Sorry for the late update. there were some computer issues (and an exam). I hope you enjoy

I do not own magi or its characters.

Chapter 26: Sweet as Candy

It had been a week since her vision and Alya was having trouble deciding on if she should tell someone or not. One one hand, if something big was brewing in the Kou Empire, it would eventually affect Sindria. Alya had grown very fond of her brother's country-her country- and she did not want anything to befall it. On the other hand, she grew up in the Kou Empire. Plus she trusted Judal. If he was plotting something, he wouldn't do something to upset her, would he?

Another sigh escaped her lips.

"What's the matter, Alya? You've been sighing so much lately," Yamraiha asked. She was frowning as she looked at Alya with furrowed eyebrows.

Alya smiled back. "It's nothing." She had completely forgotten that she wasn't alone. She and Yamraiha were sitting at a little outdoor patio just outside the purple leo tower. Because the palace was elevated above the rest of the island, they were getting a light sea breeze. She took a deep breath of the fresh air, allowing her smile to become genuine.

But Yamraiha was not convinced. She continued to stare at Alya silently, waiting for something.

With a chuckle, Alya looked back out at the sea. As her mood sobered up, she frowned. "Do you think I should tell Brother?" Yamraiha knew of Alya's ability to "hear" the Rukh as she called it. They had kept silent about it upon Alya's request.

"I don't know," Yamraiha admitted. "Is there a reason you're rethinking this now?"

"I…" she wasn't sure how to respond. Surely Yamraiha would know what to do, but what if this caused trouble for Judal? Then again, Judal had never even once visited her. Did he really not care? Did he simply send her away to be rid of her? The thoughts made her eyes water slightly and she looked down. "What does cursing destiny mean?"

For a moment, Yamraiha was silent, making Alya looked up. Yamraiha's eyes had widened and her muscles had tensed. "Where did you hear that?"

Alya bit her lip. "I um… snuck a peek at the Kou Empire… And Judal said something about cursing destiny."

Yamraiha stood. "To whom?"

"I'm… not sure," Alya lied, not quite sure why.

Yamraiha sat back down quietly, looking out over the ocean while in deep thought. "I don't know what he's plotting, but it can't be good." She looked at Alya. "Never trust anyone who says something like that, understand. Cursing destiny is a dangerous gamble. From what I have heard from Aladdin, it is-"

They were cut off as Sharrkan called out from a window a few stories above them. "Yamraiha, there you are!" They both looked up at the smiling king. "Stay right there, I'll be right down," he told her before disappearing.

Yamraiha and Alya looked at each other in confusion for a moment.

"Hey, Yamraiha!" Sharrkan walked out of the tower with a bowl in his hands. When he spotted Alya he grinned. "Oh, the Princess is here too?" He held out the bowl with a hand. "I brought some fresh strawberries, would you like some?"

Yamraiha sighed as she glared at him. "Why are you yelling?" But her face lit up as he brought the bowl closer.

"Haha, sorry…" He placed the bowl on a table and sat down. "So did I interrupt something?"

"Oh, not at all," Alya assured him, watching Yamraiha gobble down a few strawberries.

Noticing Alya's stare, Yamraiha handed her a strawberry. "You want one?"

Alya scowled at the same time that her face heated up. She placed the strawberry back in the bowl. "Ah, I'm not a big fan of strawberries actually."

"Really?" Yamraiha gasped. "Why not?"

Alya shrugged. "Well, at least, I don't like strawberry flavored candy."

Sharrkan raised an eyebrow as he noticed the ever deepening red on Alya's cheeks. "Is something the matter?"

Alya shook her head vigorously before standing up suddenly. "I…it's a little hot out here; I'm going to go back to my room. See you later, Yamraiha, Sharrkan." She bowed to them before heading inside the tower.

When she got into her room, she slammed the door and sank to the floor, cupping her hands over her mouth and cheeks, trying to hide the slight smile that had accompanied her blush. "Why did I have to remember that…" she murmured.

"That" being the day Judal had stolen some candy she had gotten from a friend.

Alya had been heading back to Judal's room, humming a song as she opened the door.

"What are you so happy about?" Judal asked form behind her, making her jump.

"What- when- huh?" Alya blabbered on a string of questions, her hand over her chest. She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. She stepped into the room and moved aside. "You scared me! Don't sneak up on me like that."

Judal walked past her and sat down on the couch in his room. "I wasn't sneaking. I just happened to be coming back to my room when I found you standing in the doorway." He tilted his head a little when he noticed the slight bulge of her cheek. "What do you have in your mouth?"

"Candy." Alya closed the door as she rolled the little orange piece of hard candy onto her tongue.

"What candy?" He asked curiously. "Where would you get candy?"

With a sigh, she came closer and stuck her tongue out to show Judal. "My friend gave some to me."

"Hmm, friend? Didn't know you had any," he chuckled.

Alya turned away in a huff but was suddenly pulled back when Judal grabbed her arm. She landed on Judal's lap with her side against him. "Oi, give me some candy," Judal commanded, his face only inches from her own.

Gasping, Alya turned away as she tried to stand, but Judal had a firm hold on her wrist and another arm around her waist. "Yeah right. You just made fun of me, I'm not going to give you any." Just to demonstrate her point, Alya pulled out another piece of candy from her pocket and put it in her mouth. She really regretted it the next moment. She hadn't realized that they all had different tastes, and this one just happened to be strawberry.

She wasn't sure why she didn't like the flavor. She had just never had a taste for it

Without warning, Judal's face was in front of hers as he leaned in closer. Alya wasn't even able to register what was happening before Judal took the strawberry candy from her mouth and leaned back against the couch.

She watched with wide eyes as Judal crunched down on the hard candy. "Strawberry? It doesn't taste that bad; why were you making such a disgusted face?"

"You- the- what-" Alya just stuttered, her cheeks reddening.

"Do you not like strawberry?" Judal asked with a smirk, watching Alya's reaction.

Rather than answering, Alya finally pulled out of his grip and ran out of the room.

Guest: I like the flower idea. I'll find a place to put it in later :)

Lulosky: That reminded me of Chitanda of Hyouka. watch?v=pNVDRR6U3hg

theunicornofrainbows: I'm glad you enjoy it. I recommend watching the second season. Actually, no, I recommend the manga~ the "second season" is very enjoyable.