Hi everyone! I'm back! Thanks to rock the road, Subha-Chan and Desires of autumn leaves for reviewing. Also thanks to Rumu (Rock the road) for favoriting this story. I'm so glad that you all are liking this. Never thought that it would get such fame :P

Sorry for being late a bit. Here's the third chapter. Enjoy :)

P.S: I have re-edited this chapter, with something extra. Please read when you get the notification.

Saline waterworks were plummeting down from his eyes, rolling down on his cheeks and then? Being vaporized in the sultry sensation. Welding his fists together, he was scrutinizing at the crystal statue with his detached orbs. On the sacrosanct diamond-tarnished pedestal, two or three metal candle-holders were placed with ignited wax lights. Through the western windows, waft was whooshing in the prayer room. The pitiable blazes were barely winning against him. Similar to them, his hopes, his potentials were shrinking little by little. Nevertheless, it'd been his convention to visit the deity once or twice on a day.

"Good lord…" He whispered, "Since past ten years, I'm spending my life with my queen. You've given me lots of things that have filled my past, present and future with glee, warmth and blessings. The throne of northern America, the goddess of love in the form of Empress Judy, one of the strongest sacred bit-beasts which is called Draciel-and what not? I don't want so many things from you, Lord…"

Naively, his throat protested against his feelings. But not accepting his discomfiture, he sustained, "God, in the last ten years, there was no day when I didn't come to you. In the past 3650 diurnals, I….I lit the candles remaining in front of you. But…what about us? Where's the candle of our life? Why hasn't it lit itself yet?"

Nightfall had buried them, chocking their breaths. They were in the search of brightness, they were in the exploration of vividness. Yet, the inferno of inflammation was burning them from inside, from every single moment, to every solitary day.

"Your Majesty?"

Wiping his wet cheeks, he turned back. His head butler in black apparel was standing there, waiting for his master.

"Yes?" Taro stood up from his seat.

"Your Highness has called you." He responded, "She's waiting for you in queens' castle."

"Okay, tell her to wait a bit more, I'm coming soon."

"As your wish, your Majesty." The retainer left.

Heaving a sigh, he started for queens' castle. It was not that far from prayer hall. The three-floored fort was built of granite gravels. Facing it, two gigantic apple trees were upended erect, trying to touch the blue with their verdant heads. Before a week or less, buds in the tints of snow and cherry had appeared, hanging from the leafy branches of one of them. Another one had already been occupied with blood-red succulent rondures of honey. Everyone's mouth would water at them but the king was not in that zealous frame of mind.

'Even these inflexible creatures are deified with their children….' He twisted, 'But what about us?'

Sinking the furry portion of the peacock-feather pen into dark ink, she put it out. On the rough surface of a piece of off-white paper, the blonde began to inscribe. A lonely straw-colored ringlet fell in front of her right eye. Tucking it behind her ear, she continued her job.

"May I come in, Judy?"

Keeping the writing implement on the ligneous table, she turned her gazes to the doorway. Within a flicker, beams of sunshine spread all over her pale face.

"Sure." She stood up from her chair, "I was waiting for you."

"Sorry for making you wait." The king entered into his wife's room, "So what brought me here?"

"Well, I was thinking to visit Japan tomorrow," Judy sat on a pewter chair, "It's been a while since we went there."

"Sarcasm intended," Taro chuckled, "Besides, we couldn't visit my brother when my niece Hilary was born. In the next week, her first feeding ceremony is going to be held. So hold your horses, we're going to visit them soon."

"Really?" The voice of the blonde appeared to be cheery, "Thanks a lot for sharing this news with me, Taro! Staying in this gemstone-inflated turret, my breaths are being chocked. Now we'll get to breathe in the fresh uncontaminated air!"

"Sure thing."

"Well, how has our niece been?" Judy inquired, "Have you received any letter from your brother in this regard? Does she look like her father? Or mother? Or her handsome uncle Taro?"

"She's been particular." Taro threw his glances towards the ceaseless skyline, trying to reach Japan within a moment.

"What?"

"Yeah," The Japanese turned his stares, "I'm not talking about her physical appearance, Judy. I'm talking about her qualities."

"What do you mean by qualities?" The empress curiously asked.

"Actually, recently I've received a letter from brother Hayashi," The ruler of northern America replied, "He has written there that our niece has been born with a unique supremacy. You know Japan was plagued with famine before her birth. Scarcity of water, paucity of rain, lack of growing crops-what not? But when she was born, it started raining again in the country. Everything went alright. I'm quite interested to see her."

"Oh lord!" Judy gave an amicable flash of her teeth, "It's quite good to hear. I can't wait more for having a glimpse of her."

"Then alright, we'll set our trip on next Saturday."

'Hmm...' the blonde pondered, 'How lucky emperor Hayashi and empress Sayoko is! Surely the little girl must have all the good power to fight against the evilness. And here...

Let alone a strong child, my home is totally silent without a simple adorable baby...'

"Hail Emperor Taro Tate and Empress Judy Tate!"

"Hail Emperor Hayashi Tachibana and Empress Sayoko Tachibana!"

The royal citadel of Nippon was jubilated through all the joyousness of the regal employees. The maids were scattering the petals of crimson roses on the guests who had just arrived. On the doorway, the emperor of Japan was waiting with his mistress. Seeing them coming, he headed towards them with a bright smile on his face.

"Welcome to Japan again, my dear brother and sister-in-law!" He cordially greeted them, "Did you face any complication during the journey?"

"No, big brother," Taro answered, "Thanks a lot for asking us."

"The pleasure is ours." The Japanese Empress bowed, "You must be exhausted from this journey. Come inside and have rest. We'll talk later."

"Sure." Judy bowed as they went inside.

"Sayoko, what're you doing?" Judy giggled, "Leave me now."

"Nope." Hilary's mother dragged her sister-in-law in her room, "Not so soon. After all, we've met each other after a long time. Why so soon? Is Taro searching for you?"

Shades of cherry blossoms appeared on her fair cheeks. Smiling a bit, she snapped, "Why will he search for me? He's now spending his time with his own brother."

"Hahaha…..good try, Judy," Sayoko pinched her cheeks, "But I know how much he loves you. When you go missing, he searches for you in the entire palace. Sweat soaks him immediately. His heartbeats become fast. His blood pressure increases. He thinks, 'Aw….what happened to my darling wife….where's she…'"

"Ugh! Stop now!"

"Okay okay…I'm sorry…" The Japanese empress held her ears, "Now will her Highness of Judy Tate forgive me?"

"Forgiven," Judy pouted as they both burst out laughter. After laughing a lot, Sayoko spoke, "Judy, I've something to give you."

"What?"

"Just wait."

Pulling a drawer of her elephant-toothed closet, she put out a portrait captivated in a square-shaped silver frame. Its top was covered with a piece of golden velvety cloth.

"It's for you." Sayoko handed this to the American queen.

Frowning a bit, she removed the cover from it. Her jaw dropped, her deep blue eyes were widened when she saw it. It was a portrait of a baby boy. His rounded head was blessed with messy and spiky flaxen hair. His eyeholes were filled with sapphire-blue glistening orbs. A mischievous smirk was clinging to his pink lips. He was hugging a purple baby turtle closer to his chest.

"Wow….he's so cute!" Judy slapped on her mouth, "Thank you so much, Sayoko! You've made my day."

"Glad I made it," The mother of princess Nipponista smiled.

"I wish I could get him in reality…." Judy murmured.

"Your wish will be fulfilled within no time, Judy." Sayoko assured her, "Don't worry. Have faith on God."

"I do have faith on God, Sayoko." The American bit her inner lips, "But….we haven't got the result of our faith yet."

Tears brimmed into her alexandrite pools. She felt a pain at her heart as if someone had stabbed daggers there. She sobbed, "Sayoko, for how long will we have to continue this trial by fire? We love each other truly, we live for each other and we do care for each other. The subjects of our kingdom consider us as the best couple of the empire. But….where's the bridge of our love? Why isn't he or she coming?"

"Shush!" Sayoko gently patted her head, "Don't cry, Judy. What will happen if Taro sees you in this condition? What will go through his heart? Are you understanding?"

"But…" Judy tried to speak but before it, she felt strange. Burying her mouth under her fists, she rushed to the washroom. After throwing up all the things what she had eaten, she washed her mouth and gurgled thoroughly. Coming out from the restroom, she discovered her sister-in-law standing there, with an impish grin in her lips.

"What happened, Judy-Chan?" She dramatically interrogated, "Are you sick?"

"No, I'm alright." The blonde answered, "But why're you smiling like that? What happened?"

"Looks like your trial by fire has ended finally…" Sayoko caressed her right cheek, "You may be…"

Judy blushed. Tears filled her eyes again. But this time, they were the tears of joy, not the waterworks of her ceaseless agony which had ceased just then.

She discovered herself in a garden. Exquisite it was; full of varieties of colorful florets and plants. Red-blue-orange-pink-yellow were peeping through the thousand shades of green. From somewhere, a stream of water was flowing to its own mysterious direction.

'Today is the happiest day of mine on this planet…' She rotated her vision from here to there, 'Now I'm a complete woman…a complete life partner…a complete empress…'

"What about being a complete mother?"

Hearing a voice from the blue, she looked at the sky. Screaming, she asked, "Who're you?"

"You don't need to be informed," It again spoke, "Judy, I'm satisfied to see your patience. There are many women in this world who end their valuable lives being affected by this kind of depressive facts. But you're particular, you're unique. Really you deserve the throne of the empress of northern America. Not only that, but also I'm pleased with Taro. He could have married another woman for an heir. But he didn't do that. His love for you is enormous, incomparable to or with anything or anybody. As a boon, I'm sending one of the best human beings to you, as your child, the successor of Emperor Taro Tate and the guardian of the sacred power whose element is water."

"You mean…." Judy's voice trembled, "My child will be the next protector of Draciel?"

"Yes, you've guessed right, Empress," The invisible reverberation reacted, "And I'm sending you a special fruit. Its color is sea-blue with two golden leaves at its top. You've to consume it after waking up. Then, he'll be the bravest and at the same time, sweetest of all American. And its name is…."

"What?"

"Maxflower."

That was it. After the incident, the blonde sat up on her bed. Gulping, she looked at her husband who was sleeping peacefully. Sighing of relief, she put her hand beneath the soft velvety silver pillow that ended up pulling out an oval, soft and juicy tiny ocean-blue sphere with a pair of golden leaves.

"That's it!" She assumed, "Thank you so much, God! I'll be grateful to you forever."

Finishing her prayer, she sank her teeth into the lenient being.

River Fuji, known as the holiest of all rivers in Nippon. Streaming like a broad silver ribbon, she found her own direction towards the oceans. Her edges were verdant, carpeted in green grasses and tall reeds. Squirrels had started residing there. From the slopes, Sakura trees grew high. Their baby pink and white flowers were being offered to the river goddess. She was also gladly accepting the offerings mixed with the sunlight, turning her silver complexion golden. Swans and geese were playing together with one another on her surface. Their fluffy yellow young were also fluttering their squishy tails. Under her, fishes were swimming very consciously, observing each of the movements of the preying birds flying above. Happiness was evident everywhere, not on the face of the hobbyist fisherman.

"Haruko, you have only got grief by obeying the orders of his Highness of Taro Tate," He sighed, "Before 130 months...I shouldn't have listened to him. All he did with princess Judy Tate was a simple prank but I shouldn't have helped him. I shouldn't have been a part of it. What were the results of it? Prince Taro had admitted his guilt to his brother and got a temporary banishment from Japan. With the passage of time, His Majesty of Hayashi Tachibana also forgave him and accepted him as his brother though prince Taro didn't come back to Japan. For coping with American rituals, he also changed his surname in 'Tate' from 'Tachibana'. His Majesty also didn't have any problem with it. But...what about me? He forgave his brother, not me. I'm still suffering from the punishments that were given by His Majesty. Still, I'm working as an executioner and taking the lives of human beings with my own hands. How long, mother Fuji, how long? I cannot tolerate it! Please, calm down my heart."

He couldn't do anything at that moment. He had nothing to do. At his home, there was his three-week pregnant wife. It was surely an occasion of happiness for the family but the depression, the repressed inflammation from his heart weren't bound to go. They weren't wanting to leave. The guilt of cheating was eating him still on that day.

His eyes fell on the flowing streams in bluish-silver as the golden rays of sunshine poured in. To all the people of Japan, river Fuji wasn't only holy, but also grief-snatching, pain-relieving. Haruko didn't have any other way except her.

"Mother Fuji..." He sniffed, "Please...remove all my pains. Calm me down. Give me patience. Keen such an idol before me from whom I can be inspired."

Right then, someone's earsplitting screeches deafened his ears. It belonged to a baby. Looking here and there, he couldn't find anyone. He stood up with his widened eyes. There was no one. As he revolved his stares to the river, they caught a large, round wooden basket streaming with the pace of water current. His auditory nerves sensed it to be the source of those muffled cries.

Wasting no moment, the executioner dived in the water. Springing, he rose. His arms pushed all the water behind, his legs paddled. Swimming in a great velocity, he reached the casket. It was covered with a lid. Picking it up, he reached the shore.

Getting up, he removed the lid from it. Inside, there was a baby girl, tossing her tiny legs and hands. She seemed almost four-five month old. Her complexion was like the mixture of sandalwood and milk. Nocturnal blue bangs were concealing her forehead. Watery emerald eyes were the fresh rain-drenched tobacco leaves. On her right shoulder, the tattoo of a green-purple shark was painted. Her left wrist was bound by a copper bracelet studded with a piece of purple jade. A bizarre beam was being disseminated from the unique gemstone. When she saw him, tears stopped cascading from her orbs. A honeyed smile rose in the corners of her squishy lips. Expanding her petite arms, she wanted the depressed man to take her.

Her expressions, the innocent aura on her facade, her attitude-all melted the heart of the grief-stricken man. Though she was silent, she was assuring him. She was telling him that everything would be alright one day. The tears which couldn't reach his cheeks because of his stoicism thawed from his eyes. Lifting her, he embraced her lightly, kissing on her head.

"Thank you so much, mother Fuji..." He sobbed, "Thanks a lot for this precious gift. I'll be grateful to you forever for it. From today onwards, I'm her father and she's my daughter.

When he took the baby his home, his wife also gladly accepted her, not raising any question on her birth. Her heart was so clean that it wasn't ready to be suspicious of a baby. Babies were like angels to her. Cradling her in her arms, she kissed on her top.

"Mother Fuji has gifted her to us," She announced, "She will be our beloved. A divine scent comes from her body which resembles of the smell of African myrrh. That's why, from today, we'll call her...

"Mariam!"

"Any news, messenger?"

The purple-haired man placed his right knee on his left, retaining both of his arms comfortably on the sandstone-handles of the chair. His face couldn't be seen clearly as there was nothing in the deep dark cave excluding the rising blazes of three ignited torches set in the torch-holders.

"Pardon me, my lord." The messenger bowed his head, "We haven't been successful to steal him yet. But we've finally found out where he lives."

"At least you've completed one of your jobs," The first person smirked, "So mention the name of the place now."

"My lord, currently he's situated in the royal palace of northern America, But the place is overprotected, so…"

"Be it cossetted or not," The ruler of underground took a sip of his drink, "Boris Balkov never steps back in order to reach his objective. Besides, the cute little turtle is the strongest of all the powers belonging to water but weakest of the four sacred mysterious beasts. That's why, at any cost, we've to make him ours.

Either by hook, or by crook!"

So how has it been? Which crime was committed by Mariam's adoptive father? It also holds an answer to the question why Judy doesn't want her son to be together with Mariam. Later on, you'll know more.

Do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and the spelling errors. Take care :D

-Misty :*