~Boundless Hopes~

I quickly sat up with thick streaming tears rushing down my face. I looked around and noticed I wasn't in my bed room; I was in a well decorated room with a solid gold tea set one a well cleaned wood table, red silk curtains hung above the windows, and a full body mirror hung on the wall. I looked around and saw that I was the only one in the room. I got up and stepped down from the massive bed and noticed I was wearing a white silk dress that hung around ten inches below my knee. I opened a door in the corner and saw it was a grand bathroom with hot water in a large square tub and a note on the toilet that said. 'You must be tired. Take a nice relaxing bath.' I nodded then slowly undid the buttons on my dress and stepped into the warm water; and sighed as I felt the warm water touch my cold skin. I dunked my head in the water and grabbed a silver hairbrush that lay next to me and I brushed my hair until it was silk. When I stepped out of the bathroom I noticed a closet next to the door with another note that said ' Grab what you like.' I opened the closet door and looked through the random assortments of gowns and fluffy laced dresses. Thinking that I may never find a suitable piece of clothing I saw a piece of red in the back of the pile. I moved all of the others and found that it was a long plain red dress. I pulled it out and slipped it on. I looked at my self in the full body mirror; It felt like I was staring at a whole different person, my silver hair looked smooth and reached down to my ankles, my sky blue eyes witch I thought never suited me sparkled and shined, and my dirt and blood covered skin washed away revealing my smooth pale skin. I tucked my hair behind my ear and found my red ribbon on the table. I held the silky ribbon and realized that it had been cleaned and washed with great care. I tied it around my neck into a bow and walked out the door.

Not two seconds of walking through the hallway I ran into a young girl; she was about ten inches taller than me, her long blond hair reached below her butt, her sharp eyes were crimson blue like mine, and she wore a pink silk dress with a silver bow on the side of her hip, she looked like a princess you would see out of a story book with her tiny features. "Oh my finally some one in this useless place that can help me," she said with a hint of rudeness in her voice. "I have lost my most prized ribbon in the tree and can not get it down!" I stood their confused for a moment. She scowled and yelled. "Excuse me! I said for you to get my ribbon out of the tree! Right now!" she grabbed my arm and dragged me outside where her ribbon was. I looked up and saw a fine white ribbon fluttering in the wind caught in a branch. I looked back at the girl and she just pointed up at the tree. "Well what are you waiting for? Get my ribbon!"

"Ok, ok,"I said as I looked around the small kingdom of trees for a stick that could reach the branch with the ribbon. She looked at me as I searched with a confused look.

"What are you doing!?" she asked, I walked over to the pile of sticks and found a stick that I could use and lunged it over my shoulder.

"I'm getting a stick to get your ribbon out of the tree," I answered. Her face suddenly changed; she gave me a shocked and annoyed look.

"How dare you!" she began with the angriest look I have ever seen. "You dare get my beautiful one-of- a-kind ribbon torn and dirty!"

"Well then how do I get it then?!" I asked while throwing down the large and heavy stick onto the floor. She pointed to the top of the huge tree where the ribbon was.

"Go CLIMB up and get it! How elts are you going to get it you simpleton!" I looked at the top of the tree and saw the white ribbon fluttering in the breeze. I gave another look at the girl but her eyes were ready to set me on fire so I started to climb up. As I climbed further up the tree I felt my strength weaken and my hands starting to blister but I continued to climb anyway. As I reached the top I saw the ribbon and slowly reached for it. Once I got a grip on the ribbon the branch my arm and legs rested on broke. I fell down from the top of the tree and crashed through small branches and bounced off the bigger stronger branches until I hit my back on the cold wet grass. I slowly opened my eyes trying to tear from the pain the covered my body in a agonizing blanket. I slowly sat up and handed her the ribbon. "I don't want this," she said in a undid turned voice "It has a tare in it. I shall just command for a new one to be mended," she gave me a wicked smile then tossed her hair to the side and left me lying on the cold grass. I looked at my blood and dirt covered arms and legs and remembered how I really look. It was like Cinderella and got my wish but it could never last. My pretty red dress was now reduced to old shameful rags. Even though I had just woken up I felt hot and tired and I couldn't move. My vision faded and I felt numb. I knew I wasn’t going any were and that it would be a wasn’t of energy to scream for help so I just laid their in silence till I fell into a deep sleep.

I woke up in the same room I was before. I was wearing a newly mended red dress and my body was cleaned and my hair was brushed. It was like I had woken from a dream. As I stood up a wave of stinging pain shot through out my body. I leaden against the bed frame and slowly lowered my self-down. I quickly pulled up my dress to see my legs have been covered with bandages and my stomach has a bandage around it too. Knowing what the source of pain was I stood up again and made my way to the door.

I reached for the doorknob but it had already opened. I looked up at the person who opened the door and my body instantly froze. He gave me a smirk and lowered his face down to mine. "So the princess has finally awaken," there is only one person who would call me 'princess' like that. And that person is Prince Choue. "I see you have met my 'charming' soon to be wife," he said taking a step closer.

"If you have such a 'charming' fiancée then I should take my leave," I opened the door wider and tried to walk out of the room but was stopped by Choue. He grabbed my shoulders to stop me from moving. "Let me go!" I shouted and easily broke free from his grip only to have him grab my wrist. "What part of let go don’t you under stand!" he turned and stared right at me. His eyes weren’t like they were before; they were hollow and empty but at the same time I could feel a slight bit of sadness coming from thoughts eyes.

"I sorry that you had to go through so much trouble. I will have a talk with my ungrateful fiancée," he said loosening his grip. "Stay here," he commanded, "I'll get your close," he walked away shutting the door behind him and leaving me alone in that room. I sat down on the bed and looked out of the window wondering if Cyruss is worried about me. How long was I out? Just as I was deep into thought a maid opened the door.

"The young master told me to bring this to you," she said handing me my now cleaned clothing.

"Thank you very much," I said trying to be as charming as I could. "Were is princ-"

" I'm sorry my lady the young master just got flustered when retrieving your clothing so he asked me to give them to you. I hope you wont be mad," I shook my head.

"No! Not at all," I grabbed my close and quickly changed. As I ran out of the castle I looked back and noticed Choue looking at me through the window. He waved at me when he noticed me look at him and shut the curtains. I looked at my cleaned clothes; they were cleaner than they were before but the rips and tares still made it look sloppy, but I really didn’t care. Looking pretty has never and will never suit me.

When I returned home Gun-shot and Friday were sitting one the couch cushions with a lit fire in the middle reminding me of how cold and hungry I was. Gun-shot's eyes widened as he ran toward me, " Were have you been!?" he ran up to hug me. He just about squeezed the life out of me before he pulled me away and looked at me. "Well where ever you were, you became to look prettier than a doll," he teased. I remembered the two bathes I took and shrugged. Friday smiled and walked up to me. she put her small gentle hands one my shoulder.

"You are very pretty Akuma," she said in that soothing voice that would always calm me. " You are going to one day make a man see past your wealth and you two will find love." I once again shrugged. I never believed that but at the same time it has never bothered me. When the sun began to fade Cyruss came bursting through the door with his face on full panic mode.

"Has any one found Akuma yet!?" he asked in a state of panic.

"Yep the little doll came right back home!" said Gun-shot putting my in a head lock. Cyruss's face lit up and he ran to check out to see if I have any injures.

"Akuma, how did you get so clean?" asked Cyruss as he examined my body and clothes.

"Prince Choue, found me and Let me take a bath," I answered trying not to say too many details. Cyruss studied me a little more than saw what I hoped he wouldn't see.

"Where did all this cuts come from then?"

"I umm," I couldn't think of something that wouldn't make it look like some one had done something to me.

"Was it that 'Prince Choue' Character!" asked Friday getting more and more into what had happened.

"N nnn no!" I answered.

"Then who did this to you!" yelled Gun-shot with concern in his voice.

"I was just clumsy and fell down the stairs is all," I lied. Cyruss put his hand to my neck.

"Who did this to you?" asked Cyruss as he ran his fingers along my neck.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"This hand mark. Some one was choking you," I touched my neck and realized that I never got to the point of covering that up. I looked at Cyruss; his face went from anger to worry and sadness. I put my hand on Cyruss's cheek.

"Cyruss. You have always been there for me. You have protected me since I was small," he smiled "But now I have grown up and I'm stronger then I was before," I said flexing my muscles to make me look strong. He smiled and put his hand on my head; I have always loved Cyruss's hands the most out of any, his hand have always been bigger than mine and they were dry, rough ,and dirty but this were warm, and kind hands that have through out the years made me feel safe and sound.

"....Ok," he said rubbing my head. "I'm just glad your safe," he embraced me like Gun-shot but he didn't squeeze the life out of me.

"Cyruss," I called.

"Yes Akuma."

"Could you take me to that orphanage where you found me?" I asked remembering my dream.

"Why would you want to go back their?" he asked pulling me away.

"There is something I need to do," I answered. Cyruss didn't ask me anything elts. He took my hand and led me out of the house and through the wood, constantly turning left or right until we came upon a pile of wood and ash; vines spread throughout the mess and moss has stuck to most of the foundation. I ran to the site throwing pieces of wood behind me, frantically looking for what I needed to find. Thinking I would never find it and that it parishes in the fire I turned over a wood plank and found a rusted, ash covered bell. I held it in my hands and tears started to stream from my face. Cyruss stood behind me not making a sound. "Thank you," I sobbed. The stream of tears running down my eyes wouldn't stop. "Why did this happen to you?" I cried burrowing my tears in my hands along with the bell. The stars started to awake and moon showed it wholesome glow in the pitch black sky like some one had painted them in the sky just to mock me.

"We should get going Akuma," Said Cyruss while slowly approaching me. "It's dark out we don't want Gun-shot and Friday to worry about us now do we," I nodded my head and took the ribbon off my neck and looped it through the hole of the bell and tied it back in my hair. I whipped my eyes and said trying to take the sadness away from my voice and took Cyruss's hand.

"Yeah lets go home."

~HEY GUYS SORRY THAT THIS IS SHORT BUT I PROMICE THAT THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE LONGER THAN IT WAS. THANKS FOR READING YOU ARE ALL AWSOME! I THINK THIS STORY HAS ABOUT 90-100 READS AND THAT IS MORE THAN I EXPECTED AND I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKEING THIS HAPPEN!!! TO JOIN THE DEMO-chan1 ARMY JUST FOLLOW AND RECAMEND THIS BOOK TO OTHER PEOPLE, DOGS, CATS, AND OR MANBEARPIGS! DEMO-chan1 OUT! ~