Romeo and Cinderella

Chapter 18
Then What Else Have You Got?

The rest of that week sort of went by like a blur to me. Every day blended together. It was hard, when I looked back on it, to figure out any sort of series of events. Tragedy does that to you.

It started when Len burst out the closet. His face was a mixture of terror and surprise. He yelled, "What!" just as Kaito barged in at the sound of the commotion.

"What's going on? I heard something and—" He cut himself off as he made contact with Len's eyes. "You," he muttered under his breath. "You're the one who…" He shook his head quickly. "What is this man doing in here? Rin, do you know this person?"

I glanced at Len as he glanced at me, shaking his head just enough for me to see.

"No… I've never seen him before in my life," I lied. I tried to keep my voice steady and hold back my tears.

"Maid? Do you know this man?" Kaito asked Luka accusingly. He called her "maid". How… repulsive.

"Of course not, Sir Kaito," Luka said, catching on quickly. After all, she was one hell of a maid.

"Then… I demand that he be locked up for trespassing!" Kaito dictated.

My eyes widened and I had to stop myself from screaming, "No!"

"Maid, get the police," Kaito directed. When Luka hesitated for a moment he added, "And make it snappy!" He snapped his fingers as Luka hustled out of the room, making sure to stop only after she was out of hearing distance.

This guy's attitude… really made me want to castrate him.

"The nerve of some people," he growled.

Seriously. I had a pair of dull scissors in the drawer of my bedside table. I could do it.

I shot Kaito a glare and quickly looked away, both glad and regretful that he didn't see it. Overall, the time passed by slowly. Or maybe it was quick. I couldn't remember. Anyway, there was no talking. The silence made my ears ring.

And the tenseness. I could barely breathe in there. Kaito and Len were having a stare-down in my room and I was caught in the middle of it.

Not soon enough, or maybe it was too soon, had the police made it to my manor. Luka followed close behind. They asked who was to be taken away and she pointed hesitantly toward Len. I think that was when I snapped. I shattered. My heart broke into a million pieces. I couldn't see past my eyes. I couldn't hear, I couldn't smell, I couldn't feel, I couldn't taste. I was gone.

.

The remainder of the week passed by with wedding preparations and Kaito staying around the manor. When Miki wasn't measuring me, Luka was pampering me and when Luka wasn't pampering me, I was with Kaito.

In fact I had been spending a lot of time with Kaito. We would read together in the library. He joined me for most of my meals. I'd even let him kiss me once or twice without pushing him away. It wasn't like there was anything better for me to do with my time.

He didn't even notice I wasn't myself.

"Rin? Wake up. It's Monday." Luka nudged me awake and I sat up.

"Again? Wasn't it Monday last week?" I tried humoring her. This was what the real Rin acted like, right? I couldn't remember.

Luka forced out a laugh. "A sense of humor as always, I see." Luka smiled at me. I didn't bother smiling back. She already knew I was faking. As if a fake smile would help defy the fakeness. She knew me too well.

"I try," I replied monotonously. I really didn't try that hard. It took too much energy that I didn't have.

"Miki is here to do the final fitting before tomorrow," Luka informed me. I was glad when she didn't ask me about my "excitement" for the wedding tomorrow like my parents and every other living being had. At least, I should have been glad. I didn't feel glad. Or sad or mad or anything for that matter. Wrong. I felt hungry. But that was it.

"May I have something to eat first?" I asked politely.

"Of course," Luka said. "I'll bring some toast up to you while Miki sets up." Luka left and soon after Miki entered with a basket of supplies and a clothing bag. Luka returned subsequent with my food and I munched slowly as Miki unpacked her things. She had measuring tools, more measuring tools, attaching tools, and stabbing tools. Needles. Not knives. I know what you were thinking.

Miki was set up as I finished my toast. "Undress, please," she directed courteously. Needless to say I did as she told and stood for her. Here came the corset. I remembered hating these things. I didn't really notice how they felt anymore.

At least I didn't think I did.

As Miki, paired with Luka, attempted to tighten the corset the last bit I let out a yelp of pain. The first pain I had felt in a week.

"Are you sure you got the measurements right, Luka?" Miki questioned, holding on tightly. Her strain could be heard in her voice.

"Yes. Rin's been this size for three years," she returned, dumbfounded.

"I… guess I'll let it out a bit, then," Miki concluded.

Luka's grip loosened as did the corset.

Then it hit me.

I felt my heart beat. For the first moment in what seemed like a long time. For an instance I thought again. I could experience what was going on and I knew what I was missing. I knew that everything was wrong, and for a moment I wanted it to be right again. Then it was gone. And I already wanted it back. Beat, heart, beat! Beat so we can live! Please. I'm not the only one counting on you anymore.

"Rin, did you just turn pinker? I feel like you just got a shade darker or something," Miki commented.

I breathed in deeply. Mm. Room smell. "I just realized something I was trying to figure out, is all," I explained, then I smiled. "I'm running away tomorrow."

.

Miki had given me a strange look before going on with the fitting and the day went by as any normal day. It was so nice to be normal again.

Before I knew it, it was my wedding date. I felt nervous, for some reason. I wasn't sure why. I knew everything was going to work out. It couldn't not work. We'd planned this a while ago.

My dress was all lace. It trailed from my neck to my fingertips and down into a long train. White roses patterned the fabric. It was a very lovely design, and it looked even lovelier when worn. Of course, who would expect any less when Miki was designing it?

My parents insisted that I ride in a carriage to my wedding instead of me riding my horse. I reluctantly agreed on the condition that Luka rode with me. Most of the ride went by in silence. Toward the end, however, Luka spoke up.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked me.

I didn't answer for a moment. I merely stared out the window and saw the gazebo come closer and closer. I took my gaze away from the sight and turned my attention to Luka. I beamed at her. "Of course I'm sure," I said. I'd never been surer in my life.

The carriage stopped. I'm never going to see any of these people again, I told myself. I could finally leave this place behind, move on from the memories.

I hugged Luka as tightly as I could muster and felt my eye shed a tear. "Goodbye, Luka," I whispered. I turned away and exited the carriage before she could say anything back.

The entire place looked beautiful. Flowers hung from everywhere, a beautiful ice sculpture of two birds stood by the aisle, and white satin was draped over the seats where my family sat. I could only wish that such beauty would be repeated when Len and I were together. But that was silly. I was getting ahead of myself. At least the thought made me smile. It helped my act. A bride was supposed to be happy.

Time passed. I didn't listen to the priest. I was anxious now. I barely remembered to say my vows, and I felt detached. Any minute, now. Any second, now. Any moment, now.

"May anyone who disagrees upon this marriage speak now or forever hold your peace," spoke the priest.

Everyone's attention turned at the abrupt sound of shattering and hooves on stone. I looked up to see shattered ice and a brown blur. Len.

He pulled hard on the reigns and his horse stood on its hind legs with a neigh.

"Rin, run!" he shouted at me. I took off my glass shoes and shoved one into Kaito, who toppled over holding his abdomen. I picked up my dress by its lacey train and ran as hard as I had ever run before. Man, this thing was heavy. But I managed to make it to the marketplace sooner than I thought I would. There was no time to waste.

"Rin!" I heard someone call my name. At first, my heart sunk. Had they really caught me so fast?

I looked at where the voice had come from. It was the jeweler, to my relief. I fled to her and she took me to a back alley. There was nothing there except for a small door in one of the walls. The jeweler, Haku, I believed her name to be, opened the little door and pulled out a trunk.

"Let's put you into something you can move in," Haku said, pulling out a loose dress that one of the lower classes would wear from the trunk. There were many other things inside; clothes, jewels, money, and cloth that could be used for injuries.

I redressed and awaited further instruction.

"I hope you can carry things easily," Haku began. "I'll need you to help me carry this to the main road." She gestured to the chest. "My carriage is waiting for us there. I'll explain once we're inside."

My arms almost fell off. Really. I could feel it. It was the feeling of almost losing two arms. That was a very heavy trunk.

But we did make it to Haku's carriage and that was what mattered. Haku kept to her word and began the explanation as soon as we were both inside and the driver had started us on course.

"I was visiting a friend that had been imprisoned at the jail the other day when I found Len locked up in the second cell," Haku started. "He jumped up and called my name as soon as he saw me. Oh. My name is Haku, by the way."

"Yes, I know," I stated.

"Anyway," she continued, "I went to him right away and of course asked him how he'd gotten himself in here. He didn't really enlighten me, though. He just went right into your situation. Len explained it all to me. I had seen the two of you in the marketplace before so I wasn't too completely surprised. I just happened to be leaving town today; that's the reason I had come to the jail in the first place—to say goodbye to my friend. We came up with a plan. I guess Len was able to break out just in time to stop the wedding and for you to make it to me."

"Yeah. It was pretty close," I remarked. I looked down, feeling a sort of relief. If it hadn't been for Len, I could be married to another man right now. The thought scared me.

At least I could feel the fear.

"So where are we headed next?" I questioned. "Since you're leaving this place."

"Next? Yes, of course. We're going to Egypt." Haku beamed at me with sincerity.

I stared back totally blank.

"…Egypt?"

"Egypt."

"Egypt."

"Yes, I have to restock there. Cairo is a prime trading port."

"…Egypt."

Haku looked at me like I was a little bit crazy. "Was I not clear on something?" she asked me.

"No, it's just… He's following right?" I looked back up at Haku with a spark of hope in my eyes.

Haku met my eyes with a steady look. "I told him where we're going. I know he'll do everything in his power to get to you."

"Of course it's easy to say that it's just…" I help back the tears welling up in my eyes, looking up at the corner of the carriage.

"Look at me," Haku ruled. I turned my eyes back to her. "Stay quiet. Do you hear that? It's a heartbeat, right?" I nodded. "Listen to it. Do you hear it? It's speaking to you. Your heart always knows what's right." I blinked a tear from my eye. Her expression softened. "Hey. Are you okay?"

I took in a shaky breath. "An old friend of mine used to tell me that before she… she died," I told myself more than her. She was dead. I could finally tell myself that. I could never see her again. I wondered if maybe she would have moved with us to the Americas. We could have been a family together.

I let out a sob. Haku moved over to my side of the carriage and held me in her arms. "Shh. Shh. It's okay," she crooned. "It's all going to be okay."

I sat up and sniffled. "You really think so?"

"I know so," she said.

"Okay." I sighed, forcing myself to calm down a bit. "I really hope Len finds us soon."

"Is there something you need to tell him?" she queried. "You look a little apprehensive."

"Yeah." Did I look so anxious? I hope the people at the wedding didn't notice… Of course, I was never going to see any of those people again so there was no point in worrying about it.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?"

I looked at her, shocked for a moment. Then I smiled and nodded my head.