Chapter Text
Once upon a time in a far away land, there once was a prince who lived in a castle that shines and sparkles like a priceless diamond. Although he has everything he could ever want, the young prince always felt that he is incomplete but he had no idea what could be missing that his lonely heart desires.
But then one winter's night, a young woman with long pink hair, red eyes, and wearing a black Lolita dress under a black cloak arrived at the castle, much to the prince's annoyance. The young prince wanted nothing more than to be alone.
That night of her visit, the woman acted like a lost, homeless girl searching for shelter. So once the young prince dismissed her, only wanting to be alone, the woman merely smirk before she revealed herself to be a very powerful vampire.
With the smirk still planted on her face with her eyes dark with wickedness, she grabs the young prince and give him a bloody vampire kiss, painfully transforming the prince into a creature of the night with a neck brace that not only hid his bite mark, but protect him from the sun’s rays. Before leaving the castle grounds, the vampire enchantress placed a powerful curse on the grounds, turning everyone who live in the castle into the same being as their prince.
Ashamed of his cursed state, the prince concealed himself inside his castle and now prison with a single magic mirror as his window to the outside world. The rose she had left behind that night she cursed him, had become an enchanted rose that will bloom on his sixteenth year. If he could learn to love someone special and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the curse will be lifted. If not, he would be doomed to remain an ageless vampire for all of eternity.
As the years past, he fell into despair and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love someone who has been cursed to be a feared creature?
One day, with Autumn coming to an end in a few days, a boy of sixteen years, black hair that is messy and neat at the same time, sharp green eyes, wearing a simple white long sleeve shirt with a black jacket, black pants and black boots walks out of a small cottage and takes the bridge to the village, a small basket on hand.
After smiling at two crows that flew over head, young Yuichiro Amane begins to sing in a beautiful voice that no one can turn away from.
Little town
It's a quiet village
Every day
Like the one before
Entering the village, Yuu knows that the residents are now getting ready for the day in the same routine like they have in all of the previous days.
Little town
Full of little people
Waking up to say...
Then, one by one, the villagers open windows to their homes or shops and starting their daily routines.
Bonjour
Bonjour
The first two opening up their shops.
Bonjour
Bonjour
The next two have started cleaning.
Bonjour
The last one removing his hat in greeting to Yuu once he had stepped outside of his home to make his way to work.
Smiling at the man in return, Yuu continues on, seeing many others doing their usual starts on the day.
There goes the baker
With his tray like always
The same old bread and rolls
To sell
Watching the baker hand one of his fresh loafs to a young woman passing by, Yuu is politely greeted by a farmer as he pushes a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins and bows in greeting back.
Every morning
Just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town
"Good morning, Yuu." said the baker as he walk back up to the window of his bakery.
"Morning, monsieur." Yuu replies as he walks up to the hard working man.
"Where are you off to this lovely morning?" he sets his tray on his window so he could check over the breads and rolls.
"The bookstore. I just finished reading this great story-" Yuu is just about to explain what happens in the story when the baker cut him off.
"That's nice. FUMIE, the baguettes, hurry up!" the baker calls inside, talking to his young daughter who is a couple years younger than Yuu.
Shrugging off being interrupted and leaving the baker to do his job, Yuu continues on, tuning out anyone who would gossip about him as he pass by, briefly greeting anyone politely that would greet him as they walk by.
Look, there he goes
The boy is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell
Two older women he walked by began the usual gossip about the young boy, watching him just casually walk on even as one older teen chases after two piglets and then being chased by one big momma pig.
Never part of any crowd
A rich, elder woman says as she catches sight of the boy as she enjoys her morning tea.
Cause his head's up on some cloud
A barber in his workplace above the tea shop get's distracted when he sees Yuichiro pass by, ending up cutting more of his customer's hair than he intended to.
No denying he's a funny boy,
That Yuichiro
Catching a ride on the back of a horse-drawn carriage, Yuu just sits and watch as the carriage drives through the village, listening the the other villagers greet each other.
Bonjour
Good day
How is your family?
Bonjour
Good day
How is your wife
I need six eggs
That's too expensive!
Seeing the bookstore coming up, Yuu jumps right off and goes for the entrance.
There must be more than
This provincial life!
Hearing the bell to his shop ring as the door opens, the owner smiles at her favorite customer. "Ah Yuu."
"Good morning. I've come to return the book I borrowed." Yuu says as he hands the matron the book he had completed.
"You finished already, dear?"
"It was so good I couldn't put it down once I got home. Anything new?" Yuu then started to scan the shelves for the next book that he'll want to read.
"Not since last week." the owner chuckles as she places the returned book on the return shelf so she could put it back up later after her coffee break.
"That's alright. I'll borrow this book." Yuu picks a dark red book with a bloody rose etched into the front and back covers of the book.
"This one? But you've read it three times, dear boy."
"It's my favorite! Adventure in far away lands, epic sword fights, and a special, powerful romantic bond like no other."
"Well if you love it so much then it's yours." the owner says as she hands Yuu the book.
"But ma'am-"
"I insist since you're my best customer."
"Well thank you very much. Have a great day, ma'am." Yuu replies as he starts to leave with him already reading his new book.
The three men that were watching Yuu from the window of the bookstore and then pretending to be talking as Yuu is leaving, they then start to continue with the song as Yuu walk by three young children as they were playing, patting one of the girls on the head.
Look, there he goes
That boy is so peculiar
I wonder if he's feeling well
Just as a woman dumped old water down the gutter and fell to the ground at the end, Yuu lifted the sign that happens to be right by the dumped water so not a single drop landed in his book as he makes his way to the water fountain in the heart of the town.
With a dreamy, far-off look
And his nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us
Is Yuichiro
Enjoying the book like he always has, Yuu begins to daydream as if he is in the fairytale.
Ohhhhhh....isn't this amazing?
It's my favorite part because....you'll see
Yuu then showed the page he is on to a couple of young orphan children that were taking a stroll with their caretaker as they were curious about his dreamy expression.
Here's where he meets Prince Charming
But he won't discover that it's him
Till chapter three!
Just then the woman that runs the orphanage ushered the young children on, allowing Yuu more peace before moving on.
Now it's no wonder
That his name means 'courageous’
For he is loyal and do anything
For a friend With unwavering bravery
One older woman says as she tried on different style hats as she and the owner watch Yuu pass by.
But behind that brave, Noble child
I'm afraid he's rather odd
Very different from the rest of us
He's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, different from the rest of us
Is Yuichiro
Entering the village from the East Forest, a young man with his black hair neatly combed, dark almost black eyes with a sharpness to them, wearing a fighter's outfit which consisted of a red long sleeve shirt with the sleeves flaring out at the elbow, black tight pants, black combat boots, a red katana strapped to his slanted belt on his waist, and small red dragon perched on his shoulder with a boy that appeared no older than ten in nothing but a black Lolita suit and a terrifyingly innocent face close behind the young man, carrying his other weapons.
"You are still the greatest fighter in the whole world, Saito!" the not so innocent boy, Lest says as the duo return to their home village after yet another victory at a fighting tournament.
Stroking his companion on his head and his newest trophy strapped to his belt in the back, Saito says with a slight bow of his head to Lest, "I know."
"There's not a single opponent who has hope of ever defeating you, and you have so many desiring after you for it."
"That's true, Lest." Saito says as he brings him close to him with just one arm. "And I have my eyes set on that one."
Seeing him pointing at Yuu as he is meeting up with his friend Yoichi Saotome at his family’s flower shop, Lest becomes a little puzzled at his choice in his future husband. "The lieutenant colonel’s son?"
"He's the one. The lucky lad I shall marry." Saito then begins to smile at the future he will have with Yuu as his husband.
"But he's-"
"The only cutie with a hidden beauty under that courageous behavior in the whole town." Saito runs one hand through his hair, keeping a close eye on Yuu.
"I know that, but-"
"That makes him the best out of all the others. And I always get the best, right Lest?"
"Well of course! I mean you do! But Saito-"
Right from the moment
When I met him, saw him
I said he's gorgeous and I fell
Remembering the times he failed to find someone for him, Saito had believed that once he first met Yuichiro, he would have a chance for the first time.
Here in town there's only he
Who is beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo
And marry Yuu
Glancing back, Saito realized that Yuu has left the flower shop with Yoichi walking beside him and they chat among themselves as they walk on through the village.
Needing to keep young Yuu in his sight, Saito follows the duo with two village girls watching him with dreamy expressions on their faces.
Look there he goes
Isn't he dreamy
Monsieur Saito
Oh he’s handsome!
Ever since the day they first saw him, watching him fight his way to the top at one of the previous tournaments he took part in, Chess and Horn, two young women of eighteen, both very busty, Chess had wavy shoulder length purple hair, while Horn had long voluminous blond hair, red eyes, both wearing white or beige dresses and black heels, have complete utter respect for Saito along with a special love for him.
Be still my heart
I'm hardly breathing
He’s such a tall, dark,
Strong and handsome lord
Scanning the crowds, Saito at last caught sight of Yuu as he and Yoichi weave their way through the thick crowd as many people are shopping or making bargains.
"Bonjour!" one shopkeeper greets Yuu and Yoichi and they bow their heads in respect to the older lady.
"Pardon." Saito says as he also tries to weave through the thick crowd to reach Yuu.
"Good day." both Yuu and Yoichi said to the shopkeeper as they continue on.
"What lovely grapes!" another woman calls as she examines the delicate fruit on display as another woman not too far yells, "You call this bacon?!"
"Some cheese, only one pound!" one man calls from his stand to get a buyer.
"Excuse me! Please let me through!" Saito says as he still struggles to weave through.
"This bread is stale!"
"These fish smell!"
Finally out of the crowded area, Yuu spins around to see the rest of the village around him before he and Yoichi make their way back to his home.
There must be more than
This provincial life!
Just watch, I'm going
To make Yuichiro mine!
Look there he goes
The boy is strange but special
A most peculiar monsieur!
Not wanting to lose sight of him as the crowd still keeps him from catching up to Yuu and Yoichi, Saito takes a shortcut by climbing up the last couple of buildings to get to the roofs.
It's a pity and a sin
He doesn't quite fit in
Cause he really is a funny boy
A hidden beauty but a funny boy
He really is a funny boy
That Yuu!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Thinking he had heard a voice he never wants to hear, Yuu and Yoichi glance behind them to see everyone in the village get back to their daily routine. Continuing on, the boys stop when Saito appeared in front of them. "Hello Yuu, Yoichi."
"Bonjour." Yuu and Yoichi say as they walk past him until Saito snatch his book away.
"Saito, what are you doing?" said Yoichi as they watch Saito examine the pages carelessly.
"May I have my book back?" Yuu said as he went to get his item back.
"How can you read this with barely any pictures?" Saito says as he keeps the book out of Yuu and Yoichi’s reach.
"Some people can use their imagination with a great story." said Yuu with Yoichi nodding in agreement.
"Yuu, it's about time you got your head out of the books and pay attention to more important things. Like me." then Saito just tossed the book over his shoulder at a nearby mud puddle, but Yoichi successfully caught it before the book landed in the dirty spot that could ruin the pages.
Hearing a dreamy sigh, the two friends see Chess and Horn leaning against a building as they gaze at the town's champion. Rolling their eyes at the dizzy dreamers, Yoichi hands Yuu the book, Yuu being grateful to his friend. "The whole town is talking about it. It's just not right for boys like you to read. Then they'll just start getting ideas, thinking on their own."
"Saito, you're absolutely prime evil." Yoichi said as Yuu replaces his book back in his basket.
"Thank you Yoichi. What do you say we head over to the tavern and take a look at my trophies?"
Not liking the idea of seeing his 'trophies', which are the hearts of his opponents he’s fought outside of tournaments, Yuu simply says as he and Yoichi made sick faces behind Saito’s back, "Maybe some other time." As Saito still insists of them coming with him, Yuu and Yoichi pull away from him with Yuu saying, "Really Saito, I can't. I have to get home and help my father. Farewell."
Just as they were taking their leave, Lest appeared beside Saito and burst into laughter. "That crazy old colonel, he needs all the help he can get!" he said as he and Saito started to laugh.
"Don't you dare talk about my father that way!" Yuu snaps with his hands on his hip in a disapproval manner.
"Besides, Lieutenant Colonel Guren Ichinose is not crazy, he's a genius!" Yoichi added with his arms folded across his chest. Just then they heard an explosion coming from the cottage Yuu lives with his father to see smoke coming out of the windows.
Worried of what had happened, Yuu and Yoichi run back to the house, leaving Saito and Lest laughing at the stunt that the Colonel pulled off again with his work.