The Second One

We were born together, Ryoma and I. Well, almost together. I was born one minute after him. According to mother, our crying sounded identical.

Our marriage was arranged, according to mother, because our families have to marry each other, she says. It was a fairly old tradition I've heard. To make sure that the bloodline stays pure, without the commoners, the nobles have made sure that their children always marry. This was an unspoken law in the kingdom.

I waited until I was fourteen, waiting to marry him. I knew I loved him, and I think he loves me too. I was the only one who he doesn't despise, he never shouted at me before, like he did with everyone else. I was secretly pleased when he shouted at this very pretty girl to go away.

I heard him come in; his footsteps had a certain rhythm to it. My heart pounded against my chest as I held my breath, waiting for him to unveil me. A familiar face appeared after the thin layer of red clothe was lifted from my face. It wasn't Ryoma's.

"Kintaro!" my lips parted to say the name of Ryoma's older brother, "What are you doing here?"

Kintaro smiled, the cheeky grin that he always had, the one that says "you can't do anything now" after some mischievous doings.

"Why, my darling, you're my wife!"

Oh Mother Iris, how could I have forgotten about him? Of course Kintaro needs to be married before Ryoma, how could I have forgotten that. I stared at him, as his smile grew blurry by the second. A wet patch soon appeared on my red wedding clothing. I looked at him, my lips formed what I think is a smile of some sort.

"Of course, I was just in shock. That's all." And as far I was concerned, my life was over.

The next day, I looked for Ryoma, he was standing on the top of the tower of his house as usual.

"Ryoma-kun!" I called him.

He didn't turn around, I wasn't sure whether he heard me, so I called him again "Ryo-"

"I heard you the first time." His voice rang through the room. "You know, you shouldn't be here. You're a married woman. People might talk."

"I just want to see if you were ok…" I whispered back. My dress was blown by the wind coming from the window. He came towards me, hands on his sword.

"I thought you were mine, Ryuzaki, I thought…." He looks like a little boy, lost from his parents. My hands reached out towards him instinctively. He quivered as our hands touched.

"Ryoma-kun, I didn't know this would happen either. I…" My voice shook slightly as I tried to regain control of myself.

We stood in silent, two people, separated by fate, stood hand in hand. We stared into each other's eyes, our face inched closer and closer. Our lips touched. We were frozen in time. I wasn't anything but Ryoma's, and he was mine. The world didn't exist apart from the two of us. My arms reached out, held him closer. I didn't want to lose him again. His hands gripped my arms, didn't want to let go.

Suddenly, a loud voice was beside me. It didn't sound angry, just humiliated.

"Sakuno. What. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Doing?"

It was Kintaro, my husband. I remembered now. Our wedding took place yesterday. I remember the cheeky grin, the unexpected marriage, and the vows that we took. I looked down at the wooden floor tiles, avoiding his eye contact.

Ryoma was quicker on his feet, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the window. "Jump" he whispered into my ear, "I'll catch you".

My head says no, but my heart ached for him. I jumped, not aware of anything that's happening surrounding me. My body was flying in mid-air, I felt the wind rushing beside me, loosen my red hair as it went past.

"Ryoma?" I called out, what happened to him? He was supposed to be with me. I closed my eyes, wanting to feel his strong arms catching me as I was falling.

It didn't happen. I reached the ground, and the end of my life. Little did I know, Ryoma was never going to catch me. He was killed by Kintaro after he made the promise. He broke the promise, and my heart.

I looked across the bridge. The old lady was standing in the middle, as usual. "Are you sure you want to experience this again?"

I nodded, knowing what the consequence of my actions was. I never regret. We were meant to be together, and we're going to be together, no matter how many reincarnations it took. The old lady watched me as I went across the bridge. I could still feel her eyes on my back as I went to a new life, a new chance to be with Ryoma. My soulmate.