Love Unexplained

Scroll 5: Grief from an Unknown Lover

Utsukushi awoke with pain spearing through her body, slowly she began to raise herself from where she lay. At first she didn't know where she was, but gradually she began to recall the horrid memories of what had happened the night before. Her eyes scanned the room, then the bed, and finally herself. She noticed that her wounds were tended to; but she was not clothed!

She panicked and quickly covered herself with the blanket that was on the bed, then, she carefully wobbled her way to the balcony of the room, still clinging to the silky cloth. She looked out and saw a garden and courtyard down below.

Utsukushi was amazed at how many colorful flowers there were. Gazing out with such peace, in-soothed feelings and blissful thoughts swarmed her less than tranquil heart. A knock at the door caused her to flinch slightly and broke her trance. Turning toward the inner room she found Ōji standing by the bed.

Seeing the frightened expression on her face he spoke very softly, almost a whisper.

"There is a new set of cloths in the closet," he said, trying not to stare. "After you change, please come down to the dining room, you may eat in there. Then, come to the ballroom to meet the king and queen."

He turned away, beginning to take his leave from the room, but before he left, he turned his head slightly and gave a weak smile.

"I'm glad you're doing better. You've been asleep for nearly a week, and I was honestly beginning to worry."

And with those last parting word, he exited and closed the door with a faint 'click', leaving Utsukushi there on the balcony, staring at the door for a few minutes.

After gathering herself together once more, she went to the wardrobe that had been facing her from across the spacious room. After carefully dressing herself, she looked in the mirror and saw a girl wearing the most beautiful dress she's ever seen.

The cloth was a creamy sunset colored dress with carefully laced patterns along the waste. It seemed to be the only dress in the closet there was for her to wear.

Utsukushi came out of the room looking as beautiful as ever. She walked down the steps, then down a hallway. After a while, she noticed the funniest thing. The special dancing shoes she was wearing were making a clicking sound as she walked! She smiled at the funny sound.

She found herself approaching the dining hall but didn't stop to eat. Purimura wasn't very hungry after she remembered what had happened. She continued down the long hall, finally arrived at the door to the ballroom, and man was it big.

Utsukushi was just about to knock, when the door opened.

"Ah, there you are, I thought you got lost."

It was Ōji, and for just a quick second, he thought he saw a bit of happiness in her eyes, but as fast as it had come, it vanished.

"So did you have your fill?" he asked.

Utsukushi suddenly realized that he was talking about if she had breakfast. She stood there and said nothing but gazed nervously at the floor.

Ōji was curious at her silence, he had wanted to ask again but his voice was gone. The air around them seemed to thin and the prince couldn't help but stare.

Coming to his senses, Ōji shook his head to clear his mind.

"Come, they're waiting." he said, looking at her with a pleased and positive attitude while opening the door for her and bowing in a gentlemanly gesture.

Utsukushi looked up surprised and backed away shyly. Ōji looked up from his bow and smiled at her shyness.

"It's alright." he laughed reassuringly.

"No need to be scared or shy, they'll love you. My mother and father are very nice people." He said with glittering eyes, holding out one hand.

Utsukushi thought for a second then took his hand and walked in the ballroom together.

"Hello," said a man with shining armor upon his chest and a crown of glittering jewels.

"Are you the one Prince Ōji saved the other night?" he asked, looking down at her broadly.

Utsukushi swallowed her fear down hard and her heart started to flutter.

"Y-Yes sir," she stumbled, "m-my name is Utsukushi." she tried to find the brave voice in her she once possessed.

Holding her head high, she announced in a strong, proud voice, "I am the daughter of the king of the Eastern Forest Kingdom, Lord Yūkan'na."

Utsukushi softened her voice this time and gave a few shy glances to the floor. She then sank away continuing in her soft voice, "sir."

The king was very pleased to have a princess in his presence. Utsukushi saw his pleasant expression and figured that this was a good time to start looking for some answers to her many questions.

"Where am I? Why am I here? Where is my sister's body? Where are my clothes? What are these... these things on my feet that make sound like a galloping horse?" She lifted the skirt of the dress to show the pretty sunset colored shoes she was wearing.

The king smiled at her confused yet frustrated expression and laughed to his wife, the queen. They laughed together joyously, but Utsukushi did not find any of this amusing in the slightest.

Ōji watched nervously to the side at the scene unfurling, the king and queen were not being as kind as they had promise to be. By this point, both the prince and Utsukushi were furious.

"You're in the southern kingdom," said the queen, "you are here to live with us. Your sister's body was buried in the castle garden early this morning, and I had my son, Prince Ōji, dispose of those, awful because they were bloody and torn. So I thought we'd give you a nice dress to wear, and those there on your feet are shoes. Don't you wear shoes in the eastern forest kingdom?" she finished with a smile and a heartwarming gaze.

Utsukushi was now infuriated!

"And what makes you think I want to live here?" she scuffed, "Since when do you make my dissections? And what gives you the right to bury my sister? How dare you! Dispose of my clothes? And no, where I live we do not wear 'shoes'!"

Utsukushi was truly angry. The queen was appalled and offended by her tone.

Just as she was about to say something, she saw that Utsukushi's wound had reopened and was gushing a massive amount of blood with each passing second.

The queen gasped and screamed as more blood surrounded the princess's feet. Utsukushi looked down and placed her hand over the wound, at the same time she saw Ōji leap away from the increasing puddle of blood.

"I-I didn't even feel it reopen." She stammered softly.

Utsukushi's vision swiftly faded and she began faint from losing so much blood, but before she reached the floor Ōji rushed over and caught her just in time.

When Utsukushi woke that afternoon, she found herself in her room. Her wound was redressed, her dress and shoes were washed and there was a note on her dresser.

The note was in a little envelope with a yellow rose next to it with a ribbon tied to the stem. She sat up and examined the flower a little. The ribbon was blue; which fortunately, was her favorite color.

She untied the ribbon and tied up her hair with it and put the flower in her hair just like her father did with her hair when she was little and cheeky.

Reaching for the creamy paper, she opened the envelope and unfolded the note. The note said;

I'm sorry.

She looked up and down the little piece of paper and also the back; trying to look for a sign on whom it was from. But there was nothing.