Disclaimer: No, they are not mine.

Our Legend, Our Story

Chapter 4: Stirring Storm and Learning Magic

"I did what?"

Kunimitsu looked at his cousins incredulously.

Ryoga's smirk grew even wider, "You did magic. A high technique magic."

"A magic only your mother, Aunt Ayana, had ever used before. A Purifying Magic," added Yumiko.

"That ribbon," Sadaharu gestured, "was the thing that zoomed out of the cupboard in the tower. There's a possibility that it was cursed. You purified it."

Kunimitsu looked at the ribbon lying innocently on his lap. He fingered it a bit, as if afraid it'd bite, and when the ribbon continued to lie there harmlessly, he picked it up and twined it between his fingers.

"A blue ribbon made of silk," Shusuke said, "From its length, we guessed it's probably the one the ladies-in-waiting uses to tie their hair when working."

"If it's true, then there's a similar ribbon lying around somewhere, because silk ribbons are always made in pairs," Sakuno added.

"This ribbon is old, though," said Yuuta, "That kind of blue dye hadn't been used for a long time. The last time was… well, when Aunt Katalya was still here, because she's the only who could make that kind of blue. And this shade of blue can only be made if the fabric is silk."

"They call it Katalya Blue," continued Ryoma, "And from what Okaasama told me, this is a very rare ribbon, because Aunt Katalya didn't exactly give Katalya Blue-dyed silk ribbons to everyone."

"I checked all of Okaasama and Okaasan's ribbons, all her Katalya Blue ribbons are in pairs. I also asked Yuki-san and Nanako-san to check around; all the known Katalya Blue ribbons are also in pairs," Sadaharu sighed.

"Can this ribbon be a part of a dress or a gown?" asked Kunimitsu.

The cousins looked at each other.

"Well…" Yumiko hesitated, "It is possible… maybe we should check if our Katalya Blue gowns are still intact…"

"Somebody placed it there," Sakuno said without doubt, "I clean the cupboard every other week. It wasn't there when I cleaned it last time."

"But who?" asked Ryoga, "Any healers or linen maids can come into the tower at any given time."

Silence.

"Ne… if the ribbon was already there when Neesama and Saku-chan came, which was hours before we came," said Yuuta, "Why did it attack when we're in the room? Why not before?"

"Come to think of it, Mitsu was the first who noticed it," Shusuke looked at Kunimitsu.

"Probably because I'm the only one who has anti-magic sensor built up in me," Kunimitsu answered sullenly, "So I'm always the first to notice if there's something magical around."

Wordlessly, Shusuke reached out and placed an arm around Kunimitsu's shoulders, while Sadaharu caressed his dejected cousin's hair, sighing deeply.

Kunimitsu took a deep breath, controlling himself, "Sorry."

"But Mitsu…" Yumiko said softly, "You do realize that you can do magic now, don't you?"

"If I did, Neesama, I don't remember how to. I know the spells and the textbook lessons, but I don't have the well of magic, so to say."

"That was what we thought," said Ryoga, "But it seems that we're mistaken. Obviously, you have quite a large well, to be able to perform High Magic on your first try."

"And collapsed right after that."

Sakuno sighed, "So bitter, Ku-niisan."

"We'll just have to find a way to deal with this!" Yuuta said determinedly, "I mean, now that Ku-niisan can do magic, he can learn how to properly control it and use it, right?"

"Depends on how long I can stay upright after touching a magic wand."

"You won't know until you try," Ryoma said rationally.

Kunimitsu looked at Ryoma, his eyes sad, "You do realize, don't you, Ryo, that the next time I get contaminated, I might not wake up anymore?"

Silence.

Kunimitsu bit his lip, regretting his slip, but it was already done, and it's better this way, too. He needed to get everyone ready for…

"Well, we're not letting you go anywhere," Shusuke said softly.

Kunimitsu looked at Shusuke, who let go of him and looked at him sincerely.

"I'm with you, Shu," Sadaharu said, and caught Kunimitsu's eyes gently when he raised his face to look at him.

"Count me in," Ryoga said.

"Me, too," said Sakuno.

"I'll help," said Yuuta.

"Same here," said Ryoma.

"You're going to try handling magic, Mitsu, and we'll help you in any way we can," Yumiko decided.

Feeling happy yet sad, Kunimitsu lowered his head, admitting defeat.

TENIPURI POT TENIPURI POT TENIPURI POT

Nanjiroh stopped short as he opened the door to his adopted son's chamber. A smile bloomed on his lips, not the usual smirk or grin, but a real smile, upon seeing the state his sons and their cousins, all boys and girls sleeping together on the huge combined bed.

Kunimitsu's bed, which's big enough to fit four adults with still some space to roll over, is actually the middle part of the HUGE bed once belonged to Tezuka and his wife, Ayana. Tezuka, Rinko said, was a restless sleeper, and he actually slept all over the bed and often fell from it, that when he married Ayana, Sumire made that huge bed for them.

They had made it prerequisite for all their children to have sleeping chambers of their own when the children turned four years old (in fact, they made it as the children's four-year birthday presents), and the chambers are located close to one another. New rooms equaled new beds and new wardrobes and other new things. But in Kunimitsu's case, the many times he collapsed due to magical contamination (and his resistance was so weak when he's nothing but a child, Nanjiroh could count using his fingers the many days in a month Kunimitsu was well enough to venture out of bed) meant new big bed, because Shusuke and Sadaharu flat refused leaving Kunimitsu's side when he's ill, and one of the adults, if not more, would also stay with them. Beside that, for some unknown reasons, Kunimitsu had taken a liking to his blood parents' huge bed and slept better on it. So, in a burst of inspiration, Nanjiroh decided to split the bed into three parts, with Kunimitsu getting the middle part and the end parts were given to Shusuke and Sadaharu. Sumire was livid for days, but on Kunimitsu's eighth birthday, the use of the split beds were revealed.

Nearing his eighth birthday, Kunimitsu fell ill, not because of magical contamination, but due to common cold. It was supposed to be a simple illness, but as days went by, Kunimitsu grew worse, to the point of not being able to hold down even liquid. Fever ravaged his already weakened body, and when Kunimitsu started calling for Ayana and Tezuka in his restless sleep, Sumire went frantic and called for healers from all over the country. Among the healers was one mysterious old man, all white-cloaked and calm countenance. He gave the name Olorin, and with one look upon Kunimitsu, he took Nanjiroh aside and told him that the sick prince was poisoned.

He took it upon himself to brew Kunimitsu's medicines, and Sadaharu was with him all the time, absorbing whatever knowledge he could get, and Olorin was generous, he shared everything he could with Sadaharu. Kunimitsu's eighth birthday was passed in tears and fear, with the prince stopped breathing at noon that day. If Olorin weren't there, they would've lost Kunimitsu. The cousins remained by his side all day and all night, afraid that Kunimitsu would stop breathing again, even after Olorin assured them that Kunimitsu's alright, he wouldn't stop breathing again, this illness wouldn't kill him. Yet, the cousins still stayed in the room, sleeping all over the bed and floor and furniture, that Nanjiroh and Inoue took Shusuke's and Sadaharu's beds and rejoined it with Kunimitsu's bed, and from then on for a whole month, the cousins would be all over the beds every night, anchoring Kunimitsu, keeping him company, giving him as much warmth as they could.

Just like what Nanjiroh's seeing.

By miracle (whose name was Olorin, Sumire once said softly in tears), Kunimitsu survived, and though they never found out who exactly poisoned Kunimitsu, at least the boy was alive. Olorin gave Sadaharu a huge book on medicines and alchemy before he left with a promise that should anything, anything at all, happen, they should send him a word through the magic he bonded with Sumire and Nanjiroh.

It was from then on Sadaharu took over brewing Kunimitsu's medicine. In the back of his mind, Nanjiroh always wondered if Kunimisu's rejection toward the brews The Healers made (that is, puking them out), was an uncontrolled reflex due to the knowledge that he's poisoned before. Maybe they shouldn't have told him, but with Sadaharu knowing that fact, he thought that all of them should know.

They should know that sometimes enemies come from within.

Ryoga stirred and looked at his father, standing by the bed. He gave a sleepy smirk and sat up, dislodging Ryoma's hand from his chest. The youngest prince grunted and rolled over, his hand smacking Yuuta, who smacked back at him before settling down quietly without waking up.

"Man, this bed is HUGE," Ryoga whispered.

On the far side, Sakuno stirred awake, but Yumiko hushed her and she fell asleep again. Yumiko herself sat up, looking at Nanjiroh.

The positions were always the same. The oldest two would take the left and right ends of the bed, and Kunimitsu would be in the middle, with Sadaharu and Shusuke flanking him. Yuuta would be beside Shusuke, Ryoma between him and Ryoga, while Sakuno would be between Sadaharu and Yumiko.

At least whenever Kunimitsu was ill.

In cold nights or the special nights whereas they fell asleep together after stories and hot chocolates (always in Kunimitsu's chamber, always on these joint bed, Nanjiroh thought), the girls would be in the middle, then the two youngest boys on their left and right. Shusuke would be between Yuuta and Sadaharu, with Kunimitsu between Ryoma and Ryoga, if the oldest prince were around. If not, Sadaharu would be by Kunimitsu's side.

No matter how old they became, they'd always be children on this huge bed.

Speaking of children, why couldn't Yumiko and Ryoga find love fast and get married? He wanted to have grandchildren!

"Oyaji?"

Nanjiroh was startled out of his reverie.

"Is something wrong?"

Nanjiroh shook his head, "Just want to check on you children."

Ryoga snorted.

"He's coming next week, so there's enough time for Kunimitsu to regain his strength," Nanjiroh whispered, "Have you done your part?"

Ryoga nodded, "He was reluctant, and scared… Are you sure it's okay?"

Nanjiroh nodded, "I'm quite sure. Besides, it won't hurt to try."

Yumiko sighed and lay down again. Ryoga and Nanjiroh looked at her, and then at one another.

"Truth be told, I'm scared myself," admitted Ryoga softly, almost inaudibly.

Nanjiroh nodded to himself.

TENIPURI POT TENIPURI POT TENIPURI POT

Kunimitsu looked at the wand warily.

"It doesn't bite, My Dear Prince," the magic teacher, Olorin, looked at him with twinkling blue eyes, "Go on, take it."

They were in one of the study classes, and Kunimitsu was sitting with a golden wand placed on the table in front of him. "Do I have to, Sensei?"

Olorin laughed, "From what Nannoji told me, you performed a high technique magic without a wand, so, no, it's not necessary, but you do know that all children started their magic learning using practice wands, and although this one is not a practice wand, but a proper magic wand, unless I'm very much mistaken, you've never had practical magic lessons before, right, Kunimitsu-sama?"

Kunimitsu nodded, still eyeing the wand.

"Why aren't you taking it?" asked Olorin.

Kunimitsu kept looking at the wand, "I'm thinking the pros and cons of touching it."

"Oh? And what are they?"

"Well, the pro is… I can learn magic. I've always wanted to learn magic. Real magic, not just textbook knowledge…"

"And the con?"

"Um… I may die?"

Olorin didn't laugh. Instead, he placed gnarled hand on top of Kunimitsu's shoulder and leaned down, whispering, "You know, I'm scared too. If anything happen to you, your grandmother Sumire will behead me."

Kunimitsu raised his head, looking at Olorin's kind face.

"But, My Prince, that's why I'm here. I'm here to help you master magic, to help you overcome this… weakness, as you might name it… and unless you take the first step, unless you can gather enough courage to take that wand, then we're going nowhere."

"Even if it'll lead to my death?"

"Do you fear death, Laddie?"

"Don't we all?"

Olorin nodded, "Yes, yes… but… from what I know of you… You've walked between life and death before, and many times, too… I can even say that you're prepared to die…"

Sighing, Kunimitsu nodded, "Yes… but… never by my own hands…"

Olorin tilted his head.

"I mean… all this time, all accidents whereas I got contaminated by magic, and even all the attempted murders… they were never my doing. They were all accidents, or planned by someone else, but… I never intended to be contaminated… I never intended to be such a burden…"

Olorin looked at the trembling prince with sad eyes.

"If I take the wand… and I get contaminated yet again… and I die from it… won't that be suicide? And… people will feel even sadder than if I accidentally get contaminated, right? My grandmother, my parents and aunt, my cousins, my friends… won't they all be blaming themselves?"

"So… it's not the death that scares you, but the consequences of your death on your loved ones, eh?"

Hesitantly, Kunimitsu nodded, "I can die peacefully, I know I can. So far I've had a good life, and this is bound to happen sooner or later…"

Olorin sighed.

"You're young, Laddie. You're not even twenty yet. There's so much you haven't seen, haven't done… Seeing you talking about your own death really breaks my heart… but, you see, nothing will change if you don't take action."

"Even if that change is for the worse?"

"You can never know unless you try."

Kunimitsu closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his courage. Then he opened them again to look at Olorin.

"You know what to do if I get contaminated, right?"

"Laddie… I was the one who taught your mother Ayana her magic. I know what to do, trust me."

Nodding, Kunimitsu reached forward, his hand hovering above the wand. He closed his eyes and blindly grabbed the wand.

It felt nice in his hand. Warm, powerful.

No pain.

It's not hurting him.

He opened his eyes and looked at the wand grasped within his fingers with awe.

Beside him, Olorin beamed with pride.

"We'll be testing your magical resistance with more objects, Laddie, but I think I can safely say that magical objects no longer burn your skin."

Kunimitsu nodded.

"Here, let go of that wand, and try to hold this necklace. It has protection spell in it…"

TENIPURI POT TENIPURI POT TENIPURI POT

After four hours of waiting, the door to the study room finally opened, and the Royal Cousins followed by Kunimitsu's personal retainers jumped from where they were waiting and crowded in.

"Now, now, Lords and Ladies… don't barge in like that!" Olorin's voice greeted them.

Kunimitsu turned around on his chair only to have Ryoma pounced on him.

"Ku-niisan! Are you okay?"

Kunimitsu nodded, "I'm fine, Ryo. Did I worry you?"

"You damn well did!"

Shusuke and Sadaharu stopped short, both of them looking at the same point, Kunimitsu's neck.

Or, to be precise, the charm necklace looped around his neck.

"Mitsu… that's…"

"Oh, this?" asked Kunimitsu, raising his left hand to touch the charm. Yumiko and Ryoga looked at the charm bracelet around Kunimitsu's left wrist, then noticed the same bracelet on his right wrist, and their eyes widened.

The cousins and retainers looked at Olorin.

"Magical objects no longer burn Kunimitsu-sama's skin, my dear Lords and Ladies. The protection of Magic can be applied on him now. I made that necklace and its pair bracelets as enhancers, so when we start to practice wandless magic, there'll be layers of protection on Kunimitsu-sama."

"Practice wandless magic?" asked Sakuno, bewildered.

Olorin nodded, "Kunimitsu-sama… please show your cousins what you've learnt just now."

"Again? Sensei…" Kunimitsu complained, "I'm tired already!"

"Just once, my dear prince, so this old man can brag a bit? Let's see… the last spell, if you please?"

Kunimitsu sighed and took his new wand out from his coat pocket.

A golden wand. A high magic wand.

Shuichirou and Keigo looked at each other.

Closing his eyes in concentration, Kunimitsu raised his wand and pointed on a vase near the window. As he opened his eyes, they glowed gold, and with a flick of his wrist, the vase shattered.

Silence.

But Kunimitsu was not finished. Again, he flicked his hand, and the pieces of pottery flew up, clink against each other, and a fully restored vase again stood by the window.

"Silent spell… Oh My God…" Yuuta whispered.

"Kunimitsu-sama has every spell in the Tome of Spells memorized by heart, so I didn't even have to teach him a spell. We simply passed the hours by practicing wand magic, and he's strong enough to do magic without needing to utter the spell," said Olorin smugly, "Now, Shuichirou-dono and Keigo-dono, right? I expect you both to prepare hot bath and nice food for Kunimitsu-sama, as a treat for a well-done practice today. Tomorrow afternoon, we'll start with wandless magic."

Shusuke whooped and tackled Kunimitsu, dislodging Ryoma off him and Kunimitsu off his chair. Sadaharu added himself to the pile, ruffling Kunimitsu's hair.

"I knew it! I knew it! I knew you could do it!"

"I didn't dare to count the percentage, but I knew you could do it!"

Not wanting to be left out, Yuuta and Ryoma joined the three cousins on the floor, adding their weights to the pile. Shuichirou and Keigo did a high-five, and Ryoga, laughing heartily, rescued his adopted brother from the group hug and gave him a big hug of his own. Sakuno then bounded over and hugged Kunimitsu hard, while Yumiko, her eyes misted with happy tears, strode over to hug Kunimitsu after Sakuno let him go.

Kunimitsu himself was beaming with happiness.

"Now, remember, My Lords and Ladies," Olorin said, and everyone turned around to listen to him, "Learning magic is hard, and I'm afraid four hours might be too much for a beginner, no matter how talented this beginner is, so you're bound to be tired, Kunimitsu-sama. I want you to have a good break and good meal for the rest of the day, a good night's sleep, and hearty meal for breakfast tomorrow, and I'll see you here again before lunch. We'll have our lunch here, and your cousins and retainers may come, too. They can help you a lot tomorrow."

"Yes, sensei."

"Good. Run along now. I need to report to The Queen."

The cousins and the two retainers went out of the room, chattering noisily, and Olorin gave a huge sigh.

"Ayana… your son turns out to be an even greater magician than yourself, Oh Silver Enchantress… Maybe… just maybe… he'd be the one who inherited your Silver title, although his name will be Gold instead."

TBC…

Author's note:

CHAPTER FOUR, after a very long hiatus! There, I put Gandalf in. (Did anyone recognize him?). Aslan is coming very soon, and some magic turns out o be rather Harry-Potterish. My God… This turns out to be yet another crossover and not just AU.

Hopefully I can still continue my fics, if only for my personal satisfaction and to cater to the wish of all who wants to read them until the end.

Ummm… some of the girls actually asked for who's who, so I'll write it down. I realize that many will recognize the name 'Kaidoh' more than the name 'Kaoru', and many sometimes forgot who's 'Takashi' (Kawamura) and who's 'Takeshi' (Momoshiro), so…

Hopefully this will help.

The First Royal Generation:

King Kunikazu (Tezuka Kunimitsu's's grandfather)

Queen Sumire (Seigaku Tennis Coach Ryuzaki Sumire)

The first heirs:

Prince Tezuka (Tezuka Kuniharu, Tezuka Prince Kunimitsu's father), Lady Ayana (Tezuka Ayana, Tezuka Prince Kunimitsu's mother)

Princess Yoshiko (Fuji Yoshiko, Fuji Prince Shusuke's mother), Lord Fuji (Fuji Prince Shusuke's father)

Prince Inui (Inui Prince Sadaharu's father), Lady Katalya (Original Character, Prince Sadaharu's mother)

Princess Rinko (Echizen Rinko, Echizen Prince Ryoma's mother), Lord Nanjiroh (Echizen Nanjiroh, Echizen Prince Ryoma's father)

Princess Sayuri (Original Chara, Ryuzaki Princess Sakuno's mother), Lord Inoue (Inoue Mamoru the Pro Tennis reporter, in this story, Ryuzaki Princess Sakuno's father)

The second heirs:

Princess (Fuji) Yumiko

Prince (Echizen) Ryoga (Nickname: Ryo-nii, Bouya)

Prince (Fuji) Shusuke (Nickname: Shu)

Prince (Inui) Sadaharu (Nickname: Sada)

Prince (Tezuka) Kunimitsu (Nickname : Mitsu, Ku-niisan, Shonen)

Prince (Fuji) Yuuta (Nickname: Yuu)

Prince (Echizen) Ryoma (Nickname: Ryo, Chibisuke, Seishonen)

Princess (Ryuzaki) Sakuno (Nickname: Saku-chan)

The retainers:

Queen Sumire's:

Lady Yuki (Akutsu Yuki, Akutsu Jin's mother)

Lady Tomoka (Osakada Tomoka)

Princess Yumiko's:

Lady Nanako (Nanako, Nanjiroh's niece)

Prince Ryoga's:

Lord Seiichi, Captain of Rikkaidai (Yukimura Seiichi, Rikkaidai's Captain)

Lord Genichirou, Vice-Captain of Rikkaidai (Sanada Genichirou, Rikkaidai's Vice Captain)

Prince Shusuke's:

Lord Eiji (Kikumaru Eiji)

Lord Kojirou, Captain of Rokkaku (Saeki Kojirou, Rokkaku's Vice Captain)

Prince Sadaharu's:

Lord Renji, Strategist of Rikkaidai (Yanagi Renji, Rikkaidai)

Lord Kaoru (Kaidoh Kaoru)

Prince Kunimitsu's:

Lord Shuichirou (Oishi Shuichirou)

Lord Keigo, Captain of Hyotei (Atobe Keigo, Hyotei)

Prince Yuuta's:

Lord Takashi, Captain of Yamabuki (Kawamura Takashi)

Captain Mizuki, Captain of St. Rudolph (Mizuki Hajime, St. Rudolph)

Prince Ryoma's:

Lord Kippei, Captain of Fudoumine (Tachibana Kippei, Fudoumine)

Lord Takeshi (Momoshiro Takeshi)

Princess Sakuno's:

Lady Ann, Lord Kippei's sister (Tachibana Ann, Fudoumine)

The Teachers:

Sakaki-Kantoku (Sakaki Taro, Hyotei's coach)

Tatsugoro Tenmon/Old Man Haritatsu (Nanjiroh and Ryoma's racket string-man)

Hanamura Aoi (Jyosei Shonan's coach)

Ojii (Rokkaku's coach)

Banji (Yamabuki's coach)

Olorin (a.k.a Gandalf The White. Hehehehehhe….)

Other retainers:

Yuushi, Keigo's Hyotei retainer (Oshitari Yuushi, Hyotei)

Dan, Takashi's Yamabuki retainer (Taichi Dan, Yamabuki)

Jin, Takashi's Yamabuki retainer (Akutsu Jin, Yamabuki)

Senri, Kippei's friend (Chitose Senri, Shitenhouji)

Kiyosumi, Takashi's Yamabuki vice captain (Sengoku Kiyosumi, Yamabuki)

Miyuki, Senri's sister (Chitose Miyuki, Shitenhouji)

Thanks for reading! R/R greatly appreciated!

Tenno Himekawa Rie