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"So Kenji said you were too weak to take care of yourself," Nano, Hanadaru's new higesuto, summed up after they reached a sitting chamber to discuss things. Hanadaru nodded.
"I said I could take care of myself for at least three months," she told them. Hanadaru had yet to look at any of the others as she explained what had happened between her and Kenji. "I was so close to winning!"
"Yet, you still lost crybaby," a male voice called into the room. Everyone turned to see a tall grass fairy with short, spiked hair and sharp eyes smirking into the room. He had on a pair of loose short and a open vest with a brown bag across his chest. Hanadaru's cheeks puffed out in rage at the sight of the boy.
"By only a few days!" she cried. "I'd like to see you try to live in the human world for as long as I did!"
Mizume and Tainetsu shared a knowing look. They had seen the two grass fairies argue like this before and knew it was just their way of saying hello. Kenji smiled and walked over to the other kneeled in front of Mizume and took her hand.
"You're so much more beautiful than the last time I saw you, Mizume-sama. I doubt anyone could touch your beauty," he murmured, kissing her hand. Hanadaru stared in shock at the boy's actions. The older fairies' lips thinned as they tried not to laugh at her reaction, the three of them knowing that her reaction was just what he wanted. Rihito stood and bent to talk in the boy's ear.
"I'd advise you to let go of my girlfriend's hand," he said, his voice much deeper than normal. The small grass fairy looked at him with wide eyes, but quickly stood and backed away from the princesses.
"I'm so sorry to have over-stepped my boundaries, m'lord," Kenji bowed deeply. Rihito and Kaito shared a look. Did he really believe them to be princes? Kenji turned back to Hanadaru with his smirk back on his face. "I guess I'll see you later, weak baby."
Hanadaru was about to retort when he disappeared from the room.
"That boy really knows how to use the wood around here," Nano sighed with a shake of her head. The meramids looked at her with wonder. She didn't seem like she would be too old, but Tainetsu had explained that Nano was actually almost 200 years old even though her body looke to be that of 40. She had also tried to explain that grass fairies aged at a slow rate that slows down gradually more until it is impossible to tell their proper age. Nano looked up at the mermaids and smiled. "How about I show you to your rooms so you may put you your things away. Princesses, you may stay in your rooms as usual."
The four nodded and waited for the others to leave for they stood. Tainetsu took the lead as Chisuta and Mizume walked on either side of Hanadaru to make sure she didn't escape. The fairies neared the top of the tree without any trouble. Hanadaru seemed to be confused at what her older sisters were doing, but trusted them. They reached a small door and Tainetsu tried to grab it. The tree seemed to groan as she neared it, so she backed away. With only a glance at the others, she grabbed Hanadaru's shoulder and pushed her towards the door. The tree didn't complain when she ran into it, so the three smiled.
"Told you I could find it," Tainetsu gloated.
"F-Find what?" Hanadaru stammered, nerves catching up to her as she looked at the other princesses predator-like faces.
"This is the entrance to the Bud of Essence Chuwa-sama," Chisuta informed the small fairy. Hanadaru looked at each of the other fairies with fear clear in her eyes.
"Don't worry, Hana. Essence Chuwa-sama is very kind," Mizume tried to reassure the younger fairy. The sixteen year old didn't seem convinced as she nervously glanced at the door.
"Just go," Tainetsu encouraged the little princess with a small nudge towards the door.
"Have courage to go see her while we cannot," Chisuta told her with a smile. Hanadaru took a deep breath to steady herself as she shakily walked through the door. The temperature was greatly warmer in the bright hallway than it was on the other side of the door. Hanadaru took another step towards what looked to be a small white bud on a thin branch. As she walked along, she saw a window and decided to look out. She was at the very top of the tree and could see the entirety of the realm. On the far side of the clearing, she could see several groups of children playing while some of the older fairies watched on. Closer still was all of the buildings and even closer than that was the gardens that most of the grass fairies worked in. The smallest of the fairies prided themselves in the that garden since none of the other realms could grow the magnicient plants that seemed to flourish in the blessed garden. At the sight of her realm, Hanadaru had thoughts of turning around and giving up her ring. She didn't have the courage to go out and do what she wished like any of her sisters, she wasn't as smart as any of them either, and she surely didn't have the control of her elements like they did.
"Miss Hanadaru?" a pair of soft voices called out to her. Hanadaru turned from the window to see two small lights near the bottom of the bud. Hanadaru was curious so she went towards the light, her wings fluttering to hold her up. The lights grew slightly to form sets of wings. The lights dimmed and then burst to reveal two butterflies, one yellow and one green.
"I'm Cho," the green butterfly said in a slightly deep voice.
"And I'm Chou," the yellow butterfly introduced in a higher pitch than her brother.
"Why are you crying Miss Hanadaru?" the two newborn gaurdians asked their mistress. Hanadaru gentley placed the tips of her fingers to her cheeks to feel that they were wet. Hanadaru shook her head and smiled.
"I'm okay," she answered, her voice quiet.
"Hanadaru," a feminie voice chimed. Hanadaru looked up to see the bud had bloomed and a pillar of light was coming from it. The light enveloped her, causing her to transform. She now had on her sun dress and her hair had a light green bud in it. The light cleared slightly to reveal the exact replica of the Essence Chuwa she had worshiped all of her life. Hanadaru dropped to her knees, her butterflies dropping to the ground next to her. "Rise my sweet child."
Hanadaru stood, but did not have the courage to look at the goddess.
"Hanadaru, I see your wish," Essence Chuwa told her softly. Tears came to Hanadaru's eyes as she listened to the beautiful woman above her. "I grant you a new headset."
A green light shown in front of Hanadaru. She extended her hands and took the light, which faded away to reveal a green headset.
"This headeset will grant stability in that which has been shaken by darkness," Essence Chuwa explained to the girl as she put the headeset on. Hanadaru bowed to the goddess as the light completely faded and the flower turned back into a bud.
"Miss Hanadaru?" Cho called his mistress. Hanadaru looked down at her butterflies with a soft smile.
"May we transform and stretch our legs?" Chou finished for her twin. Hanadaru nodded and a soft light engulfed the two animals. When the light cleared, a tall man and woman stood before her. Chou had tassled green hair and knowing green eyes. He had on a light green dress shirt and dark green slacks with a loose black belt around his hips. Chou had long yellow hair and bright yellow eyes. She had on a slim dress with long sleeves and sunflowers covering the soft yellow material.
"I-I thought the guardians had to be trained before they could turn into adults," Hanadaru managed through her shock. Cho smirked at her as Chou decided how to answer.
"We are much older than the other guardians. We have yet to find our true mistress so we have served each of the princess when they become the right age," Chou explained thoughtfully. She then smiled at Hanadaru. "But I feel a connection to you Miss Hanadaru, I believe you are our true mistress."
Hanadaru smiled at the adult guardians and gave them each a hug. The young fairy could not wait to show off her powerful guardians when she saw her friends again. Kenji would be extremely upset to find such strong animals protecting her. The three began to walk back towards the door and to the waiting realm.
Yay! Another chapter! I'm really trying to get this story done because I promised my cousin that I would write an Inuyasha fanfic for her when I finished one of my current stories and since I know where this one is going, this is the one I'm trying to work on. please review!