It was a bright, warm summer day. The meadow smelled of daisies and happiness. Len watched his sister's face scrunch up as she concentrated on braiding togther flower stems, a cute frown on her mellow features. Len's cerulean eyes were soft as he smiled at Rin. Rin looked up, delighted.

"I did it!" she held out a delicate crown of daisies, her rosy expression jubilant. Len cupped it gently in his hands and lowered his head to breathe in the sweet fragrance. The petals tickled his nose, and he sneezed. They both laughed.

Suddenly, a tall figure cast a dark shadow over Rin's smiling face. She froze and turned around slowly, her eyes wide. A large hand grasped her tiny fingers, pulling her up. Len could only make out Rin's frightened form as she was dragged away. He tried to follow her, but a tight grip held him back.

"Rin!" he shouted, but she was gone.

The crown of daisies lay crumpled and smashed in the grass, its leaves torn and its fragile blossoms limp.

_________________________________________________________________

Len was pulling together the velvet curtains when a small voice reached his ears.

"Leave them. I like seeing the stars."

He turned to see Rin poking her head out of her embroidered quilts. He smiled.

"Yes, princess." Len drew the curtains back, letting faint moonlight flood in over the windowsill. Rin sighed contentedly, gazing at the night sky.

"I thought I told you to call me Rin when there's no one else around," she pointed out disapprovingly.

"I apologize. Rin." Len sat on her luxurious bed. The mattress sank slightly under his weight.

"Len?"

"Yes, Rin?"

"Tell me a story."

Len thought for a moment, taking her hand in his.

"Once upon a time," he began, and Rin's eyes closed in the effort of savoring his voice. "There was a princess. She was very kind and beautiful."

"That's me, isn't it?" Rin whispered.

"She had a knight... named Kaito."

A dainty blush tinted Rin's cheeks at the mention of his name.

"That's not fair," she objected with a pout. "He's supposed to be a prince and you know how much I love him."

"However, the princess hated her knight," Len continued teasingly, as if he hadn't heard.

"Len!"

"You'll get to see Prince Kaito tomorrow. You have to get some rest too, so let me finish the story," Len smiled affectionately as Rin nodded somewhat reluctantly.

The princess fell asleep before the story was finished, her hand still in Len's. Len placed a tender kiss on her forehead, brushing away several loose strands of blond hair that had fallen over her peaceful face. A smile stretched his mouth.

"Good night," he murmured. "...Rin."

* * * *

Len's heart sped up when he first saw the woman. She was walking to Kaito, her long hair rippling and her slender face kind and compassionate. Her emerald eyes were exquisite, her lips perfect in every way. When she laughed, it was melodious. She was Miku, the princess from a neighboring country. Len fell in love with her instantly.

Miku accepted Kaito's gracious arm and leaned up to give him a chaste kiss.

That was when Len knew they were engaged.

His stare lingered on Miku for a little while longer before returning to Rin. He was shocked to find her trembling with rage and jealousy, tears spilling from her blue eyes. Her face was red. She pointed to Miku's distanced figure, shaking.

"Kill her," she said.

"Wh... what?"

"Kill her!"

Len was stunned.

- -- - -- - -- -

You are the princess

I am a servant

Destiny divided

Pitiful twins

To protect you

For that

I shall even become evil.

- -- - -- - -- -

The dagger was sticking out of Miku's back, the fountainhead of a rose steadily blooming scarlet stains over her dress. Her head was buried into her silk pillows, her graceful hair flowing. Len stared rigidly down at her unmoving form, his face white. He found himself crying without a sound.

"Why is it..." he looked down at his hands blankly. "The tears won't... stop...?"

* * * *

"Today's snack is brioche," Len smiled at Rin.

She laughed, laughed so innocently. Even as her kingdom fell to pieces around her. She had declared war on the deceased Miku's country. Her own people were rising up against her, led by Meiko, the red-armored lady, and even Kaito, angered by Miku's death. Everyone had fled the castle. Only the princess and her servant stayed behind.

Len could hear the pounding of the main doors echo faintly down the desolate hallway. It grew louder, and then sudden, numerous footsteps were heard dashing madly into the castle, slamming doors. The soldiers had been broken through. The citizens were here to capture Rin.

Len took Rin's hand, determination hardening his lovely face.

"Come."

- -- - -- - -- -

"L--Len? What are you doing?"

Len swiftly pulled out his ponytail and redid his hair in Rin's fashion.

"Here, wear my clothes."

"Len--"

"Wear them, and escape immediately." Len tugged at the hem of his dress and glanced at himself in the mirror. "It'll be alright. We're twins, after all." He gave her a sad smile. He opened the door to the servant's entrance and pushed her in gently, but firmly.

"Surely no one will notice," he whispered as he shut the door. He closed his eyes and sat down at the table, listening to scattered footsteps draw nearer. Len silently folded his hands together in his lap. And waited.

* * * *

It was a cold, dreary evening. A heavy fog settled over the land. One cloaked body moved swiftly, almost desperately through the growing crowd in the village square. It was time for the execution of Princess Rin.

Rin looked up and a sharp pain stabbed her heart as she saw her image kneeling on the platform, pale and tight-lipped. Len kept his empty aqua eyes to the wooden boards below, his lashes dampening in the chilly mist. He never gave away a single shiver as the wind whipped through his threadbare clothes.

Then--he glanced up briefly, meeting Rin's paralyzed gaze.

"Oh," he said vaguely, his words barely audible as they drifted to her ears. "Time for the snack."

The clock struck three and Rin screamed.

- -- - -- - -- -

I am the princess

You are a fugitive

Destiny divided

Sad twins

I will be the one to protect you

For that

You just be somwhere smiling and laughing.

- -- - -- - -- -

~FIN~