Chapter 4: Back in the Past
"So Konoka, what do you think about Setsuki?" Konoe Eishun grinned at his daughter.
Konoka was on the worry side. Her hands were grasped on her chest and her heart seems to never stop beating fast. Eishun's question didn't have a reply. He waited for a few seconds before asking his daughter again.
"Konoka," Eishun called out to her to make sure she was aware that her father was speaking to her.
Upon hearing her name, Konoka turned around to her father and gave him divided attention. She was still thinking about Setsuna and Setsuki. "Y-yes, father?"
"What do you think about Setsuki?" Eishun repeated his question from earlier.
From hearing the name Setsuki, her mind was now focused on the conversation.
"He became a good prince," Konoka replied, not getting the exact point of the question. A thought then struck in Konoka's mind, 'The next time I come back, and when I have become a good prince, I will come back asking for your hand in marriage.'
"I mean, is he good for you?" Eishun tried to let Konoka understand more of what he was asking.
"What do you mean, father?" Konoka paid attention to her father again, or at least she tried to.
Eishun sighed. He really didn't want to say this straight out but there was no choice since Konoka really didn't understand what was the point here.
"Is he good enough to become your future husband?"
Konoka paused for a minute and became a little nervous.
"Father…I…," Konoka was still being undecided.
A young man then entered the room, "I'm back."
"Welcome back, Setsuki-kun," Eishun greeted him.
Konoka turned around to face Setsuki. He smiled at Konoka, reminding her of Setsuna's smile. Her heart, then once again, skipped a beat.
"I'm back, Kono-chan."
"Welcome back, Set-kun!"
'Setsuna, just watch, I won't loose to you!'
Sakurazaki was finally able to rest in her futon. She laid her Yunagi right next to her, being protective just as always. Her mind was now full of thoughts of Konoka and Setsuki.
'What's with Setsuki? I was certain he gave me a weird look back there. That look and that tone of voice, it was just exactly like back then…', Setsuna thought, having one arm covering her view. She closed her eyes and remember how she and Konoka met Ichikawa Setsuki.
…Flashback…
"Secchan, catch this okay!?" Konoka lifted the paddle as the ball came at her. She hit it toward the shorter little girl with raven hair standing across from her.
"Okay, here I come-" The raven hair girl tried to hit the ball but missed terribly, causing it to land on her head. She placed her hands on her head, trying to ease the pain. Konoka then ran up to her dropping her paddle on the snow.
"Secchan! Are you okay?! Does it hurt?!" Konoka tried to help Setsuna up.
"I'm okay, don't worry about me, Kono-chan," Even though Setsuna said that, there was a small little tear on the edge of her eye.
"Let's stop playing for today," Konoka said picking up the paddles and the ball. Setsuna just merely nodded. Together, they headed back to the castle, Konoka's home.
"How do you feel now, Secchan?" Konoka turned to ask Setsuna when they got inside.
"Better. Thanks for asking, Kono-chan," Setsuna smiled at her princess. Konoka can't help but smile back at her guardian.
"Let me go get water for the both of us okay?" Konoka dashed to the kitchen.
"Wait, Kono-chan! Let me do it!" Setsuna yelled out but it was too late because Konoka already left.
Konoka headed to the kitchen. The water was a bit too high for her to reach. She stood on a chair, not knowing how dangerous that was for a kid like her, and took the water in her hand. She jumped off but accidently slipped.
"Ah!" Konoka yelped out. She closed her eyes and thought that she would feel some sort of pain but when she opened them, she was caught and saved. She looked up to see who caught her and that caught a bit of her attention.
"Are you okay?" The savior asked.
"Secchan!? Why are you here? I thought I told you to wait for me back there!" Konoka paused and look at the savior once again. "Hey, did you have a change of clothes? And did you just cut your hair just now?"
The savior, who Konoka called "Secchan", looked at her oddly.
"Um, sorry, but what did you call me just now?" The savior asked in a confused way.
Konoka was confused also.
"What are you saying, Secchan…?"
Just then, a voice coming toward the kitchen called out, "Setsuki-sama!"
"I'm over here!" The savior called out.
'Setsuki…?'
A lady in a maid outfit approached the two of them, who were on the floor with 'Setsuki' holding onto Konoka.
"What happened here, Setsuki-sama!?" She asked panicking, not knowing what to do.
"It's nothing, Oshiba-san," 'Setsuki' answered then looked at Konoka again. "Um, could you please get up…?" 'Setsuki' tried to ask politely. Konoka was in a trance but got up.
"The king wish to see you, Setsuki-sama."
"Okay, I'll be there right away. Go there first," The maid bowed then left.
"Hey, next time be careful, okay?" 'Setsuki' smiled then left, following the direction where the lady headed to. Konoka could feel her heart beat faster when the savior smiled.
'W-wha-what is going on here!?'
Konoka was able to got back safely, without tripping this time. From a few feet away, she could see her small little guardian playing with a bird.
"Kono-chan is sure taking a long time…" Setsuna got up and turned around to see a dazed out Konoka. "Kono-chan!" She happily walked up to her and called out the princess's name, "Oi, Kono-chan..." Setsuna tried waving in front of Konoka's face to get her attention, but it was no use. Setsuna decided to block Konoka's path by standing in front of her. She placed her hands on Konoka's shoulders and yelled out the princess' name, "KONO-CHAN!"
Konoka broke out of her daydreaming and paid attention to the one who called out her name.
"Oh, Secchan, what's the matter-" When Konoka realized who she was talking to, she did the same thing Setsuna just did a few seconds ago, just a bit louder, "SECCHAN!?"
Setsuna was surprised at the sudden shout at her name. "Y-yes, what is it Kono-chan?" She rubbed her ears trying to get back her hearing senses.
"Weren't you in the kitchen a minute ago!?" Konoka began getting even more confuse than ever.
"Wha-what? You told me to wait here so I did."
"So who was that back there!?"
"Who are you talking about? Are you okay Kono-chan?"
"Back there in the kitchen, I fell and someone caught me. That person looks exactly like you!" Konoka exclaimed.
"Kono-chan, you're not serious are you. Did you see wrong?" The young knight said doubting her princess's words.
"Your face is the most memorable one in my head, of course I wouldn't see wrong!"
Setsuna blushed and felt a little happiness in her heart when Konoka said her face was the most memorable.
"Well there can't be two me's. And I don't remember having a twin."
"But-" Konoka was cut by a voice who called out to her.
"Konoka-ojou-sama, the king wish to speak with you and Sakurazaki-chan at the Imperial Hall," Konoka's maid announced to the two kids.
"Yes, we'll be there right away," Setsuna replied for both Konoka and her. "Come on, Kono-chan, stop thinking nonsense and let's go meet your father," Setsuna grabbed Konoka's hand and dragged her along to the Imperial Hall.
When the two of them got to the Emperial Hall, they couldn't believe who was in front of them. Konoka's savior, and the one with the same face as Setsuna.
"Master Eishun, why is there a mirror in front of me?" Setsuna was freaked out, for she could not accept what her eyes saw. Konoe Eishun laughed politely.
"Setsuna, believe it or not but what your eyes see are not lies. Therefore the person in front of you is real, not a reflection of yourself," Eishun explained thoroughly.
Konoka was surprised and excited to see two people with the same faces. She ran over to the one who looked like Setsuna and grabbed the person's hands. Setsuna snapped back to reality and stare at Konoka.
"Hey, what's your name!?" Konoka asked cheerfully, with the eyes of glittery excitement. The person was surprised at the sudden grasp, while Setsuna just stood there staring at them uncomfortably.
"Um, it's Ichikawa Setsuki," The person replied with a little bit of nervousness because of how close Konoka was.
Konoka pondered for a bit then spoke up again, "I thought I heard that name somewhere before."
"You did Konoka. Ichikawa Setsuki is the prince of our neighboring country."
Both Konoka and Setsuna's attention were suddenly drawn towards Setsuki.
"Prince, so that means…," Setsuna began saying while slowly approaching Setsuki, "you're a boy!?" Konoka finished Setsuna's line for her.
"Um, yes," Setsuki replied with discomfort for Konoka was getting closer by the minute. 'I don't see how I look like a girl…'
Anyone would be surprise for Setsuki has such a beauty like that of a girl, or another way to say it, like Setsuna's. He had beautiful black raven hair, soft pale skin, and "seductive" looking eyes that could make anyone fluster.
Setsuna was also uncomfortable seeing her princess being close with some boy they just met. She approached Konoka and dragged her away from Setsuki, in a way that didn't cause pain to her Ojou-sama. Setsuki, while no one was looking, winked at Setsuna and mouthed, "Thank you." Setsuna merely ignored him out of bad mood because of what Konoka did.
Setsuki then turned to Konoka and asked for her name, "Excuse me, will you grant me the honor of knowing your name?" and because of this gentle gesture of greeting and that face caused Konoka to blushed hard.
"Y-yes. My name is Konoe Konoka," Now it was Konoka's turn to feel nervous. Setsuna's chest tighten, she couldn't stand the sight of those two smiling at each other.
"So you are the Princess Konoka? You're really beautiful, princess," Setsuki lifted Konoka's hand and kissed it softly, something a gentleman would do. He smiled at her with a gentle smile. Konoka blushed harder and she tried to cover it with her other free hand. There were only two reasons Konoka would blush. One, she was being kissed by a handsome prince, Setsuki, or two, the fact his face resemble her knight was the cause of this.
Setsuna, once again, felt uneasy by the atmosphere, the glittery scene of a prince and a princess. Setsuna was about to walk away when her Master, Eishun, started introducing her to Setsuki.
"And this girl over here is Sakurazaki Setsuna. She's a Shinmeiryu warrior, as well. I was surprised to see how much you two look alike," The king led out a small laugh.
Setsuki dropped Konoka's hand gently and walked over to Setsuna, who still seemed a bit ticked off. He raised his hand toward Setsuna, asking for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Setsuna-chan," He smiled again, as though it was a habit or something he just feel like doing.
'Why does his smile seems so fake…?'
"Nice to meet you, too, Ichikawa-san," Setsuna politely shook Setsuki's hand but quickly let go.
"It's getting dark, Konoka and Setsuna, you two should head back to your room,"
"Yes, master," Setsuna bowed to Eishun and Setsuki. She grabbed Konoka's hand and started dragging her toward the exit.
'Why is Secchan in such a rush?' Konoka ask herself ask she was being dragged away.
'Why does it hurts so much…' Setsuna had one hand dragging Konoka while the other holding onto her chest.
"I'll head back as well. Excuse me," Setsuki also bowed at Eishun and started walking along side with the other two kids. He quickly walked past Setsuna and whispered something silently so only Setsuna and he would hear. "So I guess…you're the one I'm going against, Sakurazaki Setsuna."
Setsuna shuddered at the cold tone of voice and looked at Setsuki, as he gave her a death stare only she would see.
'What's with him…?'
It was night time when the two children began to sleep next to each other. They awaited for everyone to exit the room before they had a night time chat.
"Hey, Secchan, are you sure you don't have a twin?" Konoka poked Setsuna who turned the other way facing her back against Konoka.
"Yea, positive. Why, Kono-chan?" Setsuna turned to face her princess when she was called.
"Set-kun looks a lot like you! Almost like a reflection," Konoka said cheerfully.
Setsuna's chest tighten when she heard Konoka called the boy's name as if he was really close.
"Since when you started to call him that…?" Setsuna whispered.
"Just now! I think it would be a good nickname for him," Konoka exclaimed, almost too loud.
"Kono-chan," Setsuna called out her princess's name.
"Yes, what is it, Secchan?"
"There is something wrong with that boy, be careful around him okay?"
"You're being way to cautious again, Secchan. Let's just sleep now," Konoka hugged Setsuna closer to her, but Setsuna was too busy thinking about Setsuki to even paid attention to that. A few minutes later, they both fell asleep soundly.
…13 Months Later…
"Do you have to really leave, Set-kun?!" Konoka tugged Setsuki who was carrying packs of luggage.
"I'm sorry, Kono-chan, I have to leave to study abroad or there may be no chance later on. I'll come back. I promise," Setsuki smiled leaving his luggage down for a second to hug Konoka.
"Young Master, we have to get going. The train will leave soon," A butler beside Setsuki reminded him.
"Yes," Setsuki released Konoka but she refused to let him go.
Setsuna approached the two of them and patted Konoka. "You should let him go, Kono-chan," Konoka led go of Setsuki and wiped her tears.
"You promise you'd come back?" Konoka asked, shedding tears once again.
"Yes, I promise," Setsuki began to leave. He left his packed stuffs in the wagon and whispered something to his butler. The butler then headed on first while Setsuki ran back quickly to Konoka.
Konoka looked up to see Setsuki approaching her. He grabbed her arm and landed a small kiss on her forehead. Konoka was surprised to point she stopped crying. Setsuna just stood there, speechless at the scene. She didn't know what to do, no… she can't do anything. Setsuna knew she didn't have the right to do anything.
"I like you Kono-chan. The next time I come back, and when I have become a good prince, I will come back asking for your hand in marriage," Setsuki smiled for the last time until they meet again. He walked over to Setsuna and whispered something in her ears, "I'm one step ahead of you, Setsuna." Setsuna was shocked at the last words. Setsuki was finally satisfied then left on the wagon as it trailed away to a far away country.
The two girls stood there frozen in thoughts. Konoka's heart was beating fast while Setsuna's heart could only feel pain. In the mind flowed only with Setsuki's words.
'Set-kun like me?!'
'One step ahead…What did he mean by that…? His voice sounds scary, almost not like the usual Setsuki. '
The next time the princess and the knight meet the prince would be a unpredictable story.
…End of Flashback…
Haha...I think I rushed in this chapter a bit ^^;
Well, at least you get to know more about Prince Setsuki, haha.
Please review! I want to hear everyone's opinion when they read this. (Even about Setsuki XD)
The next chapter may have a cliffhanger fufufufu ----evil laughter lol
Once again, I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING OF NEGIMA!
-Seiren
