In a large master bedroom in a grand Japanese palace, a young pug boy laid in bed wrapped in silk blankets. The child was coughing and sneezing as his fever rose and his nose grew more stuffy. The poor boy was sick with a cold and has been stuck in bed for days. This greatly disappointed him for he had barely anything to do other than to sit in bed and wait for his illness to be cured. He'd much rather go outside and do something fun, but his servants thought it was best for him to rest.

As the child laid in bed, feeling spiteful, there was a gentle knock on his door.

"Come in!" He ordered as he sat up, trying his best to look proper and well mannered, even with an illness.

Entering his bedroom was a young feline woman dressed in a beige kimono, her black hair tied back neatly in a high bun. She was carrying a tray with food, "Good afternoon, Kintaro. I brought you your lunch," She said as she entered and placed the tray down near his bed. She leans down and touches the child's forehead, checking his temperature, "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"A little better," He answers before quickly groaning with annoyance, "I hate being sick, Akemi!" he whines.

"I know, but I think I know what will cheer you up."

"What?"

She smiles, "Usagi is here."

"R-Really?!" Kintaro asked excitedly, "But isn't he worried he might get sick if he spends time with me?"

"I'm here because I heard you were sick," A kind voice says by the door.

Kintaro and Akemi look over to the source of the voice and by the entrance of the room they see the great swordsman, Miyamoto Usagi, a white rabbit dressed in a blue and white hakama, happily smiling at them.

"Usagi!" Kintaro cheered, nearly jumping out of his bed.

"It's good to see you, Kintaro Kun."

Akemi giggles as she gets up, heading towards the door, "I'll go make you gentlemen some tea while you catch up."

Akemi closes the door behind her, leaving the two old friends alone.

"I got you something," Usagi smiles as he pulls out a neatly wrapped gift that was hiding in his long sleeves.

"Really?!" Kintaro nearly jumps off his bed with excitement as Usagi hands him his gift. Quickly he opens it to find an old book with a leather cover. He looked at his friend disappointed, but mostly confused. The young pug boy was expecting fine jewels or new clothes from far ancient lands, "A book?" Kintaro questions.

Usagi nods, pulling up a stool to sit near Kintaro's bed, "When I was your age this was one of my favorite books. I used to read it when I was sick and now today I'm going to read it to you. If you don't mind, of course."

Kintaro tilts his head in wonder, "Does it have any sports?"

Usagi smiles as his eyes glow with a passion for the story, "Or course! Action. Adventure. Torture. Revenge. Monsters. Escapes. True Love. Miracles!"

Kintaro thinks for a moment. Listening to his old friend read him a book is better than just lying in bed all day doing nothing, "It doesn't sound boring..." Kintaro finally says, "You may read me your book and I'll try to stay awake."

Usagi rolls his eyes at Kintaro's comment, "Well, thank you very much. Your excitement is so overwhelming," he says sarcastically as he opens the book to the first page. He clears his throat and begins to read, "The Princess Bride, by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Chapter 1. Mona Lisa was raised on a small farm in the Salamandrian Kingdom. Her favorite pastimes were riding her horse and tormenting the farm boy that worked for her family. His name was Raphael, but she never called him that," Usagi looks up from the book at Kintaro, "Isn't that a wonderful beginning?"

Kintaro shrugs, "I guess..."

Usagi continued reading, "Nothing gave Mona Lisa as much pleasure as to order Raphael around."

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In a large green field was Mona Lisa, a tall beautiful lizard girl with blue skin with silver spots and bright golden eyes, riding her horse around in the warm spring sunlight. She soon heads home to her family's old farm, now practically a deserted place, only home to two people, her and the farm boy, after her parents' passing. She brought her horse into the stables. There she found the farm boy, Raphael, a handsome turtle boy with bright green eyes and an endearing smile. He was feeding the other animals in the stables.

Mona dismounts from her stead and looks at him, her head held high with pride, "Farm boy," Mona says to him, "Polish my horse's saddle. I want to see my face shining in it by morning."

Raphael looks at her and gives her a soft smile, "As you wish," he says to her.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"'As you wish' is all he ever said to her," Usagi read.

"But why?!" Kintaro asked, confused.

"Just listen."

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Mona Lisa leaves her home, a small run down cottage, carrying two empty wooden buckets. She searches through the farm until she finds Raphael chopping wood for the fireplace near the stables. A feeling of joy ran through her as she approached him and ordered in a strict tone, "Farm boy. Go to the well and fill these with water," Raphael stops what he's doing and looks at Mona. She was silent for a moment, thinking over her words, before quietly adding, "Please?"

Raphael walks up to Mona Lisa and carefully takes the water pails from her hands. His fingers for a moment touch her hands, causing them both to slightly blush. Raph takes the buckets and looks at Mona, "As you wish." He says to her before he heads off to the well.

Mona Lisa walks back to the house, not before stopping and looking back at Raphael. Their eyes met for a quick moment, causing Mona Lisa to blush from the mere sight of him. She rushed back inside the farmhouse as she felt her heart begin to beat fast. What was this new feeling she was having for him?

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"That day, she was amazed to discover that when Raphael was saying 'As you wish' what he really meant was 'I love you'." Usagi read to Kintaro.

"Ewww!" The boy whines.

Usagi continued, ignoring the child's reaction, "And even more amazing was the day Mona Lisa realized she truly loved him back."

"EWWWWW!!"

"Oh shush!"

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Inside the old farm house made of stone, wood, and hay, Mona Lisa was in the kitchen preparing a meal as Raphael entered with some supplies he got for her at the market. As he was about to leave, Mona Lisa stopped him.

"Um, Farm Boy!" She says, hesitant.

Raph stops at the doorway and looks at her, waiting for what she wished to say to him.

Mona blushes, almost forgetting what she was about to say. Was there anything to say at all? She just wished for him to stay with her, talk to him, and see his smile. She had to say something to him, "...Could you fetch me that pitcher?" Mona asked him in a soft tone as she gestures to the pitcher near Raphael on the table.

Raphael grabs the pitcher, approaches Mona LIsa, and hands it to her. Their eyes met, the only thing between them was the pitcher. He gives her a charming smile as he leans in and whispers to her, "As you wish."

Mona smiles at him as they lovingly stare at one another, feeling as if they were the only two people in the world. Their hearts were beating loud for each other. They both knew that they couldn't hide their feelings any longer. Soon they both leaned in, no longer denying their love for one another and finally joined in a passionate first kiss.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"Wait! Wait! Wait a minute! Stop!" Kintaro yells.

Usagi looks up from the book, "What's wrong?"

"What is this?! Are you trying to trick me? Where's the action? The monsters? The torture?" Kintaro looked at Usagi, a mix of horror and disgust came into his eyes, "Oh no! Is this a kissing book?!"

"You just need to wait, Kintaro."

"When does it get good?!"

"Calm down and let me read," Usagi goes back to reading the book, "Raphael had no money for marriage, so he decided to pack up a few of his belongings and leave the farm, and his true love, to find his fortune across the sea. It was a very emotional time for Mona Lisa."

"I don't believe this..." Kintaro groans.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

At the entrance gate to the farm, Raphael and Mona Lisa were locked in an embrace, saying their goodbyes before Raphael leaves for his journey.

"I fear I'll never see you again..." Mona said sadly.

"Of course you will." Raph told her.

She grew worried, "But what if something happens to you?"

"Nothing will. I promise, Mona, I will come back for you."

"How can you be so sure?"

He gives her a loving smile, "This is true love. You think this happens everyday?"

Mona Lisa smiles back and hugs him again in a tight embrace. They share one final kiss and soon Raphael heads off on his journey.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"Raphael didn't reach his destination. When he was at sea his ship was attacked by the ruthless vigilante known as The Nightwatcher and his crew, who is known to never leave captives alive. When Mona Lisa was given the news that Raphael was murdered-"

"Being murdered is good!" Kintaro cheered.

Usagi glares at Kintaro, unhappy with his response. He goes back to reading, "She locked herself in her room, grieving for days over her true love's death, refusing to sleep or eat."

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Mona Lisa sat alone in her bedroom near the stone fireplace watching the fire slowly die, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She felt broken inside. She wiped away her tears, refusing to sob anymore. "I will never love again..." she vows to herself in a cold heartbroken tone.