A/N: Just a little story I had sitting at the corner of my desk that I never finished and thought to release as part of my summer update. I decided to share what I had anyways and if possible bring the ten or so chapters I had planned for this story into a compact five or less chaptered short story. Hopefully I can bring a shorter story to everyone with the same interest that a longer, more detailed story might. The time period is a bit skewed so I hope it's not too confusing.

Do review for me and I'll post the rest of the chapters up with the next update.

Disclaimer: As usual I don't own PoT so Thrill is not mine nor are any of Konomi's other characters.

Secret

Rated: M

Summary: It was his fault that he fell for the enemy's son, it was his fault he insisted on not killing him; but could he bear the force of Ryoma's hate for all the things he did? THRILL

Part I: The Other Side of Me

Gunma Prefecture

Gunma's kingdom was as peaceful and beautiful as the rumors claim. There was little that happened within the prefecture though chaos was swirling outside of it. Even some people he spoke to said they knew of the chaos outside the peaceful walls and criticized their royal family for turning their heads but he could tell they were fond of the royal family. Despite how many citizens told him that their king loved beautiful women's to surround him in court; they backed him up by saying he was always faithful to his wife. Though they often criticized how their crown prince was blunt and could stare down anybody, they defended him by saying he was passionate in everything he did and excelled.

"General?"

"Don't call me that here."

"Sorry…"

Fuji Syuusuke dismissed his soldier with a wave of his hand as he scanned the area for potential people who could've heard the soldier address him. They were not in a good place to be discovered in enemy territory. In truth, he was here to scout the territory ahead of time before they attacked. After all, he was Tokyo's best spy, their best scout and definitely the best one to plan an attack. That was the reason why the Tokyo prefecture had already over taken the Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures… it was only a matter of time before they owned Chiba and their plans for Gunma was already on the move. It was no secret that each region was trying to get strong and overtake each other to create a unified place; it was only a matter of who was capable of being the only one that mattered.

"We just got word that General Tezuka is progressing well with the invasion of the Chiba prefecture." The soldier reported. "Your counter plan worked and things have been quite smooth."

"As expected then hn…" Fuji merely said and nodded his understanding. He was no longer thrilled by his brilliant plans of invasions and counter-attacks nor the thrilled with creating any more attack plans these days. The news of his victories was too frequent and nothing was near satisfying anymore. The people they overtook and the enemies' strategist were too frequently the same that his battle plans consisted of the same attack with minor change. Bored of the usual happenings, he had asked to go to Gunma, a kingdom who stood neutral in the rebellions and revolutions and see why they were still able to keep so calm when their neighbors Tochigi and Ibaraki had already formed an alliance to stand against the advancement of Tokyo.

"Shall we also head home now?"

"Go on ahead…" Fuji waved him off as he continued to creep closer to the palace. He was curious to see the royal family and see if the rumors were true. Used to sneaking about, Fuji took the long way around where he knew guards would be stationed and down the orchards that grew near the palace. Choosing one closer to the wall, Fuji hoisted himself up with the help of a low but strong branch. Looking beyond the gate, he was surprised that the rumors he heard were obviously true. The whole court was intrigued watching a match between the king and a younger man who seemed to be struggling against the king though he was much younger. It wasn't the fact that the young man was extremely attractive from where Fuji was but the perseverance and stamina he gave into the match despite that fact that he was worn down by the King's playful tennis play. He was now curious to get a closer look… which, at the moment, mattered more than gathering data of why the royal family did not fear the war that was only a border away.

Swinging himself, Fuji was able to grasp the wall. Using his well toned arms from years of light swordplay and training, Fuji lifted himself above the wall and was able to safely drop on the other side of the wall without alerting the guards posted near the sides. Advancing closer, he blended with the citizens that watched in awe and hoped that he wouldn't be noticed for an outsider before he could get a good look. His eyes scanned the tennis court and noted the King's merriment as he laughed aloud at the retort the man he faced spat at him. He looked as if he had nothing to care of but the match from the way he stood and the look of happiness and challenge in his eyes. Fuji assumed the beautiful woman sitting in the shade with other ladies was his Queen. Her crown and gentle but regal pose gave it away as she would once in a while glance up from her sewing and smile along with her husband. Her brown hair fell around her face and framed it lovingly but he couldn't see exactly what eye color she had from the distance he stood. Nonetheless he was sure she was enchanting with whichever eye color she had. It was a tale he heard from a man of how the King had been an unstoppable heartthrob for all the ladies and he could take his pick from any. He even created tension among other prefectures in his days as girls fought heel and toe for the good-looking king. Nonetheless it would be a samurai's daughter that captured his attention and heart in one meeting.

A roar of laughter befell the crowd snapping Fuji out of his thoughts… it seemed the King had once again made a fool of the other player and he was mouthing the King off. Whoever the man was, the King must not have minded how disrespectful he was being since he laughed along with the people.

Fuji glanced around a bit more and caught sight of another beauty sitting beside the Queen. She carried a different aura then the others that surrounded the Queen and rightly so as a man to his right suddenly commented on how lovely Lady Nanako, the niece of the King looked next to their beautiful Queen. Fuji suddenly felt at peace and content watching the match with everyone. He hadn't felt like this in ages… before he was a mighty general actually.

"Anata, shall we head inside to cool down a bit?"

Fuji suddenly understood why such a woman would capture the notorious playboy of a King. Though her tone was soft and angelic, there was a certain strength behind it that indicated whatever she ordered was to be done. She commanded with grace and beauty… quite like a samurai's daughter should be.

True to her command, the king handed his racquet to a servant that rushed forward to receive it and accepted a towel from another. Draping the towel over his shoulders he reached a hand out to his wife and stood to go to him.

"Come on Ryoma!" The king called out in a carefree voice before walking inside with his wife. Everyone followed but the man who had been the king's opponent continued to lie on the tennis court breathing hard. He wasn't going to follow anytime soon but Fuji was more curious of this man name Ryoma. Stepping closer onto the court, he tilted his head trying to see what kind of face the dark green haired man had to match his toned body.

"What are you looking at?" A bratty voice asked from underneath an arm asked before it moved to reveal golden eyes that stared straight at him. Fuji breath caught the sheer beauty of those serious eyes… it was utterly beautiful yet powerful in every way.

"The eyes of an emperor to be…" Fuji whispered unable to remove his eyes off the man… even as the man frowned.

"Ne…. who are you?" the man asked again sitting up and breaking the spell Fuji had fell into.

"Nobody important…" Fuji said though his eyes never wavered from Ryoma's level.

"Hn…. Just another to make fun of me huh?" Ryoma muttered as he pushed himself all the way up and off the ground with a sigh. "Did you like seeing your crown prince lose yet again to the old man?"

Fuji's eyebrow quirked in the slightest way as he took in the information the boy so freely gave. In another prefecture, no royal family would so easily reveal their position to just anybody… even if it seemed to be a citizen of their prefecture. He smiled a bit and shook his head to get out of his thoughts.

"You don't speak or something all of a sudden?" Ryoma asked picking up his racquet before heading to a bench where a towel and water bottle sat.

"Where are the servants?" Fuji wondered aloud. They had rushed for their king but their crown prince was expected to handle his water and towel by himself?"

"I prefer to know I have hands and legs of my own." Ryoma said with a scowl. Sitting heavily on the bench, he twisted open his water bottle and down a fourth of the bottle before setting it aside. How could it be that this crown prince caught his attention so well? Tokyo's king was too haughty for his liking and Kanagawa's was downright handsome without too much humor… but something about this prince's eyes drew him in…it was so mysterious yet innocent. It was the eyes of a man who had not yet known any bloodshed nor killed his first man… eyes that everyone started with.

"Do you play tennis?" Ryoma suddenly asked.

"I used to," Fuji admitted. That was before he was forced to grow up and given a sword instead of a racquet, learned how to shoot a man rather than serve a ball.

"Then?"

"I grew up," Fuji said with a smile as he tried to remember the feeling of a racquet in his hands… the days of freedom without restraint… it didn't come to him.

"So you're saying this is child's play?" Ryoma asked with a deep frown and a tint of fire from those golden eyes. It seemed he offended this little prince by stating a truth of his.

"To me it was… I now hold a sword and swing that." Fuji countered taking a seat next to Ryoma. It seemed everyone who bustled by didn't seem the least bit suspicious of him… a total stranger talking to their crown prince…. If he wanted to he could grab the dagger he hid within his boot and kill the inheritor here and now.

"That for protection?" Ryoma asked kicking Fuji's foot where the dagger was hidden.

"Eh?"

"Che! You can't fool me," Ryoma said with a smirk. "I know what the shape of a dagger looks even if you've hidden it well."

"You've caught me…" Fuji said going with the flow. In truth, he was surprised that the crown prince was so intuitive.

"You might as well tell me where you are from as well because you cannot be from Gunma." Ryoma said looking at him. "Your accent is one that has learned the Gunma dialect not lived it."

Fuji was shocked at how well the crown prince read him…. Just from a simple few words he was able to distinguish it immediately… was this Gunma's power? Their crown prince?

For the first time in ages Fuji felt a spark inside him ignite… a thrill came alive and Fuji knew one thing… This man was going to turn a new page in his life starting from this minute.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter :] Please review and give me some input!