Hello everyone! How're you?
Thanks a lot to Cutetyhil, TwilightUniverse018, Justafan, Scarlet witch of Terra, LadyPeach7, KaiHil, Bahubali (Hey! I loved your name xD), Indian fan, Rock the road and Sehun is hottttt for leaving a bunch of reviews. I became so glad receiving them. So, the auspicious moment (Ahem ahem) has finally arrived, hasn't it? Like a cherry on a cake, this chapter is a heaven for MaxXMariam fans too! (At least I think so :P)
Let me inform: Koto, sanshins, biwas are ancient Japanese musical instruments.
So...enjoy! :D
Done with that day, the sun had already gone to sleep in the western room of his castle. Rafts of sliced clouds were floating in the scarlet sea. Hummingbirds, sparrows, martins and parrots were fluttering their colorful wings, indicating that it was their time to return home after completing the travel across the blue. Their dreams were planted in their straw-made nests. Some of them were sleeping peacefully inside shells, some of them were opening their mouths like hungry demons. Night-queens had already started spreading their seraphic fragrance all over the aura. Maids were hastily running through the passages with flints and oil pots in order to light the lamps. Meanwhile, a royal-blue haired girl was standing beneath a clustering tree, alone. In the poems of light and shadow, that tree was adding nothing but spooky expressions. Yet, she wasn't caring. She had the courage of handling her fear, not her emotions. That's why, saline waterworks were streaming down on her cheeks from her gorgeous emerald orbs. Clutching her lips with her fingers, she was letting her emotions overflow.
Why, Max, why? Why do you love Emily so much? What lies in her which you cannot find in me? Am...am I so unworthy of your love? Yes...I admit...I admit that I've always behaved with you like a princess. But deep inside, I'm a beggar. Believe me, I'm nothing but a beggar. The beggar who wants only your love. She's standing in front of you, stretching her arms. Why're you being blind to her? Oh, the ocean of mercy! You don't make even a little child return empty-handed from your doors. Then why're you overlooking me?
Soon, her ears twitched as they sensed someone's soothing footsteps. She quickly wiped her tears with her palms and folded her arms on her chest. The evening wind tapped her indigo tresses, making them bounce a bit. Her heart also followed the way of her strands as it could guess the owner of the footsteps.
"Mariam?"
She wheeled to the caller with a pair of wrinkled eyebrows and a pair of pouted lips. The hyperactive American became dumbfounded, almost gasping. Though her eyes were dry, he could easily say that she'd been weeping. Two crows entered the nest in that tree, they didn't notice.
"Are...are you alright?" The draciel-wielder stammered, failing to talk properly.
"Hm."
A stoic and numb reply hit his ears. He frowned, not expecting the behavior from his childhood friend...ah well, more than friend.
"Is something wrong?" His tone became more nervous as he approached her, "Are your family members okay?"
"That's none of your business, Max!" She snapped, "Anyways, I'm going."
Not waiting for the response of her crush, she kept advancing. However, the hyperactive American wasn't a boy to give up that easily. Like the rats of Hamelin, he started following the blunette. Noticing it, the royal blue-haired girl increased the speed of her feet. She was almost on the verge of running. The blonde was gasping for air to catch her trail.
"Wait...Mari!" He huffed, "Where are you going?"
She turned back, facing him. Seeing her bloodshot eyes and inflated cheeks, the hands and feet of the American prince started trembling. He felt his throat getting dry.
Something must have happened to her. What? Why's not she expressing it? Please, Mariam, please...tell me once. Tell me, breaking the barriers of embarrassment. I...I cannot see this condition of you. I love the chirpy, cheery Mariam who used to chide me so sweetly. I miss your death glares, Mari. Please God, return the old Mari to me...
"For dying."
Those two words increased the shivers of the sugar-high boy. His baby blue eyes remained enlarged, his heart bled at the sharpness of her reply-faced sword.
"Wh...where?" For ensuring that his ears weren't cheating him, he questioned her once again which, of course, for the second time, infuriated the girl.
"Are you deaf?" She scowled, "I'm going to drown in river Fuji for dying."
"B...but..." Max stuttered, keeping his cool, "You...you can swim. How will you drown?"
She was thinking that he would come to her and ask her what had happened to her. However, when her wishes weren't fulfilled, she felt more agitated.
"Fine!" The blunette seethed, pointing at a nearby mango tree, "I'll hang myself from that tree!"
"You're so weighty, Mari..." The blonde thoughtfully scratched his head, "You'll get the rope or whatever...torn."
"Still I have this!" Mariam swiftly popped out a dagger tucked inside her kimono-belt, "It can cut stones."
"You're harder than stones," He commented, gulping, "Forget about dying."
"Don't forget that I have two pots of the poison of cobra," She hissed, tossing the weapon at the ground, "They can kill elephants."
"Of course, I do believe in their power," The draciel-wielder got closer to her, "But...do snakes die of their own poison?"
Clenching her teeth, she ceased the distance between them and clutched the neckline of the American all of a sudden, making him wince.
"Yes, yes! I'm the snake!" Mariam outburst as tears exploded from her eyes, "After all, your eyes are mesmerized with a certain orange-haired girl. Except her, every girl on the earth is a snake to you, aren't they?"
Hearing her, Max froze. The blood inside his veins almost stopped flowing. His jaw dropped, he noticed the look on Mariam's face. He felt as if someone had mixed all the seven sins together and poured the mixture on the blameless mien of the blunette.
"Mes...mesmirized?" Max swallowed, "But you're wrong, Mari. I don't have feelings for her at all. She's one of my closest friends...in fact, I see her and Charlotte equally."
"Oh really?" Mariam cocked an eyebrow, "Then why were you writing a letter to her in the afternoon?"
The hyperactive American seemed baffled for a while. Then, bit by bit, his confused face went brightened. Little balls made of the sunshine of amusement started igniting in his eyes.
"Mari, Mari, Mari..." He laughed, "I was just sending her a letter to inform her about Hilary's groom-choosing ceremony. It's been a while since she visited Japan. Hilary was also willing her to attend the program."
"Really?" Mariam narrowed her eyes.
"Swearing by Draciel, I'm speaking the truth," He acknowledged, putting his mouth near her ear which made her shiver a bit, "There is no affair between me and Emily. But...why were you being so sad and jealous, huh?"
"Duh!"
In shyness, Mariam's face borrowed the crimson of the evening sun. Pushing him, she was about to run forward but she failed as he clasped her wrist firmly. Blushing, she bent her head down. He moved closer to her.
"Will you still delay?" His tone was quite seductive, leaving throbs in her heart, "Still haunted by your ego, aren't you?"
She furiously shook her head, denying the fact. Turning to him, she tried to gaze at his orbs but failed. Again, she lowered her head. Cupping her chin gently, he raised her face. His restless and impatient orbs were speaking, "Please, Mari, please...don't make me wait anymore."
Not able to express her feelings, she made her head clash against his chest, throwing her arms around him. He placed one of his hands on her head and another encompassing her shoulders. Her ears pressed on his heart kept listening to the most natural rhythm of love.
"I love you, Mari."
He spoke the first. She didn't reply, only nodded. Again, tears started flowing from her jades. The boy felt his kimono shirt getting drenched but he didn't mind. Soon, she elevated her face and looked at him. Not able to resist himself, he leaned forward to taste the honey of her lips. But before doing that, her right palm fell on his mouth. She quietly shook her head here and there. Getting the hint, he smiled, leaving her.
"Thanks." She whispered. Flushing, she ran away. He just smirked, kneeling down on the ground.
Yes, they deeply loved each other but they didn't forget the norms taught by their elders.
That's how the medieval love is, beyond physical contacts but crisscrossed with hundreds of feelings.
Inside the twilight-embraced chamber, eroded candles were burning. Melted wax was trickling down on the silver stands. A gust of wind crossed the threshold of the arched windows, making the blazes of the metal torches attached to the stony walls shudder. The black barriers turned illuminated at the action of the gull. At the heart of the room, a round carpet was covering the floor. Keeping a rectangular wood-framed mirror on the stand in front of him, the purple-haired Satan was sitting in lotus pose. The mirror was placed diagonally, at 45-degrees with the horizon. By both its sides, there were two clay lamps. On the lap of the ruler of underground, there were a pair of bones and a rusted skull. Petals of black roses were scattered around him.
Crossing the bones, he blabbered some chants. When he blew off the lamps, the mirror got enlightened. Sparks appeared on its transparent surface. The beams produced by it removed all the darkness from the room. Even the lamps and candles had to accept their defeat before it.
Smirking, he uttered:
"Oh, the dark counterparts of the sacred spirits that are protecting the world from all the four directions! I'm calling you all! Tell me in whose hands my death is written."
The aura was silent. Not a single word could be heard. However, he didn't stop. Holding the skull in front of his eyes, he continued:
"Who'll be the reason behind the death of this Boris Balkov? Dragoon? Driger? Dranzer? Draciel? Any other sacred spirit? Any deity? Any witch or fairy? Any animal or bird?"
No reply came. Contented, he grinned, placing the cranium on the carpet.
"Hehehe...I knew..." Boris sniggered, "Nobody...nobody can kill me. I'm immortal! I'm the one and only, Boris Balkov. The world lies beneath my feet. The people of the planet bow down before this mighty emperor of underground. Hahaha!"
His echoing laughter made the glass of the windows judder, ripping the airstream and reaching the skyline. The flames of the lamps started dancing with the tempo of his wild exultation.
"Don't need to be happy so soon, Balkov."
He stopped, so did the mad environment. Frowning, he looked at the mirror. There appeared the face of a white tiger with green stripes. Golden antennas were placed between its speckling pools. Its scimitar-like canines were exposed, penetrating the barrier of its mouth.
"Who?" He gritted his fists, "Who're you?"
"It is you who have abducted me," The feline replied, "And you cannot recognize me? I'm Driger, the sacred white tiger of the west."
"Oh...you?" Boris cocked an eyebrow, "But...I haven't called you here. I have just called your rivals."
"They won't come to you, Boris," Driger rolled his eyes, "They are your loyal slaves. No matter how many crimes you commit, they'll still cheer you. But I'm not like them. You wanted to know the answer of your question, right?"
Balkov remained quiet, watching the tiger with outgrowing wrath.
"You've wanted to know it from the wrong ones," The white tiger continued, "Of course, they know the answer but they don't have the courage to inform you about that. I do have it. Listen, you prideful, arrogant emperor of underground! Your death is written in the hands of four seraphic warriors. Specially, in the hands of their leader!"
"What?!" Boris snapped, not able to understand the words of the mammal.
"Yes, you blind and deaf man!" The feline seethed, "One of them is my worthy guardian. Soon, he'll come to you with his comrades and tear you into pieces. He'll poison your nectar-like palace and empire. Count back, Boris. Your days are almost over!"
"I don't think so!" The purple-haired man blasted, "I'm Boris Balkov, the undefeatable warrior and the mighty king of the world. Nobody will be able to overthrow me ever."
"It's only your dream, Balkov!" Driger re-exploded with equal force, "Oh, another thing. After this incident, be careful regarding women because...maybe a chaste and pure woman will be involved with your demise..."
"Shut up!"
Boris threw the skull at the mirror which got shattered into thousands of pieces. The nocturnal wind entered the compartment with full force and smothered all the sources of light. The whole area plunged into darkness, it returned to the same state how it should have been...
The next day:
The temple was rebuilt, shining like a brand new sanctuary with its utmost gorgeousness and holy vigor. The pinnacle was higher than the previous one, resembling a rising phoenix from the ashes. All the bloodstains from the white-stone pillars had been washed away. They were wrapped with marigold garlands and golden ribbons. Flower festoons were hanging from the silvery bells of the prayer hall. Inside the temple, velvet floorings having the artworks of different aspects of the nature were laid. In lamp-stands, crystal lanterns were igniting. Koto, sanshins, biwas were placed accurately for the prayer songs. Nightingales were cheeping in their dulcet pitch, sitting on the flower-embellished branches of the Sakura trees. Squirrels and rabbits were greedily roaming around the juicy fruits. Bumblebees and butterflies were dancing, encircling the garden filled with hundred kinds of florets. The heavenly aroma was spreading throughout the aura, singing and expressing that all the dangers had gone away from the temple. There wouldn't be any death, any droplet of tears, any scream later on.
"My son," Pouring honey in her voice, the female sage asked, "I'm so happy and grateful that you've rescued me. But...I want to ask you a question."
The dual-haired Russian was standing before her, crossing his arms on his chest, yet bowing. He spoke, cocking his head, "Sure."
"Why did you free me from the curse?" Kincaid inquired, "Any special reason behind your job?"
"It was my duty," Kai opened his eyes, "I've only performed it."
"Didn't you feel afraid of the consequences?" The brunette again queried, "Weren't you worried of the wrath of Boris Balkov?"
"My lady, when Boris Balkov proposed you, didn't you feel afraid to reject his proposal?" The Russian counter-questioned, "If you didn't, I also wasn't tensed regarding it. Your salvation was possible only by the possessor of the sacred vermillion bird of the south. The fate is the key player, my lady, I'm only a mere chessman."
"Let me return to my first question." Kincaid cleared her throat, "Did you help me only for accounting for what you had done with Katherine?"
"I have no regret of what I have done with the demoness," Sternly, he answered, "She was messing with the innocent people of this kingdom and spreading terror everywhere."
"She was a demoness, Kai," The educator frowned, "It was her trait."
"And I'm a warrior," The prince didn't feel confused a bit, "It's my trait to save the weak and shove the evil."
"But she was a woman," Kincaid sharpened the tip of her question, "Is it a warrior-like action to raise the weapon on a woman?"
"A terrorist is above gender, religion, cast and creed, my lady." Kai grinned, "Besides, if I spared her only for becoming a woman, it would be unjustified to countless women of Japan who lost their most valuable things in the hands of her agents."
A smile of satisfaction rose in the holy face of the lady. With tearful eyes, she started, "Kai, I've seen a lot of people on the earth who are brave, wise and kind. But for the first time in my life, I've seen such a man who is bejeweled with all the three qualities. May God bless you, Hiwtarian."
Despite being addressed only by his name, the dual-haired Russian didn't feel embarrassed at all. In pleasure and respect, he bowed again. Soon, he had to straighten his back as the bald sage arrived at the place with the wolf-prince.
"Prince Kai, Prince Tala," Stanley spoke, "A decorous veneration is going to be held in this temple within a few moments. Go to river Fuji and bathe there with her uncontaminated water. It'll bring good luck for you."
"Let's go, Kai," Tala patted his shoulder, "Otherwise, we may get late."
"Hn." Giving his signature reply, the phoenix-prince accompanied his cousin. No sooner had they left the place than the royal girls arrived there, wearing the traditional Japanese outfits and holding baskets occupied with flowers.
"Greetings, Sir," The brunette bowed, "We're extremely sorry if we have been late."
"No, princess, you aren't late at all," Dickenson gently assured her, "Still we have enough time. But before starting the veneration, I would like to introduce you to a special person."
"Sure, Sir," Hilary nodded, "Who's he or she?"
"Here," The sage gestured to the brown-haired lady to come forward, "She's lady Kincaid. Remember you were asking me to help her in the refugee camp?"
The basket from the hands of the princess was about to fall down. Managing to catch it back, she looked at the female sage with disbelief. Her mouth remained open in astonishment.
"I've heard a lot about you from sage Dickenson," Kincaid affectionately kept a hand on the cheek of the younger one, "If you didn't cooperate by informing him about my state, I might never be freed from the curse of Boris Balkov."
"Lady...lady Kincaid..." The ruby orbs of the Japanese princess started getting drenched, "I cannot believe my own eyes...you're in front me..."
"All because of you and prince Kai Hiwatari, my girl," The female teacher smiled, "Together, you did a splendid job."
No...no, my lady, not me. I'm not the one. I've done nothing in this case. Believe me, I...I'm just a mere girl. All the credits go to only prince Hiwatari. He bravely saved you, not caring of the outcomes. Please...don't make me snatch his good deeds from him.
"I salute you for your courage of rejecting Boris Balkov, my lady," The princess bowed, "You're such a wise lady, the epitome of knowledge. My lady...if...if I have done something good in this life, I hope...I hope you will be my teacher in my next life."
"Only time can say that, my girl," Blushingly, the female sage smiled, "By the way, it is high time we started the veneration. So, shall we go?"
"S...sure..." Hilary furiously shook her head up and down. Before entering the temple, she looked back, hoping to see him. Catching nobody by her eyes, she sighed and followed her companions.
"Ding!"
The silver bells rang for the first time after the veneration of the destruction, for the worship of the celebration. Joss-sticks started emanating aromatic smokes, dipped inside the clay pots. The priests flapped the horsehair fly whisks in front of the holy idol. Lamps kindled, flowers discharged the fragrance and ribbons swayed. Sitting in diamond pose, the chocolate-haired girl drummed the strings of the koto. Melodious jingles of hundreds of untold words sprang from the speechless instrument. The priests chorused:
If you are searching for your lover,
Lose yourself, oh crazy, before everything is over.
If you are searching for your lover,
Lose yourself, oh crazy, before everything is over.
The coco-haired princess opened her mouth. The streams of one thousand cataracts originated from her vocal cord, defeating the tunes of the harp-like instrument. Everybody closed their eyes.
The ways to your abode, oh my lord,
Are just the tales of love,
They're just the legends of romance,
The words of River Fuji.
I recite those words, again and again,
It's nothing but your mercy...
Completing his bath, the slate-haired young man was returning to the temple yard. Suddenly, the magical world composed by a feminine tone chimed inside his ears, overthrowing the chirpings of the birds and the whisperings of the airstream. He felt as if someone had poured cold water inside his veins. Flurries fought against the wetness of his smoky bangs and made them blow. Spellbound, the prince started progressing to the temple. He entered the sanctuary building from the right side. Sitting down on the agate ground, he folded one of his knees and kept another laying horizontally. Propping his head against a flower-wrapped column, he drowned to the river of tunes.
The owner of the honeyed tone continued:
Coming to your reverence, the world is still,
But I'm weightless, because your wishes are guarding me.
But where there is no wish, the life is a desert.
Yet, desert is a flower to me,
As I've lost myself, I've lost myself...
No, the owner of the anonymous songs! You haven't lost yourself. It's I who...who have got lost completely. Your voice is divine; it is the constant truth of the world. I...I can portray you by your tone. I...I cannot see you but paint an image of you on the canvas of my heart. The image is like a starry night; it is embracing me but I cannot hug it back.
Oh tunes! The tunes springing from an unknown voice! You've claimed the seat of my familiarities without being familiar. How perfect you are! You've blossomed like a flower on my arid heart of restlessness...but how strange! You didn't let the waterless land tremble a bit. You didn't melt it, just left it flowered.
The final tune escaped from the instrument as the guy opened his eyes. Not waiting there for a single moment, he descended the stairs. The chocolate-haired girl looked back, noticing the white scarf swaying in the airstream. Her heart skipped a beat, thunderbolts entered her spine. Jolted, she stood up. Leaving her cousins and relatives, she ran downstairs with her lithe feet. Stretching her left arm, she yelled:
"Wait!"
The lord of love became satisfied with her. He turned to her, accepting her wish. Then...
Everything came to a standstill. Wind stopped blowing, birds ceased singing. Flowers looked at them, baffled. His amethysts imprisoned her rubies in their prison without touching them. Both the guard and the prisoner got lost in each other. He appeared from the flowery vines just like the moon, removing all the clouds of the nightly sky.
She gazed at him. The eyelashes of her didn't touch her cheeks. Who was standing in front of her? His hair was two-toned, just representing the skies of sunshine and rainclouds...no no, the skies of days and nights. His face was bright...what? The moon beneath the clouds? The orbs...they were just like purple lotuses growing in any translucent pond, floating under the twin racy icy-blue bows, the thick peaks rising a bit in surprise and slim corners dissolving with the fairness of his skin. Did the surface of moon have ponds? If it had and lotuses grew there, it wouldn't be less similar to the face of the Russian. His scarf was still dancing, winking at her with its invisible eyes. Droplets of the water of river Fuji were still trickling down from his bangs. Broad round shoulders bore the invisible weight of his valor, blue-veined throat had the white twirling scarf at its bottom, keeping the slightly curvy Adam's apple over it. Though it was a sunny day, the brunette felt as if it had been raining in front of her. Even in the rain, the appealing moon was there. There was so much peace on his face that it could even cool the fire. Obvious it was because the one who had to handle the fire always had to remain cool.
Flashback:
A forest. To be clearer, a lane inside a forest. Trees and bushes were by both sides of it, getting mixed with the daylight, embodying an unparalleled combination of light and shadow. In the narrow lane, there was a white horse. On it, a man was sitting, looking back. His hair was two-toned, just like the clouds before rain. His complexion was reminding them about the mixture of milk and turmeric paste. Beneath his fixed eyebrows, there were his eyes, looking like abloom lotuses floating on the surface of a clear pond. He was wearing a pair of comfy baggy trousers, tucked inside his boots and a full-sleeved black top, with purple and grey linings. The upper garment wasn't loose at all, clearly exposing his biceps, triceps and broad shoulders. The white scarf wrapped around his neck was seeming to blow.
Every stroke, every line, every touch of the brushes and colors in the picture was more than perfect. That was ethereal.
Flash forward:
Before her eyes, the creepy jungle of her dream appeared. But it wasn't eerie anymore. The savior was standing there, facing her. It wasn't a dream. It was more than that. It was reality. That was ethereal, so was it.
The moon should have smiled at her. But...why was it seeming baffled?
Perhaps, she didn't know that his amethyst orbs were fulfilling their thirst, quenching the elixir showered by her rubies. The temple, the garden, the instruments-everything disappeared. He found himself in the same jungle where he had roamed in his dreams before twelve years. Her feet were playing tabors there. Her chocolate tresses were playing hide and seek with the air. Her hair was tied into a loose bun. She was wearing a yellow kimono painted with magenta andrika symbols, supported by a broad magenta belt which created a bow behind her back. A pair of kite-shaped fuchsia earrings were dangling from her earlobes, rimmed with gold. Azaleas and golden daisies were tucked inside her hair, over her right ear.
He had seen her before. In the dawns of the late autumn, in the ingratiating nights of the spring.
Flashback:
He was running. His fair feet were smiting the surface of mother earth recklessly. But he couldn't catch her. He was sweating and wheezing. His lungs were craving for oxygen. But he didn't stop. He couldn't stand and rest for a sole second. In front of him, she was also running. But she wasn't panting. She wasn't exhausted. The echoes of her laughter were like the aftershocks of ever-flowing cataracts, rolling down from the crests of high, higher and highest mountains of the world. With her every step on the ground, green grasses were growing. Little but colorful flowers were being upstretched and peeking at the sky. With her slight touch, a leafless tree started growing green leaves. Birds sat on it and began to tweet.
"Wait!" He yelled, "Stop!"
As she heard him, she stopped and turned back at his figurine. Seeing her standing, he also quitted running and stood motionlessly. Her chocolate-colored hair was touching her waist. In the tempo of ever-dancing squall, her auburn locks were also boogying. A pair of irreplaceable rubies were observing him very carefully, situated at the sockets of her eyes. The complexion of her skin reminded the slate-haired boy of the mixture of milk and honey. The rays of sunshine fell on her skin and the succession of those protoderm cells shimmered like solitaires.
He couldn't utter a single word. He silently kept watching her without closing his eyes for once. Every single hair on his body got straightened. He felt warm despite standing on the veneer of his own motherland. In front of her sharp scrutiny, he couldn't stand anymore.
Flash forward:
They both felt like the trees whose roots went deep inside the soil. That's why, they couldn't move, nor their orbs. Eyes felt contented getting the treasury of eyes. From the magical streets of their visions, they found each other's ways towards the spiritual realms of each other's hearts. The color of blood started spreading across their cheeks. Getting the hint, again the birds started singing, flying around them. Flowers bloomed and leaves danced. Bumblebees played their flutes. Nature borrowed the color of love...
"Princess!"
Hearing the familiar masculine voice, the chocolate-haired girl gasped, struggling to emerge from the imaginary world. Her vision met the red-haired Russian who was standing behind his cousin. Startled, the dual-haired prince also turned back.
"Greetings, princess..." He spoke, "Can you recognize me? We met in the refugee camp of sage Dickenson, remember?"
Smiling, the brunette nodded. The redhead continued, "You were willing to meet my cousin. Well, he's my cousin, Kai Alexander Hiwatari. He banned the culture of sacrificing the childless widows in Russia, killed Katherine as well as her force and freed lady Kincaid from the spells of Boris Balkov. Kai, she's Hilary Tachibana, the princess of Japan. She's the one for whom the dwellers of the camp were so calm and relaxed. We used to eat the delicious foods cooked by her."
Like a humble vine, the brunette bowed. Slowly bending down a bit, the phoenix-prince took her right hand and placed a tender kiss on its back, reddening her more. The redhead rolled his eyes at that.
Except his mother and mother-like figures, for the first time, he had lowered his head before a lady.
"Returning from the camp..." Hilary started, "I was feeling worried."
Kai flinched inaudibly. Was he hearing the truth? Had someone been really worrying for him?
"Hilary didn't enjoy a single wink of sleep at that night, prince Hiwatari," Someone's voice could be heard, "Only after getting the news of your victory, she sighed in relief."
Both the boys and the girl looked back. There was the dual-haired princess of Spain standing with a bright smile all over her face.
"Greetings, the princes of Russia," She spoke, bowing, "I'm Julia Fernandez, the princess of Spain and the maternal cousin of Hilary."
"Greetings, princess Fernandez," The redhead glanced at her, "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, prince..."
"Valkov." Tala finished, "My name is Tala Valkov."
Julia looked at the redhead, narrowing her eyes. How red his hair was! Did someone put fire on his head?
"I mean... I was getting worried for everyone," The brunette cleared her throat, flushing, "But when I got to know the news of Katherine's death, I felt relieved. Thank you so much for saving my motherland, prince."
"The pleasure is mine," Kai responded, "The victory of truth is inevitable, princess."
"I know..." The Japanese princess nodded, "Specially when the representatives of truth are fearless and skilled."
The tiny praise sprinkled vermillion on the moon-like face of the slate-haired prince. Smirking, he lowered his gazes. His amethysts roamed over her lily feet. Her nails were shot and pink, pouring cold water in his eyes.
"Anyways," Tala interrupted, "Kai, I came here with a view to informing you that His Majesty of Hayashi Tachibana has called sage Dickenson to his place. Sir Dickenson has decided to take us with him. So, let's go. See you, princess."
"See you too, prince." Hilary smiled. Leering back, the redhead almost dragged his cousin towards the palace. Before leaving, the phoenix-prince didn't forget to look at the chocolate-haired girl. Blushingly, the auburn-haired princess moved back to the temple.
The moon was harmoniously smiling, sitting in the heart of the sky. Her dazzling gleams were embracing the twilight, caressing the bunch of stars. Standing on her balcony, the brunette was gazing at her without blinking. She felt that the moonbeams were drenching her. But getting soaked in the silvery rays, she was feeling lighter. Powdered snowflakes of the moonlight got sprinkled on her cheeks, forehead, lips and chin. In her eyes, the moon was a round mirror. On it, the image of a certain slate-haired Russian appeared. She thought that the cold fingers of the prince were stroking her cheeks, not the moonlight. Slight shivers passed across her slender body.
"What happened, sister Hilary?" The youngest of the girls asked, playing dice with her friends in the room, "Why are you looking at the moon?"
"Charlotte, Hilary won't listen to you," Mariam spoke, placing the yellow piece on the board, "Stop calling her."
"Why?" Dew cocked an eyebrow, "Why won't Oni-chan listen to us?"
"Dew-chan," Julia giggled, "Do you think that her heart is here? It was stolen before a long time in the temple yard."
"What?" Charlotte cocked an eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yes, really!" Mariam pinched her cheeks, "But her feelings are justified. Man, the Russian prince was so handsome!"
"I second that, Mari!" The dual-haired Spaniard cheered.
"Of course you should, Juli," The blunette winked, "After all, your eyes were set upon the red-haired prince. Hehehe...I noticed..."
"Shut up, witch!" Julia slapped on the shoulder of her friend, "You've gone blind."
"Maybe I've gone blind of my eyes," Mariam rolled her eyes, "But you've gone blind to your heart."
"No, I haven't!"
"Yes, you have!"
The banter continued but the brunette didn't pay any attention. She kept watching the reflection of her love on the moon. Her cheerful and vibrant nature unexpectedly became silent and secretive. She was all shaken, her lips were quiet too. Her body was discreet; her mind was disturbed. Hints of falling in love were emerging from her lovely face. In her ruby orbs, sweet dreams could be found.
What to say?
These eyes have met those of a stranger,
As if a love story started,
New desires have sprung up in my heart,
That I never knew before.
We never met each other,
I don't know how our hearts have met.
What to do now? What to utter?
How should I call him?
Laying bedsheets on the surface of the roof of the royal guesthouse, the slate-haired boy was lying there, resting his head on his left arm and looking above at the moon-embellished sky. The ceaseless blue became a mirror for him. On it, her image appeared. Her ruby orbs waved at him, the pair of the chocolate strands that were cascading down blew a bit. Glazed wind left throbs in his thoughts, his mind started swinging in a reasonless euphoria. From the firmament of his heart, the new and condensed clouds were showering the essence of love. The flowers were blooming in the tubs, their mesmerizing fragrance tickled his nostrils. He took a sharp intake of breath, trying to absorb all the aestheticism of the world.
"Japan is a beautiful country, isn't it?" The redhead sat down beside him.
"Hn." It was the reply.
"The nature here owns such a splendor," Tala commented, "Quite different from Russia, huh?"
"Hn."
"The people of Japan are very innocent and hospitable," His cousin continued, "How warmly they welcomed us!"
"Hn."
"Princess Hilary Tachibana is also awesome, isn't she?"
"Undoubtedly...!"
Replying, the slate-haired Russian gasped, hearing the name. Standing up, he trudged towards the railings, thirstily gawking at the moon like a pied crusted cuckoo.
"What happened, Kai?" Cocking an eyebrow, the wolf-prince confusedly asked his cousin. In return, no word came. Frowning, he left the place.
Keeping his arms on the white-stone palings, the Russian threw his eyes above. Hovering gull of the night passed through his bangs, making them boogie a bit. The white scarf around his neck also caught the rhythm of the air.
As if...as if intoxicated waves appeared in the calm ocean of my mind. The waves are playing the roles of circular mirrors. They are bearing the reflections of princess Hilary. When I look at the moon, I feel as if princess Hilary were looking at me with her gorgeous garnet orbs. In the temple garden, she was the brightest of all the flowers. With her splendor, the whole garden was glimmering. But...but it's wrong...I...I cannot look at her in this way...it's a sin. We Hiwatarians cannot think about other women. To us, women are like mothers and sisters. Then why am I failing to imagine her to be one of them?
"Maybe, she's not like other women," A voice spoke, "Perhaps, she is very close to your heart."
Wheeling to the voice, the phoenix-prince found his redhead cousin, wickedly grinning. Clenching his teeth, the slate-haired Russian asked, "What are you doing here, Tala?"
"Listening to your verses," Tala made dreamy eyes, "What a poetic heart you have! Going to Russia, I've to inform aunt Apraxia about that."
"What?" The ogles of the twin-haired became widened in shock. He bit his tongue as his cheeks flushed.
"Let it be, Kai..." The redhead pretended to sigh, "How could you be so careless? You were literally reciting your thoughts. If anyone got to listen to you once, what would happen? Can you imagine?"
"Let them hear..."
The redhead stared at his cousin as though he'd seen any ghost. Then, all of a sudden, he covered his mouth for controlling his laughter that was on the verge of exploding in his stomach. Coughing, he left the place. The phoenix-prince didn't care, he set his eyes at the moon.
Why're there more dreams and less sleeps?
Maybe, God has some great plans.
The pauper heart of yesterday is a prince today,
Maybe, God has some great plans.
Am I in love?
What feeling is this?
Am I in love?
What feeling is this?
Done done done!
So...the lyrics of the temple scene was composed by me, inspired from a song. But...can you guess the last two songs? :P
Do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and the spelling errors. Take care :D
-Misty ^_^ ^_^