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aya_magicAuthor: Me^^
Pairing(s): Akame
Rating: PG-13 to be safe for now
Genre: Fairytale/Romance
Beta'd by: unbeta'd
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with JE, and obviously I cannot "own" these people. I also, in no way, make monetary profit off this. Parts of the plot are loosely based off some fairytales either involve princes or princesses who were turned into frogs, I do not hold the rights to these stories either.
Summary: Jin: a prince cursed to live as a frog because of his narcissistic ways. Kazuya: a prince pushed into an arranged marriage to help bring peace to two other kingdoms. Aoi: the princess to marry Kazu, with whom she fell in love with at first sight.
A/N: I'm sorry for the wait, I know I was hoping to get the chapters up faster but I'm afraid I couldn't find inspiration to write the story. TJ spent time talking with me and I read to try and get it back but finally it came to me right before I went to sleep last night.
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[Chapter 1]
It was dark, but he assumed most forests were at night. Not that he had ever been out wandering long in a forest after dark. The country was at war; his father would have murdered him for it when he was younger. The trees had never seemed as tall or as frightening as they did from his new vantage point. No longer did every reflective surface catch his attention, instead it repulsed him. He couldn’t bear to see his new green image.
In his new form he managed to bring himself through to heavily populated villages and towns. As he hid himself in bushes the words of the sorcerer came back to him.
“If the person fated to be your love kisses you then you can change back into a human…”
His eyes widened more than their natural state. “If I could just find that person, then all this would be solved.” He mused.
He thus spent the next years scheming and planning ways into stealing kisses from those around him. Every negative reaction disheartened him from his goal each day. He managed to sneak a kiss from every woman he saw but each time no transformation took place and all he gained was a headache.
Seven years later he found himself once again in another forest. Forest after forest he hopped through but the further he went, the more the trees changed. The leaves were thinner, sharper, and harsher than the ones he remembered growing up with. Everything was a myriad of reds, oranges, and yellows. He had never seen such a sight before. Leaves crunched, even under the miniscule weight applied by his webbed feet. He had seen pictures and heard of such forests, he had been told they even had some in his home kingdom.
A light croak escaped his throat. As beautiful as it was, he couldn’t bring himself to examine it further. He had no idea how long it had been, his sense of time had long since disappeared.
“Maybe I should just stop…” He thought as he hopped up to a deserted well. “It’s been a while, I don’t know how many years. They must have all given up on me coming back by now. Reio must be preparing to take over the throne one day, Ryo and Pi must have found a new best friend, and dad probably stopped sending out search parties. Maybe it’s better off this way, they won’t have a prince only interested in the next object he can check his hair in… perhaps I’ll just inhabit this well. I doubt anyone comes out this far… I won’t be bothered at least.”
He sunk to the bottom of the well, the water showing the barest of disturbances as he descended to the very bottom of the well. Enough light filtered down, illuminating the swirls of murky water, allowing him to see the shadows of leaves clinging to the branches above. He shifted lightly as a leaf fluttered its way down next to him before finding its home on the muddy bottom. He closed his eyes, resigned to the fate of residing at the bottom of a well for the rest of his years, not knowing how long an enchanted frog would live.
A few days passed in quiet tranquility, he rarely ventured from his new home. He had far too many memories remaining from his past, and it would be any number of years before they would begin to fade and only the memories of his new life would remain.
He was startled out of his reflections by the light above being blocked.
“It should still be day, the sun rose not long ago.” He looked straight up as the shadows shifted around him.
He barely made out the shape of a person leaning over the well until they withdrew.
He allowed himself to float closer to the surface, curiosity overtaking his weariness of people for the time being.
The person sat on the side of the well, no words or movements escaping the form until a sigh wrested its way out.
He kept his spot in the water, just observing as time slowly passed until finally the figure above him made a slight movement that would alter their courses in life.
A hand hit the water and startled out of their reveries it was quickly withdrawn. However, something glimmered as it slipped into the water and sunk rapidly to the bottom. The water swirled as the object shined briefly before being consumed by the darkness.
Hands scrabbled at the surface, desperately trying to grasp the object but it was already too late.
“Damn it!” Hissed a pleasing voice. “There’s no retrieving it now…”
“I suppose, it’s the least I could do.” Jin mused and dived back to the bottom of the well.
It took a few minutes but soon he triumphantly grasped the circular object in his mouth. He shot back up to the surface and slowly made his way up the slope of rock before sitting next to the human.
--
“Kazuya, there’s something I need to tell you.” Noboru began, putting his chopsticks down.
Kazuya looked up from his lunch, “does this have anything to do with the recent talks with Aoi Kingdom?”
“Yes, it does actually,” Noboru sighed, “I didn’t want to do this but they’re trying to find an alternate way to end the war. They don’t want to deal directly with Aka Kingdom, so they decided to try negotiations with us. They’re hoping with our help we can force Aka into peace between all three kingdoms.”
“Well, that is logical,” Kame commented, “But what does this have to do with me?”
“We’re already at peace with both nations. Aka knows that and so does Ao, so another treaty would be pointless. We have always been on better terms with Aka Kingdom, that is true but I don’t’ want to somehow endanger that by trying to force peace negotiations between the two. A simple cease-fire will be enough for them to start negotiations on their own.”
“Dad,” Kazu interrupted, “How does this pertain to me specifically?”
“I discussed an option with King Sora, and he’s agreed that it will be a suiting solution.” Noboru paused, “I had hoped to not push you into anything Kazu, but we’ve decided a political marriage will be the best way to try and mend this disaster.”
Kouji dropped his chopsticks and hastily made to pick them up.
“You mean I’ll be marrying…” Kazu faltered.
“Princess Aoi. Yes, that’s exactly what the agreement has set forth,” Noboru smiled lightly, “I think it could be much worse. From what he’s told me his daughter is absolutely enamored with you. She thinks very highly of you and rarely ceases talking about you. I’m glad, at the least, you will have a devoted wife. I had been hoping to allow you to follow in your brothers’ paths and find love on your own. If Yuuichirou wasn’t married or Kouji not engaged I would have… but I hope you’ll understand,” He rubbed the bridge of his nose as his voice cut off lightly, “I hadn’t wanted to do this to you Kazu but I know how desperately you, and everyone, has wanted this war over or I wouldn’t have…”
Kazu sighed, “its ok, I understand. I’m just… can I be excused I want to go wander or something. I… when do you need me back?” He pushed up from his spot and looked at his father wearily.
“She’s arriving in the afternoon in two days. He had hoped to let you two meet quickly. Do you think you’ll be out long?” Noboru watched his favored son with heavy eyes.
“I don’t know, it might be nice to just camp out tonight. I suppose it depends on how far I go. I’ll make sure to bring gear in case.” Kazu sighed and then forced a smile, “I’ll be back in time, don’t worry about that. Kouji will you take care of things in my place today and tomorrow?”
“Course, Ka,” Kouji smiled, “Go have a fun tromp through the woods and back. Just don’t get tricked by any witches out there.”
Kazu smiled at his older brother before hurriedly preparing to go out. Double-checking his supplies after stopping by the kitchens he went to the stables.
“Let’s go out alright, Haru?” Kazu smiled gently at his favorite horse. “Is she prepped for going out?”
After receiving a confirmation from a stable hand he loaded his things and then left towards the sunset of trees surrounding the castle. The crunching of leaves was commonplace to him and soon grew distant as he allowed Haru to pick her own path through the trees. He fingered the two rings hanging from a silver chain around his neck allowing his mind to wander.
‘absolutely enamored with you, thinks very highly of you, rarely ceases talking about you’ he sighed, “How can she be so in love with me and think highly of me when she’s never even met me? It’s probably dad just trying to comfort me,” he sighed again.
For hours Haru trotted and weaved her way through the trees as Kazu looked up through the tree branches to the slowly darkening sky.
“I guess we’ll stop here for today,” he pat Haru on the head lightly, “you’re always such a good girl for me Haru. Taking me exactly as far as I need without me doing anything. We’ll stay out tonight and wander a bit in the morning, how about that?”
He quickly went about stripping Haru of her saddle and gear, “We don’t want you to end up with sores because I forgot to remove your saddle. Sorry to trouble you.”
Every so often, even after lighting a lantern to keep them company during the long night he would pull out the chain. Even in the orange glow of the lantern the two rings shined lightly and comforted his slowly dimming thoughts as sleep claimed him for the night.
Haru finally nudged him away a few hours after sunrise. When he wouldn’t get up she licked his cheek.
“Alright, I get the idea,” he laughed, “you want to move to somewhere else.”
Within half an hour he had her ready to get moving again and they traveled further into the forest.
He breathed the crisp air in deeply and listened to the few birds that lived this far into the forest. His heart beat heavily as he walked at Haru’s side.
A short distance away the trees slowly parted, allowing a large opening of sunlight to breakthrough and beam down onto an old, abandoned well. A tree, nearly devoid of all leaves, towered over all the other trees in the area.
He slowly padded up to the well, leaning over the side to find murky water. Hoping to see anything other than his own muddled expression he gazed down, trying to pierce the intensely clouded blue. He sighed in defeat before taking a seat on the slowly crumbling rock.
He sat, taking in the scenery of the trees near reaching complete hibernation before the coming winter. Already temperatures were beginning to drop during the day. All around the kingdom people were already carrying an extra layer just in case the first frost should come early.
Haru picked at the dying foliage as he unhooked the chain and took the two rings into his hand. He traced the etchings of vines over one of the rings.
“Mother, what would you say to all this?” He mused as another sigh escaped his lips, “You loved the people of this kingdom, of the other kingdoms, enough that you would be proud. All I can do is hope that this truly brings an end to all this. But I know I can never love her, is that really fair to her?”
Lost in thought his hand slipped from his lap and briefly touched the chilled water behind him. Instantly he swept his hand back up but in his carelessness the wider of the two rings slipped from his grasp. He scrambled to try and retrieve the glinting piece but it was quickly lost to the swirling depths.
“Damn it!” He hissed, “There’s no retrieving it now…”
He sat resigned, his stomach churning from his grief of losing one of his two most treasured items. “I’ll never get it back…”
A few minutes passed in silence until a light dripping caught his attention. Confused he looked around him until his eyes were drawn to a dark green frog sitting beside him. He blinked as the silver ring was dropped onto the stone from the frog’s mouth. He picked up the ring and returned it to the necklace with its pair, afraid of dropping it again.
In shock he picked up the frog and gazed at it with a smile, “Did you take pity on me and decide to return this to me?” He paused, “Thank you; it’s one of my most treasured possessions. I’m not sure if I could have faced going home without it. I suppose I’ll be expected to use these as engagement… no wedding bands now,” another sigh escaped, “If only those fairytales were true about kissing a frog and having freed your prince charming. If only you were mine. I suppose a kiss wouldn’t be very much, especially considering you retrieved the ring for me.”
He brought the frog up to his level and gave it a quick peck. Immediately fog filled the area only to disappear as quickly as it had appeared. The frog was missing from his hands and instead on the ground sat a handsome man rubbing his eyes.
“But… what?” Gasped Kazu trying to grasp the situation, “where’s the frog?”
At these words soft brown eyes met his and he found himself enveloped in and embrace and lips on his own. In shock he pushed the other off of him.
“What are you doing?” He shouted, disturbing some birds nearby.
“Don’t you see?” the other man exclaimed, “This means we’re fated to be together!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Asked Kazu, attempting to back up but failing because of the well. Something shined brightly in the morning light from the stranger’s dark hair. Kazu took a step forward and examined the band. With widened eyes he asked, “Are you… Prince Jin? That’s the Aka Kingdom’s royal insignia. You have to be… what is going on here?”
“Of course I’m Jin,” the other smiled, “Who else could I be? I might have been a frog for years but that doesn’t change my name… getting a closer look at you I can say you’re from Ki Kingdom aren’t you? My guess would be Prince Kazuya, your brothers aren’t as beautiful as you if I remember correctly. I must say I hadn’t expected that a man would release me from my enchantment. To think all these years I was only trying to get a woman to break my spell and all along you were the one destined to do it!” He swept Kazu up into another hug out of joy.
“I’m sorry, I’m still confused?” Kazu tried to get a hold on his thoughts but his brain refused to process anything.
“Ah!” Jin sat them both down on the well, “How many years has it been since I disappeared?”
“Seven…” Kazu mumbled.
“Alright we start there. It’s a short story really. Seven years ago, while out exploring with my dear friends I encountered a wizard. I’m afraid I hadn’t been polite, I was busy staring at my reflection in a pond. In anger he put a spell on me to turn me into a frog, which you saw. He told me that only the person fated to be my love were to kiss me then I could return to my human form. He had decided to punish me by making my appearance match my personality,” He sighed, “If I hadn’t been such a narcissistic person none of this would have happened… but you did kiss me and here I am! I had just given up hope and decided to live the rest of my years at the bottom of the well when you came along.”
Kazu stared at Jin, trying to process the information, “He looks far too honest and overjoyed to be lying, and that frog is gone, the fog, and him coming out of nowhere…”
“I hope you don’t think me too insane?” Jin smiled sheepishly, “I understand it’s a bit of an… insane tale.”
“I think, if you were lying you’d try to think up something more believable that’s for sure,” Kazu sighed, “I can’t do anything but believe you for now.”
Jin grinned foolishly, “I’m glad, it would be sad if you were to be the one to not believe me after all.”
Kazu forced himself to look away from the handsome man, “We should probably return to the castle… everyone has to be notified of your return after all.” He stood up and Jin instantly joined him.
“Is it alright if we walk?” Jin rubbed his head lightly, “I just haven’t been able to walk in so long and I…”
Kazu smiled gently, “Of course that’s fine. We won’t arrive until morning though. I’m afraid Haru and I traveled quite a ways out here… I just have to be back by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Great!” Jin smiled again, “Shall we go?” He offered Kazu his arm as Kazu took Haru’s reins.
Kazu glanced at Jin oddly but Jin sent him a stubborn look and with a sigh he let the other link arms with him.
As they walked Kazu told Jin anecdotes from his life and briefly went over the continuing war.
Jin, in an effort to lighten the mood after the topic of war, told Kazu of his adventures as a frog. He spoke about his pursuits in gaining his human form, of growing accustomed to all the hopping and bugs, and about how he missed his friends.
When night began to grow closer they stopped to create their camp. After a brief argument over sleeping arrangements Kazu gave in to sharing the sleeping bag with Jin. Jin has insisted based on the fact that not only were they destined to be together but with temperatures dropping like they were he couldn’t allow Kazu to do anything else.
After picking up again the next morning they continued and finally broke free of the forest as lunch neared. As they made their way up the slope to the castle grounds Jin stopped to look back.
“Before recently I had never seen this kind of forest in person,” Jin whispered in awe, “I had only seen pictures before… and I wonder if I ever would have cared about how beautiful it was unless I had come here as I had.” He smiled goofily, “I think those seven years did me some good, don’t you?”
Kazu smiled lightly, “Maybe that’s true…”
As they came to the stable people were rushing around looking for someone.
“What’s going on?” Asked Jin, “Are we coming back in time for a festival?”
“No…” Kazu grimaced lightly, “I don’t think they realize I’m right here.”
“But Maru what do you mean they say he’s not here!” An upset voice reached them as a blonde girl marched around her carriage a short way away.
“Prince Kazuya is out. They said they’re expecting him any moment!” Cajoled Koki, “Why don’t we go have some tea while we wait?”
“I was finally going to be able to meet him. I was finally going to meet the love of my life and he’s not here?” She frowned.
“Ne, Kazu…” Jin said quietly, “Who is the tiny girl?”
Kazuya sighed and turned to face Jin, “She’s my fiancé, I’m afraid.”
