Jurai no Nozomi: Snippet "Nozomi and Prince Haru"
This scene wasn't likely to actually go into the story, although it was me scribbling about the Aiko/Haru/Nozomi connection. And it was a chance to write Prince Grump again. I may be the only one, but I like Haru, dammit...he's such a depressing git :D

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"Lord Haru?"

Nozomi started, gazing at the sober prince in surprise as she hurriedly bowed her head, hoping that her awkwardness was not obvious. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that there was someone here...I actually...I was..."

"You were lost, perhaps?" Haru eyed her thoughtfully, his eyes skimming over her and Nozomi was sure she could see disapproval in his reddish eyes. "How did you get in here, anyhow? I thought you were engaged with my grandson this morning - or has that plan now changed?"

"Shigure-sama and I don't really seem to have a lot in common." Nozomi admitted hesitantly. "I think we needed some time apart. I was looking for a way back to my room, only I came this way and then I...I suppose I did get lost. The doors all look sort of the same, Haru-dono."

Haru eyed her long and hard for a moment. Then he sighed.

"This is what comes of trying to arrange marriages with Earth-born princesses." he said frankly, but there was no censure in his tone, and Nozomi glanced at him in surprise.

"Don't you want me to marry your grandson?" She asked softly. Haru smiled wryly, shrugging his shoulders.

"It's not my choice to make." He said simply. "Ayeka is Empress and her decisions out-rank mine. Sasami is the Goddess's voice and her advice is always considered. My word counts for very little these days. It's true Earth and Jurai have had a connection for some years now - but yes, I have reservations."

"So do I." Nozomi said fervently. "Oh, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I don't understand half of the social rules and graces of this planet, and I'm not used to always being dressed up or fussed over or any of those things. Plus, Shigure-sama was rude about my mother - very rude - so I...I sort of attacked him, and Ayeka-sama didn't like that. I don't think I've made a good impression and honestly, I just want to go home. Back to my life and my world. That's all."

"Then perhaps that's the best thing for you to do." Haru said lightly. "I can't imagine your mother is any more thrilled at the prospect of you staying here than you are, Nozomi-chan."

"Not really, but Father's basically made her hear the whole thing out and consider it." Nozomi sighed. "Sasami-sama has a track record for knowing what she's talking about and he wants to listen, to see if she does. But this time I think she's wrong, Haru-dono. I don't see how I could ever fit in here...and Shigure-san would never accept me or even treat me with respect."

"The marriage of royals isn't always about genuine affection." Haru acknowledged. "And you wouldn't be the first to feel pushed into an unwanted match. There have been princes and princesses in the past with similar complaints to yourself, my dear. Unfortunately royal blood tends to speak for you, time and time again. And so here we are."

"Do you...like me, Lord Haru?" Nozomi asked hesitantly. Haru spread his hands.

"I don't know enough of you to answer that question." He admitted. "Your attire leaves much to be desired and your temper obviously needs some work, if you go around attacking people just because they say something you don't like. But you are Lord Tenchi's daughter...and Lord Tenchi is someone who commands a great deal of my respect. So I'm sure there is enough in you to be a Princess. It really just depends whether you can be bothered to find it."

"Being a princess means having no choices, doesn't it?" Nozomi sighed. Haru nodded.

"Sometimes." He agreed. "Ayeka said the same thing to me, many times when she was growing up. She knew what she'd be, one day. And she accepted it. But she didn't always like it."

Nozomi glanced at the wall, eying the portraits that hung before her with interest.

"Who are they?" She asked softly. "That one...he looks a bit like Ayeka-sama. They must be family to you - to me too, I suppose. Am I right?"

"Yes, child. You are." Haru's eyes softened. "That is my brother. Azusa. One of the best Emperors this world has had in many generations, until ill-health stole him from us. He was your great, great grandfather...and the reason why you are so highly thought of in this equation. You already have Jurai's power burning inside of you, and Azusa-oniichan had many supporters and friends. He was a popular King and some of the Council regretted that his line didn't inherit his throne. I have faith in my daughter, and so did he. But there are councillors who would have favoured Lord Tenchi's line, and who would now favour you, if you chose to stand as competition for my grandson."

"I'm not going to do that, Haru-dono. I don't want to be Queen of Jurai." Nozomi said hurriedly. "And Shigure-san will find his magic, won't he? They won't need me and he's Ayeka-sama's direct heir. It doesn't matter who my Dad or Grandpa or Great, Great Grandpa were. Prince Shigure will still inherit."

"Only if he does raise his magic inside of him." Haru said pensively. "And not all children who are predicted to have Jurai's power ever manifest it. It was predicted for me, before I was born. But my mother died and my sister and I were born far too early. I never found my magic...and was debarred the succession as a result. I don't mind - I would never have wanted to have been King. But it's an unhappy precedent. Ayeka won't have more children. If Shigure can't raise his power, you are then the only true heir to Jurai's throne. The only one with a legitimate, good-blooded claim. And so you see why Ayeka is so keen to have you marry her son. She doesn't want conflict between people who choose to take sides. She wants Jurai to stay unified and peaceful. Only I have my doubts whether she's made the right choice."

"You don't like Mother either, do you?" Nozomi asked sadly. Haru started, then shook his head.

"I've never seen eye to eye with your mother, no." He said quietly. "She was a pirate and I find it hard to forget all the damage she once did, even if my brother was so determined to pardon those crimes and allow her to walk freely on our planet. And she's the daughter of my nephew, Kagato - the one who so nearly brought all of Jurai to it's knees, but more importantly, the one who even now I believe murdered my sister."

"Your sister?" Nozomi looked surprised. "I knew about Kagato. I know he was a bad man, but that wasn't Mom's fault. It just happened that way. I didn't know he killed anyone else, though."

"It was never proven. Officially it's considered a suicide, because they found her in a locked room, with no other way of entry." Haru's eyes became sad and he touched his companion on the arm, gesturing up towards a second painting that hung beside Azusa's on the gallery wall. "I never believed it though. Aiko was...it's hard to describe the sort of woman she was. We were so different, but as twins, we had a connection that overcame all of those things. She was...I don't know. Life, I suppose."

Nozomi gazed up at the picture, seeing the face of her great grandmother for the very first time. Bright ruby eyes, full of mischief and vivacity stared cheekily down at her, the smile on her face hinting that behind the demure nature of her pose lurked someone who liked to enjoy herself and had no qualms about doing exactly that. Strikingly pretty, she had long, thick hair that curled neatly over her shoulders and down her back, clasped by silver at either side of her face. Her gown was expensive, in bright, vibrant shades, and from the jewellery that adorned her throat and fingers, Nozomi could tell that she had taken great care of her appearance. Atop her head she wore a simple golden coronet, but there was something even in the sumptuous nature of her appearance and surroundings that suggested Aiko-hime had been more than just another Princess of Jurai.

She smiled.

"I like her." She said softly. "She looks fun."

"Yes, she was." Haru agreed. "She didn't always follow rules, Nozomi, but even when she broke them you couldn't stay mad at her. She was the closest friend and confidant I ever had. I miss her very much - even now. It's been a long, long time since she died...but I still notice her absence."

"And you think Kagato-dono killed her?"

"I do." Haru nodded. "Aiko would never have taken her own life. She was far too fond of living, and besides, she was happy. Full of energy and hope. There's no way she ever would have done it. No, I'm sure he killed her. I always have been and I always will be. For that, I will never be able to forgive him."

"But it isn't my mother's fault, even if he did that." Nozomi gazed up at the smiling face once more. "She was so pretty. It's funny, but she reminds me of Mom somehow. They don't look a lot alike, and they don't even have the same eyes. But it's the expression - the life and mischief on her face. I think Mom would have liked her too, Lord Haru. I think they would have found a lot of things in common."

Haru smiled ruefully.

"In truth, I think Aiko would have been very entertained by the idea of a space pirate for a grand-daughter." He admitted. "She understood social convention, but she liked to flount it and shock people as much as she dared. Sometimes she went a shade too far - but she always managed to recover. She never lost standing at court, no matter what mischief she got involved in. She flirted and teased and liked to be the centre of attention, but she was only married once and she was widowed soon after. It meant she could live a shackle-free life, in essence. Father never did manage to convince her to make another political match on his behalf."

"She sure doesn't look like a widow."

"No." Haru shook his head. "That was painted six months after Hotaru-dono died, fighting for his Emperor in some conflict or another. She wore that dress as a blatant reminder that her marriage hadn't been her choice and she was glad to be free of it. Father was scandalised...during his life-time, this painting never hung here. It was Azusa who returned her to the Gallery. She refused to be a widow in mourning. She wasn't that way at all. She was just...Aiko. That's all."

"And Kagato was her son."

"Yes." Nozomi was aware of the pain that flitted across the older man's face at this admission. "She loved him very much. He was bright and ambitious...but he went off the rails. Too bright. Too ambitious. Too aware that his grandfather despised him. And when he discovered that his birth wasn't all it seemed..."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"I believe that's why he killed Aiko." He added. "To cover up the secret of his bastard birth."

"Poor Aiko." Nozomi looked pensive. "It's so sad. And sadder still that you can't accept Mother as your family, even though you're her great uncle. She was Aiko-hime's grandaughter, after all. From what you said, I think she's a lot like Lady Aiko. You should put it behind you. It's not healthy and Kagato is gone now."

Haru stared at her in surprise. Then he laughed.

"And I was thinking you were your mother's daughter." He observed, when Nozomi asked him what was so funny. "But now you sound exactly like your Lord Father. You're a strange girl, Nozomi-chan. But perhaps you have more about you than I realised. It's too late in the day for Ryoko-san and I to be anything other than uncomfortable acquaintances. Too much bad blood. But I'll withold judgement on you for the time being. I think you might surprise me."

"I might?" Nozomi looked startled. Haru nodded.

"Sasami calls you Jurai's hope." He agreed. "She always has, and I know that she has a lot of faith in you. I trust my daughter more than anyone, these days, to make calls of that nature where Jurai is involved. She is Tsunami, after all. I've no doubt she's already seen in you the things I'm seeing now."

"I don't know what she sees in me." Nozomi admitted. "I just wish she'd stop seeing it so I could go home to Earth and forget about having to be nice to Shigure. I mean, well..." She faltered as she remembered to whom she was speaking, and Haru offered her a droll smile.

"My grandson is very intelligent and brave. He has learnt everything diligently and properly, as a young prince should." He said quietly. "But he is too much involved with some of the children of other noble families and he's picked up some bad habits in his mode of address. His manners are not always what they should be. Maybe he needs to spend some more time with you. You might learn about Juraian society, and he might learn how to speak to you without offending you so badly."

"I doubt it." Nozomi grimaced. "Sasami-hime and you might see me as potentially equal in terms of the throne, but Shigure sees me as something way way beneath his notice. My mother is a space pirate, therefore I'm irrelevant."

"Those are the bad habits I mean." Haru reflected.