A sob worked it's way out of Rin's throat, joining countless others.

She was sat on a beach she only dimly remembered from childhood. She'd long since abandoned the dresses and frilly outfits she'd worn before - they seemed a lifetime away now - instead favouring shirts and pants. The pair she had on now had once belonged to Len, and if she closed her eyes she could still see him.

The thought brought tears to her eyes. When they had been young, before she had become the princess and he the loyal servant, they had come here to push bottles into the sea. It was said that if they made it to the horizon, the wishes written inside actually came true. The thought had been exhilarating when they were younger. Now Rin bounced a sturdy bottle in her palm and wondered if it was true.

The pendant Len had pressed into her hand a mere week before had contained a message. "If I was reborn, I want to meet you again." She'd cried for days. Rin scrubbed away the tears, but more flooded forth along with memories. Memories she hadn't thought of for a long time.

Sights and sounds and smells from childhood, the agonising memory of she and Len being separated. He'd only found his way back to her a year ago, and what had she done? Ignored her brother, her twin, using him as a servant! She'd sent him to kill Miku Hatsune, the princess of the green land and lover to the blue prince. He'd come back late that night, long before the soldiers who were still burning the villages and pillaging what they could. He'd been covered in blood, and in one hand had been the dagger. Blood had gleamed like scarlet starlight off the edge. The bottle weighed so, so heavily in her hand, heavier than the dagger had been. She'd written her wish inside, and now she cast it adrift into the waves. With it, she sent all her regret. She'd been so terrible before, and sending the message off was like saying goodbye to Len.

She watched it disappear into the horizon, turned around, and walked away.