The Prince of Yesterday

New Science Fiction is the combination of the two genres Science Fiction and Fantasy; the term was coined by Sunrise with 1996's Vision of Escaflowne and has become increasingly popular among the writing community. This story is focused more on fantasy than science fiction.

Lurking Shadows: (aka Spatial Monkey, aka Latent Psychopath). Quit changing you penname! It's driving me crazy. Anyway, thanks for pointing that out, right on it! Domo Arigatou!

Katt: Nope. Changing Pennames (aka Latent Psychopath or whatever she is when I update this) beat you. Yay! First time someone other than Katt reviewed first.

PeaceLoveOcelot: That's probably because it is a fantasy sort setting. As we get more into the story, especially in this chapter, you'll see more of what this place is built on. The Maze, where Tohru, Uo, and Hana live, is the old part of the city, designed to be reminiscent of an American city during the industrial revolution. The newer part of the city where the Sohmas are from is like Zaibach, if you've everseenEscaflowne. Thanks for the review! I hope that helps.

As far as pairings go it's looking like a Yukiru, but I'm not sure. Maybe a Kyoru, but I like UoKyo pairings myself. Hana's not a major character so I'm not sure with her either.

Chapter Two: Fated Encounters

Dawn light illuminated the streets and alleys of the Maze, the southern part of the city, signaling the start of the typical work day for many of the commoners that inhabited that section of town. Tohru Honda, however, was just waking up from her sparse sleep after working until midnight at a tavern on the other side of town.

She rose and greeted the day has she had done every morning all her life, by standing in the muddy alley just beyond her ground level apartment and staring up through the clothes lines that connected the rundown buildings to each other. She could see a small break in the gray clouds, which meant the sun might actually shine again, like it had when she was a small girl. Even though it was unlikely, she had to hope.

Then she had a thought, "Maybe if it rains enough, all the pollution will be washed away, leaving only the clean air above us."

"That's a pleasant thought. Good morning!" The young woman followed the voice to find a man the same age as she leaning out the window of the building across the street, two floors up. "Maybe if it rains enough it will drown the Sohma family out of power and then we'll be rid of all this filth."

She gasped. "No, no, you shouldn't say things like that! What if someone heard you? You'd be killed for sure!"

The man laughed. "I'm not worried. C'mon, Tohru, you and I have lived here our whole lives and never seen a guard this far back in the Maze. The only people around are those who feel the same way."

"Oh, still, you never know. Hana says there's something secret happening right now and we have to be careful." Tohru called back.

"Come to think of it, there have been more guards in the main streets." He seemed to remember something just then and waved. "Anyway, I've got to get to work. Have a good day Tohru."

"You too, Duo!" As he vanished from the window, she returned indoors to finish readying herself for the day. She dressed simply, in a dark blue skirt that had once belonged to her mother, and a loose white shirt, her usual muddy brown boots and her heavy black shawl completed the outfit.

Now to find her basket and she was off to the markets to do her weekly shopping. Her own home was neat and well kept, but even it showed obvious signs of wear. The walls were water stained yellowed, the floor on the verge of giving out, and she was thankful no one lived above her, or the roof might have already collapsed. For being very old, the entire neighborhood was in good condition, especially compared to where Uo lived.

After a few minutes of hunting around her apartment she found the basket right under her nose, as in under her summer shawl near the door. Then she was off, set down narrow alleys of buildings that fell just short of the sky. These pathways were filled with others, children playing games and laughing, people on their way to work, and some of the outer market shops just opening for the new day.

This was the world Tohru was raised in and would trade for nothing. Passing by friends who called her name on her stroll, stopping frequently to speak with shopkeepers of all the small happenings and rumors of the streets. Slowly, the Maze changed to more organized roads, and the guards in the street increased, forcing the woman to watch her step.

She was stopped at the arches that marked the entrance of the market by a sentry, but passed through the routine checkpoint quickly and with little fuss. In the early morning, the market itself was not so crowded, thankfully, and she was able to barter for the items she needed with ease. Haggling was a skill she'd learned well from her mother, and she always made sure to please both sides of the party without leaving with a too light purse.

All in all, it had turned out to be a good day; Tohru decided as she at some bread she'd bought from the bakery, sitting on the side of the road and watching the people pass by. Forgetting all things and lost in her thoughts, she did not notice the guards as they approached her until they were right in front of her.

"Hey, stupid girl, did you not hear me?"

She snapped from her daydream, a look of pure panic mixed with a very subtle terror crossing her face as her green eyes widened. "I-I'm sorry." What had he said? What did these guards want with her, oh no. This was not good.

"Damn whore, what are you deaf?" The first of the guards, a malicious smirk across his face, grabbed her wrist and flung her to the ground in the middle of the road, causing a scene, but most of the people turned away, not daring to be caught in the middle of this affair.

Tohru landed on her side, her basket flung away from her, its contents spilled on the streets. Why today? Why her? 'Someone, please help me.' It wasn't right of her, after she herself had turned away so many times before, but she desperately wanted someone to come.

She lifted herself up to her knees, keeping her head bent to keep from crying. The guard came closer, his fellows urging him on. He was only a few feet away when her prayer was answered, out of the blue, a blur knocked the guard back with a swift kick, grabbed her arm and tugged her away into the allies leading back into the Maze.

"AFTER THEM!"

Oh, no. The cloaked figure who rescued her continued running and she kept pace with him as best she could. forgetting about her lost shawl and basket. They turned many corners, deeper and deeper, though quickly Tohru realized her rescuer had no idea where he was going, but at least he had lost them without double backing, quite a feat for a stranger.

When it was safe, they stopped to catch their breath and Tohru had a chance to look at the mysterious person. His hood had fallen away during the chase to reveal a mess of orange hair, naturally untamable and beautiful, bright red eye. His skin was a dark tan, like a field worker's, and a giveaway that he was not from the Maze. He dressed simply in lose clothes, all practical but well made and worn from use, sturdy boots, and a light brown cloak suited for his colors over them, also in poor condition. A traveler maybe?

"T-thank you." She panted, catching her breath.

"Don't sweat it, I only did what any decent person would have." He brushed aside her remark, turning to walk away.

She caught his arm. "No, wait. No one ever defies the guards, if they do they'll get killed. Please, I have to do something to thank you."

"Forget about it. Those guards couldn't stop me even if their lives depended on it. It really was nothing."

She stared up into his eyes, "At least tell me your name?"

The man contemplated but answered, "My name is Kyo."

"Kyo..." Tohru tasted the name on her lips, it was sweet and easy, a good name for a person like him. "I'm Tohru. Are you a traveler passing through?"

"I'm going to see my family; I've been away for a long time." He looked uncomfortable. "I should go now."

Tohru nodded. "I understand. Please don't hesitate to find me, I live here in the maze and just ask someone for me, Tohru Honda, it's not a common name."

Something akin to shock passed his tan face, but he nodded, swept his cloak around, and was gone without a trace. Leaving Tohru with a memory reminiscent of the ballads sang by bards when they came to her tavern...

Black eyes closed but watching recorded the event in her mind. She knew who both of them were. The young captain of the guards and her dear friend, a story unfolding before her. "Too... soon..." She whispered weakly, afraid that events were falling into place too quickly and it would result in an unwanted death. But her powers were not enough to counter his, and in the end all she could do was watch, and pray that no harm should pass either of them.

Chapter two is short but I kind of wanted to get it done and out there so you knew I was still alive (like the AN was not enough). I started this chapter immediately after the other one but it kinda went ka-plop when the Effexor stopped working and I stopped being able to concentrate. Now I feel better and am back to writing.

Next Time: Everything is beginning to fall into place. Why does the mysterious prince seek the help of a young assassin? Who is this mysterious person that draws their reality into place? What goes on in the halls of the Sohma Palace?

More Advertising:

Crying Out: Furuba. Coming Soon to your computer! Forgotten, alone, and forsaken, these teens have fallen so far that rising again seems impossible to them. Brought together in a single place for people like them, they learn. Their strengths, their weakness, their breaking point, and how to deal with each other. To a world that wasn't listening they were crying out, and now, they've finally been heard. (Based on a true story).

Lockea