A/N
Wow last chapter sucked O.o! I try harder this time with my new laptop~!

Looking for You in the Sky
Vocaloids gone missing…

Tenth Absence: Where the Pink Queen Wonders

Behind every evil, there is a mastermind, is there not? Someone to blame. Someone to hate. They are evil, their reasoning never true. Everything is for them and them alone, is it not? For they're the villain and that's what villains do.

What happens when you're the villain, though? Why do they hate you? You've done nothing wrong—only seeked to resolve the past. Correct ancient wrongs and protect your people from themselves. Why do they hate you?

Empathy is a magical word some find themselves incapable of understanding. The people hate the villain and the villain hates the people. Amongst all this hate, where is the empathy? When do they seek to know one another for who they truly are? This is the beginning of misunderstandings… the beginning of war…

"You don't deserve to rule!" they screamed, throwing rocks and garbage at her carriage. The pink queen indifferently stared ahead, ignoring the onslaught. They were her underlings—shouldn't they love her? No matter, for she was used to this treatment. She'd long ago told herself that they were just angry with the failing economy, which she'd also convinced herself was "their own damn fault". "Why don't you just die already!" That one wasn't new, either.

An explosion, so close and large, the carriage very nearly tipped over. The horses neighed their cries in fear, hooves stamping on the cobblestone as they reared. The pink queen slammed against the door, head slamming against the glass. The world blurred and warped to that of an insane dream. She found herself with an insane smile stretching pink lips tight. Blood smeared the window, sticking in thick globs to her hair. Pink and red… Suddenly, she held the urge to replicate the idea.

Blinking the haze from her eyes, Luka's mind returned to reality. She stared at her gloved hand blankly. Webs of a crimson liquid were strung between digits, staining the fine black fabric. She could feel more of the warm liquid running down the side of her face and, at a glance beside her, it stood runny on the glass, as well.

The carriage shook and shuddered. There was a constant pounding echoing her headache as her eyes glazed over once more before suddenly focusing again. The world seemed to be spinning—it was so disorienting. Pink and red warped once more, permanently branding themselves in her psyche.

Finally, the world stilled, as though time itself had halted. Her hair settled as a droplet of blood plopped on the fine cushioning of her seat. The screams and neighs outside faded into the background, turning pale in comparison with the ringing causing her eyes to squeeze tight. It didn't exactly hurt—it was just odd. Disorienting. Where was she again? Why was she here? What had happened? All of it was suddenly so nebulous and unsure. Had she been here before? Had she always been here? What was real, what wasn't? So many questions with no one to answer.

Heavy lids began to slide shut as a pale, bloodied chin came to rest on her collarbone. Cherry locks swayed forward to mask her face, twirling with the odd movement as her body leaned further and further forward. Her tightly held fingers, blood still webbed between digits, slackened to collapse at her side. As her body slumped forward, the colors blurred once more. Pink and red, together as one, the colors flashing behind her black eyelids.

Luka didn't feel as her shoulder collided with the seat across from her, nor when her body flipped in response so she lay in an awkward position with her legs twisted almost backward; mouth hung agape as breathing became a labor. It was so much effort… she couldn't feel… The colors faded as her mind tumbled into darkness which appeared tinted an icy blue—

"Your Highness!" The voice was so distant, it was almost like a dream.

She couldn't open her eyes. It was too much effort. She couldn't breathe. It was so difficult.

"Your Highness, wake up!" It sounded panicked. Luka could almost imagine a ruby-eyed girl's orbs becoming misted with unshed tears, short brunette hair swaying with frantic movement.

She didn't feel as she was held in steel-plated arms, nor as rosy locks were brushed from her face. She didn't feel anything…

A splash. Wetness sliding over her being—it was so uncomfortable. The blackness was so calm, so nice. What was this? Who dare impede on her peace‽

With an overwhelming effort, heavy lids began to rise, glimpsing those same misted ruby eyes as in her pink and red dream. Red...

"Meiko…" slipped from her pale lips.

Meiko sighed with relief, adjusting her hold on the pink queen. "Thank goodness, you're alright, Your Highness."

Alright? What was going on? What had happened? All Luka could recollect was… what was it again? Oh, yes. She'd left the safety of her castle to meet that council. Apparently, the one who quelled the dragon was dying, and they might need a replacement soon. So, she'd gone to discuss possible solutions to the problem. Perhaps taking another baby? No, they'd already tried that, as was so evident. The girl was dying because she held no hope, after all. No, they needed another to sing for the dragon. So, she'd gone to discuss such solutions with that council. Yes, that was it. …That was all of it. She couldn't recall anything beyond—Beyond what? A conversation… Perhaps? Perhaps not? What had that conversation been again and with whom? A long thought. Still no recollection came to her aid.

Several confused blinks.

Where was she again? The council… that was the last location she recalled.

A glance around told her she most definitely wasn't at that council anymore. No… this was… What was the word again? So disoriented. So annoying. And colors kept flashing before her gaze, distracting her thought process. Pink and red were the shades. Why those in specific? Another long moment of thought, still without result. Only a pounding headache for her efforts.

Why did her head hurt so?

Where was she again? The council… that was the last location she recalled—

Déjà vu!

'Ah, calm down. Calm down and think a moment, Luka,' she ordered herself sternly.

Gradually, the haze clouding her eyes began to fade as she fully took in her surroundings. This was… her bedroom. Yes, that was it. She was back inside her castle, lying atop the plush cushions of the divan. Cushions… cushions… That sounded familiar. Another wave of déjà vu. She was so confused… How had she gotten here again? What had happened, and why did her head pound so? Pink and red, pink and red. Why did those blasted colors keep flashing in her sights‽

Realization dawned. It wasn't the colors flashing in her mind. No, this was reality! A girl with pink hair was pacing before the pink queen, porcelain face contorted slightly in worry. Meiko had risen at some point and was pacing as well behind the pink-haired girl. What was her name again? Luka recognized her… Ah, Teto was her name. Yes, that was it. As usual, her hair was done up in articulate curls Luka found herself incapable of reproducing, no matter how much she raged at her hairdressers. Teto was her chambermaid, always worried for her queen's safety. Ah, yes, it was coming back to her now. In small increments, anyways.

Still, this flash of pink and red was quite enticing. She found herself quite taken with the combination, and ran a hand through her own cherry locks. No longer did blood web between her fingers. What? What blood? … Wait—blood‽ What'd happened that could've possibly involved blood‽ Was it the reason behind her pounding head?

So many questions, all unanswered…

A wave of dizziness overtook the pink queen. All this thinking was putting quite a strain on her already strained mind. She fell back into the cushions, setting sun tinting the clouds red beneath, pink atop. Red and pink… so enticing…

A/N
Well, now Luka, Meiko, and Teto are startin' to come into play ^^ I still have to introduce Kaito and Gakupo, too, so… yeah…

Thoughts? Comments? Confusion? Go on… *sing-song voice* You know you wanna push that review button~