Queen Yuki's Day

Seven years ago...

John Denbat leaned on the wall and daydreamed about playing the violin in a high-class party. He had often considered himself a natural-born musician but it was his parents' bidding that compelled him to enter the security forces. He was a royal guard for three years at the palace of the deceased Queen Yuki but since the disestablishment of the former kingdom, he had been employed by the Royal Patch Academy to serve under the school's private security forces. It was the same monotonous task and the same old building to protect. He hated it all.

He might have changed his opinion about being a security personnel if he was not asked to leave his previous post. Being a hallway sentinel at the now converted palace was far nobler (and warmer) than a lowly gatekeeper to the school's south exit. He began to whistle out of boredom but stopped when he caught his partner eyeing him from head to foot as if assessing his competence for the responsibility of safeguarding the future kings and queens of the world.

Why was I ever stuck with this guy? John would often curse at the headmaster for making him work with a rigid and boring person such as Chris Venstar.

Chris was an imposing muscular man with the appearance of a military general. He was a former royal guard, too and was too dedicated at his job that he considered slackers such as John to be unworthy of the position. "Will you stand up properly? Your lazy posture is hurting my eyes."

"Why? Nobody is looking anyway," John lit up a cigar which he had taken out of his pocket. The school banned smoking in its premises but he did not care. It's not like the headmaster's razor-sharp vision can see him through the thick trees near the south gate.

"You're a bad influence to the prince and princesses of this school. Have you got no shame?"

"Those rich brats aren't going to see me. Not a single one of them had passed by this place to say hello. Relax! Those kids are too afraid to break school rules."

"Quiet!" Chris's annoyed expression suddenly changed to an alarmed look.

"What now?"

"I heard movements over there." He pointed at the thick clump of shrubs and trees near the stone path leading to the school's kitchen door.

The color quickly drained from John's face. For the whole three years of his career he had never experience any conflict. His partner looked too damn serious. Someone or something was out there.

"Then go see it," he told Chris a matter-of-factly trying to hide his fright under a mask of calmness.

"Yes, you're right. Don't leave your spot. If he comes running, prevent him from escaping through the gate, understand?" The bold Chris Venstar left him immediately.

John gulped. He was hoping no deranged lunatic or a murderous criminal or even a hungry wild animal would come his way. He would have fainted the moment he saw one. Maybe he wasn't really fit to be a security personnel. He was now seriously considering a change in career after this experience.

He was alone only for a minute when he heard a blood-curdling scream. It came from Chris's direction. Without looking back, he hurriedly pulled down the lever to slightly raise the gate and scampered away into the darkness.

Two short giggling figures went out into the open after he left.

"That was a great idea Horo-Horo!" Damuko let out her laughter when they were already far away from the school.

"Yep, that was my original scare-the-gatekeepers-off tactic. I used to do that to our very own palace guards at home," the blue-haired prankster said proudly. "Thanks for making me use your doll and paint as props. You may not want her back though."

He had borrowed Damuko's porcelain walking doll which was a gift from her father when she was little. The poor doll which was tall enough to be mistaken for a four year old child had been stripped off its fancy dress and strategically painted with patches of red on its white limbs and face. Horo-Horo removed the doll's pigtails, spread about its long black hair and dropped a trickle of red paint on both its blue glassy eyes. He then hanged it with a rope around its neck on a tree branch where the unlucky royal guard saw it swinging.

"Oh, that's okay. I already outgrew it." Damuko assured her friend. She would give up everything just to witness the celebration at the town square.

They walked as fast as their feet could carry them until they heard distant music from drums and accordion being played. At last, they reached the central town and the most memorable night of their lives had just begun.

Horo-Horo marveled at the colorful festivities before him. There were celebrations like this in Kouri but not as extravagant as this. Street performers where simultaneously doing shows on every open space they could find in the square. The aroma of grilled meat and freshly baked sweets tempted him into walking towards the food stalls and experiencing their gastronomic delights. He had already started devouring a stick of lamb barbecue when Damuko pulled him away.

"Aww… Damuko, let me eat first," Horo-Horo complained.

"You already had dinner in school. You're hungry again?" she rolled her eyes as she dragged him.

"I'm a growing kid, you know. Do you want to play another game? You already had Kororo." He was referring to the small dwarf-like plushie that he had won for her in the dart booth.

"No, I'm fine with Kororo. Thanks for giving it to me. But the floating lantern display is about to start. We need to get a good spot."

"Damuko, wait up!" Horo-Horo grabbed his friend's arm to stop her.

They paused in front of the statue of a regal woman with her slender arms wide open as if beckoning them to come forward and embrace her. On her neck hanged a familiar-looking snowflake-shaped pendant.

Mother…

Horo-Horo felt a small lump on his throat. His mother left them when they were very young yet he could still clearly remember how she looked like based on her portraits back at home.

Your mother needed to do something very important. Their father explained but he did not emphasize that she wasn't coming back.

"This is Queen Yuki. Beautiful isn't she?" Damuko admired the stone lady.

Horo-Horo suddenly felt like crying. He hated the feeling of being abandoned. The former queen's statue has this effect on him. He began to walk away before the tears came rolling down his cheeks.

"Let's go to your floating lantern NOW."

Damuko noticed her friend's sudden change in mood. "Hey Horo-Horo, is there something wrong?" she called out to him but he ignored her. She wanted to hold his hand to tell him everything's going to be okay but a greasy arm grabbed her from behind.

"Help me Horo-Horo!"