A/N : 3rd Fan Fiction of Love Live, now I'm coming up with new main pairing. KotoUmi.
This was actually NozoEri story, but I tweaked it into KotoUmi and added NozoEri as background pairing due to the amount of KotoUmi request in my PM.
I also have a few Hint Only Pairing and I don't need to mention it and leave it to your imagination.
This is the first chapter. It's very short since I want to know if people are interested enough to read this.
Once upon a time,
In a far-far away island…. maybe not too far... but still far. There stand a Kingdom named Otonokizaka Kingdom—An Eastern Kingdom which surrounded by legends and powerful nature.
Although the Kingdom's lands aren't fertile for vegetables and farm, they always have enough food from the trade with the other kingdom. Their castle too aren't lack of any luxury needs, they have a huge land that they used to breed special kind of spiders— one that can create a special kind of spider webs that can be turned into a special-kind of silk. It's just a special spider-silk and it also becomes one of the kingdom's specialty.
The King loves traveling into many places and always seeking for adventure, seeking for relic and artifacts around their land to be kept inside the Kingdom's gallery.
The Kingdom's gallery has been always be the main income to the Kingdom as every time the King returned with a new artifact, it always attracts visitors from every corner in the world— sometime it even caused all the Inn in the Kingdom overloaded with them.
The King also owned a beautiful wife and they are granted with a daughter, her name is Kotori Minami. She inherited the beautiful gray hair from her mother and pure amber eyes from her father. She loves tailoring and she always spends most of her time for it.
She even neglect her other study to do so….
"Kotori!" shouted a little lady with black hair,
"N…Niko -sensei?" Kotori recoiled as she heard a loud thump nearby. Sounds like her caretaker is not impressed… luckily the caretaker aren't allowed to open her room door without permission from the Princess herself.
"Kotori! Are you done with your homework?! I've been waiting for hours!" the little lady shouted again with a frown on her red eyes as she stares intensely into the big door.
"I'm coming, Sensei!" she said.
"If you're not coming into my room in ten minutes, I will make you do Niko-Niko dance for a hundred times!" Niko shouted at her again.
"Y-yes! Coming!" she replied before she heard her teacher leaves the door.
Uuhh…what should I do…? I haven't finished with my homework— I'm spending too much time working on the dress again!
She bit her lips nervously.
I wish I asked Honoka-chan to do it for me before, but… she isn't that reliable too anyway….
She sighed weakly.
Ah well, at least if I'm coming to her room on time without homework, I'll just be penalized with ten Niko-Niko dance….
She decided to go into her room on time,
Her teacher, Niko is indeed not impressed. Especially when she sees a blank paper submitted into her table… or perhaps, it's not so blank since she wrote something in it…
"Why you only wrote Once Upon a Time?" Niko asked.
"B-Because! Uhh…. I don't know what to write!" Kotori replied.
"You haven't even thinking about it! I bet you're spending your time with your stupid dress again!" Niko yelled.
"It's not stupid! It's cute!" Kotori pouts.
"Shush you! Now do the dance ten times!" Niko yelled.
Kotori remained quiet as she still pouts about her dress being called as stupid dress.
"I'll wear your costume after…" Niko said.
Kotori smiled again.
"Ok!"
"Now do it!" Niko said.
"Niko-Niko-Niiiii!" Kotori started to do it.
"Bigger smile!" Niko said again.
"Niko-Niko-Niiiiiiiiiii!" Kotori tried again with a bigger smile.
"Perfect! Now do it ten times!" Niko said.
Kotori repeated that again for the second, third, and…
"Kotori-chan! This is bad-Nya!" a mail-woman suddenly opened the door in panic.
"Rin-chan?" Kotori seems to be confused.
"The King! The King! The King!" Rin handed her the letter that she was told to send.
Kotori and Niko turned to each other for a while, they're still confused with what actually happening and what inside the letter to make her acting like that.
And as Kotori opened the letter….
She ran all the way to the throne room to see what she was told in the letter,
As she reached the door, she could see almost every people who lives in the castle gathered. She decided to make her own way through them with her teacher's help.
"Sorry! Excuse me! Excuse me!" Kotori said as she slips through the crowds.
"Hey- Watch it you! Get away from my path!" Niko said as she pushes people away from her path.
When she got through the crowd, she could see a huge statue of her father— posing in such frightened gesture, he already lost a hand and a leg, his head too seems to be almost falling. What's happening here?
"W….what is this….?" Kotori asked in fear.
She can see her mother also made the same expression. It was a horrible sight for them. The man that they know as the backbone of the family, also the head of the Kingdom, had to face such a terrible condition and turned into stone.
"I'm sorry, Princess… this is your father…" said one of the three Minister, Tsubasa.
"Tsubasa-san…? You're joking, right? This statue can't be my father…." Kotori said.
"This is what he have to face when he refuse to listen to us. The Northen Witch is too strong and too furious. He shouldn't try to enter her territory…" the other Minister, Erena said as she turned her face away from the gruesome view.
"We can only hope for the Legendary Alchemist to come to our Kingdom, though her location never be clear enough for anyone to find. She always travels from place to place non-stop…" another Minister, Anjuu said as she gloomed.
"The Legendary Alchemist is only a legend, it already existed for over many years too, she can't be still living until now…" Tsubasa said.
"So is the Northen Witch… if we believe on the existence of her, why not about the Legendary Alchemist? She is our only hope to fix this mishap…" Anjuu said.
"She is right, I suggest we should advertise to our people that we're looking for the Legendary Alchemist— Alive. A big reward will come to whoever finds her and bring her here…" Erena said.
"What do you think about it, my queen?" Tsubasa asked.
"Do it. If she is our only hope, then do it. Find her, even if it will cost a million gold to find her, I shall do it…" the queen said.
"Understood, my queen…" Tsubasa gestured politely along with the other Minister before they walk away.
"Yazawa-san, please come to my room, I need to talk about a few things…" the queen said.
"Will do, my queen!" Niko replied.
"Kotori, return to your room. This is not a good time for you to be here…" the queen said.
"Understood mother…."
As what she was told to, she walked to her room,
Father… how could you ended up like that….?
She thought.
What's actually happening to you? What did you do?
She keeps on staring into her own feet taking steps on the wooden floor. She decided to make a stop on the castle garden. It was a huge garden with a big Koi pond on the middle. Her garden always keep a lot of mystery such as, they are always losing a fish once in three months, but they never complained because they will get a big bag filled with rice which highly valued in the Kingdom in the very next day.
Kotori sighed weakly. She never feels this sad in her life. She wished that she could do anything, but her only skill is tailoring— thanks to herself who always neglect the other skills that she supposed to be able to learn. What a tailoring can do to this kind of situation? Dressing a statue of her dead father? It isn't even a funny thing to do. It's not even a joke to start with. This is a serious situation— her father turned into a statue and is already in a terrible condition.
She sighed once again before she stood up— she planned to take a walk around her garden, but something else caught her attention. She could see a fluffy white fox tail near the tiny temple that they usually use as garden lamp.
A white fox? That's really rare to see around here….
She thought as she carefully approaches it. She could see a hint of movement on the tail and she decided to grab it quickly.
"Chiiikaaaa!" a cute scream coming from it and Kotori quickly release it.
"Waaaaaaa!" she screamed too. Kotori could see a small creature, blonde haired, blue eyed, looks like a very small girl with big white fox ears and tail, and she's probably only as tall as one and a half feet. She is wearing a turquoise blazer with blue necktie, dark brown shirt and trouser, also small black boots.
What is this cute little creature?
She thought as she gazes into her fluffiness.
"Chika! Chika-chika-chika! Chikkkaaaaa!" cried the cute little creature as she hugs her tail and pouts at Kotori. Looks like she's angry… but she isn't scary— she is too cute, too cute until Kotori couldn't resist the temptation to hug her…
She grabs her and snuggled against it.
"Waaaahhh! So fluffy and cuteeeee!" she said.
"Chiiiikaaaa!" the cute little creature still angry and trying to escape from her hug…
"So fluffy-fluffy-fluffy and cuttttteeeee!" Kotori squealed as she keeps nuzzling her.
"Chiikkaaaaaaaaaaaa!" the cute little creature screamed.
"Elichika?" said a woman voice which seemed to be worried. Kotori turned her sight to the source of the voice— she could see a woman with violet hair and turquoise eyes, wearing a strange yet cute dark purple cloak, decent looking top, frilly short black skirt, a pair of elegant leather long gloves, and fancy armored boots. Telling from the fashion, she probably be a noble traveler or something more than that. She has a strange book with hardcover and a magical looking wand on her belt.
Kotori loosen her grip, the small creature quickly jumped away and ran to the woman. The woman grabs her and placed her on her arm before the little creature quickly climbs and hide her face on the woman's big breast.
"Eh? Who are you? I never see you around here…?" Kotori asked.
"Ah… pardon me. I'm just a humble traveler. I'm here to look for my…" she paused for a while and look into the small creature.
"…..daughter…" she continued.
"Your daughter? What are you married with?" Kotori asked innocently.
The woman giggled,
"How blunt, asking such question right on my face. But you seem to mean no harm, so I'll answer you…" she said.
Kotori remained quiet in confusion.
"To a legend…" the woman continued.
"A legend? We have so many legends around here, so which one is it?" Kotori asked.
"I'm sorry, but that is all you can know right now. But I appreciate your curiosity…" she replied with a sweet smile.
"Oh… okay…." Kotori replied sadly.
The woman giggled again,
"My… don't give me that face, it's enough for me to see the whole nation mourning for the loss of the Eastern King…" she said.
"I know… but we still have hope, aren't we?" Kotori asked.
"Hope…? What kind of thing can be done to a dead man who's turned into stones and close to losing his head?" the woman asked.
"My mother is looking for the legendary alchemist! The ministers said the legendary alchemist is the only hope to revive him!" Kotori said which replied with a mischievous smile,
"How pathetic… looking for a legend is like sweeping a sea with broom…" The woman said.
"Then what about you? You married a legend!" Kotori said.
The woman widened her eyes in surprise, though she seems to be very amused with what she just said. Never before she met anyone who is this blunt with her words. She laughed at it,
"Why laughing? It's not funny! I'm sure my mother can find her!" Kotori said in anger.
"Well, I'm sorry, but let me make this straight… princess…" she said before she sighed a little.
"You wanted to find the legendary alchemist to revive your father, but what if I tell you that he can't be revived due to his condition?" She asked.
"We don't know what the legendary alchemist can do! But I'm sure she can do the impossible! She is a legend! I'm sure she can!" Kotori said.
"Very well, then what if I tell you that it doesn't require a legend to revive him?" she asked.
Kotori remained quiet, she don't know what this woman trying to say with it.
"Perhaps you can try learning Alchemy yourself…?" The woman said again with her mischievous smile.
Kotori began to think for a while,
"I… I think it might work…" she said.
The woman giggled again,
"But to tell you the truth though, being an Alchemist isn't simple. Just look at the amount of Alchemist in this nation…" the woman said.
"How much are there?" Kotori asked innocently.
"Hmm… I thought you're up to date with such kind of thing as a princess, but to answer your question, this nation almost has none…" the woman replied.
"Then, I'll better start looking for one and ask them to teach me alchemy!" Kotori said.
"Woah, that's so fast to decide, princess… are you sure you want to be an alchemist?" the woman asked again.
"If that might be an option to revive my father, then yes, I'm very sure. Besides, I have a friend who often did the impossible! I believe she will be able to help me out too!" Kotori said.
The woman once again laughed in amusement,
"If that so, then let me redo my introduction, princess…" the woman said as she tidy up her clothes and put down the little creature that clings to her.
"My name is Toujou Nozomi, I'm a traveler and an Alchemist…" she gestured politely, the little creature looking at her, then followed her gesture,
"I have a workshop in…. uh…. somewhere around here— hmm… actually, I'll give you the invitation later… but yes, I'm willing to teach you Alchemy with one condition…" Nozomi said,
Kotori remained quiet to listen, she seems to be very interested in this,
"You cannot give up any task that I give to you— once you are giving up, I will never ever teach you Alchemy again…." Nozomi continued.
"I have to ask my mother first about this, will you be ok with that?" Kotori asked.
"Hmm… sure. I still need to make you a proper invitation anyway…" Nozomi replied before she turned around.
"Then, will you come here again tomorrow? I'll give you an answer!" Kotori said energetically.
"I'll be here tomorrow…. Come on, Elichika, we still have things to do…" Nozomi said as she beckoned to the little creature.
"Chika-chika!" the little creature bowed politely to Kotori again before it ran cutely to follow Nozomi.
I'm really curious to what kind of legend that let her to give birth to such a cute thing like that.
Kotori thought. Then she shook her head and pats her own cheek,
No.. that's not what I have to search for now, I need to talk about this to my mother!
Back into the throne room,
Kotori found her mother to be having discussion with the three ministers and Kotori's private teacher. As bold as she can be, she decided to interrupt it…
"Mother!" she called.
Her mother turned to her along with the ministers,
"Kotori? I told you to go to your room…?" her mother replied.
"Mother, I want to be an Alchemist!" Kotori said.
It responded with surprises look from everyone in the room— even the guard. Yet Kotori hasn't lost her will about it. She is just very sure that she can work this out.
"Princess, what has gotten into you? You know it's hard to be an Alchemist…" Tsubasa said.
"I know! But I want to learn how to revive father! I'm sure it can be an option if we cannot find the legendary alchemist!" Kotori said.
"Who gives you the idea of that? I thought you're all just into tailoring…" Niko said.
"I met an alchemist today, she is willing to teach me alchemy! She said she will give the proper invitation to us tomorrow!" Kotori said.
Her mother keeps quiet to think about it.
"Where do you meet an Alchemist? Did you leave the castle?" Anjuu asked.
"Alchemists are one of the mysterious being, they can show up in random time and place… or at least that is what I heard from people about the legendary alchemist…" Erena said.
"The legendary alchemist surely something mysterious, huh? But I suppose it's a good luck for us too. If our princess managed to learn alchemy, then we can also improve our Kingdom…" Tsubasa said.
"Ah, right, I heard Alchemist can do a lot of things… then I'll agree with the idea…" Anjuu said.
The ministers nodded and turned to the queen.
"Will you give me permission to do it, mother?" Kotori asked.
The queen sighed weakly and smiled to her daughter.
"Of course, why would I stop you from trying to revive your father?" she said.
"Yes!" Kotori cheered excitedly.
"But you shouldn't abandon your study and duty as Princess… if you used that as an excuses…." Her mother frowned.
"I won't, mother! I will still do it!" Kotori said.
"Hmmph! Said the one who didn't do her homework today…" Niko said.
"Ehh… well… it because Niko-sensei's homework is ridiculous… and I don't like it..." Kotori said.
"W-what the…? I just told you to write a story!" Niko retorted.
"I cannot do it, so I don't like it if you force me to do that!" Kotori pouts.
They began to argue about it.
The queen sighed again weakly. There's a hint in her eyes telling that she feel like she can place her hope into her daughter for this trouble— or at least, that is what her optimism say.
She still wonders though, what kind of Alchemist that offers a teaching in such fashion to her daughter in all so sudden and will her daughter able to keep up with that?
A/N : So...? Whatca think of that start?