Overthrown

??? POV

I live a pretty good life. I got almost everything I wanted whenever I asked for it. I mean I am the prince after all so it is only natural I get respect. But sometimes there's a thing called too much respect. Don't get me wrong, getting respect and being praised is amazing but when people are bowing down to your feet and trying to get their kids to marry you it gets kinda weird. I'm 7 for god's sake, at least let me grow up first. Speaking of growing up, today is my 8th birthday. There's pros to this but then the cons are so much worse. On one hand I get gifts, on the other hand people are gonna be smothering me with praises and offering their daughter as a gift. Honestly I'm not marrying your daughter, that's disgusting, she probably wants to play with toys instead. Wish they'd offer their kids to be friends with me instead. Gets boring here when you only have your sister to talk to all the time. Even with all these things it's boring playing by yourself… Maybe today will be different. I might get to play with kids today.

I hear my door open and look to see who it is. It was one of the servants.

Servant: 'Master Souta, your mother has requested you be downstairs for breakfast.'

I groaned before quickly sitting up, my body still completely sluggish from getting up too quickly.

Souta: 'Is my outfit picked out already?'

Servant: 'Yes sir'

Souta: 'Did you pick my dino shirt?'

I said with a smile.

Servant: 'Sorry, but your mother requested you wear something more formal. Besides, today is the day of your birthday.'

Souta: 'Okay'

The servant began leaving but stopped as she opened the door. She turned to look at me with a closed eye smile.

Servant: 'Happy birthday Master Souta.'

Souta: 'Thank you.'

She left and wore the clothes that were already picked out in my closet. I then leave my room to head to the dining room where my family should be waiting. I walked down the hallway passing an art piece every now and then. It was quiet, I could hear the loud steps from my sandals and I'm pretty sure anyone could hear me. I reached the large entryway to the dining room where my family was sitting. I wore a black kimono with light gray outlines and black pants underneath. All of my family members, not just my Dad, Mom, and sister. Everyone stared at me, some having smiles on their faces, some a bit too serious. My dad's eyes staring straight into my soul as he sat at the end of the table.

In a quick motion my dad stood up.

Dad: 'Stand!'

His voice sounded very demanding. Everyone who was sitting stood up and faced me.

Dad: 'Bow!'

Everyone but my dad bowed before sitting back down.

I walked in and walked all the way to the seat beside my dad. I sat down as chefs began bringing out breakfast for everyone to enjoy. While I'm here I'll look at everyone that's here. First is Uncle Jiro, one of my dads younger brothers. Beside him was Aunt Bashira, Uncle Jiro's wife. Next to her is their daughter Keiko, she's the same age as my sister Hayami, 4. On the other side of the table is my Uncle Keisuke, my dads youngest brother, his wife Aunt Chiasa was beside him. And beside her was their son Daiki. He's probably my favorite cousin. Every time he's here we do something fun. Next is my Aunt Megumi, she wasn't married. She was the youngest of my dads siblings. On my moms side was her only sibling, her brother Hotaru, he was the king of a small island ruled by Derobia. His wife, aunt Kumiko was with him and their daughter Seina was next to her. Last was grandma Suzume, she always gave me the best gifts, she once gave me a pet elephant. I was told elephants don't even live here.

We ate and enjoyed our food while talking with one another. We spent most of the day spending time together, playing games. Uncle Keisuke took us to meet the Shoguns. They were all so strong and had cool masks with them. It was almost dark as we were heading back home.

Souta: 'Uncle Keisuke.'

I said his name with a smile on my face.

Uncle Keisuke: 'Hm?'

He looked down at me

Souta: 'Why do those people have masks?'

Daiki: 'Everyone gets one.'

Souta: 'Really!? Where's mine!?'

Uncle Keisuke giggled at the reaction.

Uncle Keisuke: 'Not exactly everyone got one.'

Daiki/Souta: 'Huh?'

Uncle Keisuke: 'A long time ago during the times of war, every clan was given one mask to be shared upon their clan. Each clan chose the wielder of the clan's mask. Some returned with the mask after the war, some did not.'

Daiki: 'So do we still have our mask?'

Uncle Keisuke: 'Of course my eldest brother was the holder.'

Souta: 'I'll be the one to hold the mask then.'

Daiki: 'No it'll be me'

Uncle Keisuke: 'Don't worry you both will get one. But one will get a copy of the original.'

Souta: 'You take the copy.'

Daiki: 'No, I'll get the real one.'

Souta: 'No, think of it as my birthday present.'

Uncle Keisuke: 'Just don't worry about it you two.'

We arrived back as everyone was setting up a table for me to open gifts. And I mean there was a load of them, big small it didn't matter they were there. The kingdom is very generous I guess. I take a seat and everyone watches as I open each gift…It had been about 2 hours probably. I just unboxed the last gift, another toy dinosaur. I toss it aside into the pile of dinosaur toys. I slope down in the chair as I take a sigh of relief, completely tired of opening gifts.

Mom: 'Nope there's one more.'

I groan in annoyance as a box is placed in front of me. But considering the way the box looked I fixed my posture. The box was fully black with no wrapping like the others. The lid of the box was a pink reddish color. Everyone looked interested in the picture as everyone smiled and waited for me to open it. They all stood there as if I was about to do something amazing. It's just a box, why are they so interested? I grabbed the lid of the box and slowly began lifting it slowly revealing a mask. My body lit up inside looking at the mask in the box. It was a white kitsune mask, peachy color base with golden eyes looking back at me. It had black lips tagged along with black stripes on the side.

Souta: 'Thank you dad!'

Dad: 'Actually everyone thinks you deserve it. It's a gift from everyone, not me.'

I looked at them all as they all smiled except Daiki. He seemed upset.

Aunt Megumi: 'Just don't let us down nobody like a weak samurai.'

Souta: 'I won't, at all.'

In that exact same time span a loud explosion went off almost as if it was planned a samurai came running inside panting.

Samurai: 'We're under attack!!'

Everyone was surprised all of my uncles and my dad each grabbed a katana from the wall on the way out. Before my dad left he said to us.

Dad: 'All if you need to escape! Find somewhere to hide until it's clear.'

Everyone began running, my mom began with Hayami and so did everyone else. I was unsure what to do. If I do nothing, am I really the next heir? In the next king so I shouldn't be standing here watching as everyone fights for our safety. It's settled. I'm going to help dad.

I ran through the other exit with the mask in hand, maybe it'll protect me from something. I heard my name get called but I just kept running. I kept running until I saw a samurai fighting an enemy. It was my time to shine.

I quickly sprinted at the enemy to help the samurai. But the enemy had to have some type of power to notice me. He grabbed me by the collar of my kimono before cutting the head of the samurai off. That's when it hit me, I should not be here. I'm going to seriously die because I was confident.

The enemy stared into my souls with a smile on his face. He had a fully black helmet and mask to go with it. He moved his katana to the right ready to take my head. I began fighting back instantly trying anything. He began swinging the katana as time began to slow down.

I'm really going to die on my birthday. I'm only 8 and you chose to take my life, you're a horrible person whoever you are. Time started back as he was about to slice my neck. He was hit by something and dropped me but… I was still hit, he sliced both of my eyes. I landed on the ground and began to stumble around, unable to see.

???: 'Souta!!!'

I recognized the voice as my Aunt Megumi. Took a step back before tripping over something and falling back, I waited for my back to hit the floor but it didn't…strange. The mask didn't help me at all…

???: 'SOUTA!!!'

I listened to auntie's voice as it grew distant quickly. I landed in water I'm guessing because I'm still alive. I stand corrected

I swim to the top with no visual of where to go and climb out of the water. I simply began running not having a clue where to go, I continuously bumped into people. Trying to find somewhere safe to hide. I continued running, going who knows where. I ran for quite some time before tripping over my feet and falling into the ground. I know it was stupid for me to run, but what if nobody made it out alive. I'll have to find them some other day. But for now…I'll ju-

No POV

The boy laid there face planted in the dirt. He was asleep, tired from all of the running he did. A moment later it was raining, the sky was crying for the boy. Lost everything on his birthday.

-TIMESKIP-

The night had fallen and the boy still laid there not wanting to get up.

Souta POV

My face felt absolutely disgusting. I want to go home. It was silent, the only noise were the birds doing their morning singing. In the distance I heard a light splash. I quickly sat up to look around…Nevermind I'm blind now. I hate being blind, it's so useless. I hope there's something that'll help me see in the future. Otherwise I can't be very strong, curse that samurai, with his stupid black mask. Actually, where's my mask? I began to move my hands around on the ground trying to find the mask. I heard a light splash this time it was closer. I quickly stood up and held my hands out ready to fight.

Souta: 'Who's there!?'

I felt a soft tap on my shoulder and quickly turned around and swung my fist. My wrist was slapped down and I felt a hand go across my face right after as my face planted into the ground again.

Souta: 'Oww!'

???: 'Are you looking for this?'

Souta: 'Looking for what?'

???: 'Can you not see I'm holding this mask in front of you!?'

Souta: 'Actually I am blind.'

I reached out in front of me but grabbed nothing but air.

???: 'Sorry, let me help you.'

The person I assume to be a man due to his voice grabbed my hand and placed the mask in my palm.

Souta: 'Thank you uh…sir? I'll be on my way now.'

I stood up and was going to walk away but he said something

???: 'Where are you going? You can't see.

He was right, but that didn't stop me from going to see my family.'

???: 'Actually where are your parents? I don't see anyone out here.'

Souta: 'I'm alone, I'm going to The Kingdom of Derobia to see my family.'

???: 'The Kingdom of Derobia? That's a far way boy. How did you even get this far from home anyways.'

I'd rather not speak on it honestly

Souta: 'I don't want to talk about it'

???: 'Did something happen to Derobia? I'm heading there so I would like to know.'

Souta: 'Don't go to Derobia.'

???: 'Why? If I'm not going you're definitely not going.'

Souta: 'I am going!!! My family might be in danger! I have to go help them.'

???: 'Was Derobia attacked?'

Souta: 'Yes'

???: 'Alright, tell me what happened.'

Souta: 'I don't want to'

???: 'Maybe I can help you if you tell me.'

Souta: 'Alright then, it was my birthday and all of my family was gathered at the castle. We had a good time and I even received my mask after opening too many gifts. But it all went downhill when we were under attack.'

I felt a tear run down my face

Souta: 'I decided to help with the battle after my uncle's and dad went to fight. I was blinded by an enemy trying to help a samurai out. I tripped out of the castle I'm guessing and landed in a pool of water. That's when I ran, blindly.'

I began wiping the tears off my face and waited for the man to reply.

???: 'What is your name!?'

His sudden outburst startled me.

Souta: 'Uhh…Souta Fujiwaru.'

???: 'Alright prince of Derobia. Do not tell anyone your name from now on.'

I was confused on why

???: 'Now stand up, we're going back to The Kingdom of Cosha.'

Souta: 'Huh? But my family!'

???: 'Listen to me!'

I flinched from his loud voice, no one had ever raised their voice at me.

???: 'You are not strong enough to save your family!'

Souta: 'Then what will we do?'

???: 'I will train you and you will join the academy to join the Tsugoku rankings. You will get stronger until you are strong enough to rule Derobia.'

Souta: 'I accept'

???: 'Didn't have a choice'

-TIMESKIP-

It took us 3 days to travel to the old man's home. I learned his name as well. His name was Hiroshi and he was 76 years old. We arrived in Cosha, wishing I could see how it looked but I'm still blind.

We got to Old Man Hiroshi's home and I didn't even know what it looked like.

Hiroshi: 'Your room will be over there.'

WHERE!!!?

Souta: 'Where?'

Hiroshi: 'Right'

He led me to the room, not like I'll remember it but it's the thought that counts

Hiroshi: 'Alright, rest up. Because your training starts tomorrow. You have 3 months before you join the academy'

Souta: 'Ok Hiroshi'

Hiroshi: 'Before that. You will address me as Hiroshi sensei got it?'

Souta: 'Ok Hiroshi Sensei'