It was too much. Yamada Taro never regretted being born to royalty; he acknowledged that others had it much worse than he and his family did. However, there were days when the constant stress and expectations became almost too heavy a burden to bear. Had he been alone in his efforts, Taro would have collapsed long ago, but support from his court and several friends in his gilded prison helped ease the load from his shoulders.

Today had pushed the limits of his tolerance - though he loved his childhood friend, Najimi Osana had her moments. These had not been her finest, today. How she managed to poison the lunch she presented to him, he did not know. He did know that her intentions were good. If his little sister could be more forgiving, it might have helped lighten the atmosphere… but no, Yamada Hanako could be very scary, especially when she felt her brother was in danger.

Now, alone in his bedchamber, the prince could only look back on the day with dashed hopes. The servants were whispering as they left, he could hear them. The court Sorceress, Oka Ruto, had declared publicly that there was a disturbance in the aura of the castle, much to his dismay. Taro held little belief in the abilities of Madam Ruto, but she commanded respect with her station and the fact that his father had appointed her despite Taro's obvious skepticism.

He had interrupted her public statement, he recalled. It was quite an accident - he had scoffed under his breath, and accidentally dropped a goblet. The witch had spun, startled, and pointed at him. "These tragedies center around you, Yamada Taro. May you take my warning with proper caution and face your fate with dignity!" Half of the court had been scandalized by her scathing tone alone, while the other half wailed from her premonition about their beloved prince. The king had fallen under her spell a fair time prior, and had tripled security in the castle, barring the common folk until the "danger" was "accounted for".

Sighing, the prince ran a hand through his hair. Dinner had been delivered at the capable hands of Odayaka Amai, the court cook, but he had never felt less like eating. Although his favorite desserts had been included, Taro ignored the tray of food and began removing his constricting clothes. Dropping his heavy garments onto the bed, he huffed. It had been a long day, unbearably so, and he desired nothing more than sleep. So the prince closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep uninterrupted.

Alas, it was not to be...

...not if she had anything to say about it.

Taro awoke in the darkest hours of the night, sweating, panting harshly. He recollected a nightmarish dream of sickly white hands with red talons holding him down as a figure slinked up to him. He shuddered, closing his eyes, yet the scene persisted. He shifted, and froze at the girlish giggle from above his restrained figure.

Opening his eyes, his gaze was drawn to the magnetic presence of his late-night guest. Inky black hair framed her face, two loose knots above her shoulders giving way to twin tails of darkness that brushed and curled against the bedsheets. She was alluringly pale, with a deep red kimono that mimicked her sultry eyes. Dark makeup complimented her features. Those teasing lips turned up in a coy smile, and the temptress spoke for the first time.

"Hello, my Prince. I've been waiting to meet you."

The enticing lilt to her voice snapped him out of his trance. Indignation and ire rose in the prince's heart at the thought that this mysterious woman might have a dark fate in store for him. "Who are you? How dare you enter my private chambers?" His heated questions only seemed to amuse the beautiful woman before him. Anger boiling inside him, he spat out, "Guards!"

He had expected several armed individuals to rush to his aid. What he had not expected was the bubble of genuine mirth from the damsel in his presence. "Oh, my dear Taro-kun…" She toyed with the sash around her waist, loosening it and shooting him a devilish smirk. "I'm afraid they're a bit… well… indisposed. You see, I made sure to ask all of them quite nicely if they would mind giving us this time alone and undisturbed." A sly smile crept across her beautiful face. "They were loathe to go against the pleas of such a lovely young lady." With those words, the sash dropped, and the robe slithered to the floor.

Taro's heart stopped for what seemed like an eternity, but could not have been more than mere seconds. His roving eyes took in the seductive armor, the deep jewel resting above her sternum, but what captured his attention were the magnificent and terrifying wings lifting from her shoulders. Dark feathers clustered atop the bones, dropping away gradually to reveal a bat-like membrane, translucent and shimmering like an otherworldly veil. Lifting a single finger to her lips, she leaned forward, tilting her head with dark innocence. "So… shall we begin?"

A/N - I saw a recent update of Yandere Simulator and this idea stuck. Please don't kill me. (And please tell me what you thought!)