Chapter thirteen- First Love

Kougyoku's cheeks flushed pink as she brushed her long pink hair. She couldn't stop thinking about the purple haired man she'd met at her older brother's party days before. Sinbad occupied her thoughts day and night, and although she knew liking him or even talking to him again would be a bad idea, she agreed to meet with him that day for lunch.

She pulled her hair into a ponytail with two small loops of hair sticking out on her head, held in place by her favorite golden hairpin. She stood and looked herself over in a full body mirror beside her vanity, flatting out any wrinkles in her light pink sundress. Although it was Autumn, and Winter was just around the corner, that particular day was rather warm- as if Summer had returned to make sure her date was sunny and perfect.

"Alright!" She smiled to herself and grabbed a small purse that matched her dress before leaving her room to meet with her love.

"So you came," Sinbad smiled and met the younger female halfway as she waded through the busy sidewalk outside of a small cafe.

"Of course I did," Kougyoku returned the expression, her cheeks already gaining their light pink again.

"Shall we go inside then? It's a bit busy out here," Sinbad offered her a hand, which she graciously accepted, and led them into the cafe. They took a seat at a table away from everyone else, and they both ordered coffee to start. After a few moments of silence and Kougyoku nervously playing with her coffee cup, Sinbad spoke up, "I'm surprised you agreed to meet with me, seeing as though your brother and I are against each other in the Holy Grail War. So if you don't mind me asking, why did you come?"

"Kouen doesn't know where I am..." Kougyoku admitted.

"I see," Sinbad nodded, taking a sip of his hot coffee.

"Sem-I mean-Caster will probably yell at me when I return, but I don't care..."

Sinbad raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Does Kouen have his servant watch you and your siblings?"

"While he's at work, yes. Kouen doesn't want anything to happen to us while he's not there," Kougyoku explained.

"From what I saw at the party, Caster doesn't seem to be the babysitter type."

"She's not, really. But she was ordered by Kouen to protect us at all costs, so she has to."

"By Command Seal?" Sinbad frowned in confusion. Would Kouen really use a Command Seal like that?

Kougyoku shrugged lightly, "I don't know. He doesn't tell me things like that. I only know what I hear from Koumei."

Sinbad nodded, thinking for a moment before asking, "How did Kouen react to hearing your cousin is also a master?"

"Oh, he's not too happy about that..." Kougyoku twirled the straw in her iced coffee, stirring its contents. "I don't know what Hakuryuu wants from the Grail... But I don't look forward to the day he might have to fight Kouen." A frown formed on her lips and she looked up to Sinbad, "Can we talk about a happier subject? If you don't mind, of course..."

"Of course, I understand," Sinbad agreed. "Then how have you been, Kougyoku? You're not from Japan, correct? When did you move here?"

"I'm alright, and no, my family is from China," Kougyoku brightened at the change in topic. "My aunt and uncle -Gyokuen and Hakutoku-, moved here with my cousins first. I think Hakuryuu was just a baby then. They moved because something happened with my uncle's company or something- I'm not sure. Gyokuen never told Kouen exactly what happened. But just a few years after they moved here their house set on fire and killed my uncle and two of my cousins. So my father moved here to help with their loss... I was rather young, so I don't remember much. Besides..." Kougyoku stopped herself, her mood sinking again.

"Are you alright?" Sinbad's expression grew worried.

"Yes, I'm fine," Kougyoku assured. She smiled, "I'm really happy I got to meet you again, Sinbad-sama. Thank you."

Sinbad smiled, "I'm glad I got to see you again as well, Princess."

Kougyoku blushed deeply. That name again! She focused on her coffee, which was mostly ice now. She could feel Sinbad watching her, which only made her face grow more red.

"Would you like to walk around the town for a bit? It's a beautiful day to do so, there won't be many more like it." Sinbad offered, realizing his cup was empty as well.

"Sure." The pair stood and walked up to the cashier where they placed their to-go orders. This time Kougyoku ordered hot chocolate, remembering it was a bit windy out from her walk there. "Excuse me, Sinbad-sama. I need to go to the bathroom before we leave," The teen spoke awkwardly, taking a few steps towards the restrooms.

"Go ahead, take your time." Sinbad nodded, staying by the checkout for their drinks. Moments later they arrived, the female cashier giving him a flirtatious smile as she placed the cups on the counter. Smiling back briefly, Sinbad took the drinks to another nearby counter that held straws and extra creamer. He pulled off the top to Kougyoku's drink, letting steam and the smell of chocolate fill the air. Sinbad snuck a hand into his jeans pocket and took out a small vial filled with a deep blue liquid. He quickly opened it and emptied it into the drink, stirring it around with a disposable straw-like stick. It made the brown liquid darker, but besides that it looked and smelled the same. Sinbad replaced the lid just in time, Kougyoku walking up behind him moments later.

"Here you are," Sinbad handed Kougyoku her drink.

"Thank you, Sinbad-sama," Kougyoku accepted it and took as small sip, trying not to burn herself.

"Is it good?" Sinbad asked as they left the small cafe.

"Mmm... It has a strange aftertaste, though." Kougyoku nodded, taking a larger sip and thinking over it's taste.

"It must be the milk they used," Sinbad decided.

"Yeah, maybe..." Kougyoku thought for a while longer as they walked in silence.

Their walk continued in a peaceful silence for some time, until Kougyoku began to feel dizzy. "I think I should head home," She'd told Sinbad, who looked her over worriedly. After assuring him that she could walk home alone, she did exactly that.

More than halfway back to her brother's mansion, she could feel her eyes getting heavier and heavier. Her hot chocolate was long since finished, and she could only assume that's what was making her so tired. She barely knew where she was going as she stumbled about, and didn't even notice as she bumped right into someone.

"Are you alright?" The person she collided with asked in a worried tone, catching her just before she fell to the ground.

~

Alibaba was walking around town with an old friend he'd recently met up with, having run into him on the way to the grocery store. He hadn't seen Cassim since he moved to Japan from England several years before. They had lived together with Alibaba's mother in England, but when Alibaba's mother died his father took him in to live with his siblings and he hadn't seen his tan-skinned friend since.

He was surprised, -to say the least-, to see Cassim in Japan. His reasons for being there were still unknown, but for the time being Alibaba was just happy to see a friendly face again. With Aladdin at the Mage's Association in England, Hakuryuu being his enemy, and Morgiana being caught up in schoolwork, Alibaba had been alone the past few days. Besides Saber, of course.

"So, Cassim. There's this nice cafe nearby, we could go there and you could finally tell me how you got here-" Alibaba was cut off as a pink haired girl fell into him. Gasping in shock he caught her before she fell, "Are you alright?!"

"Huh?" The girl blinked up at him tiredly.

"H-Hey, aren't you..." Alibaba looked her over. He could have sworn he'd seen her at Kouen's party.

"You know her, Alibaba?" Cassim asked, his golden eyes confused. The girl let out a tired groan. "Is she drunk?"

"I don't think so... She doesn't smell of alcohol." Alibaba tried to keep her body up, but she'd completely passed out, becoming deadweight.

"What should we do with her?"

"I think I know her..." Alibaba struggled some more. "Cassim, help me carry her."

Cassim walked around to Alibaba's other side and pulled one of the girl's arms over his shoulder while Alibaba took her other arm. "Who is she then?"

"I met her a few days ago at a party... I think I've seen her around school a few times too," Alibaba said. "We can take her back to my place for now, until she wakes up."

Cassim nodded, "Alright, boss."

~

Kougyoku woke to see herself in an unfamiliar bedroom. It was simple, with tan wallpaper and carpeted floor. The bed she was lying on had blue sheets and comforter, which matched the shades. A desk was across the room, with a blank desktop monitor on it. The bedroom door was ajar, and she could see down the hall somewhat. Everything was quiet besides the sound of talking from another room nearby.

Where am I? The pink haired teen thought, sitting up. Her head ached, and her entire body felt like it weight a million pounds. Was I drugged by these people?! She checked her dress for any rips or signs of it having been moved. None were present, but she was still skeptical.

Slowly she stood, her head spinning and her vision going black for a moment as she got to her feet. Stepping into the hallway, she listened in on the conversation going on down the hall:

"Why'd you move to Japan anyway?" One voice asked. "Didn't you have a nice setup in England?" Their tone held a bitterness in it. As if the speaker was angry at the other for moving. Or maybe it was because the other was rich and they aren't? It was impossible to tell.

"After my dad died Ahbmad decided to use his inheritance to move to Japan because... You probably won't believe me if I told you..." The second voice sighed. Their voice was higher than the other, but both were male.

"Sure I will."

"Well... We moved because my dad was a mage and he passed the family magic crest on to me. It was supposed to be Ahbmad's, but for some reason my dad left it and a book on magic to me instead. We're in Japan because as one of the Founding Families we have to participate in this thing called the Holy Grail War, which is a battle for a magical Grail that can grant any wish." The second speaker paused, waiting to see if the other was following along.

"Huh," The first male chuckled. "I always knew there was something different about you... So you're a mage? What does that have to do with this 'Holy Grail War'?"

"The Grail chose me to be a master and fight for it, so now I'm part of a war against six other masters chosen by the Grail."

"And this 'Grail' can grant any wish?"

"Yeah."

The first male thought for a moment. "Let me fight with you."

"What?!"

"Can you imagine what we could accomplish together with the Grail?! We could avenge our family!"

"I don't know, Cassim..."

"Think it over, Alibaba," The male named Cassim spoke. "You know where to find me now."

Kougyoku took a few steps into the darkness of the hallway as Cassim stood and headed towards the small house's front door. She waited until the dreadlocked man left before entering the living room of her alleged kidnapper.

He didn't notice her -seeing as though his back was towards the hallway-, and continued to act as if he was alone. "Saber, you can come out now if you want." He spoke to seemingly no one. "What? We're alone-oh." The blond spun around to face Kougyoku, startling her.

"I-I'm sorry!" Kougyoku gasped, jumping back. Getting a better look at her captor, she could tell he wasn't exactly the drugging and raping type. "You...What's your name?"

"Oh, ah," The blond stood and faced her properly, "I'm Alibaba Saluja. Ah, you kinda passed out as you were walking down the street so me and my friend brought you here so you'd be safe until you woke up. Do you remember what happened?"

"No... Not really..." The pink haired teen thought back. All she could remember was going on a date with Sinbad at a cafe. She couldn't recall when they had left at all. Then another thought bothered her, Alibaba had mentioned the Holy Grail War to his friend. And he was talking to himself. Could he be a master too?

"By the way, are you Kouen Ren's sister? I think I saw you at his party the other night..."

"Yes, I am. And you're a master, right?" Kougyoku asked, taking a step away from him, "You didn't kidnap me to lure Kouen here, did you?"

"What? No, of course not!" Alibaba exclaimed, waving his hands around. "Like I said, you passed out."

"Hmm..." Kougyoku crossed her arms and looked him over. "You don't seem very fit to be a master. Do you even know magic?"

"Sure I do!" Alibaba defended himself. Kougyoku gave him a look; she knew better. "Kinda..."

"How did you end up a master? I overheard you talking with that guy from before... How did you become friends with such a scary looking person anyway?"

"Cassim? Scary? I wouldn't say that..." Alibaba paused. "Why should I tell you about my life? You're my enemy's sister!"

"I'm not asking because I want information to use against you, I just..." Kougyoku paused, turning her head away from him, "I realize that I've seen you in school a few times with my cousin and I may have wanted to befriend you a few times but never got the chance to..." Her words were jumbled together from how quickly she spoke.

"What? You want to be friends?" Alibaba was taken aback.

"Maybe..."

Alibaba raised an eyebrow and chuckled a little, "I guess I could tell you a little bit about myself... But only if you tell me about yourself as well."

"It's a deal," Kougyoku smiled and took a seat on the floor across from Alibaba.

~