Shattered

"Yoh, shall we dance?" Anna snatched the Kasai heir's hand and pulled him into the dance area before he could even react.

"You owe me one dance after my brother," Prince Hao called out to her.

Prince Yoh could tell that something went wrong. "Where are the drinks, Anna?" he asked.

"Your crazy fiancée took it from me and drank it all," she responded as they bowed down at each other in unison with other dancers.

"Oh… What are we going to do now?" The prince stole a quick look at his twin who was busy checking out the exposed breasts of a nearby female dignitary.

"Your brother seemed to be enjoying the ball laughing at other attendees' outfit and hair style. Maybe he doesn't pose as a threat after all and Tamao should be spending the whole night at the powder room with her loose bowels." Anna chuckled to herself. At least she got her instant revenge.

"Have you spotted the Kaminari prince yet?" her partner inquired.

"No I haven't. This place is too huge. After this dance, I'm going to roam around at the other side of the hall and look for him. Go back to your brother so that he wouldn't be having any doubts…" The blond girl saw the other Kasai prince talking with a bunch of well-endowed ladies. "…and to prevent him from tarnishing your kingdom's reputation. Just tell him that I'm in the powder room. Surely, he wouldn't go there to pester me."

"Alright, sounds a good plan to me…" Prince Yoh paused as he twirled the girl. When she came back to his arms, he pushed her lightly towards him so that she would come closer.

Then he mustered the courage to finally say, "I have something to tell you…"

The blond girl was not able to respond as there was a loud explosion that came from above the hall.

Shards of glass rained down on the royal ball goers after the crystal chandelier exploded in the air. Prince Yoh immediately grabbed Anna's hand and scrambled away from the dance area as what remained of the metal structure came crashing down at the center of the room. The orchestra had already disbanded and only the screams of frightened guests filled the air. Four Royal Patch Academy instructors frantically lifted the chair of Headmaster Goldva who was still sound asleep despite the chaos around him. Duke Liam Diethel can be seen on the stage shouting instructions to his men. The police scattered themselves around the room and started to herd the students and other guests towards the exit.

"Yoh, come on!" Anna tried to pull the prince of Kasai towards the escaping crowd.

"I cannot find my brother and Tamao," the prince yanked his arm from the blonde's grip and desperately scanned the surroundings for his twin and fiancée. He searched every nook and cranny of the hall despite angry protests from his companion who was tailing him from behind. When Anna was finally able to catch up, she walked in front of the Kasai heir and swung her left hand across his cheek to bring him back to his senses.

"Yoh, you are the heir to the Kasai throne. The most urgent thing right now is to get you out of here."

"But Hao and Tamao…"

"…will be safe. Trust me. They could make it on their own."

A pair of hands grabbed the two by the arm and dragged them towards the congregating people at the door. "Your Highnesses, now is not the right time to have a lovers' quarrel." It was the chief of the Royal Police. As he tugged them towards the exit, Duke Liam spotted a tall man in waiter's uniform among the flock of rushing guests. He wore a smug look and walked in a calm manner - a total oddball among a group of panic-stricken people.

"Get that guy!" the duke barked at the nearby officers.

The man attempted to run dispersing the crowd like ants but the Royal Police was right on his trail. It took five officers to totally subdue him and he was brought to the chief for questioning.

"I apologize your majesties but I could not personally see you through your safety." Duke Liam motioned one officer to accompany Prince Yoh and Anna out of the venue. The two tried to peek at the suspected bomber's face out of curiosity. Anna stared at the man with a strong sense of familiarity and for a few seconds a flood of painful memories began to flash into her head. The clean shaven man likewise gaped at her as if he had just seen a ghost.

"What's wrong Anna?" the Prince of Kasai held her by the shoulder as she rubbed her throbbing temples with her fingers.

"Nothing… I'm probably… exhausted."