People find it hard to remember that which was before us. A fine Sunday is often just a fine Sunday, with no remembrance of the fine Sundays before our birth, before they were even referred to as a 'Sunday.'
It is in those days, before days, where we remember a beautiful castle surrounded by white roses (for luck with the fairies). In this castle were both memories happy and bittersweet, but even in those days they could not remember the days before. This forgetfulness is tragedy in itself.
There was one in the kingdom of sea foam and daydreams that did remember. He never forgot. He would sit all day under an apple tree (for immortality) and remember. Tales of lost love, tales of valour... he would never forget. His name was Jikei, and he sat under the appletree remembering.
Now, this could have been the fate forever of this prince. There were no obligations really then for him. He could marry, but in these days marriage was only for love. It was thought to bring a downfall to the kingdom if royalty did not marry for love, though Jikei could have told them the error of their thinking. Love destroyed lives, destroyed dreams. Love was foolish.
As mentioned, this -could- have been his fate. Unfortunately, there is a price with remembering too much.
And so it was while Jikei sat remembering under the apple tree a woman fell into his arms. For a moment he was quite confused. All he could see in front of him was long locks of brown hair that smelled deeply of lavender (for love), and all he could feel was soft fabric between his fingertips.
The lady awkwardly picked herself up from his lap. "I'm sorry.." she murmered. "I was picking apples.."
"For immortality," Jikei said.
".... yes, and I fell," She moved her hair from out of her face and looked at him with calm brown eyes.
He gasped, as cool memories moved through his head. This woman in his arms. This woman singing to him more beautifully than any siren. This woman, year after year, day by day at his side, ever different, but those eyes... those eyes with their depths and their warmth, always with him.
And so it was Jikei fell in love with the Lady Itsuki.
Of course, if this story had a happy ending, I wouldn't be telling it.
There was a tradition in these days before Sundays, when a lady was to be married their betrothed would leave their side for a year and a day to find their fortune. In theory, this was a very good practice... in reality, very poor.
As Prince Jikei soon discovered, the Lady Itsuki was waiting for her betrothed to return, the Lord Yoshitsuna. The anguish in Jikei's heart could never find proper expression on paper. Any of his memories would tell him anguish was foolish and falling in love with this lady even stupider, but the prince didn't care. One look from the lady was enough to make his heart melt, one whisper encouraged him to fight the world to be at her side. There was nothing to be done but woo her until the year and the day was over, and pray Lord Yoshitsuna never returned.
This was a very common fate. The good man who went off after his fortune tended to find it in a most unhospitable end. Prince Jikei could wish for this, but refused to take his friends' more drastic advice of creating a demise for the lord. Deep in his lovesick heart the prince knew that if the lord survived he was worth the love of the Lady Itsuki. It didn't make the year any easier, however.
Sonnets, ballads, poetry, flowers he gave the lady. He gave her maidenhair for beauty, amaranth for protection, tea for courage, and tulips for love. He commisioned the most beautiful jewelery to be made for her and begged her for any sign she loved him too.
"My heart is Yoshitsuna's," she would reply. "Until he returns or his body is found."
"My lady," he cried. "Does your lord bring you jewels?"
"My lords' kisses are as jewels for me," she replied. "I have no needs for gnome's treasures."
"My lady," he said. "Does your lord bring poetry and song?"
"My lord listens to the song in my heart and plays along," she replied. "I have no need for other melodies."
And so it went day after day until the year had past and left at just a day. Prince Jikei knew the Lady Itsuki's lord was returning and he could not bear to see him, to know that he would steal his lady away. He raced to her manor and begged her audience.
"Yes?" She stepped out in a soft gown of white silks, her hair pulled up simply. It made the prince's heart race.
"After so many days protesting my love," he began, "Do you still not love me?"
She hesitated, biting her lip. There was something deep in the prince's eyes that stirred a memory, of love.... "I.. love Yoshitsuna."
He sighed, his decision heavy in his heart. "Then I go to die, for I know I will never find one so beautiful again. But may I ask a favour?"
"What?" She fought back the tears.
"A kiss, for goodbye and fair luck," And hopefully a rememberance next time, the prince prayed.
Lady Itsuki bent toward the prince, kissing him with the softness of the spring winds against one's cheek. Light and soft with hint of promise. The prince smiled, eyes fluttering open and looked down into the lady's eyes. He pressed a piece of parchment into her hands.
"My last song, for you," he whispered. "A Romance."
He hung himself by a cherry tree, for love.
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