The Princess of Sakura Kingdom: Chapter 9

...xXx...

"Thank you for helping us, Prince Akira," the Principal thanked Akira.

Akira nodded with a smile. "You're welcome."

"Narumi-sensei, please lead Prince Akira to his room," the Principal ordered Narumi-sensei, who nodded in reply.

"See you, Serio-nii-sama," Akira bid, and Serio nodded.

When Akira and Narumi-sensei left the office, the Principal bowed toward Serio. "Prince Serio, about Princess Mikan's incident, once again, we truly apologise about it."

"Just keep in mind that no harm will come to my little sister anymore," Serio stated at once, and the Principal immediately replied, "Understood."

...xXx...

Akira hummed after looking around his room. "Narumi-sensei…"

"Yes?"

"I don't think I need this room."

Narumi blinked, confused. "Then, where are you going to stay?"

Akira smiled. "In Mikan's room, of course. We were always together since we were born. I will only stay here for around two or three months, so I don't think it's necessary to give me a new room."

"If you insist, then it's up to you, Prince Akira," Narumi-sensei agreed as he smiled at Akira and made their way to Mikan's room. When they reached Mikan's room, he left Akira with, "Just call us when you need something, Prince Akira."

Akira thanked Narumi and closed the door. He scanned the room and found a blue envelope at Mikan's desk. He immediately took the letter.

Akira,
How have you been, my sapphire? Okaa-san misses you a lot. Even though both of you are twins, you were born before Mikan. Please take care of her and yourself as well. Enjoy your day at Alice Academy, and don't forget that Okaa-san loves both of you.
Your mother,
Yuka

I love you, too, Okaa-san, Akira thought with a smile.

"Good morning, class," Narumi-sensei chirped happily, and his students replied him with a plain, "Morning."

"All right, please pay attention." Narumi-sensei clapped his hands. He sweat dropped when the students glared at him instead. Nonetheless, he began, "All of you must already know what happened yesterday."

The class went silent at once and finally paid their attention to Narumi.

"The one who helped us yesterday was Akira Sakura, Princess Mikan's twin brother, who will join us today."

Akira stepped into the class and faced the class with a smile.

The girls admired him with hearts in their eyes and some of them even fainted from the excitement.

"My twin sister Mikan is taking a rest for a while because of a reason that all of you know," Akira began while coldly staring at Sumire and her comrades who immediately went rigid. Gazing at the class, he went on, "For the time being, I'm taking her place. Nice to meet you."

Just when the class was about to greet Akira, they froze instantly, for they saw Serio Sakura who stood before the door. Akira looked at his older brother, and then, Narumi-sensei. After receiving a nod from Narumi-sensei, Akira smiled and left the classroom with his older brother.

As soon as both were far from the classroom, Serio began, "I'm going back now. Father asked me to leave a few guards with Mikan. I know you won't need it, but Mikan will need it later." Gazing at his younger brother, he patted his shoulder. "Take care of Mikan and yourself."

Akira nodded his head with a smile and handed two letters to his older brother. "Have a safe trip, Serio-nii-sama."

With that said, Serio vanished before his eyes, and he walked back to the class.

As soon as he reached the classroom, the girls, with hearts in their eyes, chorused, "Welcome back, Prince Akira."

Akira smiled in reply, making the girls faint.

Narumi-sensei started, "Okay, about your partner—"

"Mikan's partner will be my partner, so you don't have to pick new partner for me, Sensei," Akira cut in.

The class quickly looked at our fire caster, who was still reading his manga.

"Whatever," he rasped.

"Then, you will sit next to him also, Prince Akira," informed Narumi-sensei.

Akira nodded.

Narumi-sensei faced his students. "Free period for all of you, adieu!"

After Narumi-sensei walked out from the class, all, but Hotaru, girls started gathering around Akira. However, in a blink of an eye, he was nowhere to be found.

...xXx...

This place sure is relaxing… Akira thought with closed eyes.

"Why are you here again?" asked Natsume, who had approached him and sat down by his side.

Without opening his eyes, Akira replied, "Is it wrong for me to be here? This sakura tree is not yours, Hyuuga."

Natsume chose to ignore him and started reading his manga.

"This is the place where you and Mikan spent time together," Akira stated.

Did he know what I did a few weeks ago? Natsume thought, feeling a little panic.

"I know what you did," Akira said as if he had read his thought, making Natsume stop reading his manga altogether. Akira opened his eyes and stared at him. "Whatever you do, just don't make her cry, Hyuuga. The one who loves her is not only you."

"Hn," Natsume replied him. I won't make her cry because she's the one I love the most.

"Akira," called a violet-eyed girl who suddenly appeared before them.

The boys looked up at her. Akira smiled. "Ru-chan, what is it?"

Hotaru only gave him 'I-need-to-talk-with-you' look. Akira sweat dropped before standing up. "See you around, Hyuuga."

Turned out, Hotaru wanted to discuss what she had been doing with him.

"I'm almost done with the research," Hotaru began and typed something on her keyboard. After a few seconds, the floor split into two and a bed containing an artificial body which was covered by glass rose up.

Akira was not surprised to see the artificial body that looked exactly like him. "I thought you will finish this artificial body after we graduate from this academy."

Hotaru looked at him. "Well, is it wrong for me to finish it early?"

Akira shook his head and smiled. "Not at all. It's just… you're really a great inventor, Ru-chan."

"After five years of research, I finally can create one."

"When are you going to finish it?"

"In one or two month's time, I need to make sure that this artificial body is healthy for you."

Akira nodded at her gratefully. "Thank you, Ru-chan."

"You don't have to, it's just payback," Hotaru said and typed something to return everything to normal. Besides, I'm not alone. Everyone at Imai Kingdom also worked hard to create a perfect artificial body for you, Akira.

"Payback?" asked Akira, confused.

After two years coming to this school, she could finally do her own research and decided to create an artificial body for Akira. What Mikan and the Sakura Kingdom did for their kingdom wouldn't be enough to pay them but at the very least, she wanted to help Mikan. The princess who helped their kingdom a lot after the war and who cried for their kingdom.

"Princess Hotaru, are you sure about this idea?" Amanatsu, one of her assistants, asked.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Amanatsu looked at the other assistants, and they, too, nodded. She smiled at Hotaru. "Count us in."

Students were not allowed to have any contact with their family and friends. But since she was a princess and their kingdom was Sakura Kingdom's only ally, she got special treatment. It sounded unfair to other students, but she was really grateful for it.

"Yeah, it's payback," Hotaru repeated and gazed at Akira. For saving our kingdom.

Akira shrugged his confusion off and smiled at Hotaru. "Well, thanks for the information, Ru-chan."

"You're welcome," Hotaru replied and continued her work.

Seeing this, Akira left her alone and went back to his or Mikan's room. With the artificial body, Mikan won't have to share her existence with me.

...xXx...

Narumi-sensei began, "Class, I need to inform all of you, the Christmas Ball is coming in two week's time. Please choose which team you want to join and don't forget to get a partner for the ball."

The students started talking to each other and prepared a plan for the ball.

Mikan… Natsume thought while reading his manga. Of course, he wouldn't say it to the world that he really missed his brunette. One month without her was like hell for him, and worst, he couldn't complain anything about it since Mikan had to take a rest, and now, he was going to be alone for Christmas.

Unknown to him, Akira and Hotaru was planning something for him.

"Akira, the artificial body will be ready before the Christmas Ball," Hotaru informed. 'I can't stand that idiot's face. He misses her but won't say anything.'

Of course, she also missed Mikan, so she worked even harder so that the artificial body would be ready before Christmas. "I think it's time to tell Mikan about this, I already informed Uncle Izumi, and he leaves everything in my hands."

Akira nodded. "Thank you, Ru-chan."

'I should be the one saying that, Akira.' Hotaru watched Akira's retreating figure and smiled to herself.

"Please go back to Sakura Kingdom and give this letter to my father," Akira said as he handed a blue envelope to the head of the guards.

"As you wish, Prince Akira," the head of the guards said, and within seconds, a very dark cloud came and surrounded them before the guards disappeared from the sight.

"Why did you send them back?" Natsume asked with an uninterested tone.

Akira smiled. "We're not going to need them anymore."

"Please send back your guards to your kingdom as well, Natsume." Without waiting for an answer, he left Natsume alone and went back to his, or Mikan's, room. As soon as he arrived there, he called his twin sister out. A gush of wind came and surrounded him, and a sakura symbol appeared beneath him. Slowly, a mirror appeared within the symbol. As soon as he touched the mirror, Mikan appeared within the mirror.

"Mikan…" Akira called softly.

Mikan slowly opened her eyes. "Akira…"

"Have you had enough sleep, my twin sister?"

"Yeah…" She rubbed her eyes to get rid the sleepiness. "Why are you calling me?"

"I have good news for both of us." He smiled. "Hotaru is almost done with the artificial body, so before Christmas, I will have my own body." When he saw Mikan's sad face, he assured, "Don't worry; even though we no longer share the same existence, I'll always be with you."

"I know." Mikan smiled.

"I have a plan."

Mikan tilted her head. "A plan?"

Akira chuckled. "Yeah, a plan. Well, it's more like a surprise..."

"What for?"

"For him, of course. Don't you miss him?"

Mikan blushed but still asked, "So?"

"Well, my plan is that both of us will attend the Christmas Ball together."

Mikan's eyes widened. "Christmas Ball?"

Akira grinned. "Yep, there is a Christmas Ball in two weeks' time."