Hello readers, I had five reviews in one day for the last chapter and that made me very happy! Thank you to those who reviewed! I type this chapter when I'm suppose to study because reviews gives me motivation so I'm posting this earlier. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter just like I've enjoyed typing it. I know I sort of sway away from Misaki and Usami's progress but I'll be back to them soon, maybe another one or two more chapters.

Chapter 11 - Water Lily

"Gin, are you sure we are going the right way?" Misaki asked him for the third time as he followed Gin with Takahiro behind him. He shoved the ferns that was in front of him to make way and the ferns jumped back to their orginal postion when Misaki let go.

They have been walking in The Water Garden for hours, but there was not a single path in sight. Both men were relying on Gin to lead the way but all they had seen were trees and ferns.

"I'm sure Gin knows where he is going." Takahiro said weakly, trying to surpress the pain in his voice. His feet had grown blisters and it was hurting him as he walked. He had been trying to keep up, enduring all the pain.

"Brother, are you alright?" Misaki stopped, turned and looked at Takahiro. He noticed a change in his brother's usual voice. Takahiro forced a smile and tried to assure his younger brother, "I'm fine. Let's hurry, we don't have much time."

Misaki nodded, not noticing any difference in his brother. After a few minutes, Gin sniffed the ground and let out a soft howl. He shook his head to indicate to the brothers the direction and sprinted off into that direction.

"Gin, wait!" Misaki cried and ran after it. "Misaki!" Takahiro cried as he saw his brother's back getting smaller and smaller and then disappeared. Takahiro's feet were too painful for him to run. He walked towards the direction where his brother and Gin went but after brisk walking for sometime, he did not see any of them.

I 've lost them...

Takahiro fell back on the ground. He was tired and his feet hurt. He took off his shoes and examined his feet. The sole of his feet had a few bad blisters and so did the heel of his feet. He let his feet rest with out shoes for a while before wearing them back. He continued searching, enduring the pain. He walked and walked, getting weaker and weaker. He was slowly not aware of his surroundings. He did not see the edge of the cliff in front of him. His left leg stepped into the air, he lost his balance and fell.

"Waaaaaa!"

X.X.X

"Brother!" Misaki yelled and his voice echoed though the garden. He looked at Gin who was sniffing the ground trying to pick up Takahiro's scent. "Gin, got anything?" Misaki asked him worriedly. Gin let out a soft howl and shook his head.

Misaki sighed and mumbled to himself, "Why does this garden feels like a forest..." Gin's strong sense of hearing made him hear everything Misaki said to himself. He had not been with Misaki for very long but he found out he like to mumble his thoughts out loud and he thought that Misaki was cute just like Usami said he would be. He also had a very special ability that allowed him to feel the feelings of others. He now can felt Misaki's feelings of worry mixed with guilt. Guilt...but why...? Is it because he lost his brother, and he feels responsible? Gin approached Misaki and gently brushed his head against his leg assuring him.

Misaki bent and patted Gin's head. "We'll find him, I'm sure of it." Misaki said, sounding firm. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, lights began to gather in front of them and it slowly form the shape of a door. When the door was fully formed, the lights extinguished and a wooden door stood in front of him. The door was about two times bigger than he was. It was made of plain, dark wood with gold words engraved on the white frame of the door.

Misaki slowly reached out, his hand tracing the words on the door. "Gin...what do you think it says? I have never seen these words before..." he whispered softly as he reached for the door knob.

This does not look good! Gin tired to stop Misaki, biting the corner of his trousers and tugging him to stop. Misaki looked down at Gin and said, "I'm sure it's going to be alright. Besides, this is the best option we have." he smiled and turned the door knot, with a click, the door crept open slowly and they walked inside.

X.X.X

"Ow..." Takahiro rubbed his butt as he stood up. He felt a sharp pain on his left leg. He tried to move it but the pain just got worse. I must have twisted it...now what...

He scanned the place he was in. He fell into a cave. The cave was lit by fireflies all over the cave; a small stream of water flowed right in front of him. The water was crystal clear that it looked like it glowed. Takahiro bent down and used both of his hands to form a cup to scoop the water to drink. When he drank the water, he felt his strength returning, the water was just so fresh. He looked around the cave some more and he noticed a stream of light coming from the top and shined on something at the back. He endured the pain in his leg and dragged himself towards the light.

As he got closer, he saw grass and small flowers form beneath his feet as he walked on the grass. Then he saw it. Under the light was a single flower that grew on the grass. A lily. The flower was shaped like a lily, but the petals were made of ice. Takahiro could see the cold air coming from the lily. He slowly, carefully approached the lily. Just as he was about to touch it, a voice rang in his head.

"You're...seeking the lily?"

"Who's there?" Takahiro cried as he looked around but there was no one in sight.

"Do you seek the lily?" the voice asked once more, sounding firmer this time.

No matter how Takahiro looked, he could not see anyone. So he replied, "Yes."

"Why..."

"I want to save a friend."

"But you're not from the Water Kingdom...You can't have it..."

Takahiro panicked. He needed the lily to save Sumi. "But I really need it. I need to save a friend."

"Is he just...a friend...?"

Takahiro pondered. Memories flooded into him, from the first time he saw Sumi. His heartbeat picked up it's pace when he thought of Sumi's gentle kisses. I don't hate it...he used his fingers to touch his lips and answered, "I don't know..."

The voice laughed softly and said, "It's crystal clear to me. I saw your coming and I deem you have the right to claim the lily but there's a price..."

"What price?"

"Something seen but can never be taken. Show me why you came all the way here when the time comes and I will give you the true lily."

"What do you mean?" Takahiro asked, confused.

"You've got to figure that out yourself, now, go on, pluck the lily and go."

"Thank you." Takahiro whispered. He went forward and gently pluck the Water Lily by giving the stem a twist and the lily gently come off. When the lily was in his hand, he stood there, not moving.

"What's wrong...?" the voice asked.

"I have no idea how to go back and I still have to find Misaki and Gin."

The voice chuckled. "I sent them back already...the have no reason to be here..." just as soon as he finished saying, lights gather to form a door. "This will lead you back...go..."

Takahiro gulped and hold the lily to his chest. He turned the door knob and walked into the door.

X.X.X

Staring all he could see is light then slowly, the guest room Sumi was in came in sight. He found himself standing where he left and everyone was staring at him.

"Misaki!" Usami roared when he saw him coming out from the light.

Misaki flinched when he heard Usami's voice. He turned and Usami staring at him, his eyes were cold when Misaki's met his eyes. He tried to look away but he could not. He looked at Usami right in his eyes, his heart sped up when Usami walked towards him. Oh no, he's angry...

Misaki was prepared for Usami wrath but instead, Usami pulled him into his arms and his hands wrapped possessively. He whispered as he gently kissed his neck, "I'm so glad that you're alright."

Misaki felt his cheeks getting hot and he tried to push him away. "Erm, Usagi-san...I'm alright so you can let go..."

Usami let him go but one of his arm still wrapped around his waist. Misaki sighed knowing he couldn't get the hand off him. He scanned the room and noticed his brother was still not back yet, he panicked "Where is my brother?" he asked.

"He's still not back yet." Miyagi replied as he stood up from his chair and walked towards Misaki. "What happened in there?"

Misaki looked down on the floor. "We were separated..."

Just as Miyagi was about to say something, a light appeared beside Misaki. It slowly revealed a shadow and that shadow became clearer when the light slowly cleared. When the light cleared, it revealed Takahiro.

"Brother!" Misaki cried as he ran towards him and gave him a hug, not knowing he pissed Usami off by breaking their contact. "Misaki." Takahiro said.

"Did you have the lily?" Miyagi said when Misaki let his brother go. Takahiro nodded and showed Miyagi the Water Lily he had in his hand. Misaki grasped. "Wow, it's beautiful! We can save Sumi-senpai now right?" Misaki turned and asked Miyagi.

"Yes."

Takahiro wanted to pass the lily to Miyagi but Miyagi shook his head and said, "Only the one who got it can use it."

Takahiro looked confused. "But what am I suppose to do?"

"The lily guardian must have told you how to use it if not you're not able to pluck it."

Takahiro thought about back then, but he did not remember seeing anybody then he remembered the voice. Just as he was about to mention the voice, the servants looking after Sumi cried, "My lord, come over quick!"

Takahiro rushed towards Sumi first and saw Sumi's face paler than before, almost as white as a sheet, his wings gray in color. What he noticed was his feet slowly turning transparent. "Sumi!" he cried.

"He's losing his life essence!"