So a long time passed…so sorry …I don't know, I usually kind of faze out for months and months… I'm actually slowing down a bit more every time I stop…ah well.

Oh, yeah…I just realized that some of this might start to sound like Harry Potter. (I hadn't meant for it to do so. I don't own Harry Potter…) So, I suppose this is a disclaimer from Harry Potter…

Michiru sat on the large and comfortable bed, staring at nothing in particular. She was trying to block her mind of all saddening thoughts, but it was a useless effort. She just had to see Haruka again…no, she really couldn't. Haruka would die. Maybe not the very moment they met, but she wanted to spare Haruka of the explanations and emotions. Michiru climbed back under the bedcovers and closed her eyes. If only I could just sleep it all away, she thought desolately. I just want to forget everything and stay here forever… But is that what I really want? To stay here with Kuyou? Michiru's eyes flew open. Kuyou! "This is just what he wants!" She whispered angrily. "If he thinks that I'll turn to him for help…" She sat up hurriedly, bristling with rage. Suddenly, a faint knock came from the door. Michiru froze and glanced nervously at the doorknob. "Who is it?"

Silence. Then, "Michiru?"  

Michiru gasped, her heart pounding furiously. Could it be…? The voice that spoke her name was so familiar, so real! But could it really be? "Oh, Haruka!" Michiru cried and jumped out of the bed. She rushed to the door and hesitated. It wasn't safe…but she hastily took the chance. Michiru grabbed the doorknob and slowly started to turn it. Suddenly, a rush of realization hit her. What am I thinking? Michiru thought crazily. It's Haruka! She threw open the door and blindly flew into the arms of the person standing there. "Oh, Haruka…" Michiru sobbed. She felt the returning embrace, but suddenly, she become aware of the fact that Haruka hadn't said anything. "Haruka?" Michiru reluctantly pulled away and looked up. She gasped in appalling shock and quickly took a step back into the room.  "Oh, Michiru." The voice was cold, sneering. "It's interesting to see how much you still want to see Haruka. And how much of a chance you would take to see her." Kuyou. He stood there, watching her surprise, sadness, and then finally, anger. "Kuyou!" She hissed at him, her eyes blazing.

Kuyou laughed. "I'm learning more about you, you know. I already see your most strongest feelings about me." He stepped into the room and glanced around. "Ah, I see that you have chosen this one. It's a lovely place to stay, really."

Michiru glared at him, her anger still burning. "You know I didn't choose it. You know I don't want to stay here."

Kuyou's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Oh, really? Not this room? Well, how about we go look around for a better suiting one then?"

"Why did you do that?" Michiru stared at him.

"Do what? Pretend to be Haruka?" Kuyou glanced out the window. "It's only amusement. I wanted to see how you'd react. And now it's over. I got my answer." He looked back at Michiru. "You do remember what I told you last night? You do know your fate?"

Michiru turned away and laughed bitterly. "How could I forget? But…" She paused. "You know, it could change. There isn't a set future…" She trailed off.

Kuyou frowned. Michiru doubted her original thoughts. "Well, of course it could change…but I'm afraid that nothing's going to be altered this time. Unless someone comes to save you, you're stuck here. There's no one else on this island." He smiled triumphantly when Michiru's face fell. "Well, how about you stay here then. It's the best place on this island."

Michiru frowned. She didn't want to stay. Kuyou was the one who brought her here. Kuyou was the one who was so cruel to Haruka. Kuyou was the living reason that Michiru hated this place. But of course, he was offering her to stay here… And true, this was the best place to be…she was hesitating. Something was still very unsettling about the whole thing. Things just didn't seem to fit quite right. But that was something she could think about later. Right now, she could say that she would stay here. It wouldn't do any harm…would it? "All right…" Michiru said quietly.

Kuyou smiled broadly. "Michiru, that was the right choice. Now, how about we get some breakfast?"

            "Well, this is the last bit of information you'll need to know. You will most likely meet several servants who will be of great use to you. They will probably know where Michiru is at any time. I can already think of one certain person who Michiru has already met. Greet these people cautiously." Rena stopped. "Are you getting all this?"

Haruka nodded confidently. "Yes, I've got it. But I have a question…what will you be doing while I'm gone?"

Rena smiled. "I'll be around. Don't worry, you'll see me sometimes."

Haruka nodded again. "All right, then. Should I be off?"

"Oh, yes. Here, stand next to me and I'll transport you to the castle." Haruka obeyed and waited nervously by Rena. "Good luck…" Haruka opened her mouth to reply, but Rena suddenly disappeared. Then she realized that the forest was rushing around her in a blend of colors. "Oh, boy…" Haruka muttered under her breath and closed her eyes. The spinning was incredibly dizzying. Finally, everything seemed still, and Haruka stood for a while, not sure if she was all right. Oh, gosh. She thought ridiculously. Here I am, trying to save a person, and I can't even take the littlest step… With that, she quickly opened her eyes and looked around. Everything seemed the same…yet the air was different somehow. Rena wasn't anywhere in sight. Might as well start walking. Haruka wandered around for a while, following various paths she came upon. Nothing seemed too special in this place. In fact, it looked like it was the same forest she had come from! But she knew it was different in some way. Suddenly, Haruka heard a faint noise. She abruptly stopped walking. It was as if someone was breathing in and out very slowly. The sound didn't grow louder or softer…it was just a constant noise that wouldn't go away. Haruka started walking again. She sped up a little when the breathing grew a bit quicker. At first, it was just a dim sound in the background, but the more nervous Haruka felt, the closer it came. Soon, it was swirling around her, but the funny thing was, she couldn't see it. Now full panic was set in. Haruka started to run, but she couldn't see anything in front of her! Everything had dimmed to an unnatural gray color and it was hard to identify anything. Just as Haruka started to despair, she suddenly thought of Rena's warning: "Lord Kuyou, as he can be called, probably already has spies sent out to search for you. To get past these spirits, all you need to do is concentrate on happy and warm thoughts. They will diminish in a few minutes, as they cannot be near warmth and blissfulness."

Haruka pumped her fist in the air in victory. "Yes! I've got it!" She started to concentrate on the fact that everything would be all right in the end, and that she would save Michiru, destroy Kuyou, and save the people of the island… But after a few moments of concentrating, Haruka realized that nothing was happening. The blinding gray color was still everywhere, and the breathing, which was now startlingly loud and harsh, continued to whir on. "Huh?" Haruka frowned nervously. Nothing was making sense. Why wasn't the spirit leaving? She took a few steps backward in alarm. All of a sudden, everything stopped...the noise, the color, and…the spirit. Haruka stared around her in disbelief. Or maybe…maybe it wasn't a spirit? She shook her head and breathed out deeply. There was no time to ponder on such an event. With all the determination she could gather, Haruka started to walk again.   

            "Entering the Lady Michiru." Trumpets sounded, servants bowed. Michiru stepped through the Great Hall door at this introduction. "Ah, Michiru. It's wonderful to see you. Care to join me?" Kuyou gestured grandly at the table in front of him. Michiru swallowed nervously and nodded. She walked over to him. "Sit, sit. I've been doing nothing much, really. Just thinking about some plans to persuade my royal niece to come back." Michiru looked up in interest. She had thought there were no people at all here, other than the servants. "Your niece?" She asked curiously.

"Yes, yes. My niece. She once lived here, in this palace. But one day, I suppose something in her ungrateful heart changed, and she left." Kuyou sighed. "I had given her all that she needed, yet she still chose to leave. Of course you can see that I am very much disappointed."

Michiru listened attentively. This…niece, she sounded like an amusing person. "What is her name?"

"Rena," Kuyou said abruptly. "A bit too ordinary, if you ask me. But when I suggested that she change her name to a more suitable one for a royal, I was ignored."

Michiru thought this Rena was somewhat ungrateful. Who would want to live out there on the island when a perfectly beautiful castle was offered?

"You will probably meet her sometime, you know. Rena does come here once in awhile." Kuyou stood up. "Well, I'm about done. Michiru, if you need anything, please come tell me. For now, I have some business to attend to."

Michiru also stood up. She gazed at Kuyou, trying to really understand this mysterious king. Kuyou walked a little closer to her and their eyes met briefly. He took her hand and bent down and kissed it. Michiru's eyes widened in surprise, but she relaxed a little and smiled. Kuyou raised his head and straightened up. "I'll see you later today, then." With that, he strode out of the room. Michiru sighed, confused at many things. "Well," she murmured to herself. "I suppose I'll just hang around here." She exited the Great Hall and started walking up the nearest staircase.

Haruka had been walking for several hours. "Great," she muttered. "I'm probably lost." As soon as the words were spoken, she heard some voices nearby. Haruka quietly stepped behind some trees and peered around. Soon, several men on horses came trotting by. They looked somewhat like knights, with all their armor and swords. "So where is she?" One of them spoke. "That foolish girl, running around wild everywhere." Haruka frowned, not sure who they were talking about.

"Come on, we're under strict orders from the king here! We have to bring her back to the castle by nightfall!"

The first knight spoke again. "Yes, well, how do we find her? She's got more power than we do."

The leader stepped forward. "Stop squabbling, you idiot! We'll have our heads cut off if we don't find her. Now, let's go!"

The group started moving again, and soon, Haruka could no longer hear their voices. She breathed a sigh of relief and walked back out onto the path. Who were they talking about? She wondered curiously. It couldn't be me they're looking for…it shouldn't be Michiru either… Oh well. Haruka had noticed the direction the knights came from, and decided hurriedly to follow that direction. It was possible that the knights had come straight from the castle. She had walked no more than two paces when all of a sudden, an unexpected tree root popped up and Haruka went flying. "Augghh!" She yelled at full volume as she soared through the air. Haruka hit the ground hard and rolled a few feet, right into a puddle of thick mud. "Ugh…" she muttered as she tried to get up.

"Hey!! Who's there?!" Haruka heard voices off to the distance.

Oh, no. Must be those stupid knights, she thought in exasperation. She quickly stood up and stared at herself. Mud was splattered on every inch of her shirt and pants. "Oh, great…" Haruka took a few steps and saw that her shoes made muddy footprints on the light, clean dirt. She quickly scuffed her shoes on the ground a couple of times and tried to get all the mud off. The voices and the trotting of the horses came closer and closer. Haruka brushed herself off in a hurry and started to run through the trees. "Hey!! Stop now, you mongrel!! Halt, I say!! HEY!!" Haruka looked back and saw that the knights were coming pretty close. She turned a sharp left and dove into a field of dense trees and bushes. The horses would have a hard time getting through, Haruka thought, panting slightly. She tumbled to her feet and shot up again. Running was no problem for her. She worked out several times a week and ran five miles every day. Soon, the voices of the knights grew distant and Haruka knew that she had lost them. She slowed to a walk, wondering where she was. Soon, Haruka faced a wall of bushes and trees. "Dead end," she thought dispiritedly. Frustration built up and Haruka angrily kicked at the bushes in front of her. A hole appeared in the mass of green and something large came into view. "Huh?" Haruka slowly walked towards the thing. She carefully parted the thick heap of bush and looked up. "Whoa…" Standing right before her very eyes was the castle. Such a magnificent place, Haruka thought determinedly. And what a hope to save Michiru…she quietly stepped closer and took a quick scan. It looked like she was facing the back of the castle. There was a door nearby, and without much thought, Haruka ran and flung it open. A dark, winding staircase appeared before her, and after closing the door, she started on up. Soon, the stairs ended and Haruka came upon a long hallway. She hesitated only for a moment, and then quickly sped down the corridor, stopping quietly once in a while to peer into a couple of rooms. Just as she reached the top of a new staircase, Haruka heard soft footsteps coming up. Oh no, she thought hurriedly. Well, I'm not going to take chances… She darted behind a separating wall and waited for the person to get closer. The footsteps grew louder and closer. As the person stepped up to the floor, Haruka prepared herself to leap. She waited a couple seconds more, and then with an attacking yell, she lunged crazily at her opponent. "Aaaaggghhhh!!!!!" Haruka tumbled down the stone stairs and landed hard on the floor. She jumped up blindly and pinned the anonymous person to the floor. Her head still spun from the impact of hitting the floor and everything was still whirling around. Slowly, Haruka's vision began to focus and she squinted confusedly at the girl in front of her. "Haruka?"