Disclaimer: Standard Disclaimers apply. Boring, but still…
Author's Note: Yaho! Sorry to keep you all waiting! A hiatus of two months! This is un-called for! Anyway, on to the chapter…
Credits: This chapter is not from the original script.
Mona Bella
Chapter Three: If Only
If only I had stayed at home that night; if only I never prayed for my wish to be granted, my prayer to be heard and answered. If only I had never believed in the endings of children's fairy tales.
She lifted a trembling finger and traced her face from her thinly-plucked eyebrows down to her jaw. Too late, she realized, much too late to learn her lesson now; the result of her biggest mistake would now haunt her forever, etched into her memory for all eternity.
Perhaps the young belle could've spotted the warning sings that appeared everywhere from the start? Maybe it wasn't too late to turn back then? But it was too late now…
If only…
…
The next seven days proved to be pure chaos in the household. Reina sent for the finest tailors and would have only the finest material for their gowns.
Soujirou was kept busy as he had to keep answering the door; while each time the door opened Misao crept behind the velvet curtains and kept herself hidden.
As Kamatari and Yumi went in and out of the dressing room trying on their new gowns excitedly, Misao stood by and watched, trying not to let envy get to her, although the effort was great, seeing as how she had just missed out being at the finest party in town.
"It's such a pity you won't be there with us," Yumi commented as she adjusted her hair clip in front of the mirror. "Things just aren't the same without seeing you chase after some stray bird."
Misao contemplated yanking out all of Yumi's auburn locks and making her screech like a rooster herself. Instead, she bit her tongue and tried to ignore her stepsister's scathing remark.
…
"Quick, girls! The coach is here." Reina called out. Yumi and Kamatari squealed in excitement and scrambled to get into the brightly-lit carriage.
Misao stood by the door and watched; she and Soujirou were left behind that night. The young belle's heart filled with envy as she saw the coach being driven into the darkening streets like a shooting star disappearing into the night sky.
…
Later that night, Misao sat alone in a courtyard, looking at the mysterious night sky studded with shiny stars like diamonds upon black velvet.
Unknowingly, she began to sing something which she had learned as a child:
"Star light, star bright. First star I've seen tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight."
Misao's voice, clear as a nightingale, echoed throughout the courtyard like a gentle breeze lulling its inhabitants to sleep, the beautiful, harmonious melody spiraling right into the clouds…
…Where they reached the ears of a certain fox lady.
…
Suddenly, a bright light illuminated the entire place. Misao covered her eyes with her hand to protect her vision from being blinded by the sudden assault of brightness.
Misao shut her eyes and prayed hard that the light would soon fade; she didn't know what was worse: getting blinded by what seemed to be a replica of the sun, or having to navigate around in complete darkness.
"Oh hoho!" At this new voice, the sixteen-year old opened her eyes and peered at the newcomer: a all, willowy lady whose ivory complexion was framed by long, black hair like hers. Her cupid red lips were curled upward in a smile. The lady resembled an ornately-carved porcelain figurine, one of the many antiques that decorated the hallways of the Makimachi Estate.
"Err…" was Misao's only response. She was the oddest person she'd ever come across in her entire life. Too many questions flooded her mind: How had she managed to enter through locked gates? What business did this strange woman have here? Most importantly, who was she?
"Now now, it's not very nice to stare, "remarked the lady. "What is it you called me for, child?"
Misao pouted; it was her biggest pet peeve to be called a child, especially when she was already sixteen. "But I'm not a child!" she protested, getting up from her seat in a very not-so-grownup manner.
The tall lady raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Really?" she asked incredulously. "I always thought you're ten." The younger girl glared daggers at her. Sometimes, she fumed inwardly, adults act like immature toddlers.
"Anyway," she continued, as if nothing had happened, "I can't keep calling you "child", so let's hear your name."
"M-Misao Makimachi," stammered the young maiden; it felt as if it were the first time another woman spoke to her as an equal.
"Well, you may call me "Megumi," said the lady. "If you're wondering who I am, I'm your guardian angel."
Misao stared at her again. Guardian angel? "But if you're my guardian angel, then why am I still stuck here after all these years…?"
"Oh hoho!" Megumi laughed (Misao swore she could've seen a pair of fox ears pop out of herb head.) "That's because you didn't pray hard enough."
"Then… you'll grant my wish?" Megumi laughed, her gentle eyes lighting up as she smiled. "You're stating the obvious, aren't you? All you have to do is ask, and you'll receive."
At her guardian angel's words, Misao'd heart leapt; her wish was finally about to be granted after long, long years of fervent prayer!
Megumi help up a slender finger to stop her from speaking again. "However, you must consider carefully; for every wish granted, there are consequences to follow, consequences that you never thought of. Do you understand?"
Without really reflecting the true meaning of Megumi's words, Misao nodded her head eagerly, more for the wish to be granted. "I want to go to the masquerade tonight."
The foxy lady frowned a little in concentration, and then nodded. "I'll be back in a jiffy!" So saying, she disappeared.
…
Aoshi stood alone by himself behind a large window, his icy blue eyes following every single carriage that arrived at the well-decorated estate.
The young ruler sighed inwardly. Once again, he wondered why he ever agreed to this unnecessary nonsense in the first place.
What if his four comrades hadn't perished during the war? Would he be different… more sociable?
If only he had been bon into a different social class… perhaps less would be expected of him there… perhaps he wouldn't have to bear the burdens and responsibilities that came with the immense power he had now.
If only…
…
Misao sat quietly, biting her lip nervously as the carriage sped forward, heading closer and closer toward the venue.
As she sat alone, accompanied by only her thoughts, the young belle re-called the night of total transformation she had undergone earlier.
The gown she wore now was the most beautiful she'd ever worn. Ironically, it was the only gown she had ever worn too.
Everything felt like a Cinderella story, except for one thing: she didn't have to return by midnight. Instead, Megumi gave her a beautifully crafted mask and told her the moment the mask was taken off her face, so would the gown… and the accessories… until she was nothing but a maid in rags. The whole masquerade would end when the mask left her pearl-like face.
If only the mask never fell off…
…………………………………………………………………………………………...
in the next chapter: Misao arrives at the masquerade to meet the man who will change her life forever. The man of the masquerade: Aoshi.
Author's Note: Sorry if this isn't up to standard, I just didn't want to put it off any longer than I have to… argh… my fingers are tired so I want at least five reviews PRETTY PLEASE!
NOTE: the following fic will be updated shortly in a week or so: Timeless Love, Kitsune's Confessions, Here Without You. Still looking for inspiration of Reversed Blade, Reversed Fate. New ones will be popping up now and then.
Until the next chapter! mC