A/n: Here's the next chapter

A/n: Here's the next chapter! (Remember, there will be ooc-ness in this story so don't sue me if the characters aren't acting like themselves!)

I DO NOT OWN GA

--

Chapter Ten: The Journey part II: Stargazing and a Dream

"Wake up! Wake up, everyone! The first star is out!" Queen Rhiana's voice broke into the four ladies' thoughts.

"Really?" Mikan asked sleepily.

Rhiana nodded. "C'mon. You've all been sleeping all day!"

"Sure." Hotaru got up.

"We are supposed to go stargazing tonight." Anna stood as well.

"And it's already time for that!" Rhiana cried. "So hurry! We're missing it!"

"Yes ma'am!" Nonoko blurted out. The five ladies hurried out the door.

--

Ruka paced restlessly around the cabin shared by his three best friends and him. "Natsume, can you please get up now?"

"Hn."

"Natsume. You are going to miss the stargazing activity," Yuu stated.

No reply.

"Natsume, get up now!" Koko half-shouted.

"Why should I?" He shot back calmly.

"You sister wants you to come," Ruka answered.

"My sister, my sister. It's always about my sister! My sister, the queen, wishes it. My sister wants me to do it. My sister, the queen. Rhiana Hyuuga, Queen Rhiana! Why can't I have any say in it?!" Natsume yelled. "And now I'm going to marry that witch that calls herself the princess of France! Enough is enough! I can't take this!"

The three friends were taken aback by Natsume's words. They stood there gaping. Their brains searched for the proper words to say. They came up with nothing.

"Well? Isn't anyone going to say anything about my sister?" Natsume glanced at each boy in turn. "No one? Well, then, I'm going out for awhile. See you later." With that, Natsume stomped out.

"Natsume isn't acting like himself," Koko finally remarked.

"Yes," Yuu agreed, "since when has he ever lost his temper with us?"

"Poor Natsume," Ruka murmured. "He's been acting like this since Alicia disappeared."

They were silent.

"But anyway," Koko suddenly said, "we should go. Natsume will be back later. Right now, we need to cover for him. Rhiana will be angry if we don't come up with a good excuse."

"But—"

"But nothing, Yuu. We need to go now. And no, Ruka, we can't go looking for Natsume."

Yuu and Ruka exchanged glances. How does he keep doing that?!

"It's a secret." Koko smiled.

--

"Wow! It's so pretty!" Mikan cried.

"Don't get too excited Mikan," Rhiana said, "there's more coming."

"Yes, baka. Now get me a paintbrush from the storage room," Hotaru commanded.

"Whyy?" Mikan asked.

"Just get it, baka. I need it for this new invention of mine."

"Hotaru, you're so mean!" But Mikan ran to the storage room anyway.

Anna stared at the retreating figure. "If she hates running errands like that so much, why does she still do it?"

"Yeah," Lady Sylvia seconded, "why does she?"

"No idea," Nonoko replied.

--

"Hotaru is so mean!" Mikan whined. "Why does she do this to me?!"

She pulled open the storage room door.

"What are you doing here?"

"Who's there?" Mikan looked around. "Hyuuga!"

"That's Prince Natsume, idiot."

"Why you!"

"Ssh." Natsume looked around. "I have no idea what you're doing here but you have to be quiet. I'm hiding."

"Why?"

"None of your business."

"Whyyy? Tell me!"

"I said none of your business."

"You're as mean as Hotaru!"

"Hn."

Mikan looked to her left spotted the extra paintbrushes. Rhiana liked painting so she always brought painting materials with her. She took one. "Anyway, Prince Natsume, I only came here to get a paintbrush for my best friend. So now that I've got one, I'll go now."

"Don't tell anyone that I'm here."

"Too late, Black Cat, I'm telling everybody!"

"Don't you dare!" He threw a palette at her.

"Ah! NATSUME, YOU'RE A JERK!!" And she slammed the door.

Natsume stared at the closed door. "Idiot."

--

"Hotaaaarrruuuuu!" Mikan cried. "I've got it!"

"Not so loud, baka." Without another word, Hotaru took the paintbrush.

"You're mean."

"I know." She faced Mikan. "Now leave me alone."

"Hmph." Mikan looked around and saw Ruka, Yuu and Koko. "Hey!"

"What?" Ruka asked.

"I know where Natsume is," she whispered once she was near enough.

Ruka blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah. He's in the--"

"Ruka! Yuu! Koko! There you are!" They turned to see Rhiana. "You certainly took your time. Ah, Mikan, why don't you come here first? As for you three, where is Natsume?"

Yuu glanced at Mikan. "He's…sleeping."

Koko nodded in agreement. "Yes. That's it. Natsume's sleeping."

"Really now." Rhiana crossed her arms. "Probably another excuse. Anyhow, he's off the hook this time. Come, you're already late enough as it is."

--

After hours of gazing at the stars, the group slowly started to fall asleep. First to fall asleep was Koko, followed by Anna, Nonoko, Ruka, Hotaru, Yuu, Mikan, Sylvia and Rhiana.

The storage room door slowly opened and Natsume crept out. He gingerly closed the door.

Then, in the darkness of the night, he made his way to his cabin.

--

"Princess Alicia! Alicia has disappeared!" Lady Kayla was dripping wet. "Alicia! I looked everywhere! Please!!" And she collapsed on the floor.

"Kayla!" I ran to her.

"What happened?" my mother, the queen, asked worriedly. "Lady Kayla!"

We brought her to a warm room.

She woke up three hours later. "Alicia?"

"Kayla, she isn't here," I said, "what happened?"

"She isn't here?! No!!" Kayla started crying.

"Kayla, listen! What happened?"

She sighed and tearfully told me everything.

"You're joking…please tell me you're joking," I begged.

"No…" My mom murmured. She had been standing in the shadows. Then she burst out crying. My dad embraced her. I left the room and entered Natsume's. He was fast asleep. He never knew anything was happening.

Little brother, I thought, if only Alicia would return before you wake.

The image suddenly faded. Where am I? I saw myself with Natsume. I was in my chambers.

"She is dead, dead Rhiana! Our sister will never come back!"

"She is alive, Natsume! I can feel it! Don't test my patience!"

"Alicia is gone, sister! When will you realize that?!"

"She is gone but neither is she dead! She will come back, just you wait!"

"For heaven's sake, Rhiana, I respect you in every way, but listen to me when I say this: Alicia Hyuuga is dead!"

"Yes," I suddenly answered. "You're right. She is." No! What are you doing?! She's alive! Alive!

"Rhiana! Wake up!"

"Huh?" Rhiana opened her eyes. The four ladies along with Ruka, Yuu and Koko were in front of her. "What?"

"You were talking in your sleep," Ruka said.

"More like shouting," Anna muttered. Jeez, Ruka…

"Did you have a nightmare?" Mikan asked.

"Wait, what was I saying?' Rhiana inquired.

"Stuff about Alicia," Yuu answered.

"Ohh." She was silent. "Sorry for the scare," she finally said.

"It's okay." Nonoko smiled.

"It can happen to anyone," Hotaru told her emotionlessly.

"Especially with what you've been through," Koko added.

"Thanks." Rhiana looked over the railing of the ship. The sun was still rising.

Later, Rhiana told the group to wait for her to return. She opened a cabin door.

Natsume was sleeping soundly, just like he was during Alicia's disappearance.

--

A/n: At least this chapter was longer.

Please review!

Next Chapter: The Princess of France

/Sakura\