Hi everyone! What's up?

So, here's the next chapter of my story. After another chapter, a surprise will be waiting for you :P

I dedicate this chapter to one of my most favorite readers: Wanderer's Cynefin. My dear Abhi, I haven't been hearing from you since a long time. I don't know how you are. But I didn't forget that on 7th of this month, you were born before 18 years ago :P. Belated happy birthday, my dear. I love you 3 Hoping to hear from you soon :*

Thanks to all of my readers and reviewers. You're the best! 3

Enjoy!

"Have you ever seen a golden phoenix, oni-chan?" Sitting on the swing, the purple-haired princess asked.

"Umm…..no, Dew-chan," While pushing the swing, the brunette shook her head, "But I've heard about it a lot."

"Really?" Playing with rabbits, the Spaniard looked at her cousin, "Hil, can you tell us about it?"

"Sure, Julia," Leaving her foster-sister, she approached the rabbits. Kneeling down and taking one of them in her arms, she spoke, "I've heard that it appears from the back of the green hill which is located in the East. Before sunrise, it rises, spreading its gigantic wings. Its wings are so bright and luminous that they are able to create a duplicate sunrise."

"Really? A duplicate sunrise?" The bluenette threw a pebble at the lake water, "Then it must be very interesting!"

"Oni-chan, I wanna see a golden phoenix," Dew insisted, "When will we see it?"

"I don't know, my dear," The princess said, "It is also said everywhere that the spread wings of the golden phoenix sprinkle a strange and magical sleeping powder. When it rises and expands its wings, the whole kingdom drifts to deep slumber. That's why it is very difficult to have a glimpse of the golden phoenix."

"Oh no…." The youngest of the girls lowered her head, losing her usual jovial mood.

"Don't be sad, Dew," The dual-haired princess consoled her, "One day, we'll surely be able to see the golden phoenix."

"By the way, I've made one," The chocolate-haired girl kept the baby rabbit on the ground, "Do you wanna see it?"

"Why not, Hil?" Mariam leapt, "Of course! Where is it?"

"It's in my art and craft room," Hilary stood up, "Let me fetch it here. Just wait, I'll be right back."

As the coco-haired girl approached her art and craft room, the Spaniard kept playing with the rabbits. The bluenette kept feeding the school of fish in the lake. The purple-haired girl who was the youngest of them got down from the swing and started chasing a colorful butterfly. Not caring her, the tiny-winged arthropod sat on a flower to gather honey. The flower was on the highest branch of a tree.

"It's here!"

Hearing Princess Nipponista, everybody turned around and looked at her. She was holding a statue of the golden phoenix what she had told them about. It was made of clay and colored golden. Rubies were used to making its orbs. Those gemstones made it more realistic. Because of them, the figurine was seeming alive. It was posed in a position of standing, spreading its wings as if it had been ready to fly away. Its beak and claws were made of pure gold. Rays of sunshine were falling on them, making them glitter.

"Wow!" Everybody rejoiced.

"Oni-chan!" Dew gasped, "It's seeming real!"

"Dew is right, Hil," The dual-haired Spaniard agreed with the youngest one, "Looks like it's preparing to fly!"

"Oh my goodness!" The bluenette applauded and leapt, "I don't think that the real golden phoenix is more beautiful than this statue of yours, Hil!"

"Duh, what are you saying?" The princess blushed, "You can never imagine of the beauty of the real golden phoenix unless you see it."

"I don't know whether this dream of us will be fulfilled or not," Julia sighed, "But till then…..we can satisfy ourselves by observing this phoenix. Right?"

"Of course!" The brunette jumped. Placing the statue on a nearby table, the four girls started playing with one another.

Their life was beautiful. But someone's wasn't.

Well-armed guards were straightly standing at two sides of the entrance. The gate was bedecked with hanging crystal lamps, garlands of rose and colorful ribbons. Bit by bit, the guests were entering the royal hall. Among them, the eight-year old was also present. Turning his head here and there, he was walking with slow and small footsteps. He was tightly holding the regal locket in his small fists.

"Hey, who're you?"

He stood frozen as one of the guards stood in front of him, freeing his sword from the sheath.

"I….I'm….." He was stuttering, being scared and nervous.

"How dare you, little boy!" Another soldier came to him with his bloodshot eyes, "Do you want to die? How have you entered here without an invitation?"

He gulped. His hands and feet were shuddering.

"What's in your hands?" The first soldier swiftly snatched the pendant from him. The toddler tried his best to keep it but failed. Observing it, the expression of the guard softened.

"Oh, so Princess Salima has invited you?" Returning the locket to the raven-haired neko-jin, he allowed, "Okay, you may go inside."

"Thank you, Sir," Nodding, the boy entered. The place was gigantic. People from different walks were present there. Some were gossiping with one another, some were serving drinks in golden and silver goblets that were kept on metal trays, some were playing musical instruments and singing, sitting in a corner. Wearing colorful attires and gorgeous jewelries, nymph-like dancers were dancing.

The royal hall was embellished elegantly. Crystal chandeliers made of metal oil lamps were hanging from the roof. Flower vines wrapped the gypsum-made pillars. In corners, flower vases were kept on high stands. Fragrant candles were burning, kept on the different chambers of the stands. On comfortable and soft chairs, royal guests were sitting. Sitting on the throne, the king was observing the whole atmosphere. At the center of the room, there was a pair of scales. On the right plate, the beautiful princess of China who turned eight on that day was sitting in a lotus position. Her ebony-colored orbs were glittering in excitement. She wore a bright smile. Her china-rose-like hair was braided with fresh flowers and pearls. She was wearing a violet-colored qi pao with shiny black neckline, sleeve borders and linings. It was embroidered with roses, sewed of garnet and jade silk threads. Her headpiece was made of pure gold, adorned with amethysts and black diamonds. Two earrings, designed in the shape of temple domes and made of moonstones were hanging from her ears.

She had always been beautiful. But on that day, she was looking like a goddess. Her appearance was hypnotizing, but seeing her, the raven-haired neko-jin took off his eyes from her and kept staring at the ground. He recalled the Salima of that day when they had met each other for the first time. On that day, her appearance had been natural. She'd been seeming brave, bold and intelligent while riding her mare.

Hearing tinkling sounds, the little boy looked at another plate of the scales. People were putting gold and silver bars, diamonds and pearls, gemstones, jewelries, metal coins and many precious things on that plate. A small hill almost rose there but the opposite plate didn't rise at all. Twisting his mustaches, the emperor on his throne was seeing the view and smirking.

The guests seemed worried. They looked at one another's face. Then again, nobody had the courage to tell the king about their thoughts.

After all, nobody in that ceremony wanted to get beheaded. They cared for their parents, children, lovers and family members. At last but not at least, they loved their life.

With small footsteps, the raven-haired boy approached the plate of wealth. Slowly, he put the pendant on the plate. As a result, it touched the ground, letting the opposite plate rise.

Everybody in the ceremony gasped, looking at the little boy with widened eyes. The smirk from the face of the king disappeared. Screwing his eyebrows, he stood up from his sit. The princess looked at him with impressed gazes, descending from the plate. Turning his stares to the princess, he simply bowed.

"Wow! This boy is outstanding!"

"Where did he get the pendant?"

"The pendant is seeming familiar."

"Did he steal it?"

"Silence!"

When the king snapped, the hall became discreet. At that moment, even the sound of dropping a pin on the floor could easily be heard.

Gradually, Zagart descended from his chair and landed on the floor. Moving towards the neko-jin, he looked at him. The toddler bowed, showing the emperor respect.

Not greeting in return, the king took the pendant from the plate and started examining it. As he recognized it, his eyes became amplified. Frowning, he put it back.

"Boy, where did you find it?" He calmly asked.

"Father," Salima arrived at the scene, running, "Don't chide him. He didn't steal it. I gave it to him."

"Salima, my child," The expression of the king softened, "Why did you give him such a precious jewelry?"

"Father, I met him before a week when I was going to temple," She replied, "He is such a brave boy. He impressed me with his fighting skill. You know, he defeated one of our soldiers in a duel."

"Boy, is it true?" Zagart asked Ray, "Did you really defeat one of my soldiers?"

Not uttering a single word, the raven-haired neko-jin shyly nodded.

"Salima, my princess," The king turned to his daughter, "Would you mind going to your room? I need to talk to this boy for a few moments."

"Sure, father," Bowing, the redhead returned to her room.

Once the girl left the hall, the expression of the king changed. His face became furious. Grasping the left shoulder of the toddler, he seethed, "You little scoundrel! How dare you?!"

Being nervous, the boy bit his inner lip. Shaking him, the king rebuked, "Dishonoring my soldiers, you didn't stop. You dared talk to my daughter and hypnotized her, didn't you? What do you think of yourself? Smart?"

Bit by bit, the little boy raised his eyes and stared at the eyes of the emperor. Touching the stony hand on his left shoulder, he gently put it down and freed himself. At this, the ruler of China gasped. Whispering began among the present guests.

"Your Majesty," He cleared his throat, "I don't know what I am or how I am. But I don't hurt people like the king. I'm a good boy."

"Shut up!" The king screamed, "You mannerless! What do you mean by 'I don't hurt people like the king'?"

"Pardon me, your Majesty," He lowered his head, "I was talking about the king of another country."

"Liar!" Zagart screeched, "You're trying to fool me, aren't you? What did you think? Don't I know which king hurts his people?"

Ray covered his mouth, trying his best not to burst out laughing. But it didn't work. All the guests started laughing hysterically. Laughter echoed through the entire hall.

"Halt!"

The torrent of laughter vanished with a single roar of the emperor. Again pin-drop silence fell there. Observing the entire atmosphere, the king looked at the boy who clenched his teeth, keeping his eyes at the ground.

'The boy is seeming familiar,' Zagart pondered, 'Have I ever seen him before? Ever? Nah, I cannot remember where and when I've seen him. Then…..do I know someone who was connected with this boy?"

"H….hey….!" He stammered, "W…what is…you….your n…..name?"

"Ray," The toddler answered. His face was still seeming heated.

"Only Ray?"

"Yes."

Zagart gritted his fists. His eyebrows were wrinkled. Ray…..wasn't it the name of the only son of Heian and Riza? But….that child should've been no more on the earth, should it?

Suddenly, a gust of stormy wind entered the hall from nowhere. Flower vases fell from the stands and got shattered into pieces. Candles were blown out. With loud roars, thunder sparked. Guests started screaming. They began running here and there.

"Servants!" Zagart shrieked, "Bring light!"

Within a few seconds, a couple of servants appeared in the scene, with lit torches and crystal oil lamps. The flow of the airstream also stopped.

"Don't move, honorable guests," A soldier announced, "The pieces of broken vases, flower stands, candle holders and crystal lamps are scattering here and there. If you accidentally step on them, you may get hurt. Please, stay at your position without moving."

Cleaners arrived at the scene with brooms and shovels. They started cleaning the floor. Meanwhile, being a little relax, Zagart called another group of soldiers. When they appeared, Zagart ordered, "Go and search for a little raven-haired neko-jin! I need him!"

A certain pair of eyes was also searching for the same boy here and there. The elderly man took a deep breath, then exhaled.

He'd been searching for that kind of boys since his entire life.

So...how's it? Good or bad?

Keep reading and reviewing. Pardon all the grammatical and the spelling errors. Take care :*

-Misty ^_^