Beyond the Veil of Time
AN: Hmmm... only a few peepz reviewed my work... Ah well, I write out of pure fun anyway. Here's chapter 2!
AN: This has nothing to do with the real history of Japan, so don't like, don't read.
Chapter 2: The Other Prologue (Lame, I know)
The grand Asakura estate, is, and always has been, a sight to marvel. In all of Heian Kyo, the royal Asakura is considered to be the wealthiest, not because of their status, but because of the endless hard work that they have offered for the betterment of the whole city. Not a single citizen of this country disrespects the monarchy, and in return, Heian Kyo is governed without turmoil and corruption.
The estate, as its reputation precedes, is a must-see. Its vastness stretches from the Asakura Main House to as distant as the eyes can perceive. Its symmetrically perfect houses and buildings can truly be the envy of local engineers everywhere. Its lush greenery and alluring flowers can entice even the coldest of females. In terms of better understanding, the place was considered the perfection of all things deemed perfect.
The same can be said for the prestigious Asakura monarchy. Aside from being the rulers of this grandiose land, they were known as the family of the greatest shamans, beings who connect the human world to the realm of the spiritually dead. Shamanism back then, after all, was quite a common ability.
Let us then proceed to the great history of the monarchy.
After Heian Kyo's former ruler, Asakura Yohmei, passed away, his only son, Mikihisa, took over the throne at the precious age of nineteen. During his rule, he met Keiko, the daughter of Asakura Yohken, a distant relative of his.
The two, despite being of the same blood, immediately fell in love with each other, so much that Mikihisa himself resolved not accept any other consort besides her. Eventually, and because of mutual feelings, the two got married and Asakura Keiko was crowned the new queen of all of Heian Kyo. Even the former queen, Kino, gave her utmost support.
After a few years of peaceful rule, the queen eventually bore a son. To be more exact, two sons. To the delight of the family, and of the whole of Heian Kyo, the queen bore twins. Two healthy, handsome boys that will be the next rulers of the coming generation.
The twins were immensely popular, especially among the ladies of the city. The two, being the exact copy of each other and all, inherited their father's lustrous auburn locks and their mother's kind and gentle features.
As the twins grew, so did their responsibilities. The eldest, Hao, who was conceived a measly three minutes before his brother, was granted pompous tasks as the crown prince, leaving the younger, Yoh, with plenty of room to engage in leisurely activities.
The crown prince Hao was reknowned for his sagacity in wielding a calligraphy brush and unsurpassed skills with a flute. All in all, he was the compendium of the perfect man, the kind in which women would sacrifice anything to be with.
His younger twin, Yoh, on the other hand, was notorious for his stubborn indolence and obstinate non-compliance to his already petty tasks. Although famous for his unmatched skills with the katana, he was not acknowledged for having expertese in something unprofitable during a period of quietude.
Nonetheless, his rather bizarre charms caught the demanding eyes of the daughter of a famous aristocrat who resided within the Asakura estate, Kyoyama Anna.
Being the daughter of a stern Japanese aristocrat and an elegant European lady, Kyoyama Anna was bestowed with pitch black eyes as sharp as her father's and a creamy complexion that has become the object of envy among women her age. Aside from that, her inherited blonde tresses resembled gold spun for the royalty's garments. She was truly a sight to behold.
But behind that perfect image was a tiger ready to pounce on anyone who got in her way. As the description suggests, she was infamous for her cold affections and unimaginably short temper. This fact dwindled the number of her willing suitors from little to none. This did not trouble her though, for she could not care less about her love life. That is, until she met the young prince.
A small, unimportant visit by Anna's family to the Asakura Main House gave way to her shelled emotions. As always, Anna would excuse herself and have a promenade through the famous monarchy garden while her parents discussed about matters that she deemed impractical. That was when she caught sight of the young prince.
As she turned around the corner of a sturdy cypress tree, for the first time, fear flooded her whole body as she came face to face with the sharp edge of the prince's katana. That was brief though, for the wielder of the blade withdrew and, in a comical way, asked for the immediate forgiveness of the said lady. What he got as an answer was, as expected, the sudden and furious slap of the outraged girl on his delicate cheek. Anna expected a violent reaction from someone who brandishes a katana, but instead, the young prince caressed his swollen face in a silly manner and gave her a warm smile from within his heart, he himself admitting that he deserved her rage. Anna, who again felt another unfamiliar emotion surge within her, churning her very soul, realized who she was dealing with. The unnaturally trimmed hair style, the expertese in wielding a katana, and the carefree indolent expression, this person was none other than Asakura Yoh.
Their conversation was concise and was of little words, yet they understood each other very well. They were of two completely unlike lifestyles. Anna was, being an only child in her family of shamans, piled with numerous obligations, which was the complete contrast of Yoh for he would not be even permitted to lay a hand on a calligraphy brush even if he himself wished to.
No courting was necessary for the two lovers. Although quite terrified of the lady's inclination to anger, Yoh, who some said pitied the girl, immediately asked for young Anna's hand in matrimony. Anna, although feigning reluctance at first, gladly accepted the proposal. Of course, being close friends with the royalty, Anna's father instantly agreed.
But some wonder, is Hao not the crown prince? Then must not that mean he should be bethroted to a woman before his younger twin does?
On the contrary, the king himself took this into account, but Prince Hao himself refused to woo any female. When asked why, he would always utter back the exact same statement which, perhaps, broke the timid hearts of all the women who desired to be his.
"I find no woman enticing enough to be even likened to my charming mother."
The king would holler quite histerically, the queen would chide with streaks of rose on her pale cheeks, and the younger prince would just good-naturedly shrug it off his shoulders. It was said that of all the females of the court, Queen Asakura Keiko was deliberated, as of now anyway, the most alluring lady to have walked through the estate.
Simply put, everyone here led a joyful existence, yet many still worried about Prince Hao's lack of an official consort. Many offers were presented, but all were casually declined by the prince's cold flick of his wrist. And besides, at the tender age of fifteen, his logical thinking judged it much too early to even be arranged to have a wife. In fact, he was, at first, aghast by his younger half's instantatious decision of bethrotment to that Kyoyama woman. Although later on, Prince Hao himself found her to be pleasant company mainly because of the rare ability that they both possess and have no control of, which is the 'Soul Read', where the person can 'feel' the thoughts of others. Many even believed that Prince Hao started to have affections for his younger brother's fiance when he granted her two shikigami's directly under her control for the first monthsary of her bethrotment.
Despite all of these rumors and problems that have been piling up around him, the malevolent Prince Hao resolved not to have any of the inferior women of the court. They were, after all, unworthy of his excellence.
Oh, the arrogance...
AN: End of chapter 2. I promise to improve the story, so please read and review!
Individual Replies to Reviewers:
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