palace with fresh vegetables this year. He needs help. I jump in. Yes! I volunteer myself! What better way to find a reason to get in?

The day comes and I help move the wagons. Royal Guards and regular soldiers are posted everywhere. Matsujun stands guard close by. Lucky me! For some reason, he seems especially handsome today. His armor gleams in the sun. I can't help it that my spirits are lifted. I'm always happy, but today of all days, I feel free!

The Ceremony begins. I glance over my shoulder and find that Matsujun is gone. He must be in the courtyard where the majority of the Guards are stationed. I sneak away and climb the roof.

From my position, I am on the building directly behind the Emperor's table. It is the best view. I chuckle to myself at my accomplishment. I look down above the heads of thousands of others. I have done it!

Sho calmly finishes his speech. He wears a heavy purple robe made of velvet. I've never seen him this handsome before either.

While the Emperor gives a toast, I turn my eyes to the only two of the Royal Children I know. The Princes sit from oldest to youngest and the Princesses stand behind their chairs. I see Satoshi and Kazunari next to each other, shoulder to shoulder. For a moment, I feel pity well up in me for Sho, but then it ebbs away.

I notice how glamorous the two of them look. "Really, those two are just shining. Why are they the only good-looking ones of the Emperor's children?" I voice out loud.

The toast ends and everyone at the table raise their cups and drink. Everyone but the little five year old Prince, at least.

I sigh. I've had enough. Time to go.

"Uwaaa!" The screech pierces the air. It is so sudden. I stiffen and stay as the Heir jumps to his feet clutching his throat. "UWAA! Help ME!"

Satoshi shuffles away from the table, afraid. Kazunari wraps his arm around him and pulls him further back. The crowd gathers.

"What is going on!?"

"Get the Guards!"

The Heir spurts blood and falls. No one catches him because they are horrified. I stare from my perch, shocked. Who dares to-- The Healer bends down to take his pulse. He stands and says into the crowd, "DEAD."

Sho grabs the Heir's cup and takes a look at the content. "Poison!"

"TREASON! TREASON!"

Everything breaks into chaos. Beads of sweat form on my forehead.

"THERE! The CRIMINAL!"

The Guards point up and I lose my breath when I realize that they are pointing at me on the roof. "The CRIMINAL! GET HIM!"

"TREASON! HANG HIM FOR TREASON!"

No! No way!

"TREASON! HANG HIM FOR TREASON!"

No way! I feel sick! I feel sick! I scramble to get away. A string of arrows misses me and whistles pass my ear. I have to get away! I'm not the criminal! I haven't done anything!

Something pierces my left shoulder. Another arrow. Pain shoots down my arm. "Uah!" My head whirls. I cannot steady myself. I feel the warm heat of my blood running down. I stumble on the roof and slip over the edge.

For a moment, it feels like freedom while I am suspended in the air. And then the rush of air blocks access into my lungs. I feel myself slam onto the ground. It is total darkness as complete pain rushes through my body. I wish I had fainted.

And then my lungs kick in. My sight returns to me. I writhe in agony. The sounds of feet running alert me to the Guards' presence. Without concern for my state, I am hauled to my feet and held by the arm on each side.

"Get up, you dirt bag!"

Please. I want no part in this. I hate myself for the tears running down my face. They drag me forward. I cannot find the strength to walk. My feet scrape against the ground. I am in so much pain. A Guard stands stiffly to the side. For some reason, my vision clears. My eyes focus on the frozen soldier. Matsujun. He stares at me in disbelief. Shock.

In one moment, my world has crashed. I want to die.

* * *

Next up: Matsumoto Jun