Kokoro No Momogatari

"Emperor Katsuro the royal court has arrived." A maid wearing a beautiful blue stripped kimono informed Katsuno who was reading a book in his study. "OK, you may leave." He commanded, then the maid bowed her head and left. Katsuro stood up and gathered his things together before going to the royal court where his advisers, general and the court members stood. He sat down and stared at his court as they all bowed down their heads when he lifted his fingers.  Katsuro was handsome, no doubt. He had crimson hair, purple eyes, fair skin, a beautiful chiseled jawline and had a strong masculine aura. He was tall with a height of six feet five and was known as the wisest and most feared emperor. His body was broad and he looked like a warrior and a born leader and was called 'The Emperor of the Dragon'. Katsuro never smiled according to the rumors of the people, but he was kind, calm, stubborn and was the youngest emperor to rule at the age of seventeen. The court stood and the elder member of the court came forward to present his case to Katsuro. "Emperor Katsuro. Long may you live. Good news I am bringing for you. General Saki of Fuku kingdom has pledged his alliance as a treat. He offered his youngest daughter, the beauty Hinata, as your consort." The elder of the court informed him, looking at his adviser, Ichiro, who nodded his head. "Excellent, but reply that I will not take his daughter as one of my consorts." He replied, making the whole court except Ichiro gasp. "But emperor, this beauty is Yoshino and she is known as the jewel of Fuku kingdom." The elder tried to convince him but Katsuro caught him off. "Which is why I do not want her here. Her kind have lovers and lovers will try to take my life if it's the only way to have her back. Which village will let their most beloved ruler be taken away for marriage?" he asked, making his court quiet. "If you don't have any more complaints, then do as I say and demand that in exchange he will be loyal to the Casentino kingdom and help support our people's trade in their land." He continued, making the whole court members bow. Another man from the court whispers something into one of the members' ears, making him nod and catching Katsuro's attention. "Emperor, we have another issue to discuss. You are young and strong and will require females who can produce you an heir that will carry your uniqueness and inherit the throne. You are twenty-five and you are still young. Only consort Kaya is part of your harem. Please consider adding more." Another member of the court announced, then Katsuro supported his head with his hand, then stared at the member. "That I will think about, but now let's talk about the affairs of the citizens, Minister Kakiyo." He ordered as he slightly nodded his head. "The land has been prosperous and Clover has become a land of trade and entertainment. Our military power is getting stronger but we have a serious situation the merchants complain about." He informed Katsuro, who sat down properly to analyze the situation. "Which is?" "Bandits. Many of them at the mountains." "Haven't bounties been placed on their heads?" He asked with his interest peaking. "Yes, but they say that the bandits are not as ordinary as they seem. They said that they are skilled and have a secret weapon that goes by the name "The free spirit." He explained, making Katsuro smile mentally. "Tell me about this spirit." "All who have seen him have perished except one. They said that he fights like he is one with the wind. They rumor him to be as beautiful as a golden goddess and his voice is music to the ears, but his eyes are fierce to kill a man. He is dangerous and seems to be the one leading the bandits. He explains, Katsuro nod. "The free spirit huh? I think I should investigate this free spirit myself. Don't you agree, Ichiro?" he asked, as his adviser nodded. "Emperor Katsuro, now that you've mentioned, there is a little village that is called Fuuga, the land of the refugees and marketers, so this trip might be dangerous." Ichiro exposed, making Katsuro pause to think. "Send some soldiers to investigate the premises of these bandits. Case is dismissed." He announced before he stood and his two advisers followed behind him. They entered a room where they sat down to talk about the affairs they were discussing earlier. Katsuro sat down as his two advisers faced him, bowed their heads before sitting. "Hearing about the bandits and the free spirit caught my interest. I have decided to check it out myself." he explained, making Ichiro and Mahiro look at each other then at him. "Katsuro, we have been friends since childhood and I don't support your going to Fuuga. It is dangerous and you are needed more here than there, The people of Heart love you. So don't go. Assign some men to do the job." Mahiro advised, but Katsuro shook his head. "I refuse. I desire to go and it is best to go myself. I have thought of how to go and going undercover is the best, especially I need to have a little vacation from the royal life to understand my people." He explained, making Ichiro frown. "Well, you've made up your mind and I know convincing you is pointless, but your not going alone. That's my bargain." Ichiro informed Katsuro, making him support his head with his hand. "What do you suggest?"  "Take Ichiro to go with you since he is knowledgeable about places and I'll remain here and handle your affairs until you both return," Mahiro suggested, making Katsuro nod. "What shall we tell the court?"  "That their emperor, Emperor Katsuro, has gone far to other countries to search for a woman worthy of his consort. I'll also say that you made a decree that women be brought here a day after your arrival so that you can choose a consort from Casentino too." Mahiro added, making Katsuro agree. "That settles it. Tomorrow we will hit the road for Fuuga. I know, Mahiro, that you will handle things properly by the time I'm back." He said, making Mahiro nod. Over at Fuuga, a young boy was laughing and running away from the men chasing him. He jumped over obstacles and people caught up with him fast. He was swift and was light and seemed to move towards the window gracefully and quickly. He got to a corner where he hid and the men stopped to search for him but couldn't find him and kept running straight ahead. "Phew! That was close. Was so close to being caught this time." He said, then he tossed a bag of coins in his hand and caught it before he gave an accomplished laugh. "Well, but I got quite a lot from that rich fatty." He continued and left when the coast was clear. He went to a place where able-bodied men and robust youths were training. He passed them and entered a tent where he saw a woman in her late fifties with cards on her table. Her tent was full of stuff for fortune tellers and she even dressed like one, free and lazy but with her cards. "Yo, grandma stop playing with cards and play with me." The young boy said with a nonchalant attitude as he sat down lazily beside her. "Raijin, what did I tell you to call me?" "Can't remember. Was it important?" He asked playfully with a mischievous smile, making the old lady breathe in and out before she threw a punch on the cheek, making him fall and hold his cheeks. "How many times will I tell you kid to call me Mage?" She asked before she sighed and sat down. Raijin quickly stood up and sat beside her with a grin as the light reflected his face. Raijin turned seventeen two weeks ago and was the second youngest of the crew. He had bright yellow hair that seemed to glow like the beauty of the sun and his eyes were a mixture of bright blue and a dusty tint of gold. He was small with a height of five feet and five, but his wild carefree attitude made him taller. He had fair skin which was soft and delicate for a male, a button nose, a soft voice and a nature full of innocence.  Raijin was mischievous, naive and a prankster, but he was loved by everyone in the camp. He looked like a girl in a way, but his face was boyish and he had foreigner's blood. His hair was a little below his shoulders and was packed with a green band which had a light, golden medallion around his head. "OK! But you didn't have to punch me that hard." He complained as he massaged the under of his jaw. "That's to teach you kid when to learn. For heaven's sake, Hoshi is more mature and he's only a year younger." She complained as she shook her head. "But I'm your favorite. I'm irresistibly cute." "Yeah! My favorite headache. Now get out of here you scallywag." She scolded him as she raised him up and threw him out of the tent. "Go do something useful with the boys. I need my peace." She continued as Raijin smiled and waved at her. "See you later grandma." "What did I say about that?" She shouted, making Raijin laugh and run away. Mage smiled as she watched Raijin run towards one of the guys. "It feels like yesterday when we found him, Nobito, and now he's grown up to be such a handful." She said to herself and smiled. *Flashbacks* "Free all the slaves, boys! Make sure no one is left." Mage commanded as the men shouted and scattered, killing anyone who tried to stop them. A man with black and grey hair wearing an eyepatch walks by her side as they enter a room. "Be careful, Nobito, it seems too quiet and unsafe." Mage said, making Nobito nod. They walked deeper and saw a small blonde girl who was bleeding a little on her body and lips lying on the floor. She seemed to have passed out, so Mage and Nobito looked at each other before Nobito went to the sleeping girl. To his surprise, the girl swiftly stood to stab him but he caught her and hit the knife away from her hand and pressed her back against him. "Let me go." She demanded as she fiercely trashes but gives up when Nobito proves stronger.  Mage steps up to the small girl then looks at her left and sees the bloody body of the slave master they were looking for, then looks at the girl's eyes that are fierce and full of bravery. "If you're going to kill me for killing my master, then do so. I've already been through enough." She said with a hard voice. "What's your name, girl?"  "I'm a boy with no name. I have no memory of my past and was a slave to the master I killed." He responded fiercely as he stared into Mage's eyes. "I love the spirit you have, kid. How old are you?"  "Ten." "Well, how about you come to work for me as a freeman? My crew could use someone as strong, spirited and as brave as you." She offered, making the young lad look at her from head to toe. "You're bandits. Why should I trust you?"  "Because we bandits are a family and once you join us we become a family. So I'm inviting you to join us. If you don't, we'll take you and the rest somewhere safe and you can start a new life." She explained, making the boy look at Nobito, who released him and walked to Mage's side. "I'll go. I'll join you."  Mage looks at Nobito, who is her husband and he nods, making her smile and look at him. "Welcome to the family..." She paused as she placed her hand on his waist and touched his face gently. "Raijin." She said, finally making Raijin smile and Nobito smirk before keeping an expressionless face. *End of Flashback*  She looked at the card she was holding and then frowned before she went into her tent. "Yo! Natsu! Denji! Shinuske! Let's go drinking. I have some money today." He informed his friends he called to stop sparring and look at him. "Raijin, my darling, I missed you." Denji shouted as he ran to hug Raijin, who shifted aside and set his leg for Denji, causing him to trip. "Not today. Let's go drink, it's on me." He said, causing Natsu and Shinuske to shake their heads. "How many times have we told you to stop going into the village without someone? I know you're strong enough to defend yourself, but you're one of the youngest and very important." Shinuske scolded with his deep voice making Fuji pout and give him cute eyes that made everyone except Shinuske melt. "You have to try harder than that to make me go easy on you. You are stuck on guard duty for the week as punishment and I had better not catch you skipping or you know what I'll do." He informed Raijin, making him frown more. Shinuske was the only person except Mage that Raijin couldn't his beauty against. Shinuske was the second in command after Mage and was the only child of Mage and the late Nobito, who could discipline Raijin. He has taken care of Raijin since he was ten years old and taught him most of what he knows now, including how to steal. "Fine! You're no fun, Shinuske. I'm going by myself and not taking you guys." He muttered grumpily before he ran away. "Just don't drink in a stupor because you're on duty." He replied strictly, making Raijin stick his tongue out, then continue his journey. "I seriously wonder when your going to be less strict to him since you like him." Natsu said to Shinuske, making him avert his eyes and walk past Natsu before he ask more questions. Raijin left their base to go to town and enjoy himself. Their town actually has a very pretty wide market place where refugees, the poor and the people who were starting afresh. They also have thieves but, knowing the Phoenix Bandits, which are very popular among thieves, owned the territory they relocated. Raijin went around buying stuff and gumbbling to his heart's content. He finally spent his last coins on a young girl who was begging on the streets for her blind mother. He climbed a tree and relaxed on it until Hoshi, the youngest of their crew, saw him and climbed up. "It's getting late. We should head back to the camp. Shinuske said we shouldn't stay out too long, especially since you have guard duty." Hoshi said with his boyish voice. "Ahh, who cares? It's not like he can do much except scold me. Plus, I was thinking about myself." "About what?" "My life. I've been with the crew for seven years and now I'm seventeen and I'm a man, but Mage still doesn't think I'm responsible enough to handle it." Raijin explained as he relaxed on his hands. "Well, you do get into trouble." "A few times," Raijin said, making Hoshi stare at him. "OK, a lot, but that doesn't mean anything." He continued before he sighed. "Well, Mage is pretty smart and she does a lot of things for our best, so have faith. I have to go and join Kaoru in the kitchen since she said she needed help." He informed Raijin, who nodded, then Hoshi climbed down. "I have a feeling something's gonna happen. But whatever it is, I'm definitely ready to take you on." Fuji said to himself while admiring the sunset.