Blackbeard; The Legend

Something To Stay For

Akahana let the servants dress her up and apply makeup on her face. The early sun shone outside as they tailored to her. Recently, the prospect meetings took place much earlier, as the date of Akahana's 18th birthday was drawing ever nearer, and more and more suitors rushed to get a chance at marrying her.

The servants lead her down the stairs, Akahana's red kimono trailing behind her. Entering the room, she was surprised to see only a handful of men waiting patiently for her. Another change to the meetings; the number of prospects had begun to narrow down, and the room was visibly less noisy and more spacious, something very much appreciated.

Immediately, their eyes fell on her, and like a torrent, they pushed against one another as they rushed towards her. The servants instinctively surrounded her to protect her, but she waved them off, and stood in front of the wave, patiently awaiting them as her father watched them tussle.

Yet, one stood away from the fighting, tip-toeing towards the front through the throng. He had blue fur, with orange honeysuckle eyes, and the grace of a dancer. However, he was heading straight for her, dodging the other suitors, and Akahana sighed, awaiting him to start confessing his love for her. But suddenly, he stopped before her and spun around to the rest of the men.

"Hey!" He yelled, which halted the fighting. "Is this how we treat the hospitality of Lord Isamu? By wrestling all over his floor? And especially in front of his daughter! She must think we're pigs!" He walked forward. "Why don't we just go one by one, instead of just behaving like monsters?"

Surprisingly, the other suitors stopped and listened to the azure whiskered tom as he instructed them to line up orderly, humbly placing himself at the very end of the line. Then, one by one, they all walked to her and kneeled, proclaiming their love and their promises. But she was focused on the tom, who was at the very end of the line, and as he approached, he kneeled before her.

"Who are you?" Akahana asked, before he could say anything. She was quite curious about him, and her ears were perked up, attentive to any words that might pour from his mouth.

"My name is Hiroaki Mae, my lady." He introduced himself. "I'm one of the lucky ones your father allowed to meet you." He chuckled. "I caught your attention, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did." Akahana tried to keep her regal tone, but she felt a strange feeling, indescribable and odd, making her elegant words wobble slightly. "You actually stopped a fight in it's tracks. That's a first in this household."

"Really?" He chuckled, which made Akahana's heart leap. "Then I guess the rest of them aren't too trained in the art of diplomacy." He joked.

Akahana giggled. "Yes, most of them are quite barbaric." She spoke, without her dignified tone. Hiroaki blushed as she snickered, but looked out the window and his happy expression faded a little.

"What is it?" Akahana asked.

"I believe that we're out of time." Hiroaki sadly remarked, a small bitter smile on his face. "But I'm glad to have at least talked with you." He stood up, and outside, the horses neighed, carriages awaiting their nobles.

"Well, goodbye Hiroaki Mae." Akahana curtsied before him.

"Please, I'd prefer it if you called me Hiroaki." He politely interrupted. "After all, I have a feeling we'll see more of each other." He winked, and Akahana's heart skipped a beat.

Akahana watched out of one of the windows as Hiroaki's caravan slowly drove off. Suddenly, she felt a slight tapping on her shoulder, and she turned to see Isamu's giddy face.

"I know that look!" Isamu teased. "It seems you've found your someone, my water lily!"

"W-what are you talking about?" Akahana defensively asked. "I'm not-"