An Old Love
Written by: delusional_lady
Disclaimer: Inoue Takehiko owns SD.
A/N: Still SenKosh. Baby, feed me reviews.
Chapter 2: A Stranger in the Land
Koshino woke up. It was still dark outside. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was only four in the morning. No one else should be awake at this hour. Putting on a robe, he slipped on his slippers and left his room. He had wanted to explore the whole castle but did not get a chance yesterday as he was so tired and all. Right now, he was on the second floor of the castle. There were two more floors above before the towers. Ayako had mentioned that they held nothing much of interest. The two floors simply housed guestrooms, conference rooms... However, the towers were really quite something.
"The towers, huh.. I guess they should be my first destination." Koshino said to himself as he wandered around the corridor to search for the stairs. The castle was shaped in a square form. The four corners had their own towers. To get to the towers, one must find the stairs located at every corner of the square. Koshino found one easily enough. He climbed the stone steps and reached the first tower.
The view from the first tower was breath taking. It overlooked the beauty of the cliff he had stopped by yesterday. The writer felt a desire to return to the cliff again. "Perhaps I might even bring the writing materials along.." He thought to himself, feeling that the cliff would be a perfect spot to write his new novel. There was even a Sakura tree for him to lean back on.
The second tower overlooked the mountains. It was a lonely sight but Koshino felt like the sadness would be good if he was ever to reach an angsty climax in his work. There was a lone eagle circling the pointed peaks. "Sigh.. Too much depression. I certainly don't need that so early in the morning.."
The third and fourth tower was unusually locked. Koshino wondered why the caretakers have not unlocked them. He was curious and decided that he would ask Ayako about it later. Meanwhile, Koshino decided that a proper breakfast was in order. A breakfast in the nearest town that is. He wanted to see how the people lived and if they knew something about the castle. With a place as old as this, there's bound to be rumors, stories, and hopefully.. truths.
"Master Koshino, what are you doing up so early?" Hikoichi asked. He was already having breakfast in the dining hall with Ayako sitting beside him. The maid started to rise from her seat but Koshino signaled her to stay seated. He had almost forgotten that his young assistant was an early worm. Perhaps Ayako was too. "I have decided to go to the nearest town. Hikoichi, are you fine staying here?" Koshino asked, already knowing the answer.
"Hai, Koshino-sempai. I'll be fine here. I was just telling Ayako about some of your works and a few of what I've tried." Hikoichi said. The writer nodded his head in satisfaction, pleased that Hikoichi was not bored. It was good that he and Ayako get along. "I'll be leaving now. I'll call if there's any trouble."
Koshino took his car and drove away from the castle. The nearest town was an hour's drive away from the castle. It wasn't so bad. He turned on his vehicle's CD player and listened to the instrumental sountrack of Inuyasha. As he passed by the cliff, Koshino's eyes caught a shadow lurking around. Surprised, he stopped the car and walked towards te cliff. Indeed, there was someone there.
He was a spiky-haired lad. Koshino felt the urge to laugh but kept it in. The young man was pale beyond comparison. He was kneeling in front of the Sakura tree, white lily flowers in hand. "Excuse me, who are you?" Koshino asked. The stranger looked up and the writer gasped. This guy was handsome. Something in him struck a chord inside Koshino.
"Sendoh. Sendoh Akira." The spiky-haired lad answered a grin on his face. The two shook hands and Koshino decided to delay his trip to town for a while. "I'm sorry if I'm tresspassing or anything. I was just offering flowers." Sendoh explained. Koshino glanced at the flowers with a puzzled expression. "You're offering flowers? May I know the reason why?"
The look on Sendoh's face softened and his grin became a wistful smile. "It's a long story, Koshino. A very long and sad story.." Koshino's eyes stared at the flowers for a while before making a decision. "I'm heading for town. Do you want to join me?" Sendoh's eyes sparkled and he nodded his head enthusiastically. "That would be great!"
The journey for town was fun. Sendoh kept making him laugh. No one had been able to make him laugh so hard before. Sure Hikoichi was fun to be with but with Sendoh, Koshino felt like he was contended. He felt like he could not want anything more.
"We're here already." Sendoh remarked as he got out of the car. Koshino nodded and looked around. The whole place was antique! He seriosuly doubted if they even knew electricity. "Do you know where we could get breakfast? I'll treat you!" Koshino remarked. Sendoh grinned seductively. "Is this a date?" The young millionaire blushed. "What?! Of course not! Baka Sendoh!"
The spiky-haired lad gave a hearty chuckle and led Koshino to a nearby restaurant. Yes, they do have electricity around. The place had good lighting and the kitchen was modernized. It wasn't as modern as those in the city but this was fine.
After ordering their meal, Koshino studied his companion's face. Sendoh was wonderful. He was a bit attracted to the man but that was all. He didn't think he was gay since he never looked at another man in the romantic way. He had his share of women and there was Cassie. "I'm just observant, that's all." Koshino thought to himself.
Breakfast was scrumptious! "Do you wanna see the other parts of town? There are a lot of antique shops around here!" Sendoh remarked. Koshino nodded his head. He liked antiques. Perhaps he could even find paintings hanging around here somewhere.
Meanwhile, Hikoichi and Ayako were hanging out at the castle gardens.
"This is some place Koshino-sama has! I can't believe this is his first time in the castle. He seems to know his way around, don't you think?" Hikoichi remarked, his voice full of energy. "It is his heart that remembers the way." Ayako said softly, looking at the sky. "Wha?" Hikoichi asked.
Ayako averted his gaze to her young companion. "Hikoichi, do you know the story of this castle?"
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"There are a lot of vases and murals around here but nothing that really captures my eye.." Koshino remarked as they visited one place to another. Sendoh grinned and stretched his arms. "Ah well, there are other places..." He suggested. Koshino shook his head and declared that he wanted to go home.
"I am expecting some appliances to arrive and I need to be there when they come." Koshino explained. "Perhaps we can continue this tour some other time." He added. Sendoh nodded his head. "Tomorrow if you're not busy. I would like to show you the woods."
Koshino stayed silent for a moment as he contemplated the idea. He had just met Sendoh today. Would it be fine if he joined the man tomorrow? "Daijobou Koshino.. There are no harmful animals around. Besides, I'll be here to protect you!" Sendoh kidded. "Nani?! I am not afraid of the woods!" Koshino argued. "Fine, I'll go!" And Sendoh smiled.
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"The story of the castle?" Hikoichi asked, his eyes large in wonder. A beeping noise outside interrupted them. Ayako hurried to the gates and saw a huge truck parked outside. "Ah, Koshino-sempai's orders have arrived." Hikoichi remarked, hurrying over to the driver.
By the time Koshino reached home, it was already past lunch. He had passed the delivery man on the way to the castle. "Good afternoon. Is everything here?" He asked. Ayako nodded and gave him the receipt. He had not been charged for the delivery. "Consider it a gift." Koshino said, reading Maki's writing. Hikoichi had already installed some of the appliances. The television was in fine and working order.
"I guess you're going to get your daily dose of anime again." Koshino remarked, smirking at his apprentice. "Yeah, I get my inspiration from them!" The other lad exclaimed. The writer sighed and shook his head. "Perhaps you should have been born a cartoonist." He muttered to himself before climbing up to the first tower.
He had offered Sendoh a ride home but the lad had requested to be dropped off by the cliff. As he reached the first tower, he was greeted by the sight of the cliff and the Sakura tree. Astonishingly, there was no man. Koshino squinted his eyes but he could not see anybody. It was highly odd that anyone could leave in such a hurry when walking. Koshino examined the environment but could not see anyone walking around. A morbid thought struck him.
What if Sendoh fell off the cliff?!
It had started to snow. Koshino rushed right back down. He did not even stop to eat the late lunch Ayako had prepared for him. "Hikoichi, come with me now!" He shouted. Hikoichi turned off the television and followed his master's commands without question. Koshino drove back to the cliff and told Hikoichi to look for any signs of life. The young apprentice was confused but started digging around the snow for a body. The snow had started falling down fast and a snowstorm might be arriving.
While Hikoichi looked around, Koshino held his breath and decided to look over the cliff. He prayed hard that he would not find anything there. He leaned forward and sighed in relief. Yes, there was no body. Unfortunately, he failed to notice that his right foot was trapped under a twig. As he stood up, he tripped and almost fell. Luckily, his hand caught on one tree branch that was hanging about the cliff.
Hikoichi heard his master calling for help and panicked. "Koshino-sempai!! Omigod, sempai!!!!" Hikoichi shouted as he reached for his master. The snow was too slippery but he was determined to save his sempai. He leaned forward to grab Koshino's hand.
Alas, the law of gravity.. Hikoichi was just too light and did not have the strength to pull his master up. The gravity was pulling them both down when suddenly, Hikoichi felt something pulling him from behind. Koshino, too, felt himself being pulled. Once he was on safe ground, he turned to thank Hikoichi.
"It was this guy that helped me!" Hikoichi said. "What guy?" Koshino asked, looking around. Hikoichi looked behind him and yelped. The guy was nowhere to be seen! "B-But..." Koshino sighed. He was tired and he was famished. "Come in, Hikoichi. Maybe you were just hallucinating. I'm exhausted and really hungry." The apprentice nodded his head and escorted his boss to the car.
As the car drove away, a cloaked figure appeared from behind the tree. His eyes staring so hard, they could burn the two gentlemen. Koshino felt something prick the back of his neck and turned around. There was no one by the Sakura tree. If so, then why did he feel like somebody was watching him..?
