For The Heart I Once Had

Beginnings

By Mystic Dawn

The first time he met her, he hadn't exactly been thinking clearly to really take note of her. Even afterwards, when he awoke in an unknown bedchamber, his wounds tended to and his soiled garments exchanged for clean dressing robes, the aftershock of his tragedy had only made him seek out a few answers to the more pressing questions he burned to know.

She had also been too polite to say or do otherwise, except to introduce herself. Her smile had been heartfelt and had painstakingly reminded him of his loss. She seemed to understand that and left soon afterwards, leaving him to rest.

Now, as he trained along with the other ninja several days later, he suddenly noticed how different she was from everyone else. Not just because she was the princess, but she seemed different in comparison to everyone else at the castle. As if she were more human and considerate of other people's feelings than the rest of the nobles and courtiers ambling about.

She caught his eye and waved at him encouragingly from across the field.

He was so caught off guard by the simple gesture that the next thing he knew he was lying on his back on the ground, a practice sword aimed at his throat.

"You'll never be able to become a better swordsman if you get distracted like that," Souma reprimanded him.

He winced as he got to his feet, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He chanced another look at the princess, whose violet eyes mirrored her plea for forgiveness. It wasn't easy to tear his gaze away from her face.

"Pay attention!" Souma barked, swinging the sword at him.

Little did he know it was only the beginning of many such encounters.