Now the city was beginning to panic.

Not only had hundreds of its citizens dropped dead by some epidemic unknown to science, but now its unrelenting claw had snatched away their beloved soon-to-be duchess. The chaos had even reached the countryside and suburban towns which surrounded the city who often visited us whether it be for a play or a more experienced doctor's visit. However, Toragay was the largest city in the world save for the capital of the country, and hundreds out of hundreds of thousands did not disturb the minds cocky enough to believe they were out of harm's way. For us homeless people who were always the first to die when diseases passed through, we expected every night's sleep to be our last. Sometimes I wished for it to be so, for the guillotine approached ever closer to the open gates.

I was utterly exhausted two days after Luka's death. When I told Gakupo about the dead bride as well as my and Len's encounter, he took that day's generous earnings and bought us a bottle of cheap wine. He always kept me away from alcohol, but considering the "everyday could be our last" mentality was setting in, he made an exception. Though, now I understood why he did not recommend the liquid poison. For the first time in a while, something hurt more than my heart, my head.

The walk to Yuka's bakery felt arduously long. I attempted to whip myself into a better mood as I approached the front door since her mother had finally passed the previous day. Just like how she responded to the death of her father, she continued business as usual. Worriedly, I watched her through the window of her shop, how unnaturally natural she was with the man she was helping. That man...Strange how he showed up so early, strange how his hair was the exact same as Len's. And his stature…and his high-end clothes…oh no.

Len was saying something, and Yuka looked at him as if he was from another planet. Something he said just made her straighten her back, and her eyes involuntarily glanced at me through the window. Len followed her gaze. As soon as his eyes hit me, fear struck me into a frozen state. Recognition dawned upon his face and he made for the door. We were running once again.

Damn, damn, damn, damn, DAMN! My experience in chase was greater, but malnutrition had never left me since the day I was born. I grew winded by the second city block. Damn him! Why was this boy so persistent? He had seen me as I was, without make-up, without proper dress or even water to clean my face. Yet, he was right behind me, ignorantly tailing a girl who he met one time under false pretenses at a party for his engagement to his dead fiancée. I longed to see him so much, but when it came down to it, I could not confront Len as I was. A barricade had been built slowly and carefully around my heart since the first time everyone was taken away from me, and somebody with no knowledge of my suffering could not just waltz in and tear it down in a night.

My legs began shaking from exhaustion. One glance behind me showed Len Kagamine, breathing heavily, almost at my heels.

"Get away from me!" I yelled right before he, as gingerly as possible, grabbed my bony elbow and stopped me in my tracks.

"Mayu! Your name is Mayu, right?" Len asked, turning me around to face him. This was the first time I had really taken a look at him since all those weeks ago, and I hated that the enchantment of his features had yet to wear off. Something was so natural about his smile, something genuine about his expectant eyes, something familiar and comfortable about his voice. The normal Mayu Hidari had flown away as soon as I saw him, leaving merely a fumbling being of anxiety and forbidden words which wanted to escape me. I caught them quickly.

"That is my name. Who are you?" I replied dumbly.

"I…You…You were at the party."

"A-Ah, yes. Now I remember," I squeaked. "About that, um, your sister thought it would be fun to dress me up and parade me around like a doll to win a bet with your deceased fiancée. I'm sorry to hear of that, by the way. I also apologize for pretending to be some rich heiress of wherever. As you can see, I'm just about equivalent to dirt, so I'll be on my way now."

"Wait! Um, that night…you didn't…I don't know."

"What are you speaking of, m'lord?" I asked.

"Please, don't call me that. You…You haven't thought of our meeting much over the past weeks?"

"Well, I will never have another night like that in my life. Of course I've thought of it, but if you are approaching me about anything else, as I suspect you are, I don't know what to tell you."

"I see." He loosened his hold on me enough so I could book it out of there, but I did not move. The dejected look on his face brought indescribable sadness upon me, and all the formal and cold words I had spoken to him felt like poison on my lips.

People were starting to come out of their dens and into the morning to start their day. If anyone should see the son of the duke fraternizing with someone like me, both our heads would be on the line. However, we couldn't part ways like this. I thought we could have, but no. I took his arm and pulled him into a dim, empty alleyway. Before he could speak, I said, "Len, I'm not going to lie and say I don't understand how you feel. The problem is that we live in two different cities, two different worlds. Nothing can come of you seeking me out. This will only lead to heartbreak and disgrace. If you say a word about love, I must remind you that we don't know each other. We had one conversation at one party while you were engaged. Nothing more."

"You really don't despise me?"

"Of course not, but you really must be going now before someone walks through here."

"You say that we don't know each other, okay. What if I got to know you? Would you let me be around you, then?"

I sighed in frustration. "You aren't hearing me! We are impossible! Why prolong our misery?"

"I won't leave until you agree to let me get to know you."

"I thought you were the sheepish twin."

"Please?"

"I can't believe the duke's son is saying 'please' to a homeless peasant."

"Pleeeease?" The idiot was smiling and batting his eyes like a puppy.

"Fine, if you want to get to know me, go ahead. By the time you're done, you'll want to be rid of me forever. Follow."

As he fervently denied my last claim, I began walking out of the alley and along the streets I knew so well. Once he saw my home, my lifestyle, and my winning personality, maybe my heart would stop beating so excessively.