A. N: Sorry it took me so long to write. I've been busy with school. Also, I thank my reveiwer P: for correcting me that Hanon owns the aqua pearl instead of the dark blue Pearl. I thank all my reviewers and readers! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer I do not own the characters of Mermaid Melody. However, this song is mine!

Chapter 2

I wanted to escape. I wanted to run away from my fate. I decided to go to the human world. My only regret was that I could not take Coco, who was not yet thirteen. So, I went alone. I never knew how far the human world and my palace were until I left. It was only five miles away. I came across a cove. I saw beautiful plants with coconut trees that could touch the sky. I had known what they were; they were palm trees, trees that marveled the human world, but what struck me most was a log cabin on the cove, and a boy of fifteen standing on the balcony. I studied him closely. He was tall and handsome with black hair and brown eyes. But beneath his appearance, his eyes held a certain loneliness and despair. I felt a connection with him. I too was lonely and anguished. I wanted to help him. I did not want to see a sad lonely human being. I wanted him to smile and be happy. But what should I do, how should I make him happy?. I would sing. I decided to sing a song that my mother sang to my father before they married.

I promised myself

That I would always be

The one who hid my heart

Forever swimming free

All of a sudden, the boy that I was singing to looked up at me and was startled to see me a mermaid! I was about to swim back to my kingdom, but he held up his hand and shouted, "Wait!"

I stayed, and I looked at him, and I saw his eyes held wonder and curiousity, and ... hope? "Please finish your song. It is very beautiful."

His eyes were filled with kindness, and it gave me the courage to go on singing:

You sang of royalty

You sang of beauty

I told you to go away

It was my promised duty

To protect my soul

But you made me feel whole

I tried to push you away

To laugh at your pain

But you never gave up

You came to me again

Then I knew I would die

If you were out of my life

I crumbled in your arms

I want to be your wife

I give you now my soul

Without you I'm not whole.

My song was finished and there was silence, and I couldn't help but notice that my heart was beating fast when I looked into the handsome strangers brown eyes. What was this feeling? Never before had I ever experienced this feeling before. Finally, the stranger spoke. "You have a very beuatiful voice. What's your name?"

"My name is Sara," I replied.

"My name is Tarou," the stranger relpied, "Thank you Sara for the song. He bowed to me and smiled. His smile was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. He could light up the seven seas. I found myself blushng, and he laughed, a pleasant laugh, and I laughed too.

" I never knew mermaids existed. Now, I know that they are real. I am really honoured to be in the presence of a mermaid, especially one as beautiful as you." Tarou said. All of a sudden, I remebered what Phillip said, "Never before had I ever seen such a beautiful mermaid." and what Tarou said filled me with disgust,. But when I looked into Tarou's eyes I found that he was sincere. He meant it, whereas Phillip didn't mean it.

"Did I say something to upset you, Sara? I didn't mean to," Tarou said with an apologetic look.

"No, it wasn't you. It was something else..." my voice trailed away as I thought about marrying Phillip and the fortnue-teller telling me that I would never marry. I then looked up into his eyes, and I found all my problems fading away. Together we stared into each other's eyes in silence. Then I said, "I must go back home. My parents will wonder where I am if I stay long." I didn't want to leave his side. I wanted to stare into his eyes for eternity, but I managed to tear my eyes away from him.

I was just about to go back underwater when he shouted, "Sara, wait!"

I turned around and saw that Tarou didn't want me to leave.

"Yes?" I asked him.

"Please come back again," he said. He gave me a look that indicated he wanted to say more, but he was silent.

For some reason, I felt disappointed. I brushed away my disappointment, and smiled at him, and said, "I'll visit you tomorrow."

He beamed, and his eyes sparkled. I could not help thinking he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen."I'll be waiting for you, Sara."

My heart skipped a beat. Tarou was waiting for me! I swam back home. What was this feeling? It was a sweet, pleasant feeling. I could not stop thinking about what Tarou said, "I'll be waiting for you, Sara." My heart skipped a beat, and I felt myself blush.

When I came back to the palace, I saw Coco there. "I've been looking all over for you, Sara. I was wondering if you are okay to go through the wedding ceremony. You are really lucky to have such a handsome husband, but I don't know why you are unhappy about it."

"I am not happy about it. He may be handsome, but that is his only good attribute. He doesn't love me. He only loves himself."

Coco looked at me and said, "Maybe he will come to love you."

I laughed. "I would be a fool if I ever think that he will come to love me."

Coco dropped the subject, and she hugged me, but she stopped hugging me and felt my head. "Goodness Sara! You are so warm. Are you ill?"

I shook my head and said, "No, far from it!"

Coco giggled, "Then you must be in love, Sara."

"Why do you think I'm in love? I'm thirteen! I should know what love feels like!" Was I in love with Tarou? All of a sudden, I blushed and shook my head. I could not be in love with a human, espcially with one I just met!

"I may only be eleven years old, but I have seen how my servants act whenever they are in love, and you act just the way they do. Now, who is the lucky merman, Phillip?"

I gave Coco a look of disgust and said, "I will never love Phillip."

Coco looked at me confused, and asked, "Then who besides Phillip are you in love with?"

I looked around to see if anybody was in the hallway,then I took her by the hand and led her back to my room. When we were finally in our room, I looked at her with seriousness. "Promise me that you will tell no one what I am going to tell you. Promise me that this will be between us."

"Of course, it will be between us. We always keep each other secrets." We held up our pinkys. We made our pinky promises. Her pinky was wrapped softly around mine. We had done pinky promises ever since we were little children. However, this was different from all the others. I felt safe and assured that Coco would always be there for me. It made it seem that my meeting with Tarou would not change our friendship between us.

Relief swept over me, and I sighed. No longer was I worried. "Good. I knew that I was just making sure because what I am going to tell you may be illegal in the mermaid world."

Coco looked at me with alarm, "Sara, what could you have done that would be illegal in the mermaid world? I'm sure it is nothing really."

I then told Coco everything. I told her about what the fortune-teller said and about my meeting with Tarou. She looked at me with concern, but I saw that she didn't condemn me. Instead she was looking at me with kindess. When I was done telling her my story, she was silent, and I could tell that she was pondering everything that she just heard. At last she said, "What a horrible thing for a fortune-teller to say. You don't seem to be the kind of person to do such things. Sara. You are the sweetest person I know. Don't believe her, Sara. She is just trying to frighten you so that you can marry Phillip. As for Tarou, it is okay to be in love with a human, but please do not turn into a human being. Remain a mermaid because if you turn into a human and tell him that you are that same mermiad, you would turn into sea foam. I do not want you to die, Sara. I would be miserable."

Tears ran down Coco's beautiful yellow eyes. I hugged her and put her head in my lap. It pained me to see Coco crying. It felt like I was cut into a thousand pieces.

"I promise that I won't turn into a human. Don't worry. I also do not want to be sea foam." I laughed. I did not want to make her sad. Yet, I could not help feeling that soon my future would change for the worse. I wanted to get our minds off this sadness. I no longer wanted to focus on the past. I wanted to focus on the future. I decided to cheer my friend up.

I gently took Coco off my lap, and I shouted, "Orange Pearl Voice!" My orange pearl on my neck glowed, and I changed into a long orange dress with yellow ruffles on the side of my dress with a big yellow bow behind my back. I wore orange gloves and my shoes were oragne with a yellow trim. This was my idol form. I had never used my idol form, and it felt weird to have legs. I fell to the ground.

Coco laughed as I fell and said, "You are really funny, Sara!" She then stood up and and shouted, "Yellow Pearl Voice!" Her fins dissloved and turned into legs. She wore a knee-legnth golden-yellow dress. She also had orange-yellow ruffles to the side with yellow high heel boots and gloves. She too fell down on the floor. We both laughed, and she said, "I can see why our mothers rarely turn into humans. It is really uncomfortable and unelegant."

I laughed at what she said, and I couldn't help thinking that Tarou wears legs, and this is what it mus feels like to have legs. I felt myself deeply connected to Tarou. We struggled to get off the floor and we picked up our mics and we began to sing songs from the sea.

After we were done we changed back into mermaids again, with fins. We laughed, "That was really fun, Sara. I never had this much fun before since we..." Coco's voice trailed away, and I knew that she was thinking about my ninth birthday, when we went up to the surface.

Just then a knock on our door, and Nika, my mom's servant said, "Sara your mom wants to talk to you in the throne room."

I said, "Tell her I will be there in a moment." Nika nodded and left me, and I turned to Coco, "Stay here. I won't be gone long. It will just be a few moments."

My friend nodded, but I could tell that she wasn't listening. She was still thinking about the only time that she had ever been to the surface.

I swam to the throne room. "You called me?" I asked my mom.

I looked at my parents and saw that they were smiling. I could tell that they were happy, but whether it was good or bad news for me I was not sure. Because last time they were happy, they told me that I was engaged to Phillip!

"Sara, you are going to have a sibling! I am pregnant!" my mom exclaimed with joy.

I was shocked! I was going to have a sibling at thirteen! Yet, I couldn't help but be happy! I was no longer an only child! No longer would I be lonely whenever Coco went back to her kingdom.

"That is great, mother! I'm so proud of both of you!" I cried. I went up to my mother and I hugged and kissed her on the cheek. Then I turned around and did the same to my father.

"Unfornately, Sara, I have some bad news to tell you," my mother said gravely. I held my breath wondering what it could be. There was nothing in my head that popped out as anything bad, unless I couldn't see Coco for a year.

"What is it?" I asked her, puzzled and confused.

"Because I am going to have a baby in nine months, I decided to put off the marraige until then. You will marry Phillip the day after your fourteenth birthday. I apologize that you will not marry him in three months. I know that you were looking forward to it. I'm really sorry," my mother said.

I tried my best to pretend that I was upset. I could not believe my mother would think that I was actually looking forward to marrying Phillip! As if! I was so glad that I would have a sibling, and I was grateful to it because it postponed my wedding to Phillip. I was really delighted! I would tell my sibling stories about how my mother defeated the evil king of Panthalassa! I would be a good sister to it and love and care for it! I could not wait until I told Coco that there would be a new member in the family.

"Thank you mother for telling me! I cannot wait until the day you give birth! I'm going to tell Coco! Did you tell Phillip?" I asked her.

"Uh-yes, he was a little disappointed that the wedding was postponed, but he understands. I think he will be a great husband to you," my mother said.

"Yes, I agree. He seems to be a nice, pleasant fellow," my father nodded. I could not believe my parents! How could they believe that Phillip was nice! Didn't they see that he was arrogant? Why, why couldn't they see and understand that I didn't want to marry Phillip. I left before I could not control my anger.

When I went outside into the hallway, I saw Phillip standing there, staring at me. "Good afternoon, Sara." His voice was full of charm, but it hit me like it was a ball full of slime.

"Good evening," I said, trying my best to not shake. I did not want him anywhere near me. He swam slowly toward me and kissed my cheek. Without thinking I backed away and wiped his kiss off my cheek. I saw that I had hurt his pride.

He glared at me and said angrily, "Why are you the only mermaid who is resistant to my charms?"

I laughed at him, "That is because you are a phony. Your voice is slime to my ears."

He grabbed my shoulders and started shaking them, "You better beware. I will make you fall in love with me, even if it is the last thing I do. You will be mine no matter what happens! I swear that you will love me on the day you become my wife!"

I pushed him away from me, and glared at him, "I will never love you, and I will never become your wife!"

I swam back to my room but he called after me, "It is your fate, Sara. You will marry me the day after your fourteenth birthday." I was then reminded of what the fortune-teller said yesterday about my fate, and I knew that as headstrong as I was about not marrying Phillip, it was for the best. Even though I would be miserable for the rest of my life, it was for the good of my kingdom and the marine world that I was called to protect by being a mermaid princess. I tried hard not cry. Why did I have to be a mermaid princess? I was miserable. Regular mermaids didn't have the responsiblity of taking care of your kingdoms, and they were not forced into an arranged marriage. They could marry whoever they love. But not me for I would always be miserable. I had a duty, and it was to sacrifice my happiness for the good of my kingdom. I had to please my parents.

I came to my room and found Coco waiting. I told her about my mother having another child. She was jubilant, and congratulated me. Together, we talked about what we would do when my sibling was born and how great of a sister I would be. When Coco went back to her kingdom, I thought about my sibling, Would it also be forced into an arranged marriage? Would my sibling be as unhappy and miserable as I? I vowed that it would never be as miserable as I. Unlike me, that child would be happy and have an excellent future. I would make sure of it. This was the least I could do to make a royal child happy.

The next day, I went to go visit Tarou. I found him sitting on sand. He still had a look of unhappiness and despair. I wanted to take his problems away. I swam up to him and with my tail, I splashed him. "Hey, Sara! Stop it! You are getting me soaked!" I stopped splashing him, and he was laughing. He beamed, "I couldn't wait see you. It seemed like it has been forever since I last saw you."

I sat down on the sand beside him. The sand felt so hot against my fins. "Tell me about it" I said, thinking about what had happened since I went back to my palace.

"I tell you again that I am honored to be in the presence of a beautiful mermaid because I'm not worthy." He then laid back down, he was no longer happy.

I looked at him confused, "What do you mean you are not worthy?: I was laid down on the sand, which was was so hot it felt like itburnt my skin.

"Sara, I am not from China. I am from Japan."

"I traveled here to China after attending Domoto's concert, who is a famous pianist. I always wanted to be a great musician, but I felt that my piano skills did not compare to Domoto's skills. So, I came here to see if I had the talent worthy of Domoto, but I found that I do not. I am not talented nor am I great. I will never fulfill my dreams of being a great pianist. I will always be an amatuer." Tears ran down his cheeks, and I felt my soul being ripped in half. I bent over him and wiped his tears. His skin was so soft against mine, and I blushed. He sat up and he stared into my orange eyes. "Sara," he whispered. But I put my finger to his lips. Then I wrapped my arms around him , and he wrapped his in mine. It was peaceful being in his arms. My misery was gone, and I saw his was too.I forgot about the past and the future. Instead all that was left was the present. It was so translucent being in his arms. It was then that I realized that I loved him.

When we parted, we stared into each other's eyes. I wanted to kiss his lips. "Don't worry," I said softly. "You will have an inspiration. I will sing to you a song, and it will inspire you to compose the greatest music that you have ever written. It will be a masterpeice."

Tarou looked at me with gratitude and happiness. "Sara, you don't have to-" but I stopped him arbruptly, putting a finger on his mouth.

"I know I don't have to, but I want to. This will be a gift from me to show my love for you." I blushed when I said, "to show my love for you. " but I meant it. I wanted to give him my whole heart and giving him a song was the best thing I could ever do to show it.

Tarou was smiling, "Then what should I give in return?"

I looked at him with seriousness and said, "Just believe in yourself. Believe that you have excellent piano skills and that one day you will become as famous as Domoto."

"I will do it." He kissed my cheek, and he whispered, "Thank you, Sara." I put my hand to my cheek. His kiss was so soft against my cheek, unlike Phillip whose kiss felt like slime.

"Your welcome. Goodbye, Tarou. I will be back tomorrow with my song." I jumped into the water splashing him again.

"Sara, you are getting me soaked!" Tarou said, laughing, " Good-bye, Sara. I will be waiting for you again, and I cannot wait until I can hear your beautiful song!"

I swam back home. I felt that I was flying through the air. I wanted to sing a song that showed my love for him, and for him to have self-confidence in himself. I spent the rest of the day coming up with the lyrics until I finally felt satisfied. I sang my song again, and it felt complete. I then went to bed, and I couldn't wait until Tarou heard my song, the song of my love for him.