An Old Love

written by: delusional_lady

Disclaimer: SD characters are not mine. Cassie is though.. the bitch.

Chapter 4: An Old Tale

Back in the castle, Hikoichi looked for Ayako and pleaded for the castle's story. "Do you really want to know?" The maid asked. Hikoichi nodded his head eagerly. "Very well then.."

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(Ayako's POV)

This castle was built more than a hundred years ago. It was the base of the kingdom's ruler. Living here was the royal family. The king, the queen, the two princes, and the only princess. The eldest prince was to be the next ruler of the kingdom. It was his father's wish to see his son claim the throne and lead the land to greater success. Unfortunately, his wish did not come true. The eldest prince fell ill. It wasn't your ordinary fever. His disease did not have a cure back then. The whole family was alarmed but they decided that it would be kept a secret. The other kingdoms might use the knowledge to their advantage and attack their land when they were most vulnerable.

While the wise medical doctors tried to save or at least, lengthen the eldest prince's life, the younger prince was trained incessantly. He studied day and night. Books filled his bedroom. In the afternoon, he was given serious combat training. It was necessary. The young prince understood the situation they were in and knew he had to fulfill his duties as the prince. If ever the doctors could find no solution to the sickness, he would have to take his brother's place and be king.

A whole year passed and the second prince showed amazing results. He was now smarter and stronger. He was even better than his elder brother. Because of this amazing improvement, the younger prince was now allowed to see his brother. He had not been allowed to see his elder brother ever since his training began, which was why he trained so hard. Just as he entered his brother's room, a series of shrieks and cries erupted.

It turned out that his brother had just died. The prince was shocked. He was one second away from seeing his brother. Fate was cruel. He could see his father comforting his mother. None of them look any close to feeling comfort so it was no use. His little sister was crushed. She was crying so hard.

Ever since that day, the second prince became cold. He resumed his training and became very short-tempered as well. The king and queen were still shocked by the tragedy that they fell ill as well. After a short while, they died. The other kingdoms learned that about the huge misfortune that fell on the family. They decided to take the land out, not minding the fact that there were still two members of the royal family left standing.

The people were afraid but they gained their confidence back when the prince led them to victory. He was a fighter, unmatched. The other kingdoms became afraid and decided to leave the kingdom alone. The kingdom became progressive but the young kind still remained cold. His little sister, the young princess, was sad for her brother.

One day, she thought of something.

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Once again, they were interrupted by the beeping sound of a vehicle. "I wonder who it is.. Koshino-sempai did say that he was going to spend the night in town.." Hikoichi mused aloud. The beeping grew more frantic. Ayako hurried to the gate and saw a flashy-looking car and an annoyed woman at the driver's seat. She did not look pleasant.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Ayako remarked coolly. The woman raised her eyebrow. "I am Cassie Michelle Wellington. I'm Hiroaki's girlfriend." Cassie informed Ayako in a haughty voice. "Miss Wellington!" Hikoichi cried out in surprise.

Cassie sighed. She felt as if she was among children. How annoying! "Hikoichi darling, let me in! It's quite cold out here and I came all the way from Tokyo! I just want to see Koshino." She explained. Ayako shook her head. "Koshino-sama is not in the castle at the moment. I don't think I can let you in."

"Hikoichi. I have nowhere else to go!! You have to let me in!! I'm your master's girlfriend!" Ayako glanced at the apprentice. The latter sighed and nodded his head. Koshino-sempai was not going to be happy once he learns about Cassie's visit.

Grudgingly, Ayako led the bitch to a room. After that, she hurried down to the kitchen and stayed there. Hikoichi sought her out and smiled meekly. "Sorry about that. Cassie's not really Koshino-sempai's girlfriend. She's actually his ex. I don't think master even loved that woman. She's just picking his money." Hikoichi explained.

Ayako looked slightly happier and Hikoichi beamed. He did not like seeing the young maid upset over something. "So what happened next? What did the princess come up with?"

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(Ayako's POV)

One day, a series of caravans arrived in town. It was a band of gypsies. Though it was rumored that they performed strange rituals and dark magic, the people weren't afraid of them because they never meant any harm. Besides, the king had made no move to condemn them or anything. Just as long as they follow the rules and regulations, the gypsies would be left alone. The gypsies decided to set their caravan in the town square. It was large enough them.

There was one lad that didn't seem to be a gypsy although he was under their care. He was a handsome young man with a gift for painting. The princess had seen his amazing skill and decided to invite him over at the castle.

The painter was given the choice to paint wherever he wanted. Out of all the places, the painter chose a spot outside. A cliff with a Sakura tree on it.

Hikoichi trembled.

The princess posed for the painter and he always finished with such fine results. Meanwhile, the prince knew of his sister's new hobby. The paintings were hung all over the castle walls. Even he was impressed of the painter's artwork and decided to meet with this man himself. The princess was ecstatic. She prayed that her brother would return to his normal self soon.

Again, the painter requested the cliff for his spot. The prince agreed and soon, his portraits were all over the castle. However, the painter felt unhappy. The prince's portraits were always frowning. Finally, he decided to get the prince to smile.

It was winter when the prince decided to have another portrait of himself. The painter had been hired permanently and stayed behind when his gypsy family left for another kingdom. Once again, the painter chose to paint by the cliff. The prince wondered what his reason was and asked the painter about it. The artist simply answered that the scenery on the cliff was beautiful and that it helped him relax. The prince accepted the answer and posed.

The painter drew a picture of a horrible monster. The prince became angry when he saw the painting. He thought that the artist was mocking him. With extreme patience, the painter explained his reasons for drawing such a thing. After a while, the prince started laughing. The monster had looked so horrible and comical at the same time. The painter laughed as well and soon, their faces were as red as tomatoes. The princess, at that time, was watching the two gentlemen from the first tower. She was happy that her brother could finally laugh.

Just then, a snowstorm came. It was so sudden that the two gentlemen had no time to react. The prince was swept over to the edge and almost fell down to his death had it not been for the painter. The latter grabbed the prince's hand with all his might and soon managed to get the prince back to safety. Because of the force, the prince landed on top of the painter. They stayed like that for a while before the prince leaned down to kiss the painter.

It wasn't long before they became lovers. The princess was very happy and the people in the castle were glad to finally have their prince back. But there was one person who loathed the sight. It was the kitchen maid. She had foolish dreams of marrying the prince and becoming the new queen of the kingdom. She had tried everything she could to get the prince to notice her but to no avail.

Finally, the kitchen maid, driven by jealousy, decided that there was only one way to settle this. If she couldn't have the prince, then the painter couldn't either. One night, she entered the prince's chambers and brought him his usual glass of water. The water was laced with poison. By the time the painter and the princess learned the truth, it was already too late. The poison killed the prince slowly. It hurt the two lovers very much. The painter decided that if the prince would die, then he would follow as well. Unfortunately, the prince would not allow it.

The prince cared for his sister very much and made the painter promise that he would take care of her. The kitchen maid had been prosecuted.

When it was time for him to die, the prince begged the painter to paint one last portrait. They stayed on the cliff. The painter was crying while he made the portrait. It was of the prince, this time, a smiling prince. In his last breath, the prince asked the painter to bury him on the cliff. He vowed to return and the painter vowed to wait.

Because of this promise, the painter studied the ancient art of dark magic. The details were all written in an old book given to him by his gypsy mother. What he didn't know was that the princess knew what he was up to and listened every time he studied the art. The day arrived when the painter finally decided to perform the ritual. While he was in the middle of the circle, the princess appeared and stepped inside as well. There was nothing the painter could do for the chants were said and the spell was sealed. They both became immortal, doomed to spend the rest of their lives in the lonely world.

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Hikoichi offered Ayako his hanky. The maid was crying, tears streaming out of her eyes. "It is a sad tale. I cry everytime I tell it." Ayako reasoned out. Hikoichi could feel his eyes moisten. Even he was moved by the story.