Hi everyone. This chapter will be Seira centric. You might hate this chapter, not by the way it's written but because of a very antagonist character. Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 11: Trick or Treat
-Pearl Waters-
Today is Halloween and the girls are decorating the bath house. Noel, and Karen are helping Nikora putting on dark fabric over the bright ones because after the day is over, all the decorations will have to be taken back down. Coco is carving scary faces on pumpkins. Because the quadrant couldn't find any good costumes two days ago when they were shopping, they decide to make changes to the simple clothes they bought.
"Coco, Karen, Noel, what do you guys think?" Hanon asked as she came downstairs in her costume.
Her hair is tied in a ponytail. She wears a tiara, a necklace, and two bracelets. The dress she wears is light blue with an indigo belt sash. The skirt went all the way down to her ankles and it has a second layer which is white.
"I'm dressed up as Cinderella and look..." she pulled her skirt up a bit. "I have my own glass slippers" the girls looked to see light blue slippers which is decorated with crystals on the outside to give the illusion that it's made out of glass.
"I think you look great." Noel comments.
Lucia came down stairs next, dressing up as Red Riding Hood. She wears a white blouse and pink knee-length skirt. Long white socks are noticeable on her legs while red shoes are on her feet. And of course, how can she be Red Riding Hood without her red cape?
"I'm dressed up as Red Riding Hood." Lucia replied.
"Lucia, what made you decide to dressed up as her?" Hanon asked.
"Eh?"
"Because you usually go for the princess costumes." Hanon told her.
"Oh that's... Well, you see... Because Julie has spent most of her time in her kingdom, she would always go to the library. Her favorite characters would be Little Red Riding Hood, Briar Rose, and Rose Red. So I decided to dressed as one of her favorite childhood character, since she isn't... here. To join us." Lucia answered.
"I'm sorry, Lucia." Hanon notice her sad tone.
"No, no! It's okay, really." Lucia assures her. "Ah, Rina!"
Rina came downstairs next. She is wearing a green pointy hat and dress. There is a black belt sash around her waist and around her cone shape hat. A broomstick is in her left hand.
"Rina, you're..." Hanon trailed off.
"I was going to be the Wicked Witch of the West but I don't feel like painting my skin green." Rina replied.
"Oh, I see. I guess that mean you're not wicked without your green skin then." Lucia comments.
"Lucia, where is Seira?" Coco asked.
"Seira is upstairs in her room. Do you want me to check on her?" Lucia asked.
"No, I'll go check on her." she replied as she went to the stairs.
"I'll come with you." Lucia insisted.
-Seira's Room-
Seira is in her room, putting on her orange dress. Her dress is a light shade of orange. The straps of the dress are decorated with long orange flower petal which looked like feather from a far distance. Some pink pearl beads are sewn between them. The skirt has two layers. The first one is sunset orange while the second layer has long flower-like petals. They are a bright shade as orange day lilies. At the hem of the skirt, on the first layer, there are chocolate brown floral designs on it. The same with the top part of her dress. She then tied a tiger-orange sash around her waist to complete her dress. She then stops as she heard a knock on her door.
"Come in." she respond. The door opened to reveal Coco and Lucia. Coco close the door behind them.
"My, Seira. You look so beautiful." Coco comments at the adorable sight of her "little sister".
"Thank you, Coco." Seira express her gratitude. She turned to look at Lucia, "And thank you, Julie. For helping me with my costume." Seira is used to Julie possessing Lucia that she can tell when her presence is present.
"Julie?" Coco turned to Lucia.
"Yes. Last night, Seira had problems with her costume. Fortunately, because spending time in my kingdom was not so much fun, I manage to learn new hobbies to keep me occupied. I spent all of last night altering Seira's dress to make it the way it is now." Julie explained.
"But you spent all of last night..." Coco could not finish her sentence though Julie understand what she means.
"Whenever I'm in control of Lucia's body, her spirit is resting. That is why she has no recollection of anything when I'm taking over but I do tell her what's is happening after I let go." Julie further explain.
"Um, Julie?" Seira spoke.
"What is it, Seira?" Julie asked as she and Coco turned their faces towards her.
"Have you ever been kissed before?" Seira questioned.
Julie was a bit surprise by that question at first but then she smiled sadly, "No. My- um... M-my heart wasn't able to reached out the person I love."
"Oh." Seira felt bad for asking.
"But I can tell from your eyes that you have. Your first kiss, is that right?" Julie asked. Seira nodded. "Was there a reason?"
"He confessed that he loves me but that just makes me more confuse and lost. I don't know what to tell him if I do see him and he haven't realized it yet." Seira answered.
"In time, he will. But I can tell you this, he probably did it because he missed you." Julie replied.
"Eh? What do you mean by that?" Seira questioned in confusion.
"You were the only girl in school who understands him and his dreams. You came to his life and made him filled with joy yet now you're avoiding him. He probably couldn't stand you not being in his life- he doesn't want to lose you. That's why he did what he did at the Spring Festival." Julie gave her point.
"You think so?" Seira asked.
"You won't know until you find out." Julie teased her. "I have to go soon so I'll leave you two alone now. Bye."
Julie went out of Seira's room before Lucia regain control. Coco looked at the rest of the costume on Seira's desk. A small pair of pink fairy wings are on top of the orange desk. The pink fabric were made out of sheer and the orange designs are from glitter. She also notice a couple of pink peach blossom hair pins next to the fairy wings.
"So, you have your first kiss with Takumi-kun." Coco started the conversation awkwardly.
"Hai. He hold me close and tightly and then his lips touched mine." Seira replied, a tinge of pink are present on her cheeks as she put on her fairy wings.
"You didn't just feel lost and confuse after that kiss, did you?" Coco questioned.
"At first I didn't but then eventually I did. I don't know. Part of me is happy that Takumi choose me but the other half feels confused. I wanted to feel completely happy that he loves me but I just don't know." Seira explained.
Coco smiled as she walks towards her, "Sit down, Seira. I'll help do your hair." she grabbed a brush and started brushing. "You know, Sara had this kind of problem as well."
"Eh?"
"She was conflicted between her duties as a Mermaid Princess and her love for Mitsuki-san while you are conflicted between your love and the possible outcome. But Seira, he confessed to you. So why are you still hesitant to go see him?" Coco asked.
"I guess it's because... I'm scared." Seira answered.
"About those three girls who threatened you?" Coco questioned.
"No." she put a hand on her chest. "My heart right now aches. I've now been used to this pain already. To tell Takumi my love towards him... I feel like- like I'm just going to... Fall down." Coco suddenly hug Seira from behind, surprising the little girl for a moment. "Coco?"
"Please, Seira. Stop hurting yourself. Tell me, as your friend and sister, what do you truly want?" Coco asked.
"I want to get rid of the pain but I just can't let go of it so easily. I want to be with him and spend time with him but I don't know what to do!" Seira cried. When she calmed down a bit she whispered, "I love you, Takumi. That is what I want to say if I see him, just... Not now."
After Coco is finished pinning Seira's hair with peach blossoms, she respond, "Don't worry, Seira. Everyone have their own time to confess their feelings. Doing it too early or too late will have their consequences but at the right time, I'm sure it'll work. Plus, I think Takumi-kun will wait for you until you can confess your love to him."
"Thank you, Coco." Seira wiped away her tears as she look at herself in the mirror.
"You really look like a sweet flower fairy, Seira."
-Outside-
After Seira joined the group, they went outside. The four girls are participating in a Halloween game.
"Lucia!" Kaito called, he is wearing a wolf costume.
"Kaito." Lucia called out his name. Followed behind him are Nagisa and Masahiro. Nagisa is wearing a prince outfit while Masahiro is wearing wizard's clothing. The way he dressed make him look like Harry Potter with his glasses, outfit, and stick.
"Did we make it in time?" Nagisa asked.
"Yep, the rules are about to be explain." Rina replied as a man with a microphone went up the small stage.
"Attention everyone, tonight is the Halloween Game!" many cheers came from the crowd. "The goal of the game is simple. Everyone will be divided into teams which consist of two people, but if you want, you can work by yourselves. There are seven places in the game, each have a puzzle to solve. If the team solve the puzzle correctly, you'll earn a glow in the dark sticker to put on your map. Collect all seven and the stickers will reveal the final destination. If the team solve the final puzzle, they'll win the prize. Of course, there is only one prize per team while the total number of prizes are four. Once you receive your map, you can start with the first riddle." he explain.
Lucia and Kaito is the first team, Hanon and Nagisa is the second, Rina and Masahiro is the third, Seira...
"Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Seira assures the girls and their boyfriend.
"Seira." Lucia called her name.
"Don't worry about me, Lucia. I'll be fine. I promise." Seira reassures her. She half-lied. In truth, she was okay but she also know that Takumi will be joining in this game... And so is Asuka Kane.
"Alright." Lucia smiled. She left Kaito's side for moment to be with Seira. "But here. Take Julie's pearl with you." she hands over the Red Pearl to Seira. "That way, you won't be truly alone."
"Thank you, Lucia." Seira replied.
-Game-
The game have started and because everyone have different riddles, they split up. Seira looked at her riddle. All of the riddles and puzzles relates to fairy tales and Halloween. Hers said:
I'm beautiful he says, he never lies
He shows me the truth so I will not be blind
I am evil to the heart, rotten to the core
My scrumptious treats shall lead you allured
Where I live is what I know
So it time to test out your fairytale lore
"It's the Evil Queen! But treats that make me tempted?" Seira questioned.
"Think: What did the queen gave to Snow White?" she heard Julie's voice spoke to her.
"It's the apple but there are no apple trees here or in town." Seira replied.
"What about that pie store?" Julie suggested. "There might not be apples but there could be apple pie."
"Great idea!" Seira comments as she head to the store.
-Store-
Seira went to the store, many pies are laid down on the table.
"Seira!" a voice exclaimed. She knows that voice very well as she turned.
"Takumi." Takumi entered the shop moments after her. He was dressed as a fairy prince with a crown on his head and flower-like shirt and pants along with silvery fairy wings on his back. "Why are you here?"
"I got lost and then notice you entering the store." he answered.
"Oh." Seira could only manage.
"Listen, what I did two days ago. I'm sorry." he apologized.
"Eh?" Seira became confused.
"You've been avoiding me, I was afraid of losing you but I acted a bit rash without considering your feelings. I kissed you when you probably love someone else, right?" Takumi asked.
"A-about t-that." Seira started. "T-that was my first kiss." she admitted.
"Wha- I am so sorry. I-I didn't know." Takumi apologized again.
"No, i-it's fine." Seira assures him. "Don't worry about it. I forgive you."
"Really?" he asked as she nods. "Thank, Seira. Actually, that was my first kiss as well. I-I didn't know what got over me back when I did it. I mean I know I just told you why but I think it's something else."
Seira wonder if it has to do with her mermaid self but shook her head of the thought. Right now, she has to find a sticker and turned to the pies.
"One of these pies have a sticker. We have to find the one filled with apples." Seira explained. She realized she said "we".
"I'll help." Takumi insist. The two started their search. Because there is no forks or spoons, they have to use their hands which was messy but it was delicious. Eventually, there is one pie left on the table and the two looked for the sticker together. They both find the sticker but then Takumi release his hold on it. "You take it. It was yours in the first place."
"Thank you, T-" Seira is cut off by Asuka coming into the store. She was dressed as a vampire.
"Takumi, why did you left me? Don't you ever leave me alone again." Asuka fake whine. Those words stiffen Seira as she watch her bully paint herself as a victim. When she has Takumi's back facing towards Seira, she stick out her tongue. "Takumi, let's go find the stickers together. Just like we promise." she request as he tries to get away from her but she was clinging onto him. Another stinging feeling filled Seira's heart. "But can you leave first? I want to have a talk with Misaki-chan." she asked as he agrees this time albeit hesitantly. Once he left the store, Asuka's true colors are reveal.
"You boyfriend-stealing little girl. How dare you try to take Takumi and used him to your advantage?" Asuka started her verbal offense.
"Eh?"
"Don't play dumb. You are trying to steal Takumi away from me. You pretend to be the sweet girl when you're actually a cruel person, a witch." she continued to taunt the poor girl. Asuka approach Seira in a threatening way. She pulled Seira's wings off of her and shred it to pieces. After that, she spilled most of the pies onto Seira's dress and parts of her hair. "You don't deserve to be a flower fairy or the sticker, Misaki-chan." with those final words, Asuka snatch the sticker from Seira's hands and left.
A teardrop fall to her hand and then more. Seira cried to herself as she got up. Julie's human spirit appeared before her.
"I'm very sorry, Seira. I wished you didn't have to go through with that cruel girl." Julie sympathize.
"No, she's right. I don't deserve it... Takumi's love. I don't deserve something as wonderful like that. How can I, when I can't even confess my own feelings?" she cried as she ran out of the door, Julie watched her sadly as her spirit fading.
-Pearl Waters-
Seira ran home. She doesn't want to play the game anymore. All she wanted to do is to get away from her terrible life. She return to the bath house, slamming the door very loudly.
"Oh, Seira. You're back so s- Seira! What happened to you!" Coco asked in concern as she rushed to her side. Seira was a mess. Shreds of the fabric from her fairy wings are in her hands, her dress is covered in pie fillings, and many of the peach blossom pins have come loose in her hair. Worse of all, tears are falling from the girl's amber eyes. Seira dropped her shredded fabric and ran passed Coco. "Seira!"
-Bath House-
Seira went to her room to get a towel and an orange nightgown. She then enters the bath section of Pearl Waters and took off her costume. She then went to the warm water as she turned back into a mermaid. The Red Pearl shine as Julie's mermaid spirit appeared. Whenever the person she entrusted her pearl to is in the water, her spirit will take on her mermaid form and on land, then her spirit will be human.
"I'm sorry, Seira." Julie repeat what she said before. Julie's spirit became physically, similar to how Seira manifested her spirit to take on a physical form back when she saved Lucia, Hanon, and Rina from Michel by opening the dream corridor for a temporarily amount of time.
"It's not fair, Julie. Why is Kane-san so mean to me? I don't understand." Seira express her current emotion as Julie washed her beautiful orange hair with shampoo to get rid of the pie filling.
"I don't know why." Julie replied. "Perhaps you should asked Lucia when she returns home. She did have a similar experience."
"Maybe... But I don't want to trouble her." Seira replied. Julie turned Seira towards her so she can look her in the eye.
"You won't trouble her, Seira. Lucia cares for you, just like me, Coco, and everybody else. Not telling her would only troubled her more. If you tell her, she can try to help you." Julie advise. She touched Seira's soft cheek with one of her hands. "Remember what I told you, Seira. Don't make the same mistake I did when it comes to love. Please..." she pleaded as her spirit first loses the physical contact and then faded until the Orange Princess was by herself.
-Pearl Waters-
Lucia and the girls came back one hour later. All of them won their prizes but along the way, they were worried about Seira because they haven't seen her throughout the whole game. They found Coco drinking coffee.
"Oh, Seira? She came back home an hour ago but something happened to her." Coco respond when they talked to her.
"Eh? What do you mean?" Hanon asked.
"When she came home, her costume was a mess and she was crying." Coco explain, still worried about her.
Lucia rushed upstairs. She wanted to hear the full story from Seira but found out that the door was locked. She tried knocking and calling out Seira's name but she didn't respond. After a couple of minutes, she gave up and went to her room.
-Lucia's Room-
In her room, Lucia wondered what happened to Seira. She grabbed Julie's dairy and flip to the third entry and read.
Dear Lucia, 1995
I found out why I couldn't leave the kingdom and it isn't because I'm not of age yet. It's because I found out that I am not remembered by the other mermaids. Taiyo explain that it has been like this ever since the pink mermaids become the new rulers of the North Pacific Ocean. He told me that us red mermaids and princess didn't want you or the others to feel guilt for forgetting us. So the first Red Princess, Aiko decided to put a barrier to hide the Red Kingdom, where all of us are forgotten quietly. It hurts me to know that I won't be able to see you or the others after all. It isn't fair! I heard that the Panthalassa are rising and I feel like I've been put on the sidelines. I wish to support you but I can't actually help. I'm sorry.
Love,
Julie
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Asuka is such a witch, isn't she? Hope that Seira has her happy ending. See you soon.
