#kouseventhprincess

An impromptu romance with a girl far beyond his lead could spell tragedy. It could very well be his downfall (and certainly would be if either of their parents found out that they weren’t actually dating), but Aladdin didn’t seem to care. So long as he got to see Kourin happy and smiling, it was well worth any risk they’d be taking. And besides, in a month this would all be history placed behind them. She’d go on to be the blushing bride of some business man, and he’d go back to devoting his full time to his studies. If he’d ever be questioned as to why this had become a part of his life, he’d give a smile and one answer alone. There’s nothing wrong with two young people enjoying their youth together. 

Years from now the two of them would look back on these days and revel in the memories; of their first kiss, the way her slender and sleek hand seemed to mold against his callous one, of hours spent underneath the pale lighting of the stars with everything to talk about. It’s something Aladdin will treasure for the rest of his life.

Though they’d been continuing this for nearly two months now, she’s just now feeling comfortable enough to extend an invitation to a public event. The most she’d allowed them to be seen together was on streets she was sure wouldn’t house any of her family members, and if they were, it’d only take her seconds to pull him out of sight (which, he necessarily didn’t mind. It gave him a chance to sneak in kisses and make her laugh under the warmth of his breath). But this...had come as a surprise. When her text had come through, asking for him to come to the theater, he’d expected a movie of some sort. Something quiet, something dark and secluded, not what laid before him.

The crowds of people dressed in finer clothing has him feeling under dressed immediately, and if that wasn’t bad enough, he spots the familiar features of her father among the crowd. But he’s smart enough to not be seen, and finds himself in the back of the crowd. As people begin to settle down, it’s apparent there aren’t enough seats where he is, and so he resorts to standing among the few people that were in the same predicament. He’s still trying to wrap his head around just what he’d been invited to. Fancy clothes? Important people in fancy clothes?  This was hardly the kind of background Aladdin called home, but he reminds himself that this was for Kourin. She’d invited him to come, and he has faith in her knowing what she’s doing.Still, it doesn’t cure any of the feeling of being out of place, and awkwardly he’s finding a nice, dark spot away from the prying eyes of the wealthy below him. He can already hear the whispers plucking themselves into the air, but he pays them no mind. 

After all, it’s Kourin he’s here for, not to impress any of the people before him. She was his sole concern, and although his casual look might be turning heads, he does not care. 

Now if only he could find her. There’s a mass of red hair among the front rows, but none of them is nearly as elegant or soft looking as Kourin’s. He can make out Kougyoku’s at the end, and perhaps...Ah, yes that’s Kouha! Other than that, the rest are unfamiliar faces he’d never be graced with meeting and still no Kourin. 

When the lights dim, the catch him off guard. The crowd goes silent with anticipation, and yet Aladdin can’t tear his eyes away from the crowd in search of the familiar sight. It’s not until the curtain rises does he find her. To anyone that wouldn’t look close enough, it’d appear all the women were identical, but there, in the middle clad in a silver and maroon dress, stood Kourin. Aladdin isn’t too sure just what this is, but at that very moment he’d never seen her look as elegant as she was. She was poise and proper, but the smile on her face gave way to a something he’d tried to give her all along: Happiness.

The dance starts slow at first, but when the pace does begin to speed up, she never loses that look. She’s so fluid in her motions, so mesmorizing, that he can’t seem to take his eyes off her. Blue irises marvel at how she seems to flow and bend with each note of the music, the dramatically long sleeves bending to her will and becoming a enthralling extension of her very hands. The way she sparkles makes his jaw fall, and in that moment all Aladdin sees is her. Every step she takes, every flick her her wrist is filled with freedom and happiness. He’s seeing Kourin - the real Kourin, and not some prized doll ready to be sold by her father to the highest bidder. No, in this moment alone, she is everything and anything he’s ever desired her to be. She is freedom, she is excitement, she is....Happy. 

The shuddering of his breath as the final note sounds through the auditorium scares him, and with the outburst or cheers, his hand reaches up and lightly taps the corner of his lids. Tears would be shed. Some good, some bad, but Aladdin didn’t care. All that remained on his mind was the replays of that look, but more importantly, how he couldn’t let her go through with the wedding. No, not after tonight, not until he could see that expression on her face when she stares up at the man she wanted to marry. And if that wasn’t him, then so be it. A pain in his chest stings him at the thought, but he doesn’t know why. He’d known about this end when they’d started, yet here he was physically hurting at the very thought of her not choosing him. When did he become so attached? When did this turn into so much more than just an attempt to give a friend what they desired? The stress these bring only intensify when the pounding of drums erupts and brings a splitting headache. She’d want to see him, of course; so she could ask what he thought, him to tell her it was the most beautiful thing he’d seen, and then they’d share a brief embracing of hands before her siblings or parents would notice. 

But he just...can’t tonight. There’s too many thoughts running rampant in his head for him to concentrate, and as the sounds of his voice being drowned out by the humdrum of the crowd echo through, he dashes towards the exit. Fresh, clean air away from the crowds would do him good, and knowing Kourin, she could be found in their favorite spot among the playground later tonight. She’d more than likely be angry, but that was far from his mind. 

A hand reaches up to embrace his head, quieting the pounding as the thoughts continue. One by one they fade until he’s thinking clearly, only to wish he his head had stayed cloudy all along. For the moment the fog begins to disperse, he finds the one answer he’d dreaded from the very start.