The Curse
By Mei Eden
Chapter 1
300 years ago~ the 17th year of the Sohma period
The afternoon sun smiled warmly down upon the streets of Edo, its golden rays bathing the hustle and bustle of the people below in a cheerful sea of summer sunflowers and fervent happiness. Everywhere along the streets of the great city, people were preparing goods and foods for the prince's 17th birthday. Every year there were two such events –one for the shogun's eldest son, and one like the celebration to be held the next day- for the youngest. Now that the prince was 17 though, it was time for him to choose a companion, and the noble's daughters in nearby provinces had all traveled to Edo in anticipation that he would notice their virtues and perhaps pick one of them as his princess. Rumors flew like wildfire about the handsomeness of the prince. Some said he was even more beautiful than some of the most notable women of the court. Then again, it was also rumored that the whole Sohma ruling family was beautiful to look upon, and with that, the people of Japan were proud- proud to have a ruling family both kind and beautiful and considerate of its people. Under their rule, all of Japan had flourished, and people talked about how the Sohma dynasty would rule forever- for they had Heaven's true mandate to guide them. The Sohma's were truly blessed.
In the streets, the shopkeepers and common people hurried about, preparing the most delicious of foods and working hard to make the most exotic and wonderful trinkets for their noble customers as gifts for the prince. At the very end of the main street leading from the shogun's palace, there was a small house surrounded by lilies, and it too, shook and shivered with the excitement of the inhabitants within. In the kitchen, a young girl dressed in a plain light blue kimono cooked and cooked as she had been non-stop for the past 12 hours, preparing a portion of the delicious meal which the nobles would be eating at the party in three days. The day before, the prince's very own bodyguard had dropped by her house and asked her to be one of the ten cooks especially chosen to prepare the exuberant meal. The young girl remembered the occasion fondly. After all, the prince's bodyguard had been quite handsome.
~*flashback*~
Tohru sat quietly in the corner of the living room in her small house and arranged the lilies she had picked from her garden earlier that day. Everyone in the city was busy decorating and making the shops and homes beautiful for when Sohma-oji made his ritual round down the main street on his birthday. Tohru decided that even if he did not to stop by, at least she could enjoy herself and make the simple home she lived in more beautiful. Outside, Kyou was practicing with his sword. She smiled as she heard his "Hyah's" with each stroke. He had been her friend and constant companion for 5 years now. Her mother, upon seeing the young boy of only 12 years of age alone in the streets stealing for a living, had taken him into their home. In the beginning, he had been defiant and cold, but after only a few months, her mother's kindness and warmth began to break away the ice enclosing his heart, and soon, he became the protective older brother she never had. When her mother had drowned the year before in the nearby river, he had been her support- her comfort, and so now they were inseparably good friends.
A tiny fear lingered in Tohru's mind, though. Every once in a while, she'd see Kyou suddenly become quiet, his eyes distant and sad, as if he had some great secret, and she was afraid that someday he would leave her- leave her to pursue whatever this "secret" of his was. Perhaps it had something to do with the crimes he'd done as a child.. his younger years had been anything but happy. Tohru knew that, but sometimes she wished he would let go of his dark secrets and live his life cheerfully in the present time. She knew nothing of his past and never pried, knowing that if he wished, he would tell her with time. Still, she was afraid.
"Hyah!!"
"Hyah!!"
"......"
Tohru paused momentarily, one lily in her hand as she heard Kyou stop his "Hyah"-ing. That's strange.. he's only been practicing for ten minutes.. Why did Kyou-kun suddenly stop? The fear began to gnaw at her heart again. She listened closely. Perhaps he needed to take a break? How could he become tired so quickly? Is he sick? Did he meet someone? She worried and strained her ears harder for any sign of the resuming of his training.
The ringing sound of metal crashing against metal brought Tohru immediately to her feet, and she ran quickly out of the room to see what had happened, the flower falling from her fingertips, lying neglected on the ground.
"Kyou-kun!!!!" Kami-sama.. let him be all right.. please.. please don't take someone else away from me!! An image of her mother flashed through her mind. Please don't leave me alone!
She threw open the door to the house and stopped cold at the sight before her. Kyou's eyes were dark and angry as he matched swords with the young man before him- a young samurai with the most exotic mixture of snow white and raven black hair Tohru had ever seen. The man was dressed in a black hakama and gi with the Sohma symbols emblazoned in white across them. Tohru recognized the colors to mean that the man was in direct relation with the Sohma family, and she looked in horror as Kyou pushed hard against his own sword, forcing the young man backwards and sending him flying onto the ground.
Kyou held his sword tight and leaned forward into a fighting stance, ready to swing it again.
"You Sohma bastards!! I know what you want.. just because of your name, you prance around this nation like you own it. Heaven may have given you a mandate to rule over Japan, but I won't let you rule me!! I won't let you do as you please...not with me..not with Tohru..."
The Sohma samurai stood up warily and also crouched into a stance, his sword ready to strike.
"I don't know what you have against me, but I'm hear to speak with Honda Tohru-san concerning matters of the celebration.."
Kyou growled, "It's none of your business coming here.. GO AWAY.. you SOHMA COW!!"
He lunged at the samurai, and his opponent, offended by the insult, prepared to strike back.
"STOPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!"
At the sound of Tohru's voice, Kyou immediately drew back and looked at her in surprised. His opponent did the same, turning to Tohru with a look of relief. Tohru ran forward and grabbed Kyou's arm.
"Kyou-kun.. onegai... stop.. I don't know what's going on, but.. but I know that fighting is bad."
Kyou looked down at her brilliant, innocent eyes and felt his grip on his sword weaken. Slowly, very slowly, he let the weapon fall to the ground. Then he looked away from her, ashamed. "Gomen ne, Tohru-kun... I just.. the Sohma's..they.." She peered up at him earnestly, waiting for him to continue. Kyou felt the eyes of the Sohma samurai on him too, and he clenched his fist, feeling the anger rise up in him once more. "It's nothing." He shook away Tohru's arm lightly and stormed into the house. Sighing, Tohru watched his retreating back until it disappeared behind the folding screen. Even after all these years.. I still can't understand him.
Then she turned to the visitor, and realizing exactly what kind of person Kyou had just attacked, she immediately bowed over and over again, smiling apologetically. "Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai!.. I don't know what got into Kyou-kun today. He's not usually like this. Please forgive him Kyou-kun's a good boy.. he didn't mean any harm."
She jumped in surprise at the sound of the samurai's sword being sheathed.
"It's all right. I'll let it pass... this once. You are Honda Tohru-san?"
"H-hai! Tohru desu."
The man smiled. "Hello. Nice to meet you. I'm Sohma Hatsuharu, Sohma-Ouji's personal bodyguard and cousin."
Tohru felt her eyes widen Sohma.. Hatsuharu-san.. He really is related to the prince!!!!
"Ahhh.." She bowed again quickly. "Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!! Can I get anything for you? Are you comfortable? Do you want anything to eat?"
He shook his head. "No, I came to ask you a favor."
She nodded emphatically. "Anything for the royal family. I'll be happy to do it."
Haru grinned. "Don't offer yourself up so quickly, Honda-san.. Anything is a very powerful word."
Tohru looked at him puzzled. "But.. Hatsuharu-san, mother always said to be generous always and be prepared to give anything and everything in the care and love of people. I would think that the most care and love should be given to the royal family?"
Haru looked at the girl in surprised. This girl.. is there really such a person at this age who is so innocent?
"Your mother seems to be a wise woman.."
Tohru nodded emphatically. "She was. ^_^"
Haru noticed Tohru's use of the past tense, but said nothing. So her mother's dead..and yet, this girl is still so very cheerful.. how interesting.. I really should introduce Yuki to her.. he needs some cheer in his life…
Haru chuckled softly. "Honda-san, well, I have no bad intentions. I only come here because I've heard people in the town speak of your cooking skills with pride. The prince's birthday is coming up soon, as you know, and I wanted to ask you to cook for the banquet to be held at the celebration meal. Normally we would have the royal cooks do such a thing, but Yuk…I mean, Sohma-ouji insists that he would prefer to eat like the common people... Therefore he has sent me out to find several people who will best fit the job. You will be paid handsomely for your services, I promise."
Tohru's eyes lit up with joy with every word Haru spoke. "You mean..*I'll* be able to cook for the prince??? Wh- why didn't you go to one of the cooks in town? My cooking really.. really isn't that good."
Haru smiled. " I have, and some will also contribute to the meal, but.. I think you will make the best candidate.. We wouldn't put all the work on your shoulders, but you will serve a portion of it. Now Tohru-san, would you like to do this."
Tohru nodded happily. "Hai, hai!! Of course..Hai!"
Haru smiled. "That's good then. I will pay you here now in advance, and as thanks for your efforts, I extend to you, on the Sohma family's behalf, an invitation to come to the Edo castle to present your course of the meal on the night of the celebration."
Tohru's eyes widened in joy and she clasped her hands together happily.
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Sohma-san. I'll do my best!!!"
Haru turned to go and smiled inwardly. No.. thank you, Honda Tohru-san. I've learned something from you today.. I had thought that no one like you could exist in a time such as this..Yuki…needs someone like you.. I can't do anymore for him..not anymore.
~*end flashback*~
In Edo castle:
Yuki paced around his room, agitated. Akito had become more and more ill lately, and not even Hatori could do anything about the disease that ate at his mind. Akito had always been weak and quiet before, but now, when he occasionally woke up from his delirious dreams, he screamed angrily of dark places- of murders and curses- of hate, of jealousy and pain, and then he'd fall back quietly to sleep again. Sometimes he'd wake up and be normal again- the kind, quiet, yet dark person he had been before, yet other times he'd wake up as if all was good and well, but then his voice would become cold- devoid of emotion- and he would lash out with cruel, senseless words which offended and burned anyone they touched. The disease was warping him, and Yuki felt trapped. He couldn't do anything for his older brother- the brother the shogun had refused to recognize as heir as soon as he discovered the boy would lose his life to insanity. Only Yuki and Hatori cared now. Hatori because he was Akito's doctor, and Yuki because when they were young, Akito was the only one he could relate to.
Both were sons of the shogun- trapped by royal restrictions and unhappy with their positions. In those days, they had been kindred spirits- suffering together and silently comforting one another in times where life seemed unbearable in that silk cage they were locked in- like the white doves trapped in the golden cage that hung in Akito's room. But now, Yuki suffered alone while Akito struggled with his own nightmares. Neither could cross over anymore into the other's realm because the barrier was between them now- the disease separated them and forced them each to suffer alone. Yuki could feel Akito dying, and it pained him to stay in the castle and watch as Akito fought a losing battle with his disease. He wanted to get out. Just moments ago Akito had woken up again only to speak darkly of the fall of the Sohma family- about the destruction that would befall them all. Yuki sighed. I have got to get out of here… I can't stay here.. not for another minute. I can't watch him…lose his mind.
Quickly, Yuki stopped his pacing and changed out of his usual royal clothing marked with the Sohma emblem into a simple, light blue hakama and black gi. Taking only his katana with him at his waist, he snuck out of the castle and made his way down the main street, taking care to look as inconspicuous as possible.
I have to get where there are more people.. nobody will notice me there..
Making his way down the street, he finally ended up in the town where the common people were running about preparing for his birthday celebration. He had been here several times before, and each time he came, he envied their simple, happy lives. Why couldn't I have been born a common person?.. Then perhaps, I wouldn't have all these worries.. I wouldn't have been trapped away in royal proceedings when I was young. I could have played with the other children…played with whoever I wanted to.. without royal obligation.
He watched as children ran about the streets laughing and yelling as they chased each other from shop to shop. A few of the women by the side of the road stopped and looked at him as he passed, blushing and quickly turning away when he looked their way. The men seemed almost hostile. One took one look at Yuki and snorted with laughter. "Look at that sorry excuse for a samurai!! He looks like a girl! Hey ONNA OTOKO! Put down that sword and help the women pick flowers! It's too manly for you ! Do you even know how to use it?!" Yuki ignored him and walked on, feeling the familiar loneliness swell up inside of him. Even without my royal emblem.. there's still a distance between me and normal people.. Why can't.. I just naturally interact with them? That's all I want- friends..to care about me..and treat me as an equal. That's all Akito and I both wanted…
Finally, he had reached the end of the street, and when he looked up, he saw before him the most enlightening scene he had ever seen in his entire life- a small cheerful house surrounded by lilies, and in the middle of all those flowers stood a fresh young girl in a plain, light blue kimono who smiled warmly up at him as she paused for a moment from her flower-picking. Yuki couldn't help but smile back, his sorrows forgotten for just a moment.
"Konnichiwa. Can I help you?"
Yuki stood quietly for a moment before he replied, "Hai.. I'm.. S..S.. Sakaguchi Yuki."
End of Chapter 1
