Hello everyone! How're you all? Fine, I guess?

At first, Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim friends in . Let's celebrate this holy month with our utmost devotion, loyalty and prayers, hoping that the pandemic would reach an end very soon and also that all our good wishes are fulfilled. :)

Secondly, thanks so much to Golden Glow of Amber, ILoveMySweetIndia, sakurasato56 and Cutetyhil for reviewing. Your love and affection for me and this fic are enough to make me update this. It really means a lot :)

Then, let's come to the guest reviewer who didn't get tired expressing his/her sheer hatred for me and my fics through reviewing, taking his/her precious time every time even though s/he claims that my fics are totally wasting of time (Wow, double-identity disorder, isn't it? So cool! *_*). Or...may I call it hypocrisy? Anyways, since I'm fasting today, I'm not going to kick an abandoned roadside pebble, I guess. Dear hater, you can keep hating me and my fics, no problem. Trust me, I wasn't tired while deleting 15 reviews. But dear, why are you destroying the images of my dear readers? Why are you bashing my sweet Dew-chan? (Should I publish the screenshots so that everyone chases you with shoes? No problem, I won't that XD). Anyways, let's leave you. That's what is done with an abandoned roadside pebble *Sighs*

So, as I was saying, a droplet of hatred can do nothing to the ocean of love and affection. As always, I'm really indebted and grateful to my precious little sisters and friends here. Love you all *Gives you a group-hug*

However, here remains the next chapter. Reading it, you cannot forgive me ever, I guess. Yet, continue ;)

Enlightening the nocturnal sky of Russia, crushing under the dense darkness, the finesse of the round, silvery moon was covering the forest with its soft intoxication. The jade and tangerine leaves of the maple trees of Russia were bathing in the tender moonlight. The tall trees were watching the alluring queen of the night, adorning their imaginary eyes with surprise and admiration for her and the necklace made of the bunch of stars hanging round her neck. The leaflets were quivering as the cold gusts of typical Russian wind were colliding with them. Sometimes, two or three night-birds were flying across the dark blue in the direction of the moon. Tearing the stable silence of the night, in every two or three minutes, wolves were howling, standing on the icy peaks.

A pair of golden chariots from where the white-red flags of Nippon were waving, passed through the narrow jungle street, severing the rushing air. The first one was being driven by the dragoon-wielder, his ponytail flurrying back along with the bangs on his forehead. His teeth were clenched, fingers were firmly clutching the ropes with which the stallions were tied to the carriage. He never went so hard on the poor animals but unexpectedly, he was seeming so furious on that day. He was literally whipping the stallions as the beasts were galloping fast. He was so fast that the next charioteer, having blond-hair, was literally struggling to get a hold of him. The purple-haired princess gulped, seeing his audacity.

"Ty…Tyson, relax," She mumbled while maintaining her balance on the carriage running through the craggy forest path, "Don't need to be so fast."

"No Dew, after that scary nightmare, I cannot remain slow," Tyson's hands didn't leave the reins, "I…I am feeling so worried about Hilary."

The violet-head sighed. Tomorrow, it would be the wedding reception of the newly wedded couples in Russia. For it, they had started for the icy kingdom along with their parents and elders right in the dawn, before the sunrise. After sunset, they'd decided to set camp in the Russian forest, not much far from the royal castle of the empire and to continue their journey in the next morning. Because of tiredness of such a long journey, they all had got exhausted and fallen asleep, consequently. Abruptly, the navy-haired guy had woken up with a scream and started for the Russian castle, not informing the elders about it. The young people had seen him going. Thus, they accompanied him, much to his unwillingness.

"Don't worry, Tyson," The draciel-wielder voiced from behind, "Hilary will be alright."

"But Max…" Mariam sounded a bit tensed, "The forest environment…it is seeming strange and a tad scary, isn't it?"

"Says who?" The American taunted his ladylove, "The girl who teased me for feeling strange in a Japanese forest before a few months? Mariam, I thought you were brave enough."

"Mariam is right, Max," The orangette supported her friend, "The native forest in daylight and the night jungle of a foreign land aren't same, you know. If Tyson didn't have the map and you would have to lead the way, you could know how it feels."

"Looks like we should have brought Michael along with us," The blonde made a face, "Or Ozuma."

"Don't speak like an idiot, dear," Mariam objected with a flirty tone, "We couldn't keep our elders unguarded. If all came, who would protect them?"

"Will you all shut up for a while?" The navy-haired commander gritted his teeth, "I'm not having a good feeling about this."

"Sharp!"

Only for proving Tyson's ill feelings right and just, a bunch of arrows diagonally landed right before the chariots, obstructing their way through creating a barrier. Flapping the reins of the stallions, the bluentte somehow braked the carriage. The purple-haired rider almost clasped his neck for maintaining her balance, leaning forward all of a sudden to prevent her fall from the chariot. The dragoon-wielder gasped. Leaving the girdles, he asked, "Are you okay, Dew?"

"I am," Flushing, she got down from the carriage, "Thank you."

"Mention not." Chuckling, the navy-haired guy descended too as everyone landed from the second chariot. Bowing down, Tyson picked up an arrow and checked it. No, he'd seen both Russian and Japanese arrows in the duels back in Japan. It didn't belong to either of these kingdoms. Besides, the technique of creating a barrier of arrows to obstacle someone's way was also pretty peculiar to him. Getting up, he blurted, "Who dared obstruct our way? Come out!"

"Hahaha!"

In return, a blood-freezing, creepy laughter echoed in the forest. Shivering, the purple-haired girl clutched the arm of her lover. The other two girls were also a bit petrified but didn't show it before the hyperactive blonde. Screwing his brows, the boys started examining the atmosphere. Noticing some rattling behind a bush, Max lifted his javelin and flung it right there, not giving the intruder a chance to come out. Nothing came out from there, except a muffled scream. Everyone hurried in that direction.

A dead body it was, wearing black and white attires of a soldier. The young people recognized that he was a Chinese by his outfits as Max pulled out the lance from the back of the corpse. Tyson kneeled down to check and find out any other sign which could help him know more about the sudden assault on them and the exact reason. Dew and Emily decided to help him, kowtowing beside him. Max was standing a bit far from them, searching for more enemies around, facing his blue-haired girlfriend. Abruptly, the leafy eyes of the latter got widened as she screamed, "Max!"

The American looked back and discovered the trooper who was intending to assault him with a combat knife. Not wasting much time, he lifted his javelin horizontally and blocked the attack, throwing the attacker far behind and letting his head get smashed with a rock littered on the ground. Tyson grabbed his bow and quiver of arrows, wasting no moment. Max gathered the girls at a place and penetrated the soil before them with the tip of his long Japanese spear. A gentle purple light spread around them cylindrically, thus, creating an invisible wall of safety with quite a large diameter and height, impregnable from outside. The female blunette insisted, "I could have assisted you, Max."

"Thanks, Mari," The blonde smirked, "But now, it isn't needed."

"Shameless fools!" Tyson yelled, raising his bow with an arrow attached to its string, "How dare you attack us stealthily? Come out and fight!"

The aggressors didn't pay any heed to the words of the dragoon-wielder, but their arrows did. They started displaying themselves, springing from all the directions like the streams of a marble fountain, behind the ghostly trees surrounding them. Their blades were so flashing that they enlightened the night sky. Tyson's face got stiffed, he started launching his projectiles one by one to stop the motion of the dashing arrows towards them. Max was swaying his javelin in a savage speed, flinging the attacking missiles away. Specially, the horizontal whirl created by the spear above his head was so strong that no arrow could come in the limit of two feet from the draciel-wielder. Because of the barbs shot by the dragoon-wielder, many Chinese soldiers were losing their lives. Their muffled wincing was entering the ears of the fighting duo from Japan. The dragoon-wielder was not less aggressive than they. Whereas, Max was only protecting the hardcore defense, not letting anyone be injured. The eyes of the girls lit up. Indeed, they were the best defense-attack duo in Japan.

Almost all the arrows were flung back by them. But the dragoon-wielder was so absorbed in killing the attackers that he didn't notice that one more Chinese barb was heading in his direction. Anytime, it could pierce the neck of the navy-haired guy. The girls screamed by his name, widening their eyes. Completing another successful launch, the male blunette looked behind but too late it was. The horrified screeches of the young ladies filled the environment.

"Shoosh!"

Tyson gave a shocked stare at his blonde friend who had shielded him just then, getting his own shoulder gouged by the arrowtip, thus, taking a risk of his life only to save his blunette friend. Quickly, the navy-haired guy caught the back of his friend in his arms whose eyes were on the verge of getting closed. The hyperactive American was clenching his teeth in sheer pain of his shoulder from where fresh blood was dripping. Pressing the wound, Tyson pulled out the arrow from it as more blood gushed out, along with a painful gasp escaping from the throat of his friend. His eyes sensed weighty; he was about to fall back but couldn't because of the dragoon-wielder.

Mariam's eyes were wider at the scene, she screamed by the name of her lover and intended to go to him, crossing the limit and rushing like a crazy gust of wind. Emily and Dew followed her as Tyson placed Max's head on his lap, intending to pose the wound at a bit higher position in order to stop excessive bleeding. Mariam knelt down beside him, calling him loudly by his name again and again. While she was a part of her kimono sleeves and trying to bandage the wound, waterworks were painting her cheeks. Emily started searching for herbs around and consoling the blunette, thus assuring her at the same time. Seeing no other job to do, Dew decided to inform it to the soldiers, getting back to the tents.

"No, Dew," Tyson shook his head, "Don't go there. They'll get worried."

"Then?" Dew's eyes were sparkling, "How will we save Max ni-san? His wound is serious!"

"Don't worry," The orangette got back with some lavender flowers and other herbs, "Along with weapons, I brought some treatment stuffs along with me. They are in the carriage."

Dew rushed to the chariots. Clutching the hand of the half-conscious American, Mariam pressed her forehead against his fingers. She wasn't loud but Max could feel the touch of her warm tears on his skin. Her shoulders were also convulsing. Somehow, lifting a hand, the draciel-wielder wiped her tears, shaking his head and silently mumbling her, not to cry. Whether his words were heard by the world or not, it couldn't be guessed but the female blunette nodded, rubbing her eyes and giving a faint smile to assure her boyfriend that everything would be alright. Tyson gave a light beam to the couple but already his mind was overcast with the clouds of anxiety. He understood that his nightmare wasn't meaningless or not just a mere dream. Silently, he prayed for Kai and Hilary so that everything could be okay with them.

The purple-haired princess returned with the medical stuffs, along with another arrow around which a white scroll was wrapped. Not noticing it, Emily started making medicines, taking the goods from Dew's hands. Tyson screwed his brows at the missile, "Dew, what's this?"

"When I was bringing the bandages and other things from the chariot, I found this," Dew replied, "I think there's something important written on the scroll."

As Emily and Mariam were treating Max's wound, Tyson unfolded the document. A few words were written there:

"If you are still alive, don't try to proceed. Soon, I'll meet you in China, with my Illuminative Draciel.

Sincerely,

Jim Zagart."

"Illu…illuminative Draciel?" The scroll dropped from Tyson's hands as he was dumbfounded, "What's this?"

"Actually…" Emily replied to Tyson's question, "It's the illusory version of Draciel, Max's sacred spirit. It was created from Draciel's reflection, to be precise-through some evil magic. Currently, it's residing in China."

"Coward they are!" Tyson gritted his face, "At first, they attacked on us without showing their faces and now, they are trying to threaten us? Never! No matter what happens, we will reach Russia tonight! Max, how're you feeling now?"

"Good a bit," He tried to sit up, "I guess."

"No problem," Mariam squeezed his back, "I'll drive the chariot. You take rest."

"Thanks, Mari…" With the help of the blunettes, he stood up. Emily was an excellent physician, thanks to her skills, the blonde was feeling much better. Riding the chariots, they started for the Russian castle. Though the obstructions from their path were removed, still, Tyson was having ominous feelings. Why had the Chinese battalion attacked on them? Why had prince Jim challenged them? Actually, why had he come there? What was their motive? Were the Chinese having any battle against Russia? He couldn't even properly put his concentration in driving the chariot. Dew understood how he was feeling, so she didn't complain too.

After crossing several meters, Tyson had to stop the chariot again. This time, it was not any obstruction. Rather, there were two men-dressed in the golden and silver armors of warriors. Both of them were scarred, exhausted, mentally disturbed-specially the scarlet-haired one. Blood was trickling from the shallow wounds on their forehead, arms and neck. Yet, they were running-right in the direction where the navy-haired guy was driving his carriage. But what the most important thing was that those two men weren't unfamiliar to the Japanese people at all. Frowning and jumping from the four-wheeled vehicle, Tyson screamed, "Kai! Tala!"

The Russians halted for a while, casting a surprised look at the dragoon-wielder. All the Japanese young people rushed towards them. Grabbing the shoulders of the phoenix-prince without caring, the male blunette asked worriedly, "You both okay?"

"We're…" Kai panted, it was easily understood that he was tired, "But…this time is not for wasting, Tyson…"

"Why?" Tyson's brows almost touched his forehead, "What happened?"

"China has waged a battle against us," Tala replied, "And…"

"Let that battle go to hell!" Kai darkly snapped, gnashing his jaw, "It was only a trick!"

"Kai, Tala…" The blunette spoke, "Look, I cannot understand anything. Can anyone tell me clearly what is actually going on here?"

"Well…" The wolf-prince huffed.

Flashback:

The hooves of the white stallion smit the ground as the redhead riding it firmly possessed the girdle. His sharp ocean-blue eyes were placed forward, face was wearing a serious expression. Though his heart was beating fast, worrying for his sister-in-law who had been left alone in the royal garden of Russia, he was determined to save his cousin. Not only because the brunette had ordered him to do so, but also it was his consecrated duty. The cold flurries of the icy kingdom were passing through his blood-red bangs; yet, he was sweating hard, worried and nervous. Closing his eyes, he prayed so that everything could be okay, hoping so.

However, his hope didn't become fulfilled as he discovered it, reaching the battleground. The dead bodies of Russian soldiers were scattered everywhere-just like the sand in a desert. The surface of the field was thirstily sucking the blood from the fallen corpses as if it hadn't had a single bead of water in its life ever. Dried crimson liquid of life painted the shimmering snowflakes scarlet; they were glowing like rubies. The trees around the area were also completely bald; showering their offerings in the honor of the martyrs silently. A few stallions were neighing which was resonating across the arena, heaving the heart of the wolf-prince. Swords, shields, broken arrows, torn strings of bows were littering everywhere, being the sign of a complete devastation.

But what bothered the redhead the most was his cousin, brokenly, devastatingly, kneeling down on the ground at the center. His cloths were tattered, skin was scarred in a lot of places. The lips were bearing the dried stains of blood. His favorite weapons were still intact but his horse was out of the sight. He was tired as if he'd fought a very tough and deadly battle, all alone. Breaths were abnormally rapid; his whole body was drenched in cold sweat. Even his scarf was also ripped in some spots, tainted with blood in a few places. Smoky bangs were covering his amethysts; his shoulders were convulsing. Yet, hands didn't leave the bow and the quiver. Tala couldn't bear the sight for much longer. Getting down, he hurried towards his cousin.

"Kai!" He helped the phoenix-prince stand up, "What happened? You okay?"

"V…victory…" He wheezed, pointing his finger at the mess, "At this cost."

"Hey, this is not the time to discuss these things," Tala spoke, "Why were you screaming by the names of me and sister-in-law? What happened?"

Wheeling his face to his cousin, the slate-haired guy frowned. He…had been screaming? When? Oh, when Ian, Spencer and Bryan had been wounded, he'd shouted and ordered the soldiers to transfer them to safer place but it hadn't been supposed to be hard from the garden of the Russian castle. Besides, never had he uttered the names of Hilary or Tala when he'd been fighting against the invisible and illusory attacks of illuminative Dranzer.

"I…I screamed by your name?" Kai was confused.

"Yes, both I and sister-in-law heard them very clearly," Tala nodded, "Actually, sister-in-law herself sent me here, she was worrying so much for you."

"But…" The phoenix-prince glowered sternly, "You were supposed to stay with Hilary!"

"Yeah…" Tala lowered his head, "I'm sorry, Kai, but I couldn't ignore the anxiety of sister-in-law, it wasn't invalid, you know."

"Tala…" Kai held his shoulders, "You know what it means?"

"What?"

"My assumption was not wrong at all," His voice was dangerously dark, "It was only a trap…"

Suddenly, he turned back from the battlefield and started running towards the castle, leaving his cousin behind. Baffled, the wolf-prince yelled, "Kai!"

"This is not the time to stop for a single moment, Tala!" He voiced, "We have badly been cheated in this battle! Hilary is alone and she is not safe at all! We have…we have to save her!"

"Sure!" Wasting no moment, the redhead followed his brother. In the way, they clashed with many Chinese soldiers who were, surely, hindering the Russian princes but they fought against the Chinese, gaining injuries, yet, not caring. At that time, only the safety of the precious crown-princess of Russia was the prime concern of the brothers.

Flash forward:

"Done?" Kai huffed, "Let's go now!"

Ignoring the existence of the Japanese guests, both the Russians started running in the same speed that they'd gained before a while. Tyson, Dew, Max, Mariam and Emily also didn't waste their time, following the phoenix-prince and the wolf-prince. Tyson's heart started pounding hard as he heard that his best friend, the precious princess of Japan, was in danger. He slapped his forehead as he realized that they had also been framed, guessing the actual reason behind being attacked by the Chinese soldiers in the midway. Though he badly wanted to stay strong, tears started brimming in his eyes.

'Please, Hilary, hold on for a while…' He murmured, 'We all will rescue you.'

The moon was still in the mid-sky of Russia, enlightening the beautiful garden of the palace. The petals were opening themselves up to the lenient, soothing beams of the silvery moon but the chocolate-haired crown-princess wasn't getting peace even from these ethereal sights in front of her eyes. Before a long time, her husband had gone to the battlefield, against prince Goki Zagart. Only for saving and accompanying him, her most trustworthy brother-in-law had left too. She was confined in the invisible wolf-line which, by fits and starts, was emitting very faint blue light. The screeches of the warriors and the collision of the metal weapons couldn't be heard anymore. That, in way or another, was tensing her more. Sitting on the cradle in lotus pose, she was trying to meditate so that she could decrease the pressure of anxiety and ill-feelings from her brain.

"Hail princess Hilary Tachibana Hiwatari, the crown-princess of Russia!"

Hearing the sudden jubilation by her name, the brunette shot her eyes open. Outside the wolf-line, an old man was standing, clad in a long, full-sleeved black gown which used to be worn by the sages and priests of temples. A white shawl was wrapped around his shoulders. His facial expression was calm, saintly. He was walking with the support of a long cane whose top possessed a bright amethyst. Frowning, Hilary got down from the swing and proceeded. Not crossing the limit, she gently bowed towards the sage which was approved by the latter.

"Oh great sage," She greeted him, "Who are you?"

"I'm sage Vladimir, princess," He answered, "A messenger of prince Hiwatari."

"Messenger…of Hiwatarian?" Hilary cocked an eyebrow, getting restless, "What…what did Hiwatarian say? Is he okay?"

"I'm feeling afraid to say, princess," The sage bit his lips, "But prince Hiwatari and prince Valkov have been badly injured due to the intense battle. Their condition is serious now. Prince Hiwatari has wanted to see you."

The heart of the brunette skipped a beat. Extending her orbs, she covered her mouth and stepped back, flinching. The news was seeming unbelievable to her. How…how could Hiwatarian…her Hiwatarian have lost it? Specially when had her brothers-in-law and other great warriors of Russia been with him? In her groom-choosing ceremony, he had singlehandedly defeated Tyson along with his Dragoon; that'd been also when the blunette had been possessed by such a strong sorceress. In comparison with Tyson, Goki should have been an infant, shouldn't he? Then how had it happened?

"What are you thinking, princess?" The priest was seeming impatient, "You shouldn't waste your time here. Let's go there before it's too late."

"Pardon me, great sage…" Hilary tried to control herself, "But I'm finding it hard to believe your words. Hiwatarian is the best warrior of Russia. Goki Zagart, the wielder of the reflection of Dranzer, can never do anything to him! I don't believe that he's been injured by Goki!"

"I knew that you wouldn't believe me," He made a hissing sound, pulling out a circular object from the pocket of his outfit, "Here it remains, his royal seal. Even after it, if you don't believe me, I'm sorry, your Highness, I don't think I'll be able to do anything else for you. Maybe, prince Hiwatari was so unfortunate that he got a haughty and arrogant wife like you who couldn't even come to him at this deathbed!"

That pierced the heart of the brunette like arrows. The blood-streaked image of the phoenix-prince in her groom-choosing ceremony drifted before her eyes. At that time, she'd been feeling like losing a piece of her heart. She couldn't perceive the same sensation once again. Totally forgetting the promise that she'd given to the wolf-prince, she wiped her tears and ran outside as the faint blue light got smothered. Her feet were moving but all of a sudden, she felt a tuck at the edge of her gown as if someone had locked it to the ground. Pondering, she looked back, finding the fringe of her bottom and the surface of the garden pierced by a sword. There was the sage…

Nope, the person standing before her wasn't the same sage. Instead of him, a creepy purple-haired man was there. He was also wearing a black overcoat over his olive-green gown; head possessed a crown made of thrones and black crystals. Vicious purple eyes were visible through the gaps of his eye-mask. His teeth flickered in the darkness; shinier than the moon. He was laughing violently; his whole body was shaking in the rhythm of his laughter. Hilary screwed her brows, not understanding what kind of joke it was. Before she could protest and feel what was actually happening around her, the violet-haired man rushed towards her and grabbed her soft wrist tightly, pulling her closer. She shrilled, not expecting it to happen.

"Who…who are you?" Fear was evident in her voice though she was trying her best to be stern, "And how dare you touch me?!"

"Boris Balkov, the emperor of underground," He exulted, "Can dare do anything in this world!"

A cold current passed through the spine of the brunette. Before it, she'd heard that creepy name a lot in her life. Each time she'd heard, she'd turned her face away in sheer hatred, only wanting the doom of the eggplant. However, never had she imagined that she'd get to meet the creep in her life ever. Realizing that she was scared, Boris smirked and exhaled through his lips which resulted in the blowing off the georgette veil of the princess from her head.

"You audacious!" Hilary scuffled against his hold, "You want to capture the lioness being a jackal?! You want to confine the fire in your garments? You think you can do this? Leave my hand!"

"I haven't grabbed your hand to leave, belle," His voice sounded intoxicated as if he'd guzzled gallons of wine, "You're coming with me! To Doomland!"

"Never!" Applying all the strength of her body, she threw her hand. As a result, not able to maintain balance, the purple-haired guy landed on the ground miserably. Quickly grabbing the sword which was clutching her gown, she entered the wolf-line though it was beyond existence for the world, working only as a one-time safeguard. Though the brunette realized it, she tried her best not to become nervous as it would only fuel the strength and evil wishes of the vile abductor. Pointing the naked rapier at him, she hissed, "I'm warning you, Balkov! If you take a step forward, you'll get killed!"

Grinning, the king of Doomland proceeded, without paying any heed to the warning of the brunette. She was also a lady of her words, flinging the sword skillfully right at his neck, hoping that it would save her as well as bring the end of Boris Balkov. Nonetheless, shattering her hopes and standing up from the grassy ground, Boris caught the vertically rotating blade in his hands, successfully dodging the attack of the chocolate-haired girl. She shuddered, flinching and retreating from her position.

"I must praise your warfare skills, princess," He snickered, "But before Boris Balkov, they're of no use."

Effortlessly, he broke the sword into two equal halves with a single twist-in front of the petrified ruby eyes of the princess as if it had been a glass tube. Within no moment, the targeted woman got to realize that she wouldn't be able to escape from Boris in this way. Standing behind a pillar and holding it tightly with her fingers for support, she yelled, trying to hurt his image so that he could step back, "You call yourself the strongest warrior in this world and come to abduct a woman stealthily? If you're courageous, wait here till my husband comes. Fight against him. Don't embarrass yourself and your image by this heinous task!"

"Surely, I'll fight against him and kill him eventually!" Boris wasn't fearing the challenges of the princess, "But before I kidnap you!"

While laughing, he just disappeared in the air. Hilary was shocked to no end, knowing that she was struggling against someone with supernatural ability. When she was searching for him as well as a safe place to hide, he appeared right behind her and giving no chance to the princess to escape, the purple-haired guy seized her unbound, lush, waist-length chocolate locks with one hand. Her ruby eyes, once again, went widened in terror and the pain of humiliation. Never had anyone touched her in this way. Of course, before it, she'd been touched by her husband but those touches had belonged to pure affection, love, care. His fingers had surely travelled through her smooth coffee hair but hadn't grappled it ever. With another hand, he placed a tight slap on her cheek. Wincing, the girl fell on the ground as her lips wore a shallow cut, shedding a slim creek of blood flowing down her chin.

"Hiwatarian! Tala!" She screamed, seeing no other way, "Save me! Save me from this demon!"

Boris Balkov smirked. Using his brain and the tricks originating from it, he'd already set a trap through the help of Zagart, Jim and Goki. Goki had successfully drawn the attention of the Russian princes and soldiers to the fake battle. Jim hadn't also failed in his attempt to divert the concentration of the Japanese in the forest, quite far away from the garden. His plans didn't go in vain; he felt proud of himself.

"Hush…no need to waste your energy, dear," Not leaving her nape, Boris simpered, "They will never be able to listen to you after it."

The same arm of the purplette was wrapped around the thighs of the brunette, pressing them in a nasty way. Hilary's eyes became filled with tears as she remembered how delicately she'd been lifted up by her husband. But this monster simply hung her from his shoulder like a hunted beast in a forest and started walking away from the garden. Her locks were still imprisoned in the fingers of the king of Doomland. She was screaming, crying at the top of her lungs, hitting the body parts of her abductor with the free organs of her but the limbs of Boris Balkov were literally built of stones. She was getting hurt but he wasn't sensing anything even though blood seeped out from the scratches and cuts made by her nails.

Hilary was writhing in pain; all her screams and movements were failing. Saline pearls blobbed her sweaty cheeks from her eyes. Tala had told her to stay in the limit of the wolf-line but she didn't. Her chest was getting ripped. Again, and again, she was crying, almost tearing her vocal cord, "Hiwatarian! Tala! Save me!" But nobody was hearing her. Sniffing, she whispered, 'Pardon me, Hiwatarian…your Hilary couldn't protect your honor and pride…'

Stopping, he voiced, "Kuro Suzaku!"

A short earthquake took place along with command. Penetrating the soil and creating a small sandstorm, a golden chariot came out furnished in black color, having a pair of golden wings. Gorgeous it was; glimmering like the sun even at the dense obscure night. The brunette was desperately tossing her legs and arms to be free but her attempts went futile. Mercilessly, he shoved the brunette on the flying vehicle. Her head badly collided with the hard surface, forehead earned a cut. Wincing in unbearable pain, she tried to get up and looked back as the purplette rode the wheel-less carriage, showing no sign of bothering on his face. Lifting the destitute, injured, helpless woman by her nape, he cleared his throat, "Let's move!"

Again, the same sandstorm took place along with the mini earthquake as the chariot hovered up, cutting the air and thrusting all the dust away. Hilary shrieked by the names of her husband and brother-in-law but all her efforts went in vain. Soon, behind the clouds, the carriage disappeared as Boris Balkv was still clutching the neck of the hostage. The kidnapper burst out wild laughter, belonging to his victory, which, outshone the desperate, heart-wrenching, helpless sobs of the brunette. Remaining for a few moments around the garden where the sin had taken place, they vanished. The place fell silent, the moon hid behind the dark vapors, not able to take the humiliation of the crown-princess of Russia. The orchard was hugged by murk as the blooming flowers got shrunk.

Right after a few moments of the mishap, seven young people of Russia and Japan reached there, running and huffing. In the cold Russian weather, they were perspiring like being in a scorching summer desert. Some were holding torches from where yellowish-orange flames were rising. Though they were successful to erase most of the darkness from the garden, the brightest of all the lamps was found missing by them. The slate-haired guy yelled, calling the name of his wife, "Hilary?! Hilary!"

"Hilary!" Tyson matched his voice with him, "Where are you?"

"Sister-in-law?" Tala screamed, "Look, Kai is safe and sound! Nothing has happened to him! Please, come here!"

No. The affectionate sister-in-law, the lovely wife, the best friend, the gorgeous crown-princess of Russia, Hilary Tachibana Hiwatari-wasn't there. While searching, the dragoon-wielder found a few droplets of dried blood on the floor of the circular canopy, along with two flowers-their petals were torn, twisted and dull as if someone had gripped them very tightly. On the grass, the slate-haired guy found the two pieces of a sword and a fallen, golden georgette veil. He didn't mistake to recognize the fabric as it had been attached to the head of his bride. Tala immediately kowtowed, covering his face and forehead, feeling the guiltiest. Princess Dew started weeping, the girls and Max gathered around her to comfort her.

'No….' Kai's brain was going blank, 'It…it cannot happen…'

"It has happened!" Tyson rushed towards him, grabbing his shoulders, "Really? Only for seeing this, did I carry the palanquin of Hilary, the precious princess of Japan and bade her a farewell, Kai?! You…you promised me that…you would protect her! Then why?! Why?!"

Unable to say more, the navy-haired guy burst into uncontrollable fits of tears while the memories of him with his best friend were visiting his mind. Tala forgot to protest, taking the side of his cousin. Dew-chan couldn't think to console Tyson as she herself was drowning in grief of losing her sister all of a sudden, not forever, but for an uncertain period. In Kai's brain, the words of the brunette were hovering like restless spirits of night. The broken piece of the sword in his hand made his palm bleed but he didn't feel the pain. His Hilary wasn't there, she wasn't safe…she was kidnapped by someone with a harsh and evil mentality. Despite trying much, he failed to save her. How would he face the world? How would he face even himself in front of the mirror?

"HILARY!"

He brokenly knelt down on the ground, letting his screech spread away across the castle, emanating from the pure grief, pain and guilt of his heart, leaving all the strength of his body and letting his smoky bangs cover his amethyst eyes so that they could not meet anyone else in this world…

*Shivers* Believe me, I was waiting to post this chapter since so long! How was it? Thrilling? How were the fights? See, Max, Tyson and Kai have equally contributed. I know that you all are quite irritated but trust me, if this incident didn't take place, Bladebreakers would never be formed in this era or that era, their divine friendship would never be praised so highly. So...will Kai and others be able to save our Hilary? Or not? Why has Boris kidnapped Hilary? What is his motive? To kill Kai? To revenge his daughter? Or...for his own nasty motives?

Do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and spelling errors. Take care and stay safe. Once again, a happy Ramadan to all my Muslim friends :D

-Misty ^_^ ^_^