Once upon a time in a faraway land there was a lord fair and just in his ruling. The small kingdom survived by means of iron trading, mined from the soil to exchange for other commodities such and food and clothing and for a long time the people lived happy and prosperous until one day the lord fell sick and died. As they mourned for their beloved soverign, the people were worried as to who would rule the kingdom now for the lord's young wife Lady Iboshi has not born a child.

At the castle where the lord used to live, the lady and her trusted advisor conversed on the current state of affairs. "My lady," said the man, "There is a offer by the lord Jinga from the western state for your hand in marriage. And another one from another lord, Lord Taka from the same area."

The lady smiled as she tucked her hands under the folds of her robes she used over her kimono, "That makes what, Koroku? Six so far."

"If I'm not mistaken, my lady," Koroku answered scratching his chin.

The raven haired lady chuckled, "Those vultures. I never did trust the people who call themselves friends. And lord Jinga can be the king of vultures for all I've heard and known of him. It has been less than one month and they are already circling around the territory like the predators they are."

"It is very dire, my lady," said the bony man, relaxing his stiff stance. The lord and lady always treated their servants like normal people and they never prosecuted the servants for being what they are before a lord. That was what made the lord and lady so popular with the people.
The servant continued in a decidedly honest manner, "Lord Jinga always gets what he wants and he has army reserves greater than our own."

"Mmm..." Lady Iboshi nodded, "I won't put it past him to try an underhanded trick for a reason to attack this kingdom."

Koroku sighed, "So what do you propose we do, my lady?"

The lady shifted around and stared at the fire burning in the fireplace. After while she replied, "Have a notice announced that I am going to my husband's grave to vow that whoever will fit the crest ring will be my husband and new lord of this kingdom. The fitting will take place at the main hall starting from the day fourty days after the death of my husband."

Koroku blinked, "My lady... is that wise? Will the lords follow your decree?"

Without turning around Lady Iboshi replied, "Say in the notice that I have prayed to every gods and dieties there were for guidance. As barbaric the lords are they wouldn't dare to go against the will of a widow who have vowed in front of her husband's grave and called upon godly aid."

Finally turning to face her servant, the lady smiled in confidence, "Go now, Koroku. It will be alright."

"Yes, my lady," the servant replied and bowed before he left the lady alone to contemplate her future.

"Ore wa tensai!"

"Shut up, Hanamichi! You're giving me a headache with your constant singing!"

"Hah! You're just jealous of my beautiful singing voice!" the haughty redhead laughed as he urged his horse to continue moving by a gentle nudge on the ribs.

"Ch'.You sound like a drowned monkey," Kouichiro said dryly.

"Temme...!"

"Stop it both of you!" Aota barked, "If you two are going to behave like this, our father will loose face in front of Lady Iboshi."

"Aunt Iboshi won't mind," said Hanamichi confidently, "She's used to us fighting since we were kids. She thought it was adorable."

"Right," laughed Kouichiro, "As if she needs help in seeing that one of us is still a kid."

"Yeah... WHAT?!! Hey! I'm only a year younger than you!" yelled the redhead hotly.

"Apparently its enough to make you a child," Kouichiro grinned.

"Y-YOU...!!"


~~~~

A maid lead the trio in when they arrived and instantly went to fetch her mistress. She couldn't help but feel awed by the stature of the three brothers. She heard that as young as they were, they were rather imposing. She wasn't counting on them being THIS imposing.
The three brothers were tall - very tall. The oldest was the shortest but what he lacked in height he made up for build. Compared to the two younger and lankier brothers, Aota was what one would call classically handsome with his strong chin, thick set eyebrows and overall a masculine face. The middle brother, Kouichiro was also attractive but with his thick lips and aristocratic nose. He had the same dark coloured hair but with streaks of yellow on his bangs. The youngest Hanamichi was the most eye-catching with his red hair and although his face seemed to have gone through too many punches in his life, his smile and exuberant personality made him the favourite in their father's court.

Upon arriving in the presence of their aunt, the three bowed in respect to the lady who was sitting behind a desk with a male servant hovering behind her as she jotted something on a piece of paper.

"Lady Iboshi. We have come to serve you in this time of test for the new lord to this prosperous land," Aota announced.

The lady smiled and stood up to join her nephews, "Come, come now. Don't be formal. I'm still your aunt so you can still call me aunt Iboshi."

"Told ya," chuckled the redhead and in return he earned an elbowing from Kouichiro.

"What'cha do that for?" Hanamichi hissed before the two sibling began a war of glaring.

The raven-haired lady giggled, "Oh my. You two still like to fight. Although I must admit you two have grown into fine lads." Turning around she faced Aota, "You too Aota. You look so much like your uncle in his young age."

The people in the study let a moment of silence fall upon them before they start to get to the matter at hand.
"Tomorrow will be the day of the fitting, aunt Iboshi?" asked Aota.

"Yes," the lady nodded, motioning for her nephews to sit down, "I am glad your father sent you here to assist me. Your presence will make any attempt to sabotage this fitting to back down because your kingdom has the army and resources as good as any other kingdoms. And you are the only relative I have left that I trust."

"We will protect you and the process until the ring has a match, that we promise you," Kouichiro vowed.

"Yeah, auntie. You can count on us! Especially the tensai!" announced Hanamichi.

"Of course, Hanamichi," laughed Lady Iboshi, restraining herself to pat the boy on his head like what she usually did when they were just up to her waist, "We can always count on you."

From over the balcony overlooking the main hall where the fitting was taking place, the two brothers stood quietly as they watched the people below them. The redhead yawned as yet another line of participant took their chance on trying out the ring. The process has been going on for three days and no one was able to remotely fit the ring on their finger. Hanamichi was getting bored with this watching and waiting.

"This is boring," said Hanamichi out loud, "I wish something would happen. Maybe a cry of 'Oh, look the rings fits me!' or even an attack attempt for Kami's sake."

"Hold your tongue," growled the older brother, careful to not let his voice echo along the hall to the people below, "We don't want any trouble for aunt Iboshi's sake."

"Yeah, yeah..." the redhead sighed.

Noon was too slow in approaching for the redhead and soon the hall was cleared up for the day. Tomorrow more men would be given chances to try out their luck. The two brothers climbed downstairs and joined their older brother as he was about to place the ring in the glass casing. Before he could do so, Hanamichi snatched the ring from his brother's fingers and inspected it closely.

"Nice," the redhead whistled as he turned it over to catch the lights from the overhead windows falling onto the studded gems on the gold. Right in the middle of the ring was the crest of the kingdom.

"Hanamichi, give it back to me," ordered Aota, "Quick, before aunt Iboshi comes and see you playing around with it."

"I'm not playing around with it," Hanamichi protested.

"Yeah," said Kouichiro, taking it from his brother's hand, "He was just looking at it... hmm... this doesn't look so big." Before Aota could stop him, the young man has managed to slip the ring on his ring finger but it slipped out as easily as it was too big him.

"Kouichiro! Give it to me!" ordered Aota urgently.

"Geez, alright already," the young man huffed and handed it out but instead of placing it on his brother's upturned palm, Kouichiro pulled Aota's hand and forcefully slipped the ring in before Aota could register his actions.

"Hey, look!" Hanamichi laughed gleefully, "It fits you! Maybe you can marry aunt Iboshi!"

"Baka!" Aota cursed trying to tug the jewellery off, "It's stuck."

While Hanamichi was laughing his head off, Kouichiro faked a disappointed expression, "Aw, too bad. It doesn't actually fit you."

After more cursing and threats, the two brothers finally relented to help their older brother and finally they managed to tug it off free.

"Aota, where is the ring?"

The three young men were startled by their aunt's suddence presence and Hanamichi being the one who was holding the ring in his hand hid it behind his back as a guilty child would do if being caught redhanded at something he wasn't supposed to do.

"The ring...?" Aota turned towards his brother, "Kouichiro?"

"I don't have it," the young lordling shook his head, "Hanamichi does." In saying so he pulled at Hanamichi hand for them to see and what they saw made them gasp in surprise. In panic the redhead has automatically slipped the ring on and has totally forgotten about what he did until it was held out in front of his eyes and everybody else's.

"Ano..." started the redhead, "Gomen..."
Pulling the ring off he was about to place it back in the case when Lady Iboshi stopped him.

"Hanamichi," the lady said calmly, "Try putting it back on."

The redhead blinked, "Nani?"

"Try putting it back on," his aunt repeated. The redhead did as he was told and he managed to do it effortlessly.

"Now take it off."
This the redhead also managed to do without force. It was a perfect fit.

Lady Iboshi bowed her head and after a few moments, she said softly, "Hanamichi. You, the nephew of my husband will now be the new lord of this kingdom and also my own."

"NANI??!!"


~~~~

"You have to marry her, my lord," Koroku pleaded, "If you don't, the other lords will hear about this and accuse Lady Iboshi as a woman who breaks her promise and that would be enough for them to attack the land."

"But she's my aunt! My late uncle's wife! I can't marry her!" protested Hanamichi pacing the room back and forth. Suddenly the door opened and in walked the lady of the castle and his two brothers.

"Aunt Iboshi! Tell me that I don't have to marry you!" begged the redheaded desperately, "I'm... I'm your nephew!"

The lady sighed and said, "I have given my word Hanamichi. To go against it will give reason for the lords to try and take over the kingdom."

"No one will have to know that my hand fit the ring," tried Hanamichi.

Aota shook his head solemnly, "They already did. The people that were present when you used the ring were the messangers from the lords in the south. The news will travel and people in and out of this kingdom will expect a marriage and a new lord soon."

Hanamichi shook his head in denial, "No." After more pacing he lifted his face to gaze imploringly at the lady but her face was set. Kouichiro and Koroku refused to look at him with the defeat in their eyes and Aota's face was a mask of sadness.

"I'm sorry Hanamichi," Lady Iboshi whispered, "To have you involved in this game of politics is the last of what I would want of my beloved nephews."

Hanamichi fell on the bed heavily, "I won't marry."

"Hanamichi..." Aota began but the redhead cut him off.
"I won't marry until I have an outfit that is as comparable as the day."

"What?"

"You heard me," said Hanamichi looking at Lady Iboshi in the eye, "I need an outfit for the wedding, don't I? Until I get that outfit I won't be marrying anybody."

The Lady smiled when the redhead's motives became clear to her, "Clever, my dear, but all you'll do is stall. This kingdom has the best tailors of all the kingdoms and you'll be surprised at what they can achieve. You will get that outfit faster than you expected."

With an elegant exit, the lady left leaving the three brothers alone.
"What will happen if they get your outfit made?" asked Kouichiro silently.

"They won't," Hanamichi scoffed, "No one can make an outfit that compares itself as the day."

"Th-This is..."

"Beautiful, isn't it?" one of the tailor beamed proudly.

The redhead stared at the outfit in front of him. Dressed on a dummy, the clothes made by the royal tailors does compare itself as the day. The top and breaches of the outfit was pale blue like the colour of the clear sky after a rainfall and over the outfit was a robe as white as a cloud lined with soft fur. Turning the robe, over the material was at a darker shade of blue and one could imagine the two blue tones combined with the white to be an image of a day with the promise of no storm.

"Y-Yeah..." Hanamichi breathed, reaching out to touch the satin robe.

"It does compare itself to day does it not?" inquired Lady Iboshi, waiting for the redhead's agreement.

Hanamichi shook himself out of his awed reaction and coughed into his hand, "Well, yeah. But I need another one for the dinner after the wedding."

The lady arched an fine eyebrow, "Really?"

"Yeah," the redhead said turning his back around, "I now need an outfit that befits the night."

The lady stared at the redhead's back for a while before conceeding, "Alright. So it will be made."

It has already been two months before the first outfit was made and Hanamichi hoped to wait for more than that period to give his brothers time to look for a way to get him out of the marriage. Although the redhead wasn't allowed to leave the castle, he was allowed to roam free and he pretty much isolated himself in the castle garden where the wild animals loved to frequent because of the natural setting it afforded. Hanamichi gave them treats when he visits his new animal friends and in return they shared their music and companionship.

After one and a half months of waiting, Hanamichi was summoned to his room and there waiting for him was his second set of clothes. The redhead gawked at the wonderful sight.

In front of him was the outfit he has requested. The top and breaches was this time made out a the darkest blue colour, and over the outfit was a robe of a darker shade of blue that it seemed black. Scattered over the robe were diamonds that twinkled like the stars, arranged artistically like the constellations on the night sky and the underside of the robe was made from a material of the purest black.

"What say you, Hanamichi?" asked Lady Iboshi to the still stunned teenager.

"It's... awesome..." then the redhead straightened his posture and called out his next demand, "Now all I need is an outfit for my first day with the people when they come to give me their respect."

"What...?"

"An outfit as wonderous as the mighty sun," the redhead announced, this time more sure of himself that no one can imitate the fiery ball in the sky.

Lady Iboshi sighed, "Alright, Hanamichi. But hear this, I am betting weary of this. The people and other lords are beginning to breath down my neck for a wedding and a coronation."

Not forgetting her manners, the lady bowed and left the room gracefully. Hanamichi plopped on his bed with relief.
"At least I got away for the second time..." sighed the redhead as he glared at the gorgeous outift in front of him. The gems on the clothing only twinkled at him in reponse.

"The third and last gift, Hanamichi," Lady Iboshi announced as the tailors wheeled in their latest creation into the bedroom.

Hanamichi lifted his head from the task of cleaning his sword and gaped at the new outift. It has been two months since his request and already it was finished. The outfit this time was made from golden cloth which shone like the mighty sun. Even the robe was golden with golden tassels and the material at the underside of the robe was also made from the same colour but with hints of red highlighting that gives one the picture of fire. It was truly a masterpiece.

But even being entranced by the amazing outfit, the words from Lady Iboshi managed to come through Hanamichi's brain, "I have indulged you far enough Hanamichi. We will wed tomorrow and that is all. I wish it would've been under better circumstances but time is of the essence. Gomen nasai."

With a bow she left, leaving a speechless lordling behind. In fury he began to smash everything on sight and soon he tired himself out and fell on the floor, breathless and defeated. "Kso..."

A bird's chirp made him turn around to see a winged creature stare at him with its beady eyes from it's perch on the window sill. Although it looked the same as other birds found flying around in the kingdom, Hanamichi recognised it as the one which nested in the royal garden by it's orange streak on it's neck.

"What are you looking at?" growled Hanamichi. The bird cocked his head to the side and continued staring at the redhead in silence.

The redhead sighed and hung his head dejectely, "Yeah, a hopeless case... It was hopeless all along. I should've just made a run for it when I could."

Another chirp and then another and when a twitter of another type of animal sounded, Hanamichi lifted his head again to see in amazement, a collection of winged and furry animals gathered together beside the window. The way they kept scrutinising him made the redhead gulp. It was as if they had intelligence to plan rather than just think.

When the crowd of animals gathered together and charged, the redhead was too startled to cry out before he was engulfed in a sea of bodies of feather and fur.


~~~~

Crossover= Lady Iboshi & Koroku from 'Princess Mononoke, The Movie'.




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