Steven and Riwansa's Past (Flashback 2)

Ziran knelt near Margaret, the ever so invincible Royal Queen, now in her deathbed. His crystal armour laid before her feet. His eyes stung and redennned looking at her lifeless body. To subdue the overflowing emotions Ziran closed his eyelids forcefully. A last longing look lingered before he left .....

Visions of the past turned foggy as his gaze rested on the horizon in a state of absent mindedness.

"Reminiscing about the past?" Lucas casually glanced at Steven and asked as he played with the flickering light case in his hands.

"You are still investigating this?" Steven raised his brows, avoiding the earlier enquiry directed towards him.

"Some new traces are appearing, moreover Brooklyn RiverBank's magic white lilies are regenerating." Lucas's eyes gave away the seriousness of the matter.

"Oh, right, I completely forgot to ask, but where is A'Ran?" Lucas was about to take out his contact-watch to give him a call when Steven rolled his eyes at him.

"Well...?" Lucas was shocked beyond description.

"She is suspicious." Steven stated.

"Didn't you also find Cordellia suspicious?" Lucas snorted.

" People in love tend to lose their eyesight brother. What, are you still holding a grudge against me?" Steven gave him an incredulous look.

"We would have been married by now, if not for you." Lucas said as he gritted his teeth with rising up anger.

"Riwansa, is getting married.... Is it really time to let go?" Steven asked suddenly with a long pause.

"Heh, so The Steven can also be sorrowful!?" Lucas gloated inwardly.

'Serves him right.' He thought.

"She never fell for me to begin with." Steven continued ruefully, ignoring Lucas's mocking.

"Did you ever even confess? Why do you expect her to read your mind?"

"It would be pointless."

"Oh, I never knew you had the ability to read minds?" Lucas snapped back sarcastically.

________________________

"Who would dare complain about me?" Ziran cockily glanced at Xixi, who stared back at him as if he was an alien. (Ahem, technically he could be said one though)

"Oh.." Xixi acknowledged his words seemingly thoughtfully.

'Oh? Just oh? shouldn't she be impressed by me?' Ziran grumbled begrudgingly in his mind.

Fortunately Xixi couldn't read his thoughts, otherwise the last bit of admiration she had for him would have also disappeared.

"Let's visit the wishing tree?" Ziran said persuasively. His eyes gleamed brightly.

Xixi had a bad feeling in her heart looking at those hypnotic scheming pair of eyes.

"A wishing tree?" She asked with suspicion.

"It grants one's wishes and also grows sweet juicy candy fruits. They taste better than the moonlight pastries you tasted earlier." He leaned closer to her.

The last sentence earned a glare from Xixi. She didn't eat that much to mention that invidually. Moreover what's with that tone? Is she a child that would be brought over by sweet candies? Yeah, she was tempted but still she is not a glutenous pig, ok?

The glare did nothing to indimidate the infatuated prince. Rather it hit a soft corner in his heart. He couldn't help but keep his eyes on her squirrel like puffed up rosy cheeks, almond shaped eyes that glazed with grievance and the tiny soft face glowing with warm radiance.

Unfortunately for him, Xixi took a step back and said "no" without any single trace of hesitation.

And just like that the ever so invincible second prince Ziran suffered a great blow.

"Why not?" He asked gently still not giving up on the idea.

"I just don't want to. humph!" Xixi didn't notice how spoiled she sounded but that doesn't mean Ziran was oblivious to it too. He clearly realised the emotional gap between them closing bit by bit much to his delight.

"Okay, let's go back to the palace then." He said in a agreeing voice. His amiable approach didn't go along with his persuasive stance just a moment ago. Xixi gave him an obvious weary look.

"I was just giving you a suggestion good heartedly. Since you don't want to go, why would I force you?" He lied through his teeth with a solemn expression.

"I want to sit here for a while." Xixi said as if she was hell bent on not agreeing with any of his recommendations.

Ziran smiled helplessly. He could feel his emotions getting affected my the girl in front of him. Even though he knew absolutely nothing about her.

"Reluctant to part with me?hmm?" A deep male voice laced with affection entered Xixi's ears. She quivered slightly before moving further away from him.

'This guy oofff... He is way too charming. I need to practice more self controll. I can't just fall for someone in my dreams right and theoretically it is one.' Xixi constantly shook her head like a rattle drum in a vain attempt to push away those indecent thoughts, at a corner of her mind.

After a few minutes or so, she turned still and looked ahead. Without a single tinge of embarrassment, Ziran seated on a wooden chair with legs crossed, continued to amusingly stare at the cute rabbit full of energy.

Xixi blinked her eyes a few times, stunned by his blatant behaviour. "Let's go back." She said resignedly.

"Didn't you just say you want to sit here? This prince is more than glad to accompany you." Ziran said slowly, unperturbed by her flustered self. He mainted his earlier postures and curved his lips upwards to reveal a gentle smile.

'Triple kill!! Ahh damnn, it's so unfair to be this seductive. I am having such a hard time restraining my poor maiden heart. God' Xixi could only mourn in her heart.

"I want to go back now, does this wish of mine offend the respected prince by any means?" Her voice turned high pitched to cover up the weird sensations in her mind.