Author's Note: This is probably my all time favorite chapter of this story because I had so many ideas for this chapter, and they all came together to create this! ^^ Hope you enjoy this chapter! I know I had fun writing this!
Chapter 14: Unexpected Guest
One of the servants had come to Princess Rin's location, having traced her location to the gardens on the outskirts. After countless asking and pleading by both the princess and peasant, the servant did agree not to tell Prince Len about this meeting.
The servant's name was Mikuo Hatsune, Len's personal servant. He constantly flirted with Rin, and was continuing to do that tonight as he spoke to her about coming back to the palace because a certain special guest had arrived late that night.
Haru was angered by this servant flirting with his lover, and was about to punch the man in the face a couple times. Rin held her hand over his curled fist to prevent the punch from really hitting the boy's face.
After a couple minutes, the princess bided adieu to her love and went back to the palace with Mikuo. Haru did not complain, as the shooting stars had stopped and he didn't want to be selfish or rude by keeping the princess when she had important matters to attend to.
Though, he didn't expect anything to happen next.
After returning to the palace, Princess Rin, accompanied by Len's servant Mikuo, was led to the center hallway; to the throne room where her brother and a hooded person stood waiting for both of them.
Upon hearing footsteps, Prince Len turned around to meet the princess and his servant. Mikuo bowed before saying a few words, "She was brought, as ordered my Prince."
Len nodded in approval and Mikuo went to go stand beside his sister, Miku; who was Rin's personal servant.
Rin looked at Len before speaking, "What is that you wish of me this late at night Len? You know I'm cranky when I don't sleep…"
Her brother simply laughed as he motioned to the hooded person she had first noticed when entering the room. "It's not because of me; it's because of this person. They showed up at the palace doors, wishing to speak with both of us. Kaito had seen them at the door after making his daily walk around the palace, and led them in. They've been waiting for you Rin."
Rin looked toward the hooded person before bowing her head. "My apologies."
The hooded person giggled. Obviously it was girl. "Oh, it's fine. I just wanted to speak with both of you, my princess and prince."
Kaito, Len's protector whom he had spoken of just minutes before, entered the room. He had ocean blue hair and sparkling blue eyes; it seemed like everyone in this palace besides Meiko had blue eyes. He was dressed in all black; black pants, shirt, and shoes. He had a blue cape on and a sword sheath attached to his side like Meiko did.
Speaking of Meiko, after Kaito entered, she entered as well, standing behind both the princess and prince. Kaito took his place beside her.
Len spoke up to break the harsh silence, "Well; now that were all gathered here, what is that you wish to tell us?"
The person giggled again, and took down her hood to reveal a white haired girl with red eyes. She had a creepy grin on her face as well as a few smears of dried blood. "Oh, nothing really. I'm just here to kill both of you."
Rin's eyes widened as she looked at her brother. He had the same expression as her. Kaito and Meiko lunged forward with their swords in hand, ready to kill the girl who stood as a murderer before them.
Before any harm could be done, the white haired girl casted her hands out of her hood; stopping both Kaito and Meiko in their place. The protectors stood frozen, and then the swords dropped out of their hands and fell to the ground with a clang.
Mikuo and Miku, having been taught swordplay if something like this would ever happen, took two swords down from the wall they stood behind and rushed toward the white haired woman.
Again, the girl casted one of her hands toward the two as they stopped dead in place as well. They both dropped their swords, and the same clang was heard as the swords fell. Now, the once hooded person now had one of her hands toward Meiko and Kaito while the other was toward Mikuo and Miku.
Len and Rin looked at each other in horror as they realized what this woman before them was. Rin said the word aloud, for everyone to hear as she realized, "Witch…"
The white haired woman looked toward Rin as her red eyes narrowed and her mouth formed into a smirk. "Yes, that's right. I'm a witch. My name is Yumi Hirako. You may have seen before, right Rin?"
Rin's eyes widened again as she realized that she had indeed seen this girl somewhere before.
In the hallway on that night Haru left, she was the one who had given her that flier.
She was there on the day Haru went insane; she was leaving and seemed content with what she had witnessed.
"You…I know you."
Yumi's smirk grew bigger as she put her arms down, releasing the protectors and servants from her magic. "Ah, so now you remember. That's right Rin. I was there when Haru left that night. I was there when he went insane. I'm disappointed he didn't kill you though. That spell might be wearing off."
Len looked to his sister in confusion and worry. "Rin, what is she talking about?"
"I'll explain later Len…I promise I'll explain later." She replied to him as she continued to stare at this witch in front of her.
Meiko lifted her head from the ground on which she lay. Blood decorated her clothing and lips, and she spoke softly to the princess and prince. "Prince Len…Princess Rin…you must get out of here…before she uses her magic to kill you."
Yumi stomped on the brown haired woman's back, causing her to collapse and cough up blood once more. "Shush you impudent worm. What happens to them is none of your concern."
Rin was confused on why Meiko was now covered in blood. What could have happened? Wait…when Yumi casted her spell, her hands curled in fists; almost as if she was squeezing a person's neck…
Then she understood; she had been squeezing both the protectors and servants necks. That's why they had dropped their weapons, they couldn't breathe. Now all four of them lay around the white haired witch, shedding blood before her very own eyes.
Len grabbed her wrist, snapping her from her thoughts. "Rin, we have to get out of here!" He pulled her toward the doors, not before hearing a snicker come from behind them.
"Ah ah ah, now where do you think you're going?" Suddenly, the doors slammed shut in front of their own eyes. They looked back to see the witch with her hands in front of her; she had pushed the door closed and locked it with her magic.
"I won't let you escape! It's time to join your mother and father in death!" Yumi screamed as she casted another spell, whispering a few words that both the prince and princess could hear.
"Fire fire dancing like a light, come to me, and let your flames burn the night!" In a matter of seconds, Yumi had disappeared and fire now littered the walls of the throne room.
Mikuo and Miku, not caring as to their injuries, helped both Meiko and Kaito to their feet.
"Prince Len! Princess Rin! You must escape from here!" Miku screamed from her place across the room.
Len pounded on the door, but to no use, it did not open. "It won't open!"
Kaito rushed over, and in a matter of seconds, shoved his sword against the lock of the door. It broke in two and he kicked the door down. "Everybody, out!"
Servants were in panic, rushing for their lives. Rin could see Seiji out of the corner of her eye helping Sora and others get out.
Len grabbed her wrist, and ran as fast as he could to hopefully escape from the orange flames. They were the last of the Kagamine family, and if they died, so did the family name.
Meiko was rushing behind Rin, keeping her and the prince safe from any beams that dared to fall upon them. Her silk coat was long discarded as she had been rushing to protect them.
A scream came from behind them, and Rin looked back to find Miku trapped under an un-burning beam. A flaming one stood beside her on the wall, and looked as if were about to break any minute now.
Miku noticed Rin's panic in her eyes. She gave the princess a soft smile, for this maybe the last time she would see her best friend. She lip mouthed a few words to the princess, hopefully to calm her: It'll be alright Rin…don't worry about me. You have to live on, in order to protect this country and to continue the name of the Kagamine family. Go. Run.
Len looked back to find Rin staring at her best friend and he stopped in his tracks. He looked at Meiko and whispered. "Get Rin out of here. Now."
Meiko nodded, not asking questions as she took the princess's hand and ran as fast as she could. Rin was almost in tears; her best friend was trapped, and now her brother had stopped to help her.
Len had bent down to help Miku out from under the un burning beam as time was running short. The flaming one was beginning to break off from the wall.
Another tug on Miku's arm.
She had long passed out, hoping to never awaken as she didn't want to see the flames that would consume her.
Another tug. She was halfway out from under the beam. Her once teal haired pigtails were now scattered everywhere and ashes stained them as well.
The beam was looser than ever now, one more minute and it would break. He moved quickly, giving one final tug and the teal haired servant was free.
He picked her up in his arms, cradling her like an infant as he struggled to breathe. He gave a few coughs before remembering the burning beam.
Len moved quickly again, jumping back and falling onto his back with Miku in his arms just as the beam broke loose; crashing down in the exact place he was standing not even a minute ago.
He coughed again, and soot littered both him and girl in his arms. He struggled to breathe once again, giving loud coughs.
He heard footsteps behind him, and looked up to see Kaito above him: A look of worry and a smile on his face.
Len smiled back before passing out, the girl of his dreams in his arms: Safe and unharmed.
Rin was alone; she had been separated from Meiko when a beam fell between them: Blocking them from any escape. Meiko has gone to find help, and Rin was now trapped in a circle of burning beams.
She heard a faint giggle, the same one she had heard previously in the throne room before these flames appeared.
Yumi sat upon a floating throne, just a few feet above where Rin was trapped. "Oh? What's wrong my princess? Are you having trouble escaping from my wondrous spell?" She giggled the same merciless giggle as before.
Rin growled to herself before looking up to see the white haired witch. "Why would you want me dead?! What did I ever do to you?! What have me and my brother ever done to you?!"
Yumi smirked. "You haven't done anything to me. I'm just doing the mission my partner gave me to complete."
"Your partner? Who is your partner?" Rin questioned, but before the question was answered, another flaming beam fell beside her.
Yumi laughed. "I don't have to tell you anything. Have fun burning in these flames. Your prince charming won't be coming to save you anytime soon."
With the words say and actions done, the white haired witch disappeared from her floating throne.
Rin growled with anger as another beam fell down beside her, catching part of her dress on fire with its orange glow.
She stomped on the part quickly before looking at her situation again. There's no way out…I'm going to die here: Just like Yumi wants.
Accepting her fate, the blonde haired princess sat down in the center of the circle. Flames decorated the outer edges, making the outline of her once safe circle.
I guess this is the end for me…I accept my fate. As long as Len lives, the Kagamine family name won't be erased. Our bloodline will live on in him. I'm sorry Mother and Father; I'm a disgrace to our family name…
A sudden BANG woke Rin from her thinking. She looked around for any trace of where the noise had come from and looked to a room where a window was shattered.
A shattered window…? That wasn't shattered before, and I'm the only one in this part of the palace…
A cough escaped her throat. It was getting harder to breathe as smoke littered the once purified air. She fell to the ground, her face as close to the ground as possible as she looked for any trace of air.
Another cough escaped her. And another, another, another, another.
Soon enough, all she could do was cough. Her lungs were filled with smoke.
She lifted her head to see someone in front of her. She looked up more and saw those same glistening blue eyes, filled with tears as he noticed the situation.
Haru…
He lifted her up gently, resting her in his lap before cradling her like a baby against his chest. Standing back up, the peasant made his way back toward the window he had shattered to get in.
Once outside, Haru set her down gently and stroked her cheeks. Rin was coughing madly and Seiji had come over with a wet towel to place on her forehead.
Sora also rushed over, worried sick for the princess. "Princess Rin! Are you alright my princess?" She held her hand to the princess's forehead.
Rin let out another cough before looking up to see all them. She whispered softly, "Yes…I'm alright…Meiko…where's Meiko? And Len? And Miku? And Kaito? And Mikuo? And Gakupo? Where's everyone…?"
Seiji shushed her before speaking softly, "Everyone made it out safely Princess. You can rest easy. You were the last one inside and now you're safe. We can't locate anyone else; they must have escaped through another window of the palace. But some servants have been telling me that they did see Prince Len, Kaito, and Miku escape. Another servant also told me he saw Meiko, Mikuo, and Gakupo escape as well."
Rin breathed a sigh of relief before looking over to see Haru. "Haru…"
Haru smiled at her. "It's alright Rin…your safe…"
The princess smiled back at him before coughing once again. Letting her eyes droop while the flames burned before her, she settled into a deep sleep.
At the time of the burning of the palace, a prisoner had escaped from his cell. He had killed both guards without showing mercy.
His partner, Yumi Hirako, had burned the palace. He could smell the smoke from the prison.
Walking out into the sunlight, he had a creepy and evil smirk on his face.
He knew that both the princess and prince had escaped un harmed, except for a few minor injuries from beams and smoke inhalation.
But, besides that, he now had the chance to kidnap at least one of them when they were weak. The protectors and servants had been separated from both of the weak twins.
Now was the time to kidnap them, and hopefully make a little money off of them by selling them in different towns.
The princess would make an excellent sex slave to men.
As for the prince, he couldn't think of any reason to kidnap him. He couldn't make money off of him.
It was decided then.
Daisuke Yoshida's next hostage: Princess Rin Kagamine.