The idea for this story was generously provided by Rebel of my Destiny, and named after her because I couldn't think of anything more suitable. To be honest, I had my reservations about this story when I started writing it, but now I see it as one of my better works of art.
This story had better please her, because it took me almost two months to write it!
ooOoo
Chapter One: Unforeseen Circumstances
In a dusty old room, an older man with silvery hair was writing on a sheet of paper, occasionally taking a break in order to refill his pen with ink.
"… and the daring knight raised his blade to the heavens, proclaiming, 'Thus shall ye be vanquished, and my love's kingdom restored unto her.'"
The young woman at his side started giggling.
"Rowan can be so melodramatic, when he has an audience."
"When he knows that he has an audience," the man corrected, still writing at a furious pace. "Are you sure you want to stay? I'm afraid your presence is kind of required at this part of the story."
The raven-haired beauty nodded and stood up.
"Um, Hatachi? Will… I still be able to visit you, after you're done writing my story?"
That question made the old man stop cold and look up at her.
"I have no idea, Rosemary." He set the pen down and stood up in order to hug the young woman affectionately. "I've been dreaming of writing this story for years, and then when we met the first time… I've been so happy to have a companion that I never bothered to think about what would happen when the story reaches its end. If we can see each other again, please visit me as often as you can. And if not…" he broke off in a sob.
"Please, my dear Rosemary; keep me in your heart. Think kindly of me."
She smiled up at him and gripped the man tighter.
"How could I think anything but? You know for a fact that you're the closest thing I'll ever have to a father figure. If our cultures weren't so different, I'd promise to name my first child with Rowan after you."
The old man laughed a little, kissing her brow.
"Well, it's the thought that counts. My best wishes, dear Rosemary."
The young woman smiled up at him and kissed his cheek softly.
"Thank you, Hatachi. For writing my story and for bringing me to life." She stepped away from him and closer to the slightly crude manuscript that had consumed the old man for so long. Smiling sadly, Rosemary waved goodbye as her body slowly became sparks of golden lights and began trailing inside the unassuming manuscript.
The old man watched the lights sadly, hoping that he would see his surrogate daughter again, despite the chances that he would not. He sighed, and pulled his chair up to the end of the manuscript. He reached over for his pen and slowly picked it up.
This was one part of the peculiar story that he didn't like writing about; the only one he had no intention of publishing. It was so hard to get back into writing once he broke free from the self-imposed spell, which cast his heart and soul far from his home and into a completely different place that until the past few years, only existed in his heart.
Now in the correct mood, the old writer happily set his pen to the crisp paper once more.
"And with one final blow-"
The writer was suddenly cut off, as a shadow appeared from between the lines to form a terrible clawed hand. Without warning, the hand shot into the man's chest, making him cry out with pain.
"Now, now," an evil hiss chuckled as it echoed through the room. "I'm not going down so easily, old man. But you are."
With a final heave, the hand tore a light from the writer's chest, which solidified into a solid crystal of the purest quality. The white-haired man gave a final gasp of pain as he fell from his chair to the floor, holding his chest in a fetal position as he slowly and painfully died.
"There. Now Malgea is mine to control, instead of yours. That knight will have an unpleasant surprise indeed." The hand withdrew into the book, taking the sparkling crystal with it.
The crystal which was the writer's heart.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Haru calmly stood out in the hallway, not really worried about why she had been called there. In fact, she made it a point not to freak out over little things anymore. Whatever Takima-sensei had to tell her, the brunette was certain that she could handle it with grace.
But for now, she was working in her special 'theme' sketchbook from her drawing class to pass the time. Like there was nothing more important, she focused on getting the eyes on the cat just the right shape. Yes, just a little more pointed on the ends…
If anyone looked at her sketches, the cat that occupied every page of her sketchbook appeared to be gray with white underlining, since the art teacher had specifically said no colors, but the high school girl was content with remembering the shining orange and deep piercing green-
"Miss Yoshioka?"
Startled from her private reflections, Haru closed her sketchbook while smiling at the teacher, who had always been on the formal side. Truthfully, she didn't have to sketch anything else since the art teacher had already given her an 'A' for her drawings of Baron, but the brunette still enjoyed sketching him for her personal pleasure. Now no one could question why she had included herself dancing with the half-cat.
"My turn?" she asked the drama teacher. The woman nodded and gestured for the girl to step into the office as Hiromi stepped out, grinning as usual.
"Good luck."
Haru nodded before following the instructor into the cozy office and taking the offered seat.
'So strange, that I still expect a cup of tea with seating proposals.'
The middle-aged woman sat at her desk and pulled a file from the stack.
"Well Haru; this isn't going to be as painful for you as I was thinking." She opened the file and started sifting through the papers. "You've been showing remarkable progress with your tardiness habit and your grades have just sky-rocketed! I told you all you needed was some motivation."
Haru smiled politely.
"Thank you, ma'am. So, there won't be a problem with me graduating with everyone else?"
The woman grinned, and handed her a single sheet of paper.
"Only if you don't have a problem with participating in this."
Haru took the paper, and looked at it. Her eyes widened with shock.
"The school play's doing Beauty and the Beast this year?!"
"That's right. In order to graduate with everyone else, you'll have to participate in whatever role you're called to do by me." The woman started shaking her head, laughing softly. "With how strange you've been acting these past few months, I'm tempted to cast you as Belle."
Haru raised one hand reassuringly while getting out of her seat.
"Except then you wouldn't get anyone to agree being Beast, no matter the benefits. Remember, the dance scene?"
Takima-sensei blinked, and started laughing.
"Oh my! Thanks for catching that, my dear. Well, I expect to see you on Monday for the tryouts."
The slim brunette saluted smartly while exiting the room.
"I'll start my background research immediately. Maybe I can help make the costumes or something."
The woman laughed as the door shut behind the teenager.
"We'll see, my dear."