Chapter 1: The Days We Met and Reunited

(Kaito's POV)

Hi, guys! This is my first story I'm publishing! R&R please! I need to know what to fix up with this story. Also, I've made a list of the characters and settings for your convenience.

Characters:
Sir Kaito Shion
Lady Miku Hatsune
Sir Len Kagamine, an army commander

Apothecary (GUMI)

Sir Kiyoteru Hatsune, the viceroy
Lady Meiko Hatsune

King Gakupo Shion, former commander

Queen Luka Shion

King Oliver Shion

Setting:
Time – 2nd Renaissance (Modernized)
Place – Amorluxia

Empirical Castle

Hatsune Manor

My life before that person was bleak and bland. There was no color in Amorluxia. The name of this land and its meaning had never enlightened me. "Amor" and "luxia" relate to love and passion, but honestly, this place left more of a narcotic that I use to at least kill some time. I didn't really know what it meant. Sure, there were many a time where I would have chosen from variety, and every now and then I would see to it. Yet, there was always that innocent face that never ceases to amaze me in infinite ways incomparable. It was her that had stopped my time passing methods.

We were only twelve years old. My family and her family were united through our father's friendship. My father, Gakupo Shion, was the Commander of the Royal Amorluxian Knights and her father, Kiyoteru Hatsune, was a royal messenger of my grandfather, King Oliver. Funny how they became friends over a trivial quarrel of spilled wine. It was pretty humorous I might add. After putting aside their difference for the Crown, they've eventually became friends. The Hatsune house welcomed us so humbly that we've started treating them as a second relative family, regardless of status. Now, they're of true nobility, with Kiyoteru becoming the king's viceroy and my father taking over the throne for the Shions.

Their friendship was not as stable at first. Many events have occurred, which was beyond my control. The civil war that occurred six years ago strained the families' connection. My father was out commanding his troops on the battlefield while, my mother tried to protect me from any rebels. Two days before the civil war concluded, my mother went missing and I was alone to defend myself. Luckily, I was able to go into hiding in the castle's basement till the war was over. When my mother, Luka, died I had no one to take care of me; my father couldn't take her death well. Not only that, but my grandfather was assassinated by a rebel. The rebel was slain by my father in time and he immediately took over the throne. At age twelve, I didn't care less about their deaths, yet I acknowledged and thanked them for all they've had done to keep me alive. I wasn't as close to the King, yet he's passed down many sentimental gifts as appreciation to my birth. As for my mother, I've been told many rumors about her death: being run over by a stampede of horses, getting raped by the beggars and peasants, having to be burned alive and trapped in her own tailor shop, and so on. It didn't faze me enough to cry. My father did, as noble and strong he was. Why didn't I cry?

Months after mother's death, the feeling of lack of affection is gone. Honestly, I never thought I had such feelings, but after many months when Luka died my heart started to hurt. Eventually, I've mourned for her. I've turned desperate for someone's love and affection. Anything to replace the void within my heart.

I was sent to my father's friend's manor. Sir Kiyoteru, father's friend, was compassionate enough to leave me to his family's care until the rest of my relatives come to this land. My father, who's been King Gakupo ever since the civil war's end, took precautionary measures to protect me and prevent me from falling into the same fate as my mother. As much as it had hurt, I understood the measures and heeded his word yet never forgetting my lineage to the throne.

I was always a single child. I never knew how it felt to have a brother or sister. I was also a quiet child who only had his father to talk to. Then... I've met her. A small childlike girl whose smile has pinned my heart down since the day we've met.

At first, I didn't care what happened that first day. I met with her mother, Meiko, and she gave me whatever food I asked for. This wasn't enough affection and love I wanted. There was her tealette daughter who always sat across from me at the long table.

"Kaito! Kaito-kun!" she exclaimed as she popped a baby tomato into her mouth. I didn't want to look at her the first day. Her voice was as if a squirrel attempted to talk to me in English. Her face was round, and her hair was always covering parts of her face as the rest of her hair cascaded down from her ponytails. I was annoyed of her calling my name to do something. And I did what I'd always do with most people: act as a mute and almost never reply.

It was not until our art and music mentor that I started seeing her in a different light. When it came to art, I always fumble in my craftsmanship. The mentor would always tell me to stop gripping my pen so hard and let my hands swiftly flow with my imaginations. I didn't understand at first. When I saw Sir Kiyoteru's daughter draft her portrait, it was just. Aesthetic. Realistic. I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Look, Kaito-kun! This is a picture of you!" she exclaimed. I couldn't help but stare at this image. It was really me. With a box full of candy and toys under a sycamore tree at the break of dawn. The one feature that caught my eyes the most was the expression she had drawn of me. A smile. With the most sincere eyes I've ever seen. "Rarely do I ever see you smile, Kaito-kun!" she said. Such affection like that, I have never seen; every part of that image was drawn in detail and it spoke to me. For a child like her to create a masterpiece like this was magnificent. For me to be her subject of the masterpiece has allured me to a new level of affection. She had captivated me.

As the months go on, I've took the liberty of quietly observing her. By her thirteenth birthday, I've heard the most beautiful voice singing to the old tunes of Beethoven. Before then, I was a novice at playing the piano. However, her singing is what had sparked the creative peak within my soul. Every note she had hit, I've played as well. Every time she holds the note, I continue to play the chords to our heart's content. Her voice was like velvet, pure, innocent, and heavenly. It was as if her voice and my musical notes mixed together with harmony, as angels grew envious of our euphony. And before then, I've begin to immerse into a whole new world of compassion and appreciation.

One night, a burglar from outside the empirical castle broke into the viceroy's home. I was half awake when he started breaking and crashing things in the other room.

"GET OUT OF HERE YOU HAGGARD!"

Slam.

"DADDY, MOMMY, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Slam.

That voice. The viceroy's daughter. I've wasted no time and ran to her room. Sir Kiyoteru was behind me along with my caretaker, then he ran after the burglar. I ran to their daughter's bed. She was shaking in a curled up ball of blankets.

"It's me. Don't be scared now. That man is gone." I affirmed.

"Kaito-kun," she cried. She leaped out of her ball and wrapped her arms around my neck. It felt like she was almost trying to choke the life out of me, but yet of course that's the normal reaction for when someone is scared to death as her. She wept in my arms as I hugged her back.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you from now on. Next time something like this happens, they're going to have to go through me first!"

"Kaito-kun..." she sobbed. Her eyes lit up in the moonlight from the broken window. Hazel with glass tears that colored her cheeks pink with fear. It's odd to say, but she was awfully cute when she cried in my arms like this. I ran my hand through her chocolaty, smooth hair, and I gave her a kiss of assurance on the forehead which made her smile genuinely back to me. I ran to the little garden at her window to pick a red flower out for her, and I presented it to her. This flower became a sign of a more intimate bond between us, and what more can this life be painted with?

Blissful times did not last long, for a week after that incident; my relatives have come to take me into their care. I couldn't stand to be pulled away from that girl. She gave my life color and sparked my heartened flame. I was scared if I could keep my promise or not.

"Kaito-kun! Don't go! Please!" She cried. Her face was wet with tears. I didn't want to be responsible of making her cry. I didn't want to hurt her this way. After the several months I've been with her and learned about her, I'm being pulled away from this life jewel by some half-blooded guadians, nevertheless strangers! Why am I being sent away?! No, it can't be possible. I know there's another way to deal with this. I couldn't let this slip. I didn't want to live without her smile and eyes and hair and beauty of her. There was only one way I could keep this connection alive.

"Kaito! Please don't leave me, I love you!" she screamed.
"Remember my promise! One day, I will come back for you! Don't forget me, my love!" These were my last words to her before I was sent to Verunia.

Six years have passed, and I've chosen to live my own path. In Verunia, I've ran and stressed myself out to the maximum of my abilities all to protect the one I loved. My swordsmanship was on par with the Verunia Commander, my combat mentor and half-brother,Taito. After I've reached my eighteenth birthday and learned of Sir Kiyoteru's death, I've moved back to Amorluxia in search of that girl. I only remembered her younger figure; short stature, long teal hair, sincere aquamarine eyes, and a smile fit for an angel.

I went back to the empirical castle and reunited with my father, King Gakupo. The castle itself was the same as before, only now there were maids cleaning up on the foyer, and there were fewer plants on the veranda. My mother used to tend the flowers on the balcony, but now that she's gone, there's more death and overgrowth that needs to be trimmed.

"Kaito!" My father shouted from the pillar on the second floor. He took careful steps down the stairs and met with me.

"Father," I said to him. His complexion still looks the same, only that his eyes looked more somber and his hair has faded gray. It looked to me that the castle and its people have not changed as much, but what of the Hatsune family?

"My son! When did you get back to the castle? You look much stiffer and built up in shape!" He exclaimed as he gave me a few pats on my arms and shoulders.

"Just recently, father. I've done a lot of training under my half-brother, Taito. He's doing quite well commanding his army in Verunia, and he's sure trained me well to protect myself."

We walked into the meeting hall on the left wing of the castle, and my father ordered from a maid some wine to drink as we sat down.

"It's good to have you back here safe and sound, and you've honed your skills in protecting yourself." We clanged our wine glasses together and drank of my celebratory return. "Sooner or later, I'll be holding a ball in honor of your return to the kingdom!"

"No need for that, father. I rather be kept quiet. Remember why you've sent me away?" I said to him curtly.

"Ahh." Gakupo looked down and contemplated on the consequences that led to my sentence to Verunia. "I guess you're finally old enough to understand the difficulties that have happened in the past."

I was unsure exactly which event was the one that led me to leave the kingdom. All I could think about was the time the burglar came in and scared her. "I believe so." I lied.

"The war from six years ago had endangered the Shion household. Your grandfather was assassinated, and your mother-" He looked down and stammered. "Luka didn't deserve to be killed by our own people. As much as I hated my grandfather for his monarchial rule over the people, I've loved him since my birth yet I'll never forgive him for causing my Queen's death. When I was renowned as King Gakupo, I was petrified. I had no one else to look to, and Luka, the love of my life left me so suddenly…" Tears began swelling in his eyes as I looked back onto the past. There were still scars left behind from the civil war, and there was much threat back when the Shions were prominent. "You're all I have left, yet I can't put to chance in having you assassinated by the kingdom's rebels. Because of my father's reign, we've become a cursed family of tragedy, and with you purposely put on exile to Verunia, I believed that there was hope in rebuilding the honorary heirloom of the Shions. But," he promptly placed his wine glass down, almost spilling its contents. "You may be at a disadvantage. There's no one else I can think of but-"

"How am I at a disadvantage, father?" I grew curious. I didn't really care much about the war until the thought of my mother had crossed my mind.

He looked lost for a second and choked a bit on his sip of wine. "Forget what I've said; now might not be the best time to talk of future engagement."

"What? Future engagement?" I negated his statement. I grew impatient.

"If I never sent you away or have I requested you to come back soon enough," he murmured as he turned away.

"No more pondering!" I yelled. "What is it?"

He turned back at me. "Why did you come back?"

"I heard of Sir Kiyoteru's death, so I came back here as soon as possible to attend the funeral." Another lie. I came back for her instead, but to find her is to get past my father.

"That's odd. His funeral happened about three days ago. The news must have arrived to you very late." Before I went back to the topic of engagement, he gave me an endearing smile. "Well, since you've returned, would you like to become one of my noblemen?"

"Your nobleman? Why not come back as your rightful son?"

He looked down in discouragement. "I worry about you a lot, Kaito. The years without you was full of emptiness, and all I looked after was myself. Though I was protecting you, I felt like I've made a grave mistake of cutting you off away from me." More tears streamed down his cheeks as he went up to me and hugged very tightly. "I don't want to send you away again. Although you harness the strength to protect yourself, I can't take any more chances of losing you. I'm doing this for you as my son, not as a member of nobility. Think of it this way: I've distanced you enough so that you're more independent from the Shion House yet close enough in my reach to protect you. You're still a resident of the Empirical Castle." He let go of me and rested his hand on my shoulder. "You've grown into a young, strong man, maybe nobler for the throne than I am, and I hope that one day you will claim your rightful place when I die. Now, I feel like I've might have made a terrible mistake, and I just can't-"

I hugged him very tightly. "I forgive you father for all you've done, and I love you for having to protect me at whatever costs. Don't blame yourself anymore. I've missed you and this home. Whatever you need to do for me now, I will uphold and act accordingly to you." He hugged me very tightly once again, almost choking the life out of me.

"I'm so happy…" He wiped his tears. "I will give you everything you need to substantiate your life independently. You still have access to the House wealth and gifts, and you still have your room in the castle. It's been blocked off for a while, for no one's been around that wing of the castle for many years."

We talked into the right wing of the castle towards my room. One of the maids unlocked the door and opened my room. Everyone was left as it was before I've left, and only dust created a layer on all my possessions.

"Maid! Have you and some other maids clean up this place! My son has retur-!" I covered his mouth.

"Father! Remember what I told you?"

"But I'm so happy of your return!" He looked at my clothing. "Oh! I have a ball tonight in the castle lobby!"

"Father!" I facepalmed. After many times, he's-

"This wasn't planned for you, son! It was because tonight is the start of the Harvest Moon!" He chuckled. "You need better clothing if you're going to attend my masquerade ball!"

"I'm attending?"

"Goodness, son, who wouldn't? Everyone in the kingdom is invited! And as my nobleman (and my son), you need to dress more sophisticated and appealing! Who knows? You might be meeting some familiar faces!" He beamed. Whatever the cost it is to find that girl again, I accepted his offer.

"Is this what you've been doing when I was gone? Hosting balls?"

"Well, just recently when-" He cut himself off. "Nevermind when! Maid! Assist this man and dress him in the best quality clothing for the ball! We need to give you a discreet welcome!

"Are the Hatsunes attending?" I questioned.

He pushed me onward to the maid and said, "Yes yes! Everyone will be at the party! I shall see you at the evening's dawn! Take your time on your fashion!" I turned away from the king and gave an eye roll. He's acting so peculiar that it seemed so unnatural, but then again, he's aging. There are still some questions unanswered, however. It felt as though he was ignoring my question.

It has been a while since I've talked to anyone in Amorluxia, so I took his offer, hoping to reunite with especially the late viceroy's daughter.

I came into the entrance of the ball room. There were mostly conversations going on at the time, and few couples danced till their heart's content. As I was walking over to the window, I've accidentally bumped into a couple.

"Oh, my apologies, miss," I said half-heartedly to the lady. I made her drop her silver mask, so I picked it off the floor.

"I'm sorry! It was my fault I ran into you, sir!" the lady exclaimed.

Badum. My heart had just beat. Her voice and her hair. I got back up and quickly examined her face. Round. Big eyes and a glorious smile like no other. So familiar. Yet part of her hair is covering her face.

Badum. It beats again. "Thank you so much, sir." That lady again.

"Shall we dance, milady?" her partner asked. She started looking at and away from me repeatedly. Doesn't she recognize me?

"We shall, Len." She said with a smile.

As they walked away from me, I couldn't help but look at her. Her personality, it's obnoxious yet also cheerful. Her smile, its captivating of the heart. Her hair, though slightly different but somewhat longer than before. This was her. She was dancing with another man. Both identities masked, yet they knew who they were to each other. How that person addressed her: "milady." Could he possibly have... No, I can't accept this. I know that this was her, but who in sane hell was that haggard and why is he acting so courteous with her? Why is she giving him that same genuine smile she's given me back then? All this had been too long. Had everything actually changed after I left?

This is just the beginning of how I met and reunited with Lady Miku Hatsune.

How was that? :O PLEASE R&R. After the first two chapters it'll only get DARKER from there. I promise :P