Akira: Well, hello again. To the readers, even though I've written a pm to almost all of you, I'd still like to say that I'm not going to reveal anything just yet. I would really want you guys read/see for yourselves as the story goes, rather than me spoiling everything for you. Where's the fun in that? xD Alright, enough of my rambling, it's annoying enough :x
To Furu-chan: Furu-chan! I hope you get better ne! I'll be waiting for you to come back soon :D
Chapter I: As their paths cross
"Hah… Hah… Hah…" The young samurai panted as he fell backwards onto the soft grass below him with his nodachi gripped tightly in his right hand, looking up into the blue skies. He shut his sepia eyes and smiled as he felt the gentle breeze caressed his flushed and rosy cheeks, red from his intense training. He had always enjoyed listening to the tranquil sounds of the flowing stream and the rustling of the leaves in the breeze while letting his ponytail flow together with the wind. It always managed to calm him down, somehow.
How long has it been since then? Since I last believed in anything else other than myself…
It had been a long time since he could spend his time alone, doing whatever he liked. These were the only times where he could relax and be himself with no sign of pretence. It was difficult for him to have some time alone, let alone do whatever he wanted to. He sighed and shook his head dejectedly. He desperately needed to get away from all those people, or rather, from someone. The voices of the leaves in the trees stopped gradually as the breeze subsided. Sighing once again, he sat back up and brought his knees to his chest after sheathing his sword. Hugging his knees close to himself while gripping his sword tight, he buried his face into his knees and breathed.
The words that his mother said to him on her deathbed still rang clearly in his mind.
Let no one know of this matter. My child… Trust no one but yourself. Mark my words, dear child… Mark my…
She died just then, leaving him alone in this cruel world. He clenched his fist tight until his knuckles paled completely, with no sign of blood in them. All the pretence… He hated it. But…
Why?
Why was he born with a curse like this? It was not fair to him. Even though he had never once complained, one could tell that he had closed his heart, never opening it up to anybody at all. Not once, not at all. He repressed the urge to spread his wings freely, for fear that someone might learn of his true form. It was painful to hide secrets like this, but he had to. It was all for his people, for his land, for his kingship. He longed to be loved, and yet, he could not love anyone for he could not trust. It was as if he buried his heart deep within the snow, freezing it eternally and patiently waiting for spring to come to melt the ice away.
The sudden rustle of leaves brought him to alertness and he readied himself to draw Yuunagi at anytime.
But a feminine yelp caused him to loosen his guard as he found a girl, somewhat his age sprawled onto the ground in an awkward position and peering innocently into his eyes. His face reddened visibly as he noticed her revealed legs under the position and quickly turned his face away while helping the girl up onto her feet.
"Are you all right?" He asked in a voice so gentle that he was even surprised at himself for using such a tone on someone whom he had just met.
"Ah… Arigatou," she smiled at him shyly and bowed.
Feeling the rush of heat subsiding from his face, he put on his mask of deception again and turned back to the girl muttering coldly, "It was nothing."
A confused expression soon dawned onto the girl's face as she noticed the change in his tone and manner so quickly.
Huh? What a sudden change of attitude…
Nevertheless, she stared into his sepia orbs and smiled again. She bowed slightly and said, "Nice to meet you! My name's Takahata Konoka! What's yours?"
He wasn't about to give in to the nervousness unknowingly building inside of himself anytime. Registering what she had just asked in his head, he blinked a couple of times. What…? Doesn't she know who he is? Ah, it might be a good thing. Looking straight back into Konoka's chocolate eyes, he opened his mouth and gave a laconic reply, "Sasaki Setsu."
"Ah… So it's Secchan ne? Just call me Kono-chan!" She gave a toothy grin and looked at him.
"Secchan…?" He raised his brow slightly at the nickname.
"Um… I can't call you that?" All of a sudden, her eyes became downcast and she looked a little disappointed.
"No, it's fine."
Silence.
Setsuna shifted uncomfortably as they looked at each other in silence. Unable to stand the silence, he continued, "What are you doing here?"
Suddenly, Konoka's eyes brightened up almost like a little girl who got her favorite doll on her birthday, she scratched her cheek with her index finger and laughed sheepishly.
"Ehehe… I'm lost actually. I wanted to ask you for directions, but you seemed so engrossed in your sword practice and I thought I shouldn't interrupt," She put her hands behind her back and leaned in closer to observe his features, "This is a wonderful place, I feel so comfortable just being here. Do you come here often?"
He seems lonely…
Setsuna took a step back from her approach and turned away to avoid looking into her eyes directly, only to feel the heat return to his cheeks again and his heart beat faster than it was.
"O-O-Only when I have the time to," He stuttered and fell on his bottom when she took another step forward. Setsuna knocked his head lightly with his fist and mentally scolded himself for losing balance while muttering something under his breath repeatedly.
What a cute and interesting person…
"Ah! That's right! Otou-san is waiting for me at home! Ne, Secchan, do you know the way out? I was taking a stroll in the forest and then I saw a really cute monkey in the trees so I tried to follow it but by the time I looked back I simply could not remember which way I came from because all the trees look almost the same and now Otou-san must be worried for me! What should I do? What should I do? What should I do?" She panicked and looked around her frantically.
What a weird and energetic girl…
Her words died in the background as he raised his eyebrows and scrutinized the mysterious girl whom he had just met and gave him a nickname which nobody else would dared to address him by, lost in his own thoughts about how strange she is. He was soon jolted out of his thoughts by a sudden outburst of "That's it!" right in his ear.
"Secchan, do you know the way out? Is it too much of a trouble for you if you led the way for me?" She frowned and rested her chin on her fingers as if thinking deeply.
He grunted and sighed, "I'll lead the way. Follow me."
-----
"Setsu-kun, you're back!" A high pitched happy shriek sounded in his ears, and soon, a breath seizing hug followed shortly after. He sighed.
"Get off, Azusa."
"I get it, you must be shy!" The brunette giggled and attached herself onto his arm.
Setsuna quickly brushed the person off his shoulders and back and continued walking towards his room. The journey to his room was torturous and painful due to the happy and annoying chirping brunette who was clinging onto his aching arm, attaching herself to him. This was why he didn't want to return home. She was the reason that he didn't want to be here. He was dead tired, from sword practice and the meeting with the council didn't go as well as it was planned.
"Azusa, leave me alone. Please." He pulled away from her grip and walked into his room. When will she ever give up? He had no right to love anybody, not even a woman like her. He carefully set Yuunagi standing against the wall walked towards the bathroom. He removed his clothes when he entered the bathroom and stepped into the shower, memories of the past meetings flowing vividly into his mind.
"Why?! This will benefit the people, why can't you just understand what I'm trying to do for the people?!" He stood abruptly from his chair, slamming both his hands onto the table.
Feeling the cold water on his pale skin, he sighed. He seemed to sigh a lot recently, he noticed. Especially after his meetings with the council, only to have his policies rejected one after another. There's only two years to go, two years before he loses his freedom completely.
"You've not matured enough, young man. Politics is not as easy as it seems. By lowering the taxes for the people, we will have no money to prepare for war. The Mahorians are beginning to attack their neighboring countries, they will reach us soon. It has become even more chaotic after the siege of Mahora castle sixteen years ago. We will need the taxes as military funds in order to protect our land," the old man replied calmly, joining his hands together.
What the elder said wasn't wrong, but the people are suffering because of the wars going on and it even came to a point where the people could afford the taxes no longer. He gritted his teeth and punched the wall. If only… If only he could do something to help them…
"Without the people, there wouldn't be a country! Don't you understand? They are suffering because of us! The taxes are too much a burden for the poorer families. Have you ever spared a thought for those people with big families? They need the money to support their families!" He raised his voice louder to emphasize his point.
"That is enough! We will not implement the tax reduction. The council's decision is final. That is all for our meeting today," the old man stood from his seat, slowly gathering his documents before leaving the room.
Drying himself off, he slumped onto the fluffy white sheets and frowned deeply. How he wished that those problems he had could be solved easily. His mind soon drifted off to the girl whom he had just met earlier. That girl… She seemed so lively and energetic all the time. She was everything he wasn't. She was everything that he had hoped to be. Being free of these chains, like a bird which soars high and free in the skies. But most importantly, she was being herself. There was no sign of pretence in her actions and words. Every single word she said and thing she did came from the heart.
Everyone wanted to be in his place, he had a life which everyone would die for. He had everything; brains, looks, wealth, athletic abilities, and a beautiful fiancée whom any man would die for, and yet, all he ever truly wanted was a simple, peaceful life filled with love and happiness. He had never felt this empty before, not until he met her. It was then that he realized that he had been nothing but an empty shell, void of most emotions, living a life full of lies. He himself was the biggest lie ever. He buried his face into the pillows and shut his eyes tight.
I… want to meet her once again…
-----
He sat at the base of the tree and leaned against the trunk while he waited patiently.
Setsuna closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of nature.
He wasn't even sure if she would come by again today, or even appear at all in future. So why was he waiting? What was he hoping for anyway?
Soft footsteps interrupted his thoughts and he lifted his head, his sepia eyes meeting Konoka's chocolate orbs.
"So… I take it that you have the time to come here today?"
"I…" His mouth moved, but no words came.
He flushed.
And she smiled.
End of Chapter
Akira: Okay… now that we're reached the end of the chapter… This chapter's a little weird actually. I don't know why but, I've got a feeling that it doesn't flow. It must be because Furu-chan's not here to help -sobs- She's such a great writer and helper! -bawls even louder- I'm writing this in a bad writer's block condition, so… I don't expect it to be any good either. Gomen ne. But I hope you had fun reading it or something. Please review and tell me what you think ne? (I feel that this chapter isn't as good as the prologue since Furu-chan's not here to save me from my horrible writing. :( )