Author's Note: OK, so I just put the fanfic up yesterday, but all reviews so far are telling me to continue, so I will!
Thank You for Reviewing:
Nemesi (Guest)
Gou (Guest)
sparkling apples
I really appreciate you guys reviewing! It gives me that warm, bubbly feeling in my heart and makes me smile, so thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own Free!
Gou ran up the rough stone staircase leading up from the warm, sandy beach to the primped and over-the-top garden of the palace. The rainwater that was left clinging onto the blades of grass from the light shower earlier that day made Gou's sand-wrapped feet a muddy brown color.
As Gou neared one of the many marble garden pavilions she slowed and walked up its stairs. There was a table in the middle of the pavilion, and a U-shaped seating place, opening where the stairs led out to the garden. The seat was slightly wet, but since Gou was still damp from her swim back, she didn't mind. She'd stopped crying when she was running away from Sei and the ocean, but now that she was sitting down, and the thoughts were coming back to her, one by one, she felt tears gather again.
'Now, Gou, stop being so stupid!' She scolded herself in her mind, but even there, her voice wavered. 'It's not princess-like to have red cheeks, puffy eyes and a runny nose.' She paused and used the back of her hand to wipe away to fat tears that had escaped and started to roll down her cheeks. 'And anyways… Sei always said you looked better with a smile on your face.' That did two things: at the mention of Sei, she smiled, but once she remembered she wouldn't see him again, tears overflowed and slid down her face. Warm tears dripped into her lap and she felt her shoulders heaving with every breath she took.
And then she heard footsteps. Next, well-toned arms were gently holding her shoulders. "Hey, are you OK?"
'Oh god, please don't be one of the servants, please don't be one of the servants.' Gou reached up quickly to swipe at the tears remaining. She plastered what she hoped was a convincing smile on her face and looked up. "I'm fine, why do you ask?" Her breath hitched in her throat. The boy in front of her looked great. His brown her was windswept and his emerald green eyes shone with concern. Gou couldn't help but notice his nicely toned biceps as well.
He smiled and Gou felt her heart warm. "You were crying, weren't you?"
Her smile slipped slightly. "Maybe," she said, hearing the strong tremble in her voice.
"What's wrong?"
She sniffled. She'd just met him, and she didn't even know his name, but already, she knew she could trust him. "Well, there's this… guy," she didn't want to say merman in case he thought she was crazy. "And I really love him. He's the one for me, I can feel it, but my mother has arranged a marriage for me and I know it's my duty to do this for the kingdom, but at the same time I can't help but hate her for it. I hate the prince too. I've never even met him and I've got to marry him and live in his kingdom." She rubbed angrily at the new tears streaming out of her eyes. "I only know his name: Tachibana Makoto."
The person beside her twitched. "I'm sure if you talk about it with you're mother it'll be fine," he said softly.
Gou shook her head, her salt-dried ponytail waving stiffly behind her. "I tried. She said I have to do it for the kingdom, and I know I should! I just… didn't know it would be this hard to leave him."
"I understand. It feels like you're being ripped apart, doesn't it?"
Gou sniffed and nodded. "How'd you know?"
He smiled again. "I have my ways." He stood up. "Do you feel better now?"
Gou smiled at him. "Yeah," she said softly. She'd dried off by now, so she pulled the dress over her head and let the smooth material settle on her shoulders. "I should go back now. Are you going to the palace too?"
The boy looked slightly surprised. "Oh, yes!"
They walked back in silence, but it was a comfortable silence. One of those times where you knew you could keep quiet without feeling like you have to rekindle the broken conversation. Where the silence felt like a warm blanket around you.
When they'd reached the last flight of stairs to reach the front doors, Gou was slightly surprised to see her mother rushing down the stairs. She was about to greet her when she saw that her gaze was focused on the boy next to her. "Tachibana-san, I'm so glad you made it! I was afraid that something had come up!"
Gou jumped away from her position next to the stranger – Makoto, and felt her eyes widen. "Wait, you're the one I'm supposed to wed?"
The queen seemed to register her daughter being there. "Oh, hello, Kou. I see you've met Tachibana Makoto. Isn't he great?" She beamed at Gou and then ushered them into the foyer. "I'll leave you two alone, then? Gou can show you around!" She winked at Gou, who frowned at her. She hurried away, a bright smile on her face.
"So you're Gou," Makoto said, smiling.
She stiffened. Now that she knew who he was, the feeling of trust she'd felt earlier was slowly evaporating. "It's Kou, actually."
"So now you know that I'm the one you're supposed to marry, do you hate me?"
Gou looked down at her toes, which were peeking out of the edge of her long dress. "Please forget what we just talked about," she whispered.
He looked a little taken aback. "I'm still exactly the same pers – "
"Just… forget it, please."
Makoto looked like he wanted to say something, but he nodded. He bowed low and took her hand, pressing it lightly to his lips. "I would be honored if you would give me a tour of the palace."
Gou smiled, but it was different to the one she'd given him back at the pavilion. It was tinted with a little resentment and a little unhappiness. "It would be my honor." She gestured to the doorway to the next room and started walking.
After staring at her back for a few seconds, Makoto jogged a few steps to catch up and followed her into the next room.
Author's Note: Tada! Here's chapter 2! I hope you guys like it, review and let me know!
I wasn't sure if I should've made Mako the prince or Haru, but I chose Makoto in the end, just simply because there's a slight shipping war of MakoGou and SeiGou. ^.^"
*Sigh* writing this was a major distraction from homework. I have an essay to write, minimum 800 words. I have 572 words as of right now, but can't think of what to write anymore. If only essays were as easy to write as fanfics
