The hustle and bustle of the Spring Village was all so new to her. The people were so different from the ones she knew back home. They were so much more vibrant here. They seemed much more alive than the stiffs and stoney faces of her retainers back home. Even with eventual destruction hanging over their heads, they still kept pushing.

If only she could do the same.

Her destiny was already written. She's fated to die to save the four season villages, or watch them fall to ashes along with the rest of the world. There was no other choice.

As the daughter of the head of Japan, it's her birthright, just as being able to wield the Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven and the other Two Sacred Treasures is her birthright. It's her duty to purify the sacred symbols of the four villages or else all of Japan will be destroyed.

For the world, and its people, she must die.

It leaves her to think that if she had known her fate from the beginning, would she have taken on this long quest? And did her parents really send her on this mission knowing she would have to die? If so…

"Ann!"

"Oh." Cutting through the crowds of people shopping was Akira. He's her childhood friend and one of the many ninja who are aiding and accompanying her on her journey. During the treks to the villages, she's learned so much about him: his love of reading, his hobby of making origami cranes, how he met Ryuji and Morgana and how they became so close.

She learns something new about him every second of the day, and the more she learns, the more she falls in love with him.

But that's the problem. How could she fall in love with someone she'd have to leave?

"Ann?" Akira was in front of her now with a concerned look on his face. He must've been calling her name for a while now.

"Oh, sorry. I must have zoned out for a moment." She couldn't keep getting distracted like this. It would only make Akira and the other ninjas worry more. She needed to get her head back in the game and put a smile back on her face. Seeing Akira helped her regain her focus. But the last time she's seen him…

"Aren't you supposed to be resting?" He had gotten injured while they were purifying Everflowing Waterfall. A Shadow knocked him down and his arms took most of the damage from him using them to block the attacks before Yusuke killed it. His arms had been so bloody, Futaba had almost fainted. She had wrapped his arms and other injuries. They all left him to get some rest.

"Why are you up? You should be resting."

"When I woke up, you were gone."

"I just wanted to take a walk. With us being so busy working, I haven't been able to experience anything on the island. This was the first place I found."

"I'm glad to hear it. The villagers spent a lot of time helping build it. The structures and some of the items on sale were actually their ideas." Akira's small smile was brimming with pride. He reached for her hand.

"Wait! Your hands are still injured!"

"They're only a little sore. Just holding hands is okay." He took her hand into his, squeezing lightly for good measure. "See. No pain. Just don't squeeze it too hard."

"Right." With her hand cradled in his. He led her around the market.

The market was actually bigger than she thought. There were so many stalls. There were lines of them selling jewelry from Summer Village, spices from the Fall Villages, handmade trinkets from the Winter Village, and even fresh fruit grown in their own fields.

Walking through the market of course drew more attention towards them too. It was now when Ann got to see first hand how close the villagers were to their leader. It was obvious they were comfortable around him. Many people came up to shake his hand or greet him. They only grew hesitant when they saw their conjoined hands, letting go of their worries when she shook her head at their baseless concerns.

But he looked so happy with the villagers. He was smiling so brightly, a stark contrast to his usual conservative nature while they've been on their journey. He loved his people, and clearly his people loved him.

She couldn't help the thought: would they love her just as much if they were to marry? She shook her head at the thought. How could she ever ask him to wed himself to someone who's fated to die?

"Ann?" His attention was back on her. The people around him must've left without her noticing.

"Oh, sorry. Let's go see the rest of the market." She tried to pull him further into the busy market, but was stopped. Akira didn't budge. He was giving her that look, one that meant it wasn't going to be that easy to drop the topic this time.

"You've been acting weird since we left the Everflowing Waterfall. What's going on?"

"I have? Sorry. I've just been so tired lately."

She hates lying.

"Did something happen at the market, Princess?"

They found Arsene in an ancient ruin near the Thousand-Year Cherry Tree. The phoenix was a weird addition, but the spirit guardian quickly fit right in with the group. He mostly stuck to Akira's side. He even reminded her of Akira a little, like they were one side of the same coin.

She finds it easy to talk to him too. She often found herself talking to him about stuff she could talk about with the other ninjas. She found she's only been able to talk to him since finding out about her fate.

"Arsene. After I die…"

"Princess-"

"...can you look after Akira for me?" As a princess, she learned at a young age she didn't have the luxury to want for anything. So many people look up to her and follow her that she can't be selfish. This was the most she could ask for.

She was then surrounded by leathery softness.

"Cry as much as you need to, princess."

She leaned into the guardian spirit's provided comfort. It was funny. She didn't even know she was crying.

After her failure at purifying the Thousand-Year Tree in the Spring Village, they decided to leave for the Summer Village. They could always come back later, they reassured her. It didn't quell her dejection much, but their attempts were sweet.

But visiting the village managed to put a little pep in her step.

Ryuji and Shiho met them at the gate. The first thing she did when she saw them was run up and give her long-time best friend a hug. She's known the brunette since they were children. She fondly recalls the many nights of her and Akira visiting her and sneaking her out of the castle in the middle of night to play some silly games in the garden. She eventually had to leave permanently for the Summer Village to finish her training.

Seeing her best friend again was a good distraction. Since that night Arsene comforted her while she was crying, Akira has been giving her side eyes. She's sure the guardian didn't tell him anything. Akira was just that sharp.

After stopping by the chieftain's house, the two offered to show them around. Ann was quick to run to Shiho's side, wrapping her arm around hers and declaring they were going to the market. She had to pull her best puppy dog eyes for her friend to cave. She also tried to pretend that she didn't see Akira's disappointed frown, but her stomach still twinged from guilt.

Apparently Shiho saw the frown too.

"What happened between you and Kurusu-kun?"

Ann paused in her observation of a trinket she had picked up, the question having momentarily caught her off guard. "Nothing happened."

"Oh something definitely happened. What did he do?"

"He didn't do anything," Ann sighed. "This one is my fault."

"Is this a regular 'I said something stupid' or 'I blew it out of the water'?"

Ann kept her eyes down, rubbing her thumb up and down the bejeweled side of the charm. She didn't want to tell Shiho about the prophecy. She knew her friend. She'd become hysterical, and she would start desperately looking for a way to counteract it until it made her sick. That's the kind of friend she is. She couldn't ask her to do that. And besides, there's no point in fighting the inevitable.

"You can't tell me?"

"I'm sorry."

The saleswoman, who has been standing behind her stall silently watching and listening to the two, frowned. Apparently deciding on something, she picked up another smilar trinket from her wide collection. "Uhm. If I may."

The two turned their attention towards her. She held up the charm so both of them could see it. "That charm you're holding is actually part of a pair. The crystal in the middle has a very special legend. It's said that if the two charms are held by two people who truly love each other, they are said to be forever connected."

"Really?" Ann asked.

The merchant nodded, "When both charms are held by two that are truly in love, the crystal in the middle glows."

"I don't know, Ann. She could just be saying that because she heard out conversation."

"How much are they?"

"Both, for you, only ten coins."

"I'll take them."

"What?! Ann?!"

"It's fine, Shiho. I came to get a souvenir, anyway, so it works out. They didn't even cost that much" She dismissed her friend's worries as she handed the correct amount of coins to the lady. The lady handed over the two charms and bowed. "Thank you, my lady."

Ann deposited the charms in her pockets and they walked away. She hummed cheerfully to herself as they started off to where everyone else was, happy with her purchase.

At least until Shiho brought up a very good point.

"So you've bought the charms. Now, how are you going to give the other one to Kurusu-kun?"

The 'training spot' was actually a huge crater in the ground just outside of the village's residential area. The others were in the crater. Akira and Morgana were fighting. Shirtless. They must've been going for a while. They've worked up quite a sweat. Yusuke, Ryuji, and Haru were crouched higher around the rim, watching the fight commencing. Futaba was standing further down, cheering the two on and giving the play-by-play.

Shiho let out a low whistle. "I see why you like him so much now. What a hottie."

"Shiho!"

"Hey, look who finally showed up!" Ryuji yelled and waved them over, alerting the two sparring below them.

"L-Lady Ann!" His exclamation was quickly followed by a loud thud. "Yeow! What the hell!"

Akira shrugged. "You got distracted."

"Ooooh! And Mona bites the dust!" Futaba grimaced.

"And that's a win for Akira." Yusuke declared as he used his sword to stand up. Haru stood up beside him, clapping for the two fighters.

"Ya' wanna a few rounds, Shiho?" Ryuji asked. "I remember you saying you were itchin' to get some training done."

"Not today. It's getting late, but I got first dibs tomorrow."

Everyone has mostly grouped up on their way back to the inn. Ryuji and Futaba were mocking Morgana for his humiliating loss with Haru being his only defense(even though she was laughing at some of the jabs too), Shiho was asking Yusuke for tips on sword techniques, and Akira was…

"How was the market?"

"It was great."

…walking right beside her. She's never felt so awkward around him in her life.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully, the next village's market will be to your liking, too."

That last line stung a little. As a princess, she's rarely able to leave the palace. This was even truer when she was young. The few times she was able to leave was for political purposes, so her range of movement was very limited. Akira started bringing her trinkets from the villages he visited, just little things that caught his eye and he thought she'd like.

When her parents had informed her of this mission, she promised herself to buy something from every village she visited. Akira was the person she asked to help her.

And she totally blew him off today.

"Akira… I…"

"Hey, you slowpokes! Hurry up!" The two had unknowingly drifted away from the group. Ryuji was waving at them from further ahead, everyone else looking back at them expectantly.

"Coming! Coming!" Ann ran to catch up to everyone. Akira followed, his glare begrudged and harsh on his friend.

Ann woke up to the ceiling of the master bedroom of the inn. She was slow to sit up. Her head was swimming, pounding really. Her body felt so heavy.

What happened?

"Huh? Akira? Arsene?"

The dark haired ninja was slumped over her bed, his arm cradling his head. Arsene was asleep beside him

"Akira." She kept her voice low when she called out for him, reaching out to smooth a tuft of hair that was out of place.

He twitched. His awakening was quick, but gentle. He reminded her of a baby when it first opened its eyes. He raised his hand up to his hair to see what was disturbing it.

"You're awake!" The next second his arms wrapped around her, one around her waist and the other around her neck, and his face was buried in the space between her neck and shoulder. She was shocked at the sudden movement, but she still brought her hand to his hair and threaded through the curly mess. Arsene woke abruptly beside him thanks to the loud exclamation.

"Don't you ever do that again." He hissed into her skin, his hold on her tightening. She looked towards Arsene for clarification.

"You've been asleep for three days," he explained. "You over exhausted your powers and fell unconscious."

"Three days?"

"Akira has stayed by your side the whole time." If she didn't know any better, she'd say that Arsene's tongue was starting to turn cheeky. "The others tried to switch places with him, but he refused. He didn't want to leave your side."

"That's enough, Arsene. She didn't need to know that." His was was close enough that she could see the light tinge of pink crawling up his neck. It made a fit of giggles bubble up her throat. She grinned to try and hide it, but it must've been obvious if he pouted when he looked at her was anything to go by.

"I'm not laughing at you," she says as more giggles leaked out. "I'm just happy." Her eyes were closed as she let the giddy giggles flow out naturally, so she couldn't see the adoring way Akira was looking at her or his face getting closer.

Her lips parted in a silent gasp when his lips met hers. He moved desperately against her. It was like he was trying to push his emotions into her very being. She kissed him back just as desperate to return his affection, before she remembered just why she couldn't. She pushed him back.

"I can't."

The dam broke.

"How can I dare to return your feelings when I'm going to die in a few days."

Ann explained everything: the prophecy, why she's been avoiding him, how much it pained her to do so. And he listened to it all with rapt attention. His expressions varied from shock from the foretold futures, horror from the news of her approaching death, and sadness from hearing how she dealt with this all alone.

She knew she was crying at the end of it. Her hands quickly covered her eyes. She didn't want him to see her crying.

"Ann," his voice was soft. He grasped her wrist and was gentle pulling both of her hands away from her face. "Don't hide."

"I d-don't want you to see me c-cry. I-I can't look cute."

"You're always cute to me, even when you're crying." He kissed the corner of her eye. "We'll figure it out, but I swear. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

And looking into his eyes, it was a promise he would do his absolute hardest to keep. Even if it tore him apart.

Ann shook her head, "I can't ask you to do that."

"Too late." He interrupted her next protest by capturing her mouth in another kiss. This kiss was deeper than the last. It drew her in. The slow pushing and rubbing lulled her, shutting off her mind and any other thoughts besides him. Akira pressed against her, causing her to lower further into the bed. Then something hard dug into her side that snapped her out of the pleasurable haze.

"W-wait," she held her hand up to stop him before his lips could meet hers again. "I want to show you something."

Akira backed down to his knees as Ann started to sit up, then he eyes zoomed in on what she was taking out of her pocket. His breath got stuck in his throat when she held out one of the matching charms to him.

"The shop woman said whoever two wear these charms are bound to be together. When I bought them, I-I thought of y-you."

He was gentle with picking up the charm from her hand. Holding it in the palm of his hand like it was the most precious thing in the world, he caressed her cheek with his other hand and leaned down to kiss her again; because how could he leave such a cute confession without a kiss.

He hooked the charm onto his belt, and as he gave her one last smile before they had to face the others, she reveled in the beautiful feeling of requited love.