Records of the Heart
Chapter 1: The Ace of Swords
Was time ever kind? Did the heart always follow the mind's rule? Fate... it is a dangerous thing. Don't ever try to control it. Don't. It will thwart you, no matter what you do. You are only the slave. Listen to it. Follow it. Give suggestions; speak, o curious one! Whatever you like you may do... but always listen to it. And yield.
* * * * *
"Ho, there! Alabaster, halt!" Giving the worn leather reins in his hand a tug, the pale, mysterious stranger issued a quiet command to his lean white stallion. Shidou Hikaru peeked out from behind a half-closed wooden shutter. Her flyaway, flaming, crimson hair whipped about her as a breeze picked up and a storm threatened to drop a visit. Silent, she gazed with youthful interest at the handsome young man. He was of slim build, strong-looking yet not bulky at all. Tall, too, he stood straight and determined. Thin hair, so pale it appeared to be white, graced his head. It was short and ended nearly at the bottom of his ears. Shining golden eyes flashed out unwaveringly at his surroundings and at those who were staring at him. So serious he seemed that Hikaru had the feeling that he was a stern miser. But that moment was fleeting, for the young man suddenly smiled. It was a warm, generous smile that displayed a happy, almost softhearted interior. Hikaru couldn't help but give off a grin herself.
"What brings you here, traveler?" The owner of the inn, a portly, bearded man, inquired of the new arrival. "On a day such as this, what could one such as yourself be doing here? And who are you?"
"My name is not important. What you need to know is the fact that I would like to stay at your inn for two days. I have important business to attend to. Is that all right?" With a kindly voice and the matching expression on his face, the visitor answered the owner's question bluntly.
"Of course, of course!" He quickly ushered the stranger inside before commanding a scrawny stable boy to attend to Alabaster.
Hikaru smiled. She liked the new arrival. Thus, after tossing on a soft leather tunic that was of a deep auburn-russet color decorated with simple gold buttons, pulling on a pair of matching breeches, and a loose, stark white blouse, she rushed downstairs for breakfast... and for a better look at the young man.
"You look like a lad," a squat, stout young boy remarked upon seeing Hikaru fly down the steep oaken stairs. "Are you really a lass?"
"Yes, I'm a lass, Aki," Hikaru laughed before grabbing a steaming roll from a woven basket on the table nearest her. "I may look like a lad, but in fact I'm a lass!"
"Well, why don't you dress like all the other ladies your age?"
"I may be sixteen winters old, but that still doesn't mean I must wear ball gowns like the rest of them! Besides, this attire is suitable for my mission."
"Mission...?!"
"Yes, mission, Aki. But it's private, sorry." By then Hikaru was nearly finished with her food. To her disappointment, she had not caught a sight of the handsome young stranger anywhere while she ate. She was nearly about to leave for her rooms again when a flash of white hair, a large, elaborate brocaded dove-colored overcoat, and black leather boots regained her sharp attention.
"Excuse me, sir? Excuse me?" Hikaru ran towards the man, who had appeared not to see her. She bumped into several others before reaching him. "I'm Shidou Hikaru!" Offering him her hand, a warm and congenial smile broke out across her face. "I'd like to get to know you, sir."
"Why, I am honored by your attention, miss." With that, he bent down towards her and kissed her hand. Hikaru blushed. "I am Eagle."
"Eagle..." Hikaru was a bit perplexed. She was so positive that she had heard the name somewhere... "Well, may I ask what brings you here?"
Eagle offered no answer, but a question in return. "Would you tell me what brings a lone girl like yourself here?"
"Er... it's quite private... a mission, to put it in simplest terms."
"I as well."
Silence stretched out between the two of them as each waited for the other to speak. Finally, Hikaru said, "Well, Eagle, sir, I shall be going now. I have charts to do."
"Charts?" Eagle echoed. "You are rather young, if you do not mind my saying so. You seem to me a lass with many talents."
"Well... I have maps to check and charts to calculate. They're necessary for me to get to my destination, Cephiro Palace." Immediately Hikaru placed her hands over her mouth, realizing what she'd just said.
"It's all right. Don't worry about it. I am going there as well."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to leave you, Hikaru, miss, but I must be getting back. I have messages to write." He gave a deep bow before he left. Hikaru watched after him curiously. He's an interesting one, she thought.
* * * * *
"Umi! I am so pleased to see that you have arrived!" A short man with sharp lavender hair rushed forward to receive a slender, lovely female on a jet-black mare. His long, silvery silk cloak whipped about him as the wind danced violently. "What an awful wind! I'm surprised to see that you were even able to reach here so soon. Neither Fuu nor Hikaru have arrived yet."
"Clef, you wouldn't believe what I had to endure! Bandits, thieves, rogues, and all those other ruffians alike! I encountered so many of them I'm ready to collapse. Thank God you and Mokona gave me magic." Umi tiredly slid down from her horse and handed the frosty white reins to a groom who was by her side immediately. "Do attend to Twilight, would you?" She then slowly followed Clef into a large palace that was so beautiful and extraordinary it was a masterpiece of architecture.
"Welcome to Cephiro Palace, Umi." Umi looked around quickly for the speaker. It certainly wasn't Clef. Then she saw him.
"Do you like it?" A tall, thin young man dressed in an outfit of forest green with large, thin chestnut-brown bangs covering his eyes stepped from the shadows into the light of the bright ocher torches. Rushing forward to embrace him, Umi gasped with sudden ecstasy and energy, "Ascot!!!"
"I knew you'd come, Umi," Ascot murmured into Umi's ear as the two of them held each other close. "I knew you would come to help us."
Author's note: In tarot cards, the ace of air symbolizes "beginnings, the arrival of something new and untempered" and "the mind and intellect, communicating, and conflict". See how it blends with this chapter?
My 2nd MKR fic... I wonder how you peeps like it... and don't get all complainy with me - "You've changed nearly everything" and the sort... IT'S AN AU FIC!! IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE DIFFERENCES! Sorry, I know none of you are this dumb... ^_^; I just wanted to prove a point. So... reviews? I'd like constructive criticism - but please don't flame me.
Chapter 1: The Ace of Swords
Was time ever kind? Did the heart always follow the mind's rule? Fate... it is a dangerous thing. Don't ever try to control it. Don't. It will thwart you, no matter what you do. You are only the slave. Listen to it. Follow it. Give suggestions; speak, o curious one! Whatever you like you may do... but always listen to it. And yield.
* * * * *
"Ho, there! Alabaster, halt!" Giving the worn leather reins in his hand a tug, the pale, mysterious stranger issued a quiet command to his lean white stallion. Shidou Hikaru peeked out from behind a half-closed wooden shutter. Her flyaway, flaming, crimson hair whipped about her as a breeze picked up and a storm threatened to drop a visit. Silent, she gazed with youthful interest at the handsome young man. He was of slim build, strong-looking yet not bulky at all. Tall, too, he stood straight and determined. Thin hair, so pale it appeared to be white, graced his head. It was short and ended nearly at the bottom of his ears. Shining golden eyes flashed out unwaveringly at his surroundings and at those who were staring at him. So serious he seemed that Hikaru had the feeling that he was a stern miser. But that moment was fleeting, for the young man suddenly smiled. It was a warm, generous smile that displayed a happy, almost softhearted interior. Hikaru couldn't help but give off a grin herself.
"What brings you here, traveler?" The owner of the inn, a portly, bearded man, inquired of the new arrival. "On a day such as this, what could one such as yourself be doing here? And who are you?"
"My name is not important. What you need to know is the fact that I would like to stay at your inn for two days. I have important business to attend to. Is that all right?" With a kindly voice and the matching expression on his face, the visitor answered the owner's question bluntly.
"Of course, of course!" He quickly ushered the stranger inside before commanding a scrawny stable boy to attend to Alabaster.
Hikaru smiled. She liked the new arrival. Thus, after tossing on a soft leather tunic that was of a deep auburn-russet color decorated with simple gold buttons, pulling on a pair of matching breeches, and a loose, stark white blouse, she rushed downstairs for breakfast... and for a better look at the young man.
"You look like a lad," a squat, stout young boy remarked upon seeing Hikaru fly down the steep oaken stairs. "Are you really a lass?"
"Yes, I'm a lass, Aki," Hikaru laughed before grabbing a steaming roll from a woven basket on the table nearest her. "I may look like a lad, but in fact I'm a lass!"
"Well, why don't you dress like all the other ladies your age?"
"I may be sixteen winters old, but that still doesn't mean I must wear ball gowns like the rest of them! Besides, this attire is suitable for my mission."
"Mission...?!"
"Yes, mission, Aki. But it's private, sorry." By then Hikaru was nearly finished with her food. To her disappointment, she had not caught a sight of the handsome young stranger anywhere while she ate. She was nearly about to leave for her rooms again when a flash of white hair, a large, elaborate brocaded dove-colored overcoat, and black leather boots regained her sharp attention.
"Excuse me, sir? Excuse me?" Hikaru ran towards the man, who had appeared not to see her. She bumped into several others before reaching him. "I'm Shidou Hikaru!" Offering him her hand, a warm and congenial smile broke out across her face. "I'd like to get to know you, sir."
"Why, I am honored by your attention, miss." With that, he bent down towards her and kissed her hand. Hikaru blushed. "I am Eagle."
"Eagle..." Hikaru was a bit perplexed. She was so positive that she had heard the name somewhere... "Well, may I ask what brings you here?"
Eagle offered no answer, but a question in return. "Would you tell me what brings a lone girl like yourself here?"
"Er... it's quite private... a mission, to put it in simplest terms."
"I as well."
Silence stretched out between the two of them as each waited for the other to speak. Finally, Hikaru said, "Well, Eagle, sir, I shall be going now. I have charts to do."
"Charts?" Eagle echoed. "You are rather young, if you do not mind my saying so. You seem to me a lass with many talents."
"Well... I have maps to check and charts to calculate. They're necessary for me to get to my destination, Cephiro Palace." Immediately Hikaru placed her hands over her mouth, realizing what she'd just said.
"It's all right. Don't worry about it. I am going there as well."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to leave you, Hikaru, miss, but I must be getting back. I have messages to write." He gave a deep bow before he left. Hikaru watched after him curiously. He's an interesting one, she thought.
* * * * *
"Umi! I am so pleased to see that you have arrived!" A short man with sharp lavender hair rushed forward to receive a slender, lovely female on a jet-black mare. His long, silvery silk cloak whipped about him as the wind danced violently. "What an awful wind! I'm surprised to see that you were even able to reach here so soon. Neither Fuu nor Hikaru have arrived yet."
"Clef, you wouldn't believe what I had to endure! Bandits, thieves, rogues, and all those other ruffians alike! I encountered so many of them I'm ready to collapse. Thank God you and Mokona gave me magic." Umi tiredly slid down from her horse and handed the frosty white reins to a groom who was by her side immediately. "Do attend to Twilight, would you?" She then slowly followed Clef into a large palace that was so beautiful and extraordinary it was a masterpiece of architecture.
"Welcome to Cephiro Palace, Umi." Umi looked around quickly for the speaker. It certainly wasn't Clef. Then she saw him.
"Do you like it?" A tall, thin young man dressed in an outfit of forest green with large, thin chestnut-brown bangs covering his eyes stepped from the shadows into the light of the bright ocher torches. Rushing forward to embrace him, Umi gasped with sudden ecstasy and energy, "Ascot!!!"
"I knew you'd come, Umi," Ascot murmured into Umi's ear as the two of them held each other close. "I knew you would come to help us."
Author's note: In tarot cards, the ace of air symbolizes "beginnings, the arrival of something new and untempered" and "the mind and intellect, communicating, and conflict". See how it blends with this chapter?
My 2nd MKR fic... I wonder how you peeps like it... and don't get all complainy with me - "You've changed nearly everything" and the sort... IT'S AN AU FIC!! IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE DIFFERENCES! Sorry, I know none of you are this dumb... ^_^; I just wanted to prove a point. So... reviews? I'd like constructive criticism - but please don't flame me.