Hello everyone! What's up? Safe and sound?

Thanks to Sohana Sarkar, CutetyHil, Seafoam Green under Twilight, LadyPeach7 and ILoveMyIndia for reviewing. Also special thanks to Emerald Vivienne Ramira for faving and following it.

ILoveMyIndia: Hello dear! Yes, you're right, Hilary's father is so selfish that he doesn't deserve his current position. He may be a conscious and good father but he is not a good politician at all. Brooklyn is the secondary villain of this story, working under Hilary's father. This chapter comes with more romantic and hectic moments. So keep reading. Thank you so much for reviewing :D

Oh, a few things:

The first three paras of the first song have been sung by Kai and Hilary. The italic bolds are Kai's, the underlined italic bolds are Hilary's and the normal bolds are both's. The last para of the last song is a chorus.

Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Four or five students from different batches of the university gathered in the room of the vice chancellor. The VP was also with them, sitting on a chair before the head, of course being permitted by him. The rest of the learners were standing behind him, like his ardent followers. The chamber was air-conditioned, keeping everyone's head cool and calm. The horrendous incident of the past had almost been forgotten by them. Even the dual-haired Russian was also in quite a light and pacified mood. The campus was preparing for welcoming the juniors since they'd had their first steps on its premises. Because of the nasty politics of the disciples of selfish and notorious politicians, they couldn't have planned anything for it. That day, they were feeling free to talk to the VC in that regard.

"Won't the freshers' reception of Tokyo Institute of Technology be held in this year?" The bald man asked the vice-president of the union.

"It will, Sir." Kai replied affirmatively, gaining supports from his teammates.

"With extra vigor." Julia added.

"Then, do it." Mr. D suggested, "The fund is open for you if needs be. Start preparing for the festival as soon as possible."

"You've to arrange another fund for us too, Sir!"

All their eyes moved towards the open door of the principal's chamber where the orange-haired thug was arrogantly standing with his disciples behind him. Getting their visions on him, the student politician straightly strode in, not bothering of asking the principal for his permission. The general students gulped and crimped together except the slate-haired. His jaw became gnashed, so did the chin of the vice chancellor. He was annoyed with the tangerine-head but unfortunately, he couldn't tell him that. Everyone knew the reason, not the exact identity of his guardian. So, somehow, Kai kept his temper under his control, trying his best not to engage into a fight with him in the principal's room.

"Because…" Brooklyn pointed Kai with his index finger in a disrespectful way, "They will not observe the freshers' reception alone."

"If you want to perform the festival, you all have to do it yourselves," Stanley pushed his spectacles back, "I cannot give the money of the fund to anyone who is not the part of the central students' union."

"Well, if you don't want to give us money," The orange-head chewed, "You have to leave the central auditorium for us at least because we will observe our own festival there. Let's go, people."

Not even properly greeting the principal, Brooklyn hurried outside the room as his followers ran behind him. With cold stares, the Russian and his group kept ogling at his footsteps. Their brains were wobbling, wanting to burst out a protest but in the presence of the vice chancellor, they could not do anything. Biting his lips, the bald man put off his spectacles and commented, "Such a scoundrel!"

"Do not bother about him, Sir," The dual-haired Spaniard appeased him, "He always behaves like that. This year, we'll make the freshers' reception memorable. By the way, Kai?"

"Hn," The slate-haired stood up, "I'm listening."

"I know a girl from BME department," She offered, "Currently she's in second year. She has the voice of an angel and the control of her on her tone is really praiseworthy. If you allow, we can tell her to give notes and voice to your newly written university anthem. Besides, you can also check whether her voice is matching with your guitar or not."

"I agree with Julia," The redhead kept a hand on her shoulder, making her blush a bit, "Kai, I think you should summon her."

"Hm," Kai nodded, "Then I'll give her a try. Sir, now allow us to leave."

"Sure," Mr.D smiled, "Best of luck, students!"

There was no teacher in the classroom of section-A of 2nd year, BME department. Students were doing tasks according to their own choices. Some were enjoying their beauty sleep which they had missed in the previous class of Miss Katherine, the strict professor of Thermodynamics. A few were revising the lessons taught by her while the others were simply mocking them. Lovebirds were chirping near one another's ear which could make the general mass puke at its sugariness. For annoying the geek, the naughty ones were playing drums on the benches with their hands and getting cursed by the studious. But the brunette was doing none of these. Simply leaning her head on the bench, she was daydreaming of the vice-president of the central students' union and his charms that had left her lured completely. Would she meet him again?

"Attention!"

The chaos inside the class immediately stopped as the sleepers rubbed their eyes, yawning. Closing their books, the nerds looked forward. Romeos and Juliets shifted their orbs to the comers, still cuddling in one another's embrace shamelessly. The ones sitting on their higher benches got down and sat where they should have been. But when the chocolate-haired girl raised her gazes, her heartbeats were almost on the verge of ceasing. The VP himself was standing in front of the rows of the arranged benches, crossing his arms on his chest in his usual posture. Biting her lip and trying to breathe, the brunette attempted to hide from him in embarrassment. Not like that she wanted to get rid of him, she was much ashamed after the incident of that day.

Once the class went totally quiet, Kai cleared his throat and glanced all over the room, "Is Hilary Tachibana here?"

That's called, 'Danger often comes where danger is feared.' Her heart leaped to her throat and got stuck there as she heard her name mentioned. As the amethyst eyes of the VP searched for her, she cringed more. She thought the slate-haired must have come to her classroom to punish her for any serious offense. But she couldn't remember which crime had been done by her. She bent her head low, trying her best not to get her ruby orbs touch his at any cost. Since when had Hilary Tachibana, the daughter of a mighty politician, got so shyness in her?

"She's there!" The blunette enthusiastically pointed his index finger at the brunette, identifying her easily.

'Damn you, Tyson!' She cursed under her breath, 'Who told you to show me to VP sir? Now what will he think of me?'

Yes, he was thinking about her but not what she was assuming. His gazes were fixed on her shy and curled face, exploring her nervous garnet pools under slightly frowned brows. Rosy lips were folded inside, maybe bitten in worries. He hardly believed that the fiery girl who had literally barked at him to get off her that day could be a good singer. Her voice had been stern and quite proud then, confident of her combating skills. Bit by bit, she also rose her eyes at the phoenix-prince, gaping at none but her. Seeing the calmness and vibes of astonishment in his amethysts at the same time, she felt relieved since she exhaled. He gestured her to come out as she appeared before him, slowly nodding.

"Good morning, Sir," She bowed, "Sorry…."

"Hn," He didn't let her finish, gaining his usual nature of speaking from nowhere, "You're going to the music hall with me."

"M…me?" She stuttered, not believing him fully.

"Yes, you," He confirmed, "Now, let's go!"

She didn't have any other way save following him. Deeply breathing, the brunette walked behind him. His footsteps were very fast; much swifter than others. In comparison with him, she was a snail. She was almost stumbling to keep pace with him. Yet, she couldn't help admiring his velocity. Tall and straightened his posture was; visions set horizontally but his toes weren't getting tripped. As he understood that she was having trouble in marching with him, he appeased his feet, coming beside her and making her glow scarlet. They watched the sportsmen exercise and train themselves outside in the vast playground coated in verdant velvet grass and white chalk lines drawn on it.

"VP Sir?" She asked, crossing her fingers in nervousness.

"Hn." He responded with his folded arms on his chest.

"Actually, I'm sorry…." The coco-haired girl whispered, "That day, you saved my life. Instead of being thankful to you, I…"

"It's okay," The slate-haired stopped her, "It was natural for you to react like it."

"By the way, thank you so much for saving my life," A grateful smiled crept in Hilary's lips, "If you weren't there, I don't know what would happen to me."

"Ensuring your safety is my responsibility, Hilary…." Kai paused for a second as he realized what he had said just then, "I mean…the safety of all the students in this campus."

"Yes," She agreed, "After all, you're the vice-president of the central students' union. The task must be so tough, right?"

"In this world, which task is easy to do perfectly, Hilary?" He let out a sigh, yet pleasure glowing in his face, "Yet, we cannot stay jobless. For getting something precious, we need to pay extra price."

"That's true," Hilary confessed, "If you want to be successful, you have to work hard, no matter in which field you are working. But your courage…"

"We've reached."

The coco-haired surprisingly gawked at the vast land area of the music hall. Varnished wooden floor was disseminating the fragrance of rectified spirit, so did the polished walls, colored in the shades of the seeds of tamarinds. Wireless and wired speakers were connected to the barriers in their own square-shaped niches. By the windows, pines and flowery creepers were kept in tub, receiving sunlight from outside, pink and mauve florets blossoming there. Guitars were arranged in their shelves, keyboards and octapads were organized in separate rows. Different kinds of drums were also there made of red tin and hollow white membranes. A grand piano was their leader, furnished black and white at the center. Microphones were set at the erected stands in a series, wires linked to the sockets of the power-supplies on the walls. Her fingers craved to touch the instruments and play them, specially, the piano. Her orbs shimmered in excitement.

"Wow!" She squealed, "It's so gorgeous!"

"You're in second year now," Kai frowned, "Have you seen it for the first time?"

"Hm…" Gloomily, she affirmed, "Actually, I learnt music in my childhood. As I grew up, my father forbade me to perform publicly. So…"

"Those who don't love music," He remarked, "Can even commit murders."

"Hey, not like that!" The brunette objected, "My dad is a great father. If I cut out his absence in our house and failure to give me quality time, he's an outstanding person. You know, he's such a benevolent and popular politician. Maybe, that's why, he wants to keep me out of the sight of the common people as far as possible so that I can be safe from everyone's bad intentions. Since he's got a lot of enemies…."

Looking here and there, she lowered her voice, "Anyways, let's go inside. But…what's the reason behind bringing me here, Sir?"

"Simple," Kai replied, "You've to perform in the freshers' reception."

For a single second, Hilary felt as if the ground had been crumbling underneath her feet. Managing the first wave of the shock, she stuttered, "Wh…what?"

"Cannot you understand?" He rolled his eyes, "I don't like to repeat sentences, nor do the real gentlemen."

"But…"

"Girls in this university crave to gain reputation and expose their talents," The VP cocked an eyebrow, "And you're trying to hide it?"

"You won't understand, VP sir," She lowered her head, "My father won't let me…"

"It's your right to perform in the festivals of your university," Kai gaped sharply into her eyes, freezing her with his acid-coated, blunt but demanding tone, "Rights are for being snatched, not for being wanted."

The chocolate-haired girl gulped at his fire-showering aventurine pupils. They were still calm but flames were rampaging there, belonging to protests, determination and self-respect. Again, her heart danced, keeping its pace with the blazes of his eyes. Her mind juddered with the heartbeats of the whole universe; she couldn't understand why it was happening. She was feeling much attracted towards him, yet, failing to admit it. She wasn't able to stare at those eyes for much time. That's why, eventually, she had to bend her head. Fifty shades of red reached her chin from her neck, her breaths went warmer.

"O..okay…" She couldn't reject after the indirect but stern command of the VP, "I'll come."

"Hm," Kai closed his eyes, "So, you have also to be the melodist of the lyrics of the anthem of this year's freshers' reception."

"Oh okay…." The brunette sighed, biting her lips. She was enjoying and feeling proud to do the task but at the same time, she was worried a bit, "Where are the lyrics?"

"Here." The dual-haired pulled out a scroll from the side-pocket of his jeans and handed it to the coco-haired girl. Unfolding it, she gave it a read. The more her eyes were glancing at the paper, the more she was feeling amazed. Such a creative mind the vice-president had. The words composed by him showed how deeply he cared for the dignity of his institution and how much he was proud of it. A broad smile spread from the right corner of her lips to the left, revealing her glossing teeth. For a second, she felt belittled not for caring for her university properly. She was also ashamed for rejecting his offer at first.

"I'm ready," Hilary folded the note, "I'll try my best in this case."

"I was expecting the same from you," Kai's mood lightened a bit, "Thanks for cooperating."

"It's my pleasure," The brunette bowed, "Rather, I should thank you for giving me this chance, Sir."

"Kai!"

The talking duo looked at the entrance where the redhead Russian was standing, panting as if he had crossed a vast distance to come here by running without any break. Glowering, the slate-haired approached him, "What happened?"

"Brooklyn…." He huffed in order to finish his words but when he saw the confounded girl there, the loudness of his voice decreased into whispers. Only Kai's ears heard what he said and teeth became clenched after it. Clasping his fingers, the VP spoke, "Let's go!"

Both the Russians ran out of the music hall, leaving the brunette alone. Despite frowning and yelling from behind, she couldn't stop them. She worried, folding her lower lip inside her mouth. Her sixth sense told her that something ominous must have happened. After hesitating for a few minutes, she also decided to follow them and discover what had taken place.

"Mr. Masefield," The shopkeeper protested, "We donate in every festival of the university. But VP Sir has never come to us for demanding money."

"Hey, you!" Carlos clutched his collars aggressively while the orange-head was puffing his cigarette with a cool look on his face, sitting on a nearby table, "You want to say that we're telling lies? You think that we extort money from you using Kai's name falsely?"

"If you want to keep your shop intact in this university area," Another threatened, "You must pay levy to us."

"Be quick!" A third one commanded.

"We don't have enough time," Carlos looked at his wrist-watch, "We have to go to more shops after it."

Saying nothing, the seller pulled out a note and gave it to the jet-haired. Snatching it, Carlos gave it to his leader. Finishing the cigarette and dropping it into the dustbin, the orange-haired looked at the note as his blood climbed to his brain in anger. Clutching it, he threw an infuriated look at the shopkeeper, "Only 500 yen?"

"Only if you could digest it!"

Someone snatched the note from the notorious student leader without any warning. Startled, the tangerine-haired looked at the person who had dared do this daunting task. He was none but the dual-haired half-Russian, standing there in a proud posture. Burning the defamed politician with his amethysts, he approached the shopkeeper.

"What kind of spineless persons are you?" He shouted, returning the note, "Giving them money, you're encouraging these goons. Why?"

"They do it always," The seller confirmed, getting some strength in his heart seeing the vice-president, "They always take money from us using your name, Sir."

"But I have never come to you for money." Kai clarified.

"If we don't give them money," Another storekeeper sighed, "It will be difficult for us to continue our business here."

"Difficult it will be," The slate-haired blurted, crossing his arms, "You all are giving money to these goons and increasing the price of the goods. For it, the customers like the general students are facing the gravest losses. But…if all the honest businessmen like you gathered and refused to give them donation," He pointed at the orangette, "These wicked brats would never be born!"

The orange-haired gawked at him but he didn't care, saying, "I hope that you all will not scatter bones in front of these shameless street dogs from now onwards"

"Kai!" Brooklyn jumped out of the table from his sitting position, "You've humiliated me in front of the crowd! You'll get a lesson surely for that. I'll see how you guys observe the freshers' reception in peace!"

"We'll also see." Turning back after receiving the challenge from his rival, the VP trudged outside the shop since he met the brunette, standing there and waiting for him. She was seeming baffled, worried but impressed and proud of him at the same time. Letting her eyes meet his, she let out a gentle and assured smile.

"Pardon me of overhearing," Hilary sheepishly conversed, "But you're really very brave, Sir."

"Thanks," For the first time in his life, Kai blushed at someone's compliment which he had never done, scratching his head, "So…shall we go?"

"Sure!" She leapt, "I cannot wait for practicing!"

Little by little, the special day for the university finally came. Then, the auditorium was decorated with utmost grandeur. Hanging from the ceiling and attached to the painted walls, dark blue and golden balloons were set like five-petaled flowers, ribbons swinging like vines from them. Navy blue velvet curtains with golden fringes were drawn off in a curvy way in front of the stage, bound in silver brackets. The teachers and other students were sitting on the fixed chairs on the different steps of the gallery. To the backward wall of the podium, a flamboyant banner was joint. On its azure background, beige fonts read, "Freshers' reception 2020, Tokyo Institute of Technology." Under it, there were the date, the day and the time chronologically. Balloons were surrounding all the lines of the rectangular placard. Sky, turquoise, yellow-different electric bulbs were lighting the platform. The VP had kept his promise. He hadn't left any stone unturned to make the festival gorgeous.

The speeches of the teachers and invited guests had already been complete. It was the turn of the cultural program. The musicians stood in front of their respective instruments. Tyson took the sticks of the drums, Tala held the red and white electric guitar and Julia gained her position before the keyboard. The VP took the base guitar and his brown-haired assistant checked the pitch of the microphone of the master voice. Like always, the ceremony would begin with the performance of the vice-president. Everyone was eager to watch it then. They knew that nothing exceptional would happen this year.

The slate-haired looked at his co-artist who was wearing a lavender column gown. It contained a dark violet top reaching the waistline of the skirt, having boat-neck lilac georgette neckline and sleeves reaching her elbows, displaying her fair skin, hugging her slender arms and hourglass figure. Velvety chocolate locks were nicely arranged into a pisa-tower bun, leaving two wavy tresses rolling on her forehead. Silver bell-shaped earrings studded with amethysts beautified her earlobes. The deep light of her kohled eyes mesmerized him, he couldn't help praising them along with her blush-on-worn cheeks and bubblegum pink lipstick-streaked lips. The smell of sweet strawberries around her wasn't cringing at all. She added elegance to the sophisticated stage of the program. Had she stepped on the earth from heaven, forgetting her ways somehow?

As he looked forward, the brunette shifted her rubies to him, maintaining a nice timing. She found him putting on a sleeveless lavender waistcoat over his white shirt with slackened collars and rolled-up sleeves below his elbows. Black oxford shoes covered his feet under his dark violet slacks. Hair was neatly back-brushed, some icy blue bangs covering one of his lotus orbs. The hues of purple made the ivory complexion of his skin blossom in the half-dark, half-brightened aura around the podium. The aroma of mint-flavored perfume used by him tickled her nostrils. All his choices were very unique and aristocratic. She couldn't help admiring them from the core of her heart.

"Now, here comes the most awaited performance," The anchor presented, "The freshers' reception doesn't become a festival until the vice-president of our central students' union performs with his team. Let's have a big hand for Kai Hiwatari and his team!"

Amidst the wild applauses of the crowd, the slate-haired sat on his four-legged round tool, placing the waist of the black base-guitar on his right thigh and holding the neck in his left hand. His fingers pressed the chords, another hand drummed them. The resonance of the tunes reached everyone's ears, getting them ravished. But his chocolate-haired girl was enthralled the most. Somehow, controlling her feelings, she took a deep breath as a beautiful wave of sound escaped from her throat. The blunette's hands hit the membranes of the drums with sticks, the redhead banged on the electric guitar and Spanish girl tapped the black-and-white keys. The anthem started:

This is our university, our educational institution,

Here, the flowers blossom, belonging to civilization,

Lighting the torches of the light of education,

Here, the sun rises in its ethereal conflagration.

The jaws of the audience dropped in awe. They'd been used to the bold and charming voice of the vice-president but the dulcet tone of the brunette was quite new and unique to them. Her honeyed pitch matched with his intrepid and sturdy tone like a necklace consisting of diamond and sapphires. They both became enraptured with each other, feeling the strong urge of singing more and carrying on. The principal felt proud of having them as his students. A few teachers shed the tears of joy and satisfaction. People forgot to clap, only dedicating their ears to the anthem of wisdom and victories.

Here, the roots are the vines of humanity,

The sounds are the words of wisdom and sanity,

Drenched in blood, belonging to any battleground,

It's not any wet edge, not giving anyone any wound.

Giving and receiving wisdom-Not only the profession,

Flowing through our veins, it's our burning passion.

When everyone was absorbed in the song, pushing the back doors of the auditorium, the orange-head entered with his faithful followers and disciples. Observing the sereneness of the program, he gritted his teeth. Almost kicking a few students out of their seats, they claimed those chairs themselves. The victims couldn't utter a single word at their viciousness. Hilary shivered a bit at their cruelty. Though the VP noticed everything, he didn't protest at all, waiting for the perfect moment. Deep inside, his heart was fuming but he didn't want the ceremony to be ruined so early. That's why, the notorious student leader chuckled a toothy, wicked smirk at him, thinking that he'd already won it.

Here, a lot of artists, poets and litterateurs were born,

It's the sanctuary, by scholars, which is adorned,

Why should here be panic and the fear of death?

The atmosphere must be peaceful and pure to breathe.

In campus's unpolluted air, here's an ethereal sensation,

After all, in the country, it's intellectual's best creation.

"Scoundrels!" Brooklyn stood up and steered his finger at the VP, "Not the flowers of civilization but the flowers of destruction will blossom here!"

"Brooklyn!" Kai yelled, protectively hiding the brunette behind him, "Today, your terrorism cannot to terrify us. Go everyone!"

They were waiting for the single order of the VP. Leaving their seats, the students rushed towards the defamed gang and clutched the collars of its members. Some girls gathered the teachers and others together at a safe corner so that they couldn't be harmed. The brunette was about to go there for fighting but the slate-haired clasped her wrist.

"Sir, let me go there!" She urged, turning pink at his touch, "My friends need me. I…I must have told you that I have some fighting skills!"

"I know that far well," The VP was confident, "But not now."

"But…"

"For today, the general students are enough for them," The dual-haired exhaled, "Let those goons know how strong the general mass can be."

True his words were. Lifting bamboo sticks which were kept under the seats, the learners thumped them on the butts and thighs of the intruders. Though the assaulters were well-trained in fighting, that day, they couldn't survive much time before the courage and the rock-hard determination ordinary ones, getting kicked by them mercilessly. Maybe, the general students were so exasperated with them that they couldn't hold their grudge anymore. Brooklyn and his gang had to face their burning wrath. Seeing no other way, he fled away through the door opening which they had entered, just like hornless bulls escaping from the pride of lions for their dear lives. Done with their jobs, the audience took their chairs back. Once the atmosphere became calm again, the anchor took his microphone.

"In this way," He announced, "If all stay united, we can face all the evil powers and win against them. So, may we restart the cultural program?"

"Sure!" Everyone blurted in unison, including the teachers.

Again, the musicians gained their instruments. But the song was different this time. It belonged to victory, it belonged to the vibes of, "I can, you can, we all can." All the students matched their voices with it. The pleasure and contentment of defeating the evil spread everywhere in the auditorium. All they started dreaming of having a sacred and sinless university where only the good would remain and prevail forever, where there would be no space for the bad. In appreciation, the coco-haired looked at the VP, overwhelmed with his outstanding leadership. The confidence and sheer willpower of her also touched his heart, making him want to make her his partner, both in politics and in his personal life. Storms rose on the base guitar, the electric guitar, the drums, the keyboard and the voices of both the singers. With them, hundreds of different tones continued:

Mother, why to worry?

We're your peace-loving, calm children,

Yet, when enemies come, we know to raise weapons,

Don't worry, mother, we know to protest in unison.

We won't lose, we won't fail,

We won't leave a single grain of your soil,

With our bones, we know to build fortresses,

Don't worry, mother, we know to burst out protests.

We won't tolerate our humiliation,

Like cowards, we won't hide in our bastion,

We know how to strike the earth like bolts,

Don't worry, mother, we know to remonstrate like jolts,

We will never accept our disgrace,

We won't know to live in weakness,

We can know how to die with smiling faces,

Don't worry, mother, we know to burst out protests.

Pardon the lyrics at first XD

So...how was it? :P Do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and spelling errors.

Dear readers of "Kingdom", you have to wait for another day since I have got my EEE quiz tomorrow :(

Take care and stay safe :D

-Misty ^_^ ^_^