Hakumei stumbled down the stares where Diva's voice was originating and finally came upon the kitchen, where she, Amshel, Nathan, James, and Solomon had gathered. She vaguely wondered where Karl was, but didn't dare ask--she feared an answer--as she sleepily made her way over to the five of them.
"Nani o, Diva?" she yawned, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"I have some bad news imoutosan!!" Diva sighed dramatically as she hugged Hakumei, "I'm afraid Nathan and I will have to leave later tomorrow. I hope you don't mind being alone for a while."
Hakumei stared blankly down at her. Of course she minded! Nothing scared her more right now than to be alone in this big house...where Karl could trap her and make sure she couldn't be heard. She made to answer, only to be silenced by Amshel.
"Despite whether you're comfortable with it or not," he began, "which you obviously aren't, you have no say in the matter. Diva's wish is our wish. What she wants, she will get. And what she wants, you cannot accompany her for. Do I make myself clear?"
Hakumei glared and was ready to make a rude remark--such as 'When will that bug up your ass ever die?!'--but shut her mouth quickly when Karl finally entered the room and just nodded. She remembered then that she'd be stuck here alone with ALL of the Chevalier but Nathan. She doubted it would be wise to upset any of them when Diva wasn't around.
"I understand," she spoke, trying to keep the disdain out of her voice, "Now may I please go back to sleep? I'm very tired."
Amshel gave a sharp nod. Without another word to any of them--sans a nod to Nathan--she made her way quickly from the room, trying to ignore the glare from Amshel and the stares from all the others.
A meadow of blue roses. Roses unlike the world has ever seen. Her haven from her fears. Hakumei sighed happily as she ran through the meadow. She'd never seen so many roses in her life. Her strange, yet lovely blue and white dress fluttered behind her as she ran through the strangely thorn free flowers. She stopped for a moment to admire one of the full bloomed beauties. Falling to her knees--careful of the flowers at her feet, she gently plucked the gorgeous rose from its place and smiled happily at it. Diva's voice sang to her all around.
However...the beauty and serenity was shattered as the song grew dark and sinister and a menacing laughter filled the air around her. Thorns grew wildly from the roses and dug into her skin. Vines entwined around her wrists, her ankles, her waist; holding her down. She tried to avert her eyes from the images of past nightmares. She screamed and writhed as one of the dream versions of Karl left her first nightmare and approached her. He drew to his knees, the thorns not daring to touch him, and crawled atop her. Tears came to her eyes as he held her bleeding face and kissed her. Why did this feel so real? She knew now that her tranquility was only a fleeting wish and that it couldn't be real. When Karl pulled away, they were both stripped of their clothing. Hakumei screamed, silenced quickly by Karl's mouth upon her own. She was tied down too tightly to writhe away. She sobbed against his lips as he ran his hands over her body. Please let this hell end...
Hakumei woke with a start, her heart racing. She shielded her eyes from the sun shining through the curtains before rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She supposed she ought to wake up. She'd showered the night before, after Amshel dismissed her, so she turned to the closet of new gowns and picked out a tunic-dress to wear today. Sighing, she stripped out of her nightgown, her panties still on; she began to pull on the dress. Outside the room, Karl licked his lips. She had forgotten to lock her door before changing, making it easy for him to silently open the door to peek inside. He pondered taking her here--a thought that was smashed down when he recalled Diva's presence. She couldn't be here for this...His eyes toured her body, stopping here and there where he took particular interest; her chest, her thighs, her neck. Smiling, he closed his eyes and laid his head back a little while he thought of how wonderful their lovemaking tonight would be. He was also reminded of his first; Diva. A shiver raced down his spine. Though he'd loved it at the time, the memory brought chills to him. He shook it off, though, to admire his target for the night. Light footsteps--someone skipping--brought him out of his thoughts and brought him back to reality. He could sense it was Diva and quickly fled, forgetting to shut the door as he escaped. In her room, Hakumei turned to see where the sound she'd heard originated, shivering.
'You're letting your dreams get to you...' she told herself as she tired to calm down, 'You're hearing things now...'
"Imoutosan," Diva began as she slipped into the room with a smile, "Let's go outside and play in the garden ne?"
Hakumei nodded and slipped on a pair of shoes before following her outside, unaware of the lustful eyes following her as she exited the house.
"Karl, you've yet to complete the task I assigned you," Amshel began, returning Karl's attention from the window back to him in his lavish office.
"Gomen ne, niisan," Karl spoke, venom dripping from his tongue, "I am afraid that complications arise while Diva is here. You've noticed she's grown too attached. I can't get her alone to complete your little mission."
"I don't care to hear excuses," Amshel snapped, "I want results. So later, after she and Nathan return, you will watch Diva while the others and I are out. I expect your job to be finished by that time."
Karl seethed, glaring into Amshels back. He hated being scolded by this man. However, he sighed in defeat.
"Your word is law, niisan," he spoke harshly, bowing only just, "By the time Diva returns in the morning, your task will be fulfilled."
"Good," was all Amshel had to say before he dismissed his little brother.
Later that afternoon Hakumei and Diva were in the garden. Though they were doing nothing in particular-nothing-except just enjoying themselves. Hakumei walked to the middle of the garden, quite a large garden it was. Probably a meadow if she had full view of it. She walked over the flowerbed and bushes of beautiful flowers; lilies, orchids, daisies, roses...A soft breeze passed over Hakumei, making her tunic-dress and hair sway in the wind. The strings that tied her ribbon necklace around her neck swayed-tickling her-and she giggled. She enjoyed being outside today, it was such a lovely day; especially in the garden. She also enjoyed listening to Diva sing.
Ohohhohhohhoh
ahhahahahah
Ahhahahahhahahahohahahahh
Bahllah tiise oh rekaih ahlemolmo
Eamoe strohhoh al me ato
Eamoe stravaying boltu
Bahhllah tiise ahh rekaih al demore ma
Ah mi so-ahhahhahahahahahahh bahllah demore ma la
She smiled as she plucked a crimson flower from the garden; a red rose. She looked at it curiously and happily. She never really noticed red roses before, only the blue ones her once beloved Phantom grew at Lycee Fleche's garden. She then picked a pink orchid that looked like one of the lily flowers and took in its lovely aroma.
"Imoutosan! Let's play hide-n-seek!" Diva exulted.
Hakumei was brought from her reverie and dropped the flowers; utterly leaving them to wither beneath her feet. Hakumei turned to her and smiled happily.
"Of course!" she cheered.
Diva then ran into the path way of trees surrounding the garden.
"Come and find me!" Diva shouted.
Hakumei happily ran in the pathway of trees. She was thankful she didn't wear her heels and chose to wear to blue flats.
"Ready or not here I come!" Hakumei shouted happily.
Diva giggled and skipped along a path guarded by trees, reaching farther and farther from Hakumei. She caught a glimps of one of her beloved blue roses...along with one of her beloved Chevalier.
"Karl," she breathed, stopping him and causing him to turn to her.
He wasn't wearing his favored kimono and was instead dressed in his suit and cloak. By the blood on his lips and specks of blood dotting his jacket, he'd been feeding.
"Not yet, Karl..." she stopped in front of him, "I want imoutosan to be happy and carefree for just a little longer before I leave. She is going to help me conceive, but I wanna have fun before I go. Kay?"
"M-Mochiron Diva," Karl replied, bowing, "Whatever you wish..."
Diva smiled happily and pranced off to go find a hiding spot again. Karl, on the other hand, doubled back to taunt his prey for the night...
Hakumei, meanwhile had run further into the wooded path and was starting to worry because the trees didn't stop showing up where she went. She soon saw rose bushes and small areas of flowers, perhaps a small cascade pond; how big was this garden? She tripped over a tree root that stuck out of the ground. Her dress was stained with dirt. She sat up on her knee, looking at the healing scrapes on her right hand.
"Oh dear, I hope I don't get yelled at for falling and ruining the dress Nathan got me," she worried.
She never had a thought Nathan would yell at her for accidentally dirtying a dress, but she began to panic. She was lost in her home! She wandered around for minutes, trying to find a way out but couldn't.
"Okay Diva! I give up!" Hakumei shouted.
She felt a bead of sweet run down her neck, she removed her necklace; not wanting to stain the smooth silk threads of it. Another rustle of the wind went by, utterly the dress moved up a little on her legs because of it, and her hair brushed away from her face.
'Daijobu, a sweet rose bloom...'
Her eyes widened a bit and she gasped. Thinking it was just some sort of trick; it wasn't.
'Hakumei...'
The same voice rang in her head. No, it was not Diva's at all. This voice was too calm and serious to be Diva's.
'Hakumei dear...Where are you?'
The voice rang again. Images of her nightmares plagued her head, she grabbed her head; her hands trembling.
"K-Karl-chan...?" she stuttered.
He sounded so close, and she recognized the desire in his voice. She backed away, swiveling in all directions to see if he was there.
'I see you there...Don't try to hide from me...'
His voice sounded louder and clearer that time. What was he planning? She couldn't even see him...But something was wrong; terribly, horribly wrong.
"Diva! I give up!" Hakumei cried.
She feared being hurt by her once beloved Karl-chan.
'I'll be there soon, Hakumei...'
A blue shimmer appeared through the tree's shadows; a beautiful blue bloom...Someone was holding it.
"Diva!" Hakumei cried.
She needed someone to solace her, heed her, anyone—anything to keep her from going completely insane.
"You're no fun to play with," Diva jeered.
Hakumei looked up at her and hugged her thankfully. Diva wrapped her arms around Hakumei playfully and chortled at her action.
"You ruined your dress! Tripped ne? Oh well, there's plenty more," Diva said as she began to guide Hakumei out of the labyrinth of trees.
As she did a shadow appeared where Hakumei once stood, soon appearing to have a face etched with a wicked smile.
"You can't hide from me. I will make you mine," Karl jeered before disappearing again, leaving a blue rose to wither where Hakumei once stood.
Hakumei sighed as she slowly made it back to her room. She had a sure feeling that Nathan had bruised a couple of ribs after the lung crushing hug he'd given her when he'd said goodbye, but at the moment, that didn't bother her. She hated being stuck in this house with so many guys she didn't want to see. There was James for one. Someone ought to loosen the neck bolts on that guy or something...Solomon was another issue. He just plain annoyed her to no end. Amshel was one she definitely wanted to stay away from. She had a feeling the bastard was planning something horrible...she was glad she didn't know what. And then there was Karl...A blush spread over her cheeks. She both hated and welcomed these nightmares. She feared, yet loved the sights and feelings she felt...She scratched her head in frustration and sighed again as she walked into her room. Things were so much easier back at Lycée...
'Soon...koibito,' a voice cried from nowhere...that she could see.
She shivered and shook her head, trying to ignore it as she closed the door and walked over to her bed. She pulled up one of the dresses she'd bought and Diva had given her and stripped down to try them on.
'You belong to me,' the voice rang again.
She shivered again and held the dress close to her body as she tried to drown out his voice.
'Now and forever.'
She blushed. This couldn't be real…perhaps she'd fallen asleep on the way to her room somehow…this must've been just another nightmare…it's couldn't be real…
'Oh koibito…nightmares are reality…' he sounded closer, 'I do hope you'll enjoy yourself tonight…'
A/N: Japanese Translations:
Nani o?: What is it?
Gomen ne: I''m sorry
Mochiron: Of course
If I missed any--which I doubt I did...but I'm pretty stupid so you never know--let me know in a review!