Garden Mansion in Mito City
An old garden mansion stood at the north side of Mito City. Nobody knows its history and why it was abandoned and left for good. Rumor has it that the last family who lived there, had a son who called his wedding off. Since then people thought the place to be haunted by a ghost. Whether it was the ghost of the bride-to-be or the son, himself, nobody was sure. But the people of Mito were sure of one thing, and that is, every night, the light in the room on the right at the second floor would light up and a sweet but sad song was played on the piano. A woman who lived near the garden mansion even said that she could see a young man play with full of sad emotions. Although she felt pity for him, she was too afraid to approach the house for it gave off an eerie, cold feeling.
Flashback
"Why? Why doesn't he love me?" a young woman cried as she tossed herself on the bed.
"What's wrong with me? What do I don't have that I don't deserve him?" she started to throw pillows around the room. Out of her tears she walked over to her dresser and opened it. In her dresser she saw her wedding dress like it was staring back at her. She felt the soft, silk that she would wear for tomorrow's wedding. A beautiful white dress with sequins of cosmos that showed her feet at the front and covered the back as it went down.
Behind the dress she opened the drawer filled with candles, ash and chalk. She took the tools out and set the sign of the magic circle.
'I know I shouldn't be doing this but...' she thought as she remembered what she read in a book she found three days ago.
"If he won't love me, then I will make him love me!" she said in a mad, hurting voice. She surrounded the sign with ash and lit the candles. Kneeling in the middle she murmured the spell of summoning the spirits.
"Des spiritueux de O des enfers j'invite le thee me réveille du sommeil thy et réponds à mon appel. (O spirits of the underworld hear the call to thee, awaken from thy sleep, and answer my call) "
A green light glowed from the circle and a dark blue aura surrounded her. A man in black with long silver hair and fiery eyes stood in front of her.
"At such a time, why have you called upon me, child?" he asked, his voice echoed in her as she stood.
"I wish to have the dark powers of the underworld, enough to make the man I love, love me back." She blinked back tears.
"Love? Why, such a gift can't be conjured up by the evil powers of thus."
"I will use it to be the woman of his dreams. He will not reject me," she said looking down.
The man laughed slightly. "Well, I will give you the powers you wish to possess, but it comes at a price."
"What is it that I must repay you with?"
"Simple, you will sell your soul to me and live peacefully, but..." The man smiled slightly
"But what?" the woman said staring into the man's eyes.
Holding her face closely to his, he whispered, "This price will only last a while until you win your love's heart. But if this does not work, I will take the powers I have allowed you and also your life." He smiled satisfactorily, knowing that she'll buy it.
She nodded her head, "Whatever it takes I will accept it."
The man stood and said, "Then let it be done." He lifted his hands and dark shadows appeared from the floor and lifted her in a black blanket. As she floated, the man smiled slightly, 'Another victim of love' he thought.
A few hours passed when the woman woke up from her bed only to see the circle erased and the candles all blown.
"Did it work?" she asked herself. A dozen dead roses sat at a table at her side. She lifted her hands and thought of the beauty of the plant. When she opened her eyes, the flowers were well and beautiful as if they were in spring.
A voice echoed through the hall, "Princess Sylvia." A maid opened the door of her room.
"You need to get ready, my lady. The mass is about to start." She called in a quiet tone.
"Yes, I will." She replied.
The woman nodded, "I'll call your ladies-in-waiting."
Sylvia climbed into her carriage. As they were riding through the streets of Tokyo, Sylvia stared at the roses still dumbfounded. "I'll finally make you love me." She smiled to herself as she hugged the bouquet of white roses she was holding.
Akishima Church in Tokyo
The bells of the Akishima Church in Tokyo sounded as the spring leaves of trees sang with the soft breeze. It was a quiet yet peaceful afternoon. The Sakura trees that have just bloomed started to shed their petals. The fallen Sakura petals danced with the wind.
People that have gathered inside the church are waiting patiently as the bride and groom do their exchange of vows. Some children are starting to get hungry while some are starting to fall asleep because of the calm breeze that was entering the church. Nevertheless, that day was as if the most beautiful day these people have experience. Their prince is going to be crowned the king and will be marrying the most beautiful and kind princess in the world.
"Will you take this man as your husband, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" the priest said.
Sylvia looked deeply in her fiancé's eyes and she murmured the spell to make him love her. But still his, face painted a serious look of unhappiness.
"I do," Sylvia said with a slight smile.
"Will you take this woman as your bride, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
The church and its surrounding started to grow quiet. The trees stopped singing, the breeze stopped, and the petals stopped dancing. It was as if everything surrounding the church is anticipating the prince's answer.
The man thought to himself 'I can't marry a woman I don't love. Even if it means giving up the royal chair of my family...'
"I...I'm sorry," he held his head down.
"What did you say?" the priest said wanting to hear the prince's answer a bit louder.
"I-I can't," he finally said, firmly but sadly.
Everyone in the church gasped and whispered to each other, and the wind started to disturb the fallen petals on the ground. He turned to his mother who stood behind him and walked towards her.
"Mother, I-I can't love someone I don't love...I just can't," his mother looked at him deeply. "You understand, right?"
His mother nodded. "Are you sure about this? Do you really want to give this up? You know what this means, right?" she asked looking deeply in his brown eyes.
"Mm. I know what I'm doing. There will be other times mother, just not now."
His mother nodded, "If that's what you wish. You can now go."
His bride cast an angry look on him, "How could you do this Syaoran!" she burst in tears and ran down the aisle.
People's whisper started to grow louder:
"What was he thinking?"
"How about the people of England?"
"True love does not exist in royalty."
"He was lucky to have her"
"Everyone, please calm down and leave if you must. This church is not a place for a commotion like this," the priest said.
"How could you do this to Sylvia?" Sylvia's mother shouted as she slapped Syaoran's cheek and walked down the deserted aisle.
"I-I'm sorry... I couldn't," was all he could say. Then he left.
"Syaoran! What the hell do you think your doing!" scowled Sylvia's father.
"Please, do not talk to my son that way," Syaoran's mother said in a stern yet soft voice, "I'm sorry but I'm afraid that there will be no wedding today. Please come with me, we have a lot of things to settle down."
"I'm afraid we won't need your service today, Father," said one of Syaoran's sisters. "We're very sorry to have bothered you."
The priest nodded, "I understand." He looked at Syaoran who walked down the aisle. He knew this was going to happen, he saw it in his eyes.
That Night
The mother of Syaoran heaved a heavy sigh as she sat down in the living room, "Ah...what a day..."
"Your Highness," called the maid, "Princess Sylvia has already packed her things and left for England."
"Thank you," replied the Queen and she headed to her room.
Syaoran stayed in his room the whole night, thinking about what he had done. This marriage was an arranged marriage. Syaoran went with it because he was doing it for the family.
'I didn't want her to suffer,' Syaoran thought as he looked through the window touching the cold glass. 'It was the only way I could set her free, and let her be loved by someone who will truly love her,' he sighed and laid down on his bed. He covered his eyes with his right arm.
Syaoran's Flashblack
Syaoran walked towards the bridge over a pond where a girl with pretty golden hair stood. He was holding a bouquet of white roses as a gift.
"A bouquet of white roses for someone who is as pure as them," Syaoran smiled as he handed the bouquet to her. "Happy Birthday Sylvia."
"Thank you," Sylvia said with a sweet smile. "You're a very sweet person."
End of Syaoran's Flashback
He first met Sylvia a month before the wedding. They became fond of each other as time went by, but Syaoran never really felt any love for Sylvia, he only thought of her as a good friend or better yet... as someone dear to him like a sister.
'What made me think I could go through this?' he thought to himself. He walked over his dresser and opened it. He saw his tuxedo--black coat, white long sleeved polo, and a lavender tie that was matching to Sylvia's cosmos sequins. He then heard a knock on the door. He hurriedly closed the dresser and sat down on the chair beside his bed.
"I don't want to see anyone right now!" He called to the person at the door.
The person at the door hesitated at first but then opened it.
"I said I didn't want to see any-," Syaoran turned and saw his mother. "Mother?"
"Now I know you won't talk to your own mother like that." the Queen said sternly yet softly.
"Sorry," he said and stood up, "I've had a lot going through my mind lately."
"Well, after a time like this afternoon, I would too." She smiled and walked over to where his son was, "Are you positive about this decision?"
"Yes...yes I am, but there will be other chances like this one, right?" he said looking deeply in his mother's brown eyes. He got his eyes from his mother and right now, it was as if he was looking into his own eyes.
His mother shrugged, "If we're lucky. Whatever makes you happy, my son," she kissed him on his forehead and walked towards the door. She looked at him one last time, not knowing that this was the last time she was going to see her only son, and closed the door behind her.
Syaoran went back on his bed again and fell into a deep sleep. Everything seemed peaceful until he was awakened by the sound of bells. He woke up and saw a woman standing at the foot of his bed. She wore a cloak with a hood that covered her face.
"I hope you will sleep well tonight, Syaoran-kun."
"Who are you!"
The woman pulled her hood back revealing his ex-wife-to-be. "Sylvia, what the hell are you doing here?"
"It's about time you learned your lesson. For not loving me, I will teach you something you will never forget." She extended her arms to where Syaoran was and murmured a curse.
With her hands she created a seal that formed on Syaoran's chest. Syaoran floated and a green aura surrounded him.
"From this day forward, your spirit won't rest until you find true love. You will fall into a deep sleep until all of the Li Clan has died. But upon waking up, you will turn into a most feared creature." Her voice started to hurt and tears formed in her eyes, "If I can't have your heart, then you might as well find another. You will soon see what it feels like."
And with that she disappeared. Syaoran felt the curse surround him as he dropped back to his bed. His eyes felt heavy and he felt weak.
The day after the wedding, the maid knocked at Syaoraon's door. Hearing no response she opened the door and found Syaoran still sleeping.
"Your Highness, your son is still asleep," the maid said to the Queen.
Although it was unusual for Syaoran to sleep for that long the Queen just thought that he was tired. But after three days of not waking up, the Queen got worried and called for the family doctor.
"Your Highness," began the doctor. "I... your... Lord Syaoran is..," he said trying to find the words.
"What happened to my son!" demanded the Queen.
"I-I'm sorry," with this the doctor left.
"Leave me," the Queen said with tears forming in her eyes.
Memories of Syaoran came into the Queen's mind.
"Mother, Wei taught me how to make sweets," a little kid walked up to his mother holding a bear cookie. "This was the only one that didn't get burned... I want you to have it."
Holding back the tears the Queen decided not to bury his son for the hopes that he was just in a coma. She ordered the servants in the mansion to surround Syaoran's bed with Sakura petals, the flower which he liked the most. They also moved Syaoran's favorite piano to his room. In front of the door they placed a lock so that no one could disturb him. Then they placed a little altar where they put Syaoran's portrait in front of the doors.
A year later the Queen died of grief for her only son. The sisters of the Li Clan moved on with their husbands and earned a new life until they died of old age.
End of Flashback
The once beautiful garden palace that was open for public, now stood as a haunted mansion. However, the plants that grew there remained the same. The Sakura trees which was scattered throughout the mansion still stood there although their pretty pink flowers were never appreciated again. The black iron gate that guarded the palace is now rusty and the two dragons atop the gate that once gave a warm welcome now gave an eerie sad look at the people who dared look at them.
The mansion only has two floors but it covered five acres of land and looked like every other Japanese traditional mansion. Its color that were once dark green and brown are now covered with moss and most of its walls are ruined. At the walk way little blossoming flowers still grew but their colors have gotten pale.
At the back of the mansion is where you would find a once beautiful Japanese pond garden, with Sakura trees embracing it. Chinese carps once swam in this beautiful pond and a bridge once stood there. Now the water is murky and the bridge grew vines and weeds around it. On the other side of the bridge, there once stood a "secret garden" where the prince would usually go to think. Now it was turned into the Li Clan's graveyard and Sakura trees shadowed over their graves.
Sakura stared at the photo of the mansion then looked up at the entrance. She sighed. As she opened the entrance of the gate, a cold, icy breeze blew at her face and she felt a cold chill ran down her spine.
Author's Notes: I again would like to thank my cousin for helping me out with chapter 2. Sorry if it's kinda boring and long since we had no choice but to tell the history of the mansion.
