Disclaimer : Skip Beat and it's character isn't mine.
This story was inspired by "Bearskin" of Grimm Brothers Faity Tale.

Summary : Hizuri Koun is a prodigy soldier. When the war's end, he was dismissed and wander around the world. Filled with sorrow, finally he resigned to his fate at a large heath with a circle of trees. There where he met the devil and begin his journey.

Prologue

Once upon a time there was a young and handsome soldier by named Hizuri Kuon. He was a prodigy at his military school. He conducted himself bravely, and was always fought at the front line. But, when the war's end and the peace was made he was dismissed.

He returned to his village but discovered that his parents had died in his absence. He had no longer a home, so he went to wander around world with no money and help from the villager. He came to a large heath with nothing but a circle of trees. Feel with sorrowed, he resigned to his fate. In the middle of his thoughts, he heard a rustling sound and a chuckle of a man. The man wore a green jacket and looked decent, but he had a hideous foot.

"I know what you are in need of," said the man.

"Who are you," said Kuon.

"You can call me Reino the devil, or only Reino, or whatever you want to call me," said Reino "I have a very good proposition. You can have money and property as much as you want with all your might, but first I must know if you are fearless, so that I won't be giving away my money for nothing."

"A soldier and fear - how can those go together?" Kuon answered, "You can put me to the test."

"Very well," answered Reino, "look behind you."

Kuon turned around and saw a large growling bear running towards him.

"Aha," shouted Kuon, "I'll tickle your nose until you lose your desire for growling." Then taking aim at the bear, he shot it in the snout, and it fell down motionless.

"I see quite well, that you do not lack for courage, but there is one more condition that you will have to fulfill."

"If it does not endanger my salvation," answered Kuon, who knew quite well who was standing before him. "Otherwise I'll have nothing to do with it."

"You'll see about that for yourself. For the next seven years you are neither to wash yourself, nor comb your beard and hair, nor cut your nails, nor say the Lord's prayer. I will give you a jacket and a cloak, which you must wear during this time. If you die during these seven years, you soul is mine. If you stay alive, you are free, and rich as well, for all the rest of your life."

Koun thought about his desperate situation, and having faced death so often before, he decided to risk it now as well, and he entered into the agreement.

The devil took off his green jacket and gave it to him, saying, "Whenever you wear this jacket and reach into its pocket, you will find a handful of money."

Then he pulled the skin off the bear and said, "This shall be your cloak, and your bed as well, for you are to sleep on it, and you are not allowed to lie in any other bed." With that the devil disappeared.

He put on the jacket, immediately reached into the pocket, and found that the promise was really true. Then he put on the bearskin and went begin his journey into the world.

see you next chapter...