Disclaimer: does anyone read this anyway? Its in the first chapter if you really want to read it.

Sorry for not updating for ages!

Chapter 5-The Fourth Year

Kel galloped towards Raoul's lance on Peachblossom. She popped out of her saddle and went flying when Raoul's lance speared her shield. My flying lesson, Kel mused. She slapped the ground and rolled a few feet. Stopping, she looked up and saw Raoul on his horse grinning down at her. He said, 'Oh my pretty squire, how was your flight?'

Kel glared at him and said, 'Nice, you should try it too.'

'Tried it, hated it. Let's go and have lunch.' Raoul laughed

'I think I'll go have a bath before I have lunch.' Kel replied. Raoul shrugged and took his horse to the stables. Kel put Peachblossom in his stable. She gave him an extra grooming and put more water into his bucket. With a last pat, she said goodbye.

Kel strode down the corridor towards her rooms. She opened her door and looked in. The griffin's perch was still there, but the griffin Kel had picked up had gone back to his parents. Jump lay dozing on the rug in front of the fire. Sparrows were dotted around the room. Smiling she gathered her clothes and looked at the painting on top of the fire place. It was the painting that Aiko had given her last Midwinter. She left the room and headed towards the bath houses.

Kel lay in the water, relaxed. She let her thoughts wander and memories of her childhood made her smile.

The first time Kel met Angel was when Angel was playing a hamsachi in a garden. The emotions of the song were so strong that Kel felt like crying and laughing at the same time. The piece of music was haunting, full of unspoken words and most of all loneliness. The solitary sound of the flute was captivating. Kel stood behind the bench Angel was sitting on. As the music faded, Angel turned and saw Kel. Angel stood as Kel was about to kneel and bow, but Angel caught her and smiled. That was the time when Kel knew that Angel will play a big part in her life.

When Kel met Aiko, it was the second time. They were introduced on some meeting but both were bored and uninterested. The second time was when Aiko was on top of the Getsuei Tower. Aiko had been painting the moon. They both chatted and discussed all night and half the morning before realizing how much time had passed. They became good friends after that.

Kel met Chiko when there was a party and Kel had gone into the gardens to take a breath. She had seen a girl with nothing except a short thigh length white silk kimono, twirling around, spinning and smiling with her eyes closed. Kel knew that she was intruding on something sacred and private. When Chiko found out that there was someone looking at her, instead of getting angry, she invited Kel to dance with her. At first Kel was a bit shy but Chiko persuaded Kel. They had danced together that night, in a peaceful manner.

Kel had brought these friends together. They spent many happy times together, posing for Aiko, dancing with Chiko, making music with Angel; Shang and glaive training together.

The time when they decided to get drunk was hilarious. They had slept over in Angel's rooms in the palace. They had raided their father's liquor stock. There was wine, sake, whiskey and ale. Even the emperor joined them for a few minutes. They had all gotten drunk. The hangovers were even more hilarious. There were major headaches and lots of moaning.

These thoughts brought a smile out of Kel as she rose and wrapped a towel around her. She went to have a lunch in the King's Own hall. Kel chattered with Dom and the other soldiers. Then she went back to her room to daydream again…..

A tall female figure was sitting in front of the throne. She was singing and playing on a newly invented instrument called the piano. She was surrounded by an audience listening to her new self-composed singing piece. Her voice rang out true, soaring and dipping. The song spoke of a person growing up, loved, and finding her way in life. Everyone was sure the song was about the composer.

The emperor sat upon the throne, his eyes closed and his head leaning on the seat rest, listened to his favourite daughter perform. Then his eyes opened as the princess sang a line about the person in the song, opening their eyes to their parents, and feeling loved. The emperor eyes were full of love as his eyes set upon his daughter. Memories flitted through his mind as he thought about his daughter growing up. The first steps, the laughing and most of all, the singing. His daughter always liked to sing, but rarely performed to an opened audience. This was the first performance in four years, this was a surprise for him, he thought, for his birthday.

The song faded out and the piano playing continued, until it too, faded. The kimono clad figure stood, to a roaring silence, as the audience was stunned by her talent and voice. She stepped towards the throne, her kimono sweeping the floor behind her. The red and gold of the imperial robes, made her look like a phoenix rising out of the fire. Her angelic features only made her more breath-taking. Hazel eyes flitted towards green and light brown. She reached the dais and bowed. Then the thunderous applause sounded throughout the room. She smiled and looked up into her father's gaze. To her surprise, her father stood up and kissed her forehead. He said, 'How my angel has grown.'

This sentence was full of love and affection. To this, an unseen emotion, in the Yamani Islands was a surprise. Another figure stood and walked towards the embracing couple. Murasaki, Second Concubine of the Emperor of the Yamani Islands, looked with love at her daughter and husband. Even though she was a lower rank, the emperor still favored her. Murasaki approached as the couple separated. Then she said, 'Angel, your duty to your audience had not been done yet.' As an answer to her mother's words, she turned and bowed, palms against her thighs towards the audience. Satisfied with her bow, Angel turned back towards her parents and smiled tentatively.

'Angel, let us have a break.' The emperor said as his sat back on his throne.

Angel nodded and a seat was drawn for her. Her mother sat, next to the emperor. As the foods were coming, the emperor said to Angel, 'You shall be rewarded of course.'

'My performance is not for rewards, father, it is for you. Take this performance as a gift.' Angel said softly. The emperor smiled, 'Thank you.'

Then the food arrived, quiet conversations started. The throne room was full of court members, having lunch. All were furtively glancing towards the princess.

The emperor raised a hand, and the court silenced. A servant approached, with a tray covered in a red silk. The emperor spoke in a loud voice yet soft, 'As you all know, my daughter, by far is a fabulous performer. Do you not all agree?' The court all seemed to nod. 'In return, I give my daughter this.' The emperor took away the red silk that covered the tray. He lifted a necklace, a large ruby, set in gold. The court gasped as recognized the necklace. The necklace was an empress's formal insignia of her rank. Anyone in the Yamani Islands given this had full authority as an empress, and had equal rank to the emperor. The present empress was not given it, for some private reason of the emperor. The emperor walked towards his daughter, Angel, who sat stunned. The emperor approached Angel and put the necklace around her neck. The emperor leaned towards his daughter and lifted her dark waist length hair, to let it fall around her necklace comfortably. He whispered softly, 'Accept it, my dear, as a token of my affections and love.' He hugged her slightly.

The court all stood and fell to their knees, and sank into a deep bow. Now, acknowledging her rank, they remained bowed. Angel sat in stunned silence. Her mother nudged her and Angel stood up and said, 'Rise.'

The rest of the day passed by as a blur to Angel. Finally, she sat alone in her rooms. Angel felt a sudden desire to go to the tallest tower in the palace. Angel climbed up to the balcony. She rested her hands on the railing and looked out, towards the ocean. She sighed, 'I miss you. I miss you all. Only one more year. One more. Then we will see each other again.' Angel stood silently with the wind brushing her hair. She walked towards a harp that stood nearby. Slipping into a stool by the harp, she delicately brushed her fingers across the strings. The whisper of music floated around the room. She started playing a haunting tune. The music flew around surrounding her. She continued playing as a tiny tear slid down her cheek. The music continued…..into the night…..

She suddenly felt a presence behind her. Lowering hands and wiping her tears away, she turned. Hazel eyes met brown ones. The man stood at a respectful distance. After a few moments of staring, he lowered into a bow. He stayed in that position until he saw that Angel flicked her hand slightly upwards.

'I do not want my solitary disturbed. Please leave.' Angel said softly before turning away.

Kuro stood there watching silently as Angel raised her hands again to strum the harp. 'Are you always this lonely?' he asked as he walked towards the piano sitting in the corner. Angel's answer was to look up at him with melancholy eyes. Kuro lifted the lid of the piano. His fingers flicked over the keys, creating random notes.

Angel stood and walked towards Kuro. 'Do you like music?' she asked softly.

'I suppose I do.' Kuro answered. 'Your performance today was amazing.'

Angel inclined her head and said, 'Thank you.' She pulled out a stool from under the piano and sat on it. Without an invitation, Kuro plunked down next to her. Angel raised her eyebrows and said, 'Are you always so impulsive?'

Kuro only grinned. Angel rested her hands on the keys and started pressing keys softly playing a soft melody. Kuro leaned back as Angel increased the tempo and volume. Angel's eyes becoming dreamy as she played. Angel's fingers rested on the last quavering note, still being echoed in the still silence.

Thanx to all those reviewers! Even though there were only five…sigh..hopefully more people will be reviewing!

Special thanx to:

SarahE7191

Ionamala-thanx for leaving a nice long review! The answers to your questions: I thought that the conflict between Mithros and godess will be interesting because I plan to have a very big and climatic end to the story. I'm still not so sure about the pairings yet so your second question is has to remain unanswered. And yes, I'm going to write every chapter as a year of their lives.

My deep apologies for updating so late. I'm having a block these days…well months…