Beginning flashbacks are the ones continued from the chapter before last with Haruhiko. lol it's a bit longer than usual. This takes place the next day after last chapter!

(What happened..?) She woke, finding herself in the room she was earlier. (Oh yeah, those guys kept talking about something, and it hurt... it really really hurt,) she bites her lip as she touches the side of her head gingerly. (I don't really remember what happened after that.) As she got reacquainted with the room, she realized she was alone. Swallowing, she carefully got out of bed before tiptoeing to peek out the door. Now that she thought about it...

She felt a little heavy; looking around herself, she realized she was wearing a navy-colored, long sleeved dress with white ruffles. (When did they get this on me?) She twirls around, pleased with how ruffled and circular it was. (Okay, now to the door!)

No one in sight. Now that she thought about it, this place was huge. (How am I supposed to find him?) She had to find that man with the spectacles. At this point, he knew more about her than herself. Also, she was hungry now, and she didn't know where the kitchen was.

From one hallway to the other she glances around once and twice, hoping she wouldn't get caught and taken back to the empty room. If she found the man and then was sent back to the room with him, it wouldn't be so bad.

She soon found herself in a huge hall with stairs. To go up or keep going was the question... (Hmm...) She glances around before hurrying up the stairs. Thankfully, no one was around where she was. However, the halls she was faced with were with doors completely closed. She would have to peek in to see if he was in any of them. And if he wasn't in any of them and she were to be caught...

(I still have to try!) Using what was known to her as her stealth, she approached the first door closest to her and peeked in.

Woo, nothing. Just a closet. (Okay, second door!)

Empty bathroom. (Okay, next door!)

Still the same bathroom. (Whoa... so big...) She peeks in to see that, indeed, this bathroom had two doors. (Okay then, next door!)

A bedroom, maybe guest? It was very empty. (Oh...) But there was a window. (Ohhh...) Gently, she shut the door behind her before looking to see. The sight outside may prove to help her find who she wanted.

"Hmm?" Who she saw wasn't the man she was looking for. However, they seemed to have a close resemblance in the face, so maybe they were related? The man had fairly light hair. He was writing in a book, oblivious to the huge body of water spread in front of him. She was taken with the sight of the lake before remembering her prior engagement. (I have to find him!)

*creak* She jolts in fear at the knob of the door turning, glancing about wildly before heading towards the closet and staying out of sight.

After hearing footsteps, and a groan of the bed's edge, she heard a tired sigh. Curious, she slowly peeked out to see another man who wasn't the one she was looking for. He had darker hair, more wrinkles, and wasn't wearing glasses. He looked very familiar to the glasses man and the man outside.

All the man simply did during her time of watching was just sighing and pressing his fingers on the sides of his head at his temples. (He could use some sleep.)

"You know, I may be old, but my hearing is as good as it was in my prime. Why don't you come on out?" She jumps at the voice directed at her, shrinking back in fear before timidly revealing herself. "Oh, and who may you be?" The older man asks, "It's rare to see a guest such as yourself here. Don't tell me one of my sons invited you here?"

"Um..." She fidgets with some of her dress, wondering how to say what she wanted. "He... with spectacles..."

"Haruhiko?" The man says in surprise, "He brought you here? How rare."

"H-he found me," (I think.) She finds it hard to maintain eye contact with him. "In the water..." (Right? The water? That's what he said right?) "Do... do you know where he is?"

"Oh, you've been looking for him? I see," he laughs, standing up. "That's even more rare." She swallows at how small she was compared to him. "Why don't we go find him together? He hasn't told me about you."

...

So apparently, this huge place is a castle, and the older man was Fuyuhiko. He was the king, and his two sons are Haruhiko and Akihiko, princes of the Usami Kingdom.

Haruhiko was not been seen wherever they went, so she was practically getting a whole tour of the place. Right now, they were outside heading towards the lighter haired of the brothers, Akihiko.

"Akihiko, I don't suppose you've met our guest?" Fuyuhiko asks, nudging her forward since she was kind of hiding behind him.

"Oh, the mermaid?" Akihiko says, looking up at them. "Hello."

"Mermaid?" Fuyuhiko says in interest, while she stares back at Akihiko curiously.

(I'm a mermaid?) She thought, knowing what a mermaid was. However, she doesn't remember how she knows what a mermaid was. "...?"

"She has amnesia, Father," Akihiko explains, "He found her after the storm settled."

"I see... "Fuyuhiko says, before smiling at her. "Why don't you try getting in the water? Perhaps that may help your memory."

"In the water?" She questions, before standing at the edge. (Do I just go in?)

She feels a hand on her shoulder; it was Fuyuhiko. "Being in the water should come naturally to you, so don't be nervous of it."

"Okay..." She says, unsure, before getting ready to jump-

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Right before she was submerged in the water, she saw him.

Something came to her in the water: A memory of playing with a child close to her age. He was afraid being in the water, but he still stayed to be near her. She tried to get him to swim with her, even if she knew he wouldn't. While he was afraid of the water, he wasn't afraid to scold her for splashing on his floppy ears. "Don't do that, Su-

...

She gasps, snapped out of her memory as she remembered her name. Before her, the lake was full of green lush and some of the floor built in stone contrasting to the natural dark rock and sand dirt. There were fish, but none near her as she glances about. (I can breathe?) She relaxes, staring at her hands, her bare arms-

"...?" She wasn't wearing her dress anymore. Looking down, she curiously appraised her blue tail before swimming about, growing excited. (Wow...)

(Oh.) She looks up to see shadows looming over the surface. (That's right, he came back,) she thinks, referring to Haruhiko. She allows herself to float up to the surface, propelled upward by her tail.

She found herself in the middle of a heated argument. Akihiko however was sitting back in his seat, looking bored as he ignored his father and older brother.

"Haruhiko-"

"Don't Father," She shrinks back into water seeing Haruhiko's averted glare; he was obviously not in the mood to be reckoned with. "I've decided, and I will go through with it. You don't have to fret over every decision I make. I'm more than capable."

Fuyuhiko looked so stressed. She shrinks a little more before mustering up some courage. "Please don't fight..." She goes to grip the edge of the lake side where they were.

"..!" Haruhiko squats down towards her, "Are you alright?"

"Mm," She nods, before she tells him her earlier recollection, "I remember... my name is Sumiko..."

"Sumiko... I see," Haruhiko seemed to take note of that before holding out a hand. "Do you remember how to get out of that form?"

"..?" (Don't I just get out?)

"Since you've already gotten into that form so easily, I think you'll be fine," Fuyuhiko says to her, using a hand to push back Haruhiko gently. "Just come up here and sit at the edge with your tail out of the water."

"Okay," she says, doing as he says. (So I have to get dry first? Can't I just-) She startles as soon as she gets her tail out, finding herself quickly back in her dress, and her hair dry.

"In the past, you've probably done it so much your body is in habit of it," Fuyuhiko says, "You seem to have an aptitude for magic, since your body is so attuned to it."

"She was half clothed when I found her," Haruhiko explains to him, "Being out there must have exhausted her."

"I see," Fuyuhiko trails off, before seeing that she was still sitting on the ground and helps her up. "Well, I still haven't taken you to see the kitchens or the dining hall yet. You must be hungry." He turns to his oldest son, "And you may go do as you wish, since I can see that you seemed so determined to do it."

"..." Haruhiko nods before turning to leave.

(Huh?) Sumiko turns, wondering where he was going. (What were they talking about when I was under the water?)

"But you know," Fuyuhiko begins to his leaving figure. "She's been wanting to look for you this whole time. Why don't you eat with us?"

"I've already eaten."

(Oh...) She... she kind of felt sad that he ate without her. (But then again, I was out like a light...)

"Will you eat with us?" Fuyuhiko asks Akihiko, who sighs.

"I guess I'll eat with you two. I want to ask how it is in the water."

"Okay then, that's settled." Fuyuhiko waves to Haruhiko. "Be safe."

"I will," Haruhiko answers before leaving.

"Where's he going?" Sumiko asks, watching his retreating figure.

"He's going to deconstruct and reconstruct buildings down along the shoreline. There was some opposition along with my own, but he insists he will be able to preserve some of the old buildings so I will have to put my trust in him."

"He'll do it," Akihiko yawns, "You obviously haven't seen him go crazy over his planning." And he adds to Sumiko. "All the older people here take pride in our past."

"Well, we do have a history to be proud of," Fuyuhiko says, before ushering them along.

The dining hall was far more larger than the halls they walked through; Sumiko gazes around in awe as they sat together at the end of the long, oval shaped table that was closest to the kitchen. There were some soldiers here and there, seated far away from them, chattering jovially.

"When it's not as busy they are able to eat here; normally, they have their own seating at their quarters or out on the training grounds," Fuyuhiko explains.

"Oh, you don't remember but," Akihiko begins to her, "Your voice broke all the windows near the infirmary."

"Oh?" Fuyuhiko says in question as Sumiko slouches her shoulders in guilt, "I was just told by Haruhiko that the windows down there simply needed a little cleaning up."

"They... they were talking about something... and my head hurt..." Sumiko says, uncertain, "I don't really remember what though."

"Well, I've heard rumors," Akihiko drawls, before facing her carefully. "So you don't remember what happened out in the ocean?"

She shakes her head.

"So you didn't see the Kingdom of the Sky-" She straightens in her seat, "-depart into the sky?"

"N-no..." She shakes her head again, "I didn't." She found herself not liking the name of that kingdom for some reason.

"The Kingdom of the Sky-" there it was again, there was a tugging in her mind, "-Was one of our allies, more technologically advanced than the rest of us. Most of the world's most brilliant minds met up there. I've only been there once, but it was a beautiful place."

"The Kingdom of the Sky-" Okay, she really didn't like hearing that, "-'s ruler was a great man. We're still investigating the assassination, following with the mass terror attacks," Fuyuhiko adds, "We're afraid the culprit managed to escape into the kingdom itself."

"I see..." She murmurs, fidgeting with the tablecloth.

"You don't like it, do you?" Akihiko says, watching her. "When we say the Kingdom of the Sky." She frowns at the name.

"It hurts, for some reason..."

"Well, the rumors I've heard of, they involved sightings of people going around and initiating seals to silence people who have probably seen something. There are a few seals that involve trigger words, so to speak, so that may be why you become uncomfortable when that word is spoken."

"Akihiko, there's no evidence to that just yet," Fuyuhiko chides, "You shouldn't believe in that until there is proof. No one has come forward in pain due to a word of mouth. It is an interesting conspiracy though, I must admit."

"Well, I think there's some truth to it, I've got proof here now after all," Akihiko says, looking to Sumiko. "They probably tried to get rid of you

in the water, but Haruhiko found you in time. You're probably safer here than if we had let you go earlier." After he says that, their food comes, and she watches curiously as Akihiko stares in distaste by his green cut vegetables that were bell peppers.

...

"The princess is still sleeping, do you think she's okay?" A maid whispers to another, watching over Sumiko from the bedroom door. "Prince Haruhiko said she's simply tired but..."

"She looks like she's breathing deeply, but has that cute smile on her face, so maybe she is just tired."

"Y-you don't think..." The maid gasps, "Prince is an S?! For her to be so tired he's probably keeping her up all nigh-"

"Shhh!" The other bonks her on the head, "What if someone hears you and passes around unnecessary rumors? You don't even understand S and M so much!"

"But! What if-" Glancing and feeling someone turn the corner, the more composed maid of the two clamps a hand over the others mouth and rushes her away. "Mmmff mmm!"

He ran his hands through rich brown hair that wasn't his, sitting up as he gazes at his sleeping lover. From in the room, he can hear sounds of chatter, and something being sauteed. Sighing, he wonders if they'll ever be able to be truly alone with each other.

Like back then... "..."

...It's been a long time since Masamune thought of that place. It was the reason why he ended up traveling with Ritsu all those years ago. He had abandoned it after Ritsu left; it had no longer felt like home without the brunet in it. Those moments he spent with the brunet in that place were precious. (The garden probably is overflowing with weeds right now...)

Lips pursed, he focuses his gaze on Ritsu firmly. He wanted to bring Ritsu back there, to that place with him. Maybe the brunet will remember more if he sees it again. (Though it's probably all dirty there now...)

He could go clean it and surprise Ritsu, but he couldn't bear to part from him. Quietly, he laid back and turns over to give the brunet a kiss on the forehead before wrapping his arms around him. (Mine...) He smiles as he felt Ritsu cuddles against him more, the latter letting out breathy sighs as he continued to sleep.

This reminded Masamune about the time he realized he wanted Ritsu to like him. To like him like how Ritsu 'liked' Haitani, which is what he thought at the time, but it wasn't that sort of like that he wanted. It would be later after that, that he realized he wanted Ritsu to like him.

To like him to the point where their bare bodies could touch, and they would fit together...

...

"So, Ritsu's friend huh?" Masamune looks up at the older man, frowning at the look he was given. It was as if the older man was trying to see through him. "Anyway, thank you for being with him."

"I..." He didn't really know what he could say at the moment, looking back at the injured brunet in front of him on the mat. When Oda got hurt all he did was just stare and try to figure out how to lift him, and then, Oda whispered 'Haitani' and the man came out from nowhere, glaring at Masamune and taking Oda into his arms after accessing the situation. All he could do himself was follow.

It was all his fault. He was too arrogant, and he yelled at him...

"You can leave anytime."

Masamune looks back him in confusion. "What? What do you mean?"

"I'm sure Ritsu told you he was supposed to travel on his own. Consider this a clean break- I'll just be with him for a while until he gets fully used to being alone."

He was annoyed with this man. "I... promised him."

"I see." Haitani sighs, before turning away. "Then that can't be helped. I know how he is with his promises. I'll go get out another mat." He pauses for a moment. "Your name?"

"...Saga." When he went, Masamune calms as he realized what the man had said that was probably Oda's real name: Ritsu. (So his name is Ritsu...)

Later that night, he settled into his substitute bed that was a mat before his eyes widened at the sight of a shirtless Haitani stripping Ritsu. "What are you doing?!"

"He won't be warm enough to rest well. I've done this since he was young, don't get your panties in a twist." Masamune glares at him as he settles onto the mat. "Nothing wrong with trying to get warm. Direct body heat works well." Masamune continued to glare; he didn't like that the two were chest to chest, Ritsu's back facing him. Something inside him snapped as he watched Ritsu nuzzled against the older man's broad chest. His heart began to ache for some reason.

"Geez," Haitani snickers, "Just like when he was a kid. Since his senses are top-notch, he knows he is with someone he is familiar with."

After the lights were out, Masamune couldn't stop thinking about it. Ritsu up against Haitani as if it were natural for them to be together like that... As if they were...

Finally, he turns away; he didn't want to think towards that. Besides, Ritsu was the same as him- they couldn't fall in love. The thought relieved him a little.

"Mnnng..." He turns, staring back at Ritsu's back. "Sa...ga..." His eyes widened. Ritsu was calling his name? Suddenly, it came to him that the last thing Ritsu probably had been conscious for was worrying over him. Since the brunet had a tendency to sleep talk, perhaps his name being said in a pained tone meant he was having a nightmare.

"Nightmare?" He startled at Haitani's sleepy whisper; the older man had beaten him to it. "It'll be okay, Prince, I'm here..." It stabbed at his heart as Haitani brought Ritsu closer to him, an embrace that was too intimate for him to handle.

He didn't bother to question why, but he had the urge to shout, "DON'T TOUCH HIM!" But he shut it inside, back into his throat, into his beating heart.

...

When Haitani began to softly snore, Masamune knew he was out like a light. Ritsu seemed to have calmed as well, and the two were not as close as before as their bodies relaxed and settled. Carefully he got up, sure not to make a sound as he approached the two.

It was easy to bring Ritsu over to his side. Mindful of the younger man's bandages he brought Ritsu close, his heart beating rapidly. Ritsu was so close to him now. He couldn't describe this feeling he had...

"Hnngh..." He panicked as Ritsu's peaceful expression began to crumble, uncomfortable as he didn't recognize the scent of the person attempting to embrace him.

"Shh..." Masamune whispers softly, hugging him close. "It's me... you know me." With Ritsu's face into his neck he tried to get the brunet used to him. Nervous on the inside, he brings up a hand to stroke Ritsu's ears. They were soft and smooth like a flower's petals, and seemed to stretch on for miles since his rabbit ears were so long.

After a while, his touches seemed to have worked; he looked to see, in relief, that Ritsu's uncomfortable expression had gone away and hugs him closer. His nose went to the brunet's hair and he let his eyes close. Ritsu smelled like a flower too... a flower... a plant he couldn't name. It was not too sweet, almost earthy, and it soothed him to the core...

Everything suddenly felt right in the world...

However, the next time he woke up, Ritsu was back in Haitani's arms, and the older man snickers knowingly at his shocked expression.

"Masamune? Masamune..."

"..." Waking up for the second time this early afternoon, he smiles with closed eyes at the hand on his cheek. His eyes open to see Ritsu looking back at him drowsily. "Good morning."

"Hm... I don't think it's morning..." He pulls his hand away from Masamune's face to cover his mouth as he yawns.

"You feeling okay?" Ritsu twitches at the warm hand on his bare hip, blushing.

"I'm okay..." He flusters as he is kissed on both cheeks. "We should get washed."

"Yeah," Masamune agrees, enjoying Ritsu's yelp as he proceeds to carry the brunet off the bed with him and to the bathroom before anyone downstairs can see them naked.

Hehe... Sumiko's bit ended up being way longer than usual...

Next time maybe..?! Shinobu wants to know more about Miyagi, so he follows him secretly... Meanwhile, Takafumi decides to leave his 'family' of three...