Love, Peace, and Chibis,
~Mysia Ri
 

The Reluctant King: Hikou
Chapter 1:

 The coronation proceeded without any problems and was followed by a large reception.  Hikou sat in a tall chair that was clearly visible by almost everyone and felt like he was on a pedestal, which was bad.  He had been trained all his life to lead the King's Guard and stay by his father's side as a protector.  He didn't appear to be a powerful fighter at first glance, but his skills were almost unmatched.  When his father had passed away in an accident two days earlier, his life had collapsed around him as he found himself in a predicament.  His fate was sealed, seeing that he was the crown prince, but so was his brother, Houjun's.  The teen, year younger than him, had been free to choose his path in life and had trained to be a master mage starting as soon as he could read the ancient text, which was when he turned four.  Unknown to anyone save their family and his brother's mentor, Himitsuno(1), Houjun was almost a level 16 mage; a level usually reached by the age of 58.  Himitsuno had hoped that her pupil would surpass her level of 35 long before he turned 30 because of his diligence, but now the young mage had his brother's position of captain of the King's Guard.  Because he now had to learn how to fight and lead the small force that made up the guard, his available time to study magic was very limited.
 Hikou looked at his brother and sighed.  The teen didn't show it openly, but he was miserable having to keep a sword with him.  He'd learned how to fight with a staff, but a sword was far more difficult a weapon to master, as was the trident, though it was not intended for fighting anymore.  Houjun sat beside him, leaning forward and resting his head in his head.  Neither liked the circumstances they had been thrown into, but tradition and need had pressed them to accept.  He followed his brother's gaze to their two friends, Kouran and Touya, who stood near a large window sipping on light wine that was given to those who were either too young for or disliked the taste of sake and other such drinks that were common to such festivities.
 "Did you hear?" his brother broke into his thoughts.  He looked over at the mohogany-eyed teen curiously.  "They're engaged now.  He finally asked her this morning while the advisors were advising us on what to do with the advise they gave us yesterday.  I'd like to advise them that we aren't that young as well as what they can do with their 'advise'."
 Hikou blinked a few times and then smiled.  "Why don't you then?"
 "I did," his brother replied, looking towards him and mirroring his smile.  "They advised me that I was still younger than they were and then proceeded to advise me about how a newly appointed crown prince should act."
 "And?"
 "If they wish to advise me further, I advise them to make sure I'm listening next time."  The brothers chuckled, trying to keep quiet.  "Your Highness?"
 "Yes, Prince Houjun?"
 "Might I advise a strategic escape to the window so we may advise our friends on how we haven't changed?"
 "I think that is the best advise I've heard all day, but how?"
 "With a bit of level six magic," Houjun smiled, snapping his fingers.  A faint tingling sensation ran through Hikou's body and he raised an eyebrow at his brother who merely rose silently and motioned for him to do the same.  They made their way past their subjects, Houjun pointing back to where they were.
 "Ah, an illusion spell," the older teen whispered.
 "And a spell to make us invisible," Houjun said proudly.  "They can't hear us, either, so don't be afraid to talk."  He stopped behind Kouran and ran a finger down her back.  The amethsit-haired girl eeped and spun around with a bright smile.
 "Prince Houjun, you shouldn't be playing around with your magic like that," she giggled quietly.
 "I'm the prince around here and I'll do as I please, no da," he chimed back, allowing her to hear his voice.  It wasn't long before the four friends had snuck out of the reception hall and into the vast palace courtyard.  Houjun recalled his spell, a bit disappointed that he wasn't allowed to use any spells higher than level seven outside of the practice hall.  Neither his father nor Himitsuno would explain why they had forbidden it, but they had told him it was for a good reason, so he had to believe they were right.
 "So," Touya asked and the entered a small grove of trees near the castle wall.  They had always liked meeting there because of the sparseness of trees anywhere else in the city, but now it served as a hideout from the advisors and trainers.  "What cha been up to?"
 "You mean besides being miserable?" Hikou sighed, pulling his cape off.
 "Sometimes I wonder if the gods are laughing at us," Houjun added and he dropped to a sitting position.  "So," he grinned, "when's the wedding?"
 "You know?" Touya moaned, a blush coloring his cheeks.
 "I told you he'd find out, silly, " Kouran giggled.  "When are you two leaving?" she asked, her voice suddenly quiet.
 "Tomorrow," golden eyed teen sighed, sitting beside his brother.  "We have to meet with sir Hakurou before the moon reaches its peak."
 "And then we have to meet with the world's leaders in a week," Houjun added.  "I wish they had rescheduled the meeting, no da.  Neither of us feel like going."
 "Especially the day after your coronation, ne Hikou?" Touya asked.
 "Why'd he have to die?"
 No one said anything, unable to thing of a response.  They sat in silence until a voice echoed through the courtyard.
 "Houjun!"
 "Looks like they figured it out," the teen winced.  This is why I wish I could use my higher level spells.  They wouldn't have figured it out if I had.
 I know, but you know it's forbidden until Himitsuno says otherwise.  Hikou replied telepathically, his eyes locked on Houjun's.  It was another thing no one knew about the brothers: they had a mental link.
 I guess we should go back before they find us.  They nodded and stood up.  "Stay in touch you guys," Houjun whispered, leading his brother away.
 "We'll be there to see you off," Kouran promised.
 "Damn it, they're coming this way," Touya hissed.  Thinking fast, Kouran quickly grabbed him and kissed him hard.  He took the hint and pulled her against him as the head advisor, Ayuru, came into the small grove.  He looked at the entangled lovers and cleared his throat, unfazed.
 "Where are my nephews?" he asked coldly.
 "Huh?" Touya blinked, his cheeks stained pink.  "I'm sorry, but we haven't seen them since the coronation."  He felt the color drain quickly from his face as Ayuru's icy stare seemed to burrow through him.
 "I see," he said, turning to leave.  "If I discover you lied to me, know that I'll not stand for it."
 

 Hikou climbed through the window with his brother's help and threw his cape on a nearby chair.  He hardly realized that he still held the trident in his hand until he saw their sister perched on his bed.
 "You're lucky mom and I were there to cover for you when that spell wore off, Houjun," she smirked, her rose-colored eyes resting on the teens.  "Luckier still that Uncle Ayuru was the only one to notice it was an illusion before mother cast an illusion of the to of you leaving and insisted that you needed to rest for tomorrow."
 "Thank Neptune that she understands," Hikou said bitterly, resting the trident against the wall before sitting heavily in a deep cushioned chair.  He rested a hand on his forehead so that his thumb and middle finger dug lightly into his temples and sighed.
 "We all miss him," she said quietly after a moment, resting a hand on his shoulder.
 "Nuriko," he shook his head, signaling that he didn't need her sympathy.  He sank back in the chair and let his mind wander.  He heard his siblings talking quietly so as not to disturb him and was grateful that they were leaving him alone.  He was tired of being surrounded by people offering their sympathy.  He just wanted to be left alone.
 
 Or so he thought...
 

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OK, here's how it works:
The Reluctant King: Hikou
Call Of Duty: Houjun
and then there's Nuriko, who doesn't have a catchy title yet, no da.
There's more than one chapter for each (ie, the next chapter is Call Of Duty: Houjun Chapter 1)
Confused yet?
Oh, and any suggestions for a title for Nuriko, I'm listening.
R + R = Next Chapter
 Updated might be few during the school year, but I'll do my best to keep up, no da.