Disclaimer: No, they are nor mine.

Our Legend, Our Story

Chapter 1:Starting Point, And We Keep Walking

Our kingdom was once peaceful.

The Queen Sumire, the ruler of our kingdom, had five children, two sons and three daughters.

The Queen's first child was Prince Tezuka. And then came her first daughter, Princess Yoshiko. Then the second daughter, Princess Rinko. After her, came the second son, Prince Inui, and lastly, a daughter, Princess Sayuri.

Each of these sons and daughters are unique on their own, and the Lords and Ladies whom they're married to, completed them so perfectly.

Prince Tezuka, the Crown Prince of our kingdom, married Lady Ayana, an enchantress and healer who served the Houses of Healing. Princess Yoshiko, who's a seer, married Lord Fuji, the captain of the West Army. Princess Rinko, the Lady Healer, married Lord Nanjiroh, the captain of East Army. Prince Inui, the master tactician, married Lady Katalya, a healer, botanist, and chemist. Princess Sayuri, the mage, married Lord Inoue, the captain of the Intelligence Army.

For years, there was only peace in the kingdom. But then, darkness started to move, and tried to cover our kingdom with its cold fingers. The first victims were the people, who disappeared without trace. Then, it started to gnaw on the palace walls and its inhabitants.

Prince Tezuka and Lady Ayana, who was pregnant at that time, were attacked on their way home from the Houses of Healing. The Prince didn't survive, and Lady Ayana was badly injured, thus their son was delivered two months earlier than he's supposed to, at the cost of his own mother's life. The baby was Prince Kunimitsu.

The infant prince, though was born safely, was very weak, that Queen Sumire and his uncles and aunts fear for him. A swift decision was taken; Prince Inui and his wife would go to find the Life Crystal in hope that it could help the ailing baby. They left, leaving their four months old son, Prince Sadaharu, in Queen Sumire's care.

They never returned.

The Queen grieved to no end, having lost both of her two sons and their beloved wives. Their legacies were the baby princes, Prince Sadaharu and Prince Kunimitsu, so their aunts decided to adopt them. Princess Sayuri, who had not had any children of her own, took Prince Sadaharu. Prince Kunimitsu, who's weaker than Prince Sadaharu, was taken by Princess Rinko, after a careful consideration that she's a healer and already had a son of her own, Prince Ryoga, three years older than the two baby princes, therefore she and her husband had an experience of handling a baby. Princess Yoshiko would have loved to take one of them if only she hadn't a baby of her own at that time, a son four months older than Prince Sadaharu. His name's Prince Shusuke.

For awhile, peace reigned again, and then, Princess Yoshiko, Princess Rinko, and Princess Sayuri all gave birth in the same year, intermittently close to one another, giving Prince Shusuke, Prince Sadaharu, and Prince Kunimitsu baby cousins two years younger than themselves. Princess Yoshiko's baby was Prince Yuuta, Princess Rinko's was Prince Ryoma, and Princess Sayuri's was Princess Sakuno.

Then disaster came again.

There was a sudden massive attack to the palace, that all palace walls were breached and its shields collapsed. Lord Fuji died defending the last gate. Princess Sayuri died while she was trying to keep the women and children safe.

The battle was long, and the victims were uncountable.

Lord Inoue was greatly burdened as neither he nor his intelligence had any warning whatsoever regarding the attack that killed his wife and brother in law. The enemies, the Dark Army, as the people called them, were swift and destructive. He understood that something had to be done, and he couldn't do it from within the palace grounds, so he begged to leave the palace. That's the least he could do to protect the future of his children, his nieces, his nephews. Queen Sumire refused, but Princess Yumiko, Princess Yoshiko's oldest daughter who was ten years older than her first brother, Prince Shusuke, came to her and advised her to let Lord Inoue go. Princess Yumiko was, after all, a seer stronger than her mother even at her young age, so Queen Sumire gave her assent, and Lord Inoue left the next day, leaving Prince Sadaharu and Princess Sakuno in Queen Sumire's hands, and from then onward only return several times in a year.

Thus, from Queen Sumire's five children, only two were left. Princess Yoshiko, and Princess Rinko. Lord Nanjiroh had to deal double duties, as no one was capable of taking over Lord Fuji's duties.

Years passed, and the children grew older…

Princess Yumiko's gift of seer grew even more developed as the years went by, as well as her talents in using any long ranged weapons like throwing stars and throwing daggers, her healing ability, and her strong magic.

Prince Ryoga became well acquainted with water magic, and apparently had a lot of adventurer blood in him that he left the palace ground for a few months adventure so often soon after his tenth birthday, the day when he'd gotten his first real sword.

Prince Shusuke was a boy with closed eyes and an everlasting smile on his face, a trait many mistook as weakness, but he was a genius who sent mentors, tutors and teachers scurrying all over the place to find new things for him to learn, as he absorbed all like sponge; a mage who controlled the wind magic as he'd like; someone who can heal or kill at will.

Prince Sadaharu seemed to follow his father and mother's footsteps, as he learned to be a tactician, chemist, and healer who also had the power to control the earth magic should he wish it to be.

Prince Kunimitsu, despite earlier misgivings about his physical condition, became very proficient with weapons and many forms of martial arts, and excelled in botany. He also, despite that he's not the oldest, had his cousins followed him, even without saying a word. Lord Nanjiroh saw the natural leader in his adopted son, and was glad by it.

Prince Yuuta also learned sword mastery well, he's very good with lance, and like his brother, could also control wind magic.

Prince Ryoma was the other genius; beside his excellent fire magic, he could learn any fighting technique only by seeing it being performed, and he had so many skills up his sleeves that he constantly surprised his elders.

Princess Sakuno was a kind-hearted healer; she controls water magic like her mother; she's not really good with swords, but she could use twin knives so well that Queen Sumire had a pair of assassin daggers made for her.

Then came the year when Yumiko was 27; Ryoga was 19; Shusuke, Sadaharu, and Kunimitsu were 17; and Yuuta, Ryoma and Sakuno were 15.

"He's late!"

Keigo, Advisor Atobe's son, was fuming.

"Ore-sama had reminded him to be here at precise noon, and it's past noon, and he's not here yet!"

"Calm down, Keigo," Renji, Advisor Yanagi's son, smiled, "His Highness probably had to take the long route again the avoid the ladies."

"Considering that he'd come from the library, that might be 90 correct," Sadaharu smirked, "He'll be here at exactly 20 minutes from now should he take the farthest route."

"Aniki's not here, too," Yuuta yawned.

"Shusuke-sama's probably with Kunimitsu-sama," Kippei, Advisor Tachibana's son, thought aloud.

"Then I assume Shuichirou and Eiji are with them," Takashi, Advisor Kawamura's son, nodded to himself, referring to the sons of Advisor Oishi and Advisor Kikumaru.

"It might be so…" Takeshi, Advisor Momoshiro's son, looked up from where he's sitting,

"Wouldn't it be even more dangerous if they four walk together?" asked Kaoru, Advisor Kaidoh's son.

"You mean, there'll be more ladies tailing their highnesses?" asked Genichirou, Advisor Sanada's son.

Seiichi, Advisor Yukimura's son, smiled serenely, "If I know Shusuke-sama, his being around Kunimitsu-sama will reduce the stalker number instead."

Kojirou, Advisor Saeki's son, chuckled, "Worried much, Yuuta-sama?"

Ryoma snorted, "The day Yuu admits that he's worried about Shu-niisan will be the day the world ends."

"Well, then we'd have to make sure Yuuta-sama never says it, right?" Koujirou grinned.

Yuuta rolled his eyes.

"I wonder how many girls must their highnesses avoid today," Takeshi wondered.

"The last highest count was 35, if I'm not mistaken?" Renji asked Sadaharu, who nodded.

"Girls are annoying," Ryoma commented.

"Wait until you're our age, Ryoma-sama, and they'll get even more clingy," Yukimura advised.

"Oh, don't worry. When Ryo and I are your age now, you'll be in the eligible age to marry," Yuuta chuckled.

Ryoma sighed, "No wonder Ryo-Nii leaves the palace so often. He must be avoiding the smiling dainty hordes," he grudgingly referred to his older brother, Ryoga.

"I agree," Keigo huffed, "It'll be good if we don't age, really!"

"Want me to cut your age for you, Monkey King?"

Keigo looked at the youngest prince and shook his head wearily, "No, thank you. Ore-sama's life had already been cut several times since I've joined you all."

"Served you right," Yuuta said acidly.

There's a bit of bad blood between the two youngest princes and young Lord Keigo, and it had many things to do with Shusuke and Kunimitsu.

In fact, it was a miracle that Shusuke didn't kill Keigo.

Keigo himself believed that Shusuke actually prolonged his guilt tripping torture.

"You know, we can always start without them," Seiichi offered.

So they did. Pair by pair they fought, enhancing their fighting skills. Sadaharu won against Renji. Ryoma won against Yuuta. Seiichi won against Genichirou. Keigo won against Kojirou. When Takeshi was fighting against Kaoru, though, they were disturbed.

"MINNA-SAN!!!"

They all turned to see Eiji sprinting into the training hall, entering swiftly, hurriedly.

"Eiji?" asked Sadaharu, standing upright worriedly.

"What's wrong? Where's aniki?" asked Yuuta.

Eiji was gasping for breath, it was clear that he'd sprinted all the way to the dojo without stopping.

"Dark… spy…"

Instantly, all boys were upon him.

Renji handed Eiji his water flask. The red-haired boy drank gratefully.

"The others? Where are they?"

"We accidentally bumped into a spy," Eiji heaved, "He escaped, but…"

"But?" asked Seiichi urgently.

"The spy used magic."

Ryoma paled.

"Kunimitsu-sama?" asked Kippei worriedly.

Eiji nodded, "He got hit by a guiding magic."

The next second, Ryoma and Yuuta were sprinting toward the palace, the others right at their heels.

"Oyaji!"

Nanjiroh turned around to see his youngest son sprinting toward him.

"Ku-Niisan…" Ryoma asked uncertainly as he grasped his father's sleeves.

"It's not a direct hit, Ryoma. Shusuke and Sakuno managed to stabilize him even before I came."

"But…"

"Calm down, seishonen," Nanjiroh sighed, looking at the youths before him, "Kunimitsu will be fine. The magic was not strong."

"Even so…" Sadaharu trailed off.

Nanjiroh nodded, "I fear that he's getting more easily contaminated."

Yuuta shook slightly, "Aniki?"

"He's inside, with Shuichirou," Nanjiroh indicated the door behind him.

"Can we…?" Keigo asked uncertainly.

"Only Ryoma, Yuuta, and Sadaharu," Nanjiroh said, "for now. After 24 hours, then you may all visit him."

Ryoma said nothing. He opened the door and slipped in, Yuuta following him.

"Wait here," Sadaharu told the others, "I won't be long," then he went in.

Nanjirou nodded at the youngsters and left.

Keigo sagged on the wall, "Damn…"

"How did a dark spy managed to get in?" asked Takashi worriedly.

They all looked at each other helplessly.

Shusuke smiled at Ryoma and Yuuta as they came in hurriedly.

"Ryo. Yuu. Guess we can't practice today," he sighed.

Ryoma moved around him and knelt beside the bed, grasping Kunimitsu's hand within his own.

Kunimitsu opened his eyes and looked at him tiredly.

"Did you run all the way here?" the ailing prince asked.

Ryoma nodded, "Everyone's outside. We're worried about you."

"S'okay. Shu and Saku-chan helped."

Yuuta smiled bitterly, "Is that so…"

"Rest, Kunimitsu-sama," Oishi said gently.

Kunimitsu whispered, "Tell the others I'm sorry."

"No…" Shusuke said softly as he brushed Kunimitsu's hair with his fingers, "You've done nothing wrong, Mitsu…"

"Aniki…" Yuuta said uncertainly, "Were you hurt?"

Shusuke shook his head, "Only a little tired. If Saku-chan wasn't there, I might not be able to control the contamination."

"It's getting harder to control?" Sadaharu asked.

"It wasn't a strong magic, Sadaharu-sama, but the effect was like a strong one…" Shuichirou said uncertainly.

"I'm getting weaker, Sada," Kunimitsu said softly.

Ryoma gripped Kunimitsu's hand tighter, "Don't say that, please…"

Kunimitsu sighed and closed his eyes, "I'm sorry, Ryo…"

While Kunimitsu excelled in martial arts and weaponry, he had a weak point that was not known before.

Kunimitsu could not be touched by any kind of magic.

Even healing magic, which main point was to HEAL, hurt him. He couldn't touch any magical items as they burned his skin, and any magical attack messed up his life force, his chi, to the point that it had to be rearranged fast or he'd really be ill, or worst, gone.

Imagine a finished puzzle thrown to the air and let scattered on the ground.

That's Kunimitsu whenever he got hit, or touched, by any magic force.

Sadaharu went out of the room and found Sakuno right in front of him.

"Is Ku-Niisan asleep?" the youngest princess asked.

"Yes. Shu refused to leave him, so I told him to sleep on the other bed. Ryo wants to stay, too."

Sakuno nodded, "I'll stay, too. I know Ryo, he'll need company."

Shuichirou came out with Yuuta, who held the door open, "Saku-chan, why aren't you resting? You helped aniki restore the order, right?"

"Only connecting the last threads, Yuu," Sakuno shook her head, "I didn't do much."

"Well, please rest if you're tired, Sakuno-sama," Shuichirou suggested.

Sakuno nodded and slipped into the room.

Yuuta closed the door.

"Is Kunimitsu-sama alright?" asked Kaoru.

"He will be, Kaoru. He needs rest now," Sadaharu smiled gently at the younger boy who had become his partner in double spar, just like Shuichirou and Eiji.

"That's good…" Koujirou huffed, "We were so worried."

"But I thought Eiji-senpai said it's only a guiding magic…" Takeshi scratched his head.

"Guiding magic is a weak magic, right?" asked Takashi.

Shuichirou nodded, "Yet its effect was like a lightning magic."

"It can't be…" Seiichi paled.

Genichirou frowned, "He wasn't that weak two months ago…"

"Was there any other accident that we didn't know in between then and now?" asked Kojirou, looking at Yuuta.

The younger boy shook his head, "Not that I know of. Shuichirou-san?"

Shuichirou shook his head too, "I didn't hear anything, and nothing happened while he's with me."

"Well, was there any time when Kunimitsu-sama's not with anybody?" asked Kippei.

Sadaharu frowned, "I don't think so…"

It was an unwritten rule that Kunimitsu must not venture anywhere alone. He could never deal with magic contamination alone, there must always be outside help. When they were young, Sumire always made sure that the cousins went together everywhere. Not that it's necessary, really, considering that the younger ones tottered along the older ones constantly. Yumiko and Ryoga, who were older than the rest, became the younger ones constant chaperone. As time went by and they grew older, the need of solitude came, Yumiko had her seer training, Ryoga left so often, everyone began to have their own activities, and the little group started to disperse, but Sadaharu and Shusuke always made sure that at least one of them accompanied Kunimitsu, who never complained. He knew they meant well, although sometimes he couldn't help but to disappear somewhere. At those times, it was Sakuno who could stay near, as she'd do nothing but to pick up her flute and play, or pick up a book and read in silence. Ryoma and Yuuta, as well as Sakuno, grew up knowing, loving, and worrying about the two sides of Kunimitsu, the strong, skillful and gallant brother who loved, protected and guided them; and the ailing brother who never wanted to be a bother but had no choice but to let people help him in his times of need.

There was a time, once, when Ryoma, Yuuta, and Sakuno were four, and Kunimitsu was six, when they were trapped in a magical cave, and they couldn't get out. Kunimitsu was in so much pain, but he kept soothing his younger cousins, wiped their tears and held them close, telling them that it'd be okay, everything would be okay… He calmed them as much as he could, and only let them go when Yoshiko, Rinko, and Sumire came. It was burned in the younger ones minds, how Kunimitsu smiled as he told them stories of kind dragons and brave knights, how warm they were in his arms, how he tried to stay conscious even when they knew now that the pain was unbearable. How scared they were, even more scared than when they were trapped in the cave, when Kunimitsu stood up shakily and fell into Sumire's arms, pale and cold, almost lifeless.

They were trapped for six hours; it took a week for Kunimitsu to wake up, and another week to return his strength.

That was the day the younger three really understood what was wrong with their cool and loving cousin.

That was why the younger boys were obsessed with power. That was why, in addition to pursuing magic, the royal cousins learned more of natural physical and psychic strength. Kunimitsu's physical endurance in training and mock battle was great, it was sad that even a slight touch of magic could make him instantly collapsed in his weaker days.

The other boys, who came to the palace as pages, a duty lordlings had to go through as a part of their trainings, knew nothing about it. That was why…

Two months ago…

"Keigo?"

Keigo looked up to see the others peering at him.

"Aa…" Keigo looked at the others and realized that they were about to leave.

Sadaharu looked frazzled, "I need to make sleeping potion. I know Mitsu will throw up the one the healers make."

"I'll help," Renji offered.

"I'm thinking of going to the north garden…" Eiji said to Shuichirou, "You know, to pick some oranges? Maybe some apples, too?"

"That's a good idea," Takeshi nodded.

"It'll take awhile for Ku-Niisan to be able to eat anything properly again…" Yuuta considered, "Usually fruits are okay…"

"Kunimitsu-sama can at least drink juice, right?" confirmed Kippei.

"Maybe some bread," Takashi murmured, "I'll go make some…"

"Mind if I help, Takashi-senpai?" Kaoru asked

Takashi beamed, "Of course not! Anyone else want to help?"

"I do," Takeshi nodded.

"Then I'll help pick fruits," Koujirou decided.

So they all went their separate ways, Sadaharu and Renji went to Sadaharu's room; Takashi, Kaoru, and Takeshi to the kitchen; Eiji, Shuichirou, Yuuta, and Koujirou to the garden. Keigo, Kippei, Seiichi, and Genichirou, though, went to Nanjiroh's office.

"Sada?"

Sadaharu looked at Kunimitsu, who looked at him blearily.

"Yes, Mitsu?" he asked.

"What are you doing here?"

Sadaharu smiled, "Taking over Shu. Yuu insisted that Shu returned to his chamber and so did Saku-chan, Ryo was already asleep so I had Takeshi return him to his chamber before retiring to his own."

"What time is it?"

"A little past midnight."

Kunimitsu yawned, "You're supposed to be asleep."

"So are you."

"I'm okay, Sada, go back to your chamber."

"No. I'll stay with you tonight."

Kunimitsu smiled slightly, "Always the perfect niisan, eh, Sada?"

"If you ask Ryo, then his perfect niisan would be you. Ryo-Nii had a fit about it once, right?"

Chuckling, the slightly younger prince tried to sit.

Pain lanced through his chest, making him fell back on the bed abruptly, closing his eyes.

Sadaharu was on the bed in an instant, leaning over Kunimitsu, one hand gently pressed on his cousin's chest and the other combing his hair, soothing him.

Kunimitsu gasped for breath for a few minutes, then the pain gradually lessened.

"Okay?" Sadaharu asked.

Kunimitsu nodded.

Sadaharu didn't move from the bed, though. He simply lay down beside Kunimitsu, one hand still on his chest, and gently maneuvered his cousin so he rested within his arms.

Touching like that, he could support Kunimitsu better, should it's needed.

Within 24 hours after contamination, it's very easy for Kunimitsu's life force (and soul) to 'scramble out of its order,' as Yumiko termed. That's why anchors and guides were necessary. They were trained to be so, the cousins, especially Sadaharu and Shusuke, after all, among the eight of them, they were Kunimitsu's peers.

Kunimitsu abhorred the fact that he's so dependant on the people around him, but he couldn't help it. At times like that, he simply gave it up and let time flew until he's well again.

Kunimitsu was a half head shorter than Sadaharu. Shusuke was smaller than Kunimitsu, only as tall as Yuuta, in fact. The shortest ones were Ryoma and Sakuno. Ryoga, the last time they met him, was taller than Sadaharu then. Yumiko was slightly taller than her brothers.

Their bodies being proportioned so, Kunimitsu fit in Sadaharu's arms well, their heads resting on the pillows side by side, Sadaharu's one arm rested on his chest, while the other tangled in his hair.

"Sada?"

"Yes?"

Kunimitsu inhaled softly," Why don't you hate me?"

Sadaharu looked surprised, "Why should I?"

"Your parents," Kunimitsu turned slightly so he could see Sadaharu's face, "They died because of me."

"No, they didn't. They might be still alive somewhere."

"But, Sada…"

"It's not your fault, Mitsu," Sadaharu sighed, "And I'm not here because I have to. I want to. If it's true that my parents dies finding ways to save you, then it's the least I could do to keep you safe. And it's not an obligation at all. I do this because we're family."

Kunimitsu closed his eyes, "I'm sorry."

"Why should you? I told you, it's not your fault."

For a while, no one said a word. Then the door opened and a lithe figure stepped in.

Shusuke climbed on the bed on Kunimitsu's other side silently.

"He's asleep," Sadaharu said softly.

"I felt turbulence," Shusuke said, just as softly, "Did he blame himself again?"

"Yes. And I think he's scared. About this, I mean. Him getting weaker."

Shusuke slipped under the blanket covering Kunimitsu and Sadaharu, carefully lying down and pressed closer, hugging Kunimitsu, adding to the control Sadaharu held. His other hand strayed on the pillow to caress Kunimitsu's soft hair, and met Sadaharu's fingers.

Sandwiched between them, Kunimitsu gave a soft sigh and snuggled closer.

Shusuke smiled determinedly, "I won't let him leave, Sada…"

Sadaharu nodded, just as certain, "So won't I."

Night passed, and morning found the three cousins asleep contentedly.

TBC…

Author's note:

My second attempt of POT fic, and my first AU. Written after a night playing Fire Emblem.Thanks for reading! This will be continued quite slowly, I'm afraid. R/R greatly appreaciated!

Tenno Himekawa Rie