Chapter Text
''Wait!''
''He did nothing wrong! Please!''
''You have to believe her! I'm innocent!''
His words fell on deaf ears, and as he'd shoved into the carriage, he eyed the man that got him in his current situation. A Noble man, with a face Ren will never forget..
The carriage rolls away as the woman begs for him to be released. It too fell upon deaf ears. Ren was in trouble, mostly for a crime, of assault, he didn't even commit.
His family did welcome the noble to their home, and soon in just a few hours, Ren was being driven off for the assault of his guest.
What was he going to do? He wasn't sure.
He did know one thing.
He will get back at the man. How?
He'd prove his innocence once he's able to get the solid evidence he needs. But first.. Where was he going?
The carriage rolled into town. Ren didn't bother looking out at the villagers, whom he could tell where whispering about his situation. He sighed, and looked around the empty carriage. Any second now, he'd arrive at his destination. Some.. fancy cafe at the edge of town.
Ren looked out the window finally, and was taken slightly aback at the sight of such a glorious land. The houses and building were far better than were he lived previously. Even if it would be for a little bit of time, he shouldn't have to worry all to much. Hmm?
The carriage stops, and the door opens, ''C'mon.''
Ren steps out, and looks at where he stopped. Oh, he was at the cafe. It was smaller that he expected. Maybe he shouldn't expect so much from having lived such a luxurious life a few months prior. Ren looked at the guards, then nodded as he walked off. Better to be polite, right?
The door opens, and Ren looks around the small room. The smell of a sweets and coffee filled the air. Ren was slightly entranced, but was unsure where the owner was. Ren turned his head, and looked up at an older man as he stepped down some stairs by the back of the shop. ''Ah, You made it. Never expected a noble to have to be a guest in my shop..''
Ren silently nodded, before he spoke up, ''I'm Ren. Ren Amamiya. House of-''
''The Phantoms, I know you. Your family is well liked here, despite that you live in another country.'' The man said, ''I'm Sojiro, Sakura Sojiro.'' Sojiro walked over to Ren, and shook his hand. ''Make yourself at home. It's not much, but don't expect anything fancy, My lord.''
Ren nodded, and walked up the stairs. The attic, second floor, or whatever he'll call it, wasn't to shabby. In fact, it almost actually felt like home. Ren did live in a messy room back at home, so he didn't really expect much at all. Ren walked towards the bed, ''Hmm, better than maybe being on the floor..'' Ren said, sitting the bed. ''Maybe a clean of the sheets, a few more lights, and I could really call this home..''
After a bit of unpacking his things, which were just a few clothes, Ren walked down stairs. There, he saw someone sitting at one of the booths. A girl. Ren's brow raise and he slowly walked down the stairs, hoping to walk past her without startling her, since Sojiro did leave for some business a while ago.
''Oh, Hello.'' Ren stopped when the girl spoke up. ''H-Hello, Ma'am.'' The lady stood up, and walked next to him, ''Oh, You must be Ren house of the Phantoms.'' Ren nodded, and stepped back, ''I am.. You must know why, right?'' The lady shook her head, ''Not really, Are you on vacation?''
Ren huffed, so his probation wasn't probably known by everyone here, as far as he could tell. A Noble in a semi-foreign land wouldn't be too strange, since you know, politics and all that. Ren couldn't dare say why, so maybe a quick lie wouldn't be bad.. Right?
''Sort of, I'm just getting away from family business for now.. Despite everything else going on.'' The lady nodded, ''Oh how rude of me. I'm Ann, Ann Takamaki. House of the Panthers.'' Oh, no wonder she looked sort of familiar. ''Ah, well hello Ann, what brings you to uhm.. LeBlanc?''
''I'm just trying to just really get some air.. from my guard.'' Guard? Does she have a personal knight? The door opens, and a new face shows, ''Lady Ann, are you almost done?'' Ren and Ann look at the door, seeing the man. ''A-Ah, almost Kamoshida.''
Ren looked back at Ann, and then Kamoshida. ''He's your knight?''
Ann nodded, hesitantly. Ren noticed the look of worry in her eye.
''I'll be out in just a moment!'' Ann called out. Kamoshida nodded, and then exits the cafe. Ann raised her head, looking over Ren's shoulder, ''I'm sorry about that.''
''You're completely fine, just.. do you not like him? He seems pretty fine to me.'' Ren said, looking back at the door. Ann didn't respond at first, ''He's.. 'Fine'.'' She said in quotations, ''Anyways, I must get going, I'll see you later.'' Ren watched as Ann left, the door opening, and then closing as she exits the building. Ren felt something bunr his stomach at first, but the door suddenly swung open, and another face steps into the cafe, ''Was Ann here?!''
Ren's eyes widen as the guy steps into the cafe. He was wearing some knight attire, so he was probably a knight too, ''Y-Yes, but she just left with.. uhh.. Kamoshida.''
''Damn it!'' The guy says, before he stomps his foot. Thank god that it was just them too in the cafe at the moment, ''Why do you ask?''
''That guy is an eef'ing creep! Did Ann look uncomfortable when he was around?'' Ren nodded, and stepped back, ''But is that your concern?''
''I work as a knight for the house or Panthers, so yes.'' The guy said, he took a seat at one of the tables, and huffed. ''Sorry I freaked out, I just hate that guy with a passion.'' Ren slowly walked to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder, ''Would you like some snacks to calm down?'' The guy nodded, and Ren walked away to get some food.
-
''So, about you?'' Ren asked, placing his drink down, ''Who must you be, Mr. I barge into random places looking for women?'' The guy sighed, and leaned back in his chair, ''Sakamoto. Ryuji Sakamoto.''
Ren nodded, ''Well, Ryuji, is there a reason you barged in here looking for Ann?''
Ryuji rubbed his temples, and then his eyes, ''Kamoshida, her 'Personal knight' is a eff'ing creep, as I already said, and he wants to marry her. She's only 16!'' Ren's eyes widen a bit, and he crossed his legs, ''Do.. Do you have a plan to stop him? This sounds serious.''
Ryuji nodded, ''I just need to gather evidence of the shit he's done, and get him busted!'' Ren looked skeptical. Ryuji huffed, ''Not like you know. You're on probation here, so shit around here is foreign to you.''
Oh, okay so that's person number two who know about his situation, ''Yeah.. but if you need help, I'd be happy.'' Ryuji nodded, and stood up. ''Yeah.. Thanks.''
He walked towards the door, and left without another word. Oh hey wait! He didn't pay.. ''Sojiro's going to kill me..''
Today was sunny, for the most part. Ren walked around town, seeing the small shops and what they had to offer. Despite the new change of location, Ren was adjusting pretty well. It's only been a day since he's arrived, but things shouldn't be terrible.
Ren turned his head at the sound of something, and looked down an alleyway. It was secluded between a book shop and another cafe. Ren slipped into the alleyway, hoping to go undetected. The darkness of the alleyway made it hard to really see anything, but Ren made it through well enough.
The further Ren walked, the louder the sound became. Ren jogged closer to a corner, and saw a bit of a shocking sight, a girl holding onto a cat, while being cornered by two knights. Oh shit. ''Please, it's just a cat!''
The girl cowered into the corner more, the cat hissing at the knights. ''Well how is she's Ann's lady in waiting?'' One mocked, kicking the girl. Ren's fist clenched, his eyes narrowing. He wants to step in, but who knows what's to happen..
Screw it.
The knights kept laughing, stepping on the girl and the cat's tail. Ren stepped around the corner, and called out, ''Hey! What do you think You're doing!'' The knights turn to see Ren, and just laugh even more, ''OH! The criminal wants to be a hero?''
Ren walks towards them, shoving them away from the girl, ''You okay?'' He held his hand out, with the girl taking it, ''I can deal with them, you get out of here.'' The girl nods, and books it out of the alleyway when ren stopped one of the knights from grabbing her. ''So Punk, you want to be a hero, hmm?''
Ren glared at them, ''I didn't ask for the criminal charge.''
''To bad. If someone said you did the crime, you have to pay the time.''
With that, the knight swung his fist, and collided with Ren's face.
''It was him! Here!'' Ann nearly stumbled as Shiho guided her to the alleyway, with the cat in her arm. The duo step to where Ren was, but gasp seeing what happened to him. Ren looked up, holding his face, which was covered in blood, ''A-Ann! Hello..''
Ann rushed to Ren's side, then looked at Shiho, ''We're going back to my place, he needs to be cared.'' Shiho nodded, and helped Ann guide Ren out of the alleyway, and towards the street.
This was not how Ren wanted to start day two in his new home.
Ren sighed, holding the cloth to his face, ''Careful now.'' A maid says, before she took the cloth, and started placing ointments on the bruises. Ann and Shiho sat to the side, with the cat resting in Ann's lap, ''What happened, if I may ask?''
Shiho shrugged, I was just petting that cat, when some knights came around, and started picking on me. I tried to loose them in the alleyway, but they found me and then that nice guy cae around and helped me.'' Ann nodded, and stood up. She walked towards Ren, and sat on the bed with him, ''Thank you.. for saving Shiho.''
Ren looked at her, and slowly nodded, ''Is she a friend?''
''My lady in waiting, and yes, best friend.'' Ren nodded again, ''Well, You're welcome, Ann, Shiho.'' Shiho smiled, with the cat now sitting on her lap now. The cat meowed, and jumped off Shiho's lap, now hoping onto Ren's. ''Hey there. Happy I saved you?'' Ren joked.
The cat looked at him, and with even all the bizarre things Ren had seen before, he swore the cat nodded, like he was agreeing. ''Huh..''
''If you'd like, I can walk you home.'' Ann said, standing up. Ren looked up at her, ''Ahh, I'm fie. But thank you, Mi'Lady.'' Ann laughed, ''Of course.''
Ren stepped out of the doorway, and started walking down the street. Some time has past, and based on how the sky looked a bit, it was the afternoon. Ren sighed, and started walking down the street.
At least the breeze was cool.
A meow alerts Ren, and he turns around to see the cat was following him, ''Huh?'' The cat walked over, rubbing his head on Ren's leg. ''Okay, Hey buddy.'' The cat looked at him with blue eyes, eye that could entrance anyone. ''Want to.. walk home with me?''
The cat started walking forward, giving an indirect 'yes' as an answer. ''Will Sojiro even let me keep a cat?''
''You're back- Oh? You have a cat?'' Ren stepped into the cafe, with the cat now sitting on his shoulder, ''Y-Yeah.. I guess? I saved him, and girl that's friends with Lady Ann from some knights-- before you ask why my face is busted up.''
Sojiro nodded, ''Just make sure to take care of those cuts, there are medicine in the cabinet that sits above the edge of your bed.'' Ren thanks Sojiro, before he walked up the stairs. The cat leaped down and followed Ren up the stairs.
Once at the top of the stairs, Ren sat on the bed, with the cat following him. ''Exhausted hmm?''
Ren nodded, and rolled on his side, ''Long day, and I'm still questioning what Ryuji might be-'' Ren sits up, and looks at the cat, ''Did you just...''
The cat blinked, ''Yep. I can talk.''
Ren's widen eyes slowly return to normal, ''H-How?'' The cat made a motion of titling his head, ''No clue, but I just can..'' Ren nodded slowly, and scooted closer to the cat, ''Do.. You have a name?''
''Call me Morgana!'' the cat chirped. Ren smiled, and pet the cat's head, ''Well, Hope yo don't mind a criminal being your roommate.'' Morgana titled his head, ''Criminal? A noble like you?''
''Its a long story, if you want to hear.''
''I mean, sure. I literally am a Cat, so I don't have much to do.''
''Okay, let's start.. back three months ago..''