Black Ninja Star: A big thank you to all the people who reviewed my story so far.
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: I'm one of them right?
Black Ninja Star: Of course.
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Myst Lady changes her name a lot. @_@ I can't keep track!
Black Ninja Star: You're right, but who cares? A big shoutout to Myst Lady and my new friend Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy. *hugs her* Thanks for the support!
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Onward!
Chapter 8
"Why did you put this blindfold on me?"
Charles shook his head "It's a surprise. Be a good little boy and wait for it."
Nathan's hands went to the back of his head and tried to untie it "Damn! The knot is too tight." His hand went further down his neck "What the---"
Charles was chuckling "I guess it's time to show the surprise." He went over to guide Nathan to a mirror "You could take off the blindfold now."
"This better be worth---" Nathan took off the blindfold and was shocked. His hair, which used to be shoulder length, was now down to his neck "Who am I?"
Charles pointed down with his finger "Look at what you're wearing."
Nathan stepped back to see what he was wearing in the mirror. He was wearing a black pantsuit with a white ruffled collar "Wow."
"You like?"
"Yes I do."
Charles walked around Nathan and looked at him from top to bottom. "I must admit, I did a good job. The rest is up to you."
Nathan nodded.
Charles tapped his shoulder "Good luck, buddy."
"Thanks, I'm going to need it." He walked out the door.
***
Nathan was walking to the castle when he saw a peddler selling flowers. He walked over to the peddler "I would like to buy some flowers."
The peddler, a young boy, looked up at him. "What kind do you want?"
Nathan scratched his head "Pretty ones?"
The peddler looked at him skeptically "You're kidding."
"I don't know a lot about flowers, kid. Give me a break."
He rolled his eyes "Fine." He walked over to where Nathan was standing and felt his clothing "Who are you trying to impress, the queen?"
"I want to tell someone how I feel."
"What do you feel about her?"
"I'm in love with her. Whenever I'm around her, everything seems to be a lot better than it was. I don't care about anything else when she's around, but she doesn't know how feel."
The little boy rubbed his chin for a moment. He disappeared for a moment and came out with a white rose in full bloom.* "Why don't you give this to her?"
Nathan took the rose from the little boy "This is very pretty. How much do I owe you?"
"Forget it."
"I should pay you for helping me out."
"I don't want the money. Consider it a favour from a kid on the street."
"Thanks." He continued to walk to the castle.
***
When Nathan arrived at the castle, the ball was almost ready to start. He looked around and saw all the important nobles and ladies standing in the ballroom talking to each other. He saw the band warming up. He strained really hard to see if he knew someone, then he saw Michiru talking to a man in a blue pantsuit **. He walked over to her and bowed politely. Michiru was about to say someting, then after recognizing him, smiled warmly "I didn't recognized you for a second there. I thought you were the butler."
Nathan gasped and put his hand to his face "I'm hurt, princess. You should know that the butler dresses better than I do."
"Not in this case." She put his hands on his shoulders. "You look very handsome."
"Thank you, princess." Nathan lifted Michiru's hand and kissed it.
Haruka, who was standing next to Michiru and watched what happened, cleared her throat.
"I forgot to introduce you to someone." Michiru pointed to Haruka with her hand "This is Haruka,"
Nathan shook Haruka's extended hand "It's an honor to meet you."
"Likewise." Haruka eyed the rose in Nathan's hand "Who is the rose for?"
"It's for the princess."
Michiru took a look at the rose "It's a nice color."
"I hope she likes it."
Haruka smiled "She probably will. That's very thoughtful of you."
The three of them continued to chat some more until a little boy walked in. It was the same boy who gave the announcement to Nathan in the studio. He walked to the centre of the room "Presenting the royal familiy of Pluto. First the King and Queen."
Through the same door, the King and Queen of Pluto walked in. The Queen was waving, while the King was smiling.
The boy's voice entered the room again "The princess of Pluto, Setsuna!"
Ooh's and ahs came from the nobles when Setsuna came in the room. She was wearing a forest green gown that flowed to the ground.
The king smiled and waved his hand "Thank you all for coming. Let the ball begin!"
The band started to play a lively tune and the nobles drifted to the dance floor. Nathan sat down at one of the tables and saw the people dancing on the floor. 'They seem to be so happy, even the butler is dancing'
Michiru was dancing with Haruka and saw Nathan sitting at the table all by himself "Poor guy, he's sitting there all by himself."
"Maybe he needs some help."
Michiru looked up to Haruka "What are you up to?"
"You'll see." With that she was gone. She went over to where Setsuna was "Excuse me," She said to the people who talked to her, then she turned to Setsuna "There is a pressing matter that needs your attention. Would you follow me?" She grabbed her hand and took off, leaving some baffled nobles behind.
Nathan was at the table playing with a wine glass. "Well, this was a night wasted."
"Think again."
Nathan looked up and saw Setsuna standing in front of her "Setsuna-san."
"What are you waiting for? Would you like to dance?"
Nathan nodded and got up. He started to go to the dance floor when he stopped. He picked up the rose from the table and gave it to her "This is for you."
Setsuna looked at the rose in his hand and tears started to brim her eyes.
"Ever since I came to the castle, I knew I felt something. I thought it would go away but it kept growing." Nathan took her hands in his "Setsuna I love you, I don't how you feel about me but I hope you love me too."
Setsuna was speechless. 'This was what I wanted, but why can't I say it back?'
Taking Setsuna's silence as rejection, he bent his head "I guess you don't feel the same way. That's okay." His voice was barely a whisper. He walked away from Setsuna and went out the ballroom.
***
Nathan walked back to the studio and sat on his bed. He blinked back tears as the same thought ran through his head 'I poured my heart out to the one person I thought would understand, and there was no answer from her.' He sighed deeply and fell back on the bed and closed his eyes.
Hours passed and he was still in the same position, the incident was playing again and again in his mind. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Nathan bolted out of bed and walked over to the door. Fearing the worst, he took a deep breath and opened the door. He was surprised that Setsuna was at the door. His voice gave it away "I didn't expect you to be here."
"Who do you expect?"
"The guards, James. Some nobles saying 'how dare this nobody declare love for the princess!'"
*I never stopped to listen to your one and only prayer
A place for you somewhere*
"Listen, I'm sorry for the way I acted." Setsuna put her hands on his shoulders "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You did."
"Maybe this will make it up." She leaned closer and kissed him softly. Her lips brushed his for a few seconds then left as quickly as it came. One of her hands went through his hair. Garnet eyes met gray ones "The way that you presented that rose to me, without any fanfare, left an impression on me. I'm sorry if you interperted my silence for rejection."
"I'm sorry for jumping to that conclusion."
"I love you, Nathan."
"I love you too, Setsuna." Nathan drew Setsuna close into his arms. His mouth was close to her ear and he whispered softly "Be mine, Setsuna."
"I will."
End Chapter 8
* A white rose a lot of different meanings. It means Innocense and Purity, You're Heavenly and I Am Worthy Of You. I chose the last meaning for Nathan's rose.
** I didn't make a mistake on this one. Everyone knows that Haruka is a girl in the story but Nathan. In Nathan's mind, Haruka is a guy.
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: You made me feel mushy!
Black Ninja Star: Sorry...
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: *violently shake BNS* First you make it seem that Sets-chan doesn't love Nathan and then at the end you did.
Black Ninja Star: *collapses*
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Oops. *pokes Black Ninja Star*
*After a few hours*
Black Ninja Star: *wakes up* What happened?
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Nothing.. *looks really innocent*
Black Ninja Star: *shakes head* I forgot what I was going to say. Oh well, the words that I used were from a song called "If I Fall" by Tara MacClean. It's one of my favourite songs. R/R
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: I'm one of them right?
Black Ninja Star: Of course.
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Myst Lady changes her name a lot. @_@ I can't keep track!
Black Ninja Star: You're right, but who cares? A big shoutout to Myst Lady and my new friend Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy. *hugs her* Thanks for the support!
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Onward!
Chapter 8
"Why did you put this blindfold on me?"
Charles shook his head "It's a surprise. Be a good little boy and wait for it."
Nathan's hands went to the back of his head and tried to untie it "Damn! The knot is too tight." His hand went further down his neck "What the---"
Charles was chuckling "I guess it's time to show the surprise." He went over to guide Nathan to a mirror "You could take off the blindfold now."
"This better be worth---" Nathan took off the blindfold and was shocked. His hair, which used to be shoulder length, was now down to his neck "Who am I?"
Charles pointed down with his finger "Look at what you're wearing."
Nathan stepped back to see what he was wearing in the mirror. He was wearing a black pantsuit with a white ruffled collar "Wow."
"You like?"
"Yes I do."
Charles walked around Nathan and looked at him from top to bottom. "I must admit, I did a good job. The rest is up to you."
Nathan nodded.
Charles tapped his shoulder "Good luck, buddy."
"Thanks, I'm going to need it." He walked out the door.
***
Nathan was walking to the castle when he saw a peddler selling flowers. He walked over to the peddler "I would like to buy some flowers."
The peddler, a young boy, looked up at him. "What kind do you want?"
Nathan scratched his head "Pretty ones?"
The peddler looked at him skeptically "You're kidding."
"I don't know a lot about flowers, kid. Give me a break."
He rolled his eyes "Fine." He walked over to where Nathan was standing and felt his clothing "Who are you trying to impress, the queen?"
"I want to tell someone how I feel."
"What do you feel about her?"
"I'm in love with her. Whenever I'm around her, everything seems to be a lot better than it was. I don't care about anything else when she's around, but she doesn't know how feel."
The little boy rubbed his chin for a moment. He disappeared for a moment and came out with a white rose in full bloom.* "Why don't you give this to her?"
Nathan took the rose from the little boy "This is very pretty. How much do I owe you?"
"Forget it."
"I should pay you for helping me out."
"I don't want the money. Consider it a favour from a kid on the street."
"Thanks." He continued to walk to the castle.
***
When Nathan arrived at the castle, the ball was almost ready to start. He looked around and saw all the important nobles and ladies standing in the ballroom talking to each other. He saw the band warming up. He strained really hard to see if he knew someone, then he saw Michiru talking to a man in a blue pantsuit **. He walked over to her and bowed politely. Michiru was about to say someting, then after recognizing him, smiled warmly "I didn't recognized you for a second there. I thought you were the butler."
Nathan gasped and put his hand to his face "I'm hurt, princess. You should know that the butler dresses better than I do."
"Not in this case." She put his hands on his shoulders. "You look very handsome."
"Thank you, princess." Nathan lifted Michiru's hand and kissed it.
Haruka, who was standing next to Michiru and watched what happened, cleared her throat.
"I forgot to introduce you to someone." Michiru pointed to Haruka with her hand "This is Haruka,"
Nathan shook Haruka's extended hand "It's an honor to meet you."
"Likewise." Haruka eyed the rose in Nathan's hand "Who is the rose for?"
"It's for the princess."
Michiru took a look at the rose "It's a nice color."
"I hope she likes it."
Haruka smiled "She probably will. That's very thoughtful of you."
The three of them continued to chat some more until a little boy walked in. It was the same boy who gave the announcement to Nathan in the studio. He walked to the centre of the room "Presenting the royal familiy of Pluto. First the King and Queen."
Through the same door, the King and Queen of Pluto walked in. The Queen was waving, while the King was smiling.
The boy's voice entered the room again "The princess of Pluto, Setsuna!"
Ooh's and ahs came from the nobles when Setsuna came in the room. She was wearing a forest green gown that flowed to the ground.
The king smiled and waved his hand "Thank you all for coming. Let the ball begin!"
The band started to play a lively tune and the nobles drifted to the dance floor. Nathan sat down at one of the tables and saw the people dancing on the floor. 'They seem to be so happy, even the butler is dancing'
Michiru was dancing with Haruka and saw Nathan sitting at the table all by himself "Poor guy, he's sitting there all by himself."
"Maybe he needs some help."
Michiru looked up to Haruka "What are you up to?"
"You'll see." With that she was gone. She went over to where Setsuna was "Excuse me," She said to the people who talked to her, then she turned to Setsuna "There is a pressing matter that needs your attention. Would you follow me?" She grabbed her hand and took off, leaving some baffled nobles behind.
Nathan was at the table playing with a wine glass. "Well, this was a night wasted."
"Think again."
Nathan looked up and saw Setsuna standing in front of her "Setsuna-san."
"What are you waiting for? Would you like to dance?"
Nathan nodded and got up. He started to go to the dance floor when he stopped. He picked up the rose from the table and gave it to her "This is for you."
Setsuna looked at the rose in his hand and tears started to brim her eyes.
"Ever since I came to the castle, I knew I felt something. I thought it would go away but it kept growing." Nathan took her hands in his "Setsuna I love you, I don't how you feel about me but I hope you love me too."
Setsuna was speechless. 'This was what I wanted, but why can't I say it back?'
Taking Setsuna's silence as rejection, he bent his head "I guess you don't feel the same way. That's okay." His voice was barely a whisper. He walked away from Setsuna and went out the ballroom.
***
Nathan walked back to the studio and sat on his bed. He blinked back tears as the same thought ran through his head 'I poured my heart out to the one person I thought would understand, and there was no answer from her.' He sighed deeply and fell back on the bed and closed his eyes.
Hours passed and he was still in the same position, the incident was playing again and again in his mind. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Nathan bolted out of bed and walked over to the door. Fearing the worst, he took a deep breath and opened the door. He was surprised that Setsuna was at the door. His voice gave it away "I didn't expect you to be here."
"Who do you expect?"
"The guards, James. Some nobles saying 'how dare this nobody declare love for the princess!'"
*I never stopped to listen to your one and only prayer
A place for you somewhere*
"Listen, I'm sorry for the way I acted." Setsuna put her hands on his shoulders "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You did."
"Maybe this will make it up." She leaned closer and kissed him softly. Her lips brushed his for a few seconds then left as quickly as it came. One of her hands went through his hair. Garnet eyes met gray ones "The way that you presented that rose to me, without any fanfare, left an impression on me. I'm sorry if you interperted my silence for rejection."
"I'm sorry for jumping to that conclusion."
"I love you, Nathan."
"I love you too, Setsuna." Nathan drew Setsuna close into his arms. His mouth was close to her ear and he whispered softly "Be mine, Setsuna."
"I will."
End Chapter 8
* A white rose a lot of different meanings. It means Innocense and Purity, You're Heavenly and I Am Worthy Of You. I chose the last meaning for Nathan's rose.
** I didn't make a mistake on this one. Everyone knows that Haruka is a girl in the story but Nathan. In Nathan's mind, Haruka is a guy.
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: You made me feel mushy!
Black Ninja Star: Sorry...
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: *violently shake BNS* First you make it seem that Sets-chan doesn't love Nathan and then at the end you did.
Black Ninja Star: *collapses*
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Oops. *pokes Black Ninja Star*
*After a few hours*
Black Ninja Star: *wakes up* What happened?
Mistal: Abyss, Water Fairy: Nothing.. *looks really innocent*
Black Ninja Star: *shakes head* I forgot what I was going to say. Oh well, the words that I used were from a song called "If I Fall" by Tara MacClean. It's one of my favourite songs. R/R