For as long as she can remember, the young fox has always been on her own. She was sure she had family, but didn't know how she lost them. Perhaps it was the enticing smell of fish as they ventured too close a port city. Or it could have been something else entirely that stole her attention. Either way, she was now on her own. For years, she had managed to stay out of trouble as best as she could. Unfortunately, this has led her to be a bit feral.

Always fighting for a scrap of food, hiding away out of sight until it was safe, the child never had the chance to make friends. Bastard children of pirates or sailors made games of picking on her. They enjoyed pulling on her ears, yanking her tail. One late afternoon, she had been chased by them. Akira had managed to escape by slipping into the cargo space of a ship she had thought just came in. To her contrary, it had just been finished being loaded and was due to set out.

Boredom and fatigue took over, and Akira slipped into unconsciousness. When she came to, they had long since set sail, presenting the young fox a thousand problems. Somehow, she managed to stay undetected by the crew, stealing small bits of food when most were asleep to sustain herself. When they finally reached dock, Akira tried to sneak off before being sent on a long sea voyage once more.

"Hey! You!" Her heart lodged in her throat and she ran, her bare feet only half as silent as she could be. Her dirty, once white kimono sleeves flapped wildly behind her, her white hair severely tangled as the wind knotted it further. Unsure of where to go, Akira ran and ran, turning one way and another, the men close behind. Soon, she found herself stuck in a dead end. When the frightened, golden eyed fox turned around, the men were already blocking her only exit.

She whimpered as she backed into a corner, wrapping her tail around her as she curled into a ball. As the three men approached, all menacing and burly, she began to cry. All she had wanted to do was run away from the mean children.

He was coming home from a visit to the orphanage that was housed in the Red District of Arri. He had a few books under his arm as he traveled the roads. He greeted many of the women who were leaving his own district. His golden hair like a wheat field in the sun. He was dressed lightly in the colors of his court. A silk made golden shirt and dark pants. His topaz rose hung off his neck whenever he would bow to the fair creatures of his court. He knew that one day he would have to take a wife and that he was chosen to lead his mother’s court if anything were to happen to her.

It was because of that reason that he had led a life of virtue and righteousness. He would not die to the trials of his land when he became king. An aura of holy light leap off of him like he was part of the golden sun. Instead of going home he dropped the books off with his sister who was no doubt causing trouble. “I’m going down by the sea.”

“Whatever, just don’t be late getting home you know how that makes Mom feel,” Nymphaea put her hands on her hips as her brother wandered off. The two were complete opposites in every way.

He continued to greet everyone until his ears picked up on the running and yelling. That was never a good sign so close to the sea. The sea salt breeze shook his golden locks as he moved quickly. His golden eyes fell on the child and before long he was in between them. “I would hope… Gentlemen that you remember where you are. Our laws on children are very strict here and I shall not let anything happen while this child is in this city.”

He held out his hand and concentrated light began to form. “If you don’t know them, allow me to teach you.” He wasn’t restricted from combat like his mother. “Your name, what is it?” He turned his attention to her and gave her a smile. “Mine is Rowan.” He shot the magic he had been storing in his finger tips towards the men and watched as the magic exploded with a holy might. He was much stronger than they wanted to deal with he was sure. Not only that but it seemed like Nymphaea was aware something was wrong too. He could feel his sister moving this way.

To Akira, it was as if a god had descended, placing himself in the path between her and certain harm. Golden eyes followed the movements of the golden man. Fearful of the men, Akira didn't know what to make of the god. Would he be mean to her too? As the scene unfolded before her, the three who chased her seemed to stumble over their words.

"Of course not."
"She's a stowaway."
"From the pirate port, she'd be trouble!"
"What he means to say, we want to take her home."

Akira's widened with interest as the hand of the god-man began to glow as the sun. "Pretty…" His light alone had her half uncurled, partially reaching out for him. She had lost interest in the other men. The child blinked. He was talking to her? No one asked for her name, everyone yelled or sneered at her. For now, she pulled back her hand, clutching them at her chest. "Akira?" A small, uncertain return smile played at the corner of her lips, as if she was not sure of even her own name.

Rowan released the magic, and Akira watched it soar to the men, as a personal yet possibly dangerous light show. One more glance at the golden man, and Akira darted from her corner, past the men, and around the corner. He seemed nice, and no one had been nice to her before. She ran, looking backwards, until she bumped into something and fell. Surprised, she looked up at the woman she had ran into. "I sorry!"

“Obviously if she is a stowaway she was trying to get away from her ‘home’ as you put it. Children are intelligent they often understand things that adults like us cannot. In all of my years, I have learned that the most valuable things to listen to come from the mouths of children.”

He was sure that this child did not want to go back to where she had come. From the looks of her and the fear on her face, he knew that much to be true. “Akira is very pretty.”

Once the girl had darted around the corner she ran straight into a smaller lithe woman with wild brown hair. “You have a wafting smell of Rowan. Don’t tell me he’s involved.” The girl scoffed and brown eyes looked over the girl. “Don’t run away from a fight you started. You left my brother there.” She was quick as she slung the little one over her shoulder.

“God damn it, Rowan. You didn’t invite me to the damn party,” Rowan lost his concentration as his younger sister made her appearance. By now her aura was swarming the area. It was darkness and she tossed the little girl to Rowan. “Might not want to lose her.”

Nymphaea drew the sword from its sheath that had been on her belt. It released a hissing sound as green flames shot around them. “You know, Arri don’t take kindly to little kids crying. We don’t deal with people who bring violence into our city lightly… and we damn well don’t abandon innocent people on our door step.” The flames engulfed the blade.

“Nymph, control your angry or you’ll destroy the harbor.”

“Whatever,” Nymph swung her sword and began to chase after the men. “Shoulda ran when it was just my brother you filthy bastards!” There were screams and Rowan collapsed to the ground as the darkness left and let Akira sit in front of him.

“You alright Akira? You ran into my sister… Not the nicest person in the world. She would help anyone if they asked though so she can’t be completely all that bad.” He reached out and rubbed her white hair. “They said you were a stowaway… Why did you leave?” He wanted to get the story. “We got a nice hot bath, new clothes, and food back home if you are honest with me.”

Flames blew up behind them and Rowan was quick to move Akira so she wasn’t in the way. “Nymph if you keep this up you’re going to attract Aunt Toya.” He called out as he sat Akira back down. “Nymphaea is a bit of a hot head.” He chuckled. “Are you alright though? Did they hurt you?”

Akira didn't like the way this woman came off, and tried to scramble to her feet. Poor thing couldn't even get one step away, as she was scooped up and found herself slung like a sack of potatoes. She grunted in frustration as she landed on the woman's shoulder, and believed that kicking would be futile.As she found herself being tossed, Akira yelped. Oh how she wanted down, and away from here! Nonetheless, when she saw a sword engulfed in flames, Akira wiggled until she could half hide her face in Rowan's chest, half watch with innocent curiosity. His voice reverberated through his chest, tickling her ear. Together, they watched, and Rowan shifted.Sitting on the ground, Akira looked at Rowan, head cocked to the side, quizzically. What had she done for them to try and help her? Having spent little time actually communicating with anyone, she was trying to think of her words when he promised stuff. Her ears perked at the mention of food. Nymphaea came back, and Rowan protected her again from the fiery entrance.

Akira shook her head. "No hurt. Boys pull tail, I ran, hid on ship. Woke up at sea." She hadn't meant to run this far away. She looked curiously up at Nymphaea, then at the buildings around her. "This nice place? No boys pull tail or ear?" Such hope filled her voice.

Rowan got up once Nymph had gotten far enough away and helped Akira up to. “We’ll get you home if you want to go back but for right now you are my responsibility.” He took her hand and smiled down at the little girl. “No one will hurt you while you are here. This is the safest place in the world for little kids. Come on Akira lets get you back to my home and we’ll get you a bath and food.”

He walked with her avoiding where Nymph was by watching the flames shoot up. It wasn’t long however before a little girl with dark skin and dark hair was seen. She had a stuffed animal in her arms and she was walking in their direction. She had mud all over her. “Hazel, why are you all dirty?”

Hazel turned to them and frowned a bit before running to Rowan who scooped her up effortlessly. “The bigger kids pushed me in the mud again.” Rowan frowned a bit and held Akira’s hand a bit tighter.

“Well mostly everyone is nice. Come on girls we’ll get you a bath. Akira this is Hazel.” Hazel’s mercury colored eyes looked down to Akira before hiding her face back in Rowan’s shoulder. Her shadow was more like an angry kraken with tentacles. “You don’t need to be afraid of Hazel, she is just different I promise.”

“Mr. Jack makes everyone hate me, Rowan. I miss Rohan,” Hazel was crying now as Rowan frowned and kissed the top of her head. The Yellow Rose mansion came into sight and he had the door open for them. “First a bath them we can have some food.”

The main floor bath was to die for design wise. The tub looked to be made of marble and silver. It was large enough for a few people to bath in at once and the water was already hot. The walls of the room were decorated with various paintings and the lightning was enchanted crystals on the ceiling. “Must have seen us coming. Alright, girls come on.” He helped them undress and get into the tub like a father would. He got soap cake for them and put flora oils into the water. “What would you guys like for supper?”

“Something warm,” Hazel shrugged as she put the squid plushie she had on the side of the tub.

"Not home. No person cares. What mean re… Respon…? His words left the fox with much to ponder. What exactly did he mean that she was his responsibility? Did it mean protect? How did she get to be his in that manner? No one ever cared for her, helped her, not back at that place. Rowan smiled as he told her this was a good place to be for her, for all kids. It filled her with hope that maybe she didn't have to live in the shadows anymore as she smiled back.Another little girl appeared, and Akira had half hidden herself behind Rowan, peering from behind his hand at the darker one. She ran to and was picked up by Rowan, who gripped her tighter. It was probably a good thing he did, as when Akira spotted the strange shadow, Akira tugged her hand, learning how futile it was. "Hi…" If Rowan was being nice to Akira, then she could try to be nice to Hazel, who was after all, just a little girl who missed someone. She was led to a beautiful, huge place that looked quite like what a palace would, in Akira's mind.Her poor eyes were so big, she still could not take in the entirety of its splendor. Akira was trying hard to look at all of it, yet not be dragged by Rowan as he brought her up to doors half as glorious as ones she once spied upon. Inside was just as beautiful. The fox wanted to stop and look at everything, even as she was assured that she would have time to do so later. In the bath room, it was first the crystals that caught her attention as she was still looking up. If they weren't so high up, she would probably be caught trying to take them. "Shiny…" She breathed, until she realized he was taking her clothing off. For a moment, it was all she could do to watch him, confused.The same thing was done for Hazel, and they were put in the water. It felt strange, the warmth of the water, the nakedness of herself, the oils making the water softer and smell pretty. Akira curiously grabbed the soap cake and sniffed at it, then licked it experimentally. With a disgusted face, she all but tossed it underhand at Hazel. She began to scrub at her face with her wet hands as Rowan asked his question for dinner, and peeked between her fingers at him. "Fish cakes?"It was at this moment that Akira noticed something small and round floating in front of her face. She reached for it, only to see it escape by rising higher. A smile spread across her face as she watched rainbows dance across its somewhat shiny surface. With a swish of her tail, Akira jumped for it, sending water in Hazel's direction.  It popped upon her touching it, and she made a huge splash as she slipped and fell under. She quickly resurfaced, shook her head to dislodge the liquid from her ears and grinned at Rowan. Pointing to the ceiling, she said one word in a hopeful tone. "Pop?"