A True Love's Kiss (Sekaiichi Hatsukoi fanfic)

Who's the Fairest of them All?

Once upon a time, a little baby boy was born in a beautiful and prosperous kingdom. His skin was as fair and delicate as snow. While his eyes were the color of precious emeralds and his hair a silky dark chocolate. Certainly his looks could held anyone captive. For he truly became the fairest of them all.

His looks however came with a price. For as he grew older, his stepfather grew to dislike the boy more and more. You see the boy was a prince who lost his father in a tragic wildfire. Causing his mother to remarry in order to set up an example for the kingdom. One cannot simply rule without a king. This of course was an arranged marriage, the queen fell in love while the king got full of hatred. His story is unknown to most but Onodera Ritsu thought he could get closer to his stepfather and grow to be loved by him.

He, however, thought wrong as one day he too lost his mother. He was simply but a thirteen year old child at the time. Not knowing who was behind her death as he was told she died of natural causes, appears to be food poisoning. Certainly the evil king had something to do with it, for his wicked heart grew cold and rotten to the core. No one suspects the evilness disguised as a helpless widow who is incapable of hurting a fly.

"She's gone" were the words that escaped from Ritsu's trembling lips.

"Don't worry child I'm here for you. I will never abandon you, you are more of my child despite not being related by blood. And I will do anything in my power to become the ruler this place needs in order to provide a safe heaven for you love" the evil king Yokozowa Takafumi embraces Ritsu in what can be said to be a heartfelt hug but to the king it was nothing but an empty embrace as he felt nothing for the crying boy.

Ritsu cried and cried until there were no more tears left to cry. He felt like an orphan, heck he was an orphan. First his father and now his mother. What else will this cruel world take away from him? These thoughts would certainly make a man grow mad but he repressed them as he got older.

Until the year came when he finally became an adult and things started changing for the worse. Recently turned 18, Ritsu was soon to realize the true nature of things. Although he already started to have his suspicions.

Curiosity got the better of the evil king as he decided to ask the mirror a question that's been plaguing his mind. Yes for he practiced magic and a magic mirror seems far from anything deadly that he can conjure. But these particular words from the magic mirror can perhaps be said to be the deadliest as it only fueled the king's hatred.

"Mirror mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all?" Yokozowa chants staring back at the man trapped inside the mirror.

This man goes by the name of Kirishima Zen, an unfortunate soul that met the king's wrath. The evil king trapped him there five years ago, the night of his queen's death to be precise.

"Why of course my dear you will always be the fairest to me" Kirishima wore a sad smile as his hand rested upon the cold glass.

Yokozowa stared back his facade almost cracking but alas he wore a wicked grin instead.

"I don't care what you think. I care what others think of me. Now tell me mirror. Who's...the fairest..." Yokozowa drawled.

"Of them all!!" His voice got louder, full of anger.

Kirishima sighed for he knew that nothing he could do will make the poor broken man upon him have a change heart and love him as much as he grew to love him.

"You my king to me will always be the fairest of them all" Kirishima lovingly looked at his king.

"But the citizens of your kingdom believe that Onodera Ritsu is truly the fairest of them all" Kirishima managed to get out as his pained face reflected that of his heart as he looked upon the king's face.

The king now wore a scowl and it appears that tears would threaten to fall at any moment. Tears full of anger it can be made certain. Hatred for that Ritsu as he has taken everything he loved away from him.

Yokozowa took in a deep breath and started to think of a plan. A plan that will rid of his nuisance. He stared back at Kirishima. Surely he himself could see how handsome the man is. If Yokozowa so desired he could get him out of there with a blink of an eye and accept the man's advances. Perhaps even start a family with him, but that cannot be. He grew cold and full of vengeance that he will not show weakness or love of any kind. Certainly not to this man who somehow managed to sneak into his heart through his kind words.

Yokozowa snapped out of his trance as he heard a tap on the mirror.

"How's my daughter?" The man said as if his heart would break at any moment. He hadn't seen his daughter in five years. Five long, painful years and he doesn't know whether he'll see her again.

"Hiyori is fine just like I promised" Yokozowa replied surprisingly kinder than he had expected.

There was a heavy silence that fell upon the two. Until Yokozowa broke it as he finally thought of a plan.

"Mirror show me the face of an unfortunate soul. A heartless huntsman that is willing to kill anything if he so desired" Yokozowa spoke venom dripping from his words.

Kirishima was hesitant until he disappeared replaced with an illusion, that of a tall man. He was obscured by a cape but there's no need to see the man's face, Yokozowa has run into him before.

"Guards! Find me Kanade Mino and bring him to me" Yokozowa smiled wickedly.

If he cannot be the fairest of the all then so can't Ritsu. The easiest option is to be rid of him, he cannot under any circumstances have a repeat of what happened a few years ago. The king's unrequited love cannot meet with Ritsu. They will not meet again if it's the last thing Yokozowa must do.