The Lost Kingdom
Chapter 4
By: My Hopeless Love Arrival
Dreams, that's where I have to go
to see your beautiful face, anymore
I stare at a picture of you and listen to the radio
Hope, hope there's a conversation
where we both admit we had it good but
until then it's alienation, I know, that much is understood
And I realize
If you ask me how I'm doin I would say I'm doin just fine
I would lie and say that you're not on my mind
But I go out and I sit down at a table set for two
and finally I'm forced to face the truth
No matter what I say, I'm not over you
Not over you
Damn, damn girl you do it well
And I thought you were innocent
You took this heart and put it through hell
But still you're magnificent
I I'm a boomerang doesn't matter how you throw me
Turn around and I'm back in the game
Even better than the old me
But I'm not even close without you
~Not Over You by Gavin Degraw
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice. Or Not Over You by Gavin Degraw. Everytime We Touch by Cascada and Sway by Michael Buble.
An invitation to the Kingdom of Darkinia for their Annual Ball.
That was all that was needed to make Mikan Sakura's normal life that she had made out for herself go to pieces.
Why the hell was she invited to the ball of the place she was pretty much thrown out from?
There were hundreds of questions that were going through her mind but the only thing that made sense in that moment was Oh My God, Oh My God. What was the world coming to?
The only thing that broke me out of my "Oh My God this can't be happening," trance was the sound of one of my best friends yelling and slamming the door.
"Mikan, where do you want me to put all of your damn stuff!" screeched a muffled angry voice.
I flinched and instantly ran towards the door after hearing the loud crash.
The scene in front of me made me forget about the invitation and everything. There were boxes scattered all over the place that were full of cushions and comforters. There in the middle of the mess was a body in tiny summer shorts and a tight white tank top with a box covering her entire head.
I tried my best not to laugh when I called out to my friend, "Sumire?"
I could see her fists clenching on the sides of her body and then they abruptly came up to rip the box off of her head. The face underneath it though was not so pleasant.
Green Eyes narrowed down to a cats when they faced me (I was forcing myself not to flinch) and her permed hair was literally floating around her like she was a cat that had a bath or she looked like Medusa. Not too sure which one it is but it looks like she wants to kill me.
"Sakura," she growled at me almost menacing. I tried my best to keep myself from laughing at the ridiculous expression she had on her face especially the condition she was in. I asked like I didn't have a clue, "Yes Sumire?"
"Just because I offered to unload all your damn stuff does not mean that I am just going to sit around and do all the work myself," she huffed and finally picked herself up from the ground. The first thing she looked at to see was okay was her nails.
Sometimes she just could not believe how she was ever friends with her.
"First of all Permy, I got all of the stuff to my room thank you very much and by the way all you carried was the cushions, the comforter and that's it!" I told her as I went across the room to where she was standing to clean up the mess around her.
"You could just use your powers. Probably more useful than mine help either way," Sumire said mumbling glaring at her now broken nail. "Look I broke a nail!"
I rolled my eyes at her immaturity and sighed, "Sumire you know how I feel about using my powers," Pausing at her snort but continuing anyway, "There are a lot of things that I could do by myself but I-"
"You should make sure your damn voices don't travel down the hallway."
We both turned to the door to see my best friend and roommate outside holding the exact same invitation as mine that I had forgotten about in my room. I paled at the thought.
"I'm guessing you have the same invite as I do," Hotaru questioned.
"That makes no sense though, I thought that I was disowned why would they even want me to be a part of one of the ancient rituals in their kingdom?"
"It doesn't matter your still coming whether you like it or not. Now hurry up and unpack so we could get an actual good looking dress out of your pathetic excuse of a wardrobe," She said before walking saying she was getting some coffee.
I stared at the door with my mouth open like a fish. When Permy went out with her I swear my mouth hit the floor.
"You could helping." I huffed, "You are not answering my questions," I said loud enough for my voice to echo.
I looked around at all the boxes.
Jerks.
I didn't like shopping at all.
I didn't have a lot of problems with the whole female population because I apparently couldn't find one person who didn't like to shop, it's just that I wasn't into going to thirty different stores till I drop.
It wasn't like I was as much of a freak as I was when I was on Earth. I actually knew how to dress up decently. Maybe I couldn't wear a skirt for my life but that didn't mean that I don't own thre or four.
Okay. Three or four skirts may be exaggerating it a bit. I own one skirt not that it matters.
"Mikan would you stop staring off in space and try on this dress," Sumire screamed at me from the other side of the dressing room.
Sighing, I took the dress that she waved from the other side of the door and blindly slipped out of the one that I was wearing. I went out and waited for Hotaru and Sumire to give me the verdict of what they thought of the dress. Both of them were able to find their perfect dress the minuet they got into the shopping mall whereas mine took a whole hour to find.
And still counting…
"It's not your colour."
"Too lose around the hips, as well."
"Way too long."
"Take that off and we'll go."
Does no one really understand what I have to go through or is it just me.
Sighing with exhaustion I just went back inside to get out of the fiftieth dress that we tried on and join my friends outside. As we walked outside I couldn't help but feel the same way I did when we first came to Aliceanna.
There were tall buildings everywhere kind of what you would see in Tokyo or New York City. But in the sky you would see that were three moon looking planets that are always there in the sky. People are either flying around with bags in their hands and different creatures were casually talking with each other.
It was like this place was originated from one of those fake movie "shot" in the "future" on Earth. But this universe was Aliceanna. Aliceanna consisted of four different types of portals all of which was ruled by Royale Families. There was The Kingdom of Terra, The Kingdom of Haemal, the one I am currently in The Kingdom of Burghal and The Kingdom of Darkinia.
Darkinia.
I wanted to vomit right there.
"Mikan are you okay?"
A hand was waving itself in my face.
I looked up to find Sumire looking at me worried. I smiled on her direction and said, "Yeah I'm fine, listen you guys I'm really tired I think I am going to my apartment to rest."
But obviously Sumire wouldn't take any excuses, "No way, we still need a dress for you."
I suppressed the groan that was bound to come out of my mouth. "I'm really not cut out for this type of thing at all plus I don't have that much money to buy these expensive things."
Sumire opened her mouth, probably to make a sarcastic remark only to be interrupted by Hotaru.
"Just let her go, come on lets go get you a dress."
She gave me a knowing look and dragged Sumire away threatening that if she dare bothered her she would make sure to make her life a living hell.
I sighed and walked to the escalator. I kept on walking to the front when I caught a glimpse of this plain light blue long dress.
It was in a craft shop that made their own dresses. Before I knew it I was walking in the shop.
Ding
The bell rang when I opened the door.
I was greeted with a lot of pink. There weren't many people inside but you could see the shadow of a person from the small set of stairs that they had leading up to probably a workplace.
On the walls there were all different types of cloths rolled up in rows. Accessories were all over the place on white tea party tables. There were even some beautiful dresses on mannequins.
I was in complete awe.
If there was some part of me that was really a girly girl I think it was showing itself in this shop.
"Hi may I help you?" said a sweet old lady voice.
I turned abruptly to find an old lady in a white shirt and most beautiful flowing printed yellow skirt ever. She walked slowly to the counter and smiled at me.
I bit my bottom lip and said, "Oh, I was just wondering if I could buy that light blue dress in the showcase."
I have no idea why I am doing this.
"That plain ol' thing? No, No, No, No a girl like you must want something more extravagant!" the old woman laughed.
"I actually want to fix that dress so if you don't mind."
The old lady raised one eyebrow and said, "What do you mean 'fix it'?"
I twitched my hands uncontrollably and said "I want to customize it for myself."
I looked up to find the old lady smiling even bigger than before with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Well it would be my pleasure to help you Miss…"
"Mikan, Mikan Sakura."
"Mrs. Anju, please come up to my workplace." She held out a hand for me. I took it albeit a little hesitant.
"Well Ms. Sakura I would have to say you have a very good sense of fashion."
I could only look at this weird old lady with a sense of surprise. And I knew instantly that this old lady and I would get along perfectly fine.
It was the nicest compliment I heard for a while.
I could feel my mood lighting up as I put the finishing touches on my dress.
How ironic could it be that the girl who hated going shopping and wearing anything even remotely girly would enjoy making a dress. But the weirdest thing of all was that I did not mind one bit.
I learned a lot from Grandma Anju, also about her. She had a husband, Narumi Anju who apparently went missing in a war from decades ago.
That was when she opened this store in memory of him. Since apparently he really liked her dresses, he even liked to wear them. I was a little weirded out at this trying to imagine a soldier wearing a dress.
Before I knew it I had the dress in a black bag with the stores name on it, "La Belle Fille".
"Thank you so much how much does this cost?"
I looked up from my wallet to look at her for her answer. Only to find her staring at me curiously, "You don't need to pay."
What?
"No way, I am so paying you. You did so much for me."
She simply smiled and took out a treasure box looking thing from the cashier drawer, she handed it to me. I only looked at her more confused. She was giving me more stuff?
"I want you to have this. Open it when you go home." I was about to retort, but she was already going back upstairs with a huge smile on her face. "And don't worry about the money for the dress;" she turned to look down at me from the spiral stair case, "employees get dresses for free."
I opened the door to my apartment.
So I had one thing that I could check off my list for the "Living On My Own" checklist. I got a job.
This has probably been the most productive afternoon I had in a while. Grandma Anju, gave me her SFS (Solar Face Service) number, to talk about the times I should work, after I come back from Darkinia. The idea of going though still made me want to puke.
I walked out of the circle like living room and down the hallway that would lead to my unsaid bedroom, pushing boxes of stuff as I went by. Once you entered the bedroom though you can tell it is the master bedroom. I placed her bag on a box and took out the dress that was covered in a protective black plastic. As I did I saw the treasure box that she gave me, I put the dress in the closet and took the treasure box out carefully.
It was a rusty golden treasure box that had strange writing on it that made no sense at all, on the top of the treasure box though you could see nice little designs like flowers. As I opened the box it started to play music.
It was a melodious sound that sounded a lot like a lullaby. Inside you could see a princess looking girl dancing with a prince; they both were dressed like it was their wedding day.
So Cute!
I gasped.
In front of them was the most beautiful little pendant that was surrounded by some rose petals. I picked it up and started to inspect it. The pendant was shaped like a white flower. But embroidered on the pendant was what looked like the sign for some type of emblem for a country.
Weird, it looked really familiar.
An electric shock was going through me all of a sudden. I also doubt it was the one you get with love- in-first sight type in those sappy romance novels but the power-flowing-through-my-veins type of thing you would find in manga. It felt familiar as well like this wasn't the first time I was having this sensation.
What was going on here? I didn't realize it before but my eyes closed so that I could feel the sensations flowing in my body. Images started to flash in the back of my eye lids. There were too many images that were too blurry. I could briefly understand that there was a huge war going on. I looked around and I couldn't understand where this place was. Everything around me was a blur of people getting killed and a huge hill with a castle on top was behind me. It looked like they were trying to protect it. The image changed and I was in a middle of a huge gazebo that was surrounded by a pond.
I winced there were so many blood curdling screams around me, it was too terrifying. I want to cry. But that made no sense since I did not know any of these people.
"But you do know them."
I turned abruptly but I only got to see the outline of a girl before I was blinded by the bright light she was emitting.
"Please, wake up."
"WAKE UP, MIKAN!"
I screamed, as I fell on my butt on the floor.
Looking around I saw amused violet eyes and angry dark green ones as well. There was no saying how many times this had happened. But what I don't understand was when did I go to sleep?
"How long do you think you can sleep?" Sumire said still in my face may I add.
Tiredly I pushed her away from me, "Can you please tell me what the hell is going on here? And how did you get in my apartment?" I looked expectantly at Hotaru ignoring Sumire's squawk of being ignored.
"Your door was opened. Hurry up and pack up we have to go to Darkinia, idiot."
"What have you been doing since you got back home yesterday? There's nothing unpacked here!" I turned to Sumire, contemplating whether or not I should tell them about my dream and my weird encounter with the old lady. "I got myself a dress and a job so I think for me I earned myself some well-deserved sleep." I said with a yawn and stretched my arms like a cat to make point. I left them both speechless to go to my en suite washroom to take a quick shower.
When I was done I walked out of the heated bathroom opened my closet for my clothes.
Only it was empty.
I really needed to try to stop being such a procrastinator.
Well desperate times call for desperate measures.
I raised my arms and let my hands droop down as I chanted the spell, "Τα αντικείμενα της ψυχής μου εσύ εξαπολύσει στο φως." As I finished the spell I felt the tingle of the light I knew was on my under my palms.
Perfect.
At that moment I flicked my hands upward and all at once my stuff flew out of their boxes and was floating around in my apartment. As I sensed the same thing happened to the rest of my stuff in my apartment.
The tingling goose bump sensation flowed through me once again as more power filled itself in my hands. I said the next part of my spell, "Διαβάστε τις εικόνες στο μυαλό μου είναι πραγματική."
When I opened my eyes my stuff was set up exactly how I imagined it. My bed was in the corner trying not to take up too much space. On the other corner I had my study table, not that I was going to use it much. My fuzzy green rug beside my bed would complement the dark green colour I was going to put as the accent wall. The white circle chandelier hanging from the ceiling had designs that looked like snowflakes, lit up and added some sparkle to the entire room. A few of my paintings though were probably cluttered all over the apartment though.
I walked to my closet once again after I made sure everything was where I would probably want it. My closet was also filled with all of my clothes. There were a lot of things that could be said for my people I didn't have a certain type of style I wanted to stick to. I just wanted to be myself.
I took out my blue skinny jeans, off shoulder black shirt that had "SWAG" in big white letters, and selected my undergarments. I changed into the clothes and headed for my dresser. I took out my brush coaming my still slightly wet hair and quickly smothered some pink cherry lip gloss. I finally opened my drawer to put it all in when I caught a glance of a really long golden chain necklace. I studied it for a while, thinking it would go perfectly with the pendant from earlier.
I walked over to the corner with the paintings, the wall on the left there are custom bookshelves and my musical box was on one of them. I take it out and hop onto my bed opening it to get the pendant and put it on my necklace making it a very pretty necklace if I do say so myself.
"MIKAN HURRY UP," I heard Sumire's voice from my window.
"Okay I'm coming."
"Stop yelling Permy you're going to make my ears bleed."
"Mikan come on or I am going to kill your best friend here."
Quickly I ran out my door to stuff my music box inside my suitcase that was by my front door. I grabbed my jacket and keys, took my suitcase and ran out before my friends could start killing each other, literally.
I was off to Darkinia, to hopefully ignore my stupid past.
Hopefully.
We stepped out of the portal that was temporarily connecting the worlds together for Darkinia's famous Annual Ball.
All these people were probably so excited. Being invited to the richest planet, to attend a ball with all of the richest and powerful people in Aliceanna, was probably a big honour.
But unlike these people I felt like I was going to throw up soon.
"Hey, are you okay, you look like your about to barf," Sumire's voice oh so wisely pointed out.
"Shut up, Permy."
"Look, I highly doubt they will come to greet us," she said as she was obviously trying to catch the eye of a really cute guy in front of us.
Just when I was feeling a little better that I might still be able to ignore them, "They are coming my family insists on greeting me back after our lengthy separation." Thanks Hotaru really.
They were the ones who really only knew what happened, between me and the Hyuuga family. Not that it would really matter for a while. Hotaru only knew because she was a part of the Royale family and has attended these things every year. So has Sumire, her father is a much respected councilman throughout the four worlds. It also has been a tradition that has been passed down to generation to generation. The three of us were also roommates in Alice Academy. So it was bound for them to know.
Alice Academy.
There was not much you could say about that school. There were tons of magic schools in the worlds but Alice Academy is known to be the toughest most prestigious school there was. Just graduating from there would be and honour to so many people, since most drop out, or don't pass. We were the lucky ones.
In about a week we were going to start school again going back to Alice Academy U.
I couldn't dwell on it much when the sounds of horns started to play. It meant the Royals were coming. I froze as everyone went quiet to stare in awe behind us. Slowly I turned as well to see the flying carriage come down in front of us. The royal horn started to play again but was interrupted by a scream and a large blur aiming itself at Hotaru. Hotaru thinking quickly whipped out her gun and…
BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA
Of course I expected but I could see and hear Sumire freaking out beside me. Obviously she has never personally met the Royal family. Wouldn't surprise me, Hotaru and her weren't very close. It was a wonder how they lived in the same dorm.
"Imai what the hell are you doing?" Sumire screeched at her. Hotaru of course ignored her, so did I frankly. We both watched the ground and saw the `blur' come back to life. The Duchess of Darkinia got up and looked at Hotaru with tears in her eyes. She looked a little like a child that just got kicked in the face. But I guess in this case it was shot in the face.
Hotaru curtly said, "Mother."
A whiny voice came out of the most respected Duchess and you could see the rest of our audience slightly shocked to see the Duchess in this state and bowed, "Hotaru you are so mean."
"Honey, could you please put yourself together," a kind man's voice said.
Out came a handsome man with raven hair and black eyes. If you looked closely you could see some gray hair coming and a few wrinkles on his face.
He smiled kindly at his daughter, "Hello Hotaru it is nice to see you return again." He soundly hugged his daughter, Hotaru hugging him a little as well.
The Duchess smiled slightly but pouted like a five year old, "She's my daughter too I want a hug as well." The Dutch laughed and let go of his daughter to let her mother hug her extra tight. Lightly I could hear Sumire whisper in my ear, "What a weird family. Where does Imai come from?" At this I laughed.
I saw the Dutch turn his head this way. And smiled at me, "Mikan, it has been a while since we have seen you." He came over and hugged me lightly as I laughed slightly, "Hotaru won't let me eat any good food anymore." At this he looked at me quizzing, "What does that have to do with not coming over?"
"Every time I come here Aunty feeds me too much and Hotaru will kill me if I become too fat that I can't be shown in public." He laughed a nice hearty laugh at this.
I heard a laugh from the Duchess mouth as she turned to me to give me a hug as well. "Well either it is nice to have you back for a while; usually we have to go to Burghal to see you." I smiled kindly at her.
Both the Dutch and Duchess turned to look at Sumire, peculiarly wondering who she is. After seeing my nod Sumire introduced herself, "I am Sumire Shouda, Imai and I used to be roommates along with Mikan."
The Dutch made a "aaahhh" noise and said curtly, "Hotaru told as a lot of nice things about you. And would you mind telling your father he owes me 20 drachme."
Aunty slapped his arm slightly and said, "Stop that Honey, It is a pleasure to meet you, Sumire. We should head back to the castle the Ball will be tonight."
Uncle turned to the crowd of onlookers and said nicely, "Please come to your carriages and on behalf of the Royal family I would like to Welcome you to Darkinia."
As we all made our way to the carriages with Hotaru, Sumire and I going in the carriage with Uncle and Aunty, I could hear Sumire whispering to Hotaru, "You said nice things, like what about me."
"Shut up."
I smiled maybe they could get along.
What was going to happen when I got into the Ball?
Will they see me and ignore me?
If they talk to me how ill I react to that?
I was in full out freak out moment. Sumire was also not helping by constantly puling at my hair and not letting me see my reflection.
I had a robe on that covered my obvious naked body underneath it. But I didn`t really care since it was just Sumire and Hotaru in my room.
But I was still so nervous I could feel the butterflies in my stomach and my heart pounding in my ears tearing at my chest. What would they think? Why was I invited? I know Hotaru wouldn't have invited me because she would just tell me not waste money on a card. It couldn't have been her parents since they would never have had the permission from the main family to do that. But why would they invite me, they all hate me?
"Stop thinking too much you're going to get brain damage with that idiot brain of yours."
I glared at the girl in front of me. But I could not help but gasp after at how beautiful she looked. Her usual straight boy cut hair was a little puffy and softly curled reaching her ears. Her makeup was a little dark with light brown eye shadow and eyeliner that complimented her eyes with red lipstick staining her lips. Her dress was beautiful though, it was dark violet darker than her eyes with spaghetti straps. It's tight around her chest area and under her chest was a nice design then the dress flowed out to her ankles. With that she topped it off with a necklace and bangles. She looked like a true Royal, and I told her so. Which she smiled a small, small smile at me.
Then frowned and said, "Are you sure you want to do this? I could just say that you weren't feeling well."
I contemplated this but my thoughts were interrupted when Sumire finally yelled, "Done!"
I was quickly turned around and I saw a stranger in the mirror. My hair was pinned up with a pretty diamond sparkly clip. My hair that I died blonde was hanging from the back of my head was curled, with two strands of blonde on either side of my head curled against my face. My bangs were still covering my forehead reaching my eyes but looked really soft to the touch. My face though I had light make up on and with light pink eye shadow a little Smokey, a tiny bit of blush on cheeks and I could taste my favorite cherry lip gloss on my lips. I looked at Sumire in surprise.
She just smiled at me through the mirror. I studied her and could say that she looked just as beautiful as Hotaru. She had light make with almost the same make up as Hotaru but light lipstick and a little blush on her cheeks. Her hair was permed as usual but her bangs were pinned up in a Cleopatra style. Her dress was also beautiful and made her eyes pop out a lot. The dress was yellow and strapless but had two diamond strings wrapped around her neck. It reached her knees and silver linings from her waist going down fading just a little at the end of her dress.
Sumire touched my shoulder and said, "You go show those asses that you are fine without them." I turned to look at Hotaru smiling at me softly. I smiled at them both, "You two are the best friends a girl can ask for."
Laughing Sumire said, "Yeah, Yeah, tell us that once you get through this night. Now go change, stupid."
Still smiling I went to my room to change into my dress.
Maybe I can make it through this night after all.
I couldn't do this.
I was standing in front of the huge Darkinia castle and was feeling like the smallest girl there. Too many ad memories were coming back to me. As we walked in we were lead to the back of the staircase to be introduced to the most important people in all of Aliceanna. It was even more nerve wracking when the people who disowned you were in the crowd as well.
I could feel the sweat on my hands, as I clenched my cloak that covered my dress.
Before I knew it I was at the top. Sumire and Hotaru did not have to be introduced since they were at one of these Balls before and everyone knew them. There were two guys in front of me as I closed my eyes to calm my nerves and went over the advice Hotaru and Sumire gave me.
"Introduce yourself as that you're from Burghal."
"Go to the top stage then take off the cloak."
"By the way you need to tell me where you got your dress from it is gorgeous."
"Steady your breath and walk down calmly."
"Don't you dare trip."
"Also don't forget to smile, idiot"
"Miss."
Abruptly I opened my eyes to look at the announcer person.
He looked at me and rolled his eyes, "Your introduction."
"Oh, um Mikan Sakura from the Kingdom of Burghal."
I walked onto stage slightly wincing from the spotlight. I soundly took off my cloak I was about toliterally run down the stairs.
"Don't you dare run down the stairs, stupid. Let the vultures take a good look at your face. Let them remember your face."
So I took a step back and let them see my face after five seconds of silence I began to panic. Did they not like the dress? It was a beautiful dress; it was light blue and strapless. There was a flowery diamond design on the chest area flowing down all throughout my dress. There was a white scarf that wrapped itself around my stomach to my waist and under my chest. The rest of the scarf flowed out the back curling slightly. The front part of it stopped right at my knees and was long at the back. It was topped off with the necklace; it reached the middle of my stomach. Oh what the hell.
I walked down the stairs with the same smile and left the podium. I heard people clapping from the bottom of the stairs also the cameras clicking and felt nervous. I felt energy flowing from the necklace all of a sudden and felt like I could take on this entire crowd. I was about three step away from the bottom of the stairs and this blinding light could finally come off of me.
When I tripped.
Almost.
I was waiting for the ground to hit me when I felt strong arms wrap around my waist. I looked up to see no one had seen my fall. I looked up to see the face of my savior but couldn't really see anything. The man grabbed my other hand and escorted me down the stairs.
But as I got to the bottom of the stairs and the light came off my I looked up to my savior and had a heart attack.
Natsume Hyuuga.
The Prince.
Aoi's twin brother.
My face must have been good because he smirked at me and let go of me to stand on my own.
"You really are the clumsiest girl I know and you decide to where heels what type of idiot are you?"
I glared at him. "Why did you help me?"
"That would be sad don't you think? Going through all the trouble to help you redeem yourself and then you trip all over yourself," He said in that stupid haughty voice of his.
I could feel my jaw drop to the floor, before I was about to scream out at him. "Nice little show, Hyuuga, would you please elaborate yourself of trying to make it look like your dating each other."
I turned around to find Hotaru and Sumire behind me. Sumire was doing a grin smirk thing while Hotaru was impassive and cold as usual but still looked highly amused.
"Well Imai that is none of your business anyway." I could tell she was going to make another smart comment when he interrupted again, "Matsudaira is coming this way I would hurry up and run if I were you."
At that Hotaru soundly glared at him, looking behind her sure enough seeing a light brown silhouette, running yelling "Cool Blue Sky." People looked at him like he was and idiot and with that Hotaru bolted herself out of there as fast as she could.
But I could not even think of that there was still too much bothering me, I looked at Sumire, "Dating?"
She smirked at the both of us, "Mr. Arrogance here doesn't escort anyone, what do you think that people are thinking now."
I turned to look at the indifferent boy beside me to scream in his face. But the announcements guy came out to announce that everyone should head to the throne room.
The giant door to the side of the room finally opened and people started to make their way to the ballroom. I could no longer see Sumire seeing that she was taken in with the crowd. And I was about to trip.
Again.
An arm shot out and grabbed my waist. I could feel a body forcefully pressed on me from behind and lips on my ear, "I got you, you should change those shoes, but I got you," said Natsume in that husky voice.
This was way weird. What type of person acts so close to a person when they didn't see each other for years? Why was he being so nice? I thought as he brought me to the throne room. I looked forward not daring to look at him. His hands were still tingling on my skin from before now though it felt like electricity was flowing through me again.
I was so focused on the electricity that I didn't see him leading me to the table right in front of the Royal family.
Oh Shit.
I could feel the panic just bubble in my stomach. I looked at Natsume but he was already looking at me, I could see the message in his eyes. "You got this, don't worry." At that second it felt like I knew him, much longer than two weeks. This was really familiar.
The panic settled and I felt warmth when he left me to sit next to his father.
I dragged my chair out and sat down, I was facing my old family and they were all staring at me.
Especially Aoi.
But they weren't my family anymore and they couldn't hurt me.
So I stared right back at them straightening my back to look more like a lady. I was not that scared little girl anymore. I studied them all. My old Grandfather and Grandmother, Mr. Hyuuga and Mrs. Hyuuga, looked like they didn't age at all. Not that I knew their age before. But I figured that they were at least one hundred. I moved over to the King and Queen of Darkinia and could see that they were aging the tiniest bit, with a little bit of gray in their hair. I moved to Natsume who was beside his father and I could feel myself blushing when I took in his simple black coat and piercing red eyes that softened when they caught me staring. He wasn't wearing a tie like the rest of the men though. When he found me studying him though he had the nerve to smirk at me which I glared at him lightly. I moved to look at the Queens side.
Aoi.
She had grown up a lot and looked stunning in her dress that was the same colour as her eyes. The dress she wore had one strap on her left shoulder and a slit was on the side of her dress, she had layers three layers each an inch shorter than the other. Her hair was longer to a little bit pass her shoulders. All of her hair though was tied to the side of her head and curled. With some straight hair on the other side of her face which makes it look a lot more natural. Her makeup was really well done she was wearing light brownish green eye shadow with black eyeliner and red lipstick.
She looked like a princess. And still had that happy sparkle in her eyes, I ignored it though.
On both sides of them was extended family and friends like Hotaru's.
When I realised I was being rude staring at them for too long I, acknowledged them by smiling politely in their direction.
They hid their surprise very well though. Natsume and Hotaru were the only one smirking. I could see the look in Natsume's eyes, "Told ya you could do it." I was so busy staring I didn't feel the random people around me sit down. I looked at the people around me. They were talking about business and obviously didn't care much for me. Though I could feel a lot of people around me glancing at me slightly or more like staring, I wondered why they didn't look away after the glance I sent them.
Ting Ting Ting Ting.
King Ioran was standing and waiting for people to listen to his opening speech. The whole ball quieted down at once anticipating the King's speech. He put down the spoon and raised his glass even higher. Finally he cleared his throat. "I would like to thank everyone today for coming on behalf of the Hyuuga Family. There is a lot of amazing people in this room who more than anything deserve this toast. But we all must keep what is important no matter how much we earn at the end of the year. I remembered just know a girl once implied a few years back that we should never expect a person to be someone else we should appreciate them for who they were and spend time with them no matter how busy we get." At that I could not help but catch my breath a little when I saw him glance at me, "Let us imply that tonight and forever. Cheers."
Everyone around us picked up their glass and yelled "Cheers." But I was too shocked to even reach for my glass. After a few more Cheers for some reason still going around as the air nymphs brought in food really fast almost like magically appearing I silently lifted up my glass and raised it to them smiling.
Silently I thought to myself, Cheers indeed.
The food was simply amazing and after a while people started to move around with them talking to people about business and pretty much anything under the sky. Sumire and Hotaru came to sit by me with their food. Hotaru making fun of Sumire for eating way too many carbs while Sumire agreed with her, but nonetheless kept on eating her food. I could only laugh at them.
Briefly I could feel the tense atmosphere between the Royal family and I dissipate as we got used to the other actually being there.
We still didn't talk to each other though, which I was perfectly fine with. But I was looking for Natsume who was nowhere to be found all of a sudden. But I was interrupted with my eye search when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I jumped and turned to look at the person to see Aoi.
What the hell was going on here?
She smiled slightly at me. "Hello."
"Hello."
"May, I sit down here?" She asked pointing at the seat beside me. I turned to look only to find that Hotaru and Sumire had left the table.
Traitors.
A little flustered I tried to play it cool, "Uh, yeah s-sure," So much for playing it cool. Aoi smiled politely.
"So how are you?"
"I'm doing fine thank you. How about you?"
"Fine, thank you."
We were so formal it was really awkward.
After about five seconds of awkward silence, she finally spoke, "Grandmother and Grandfather really missed you after, you left."
I snorted at that, she whipped her head from the place she was looking at on the table to look at me. "I really doubt it was them that missed me."
She widened her eyes when she realized I understood the meaning over words. But I just smiled slightly at her. She finally got over it and smiled a little soft reminiscing smile.
Softly she said, "You know you changed a lot."
I raised my eyebrows at this and tilted my head in wonder.
"You have a sparkle in your eyes you never had in their before," with that she got up leaving but stopped as I waited for her to say something else. She turned slightly saying, "Nice hair."
As she walked away I could feel myself shaking my head while smiling. We were never going to be the same as before but in a deep level we still understood each other. I thought about the day I died my hair.
I was really depressed about everything when I first entered Alice Academy. So one day I decided I was done so I got Hotaru and Sumire to drive me out to a salon place where a werewolf coloured about two inches of my hair blonde and also a few highlights blonde in the front as well. But the point of it was I was moving on from the person I was in the past and that was why I coloured my hair, to symbolize just that.
After that the announcement guy came again, "The ball is now open in the backyard."
From the throne room there was a glass pane opening to the backyard, where you could see the dance floor that was set up.
I watched with amusement as majority of the teenagers and young adults rushed to get their party on. I was highly amused when I saw Sumire pushing through and the first one on the dance floor as well as a brunette boy who was trying to dance with her from behind. I could already see the migraine that Hotaru was getting from the music when she sat down at the bar with a Bloody Mary.
I walked to the "Ball" as the DJ started to play Let Me Love you by Ne-Yo. Heading over to the bar, I set myself next to Hotaru and order a beer. She looked at me from the corner of her eyes then went back to scanning the crowd. "How was your talk?"
Know she was talking about Aoi I took a sip of my beer and said, "Interesting."
"Hmmmm, I'm going to stop that idiot from doing anything stupid."
I narrowed my eyes as she actually went to do something nice.
"Didn't know you would drink a beer."
I turned to my right and finally found Natsume.
That girl thinks she is so subtle.
"It has been around three years so I think you don't know me as well as you would like to think."
He smirked, "Really, I could say the same to you."
"I didn't ever claim that I knew you in the first place."
After that we went on bickering for a while until I suggested the weirdest thing ever, "Let's play 20 Questions then."
He looked at me like I was and idiot, "Really, 20 Questions."
"Yes we know nothing about each other so we are playing 20 Questions."
"Hn."
"You are so weird I'll go first," I didn't have to think about it at all. "Why did you invite me here today?"
He looked at me with an indescribable expression. What was he thinking? After a while he leaned his head closer to mine, "You will know soon I promise you that. But for now I can't answer that. There are bad things that are going to happen soon."
I was about to retort saying that was not a proper answer when he asked me something unexpectedly, "Will you dance with me?"
As I looked into his eyes I realized that I couldn't hear the music at all until now. They probably went through like five songs.
I couldn't help but say. "Yes."
Natsume smirked at me and took my hand the electricity flowed through his fingers tightened around mine. He could feel it too.
As we reached the middle of dance floor he put one and on my waist and mine rested on his shoulder. A tango started to play and just like that we were moving to it like we had done this a million times before.
It was too familiar.
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
We were doing a tango. It was like my body was moving by itself against him.
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me.
As I turned my back to him and put my hand on the back of his head with his on my waist he finally said, "It's your turn to ask me a question."I bent down on my knees and he was holding my hands over may he as he picked me up and turned me back around with my leg around his waist.
"Why are you acting like this when we just knew each other for two weeks?"
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now.
He rolled my upper body and uncurled me holding one of my hands as the other went flying out then rolling me back into him as he grabbed the flying hand and dipping me. I could feel his lips lightly on my neck. I can feel him move his lips there as he answered my question, "After all of this do you really think we only knew each other for two weeks and then some."
I was brought back up and his eyes pierced through me, "Ask me another question."
Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak
I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
I was turned around again with my right leg sticking out and me bending and leaning on the other. He brought his hand to my knee sliding it up my thigh until my waist and turned me around. We were so close I could almost feel my lips on his, "Why are we doing this?"
I looked into eyes and knew I finally asked the right question, his eyes were so warm to me it was impossible for me to think he wasn't.
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me
When marimbas start to play
Hold me close, make me sway
Like an ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more
"Because we know each other that well."
That was all he said as we circled each other and my feet start to go close to him again. He picked up both my thighs and wrapped it around his waist.
Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me.
We ended our little show with me jumping up with my legs straight, getting off his waist and him dipping once again.
Clapping was heard from all around us but I could only see his eyes and him slowly lifting me. I was breathing heavily as I untangled myself from him, turning to the crowd a tried to play it cool by bowing like we meant to have that little show.
After ten seconds of the two of us standing there awkwardly and him refusing to let go of my hand a slow song came on. People started to go in with partners dancing slowly.
I still hear your voice, when you sleep next to me.
I still feel your touch in my dreams.
Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why
Without you it's hard to survive.
I felt Natsume pull me back in with his hands on my waist. Automatically mine wrapped itself around his neck and leaned my head on his shoulder.
Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.
And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.
I lifted my head off his shoulder and looked into his eyes again. I could suddenly see different images in his eyes.
I was seeing us we were leaning on a sakura tree.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
'Cause everytime we touch, I feel the static.
I am leaning on his back and laughing. But I had a permanent blush on my face from the familiar static.
"Why art thou so good?"
Natsume smirks on my neck wrapping his arms around my waist as he goes back to kissing my neck. "Kissing thou the right places."
I blush and slap him on the thigh. He tightens his arms even more making me gasp in surprise and happiness. "Shall I explore and let thou experience the feel more."
At this point I was beat red and moved my arm to knead him in the stomach extra hard.
And everytime we kiss, I reach for the sky.
Can't you hear my heart beat so...
I can't let you go.
Want you in my life.
Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky.
They wipe away tears that I cry.
The good and the bad times, we've been through them all.
You make me rise when I fall.
"I love you."
"I love you, too. Why?"
Natsume took a deep breath and said something that will ruin the peaceful moment they were in, "I am going to war."
I stood on my knees and turned to face him abruptly, caressing his face I said, "No."
"I have to go I am only a commoner it was bound for this day to come," He said as he pushed my hands away from him.
'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.
And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
'Cause everytime we touch, I feel the static.
And everytime we kiss, I reach for the sky.
Can't you hear my heart beat so...
I can't let you go.
Want you in my life.
"Then I will come with you."
"Your father will never allow it. We have to stop this sneaking out and it has to stop now." Natsume said this to me with a cold expression and I felt my heart break, slowly.
"I hate you."
'Cause everytime we touch, I get this feeling.
And everytime we kiss I swear I could fly.
Can't you feel my heart beat fast, I want this to last.
Need you by my side.
The song ended and I broke out of my trance because it seemed like the only thing I could do.
My Hopeless Love Arrival