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A Grown-up Bedtime Story	By : acsoundwave Category: zMisplaced Stories [ADMIN use only] > YuYu Views: 1376 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own this anime/manga, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
A
Grown-up Bedtime Story

byline:
Anubis Soundwave

One:
The Fall of the Kaiba Kingdom.

Smoke
and flame rose to the heavens, engulfing the beautiful white palace.
Queen Umiruu shed large crystal tears as she watched her
kingdom...her home crumble.

King
Ghiren, somber, approached her, carrying their four-year old son.
Behind the royal couple was a dark-haired boy of eleven, who had a
sleeping infant strapped to his back.

Umiruu
kissed the small prince on his forehead. “Beloved...can’t
we go with him? He’ll be all alone in the world.”

“No.”
Ghiren’s slate blue eyes trembled as the king fought back his
tears. “We’d be our son’s death sentence.

“My
queen, we are already doomed. We can’t let the boy suffer our
fate. He is the only hope of the kingdom’s return.”
Ghiren drew his grief-stricken wife to him, embracing her as she
sobbed.

“Yusuke.”
Ghiren spoke to the youth. “Care for our son.”

Yusuke
walked over to the prince and stooped to the child’s level, the
older child’s chocolate eyes meeting the younger’s
almond. “Don’t worry. You’ll stay with Atsuko and
me, okay?”

The
prince trembled, hesitantly taking Yusuke’s outstretched hand.
The two boys and infant walked into the night.

The
king and queen turned to the palace, entering its gates for the final
time.

-
- - - -

Two:
Fifty years later.

A
young prince lurks unceremoniously behind bushes, spying on a
mysterious pink-haired witch. The hag stands before a tower.

“Your
Highness! So this is where you’ve been off t--*”

“Shush!
I recognize that Mitarai wanted to hold council today, but look!”
hissed the prince to his retainer.

“At
what?” scowls the retainer, a portly youth named Okubo.

The
prince raises his index finger to his lips, then points to the tower.

The
witch looks around a moment, then looks up toward the sole opening in
the tower, a window. The old woman begins a chant:

Rapunzel,
Rapunzel,

Let
down thy hair,

That
I may climb

Its
silken stair.

A
shimmering cascade of pale green hair descends to the ground, and the
small old woman begins her climb.

The
prince studies his retainer quizzically. “You seem less than
astonished, Okubo. This isn’t an everyday sight.”

“True,
my prince; yet the old woman is clearly a sorceress,” Okubo
counters. “They tend to be unusual.”

The
prince rolls his eyes. “Wait until the old wretch finishes her
climb. Then we shall see....”

“...see
what?”

“Something...spectacular.”

After
the witch completes her climb, the hair quickly recedes into the
window. Ten minutes pass, then a bit of the hair leans back outside
the window; the bulk of the hair framing a beautiful red-eyed girl.

The
prince sighs. “Now...she is lovely, isn’t she?”

Okubo
now looks amazed. “I must agree, your Highness.”

“My
heart wants to explode with gladness, every time I behold her. Her
hair is moonlight and rainbows, her eyes rubies; her skin must be as
soft as it looks.

“As
you know, Okubo, I have a good eye for the pretty maiden.”

“Undoubtedly.”
Okubo smiles, knowing that his prince had too severe a face to be
considered the handsome and dashing hero of maids’ dreams. It
isn’t right; my prince may not have a child’s face like
most princes. He’s tall, awkward, and brash--truthfully, a bit
of a loudmouth and fool.

Yet
I’ve not met a man braver, nobler, or kinder than he. Surely
he’s worthy of a fine bride as well.

The
maiden sings, attracting a small flock of birds.

The
prince sighs again, his dark eyes shining with longing. “She
has the voice of a siren, a ningyo.”

“She
does have a lovely voice. Too bad she’s that witch’s
daughter.”

“Okubo!
Can such beauty spring forth from such an ancient tomb as that hag’s
womb?”

“Don’t
be hasty, my prince,” Okubo warns his charge. “Some
witches are actually sennyo in disguise, or tenshi sent
by the megami Genkai to try men’s souls.”

“...or
sometimes even Genkai herself. I know, I know.” The prince
continues to stare reverently at the singing beauty.

Okubo
places a hand on the prince’s shoulder. “Come, my
prince...it’s time we left.”

The
prince stands, giving the tower a wistful look before he leaves. I
will return, lovely one. I’ll come back for you.

-
- - - -

“Go
now,” coos the maid, Rapunzel, as she sends the canary away.
She sneezes just as the witch Tou-momoiroi pops upstairs.

“Sending
away a bird, or some lover?” quips the old woman
good-naturedly.

“You
told me the story of Kanaria-oh; yet none of my visitors have
changed into a man. Though I wouldn’t know what a man looks
like if it did.”

“Ho!
Silly girl. He won’t look like a bird, I’ll tell you that
much.”

“Then
what would a man look like, satou-kaasan?” Rapunzel
sighs, turning towards the window.

“Now,
child...I was merely teasing. There’s no real need to know
that--or anything about what’s out there.”

“But...I
want to know.”

“Then
I’ll tell you. Nothing outside these walls except violence and
despair. Don’t you trust me? Haven’t I brought you up
from the time when your rump had to be wiped for you?”

“Yes,
of course, satou-kaasan.”

“And
yet look at you, wanting to fly away from me, with those birds.”

“No...not
away. I...I just want...I want to see the world for myself. If it’s
a terrible world, then I shall know for myself.”

“...oh....”
Tou-momoiroi hugs Rapunzel. “You’re such a brave, lovely
girl. Small wonder I want to protect you.”

-
- - - -

Three:
Servant oni, fallen tenshi.

“You’re
becoming attached,” remarks an amused voice.

Tou-momoiroi
turns to find its source. “Toguro-tei. You should know
better than to sneak up on me.”

“Forgive
me, mistress.” A tall, tanned, well-muscled man stands before
the witch.

“How
can I not? I’ve always preferred you that way.”

“You
flatter me. I’m just a talentless oni.”

“Yet
you serve me well, Toguro.”

“The
tenshi Shinobu has shown the prince of the Kuwabara kingdom
your jewel. The young fool’s lovestruck.”

“Who
wouldn’t be in awe of my creation?”

“Now,
now: I think prince Gozaburo and his consort had their role in that.”
Toguro smirks.

“I
created this world, and the heaven it spins in. I created every thing
that walks upon the earth, all which fly above it, all that crawl
under it.” Tou-momoiroi becomes more youthful, changing into a
lovely, brown-eyed woman. “That’s the whole point of
being megami, you see.”

“Genkai-kamisama.
I do love it when you wax ecclesiastic.” Toguro draws the small
goddess to his side.

-
- - - -

“If
we set the dynamite at the base of Saiba Castle,” begins
Hagiri.

“I
won’t hear of that.” The prince scowls. “The
princess Shizuru is below. Captive to that worthless scum....”

“Your
Highness.” Lord Mitarai pinches the bridge of his nose. “We
must assume the worst...accept the possibility that your sister is
dead.”

“I
won’t. I know she’s alive!”

“And
yet, Kazuma-ouji,” says the tenshi Shinobu, “we
must at least prepare for the worst. “If your sister were here,
she would counsel that rescuing her is far too risky.”

“But--*”

“You
are the crown prince. As your kingdom’s guardian, I must aid
you in the proper way; in what’s best for the kingdom.
Presuming the princess is alive, she would be prepared to die for the
sake of the kingdom.

“As
for you, you must be prepared to act on behalf of your kingdom, and
to rule it wisely.”

“...very
well. Mitarai, draw up the plans. However, don’t act on them
until our scouts return.

“Hopefully
with news...one way or the other.” Kazuma stalks out of the
council chamber, into the promenade.

Shinobu
follows the young prince out.

-
- - - -

“Prince.”

“Oh,
stop it! It’s stupid, having a tenshi call me that.”
Kazuma scowls, fighting back tears.

Shinobu
embraces the young prince. “You’re such a fool.”

“Hmph--as
though I don’t hear that at least once a day. I know my
sister’s alive! She’s strong. It would take more than
cowards like Damien to fell her.”

“I
know. Shizuru wants you to be happy, Kazuma-ouji.”

“And
she wants the kingdom to survive. In order to do that, I must produce
an heir,” continues Kazuma tonelessly.

“You’re
vain. No different than most princes. And yet you are beloved.”

“And
yet I’m unworthy of her, that maid in the tower. I’m not
the type of prince that can effortlessly enter an enchanted fortress
and save the maiden. I’m one of those unfortunates that die
trying, too clumsy and heavy of foot to....

“I
should forget it. Just focus on being a war general.”

“You
don’t understand. Until you are wed, and your bloodline is
assured, the coronation can’t take place. Without the
coronation, you won’t be king.

“At
any rate, your beauty can’t be seen...until it’s felt.
You’re like a djinni within a rusted lamp. Let the maid
touch you, taste you: she’ll find you quite the prince
charming.” Shinobu crudely grins, watching Kazuma blush.

“Shinobu...shut
up.” Kazuma gives the tenshi a childlike pout. “I...I
can’t think of...maidens...right now....”

“But
you already are thinking of a maiden. It’s time you visited her
again.”

-
- - - -

Four:
Testing the waters of love.

“Are
you sure about this, my prince?” asks Sawamura.

Kazuma
rolls his eyes. “The wizened one always leaves the tower at
this hour, to have a cup of tea in the nearby village.

“It
takes her two hours for her to embark on her journey, settle in to
enjoy her cha-ninjin, and return here. I have marked this for
a fortnight.”

“You’ve
been stalking this old harridan, you mean.” Mitarai raises a
yellow brow. “I doubt that you seek to make a bride of her.”

“...Mitarai!?”

“Yes.
I had wondered why you seemed so distracted, though I suspect a young
maid is behind this.” Mitarai smiles knowingly.

“Nonetheless,”
Mitarai continues, “I followed you here for matters of graver
import.” His smile fades. “Regrettably...all but one of
our scouts are dead. Lord Damien has their heads on pikes outside
Saiba Castle.”

“I...I
suppose we have no other choice....” Kazuma grimaces, lowering
his head momentarily to honor his fallen.

The
mourning is brief. Many souls had been lost in the course of the war,
and death no longer affected the young prince. “Hagiri shall
proceed as we discussed. I shall follow you shortly.”

“No.
Don’t be of heavy heart. If studying the habits of old women
pleases you, then who am I to strip you of joy? It has been a long
time since you were happy.

“Please
forgive my discourtesy, your Highness. I shall deliver your order to
Hagiri at once.” Mitarai bows, then leaves Kazuma and Sawamura.

Kazuma
sighs heavily.

Sawamura
folds his arms. “Kazuma-ouji...we came all this way. The
least you can do is speak to this girl of yours.

“Two
hours is not as great a span of time as you think.” Sawamura
winks at the prince.

“Alright....”
The prince dashes to the tower, then places his back against the
wall.

Mimicking
Tou-momoiroi’s voice(or making a sad attempt to), Kazuma crows:

Rapunzel,
Rapunzel,

Let
down thy hair,

That
I may climb

Its
silken stair.

Rapunzel
looks out the window, but sees no one. “Satou-kaasan? I
don’t see you....”

“...anou...I’m...I’m
testing my--my new invisibility spell. And...it works!” grins
Kazuma, attempting to mimic a witch’s cackle to cover his
nervous laughter.

“...you
must have taken ill then....” muses Rapunzel. “You are
early from your afternoon tea.”

Taking
the cue, Kazuma coughs weakly. “Yes...my child. Now, please:
let down your hair...you weary an old woman with all this talk....”
And me. Am I to be so interrogated? There are less questions from
the guards at Saiba’s castle gates.

-
- - - -

Rapunzel
looks down the tower window on hearing the familiar chant, as
Tou-momoiroi instructed(there was no jutting windowsill to obstruct
the view below); she notices something amiss.

A
person stood below, someone with red hair, flush against the wall.
Rapunzel smiles, amused mainly with the imposter’s pitiful
mimicry of Tou-momoiroi.

I
should at least see who this person actually is, she muses to
herself. Rapunzel gathers an old braid(she would braid her hair and
cut it whenever it threatened to grow too long to manage; as it was a
daily task to groom her silken mane), anchors it to a chair, and lets
it down.

-
- - - -

Kazuma
sees the braid fall in front of him. This is it, this is it!
he grins excitedly, grabbing the braid and clambering up the sheer
tower wall.

The
prince reaches the window, and sees the maiden...standing next to a
chair with a silky sea-green braid attached, arms folded across her
chest.

Rapunzel
smiles wryly, revealing a pair of scissors as she unfolds her arms.
“Before I cut you down, will you tell me the truth about
yourself? You’re obviously not my mother.”

“You
weren’t fooled for a moment, were you?” pouts Kazuma.

The
maid shakes her head. “Tou-momoiroi told me that someone would
try your trick sooner or later.”

“Ah.
But do you do everything she tells you to...?” Kazuma gives
Rapunzel a pleading look. “Does she know about your spare
braids, for instance?”

“No.
But that doesn’t mean I have to suffer liars.” Rapunzel
unceremoniously snips the braid.

Kazuma
shrieks at the top of his lungs.

Startled,
Rapunzel looks down. “Oh...oh, no! I...I didn’t
intend...! Forgive--where is--?” The maid feels a pair of hands
over her eyes.

Kazuma,
now inside the tower, leans to whisper in Rapunzel’s ear. “I
will forgive your mischief...if you will forgive my deception.”

Rapunzel
feels an odd tingle rush through her body; her skin growing warm.
“...very well.”

The
maiden is unsure of the exact source of this sudden wave of
excitement; whether it is the feel of the prince’s hands on her
face, the deep, rough hiss of his whisper, the hot-cool sensation of
his breath on her ear, or their unusual closeness: Rapunzel cannot
tell.

Kazuma
releases Rapunzel, and the maid turns to face him with a look of
serene composure. “Who...who are you? Truly?”

“An
admirer of yours. I grew weary of observing you from a distance, and
sought to meet you face to face.

“My
name is Kazuma.”

Rapunzel
giggles as she sits on her bed. “What an odd name.”

Kazuma
scowls good-naturedly. “At least I’m not a type of
kyabetsu, Rapunzeru-san.”

“That
is what I am called. And I’m obviously a person, not a
kyabetsu. What are you?”

“I’m
a person, too.” Sitting next to her, Kazuma takes Rapunzel’s
hand and places it flat against his. “You see?”

“I
suppose. But why is your voice so deep? Where are you breasts?”

Kazuma
blushes. “My...breasts? I....”

“Like
these....” Rapunzel bares her chest, revealing a pair of
cream-white breasts.

“I...don’t
have those....” The prince’s skin grows redder as he
struggles to control his drooling. “You see,” he
continues stammering, “I-I’m...I’m--a man.

“Have
you never see--seen...a man before?” Kazuma balks.

Rapunzel
shakes her head. “My mother told me very little about men. I’ve
never seen one before.”

“Are
you sure?” asks Kazuma dubiously.

“I
wouldn’t know what a man looks like. I’ve seen birds,
girls playing outside, women--including Tou-momoiroi--and three boys.

“I
know that boys are different from girls; yet none of that matters.
You’re the only other person that’s ever been in my
room.”

“Hm...have
you ever seen one of these boys...relieve themselves? You know....”
Kazuma winces at the word he must use. “Piss?”

“...they
can do that standing up....”

“Ah....
Basically...men are like boys. In fact, men were once boys; they just
grew up.

“You’re
a curious sort of girl, aren’t you?” Kazuma smiles.

“I
suppose. Wouldn’t you be curious if your only view of the
outside world was this little window?” asks Rapunzel curtly.

“Maybe...but
I’ve never had that problem. Truth be told, I’ve seen
more of what’s outside this window than I ever wanted to see. A
lot of ugliness.” Kazuma scowls.

“I
can’t really blame your mother for keeping you mewed up in
here.”

“Are
you saying it’s better for me to stay in here?”

“Rapunzel-san...I
have no right to say what’s best for you one way or another. I
can only share with you what I’ve seen and experienced.”

“And
what have you experienced?” asks Rapunzel, absently placing her
hand over the prince’s.

“I...I
don’t wish to burden you.” Kazuma winces, as if in pain.

“I....
Have I said something wrong?”

“N-no!
It isn’t your fault. You’re curious. And it’s not
as though you have visitors everyday.” Kazuma now sees her
hand, and takes it in his hands.

“...you’re
in pain. Tou-momoiroi trained me in healing arts; may I help?”

“That
would explain why your hands have this strange cool-warmth,”
says Kazuma, taking Rapunzel’s other hand. “But my pain
isn’t in my body. There’s nothing you can do...that you
haven’t already done.”

“I...don’t
understand.” Rapunzel studies the youth carefully.

Kazuma
releases her hands, standing up to stretch. The prince then sits on
the floor, placing his head on her lap.

Rapunzel
joins her guest on the floor, pulling gently on his shoulders to let
him lean back on her.

Feeling
the maid’s fingers run through his red hair, Kazuma relaxes.
“I’ve heard you sing. It’s beautiful. And beholding
you from afar; it’s truly lifted my spirits over the past few
months.

“Do
you know how beautiful you are?” he asks quietly, absently
rubbing Rapunzel’s thighs as he looks up at her face.

-
- - - -

More
of that exciting feeling courses through Rapunzel’s body.
It...it feels like a strong, intense...tickle. I like it.

She
lowers her head to sniff Kazuma’s neck. Rapunzel could not
describe the scent, but it caused her to feel wonderfully dizzy.

“It’s
strange,” says Rapunzel aloud. “Usually the pink parts of
my breasts scrunch up when--*”

“Say
no more...please....” Kazuma moves his hands off Rapunzel’s
thighs, laying them flat on the floor before curling them into
trembling fists.

“I...I’m
sorry.”

“No...don’t
be. I must have excited you,” Kazuma smiles. He sits up, slowly
turning to face the maid.

Rapunzel
touches the youth’s cheek. “Your skin is turning a
reddish-pink again. And you’re very warm. Are you ill?”

“I’m...not
ill,” smiles Kazuma embarrassedly. “I....” He
touches Rapunzel’s lips with two of his fingers.

The
light pressure of Kazuma’s fingers on her swollen lips sends
another delightful chill through Rapunzel. She delicately tastes the
two fingers as she touches Kazuma’s lips with her index finger.

Kazuma
purrs softly, cupping Rapunzel’s face in his hands. “Your
skin...is even softer than I dreamed.

“Rapunzel-san...may
I kiss you?”

Rapunzel
turns her cheek to him.

“No...I
want to press my lips against yours.... You’ll understand
better if I just show you.” Kazuma draws Rapunzel to him,
lowering his face to hers. He coaxes her upper lip into his mouth,
letting his tongue slip into her mouth.

Enjoying
the new feel of Kazuma’s tongue against hers, Rapunzel sticks a
bit of her tongue inside his mouth. Their first kiss deepens,
muffling their cries of approval.

After
a moment that seemed unending, they break the kiss, smiling happily.

“Oh...yes...!”
Kazuma takes a second to catch his breath; he takes Rapunzel’s
hands in his. “So...how was it? Did you like it?”

Rapunzel
nods. “It...it felt wonderful. I can’t...I can’t
describe it; it was...so....”

“...beautiful.”
The prince touches her chin. “Just as you are.”

They
both hear a short, loud, piercing whistle. “What manner of bird
is that?” asks Rapunzel.

“The
wingless Sawamura,” grins Kazuma, “who tells me that my
time with you today has shortened. May I pay you another visit
tomorrow?”

“Yes.
I’d like that, Kazuma-san.”

“I’ll
bring a delicious lunch for us. We can have a picnic.” Kazuma
sits on the open window.

“One
more question. How did you manage to get inside...when I cut the
braid?” Rapunzel asks bashfully.

Kazuma
smiles, summoning his reiken. “I have my ways,
Rapunzel-san.” Extending the sword, Kazuma descends to his
“wingless bird”, Sawamura. The prince’s retainer
waves to the girl as both men leave.

-
- - - -

Shinobu
sits in a tree, watching the prince of his realm leave. “Careful,
little one,” he chuckles. “You’ve roused the
djinni. And there’s no returning him to his lamp once
you’ve made that choice.”

“I
don’t think she’s displeased at present,” smiles
his friend, Itsuki.

“And
the keeper of the gate between light and shadow appears. What is your
purpose in this?”

“I
wish to help you, Shinobu. To regain your place in heaven.

“I
have rightfully earned my place in hell, by rebelling against
megami-sama. You, on the other hand, acted out of
righteousness.”

“Self-righteousness.
It wasn’t my place to judge or condemn those men. I acted
without thinking of her will; only of what I knew to be right.”

Itsuki
scowls. “Yes...keep telling yourself that. You still won’t
believe it.”

“I
don’t have the right to question megami-sama. No tenshi
does. We are her messengers and servants.”

“Then
why bother intervening in human affairs, as you do now?”

“Because
the Kuwabara Kingdom has need of me, and....”

Itsuki
studies Shinobu carefully.

“...and...the
prince Kuwabara holds the key to restoring that which was lost to
darkness, many years ago. Yes: both he, and that girl.

“Their
affair is a portion of an elaborate drama, in which many actors
unwittingly play a part. And we near the denouement.” Shinobu
climbs to the top of his tree, unfurls his shimmering blue-black
wings, and takes to the sky.

---
END CHAPTER 1 ---

DISCLAIMER:
I own nothing, nothing, nothing! My use of all the
characters in AG-uBS--in this and future chapters--is purely for fan
fiction purposes, and I’m not making a dime off any of them.
Not Seto, not Kuwabara, not even Toguro. Comprenez-vous?
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A Grown-up Bedtime Story