Forbidden Desire

crystal-mist

Disclaimer- I don't own Bakugan

CHAPTER 3

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

One week passed slowly to Alice and it was already Friday. She found it really strange that she wanted to see him again so badly, she had just met him...Him! She didn't even know his name. Now that was silly. I didn't even ask him his name, and I want to see him so badly...What's happening? Why do I feel so strange? She had absolutely no idea how she was going to go to the neutral kingdom, that was until Ace said that he was going to the light kingdom to make some negotiations. Negotiations ? And that too with Heos? That is quite a rare occurrence. But, what a lucky break for me though. She thought excitedly. So right after Ace left, she sneaked out of the castle in the clothes she previously wore, and the carriage driver didn't protest since he thought she had permission. She reached the clearing again, He wasn't there yet so she decided to sit down and wait.

Shun, on the other hand sneaked away very recklessly. He also felt silly when he realized that he didn't know the name of the angelic girl. I think I am going crazy, lately I've been dreaming of her such a lot. Day dreams, night dreams everything. He sighed as he thought all this. He reached the clearing and smiled as he saw her sitting down under a tree. "Hello, again." he greeted with a smile. She looked up at him and smiled as well."So, you made it."

"I said I would, didn't I?...and, I bought my lunch this time."

"That's good." she said getting up, and then she walked over to him and extended her hand in a handshake to him."I just realized I haven't introduced myself properly to you......My name is Alice...and you are?"

Alice! What a beautiful name. It suits her."Uh...I'm Shun." he said looking at her hand uneasily.

"You know you won't melt from my handshake." she said with a small laugh.

"Well, I guess I won't." he said, taking her hand.

Both of them blushed involuntarily as their hands touched. Their hand shake was really brief.

Again, they talked and talked. They could not understand why time seemed to pass so quickly while they were around the other.

*Heos*

Ace met up with Runo's parents, and the meeting went pretty well. When the meeting was over Runo said that she would like to talk to Ace.

"So how old are you? You look too young to rule a kingdom" she asked inquisitively.

"Yes I know, I'm only Nineteen." He answered, his face controlled. He was quite suspicious. Why did Runo want to talk to him?

"So, I hear the kingdom of Darkas has a priestess. Is she nineteen as well?"

"Well, Yes…Why do you ask?" he was confused at Runo's sudden question, and that showed on his face.

"Is she as modest as you are?"

"She is…if not more." He said with a sudden smile. " So why do you ask?"

"I'd like to meet her…"said Runo returning his smile "Do you think it's possible? I really like to make friends and you see… and well, my parents are really particular that I can only make friends with royalty, and stuff like that….So do you think I can?"

"I'll talk to her…"he said "She will probably come…She is just waiting for a chance to get outside the palace…" he said with a slight chuckle.

"You will come as well...Right Ace? I can call you Ace right?" asked Runo,

"Of course...If you want…"

"I'm hosting a party next month…..I don't know exactly when though…I'll send you guys an invitation."

"That is really kind of you, Your Highness."

"You can call me Runo…"she said with a smile.

"Right , see you soon, Runo.." he said before leaving.
I can't wait to meet her. She thought gladly.

Four weeks passed, and each Saturday Alice and Shun would manage to sneak out. Call it lucky, but they managed to do so without being this time period they got really close. They knew everything about each other. Well, almost everything, Alice didn't know that Shun was the wind prince, and Shun didn't know that Alice was the priestess of Darkas. The both of them didn't know the most important thing about the other. The thing that would play the most important role in their relationship.

One Saturday Shun was telling Alice about his mother, and how she died while she was making a kind of crown with the roses in the garden. She was listening intently to his description of his mother. At the end Shun asked her."Alice, you've never told me about your parents. Why is that?"

"Well, that is because I don't have any memories of them. They died a long time ago." she said, not lifting her gaze from the crown she was making. A single tear dropped onto the flowers below her, as she spoke.

"I'm sorry." said Shun, he felt guilty that he bought the subject up.

"Oh no, it's okay. I don't mind...much. Don't worry, but as I said Ace was really kind to Me. He compensated my lack of having a family He is like my older brother, always supporting me and trying to keep me happy." she said slowly wiping away her tear, knowing that it was making Shun uneasy.

There was a long silence, but it was one of those comfortable silences that they often shared.

"Yeah, so are you done with that garland yet?" asked Shun, eagerly changing the subject.

"Is that what it looks like to you, Shun?"She asked indignantly, showing him the crown.

"It looks a bit too small to be a garland though. You might want to make it a bit bigger." he said thoughtfully.

"It's small because it isn't a garland. It's a crown." she stated and she put it around her own head but it was a bit loose for her and it got stuck half way up her face.

"I'd say it's a cross between a garland and a crown." he said with a grin, she pouted at this.

But soon Shun stopped his goofy grin, seeing the disappointment on Alice's face.

"I spent half the morning making this." she sighed in regret.

He felt awful; he hated seeing her this way. So, he went closer to Alice and with a smile plastered on his face and took the crown off Alice's head and put it on his own. It was a perfect fit. "See, it's perfect."

Alice looked up at him in surprise. Guys wouldn't normally make themselves look silly, and that too with a flower crown on their head. "But Why?..."she asked dazed.

"Why? Oh that's simple, you see, I've got a Big head..." he said with a grin. She giggled as she heard his comment. "No, I meant why did you do that? You know, you didn't have to."

"I know, but I hate to see you disappointed, Alice, Your smile is so beautiful and I'd do anything to see your smile reappear again." He said and then blushed a deep crimson realizing what he just said.

Alice was really surprised at his answer. She was blushing feverishly as well.

"Let's pretend I didn't just say that…"he said, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"That's okay…It's just nice to know that someone cares for me this much…" she said stammering a bit.

He laughed nervously. He mentally kicked himself. He didn't realize why it was that he always made a fool of himself in her presence. He didn't know why he was always opening up his heart to her. It was a mystery to him. The only thing he knew for certain was that he cared deeply for this girl. He didn't want to let her go, no matter what.

*Ventus*

That week, Shun's father got into one of his nostalgic moods. The time when he became all soft and watery eyed. He was like this at times, when he missed his wife.

"Poor Dad, he is in one of those sad moods." Said Seichiro with great sympathy in his voice.

"Yeah, and you know what that means… stories about Mom at dinner…" said Shun.

At dinner that night Shun's father narrated about how he had met the love of his life and about the time that they spent together, and he also told the boys about how confused his heart was before he realized that it was love. Seichiro was extremely bored; he had heard this story hundreds of times. But, Shun was listening very intently. There was something about this story and it's description that bothered him. The way his father felt in his mother's presence, which was exactly how he felt in Alice's company. There was a certain similarity in the way his father felt about his mother, and in the way he felt about Alice which he just couldn't disregard. Am I in love with Alice? He thought apprehensively, but immediately dismissed his supposedly ridiculous idea.

*Darkas*

Ace finally received the invitation to Runo's party, so he called Alice and explained that the light princess wanted to meet her…"Oooh…she wanted to see me? That's flattering...I'd love to go...Oh do let's."

"I thought you'd say that. Here's the dress you should wear." he said handing her a package.

"I can't wait for tomorrow…" she said with an excited smile.

*Heos*

Alice and Ace arrived at the party. Ace had a tuxedo on, while Alice had a black gown on. Black, because she was the priestess of Darkas. But the black gown highlighted her pale white skin. Her hairstyle was nothing special. Her hair was just tied in a bun with a few strands of hair dangling on one side of her face. She looked beautiful. Runo noticed Ace walk in with Alice so she left the place where she was chatting with a girl with off-white hair and rushed towards them. "Hello Ace, so glad you could make it…And you must be the priestess." She asked turning to the orange haired girl.

"Yes, I am Alice." She said bowing. The two girls shook each other's hand. "Come on Alice, I'll introduce you to everyone." said Runo, pulling Alice in the direction of the girl with off-white hair. Alice only smiled delightedly and after giving Ace an apologetic glance she went off with Runo.

Runo introduced Alice to Julie, the Earth princess. Alice really liked Julie. She was bubbly and extremely cheerful. Runo was extremely pleasant; she really liked interacting with all these people.

Ace was alone when he was joined by a guy with brown hair.

"Good day," he greeted to Ace with a goofy grin

"Uh…good day." greeted Ace back.

"The name's Daniel, the Fire Prince." he said, holding out his hand.

"I'm Ace, the Dark Prince." he said taking his hand.

"Come on, don't stand here all alone and miserable, I'll introduce you to a bunch of other guys."

Ace was extremely grateful and followed Daniel…He introduced Ace to Marucho, Billy, Hoolio, Klaus, Seichiro and Joe.

Shun, however could not make it to the party because he was down with a mild cold.

Runo further introduced Alice to Chen and Alice already knew Mira. Alice really enjoyed socializing, and she really liked Runo.

"You will be our friend right Alice?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course….I'd love to" she said with a laugh.

"That is sooooooooo great…" squealed Julie, which made everyone in the room stare in their direction. Alice looked at Runo uneasily. Runo shrugged, completely unperturbed. She went closer to Alice and whispered "You'll get used to it……………eventually." Alice giggled at this.

Runo felt a bit guilty, she had actually asked her parents if she could invite Alice but her parents had disagreed. But, Runo decided to invite Alice anyway. Alice was so innocent, yet her parents were against having her over. Why are my parents so naïve? I mean, Alice is so nice. She is the gentlest person I've ever met and I'm glad she agreed to be my friend. Thought Runo, smiling inwardly.

*Ventus*

Meanwhile, Shun was in bed with a cold. He was bored; he found his thoughts drift inevitably to Alice. She was beautiful, kind, gentle and extremely down to Ekametrika. [A/N Down to Ekametrika…Do you get it? You know..we say down to Earth because Earth is out planet…Their planet is Ekametrika….Do the math] Alice was different from all the girls he had ever met. She was amazing. But he didn't know where she lived. She probably lives in the neutral kingdom. How will she react if she knew that I am from the kingdom of wind, and what's more I'm the prince. That might ease the blow………No she's different…She'll probably disappointed that I kept this a secret from her. He sighed heavily as these thoughts went through his mind. He was utterly confused. What was the meaning of all these feelings? These feelings that made his heart beat uncontrollably whenever he was around her. These feelings which made his face heat up in her presence. He sighed as he closed his eyes and went off into deeper thought. Now, for the biggest question… Am I really in love with Alice?

Me-Wow…..so glad that's done

Julie- Okay, so let me get this straight, the last time Runo asked you for a bigger part and you just give to her…No fair.

Me Okay, okay, I'll see what I can do for you…*sighs*…..But, for heavens sake..Keep it a secret from the others..

Julie – Yay……..!!! READ AND REVIEW PLEASE…PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE……..PRETTY PRETTY…..

ME- Ju……I think they get the picture.