AN: Sorry for the crappy story summery. I feel like the summary doesn't accurately portray where this story is going but until I think of a better summary, it will have to do. Anyway, I live! I'm alive and I'm doing well. I'm currently working on the later chapters so updates will be slow but don't worry, this story will not be going on hiatus.

Anyway, I hope you readers enjoy this story. If you know me, you know I like my OCs =]

Disclaimer: missmakochan does not own the characters of Free! Iwatobi Swim Club but she does own original characters such as the main OC [Yuna]

Yuna loved exploring. Her mother concluded that it was a hobby she picked up from following her brother and his friends around when they were children. Her father didn't mind too much but her mother fussed over it, complaining that it was unladylike and Yuna needed to learn to sit still. Yuna learned how to sit still but her love for exploring never faded.

Today, Yuna was exploring a castle in a distant country. The servants greeted her as she passed through the hallways and peeked into the rooms; she returned their greetings with a polite smile and a soft "hello." So far, Yuna had seen the kitchen and the servants' quarters as well as the guest wing where her bedroom was located. Somehow, Yuna had unintentionally made reached the garden and she was amazed at how beautifully kept it was. Lush green hedges were shaped into low rows that reached the waist and the stone path winding through the garden was lined with red rose bushes, the queen's favorite flowers. A large water fountain sat in the center of the garden and high stone walls marked the perimeter of the garden, hiding the exquisite garden from outsiders. The royal garden was vast and filled with all sorts of beautiful greenery but Yuna wasn't interested in the scenery around her. The castle was nestled in the valley and a great lake sat behind the castle; Yuna wanted to see the lake but the high garden walls prevented her from doing so.

As Yuna walked along the stone path, she caught a glimpse of something pink beyond a row of tall hedges. Curious, she followed the stone path until it led away from the tall hedges; Yuna strayed from the path and reached a dead end: a wall blocked by small trees. She was confused and slightly annoyed but she decided to keep trying, hoping that she would be able to see that pink something. She felt along the wall and she smiled when she felt the wall give way behind the smallest tree; she pushed it and the part of the wall easily opened.

The secret door led Yuna to a beautiful cherry blossom grove. The grove was small but Yuna almost didn't notice the walls surrounding the grove; she felt like she was in a different world. Yuna was satisfied that she had found the pink something and she strolled leisurely through the grove, her eyes filled with wonder and awe at the beautiful trees. She came upon a large cherry blossom tree in the middle of the grove and she stopped when she saw two young men. A young man with red hair sat at a small table for two while the other, a tall dark-haired man, stood beside him. Yuna quietly turned on her heel to leave but someone commanded her to halt. Yuna cursed mentally; she had been caught trespassing.

"Who goes there?"

Yuna turned around and curtsied deeply.

"I am Princess Yuna of Ichina."

The dark-haired man leaned in to whisper into the red-haired man's ear and the red-haired man nodded. He got out of his seat and he approached Yuna, bowing slightly when he reached her and holding out his hand.

"I am Prince Rin. Welcome to our kingdom of Pala," Yuna allowed Rin to kiss the back of her hand, "Would you care to join me?"

Prince Rin motioned towards the table for two and Yuna's eyes widened with excitement.

"I would love to."

Prince Rin offered his arm to Yuna and out of politeness, Yuna took it, allowing Prince Rin to guide her towards the table. He waited for her to sit before he sat in his seat and the dark-haired man bowed curtly before turning to leave.

"That man seems familiar to me. Was he the one who escorted my mother and I?" Yuna asked.

"He is. His name is Sousuke. He is the Captain of the King's Guard."

Prince Rin tried to keep the conversation flowing but he could tell that Princess Yuna wasn't quite paying attention to him. Instead, she was looking around at her surroundings, taking in everything as if she were burning them into her memories. Eventually, he dropped the conversation and they sat in silence. He noticed that Princess Yuna didn't seem to mind the silence and occasionally, she would ask him questions about the cherry blossoms.

"Do they bloom all year round?" she asked.

"Only in the spring, and only for a short amount of time." he replied.

"How interesting."

Sousuke returned with a tray of tea and snacks. He poured two cups of tea for Prince Rin and Princess Yuna and stood off to the side within earshot.

Rin's eighteenth birthday was approaching soon and his mother was hosting a ball for his birthday celebration but he hadn't expected his mother to invite a princess from a neighboring kingdom to stay at the castle. He suspected that his mother had invited Princess Yuna in an attempt to make him fall in love with her.

Yuna finished her tea and she excused herself, curtsying as she turned to leave. Prince Rin offered to walk her out but Yuna politely refused.

"I can see myself out," she replied.

Prince Rin seemed surprised by her answer but he said nothing as she continued to walk away. He called her name just before she passed out of earshot and she stopped, wondering what else he had to say.

"Keep this place secret."

Yuna blinked; she hadn't expected Prince Rin to ask her to keep a secret. She smiled and nodded,

"I'll take this secret to the grave," then she paused and a troubling thought crossed her mind, "I'm sorry for intruding on your secret place."

Yuna curtsied again and she hurriedly left without looking back at the red-haired prince.