Crimson Storyline
"Drinking alone, sir?" I asked the man at the balcony as if I don't know him.
"The wine would taste bad if it were to be polluted with breath," the man replied calmly with cold words and stern eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I asked with an angrier tone, making clear my point.
"Don't talk so loud, you will ruin everything." Using a mocking tone, he said it while playing with the glass of wine on his hand.
"Ruin your plan? Then I will gladly do so." I smirked, clenching my fist, ready to give him a punch.
"Are you sure? I don't think it's a good idea to cause mayhem when your family members are here."
I was caught by his words, for what he said was true. It won't be good to disturb the happiness inside the castle right now. Worst-case scenario, it might become a bloody scene. Although I treated him as my family, this brunette who went by name Shiki was a heartless killer. Countless times I had tried to stop him, but never even once had I succeeded. My words never reached him, and no matter how many times I tried, he never left that wicked path. Not feeling like talking with me any further, the brunette walked past me and stepped inside the chatter-filled room.
"I won't forgive you if you hurt my family," I said, just as the moment he walked passed me. The man didn't stop walking, and when I turned my head, he already blended inside the crowd, out of the reach of my gaze.
White Storyline
"Long time no see, your majesty." I lifted up the side of my long skirt a bit and bowed down towards the King and Queen, as well as to their daughter, who stood beside them.
It does not took long before Nero scold me, "Off with the formal act already, we are not strangers."
"Shh Nero! There are many people right now!" Mako whispered but loud enough for us to hear it.
I was glad to see that both of them were still the same like as usual. Nero still liked to scold people, regardless of their age and Mako always tried hard to clean up the mess he created. I giggled when I looked at them. Although they were the country's Queen and King, they still didn't drop the childish act. While both of them were still arguing, the little princess tugged at my skirt. She let out a childish, giggling voice as I patted her head.
"How old is she?" I asked both of the childish adults.
"Ten years old this year," Nero answered with a bit of an annoyed face, although I could see a faint red color on his cheeks, which caused question marks to appear on my head.
From the way the Queen smiled, which made it seem like she was teasing him, I thought she knew what was going on with him.
"Wh-what!" he asked, slightly annoyed at me when I stared at him.
A bell sounded in my head, signaling that I'd finally caught the meaning behind his weird behavior.
"Cute, isn't it?" Mako asked me out of nowhere when she noticed I had caught the meaning.
"Yes, it is," I answered, covering my lip with my hand and giggling. "I know you are childish, but I never knew you also like children. Guess there are still many things I don't know about you."
"Sh-shut up!" he replied a bit loud, catching a bit attention from some people, which caused him to blush even more.
Both Mako and I were struggling to hold out our laugh from bursting out. Seeing both of us like that, he could not do anything but divert his reddened face from us. Little Iroha tilted her head in confusion, unable to grasp the situation. Really, this was one cute family here.
Then suddenly I noticed someone among the crowd, a familiar face. With his pitch black hair, expressionless eyes and silent movements, there was only one person in my mind who fulfilled that criteria: none other than Shiki.
I was supposed to get panic, but as I kept looking at him, the young man actually was not the one who attracted my attention. Somehow I was more interested with the one who was walking behind him. It looked strange, but at least I knew nothing was gonna happen as long they kept walking behind him. I smiled instead, since they looked so cute when they were following him like that.
Fireflies Storyline
One fatal thing which an assassin must avoid at any cost was not to attract attention. Or, in other words, just don't let people realize your presence. That was the basic and one of the more important lessons for an assassin. I was able to blend perfectly within this crowd of nobles without anyone noticing my presence earlier, although I drew an old red-haired geezer's attention. My plan was becoming slightly different because of that small encounter, but I will surely finish my job today.
As I kept blending with my surroundings, at the same time I was also observing the kind of life that a noble experienced. It never changed from the first time I saw them. When you looked closely, it was actually pretty much the same, like ordinary citizen life. You smile, you greet and you talk. The same cycle common people had.
But there was a bit difference with lower classed people. They all dressed in luxury and artistic clothing, unlike normal people, who dressed in plain clothing. Their clothing was made from expensive silk. They talked with a slightly higher tone, like an empress or emperor. Also, the topic of conversation they chose was extraordinary, not like a "Yesterday was a big harvest" or "Your farm field looked well, Mister" kind of topic. Mostly they talked about how to produce money faster than any other people.
Suddenly, I noticed something fishy in the air. Some people were becoming aware of my presence, even though I hadn't tried anything that drew people's attention. The stares increased as I kept walking around. I found it strange. Did they found out that I was not a noble? The end of my misery was answered the moment I turned my head around.
A pair of children, a little boy and a little girl, was standing behind me, looking at me, scared. The boy bears ocean-colored irises with blue hair, while the girl has teal hair which tied into a pig tail. I tried to walk away and I could hear them following me again, but when I looked back, they kept their distance from me. The logic inside the mind of these little runts is complicated for us teenage or adults to comprehend. They did opposite things depending on how I reacted. From afar I noticed Haku-nee's smirk teasing me.
I tried to glare, but I remember I was not good at glaring. My stone face became a hindrance to show my emotion. If I tried to glare, I would end up smiling, which was something I definitely didn't like. Although I was good at fake-smiling, I just didn't like the smile that generally resulted from my glaring. I didn't mind as long those two didn't get in my way, but why would they be following me?
It was not long until the dance part started; some guests started to waltz in the middle of the room. They danced beautifully with their partners, synchronizing their movements with the classic music playing. In an instance, I could no longer walk in the middle area since it was full of couples dancing. So I retreated to an area near the entrance where other nobles enjoyed watching the waltz.
Both kids were still following me as I walked towards there. I thought they were the only nuisance that were getting in my way, but I realized there was another obstacle when I heard a familiar voice calling me from behind.
"Having a problem, Shiki?" I heard a sound ask me politely in teasing way.
Although I didn't see his face, I knew that voice belonged to a black haired puppeteer whom I also didn't like. "Nothing is getting in my way, so I don't have any problems at the moment, Kiyoteru."
"It looks like you are having trouble, though. Won't it get in the way of your work?" said the black haired guy in a calm yet insulting tone.
With cold eyes, I turned my head a bit and sent him a sharp stare, "What do you want? I have no time for chit chat."
"Is there any reason for me to see my family?" he replied flatly.
"If I remember correctly, I never thought of our relation in that kind of way. It's only you guys who think like that," I replied, with a harsh and colder tone than Kiyoteru.
He sighed when I replied like that. "At least you won't cause trouble now, with these two following you."
How naïve he was, I thought in my mind. "Did you really think that you guys or both of these kids could get in my way? If it would, I would have disposed of you guys already, based on my principle, but sadly, none of you can get in my way right now."
His eye twitched when he heard me. I could tell he was starting to get angry as he raised his tone a bit to show his anger, "Just admit it already. You won't be able to get your job done. We're gonna stop you."
I took a sip from the glass of wine in my hand and looked at the ceiling. I stayed silent for a while before I spoke again, "The party… it's going to end soon, right?"
Kiyoteru's expression was of mixed emotions from confusion to anger. "What do you mean by that?" he asked me as he became the embodiment of wrath.
White Storyline
I could not stop the happiness which kept flowing out of me from my mouth in the form of giggles.
"Mademoiselle, may I dance with you?" someone suddenly asked me while I was focusing on the view in front of me.
"I'm sorry. Bu―" I had intended to reject it, but my words stopped suddenly when I looked at the red-haired gentlemen who had asked me. I smiled. His body was bowing a bit as he offered his left hand towards me.
"Yes, it's an honor," I said, putting my left palm on his opened hand. Once our hands were connected with each other, he guided me towards the place where the swarm of couples was waltzing. The red-haired gentlemen slowly brought my hand onto his lips and kissed it. I felt my face flush. The happiness inside me grew bigger as his lips touched the surface of my skin.
He pulled me gently towards his chest. I placed my right hand on his shoulder while his right hand rested on my waist. My body was so close to his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, smell his scent and feel the heat traveling inside his body. We started with a small, slow movement; he led while I followed.
The world around us felt quiet as we danced. My mind was drowning in passion, making me feel like no one else existed; it was just him and me in this room, only us. Am I dreaming? If the answer is yes, please don't wake me. Only two of us exist in this world right now.
I looked back at his gentle face. He was smiling at me. Our feet were leading us in any direction they wanted. He was enjoying this, and so was I.
The one I love….
Please only look at me…
Crimson Storyline
The gaze of her eyes showed the passion inside her. I never thought that I could stand in this place, dancing with her right now. Thinking back about it, everything was once in chaos, almost to the point of no return. Then the miracle happened, leading me to the present.
I felt grateful that I could love this woman in front of me. Her beauty was the first thing that charmed me, along with the time. One by one I came to accept everything about her, whether it was part of her bad side or part of her good side. We trusted each other, we understood each other, and we loved each other, the bond that would never shatter. Nothing could replace her being with me right now.
We glided across the floor, my hand holding hers, our fingers entwined together, refusing to release. We spun around before we broke apart, with only our left hands as a connection. My hand pulled her, rising upwards past her head, and she spun before she fell into my arms.
I hugged her closer, feeling the warmth beneath her skin. Then suddenly she encircled her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to meet my lips with hers. A romantic kiss, I could feel her breath flowing through my mouth. Her lips were soft and passionate, my hand sneaked onto her back, deepening our kiss. I wanted to stay like this as long as possible, but I knew we can't do it too long or else people would notice us.
Our lips break apart as we realized this fact. Her eyes still gazing at me, I smiled, she smiled. I wanted this moment to last forever.
It was not long till I heard a scream, which signaled the end of our passionate moment. I saw Shiki at the entrance door. He left the room with two kids following him. Sadness shrouded my heart, sadness that I could not save him, the lonely assassin. I thought our words could reach him, but he had shut his heart to us. He felt nothing, nothing at all. His Principle had become the most important thing in that child's life. I felt nothing for criminals, but family… is different. Why didn't he stop? Why must he do this?
…
…
Fireflies Storyline
I could finally ditch those two children while the castle was filled with screams and people were running around aimlessly. I could see both children vanish into a swarm of people when I walked the bridge connecting the castle and the town. In my research, people would usually feel sympathy around this time, but the research was wrong. I didn't feel anything at all when they vanished. I was the same as usual, coldly walking away.
I was supposed to return to my room, it was supposed to be like that. But my feet carried me somewhere else as I was lost in the blank world of my mind. My feet carried me to a house deep inside the forest, the house where I first opened my eyes today.
The inside of the house was dark and lonely, like nothing had lived there for a few years, if you excluded the dust-free furniture. In the midst of the darkness, I could hear a faint voice coming from behind the house. A few meters behind the house was a lake with waterfall. It was a pretty big lake, but despite its size, the water was actually not so deep. At least it wouldn't be able drown a teen or adult.
Out of curiosity, I took a step further. The range of my sight extended as I walked deeper, giving me full sight of the lake. It was so huge that it could swallow the whole town, but my eyes were fixed solely on the girl in the lake.
Her body was fully exposed to my eyes. Her hands were both hugging her as the waterfall rained on her body. The water in her palm was pouring, sliding through her entire body. The white skin was covered with streams of water gliding down it. Her long, wet hair was not tied up like usual, the momentary wind brushing away her long hair and making it sway. Droplets of water fell back into lake. The girl's eyes were closed while her lips chanted a spell called "song," both her palms buried into her chest.
I watched from afar without her noticing. The spell she chanted, along with her figure, has etched itself into my mind. The sound of waterfall didn't disturb the soft sound she used to chant.
Sora o miagete negau no wa
Kanashimi no nai sekai
Ano hi nakushita namida kara
Hikari ga koboreta
I look up at the sky
And pray for a world without sorrow
From the tears I lost that day
Light spills
Kokoro kakushita utagoe ni
Yawaraka na hi ga irodoru
Katamichi dake no hane o mune ni
Doko made ikeru ka na
I hid my heart in the singing of my voice
Painted by the gentle sunshine
With wings that flap only one way in my heart
I wonder how far I can go
Itsu made mo yasashii kimi de ite
Dareka o omou tsuyosa de
Ashita wa kitto kagayaku yo ne
Konna kimochi... doushite darou
Mabuta ga atsukunaru
Please remain the sweet person you are
With the strong feelings you hold for someone
I know you will shine tomorrow
This feeling... I wonder why
My eyelids are starting to sting
Kizukanu uchi ni komarasete
Nani o motometeitan darou
Maiodoru sono senaka e to
Omoi ga afureta
I was a nuisance to you without even realizing it
What was it I was expecting out of you?
Towards your gracefully dancing back
My feelings overflowed
Ima koko ni aru hibi no naka
Jibun de kimete susumou
Yukidoke ni mo nita omokage ni
Kibou ga saiteyuku
Now, here, in the days I live
I'll make my own decisions and move on
From the traces that melt away like snow
Hope blossoms
Itsu no hi ka tobitateru yuuki o
Dakishimete aruiteyukou
Taisetsu na kimi no hitomi no naka utsuru egao
Meguriaete hontou ni yokatta
Embracing the courage to one day fly
I'm going to carry on
In the eyes of someone as precious as you reflect my smile
I'm truly glad to have met you
Toumei na hane de tsutsumareta
Namida no nukumori
Zutto wasurenai wasurenai yo...
I will never, ever forget
The warmth of the tears
Wrapped in transparent wings...
Itsu made mo yasashii kimi de ite
Dareka o omou tsuyosa de
Ashita wa kitto kagayaku yo ne
Shinjiteku yo
Meguriaete hontou ni yokatta
Please remain as the sweet person you are
With the strong feelings you hold for someone
I know you will shine tomorrow
I believe it
I'm truly glad to have met you
Her voice sounded childish yet mature, but another thing that drew my attention was the difference of her voice. Although only slightly, I could tell she used a different kind of sound when she sang and when she talked. Based on this, I could conclude… that she was a Siren.
The little Siren noticed me when she done singing. Her face turned a crimson color the instant she laid eyes on me. Quickly, she hid her exposed skin by sinking it under the water. Her head turned away from me; she couldn't bear to look at me. From my side, I could still see faintly the blush on her face. Knowing she wouldn't come out until I disappeared from her sight, I decided to go back to the house. She might catch a cold if she stayed there too long.
…
…
White Storyline
As the sound of the carriage lingered in the silent atmosphere between him and me, I could not keep my eyes away from him. Akaito put his hand under his chin and kept looking outside the carriage. He had been like that ever since we entered the carriage. His upset looks told me that he regretted that he could not save him, not the victim whom Shiki killed, but the Shiki himself.
"How long this going to continue…? Has saving him really become impossible already?" he suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
I held his warm hand before I said, "N… I am sure we can save him. If you give up now, then no one will be able to save him."
He closed his eyes, reminiscing about tonight's accident. "I tried countless times to talk to him, but not even once did it reach his heart. I wanted to tell the authorities about this, but I couldn't when I saw that child's back. I can't stand seeing him being hunted. But if I don't, he will walk further into darkness. What should I do?"
"We all feel the same way, that's why we're working so hard to sa-"
"Then when will he be saved! More victims will fall!" he shouted before I could finish my words. It startled me a bit, but after a while he realized his anger was taking over. He covered his eyes, at the same time touching his forehead.
"I am sorry, Haku," he apologized. I knew he was desperate about it.
"It's alright," I replied.
"That child… his eyes can only see hate, he cannot see anything other than that."
I took his hands that covered his eyes, and leaned in to kiss him. A quick, chaste kiss, before I looked at his burning crimson colored irises. "Dear, you saved me from the darkness. I am sure we can open that child's eyes the same way you opened my eyes."
After hearing my words, the tenseness in his body suddenly disappeared. His lips formed a smile. "Thank you."
I smiled back at him. We were trying together to save Shiki. If we fell into despair, then he would be forever lost in darkness.
His hands caressed my cheeks, sliding slowly down my face before he leaned in closer. Our lips were only a small distance from each other, his breath tickled my lips. The air entering my lips somehow became another's in an instant. I could feel him drawing my face closer and clo-
CREAKKK!
The vehicle stopped suddenly, causing a tremor inside the carriage. He held my hand while my head leaned onto his chest. His other hand was on my back, protecting me from being flung to the front.
"Wait here," he told me, then opened the carriage door and stepped outside.
Crimson Storyline
As I stepped outside, I could see the man who had been driving the carriage kicking something on the ground. Since his back was covering my field of vision, I could not see clearly what he was kicking.
"You bastard! Get out of the way!" he shouted, while kicking something I could not see.
I got closer to him and asked, "What's wrong?"
His face turned pale the moment I asked him and he turned his head. "N-No-nothing is wrong, sir! It was only some obstacle in the way that caused me to brake suddenly. I-I humbly apologize for the inconvenience. P-p-please go back inside! I will take care of this problem," said the man as he took off his hat, placed it on his chest and bowed deeply.
"Obstacle? May I see what is it?" I asked.
The carriage man became tense the moment I asked, but eventually he moved aside and bowed deeply," A-as you wish, Sir."
The shadows shrouded the thing I wanted to see, and I could not see it clearly from where I was standing. I took another step closer to it, and my eyes widened as the light shone on it.
A boy, a green-haired boy was lying on the floor, his hand hugging his stomach. The bruises on his body were visible; I could see them through the torn clothes he was wearing. The boy coughed several times and tightened his hug, which made me snap out of my trance. Without thinking further, I carried the boy in my arms and walked back inside the carriage. The carriage driver's expression become scared.
"Move the carriage," I said with a firm tone.
"B-but sir!"
"I SAID MOVE THE DAMN CARRIAGE!"
_END OF MEMORIES_
Disclaimer : I do not own the song mentioned here or Vocaloid
Song : Toumei Na Hane De by Takagaki Ayahi
Editor : UlquiorraNoKokoro
