The Young Knight

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The evening passed without further ado, leaving the girls together and the boys together in the end. They were lazing around in Haruka's room, or, Haruka was lying down while Rin went through her closet for some reason. Haruka chose not to notice this, letting the girl do whatever she wanted. Upon finding something, Rin's eyes seemed to change as the smaller girl grew slightly worried.

"Haru..."

"What?"

"Why do you still have this?"

In Rin's bare hand was something white bundled up between her fingers. For a few, fleeting moments, Haruka failed to realize what on earth it was. Something dawned on her when she realized what the object was. Rin opened her fingers and showed it to Haruka. One would not usually recognize a bundle of white so easily, but Haruka knew what it was. It was bandages. The bandages had dried blood on them, and scribbled-down words that had become impossible to read after so long. Rin seemed the most upset by this discovery, and stood up to face Haruka. She could not believe that the girl had done such a thing. It wasn't anger, it was pity. It was a pain that she felt towards Haruka. Hiding this in her room meant that she wanted to keep it as a reminder. The thought of what Haruka would be reminded of made tears rise in Rin's big, green eyes. Her friend... had really gone through the most horrible things that she could have ever thought a person would have to go through. It was painful and merciless, and the pain that Rin felt for her friend was certainly not just a fake. It was very real, very burning, and very freezing pain. It was suffocating and almost made the older girl sob for her beautiful, blonde friend as a memory surfaced from below the depths of their minds...

The heat had been unbearable that day.

Sounds of cicadas echoed in the thick, hot air, the blazing sun taking away the breath of unknowing bypassers. It was not only hot, it truly was burning, like earth itself had decided to heat up the entire world just that little bit too much. Rin had been walking in the park near Rozen Academy that day three years ago. Haruka had been lurking around close to Senzou once again, and Rin knew that her now boyish friend was going to attempt getting in there. For what reason, Rin still didn't know. All that she knew was the story that Haruka's brother, Hiroki, had told her when they first became friends. That she should be careful around Haruka. About their mother's death, their father's wrath. Down to every last detail. It was horrible to listen to, but Rin knew that she had to be aware of this to be friends with someone fragile like Haruka.

Though the now 15-year old girl did not seem anything close to weak or fragile. She seemed to radiate with something else, something like passion or determination, but colder and with less... emotion. Rin wondered why this was.

Back in the blazing heat, Rin was feeling dizzy that day. After all, it had been weeks since she had last experienced this, and even with sunhat and light clothes, she felt like she was going to suffocate from heatstroke at some point and pass out. She even drank water all of the time. What had shocked her that day was nothing that happened during this heat. It had been when she had headed over to Haruka's house later that evening. When the sun had set, it got surprisingly cold, and Rin had to cover herself with her arm as she cut through the wind to Haruka's house. Hiroki was out for business and would not be home in the next few days, and Rin had offered to help watching out that nothing bad happened to Haruka while the man was gone. When she had reached the front door, the house had been dark and felt abandoned. She instantly got worried and pushed open the doors. They were, to her horror, not locked. She got inside, running around in the dark in fear of someone being there. She heard a thump from upstairs, around the area of Haruka's room.

Losing her last bit of composure, she ran all what her legs would carry up the stairs and to Haruka's room, bursting open the door. There were no mysterious black figures, no persons that she ran into, only a person crouched on the floor. The moonlight shining through the window illuminated the white-blond hair, and Rin knew it was Haruka. Spreading around the area of her arms that were laid out in front of her as she curled like that on her side, was blood. It was coming from her arm. Rin absently registered that there was a tossed-away knife in the room, most likely this was self-caused. She ran to Haruka's side, ripping apart her dress and tying it around the deep cuts that Haruka had made in her wrists. She called an ambulance, the dials of the phone getting stained with the blood on her hands as she frantically explained the situation to the emergency unit. Haruka was barely even conscious at the point, and as she frantically made a call for Hiroki to meet them at the hospital, she actually thought that this would be the last day she'd hear that sarcastic voice telling her to stop being overly affectionate. She followed along in the ambulance, lying about being Haruka's lover. She cried all the way, watching the pale face that seemed almost sick in the way too bright lights in the ambulance.

Haruka had not regained consciousness for three days when she finally opened her eyes for the first time. In the bandages she had been wearing at that time, she wrote herself a note to never forget what had happened, seeing the sadness that had showed on Rin's face when she had finally woken up. She had vague memory of hearing Rin's scream and gasp upon finding her there on the floor, and she had been half conscious inside of the ambulance, able to hear Rin's prayers in her teary, emotional voice. That moment, she had decided to never, ever try something like that again, and every morning the scars on her wrists pained her memory...

"I... I need the reminder. Rin, please don't worry." Rin did not seem very satisfied with this, her hands grabbing onto Haruka's. The gesture brought back the painful memories, and Haruka had to avert her gaze from those stubborn, green eyes and that loving pout. She was worried for Haruka's sake. She was not trying to hurt her, and yet... Haruka felt so insecure. Rin's eyes widened when the hands that she had grabbed onto started shaking, and a tear escaped from those beautiful, sapphire eyes. She leaned forward, kissing away the tears as she pushed up in Haruka's sleeves, her fingers tracing the scars of the incident. This made Haruka let out a half-gasping sob, showing that she was surprised and unable to suppress her emotions. Rin, unable to control herself any longer, tackled Haruka with the tightest hug that she could muster, petting the hair of the younger female. She heard little gasps and sobs against her shoulder, feeling a dampness on the shirt that she had borrowed. She knew exactly what this meant. Haruka was in love. She was remembering her past because she realized that the person she had fallen in love with would want to know such a thing.

"Haruka... don't hurt yourself anymore... let's stop this relationship already, it's hurting you... you're thinking about someone else, even earlier... I saw your unfocused eyes... I heard an unfamiliar name... you can't lie to me. You know that you can't hurt me, either. Haruka, you know that the person I love is not you, and the person you love isn't me. That girl... the princess that you're going to work for... is it her that you've come to like?" A flinch came from the blonde. Bingo. She sighed as she kissed the top of Haruka's head in a motherly way. "I get it. But be honest. If she sees us and thinks we're together, it'll only hurt her if she really does have feelings for her. So say it honestly. Tell her what kind of relationship we had. Tell her that you actually love her. You can't go on like this, you're being dishonest with yourself..."

Even if Haruka hated the thought, she had taken the hint and decided to tell her feelings at some point. The night had passed in peace, and Rin had left back to college the next morning when her clothes had been washed and dried. When the first half of that said day had passed, Haruka recieved a letter announcing that she would have to come for another test before it would be decided whether or not she was going to be a Knight. She was allowed to bring someone, and after asking Hiroki, his brother announced that him and Makoto(who had spent the night as well) would be coming along to cheer for her. The day that they had passed in peace, Hiroki knowing what had happened. Him and Rin had a relationship where they would tell each other what was going on with Haruka. He even knew what Haruka and Rin had been doing with each other, and even if he had not been very happy with the idea of such a painful relationship, he had had to accept it in order to accept that Haruka would lead her own life, even when bringing herself pain.

The day that they spent together were mostly lazy, as well; they'd been out shopping, but other than that, at home, Hiroki and Makoto watching Haruka practice. Hiroki was used to the amazing skill that his sister had by now, but Makoto, who had never seen it, was quite amazed. She was only 17, after all! He did not question that she had wanted to get into an all-boys' school, or the lies that she had told to gain that, because watching this, he knew that she belonged in such a priveliged place. He had been very excited over his boyfriend having such a cool sister, after all, they did know each other quite well! When him and Hiroki had first met, he remembered a kid with hair cut short and a nasty expression on her pretty face. To see the transformation of this kid over four years had been amazing. She carried herself like a royal now.

It did not take long for the sun to set, and the next morning, they were in the gym once again. Haruka walked in with her brother on her left, Makoto on her right. The two men took seats in the gym, and she gave them a single glance before stepping into the arena, hands on her sword. She looked around to see if Aoi, or anyone, really, had arrived. She wondered what this extra practice was all about. What more could she do to show her worth? She had done everything she had learned, fought against others, shown her aim and other talents, and they had her marks and met her. What else did they really need from her?

Her mind wandered off, and she wanted desperately to know whether Aoi had appeared or not. Something in Haruka's chest compelled her to want to talk to this girl more than anything. It was not just a subtle feeling, she felt like it would really be over if she didn't talk to Princess Aoi today. When she saw the familiar pink hair, she went over to do a polite greeting, which was only expected of her. After all, she was simply a Knight, whereas Aoi had a much, much higher status than herself. She bowed down, kissing the Princess' hand politely, completely hiding her face with her blonde locks.

"Your majesty." She said, standing up when her greeting was over, bowing once more as she left back to the arena. She was already in her training clothes, simply covered in a robe. When she threw that off, she was in long, slim pants strapped tightly around her lower legs and waist, but hanging lightly on her upper legs to make movement easier. She was in a tight-fitted tanktop, showing off her curved and yet not too muscular arms, and her prominent collarbones. Her feet were bare, so were her arms. Even if the tanktop was tight, it did not show any hint of femininity, and from the stands, Hiroki couldn't help but chuckle. His sister sometimes looked more like a man than Makoto did, and when teased about this fact, the girly Makoto would tease him back in a quite different way... he still clearly remembered the night of the maid outfit.

Haruka had her sword strapped to her waist on a belt where two guns were strapped as well as extra ammo. On her back, bow and arrow were strapped, and she stood to await her next orders. She was supposed to do some kind of training, and had just dressed for a normal Senzou Academy training lesson. When they trained in Senzou, they tried to bring in all subjects at the same time to make the warriors adapted in changing their way of fighting within seconds. If their gun was dropped, they would draw sword or bow immediately depending on situation, and the other way around. The goal was to make them flexible, adaptable, in order to make them more skilled. Instead of just mastering one thing, they mastered everything from physical combat, to the use of swords and bows, to the sharp aim of a gun. They had to be the most perfect beings to have ever existed, trained warriors that were too good to even fight in war. They demanded honor and respect, and Haruka showed off that exact aura as she steadied her posture, waiting for the training to start, her sharp eyes glancing around for any kind of sign.
 
When the day had arrived for the Princess Aoi and her knight Haruka Kanagawa since it had been nearly two weeks after their first meeting. Know that the candidate soldier had passed the requirement from the royal family's expectation, Aoi couldn't afford to lose any more time because of her feelings that were in the way. The small girl who smile in happiness with such freedom before such disaster had disrupted her life, leaving the poor girl's heart broken from learning such a horrible thing. Her family was broken into pieces from the retraced memories with her family, friends, and... her brother. But since her parents cared less about the brother's safety and exiled him on the spot without consider his story, Aoi had decided to go find him herself and hoped to know what the true meaning for his disappearance.

The princess had arrived an hour early with her workers whom already had the time to pack their necessary things as their own personal things. She didn't mind about them taking what was needed for their personal reasoning. Aoi didn't need to take anything that she wasn't going to use anyways, except the silver bracelet around her wrist and the letter that contain the information of the whole truth in it. She sighed for the remainder it had to be, but couldn't be help since she had to tell the young blond knight to know what was going to happen to him...

She frown at the thought she had to deal with this as always. Right on cue, her training of thoughts had been broken when the mention knight had arrived in front of her. Doing the accustom greeting with the polite manner, she welcomed the young knight and dismissed him from his stands. She also noticed the two men behind him and assumed that they were her family that Haruka was instructed to invite. They look a sweet couple and find it rather cute when they also bowed in front of the royalty. She giggled and welcomed them, introducing her short profile with a smile. Looking back at the stunning knight as he looks, Aoi felt hurt to remember from weeks ago that Haruka had kissed someone else, leaving the planted kiss on her hand. An indirect kiss... But nevertheless, she has to proceed on the subject to why Haruka was summoned here in the first place.

But Aoi realized that he was going back to the arena and had stopped him in tracks before going inside the building by gently placed her hand on his shoulders. However, her eyes widen open at her sudden action and withdrawal herself when the young strong blonde had felt the touch on his shoulder. Aoi slightly panic at that and apologized for touching him without permission. She had to inform about the location they were going to be placed at.

"Kanagawa-dono... Uh, starting today, your training isn't going to be placed in the Senzou's gym arena because there is something else that you must know about." She calmly instructed the knight as she straighten herself a bit. "I had already noitified the grandmaster that you are going to be absent for about an month, due to the royalty issue. So I hope you and your family are prepared." Of course it made the knight wonder even more why he had to leave out of the month's worth to train. Or exactly, what he needed to know. Aoi had pointed at the limousine car that was already prepared for them on the ride to the airport, she told them that they were going away to a private island of her family. Just leaving Aoi, Haruka, Haruka's family and Aoi's workers to be alone in the island. With time no longer wasting, they had set off to the tropical island that Aoi had reserved for them to stay.

"Everything to my reasons and the history of the two schools will be finally reveal to you, Kanagawa-dono..."
 
Haruka almost jumped when a hand placed on her shoulder, turning around to look directly into Aoi's face. Something shone in the girl's eyes, and she wondered what that expression was about. She nodded in response, knowing that she would have to be away for a while. She put her robe back on, looking at Aoi. "Princess, I will request for my companions to get time to go to my home and collect bags and things that we would need to bring, would it be too much trouble to wait for their return? My home is fairly close to here, so it should not take that long." Haruka wanted to say something, ask about the expression that Aoi was making, but how could she? This girl started looking upset the moment she saw Haruka. Somehow, without her knowing, Haruka had become the source of some problem that related to this girl. What and why, she did not know.

It had taken a while but Hiroki and Makoto were allowed to go pack. They came back with three bags, a black one belonging to Haruka. She took it thankfully, knowing that her brother was very practical with clothing and hadn't chosen anything outrageous, at the same time focusing on the male appearance she needed to keep. When the things were packed and ready, they got into the car that would bring them to the airport. There weren't room for all of them, so Haruka ended up sitting alone in a seat with Aoi to her left. They were sitting with the space of a seat between them, Aoi's eyes averted.

A million different things ran through her mind, before something resurfaced. The day before, she had had this strange feeling... when she was kissing Rin. It was not that evident in her mind and she had ignored it, but she had been almost sure that she had seen strands of pink hair when she had turned around after pulling apart from their kiss. If that was true, could Aoi have seen them together? Would that be why she seemed so bothered close to Haruka? She bit her lip slightly, looking at the world passing by outside. They would have to be in this car and on the plane for god knows how long, plus a whole month on an island somewhere... if they didn't clear the tension, it would be a month in hell. Neither of the two would be able to concentrate at all. As they sat there in awkward silence, the airport closed in on the group of people, and before they knew, they were waiting for the plane to get ready for boarding.

Somewhere in all this, the people that had been around Aoi had left to do errands separately, and Hiroki and Makoto had gone to a nearby store to pick up some things for the plane ride. Leaving Aoi and Haruka alone and with no one else around them once again. This would be her chance to clear things up if she was lucky. She could not stay with her and the princess in this kind of state, it would definitely trouble them both quite a bit. They'd be doomed.

"Princess... I... about yesterday, I was wondering... did you perhaps see me at the park? You seem bothered about my presence, and it's all I can think about as a reason.." Haruka seemed genuinely bothered about this, her eyes showing a strange sign of worry. What was up with her, acting like this? It was very foolish, but she could feel something painful in her heart, and Rin's words came to her like lightning. She would have to tell Aoi the truth, or else they would never move on. If this topic came up again later, Haruka would seem even more suspicious. She had to tell Aoi about their relationship as it stood. What they were doing with each other, how they were involved, and when it started, and how it had ended last night. She could still feel an uncomfortable, crippling feeling in her wrists from when Rin's fingers had traced the scars there. She had wore bandages (as a protective thing with arm plates over it) so her wrists had not been seen by Aoi.

"Her name is Rin... despite what you might think you saw, it is not like that... I was in a... casual relationship with this woman. We both... have no feelings for each other. We decided to stop with this last night."

It felt like she was making her feelings for Aoi very, very obvious...
 
"T-That's quite all right with me, I do not mind about it..." She stuttered her voice as she looked away from the knight, turn her back to the knight and walked away to the limousine to inform the others that the companions that they were going to going with, needed to pack their things. The people didn't argue about it then had to load the things themselves as Aoi moved herself away from them, coming to Haruka's direction. "They seem they're okay with it, but do haste. Our time for our flight is coming soon." She shifted her eyes to another direction, letting things flow though. Taking the moment away while waiting for the lovely pair to return back after they gotten their stuffs ready, Munayuki had started to taken them into the transportation over to the destination to unload their bags and such into the air port. With that, they took off after everything.

Inside of the private plane, the seating arrangements were different from the other plane; instead of having two seating of each rows facing all front, the four seats of the front and back were facing each other in two rows than one. Each seats were taken by the employees who were coming along with Aoi and she has to admit, she would be too sad if the some of all of them were left behind so she had invited all. Everyone but Kunato the butler who was a servant under her brother's, who was a gentleman to declined of the invitation. Kunato would love to go, but he explained his situation. She wanted to protested about it but respected his decision and left Kunato be.

Aparting from the others, Aoi who actually had a private room herself but with extra spaces open in front of her, had nearby free seat by the window. She had sat down on the comfortable and expensive chair, extending her arms to rest on the chair's arm while crossing her legs one onto another. Wondering outside to think, the memory of the men, Haruka and the shorter companion, kissed in front of her who she had accidentally witness, had replayed to the poor girl's thoughts. Hoping she could of forgotten it already, but coincidentally, Haruka had moved over in front of the princess's view which tinted her cheeks into a light color red. Immediately tried to look away from the man who was in front of her, pretending she didn't see him. But the blush died down in the line of silent between them and her eyes were the only ones moved back to see the knight who bit his lip. Is he...?

Her eyes gradually widen when she heard the knight's explanation that had happen weeks back that he had referred about. She listen to the knight's story and process everything into her mind. So it was that... The princess still had this anxiety feeling about this. To Aoi's judgement though, it didn't seem to make it any better because Haruka let another woman to kissed him if there was no love into the kiss. "I-I see..." The knight was able to hear a sigh a bit of relief until she turned to him with a look, "But it is not my affair to interfere with your personal life or relationship, so please. Don't worry about it. I apologize of getting involve..."
 
"I aplogize. I saw you in such a distressed state, and it seemed that it was only when you were near me... I... I suppose I wanted to let you know the truth of what has happened and that... I'm not in love with anyone." Haruka wished to slap herself for the last thing she said. It was completely stupid. She was making it too obvious. She was not going to reveal her feelings for Aoi, so why was she acting like this? She excused herself after she had spoken, face burning up as she got back to her seat where Makoto and Hiroki were sitting. Their faces seemed to darken with the expression that Haruka had on her face, and surprisingly, Makoto was first to speak up to her. They did not interact with each other much, being brother's boyfriend and sister of that brother, but they had a strange bond that no one could really go against. They had a connection with each other and that was enough.

"Haruka, whatever might have happened inside there just now, please don't be so down about it- Rin told us about your feelings..." Haruka seemed to flinch at this, her bangs hiding away the expression on her face, making Makoto sigh. He did not blame Haruka for what had happened or how she was feeling. It was entirely her own decision what she did and if she wanted ot sulk about what had happened. The rest of the long plane ride was executed in silence, and Hiroki had moved to his sister's side to coax her into sleep. After all, they were siblings and Hiroki was the only person to take care of this girl. Makoto smiled a bit as he watched the sweet siblings, feeling his heart swell.

They reached the island at night, and Haruka was sleeping out exhaustion. Hiroki carried the girl on his back without much trouble, seeing as he was taller than her even if she was a tall person herself. Makoto took their bags and they were escorted to their rooms. It was luxurious rooms, and Makoto and Hiroki had one for themselves, and the one just beside that was Haruka's room. The first thing they did was get Haruka to her room and tucked into bed. He left her suitcase and closed the door just like that. He had to let her sleep. When he and Makoto encountered Aoi at the door, Hiroki looked the princess in the eye.
"I respect you greatly, Princess, but I cannot let you into Haruka's room. He has had a long day, and I think it's best that we let him sleep for now." Hoping that Aoi would make the right decision, he stepped away from the door nonetheless, dragging Makoto with him to their room.

Inside of Haruka's room, the blonde female had woken up at the voices outside, shuffling into a woken state as she looked around. She turned to her suitcase, opening it. Out of it she took a t-shirt and a pair of loose pants, changing out of her clothes as she placed her used clothes in a nicely folded pile on the table across the room. When she was changed, she walked on bare feet to the bed and laid down. She figured that Hiroki must have carried her here after she fell asleep in the plane... embarrassed as she was about it, she appreciated him giving her the chance of getting a little extra sleep. She had big troubles sleeping, after all.
 
Her heart that use to throbs for the young male who was in front of her unnoticeable, had sank inside her. One for making the knight worry about this unreasonable princess and two for pushing him away from lying about her true feelings because Haruka hinted the obvious towards the shorter person. To make the mistake of herself she had did only to distance between the two even more, Aoi saw the painful look on Haruka's face before he had pardoned himself from the princess. The girl said nothing after Haruka had left, she felt her heart tighten in regrets for lying to him. Was she being too hard on the poor knight who just gave his concern to her and corrects himself the misunderstanding she witnessed weeks back. It couldn't been the blonde's fault since she just walked into his personal space. The curiosity or feeling got the better of Aoi's thought and moved her on her own. Then when the knight was out of sight, Aoi curled herself into a ball and softly sobbed for doing both that felt like crime to her: lying to someone she had now know she like, and hurting them by pushing another away because of her damned reason to just find her brother and the reason he had disappeared for.

Few hours passed since they had taken off from airport, leaving the afternoon to night because of Aoi refuse to go in the deepest morning to catch the plane. In order to help Haruka with training and a big deal about the buildings that kept rumbling on. The crowded of servants kept everything from awkward silents as they chatted away about things of their interests and what not. Until it had finally got to the point where they arrived at last to the island. Aoi didn't think it was a terrible trip, but it had more awkward between her and Haruka after the small conversation they've talked while ago. It didn't leave from her thoughts while everyone unloaded themselves out of the plane and got their stuffs. Aoi had looked at the others who keep on the talk while they started to transport the needed things into the other limousine while rest were taking a family van of each. It was going to be a long day for the pink-haired manner girl to try apologizing to the man later. Munayuki and Shina weren't able to speak to her at the moment because they had already know that Aoi often bottles herself to talk about it herself to them. But they respected the idea to leave it be until she was ready.

Once they had hit up to the reversed family's spring-slash-summer cottage in the island, everyone had taken the time to take everything into the cottage and began their preparation for dinner since it was a long journey. Aoi who already got out of the private car and looked around, spotted Haruka's older brother named Hiroki, taken him in by giving Haruka the piggy-back ride while Makoto, the other member of the family, was behind them. She find this very adorable for the two older men talking while the sleepy knight slumber behind his back. Aoi had to find a way to talk to Haruka soon to clear up the misunderstanding and apologize for her foolish behavior.

After one hour had passed, Aoi had decided to go see the sleepy male who tired himself out from the trip in her night gown with a pink shawl covering her top, until she heard the two men had open the door who soon found her right there on the spot. Being told that Haruka needed to rest, Aoi felt disappointed that she couldn't get this feeling over with but only nodded her head to accept it. "I see... I apologize for coming here unannounced, I just... Wanted to see how he was doing, but I suppose there's tomorrow instead..." She said while trying to prevent her tone or emotion get into the way of something that will upset the two men. "Thank you for letting me know. Oh... Um, dinner is about to be ready soon so I hope you three will be able to join us to eat. And please, don't worry if you plan on wearing causal clothes, you're allow to just wear your pajamas or night outfit." It was a strange thing to say to the men but it was true, however. In her own house, even she's royalty and knows her manner, she told her workers in case food was prepare, they are allowed to wear night or sleep wear than causal. Because she wanted to feel at home than rather being a empty doll who'll just sit that in perfect position, no soul added. That being said, the sleep-wear princess had walked away from them and went to join others in the dining hall.
 
Makoto and Hiroki decided on doing just that, following along to the dining room. The maids got worried about Haruka, and when dinner was over, they asked Hiroki to bring a plate of food to the Knight's room. He said that he would be glad to, and after dinner had passed, he moved to Haruka's room, gently knocking on the door and coming inside. When he got in there, Haruka was not asleep as he had expected. The blonde was lying down on her bed with a hand over her eyes, but the rhythm of her breathing indicated that she was awake. And as expected, his sister uncovered her face, troubled blue eyes observing her brother. Hiroki smiled as he sat down on her bed, putting the tray to the side on the bedside table. He gently threaded his fingers through her hair as she launched forward, hugging him tightly. Despite what people might think about her, she was still just the girl that Hiroki had brought with him to Japan nine years ago. She still had the same fragile soul. Her shoulders shook, but again, she was not shedding tears. It was a strange way of letting out emotion, but she ahd always been like that. She had so much to bother her everyday...

After he had gotten Haruka to eat something, he had left her in her room. She had lied down on her bed once again, her eyes tired. It did not take her long to fall asleep after that, the world inside her dreams empty as always. It seemed that she was reaching for something in the distance, a figure, a person - but it flowed out between her fingers like water. She woke up grasping into thin air, panting heavily as if she had just run a marathon, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She threw off the blanket she had put over her body, shuffling to the bathroom. She checked the calendar that had been set up for the next month. She'd have a training session in an hour. She grumbled as she got into the shower, sighing in comfort as the water washed her cold and yet hot body clean. When she was clean and smelled of rosy shampoo(after all, she had just used what was in there) she had dressed in her training clothes, strapping on guns, sword and bow and arrow once again as she made her way down to eat breakfast. She met Makoto on the way. Apparently, Hiroki was still sleeping. That was very typical of her brother. Together they walked to the dining room to eat together to find that not many had woken up yet.

At least it was not only Hiroki who slept in. That would be pretty awkward. They sat down beside each other, eating what had been served. Haruka ate a fair portion of food, not too much, not too little, just what she needed in order to be on top for her training today. After all, not eating enough would make her sick, and eating too much would interfere with her training. Her face did not show any signs of exhaustion, her skin smooth and flawless as ever. And she did not yawn either like most of the people at the table would. She was stiff as if she had been splashed in the face with cold water, and she was well aware why she was like that. It had been an exhausting plane ride, and now, when she looked over at that pink mop of hair... she was remembering...

... what had happened when they were talking together. Even now she briefly remembered hearing her brother's voice outside the door, sending Aoi away to let Haruka sleep. That had definitely been because Aoi had wanted to talk to her about something. The thought made anxiety rise in her chest. She feared that something bad was going to happen, or that Aoi would say something that would distract her and make her unable to concentrate on this special training. She looked into her food, avoiding the eyes of the princess, eating slowly to deliberately have Aoi leave the table before her. That way she could think of how she could avoid the female after breakfast. It would be bad to talk about these things too soon. She had said something incredible, hadn't she? She had practically confessed, and with a month on this island, she could feel something heavy like a rock in her chest when she thought about her secret being revealed. They had to be here for a while, and she could never know what would happen when they lived in this place. There was a chance that Aoi would figure out that she was really a girl. In the end, she excused herself from the table early, walking back to her room. The instruction for today's training was to wait there until she was picked up and brought to the place where she was going to train. She hoped that Aoi would be absent, even if the chances were slim.
 
After everyone was gathered to the dining room, several workers who weren't position of working in their shifted today had start making their way to prepare setting up the table while in their pajamas. Meanwhile inside the kitchen were the other half of the co-workers were cooking delicious meals and looked for different brands of drinks like many juice for the minors while the wines, or alcohols were for the adults.

Aoi, in her night wearing and holding her shawl scarf, was in her own room but outside to the balcony. Even though she had said that dinner was going to be prepared, she isolated herself from any where away of her room and closed her eyes, only wishing what had came over her after she had wanted to see Haruka right away. She didn't understand herself but feeling guilty about earlier of what she had done, at least for her, it felt like a crime. She didn't like lying or pretending that nothing was going on after Haruka's confession. One can say that she was happy that Haruka wasn't really taken of his partner who was revealed as a female in front of the majesty. But the other thing was that she didn't like to interfere of her knight's personal life because she had promised herself that there wouldn't be any relationship between the princess and her knight. At least from Haruka had told her anyways in the beginning, especially in that private spot at the St. Rozen's building after she had ran away from her maid Shina. The royalty girl had sighed as she looked up at the stars, wondering if either Haruka or her brother are looking at the same starry night as she is...

Thirty to forty-five minutes had passed since she lost herself in thought and still left in her room, the princess became startled after the door was knocked by her maid Shina. "My lady, dinner is now prepared so please join us in the dinner room if you are not busy." Aoi was grateful to have friends who cared about her in the same way she does for them. "All right, I will be arriving soon. Thank you, Lulu-san." she replied to the maid who, from behind the door, smile. Satisfied with the answer, Shina walked away from the door as Aoi still smiling herself. A moment passed and the unhappy girl glanced down, not sure how to approach to the knight for the time being because of the awkwardness that was obviously showing. Aoi sighed at this confusing and troubling issue. But she decided to shrug it off for the night and enter her bedroom then exit out of the room to walk over to the dinner room.

In the dining room, everything was all done and set on the table. Aoi was amazed at the random choice of themes the workers of hers made. Different varieties of culture dishes and wine were assigned in order of miners to adults. This cute family-and-friends dinner was a tradition night for her ever since she had left home, abandoning the name of the Minashiro. She felt more comfortable with everyone else here than the whole social status and become isolated to eat alone whenever her brother Aizuki or her parents weren't around at the time. Aoi hated the feeling of being that long but she didn't wanted to sound desperate to get someone at least be there with her. But now, it wasn't like that anymore... At least, not anymore. For now.

All of the servants had taken their seats to sit and start eating. Aoi looked at the portion of choices on the table. However, she didn't feel like eating. It wasn't because she didn't like the food, she enjoys the mealtime with everyone. But at this for night and the whole month ahead, she didn't want to any more waste time or holds up. She had to prepare everything right away because she didn't want this to go on with this game of life-or-death situation.

After eating a little bit of the food, Aoi had excused herself to have a night walking stroll outside in the island's backyard. It had been a while since she had last being here on the island because her parents had decided to come over in the summer home due to the incident with her brother. Aoi didn't blame her brother because she know that again, it was against his nature to hurt anyone. Nor it felt like he had wielded any weapons because she remembers years back when her brother was fourteen-years-old, he had told the instructors that he had never practice any weapons nor like to participated inside the training. He doesn't like the blood to stain on his hands but there was someone who was next to her brother, does it for him... But it wasn't the green hair man she had remembered, though. No, it was someone else who had a light tan brown hair color... She didn't know who was that.

By herself, the princess had walked to the island's shore to only feel the cold water brushing her feet. She kinda liked the cold water because it felt so nice, she had wished that time came back to her when she was young... But she clench the shawl fabric as the letter had been dropped from her shawl, on to the neat trimmed grass... Everything must be done soon...
 
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It didn't take long before a servant walked to her room, knocking the door. She was brought across the island to a training course. It was a pretty cool, larger than the one they had at the Senzou Academy. She wondered what kind of place this island was, having such facilities. But then again, if it belonged to the Minashiro's.... that would definitely explain why it was so splendid. It was a small island, where one could walk from one end to the other on foot with no problem.

The morning's training passed without Aoi showed up, and despite Haruka being worried over this fact, she was working her way skillfully through the tests thrown at her. She seemed oddly concentrated when no one was there to distract her. Well, Hiroki and Makoto were sitting at benches as she sparred with different well-trained parts of the staff, cut down dummies, shot after targets, and ran several courses until she was sweating. She did not seem exhausted, but she was dismissed nonetheless. Apparently that had been enough. When it was time for lunch, Haruka walked to the dining room. She considered going to her room with the food and eating it there, but it would be impolite. She sat down at the table with her plate of food, sighing slightly as she started eating. It was not very calming for her, though, and she sat for long and stared at the plate, unable to eat the entire time. Between the bites it seemed that she would space out for minutes as if she had something much more important going on inside her head than the food in front of her. She tried to focus and focus and refocus over and over again, but it seemed that she would keep on going back to that stage of being spaced out.

Her mind wandered off, telling her to wonder about what Aoi was doing right now. She didn't know. And she pretended she didn't care, either. If Aoi had come to the table, she would not notice. Her eyes were entirely focused on the food in front of her, the only focus she could maintain. Finally gaining back the will to eat, she finished her plate. She wanted to see if Aoi was sitting at the table, but she couldn't get herself to look up to Aoi's chair and instead took off from the dining room, leaving the people in there surprised at her sudden running. The place that she reached was the beach. There were footprints in the sand, as if someone had been there. She wondered if it was Aoi, and if the girl was nearby. She hadn't yet confirmed that Aoi had been eating lunch with them. Not that she wanted to care. She had tried all morning trying not to care about where Aoi was and what she was doing. She didn't want to know.

When no one seemed to actually be on the beach, she sat down with her legs crossed in the sand. She winced a bit at the wound in her shoulder. During training, she had gotten it training with the dummies. It had been an accident. She pulled down the collar of her shirt, watching her bandaged shoulder with a strange expression. She pulled her shirt back into place, digging with her fingers in the sand lazily. What was she going to do? She couldn't just keep on running away from Aoi like this. The princess was not stupid. She would notice right away that Haruka was trying all she could to avoid her. And if Aoi noticed and caught onto that, would her feelings be revealed? Or her secret? Would something horrible happen to them both if anything happened between them?

Even Haruka couldn't tell. She got up fron the sand, now completely covered in it. This made her sigh, and she decided to go back to her room. She was still injured, and if she got sand under the bandages... that would be a bad idea. She took the decision of changing the bandages when she went to the shower. After all, no one had noticed except for the maid that patched her up that she had even been injured. It didn't really matter to her, her body could stand it pretty well.

Back at her room, she tossed her clothes onto the bed, though in a way so that it didn't look like it was clothes that she had just been wearing. When she was naked, she walked to the bathroom, the door slightly ajar as she walked in. She didn't see a reason to lock it in this kind of situation. She had the day off, and she was sure that her door was locked. Though she didn't know if there was a master key, but there was no one who had reason to use it. The terrace door was open to let in air, but it seemed ridiculous to go in from there. Haruka peeled off the bandages, stepping under the water and letting out a pained gasp as the warm water washed over the sensitive wound. She turned her back to the water so that it would not hurt as much, washing her hair first. The sand went into the drain at her feet, making the surface of the floor rougher as the sand fell down to the tiles. She stared at it as the shampoo washed out of her hair.

The pain was almost unbearable, but for her, it was nothing. She stood calmly under the water, pale skin soaked through by it. Her hair stuck to her forehead and neck, and her ears and cheeks were slightly red with the heat from the weather outside mixed with the temperature of the bath water. She didn't enjoy cold showers that much when she was injured.
 
The night passed with the speed of light, it wasn't far as soon as the morning had kicked in for Haruka to get up to do his training for his now upcoming job. He who was training out in the island with the servants who knew combat and self-dense. Just Hiroki and Makoto, Aoi was watching the progress from afar on the unknown location where she was at. She didn't seem surprise after already learning blonde knight's ability since the match up from inside the Senzou's battle arena. It's true that Aoi needed protection, but it's another thing that Haruka, the young man, had to participate into this war zone that she didn't want anyone else to get involve.

At first, she was against all of everything that comes around naturally. But because of others, she keeps forgetting herself to speak a bit more clearly if it weren't for her hesitation so much. Aoi had thought that if she was able to possess the strength, she would avoid anything in the way of her objective... But it seem like it was unavoidable to do so. And now, the princess had fallen for her knight without any specific reason, just the truly passion and devoting(?) to help the the little lady with the skills of his. Aoi wasn't sure what she can think of this at all... The handsome devilish knight had taken her interest but it's so strange that it's hard to explain herself of it.

The sun had fallen into the mid-afternoon before it was in the between of evening's night time. Upon the results of the exhaustion knight, Aoi can tell that Haruka needed some rest and gave the signal to one of the male butlers to let him know that the training is over. The combat unit had seen the wave and nodded his head, telling others to stop what they're doing and call the quits for the day. Leaving to the others to hear this instruction made them nods their heads and bowed in front of Haruka in respects. Half of the servants, which are the maids, had left to do their cleaning duties while few of the men continued to spare with one another and several went back to help the ladies. That must be some intense battle that Aoi had to watch, pitying the poor knight who had to bruised by so many attacks that was flying at him. From the training session, so many weapons were dealt with: daggers flying straight in the mid-air towards the target, blade dance on side to side by trying connect the iron steel against his flesh... Lances and fists were thrusting in front of Haruka's face but were able to miss. Ouch... So this is why men-to-women battles were against the rules to spare, but letting each genders against one another.

Aoi had soften her eyes at the scene after Haruka was dismissed by the head butler, leaving herself to think about the fighting reason Haruka had became a knight... Haruka had said once before that he was fighting for in the stand of his ill mother before she had passed away in front of his eyes... Then bringing brought up another fact that he was receiving notice from Aoi's father that he was selected by her father because it might be that the "royalty" wasn't able to fight on their own due to the either gender or possess the family's blood of the weapon. Whichever it was, she wasn't able to use the power thanks to the blood, but she can't take the weapon that passed down from the family, because one of the maids who was there in the scene said that she had saw Aoi's brother Aizuki had taken the weapon with him after the brother had learn something about he himself was being in endanger from something and left the royal palace. With this, she kept wondering but it didn't seem enough to help her out of it...


it became evening as hours passed because of the princess had lost track of thoughts...

Still remaining the spot that she was at and told Shina or Munayuki that she didn't wanted to be found, if anyone else was concern where Aoi was at... The princess had looked down at the letter that was on the side of her elbow - she had taken with her on the trip, to keep in reminder that on the second week of being on the island, she needs to reveal the whole situation to the knight. Rather he can continue the idea of being her knight and spare of his own life and his family. But she knows him that he was already determine of doing this with pride and being the best of the knights, she can't do anything to change his mind about it. Aoi doesn't like pulling things in slow pace, but it had to be wait a bit more until Haruka, at least according to one of her butler who came a little while ago reported after Kanagawa had left, to get more agility or balance to defend himself. The wounds on the warrior was too much and it felt like the knight was too hurt to continue at this rate. Leaving the knight to be by himself, was for the best. The units were a bit rough on him, anyways. Since the Senzou academy, Aoi wasn't sure how often do they practice at the gym arena for so long, had trained for four hours at max since students weren't allowed to stay up that terribly late. Aoi hopes that it wasn't a badly injury... She'll have to pay a visit to Haruka later that night about it, or so she had thought... She had recalled that Makoto and Hiroki had stopped her before from seeing the younger brother for some reason. So she had respect that until if it's too much in the training , she'll offer the apology to the student to make the two older men to understand why she had to do this...

Snapping back to reality, she heard the sound of the footstep that belonged to no one else but the injured warrior Haruka Kanagawa's, walking on the beach's shore. Aoi was already hidden from the sight, but this had made the younger being nervous and tried to avoid contact with the blonde. She didn't know what to say if they were met in a the shoter time but she had heard a sighed from the wounded Haruka's expression. Was he upset about something...? But unable to approached to the knight of asking him what was wrong, she had kept herself hidden from where she was at until a large hand with three rings on his wrist, had cover her mouth and pulled her body back without leaving a trace of any noise.
 
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Haruka had left the shower and dried her body with the towel. It didn't take her long to finish with this and she lied down on her bed. She didn't know what else she was supposed to do. She had thought that she wouldn't get injured, but then again, it had been a defect with the training weapons. They had fallen down on top of her and she had gotten away with just a wounded shoulder. She had deemed that to be fair enough. She would get to relax for a few days in order to heal herself, but she would be training until she was allowed to go back into the actual testing again. She wondered if they were trying to sabotage her work in order to send her back or even kill her, but then again, she had already officially gotten the job.

Her mind wandered off to her brother. He hadn't gone along with this intentionally, but he seemed fine even if he had to be on a secluded island with an amount of people that he didn't know. He only knew Makoto and Haruka, obviously that wasn't enough. They must be lonely in the place, and Haruka hoped that they could find a way of getting comfortable on the island somehow. She lied down on her side(the side that was not injured, obviously), her wet hair making the pillow damp. She was so tired that she felt like she would fall asleep on the spot, but even so, she stayed completely awake and wuiet, staring directly at the wall to her left. Was this really going to be her life from now on? Would she get to see Hiroshi as she wanted? Would she get to be with her brother after she got this job? And what would happen between her and Aoi?

Hiroki had left Makoto in their room. Makoto was tired after a few... activities, but Hiroki needed some fresh air. When he was walking, he had spotted Princess Aoi. He wanted to go greet her. Maybe try and help her and Haruka with realizing what was going on between them. Maybe he could help them get happier with each other somehow. Instead of this awkward situation they seemed to be in. He was about to approach when he saw her get dragged into a bush, and he ran to her, grabbing onto her wrist. He actually managed to yank her away from her attacker somehow, and it was followed by a mighty brawl between the two men.

Eventually, Hiroki got away with Aoi from the man. He had a blue eye and was limping on one leg, but he dragged her off anyways to the servants. He told them what had happened, and they checked him for any injuries. He had a sprained ankle, and, as said, a blue eye. He decided to get some cold eyes and had to walk around with support to his legs. He thought that he would be okay, but then again, he was not as strong as Haruka.

Speaking of the sun, Haruka came walking in, worried about the noise that she had heard outside with her door open. She ran over to Hiroki with a surprised expression on her face, looking at him and then scolding him thoroughly for what he had done. When she was done with that, her eyes met with Aoi's, and she completely silenced herself. She had thought she would be able to say something, but it felt like she had something stuffed down her throat. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move. She was scared of this situation, and she immediately hid away all emotion on her face as she averted her gaze. No way in hell she was looking directly at this woman in this kind of situation. What was she going to do if that happened?
 
Aoi yelped in surprised as she was force back, her arms were engaged with another and single hand, but one stronger control while the body was unharmed. She shutted her eyes tightly in fear of what was going to happen to the maiden. Aoi wouldn't screamed out in assistance, but her mouth was sealed off from man's strong hand. So the pink-haired lass didn't had any choice but tried to fend off from the assaulter's grip to escape out of the hold. She heard a small response of a groaning, voice that belonged to a man which she despises due to her past. She tried to screamed for help but the body behind her pressed and whispered from the back of the helpless girl's shoulder, "You mustn't need to be startled, princess..." Aoi gradually stop shaking as she calm down, opening her eyes to look at the assaulter's face after being told in a calm but firmed tone. She spotted his face... "We just needed to ask you a few questions..." He said as Aoi remained speechless. We?

A young man who had a dark brown layered wolf-hair but it wasn't spiky on the ends of edges. On the side of his left side from his point of view, has three feathers clipped on his little length hair. It was beautiful and admirable to have something attached with his hair, really. It matched the looks of his. Crimson bloody sharp eyes like the other man who had a dark green dirty hair with the left side-bangs was a lot longer than right's. A lighter pale colored scar above his nose on the peachy colored skin. A white fur-woolen, purple bluish shawl over his shoulder with a brown shoulder pad in some sort of design. His arm was covered in bandage while wearing two rings; one was larger than the other. Another pieces of clothes of shawls are wrapping around his waist and his suit... Is entirely black combine with red colors and a... Ninja outfit?! Do ninjas still exist in this time period!? Aoi couldn't believe this at all, what is a ninja doing here on this private island?!

Before the ninja was about to release the girl to talk, one of his sense triggered his reflex and grabbed the princess in protection to jump away from the attack that tried to made contact to them. Aoi squeaked in respond before she had to look who attacked them, her eyes widen to find Hiroki who made a open attack at the ninja. The royalty heard the ninja groaned in annoyed to having to deal with this other man, he had finally released the girl and told her, "Your highness, please wait there. We'll discuss about this matter later after I deal with him." Aoi tried to stop him but the nameless ninja already launched himself at Hiroki, engaging into battle.


It was a tough battle for Hiroki considering that he was fought here and there by side to side against that the assassin who approached the princess. Aoi felt terrible for the knight's brother to engage himself with the man who was unknown to them and ended up in draw. As safe it can say that no one was harm, only Hiroki who winded up bruised on the ankle, twisted. She felt the eyes from the knight who had the eyes full of question to what had happen to his brother. Aoi shut her eyes tightly as she recalled the event from earlier...

Aoi had watched the battle in fear as the brother of Haruka's, was being pulled into battle, versus the unarmed yet blade wielder. Hiroki's eyes shot up from the quick run as expected from the assassin and jumped backward, making sure to protect himself from any launching assault that was going to be received and not blocked by any surroundings from the island's backyard. The unknown brawler began the fight with few swung of his fists before using his elbow as combo, aiming at Hiroki's stomach to his torso to hit and damage in result. Of course, Hiroki manage to successfully blocked each of the attacks that was given, but the thrust from the man's quick speed had somehow sliced several spots of the brother's shirt. Exposing his skin as the shirt was starting to torn from sides, even though the weapon was a hand!? However, it wasn't a regular thrusting fist as the taller man's shoulders or the spots that was torn on the shirt, revealed that the shredder area was left with some bruised marks. There was no blood that was showing, but it was reddish color wounds that soon sting with pain as the red-haired Hiroki flinched at the injury and return fire by throwing his own palms at the mysterious man. Punches were thrown many at the brown haired man step by step, but it ended the same as it did for Hiroki, but the mysterious man was contacted by the hit of Hiroki's fists. As again, the repeated actions were inflicted to the shorter male but didn't no reaction to any of it.

Although the hit was made connected, he didn't flinch or react to any of the received damage like how Hiroki did... Hiroki made a puzzled expression but still fought on. They proceeded on and on with the same performance until it became in a unexpected way; the red-haired brother was countered by this man's grab by the hand and reached out to Hiroki's face or cheeks and shoved him down towards at the ground, preventing him from moving while locking his left arm in the air. From the sideline, Aoi had remained in the same position as she still was. She figured that if she moves, the assassin will probably warn her for trying to escape from his side. She so had left nothing but to stand by, watching... Praying that Hiroki would be all right, but her thoughts had spoken too soon when Hiroki was able to free himself from the strong but smaller fighter, the assassin grew irritated and kicked Hiroki below his torso: the stomach. Sending him flying back in few steps back as Aoi cried out to Hiroki.

She couldn't do anything to help the poor wounded Hiroki as she watched the battle, frozen by the feet of the ground. She may have been strong enough to put a fighting spirit on her face but she never fought off anyone before, not even against a man that was her own weakness due to her traumatic past of the time where the princess was abducted several times before by men. Aoi was unable to move from her spot, not knowing what to do while Hiroki who stood up from the area he flew at. With no choice was left, when the tactic of using the fist had failed to make any effort, the taller figure used his leg to kick the nameless man's side to push the edge a little. If by not getting too much pressure from this, however the man had caught Hiroki's leg and gripped it very tightly. Hiroki's eyes widen in surprise from this and was dragged by the leg as the other man began to whirl the taller one's body. From the position where the brown hair man standing, he had the strength to twist around the brother by the drag on until it came to the point that he had enough of this silly little game and tossed Hiroki away as if he was made out of scraped material. The mysterious sighed as Hiroki tried to back flip into safe landing, but as soon as he landed; the impact on his ankle became a little too much and his entire body fallen down to his knee. The red hair adult held on to his ankle as the attacker did nothing but watched the injury man, sitting there in pain.

The ninja had decided on finishing off the wounded man until Aoi interfere in front of him. His eyes widen at the protective girl who wasn't able to do anything and tried to save the man who attacked him, according from his vision that witnessed a while ago. So the nameless man did nothing against the girl and consider the battle as draw until Hiroki took this chance and grabbed Aoi, retreating back to the summer cottage home.


Back into the current situation, Aoi was unsure how to tell Haruka of how sorry she was for getting his brother involved with all of this. The half of the servants were looking to see if Aoi was unharmed while others were intending to Hiroki's medical needs. Before the workers had tried to take Hiroki to another room, Aoi held on the small piece of fabric of Hiroki's shirt with tears in her eyes. She looked at the man as her tears had fallen that was held back in the match from earlier. "I'm so sorry, Hiroki-san... I... I'm so sorry for not able to protect you other than just that... I didn't mean to get you involve..." She sobbed, choking in tears as she tried to speak, "I-I'd like to thank you for protecting me... I'm grateful in your debt... I hope I can repay you somehow..." But no time, the several workers had taken care of the crying Aoi while others took Hiroki into the infirmary room.

Meanwhile after the two just escaped from the assassin...

The man reacted to try and stop them but a voice had stopped him. "That's enough, Shu." The ninja now named Shu had turn his head, his crimson bloody eyes glance over to the direction where the voice traced off from. From the shadow behind the tree, there was a male figure who had a light tanned brown spiky hair but waved on the left side. His eyes was emerald green, sharp with emotionless look of emptiness and his overall outfit was just a school uniform and black shoes.

"Kou-dono..." Shu softly said as mention man remained behind the tree who only glance at the assassin. "I assume that you witness the whole battle... My apologies." Kou remained the same as he looked from just the first glance.

"It's fine, don't apologize. Old habits from approaching to people hasn't change as I can tell, but we'll work on that later." Kou replied as he sighed, looking at the beach's shore. "Right now, I'm more concern about something else. And since we can't able to talk to his sister, we won't get the information that we can get out of her if the royal family had given the girl protection guardian already. We'll try this another time." Closing his last sentence, Shu kneel in front of him but Kou locked his eyes to the shore. His eyes that use to be icy and cold, was soft and gentle with the concern hidden in it. "...Aizuki, where are you..."
 
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Haruka was very surprised at Aoi's reaction, the way that she seemed in so much regret over what had happened to Hiroki earlier when she had been attacked. When Haruka herself had finished tending to her brother (because he had personally asked her to do it, for some reason), she was by Aoi's side, looking at her. It took a few, long moments for her to go back to normal. She was nervous beyond belief. She wanted to talk to Aoi. She didn't know what she would talk about or how she would talk about it, but she would try her best in order to talk this through with the princess. Maybe she should stop the chances of love between them. Maybe she should tell Aoi right here and then that there could never be anything between them.

"Princess Aoi, I wish to talk to you. If it is not too much, will you come with me in order to talk in private?" Hiroki actually gave her a look, and she averted her gaze from his to focus on Aoi. No, she would not talk about that. She would not tell Aoi that she was a girl. She would hide her gender at all possible costs, and this was one of them. If she revealed herself to Aoi, who could say for sure that she would not lose her job for that secret alone? She needed to figure out if Aoi was someone she trusted. Her heart clenched at the thought, but how could she not feel the pain? She knew that she might be falling in love with Aoi. She knew that her feelings were very wrong, and she knew that Rin had been right. Her heart belonged here, in these painful bonds of loving someone that you could not be together with, no matter what.

When Aoi had agreed to go with her, they walked together outside. They ended inside a lounge area with chairs, a coffee table and a couch. Haruka helped Aoi get seated, and the servants brought them tea. Haruka asked them politely to leave her with the princess, and they bowed and left Haruka alone with the princess. Haruka sat down in the chair across from Aoi. She folded her hands in her lap as she looked directly into Aoi's eyes, her own blue eyes glimmering with emotion. She was wearing a tanktop, and the bandage around her arm were evident. From other training, she also had a band-aid on her cheek and another on her leg that was a bit larger.

"I... I want to talk honestly with you. I know that it might not be my position as part of the servant staff, but I feel that I cannot do this job properly if I am to proceed without knowing what kind of person you are. I need to know what I'm really supposed to protect you from. So... won't you talk honestly with me? I know I'm just... a person who knows nothing, but I might be able to relate... I'm also away from my family, partly... and if there's anything you want to talk to anyone about, you can consult in me... I don't want us to have this kind of relationship, it'll be inconvenient when I'm supposed to save you from someone who attacks you. I hope that you understand this." Haruka was a bit awkward talking about this. She didn't want Aoi to get mad with her, but had a strange feeling that this was going to happen soon.
 
When the brother of Haruka was being attended in medical care, Aoi had watched Haruka who looked back to the royalty child before he had headed off to his brother's side. Aoi herself needed to see if Hiroki was feeling better so she followed Haruka into the infirmary room, seeing the older male was being wrapped in bandages and used some medicine to recover the small bruised everywhere that was left marked on his skins. The royalty child had noticed Hiroki must of said something small in a whisper to tell Haruka that he was fine. Leaving that, the knight return back to the princess's side to ensure her safety, even though nothing was happening. The emotional girl had felt that Haruka had given her the same glance from before, asking the same question within his eyes. She had figured that there were so many things that needed to be answered and questioned in both for the flustered knight. The whole reason behind the story of her appearance, the job Haruka was employed to assist, and the training requirement that was suppose to help them engaged battle in the future's sight.

Aoi closed her eyes and shut out everything in hearing, thinking what or how she was suppose to explain for Hiroki's injuries and the sudden assault from the assassin who appeared an hour and a half back. She know well enough that it was her responsibility for the wounded Hiroki's safety when he's a citizen himself, even though he knows how to defend himself. But what will happen if... Haruka will lose his brother if the mysterious man wielded the weapon during the fight? She couldn't bare the thoughts to think about the knight Haruka Kanagawa mourning for the loss of his brother... If anything became the alternate route, she would of been graved with this horrible sin to involve anything else into this matter... The damn named family from the ancestors to the current generations.

Nothing to be said in the awkward silence until Aoi had heard Haruka finally spoken up. She averted her eyes over to meet with sapphire, icy yet soft eyes that must of hint with concern. Guessing that he wanted to know everything, it was assumed as time to unfold the whole story and reason why this turn out like this... Especially in Hiroki's case since he protected the princess for a reason, but she could guess on other reasons, although Aoi didn't want to be rudely thinking about it to lose their trusts... Nodding her head to allow the permission, they walked out of the medical room and spoke on with their private conversation as they went to the lounge room. The two pair had sat on the opposite sofas that was facing to one another, Aoi kept her mouth quiet as Haruka requested the servants to leave after preparing the tea and desserts in front of them. She was feeling intense and nervous to say anything at first but it was no excuse to why keeping Haruka in the dark for too long and so forth. But looking upon to the man in front of her, she frowned at the sight to see all of the bandages and coverups that was on the blonde's skins... The training from earlier...

Listening to Haruka's statement about the job's position and purpose with a lot of emotion tone that seem like to Aoi, Haruka must of felt upset about this whole thing. She soften her eyes in horrible feeling then looking down at her hands, clutching on her knee as Aoi felt guilty for not telling him since from day one, the meeting when they first met. Aoi could picture it that it was like yesterday it all happen but in actual reality, it was weeks ago. She would understand if Haruka would be anger by all of this. He has the rights to be mad and refuse the job if he wanted to. She can't control his decision nor did she wanted him to get even more put into danger, but Haruka had insisted that he wanted to help her... But wasn't it because Miyabi had provoked him to do this job in the first place, other than the reason the blonde warrior had told her before? Too much things had happen so fast but it wasn't something she can undo about it... So she replied to the knight about the explanation, "I suppose I should tell you what really happen to all of this and very much likely why I seek for aid into this chaotic war for my own personal, selfish reasoning... You have the very right to ask and know why you're here to apply into this job, Kanagawa-dono... I apologize for keeping you in the dark for so long, I wanted to tell you straight from the beginning when we first met in the grandmaster's room. However, Miyabi-san had prevented the alone time with you and I... And must of made me feel foolish to not spoken the detailed story... I am not certain of... how to explain..." She said then paused for the brief moment, thinking of how she was going to begin all of this long story from the beginning to this confused informal, night-wear guardian. Although she had said that it was all right for them to wear a night clothing outfit, it was embarrassing to look at the knight from the whole view and avoided looking down at him fully, just looking at his face only.

"You see... The whole reason why I'm putting myself into war was because I am looking for someone who was dear to me... That person had disappeared from my life, five straight years with no information given why." She began as she first avoided the locked eyes meeting away from Haruka, remain looking down at her small hands. "From childhood as I can recall; I, Aoi Minashiro, wasn't the person you know of today to what I use to be, back in a younger age. When I was a little girl, I used to be such a quiet, shy person who didn't really understand much about her little world. I had the most wealthy life with just about everything that could be possibly gain in control or simply to have. However, there was something else that seem much worth all the joys than money could buy, or would try. And of course, nothing can be bought or replaced for this life... Or, at least his life..." Aoi squeezed her hands tightly as she felt her heart was tied by string, slightly tighten the thread on the beating flesh while continuing herself to tell more. She did everything all she could to hold back her voice from being choked by the emotions that dwell inside the upsetting princess. "And the person that I am looking for... Is my older brother. Aizuki. Aizuki Minashiro."

Aoi who finally moved her head to lock contacts with Haruka's eyes without feeling force to anything against her own will, connected to one another. Her expression was serious as she stilled her direction at the knight. "As much as I can remember when I was a little girl, my dear older brother, Aizuki, was the most sweetest and gentlest person who has ever existed in this world. Although he is a clumsy and playful, he's really strong-willed and thoughtful about others than himself. Aizuki-oniisama is the type of person who wouldn't harm anyone for anything selfish of himself, he alone would rather settle anything in a gentleman-like way." The female royalty didn't mean to sound like so obsessive about her brother, but she wanted to describe someone who she cares so dearly for that purpose why looking for him.

"I spent my few years with my brother and was close to him than anyone else at the time, besides Nana-san, Lulu-san, and several others of the servants that was watching over all for years. We were inseparable from that timeline because the two of us, the fragile brother of mine and the shy girl as myself, high-class siblings were unable to go outside to have any experiences, or making any friends like other regular middle-class children usually do from the early stage. Although, in my age of seven or eight-years-old; my brother had made some friends as he often sneaks out of the royal fort at nighttime. I wanted to go with him, but I was told not to because I'll be caught and get some rough discipline from our parents, like he did once after he was found by them, with his best friend. Breaking night curfew... For my well-being, brother Aizuki-oniisama was too worried about me and didn't want me to get into trouble. Early warning just in case I'll be told by the majesties...that I have the influence from him... Anyway, it became unknown to me what happen since that moment onward. With the guards came in high alert, we weren't able to be walk freely as we wanted to, not any longer and it made us grew a bit depress as we were assigned to many different maids and butlers. At least, I was watched by the maids and he was guided by butlers." Aoi sighed as she fondled her thumps together, now shifting her eyes elsewhere than looking straight at Haruka anymore. Feeling a bit embarrassed to rather tell such of the small past with this young man Haruka who she only knows little about. At the same time, she didn't want to delay anymore than what was already did. In the looks of her eyes, Aoi's eyes formed in such sad reaction because the information she had to expose in a little bit soon, was something that hurt her heart. Leaving that painful scar from five years ago that she had to dealt with...

"Days withered away in isolation from reality, but for some reason... His friends, especially his best friend of who I cannot recall, started to come over to the palace without any guards finding out about them or got caught. Such as then, they had made the sweet memories from the day forth. With my brother, myself, Nana-san, Lulu-san, and the rest of the other employees who was there working at that day. It kept on repeated since then, nothing had ever broken us apart." From this, her voice hesitated to speak. Feeling the lower lip of her mouth quivered, she bit her lower lip as Aoi tried to calm down, her eyes were covered by the front pink short bangs as the intensive feeling rose from her heart. She once again clutched on knees as her hands curved into a ball of fist, didn't want to try admitting this information when she believes it was wrong but she didn't have the proof to defend her brother's back. "Well, that was until... two and a half or exactly three years later, no one knew what had happen to my brother and one of his friends... to why the both had disappeared with no explanation except the rumors that had spread from that same day when Aizuki-oniisama and his friend went missing. I believe at the week later within the same year had proceeded quickly, at the age of ten years-old and a half or simply eleven-years-old: I heard a rumor about my brother was being exiled from the castle, for he and his friend had turned the blade against our father... I wasn't there at the time when I was being taught in lesson of musical class, but I wasn't definite if his friend had the weapon or my brother was arm. Nevertheless, I know Aizuki-oniisama wouldn't hurt anyone... But I was informed that... My father was injured by the struck of blade that belonged either from our family's name or his friend's, blood river from his open wound as my brother grabbed his friend's arm and fled out of the kingdom..."

Her voice started to choke into each pauses as it shown to Haruka's eyes, Aoi was breaking into tears. Finally crashing down by emotions, she was sobbing harder as she told the story. The heartbroken princess now covered her face as she kept crying her heart out, hating the feeling to not understand what was the truth or false. It seemed to make Haruka guessed, knowing why it felt difficult to stay strong for so long... Because she didn't wanted to believe that her brother was an assaulter to the father who gave birth to the siblings. The cry went on for a while now until the princess manage to slow down her tears as the pain was slightly lifted, but still felt uneasy.

"So hearing from the horrible detailed rumor, I asked my father but it seem like that he didn't care and decided to exile my brother from existence... At first, my father, Kurashi Minashiro, was going to ignore my brother's crime and dishonor for attacking him and aid the other family's name, but instead... He decided to send out men to assassinate my brother for the damned honor and glory... Because of that, I had ran away from home with Munayuki-san the agent, Shina-san the maid, and few other people who share our relationship... We left to find some clues of where my brother had been this whole time. Searching high and low to his whereabouts... N-nothing was found until two years passed, a letter arrived to the home I am currently using at the moment." Aoi had the open letter that she held close to her, handing it over on the table then slightly push the paper close to Haruka's figurine. Again, the feeling of unable to look at Haruka, her eyes were covered by the bangs once more to avoid contacts. She couldn't face the knight who wanted the reason out of it. "Inside the letter that was written by the person name signed as "Dragoon", I learned that the cursed name Minashiro had possessed some sort of sorcery weapon that's shaped as a ring or some sort of a book... Only the inherited and willed child that was chosen, can use it... However, my father didn't chosen the user to wield it and my brother had stolen the item from the family's sacred garden... But there was more... There were other wealthy families who also had their own weaponize items that was passed by the generations from their ancestors... Saying that the eleven each items, or weapons, were supposedly used to fight among others of users in Japan for the honor and glory, along with the trophy that is called 'Holy Grail'... Or something much bigger than that..."

"Lastly... I read that my brother is still alive, but he was participating in this dreadful event... So I had to know which school that had this horrible war going on, but in the paper, it said that it was the St. Rozen Private High School and Senzou Private Academy... From what I had investigated, it was true... It fitted the description about it so I said to myself that I would go to advance on the search, but the instruction said that I needed a partner: a student that entitled of the knight of the Senzou to fight by my side, and I might learn the truth... But I was warned that I will be assaulted by the other named, wealthy child who wields the same power as I do... By the family name... That... I..." And with that, Aoi had became quiet, not knowing of how Haruka will respond to this...
 
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"Princess, I greatly understand your pain, and that it must be a very tight situation for you, doing this... but frankly, I'm a bit offended. You not only refrained from telling me what my true purpose was, and with all due respect, failed to mention that you're putting your own life in danger searching for your brother. This might come across as a bit harsh, and I forgive you getting angry at me, but has it struck you that people who hide usually don't want to be found? I do not doubt that your brother must have loved you; you're a very lovable person, but that is not the issue here. There's a reason that he hasn't been found yet, and that is because he doesn't wish to be found. Your brother probably wants to see you again badly, but something is keeping him from doing so. Trying to approach him would go against his wishes."

Haruka used a few minutes to cool down. She was in a bit of a rage, but she couldn't let it go out over the innocent Aoi. She knew that Aoi did not mean any harm to others or herself, and she knew that hiding these things from Haruka had not been her wish. She must have feared Haruka's reaction. From all of this, Haruka could conclude that Aoi was desperately in need for someone like her. If no one could agree on the terms that were at hand now, then she probably would refrain from telling. But she could still feel the pain and slight anger in her heart, miserable as it was. She hated herself for it. She could not raise her hand against a proper lady like Aoi. She would get in loads of different trouble if she even thought about as much as poking the female -- and that was why she stayed like that in the couch, her hand clenching one of the arm rests. She would not lose her temper here, in front of such a frail and fragile girl.

Haruka got up from her seat, standing in front of Aoi on the couch. Her posture was sure and unwavering, hands placed on her hips. She had marks everywhere on her body from the training, but did not seem to mind it in the least. It hadn't been long since her last shower, and she smelled of the rosy shampoo she had been using. Her hair was still just a little bit damp, but above all, she seemed stern and determined. She was like a rock, standing there without moving. She would probably never move if it wasn't on own will. She wanted Aoi to realize what she was doing and what was the downsides of it. What dangers she was putting herself through.

"I know what it's like. I don't know if anyone has told you about this, but I feel that with you having spilled your heart to me, I need you to know. I'm the spit image of my mother. I resembled her greatly. Hiroki does not look like any of my parents, not my fair mother nor my dark-haired father. When I was a little child, my mother got sick. It took months before she withered away and died in her bed. I happened to be in the room that day. I was very attached to my mother, and I knew that she liked getting in fresh air from outside. It took me a few minutes to realize that she wasn't breathing, but when I got my dad in there.... it was too late. I turned to my father for comfort, and what did you think he did?" There was a pause as if she was so disgusted with the memory that she couldn't even continue. The pain in her eyes were real. The clenching hand around the fake bandages on her arm were real. She was only wearing those bandages to cover self-harm scars. She didn't want that weakness to show, and especially not here, in front of a person like Aoi who already had it tough enough. She pulled herself together after a few moments, deciding that she would finish her tale before Aoi could break in.

"He hit me. Hard. Tossed me to the ground. I felt like something broke both physically and mentally that day. As he was mercilessly abusing me, I managed to make a run for it and bumped into Hiroki by the door. Our father got angry and left the house immediately afterwards. After we called the people that picked up my mother's corpse, we packed our bags. At that point, Hiroki had already been living here in my mother's residence in Japan. Together, we moved here and started our new life. The only time I can forget the hatred and guilt that he has put onto me is when I forget my own self in fighting." Haruka took a deep breath. It seemed like she was about to cry, but no tears came out. She'd already cried all that was left to cry when she was a child. She could feel her heart clenching, but for Aoi's sake, she had to get this across.

"I know I'm being disrespectful, and probably inappropriate, but I am feeling very betrayed by this. No, not betrayed. I'm disappointed. Angry. I do not comprehend how you couldn't tell me. I'm your bodyguard starting this day, and that is whether you like me or not. I get that you love your brother, believe me, I know what it's like to be in eternal debt for the love you have recieved because you simply love them so much that you feel you don't deserve it. I know how wrenching it is to lose someone you care dearly about, and I know how it is when a family member turns on you. But if your brother wants to see you, he can come here and approach you, for all I care. But I can't allow you putting not only your own, but also the lives of your servants, in the hands of fate because you're searching for him!" Haruka caught her breath when she was done ranting, hand on her blade. She sat down again, taking a moment to calm down. She felt an ache in her chest. It was painful to have to talk to someone like this. It felt wrenching on her heart to do something like that.

"I apologize... that was very rude of me to say. But please... do consider what I've told you." Even if her words had been hard, her eyes were softer now, showing that she was really just anxious for Aoi's safety.
 
The princess had close her eyes as Haruka comment in criticism and explained his background of history. She knows well that the princess cannot compare the life similar to the knight of whom was attached to a ill yet devoting mother who passed on, while being abandoned with the neglecting father who cares nothing but his own comfort than his child's. Hitting his own child as Haruka had said, feeling that she can hear the young man's voice in disgust. Aoi knows that she can't feel the pain as the blonde Senzou student felt and received back then while losing the beloved mother whom he cherished so much. It's true that her own blooded parents are still alive while the guardian's mother passed and the father still alive somewhere. She remember about Hiroki had taken him in to his arms of care, making sure that his little brother would be getting out of the father's abusing hands ever again... Aoi can't express anything but slightly pity the knight for the horrible loss and suffering... But despite of that, however, there was something that was similar to at least one small fact... Even without receiving the suffering, Aoi already know that as Haruka's father had neglected his child... Her parents as too, neglected the royal children's characteristics and existences... Cared about nothing but wealth and glory of honor and power... All humans are greedy to one thing to another, they're just all alike but little differences...

"Yes... I am aware of that and my sincere apologies for hiding this from you, Kanagawa-dono... Same along that I couldn't understand how you're bearing with... You and I are different being and background, same with the social status are also too far apart but it doesn't stop us feeling as human in all alike... You have the rights to be upset and angry with me, I understand fully well... But I couldn't able to tell you the truth if I had told you about it from the beginning, I wouldn't care if you did reject the idea to rather not assist me... Because I have mention this plenty of time to you, as you may recall from weeks ago, that I would've done this all by myself. Even with, or without, the help to my surrounding. But if it weren't for the bloody family's name..." Aoi folded her hands and held under her forehead, feeling exhausted as ever than she can be with so much thinking. Aoi understands how disappointed Haruka felt from the princess's whole reason to fight. Just losing the life of their own to find this one particular person than the country itself did sound ridiculous, but to Aoi, she didn't care because it was important to her no matter what until she finds her brother. She was already abandoned by the parents who she wanted to give love and affection to, neglected the feelings from them as they shut them, Aoi and Aizuki, away from reality and purely all entire existences.

Considering to the knight's question about rather the brother wanted to be found, her voice was low with calm attitude as she replied to Haruka, "And regarding to that question: rather if I should of left the matter alone of finding my brother or not... I know that this is against his wishes to why he had left, but this has bother me this whole entire time why he never came to visit me for the last five years. If or even he did loved me... No contact, no letter. Nothing. As much as I would respect his wishes if he wanted to break away from the family, I wanted to know the very reason why he would ambush our father and ran away from the royal palace with his friend. I also wanted to know why we have that weapon(s) as our family's treasure and kept it for so long. Nothing was mention why it brought to life. Nothing was told how to use it or why it was there to fight..."

The pink-haired tomboyish girl finally looked up at Haruka with the tears from before, dripped from shining blue orbs. "So don't you think by now, if my brother had told me everything already... Do you really think by now that I would of been here, right now? As if I was really okay with everything that's going on!? Of course not, I didn't want any of my family (the workers) here putting their lives in danger just for and because of me! If I were to go alone, no one would've needed to protect or died for me, just because I'm just the daughter of the royal family of the Minashiro's!" Oh no... Aoi didn't mean to snap like this, but the emotions got the better of her. The princess wasn't able to handle this as her left hand squeeze the nightwear's fabric tightly. The heart was sting by the feeling of aching pain as her peach-color skin on the cheek, formed into a light pink shade of not embarrassed. But anger. Tears of the maiden's expression kept fallen as she dart her eyes angrily at the male companion.

"For two straight years after the first letter I retrieved, I waited so patiently enough to hear any news from the same pen writer who named themselves as 'Dragoon', to inform me about my brother's presence! But the sender didn't wrote me back about anything of my brother's condition, as if they were with him this whole time! If my brother wanted to see me, he would of done it during the five years of my loneliness heart that was dwells in the darkness! He was my only blooded family, aside the employees who've been with us since childhood, that I was closest to him! At least that's how I felt until he disappeared without ever telling me why he left! Nor sending me any letters to ease this pain, to rather or not if he's still alive and such!" Sharp pain was hitting more on her heart as the emotions still overflown from the mind, tossing out of the unnecessarily such bipolar mood at Haruka... (W/N: And of course, at this point, she's only worried about the brother who she knows right now. Aoi didn't know she had the first oldest brother before Aizuki. Also Aoi remembers about her youngest sister but she isn't close to her as she, Aoi, is to Aizuki.)

Couldn't control most of her feelings, she stood up from her seat. Still streaming with tears out of her eyes to look away in any random direction than to face Haruka's eyes. She hated her family's name to only care about some pride of the accursed name and herself for breaking her final shell after she tried so hard to never let her emotions get to Aoi... "If he and I were never born into the Minashiro's name, we would of been a normal family without getting ourselves into war against the other named families. And to be honest, I'd rather die than just still remained as a daughter of the Minashiro, but I wouldn't dare to leave all those wonderful people alone! So that is why I must find him at all cost to hear his story than getting killed by the executive group of assassins! If no one wishes to aid me, that is fine! I'll do it myself if I have to... I can't lose my only blooded family..." Didn't want to stay any longer, Aoi had turn away and exit out of the lounge room.
 
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"Princess, wait!" Haruka was after Aoi, who was running away from the residence, in a matter of seconds. They reached the beach before Haruka caught up with Aoi. Grabbing onto her hand, Haruka realized a little too late that she had grabbed too insistently, and they fell on the ground. Haruka happened to land on top, and despite the embarrassing position, she wanted to get her feelings across. She couldn't just let Aoi get away like that. The pain in her eyes, the loneliness... how could she not feel responsible? She hated herself for making Aoi cry, and for the very first time, her eyes were sincere and worried, and she looked almost fragile. She wanted Aoi to be happy and safe, and this was not what that meant. The ache in her heart made her feel heavy, and she wanted to get some kind of feeling across to Aoi. Not just that she was an emotionless person. She took a deep breath as she looked at Aoi, her hands placed on the ground on either side of Aoi's waist, trapping her there as she let out the breath that she had just taken in before she started speaking again, this time more calm.

"... Fine, I get it. I get it, okay! Please stop crying like that... but you have got to know that this is dangerous. It's not just dangerous, it's ridiculous. Aoi, the best chance of finding your brother is to tag along with the assassins. You have to know how far they have gotten, or they will get to him first. You can't just run face first into the headlights and get yourself shot down. You need a plan. If you really want to see your brother again, stop with being reckless! Sit down and think! It's been five years. You can't just run around searching for him. When he's been away from this long, it means he's gotten good at hiding. You can't just go to your secret places or his favorite places. He has found a hiding somewhere where no one would think him to be, and if you want this to work, you need a plan." Haruka was breathless as she stared into Aoi's eyes, her expression sincere and pained. She wanted Aoi to act more cleverly. She had no plans of letting the princess down, but the princess also needed to take another approach to the situation. What she was doing now was completely reckless, and she would get nowhere if she continued in that direction.

"I'll help you. On one condition: That you put on your thinking hat! You've been blinded by feelings for so long, but it's like trying to dig through stone with your fingernails. It's nearly impossible to find him by the means that you're using. That's why I'd like you to listen to me. You need to be more clever. If it's your father that has hired the assassins, we need to get closer to your father. He might know something that you don't. And even better, if we catch him redhanded he might tell you what really happened. You said that he was sent away from attacking your father. But he wasn't a very violent person, right? Meaning that he won't just attack someone for no reason. Even if your father doesn't know, I have a gut feeling that the key to finding your beloved older brother lies within your father's hands." The more Haruka spoke, the more fierce her expression became. But she coldn't stay fierce for that long, and her expression softened. How could she stay mad with a girl in possession of this face? Haruka's entire being screamed at her to kiss this girl, do anything that was more intimate than she was allowed to be, but she couldn't move. She could not even move away from her position on top of Aoi. Their bodies were painfully close, and a strange heat shot into her chest, down her body and out into her feet, and out to her fingertips that were scratching at the sand. Everything felt so hot, and it was not just the weather that caused it. No, it was something else, something that made the air around them hotter than anywhere else on that beach.

"I don't blame you for not telling me, but I will get angry if you just jump straight into this on your own. Please, just listen to what I have to say. You need to think more of tactics. No one jumps head first into a war without plans. Because this will be war. Your parents are going to be mad. Assassins might not only be your brother's problem. Who knows if they're lurking right here, in this area, just waiting for people to get away from you? Just look what happened when you went to the beach. Hiroki is strong. He might not be as strong as I am, but he is strong. He doesn't get beaten easily. A person that could beat him up like that is not to make fun of. And what would happen if someone even more powerful appears? Aoi, you have to be very, very careful. If you don't want to die finding your brother, the key is to use your head. And more than anytime, now. You need to use it right now." As she finished speaking, the color drained from her face. She seemed to finally realize what position she was in, and she rolled away from Aoi immediately, scrambling to her feet.

"I... apologize, I didn't realize that-- just... think about your answer! Come to my room if there's anything you need to talk about... and as I said before, I'm willing to help you. Please let me... n-now, please go back, princess... i-it's in the middle of the night, you can't just stay out here..." Haruka seemed more awkward than ever, and she was. Her heart was pounding hard against her chest, and her face was slightly red. She had looked away to hide it, but even her ears had gone red in the princess. She was beyond embarrassed over her actions. How could she not be? She had inappropriately pinned a girl to the ground! And not only a girl, a princess, for crying out loud! She was so scared of Aoi's reaction that she wanted to run, but her protective instinct kept her in reaching distance from Aoi.
 
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