ACT I: The Bride

[ Hanabi's P.O.V ]

"Haya! Hayabusa! Where are you?!" At the top of my lungs, I shouted around the forest searching for that naughty prince. Damn it, why does he always disappears when he's needed?

"Prince Hayabusa! Your Father summons you! Where are you?!" With a louder voice, I yelled his name as my voice lingered around the open space. No replies, just birds chirping. Ugh, he's getting on my nerves again.

Irritated, I stomped across the leafy ground and have decided to look for him on foot. I headed inside the forest, as I turned my head sideways, looking for a familiar figure that I have memorized ever since I was a child. He's probably sleeping underneath his favorite tree again in the middle of the forest...

On that thought, I continued walking with my glance still over the place, hoping I'll find him somewhere here. Because sometimes, when I'm here in this area, he would prank me, and waiting my guard to set lose so he can take advantage of that and make fun of it.

"Hah, now that I think of it, he was pretty cute and funny those days." I said to myself with a soft smile on my lips, as I reminisce to one of the memories I treasure with Hayabusa.

[6 years ago]

I was training with my Higabana one afternoon in the forest, and I used the trees as my targets. I promised myself that I would be stronger, faster, and braver this year so that I could protect Prince Hayabusa from any danger. I spend more time training, and so I got less free time. It also meant not seeing Hayabusa all the time, but I was ready to sacrifice that so I could be more useful to him, especially in a fight.

I was in my training to throw my attacks much faster this week, as I focus my strength more on my arms and throws.

"I need to get faster, and faster, and faster..." I mumbled under my breath as I kept my eyes on tree trunks and hit every one of them. Then, suddenly, a familiar figure appeared on my sight and blocked my view on a certain tree trunk.

"Hey Hanab–" That someone fell on the ground as I threw my attack, which definitely surprised and stopped me in my actions.

"Prince Hayabusa!" I exclaimed as I ran towards the boy lying on the grass, with one of my weapon struck on his chest.

"I-I'm so s-sorry, I'm s-so sorry," I hurriedly knelt down beside him, and my heart beat racing so fast as few tears escaped my eyes. My whole body was shaking, and my voice was covered in worry and fear. I tried taking out my weapon off him, but it seemed stuck.

"Oh no no no no," I remained in a panic state, not knowing what to do. Then, I decided to stand up and seek for help from someone, but I felt a pull on my arm and I fell on the ground, lying next to him.

"Hahahaha, oh Hanabi, you should have seen the look on your face!" Hayabusa bursts into laughter and echoed in the forest, as I was still puzzled on what was going on.

He took off the weapon impaled on him (which was fortunately, not) and showed me that it was only a prop. My gaze was still fixated on him, still not sinking in my mind what did just happened.

"It's okay, Hanabi. I'm fine, it was only a prank," He explained with a funny smile on his face as he turned his body towards me, and we are now facing each other.

Slowly, the pieces came together in my mind, and my face went red in pure embarrassment. I almost cried, damn it!

"...I was so worried about you! I thought I hit you and you were dying," I said as my voice cracked, and vision started to get blurry because of these stupid tears in my eyes. I sat up, and covered my flustered face from him. "I was so worried..." I added as I felt tears falling down my cheeks.

Hayabusa was surprised in my reaction, and he didn't know what to do. A girl was in front her, crying because of his ridiculous joke. He sat up as well, and immediately pulled me in his embrace.

"I-I'm sorry, Hanabi... It w-was a bad j-joke, my fault." He apologized with a stuttering voice. "P-Please don't c-cry..." He continued, as he gave me soft, few pats on my head. His actions has taken me aback, and I slowly stopped crying.

"I-I'm not c-crying," I utterly denied, although it was clearly that I am. "I was just pranking you too..." I tried to reason out, now regretting that I showed such vulnerability to him. I pulled out of his hug, and wiped my tears hastily as Hayabusa remained silent. He just stared at me intently with his pure crimson eyes, and a serious look on his face.

"W-What?" I asked hesitantly, as I stared back at him.

"Nothing. You're just too cuteeeee–" As he extended his pronunciation of the word, he reached out his hands to my face and pinched both of my cheeks. "–not to tease." Hayabusa ended with a grin plastered on his lips, and eye smiled in such adorable way.

I'll never forget that precious look on his face.

"Croo!" A sudden bird noise and flapping of flying bird wings brought me back to reality, and snapped my thoughts off.

Without wasting any second, I increased the pace on my walking so that I could arrive at his favorite spot as soon as possible.

After a several minutes of walking, I could see the certain tree he and I used to play around with. With a few steps, I can see someone lying underneath the tree, hiding in its shade from the sun. It was him, sleeping casually on that grassy ground. I knew you were gonna be here. I found you, Hayabusa. I always do.

"Hayab—"

"Hayabusa! Sorry if I'm late!" A voice interrupted me from calling and walking towards the male, and it was someone I least expected to show up.

Kagura.

Kagura walked closer and a bit slowly to him, wondering why he didn't reply at her call. She knelt beside him and waved her hand in front of his face, checking if he was asleep. Then suddenly, Hayabusa caught her waving hand into his and pulled her down, which made Kagura yelp in surprise.

"Gotcha!" The young prince exclaimed as he caught the mage in his arms, now lying on top of him and hugged her with both of his arms.

"Hey!" Kagura responded with a giggle, trying to get out of Hayabusa's embrace. They were both smiling and laughing, and it was like they were having the best time in their lives.

I always find you, Hayabusa. But it seems that you found someone else.

Slowly and quietly, I took a few steps backwards. When they were finally out of my sight, I ran away as fast as I could.

Damn, it hurts. Seeing him smile and happy with someone else... I just didn't expected any of these to happen. After all these years of waiting, I'm just gonna be his guard, friend and protector in the end.

Unwillingly, tears came out of my eyes, and it continuously flowed down on my cheeks as I exited from the forest. Immediately, I wiped away the droplets of tears on my face and eyes, as I prepared myself to face the King with a white lie I made up on my way to the palace. I had no time for these tears.

I entered his room, and knelt down at sight of him.

"Your majesty, Prince Hayabusa is resting as of now. If you have something to say to him, I can rely your message to the Prince after his rest." I sternly stated, completely erasing the fact and emotion that I just cried too much earlier.

"Hm. Very well," The King stood up and handed me a scroll, which I received with my two hands. "Tell him that it is time for him to choose a bride. As you know, I am extremely ill, Hanabi. I am weak, and this sickness is hindering me to serve and manage the Kingdom well. So, I am now passing him the throne, and the responsibilities. Go tell him and, if you may, help him find a bride—a queen to take his mother's place. The ceremony day of the wedding and him proclaiming to the people that he'll be taking the throne will be on the same day."

Choose a bride? A queen? The throne?

"Yes, your majesty." I responded, trying to keep my cool. I can feel my whole body shaking, but I managed to make it stop immediately.

"Some other information regarding the wedding is in that scroll, if he still have questions. He may approach me too anytime, once he wakes up." The King added.

"Will that be all, your majesty?" I asked firmly.

"Yes. You are dismissed." And on cue, I stood up and bowed one more time, and exited the room with the scroll in my hands.

As soon as I closed the doors, I fell on my knees to the floor, weakly and on the verge of crying once again. I opened the scroll, but I was unable to read and process a single word in my mind.

'There's no doubt that he'll choose Kagura.' I thought to myself.

I tighten my hold on the scroll, as I mentally gave myself a boost and stood up hastily.

No, Hanabi! You aren't giving up! Giving up isn't in a Scarlet's vocabulary! You need to find a way to stop these possibility in happening.

I ran to my room, and placed the scroll in my closet. For now, I'll delay the information to Hayabusa as much as I can. I could use the time in planning for this.

You can do this, Hanabi. You can do this. You just need to make Hayabusa dislike Kagura, right? There are plenty of ways to do that. Don't let anyone or anything hurt you again, okay? Don't let anyone take someone precious to you again, just like they did to your family.

Besides, what could go wrong?