Aneko: Next chapter status- UP!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Princess Tutu…aww man, this is sad…it seems I've run out of creative disclaimers…

Chapter 5- So Close, Yet So Far

"Knight-sama. Knight-sama? Knight-sama!"

"I heard you the first time, so shut up already!" Fakir growled, sitting up.

His head hurt, and he couldn't see anything through the inky night darkness.

"Where are we?"

"Hmmm…probably…a day away, if you have a horse."

Fakir stood up.

The boy, who had become a bird again, flew in panicked circles around his head.

"What are you doing? You can't make it in the dark! You need to rest first. You don't even have a horse for crying out loud!"

Fakir frowned- the boy was being a nuisance. "Where am I supposed to get a horse? I don't even have any money."

The boy changed back, landing on his feet and looking up at Fakir.

"I'll go get you one if you promise not to go anywhere tonight, okay?" He sounded like a scolding mother.

"…Fine."

A grin broke across his face. "Yosh! Don't move, I'll be right back!"

He turned to disappear into the darkness.

"Hey, kid," the boy stopped. "What's your name?"

"It's Kiru!"

He turned once to smile at Fakir, before running off.

As Fakir was arriving, Ahiru was getting in bed. She pulled the covers up and turned to face the wall, trying her best to fall asleep. She was just beginning to doze off, when she heard a slight breeze, and her bed mattress went down a bit.

"Hime-sama…" Kiru called quietly.

"Huh? Kiru? What are you doing here?"

Ahiru sat up. The moon coming through the open balcony doors illuminated his silhouette, making his blonde hair seem almost white. His facial features were indecipherable, being thrown into shadow. He squatted on the edge of her bed.

"Knight-sama is coming for you."

'Coming for me?"

"Ah."

"But what does that mean? What do you mean he's 'coming for me'?"

"He's coming- be ready."

'But-"

Kiru jumped off the bed and ran out the French doors, turning to look back once before jumping over the balcony railing.

"Hime-sama, you must go to meet him. You have to escape."

"Escape?"

The door beside the vanity table creaked open, and Chare stuck her head out, a candle in one hand.

"Tutu-sama? Are you alright?" In her half-asleep state, she slipped back into calling Ahiru Tutu-sama.

"…Yeah," Ahiru replied, lying down again, "everything's fine."

"WAKE UP!"

Fakir's eyes flew open and he sat up.

Kiru stood next to Fakir beaming. A vein twitched in Fakir's forehead- he did not take kindly to being woken up this way.

"You don't need to yell, runt."

"My name's Kiru, not runt!" Kiru huffed.

"Where's this horse you said you'd get?" Fakir asked, ignoring the correction.

Kiru sighed and rolled his eyes, pointing. Fakir looked over to see an ebony-colored horse. It had been saddled and bridled and was grazing contentedly.

Now that it was light, Fakir could see where they were. It was like the illustration in the book. The sun fell gently on lush green grass, which waved lazily in the breeze. Wildflowers of red, blue and purple dotted the field, and behind him, a borderline of trees indicated the beginning of a forest. Ahead, sloping hills disappeared into the distance.

Swinging his leg over the saddle, Fakir got on the horse, turning it toward the brown dirt road.

Ahiru sat up with an enormous yawn. She had been afraid that she would not get much sleep, but the night had passed quickly. She looked around, but Chare and Iris had not appeared yet.

Uncertain, Ahiru decided to get up and get dressed herself. Unfortunately, getting into the dress was a lot, more difficult than she had imagined. Ahiru struggled with one for about twenty minutes, before trying to find something simpler. Thankfully, she found a simple white dress.

Taking a deep breath, Ahiru opened the gilded door. The hallway was silent and empty, and so she stepped out.

"Ahhhh, baka baka baka!" Ahiru groaned, hitting herself in the head.

She was currently walking around in some corridor or other, lost. She should have known she would get lost on only her second day here, but noooo, she just had to go and explore on her own.

"Hikari-chan?"

Ahiru turned. Queen Hana was standing behind her with a curious expression.

"Hikari-chan, what are you doing up? It's so early."

Ahiru fidgeted with her hands.

"Ah, I woke up, but I didn't know where Chare and Iris were, so…"

A gentle smile graced the woman's face.

"Would you like to take a walk with me?"

"Okay…"

The click of the Queen's heels on the marble floor was a soothing rhythm for Ahiru, who didn't know what to say.

'How was your first day home?"

"It was…confusing,' Ahiru answered truthfully, thinking of all the shocks and surprises.

The Queen's laughter was like many small bells ringing to their own melody.

"I imagine so. Just take it easy. You'll remember when you need to."

"Thank you, o…o-okaa-san."

Ahiru turned red when she found she was unable to call her "mother." It still felt strange.

The Queen's expression dimmed. "Is it strange, trying to call me that?"

Ahiru nodded, embarrassed.

"Until you remember, why don't you call me Hana-san? And your father can be Oran-san. I'll explain it to him later."

Ahiru brightened up. This way, she could address them without feeling too awkward.

"Yeah! Ah, can Hana-san call me something different? I know it's very ungrateful of me, but-"

"What would you like me to call you, dear?"

""Ahiru."

"My, that's an unusual name."

"I know, but I still like it- I'm so used to it."

"Alright."

They walked in silence for a while before Ahiru's itch to ask a question broke the silence.

"Hana-san?"

"Hm?"

"Are you…unhappy? Please tell me the truth…I just want to know."

Hana stopped and looked into Ahiru's face searchingly. She brought a hand up and touched Ahiru's face, sighing as she spoke.

"You look so different, act so different, from what I remember. Sometimes, I think I see my daughter's face in you but so often…so often I see someone I feel I don't know."

The sadness had returned to her motherly face, and somehow Ahiru felt that she should be able to do something about it.

Ahiru averted her eyes uncomfortably, with the awkwardness of what the Queen had just said.

"Ahiruuuu!"

Iris cannonballed into the unfortunate Ahiru.

"We've been looking for you" Chare called as she walked up.

"Oh, how can you always disappear like that!" Iris scolded.

"Now, now, Iris-san, I'm sure the hold you have on her neck will keep her from going anywhere," Hana said calmly.

"Ah! I-I'm sorry your Majesty," Iris said, letting go quickly. A sweat drop formed as she scratched the back of her head, laughing nervously.

"Anyway," Chare said, brushing aside the conversation, "you should come back to your room, Ahiru, we-"

"That's quite alright, girls."

All three girls turned to the Queen.

"She will be spending the day with me," Hana paused to look at Ahiru, "Is that alright, Ahiru-chan?"

"Yeah, it's fine," Ahiru replied, smiling.

"Amazing! I didn't know there was a lake here!" Ahiru exclaimed, eyes sparkling brightly.

They were at the back of the castle, at the far end of the extensive gardens. It was a large lake, the water an elegant shade of aquamarine, with also reflected the sky. The surface glittered like a thousand gems. Large goldfish and koi swam lazily.

"I'm glad you like it."

Ahiru turned to smile at Hana and lost her balance.

"Ah!"

"Ahiru-chan, look out!"

Hana reached out to stop Ahiru from falling, but instead followed after. They both landed with a loud splash in the lake shallows, soaked from head to toe.

"Ahhh! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Ahiru, face red, bowed repeatedly, only managing to splash more water.

"Wah! I'm really sorry!"

The Queen stared at herself in surprise for a minute, before bursting into laughter.

"It's fine. Let's go inside and get some warm clothes on."

Ahiru rubbed vigorously at her hair with a towel, sitting in front of the vanity table mirror. She was only wearing a shift, since Hana was looking for another gown in the wardrobe. Ahiru could see her rifling through it in the mirror's reflection.

"Ah, found one."

She held up a pale yellow dress, coming to stand behind Ahiru.

"Thank you, Hana san," Ahiru smiled, still trying to dry her hair.

"Ahiru-chan, why don't I re-braid your hair for you?" Hana offered.

"Eh? Okay."

Ahiru sat back and closed her eyes. Her braid had become very bedraggled, so it was nice to have it re-braided.

Hana's hands, like her voice, were gentle, and they weaved salmon-colored strands together deftly. Ahiru felt the pull on her scalp, just tight enough to keep the braid together.

"There. All done."

Ahiru looked in the mirror. Hana stood behind her, a hand on her shoulder. Together, they looked like they were posing for a portrait.

"Get dressed, and let's go get some lunch."

"Okay!"

Fakir urged the horse along faster on the dirt road.

"Hey, knight-sama, maybe we should stop and rest for a while?" Kiru asked, flying beside Fakir.

"No."

"Mou, stubborn! What about the horse?" Kiru protested, "You've been riding hard for hours. The horse needs rest in the least. And you need to eat."

Fakir was reluctant to stop. He wanted to get there as soon as possible. For another thing, he didn't want to take orders from a kid.

"You'll be of no use if your horse collapses of fatigue and you of hunger," Kiru pointed out mildly.

Fakir frowned, but pulled the horse to stop.

"I didn't bring-"

"Look in the saddlebags."

Doing as he was told, Fakir looked and found a simple yet suitable amount of food.

"See?" Kiru said proudly, "I told you I-mmmf!"

He was cut off as Fakir grumpily shoved a piece of bread in his mouth.

"You, Oran and I will be having dinner together tonight," Hana informed Ahiru. They were outside again, walking along the edge of the lake.

"Just the three of us?"

'Yes. Oran moved all other appointments aside just for this."

"I see…"

I'm really that important…?

"Don't worry," Ahiru looked at Hana, "There are no extremely pressing matters that require his attention right now. Besides.," Hana gazed at the lake, "he has waited long for this day- the day you would return."

"He…has?"

"Yes. When you disappeared, it was sudden. You went to your room the night before, just like normal, but when Chare and Iris went to wake you in the morning, you were gone. You should have seen the place- everyone searched the palace and city at least three times over- it was like an ant hill. Mass chaos. Your father sent out troops to search outside the city, and even beyond our borders. They searched for a month before Oran was forced to call them back, or risk angering the neighboring kingdoms for trespassing. Oran sent word to all the Kingdoms about your disappearance, and offered a reward for your return."

"All that…just for me?"

"Of course."

Unable to say anything, Ahiru bowed her head, and they continued to walk.

Am I really who they say I am…? But if I am, why can't I remember…?

"Ah, I see it, I see it!" The little bluebird zoomed ahead of Fakir's horse.

"Look, knight-sama! It's the city!"

Fakir crested the hill, and there, in the gathering dusk, sat a large city, in the depression between the towering hills. The last flames of the dying sun gleamed off of white stone, making it glint and shine in tangerine color. What really caught the eye, though, was the castle, dwarfing the city and casting it into shadow. Tall penants waved on spires of elegant towers, which pointed like fingers into the blue sky. A tall, thick wall guarded it all, yet at the same time it's purity of color welcomed those who wished to enter.

Fakir slowed his pace to a walk. He didn't want to alarm any guards by careening around the city.

"Almost there," Fakir thought he heard Kiru murmur.

This is

small?! Ahiru shouted in her mind.

She was currently eating dinner in the small dining hall reserved for the royal family. The table itself had to be more than two times as long as Ahiru was tall, she guessed, though the three of them only sat on one end. Oran sat on the end, Hana sat on the left side, and Ahiru on the right side. In the wall behind Oran was massive fireplace, used to keep the room warm in the chilly winters. A chandelier hung in the middle of the room.

"Listen, my dearest daughter," Oran boomed happily, as servants began to serve them, "and hear the good news!" Tomorrow night to announce and celebrate your return, we shall have a ball!"

"A ball?"

"Yes, my dear! All nobles from Kingdoms near and far will come and celebrate. It will be the greatest in all of history."

"It sounds lovely," Ahiru said, and she meant it. Despite being homesick, it sounded like fun.

"A costume ball-yes, a masquerade!" Oran nodded his head, agreeing with himself.

Ahiru smiled into her lap, thinking of the next day.

"Tch!" Fakir frowned up at the closed drawbridge before him. Citizens walked by, someone staring at the person just standing in the street, but he ignored them.

"Well, I suppose it makes sense that they would close the gates at this time of day," Kiru commented.

"Do you have anything constructive to say?"

"We could go around back through the garden, since- hey, wait up knight-sama!"

Fakir was already off and running around the perimeter of the palace.

Ahiru rested her arms on the balcony, gazing into the starry sky. She was trying to imagine what the ball would be like- she had never been to one before. It was all kind of exciting.

Tears filled Ahiru's vision."But still…I still wish Fakir was with me…I still want to go home!"

Fakir wove his way through fragrant-smelling rose bushes, passing a fountain. This had to be the most extensive garden he'd ever seen.

Fakir saw a shock of red-orange color. There was no mistaking it.

"AHIRU!"

"Eh?"

Ahiru turned back from heading into her room, wiping residual tears away from her eyes. It felt like someone had just called her name.

"Hime-sama!"

Ahiru stepped back as Kiru appeared on her balcony.

"Knight-sama is here!"

And as another call came from the gardens, Ahiru knew exactly who it was.

"Fakir!" Ahiru ran back up to the balcony, leaning as far out as she dared, trying to catch a glimpse of the writer. No such luck, but the knowledge that he was here was enough to make anything and everything fall away in unimportance, and Ahiru felt her heart was so light it could almost lift off the ground.

Kiru tugged on her hand.

"C'mon! You've got to go to him!"

"But how do I get down there quickly?"

"Jump."

"What?!"

"Jump!"

Pulling Ahiru along behind, Kiru made it up and over the balcony before she could say a word. Ahiru shut her eyes tight, resisting the urge to scream; but when she opened them, she found that she was already on the ground.

Ahiru only had a moment for this revelation before Kiru was pulling her.

"Ahiru!"

There he was, running toward her, with what looked like a bluebird flying near his shoulder.

Perhaps it was because Kiru was rushing her, or because she and Fakir were both running, but Ahiru suddenly felt like she was running out of time. It felt like it she didn't reach Fakir now, something was about to go wrong.

They were barely fifteen feet apart when time itself seemed to stop. A black hole ripped through the air, as though the air was a landscape in a painting, which had accidentally been torn.

Ahiru cried out as she was pulled into the hole. She reached out to Fakir, but he had taken only two steps when she was gone, the rift closing seamlessly behind her.

Fakir could only stand there, staring at the point where she had disappeared. Slowly, his expression changed to one of rage. A trembling fist came up to slam into a young tree, the force of it making the tree shake. Blood flowed from one of his abused knuckles.

"K-knight-sama?" Kiru asked in a small, nervous voice.

"You've got to be kidding me! I just found her and now I have to lose her all over again?!"

Fakir punched the tree again before sinking to his knees helplessly.

Ahiru…

Aneko: Wow, really long chapter. Didn't do it on purpose. I'm sorry!! It has to end now!! I hate ending it here, really, I do. I'm working on chapter six as fast as I can!

I'm going to warn you that from here on out any Fakir and Ahiru moments will most likely be fluffys (Or cheesiness, whichever you prefer).