'My mother use to tell me, about a girl named Cinderella…'
'And about her happy ending…'
She would cry after telling me that story,
Because she knew one day,
My life wouldn't end in a happy ending…
I am a vampire, so what prince would want me?
":":":":":":":":":":
Like Cinderella
Chapter Twenty-Four: To What Binds Us
"Mmm..." Rie gave a small grunt as she stretched out her sore shoulders. It had been almost six hours since she had first started and she wasn't even half way done with the scrolls. Some of the scrolls weren't of much importance to Rie but given the interesting places that Ita Haru had been and what his unit had done in each city, gave Rie an opened window to countless information about countries and cities she had never been to.
Rie ran a hand through her hair and stopped at the tips of it. Wasn't her hair this morning only shoulder length? How come it had grown already? Rie had been secretly speculating that her Pure Blood powers had healed her wounds and had grown back her hair. Although most of the Pure Blood was slowly disappearing, Rie still felt a lingering of power left. She could not fathom the idea though, that there might be a connection with her mother and Juri-Oujo. It sent shivers into her and made her heart almost believe that maybe, just maybe there was still some hope left.
But she was slightly ashamed of this hope too. How could she possibly think that there was some hope left if Kaname no longer cared about her and no longer wanted to be with her? Rie gave a groan of frustration and laid her head on the table. She had replay the memory of her and Kaname dancing over and over again in her head and still her heart beat the same thumps as if she was still in love with him. Which was true, she had once again fallen for this man who had also broken her heart.
"Can't I just pretend that it never happened?" Rie asked to herself quietly.
'If only it was that easy.' Rie chided herself. Pretending that meeting and falling head over heels for Kaname was just a dream seemed somewhat of a cruel joke on herself. And she would just feel the pain increase as she tried to forget him. Her blue eyes grew weary and slowly began to close when suddenly the doors to the Library slammed opened.
"Aido! I wanted to tell her!" Yori's hostile voice ranged through the Library. Rie watched amused as Aidou and Yori wrestled each other for a scroll. One half in Aidou's hand and the other half in Yori's, both sending death glares at one another so strong glass would have shattered.
"But you lost to rock-paper-scissors." Aidou said straining to not just rip the scroll from Yori's grasp.
"That's the cheapest game ever! And you cheated!" Yori yelled at Aidou.
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Not."
"Too."
"Not."
"Did too!" Yori finally exclaimed as she jerked the scroll away from Aidou. But in between the pull the scroll managed to slip out of Yori's grasp and flew into the air. Rie caught the scroll before it landed on the ground and waved it at the couple.
"What are you two fighting about?" She asked with a mildly amused yet curious face.
"Ah-Rie before you read that let me explain what its about fi-" Aidou began but Rie had already opened the scroll and had began to read it.
.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'
BY PRINCE KANAME
A PROCLAMATION
All loyal subjects of his Imperial Majesty are hereby notified by royal proclamation that in regard to a certain glass slipper,
it is upon this day decreed that a quest be instituted throughout the length and breadth of our domain.
The sole and express purpose of said quest is as follows to wit:
That every single maiden in our Kingdom shall try upon her foot this aforementioned slipper of glass,
and should one be found whose foot shall properly fit the slipper,
such maiden will be acclaimed the subject of this search and
the one and only true love of his Royal Highness, our noble Prince.
And said Royal Highness will humbly request the hand of the maiden in marriage
to rule with him over all the Land as Royal Princess and future Queen.
-Signed by The Royal Secretary
Hanabusa Aidou
.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'
The room was in silence for what seemed like days then Rie placed the scroll down. "What does this mean? Certain glass slipper?" Rie asked slowly as if she was trying to understand even herself. It was gonna be a long night.
Maroon eyes scanned himself over twice in the mirror and ran a hand through his hair. The suit looked perfectly fine on him but why was he feeling so frustrated and unsettled? Kaname took a deep breath and rolled his shoulders to ease the tension. He had to do this, he had to find her and then maybe he would be able to be settled. Kaname turned to go when he heard his door open and close. Turning around Kaname was surprised to see Ruka standing in his room. Her head was bowed low with her hands balled up into fists then out of now where Ruka burst open.
"Hidoi Kaname, Hidoi!" Ruka screamed as she ran over and hit her fist on his chest. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to pound her fist against him until she could go no more and fell on her knees sobbing into her hands.
"Ruka." Kaname said in shock as he stared at her state.
"How can you be so cruel? Is this some kind of joke? How can you just do this to me?" Ruka cried out in anguish. When she found out about the Proclamation from Ichijou she didn't think that it would have the words 'Future Queen' or 'hand of said maiden in marriage'. That was suppose to be her, she was suppose to be the queen and no one else.
"I'm not being cruel, and this is not a matter of joking either." Kaname stated as calmly as he could. He no longer was able to withstand Ruka as he was unable to withstand seeing Rie. Both were unbearable in their own ways. Kaname lowered himself and pulled Ruka up. "Please listen to me Ruka, don't do anything rash either, I cannot go on doing this. I cannot go on not knowing what I'm missing and what I'm needing-"
"But all yo-"
"Listen Ruka please! I'm...I am no longer sure about us." Kaname said and he watched Ruka's face crumple in horror.
"Is it because of Rie?" Ruka asked frantically.
"No and yes," Kaname looked into Ruka's red brown eyes,"But it's also because of you, Rie and the Princess from yesterday night."
"W-what?" Ruka was in disbelief. That Princess from yesterday night had truly caught Kaname's eyes as she had feared.
"It's not clear to me either. Which is why I need time away from you and yes, Rie too. Let me think about what I want to do, what I need and what I feel for all three of you."
"Is that why your trying to find the Hime-sama from yesterday night? Y-you think if you find her she'll have all your answers?" Ruka shakily asked.
"I don't know either Ruka. All I know is that I need time for myself. gomen nasai." Kaname let go of Ruka's shoulders and left his bedroom. Outside his bedroom door Kaname meet Kain and patted him on the shoulders. "I'll be leaving her in your hands again Akatsuki."
"Hai."
"And that's why he's trying to find this supposed 'Hime-sama'." Aidou finished and looked at Rie. She was starring at her hands which were shaking.
"Bu-but I don't recall tripping or falling or-" Rie stopped and gave a gasp. When she was running down the last steps she had fallen in her haste. Yori gave a worried look at Rie and turned to Aidou.
"So Hanabusa, your saying that all the maidens in the Kuran domain are coming here... to try on a glass slipper?"
"Correct my Yori-chan. Even I'm not sure about what the highness wants. He seems to be in a bit of shock as of late since he meet that Hime-sama," Aidou said winking towards Rie, "but with no doubt he wont rest until he finds her."
"Well doesn't the man have anything better to do?" Rie asked desperately. She didn't want to be found so quickly not since she wanted to find out more about her Parents and the connection between her mother and Juri-Oujo. What was Kaname even thinking?
"But the good thing is that it'll keep him distracted. I think its best that you stay away from his line of sight for awhile Rie." Yori said as she resorted the scrolls that Rie had rummaged through.
"Why?" Rie cautiously asked.
"Because he's been trying to find you all day, well he's been doing it secretly anyway with no success." Aidou said airily.
"Why has he been trying to find me?" Rie's voice risen a notch and Yori gave a exasperated sigh.
"Rie, I love you as a sister and best friend but good grief! He's been trying to find you! He thinks your the Princess at the ball. Kaname Kuran that baka of a Prince thinks your the Princess from the ball and he's been telling everyone who's close to him to find you."
Rie's jaw dropped and felt her eyes widen. "B-but I am!"
"Which is why we can't have him find you. If your discovered then you wont be able to recover whats lost and you wont be able to tell anyone how you are a Pureblood because you yourself wont know that answer either. So its decided...your camping out in the Library."
"Nani?"
Kaname sat on the throne, his maroon eyes flickering across what seemed to be an endless crowd of maidens waiting to try on a single glass slipper. He had only sent out the Proclamation that morning and as night closed in so did a flock of dressed up woman between the ages of mid-twenties to sixteen. They had began to try on the slipper, each woman writing down their names in a large book and their city where they had come from. Most of the woman had come from the town and some from nearer towns.
Kaname suspected that through the week more maidens would come from farther cities and even countries if the Proclamation was heard that far. But the one thing that was really bothering Kaname was the disappearance of Sia Rie. No matter where they looked Aidou, Akatsuki, Ichijou and his other advisers could not find her. It was as if she had faded away from the Palace yesterday night.
"Kuran-Ouji sama, may we present Miss. Anna Renji and her daughter Makino Renji of the noble class." Ichijou said with a smile. It was taking Ichijou great effort to not grab the Prince by the collar and shake him awake. He was merely even present mental wise in the room. 'And he was the one who sent out this Proclamation.' Ichijou thought irritatingly to himself.
"Oh Kuran-Ouji I am here to present my daughter to you! Please meet my daughter Makino Renji! You know she was the Princess from yesterday, we couldn't find her glass slipper this morning! And what a surprise when they came to our house with a Proclamation stating that you found Makino's shoe!" Anna Renji babbled on and on. Kaname watched the mother flutter her lashes along with her eager daughter and felt his temper rise a bit.
"K-kuran-Oujo, is something wrong?" Anna asked in confusion. The Prince had been staring blankly at her daughter and her for a while now. Ichijou nudged Kaname with his hand and Kaname sat straighter.
"Miss. Anna Renji, correct? And this is your daughter Makino?" Kaname inquired.
Anna pressed her lips together and nodded eagerly. "Yes, and I was just saying Makino-"
"Please tell me something , do you and your daughter know which side of the shoe is missing?"
"The left side." Both mother and daughter answered together.
"That is incorrect. The glass slipper fits on the right side of the wearers feet. I'll give you another question. What initials are carved on the bottom of the glass slipper?"
"Well its obvious that the initials are M.R, it's my shoe." Makino said snootily with her arms crossed over her chest. She was getting annoyed, couldn't they just present the damn shoe already so she could fit her feet inside?
"Incorrect, which means the shoe does not rightfully belong to you Makino Renji. But you may try it on either way." Kaname said his voice slowly dripping with annoyance at the mother and daughter. Both were now silent feeling the small anger of the Prince. "Ichijou."
"Hai," Ichijou brought forth the glass slipper and gave a short bow to Makino. "If you'll please take the seat." Makino stiffly took the chair that stood in the middle of the large secondary ballroom. The chair was made of gold and the cushions were a dark maroon giving off the look of royalty. Anna bent down and hastily removed Makino's right sided shoe. How dare the Prince speak that way to her perfectly beautiful daughter! When the shoe fitted Anna was going to laugh in his face at how foolish he sounded.
Ichijou stooped down and held out the awaiting glass slipper. Makino cleared her throat loudly and making sure every other maiden in the room was watching her, she placed her foot inside the glass slipper. Except that it never made it in correctly. The shoe which looked to have fit Makino's foot now looked too tiny for her large foot.
"The shoe does not fit." Ichijou announced and carefully removed the shoe but was stopped when Makino grabbed his wrist.
"N-now wait a minute," Makino said her cheeks turning red, "I haven't tried it on yet."
"Unfortunately your foot didn't make it in which means that the shoe does not fit." Ichijou calmly stated back.
"Well you never gave me a chance so," Makino grabbed the shoe from Ichijou's hand, "it's still my turn." Anna crouched down by Makino and both mother and daughter tried to put the shoe on. But no matter how hard they pounded or shoved Makino's foot in the shoe it never fit. And somehow it also seemed that the shoe was slowly shrinking. Finally after Makino's foot was swollen did she give up and burst into tears and was dragged out with her also crying mother by a Knight.
And the same thing seemed to happen to every other maiden that night. If a maidens feet was too small the shoe would miraculously grow and if the foot was too large shrink. Kaname thought that the shoe was most particular and he thought to himself that the shoe would finally show its true size when fitted on the correct maiden. As they closed the gates and the last maidens left the Castle crying Kaname gave a sigh of relief. Who knew that this Glass slipper would cause him so much anxiety and trouble?
Tomorrow he would ask all the maids to come try on the shoe, which would mean Rie wouldn't have a chance to escape since he would be watching all the fittings.
Night had fully settled now as the lamps in the corridors and hallways began to light up. An aged woman wearing a purple Kinimoto embroidered with Cranes and Lilly pads slowly walked down the Eastern Corridors towards the Rose Garden. Her silvery black hair shined and her pale aged skin made her appear to glow through the night. Her lips were painted a bright red as to match her eyes. Noriko Kuran, grandmother of Kaname Kuran and mother of Haruka Kuran walked slowly lost in thought about the latest events that had happened.
Her Grandson's Nineteenth Birthday party went as well as she imagined it would, except for the interruptions during the Ballroom. What was bothering Noriko now was the Princess that had shown herself at the Party. Noriko hadn't really taken the time to notice the Hime-sama besides her beauty at the ballroom except for when she fled the dance before midnight did Noriko feel the flare of old aged power. A power she had not felt in such a long time. A what seemed to be a long lost blood line, the Sayuri's.
A prestigious Pure blood bloodline that had among the most gifted powers, to heal anyone or themselves. They could extract poison if the Pure blood was taught and could easily find an antidote. The Sayuri's were also the most kind and thoughtful although when threatened could release such a force that one would rather face ten crocodiles instead of one Sayuri.
Noriko frowned in thought. How could a Sayuri come to the ballroom? All of them had, if it was true, were gone besides the Grandmother Sayuri who was just as old and wise as Noriko. But the Hime-sama at the ball had their presence with her, she had the power surrounding her and it was such a rival against her grandsons she was even surprised. After the ballroom when Noriko had come back to the Palace, she had felt the presence of the Sayuri's in the Castle which made her even more surprised. Who was this Hime-sama and what was she doing in the Castle? Even if the presence was weakening Noriko could still sense it.
Unfortunately her grandson could not feel the presence which in Noriko's case, it would have been easier on Kaname's part if he could have focused on finding the presence. But her Grandson had only one clue from the mysterious Hime-sama, a glass slipper which emitted the strongest of the Sayuri's presence in the castle besides the faint glimmer flickering about. Noriko knew that presence that surrounded the glass slipper. The only one's presence that she could easily decipher. The person who had made that shoe who had passed away many years ago was none other than her daughter-in-laws best friend Masami Sayuri.
Noriko heaved a heavy sigh as she reached the Rose Garden. Masami Sayuri and Juri Kuran, two best friends whom made a promise with one another that would never be fulfilled. As Noriko sat down on the white marbled bench she saw a shadow shift in the dark.
"Oh! Gomen nasai!" A woman's voice said in the shadow. Noriko was not startled but widened her eyes a fraction when she saw who was in front of her. Sia Rie bowed lowly then stood up with a apologetic smile. "I didn't think anyone would be in the Rose Garden this late at night. If I startled you I sincerely apologize!"
Noriko couldn't help but smile at the silly girl. Who ever she was she seemed to be very interesting since Noriko could feel the small glimmer of Sayuri blood flow through her. "It's alright now child. I was hoping for company anyway. Would you like to sit next to me?" Noriko offered.
"Ooh..." Rie hesitated but then who could deny the elderly? "H-hai." Rie settled herself next to Noriko and gave a smile.
"So what brings you outside?" Noriko asked casually.
"Well I haven't seen the roses for awhile so I just felt like seeing them before I went off to bed."
"Do you work here?"
"Oh yes, I've been a maid here for a year now I suppose." Rie thought to herself counting the months off.
"I see, and what is your name dear?"
"Sia Rie."
"Well Miss. Sia Rie, I think that I will be seeing you very soon indeed." Noriko said trying to hide her smile. She stood up and Rie stood up with her.
"A-are you going? Would you like some help getting back to your room?" Rie offered.
"No, it's fine dear. Thank you for sitting with me though. I can get back just fine." Noriko said as she began to walk back inside.
Rie watched the grandmother walk back into the Castle and sat back down. She was a strange woman but she seemed genuinely nice. Rie looked up into the sky and inhaled the scents of roses around her. "Well I better get back before Yori throws a tantrum."
Noriko stood a while examining the girl before she began her walk down to her room. "So I see, she took her father's last name." Noriko whispered to herself with a smile.
Night seemed to fast forward too quickly for Rie's liking as she awoke to the knocking of the Library door. Whoever was outside sure didn't have any patience as the knocking increased rapidly. Kicking off her blankets Rie ran to the door and unlatched the lock.
"Yes?" Rie asked with arms crossed.
"Oh, your finally awake." Yori said as she brought in breakfast.
"Well I guess I can thank you for the rude awakening." Rie retorted as she followed Yori to the table that still had scrolls stacked up on it.
"I'm sorry if I woke you," Yori said with a bit of irritation in her voice, "but we have a situation here. And you won't like it one bit."
"Why?" Rie asked before she took a bite of the warm oatmeal.
Yori took a look at Rie and inhaled a deep breath,"Today Kaname has ordered every maid to go and try on the shoe...while he watches." Yori watched as Rie stopped chewing.
"N-nani?" Rie choked out.
"You heard me. So we have to pretend that your sick today or better yet Zero said he'll smuggle you down into the city." Yori mostly said to herself than Rie.
"B-but hasn't he tightened security so no one comes in or out?"
"That's true...hey! How did you know?"
"I eavesdropped on you and Aidou's conversation yesterday night Yo-chan." Rie said with a smirk.
Yori went a bit red but cleared her throat. "That's not the point. Point is that you cant go to the fitting and I, Zero, Yuuki and Hanabusa will make sure that your kept locked up in the Library alright? And no sudden urges to go exploring. We need you hidden."
"Hai, hai."
Chatter spilled like water throughout the secondary ballroom as the maids crowded around the chair and the glass table that held the velvet cushion and the glass slipper. Each maid was to wait their turn when their name was called by Aidou. Aidou whom secretly wished that he didn't have to do this called the next name of the maid. "Estuko Karin, please step forward." An eager brunette maid stepped out from the crowd and sat down onto the chair. Ichijou carefully slipped on the slipper but the slipper stopped half way as if it had grown too small for Karin's foot.
"Gomen, the shoe does not fit." Ichijou said with a kind smile.
Karin's face fell a bit and she gave a grim smile, "Well, I somehow knew it wouldn't fit." And with that Karin got up and left to go do her duties. Just like Karin all the maids were brimming with confidence that they were the one but they also brimmed with sadness and anger after they found out the shoe didn't fit.
"This must be some sick joke." One maid said as she stomped off and out of the room.
"I wonder who the shoe belongs to? Probably some noble." Another said sadly.
"Or, its one of us. That would be pretty cool actually." A red head suggested.
Kaname tapped his shoe impatiently as he scanned the crowd. There was no sign of Rie and Kaname gave a sigh. She wasn't coming or she has yet to come but Kaname would wait and see. 'Where on earth is that girl?'
"A-achoo!" Rie gave a small sneeze as she sat in the library. "This place is getting pretty stuffy in here..." Rie murmured to herself. Dusk had settled outside and she was beginning to become restless. Her legs wanted so badly to move, jump, dance but they couldn't. Rie had promised Yori that she would be a very good girl today. She exhaled in frustration and stretched out her arms and legs. She was beginning to wonder how long she would have to stay in the Library for. November was ending quickly and December would come.
"December eh? Kaname's crowning..." Rie whispered to herself. She had known that Kaname's crowning would be on the night of Christmas Eve. Rie felt a sudden rush of sadness as she placed down the scroll she had been reading. After the ball she hadn't even spoken a single word to him. How odd that she should still feel something towards him anymore.
"Urgh! Don't get so depressed Rie!" She said to herself as she shook her head to clear it. It would be awhile before she saw him become crowned and married to Ruka. Yes, for now her only problem was to find the connection between her mother and Juri-Kuran. 'If I can find it.' Rie thought to herself in frustration.
Feeling glum about her thoughts Rie reached into the pile searching randomly and pulled out a sealed scroll. Rie stared curiously at the scroll. Why out of all these opened scrolls that Yori had gone through, was this one still sealed? "There's one scroll that I can't open but it's probably just about the Treasury of the Castle, or so Aidou says," Rie remembered now what Yori had said.
"Hm...does it really not open," Rie asked to herself as she slowly peeled the red seal with two lions on it. The red seal came off easily enough but as she lifted the seal she felt a small warm breeze enter the room. Rie opened the scroll and began to read:
"Masami,
I am so happy to hear from you! It certainly has been too long my tomodachi! Masami do you remember our Promise from when we were younger? Now we can fully fulfill it! I have given birth to my Son Kaname Kuran and I heard you will soon have your child in the Winter time of Kisetu. When she is old enough for travel please come visit Haruka and I. We will be waiting till then along with the engagement agreement. I miss you Tomodachi,
Much Love,
Jurri Kuran"
She stopped breathing...
"So Rie Sayuri, you have found the scroll." Startled Rie stood up and knocked over her chair to the floor. Standing in front of her was the Oba-chan from the Rose Gardens from yesterday night.
"R-rie Sa-sayuri?" Rie stuttered confusingly.
"I knew that one day you would discover this. I would have thought that Masami had explained the engagement in the letter enclosed to you, but she must have not wanted you to be even more confused about yourself since you know so little." Noriko said with a calm expression.
"What does this mean?" Rie asked. She felt as if her head was spinning. Her mother was Jurri-Oujo's best friend? What engagement? And with Kaname?
"This will take a while child. Please take a seat." Noriko said as she slowly went over and picked up the fallen chair and pushed it towards Rie. She felt as if she would faint as she collapsed in the chair Noriko had handed her.
"I don't understand..." Rie whispered.
"It is a long story for anyone to understand. But here is the beginning. Masami Sayuri and Jurri Kuran where as close as sisters. They shared everything with one another. This was when the alliances with the other Kingdoms were well on their way to peace. But the alliances broke and Masami Sayuri had to move back to her kingdom, but before she left Jurri and Masami made a promise. If either of them had children of the opposite sex they would be engaged with one another to keep the peace between the Sayuri's and the Kuran's. Then Kaname was born and two months later you were born. Both their wishes came true. But due to Haruka's death in the war Jurri grew sicker with grief and your mother had also lost your father Rie. Masami had incredible powers to heal anything but it was also a burden on her fragile body and she was reaching her limit.
The aftermath when Masami had lost her sense we could not find you and simply put that you had died. No one except the one servant that got away survived. So the engagement could not continue but suddenly after ten years here is the Heiress to the Sayuri Kingdom who met up with her engaged to be and fell in love. Who would have expected such fate?" Noriko asked.
Rie was silent then spoke, "W-we cant, I mean I can't do this. This must be some mistake! I mean I know that I'm the Princess of the Sayuri Kingdom but to be engaged from birth and to find one another again. That's just-"
"It is fate," Noriko said sternly. "through all your life you have faced tasks after tasks to reach here. Fate and destiny has brought you here to this one place where you have meet my grandson and fallen in love with him."
"I can't love him! Hes Ruka's, what can I do-"
"There is no such thing as Can't in this world. If Can't existed then the world would be nothing. Listen to me Rie...Love can only find us once. When you've found the one you love, hold onto him, because even if you find someone else you will never be able to give that other person yourself whole. It'll be in bits and pieces. So the choice is yours, and please use it wisely." Noriko said as she patted Rie's hand and stood up and left.
"Love can only find us once...The choice is yours, and please use it wisely..."
Suddenly Rie could not stay in the Library, she felt stuffed and locked up. Opening the door Rie stepped out and walked away from the Library as she rounded the corner she stopped in her tracks. Standing in front of her with intense maroon eyes was Kaname Kuran.
Her heart thumped wildly in her throat as she stared into his eyes. "Rie..." Kaname said quietly.
'Break the connection, break it Rie!' Rie teared her eyes from his and looked down at the floor with all her strength.
"Why weren't you at the fitting?" Kaname asked.
"I was cleaning the library." Rie said adding a mental slap to her brain. 'Cleaning the Library?'
"I-i heard you found your true love at the Ball." Rie spoke with out thinking as her eyes widened in surprise.
"...hai..." Kaname kept watching her trying to catch her eyes with his but she would not look at him.
"Congratulations..." Rie whispered as she walked passed him. Kaname watched her go and for once he didn't have a response to give her.
FIN! Okay I know you all want to slaughter me but Summer has been hectic since I work two jobs now! Yay! More money but less time to update! This is the second to last chapter of Like Cinderella, the next time I post it will be the very LAST one. So please check up on it! I'm also starting on my next story which may be out in September! If you have anything regarding Rie and Kaname's relationship or anything in general feel free to PM me!
Loving all you WONDERFUL READERS AND REVIEWERS
Lena :E