September 8, 2007

9:28

Chapter 5

Casual Conversation

Haruka let out an exasperated sigh as she looked at herself in the mirror that had three parts to it that looked like they could fold up. The Sapphire crystals embedded in the wooden frame glimmered as the light from her chandelier hit them. She twirled around looking at the back of the very expensive gown she was wearing. It was made of silk and was a fabulous sapphire blue. It was deep cut in the back and was off the shoulder showing the small of her back and most of her collar bone. The gown reached to the floor hiding her feet that were in strappy royal blue sandals. Her brunette hair was curled and in a perfect bun that was held by a sapphire encrust hair tie. Some curled pieces of hair framed her face as the sparkles in her hair glimmered in the light.

She brought her white gloved hands to her chin and closed her eyes trying to remain calm about the event that was about to occur. The white gloves went to about her elbow and around her wrist was a sapphire bracelet that had a matching chocker that was around her neck. Right now Haruka was the definition of elegance, but she still felt rather nervous and uneasy about what she was about to do.

It was a wonderful cool Friday evening and her parents along with Queen Akane thought it would be best to have a pre-marital ball even thought the engaged royals weren't getting married until Haruka was sixteen which wasn't that far away for her. Shuu was already of age and all they had to do was wait until that sixteenth birthday.

While Haruka was in her room preparing for the ball, she was watching people arrive. Kumi and her parents King Rolphius and Queen Nakine were on of the first to arrive and soon Kasumi and her parents arrived due the fact that her father was a nobleman as was Satoshi's, Hikari's, Shinji's, and Mikko's who Haruka wasn't to excited to see.

Haruka looked away from her mirror and closed her eyes while releasing another sigh. She didn't enjoy this but this was what she had to do; after her mother, daughter talk earlier that week she had figured out her main priority. 'But what about my feelings…' she thought as she looked at the picture of her family on the wall. She smiled and then knew if this was best for them then she would do it. If marrying him would make the region realm one and stronger so that they would be able to be safe from the evil witches and sorcery that exist then she had to do it.

"You look gorgeous you're highness." Yuri said using her teleporting powers to come up behind the princess. She jumped but then smiled at the sight of her maid and friend.

"Thank you Yuri, t-that means a lot." Haruka muttered as she gazed at the floor that seemed so much more interesting then eye contact. Yuri took a step forward and hugged the princess tightly making Haruka feel warm and cared for.

"You are my dearest friend and you are the heiress, you'll always have that title and with that title comes great responsibility. The way you're handling all those responsibilities is worthy of much praise. You are going to be a great queen one day and I will be honored to serve you." Yuri said releasing the fifteen year old from her grip.

"Yup, that's my plan, to be the best queen I can be and make my parents proud." Haruka giggled as she smiled broadly.

"You've already made most of us so proud, now the ball has already started. I was sent up here to tell you to make your way to the ball room."

"Oh yea, my grand entry."

"I'm sure Prince Shuu will be stunned when he see's you." Yuri joked with a mischievous grin. Haruka rolled her eyes.

"I bet he will." She muttered sarcastically. Yuri laughed lightly and took the heiress's hand.

"C'mon your people await you." Yuri said leading the princess to the staircase that led to the ballroom. She then teleported into a corner of the ball room and turned to the steps where her heiress would make her entry.

"Presenting Princess Haruka of Sapphire." A maid announced formally as everyone directed their attention towards the marble staircase. Haruka made her way down the stairs with her "formal" face on. She had her hand resting on the railing and she took a deep breath through her nose as she made her way to the bottom. Both Yuri and Matsuko nodded approvingly and at a table Kumi nudged Kasumi and Hikari as if to say "look at our best friend looking all pretty".

Haruka's father took her hand as she reached the bottom. She curtsied to her father and he bowed to her then led her to the table where her mother, Queen Akane and Shuu were. Akane immediately got up and engulfed Haruka in a tight hug. This was their first formal meeting.

"It's such a pleasure to finally meet such an honorable girl." The emerald haired women chimed releasing Haruka from the hug and letting her receive her oxygen flow again. Matsuko smiled contently and gave her daughter a hug.

"You look wonderful." The sapphire queen whispered, Haruka nodded.

"You look absolutely stunning," Akane said taking her seat. "Don't you think so Shuu?" Shuu wasn't really paying attention to any of his surroundings. His gaze was cast downwards as he rocked back and forth in his chair. "Shuu!" At the call of his name he snapped back to reality. Parties really weren't really his thing, he was pretty much anti-social if he wasn't flirting with some girl which he rarely did nowadays.

I'm sorry mother, what's going on?" he asked trying to act innocent. Queen Akane frowned at her son's short attention span but it snapped back into her smile in an instant.

"I said don't you think Haruka looks stunning." She repeated. Shuu didn't even see her entrance so when he looked up he nearly gasped. 'Whoa, she's more beautiful then usual…..' he thought as he looked her over top to bottom. Haruka noticed this folded her hands behind her back as she blushed nervously.

"Yea, of course, she looks great." He muttered as he blushed a small tint of red and directed his gaze downwards again. Haruka didn't understand why but she blushed even harder and took her seat. Being the polite and well trained girl she is she smiled at him and told him he looked very handsome as well which wasn't a lie at all in this case. He in fact looked very good in formal clothing.

Right then Haruka's father got up and looked towards Queen Akane and Matsuko as if to say something and then the three of them simultaneously left the table to leave the two alone.

"Did you see that!?" Kumi said nudging Shinji who was nearly asleep from boredom.

"No and I do not care so do not explain it to me." He snapped coldly as he sat back in his seat and drifted off to sleep. Kumi glared at him then nudged Hikari.

"Did you see that?"

"Yea, they're parents totally set them up." Hikari said.

"Too bad we can't go save her." Kasumi said as she glanced nervously at the pair.

……….

'I can't believe my parents set me up….' Haruka thought as she fiddled with her bracelet. She wished that Yuri was there; she would know exactly what to do to make everything better, she always did. Yuri is like the big sister Haruka never had and always wanted, but she was on her own now. She was abandoned and had to face her problems on her own. She could handle it….at least she hopes….

"So…" She began looking around the room and avoiding looking at Shuu's face, but she forced to when her jerked her head so that it was facing him.

"Its rude to not look at the person you're talking to." He commented flicking his hair. She smiled for a split second then frowned lightly. 'You're one to talk about being rude.' She thought bitterly before regaining her small smile.

"Sorry, so….are you enjoying yourself?" She asked trying to get passed past occurrences and making a conversation out of their awkward silence.

"Not really." He sighed looking away from her. She nodded in agreement. Parties like these were always unappealing to her. They always seemed so boring. "I could never find any enjoyment out of gatherings like these. Not exactly the partying crowd." He added motioning over to the old rich people had the noblemen that had their children by their side. Haruka couldn't help but giggle at that last remark and Shuu found her little laugh quite pleasurable to listen to so he smiled slightly.

"Seems like we're on the same page when it comes to get togethers. They claim this party is for us-"

"But they barely invite any people our age, minus your little group." Shuu cut off reading her mind.

"So you can read minds to." She said laughing lightly. She seemed to be surprised that they were having a casual conversation.

"It's a possibility and it's rude to think that Mikko is a monkey." He said smirking. "Hmm, I'm surprised there are any thoughts to read considering how slow you are." Haruka sighed with depression when she heard him say that. She actually thought that he was acting remotely nice for a moment there but all good things come to an end.

"I should have expected that." She muttered as she glared at him.

"Calm down Heiress, I'm only playing with you. Guess you really are slow if you couldn't tell." He stated with a shrug. "Is there a brain to go with that pretty little face of yours?"

"Course, is there any decency to go with that attitude?" She retorted.

"Wow that was actually a good comeback, have you been practicing?" He said sarcastically while placing a hand on his mouth dramatically.

"You really annoy me." She grumbled as she slumped in her chair and crossed her arms.

"Aw, I love you too baby." He said wrapping an arm around her. She snorted with disgust and rolled her eyes. 'Will it ever end?' She thought as she removed his arm.

Ending Time: 4:37

Thank you all my reviewers! Now I want you to do it again, and again, and again!!!!