Aneko: Your freaking out over the last chapter has urged me to quickly write this one!!( maybe that's why it's so short...)Oh and by the way, winks those guesses you made? You'll just have to see…

Disclaimer: grabs script from teleprompting people. Waves it around in the airYeah, yeah, I know. sigh I don't own Princess Tutu. There, you happy now? throws script at people off-screen muttering stupid disclaimers…

Chapter six- Strings

Ahiru stood up from where she had fallen, sprawled on the ground.

The area was very dimly lit, and before her, a raised area stood like a stage, black curtains parted to the side.

"Hello?" Ahiru called out.

No one answered, and Kiru had disappeared.

Ahiru walked onto the raised area, and the curtains abruptly closed behind her. A bright spotlight blinked on, focused on Ahiru.

"My, look at the poor Hime-sama," a voice called mockingly, "all alone. You'd think she could remember her own parents, but she doesn't. It's all so sad, isn't it?"

A sad theatrical mask fell from above, its month frozen in a ghastly wail.

"Ara, but what's this?"

The counterpart of the sad mask fell, the happy one, completing the set.

"When the knight appears," within the empty eyehole of the happy mask, a picture of Fakir riding a horse, with a bluebird flying by his shoulder, appeared, "Hime-sama becomes happy."

"Who are you? Come out!" Ahiru called boldly, hoping she sounded braver than she felt.

"Very well."

Another spotlight came on, except this one was red. It was focused behind Ahiru and revealed a tall staircase.

From the top, a tall figure began to descend. She- for Ahiru couldn't believe she was anything but female- wore a theatrical mask, split down the middle so that one half was sad and the other was happy. The only features showing were her mouth and eyes, through the slits. Long straight, chestnut brown hair was pulled back from her face. She was garbed in a dress of swirling gray and white. She reached the bottom and stopped, staring at Ahiru.

"Who are you?" Ahiru repeated.

"I am," she disappeared, only to reappear behind Ahiru, "the Puppetmaster."

Ahiru gasped, and was about to move away, when she felt a cold, firm hold on her shoulder.

"And where are we planning on running off to, hm? You don't even know where you are." Her voice was cold and emotionless.

The grip on Ahiru's arm vanished, as did the Puppetmaster. The two theatrical masks morphed together to form a sort of stand in which rested a crystal ball. The Puppetmaster's voice echoed around the room as a picture of the castle appeared in the crystal.

"Look at this Kingdom- so happy, just because one girl was returned."

A hand reached out of the darkness to trace the spires of the towers.

"It is so easy to make them happy, is it not? To just return a person who looks somewhat like who they were looking for…it is not that difficult."

"You mean-?!" Ahiru realized.

"No, you are not really the Princess Hikari."

"Then why?! Why did you make them think I was?!"

"Me? I did nothing, merely brought you to this world on a whim. It was they, the mourning Kingdom, who saw their princess in you."

I should escape! Ahiru thought, determined. Since Fakir's here now, we'll think of something, and-

"Oh, by the way, don't even think about escaping, or else…"

The image in the crystal flashed to one of Fakir, sitting defeated in the gardens. The hand stroked the ball gently.

"…Or else the knight's life is as good as forfeit."

Ahiru felt her chest grow cold. A block of ice had wedged itself in her heart, rendering her motionless. Her legs began moving of their own accord to nowhere she knew, just away; yet she still could not escape the Puppetmaster's parting words.

"Don't even think about going home if you want the knight to live."

Fakir looked up as bright light filled his vision,

"Ahiru?!"

Ahiru looked up when she heard her name, but froze when her eyes met Fakir's. They were back in the garden again.

"Ahiru, are you alright? What happened?"

As he questioned her, Ahiru's mind slowly started churning, but her throat was still stuck.

I can't! If I say something now, I'll want to go home!

"Hey, Ahiru?" Fakir questioned, confused. Her head was down, her hair hiding her face.

"…can't…" she whispered under her breath.

"What?"

"I can't!" Ahiru shouted, raising her head to show tears shining helplessly in her blue eyes. "Leave, Fakir! You have to leave!"

Ahiru turned on her heel and ran for the castle, tears blinding her and her heart heavy.

I'm sorry, Fakir…so sorry, but…I don't want to lose you forever.

Back in the garden, Fakir stood there stunned.

"Leave Fakir!"

"Just what... What is she thinking?"

Had he imagined the happiness in her voice,in her eyes, when she had seen him?

"You have to leave!"

No, it couldn't be. She had been crying.

"There's something going on around here..."

Ahiru woke to a bird singing outside somewhere. She moved the pillow from over her head to reveal bags under puffy red eyes. She had cried herself to sleep, but woken up several times during the night. Now she was a mess, and it was all she could do to keep from cringing when she looked in the mirror.

She felt hollow, as she began wandering the halls again. She didn't care if she got lost this time0 after all, she had nothing important going on. This place, which had once seemed so light and happy was now a dark, suppressing cage.

Not watching where she was going, Ahiru's forehead bumped into something…solid. Rubbing her forehead, Ahiru saw a heavy oak door before her. She didn't really care where she was going, so she decided to open it. When she stepped inside, she regretted it immediately. It was the library Chare and Iris had mentioned on the first day.

Ahiru could almost see Fakir standing in the shelves, looking up some book or other. Ahiru would have turned around and left right there, but a clattering noise on the other side of one of the shelves caught her attention.

Ahiru made her way around several shelves before reaching the middle of the room, where, in the midst of the clear area, a man stood.

His back was to Ahiru, his face to the windows. He was very tall and thin, and dark brown hair fell to his shoulders. Ahiru could see an easel before him, and a piece of charcoal held between thin fingers, but she couldn't see what he was drawing.

Ahiru jumped when he spoke.

"Don't be shy now. Come here."

She cautiously made her way around him so that they were facing each other.

He smiled at her with warm brown eyes, offering a charcoal-smudged hand for her to shake.

"Hello. My name is Reuben."

"Nice to meet you, Reuben-san. I'm Ahiru. Um, may I ask what you're drawing?"

"Sure, sure. Come on over," he said, beckoning her to his side of the easel.

When Ahiru came around, she let out a gasp of appreciation.

"Wah! Amazing!"

"Really?" Reuben sounded truly astonished, "I didn't think it was that good…"

Upon the white surface had been drawn a cage, suspended in the air, with a bird, captured in mid-song.

"But it is kind of sad that she's stuck in a cage."

"You think?" Reuben asked, touching the soft line that made the top of the bird's head, "I don't really think so. I think that maybe she's just taking some time to figure out how to find the key."

It felt oddly like they weren't really talking about the painting any more.

"But what if there is no key? What will she do then?"

Reuben looked at her, but Ahiru could not interpret his expression.

"Then I guess she'll have to find a way to slip through the bars."

Ahiru closed the door to the library quietly.

"Good day, my daughter!"

"Eee!" Ahiru squeaked, jumping.

Oran was walking briskly down the hall, waving jovially. It seemed, Ahiru thought, that it was a habit of his to talk loudly all the time.

In several long strides he had reached Ahiru and proffered an arm to her.

"Excellent- I was just about to search for you, and ask if you might join me for a stroll around the gardens?"

"Sure," Ahiru said, accepting his arm and nodding.

The King travelled slowly with Ahiru, arm in arm, apparently going where the mood took him.

"I have noticed that you seemed in low spirits today. What's the matter?" Oran spoke. It was the first time Ahiru had heard him speak quietly.

"Oh, it's nothing really." Ahiru said, trying to smile, but she was unable to look him in the eye.

"Really?" Oran stopped to look at her, bringing Ahiru to a halt too.

"I hope that you know- whatever you need from me I will give you. Say the word and I will do everything in my power."

"Why…so much, just for me?"

"Because," Oran picked a red rose from the shrub beside him and offered it to Ahiru, "you are my only daughter, and I wish for nothing more than to always see you smiling."

Ahiru took the rose, staring at its unblemished petals.

"…I must just be tired. I'll be alright soon."

But even as the lie was said, she was weeping inside for the mask she was wearing, and the strings which kept it there.

Aneko: -Gasp- I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry!! I can't believe I made her run away from Fakir!! mumbles something under breath.

Ahiru: HEY!! -whacks with newspaper- They aren't allowed to know to know that until next chapter.

Aneko: OW! Okay fine! -Crying golf ball tears- Until next time!! runs away