"Goodbye, Princess Kazuha."

The cold dagger suddenly went towards Kazuha. Heiji could no longer hold back. He was NOT going to lose her the third time!

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Heiji roared as he burst through the door and pushing the princess away, he received the dagger's sharp blade on his shoulder instead. Everything froze for a moment; only the dripping of thick red blood was heard falling on the hard marble floor.

"Heiji!" Kazuha screamed as she ran up to him, lightly touching his injured shoulder; drawing back when he flinched. Heiji saw the look on her face and smiled for a moment before focusing on his opponent in front of him. He pulled out the dagger and threw it at a random corner of the room. His eyesight was getting blurry and his breathing came in heavy gasps. But at least the princess was safe. Her uncle smirked.

"Ah. How good to see you, Prince Heiji. Quite a bold act saving Kazuha and letting the dagger stab you instead. You are such a brave boy; no wonder Kazuha fell in love with you."

Heiji chuckled and winced painfully. Kazuha gripped his arm tightly. "Heiji, are you okay?"

"Ah, I'm fine. Stay back, this is my fight. You should go and warn every one of what's to come." She nodded and was about to leave but then the door shut by itself with a bang. Gusheki inspected his fingers, whistling. He smiled cruelly at their shocked faces.

"Just because this land is magic, that doesn't mean that I won't get any power. You probably don't know, but I am a very powerful sorcerer."

"What do you want from me, uncle?!"

"I want you to die!"

Kazuha's face grew stricken. Her whole frame shook, but it was not from fear. It was from anger. "Why?! Aren't we a family!? Why do you want to kill me?! Don't tell me that you were the one who set fire to the palace!"

"Bingo!" Her uncle made a shooting gesture at her and she flew backwards, crashing into a glass case. She slowly fell on the ground, her back and head bleeding from the cuts. Heiji was too weak to do anything but watch as Gusheki picked up the dagger and head slowly for the injured princess. "Why, you ask? Your father was crowned king and so they tossed the second prince away! He had everything while I had to even go down on my knees to beg for my parent's respect! Your father is a liar, a cheat, and a thief! He took the woman I loved and married her, leaving me in the dirt! I just gave him what he deserved…"

Kazuha looked at her uncle in devastation, tears streaming down her face. "If my father did that to you, then in my father's place, I beg you for forgiveness… Just don't involve anyone in this!"

He looked coldly at her, his eyes as freezing as ice. "You aren't worthy of my forgiveness or my pity. I will kill you and hurt everyone who is near you."

The princess' emerald eyes burned with detest and fury. "Sometimes, I can't believe that we're related."

She got up and sent a punch at her uncle's face. He dodged it easily and grabbing her outstretched arm, he flipped her on her back at the floor that was littered with bloodstained shards. Kazuha cried out in pain. Gusheki got down on his knees and wrenched a fistful of her hair, drawing her face near his. The dagger's tip nudging the bottom of her jaw, drawing blood, his face distorted with utter loathing.

"Let me tell you this before you die." He snarled. "You will never get in my way again! This is the end for you!"

He raised the weapon above.

The sound of rushed footsteps.

A downward movement.

A push.

Then blood.

LOTS of blood.

Kazuha looked up in horror as royal blood dripped down, landing on her cheeks like red tears. The silver hilt of the blade was glinting dully under the moonlight. The prince clutched his blood-stained stomach. He collapsed on the floor, a dark stain making a growing pool of death around him. Gusheki clicked his tongue as he wiped his tainted hands on a white handkerchief. His job was done. He had broken her and he knew she would have no will to fight any longer. Three flashes followed from outside the window and he smirked. The time has finally come. He left the room.

The princess crawled painfully towards her friend, gently shaking him, forcing herself not to cry.

"H…Heiji? Hey, don't die…" She sobbed as she put his head on her lap, running her hand through his spiky black hair. "Can you hear me, Heiji? Hey, say something ahou…"

Heiji's breathing was shallow and ragged, his pulse growing slower by the second. He shivered in the cold as his eyelids fluttered open. "K…Kazuha?"

Her eyes softened as she nodded. Her robes were wet but she didn't care. All that mattered was her and Heiji and how to save his life. "You're going to be okay…So just stay with me, ne? Don't go to sleep."

"Finally… I found you at last…where were you?"

"I was beside you all this time…"

"I'm sorry for…taking your presence…for granted…" He coughed violently before settling down again. He sighed with relief.

"I love you…"

In that lonesome room, the princess' eyes widened as those three words lingered in the air. The prince smiled at her before finally closing his eyes.

"Heiji? Heiji! Wake up!"

=.=

"Your majesty! I need to talk to you urgently! Please hear me out!" Heiji's mother turned around, only to see Kazuha's cousin in front of her. She smiled gently.

"What is it, Princess Kazuha?" The poor girl was quivering from head to toe in fear like a leaf.

"You may not believe me now, but what I'm about to tell you now will decide the outcome of tonight and how she will take action. May I have your permission to tell you what to do?"

"If it does not harm my kingdom, I shall listen."

"Trust me, your majesty. Not only will this affect your kingdom, but the other two as well."

The queen's face became pale. She took the maiden aside. The queen gave her a critical look. "Why should I believe you?"

"You don't, for I have betrayed not only you, but my country as well. However, this is my last chance to atone for the sins I have done. Will you listen to me?"

The queen looked at the girl's figure. Yes, she was scared and she was a liar, but her soul was as pure as gold. Her eyes shone of determination and were begging for forgiveness. She may not be the real thing, but she was magnificent in her own way.

"I am all ears."

=.=

CLIFFHANGER! Bwahahahahaha! Before you complain or collapse from grief or whatever you do when your favourite character 'dies', just remember that there is ANOTHER chapter, hmm? ^^

PS. Please don't kill me…