Disclaimer: I do not own Aka Zukin Chacha.
Loving from Afar
By: Enigmatic Ice
Summary: Shiine always have a crush on Chacha. It seems that his dreams of them being together will stay as a dream. So, he decided to forget her. After high school he studied overseas so she could stay away from her. Eventually, he returned to his homeland, only to find out that he have never forgot her, instead, it only blossomed into something much deeper…
Chapter 1
"Good morning Riiya! Hi Shiine!"
Hearing her voice, Shiine looked excitedly at the source of the voice. Looking around, he spotted the princess on the second floor of the castle waving at them enthusiastically. He would have smiled and waved back at her the same way only if weren't for his more energetic friend Riiya at his side.
"Hey Chacha! What are you doing over there?" shouted Riiya.
He just looked up and smiled at her, knowing that she could see his expression already. He really liked her voice, for him, her voice sounded so pure and strong at the same time. He often looses himself with it.
"Oh, nothing important" she shouted back. "Are we going to the graduation now?" she asked.
"Yeah! We came here to pick you up! Are you ready now? We have to hurry! Teacher said that we have to practice something for our presentation" said Riiya.
"Okay! I'll be right down!"
That is how it always goes between the three best friends. Shiine is left with nothing to say especially if it involves shouting. Riiya and Chacha always make sure to cover that part of the conversation while he is always known for saying something logical and sometimes incomprehensible for the other two.
Today is the day that they will graduate from their high school. They have to go early to school to practice their performance which includes some singing and dancing for their parents. It is one of the most memorable days of Orara School because the most progressive class in history will finally graduate. Shiine gained the title of valedictorian and will represent the whole graduating class. This news did not surprise everyone who have seen his skill and intellect. Chacha, also received special awards for gaining the title of the greatest magician by beating Seravi in an official match. On the other hand, Riiya also graduated, almost surprising many people because they thought that he could not think of anything else but food.
The graduation went by smoothly. Saying goodbye to their close friends and wishing them luck. The King and Queen invited everyone present for a feast in the castle to celebrate their graduation. It was already midnight when it finished.
Shiine came home even before the festivities end. He doesn't feel saying goodbye to his friends in school especially to Chacha. He doesn't want to be reminded that after graduation, they will seldom see each other anymore because he and Chacha will go to a different University in college. He will attend one of the most prestigious schools overseas, people said that they only accept the elite students of magic. People from other countries have seen his potential and will be willing to teach him all that they know. Chacha will be attending a school for princes and princesses. Riiya said that he will not continue his education and will train to be one of the knights of the castle. After changing himself into his pajamas, he lied down on his bed.
He should be tired from all the excitement happening today but strangely enough, he doesn't feel tired at all. He doesn't even feel sleepy. A smile grazed his lips when he remembered Chacha's face. Daydreaming, he looked at the ceiling.
He liked Chacha from the moment he saw her in the crystal ball when his teacher, Dorothy, caught Chacha's mentor, Seravi and put him inside a glass ball. Since then he expressed his admiration to her in the best way he could think of. Truth to be told, almost every one of his friends knows how he feels about her. Well, everyone except his two best buddy Riiya, who seems too naïve and of course, Chacha herself. His friends have been supportive, especially Yakko, who is infatuated with Seravi and Marine, who loves Riiya but hates his other form. Suzu, their ninja friend, looks contemplative but smiled and supported him in the end.
One of his greatest obstacles is their social standing. Chacha is the princess of the kingdom. Although the royal family is kind enough, he wonder what they will think if the son of their head knight will court their daughter. 'I am sure that they would prefer some prince over a son of their servant knight', he always thought. More importantly, will she be happy if she learned the fact that he feels more than friendship towards her. He doesn't want to ruin a friendship that has been made stronger through time.
Another thing is that even though the three of them are considered as the best of friends, she doesn't see him that way. She always seems to be innocent and full of energy. She is always smiling and good to others, while he is in contrast to her personality. In other words, they are like water with oil.
To say the least, he decided not to let her know his feelings. His beloved teacher Dorothy is the only one who perfectly knew how he feels and she doesn't blame him for being a romantic fool. He doesn't even hope that in the end, they will be together. He is wise enough not to wish for the impossible, because Chacha and he together can only be true in his dreams.
"Oh well!" he sighed ruefully.
Why would he spend his time thinking about the girl that cannot be his in the first place? He has accepted the truth long ago. The problem is that whenever he sees her smiling face, his mind changes as quick as a heartbeat. Angry to himself, he just gets more comfortable in his bed and willed himself to sleep.
The day when Shiine will leave the country finally came. His family and his teacher are waiting for him outside the door to say goodbye. With a sigh he gets his things and went for the door. To his surprise more people have come to bid him goodbye. Beside his parents and his little sister Prism (yes he has a sister in my story), who is half his age, are his royal majesty, the King and Queen and Chacha's grandfather. Chacha is also there together with Riiya and the rest of his friends.
His mother looked that she have cried but makes the façade of staying strong. He admired his mother for that. On her side is his father who continuously supports her. Dorothy, his beloved teacher, looks sad but at the same time proud of her student. Seravi, her husband is smiling cheekily at him. Slowly, he stood in front of everyone looking at them and remembering their faces before he go. The silent drama went on for the next minute before his mother lunged for him and hugged him tight.
"Be careful on your journey my son, always take care of yourself there. Remember to always eat your food on time and get enough sleep okay?"
"Yes mother" said Shiine silently, hugging her back in the process.
"Make me proud out there my son" said Shiine's father while putting his calloused hands on his son's shoulders. The gesture made him look back at his father nodding silently, unable to word out his emotions at the moment.
"You have always make me proud of you my son" his father continued then pat and ruffled his hair.
"Brother, you will always visit me won't you?" said little prism who managed to get between him and their mother. Hugging his waist, she tightly embraced his brother, as if she never wants to let go.
"I will do my best to come here at every time possible Prism, but I will always send letters to you to let me know how I am okay?" Shiine answered while stooping down to level on his sister's eye.
"Okay! But promise me that big brother! Promise me that you will always write letters to us!" Prism said, beginning to sob on his brother's chest.
"Of course Prism, I promise" he answered letting his little pinky float in mid-air, waiting for his little sister to shake it with her own. This is their pinky promise. After the little display, he stood up and gaze at the rest of the crowd that have gathered. He specifically looked towards his teacher and gave her a nod which she answered with a proud and confident smile, accompanied with a sniff. He then went forward to meet the royal family who went there to see him off.
"Shiine, we are proud of what you have achieved so far and I am confident that in the near future, you will continue to make everyone in our country proud. Do your best out there and always think that you are the representative of our country." Said the king taking Shiine's hand and shake it in the process.
The queen hugged him next and Chacha's grandfather shake his hand too while nodding continuously. His smile seems to be permanent at that moment while saying, "Make us proud boy, make us proud".
By that time, the carriage that will take him to his intended destination pulled up in front of him. There is no time left. As the coachman load his trunk on top of the carriage, he looked toward his friends who swarmed up to him, saying their goodbyes. In front of him are his two best friends, Chacha and Riiya.
"Don't loose yourself in those books Shiine! We might not be able to find you there!" snickered Riiya, who want to annoy Shiine one last time before he goes.
"I will not loose myself Riiya." Said Shiine annoyed. Riiya always know how to make him tick but hugged him back nonetheless when Riiya hugged him goodbye.
"Goodbye Shiine! You will always be welcome here when you come back! Don't forget us!" cried Chacha who hugged him almost immediately because Shiine is at the point of getting on the carriage.
He smiled at her. "Thanks Chacha."
She smiled back, and his heart hammered. Her smile is the best memory he will cherish before he go. "You're welcome, Shiine." She looked at him once again before she dabbed her face because of her tears.
He looked back at the crowd as the carriage move on to its destination. His gaze lingering to her beautiful face which is slightly blushing because of her tears just a moment ago. When he could no longer see them, he settled down to his seat and faces the other passengers. One of them is an old woman who is grinning mischievously at him.
"Son, did you leave you heart there?" she asked.
He sighed again for nth time that day. He can't believe that he is too transparent that even strangers could see through him.
"I think so madam, but I believe that she didn't even notice it" was his short reply before he started to stare outside.
Luckily for him, the next town is just up ahead and the woman's stop is there. There will be no time for him to speak to her again and in the process, spill all his hidden emotions towards the stranger. It is too risky for the one he loves is known and loved by all the people in the kingdom.
He traveled for two more days in carriage. Stopping a few times to eat and transfer to other carriages that will slowly take him towards his destination. On the third day, he came towards the town where he is supposed to go. He rest and eat on a restaurant while waiting for his guide that will take him to the school.
Covertia, is rumored to be one of the best school in the whole world, not to mention the most mysterious to boot. No one knew how to get in it except for the faculty and the students. They also don't occasionally admit students, even Seravi, did not have the honor of being its student. Rumor has it that Covertia produced the most historic and most powerful magicians that have ever graced the planet.
After sometime, he finished eating and currently waiting for the said guide. After several minutes, he saw a tall man in black robes of intricate design. People are starting to look toward the man because he hid his face in a hood.
This piqued Shiine's interest and looked at him. He felt that this man is a powerful man, even more powerful than Seravi himself. Since Shiine entered high school, his abilities grow tremendously and learned how to read auras and the current power gages of a witch or wizard upon sight. He hid this unique talent of his to everyone thinking that this talent is of no use to them at the moment.
The man strode to the street as if looking for something. Taking a glimpse from Shiine, he hurried towards him and stopped abruptly in front of the table where the boy genius is currently sitting on. Looking toward him he asked, "Are you the one they called Shiine?"
"Yes I am. Are you the one who will guide me to the school?" he asked while standing at the process.
"Yes, now follow me"
Shiine followed the strange man in the streets. The man walks very fast making him pant for his breath by just following him. 'I really need to get some exercise' he thought looking exhausted already as he followed the man through the winding streets of the city. When the man turned into one of the corners, Shiine jogged, just to keep up. Taking the same corner, he was surprised to see the man just standing on a dead end.
"You are too slow, we have to change that" the man muttered then raise his hand upward. His hand glowed pale white, and the light engulfed them both. After the light vanished, Shiine found himself standing in a grassy field.
Shiine's mouth hangs open at what happened. He is contemplating what kind of magic did he use for he is sure that what the strange man did was not a simple teleportation magic. He should know because he does this secretly sometimes when he woke up late and have to hurry to school. The mysterious man looked at him, and then took off his hood revealing an amused grin.
The looked to be in his early 40's however. Shiine feels that this man is a lot older than what he has anticipated. He has deep and dark black eyes and about the same height as Shiine. The man also has a big frame and squared face. He has a dark scar on his left cheek that looked a lot like it has been cut from a sword.
"Welcome Shiine, to Covertia!" he said and motioned on to the grand old European style castle in front of both of them. True enough, from their point of view, Covertia looked like a large and domineering fortress that is always at the ready for some enemy. It has many towers that looked at every direction. The man then looked at him after sometime and introduced himself, "my name is George and I will be one of your professor", he said taking Shiine's hand in the process.
"Ready yourself young man, for you will experience things you did not even imagine possible here for the next four years of your life…" he said mysteriously.
Author's Notes: Like it? Hate it? Please send me your reviews and let me see what you think on my story. Truth be told, I haven't seen the anime for a years now but I found myself wondering from time to time about the what ifs most especially with my favorite character, klutz, intelligent, stubborn and the ever so adorable Shiine!
Once again, I would like to thank Cassandra's Destiny for the reasons she knows very well.