X-X-X-X

Chapter 1

X-X-X-X

"*****, are you coming or not?"

"Ah, sorry." That person flashed the girl a fake smile, but she couldn't tell. "I thought I heard someone singing."

"Singing? I don't hear anything. Are you sure you're not imagining it?"

"Yeah...probably my imagination..."

That person passed a window and I couldn't see his face, but I could tell he was frowning. He looked behind him as if looking for someone, but couldn't see them. His friend called out to him again and he shook his head, following the woman with a fake smile. I felt sad for him...why didn't he express himself properly?

"-nee-chan!" I blinked slowly as a red haired girl stared down at me. "Morning!"

"Yona...morning...I think..." I sat up, looking about sleepily. "Oh...it is morning..."

"Of course it is! Onee-chan, you sleep too much!"

"I like sleep...zz..."

"Don't go back to sleep! It's time to get up!"

"Okay...okay..."

"Onee-chan, I picked out today's outfit!"

"Thank you. Why don't you go see if Okaa-sama is awake?"

"Okay!"

I waited until Yona had left to lock the door then get dressed for the day. Okaa-sama told me repeatedly as a child that I should never change in front of anyone, lest they see the odd birthmarks covering my body. My back has bat like wings, my upper left arm a serpent coiling up my arm, my left thigh has writing like words circling around it, then there's my right forearm that has something that looks like a bird ready to take flight. They were more like tattoos than birthmarks. That person had these tattoos, I wonder if they transferred to me.

"Onee-chan, are you ready yet?" Yona asked knocking on my door.

"Yes...I'm ready." I said opening the door.

"I knew it, Onee-chan looks super pretty!" Yona said proud of her work.

"Thanks..."

"Come on, let's show Okaa-sama!"

Yona grabbed my hand and began walking. Yona and I...the two of us are twins, but fraternal twins. While Yona has bright red hair like the sunset, mine was actually both red and black. The top half of my hair always remained red while the bottom half is black, even if I cut the black strands the ends of my hair would just turn black in a day or so. Yona's hair also curls while mine remains straight for the most part. My eyes are more of a violet color while Yona's are amethyst. Oh, I was also taller than Yona by an inch.

"Okaa-sama!" Yona said spotting our mother.

"Good morning, Okaa-sama..." I said stifling a yawn.

"Good morning, Kana. Dear me, you forgot to brush your hair, didn't you? Okaa-sama asked patting my head.

"Sleepy..." I muttered ready to go back to sleep.

"Really now, you sleep more than anyone I've ever met." Okaa-sama placed both hands on my cheeks, her forehead against mine. "Then let me give you a small charm to keep you awake."

"..." My cheeks were heating up and I was no longer sleepy. "Thank you..."

"No fair, how come I can't do something like that! When I do it, Onee-chan falls asleep instantly!"

"Yona's hands are nice and warm, I can't help it..."

"Then what about my hands?"

"Okaa-sama's hands are cold, but at the same time they're very warm...They're very comforting as well."

"That's a contradiction, Kana."

"I know, but it's true."

"Well, I'm glad to see you're wide awake. It's almost time for breakfast."

X-X-X-X

"Yona, careful, if you keep running you'll fa-" Too late, Yona already fell over. "-ll...are you okay?" I asked kneeling down beside her.

"I'm okay...owies..." Yona said sitting up.

"Be more careful, I told you that if you try to run like that you'll fall over. Cousin Soo-Won won't disappear, there's no rush to meet up with him." I said checking her for injuries.

"I like Soo-Won!" Yona said with a bright smile.

"...I know you do..." I helped her up, holding her hand. "I'll hold your hand on the way." I said tugging her along.

"You're so slow though!"

"Sometimes a slow steady pace is better than rushing. I'm only slow because you're so hyper." I patted her head, a smile on my face. "Take your time, there isn't ever a rush to see someone."

"Okay..."

I watched in silence as Soo-Won and Yona interacted with one another. I wasn't an active person like Yona so I rarely ran about unless necessary. I'm a lazy person by nature. I felt no need to rush about like a fool or smile like an idiot. I suppose my maturity comes from those dreams I had, from the memories I had from that man. I stared at the sky, silently singing under my breath. It was a song I heard through that man, I don't know the name, but I liked the lyrics.

"Waaahhh! That was a very pretty song, Kana-chan!" Soo-Won said suddenly next to me.

"Onee-chan, what song was that?" Yona asked sitting on my other side.

"Ah...I don't know, I just...felt like singing." I said staring at her.

"Will you sing it again? It was a very pretty song!" Soo-Won said with a bright smile.

"Please, Onee-chan?" Yona begged holding my sleeves.

"Just this once..." I took in a deep breath before releasing it. "At the end of an artificial paradise. Hidden deep, oh so deep, within the earth. I am fated to sing songs of prayers. All alone until I die..." I shut my eyes, enjoying the sun's warmth. "From a past which has lost its way. I weave together the voice of the past. On the edge of a repeating history. I search for myself in this fate. I continue to sing, not knowing anything. I will sing for all eternity. A song of the sun and of the rain. Of an oh so gentle requiem..." I sang before stopping.

"What's wrong, Onee-chan?" Yona asked with a frown.

"...?" I tilted my head to the side, a confused look spreading across my face. For some reason...my throat hurts. "...I'm thirsty...and sleepy...good night." I said lying on my back.

"Ah! Onee-chan!"

"Kana-chan, finish the song! You stopped halfway didn't you?"

"Zzz..."

"Mou! Onee-chan, when she sleeps, it's hard to wake her up!"

"I guess it can't be helped..."

I opened my eyes once Yona and Soo-Won left to go play. I sat up, brushing my hair out of my face. For some reason, when I was singing like that...I felt like that man was there beside me. I silently began to sing again, shutting my eyes. I reopened my eyes when I felt something land next to me and I stared at the small birds with a blank look on my face.

"If I remember correctly...he also had this ability...to summon birds with songs..." I said watching them fly off.

X-X-X-X

"Hak, if you sleep here, you'll get trampled on." I said kneeling down beside him.

"Don't care, let me sleep." Hak said shutting his eyes.

"Baaaaakkkkkkkaaaaaaaaa..." I said causing him to get annoyed with me.

"The only baka I see is you!" Hak shouted getting in my face.

"HAK!" I was amused when Mundok hit Hak upside the head for insulting me. "Don't insult Kana-hime! Kana-hime, I'm sorry for Hak's insolence!" Mundok said forcing the boy to bow.

"It's fine, I like Hak's honesty." I said with a smile.

"Get off!" Hak shouted under the man's grasp.

"Hak, let's go get an afternoon snack." I said grabbing his sleeve.

"There's no need to feed this idiot, Kana-hime." Mundok said patting my head with a smile.

"I like Hak, he doesn't mind being straightforward with me. Lately, there have been many idiots who come to me like flies...It's annoying when they agree with every little thing I say or do." I said with a frown.

"You have a sharp tongue, sometimes. It's hard to believe someone who sleeps and looks around with a bored look on her face can be so scary." Hak said when I dragged him away.

"Hurry up, I want to have some sweets."

"You like sweets too much. You'll get fat."

"I won't because all the energy goes to my brain."

"What brain?"

"I have more brains than you, Hak."

"Liar."

"Idiot."

"Baka."

"Chibi."

"Saru."

"Kappa."

"Kappa?"

"It's some kind of water demon. They live in rivers. I read about them in a book. I asked Chichiue for a kappa, but he said that they don't exist...I wanted to see what a kappa looks like. They're supposed to look like people, but also like turtles!"

"Then, I'll find one for you."

"Really?" I gave Hak a faint smile. "I'd like that then."

Hak and I have a very strange relationship. We could be considered good friends. Our arguments were always light and we both know our name calling was all for fun. I don't get mad at Hak for calling me names unlike Yona. Plus, Hak always promises me that he'll get me things I tell him I want to see. The list is endless, the most recently added is a Kappa. If I remember correctly, last time I asked Hak for a golden apple because I wanted to see what it looks like.

X-X-X-X

I fiddled with my fingers, unsure how to comfort our crying father. Yona was with me, telling our father everything will be alright since we're here with me. Yona reached for my hand, holding it tightly. I looked at her, titling my head to the side. She was comforting me now, but...I should be the one to comfort her and our father. I'm the eldest even if we are twins.

"Chichiue...it's okay to cry, but please remember you have two daughters. We're here for you, okay?" I asked pulling him into a hug.

"T-That's right, we're here as well." Yona said hugging him as well.

"Kana...Yona..."

"It'll be okay, as long as we have one another."

The three of us remained with one another for a while longer. It was concerning when Yona didn't cry once and walked off to be alone. I stayed with our father while he continued to cry. I was concerned about Yona, but I couldn't leave our father like this. He's a cowardly king, but he's still human and my father. I was relieved when Soo-Won was able to get Yona to feel better even if he took my sleeping spot beside her that night. I guess I can forgive him, but he should remember that Yona is my sweet little sister and I am capable of getting jealous.

X-X-X-X

"What in the world happened to you three?" I questioned seeing as they got sick.

"Snowball fight gone wrong..." Hak said lying in bed.

"Onee-chan, it was a lot of fun." Yona said with a smile.

"I guess that's fine...you should have worn warmer clothing though." I said checking Yona's temperature.

"Your hands are very warm, Kana-chan." Soo-Won said when I checked his temperature.

"You three...Get better soon, okay? Do you need anything, a book, more blankets, water?" I asked concerned.

"A song!" Yona said with a bright smile.

"Yeah, a song!" Soo-Won said with the exact same smile.

"Why?" Hak asked and I realized he is the only one who hasn't heard me sing.

"Onee-chan's singing is very pretty. Onee-chan, please?" Yona asked staring at me.

"Just one song." I knelt down and I began to think of a song. I wanted one that was like a lullaby...Ah, I know one. "Kiss me sweet. I'm sleeping in silence. All alone, in ice and snow. In my dreams, I'm calling your name...you are my love...In your eyes, I search for my memories. Lost in vain, so far in the scenery. Hold me tight, and swear again and again...we'll never be apart..." I sang shutting my eyes.

"So...peaceful..." Yona said with a smile.

"If you could touch my feathers softly...I'll give you my love. We set sail in the darkness of the night. Out to the sea, to find me there, to find you there. Love me now, if you dare...Kiss me sweet, I'm sleeping in sorrow. All alone, to see you tomorrow. In my dream, I'm calling your name. You are my love…my love..." I stopped singing and I stared at the three to see they fell asleep so quickly. "...Success?" I questioned silently.

I was happy they fell asleep, but to fall asleep so quickly while I was singing. I made sure they were warm enough before taking my leave. I heard from the nurse that Yona didn't have dinner and I thought I should request they make chicken porridge so she could have something to eat later. I blinked a few times seeing father in the kitchen and I snorted when I saw he was trying to make chicken porridge.

"A-Ah, Kana...I was just...this isn't want it looks like?" Father asked trying to hide the pot behind his back.

"...I'll taste test it for you. It won't do any good if you poison Yona." I said pulling a stool to the stove.

"Kana, it's okay, I can handle it."

"Chichiue, you don't even know how to cook. I read the recipe for chicken porridge a long time ago so I know what goes in it...probably."

"Let's do our best then."

"Un."

The two of us attempted to make chicken porridge, our first attempt was horrible. Our second, was still horrible, but somewhat decent. Our third attempt was much better, but still bad. We stopped at our fourth attempt was okay, but it tasted a bit strange. It wasn't exactly good, but it wasn't exactly bad. The two of us looked at one another than at our failed attempts.

"L-Let's leave it at this...We ran out of chicken to use..." I said looking away from our failed attempts.

"At least it looks like chicken porridge." Father said with a smile.

"...Doesn't taste all that great though..." I muttered forcing myself to eat the first two attempts.

"Thank you, Kana."

"It's fine. I think Yona woke up by now because of a hungry stomach. I'll stay here to finish these off."

"Are you sure?" I nodded my head, a spoonful of our failure in my mouth. "Alright, I'll be back soon."

"Un..."

Father left and I covered my mouth with my hand. It was...really horrible...extremely so. I was actually crying because of how horrible it tasted. Sayonara, my taste buds...I've killed you. Joking aside, I don't think royalty should be allowed in the kitchen without someone to help them out. I should have really asked a servant for help, anyone really. I just hope I don't die from stomach pains because of this.

X-X-X-X

Chapter 1 Ends

While I usually don't read Shojou, I do make exceptions especially with this story! I absolutely love Yona as she matures, she realizes her mistakes and is always working hard. Shin-Ah is a close second, he's so cute along with little Ao. Kana was created after rereading some original stories I wrote like, two years ago, but never touched until now. She is actually the heroine of the story I created, but with a different name and skill set. The first song Kana sang is Synchronicity: Paradise of Light and Shadow while the second is You Are My Love by Makino Yui. Well, that's all for now. Until next time dearies~! Bye-bye~!