This story was originally a written as a crazy fantasy of my own. Names have been changed to fit with the SM world. You will notice that the Point of View changes between the two main characters frequently - I have put a pair of roses between the changes to make it more obvious. That is the only spot they will appear, besides the beginning and end of each day (how I have divided this into chapters). Also, you will see that I have used both Japanese and English names. This is for a reason. The country that this story starts in is a colonial nation (like North American nations), and has people from both Elysion (English names) and Edo (Japanese names) living there in relative harmony. The two nations have a long history of rivalry and open warfare, hundreds of years old. I will focus very little on Edo, except that the settlers have a distinct culture in my so far un-named colonial nation, and their own hertitage language. This story does take place in the modern world, in a North American like setting. And now, on with the story...
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The young prince looked around himself as he stepped off the plane. The trip had been long and tiring, but he was used to it. He flew on a regular basis, though normally not nearly as far. He and his family had just arrived on the east coast of this beautiful nation for a two month tour. This was a vast country of diverse people and lands, yet they managed to live together in harmony. The history was simple compared to that of his homeland, but it interested the prince. Throughout his education, he had been taught of the great battles fought around the globe, but only one had been located here, and when they fought abroad, it was in the name of peace. This seemed to be the ideal country to the prince.
Then the fan-fair began.
As the young man made his way down the stairs from the plane, he was almost shocked by the crowd that greeted him. Hundreds of raincoat clad people stood behind the barriers on the gray concrete, most of them teenage girls judging by the screams. The prince sighed and pasted a smile on as he followed his grandmother and grandfather down the stairs.
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Surrounded by a crowd of a hundred people, I look at the plane and sigh dejectedly. I would much rather be back at the Sheilds' working on Darien's charity. Instead, I'm here with Raye and Makoto to meet the prince. What a joke. There are so many people here I doubt we'll even get to shake his hand. But they insisted.
"You have to move on," Raye had said.
"Come and have some fun," Makoto pleaded.
I agreed, well, after they threatened to tell Darien's parents that I wouldn't take any time for myself, besides to sit and relish in self pity. See, last fall Darien and I had been out riding in the woods behind his house when his horse spooked and reared. Darien was thrown and hit his head on a rock. We took him off the machine a few days later. I spent the next few months in anguish. Darien and I had been dating for three years when the accident took him from me. Over the summer, we had begun working on a charity for under-privileged children. Lots of the local families couldn't afford the camps we had gone to as children (though the ones I went to were far fewer than those Darien attended) and when we said goodbye to our reading buddies at the elementary school in June we stared to work on a way for them to have a memorable summer the next year. Now everything is ready, but I can't leave the project. It was Darien's and mine, and now holds my fondest memories of him. If only he could see what his love has brought into being.
I'm brought out of my thoughts as Makoto nudged me in the side. I look at her, confused, then notice that the prince was just down from us shaking hands. I nodded in understanding and let her move in front of me. I could really care less if I shook hands with him or not.
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I could have sworn Granddad agreed that we would go strait to the car once we got off the plane. I wish he had. I'm too tired to really care about what these people think of my suit, I don't want any flowers, I just send them on to the hospital anyway, and what is so wonderful about a handshake, anyway? But I will smile, and shake hands, take gifts and make small talk. That is what is expected of royalty after all, isn't it?
Looking into the crowd around me I see a set of eyes that mirror the emotions I feel. The poor girl obviously doesn't want to be here, but, by the way the girl standing next to her nudged her, her friends certainly do. He eyes are so sad; as though she has lost someone special. Like Helios still looks sometimes when he thinks about Dad.
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As the prince came closer, Raye and Makoto became more excited. Wait, was it just me, or did we just make eye contact and a look of, I guess, familiarity pass over his face. Well, it has only been a year since his father died. He must still grieve that loss. Lord knows I still grieve over Darien and it's been eight months.
What is he doing? He is standing just to my left and is getting something out of his pocket, I think. But he keeps shaking hands. There, the girls have their – now he's really lost me. Whatever he had pulled from his pocket he is handing to me. "I would appreciate it," was all he said as I took the paper that he offered.
All I can do at the moment is nod numbly that I heard what he said. He moves to my right, shaking hands again. I watched him for a few seconds then look at what he gave me. It looked like an invitation to – it is an invitation to the Queen's Ball, the dinner and dance the city is holding in honor of her visit. I can't decide whether to laugh or faint. I have some close connections to elite Friagne, Darien's parents are part of the old money crowd, and I know these invites are hard to come by. Tickets were going for a thousand a piece, and there weren't that many for sale. The girls' voices finally get my attention and I am forced to leave my quiet brooding.
"Usa, what did he give you?" Makoto demands at the same time Raye says "Let me see!"
"Will you two knock it off? It's nothing, really," I lie as I stuff it into my coat. "You got your handshake, can we go now? I'm freezing!"
"You're showing us in the car," Raye says as we walk to my car.
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I wish that I could have said more to that mysterious woman with the sad eyes. But even giving her the invitation is a risk. I have to keep moving down the line so I can get some sleep. Grandmother probably won't be please I gave it to a perfect stranger. It's quite possible that she won't even be able to go though. Her jacket looks pretty worn; she may not even be able to afford a dress. Maybe she'll sell the ticket. I hope not. I want to see her again. Maybe we can help each other. Or maybe I'm mistaken and she's just fine.
I hate crowds.
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Darien had been an only child of a rich family. When he died, his parents were faced with the dilemma of what to do with their estate. Were being the key word. See, what I forgot to mention about Darien's death was that in the pocket of his jacket that day was an engagement ring. So, under the condition that I take Darien's name and keep it, I become the Sheilds' sole benefactor. This leaves me with a large lump of money and an important role in the social community to take on. Me, the simple country girl.
Now, I have taken finishing lessons from a private tutor and am learning the ins and outs of "polite" society. I have one thing to say for most of those with money. The stereotype of them being stuck-up, so true. But it gets me my car and a penthouse suite by the university.
Today, however, I'm driving out to the country. Raye and I are back from university for the summer and Makoto is graduating high school in June. Rika should be home in a few days from school, and then we're off to teach at camp. But back to my life right now.
As soon as we had all piled into my car, Raye and Makoto insist I tell them what the prince gave me. Once I show them, I have to laugh at the shocked looks on their faces.
"You're going, of course, aren't you?" Raye asks me.
"I suppose I have to. It would hardly be good manners otherwise. I did get an invitation from the prince. I hate propriety."
"Bull to propriety, why wouldn't you go? It's been eight months, and you have moved from girlfriend of heir to heir. Your charity is finished, we're leading it in a month, there is nothing holding you back but you. Even Darien's parents are moving on. You're going and you're going to enjoy yourself," Makoto tells me in her not so blunt way.
All I can do is sigh and look at the invitation. The Sheilds' will be pleased that I'm going, though they will likely be shocked by the fact that I'm there on the prince's invitation. Hell, I'm shocked.
"But why would he invite me," I ask as I look down at my coat then up at my make-up-less face in the mirror. "I'm hardly one do much eye catching." What can I say, I look like hell.
"Don't try that one on us. You are damned sexy, and there are some guys who like a girl of mystery. And those sad eyes hold a lot," Raye tells me.
I smile. "You can be sweet sometimes. I suppose I could get a ride with the Sheilds'."
"No way! You have your personal valet right here. The ball isn't for from the apartment, just call me when you want me to pick you up and I'll come get you. Assuming you plan on going stag, that is," Raye offers me.
"Under the prince's invite? I couldn't take anyone with me. Especially since the only man my heart goes to is gone. Besides, I have at least met just about everyone who will be going.
"Let's stop at the penthouse to pick a dress out to wear."
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I should have expected this. Of course, they'd bite into me for it. I'm not aloud to do something as normal as invite a girl to go out with me.
"You don't know a thing about her! What if she goes to the press? Or someone who saw you does? Or what if she shows up and makes a complete fool of you?" Grandmother is demanding of me.
"It won't be the first or the last time our family has made headlines," I say. I really don't care whether it was proper or not. I need to get out of here. "Permission to turn in for the night, Grandmother?"
She looks shocked that I could have the audacity to ask such a thing. Aren't I aloud to be tired? Or am I suppose to sit and listen to this for hours?
"Granted. This is not the end of this," she promises. But it never is, is it?
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