Bewitching Illusions

Yuki Sora looked back into her life as she stared at her window and silently watched the snow slowly cover the ground.

The Soras were considered the second most influential family in the country. They were not of noble birth, and neither were they wealthy enough to be considered such.

The Soras were considered a powerful family only due to their close association with the crown.

Yuki's father was the brilliant adviser and scholar Yao Sora. It was said that the emperor trusted him with his own life. Because of her father's close association with the emperor, Yuki practically grew up inside the palace.

Growing up, Yuki realized that the palace was a sad place for a child. Lies, deceit, and manipulation were unnecessarily ingrained in a child's mind as the infant witnessed the cruelty and pretenses of those inside the castle walls.

In that sad and cold place, she was like a flower being carried by the wind, she thought, as she held the cherry blossoms in her tiny fragile hands.

Yuki ran as fast as her feet could carry her, trying to chase after the flower that has flown away.

The flower fell in a boy's lap. A boy with raven-colored hair and eyes the color of the molten sun.

Even at that young age, he had the bearing of a prince.

From the outside, everyone viewed him as the pampered heir of the kingdom's monarchy. He was, after all, Prince Jiro Takeshi, the emperor's only child.

It was said that he had been spoiled rotten and that because of this he barely smiled. But when their eyes met that day, Yuki could see the loneliness in the young prince's eyes.

Yuki stood, frozen, as she studied the most beautiful face she had ever seen.

It was a face blessed by the gods, she mused, as she met the fiery embers of the molten orbs that were silently studying her as well.

Then the prince stood up slowly as if he was afraid that she would be startled and run.

The young prince held out the cherry blossoms she had been chasing after and placed them in the palm of her hand. She was suddenly lost for words, unable to meet his gaze.

The crown prince couldn't help but smile, almost unaware that the young woman had completely caught his attention.

At that instant, he thought that he had never seen anything more precious than her.

He was mesmerized by her golden locks, like spun gold, he thought, and he was captivated by her large hazel eyes as they finally dared to shift upward to his face.

As the sun shone on her hair, he realized he wanted nothing more than to see that face every day for the rest of his life.

"I am Jiro Takeshi, can you give me the honor of being your friend?" he asked, with fear in his heart; for he knew that if she declined, he would forever be haunted by those hazel eyes.

The young woman smiled and offered her hand in a handshake. "Yuki Sora. I would love to be your friend."

"Then, as your friend, I promise you this. That I, the crown prince and future emperor, will lend you my protection for all eternity."

The young prince smiled as he reached for the handshake offered by Yuki. The young miss smiled, and warmth slowly thawed the coldness of the prince's heart.

*************

From that day, the young prince and the little miss were inseparable.

The young prince demanded her presence wherever he might be and whatever he might be doing. And by order of the prince himself, Yuki never lacked anything.

She was allowed to study side by side with the wealthy aristocrats and was given a seat by the prince's side.

She was pampered as if she had been born a princess, if not more.

Over the years, she declined many valuable presents from her beloved friend.

The only gift she ever allowed herself to receive from his highness was the time she spent with him.

She treasured every minute and looked forward to hearing his baritone voice as she pretended to listen to the affairs of the realm.

When they became of age, she finally realized that she had fallen in love with him.

She had fallen in love with her best friend, the crown prince, Jiro Takeshi.

It wasn't an adult kind of love. It was irrational. Unplanned. Unwanted.

It was a love borne from innocence and whimsical illusions of a young, tender heart.

It was the kind of love that once shattered, can never be repaired.

It was the kind of love that can make someone suffer in perpetuity.

**************

Yuki could never forget the night her heart was shattered by the same person who promised to protect her not so long ago.

It was Christmas and snow slowly fell from the heavens like a deity was crying her precious tears.

Jiro had insisted that she not call him by his title when they were alone.

He said he preferred to be called Jiro and it made him sad that no one ever did, and so she relented and called him his name when no one was around.

They walked to the gardens, his hand on hers, their fingers intertwined.

The young prince had grown to become a well-built man. He had a gentle face, fancied by the ladies of the land, and vibrant raven hair that reached his shoulders.

His heart felt warm every time he had the opportunity to hold her like this.

Somehow, all of his worries disappeared whenever their fingers were intertwined.

"Jiro," Yuki said as she dared to look up at him. He has grown up to be a very tall man. Yuki had to tilt her head to get a glimpse of his golden eyes.

Yuki admired how Jiro's long raven hair gently framed his face. With his hair the color of the night sky, the captivating color of his eyes was emphasized.

"What is it you wish to tell me?" The prince tilted her face up to meet her eyes.

He gently cupped her chin and whispered, "If there is anything you wish for, don't hesitate to tell me, and I swear on my honor that it will be done."

"Jiro, do you mean that, really?" The innocent Yuki felt her cheeks turn hot.

"Yes, of course. Then there is something you wish from me." The young prince smiled as he anticipated her request.

He loved fulfilling her every whim and caprice, although she rarely had any. Truth be told, all of his gifts to her have been returned. The little miss had grown up with too much pride, he nearly frowned at the thought.

Yuki gathered her courage and spoke. Her mahogany eyes looked at the crown prince, and the prince felt a determination to give in to whatever request she might have.

She had always managed to evoke the same kind of emotions from the deepest seat of his heart.

"I wish for you to look at me differently," Yuki said. She could hear her own heart beating against her ribs.

Jiro smirked, finding her words silly.

In his mind, he couldn't accept what he had heard.

What did she mean to look at her differently when she captivates him like no one ever did?

"Then how do you want me to see you?" he asked in a teasing tone. He thought that what she was telling him was nothing but a joke.

"Look at me as a woman, Jiro. This is my request." Yuki felt like someone with a high fever, her voice is hoarse and very faint.

In her heart, she knew – now they can never go back to what they had before.

Like a deity's answered prayer, this night would change everything they once had.

Jiro's eyes glinted in the dark as a murderous aura overtook him.

He trapped Yuki's back against a tree and looked straight into her eyes.

Anger was written on his face as he tilted her chin up and inched his face closer to hers.

Yuki could feel her heart steadily beating in her chest. She was lost in those molten gold orbs that stared right into her soul. Her breathing became shallow, and suddenly he was all that she sees.

"Is this what you want?" Jiro asked. His voice chilled her very soul, for it had a tone he had never used on her. His voice was full of disgust for the things that she said.

Somehow, she knew then that he was about to break her heart into a million pieces. But she closed her eyes as she anticipated and waited for the kiss.

She nodded her head and closed her eyes in utter surrender.

And then, in an instant, his lips were on hers. Punishing her for the things that she said, but all the while claiming what he knew he couldn't have.

She started to push him away. He was not being gentle, and she was starting to regret having lit the flame.

But he did not let her escape from his grasp. Not when his need for her had not been fully sated.

Yuki felt Jiro's tongue on her lips seeking to explore further. She opened up her lips and welcomed him in a dance that consumed their mind, body, and soul.

The taste of her tongue drove the prince to insanity as he plundered and tasted, and sought more.

Yuki felt her body on fire as she gripped his arm, which snaked around her waist.

Then he was tasting her, licking her flesh and numbing her senses with nothing but his touch.

A low moan escaped the prince's lips when the beautiful woman in his arms started to trail her fingers down his spine.

They were still fully clothed, but their flesh was already burning with passion and greed.

Their lips met once more, leaving a flavor of their taste in each other's mouth.

The prince's mind was clouded by thoughts of her, the woman he had silently pined for all his life.

And so he kissed her until they ran out of breath. He kissed her like he always had in his dreams.

He claimed her lips as pulses of desire flowed through every fiber of his being.

He marked her, as every touch of her skin on his clouded his judgment.

Together they danced, and she clung to him like he was her strength and salvation.

The prince was lost in their embrace. He had long surrendered to the question of whether he was beast or man. His entire being longed to claim her, to shatter her innocence, and to finally feel his release.

Then, in that senseless moment of need, he heard her whisper, "I have always loved you Jiro."

*************

Suddenly, the prince was doused with cold water. He opened his eyes and saw the maddening lust in her eyes and the honesty that came with it.

No, this wasn't just lust. She loved him. She had loved him for a long time. He knew this to be the truth.

But love had no place in his life. He had been taught this ever since he was a child. No matter how much he desired a fanciful thing such as love, a royal could never have it.

For the heir to the throne to fall in love would be a disaster. For nothing should come before the crown. Nothing should come before his people. Not his beloved, not himself, and certainly not a fanciful illusion.

His duty as the crown prince was to marry a person of noble birth, a woman his subjects would deem worthy, a princess who could, later on, carry out the responsibilities of an empress.

Choosing a person to marry was not about love. For him, it was about survival.

He knew she was not used to the ways of the world, and he berated himself for taking advantage of her, for almost taking her to the edge.

He was disgusted with himself. With the prince who almost devoured a sheep like the monster that he was.

How could he, the man who swore to protect her, allow her request, when he knew himself to be incapable of returning any of her commitments?

Was he supposed to take her in as his concubine later on?

Could he do that to the person who meant the world to him?

Could he shatter the innocence that had been his only source of light throughout the years?

And so, he let go of her, his eyes full of anger and restraint. "You don't know what you ask. You are nothing but a disillusioned child. I am incapable of loving you. You should have known that by now, that I can never love. I can never love you," he continued, as he let go of her, his mind screaming at his destiny and his cruelty.

For he knew, he had hurt her nonetheless. He wanted to plead with her, to cradle her in his lap, to tell her promises he knew he couldn't keep, anything, anything to make them go back to what they had before.

He wanted to run away with her, to take her hand at that instant and lay his life at her feet. He wanted to be hers as he wanted her to be his.

But he was a prince, the crown prince. He had a duty to his country more than he had a duty to his own heart.

So he turned his back on her and forced himself to walk away. Yet every step he took shattered his resolve a little bit more.

Even so, he did not look back. For he knew that if he did, he could never let her go.

As the snow covered the soil with its white, crystal-like sheen, Yuki stared at the prince's broad form slowly fading into the night.

She waited for Jiro to look back, but he never did.

*********

That night, Jiro's words echoed in Yuki's ears even when she was finally back in front of the palace.

She realized that she was crying when she heard a pathetic sob escape her lips and her shoulders started to shake.

She did not bother to wipe her tears away. She wanted to drown in her sorrow so that she could always remember that night for the rest of her life.

She made a resolve in her heart as the heavens wept with her and froze her heart to its very core.

That night, she swore she would never let herself be caught in another illusion, no matter how bewitching it might be.

Jiro looked at the seat beside him. It was empty, just as it had been for the weeks since the fateful night.

Jiro frowned as he turned his head to search for the familiar face he missed so much.

She was seated alone at the back of the class. She had always been a loner, finding comfort only in his presence.

Jiro looked worried. He couldn't help but ask himself how she has been for the past few weeks. Did she still hate him? Jiro sighed. She wouldn't notice his stares since she wouldn't even raise her head.

The woman who always smiled for him was now a distant memory. With a heavy heart, he forced himself to look at the master who entered the room.

Master Hideoshi walked to the front of the class. He turned to look at the twenty students fortunate to study under his supervision. These twenty students will one day make or break the country, he thought.

Fixing his gaze on the prince, who looked like he had been through hell for the past few weeks, he frowned, seeing someone so strong and so emotionless crumble like this was frustrating.

The prince was apparently lovesick. Hideoshi almost laughed, seeing the subject of the prince's affections looking everywhere else but at him. No wonder the future emperor looked like hell.

"Students, you know by now that you are twenty of the brightest young minds in the country," the wise master said, gaining his students' undivided attention.

"However, recent events show that someone deserves to be included in your class. General Maja's son is here to join you, having recently garnered a perfect score in all of his subjects. It is apparent that someone of his caliber deserves to be given an equal learning opportunity," the old master continued as the students' eyes widened in surprise.

The students were in awe, for they knew by heart the story of the general's infamous son. He was known throughout the realm as a hardheaded young man who had no desire to continue his family's legacy.

He was a known womanizer and a troublemaker. So how could he suddenly have perfect scores in all of his subjects?

They all looked with interest at the golden-haired young man who entered the room. His golden hair, which reached down to his shoulders made him look like a faye prince, especially so because he had a perfect set of matching blue eyes that made him look ethereal.

All agreed that the tall young man's appearance was second to none. His face rivaled the young prince, who showed a complete lack of interest in the newcomer until he noticed who he was looking at.

The blonde man's eyes were locked on the hazel brown eyes that stared at him in shock and disbelief.

Yuki recognized the man who had rescued her a week ago. The person she had labeled in her head as the most pompous pig she ever had the misfortune to meet.

The blonde smiled and waved at her. He completely ignored the master's introduction and took the vacant seat beside her.

"Hey, didn't I tell you we will meet again for sure?" He smiled, showing his perfect set of teeth in a generous smile that reached his eyes.

The other women looked on with envy, for it was obvious that the gorgeous man was only interested in her, that plain-looking young maiden who everyone knew already had the prince's heart in her fragile little hands.

The young man smirked when Yuki tried to ignore him. "Hey, don't pout like that unless you want me to kiss you," he said, unashamedly teasing her for everyone else to see.

Yuki's cheeks blushed and the prince tried his best to stop himself from going to the back of the class and punching the blonde man's face with his fist.

Master Hideoshi cleared his throat and started the lesson. How could it be that he is the only one who could feel the threat within the school walls?

The murderous look on the prince's face chilled him to the bone. And so he distracted himself and the class with his lesson.

He internally sighed and prayed that he would survive the students' last semester.

The sons of the two most powerful men in the kingdom were competing for the attention of the most clueless woman in history.

••••••••••

"Quit following me, good sir." Yuki turned and faced the gorgeous man who had been pursuing her all day.

It had been a few days since he transferred to their class, and no matter how much she tried to shut him off, the blonde kept on pestering her.

"Oh, but who is this good sir you are referring to, sweetheart?" Kaede asked with a wide smile on his handsome face.

"Kaede! I am getting tired of you always following me around." Yuki was trying her best to control her voice and her expression, knowing that she could easily become a target of the gossipmongers from her class.

"Oh, sweetheart, nothing about me is good, except perhaps in bed. In that respect, I assure you I am excellent." Kaede gloriously winked at her and smiled." And if the only problem is me following you around, then stop moving and stay put, sweetheart." Kaede chuckled, amusement written on his face.

He found the woman before him interesting. Not even in the demon world had a woman caught his attention the way this woman easily did.

Yuki turned to face him and finally snapped, "What in the hell did I ever do to you to deserve this torment?"

"Oh love, don't insult me. We both know others are dying to be in your position right now." Kaede smiled, mischief written in his eyes.

"As I said, a pompous pig with the biggest ego ever known to man," Yuki started to walk away when Kaede reached out and took her by the wrist.

She froze. There was something about Kaede's touch that sent shivers down her spine. This man's touch was intoxicating her, chilling her soul with a single touch, as if icicles surrounded her heart.

Could it be that the rumors about him were true, was he a faye after all? For what other explanation could there be for the sudden rush of blood in her cheeks?

The only person who had ever made her feel this way was the crown prince, but this man was a stranger to her, and yet she found his touch almost intolerable, addicting even.

Kaede had a realization too. His attraction to the woman completely defied logic.

He was lost in her hazel brown eyes that stared right through his soul. He nearly believed that she saw him, the real him amidst the hundreds of his pretenses.

He chuckled at the thought, how could she even fathom the depth of his disguise? Impossible, she was a mere human after all.

"I feel lost in this sea of people, unwanted, even. I know everyone thinks that I don't deserve to be here. That I cheated my way to the top. That as the general's only son, I used his connections to graduate into this class," Kaede said in a serious tone, his voice barely audible.

But she heard him and the lies he spoke she easily believed. "I just want to be your friend," he went on.

"I figured that perhaps the other outcast might accept me, but I guess I pushed my luck too far. So, I'll do your bidding and leave you alone."

"I'm sorry," Yuki said apologetically. "I should not have judged you like all the others. If you will still have me, I'll gladly be your friend."

Kaede smiled, though deep inside, his heart felt crushed. For the kind woman before him had carelessly entrusted him with her heart, and he knew he would have to break that trust soon enough.

"Of course I'll take you. How can I possibly resist a gorgeous beauty who offered herself to me freely? I'll have you any time of any day, my lady," Kaede winked mischievously to lighten up the mood.

Yuki punched his arm with that joke. But she looked up at him and met those icy cold blue eyes with a smile on her lips.

She wondered why he looked so conflicted, even though he smiled.

She wanted to help him smile more often, a genuine smile, not the fake ones that were always plastered on his face, like a mask of sorts.

And so, in that instant, their hearts met, one desiring a real friendship and one with no other goal but to deceive.