The Twelve Signs written by Len-chan The 12 Signs are based on the Asian Yearly Zodiac (year of the dog, tiger, rooster, etc.) and the 10 Stems are based on the Asian elements (wood, fire, water, etc.). The characters of this story are property of me. Secrets Revealed - Hanako & Akemi's Past ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The group walked down one of the streets of the capitol city of Oceana. It had been about two weeks of consistent traveling for the group, and despite the presence of Masao, the handsome prince of Allure, the group remained the same. Tyler and Hanako had become such good friends, despite their opposite gender. They loved to play mind games with each other, although they never let Mitsu play because she won every time. Kira and Eric had begun to spend more time with each other. Tetsu had several secret interludes with Michael, where Mitsu threatened the whole group that if they tried to hurt him, she'd fry someone's ass. Taro's baby teeth here coming in and was crying more than usual, leaving a sometimes irritated group of people. Toshio and Chi as well as Radien and Clare had remained a in love couple and spend many nights taking long walks by themselves. Masao and Shiho were slowly becoming a royal couple. They had not yet been married, but were engaged. Chi commented on how they matched each other almost perfectly. Both royalty, blond, blue eyed, and had a tinge of stubbornness. Mitsu corrected her and said Shiho had a BIG piece of stubbornness. As for Mitsu and Akemi, they basically remained the same, except being kinder to each other and Akemi showing his nearly unheard of romantic side. Which caused Mitsu to burst out laughing every time. But it was obvious they cared about each other. Such an example was when they were in the beach. It was night time and the group was camping by a fenced off cliff side. Akemi invited Mitsu on a walk with him. While walking Akemi was more tense then usual. Mitsu leaned against the railing of the fence and looked down at the crashing waves below. "Wow...I love that ocean..." Mitsu whispered as the sea breeze lifted her thick hair. Akemi stood behind her with his arms around her shoulders. "Amazing how I can love two things at the same time." Akemi whispered. "Uh-huh...you and the ocean." Mitsu giggled. "No, YOU and the ocean." Akemi corrected her. Mitsu giggled once more. "What about Taro?" she asked. "Okay, you, Taro, and the ocean." he corrected again. Mitsu giggled more. "What about your ship? The freedom sailing gives you? Or winning a card game?" Mitsu asked. Akemi groaned. "Are you going to keep this up?" he asked. Mitsu was laughing now as she nodded her head happily. Akemi gave a surrounding grunt and let Mitsu have her laugh. Despite their petty arguments and squabbles, they were still more polite and gentle with each other. Now that they had been in the city for a few hours and most of the group members were getting annoyed. "Ummm...okay...where exactly are we going?" Mitsu asked as she put a teething ring in Taro's mouth. "I'm not sure exactly..." Toshio admitted. "Ocean's capital is really big." "What about you, Tetsu," Mitsu asked. "You're pretty smart, do you know where we should go?" Tetsu's stomach grumbled and she nodded. "A place to eat...where is that map?" "I have it," Kira told her. She dug through her bag and pulled out a folded map. "I say we find a place to eat and find a hotel while we're there." "Good idea," Clare commented. "We can rest, too." "I'll pay for the hotel," Masao announced. "It's been great traveling around without any guards..." "Not that we would need it, mind you." Eric told him with a jab to the ribs. Masao gave a dumb smile. "Yeah...but still...it has been refreshing ..." the prince answered. "I would have expected you to be annoyed with the traveling," Chi admitted. "I mean, going to sleep late on the hard ground, during the cold nights...waking up early...doing chores..." "And whining...like Shiho." Mitsu added. "Hey!" the girl shouted. "I am a QUEEN now!" "Point being...?" Mitsu trailed. She averted her eyes purposely and snickered as Shiho fumed. "Now listen here-" Shiho began. "Ahem," Akemi coughed. His arms were crossed and it seemed he was being ignored by the group. "Why don't we just go eat...? I'm sure Tyler and Hanako are starving." "Yup." the two youngest signs piped. "Well, where's the nearest place to eat?" Clare asked. "That has good food." Radien added. Tetsu looked up from the map and down the street. "Just two blocks towards the dock is a sea food place." she suggested. "Sounds good to me," Toshio announced. "Shall we go?" He offered his arm to Chi. The blushing girl took it and walked arm in arm down the street with him. "Couples..." Mitsu mumbled. She watched her friends pair up and followed in their friends' footsteps. Tetsu and Mitsu walked behind the group chatting away while Akemi trailed behind them. "So he said he's met me by the botanical gardens tonight." Tetsu told her friend. "That's so romantic!" Mitsu exclaimed as she gave Taro a little squeeze. She turned around to face Akemi. "Akemi? Are listening?" "Don't compare me to Michael. I try... isn't that enough?" he grumbled. One of the things he hated was how all the other males he knew were so much better at being romantic than he was. "Eh." Mitsu mumbled. Akemi frowned. "Well, if you're going to be picky..." he grumbled. He stopped and turned around. "Akemi!" Mitsu shouted as he walked farther and farther the opposite way. "I was just kidding! Come back! Oh no..." Tetsu put a comforting hand on Mitsu's shoulder. "It's okay...we'll see him later." "I hope so..." the girl whispered. She turned back around and followed her friends. Akemi walked down the street with his hands at his side, in fists. He hated it when Mitsu compared him. Whether she was joking or not. He knew he wasn't the romantic type and it bothered him. At least he wasn't the romantic type with Mitsu. "Who cares if I'm not as romantic as Toshio or Radien?" he asked himself. "I'm just as handsome and powerful." As he walked down the street, he caught the sight of a bar. He sighed and walked inside. Akemi wasn't the least bit impressed as the place was crawling with beautiful women and drunk men. He merely sat on a stool and called for the bartender. "What can I do you for?" the old man asked. "Anything that'll take my mind off a girl." Akemi told him. "Well, you're in the wrong place, young man..." the old man told him. "Getting your mind of a girl for a while will not work. Why don't you take this," he handed Akemi a drink. "And pick out one of the girls to 'talk' to?" "I'll take the drink," Akemi told him, "But not the girls." He took the cup and took a sip. It was a bit tangy, but good. As he turned around to survey the place, he saw a group of giggling women in the corner. They were pointing at him and whispering. He gave them a questioning look and turned around. At another part of the bar, some soldiers of Oceana were talking. One of them looked up and saw Akemi drinking. He nudged on of his fellow soldiers and pointed to Akemi. That soldier gasped and stood up. He walked up to Akemi and tapped his shoulder. "Excuse me," the soldier asked nervously, "But are you...any chance related to the Emperor or Empress of Oceana?" Akemi looked over his shoulder, thinking that perhaps they were talking to someone behind him. But there was no one there. He nodded no. "No, I don't even know the Emperor or Empress personally. I'm just a pirate turned warrior." "I see..." the soldier said. He nodded and walked back to his table. He whispered a few things to the other five soldiers, who then stood up and walked out of the bar. "Weird..." Akemi mumbled. He drank down the rest of his cup and paid the bartender before leaving. Outside, the area was bustling with many shops and shoppers. However, despite all the commotion, he noticed some strange looks from several passer-byers. No matter how much his pirate side wanted to scream at them, he held it in and walked down the street to the restaurant. When he arrived, he saw Mitsu waiting for him patiently outside. When she saw him, she stood up and bowed her head down. "Akemi... I'm sorry...I was just joking...I didn't think you'd take it so seriously." Mitsu told him. Akemi shook his head. "It's all right," he told her. He put one arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "Come on, let's go eat. How long have you been out here?" "I never went in...I wanted to wait for you." she admitted. He smiled and squeezed her. "Dummy." Tetsu waited on a bench, under a tree, in the botanical gardens. She was waiting for Michael to arrive. The botanical gardens was a top a hill, over looking the bay. She saw the lights of the houses on distant hill, the light house, the beautiful beaches and docks, as well as the lights of incoming ships. And over looking it all was a huge palace to her left. The home of Oceana's Imperial Family. She had found out that they were a childless old couple. Their first born son was kidnapped and never found. Their second born daughter was said to have been killed in an accident. After two tragedies, she understood why they would not like to try for a third child to be heir. "Tet-chan!" a voice whispered. She turned around and saw Michael reaching the bench. He had a smile on his face, the one he wore every time he came to see her. "Am I late!?" "No, no," she assured him. "Right on time." They gave each other a long 'hello' kiss. "I have something to tell you," he told her. He gently pushed her down the bench and held her hand. "Saburo's army is close by... they KNOW you guys are hear...I think someone has been watching me lately..." "What? How do you know?" Tetsu asked, her voice now quieter. "When I was walking down the street earlier, I heard voices behind me. And everywhere I go, I feel like someone is watching me...Tet-chan," he told her. "Please understand and believe me when I say I'm not out to get you or any of the signs..." "Of course I believe you," she gasped. She gently her arms around him and held on to him tightly. "Even if I said I didn't, I have a feeling inside that you wouldn't." "I wouldn't," he assured her. "I'm sorry this is going to be a brief interlude, my love, but if whoever is watching me KNOWS what we have been doing...I know Saburo will find a way to use it against you and signs." "I'll risk it." she told him. "No," he gasped. He cupped her face in his hands and looked down at her with solemn eyes. "Do not betray the signs...be as loyal to them as you are to me...please...everyone's life depends on it." "I wouldn't betray them..." she whispered. "I will prepare them for anything...thank you for telling me." Tetsu offered him a smile and he kissed her forehead. As they sat there, they heard a slow clapping. They turned and saw two shadows in the bushes, slowly coming forward. Michael stood protectively in front of Tetsu and held his hands ready to defend himself and Tetsu. "Whose there?" he asked. "I'm surprised, Mizunoto...or should I just call you Michael?" a deadly voice asked. Michael gasped when he recognized the voice. "Tsuchinoto! YOU were following me?" "Him and myself," another voice added. Tsuchinoe stepped forward behind her brother. "We have been ordered to kill you for your betrayal of Saburo..." "Fine, just spare Tetsu." he told them. "Michael!" Tetsu gasped. She held his arm and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Don't do this!" "Michael! Don't do this!" Tsuchinoe mimicked. "Listen, we're going to take you both down... starting with YOU!" "AHHH!" Michael gasped in pain as a knife sliced through his shoulder. "Michael!" Tetsu screamed. She fell to her knees by his side. "Tetsu...run!" he gasped. "No! I won't leave you!" she told him. He watched as his face twisted with pain. Michael forced himself to stand back up. He stood in front of Tetsu. "More?" Tsuchinoto mocked. He laughed coldly while he slammed his energy against Michael's wounded body. Yet the young man stood up, sacrificing himself to save his Tetsu. "Enough..." he growled. He held back his pain as he decided to use his more powerful spell. Although he would fall because of it. "Waters of the heavens...surround me now...lend me your powers!" A beam of thick water flew from his aura body and slammed against the twins. The two fell back as screamed as their bodies were torn apart by the sheer force of the water. Michael groaned and fell to the ground. "Michael!" Tetsu screamed. She cradled his head and began to cry. "It's...not...over!" a hideous voice cried. Tetsu looked up and screamed in horror. Half their skin was torn off with flesh falling off their very bones. The twins stood up on shaking legs. They no longer had any hair on their heads and their eyes were gouged out. "You shall die as well!" "Coming back from the dead like real demons, huh?" a voice asked. Mitsu ran from her hiding place in the bushes and twirled her staff in front of her. "Won't you guys ever learn?" "Get out of our way! Or you'll die as well." growled one of the twins. "I don't think so!" Mitsu announced. She lifted up her staff and her body glowed with purple energy. "Tatsu...Blast!" What Michael began, Mitsu finished off. She disintegrated the twins into ash and stood in front of Tetsu and Michael triumphantly. "Mitsu!" Tetsu cried. "Michael's unconscious!" "And wounded big time..." Mitsu added. "We have to get him out of here. The hotel's not far...come on, we'll have to carry him." "All right..." Tetsu answered. She put one arm around Michael and Mitsu put her arm around his other arm. The two girls slowly dragged him down the path towards the hotel. By the time they reached the hotel, they were both tired. Mitsu instructed Tetsu to stay at the door while she went to get some of the others to help. In a few moments, the elevators opened and Masao, Akemi, Toshio, Chi, and Kira appeared. Masao carried Michael while Akemi and Mitsu went to go get supplies to heal his wound. Toshio and Chi prepared Tetsu's room for him and helped Masao put him on the bed. Kira, who had been established as a make shift doctor, used the things Akemi and Mitsu brought back to stop the bleeding shoulder and his cuts. An hour later, Masao, Chi, Toshio, and Kira went back to their rooms. Mitsu sent Akemi to go check on Taro, who was asleep in her room, while she stayed with Tetsu. The green haired genius looked over her beloved's resting face and closed her eyes in pain. "I wish...I could've done something..." "You couldn't then...but you can now," Mitsu told her. "You know a lot about medicine, so why don't you give him some medicine when he wakes up?" "I will," Tetsu answered. She looked up at the girl. "What were you doing there? And why did you help him?" "I always follow you guys," Mitsu admitted. She saw the distressed look on Tetsu's face but nodded no. "I stay far enough so I can't hear you guys, but close enough so I can sense any trouble. I was actually halfway down the mountain." "And you helped?" Tetsu asked. Mitsu nodded. "I saw the way he fought to save you. I saw the way he was ready to sacrifice himself so you would he saved." "Is that why?" Tetsu asked. Mitsu nodded. She blushed silently as she turned her back to Tetsu and headed for the door. "You know," Mitsu said, before she opened the door. "I know how it feels to see someone you love so much protecting you...using their body as a shield for your safety..." "Akemi?" Tetsu asked. Mitsu left. "So, Tetsu's staying with Michael the whole day at the hotel?" Chi asked. Mitsu nodded. "He woke up this morning and she wants to be by his side." Mitsu told her. "Hey!" Eric scolded. "Hanako, Tyler, don't go to far from the group!" "This is a big city," Kira added. "It's easy to get lost." "We know...!" the two chorused. They walked ahead of the group, talking about things they liked. "What do I like?" Hanako asked. "Yeah...I bet you like..." Tyler grabbed the bows that held her pig tails up and ran off with them. "This bows!" "HEY! TYLER!!!" Hanako screamed. She ran after him. "Hey!" Clare gasped as they ran past her and Radien. "Don't go to far!" the couple yelled after them. Masao and Shiho were at the beach. Toshio was holding Taro on one arm and holding Chi's hand on the other as they strolled down the street. Eric and Kira were behind the group, looking at a pair of clocks. Ahead of the group, Clare and Radien were buying some clothes. Akemi and Mitsu were in the middle. He had his arm around her waist as she pointed out the beautiful lamps she saw. "I've never seen anything like that...and they write your name on it, too..." "Do you want it?" Akemi asked. Mitsu nodded. Akemi let go of her waist and called the vendor. "Excuse me!" "Yes, sir?" the man asked. He looked at Akemi with uncertainty and raised an eyebrow. "Can you sell me that red lamp over there, the blank one?" Akemi asked. The man nodded and took it down. "Akemi, you don't have to buy-" Mitsu began but Akemi silenced her with a smile. She blushed. "Would you like something on it?" the old man asked. "Yes...can you please write Akemi loves Mitsu for Eternity on it?" he asked. Mitsu gasped. The old man nodded once more and proceeded in writing the words in beautiful writing. When it was dried, he handed it to Akemi. "Here you go." "Thank you," Akemi paid him in full and gave the lamp to Mitsu. "This is for you." "Akemi..." Mitsu mumbled. She looked at the lamp and smiled. She kissed him happily and beamed. "Thank you." "Guys," Eric stated. The group of couples surrounded them. "I can't find Tyler or Hanako anywhere." "What?" Mitsu asked. Her voice suddenly began nervously as her eyes darted around the huge crowd. "Oh no..." "I'll find them. If I'm not back soon, we'll met you guys at the restaurant, okay?" Akemi asked. "I'll come with you." Mitsu began. But Akemi told her to stay with the group and take care of Taro. She nodded and stayed. The group continued down the street while Akemi began to search the crowd for the two lost members. He called out their names. Tyler came through the doors of the restaurant. "Hi, where's Hanako and Akemi?" Mitsu asked as she fed Taro a spoonful of baby food. "I..." Tyler turned pale. "Thought they were with you..." "What?" the group chorused. "Well, I turned around and Hanako wasn't behind me. So I figured, she came back to you guys. I didn't even see Akemi." Tyler explained. "I'm sure they'll come by later." Chi assured Mitsu. "Hanako!" Akemi yelled. He grabbed her wrist just before she melded into the crowd once more. The girl turned around with tears. She grabbed on to his arm and began to cry. "Akemi-chan!" she gasped. "I lost Tyler...and I couldn't find the others!" "Lost Tyler?" Akemi asked. He looked concerned. "It's all right," he comforted her brotherly like. "He's got to be around here some where..." "You there!" a demanding voice yelled. "With the little girl!" Akemi and Hanako looked up. The crowd parted as a carriage pulled up. Guards on horse back surrounded Akemi and Hanako, as well as the carriage. A foot man opened the carriage door. An old, but beautiful pink haired woman stepped down. Her hair was thick with silver streaks, showing her old age. "Oh...my..." she gasped as she saw them. She covered her mouth with soft satin gloves. "What's wrong, lady?" Akemi asked. "Don't speak to the empress that way, boy!" one of the guards barked. "Empress?" Akemi and Hanako mumbled. They fell to their knees in a bow. "Akihiko...come...look at this!" the woman gasped. An old man with silver, faded from orange hair appeared. He looked down and gasped just was the woman did. "No, no!" the man gasped. "Don't bow!" The guards grabbed Akemi and Hanako and dragged them up. "Ow! Watch it!" Hanako piped. "Don't hurt them!" the old man ordered. The guards backed off and stepped back. The old man and empress looked over the two before them. "It's amazing..." the woman gasped. "Oh, forgive me! I am Empress Himoko of Oceana... that is my husband, Emperor Akihiko." "My dear..." the old man said. "I think we have found our missing children..." "Children?" Akemi and Hanako mumbled. "Please...come into our carriage and stay with us at the palace while we explain," the emperor begged. "Please." "Of...of course..." Akemi and Hanako answered. They were pushed into the carriage by guards and sat across from the emperor and empress. The two shifted in their seats as the Imperial couple looked at them. Hanako tugged on Akemi's sleeve. He leaned down and listened to what she whispered in his ear. "Where is Mitsu and the others?" Hanako asked. "At the restaurant...don't worry, we'll go back there later," he assured her. Hanako nodded. He turned back to the couple as they passed the restaurant and saw their friends through the window, eating their lunch while making fun of each other. "Uh...I hate to be rude," Akemi told them, "But we were supposed to meet some people for lunch-" "We'll feed you." the Empress answered. "No, it's not that, but thank you for the offer, Empress," Akemi explained, "But we really need to meet them or they'll get worried." "Now young man," the Emperor said. His voice was deep and authoritative. Hanako associated his voice to Akemi's. It had the same tone of power that Akemi's did. "We are going to the palace. Do not be angry or annoyed with us. It is just that...well...how old are you?" "Me?" Akemi asked. He looked from Hanako to the Imperial couple. "I'm not sure...around eighteen to twenty." "And where were you born?" the Empress asked. "I'm not sure...a captain of a pirate ship found me and adopted me when I was a babe." Akemi explained. The couple nodded and turned to Hanako. "What about you?" the woman asked. "How old are you, dear?" "I'm not sure either...probably around thirteen years old," Hanako answered. "I was adopted too." The couple looked at each other and smiled. The woman took her husband's hand and squeezed it. As the carriage entered the gates of the palace, the Emperor could not contain himself much longer and told the two why there were being asked to come along. "We suspect," the Emperor told them, "That you two may be our long lost children." Mitsu watched the sun set from the hotel balcony. She searched the thin crowd of the remaining shoppers for any sign of Akemi or Hanako. It was bad enough that Hanako was gone, but now Akemi was as well? Chi opened the door to the balcony and stepped outside. She gently closed it and watched Mitsu stand outside, with the cool sea air in her face. "Any sign of them?" Chi asked. Mitsu nodded no. "Are you okay?" "I'm okay...just a little worried..." Mitsu admitted. She turned to Chi with a confused look. "Why aren't they here yet? I know deep inside that they're okay...but I'm still worried." "We all are, Mitsu," Chi told her. "But Akemi's out there. Maybe he's still searching for Hanako." "It doesn't make sense, why didn't he come back to get one of us to help him?" Mitsu asked. Chi shrugged. "Mitsu, if you have a feeling that they're still all right, then you have no reason to worry," Chi answered. "Just calm down. It's getting dark...why don't you tuck Taro in for the night and go to sleep. If they come back any time, you'll be the first to know." "Okay." Mitsu agreed. With one final search of the streets below the balcony, Mitsu followed Chi inside. Akemi felt very comfortable in his new clothes. He and Hanako were explained by the Wisemen of the Palace as well as the Emperor and Empress that it was possible for them to be the two missing children. Hanako had told them that she heard that their first son was kidnapped and their second born daughter was killed. "Rumors," the Wisemen explained. "The first born son...the heir to the Oceana throne, was kidnapped. The kidnappers were found and they admitted to have lost the young prince." "I was found..." Akemi mumbled as he sat next to Hanako was a pale face. "And the young Princess was only year or so old when she was kidnapped on a trip from Lotus to Allure. This time the kidnappers were not found and it was suspected that perhaps she had died. But the prophet told us that she wasn't dead," the Empress added. "So we hoped and prayed that one day you two would come back to us...at last our prayers have been answered." "But what if we're not the Prince and Princess you are looking for?" Hanako asked. "Akemi is an ex-pirate and I'm little street pan handler." "Well...according to the royal birth records," one of the Wiseman told them, "The Prince had a birth mark on his bottom the shape of a rounded square." "Pull down your pants young man." another Wiseman ordered Akemi. "What! Hell no!" Akemi growled. He held his pants tightly. "I'm not pulling my pants down for no body!" But the guards held him down while the Wiseman checked for the birth mark. Hanako held her eyes closed and was turned around. "My Emperor! My Empress! He DOES have a birth mark!" one of the Wiseman concluded with joy. "Hey! Let me go!" Akemi growled. He pushed the guards away violently and pulled his pants up quickly. He was flushing and extremely angry. "Listen, I don't care whether I'm your son or not! That's no reason to...harass me!" "That just proves you're my son," the Emperor told him. "I, too, have a sharp tongue and quick temper." "And now..." the Empress stated. She walked over to Hanako. The girl's eyes we huge and she wrapped her arms around herself and screamed. "No way! I know for a fact I don't have any birth marks so don't even think about it!" Hanako screamed. She cowered behind Akemi. "Now doing that to me is one thing, but to a little girl? What kind of perverts are you crazy people!?" he demanded. "No, no!" the Empress gasped. "My daughter DID NOT have any birth marks. She did have her ears pierced and a mole at the base of her neck...right between the collar bones." "Collar bones?" Hanako asked. She tugged her collar down and looked down. "Is this it?" "Yes! That's it!" the Empress exclaimed. She pushed aside thick pink hair, which was still down because Tyler took her hair ribbons. She touched Hanako's ear and saw the holes for earrings. "And she has the pierced holes...I think...no-I KNOW you two are my children!" She enclosed them both in a strong hug. Akemi pushed away and looked annoyed. "Listen, I just want to-" "Don't you want to be a prince, son?" the Emperor asked. "And be the heir to Oceana?" "I...Don't call me son." Akemi told him. Hanako was taking it differently and was very excited. "Am I princess?" she asked. The Imperial couple nodded. "Whoo-hoo!!!" "Hanako, hold on, they only THINK we're the missing Imperial children." Akemi told her. Hanako moaned in sudden disappointment. "Even if you are not..." the Emperor told them. "We would like you to be...you two seem so much like them...we had lost our children before we could watch them grow up...won't you give us a chance to have our children back?" "I can't live a lie." Akemi stated. "Just stay here for the night and think it over..." the Empress begged. Akemi looked into her eyes. Soft pink ones, on the verge of tears. "I...WE can't." Akemi said. He took hold of Hanako's hand and proceeded out the door. "PLEASE!" the Empress begged. "Just ONE night is all we ask. If tomorrow you decide not to remain as the heirs to Oceana...you may leave." "One night, Akemi..." Hanako told him. She seemed like she really wanted to stay. "Please... I've never had parents before...only my brother and the signs have been my family..." Akemi looked from Hanako's face to the pleading ones of the Emperor and Empress. With a reluctant sigh he nodded. "Fine, BUT if I choose not to be Prince of Oceana...I shall leave." "Thank you!" the couple and Wiseman chorused. "Thank you...my son..." Now Akemi wore royal garments and was on the balcony of his huge bed room. In all the hotels and palaces he'd stayed in during their journey, none was ever more luxurious than this one. There were pillars of marble and gold and white decore. His sheets were red and orange, the colors of Oceana. But despite the warm atmosphere he and Hanako had received, it wasn't the same as spending the rest of the night talking and joking with his friends. Or holding a Taro in his arms while rocking him to sleep. Or holding Mitsu against him when she was disturbed or when they had gotten into an argument. He felt guilty for leaving the group in the hotel, probably worried sick about him and Hanako, while they were in the lap of luxury. Akemi could almost picture Mitsu crying and clinging on to a pillow after she put Taro to sleep. *I shouldn't have let them talk me into this...* he thought to himself. *It's killing me to cause you such worry, my friends...but perhaps, if I am the Prince...this could be for the best...and Hanako...she always wanted a REAL family...this may be her only chance.* He sighed with grief and walked back into his room. He closed the huge glass doors and crawled into his warm bed. Akemi's eyes slowly closed. ~~~ "So...they're dead." Saburo asked his sister. She nodded. "And Mizunoto has joined the Junishi, my brother...I told you it was not yet time to destroy him." Raku told him as she drank from a gold goblet. She licked red wine from her lips. "Shut up, Raku," Saburo answered. "I don't have time for your stupid 'I told you so's." "Well, if you had listened to me..." she trailed. Saburo gave her a glare and stood up. "Guards!" Saburo growled. He took out his sword as two guards ran in. "AH!" With a quick movement, he sliced them in two. Raku gasped and smiled. She walked towards the bloody heap and touched the blood with her fingers. She brought it to her lips and licked if off. "Mmmm..." she mumbled with an wicked smile. "You're disgusting..." Saburo growled. "I cannot believe you sold your soul for the Demoness Staff." "It helped us take over, Lotus, didn't it?" Raku asked. "You sent dead bodies after the guards and killed them all using the staff to control them." Saburo reminded her. "Besides, it was my Sword of Darkness that let us come here." "Whatever you say..." the woman mumbled. Saburo swore at her then left her alone in the throne room. ~~~ "Open up!" a voice growled. Mitsu opened her eye and looked at her door. She sat up in bed, dressed in here white and purple striped pajamas. "This is the Imperial Guard!" "Imperial Guard...?" Mitsu mumbled. She sat up and put her shoes on. "What do they want with us?" "Junishi!" the voices growled. Mitsu opened her door and saw twenty guards up and down the halls, banging on the doors of her friends. "What do you want?!" Mitsu yelled. On of the guards turned around and saw her. "We were sent to take you to the palace," the guard explained. "So put on your clothes and get ready to leave!" "Leave?" Mitsu asked. "Who the hell says we have to!?" "It was an Imperial command! If you don't come willing, we'll have to take you by force!" the guard shouted. Mitsu slammed her door while screaming 'Fine, you bastard!'. She quickly put on her clothes, her boots, and grabbed Taro from his cradle beside her bed. When she walked outside, she saw her friends being jammed into two carriages. She went into the one with Toshio, Chi, Masao, Shiho, and Tyler. The other carriage held Kira, Radien, Clare, Eric, Tetsu, and Michael. "Why are we being taken to the palace?" Mitsu asked her friends as she tried to calm down Taro's cries. "I don't know..." Chi whispered. She sounded scared. "But I'm nervous...we didn't do anything wrong." "Do you think it might have to do with one of us?" Masao asked, indicating to him and Shiho. "Perhaps...it could be anything...maybe they found Akemi and Hanako..." Toshio suggested. Mitsu brightened up, but suddenly realized what 'found' also could've meant. "What if...if they're..." she couldn't say it, but from the distressed look on her face, the others understood. "No!" Chi whispered. She put an arm around Mitsu. "You know that can't happen...shh...don't worry...I'm sure they're fine..." "If anything happened to them..." Mitsu mumbled as she rocked herself and Taro back and forth. Chi threw a scared glance and Toshio and he sent her a comforting look. For the group, it seemed like hours before the ride across the city was over and they reached the palace. The gates opened and the group looked outside the window at the huge and magnificent palace. The garden stretched down the hill side and over looked the city. They saw part of the private beach the palace had and the pools, courts, and more gardens. The wonderful scenery did nothing to calm Mitsu's nerves. The carriages stopped. The doors were opened and the guards ordered them to get out. The twelve people came out of the carriage and stepped in front of the steps of huge palace. "Follow me," one of the guards said. Twenty guards surrounded the group and escorted them inside the palace. The servants of the palace stared at them as they walked through the enormous halls and out one of the doors to a garden. "Sire!" the guard yelled. "Highness!" "Thank you, you may go," said an old woman. She was dressed in royal clothing and looked at the group with joyful eyes. "So you are the friends of Akemi and Hanako." "Akemi and Hanako!?" the group gasped. Mitsu stepped forward. "Where are they?" "Now, now," said the old man. "I am Emperor Akihiko and this is my wife, the Empress Himoko. We have discovered that-" "Mitsu! Tyler! Chi! Toshio! EVERYONE!!!" a high pitched voice shouted. Hanako came running out of the garden and ran into the awaiting arms of the group. "Hanako-chan!!!" Mitsu gasped as she wrapped her arms around her. Taro reached for Hanako and the girl held him in her arms. Mitsu sniffed back her joyous tears and slowly asked, "Do you know where Akemi is?" "I'm right here." a voice answered. The group looked up. Coming out of the garden from where Hanako was, Akemi was smiling and dressed as a prince. Mitsu hardly noticed as she ran full speed from the group and slammed herself against Akemi. He laughed as she buried her face in his chest and began to blabber. "I missed you so much...I was so worried...Akemi..." Mitsu sniffed and damped his shirt with a few tears before looking up to gaze into his red eyes. "I'm sorry..." he whispered. "I never meant to make you worry..." She smiled and stroked his check with a warm hand. "As long as you're okay..." she answered slowly. "Ahem...we were worried, TOO, you know." Toshio told him. The couple broke up, as if remembering the rest of the group was there. Akemi smiled and walked back to the group with his arm around Mitsu. "I'm sorry for cutting you off, Empress," Hanako told them as she took the ribbons Tyler handed her and put her hair in pig tails. "What were you saying?" "I was just going to explain to the group that you and Akemi are our long lost daughter and son." the Empress told them. "WHAT!?" the group shouted. Their faces were stunned with shock as they looked at each other. "How do you know that?" "Akemi has the birth mark our son had and Hanako has the mole and pierced ears our daughter had...we are certain that they are our children," the Emperor told them. "And this morning...after a long talk..." he looked at Akemi and Hanako. "They have agreed to be taken into the family as our children." The group was silent, unsure of how to act. Mitsu didn't care. She just held on to Akemi tighter and took Taro from Hanako. She lifted the child to see Akemi. "Daddy!" Taro yelled. He wrapped his childish arms around the young man's neck and Akemi held him tightly. "I miss you!" "I missed you too, Taro..." Akemi whispered. "Mommy miss you, too..." Taro told him. "Mommy..." the Empress asked. "Daddy?...Akemi is he your son?" "What!?" Akemi asked and blushed. "No... actually...it's a long story..." "Well, is she the mother?" the Empress asked, motioning to Mitsu. The girl flushed. "NO!" they both echoed. "You have good taste, my son..." the Emperor told him. He looked at Mitsu. "You picked a very pretty wife." "We're not married! You don't understand!" Akemi and Mitsu gasped. Chi took Taro from the two embarrassed people. "Toshio, why don't you explain to the Imperial couple?" Chi suggested. Toshio shrugged. "I liked watching them panic...but okay..." Toshio stepped in front of the group. "Sire...highness, if I may? I would like to explain the to you the whole story." The Emperor and Empress looked at each other. "You may begin." ~~~ "They're going to have a big coronation and everything, huh?" Mitsu asked as she sat on a bench. "Yeah," Akemi answered. He sat beside her and smiled. "Can you believe it? I'm a prince." "You've always been MY prince." the girl muttered. She looked down at her feet with a blank stare. "Mit-chan? Is something wrong?" he asked. She shook her head slowly, but continued to stare down at her feet. He straightened up and looked at her. "I know you're hiding something. C'mon, tell me." "If you're a prince...does that mean you'll have to stay here from now on?" she whispered. "Of course not," he laughed. He put one arm around her shoulder. "Shiho is a princess and Masao is a prince...and they both got to come along. I don't see why Hanako and I can't." "I guess I'm being just a little bit nervous..." she mumbled. "It's strange knowing that you're a prince. You've always been this pirate to me...but now you're completely something else." "I'm still a pirate...just a reformed one... Mitsu, this changes nothing between us," he told her sternly. "It changes nothing between any of us. Aren't you happy for Hanako and me?" "Of course I am!" Mitsu nearly yelled. She jerked her head up and looked at him. "I just have a strange feeling about this...something WILL come between us...I can feel it..." "Just because you feel it doesn't mean it will happen," Akemi assured her. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently. "I will make SURE nothing will happen." ~~~ The palace walls where decorated with red and orange. The palace glowed with a illuminating yellow. Noblemen, royals, and aristocrats, as well as the city below the palace were having a celebration to commemorate the crowning of Prince and Princess on Akemi and Hanako. The ceremonies where about to begin. There would be a huge procession down the isle to the throne room where the ceremony and party would be held. And the Twelve Signs, Shiho, and Michael were all part of it. They were separated by genders into two huge rooms where the servants prepared them for the march. The girls were putting the final touches on their dresses and hair styles. They were chattering away at the excitement. "Hello!?" a voice piped from the door. A pink haired girl's head popped in and beamed. She walked inside. "Hi!" "Oh...Hanako, you look so pretty!" the girls commented. "You're all grown up know..." Clare teased. "All the young men will be at your door." "Eww..." Hanako mumbled. The girls laughed. "Stand up, you guys! I want to see your dresses!" The girls finished and stood up one by one. Shiho was the first done. Her long blonde hair was held up in a finely decorated bun with flowers. Her dress was gold and shimmering. It was strap less and clung to her body before flaring out at the waist. On her head was her gold tiara. The other girls had basically the same shimmering fabric and waist flaring on their dresses, but with different neck lines and colors. Tetsu wore dark and light green and her neck line was a long sleeved v-neck. Her hair was held up by two green chop sticks, framed with green bangs, and no glasses. Clare wore yellow with spaghetti straps and high yellow gloves. Her neck line was a scoop and her hair was half up and half down with her curling locks framing her face. Kira's hair was in her usual braid, but down her back with red and white flowers embroidered within the braids. Her dress was red, strapless, and with short red gloves. Chi's hair was held up in a gold crown and she wore a dark blue satin dress. It crossed in an 'x' in the back and wrapped around her neck. Her bare arms were hidden behind loose light blue sleeves. Mitsu, whose face seemed blank of all expression, wore her hair up in a gold crown as well. Her right eye was once again covered. On either side of her face, in front of both ears, her hairs were curled to trail down her shoulders. Her dress had the highest neckline and covered almost all her body. It had fluffy, see through, but purple tinted sleeves and dark purple gloves at the ends, which matched the fabric of her dress. Hanako clapped excitedly. "Okay, now I think we're supposed to wait for the guys to come and escort us. And guess what! Tyler is my escort!" "That's so cute!" Tetsu and Chi squealed. Down the hall, several nervous young men were black suits. All had black pants, a black jacket, but the chords that decorated the front of the jack where colored, according to their Junishi color. Akemi walked through the door and heard his friends hoot and holler. "Akemi! You had to show us all off, didn't you?" Masao asked. He wore his gold crown. Akemi's lips curled in a smile. "I just wanted to look my best. Besides, I'm sure, I'm not going to be the only man out there who'll be fighting off women." "Still...white instead of black?" Toshio asked. "You'll be standing out." Akemi wore the same style as his friends, only in white with orange cords and a cape. There was a knock on the door. "Men," a deep voice said. The Emperor stepped through the door, dressed more lavishly than his younger counter parts. "It is time to go and escort the ladies." "Don't keep them waiting!" the Empress yelled from behind him. "Girls don't like that." The group walked out of their room, to the stares and glances of all the servants in the halls. In front of them were the Emperor and Empress, arm in arm, walking towards the throne room's main door. They prepared them- selves behind the door. "C'mon, ladies! Let's go!" Hanako said cheerfully. She took Tyler's arm and walked towards the Emperor and Empress. Tyler blushed. Each young man took the arm of a beautiful lady and lead her towards their position. The trumpets sounded and the huge doors opened. The announcer opened his mouth and announced the couples. "Their honorable majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Oceana!" The older couple stepped through the doors and walked down the isle. "His royal Highness, Prince Masao of Allure, and Princess Shiho of Lotus!...The young Wizard, Toshio and his Lady Chi!...Lord Eric III and his Lady Kira!...Lord Radien and Lady Clare!...Lord Michael and Lady Tetsu!" The signs, Shiho, and Michael stepped out and walked down the isle towards the table before the thrones of the Emperor, Empress, their children, and their children's escorts. "Her serene highness...Princess Hanako and Young Master Tyler!" Hanako and Tyler walked down the isle while murmurs of how adorable they looked spread through the crowd. Tyler whispered to Hanako as they neared the end of the isle. "This is embarrassing!" Hanako merely smiled and whispered back, "Shh!" Akemi took Mitsu's arm and looked at her with a smile. "You look beautiful." he told her. Mitsu smiled and blushed. "You don't look so bad yourself." she answered. "His honorable majesty...Prince Akemi and the Lady Mitsu!" The two walked down the isle. Akemi looked straight ahead as he whispered in a low voice, "One day, we're going to do this, but you'll be the one wearing white." Mitsu felt her face grow furiously red as her flush spread through her body. Akemi merely smiled and lead her to their seats. When the Emperor and Empress sat down, the guests followed. Two of the Wisemen came forward. "Sire, Highness...we wish to bestow the blessings of the kingdom on these two young people who will be crowned Prince and Princess," the first Wiseman told them. "Please stand." Hanako and Akemi stood up. The second Wiseman clapped his hands and two servant girls came towards the throne and held up two gold crowns embedded with rubies, on red pillows. "I bestow the crown of Princess of Oceana, to this young woman, Hanako. For now until her death, to be one of the heirs to the throne." the Wiseman told them. The crown of placed on Hanako's head and she bowed. The second Wiseman took the larger crown and held it above Akemi's lowed head. "I bestow the crown of Prince of Oceana to this young man, Akemi. For now until his death, to be the next Emperor of Oceana, to rule in health and sickness, and lead his people into greatness." The crown was placed upon Akemi's head. He bowed. A third Wiseman came forward and read several passages in a book then blessed the two. He turned around and looked at the crowd. "People of Oceana!" he announced loudly, "Behold your new heirs to the throne. Prince Akemi and Princess Hanako. Serve them! As you do the Emperor and Empress!" "YAH!!" With the screams and yells of celebration, the festival began. Akemi and Hanako were dragged away to make some speeches and get congraduated. Mitsu sat on the chair beside Akemi's throne, gently holding Taro. Her friends had gone to get some food and were supposed to bring her some. A beautiful young woman dressed in red walked out from one of the doors and stopped to look at Mitsu. The girl on the throne looked up when she sensed the girl watching her. Soon, a few other girls, all dressed in identical red gowns came form the same door. The first girl pointed to Mitsu and told the others something. Several girls gave her dirty looks and turned their heads away. "Attention!" a voice said. The Wisemen were calling attention to the side of the room closest to the balcony. "Lord Prince Akemi, as the heir to the Oceana throne, we present to you this gift..." They stepped aside and ten beautiful young women in identical red dresses came forward. The second Wiseman smiled and announced. "Your gift is this harem. May you pick one of these lucky ladies to be your wife!" Many of the people in the crowd hooted and hollered, while Akemi had a look of confusion and surprise in his face. Chi, Toshio, Hanako, Tyler, Clare, Radien, Tetsu, and Michael looked horrified as the announcement was made. Kira, Eric, Masao, and Shiho had a look of utter anger. Kira's fists were shaking as she wanted to slap those Wisemen. Slowly, her group of friends looked over and Mitsu. She was pale and her face was surprised as she held on to Taro tightly. She brought the baby against her chest and held him like a teddy bear as she bottle fed him. As the party continued, Akemi made his way back to Mitsu. Chi had taken Taro to bed for the night and was going to watch him with Toshio. Akemi took Mitsu's hand and helped her up. "Are you all right?" he asked. "You have a harem..." was all she could murmur. She looked at him, her eyes empty of expression. "I..." "Prince Akemi!" a voice yelled. One of the harem members, followed by a group behind her, came towards Akemi. "Dance with me!!!" "Not right now, I'm talking with Mitsu." he told them sternly. He wrapped his arm around Mitsu's confused figure and lead her away. Before he was able to talk to her more about the harem, Mitsu shrugged his arm off. "I'm going to bed for the night...good-night, your highness..." she mumbled numbly. She bowed and quickly ran out of the throne room and towards the stairs. Akemi followed her to the hall way and yelled her name, but she was already gone. "Dammit!" he growled. Suddenly, arms reached out and grabbed him. The harem members. Mitsu closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Over and over she dreamed of Akemi. And the harem members surrounding him as he told her he would leave her. She winced in her sleep as her dream persisted. It had been three days since the coronation, and her dreams had not ceased. Taro...Akemi took him away from her. Another woman was next to him, holding Taro with a wicked smile on her face. Chi...braiding that girls' hair instead of her own...and Hanako...she was calling that girl her 'sister'. God, what was happening? Mitsu sat straight up in bed, gasping for air as her fists let go of the sheets. The cool night wind was blowing around her as she got her breath back. She froze. She felt something was wrong. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she felt a strange presence inside her room. "Whose there?" she called out. Her voice was shaky, so she took another breath in an attempt to calm herself. "I asked you! Who is there!?" "Well, well, well..." a voice answered from the shadows by the balcony curtains. The wind from the opened doors allowed the curtains to fly, hiding the shadow well. "I never thought you could detect me..." "Who are you!?" Mitsu hissed. She pulled her blanket up to her chest and focused her attention towards the voice. "I am Kanoto," the voice said. A young man stepped out in dark clothing. Mitsu recognized him from an earlier battle. He was one of the Ten Stems. "And Saburo as requested your presence..." "Get out of my room!" Mitsu yelled. She jumped up, preparing to tackle him from her bed, when a whip wrapped around her angles and pulled her back. "AHHH!" Her face was cushioned by her arms as she hit the hard floor. She gave a groan as she turned around. "Kanoe..." "Glad you remembered!" a high pitched voice answered. "Now...come along!" Mitsu opened her mouth to scream, but Kanoto's hand clamped down on her mouth with a cloth. Mitsu inhaled the strange, dizzying smell of the cloth. Her eye lids grew heavy as she struggled to stay awake. "No one can hear you," Kanoto told her coldly. "So don't waste your breath." "Who said I was going...to scream?" Mitsu asked tiredly. He lifted her over his shoulder and headed for the balcony window. Mitsu grinned as she reached for the shelf. She grabbed on to it and pulled it as hard as her drugged body could. Books, picture frames, ceramic vases, and glass statues tumbled to the floor, causing a large amount of noise. Kanoe slapped Mitsu twice. "You little bitch! What are you trying to do!" "Mitsu!" a voice yelled from outside her doors. "Mitsu, what's wrong!?" "Go!" Kanoto yelled. Kanoe jumped from the balcony and landed on the pile of hay at the base of the building. "Mitsu!" There was a thud as Toshio, Akemi, and Radien slammed their shoulders against the doors. "One more time!" Radien yelled. The doors burst open and the Sign ran in. By now, Mitsu had passed out and was laying limply over Kanoto's shoulder. "Mitsu! No!" Akemi yelled. He began to run across the room to the balcony. Kanoto laughed and yelled, "You're too late! She's Lord Saburo's now!" Then threw a smoke bomb on the floor. There was an explosion. "Mitsu!!!" When the smoke cleared, they were long gone. Akemi slammed his fist into the marble frames of the balcony door. "I'll get you back, Mitsu!" he yelled into the dim night air. "And I'll KILL you, Saburo!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author's Note: I think one more chapter will end this story. I hope you all liked it so far. The ending will be kind of twisted, but at least this explains Akemi and Hanako's past. Next time: Akemi is pressured into marrying one of the harem members. Will all this stress, will he be able to rescue Mitsu before Saburo gets to her? Come back soon! ~Len-chan