CENDRILLION. . .
"Now your sighs penetrate my ears
It all seems like a faraway dream"
WARNING! Very angsty. . .and gory
- - -
Yashiro hummed a song, her eyes observing the way the sharp blade cut through her porcelain skin, drawing out a pint of blood. It was bright red, but it didn't really hurt. Yashiro proceeded to try and deepen the cut, and make it wider. She knew how to handle knives.
"Hello."
The said girl jolted at the greeting, almost dropping the pocket knife she was playing around with. She gulped down her obvious unease, hid the pocket knife, and twirled around slowly, peeking slightly to see the person who called her.
"Ōji-sama," she gasped, and immediately bowed, eyes shut tight in embarrassment. "I apologise, I didn't realize it was you."
The prince laughed, running a hand through his black hair. It looked soft even from her view - Yashiro wondered what it would be like if she would touch it. "It's fine. Please stand up."
Yashiro did so, still avoiding eye contact. "Why are you here at the garden, ōji-sama? It's late."
"I should ask the same to you," he said, amusement dripping in his tone. Yashiro flushed bright red. "I had to know who was the girl frolicking around near our garden. Also, call me Amane."
Yashiro wildly shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. "That would be impolite of me! I refuse!"
"And I insist," Amane said.
"But I. . ." Yashiro didn't bother to finish her sentence when she met Amane's persistent eyes. "A. . .Amane-san. . ." It sounded foreign in her tongue. She never knew the prince's names, only their surname. But it felt right.
He shook his head. "Amane."
"Amane-kun. . ?"
He barked out a laugh. "Alright, I guess that's the best I can do." His eyes then traveled down to her hands, and then he narrowed on the finger that had a blood stain forming. "You have a cut."
Alarmed, Yashiro tucked her two hands behind her back. The cool breeze made her shiver and her cut to sting. "It's nothing." Yashiro winced.
Amane walked closer towards her and reached out to her hand. He looked back up at her eyes, frowning. "Come inside real quick."
"No! No! I can't! You would be in trouble and I can't-" Amane cut off Yashiro's babbling with a finger placed on her lips. He smiled charmingly.
Then, they sneaked in inside. The whole time, they were giggling like children, especially when their butler thought that a cat opened the castle's back door. They entered a strange room.
Amane let go of Yashiro's hand, and the girl already missed his warmth. "I'll just get some ointment, okay?"
Yashiro nodded and patiently waited, looking around the room. It had a blanket fort, a table filled with maps, a stack of books about astronomy, a map of the stars, and a picture of the moon. Just what is this room?
"It's my hideout," Amane said, as if he read her mind. "I go here when I need some time alone. Pretty messy, but I consider it my home rather than this castle I live in."
Amane continued to wash her cut, and did some unnecessary healing. At least, Yashiro found it unnecessary. It was just a slash on starting from her ring finger to her wrist. It's just a deep cut. She's done worse.
When Amane finished, Yashiro heard a loud call. Like a howl of a wolf. Yashiro froze.
"Thank you so much, Amane-kun! But I really need to go." Yashiro stood up and basically ran outside. Amane barely had time to react. "I hope we'll meet again soon. I really do. Just not right now."
"W-Wait! I don't even know your name. . ."
Amane just sighed and watched the way Yashiro shot him an apologetic look, her dress that looked like it was created out of rags ruined by the mud that was sprawled on the garden.
- - -
"What took you so long?" He demanded, albeit playfully. "I didn't realize you were a rebel now, Yashiro. Getting tardy and all."
"I'm sorry, Tsukasa-sama. I had something to attend to," Yashiro said, trembling in fear. "Please forgive me." He snarled in response, making Yashiro whimper.
"Ah, such a shame," Tsukasa cooed. Yashiro wondered why he sounded the same as the prince she met earlier. "An unfortunate lady that only has little time left."
Yashiro looked away, trying her best to ignore the cloaked boy in front of her. He had a huge, dark mask on so she couldn't pinpoint his appearance. All she knew was he had fangs; sharp enough to pierce through her skin in one try. She didn't want to test it.
"I can make you live longer," Tsukasa proposed, placing a finger under her chin to force her to look at him. "Under one condition."
Yashiro audibly gulped. "And that is. . ?"
"You kill someone for me. It will be your last assignment for me, you know? Doesn't that sound nice? I think you've had enough bloodshed in your hands, so I'll end this today."
"Who. . .will I kill?"
Tsukasa grinned, his fangs glinting against the moonlight. "I want you to attend tomorrow evening's royal ball, look for a man dressed in black, with a red mask. I don't care how you do it. But make sure you do it painfully."
Yashiro went home crying that night.
- - -
Draped in layers of white silk and mint green, Yashiro trudged through the ballroom in delicate steps, the sound of her heels fading away from the constant chatter of the crowd.
My heels are killing me.
Yashiro pat down her gown anxiously, not liking the way people stared at her. She can't blame them, she's not even royalty! Somehow, Tsukasa managed to just sneak her in as if he has the authority to. The music began.
Yashiro felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw a boy dressed in a black suit with a red mask. Yashiro's heart dropped down to her stomach.
Her target went right to it.
She suddenly felt pity and guilt wallow her whole. Taking someone else's life just for your own? How stupid and selfish of you, Yashiro. Be ashamed.
"Ah," the boy flashed her a smile. "If it isn't the princess who wears gunpowder smoke as perfume."
Yashiro cocked a brow, impressed. "You talk as if you know me."
He merely shrugged. "I do know you. I have been looking for you, actually—" Funny, I was doing the same, Yashiro said in her mind. "I don't know if you know me, though. Not with this mask on my head."
"Giving me your name would help," Yashiro suggested.
"But where would be the fun in that?"
Yashiro did admit his voice was familiarly soothing. It eased her nerves, as if she isn't going to plunge her knife on his chest 5 minutes from now.
"Alright, then."
"How about a dance?"
"No, thank you." Yashiro shook her head. "I don't want to waste my time. Unless you give me your name?"
Yashiro wanted to smirk when the boy grumbled under his breath. "It's Hanako. Call me Hanako."
Yashiro pointed an accusing finger at him. "That is definitely not your name!" She wanted to laugh at how feminine the name was. Somehow, it suited the masked stranger, though.
"There's no proof for that!" Hanako retorted, blushing slightly. "If you don't wanna dance, then I guess that's up to you. If you want to stay at this boring party, that's completely up to you, too."
Yashiro crossed her arms. "What are you trying to imply?"
"Want to get out of here?"
Yashiro didn't expect to be in a situation where she's having fun with a stranger she's supposed to assassinate, but here she is now.
Yashiro then remembered what Tsukasa whispered next to her ear, it was spoken so softly that Yashiro wasn't even sure if she heard it right. It went something along the lines of Hope you do a good job killing my brother.
She didn't understand why Tsukasa wanted him gone. He's actually a great guy. He's made her laugh, blush, and even almost die from wheezing from his jokes.
She enjoyed their time together and actions found it hard to even hurt Hanako, who was oblivious of her malicious intentions.
"Hanako-kun, can you do me a favor?" Yashiro asked.
"Yeah, what is it?" Hanako questioned, resting his chin on his palm as he rested his elbow on the railing.
"Run away."
"What?"
"Run away. As fast as you can. As far away as you can. Go before midnight. He told me that after midnight he'll do everything himself. I don't want him to hurt you."
Hanako stared at her blank face with pure fright and confusion. "What's gotten into you?"
"I don't want him to hurt you."
"I don't understand! What happened?" Hanako demanded, slamming his fists.
Yashiro flinched, tears starting to fill her eyes, making her eyes glisten. Hanako's face softened. "Look, I'm. . .I'm not a good person, okay?" Yashiro told him through gritted teeth. "I was forced to owe my life to a horrible person. I've been forced to hurt so many innocent people."
Hanako shook his head. "I don't believe you."
Yashiro frowned. "What do you mean!? I killed people, Hanako-kun! I could kill you!"
"But I still wouldn't believe you. You can shoot me right now, and I won't blame you for it. You're forced to do this, right? You're forced to hurt people against your own will. I know you came with me to kill me, my lady."
"Yashiro, my name's Yashiro," she said, her heart beating erratically.
"Yashiro. . .so I finally know your name." He laughed, running a hand through his hair. Yashiro narrowed her eyes on this. "Well, Yashiro. I believe there are people out there who are really good people."
"The blood is in my hands."
"I'll still love you!"
Yashiro faltered, taken back by his sudden confession. "What do you mean!? We just met!"
Even in this situation, Hanako laughed. But tears fell down his eyes. "It's stupid, isn't it? I fell in love with someone who I just met. But you're special, okay? You still wanted to become friends with me even after seeing the two sides of me! So I. . .like you for that, okay!?"
"I. . ." Yashiro breathed in, absolutely speechless from his outburst. She couldn't say anything. She couldn't tell him that somehow, she felt the same way. But there's still another guy. . .
The clock rang.
Yashiro cursed.
Yashiro. . .you failed to do your assignment. . .why is that? Your feelings got in the way? How stupid.
Yashiro sighed and reached for her knife. Hanako didn't flinch. She stared at his eyes, sad — Yashiro is devastated, too. His eyes reminded her of the moon. Why is that? Why is she suddenly getting all sentimental? Is it because she has feelings for her target? Out of all the people in the world, she fell for the person who she can't be with.
And there's also the prince, who she is forbidden to even see.
"I'm sorry," Yashiro whispered. Although screaming "no", her hand thrusted out to him an eternal farewell. The knife thrusted deep. But Hanako still didn't flinch nor move.
He just smiled and opened his arms.
Yashiro crashed into his arms, sobbing hysterically. She wanted to grimace when the blood dripped down on the grass, drenching it in red liquid.
She heard the crowd of people laugh inside of the castle. They don't even know what's going on. They don't know the pain she's going through. She could scream, but no one will hear. No one will care.
Her tears mixed with his blood, the bittersweet reminder of their tragic love story.
Hanako, with the strength he has left, smiled weakly at her and shakily removed his mask.
Yashiro trembled at the sight of her prince. "Amane!" She fretted, cupping his cheeks as she cried and cried. "No! Amane! Amane. . ."
Amane collapsed on the ground, Yashiro following right after. She buried her head on his chest, her tears making his black suit wet.
Amane placed a hand on Yashiro's cheek and smiled. He still looked so charming even if he's experiencing the worst pain. "Hey, hey, it's fine. At least you get to live now, right?"
Yashiro didn't know why the universe hated her so much that she killed the prince she fell in love with.
- - -
Requested by: aCupOFfiction 💕
Hi!! Thanks for requesting! I changed it up a bit, though. Hopefully, the theme is the same. 💕
I do not own the plot (universe) of this AU. The plot is (from) a Vocaloid song and I would appreciate if you check it out if you can. The title of the chapter is the title of the song.
The same goes for the next chapter. Thanks.
I. . .have no words for this
I'm sorry did I do the Japanese honorifics right?!??
Anyway, I enjoyed writing this vv much hehe
Thanks for reading!
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