I AM SOOOOO SORRY! I know I haven't updated in so long and I am ashamed….. I have had writers block and things have been going on in RL so yeah…. Anyway… here it is…

King Akio and Prince Kuzon finished with the messages and turned to go across the street only to find Ahiru and the boy gone. Kuzon looked up and down the street. "Where could they have gone…" he said to himself. There were a few people on the street and he doubted that anyone was paying attention to the two. He sighed and turned back to his father. "So we know that she's in town but we don't know her exact location…." The two got into the carriage. "We shall scour this place until we find her." The king said firmly. Kuzon closed his eyes. "Now, now father. We don't want to scare her off." Akio looked at his son, confused. He saw this and said, "There must be a reason why she hasn't come back if she's been here all this time, hidden away from us." The king nodded.

They came to the finest hotel in Kinkan and told the keeper that they would be staying for awhile longer before going to their room to think. "Where do you think she could be…?" Kuzon shrugged. "This town may be small but she could be anywhere…." Takuto, the carriage driver and temporary butler, came in carrying a tray with tea. "Sires, why don't you check the school in the morning?" The prince and King turned to him. "She must be going there." He stated. "All the teenagers of this town are." Kuzon nodded. "I see…. So there is a chance she'll be there tomorrow… I'll go and check it out in the morning…"

"I'll accompany you." Akio said but the prince shook his head. "No father. It's no offence but I must see for myself and hopefully speak with her alone." He nodded, understanding.

It was late afternoon and Fakir and Ahiru went back to Charon's house. She let a small sneeze and Fakir laughed. "Why don't you go take a hot bath so you don't catch cold?" She smiled sheepishly and nodded before heading upstairs. Fakir went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. He knew it was early but he was going to make a soup that would take a few hours.

Ahiru went into the bath room and started to take off her clothes as the she let the bath run. It was then that she noticed her figure. It was no longer duck-like but more like Princess Tutu's. She put her clothes in the hamper and then got into the tub. She smiled and sighed contently. It was so nice. She closed her eyes and let herself go deeper into the water. Her happy moment was soon ruined when she another memory appeared in her mind.

Ahiru ran but the men wearing black soon caught up to her. She had to slow down since she was nearing the cliff. She turned around and started to back away. "Be a good little girl and come with us…" they said. She shook her head rapidly and shut her eyes and the lunged at her but were stopped. "Leave her alone!" Ahiru opened her eyes. It was her mother. "Take me instead…"

"No!" Ahiru shouted but Miyuki held her back and stood firm. The men looked at each other, exchanging glances, deciding what to do. "No!" she shouted again. "I'm the one you want… Leave mom alone!" Then something happened that Ahiru didn't expect at all. She watched as her mother went farther from her reach as she fell. 'Why…?" she thought. 'Why mother….?' Queen Miyuki had just pushed her daughter off the cliff and let her fall into the sea below. The last thing she saw was her mother being grabbed by the men in black before she hit the water and everything went black.

Ahiru's eyes shot open as she jolted up from under the bath water. She let out a scream as if she was still falling. "Ahiru!" Fakir shouted from the other side of the door, skeptical about going in at first. She was brought back and she realized where she was. Ahiru steadied her breath before climbing out of the tub and grabbing a towel. "I'm alright Fakir…" she called.

She took her time getting dressed, tears streaming down her face. She smelled the food from where she was and thought that Fakir had gone downstairs to continue dinner but she was wrong. When she opened the door, she came face to face with an extremely concerned Fakir. They stared at each other for what seemed like forever to Ahiru. She then broke down into sobs and threw her arms around Fakir.

He responded by hugging her back, trying to sooth her. "Hey…." He cooed. "Shhh…. Come on… Whats wrong…?" he asked softly. He pet and kissed her head as she continued to cry. This wasn't like her and he was worried. 'What is going on?' he wondered. Ahiru didn't answer him and she kept crying and soon fell asleep. Fakir sighed and picked her up, carrying her to the bed. He laid her down and knelt beside her, moving hair away from her face. "Ahiru….."

The next morning, Ahiru sat up and rubbed her eyes. She looked around but didn't see Fakir. She got a little a panicky and hurried downstairs. Ahiru found him cooking breakfast. She stood in the door way. It was a few minutes before Fakir finally looked over. He smiled. "Hey…" he said. He brought the food over to the table before walking over to Ahiru. "You must have been exhausted yesterday because you slept right through the night…" She looked up at him with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry…. I knew you were cooking and fell asleep on you…" he laughed and rustled her hair. "Don't worry about it… Now come on and eat. Then you gotta get changed cause we have school." Ahiru nodded and the two ate.

After getting changed, Ahiru and Fakir went to the Academy. It was quiet between the two as they walked through the court yard. That is, until all the girls ran to the gate, squealing. "It's the prince…!" They heard some of them say as they ran by. The two whipped around. Once his face came into view, an unknown anger filled Ahiru and she stood straight. Her bangs covering her glare. "What is he doing here…?" Fakir looked over at her, confused as to why she said it like that. "Ahiru?" Said girl looked over at him, glare gone. "I'm gonna head to class…" she said, taking off. He looked after her before turning back to the prince, who was all of a sudden, coming toward him. "Excuse me but have you seen this girl?" He held up a picture of Ahiru and Fakir was confused as to why he had it. "No… I'm afraid not." He said. The prince sighed. "I see…. Thank you anyway." Fakir turned around and started to walk away. He looked back to see if he went to ask someone else but instead found him staring off in the direction of the forest. He followed his gaze and found Ahiru standing at the edge, glaring at the prince before walking into the forest. "What…?" he mumbled to himself. He watched as the prince followed and he then hurried to class to think.

Ahiru stopped and sat at small stone pavilion. (Like the one from the show…. I have no idea what its called but it looks like a small pavilion to me… anyway if you know what its called please tell me and I'll change it) Why did seeing prince Kuzon make her so angry? She sighed and closed her eyes and found herself in another memory.

"Please Kuzon!" she pleaded. Said boy turned around and Ahiru saw something that she never thought she'd see from him. He was glaring at her. "Kuzon…." She breathed. He shook his head at her and started to walk away again. "Please…. I need you…"

"Shut up…." He said, looking over his shoulder. "Mom would still be here if it wasn't for you…." That hit her hard. "w-what are you saying….?" He turned to her again. "I'm saying you're just an idiotic girl and I want you to stay away from me…" and with that he left her there. She fell to her knees and started crying. Her father had stopped talking to everyone since the death of mother. Now Kuzon wasn't talking to her anymore. 'They think it's my entire fault…." She thought. Ahiru didn't know what else to do so she just started running, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Ahiru was snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of her name. She turned around and saw her brother standing there, trying to catch his breath. She crossed her arms and stood up, again glaring at him. "What do you want?" she asked. He looked at her confused. "After all these years, we've finally found you… I've come to take you home…" She rolled her eyes. "Who said I even want to go home?" His confusion grew but then he smiled softly and he walked up to her, ready to hug her. "My princess… plea-" he began but his arms were smacked away. "Don't!" she shouted. "I'm not you're princess anymore! I have a new prince…."

"W-what…?" His face had a confused expression once again. "You left me when I needed you most! How could you?" Kuzon was speechless. "You know what…? I don't want to hear it…. I'm going to be late for class.." Ahiru turned around and started to walk away. "Ahiru! Please just listen!" he shouted but said girl didn't listen and kept walking.

After classes, it was time for ballet. Everyone was changed into their leotards and were seated waiting for their instructions. The teacher came in and looked around. "Now class, Today we shall have auditions for our upcoming production of The Nutcracker. Every girl will audition for Clara and boy, Eric. After those two are casted, I shall choose the other parts for everyone else." Everyone nodded. "I can't wait to Ahiru's audition…" a girl whispered. "Yeah… it'll be hilarious…" whispered another and they giggled. Fakir glared at them from the corner of his eye and saw that Ahiru wasn't paying them any mind. 'I wonder what happened,,,,' he thought.

The auditions began and so far there was only one candidate for Clara. It was Ahiru turn. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes and began. Everyone gaped and stared in awe as she danced. It was beautiful and graceful. It was never like that. When she was finished, Ahiru bowed and opened her eyes to find everyone staring at her. They stayed like that for a moment before someone started clapping and then the whole class room roared with claps. She smiled and took her seat after the teacher told her that she got the part of Clara.

Since the Clara auditions took so long, the Eric auditions would be held the next day. Fakir and Ahiru changed and left. Just as they were about to leave, Autor came up to them and said that he needed to speak with Fakir. The three went to the Music room to speak. Autor pulled Fakir over to the side. "Why do you think the prince came here?" he whispered. "I don't know but he was looking for Ahiru and I'm guessing he spoke with her since he followed her into the woods." Autor closed his eyes to think. "I wonder what about…." He sighed. "Do you think he may have something to do with it? I mean…. It could also be the reason Ahiru turned back….."

Ahiru wasn't paying much attention to the boys and she sat at the piano. She ran her fingers over the keys. A tune played in her head and as if they had a mind of their own, her fingers started to press down on the keys and play the melody that she was thinking of. She smiled and the boys turned around to look at her. "Since when did she know how to play?" Autor asked and Fakir shrugged. They then became extremely confused when Ahiru started to sing.

Dancing bears. painted wings. Things I almost remember.

And a song, someone sings, once upon a December.

Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm

Figures dancing gracefully, across my memory.

Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm

Figures dancing gracefully, across my memory.

Far away. Long ago. Glowing dim as an ember.

Things my heart, used to know. Things it yearns to remember

And a song, someone sings…..

Once upon a December….

Ahiru smiled as the song finished. She put her hands in her lap and turned to find Autor and Fakir staring at her in both confusion and amazement.

"How did you do that?"

This didn't take all that long to write... once i got into it...the words just kept coming... At least 1 review before I'll update. Thank you :)

-Hitomi child of the moon