Chapter Text
She doesn't know where she’s going, mind racing and heart pounding. Her sasumata drags behind her, picking up greenery as she pries it through the lush forest.
The screaming behind her fades a bit, and Kiku takes the opportunity to breathe. Eyes wandering, she trips over an unearthed root, flying face first into the dirt. The blonde coughs, scrubbing at the tears that run through her dirt caked face.
Kiku wasted no time climbing into a tree, cursing when she realizes she can’t hide her sasumata properly. After a moment, she throws it away from her- as long as she makes it home, she can make a new one.
She watches as the guards run underneath her, swords held firm in their hands. The stark white and shimmering silver of their armour is matted in blood.
The young girl bites her lip, releasing a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. When Kiku’s positive the path is clear, she jumps down from her hiding spot, wobbling slightly as her feet hit the ground.
As of now, the current king of Corporis is not the kindest, treating his servants as garbage and his subjects worse.
Kiku turns to look at the palace as she makes her way to where she tossed her weapon, sighing as she shuffles through the bushes.
She cannot blame the soldiers for doing their job; for defending the country and its king is their duty. For she too worked for the royal family, but couldn’t bare to see them abuse their subjects as they did.
Attaching her sasumata to her back once more, she hums at the feeling of it on her back again, shaking her shoulders as if to spread the feeling around.
She feels the hint of a smile tugging at her lips before an arrow goes whizzing passed her head.
It was no surprise that they found her, but she should’ve been more careful. Her hands itch for her defence, but the low timbre of a masculine voice stops her immediately.
“I wouldn’t move anymore if I were you,” it warns, and she can hear the smirk in his tone.
Slowly, she raises her arms, clasping them in a lock above her head. Her amber eyes widen when she sees her pursuer, face paling as her knees begin to shake. He begins to laugh and her throat begins to constrict.
“Surprised to see me?” He asks, and Kiku finds herself withering under the gaze of Prince Shiba.
…
His perfect white hair is separated in the middle, giving her an ample view of his dark eyes.
She’s tied to a chair, helplessly tugging at the bonds the prince had locked her in after he rendered her unconscious with the hilt of his sword.
Her sasumata’s gone too, she learns, staring up at him from underneath her bangs. His gaze is hard as he meets her eyes, and Kiku looks away automatically, swallowing the lump in her throat.
He shifts and her eyes follow him until she can’t, body tensing as he comes to stand behind her. She feels the brush of his hands on her neck before they find her hair, tugging out her ponytails.
“What are you doing?” She whispers, and his chuckle reverberates around the empty cell. “Your hair of course,” he replies, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Kiku pulls away from him, ignoring the strange sensation of her loose, blonde, hair.
“Why am I here?” She hisses, shuffling the seat farther from her captor. The pleasant smile he once donned is now gone, exchanged for a mask of pure ice. Kiku doesn't know why she would bother, the prince wouldn’t care.
“Don’t play that game with me assassin,” he spits, mouth twitching in pure disgust. “Did you really think you were clever climbing up that tree? That’s child’s play,” he scoffs, folding his arms across his chest.
Kiku rolls her eyes, licking her lips. “You attack me for child’s play when your guards couldn’t even realize I was in the tree!” She exclaims, and the man huffs. “Perhaps you should consider recruiting better defence.”
“Perhaps I would,” Prince Shiba retorts, and an empty silence falls over the room.
When she says nothing and the conversation is assumed dead, the prince scoffs, making his way towards the exit. His eyes are hard when he turns to look at her once more.
“When I return at dawn tomorrow, you will answer me.”
He leaves no room for argument. (not that she’d want to argue with him anyway.)
…
He doesn't come back at dusk, Kiku thinks, head trained on the small barred window that offers her only telling of time.
She doesn't understand her disappointment when a servant throws a piece of bread into cell, send her a wry look. They walk away immediately, leaving the blonde bound and staring at the only food she’s seen in a day or two.
After struggling, Kiku gives up, staring at the hard bun warily. She huffs, shaking her hair in a lame attempt to get it out of her face.
The girl freezes when the creaking of an iron door opens wallows through her ears, head snapping up to meet the tired gaze of the prince. Her heart races, but she will not show her thankfulness.
“I guess I lied to you,” he begins, hand reaching for the ornate crown atop his head. She nods, eyes wandering across him. His clothes are different… far more detailed and fancier than the ones he wore yesterday.
When Kiku meets his gaze again, he’s smirking. “Do you like what you see,” Prince Shiba asks, walking towards the bars of her cell. She rolls her eyes, sighing heavily before noticing the bread roll. The prince follows her gaze, a soft “oh” leaving him.
Unlocking the barred door, he steps in easily, leaving the exit unlatched. Kiku’s eyes widen as he bends over to pick up the roll, proceeding to undo her binds right after. She palms her wrist, taking the food from him gingerly.
“Thank you,” she whispers, and he hums, leaning against the wall. Her eyes flicker to the door and he chuckles.
“If you ever think of escaping, I’ll have you killed immediately,” he warns, looking down at her. Kiku nods as she bites her bread, face souring at its unpleasant taste. The prince hums.
“It’s not good?” He asks, reaching to take it from her before stopping. “May I?”
Kiku looks up at him, taking in the dark of his eyes. He’s asking her, a mere peasant, if he could take her stale bread roll. She smiles slightly, pushing it towards him.
Prince Shiba taps it once, then twice, before throwing it like a ball. He looks at her, eyes narrowing. “I’ll get you better food,” he says, and Kiku relaxes. “But-” she tenses again. “You’d have to answer to every question I ask.”
Kiku snorts, eyes finding his from underneath her blonde eyelashes. “May I ask you questions too?” She asks, watching as a flurry of emotions pass over his features.
“Fine.”
…
It’s like the game she played with her brothers when they were smaller. Long before they were enlisted in the army.
Yuuma, Iishiro, and Kiku would go around in a circle, asking each other questions that you had to answer. The game worked best with two people, and the young girl would often play it with her white haired brother, dragging in the eldest when they looked sad.
She never once imagined she’d be playing it with the prince.
He taps his chin as he thinks of his question as she eats her sandwich in silence. His eyes sparkle after a beat.
“Do you have any siblings, Kiku?” He asks, and she nods. They exchanged names after a few rounds of this silly game, although she insisted on calling him Prince Shiba. She isn’t entirely sure how the king feels about his son communing with prisoners, nor understands why she hasn’t been properly interrogated.
Not that she’s complaining.
“I have two older brothers…” she begins, before stopping. Kiku sighs. “Well, I had two brothers. Iishiro is still here with us. He serves in the king’s personal cavalry, actually.”
The prince nods sagely. “I know him. He and his friends are a loud bunch, but they’re some of the only people I can interact with, so I’m not too picky,” he replies, a smirk creeping onto his thin lips. Kiku blushes, pulling a strand of blond hair behind her ears.
“What of your other brother?” He adds after a bit, voice quiet. “Yuuma…” she starts, fists clenching in her lap. Prince Shiba shifts from where he is on the floor, taking a knee in front of her. “You don’t have to tell me.” A pause. “And it’s your turn anyway.”
She looks at him again, eyes watering as she sees a genuine care reflecting back at her.
“Yuuma went missing after the army went too close to the Erythros border.” She sniffs. “They’ve looked everywhere for him, but he’s nowhere to be found.” Prince Shiba takes a seat in front of her. “And I haven’t seen Iishiro in months.”
He nods, looking at a little dust bunny that trails on the floor. “I’m sorry,” is all he can say, and Kiku smiles at him. “Thanks,” she whispers, before asking the prince what his favourite food is.
…
It is not the prince that visits her today.
A burly man with bright blond hair walks into her cell, face marred in a frown. He huffs when she only stares at him, grabbing her arm.
“We’re going to get you cleaned up, you understand?” He yells, and Kiku winces at his voice. The man doesn't allow her to reply, dragging her along after him.
Kiku realizes this is the first time she’s seen the outside of her cell in days. No. Was it weeks? She wasn’t sure. She watches as the gloomy grey interior of the dungeons fades into a brighter light, sighing when she feels the sun’s rays on her head.
Then they’re stopping, and Kiku looks up at her guide. He opens a door, yelling something at one of the other people in the room, before leaving her all alone.
That’s when she sees the prettiest woman to ever grace her eyes.
Her dress is wide and white, with puffy, lacey sleeves. Kiku can only assume she’s a maid from the cap that she wears and the smile on her lips.
“Oh my,” she exclaims, cupping her cheek with one palm. “Aren’t you precious!” Kiku blushes at this, clutching her dirty clothing. The woman watches her movements before clasping her hands together. “Let’s get you washed up, yes?” She inquires, and Kiku smiles hopefully.
…
In the palace, these kind maids are called macrophages, and the lovely woman that helped Kiku was named Miyuki. She helped the young blonde with her bath, adding fragrances and oils to the water to enhance the experience.
When Kiku’s done, Miyuki hands her a simple pink dress, cooing at how she looked.
“It’s wonderful on you,” the maid says, and Kiku smiles. The older woman wastes no time in sitting her down, quickly pulling her hair into a delicate bun framed with a braid. Then Miyuki takes her hand, leading her away from the baths and further into the palace.
Kiku doesn't understand why she is being treated so well. After all, she did attempt to assassinate the king, failing miserably, which led to her imprisonment.
Miyuki no longer attempts conversation, humming to herself as the duo walk through the sunlit halls. The blonde takes in her surroundings, wondering how the king could live in such a lavish atmosphere when his people suffer a few minutes away.
And soon they’re stopping, leaving Kiku confused. Miyuki sends her a soft smile. Taking her hand, the maid squeezes it slightly.
“The king is not the gentlest,” she begins, brown eyes solemn. “But his son makes up for it.” A pause, and Kiku looks at her wide eyed. “I’m sure you will be fine.
…
She isn’t sure how long she stays on her knees, shaking as she feels the king’s heavy gaze. “How does it feel knowing you failed, little girl?” He taunts, and she steals a glance at his face.
The King of Corporis has shimmering white hair, and she envies the way it cascades down his shoulders, white tresses making him seem almost ethereal. His eyes are hard and dark, and Kiku think that they are nothing but an empty, heartless, void.
His voice fills her ears once again. “Tell me, girl. How do you like it?”
“I don’t,” is all she says, gaze trained on the ground again. She jumps at the sound of something pounding the ground, and her eyes snap up to that of the king’s. “Look at me when I speak to you,” he hisses, and she nods.
“What should we do with her,” he asks to no one in particular, and Kiku tenses, body going rigid as she fights to maintain her position on the ground.
And then she hears him.
“Father, I told you,” Prince Shiba begins, a slightly exasperated tone in his voice. “She can serve in my personal guard.” The king scoffs, frowning. “A peasant like her, who can’t even hold her weapon properly? Tell me you’ve hit your head, Shiba.”
Her jaw drops as the two royals begin to commune back and forth.
After a few minutes, the king sighs heavily and the prince smirks. He strides toward her, stopping a few paces in front of the kneeling girl. Extending his hand, Prince Shiba winks.
“You’re coming with me, Kiku.”