I'll be going on vacation for three weeks so there will be no updates until I have returned.
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Kaito's POV
I couldn't do anything as my unconscious sister was dragged away. There were too many guards... Once everything settled down a bit, I stormed out of the castle, cursing the Queen under my breath. I hurried and wrote a note to Len, saying:
Len,
I was tricked. The Queen took Akane away to be the next diva after your sister. We must hurry. Get here as fast as you can. I'll do everything I am capable of in the meanwhile.
Kaito
I took the fastest bird I could find in the post and sent it away. Unfortunately, the guards were still roaming the palace grounds and one of them spotted me as the bird flew off my arm. He yelled and I sprinted in another direction. I could hear the pounding feet of heavily armed guards not far behind me. I took a sharp left and headed for the palace gates. I dashed out into the large city, beyond the Castle and wondered around until I was sure I had lost the guards.
Eventually I found a small but well-crafted clothing shop. I took out my money bag, and bought some new clothes and a head-dress to partially conceal my face. The guards would keep a look out for me so I needed to be cautious. I decided to find an Inn to stay at while I waited for Len and thought of a plan.
Len's POV
It has been three days since Akane-chan's departure and as I strode outside towards my training ground, I notice a messenger bird circling overhead. I whistle to it and it flew down and landed on my shoulder. I quickly unstrapped the message. My eyes widen as I read the note from Kaito. I swore loudly and sprinted back home. I gathered up some provisions such as food and water and straped my sword to my belt.
"Mother," I called as she hurried downstairs. "It's time...I'm leaving." She looked sad but didn't ask any questions. She knew and she understood.
"Good luck," She whispered and kissed my forehead.
I nodded and walked out the door. I didn't have a horse so it would take me twice as long to get to the castle... I began my journey into the unknown eastern lands with my shadow as my only company.
Akane's POV
I woke up with a sore head. When I looked down I found that I was wearing a very elaborate dress that clearly didn't belong to me. It was a thin-strapped, black dress with red laces ruffles at the chest and at the bottom. A red ribbon went around my waist and tied in a bow at the back. A white scarf was draped about my shoulders.
I sat up in the bed and saw a girl about my age sitting at the edge of it. She wore a dress with the same exact style except her dress was white with gold lace, a gold bow and a dark blue scarf. She had blond hair and blue eyes... I gasped in realization.
She smiled and said, "Hello, I'm Rin Kagamine. You must be Akane Kiyomizu. I am the current diva. You will be the next. I must go soon..."
My eyes were down cast as I whispered, "I know who you are. Len told me. I'm guessing that he told you about me and that is how you know who I am."
She nodded.
I continued, "Len is probably coming."
She smiled and said, "He is very determined isn't he. I hope you know that you are very important to him."
"Yes, but so are you. Len will save us so don't lose hope."
Rin nodded and murmured, "I must go... it is my turn for fate to take its toll."
I scowled slightly and called out to her as she left, "Len will come, so don't you dare die!"
I heard her giggle quietly as she went to the dragon's cavern.
I sighed and thought, 'Len, please hurry... before it's too late. You are coming...right?'
I sunk into an uneasy sleep.
Len's POV
I had half a day left of traveling and by now, I was walking fast.
Akane and Rin's voices and smiles are carved permanently into my mind. This is each of our destinies; to move forward to find that which will fill our hearts. I will not give up. I swore I would find them and put to rest the evil in this world….
Finally, I approached the city. I entered and headed directly towards the castle. As I walked, I passed a man clad in blue; he gave me a small smile. I recognized him to be Kaito, but I pretended to ignore him. It would be suspicious if I approached him immediately. I strode forward and walked with a purpose. At the castle, I would at long last, confront the Queen.
Rin's POV
I slowly approached the dragon as he eyed me with lust. I took a deep breath and began to dance and sing:
At the end of the artificial paradise, deep, deep in the bottom of the earth, I am fated to sing prayers. All alone from the past that had nowhere to go, I weave voices going round and round. At the edge of the repeating history, I dedicate myself to the fate. Not knowing anything, I've been continuously singing for my whole life. A song for the sun, a song for rain; a gentle requiem at the end of the road to paradise… Warm hands were offered but couldn't reach me. At the distorted bottom of the dying world, I am fated to sing prayers, with the gentle voices sleeping in the forgotten past. As I change my despair to a smile, I sink to the bottom of tears...
I do not know how long I sang but eventually I stumbled and fell to the ground as blood dripped from my mouth and nausea washed over me...
Gakupo's POV
It didn't take long for the news to spread that the new diva had begun her song and the next diva was pretty much ready for her turn.
I was aware of the currents divas situation...I was there when the orders were given to take her away from her family... The newest diva that had been brought in had a difficult story too. Her parents were dead so she lived with her brother. From what I heard, Queen Luka tricked her into coming. Not only that, but by coming here, she was leaving her boyfriend, who just happened to be the brother of the current diva. I can't deny that I feel bed for the poor boy. He had lost so much... In fact I decided that I would confront Queen Luka about her actions. I could not stand on the sidelines any longer...
I stood before the Queen and declared, "Your Majesty, do you not think that it was wrong of you to trick the girl into coming? And why did you pick that girl? The fact that she has a connection to the current diva's brother makes matters even worse."
Queen Luka spun around and jabbed a finger at me. "Do you disagree? What other choice was there? We must please the dragon or else what do you suppose will become of this Queendom?"
My gaze hardened and some devil within me pushed me to displease the Queen further with these next truthful words; "Can you not give the dragon what he wanted many years ago? You are wealthy, so why not pay off the debt instead of using your riches for your own desires? I cannot accept that you would let lives slip away when there are other options."
Anger flashed in her eyes. She lunged at me, grabbed my hair and shoved my face towards the polished floor. "You dare to insult me? Fine! You shall be punished!"
I hissed in pain but managed to raise my head and look her in the eyes. "What you are doing is wrong," I growled.
She sneered and yelled, "Guards! Lock this man up! He is unworthy of upholding the status he obtained many years ago."
The guards grabbed me under my arms and hauled me away.
In the dungeon, memories raced through my mind...I remembered my mother reading to me many years ago... My father had defied the Queen who reigned many years ago. They chained him up and set fire to him. He burned to death... I was introduced to the Queen and her king and they decided that I would take up the place that my father had lost... My mother was terribly depressed and jumped off the balcony, committing suicide...
Since that day, I knew that my fate would be similar to theirs.
A few minutes later, the door to the dungeon slammed open and Sir Kaito stood there with the dungeon guard in a headlock. He grinned and swung the keys around on his fingers. "Come on, we have some divas to save!" He declared.
Luka's POV
Not long after I sent 'Lord' Gakupo to the dungeons, I heard shouting and yelling outside the court room where I stood. I decided to ignore it.
This proved to be unwise for only a few moments later, I felt the cold sharp iron of a sword at my neck...
