Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, or this idea or this plot.

I merely took my own little theories and worked AROUND the song "Witch Hunt" in honor of it being the first Vocaloid song I heard.

Read and review please and thank you!

~~ Megurine Luka~~

I sit with my back against the dank, cold stone of the dungeon wall, resisting the tears that prick the corners of my eyes as I try to stay calm despite the jeers of the soldiers who dragged me here and the look of betrayal in my prince's eyes. As I recall the feel of my hair being cut, I reach trembling fingers up to brush my now short locks out of my face, the strands sticking to my cold fingers as I do so.

Betrayal.

That was the last look I saw on Gakupo's face before I found my arms pinned behind my back roughly and I was dragged through the streets for all to see.

Why would he give me such a look when I'm the one who's sitting here in this dark and lonely cell, waiting to hear what's going to happen to me? Chains clink delicately as my quivering hands fall to my lap, and I feel my wrists chafing against the metal as I pull lightly and test my limitations. My trip to the dungeon and being strapped in is fragmented, as most of it was a haze of being half-conscious; cobblestones bruised and battered me to the point where the pain was nearly unbearable. The chains that bind my wrists are a short length, and by the feel of things there's a metal collar around my neck, a chain bounding me to the wall by that as well.

One wrong move and I may snap my own neck.

As carefully as I can, I scoot a little closer to the door of the cell and close my eyes to listen in on the conversation between the two guards standing outside the door.

"What's she done wrong anyways?" the first guard asks curiously.

"Haven't you heard?" the other one replies scornfully. "She's a witch; the Priestess said so. She's been hiding out here and she used her witchcraft to make the prince fall in love with her."

My eyes open in a flash at his words; they're so ludicrous that I can't bring myself to believe it's true. Me, bewitch a prince? I couldn't do magic if I tried, let alone something as complicated as manipulating emotions. My thoughts go to Gakupo, and the way his violet eyes seemed to blaze as he grabbed me roughly by the hair and then threw me away from him.

Surely he didn't believe…

My thoughts are interrupted when the guards snap to attention and say, "Priestess! How may we help you?" I can see their spears at the ready as a solemn voice replies, "Let me into the prisoner's cell. Her fate has been decided."

The door creaks open slowly to reveal a small hooded figure. As the Priestess steps into the room, she allows her hood to fall and I look up into cold teal eyes before she intones, "Megurine Luka. Do you admit to the crime of being a witch?"

Shaking with anger at her haughty tone, I look up and say back just as steadily, "I am not a witch." She flinches a bit as my azure eyes meet hers; like she can't bear the thought that this 'unholy demon' is looking her in the eye. Looking down at me, she says, "Your lies and deceit will harm the prince no more. At sunset you are to be burned at the stake for the crimes you have committed."

"And what crimes have I committed, Priestess?" I ask, my voice growing in volume as my anger rises. "Is it a crime, to love someone and have them love you back?"

For a second guilt crosses the Priestess's face; then it is gone like a streak of lightning only to be replaced with a self-righteous look. Turning from me, she covers her long blue hair and grabs the cross the hangs at her neck, murmuring, "You have cast a spell on Prince Gakupo. I suggest you remove it from him before we burn you and it is dispelled that way."

Without giving me a chance to say anything back, she walks to the door and yanks it open before slamming it roughly behind her and leaving me alone in the cell once more.

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My new headpiece floats just a few feet away from me, swept up by the wind as I attempt to catch it. I run to it as the wind dies down, thinking that maybe this time I'll have it in my grasp when I watch it gently float into the palm of someone's hand. Without thinking, I approach the tall stranger and give a quick curtsey as he hands over the headpiece. My hand brushes lightly against his when I reach to take it, and to my embarrassment I'm blushing when I look up and see there's a smile wreathed across his handsome face.

He's smiling. At me.

He bows a little, before asking my name. Cautiously, I tell him that I'm Megurine Luka and I thank him for catching my headpiece. Straightening up, he takes my hand and says, "I'm Prince Gakupo." Before I can react much more, he hesitates and asks, "I hope I'm not being too forward, but I hope I can see you again…would you like to meet me here tomorrow and we could walk around the kingdom and talk?"

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I'm woken roughly from my dream, pulled to my feet by several guards as they unhook the chains from the wall and use them to yank me along behind them. They're laughing at me as I stumble along, pulled by the chain like an animal being led to be part of a circus act. I can't take their taunting anymore; as hard as I can I pull back, digging my feet into the ground to try and stop them. This makes them angry of course.

"Don't hold us up, demon! You'll burn at sunset whether you try to delay it or not!"

A rough punch lands on my cheek and I slam into the wall, pain seeping through every muscle in my body as I concentrate on breathing and pray that I'm not bleeding from my hit. The solider who punched me just laughs and says, "Look, she's trying to be brave! Come on, why can't we have a little fun with her?"

Reaching out, he grabs the sleeve of my torn dress, ripping it off and as I choke on a scream he looms closer. I ready myself to bite him when the captain's voice says, "Stop it! Get back in line and just get her where she needs to be! You don't want to consort with a witch, now hurry up!"

For a second I'm grateful for the label of witch; without it I might have been sacrificed to the soldiers and their drunken lust. The thankful feeling doesn't last long though as I'm roughly shoved into another dingy room and my chains are tied tightly to the ground. Several women come in as the soldiers leave, and as they pour scalding water over me and start to scrub my skin raw I bite my lip to stop a cry from coming out.

I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing my tears at this pain, not yet. When the water touches the place where my head hit the wall though the pain becomes dizzying and I find myself in darkness once more.

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We're lying on a grassy hill just outside of the town's walls. Away from all the prying eyes, we can play here; rolling in the grass and playing tag like little children, we enjoy each other's company without worrying about status or what people would say. It's strange how you can be drawn to someone and feel so many things when you barely knew them a month before.

Idly, he reaches out and gently touches my cheek, his fingertips lingering on my skin. As a light pink creeps into my cheeks, he smiles and murmurs, "You're very beautiful, Luka."

"Thanks," I murmur back, suddenly growing shy. I lean into his hand as he moves it to the back of my head and pulls me down for a sweet kiss. His tongue teasingly runs across my lower lip, and I break away and giggle before saying, "I wish we could be here forever, it would be like magic."

Sitting up, Gakupo pulls me into a hug and replies, "I know what you mean. But we don't need a time-stopping magic, or any magic for that matter. How could magic possibly achieve the same feelings we have now?"

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Wasn't he the one that said that?

My blue dress, the one I worked on so hard to sew, is gone when I wake once more. In its place is a rough burlap sack made to look like a dress , and my raw skin twinges every time the material brushes it. Guards march in once more and grab the chain, and I think that we're about to go back to my cell to await sunset when I find myself being pulled down a different hallway. Gathering my courage, I croak out, "Where are you taking me?"

The captain of the guard doesn't answer, but the soldier on my right does, muttering, "Don't you know? It's sunset.

It's time for you to burn."