The Seventh Portrait - To the End Chapter 1: The Hero's Welcome, a daa! daa! daa! fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own UFO Baby/Daa, Daa, Daa.

The plotline itself is an original of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are fictitious and are not to be considered real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronics, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without written permission of the author.

-: THE SEVENTH PORTRAIT :-

-REVISED-

A Daa Daa Daa Fanfiction

Cshen.J.

"He left with a promise he'll come back for her. Too bad, when he did, she was no longer there."

PLEASE READ.

NOTE TO READERS:

Some of you may have read the original post of this story under the account 'Dandy352.' This is to assure you this is NOT plagiarism as we are the same person. I apparently forgot the password for that account and thus needed another one to continue my stories. That and my first laptop broke taking my stories with it.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE READ AND/OR REVIEWED MY STORIES as Dandy352. I'm sorry for leaving you hanging with my lack of updates. Anyway, let me try to make it up to you. Again, I would like to add the disclaimer that I do not own Daa, Daa, Daa. I am simply borrowing the characters for an original story I created. I hope we both enjoy.

I would also like to mention my thanks and appreciation to a fellow fanfiction writer in the site who goes by the pen name 'Kanata Saionji.' His/her story 'Castles in the Air' had inspired me to write this one.

SYNOPSIS

A prince returns victorious from battle only to discover that his childhood friend was lost in a mysterious fire incident that destroyed a fourth of their village. Five years after his coronation, King Kanata Saionji lives to better the Azalean Kingdom, refusing to find a queen as he journeys across kingdoms to search for her.

Meanwhile, a war is brewing between the Great Cireon Kingdom and Faithe, the two biggest and most powerful of the seven kingdoms. Lord Ignus Hanakomachi is using his influence on the court to delay Prince Ruurian Arameia from claiming the throne, all the while using borrowed time to rebuild peaceful Faith's image into a merciless destroyer and an unbeatable conqueror.

To prevent the war from happening, a secret group of rebels led by Prince Ruurian himself seeks to complete what myths and legends refer to as the King's Judge (also known as the Six Portraits), a gathering of six descendants of heroes from the tragic Hasen War, formed with the power to override a monarch's ruling.

With a mystery solved, more doors are opened, and soon, the Azalean king might just open one that could turn his beloved kingdom either into the most vulnerable prey or the most dangerous threat in the upcoming war.

Miyu Kozuki, albeit known for having the most beautiful face in the Azalean Kingdom, is happy living a humble life as the merchants' daughter. Growing up with the prince had earned her both friends and enemies, but she wouldn't change it for the world. Her dreams and visions do not extend any farther than the kingdom she'd long learned to call home.

Perhaps one day, when her friend is king, she could imagine becoming more. Fate however has other plans. And when an accident reveals more than she could bargain, the life she'd learned to love would be no more and she'd be thrust into an adventure not meant for the fainthearted. For how can anything be simple for a name that has always been meant to bring the seven kingdoms to their knees?

PREFACE

"I have never seen a face as sad as what he showed me. I've seen the women mourning for their loss. I've seen the tears shed when a warrior got killed defending his kingdom. I've seen a child grieve over his parents' death, and I've seen a slave so pained you won't need to hear sobs to know what he's been through.

Ahh, yes! The grief caused by a loss.

Only this time, it was the hero's mourning after having won the battle.

It was the hero, being celebrated for his victory, but was unable to rejoice. For inside, he was crying, his heart mourning over a death. That of the person who could have been his everything."

-Sixth

CHAPTER ONE

The Hero's Welcome

:-Azalea-:

"Long live Prince Kanata! Long live King Hosho! Long live Azalea!"

Outside the palace halls, the crowd was unstoppable in their cheering. The Azalean Kingdom finally has a reason to rejoice. Led by none other than their own esteemed prince, their army returned victorious this day before sunrise.

King Hosho had ordered to open the palace gates for the public, offering a great feast for citizens and foreigners alike, a celebration even more extravagant than his majesty's wedding reception with the late fair Queen Hitomi. Their enemies had been defeated at last. The prince had succeeded in overthrowing the army of notorious bandits that tried to take the throne for themselves, effectively putting an end to their greed of wanting to colonize the peaceful kingdom. Indeed, it was a time of great rejoicing, even more because in a matter of a week, an even grander and longer celebration would take place to mark one of the biggest events in the history of the kingdom. Their beloved prince and war hero, Prince Kanata Saionji, would turn eighteen and be coronated as king.

The kingdom could not be happier. Eating and drinking would stop, only to give way to singing and dancing. The people were happy to forget. It was as if the fire incident never happened. It was as if there hadn't been homes destroyed, as if there hadn't been a life that was lost.

Watching over the merriment from the palace balcony, King Hosho stood in his royal robes, tall, regal and everything like the man who has everything he wanted in his hands. He had already sent laborers to rebuild all that were lost in the fire, promising them a generous amount should they be able to finish in months' time. He had also made a public announcement that no one in their kingdom will be left homeless. Indeed, the people were appeased. And what was left for the king to regret was his inability to pacify the grieving heart of his son, the one prince of the Azalean Kingdom, the hero of the last war.

"Nozomu, come forth," the king called.

At his command, the soldiers guarding the entrance to the balcony withdrew their swords to let a man, no younger than the prince, come in.

The man was Nozomu Hikarigaoka, the prince's page and protector. With quick practiced strides, he brought himself to kneel gallantly before his king.

"Command me, your majesty," he said.

The king nodded, letting him rise and wordlessly gesturing the soldiers to leave them be. Seeing the man who has stayed and fought beside his son for seven years, the king's worries were slightly appeased. At least, he knew his son would never be alone in his battles because he would always have people at his side to support him.

The page came to stand beside him to watch over his people.

"Where is he?" the king asked.

"The prince had never left his room since his return, your majesty."

"So he's never visited the Kozukis? He's never gone to see-," The king stopped himself, releasing a tired sigh. He'd expected that by now at least, the prince would have gone to check the remains of the fire incident. Learning that he has not gone, leaves greater room for concern.

"I'm afraid he hasn't your majesty."

The king's hand was clenched behind the marble railings so his people could not see. He kept a smile and offered them a waving hand, but his voice could not be firmer as he spoke to him.

"Stay with the prince. Never let him out of your sight. Make sure he doesn't try to harm himself. Azalea needs him to rule. I need him to replace me."

Had he not been staying with them for years now, the page would have thought his king a cold-hearted man. But he had, and knowing better, the page could only gasp in mortification.

"Your majesty, forgive your servant's insolence, I beg of you! But Prince Kanata, no matter how young, would never do such a thing!"

It was then that the king averted his gaze from the crowd and discretely turned to look directly at the page's cerulean eyes.

Here was a man who vowed his allegiance to the throne and the kingdom, and yet reverently contests his own king's words. It was almost too easy to forget that this was the same shaking eleven years old boy that was brought to the palace, having been the lone survivor in an unfortunate sea accident. Having lost his family, the boy would not speak for weeks and would always stay alone, acting every bit like a person with no reason to live. And then one day, while he was resting under a tree, the boy had the misfortune of meeting a mischievous ignorant boy who just happened to be the prince. The king could only amuse himself thinking that perhaps it was destined. Two boys, the total opposite of each other, met, fought and since then became inseparable to the point that the boy would voluntarily vow to give his life for his prince.

Perhaps it was the accumulation of all the events that took place in their childhood. Now the mute boy was no more, and in his place, was a handsome young man, wise, skilled, strong and fearless even to defend his prince and comrade before their king.

The monarch's eyes softened at the sight, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed his mask to fall, revealing his exhaustion bare before the page. While he had asked for the prince's page and protector to report to him, it was instead his son's friend that came, having done his duty.

With a gentle but resolute voice and unyielding gaze, the king spoke.

"You are right, of course. He is my son and I know him better than anyone. The boy has yet to disappoint us, always exceeding far beyond my or the royal advisors' expectations. He'd always shown us he's capable and mature despite his age. But this is exactly why he concerns me so. Surely you cannot blame me Nozomu. You cannot fault me for hoping that for once, my son would act like any other kid his age would after losing her. You cannot imagine how much it pains me to see my own suffering and yet live his life as if he is a stone, as if her loss wasn't enough to break him down."

Seven Months Ago…

At the village's end, on the side by the riverbanks and right in the middle of the Azalean meadow, a beautiful two-story purple house stands alone. This belongs to a beautiful merchant couple, hired by the king himself to do his trades.

Their names were Miki and Yuu Kozuki, and living with them was their only daughter, a delightful maiden of age fifteen who was instantly acknowledged to be the most beautiful face in Azalea. Her given name was Miyu Kozuki.

It was one of those nights when Miyu was home alone. Her parents had gone to another kingdom yet again to make trades of herbs and minerals for spices, silk and metal weapons. She had offered to come with them of course, but as always, they turned her down and told her to guard their home instead.

The maiden could only sulk, finding her predicament unfair and unnecessary. They never let her go anywhere outside the Azalean boarders.

But the night was too beautiful to spend alone and at home no less. It wasn't as if there can be burglars or slave traders in the vicinity. One of the perks of having her parents work for the king was that the knights were always on guard in their area, ever constant in their patrol shifts. Thus, when a strange metallic sound came ringing from the backyard, she was instantly on high alert, taking out the closest weapon she could find – a wooden sword, useful albeit given to her as a gift by a teasing young prince.

She kept her breathing in moderation, her delicate fair fingers tightening on the sword and ready to strike whenever necessary. She was convinced it couldn't be a burglar. But could it be a boar? A leopard? Goosebumps crawled up her skin and she shivered, feeling annoyed at herself for being scared. The idea was not plausible, it was crazy! Or was it?

But then the sound came again, louder and getting closer by each passing second.

Ears stuck to the door, she held the sword in front of her chest. The window was barely open and inviting her to take a peek, but she had no intention of risking being chased by an animal, in case there really was one waiting for her.

To her shock, the metallic ringing turned into something familiar, something mellow, and yet oddly comforting, and she froze on the spot.

There was only one person in the world who managed to give her this feeling, this sense of comfort and sadness both at once.

"Kanata…" she said the name in a whisper, like she was remembering a fond memory.

The idea was absurd. It was impossible. The war was expected to last for five months at the very least. It was only the third day of the second month. She couldn't be wrong because she was counting every hour. There was no way… or could it be? Could they have won, just like that? But her heart was beating so fast and her feet were completely ignoring her, already running outside the door to see.

Logic would say it's insane. Goodness, she's probably insane! But her heartbeat was racing faster with each step she took and she couldn't be more certain.

"Kanata!" she screamed in the vastness of the meadow, pausing only to catch her breath for she had never run so fast in all her life.

In the very same spot in the field of wild azaleas where she'd seen him last, she spotted the silhouette that became clearer under the moonlight. It rooted her feet on the ground.

Standing before her was their prince, tall and enchanting in his battle armour, his sheath laying on the ground with the sword still inside. She was convinced it was his things falling that she heard, and she grinned good-naturedly, pride beaming in her smile. He had done it. He really had done it. This boy, no-, this man, only two years older than her and looking so ridiculously beautiful removing his helmet, had led his first battle and won.

Had it been any other day, she would scold him for visiting without having gone to change his clothes. But this, this was no ordinary day.

"Prince Kanata!" she cried in pride.

He looked up, and in a brief moment, it was as if a storm had poured on all the joy her heart contains.

She wondered how she had missed it. How he stands like a different person. The playful smirk, the confident stride, the charm – everything that came with him were lost and replaced with something else, something forlorn, broken even.

He opened his mouth, but there was no sound. Instead he took small steps, slow and painful, to reach her. A foot forward, and then another and she could only watch and wait until he was finally an arms-length away.

"Kanata," she whispered, dazed with the smallest satisfaction that she managed to say his name without tears. She offered him her hand, her emerald eyes willing him to take it. Then and there, the prince crumbled to his knees, and seeming to have lost it, held her waist and wept.

She yelped in surprise.

Her immediate reaction was to push him away, but he started shaking and sobbed even harder when she called his name. Hesitantly, she settled a hand on his shoulder, desperate to hold her own tears back.

Maybe an hour had passed or maybe more. But it didn't matter. It took a while before he seemed to regain the ability to speak. And all the while, she stayed quiet before him, patting his head and letting him hold her.

He always had been so brave, so composed, so collected, so…

Her chest ached and she couldn't think properly anymore. There were definitely more words, all good to describe him, and yet here she was unable to continue. She couldn't remember any moment when the prince was anything but strong. Never was there a day when he had given them a reason to worry for him.

"I…," came his first word. "I killed them. One soldier was…," (a cough in pausing), "He thanked me when I killed him. He was grateful that I stuck a sword right on his chest. So why do I feel like shit? Like I've done wrong? Like I've become a monster? Tell me I wasn't wrong! Tell me please!"

Brown eyes were begging her so desperately, and his hand was gripping hers so tightly as if she would disappear if he let go.

She wanted to shout, to scream. The prince was asking her for a cure she had never once thought herself capable of having, much less giving. But she would be damned if she doesn't do anything for him, not when he looked so much like a child, lost and pleading because he thinks himself deserving all the punishment in the world.

Unable to do anything else, she knelt down so that he could see her eyes, and threw her arms around him.

"You did the right thing Kanata," she said firmly.

There was no immediate reaction. He just knelt there, cold, tired and exhausted. It took a long moment to digest her words.

"I did. I did the right thing, didn't I?"

She choked her own sob that threatened to spill, but she managed to sound truthful. "Yes, you did. You did well Prince Kanata."

And that was it. That was all he needed to hear. That was all she needed to say. The light had finally returned to his eyes and he smiled weakly, this time returning her embrace.

It was already midnight when King Hosho sent soldiers to force open the prince's room. But to their surprise, the prince was nowhere to be found.

Instantly, soldiers were ordered to form search troupes in groups of four. Each troupe took a designated area: inside the palace, in the forest, in the village, in the meadow, in every land and water they could search. The order was clear that they could not return without their prince.

One of the search troupes, led by the prince's page and protector, immediately headed for the village portion in the meadow.

Nozomu couldn't help but fear in awe. It wasn't so long ago that he came to this very place to visit a friend. But now everything was burnt or in ashes. The once beautiful purple home of the Kozukis was now in ruin, their only daughter never found.

"Wait here. I'll go alone. Follow only when I call you," he ordered his troupe.

He took his time to go inside. As soon as they found out that the prince was missing, he instinctively made a mental list of the places the prince frequented. This house was the first one that came to mind.

Trying his best to ignore the painful memories that came with the burnt scenery, he focused on finding his prince.

He came out of the backyard and threaded carefully not to make a sound. There, he saw him.

It would have been better if the prince had never heard of the news. But the maiden's whereabouts was the first thing he asked upon their surprise return. The king knew better than to let anyone touch anything that belongs to the Kozukis. Everyone in the palace had hoped to find hints that might lead them to the missing child.

"Prince Kanata," the page greeted, no longer needing to shout as he had found him.

He had seen the prince face a giant warrior without fear. The prince was fearless before a sword, fearless before any threat in his life. And the only times he could recall seeing fear in his eyes were all instances when someone else other than himself was put in great danger.

If he was given a choice, Nozomu would have preferred to see the prince fearing for his people. Because then he would have the courage to fight, to stand up. He always had. Only this wasn't one of them.

The prince had never looked more desolate, kneeling and staring lifelessly at the house of the maiden he loves. The page can just imagine what was going on in his mind.

"Miyu, where can I go now? I can't find you anywhere."

The page bowed his head, his heart hurting for his friend. Who would have thought that their hero and soon to be king was this dependent on one villager? And now that they lost her, he too was lost.

"Prince Kanata…," he called with the slightest hope of getting his attention. But the prince did hear him.

"Nozomu," his voice, tired and husky, said. "Miyu."

The name was whispered so gently, that the page could only grit his teeth in silence. Seeing his friend so broken, the decision was clear in his mind. He would do whatever he'll ask of him, even if it was to leave him be. He would lie to their soldiers, even to the king if he asks him to. But he should have known that the prince had never been good in being selfish.

"Come on, the kingdom needs me," said the prince, wiping his tears and standing at last.

The page was reminded of the king's words. Indeed, the prince, as young as he was, was dying on the inside.

To be Continued

A/N: Edited and revised. Review if you love it. :)