A/N: Hello everyone! I hope u forgive me for updating late. BUT, the next chapter will come out fast because I already finished typing it. Just need editing :] And hm... Very near to end. :[ I'm trying my best to not make the situations rushed but... they seem to turn out that way. =/ I still hope u'll enjoy reading^^ Grammars edited by Nicha. Humor disappeared. Yes... I'm sorry v_v Anyway, please let me know when u spot error. Anyone is welcome to leave a review. THANK U TO ALL OF U!

Special Thanks to those who have reviewed from very beginning and to those who still supported this:

ooamekiko, TouyaRima24, BlackNeonAngel, Idontownafanfiction(dot)netaccount, heartcrossedkey, pockylover, RandomReviewer and ScribblerOfDreams and FullMoon!

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..

"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 an evil look.

Nanami smirked. Now there wouldn't be anyone who could get into her and the prince's way anymore.

Chapter 11:

The Ball Party

The ball party had just begun. Shiki was sitting on his bed with his upper body bent forward, elbow resting on his lap as he looked down. Uncertainty was enveloping his mind. He knew Rima would come, he knew it. He believed in her and yet... there was an anxiety lingering on him, he couldn't understand as to what it was. He felt as though he had gone to a desert, and after a long time he was now looking for the water his body needed. He was looking for that essential something... something at the back of his mind.

He closed his eyes just as someone knocked at the door.

"...Yes?" Shiki responded to the knock with an impatient tone in his voice.

"I'm coming in Senri."

Shiki's eyes snapped open. It was his mother. After hearing the door creaking as it opened, he stood up and turned to face the figure who was slowly approaching him.

"You should come down now. Our guests have arrived and there are many princesses waiting for you."

"Mother... I think… this isn't really a good idea."

"What are you talking about? You're coming with me."

Shiki's mother grabbed his arm and pulled him with her. As they stepped outside his room, he could hear the crowd cheering downstairs. His mother grasped his arm so firmly that it almost looked as if she was digging her sharp black nails on his skin. Shiki's eyebrows were clashing with each other like swords as they made their way in front of the ladies and gentlemen. He assumed that the men in tuxedos were fathers of the young maidens.

I don't want this... Shiki cursed mentally at his lack of defiance. He would. He really would, if he could. But he knew it better to obey for now than to become stubborn. He'll save the rebellious attitude for later.

As they stopped in their tracks, Shiki looked at the crowds. His blue eyes immediately roamed around to look for the petite figure he'd got attached to. To no avail, he couldn't trace a sign of her. But then, the party had just begun. She would come later, he thought to himself.

"Good evening to everyone, ladies and gentlemen. I thank you all for your consideration of coming here tonight. I present here to you – my dear son – the next King to sit on the throne and to have the glorious crown: Senri Shiki."

Shiki's mother lifted her right arm and placed it on her son's left arm as she looked at the audience who were stunned by them both. She had her long hair loose, making her look younger and more attractive. She then glanced at her son only to see his uninterested face. She raised her left eyebrow slightly, being careful not to show to the humans. Her stubborn son was really trying to shorten her patience.

"Senri. Why don't you greet our guests? I'm sure you'll have fun. Try talking to the girls, do you understand?"

She moved her right hand behind him and pushed him forward, almost forcefully, but in an unnoticeable manner. He frowned. He obeyed and stepped forward before he put up a forced, slight smile on his face for everyone there.

"Good evening... It is my pleasure to have you all here for the ball. As my mother said earlier, my name is Senri Shiki. I welcome you all and wish you'll have fun."

Shiki didn't have the intention of announcing about the fiancé matter but it was already too late as his mother stepped forward too and wore her heart-whelming smile.

"Everyone, I apologize for something. I have not included it in the invitations that everyone have received but, any of the young maidens who attended here tonight and who are willing to join my son at his throne can be candidates for his fiancé-to-be."

Shiki jerked his head towards his mother and scowled. Worries began filming through inside his head. He didn't like how it sounded. No. He didn't like the very idea at all.

"Mother."

Before Shiki could speak, most of the crowds have gasped and squealed. Apparently, squeals from the girls, but different murmurs also joined in. Shiki furrowed his brows while his mother stared at their guests. Then, a young maiden made her way through the crowds and stopped just in front of Shiki and the Queen. She had curly yellow-gold hair, and wore a luxurious purple gown with lots of diamonds hanging at her waist serving as a belt and a v-neck with laces. Her face was as beautiful as an angel. Shiki's mother studied her appearance. Shiki was only looking at her blankly.

"My apologies for doing something unwanted like this her highness but, I've heard that Prince Senri here, already has a fiancé..." she stopped, searching for words she should carefully say.

"Fiancé? My son?" Shiki's mother looked at Shiki quizzically.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Hanari was wailing. As in... crying out loud. For damn pocky's sake, she was so loud! Rima looked at the young brunette girl who was sobbing on the couch, face buried into a soft cushion.

So... they were locked. She was locked. Again. It happened not long ago. Actually, it had only been minutes ago. It was while she was talking with Hanari, that a sound of clicking from the door suddenly interrupted them. And before they could even manage to register in their minds that they were trapped in the dusty room, the perpetrator was already gone. Silence shrouded them like a blanket. Rima remained calm, but Hanari suddenly cried. She was such a kid.

"Hanari. Stop crying." Rima went to the couch and pat the brunette's shoulder, trying to comfort her in her own way.

"I'll think of a way to get out."

With that said, Hanari suddenly grabbed Rima's hands and nodded fervently.

"Yes. Yes! I will... I think I know who did it! My selfish sister!" Hanari exclaimed.

"I guess so. Maybe your mother too."

"What? No way! My mother wouldn't do this to me!" she began crying again.

"She could. Considering that she didn't come here for you when I am quite sure they were headed to the Prince's castle by now.

Hanari looked at her for a while, as if looking for the lie in what she had just said. But Rima's face was serious, and there was a point in what she said so... she couldn't be joking...

Rima gazed into space, eyes distant. The party was probably beginning now. She had to get out from this hell locked room and go to him. Wait. Go to him? Rima only wanted to go there and meet him as she had told him she would. Rima was the type to do what she'd said. But what could she do? Resuming her search into her memories to find out if there was something strange she did before she found out that she was a vampire, Rima sat on the couch and let her hands flopped on the sheets.

"Rima, I just remembered... You were locked three days ago in the barn near our garden right? How did you get out? You must use your technique here now!" Hanari shook Rima's arm.

Now that the brunette girl reminded her... How did Rima...

"Ugh, why am I letting them do this to me?" ...Well, she was going to follow their orders because after all, after her father died, they took her in. Just that, not as a member of the family but as a maid. Ouch... ...

Rima was sitting on the ground with her legs outstretched in front. At least, she had the time now to relax. Oh. Rima blinked a few times. Maybe it wasn't that bad she was there now. She didn't have to do anything! How could she not realize that? Ah but... she was still locked.

As Rima tilted her head to one side and looked at the locked door again. She carefully stood up and dragged herself towards it. Lifting her right hand and tracing the lock with her delicate finger, a spark was suddenly created and the lock opened... Spark...

Rima's already round eyes turned larger as she quickly stood up, startling Hanari. That was it. She had created a... spark back at that moment! A spark. A flow of electric charge. That must be her power as a vampire. It couldn't be something normal. Suddenly, she could feel a tingling sensation within her as if something inside her was beginning to stir at the sound of spark. At least, this time, Hanari was able to give her hint unknowingly. She then looked down at her hands. It might take a little time to figure out how to make use of it though...

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

"Senri? What does she mean?" Shiki's mother was glaring at him in a way that only he could manage to know that her look was indeed a glare. Shiki remained silent. He couldn't remember...

"Senri. Answer me."

"Mother, I-"

Suddenly, a maiden with another curly yellow hair sneaked between the crowds and stood in front of the queen and Shiki. She was wearing a lime-green, long, bumpy gown, with long sleeves and a match of red shoes... which didn't really fit her dress. Shiki's mother wore an incredulous look as she stared at the plain faced maiden. Her face was long and her nose was bigger than a normal person could have. Her eyes and long eyelashes were the only ones to pull her ugliness into a normal... maiden face.

"I'm Prince Senri Shiki's fiancé!"

Everyone gasped, including Shiki's mother and Shiki himself as he became over-frustrated. He blinked. Oh, that girl. Rima's stepsister...

"Excuse me?" Shiki's mother was raising her brows.

Every single one of their guests were murmuring and whispering to each other, clearly surprised by the revelation happening in front of them.

Shiki sighed inwardly. His thoughts drifted off to only one girl: Rima. Then the young blond haired girl smiled gleefully. But soon after that, she was pulled hardly by an older woman who had her hair in a bun on top of her head. She then bowed her head slightly and muttered an apology for her daughter's ill manners. Stupid daughter... Ruining this perfect chance.

After she said her apology, she turned back and dragged Nanami, only to be stopped when Shiki's mother called after them, 'wait'.

Both of them turned back to her.

"So, you are my son's fiancé. I see, I now understand. That's good, Senri. You never told me, were you shy?"

If Shiki could glare at his mother, he would have already done so. But instead, he remained impassive as he stared at the older vampire smirking slightly at him.

Nanami stared at the queen in disbelief. She agreed? Her eyeballs could have come out of her sockets. Her mother, Nanri, was more than shocked. But she put aside the thought and instead, rejoiced. How wonderful the result had turned out. She didn't even have to put in an effort. Hah!

Shiki's mother noticed the annoyed glint in her son's blue eyes. She was satisfied with how things are turning out. She only agreed to that green-dressed girl because she was ugly! And of course, her son wouldn't even have the desire to feel any special emotion for her. Perfect. She then turned her back to the guests as she stood beside Shiki.

"Lonely that your truly dear little princess didn't come?"

Shiki involuntarily flinched at the malicious tone in his mother's voice. She was enjoying this. She was torturing his feelings. She was making him surrender without even having to try and do anything. Damn it. Did his mother really came to dislike him that much? He couldn't wish for anything but her happiness. It was true. His genuine care for her hadn't changed. But it was too much.

"She probably realized that she's no good for you."

Shiki slowly turned his head to the side to look at her.

"No matter what Senri, you have to live a perfect life. Without anything to ruin that. Without your emotions taking over you. You are my perfection, do you realize that? What's there in a perfection if something creates a crack in it."

"...You're wrong..."

"Hm?"

Shiki clenched his fists at his sides. Everyone except him and the Queen stood there, staring at the two with puzzled faces. A long silence hung in the air as awkwardness covered them. No one dared to move, no one dared to attempt speaking. It was only him and his mother there for that moment, and for Shiki, it was about time he voiced out his own rights.

"You're wrong. She will come. She will and I know it. This is enough, I don't want to be a perfection! I'm not an object, mother, I'm not a puppet! That girl taught me how to move. She taught me how to speak, how to feel. You..."

Then next thing he realized was his cheeks being thrown to the side from a hard impact.

"How dare you talk like that to your mother? That is what the girl taught you? To be stubborn, to be rebellious, to be a... worthless being!"

"No. You are wrong, mother. You were the one who kept me living like a still doll. I was worthless back then. But now, not anymore."

Some of the young maidens gulped as they witnessed the arguments between the Queen and the prince. Some of them widened their eyes and screamed in their heads how cruel their prince's mother was to slap him like that. And the gentlemen only observed them with curiosity.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Hanari was walking silently through the bushes before she saw the castle. The castle where her prince messenger was in, waiting for her. How delusional could this brunette girl be? Seriously. She made her way to the back and saw a gate without guards. That was a good chance! She then rushed to it and gripped the thin rails of the metal gate. Her observant eyes were looking around as she thought of a way to get in.

Climb up the gate? Well, what other choice could she have? So she did. And it was hell. Her baby pink dress was torn at its edges as they get ripped from the sharp points of the gate. It was not that high, which helped her a bit. But as she got on top, ready to jump to the other side, a piece of her dress clung on the edge of the metal and she landed on her stomach. A rather huge part of cloth from behind was ripped. Hanari whined at the impact. It hurt a lot. But at least, she managed to get inside. And it was all thanks to their once maid. Now she thought of her as a good friend: Rima.

She honestly didn't know how the orange-haired girl managed to open the locked door from inside the room. And she jumped with happiness at that moment. Now she was using her palm like a handstand to help herself up from the ground before quickly looking around to see if someone saw her. Strangely, there were no guards. She grinned widely. Her brunette hair had loosen, and few leaves were stuck onto it. Her smile soon faded when she noticed someone looking at her. She squeaked and flailed her arms side to side, as though silently saying it wasn't what the other person was thinking.

"Who may you be?" It was a voice of a young man.

"Uhm, I-I... I-" she stuttered in panic and embarrassment. It was so dark! She hoped she could see something.

"Wait, your arm is wounded."

It was then that Hanari felt a sudden ache at her right arm and quickly looked at it. There was a long cut, and blood started dripping down. She gaped her mouth open and crouched as she shook her head.

"It hurts!" What a late reaction...

The young man chuckled and went near her to crouch as he held her left wrist and pulled her to stand up with him. Hanari looked up at him, then suddenly her heart did a back flip once again. It was the same feeling as to when she saw the messenger at their palace, back then. And fortunately, he really was that messenger! His dark brown hair was a little bit spiky, and it held its own uniqueness as bangs parted from his forehead to the side of his face.

"P-prince..." Hanari called without realizing.

The young man gazed at her for a moment. Prince? He began wondering what she meant but didn't speak about it, instead he pat her shoulder and dragged her to a small hut, which Hanari supposed was his. Inside, he tended to her wounds. She couldn't really ask for more... Deep inside, she was thanking Rima whole-heartedly.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

It was painfully dark, but to her amusement, she could see clearly. Must be a vampire nature. How convenient. Rima didn't notice that she was actually dashing towards the castle as fast as she could. It was quite far... She and Hanari already parted ways, considering the brunette girl targeted the back of the castle. And it was a really huge land.

Rima went directly in front. She was wearing her maid dress. It was a bit messed up but still, presentable. For a maid, that is. Her orange hair was tied in usual two ponytails on the side of her head by two black ribbons. She was so sure she'd be an object of attention once she entered there... and she couldn't help but feel uneasy. How would she go in anyway?

To RandomReviewer as u are an anonymous reviewer, I'll reply to u here!

YES! XD I know, I've thrown a LOT of random things and situations here but I wanted a HUGE twist in Cinderella and... those weird thoughts of rainbow cat, evil stepsister being afraid of ghosts were the ones that popped out in my head... ^^" and YES. Rima's parents are dead(i just didn't mention about her mother). Her father disappeared and later, Rima was delivered a message that he died. And oh HAHAHA Ur reviews made me laugh and hyped up XD YEAH HE'S A RUDE PRINCE but yeah out of instincts. :] Again, YES. I made Hanari's character as a... hm, evil-but-not-that-bad one, she has a soft spot on her. And well... she just HAD to fall in love with someone else. Lol I personally freaked out at... Nanami and... Nanri. o.o THANK U for ur review! :]

And that's all. x]

Have good days and good nights everyone! :D

~Terru