Hi everyone. This chapter will be Seira centric and you are going to hate Asuka even more in this chapter if you already haven't.
To Zahir890: I'm not sure if you are still reading this story, but if you are, then this is the chapter where you're wish is granted... After some more painful events, that is. But don't worry, close to the end, Takumi will find out... If you also love this story, please favorite or follow or both.
For everyone else, I will warn you this chapter will have a lot of bullying, at least seven or more, depending on how you look at it. It's not intense, but if you don't want to, you don't have to read. Even I want to punch Asuka, but that will be handled later at the end. Please enjoy, if you can.
Chapter 17: Broken and Restored Love
-Pearl Waters-
The girls and boys returned home along with Akari and Miyuki. They were looking around Japan as if it was another strange world, but that could have been because they lived most of their immortal lives in a kingdom. However, Lucia told them that they'll get used to it. They entered the bath house.
"Lucia-san!" Hippo exclaimed as he ran up to the princesses. "You did it! The pollen stopped. Oh, I was so worried about all of you."
"Aw, thanks Hippo." Lucia replied. "Ah, onee-chan." she called out to Nikora.
"Thank goodness, you're all back. I was getting worried." Nikora replied.
"Nikora, this is Akari and Miyuki." Hanon introduce the eternal princesses.
"It's our pleasure to meet you." Akari bowed down as Miyuki followed.
"No, it's ours. I have a room you can stay in for a while." Nikora told the sisters.
"Okay." Akari took the key and took her sister's hands. They disappeared into the hallways.
"Seira." Lucia turned to the little girl.
"Hai?"
"Can you keep Julie's pearl safe?" Lucia handed the Red Pearl to Seira.
"Hai." Seira put the Red Pearl in her orange pendant. "But why?"
"Because tomorrow we'll have to go back to school. If you have Julie's pearl, you won't be completely alone, right?" she winked at her.
"Mm!" she smiled.
At night when the girls are sleeping, Akari and Miyuki have a discussion with Nikora.
"So how come your hearts are linked and why is the Black Pearl cursed?" Nikora asked.
The sisters looked at each other for a moment before Miyuki spoke, "To be honest, we don't know ourselves. Despite us being the first princesses before everyone else, we don't know much of the history. I'm afraid Julie onee-chan has all the answers. She and all the former Red Mermaid Princesses have been looking for information ever since they were forgotten."
"Despite she is the third powerful out of the three of us, she has more knowledge than the rest and it's not just because she is the original princess. Yuki and I are also the original princesses as well, before all the other pearls were created." Akari explain. "But the only one who has the details is Julie..."
"So we have to save her... And we still don't know what Shika wants or is after." Nikora sighs. "Anyway, tomorrow the girls are going to school. Miyuki, do you want to go too?"
"No, my curse... A simply touch towards a dark soul will turn them into a decorative furniture piece. These gloves..." she showed her the black laced fingerless gloves. "They were a present from Julie onee-chan. The fabric helps my cursed touch from turning anyone... And because it has no fingers, I can touch with parts of my bare hands, so it's enough for me."
"So you wear them since..." Nikora trailed off.
"Since Julie first visited me and nee-chan in our kingdom. She told me that I should wear them until she can find a cure. Like Akari nee-chan said, she has more knowledge than any of us."
"I understand." Nikora looked at the clock. "It's getting late, you two should go to bed."
"Alright, thank you, Nikora." Akari replied as she and Miyuki left the table.
-School-
The next day, the girls returned to school while the other Mermaid Princesses worked in Maki's bar.
Seira was about to enter her class, but got immediately greeted by Takumi.
"Seira, where have you been? You were gone for three days." Takumi asked.
"Oh, I was... I... ano... about that... I ... I was visiting some distant friends mine." Seira came up with an excuse. She was completely lying since she did went on a three day trip to save Miyuki and Akari.
"You could have at least told me, I was beginning to worry." Takumi admit.
"Y-you were? Oh." Seira stuttered. "W-well we have to get to class or the homeroom teacher will start without us."
Takumi was about to follow her when he was stopped by Asuka.
"So, she's back." Asuka replied in distaste.
"Yeah, so? Why are you interested?" Takumi asked coldly.
"Oh, but I'm not. What I am interested is us." Asuka put on a fake cute face.
"Sorry, I better get going. Class is about to start." he rebuffed her as he went into class.
'That girl... When I'm through with her, she'll wished she never meet Takumi in the first place.' Asuka thought darkly.
-Beach-
When class ended, Seira headed towards the beach while Asuka follows.
"Misaki-chan." she called out to Seira.
"Eh?" Seira turned to see Asuka. She didn't have time to react because Asuka lunged at her. "Kyaa!" Asuka grabbed her shell pendant and tries to yank it off her neck. "What are you doing?!" Seira yelled. The girl was hoping for the beads to break but it didn't. Instead, the clasp became undone from the hard tugging.
"This necklace is something important to you, right?" Asuka asked. She then turn towards the ocean and threw Seira's pendant as far as she can.
When it touched the water, both the Orange and Red Pearls reacted.
"I sensed it... The pearls of the Orange and Red Princesses. This is my lucky day." a swarm of bats circled around the area.
On the beach, Seira could only glare at Asuka in dislike as she is forced to retrieved her pendant. When she got waist deep, she quickly dived before Asuka can see her transformed. The bully gave a "Hmm!" of satisfaction as she walks away, not caring what happens to Seira. Luckily, she didn't see Seira's tail so her secret is safe.
The Orange Mermaid Princess searched the waters to see that her pendant has landed on a piece of coral. She gentle took her necklace from the coral and put it back around her neck. She then swim to a different part of the beach.
After making sure that the coast is clear, Seira turned back into a human. She was planning to go back to Pearl Waters when she bumped into Takumi.
"Takumi!" she exclaimed.
"Seira!" he respond in shock.
"I-I'm sorry." Seira looked down at herself, shyly.
"It's alright." Takumi respond. Suddenly a group of bats came in and Lady Bat appeared. "Who are you!"
"Who am I? I am Lady Bat and I want the girl." Lady Bat replied.
"Never!" Takumi went in front of Seira and put his arms out to protect her.
"What a nuisance." Lady Bat comments as he simply waved his hand. A sudden force knocked Takumi off of his feet and causes him to hit his head on a rock. He was lucky that he wasn't bleeding or cracked his skull.
"Takumi!" Seira cried.
"Now that we have that out of the way... Orange Mermaid Princess, Seira, will who come with me?" Lady Bat asked.
"Who would want to go with a person like you!" Seira yelled angrily.
~Orange Pearl Voice!~
She transform into her super idol form, but Lady Bat got to his song first.
Bara yori mo utsukushiku tsuki yori mo nayamashiku
Taisetsu na inochi naraba kono te de sakasetai
Ankoku no sekai tobira ga ima hirakareru yo
Mou ichido unmei azukete umarekawaru sa
During mid-way of the song, Seira's pendant opened and Julie's Red Pearl started to shine. It blinded Lady Bat as Julie's mermaid spirit appeared.
Hanareteku ima mo you're the only one
Itoshii sono subete ga you're the only one
Itakute mo kurushikute mo dakedo good bye
Kono saki mo kitto zutto you're the only one, only one
This time, because the girls have found eight items to charged her Red Pearl, her powers are almost complete. Even her song is affecting the enemy as if her singing is like how the others did through their microphones. It was too much that he is forced to retreat.
"Thank you, Julie." Seira replied as Julie simply smiled at her before fading away. She then de-transform and turn towards Takumi. "Takumi. Takumi. Takumi!" she shook him until he stirs.
"Seira? What happen?" he asked as he touch a painful spot where he hit his head. Seira unexpectedly hugged him. "Seira?"
"Thank goodness, I was so worried. I didn't know what I'd do without you." Seira whispered in his ear. He could even her voice breaking. He hugged her back.
"Seira, I'm sorry that I've worried you." he told her. When they pull apart from the hug, he pulled out something from his left pocket. "Here." he gave her an orange amber heart.
"This is..." Seira trailed off.
"A necklace... To show our strong friendship." he explain as he put in around Seira's neck. It was next to her orange pendant. She felt that the necklace is being pulled towards her pendant and she knows why. The Heart of New Friendship... Or rather, the Heart of Strong Friendship. Julie's pearl finally has all nine light from all nine items. Now, all they have to do is to find and awake Julie up.
"Takumi..." Seira trailed off as they gentle kiss in the setting sun. When they pulled apart, Takumi took something else from his pocket.
"My ribbon." Seira respond.
"I found it on the day of my soccer game. I knew that it belongs to you, but I couldn't find you anywhere. You can have it back." Takumi gave it to her.
"No, you can keep it. It can be my way of showing... How much you mean to me." Seira pushed his hand back and closed his fingers on the silky orange material.
-Sea Cave-
In the throne room of the sea cave, Lady Bat was kneeling in front of his master.
"Shika-sama, I'm sorry that I fail to captured the Orange Mermaid Princess." Lady Bat replied.
"It doesn't matter. You are pardon." Shika told him.
"I am?" he asked in surprise.
"Yes, but bring your sisters with you. I want to speak with the three of you for you have a mission that I want to assign." Shika answered.
"Yes, Shika-sama." Lady Bat obeyed as he disappears in a bunch of bats.
A smile crawled up on the Sea Witch's face, "I've finally found you, Julie."
-School-
The next day of school, things did not do well for Seira. The poor princess was getting beat up by Asuka in the bathroom.
"How dare you kiss Takumi. I saw what you did yesterday, you filthy trash." Asuka insulted her. Seira didn't fight back, she is not the type to get revenge. Besides, physical pain doesn't really compare to mental ones. Once Asuka thinks she has enough, she left the bathroom.
Seira tried to get up, but some parts of her body aches from Asuka's beating. Julie appeared next to her.
"Hold still, Seira." Julie told her as she wrapped her arms around Seira from behind. All of Seira's wounds and pain are gone and are being transferred to the Red Princess. "I am so sorry I can't take your metal wounds as well." Julie sympathized.
"Don't worry about it Julie, I'm fine." Seira gave her a smile, but they both know that it's a fake one.
-Home Ec-
In home economics class, the students are making many kind of treats. From what she has seen with Lucia and Hanon, Seira decide to make a cake for her friends. When the baking is finished, she is ready for the icing.
She decorate her cake with light pink frosting, the flowers are blue while the leaves are green. Yellow frosting represent the stars while the dark blue and purple are the swirls. She wanted her cake to have all the colors of what she and her friends represent. At the center is a red heart with black and white sprinkles on them. Lastly is the orange frosting, but she doesn't know what to do with it.
"Seira." she turned to see that it's Takumi.
"Takumi." she called out his name.
"That is a beautiful cake." he compliment.
"Oh, thank you." she replied, blushing a bit. "I'm trying to add the colors that my friends love, all I have left is orange, but I don't know what to do with it..."
"Maybe you can make tiny flowers." Takumi suggested.
"That's a great idea." Seira replied as she started to add the little flowers.
From a distance, Asuka can see Seira and Takumi together. She was far so she couldn't hear what they were saying, but seeing Seira's smiling and innocent face makes her want to separate them even more.
When Seira left her cake unattended, Asuka got her chance. She walked over and put her hands close to the cake. She then swept the cake until fell off the table. A crash sound can be heard and Seira returned along with Takumi.
"Oops." Asuka fake shock.
"My cake!" Seira exclaimed.
"I'm so sorry, it was an accident. I didn't mean to ruin the cake." Asuka put up the victim act.
Seira glared at her and dragged her outside of class by her wrist.
-Outside Class-
Once they were alone, Seira started to yell, "Why did you do that!"
"Did what?" Asuka pretended that she didn't know.
"You know. Why did you ruined my cake!" Seira demand.
"Well I have to do something so you won't give that cake to Takumi." she dropped her act.
"What are you talking about? That cake I made was for my friends!" she couldn't believed this. All of her hard work went down the drain just because this girl is envious of her and is attacking her out of jealously.
"Really? Oh, well. Who cares?" Asuka asked.
"I care!" Seira shouted.
"Well, I don't!" she pushed her to the floor and started kicking her like a wounded puppy. Seira didn't even bother telling her to stop because she knows Asuka wouldn't no matter how hard she pleads and begs. This time, she was clever. She only kick the parts that won't have any visible wounds to show. "And I am not through with you yet, girl. This isn't nearly what I have in store for you!"
-Class-
Things did not get any better for Seira because now Asuka is spreading rumors in class that it was Seira who attacked her. Her friends also helped so most of the students joined her side. Others didn't want to get involved.
"She started to attack me even through I said it was an accident!" Asuka lied. "Here, I have proof." she showed them marks that looked like a bruise or two. It was clear to Seira that she did that to herself because it wasn't there before when it was she who attacked her. Unfortunately, that got more students to side with Asuka.
During class, she can hear whispers like "That girl looked so nice, too bad she was playing us all along." or "I heard from Asuka that she plays tricks so that she can fit in with us." those lies didn't hurt her as much as the common one which is "Did you heard? She is lying to Takumi so she can be with him. She even kissed him so he is forced silent about it. She is manipulating him so she can act all cool, but we know the truth. She can't be trusted."
It was getting more harder for her to not cry. Tears are threatening to fall from her eyes. Can't her classmates understand? She is genuinely hurt by their painful words, but she guess they believe in Asuka more.
"Look, she's crying. Don't fall for it, she's faking it so she can make you feel sorry for her." Asuka warned the students. When class ended, she wanted to be the first to leave, but someone tripped her. It was Hanami, one of Asuka's friends and one of the minor bullies. Just then, Takumi came into the classroom from soccer practice. Every now and then, he wouldn't be in class because of practice for the main game.
"What is going on?" he asked loudly to the class when he noticed Seira on the floor. He walked over to her.
"Careful Takumi, that girl isn't worthy of your comfort." a classmate warned. He gave a glare at the classmate. The classmate is a girl with light brown hair and hazel eyes.
"This girl is Seira Misaki and she is worthy of my comfort." he told her. He turned to Seira, "Are you okay, Seira?" he whispered.
"Mm." she whispered quietly.
"Takumi, I need to talk to you for a moment." Akane distracted him. She was another friend of Asuka's and the last minor bully. When he wasn't looking, Asuka took Seira's heart necklace. She tries to get it back, but Hanami stops her from doing so. Asuka gave her single that Akane can stop now. "Well I have to go, see you." she left.
He turned back to Seira after it was just the two of them, "Are you sure you are okay?"
"I fine, don't worry about me." she gave him a fake smile and blinked her tears away from her eyes. "Well, goodbye." she went out of the door with her bag.
'I'm sorry, Takumi. The truth is I'm not fine at all. I feel hurt and I am getting more unstable. That is why, I can't tell you... That I love you. Because if I do, where will all this pain that I've endure go?' Seira thought as she walked in the hallways.
"Oh, I've forgotten something." Seira realized as she went back to the classroom.
When she headed back she can hear Takumi's voice.
"Asuka... What did you do?" she heard him demand.
"Did what?" Asuka's voice can be heard.
Out of curiosity, she took a peek though the door.
"Did you do something to Seira again?" Takumi questioned, he was getting impatient.
"Why would I?" Asuka began to noticed Seira and started to smile wickedly. She suddenly hugged Takumi.
"H-hey! What are you-" Takumi got cut off when Asuka's lips touched his.
Seira gasped she she covered her mouth with both of her hands. Asuka opened her eyes and stared at Seira. She gave the message, You've lost.
That was the last push Seira didn't need. She felt the world around her started to shattered. Not wanting to see anymore, she ran out of the hallways and out of the school. If she had stayed a little while longer, she would have seen Takumi slapped and yelled at Asuka in anger.
Seira run out of the building, tears trailing from her eyes as they sparkle in the little sunlight. She didn't care if she was tired or not. She didn't even went straight home, instead she went to the quiet parts of the beach.
-Beach-
When she reached to the quietest part of the beach, her legs couldn't take it any longer. She collapsed as she gasped for air. Her breathing was heavy and her heart is pounding achingly. She felt that it wants to tear into many pieces.
Julie appeared to her, "Seira, you can't continue this any longer. You are going to get even more hurt if you don't tell Lucia or the others."
"No!" Seira exclaimed. "I don't want the others to know. I-It'll only trouble them even more. Saving Akari and Miyuki... And later on, we'll have to save you... I don't want to add any more problems in their life." she insist.
"Seira, my pearl- my heart... Is connected to the other princesses, including yours. I can tell that your heart is close to breaking. This needs to stop. Please, Seira... Go home and rest. You are starting to get a fever." she advised.
"I'm fine..." Seira insist, but she then collapsed when she tried to stand and fell into the sea.
With her pearl fully complete, Julie's spirit took physical form as she tries to take Seira home. However, because she used too much magic to heal her earlier, she quickly loses her form, getting Seira home half-way. She then faded when she spotted a troubled Takumi walking toward their way.
Takumi saw the orange mermaid close to the shore line and immediately ran to help her. He holds are as if she was a baby, supporting her head and upper half. He also notice her rising fever when he puts his forehead close to hers.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked her gently.
She opened her eyes slowly. At the sight of Takumi, she cried, "I feel lonely inside."
"Why?" Takumi questioned.
Seira felt that she is becoming cold, but she couldn't help herself as she told him with these harsh words, "If you cared for the ones you love, then you should've been by their side."
"But your the one I love." Takumi replied.
"Really?" Seira questioned a bit coldly.
"Yes." he confirms.
She gave a small scoff, "Then why is it that when your not around, I'm the one being hurt? I'll give you an advice, think about it. If you truly love me, you'd be with me no matter what happens because in the end, I'm actually closer to you than you think. Goodbye, Takumi." with the remaining strength she has left, Seira dives back into the waters, leaving Takumi confused and hurt.
When she is at a far away distance, she hid herself behind a rock to see Takumi leaved sadly. She cried to herself softly at the even bigger mess she has caused and her heartbreak didn't made it any better.
-Pearl Waters-
She returned home late at night, worrying everyone who have been wondering where she was.
"Seira, where were you? We were so worried." Lucia asked.
"Sorry, I have something to do." she answered in an emotionless tone as she made her way upstairs.
-Seira's Room-
When she went into her room, the moment she entered, she collapsed to the floor as her fever increases.
"Takumi..." she whispers his name as tears fall from her eyes.
Julie's spirit appeared. She tries to take the fever away, only to find out she couldn't because she has already taken too much of Seira's pain. If she would go over the limit, then her sleeping body won't be able to bare it. She was going to have to take matters in her own hands.
Later, Lucia went upstairs to get Seira. She noticed that the door is not completely closed, still, she knocked.
"Seira, diner is ready. Do you want to come and eat with everyone else? Seira?" Lucia called out the Orange Princess' name, but there was no response. "I'm coming in, okay?" Lucia opened the door wider to see the girl laying on the floor. "Seira!"
After Lucia came to get help, she returned to Seira's room.
"Lucia, what are you saying? You didn't made much sense." Hanon replied until she see Seira on the floor.
"What is it?" Rina asked when she made a mental "Oh" in her mind.
The three helped carry Seira to her bed. They couldn't asked much because their friend was getting sick.
"She has a fever, but I think she should be fine if she take tomorrow's day off." Hanon replied.
"Nee nee, Hanon. What should we do? Seira is- Seira is-" Lucia began to panic.
"Calm down, Lucia. Seira is in no danger." Rina assures her. "But neither of us can watch her. We have to go to school tomorrow."
"What's wrong?" Akari asked as she and Miyuki enters.
"Ah, Akari, Miyuki. Seira has a fever." Hanon replied.
"Oh, I see..." Akari trailed off.
"That's too bad." Miyuki respond sadly.
"If you want, we can take care of her tomorrow and tonight." Akari insist.
"If you don't mind, it will be a big help to us." Lucia told them.
"We don't mind, helping Seira is the least we can do." Miyuki told them.
"Then we'll leave her to you. Goodnight." Rina left the room followed by Hanon and Lucia. They closed the door along the way. The sisters sit close to the bed side.
"Nee Akari..." Miyuki began.
"Hm? What is it, Yuki?" Akari asked.
"Don't you think that Seira is a bit like Julie onee-chan?" she asked her question.
"Now that you mentioned it, she does. Back then, when we first met her, we both were aware of Julie's noble heart. She has always tried to find a way to help us, even if it cost her wish to not come true." Akari replied.
"It looks like Seira is starting to make the same choices Julie onee-chan made. They're both sacrificing their love for the other Mermaid Princesses... For us." Miyuki comments as they tried to make Seira feel comfortable as possible despite the rising temperature.
-Yoshiro Mansion-
In the living room, Kai Yoshiro, Takumi's dad, was staring at a photo when a voice called out to him.
"Kai." he looked to see a red figure.
'Could it be?' he thought as he got up.
When he got near to the spirit he was shocked, "You... You're not Mitsuaki. You must be the princess."
"Yes, I am. When we meet for real, we can talk about that. Right now, I have a favor to asked of you." Julie told him.
"A favor?" he repeated.
"Yes, you see... A dear friend of mine is suffering from a breaking heart. I want your son to help her because he's the one she loves." Julie explained.
"I understand and I'll gladly grant your favor. It's the least I could do for Mitsuaki, but may I have the name of whoever is causing your friend great pain?" Kai asked. Julie drift closer to him and whisper the name into his ear. When she is done, she drifts away.
"However, you must tell Takumi carefully. You know why, right?" she asked.
"Yes, I do and I will." Kai agrees as Julie nods her head in approval before fading away.
-Takumi's Room-
In his room, Takumi couldn't sleep. His mind is still disturbed. First, Seira is starting to avoiding him again, then that very girl, Asuka, he despised of kissed him, and now the mermaid he loves is being cold to him. He doesn't understand what is going on. Plus, whenever he tries to sleep, he would see his mermaid crying. He tried anyway as he started to drift to sleep.
-Nightmare-
"You've failed me." she cried. "I've waited and waited, but you didn't even notice the similarities... Goodbye, Takumi." his mermaid is being pulled away from his arms by a dark force as an evil voice crackled. "You love her too, right? You love Seira, right?" the mermaid asked.
"I love you too. I can save you! I can save you both!" Takumi insisted.
"It's too late to save me. Protect her, the one you love. Don't fail Seira too as you did me." the mermaid lost her grip and is being pulled into the darkness. For a moment, he saw an image of Seira which matched his mermaid.
"Foolish human! You won't only lose your Mermaid Princess, but you'll also lose the girl too!" an evil voice laugh.
"Seira!" Takumi yelled as both the mermaid and Seira are now both lost in the darkness.
-Nightmare Ends-
Takumi immediately jolt up from his bed. Sweat fall from his face as he remembered that intensive nightmare. He jumped when he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." he respond. The door opened to reveal his dad.
"You were screaming, can't sleep?" he asked.
"Yeah." Takumi replied as his father sit on his bed side. "Dad, can I tell you something?"
"Sure, what is it?" he asked.
"There has been someone who have been avoiding me recently. Before, I would see her many times, now I don't." Takumi explain.
"Was she a girl or a mermaid?" Kai questioned.
"Well, sometimes the girl is with me and sometimes it would be the mermaid." Takumi answered.
"What's the girl's name?" his father asked.
"Her name is Seira Misaki... The mermaid, I didn't asked because of you know what happens." Takumi replied.
"This girl, Seira... How does she make you feel?" his father continue asking questions.
Takumi smiled, "Seira... She was the first girl who didn't treat me like a superior. She was the first to treat me like a true friend. She's kind, sweet, gentle."
"How do you two do in school?"
"I used to see her, but sometimes I don't. Sometimes, she would leave before I could talk to her." Takumi answered.
"What if... They was someone who made her leave before you could talk to her. Someone who doesn't like her? Do you have any idea who it could be?" his father further pushed him with the question.
"I do have an idea who it is, but I want to be sure- I want it to be confirmed. And for some reason, I feel that you have the answer- the key to my problem. So... Who has been causing Seira to keep her distance from me? What is the name?" Takumi asked.
"Her name is..." his father began.
-Pearl Waters-
In the morning, Seira was not getting any better. Her fever is still present.
Miyuki gasped, "Nee-chan."
"What is it, Yuki?" Akari asked.
"I sensed... Seira's heart, it's slowly being touched by the darkness." Miyuki replied worriedly.
"Like Sara?" Akari started to panic a little bit.
"No." a voice answered. Julie appeared in front of the sisters. "Worry not, Seira's heart is not in danger of becoming dark. However, the burden of love... The most painful of memories, it will have it's influences on a pure heart like Seira's. Especially when she is young and new to the feeling. I'm afraid she is making the same mistakes I did. Her aching heart is more stronger that she doesn't even realized. She is closing up her heart, putting the barriers, so she can never feel it's pain ever again... Just like I did with my love. Our only hope is if Takumi can reached out to her in time... If not, she might never feel love ever again." Julie explain sadly as she faded.
-School-
In school, Lucia, Hanon, and Rina went to the building without Seira. When they entered, they can see Takumi looking around the halls as if he is looking for someone.
"Ah, Takumi-kun!" Lucia called out.
"Oh hey, Lucia-san." Takumi greeted without looking at her.
"Who are you looking for?" Hanon asked.
"There!" Takumi started to run after Asuka after he spotted her.
"Takumi-kun!" Lucia called out as she and Hanon ran after him.
"O-Oi!" Rina ran after them as well.
The girls finally manage to catch up with Takumi. They found him cornering Asuka.
"What's the matter, Takumi-kun?" Hanon asked.
"What do you think! She is the problem!" he points an accusing finger at Asuka. "She has been bullying Seira ever since she came back from her trip." he yelled in anger.
"What did you just say?" Rina hoped she was not hear that right. When Takumi explain it again, only in detail, she couldn't believed her ears.
"Then yesterday..." Hanon started.
"When Seira had her fever..." Lucia begin to pieced it all together.
"What? Seira has a fever?" Takumi questioned in shock.
Asuka took that chance to escape causing them to resume their chase. This time, the girls helped him. They cornered Asuka in another hallway.
"How could you have done all those horrible things to Seira?" Lucia asked.
"She's right. What did Seira ever done to you?" Hanon asked.
"Simple, her being with Takumi in the first place! He doesn't deserved to be with trash like her!" she answered.
"I've heard enough!" Takumi begins to filled with rage. He knows that Seira doesn't want revenge, but he just couldn't stand by while she is suffering any longer. He raised his hand. "For bullying her ten times, that's exactly what you'll get." he slapped her hard across the face. A red mark appeared. He slapped her more harder nine times. For each slap, she cowers in fear and begs for him to stop. "Seira was brave. Even though she was the one who suffered, she didn't cower like you. In fact, this doesn't even compare to what you did to her. However, I shall respect Seira's wish and not look for vengeance. You should consider yourself lucky that Seira is the kind of person who would forgive if you were to ask." he took back the heart necklace that hangs on Asuka's neck and was about to turn to leave. "You better stop bullying her and you better heed my warning or else... You'll make me regret that I let you go so easily. Now get out of my sight." Asuka did just that.
When school ended, Takumi went to the bath house to visit Seira.
-Pearl Waters-
When he went to the bath house, he meet with Coco, Karen, and Noel, who explain that they are friends of Seira.
"Do you know where her room is?" he asked.
"Her room is upstairs and at the end of the left." Coco answered.
He thanked her and went upstairs.
-Seira's Room-
He knocked on the door and it opened to reveal a girl of eighteen and a girl of twelve. He assumed that they are also friends of Seira because he can tell that they have been taking care of her.
"Hi, can I come in to see Seira?" he asked.
"You must be Takumi. Of course, come in. We'll leave you two some privacy." Akari gestures Miyuki to follow.
"Take good care of her." Miyuki told him during her way out.
He heard the door is close and went his way to the sick girl. He put the heart necklace he gave her on a nearby table. He sat close to her and hold her hand in his.
"Seira... I am so sorry. For making you suffer all of those torments alone. If I wasn't slow about it, I could have stopped it from happening earlier. Please, forgive me." he told her, though he doesn't know if she can hear him. So he continue, "I only wish for you to get better so please, open your eyes, Seira." he pleaded. "You probably don't deserved a person like me. I couldn't even protect you against Asuka or that vampire. You probably hate me, right? However, even if you hate me, I will always love you. I love you, Seira. Deep down in my heart, I do." he gave her a kiss on the forehead. He was about to leave when he felt something grabbing on his sleeves. He turned to see Seira's tiny fingers is what keeping him from leaving.
"Wait..." he heard her whisper weakly. She slowly opened her eyes to see Takumi. "Don't leave me... Please. I want to stay like this... A little while longer..." she spoke softly.
"Seira!" he exclaimed as he did what she wished.
"I'm sorry..." Seira apologized.
"Why are you apologizing? I should be the one to apologize." Takumi insist.
"I didn't tell you of Asuka... Because I didn't want to worry you..." she answered.
"But why didn't you? You only made me more worried?" he asked.
Seira closed her eyes, "It's because... I was afraid. There was something in my chest... Ever since I first met you..."
"What is it?" Takumi questioned.
"Love." she answered. "But... When she threatened me... I didn't know what to do. I forced myself to keep the truth from you... I lied to myself that it was a mistake... I kept it a secret from my friends... And I endured all of the pain..." she started to cry. "The truth is, I was happy... To fall in love... But yesterday, I saw... I saw you and Asuka. Even though I knew she forced herself to... It hurts. I feel like I was sinking into an endless sea of darkness..." Seira explained.
Takumi remembered his nightmare last night and both Seira and his mermaid got taken by the dark forces.
She opened her eyes, "I felt completely and hopelessly lost with my feelings... I didn't tell Lucia or the others... Because they have enough problems in their life... I thought the best way to get rid of this aching pain was to keep it to myself... So I stopped being with my friends... It only got worse. When I collapsed... I feel like protecting myself so I won't feel any pain... But I was wrong. By having the barriers to keep out the pain from my heart... I realized it also kept out the love that everyone has for me, so I've became more lost, but when you came... I heard your voice... You told me that you love me and that's enough for me. Because of you... I forgive you... And I can now accept this feeling deep down in my heart. Takumi... I love you." Seira confessed.
"I love you too." Takumi hugged her as she returned his hug.
'I did it, I confessed my true feelings to Takumi. Now, all you have to do is to realized. That shall be the glue to put two halves together. Your love for me as a Mermaid Princess and as Seira Misaki... They'll become whole once you realized. It may take time, but I have faith in you, Takumi. I love you.' Seira thought happily as she feels that her heart is getting lighter and her fever is dropping.
Seira then closed her eyes and kissed him softly on his lips.
'I love you.'
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Yay, Seira finally confessed! Now we have to root for Takumi to realized.
To Zahir890: I hope what Asuka gets satisfy you? We won't be seeing her for a long while.
For those you usually leave comments, thank you for the support. And for everyone else who have read yet left anything for me, please Favorite, Follow, and Comment.
