Discalimer: I do not own KWMS.

"Two years," Misaki whispered. "It has been two long years since you left me, mother to thrive in this world all alone."

Misaki bent down to place the orchids she had plucked from her garden on her mother's grave.

"Do you still like them, mother?" she asked as she stroked a petal with a dainty finger.

A single tear rolled down her flushed cheek as Misaki read the epitaph that was neatly etched on the headstone.

God's greatest gift returned to God- my mother

O, Lord I put her in thy hands

She had a kindly word for each

And she died beloved by all

She lives with us in memory

And will for evermore.

A beloved wife and mother,

Saya Ayuzawa

A breeze blew as the wind gently played with her raven locks. A moment of silence followed while the melodious chirping of the birds fell on deaf ears. The loud thumping of her heart could be heard while the scene where the unfortunate message was conveyed to her played before her eyes.

"No…no! You lie!" Misaki's cries echoed through the castle halls as Honoka struggled to console the mourning female who thrashed in her arms.

"Misaki, calm down dear."

"You lie! You lie! My mother can't be dead," she sobbed in her shoulder. "She can't leave me. She can't!"

Honoka tightly hugged the whimpering princess as she gently rocked back and forth. "I too wish it was a lie, my dear. But I am afraid, it is a rather unfortunate slap of reality," she whispered while gently stroking Misaki's hair.

"H-how? How did this happen?"

Honoka sighed sorrowfully and repeated the message that was brought to her by the messenger from the Western Lands.

"She was accompanying your father, the king, to a hunt but she got separated from the troop in the darkness of the thick forest. Upon the realization that the queen was no longer with them, the soldiers scurried around in search for her. The king was in no better condition either. It was quite a tedious and long search. The weather was at its worst. After a few hours, they did find her but in the state of a mere corpse…"

Honoka's voice cracked at the end as Misaki's breath hitched in her throat.

"The queen had a slashed stomach. They believe that a predator might have ambushed her. Your father will be returning soon with the queen's body. Now Misaki, I want you to remain strong and not break do- Misaki?" Honoka's eyes grew wide as she realized that the princess now lay unconscious in her arms.

"Misaki? Misaki!"

Quickly snapping out of her thoughts, Misaki blinked to keep her tears at bay. She wouldn't cry any more. Her mother had taught her to be a strong woman and she refused to let her efforts go to waste.

"If only had you not gone to the Western Lands with father for Prince Gerald's coronation ceremony," she lamented. "If only had you not left me behind at the castle…then we would have been together today, mother."

"First you left me and now him. I guess I have been destined to be alone. Aren't I, mother?" she muttered to the wind.

"Ah, my boy!" Lord Richards exclaimed ecstatically. "So you have finally decided to continue our family's legacy and accept the crown."

"Family's legacy?" Usui scoffed. "It's not like you gave me much of a choice, old man."

"I am afraid your manners still need some grooming," Richards bit out spitefully. "We can not have our lord speaking so…openly now, can we?"

Usui smirked at his grandfather's irate face. Oh how much he enjoyed pushing his buttons.

"What have you in store for me, old man?"

"Your training will start from tomorrow. Have yourself prepared by the crack of dawn. I want no tardiness in my presence. Is that clear, lad?" he said in a tone laced with superiority.

"Crystal," was all Usui had to say.

"My Lord, you requested for my presence?" Kenichi squeaked as he limped into the room.

"You seem…disoriented," Lord Richards commented as he raised a single brow at the man's abused form.

Eyeing the other blond male bitterly, Kenichi replied warily, "Had a rough day at the dojo, sire."

Usui stifled a laugh at his excuse which made Kenichi narrow his bruised eyes at his direction.

"I see," the Lord said, oblivious to their silent interaction. "Are all the arrangements done?"

"Yes, my lord. The best of the lot have been called. Our young prince will be in good hands."

"Very well."

"You killed my mother!"

"No! She was injured from bef-" Usui tried to reason but his words were left unheard.

"How could you, Takumi? What had she ever done to you?"

"You don't understand. I could never think of doing it to your moth-"

"I had trusted you… I thought that you were my friend."

"No. Please listen to me." Usui tried again.

"I despise you!"

"Misaki-"

"I regret ever meeting you, Usui Takumi…I wish you were dead!"

"No Misaki! Wait! Misaki…"

"Misaki!" Usui jerked forward to grab her but his fingers touched only air. He looked around as the surroundings no longer appeared the same as it was a minute before. He was no longer in a dark room filled with a morbid atmosphere…no longer was he facing a broken Misaki…no longer was he feeling the excruciating pain of losing something important. Instead, Usui found himself on a humongous bed with a silk quilt draped over his body while he sat there, fazed, soaked to the skin in his own sweat.

"It was a dream," he heaved a sigh of relief as he clutched his rapidly beating heart.

"I can't afford to turn it into a reality."

Brushing his fingers through his blond hair, Usui stared longly out of the window and fixed his eyes on the giant white orb that dominated the night sky.

"Can you understand me, Misaki? When the time comes, will you truly trust me?"

A/N: Sorry for the long delay. I was a bit preoccupied with exams and now that I am through with that phase, I ran out of ideas. Yeah, so I'll be updating as long as ideas keep striking me. I can only request you to kindly bear with me and it would be wonderful if you could shower me with ideas in your reviews. I'll be waiting eagerly for them. And don't forget to tell me how you felt about this chapter, ok?