HEY EVERYONE, SORRY I HAVE BEEN GONE FOR SO LONG, ITS A LONG STORY BUT I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PUT THIS CHAPTER TOGETHER, JUST A HEADS UP, IT IS A SHORT CHAPTER BUT I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY IT.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT, AND I HOPEFULLY WILL BE UPDATING MORE REGULARLY FROM NOW ON.

STAY SAFE WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD

CHAPTER 24

-Badam, Badam-

Mei heard a heartbeat, but whose heart beat was it?

-Badam….Badam-

The beat got slower by the second. Yuzu gripped her heart as she felt a sharp pain surge through her body.

"Yuzu!" Mei hurried to Yuzu's side as everyone else was startled, surprised as the blonde yelled,

"No, don't touch me!"

Yuzu squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to block out the pain.'Damn I knew it was going to be painful but I never imagined….' Yuzu's thoughts were interrupted as she felt arms encircle her and hold on tightly.

"Mei!? What are you doing?" Yuzu began glowing. She couldn't control it and realized she had to get far away from Mei and the others as soon as possible. This power was unpredictable and could end up destroying the entire kingdom if she didn't act soon.

"I'm never letting you go Yuzu, we are in this together, until the end." Mei spoke with full confidence in her voice as she held on tightly.

"Damn it Mei!" Yuzu exclaimed as she tried to get free from the raven-haired girl's grip. But it seemed as though she had zero control over her powers at the moment.

"You need to let go, it's too dangerous y-"

Yuzu was cut off as Mei spoke over her.

"No, you need to learn to trust in the people around you. Especially me Yuzu, we are one. What hurts you also hurts me!"

Mei never thought that she would be able to express her feelings so openly to anyone. Yet, here she was, declaring her love for the blonde princess for the entire kingdom to see.

Yuzu looked around at everyone staring at her. She could see that they all wanted to help, but she didn't want to put anyone in danger. Yuzu would never forgive herself, if anyone was endangered because of her.

A hand grabbed Yuzu by the shoulder. She turned to see Kenzi looking her straight in the eye.

"Hey, what are you do-" Matsuri stopped as Hiden placed his hand firmly on her shoulder and shook his head.

"Kenzi?" Meanwhile, Yuzu tried to block out the pain as she looked toward her cousin.

"You're the rightful heir to the throne and the first person in centuries to unlock the hidden power of the legendary phoenix! Are you really this weak!?" Kenzi's eyes locked with Yuzu's the entire time he spoke.

Everyone watched as Yuzu's expression changed. She stood up and looked to the sky as she took in a deep breath.

Letting her glow cover herself and Mei, Yuzu held Mei's hand as she spoke softly to her lover.

"Don't let go, ok?"

Mei gave the blonde princess's hand a light squeeze as she replied,

"I'll never let go Yuzu, never."

In a bright golden flash Yuzu and Mei disappeared. "Where did they go?" Harumin asked as she looked around for her childhood friend and the princess.

"Look up." Kenzi's eyes looked to the sky as he spoke.

Everyone followed Kenzi's line of sight to see Yuzu's bright golden glow light up the sky.

"Princess!" People called out to the blonde princess as her golden glow grew brighter with each passing second.

"Don't be scared Mei." Yuzu gave Mei's hand a light squeeze as she looked her in the eye.

"As long as I'm with you, I'll never be afraid." Mei replied to the beautiful blonde princess as they continued to soar higher into the sky and through the clouds.

"Whats happening?" Matsuri asked as she kept her eyes on the ascending couple in the sky.

"I think Princess Yuzu is going to release the phoenix, but I wonder how." Hiden was the next to speak as his eyes followed the blonde princess and her lover.

Yuzu could feel the power overcoming her like an unstoppable wave. She closed her eyes to wait for it to be over. Suddenly, she heard the familiar voice.

"Relax, Yuzuko, just breathe." Yuzu looked around trying to find the source of the voice.

"Mei did you hear that?" Yuzu asked as she looked at her raven-haired lover.

Simply nodding her head, Mei looked into Yuzu's eyes and waited.

"I have always been sought out for my power, but I believe that you are the first in a very long time that sincerely wants true peace among all the realms." The phoenix's voice was loud and clear to both Yuzu and Mei as they were enveloped by its warm golden light.

"What should I do?" Yuzu asked, she didn't know where or what she should do right at this moment, she felt as though she was going to lose consciousness from the amount of pain she felt.

"I will give you one last chance, but heed my warning. This will be the last time Princess."

"Last chance!? What do you mean!? What should I do!?" Yuzu had so many questions right now but before she could get answers the brilliant glow blazed brighter and amplified her pain.

"Yuzu!" Mei called out as she held onto Yuzu tightly.

"Mei, I'm right here, don't let go!" Yuzu tried to comfort Mei as she held onto her love with her remaining strength.

Closing their eyes Yuzu took in Mei's scent and then…

-GASP-

Yuzu looked around as it seemed her surroundings completely changed.

She thought, "Why does this look familiar?" as she continued to look around.

"Mei come on, please!" begged a familiar voice.

"Mei!?" Yuzu turned and ran to where the voice originated. Just as she made it to the side of the road Yuzu saw her.

Mei and Harumin were walking to school in their uniforms. Harumin looked as though she was talking excitedly about something and Mei, as usual, was looking uninterested.

Just before she could call out the sound of a tire popping rang in her ears. Then, the same truck headed straight at Mei and Harumin.

In a flash Yuzu saved both girls. People all gathered around and it was at this moment that Yuzu realised that she was transported back in time before she and Mei knew each other.

Quickly making her escape Yuzu left to find her Aunty and Matsuri. She had to see if they remembered anything.

A FEW HOURS LATER….

"Nope nothing, nada." Matsuri answered as she threw a jellybean in the air and caught it in her mouth.

"Princess I think that maybe everything over the last couple of days has put quite a toll on you and…"

Before Gaia could finish her sentence Yuzu cut her off.

"No! That's not it at all, it really happened. You gotta believe me!" Yuzu looked at her Aunty and best friend but all she saw on their faces was sadness.

"Come on Yuzu-onee let's go and chill for a bit." Matsuri tried to calm her friend down but it only seemed to make it worse.

"No, I don't want to chill Matsuri, I want you to believe what I'm telling you right now!"

Gaia gave Yuzu a sad smile before she spoke.

"Princess, we want to believe you, it's just that…." Gaia was trying to find the right words, but it was in this exact moment that Yuzu realised something as well.

The sound of the phoenix's voice resounded in her head.

("I will give you one last chance, but heed my warning. This will be the last time Princess.")

Yuzu raised her hand, signalling for Gaia to not finish her sentence.

"Maybe you're right Aunty, it could just be the stress of all the events recently that have me a bit frazzled."

The blonde princess started to make her way back to her bedroom. Both Matsuri and Gaia gave each other confused looks and went to say something but Yuzu spoke first.

"I think I'm just gonna go lay down for a bit. Thank you for everything."

The mother and daughter watched in silence as the beautiful blonde princess retreated to her room.

As soon as the door closed they both looked at each other. Yet, it was Matsuri that broke the silence.

"I'm starting to get really worried about Yuzu-onee Mum."

"Me too Dear, but let's give her some time, she has been through a lot."

Yuzu lay on her bed for a moment as she tried to collect her thoughts.

'Have I really gone back in time?' After finishing her thought she quickly shot up and realised something else.

"Mei!"

Then, in a yellow flash she disappeared.

"Mei?"

"Huh?" Mei looked to Harumin who was giving her a worried look.

"What do you mean huh? I've been calling your name for the last 3 minutes. Is everything o.k?" Harumin asked as she waited for her best friend to answer.

Mei looked at Harumin as she tried to think of what to say next, she took in a small breath before she spoke.

"Sorry Haru, I just don't know what it is but…" Looking up at the sky Mei continued her sentence.

"It just feels like something is off." Quickly shaking her head Mei then carried on walking as she spoke again.

"It's nothing, I must be tired from today"

Feeling her friend's uneasiness, Harumin wanted to press it further but she knew Mei well, and could tell that her friend just wanted to move past this.

"O.k, if you say so, but you know you can always talk to me, right?"

After simply nodding, the two girls continued on their way home.

Yuzu watched from afar. As Mei and Harumin made their way home, the conflicted princess wanted to run to her raven haired beauty, grab her and never let her go. Yuzu wanted to confess how much she loved Mei. But just as she was about to run towards them something stopped her.

After completing her usual after school routine, Mei stood out on the balcony of her room. She gazed up at the stars and thought, 'They look so pretty.' Soon her mind began to wander.

"She's finally alone." Yuzu thought to herself as she saw Mei looking up at the bright sky.

Just as she went to run toward her lover her body froze.

Would Mei be better off without her? Safer? Less stressed?

All these questions flooded Yuzu's mind as she contemplated what would be best for Mei.

"Maybe this is what I'm meant to do." Yuzu took in the sight of the beautiful student council president.

With tearful eyes, Yuzu spoke softly, " I love you…...goodbye Mei."

"Huh?" Mei looked down to the flower garden but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

'I could have sworn I heard something.'

After spending 5 more minutes observing the quiet flower bed, Mei finally decided to return

to bed.

TO BE CONTINUED….