'Ocean shimmer
Sapphire tears from the abloom
Beauty
From a world beyond
Where tears are blue
Blood
And heart
Is blue
Perhaps
The world will be blue too
Ocean shimmer
Sapphire tears
Why does the rose wilt?
If it is sown to be
Immortal?'

Hakumei sang atop a hill, reaching as high a pitch as her voice would allow. She was dressed in a silver and white Victorian gown that was decorated in blue rose petals. A garden of willows surrounded her and blue roses were strewn in the ground. She gazed down at the horizon as her song reached the highest pitch. In a somewhat operatic scream, she stopped singing. A menacing shadow spilled over the land. Fear evident in her eyes, she began running into the willow and rose garden.

"Hakumei, koibito," that voice…that horrible, taunting voice…"Where are you koibito?"

Hakumei stopped running. His voice was getting clearer and clearer. A dark figure appeared and stood before her.

"Ah!" they cried triumphantly, "I have found what I've lost and so desired."

Hakumei shook as the figure approached her. Karl stepped out of the shadows with a wicked smile. He was not wearing his usual kimono and was instead favoring his Phantom attire.

"I have come for one last duet, my koibito," he purred.

Raising his hand, he unhooked his cape, letting it fall carelessly to the ground. He then began shedding his remaining clothes as he neared her. Hakumei backed away, her back hitting a tree as she tried to put more distance between them. He was now in nothing but his mask and was otherwise bare. Setting his right hand on her face, he used the other to untie her dress. It soon joined his clothes as it fell to the ground seconds later. Closing her eyes to him, she tried to cover her bare chest—she was now naked as well.

"Iie!" she begged.

After she got that one 'Iie' out, all she could then manage were gibberish whimpers. That smirk evident on his handsome face, Karl leaned in, after setting his left hand on her cheek, and tried to kiss her. Hakumei denied and tears began pouring from her wide, trembling eyes. Her eyes began to glow; her body begging for her mate. Smirking, Karl leaned in close to her ear.

"Daijobu, koibito," he purred, "You do not need to be afraid. I've already had you in my bed."

He kissed her, and held her hips still as he plunged into her. Hakumei screamed horribly—it was as though he were tearing her body in two. After a moment he began moving a little. He increased his speed, not caring if he was hurting her when he pounded her frail body into the bark. After several long moments—which felt like days of torture to Hakumei—he came, driving his fangs into her neck and marking her as his again. She fell to the ground after he pulled out of her, sweaty, bloody, panting and weeping. Karl proceeded in gathering his clothes while Hakumei lay on the ground weeping and bare. Turning to her again Karl brandished a dagger covered in crimson. The scent of blood filled the air. It was a recognizable scent too…Hakumei's eyes widened—Saya's blood? With that awful smirk, he stabbed her in the stomach, relishing in her cries of pain as he killed, not only her, but the children still growing within her. She writhed in pain for a moment of two, before eventually lying completely still on her back, her hands by her head. Bright, crimson cracks lined her body, beginning from her eyes and trailing down her cheeks not unlike tears.

"Doshite?" she sobbed before she completely crystallized.

Another figure ran into the clearing and gasped when she saw Hakumei crumbling, a look of betrayal shining in her eyes glazing over with white as they stared at Kirei. Kirei glared at Karl.

"What the hell did you do to her?!?!" she screamed before running at him; the intent to kill evident in her eyes.

She was held back by the thorny veins of the roses as they tied around her.

"Such a beautiful blue rose…" Karl mused aloud as he stared down at the crystals that were once his lover, "A beautiful blue rose that I plucked from the garden, and used to plant my seed. It is sad that my beloved rose wilted and her beauty strayed," he turned to Kirei, "So I took what I desired and in return I granted my lovely rose something so sweet that she could not deny; I gave her a loving farewell and deliverance."

He laughed wickedly as he then flew away into the night. Hakumei, though she had no true body anymore, sobbed. She was still somewhat aware of the people around her…She felt warmth. Wait…weren't you supposed to feel cold when you died? Weren't you supposed to be numb and not feel anything for that matter? What was happening…?


With a start, Hakumei awoke and sat up straight, her eyes wide with fear.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" she heard Nathan ask beside her.

She glanced to him questioningly before it all came back to her. The night before, Nathan had been so worried about her psyche that he demanded to Amshel that he let her sleep in his quarters. Reluctantly Amshel agreed, particularly after Nathan threatened him with the same threat he'd voiced to Karl, and let her stay with her savior. With a shaky hand, she held a hand over her mouth and tried to clam down.

"I-Iie…" she shook, "D-Daijobu."

"Oh, something's wrong," Nathan scoffed, "Did you have another nightmare or something?"

Hakumei looked away.

"I'll take that as a yes…" Nathan sat up and placed a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay. He can't hurt you while I'm here watching you. Please, go back to sleep."

Hakumei nodded fearfully and lay back down. However, she couldn't let herself sleep. Not with the images of that terrible nightmare still fresh in her mind.

A few hours earlier…

"Amshel!" Karl growled, "why won't my koibito be joining me in bed tonight?! And why have you forbidden me from making love to her?!"

"I give you permission to have intercourse with her, "Amshel countered, "after the children are born. This stress is also weighing too heavily on her mind. If your children are harmed either way, I'm afraid there'll be hell to pay on your part. Those babies will be useful when she's given birth. I want no mistakes. Do you understand?"

Karl's eyes began to glow red and his hand was beginning to morph.

"I understand," he snarled through gritted teeth, "but I would prefer that my koibito sleep in my bed. I have taken her innocence and therefore I have the power to make her mine; forever. I am now the one who is to decide where she sleeps and whom she lies with!"

"Relax Karl," Amshel replied calmly, "This is only temporary and will only last a few days so she can feel less stressed and at ease. After which, she will be sent back to you and you will wait for further instructions.

Karl glared and turned on his heel. Despite her absence from his bed, he would make her suffer tonight…


The next morning Hakumei awoke the way she had her first night there; alone in Nathan's large bed and with breakfast waiting on the nightstand. She ate quickly and then made her way to the room she shared with Karl hesitantly. All of her dresses that she wore in the day were in his room. Shaking, she cautiously ventured inside. She doubted he cared anymore if she bothered knocking, and it was technically her room as well…She grabbed a dress he'd set out for her to wear that day; a white, loose-fitting sundress that came to her knees. It was pleated near her mid thigh and had thin straps. It also showed the blue corset underneath and was complimented well with a light blue scarf. Hakumei sighed at the choice, but turned quickly and hurriedly made her way to the bathroom; momentarily forgetting that she could have just as well ran to Nathan's private bathroom to wash up. She went through her normal routine and, afterwards, leaned against the wall next to her tiredly. After that nightmare, she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep…She closed her eyes and let the water wash over her. The water stopped hitting her, but continued to run. Warm hands met her waist and pushed her back against the tiles. Hakumei's eyes shot open as Karl's lips met hers in a lasting kiss. When had he come in? Were her senses really so dull? He teased her by pretending to enter her. She stared up at him miserably as he kissed her neck and ran his hands along the curves of her body.

"Iie!" she sobbed.

"Oh kobito," he chuckled, driving her against the wall with the pressure of his caresses and making her back dig into the bathroom tiles.

She heard a sickening crack, but Karl would not cease. Of course this monster wouldn't care if she might be hurt…

"Beg me!" he growled into her ear, inhaling the fruity scent of the shampoo she'd used, "Beg me to be gentle! Beg me to take you again and make you mine!"

"Iie!!" she shouted, trying to push him away.

Karl's eyes darted to the door. He felt the presence of another Chevalier; Nathan! Damn. After a quick peck on the lips, he vanished in a flash of blue, leaving Hakumei to sob alone as the hot water started spilling over her once again. She heard a knock on the door and looked up slowly.

"Oi, sweetie," Nathan cried outside, "Are you alright? I heard crying! Is something wrong?"

"Iie," Hakumei replied in a shaky voice, "I just fell asleep in the shower a little and stepped on a razor. I'm alright now though and I'll be out soon."

Nathan seemed to buy it, because she then heard his footsteps echo away from the door. She stood warily and painfully and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her body. She stepped out and quickly dried herself off. Reaching for her clothes, with the towel still tight around her waist, her breath hitched in her throat as Karl reappeared as quickly as he'd gone and locked the door. He was now dressed in his kimono, and was unknowingly reminding Hakumei that she was still quite bare...With bloodlust in his cold eyes, he wrapped his arms around her waist and right shoulder.

"Koibito," he breathed, "How tasty you look in this light."

He moved nearer her neck. "I long to taste the blood of our children."

Hakumei's eyes grew wide as he then bit deep into her neck. As he fed, she began to think of her children when they were born. Would they be killed or…or what? What would happen to them? He pulled away from her neck as he finished feeding and licked the blood droplets from her flesh.

"Koibito," he hissed into a demanding voice, "meet me in the garden to make love. This way," she could hear the smirk in his voice, "Amshel would not know…"

"I-Iie!!" she cried, trying to push him away.

Karl sighed and held her closer.

"You are my property," he growled, "my concubine and I wish to have intercourse with you in the garden's tree labyrinth; where the blue roses are bloom sp beautifully…"

"Iie!!" she denies again, "Nathan said that Amshel had forbidden further acts of intercourse! You can't do this!"

Karl rolled his eyes. "Daijobu," he replied, "What Amshel doesn't know won't hurt him…or me…"

Karl glared down at his cell phone that annoyingly went off at the worst times and answered in an irritated voice.

"Nani?" he replied, disgruntled.

His eyes widened and he stared, shocked, into space. He hung up without speaking and smirked down at Hakumei.

"I have wonderful news, koibito," he purred, "It seems that your friend and my beloved Saya have returned. Perhaps I'll take you to see them if you behave for me."

Hakumei shivered against him as he moved closer.

"Now," his voice lost all seduction as he hissed venomously into her ear, "I want you to meet me in the garden to make love again."

"Iie!!" Hakumei sobbed, trying to push him away, "Nathan!!"

His hand clamped over her mouth roughly, quickly silencing her.

"I'll see you later tonight," he growled before disappearing yet again.

Moments later, Nathan burst in.

"Why were you screaming sweetie?" he asked, breathless.

"A-Anou…" she replied between sobs, "I'm feeling a little ill…"

Nathan looked relieved. "Well then let's get you some rest," he advised, "Amshel said that you will be staying with me for a while anyway."

He waited in the bathroom in case she needed him again, turning away while she dressed, and then led her back to his room where she'd be staying.