Sakuchii: Finally I managed to write the last part of "The Scars Of Heart"
Aiko: A lot seems to be going around here! :O
Yukiko: No! I don't want to!
Mark: Sakuchii doesn't own Inazuma Eleven or the charas on it. She only owns her OC's and all the other OC's belong to their rightful owners.
AxY: WHAT THE HECK?
Chapter Eleven: The Scars Of Heart
~ Part III: The Breathtaking Turnovers ~
"Oi guys, it's getting late already so you better go to sleep," Aiko yelled at the four laughing kids who were running around the living room. The four boys rebelled, but after sometime she finally managed to calm them down. Haruya and Fuusuke sat on the older girl's laps while they were nodding off. Hiroto was lying on the floor while snoring loudly.
Only Midorikawa seemed to be the only one who was fully awake. He actually tried to get some sleep, but that faint presence of something really familiar kept him awake. Yukiko glanced at the green haired boy and seemed little worried, "You don't want to go sleep yet?" she questioned and Midorikawa nodded while looking really serious.
The indigo haired twins glanced at each other and then sighed. They really had had a day full of everything so it wasn't surprise that the three guys were so worn out. But if Midorikawa really didn't want to go to sleep then they shouldn't force him to do it. After all nothing good ever happened from forcing someone into something they didn't want to.
Midorikawa sat the trying to understand just why the presence was so familiar to him. All of a sudden he heard Hiroto mumbling something in his sleep as the boy turned around and snorted. "Crys-nee, Pol-nee… The princess and Reize's sister are here…" and then the red haired boy with black cat ears continued his sleep.
Midorikawa's eyes widened from shock and he immediately jumped from his seat while heading for the front door. "Mido-chan! Where are you heading for at such a late hour?" Aiko asked while following the green haired boy as she was holding Haruya on her lap. Midorikawa stopped and turned to look at Aiko and then he smiled widely.
"Gran just said that Nee-san is here… So I'm going to greet her." the green haired boy told and covered his face and two long and white colored bunny ears with the hood of his cloak. Aiko's eyes widened as she heard the little boys words and she then turned to look at Yukiko.
"You follow Mido-chan, I'll get these three and then come after you! I'll keep touch with you by telepathy," the older with smiled happily and Yukiko nodded her head while listening to her sister words. She then put on her cloak and ran after Midorikawa to make sure that nothing happened to the little kid.
_._._
Meanwhile Mai and Hanaka were still standing right before the entrance of Yukidamura and Kazemaru, which speechless expression on his face, was standing in front of them. The blue haired male gulped loudly while staring at Mai and then he finally dared to speak. "What are you doing here?"
Mai glanced away from the boy and Hanaka noticed that the girl next to her was acting strange. The blonde haired girl then took step ahead and took of her hood while revealing her dark brown eyes to the blue haired boy. "I'm Seshida Hanaka The Crown Princess of Iligate, I've met Mai-tan few times in the past. May I know your relationship with her?" the princess explained while introducing her and Kazemaru backed off while his expression clearly showed that he was afraid of her.
Kazemaru fell on his knees and then bowed at the princess. "I'm Kazemaru Ichirouta, you highness. Once my family used to really rich, but as you can see my current status is far lower. I'm a mere peasant. And what comes to Mai-chan, I'm her childhood friend and used to be her neighbor when my family lived in Yukidamura."
Hanaka stared at the bowing peasant whose whole body was shivering and then she glanced at Mai. "Is he the person you're looking for?" Hanaka questioned and Mai nodded her head while not taking her glance off Kazemaru. The blonde haired girl grinned and then once more turned to the bowing male.
"Kazemaru Ichirouta, you may stand up." she commanded and Kazemaru did what he was told to. After all, the person speaking to him was the crown princess. Hanaka stared at Kazemaru while checking him from legs to head and then continued, "You may speak with Mai-chan. After all she did come all the way here just to meet up with you," Hanaka smiled and stepped behind while giving Kazemaru the way.
Mai stared at Kazemaru and she shyly lowered her head while refusing to face the older boy. Kazemaru felt great pain in his heart because of the girls' behavior and he didn't know what to say. What on earth was he supposed to tell her at a moment like this?
The couple kept silent for a long time, which was finally broken by Mai who started to speak with sour voice. "How did you end up like this…? I thought that you moved here because you father got promoted…" Kazemaru raised his head and stared at the girl who did her best to hold herself together and he sighed miserably.
"It's true that we moved here after Father's work. The first few years went past like nothing, but then Father started to gamble and drink. In no time he lost all the money that he earned and lost his job. Instead of looking for new work he kept gambling and often came home drunk." the blue haired male explained and Mai raised up her head while her eyes widened in shock. She was speechless as she hadn't even thought that things had gone so bad.
"Mother tried to stop him, but he started to hit and abuse her. She was completely covered in bruises which only kept increasing every day. Mother then left Father and me who were still confused about everything that was going on around me. I tried to look after my old man, who soon lost the ability to walk anymore." Kazemaru continued and Mai felt her whole body starting to shiver as she imagined the things in her head.
"I tried to look for a job, but there's so little that 16 years old kid can do. Anyway, I couldn't bear you seeing me in this state so I first wanted to raise my status back to noble before coming to ask for your hand," Kazemaru then continued while raising up his voice. Hanaka noticed slight difference in the boys' stance. Before he had acted like little weakling, abandoned dog who had no place called home. But now he was standing like a proper noble man, who was facing his beloved person and asking her to become his wife.
Mai raised her head up to look at Kazemaru as her eyes started to water. She knew very well that for her status, it was rude to hug a person from the opposite sex, but for once she decided to abandon all her pride of her status and she ran to Kazemaru while embracing the man she loved from the bottom of her heart. "You big idiot! For making me to wait this long… what would've you done if I was to marry another man?" she asked while burying her head on Kazemaru's chest. Kazemaru turned to her with confused look and Mai then explained her whole situation to the older boy.
Kazemaru massaged his head after Mai had finished her explanation and then he smiled widely, "I guess it would be really bad, but to tell the truth I knew the whole time that you wouldn't marry someone you didn't love. I believed in your words from that time," the older boy winked at Mai and the girl turned bright red as she remember her words when the boy was moving away.
- Flashback -
"You're really going?" the six years old Midokawa Mai asked as she walked to her friend who was next to the frozen river which wasn't far away from the Sekka town.
The nine-year-old Kazemaru turned around when he heard the girl speaking and he shyly nodded his head. "Yeah, we're leaving tomorrow…" he said with bitter tone and Mai felt her eyes watering. Kazemaru didn't want to leave at such critical moment. The black haired girl had just lost her older brother and now he had to leave her too. Why couldn't he be near her when she needed him the most?
Kazemaru took hold of Mai's cold hands and the girl raised her head to look at the boy. His cheeks were burning red, but she thought that it must have been because of the cold. After all it was the midwinter in Sekka. Kazemaru took a deep breath and then spoke, "I'm sorry that I cannot be with you at the moment, but I will come back," he spoke and then kept a short pause, "Mai-chan I love you! So wait for me! I will surely come back and ask you to become mine wife!" the nine-year-old kid mumbled in serious tone, not completely understanding the weight of his words.
Mai stood there stunned before the boy who had just proposed to him and then she smiled happily, "I love you too, Ichi-kun! And I will only marry the one whom I love!" the girl answered while laughing happily. She too was completely un-aware how much power her words had. But she kept those words close to her heart all the years.
- End Of Flashback -
Hanaka smiled happily at the couple and then she turned her eyes to look at the palace. Because of the invitation she should hurry up to the palace, but before that she wanted to search for Midorikawa. After all that was her real purpose of coming to Yukidamura. She could really care less about the royal birthday and weddings, but because it would be great insult for the Prince of Snow Kingdom she had to attend there. Hanaka sighed and closed her eyes, "Where are you, Ryuu-kun?"
Just as she had said those words a little kid ran to her and managed to trip on her cloak which broke his balance completely. The little kid smacked on the ground with his face first and started to bawl just like new born baby. "Are you okay, little kid?" Hanaka asked while helping the little kid up.
The little kid was wearing dark green colored cloak and when Hanaka reached to take off his hood the boy quickly stopped her while glaring at him. "I need to make sure that you don't have injures on your face so I need to take off your hood," she told and forced the little kid with all her power just he still refused her.
"Crys-neesan and Plox-neesan had toldh not to takeh off the hoodh!" the little kid protested against her and Hanaka sighed. How could she mentally loose to a little kid who was not older than just four years. She finally gave up and the little kid smiled. Then he looked around as if he was trying to look for someone.
"Mido-chan!" Hanaka heard a female voice calling and then a young girl who was wearing brown colored cloak ran to her. To correct, Hanaka thought that she ran to her, but actually the girl met up with the little boy who ran to her lap as soon as he saw her. The blonde haired princess felt hurt as the boy was so freely running to that girl, while he refused to even listen to Hanaka.
"Did you find her… Ah, I mean them?" Yukiko asked from Midorikawa who was now on her lap. The boy nodded happily and pointed first at the blonde haired girl and then at Mai. The two girls turned to the stranger when they realized that they were talking about them. "You sure?" Yukiko once more asked and Midorikawa nodded while laughing happily, "Nee-san and Flower!"
Hanaka's eyes widened when she heard the little boy speaking. She felt nostalgic as Mai's older brother had always called her by that name. So why was the boy talking about flowers, and what about the older sister words?
Yukiko smirked lightly and then she turned to look at Hanaka and Mai. She took of her hood while revealing her indigo-colored hair. "Welcome to Yukidamura and my name is Okazaki Yukiko," the girl introduced herself and then continued, "The Crown Princess of Iligate, Seishida Hanaka and Midorikawa Mai from Sekka. I would like you two to follow me," Yukiko told while leaving the two girls speechless.
"And of course, you can bring the young male along with you,"
-OO-
Shirou stared at the king with stunned look as he finally remembered Hitomi's words of calling him "Father." He wasn't sure of what he was supposed to do now when he had screwed up as badly as he had just done. He was sure that he was death meat.
The gray haired king just smiled sweetly and then spoke, while he seemed to have problems to breath, "How have you been, my son?" the King asked and Shirou felt his body itching. He really hated lying to people and didn't want to pretend to be something that he actually wasn't, but if Hitomi said that they should keep it secret from the King as well, he thought that it would be for the best.
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Father." Shirou answered with the most respectful voice that he could have. He thought that this was the way that prince should be talking to his father who was the King. Or at least he would be acting like this before his father.
"Is your condition getting any better, Father?" Shirou asked and for a moment he felt something weird inside him. It was as if he had had this conversation already. Everything seemed so familiar to him… But it must have been his imagination, after all he was nothing more but a poor pauper from the city.
The King turned to look at Shirou with his gray colored eyes and they showed kindness towards the boy. "I have to say that it hasn't get any better or worse," the kings answered and Shirou felt relieved. It was good that the king wasn't dying just yet. After all it would bring lot of problems if the King died when Shirou was still acting to be the prince.
"Ah, since you called me here you must have some kind of reason, right?" Shirou remember and the King changed his position a little bit and then closed his eyes, "You're right. Your 16th birthday is 30 days away… So I wanted to ask you that, have you already found the girl you would like to marry?" the King asked while turning to Shirou.
The gray haired boy was completely taken aback. He backed off few steps while trying to keep himself together. After all… his real birthday was after 30 days… which meant that he had the birthday as the crown prince? And more over, he had to choose whom he would marry… moreover, whom the real crown prince would marry?
"I… Please let me think about it little more…" the fake crown prince mumbled as an answer and the king smirked. The boy reminded him of his past self. After all he too had to choose his bride on his 16th birthday. The man then turned to look at the painting of a pink haired woman with emerald colored eyes that was opposite his bed.
"Your mother surely was a beautiful woman," the whispered and Shirou turned to look at the painting too while his eyes widened. Never ever in his life had he seen such a beautiful woman. He assumed that this person must have been the Queen as the king was speaking so sweetly of her. "That's why I want you to find a girl whom you will love all of your life and even after death," the king smiled then while turning back to Shirou.
"Would you call Hitomi for me?" the King then asked after giving Shirou the permission to leave. The gray haired fake crown prince bowed and then left the room. Hitomi entered the room lot long after that and bowed.
"You called for me, your Majesty." the maid then spoke while speaking to her King. She was really personally called by the King, so Hitomi was wondering just what did he want to speak with her?
The King turned to look at his son personal maid and all of sudden his kind smile disappeared and his expression got all serious, "That person is not Atsuya, am I right?"
Hitomi's eyes widened in shock. Why was she supposed to say at a moment like this?
- OO -
Atsuya twirled around his room as he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. The girl and her younger brother had lost their mother few hours earlier and now they were both down. Akira kept crying non-stop and Ohiyoko embraced her younger brother to calm him down. And Atsuya had no clue how he was supposed to act. That's why when Akira had finally got tired of all crying and felled asleep, Atsuya had closed himself in his room to avoid any contact with Ohiyoko. She was his worst enemy at the moment.
Atsuya sighed and then fell on his bed. What he supposed to do, he didn't know. The boy turned to his other side while sighing deep. All of sudden he heard a light knock on the door and then it opened a little. Atsuya stood up and noticed that Akira was standing behind the door. "…Koneesan is not here… She's not here…" the boy mumbled with shaking voice while tears rolled down his cheeks.
Atsuya hurried to the little boy and dried his wet and red eyes. "Come on, men don't cry." he tried to comfort the little boy and then lifted him while carrying Akira on his lap. The crown prince searched the whole house and realized that Akira was speaking the truth…. Ohiyoko wasn't in the house. "Now this is troubling," he massaged his head. After all he had crying little kid on his lap. "Say, Akira do you have any clues where could she have gone to?"
Akira looked up to Atsuya and snorted few times. He then wiped his tears away and nodded. "Koneesan is probably at our secret place… Rampart!" the little smoky black haired boy told to the older boy. Atsuya put Akira down and then offered him a piggyback ride. "It's easier this way," he said while looking away when Akira kept staring at him with confused look. Akira climbed on Atsuya back and the boys went to look for Ohiyoko.
They wandered around the peasant area as Akira tried to explain Atsuya just where the so called "Rampart" area was. Soon they reached stonewall of the city and Atsuya's mouth dropped down while staring at it. That literally was the rampart of the city, so the youngsters hadn't been joking with him.
"How we're supposed climb up?" he asked with amazed look and while looking around noticed few wooden boards sticking from stonewall as if they were a ladder. The young prince smirked and told Akira to hold on him tight while he tied them together with a robe that he had found lying on the ground. "Eh, but there's…" Akira tried to protest but Atsuya stopped him.
"No buts, we're climbing up!" the crown prince laughed in excitement and he started to climb up. He hadn't been this excited in many years, and finally he was allowed to do something absurd without being yelled at.
It took Atsuya lot of his strength to climb up while Akira was on his back, but he managed to do it. When Atsuya was at the top of the rampart he huffed few times to catch up his breath and wiped away the sweat. Then he turned to look at the city that was under him. He suddenly felt himself big when watching from such height. The scenery wasn't the same from his room and he really liked it.
"…Koneesan…" Akira suddenly heard Akira whispering at the crown prince turned to look at the direction the younger boy was pointing at. The she was standing alone in the evening air while the setting sun was shining at her ivory-colored hair. When she heard someone calling her name, Ohiyoko turned towards the voice and was surprised to see Atsuya standing before her. Her eyes widened, "Why are you…?"
"Here?" Atsuya continued her unfinished sentence while walking towards the girl, "Akira woke up while you were away and when he noticed that you were away he came to me while crying like a toddler," the older boy laughed and Akira's face turned all red from both anger and embarrassment. "I did not!" he yelled and hit Atsuya with all the power he had. Atsuya took his hit, but still continued to laugh. This made Akira to pursue his lips in anger as he looked away from the prince.
A light smile appeared on Ohiyoko's face as saw the two boys finally getting along with each other. Akira had finally managed to calm down and started to open his frozen heart towards Atsuya, even though he was a man. It was really good, but at the same time she was worried about Atsuya betraying them. If that was to happen, Akira would never ever trust a human being called man. 'But he promised right, that everything will be okay. That he will be there always protecting us.' the girl thought while staring at Atsuya with her eyes shining. When the boy turned to look at Ohiyoko, the girl just smiled kindly and then turned to look at the setting sun.
"It so beautiful," Atsuya smiled when he saw the scenario before him. Ohiyoko nodded and then continued, "Our father showed this place to us. We often visited this place, the four of us, and enjoy the view from this rampart. This was, and still is our secret place. Even if father has left us and mother isn't in this world anymore," the girl explained with few teardrops running down her cheeks.
Atsuya looked at the girl and then put Akira on the ground. The crown prince then took something from his shirts front pocket and gave it to Ohiyoko. The ivory-haired girl stared with widened eyes at the little pocket watch that had royal family's crest on it. "This is…?" she asked and Atsuya closed his eyes while taking a deep breath.
"My mother, she died when giving birth to me so I don't remember just what kind of person she was. I have seen few paintings of her and she's extremely beautiful. I got this pink colored hair from her." Atsuya announced proudly to the ivory-haired girl who was listening to him. "But deep in my heart I still love her. After all she is the person who gave birth to me and also the person with whom my father fell in love. She is my mother." the boy continued and kept a short pause.
"That pocket watch is only memento of my late mother and I have always kept it with me… But now I would like to give it to you, Ohiyoko. As a mark of our promise." the boy told while his cheeks suddenly started to burn red. Ohiyoko stared at the watch and then tears flowed from her eyes.
She walked closer to Atsuya and buried her head on the boys' chest. "I cannot accept it… This watch means so much to you…" Ohiyoko sobbed and Atsuya patted her head. "It's okay. If it's you then I can give it to you. Please, accept this little gift of mine." Atsuya patted the girls' head and embraced her.
He wasn't sure just what was going on here. When Hitomi had mentioned him about marriage, he had bluntly refused her offer. At that time he hadn't even thought about girls… But during this short month that he had spend with the ivory-haired girl and her family he had changed. He had come to love the girl, and he wanted to spend more time with her. He wanted to know more about her and protect her from everything bad.
"This pocket watch…" Atsuya suddenly heard Ohiyoko mumbling and he let go of the girl. He turned to the girl while wondering about her words. The girl pointed at the watch and then continued, "This pocket watch has the Royal family's crest on it. And the person in the inside picture is…"
"Ah, that's my mother," Atsuya laughed happily and Ohiyoko's eyes widened in shock. She took few step back from the prince and her whole body was shivering. "And the person in the inside picture is the Queen of Snow Kingdom… And if she's your mother then that means that you're…"
"The Crown Prince Fubuki Atsuya II. That's me alright!" Astuya interrupted Ohiyoko's words and the ivory-haired girls' legs betrayed her while she fell on the ground. The girl started to mumble something strange while abnormal aura surrounded her. "I thought that he was just some freak… claiming to be the prince… but it's true… and I… I… for God's sake I… with the prince…" Atsuya raised his eyes brow while tilting his head. He wasn't sure just what had made the girl so upset.
"I WANNA GO HOME ALREADY!" Akira suddenly yelled and the older duo turned to look at him. They then glanced at each other and burst into laughter. "Sure Akira, and when were home I shall make some stake for you," Ohiyoko smiled as it seemed that she had managed to return back to her censes. Atsuya once more offered to carry Akira of piggyback ride as the little boys' body was weak.
When Akira was on Atsuya back the older boy wanted to return where the ladder was but Ohiyoko went to completely different direction. "Where are you going?" the crown prince asked and Ohiyoko stopped while turning to the boy. "To the stairway of course, how do you think I got up here?" she asked and Atsuya's mouth dropped. He had used ladder when there was actually stairway. "I tried to tell you about it, but Atsuniisan wouldn't listen to me…" Akira pouted and Ohiyoko burst into laughter.
"You Crown Prince…. Really don't know anything about the world outside the palace," the ivory-haired girl laughed while winking her eye at Atsuya and the pink haired boy blushed hard. She didn't have to tease him just because she finally believed him to be the prince. Ohiyoko then continued her way while Atsuya followed her while carrying Akira on his back
~ Atsuya's Memories ~
"Father what is this?" the five years old crown prince of Snow Kingdom asked when his father gave him a pocket watch. The King smiled kindly at his son and patted his son. "This is a present I gave to your mother when I asked her to marry me," the king answered and Atsuya turned to look at his father.
"That's why I want you to keep it with you. And when you will finally find the girl whom you will love and treasure as much as father loved mother… I want you to give this pocket watch to her as a sign that you love her and promise to be together with her for the rest of your life. That will tell me that you have chosen to marry her."
The young crown prince stared at his father not completely understanding his words. The boy still nodded happily and took the pocket watch with shining eyes, "Just must introduce this girl to father too," the king smiled while staring at his young son laughing happily.
-OO-
Shirou sighed loudly as he was waiting for Hitomi before the King's room. He knew that he had screwed up and now the king knew that he wasn't Kings' son. Now he only had to wait for Hitomi to come outside. Then he would know what they would do with him.
"Atsuya-sama!" Shirou suddenly heard someone calling for him. The gray haired boy turned around and saw Sayaka walking towards him while being followed by two maids. "I finally found you! I need you, come with me!" the noble girl told without even bothering to stop and grabbed Shirou's hand, taking him along with her.
"But wait! Hitomi she…" Shirou tried to convince Sayaka but the girl interrupted him. "We don't have time to wait for her… Everyone is waiting for us! And for one, try to survive without that babysitter of yours!" she spoke while dragging the fake crown prince with her.
Soon the couple arrived at a big door and when she opened it they seemed to arrive at dining hall. "Atsuya-sama, we have been waiting for your arrive." a butler, whom Shirou recognized as Hitomi's older brother Akira, greeted him.
Sayaka walked Shirou to his seat, which was at the end of the table and then told the prince good lucks and left the room. Shirou noticed that there were lots of other people sitting around the table and they all seemed to be around his age.
"Now that his Highness Fubuki Atsuya II is present, we can finally start the welcome party of our neighboring countries," Akira spoke with loud voice while standing behind Shirou. He kept a short pause and then continued, "Let's introduce the Royal Families," The messy dark red haired male then waited for the first quest to stand up and after that he spoke.
"Her Highness Umi Miu from Atlantis Kingdom and her future husband Gouenji Shuuya-sama," Akira told and Miu turned to look at Shirou while smiling and nodding at him. Shirou wanted to stand to greet her and Gouenji, but Akira stopped him, "You're not supposed to stand up yet…" the butler told and Shirou remained sitting.
"Next is the Crown Prince of Zeus Kingdom Terumi Afuro. He isn't known to have any fiancé yet so the prince came to greet you alone," Aphrodi stood up while smiling at Shirou. The gray haired fake prince kept staring at the blonde and wondered just where he had seen the other crown prince before.
"Luna Kingdom, Her Highness Raimon Natsumi and His Majesty Raimon Mark," Akira told and Shirou remembered one of Hitomi's lessons. She had told him that the crown princess of Luna Kingdom was the first one to get married. And she got the rich noble man who was her fathers' good friends' son, as her husband. If Shirou remembered right his name used to be Kruger Mark, but now he carried the surname of Royal family.
"His Majesty Ichinose Kazuya and her Highness Ichinose Yuki from Unicorn Kingdom," Unicorn Kingdom was the biggest Kingdom of Shimotsuki that much Shirou knew without even being taught by Hitomi. Shirou glanced at the couple and noticed that there was something different with them. They gave away some kind of strange aura, especially the snow-white-haired girl, who seemed to be forcing a smile on her.
"From Teikoku Kingdom the Crown Prince Kidou Yuuto, and his younger sister Kidou Haruna." Akira continued and two persons from Shirou's right side stood up. The gray haired boy was surprised to see the goggle eyed boy with such serious expression on his face. It was as if they had never met with each other before. As soon as Kidou sat down he turned his glance away from Shirou.
"And at last her Highness Seishi…" Akira was about to continue but stopped when he saw the Iligate Kingdom's crown princess seat empty. A person from the apposite seat stood up and then spoke, "I'm sorry but we took different routes with Nee-sama and it seems that she hasn't still arrived." the younger brother of Hanaka, Seshida Akihiko apologized for his sister.
Akira stared at the dark brown haired boy with yellow colored eyes and raised his eyebrow, but then continued. "It's seems that the crown princess hasn't arrived yet. So the only person present from Iligate Kingdom is her younger brother Seshida Akihiko." the dark red haired butler told and Akihiko nodded happily after what he sat down.
"Our Crown Price, the only son of Queen Fubuki Mitsuko and the King Fubuki Takahiro, Fubuki Atsuya II." Akira introduced Shirou to everyone and showed the fake crown prince and now it was his time to finally stand up. Shirou glanced at everyone and nodded his head while greeting and spoke, "It's so nice to have you all here to celebrate my birthday," the boy said without thinking and everyone stared at him with widened eyes.
Especially Gouenji's and Akira's expressions changed the most as they knew the prince very well. He would never do or say something like this is un-official meeting like this. Shirou quickly sat down as he realized his mistake and wanted to disappear. He had finally done it, and just when Hitomi had warned him not to say anything un-necessary.
"With this I have introduced everyone of the Kingdom Princes' and Princess's that are present. You are now allowed to chat freely or leave this room. The meeting is over. Thank you everyone for coming." Akira quickly recovered and broke the silence. Soon everyone started to speak normally and they questioned for feelings and everything.
Yet there was this one pair of eyes that kept staring at Shirou without taking of their glance. "One month… only one month more…."
-OO-
"Excuse me, but where are you taking us to?" Mai questioned from the indigo haired girl who was leading the group further into the heart of the city. Yukiko turned to look at the black haired girl and just smiled mysteriously and then continued her way. "We're here!" she finally spoke while smiling proudly. Mai and Hanaka looked at the building at noticed that it was fortunetelling shop.
"What are we doing here?" Hanaka asked and Yukiko smirked mysteriously while opening the door. "We're home," she spoke and then took off her cloak while revealing her indigo colored hair and chopper colored eyes. Mai and Hanaka followed her to the living room where a group, one girl and two males, where waiting for them.
"Ah, you found them?" the girl asked. Mai realized that she looked completely like the girl that they had just met… as if they were mirror images. "Sure, I had no problems after all we had Mido-chan with us. He recognized his sister easily." Yukiko told to her sister and Aiko smiled happily while patting Midorikawa's head. The green haired boy grinned while blushing and then turned to look at Mai.
"Nee-san," the boy laughed happily and Mai's eyes widened in shock. Why was this little boy calling her sister? Why was his expression, voice and gesture same to her older brothers? But he couldn't be… after all Ryuuji was supposed to turn 16 soon there was no way that he was little four years kid who couldn't even speak properly.
Hanaka squeezed her fist and bit her lip. She didn't like this situation at all. "Why did you bring us here and what do you want with us? Who are you people?" she kept throwing questions and the twins and Yukiko and Aiko glanced at each other while raising their eyebrow.
"Your Highness is as impatient as always." they heard a male voice humph-ing and everyone turned to look at Yukio who grinned proudly. "Couldn't expect less from a crown princess," the male then continued and stood up. He walked the stairs up stairs, "I go to my room as I will be in your way other way… Call me if you need anything."
Aiko and Yukiko stared at the boy with their mouths wide open, but then pulled themselves together, "Okay, let me answer your questions…. I'm actually little amazed that you don't remember us, Hanaka-sama," Aiko spoke first and then Yukiko continued after a short pause. "We're great mages of Excaty or commonly known as the second generation of Chaos."
Hanaka's eyes widened when she heard a name which she hadn't heard for ages. Mai turned to look at the older girl and she was surprised to see Hanaka wearing that kind of expression. Never ever she had seen the princess in that kind of state. "Then Ryuu-chan… he…" Hanaka mumbled at anxiously moved her head as if she was looking for something or someone.
Yukiko smiled, "As expect of Mido-chan. I knew that he would tell the truth to you. And that's why you didn't believe Midorikawa juniors' words of him being dead, right?" Now it was Mai's turn to be shocked. She turned to look at Hanaka, whose expression darkened. "Hana-chan what she meant by those words… What have Ryuu-chan told you? And what do you know that I don't?" Mai kept throwing questions at Hanaka while the Okazaki twins kept quiet and watched him.
Hanaka bit her lip so hard that she cut the flesh and blood drop dropped on the floor, "Ryuu-chan… He's a different from us… He's same raise as those two girls standing before us… He's a mage… Wizard!" the blonde haired prince told and Mai's eyes widened… her face darkened and her whole body started to shiver. She couldn't stop her tears anymore… Her brother had been lying to her about everything… he even set up his own death…
"Where is he…" the black haired girl whispered and then continued, "If Ryuu-chan is still alive, then where is he? I want to meet him." Mai continued as her volume raised up with every word she spoke and strange aura surrounded her.
Yukiko and Aiko glanced at each other and then shrugged, "He's right before you," Aiko answered while pointing at the green haired boy standing before them. Mai turned to look at Midorikawa and the boy flashed her happy smile and then reach his hands towards, "Nee-san!"
Mai backed off while her expression changed… "Are you kidding me? How can this little toddler be my older brother…? I do not believe you!" Mai shook her head and turned to look at Kazemaru, who had been present the whole time, but hadn't yet spoken a word. The blue haired boy wrapped his hands around Mai and comforted her.
Hanaka's expression remained dark and she mumbled something, "No… it's true…" the blonde haired girl mumbled and then kneeled before Midorikawa and then patted the kids head. "He does look little Ryuu-chan when he was younger… and that person what the only one who called me 'Flower'" Hanaka laughed and remember the old good times when she had visited Sekka. "By why he is in this state? And you two… you're supposed to be older right… around 16… but you look no older than 10-year-old little girls." the blonde princess then wondered and looked at Aiko and Yukiko.
"As sharp as ever…" Aiko whispered while turning to look at Yukiko who smirked. The younger sister closed her eyes and opened her mouth to speak, "To put it short… Little something happened 6 years ago and now our bodies are cursed… well except for this guy here…" the indigo haired girl explained while pointing at Osamu. Aiko then continued after Yukiko.
"The four boys of our group, including Mido-chan of course, who lost almost all of their magical powers, were turned into little kids. They are actually half human as they have animal ears and tails. They also lost almost all of their memories and their current magical powers aren't even third of their real powers," the older sister explained while Hanaka and Mai found it little hard to keep up with the girl. They didn't really care much about their explanation.
"As for us, our powers were halved and well, as you can see our bodies aren't growing. We look like we're 10 even though we're 16 already." Yukiko smiled unhappily and sighed loudly. Hanaka glanced at the girl and felt great pain in her chest. Those guys sure had been through a lot.
"Ah, so finally to the reason why we have called you guys here." Aiko clapped her hands and all of sudden her expression got serious. "Seshida Hanaka-sama… We need your help," she told and Hanaka's eyes widened. What did they need her for? "We need your power… to turn Mido-chan back into human… into his normal form again!"
"Wha- How can I do that?" Hanaka asked. She didn't get just why she was needed when those two girls were wizards. She didn't have any magical power and she didn't know how to use magic. Yukiko smirked and then spoke, "Well to say… In order for them to turn back to normal they need to find their destined ones, who love them more than anything, and make contract with them."
"And after that… what will happen after that? How the curse is broken?" Mai was interested to know how her older brother could be turned back to human. Aiko glanced at Yukiko and then they both sighed. "Actually we don't know… It is written that the contractors will know what to do when the time is right," the older girl explained.
"I see… then how I make sure that I'm the destined one for Ryuu-chan?" Hanaka questioned and a wide grin sudden appeared on Aiko's face as she spoke, "Please repeat after me… La fiatti di ie, as ihm difti. Ai ih Ai ot Koi lasti min FITRE!"
As Hanaka repeated the words while concentrating, everything around her suddenly started to glow brightly. When the girl had stopped Aiko continued. "And now kiss him on forehead." the indigo-haired girl smiled and Hanaka did it without any second thought.
After she had pressed her lips on Midorikawa's forehead, she suddenly felt light pain on left side of her chest. The glowing suddenly stopped and everything was back to normal, almost.
"It's done," Aiko smiled happily and patted Midorikawa on his head. Hanaka was confused about everything. "What's done, I didn't feel anything…" the girl stammered but Yukiko just smiled at her happily. "Mido-chan, take off your cloak." she said.
Midorikawa hesitated for a moment, but when Yukiko gave him the permission he finally did it. Under the cloak appeared a pair of white colored bunny ears and bobtail. Mai's eyes widened and her cheeks turned crimson red. "So cute! He has bunny ears!" the girl giggled happily and ran to embrace her older brother who mentally and physically was ten years younger.
"So what about that… didn't you say that they all had animal ears." Hanaka said, not being surprised at all. Aiko grinned happily, "It not the ears… Look at the forehead, the place you just kissed." the older Okazaki twin told and pointed at Midorikawa's forehead.
Hanaka, Mai and Kazemaru gathered around Midorikawa to look at his forehead and they noticed a green colored diamond on it. "That's the mark of your contract… you have something similar on the left side of your chest." the indigo haired girl laughed.
"Flower!" Midorikawa laughed happily and raised his hands towards Hanaka. The blonde haired girl felt tears forming into corners of her eyes and dried them. She then took Midorikawa on her lap and embraced the little boy. "I finally met you, Ryuu-chan,"
"Hana-chan, I'm so happy for you! To think that such miracle would happen to us right away when we arrive to Yukidaruma." Mai smiled happily while a lake of tears was running down her cheeks. She sniffed loudly and then embraced Hanaka and Midorikawa.
"Hana-chan?" Kazemaru finally spoke. "You mean that the Crown Princess of Iligate is actually the same Hana-chan with whom we used to play?" the boy said all surprised. Hanaka and Mai glanced at each other and then burst into laughter. This boy surely was slow.
Aiko and Yukiko smiled happily at the two couples. Finally something good was actually happening around them and one piece was put where it belong. But they were running out of time. They had only one more month till their birthday… and the second climax.
-OO-
Hitomi opened the door to the Crown Princes' personal room and found Shirou sitting on the bed. The boy turned around and smiled at Hitomi. "Welcome back, how was it with the King? What did you guys talk about?" he asked while standing up and walked towards Hitomi.
The cinnamon-haired girl squeezed her fist while lowering her head and biting her lip. She had never thought of such turnover to happen just when the Crown Prince was coming to the age he needed to marry someone. She wouldn't accept such fate happen to HER Crown Prince.
"What's wrong you seem little down?" Shirou asked wondering about the girl condition. Hitomi avoided his glance and took few steps away from the fake Prince who was coming her way. The Kings words still echoed inside her head. "He isn't Atsuya, right?"
She absolutely wouldn't accept it. She couldn't even believe that after so many years the King finally decided to reveal something that had been hidden for 16 years. Hitomi finally raised her head and glared at Shirou with her maroon-colored eyes. The gray haired was shocked of her sudden change of attitude and backed off.
"Who in hell are you?"
She absolutely wasn't going to accept the fact that this person had Royal blood running through his veins.
Sakuchii: That's it for the chapter! I hope that you enjoyed it :)
Aiko: There's so much I want to say but I have no words...
Yukiko: And to know... the next chapter shall not be update before new years, that's for sure.
Sakuchii: This story surely drains lot of energy from me... See you all next time
~ deshii