All of this felt so wrong and horrible, after hearing the knight admitting the truth about the whole story behind the reason why they've chosen him, Haruka Kanagawa, as her knight, Aoi remained speechless for the moment as she gazed at the knight whom concern himself into her affair, putting his line on the for a mere stranger for they have never met or spoken before until now. She have never wanted this to happen, especially the past that she had to endure alone with her servants for just this one
person, she has to search for. A memory had flashed through to Aoi's vision to show herself in the past.
Ever since childhood, before an incident that happen between her family and the true meaning of the tradition behind the two schools, Aoi was normal rich girl who didn't wanted anything in her life but just her family... She was a happy little child when everything around her world was just perfect, not needing anything else to ever changed from that dream. The small group of people that was in front of her, were waiting for her to come over to them to join in the fun game they were going to do. But right before then, the memories and the people of her image cracked into the ground, became nothing but dust. In reality, a piece went missing out on her from her life and despised her both parents so much. If only they had never shown that to her beloved brother... Maybe this wouldn't have happen and things would of turn out to be different... However, it did. Due to the lost missing beloved brother who she admired and cherished so much, she had no choice whatsoever of this and have to find the knight who was willing to help Aoi... For her brother, and Aoi, should of never deserved this horrible fate... It was so cruel. But what could she have done if she cannot wield that of power that Miyabi had mention an hour and half back, because of the cursed Minashiro's blood she had condemned so much about...
With no choice of the matter, Aoi had thought about Haruka's suggestion: move on and become stronger. She doesn't like the idea of having to ignore Kanagawa's safety because if there was anything, penalty will come in afterward. Which would possibly make things in vain if she had died. With the knight also told her that he weren't like the idea being getting closer or some such, Aoi wasn't going to ask anything of that as they'll probably go on for their journey. She didn't want to get close to him and... get hated by the man that she hardly knew, but felt with trust in gut. But the smaller figure frowned as she looked up at figure, looking upset to only make Haruka given a concern look at her. She doesn't know what to do without the help of the knight being there by her side.
"
Are you certain that you're not going to regret of becoming my knight, Kanagawa-dono...?" Aoi asked with a obvious hint of sad tone, slowly rosed up from the spot that she had fallen when Aoi wasn't looking where she was running to, and bumped into Kanagawa on the way. Dusting off the dirt on her rear while looking at him at the same time with the remained sad face from before. Of course, the tears from her eyes had shed away dry to make sure that she wouldn't show anymore deep thought of emotions to expose too much. This leave Haruka to raise an eyebrow at this at the sadden Aoi who question because of the confession he had made.
"
I do not, my lady. I would like you to understand that I have already swore my loyalty to you, in promise that I shall aid you in battle if necessary. Well, that depend on the decision if you allow me to do so, that is. If you accept me to remain by your side, I will help to guide the path for you that you have been seeking for. But I would like to know what is the reason why you are requiring a knight to assist you. Or... At least from what Miyabi said, you didn't want to go with this at all. She said that if you had wanted to do with fame and glory, their majesties would of come in your place than yourself being here. I was informed by her, that you weren't doing for honor..." What is he doing, Haruka thought to himself to already know that he mustn't get too nosy in her personal reason but he wanted to know why Miyabi had said those horrible things. What was it that he doesn't know? What is the reason the young princess is trying to do something on her own, to even dismissing her own family for. But even though he had no right to ask about that since he could understand that idea. Although it didn't stop him to have the rights to know everything... Including the behind the true meaning of the guardian ship of the two linked schools, according to what Miyabi had said... His heart throbbed by the sharp pain like as if a knife or his own blade, had cut the beating flesh, for asking something so personal against the highness's will, but he can't stand of watching the mistress to suffer alone through the horrible experience that he had felt. And he swore to never allow that sorrow to ever encounter that to anyone, not even the highness... "
I'd like to know everything to why this had to do with me or the people behind the school and you, of all people, to get involve the situation when I can tell you're against it..."
Aoi can see how strong willing his eyes are when Haruka lock his eyes into her, as if he could read her in many emotions. Although as much as he can understand, there was a bit miscounted information or conclusion, though that he was right about one thing, but it's another. "
I'll be willing to tell you the whole story,
Kangawa-dono.
But before I get to tell you, I like to correct myself or... in recall about Miyabi had set her goal for something to kill you... That's not the case." the weak girl corrected as she frown. "
It may be true that she had plans to set you kill during the matches that you were placed in the challenge, but in truth... This knight's requirement test isn't what or where the 'killing' to be taking place at. This level only tests your abilities if you can manage to serve your performance... The task that I am doing... is worse than you can imagine."
"
What..." Unable to finish his sentence, Aoi continued. "
What you have to do is..." She said as her lips move but her voice faded away as she still moving in motion. Haruka's eyes widen at the same time when the wind had blown, causing the beautiful petals from the sakura trees to fallen from the branches. And without even knowing, a noise was made of a sound like 'clunk' hit towards the ground that was left behind, soon after the princess left.
The day had began to set as Haruka began to look the sunset, the sky that use to be blue had turn into the reddish-orange color in the air as the clouds were moving to the north direction. The school meeting had been over since an hour back and the princess had disappeared before the two hours had passed for the St. Rozen to release her students to either go home or back into the dorm. Haruka was still at the Rozen Private School to collect his thoughts to learn about the condition he had to do, in order to become Aoi's personal knight.
"
In order to become my knight and hear everything of the truth behind the school; within few days, appromixately around four to five, you are to go into your academy's gym room that is known the arena stadium. From there, they'll be expecting you to be ready to fight against eleven candadites who are supposedly the next line of knights or at least to be the best in your school... Seven out of eleven or most wins will be determined in results."
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~ ~ ~ ~ M e a n w h i l e ~ A o i ' s ~ M a n s i o n ~ ~ ~ ~
It had been an hour later after meeting with Haruka Kanagawa in a such privately area at the rear side of her school; Aoi had return home from the Private St. Rozen High School with the ride of an limousine vehicle, she was picked up by her personal and trustworthy agent Nana Munayuki, whom Aoi knows since she was a little girl. By the time they had reached to the house, Munayuki had arranged the car in the parking spot on the side near by the house's front entrance by 50 inches. Her agent had switched her key to momentarily turn off the key and exited out of the driver's seat to walk over on the right side of the limousine, open the door for her young mistress. As the passenger's door was open at the right rear-side slowly moved out of the way, the fragile mistress Aoi open her eyes to view her own mansion that her father had not known about it. Of course, given to the poor girl for having a huge struggling of a the endure battle the parent-child argument. She didn't want her parents to know where she lives. However, since Miyabi was able to contact her, Aoi had frighten up from the idea of what if Miyabi had turned her, reporting his own daughter was found somewhere in the hidden cottage. But some reason, Miyabi haven't sent one word about it and Munayuki, her agent, manage to deal with Miyabi about it... But aside all of that, Aoi looks back to the memories, to remember that very day when she and her father had that talk from her actual home, before she ever had decided to live on her own with Munayuki, Shina (Lulu), and several other servants that was friendly with the candidate student. Why all of this had begun this way...
~ F l a s h ~ b a c k ~
It was about five years ago at the year xx's, time taken place at one pm in the afternoon when it was the day that the pink-haired princess was at home, living with her parents before she had to move out due to the reason she had to fight for. The young eleven-years-old child who had a pretty long pink hair that stretched down, covering the entire back with a white headband to support her hair from getting in the way of her eyes. The dressing outfit she wore on the top was beige-like tan thin, loose sweater below the collar bone while the sleeves were middle-length but above the elbow. Her bottom out was a matching colored skirt that combine with the sweater, but a bit darker color of brown. Leaving the shoes that looked like furred-snow boots.
The small girl had charged her way from her bedroom, hearing such shocking news after what happened five days ago from that same year time. The younger Aoi had an raged anger with her eyes was said the opposite for it was shine as the glittering ocean that reflects on the beautiful sun's ray. Meaning that she wanted to cry.. She paced herself in a mannerly speed walk as she passed through the large halls and few rooms that were belonged to her parents, her other younger sister that yet to be born... and her
dearly beloved brother's.
Why... Why... Why... Beyond as she walked, the walls gave off the echos from footsteps as she arrived to her destination. Her father's study room.
"
Father!!" the voice outburst, unable to hold in the emotion as she burst the door open inside by doorknobs turning. She enter inside the room and walked only up towards to the study desk. "
Please tell me that it is nothing true!" Her eyes twinkle with the almost urge tears that was about to release, but held them back trying. From her vision, room was viewed with all necessarily documentation files, books, paper stacks, pens, and further more important stuffs that was laid on top of the desk that while the surrounding study room was just look like a library store. Behind the desk was a large, black leather chair that had its back turned to the girl before her so called father turned around. Staring at his teary child.
"
What is this all about, Aoi.
Why are you disturbing me out of the thought in thinking." It wasn't an question he gave to his daughter, it was more of a annoyed demand to why his little girl was making all this fuss. Aoi who kept her head up, trying so hard to hold her tears, stared at her father in hoping to know what was already about than already try telling him. "
Well, Aoi? I am waiting, I do not have all day with this, my child. Time is precious." Or so he said. But instead, she'll still say it anyways. Her hand clutched on the side as she gradually speaks from the lips, hoping her voice to make it out without hesitation. Her hands were placed on her small bosom but one of her hand was holding on metal bracelet that was important to her. Not wanting to hear the terrible news that to be true but still asked to confirm it rather the princess Aoi liked it or not.
"
You know... What I want to say, father..." Aoi spoke in a whispered volume before tighten her held on her fist. "
You know what I'm asking about...! Where is he!" She cried out in demand as she faces him. Again, trying hard to not letting her emotions getting the best to her, it got the better of her already.
Definitely.
"
If you are talking about that shameful, foolish, wretched and dishonorable imbecile; you are best to forget about him, Aoi!" Her father shouted as he slam his fist on the table, causing for the poor girl fright, shutting her eyes tightly by the sound of bam on the furniture. Aoi slowly open her eyes again, embraced her small palm around the bracelet she was wearing with the still sadden expression. "For he had befallen Minashiro's name and blood to dare turn against us, his own family!"
~ x ~ R e t u r n ~ o f ~ t h e ~ P r e s e n t ~ x ~
"
Aoi-Sama...?" A voice called to the maiden who was soon broken away from the thoughts, Aoi blinked as she caught Munayuki grew concern about the her exhausting highness. "
Are you all right, my lady...?" Aoi didn't mean to let her friend to worry about her any further and smiled at her, even meaning to lie to her... Of course, Munayuki know about her tiring held-in feeling and didn't want to be a burden to anyone, but the agent kept quiet.
"
Yes, I am fine..." Aoi lied, giving a half-honesty even though she hated to lying to her love ones. "
I was just tired, that's all. Um, Nana-san...?" The fragile, tired Aoi had looked at her best friend with an upsetting face from before. "
Yes, Aoi-sama? What is it?" Munayuki blinked at the sudden change of tone, feeling on the inside that her highness had the worse impression again due situation that was similar to before, months back. "
I am going to retire myself in my room so please let Lulu-san know that I am not going to be able to eat dinner again." Aoi had explained, feeling guilty to doing this again for nights that had passed. Of course, it was because she was hoping that the knight she had encounter as days passed, she didn't want to get them involve. Especially the Senzou school, of all places... One of their students...
"
Young mistress, you mustn't..." Munayuki began to protest but she already knows it was futile since judging on Aoi's expression, she shouldn't push it on the younger girl anymore so instead, "
All right. I shall inform Lulu about this then. Please rest when you can, we do pray that you get better, Aoi-sama." Aoi nodded her head, upset that her friend understand how she felt even though it was selfish of Aoi, but can't be bother at the moment. Just that, she had ran inside the mansion to avoid talking to the servants who tried to greet her until she finally reached to her room. As soon as she open the door, she ran inside and closed the door in a quiet noise then lock it like how she did in the past... Except her servants weren't in her room this time...
~ x ~ R e t u r n ~ o f ~ t h e ~ P a s t ~ x ~
"
He wouldn't do that!" Aoi dared to talk back to the old man as she grip the object in her hand more. She know in her heart that her brother would never abandoned the family.
Especially his own sister.
"
Do not defend that fiend, Aoi! That foe is not your brother by any longer!" Her father scolded at his daughter for defending the so-called 'foe' brother of hers.
That brother of yours is good as dead! By the time we will find him, we shall execute him." Aoi gasped, covering her mouth in terrible shock that her own
father... No... This man who will no longer to be her father, tries to kill
her dear brother! This terrible man! Her tiny arm shook violently, disproving of all of this. She knows her brother so much that he wouldn't do this kind of thing! It's not his nature!
"
No!" The girl hissed at her no longer father, stared at elderly man as her father's eyes widen before it turn into a terribly angry, icy eyes. "
What was that, my dear child?" He asked her in a icy tone. The child knew what was given to her, but she didn't care. What's more important that her brother had to be executed for unfair warning for something she imagine that he wouldn't do. "
I will not let you kill Ai-oniisama!
I'll find him before you'll ever do!" The girl declared against the old man, finally broke herself down into tears after from hearing this insanity decision without her consent of feeling into this.
Just right then when older man was about to talk, his child had already ran from room into the hall way, back to her room and slam the door shut then locked it behind her. She slightly gasped when she saw her two servants: the maid Shina and the agent Munayuki, at inside her room, next to bed to discuss about something important that Aoi couldn't understand them. The both heard the door locked without any understanding and spotted their young master at the door. In Aoi's vision: both of them were quite young in their teenaged lives.
Shina was the sweet maid, even though she was kinda clusmy, who had beautifully long, silky black hair that was ashamedly waste to be hidden inside the bum, tied up. Her eyes were soft but delicate shape with the lightly dark gray orbs as her face that seem smooth like a baby's skin that had extra care with lotions that needed. Her ears had an each earrings clipped on her both side and was given by her parents as presents. The clothing that she wore was the maid's outfit (anyone can know that. xD) because it was part of her job. Shina worked as a maid because she watching from childhood life, she realize that her mother grew ill after losing her husband but still withstand strong for her little girl. Shina knew that she was young but she wanted to help her as much as she can. So when she was recruited at the age of 15 to become a maid in-training, her mother had already passed away and wasn't able to live on her own so by coincident, Aoi's brother (thirteen and a half years old had suggested to their parents to take in Shina. Because of his kindness, Shina felt moved and was in total grateful in his hand. After Shina had learned that Aoi was his sister, the maid had decided to help Munayuki, who also got attached to afterward, to raise Aoi.
Munayuki, on the other hand, is a bit of a person who send icy wind on the shoulder or harsh thorn on the back spine to whatever blocks her way. But Munayuki is actually caring person from what Aoi learned about her in a way, she's the type of woman that Aoi adores and want to go up to be. Even though Aoi love Shina too, Munayuki was quite the mature woman she had given respects too. But sometimes the child gets spoiled by Munayuki on the dot, too. From the looks of Munayuki, actually look like Miyabi (the present description was place on the 2nd or 3rd post) but unlike the scary woman; Munayuki was the opposite. She had a light purple hair color with the tomboyish hair as well as Aoi's, except her bangs by the side of her ears were longer down to her shoulders. Her eye color were icy blue, deeply sharp but inside the ice (pupil/iris) shows that it wasn't that cold in way Munayuki tried to express her emotion. (
OoC: I'm planning on drawing them later to what they would look like because with this, it's taking too much writing. Munayuki will get her background later.)
The two ladies had looks from the teared child that locked the door, the both teenagers exchange glances before they had turned over to the young girl who was sobbing. Before they even got to ask what happen, the small child sobbed harder to ran over to the two older ladies. They flinched to the crying one and gave another glances between the adults but this time, it was the worry look. They couldn't really understand but they waited until the child speaks for herself before any actions were done.
~ x ~ R e t u r n ~ o f ~ t h e ~ P r e s e n t ~ x ~
The door to another side had open from the inside of the other room, was the bathroom. Coming out of from the bathroom was present Aoi who just took a shower, all refreshed. She was wearing nothing but a long collar shirt that covers her over all the top to her knees. The sleeves were long as well, that her hands hardly reached. The shirt was loose on her, especially on the bust but it wasn't all that though. Because to be honest, it was her brother's shirt. (No, she's not obsessive with her brother. Yes, she's clingy if it shown too much about her caring about her brother but she just truly cares about him. It's normal, isn't it?) terrible, horribly presentation day to meet the knight of the Senzou Academy. But of all things,
why that school... Her brother and his friend went to that school together but something was off... If the female Valkyrie suppose to be symbol of honor and grace, why did her brother became a Warrior? He's never the type that ever wielded weapons before so...
Why?
Aoi became puzzled about all of this mysterious pieces that didn't make sense to her. She sighed at this now headache coming to her, she walked over to bed to move the blanket to enter inside the fluffy queen size bed of hers. She cuddle inside the lovely and soft laced blanket then snuggle onto the cushion as she lay her head on the pillow. She couldn't think nor speak at the moment anymore as she wonder off to sleep... Hoping tomorrow that it'd become a better day for her...
Zzz...
~ x ~ R e t u r n ~ o f ~ t h e ~ P a s t ~ x ~
Thirty minutes had passed since young child had cry for such a long while. Finally, the girl looked up at the two women and explained about the rumored that had spread about her brother who was exiled from the family, because he turn against the family for an unknown reason. The ladies were shocked to learned that the beloved brother who Aoi have loved and admired, pulled such action to attack the master. Shina couldn't believe it, of course. After all, he had given his hand to her to welcome inside the family even though he was younger than her. Without him, she wouldn't be there for little Aoi. Munayuki, who was also close to the boy, didn't accept this either. Why would the young master go berserk to attack the king? After the kindness and silliness he does and talk with her, his sister Aoi, Lulu, and his friend that was unnamed or known. (His name isn't going to be reveal until later)
So since then, the two ladies had explained to the other servants that was close to the exiled prince about it and of course, their reactions were the same as three. But several others hesitated to think before deciding, end up saying that they weren't sure on what to believe or not. No one blames them, of course because they were frighten if the king, or the queen, would react to their rebellion argument and it'd be pointless to try for the king was selfish and stubborn to care at all. From then on, the ladies had resigned to the both Majesties and decided to help little Aoi to find her brother before the royalty plans on catching him first. At first, the both parents were going to put up a fight about having Aoi to go out, but they already had something in mind that they had something in mind and placed a note for the future, just for the mistress. So they had escaped to one of mansions that they had abandoned years back and enter inside. The mansion was kind dusty since it was never used over the years, but with the help of the maids, it was possible to fix it up again while Munayuki had some good connections with construction workers and business dealers. The child had decided that with this new life of some sort, is something she's able to find the answers and clues to why her brother had went missing and betrayed the family...
She hoped one day, things will be answer by him...