Sorry for the super late update guys! I've been busy studying for my classes and I just didn't have time to update. Also, I've been fascinated by the hot British-Irish boy band, ONE DIRECTION! I'm just in love with them lol. Anyway, I just turned 20 this past April 9 and I passed all my classes with a 4.0 this semester. YEY!. My current gpa is 4.15 right now, which is absolutely amazing. But anyway, here's a new chapter. Hope you like it.

*NOTE: Other fanfics will be updated this coming week so watch out for that*

By the door was the man she thought she'll never see again. "Gene? Is that you?" Mai asked with wide eyes. "Who else?" he answered. He gave her a welcoming hug before they heard a small cough from behind. When Gene turned around, Mai saw a woman, or a girl, wearing a pink kimono with a bob haircut. Her hair was so dark that it compliments her almost pale skin. "Ah, Mai, meet my fiancée, Masako" he introduced. "She's your fiancée? She's pretty and adorable!" Mai cheered. "Thank you, I'm Masako" the girl said. Mai found it awkward staring at the couple so she joined Ayako, who was now talking to a woman with a brighter red hair.

"Ah, Mai. Meet my best friend, Madoka" Ayako introduced.

Madoka smiled at Mai and checked her out. She circled her, examining every detail of Mai's petite body. Mai felt all eyes were on her as Madoka scanned her. "She's just adorable!" Madoka squealed. "T-thanks?" Mai said. "Don't be shy, I'm Madoka, I'm Lin's fiancée and secretary of the Davis Family" she introduced herself. "Nice to meet you. I'm-"

"I know who you are! You're the pretty little girl I used to take care off when your family visit the Western Lands" Madoka cut her off.

"You know my family?" Mai asked but she was denied with the answer as her uncle urged them to have dinner.

After dinner…

Mai was following a couple of servants to her new room. She felt awkward having them carry her luggage which only contain a small bag of necessities. As they walked down the hallway, she can't help but notice all the paintings of past rulers displayed. The last portrait was of her uncle, he looked younger and looked like her father except for some differences like the eye color. At the end of the hallway, the servants stopped in front a huge mahogany double door. They opened it and revealed a beautiful bedroom just for Mai. She gasped in surprise.

Across from the door was a sliding glass door that leads to the balcony that overlooks the ocean. In the balcony was a small white round table for tea with a pair of white matching chairs. On the left side was a sofa in front of a marbleized fireplace with a coffee table in between. On the left side fireplace was her closet and lavatory. On the right side of the room were her dresser and bed. The bed was big and full of soft feathered pillows and silk sheets. Her eyes were glimmering in delight that she barely noticed Ayako, Madoka, and Luella behind her.

"So do you like it?" Ayako asked loudly, making Mai jumped up in surprise.

"Ayako-san, Luella-san, Madoka-san, I didn't notice you. I'm sorry." Mai apologized.

"Don't worry about it, dear. We were too fascinated by you cute looks" Luella admitted.

They entered the room, followed by the maids who put her bag in the closet. Mai went outside and took in the amazing view that the balcony has to offer. Feeling the soft breeze from the ocean, Mai acknowledge everything that she has right now, knowing that this good life will not last. The four ladies sat on the sofa drinking tea as they talk about Mai's future.

"Mai will have to marry someone who is eligible to be a king of the Eastern Land"

"No, Mai should pick the guy that she wants to marry"

"Ladies, that's not how it works, they have to fall in love. They have to love each other for what they are"

Mai watched the three beautiful women argue about her groom-to-be. She find them fascinating and funny. When she thought about what they were talking about, the only boy or man that comes to her mind was, "Noll…" she whispered but loud enough for the three older women to hear.

"Noll?"

"Do you fascinate Noll?"

"You're in love with Noll?" they asked at the same time.

She blushed furiously and it was obvious to those three that she did in fact like Noll. "That's great!" Madoka cheered. "Sure, if Noll manage to learn how to act like a teenager or at least his age" Ayako commented. "That's right, Ayako, Noll has been acting too… mature lately" Luella added. Mai just blinked as she sipped her tea. She admired the ladies in front of her, imagining that the queen, or her mother, will be in their group as well, talking about her future.

The night ended fast as the people of the household took their well deserved rest. One by one they each went to bed with a good feeling, knowing that the princess if safe from harm. Noll, on the other hand is worried about something. His guts tells him that something big is about to happen soon and that whatever it was, it will endanger all the people in the household.

Weeks passed by and Mai grew close with everyone in the house. She often spend time in the beautiful backyard that the mansion had to offer and that includes the beach and pool. She spent her day reading books from the humongous library that Ayako showed her when she toured her around the mansion, or sometimes take a stroll along the shoreline with a couple of guards to watch over her. Those past weeks, happy as it sounds, Mai haven't seen any of the male members in the house, especially Noll. Luella assured her that they are just busy assessing the army after the attack on the island 2 days after she arrived. But she knew there was something more.

One night, in the middle of dinner, a warning bell was alarmed in the house. The servants panicked as they run to their masters bedroom to pack the clothes. "What's going on?" Mai asked as she waited in the main hall with Ayako, Madoka, and Luella. Nobody answered. She saw three carriages pulled up by the front door and one by one she saw the servants load their luggage. "Ayako-san, what's going on? Why are we leaving?" she asked again. Ayako gave her a worried look and said, "The enemy is near the coast line and we have to evacuate as soon as possible before they reach la-" she was cut off when loud crash was heard in the backyard.

"Master, they're firing their cannons at us" one of the servant said. Mai's eyes widened but she was pulled and pushed into a carriage before she can say something. The four ladies in the mansion rode away in the carriage as they watch the mansion burn down from the cannons. The servants escaped, riding a small carriage behind them. The driver of the carriage encouraged for the horses to go faster as they take a well hidden path to the country side. Mai looked at the older women in the carriage with her. She noticed how they all have worried stricken face but glad that they made it out alive. "W-where are we going now?" Mai asked. Luella took her hand in hers and smiled, "To my home. The men should be there when we get there. Don't worry, Mai. We'll be alright." Mai smiled in reply as she rested her head on Ayako's shoulder.

They rode for two days, non-stop, except for emergencies and to eat. They managed to avoid any battlefield if there was any and Luella assured Mai that they are traveling faster than the usual ride. Mai, on the other was worried about the twins. Her mind kept thinking that they might get hurt, or what if they're battling in the war as well. Not knowing the full story of the past event, Mai tried to look calm and happy that they survived the attack on Iga. By the third day, they arrived at the Davis' house. It was mansion, but much bigger than the one in Iga. The land was big and she noticed some horses out on the yard or backyard. When they reached the house, there were soldiers marching out to the gate, ready to battle. When she stepped out, she was greeted by a warm hug. "Mai! You're alright!"

"Gene, yeah, I'm alright" she answered. The older women stepped out and noticed that their lover was beside them in a flash. She smiled as she watched the touching reunion, but it was all gone when she noticed that her favorite or maybe least favorite person was missing.

"Gene, where's Noll?" she asked.

Gene looked horrified when he heard her. Mai noticed that something bad must have happened by the way he reacted. "Gene?" she asked again.

"Well, Noll is… is…"

"Noll, is what?"

Oh my... what happened to Noll?

Reviews? Comments? Corrections? Suggestions?

Thanks guys!