"MOM?" I exclaimed as Aaron shushed me, "But she hasn't contacted us in years!"

"Taryn she contacted us last year." Deena replied.

"Oh." I looked at the folded piece of paper in my hands. No one was paying attention to me now. Miro and Aaron were busy talking, and Deena had fled to her room while she had the chance. I opened the letter and began reading.

Miroto, Hazel and Deenatura,

My darling children how I miss you all! My have you all grown! Especially you Deenatura, one of the youngest chunin in the village! But isn't that expected of a Macerra? And Miro becoming an Anbu, how proud your father is of his only son. Hazel, well not much to say considering you've always been top of your class. I hope all is well in Konoha. Anyway Link is on a mission in the Hidden Mist Village right now which leaves me on my own; which always makes me think of you. I need you home my children. There have been rumors of sound ninja searching for our royal land, and its been leaked that they've found a way. Oh hurry home to defend you're land as prince and princesses.

Love always, Sephora Macerra

"No no..." I whispered then looked up at my cousin and brother who had focused their attention on me.

"Now Princess-" Aaron pleaded but I silence him.

"I won't go." I declared, "Not now, not ever. This is my home now." Miro's eyes went wide, and Aaron shot me a glare.

"The queen has ordered your return home, Princess Hazel." said Aaron sternly, "She means all of you."

"She can wait."

"Queen Sephora won't."

"Yes she will." I spat and shot a glare at Miro who had said nothing, "Why aren't you doing anything about this?" He shook his head.

"There's nothing I can do Taryn..." He responded as he took a seat at our kitchen table. I stared at him in disbelief. "Mom wants us home."

"Hazuki's party is in two days!" I shouted, "No! No I won't. Not until the school year is over." Aaron looked at me confusingly.

"But none of you go to school," He replied.

"Doesn't matter." I answered. I needed time. "What about Reina, Miro? And Deena just got her first real boyfriend... and Kiba..." My older brother sighed and turned to Aaron.

"Tell the Queen, we will return once a real attack has been set on the kingdom." He told Aaron who nodded silently, "Taryn is right, we can't just drop our lives here. If it's only a rumor, it might not be true."

"Yes Prince Miroto..." Aaron said, "Good day, to you Princess. I hope to see you soon." He did a few quick hand motions, and disappeared. I looked at Miro who sat at the table with his hands covering his face. Something was wrong, not just the fact that we would be leaving here.

"Miro...?" I asked as I walked over to him, "You okay?" He looked at me, and walked up to his room. I didn't move, and soon he was back downstairs with a small black box in his hands. He opened it and inside was a beautiful, expensive diamond ring.

"This was for Reina. I know we're young, but we've been together for four years now." He replied as my jaw dropped and tears began to pour down my face. "Don't cry Taryn..." He said as he closed the box.

"But... you can't leave now! That must've cost a fortune!" I exclaimed. He shook his head, but I spoke some more before he could. "You love her, you can't leave Miro, never." He said nothing so I ran up the stairs, but not to my room.

"Deena we can't leave!" I exclaimed as I bolted into her room. I stopped when I saw her pulling out her pink suitcase. She dropped it on the ground immediately. "You're not... gonna go home are you?" She sighed and shook her head.

"No... but I don't want to be here. What if they come back? If I go somewhere else they won't find me." She mumbled.

"But you'd be leaving either way." I said as she began to laugh.

"Guess you're right," She said as she pushed her bag back into the closet, "Didn't think it out to much. I just don't want to leave."

"None of us do." I replied and sat down next to her on her bed, "Did Miro tell you?"

"Tell me what?" She asked.

"He was going to propose to Reina." I answered, and Deena gasped.

"Really? They're so young though!" She responded. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Not really she just turned seventeen and he'll be eighteen this summer." I said, "People get married here early, and an engagement is normally about a year or two long."

"That's true." Deena said as she got up and paced around her room. "What if we could do something about it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know actually... but I wish we could." She answered with a groan.

"Me too..." I said, "He can't propose then just leave. He has to tell her."

"Are you insane?" Miro exclaimed in frustration. He was losing it I could tell considering he normally was calm and collected. Now he was pacing around, and having random outbursts.

"Miro you need to listen to us!" I shouted back as he mumbled something under his breathe. "Just tell her! If you marry her, she'll have to know anyway, right?" He didn't answer so I continued, "Of course I'm right! And you love her and you'll never meet another girl like her." Miro sighed and sat down.

"You're right Taryn," He replied, "But when do I do it?"

"Why are you asking me?" I asked and looked at Deena who stood next to me holding Ari silently.

"Just take her out on a dinner date, then..." Deena trailed not knowing what to say next. I suddenly got a bright idea. I looked outside and saw the sun setting which meant it was the perfect time; how had I not thought of it before?

"Miro, we want to show you something." I replied with a big smile.

"We do?" Deena asked and put Ari down.

"Yes." I grabbed Miro's hand and lifted him out of the chair. "C'mon."

I had him close his eyes the whole way there, and Deena pushed on his back to lead him in the right direction in case I lost grip with him. Deena kept asking where we were going the entire time but I said nothing. When we reached the edge of the forest she smiled and nodded with a small giggle. We led him through the trees until we reached the clearing.

"Open," Deena replied as we released our holds on him. Miro opened his eyes, and smiled.

"I recognize this place..." Miro mumbled as he took some steps forward, "Wow somebody fixed this up real nice." Deena and I looked at each other and shared a smile. This was our meadow; where Kiba and I shared a quiet dance, and where Deena came with Shikamaru to watch the clouds. It was the most romantic spot in Konoha if you knew where it was.

"So take her here, casual picnic." I explained, "She'll never see it coming but make sure it's around this time since the meadow lights come on. Maybe dance with her in the gazebo, give her a flower."

"You know, romantic stuff." Deena added and I nodded, "Then just get down on one knee-" Miro's laughter cut her off.

"I know how to do the rest." He replied and turned to us. He suddenly hugged us at the same time. "You two are the best sisters in the world."

All of the drama and excitement of my mother's letter, and Miro's proposal had occupied my thoughts of Kiba. I had told him earlier at Leyah's that I'd meet him later. Well it was later, and I didn't contact him. Hazuki's party was in two days now and I hadn't begun to set anything up yet with the exception of the music system. Now here I was, in my room all alone. I got up from laying on my bed and walked over to my closet. I dug through my clothes until I found a wooden box. I looked around to make sure no one was watching me. I peeled off the taped paper on top to reveal an engraved word on the lid; Symphonia. I lightly dusted it off before opening it. Inside was a necklace, a doll of myself, and a music machine. The necklace was a simple gold chain with a gold music symbol as the charm. The music was a sign of the sound village, and Symphonia (which comes from the word symphony). I looked at the replica of myself and said,

"I remember you." I gently placed the doll in my hands and twirled it around. The doll had my long, brown natural curls that reached my lower backside, with a silver tiara on top of her hair. The same dress I wore was on her body, and looked like Cinderella's with it's powder blue color. The woman who had made me this doll included my hazel eyes, pink cheeks, and cherry red lips. Miro and Deena had one, too, but kept them at the castle when we left. The music player was a small princess and prince dancing. I turned the key in the side, and they began to spin in circles as my favorite lullaby played in the back round. Hazel was engraved on the side in gold. I didn't notice I was crying until a tear splashed onto the princess. I quickly put the items away, and wiped my tears.

"Hey Taryn!" Deena's high voice yelled from outside my room. I opened the door to see her smiling brightly. "I just talked to Kat!"

"What did she say?" I asked.

"She said Miro already asked her out on a date for the night of Hazuki's party!" My sister yelled then added a squeal, "Kat is so excited!" I smiled.

"That's good." I replied, and Deena's smile faded.

"Something wrong? Have you been crying?" She asked as she stepped through my doorway. I shook my head.

"N-No I was just looking through some old things from the castle." I replied. Deena suddenly glanced over my shoulder, and smiled.

"Well cheer up because you have a visitor." She replied and jerked her head behind me. I turned around to see Kiba standing at my balcony door waving to me. I forced a smile when I turned back to Deena. "I'm going, I'm going!" She exclaimed and threw her hands in the air. When she left I opened the doors for Kiba.

"Hey there," He said and walked in.

"Hey."

"So what was the emergency?" He asked curiously as he scanned my room.

"Nothing," I said, "An old family member came by."

"That's nice."

"Yeah."

We stood there in silence for I'm not even sure how long. It felt like an eternity. I was searching my brain for a conversation starter but I was coming up blank. I never had an awkward moment with him before, and now I was stuck. I rocked back, and forth on my heels impatiently kicking myself inside

"So... what brings you here?" I asked. What a stupid question. He raised an eyebrow, and the corner of his mouth lifted a bit into a grin.

"Well you said we would hang later..." He replied, "Is this not a good time?"

"No no! It's fine I'm not doing anything." I answered in defense, "I was just caught off guard that's all." What I really mean is, I didn't think of what I was going to say to you yet about Ino. I smiled to show him how pleased I was that he was here, but he didn't seem to buy it.

"Do you want help setting up for the party?" He asked, "Doesn't seem like you've started yet."

"Sure except I have to run to the market for snacks and stuff. It's kinda boring so-" I began but he cut me off.

"No I'll come, it won't be boring as long as I'm with you." He said and took me hand. I flinched as I looked up at his face. He kissed me gently but after a few seconds he started to hold me tighter. I pulled away quickly.

"Uhm we should probably go..." I responded and opened my bedroom door, "Deena! I'm going to the store!" There was no answer, so I looked into her room down the hall. Empty. Oh well, that was the least of my worries right now.

As if the day could get even more complicated, we ran into Katsuye on the way to the market.

"Omg Taryn!" She exclaimed totally ignoring Kiba beside me, "Can you believe it?"

"Believe what?" Kiba asked.

"Miro's going to propose to Reina!" She exclaimed quietly to my boyfriend.

"Wow really? That's great!" He said then turned to me, "How come you didn't tell me?"

"Must've slipped my mind." I replied and turned away.

"Well I gotta be going," Kat replied, "Going to get the cake for the party. You're getting the food right?" I nodded, and my best friend smiled. "Good! See you around!" And with that she was already gone.

"Hey," Kiba replied then turned me to him, "What's going on? You're being... weird. Do you not want them to get married?"

"Of course I do!" I shouted and slapped him in the arm. Miro's going to tell Reina about our secret... I have to tell Kiba before he hears it from someone else... Suddenly Ino's face flashed into my mind. "Did he tell you he loved you yet?" "No secrets right?... all of his talk, lies."

"Taryn?" Kiba asked as he snapped his fingers in front of my face, "Hey what's wrong?" I have to tell him.

"We have no secrets, right?" I asked. He looked surprised but nodded. "Well before I ask you one of yours... I have to tell you something about me." I took a deep breathe before continuing, "I'm-"

"TARYN!" Someone shouted from behind me, and I sighed. Oh thank god...

"Tye we're kinda in the middle of something..." Kiba said irritably. I ignored Kiba and turned to Tye. He was running so fast he knocked into me but I caught him and myself.

"What Tye?" I asked. He was panting pretty hard.

"Its-your sister-she's-hurt." He said through intakes of breathe.

"D-Deena?" I mumbled.

"C'mon-you have to-see." Tye said and took off running.

"Fuck my life." I mumbled as I ran after him with Kiba right behind me.