Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Kimi.
A/N: Technically, I should update my other fanfics, but seeing that this fanfic has reached 80 reviews, I'll have to update for this special occasion! I do hope the reviews keep coming though! I'll be really happy if I break the 100-review record, although that is dependant on you guys! Anyways, without further ado, here's the long awaited chapter!
Last time:
"Make it two weeks Shuuichi," Izumi told his head chef. "We'll be back at the castle in two weeks."
Chapter 14 – Welcome Aboard to Nakatsu Waterlines!
"Prince Izumi," Izumi heard his general call out from the chamber's doorway.
Izumi looked up from his black duffel bag that was full of his personal belongings – a couple sets of clothes, toothpaste, hairbrush, and some other necessities. Minami crossed his arms lazily, leaning into the glossy brown, wooden door. His dark red duffel bag lay beside him on the floor, ready to be picked up and go.
"Yes?" Izumi replied, and signaled the black haired general to come in.
"Two weeks my prince?" Minami walked in casually and asked, a bit astonished that the prince wanted to be out of the castle for that long.
After all, Minami believed it is never a wise thing to have both the prince and king out of the castle at the same time.
'What would happen if a war or invasion were to occur? The citizens would be in turmoil. Really, what is the prince thinking?'
"Yeah, why not?" Izumi answered, and continued packing his shampoo and soap into his unzipped bag.
After all, he could never stand those shampoos and shower gels given for bathroom use in hotels or cruises. The smell almost always left Izumi nauseous and queasy. Who knew what they used in those products anyways? They could've killed countless whales or sea otters just to get their fat! It's way better to stick to the herbal soaps and shampoos, Izumi decided. Who would've thought he were such an environmentalist? Save the oceans and planet people!
"In two weeks, a lot of things could occur," the general pointed out while the prince readied his cruise card.
'Good thing Shuuichi owns the cruise line, so we can get the cards anytime. It would've been a hassle to go through passport check and stuff' Izumi thought happily as he put the cruise card into his wallet, not that he was outwardly expressing his emotions.
Minami unconsciously got out his own cruise card, which like the other cruise cards that were distributed to all the residents in the Left Wing, acted as a key card and debit card. Apparently, Izumi already put in $300 for everyone to have fun on the cruise.
"You're too serious general. I've already written a letter to my father, and he'll be back in duration while we are gone. It doesn't hurt to have fun once in a while right?"
"I never thought I'll hear you say that," Minami said, but still looked unsure.
"Alright. How about this? We'll go for a week. Just a week all right? Geez General Nanba, you really need a break from work."
"And when were you such a carefree person Prince Izumi?"
Izumi looked lost in his thoughts and paused for a short moment. 'Me? A carefree person? Really, I'm not sure either' Izumi realized.
'When did I become so carefree? I used to view the world so negatively and dark, like there's no bright side to life. And yet, when Ashiya appeared, I feel like there's nothing I can't do. I wonder why? How could she have such an impact on me?'
"Prince Izumi?" General Minami tried to get the prince's attention and smiled slightly.
Never in all his years of serving the teenage prince had Minami seen Prince Izumi display such emotions. Before Mizuki Ashiya arrived, Prince Izumi was like a cold person, heart like a stone, so dark and empty. Maybe it's a good change for the prince. Being dark and moody may one day cause the Prince to die before his death time. Okay, bad joke, Minami shook his head.
"Go and see if Ashiya, Nakatsu, Nakao, Sekime, and Noe are done. Tell them to meet me outside in the courtyard if they are done okay? I'm going to go on ahead."
"Okay," Minami said as Izumi walked out the door, his duffel bag in tow.
Izumi walked out to the courtyard, sniffling in the warm air breeze. Sitting down and enjoying the view, he slowly spread his legs out into a v-shape, deep in thought.
It's not as if what General Minami said to him bothered him. Okay, maybe it did, just a bit. For one that is engaged, he definitely should not be having feelings towards another girl right? Princess Mizuki does not deserve such an indecent action. He can't be two-timing her.
'But why is it that Princess Mizuki and Mizuki Ashiya share the same name? Isn't Princess Mia's last name Ashiya? Is it that normal for a princess and a commoner to share the same name and surname?' a part of his mind reminded him.
Rolling over to his side, he could feel the leaves blowing in the now harsh wind. At least the sun was still shining bright and warm.
'Why indeed,' he pondered. An overlapping image of the little Princess Mizuki and Mizuki the chef appeared in his mind.
"Perhaps, they are the same person?" he whispered to himself then shook his head.
'No that couldn't be. No matter how much they resemble each other, even to the point of sharing the same name, that couldn't be possible. I haven't seen Princess Mizuki for so many years that seeing a girl with the same name and similarity just makes me think it's her. After all these years, I still have a soft spot for Princess Mizuki don't I? But then, what does Mizuki Ashiya mean to me? Why do I always think of her instead of a three-year-old girl I've always wished to meet again?'
Hazel brown eyes met with chocolate brown eyes.
"Princess Mia?" Izumi mumbled, his eyes in a half daze.
Mizuki's heart stopped. 'He realized the truth? No, it's too soon!' her mind screamed. 'Is he going to be mad at me?'
Izumi caressed her cheek with his left hand gently.
"Mia," she heard him say. "Princess Mia, I missed you so much. I'm sorry I couldn't keep the promise we made."
'Promise we made? What in the world is he talking about? And he called me Princess Mia. No one but my close friends and family call me that. But I don't recall meeting him before disguising as a guy?'
"What promise?" she shook him gently while the other guys ran frantically about to get their prince some ice cold water to drink, thinking that he passed out from the hot air.
"Eh? Ashiya?" Izumi pushed her off him and got up.
"You, are you all right?" Mizuki exclaimed.
"I was just dizzy a moment ago. Did I pass out from the heat?"
"Oh, was it? You have to take better care of yourself Prince Izumi!"
"Prince Izumi!" the rest of the group called.
"Are you alright?" General Nanba inquired, handing the prince an ice pack.
"Um thanks, but I think I'm fine guys?"
"It's just a heat stroke," Mizuki told the others.
"Let's get going then," Sekime said.
"Welcome to the cruise!" Rio greeted the group in a sailor uniform. "I'll be your guide during your trip!"
"Why are you here," Shuuichi asked.
"Of course, it's because I'm your tour guide!" she twirled her dress around prettily. Sekime and Noe looked in awe, their jaws dropping in an o shape.
"Not you, him!" Shuuichi said, pointing rudely to a suntanned Hokuto Umeda. "And where'd you get that suntan?!"
"Oh this?" Dr. Umeda grinned. "It's called a suntan lotion. It washes right off with water. That way, I can be tan or pale when I want!" he proclaimed.
"Can we not change the subject?" Shuuichi complained, frowning.
"Well, you were the one who changed it yourself," Dr. Umeda told the guy.
"Your room isn't under reconstruction, so why the hell are you here?"
"The same reason Rio is here."
"You're our tour guide?" Shuuichi asked.
"No, my family is in charge of your food services. And you, heir to the Nakatsu Waterlines, does not know this?"
Minami and Sekime snickered. Nakatsu blushed an interesting pink shade, embarrassed.
"Well, I don't go home often!" he reasoned. Dr. Umeda gave him a 'yeah right' look.
"I know," Dr. Umeda replied. "Or else you wouldn't have been Prince Izumi's playmate since he was 7 years old."
'I wonder how a 7 year old Prince Izumi would be? Wait, why am I fantasizing a cute little black haired version of the cold prince? Him smiling happily taking my little 3-year-old self, running across the courtyard. Ow!! My head hurts' Mizuki clutched her head in her hands.
A worried expression crossed Izumi's face. He supported her weight and helped her along with Rio to an unoccupied bench.
"Mizuki?" worried voices spoke to the princess in disguise.
'What was that about?' Mizuki wondered.
"Are you alright?" Shuuichi asked with evident concern in his voice.
"Would you like a cold drink?" Sekime and Noe offered.
"No thanks, I'm all right," she assured them.
Izumi briefly put a hand to her forehead and felt his own with his free hand.
"You have a fever," he proclaimed. "Rest."
"But I'm all right!" she insisted.
"Be a good kid and go to bed. Where's the room key?" Izumi asked Rio.
"It's the card," Rio reminded him helpfully. "But I hope you don't mind sharing a room with your chef since we are out of rooms," Rio said.
"I don't mind," Izumi answered, surprising the rest of the group. Surely, they thought he'd oppose sleeping in the same room as another guy. Simultaneously, they thought –'The prince is full of surprises today. Next thing we know, he might start doing the cha cha cha.'
"Well come aboard to the best water airlines – Nakatsu Waterlines! Please enjoy your week with us!" Rio greeted the group happily.
"Okay, I'm off to sun tanning guys," Dr. Umeda informed the teenagers and walked into the elevator. "Don't you want to take Ashiya up to your room?" he asked Izumi.
A/N: Yay! Izumi and Mizuki share a room! Many surprises to come…So keep tuning in and review! The more ppl review, the more enthusiastic I am to write! ^.^
Flamingbunnies: Hey there! Since you haven't been on a cruise I'll do my best in describing it for you so you can imagine it! ^.^