Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed Chapter 13! :) Chapter 14 is about 1000 words, so I'm breaking it up to avoid your eyes from being overwhelmed.

UPDATED: 2/23/15

~YogurtPanda

Chapter 14: A Small Reunion

Ahiru ran through the halls as fast as she could to get away from Fakir. Tears fell from her eyes and dropped on the cold hard floor underneath her. She could hear Fakir's voice yelling for her to stop. Ahiru ran out of the academy into the cold pouring rain. She managed to get all the way towards Ebine's restaurant. As she stopped to catch her breath, she heard the doors of the restaurant open.

"Thank you for coming to try our food! Please come again!" Ebine said with a cheerful voice as she led the customers out. The customers thanked Ebine, took out their umbrellas and went on their way. Ebine was about to go back inside, but then she saw Ahiru.

"What happened to you my dear? You're soaked and cold!"

Ahiru held her arm as she shivered in the cold rain.

Ebine helped Ahiru inside of her restaurant where it was warmer. She sat Ahiru down at a table.

"I'll get you something warm and a towel."

Ahiru watched as Ebine left and looked around the restaurant. She remembered when Ebine would make her food cold and force people to keep eating her food to get them to stay. As Princess Tutu, Ahiru was able to make Ebine continue on with making her husband's recipes with happiness. Ebine came back in the room carrying a towel over her arm and a plate of food on a tray.

"Here you go, dear. Lobster bisque soup with some bread and tea!"

Ebine sat the food down on the table and handed the towel to Ahiru.

"Thank you, Ebine." Ahiru said as she took the towel and began to dry herself off.

"How do you know my name child?" Ebine asked, confused.

Ahiru froze up and tried to think of an excuse.

"Well umm…" "You see…"

Ebine laughed and gave Ahiru a hard pat on the back.

"It's ok dear! I'm sure you heard it around town somewhere!"

Ahiru nodded as she continued to dry herself. When she finished, she began to try some of the lobster bisque. Ahiru's face lit up at the delicious flavor.

"This is delicious…"

Ebine smiled at Ahiru as she was fixing the tables from the other customers. "Thank you, dear. It's my husband's recipe." "He was a really wonderful cook."

Ahiru noticed the warm atmosphere surrounding Ebine, which made Ahiru smile.

"I'm glad Ebine is happy again. I'm sure her husband is too."

"So, what were you doing in the rain, dear?"

Ahiru's smile shortly disappeared as she began to remember earlier. She looked to the lobster bisque soup with sad eyes. Ebine noticed this and went towards Ahiru to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, dear…" "I didn't mean to ask such a silly question."

Ahiru shook her head as tears fell from her eyes.

"I don't know what to do…"

Ebine sat down at the table with Ahiru and asked her to tell her what happened.

Ahiru told Ebine about how she got to her restaurant in the rain and why she was in the rain. She left out anything dealing with Princess Tutu.

"I see…" said Ebine as she listened. "But is that ok with you?"

Ahiru looked to Ebine. "I can't do anything, Ebine…" "I'm not even a great dancer…"

"But you love him, right?"

Ahiru cheeks reddened and Ebine giggled.

"I can tell you love him very much."

Ahiru nodded in response and Ebine took Ahiru's hands in her own.

"As long as your feelings are true, that's all that matters." "We all fall sometimes, but we have to learn to get back up."

Ahiru took in Ebine's words of wisdom and smiled.

"I won't give up on Fakir. I promised to stay with him no matter what!"

Ebine nodded, content with Ahiru's words and got up.

"I have something for you that you might like."

Ahiru watched as Ebine went to the back and pulled out a box. Inside it was a blue leotard, a yellow flower, a pink tutu and a pair of pink pointe shoes.

"You can't dance in a wet ballet suit."

Ahiru smiled and took the box from Ebine.

"Thank you Ebine..." I don't know how to repay you."

Ebine guided Ahiru towards the door.

"Don't worry about it, child. The soup is on the house!"

As Ahiru stepped outside, she noticed it stopped raining. Ahiru smiled with determination as she headed back to the academy.