italic- flashback/thinking
Disclaimer: I do not own Love Live
A Knight's Princess
Sound of waves, a linking arms, a strand of purple hair, a cute happy smile...and those attractive turquoise eyes.
A hammering and never ending ringing of the cheapest alarm clock jolts me from the Neverland. As I reaching to stop the annoying sound, somehow a taste of saltiness invade the corner of my mouth. Sweeping the wet spot on my eyes with both my calloused yet strong hands. The dream that I vividly remember managed to make a pool in my eyes. I whispered silently...
"Who are you?"
CHAPTER 1: Happy...Or Surprise Reunion.
In far-far away, away from the crowded city, standing tall a big palace called Otonokizaka Palace. The kingdom gained their stable economical standing by their famous tailoring, producing a good and quality clothes. Today the palace as busier as usual, however it is for different ocassion.
"...-sama."
"...otori-sama..."
'Kotori-sama!"
"Wake up, Kotori-sama! How can a birthday girl is lazily around when everybody is working hard for your party" whine a blue-hair archer to the young mistress of the palace.
"Ugh...You should wish me first Umi-chan~" The princess said as her delicate hand swipe her greyish hair that cover her eyes with a sweet smile.
Catching off guard by the smile, the blue archer blushed all the way to her ears.
"Happy birthday, Kotori-sama. May this year be a wonderful year for you both in health and wealth."
"Ja...lets start by taking off that little -sama thingy."
"B-But!"
"Umi-chan~ You promised~"
Defeated by the cute puppy eyes, Umi can't refuse anymore and agree. "Okay, Kotori. Just because there only two of us here."
"No!"
"Ehhhh...?"
"For the whole day, today!"
"H-Hai...Your wish is my command" answer Umi without any refutation this time.
"Yeay!" Kotori now is brimming with happiness.
"Now, get ready for your birthday party this evening. I'm going to see how far has the preparation been done." Umi quickly run out off the bedroom. Her face is brightly crimson after seeing the other girl happy face. "So...cute~" It seems that some of Kotori giddiness had transfered to Umi.
Unaware by Umi, there is a certain blonde knight standing near the window, looking out with a lonely blue eyes. It takes several minutes for Umi to regain her composure. Fortunately, this time she spots her companion.
"Ah! Eri! How's the setting for the party?"
Snapped from her daydream by Umi voice, Eri turns her head toward the source.
"Oh! Umi...Hey, you just came out from Kotori bedroom. You don't do anything naughty, do you?" Eri smirked, teasing the younger archer. Her eyes glow with mischievous as if the look she give before never actually happen.
"W-Wha...O-Of course not! Where you even get that idea from?!" Umi face feels hot, some steam could be seen coming out from her head.
"Heehee, eventhough you know I was just teasing. You don't have to be embarrassed...unless you really did something to the princess." Eri giggles as she intensify the playful tone for a few last words.
Unable to withstand anymore teasing, Umi yelled as loud as she can. "Mou! Stop it already! Get your mind out of the gutter, Eri!"
"Okay, okay, I'll won't say another word about it so please toned down your voice. You almost break my precious eardrums." Eri pleaded. "Though I'll stop...for now." Two pointy horns seen growing on Eri head while an evil grin plastered on her face.(but this won't be seen by any normal naked eyes)
"Hah~somehow I feel drain..." Umi sighed.
"Its too early to feel that Umi."
'And whose fault was it?!' Umi throw a death glare on the blonde knight. Unfortunately, the girl is oblivious to see the look from the archer.
"Now, to answer your ealier question, they did finished set up for the party. But, we still don't get any news from the kitchen. Though, Honoka should be giving her final touches for the cake." Eri suddenly bring up the original reason for this whole conversation.
"Ja, since you don't have any better things(except teasing me) to do, you coming with me." Twist her feet to the other direction, Umi walked away followed by Eri. 'By followed' means that Eri had been drag by force .
"Hey, slow down a bit. The kitchen won't be running away from you, Umi." However, Umi just ignored her.
"Ummmiiiiiii!"
In the kitchen,
"Y-You...t-two..., please stop..." A small voice tries to stop the war that has been erupted in the kitchen.
"Yah! Take this sticky bomb!" A shout could be heard from the left side.
"Ah! Fwuuh~ Ha! Ha! Your bomb can't even get near me, nya!" The cat-like human managed to avoid the incoming attack from the opposite in the split seconds.
Groan can be heard from the side and suddenly the whole kitchen covered with white-coloured.
"Ha! Ha! Try to avoid my attack this time." The chef said with full confidence.
"Oh no! I fell into the trap nya! Kayo-chin save yourself nya!"
" H-Hai!" Hanayo find herself crouch on the floor.
Unclear to all, Honoka had thrown her sticky bomb, which originally projected to Rin. But the bomb changes the direction by unknown reason and heading towards the door. At the same time...
"Honoka!"
'CRACK!'
The egg that Honoka threw hit the wall beside the door. Standing by the door is the gallant blue archer and a tired blonde, who is having difficulty in breathing.
'CRACK!'
This time the sound was coming from Umi, or rather her knuckles.
"HO..NO..KA..!"
Seeing Umi's pupil narrow with anger and a scary smile on her face, Honoka shudder and scream...
"I'm sorry!"
'BONK!'
...(a few minutes later)
"Aw..." Honoka sobs as she touch the bumps on her head. There quite a few of them on it too. Beside her is Rin, who mimicking Honoka.
"Ow...Angry Umi is scary nya!"
"Why me too..?" Hanayo who is sitting beside Rin, also caught up in Umi wrath."If only I had enough will power, I'll able to stop them.." Hanayo mumbles to herself.
Eri who had been standing on the sideline, scan all over the kitchen with her blue-sky eyes. Everything is a mess. The whole kitchen covered with flour. The most obvious thing that hurt the eyes is the cracked eggs, it was all over the place. No doubt that Honoka and Rin had been thrown them to each other. The question is, what triggered this event.
" Could someone tell me how did this happen?"asked Umi which still having her stern look and glaring to the trio expecially her childhood friend.
"Well, that's Umi. Always one level ahead." Eri nods, agreeing with her soldier-in-arm.
"A-Actually..." The chef then began to tell her from A to Z.
Hours later...
"Are you sure you're not lying?" There still doubt in Umi heart.
"Ehh..! What would I gain from that?" Question the brunette in order to convinced her friend.
Umi looked at her sceptically. Hands on the waist, slowly leaning toward Honoka, face-to-face and suddenly smirk.
"Your freedom."
"But its true nya! Rin heard she said that too nya!" Rin tried to defense her partner-in-crime.
"So, you want us to believe that Minami-hime told you guys to have fun and may used the ingredients in the kitchen as you wish because you work hard on finishing the cheesecake for Kotori birthday party?" Eri concluded their story.
"Yes!" All three of them answer instantaneously.
"What if I do agree with their statement?" A matured and charismatic voice rang in front of the kitchen door.
Umi body stiffened as she knows whose that voice belongs to. Without further ado, the trio jump at their saviour, weeping on her feets.
"I believe there is other ways of having fun instead of wasting everything in the kitchen, Minami-himesama" State Umi as she turns, facing the mother of her crush, The Queen.
"Heehee, you too strict Umi-san. You sure suit to be a father."
Caught off guard by the comment, Umi stutter while her face slowly heat up, again for several times today.
"T-Thats not the issue here. A-And I'm a woman though." Umi can't think of the better retort for the argument.
Having nothing to say, Eri let herself laugh at Umi poor choices of word. Umi managed to glare at Eri which this time been notice by the latter. Unable to stop fully, she end up with a small chuckle.
"You don't have to worry about this thing, Umi-san. I can simply ask the maids to clean and buy them anyway." The queen tries to reassure her daughter protector.
"I guess you're right, Minami-himesama. Sorry for being paranoia." Umi bows her head, embarrassed for her action before.
"Well, I better go now. Please continue to protect my daughter, Umi-san, Eri-san." Minami patted Umi head before she walked out of the room.
Unknown to the others, the two from the trio had quietly sneaked inside the kitchen and found themselves the two last eggs in their hands.
"You're sure embarrassed yourself back there." Eri spoke after the silhouette of the queen completely disappear.
"Ugh...You don't have to re.." Before Umi to finish her sentence, her beloved appear out of nowhere.
"What did you do to embarrass yourself, Umi-chan?"
"Ahh!Kotori, you scared me!" Umi a bit taken back.
"Kotori..eh, where's your formality, U~mi." Eri can't help but to tease the younger.
"That because Umi had promise me right?" Kotori can't control her excitement when Umi hadn't forgotten about the promise and cling to her rightside.
Unable to process question because the presence of the princess, Umi only nod to confirm it.
Taking their stand, Honoka and Rin are ready for their final showdown. Because the love of misfortune, both of them somehow step on the eggs that are splattered all over the floor and fall down. The eggs slip out of their hand, flew toward the Goddess of misfortune for today.
"CRAAAACCCCKKKKKK!"
"Umm...U-Umi?!" There is dark shadow covered the bluenette face.
"Nee..Eri, could you take Kotori-sama out of the kitchen please." Forgetting all the other thing, all that can be seen from the archer is two pair of murderous eyes.
No room for debating, Eri takes Kotori hand and lead her out from the soon-to-be a graveyard.
Soon, as they are outside, the door is closed, loudly. Then, the agonize cry and scream could be heard from inside it.
"May you rest in peace, Rin-chan, Honoka-chan." Hanayo apparently been praying for her ex-groupmates.
Not knowing what happening or doesn't even care of what was happening, Kotori inspect Eri and saw the blade, Eri's soulmate on her waist.
"You have a job, Eri-chan? Why? Its my birthday! You can't have a job!" Kotori pouted.
Seeing this, Eri just smile. "Its nothing really, just a round duty Kotori. It will be just a few minutes. I'll come to the party, don't worry. Try telling me when did I'm not present in your party."
"Mou...you always there Eri-chan"still pouting. "How can you be so flawless Eri-chan."
Eri smile faltered. Kotori words somehow bugged the back of her mind.
"You so flawless...but a clumsy you might be adorable too.."
"...-chan.."
"..ri-chan.."
"Eri-chan!"
"Huh?" Blinking several times, Eri knows her eyes is pouring. Unable to stop the tears, Eri just laugh and excused herself. Kotori with a grim face only can look at the back of that stoic blonde.
"Eri-chan..."
In the evening,
"I still smell like a rotten egg." Umi takes a sniff on her clothes. She had to shower after all that commotion.
Kotori find Umi expression rather cute and giggles to herself. "Don't worry, Umi-chan, you smell nice to me." She can't let the opportunity to grab the archer arm go away.
Feeling the touch, all Umi systems broken down and she began to walk mechanically.
"Where are we going Umi-chan?"question the birthday girl, not noticing the storm in the latter heart.
"W-Well...We are going to welcome some of the guests." Releasing the breath that she been holding from last few seconds.
"Ah! It's been awhile since I saw Maki-chan. I can't wait already." Jumping excitedly beside the bluenette. But, it only lasted a minute or two...
Umi find this sudden change of mood to be really surprise, not to mention it came from Kotori, the most happy-go-lucky girl in the world. Before she could open her mouth...
"Nee, Umi-chan.."
"What is it? Kotori." Umi still keeping her cool demeanor.
"Maybe we should tell Eri-chan about...you know..." Eri crying face keep invade Kotori mind.
"Did she said something about it?" Umi composure slowly crumbles as the taboo topic resurfaced after long time of disappearance.
"No..."
"Then, there is nothing to be done." Umi hugged herself, taught the conversation was over.
"But she was crying, Eri was crying! Umi-chan...And I can do nothing to help..." Kotori sobs.
"Then, make it both of us." Umi hugged the crying girl this time and continued." But this is what we promised her, right?" Though she don't hear any reply, she could feel her mistress nod on her chest. Taking out her clean handkerchief, she draped the tears on the corner of Kotori eyes. "We wouldn't want our guests to see a sad birthday girl, do we?" Umi smile warmly, tried to cheer up the girl.
Kotori shook her head. "If only Umi-chan give me a kiss."
Surprise by the demand, Umi step back however losing her foothold afterward, landing on the ground, butt first. "Ow..."
"I was just teasing Umi-chan." Kotori giggles, not expecting the bluenette to be so panic. She offer her hand to help.
Taking the hand, the archer pick herself up. After standing properly and brush off the dusts, Umi notice their hand are still connecting. Her body temperature rise. She unconciously close the distance between both of them and quickly leaning toward her crush face, giving a peck on the cheek.
"Does that make you happy?" Umi averted her eyes away. Her face now really burning.
The other girl face also no different than the archer. " U-Um..." Losing the ability to speak from the boldness of Umi action, Kotori just settles with a nod.
"Ah! There you two are, nya! You guys been taking forever. Some of the guests are here already, nya!"
Gladly Rin presence managed to disperse the hot tension and atmosphere between those two.
"Sorry Rin. We kind of lost the track of time "said Umi while rush to the reception hall, her hand is still connecting to other. A smile could be seen on the ash-brown haired girl.
At reception hall,
"Thanks for coming. Please enjoy yourself, nya!" Rin cheerfullness and loudness melted well in this kind of ocassion.
"Hah~Rin-chan so full with energy. I'm so envious." Kotori complained as she sat down to rest a bit.
"Haha, I can't blame you for having that thought, though thanks for the hardwork." Umi handed a cup of water to Kotori.
"Still, I haven't seen Maki." Kotori happily drink the water.
"True...But knowing her, she probably late and will said 'It's not like I want to be here or anything' or 'It's not like I don't know what to wear or anything' something among those lines." Umi said as she mimicking Maki gesture.
"You only change the middle part, Umi-chan~ Why you be so negative about her?" Amused by this side of Umi.
"What?! Thats how she is, don't you think so too?" Umi looked at Kotori, unbelievable.
"Ah! I can smell Maki-chan nya! She's getting closer." Rin shouted.
"I always wonder is Rin a cat or a dog, she seems to possess both traits." Umi mumbles, walking toward the front door.
"Why you even care about such thing, Umi-chan?" Kotori follow her protector to the door.
A white carriage can be seen from afar, slow and steadily move toward the palace lawn. Stopping in front of the reception hall where there are three human being standing and waiting patiently to greet the passenger of the carriage. The coachman bows toward the trio and open the door of the carriage.
Coming out from it, is a young pretty red-haired girl with beautiful violet eyes looking at those three. The dress that she wears very sophisticated adding a charm to her great figure.
Umi could see that there is another person in the carriage but decide to remain silent.
"MAKI-CHAN!"
Haven't meet eye-to-eye for a long time, both Rin and Kotori pounced the latter. Despite having those two mauling over her, Maki managed to stable herself from falling.
"Thats enough you two. Please behave." Umi yanked both of them easily. "Are you alright, Maki-ojou?" Umi formality suddenly kicked in.
"I see you haven't change, Umi-dono. Thanks for caring." Maki reply with same formality.
"Geez..Whats with all the formality? Its too boring." Kotori said as she still hanging on air.
Both of them just laugh. Umi slowly put the two people down. Rin then find herself needed in the kitchen and excuse herself.
"Its been a long time, like what, seven years already?" Kotori started the conversation.
"Actually its been ten years Kotori." Umi corrected her mistress.
"Yeah...A lot things happen that I can't even find myself the time to visit you guys." Maki said as her face change to sour. She cast a glance at the carriage for a brief second which Umi can't help but notice.
"Actually, you guys...I need a favour from you.." Maki looked hesistate..
"Is this about the person inside the carriage?" Umi speak up this time.
"Eh? There is another people you brought Maki-chan?"asked Kotori not knowing anything.
"Hah...Nothing escape from you like always, do you Umi-dono?" Maki used formality to deliver that this is a serious matter.
"I'm flattered, but you think too highly of me. So, what you need for us, Maki-ojou?" Knowing Maki won't be too formal for no reason unless there could be anything worse happen if it been ignored.
On the other side of the palace, Eri is putting her knight attire, finishing it by putting a white cape on the back. Ready to make her round.
'Somehow I feel like something is going to happen today.' Eri can't calm her uneasiness or her rollercoaster heart.
Back to the entry, the atmosphere are getting tense. Stood there are two wealthy woman plus one not too poor woman.
"Eh?! You want us to do 'just' that?" Kotori said with unbelievable tone.
"I'm don't expect to hear your serious tone just for you to ask us to not say anything to the person." Umi also find Maki request to be rather ridiculous.
"If you afraid we would talking bad of you in front of that person, you don't have to worry...cause you are perfect in every angle." Kotori added, the tension seemed slowly disappear.
Groaned, Maki let out a desperate growl to get attention from both of her friends.
"Fine! You can decide this as a serious matter or not yourself." Maki walked to the carriage, fuming. She then talked to the one inside. Step beside a bit to let the other come out from the carriage. Maki cast a glance over her two friends which is now frozen in shock.
Both Umi and Kotori gaped, seeing the figure in front of them. A familiar person that they never think will ever meet again.
Same shiny purple hair.
Those same turquoise eyes.
Both mind thinking the same thing.
'NOZOMI'
TO BE CONTINUE...
Thanks for reading.