Chapter 1

Obligation

"Noel!... Noel!... NOEL, WHERE ARE YOU?" Tsubaki rushed hastily up the emerald hill and stopped at the top panting. She looked to and fro at each direction as her eyes scanned for at least a single glimpse of where the girl was. Slowing down her breathing, she gently brushed back a strand of rose-colored hair back behind her ear and sighed. "She may as well not come out… Not at all…"

A soft, delicate voice sounded out, "Was someone calling for me?... Makoto? Is that you?" Footsteps on the path came closer and closer, and a small figure slowly and sheepishly walked out from behind the bushes. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders from the breeze, her sea-green irises scanning cautiously. Noel was still wearing her Lieutenant uniform, but without her hat on and, shockingly, without her guns in hand. She turned to her left to see Tsubaki standing there before her in her entire uniform. At that very moment, Noel's body froze in its place. Her heart nearly stopped in her chest. All the blood flushed out of her face. Her eyes widened in shock and fright as if seeing death. The girl let out a horrific shriek piercing the atmosphere as she fell backward with a thump.

Tsubaki did not advance toward Noel at all, at least not menacingly. She quickly tossed aside her weapon and shield and tried to speak above Noel's screams to get her to remain calm. "Noel! No Noel please I'm not here to-"

"NO! SHUT UP! DON'T COME NEAR ME!" Noel screamed louder, scampering off the ground and running away like a terrified animal. She tripped and stumbled again.

The other girl came rushing towards her, only to continue to try to calm her. "Noel! NOEL NO I'M NOT-"

Noel's screaming turned to crying, realizing she did not have her guns with her to protect her. And even at a time, this time, when she was finally off her guard. She panicked as she backed up against a tree stump, sobbing and looking at Tsubaki.

Tsubaki finally spoke in a loud, firm voice. "I'M NOT HERE TO KILL YOU THIS TIME, NOEL!"

Noel stopped and grew silent. She wiped off the tears from her now red cheeks, still looking up at Tsubaki with concern and confusion. She was too used to the idea of Tsubaki showing up in front of her these days mainly for the purpose of doing away with her by orders. Why was she not attacking her this time?

Tsubaki sighed and looked at the small blonde girl who had just broken down before her. She cleared her throat and said in a much softer tone, "Noel Vermillion… I have been asked to bring you back to the NOL… for a personal consultation…."

"A consultation to decide how to punish me." Noel turned away and shook sheepishly. Her voice trembled as she continued,"For speaking to Ragna the Bloodedge, right? Now you plan to take me? Lock me away? Hang me? Torment me to the point of feeling like I'm ready to kill myself?"

"Noel, no… Just, stop and hear me out for a second. They're back at the base waiting for you right now. They really need to talk to you. They miss you, but right now they need you more than ever."

"Who?"

"… Your parents..."

Noel looked back into Tsubaki's eyes. What would the NOL have been doing with her parents? Were they somehow involved in this personal matter Tsubaki was stressing so much?

"Noel…. We are not going to hurt you… That's not what I'm here for… Right now, forget about the situation with Bloodedge. This is more important…" Tsubaki's eyes gave off a look which made Noel's heart soften and sag. She reached a hand out to her friend. "Please come…."

Noel's heart pounded fast in her chest like a terrified bird. She stood before the intimidating doors to the NOL's counseling hall. "H-Here?... Tsubaki, I…"

"Just be calm, Noel. Everything is fine. I will be in the room, too," replied Tsubaki as she stood beside her. She walked forward to the giant blue doors decked with many designs embedded into it and took the large golden handle of one of the doors, banging it loud three times against the door. The knocks echoed throughout the giant hallways, making Noel feel even more uncomfortable.

The doors slowly opened with loud creaking. Tsubaki took Noel by the hand and lead her into the grand counseling hall before them. Noel's heart leapt into her throat as she stepped forward and into the room, feeling a cold chill of fate rushing upon her like a tsunami wave. But she could not step back now. She could not resist. She had to bear with the intensity.

Noel slowly stopped and looked up shyly at the scene. What she saw almost nearly took her breath away. The counseling hall was far larger than she could possibly imagine, decked with traditional royal architecture. It seemed as though all fate and condemnation had come and formed a cylinder down upon the large round table of marble in the very center of the place. Around it were several chairs of marble as well, and within each of those chairs sitting representatives of the NOL. Then, Noel caught a glimpse of two people who did not look like councilmen. Both of her adoptive parents, the Vermillions, were sitting right there together, looking directly into her face from far across the grand table and floor. Everyone else was staring at Noel as well, as if a cluster of hawks were staring upon her. Now the girl was just about ready to faint from the fear she was feeling. Worst yet, nothing was going to save her now.

"Welcome, Lieutenant Vermillion…" said a booming voice within the room. "Please come forward and sit…" Noel tried her best to keep her poise as she walked forward to the great marble table. Tsubaki guided her and stayed along her side to guard her. Noel was brought to one of the marble chairs, which was empty and reserved for her, and she took a seat. Tsubaki still remained by Noel's chair, standing straight and looking forward. The faces of all the councilmen were still turned toward her. Even her parents who sat there looked at her and said nothing as well. She was not sure whether or not they were furious with her and were not showing it, but it almost seemed most likely the case, especially after what Noel had done which disgraced the Vermillion family beyond recognition.

Suddenly, another set of doors from across the room had slowly opened as well, and everyone turned their eyes off of Noel and to the doors. Out walked a few more NOL guards, two of them standing beside the doors, and a few more preceding forward. It was who was behind these guards which caught the center of attention. Everyone at the table rose from their seats and bowed slowly. Tsubaki bowed as well and then pushed Noel's head down to get her to bow as well. Everyone raised their heads back up and then Noel did the same, and within the room was the presence of none other than the grand and majestic Imperator. The elegant lady in purple colored robes slowly walked to an empty marble seat which was the largest out of all the other seats at the grand table. As she took her seat, everyone else sat back down. The room was silent for a moment longer as the Imperator's calm demeanor and red eyes faced Noel directly across from the table. All the young blonde could do was to simply stare back into her imperial jewel eyes in silence.

Finally, the lady in violet spoke out, but in a soft voice which ebbed through the air and against the walls like the rushing waters of a river. "So this is Lieutenant Noel Vermillion, is she not?" The councilmen nodded their heads and murmured soft sounds as a response. The Imperator still looked straight into the girl's eyes and continued. "Lieutenant Vermillion,… thank you for taking the courage to come and to speak with us today. I do believe that recently, there have been some corruptive circumstances which you are said to have been involved in, such as consulting with the wanted criminal Ragna the Bloodedge. According to the laws of the Librarium, such a capital offense against orders by the NOL is punishable with only the penalty of death…."

Now all hell broke loose within Noel's imagination. A sharp pain from anxiety and doom flowed through her spine. This is it, she though. She was totally done for. She could see it all in red within her mind. She, dressed in rags and her arms bound, heading straight up to the gallows. The smell of blood within the air. All those condemning her crowding around her and along her path staring down upon her like dark and hungry wolves.

But then the Imperator interrupted these horrid images in her head as she spoke again. "However," the empress continued, "A rather high ranking official has recently spoken to me, and I have spoken to the councilmen of the NOL and even to your family, the Vermillions as well, and after a long series of discussions, we have come to a decision… We will drop your death sentence, as well as your charges clear from your history." The Imperator's lips then curled into a calm and assuring smile. "Plus, I have decided to add in a great reward for you and the Vermillion name as well, dear girl. The great Vermillion family, which had its aristocracy taken away by our Librarium many years ago, shall once again be restored upon your family name once again. You and the Vermillions shall all be known as the most honorable of all the Nobility in this empire. Your father shall once again become one of the richest men of his day, and you to be cherished and loved as though a princess." Subtly, her smile became slightly more mischievous as her vision narrowed at Noel, her head tipping slightly lower to glance. "All of this… shall be given to you…

" BUT UNDER ONE CONDITION….."

Before Noel could settle down and attempt to digest the idea of strange and overly splendorous rewards, her attention jumped once more from the ending of the Imperator's tone. She listened and froze from the sharpness of the lady's gaze, frightened as to know what she was going to say next.

"Your family most certainly was not going to get these rewards for nothing… In exchange, your parents have offered you to take on a rather special obligation… After all, you HAVE been the only one well suited to redeem the Vermillion family since the day you were adopted, and now this is your chance to fulfill your rightful duty to honor your family…."

The Imperator's voice became louder. And the final epic sentence boomed and ebbed louder within the walls with a final hit of superiority to Noel's heart and nerves. "You, Noel Vermillion, have recently become betrothed to one of the most powerful officers of our Librarium… and thus are to be united in the sacred act of marriage."

Noel was entirely shocked at that moment. Her mind, her nerves, her heart and breath all completely paused, trying to adjust to what words were sentenced down upon her. Marriage? Was that what this was all about? To whom? Noel did not remember such a thing being arranged at all, yet then again, this was something completely new and recently occurring. Who was this officer? Would she know him? Questions continued to stream through her mind in bewilderment and fear. Sure, her parents always went far enough to send her to the NOL Academy in hopes of her ever redeeming their family, and even becoming a Lieutenant. But an arranged marriage was something far beyond the lines of family duties. Apparently, that was not the case now.

The Imperator turned her head towards the doors she walked through before. Everyone else did the same. Footsteps were echoing from within the contents of the large and intimidating doors. "And thus, her awaited fiancé approaches… You may come in," ordered the Imperator loud enough for the mystery person to hear. The guards grabbed the doors, slowly opening them outward.

Noel's Head turned, and so did her stomach, as the one who stood there in the doorway, her specially betrothed, was the ever so devious Captain Hazama.

Noel's breathing nearly stopped. The chill of fear and horror immensely took over her. She was so shocked and upset that she wanted to scream aloud until her lungs bled, but her chest felt too tight to even say a word. If anything, if she could speak, she would have screamed, "H-Hazama? No, no please no! Anything but him! NO PLEASE I DON'T WANT TO! I'D RATHER CHOOSE THE DEATH PENALTY OVER HIM! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME!" But no. Noel had no say in it. She may as well not scream or cry or complain at all. With a situation involving him, she was completely out of power.

Hazama's demonic eyes glowed gold under his green hair as he stared with his typical sly smile at the young girl. "Well, Ms. Noel," he said in a dark tone. "What are you waiting for? Stand and come to me, my dear…" The Imperator still looked at the scene and smiled. Feeling that she simply had no choice, Noel's body stood from her seat in a trance like fashion, and she slowly walked over across the cold marble floor to the serpent calling out to her. The councilmen, her parents, and Tsubaki watched in awe at the sight of what was about to happen. Noel finally stood there, zombie-like from fright, unable to breathe, looking straight up at her fate. Hazama's serpent eyes seemingly pierced into her mind and soul like a thousand cold knives.

Hazama grinned even more as he took a small blue box out of his pocket. "Miss Noel…" He knelt down on one knee, bowing his head and holding the box in front of him. He opened up the small box, and glittering before Noel's eyes was a silver ring with a sparkling green jewel and diamonds.

"Become my wife…" He looked back up into her eyes again, his golden snake orbs glowing. "And you shall be at my side…" He grinned. His fangs showed. "Forever."

Noel did not think for one moment. In one frozen cold whisper, "Yes…."

Hazama took her small white hand and slipped the ring onto her fingers. Noel did not move or fidget once. The sounds of applause filled the room, even though Noel could not hear them.

"Congratulations," said the Imperator. "Lord Vermillion, pay Hazama the bridal price later on. The day of the wedding shall be seven days from now…"

The tightness, the fear, the powerlessness all finally overtook poor Noel. With a sting in her lungs, she whispered aloud, "I…. I can't breathe!..." In a split second, her vision blurred, she felt her body slowly fall back, and everything had turned black with a last image of Hazama's still grinning face.

TO BE CONTINUED…