NOTE: This chapter is a hefty one, but this chapter wraps up the high school arc. A bit of a warning on this chapter, nothing sexual but there is bullying involved.
I know I usually post a new chapter on Saturday's, but I most likely will not tomorrow since it's my birthday (note that i made kohikana's birthday the same date, hence why everything takes place in april). But if I finish the next chapter by tonight, I will for sure post it! Or maybe even later in the evening of Saturday if I come back home early.
Important to note! The next upcoming 5 chapters will be from the point of view of the five main guys. I haven't finalized the order of it yet but I'm thinking, Toma, Ukyo, Shin, Ikki and Kent. I'm undecided if Toma or Shin's POV chapter should go up first but Ikki and Kent's position will stay put since their two chapters will cross.
As always everyone, thanks for checking out my fic! Enjoy!
"Koko!" a cheery young boy's voice called out.
I looked over my shoulder watching this white haired boy running through our castle gardens, waving like a maniac as he happily made his way over. I had the biggest smile on my face motioning for him to come over. I looked back down at my stone lined pond, adoring the beautiful large celestial eyed goldfish swimming about in the crystal clear water.
He crouched down beside me panting from his heavy run, "You really love these guys huh?"
I smiled to myself sticking my finger in the pond as the goldfish came gliding over to nip, I giggled at the little goldfish kisses I was receiving. "I love them so much!"
"Do you think these goldfish know that you're a Princess?"
I gave him a puzzled look, "I don't care if they know or not, I'll always be here to protect them."
He plopped flat on his butt, perching his hands behind himself soaking in the sunny rays. "Ahhh, so warm."
I mimic his position soaking in the sun together. We were surrounded by a sea of magnificent flowers of every colour in front of the radiant white stone castle. The weather was a perfect sunny day with no humidity and cloud in sight. "Are we going to play in the forest again today, Koko?"
I shut my eyes enjoying the warmth on my skin, "I'll try to sneak out, but my parents weren't too happy I didn't listen to them last time."
"Hmph. Why do adults always ruin the fun?" He jumped up on his feet, chest puffed out with his hands on his hips, "You know what I'm going to do when I grow up? I'll become King and order everyone around! And make a rule that kids can do whatever they want, when they want!"
We laughed loudly together as I got up on my feet, spreading my white dress at the sides, giving him a lady like bow, "I will support your decision, my fair King."
"KOKO?!"
"UH OH! GOTTA RUN!" he said in an alarmed tone.
"KOHIKANA?! ARE YOU OUT THERE?!"
"Run, run, run!" I pled.
I looked towards the castle as my parents were hurriedly making their way towards us. I could never figure out why they seemed so desperate to keep us apart. I looked back seeing my friend's body wiggling as he was being held up by the collar of his shirt by one of our castle guards, "GOT HIM HERE YOUR HIGHNESS!"
"Put him down!" I demanded in the most grown up voice I could muster.
I felt my mother's arms wrap around my head as she cried out, "Oh Kohikana! Are you alright?! Did he hurt you?!" I pull my mother's arms down in protest, "HURT ME?! HE'S MY FRIEND!" My father now shadowing over my mother and I, as this perfect luminous sunny afternoon was being ruined. His voice booming, "BOY! IF I EVER SEE YOU NEAR MY DAUGHTER AGAIN, I WILL NOT BE SO MERCYFULL!"
"Daddy please!"
"AND YOU! KOHIKANA! How many times have your mother and I told you to stay away from this … This …" His finger shaking in fury as he pointed at my friend, "DEMON?! WE HAVE TAUGHT YOU BETTER!" He commanded at the guard, "Rid of him! NOW!"
The guard took no time to carry him off towards the exit as I pulled myself forcefully out of my mother's hold, "WHY?! I – I – HATE YOU BOTH!"
KOHIKANA!
My body shaking around violently.
KOHIKANA! WAKE UP! KOHIKANA!
My tired eyes opened as I saw Mine's concerned face, "Kohikana! Wake up! We're going to be late!" Her efforts stopped as I got up in a seated position.
Right. I came back home.
"Alright! How do you like your eggs?!" Sawa called out from the kitchen.
"Scrambled, please." I answered with a yawn.
Last night … Was such a blur. I ran … And I ran. I don't even recall how far I had run, but I found myself at Sawa's house last night. It wasn't before long that an emergency girl meeting was in order and I had told them everything. The kiss with Leo and I and … the aftermath of it. They offered to stay at my house, remembering telling them I felt sick sleeping in my own bed, so I took the sofa in the living room.
We finished breakfast quickly as we all got ready for school. Last night's storm giving way to a mild morning as it was nearing the end of April. Noting to myself that my sixteenth birthday was coming up soon. The three of us were headed towards the school as no mention of last night's events were brought up in any of our conversations, I guess they were too afraid to talk about such a touchy topic first thing in the morning. It's not like I was talking much to begin with. I pled with Sawa and Mine that I should've just stayed home today but told me it was for their own peace of mind that I stay in their sights until they can figure out what to do. We told eachother we weren't going to tell the boys …. Yet. We got closer to the front gates, hearing the laughs and babble of students nearby.
"What … the?!" I proclaimed.
"Ewww! Gross!" Mine shrieked, "Who just leaves their panties in front of a school entrance?!"
"It's … It's MINE!"
"WHAT?!" Sawa and Mine shrilled in unison.
I rushed down to pick it up, stuffing it into my backpack. What the hell was happening?! This was so humiliating! We continued forward as I felt my soul leaving my body. I stood in horror seeing pairs of panties and bras hanging off tree branches. Scattered all along for the whole student body to see.
I got this weird feeling the entire school had known those under garments were mine as the voices of students went drop dead silent, all of them staring at the three of us. "Come on!" Sawa announced, grabbing my wrist. We made a run for cover inside. We got the same silent stares left and right as we were hurriedly making our way to the lockers.
Kent, Ukyo, Toma, Shin and Ikki were crowding over my locker as they heard our brisk footsteps in the ghost town of a school coming near. They made a solid wall with their bodies, blocking our view.
"What are you hiding?!" Sawa demanded.
"It's uh … Well it's better if you don't see this." Ukyo instructed, his eyes looking directly at me.
I stepped forward from behind Sawa and Mine, "I want to see it." Accepting my defeat. Ikki put on a crooked smile scratching his head, "Are you … Sure? Because you girls can get some orange juice in the cafeteria and you know … Come back late—" Mine jabbed him away, "We want to see!"
My whole body went tense, examining the dirty, graffiti full locker, broken egg shells and all at it's feet.
WHORE
GO TO HELL
SLUT
DIE
FUCK YOU
I couldn't get the words to come out, "I …. I …. I …."
Toma slapped his hand over his heart, "I promise I'll kill whoever did this Koko!"
I got sideway glances from Mine and Sawa, poking their heads towards the guys to get the situation out in the open as I replied with a sulky 'no' head nod.
"Well … We got some of it off." Ukyo sighed. "Who would do such a thing?"
I know exactly who did it …. But …. I just can't face him. I won't.
Sawa and Mine were accompanying me to my first class as Mine spoke out, "Kohikana, you HAVE to tell them. They're going to find out sooner or later, and they'll get mad at Sawa and I once they find out we know!"
"Mine, don't be so selfish! She'll tell them when she's ready!" Sawa declared in my defense.
"I … Promise I'll tell them. I will. Today."
I had one foot through my classroom door as Sawa gripped onto my arm, pulling me back. "We didn't see Leo this morning, so your first class should be clear. We'll see you in home room next period."
I nodded my head seeing my friends off. I turned back around entering the classroom as the males in the class had all looked at me in horror and some with giggling faces. I felt my hands go cold seeing my usual desk in the middle of the class was now an empty spot. I dart my eyes over the room seeing a handful of the class' females standing in the corner as they nudged eachother whispering that I was here.
My binder nearly fell out from my own grip as they had smug smirks going across their faces, revealing my dirty desk pushed into the corner with a pile of my own bra and panties scattered all across. The same degrading words etched into my locker was mirrored on my desk. My stomach shifting uneasily as the whole class' full attention was directed at me, this was too humiliating! I needed to leave! I nearly tripped taking a step back as I was caught mid fall, feeling two icy cold hands hold my shoulders.
"I told you. You can't hide from me."
I held my breath looking over my shoulders meeting the cold blue eyes of Leo, his warm breathing tickling on my bare neck. I thrash myself out of his grip hearing a "Tch" out of his mouth as I went running down the hallway. I needed to go to my locker, pack my stuff and GO. What in the hell was I thinking coming to school today?! Thinking it'd be okay to face him?! That tiny, disgusting, piece of shit!
My heart felt like it was about to rip out of my chest, feeling the same adrenaline from last night as I fumbled to enter my locker combination. The sense of anxiety, alertness and the desire to live one more day on this planet overtaking my emotions once again. I letup, letting my lock slip out of my fingers as I was being shadowed from behind. I turned around, looking dead in the eyes of four girls with the look of murder in their eyes. That same blonde female from the cafeteria was part of the group. I backed up as my foot crashed loudly into the locker, hugging myself so tight I was pinching at the skin of my arms.
"Look at this girl! You dirty SLUT!" One girl spat out, "Thinking you could have Leo all to yourself!"
The other three females laughed at her taunt.
"I can't believe you even gave Leo your bras and panties as a way to get him back into bed!" She looked at me up and down in true disgust, "How repulsive! Where's your pride as a woman?!"
Kohikana! Say something! Defend yourself! Stop shaking like a leaf! "N – n – n – no! That's not true! None of that is true!"
"Yeah right! Then what's this?!" One of them objected, hurling a pair of pink lace panties right in my face. "Ugh, I can't even be around her. How fucking desperate can you be?!"
A sharp slap on my cheek made my ears ring as I was now shoved back into my locker by two of the girls, with the other two roughly attempting to rip my school blouse in half. I tried with all my might to get myself out of this scuffle, receiving a punch to the gut. "Know your place whore!"
Why … Why is this happening to me? I'm a good person. I lived a good life with smiles and never ending loyalty towards my friends and family. I didn't deserve this, I don't want this! I really am a good person! Gods have mercy on me. Show my soul some mercy for whatever sins it is I have committed. Right my wrongs and I will forever be in your debt. I can't be here. I'm crying out in desperation for help and the Gods decided to now turn their backs on me. The loud sound of my blouse tearing in half adding salt to the wound as the girls were now focusing on getting my skirt off.
My focus now distracted by Leo, Shiru and Gin standing behind the girls with evil, satisfied grins on their faces.
"Look … She's like a defenseless child. Is it really okay to do this to her?" Shiru wondered with amusement.
"Ladies, ladies, I think she's had enough!"
"Don't defend her Leo! We're only doing what's right! We want justice!"
"JUSTICE MY ASS!" A screaming Sawa yelped, tackling the two girls in front of me, with Mine jumping in trying to fight off the other two that were pinning my shoulders back.
"Kohikana!" Shin called out.
The five boys now running down the hallway towards us as I took the two torn sides of my school uniform, covering my exposed bra. Ikki placed a firm hand on my arm asking in a comforting but worried tone, "Kohikana! Are you alright? What the hell is going on here?!" I frantically nodded as he wiped the ever flowing tears from my face.
"Getting others to do your dirty work for you Leo?!" Toma shouted.
Leo gave out a mocking laugh as Gin and Shiru took their stances in front of Leo in a defensive manner, looking as confident as ever. Leo now applauding the boys' fast arrival, "A future King never does the dirty work himself. You should know that much your highness."
"I'm getting sick of this guy." Shin proclaimed, walking up closer towards Leo as Gin shoved him away.
Kent gritted through his teeth, "It's five against three, you can't logically think you have the upper hand here."
Leo looking even more enticed by Kent's words as he took a step forward, resting his elbows in a childlike manner on Shiru and Gin's shoulders. "Is that a threat Prince Kent? Because we can take everyone here out of the equation and I'll still be the one to leave you on the ground in a puddle of your own blood, again." He had a sick beaming grin inching across his lips, "You remember, right Prince Kent? How you failed so miserably at such a simple task?" Leo now pridefully walking up to Kent's face, reaching his hands slowly taking the thin framed glasses off his face, tossing them away in a nonchalant notion. "Stop trying to take what isn't yours. Your highness." Finishing off with a phony polite bow.
Kent put out a stiff right hook, making Leo stumble a step back. Running a thumb over his split lip, scoffing at his spilt blood. He threw his arm up commanding Shiru and Gin to not take any further actions. Now flashing the same attack on Kent with the two of them going at it. I gripped tighter on my torn blouse watching Ukyo, Toma, Shin and Ikki taking care of Gin and Shiru, looking over to my right seeing Sawa and Mine had cleaned up their mess. It was a chaos of bodies in this hallway and over such stupid circumstances. "STOP!" I screamed out, but nothing had stopped, it was ignored.
I cast my focus over to Kent and Leo knowing it would have to be these two to stop this madness. I rush over and throw myself in the middle of them in a protective arm wide stance to cover Kent, closing my eyes shut as I had seen Leo charging himself for another strike. Arms wrapping around me being spun around as I saw Kent's pained face taking the strike of Leo's blow on his back, his one knee wavering as I held him with all my might to keep him up.
One strike after another on his back, seeing Kent's false smile peering down at me with the reassurance that he was keeping me safe, feeling each blow rattle through his bones onto my own body. I couldn't let him keep doing this for me as I bury my head into his chest screaming at the top of my lungs, "STOP! PLEASE STOP!"
The grunts of battle went silent as I went wide eyed pulling my head back to look at the situation.
I'm alone.
All in this dark room. Or at least I think it's a dark room.
What is this place? I look up, now seeing the blackness covered in a beautiful sea of glimmering stars. I hear the sound of ballroom music now behind me, as a deep voice in ear shot called out, "What is it you wanted to show me, Princess?"
I feel the weight of my pink dress as I twirled around seeing Kent standing at the castle's balcony doorway, glancing over his shoulder watching the happy people dance across the wide ballroom floor. I look down at my own body as my arms up to my elbows were clothed over with silk white gloves and the same pink dress I had constantly been seeing. I study Kent as his clothes were completely different too, he really looked like royalty. He was clothed in a black refine tail coat that fashioned gold coloured shoulder pads with fringe, the inside patterned in gold and green thread, being held across his tall body by two thick gold coloured braids. His chest suited with a clover pattern design in the same black cloth, being centered by two white running lines, a white belt going across his lower abdomen. His legs in the same black material wearing luxurious looking knee high boots patterned in designs of radiant gold. I look up to meet his soothing gaze, noticing he wasn't wearing glasses and had a lavish gold crown on top his head.
I actually didn't know why I had called him out … And what it was I wanted to show him.
I smile to myself admiring how incredibly handsome and dapper Kent looked standing in front of me. These memories, I needed to get them back, this is my life, my real life. I take a step forward towards Kent as his eyes went wide in terror reaching his hand out to me, "PRINCESS! LOOK OUT!"
Even with the given warning, I couldn't turn around quick enough to see what he was so alarmed about.
I found my vision slowly fading in and out, getting glimpses of feet scattering around me as I heard Kent in the background in what sounded like a rough altercation. My limp body picked up with one arm as I was thrown over this person's shoulder.
I force my heavy head up to eagerly search for Kent, vision now going blurry and nausea taking over, witnessing Kent's still body in a pool of his own blood.
