GOMENE MINNA-SAN! [sorry everyone] I'm really late, I know! So I tried to write a long-ish chapter for you!

And yes, to some of my reviewers, Rui's death was based on Sakura's death from Tsubasa (awesome anime/manga)

Amaya Snow- Here's your choice to see Meiko being controlled, I hope u like it...

O124NG3B4N4N4- I've been waiting for ur review! Thanks for that idea, I might use it in the future!

Thank you to all my readers who reviewed and had the heart to give me ideas! I'm grateful!

The Wolf who fell in Love with Red Riding Hood

Corrupted Princesses

Once upon a time, there lived three beautiful maidens. All people say they had 'a heart of gold and purity'. One of the maidens had 'lips red as blood', 'hair black as ebony' and 'skin white as snow'. Hence her name is Snow White. Snow White was a kindred spirit. She loved and was loved by everyone around her. Even the creatures of the forest adored her.

The second maiden was a hard-working one yet she still possesses the same kindred soul. Her name was Cinderella. Although her attire was usually smudged with cinders from the hearth, she always had a warm smile on her face. Because of her friendly and kind personality, Cinderella easily made friends with everyone around her.

The last maiden was blessed with beauty and the ability to sing like 'the birds of the morning'. She was given the name Aurora. Unfortunately her fate was decided for her when she was born, to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. Aurora wasn't dimmed by her destiny instead she decided to live her life to the full, singing and making true friends.

These three maidens, though lived different lives, are the same. They share the same characteristics; a pure heart, the ability to sing and beauty. But can corruption stain their pure character into impurity?

It was early morning. The sun had just risen, dying the sky in hues of pink and orange. Streaks of red and yellow were painted over. A certain young girl was happily skipping down the streets. She was carrying a large paper bag chock full of groceries. Her long teal piggy-tails trailed behind her.

"The things I want to tell you~!" she sang, "The things I want to reach you~!" (A/N: These are lyrics from 'Tell Your World')

Miku brought her voice down to a hum. "Kaito's going to enjoy tonight's dinner!" she giggled to herself.

The gleeful Cinderella was so excited about the upcoming meal; she didn't see an approaching hooded figure before it's too late. The two collided. Vegetables spilled onto the cobblestones while the hooded figure fell back, causing their hood to fall back.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Miku hastily apologised as she quickly retreated the fallen vegetables. "Here. Let me help you up-"

Her voice suddenly stopped. The hooded figure's identity was…almost like a reflection of herself. But instead of teal hair and blue eyes, the girl in front of her had pitch black hair and ruby red eyes.

Zatsune stared at her long-lost twin sister. Her stare then turned into a glare.

"Whoa," breathed Miku, "We…We look exactly the same."

(A/N: Remember Miku doesn't know she has a twin)

Suddenly Zatsune lunged forward and delivered a hard blow to Miku's stomach. Miku gave a startled gasp before falling into unconsciousness. Zatsune placed Miku leaning against the wall of a nearby building. She put the groceries in the unconscious Cinderella's lap.

"Best you don't know my existence sister," Zatsune muttered, "But I guess I can call this encounter lucky. I was hoping to run into you." She couched down and plucked a strand of Miku's teal hair.

"Now for the other two," she smiled, "I hope Zeito is alright with dealing Snow."

Someone was also up and early. They were making their way through the forest. Finally they stepped out in the early sunshine. It was Rei. He looked up at the pale sky with his saffron eyes. A small smile came to his face. Rei was in the clearing where the lake sat. He approached the body of water with something in his hands. Rei knelt down at the bank.

"Good morning Rui," he whispered to the still watery surface, "I…I came to visit."

In his hands was a garland of pure white lilies.

"I…I brought this for you," he spoke, "Please…forgive me."

A sigh escaped his lips and Rei closed his eyes. A single tear slipped past his eyelids and fell onto the water's surface, making it ripple.

"I'm sorry…," Rei choked on a sob, "I'm terribly sorry…Rui."

He bit his lip to stop them from trembling. Now his hands started to shake.

Get a grip! You promised yourself that you'll come here with a smile!

Rei quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve.

"T-This is for you," he sniffed.

He laid the garland down on the water and watched as it slowly drifted away from him. Rei placed a hand on his chest as the garland disappeared near the lake's misty centre; the place where Rui would always dance.

"Rest in peace…my swan."

The sun had risen higher but it was still morning. Rin draped her red hood around her shoulders and walked out of her room. When she pasted the kitchen, her mother noticed her.

"Rin-chan!" she called out, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to visit a friend," Rin replied.

Her mother gave her the approval nod and Rin walked out of the house. She pasted the Town Square when her eyes caught sight of Meiko and Neru. They were standing at the fountain while Miku sat, looking rather dazed.

Meiko noticed Rin first. "Oi Rinny!" she called and beckoned Rin to come.

Rin did so.

"What's wrong?" she inquired, "Everything alright?"

"Meiko found Miku unconscious on the side of the streets," Neru replied as she sucked on a lollipop.

"What?!" cried Rin, "What happened Miku?!"

"Not really sure, to be honest," Miku sheepishly admitted, "All I remember is that I bumped into someone."

"You fell unconscious by bumping in someone?" Neru repeated, "Miku, I thought you were stronger then that."

Miku just laughed.

"Maybe…whoever Miku bumped into knocked her out," Rin quietly suggested.

The friends fell silent.

Meiko rubbed her chin. "What Rinny said might be possible," she nodded, "You gotta be careful Miku."

Suddenly Rin remembered where she was headed. "Oh!" she exclaimed, "I better go! Please be careful!"

The friends waved her off. As Rin ran, she thought to herself.

Why would someone attack Cinderella? She's a kind person with a good heart. Unless…they want something from her. But Miku usually dress in rags and would carry small amount of money for her shopping… So what would they want?

Little Red Riding Hood disappeared into the woods, deep in thought.

Meiko and Neru had dropped off Miku back at the palace. They soon parted ways. Neru was walking back to her tower. She rolled her lollipop around in her mouth.

"Let's see, do I have anything to fend off boredom?" she asked herself in a bored tone, "Hmm…well, I do have that pile of shoujo manga to finish."

Neru, holding her lollipop in her mouth, fished out a key from her dress pocket. She was about to fit the key into the hole of the tower door when it swung open itself. Neru blinked in surprise and looked up.

Her sandy yellow eyes widened as a hand lunged forward from the darkness.

Neru's lollipop fell to the ground and shattered into many pieces.

Rin was approaching a small wooden hut when the nearby bushes rustle. She stopped but didn't flinch. Len stepped out. A smile spread across Rin's face.

"So you're worried about him as well?" she mused.

Len smiled back, "Yeah," he replied, "Even though he tried to kill me."

The two approached the hut, side by side. Rin was the one who knocked on the door. Then they waited. The door opened, revealing Rei. The woodcutter slightly stiffened at the sight of the two.

"Good morning Rei!" Rin cheerfully greeted.

"G-Good morning…," Rei stuttered back.

"May we come in?" she politely asked.

Rei flinched, "O-Oh, of course!" he spluttered then moved aside.

Once they were inside, Rei gesture them to two simple wooden chairs. He scrambled around like a frightened mouse.

Remembering from her last visit, Rin quickly added, "You don't need to worry about refreshments!"

Rei nodded and approached them slowly. "M-May I ask the reason for your v-visit?" he asked nervously.

Rin looked at Len and he nodded. "We wanted to check on you," Len replied, "We were worried about you since…" he paused, "Since Rui's death," he finished slowly.

The woodcutter drew a breath then let it out slowly. "I see," Rei muttered, "Thank you. I'm deeply sorry for my reckless actions. Although half of them were my actions…to be honest, the other half wasn't."

Rin and Len blinked, "What do you mean?" they asked.

Meiko leapt, just in time to avoid a fist blow. She glared at her attacker with her brownish-red eyes. Her attacker's crimson red eyes stared back at her, from underneath their hood.

"You're better than I thought," he said.

"Who the heck are you?!" Meiko demanded.

"That's for me to know," he replied with a mocking smile, "And for you to never know."

Angered and annoyed, Meiko suddenly whipped out her crossbow and fired a shot. Before the arrow could penetrate the attacker, he grabbed the arrow while it was still in mid-air. Meiko's eyes widened.

"Hmm good try," the attacker mused.

But Snow White wasn't going to give up so easily. She continued to fire with determination. The attacker nimbly dodged every shot by leaping into the air. When he landed, the attacker suddenly leaned his head to one side. By doing so, he had narrowly missed an arrow. It stabbed into the truck of a tree.

Meiko softly cursed.

He smiled at mocking smile again, "That was close, wasn't it?"

"Who the heck are you?!" Meiko tried asking again.

But to her surprise, the attacker wasn't in front of her. She blinked in confusion. Suddenly she sensed a presence behind her and turned around. But it was too late. A sharp and quickly blow was delivered to the back of Meiko's head. She fell onto the soft grass, unconscious.

The attacker's hood now fell back, revealing Zeito. He crouched down and plucked a strand of Meiko's chestnut brown hair.

"Mission completed," he murmured.

Rei took another wooden chair and sat in front of the two.

Taking a deep breath, he started to explain. "Rui and I were both marionettes to her," he began.

There's that 'her' again, Len thought.

"As marionettes, our job was to…," Rei paused for a moment to find the correct words, "…to interfere with the story's progress."

"The story?" repeated Rin.

Rei nodded, "We take roles of characters from different tales yet we live in the same world. So, eventually, our story will begin but in a different way."

Len and Rin looked at each other. It was true. Their tale never mentioned Little Red Riding Hood saving the wolf's life or the wolf falling for Little Red Riding Hood.

"We were to get in between you two," continued Rei, "…R-Rui was to drive Len away while I was with Rin."

"You mean, the time we first met wasn't a coincidence?!" Rin gasped.

Rei shook his head sadly.

"Now I understand what Aurora said," Len mumbled.

Rin turned to him, "What did Neru say?" she asked.

"Aurora mentioned that Rei seems to appear out of nowhere," Len replied, "Is it because… 'She' placed you there?"

Rei nodded, "She placed me wherever Rin is so that I could…distract her from you."

Rin stared at the woodcutter.

"So…do you love Rin still?" Len quietly mumbled.

Rei looked at Len with his gold eyes and smiled. "At first I fell for her with my half of my heart," he answered.

"You mean…," Rin began.

"Yes," finished Rei, "It was part of her orders that I fall for you. But…," he looked out of the window, "I found out that I've loved Rui from the very beginning."

Len and Rin stared at him with wide eyes.

Rei gave a sad nod, "That's right," he sighed, "I found out after Rui was gone," Rei then smiled, "I guess the reason why I fell for Rin was because she reminds me of Rui."

He then caught Len's stare. "Don't worry Len," Rei reassured, "I'll let Rin be with you. Even though Rui's not actually here… I'll still love her."

Rin blinked back tears. She was deeply moved.

"I'm extremely sorry for my actions," Rei bowed, "So, as atonement, I'll be willing to help you two in anyway."

"Thank you," nodded Len.

The two stood up, bid their farewells and left. Rei smiled to himself. He didn't feel regret for any of his words. They were all true. To be honest, he was glad that Rin and Len came to visit.

"I hope they have a happy ending," he whispered, "Right, my swan?"

"Now don't they look cute~?" squealed Zatsune.

She held up three new puppets. They looked like Miku, Neru and Meiko.

Zeito smiled, "Of course," he replied, "With your skills, anything you make is beautiful."

A light blush came over Zatsune's cheeks as she attached the strings to her new puppets.

"I-It'll be a lot easier to control these three," Zatsune said trying to unearth another subject, "Since we have their hair samples."

The huntsman's smile didn't faltered, "I see."

The witch fidgeted slightly under his gaze. "A-Anyway!" she cried, "Let's test them out!"

Len had insisted to walk Rin back through the woods. She accepted, happy to have some company. They walked in silence. The only sound was their boots crunching on dry leaves.

Bothe Rui and Rei want Len to be with me… Wait. Eh?! Len and I?! I-I don't… I mean, I-I've never…

Rin's face became pink.

"B-Beautiful weather today, right Len?" she spluttered, "…Len?"

She turned to face him and noticed the serious expression on his face.

"Len, what's wrong?" Rin asked in concern.

He blinked and shook his head, "Oh sorry," he replied, "I was thinking about what Rei and Rui said."

"What do you mean?"

Len locked his azure eyes with Rin's marine ones. "Have you notice that both Rui and Rei has mentioned a 'her'?" he asked.

Rin's eyes widened. "Yeah!" she cried, "They said they've been marionettes of 'her'!"

Len nodded, "I wonder who 'her' is-"

Suddenly the bushes rustled. The two flinched. Len quickly whipped his hood over his head and shoved his hands into his pockets. Rin and Len braced themselves for whatever was coming out.

"Rin-chan~!" cried a familiar voice.

Miku leapt out. Neru and Meiko followed her.

Rin gave a sigh of relief, "Oh it's only you three," she turned to Len, "Len, this is Miku, she takes the role of Cinderella. You've already met Meiko and Neru, right?"

Len's eyes narrowed.

Something's not right. Their scent… isn't the same as the other times I've met them. They smell like… cherries?

(A/N: Remember that Zatsune snacked on cherries in chapter 4)

Rin was about to walk over to her friends when Len grabbed her wrist.

"Len?" blinked Rin.

"Something's not right," he warned.

She gave him a look of confusion. Suddenly big Chesire Cat grins appeared on the three princesses. Rin felt Len stiffen and turned around, only to gasp. Her friends took slow steps towards them. Len quickly pulled Rin behind him. A whimper escaped from her trembling lips.

"Get her!" shrieked Meiko.

The other two raced towards. Holding tightly to Rin's wrist, Len ran. Rin tried her best to keep up. A human's agility was different to a wolf's. The mad laughter and cackles from behind wasn't helping Rin's racing heart.

"W-Why are they like this?!" she sniffed.

"Something must have happened to them!" Len panted, "Someone's controlling them!"

"Like marionettes…," Rin whispered.

Suddenly Len gave a yelp of pain and collapsed onto the ground. An arrow stuck out of his shoulder.

"Len!" screamed Rin.

"Go! Run!" he urged.

"But-"

"GO NOW!" he demanded, "They're after you!"

Tears welled up in her eyes as Rin turned away and ran. Clutching the arrow with sweaty hands, Len yanked it out. He bit his lip down hard to prevent him from screaming in pain. His chest heaved in and out as Len felt his life liquid running down his body. Len forced himself to stand. Suddenly there was a giggle behind him. Len stiffly turned around.

An uneasy wind whistled outside. Rei stared out of the window as the fire in the hearth gave a pop. His stomach twisted into a complicated knot.

Something's not right… The remaining strings in me are trembling… She's controlling someone.

"REI!"

He jumped and hurried to the door, where furious thumping was coming from. Rei opened to find a distressed Rin.

"Rin, what's wro-"

The Little Red Riding Hood flung herself on the woodcutter. Rei stumbled back.

"You got to hurry!" she sobbed, "Please!"

A wind blew. Rei's eyes widened when he sworn he heard a familiar voice whisper to him; "Go… Hurry, Rei…"

Rui?

Rei placed his hand on Rin's shaking shoulders and looked into her teary eyes.

"Lead the way."

"Poor little wolf," smiled Miku, "So much pain you've endured… Shall we end it for you?"

Meiko took aim with her crossbow. Her target: Len's chest.

"Fire! Fire!" laughed Neru.

Len clutched his throbbing shoulder. The arrow had gone down deep and the amount of blood he's losing had made him too weak. His legs were struggling just to keep him up.

"Bye bye wolf!" Miku waved with a giggle.

"Shoot! Shoot!" Neru cackled.

Meiko's mouth curled into an evil smile, "Die!" she cried.

Suddenly a black blur shot out from the nearby bushes and tackled the mad Snow White down. The crossbow lost aim and the arrow punctured a tree branch instead. It was Rei who had tackled Meiko.

She swore before yelling at the struggling woodcutter, "Get off, stupid boy!"

The other two princesses was startled but quickly recovered, because Miku and Neru lunged at Rin. Len acted fast, by throwing himself onto the ground, causing Miku and Neru to trip.

"Curse you, wolf!" Neru spat.

"Argh… sore," Miku groaned.

"A-Are they alright?" Rin asked when she ran to help Len up.

He nodded, "Yes, but we need to stop them."

"Len!" cried Rei.

Something flew through the air and Len caught it with his good arm. It was a dagger.

"Cut the strings!" Rei yelled as he struggled to hold on Meiko, "Puppets are free if their strings are cut!"

Realising what Rei meant, Len quickly slashed the dagger above Miku and Neru. There was a snap and nearly invisible strings fell to the ground. Rin grabbed the dagger from Len and rushed over to help Rei. She followed Len's actions and Meiko's strings fell to the ground. All three princesses passed out.

"Don't worry," reassured Rei, "They'll awake with no memories of what happened to them."

Len nodded then gave a groan as he fell to his knees, gripping his shoulder tightly.

"Len!" cried Rin as she rushed to his side, "D-Does it hurt badly?" She placed her hand on Len's and gently moved it away from the wound. Rin drew a breath as she saw the stained fabric of Len's shirt.

Rei came over and examined Len's shoulder, "Hmm…it's deep alright," he rasped.

Suddenly Rin started to rip the hem of her dress. The two boys were taken by surprise.

"W-What are you doing?" stuttered Len.

She started to apply those ripped strips of fabric on Len's wound. "Making bandages," she replied, "For you."

Rei smiled while Len stared at her with wide eyes. Soon the wolf's injured shoulder was wrapped with a red cloth.

"Well, at least the blood stains don't stand out," Rin mused.

"Argh…what happened? Where are we?"

The three jumped. Miku, Neru and Meiko had regained consciousness. All eyes stared at Len's wolf ears. His hood had fallen down during the attack. Realising what they were staring at, Len completely froze.

"Rin… what's going on?" Neru asked slowly without taking her eyes off Len.

Rin sighed, "It's a long story…"

"Oh goodie!" clapped the naïve Cinderella, "I love stories!"

"Well, now three more people know my true identity," Len sighed as he walked Rin back to the village.

"At least they took it nice and calmly…," Rin laughed uneasily.

"The only one who did that was Cinderella," Len huffed. (A/N: No pun intended. Yes, the Big Bad Wolf 'huffed and puffed' but I didn't mean it that way.)

Flashback

"Kya~! He's so cute with those fluffy little ears!" Miku squealed, "Can I touch them?"

A sweat drop ran down everyone else's head as Miku playfully tugged on Len's ears.

End of flashback

As they approached Rin's cottage, Len quickly brought up a quick subject.

"Rin?"

"Yes?"

"From now on, I want you to be cautious about your surroundings and the people you meet," Len said solemnly.

She blinked at him, "W-Why?"

"First Rei tried to kill me," he explained, "Then your friends turned against you and tried to hurt you. That doesn't seem like a coincidence. It seems like someone is trying to hurt both of us."

"W-Who would do such a thing?" asked Rin nervously.

"I don't know," frowned Len, "But promise me you'll be careful."

She nodded.

Len dropped off Rin at her house and bid her a farewell. Rin's mother couldn't help but stare at the boy whom her daughter seem to spend a lot of time with. His azure blue eyes made her uneasy… like something from the haunting memories.

"Mother?" called Rin.

Her mother snapped out of her thoughts. "S-Sorry dear…," she apologised, "What is it, dear?"

"Please don't worry," Rin smiled, "Len is a good person."

"Yes…of course…," her mother nodded slowly. She then added softly, "I hope."

Somewhere, possibly in another dimension, everything was painted white. The whiteness made the 'world' or 'space' seem like it continued forever, never ending. In the middle of the space laid a still body. It was a girl. She had short raven black hair and her closed eyes showed off her long lashes.

But what's horrifying about this young girl was the bloody wound on her bare back. It seemed as if something had been impaled into her body…something like an axe.

A soft male's voice echoed in the space; My swan… My swan…

Her eyes fluttered opened, revealing honey gold.

Our witch seems crafty but will she be caught? And Little Red Riding Hood seemed convinced that her dear wolf is a good guy. Is she right? Because remember, the Big Bad Wolf isn't called bad for nothing. Our wolf had spilt blood in many stories. He gobbled up two innocent yet naïve pigs; he ate a weak grandmother and even devoured a boy who called his name.

But our wolf isn't bad…or is he?

It also seem like another character is about to return…

Yep, go ahead and chuck tomatoes at me. I know, terrible ending but I was rushing! I'm sorry! .

Ok, here's a suggestion does anyone want to know why Rin's mother feels uneasy to Len? If u do, say so in ur reviews~!

If u don't... sorry for another burden but suggest any ideas I can do for the next chapter

Thank u for reading~! R&R!