"Young Lord, it's time for you to get ready. The Emperor himself sent us to make sure you got ready." Two servant women slid open the doors into a large room. Around the room, designs were painted on the walls. As a whole, it was a large mural of a serene garden. There was a tiger in one section hidden in the grass, and that was the one thing that stood out in the peaceful garden. One wall, the wall aligned with the door was the only wall that hadn't been given some sort of flare. One of the women, the more pudgy one, stepped forward and opened the red silky drapes that shielded the bed. "Come now, we've made your bath already. Wouldn't want it to get cold now, would we?" She looked down at the lump under the white blanket and smiled a little when it shifted slowly. 

"Alright, alright," A yawning voice came from under the blanket. When it was removed, it revealed the jet black mess of hair, making the servant smile more. "I'm up Kaede, I'm up." A hand ruffled the hair and the prince slowly sat up.

"Just as always. Why is it that only during important events must you stay up so late and sleep in?" The woman known as Kaede pulled the rest of the blanket off of the prince and as he sat up, she pushed his sandals where he could slide into them. She pulled a plush robe off of the end of the bed and held it up for him to put on. "Come on now. You're expected to be on time Hironori." The prince sighed and nodded to Kaede. She was basically his maternal figure when his mother died. Before his father remarried, Kaede took charge in order to help the Emperor. When he got up, Kaede gestured for the second lady to begin cleaning up the room while she made sure the prince didn't take his sweet time.

Only a week before, he had been given the news that he would be married off to a so called war hero. It was all so sudden. First he was living a rather normal royal life and then all of a sudden, he was being reminded and retaught the royal manner and the skills to be a good Emperor over and over again. "This is for your own good. You must know these things when you take over the kingdom with your spouse." His father would repeatedly remind him of his new responsibilities making him sigh. 

Hironori, or Hiro as he liked to be called, would then speak up about this marriage he was being thrown into. "Don't you think it's a little unfair, or at least odd to be married to someone you don't know? I understand it's a tradition. . . But what if we aren't compatible? What if he- I don't know- is just a brute!" He never approved of war and the idea of marrying someone that only lived for killing wasn't very. . .ideal. Then again, Hiro wasn't expecting to get married so soon. He thought he had plenty of time to at least. . .live a little. Every time he brought up his distaste, his father would remind him of the tradition and Hiro knew he could do nothing about it. 

And a week later, there he was, getting ready to meet the man he was to marry. "What if he's. . .horrible? Or didn't realize that he wasn't marrying a princess or something?" Hiro was ignored and was tossed a towel to dry off. "It's possible. . ." Kaede passed him, looking for his formal attire while he continued to complain. 

"A tradition is a tradition young prince. You know this." 

Hiro sighed as he slipped on his haori and hakama. The haori was a deep red color with hints of gold designing it. He put on his sandals, prepared to walk out, but was stopped by his servant. "Wait, wait." He raised an eyebrow, but noticed the golden clip in order to pull his hair back from his face. "Let them see your eyes." He smiled and hurried off to his parents as they prepared to leave for to greet Hiro's betrothed. One of the servants mentioned preparing a large breakfast for the guests, so Hiro didn't bother rushing out to grab anything to eat. Instead, he slipped right at his mother's side as they began to walk out. 

"You're late Hiro."

"The door hasn't opened yet." He smirked and kissed his mother's cheek and walked out the door with his family. As they walked out, the first two people looked rather old to be married to him, but seeing another step forward, Hiro couldn't help but raise an eyebrow as the male known as Moranaga Akito looked at his parents, and then to him. He raised an eyebrow, giving a look of curiosity. [I]'He doesn't look like a brute. . . He is rather cute actually. That's two things I can cross off the list.'[/I] His attention turned to his father as he stepped forward with open arms and a welcoming smile. 

"Welcome to our home. Your new home as well. Come, come it's still early, we have a feast prepared!" He was cheerful as ever, gesturing Akito to follow the royal family while the servants took care of the others. Hiro followed quietly, walking alongside his step mother. She looked up her son and smiled to him. 

"Give him a chance, please? At least do it for your father." Hiro nodded and followed them, staying quiet for the most part, at least until they sat down to eat. He was sure his father would start up a conversation to make the male talk.