Yosh, here is today's update! Hopefully, this one will be longer and better than the previous one. (Feeling determined.)

I'd like to thank Female President Cocoa-sensei for her review. I almost thought no one was going to say anything. Thanks again. (It's not like I was going to stop writing or anything, but the review made me happy. :P)

Disclaimer: I do not own Uta no Prince-sama or any of the characters. I only own my OCs and the plot.

Let the show begin!

Chapter II

I woke up early next morning, in order to be able to go get Eiichi's clothes before my mistress wakes up. After I washed my face and combed my hair, I went outside and headed to the Leena's shop. She was there, working as hard as usual, while humming softly as to entertain herself while she worked. She smiled upon seeing me and welcomed me warmly.

"Good morning, Haruka. How are you today?" she asked gently. "Did you like my gift?"

"I'm fine, thank you, ma'am. And yes, it was really kind of you to give me such a gift." I replied with a smile. "I've come to pick up Eiichi's travelling clothes."

"Oh, here they are." She said as she handed them over to me. I bowed and thanked her again.

"I need to return now before my mistress wakes up."

"I'll see you later then, dear. Take care." That was the last thing I heard before I left the shop. On my way back, I met Haruka. She looked in a better condition than the day before, and her eyes looked a bit brighter, but her face was still stoic. Nevertheless, I could tell she was in a good mood.

"I...wanted to thank you again for helping me yesterday." She said, holding out some coins. "My master was pleased with me yesterday, so he gave me these coins as a reward. Now I give them to you…" I was about to refuse, but she insisted. I found myself forced to take them.

"Fine, I'll keep them with me, but they are yours, Haruka." I said with a smile. For a mere second, I saw a smile appear on her pale face, but the next moment, it was gone. "I'll see you around, then. Bye." I said and walked past her, heading back to the house. My mistress was up, looking for me. When she saw me, she was furious.

"Where were you, you worthless girl?!" she shouted. "I've been looking for you!"

"Sorry, ma'am. I was out getting Master Eiichi's travelling clothes." I said, showing her the package I held. She looked at me doubtfully, but snatched the package from my hand.

"Good. Now go find my son. The emissary will be here any moment." She said, pushing me outside. I sighed as soon as she closed the door and walked through the village, looking for her snobbish son. Eiichi was gifted, or so I heard. He had the gift of sorcery. Each year, emissaries from Shining Academy would come and recruit those who have gifts of magic. Eiichi was chosen among these gifted that year. I was absolutely in no position to object, but who knows what would a person like Eiichi do if he learns magic? Eiichi was a proud, flirtatious person who only loved himself. He looked down on other people, slaves or not.

"You slave girl!" Speak of the devil, Eiichi and his friends, Nagi and Kira, approached me. He had his signature smirk on his face, and so did the short boy, Nagi. Kira, on the other hand, was rather calm. He didn't talk much, so I had no idea of his character.

"Master Eiichi." I began, speaking in a low tone despite my inner feelings of desire to beat him up. The boy was annoying. Too annoying, in fact. I just couldn't bear his annoying smirk or his spoilt attitude. "Mistress Nora says you have to go back now." He, and Nagi, simply laughed. The next second, I was picked up by the neck. The boy's grip was hard it almost killed me. I struggled to free myself from his death grip, but my strength didn't even match half his own.

"Was that a command, slave girl?" He said in a low threatening tone. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face. He still had the smirk on his face, but his eyes said otherwise. He lifted up his fist and was about to punch me. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact, but it never came.

"Ow! Who threw that?!" was what I heard before I was thrown to the ground hard. I opened my eyes to see a crowd of people standing in a circle, Eiichi with his back to me, and facing him was… Haruka?!

"Don't hurt her, Eiichi." She said. Her voice was different from the one I knew. It was emotionless, and a bit masculine. Her eyes had a dangerous glare in them. Was she there to protect me? But, Eiichi could hurt her easily. Then why? I never got an answer for that till later.

"Ha! Another slave idiot gives me an order." He approached her and shoved her to the ground. "Idiots. You still can't see you are inferior to us." Haruka looked up at him, wincing slightly. Her pale arm had a cut on it, and was bleeding hard. Eiichi turned back to me again and was about to pick me up once more. But then, I saw it. It was the first time I saw any kind of magic. It came like a flash, literally.

Before Eiichi could even bend down, Haruka picked up a long stick and got to her feet. She swung it swiftly then thrust it towards Eiichi. Immediately, a flash of white light hit Eiichi, causing him to yell in pain. He turned around to Haruka, anger flying like sparks out of his eyes. Nagi and Kira looked amazed and afraid at the same time, and so did the people watching the scene.

"You little…!" Eiichi approached Haruka, who dropped the stick and took a few steps back. I ran to Haruka and stood behind her, ready to drag her and run away at any moment.

"Hmm… Interesting… Very interesting, indeed…" I heard a voice say. I glanced to the side to see a man and a woman. The woman was dressed in a long, white cloak with a strange symbol on it, and the man was dressed in what looked like ancient roman armor. The woman was examining the stick Haruka was holding earlier, looking at it with amazement. She turned to her companion. "Did you feel her gift, Ryuuya?"

"I did," the man, Ryuuya, replied. Eiichi interrupted them angrily.

"This is none of your business, strangers! Get lost!" he yelled. Ryuuya and his companion looked at each other for a while.

"This must be Eiichi." Ryuuya spoke.

"Yes. Master Shining said he was rude, but I never thought it was that much." The woman said before she turned to Eiichi. "Eiichi. I'm Tsukimiya Ringo, and this is Hyuuga Ryuuya. We were sent her by Master Shining to take you to the academy." I could see Eiichi's face go red with anger and embarrassment. That moment, I had to try hard not to laugh at his misfortune, and I could see Haruka was amused by that fact too. Eiichi was in deep trouble.

"That girl wanted to kill me! You saw her use magic!" He said, pointing to Haruka.

"Ryuuya," Ringo began, "What do you think?"

"The girl has potential. Such magic can be dangerous if not trained." He said, looking at Haruka. "She has to come to the academy."

"So does the other girl. Look." Ringo pointed to my hand, which was gripping on Haruka's injured arm. I was about to let go, afraid that I had hurt Haruka more that she already was, but, to my utter surprise, the wound was not there. There was no single trace for blood or injury.

"Impressive. Healing magic, then?" Ryuuya commented, smiling at me and Haruka.

"No! They cannot be gifted! They are slaves!" Eiichi yelled and once again, he was ignored.

"Is it true? You two are slaves?" Ringo asked. I nodded.

"Y-yes…"

"You don't have to worry about that anymore." Ryuuya spoke. He walked closer to us and gave each of us a golden token. "Now, both of you are free."

"F-free?" Haruka and I asked at the same time, eyes wide in surprise.

"Yes." I couldn't believe myself. I was free, and I was going to learn healing magic. My life was taking a new turn.

"Now, Ringo. Please accompany Eiichi to his house make arrangements. I'll stay here with the girls to see if they have any questions." Ringo nodded and left with Eiichi, whom I was sure his mother was going to be furious with him and me as well, but it didn't matter to me. I was free now.

"Master Ryuuya…" Haruka spoke. "What is my gift exactly?"

"Sword magic; it's the ability to draw out magic using a sword." He answered. "I'm pretty impressed you could draw it from a stick without any previous training." Then he smiled. "I believe you will become on great sword mistress one day, if you can handle the training." Once again, I saw Haruka smile, but this time, the smile lingered on her face.

"Thank you. I won't let you down." Was her reply.

"When can we leave?" I asked.

"Anytime you want. Me, Master Ringo and Eiichi will leave tomorrow at dawn. You should probably rest first." This got me surprised.

"Master Ringo?"

"Yes. He fooled you, didn't he?" Ryuuya asked with a laugh. I blinked.

"Hai… He did…"

"Your friend deceived me too…" He said, pointing to Haruka. "At first, I thought she was a boy with feminine looks like my companion, but when Eiichi referred to her as a girl, it cleared the misunderstanding." This had me thinking. Haruka's body indeed looked just like a boy. I didn't have time to think of that now. There are more important things to do.

"We should pack our stuff, Haruka. Let's go." We went on separate ways. I went to my small room and pulled out a leather bag I had hidden beneath one of the loose planks in the ground. I placed all my belongings in it. After I was done, I said goodbye to the room and went upstairs. Mistress Nora was there, waiting for me.

"Damn you! This was supposed to my son's special day. You ruined it! Get out and never come back again!" she yelled. I did not answer and just walked past her. I left that house and let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, no more yells or beatings. Finally free…

Now I debated on whether I should leave with Haruka, or just go on my own. Maybe she wants to go without me, or maybe I would burden her. But it wouldn't hurt to ask. I had heard the woods out there were dangerous, and it would be better to travel with her. I walked to the market place in hopes of meeting her there. It took some time before I spotted her in the crowds. She was looking for something, or more like buying something. I guessed she was buying supplies for the journey to the academy. The Shining Academy for Sword and Magic was located in the capital of this Isle, 'Logar'. I, of course, had no idea on how to get there. I clearly needed help.

"There you are." Haruka said as she approached me. She also and a bag with her, but it was smaller than mine. In her hands, she held a map.

"Are you ready to go, or would you prefer to stay her and wait till tomorrow?" I raised an eyebrow at her question, not really getting what she meant at first. It took me some time to realize that she was going to take me with her. At least she saved me the question.

"Well, I think we should go now. It's a long way to the city, right?" I suggested. She nodded and opened the map.

"Yes. There are three marked places on this map. Holan, Logar and a village called 'Monrew'. Logar is located up north." She said, pointing to the location on the map. "We can stop by Monrew if night approaches us. It will be dangerous to wander around in the woods at night. There are lots of beasts there." I nodded.

"Okay… Let's go." We both walked to the gates of the city. After showing the guards our tokens, they let us leave. Then began our first journey: Getting to Logar safely and in one piece.

Phew. Second chapter done already. It didn't turn out as long as I wanted too, but I guess these are enough events in this chapter. Ah, how nice it is when a person write about something he adore. *happy sigh*

Anyways, R&R. If you feel like pointing out any mistakes, just tell me. I'll get them fixed at once.

KuraiHaru17