Chapter 7:

~Fine's POV~

"Er…hi—I mean, hello—King Akihito, Queen Masako," I said nervously while curtsying slightly.

The grand hall of the palace was amazing. It was extra large with floor to ceiling windows, royal blue curtains tied at the sides. The king and queen sat on their thrones in the back center of the room. I looked up at them again. Really, they wore robes and outfits fit for gods! (Though that was probably because they were decorated with paper-thin pieces of shiny crystal, making them shimmer from all directions.)

Aki had pulled me into the hall as soon as he was able to wake me up from bed. I had no idea what he was doing until I saw his parents. Oh. So it was a meet-the-parents interview. Aki watched from the side.

She started, "I'm Fine—"

The king held up his hand, and I stopped.

"No need to introduce yourself," He said. "Akihiko here has told us all about you. And of course…" King Akihito had a gleam in his eyes. "…we took care of you when you visited our land."

I felt the heat in my cheeks shoot up.

"Hmm…she was supposed to have come by now…" The queen murmured.

"Huh? Who?" I asked. The heat in my cheeks went down a little.

The tall doors behind me slowly creaked open. I turned around to see a beautiful girl clad in a floor-length dress step into the room. With hardly a sound, she moved gracefully over to the king and queen and stood beside them. I noticed her dress changed colours—from sky blue to pale pink to sunny yellow—whenever she moved.

Queen Masako introduced her. "Fine, this is our daughter, Princess Aiko. If you need any help please look for her."

I stared at Princess Aiko, particularly into her dark sapphire eyes, marveling at the same time at the cleverness of all their names (how they all seemed to come from a primary source). A fleeting look of surprise flew across her face, and there was the faintest hint of a smile twitching at her lips. But then for some reason, the smile dropped and the eyes became dull. She scowled at me!

Why? I've only just met her! Did she not like visitors?

"Aiko, why don't you take Fine for a tour of the palace before breakfast?" The queen recommended.

I sneaked a peek at Aiko. She returned my glance with narrowed eyes. I shivered. Somehow, I didn't picture the idea of spending the entire morning with someone who hated me for no reason very pleasing. But then again, what choice did I have?

I tried to be nice. "That sounds fun! Will you take me?" I asked, turning to face her.

A mix of emotions passed her face. First uncertainty, then bewilderment, finally exasperation.

She nodded her consent.

Following Aiko down the hall, I got the sense she and I both were feeling pretty self-conscious. So I started the conversation first.

"Hey…Ai-chan—can I call you Ai-chan?—let's be friends!" I blurted out. I only realized how forcefully I'd said it after it was spoken. I was about to cover it up with more talk when Ai-chan stopped walking, causing me to bump directly into her.

Since the first time I saw her that morning, she opened her mouth and spoke. "I'm kinda tired today. Can we continue this tomorrow?"

And without waiting for a reply, she jogged the rest of the way, leaving me standing there. I heard the sound of a door opening and slamming shut.

~Aiko's POV~

I couldn't believe it.

"Fine's back!" I exclaimed aloud in the safety of my room.

But then my heart immediately became heavy again. How come she doesn't remember me? We used to be such good friends…

Flashback:

"Aiko, this is my friend, Fine. I found her alone in a dark place in the Sunny Kingdom. Fine, this is my sister, Aiko," Aki was explaining.

I backed away when he pulled forward a girl with reddish-pink hair and eyes. She was the same age as me. I didn't know how to greet her because I was shy and didn't have many friends.

Suddenly she jumped forward and grabbed my hands. "Hey…Ai-chan—can I call you Ai-chan?—let's be friends!" Her smile was radiant.

At first I didn't know what to think, but then I warmed at the thought of finally having a friend to play with and share secrets with.

Grinning equally happily, I shouted out, "Okay!"

(End of flashback)

I sighed. She didn't remember me. If she did, she wouldn't have had that blank expression on her face when she saw me, even if she said the exact same words as before. It was just a coincidence.

Then, in my head, I heard the faintest voice—my conscience—whispering, "Nothing is a coincidence."

And you know what? I almost believed it.