Kingdom: Chapter Three
Title: Kingdom
Fandom/Original: Dong Bang Shin Ki, Koda Kumi, misono
Pairing(s): Jaejoong/Kumi
Rating: G
Warning(s): Real person fanfiction & alternative universe.
Summary: Growing up as best friends, Kumi and Jae never once thought of each other as more than that. But, as Kumi's marriage fast approaches, Jae is soon realizing his true feelings for the princess.
Notes
The ratings for this piece are not an overall rating. They will fluctuate with each chapter. Other than, I have no other notes to make. Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing more than the words used here and the idea behind it. Characters belong to their respective owners.
Kingdom: Chapter Three
Their progress back to the outpost had been a slow journey. Misono could not carry the driftwood well and complained through most of the trip that her sister had lied to her about its weight. Needing a break from her sister’s whining and the weight of the baby in her arms, Kumi decided to allow them time to rest once she found a good spot.
“Finally!” Misono had gladly tossed down the driftwood and flopped down on her rear in the shade of a tree. Kumi was a little more cautious as she sat down, but the baby still woke up from his nap. He did not burst out into tears, surprisingly, and instead slowly peeled open his dark eyes to get a gander at his new surroundings. Gently, Kumi set the baby down and undid his wrappings to let him stretch his legs and arms a bit. But he just laid there.
“What? You were dying to get out of that earlier,” Kumi poked his tiny tummy. He giggled and made an attempt for her hand, but missed.
“Aw, he’s got pretty eyes.” Misono moved closer to the child. She had not really gotten a good look at him before, only what her sister’s shoulder would allow. “So, what’s your name?” Misono extended her hand to the boy. He took her hand and inspected it all over before deciding to place it right in his tiny mouth and chew. “Ew!”
“Misono!” Kumi slapped her hand onto her sister’s arm and held it steady. Feeling the gums and slobber, Misono had almost violently jerked her hand out of the baby’s mouth. Had Kumi reacted a second too late, the peaceful state the boy was in would have been destroyed. “Don’t do that, you’ll upset him.”
“But it’s gross…” Misono whined, bouncing impatiently. If there was anything that a young, delicate princess like Misono did not like it was things that were slimy and soft to the point it gave the illusion one could mold it into any form with one’s hands. And that was exactly what was inside the boy’s mouth: soft, squishy, and slimy gums not yet bearing any teeth.
“You used to do it too,” Kumi reminded. She didn’t care for the inside of a baby’s mouth any more than her sister, but how would the boy know any better? He couldn’t even speak.
“Did not,” Misono scrunched her nose. Looking back to the baby, she addressed him. “Are you done with that yet? I’m not somethin’ to chew on you know.” Looking about her, Misono found the perfect substitute. She leaned and just barely was able to grab the object of her desire. When she turned back around, she had a stick in her hand. “You can chew on this,” she grinned.
“Misono!” Kumi shook her head and took the stick away from her younger sister. “This has dirt on it. You wouldn’t want to chew on dirt, would you?”
“Like he’d know the difference! He’s just a baby!” Misono argued.
“Maybe so, but he’s not a puppy.” Kumi tossed the stick far out of reach to assure that Misono would not try it a second time and looked back at the baby. “For being so little, you sure are heavy,” Kumi teased, poking the boy’s tummy once more. He brought his knees up to his chest to guard his vulnerable belly and released Misono’s hand from its moist prison to squeal and giggle in delight from all the attention.
“Bleck,” Misono grimaced, wiping the drool that had followed her hand on its way out of the baby’s mouth onto the grass.
Ignoring her sister, Kumi tickled the boy once more. “You’re so ticklish,” she giggled as he tried to roll away and escape the “torment.” But their fun and games came to an abrupt halt when he ceased laughing and scrunched his face up.
“What’s wrong with him?” Misono looked at her older sister. But Kumi had no answer and looked upon the boy with concern.
“I-I-I don’t know, Miimo-chan…”
While Kumi looked the boy to see if perhaps he really had injured himself in his tumble earlier, he began to make small grunting noises and draw his legs in close. Kumi took hold of his tiny hand, wishing so desperately she could alleviate whatever ailed the infant. But the infant took it upon himself to relieve his body of the trouble.
“Hey…Oneechan…do you smell something?” Misono made a face at the rancid scent that was now reaching her. Kumi sniffed the air and matched Misono’s expression.
“Yeah, what is that awful smell?” The two sisters both began to investigate by sniffing around in all directions, but it was Misono who was the first to discover the origin.
“Oh God, it’s him!” Misono jumped away from the baby. Sniffing for herself, Kumi soon followed suit. “Now what are we supposed to do!? He smells awful!”
This was truly a dilemma for both girls. Never once had they changed a diaper and had no means to make a new one. But they couldn’t possibly carry him the rest of the way back to the outpost with a soiled diaper. They would pass out long before they reached their destination from the stench! Kumi looked to Misono and Misono looked to Kumi.
“No, no way,” Misono stood up and waved her arms in front of herself. “I’m not changing him!”
“Well, I’m not doing it by myself!” Kumi frowned, looking up at her sister.
“You were the one who found him!”
“Yeah, well…well…” Kumi knew her argument had died and reluctantly accepted her defeat. “Fine, but could you at least let me use your kimono?”
“For what?” Misono looked at her sister with suspicion.
“He needs a new diaper, Miimo-chan. He can’t just parade around with nothing on him.”
“No!” Misono stamped her foot on the soft earth. “Use your kimono!”
“It’s already his blanket!”
“Then use your under kimono!”
“Then I’d be naked!”
“Then…then…” Misono pouted. This was her favorite kimono and now her sister was asking her to sacrifice it to the baby. Looking down at her garment, Misono felt the silk in mourning for one last time before shedding it with a heavy sigh. “Here,” Misono’s pout deepened. She already wanted to snatch it back from her sister, but accepted a kiss on the cheek as compensation.
Looking down at her possibly fatal adversary, Kumi gently pried the boy’s toes from his mouth and slowly worked to release him from the used diaper. Carefully, she unfolded and refolded every crease in the cloth to engrave it into her mind. But the pace was too slow for her sister and Misono announced it loud and clear for Kumi. Kumi sternly silenced Misono. If she was going to get a new diaper on him, she had to know how it was properly folded into place. And with a three year old whining voice in her ear, there was no way Kumi could possibly get it right.
Upon removing the baby from the cloth diaper, both Misono and Kumi nearly lost it. Along with the sight of the true source, there was a new and stronger wave of the scent. Misono pinched her nose quickly and ran away from the baby and his temporary caretaker. She took in deep gulps of fresh air while her sister remained in front of the boy, covering her mouth. Misono saw her sister’s shoulders heave a few times and she was certain that Kumi was going to vomit. But Kumi regained her composure and, without looking, tied the diaper to seal the demon and tossed it into the nearby bushes.
As Kumi took in slow, deep breaths of fresh air, the currently nude boy decided now was a good time to stretch a bit and rolled over onto his tummy. He managed to almost crawl off her kimono before Kumi noticed the escapee and pulled him back. Working against his squirming and fussing, she attempted to recreate his previous diaper with Misono’s kimono. It took perhaps twice as long to clothe the infant as it had to rid him of his previous garment. Kumi grew even more frustrated that even after the long struggle, when he rolled over, the silk kimono merely slid out of all the perfect folds and knots and he was allowed to crawl around free as the day he was born.
Liberating her hairpin from her raven locks, Kumi pulled the boy back for a second time. Working much faster this time, she used her pin to hold the kimono in place as a new diaper. He hadn’t paid any attention to Kumi’s kimono when it was wrapped around him. So, this was truly the first time the boy had worn silk and he fingered his new diaper with astonishment at the soft texture.
“Are you done yet?” Misono, feeling that it was safe, returned to her sister’s side and squatted to see the ruins of her kimono.
“I think we got it now,” Kumi nodded. “C’mon, the sun is starting to set. Father will definitely punish us if it’s dark by the time we get back.” Gathering up the fascinated baby and her handiwork, Kumi wrapped him back up and began to make her way for the outpost. Misono picked up the heavy driftwood and followed her sister as best as she could. In the distance, standing over the trees, the girls could see the outpost’s walls. Both Kumi and Misono began to feel smaller and smaller and more vulnerable as the forest thinned and gave way to the protruding walls.
Kumi’s jaw dropped in horror at the sight. “Misono, how could you!?”
Misono looked over her shoulder, now dragging the driftwood. “What?”
“You left the hole wide open!” Kumi held the boy a little closer to herself to give some comfort. Surely someone must have spotted the hole by now and were waiting for their return. The escape hole would be no more! She would never be able to leave the filth of the outpost for the freshness of the ocean and all because of her sister’s thoughtless thinking.
“What?” Misono repeated herself, dragging the driftwood up beside her. “Nobody saw me go out, so I doubt anyone is gonna find it.” Misono pulled herself and then the driftwood through the hole before feeling something solid behind her back. Stopping, Misono looked up, “Sorry, Daddy.” Looking back through the hole, “C’mon, Kuu-Daddy!?”
Kumi closed her eyes, filled with regret and dread while Isamu’s eyes bore down upon his youngest daughter.
“Kumiko.” He did not even need to tell her what to do before Kumi quickly pulled herself and the baby through the gap in the wall.
“Father, please let me ex-”
“Silence,” Isamu looked at the bundle in Kumi’s arms. “What are you holding?”
Turning him carefully, Kumi revealed the boy in her arms. “I found him, Father, a baby boy. I think he was orphaned.”
“What were you thinking?” Kumi did not dare raise her eyes to her father. “Not only did you deliberately disobey me, but you brought a child? And you ruined your kimono!” Isamu then noticed that Misono also was wearing only her undergarments. “And where is your kimono, Misono?”
“Oneechan used it as a diaper, Daddy…” Her gaze was downward as well.
“For what reason did you find it suitable to risk your life, Kumiko, and wander away from the outpost?”
What was the reason? Kumi had been so concerned with the boy that she had forgotten all about the precious shells she had selected. They were still on the beach, glistening in the sunlight on the rocks. “I wanted to find some shells, to bring back home. I wanted to remember the beach when winter came and it was too cold to come.”
Isamu looked at his daughters and then looked at the boy in Kumi’s arms. There was no helping Kumi and Misono, they would be punished for their disobedience. But he had to think of something to do with the infant. He had just spent hours discussing the risks of accepting a proposal and beginning negotiations for an arranged marriage with his general and decided that the match would be suitable for his eldest. Isamu could not deny that a display of maternal instinct at such an early age was a good sign the match would work well. To display cruelty and command she replace the child where she found him could very well jeopardize Kumi’s soft, nurturing nature that would make her a perfect bride to her promised prince.
“Misono, when we return home, you are to go to bed without supper and remain in your quarters for the rest of tonight and tomorrow. If you even attempt to sneak out, the time will be increased. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Daddy…” Misono murmured.
“Please don’t, Fa-” Kumi attempted to spare her sister of trouble and enact her plan, but Isamu quickly nipped it in the bud.
“As for you, Kumiko, you will aide your mother in caring for the boy until he is of age.” It was an unusual punishment and an unusual command. Kumi looked up at her father for but a moment in confusion before remembering that was the exact opposite thing to do and quickly returned her gaze to the dirt. “I want you girls to head for the carriage; we’re leaving. I do not want to hear a single word out of either of you until we reach home. Understand?” They nodded. “Go.” They left.
Isamu watched his disobedient daughters leave before looking at the driftwood the youngest had carried all the way from the distant beach. Kneeling, he removed the damp blanket from the former bedding to inspect for any signs that may show where this child had come from. When nothing presented itself, Isamu turned to follow his girls.
But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a soggy piece of paper fall from the folds of the blanket. Stopping, Isamu picked the parchment up and carefully unfolded it. Although most of the message had been lost from the ink running, he could recognize that it was older writing from a culture and land conquered and nearly destroyed miles and miles away. How long he stood there attempting to decipher the message, no one really knows. The most he could make of it was a plea to care for the child, but the reason for abandonment was lost. Eventually, the only clear word that remained passed the king’s lips.
“Jaejoong…”
Fandom/Original: Dong Bang Shin Ki, Koda Kumi, misono
Pairing(s): Jaejoong/Kumi
Rating: G
Warning(s): Real person fanfiction & alternative universe.
Summary: Growing up as best friends, Kumi and Jae never once thought of each other as more than that. But, as Kumi's marriage fast approaches, Jae is soon realizing his true feelings for the princess.
Notes
The ratings for this piece are not an overall rating. They will fluctuate with each chapter. Other than, I have no other notes to make. Please enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing more than the words used here and the idea behind it. Characters belong to their respective owners.
Kingdom: Chapter Three
Their progress back to the outpost had been a slow journey. Misono could not carry the driftwood well and complained through most of the trip that her sister had lied to her about its weight. Needing a break from her sister’s whining and the weight of the baby in her arms, Kumi decided to allow them time to rest once she found a good spot.
“Finally!” Misono had gladly tossed down the driftwood and flopped down on her rear in the shade of a tree. Kumi was a little more cautious as she sat down, but the baby still woke up from his nap. He did not burst out into tears, surprisingly, and instead slowly peeled open his dark eyes to get a gander at his new surroundings. Gently, Kumi set the baby down and undid his wrappings to let him stretch his legs and arms a bit. But he just laid there.
“What? You were dying to get out of that earlier,” Kumi poked his tiny tummy. He giggled and made an attempt for her hand, but missed.
“Aw, he’s got pretty eyes.” Misono moved closer to the child. She had not really gotten a good look at him before, only what her sister’s shoulder would allow. “So, what’s your name?” Misono extended her hand to the boy. He took her hand and inspected it all over before deciding to place it right in his tiny mouth and chew. “Ew!”
“Misono!” Kumi slapped her hand onto her sister’s arm and held it steady. Feeling the gums and slobber, Misono had almost violently jerked her hand out of the baby’s mouth. Had Kumi reacted a second too late, the peaceful state the boy was in would have been destroyed. “Don’t do that, you’ll upset him.”
“But it’s gross…” Misono whined, bouncing impatiently. If there was anything that a young, delicate princess like Misono did not like it was things that were slimy and soft to the point it gave the illusion one could mold it into any form with one’s hands. And that was exactly what was inside the boy’s mouth: soft, squishy, and slimy gums not yet bearing any teeth.
“You used to do it too,” Kumi reminded. She didn’t care for the inside of a baby’s mouth any more than her sister, but how would the boy know any better? He couldn’t even speak.
“Did not,” Misono scrunched her nose. Looking back to the baby, she addressed him. “Are you done with that yet? I’m not somethin’ to chew on you know.” Looking about her, Misono found the perfect substitute. She leaned and just barely was able to grab the object of her desire. When she turned back around, she had a stick in her hand. “You can chew on this,” she grinned.
“Misono!” Kumi shook her head and took the stick away from her younger sister. “This has dirt on it. You wouldn’t want to chew on dirt, would you?”
“Like he’d know the difference! He’s just a baby!” Misono argued.
“Maybe so, but he’s not a puppy.” Kumi tossed the stick far out of reach to assure that Misono would not try it a second time and looked back at the baby. “For being so little, you sure are heavy,” Kumi teased, poking the boy’s tummy once more. He brought his knees up to his chest to guard his vulnerable belly and released Misono’s hand from its moist prison to squeal and giggle in delight from all the attention.
“Bleck,” Misono grimaced, wiping the drool that had followed her hand on its way out of the baby’s mouth onto the grass.
Ignoring her sister, Kumi tickled the boy once more. “You’re so ticklish,” she giggled as he tried to roll away and escape the “torment.” But their fun and games came to an abrupt halt when he ceased laughing and scrunched his face up.
“What’s wrong with him?” Misono looked at her older sister. But Kumi had no answer and looked upon the boy with concern.
“I-I-I don’t know, Miimo-chan…”
While Kumi looked the boy to see if perhaps he really had injured himself in his tumble earlier, he began to make small grunting noises and draw his legs in close. Kumi took hold of his tiny hand, wishing so desperately she could alleviate whatever ailed the infant. But the infant took it upon himself to relieve his body of the trouble.
“Hey…Oneechan…do you smell something?” Misono made a face at the rancid scent that was now reaching her. Kumi sniffed the air and matched Misono’s expression.
“Yeah, what is that awful smell?” The two sisters both began to investigate by sniffing around in all directions, but it was Misono who was the first to discover the origin.
“Oh God, it’s him!” Misono jumped away from the baby. Sniffing for herself, Kumi soon followed suit. “Now what are we supposed to do!? He smells awful!”
This was truly a dilemma for both girls. Never once had they changed a diaper and had no means to make a new one. But they couldn’t possibly carry him the rest of the way back to the outpost with a soiled diaper. They would pass out long before they reached their destination from the stench! Kumi looked to Misono and Misono looked to Kumi.
“No, no way,” Misono stood up and waved her arms in front of herself. “I’m not changing him!”
“Well, I’m not doing it by myself!” Kumi frowned, looking up at her sister.
“You were the one who found him!”
“Yeah, well…well…” Kumi knew her argument had died and reluctantly accepted her defeat. “Fine, but could you at least let me use your kimono?”
“For what?” Misono looked at her sister with suspicion.
“He needs a new diaper, Miimo-chan. He can’t just parade around with nothing on him.”
“No!” Misono stamped her foot on the soft earth. “Use your kimono!”
“It’s already his blanket!”
“Then use your under kimono!”
“Then I’d be naked!”
“Then…then…” Misono pouted. This was her favorite kimono and now her sister was asking her to sacrifice it to the baby. Looking down at her garment, Misono felt the silk in mourning for one last time before shedding it with a heavy sigh. “Here,” Misono’s pout deepened. She already wanted to snatch it back from her sister, but accepted a kiss on the cheek as compensation.
Looking down at her possibly fatal adversary, Kumi gently pried the boy’s toes from his mouth and slowly worked to release him from the used diaper. Carefully, she unfolded and refolded every crease in the cloth to engrave it into her mind. But the pace was too slow for her sister and Misono announced it loud and clear for Kumi. Kumi sternly silenced Misono. If she was going to get a new diaper on him, she had to know how it was properly folded into place. And with a three year old whining voice in her ear, there was no way Kumi could possibly get it right.
Upon removing the baby from the cloth diaper, both Misono and Kumi nearly lost it. Along with the sight of the true source, there was a new and stronger wave of the scent. Misono pinched her nose quickly and ran away from the baby and his temporary caretaker. She took in deep gulps of fresh air while her sister remained in front of the boy, covering her mouth. Misono saw her sister’s shoulders heave a few times and she was certain that Kumi was going to vomit. But Kumi regained her composure and, without looking, tied the diaper to seal the demon and tossed it into the nearby bushes.
As Kumi took in slow, deep breaths of fresh air, the currently nude boy decided now was a good time to stretch a bit and rolled over onto his tummy. He managed to almost crawl off her kimono before Kumi noticed the escapee and pulled him back. Working against his squirming and fussing, she attempted to recreate his previous diaper with Misono’s kimono. It took perhaps twice as long to clothe the infant as it had to rid him of his previous garment. Kumi grew even more frustrated that even after the long struggle, when he rolled over, the silk kimono merely slid out of all the perfect folds and knots and he was allowed to crawl around free as the day he was born.
Liberating her hairpin from her raven locks, Kumi pulled the boy back for a second time. Working much faster this time, she used her pin to hold the kimono in place as a new diaper. He hadn’t paid any attention to Kumi’s kimono when it was wrapped around him. So, this was truly the first time the boy had worn silk and he fingered his new diaper with astonishment at the soft texture.
“Are you done yet?” Misono, feeling that it was safe, returned to her sister’s side and squatted to see the ruins of her kimono.
“I think we got it now,” Kumi nodded. “C’mon, the sun is starting to set. Father will definitely punish us if it’s dark by the time we get back.” Gathering up the fascinated baby and her handiwork, Kumi wrapped him back up and began to make her way for the outpost. Misono picked up the heavy driftwood and followed her sister as best as she could. In the distance, standing over the trees, the girls could see the outpost’s walls. Both Kumi and Misono began to feel smaller and smaller and more vulnerable as the forest thinned and gave way to the protruding walls.
Kumi’s jaw dropped in horror at the sight. “Misono, how could you!?”
Misono looked over her shoulder, now dragging the driftwood. “What?”
“You left the hole wide open!” Kumi held the boy a little closer to herself to give some comfort. Surely someone must have spotted the hole by now and were waiting for their return. The escape hole would be no more! She would never be able to leave the filth of the outpost for the freshness of the ocean and all because of her sister’s thoughtless thinking.
“What?” Misono repeated herself, dragging the driftwood up beside her. “Nobody saw me go out, so I doubt anyone is gonna find it.” Misono pulled herself and then the driftwood through the hole before feeling something solid behind her back. Stopping, Misono looked up, “Sorry, Daddy.” Looking back through the hole, “C’mon, Kuu-Daddy!?”
Kumi closed her eyes, filled with regret and dread while Isamu’s eyes bore down upon his youngest daughter.
“Kumiko.” He did not even need to tell her what to do before Kumi quickly pulled herself and the baby through the gap in the wall.
“Father, please let me ex-”
“Silence,” Isamu looked at the bundle in Kumi’s arms. “What are you holding?”
Turning him carefully, Kumi revealed the boy in her arms. “I found him, Father, a baby boy. I think he was orphaned.”
“What were you thinking?” Kumi did not dare raise her eyes to her father. “Not only did you deliberately disobey me, but you brought a child? And you ruined your kimono!” Isamu then noticed that Misono also was wearing only her undergarments. “And where is your kimono, Misono?”
“Oneechan used it as a diaper, Daddy…” Her gaze was downward as well.
“For what reason did you find it suitable to risk your life, Kumiko, and wander away from the outpost?”
What was the reason? Kumi had been so concerned with the boy that she had forgotten all about the precious shells she had selected. They were still on the beach, glistening in the sunlight on the rocks. “I wanted to find some shells, to bring back home. I wanted to remember the beach when winter came and it was too cold to come.”
Isamu looked at his daughters and then looked at the boy in Kumi’s arms. There was no helping Kumi and Misono, they would be punished for their disobedience. But he had to think of something to do with the infant. He had just spent hours discussing the risks of accepting a proposal and beginning negotiations for an arranged marriage with his general and decided that the match would be suitable for his eldest. Isamu could not deny that a display of maternal instinct at such an early age was a good sign the match would work well. To display cruelty and command she replace the child where she found him could very well jeopardize Kumi’s soft, nurturing nature that would make her a perfect bride to her promised prince.
“Misono, when we return home, you are to go to bed without supper and remain in your quarters for the rest of tonight and tomorrow. If you even attempt to sneak out, the time will be increased. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Daddy…” Misono murmured.
“Please don’t, Fa-” Kumi attempted to spare her sister of trouble and enact her plan, but Isamu quickly nipped it in the bud.
“As for you, Kumiko, you will aide your mother in caring for the boy until he is of age.” It was an unusual punishment and an unusual command. Kumi looked up at her father for but a moment in confusion before remembering that was the exact opposite thing to do and quickly returned her gaze to the dirt. “I want you girls to head for the carriage; we’re leaving. I do not want to hear a single word out of either of you until we reach home. Understand?” They nodded. “Go.” They left.
Isamu watched his disobedient daughters leave before looking at the driftwood the youngest had carried all the way from the distant beach. Kneeling, he removed the damp blanket from the former bedding to inspect for any signs that may show where this child had come from. When nothing presented itself, Isamu turned to follow his girls.
But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a soggy piece of paper fall from the folds of the blanket. Stopping, Isamu picked the parchment up and carefully unfolded it. Although most of the message had been lost from the ink running, he could recognize that it was older writing from a culture and land conquered and nearly destroyed miles and miles away. How long he stood there attempting to decipher the message, no one really knows. The most he could make of it was a plea to care for the child, but the reason for abandonment was lost. Eventually, the only clear word that remained passed the king’s lips.
“Jaejoong…”