Jumon 0

A Prince Without A Crown

The throne room of the Flame Nation had never felt so quiet.
At the far end of the chamber, Lord Homura Shimonzu sat upon the royal throne.
His expression was unreadable.
Before him stood his son.
Prince Kenji Shimonzu.
Beside him stood Kiyoshi.
Neither boy spoke.
The gathered members of the royal court watched in silence as Homura slowly rose from his throne.
When he spoke, his voice carried across the entire chamber.
"By decree of the royal court of Ignis, Prince Kenji Shimonzu is hereby stripped of his title, his inheritance, and his right to remain within the Flame Nation."
A murmur passed through the chamber.
Homura continued.
"Effective immediately, Kenji Shimonzu shall be exiled from the Flame Nation until such a time as the royal court determines that his return is permitted."
Murata stepped forward.
"No."
Every head turned toward her.
"Murata," Homura warned.
"No!" she repeated, her voice shaking. "You can't do this!"
"Enough."
"He's your son!"
Homura's expression tightened.
"I am aware."
"Then act like his father!"
Kaigaku immediately stepped forward and caught Murata by the arm.
"Murata, stop."
She turned sharply toward him.
"Don't tell me to stop!"
"Not here."
"He's being exiled!"
"I know."
Kaigaku looked toward Homura.
"And if Kiyoshi leaves with him, you're exiling two sons."
The room fell silent again.
Kiyoshi looked toward his older brother.
Kaigaku's eyes widened slightly.
"Kiyoshi."
Kiyoshi stepped forward.
"I'll go."
Kaigaku stared at him.
"What?"
Kiyoshi looked toward Homura.
"If Kenji is leaving, I'm going with him."
"You will do no such thing," Kaigaku said.
Kiyoshi didn't look back.
"I've already decided."
"You don't understand what you're saying."
"I do."
"You'll lose everything."
Kiyoshi finally turned toward him.
"I'd rather lose everything than leave my best friend alone."
Murata's eyes filled with tears.
Kurenai, who had remained silent until then, finally stepped forward.
"Homura."
Her voice carried the authority of someone who had once stood where he now stood.
"You're making a mistake."
Homura looked toward his older sister.
"This decision has already been made."
"No. You've made a decision."
Kurenai's eyes hardened.
"That doesn't make it the right one."
Wei stepped forward next.
"Homura, listen to them."
Homura looked toward his brother.
"You too?"
"Especially me."
Wei glanced toward Kenji.
"He's still a child."
Homura's jaw tightened.
"So am I supposed to ignore what happened?"
"No," Wei answered. "But punishment and abandonment are not the same thing."
Homura said nothing.
Across the chamber, Lady Amano stood completely still.
Her eyes remained fixed on her son.
She looked furious.
Heartbroken.
But no words came.
Kenji finally looked toward her.
"Mom..."
Amano's expression broke.
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Kenji lowered his eyes.
Homura turned away from the chamber.
"The sentence is final."
The doors opened.
Kenji walked forward.
Kiyoshi followed.
Behind them, Murata began to cry.
Kaigaku held her back.
Kurenai watched her nephew disappear beyond the doors.
Wei lowered his head.
And Amano remained standing in silence as the doors closed between her and her son.
Minato Shimizu walked along the outskirts of the Flame Nation, one hand tucked inside his coat.
His fingers brushed against the folded letter hidden safely within.
A recommendation application from the Soul Hunter Academy.
His destination was the royal palace, where he was supposed to meet Lord Homura Shimonzu, the reigning monarch of the Flame Nation.
The purpose of the meeting was simple.
Convince the king to allow his son, Prince Kenji Shimonzu, to attend the Soul Hunter Academy.
A routine assignment.
At least, that was what Minato had expected.
Then he noticed three boys walking along the road ahead.
Alone.
Minato slowed.
He looked around.
No parents.
No guards.
No adults of any kind.
Just three children wandering through the outskirts of the nation.
Minato frowned.
"Isn't it a little dangerous for three kids to be wandering around out here without supervision?"
The boy walking in the middle stopped.
He turned around.
"Shut it, old man. We know where we're going."
Minato blinked.
Old man?
He walked closer, studying the boy.
The first thing he noticed was his expression.
The kid looked like he had been born annoyed.
Then Minato's eyes fell on the golden coiled-snake armband wrapped around the boy's right forearm.
His eyebrow rose.
Oh.
Minato looked at the other two boys.
Then back at the armband.
"Kid," he said, "by any chance, do you happen to be the Crown Prince of this land?"
The boy on the left immediately stepped forward.
"Who's asking?"
Minato's mouth curled into a grin.
He rested a hand against his hip.
"My name's Minato. Minato Shimizu. And who might you three be?"
The boy on the right spoke first.
"My name is Kanata Yamada."
He pointed to the boy beside him.
"This is Kiyoshi Neruso..."
Then he pointed toward the boy in the middle.
"And Kenji Shimonzu."
Minato stared.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Then he smiled.
"Well, then."
He pulled the letter from his coat.
"You three just made my job a whole lot easier."
Kenji crossed his arms.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Minato chuckled.
"Wow."
He shook his head.
"You really do have a mouth on you."
"Answer the question, dammit!"
"I was sent here by the Soul Hunter Academy to speak with your father about getting you enrolled."
Kenji's expression immediately flattened.
He turned away.
"Not interested."
Kiyoshi looked at him.
"Your Highness, that might be our best bet."
Kenji glanced over his shoulder.
Kiyoshi continued.
"We have nowhere else to go."
Kanata nodded.
"And we don't even know where the nearest settlement is."
Kenji's jaw tightened.
He clearly didn't like the idea.
But he didn't argue.
Minato's smile faded.
"What are three boys your age doing this far from the capital?"
Kenji folded his arms tighter.
"You ask too many questions."
Minato sighed.
Then
WHACK!
His palm connected with the back of Kenji's head.
Kenji spun around so quickly that Minato almost stepped backward.
"DON'T LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME, YOU OLD BASTARD!"
Kenji pointed furiously at him.
"I'LL HAVE YOU KILLED!"
Minato stared at him.
Then slowly rubbed his temple.
This is the Crown Prince?
Kiyoshi sighed.
"Our hotheaded prince here was banished from the nation."
Minato's eyes widened.
"Banished?"
"And I, as his trusted guard, followed him," Kiyoshi continued. "Our travel companion came with us as well."
Minato looked toward Kanata.
"And you? You're not a royal guard."
Kanata shrugged.
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
Kanata glanced toward Kenji and Kiyoshi.
"Because they're my friends."
Kenji looked over.
"You didn't have to come."
Kanata smiled.
"Neither did Kiyoshi."
Kiyoshi nodded.
"He has a point."
Kanata shrugged again.
"Besides, someone has to keep you two from getting yourselves killed."
Minato looked between the three boys.
Kiyoshi smiled politely.
"So, about your offer..."
He glanced at Kenji.
"We'll join."
Minato stared at them.
Then he looked down the road.
"Wonderful."
Kenji frowned.
"Why do you sound disappointed?"
Minato looked at him.
"Because I am."
The journey back to the Soul Hunter Academy took two days.
It also involved a boat.
Kenji hated the boat.
"The boat is too slow."
Minato didn't even look at him.
"It's a boat."
"The food is terrible."
"Then don't eat it."
Kenji looked down at the meal in his hands.
He took another bite.
A few minutes passed.
"Why are we walking again?"
"Because we're not taking another boat."
"Why didn't we take a faster route?"
"Because you don't know where we're going."
Kenji's eye twitched.
"Why are you always answering my questions with questions?"
Minato finally glanced back.
"Because you're annoying."
A few steps behind them, Kiyoshi and Kanata watched the exchange.
Kanata leaned toward Kiyoshi.
"Are they always going to argue like this?"
Kiyoshi nodded.
"Most likely."
Kanata sighed.
"I see."
They continued walking.
Eventually, after two long days of travel, enormous gates appeared in the distance.
The Soul Hunter Academy.
Kenji stopped.
For the first time since leaving the Flame Nation, he said nothing.
He stared up at the towering entrance.
"So this is the Soul Hunter Academy?"
Minato walked past him.
"Welcome to your new home."
Kenji's expression immediately soured.
"Don't say it like that."