Karasu

Summary: A forgotten story and the quest for the hidden pages on familiar grounds with familiar faces, his and her encounter in a different light and a missing Ahiru.

Chapter 7: Valentine Revelation

The events from the other day was still stuck in Ahiru's mind as she played with the ink jar; her chin propped on top of the table, then she sighed, "I wonder why I felt so weak back then."

She sighed again, then, "Karasu!"

"Aah!" Ahiru stood completely surprised, she turned around and saw Pique and Lillie, "Lillie, Pique you scared me."

The two of them laughed but was immediately cut-off.

"Would you please be quiet!" an irritated voice demanded.

Ahiru looked down and saw Aota looking up at them. "We're very sorry" Ahiru apologized.

"Sorry" Pique and Lillie said, then dragged Ahiru out, "Come' on let's get out of here"

"Please be quiet!" Aota snapped.

"Sorry..." the three of them trailed off as they quickly left the library.

Once outside, Pique and Lillie continued to drag her, "Wait, stop. Where are we going?"

Glad that they had finally stopped, Ahiru eyed them as they looked at each other then at her and smiled, "It's Valentine's Day."

"Yes. It is" Ahiru answered, still confused.

"So we're going to find you a boyfriend." Pique continued.

A whole minute passed as Ahiru stared at them, "What? —No."

"Why not? —Don't tell us you already have someone you like," they probed.

Ahiru looked down.

"You have! Who is it, tell us."

"No, no, I don't"

"Then let's find you a boyfriend."

"But, wait—" her protest landed on deaf ears as they began dragging her off again.

Ahiru looked at them in the corner of her eyes and saw determination painted on their faces. She sighed and let herself be dragged off while she rode along with their scheme. Apparently they were walking towards the town square, where she was sure was where her fate for the day will begin.

"Tell us Karasu, what type of guy are you interested in?" Lillie started.

"I don't know, and I don't want a boyfriend" Ahiru replied.

"Don't be like that; I'm sure we can find someone. What about him?" Pique pointed.

Ahiru's eyes followed and landed on a guy with short black hair and a red rose between his lips. "Femio?" she questioned.

"Yes"

"Doesn't he—well—love every girl?"

Silence rose from the three of them as they watched him get run over by a bull and perform him usual stunts. "Come' on Lillie let's—let's look somewhere else."

Lillie and Ahiru nodded. They left the scene and came to school, there they found someone sitting on a bench. "How about Lysander," Lillie said.

"Lillie, Lysander's with Hermia." Ahiru rebuked

Wondering around while pointing to every male they saw and passed they finally decided to rest for a while, "Come' on Karasu, tell us what you're looking for in a guy."

"But I'm not looking for a guy."

Pique and Lillie looked at her, sighed and began stating random names of guys they knew. "What about William?"

"No. He's a junior."

"Adolf?"

"He's a senior."

"Alright, I give up," Pique moaned. Lillie on the other hand continued and Ahiru just kept saying no. As the random names continued they saw Fakir walked by headed for the lake. Lillie and Pique looked at each other and asked, "What about Fakir?"

"W…What are you talking about," she stammered, a blush working up her cheek.

They looked at her with mischievous glint in their eyes, "Ahh— you like Fakir." Lillie declared.

"No—I—I—" Ahiru stopped and looked at Fakirs' retreating form. I like him. Before completely disappearing Ahiru got a glance at what he was holding and slightly paled. She straightened and began searching her clothes, from her pockets to every nook that can be used to carry an item and then it dawned on her that she left the ink jar in the library. She quickly stood up and said, "I need to go now. I'll see you later." in a hurry.

She followed Fakir and came upon him sitting on the grass looking at the distant. She peeked behind a tree and berated herself on how stupid she was in forgetting the ink jar and sighed at the fact that Fakir found it.

She saw him move taking some paper in his lap and then began to open the ink jar. Thoughts on how she wasn't able to open it comforted her but it was soon crushed down when she saw the lid come off and started to glow. At the same time her bracelet spun faster and faster and then suddenly stopped revealing an empty socket, when she looked up the gem was heading towards her followed by Fakir.

Ahiru panicked and began to run; her thoughts consisted on not letting Fakir see her. She ran as fast as she could trying to loose the gem, dodging people coming her way as she rounded every corner she could find. It was no use as the gem continued to follow her with Fakir on its' trail. Soon Ahiru found herself in a dead end, she panted her exhaustion wasn't helping. She leaned on the wall for support as she caught her breath and heard a voice.

"You shouldn't run little duck, he'll find out sooner or later." Allana spoke in front of her.

The gem found her and latched on her bracelet and she began to glow, right then Fakir showed up, "Karasu…" he whispered.

She felt it, how she changed back into her original form just like those times when she transformed into Princess Tutu. Ahiru fell on her knees and saw the wind blew her orange hair. She was back.

"Ahiru…"

She heard him whisper her name. Her real name. She glanced up and saw Fakir staring at her; she slowly stood up and turned her head not wanting to meet his eyes.

"Ahiru.."

She didn't respond.

"Ahiru—" his voice became louder.

She remained silent.

Then, "Ahiru!!" she heard him roar out her name, startled, she looked up at him. She couldn't read his expression, and the next instant she was being pulled by Fakirs' strong hands.

She didn't know where they were going; all she could see was Fakirs' back as he stirred her along the streets. Finally, they stopped. She looked at the structure in front of her and saw that they'd arrived at his house. The door was swung open, and she was all but hauled up the stairs into his room.

He made her sat on the bed and looked at her or more like glared. "Now," he started, "what the hell's going on!?" His gaze was sharp, his words vibrated through the room.

Ahiru gulped and looked at the wall behind him. "I was changed back into a human, but I looked different then I changed again this time I looked like the previous me."

He didn't say anything, she risked a glance—he caught it and held it. His right arm pulled a chair and placed it between them; he sat down never breaking their gaze. A moment passed. "Try again."

When she didn't say anything, he stood up and moved the chair closer; they were all but nose to nose. "From the beginning." The words were said through gritted teeth.

The eyes that looked at her informed that he wasn't gonna let her get away until he's satisfied with her answers. She sighed and began to tell him everything, from when she ran from the lake, to those she met and things she saw, including Allana and her story. She managed to not include the consequence if she failed to collect the pages and Fakir to write her ending. I don't want him to be pressured was what she thought as she looked back on those times that Fakir tried hard to turn her back into a human. As she told him everything she could hear him sigh; sometimes she saw him shake his head clearly disapproving some of the things she'd done.

"Finish her story?"

"Yes, that's what she said."

"Do you have the pages?"

"So you'll do it?"

"No. I just want to see them"

"But —" she looked down, clutched her skirt then stood up keeping herself from sighing in disappointment. He said it so bluntly that she didn't know if he could change his mind, "It's not with me. I'll go get it."

Before she could take another step, both of them heard a crash making them turn.

Note: Yey!! Chapter 7 is up, and Ahiru's back to normal. Now I wonder how I'll continue this. I'm sorry in advance 'cause I won't be updating soon, seriously. Anyway, sorry.