It's been a good three months ever since Sirena and Lana had joined the army put together by the Hoshidan royalty. Due to their guardian's past, Sirena wasn't trusted by many though some did eventually warm up to her. Lana didn't have to experience the same thing, but several didn't trust her either due to her contact with her cousin. Some meaning Prince Takumi and his retainers.

Often coming into contact with Oboro, the two always received sneers and dagger sharp glares from the navy blue haired woman even if they were just within an eyeshot.

Hinata didn't seem to do anything about it, but only simply ignored the two since his fellow partner and lord were doing somewhat the same.

It only became worse when Sirena and Lana came to view with Prince Takumi himself.

"You know, none of us want you here or even near. Go pack your belongings and leave, Nohrian scums."

Sirena glared at him as her cousin remained calm, though she was secretly shaking underneath. Her facade was slowly diminishing, but she kept it up longer. Sirena blocked her cousin away from the cold prince and continued to glare.

"And as royalty, you shouldn't be speaking to us Hoshidans that way or no one would ever actually bow down to you," she spat back.

"How dare you speak that way to me!"

It's nearly a regular basis to hear these two argue and lash out rude things to each other. Lana, on the otherhand, would remain quiet and smile as he continued to shoot out rash things.

Often, Sirena would wear on a disguise to walk outside of Castle Shirasagi to get into the castle town and she'd spot the second prince casually smiling and talking to everyone around him as if nothing was wrong. The girl felt jealous. She couldn't help it, but she did. Every time she saw him near someone on her walk, it was always his sweet side where he'd laugh loosely and beam. She was treated differently by everyone there.

It was until a day when the prince decided to mess around with the girls-- specifically Sirena. It was to "teach her a lesson" on how to talk to him. Her cousin was smart enough to shut up or so he thought, but the older one needed a lesson to keep her quiet and down on the ground.

"Hey, Sirena," Takumi said, suddenly sounding much gentler than before.

She wondered why, but listened anyways.

"Have you seen the Fujin Yumi...?" he continued, looking around.

She shook her head and returned the question with a gentle response.

"No, sir... Did you leave it in one of the training rooms..?"

His face suddenly clicked into realization and then into a bright smile.

"Thanks, I'll go check then."

As he stalked off back to his room instead, he thought to himself about a few things.

"Hm.. She a lot nicer than expected, but that doesn't mean a thing... She could be faking it. That's always the case.."

As he got his Fujin Yumi from his room, he walked back out to tell her he found it.

"You were right, it was in a training room. Thanks again."

Smiling brightly, the girl bowed and nodded.

"Of course, Lord Takumi."

On the far corner of the room, one could see a smirking yet sneering Oboro who already knew what was up.

The two continued to talk to each other as if nothing happened between them. It sickened him to the core. She was nice, but she was too nice. It could be a complete trap, but she's only fooling herself.

As time passed, it became noticable that the girl liked the prince. He didn't know how it came to, but it did. Lana seemed to notice too, but she was also unaware of Takumi's doing just like everyone else, but his retainers. Hinata's point of view altered, but under his lord, he only followed along.

"You know, you're a pretty nice person..." Takumi commented, just sitting in a tree.

The girl looked up at him and smiled a bit, but looked back forward. They were both busy hunting at the moment.

"You're also really nice too, milord..." she replied softly, a little nervous.

He let out a chuckle as he got off the tree and hugged her, blushing not because he liked her but because of the awkwardness and somewhat disgust.

"You don't have to call me by those titles anymore, Rena.." he told her softly. "Will you.. be mine..?"

Since he was behind her, she couldn't see the twisted expression he was making with his face and blushed.

"I-if that's okay with you....." she replied embarrassingly.

The prince leaned onto her and nuzzled his cheek against hers in which she returned back.

"That wasn't hard at all..." he thought to himself. "What a moron this girl....."

Each day, the two would be smiling at each other, their hands locked with one another. Sirena really did love him, but he didn't. It was only a game.

"You know, you look prettier everyday...." Takumi told her, hugging her closer to him.

With a flushed face, Sirena smiled and continued to stare at her feet, a terrible habit of hers he noticed since day one. Gently tilting her head up, the prince smiled and pressed his lips against hers, giving her a soft quick kiss which she happily returned. He really hated her.

"Let's head back inside... It's getting late.." Takumi suggested as he picked her up bridal style.

The girl giggled softly and nuzzled his chest as she smiled tiredly. He noticed her tired smiled and pecked her forehead.

"Want me to sleep with you tonight?"

Sirena yawned a bit and nodded, but knowing her, she'd still stay awake just to write a few notes down for her father's apothecary.

She really did love him.

He despised her terribly.

The Second Prince of Hoshido entered her bedroom quietly and settled her down on her soft bed. Getting on it himself and hugging her close, he allowed her to cuddle with him even though he didn't want it.

She was now reading a book on herbs in which she wrote stuff in her notebook and what can be made with certain herbs along with dos or don'ts. He, on the otherhand, kept pecking her cheek, forehead, nose, lips, and even her neck, marking her as his own belonging. It didn't bother her; she even pecked him back everytime his lips landed on hers. Eventually, she fell asleep, slender small arms wrapped around his torso as she slept. The girl, completely innocent, and the prince, just cringing at her. He had to sleep somehow.

"Gods... I wish she said no..." he groaned quietly.

Sleeping with each other became a routine as well just like kissing, saying "I love you," and hugging had been another. It has been roughly about two months since they were "dating" now.

"Rena...." he said, cringing a bit.

Everytime she was gone to visit her father with Lana, he would go wash out his mouth and take extra time to get himself clean and free from her scent.

The girl was still asleep at the moment, still a bit tired from returning back to the castle. The prince gently shook her, having an urge to harshly grip her arm until she woke up from the pain he would give her. But he refrained. Gently shaking and pecking her, the girl eventually got up, her groggy golden eyes flashing open slowly to see what was waking her. She smiled when she saw the prince near her, a forced smile on his lips as well.

"It's morning already...." he told her, wrapping his arms around her entirely.

The girl yawned and nodded as she hugged him back, nuzzling his chest gently as she did so.

"I love you, Rena.. Now we both need to go get ready for the day... Let's spend some time together in the afternoon when everything is done.."

Sirena nodded and responded with an "I love you too" back as she let go of him to go get herself ready for the day. He, as well, got off the bed to head back to his room for a change.

As always, the two would eat breakfast and train just like any other day. Takumi would have to wrap up his training for some other business he had while Sirena continued to train with her cousin. Lana was happy that her cousin didn't argue with the prince anymore and didn't mind what had been going on with them. In fact, she seemed pretty excited. The prince didn't yell at her anymore either which gave her the idea that they were both finally trusted and accepted.

That wasn't the case.

It was never the case.

When the prince and Sirena had their breaks they'd be stuck together in a corner cuddling and sometimes even kissing and when break was over they'd part with a tight embrace. It didn't bother anyone around them. More like because no one was around them.

As suggested by the prince himself, the afternoon finally came. He was feeling jumpy at the moment, not because he could bring her out to the woods for another hunt or hang out, but a different.... activity.

"How are you feeling?" the girl asked, smiling up at him. "If you need medicine, I'll make it for you."

"I know you will.." he replied,with a fake chuckle. "But I think you'll need it more than I do."

That was true and they both knew it. Finally, ways from the castle and in the middle of the woods, the prince suddenly stopped, causing Sirena to turn back curiously and walk back over.

"Is something wrong?" she questioned with worry.

He only had a straight face on this time, his smile completely wiped off.

"Of course I am, you idiot."

The girl flinched a little and blinked in disbelief. She had no idea what she did wrong or what she even did to get him like this. The prince kept her away from him-- even swatting her hands off with his own, a loud slapping noise echoing when it came into contact. Sirena winced as she rubbed her wrist after the impact, looking at him with concern.

"Pitiful..." he commented slightly smirking. "A gullible fool. I can't believe you allowed me to stay that close to you for that long."

She remained quiet as she stared at him.

"...."

"Everyday--morning, evening, night-- I had to see your damn face. You have no clue how much I wanted to shove you off me..." the prince said.

Her eyes were wide as she tried to comprehend; it's just that she couldn't.

"Are you-"

"Don't even talk to me, you scum.."

"Takumi... I really did love you though-"

"I know you did, but I never did. It was all just a game to me," the boy sneered.

Her eyes glanced up at him and then back down to the ground again and again, tears just forming at the brim of her eyes and eventually running down her face without her knowing it. She finally was understanding what was going on. A smile formed on her lips-- a wide, emotionless smile. Her eyes were wide open as she stared past him blindly, her head tilted to the side to allow her white hair pour onto her shoulder one side and off the other.

"Hahaha........ Hahahaha! I really am an idiot, aren't I?" she laughed.

"Leave. No one wants to see you or your dear cousin nearby."

"I'll leave alright.." she said softly, her smile on her lips immediately gone like light, but her dulled out eyes remained wide. "But don't you bring Lana in this. You'll regret it.."

The prince glared at her and returned back to the castle, ignoring her last bit. She wasn't following and he could care less. She'll come back after all.

It's been hours already and the afternoon turned to nighttime. "Have you seen my cousin, Takumi..?" Lana asked as he passed by. He and his female retainer only glared at her and ignored her, a smirk dancing around Oboro's lips right after. They were also hand in hand as they left her alone in the hall. Soon, she knew something was wrong. They've been played with and thrown away like trash once more.

"..."

The younger girl decided to go look for her cousin the next day-- without any help, of course-- but to no avail did she ever find her cousin. Not even at home. Eventually, one of the soldiers of the castle accidentally stumbled across some news for everyone one day. Much to Lana's horror, she left as well. Some people didn't care nor will they ever. Sirena had withdrew. Officially from the group and from the world.

She still loved him after all that.

He still detested her even when she proved that she did.

She's gone.

Instead, he went with Oboro, his retainer, and forgotten about her as if she was never there to begin with. Finally, the two he despised so much has gone. But he may face consequences as the one who was trusted by most was still alive.

Out there to get them.