The Princess and The Devil - Karma Akabane x OC

T H I R T Y - N I N E : TRYING

Normal's POV

Karma looks at Haru as if he was speaking in an alien language. He couldn't understand the words that left Haru's lips.

"What do you mean, Hime left, Haru?" He asks the younger boy. "It seems that I didn't hear you the first time." Karma said. It was a lie and the both of them knew it. Karma heard it loud and clear but there's just something that tells him there is a chance that he heard Haru wrongly.

"Nee-chan left, Karma-nii. She left this morning. In fact, it was so early that dawn has yet to break." Haru said as he watches how Karma's face change rapidly due to mixed emotions of confused, anger and sadness. "Karma-nii, when nee-chan sneaked out that day, she went to school, didn't she?" Haru asks, looking away. He still remembers that day clearly. If he knew how hard their father was going to make her work when they dragged her back, he wouldn't have let his mother know.

If his mother didn't know, Ichiro wouldn't have dragged her back and Natsume wouldn't keep them apart and send her off to England even before he had the chance to say goodbye. Or at least apologise for the way he behaved. Deep inside, he knows there is truly no one in the world whom he really loves other than Hime.

"She did." Karma replies Haru after staring at him. He couldn't bring himself to tell Haru, whom looked up to him about that day and how he made her cry. How could he, anyway? He has been telling Haru to always take care of Hime and look after her whenever he couldn't ever since he was old enough to digest the information. And for him to not practice what he preaches hurt his pride.

"She came back home crying." Haru said, fumbling with his thumbs. He doesn't have the guts to tell Karma that it was fault his elder sister wasn't happy. For all he knows ever since he was little is to always take care of her.

The atmosphere between the two becomes heavy and it became uncomfortable for the maids who refused to leave Haru's side. As the two drown in their respective self-pity and guilt for 'betraying' each other, Ichiro comes in the room with the emperor of Japan. As if the atmosphere couldn't get heavier, it did. Karma and Haru abruptly stand up at the sound of the door creak open. Haru immediately bows at his father as Karma only tilted his head a little.

"Karma-nii.." Haru said in an urging voice. "Bow." Karma looks at his side to Haru and he actually looks confused.

"That's our father." Haru said and when the confusion died, Karma has other plans. His eyes shine with mischief and Haru gulps. He doesn't know what he'll do if his father won't forgive Karma and throws him into a dungeon or something.

When Karma-nii's eyes glint like that, I can't say anything to change his mind anymore. Oh God, please listen to my prayers. Please save Karma-nii.

Ah.. So that's Hime and Haru's dad.. Karma thought to himself. He was about to bow at Natsume for his role at being an 'emperor' but not at his role at being a 'father'. Just when he was about to bow,

"You little shit." Ichiro growls at Karma. "Bow like you meant it. That's the emperor of Japan."

"But I wasn't bowing at him. I was bowing at you." Karma said calmly. Ichiro was panicking at the suicidal boy.

Is he crazy?! Natsume could have his head for his insolence! Is Kaji here? Ichiro thought to himself and begs to the God that Karma would just shut his mouth and bow. He already lost his niece to the sick game the family is playing and he couldn't lose his trump card. Ichiro begs Karma through his eyes and Karma looks away slightly.

I get it, old man. But you're the one who stopped me from doing so. I guess I should bow now. Karma thought but what came out was an entirely different thing.