An Old Tale
By: Esuna
Prologue: A Dark Night
Late one evening, Anastasia decided to put on that beautiful outfit. The autumn kimono that Saki gave her as a precious gift. The kimono indeed fit perfectly on her and followed every curve of her slender body. Saki admitted that she intended to give that kimono to her son's beloved one day. However, she handed the kimono over to her. What did that mean? Did the woman have a vision showing her son's destiny bounded to hers? Whatever it was, Anastasia couldn't help but to smile warmly at herself in the mirror as her cheeks flushed slightly at the thought of it.
A sound rustled outside.
Anastasia spun around immediately and glared straight at the sliding screen door in front of her. A few locks of her long light-brown hair fell over her shoulders, spilling over her nice yellow and orange kimono. What could that be at this late hour? Curiously, she tip-toed her way to the slide screen door and slid it open by an inch or two.
In the dark of the night, one could barely trace the outline of a mysterious swordsman seated along a banister in front of the building from across. He blended himself so well behind the shadows but the girl could still distinguish the young man thus seated there gazing up at the stars above. Eventually, a young woman came scuttling out of an adjacent building with a shawl held over her head as if to shield herself from being discovered at this hour. She made her way towards that young man as if she were in a hurry.
Anastasia watched on, curious, but also dreading the moment that something awful would turn up afterwards. She knew it in her heart since her whole body shivered in absolute perplexity.
The young swordsman, whom now noticed the young woman approach him, slid off the banister and onto his feet. He turned just slightly and stood strongly like a samurai before battle, facing in that woman's direction. The moonlight revealed his handsome face right that instant.
…Kurando.
Anastasia's eyes widened in sudden alarm. She held both hands up to her bosom in dismay. Her chest began to heave uncomfortably. It felt…rather…unusual. Deep inside. She held one hand over that massive knot in her chest, trying her very best to keep her composure altogether. Hesitantly, the girl leaned forward and watched on but that dreadful feeling grew more intense by the moment.
The young woman was none other than the beautiful Sayori, Kurando's childhood friend whom she had witnessed him take a double-glance at the young woman on his first return to Inugami Village. Sayori literally flew into the young man's waiting arms just as her shawl fell to the floor as well. She lifted her head up to him just as he cupped her cheek with his hand and stooped lower to kiss her full upon those pretty red lips. Perhaps now, she was deemed his sweetheart.
Anastasia pressed a hand firmly against her mouth, least a sob would be released unexpectedly. Her eyes stung with bitter tears, which were ready to pour down her soft, white cheeks any moment now. Silently, the girl slid the door closed. All she could do afterwards was stare dazedly at the door for a while longer before she leaned her shoulder against the wall for moral support.
Tears ran freely down her cheeks now but she refused to cry out loud. She chewed her bottom lip in order to regain some self-control. Her shoulders began to tremble a little but still, she refused to cry out loud or else, Kurando and Sayori would hear her bitter outcries. The girl huddled dejectedly against the wall as if it would offer her some form of comfort.
The scene of Kurando kissing a beautiful Sayori was still freshly plastered to her mind. She failed to disregard it. Why couldn't she? A heavy feeling stooped over her heaving chest. Just a heavy feeling at first. But eventually, that feeling began to tear harshly at her chest until she doubled over in distressed pain. What…what was happening to her? The pain dug deeper into her chest until she broke off into inexplicable coughs. The girl could scarcely control her coughing bout. She lifted both hands over her mouth in an attempt to restrain herself but to no avail.
A knocking on her slide screen door suddenly sounded followed by an agonizingly familiar voice calling out to her concernedly, "Anastasia? Are you alright?"
It was obviously her sudden coughing that aroused his attention. The girl recollected herself one last time before rasping out rather hoarsely, "Y-yes…I-I'm…f-fine..."
"Anastasia, I…," he began in a low murmur, as if there was another purpose in him coming over to her room late that evening.
"G-Goodnight, Kurando."
There was a long awkward silence before she could hear his footsteps move away.
Anastasia shut her tired green eyes and took a long deep breath before heaving out loud. She re-opened her eyes once more and brought her hands up to her aching chest again. However, the girl stopped herself just in time: there were droplets of blood smeared all over her trembling hands.