King Ryuu

--Present--

The King, though young, was brilliant and wise as well as kind-hearted and just. Despite his young age he had carried his kingdom through the biggest war of the century and doubled the size of the kingdom when the last king had terribly failed and died in trying to do so. King Ryuu had fought alongside all the brave and strong warriors and common folk in the war. Side by side, shoulder to shoulder, eye to eye. For every head dropped in his kingdom, two more were crushed on the other side. The stories from the war could haunt any grown man's dreams, but very true was true. Despite all the violence and hatred that passed between the king and the opposing army, all those close to him say that he would be the last person to kill anyone. That he was mischievous but not violent. But those on the battlefield tell of his ruthlessly killing, and in his rage, he had killed all of his elite guards.

The servants at the castle became scared of King Ryuuafter hearing these false stories. Those who had not to meet him, and seen his compassion, resigned and went in search for work elsewhere. So few already know the king and his true personality, and with the large loss of servants in the palace, he had even less of a connection with his kingdom. His advisers warned him not to go out of the palace grounds to see the people, even if it would help with the situation. Though their suggestions were not unfounded, the king didn't like the whole situation.

So the Ryuu took things into his own hands. He went against his adviser's suggestions and went out into the capitol. he would dress as a guard and surrounds with the rest of the common guard that surveyed the market. Not only did this allow him to grow closer to his men, but it gave him an opportunity to see a small part of how life was for his people.

He very rarely actually talked to any of the townsfolk, however. Though he would see his men occasionally flirting with young women, here and there. he didn't mind, the guards were in no way harming them, and the girls seemed to love the attention. That is all except one of the girls. She truly stood out to Ryuu, and though he never talked to her, every time he saw her he lost his breath and his heart started to race.

As he watched the girl from afar, she passed out apples, with the most beautiful smile on her face. She had a long braid in her hair today that greatly shortened the appearance of the length but the ends still reached her butt. As she weaved through the crowd she started to walk towards him.

"You must get so tired? You boys need to stay strong. Here take an apple." she said, grabbing an apple from her basket and offering it to him.

Ryuu was struck dumb and was unable to say a word. This was the first time he had ever heard her voice, it sounded like music, and was as beautiful as he had imagined. He reached out and grabbed the apple, and their hands brushed each other. Her hands were not soft like the other ladies' hands he had felt. But they were hard, and ruff. Anger swelled in his heart for a reason he did not know, and he felt the urge to take her away from this ruff life she was living and treat her like the one in a million she is.