"Hey there." Davis opened his eyes. Yolei stood over him. She smiled when she saw he was awake. "Well finally. Everyone has been worried about you. I for one want to be the first to congratulate you."
"Huh? Congratulate me?"
"We haven't told anyone yet, but Davis, you did it. You captured the missing dauphine!" Davis sprang up from his bed.
"So it was the dauphine who knocked me out!" he said angrily. "Where is she?"
"Well, she's still unconscious in room three…" Davis stormed out the door and went to room three. He unlocked to door to enter and then locked it behind him. On one of the three beds in the room was a beautiful red-haired elf.
'She really is beautiful,' he thought. He sat on her bedside and caressed her tender face. She had the long pointed ears and almond-shaped eyes that were the symbol of her Tsyu blood. Rumor had it that her race was not only different from humans in appearance. They were said to have a magical gift to transform. Upon his touch, she reached up and grabbed his wrist. She opened her eyes and looked up and him. She looked confused.
"Wha…where am I? Wait…you!" she sat up sharply and glared at Davis.
"So you remember."
"You're one of the Earthlings," Kiyomi said bitterly.
"And you're Dauphine Kiyomi Katagwa, the last of the Tsyu royal family," Davis replied, emphasizing the latter. Kiyomi slapped him sharply and tears welled in her eyes. Davis rubbed his stinging cheek. "I guess I deserved that." Kiyomi closed her eyes and gritted her teeth together.
"Please, just leave me in peace. Surely you humans understand that losing everything you've ever known is…"
"…like having a sword thrust through your heart," Davis finished. Kiyomi nodded while tears streamed from her green eyes. The young elf wanted to mourn alone. Davis understood. He unlocked the door and locked it back up behind him as he left.
Kari stood outside waiting for him. She threw her arms around him and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Davis you did it! You finally did it!" Davis wrapped his arms around her and gave her his trademark grin. Still he thought she was overreacting a bit.
"Chill Kari. I'm really glad to finally beat Tai and Matt at something, but… I'm not so sure that we should…sell the dauphine."
"Oh Davis, she did something to you. Those Tsyu have strange powers, I've heard. She's been messing with your mind. We both know that finding her and becoming rich and famous are the main reasons that you dragged us all out here. I want to get this all over with and go home," she said glumly. Davis lifted her chin and kissed her soft lips.
"Kari, I know that. I promise that we'll sell the Tsyu at the closest spaceport, but not her. She… well… doesn't deserve what I had planned before. I promise, though, that nothing will interfere with us getting back to Earth before August. All right?" Davis said reassuringly. Kari nodded and rested her head on Davis' shoulder.
*~**~*
That human. He had no idea the pain he inflicted with his cruel words. His appearance reminded me so much of my brother and that brought out a lot of pain. He also made clear what I had yet to admit. I indeed was the last of the Tsyu royal family. I never knew it would hurt this much. How does one accept that… you'll never see your family, ever again? I feel like a single pebble drifting to the bottom of the ocean, all alone and totally lost from help.
My younger sister, Asuza, would call me a hopeless tragedy if she saw me now. My beautiful silky red hair was becoming dull and tangled from all my restless sleeping. My creamy skin was streaked with tears and was losing its natural glow. Even my mysterious green eyes were becoming as shallow and glazed as human eyes. My only comfort was that I still had magic within me. This magic was what kept me alive. Unfortunately, in my small quarters I was not able to transform. Only in my unicorn state could I truly regain myself. It could be months before I would be able to transform even for a few months.
The human, whom I now know is known as Davis, comes to visit me frequently. He loves another human girl, but seems to forget that when he is alone in my room. Several times he's told me that I was the most beautiful being alive. His eyes get all dreamy when he gazes at me, not unlike several members of my father's court. I in turn am kind but indifferent to his attempts to flatter me. I no longer hate this human, though.
He came in one day with apparently a lot on his mind. "Ahh, Davis. Back again today?" I said to him with as little interest as possible. He smiled half-heartedly and nodded.
"Yeah, I needed to talk with you…about something." His face hinted that whatever he had to say, it would be difficult.
"You seem… troubled. This can't be good otherwise it wouldn't be so hard to say." How many times had I said that to my brother? He had always had several conflicts on whether or not to let me in on certain matters. I once said this to him before he told me that our parents were never coming home from their peace conference with the emperor and empress of Helicon.
"We sold the other refugees this morning. My friends insisted on selling you as well, but like I promised earlier, I wouldn't have it. Now, we are running from the Helicon ships and we'll be arriving at Earth shortly," he paused and inhaled deeply before continuing. "We're going to have to send you down to the surface before we land, so that when they search the ship they won't find you." He seemed relieved at finally getting this all out and waited anxiously for a response from me. I was still staring at him stupidly as I tried to let what he had said sink in.
"What do you mean? You'll find me again once you're on the surface, right? You're not going to leave me out there on my own," I said exasperatedly. I wasn't going to hide that I was scared. In my sudden fear, I began crying out hysterics. "I'm only 16 for goodness sakes. I'm sure I'm still considered a child by Earth's standards as I was by Tsyu's. And what if someone recognized me as a Tsyu? My ears and eyes would be a clear indication that I'm not one of you. And what if—"
"Now hold on there, Kiyomi. Now please, don't you trust me?" He held both of my shoulders in his firm hands. A tear streaked down my cheek as I nodded. He sighed and took both my hands in his. "Please don't cry. I am not letting you go alone. I'm going with you."
"What? What about that other girl, Kari? You mustn't—"
"Kari will be fine with T.K. Now Kiyomi, I know for a fact that even if you get over your sudden panic, you'll never make it on your own out there. I am going with you no matter what you or anyone else says. Now, there is something else you should know," Davis added. I waited for him to continue, but he seemed to need some time to get his thoughts organized before he spoke again. " The thing you should know is that we won't be able to go back to Earth as it presently is."
"Meaning?"
"We'll be going back in time several hundred years, just to be safe," he finally admitted.
"Well, I'll admit I wasn't expecting that. Why must we go to the past?"
"For one thing, no one would know who you are or what you are. People back then didn't even go outside the planet's atmosphere, let alone know about other races. I also believe that there are people in that time that are like you." He looked at my ears when he said this.
"What do you mean, like me? People that look like me or…" I paused
"Or what?"
"People who… are different and can do things that others cannot," I slowly answered.
"Well yeah, something like that. You would still stick out a bit with your different eyes and all," he stated.
"I guess now that I've calmed down, I better change my appearance. I'll have to make my eyes and ears appear human and that should be enough."
"You can do that? Like, with magic?"
"Well, yes." Just to prove it, I transformed into a normal human girl right before his eyes. Davis' eyes widened with amazement. I laughed at the hilarious expression on his face.
"You…you…"he stammered.
"Do I look alright?" I asked worriedly. "Perhaps I did something wrong by accident?"
"No, no, no. You look perfect. Well, I mean perfectly human." He placed his hand behind my head and began to bring me in for a kiss. I drew back and blushed deeply.
"Davis, I can't." I reached out my hand, but he forced a smile and shook it off.
"Nah, it's all right. I understand," he explained. Quickly he added, "It's probably time to go now." Davis walked casually toward the door, but I wasn't fooled. I had hurt his feelings. I walked up beside him and took his hand.
"Davis, thank you for helping me." He nodded and walked out the door. I sure hoped he would feel better.
*~**~*