Mona Bella

Disclaimer: -reads out from torn and tattered paper- I did not steal anything from Watsuki-san! –looks down at paper again- I am nothing but a little fledging with only a scrap of imagination and… wait a minute that sounds so familiar!

Saitou: ahou…

Credits: this chapter is not from the original play.

Authour's note: eveyone's been wondering just who on earth is that senorita I just mentioned in chapter one... it's... it's...

Chapter Two: Two Distant Figures

Makimachi Misao could have been the fairest lady who ever lived in the land where there was a great division between the wealthy aristocrats and the lowly slaves. Her bright turquoise orbs sparkled like a clear lake under the bright sunlight of the day and her luscious red lips resembled the petals or a red rose in full bloom. Her captivating beauty alone was enough to send any man to his knees in pursuit of the mona bella.

A pity, though, that Misao was also the most unfortunate wretch. Her mother succumbed to a fatal disease shortly after her birth and her father perished during a great war that wrecked havoc throughout the entire kingdom. An infant, Misao was left to the care of her remaining kin- her stepmother Reina and her two step siblings, Kamatari and Yumi.

However, Misao's new relaties were as evil as Misao was beautiful. As soon as the mourning veil was lifted, Reina seized the family fortunes for herself and banished all the servants so that Misao remained behind to work her back off waiting on them round the clock. In order to eliminate all competition for the title of "Mona Bella", a spell was cast on the orphan; whoever looked into her eyes would instantly turn blind, so that not a single soul could spread the tale of her beauty.

As if by a cruel twist of fate, Reina, Kamatari and Yumi were the only ones who escaped the curse, so only they knew just how beautiful Misao was. But of course, they never spoke of the orphan girl who wasted away her youth as a servant to her own family members.

The poor fool never learned of such a curse. She was told by Reina never to reveal her face to the public as it was horribly disfigured and had to be hidden from everyone else. This, every time Misao stepped out of the house, her lovely face was hidden by a dull, grey hood, giving her the name of "Hidden Beauty".

But Misao longed for a change of life. Every night before she curled up to sleep, she whispered a prayer for a change in her monotonous life. Just a slight turn of events, she pleaded, and she would take care of the rest herself.

And everyday she waited for the change that never came. But the child never lost hope, just like one always believes that the sun will always rise in the east and set in the west. In fact, Misao was so full of hope and faith that she never once ceased her prayers, blissfully unaware of the old saying, "Be careful what you wish for."

Little did she know that her life was about to change, but with a heavy price to pay…

…

Shinomori Aoshi felt that the powers instilled in his position as the man of the highest status hardly ever reached past the limit of his title of "Lord".

This was due to the fact that almost all his affairs were dealt with by his advisors, especially the old ally of his father, Senor Okina. Not that Okina's advice ever did any harm; he was, after all, the most trusted companion of his father, the previous ruler, so Aoshi was certain that Okina couldn't go wrong with his accurate predictions.

What he did have a problem with was that the matters Okina always advised him on were somewhat personal. Aoshi felt that he had to deal with such affairs himself. On the other hand…

"Please consider this option, my Lord." Okina beseeched his superior to consent," Your father would've liked this idea very much…after all, it is a tradition set by your ancestors to celebrate in the midst of the people…during the better times when all was well."

Reluctantly, Aoshi had agreed to hold the masquerade not because he believed in the slightest bit that the even would improve social ties but because he felt bound by the social custom set by his grandfathers before him.

Lord Shinomori was not one known to be sociable- he often kept to himself and spoke to few, except for old Okina. Aoshi's cold, icy exterior and lack of effort to socialize were the reasons why he never managed to court a lady successfully- if he ever tried in the first place. To him, the words "friendship" and "love" mean nothing, especially since he lost his four closest and only allies during the war.

However, Aoshi was fully aware that he wasn't that young anymore. Although hardly a word was spoken about it, they all knew that he needed an heir to succeed him, just as he had suceeded his own father.

His comrade from the war, Shishi-o Makoto, was only too eager for the masquerade. Aoshi knew all too well that the reason behind his eagerness was the beautiful ladies who would be present. Shishi-o was a perpetual playboy who manipulated young but naïve women and then dumped them once he grew tired of them. Although Shishi-o was hardly the best companion in the world, Aoshi never complained once. Why would he give a second thought about trivial matters such as these?

To many, Shinomori Aoshi was just a loner who possessed an icy exterior that none could penetrate- a man whose soul was scarred by too many battles to care about the affairs of the heart.

Or was he?

…

Early in the morning, while the residents of the Makimachi Estate were still dozing away in their warm, comfortable beds, a young girl named Misao stirred up slowly from her slumber, roused by the cock's crow.

"Mmpf," she mumbled sleepily, forcing herself to get up. Misao rolled up her futon neatly in a corner of her room and then proceeded to braid her long, silky midnight black locks. Although there was no mirror for her to refer to (Reina forbade her to look into any mirror.), her skillful fingers deftly parted the black strands and slipped a gold hair tie to keep her hair from falling out while she went about her chores.

Misao walked to the other side of the room where her friend, Soujirou, was still sound asleep. He blinked a few times in surprise when the sixteen-year old tapped him on the shoulder, then smiled at her in a greeting.

Soujirou was but a young, helpless boy when Misao rescued him from a deserted dump a few years back. Initially, the young boy was afraid of her, thinking that she was an attacker, but as he soon learned that the thoughtful girl meant no harm, Soujirou's trust grew and eventually he followed her home where she nursed him back to health.

Reina was furious when she found out, but as the evil stepmother eventually found out that Soujirou was deprived of speech, she finally allowed him to stay. Misao always thought that it was the only kind deed Reina ever did.

She couldn't be more wrong.

The only reason why Reina ever consented Soujirou's staying in the estate was because Soujirou had no ability to speak, and thus couldn't tell anyone especially Misao just how attractive she really was. Furthermore, they needed someone to answer the door without blinding the outsider.

Reina was puzzled why Soujirou escaped this curse, but it never really bothered her as long as her secret was kept safe. Everything was nothing except a lie.

…

Aoshi stood alone by himself in front of the four stone tablets that marked the final resting place of his friends.

:Hannya…Hyotokko…Beshimi…Shikijou…I'm sorry," he muttered almost inaudibly, closing his eyes in prayer for their souls.

When people close their eyes, they see different things. Some see fiery shades of red and orange under the light, while others see only pitch black. For Lord Shinomori, he would forever be haunted by the visions of his friends dying in front of him while they tried to protect their commander…and friend.

Unknowingly, he clenched his fists in anger and regret. Why? He asked silently. Why?

Just then, the somber slence was shattered by a loud thumping of feet on the stone steps leading the courtyard. Aoshi sighed inwarsly, knowing full well who the intruder was.

"There you are, my Lord!" called Shishi-o. "I was looking for you all over the place. What are you doing here?"

Aoshi eyed Shishi-o warily. "Please observe silence here," he replied softly, turning back to the graves.

Shishi-o scoffed in reply. "They were weak to die, my Lord," he commented. "Only the strongest deserve to stay on; you know that."

Aoshi ignored his comment and strode quietly and quickly out of the courtyard, leaving Shishi-o alone.

He smirked. At the rate he's going, the masquerade's going to be a total failure, he thought wryly. He too walked quickly and caught up with Aoshi.

"I heard every belle in the country is coming," Shishi-o remarked, grinning widely in anticipation. "Everyone…the ladies-of-court, and even the most charming youth loitering about in the market place. Either Senor Okina is becoming desperate, or…"

Shishi-o stopped short when Aoshi halted abruptly. Turning his icy blue gaze toward his companion, he stated coldly, "If I ever hear of you causing and trouble, you're going to join the weak."

"Hmpf, interesting." Shishi-o smirked at Aoshi's departing figure.

…

It was yet another normal day at the Makimach Estate. Nothing out of the ordinary, as usual…

Except for the loud crashing and rather un-ladylike screaming in the dining room where Reina, Kamatari and Yumi were having breakfast, that is. Sighing, Misao went in to see what had happened.

As usual, the rooster which roused her from her sleep every morning was currently terrorizing the three "damsels in distress".

"Get that thing away from me!" screeched Yumi, her auburn hair flying all over the place. Misao turned her gaze to her other step sibling Kamatari and suppressed a giggle- Kamatari was no better, standing on her chair and waving her knife at the rooster which was squawking rather angrily at Reina. Her evil stepmother looked on at the chaos with utter distaste.

When Reina spotted her stepdaughter by the door, she snapped, "Well, what are you dawdling for? Can't you see that reature on the table? Didn't your mother teach you anything?"

Misao ignored the jibe made by her evil stepmother and gently picked up the squawking rooster. Almost instantly for some mysterious reason, the animal calmed down and quietened.

Just then, the door-bell rang, causing Misao to drop the rooster on the floor in surprise. Ignoring the rooster's indignant squawk, she headed to the front door where she spotted a messenger in the royal servant's garments handing a pale envelope to Soujirou, who took it and bowed his head in thanks. The sixteen-year old's heart thumped. What would bring Lord Shinomori's messenger to the Makimachi Estate?

A dove delivers a message of peace, hope and happiness. A crow, on the other hand, brings nothing but a rude avalanche of disastrous misery, false lies and pain.

Soujirou closed the door and grinned at Misao, showing her the envelope. She took it and carefully opened it before extracting the letter inside it.

However, she didn't get to read it because the delicate paper was snatched out of her hands by none other than Reina. Her emerald eyes closely followed the words written on the document before her lips curled upwards and she went ecstatic at the news.

"What is it, mother?" asked Yumi. The "rooster-for-breakfast" fiasco had died down by now and she was seated in her chair, a picture of poise and elegance if not for the food and cutlery scattered about her.

"It's from Senor Okina himself," Reina replied, clutching the letter as if it were a rare, priceless gem. "We're invited to a masquerade on Christmas Eve!"

"Oh! I can't wait!" Kamatari cried, jumping up and down eagerly in anticipation. "I'm going to snag Lord Shinomori!"

"Oh, no you don't!" protested Yumi. "You're not going to steal him away from me!"

Kamatari glared at her. "Just watch me."

"Hmpf! I'm never going to allow myself to lose to a guy like you!" Yumi retorted. Misao tried hard not to laugh; although Kamatari was really a guy, she acted exactly like a girl.

What's on the surface is but a door that hides the rotting skeleton in the closet- the horrific, ghastly truth.

"We'll have to get a tailor over to take out measurements for our new outfits…"said Reina thoughtfully. Without thinking, Misao asked, "Cn I go to the masquerade, too?"

For a moment, silence hung in the air as all three of them turned a mocking stare in her direction. Misao started to feel uneasy under their intimidating gaze. Then, Kamatari threw back her head and laughed, her laughter echoing throughout the room,

"You?" Reina asked in disbelief. "My dear child, who's going to tend to the housekeeping if we let you go running lal over the place?"

Yumi smirked, while Kamatari added, "I can't believe a high- class gentleman falling for a soot-covered girl like you! Besides, no one likes someone who plays with feather dusters!"

Misao's shoulders slumped a little. So much for asking.

Now I wish I could take 'no' for an answer.

…

author's note: keep a lookout for chapter three…it's kinda typical of the original Cinderella story really… just had to get this chapter up before I leave for my ten-day holiday in Canada… and hotels aren't places where you can easily hook up on the Net and operate Microsoft Word, haha. Plus, I don't have a laptop! Argh…

Till the next Chapter! Until then, do take care and review! Muazziez! –grin5- mC