Hi everyone. Here is chapter 43. One more chapter of fun and then we'll get serious. Sorry for the long wait, May and June are one of those chaotic months because of testing. Until Summer Break comes, updates will be more random than scheduled. Enjoy.
Chapter 43: Birthday Wishes
-Pearl Waters-
"Merry Christmas, everybody!" Lucia exclaimed after she got out of her bed and quickly dressed. When she reached downstairs, she already found all her friends were waiting for her.
"Your late, Lucia. I thought that you might sleep all day and not wake up until New Years." Rina teased.
"Geez Rina, don't be so mean." Lucia pout.
"Waa, everything is so pretty!" Sakura came down stairs along with Akari. "The way the lights flickers and everything is all lit up!"
"That's right, I forgot that this is yours and Akari's first Christmas." Hanon realized.
"Do you know where Julie is?" Lucia asked after looking around to see that she is not in the living room.
"She's in the kitchen with Seira." Noel answered after putting her book down. "She teaching our lucky mermaid how to make christmas treats." the Indigo Princess lowered her voice.
"Ah, got it." Lucia realized.
-Kitchen-
In the kitchen, Julie was baking christmas cookies while Seira help frosting them.
"So... May I asked why you wanted my help in baking cookies?" Julie asked the Orange Princess.
"It's a secret~" Seira answer in a musical way.
"Is it for someone special?" Julie questioned, using a different tactic. The Orange Pearl Mermaid Princess suddenly stopped her frosting. "I knew it. You're making them for Takumi, right?"
"No!" Seira exclaimed. "Well... Maybe?"
The Red Princess laughed, "When will you admit it to yourself that you and Takumi belong together? You both confess your love to each other, so why don't you two admit to yourselves that you're a couple?"
"Aren't we're too young to be considered a couple?" the young girl questioned.
"Seira, you are never too young to be in love, therefore, you and Takumi are not too young to be considered a couple." Julie answered. "Now, can you help stir the frosting?"
The Princess nodded and started to mix a bowl of pink frosting as Julie approached her with two cookies. Giving one to Seira, the two secretly dipped it into the frosting and took a bite. They both giggled as they finished their cookies.
"How was your date with Satoru?" Seira asked.
"It went well. It was as if he did came at that time." Julie answered.
"I glad."
"I hope that you and Takumi can experience the same feeling like Lucia and the rest."
"Me too."
"Seira!" the girls heard Lucia's voice from the living room. "Coco is going shopping, she wanted to know if you want to go with her."
"But I can't, I have to-" Seira got cut off.
"It's fine. Go and spend time with her. You and Coco may have a special bond because you are the reincarnation of Sara, but you two should actually bond more, than just what you were already given." the Red Princess advised.
"But what about the cookies?"
"Don't worry about it." she winked. "Since it is December, maybe Coco will buy you some ice cream."
"Ice cream?!" Seira's eyes lit up in delight.
It's been a while since she had a taste of the frosty treat, so the girl eagerly ran out of the kitchen to grabbed her coat. After Julie heard the door shut and saw Seira and Coco out in the streets, she gave a sigh.
"Is she gone?" Lucia questioned.
"Yes, it okay. We can now do what we need to do." Julie confirms.
"Let's buy Christmas presents!" Hanon yelled.
"And birthday presents." Rina added.
Hanon, Rina, Noel, and Karen went out to buy their gifts for today and tomorrow.
"You're not joining them?" Lucia asked her sisters and Akari.
"I already bought mine." Julie answered.
"I don't know what to give her." Sakura answered.
"And I had arranged a little visitor for Seira." Akari replied.
"What about you, Lucia?" Julie asked from the kitchen.
"I finished making it last night." the Pink Princess answered.
"Ahh, that's explains why you woke up late." Julie figured it out. "Do any of you want to help make dinner?"
"I will help." Lucia replied.
"I would, if I could. However, I think I'll help Sakura make her present." Akari explained.
"Okay." Julie agreed as Akari took Sakura upstairs.
The sisters were hard at work, making the dinner.
Meanwhile...
-Mall-
The girls went to a large mall to buy their gifts for Christmas and for Seira's birthday. Hanon, instantly went directly to the clothing store since there is a sign saying that everything is on sale. She went into a store called Bubbles, a vintage boutique. Noel went to the Kitazawa Bookstore to buy books while Rina and Karen wander around for a good place to buy presents.
In the bookstore...
Noel was searching through the bookcases for any books that might catch Seira's interest. To be honest, she is interested in all the books, but she can't buy all. Plus, she knows that the other girls would prefer something else other than books. Suddenly, a book caught her attention. She pulled out a book called "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman. After reading a couple of pages, Noel had already enjoyed the book. So she bought the book for Seira. Surely if she loves it, then Seira will too.
After checking the time on her watch, she realized that she have only half an hour to buy everyone else their presents. So the Indigo Princess rushed to the other stores to buy whatever her friends might like.
In the clothes store...
Hanon was looking at many dresses and fashionable outfits. She was very excited because there is a sale on everything! When she first went in, she was squealing in delight.
"What should I get? All of them are so kawii." Hanon couldn't decide on what to buy. She was a bit jealous that tomorrow was Seira's birthday. If it was her birthday, she would have bought all these clothes for herself. So after buying the clothes that she wanted to get, she went to the jewelry store to buy some accessories.
The mall...
Karen and Rina managed to buy their presents after they encounter a music store. Because of the Christmas season, the two were given free tickets to Tokyo Disneyland. Unfortunately, there were only five left and the girls wanted to bring their boyfriends with them. That meant that some of them might not go. However, they decided to give the tickets to the ones who they think deserved it.
"Seira and Takumi should go so they can improve more on their love life." Karen replied. "Those two have been denying their love to themselves for so long, I think it's time to give them a push!"
"Lucia and Hanon should also go. They both went to the amusement park once and really had enjoyed them. However, because back then, I was worried about it being a trap from the water demons, I kinda ruined their fun." Rina admit.
"More like the water demons ruined it because it was a trap. There is only one ticket left..." Karen trailed off. "Do you want to go, Rina?"
"I rather not. I'm not into these kind of thing. Plus, it's not worth it if I can't take Masahiro with me." Rina replied. "Why don't you go, Karen?"
"I don't want to enjoy myself if I can't bring Subaru with me." Karen answered. "I think I'll give it to Akari. She has been too quiet that I have forgotten about her. I wondered why she doesn't talk to us a lot."
"Maybe she has a terrible past that she couldn't moved on. I would know, since I was distant from Lucia and Hanon from my guilt of unable to save Noel." Rina suggest.
"She wouldn't be the only one." Karen muttered quietly.
After the group meet up again, everyone had their hands full of shopping bags with everything they bought.
"Does everyone has everything they need?" Noel asked as the others nodded. "Good, let's hurry back home before Seira and Coco finished their shopping."
-Park-
After Coco had finished her shopping at a shop, she has taken Seira to the park. She was very nervous that Seira would caught her buying her birthday present and would questioned her since there was a total of nine items in the bag. If she had caught Coco buying the ninth item, she would have been suspicious because you can't buy anything for yourself on Christmas.
Luckily, to distracted the girl, Coco promised her ice cream to get her all giddy and jumpy. So that is why they are at the park. Seira recalled the white ice cream truck once when she made her wish to spend time with Lucia and the other girls. She was rather disappointed that the Dark Lovers weren't the ones with the job, since she remembered that they were the ones who gave her her first ice cream cone.
"What flavor do you want?" a lady asked.
"Strawberry." Seira answered as she tiptoe to see the many treats behind the counter.
"Here you go." the lady handed her the cone.
"Ahh, arigatou!" Seira thanked the ice cream lady.
"Your welcome and have a Merry Christmas." she told them as they leave.
-Pearl Waters-
After Coco and Seira returned, they saw the other girls were waiting for them.
"Did you two have a fun time?" Noel questioned.
"We did, but Coco wouldn't tell me what she bought." Seira replied.
"I couldn't tell you, it would have ruined it for everybody else if you know what I bought for them." Coco countered.
"Luckily, you two are in time for the present opening." Julie came out from the living room, dressed in red.
"Yay!" Seira exclaimed as she run into the living room.
"...After we have dinner." Julie added.
"Aw." Seira pouted.
Once dinner was done, Seira returned to the living room. The tree had many presents that clearly couldn't have all come from only the girls. Lucia, Hanon, and Seira screamed in delight that they got tickets to go to Disneyland in Tokyo while Akari just stared at the small paper in confusion. It was in Spring Break after New Years. After the opening of presents, everyone decided to go to bed for tomorrow's Surprise Party. However, before Noel went upstairs, she received a letter from Lucia.
"Who is it from?" Noel asked as she opened the envelope.
"From Kyle. He came here, but when he heard that you went shopping, he told me to give you the letter." Lucia answered. "He told me that he wanted to give you your Christmas Present personally."
"That explains why I didn't see his name on any of the gifts under the tree." Noel realized as she read the letter.
-Town Square-
After reading the letter, Noel went to the place that Kyle wanted her to meet up. It was at the town square, under the large Christmas tree. There, she saw Kyle dressed in a red coat which contrast her blue coat.
"You came." he smiled the moment he saw her.
"I got you letter." Noel showed him the letter. "What is it that you wanted to give me?"
"This." Kyle took out a wrapped gift that was beside him and gave it to her.
"Can I opened it?"
"Yes."
Noel took the wrapping paper off to revealed a book. It was filled with Christmas stories that she never heard of. After all, mermaids never celebrate holidays before.
"Thank you, Kyle." she replied.
"That is only half of my gift to you. Open to the middle of the book." Kyle instructed.
Noel opened the book as he said to the middle section of the book. The middle section had a title called "The Gift of the Magi". Under the title is a small envelope. The Indigo Mermaid Princess opened it to reveal two tickets to Disneyland! It even has the exact date and location to the tickets that Lucia, Hanon, and Seira had!
"I thought that because we see each other often, but don't know much... I figured I take you to Disneyland in Tokyo to have our 'first date' together. Merry Christmas, Noel." Kyle explained.
"Thank you, Kyle!" Noel exclaimed as she hugged the black-haired man. Her smile then faded into a frown. "I was busy trying to find presents that I ran out of time to buy anything for you. I'm sorry."
"There's no need for you to apologize. Seeing you happy will be my Christmas present." he kissed her in the cheek. "It's getting late, I'll walk you home."
"Mm!" Noel smiled.
-Pearl Waters-
The next day...
A knock from the door was heard.
"I'll get it!" Lucia told everyone. She opened the door to see that it was Takumi.
"Hi Lucia, is Seira here?" the boy asked.
"Yes, remember the plan?" she asked.
"Yeah, I have to take Seira out so you guys can finished decorating for the surprise party, right?"
"Yup." Lucia nodded. "I'll get Seira."
The Pink Mermaid Princess ran upstairs to the young girl's room. After five minutes, Seira came downstairs.
"Hi Takumi." Seira greeted. She was wearing an orange coat.
"Good morning, Seira." Takumi greeted back.
"Go with Takumi and enjoy your date." Lucia pushed the girl towards the boy and quickly shut the doors.
"Wha- Date?" Seira started to turn a bit red. "But Lucia, I..." she trailed off at the presence of Takumi.
Takumi already know that the girl was feeling awkward after Lucia declared that what he's doing it having a "date" with Seira. To break the silence, he started to talk first.
"I... Where do you want to go?" he started off badly. His job was simple, to take Seira away from here, but it actually proves difficult than he thought.
"Anywhere you like to take me is fine." Seira quietly answered.
"Then lets go..." he paused to think for a second. "To the zoo."
"Okay, I actually never been to the zoo before." Seira replied as she followed Takumi.
"You never been to the zoo before?" Takumi questioned.
"No." Seira shook her head.
Actually, last year was when she was born. While she is physically eleven now, chronologically, she is one year old. So she never had seen much of the human world after her birth last year. Takumi looked like he wanted to say something, but kept quiet. Seira was worried that he'll questioned more about her personal life or figured out her identity. To be honest, she found the mermaid rule very strange though.
Although mermaids are never allow to make contact with humans, they still break that rule. Despite Julie had explained the history between the humans and mermaids that lead to the creation of the mermaid rule, Seira felt that there is no consequences. After all, Lucia, Hanon, and Rina have human lovers. Plus, right now, humans aren't even repeating what they used to do back during those times.
She had recalled the time when Lucia, Hanon, and Rina revealed themselves to human audiences when they were trying to find the mother of Momo. There was also a time when Rina revealed herself during a surfing competition to draw out the Dark Lovers once. Still, the humans appear more fascinated unlike what they used to in the past. Sure, they are shocked that mermaids exist, but they hadn't done anything to provoke them like the times before the mermaid rule was established.
"We're here." Takumi snapped her from her thoughts.
"Oh."
-Zoo-
Takumi took Seira's hand and pulled her to the gates. He first showed her some of the zoo animals like the zebras and the elephants. Being a Mermaid Princess, she had only seen animals from the sea and sky, never creatures on land. They looked a bit strange to her than humans, having four legs instead of two. However, it's what makes them special.
The two spent their time at the zoo until Takumi suddenly exclaimed that it was time to go back home. Seira found it rather strange for the sudden change in plans, but she didn't questioned it.
"Takumi." Seira stopped him before they walked closer to the bath house.
"Yes, Seira?" Takumi questioned.
Seira pulled out a ticket from her pocket and gave it to Takumi.
"I received two tickets yesterday for my Christmas present. I thought that... Maybe you would want to come with me?" she questioned.
"A ticket to Disneyland in Tokyo? Sure, I'll be happy to go." Takumi answered.
"Thank you, Takumi." Seira smiled.
"Your welcome. Now, let's go. I bet there is another surprise waiting."
"What? Surprise? What do you mean?" Seira asked.
"You'll see." Takumi replied.
-Pearl Waters-
As the two entered the bath house, all the lights were off until...
"SURPRISE!" everyone shouted as the lights were turned on and everyone jumped from their hiding spot. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEIRA!"
The Orange Mermaid Princess smiled in delight.
"You knew? You did all of this for me?" Seira questioned the girls.
"Well, it's isn't hard to forget. It is after Christmas after all." Karen pointed out.
"Thank you, everyone!" Seira smiled.
"And here is your cake." Nikora replied as she should Seira a three layered cake that is shaped like a star. On the bottom layer are five candles on each point. The same with the second layer and the third layer has one candle in the middle, a total of eleven candles.
"Well, I have to go. I have a soccer practice to go to." Takumi told everyone as he reached into his pocket. "Happy Birthday Seira," he gave her a small box wrapped in wrapping paper.
When he left, Seira immediately opened the box to reveal a ring inside! It has a silvery heart with an amber stone at the center. The other girls teased the birthday girl as she slips it onto her finger.
"I know that you love Takumi's present, but how about opening our presents that we got for you?" Karen suggested.
"Mm!" Seira smiled.
Everyone gathered around the table near the Christmas tree to give the birthday girl their presents. Seira first opened of Hanon's present. It was a new dress! Of course, it is orange, but it has some pink and yellow in it also. It kinda reminds her of the sunset. Next is Lucia, which is a jewelry box that was hand made. Rina gave a CD filled with classical music while Coco gave her a music box that she bought yesterday. She gained dating tips from Karen, a book that Noel bought for her yesterday, new shoes from Julie, a flower crown from Sakura and...
"Hey, where's your gift, Akari?" Rina questioned.
Akari said nothing, but gave Seira a letter. The letter was decorated very strangely with many stamp pictures all over the envelope. The eleven year old opened it. Suddenly, the room temperature was getting a bit chilly until everyone saw a figure. However, the figure was too blurry to tell who it was.
"Having Yuki visiting us, is my present." Akari answered.
"Yuki, it's been a while!" Lucia exclaimed.
"It has. My gift for Seira is..." she waved her hands and a spoonful of ice cream appeared on Seira's plate.
"Yay, ice cream!" Seira squealed in delight.
"I would have sent you a proper letter, but neither me or Edger know anything about mailing or stamping." Miyuki explained.
"How come you appear blurry, Yuki?" Noel questioned.
"I haven't perfected the communication spell yet. I'm still practicing, that is why you can't clearly see me." Miyuki answered. "Julie onee-chan, there are some pictures we have taken from where we have been currently staying."
Julie took the pictures out of the envelope to reveal the location of where Miyuki and Edger are. It was her home back when she was Rose Red on Monte Rosa. The other girls huddle up to see the photos.
"Wow, this is were you are staying?" Hanon asked as she is looking at the pictures of the castle.
"Yes, it was my home once." Miyuki replied as she started to flicker. "I'm almost out of time. I'll see you all again one day. Enjoy your present, Seira." the Black Mermaid Princess then disappeared.
The rest of the day went by. Everyone was tired after partying so they went to bed.
-Seira's Room-
In the Orange Mermaid Princess' room, Seira stared happily at her ring.
"Thank you, Takumi." she whispered before closing her eyes. Today was the best birthday she ever had.
As you have read, Seira, Lucia, Hanon, Takumi, and Akari have received tickets to Disneyland. And it is in Spring Break. Unfortunately, I won't be doing the Spring Break part because I want to keep the story going without too much filler chapters. However, I will do it as a separate story so wait until it happens.
Next on Undeniable Love...
Lucia: Wha- What has happen to me?
Sakura: Julie onee-chan, Lucia onee-chan became our imouto.
Julie: There must be a cure.
Next on Undeniable Love chapter 44: Shrunken Princess.
