Ahiru's Thoughts […]

[Three years, has it truly been that long?] Looking down into the water, the small duck stared back at big blue eyes. Her feathers were a bit ruffled at the right side of her head. Once more that morning she was awoken by Uzura pouring water on her once more…

-Flash Back…-

"Quack!" Shouted Ahiru as water was dumped on her. Waking her violently from a nightmarish dream. Normally it would have been alright. But in her panic to get away from the vision of the crow that haunted her dreams, she flew into the window head first. Only to fall and land on her head on the way down.

"Ah! Ahiru Uzura!" called Uzura as she hurried over and poked her with one of the drum sticks.

"Ahiru?!" The panicked voice was deep and loud agents the small ducks head.

Fakir Was still the same. Maybe a bit more filled out and lean. He had continued with school. Keeping with the dancing but also taking writing classes. Careful not to write any stories of his own. But it does help his skills more and more. 'Just in case…' he would say with sad eyes. Ahiru knew he missed Mytho. She did to. She wondered if he was alright. If Rue was happy and both were as deeply in love today as they were before.

Fakir hurried to duck seeming annoyed. Green eyes watched her as he picked up the duck.

"Baka, always finding some way to hurt yourself…" he grumbled as she shook her head and quacked violently at him…

-Flash Back fades away…-

A soft quack left the ducks beak. She missed being a girl… Remembering how great a pair of legs were. Dancing, running, and playing. She loved to run. And she was good at it. And even if she did fail at dancing. She would love to try and do it all again. To go to school with Pique and Lilie.

"Ahiru." Fakir called as he set a plate down on the ground for her.

"Quack." She called back and swam inland. Being a duck meant a different diet than a human. Bread and fruit were really all she could eat. No sweets or other delicious meals any more.

She hurried over to the food and ate as she watched Fakir. He didn't do too much with her any more. Having explained it was hard to talk to her when he knew she couldn't respond. But she was always there when he was upset. And he was always there when she was really lonely.

She had always thought that she would miss Mytho terribly. Thinking a broken heart would be so painful. Though, as time passed, she thought more of Fakir. Maybe because he was here with her all the time. Or maybe because she would miss him more? She stopped in her eating to make a few quick quacks. [He would say, 'baka, don't' think such foolish things' if I told him that. Besides… I am only a duck…] She looked at her feet and then shook her head to look up and widen her eyes. Fakir looked down at her oddly as he watched her odd actions. She quacked loudly then hurried to eat her food. Fakir shrugged and went back to eating.

-Later…-

Ahiru moved a bit. Shifting in the blanket that was wrapped around her. Eyes looking up and out the window. What could she do but sleep and dream of the crows…? And dream of the girl she use to be?

Suddenly, a light moved over the window. Ahiru blinked and hurried out of the bed. Scrambling to get to the window... She looked close and saw a small light.

"Quack?" she wondered as she hopped down and hurried out of the room. Running to the main room she grabbed the string that hung from the handle. Allowing her to exit as she ran into the woods. She saw the light, small but strong. And the faint sound of crying.

"Quack?" she called and ran through. [Who was crying? Was someone hurt?] she wondered and hoped she could hurry and find them in time. It felt like forever but she finally reached a quit pond. The crying coming from the middle of it.

"Quack!" she called to the person and shivered. The fog thick over the water as she would quickly move over the waters top to the crying sound.

A long boat came into view. Tall on either end but low in the middle. Candle lit lamps swung lightly as the boat just flouted there still.

Ahiru hurried over and used those wings to pull her self up and over the rimb as she stared down. Bright blue eyes wide.

It was a boy it seemed. Emerald green hair and dark skin. He almost looked like an elf put the short choppy hair showed bits of his rounded human like ears. In a long sleeve black shirt and brown cargo pants. His feet bare. But he seemed beaten and sore. Ahiru flailed as she just about slipped but hopped into the boat next to the boy and slowly moved to his feet looking at him. The boy sat up with a yelp and watched her. Wide black eyes looking back at hers. Startling Ahiru backwards.

"Quack!"s he fell backward onto her rear and behind one of the seats. Peeking over at him. [What's wrong with his eyes?] The boy suddenly puled an arm up to his face and covered his eyes.

"I'm sorry!" he yelled and his hair changed to a dark brown and he still hid away. Shaking. Ahiru moved slowly to him.

"Quaaack…" She would coo at him and nudge him with her beak. Poking his arm. He jumped and pulled his arm back suddenly. His eyes now almost normal. A violet tone to them. Staring at her. Ahiru hopped into his lap and he slowly wrapped his arms around her. Ahiru would rest her head on his arm and allow him to cry and thank her over and over. Quacking every so often so he knew she listened. Her own eyes watering. [Who did this to him? Why was he full of sadness?]

"Thank you little duck…" He said to her and rubbed his eyes... Now that she looked at him he was about Fakir's age.

"No one has shown a care for me. Not ever in my world… But here you have allowed me to hold you and cry..." he cried more and Ahiru would nudge his arm. He held her head and stared at her.

"For this, I will grand you your ultimate wish."

"Quack!?" [This had to be dream!] She thought but then suddenly the male leaned down and kissed her head.

Ahiru awoke with a start looking around the room and looked down at her wings. She gave a soft quack. She was still a duck. It was just a dream… She looked up to Uzura as she slept and lay back down. Tears streaming down her face.

"Oh! Ahiru!" Yelled Uzura as she awoke Ahiru with a start.

"AH!" Ahiru screamed and fell back. Hitting her head again. But stared up at her arms and legs. Shivering in the cold as she touched her fingers. She didn't hear Uzura leave the room. In shock as she stared at her arms.

"Fakir! She has no tail Uzura!" Ahiru looked to Fakir wide eyes as he blinked and turned red then turned and ran out of the room.

"HOW!?" he yelled and she sat up quickly and hid herself. Flushing but still looking at her hands.

"How?" her voice harsh and dry as Uzura would hurry out then come back a moment later with her old uniform.

"Thank you Uzura-chan!" She said and changed. But the dress didn't' fit as well as before. She blinked and looked down. She didn't gain weight. But she had Tutu's shape. Not the shape of Ahiru the underdeveloped child.

"Are you decent?" Fakir came in and glanced. Eyes wide and flushed as he stared. Ahiru blinked and looked down panicked.

"Do I have it on wrong?" she said quickly and reached back to fix the skirt.

"No… its fine…" he said stiffly.

"Lovey-Dovey! Lovey-Donkey! Lo-"she was stopped as Fakir twirled Uzuras head around. Fakir looked red and annoyed but looked back to Ahiru.

-An hour later…-

"And then Uzura-chan startled me and I was like this." She said, having explained the story to both Fakir and Uzura. Uzura made a cooing sound as Fakir looked consirned.

"Did you get his name?" Ahiru shook her head. Fakir looked annoyed but nodded.

"For now, you stay here. Just in case it wears off."

"But Fakir, I want to go to school! Even if for a day!"

"BAKA! What if you change back?" Ahiru flinched and pouted.

"It's not fair." Fakir sighed at her pouting face and over dramatic expression. He thought about it. She really had wished for this. He might as well try to do something for her…

"There is a fair… Tomorrow night… If you stay here all day and don't change back tomorrow.. I will take you…" Ahiru's eyes sparkled as she tackled Fakir from his chair.

"THANK YOU FAKIR-CHAN!" She yelled as Fakir tried to pry her off.

"Hey! HEY!"

{… Dreams can be dreams and reality is reality… Or could it be….?}