A Life Unlike Any Other
Chapter 02Written by Koizumi Tsukiyo
Disclaimer: Again, Magic Knight Rayearth does not belong to me…This would be the last time I'm going to say so hope you all remember.
A/N: I want to thank you SO much for those of you who reviewed. I thought I won't be getting any since this story doesn't seem to flow as I thought it would be. Beside, it is my first Rayearth story…Domo arigatou! ::bows::
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"Communicating with the wind again, Fuu-chan?" A question was asked from a young redhead, looking up at Fuu with innocent ruby eyes.
Fuu turned her gaze with a smile, giving a graceful bow, "Of course not, Hikaru-hime."
"Do you think what Satoru-aniue said was true? That marrying Ferio-ouji would be good for his kingdom?" Hikaru asked, a small hint of sadness in her tone.
Fuu lowered her gaze, "Yes, for being allies with the Cephiro would have Satoru-kokuou's kingdom much more secure to the people."
"I see…for the safety of our people indeed," The princess replied, shaking her head while going back to her cheerful self. "Let's enter, shall we? We don't want to be left behind!"
"Yes, Hikaru-hime," Fuu replied with a sweet laugh, looking up to see the two people from the roof had left before both entered the castle to the throne room where Princess Emeraude is waiting for the introduction to begin, as they all took their seats quickly on a long rectangular dining table.
The whole room was instantly quiet once Emeraude stood tall from her seat with Zagato beside her, welcoming everyone in such a rich lovely voice that seems like music to the ears. Hikaru was immediately fascinated of the Princess, hanging onto her every word she had spoken.
Though was greatly disappointed when the speech was done, but it had been easily replace once the famous Guru Clef, the most powerful Master Mage of all the lands, speaks as Hikaru sat on the edge of her seats. While ignoring soft giggles from the ladies around her since the Guru is an attractive young man. Or an ancient man actually, if she remembers his true age with a large sweat-drop.
That's when a dark figure moved slowly to stood beside Zagato did Hikaru left her gaze from the Guru and stares into impassive brown-gray eyes from a tall and darkly handsome knight…
So he's the Prince who Hikaru-hime was suppose to be with before any other Princess would step in, Fuu thought to herself, mentally giving a heavy sigh as she looked at Ferio from the corner of her emerald eyes, Even if he's not the Prince, I'm sure many girls would still flung themselves at his feet to have a chance to be with him. If only…
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"Finish," Umi said proudly, stepping back once her cake was done before her mood darkens, "A pity no one would ever eat this, I suppose the dogs would be the lucky ones after all."
"Put this on, Umi," The chef grumbles, throwing a nice, new apron at her, "And go wash your face! The servants need a few more help bringing the plates into the dining room where our guest would be."
"I thought it would be me bringing the cake out since I was the one baking it," Umi argued, glaring holes into her apron, "I don't even know if anyone would want to serve a snobbish noblewoman who've never pick up anything heavier than a fork in her life!"
Seeing the chef turning beet red from anger, Umi quickly put on her apron, grabbed a silver covered plate on the counter and left the room with the other servants while wiping her face clean, not wanting to hear his shouts at all. Everyone with her all stop in front of the large dining room door, waiting patiently for the meeting to end.
"You're a lucky one, ane-ue…" A young child said to Umi through the silences, looking up at her with smiling greenish-gray eyes, "The plate you're holding goes to the Guru."
Umi blinked, holding back her shock, "Guru?"
"Guru Clef. Never heard of him?" She asked, flicking her honey hair over her shoulder cutely, "He would be the one sitting on the left of Emeraude-hime. You can't miss him."
"How can you tell this plate would be for him anyhow?" Umi enquired, looking between their silver plates, "I can't even tell the different!"
"If you've been serving for these people for a long time, then you should know," She replied, balancing the large plate easily with one hand and held her other out with a wide smile, "Mira is my name!"
"Umi, " She said with a slight hesitation, kneeling down to shake her hand, "Ryuuzaki Umi…"
"I heard many rumors that many Princesses from each and every kingdom who wishes to be with Ferio-ouji would come," Mira replied, tilting her head to the side, "Is that true?"
"I believe so," Umi replied, starting to get nervous. I pray to Selece I would not get caught from Hikaru-chan and Fuu-chan…
"The speech is almost done so get ready, Umi-aneue," Mira interrupted her thoughts, standing at her full small height, "I recommend you not to look into the Guru's face or else you would be in terribly deep trouble. That has been the rule, for a lowly servant as us cannot gaze into the face of someone with such a high rank."
Before Umi could question her in confusion, someone had opened the large door as everyone crowded in to do his or her own tasks. Umi kept her head bowed, finding where the Guru sat as Mira had instructed her. She immediately panic when seeing Hikaru and Fuu before quickly revert her direction when seeing a glimpse of a long white robe, walking towards his seat, holding back a scowl for thinking of serving someone.
But as she was about to place the plate down, the Guru have grabbed the other end of his plate with kind thanks, a move very unexpected as she perked her head up and looked at him in complete shock.
Either Clef is definitely not feeling so well or he was completely captivated by the color of cerulean from the ocean in just a pair of eyes in front of him. They both froze without a word, ignoring the sounds around them as they continued to gaze in each other's eyes. Clef regrettably was not able to see her whole face in time when a young honey-haired child from nowhere grabbed her away, giving a deep apologize bow before both quickly retreating through the halls.
"What do you think, Guru?"
Clef blinked, turning to look at Emeraude, who had spoken as he cleared his throat, "I beg your pardon, Emeraude-hime."
"Isn't this strange," Ferio stated, looking over to where Clef was watching, raising an eyebrow, "What did you see that seems to distract you this much?"
"Was there something you wanted to asked me?" Clef asked the Princess, ignoring Ferio.
Emeraude gave a kind smile, looking over at Lantis, "Lantis had just told me that our friend, Eagle, had asked if he would join us tomorrow so he, himself, could see the princess who Ferio had chosen for a wife."
"I doubt he would find one by tomorrow," Clef said with a slight shrug, ignoring Ferio's glare, "But if you agree to his request, then I would inform Ascot after dinner to send his invitation."
"Thank you, Guru," Emeraude whispered, raising her hand on Zagato's that was placed on her shoulder.
Ferio begin poking at his food in boredom, getting a small glimpse at the girl he had seen earlier before immediately looked away once she had caught his gaze, into Clef's serious and knowingly look. With a blush, Ferio lowered himself on his seat as Clef shook his head.
"Cake?" Hikaru asked with wide eyes, watching a servant bringing in a beautifully-craft cake onto the middle of the dining table. Many Princess and noblewomen made a face of disgust, thinking of all those fatness they would have to burn if eating it. All ladies beside two that is…
Both Hikaru and Asuka immediately dive in, properly cutting themselves a piece of cake and slowly chew as if testing the flavors. As a young girl Asuka is, no one really cared much while she beamed and begin getting more pieces for herself. Only silences filled the room when watching Hikaru with shock eyes as she looked at them happily, giving Emeraude a small bow, "It's delicious, Emeraude-hime! I do very well recommend you trying some! Fuu-chan! You too!"
Fuu giggled as she walked out from her seat, while practically many ladies gasped out loud when Emeraude gracefully stood, walking towards the girls and nodded with thanks at the plate Hikaru had given. Closing her eyes to identified the rich flavor of cake, Emeraude then faced around with a smile and speaks, "Vanilla…?"
"Correct, Emeraude-hime," Hikaru replied, taking another bite, holding back her squeal of happiness, "I would love to eat this everyday for dessert!"
"Then you may, Hikaru-hime, if you wish," Emeraude said in a soft voice, eyes narrowed warmly from her cheerfulness, "In which flavor would you like to have?"
"It doesn't matter as long as it's good! But can you make an ice cream cake too? That's always the best!"
"With candy!" Asuka quickly added while Hikaru nodded in agreement. The Princess of Cephiro can only laugh as Fuu smiled from beside her.
Zagato watches his love with gentle eyes under this long raven bangs, "It seems she's quite fond with the Princess of Shidou, Ferio-ouji. Not only is she beautiful, but has a kind and pure heart as well."
"Yes…" Ferio nodded gradually, eyes trained on Lady Fuu, "She sure does…"
Lantis stood silently by his older brother behind the Prince, watching the three girls emotionlessly before his gaze falls only on the redhead.
"Ne, Fuu-chan?" Hikaru called in a low tone, pausing on her mid-bite and stares sadly at her plate.
Fuu looked at her worriedly, "What's wrong, Hikaru-hime?"
"This cake," She begun, looking at the dessert from the table with a heavy sigh, "Does it remind you so much on how Umi-chan would have made it?"
Fuu's emerald eyes sadden, "Hikaru-hime, it's not your fault…"
"It is, Fuu-chan, don't you remember? I was the cause that had her missing right now for rejecting her words of advice. As a special maid and friend, I know she was only worried for my safety…"
"Hikaru-hime," Emeraude spoke in a concern tone, "Are you alright?"
"Oh, just eating this cake brings back memories," Hikaru answered in a cheerful tone, grabbing her plate back and finished it, "That's all, Emeraude-hime!"
"If you say so…"
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"Umi-aneue, you need to be careful next time," Mira said with a small frown once they all walked towards their servant-shared bedroom.
Umi held her head up high stubbornly, "I can take care of myself next time, Mira-chan."
"If someone caught you staring at the Guru, then you could have been in really deep trouble from anyone."
Umi scowled, banging the door of their room open, startling many servants that are present as they both walked towards their small bed, "Then we must be careful, ne?"
"You do, since you're new here and don't know all the rules yet," Mira replied, before hoping on Umi's bed and looked up at her with wide curious eyes.
Umi raised an eyebrow, "Something you really need to ask me? Especially if you're giving me that kind of look."
"Can you please tell me…what the Guru looks like? And the others too, like Emeraude-hime, if you have seen them."
Umi blinked…and blinked again at the young girl's question, before a soft smile crept on her lips as she sat down beside her. "That, Mira-chan, is what you have to found out on your own."
"But-"
"I don't care much of the rules here, you'll see them all someday," Umi interrupted, a hand on Mira's head in a gentle manner, "Beside, do you know anyone except the servants around here?"
Mira looked around cautiously, before whispering in her ear with a joyful tone, "Lantis-sama is the only one, please don't tell anyone, Umi-aneue."
"If you keep my secret then it's a deal."
"Okay!"
Guru Clef… Umi thought, a smile on her lips when remembering his deep sapphire eyes before she shook her head, Right now, must focus on Hikaru-chan and Fuu-chan…
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hime : Princess
ouji : Prince
kokuou : King
-sama : Term more polite then –san, Lord/Lady or showing affections and kindness
Aniue : Old term for Older Brother
aneue : Old term for Older sister, sometimes, it's proper for a young child calling elders (or strangers) this or aunt, same with aniue or uncle. (Though they don't often use this phrase much no more in Japan since it's been used in the old days.)
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