Okay, so I'm getting an extra workload in the next couple of weeks so I may take a short hiatus until I get this workload done. Sigh. Adulting is so hard T_T

I'll be doing a simultaneous upload on the latest chapters on this fic and Starting Over Again before I go on hiatus so when this goes up, expect SOA to be updated too!

'Secrets' has been updated so R&R this and that too. XD

xoxo Lexi1989


Previously:

Before anyone could protest, they heard a small cry a few feet away from where they were. Youichi was in the water. It was then they realized that they were where they were intended to be. The beach. They had reached the southern shores of Alicia. And Youichi was now drowning in the ocean.


CHAPTER 8: MISAKI'S DECISION

"YOU-CHAN!" Mikan screamed as she scambled to her feet on the sand.

"I know how to swim but I can't touch him." Natsume murmured as they thought quickly of their options. Spying a small shack in the distance, he made his way there, kicked the door open and went inside. He came out a few seconds later, carrying a fishnet and tossing one end to Ruka.

"Let's fish him out." He said and Ruka nodded, quickly lifting himself into the air with his wings.

They swam towards the small boy, sputtering water and splashing in the ocean. Natsume never liked being wet, but this time he had no choice. He dove into the ocean with full force, bringing one side of the net with him while Ruka was hovering above the surface with the other end. He used the net to 'catch' Youichi and with a mighty heave, he swam upwards towards the surface.

They pulled the net up, making sure Youichi was above the surface and flew him back to shore. He was still coughing up water, but thankfully conscious. They gathered around him, leaving a small distance so he could get some air.

"Me fine." The small boy sat up and for the first time, smiled in gratitude towards Natsume and Ruka. Relief flooded through the group as they

"That was quite a save." Said a voice from behind them.

They turned around to see a young woman in her early twenties with red hair and brown eyes. She was wearing overalls over a plain white shirt, fishing boots, and had a fisherman's cap on her head. She stood just outside the shack that Natsume had barged into looking slightly irritated.

"Misaki." They all gaped when Hotaru stood up and address the stranger.

"Hotaru, do you know her?" Mikan asked and Hotaru rolled her eyes.

"This is Misaki Harada. She's a half-blood Fairie. And she's the one I told you about a couple of days ago. Misaki, this is Mikan, Natsume, Prince Ruka of the Nogi Kingdom and Youichi."

"You been talking smack about me girl?" Misaki raised her eyebrow at Hotaru who's turn it was to show annoyance.

"Only of high regard. You can help us get a boat, right?" The purple eyed half-blood Fairie responded.

"For the right price. Why do you need a boat anyhow?" She eyed the group suspiciously. She knew Hotaru through her brother but didn't know her well enough to trust her.

"We need to travel across the sea."

"Pray tell, where would you lot be going?" Misaki asked with sass in her tone.

"Somewhere that doesn't concern you." Natsume responded.

"You don't look like you know how to sail a boat, much more travel across the sea with one. It takes skill and knowledge to sail across the seas you know." She scoffed at them.

"And I suppose if we ask you to help us, it would come at a hefty price as well?" Natsume was quick to read between the lines.

"If the price is right. And it costs a lot for a back and forth trip." She replied, crossing her arms across her chest.

Hotaru pulled out a small pouch and tossed it over to Misaki who caught it with her left hand. She opened the pouch, let out a small grin before wiping it off her face and turning back towards Hotaru and the group.

"Where are you planning to head to?" Misaki was all business when it comes to money.

"We're looking for the Glade of the Fairies."

"You all must be crazy! Nobody's ever been to the Glade of the Fairies. Nobody knows where it is." Misaki let out a low whistle before laughing and responding.

"My research on old folklore and legends indicate that it's hidden on an island South of the country before we hit the Asian continent." Hotaru stated, drawing out a mag from her small bag.

"For all you know that could be just an old wive's tale." Misaki's skepticism showed clear on her face as they all gathered around Hotaru.

She pointed towards a small group of dots south of Alice that had no labels. There were only four, small, declared uninhabited islands before the continent of Asia was shown, according to the map of the world that she'd spread out on the sand.

"If my suspicions prove true, then one way or another we should be able to find it. If not, then we go back home, and pray the Shadows don't get to us all." Hotaru didn't give away her hunch of Mikan's origins. The less that knew about it, the better.

Mikan noticed a fleeting expression pass through Misaki's face. She turned towards her, wanting to ask but Natsume had beaten her to it.

"What?" He asked.

"I'm not really a fan of those Shadow people." Misaki sighed as she gazed towards the ocean.

"We need an answer." Hotaru prodded and Misaki shifted the pouch filled with money in the palm of her hand. She thought Hotaru and her friends were absurd. There was no way to find the Glade of the Fairies. But the money in her hand would be a means for her to put food on the table for the next six months. She couldn't say no.

"I can have a boat ready in a week. I will personally take you but the voyage through to that area will take roughly a month's journey if we're lucky enough to avoid any storms. I'll give you an estimate on how much provisions will cost you."

"We don't have a week. Time is of the essence. I'm paying you more than enough for this journey." Hotaru said glaring at Misaki.

"Did anybody ever tell you that you're pushy as hell? So unlike your brother." Misaki glared back.

"Are you going to get us in the water in three days or should I take that money bag and find someone more willing?" The lavender eyed half Fairie threatened.

"Fine. Three days is doable. But barely. You will all need to help getting the boat ready." Misaki was quick to pocket the money bag before Hotaru could snatch it away.

"That sounds reasonable. Although we'll have to look for a place to stay in. Do you have any suggestions?" Ruka, ever the peacemaker with his diplomatic charm, tried to diffuse the heat of the argument.

"You can stay in this shack. I have a couple extra cots in there somewhere. And someone will need to fix the damn door." Misaki led them to the shack that Natsume had burst in on earlier.

It was bigger inside compared to how it looked from the outside. There was a big bed to the side and Misaki laid out two cots. She asked the two male Fairies to start a fire to which Natsume responded with a smirk. That would be no issue for him. She would be returning later with fresh catch to cook for their dinner.


Later that night, when they were all settled, Misaki found herself sitting near the embers of the dying fire, staring at the calm ocean. The fairies were all sleeping. And she was left alone to her own devices. She thought she felt a presence behind her but when she turned around, there was no one. She shook her head.

"I must be going crazy…" She murmured to herself. The wind picked up and she hugged her knees to her chest to fend off the cold. She jumped when she felt something get draped on her shoulders. She stood to find a startled Mikan behind her and a raggedy blanket strewn on the sand.

"Kami-sama Mikan, you startled me!" She berated the teenage Fairie whose wings shimmered in the low light of the fire.

"I'm sorry Misaki-san. I woke up from habit, since I check on my grandfather at this time of night to make sure he's sleeping okay. I saw you shivering and thought to bring you a blanket." The brunette explained as she watched the redhead sit back down on the sand, wrapping the blanket around her.

"I see." Misaki said nothing more as she stared once again at the ocean.

"Mind if I join you for a bit?" Misaki shook her head and scooted a little to give space to Mikan by the low fire. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Misaki's curiousity peaked.

"Why are you wanting to find the Glade of the Fairies anyway?"

Mikan pondered over what to say. Hotaru already told her not to tell anyone that they think she's the heir to the Fairie Throne. It was hard to trust people nowadays. Fairie or human.

"To get answers, I suppose." She said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Must be some heavy questions then, if Hotaru can't answer them." Misaki commented.

"I don't even know if I want to know the answer." Mikan said offhandedly.

"Why is that?"

"Because I'm scared. It means a lot of things to everyone, especially to me. I don't want to lose the people I care about the most and there's only a handful of them. I grew up with my grandfather, and I didn't know my parents growing up. And I'm scared that the answer will be a premeditation to that." Mikan's vulnerability showed in her eyes and Misaki sighed. She had been through that route before. It was painful, but it was a part of life.

"I lost someone too. Someone I cared for very much." Misaki didn't know why she was telling the young Fairie about this. But the moment the words left her lips, she felt a small weight lifted off her.

"I'm sorry to hear that Misaki."

"I don't even know if he's dead or alive. He was taken years ago by those shadow people."

"Maybe you'll find the answer to that as well.. if we ever get to the Glade of the Fairies." Mikan said in an attempt to lighten the conversation.

"Maybe it's better off for me not knowing. I can move on with my life." She said sadly.

"But you'll always end up wondering. Will you really be able to move on with your life?" Mikan asked thoughtfully.

"There's only one way I know I can move past it." Misaki sounded like she was already decided.

"How?"

"When I find the person who took him."

"Didn't you say it was one of those shadow people?"

"It was. I was there, hiding, when they took him and I saw who did it. It was a shadow freak with a star tattoo near his left eye."

"What are you going to do if you ever find that guy?" Misaki's demeanor changed from sadness to anger. The dying flame reflected in her eyes as she turned towards Mikan to answer her question.

"I'm going to kill him."

END OF CHAPTER 8


Uh-Oh. There's only one guy with a star tattoo near his left eye. And he's the one who took the person special to Misaki. I wonder who that person is? Any guesses?

Misaki's also vowed to kill the person who took him. :O

Stay tuned for what happens next!


newroz – Well, it didn't awaken Mikan's power but at least he's safe right? And wow, I'm jealous. I hope I can visit that place in the future.

Guest – Sorry it took awhile to update. Here's the next chapter!

Derp1Derp2 – I'll think about the YouichixAoi pairing, and as for the curse, well, wait to find out ;)

YoNaMe – Well, Natsume is used to these kinds of situations so it's good that he was able to think quickly on his feet err wings, right? :D


STORY CYCLE UPDATE

Starting Over Again - The Scam - Philophobia - Secrets - Fairie Tales

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xoxo Lexi1989