i apologize that it took me so long! i kind of lost my file. apparently, i think someone got onto my account and deleted this by accident...at least i think it is by accident. Anyway, this is near the end of this fiction! probably two more chapters and it is done! read & enjoy!
Mahiru curled up in her tatame. 'What do I do?' she thought. She really can't do much. She threw the covers off of herself and started to pace nervously around the room. What can she do? Her parents can't help her, obviously. If she asks Mitsuru or any of the others, they might get killed my Hokuto. Mahiru sighed suddenly aggravated by all the things she can't do as a child ruler.
"Mitsuru, I really need your help." Mahiru whispered sadly. It's almost the next full moon, the day that Keiko promised to come back. "I really need you."
Hokuto plans to take over the place of the ruler, Mahiru knows it. But she won't bring herself to admit. She gripped her hands hard as she tried to calm herself down.
Finally, she got up and slammed open the door. The sky was actually blue, just yesterday it was a dark and gloomy night. Mahiru smiled, kind of crookedly, though. She ran her fingers through her short, cropped hair. Her brown eyes scanned down the hall then up the halls, no one came to sight.
Quickly, she walked out and into the garden. The Sakura Tree was still slowly fading. She placed her hand on the bark like how she saw Keiko did long time ago. "What's wrong?" she whispered to the tree.
Mahiru frowned and walked to the pond and looked at the twigs that have fallen in. She sighed. The tree's falling apart just like how her country is. She sighed and closed her eyes.
"What is wrong?" Mahiru sighed. "I can't fix it at all! Ugh."
A crunch of dry leaves under a foot made Mahiru turn around. A servant girl stood there. The servant girl paused and looked at Mahiru. "Princess," Hokuto said coolly. Mahiru held his gaze.
A whiff of strangely smelling scent came towards Mahiru. Her vision blurred and her head swirled angrily. Her legs gave away as she fell into a pool of unending darkness.
It was almost time for Keiko to go back to the princess. Only one more day, if her calculation wasn't off. She sighed. Back to a life of misery with the princess – not that Mahiru made it miserable…it's just that…it reminded her too much of her loss.
Keiko sat in the garden again and looked at the flowers. "So, this is your last day, right?" Akira sat next to the girl. She could've sworn she didn't hear him come in. But she shrugged it off and nodded. "When the moon comes up today, I'll show you something."
Keiko looked at Akira. "Why wait till then?" she inquired. Akira smiled and said nothing. Keiko looked at Akira. 'God, I'm going to miss him.' Keiko thought sadly as she looked at the werewolf boy. Something hit her mind, a whirlwind of colors. Another vision of the future is coming. She looked down and felt the images replace her sight:
Somebody's crying for help. But she couldn't make out who it was. The voice is so familiar. The darkness around the figure cleared and showed…MAHIRU!
"Mahiru!" Keiko gasped out and grabbed Akira's shoulder for support and leaned on it. Akira jumped up slightly and saw her panting frantically.
"A vision? Mahiru? What happened?" Akira let out a blurry of questions. Keiko's eyes were wide with confusion.
"I don't know." Keiko shook her head. Akira looked up to the sky and smiled when he saw the moon perfectly in the place where he wanted it to be.
"Come on!" Akira smiled and carried Keiko up. Keiko protested and demanded to be let down, but Akira kept going. "We're almost there!" He said while dashing quickly through the forest. Keiko squints her eyes; she could barely open them with the wind blaring into her eyes. She held Akira tightly when she felt as if she was falling. Akira told her not to worry before coming to a halt.
The dust came flying as he stopped. Keiko held on to Akira when the stopped and let out a small cry of surprise. The moonlight hit and reflected off a small lake perfectly. The soft rush of the waterfall was audible in the silence. Chirping of the cicadas and crickets created a perfect atmosphere…just as Akira predicted.
Keiko didn't bother speaking, but if she did she wouldn't have the chance. Akira grabbed her by the wrist and led her near the bank of the lake. Keiko looked into the water and saw the full moon behind her. "I'd be gone tomorrow." Keiko said sadly.
"That's why I wanted to show you this." Akira said holding her hand still. "So you'd remember your last night…to be a good night."
"Thank you," she whispered. Akira smiled and wrapped his other arm around her shoulder while he held her hand with his other. Keiko blushed softly then shook her head. "W-what are you doing, Akira?"
As if on cue, fireflies swirled around them. Keiko managed a soft smile and said, "You planned all this, didn't you?"
"How could I?" Akira said.
Keiko looked at the scene. "This is beautiful." Akira suddenly let go and cupped his hand in the crystal, clear water. Totally disrupting the atmosphere, he threw the handful of water at Keiko who screeched at surprise. The water dripped from her hair as she looked at Akira with unbelief.
Bending down at the bank, she dunked Akira's head into the water for vengeance. Within moments, you could've heard their laughter as they fooled around. Finally, in the end, Akira grabbed Keiko by the waste and pulled her underwater. For a long while, they stayed underwater than came back up.
'This is probably the best night I'll ever have." Keiko thought.
The very next day, Keiko was to return to Princess Mahiru. Akira offered to walk her and so that was agreed to. Keiko fell silent and so did Akira. She wanted to tell him that she'd miss him and goodbye, but if she said goodbye that might mean that they'd never meet up again. Finally, they reached the gates of the palace.
"I'll miss you, Keiko." Akira said finally. Keiko turned around and nodded. "But we'll see each other again, I promise."
Moments later, Akira was gone and Keiko entered the gates of the palace. "I'll miss you, too, Akira."
Keiko walked with her chin up into the palace. "Lady Keiko!" they exclaimed. "I thought the demons killed you for sure!" Keiko scowled at them and walked onwards until she met up with Hokuto.
"Keiko," he whispered. "I was so worried about you." Keiko stood her ground and looked away sadly. "You'll have to look at me, Keiko. You're going to be my wife." Her eyes widen as she glared at Hokuto.
"Since when?" Keiko snarled.
"Since I decided to." Hokuto retorted. "And," he held Keiko near him; "you'll help me capture those demons with your power of prophecy."
"Why should I?" Keiko pulled herself away from him.
"I know you've befriended one of them. The werewolf, am I correct?" Hokuto whispered. Keiko's eyes widen in fear.
"H-how did you…" she whispered.
"I have spies," he replied. "And if you want him to live, you will help me." Keiko grimaced.
"Fine, but if you hurt him, you'll pay for it!" as she spoke, her heart fell. She has to marry someone she doesn't love…and she has betrayed those who consider her as a friend. "And, tell me where Mahiru is!"
"Don't worry," Hokuto smirked. "You'll see her soon." He said leaving Keiko thinking, 'I must warn them!'
here it is! i hope you guys like this! R&R! sorry if this is kind of short and if they're out of character! (i think they ARE out of character...)
well, read and enjoy! please review! - Rin