One Fairy Tale Too Many

crystal-mist

Chapter 4

Two Meetings.

After the ball Julie had taken Runo to where she lived because Runo had told her that she lived far far away and hadn't made arrangements for a place to stay. Julie however did not mind.

The carriage stopped in front of a huge tower.

Runo's aqua eyes widened as she saw how tall it was.

She went inside. The place was luxurious. Julie wasn't a princess but someone who was born into one of the highest ranking noble families and she was filthy rich.

"Please make yourself at home." Said Julie as she summoned her maids and told them that Runo would be their guest for a while.

'I wonder why she is so kind to me' thought Runo as she gazed at the generous silver-haired girl.

*~~X~~*

Shun had no memories of the previous. He became frantic as he remembered that she was probably his 'one true love'. He had to find her…But how though?

Billy suggested that he should probably make an announcement or something.

Shun sighed a bit…"Why me? Why did I have to forget something so crucial?" he leant back on the chair as he looked at the ceiling. "I am going out into the city." Declared Shun.

"But prince…Why?"

But before Billy could complete his question Shun had already left the room.

Shun went to his massive cupboard and took out a set of commoner's clothes.

*~~X~~*

The streets of the city were filled with dirt as usual. The people went about their work and the markets were full of hustle and bustle. No one paid special attention to the person who walked through the streets clad in a brown cloak.

He mad his way through the streets like any other ordinary person. That was when he bumped into someone; a girl.

The girl was sent to the ground and the groceries she carried scattered here and there.

"Are you alright?" asked the man in the cloak as he extended a helping hand to her.

The orange haired girl-Alice considered for a bit then took hold of his hand.

He helped her up… "Uh sorry about that miss, I wasn't paying much attention to where I was going….you aren't hurt are you?"

"No, I'm fine." She said as she straightened her rags.

He helped her pick up the groceries. "They are ruined; my foster-mom will kill me." She whispered to herself under her breathe. She hadn't thought that the man would hear her.

"Allow me to pay for the damage." He said in a concerned voice.

"Oh no, you needn't do that sir."

It was then that he actually looked at her. His face involuntarily lit up in a smile as he saw her…She was beautiful…

"May I know your name?" he asked without deliberating for even one moment.

"UH…It's Alice…" before she could ask him his name he took out a pouch and emptied some money into Alice's hand.

"I am sorry for bumping into you like that."

And what's more, this nice man helped her with the shopping as well. He also brought her a glass of fruit juice and some cream cake.

She tried telling him that it was alright and that he really shouldn't do so much for her just because she fell down. But he only smiled through the hood of the cloak and said. "I was going to eat some cake anyway…And personally I think it's better if you have company."

She sat at the table of one of the café type places. And he was sitting across from her.

When the order arrived he took off the hood of his cloak and a wide smile appeared on his face.

Alice stared at the face this extremely kind young man. He was really handsome to say the least. His golden eyes had the warmest aura to them…After about five minutes reality dawned upon Alice.

"Oh Lord…You are the prince!" she exclaimed in a low voice.

His golden eyes widened as he studied the girl in front of him. "You recognized me?" he asked in disbelief.

"Well…" a blush crept on her cheek. Why? She did not know.. " The party…It wasn't too long ago…I am sure half the girls in this kingdom can recognize you now." She stated.

A small smile tugged his lips as he heard the innocence with which Alice spoke every word.

"Really?" he asked, taking the fork and putting a bit of the cake into his mouth.

"Uh…Yes, of course…Your majesty."

"Stop calling me your majesty." He said in a gentle tone. "My name is Shun Kazami." He also had slipped the hood back over his head. He didn't want to take any unnecessary risks of being recognized by hoards of girls and starting a stampede.

"But then why are you here in the city?"

"AH…" he leant back on the chair to get a clearer view of Alice's flawless face from under his cloak. "I don't know myself…but I guess the simplest answer would be that I am looking for someone."

"Hm… I see….It's rare, for royalty to come to towns such as this in disguise."

He just shrugged his shoulders, and then his eyes fell on the plate in front of Alice. "Why aren't you eating?" he asked."Don't you like cake?"

"Well I…"

"You're shy?" he asked, and immediately smiled as he saw the blush that covered her cheeks.

"No that's not it…But how can I repay you for this."

"You shouldn't be bothered about that." He said.

She gazed for a few seconds at the cake and then put a little piece of it in her mouth. "Delicious." She stated in a cutely high voice.

Shun laughed a little as he saw the delight on her face. He didn't realize, but now he had his elbow on the table and was staring at Alice…It was strange, the effect she had on him. He had only just met her.

After their little snack she said that she had to leave and he nodded. Inside he was a bit disappointed but he didn't let Alice see that.

"Thank you for everything Sire." She said with a graceful courtesy.

He took off the hood of the cloak for a brief minute so that it would be easier to see Alice's face.

Alice also had her eyes fixed on Shun's. The prince, he had just spent a whole afternoon with her. And what's more, he was so kind and he seemed happy as he stared back into her eyes.

They just stared at one another wordlessly… The Shun extended his hand and laid it on the top of her head and stroked her hair once or twice or thrice, she was so caught up in the moment that she didn't notice. "No… I would like to thank you….Alice."

Alice could feel her heart beating so fast. An amazingly deep blush appeared on her face as she continued to gaze into the beautiful eyes of the prince.

"Allow me to take your leave then…" he said and with that he gave her one more smile before putting his hood back on.

"Goodbye."

"Alright then…Sire."

Even after he had left, the blush never left Alice's face as she stood there with the groceries in her hand.

The prince…I can't believe it that he…was here…and was so nice to some commoner such as me.

*~~X~~*

The next day.

Alice was by the river, she was doing the laundry. She hummed a beautiful tune as she did her work. She couldn't help but let her mind wander to the happenings of the last day. I was indeed bewildering. The prince had left a lasting impression in her mind.

She thought that she heard some rustling from behind the bushes.

She looked in the directions, she was a bit scared. Was it some kind of a wild animal?

Suddenly, a brown haired guy came into view.

He ran over to her… "Hide me." He urged.

"What?"

"I'll explain later." He told her. Coincidentally this guy was none other than Dan.

"Alright then…Climb a tree or something."

"Right." And saying this he leapt up a tree and sat upon its branches.

Soon some thugs came through the bushes as well. They seemed like they were pursuing someone. Alice washed the clothes like nothing had happened.

"Excuse me miss…have you seen a young man going through here?"

"NO…not that I know of." said Alice.

"But we are positive that someone came this way right now."

"Oh my, are you implying that I am lying?" she asked with puppy-dog eyes that made her look exceptionally childlike.

A blush appeared on the thugs' faces as they saw how cute and sweet she looked with that innocent smile.

"We are sorry… Let us take your leave."

After about ten minutes Dan came down from the tree. "Thanks." He told Alice with a smile.

"Why were they chasing you anyway?"

"They have nothing better to do."

"You're lying, but I won't pry in your personal business." She said studying the man who had the big wacky smile on his face. He didn't look like a convict, so he didn't pose any threat to her. At least that's what she was able to deduce from his behaviour.

"My name's Daniel." He introduced himself bowing a little.

"I'm Alice."

"Thanks for helping a perfect stranger…And that innocent smile you gave them was simply adorable."

A blush tinted her cheeks a cute shade of pink.

He was still smiling the most gorgeous smile that she felt compelled to return it. So she smiled back sweetly. "It's alright… But you owe me." She said joking.

"Right…" he nodded. "I won't forget that… I'll repay you…I have to go now… Nice meeting you Alice."

And with that he left into the bushes again…

'Dan; what a strange character!' she thought to herself. His smile was so open, so honest… 'I wonder if I will ever see him again.'

*~~X~~*

That same evening Runo was sitting in Julie's garden… She took out the bottle that Joe had given her. She shook it a little and watched as the repulsive-looking liquid whirled about. She decided to put it off for later…

Runo looked at the bright blue sky. Somehow it seemed more beautiful from the land.

Unbeknownst to her; A pair of brown eyes watched her... The owner found that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was so beautiful, so flawless and her eyes were just so intriguing. Her appearance reminded him of Alice… (Not the colour of hair or eyes, but the flawlessness of her features.)

She was walking through the garden and he quietly followed her almost in a trans-like state.

Dan didn't know how or why he had started watching this blue-haired princess. All he knew was that he was practically a stalker now –the way he was following her-.

He sighed as he hit himself in the face.

"You idiot what are you thinking? That girl, look at her fine clothes…She is a princess, no doubt…And you? A street-rat…You stand no chance with her. And plus, royalty is always snobby…Alice is no doubt much sweeter and kinder. " His conscience told him.

"That's right, that princess is probably stuck up..." He told himself and then abandoned following the princess.

That was when a plan struck his mind…The princess was probably a snobby brat…But there is no telling for sure... Ace could help him…Yes Ace, he was the answer. The strange green-haired genie would be the solution to this curiosity that infested his mind. And what's more he could repay Alice for her kindness as well.

For those who have some time on their hands, please read what's given below, or at least read only the italics in the parenthesis. ((

As a very wise person said in an anime-"There are no such things as co-incidences, only the inevitable." Have you ever heard that one? That phrase really made me think… And then I went into one of my strange pondering-states…The result of all that thinking? I wrote something so strange… here it is.

((The lives of people are interconnected like numerous threads in a knot and the tug of one thread affects the other, as is the consequence of our actions. And thus the cycle of time is set underway. A labyrinth of interconnected threads that resembles webs envelops us…And human beings are caught in midst of all these knots that twist and turn about. Humans are the centre of the maze or perhaps merely a puppet in the hands of another. And thus, life goes on relentlessly, waiting for no one and the merciless tide of time ebbs away at the banks of futility.))

So how was this chapter? I am so thankful for your support. This story was something that just hit me out of nowhere… Well, please tell me what you think alright?

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