Celarania: *waves* Hi there everyone! I'm Celarania, but just call me Cel.
It will make things much easier. This is my first fanfic, even though I've
written some, ok one, original story. You might already know my partner in
crime... Oh! Here she is!
Mizura: Hi people! This is Mizura (Volphen) - the mentally unstable author who has a tendency to torture most of her favorite characters. So all of you wonderful people are here to read Cel's fic. Yay!
Cel: ^_^; My fic? We're doing equal work on this. Therefore by definition it can't really be my fic. Besides torture is very fun!
Mizura: Well, it was Cel's idea, so I think of it as Cel's fic. ^_^
Cel: But it's not really my idea. It was vaguely based on something the muses in my head came up with. I think it's up there with the Jekell/Hyde dream. (I know that's the vague basis for that story!) Plus you're the one who helps with the story outline. I normally just write and hope it turns out well.
Mizura: *sniff* Aww, I feel special now.
Cel: *nods* Yep! You are! ^.~ These lovely reader probably have heard enough of our mindless jabber, ne? We should probably get on to a little info about the fic and then actually let them read it.
Mizura: Okay, go ahead. ^_^
Cel: Ok, well I'm not exactly sure how long it will be, but somewhere over ten chapters, I think Mizura and I will figure that out in a bit. Also we're taking turns writing the bulk of the chapter, but we'll each write some of the other chapter.
Mizura: And as you all know, Spirited Away belongs to Hayao Miyazaki.
Cel: Also that we're sorry for completely disgracing the story of Spirited Away with our little story, but we hope you'll like it anyway. Without further ado, we bring you the story of a princess in a faraway land.
Chihiro laid in her bed, eyes tightly shut. She sighed wistfully at a dream that had once again escaped her memory. She knew the dream had visited her before, but it always escaped with the last wistful caresses of sleep. When she rose each morning, the only feeling that remained was that of strong arms holding her close and that vanished with the sweet dew. These were always her favorite, though she could never tell her father, nor mother about them. She was a princess, destined to marry a man too old for her, without any love, but rather lust. She could never help, but be jealous of her friends, all nobles, but they could at least choose to a certain extent the age and looks of their future spouse. Though her parents loved her, she knew that she would give her to someone who could offer them a nice sum. Though she knew she would be well looked-after she could help but long for the love she would never receive.
She rubbed her eyes, in hopes of waking herself more completely. She hoped that today wouldn't be another one of suitors coming, but in her heart Chihiro knew it would be so. She yawned, purposely leaving her mouth uncovered. She had never been one to revel in being polite or proper and guessed that after she was 'happily' married that it wouldn't change. In fact, her habits were more likely to get worse more out of spite than anything else. Slowly Chihiro got up her silk-covered bed and stretched, trying to work the muscles that were tightened from her sleep.
Chihiro then went to her private bathroom. A bath was already waiting for her there. She slowly stepped in, welcoming the scent of the rose oils that were in the water. Though she loved her perfumed water with minerals that were believed to help her skin, she had always preferred just swimming in clear waters. Chihiro didn't get to go to a river often with her duties, but always thought it a great gift when she had the time. As she leaned her head back into the warm waters she thought of the crystal waters of nature. She didn't want her riches, but rather to live freely, perhaps as a hermit of sorts. She sighed; her parents would sooner kill her than let her do that, so it was her private wish.
She laid in the water for a long time, until the warmth from it was gone. She smiled at her delicately pruned fingers. Somehow Chihiro always though of them as almost upside-down water flowers carefully placed as a gift on her fingers. She stepped, almost forlornly from her bed of water and wrapped herself in blue cotton. It was the color of an ice-encrusted star, or at least that's how someone once described it to her. Chihiro herself thought in to be the glint of the summer sun on waters of crystal, but she never had been the best at descriptions. A court tutor once told her it was because she seemed to want to associate all that was beautiful and pure with water. The tutor was quickly fired.
She looked down to the tiles of her bathroom; she had always liked having the wealth to get them. The glazed tiles were raised strategically to produce an affect unlike any other Chihiro had seen elsewhere. They were all diamond-shaped and were the shade of the ocean when the sun caressed the sweet waters into endlessly unique patters. They were designed to mirror the lacy affect of the waves as they brushed the shore, shifting the sands. They were as smooth as the water, but she would have rather being swimming than drying off in order to meet suitors.
She stepped back into her room. It was what was considered modest in the palace, at lease for royalty. Her furniture was all regal oak with ivory colored cushions. The wood itself was quite old, judging by the rings and interwoven patterns. It was simple, letting the wood be its decoration. The walls of the room were painted the lightest pink. It was like the color of a pink pearl, basking in the sunlight, but hidden beneath the waves. Chihiro went to her closest to pick out a dress for the occasion before the servants could. It wasn't that she was trying to be spoiled and get her way, but rather most of her dresses seemed to have low necklines that made her suitors look below her face, which was the last thing she wanted.
Finally took out a dress that was better than most. It was a light indigo, more purple than blue in retrospect. She had always loved the color of thing, like a mountain mixed with the snow that crowned it. It had a few ruffles, but not too many to look "fit for a princess" as her mother once said, "unbelievably gaudy" in her mind. She pulled the dress on unceremoniously over her undergarments and a tight pair of shorts. She was not the most graceful and had learned through experience to wear something under her skirts.
She started to tie the dress, but before she could do so, two servants came in to help Chihiro, even though she never asked. They quickly tied the stings of her dress tight to "enhance" her figure. She, however, hated it all. Her dress was now too tight for her to breathe, or really do anything, easily. She knew it came from having her stomach pressed in to give the affect that her chest and hips were bigger. Chihiro sighed hopelessly, if it wasn't one evil it was the other. At least the ruffles made it a little subtler. Pain is beauty, just remember, pain is beauty. She involuntarily winced at the tightness of the whole thing. I really don't care if I'm not beautiful, I just want to not have to be squished into these dresses anymore!
Chihiro went downstairs for breakfast without complaining about her dress however. A while ago she had struck a deal with her mother: as long as she didn't complain about just wearing a fluffy dress (if anything was seriously wrong this rule was not in affect) and let the stylists do her hair, she could be barefoot or wear whatever shoes she liked and wear her purple hair tie. It was worth it because her mother would have made her wear the dresses and have her hair done anyway, but the shoes were not visible so that just added to Chihiro's comfort. Her mother, at time, could be reasonable enough.
By the time she got to the dining hall her parents had already began their breakfasts. Their plates were already loaded with more food than most would be believe it was humanly possible to consume, but the two monarchs were giving it a fair effort. Chihiro randomly mused about how her mother made her wear the tight dresses to make her look skinnier while the queen herself ate so much. She quietly sat down and buttered a piece of toast and then proceeded to nibble on it. Chihiro found it nearly impossible to eat with her dress, so the light breakfast was all she was up to eating.
Afterwards she rose, already knowing what her schedule would be- suitor after suitor. She knew that by the end of the day she would be lucky to go to sleep without having one sexually oriented comment or gesture. The one good thing that would come from her marriage would be not having to take that sort of thing from anyone. After breakfast she went to the garden to wait for her suitors. She was allowed to choose where she would meet them so she switched places often. If she didn't Chihiro guessed that she would have too many at one time to deal with. At the garden, she took her favorite spot by a fountain in a recreated meadow. The fountain was made of pewter, much more modest than the ones elsewhere coated with precious gold or silver. These were naturally smaller and made in a time when the kingdom was richer. Now they served to show visitors the wealth that Chihiro's land still had. If any of them had an ounce of brains they could figure out that the structures lied, after all, Chihiro was being married for money.
The fountain was not of people, but rather just curves more. It was beautiful, each arch flowing into another bend. The center was somewhat raised, but it was natural looking. It flowed upward while the water gently fell around it. It gave Chihiro the impression of a weeping willow, though it was a bit straighter than the trees she had seen. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to climb a tree like that, not made out of metal, but instead real, but retaining the leaves of water. She always though of things like that while "listening" to suitors.
The first man came up to her. He was as old and over-dressed as the others were. "Milady, may I present Lord." Chihiro never really paid attention to the guard's announcing of her suitors names. Usually on first glance she could tell whether or not they were even remotely what she wanted. This man was quite large and his hair was beginning to retreat while he still had a large beard covering his fat face. He gave the impression of a rich man who wanted her for nothing but, well, the nights as opposed to loving her during the days as well. He looked to be about fifty, and she could see gray hairs among the dark brown that covered most of his head.
She again began to wonder how long this would take and also to the man who would hold her close on the seashore and love her for who she actually was and not for rank or body. All this immediately vanished when she felt the scratching of the man's short beard on her hand. Her face paled involuntarily when she realized he was kissing her hand. Chihiro had to resist the urge to pull her hand away from this man. How she hated manners.
He spoke to her a bit about his lands and wealth. The whole time Chihiro nodded occasionally, pretending to listen. Her mind screamed at her to ask how were his other wives doing, but again she had to remember to behave herself. Luckily for her sanity, this suitor was soon sent away. The guard stepped over to her and lowered his head to speak to her. "You know, it might not be as bad if you just talked to them, as opposed to just listening. I mean, I haven't gone through anything like this, your majesty, but it at least could be less dull."
Chihiro sighed. She knew the guard's intentions were good, but it was just so hard. She would have liked to listen to him, but it was just that she didn't really want to know these people. She nodded slowly though. "I will try your suggestion, thank you." Chihiro would keep her word; after all, it couldn't be that terrible talking to one suitor. The Guard smiled, happy to help her. The next suitor came and was announced. This man was much younger than the others were, about five years older than Chihiro was. He bowed politely before sitting down next to the princess.
"Hello Princess, it is an honor to meet you. I'm sure you have heard about me and my accomplishments by now." Though Chihiro hadn't heard of him, the talk was somewhat pleasant. She didn't really pay much attention to what he was saying, no doubt an exaggeration of things he might, or might not have done. He had auburn hair that was somewhat disorderly, though she guessed it had been styled to give that appearance. He had beautiful blue eyes; she could give him that. She was sure that wherever he was from he was quite a charmer. He smiled at her kindly. "Will you tell me about what you life is like Princess Chihiro?"
She nodded and began speaking, though she kept looking at her hands. She told him of her life as truthfully as she could, though her parents had her change a few things to give the impression of more wealth. She wondered again how anyone could so dense not to figure out that they needed more funds. She looked up for a minute to meet his eyes. She couldn't help but veer away a bit at what she saw. Chihiro recognized it, but at the same time was utterly baffled by the emotion. His eyes were half covered by his eyelids and were looking at her quite strangely. It to her a minute to realize that he was not looking at her face, but instead, much lower. "God, they were right when they told me that Princess Chihiro had a body," he mumbled. Chihiro was taken aback by this naturally and was about to have the guards remove him when she realized they were not as close as they were before, probably to give her a little more privacy with the man.
She opened her mouth to yell for them when the young man nearly tackled her. She gasped as his lips were on her neck, but this seemed to only encourage him. "Guards! Guards!" she screamed as the man continued. His lips were about to fall on her mouth when the guards came and pulled him off Chihiro. She was glad to have him gone and dusted herself as the young man was removed from the grounds. She was glad the guards had arrived before he could do anymore, at least that hadn't been her first kiss. Even though men had disgraced her neck and arms like that she had be lucky enough not to be kissed on the lips yet.
The guard that had advised her to speak with her suitors held his head down in shame. She observed this and stood to ask what the problem was. He turned his head from her and spoke softly. "I am sorry milady, I knew not what would happen. Also I am sorry for having left you. The others and I thought that your majesty might have liked some time with the duke without us overhearing every word."
Chihiro smiled at the guard's apology, she understood that he had tried to what was best. "I understand completely, in fact, I might have done the same thing." Se gave the guard a large grin to assure him that everything was all right and he was forgiven. He nodded, understanding the princess's forgiveness. She then went back to the fountain and sat down to wait for more suitors. The day went uneventfully after that and as the sun neared its setting she retired to her room.
~~~
Haku didn't know what to expect, so he wasn't disappointed or surprised once he saw her. The rumors are true, he thought. She did have, as some love-drunk lord once said, "the body of a goddess". However, her face wasn't particularly stunning. It was pretty, but not the face expected of a statuesque beauty. Secretly, Haku was glad. It made her more human, and less of an unreachable goddess.
In the garden, while the other suitors were busy staring at her body, Haku studied her face. She quickly dismissed her first suitor with a glance. Her eyes remained half lipped with boredom while the lord gloated about his wealth. Haku noticed that as the fat lord talked, his eyes were glued to her chest. Pervert.
But the second suitor was worse. Haku had met him before, a young wild boy who thought he was king of the world. The idiot often followed his carnal instincts, and chased after all types of pretty girls. Marriage, or oaths of chastity didn't stop him from trying. At first he was amazed at the duke's attitude, he actually acted like a decent gentleman. She seemed to like him, but her eyes were blank, showing that she did not pay attention to the duke's exaggerations. Don't fall for it, Haku thought. He felt a twinge of despair as she began talking to him. Haku would have hated seeing her fall in love with that faithless bastard. She deserved better than him.
As she continued talking, the guards edged away. Stay where you are! Haku wanted to shout, but he remained silent. He didn't have the authority to command them. The duke was already studying her body. It seemed as if he was trying to undress her with his eyes. Haku felt a way of disgust wash over him. Suddenly, the duke attacked her, and he began kissing her with uncontrollable lust. He wanted to run forward, and rip him off of the poor girl, but he force himself to stand still. He didn't have the right to do such a thing.
The meetings were canceled for that day after the randy duke was thrown out of the grounds. Haku hid his disappointment as he walked down the marble hall. He was hoping to meet her today. She wasn't a brainless flirt or a manipulative whore as other princesses were. She was different. Her nonchalant air attracted him more than made up princesses dripping in jewels and nauseating perfume. Even if I do meet with her, it might take weeks just to convince her that I don't want her for her body, Haku thought. He didn't have weeks. He had only a few days. However, there was another approach, one that she might not like, but it was quicker than trying to court her.
~~~
She went to a balcony for a bit to see the sunset, he favorite time of day. She supposed that the sunrise would also be beautiful, but she never really had the will to get up to see it anymore. Chihiro stood in the cool breeze thinking about dinner. It had been delicious as always, but her parents had not been there. She had gotten to loosen her dress to the proper level of comfort to eat and had enjoyed it greatly. Now she didn't see it as such a blessing, though she did gain more freedom when her parents weren't there, she had a feeling that their meeting was with a suitor. Chihiro sighed, leaning against the railing of the balcony, her joined hands supporting her head. She gazed out, seeing the dry rainbow before her. A scholar had once told her about the technicalities about the sunset being like a rainbow, but she just thought of it so by how it looked. She mentally named the colors, starting with the red by the sun and ending with the deep purple that was the night following.
The red surrounding the sun- its lifeblood. Chihiro couldn't help but shiver at the thought, even though it was her own. The red faded into vermilion before receding into orange. The color of leaves in the cool fall was the true color, but the princess thought of the beauty of a single leaf floating in a still lake, ripples forming around it. A light yellow graced the sky next. Though Chihiro's first thought was of gold glinting, she knew a moment after that it was nothing as cruel as gold, but rather the shade of a butterfly's wings. There was then a light green, the color of the new shoots of spring, life returning form death. The rest of the sky was painted the blue of night, not too dark, but stretching and changing. Lastly, Chihiro knew, at the far horizon would be a deep indigo, fading into the deepest purple imaginable.
She watched the sun set slowly, just revealing in the absolute beauty it had. She wondered how God could create such a beautiful thing that was available to all, like the waves, the ocean, or a deep forest. How could such a sight be free? She sighed happily. As long as she could watch the sun set every day, somehow it seemed that things would be all right. She looked out again, this time the golden sun itself was gone, however the magnificent colors remained, a reminder of the life still present, even when the sun itself no longer lit the world.
She blinked in confusion. There was somebody standing a little ways away from her low balcony also watching the scene. She didn't recognize his silhouette, but she knew that she couldn't know everyone in the palace. He must just be a servant she hadn't met. Still somehow he bothered her, he didn't look familiar at all and usually she could at least guess who someone was. She sighed and turned back to her sunset only to find she had missed a lot of it. Chihiro couldn't help but whine a bit.
Soon it was starting to get darker and a servant came to fetch Chihiro. "Milady, your parents wish to speak with you." Chihiro nodded sadly and left the balcony. The figure was still there, but now it seemed that he moved, as if he had been facing her. She shook her head to rid herself of the thought and turned to her escort.
"Do you know who was outside there?" She pointed to the figure that was still looking at the horizon.
"No milady, I don't believe it is anyone I have seen."
Chihiro nodded glumly and followed the servant as he lead her to the royal family's private quarters. The living room to Chihiro, but the official name was different. The room was a navy blue with ivory trim. The furniture scheme was similar to that of her own room, but navy replaced the ivory. Her father was sitting in his favorite chair facing the fire even though it wasn't really cool enough to need a fire. Her mother lounged in a couch nearby. "Is there anything else you need you majesties?"
"No, that should be fine," replied her father's voice. The servant turned on his heel and left the royal family to their own affairs, closing the doors behind him. "Chihiro, come here." Her father's voice was stern, telling her not to argue with whatever he had to say.
Most likely about that man earlier today! She knew that it wasn't her fault, but somehow, her parents always made her feel guilty, even if she didn't do anything. "Yes father?" she asked sweetly, curtsying in front of her father, even thought the fire made her a bit uncomfortable.
"Chihiro, I wish to speak with you about your suitors." Chihiro swallowed, leaving her throat dry and itchy. She could already see her father yelling at her. "Chihiro," he put his hands together, fingertips touching, but not interlocking, "it is time for you to be married."
Mizura: Now all of you wonderful people have finished reading the story, I believe you know the drill: Review and tell us what you think! Comments and criticism are welcome.
Mizura: Hi people! This is Mizura (Volphen) - the mentally unstable author who has a tendency to torture most of her favorite characters. So all of you wonderful people are here to read Cel's fic. Yay!
Cel: ^_^; My fic? We're doing equal work on this. Therefore by definition it can't really be my fic. Besides torture is very fun!
Mizura: Well, it was Cel's idea, so I think of it as Cel's fic. ^_^
Cel: But it's not really my idea. It was vaguely based on something the muses in my head came up with. I think it's up there with the Jekell/Hyde dream. (I know that's the vague basis for that story!) Plus you're the one who helps with the story outline. I normally just write and hope it turns out well.
Mizura: *sniff* Aww, I feel special now.
Cel: *nods* Yep! You are! ^.~ These lovely reader probably have heard enough of our mindless jabber, ne? We should probably get on to a little info about the fic and then actually let them read it.
Mizura: Okay, go ahead. ^_^
Cel: Ok, well I'm not exactly sure how long it will be, but somewhere over ten chapters, I think Mizura and I will figure that out in a bit. Also we're taking turns writing the bulk of the chapter, but we'll each write some of the other chapter.
Mizura: And as you all know, Spirited Away belongs to Hayao Miyazaki.
Cel: Also that we're sorry for completely disgracing the story of Spirited Away with our little story, but we hope you'll like it anyway. Without further ado, we bring you the story of a princess in a faraway land.
Chihiro laid in her bed, eyes tightly shut. She sighed wistfully at a dream that had once again escaped her memory. She knew the dream had visited her before, but it always escaped with the last wistful caresses of sleep. When she rose each morning, the only feeling that remained was that of strong arms holding her close and that vanished with the sweet dew. These were always her favorite, though she could never tell her father, nor mother about them. She was a princess, destined to marry a man too old for her, without any love, but rather lust. She could never help, but be jealous of her friends, all nobles, but they could at least choose to a certain extent the age and looks of their future spouse. Though her parents loved her, she knew that she would give her to someone who could offer them a nice sum. Though she knew she would be well looked-after she could help but long for the love she would never receive.
She rubbed her eyes, in hopes of waking herself more completely. She hoped that today wouldn't be another one of suitors coming, but in her heart Chihiro knew it would be so. She yawned, purposely leaving her mouth uncovered. She had never been one to revel in being polite or proper and guessed that after she was 'happily' married that it wouldn't change. In fact, her habits were more likely to get worse more out of spite than anything else. Slowly Chihiro got up her silk-covered bed and stretched, trying to work the muscles that were tightened from her sleep.
Chihiro then went to her private bathroom. A bath was already waiting for her there. She slowly stepped in, welcoming the scent of the rose oils that were in the water. Though she loved her perfumed water with minerals that were believed to help her skin, she had always preferred just swimming in clear waters. Chihiro didn't get to go to a river often with her duties, but always thought it a great gift when she had the time. As she leaned her head back into the warm waters she thought of the crystal waters of nature. She didn't want her riches, but rather to live freely, perhaps as a hermit of sorts. She sighed; her parents would sooner kill her than let her do that, so it was her private wish.
She laid in the water for a long time, until the warmth from it was gone. She smiled at her delicately pruned fingers. Somehow Chihiro always though of them as almost upside-down water flowers carefully placed as a gift on her fingers. She stepped, almost forlornly from her bed of water and wrapped herself in blue cotton. It was the color of an ice-encrusted star, or at least that's how someone once described it to her. Chihiro herself thought in to be the glint of the summer sun on waters of crystal, but she never had been the best at descriptions. A court tutor once told her it was because she seemed to want to associate all that was beautiful and pure with water. The tutor was quickly fired.
She looked down to the tiles of her bathroom; she had always liked having the wealth to get them. The glazed tiles were raised strategically to produce an affect unlike any other Chihiro had seen elsewhere. They were all diamond-shaped and were the shade of the ocean when the sun caressed the sweet waters into endlessly unique patters. They were designed to mirror the lacy affect of the waves as they brushed the shore, shifting the sands. They were as smooth as the water, but she would have rather being swimming than drying off in order to meet suitors.
She stepped back into her room. It was what was considered modest in the palace, at lease for royalty. Her furniture was all regal oak with ivory colored cushions. The wood itself was quite old, judging by the rings and interwoven patterns. It was simple, letting the wood be its decoration. The walls of the room were painted the lightest pink. It was like the color of a pink pearl, basking in the sunlight, but hidden beneath the waves. Chihiro went to her closest to pick out a dress for the occasion before the servants could. It wasn't that she was trying to be spoiled and get her way, but rather most of her dresses seemed to have low necklines that made her suitors look below her face, which was the last thing she wanted.
Finally took out a dress that was better than most. It was a light indigo, more purple than blue in retrospect. She had always loved the color of thing, like a mountain mixed with the snow that crowned it. It had a few ruffles, but not too many to look "fit for a princess" as her mother once said, "unbelievably gaudy" in her mind. She pulled the dress on unceremoniously over her undergarments and a tight pair of shorts. She was not the most graceful and had learned through experience to wear something under her skirts.
She started to tie the dress, but before she could do so, two servants came in to help Chihiro, even though she never asked. They quickly tied the stings of her dress tight to "enhance" her figure. She, however, hated it all. Her dress was now too tight for her to breathe, or really do anything, easily. She knew it came from having her stomach pressed in to give the affect that her chest and hips were bigger. Chihiro sighed hopelessly, if it wasn't one evil it was the other. At least the ruffles made it a little subtler. Pain is beauty, just remember, pain is beauty. She involuntarily winced at the tightness of the whole thing. I really don't care if I'm not beautiful, I just want to not have to be squished into these dresses anymore!
Chihiro went downstairs for breakfast without complaining about her dress however. A while ago she had struck a deal with her mother: as long as she didn't complain about just wearing a fluffy dress (if anything was seriously wrong this rule was not in affect) and let the stylists do her hair, she could be barefoot or wear whatever shoes she liked and wear her purple hair tie. It was worth it because her mother would have made her wear the dresses and have her hair done anyway, but the shoes were not visible so that just added to Chihiro's comfort. Her mother, at time, could be reasonable enough.
By the time she got to the dining hall her parents had already began their breakfasts. Their plates were already loaded with more food than most would be believe it was humanly possible to consume, but the two monarchs were giving it a fair effort. Chihiro randomly mused about how her mother made her wear the tight dresses to make her look skinnier while the queen herself ate so much. She quietly sat down and buttered a piece of toast and then proceeded to nibble on it. Chihiro found it nearly impossible to eat with her dress, so the light breakfast was all she was up to eating.
Afterwards she rose, already knowing what her schedule would be- suitor after suitor. She knew that by the end of the day she would be lucky to go to sleep without having one sexually oriented comment or gesture. The one good thing that would come from her marriage would be not having to take that sort of thing from anyone. After breakfast she went to the garden to wait for her suitors. She was allowed to choose where she would meet them so she switched places often. If she didn't Chihiro guessed that she would have too many at one time to deal with. At the garden, she took her favorite spot by a fountain in a recreated meadow. The fountain was made of pewter, much more modest than the ones elsewhere coated with precious gold or silver. These were naturally smaller and made in a time when the kingdom was richer. Now they served to show visitors the wealth that Chihiro's land still had. If any of them had an ounce of brains they could figure out that the structures lied, after all, Chihiro was being married for money.
The fountain was not of people, but rather just curves more. It was beautiful, each arch flowing into another bend. The center was somewhat raised, but it was natural looking. It flowed upward while the water gently fell around it. It gave Chihiro the impression of a weeping willow, though it was a bit straighter than the trees she had seen. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to climb a tree like that, not made out of metal, but instead real, but retaining the leaves of water. She always though of things like that while "listening" to suitors.
The first man came up to her. He was as old and over-dressed as the others were. "Milady, may I present Lord." Chihiro never really paid attention to the guard's announcing of her suitors names. Usually on first glance she could tell whether or not they were even remotely what she wanted. This man was quite large and his hair was beginning to retreat while he still had a large beard covering his fat face. He gave the impression of a rich man who wanted her for nothing but, well, the nights as opposed to loving her during the days as well. He looked to be about fifty, and she could see gray hairs among the dark brown that covered most of his head.
She again began to wonder how long this would take and also to the man who would hold her close on the seashore and love her for who she actually was and not for rank or body. All this immediately vanished when she felt the scratching of the man's short beard on her hand. Her face paled involuntarily when she realized he was kissing her hand. Chihiro had to resist the urge to pull her hand away from this man. How she hated manners.
He spoke to her a bit about his lands and wealth. The whole time Chihiro nodded occasionally, pretending to listen. Her mind screamed at her to ask how were his other wives doing, but again she had to remember to behave herself. Luckily for her sanity, this suitor was soon sent away. The guard stepped over to her and lowered his head to speak to her. "You know, it might not be as bad if you just talked to them, as opposed to just listening. I mean, I haven't gone through anything like this, your majesty, but it at least could be less dull."
Chihiro sighed. She knew the guard's intentions were good, but it was just so hard. She would have liked to listen to him, but it was just that she didn't really want to know these people. She nodded slowly though. "I will try your suggestion, thank you." Chihiro would keep her word; after all, it couldn't be that terrible talking to one suitor. The Guard smiled, happy to help her. The next suitor came and was announced. This man was much younger than the others were, about five years older than Chihiro was. He bowed politely before sitting down next to the princess.
"Hello Princess, it is an honor to meet you. I'm sure you have heard about me and my accomplishments by now." Though Chihiro hadn't heard of him, the talk was somewhat pleasant. She didn't really pay much attention to what he was saying, no doubt an exaggeration of things he might, or might not have done. He had auburn hair that was somewhat disorderly, though she guessed it had been styled to give that appearance. He had beautiful blue eyes; she could give him that. She was sure that wherever he was from he was quite a charmer. He smiled at her kindly. "Will you tell me about what you life is like Princess Chihiro?"
She nodded and began speaking, though she kept looking at her hands. She told him of her life as truthfully as she could, though her parents had her change a few things to give the impression of more wealth. She wondered again how anyone could so dense not to figure out that they needed more funds. She looked up for a minute to meet his eyes. She couldn't help but veer away a bit at what she saw. Chihiro recognized it, but at the same time was utterly baffled by the emotion. His eyes were half covered by his eyelids and were looking at her quite strangely. It to her a minute to realize that he was not looking at her face, but instead, much lower. "God, they were right when they told me that Princess Chihiro had a body," he mumbled. Chihiro was taken aback by this naturally and was about to have the guards remove him when she realized they were not as close as they were before, probably to give her a little more privacy with the man.
She opened her mouth to yell for them when the young man nearly tackled her. She gasped as his lips were on her neck, but this seemed to only encourage him. "Guards! Guards!" she screamed as the man continued. His lips were about to fall on her mouth when the guards came and pulled him off Chihiro. She was glad to have him gone and dusted herself as the young man was removed from the grounds. She was glad the guards had arrived before he could do anymore, at least that hadn't been her first kiss. Even though men had disgraced her neck and arms like that she had be lucky enough not to be kissed on the lips yet.
The guard that had advised her to speak with her suitors held his head down in shame. She observed this and stood to ask what the problem was. He turned his head from her and spoke softly. "I am sorry milady, I knew not what would happen. Also I am sorry for having left you. The others and I thought that your majesty might have liked some time with the duke without us overhearing every word."
Chihiro smiled at the guard's apology, she understood that he had tried to what was best. "I understand completely, in fact, I might have done the same thing." Se gave the guard a large grin to assure him that everything was all right and he was forgiven. He nodded, understanding the princess's forgiveness. She then went back to the fountain and sat down to wait for more suitors. The day went uneventfully after that and as the sun neared its setting she retired to her room.
~~~
Haku didn't know what to expect, so he wasn't disappointed or surprised once he saw her. The rumors are true, he thought. She did have, as some love-drunk lord once said, "the body of a goddess". However, her face wasn't particularly stunning. It was pretty, but not the face expected of a statuesque beauty. Secretly, Haku was glad. It made her more human, and less of an unreachable goddess.
In the garden, while the other suitors were busy staring at her body, Haku studied her face. She quickly dismissed her first suitor with a glance. Her eyes remained half lipped with boredom while the lord gloated about his wealth. Haku noticed that as the fat lord talked, his eyes were glued to her chest. Pervert.
But the second suitor was worse. Haku had met him before, a young wild boy who thought he was king of the world. The idiot often followed his carnal instincts, and chased after all types of pretty girls. Marriage, or oaths of chastity didn't stop him from trying. At first he was amazed at the duke's attitude, he actually acted like a decent gentleman. She seemed to like him, but her eyes were blank, showing that she did not pay attention to the duke's exaggerations. Don't fall for it, Haku thought. He felt a twinge of despair as she began talking to him. Haku would have hated seeing her fall in love with that faithless bastard. She deserved better than him.
As she continued talking, the guards edged away. Stay where you are! Haku wanted to shout, but he remained silent. He didn't have the authority to command them. The duke was already studying her body. It seemed as if he was trying to undress her with his eyes. Haku felt a way of disgust wash over him. Suddenly, the duke attacked her, and he began kissing her with uncontrollable lust. He wanted to run forward, and rip him off of the poor girl, but he force himself to stand still. He didn't have the right to do such a thing.
The meetings were canceled for that day after the randy duke was thrown out of the grounds. Haku hid his disappointment as he walked down the marble hall. He was hoping to meet her today. She wasn't a brainless flirt or a manipulative whore as other princesses were. She was different. Her nonchalant air attracted him more than made up princesses dripping in jewels and nauseating perfume. Even if I do meet with her, it might take weeks just to convince her that I don't want her for her body, Haku thought. He didn't have weeks. He had only a few days. However, there was another approach, one that she might not like, but it was quicker than trying to court her.
~~~
She went to a balcony for a bit to see the sunset, he favorite time of day. She supposed that the sunrise would also be beautiful, but she never really had the will to get up to see it anymore. Chihiro stood in the cool breeze thinking about dinner. It had been delicious as always, but her parents had not been there. She had gotten to loosen her dress to the proper level of comfort to eat and had enjoyed it greatly. Now she didn't see it as such a blessing, though she did gain more freedom when her parents weren't there, she had a feeling that their meeting was with a suitor. Chihiro sighed, leaning against the railing of the balcony, her joined hands supporting her head. She gazed out, seeing the dry rainbow before her. A scholar had once told her about the technicalities about the sunset being like a rainbow, but she just thought of it so by how it looked. She mentally named the colors, starting with the red by the sun and ending with the deep purple that was the night following.
The red surrounding the sun- its lifeblood. Chihiro couldn't help but shiver at the thought, even though it was her own. The red faded into vermilion before receding into orange. The color of leaves in the cool fall was the true color, but the princess thought of the beauty of a single leaf floating in a still lake, ripples forming around it. A light yellow graced the sky next. Though Chihiro's first thought was of gold glinting, she knew a moment after that it was nothing as cruel as gold, but rather the shade of a butterfly's wings. There was then a light green, the color of the new shoots of spring, life returning form death. The rest of the sky was painted the blue of night, not too dark, but stretching and changing. Lastly, Chihiro knew, at the far horizon would be a deep indigo, fading into the deepest purple imaginable.
She watched the sun set slowly, just revealing in the absolute beauty it had. She wondered how God could create such a beautiful thing that was available to all, like the waves, the ocean, or a deep forest. How could such a sight be free? She sighed happily. As long as she could watch the sun set every day, somehow it seemed that things would be all right. She looked out again, this time the golden sun itself was gone, however the magnificent colors remained, a reminder of the life still present, even when the sun itself no longer lit the world.
She blinked in confusion. There was somebody standing a little ways away from her low balcony also watching the scene. She didn't recognize his silhouette, but she knew that she couldn't know everyone in the palace. He must just be a servant she hadn't met. Still somehow he bothered her, he didn't look familiar at all and usually she could at least guess who someone was. She sighed and turned back to her sunset only to find she had missed a lot of it. Chihiro couldn't help but whine a bit.
Soon it was starting to get darker and a servant came to fetch Chihiro. "Milady, your parents wish to speak with you." Chihiro nodded sadly and left the balcony. The figure was still there, but now it seemed that he moved, as if he had been facing her. She shook her head to rid herself of the thought and turned to her escort.
"Do you know who was outside there?" She pointed to the figure that was still looking at the horizon.
"No milady, I don't believe it is anyone I have seen."
Chihiro nodded glumly and followed the servant as he lead her to the royal family's private quarters. The living room to Chihiro, but the official name was different. The room was a navy blue with ivory trim. The furniture scheme was similar to that of her own room, but navy replaced the ivory. Her father was sitting in his favorite chair facing the fire even though it wasn't really cool enough to need a fire. Her mother lounged in a couch nearby. "Is there anything else you need you majesties?"
"No, that should be fine," replied her father's voice. The servant turned on his heel and left the royal family to their own affairs, closing the doors behind him. "Chihiro, come here." Her father's voice was stern, telling her not to argue with whatever he had to say.
Most likely about that man earlier today! She knew that it wasn't her fault, but somehow, her parents always made her feel guilty, even if she didn't do anything. "Yes father?" she asked sweetly, curtsying in front of her father, even thought the fire made her a bit uncomfortable.
"Chihiro, I wish to speak with you about your suitors." Chihiro swallowed, leaving her throat dry and itchy. She could already see her father yelling at her. "Chihiro," he put his hands together, fingertips touching, but not interlocking, "it is time for you to be married."
Mizura: Now all of you wonderful people have finished reading the story, I believe you know the drill: Review and tell us what you think! Comments and criticism are welcome.