A/N: Sorry! I'm sorry, I know this is a bit late... I hope you still continue reading this. I'm sorry for this chapter, I wasn't satisfied with it to be honest, but I couldn't get my head to work more, I'm so tired in my part-time job and all :[ I still hope this turned out ok despite that.(I did my best to edit it over and over...) Anyway, I'll do my best in next chapters too. Also, this is nearing the end, I think. I hope u enjoy reading!^^ Anyone is welcome to leave a review.

I'm always thankful to those who read this, added to story alerts, added to their favs, added me as one of their and reviewed! :D I love u all.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own this anime/manga. All credits belong to Hino Matsuri-sensei. The weird idea of Cinderella that popped out in my head is the only thing I own here. :] Oh. Cinderella is NOT mine too..

After arriving back at their palace, Shiki headed directly to his mother's room. He'd have a good talk with her. He could convince her. If not, Rima would still be there at the party and he'd tell his mother about her by that time. He hoped that Rima was alright, he could feel a slight doubt in him that she was okay but he'd shrug it, not wanting the thought to be like real. Absolutely not. Shiki scowled mentally. Everything would go fine... right?

Chapter 10:

Change of hearts

The orange-haired girl sat silently on the now clean couch. One day had passed. One day had already passed. She was hungry. Gritting her teeth, she decided that she'd do whatever it would take just to make her stepmother or stepsisters bring her food, at least anything that would make her appetite satisfied. Rima sighed inwardly. Not only that. The ball party was going to be on the night. Maybe, she wouldn't make it to him despite of her promise... Wait, she didn't promise him! She just... didn't want Shiki to think that she decided not to go to the ball to see him. But then, why did she not want him to have a thought such as that?

She was beginning to crave for blood too. Rima rolled her eyes. Since her vampire side was awaken, from then on, she had to suck it, drink it and from who? Surely no other than him. Rima knew she could only get hungry for that idiot's blood. And she felt it. Shiki was the one who offered too anyway, why'd she refuse? Better take advantage... Rima shook her head as she lowered her gaze, still sitting on the couch. No. She absolutely had no intention of using Shiki for her own benefits.

"Shiki..." Rima mumbled his name below her breathe, longingly.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The sound banging was like due to a panic and it startled her causing her head to jerk towards the wooden door quickly. Then the knock echoed again. Rima instantly stood up and walked to the door.

"Rima, Rima hey! Open!" Rima raised an eyebrow. She knew that voice very well but then, why was one of her stepsisters there banging on her door as if she was being chased by some... monster that she had to panic that badly?

"Hanari?" Rima replied and folded her arms over her chest. Didn't Hanari know that Rima was locked there and she couldn't open it unless someone unlock it from outside? Honestly. If she could do that, she'd be out already. Or was her stepsister that stupid?

"You do know that I can't open the door from here, right?"

"Oh, really? Agh, wait here, I will take the key and we'll have to talk, alright!"

"What do we-"

Before Rima could finish what she was going to ask, Hanari's footsteps stomping off could be already heard. She wouldn't even explain first! Ah, Rima forgot to ask for some food. She mentally facepalmed and shifted her weight over to the left side. Now her chance of getting something to eat was gone.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Shiki couldn't believe it. He was feeling furious and disappointed at the same time. Along with the emotions of being sad. He tried talking to his mother the other day, but she wouldn't just let him explain. Why? He would decide for his own life and not her!

As Shiki reached his mother's room, he politely knocked and waited for her response. When he got, he immediately entered in and began forming the words in his throat.

"Mother," Shiki called.

"What is it Senri?"

The look on his mother seemed displeased. He observed her facial expressions for a while before telling her what he went there for.

"Please, cancel the ball party. I don't want a fiance, for now."

"I can't. I already ordered someone to send the party invitations to all houses that had maidens."

"What? Why, but-"

"Don't contradict my decisions Senri. It's the best for you."

"No. Don't do this to me mother, I won't go there, I don-"

"Senri! You dare talk back to me! Stop your nonsense and get out, now."

Shiki could only knit his brows together as he clutched his fists in his sides. His only hope now was for Rima to come in the party and he'd show his mother that he didn't need anyone other than the orange-haired girl. Whether he still wasn't sure if he liked her or not, he was certain that she was the only girl he had ever felt like being with. No one else could have made him smile genuinely, nor could have changed his dead life into a living one.

Heaving a sigh, Shiki walked to the window of his room and leaned on its pane helplessly. Remembering the conversation between him and his mother gave him a headache. But honestly, he had never once thought he'd find someone like her, someone he'd consider special, someone he'd consider worth of his protecting that even though he knew she could protect herself, he still wanted to let her know that he'd be there for her...

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Rima's body slumped in the couch as she waited for Hanari to come back. She was really hungry. For both food and blood. Shiki... Rima gasped as soon as the idiot prince's name left her lips. Did Shiki become that huge part in her life already that she'd randomly mumble his name or think of him whenever she didn't realize? She then shook her head as lots of emotions swarm through her gem blue eyes. Sorrow, confusion, anger, doubt... She didn't know which feeling weighed the most in her. One thing she was sure though was, a small portion of her heart was already open for him.

Rima sat up after she heard a click that came from the door. When it opened, she saw Hanari standing there with a bread in her hand, not to mention a glass of water. Hanari then entered inside and closed the door mutely, putting the key in her right pocket.

"Rima-chan," Hanari began.

What? Rima-chan? Now Rima had a look of disgust in her face. Being called as Rima-chan was something new to her and it felt weird. Especially that one of her stepsisters did. What was wrong with this stepsister of her so suddenly?

"You're the only one who can help me."

"What do you mean?" asked Rima in frustration.

Hanari walked further the room and decided to sit beside Rima. She then handed the orange-haired girl the bread and glass of water. Rima blinked a few times in disbelief. What was Hanari up to? Taking the bread in her hand, she took a bite. It was one of those bread that was shaped like a moon, and it had been always a wonder to her what it was called but for now, she'd eat in her own pace.

"Rima-chan, please... please get the prince Shiki to marry you! And... and," Hanari paused, a red tint creeping up her cheeks.

Rima choke on her food, coughing hardly as she held her chest to ease her shock. People surely love shocking her and making her choke. Really. As much as she had expected for Hanari to say, that was one of the things she had never thought of hearing from her. Seriously?

"But why? I thought you want to marry him. Also why me? What about your sist-" Rima was cut off when Hanari shook her head hardly, allowing her brunette curly hair to sway with the motion.

"No. I found someone else, he was handsome..." the brunette-haired girl looked dreamy as she talked about her prince messenger.

"And one more thing, Prince Senri Shiki doesn't like my sister! So I won't have chance with my prince messenger because I know Prince Senri wouldn't marry her! And even if they did, my sister won't give attention to me once she gets what she wants anyway, she probably won't even let go of him, she'd... cling on him always like-" Rima cut her words, "an octopus." Hanari looked at Rima awkwardly before muffling a laugh. She held her stomach laughing as quiet as she could. Rima saw this and a small smile formed in her lips. Maybe, Hanari wasn't as bad as her elder sister. Alright, she still didn't have trust in her but, she felt like helping her for some reason.

"I get it," replied Rima as she stared at the wall ahead of them. This made Hanari stopped laughing and turned her head towards her in a quick motion.

"Really?" Hanari's eyes sparkled like that of a kid who received a candy.

"Yeah."

Hanari's facial expression softened even more and she did an unexpected manner. She hugged Rima from the side, wrapping her arms around her and burying her face on the maid's arm. Rima was startled at first but let her anyway. She was feeling a gentle emotion coming from the brunette-haired girl. She sure was in love with that messenger.

They stayed like that for a while as Hanari muttered her thanks to Rima repeatedly. Little did they know, there was someone standing behind the wooden door listening to their supposed-to-be secret conversation.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

The ball party would begin in an hour and Shiki felt even more anxious as seconds and minutes went by. The party's starting time was seven o'clock in the night. Looking at the mirror that reflected himself, he fixed his black with white stripes necktie. He was wearing a tuxedo of white coat with lapels, a black shirt under it then white pants with matching white leather shoes. His pure white tuxedo except for his black shirt, contrasted with his thick and wavy reddish maroon-colored hair.

Wearing his impassive face, he thought of how was Rima doing at the time. He didn't want the party to begin but at the same time, he couldn't wait for the moment he'd be able to introduce her to his mother and to everyone. He'd let them know that he wasn't available anymore, that he didn't want any other woman than the petite orange-haired girl. But he felt annoyed. His heart beat was skipping rapidly just by thinking of her, or just by saying her name. He felt nervous! Right, stupid heart beat.

Then a knock from the door echoed through his room.

"Come in," Shiki permitted.

"Yes, young master."

The head maid, miss Takashi entered. She had a sad expression as she faced Shiki. He noticed it and frowned. Never ever did he see her wear a face like that and it made him worry.

"Miss Takashi, what's wrong?"

"Oh? Young master, you're worrying about me when it is me who is worrying for you."

"What?"

"I know you do not want this party, I know you are in pain because of this, and I know that you love Miss Rima so much that you even went directly to her highness just to confront her about this whole fiance matter, and yes I knew you went to her." Miss Takashi said concernedly.

Shiki's mouth gaped open slightly. What did Miss Takashi just say?

"Love? I... love Rima?"

Miss Takashi looked at him weirdly as if he committed a sin. What was this boy being confused about? Don't tell me... he didn't realize that he loves her? Oh my!

"Young master, what would you call it then? Of course, it is love!" yelled Miss Takashi, emphasizing the term 'love'.

"But, couldn't it be plain infatuation? A..."

"No! It couldn't be just an infatuation. Stop denying yourself young master."

"Wha-" Shiki's heart beat rammed loudly inside his chest. He widened his eyes and stared into the space. Love... I love her? But... We just met like three days ago! Can love be formed that fast with anyone? He couldn't believe it. He was in love with Rima? Was it why he couldn't get her face off of his head? Was it why whenever he thought of her, his heart beat would skip rapidly like what was happening to him now? Was it why whenever he whispered her name, shivers of excitement and happiness went through up and down his spine? Was it... was it why he didn't want anyone else other than her to live his life with and to protect her?

Miss Takashi saw her young master analyzing what he had just realized and so she smiled, and despite of her old features of wrinkles on her face, her smile was a natural beauty and gentle. She was right about giving him a visit. Then she bowed her head and left the prince alone to himself.

"Rima..." Shiki closed his eyes shut savoring the confusing but good feeling of the new discovery he just found a while ago.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Shiki's mother would definitely succeed. She wouldn't let her son develop some feelings for anyone, she would make sure he'd live a silent life, no emotions controlling him, no colors blinding him, no sounds distracting him. That would be the best for him and she'd be happy with the perfection she had been molding in her hands. Senri Shiki was a perfection.

…

…

It was almost time for the party to begin. Everything was already settled in their palace. The chandeliers glowed brightly upon them, the numerous tables had building blocks of glasses along with the delicate bottles of wines, the black curtain covered the large windows preventing the glow of moon to shower upon them. Everything looked elegant and luxurious.

Shiki's mother grinned in satisfaction. The maidens together with their honorable parents started to arrive one by one. They were dressed in colorful evening gowns, hairs fixed in either buns on top of their heads or left untied, ends were curled adorably, and they were all beautiful. Of course, no one could surpass her beauty, that was what she honestly thought.

"Tonight's going to be an interesting night," Shiki's mother muttered to herself as she began walking off to go to her son's room.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Nanami stomped off angrily towards her mother's room. It was as if smokes were puffing out from her nose like a mad bull and her eyes held no happiness at all. The maid Rima and her stupid sister called her an octopus! Hanari even stated that Prince Senri Shiki didn't like her! It was unforgivable! What's more? Rima was going to steal Nanami's dear beloved husband away from her and she wouldn't let that happen! Rima was stupid for even thinking that she could level her royalty. They'd pay dearly. Grrr...

She then reached her mother's room and softly knock at first but when she got no response, she started banging on it loudly.

"Mother! Mother! Are you there? We need to talk!"

Nanri was putting a make-up on her face when Nanami knocked on her door. God, what does she want this time? She ignored it as she was too busy with her make-up then suddenly, the knock became a bang. Nanri rolled her eyes and scowled silently. Standing up from her chair in front of the tabled-mirror, Nanri dragged her feet to the door and opened it without a warning that Nanami fell forwards after she flailed her arms against the door violently in an attempt of another banging knock.

"Oomfh!" Nanami fell down on her stomach, arms stretched out forward and face almost crashed on the floor. Pathetic... Nanri folded her arms across her chest and looked at her silly daughter impatiently.

"And? What do you want to talk about? Gosh, the party's probably already starting! Change now Nanami!"

"No! Wait, don't let Hanari come with us mother! She is a traitor! She doesn't want to become a bride of the prince anyway," Nanami yelled bluntly while she used her hand to support her on standing up. And to think that I actually consider of helping her. Stupid ungrateful cowardly brat.

"What? Tell me exactly what you mean."

"Well, I overheard her conversation with the maid..." Nanami told her mother everything she overheard from Hanari and Rima's talk. Nanri widened her eyes. No way in hell would she let the two ruin her reputation and dreams! Sneaky little kids needed punishments.

"Well. If that's so, we'll just have to lock them both up." Nanri's eyes glinted with evil look.

Nanami smirked. Now there weren't anyone who could get in her and the prince's way anymore.

Thank u for reading! :]

Have good days and good nights everyone!

~Terru