Chapter 3- The Masqueraders.

Akane paced up and down in her luxuriously furnished room, a room she was provided with, when she was made the double for princess Ayane. She was flustered. She was always flustered before she had to attend any social gathering, no matter how many of them she had attended in the past.

"It's like stage fright before an opening act" she thought dolefully.

She stopped to examine her own reflection in the mirror as she passed it. She was reminded of the words Ayane had said just some time ago, for a moment and stared transfixed at the reflection which was hers and yet not hers.

She smiled wistfully at herself as she touched her cheeks, which were unnaturally pink. She placed herself in front of the mirror and carefully took the rose powder from the assortment of cosmetics kept on her table and proceeded to apply the rouge to her already plastered face. As she applied layer after layer of the red powder on her cheek, she kept repeating the words "not enough…not enough" as though by repeating them she could fulfill some insatiable need within herself. Finally she leaned back to examine herself in the mirror.

"Hmm….not bad," she thought. She dabbed some red paint on her lip and again leaned back to examine the effect. The vermilion on her lips clashed with her pale ivory skin and she smiled satisfied. "Quaint," she said to herself, as she admired her image in the mirror.

The door to her room was unceremoniously pushed opened and a tall man wearing a black velvet coat with elaborate golden thread work walked in. Akane suddenly went very rigid and sat very still, watching him carefully. His waist length white hair was tied in a loose pony with locks of stray hair falling over his emerald green eyes which bore a cold expression.

"Where is yours manners, Vincent sama? Won't you knock the door of a lady before you enter" She said in a singsong voice.

"And where are yours Akane. Wont you courtesy a prince, when you're in his presence?" he asked coldly. "Or have you really started considering yourself a princess?" His thin lips curled into a cruel smile.

"I wouldn't dream of making such a blatant mistake," she said quietly looking at him from the mirror and curtsying.

"Good 'cos I have work for you," he said curtly. He observed her reflection as she dabbed some perfume on her slender white neck. He stood transfixed; then wrenching his gaze from the sight, started pacing up and down the room.

"We have information about a certain young man. The man, a foreigner, had claimed to be a trader. He very soon installed himself in the good books of every royal worth knowing in our Kingdom, attending all their parties and social gatherings. He has had contact with you too, if I am not mistaken," Vincent said. "He calls himself Kioski Shuba."

"Oh you don't mean Kio kun, do you?" she laughed lightly. "Yes he's been pestering me, at every ball and gathering we have had, in fact he extracted a promise from me to be his partner for today's ball. He could hardly be of any harm, could he?"

"Well, this man has been found lying about his identity. He is a fraud." Vincent said, his face contorted with malice. "Now, what I want you to do is," he walked forward towards her staring at her image in the mirror. "You have to get information from him," he touched her shoulder lightly as he said the last words. It was like a jolt of lightening for Akane, the moment his hand made contact with her shoulder. She shuddered involuntarily, it was but a fleeting moment but it did not escape the keen eyes of the prince. He did not remove his hand and waited for some response…. no, he wanted to exact some more response…..any response, any emotion….but Akane had quickly put her mask back on and was regretting sincerely for her unguarded moment of weakness… She managed to smile coquettishly.

"It shall be done, Vincent sama, so don't look so serious, it suits you too well," she said.

For a moment he looked disappointed, then quickly replied, "Well, I shall brief you more about the situation on our way, so make haste." With one last look at her he walked out of the room.

She remained sitting on the pouf, in front of the mirror, staring at herself, very still. If anyone could see her now they would definitely not have thought her even remotely pretty. There was a look of revulsion on her face; her features were distorted with a look of pure, unveiled hatred, which made her look fiendish. Her hands were clenched tightly on the helm of the knife she usually carried, concealed in her stockings.

Neither the starry night sky nor the mild pleasant breeze from the west could have ever warned the people of Sano of cruel fate that awaited them.

Nazo's eyes reflected the flaming village that stood before him. His ears echoed with the cries of the men, women and children who cried out for help as the royal army burnt it down. The smoke that engulfed the whole area was hardly the reason for the feeling of suffocation that was overwhelming him.

He was sent there to supervise the whole scene and to report back to the crown prince who would be enjoying the ball organized by the Worthingtons. Nazo patted his horse, it seemed restless due to the noise.

"Sir Nazo!" one of the soldiers called out to him. "We have made barricades to avoid any one from escaping. There is no way for the rebels to escape," the man reported.

"Fine, I shall leave the rest to you then. I have to get back to the Prince's side lest the devil might strike him down." Nazo said and turned his horse. "Please check for any survivors. And if there are any children take them to the Chuka shrine. The priest there will take care of the rest."

The ball room was decorated luxuriously, the polished wooden oak floors shone like reflecting mirrors. There were red satin banners on both side of the hall, and the grand chandeliers, shimmered and gleamed as extravagantly dressed couples waltzed gracefully underneath it. They looked grand from afar; the ladies in large opulent jewels covering their necks and huge ludicrous head pieces and men with their tailor made waistcoats and exaggerated gestures. Akane was having a fake smile plastered on her face, as she made her way through the elite, handpicked guests now crowding the hall. She had put her mask on, like everyone else but was still attracting a lot of attention… Everyone wanted to dance with the princess… but her dance was already given.

"Now where is he?" she thought impatiently. She had slipped away for a moment to pass a note to Ivanoh who had come to the ball in disguise. "By now Neo sama must have got it,"she mused as she looked around for Kioski.

At the far end of the hall a tall young man was lounging casually. He had blue hair which fell to the side of his face and was pulled back into a small pony. He was wearing a flamboyant blue-coat; it matched very well with his blue eyes, which gleamed through the mask he had worn. He was attracting a lot of attention from the ladies across the room; everyone loved a mysterious man, especially if he was wealthy. Then he spotted her in the crowd. "It would be hard not to, with those flaming red hair", he thought…she was wearing a red corseted gown with lot of frills and laces ,making her look like a slightly inflated balloon… but she looked beautiful.

The prince and princess had arrived quietly and blended with the masked crowds as was the custom of these costume balls. He nodded and raised his glass to bystanders as he swaggered up to her. She was looking in some other direction and did not notice him until he was only a few heads away from her.

"Looking for me?" he asked her…bowing slightly.

"Not really," she said coolly….as she curtsied.

"So may I have my promised dance," he asked her offering his hand. Taking her hand he led her across to the dance floor.

The music had changed and every one was getting ready for the new dance. Some new couples joined the floor, some merely changed their partners. But, the effect when the blue haired gentleman led the princess onto the floor was striking. There were whispers; the princess had evidently taken a liking to this mysterious young man. It was known that she had promised all her dances to him and there was general excitement , coupled with curiosity. They were a striking couple and looked very handsome together.

The music had begun everyone moved around the hall, steering their partners across the floor. Kioski held her frame gently as he led her across the floor. She didn't look all that beautiful from up close...he thought to himself...with all the makeup plastered on her face she looked gaudy…ugly….

"You look colorful" he told her smirking slightly.

'you don't look any less yourself" she replied….she leaned closer so that now she was whispering into his ears. "They are already suspicious, a week from now at the max."

"Good," he said as she leaned back pretending to laugh at some joke he had said…

Vincent watched the conspicuous pair dancing, she was following his instructions pretty well. "If not anything…..she is a damn good actress," he thought smirking.

Nazo got off the horse. He was tired and it had nothing to do with his stamina. He had reached his limit. He had never wanted to be the errand boy of the devil. The sounds from the party filled Nazo's ears.

"It seems like they have deafened themselves to the cries of a whole village," Nazo said to the horse and stroked it. He removed the saddle and handed it over to the attendant who came running to receive them.

"Give it some water," he said.

"Yes, sir," the man said and took the horse away.

Nazo looked at the grand garden that surrounded the mansion. It had different patches in full bloom with different flowers. Small pathways went through the flower beds which were tinted with the darkness of the night. He walked down one of the pathways. He did not feel like reporting to the prince; not yet. There were several statues made by eminent artists, a few fountains and ponds with lotuses and water lilies. Nazo took in the fresh scent of the flowers; they helped calm him down. There were very few people in the garden; mostly couples who wanted some time to themselves. He walked to the patch of roses. He remembered how much he disliked the flower but that was long ago; before he had met Amane. The image of a little girl with silver hair and green eyes flashed in his mind.

He pulled a flower near to him and filled his lungs with its fragrance. His mind was pulled down the memory lane. "You should not blame the rose for growing thorns," Amane had said. Her hair was tied in two ponies and her wide green eyes were frowning at him as she tied a bandage around his finger. She was a kid then and he was only a few years elder to her. She had dared him to pluck a rose for her if he wanted her to stop pestering him. All he managed to do was get his hands bloodied and being chased around by the angry gardener. "The rose was a princess. She was the most beautiful of all and word of her fragrant wisdom spread all over the world. Many sought after her, not for who she was, but for her priceless beauty and wisdom. So she grew a wall of thorns to test the ones who came to claim her. No one dared to come near her after that, afraid to be hurt by the thorns. She grew old and died still waiting for a man who could risk everything to get her. A few days later, the wall of thorns was burned down by the goddess of the forests, who was a friend of the princess. She saw that her friend had died a lonely death and a tear fell from her eyes. And from the spot that the tear had fallen a new plant sprouted. And that is how the rose plant was born."

That was the weirdest story he had ever heard and he got to hear plenty more of these from her since he had failed to get the rose. He was glad that he had not gotten rid of her pestering, he was glad for the thorns and the gardener. He never gave her a rose; he never wanted her to leave his side. But, everything he had ever wanted had been taken away from him.

"I thought you disliked roses."

Nazo turned and in an instant had unsheathed his sword and was pointing it at the hedge of rose bushes behind him. He was sure he had heard the voice from this direction. He couldn't see anyone, but he was sure that someone was standing there.

"Show yourself!" he said. He could not believe that he had let his guard down so much that someone could sneak up on him without him noticing.

"Is this how you greet your brother Ga-ku-po san!" Kiosky said, undoing the camouflaging spell.

"You should leave before I have to kill you," Nazo said bringing his sword down. He did not sheath it. He might have to use it.

"Kill me? Surely spilling the blood of all these innocent people has hardened you enough to be able to even kill me, your younger brother. I must say I am disappointed with you," Kiosky said in a mocking tone.

"I am doing you a favor by keeping your true identity hidden from Vincent sama. Return to your country before I have to kill you, Prince Kaito," Nazo said.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop addressing me as prince," Kaito said shaking his head. "You are after all the rightful crown prince of Shion."

"I said leave!" Nazo said pointing the sword at Kiosky again.

"Fine! I'll just take five minutes," Kiosky said, in a more serious tone.

"Speak," Nazo said still holding the sword at Kiosky's throat.

Kiosky rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Tell me brother, why are you bending so low as to do the dirty work of the selfish prince of Pelhar? You could just return to Shion. You could even claim the throne which is rightfully yours." Kiosky said.

"I am not interested in the throne," Nazo said.

"I like that about you," Kiosky said. "Just trying to confirm your status on that opinion."

"Get to the point!" Nazo said.

"It seems like you feel indebted to the King of Pelhar and so you are being loyal to the prince," Kiosky said.

Nazo frowned, Kiosky was right. He seemed as perceptive as ever. Nothing ever escaped his keen eyes. But, what was the point of bringing this up? Nazo knew very well that Kiosky himself had an eye for the throne of Shion. The only reason why he did not make Nazo his enemy was because Nazo never wanted the throne. He had recognized Prince Kaito the first time he laid eyes on the famous 'Kiosky Shubah', but he chose to hide Kaito's identity. It did not concern Nazo unless it had something to do with the safety of Prince Vincent.

Nazo stared into Kaito's eyes trying to read him. He was too tired to play his games.

"Look at you. Tired and lost. I think that if you bend any further for Vincent, you'll break," Kiosky said.

"And am I to assume that you are concerned?" Nazo said.

"Oh yes! After all, I have saved your life once before," Kiosky said.

Nazo's eyes widened. What did Kaito really want?

"I am here to give you a chance to free yourself; from the 'oath of debt' that I had made you take for saving your life and also to free you from Vincent," Kiosky said, a smile played around his mouth.

The 'oath of debt' that Kaito had made him take was an age-old sorcery which bound Nazo to repay his debt when asked for. The spell could only be broken if one of the partaker of the oath died.

"I can kill you here!" Nazo said and tightened his grip on the sword.

"Really? Elder Brother? You would choose to kill me over the man who has done such heinous crimes? Your hands are already bloodied with the curse of all those you had to kill for him. Aren't you sick and tired of this? Don't you want to end this?" Kiosky asked.

Nazo stood transfixed. He was confused. How could it be that he was confused. He felt weak in his knees. Kiosky moved the sword away with the back of his hand. Why was it so easy to move the sword away?

"I'm not asking you to kill the Prince with your own hands. All I want you to do is save me. I am counting on you to repay my kindness elder brother," he said and walked away, leaving Nazo alone to deal with the great battle that he had infused in his mind.