Chapter 6:

Arsenic and Poison

(Kaito's POV)

I had no time to lose. Just seeing that haggard makes me sick. As much as love is heavenly, I have to resort to sin. Miku is mine, not his. I don't care whether it was my jealousy taking over me and I don't care how insane I'll turn out to be when I start to execute my plan. But if it's Miku, goddamn, I'll go beyond the heights of the gods in this world to keep her.

Len would not know what had come to him. Looks like his plan with my lover will cease tonight!

I went to the town's outskirts to find the Apothecary's shed. She was an odd sort of hag, and she was as quiet and secretive as a mouse. Few have come to her shed before, and she has done many miracles with her potions the last time I was here six years ago. The woman is crazy enough with her concoctions. Even though her miracles work sometimes, there is a chance of major illness as a side effect, and it varies for every "remedy concoction" she makes. If she can make miraculous potions and antidotes, she can make deadly poisons and chemicals.

With such talent, she couldn't be trusted. Yet people still come to her place in times of desperate measures. She tends to move whenever the Empire discovers where she is. I'm not sure how she'd know about that being in that mobile shed her whole life. She's been a fugitive of the Empire for as long as I could remember. Funny that she knows everyone's names in this Kingdom as well, even those that just came in.

I arrived at the shed at noon only to enter and find that the old Apothecary is sleeping on her desk of beakers and bottles. There were several rows of colored concoctions on the shelves, and there were only two candle lights that lit up the room.

"Hello?" I called out. The Apothecary got up, startled, and fell off of her desk.

"What? What? Who are you?" she panicked. "Are you with the Amorluxian guards? If so, I'll–" She cut herself off and began mixing and pouring concoctions. It looked as if she came off strong, but at the same time, she was afraid of the authorities.

"Apothecary," I called.

"Are you with them or not?"

"No, I am not! You can trust me! I'm here to seek a certain... poison."

She gave me a grim look of reassurance. "I swear, you look like one of the Empire's noblemen with that outfit of yours! Call me Gumi. The way you say Apothecary annoys me." Her voice faded off to quietness. Her mood changed into a softer one as she looked at me with her old eyes and asked, "What poison or medicine do you want?"

I contemplated... I wanted a poison that can bend Miku's will and make her fall for me. I want to make her oblivious to everything so she doesn't worry about this horrible world anymore. Only I'm her focus. I was desperate for any method as long as it didn't kill her.

"I want a poison that can manipulate one's will. A poison that makes one oblivious and drawn to one thing only."

She gave me a questioning look. "By any chance, Kaito," she called my name. "Are you in love with a certain woman?" He gave a suspicious smirk.

"I am. Miku Hatsune. A woman with a smile and compassion that even the angels envy. Sadly, she's almost marriage bound by a haggard, and–"

"Say no more, Kaito-san. I have the perfect concoction for you, but it'll take some time to mix in the active ingredients for this to work." She went over and grabbed an odd, purple syringe from the back shelf and placed it on the desk. "This poison I will create is from the Dark Ages centuries ago. Last time this was used, the poison had a setback in its second dose and immediately killed a girl."

Second dose? What does she mean? She continued on. "This was a poison that was used in fictional times, when the prince of Borgia was madly infatuated with his sister. However, with the wrong dose of this poison, he killed her... Or so it seems." She grabbed a sack of powder from under the table. "There are some ingredients in this that can definitely kill someone if taken more than once, such as this arsenic." She poured a small amount of it into the syringe. I was afraid of this poison already, but I have to trust what she says true for the sake of Miku. "The first dose is as small as four drops of this liquid. Like the fabled potion that put Juliet to sleep, this puts the person into a deep sleep for 4 hours. It will take at most 2 hours for this to be in effect. She will be unconscious, yet her subconscious will be awakened. In other words, even if she's unconscious, she will be moving and making sounds on her own."

A very pleasurable idea had come to my thoughts. As I could remember about the time she was asleep, she was a heavy sleeper who moved and moaned to every hint of my sweet nothings. That moment had gotten me aroused, and I wanted to take her right there! With this concoction, maybe I can finally get the chance for her to succumb to me! I'll get the truth out from her right then and make her mine! Just thinking about it makes me smirk and get excited for this pleasurable night! Sad to say though, she wouldn't remember anything done. Yet whatever the possibility, she will be marked, claimed, and bound by me.

"Kaito, I must warn you about the second time you use it, the second dose." I broke out from my fantasies and listened to her. "The second dose will have a similar effect as the first dose, but the time of unconsciousness will be greatly shortened. It will only take seconds to go into effect, for by then, this arsenic will have doused her in a considerable quantity from first sip. She will be out for several minutes, then god who knows whether she will be awake or not by then."

"Wait, what do you mean?!" I jumped out from my chair and took a step forward to her.

"Calm yourself, Kaito. There's a possibility she may either live or die depending on the amount of drops you give her the next dosage. I highly recommend you best not give this to her twice. Once is killing enough already." She poured a small amount of the liquid into a tiny glass bottle. "There have been very few times before the Borgia event that this did succeed, though even I cannot trust the historical record of this." She handed me the glass bottle. "I highly advise you: heed my words. Even if you plunge into the deep depths of your secretive mind, don't you dare! And for the sake of your lover, do not resort to it!" Her tone had changed from soft to more alarming. It almost sounded intimidating. For Miku... To protect her, or ravish her was what had affected my motives up to now, and sooner or later, I was about to lose all self-control by giving in completely to my hidden feelings. This will be a night none shall forget.

In the early evening, I went to the armory shop at the end of the Kingdom's market place to sharpen and examine my sword and sheaths. Verunia was a barren, burly kingdom and a lot of training and practice had dullen my weapons' shapes. Glady, with all the military training, I've finally prepared myself for the night ahead of me. The swords crafter has made me a newer sword more refined, sharp, long, and suitable for my enemy.

From a distance, I saw a shining tealette wearing old clothing and saw a familiar face. Miku's. It looked as if she's shopping for food, but why? There should already be food taken care of at the Royal Manors. Oh... Her humble image is so adorable with her long flowing hair and body figure. So humble, so innocent. I quietly followed her as she walked over to a log and sat down to rest. As she was drinking out of her large leather flask and getting up from her seat, I purposely bumped into her as if I was a child occupied in looking at the large vivid, yet gnat-infested town centre. How I acted at that point was so childish! In a way, I didn't mind acting childish and jokingly when it came to her back then, so now shouldn't be that different. Still, I have to continue with some formality. Ultimately though, this was my chance to act!

"I'm so sorry! Excuse my rudeness sir!" She apologized. So cute when she's like this. She'll be sorry later.

It's alright, my love," I said smiling. I haven't seen her face up close like this since the ball. Yet, I cannot exploit the masked identity yet. She stared into my eyes and examined me. "Why are you out here in the marketplace in tonight's heat wave?"

She swiped off the sweat on her forehead. "I'm preparing for a ride to the outskirts with my fiancée."

That haggard? Or someone else? I gave a quick look in disgust and replied. "The outskirts huh? You'll have to be very careful on your ride." A fake smile of happiness grew upon my face. Her eyes grew wider all of a sudden, like the brown moons in her eyes had shown its full eclipse of discovery. Hopefully she would remember me...

"You are Lady Miku, am I correct?" I asked with another smile as I kneeled beside her.

She suddenly clenched her chest and started to blush. By now she should remember who I am. I kept staring into her eyes, giving her the missing pieces of her childhood puzzles that repainted the memories of us.

She then looked down on the floor, noticing that her flask dropped from her hands and was almost empty. "Yes," she replied.

Before she reached her flask, I grabbed it for her. Now's my chance for this poison to control her. No, this is my time now to control everything that is her. I stared deeply into her eyes and gave a more alluring look at her. She looked both intimidated and captivated as I gave her back the flask. Maybe now, I could reveal myself.

She grabbed my face with both of her soft palms as I took pleasure in the soft, kind hands on my cheeks.

"Kaito?" She whispered. "Kaito Shion?" My heart nearly stopped then exploded in bliss! This official day of reuniting face to face like that made me euphoric in delight! My heart was racing and beating like there was no tomorrow! I gave her the biggest genuine smile I could give her and pulled her immediately into my embrace!

"Miku! My sweet love, Miku!" I exclaimed. I took in every scent of her from her neck, her nape, her face, hair, and jawbone. I knew I wasn't the only one enjoying it, for every moan she made she was captivated by me. Every one of her moans made me smirk and lose my self-control. Her scent had triggered my heart into a new level of adoration; fresh linen, flowers, and her own sweat that especially aroused my dark mind.

It was time to act. I want her to be taken by me so desperately. With the flask still opened, I took my tiny bottle out and dropped two drops of poison. I tried my best to stay still so she wouldn't suspect anything, yet it was hard to struggle out from her reluctant pushing.

"Kaito-chan– I mean, Kaito-kun!" Her calling me that had made my inner demon awaken as I smirked wickedly. "You're going to make me fall!" I stopped dripping the poison into her flask a third time and hid the bottle as fast as I could. I noticed she was holding onto the log with one hand for a while, so I got up and brushed off the dirt.

"Oh! I'm so terribly sorry, my love!" I brushed the dirt off her as she held up her flask. "Let me refill your flask! I'm so sorry I spilled it. I guess I didn't look at where I was going!"

She gave me a sarcastic look of joke. "Yeah, right! You were just waiting to spill it all out so I end up dizzy by the end of the day! You're evil!"

I caught on with her playful teasing and went along with her feisty attitude. "Well at least I know where I was going! It was your fault for even dropping the flask. Not mine!" my smile crooked into an amused smirk.

"Didn't you say that you didn't know where–" She stopped in her sentence as I widely grinned in a sense of accomplishment and chuckled. Looks like I caught her there.

"Tongue-tied, my love?"

"Just fill up my water flask, Kaito-chan." Hmph, that sarcastic tone of voice. I grinned again when I saw her face turn pinker. When she calls me by that nickname, it feels like an invitation.

"As you wish, love." I walked over to the well at the center of the market place and pulled up the bucket of water. I refilled the flask, then put the last drop of the poison into it. I sealed it up with the cap and lightly shook it as I went back to my Miku, who's been eyeing my new physique the whole time, I know it! As I returned to her side, I gave back the flask and noticed her adorable face look down suddenly.

For about several minutes of talking and reminiscing, I did not see any changes or sudden collapses from the poison I put into her drink. Did it work, and was Arthur right about how it's supposed to work? Then again, I still find this as much pleasurable of talking to her about my time after my disappearance. The more she asked me about myself, the more I got to indirectly know how she acts now. She's still the same optimistic, funny, and humble girl I've fallen in love with. It's only at that one time when she brought up that haggard's name that it irritated me. In a way, she implied him with such a derogatory sense that made me think I should have been the one with those luxurious things.

"When all these news from Amorluxia reached me about the viceroy's death, I remember I had to come back to fulfill something."

"You would have been the Commander of the Royal Guard then instead of Len!" she gasped. Both our eyes widened and she leaned towards me. Just his name is vile enough. "Anyway, what was it that you had to do?"

I hope to profess my feelings right then and there. I can't hold in my emotions any longer. So, what I had to do was give an opening of declaration for such blissful moment.

"My promise was to come back for you." I suddenly grasped her hands and neared her face again so our foreheads were touching. Her face was so much more alluring as she grew more shades of red, and it didn't take long for her to be lured in uncontrollably by my influence.

This is time. It's time to close our gap. I want her to be mine right now! I don't care who's going to stop us. I felt like an animal at no restraints at eating his prey alive. I held her shoulders tightly and almost closed our gap.

Suddenly. "Kaito!" she cried. She pushed my shoulders back and reaffirmed herself. "Please understand this! I know I shouldn't have done that, but I'll have you know I'm engaged to Len!" She put out her hand and showed me her ring. I can't believe it... Why is she bound to him like this? All the anger and frustration within my heart had almost taken over me as I looked at her somewhat desolate face. Normally for one to affirm of something, the person is straightforwardly obstinate and assertive. From how she's expressing herself at that moment throws off everything into a large could of ambiguity.

I took her expression in as argument before I confronted her with my next statement. "Yet, you do not love him do you?" I reassessed. She looked down in uncertainty and turned her back towards me, unable to find her answer.

So that's how it is... "Miku..."

I felt now as if I'm the one trying to corner her like a villain. I can't let my desires drive me into doing something so sinful and impure. Yet, I love her so much I can't help it... Ugh...

That poison. That should help me find my answers. No, why did I even poison her while knowing the risks this holds? Such conflicting thoughts have clashes within myself as well as Miku's impressions on me after my attempt to kiss her.

"Let us continue our reminiscence tomorrow with some tea. I won't bother you about this subject anymore since it isn't my business. Will you come to my manor tomorrow evening after your outskirts trip?" I've reverted myself back to my more courteous behavior before I continued on.

She looked back at me with frightened yet reassured eyes. I gave her my genuine smile as I put out my hand. She looked at me and smile as well as we exchanged hands like accomplices. At least right now, this makes up for what I've done minutes ago.

"I'll be there, Kaito. We have a lot more to reminisce on the next day. I have so many questions left unanswered about back then! I really hope you don't mind me asking!" She spoke as if she forgot what just happened.

"I don't. You can ask me anything tomorrow, since hopefully that will make up for any uneasiness I've caused. Sorry for my attempt..." I felt oddly uncomfortable as we finally parted. It's been blissful that we've spent so much time together this evening, and yet I have much more to discover about her. It makes me grow into an insatiable thirst for her... As for now, it's all according to plan.

"It will take at most 2 hours for this to be in effect," Gumi's voice echoed in my thoughts. "She will be unconscious, yet her subconscious will be awakened."

It's time for me to embark tonight. The moon outside my manor has revealed itself from the clouds. I've put on my navy cobalt coat and put on my diamond encrusted mask. I've adjusted the sword on my waist belt and set out into the east side of forge kingdom. This will be a night both my love and Len Kagamine will never forget. And as much as I've tried to control myself from doing anything this rash, I lost all self-control of almost all my sanity. I'll have my way with both of them tonight! I don't care how deep I get plunged into the depths of hell for doing this, but goddamn it all, I love her so much, I'm willing to manipulate her to love me and take over her heart!

Forgive me... lovely Miku, for the sins I will commit tonight!

Hey, guys! It's just getting more intense from here. This chapter probably answers some of the things that happened in the previous chapter, and I pretty much entwined the reunion event in both chapters. Anyway, I can tell you no doubt that the next chapter WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A LEMON (not like a hardcore one, YET, but still juicy~). I just finished my finals, thank goodness haha. Honestly, I've typed up about 8-9 chapters for this story already, but I need to revise it still so be patient. PLEASE R&R! AND IT WOULD DO ME JUSTICE IF YOU GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT KAITO SHOULD DO NEXT... xP