I really hate myself because I couldn't focus on writing, and my teachers keep assigning stupidly planned assignments and projects. Please forgive me for not posting up this chapter with chapter 15.

Disclaimer: I do not own pics. (Gosh, waaaaay too much nature.)

Repost: 11/17/13

Waiting For That One Day

Bullet and Pearl had taken an obvious liking to you and Yixing. It appeared as if they didn’t want to part ways yet, enjoying the attention and love their human companions affectionately lavished them with. As if they had an unspoken agreement, the two white mares decided to conveniently transport you and Yixing all the way to their master’s home—already intuitively knowledgeable of the location. Having rejoined you and Yixing earlier, the two guards followed a safe distance away, wary of the two wild beasts.

Although the guards were out of earshot, Yixing’s voice was hushed as he stressfully repeated for the umpteenth time, “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Poor Yixing. The tremendous fright he received when you’d suddenly passed out upon touching the Tree of Life had yet to ebb away. He was truly shaken up on the inside, bones rattled with unfathomable fear and nerves numb at the emotional onslaught. Sure you comforted him with endless reassurances and appeared fine and dandy, but he was fastidiously worried nonetheless.

You touched your forehead and confirmed, “Yes, I’m sure, my prince. I’m not dizzy or anything.”

He was fretfully unconvinced. “Can you at least eat something and rest a bit before the next trip?” he insisted.

How could you say no when he pleaded with those sweet, endearing eyes of his?

“If it eases your mind,” you conceded, and Yixing seemed to relax, releasing a relieved sigh.

The unicorns trotting a few lengths further, Yixing’s manicured front yard came into view. Amongst the flowerbeds and trimmed lawn was Suho, who was watering the plants using his industrious powers, having thought it’d be best to preoccupy his time as he waited for your highly anticipated return. He started in surprise when he heard the distinct clip-clop of hooves and abruptly swiveled around. Two bedazzling white mares with pointed, spiraling horns protruding from their foreheads cantered into view, carrying on their backs Suho’s brother and beloved fiancé. His jaw went slack.

“Oh my goodness,” uttered the water prince, awestruck. “W-welcome back.”

“Hello, Prince Suho,” you greeted him warmly with a wholehearted smile. Smoothly sliding off of Pearl’s back, Yixing hastily crossed over to Bullet’s side, beckoning for the stallion to kneel so he could help you dismount, firmly gripping at your forearm.

Suho’s round puppy eyes were wide with interest and wonder as he brought up a puzzling question: “I thought unicorns disliked the company of humans?”

“Not these two,” you disagreed. “They befriended us fairly quickly and seem fond of us.” You gestured at the mentioned unicorn as you introduced them to the amazed water prince. “This is Bullet, and the other beauty is Pearl.”

Just then, the front door of the house flew open and more princes spilled out.

“You’re finally back and—wow!” Baekhyun gaped at the unexpected sight. A slender unicorn with gray spots by her hooves was sniffing at the grass below her, deciding she wanted to snack. The other unicorn, more muscular and broader, was snorting and poking his nose in Suho’s befuddled face while you stifled an amused laugh behind your hand. The younger princes gawped. This was the first time that they’ve ever seen Yixing’s symbolic animal up close.

“Preeeeetty!” Chen sang appreciatively.

“I’m taking her inside,” the healing prince murmured to Suho. The older prince acknowledged the low murmur with a nod of his head and tried to unobtrusively push Bullet’s big, wet nose away from his face. While Yixing ushered you inside his house, his hand still latched firmly but gently on your forearm, Suho had to calm down his excited younger brothers. Bullet, immensely amused by the chattering little boys who flocked his side, had his chin held up proudly, basking in the glory as the princes showered him with excessive attention. Being the big softie he was, he allowed Chen and Baekhyun to pet his side and brush his mane. Pearl, on the other hand, was interested in Kyungsoo and Sehun, the two munchkins giggling helplessly as she nudged their cherubic faces with her moist nose, effectively tickling them.

Veering into main hallway, you and Yixing nearly collided into Luhan and Yifan who were curious about the commotion happening out front. The four of you skidded into an abrupt halt, narrowly smacking into each other’s faces.

Yifan reared back in startlement, then caught himself. “Oh, Aris, Yixing, you’re back.”

Yixing nodded his head in acknowledgement, then turned his attention to Luhan beseechingly. “Luhan, I know we’re visiting your territory next, but can Princess Aris have extra time to rest? She’s very tired.”

“Not really,” you muttered under your breath, but knew it was futile to argue. Anything concerning about your welfare, the princes were overly fussy and sensitive.

Luhan, as predicted, immediately consented with a jerk of a nod. “Of course.” He scrutinized you up and down, evaluating if anything was wrong, but you were perfectly fine.

Just before he pulled you into the guest room, Yixing asked over his shoulder, “Oh, Yifan, do you mind making sure our brothers aren’t causing a riot with the unicorns out front?”

The tall prince sounded puzzled. “Unicorns? You have got to be kidding me.” Yifan and Luhan hurried out of the house to check if their rowdy brothers had done anything stupid.

Yixing ordered a servant to draw you a warm bath and to select a new set of clothing. He promised he’d be back with some food after he acquired Kyungsoo’s expert opinion. Sighing, you surrendered under the generous accommodations. Moments later, a servant informed you that the bath was ready.

“Wait,” you said, catching Yixing’s skinny wrist before he hustled out the door. He blinked at you when you smiled at him. “Thank you for your concern, Yixing. I’d almost forgotten you also gave me some energy back when we were at Kyungsoo’s place.”

His cheeks visibly pinked. “O-oh. You...you noticed that, huh?” He rubbed his neck bashfully. “I-it was nothing, Princess.”

Turning his hand over, you planted a gratifying kiss onto his soft skin. Blood rushed up like a tidal wave to the surface of the healer’s pale skin. He turned scarlet from head to toe. Your eye-smile was beautiful, stunning him further. “If it’s you, then it’s not just nothing.”

When you had released his hand, Yixing almost tripped over his own two feet as he fled. His heart was pounding crazily against his ribcage, ready to leap out of his chest.

...

“I miss Bullet,” you whined in low utterance before expelling a disgruntled raspberry. You face was half-pressed against the train’s sleek window as you stared out it wistfully. The scenery zipped by at an incredible rate, but you’d rather be riding on Bullet as he gallops across the grasslands at a break-neck speed with the wind batting at your exultant face and having the indulgence to roam free—the perfect situation to consequently fling away your worries too. The train ride was approximately fifteen minutes to reach the outer fringe of Luhan’s vast emerald forest.

As promised, neither you nor Yixing spoke of or admitted what had happened during your outing. You and Yixing easily fabricated a plausible story, saying that the two of you had befriended the unicorns, ventured around, and spoke about irrelevant stuff. That was it, and everyone believed the two of you wholeheartedly.

At a moment in time when no one was looking, you flipped open the flap of your spare bag and peeked inside. Majesty’s present winked at you: a fist-sized chunk of glistening crystal that innocently laid there within the cavity of the bag. The Tree of Life had cryptically advised you to use it after performing a super powerful spell, having asserted it would protect you—but from what, you didn’t know. You sighed, wary of the crystal’s functions. All this thinking and worrying worsened the state of pressure you were burdened with. Unfortunately for you, the hefty weight of pressure only seemed to increase on the balance scale when you remembered that you had another set of problems to deal with back at the castle. The balance scale was on the verge of tipping over from the uneven load, and it was going to bring you down with it. May the stars deem it worthy to spare me for I am a worrywart, you thought dryly.

“Princess?” sought out a soft, musical voice.

The voice intruding through your sullen thoughts made you jump out of your own skin. You quickly fastened the clasps of the bag and whipped around to face Luhan breathlessly. “Yes? What is it?” you answered a bit too hastily.

Luhan frowned at your spooked expression. “Forgive me for giving you a fright, Princess, but I just wanted to inform you that we’re almost at the station. The walk to my residence may be tedious because it’s located deep within the forest.”

You gawked at him blankly while your racing heart subsided to a safer rhythm. “Oh, that’s fine, Prince! If you’re worried about my health—don’t be! I’m all rested up!” Luckily your enthusiasm convinced Luhan, and he beamed at you prettily, his doll-like features aglow with delight.

“That’s good to hear because our trip is going to be a long walk,” disclosed the telekinesis prince. “You might want to wear a scarf since it gets chilly after sundown,” he added in afterthought, using it as an excuse to raise his hand to rub your neck. “The forest’s northern fringe borders Minseok’s mountains where it’s the coldest, but we’ll be exploring the southeastern part instead.”

You complied with an earnest beam. “I understand.”

He smiled again, satisfied by your ardent response, and, as if he couldn’t help it, reached out to pinch your pale apple cheeks. “Of course you do,” he crooned at you affectionately. “Because my fiancé is sooooo smart!”

“DON’T DO THAT!” thundered the mixed voices of Xiumin, Chanyeol, Kai, Tao, and Sehun. Anyone who dared try to ruin your naturally pink, pale cheeks would feel the wrath of five (twelve if the others were in on it) avenging princes. Luhan stuck out his tongue in an un-princely manner, and his brothers barked at him indignantly with a vicious round of complaints. Their quarreling carried on until the train reached the station.

It was a nature lover’s dream—a dream gone reality—fulfilled by the existence of Luhan’s magical forest. It was a vast sea of emerald from near to far upon the planet’s surface—a dimension where the wilderness devoured all in its grasp. The forest was immense in size and extensively diverse in plant species. Thickets of tall, lush trees grew at an untamable rate, the canopy dense enough to provide shade from the sun. Wild flowers sprung from the puffy patches of grass in the undergrowth. Harmless bugs buzzed around. Small creatures darted in and out of sight. It was a nagging wonder how something so pure and so verdurous could remain uncorrupted by human touch—especially when the nearest city was only about a hundred miles away.

As the telekinesis prince forewarned, it was a lengthy trek to his residence hidden deep within the forest. North and south. Left and right. Front and back. Those locative words helped you none as you genuinely lost your sense of directions. All you saw was green, brown, some gray, and then more green! You inwardly thanked the stars when the structure of Luhan’s house shimmered into appearance, making you almost believe its invisibility trick as it was tucked away in an ample clearing adhered to a large, sturdy rock wall populated with voluminous plants. The interior was constructed just as fancy as it was outside.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” demanded Luhan, a bundle of unattainable nerves as he bounced on the balls of his feet. In all honesty, he had never felt so impatient and excited than he had ever did in his life. It was unnerving, but he had no control over his feelings that controlled his bodily functions—especially the bodily function of his chatterbox of a mouth.

Raising himself up on his tippy-toes, Sehun patted his older brother’s stomach. “Calm down, Luhannie!” he sang.

Bag shouldered and a scarf secured around your neck (like Luhan had requested), you reckoned you were all set for your outing. You laughed at the infectious, upbeat atmosphere that hung over Luhan’s head like a halo. “Hahaha, I’m ready, Prince Luhan.”

Ignoring the standard don’t-you-dare-do-anything-utterly-stupid lecture from his grouchy brothers, Luhan eagerly snatched your hand with the intention of never letting go and dragged you out of his house, causing you to unsteadily stumble down the steps outside the front door. You uttered a helpless squeak, but let him take the lead anyways. There was only one visible dirt path that any non-forest native could tread upon to avoid getting lost. You and Luhan strolled upon the swiveling path leisurely, your intertwined hands swinging back and forth in the minimal space between you two. You admired your surroundings, fascinated by the densely populated plants. A plethora of fragrant smells seeping from the wild flowers wafted into your nostrils, making you wish that someone could capture this wonderful scent and replicate it into a perfume.

By your side, your doe-eyed fiancé was pondering how to be alone with you (because he was extremely jealous about your outings with Kai, Chanyeol, and Lay). He stole a discreet glance behind him at the shadowing guards, surveying his options. The corner of his lips lifted up in inspiration as he formulated a brilliant quick-and-easy plan to get rid of them.

There was one particular characteristic pertaining to Luhan’s forest: if you weren’t him, an animal, or local Exotic, then you were doomed to endless wandering. The forest was literally a maze.

This will be a piece of cake, Luhan inwardly scoffed, resisting the urge to smirk. He tugged on your hand interlaced with his. “Let’s go this way, Aris.”

Your brows furrowed in puzzlement. “But that would be straying from the—”

“If you’re with me, you’ll never get lost,” he assured you, his sincere gaze pinning you down. It made your knees go weak, and you weren’t sure what was the last thought that had crossed your mind. “Come on.”

A second later you crashed through a thicket of trees, Luhan’s hand insistently pulling you along through the heavy foliage. The guards’ baffled exclamations faded in the distance that continued to stretch with each step. They wouldn’t be able to catch up—not when you and Luhan had a head’s start combined with the fact that the telekinesis prince knew his forest by heart. Trees whizzed by. Branches scratched at you. You nearly tripped over a root. A small mammal scurried away. Every time sunrays broke free from the treetops, you would squint at the glare.

“LUHAN!” you exclaimed as you struggled to keep up with his longer legs, his hold on you cutting off blood circulation in your hand. “Where are we going?!”

“ANYWHERE!” he shouted giddily, bubbling with carefree laughter. The pleasant, boisterous sound rang loud and true amidst the thin, empty pockets of space within the forest. Seeing Luhan revert to an undemanding child—one that wasn’t trying to prove his worth or incessantly defending his honor—was a nice change for once. You smiled at the doe-eyed prince fondly and let him take you wherever.

The prince’s senses prickled in awareness as an animal came into the range of his ‘mental radar’. Shooting you a look that meant to exercise caution, the two of you slowed to an abrupt stop. You held your breath, wondering why your fiancé had put a finger to his lips to tell you ‘shush’. He gingerly led you over to a tree, hiding yourselves behind it before peering around the thick trunk.

“Look.” Luhan’s breath tickled your ear. He was that close to you, his cheek pressed against the temple of your head, and his skinny arm s around your slim waist. “Over there—past the groove.” He pointed at something up ahead.

You squinted in that general direction, trying to scope out what your fiancé was pointing at, and when you did, you gaped.

“Is that—” You didn’t even finish your sentence, too stunned at the sight of something you’ve never seen before. It was unnatural as it was beautiful.

“A Silver Deer,” confirmed the telekinesis prince, his voice lowered into a cautious whisper so he wouldn’t frighten the animal.

Judging by its size and appearance, the deer was a full-grown male. His silver-hued antlers seemed like a work of art—a sculpture that was elegantly carved upwards like twisting tree branches. The deer had a remarkable sepia-brown pelt dotted with chocolate spots outlined in silver streaks. His dark doe eyes instantly reminded you of another pair, coincidentally owned by the person pressed against your side. The animal was grazing on the mineral-enriched grass, radar ears flickering to any sound that may pose a threat to him.

“He’s so pretty,” you marveled. “His beauty reminds me of the unicorns.” Silver antlers glinted, bathed in golden sunlight that radiated from above.

“Silver Deers are as densely populated as unicorns,” Luhan quietly revealed, his face falling with remorse that wasn’t his to bear. “They usually stay in groups and never venture out during the afternoons.”

“This one is alone,” you noted, but when a particular thought crossed your mind, your lips twitched, fighting back a cheeky grin. “Maybe he’s your long-lost brother,” you joked.

Luhan reacted childishly. “Nuh-uh!”

“I want to pet it,” you said, ignoring your fiancé’s offended expression.

“Hmm...I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said the forest guardian apologetically. “They constantly evade people, so you wouldn’t have the chance to. Let’s move on.”

“Bye-bye,” you whispered regretfully. As if he heard you, the deer raised his chin in your direction and inclined his head. After doing so, he pranced off in the opposite direction.

“Sorry about the deer,” Luhan said sincerely. “How about I introduce you to different animals? The forest is stocked with them.”

You took up the offer with a musing twist of your facial features. “Do you have any wild cats here?” you asked.

The telekinesis prince sheepishly scratched his cheek as he admitted, “Yes...well, some mountain lions live up north near Xiumin’s mountains. Other wild cats take shelter in the highlands which are located in the north or south.” He shot you an adamant look. “But I will not be taking you to see any of them.”

“Oh, drat,” you sighed disappointedly, pouting to .

Luhan’s doe eyes bugged out of his eye sockets. “You like dangerous animals?”

“I like all kinds of animals!” you proclaimed with a giddy smile, and Luhan took the innocent response as a reassurance to relax.

Like your fiancé had promised, he went out of his way and did his best to appease you by introducing you to a wide variety of exotic animals. The most common type of creatures you could identify were a selected species of rabbits and birds—which were all adorable and intriguing. Once, you swore you saw the dashing figure of a unicorn streaking by in a rush. You recognized the butterfly Sehun showed you at his plains. Music suffused the forest air. The forest seemed to be singing, but in actuality, those were the indigenous songbirds. Throughout the entire land of trees, colorful, melodious little birds sang and trilled and chirped to their hearts’ content. It was beautiful to hear.

You and Luhan rested on a moss-covered boulder, watching the birds that danced and swooped from the treetops above. Smiling, your fiancé nudged you with his elbow gently, encouraging you, “Sing, they’ll respond.”

So to test his claim, you sang a wordless tune in your soft, velvet voice. The assonance carried out far and wide, as clear as a bell.

A few seconds later, the birds belted out their own musical response—a harmonious chorus. The immediate feedback made you giggle happily.

The forest guardian was exuberant by your joyous expression. He grinned, and said, “My turn.” Clearing his throat, he released a merry, “Na, na, na, na!” His voice was as soft as yours, but sounded clearer and sugary-sweet.

The winged creatures cheerfully tweeted back. Your eyes brightened. “Oh, I wish I had a bunch of them at home to sing with!” you exclaimed.

“Hm...” The telekinesis prince leaned closer to you—close enough to where you could count his eyelashes. “How about you just stay with me?” he suggested softly, attempting to charm you with his beauty. “I’m better than those songbirds. I’ll sing with and only you.”

An amused smirk adorned your lips and you copied his tactics, leaning in way too close for comfort to stare straight into his round eyes. Suddenly the roles were switched. You were the one charming him.

“I agree,” you whispered, almost crooning at him. The smooth movement of your plush lips as it formed words distracted the doe-eyed prince. He gulped. “But I see your little scheme,” you said. “Nice try, hun.” Luhan went cross-eyed when you poked the tip of his nose. He nearly whimpered as you straightened up, distancing yourself from him.

“It was worth a shot,” he sighed with a defeated shrug. Your perception and dry humor would be hard to penetrate, he speculated. The prince had raise up his standard to impress you. So that’s why he steered you to a hidden lake.

“Oh, wow!” you sang when the line of trees peeled apart to reveal a beautiful glade. Nature was bright and mirthful under the golden rays of sunlight. A border of trees outlined the circumference of the dell, enclosing it and also concealing it. Located in the center of the glade was a round lake glimmering with crystal clear water. Overall this place reminded you of the castle’s wishing well stashed away in the neighboring woods of the gardens. The resemblance was too striking.

Plopping down on the soft bed of grass, you and Luhan brought out the bread and crackers from your packs to feed them to the animals that tentatively scurried over. You giggled when a rabbit’s twitching nose tickled your hand as it nibbled off the offered food cupped in your palm. Having been admiring you for the whole time, Luhan could die of happiness at the sweet peals of your laughter—the sound was too rich and hearty. He continued to admire you as you tossed pieces of bread to the flock of ducks swimming in the lake. A blissful shine highlighted your angelic face. Your expression was of pure contentment.

She’s so full of life...full of warmth...full of love.

“Come here, Princess,” Luhan beckoned, tugging at your hand. You willingly laid next to him on the grass, his slender arm tucked around your slim waist, your cheek pressed against his as you nestled comfortably into his side. The two of you enjoyed the other’s warmth as you stared up at the baby blue sky, replaying the satisfying day you had. An absentminded thought of how overly clingy and eccentric Luhan was crossed your mind, but you let the odd behavior pass just this once. Nothing could ruin your wonderful playdate with him. Nothing.

Luhan’s loving gaze was fixated on your relaxed face as you let the sun warm your skin. The glow that bathed your form was breathtaking. I wish we were older, he thought suddenly. People would think we’re together—they’ll think you’re mine. I only want you to be in my arms and no one else’s. You can’t belong to anyone else, but me. If I was allowed one selfish wish, it’d be just that—having you.

Eventually your breathing slowed into a languid pace, signaling that you had fallen asleep. Your fiancé chuckled, thinking how cute you were. Lifting his free hand, he brushed aside your bangs that spilled over your precious, dozing face. His fingers traced downwards to linger at the bottom curve of your full, plush lips. The gears of his body switched into automatic as he slowly leaned forward and...

...kissed the corner of your mouth.

“One day, I’ll kiss you on the lips,” he murmured, his own lips hovering a hairbreadth away from yours. When he blinked, his lashes swept your cheeks, indicating how close your faces were. You sighed in your sleep, but did not stir. Luhan smiled adoringly. “I’ll wait forever if I have to.” Pressing his cheek once again to yours, he finally fell asleep with you snuggled up against his side.

It was a picture of two angels lying on a soft bed of emerald grass, with the sun smiling down at them and the sky to greet them when they woke up.

One day, we’ll be taller, older...maturer. One day you’ll realize how much I love you. I’ll wait for that one day.

...