Long ago, in a world that was inhabited by peaceful people, lived a young and ignorant prince. He was named Kaioshin, son of the great King Kamiah. However, the prince was far from being as great as his father. He was rude, careless, and arrogant. Prince Kaioshin didn’t give a second thought about anything, nor did he think it necessary to do so. However, the prince’s life changed drastically, leaving him alone with the world on his shoulders. If it hadn’t been for her, he probably wouldn’t have survived.
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“Prince Kaioshin!” a voice yelled down a corridor of the large palace. “Prince Kaioshin, your father requests your presence! Please come here!” The voice’s owner stood in the silence for another moment. “Very well, its not my father that will be displeased.”
As the middle-aged man walked away, small footsteps could be heard coming up from behind. “Kibito, what makes you think my father would be mad at me?”
Kibito turned around, his stern pink face looking down at the thirteen-year-old boy. He let out a sigh and shook his head. “What will we do with you, prince? One day you will be king. You must learn to take on a little more responsibility.”
Kaioshin laughed, his charcoal eyes almost shedding a tear. “Kibito, I don’t have to worry about being king right now. I have plenty of time for that. My father will live a long time, and I won’t have to worry about being some stupid ruler of the planet.” The boy walked passed his father’s bodyguard without glancing back.
Kaioshin walked through the large entrance to the throne room. Ahead of him sat his father and mother on golden chairs on a dais surrounded by blue curtains on the sides and back. They both watched as their young son came towards them, disapproval on both of their faces.
“Where have you been?” King Kamiah asked. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man. A white beard outlined his face, his soft black eyes filled with knowledge and experience. His lavender skin had few wrinkles, making him look younger than he actually was. Around his neck he wore a gold dragon pendent—the symbol of the royal family.
“Around…” the young prince responded, hearing the stern voice of his father before him. Prince Kaioshin resembled his father quite a bit. His hair was almost pure white, shaped into a mohawk-like form. His lavender skin was flawless, and his eyes black as the night.
“Next time,” the king started, “when I summon you, you are to come at once. Do you understand, Kaioshin?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Now, later this afternoon you will be meeting your future princess.” Kaioshin’s head quickly popped up and looked at the king. “Her name is Koura. She is the daughter of one of the lords of the planet—a very wealthy family indeed.”
“I must marry her?” Kaioshin couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I’m not old enough!”
The queen smiled. Her features were exquisite, making many believe her to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Her hair was a light blue, pulled back into a perfect braid that hung over her delicate shoulders. “Kaioshin, you will not marry Koura now. She’s coming here to learn how to be a princess, and when the two of you are of age, you will be wed. We feel that you should get to know her before you’re to marry her.”
“What if I don’t like her?”
“You will learn to like her then,” the king said standing up. He walked over to one of the large windows in the room. He looked upon the rolling hills, completely green and scattered with trees. “Kaioshin, you are the prince of the world. One day you will be the ruler of this planet. You must remember that with great power comes great responsibility.”
“What does that mean?” Kaioshin couldn’t stand when his father started talking in riddles. As a matter of fact, he couldn’t stand listening to his father give the you-will-be-king-someday speech.
Queen Amada stood up and folded her hands in front of her. “Your father means that you must continue to rule the way our family has in the past. You need the proper queen to sit by your side, and to give you an heir to the throne once you have grown old and passed.”
“Must I hear this?” Kaioshin groaned. He wanted nothing but to leave. He’d rather be out with the commoners than listening to this.
“You may leave Kaioshin, but one day you’ll wish you listened. I don’t want to hear you complain. Go.” The king turned away and waited for the young prince to leave the room.
Kaioshin looked at his mother, who gave him another disappointed look. The boy left, walking down the long halls of the palace.
Soon Kaioshin grew bored and he had the need to do something. “I know,” he said to no one. “That girl…what’s her name. She’s always fun to watch.” Kaioshin walked to the kitchen. There he found a good many servants either preparing food, cleaning, or washing the laundry. The prince gracefully walked through the room, never glancing once at any servant. He held his head high and his eyes closed.
When he walked by, one of the servants leaned over to another. “That boy, our wonderful prince, needs an attitude adjustment,” she said sarcastically.
Kaioshin walked into another room, this one being much smaller than the last. There he found who he was looking for. She was a small girl, about his age or perhaps older. He didn’t know her past that much, other than her being the daughter of a peasant farmer. Her hair was similar to the color of his own, but it was long and hung in thick, straight locks. Her face was delicate and on the beige side in color. Her eyes were black, but were soft and caring.
The prince stood behind her for a moment; obviously she didn’t know he was there. She continued to fold and put away sheets on the shelves next to her. “Having fun yet?” he asked sarcastically.
The girl jumped and spun around, catching the eyes of the prince. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were there Prince Kaioshin.”
Kaioshin walked around her, looking at her skirt and apron. Her face had a few dirt marks on it, signifying that she was outside not too long ago. He looked around at the sheets both folded, and sitting in the basket. “How can you do this for hours?”
The girl smiled and picked up another white sheet. “It isn’t hard. I don’t really mind it that much.”
“Well, I guess that’s what most commoners would say.” The prince gave her a small devilish smile.
“Why do you act like you’re all big and tough? Just because you’re the heir to the throne doesn’t mean you have to be mean to those less fortunate.”
Kaioshin stared at her for a moment. “Whatever. I see that you’re too busy right now for the likes of me.” The young girl watched as he turned away and started to leave. She knew that he would stop and confront her again. And she was right. “I’m going out to play later. You can join me if you wish it.” After that he left, hands behind his back.
As the prince walked out, another servant walked in to bring in more sheets. “Nishi, why was he here?”
Nishi smiled and looked at the older woman. “He always comes around and bugs me.”
The old woman sighed and shook her head. “I guess we should feel sorry for him, in a way.”
“How so?” Nishi asked.
“He’s so spoiled and thinks he’s so wonderful that he hasn’t any friends. Everyone talks about how much of a little brat he is, but what can you do when you’re the prince of the planet? Pitiful.”
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Kaioshin sat on a small wall that surrounded the Grand Courtyard. He looked around and let out a large sigh of boredom. He knew that the time for his ‘future princess’ to arrive was drawing near. He had no desire to meet her let alone marry her. It wasn’t that he was nervous; it was just that he didn’t care. His father made it sound as if it was a privilege to meet her when he thought it would be more of a privilege for her to meet him.
“Daydreaming, are we?” A small voice said behind him.
Kaioshin turned around to see Nishi standing there with her arms behind her back. Her face was still a little dirty like it was earlier, but she took off her apron. “No, I was just thinking. I don’t daydream.”
“Oh,” Nishi said with a smile. “Princes don’t need to daydream. Their dreams come true.”
“Not really.” Kaioshin hopped off the wall and stood before her. “So why are you here?”
“You wanted me to come out to play with you.”
“Well, I didn’t think you actually would. I thought you had chores or whatever.”
“I finished them for the day. I’m only a child, so I don’t have to work all day.” She smiled and leaned on the wall, looking at the gardens. “You’re so lucky, don’t you know that?”
“How am I lucky?” Kaioshin asked, almost amused.
“You’re royalty. You can do and have whatever you want. Then you’ve got me who has to do this and do that…gets tiring after awhile.”
“Yeah, well…” Kaioshin didn’t want her to think he was lonely and didn’t like his position. He smiled and tagged her arm. “You’re it.”
Nishi laughed and chased him around the courtyard. When they played like this, which wasn’t as often as it may seem, they both felt as if they were equal. Nishi felt important, and Kaioshin felt wanted. However, the King’s voice interrupted their little game.
“Kaioshin!” The King called, looking around for his son as he and the queen walked down a path.
Kaioshin and Nishi stopped and looked at the King as he approached. Kaioshin’s hands and clothing had become a little messy from the game. Nishi stood in silence, bowing to the king and queen when they approached.
“Kaioshin, I’m disappointed that I’d be introducing such a slob of a prince,” King Kamiah said, almost laughing at the sight of his son.
Kaioshin noticed two others standing with his parents. One was a taller, dark haired man. He wore fancier clothing, indicating that he was one of the higher ranked people of the small planet. Next to him stood a girl with golden hair and bright blue eyes. She wore a purple dress trimmed in gold. She eyed the boy before her, almost as if he was a servant himself.
The king turned to the people next to him. “May I introduce to you my son, Prince Kaioshin.” The King smiled as he turned back to the young prince. “Kaioshin, this is Sir Trepion and his daughter Koura.” Koura bowed before him, making Kaioshin blush a bit.
Nishi wasn’t sure what to say or do. She didn’t know whether she should wait for the king or queen to dismiss her, or to do so herself. She figured that this beauty before them was the girl the townspeople were talking about—the one that was to be the future queen. Nishi looked her over briefly. She’d be a perfect candidate for the prince…she’s too perfect, she thought.
At that moment the King noticed the peasant standing next to the prince. His smile practically disappeared from his face as he looked at her. “You may go now.”
Nishi was startled at the remark, but she bowed and left. Instead of going back to her family, she decided to take the extra couple of minutes to spy on the royal family and the visitors. She crouched behind a few bushes and peered through the leaves and branches, and listened carefully to what was being said.
“Well then,” King Kamiah said with a smile to his guests. “Dinner shall be served at sunset. We will discuss future matters then. I’m sure you’re both tired from your journey, coming all the way from the North.”
“We are a bit tired. Nothing a few hour rest won’t cure,” Koura’s father said.
“We shall see you later,” the king said and bowed before his guests. The two left, leaving the royals standing alone. King Kamiah turned to his son and looked him over. “What may I ask were you doing out here? Playing in the mud?”
Kaioshin frowned, knowing that his parents didn’t like it when he ran off to play with the commoners, especially when he came back so filthy. “You were playing with that farmer girl again, weren’t you Kaioshin,” his mother asked, not sounding that displeased with his actions. She usually thought it was good that he got out and played with someone his own age. It was his father that didn’t think it proper.
Kaioshin hesitated before answering. “Uhh…no. She just was out here too.”
The King frowned down at him. “Kaioshin, you disappoint me. I told you that Koura was coming and here you go out and get all dirty. And you always seem to get like this when she’s around.”
“Well, we were playing,” Kaioshin said under his breath. The king heard.
“I don’t want you to play with her anymore.”
Kaioshin quickly looked up with a look of shock. “Why!?”
“Because you’re a prince!” The king practically shouted.
“So?”
“So she’s a commoner, a peasant. I don’t want you to be going off every day like this. You’re too young…and you need to learn the ropes of being a prince. You will start your schooling again and learn the manners you should have already obtained.”
“But…”
“Never mind. Go wash for dinner. Tomorrow you will spend the day with Koura. Nothing further needs to be said.” With that his father turned and left.
Kaioshin looked on with an angry glare. His mother rested her hand on his small shoulder. “Don’t worry, Kaioshin. Everything will turn out alright in the end.”
“All he cares about is his reputation,” Kaioshin said, trying to hold back tears.
“Your father is trying to help you become a good person; one that your people will love and respect. Sometimes you ask for the sternness you receive. But understand that he’s doing what he thinks is right.” She smiled at him with pearly white teeth and followed after her husband, Kaioshin following not far behind.
Nishi rose from behind the bushes, feeling hurt from the king’s words and for Kaioshin’s feelings. She did feel sorry for him. She thought him to be lucky, but how can he be when he must rule over the entire planet and be wed to someone he doesn’t even quite know yet. She walked back to her small ‘peasant’ home.