ICARUS (Hawks/Keigo)

ONE

"Father," ____ spoke softly, as to not alert his flimsy temper. "May I be relieved? Just for a while?"

"Hmm." He looked down at his spawn, the smaller version of his aspirations. The king let out a long, displeased sigh, but nodded. "Go."

"Thank you." ____ stood and gave a curtsy, pale blue dress held light in her grasp. Enji shook his head, but made no comment. She'd been obedient thus far, and the sun was already reaching noon. With grace in her posture, ____ walked quickly to the kitchens.

"My lady," bowed the dark complexioned butler, who's head was shaped like a bird. Large black wings framed his back like a shadowy cape, their feathers reflecting a deep, rich purple. He was a Ba, a humanoid race of half bird men and women. He was half human, however, and his genetics did not treat him as well as others. The head of a raven sat utop his shoulders, but it did not take away from his handsomeness. "What is it that you require?"

"Could you fetch me some water, Toki?" She sighed, speaking casually with her personal guard. He wasn't only a Ba, but held the ability to cast as well. ____ fell short when it came to her fathers strong caster genes, but Tokoyami did not. He was known as one of the most powerful void casters on the south side of the world, his services were acquired through a series of well placed bets and a reputation to uphold.

"Of course," he gave her a taught half smile, aware of her current plight. With young Lord Shoto running off on an adventure, his sister was left to fill in his place. The other two siblings had already been married off to other nobles, leaving ____ to pick up the slack alone. Tokoyami set down a bowl of strawberries from the garden before turning to fetch water from the well.

____ rested against the counter stressfully, the weight of the world on her shoulders. Unlike her brother, she wanted to rule. She wanted to take her fathers place upon the throne, learn the best way to govern people. But she knew the truth. She was a burden amongst men, and especially upon her father. A bastard child, born to a servant while the kings wife was bedridden with sickness. She had no worth, no value, and yet there she was. A princess.

The kings wife was a merciful lady, who understood how the child shouldn't suffer for the faults of its parents. She forgave Enji, with the condition he did not abolish the baby and took it in as his own.

She passed years later.

A scuffle knocked _____ from her careless snack, making her turn over her shoulder towards the large swinging doors. In burst a man she'd never seen before, with his hair wild and blond, and wings huge and red. A Ba, and a strikingly handsome one at that. His angular features and sharp amber eyes screamed purebred, and the black teardrop markings only furthered her thoughts.

"Hey there, princess." He grinned, lips pulled up into an attractively boyish smile. He took the belt from his beige trousers and wrapped it around the doorknobs, locking the guards out. ____ stood, quietly, watching. "Don't mind me, just looking for a way out,"

"Um," ____ hardly had a chance to think of words to say, eyes stuck on the young mans face. It was if she were looking at the epitome of beauty, the physical embodiment of attraction.

"Princess!" Tokoyami burst through the opposite door, out of breath from sprinting to her aid. His feathers ruffled, puffing to show prowess and dominance. The man with ashen wind blown hair raised his wings to show off their size, a considerable amount bigger than the caster. "Princess, please, flea!"

"I'm not here for the girl," He spoke, voice like a playful ring. "Really, I'm just trying to get out."

"You'll not be escaping today, thief." Spat the butler, malice in his voice. Tokoyami took two steps forward and shielded lady ____ from view with his wing. This didn't stop her from peaking over the side, eager to keep her eyes on the exotic man.

"Get him!"

The mans belt flew from the doorknobs as they were broken off, a plume of men in samurai attire flooding the kitchen. He had no place to escape, no room to fly away, he was captured easily. Tokoyami turned immediately to ____ and sheltered her from the eyes of the men, and her eyes from them. He turned her away, ushering her out and back towards her quarters. He would report back to Endevor after she was safely in her room, and the man locked in the cells.

____ let herself be ushered away, but wished she was able to gaze at the man longer.