CHAPTER 01: FREEDOM

- {CHAPTER 01: FREEDOM} -
"Birds fly high, bloodied birds remained chained."

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“Otto-­?san, why are they wearing the same clothes?”

A wide eyed child questioned, pointing to a group of high school students strolling along the opposite pathway loudly discussing about the latest fashion trends. Stopping in her tracks, she stared a large group of teenagers clad in smartly pressed uniforms before diverting her eyes to their school bags. She was definitely amazed by the odd sight. Today was one of the few times she had been allowed outside her estate and she taking full advantage of the situation -­? feasting her eyes on the various unusual objects and people surrounding her and asking many questions being the curious child she is. But what had caught her attention today was a group of high school students.

Hisoka Yuken smiled at his daughter trying to hide any form of disproval in his eyes before gently tugging her away, breaking the glued on gaze his daughter had on the high school students. “Miaka-­?chan, they are going to place called public school. They have teachers there to teach them different subjects. But this means you have to interact with people from all walks of life.” Yuken explained gently, avoiding his daughter large doe eyes. There was a hidden meaning behind his words, which the inebriated little girl fails to notice.

The girl in question bit her bottom lip in frustration, not quite sure of what she wanted to say at this point of time. She looked back at the students, clearly fascinated by the scene of a large group of people clad in the same attire. “One day, will I be able to attend a public school? I could make some friends my age there, and they seem to be so happy. I want to attend a public school when I

grow up!” Miaka concluded gleefully, clutching onto her father’s hand. Silently she was begging for his approval.

But Hisoka Yuken said nothing, his face showed no signs of even a tinge of emotion almost as if he was avoiding the topic. Miaka was desperate to get the slightest response from him, but he was staring at the floor completely avoiding any eye contact with her. It was like he was deeply immersed in his thoughts.

“Otto-­?san?” Mustering out the courage to call out to him, sensing the awkward vibe her father was giving up. She raised her voice when his silence became unbearable for her. “Please, otto-­?san!”

With his shoulders slumped and head hung low, he clenched his fist. He carried on walking, his eyes wandering aimlessly. It was clear that he did not want to carry out a conversation about this subject with Miaka.

Miaka sighed, before deciding to brave on. Despite her age, she was relatively quick to notice that she was treated differently from other average kids. “Isn’t that what normal kids do? Going to school, I want to be able to be a normal kid. Do normal things like attending a public school, making friends and-­?”

Like a quick flash, Yuken eyes lined up to his 10-­?year old daughter begging green eyes. “No Miaka, that’s preposterous! You have perfectly fine tutors at the estate and you know that you are not allowed out of the house without company, how many times have I told you that. We are dropping this topic this instance!” Yuken interrupted firmly, growling in obvious frustration. Yuken sighed, turning his head back to the road and continued walking. Miaka backed away in shock her shoulders dropped showing her sign of retreat.

“Yes otto-­?san.” Miaka whispered in defeat. She fixed her eyes on the pavement as she trailed her father from behind. Miaka didn’t want to disobey her father knowing he meant well, but she was struggling to keep her tears at bay. She gave one last longing glance back in the direction of the high school students just in time to see them giggling away in delight before she whipped around and continue to ponder. A lone tear escaped beneath her lowered lashes and she wiped it away furiously.

Is it so hard to be normal? Am I not normal? Miaka wondered, pain and insecurities came crashing back full force until she felt as if she was about to suffocate. She wiped her tears only to have more tears stained her porcelain cheek. Regaining what little composure she had left she pilled herself together, fighting back the impending tears and quickened her pace to match up with her father.

Birds flocked across the endless blue sky, flapping their wings.

“I wonder what is it like to be free...”

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- { Present day } -

“YAAAAH! I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it!” “Shush! People can hear you!”

“BUT I AM JUST SO EXCITED!”

Suzuki Chiyo squealed jumping up and down, like she was on a really bad sugar rush, completely oblivious to the acid pointed stares passersby were shooting her. “Miaka-­?chan I am so excited! Lets celebrate with our favorite bowl of ramen with not five, BUT FIFTEEN PIECES OF ROASTED PORK!” She shouted on the top of her voice gleefully, unable to contain her excitement.

Hisoka Miaka stared in bewilderment as her best friend danced around her, blubbering and crying as she expressed her utmost delight that Miaka father had finally enrolled her in a public school, but not just any high school " it was Shizuka private fine arts academy the school she is currently enrolled in. Which meant that she could meet up with her best friend more often now.

“Ehh...” Miaka knew that body language, stepping back. It was long before Chiyo spun around as if she was on an axis, and ran full-­?speed ahead in happiness at Miaka, suffocating her into a tight bear hug.

“I can’t... breath...” Miaka panted, trying to pry her way out of best friend forceful tight hug, she didn’t appreciate her eagerness to choke the living daylights out of her no matter how happy she was.

“Mi-­?chan, we are going to have so much fun!” Chiyo ringing voice emanated a wide radius throughout the entire ramen shop. Clinging onto her like a monkey to its mother, Chiyo tighten her grip on her best friend. She pressed her cheek onto her best friend skinny arms, sighing in delight, her eyes starry-­?liked.

Finally releasing her, both girls interlocked their arms moving to a vacant seat. Placing their orders, the flabbergasted waiter left their table making his way to the counter to place the order for two bowls of miso ramen with extra noodles, extra pork and an extra egg. He scratched his head in bewilderment on their surprisingly large order not the mention that the girls had already ordered a large quantity of sushi, tempura and katsu side orders. Soon enough, the girl’s table was overfilling with their gluttonous order.

Chiyo beamed in delight, staring feast upon her. “It’s about time the old-­?geezer gave you some well-­?deserved freedom!” Chiyo commented, picking up a sushi with her chopsticks. “Eh, I still remember how many ‘test’ he had put up through before allowing me to go out with you alone without him sticking around all the time.” She shuddered slowly as flashbacks flickered in her mind, remembering that one occasion where Yuken had trailed the two girls out on their movie date only to get accused and caught by the security guard at the cinema for being a stalker.

“How did you manage to convince him to enroll you anyway? I thought he had always been strongly against the idea of a public school. Tell me everything!” Chiyo asked through the curtain of her brown bangs, her mouth still chewing on a piece of pork katsu. It was definitely Chiyo style to get overly excited over the finest details.

“Well, it took 10 years of persuading. After all, even since the accident 10 years ago and my amnesia, father grew more over-­?protective of me. He probably woke up at the wrong side of the bed one day when he summoned me into his office and told me that I would be attending a public school, I swear my father is a rare case of male mood swings.” Miaka commented in a joking tone, she stared at her best friend smiling slightly. Chiyo was a petite girl. Her hair was pinned back into a bun, making her crescent eyes more noticeable. Square black glasses rested on her nose bridge, giving her a smart polished look. The school blazer added to her polished factor with the left chest of the blazer proudly displaying Shizuka academy logo. Miaka smiled, touching her left breast feeling the woven on pop up crest of Shizuka academy. She just couldn’t believe that it would be her first day, the day where she could live her life as a typical teenager attending high school.

The life she longed for,

The freedom she desired, She couldn’t wait to see the world.

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Lush dense canopies of evergreens passed quickly by as the taxi drove along the paved road on the isolated mountain. Miaka watched as birds perch themselves high on the emergent green trees. Between the two immense mountains, stood Shizuka fine arts academy - isolated from civilization, in amidst of a thick forest, between the foot of two glorious mountains.

Shizuka academy is an elite established school nestled between two mountains. Its ground is said to include several thousand meters of space, it was one of the primmest of all educational establishment in the world. The school offers many specialized classes such as advanced Chinese Literature, fine arts, and ballet. It was a school where extremely wealthy and intelligent students. It is said that most of its graduates will become important figures in the political and financial world. It is most definitely an ultra­?upper class school on an incredibly high level to a point it was being reputed as a fantasy school. Sons of distinguished families, daughters of big-­?league politicians and even princesses of small countries attend Shizuka Academy, and are considered members of a highly privileged class. Chiyo was only able to enroll due to a scholarship, being the genius she is.

“We have arrived miss.” The taxi driver informed slightly distracted, staring in awe as his eyes feasted on the marvelous architecture of the building that stood high between the tall mountains.

Miaka paid for the taxi, lugging around two big luggages filled with her belongings, her eyes danced across the academy, taking deep breathes as she braced herself - the rumors was right, it really was breathtaking.

Never in her life, has she seen such a beautiful place. Two enormous gold pillars stood beside the immense black gates. Brick walls surrounded the school, spreading several thousand meters across the land. Flowers littered across the entrance of the school with bushes carefully cut and shaped into beautiful animals proudly displayed along the sides of the walkway. Beyond the garden was a beach, with its soothing waves lapping gently over the sand. Several security personnel patrolled at the gate, requesting the IDs of students. The academy reminded her slightly of her estate - grand, majestic and glorious.

But what was more beautiful was the actual building itself, it looked as if it came out of one of those fairy tail books that we use to read as child. Heck, if Shizuka Academy sign wasn’t displayed the front gate most people would most probably mistaken it as an extremely lavish grandiose mansion.

Trapped in her awe of amazement, Chiyo had already got out of the taxi and vigorously shook Miaka out of her trance, eager to get her best friend settled into the new school. “Yah, Mi-­?chan! Lets hurry before we are late!”

Regaining her composure, Miaka tided herself by brushing out the folds in her uniform, wanting to look neat on her first day at school. Grabbing her two suitcases she dragged it along the pebbled floor towards the mesmeric building. Entering the front gate, Miaka took her time feasting her eyes upon the sight. Carefully admiring every detail of the room. It was just as beautiful as the rest of the building. The walls were decorated with beautiful landscape paintings. Beautifully sculpted statues and plants stood against the walls. Elegant sofas could be found all around the room. In the end of the room, huge stairs led the way to the second floor. I wonder how many floors are there? Miaka pondered, lost in her thoughts.

“Hisoka-­?san?” A lady enquired, approaching the two ladies. Miaka nodded her head in response. “You have been requested to the principal office.” She gestured Miaka to follow her, leading the way to the office. Miaka exchanged goodbyes to Chiyo promising to stay in contact before dragging her two suitcases towards the office, stumbling clumsily along the way as the weight of the suitcase proved too much for the petite Miaka to handle.

Miaka closed the oak door behind her and surveyed the Principal office. There was a bookshelf displaying history books at the corner of the room. An antique globe rested on his well furnish, sturdy looking study desk along with a few picture frames.

“Ah! Hisoka-­?san.” Sitting comfortably behind large antique desk, a man with dark hair said. He held out a hand for Miaka to shake, rendering her under his charismatic charms. He had a dimple in his cheeks when he smiled. “I am Aono. Headmaster of Shizuka academy.” He gestured the lady to leave the room.

“My, my, how have you grown!” Aono commented lightheartedly, examining Miaka. His gaze trailing up and down her petite body. “That uniform sure suits you.” He added, with a friendly grin on his face.

“Ah...?” Miaka raised a brow at his comment, pulling out a chair and taking a seat.

Aono gave a small laugh, “I guess you have forgotten me. I am a dear childhood friend of your father Hisoka Yuken. I use to go to your house to have afternoon tea and play chess with him.” He flipped a picture frame on his desk over for Miaka to view. It was a picture of her father 20 years younger standing beside a younger Aono in a forest. They were standing closely next to each other, their faces showing a similar wild grin.

Miaka picked up the photo frame and looked at it clearly surprised, he knew her father? She didn’t have the slightest memory of him appearing at her house. Her father had many guest at his house before, but he has never once introduced her to any of his friends expect for a few he deemed acceptable.

“Well, school has already started and mid terms are coming up soon. You couldn’t imagine my surprise when Yuken called me one day requesting for you to enroll in this school. Lets get you quickly settle down shall we?” Aono chuckled, resting his hands on his face.

Shortly, there was a knock on the door before it swung open.

To Miaka’s surprise, there was a tall man with broad shoulders at the door, dressed smartly in Shizuka uniform. His dark brown hair was long, and messy. It was rather spiky but styled in a fashionable manner that complimented his angelic features. He had very distinctive features, heavyset eyebrows, a small tall nose and sinuous lips that even a shy girl like Miaka wondered how they would feel against hers. He had three piercings on his left lobe; the most prominent jewelry was a dangling inverted cross on his bottom lobe. He was gifted with a perfectly chiseled strong jawline. But what caught her attention were his eyes, he had the most amazing pair of alluring bright ice sapphire eyes she had ever seen.

He stared at Miaka with intensity in his eyes and a confidence stance giving him a very fierce expression " but he was very alluring, ridiculously alluring. Gosh, Miaka felt like a pervert just staring at him. He was gorgeous " hell to that, he is the definition of perfection. She felt blood rush to her cheeks as she quickly lowered her head.

“Ah, Yasha-­?kun!” Aono stood up, leading him to his seat. “This is Yasha Kurai, the president of the student council. I have assigned him to show you around the school. You can approach him if you have any trouble during your academic journey.” He introduced to Miaka.

Miaka peeked through he curtain of her hair, noticing Kurai staring at her and she quickly averted her gaze to the spinning globe on the table. “Hello, my name is... Hisoka Mi-­?Miaka...” She wasn’t practically good at making friends. She hardly

had any social interaction apart from the maids back at estate and a handful of people. Miaka mentally kicked herself for stuttering. She probably seem like an idiot to him now.

“Hello, Hisoka-­?san. I hope we can be an acquaintance.” Came Kurai’s raspy voice, giving her a bright smile " one that would put the sun to shame.

“Ahhhh! All right, you two better make your way. Don’t you too look cute together?” Aono grinned playfully, ushering them out of the room. Upon hearing the word cute, Miaka felt blood gushing up to her cheek " reddening them even further. He turned to Miaka once more, smiling gently. “If you have any problems, do feel free to approach me. But I am sure Yasha-­?kun here will take good care of you. Won’t you?” He smiled, directing the last question to Kurai. His eyes were narrowed down slightly, as if sending a hidden message to Kurai. The strikingly handsome man avoided the headmaster gaze, turning his back against him and walking away.

Aono then glanced upon Kurai retreating body, all traces of that gentle smile vanished. He sighed softly and began to walk away silently.

“I will show you to your dorm.” Kurai said, grabbing one of Miaka’s suitcases out of her clutches noticing that she had difficulty pulling them around. “Follow me, Hisoka-­?san.”

However Miaka stood still, embarrassed. Her cheeks were still tinted crimson and there was no way she was going to let him see her in this state. Kurai turned, noticing that Miaka was not moving at all. He chuckled loudly, before shouting out to her in a teasing tone and beckoning her to follow him.

“C’mon, I won’t hurt you. I am not that intimidating!”

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“Lord.”

The man lifted his hand and motioned for the figure to enter the room. The large room was badly lit, it’s only source of light coming from an immense two story window, showing the glowing crescent moon. A young blonde man entered the room, bowing to the authoritative figure casually sitting down on the grand couch, his legs propped smugly against the glass coffee table. The couch frame was painted gold, the goose feathers pillow and cushions covered in scarlet silk covers. The royal like couch complimented the aura that the man sitting on it had -­? domineering, authoritative and powerful.

“Lord, forgive me for had I been misinformed by some of my comrades. I should have bought you news of her arrival sooner.” The blonde male spoke regrettably, his head never leaving the ground out of respect for the man on the couch. “I will see to it that everything goes as planned. Please forgive me this once for my mistake, I will ensure this will not occur again in the future.”

The lone figure enveloped in darkness kept his strong silence, casually twirling the wine glass in his hand as he watched the burgundy wine gently circle around the glass forming a mini whirlwind. Taking a sip, he closed his eyes savoring the bittersweet taste when it danced around his palette. He motioned for the blonde male to leave the room, his eyes gleaming bright red in the dark room.

“Finally, you have come back.” He muttered under his breath, placing an elbow on the armrest on the couch and resting his head on his arm.

The figure placed his glass on the glass coffee table in front of him, reaching for another wine glass filled with a different type of liquid. He did the same thing with the previous wine glass, twirling it and watching the thick crimson liquid swirl in the glass. He was so immersed in the swirling thick liquid that he didn’t even notice a new figure has appeared at the door. Because the room was dimity lit, there were no shadows to warn him that someone was standing there until they came closer to view.

“Quenching your thirst? Allow me.” Her smooth sensuous voice echoed throughout the room, she wore a knee-­?length black halter dress, with a large silt at her thighs showing off her smooth legs. Her skyscraper red heels clicked nosily as they came into contact with the smooth marble floor.

As soon as she stepped into the room, her arms pulled him deep into her neck immediately, engulfing him. Soon enough, the pure scent of some kind of hierarchy hit him at every level, he breathed in deeply inhaling the sweet scent. His intoxication was all over her, as he pulled her closer to him. Opening his mouth, he licked delicately against her neck. She shivered as his hot breath touched her skin. His tongue trailed against her soft flesh, and he left soft gentle kisses before widening his mouth.

There, displayed a pair of razor sharp teeth.

He let out a snarl before he sank his sharp fangs into her neck. Gulping madly with thirst as warm red liquid swarmed into his mouth. A low animalistic growl erupted from his chest, the liquid soothing the burning ache in his throat.

“May your thirst be quenched” The woman chuckled softly while he clawed his nails into her back, closing her eyes feeling the man ravaged her neck in frenzy. “My blood is sworn to you and only you.”

“Kurai-sama.”