Sweet Sad Music

Chapter 2: All Alone In My Tower

Standard disclaimers apply.

-X-

Akira stretched sleepily on the luxurious rug by the bathroom, watching his mistress protectively from the open doorway, his orange and black striped fur looking soft and inviting as he yawned widely, showing razor sharp teeth that could pierce through flesh effortlessly.

Not something anyone should have for as a pet, sleeping on your bed when you're unguarded and could rip you apart into shreds easily. But Mimi loved her baby Akira greatly, after she loved Giles, of course. He was such a graceful, majestic and oooh, dangerous animal that Mimi couldn't help feeling incredibly safe when he was with her, instead of running for her life instead.

Mimi was taking a bath in the ivory bathtub, soaking her limbs thoroughly and rinsing off the dirt from her skin. She was humming a sweet tune under her breath and her voice was so pure, so sweet that Akira's ears pricked at the sound of it and closed his lids over those jade green eyes as if in ecstasy as he listened to her singing. Outside, the birds flocked around her windowsill, quiet for once as they too, listened. In fact, everything outside was so silent, so still as if they were all paying attention to this little concert of sweet melodies.

Suddenly, the sweet humming stopped and Akira growled, as if he was personally offended. The birds began chirping again and the outside broke through with all its natural noise and racket. Mimi stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her soaked body, then used another towel to dry of her hair then wrapped it around her head. She slipped her feet into her fluffy white slippers and drained the bathtub.

"Hmm, what I'd use to have someone to do everything for me, like a lady in waiting or something," murmured Mimi as she walked out of the damp bathroom. As she passed Akira, she bent down and scratched the soft fur on top of his head before walking to her closet.

Well, at least it was a compensation to have so many gowns for different occasions, though when she'd be able to use her ball dresses and park dresses was a mystery to her but she loved them all the same. Mimi had discovered a long time ago that she had a passion for fashion and since Giles seemed to have realized this as well, he provide every kind of clothes for her, filling her walk-in closet.

Mimi rummaged through her dozens and dozens of gowns until she found one of her favorite outfits. It was a pale pink dress with puffed sleeves and a slightly blown-out skirt. She paired this with pink satin slippers, with Giles casting a spell so that it would be virtually indestructible to whatever path she should walk on.

Actually, most of her things have that kind of spell so whatever Mimi did to herself or whatever happened to her, her clothes and shoes will always be intact, though not necessarily clean.

She quickly put it on, discarding the towel. Then, she pulled of the towel around her hair and let the damp strands fall down her back. Mimi picked up her brush and slid it through her hair until it dried and shone. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and sat down on the edge of her heart-shaped bed with the satin sheets.

She had nothing to do right now. Giles was somewhere in the manor, probably brooding about his latest problem in the library, so she couldn't disturb him because he'd just shout at her. Akira seemed to have fallen asleep and they couldn't play. The built-in garden was already watered and cleaned and she had no desire to cook anything yet, after that recent disaster this morning.

"Gah, I never knew being a captive could be soooo boring!" Mimi sighed as she fell back on her bed, uncaring if her dress got wrinkled, and her hair spread around her like a golden halo, though the strands were actually brown with streaks of light blonde.

She closed her eyes and relaxed her body; she spread out her arms beside her and giving a huge and deep sigh. Then she sighed again. Mimi felt a strand tickle her noise and she blew the curl away then swiped at it with her hand when it stubbornly stuck to her cheek. Then, she idly lifted her legs and slightly bent them at the knees so the skirt wouldn't completely slide down to reveal her long legs. After that, the blonde-brown haired girl lazily started kicking her legs in the air, her thoughts blank and her face expressionless.

"Aaaah! I'm soooooo bored!" Mimi cried out, dropping her legs and curling on her side, one hand tucked underneath her cheek and the other playing with a soft curl. She watched Akira's back as he slept, his sleek and majestic body rising and falling as the tiger took deep, even breaths.

Her mind was annoyingly devoid of thoughts and Mimi wanted to do something, anything – well, except cooking.

Mimi bit her lower lip and turned over on her other side so she was facing the window beside her bed. She saw the powdery blue sky and the cotton, fat clouds rolling by casually. Dark birds cheerfully fluttered by and everything outside was just so bright and inviting.

She wanted, longed to go outside this prison of a castle and roam everywhere, in the forest, through trees and seeing animals she's never met to face to face before and smell the fresh, cool breeze that ruffled the green, green leaves and colorful sights. But what she wanted to see, to experience, to smell and even taste was the ocean. She's never seen the ocean before and was always enchanted with the pirate stories in her library. To feel the cold ocean breeze, smell and taste its saltiness and feel the warm or icy waters licking at her bare toes and calves.

Mimi sighed once more, this time it was wistful and sad. She loved Giles and all, but Mimi wanted to be free. She wanted to experience the world outside, mingle with normal people and meet, oh gods yes, meet her parents. Giles had never told her about her parents or if they were still alive. Mimi hoped so. She was also curious about the little boy with blonde hair she saw if she reminisced hard enough but Giles doesn't know him too.

So, she fantasized about her family, about her life if she ever got out of this stupid fortress. Or if Giles would ever let her go willingly. He was extremely possessive and protective and Giles was terribly selfish, wanting her only for herself. Of course Mimi understood this and didn't resent him for it but still, it would be nice not to be so smothered and chained.

Though Mimi did feel a bit aggrieved that Giles had taken her away from her old life with her parents and friends for reasons still unknown, the ill feeling wasn't too much. After all, Mimi barely even remembered her old life so how could she be so enraged?

Still, Mimi couldn't help but wish.

Besides, what so special about her anyway that pushed Giles to kidnap her? Sure, she was indescribably beautiful, but a lot of girls were pretty and she had a nice voice, but that hardly could be the reason. She wasn't magically gifted like Giles or incredibly intelligent to the point of genius and Mimi was sure that she wasn't royalty. If she were, wouldn't her Royal parents send an army to fetch her the moment she was snatched away?

Or maybe she was a princess and her Royal parents didn't just care. But nah, who had parents like those?

Feeling cramps climbing up the side of her body that she was lying on and sat up, stretching and loosening her muscles that had started to bunch up. Her hair fell down her back in sleek waves, as it always did, but her dress was wrinkled in some places. She smoothed it flat and straightened the skirt of her gown. Mimi stood up and went to Akira and knelt behind him. The tiger woke up and looked at her over his furry shoulder and opened his mouth wide as if he were smiling in greeting.

Mimi beamed down at her darling pet and draped her arms around his soft shoulders and buried her face into Akira's soft, wild-smelling fur between his shoulder blades. Akira let out a small purr and he really seemed like a giant cat instead of a lethal tiger. His tongue slid out and licked her face affectionately, one clawed paw carefully touching the edge of her gown and purred again. Mimi giggled and let out a contented breath.

But moments like these made some restrictions just worth it.

-X-

In his library, Giles was looking down at the crumpled parchment in his tense hands. His green eyes were dark and troubled and his brows were pulled together in annoyance and his mouth was turned down in a very, very displeased frown.

His eyes scanned for the tenth time over the neatly written letter and his hands shook with his sudden fury. The parchment was incredibly wrinkled and creased since Giles had balled it up in rage then smoothed it out again for another reading for about a dozen times. He nearly threw the hated letter into the fireplace but decided against it. He searched for hidden messages between the lines but the words were exactly literal and frank.

"Damn it," he grimaced before slamming the paper – and both his hands – on his wide and polished desk. He rubbed his weary face with his hands and muttered curses under his breath.

He couldn't believe the letter.

He loathed it.

And it had to come now.

Now of all moments, when it was only the beginning. She was starting to blossom and dammit, it was his right.

-X-

Dearest Jonah,

They have sent the Crowned Prince after Mimi. He is her fiancé, do you remember? He is the blonde-haired little boy she remembers vaguely. And he is a very strong and capable young man and very handsome too, last I saw him. He has only been recently told about his secret engagement and is very against it but his parents forced him and he has no choice. He must marry Mimi though the reasons they told him are indistinct and mysterious. He is very smart and will probably save her if he puts his mind to it. Add more spells and precautions if you want, but I beseech you, please let Mimi go. It is already starting and I want, no, it is my rightful duty no matter what you think, to tell her the truth.

Along with him are his two best friends, a girl and a boy. The boy is a mage, a curiously perceptive one who can read minds and use his powers to levitate things and people. The other is a princess of a far away country but she doesn't act like a normal princess. She is a warrior, the first female General of the Ishida Army, and not even in her own home! I have heard reports that she and the Crowned Prince are having a romantic affair and are reportedly about to be affianced when his parents told him the truth. But they have yet to be proven.

Again, I have told you all I know. You will do what you think is right but please; think of our darling Mimi and her future. Act after deciding what is the best for her and not for you, as much as it hurts you to read this. I beseech you once more, dearest Jonah, set her free and let her live life without the chains you hate but nonetheless bind her with.

Always,

Sophia

-X-

A/N: Thanks for all those who reviewed. Can you guess who Jonah and Sophia are? Hehehe, well keep on guessing because I won't tell you. Or maybe, it's waaaaay to obvious! Anyway, that's it.

Please click that adorable lil' purple button down there and tell me what you think about it!!! Please sugarcoat it or I'd rather you lie anyway to make it nicer :P And yeah, no flames, really rude flames!!! Euck. Hate 'em.