One Last Moment
Shade looked at her. She had changed a little…
"Hey Princess," he started as he looked at the orbs of everlasting light on her eyes. "Shall we go?" he asked her offering his hand.
"Yeah sure, let us go" she said smiling as she always would, now have he realized how he missed that smile. She used to always flash it every day of his entire childhood and he… had taken it for granted.
"Where are we going anyway?" she asked turning to him. Again those shining eyes directed to him.
"To the Moon Waterfall Paradise my lady" he said all prince-like.
He wanted to talk to her, about many things but there was no time at all. And this one last moment is a miracle itself, how would he seize it?
It was time and time only that changed the boisterous childhood and adolescence to a dim but wonderful step to adulthood. After graduating from Wonder Academy they have gone back to Fushigiboshi and since then they were expected to carry on duties as a real crowned princes and princesses.
It was rather busy than any could imagine. Paper works over there, Lessons over here, meetings on the left and citizen's demand on the right. It was never ending and when at last they thought they have saw the end to it, the end of those mock lessons and meeting appointments, it actually wasn't. Soon after it they will have to govern small things and sign lots of paper works to be able to fully inherit the kingdom and be rightfully a royal and as a royal you'll have to deal with the real thing.
The prince and princesses rarely see each other, except for those special occasions were all of them are invited. Which is supposed to be nice but weren't, at times some princesses or princes can't attend for they are away in a meeting, at times they would be there but were too engaged in speaking with other nobles from other planets to establish a good relationship.
The worst part was seeing your beloved in there but never being able to talk to him/her, as Bright and Shade suffered.
Rein and Fine was the Sunny Kingdom's princesses, the princesses of the heart of the planet. And as Camelot had said to them, they have unimaginable schedules and every second counts on their time.
Bright was lucky though for once he had asked Princess Rein for a dance and she willingly agreed. They danced the night away while having a pleasant conversation. Unfortunately for Shade he had no courage to publicly ask a bloomed princess for a dance. And when he finally mustered bravery to ask Princess Fine for a dance, she had to go to do other paper works.
From time to time each of them would wonder how the other was doing, but never having the leisure time to do so. They have breaks too but it was not enough to do any of those.
And now, a miracle had made itself known.
Princess Fine was to take a break at the moon kingdom.
"Is it far from here?" Fine asked softly, her voice has taken a demure tone but still have the spark of fierce, free-willed princess he had known.
"No not really" Shade answered.
"I…" Fine started as Shade looked at her "It's been so long since I have ever talked to you, Shade" She said. Her voice saying his name made his heart known its presence again, for the last few years he had forgotten this feeling. The feeling of being alive, the happiness of youth which was concealed into memories, the feeling where you can touch the sky and soar high, the feeling of 'love' as it tingles your brain with not so rational things, and the feeling where you can do anything as blood seemed to have flowed your veins again.
It gave him courage to have the permission to talk freely for once after so many years of locked away thoughts in his heart. "Yeah, it's been so long. I've always wanted to talk to you."
She smiled at him again. "Me too"
"We're here, let's talk on the way there shall we?" he offered.
"It seems like a good idea" she agreed standing up and going down the balloon with him.
Camelot approached the two royals. "Princess Fine and Prince Shade, please enjoy your time and come back on due time." She said bowing.
"Yes, Camelot" Fine answered
"A thousand steps before we reach the viewing deck." Shade announced smiling at her after Camelot's shadows disappeared on the distance. "Are you up for it?"
Fine giggled "Since when I wasn't?" she asked.
The waterfall was breathtaking, oceanic water beneath it was covered with different shade of blue crystals. The mighty fall was large and the water was clear and bright.
They started to walk for the thousand steps towards the highest point paralleled to the waterfall, the viewing deck.
"Why are we the only persons here? Is this a private property of the moon kingdom?" Fine asked looking around.
"Yes it is a private land of ours, but it is opened to public from time to time such as the moon festival." Shade answered.
"I see" Fine looked at the top of the seemingly endless stairs "Is that the viewing deck?" she asked pointing to a shining point on the tip of the stairs.
"Yes, it is" Silence engulfed the two for a moment. Shade mentally prepared himself for the upcoming events. He knows he is a coward when it comes to these things.
"So… how are you?" Fine asked as she stepped up the stairs.
"I'm good how about you?"
"I'm Fine too" she said as she laughed at her own pun "But you know, those lessons are tiring and the never ending, I'm telling you, Never ending mountains of paper works!" she complained as Shade gazed at her with a small smile, that was the Fine he knows, always complaining but still do it anyways.
"I know what you mean," he answered timidly
"But, it was kind of fun too" she added with a smile "Going to new places and meeting new people, it was sort of fun"
"Okay though I can only think of you thinking of it as fun because you can taste new food" Shade teased.
"Shade!" she complained with a cute pout. "Though it's true" she said looking away and earning a laugh from him. A hearty laugh which he never knew still existed inside him up until now.
They have reached the half of the thousand steps without noticing it because both of them are athletes and getting tired easily is not on their vocabulary.
"When I first came to the moon kingdom earlier I have saw your garden. It was beautiful and it was obvious you took great care of it. You… still haven't changed about your passion in gardening." She smiled to him, a dazzling cute smile which made youth come back to him suddenly. His heart caught up on his throat and blood rushed to his cheeks.
"T-thank you" he answered bashfully.
"Oh, we are nearing the tip!" Fine announced as she dashed towards the viewing deck.
"Careful, Fine!" Shade warned as he dashed behind her and Shade was right about being careful as Fine slipped on her one-inch heels.
Fine almost flew backward but Shade caught her on time.
Amethyst met ruby… again. Sparks flew as time stopped for them. They looked at each other, oh how they have matured. But these feelings seemed to have come out of concealment. Memories flew by them and everything they have locked on their hearts for a long time seemed to flow out.
"S-Shade" Fine started that made them turn back to reality. Shade helped her to regain her balance again.
"Sorry I was too excited." Fine apologized
"Geez, you never change" Shade answered "Let's go."
Shade took the lead on continuing the remaining steps towards the viewing deck as Fine silently followed closely to him trying to stop the blush creeping on her cheeks.
They have arrived at the deck; it was directly parallel to the top of the falls.
"Wow" Fine mused in amazement as she looked around. The glory of the fall on its peak was a really breathtaking sight.
Shade stared at her. Her eyes as well as her face bounced back the beauty of the falls he thought.
Fine turned to him with a wide beaming smile. "Thank you for taking me here, it was beautiful." She thanked.
"Always" he answered timidly. But inside him was a war, isn't he supposed to confess? This might be the last time they'll ever see again for a few years or who knows probably a decade! Shade go on, press forward!
"Fine-" but his soft whisper was interrupted by her.
"Hey Shade," She said her back still against him.
"I liked you" she admitted turning to him with a small smile.
"I have always did" she repeated herself softly.
Time stopped as Shade stood there dumbfounded. Did he just mishear something? But she had repeated herself, what now?
Fine took in the silence that had followed. She should have known, she should have known this was coming. After years of childhood with him, he have always prioritized Rein before her, she convinced herself he was just being bashful and shy about it but as time passed and nothing changed… she stopped believing.
Shade never knew that his cowardice had resulted to this….
"Fine-"
"Please don't talk!" she shouted as tears started falling down her cheeks.
"I don't need nor want an answer" she said her voice cracking down on her tears. She smiled amidst of her tears after facing him. "After all I knew I never stood a chance plus it was all back in the past."
"Fine-"he tried to interrupt again.
"No! It's okay, it's alright… I have given up a long time ago. I just…" She tried to speak clearly and not stutter.
"I just wanted to tell you that's all." She said lastly wiping her tears away. "It's time to go, I had a wonderful time Prince Shade."
She said turning away from him, walking away from him and never turning back.
What the just happened?
"Hey," he said but was not sure she heard him.
"Fine please stop!" he begged, he knew it was his entire fault for her to not believe him at all.
But Fine disappeared on his vision just like a bubble, she never turned back to him, she continued to walk away.
No… There was no way Shade would end this like this!
"Fine!" he called out and ran towards the stairs as he saw Fine running down too.
"Fine Please stop!" he called out to the long distance that apart them.
Fine heard him. His voice has evolved, she thought, it has a manly but unmistakable princely tune to it. But when he called out to her it reached her on a new level, it convicts her to face him, the prince that have won her heart even without meaning to.
She stopped on her tracks pushing back the tears that still strain her face.
Shade ran down quickly.
They are not considered that much young anymore, also their feelings. It was not fresh but it was long-lasting.
Fine tried to think rationally. There was no point of it now, and there will never be ever again. It took too long, far too long and overdue. Expired, if this was a product
"Fine" he said his voice muffled by the panting. He was about five steps on her back.
"Yes, what is it prince Shade?" she asked not turning to face him.
"I… I liked you too if not loved." He said tenderly but firm on its meaning.
Fine smiled despite of herself and tears. "That's great to hear, especially just like me, it has ed, past tense" she smiled bitterly to herself crying bitter tears.
He did not reply but something hurts deeply inside him.
"It has no point now, for I almost forgot to do what i originally came here to do" she paused.
"To invite you to my wedding," she said facing him.
Shade's eyes widened while his emotions were thrown into turmoil and threatened something a prince wouldn't even try to do in front of anyone, cry.
He wanted to shout who, why and how. He wanted to throw his arms on her and tell her to not go. He wanted to scold her for even allowing it but his mouth did not do what his mind told him. It was too dry and too shocked to move.
His vision of her beautiful matured face blurred, was he crying?
His vision started to be more blurry, and blackness seemed to eat it.
"Fine! Fine wait! Please hold on!" he shouted stretching his arms to reach her but blackness had taken over.
"Hey Fade call someone!" someone shouted.
Shade opened his eyes and saw himself. Well almost, a miniature of himself.
"Oh dad you're alive now!" the blue-purplish haired boy with amethyst eyes looked back at him.
"Fade, dad is alive now don't bother anyone anymore!" the small boy shouted back to the someone he calls Fade.
"Really?" another cute voice answered as Shade looked on the small running figure heading his way.
When it came closer it looked exactly like the boy who looked like him but with different eyes and hair color. The boy who was panting have red hair and red fiery eyes, but it was not that fierce as you would expect it to be.
The red headed boy wiped a sweat on his brow and looked at the miniature blue Shade with intense but cute anger "This was your entire fault Shane! I told you that tea is bad!" he tried to sound fierce but it resulted to a cute manner.
"What do you mean it's my fault?! You're the one who told me about it!" the blue Shade sounded a little rougher than the red one but was still cute otherwise.
"But I never told you to put it on dad's cup!" the red mini Shade defended.
Shade sat up and just realized he was under a big tree on a garden. He looked around as memories flashed. The two almost identical boys that is about 4 years old looked at him in unison.
"Dad!" they both shouted running to his side.
"Are you okay dad sorry it's all my fault!" both of them said in sync with teary eyes.
A giggle was heard approaching them.
"Calm down boys the Past Regret tea only makes you have a nightmare of the past" a lady said
The three guys looked at her. "Mom!" the two young ones shouted and ran to her sides.
Shade looked at her. Her red hair was flowing freely on her back. Her eyes still holds the everlasting warm orbs of warm fire on them and her smile still electrifies him, especially after such a nightmare.
"Shade, my love" she said cupping his face with her tender hands "Are you alright?" she asked with slight worry on her eyes.
Shade couldn't believe it, who knew such a nightmare can slap on his face hard how blessed and lucky he has been, how he would have regret a thing forever and live his life carrying it
Fine looked at his shocked eyes that will be spilling any seconds now.
"Shane, Fade please go play around the garden for a while, I'll talk to your dad" she ordered as the two willingly nodded their head.
"Just call us if you need anything!" they said and got to their feet and run.
"Yes, my twins" Fine said turning back to Shade.
"Hey," she called out kneeling beside him and traced his face again. She hugged him, a warm embrace. "The tea makes you go back to major choices of your life that you or you will regret. What did you see my dear?" she asked softly still hugging him close to her.
Shade cannot stop the tears as he hugged back Fine. "This is not a dream isn't it?" he asked.
"Dream? This? You mean me hugging you?" she asked "Of course not though for me it still seems like one for you to choose me. Why?..." she thought for a second "Do you perhaps regret ma-"
His hug tightened. "No, Of course not!" he demanded. "You can repeat time itself a hundred times and I will still marry you" he said firmly hugging her closely to his arms.
Fine smiled to herself. Time has taken many things from them including youth, now she was sure she was not that young anymore. Many have aged and matured over the years but Fine wasn't even near to complaining.
"What did you dreamt about?" she asked parting the hug and looking at him.
"Horrendous" he said
"Do tell, I want to know" she persisted.
"It…was really horrendous and horrible you know, you saying you did not like me anymore and…. Inviting me to your wedding to another man" he said finally.
Fine laughed at it as he just looked at her.
"I'm serious I was so scared I thought… I have lost the most important girl in my life." He said.
"Sorry that was just really funny. I just could never see myself loving or even getting married to another man beside you, before we became lovers I swore to myself I'd rather die alone than to get wedded with anyone else." She said which resulted to a serene smile on his face.
"There we go that's more like it" she said before leaning closer to him and they're lips touched.
It was supposed to be small kiss just as Fine parted a little but her lips was not even leaving his yet, he pulled her to him and easily trapped her on the tree. He pinned her there and kissed her not very aggressively but was burning with passion.
The kiss lasted for minutes, Shade parted panting. "Well, now that does feel a little reality"
"Only a little? Aha! You're asking for more aren't you geez, I still have paper works to do unpin me now" she said smiling
Shade looked at her with much love reflected on his eyes as he hugged her once more "Please stay with me for a while, I need real assurance at the moment, I was so traumatized." He asked.
Fine smiled. "I promise I'll clear my time for you later, in the meantime why don't you fulfill your promise and teach Shane and Fade soccer, I would like to be the one teaching them but I really have to go today." She said as he looked at her with dog eyes trying to make her not to leave.
"Nooo Shade! That's unfair!" She looked at him and his eyes are still the same. "Today is just a really no but don't worry after this I'll be free for the whole month for I have finished most of them already!" She finally said.
"Really? The whole month we can just bond around with the kids?" Shade asked
"Promise" Fine said "Plus I really want to play soccer you know!" she said smiling
"That's a promise" Shade reminded her.
The two mini Shade approached them.
"Dad!" They both greeted upon arriving the vicinity of the tree.
"Oh dad, I should've known mom is the only true medicine" the blue one said 'tsk,tsking' to himself.
"Dad I am so sorry I promise I will never tell anything about rare herbs with some effects to Shane again!" the red one said hugging him.
"Hey, you're saying it's my fault!" Shane, the blue, said.
"Well it's pretty much was!" Fade, the red, one answered.
"Hey, hey, hey little boys do not fight with words. Do it on a game so the one who will learn soccer faster is the winner! Are you ready?" Shade interrupted his two fighting treasures.
"Game!" the two answered excitedly.
They all got up and the two princes have ran to the field already.
"Then, I'll be going now. See you later Shade" Fine said.
"Your promise okay!" Shade said running towards the field too.
~~that night~~
Shade walked down the halls of the sunny kingdom. That afternoon was bright and joyous, save for that nightmare.
He was walking continuously when arms suddenly embraced him from behind.
He stiffened at first but when a husky lady's voice said his name then he was sure of who was it.
Shade smirked "So my dear, how was your afternoon" he asked after her hug loosened his waist and chest.
"Hectic" she replied
"I was sure it was you finished a month's duty after all" he said" let's just talk tomorrow, sleep in your chambers for now"
They stopped in front of a nicely decorated room.
"Goodnight dear" he said and simply kissed her.
She kissed him back, pushed the door by her back, grabbed his sleeping outfit's collar, pulled him into the room and closed the door.
Author's note
Thank you for all the readers and supporters! All reviews and R&R are wholeheartedly appreciated by me. Stay tuned for the next chapter: When it all comes down to volleyball / Nothing Personal (not an AU rated K)