Japan, 1871. A few years have gone by after the nation underwent a drastic historical change. The age of warriors has faded into the tides of the past and a new age is at its birth.
Daisuke Hisakawa, a former samurai, now wanders as a traveler across the terrain of Japan. He wants to rid himself of his horrid past. Yet, he still clings to his sword and has become distrustful of everyone around him.
Hikaru Takenaka is the daughter of a farmer. She lives with her family in a quiet village on the outskirts of Kyoto, away from the hustle of urban life. She is bound to marry one of the Imperial Army's finest officers, but his true side turns her away from him.
One day, Hikaru stumbles upon a worn out Daisuke on a path to a Shinto shrine, under a torii. She takes him into her care, and soon the life of a stranger turns into a life to protect.
She was the type to stare herself in the mirror and see someone else stare back. Someone who was free and light, being able to spread her wings like an unbound angel. She was neither chained to Heaven nor Hell. Howbeit, no matter how far she reached into the mirror, she could never step through as her ball-and-chain presented itself in the form of a crown.
She was a princess with two faces, desperately trying to have a sense of freedom outside of her royal obligations. She found it in the form of a weakness: a passion with another human being. Her love for him and ballet had kept her chin high; her crown not slipping from her pastel hair.
So why, why did it suddenly become so hard when a gothic gymnastic back-flipped into her life? Why were her heartstrings being tugged on by someone of her same gender? Why was it suddenly so difficult, so strenuous to keep living in her pastel world when this mysterious girl brought such bright colours with her?
TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of sex, suicide and other mature themes will be contained within this book. Read at your own discretion.