Thank you magic135 for your lovely comments, albeit I don't think my story is that good compare to others that I've read. However, I'm still grateful for the compliment. Enjoy chapter five. =)


Chapter 5: Two Distant Hearts

-Rocks on the Beach-

In the morning, Seira, in her mermaid form, sat on the rocks looking at the rising sun. She felt that her heart is still heavy and broken thanks to Asuka's selfish reasons. However, she doesn't want her friends to worry too much about her so she dived into the water and swim around, trying to remember the feeling of love when Lucia taught her. Again, learning it is very different than experiencing it first time. Once she cleared her mind, she sat on her rock again and began to sing her song softly.

Dareka no koe ni namae wo yobarete me wo samasu
Aoi nami ni ukabu umi no yurikago de
Yume wo miteta no

Meanwhile, Takumi walks around the beach. He is on his way for practice and then later for his game when suddenly he stops to hear a singing voice. It was sad yet it was very familiar.

"That voice, could is be Seira's?" he questioned as he followed to singing voice.

Kono umi no doko ka de ima arasuu koe ga suru
Naiteru kokoro kara ai wa umare nai
Kanashimi dake ga afurete shimau

Takumi continued to follow the song, expecting to see Seira but to his surprise, he saw a mermaid instead. He watched her in awe as he wants to engrave every detail of the mermaid into his memory. Takumi hide behind the rocks so he won't startled her. The mermaid has beautiful long bright orange hair like the sun rise. She wore an orange bra, bracelets, and a choker. She is splashing her beautiful orange tail in the water. But that isn't what caught his attention. On her neck is an orange shell pendent that looks identical to Seira's!

"What a lovely song... But it sound so sad." Takumi notice the sad tone.

Utsukushi umi no negai no kakera kara
Umarete yukitai hikari wo daite
Yuuyake ni somaru ORENJI no umi ni wa
Sekai no namida ga nemutteru

Seira finished her song as she began to covered her crying face behind her hands. Takumi felt hurt. It pains him to see this orange mermaid crying. Why is she crying? He wanted so much to go and comfort her that he forgot that he was suppose to hide. He accidentally stepped in the water loudly. Takumi heard the mermaid gasped as she sharply turned to see who has startled her. When she turned, Takumi saw her face clearly. Her face is very similar to Seira's despite her beautiful light orange eyes and hair length. He also notices tears are welling up in eyes as she looked at him.

'She is crying, just like Seira did yesterday.' Takumi remembered.

He looked at her to see that she still haven't left. From what he had heard from his father's stories. Mermaids rarely show themselves to humans in their mermaid forms in fear of the harm humans can inflect of them. However, the only exception to that rule is if the mermaid and human know each other- in other words, if the human realized the mermaid's identity.

'But that doesn't make sense. This mermaid shouldn't feel at ease towards me when I haven't even realized who she is.' he thought.

'Splash'

The sound of the water snapped him out of his thoughts. The orange mermaid had left. He wanted to asked if they have met before- to be sure but he was too late. He grabbed his sporting bag and head his way to school for practice.

-Ocean-

In the ocean, Seira remained underwater to collect herself after what just happened.

'I can't believe Takumi saw me! What is going to happen? Could he have realized that it's me? I wonder what he could be thinking.' Seira thought in slight panic.

She swims back to the rocks where she turned back into her human form. She walks back to the bath house.

-Pearl Waters-

Once she got there, Lucia came up to her.

"Oh, Seira, good timing. Takumi just came here." Lucia told her.

"Eh? Takumi?" Seira questioned.

"Yes, he came and told me to give you this ticket so you can see his soccer game." Lucia give Seira the ticket.

"Oh." Seira could only respond as she looked at the piece of paper.

"Wait a minute Seira, are you going to see Takumi-kun in that?" Hanon suddenly appear.

"Eh? What's wrong with this outfit?" Seira looked down at herself. She is wearing an orange dress but it looked a bit plain, being an expert on fashion and beauty, Seira knows why Hanon would disagrees with the way she dress. "It's fine. I don't plan on going."

"But why?" Hanon asked.

"Because... I told Takumi that I just wanted to be friends. That's all." Seira lied.

However, that lie cannot get passed by Lucia. She knows Seira long enough to know her moves. It's kinda a habit of Seira. Always saying she's okay when she's not and it mostly happens so she won't worry them. Then again, Seira mostly have Lucia's personalities since it was Lucia who have kept her orange pearl close to hers.

"Ano... Hanon, I think you can leave Seira to me." Lucia went along with Seira's plan.

"What? Why?" Hanon questioned.

"Because only I understand Seira the most." Lucia gave a wink at Hanon as she took the girl to her room.

-Seira's Room-

After Lucia closed the door to Seira's room, she spoke. "Nee, Seira. You actually want to see Takumi, right?" there is no response from the little girl. Lucia sighs, "Okay then, leave it up to me."

"Eh?" Seira question in confusion.

"To see Takumi. I'm sure he's waiting for you." Lucia explain as she went through Seira's clothes.

"B-but I already said-" Seira is cut off by Lucia.

"That you and Takumi are just friends, right? I know you long enough to tell when you are lying, Seira. In truth, you actually wanted to go see him. However, you are afraid that he won't understand your reasons, isn't that right? Listen Seira, the more you are denying the love deep within your heart... The more it's going to hurt you until there's no coming back." Lucia advised her. "Trust me, I know."

Seira felt that advice is not Lucia's way of saying. She have never denied her love to Kaito before. Then again, she did have to hide her mermaid self which is like half of the love but Kaito loves both sides of her even before he realized it. She decide not to question her friend.

"Did you and Kaito-kun ever had this kind of problem before? You two always seem happy around each other." Seira asked.

"Back then, I was just like you and Sara. I fell in love with a human and because I can't confess who I really am, I have to wait. However, the more I wait, the more I felt hurt that Kaito took so long to realized not only my feelings towards him, but that I have always been by his side- the mermaid that he has been trying so hard to find. Sara had a similar situation. She told Mitsuki-sensei who she is and despite he knows who Sara is as a human, he left her so he won't be a burden to her. She misunderstood his intentions which lead to her heart to become cold." Lucia explain. "All of us have the same problem, Seira. I understand that you're new at being in love, but don't continue to deny the truth from yourself. It's only going to hurt you even more."

"What would you do, Lucia? If Kaito-kun didn't know who you are, would you still confessed your feelings or would you say nothing?" Seira asked Lucia.

"If its were me, I would tell Kaito how I feel so at least he'll love part of me. But I don't need to because I did told him back then and he loved my human self as much as my mermaid self. Telling Takumi the truth of what happened yesterday, despite being threatened what would you choose? To tell him so at least he would understand you better or continue to remain in fear while not knowing what his answer could be?" Lucia gave the girl two choice.

"I prefer telling him the truth of how I feel rather than not knowing what his feelings are... But Kane-san and the others..." Seira trailed off.

"It doesn't matter who is in the way, Seira. Now, remember this last piece of advice: If you continue to let others influence you, whenever if it's by you or someone else, the more distance your love will become until you are so lost, that you might make mistakes you will regret later in life." Lucia told Seira in a warning tone.

Seira is shocked. This is not the Lucia she knows. The Lucia who she is usually with is always encouraging her through positive emotions. This side of Lucia seemed like she lost love from experience yet she is giving her advice to go see Takumi.

"Your not Lucia." Seira realized.

The Lucia in front of her smiled, "You caught me and you're right. I'm not Lucia."

"Then who are you? Why are you helping me?" Seira asked.

"So you won't make the same mistake I did when I fell in love." the spirit answered though Lucia. "Seira, do you remember when Lucia was sick? She had a dream of a red mermaid?"

"Yes... the red mermaid, her name is..." realization came into her head as she looked at Lucia. "Emi?"

Lucia smiled at her, "Yes."

"But how is it possible? And how long were you here?" Seira asked.

Lucia's face fell. Her eyes looked hurt as she spoke, "Just like it happened to you once, I'm sleeping. However, this is the only way I can communicate with all of you. I was here long enough to give you my advice. Seira, can you keep this secret between us? It's not the right time for the others to know yet." she asked.

"I- I will." Seira answered. Lucia smiled again. Emi's spirit leaves her as Lucia became herself again.

The pink mermaid pulled out an orange dress. It is the same one Seira wore as a human when she was born. The top part of the dress has the color of sunset orange while the skirt is light amber. The detached sleeves are the same as the dress. Sunset orange sleeves down to the light amber frilly ends. An orange ribbon is tied into a cute bow at the middle of the top of the dress, while making a V shape from the front until it reached to back. It is her favorite but she doesn't wear it a lot because it's like a memento of that day she was born to save Michel from his sufferings. Plus, she wanted to try other dresses. However, today she will accept wearing that dress.

Lucia seem to notice Seira eying her favorite dress so she gave it to her. When she gave Seira some privacy to change, she came back into the room to brush her hair. Seira's hair as a human is shorter than her mermaid self. It's passed her shoulders and close to her waist. However, as Lucia brush her hair, it seems to be slightly longer than before. When Lucia is finished, she tied an orange ribbon on one of Seira's stand of hair in front of her.

Seira notice it as she touch the silky material. "Lucia, this is..."

"It's a present for you for good luck!" Lucia explain cheerfully.

"Thank you, Lucia!" Seira beamed as she hugged the Pink Princess.

-Soccer Game-

At the soccer game, Seira watched from behind a tree. She is still hesitant if she should go confront Takumi or just watch the game in silence. The announce man's voice can be heard from the speakers.

"Takumi is kicking the ball, dodging players from the opposing team. He kicked... and he scores." he yelled as many girls from the school cheers. Takumi is the blue team called "The Strength" while the opposing team are called "The Crusher" and their color is green.

"The Strength" and "The Crusher" are in a tie. Only five minutes left and "The Crusher" are getting closer to the goalie. Wait! Takumi steals the ball and is heading to the opponent's field. Only two minutes left! He kicked the ball and... He scores!" the announce man exclaimed as the school cheered even louder. "The Strength" has won this year's game! Give a round of applause!"

Everyone in the crowd did. Seira continue to watch as Takumi is being carried by his team members. He holds the tall golden trophy in his hands, smiling.

'Maybe it would have been better if I haven't come...' Seira thought as she turned. Three teardrops fall from her eyes. 'He probably doesn't want to talk to me after what I said yesterday. Why would he? After what I said about wanting to be alone away from him. He probably doesn't like me anymore.' she thought. She turned too quickly that she didn't notice her orange hair ribbon got stuck on a small tree branch. It became undone as it dangles on the small twig.

Before Takumi is put down, he could have sworn he heard running. He looked at the tree to see a glimpse of orange hair before it disappears. He is put down by his team members. When he reached the ground, he runs to the fence. The fence separated him and the tree.

"Seira?" he called out her name but there is no response.

'I must be seeing things...' Takumi thought sadly.

He is about to join his team when he saw something sparkling in the sunlight. An orange ribbon is caught on a tree branch. Takumi runs to the exit and took a closer look at the ribbon. It was dangling on the small twig as the wind blows fiercely on it. Takumi freed the ribbon and hold it tightly against the wind. He studied the piece of silk.

'There's no doubt about it. This belongs to Seira... Wait. That means she came to see me in the game! But why would she run away after I won? I'm going to have to talk to her even though she said she wanted to be alone.' he thought as he heads for the changing room.

-Lucia's Room-

Lucia is sleeping on her bed after helping Seira when a human spirit of a girl came. It was the same one who appeared in Lucia's room before. She came for the second time.

The spirit looked at Lucia's sleeping face. She kneel on both of her knees as she looked at her older half-sister.

She smiled sadly, "I'm sorry, Lucia. For dragging you and the other mermaid princesses into my problems but I can't help it. I longed to meet you and everyone else more than ever but I probably only made your life even harder to bare. I was never suppose to see you, let alone of letting you know of my existence. But my two dear friends are in more trouble than me. However, it's not the right time yet... For you to know all of this." the spirit stands up. "I not going to come again until the time is right. Plus, I my body is still weak, therefore I will make less visits to see you in this form. I'll leave you alone for a while so enjoy your life as much as you can. Take care of yourself and the others. Goodbye, Lucia." the spirit spoke softly as she faded away.

-Seira's Room-

Seira sat on her bed as she started to let doubt filled her mind. She then remembered Emi's advice. She is influencing herself, making her love for Takumi becoming more far away and unclear. She stopped the thought of it and went to play around with her hair ribbon. There is just one problem... She isn't wearing it. She panic.

'Where is it? Don't tell me I lost it? The important thing that Lucia gave me, a symbol of comfort, is gone!' she thought. She then recalled that it got caught on a twig when she went home. Back then, the winds were blowing hard. 'Oh well, I guess I can't get it back. The wind must have took it somewhere by now.'

-Sea cave-

Lady Bat, Lanhua, and Alala are standing in front of Shika in the throne room.

"You're first target is to capture at least one mermaid princess. When she is captured, let the others follow to the trap. You shall all start tomorrow." Shika declared.

"Hai, Shika-sama!" they replied in unison.


I wonder what is going to happen?

Shika: Isn't it obvious? I am going to get my revenge!

Me: We shall see.

Takumi came in: Hey Pearl, why is Seira avoiding me? And who is she?

Me: Can't tell and she is the main villain of the story. *whisper* She is also trying to catch the mermaid you saw. *whisper*

Takumi: What?! (To Shika) You are a witch!

Shika: If she is a mermaid princess then I shall take her.

Takumi: What? (To Me) The mermaid I saw is a princess?

Me: Oh look at the time! It's getting late. Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Bye!