"I-I'm no fox!" I stammered, still flustered from his previous actions. I admit, I'm the epitome of a terrible liar. It would take an anomaly to prevent him from knowing this, though.

He replied slyly, "Is that so?" I directed my vision to the glass shards on the floor, as he said, "If you continue lying to yourself about your own identity, then you're no better then a lie. Remember that, Miss Fox." His expression changed ecstatically, and he seemed enthralled as he said "Your eyes are lovely, there's no need to hide them.."

I bit my lip in annoyance, trembling with a presentiment on my mind. I paid a ton for contacts, enough for someone to not recognize me on the spot.

Then, my mind flashed back to Tomoe. Poor Tomoe, still frozen in a battle stance, about to thrust his sword into the flesh of the enemy who had already left the war zone. Though I had no wish to marry him, he still meant something for me. Though he was obnoxious, he usually came through for me in the end.

"Um, Hibiki..", I was trying to choose my next words carefully. "Could you possibly help out my friend there?" I said, as politely as possible.

He gave off the same smirk from before, I was beginning to think he was much like a Cheshire cat. "Ah, I suppose I should if I want us to be further acquainted," Hibiki paused, with a roguish glint in his lust-colored eyes.

Lust-colored is a weird way to describe it, I suppose. I can't decide what shade of red his eyes represent, I constantly feel mesmerized when he looks so fixedly at me. I then observed him eagerly as he turned around facing Tomoe, and snapped his finger.

In an instant, Tomoe thawed. "Thank you, S-Sora."

He stumbled forward sluggishly, rapidly sheathing his swords before he fell forward.  He then turned to Hibiki with a sardonic expression. "Are you really trying to flirt with her? I heard everything," he chuckled and added, "She isn't a 'fox', but I'm guessing you have pretty dull taste in women, demon lord."

With a narcissistic smile, he continued "And as prince of this flourishing region, I propose a fight. The hero against the demon lord, it seems rather iconic. Why did you come to this wedding anyway?" Tomoe's voice was no less than plummy.

"I'll explain everything when our fourth guest comes out of hiding." He says, completely ignoring Tomoe's rude opinions.

Then, it hit me. Tomoe and I inquired the same question and spoke at once. "What are you talking about?"

This 'demon lord' is starting to get on my nerves, though he's so diverting. "You can come on out, android." he said, his husky still hard to comprehend. It was straight out of a cliche, I had to admit.

Note to self: avoid being alone with that- whatever my nickname for him would be. I was too distracted to notice that the unfamiliar statue that stood beside the towering, arched doorway had disappeared. The second stranger to intrude on the event entered our view, the statue seemed to have been a camouflage the entire time.

It was a young girl, who was a bit shorter then me. She had misty rose-colored hair, with ashy grey eyes that seemed to peculiarly compliment her complexion. Though she was pale, she seemed to have an olive skin tone. Her hair didn't go further then her shoulders, and it was completely perfect compared to Hibiki's scruffy hair, though he didn't look bad at all. Bangs that would otherwise cover her face were held back by a single band, that was a bright, lime green color. Her hair was parted in the middle. I then wondered what she'd look like with her hair tied up. There were sapphire-colored diamonds embellishing her wrists, that seemed to glow faintly, much like an electronics. Maybe they're implants, I considered. Her outfit consisted of shades of brown and whitened grays, but I wasn't one for gawking at clothes. I then had the nauseating feeling that I'd be seeing more of the girl in my future.

With everyone's eyes on her, I took the chance to steadily creep over to the gap in the wall where the windows were. I quickly and quietly avoided the glass shards that stained the floor.

I briefly glanced back at everyone. They were debating over.. something? I would've eavesdropped if escaping wasn't my main priority. I don't know what someone else would think, but I believe staying in an evacuated castle with a demon, snobby prince, and an android (at least, Hibiki said she was one), wasn't the best idea. I then paused, leaning with my back against the gaping hole in the wall, my hands faced backwards, resting on the window sill, supporting me. I examined my finger, and the useless wedding ring that I hadn't acknowledged since I put it on. It held a rather large, costly-looking, citrus-colored jewel. If you squinted at it hard enough, a black core can be seen inside the gem. I slipped it off my finger and fiddled with it in my hand as I became dazed for a moment, thinking over everything that had happened.

Hibiki knew I was a fox. He also sensed the presence of a robot. So, if he couldn't perceive me now, then I think the show's over. Let me explain, by reintroducing myself:

My name is Sora Kitsune. Let's start with my father, who's older than he seems to be. At a simple glance, most would say he'd pass for my brother. My oldest ancestor is the nine-tailed fox, and whenever there is a new 'youngest-of-the-family', the trait is passed down and removed from the descendant who currently bares the weight. The trait allows it's carrier to have powers, of a sort. So far, I've only seen an occurrence where it acted up once before. I've decided to live my life oblivious of whatever I'm potential of; I don't want to draw attention to myself, and I certainly never asked for mischief to be in my genes.

Without this abnormality, my family can be defined as ordinary. I live with my father in Edgemoor, a small village near the border of Tekonn. I lived with my mother once but I seem to hit a mental block whenever I think about her. For clarification, Tekonn, is a mediocre-sized country in the center of a large continent, named Aithe (pronounced i-eth). So, altogether, I'm certain it was just an accident. A lucky accident, that is giving me a chance to escape. A fortunate mistake, much like the mishap which ended my terrible wedding.

As I was consumed by my thoughts, I didn't notice that my grip on the windowless sill weakened. I waved my arms around as I began to loose my balance and fall backwards. My dress caught on a slither of glass shard which was still glued to the wall. The last thing I saw was Hibiki holding a hand out, asking the two a simple question: "Is it a deal?"

It was then when I experienced true fear. No one could ever know how I truly felt that day, without experiencing it for themselves. A rush of pure emotions came to be, which made me feel ultimately queasy. I felt an immediate absence of force in my body as I fell from the highest point in the castle. I was such an idiot. What kind of person would head for the open windows instead of run straight to the doors. As I fell, I detected the ring descending along with me, barely out of my grasp.To be honest, one question filled my head: What influenced me to act in such a senseless manner?

The most terrifying part of it all, is that I was facing the sky. The beauty of the azure blue sky gave me a moment of peace before my death. Or, at least, I thought it was my death.

❀✿

Tᴏᴍᴏᴇ

Something ticked inside of me. Like the snap of a finger, the flick of a wrist. That demon-scum was trying to explain some kind of scheme he had, to.. I don't give a damn. I'm not in the mood to listen to another repetitive speech, the minister's words were enough. I was about to make a remark about how Sora had vanished, but I bit my tongue when that 'Hibiki' stopped rambling mid-sentence.

He seemed to scrutinize my expression, as the moron then queried "Where's Sora?" , with an oddly concerned expression himself.

That moron thinks he can be more considerate then me? I'll show him. How could we have lost her anyway? Her hair's practically a beacon.. She's as fragile as one too. Tsk, tsk.

"I didn't realize she left until now." I said sternly. Great, I was in debt to Sora now. She saved me from this demon-scum's frozen grasp. I'll have to make sure if she's alright if I don't want to tarnish my reputation. Slander is around ever corner in royalty.

I scanned the room, spotting pieces of debris everywhere that I hadn't noticed before. What a stupid, pitiful girl. It would have been difficult for her to leave by opening the doors, seeing that they usually make such a large 'creaking' sound. I told Ryuken to fix that damned door. How will I be able to get away with things with preposterous creaky doors?!

The only thing I saw that was out of place was a fragment of fabric, hanging on to a crimson stained glass shard. She couldn't have. Did she really? I didn't think she was that foolish. That witless friend of mine might have killed herself. The signs were there. But what wasn't there, was the evidence in her eyes, her personality, and feelings that would force her to make such a drastic decision. I know, for I make sure to pay attention to those details in everyone. They could mean life or death, and it's how I decide who's next.

The other girl, the android. She simply stood there, shoulders back, arms by her side, like a soldier waiting for commands. I think she actually listened to everything that half-baked demon guy talked about. That deal-- I stopped listening in when the thought of Sora came to me, but his idea wasn't so bad, even if he was.

So, I don't pay attention to opposing royals with their own nations that could pose a threat to my own much, but maybe he wasn't all that delusional. He believed that the ring given to Sora when our wedding was proposed held a dark spirit, that could end all life as we know it, good or evil. Now, this is horrible news, seeing that I wont have anyone to toy with anymore. He wanted to get the ring from Sora, and place it in the Shadou Vaults, which was commonly rumored to hold the darkest and most menacing items from around the globe. Objects, that could help me.

A cold grip tugged at my sleeve, causing me to twitch. I looked to the side, and saw the girl who listened to the demon ramble off.

"Are you Tomoe Yamada?" she questioned with an impassive expression. With a closer glance, I could see she was actually, pretty photogenic. She had rosy cheeks and eyes that haven't lived a lifetime, was she truly an android?

"Yes, that's my name," I replied swiftly then added in a booming and matter-of-factly voice, "Oi, scum-of-the-earth, Hibiki. I know where your little 'fox' is. She ran off while you were blabb-"

I sensed a sharp blade inching towards my spine.

1. .

I instantaneously slid out of the way. .

2. .

I gripped the handle to my rapiers, and unsheathed them both. .

3. .

I spun around and thrust my weapon forward. .

4. .

I saw the android with a hidden blade, beginning at two rhinestones embedded into her counterfeit flesh. She summoned a hologram-made shield from one wrist, yet my rapid movements allowed the tip of my sword to cut through.

My eyes widened with awe. I couldn't believe someone managed to catch me off guard. The demon seemed as confused as I, for he stood there, with a paralytic expression. And it all had happened within a matter of seconds.

"My name is Haruka, and I have been assigned to defeat the current ruler of Tekonn. You are charged for actions against the nation of Evarthil. Please remain in your position for immediate death." She spoke, in a monotonous voice. Her ash-filled eyes glistened, it was as if I was staring at a mannequin.

After that, the uncertainty only continued. It feels too unrealistic when I put what happens in my own words. I hadn't been paying attention to Hibiki, but he somehow came into my vision, only inches behind this, 'Haruka'. His own hands materialized into shadowed claws, that looked like they were used to rip the souls out of people. I was incredibly confused at this point, and a small part of me felt envious. Talons would have been fun. Well, luckily, I had my advantages against them all. Sora calls it psychotic, and homicidal. I'm fine with those terms.

Hibiki then reached out to the assassin, and seized her neck. He then, extracted a fragment of what could have been flesh, which had a tag on the underside of the skin that was ticking, much like a grandfather clock.  I say extracted, but I suppose ripped would be a better term. Wires dangled from the piece of false flesh that he held, ever so tightly. He then gave me a brooding and wrathful stare, and a grin that he gave Sora countless times, yet this time hinted at pure sadism. The mechanical flesh was incinerated, as he then crushed it in the palm of his hands.

"I fixed your assassin. It will now begin internal and external repairs, to replace what I have taken. It had a tracking device under the skin, which controlled it's every actions. You're now in charge of a wiped android, who is classified as defective." He said, anger and impatience flooding out of his words. Yet, I was surprised this young emperor kept his cool, until he said, "Now, show me where she is." Haruka's eyes shut hastily, and she fell to the ground, in the same way that a domino would.

"She fell," I muttered, gesturing to the window that I watched Sora admire often.

I didn't hesitate to respond, since I've always come through for Sora in the end, and I rather not loose a friend. Even one who may be deceased. The Demon Lord vanished in an instant, literally disappearing into a shadow.

While I was explaining Sora's whereabouts to Hibiki, I hadn't comprehended the fact that the robot had collapsed on to the ground. I attempted to lift Haruka up, quickly realizing that she weighed a ton. I could relate it most to trying to pick up an anvil.

"Um, Miss?" I queried.

I inspected the "wound" inflicted on her back, and it was already being sealed together by wires, like a cut healing, but at an unrealistic rate, which actually sparked a cringe. I took a moment to actually take in what she looked like.

Her attire, was simply a white blouse tucked in, a brown tie to compliment--which she promptly got rid of later on--and what plainly seemed like pocketed leggings fitting over her slender legs, sort of a men's garment under a classy blazer, lacking the blazer, of course. Boots, that fit well to hide weapons, and for hiking. Though, the leather... it was definitely of foreign origin.
These things were most recognizable in my eyes, for I've been to many banquets in father's place. Sure, I didn't exactly memorize the name of every nation, but I knew an immigrant when I saw one.

Did I mention the pink hair?

I wrinkled my nose. Do androids have an 'on/off'' switch? I then flicked her forehead without any second thoughts, and her eyes jolted open.

Little did I know, Haruka would be the one in charge of me.