Ahhhh! Princess Ai! (haha, sorry. I've been waiting for this section) Please R&R. Constructive criticism is accepted, but no flames.

The Ai-land Chronicles

Chapter 1

Her wings were spread about her, like pools of blood and her eyes traveled moodily out the window and swept about her room again. Ai was on another one of her rampages again. In her lap was her heart shaped box and, unconsciously, she ran one of her fingers over it. If she was the type that smoked, she would've taken a cigarette out at the moment.

Surprisingly, her clothes weren't torn. Her father had forbidden her to do so many things. But now that everything was peaceful again in Ai-land, she longed to go back to Kent, back to Tokyo, where so many things had been left unexplored.

Nora walked in her room slowly so that she knew he was there. One of his arms rested on her shoulder.

"What are you thinking of?"

"Oh, I dunno… Just Tokyo and all my friends on Earth and everything…" She could be honest with him. He seemed to be one of the only people that she trusted on Ai-land. Ai didn't really know anybody else, anyway, besides her father, her tutor Lissa, and Nora.

"Forget them, Princess. This is your home. Now that everything is peaceful, you can have so many comforts. Soon you'll forget that Earth even exists."

Ai glanced up sharply, trying not to show that she was pissed. "I don't want to forget that Earth exists."

Gently and quickly, but not sly, Nora cupped her chin in his hand and Ai looked into his amber eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that like it sounded," he whispered. "I just meant that I want you to stay here—with me."

He leaned down to kiss her and for a moment, she let his lips graze hers, but she jerked away with a sudden motion.

"Nora, I can't. You know I can't."

Her eyes averted his and she trembled slightly. She had remembered Kent. How could she have forgotten him?

But Nora…His hair was beautifully silver—not the silver of old age, but the silver of the fullest moon and the shiniest nickel. And he was a great leader, making peace. Most of all, he seemed to love her. But Kent…

She hated it when she was confused.

"Get out! Get out now," she ordered, narrowing her eyes and yelling. She didn't want to push him away. But her mind was filled with thoughts of her father, the teachings of Lissa, and the memories, which were the most confusing.

Nora remained calm, though. "Princess, you just need time to get used to this place. I'm sure you will see your friends again."

Ai heard the lie as he spoke it. His tone of voice suggested that he would personally strangle anyone from Earth who might have known her. Before she could yell something far worse than what she had before, he slipped out the door soundlessly.

In her mind, she knew that he wasn't to blame. It was her. All her.

She'd known that he might come, and that he had feelings for her the last time she'd been in Ai-land. She had returned the feelings. And she had wanted what he wanted, too. But every time she remembered Kent, it pulled her back.

Slow hazy memories floated to the top of her mind. Ai was running through the palace gardens, full of blooming roses. The anemones had been cut away then, for they symbolized the dougen. She didn't pause to think about this now. Her mind was concentrating on getting to the fountain. Their special place.

"Princess."

Her blue eyes focused on Nora and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. So she stopped trying. In a second, she was in his arms and her lips met his.

"I shouldn't be meeting you out here," he said in his soft-as-ash voice. "King Sei would be very angry." She noticed that he didn't sound like he cared very much. It was just something that you had to say to not feel so guilty. She understood perfectly, having the same feelings for him.

They kissed their guilt away.

Okay, that's all the time I have right now… sorry. If you like it, please review and I might continue later. Thankees!

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