Disclaimer: I do not own Diabolik Lovers or its characters; that right belongs to Reject and Idea Factory. I own the Original Character (OC) in this story, though.
Author's Notes: For the current arc until the end of the story, the Pov will be switching as not just our three leads are on the stage.
Shuu stared blankly at the gathering of Nobles. Yui had made her choice, Ayato. And to celebrate their union, their father had gathered them all up(Mukami's included) to host a proper wedding.
It had been half a century since he(and his brothers) had set foot in the castle and demon realm.
Some high-named Nobles had arrived, including the Tsukinami's Carla and Shin. He could care less except for the annoyance they'd made of themselves over Yui. But even they were on edge over a distant relation to all of them showing up tonight for the wedding.
Marquis Tora Shikinami(spreading waves) and his lost daughter were making an appearance. And the Marquis guarded his daughter like the tiger he was named. Even his father had not met the girl as 'King' of the Demon Realm.
The Marquis was just as old as his father and Geisbach(when he was alive).
"Announcing Marquis Tora Shikinami and his daughter, Lady Rosaria Shikinami."
Rolling his eyes, Shuu went still when he saw the Marquis walk in holding the hand of a fair-skinned woman whose hair looked like freshly spilled blood. It seemed to stir something deep inside his memory.
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"Rosaria, will you be okay?"
At the softly spoken question from her birth father, Rosa hummed as they were announced. It'd been almost a century since the day the ancient Gypsy had whisked her away.
Long had she guessed she was different from her blood brothers. But never would she think that devil's blood flowed through her body. Not when the gifts of her mother's people were so strong in her.
The feeling of many eyes on her had Rosa snorting softly. She was glad she wore the damn mask. Already Karlheinz had expressed an interest in her and found she was aptly named when he tried to spy upon her in her bedroom.
Roses have thorns, and some species are vine-like.
"Let us get the introduction over with, my dear. And be nice but not too much when rejecting stupid hopefuls."
Smiling playfully at her father for his choice of words, Rosa let him lead her to the raised dais where all eleven of Karlheinz's children were. However, a familiar head of blonde and coppery brown caught her attention for a few seconds.
It had her heart beating a bit faster as nostalgia flooded her.
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Kanato watched as the introductions were made. Then as the woman left, his nose twitched as a familiar sweet, sugary scent reached his nose. It had his eyes going wide.
Kanato slammed his teddy into Liato's stomach and walked down from the dais without thinking. He needed to confirm if this woman was the same. If so, then how?
"Hey!?"
Not caring at Liato's indignant cry, Kanato weaved through the crowd. His goal was the woman, Rosaria. He heard her reject person after person who asked her for a dance or polite conversation. Yet, something told him that he'd not be rebuffed.
When he reached her side, he noticed that even without heels, she would be taller than his five foot five inches. When her odd mismatched eyes, partially hidden behind her mask, met his, he smiled widely.
"I'd like this dance. I believe cookies are a theme," Kanato said cryptically.
The way her eyes went wide as her ruby lips curled slowly into a smile as she laughed. It was indeed a sweet sound as she offered her hand to him. Feeling smug, he took it and led her to the dance floor. Her body was slender with curves in all the right places, though they were not excessive. The light she moved with as they danced let him know she was well-trained.
"So, about those cookies?" Kanato asked, looking at her and earning another pleased laugh.
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"Man, Shuu, reign it in."
Kou shrunk back when Shuu turned his gaze on him. Though he looked quiet and calm on the surface, it was a fact that none of the Sakamaki's wanted to mess with Shuu. He was by far the superior brother in all aspects(besides being the eldest). Even Yuma had gone blow for blow and barely came out even.
It was interesting, though, to see the laziest of all eleven of them seem to take an interest in something. And, of all things, the mysterious daughter of the fabled Marquis Shikinami.
A loud grunt behind him had Kou looking over his shoulder to see that Yuma was darting his eyes back and forth between Shuu, Kanato, and Rosaria on the dance floor. It had him groaning mentally. Was Yuma going to pick another fight over a female that probably wouldn't show either favor? He hoped not.
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Rosa sipped at the heady, spiced red wine and looked out the window. This place was truly beautiful. It was the border of the demon and human realms. The forest was the barrier between them. And it still looked like it had when she was a child, ignorant of many things.
The sound of footsteps coming toward her quiet, semi-dark corner had her glancing over her shoulder.
The copper-brown-haired guy from earlier stopped and stared back at her. Having an unrestricted view of him, Rosa felt her throat tighten as he reminded her of her deceased friend. She wondered if he'd look similar to this man if he'd lived.
"Am I that ugly?"
His words had Rosa blinking rapidly as she shook her head as responded, "No. You look eerily like a childhood friend. He had long since returned to the Earth. I just felt nostalgic, sir?"
"Yuma. What was his name?"
Frowning, Rosa pursed her lips before deciding to answer. There'd be no harm as this man had no connections to them.
"Edgar. He lived in a village that no longer existed. He was a fascinating human boy. Now excuse me; I'm ready to retire from the festivities.
Rosa swept past him. The feel of his gaze on her heavily made Rosa a bit uncomfortable. And knew there were still two more days of being here. And that she'd more than likely rerun into this Yuma man.
Though it pained her that only Kanato seemed to remember her and asked her for sugar cookies again. A request she'd happily fulfill.
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Yuma watched as the woman walked away. Her sweet, sugary scent had him reaching into his pocket for one of the sugar cubes he always carried. He didn't recall why he had such a habit, but he did.
The fact she said she had a childhood friend from around here, one who was dead and the village no longer existed, and was named Edgar sent chills down his spine. He knew she wasn't lying, yet he couldn't recall knowing a girl like that as a child.
Hell, he had barely remembered Shuu. Then again, his friendship with Shuu had cost him his family and village because Reiji was a walking narcissistic dick.
Yet this Rosaria had Yuma wanting to follow her, to keep her in sight. She was like a phantasm that begged to be chased. Giving a slight shake of his head, Yuma saw that Shuu had joined him and was looking out the window at the forest, just like Rosaria was.
That forest was where their past had connected them. But Yuma couldn't see how someone of Rosaria's level would ever demean themselves to play in a forest.
TBC!
