Buds of Despair

8. Released

Chapter 8

Released

Kuro heard the door open to his cell, it wasn't her footsteps, he looked up to see Tsubaki.

"Yo little prince looks like your free to go, since I was closest Jamiston sent me to let you out." Kuro stepped past his smirking face. "Your little girlfriend won't be coming here tonight anyways she is with another guy." Kuro stopped once they were outside he took a deep breath looking up at the night sky. Tsubaki dodged left and right as the prince's blades came flying at him one after the other. The inherited crysts of his bloodline, the reason he was next in line for the crown, Armantine his phantasmal weapon. It only passes through the royal family from one king until the next is born with it. He had mastered his blades at five, well over a hundred blades were in his arsenal and he could use them all at the same time controlling them with telepathy much like Tsubaki's chain. Tsubaki was pinned against a tree with swords surrounding him, one of the blades stayed at his throat.

"Why do you even open your mouth to me." The Black Prince was looking at him with a death stare. He had hit a nerve telling him about little princess being with another boy, he hadn't expected to almost get killed. They were relatively friendly towards each other and Kuro was always playing with girls so he hadn't thought much of it.

"She's with Dayna and her son! Geez sorry! That little princess you brought back left quite a mess not too far from here, I also have to check that out if you'd like to come with. Court Investigators are there but Jamiston wants my opinion on some things that can't really be told from photos." Kuro's blades dissipated and Tsubaki was let off the tree.

"My curiosity has won me over. Lets go" Tsubaki led the way following the gps signal to the "crime scene". They both stopped on a branch of a tree looking down at the carnage on the ground. Blood and body parts everywhere.

"Wow she's better than I thought." Tsubaki jumped down waving to the investigators and they nodded. He picked up several body parts, looking at the cut marks. "so brutal"

Kuro watched Tsubaki's face light up with excitement at the scene. He loved blood and carnage, his nickname was given because "Crimson Rain" is "raining blood" since he usually killed most people in a flashy fashion.

"Waahhh I'm going to marry her when she gets older. We are soul mates, look at how brutally she chopped this guy up."

Kuro kicked Tsubaki in the back and he landed on the ground next to a severed head being face to face with him. He merely stared at the dead eyes and smiled.

"I bet you didn't even see it coming from that surprised look on your face." he got up and walked over to the one body that was intact, nope never mind he was gutted, Tsubaki looked at the blade mark in the tree. "She pinned him to the tree and practically cut him in half, they died with in seconds of each other." Kuro looked at the metal net, poachers. She had mentioned an anima friend, he could guess what happened as he turned to leave.

Dayna and Luka walked her back to the castle in the morning, she walked between them holding both of their hands as she chattered happily about what she was learning with Alexia pushing away the memories of last night. She hugged Luka and Dayna saying her goodbyes. When she approached the entrance she could feel it, her back was warm. She had a meeting with Alexia at 8 in the library, both were in the same direction, Kuro and the library. She pushed open the large cherry wood door and straight ahead Kuro was stretched out on a couch bathing in the sun with the large french doors that lead to the back gardens open behind him.

She walked over to him, he was sleeping so soundly, it was probably a big difference to be napping in the sun instead of the dreary dungeon he had just been released from. She hadn't seen him for long in the sunlight but she saw him now. He had pretty hair, it was black and silky, a little longer than it should be lightly brushing his eyes, he had a small beauty mark below his right eye and his features were developing from a boys to a young mans, his jawline was strong and his lips looked soft. A small breeze blew the curtains gently up around them and a few cherry blossoms blew through the doors, one landed in his hair. She reached over to pluck it out, he grabbed her wrist lightly as his eyes opened, she forgot why she was leaned over him. Deep dark blue with flecks of light blue and green in the sun, so pretty, they were like an ocean you could get swept away in.

"Isa..." his voice called gently, he sat up on his elbow and leaned in. She couldn't move, she didn't want to as his lips just brushed over hers.

"Sorry I'm late Isabella!" Alexia popped in. Kuro laid back down quickly and Isabella jumped to a standing position as the curtains fell back down to the door. It had felt like an eternity but it had only been mere seconds. Alexia could read the atmosphere, Bella was bright red and dreamy eyed as the prince was also blushing and had his eyes covered with his arm fake napping. She was interested in this relationship, Kuro was always fawned over by every girl but he never showed a reaction except for false charm to keep them at bay. He would play the part of prince charming because it was easier to manipulate and avoid girls that way. If he pushed them away they only tried harder. He had also never hid like that if he was busted making out with one of those girls. One time he had stared Alexia straight in the eye when she walked in on him making out with one of the many girls that followed him. He didn't blush and pretend sleep that's for sure.

"Prince Kuro what a surprise, sorry to interrupt your nap. I hope all has been well"

"Good morning Miss Ando, hope all has been well with you as well. I will excuse myself since you ladies will be working here, I have my own things to do." he stood up walking past Isabella brushing his hand against hers and waved a hand as he walked out of the room stealing one last glance at the girl illuminated by the sun behind her as he closed the doors behind himself.

Alexia saw it, he was trying to be sly but she saw it all that little brat. Looking at Isabella like that, she was only twelve! He wouldn't be interested in playing with a child right? Wait he was still kind of a child so he shouldn't even be doing any of this. Ugh but it's not like he couldn't, he could be married and producing kids as early as the end of the year. It's not like she was in any position to tell him to not even think about it either, what the hell is this? What was she supposed to do? Bella had no parents or guardians to report this to, she could try Jamiston but really didn't think it would do much good.

Isabella was lost in her own thoughts feeling the brush of his hand on hers, he did it on purpose. Was he saying come find me? He was about to kiss her! What was that? She frowned how was she supposed to focus on studies now? Why did he do that, had he been dreaming? No he clearly said her name so he wasn't mistaking her for someone else. Maybe he was just sitting up and she didn't move out of the way like she was supposed to. She sat down on the couch Kuro had been sleeping in and laid down. She was drained, she was still tired from yesterday and then this first thing in the morning. Her heart wouldn't stop racing, she focused on taking deep breaths to calm down.

"If you are not feeling well it's best to rest. We can do this tomorrow instead, I'm sorry you could have slept in at Dayna's if I had known earlier about the situation, Tsubaki caught me on the way in and informed me of last night, go to your room and get some rest." She packed up and left lost in her thoughts of Kuro and Bella's odd interaction.

Luka was walking back home with his mother, "I want to learn to use my crysts more effectively, Bella had hers activated and weapons formed in the blink of an eye. I need my seal undone or I will never be the one protecting her."

"If you are ready to start training seriously I can unseal your crysts. Bella is rare in being able to do what she does which is why she is going to the academy with no family. Only elite families can get their kids into that school and she is getting in on a scholarship from a top rank captain. Of course I'll check your sync rate and see if its ok to add a new cryst yet. It's better to have them transplanted as a kid so they can mature with you. Would you like to practice when we get home? I have been lax on your training lately so I will do my best now"

" when I saw Bella fight last night I was scared and I realized the skills in the academy are all top of the line. I'm already at a disadvantage being an Anima if I'm weak too it would be embarrassing for someone as strong as Bella to have a friend who can't form his weapons fast enough to defend himself and then what she will have to defend me there? No I want to be stronger, much stronger."

"Isabella loves being friends with Luka she would not be embarrassed by you."

"No she would defend me again but I don't want that. I want to be the one protecting her."

"Don't insult her by thinking you're supposed to be stronger because you are a boy and she is a girl. Rely on her a little bit, she doesn't want or need to be protected. Your both children your guys growth rate is not a given time line, everyone develops at their own pace." Luka pouted.

"No I will be stronger that way I can protect her. Can't you remove the seal now? I will train seriously now that I have a reason to."