Crumbling At Your Heels Prologue

"You are tuned into WVOC, currently broadcasting live from Miku Hatsune's memorial concert. The young star who tragically fallen to the 0HZ virus-"

-click-

"Next, we'll continue with Ms. Hatsune's 17th most popular song of her terribly short life, Melt. This was one of her first hits, and a fan-"

-click-

"0HZ pandemic is estimated to have claimed several million lives worldwide, but medical experts are still divided on its origin and transmission of the dreaded disease. We're sure you've been hearing these precations for weeks, but we'll give the run-down again before we move onto interviews with foreign victims. First and foremost, avoid physical contact with anyone who experiences the symptoms..."

Luka Megurine sighed. 'Finally, a radio station that isn't hung up on that dead idol. People are dying everywhere and all they can talk about is one singer.'

The girl eyed the items on her bed carefully; she wouldn't be able to take all of her things to where she was moving. Not that she minded- the world had been cast into a rage because of that plague, the '0HZ pandemic', they called it. Things like which outfit she wanted to keep, or which shoes should be trashed were no longer important to her. She never had that much of a mind for fashion or a care for material items, anyway. Living on her own for practically all her life had imprinted her with a sense of frugality.

"And the most important thing of all, don't attempt to save the victums of their suffe-"

-click-

She turned the radio off and set it in her single suitcase.

'Well, with the radio packed, I don't suppose I should hang around here anymore.'

The young woman gave her apartment one last look around before deeming it ready to depart from. She took the small suitcase that would be the only thing that would stay with her, and shut her apartment door for the last time.

'I have the papers, right?' she suddenly thought. Luka checked her pockets- good, she had them. She had been hired as a maid of the prestigious Eaves family under the pretense that she could prove herself completely disease free, most importantly of the 0HZ virus. Luka assumed that even if the job didn't pay well, she didn't have to worry about being infected. Luka hadn't known anyone personally who had the disease, but then again, Luka really didn't know anyone. She had heard stories, though, about the slow loss of movement and muscle fatigue, general deterioration. And it hurt like hell.

She exited the run-down apartment building where she had lived for the past few years, and walked down the deserted street without turning back. It was a nice day, she noticed, but even the friendly sun couldn't convince the paranoid masses to take a stroll. At least the buses were running. The Eaves Estate was quite a ways outside the city.

"And you bothered to tell me this because..?" a snappy question was followed by another's heavy sigh, which originated from young man with astonishingly long violet hair. At that moment, he wasn't feeling particularly patient with his companion.

"She will be the new maid for the time being, and it wouldn't do for you to call security when you see her face, and know not of her purpose." Gakupo drawled lazily.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time someone was found on my family's estate, trying in vain to hide from this sickness." Prima stated tartly. She reached into her hair and began to twirl a curly black lock. She stood straight and held her chin up. She was the picture of dignity, undeniably beautiful with her expensive clothes and delicate, feminine face.

Gakupo reclined rather inelegantly onto one of the ornate sofas in that particular parlor. "I hope your mother found one of respectable background- that Haku girl was caught swiping some candlesticks. We should have known, she looked like she was hired straight off the streets." he mused.

Prima sat down beside him, with her usual fine posture. "I wonder when Mother will start calling in our relatives. I think one of those gossipy cousins would be much preferred company than you, today." she added, with a playful smile.

"People tire of each other's company if they spend too much time together. Your family's already held me here a week, and we know they're hoping we'll want to get married. Already worked with your sister and that guy Al."

Prima glanced at the door, then responded, "It's rather irritating how she pines away for him. He's in some other country on business, last time I heard. Miriam... always shining her engagement ring and prattling about love. How ridiculous."

Gakupo scoffed, "Hardly a way to act for a mature lady." His eyesight strayed to the clock, chosen to complement the designer wallpaper. "Speaking of ladies, she should be here any minute."

"I wait with bated breath." Prima muttered sarcastically.

"I don't have very high hopes for her, you know how the working class can be." Gakupo said offhandedly. "She's probably just as unreliable as the rest of the maids, or worse."

Just then, that pair heard a distant voice from the adjacent hallway. "...thank you, Ma'am. I'll go introduce myself." The unfamiliar female's words grew closer.

"Punctual." Gakupo noted, and assumed a more stately pose.

The doorknob turned slowly, and a fairly tall young woman stepped into the room. She had already adhered to the Eaves' servant's dress code- only shades from black to white. Her peach hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. "Ah, good afternoon, Ms... Eaves." The new maid stood rather awkwardly in front of the door, smoothing her skirt.

"Prima Eaves. My companion is Gakupo Kamui, perhaps you've heard of the Kamui family? They're involved in some smaller-scale politics."

"My name is Luka Megurine."

"Hm. Why don't you sit over there," Gakupo gestured, "and we'll get to know you? You've already had your interview, I assume, but we're interested as well."

Luka sat down rather stiffly across from them. She was rather intimidated by the richly dressed girl and apparently professional man, but wouldn't show it.

"So, have any family?" Gakupo asked. Luka kept her blue eyes locked onto his own.

"No."

"So, you are an orphan?" Prima cut in, as she inspected the young woman with lowered lashes.

"No, I have lived on my own." Luka answered, her hands fidgeting slightly in her lap.

"Married?"

"No."

"Have any children?"

"No."

"And this is all you have?" Gakupo motioned towards the suitcase by her feet.

"Yes."

Gakupo stroked his chin, and gave a smirk for but an instant. "Well, you've just been hired up to a little prestige, considered that background."

Prima was intently gazing at Luka, unsure of what to think. Her clothes were decent, her accent unusual but not unpleasant... but there was something off about the new maid. Differences in the mind, things that could not be easily perceived. "Nice to make your acquaintance, Luka."

A rather awkward silence followed.

Luka broke it tentatively, choosing each word with care. "I'm very sorry, but what would you like to be addressed as-"

"Gakupo is fine. Mr. Kamui is my father." He stated nonchalantly.

"Ah, I suppose I'm just Prima. Like Gakupo, my parents go by Mr. Leon Eaves, Mrs. Ann Eaves... but they'll probably want you to call them Sir and Madam." she said, amused.

"I've been informed." Luka quietly responded, feeling ever more out of place. She had never been good with people; she said the wrong things. It was rare to meet a person you'd like to speak with again, rarer still that you did. She wasn't sure if Gakupo and Prima fell into these few, but she'd surely be conversing with them again. Yet, it all felt staged. It seemed every inch of the estate was judging her, with one manicured finger poised on the button to release the hounds.

This story is a collaboration- can you tell who wrote what? Anonymous reviews are accepted, so please click that button and tell us what you think, or anything you're hoping to see.