Tale of the Philandering Prince Hao by notnow

Ch 1. Resolve

Disclaimer: Hiroyuki Takei owns Shaman King and I own this fic. This is loosely adapted from the Tale of Genji, a classical Japanese novel written by Lady Murasaki.

Note: there's no such person as Yoh here…and the setting is Heian period Japan (794-1192). Heian period is considered Japan's golden age and is marked by increasing interest in the arts, and a departure from Chinese culture which the Japanese had tried to emulate. This is also an era where women's writings became prolific and the cultivation of Japanese syllaberies began with katakana and hiragana (Chinese was reserved for men only).

"Go home to your wife, to one of your many mistresses—I don't care; just leave!"

"Why do you reject me knowing our feelings are mutual?"

"What's mutual? You're incapable of loving, as much as I am unable to love a man who hops from one woman to the next."

"You can't help but love me anyway. Why deny it?"

"I'm in denial? Really, this is becoming nonsensical. You only label it love to justify acts you commit as you please." Her voice remained cold and devoid of remorse.

The handsome prince Hao huffed in frustration. She refused to invite him into her chamber and left him to stand at the papered doors in embarrassment. Numerous women begged to get a glimpse of his smile, let alone the privilege of sharing a night with him. But this one was different; she dogmatically refused to let him shower her with his affections despite sharing the same feelings of love. Out of all the ladies who were at his whims, this one commanded his complete attention, though she did so unintentionally.

Why must she be so stubborn? Did she really want to marry someone other than him? She should have been ecstatic at the prospect of him proposing to make her his official wife. Although not his first wife, but at least a legitimate one. Others were not as lucky as to be deemed prince Hao's consorts. So why was she so vehemently repudiating his affections? Proving the rumors of his boldness true, the prince slid the shoji open and stepped in.

A scene of long necked herons sketched in gold decorated the four cornered floor screens Anna sat within. He studied her profile behind them. Her lashes cast a lovely shadow of fluttering butterflies. Oh how he wanted to reach out and slide the screen away, the only barrier hiding his object of desire!

Anna was not one to budge under his charisma. And it was exactly her resistance to his charms that made him desire her more. It was very much in his nature to want what he couldn't have. No, he was out to prove that he could have her. There had to be no challenge in the world that he could not meet.

He no longer cared about winning the bet against both his rival and friend Tao Ren. For all he knew, he had already secured the victory in that competition. He just had to convince Anna to acknowledge her feelings now.

Acting on impulse, he moved behind the screen and peered upon her creamy complexion. She let out a gasp of shock and inched away from the intruder. The moment of fear in her eyes was brief as she immediately regained her composure and turned her back to him. "Leave," she demanded.

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I will scre------" Before she could finish, he clasped his hands over her mouth and drew her body close to his. The scent of lilac on her robe and her hair aroused his senses. He resolved not let this precious person out of his grasp.

Alarmed by the feeling of fingers tugging at her robe, Anna thrashed about violently in his arms. Fear flooded her body as she realized that her strength was not enough to dissuade his intentions. Though his hands no longer covered her mouth, her screams were suppressed by his pushing her face against the ground. He was on top of her, his hot breath against her ears. One hand snatched the silk robe off her back, revealing supple skin under the illumination of the oil lamp. Hungry kisses trailed from the nape of her neck down to her lower back.

She became very desolate. Upon hearing stifled sobbing, Hao jolted from his lust-possessed self and loosened his grip. With her quick reflexes, she slapped his face with vengeance and moved to the corner. The lady of his affection was now pulling her robe close to her body, shoulders trembling and facing away from him. Stray strands of her golden hair had become loose and hung from her updo. He reached out to straighten her disarrayed hair but Anna flinched at his touch, as if his fingers bore some incurable disease.

"Get away from me," she asserted through gritted teeth.

The prince sighed. "If only you understood how deep my love is for you."

"Do you callthis sort of behavior love?" She snapped.

"Yes I do. It is certainly man's misfortune that women cannot comprehend the depths of his love. Anna, you're mine. I won't let anyone else have you. Especially not that useless son of Oyamada." He got up to leave; his anguish had erased the torrent of lust surging throughout his body. However, he was far from giving up. He promised that next time not even her tears will deter him from getting what he wanted. Over his shoulders he declared, "I will come back another time. I only hope that next time you accept my feelings and yours." Without waiting for her response, he slammed his fist against the wall and left into the cool night.