Print Page - Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]

The Hello! Project Fanfics => H!P Fanfics => Topic started by: caiyunki on January 02, 2012, 08:36:36 PM

Title: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on January 02, 2012, 08:36:36 PM

Hihi! :welcome Everyone! I am back with a new fiction, absolutely different from all stories I had ever written! Well, it's being requested by some~~thing~~one about writing something that I had never thought I would be able to. With that request in my mind, I had came up with a rough storyline, and together with some constructive comments and ideas given by her, the commerce of the story began. And of course, with me, the main coupling of this story will definitely be AiGaki :) After much seriously from the past two stories, this current one will be a light comedy, which is something I'm trying for the first time. Hopefully I will be able to bring out the fun parts as planned.

And here we go. . .

Before I start, let me disclaim:
Risa in this story will be a male.
Ai will take after Ikuta as her last name instead of Takahashi.

(http://i.imgur.com/mEiri.jpg) (http://imgur.com/mEiri)

Strawberry Penguin. . .

An Unexpected Meeting
An Unexpected Love
An Unexpected Destiny

Niigaki Risa, Best known as Prince Gaki in the Land of Penguin, is the current Heir to the throne of the Land of Penguin.
Ikuta Ai, a yokel living in the outskirts of the Land of Strawberry.

What would happens when two from totally different world met each other in a most embarrassing way?
From meeting, till falling in love,
Would the destiny draws up a perfect ending for them?

That's what Strawberry Penguin is about.
Let the journey sail on. . .

[ 0 ] - The Unexpected Meeting

"My Father," Risa kneeled before his father king, bowing forward, paying respect to his reigning father as he greeted. "Can I ask of you for a request before I follow your promise of the marriage to the late General's Daughter?"

"Yes my son. Just speak your mind." Niigaki Rina, the current king of Land of Penguin allowed, while signalling Risa to get up back to his feet.

"Father, I would like to take a year of absence from to court. I would like to explore the country, while I still have the freedom to, before the day that I step up onto the throne, fulfilling the marriage?"

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"Erina? Where are you?" Ai called out for her little sister while moving around the small spaces within the wooden hut. Both Ai and Erina had stayed alone together in this wooden hut left behind by Ikuta Papa and Ikuta Mama after they had passed on. That was 8 years ago, and the young Ai, at the shy age of 18, had took the whole responsibility to take care of her barely 7 year old younger sister. They had managed to survived without their parents, all thanks to the earnings from selling the strawberries that they grew at their 10 hectares worth of land in their backyard. Though that, the earnings had barely kept them alive, due to the fact that almost half of the harvest had ended in their stomach, rather than in the marketplace. Their love for strawberries were not comparable to the normal public.

"I'm over here!" Erina replied, as she came out of her room, rubbing her eyes tiredly. Obvious to Ai, Erina had just awaken from her afternoon nap.

"Come on, get wash up! Let's explore the mountainous skirt today to see if we could find fertile soils for the cultivation of the next batch of strawberries." Ai rushed, as she pushed her younger sister into the ridiculously small toilet outside the hut, only furnished with a simple sink and toilet bowl, that lacks the use of automatic water flush system.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Prince Gaki, are you sure that it is alright for you to go out of the palace alone to explore the country?" Young guard, Suzuki Kanon asked as he sent Risa out of the palace gates. "Kanon can accompany Prince Gaki for trip, protecting you from dangers if you like me to do so." Kanon offered, as he crossed his right arm towards his left chest, bowing down in respect to the Prince.

"I want to do this alone, Kanon." Risa replied, placing a soft pat on the top of the young guard's head. "This would probably be the last time I can do something by myself." Risa continued. "I want to make this trip a memorable one." Risa finished.

"But Prince Gaki - " Kanon tried to persuade Risa, knowing that the 23 year old young Prince had knew nothing about taking care of himself.

"Say nothing, Kanon. I know your intentions. That's one of the purpose of my trip as well. I want to grow independent. I want to mature into a good man, a good ruler whom the people of the Land of Penguin can trust their life into the my hands." Risa further explained. The sadness on Kanon's face deepens as Risa moved his hand down onto Kanon's shoulder. "Remember to stand up for yourself when you are being bullied by your fellow generation." Risa encouraged, knowing that the younger guard was often the target of teasing, due to his age and his height, by his fellow guards in the palace. It was said that Risa was his only friend in the entire palace.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ai-nee, the soil over at this region looks nice! I'm pretty sure that it can harvest the sweetest strawberry produced by the Land of Strawberry?" Erina chirped loudly in excitement as she linked onto Ai's arm.

"Yes, I'm sure it will!" Ai agreed, standing back onto her feet, dusting the soils residues that where left on her hand.

"If that's the case, I will ask Miki-nii to send some men over to help us bring part of the land over here back to the fields." Erina suggested, only to be stopped by Ai.

"No, you shall not." Ai stopped.

"Why is that so, Ai-nee?" Erina enquired curiously.

"Let's stop troubling Miki, shall we? He does not have the responsibility to help us out each time when we have troubles. Plus, who said that I alone can't bring the whole of this land back to the field?"

"Eh, Ai-nee, are you sure you are going to carry them back alone by yourself?" Erina puzzled, unable to believe that Ai had actually said that.

"Did anyone had stated any rule that only men can carry stuffs? Your Ai-nee is strong enough to carry them by myself. I don't want to trouble Miki too much." Ai finished and begin to take her lead back to their hut. Just then, the sound of the water fall caught Ai's attention. "Erina, do you want to catch a bath over at the waterfall spring right ahead before returning home?"

"Eh? Taking a bath in the wilderness? Are you crazy, Ai-nee?" Erina rejected the offer right into Ai's face. "I would rather go home and bring in the bucket to bring the water back home. Though the toilet is small, at least there's something covering my dignity." With that, Erina began to head towards the direction of home, leaving Ai standing alone back at her original position.

"Fine, I can take it on my own." With that, Ai head towards the opposite direction Erina had went and stopped before the waterfall. She removed her shoes and began to test the water temperature with her feet. "The water is cool!" Ai exclaimed, unable to keep the excitement just within herself. She untied her bun, allowing her long hair to cascade down her shoulder before beginning to further remove her clothing, including her undergarments, leaving them on the bank before sliding down into the cool water of the waterfall spring. She then got into the deeper waters, submerging her whole body into the clear water. With her back facing where she had entered in, Ai grabbed the ends of her long hair to the front and began to rub them gently, washing them with the clear water she's now submerged into.

Couple of moments later, Ai heard some shuffling from the back, followed by some movement of water. Thinking that it was her younger sister, Ai stood up and turned around. "Erina, can you - ARRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH "

Just a short teaser for the story. :) Hope that it had caught your attention.
Anyway, just as the Graduation of Risa had been announced, I hope that I would have the will to finish this all smiling , before I get too depressed as Risa's graduation draws near.

Let me hear your opinion about the story so far. :)

About search, I will reply the comments when I find the time to :) heheh
prob in a day time or two :)

De wa, Until the next time then ^.^
hehehhee

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 0 - 3rd January 2012 ]
Post by: kawaii beam on January 02, 2012, 08:51:12 PM

glad to see your gonna make a cheerful fic this time! looks pretty cute lol prince dependent wanting to be indipendent gaki and cute eripon and ai-chan~ seems to be just perfect lol plus i wonder how ai's gonna defend herself about this now? XDDD are tehre any rocks nearby to throw? XDDD

i agree that risa's graduation announcemnt is really shocking but we have 5 months, lets make everyday a cheerful one~ and thsi story cheered me up a bit from my gloom so thanks^^

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 0 - 3rd January 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 03, 2012, 01:06:59 AM

I was hoping to see a fluff/comedy peice pop up, needed something to sheer me up. You never fail to deliver cai!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 0 - 3rd January 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on January 03, 2012, 11:52:20 AM

Did a Prince Gaki just walked into an Ai-chan? LOL This is interesting. xD Whenever I see 'The Land of Penguin' I start laughing. xDDDD I don't know why but I just... I just start laughing... LOLOLOLOL. Crap I can't hold it in. xDDDD I guess just the thought of Land of Penguin and then King Gaki LOLOLOLOL. xDD

I can't wait for the rest! *hides back into the darkness still rofling...*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 0 - 3rd January 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on January 03, 2012, 01:25:23 PM

PENGUIN!! STRAWBERRIES! Which is better? I definitely like risa as a male. But did she just saw ai... Naked? Whoops. My dear ai, RUN!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 0 - 3rd January 2012 ]
Post by: alwaysYou on January 03, 2012, 03:04:06 PM

fufu..*pop out to comment*

why do u have to stop there?!
I think Gakisan will be shock by Aichan scream rather then stun by Aichan body :lol:
So this prince will most likely be staying around Aichan area or even Aichan place ritz..i seeing Eripon inviting Gakisan to stay over while Aichan goes mad at the same time.. :lol:

next chp plssss

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 0 - 3rd January 2012 ]
Post by: Sora-chan on January 03, 2012, 10:04:18 PM

Ehhhh, I wonder did Gaki already catch Ai like that.... O_O lol

Alright, Im hooked xD Please continue~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 0 - 3rd January 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on January 04, 2012, 06:44:10 PM

1 - Penguin

"Where am I?" Risa muttered to himself as he wiped away the trails of sweat on his forehead with the sleeves of his thick clothing. 'This is getting a little warm. . . ' Risa tugged his collar, loosened it slightly before rolling his sleeves up to his elbow. 'I don't remember the temperature rising up to such a high temperature in Land of Penguin. . . Could it be that I'm already out of the Penguin land?" Risa panicked in his mind. He turned around and glanced around the wide horizon he had came from. 'Did I managed to loss my way?' Risa thought worriedly in his mind. Risa sighed heavily as he turned back. There was no other way he could go, except to advance forward where he had been advancing all along.

The sun continues to shine brightly, causing the young prince to feel extreme dryness at his throat. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, hoping that would quench his thirst. The faint echo of splashing water caught Risa's attention. With his thirst for water, he began to head towards the source of said sound, in brisk steps, anticipating a good water feast for his very much dehydrated body. And when he did, he rejoiced. He ran quickly forward, squatted down and tested the water temperature with the back of his palm. The coolness of the water added excitement. Connecting his two palms together, Risa scooped a handful of the water out of the waterfall spring and bring it to his face. The clearness and scent of freshness of the water appealed to Risa. He brought his hands to his mouth and drank a mouthful of the water. Just as he did, a feminine voice echoed from ahead of him, shocking the poor dehydrated young prince.

"Erina, can you - ARRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH"

The feminine voice turned manly. Ai immediately sat her body back into the water, hoping that that would cover her dignity from Risa. On the other hand, Risa stood and took a few steps away, passing by the sets of clothing left behind by Ai and squatted back onto the ground, covering his eyes. "I saw nothing!" Risa exclaimed as she furiously hid his face behind his hands. "I'd seen nothing." Risa muttered repeatedly. Redness flushed his pale face while he took some deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

Ai, on the other hand, splashing water and came onto the bank, grabbed onto her clothing on the ground, draped it loosely around her chest, covering her dignity up properly. With that, She head towards the squatting male on the ground and wrapped her arm across Risa's neck, pulling him up from his squatting position, pinning the slightly taller Risa close to her chest and tightened her hold. "Say, what are you doing here? Why are you peeking?" Ai demanded with an extra hold, almost choking the younger.

"I'm - I'm - not - " Risa tried to replied, through choking syllabus, as the supply of oxygen to the lung stopped.

"Still denying? I caught you watching!" Ai continued, giving no chance for Risa to explain for himself.

"I - wasn't -" Risa struggled. Ai took a step backward as Risa's weight was pushed onto her body, causing the loosely bounded clothing to fall. Though that, Ai made no notice of that. Just then, Erina walked in to the situation, only to be shocked by that situation - her elder sister taking control of a unknown male. Erina was awed and shocked.

"Ai-nee, your -" Erina called out, successfully got Ai's attention. She pointed to Ai's body then the abandoned clothes on the ground. Ai looked down, only to finally realise that the cloth she used to cover her body up no longer there. In shock, she loosened her grip at Risa's neck. On the other hand, Risa, being curious about what had happened, turned around and peeked curiously, only to receive a painful smack on the head.

"Don't you look!" Ai scolded as she flustered in red in embarrassment. Risa turned away and hunkered back down immediately, hiding his head instinctively, in fear that a second smack on the head will arrive.

'She is so different from every other ladies I have ever seen and met in my life. . . ' Risa thought silently in his mind as he squirmed. The squirming caused another hit on his head.

"Didn't I asked you not to look?" Ai ticked off while Erina came to her slide, helping Ai to put onto her garments in a proper way.

"I wasn't. . ." Risa muttered inaudibly as he hid his head. His instinct were telling him that if he continues to speak, he would have ended up with more bruises.

"If you wasn't, why are you moving?" Ai replied loudly, shocking Risa.

'You mean she can hear me just now? She is really different from every other girls I had met. . . The ladies in the palace are always very well mannered and greeted me with respect wherever I go. Well, even outside the palace, people still treats me like a normal guy and smiled at me. . . This is the first time someone had scolded me, let alone to hit me. . . Hmmm . . . Now. . . She's interesting. . . ' Risa dazed in his mind. "I was just trying to -" Before Risa could finish his sentence, the third smack was introduced, even more painful than the previous two. "Ouch. . . " Risa hissed silently in pain.

"Excuses." Ai interrupted after the hit, giving Risa no chance to explain for himself. "You were definitely trying to peek on me, pervert!" Ai exclaimed.

"Ai-nee, don't be so mean to him." Erina tried to help, but had failed. She had been swayed by the young prince at the first sight. Though the difference in age, Erina was very attracted to Risa. 'He is kind of cute. . .' Erina thought shyly in her mind. "I'm pretty sure that he wasn't peeking you on purpose." Erina continued, though the explanation was not helping Risa in anyway.

"Not peeking on purpose is still peeking." Ai argued and reasoned, unable to give in to Erina's explanation. With Ai properly dressed up, hair still dripping wet, Ai pulled the poor guy up from the ground and forced Risa to look at her eye to eye. "Say, who are you? What's your name?" Ai demanded fiercely.

Risa gulped in fear at the penetrating stare Ai was giving him. As the stare Ai gave intensified, Risa felt her head getting heavier. 'It must be from the heat. . . ' Risa cleared his throat lightly, before croaking in fear, "Pen. . . Pen . . . Pen . . .Guin. . ." Before Risa could finish his 'ians', Ai had interrupted him straight.

"Penguin?" Ai raised her voice as her brows furrowed. "Are you kidding me?!" Ai continued in her loud voice, continuing with a usual slap on Risa's forehead.

"I am -" Risa wanted to refute, but quickly backed away as she saw the risen hand of Ai. "not kidding you. . . " Risa ended off silently. And the hand did land. Though it was the lightest among all he had received today.

"Penguin? Isn't that a cute name?" Erina chirped, unable to understand the atmosphere at that particular moment. Ai turned around and looked helplessly at Erina.

"You just don't get it, don't you?" Ai sighed helplessly.

"Hmm?" Erina titled her head, unable to understand what her elder sister had just said.

"It's alright if you don't get it, Erina. Let's leave." Ai informed, holding on to Erina's hand and began to lead her away from Risa.

Erina kept looking back, looking at the feeble Risa, still in his daze. "Ai-nee, are we really going to leave him like this? He looks really pale, doesn't him?" Erina concerned.

Ai turned back and finally realised the paleness of the young prince.

"Can I ask you a question?" Risa croaked, sensing the presence of two around him. He felt his world spinning. The heaviness of his head increased. "Where am I?"

"The Land of Strawberry?" Erina replied effortlessly.

"Land of Strawberry?" Risa repeated. 'You mean. . . I had actually walked all the way to the Land of Strawberry, without me even noticing it?' Risa thought in his mind unbelievingly. The very next moment, his world went total black after he had lost the battle to the headache.

@ kawaii beam : Hahah. Ai chosed the most 'stupid' way to. . . hiding herself under the water. . . Hahahah Let's smile! perhaps. . .this could be a sign that a AiGaki duo coming up . . .Hopefully :D heheh

@ rndmnwierd : Hope that this chapter will cheer you up a little :S hehehe. just a poor gaki being beaten up by a violent Ai. . . hehehe

@ arisa03 : Yuppps. heheh. if the Land of Penguin cracks you up, how about Prince Gaki having Penguin as his nickname?? HEHE

@ risa_ai : Hi there!! :) nice to see a new reader here!! ^.^ heheheheh. instead of ai run? i guess after this chapter, gaki is the one who needs to run, isn't that so ?? :X HEHEHE

@ alwaysYou : You better comment lor!! HAHAHAH Now that Gaki had fainted, guess what will happen next? ;X wuahahahahah

@ Sora-chan : Hahah. yes, he did :X hope that you will enjoy this chapter of 'violence' ;X

the chapter itself is rather choppy. . .hopefully it's only for the start. . :) HEHEH
De wa, until next chapter then!
Off to reply comments of SEARCH! heheheh :)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 1 - 5th January 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 05, 2012, 12:02:44 AM

He likes the beatings, lol, i know it. I wonder if Ai will feel bad at all? XD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 1 - 5th January 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on January 05, 2012, 01:18:12 AM

WHAT IS THIS PENGUIN; I DON'T EVEN. LOLOLOLOLOL Sir Penguin. LOOOL. Do I sense some sort of sibling rivalry? Oho~? and what would Ai-chan do that her beloved penguin had collapsed right under her nose. And the fact that Gaki might have actually drank the water that had just passed Ai-chan's body... I feel like it would just spite her more. LOL.

I wonder how far the land of strawberry is from the land of penguin. XD and commenting through iPod is so hard OTL. Update soon Cai-san! We need more Prince Penguin >xDDDDDD * goes back to lurking while dying of laughter...*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 1 - 5th January 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on January 05, 2012, 08:46:56 AM

GO PENGUIN GAKI!! I think ai would fall in love when she realises his name is Risa. :D Dear ai, fall in love quickly! Don't let erina beat you to it!! <3

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 1 - 5th January 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on January 06, 2012, 07:09:43 PM

[ 2 - Strawberry ]

"Ai-nee, be careful!" Erna warned as she watched Ai from the back.

"Erina, get the door open." Ai requested, almost stumbling forward. The weight of the penguin on her back was putting more pressure on her knees, causing her wobbliness and unstable movements.

"Coming!" Erina responded, passing over Ai and rushed as she prepared the opened door requested by Ai.

Upon reaching the door, Ai almost fell forward, only to be saved by Erina from the fall. "Ai-nee, are you alright?" Erina went forward and held onto Ai as she concerned.

"I'm good. . . " Ai clenched her teeth and muttered in a low voice. She stabilised the out of conscious Risa on her back properly before staggering into the house. Once in the house, Ai dropped Risa heavily on the ground, with a loud thud echoing throughout the reasonably sized common living space as his head came in contact to the wooden floor. "Opps." Ai whispered softly, sticking her tongue out a little as she heard the thud.

"Ai-nee, be gently!" Erina reprimanded gently as she got her knees onto the ground, checking the young gentlemen for any swollen bump resulted for the previous fall. "Ai-nee! There's a big bump over here!" Erina cried out as she turned over and look into Ai. Ai on the other hand was resting her palm on her knees, bent over, panting as she tried to recover herself from the strenuous exercise she had just did.

"There's nothing to cry out for, Erina, it's just a simple bump!" Ai replied through her panting. She squatted onto the ground and began to fan herself with her hands, hoping that would help to reduce the heat that was emitting out from her face.

"But he's not waking up!" Erina continued squealing, being worried about the unconscious Risa.

"I'm guessing this stupid penguin had fainted from heat stroke. It's nothing serious." Ai came beside Erina and bent over to the same level as her. "He must be really crazy." Ai continued as she ran her hands over the long thick clothing Risa wore. "To think he had wore these kind of clothes in this weather." Ai snickered as she slapped the chest she had just touched. Ai strolled towards the kitchen and took a jug of water with her, as well as a basket of fresh strawberries in the other hand and returned back to Erina. "Rehydrate him. I will reached down to the marketplace and sell our stocks for today." Ai ordered gently. With that, she shouldered the basket over her shoulders and walked out of the hut, heading her way out to the market place which is located approximately an hour walk away.

As Erina bided goodbye to her elder sister, she caringly began to nurse the unconscious man with plain water, as ordered by her sister. 'He's definitely suave. . . This is my first time seeing someone who has so much elegance in their features, let alone in an unconscious state, where it's the most unguarded expression of their real self. . .' Erina admired in her young mind.

By the time Ai returned from the market place, it was already pitched dark outside. Erina had already settled her dinner by herself - the usual meal of fresh strawberries dipped in maple syrup, the style taught by Ai when she was only 7 and she loved it immediately. She had always stayed at home alone when Ai goes to the market place, doing some self study with materials brought to her by Miki. Ai had always rejected the idea of bringing Erina into the market place. She claimed that Erina was too young for that place - it was not safe to bring her with her. Knowing that Ai was truly concerned and worried about her safely, Erina made no refusal about the decision, even though her one biggest wish deep within her heart, is to go into the market place with Ai. She wanted to help Ai in selling, reducing the pressure and stress about having to earn enough money to keep the two siblings alive.

"Erina, I'm back. . ." Ai whispered softly. The whole hut was in total darkness. The electric lamp was not switched on, making Ai to assume that Erina was already asleep.

"Ai-nee!" Erina greeted. She stood up from her seat and began to navigate her way without any troubles in the dark to where Ai was standing. "Welcome back." Erina continued as she hugged her elder sister. It was the usual habit of Erina, to cling onto her sister after long hours of separation. "How was the sales today?" Erina concerned.

"It was great." Ai replied, putting down the empty basket that she had carried on her back. "There are all out. Have you eaten? Why didn't you switched on the lights? I thought you were asleep." Ai continued as she walked further in into the deeps of the hut.

"Yupps." Erina responded to the first question before turning away shyly to reply the second. "I thought I could save you some electricity bills." Erina explained.

"That's not something to worry about, Erina. It's necessity." Ai explained. Erina nodded her head lightly as she released her hold on her elder sister. "Has that penguin awakened?" Ai asked while returning the empty basket into the compartmentalised area known as the kitchen. Erina shook her head as she yawned unexpectedly.

"I had fed him the whole jug of water and he had yet to wake." Erina further explained. Yet another yawn had caught up with her.

"You're tired. You should retired early." Ai stated. "I can take over from here." Ai continued, pushing Erina back into her bedroom.

"But Ai-nee, you had been working all day out at the market place, aren't you more -" Erina refused to move. She knew that her sister was much more tired that what she herself was and all she wanted was to help her sister to lessen the number of things she needs to do.

"I still can take it. You are still growing up. Sleep is the most important to you. I'm sure you would still want to grow taller, don't you? If you keep depriving yourself with sleep you need, you will grow as short as I am, do you understand?" Ai bluffed, hoping Erina will buy her story.

"Really?" Erina raised a tone higher, in surprise with the logic about height and sleep.

"I guessed so? " Ai replied ambiguously. "So go and sleep." Ai gave a final push, causing Erina to fall straight into her bedroom. Ai shut the wooden compartment immediately. She returned back to the kitchen and took a package out from the apparent empty basket. With that in her hand, she walked back to where Risa was and squatted down onto the ground, where she began to change Risa's clothing out and into a set of thinner and cooler clothing - which are more suitable to the climate in Land of Strawberry. Without going through the contents of the thick clothing, Ai folded it up and placed it on the wooden chair. "Why aren't you waking up? I thought you should have gotten the amount of water that is required for your rehydration." Ai asked the cataleptic Risa. "Hmmm. Maybe you are lacking some sugars." Ai concluded.

With that, Ai stood up back onto her feet and into the kitchen, where she began to chop up the strawberries she retrieved from the simple fridge. After chopping the strawberries into small pieces, she placed them in between a clean cloth and began to squeeze the juice into an empty cup. When she was done with it, she further added a teaspoon of maple syrup into the cup the juice. With the cup in her hand, she returned back to where Risa was.

As she attempted to pour a little of the juice into Risa's mouth, more than expected had came, spilling all over the bean sized face. That caused the unconscious prince to wake up from his faint.

"What was that?!" That was the first thing Risa uttered. He tasted the traces that were left on his face and a frown came immediately. "What was that?!" Risa demanded.

"You are finally awake, I see. If I had knew that this would wake you up, I should had asked Erina to pour that whole jug of water onto your face instead of having to feed them into your mouth." Ai spoke.

"What was that?" Risa asked the third time, apparently ignoring the rather sarcastic statements made by Ai. "What did you just fed me?"

"Strawberry juice with maple syrup." Ai replied.

"Strawberry? What's that?" Risa stuck his tongue out. "It's awful" Came the next statement. "Water!" Risa cried out, hoping water would wash away the tinging taste on his tongue.

"Strawberry being awful?" Ai shot her eyes wide open. "That's unbelievable!" Ai cried in exasperation. "To think that there will be a person in the Land of Strawberry who actually hates strawberry, that's unbelievable! It's the best creation ever! By whosoever!"

"It's the best creation ever? Are you kidding me?" Risa retorted, only to shrink back when he saw the raising hand of Ai. "I didn't mean it." Risa buttered. And when Ai's hand returned back to her side, Risa went relieved. And that was when he had noticed something different about himself. "Who changed me? Where are my old clothing?" Risa asked in panic as he raised his head and looked into Ai.

"About your clothes, are you even crazy?" Ai ignored Risa's question and began her lecturing. "To think you had wore that clothes when it's crazily warm today?"

"Why are my clothes?" Risa went the same pattern.

"We dragged you all the way back and tore your clothes. So I took the old clothing from the neighbour next door and changed it for you." Ai informed.

"So where's that sets of clothe- Wait, did you say you changed me?" Risa realised.

"Who else?" Ai replied short and sweet.

"How can you changed me without my permission? Who said that you can change me? You - you - you - saw me NAKED!" Risa finally reacted.

Ai shot a venomous stare at Risa as the reaction exploded. "If that's what you had cared about, I should have left you cooked in that warm clothes."

"It's not that!" Risa got back onto his feet and refuted. Ai followed suit and got back onto her feet as well. The pair, with a rather similar height, had begin a staring war. "How can you undress someone who his or her permission? And it's NAKED! Get it?!" Risa fought strongly.

"You had too seen me naked this afternoon, didn't you? So now we are even." Ai rebutted.

"No I did not!" Risa clenched his teeth tightly and bit.

"Then I saw nothing when I changed you!" Ai followed the same way, crossing her arms with attitude.

"There's no way that you saw nothing! You are lying!"

"Then you are lying too!"

"I did not! I only saw your ches-" Risa finally realised what he was saying. A red flush was formed on his cheek immediately, after remembering what he had saw in the afternoon. He gulped a mouthful of saliva, trying to peace out his racing heart. These actions did not remained unnoticed by Ai.

"Pervert!" Ai smacked Risa's head with a brutal force, unexpectedly, causing Risa to fall onto the ground from the impact of the hit. Ai turned away, with the same redness on her cheeks. Heat was running hot at her cheeks as well. She turned over and grabbed the clothes set she had just folded and threw it at Risa. "There! This is the clothes you wanted! I want to you to be out of my sight when morning comes!" With that, she stomped her way back into her room, leaving a pain infested Risa on the ground, with his clothes over his head.

"I had forgotten. . ." Risa muttered to himself as he pushed the clothes away from his head and rubbed the hit area gently. The argument went way too heated that it had slipped out of his mind, the violence tendencies of his opponent. "This is the fourth time today. . . " Risa recounted.

When the pain eased, Risa began to check his old clothing. Searching through the pocket for the important item, Risa sighed in relieve when he found his royal badge, still intact in its original position. "Thank goodness!" Risa cried in relieve. His hands ran though the clothing again, removing all valuables out of them and transferred to the one who was wearing right at that moment. "Wait, it wasn't even torn in the first place." Risa finally realised.

'Didn't she said that they had tore the clothes when they dragged me back from the mountains? But it's as good as what it was!' Risa flipped the clothes side to side, back to front. 'She lied? But why?' Risa thought curiously in his mind. 'Just as I thought, she's an interesting lady. . . '

@ rndmnwierd : hahahah. yes, i'm guessing that the penguin will grow to enjoy the abuse he's receiving :X hehehehe
HAHAHHAHA, that, I wonder too! >.<

@ arisa03 : Yupps, there's indeed siblings rivalry, in this story, though not in a negative way :) heheh Hmmmm. i think it shouldn't be really far away. Let's say Ai is staying at the borders of the land of Strawberry :) hehehe

@ risa_ai : I'm pretty sure that Erina had did fallen in love with the prince. . . though . .. HEHEHHEHE :)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 2 - 7th January 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 06, 2012, 07:32:00 PM

Abusive!Ai is so :inlove: :lol:

Also, Erina is totally taken by the Prince Gaki, I wonder if that will make Ai jealous...? Since she's obviously not sorry for hitting him, lol. She's actually concerned about him, though, even though her saw her, uh, bits... :lol: How will he get to stay? Will his status get found out early on or will he lie his butt off?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 2 - 7th January 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on January 07, 2012, 12:01:04 AM

I forever go "Ooh!" whenever Ai-chan gets to hit Gaki-san successfully. And then all my laughs. LOL. Poor Gaki-san. xD I wonder how Ai-chan changed this Penguin's clothing without seeing 'anything' 8D. But if Ai-chan asks Gaki-san to leave. o A o where would he go? ; A ; But that was an interesting chapter, stubborn Ai-chan is stubborn. xD Gaki-san should just stay there. I'm sure Ai-chan could pretty much use Gaki-san's... manliness. xD When going to the market or picking up strawberries.

And whichever Gaki reacted about the strawberry and maple syrup... now I wonder if it really does taste nice. I should try. xD Thanks for the awesome update, Caiyunki-san! xD Update soon! *delurks while LOL-ing at the stupid penguin rofl.*

So we're going to have some cute, sibling rivalry? o A o and a Gaki-san looking at them happily then getting hit later for no reason? LOL.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 2 - 7th January 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on January 07, 2012, 09:23:35 AM

GO AI!! Show him that you DO love him! :) aww... Adorable takagaki couple squabbles. XD I want risa to give ai a kiss to thank her! :wriggly:
But nevertheless, good job author-san, and update soon!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 2 - 7th January 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on January 12, 2012, 09:06:13 PM

[ 3 - Ai ]

"Good Morning!" Risa greeted when he saw Erina getting out of her room while rubbing her eyes tiredly.

Erina blinked her eyes speedily, hoping that would clear her vision. She was shocked to hear a voice other than her sister to greet her morning. And when she did, there she saw Risa, sat upright on the wooden chair, knee to knee and ankle to ankle, smiling awkwardly at Erina. Erina hurriedly arranged her messy hair, pulling the locks near to her neck and returned the greet. "Good Morning. . . " Erina returned rather shyly.

A moment of awkward silence remained in the room, as Erina continued staring at Risa, and Risa, with his hands on his knees, staring at his hands.

"Are you okay?" Erina concerned as she noted the Risa's strange behaviour.

Risa nodded his head before continuing. "Can I ask you a question?" Risa asked politely. Erina nodded her head lightly, allowing Risa to ask the question he had wanted to. "Can I ask. . . Where's the washroom?" That was asked in a rather low and soft voice. 'It's getting a little urgent over here. . .' Risa continued in his mind.

"It's at the first right turn after the exit." Erina informed. Risa stood up in a rush after receiving the response he wanted and sprinted straight to the instructed direction.

"Thank you!" Risa managed to utter before he disappeared in the hut. Within seconds, he returned back to the hut, with an astonished expression painted on his face. "The . . . washroom . . . no flush system?" Risa stuttered in shock.

Erina looked from her right, then to her left before turning her attention back to Risa, giving Risa a gentle nod on the head. "Ai-nee is still trying to save the money to upgrade the water system of the washroom." Erina replied honesty.

"But - how - it's so unhy - " Risa wanted to reason, but failed to as he felt his bladder was going to burst in any moments. With that, he raced back into the washroom.

While Risa was in the bathroom, Erina made her way to the kitchen and washed some strawberries up, putting them into a bowl. With the bowl in wrapped between her arm and her chest, Erina returned to the living, just as the same time Risa returned back from the washroom. Erina picked up one and began munching on it before offering the bowl to Risa. "Would you like to have a piece?" Erina asked politely.

"Is this the strawberry?" Risa asked as she peeked into the contents of the bowl. Erina nodded her head, resulting in Risa, shaking her head hurriedly at the sight of the red fruit. "No thanks." Risa rejected the offer.

"Penguin, are you feeling better already?" Erina concerned.

"I am. . . though I feel a little hump on the back of my head. . . " That sentence had made Erina wanting to hide her face inside the bowl. She had absolutely understood how that hump and came about. It's no certain that she can tell the penguin how he had acquired that bump. "I guess I had gotten that when I fainted on the ground yesterday afternoon."Risa suggested by himself. "Thank you for your concern anyway, . . .. Erina. . . Am I right? Is that your name? Since I heard your sister calling you by that name."

"That's right, Penguin. That's my name. To be precise, it's Ikuta Erina" Erina chirped.

"Wait, did you just call me penguin?" Risa interrupted, giving Erina an unbelievable expression on his bean sized face.

"Isn't that your name? That's what you had told Ai-nee when she had asked you for your name. . . " Erina asked innocently, blinking her eyes a couple of time.

"I - " Risa wanted to tell her that was not his name. But he too had knew that he was not supposed to reveal his real name, as that would reveal his identity, not mattering the fact that he was already out of the Land of Penguin. At current, he could think of a better name for himself too. "Yah, that's my name." In embarrassment, Risa rubbed the back of his head, only to press on the bump, causing him to hiss lightly in pain.

Erina burst out into giggles at the action and reaction, bringing Risa into a rather awkward laughing as well. Though that, it did not last. The honest laughter of Erina had managed to make the awkwardness disappear.

"So, how old are you?" Risa asked curiously, in between his short laughter.

"I'm fourteen."

"Fourteen? So young? What about your sister?" Risa continued questioning, hoping Erina would fill up the empty spaces of his bag of curiosity about Ai.

"Ikuta Ai, twenty five years old." Erina answered without hesitation.

'Ai? Such a sweet name? But her actions are nowhere as near as her name is. . . ' Risa reflected playfully in his mind. "25 years old? That's 11 years old difference!" Risa amused.

Erina nodded her head slowly. "That's why Ai-nee is like a second mother to me. . . " Erina continued shyly and quietly, before popping another piece of strawberry into her mouth. "You looked nicer in this set of clothing. . . " Erina continued.

Risa looked down at the set of clothes before replying. "Really?" Risa asked in a doubt tone. "Your sister told me that they were from your neighbour." Risa continued.

"Eh?" Erina stopped the incoming strawberry in the air and stared at Risa with a confusion expression. "Neighbour?"

Risa nodded her head in response and tilted his head, not understanding the confusion Erina was experiencing.

"We don't have any neighbours over here . . ." Erina explained. "We are the only family staying within the 100 metres perimetre."

"Hmmm?" It was Risa's turn to be shock. 'You mean that was a lie again? Why would she even want to try to hide that. . . Hmmm. . . Indeed she's an interesting women. She's indeed the special one in a million I had ever met. . . If only I have not had the arrange marriage. . . '

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ah~~" Ai winced in pain as she turned about in her bed. She struggled to get her eyes open as the striking daylight from the sun shone into the room. "What time is it already?"Ai moaned tiredly to herself, finding the light in the room was way too bright for her intended waking time. She reached for the alarm clock and checked the time. Her eyes went wide open at the time. "This late already?" Ai exclaimed. She climbed off the bed, wincing at the aching muscles. "I'm supposed to return back to the mountain to retrieve the soils. . ." Ai continued mumbling to herself. "Erina, why didn't you -" Ai pulled her room door open as she shouted out for her younger sister.

"What are you still doing here?" Ai demanded as she pointed her index finger at the sitting figure on the chair the moment the door was wide opened. "Didn't I told you that I want you to be out of my sight when morning comes? What are you still doing here?" Ai repeated, still pointing. The sudden vigorous caused her to pull her aching muscle. Though that, she did not allow the inflicted pain to show on her face.

"Ai-nee, you are up!" Erina squeaked happily as she gotten up from the seat beside Risa and ran towards her sister at the door.

"Why didn't you wake me up? There's a huge load of work that has to be done today." Ai reprimanded lightly, hitting Erina's forehead softly and lovingly.

"I knew that Ai-nee is tired from yesterday. . . That's was why I did not wanted to disturb you from your sleep." Erina replied honestly, still munching on her bowl of strawberries. She too had offered Ai the bowl, from which Ai took a piece and bit into it. "Isn't it sweet?"

Ai nodded her head. She turned her attention back to Risa. "So what are you still doing here? Looking for more beating? Didn't I made myself very clear last night?" Ai rattled towards Risa.

"I - I - " Risa stuttered, obviously still frighten about the violence tendency strawberry lady before her.

"Ai-nee, let him stay with us." Erina suggested suddenly, obviously unable to read the current atmosphere in the room.

"Eh?" Ai turned around in awe, surprised at the suggestion made by Erina.

"Penguin has no place to go. . . Isn't that so sad? Let him stay with us, Ai-nee. . . He can help us with the farming work too as well. It's always tough when it's just the both of us, especially during the harvest. Would it be better to have an extra pair of hands to help us out in the fields?" Erina reasoned as she gave Ai her 'infamous' puppy eyes - something that her sister could never ever be able to resist.

"If that's what you wanted, he can stay, but he shall stay in the toilet." Ai joked, though from her tone, only Erina could tell that she was joking. The other party in the room took the joke seriously.

"Eh-" Risa choked. "The - the toilet?" The horrible experience back in the toilet was turning Risa's stomach upside down, causing a sudden paleness to come upon Risa's face. "Are you serious?"

Ai rolled her eyes at the stupidness of the penguin. "Let's go, Erina. We need to get to the mountains." Ai ignored Risa's question and brushed past him into the kitchen, where packed a bag of strawberries with her before pulling Erina with her.

"Why are you still standing there in daze, Penguin? Come along!" Erina called out, trailing behind Ai.

"Now? But I'm -" Before Risa could finish his sentence, a growl from his stomach finished it for him. "Hungry. . . " Risa trailed silently after, only to realise that he was the only one left standing in the room. Both Ai and Erina were almost out of sight away from the wooden hut.

"Wait - wait for me. . . " Risa shouted after the disappearing figure as he picked off his feet from the ground and began chasing after the sisters.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you a man?" A kick on Risa's backside caused him to fall forward, landing on the soft ground face first. Risa was squatting down on the ground, fanning himself with the bamboo made shovel while he rested. "What are you doing? Skiving?" Ai continued, rather mercilessly, still angry with the penguin about what had happened yesterday. The red faced Risa from last night still irked Ai, for the fact that Risa had seem her total naked body. While Ai had changed Risa yesterday, she did not change his undergarments. So, they are not yet even. That's what Ai had concluded after spending an hour before sleep thinking about the incident. Furthermore, Ai is a lady. That made her more determined about the conclusion she made the night before. "Look at Erina, she's just a girl, yet she had gathered more as compared what you had did." Ai mocked Risa as she crossed her arms, trying to hide the fact that her back was aching as she had exerted too much strength while performing the kick.

"I'm tired." Risa whined, rather unmanly. He was not used in working, especially in such a weather. But who could blame him. He is a wealthy prince, born with a golden spoon. Studying and preparation for the throne ascension were what his life is about. Fencing and horse riding are the only sports he had done from time to time. What he was doing right now, was way off for him. Risa dusted the few pecks of sand off his forehead. "And I'm hungry too." Risa pouted as he turned around, coming into a eye contact with Ai. "I had not eaten a single thing since yesterday afternoon. From where would I have the energy and strength to do these strenuous work? " Risa continued reasoning.

"There!" Ai untied the bag she had prepared this morning from her trousers and threw it to Risa. "Eat this if you are hungry. But that don't make a good reason why you are skiving. If you are going to stay, you are going to work." Ai stated.

Risa stared blankly at the contents of the bag. Within seconds, he returned the bag back to Ai. "You can have this back." He shivered at the sight of the strawberries. With that, he returned back to his corner, where he began to start his work again. "Weirdo. . . " Risa muttered under his breath as he shovelled the soil into the basket.

"Weirdo." Ai muttered the same word while picking out a strawberry, eating it in just a single bit. With that, Ai bent down and prepared to carry her filled basket, only to be stop by Erina.

"I will carry this for you, Ai-nee" Erina offered with a smile.

"I can do this on my own, Erina." Ai smiled genuinely back at Erina.

"Ai-nee's muscles must be aching from carrying Penguin back home yesterday, isn't that so? You shouldn't be stretching them too much again . . . " With that, Erina carried Ai's basket on her shoulders while hugging onto hers and headed towards the direction of the strawberry field.

'She carried me back? Didn't she mentioned that she dragged me home on my back?'

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Do you have any other food other than strawberries and maple syrup?" Risa asked, earning himself a stare from Ai.

"There are in the fridge. But you have to cook them yourself. I won't cook for you." Ai replied.

"I - I don't know how to cook." Risa replied honestly, with Ai staring at Risa unbelievingly.

"You can't cook?" Ai raised her voice slightly. "I bet you must be a rich brat who had been spoiled since birth." Ai stated. With that, Ai trolled into the kitchen, with Risa following behind Ai at some distance away.

Risa watched Ai prepared the ingredients for the dinner. "Are you cooking fried rice tonight?" Risa asked curiously. Ai nodded almost unnoticeably. "With what? No strawberries please." Risa begged.

Ai did not respond to Risa's request. Instead, she brought the ingredients with her to the stove and began to hit up the pan. When the pan was hot enough, Ai added adequate amount of olive oil in the pan.

"You are using olive oil to fried the rice?" Risa uttered in shock. Ai turned around, silencing Risa. "Eh? You are adding lettuce into the fried rice? Who on earth adds lettuce in fried rice? Are you sure you can cook?" Risa commented again. Ai shot a stare at Risa, causing him to pull an imaginary zip on his lips. As Ai continues, Risa watched in silence. Though there were many times he had wanted to remark on Ai rather weird sense in cooking, the fear of Ai's violence made him to remain silent. His butt was still hurting from the kick in the afternoon.

"No, Not that!" Risa exclaimed when Ai was about to add maple syrup into the rice mix. Ai smirked playfully at Risa. She taunted Risa a little as she poured a cap portion of maple syrup slowly into the almost done fried rice.

----------------------------------------------------------------

"This is surprisingly nice." Risa cheered as Erina stared at Risa, who had finished the plate of fried rice to a shiny plate.

"I told you so, Penguin, Ai-nee is a good cook." Erina flaunted.

"That's only when she don't put strawberries in it." Risa added in quickly. "The maple syrup was a surprising mix. I always thought it can only be eaten with pancakes."

"Ai-nee is such a genius, isn't that so?" Erina giggled happily.

'Not a genius, it's just a weirdo. . . An interesting weirdo. . . ' That was what Risa had in his mind in response to the sentence made by Erina.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Your Majesty, Kanon is here for your service." Kanon greeted as he kneeled before the King, paying his respect.

"You may rise, Kanon."

"Thank you Your Majesty."

"I had decided to put you on a secret mission with General Yoshizawa." The King spoke, directing Kanon's attention to the General standing at the corner of the room. Hitomi nodded his head slightly in acknowledge. "To search for the Lady Takahashi."

"Eh?" Kanon uttered in surprise. "Isn't Lady Takahashi the women Prince Gaki is going to marry? Why do we have to search for her?" Kanon asked curiously.

"You don't have to know the reason why, but you will have to bring Lady Takahashi back before Risa is back from his adventure trip."

"I understood." Kanon bowed as he obeyed.

"May I ask what's the full name of Lady Takahashi ? That would help a lot in the search for her, Your Majesty." Hitomi raised.

"From what I had heard from General Takahashi back 24 years ago, it was Takahashi Ai, I believe."

YAY! It's an update!! Finally had the time to finish up this chapter. . It had been hanging out there half finish for most of the week :S hehehe

@ rndmnwierd : Yes abusive Ai is totally <3 hehehe Ai was kind in nature. . so :) hmmmmm. about that. . . i can safely say that gaki is able to lie his way through :) HEHEH

@ arisa03 : hahahaha. she left his undergarments on when she changed him :) HEHE stubborn Ai is just so Ai (love) So. . hehehehe Well, in this story, i'm just gonna to make prince gaki to hate strawberry . . .and that explains his reaction to strawberry. . whereas for maple syrup, it's just something that don't match with the food eaten with. :S HEHEHEHEH

@ ~~ai_risa~~ risa_ai : hahahah. what would happen if prince gaki gives ai a kiss? (A smack on the head. . .something he's trying to avoid :X ) HAHAHAH

Heheh, de wa, until the next chapter then!
Next chapter, there will the appearance of the final important character of the story (someone who's name had been mentioned a couple of times.)
So, look out! :) HEHEHE

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 3 - 13th January 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 13, 2012, 05:29:02 AM

So Risa finally gets to eat something other than strawberries! XD XD

Quote

May I ask what's the full name of Lady Takahashi ? That would help a lot in the search for her, Your Majesty." Hitomi raised.

"From what I had heard from General Takahashi back 24 years ago, it was Takahashi Ai, I believe."

HAH!! :lol: :lol: Even if they don't fall in love, they're gonna be together!!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 3 - 13th January 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on January 13, 2012, 09:00:14 AM

Hey! Author-san! It's risa_ai, not ai_risa! :lol:
Good chapter! I'm guessing that ikuta ai's real name is takahashi ai, and she's also in a disguise like risa! ROFL. Risa doesn't know how to cook!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 3 - 13th January 2012 ]
Post by: Sora-chan on January 14, 2012, 12:20:33 AM

Quote

"May I ask what's the full name of Lady Takahashi ? That would help a lot in the search for her, Your Majesty." Hitomi raised.

"From what I had heard from General Takahashi back 24 years ago, it was Takahashi Ai, I believe."

E-Eh! :stunned:

Reaalllly interested to see how this story is gonna play out. Keep them updates coming XD :twothumbs

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 3 - 13th January 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on January 14, 2012, 01:49:18 AM

Stubborn Ai-chan is stubborn. So... if she wants to get even... she wants to see him naked too right? 8D *insert tremendous laughter here. LOL* Ai-chan tsk, tsk. xDD

Now... Lady Takahashi Ai... now it makes me think that Ai-chan might not be Erina's real sister. ; A ; Because the 11 years difference could be too far (but workable). Anyhow, I look forward for more! And LOL, Penguin the Lazy Man. xDDDDD At least Ai-chan cooked for him.

Ai-chan seems to be the Queen of tsundere here. LOLOLOLOL. Not that I mind though, anyway. Hoho~ Now Let's see how this 'interest' develops into something else. *insert some evil smile here*

Thank you for this update and update soon~!!! *trots away and hides into the darkness like a boss*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 3 - 13th January 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on January 19, 2012, 05:50:11 PM

[ 4 - Miki ]

"Erina!" Erina was squatting on the ground, removing the weeds around the strawberry plant when she heard a familiar voice calling out for her. Erina looked up from her work and saw Miki standing at a distance away, waving his right hand to Erina while holding onto a paper bag on his left.

Talking about Miki, the meeting with Miki was considered really lucky, at least in Erina's case, as the latter was able to attain more knowledge due to the former. The sisters had met Miki by chance at the market place, during a day whereby Ai had decided to allow Erina to follow her to the market place for the first time, and the only time up till now. That was slightly after their parents had passed away when the sisters had met Miki.

"Miki-nii!" Erina called out in return. Abandoning her work behind her, Erina raced towards the direction Miki stood and gave him a friendly hug as closed the distance.

Risa, who was squatted a few feet away from Erina, turned around when he felt the younger girl stood up from her position in response to the call. "Who's that?" Risa asked in curiosity, to no one particular, as he was left alone in the fields right at the moment. Erina was no longer at her place.

"How are you, little one? It's been sometimes ever since I last saw you. You looked like you had grown taller again. . . " Miki greeted, pulling away from the friendly hug as he patted on Erina's forehead gently - just like the way Ai always do.

"Really?" Erina beamed in happiness.

Miki nodded his head in response before adding on. "I bet you are taller than your sister now. . ."

Erina diverted her eye towards the top right, trying to visualise if what Miki suggested was true or not. "It seems like so . . . Doesn't that mean that I'm taller than Penguin as well? Since Penguin is of the same height as Ai-nee." Erina concluded as she pouted her lips.

"Penguin?" Miki enquired. Erina nodded her head. "That guy over there?" Miki pointed over to where Risa stood. He had noticed the stare from the unfamiliar guy for quite a sometime and he was curious. Curious about who exactly he was.

"Yupps." Erina nodded her head energetically.

"So your sister had finally decided to hire a worker to help out in the fields?" Miki asked.

"Not really. . . " Erina responded.

"Not really?" Miki raised half a tone, not understanding the ambiguous statement made by Erina.

"Ai-nee and I found him in the mountain some weeks back. . .It seems like he has no place to stay in. . . So I had asked Ai-nee to keep him with us, giving him a shelter over his head, and too, giving us an extra pair of hands in the strawberry field." Erina explained the chain of events that had happened in 3 simple sentence. That was all she had gave. She knew, there are some events that should remain untold to Miki - such as the naked Ai, and it remained untold to Miki.

"Staying with the two of you? Isn't that really dangerous?" Miki concerned about the safety of the sisters.

"Dangerous?" Erina tilted her head slightly, not understanding fully what Miki had meant when he said dangerous.

"Well. . . how to say, he still sums up to be a total stranger to you and your sister. . . Isn't that dangerous for you two girls to live with a stranger guy?" Miki explained.

Erina giggled. She had totally understood where Miki was coming. Yet memories of the rather whimsy penguin living under the roof made Erina chuckled more. "Miki-nii, you don't have to worry about that. . ." Erina managed to said in between her uncontrolled laughter.

"Eh?"

"Penguin is just too craven to even think about that." Erina explained through her laughter. "Though that, he's cute." Erina finished quietly, not loud enough for Miki to catch what she had just said.

"I see . . ." Miki trailed off into silence before starting on a new topic. "Where's Ai?" Miki asked curiously.

"Ai-nee? She's over at the market place? Looking at the time she should be back soon. . . " Erina replied while looking at her watch, a present given to her by Miki on her 14th birthday.

Miki nodded his head in response. "This is for you." Miki continued, passing the paper bag over to Erina. "There're some magazines and books for you to read."

"Thank you!" Erina shone her best smile to Miki as she took over the paper bag from Miki. "Are you staying over for dinner? I'm sure Ai-nee will be glad about that!" Erina offered.

"Really?" Miki raised a tone in interest.

"Definitely." Erina finished. "Come on, let's get going back to the hut." Erina ran forward towards the hut, leaving Miki alone at the back.

Miki turned around and met Risa's gaze for the first time. Risa had been staring at the two for quite a some time, and the penguin was still as lost as what he were in the start.

"Miki-nii! Hurry up!" Erina hurried. Miki turned back and saw Erina waving her arm at him, urging him to catch up with her soon.

"Coming!" Miki returned. 'He looks different. . . It feels like he's not local. . . ' Miki noted mentally. With that, he caught up with Risa, leaving Risa all alone outside in the field.

"Ah~" Risa marched towards the huge tree and sat under it, leaning his back against the sturdy bark, where the leaves and branches shaded him from the evening sun. "I'm so tired. . . Since she's gone, that means that I can get some good rest now. . . " Risa muttered to himself. After having grown up in the luxuries of the palace, the life he is currently living at the Ikuta's is considered tough. Having had to sleep on cold floor in the night and to wake up early in the morning to help out in the fields. The daily meal provided by Ai haunted Risa every day, as the former had always threatened to add his worse fear into the meal. He rested his head back lightly and closed his eyes. It took him no longer than a minute before Risa fell into a light nap.

"Ita-" Risa cried out in pain when he felt a smack on the top of his head. He shot his eyes wide open and saw a sweaty Ai standing before him, with her hands tucked at her waist.

"What are you doing?" Ai asked.

"Resting?" Risa replied without thinking much. His brain was still not functioning well from the abrupt waking from his nap.

Ai slapped Risa on his upper arm, causing the younger male to wince silently in pain. "Aren't you supposed to be working and looking out for Erina? Where's Erina?"

"She went home. . . Brought a guy with her too as well. . ." Risa answered honestly as he stood up back onto his feet.

Ai's eye went wide open, as if they were going to roll off the eyelids at any moment. "With a guy? How can you even allow that?" Ai scolded as she pulled the slightly taller guy before her by the collar of his shirt.

"It's not my fault. . . It seems like she knew that guy. . . What's his name again . . ." Risa refuted while trying to secede away from Ai's hold. "What's his name again . . . I can't remember. . . But it's a rather feminine name. . ." Risa continued. However, Ai made no effort to listen to all that. All she did was that she dragged Risa towards the direction of her house.

"You better pray that Erina is fine in a single piece. If not I am going to hack you up into pieces. " Ai threatened, still not listening to what Risa was saying.

As the two approached the wooden hut, Risa finally remembered the name. "Ah I remembered!" Risa cried out in excitement just as Ai placed her feet on the wooden door, preparing to kick the door down open. "It's Miki!" Risa continued. And the door went swinging open.

Upon hearing the name, Ai released her hold on Risa's collar immediately and dropped her hands to her side.

"Ai-nee you are home! Look who's here! Miki-nii is here to visit us! He said that he's going to stay for dinner tonight. " Erina jumped up from her seat and rushed forward, greeting Ai in her usual way.

"Hi." Miki greeted with his best smile as he waved at the two new arrival at the door.

"Hi." Ai returned shyly, tucking her wet ends of her hair behind her ears. "I'll go prepare the dinner right at this moment." Ai continued before making her way towards the kitchen hurriedly.

'She's surely acting different before him . . . ' Risa followed suit but not following Ai into the kitchen. Instead he went into his 'bedroom' and stopped before Miki. "Hi, my name is Penguin." Risa stretched out his hand politely, just as how he was trained from young, and introduced himself to Miki.

"Fujimoto Miki." Miki introduced as he held Risa's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. He was still holding his guard against Risa due to the unknown identity of Risa. Who on earth will call themselves Penguin. Miki knew that there's something behind the real identity of Risa and held hostility against him.

Risa's face twitched a little at the little squeeze of the hand. That was not what he had expected. "Nice to meet you." Risa faked over the pain and continued with a plastered smile. Risa returned the squeeze on the hand. Neither of the two had intended to stop the race. It was only until a sharp scream from followed by the drop of the pan from the kitchen did the two snapped out from the staring war.

"Who's that?" Risa asked stupidly. It was a voice he had never heard in his stay at the Ikuta.

"Ai!" Miki, on the other hand, rushed into the kitchen immediately to check on Ai. "Are you alright?" Miki concerned as he held over Ai's slightly scarred hand.

"I burnt myself slightly." Ai replied in a soft voice. "But it's alright. . . " Ai squatted down immediately and attempted to pick up the pan from the ground. "I'll get back to cooking right now. . .Dinner should be ready in a moment." Ai continued. Before Ai could really do so, she was stopped by Miki.

"It's alright. . . I shall take over from here." Miki informed as he bent over and picked the pan up.

"That's not nice. . .You are a guest. . . " Ai insisted as she tried to get the pan back from Miki.

"It's nothing. . . "

"But still. . . "

"If not, let's do it together then. . . I can help. . . " Miki gave the final suggestion. Ai found it hard to reject Miki's kind thought and nodded her head in agreement, complying to what Miki had suggested.

Back in the living room, Risa was surprised that the fact that the high pitched scream was made by Ai. "I had never heard that voice from her before." Risa muttered to himself. When he had came back to his thoughts from his surprise, he finally realised that Miki was no longer in the room anymore. It was only just him and Erina left.

"It's just the usual clumsy Ai-nee. . ." Erina explained, giggling lightly. That had successfully gaining Risa's full interest in that simple sentence.

"That strawberry girl, no I meant your sister is clumsy? She doesn't look like so to me. . ." Risa refuted.

"Just before Miki-nii. . ." Erina giggled happily. "Miki-nii is interested in Ai-nee and is now courting after her. . . " Erina continued explaining.

Risa choked in surprise. "He is?" Erina simply nodded her head in response. "What about your sister?" Risa continued.

"I guess so . . . .Since Ai-nee is just so not Ai-nee when she's around Miki-nii. . . " Erina pondered.

A wave of sourness washed upon Risa upon hearing the response from Erina. 'No wonder she acted so differently before that Miki guy. . . ' Risa pouted silently in his mind. Uneasiness filled his heart, yet he did not know what was the source. 'No wonder she let go of me right away when she heard it was Miki whom Erina went with. . . Just no wonder. . . '

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"This is nice!" Risa exclaimed when he placed a meat into his mouth. "This is the best food I had ever ate in my three weeks here."

"Isn't that so?" Erina added on. "It's Miki-nii signature dish! "

The pair of chopsticks froze in the mid air. "You cook?" Risa uttered in astonishment. Miki just simply nodded his head in response.

"It's Erina's favourite dish as well, isn't that so? So you should eat more of this." Miki continued as he picked a few pieces of the meat and placed onto Erina's bowl.

"How are you going back later on? I see that you came here alone today. . . " Ai concerned gently when Miki returned his attention back to his own bowl.

"I would most likely take the walk back home . . . " Miki answered.

"Alone?" Erina perked in curiosity.

"Yupps."

"Isn't that really dangerous? Ai-nee mentioned that it's not safe to walk the dark street out at night." Erina continued.

"That's right. . . Why don't you give a call to your men to fetch you up?"

"I gave them a day off today. . .They haven't had a proper day off for quite some time. . ." Miki explained.

Risa watched the conversation between the trio, in boredom. He could not butt in and include himself in the conversation. He was too green among the group to even understand what was the conversation was about.

"Why not Miki-nii, you stay over for the night?" Erina suggested brilliantly. Ai shot Erina her signature 'in shock' expression while Miki smiled lightly at the suggestion.

"That can be a solution. . . I can sleep in the living for the night, before leaving for home tomorrow. . ."

"That's my place!" Risa chipped in suddenly, in fear that Miki would take his place, leading him having to sleep in the restroom as threatened by Ai on the first night.

"We can share the space, if you don't mind. . . " Miki tried to comply.

"Actually I do mind. . ." Risa refuted. Deep down inside, Risa did not want Miki to stay. For what reason, he could not give.

"If that the case, I guess I shall have to -"

"It's alright, Miki. You can take my room. I can sleep with Erina tonight. " Ai finally spoke after long moments of her absence.

"Really?"

Ai bowed her head down, before giving a gentle nod on the head in response to Miki. She then pick a chopstick full of sliced vegetables and placed it into her own bowl before savouring it in small bits.

Risa tightened his grip around the pair of chopsticks he was holding. He was not liking what he saw. The gentleness of Ai towards Miki was intensifying the sense of sourness he felt since the start of the dinner. 'What is this feeling .. . ' Risa hated how he felt at this moment. He had never ever felt in this way in the whole of his life. And yet, just barely a 3 weeks with the sisters, he was experiencing something new.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"What a cold night. . ." Risa shivered in cold as he pulled the blanket over his head. Though the day in Land of Strawberry was endearingly hot, the coldness of the night always shivered Risa, causing another sleepless night to him. Though the cold was incomparable to the ones in Land of Penguin, the lack of a proper heater in the room made Risa frown. Just as Risa was about to fall asleep, the creaking sound from the opening of a door brought him back into his consciousness. He felt the figure leaving Erina's room and sneaking it's way out of the hut. Risa sat up immediately once he felt the closing of the main door. Wrapping the blanket tightly around his shoulders, Risa stood up and made the same way out of the hut.

When he reached outside, he saw a frail figure sitting alone at the wooden lodge fence, shoulders slouching, watching the starry night view before her. Risa sneaked up to the figure's back. "What are you doing alone here?"

"WUAHH~" Came a deep man screamed from the petite sized lady.

Risa covered his ears with the ends of his blanket. At the very next moment, a strong smack come reaching for the top of his forehead.

"Don't crept behind me without a sound!" Ai reprimanded.

Risa cowered away from the hit. 'Why are you so rough on me? ' Risa thought sadly in his mind. The image of Ai's gentleness to Miki was still fresh in his mind. He took a deep breath, pushing away the wave of sadness he felt and climbed onto the fence, positioning himself at a comfortable distance away from Ai. "What are you doing alone here? Can't sleep? "

"Isn't that obvious?" Came the usual tone that Ai always spoke to Risa.

"Why is that so?" Risa tried to concern.

"It's none of your business. . ." Ai answered. She turned around, and saw Risa wrapped tightly in the blanket. "Are you feeling really cold?"

Risa nodded his head.

"Then wear your thick clothing!" Ai scolded. "Baka."

"No wonder. . . " Risa spoke suddenly.

"What?"

"Your gentleness is only for your little boyfriend. Was he upset that I am staying at your house?"

"He's not my boyfriend!" Ai rebutted immediately. With that, Ai hopped off the fence and stomped back into the house, back into Erina's room, leaving the now, close to freezing, Risa sitting alone at the fence.

"She's really a weirdo, isn't she?" Risa managed to chatter through his shivering teeth as a gust of cold wind blew upon his face. 'But why did the fact that he's not her boyfriend made my heart flatter so much?'

@ rndmnwierd : You think they are the same Ai?? HEHEHEH well, i'm pretty sure that strawberry and penguin will fall in love with each other :) HEHEHEH

@ risa_ai : opps! Sorry!! heheh. My mind was already asleep when I typed the reply :X heheheheh

@ sora-chan : I'm interested in how the story is coming as well!! HEHE :)

@ arisa03 : Stubborn ai is <3 heheh. I always like the helplessness of Gaki while trying to deal with the stubborness of Ai :) HEHEH Hmmm. . i wonder so too as well. . .of course the 11 year difference is workable, since i'm 12 years younger than my eldest sister :) HEHE Penguin is not a lazy man . .he's just a man who does not know how to do a lot of things :X HEHEHE

And finally, sorry for such a late update! caught a bug from my niece and was not able to think properly for the past few days :(
hopefully, the next chapter will be soon !

de wa, until the next time then :) HEHEHE

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 4 - 20th January 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 19, 2012, 06:26:45 PM

Gosh, this is getting so cute with Risa's jealousy of Miki. I really wanna see the dynamic pan out between these two. And rough Ai is still :heart: XD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 4 - 20th January 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on January 20, 2012, 08:32:24 AM

NOOO!!~ RISA MUST LOVE AI AND DITTO!~ FIGHT RISA!! Are you writing a takagaki fic, author-san?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 4 - 20th January 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on January 20, 2012, 02:40:10 PM

^ Hello. =D I think Cai-san have only written TakaGaki fics so far. xD So it's safe to assume that it is indeed TakaGaki. And the prologue said so too. <3

What is this awkward love triangle! ; A ;?!?!?!?!?! but I actually felt jealous for Gaki-san. LOLOLOLOL. Poor Penguin. Time to show your man-side!

I actually can't wait for the moment that Gaki-san would just block Ai's hand from hitting him and walk away or something. xD That's going to be so angsty~ -Insert more fangirling here- Unless you don't mind more fangirling. ; A ;

Maybe Ai-chan's worry is that her feelings towards mikitteh might've changed since Penguin's (LOLOLOLOL) appearance? ; A ;?!? I can't wait for the next chapter! Update soooooon!

I'm 3 years younger than my Elder Sister... but that sister of mine is like... 13 years younger than our brother who came before her. xD I guess it IS workable. xD

Stubborn Ai forever. <33333

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 4 - 20th January 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on January 24, 2012, 08:49:31 PM

[ 5 ] - Wine

'I bet that the reason she had treated him with so much gentleness was that he is the type of man she likes. Perfect. Taller than her, has the ability to cook. That definitely a must, seeing that she cannot event cook a proper meal for herself and Erina, marrying a husband who can cook decently is essential for her. He is definitely the type she's going after for . . . As Risa were about to fall asleep, unending thoughts kept ranging in his mind. 'Why am I even so bothered about this?'

Risa sat alone on the floor where he had slept for barely three hours. He was awakened by the rather quiet closing of the room door. He rubbed his tired eyes and let off a rather childish yawn. From there he saw Miki standing outside Erina's room, rather suspiciously. Well at least to what he had apprehended. "What are you doing?" Risa asked with a cracked voice.

Miki turned around immediately upon hearing Risa's voice. "You are still here?"

"I am staying here for the past week already, for your information. . ." Risa replied.

Miki left his position at the door and came over to the living where Risa was at and sat down on the wooden chair. "Who are you actually?" Miki skipped all formalities and went straight into his point.

"What do you mean who am I actually? My name is Penguin, didn't I introduced you myself to you yesterday?" Risa replied.

"You are not local, aren't you?"

"Well, I don't have to answer you this. . . "

"What's your motive?"

"I have no motive."

The intense atmosphere in the room intensified as the staring war between the two continued.

"Good morning!" Came a high pitched greeting echoing through the living room. "Eh? Miki-nii? Penguin? Both of you are awake at such an early hour?" Erina asked in rather KYness. She rushed in between the two, with her rather dazzling smile, and sat beside Miki. "Miki-nii, did you manage to sleep well last night?"

"Good morning!" Miki changed his tone and greeted morning to Erina, giving her a pat on the head. "I had slept well."

"Good morning. . ." Came a fourth voice in the room. The three turned their head and saw Ai, with the same tiredness at the door.

"You looked tired." Miki concerned.

"Really?" Ai rubbed her eyes tiredly, just like the same way Risa had did previously.

'Of course you are. . . ' Risa thought silently in his mind.

"You shouldn't work today, since you are so tired. . ." Miki continued. "Let's spend some time together, with Erina. We can bring Erina into the city today. It seems like she hasn't been there before, isn't that so?"

"I haven't been there!" Erina chipped in. "Let's go, shall we, Ai-nee?" Erina stood up from her seat at the chair and went to where Ai stood, where she shook Ai's hands rather pettishly.

Ai remained silence for a short while before nodding her head lightly.

"Yeah!" Erina cheered as she jumped a couple of times. It was one of the very few times that Erina was allowed to go somewhere far. "I'm washing up first!" Erina continued in high tension, skipping her way to the toilet outside the hut.

"Penguin." Ai called out.

Risa was shocked. That was the first time Ai had called him by his name. Ai had always called Risa by Pervert or Lazy bum whenever there was a need to call for him. "Ye- s?"

"Come together with us as well." Ai continued. With that, Ai went towards the same direction Erina had went previously.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Miki-sama." The third passerby greeted as he had passed by the group of four on the city street. Risa frowned his eyebrow slightly as he saw this situation. With Miki and Ai ahead of him and Erina by his side, Risa turned to his side and hissed to Erina. "Why is it that everyone's greeting him like this? He has an powerful background?"

"You don't know?" Erina turned and look at Risa in surprise. "Miki-nii is the richest family in the town. Almost all in the town knew who he is."

"Really? He don't look like he is. . ." Risa trailed off, staring at the back view of Miki. 'That adds on to the list. . . He's rich . .. '

"That's why Miki-nii is so well like by the residents of this town."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was once again late at night where the lights of the house were off and all the recipients of the house are in their respective room, in the mist of falling asleep after a long day out in the city. Erina was way exhausted from the excitement and walking they did the whole day that she had fallen asleep on Ai's shoulder when Ai had piggy backed her back home.

On the other hand, Risa tucked himself comfortable under the thick comfy red towel he had just gotten from the city earlier in the day. Just as he was about to get comfortable and fallen asleep, the same opening of the door from the previous night had wakened him up. 'Is it her again? Another sleepless night? Had she always has sleepless night? ' Risa thought worriedly in his mind. He wrapped his red towel around himself and headed towards his shopping bag, retrieving another item he had gotten earlier in the day, before making his way outside.

Remembering the prize he had gotten last night, Risa made loud footsteps this time round, hoping that that would inform the older girl of his arrival and will not surprise like what he had did previous night. "Another sleepless night? What's bothering you? Care to share?" Risa concerned as he settled beside Ai on the fence, placing the bottle of wine and two glasses down on the ground.

"It's none of your business."

"I have something which can cure your insomnia. ." Risa continued, ignoring the rather hostile attitude Ai gave him. "It's something I liked really much." Risa bent down and uncapped the wine, pouring a quarter full into the glasses before offering one to Ai and took one for himself.

"What's this?" Ai looked suspiciously at the contents while holding over to the glass.

"It's call wine." Risa answered effortlessly before he took a sip out of the glass.

"Wine?" Ai repeated. "It can help to cure insomnia?"

"It makes one sleepy." Risa explained.

"Really?" Ai was still skeptical about what was presented to her. Though that, she still took a small sip from the glass, swallowing the liquid slowly down her throat. "It's bitter. . . Can I add my maple syrup in?" Ai stuck her tongue out instinctively at the bitterness tinging on the tip of her tongue.

Risa turned around and stared weirdly at Ai. "No one does that. . . " Risa commented honestly, earning himself a frown from Ai. In fear that a smack would come along with the frown, Risa added on frantically. "But you being you, you are definitely all welcome to add anything you want."

Ai narrowed her eyes slightly at Risa. Without saying anything, she brought the glass back to her lips and drank a second sip out of it. "Penguin, why did you sat that it is your favourite drink when it's so bitter? You are so weird. . ." Ai asked, catching Risa in surprised. This was the third time Ai had called him by Penguin. The second time had happened back in the afternoon when Miki had asked to be alone with Ai. Risa did not want to comply but did when Ai had spoken.

"I liked it for its bitterness." Risa answered, waking from his shock, as he emptied the contents into his mouth. He then poured himself a second serving.

Ai followed suit. However, instead of emptying the whole contents into her mouth, there were still a few sips left in the glass. At the third sip, Ai began to feel the growing heat intensifying at her cheeks. She rubbed her neck jadedly and continued another sip down her throat. Moments later, whimpering was heard, followed by the crashing of the glass on the floor.

"What's wrong?" Risa panicked he bent over and placed the glass on the ground before scooting closer to Ai. Ai was covering her eyes with her palm. sobbing silently as she whimpered. Risa attempted to pull Ai's hands away from her eyes.

"I don't know what to do. . . "

"About what?" Risa saw Ai's red flushed face. 'Isn't that a little bit too fast for her to get influence by the effects of the alcohol? '

"I don't know. . . Miki had always been kind to Erina and I. . . But. . . I just. . . " Ai silenced.

"Ai. . . About what my proposal . . . Do you have an answer for me?" Miki asked as he tried to hold onto Ai's hand. Ai jumped a little as the contact was made.

"I don't think I'm ready yet. . . " Ai whispered softly.

"I know I shouldn't be stressing you about the issue. . . but . . . My family is looking forward in meeting my girlfriend really soon. They all knew that I'm interested in you. They all want to meet you. . . "

"I know. . . But. . . I need more time. . ."

Miki pull Ai's hand close to himself and pondered for a moment, before continuing. "If that's the case. . . I give you a year. . . " Miki turned Ai to face him and held her other hand. Miki stared sincerely into Ai's eyes before planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

Ai rubbed her forehead roughly upon memory from the afternoon. "I don't know what to do. . . I don't know how should I reject him. I owe him too much. . . I . . ." Ai continued as she wiped of a single tear that had rolled off her cheek.

This was the first time Risa had seen Ai crying. Though it was only a single tear, Risa had caught it. But before Risa could say anything, he had already felt a heavy weight on his shoulder.

"Oi?" Risa called out quietly. There were no response, expect for some heavy breathings.

The next moment, something unexpected to Risa happened. The weight on his shoulder was removed and there he went, face flat on the face. The shattered glass on the ground broke his skin on his forehead. "Ah!" Risa cried out loud. He remove his hand from his forehead, only to find tinges of blood transferred to his hand. "Blood! Why are you still so violent when you are drunk? I shouldn't have allow you to try. . ." Risa ratter as he looked up at Ai. The rattering stopped as he saw the sheepish smile on Ai's face. That was a first as well.

As Ai was about to fall backwards, Risa shoot up to his feet immediately, catching Ai and supported her back upright. He then removed the red towel from his shoulder and draped it around Ai. "You are going to get a cold sleeping at this place." Risa nagged a little. He carried Ai in a bridal method. He groaned as the whole weight rested on his arm. "You are heavy considering how petite you are." As he stumbled wobblingly, he made his way to the door. When he entered, an unexpected bang sounded.

"Pain. . . " Came a soft whining.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it . . " Risa apologised immediately. He supported Ai's head close to his shoulder, preventing another possible hit on the head on her head,

In the hut, Risa settled Ai sat upright on the chair before rushing into the kitchen, where he search frantically for ointment that would help to ease the bump on the head. "She's going to kill me when she sees this tomorrow morning." Risa said to himself. When he finally found what he had in mind, he returned back to the living immediately, only to find Ai half asleep on the chair. He sat beside Ai and poured some ointment oil on his unbloodied hand and rubbed lightly on the bump.

"Pain. . . " Ai whined as she reluctantly opened her eyes. "You are bleeding. . . " Ai wanted to get up, but failed as she lost to the weakness in the feet.

"What are you doing?" Risa tried to stop Ai from standing up. But Ai was still having the upper hand in strength even when she was in a drunk state. She pushed Risa back strongly, unintentionally brushed against the broken skin rather roughly as she managed to get up from the chair. "Ita~" Risa cried.

When Ai returned with a first aid box, she knocked against the side table, almost falling forward. But she managed to regain her balance, preventing the one big fall from happening. "You need to clean up properly. . . if not it's going to get infected." Ai slugged her words. She took cotton and antiseptic cream out of the box and began to wipe it on the broken skin. Ai brought her face really near Risa's, trying to get a better view of the wound through her blurred vision, an effect from the alcohol.

Risa could feel Ai's warm breath on his face. He felt his heart raced at an abnormal speed. 'What . . . What is this?' Risa brought his hand to his chest, hoping that would help to silent his racing heart from Ai. Just then, Ai turned her attention away the wound and stared straight into Risa's eyes. Risa felt his breath caught at his throat at the eye contact.

Ai leaned in even closer to Risa.

"What -"

A pair of warm lips landed Risa lips, causing his eyes to went straight to its maximum size. His face blushed cherry red. Ai moved back catching Risa by the eyes again. There she gave Risa a sweet smile, causing Risa's heart to skip a bit. Then Ai closed in again. Risa, in expectation the coming of another kiss, closed his eyes in anticipation. However, that did not come. Instead a ball of hair ran across his nose and a heavy weight landed on his right chest. Risa opened his eyes and say Ai, sound asleep before him.

Risa sigh. In relieve or in sadness, he could not apprehend. He lift Ai up from his chest and into his arm. Then he brought Ai back into her own room, ensured that Ai was comfortable and warm in bed before he left the room. When he returned back to the living, he finished the final works on the work by himself. When he was done, he immediately snuggled back into his 'bed' and pulled his given think blanket up to his shoulders and closed his eyes immediately. The moment he shut his eyes, feelings that he felt upon the kiss came right back, making him to open his eyes again. He took a deep breath, hoping that would ease his racing heart. "What is this feeling? This is the first time I had felt something like this. . . " Risa whispered to himself.

He turned himself on the bed and closed his eyes. The image of Ai kissing him and the sweet smile Ai gave him after that came back to Risa. "Ah!" Risa cried in desperation. "I need to sleep!"

When morning came, Erina found a Penguin with a deep panda eye bag under his eyelid, and also a bandaged right forehead. "What happened?" Erina asked with curiosity.

"I had accidentally cut myself last night. It was so painful that I can't sleep last night." Risa half lied.

Just then, Ai walked out of her room, rubbing her right forehead as well. "Ouch, it hurts." Ai cried. Pulling her hand away from her forehead, Ai stretched her body like a lazy cat.

"Ai-nee, what happened to your head?" Erina went towards Ai and pointed at her forehead.

'Eh, she don't remember? '

"Eh? Is there anything?" Ai quirked.

"There's a bruise over here."

"There is?" Ai raised half a tone. "How did I even get that?" Ai rubbed the back of her head. "What happened yesterday?"

'Eh, she really don't remember? ' Risa thought rather sadly in his mind. Just then, a smack on the back of his head brought him out of his sadness. "Ouch." Risa cried.

"Get ready! We need to get into the fields early today!" Ai continued as she brushed passed the taller Risa.

'There she goes again. . . I wonder, which is her true self. The sober one or the one she was last night . . . ' At the mention of last night in his mind, a light shade of pink flushed at his cheeks, causing Risa to fan himself subconsciously. 'Stop reacting in this way, Niigaki Risa!'

Repost!! :) hehehe

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 5 (repost)- 25th January 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on January 25, 2012, 04:37:53 PM

oh crap, I had forgotten what my initial comment was. ;A; *curses jphip*

Ah. Ai-chan doesn't want Miki? oAo Then... rejecting him would be painful... but LOL Gaki-san with a bandaged head. I don't really think that Ai-chan would've forgotten what had happened last night considering how she was able to still try to patch up le little Penguin before stealing his first kiss (?) xD I can't wait for more~ Update soon~~~~ xD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 5 (repost)- 25th January 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on January 26, 2012, 08:12:22 AM

NOOO! AI CAN'T BE MARRIED TO MIKI! Muz be Risa! Risa! Quick! Win her heart!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 5 (repost)- 25th January 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on January 29, 2012, 07:50:33 PM

[6] - Ouji-sama

It was like every other day. Ai remained in the house until late afternoon while both Risa and Erina would be at their position at the strawberry fields. Ai remained home to prepare a simple lunch for the latter two, after which she will make her way to the market place as the lunch on the dining table awaits Risa and Erina for their customary lunch time. Just as Ai prepares the final dish, the knock on the front door caught her attention. Leaving her cooking on the stove, Ai hurried towards the door and opened it.

"Koharu ?" What are you doing here? " Ai asked in a surprised tone. There at the door, she found Koharu standing alone at the doorway, with a medium sized box in his arm.

"Ai-sama." Koharu greeted, bowing a little in courtesy.

"How many times had I told you not to call me this way?" Ai pouted lightly as she stood aside, allowing Koharu to enter the house.

"It's better for me to remain this way, Ai-sama." Koharu insisted as he made his way into the house.

Ai sighed heavily as Koharu passed by her. "What are you doing here?" Ai asked again.

"Miki-sama asked me to deliver this for you. An advance birthday present for Ai-sama." Koharu explained the reason for his presence as he presented the medium sized box to Ai.

"I - I can't accept this. . . " Ai stuttered a little as she attempted to turn away the present. "Return it back to Miki and tell him that I can't accept this. . . I - "

"Ai-sama, I think it would be better for you to mention it face to face with Miki-sama if you can't accept this." Koharu bowed his head lightly and faced the, with his hands still outstretched, awaiting for Ai to accept the box to herself.

"I - " Ai tried to push away the offer, only to be silenced by Koharu's action as he handled the box over to Ai's arm.

"Excuse me." Koharu finished. With that, he ignored Ai's pleads and brisked past her, leaving the house, closing the door lightly after him. Ai stared at the empty space.

Being left with no other choice, Ai gave in. She placed the box on the dining table and stared blankly at it. 'What should I do with it?' Ai thought helplessly in her mind. She sighed as she sank heavily onto the dining chair. 'Why is it that I just can't have the courage to reject him. . . Even though I'm so confident that I don't like him . . . ' Ai sighed again. 'And I thought he is going to give up after the 3 months wait. . . ' Ai continued in her mind. 'What should I do? How should I - '

The smell of burning food from the kitchen halted Ai's thought. 'What's that smell?' Ai wondered, in a rather slow pace. Then she finally realised something. "The EGG!" Ai cried out in despair. She rushed back to her feet from the chair and sprinted the short distance back into the kitchen. The charred piece of fried egg in the pan was removed off the stove immediately by Ai. Ai was planning to prepare a better meal today, Omelette fried rice, only to be disappointed by what she had achieved so far. "Never mind, Penguin can have this. I will prepare a better one for Erina." Ai consoled herself.

When Ai was done with the second egg, she placed it into a new plate and poured the rice she had fried previously before wrapping it up in a proper way. "This will do." As part of the finishing garnish, Ai poured a thick portion of maple syrup on the egg on Erina's portion and an extra serving of syrup over Risa's portion. "This would cover the charred taste, I guess. . ." Ai decided.

Ai returned into the dining room with the two plates, and placed them at their respective position. "All done!" Ai clapped her hands, as if she were dusting something off her palm as she declared. Just that, an unexpected whining echoed throughout the room, catching Ai totally off guard.

"WUA!" Ai shouted in her low voice. "What's that?" Ai fell down onto the ground as she cried out loud. "What's that?!" Ai shouted again.

The whining echoed again. The source was evident this time round. It was from the box she had just received from Miki. Taking baby steps back to the table, Ai stopped before the box where she hesitated about opening it. She lifted the corner of the cover rather timidly before squirming a few steps back, with her hands hugging her head.

"Hmmmm." Came the whining sound, louder this time round. Ai peeked through her fingers before squealing in an excited voice. "Kya! So cute!" There she saw a ball of brown fur popping out the opened portion, sniffing around the air as it whined again. "What are you doing in there?" Ai baby talked the puppy as she went forward and took it into her possession. Lifting it up to her eye level, Ai stared directly into the puppy's eye and touched it's nose with hers. As Ai pulled the puppy away, it licked it's nose before attempting to snuggle closer back to Ai. "You are so cute. . . " Ai giggled happily. The gloominess she felt just slight moments ago was all gone. "What's your name?" Ai continued her baby talking.

Ai placed the puppy on the table. The puppy immediately rushed towards the plate of charred omelette rice, where it attempted to lick some of the maple syrup on the top. "No." Ai tried to stop. But it was too late. The puppy had its first taste of human food. The puppy licked its lips again as it sniffed Ai's face. Ai giggled. It was near to impossible to be angry to such an adorable pup.

"What should I name you. . . " Ai pondered. "Ouji?" Ai suggested to the puppy. The puppy stuck its tongue out and licked it's nose again, as if it was agreeing about the suggested name. "Shall you be my Prince charming?" Ai continued in her childish voice.

"Woof!" Ouji yapped as it sniffed Ai's ears.

"You are so sweet . . . " Ai snuggled Ouji into her embrace and closed her eyes, enjoying the company of the new arrival. Suddenly, she remembered something. "Ah!" Ai shot her eyes wide open. "I'm running late." Ai told Ouji. Placing Ouji back into the box he had came from, without putting the cover back, Ai carried the box back into her room. "Stay here for now. . . I'll be back really soon. . . " With that, Ai left the door close ajar before swift out the house, with the same basket across her back. Today is the last day of sales of strawberry from the previous harvest. And soon in a month time or two, the new harvest will be coming in soon. Ai has to clear her store in time for preparation for the next harvest and she knows she was running late for time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Penguin, time for lunch!" Erina called out for Risa.

"Coming !" Risa responded. He left his basket of cleared weeds and withered leaves on the ground and jogged towards to Erina. Risa had gained some built as compared to the size when he had just left the palace, after having had to work in the fields for nearly 4 months. He was too slightly tanned than what he was before, a result from working under the sun for long hours.

"You are sweating, Penguin." Erina noticed. She took her handkerchief from her pocket. "Here" Erina continued as she wiped away the dripping sweat of Risa's temple.

Risa was stunned at the sudden action. He backed his head away a little and took the handkerchief from Erina. "I - I can do this by myself. . . " Risa explained with stuttering. "Thanks anyway." Risa continued with a rather awkward smile.

Erina on the other hand drew her hand back to her side and looked down shyly. "Let's go back for lunch, shall we?"

When they returned back to the Ikuta's house, just like their daily routine, they came around the dining table automatically and sat at their respective seats. "What is this?" Risa was shocked by the colour of the food placed before her.

"I think it's from the maple syrup. . ." Erina commented as she began to tuck into her food. "As usual, Ai-nee's cooking is the best." Erina smiled as she took a second mouthful.

Risa eyed the suspicious looking omelette rice before him. 'I think that strawberry girl is out there to poke fun on me. . . ' Risa thought in his mind. Picking up a small portion with his spoon, Risa placed it into his mouth with hesitation. "Hmmm. . .the maple syrup tasted different today. . . " Risa commented as he started a conversation with Erina.

"Really?" Erina dapped the syrup on her spoon and gave it a lick. "No, it's the usual taste. . . " Erina responded.

"It taste a little nicer today though. . . " Risa mumbled to himself.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sales at the market were exceptionally good today, allowing Ai to return back to her house even before the sun sets. Both Risa and Erina were still in the fields when Ai had returned back to the house.

"Ouji?" Ai called out the moment she entered the house. Her whole mind was filled with Ouji the whole afternoon when she was at the market place. Placing the basket at the door, Ai went straight to her room, only find her door open. She tilted her head. Pushing the door wide open, she did not find what she had expected inside. "Ouji?" The box containing the puppy was now empty. "Ouji?" Ai raised her tone and voice as she backed out her room. She quickly rushed out of the house. "Ouji where are you?" Ai cried out, in search for her latest arrival. Tracking her way towards the fields, Ai continued her call, with each call getting louder than the previous one. "Ouji?"

From afar, Risa heard a call. "Ouji!" Risa froze in his actions. 'Who's that? Sounds like the strawberry girl. . .' Risa worried in his mind. 'Has my identity been exposed?' Risa turned around rather stiffly and saw Ai marching towards him, though not looking at his direction. "Ye - e - e - s?" Risa stuttered as he lifted the his right arm up and gave a rigid wave to Ai.

"Ouji?" Without looking what was ahead of her, Ai banging harshly into Risa, causing herself to fall backwards from the impact. Thank goodness, Risa was fast enough to catch hold of Ai before she fall straight to the ground on her back.

"Are you alright?" Risa concerned the moment Ai regained her balanced. Ai pushed Risa away from her. "What are you doing, standing over there and blocking my way? Can't you see I was coming towards your direction?" Ai scolded as she pushed Risa's head to the side. Stepping aside, Ai headed ahead, continuing to call for Ouji. "Ouji, where are you?"

"I'm - " Before Risa could say anything, Ai turned around and stomped back to Risa.

"What are you still standing over here? Join along with me to search for Ouji!" Ai grabbed Risa by his collar and dragged him with her.

"Ou-ji?" Risa puzzled. 'You are not saying me?' Risa thought in his mind. "Who- who's Ouji?" Risa choked.

"A puppy! Brown in colour. . ." Ai explained briefly. With that, Ai pushed Risa into a crossroad. "You will go to that direction. I will take this."

"I - " Before Risa could say anything, Ai is long gone. Risa sighed to the empty space. 'Thank goodness. . .It's not that my identity is exposed.' Risa thought silently in his mind as he advanced to where he had been ask to go. "A puppy?" Risa whispered to himself. "Since when did she owns a puppy?" Just then a small creature came to Risa, catching Risa's attention. He looked down and saw a ball of brown fur sniffing at his leg. "Are you Ouji?" Risa asked stupidly. The puppy made no response. Instead, he lifted his leg urinated on Risa's leg. The anger did not last as he felt a tickling lick on his fingers. "Stop licking me. . . " Risa giggled in an unmanly way. "Ouch!" The lick ended up in a bit on his index finger. Risa raised his hand, in attempt to give a light punishment to the puppy for biting him. But that did not happen.

"Ouji!" Ai snatched Ouji from Risa. "You scared me. . ." Ai held Ouji up to her face level and allowed him to lick her face.

Risa stood there, staring unbelievingly. "Like owner, like dog. . . " Risa whispered, only loud enough for himself to hear it. 'How long can I keep my identity a secret from them. . .'

Sorry for the long wait! It was a festive season back home and yeah. . . heheheh

@ arisa03 : I didn't see your original comment as well. . . so :( hmmmm but that's for commenting twice :) HEHEHE . . .I wonder so too as well. . .but right now, Ai has very vague memories about what had happened that night. . . so . . hehehe.

@ risa_ai : Well. . .knowing me. . .hehehe you should know if ai is going to marry miki. . . heheheh

next chapter should be interesting. . .look out!! :) heheheh

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 6- 30th January 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 29, 2012, 09:10:39 PM

Awesome, now Risa has two creatures to abuse him. XD Poor guy, now how is he going to win Ai's heart? :lol: It's already taken by this other prince

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 6- 30th January 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on January 30, 2012, 12:07:03 PM

HAHAHAHAHA!! Risa ate the maple syrup licked by Ouji! Reject miki, ai! Marry PEN PEN GUIN GUIN!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 6- 30th January 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on January 31, 2012, 01:10:07 AM

Poor Risa. LOL. After Miki was steered clear (?) there is a new Prince in the house that came to steal his strawberry girl. LOL! OTL mah first commentooo. ;A; but does Ai really barely remember anything about that night? 8D but LOL would Risa have to sleep with Ouji from now on? XD. Muscular Risa ftw. Thank you for the update~ Update soon~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 6- 30th January 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on February 04, 2012, 07:10:05 PM

[7] - Birthday

Risa was awakened by the sizzling sound that echoed from the kitchen not long after the morning sun had rose. He stretched his body lazily and gotten up onto his feet, making his way into the kitchen. "What are you doing, Risa asked while yawning. "Excuse me." Risa apologised as he covered his mouth.

"Shhh." Erina hushed, ignoring the question raised by Risa.

Risa pressed that hand on his mouth tighter, just as ordered by Erina. "What are you doing?" Risa asked again, in a quieter voice this time round.

"I'm preparing my surprise for Ai-nee." Erina whispered back as she flipped over the piece of ham in the pan.

"Surprise?" Risa repeated.

"It's Ai-nee's birthday today. . ." Erina explained.

"It's her birthday today?"

Erina nodded her head in response. "Can you help me to check if my sister is up yet? I still need a little more time to beauty up the meal." Erina requested. Without waiting for the response of Risa, Erina pushed Risa rather roughly towards the direction of Ai's room before turning her attention back to the stove.

"I - " Risa tried to refute but failed. With his shoulders slouched, he dragged his feet across the halls. The sound of his footstep awoke the other sleeping prince on the couch.

"Hmmm. . ." Prince whined. He jumped off the wooden couch and rushed directly to the direction of Ai's room, pushed the door opened and entered the room just like his daily affair, for his customary daily affection from Ai as his wake up gift.

"Wait!" Risa called out quietly and followed closely behind the prince, as he did not want Prince to awake Ai from sleep.

Prince opened the door using his muzzle, pushing the door open to a size that was big enough for his entry. Risa stopped outside the room, froze in his actions.

"Good Morning, Ouji. " Risa heard Ai greeted from his position.

'You got to be kidding me. . . ' Risa felt his cheeks growing hot. He gulped a mouthful of saliva down his throat, hoping that would calm his racing heart down. From the opening of the door, Risa saw Ai, stood beside her bed, half naked - only with her undergarments on -, with the puppy snuggling into her bra bounded chest. 'Milky white. . . ' His vision went from the chest level down the perfect long legs that Ai possessed. Risa gulped again. Then, realisation snapped him awake. He looked away immediately. 'What are you doing?!' Risa scolded himself inwardly. He brought his wrist and gave it a hard bit, hoping that would stop the memory of Ai's bare chest from forming in his mind.

Deciding that it was not a good decision to remain standing at where he was, knowing that Ai was to come out at anything sooner, Risa made his way back into the kitchen, where he stood beside Erina, with his head facing down, eyes staring nervously at his feet.

"So is Ai-nee up yet?" Erina whispered quietly to the Penguin who had just returned back to the kitchen.

'How I wish I'm that fake prince. . . To be treated so gently by her. . . And too be able to snuggle into that chest. . .' Risa's mind drifted away without him realising what he was thinking. The shades on his cheeks deepened upon that thought.

"Has Ai-nee woke up?" Erina asked again, slightly louder than the previous time she asked. She waited a few moments for an answer, yet nothing as such had happened. Impatient about the lack of reply, Erina looked up from the from the pan and saw Risa standing like a metal pole that were buried deep in the ground, with his face as red as the tomatoes that Erina was about to add into the pan. Learning her sister's favourite way to treat Risa, Erina smacked the top of Risa's head, though not as forceful as what her sister did, snapping Risa out of his daze.

"Ouch!" Risa cried out loud, only to have his gapping mouth muffled by Erina.

"What is wrong with you, Penguin?" Erina hushed quietly. "Why is your whole face so red?" Erina continued as she observed the redness that flushed the whole of Risa's face.

"Not - nothing." Risa stuttered.

"Is Ai-nee up?" Erina repeated her question once again.

Risa nodded his head shyly, unable to prevent himself from remembering what he had saw just moments ago.

"Why didn't you say it earlier?!" Erina pushed Risa out of the kitchen. "Halt her for me. I'm just a few seconds to completion!"

Before Risa could reject the idea, he was already pushed out of the kitchen. When he looked forward, he saw Ai standing right before his nose, with Prince sitting on her arm. "What are you doing?" Ai narrowed her eyes at Risa. "What are you doing in the kitchen?" Ai continued her questioning.

"I - I - " Risa stuttered. He was unable to make direct eye contact with Ai, as every contact he made led to more blushing on his face.

"Ai-nee, Happy Birthday!" Erina jumped out from the kitchen, saving Risa from his nervousness. Ai jumped up in surprise as Erina appeared before her. Tears of happiness dwelled at Ai's eyes. "Look, Ai-nee, I made you breakfast!" Erina rushed forward to Ai and presented her birthday present to Ai. "Try it!" Erina continued earnestly.

Ai patted Erina's head softly. "You don't have to do that. . . " Ai thanked with tears in her eyes. She placed Prince back onto the ground before pulling Erina gently into her embrace. "Thank you." Ai whispered softly into Erina's ear.

When Erina pulled away from the hug, she presented the tray up to Ai's level. "Try my cooking, Ai-nee." Erina asked again.

Ai picked the pair of chopsticks up from the tray and picked the food up from the plate before placing it into her mouth, chewing it a few bits before swallowing down her throat. "It's good, Erina!" Ai smiled to Erina with her closed mouth. Just then knocking on the main door echoed into the house. "Penguin, get the door." Ai ordered.

Risa hurried to the door immediately, hoping that with Ai out of sight, the redness on his face will subside. Just as what he wanted, the heat he felt on his cheek went away as soon as he opened the door. Sourness began to fill in his mouth the moment he saw the visitor at the door.

"Happ-" Miki stopped the moment he realised that it was not Ai at the door. "Why are you the one who had opened the door?" Miki asked, rather unfriendly.

"Well, I'm asked to get the door, you see." Risa answered in a rather hostile way. 'Why am I acting this way again?'

Miki decided to ignore Risa. Instead, he brushed pass Risa and made his way into the house. "Happy Birthday." Miki wished as he stopped before Ai, pulling the bouquet of flowers he had been hiding behind his back and gave it to Ai. "Hope you will like this." Miki continued.

"Tha- thank you. " Ai stuttered a little as she received the flowers from Miki.

"Do you like the present I asked Koharu to deliver to you a few days back?" Miki asked.

Ai nodded her head shyly. "What are you doing here today?" Ai asked.

"Didn't you read the letter that came with the puppy?"

"There is?" Ai raised a tone , in surprise. "I didn't see it." Ai kept her head low down as she continued.

"It's alright. Now that you know it now, shall we leave now?" Miki stuck his hands into his pants pocket.

Ai looked around for a while and hesitated a little, before nodding her head. Erina pouted a little upon seeing her sister's response as she knew that Ai would not be able to savour the breakfast she had spent the whole morning preparing. "Erina, gomen ne." Ai apologised when she saw the pout on Erina face.

"It's alright." Erina took a deep breath first before replying Ai. "I can finish it with Penguin. Ai-nee will not need to worry about me." Erina finished with a slight smile.

"I will be back soon." Ai placed her right hand on Erina's forehead. "I'm ready to leave." Ai turned to Miki and said.

"Just like this?" Miki asked as he gazed at Ai from head to tail.

"Is- is there anything wrong?" Ai shuttered as she glanced down at her own outfit. It was her usual outfit - a simple long pants and a simple tank top.

Miki smile. "No. There's nothing wrong with it." Miki assured. "Let's go." Miki continued as he held onto Ai's hand, guiding her out of the house.

Risa's eyes went straight wide open when he saw the joining arms of Ai and Miki. He pressed his lips tightly together as he fumed in slight anger. He remained in that way for a while, until a gentle slap on his upper arm snapped him out of it.

"Yes?" Risa turned around, expecting to see Ai before her, only to find Erina before him.

"Shall we try my cooking together?" Erina chipped, obviously had gotten over the fact that her sister had left without finishing the breakfast she had spent lots of effort preparing.

"Okay. . . " Risa trailed off quietly. He followed closely behind Erina to the dining table and settled down. Erina went into the kitchen to fetch two sets of new utensils before joining Risa back at the dining table.

"Try it." Erina urged after she had passed the utensils over to Risa. "Ai-nee said it's nice. How do you think about it?" Erina continued.

Without any hesitation, Risa picked up a piece and place it into his mouth, swallowing it after a few chews. "It's delicious!" Risa commented.

"Really?" Erina's eyes shone in excitement.

"You are definitely a better cook as compared to your sister. " Risa praised as he picked up another serving of the dish and placed it into his mouth.

"Really?" Erina yelped again in excitement, genuinely elated by the fact that Risa was praising her. The contentment she felt when Risa praised her was way greater than what she felt when Ai had praised her. 'Penguin said I'm a good cook! I'm so happy!'

"Maybe you can take over the cooking role from your sister, and I will be absolutely glad about it." Risa continued as he cleared the dish.

-----------------------------------------------

"Why are we going today?" Ai held back her usual loud self as she asked rather shyly. They were seated side by side, at the back seat of the Fujimoto's aristocratic vehicle.

"I have planned a wonderful day for you today, just for your birthday, Ai. You don't have to know where are we going nor what are we doing. You will know it when we get there." Miki replied gentlemanly.

"Okay. " Ai responded almost inaudibly.

The vehicle continued to advance towards destination Miki had in mind - A place that Ai had never been before. When they reached, Ai was too shocked, to the fact that she could not speak anything. There she found herself seated in the most expensive restaurant in the city of Strawberry. The restaurant was all empty. It was just Ai and Miki alone.

"Just be yourself, Ai. You don't have to feel uneasy. There's no one else over here." Miki initiated a conversation.

Ai nodded her lightly in acknowledgement, yet unable to follow what Miki had said. She felt herself so out of place in mist of all the posh furnishing of the restaurant. She had slightly regretted the fact that she had not change into a better set of clothing when Miki asked if she was going to go out with him with the set of clothing that hung on her body right at this moment.

-------------------------------------------------------

"Are you not feeling well today?" Miki asked when he walked along Ai's side. The sun had set and the once blue sky was now covered with complete darkness. After the lunch at the restaurant, Miki brought Ai to a visit to an art museum then dinner at another high class eating place, before deciding to send Ai back by foot after the chauffeur had dropped them off at some distance away from the Ikuta's place.

Ai shook her head immediately. "What made you think so?" Ai added on quickly.

"You have not eaten much at the restaurants today. . . Are they not to your liking?" Miki concerned.

Ai shook her head again as she looked at her hands then her feet. "I just don't feel hungry today. . ." Ai answered quietly.

"Hey look up!" Ai heard Miki saying, as she felt a warm hand wrapping around her right palm. Ai looked at the pair of hands in surprise. She wanted to pull her hands back, yet, lack of the courage to do it. Allowing Miki to hold her hands, Ai looked up as asked by Miki and find herself surrounded by the millions of stars high ahead. "Isn't that amazing?" Miki continued.

Ai found herself fawning over the scenery before her. 'After staying here for the last 25 years, this is my first time watching over these stars in this way. . . I had never notice their beauty before today. . .' Just as Ai was lost in her own thoughts, a pair of warm lips touched her lips, sending Ai to jump back a big step. Her eyes went wide opened and stared at Miki, in shock.

"Sorry that I had startled you, but I just wanted to give you a birthday kiss. I hope you won't mind it." Miki took a step closer towards Ai and apologised.

"It's alright. . . " A rather awkward smile twitched at the corner of Ai's lips.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Risa was seated alone in the living, on the corner of his mattress when he heard the house door went slamming close. Prince immediately stood up from his position - the middle of Risa's mattress - and went straight to the door, welcoming Ai back home.

"Why are you so late? Erina waited for you for a long time before she fell asleep." Risa asked in a random way as he quickly occupy his place on his mattress, before the selfish Prince had decided to return and take up the mattress like he usually did.

No reply had return. Instead a slight growling of the stomach followed by another slamming of the door responded to Risa. Risa sat up immediately and look towards the direction of Ai's room. 'Is that her stomach that growled just now, or was it mine?' Risa wondered in his mind. 'She sounds like she's really angry too. . . Did anything happen?' Risa continued. 'Didn't My father taught me that a hungry man is an angry man? That sounds possible, isn't that so?'

Risa leaned back, allowing himself to fall back onto the mattress. 'Should I get her some food? Well, I don't think so right? Even if I want to, there isn't any edible food in the fridge right now, there's nothing much I can do. . . But she has taken care of my hungry stomach in the past too, didn't she? Though they weren't really very appealing to the stomach at their sight. . . But I can't cook for nuts! What can I do about it? Hmmm. Maybe I can try making the omelette rice that I had seen her cooking before?' Risa battled in his mind.

With that, Risa sat up again and gotten back onto his feet before making his way back into the kitchen.

When he was done with the food, he placed it on the dining table before heading towards Ai's room. Outside the room, he hesitated for a moment about knocking the door. 'Well . . . If she's hungry, she will come out to look for food to eat, won't she? If I knock on her door right now, high chances is that she would smack me on my head, considering the time now, late 11 in the night. . . Risa analysed in his mind. Deciding that this decision of his was the best of the best, Risa backed away from the door and returned back to the living - his room. That was until he felt a tug on his pants.

Risa looked down and saw Prince biting on the ends of his pants, seemingly wanting to drag him to the door that leads him out of the hut. "Where do you wanna to go at such a time, selfish Ouji?" Risa asked Prince by the nickname given by him. Though Prince was small in size, the amount of space Prince took on Risa's mattress was way larger than his size, often adding up to Risa's problem of insomnia.

Prince did not respond to Risa. Instead, he yelped once at him before tugging him again on his pants.

"Strawberry girl is going to come out if you do that, Selfish Ouji." Risa continued, wanting to escape back to his bed. However, what he expected did not happen. Prince continued to pull Risa to the main door. "You mean she's outside?" Risa asked.

Prince stopped tugging and barked once more, before returning to his work on the ends of Risa's pants.

"But didn't she returned back home already? Why would she be outside?" Risa continued asking.

------------------------------------------------

'I can't believe that he took my first kiss!' Ai grumbled in her mind as she wiped her lips with the back of her hand repeatedly. 'And you coward Ai, why is it that you did not have the courage to tell Miki off.' Ai scolded herself. She was seated in the mist of the blooming strawberry plants as she looked up onto the starry skies. 'And there goes the dreams of the special first kiss. . . ' The thought of the disappearance of the fantasies of first kiss brought a few tears to Ai's tired eyes. "And I always thought I will share my first kiss with someone that I love. . ." Ai sighed sadly. She wiped away that few tears away with her right thumb before resting her face into her arms. 'This is definitely my worse birthday. Not only that I'm 25 this year and lost my first kiss, this is one of my hungriest day ever. . . Ai ranted in her mind.

Just then, an unexpected voice startled her.

"Why are you doing here alone? Aren't you suppose to be back in your room sleeping?"

"WUA!" Ai famous man scream echoed over the 100 hectors field. "Will you stop startling me in this way, Penguin?" Ai scolded. "What are you doing out here?" She continued.

"Sel- Ouji brought me out . . ." Risa explained.

Ai looked around her surroundings and could not find Prince. "Stop lying." Ai reprimanded.

"I'm not. "

"You are." Ai insisted.

"Whatever." Came the best way to end the argument. "I made some Omelette rice. Do you want some?" Risa continued as he settled beside Ai.

"You made? Stop kidding me." Ai snickered a little as she gave Risa a slight push on the forehead. "I'm not hungry anyway, even it's real. " Ai continued. But, her stomach had betrayed her. Just as she said that, her stomach had protested and growled on loud time, causing Risa to chuckle out loud.

"Take it." Risa said between his laughter as he place the dish on Ai's hand.

The sight of her favourite dish caused her to salivate immediately. Putting her pride away, she picked the spoon up before stuffing it into her mouth, in a huge mouthful amount. She was surprised at the taste of it. "You added strawberries?" Ai asked.

"Huh?" Risa could not understand what Ai had asked as Ai had spoke with her mouth full of food.

Ai took her time to swallow. "You added strawberries?" Ai asked again. Risa nodded his head in response. "I thought you hate them to the extent that the smell of them makes you feel like vomiting? "

"Well, you liked them, don't you?"

That sentence itself made Ai's heart to dwell in unexplained sweetness. She lowered her head down to finish her food.

"So, what are you doing alone out here?"

"Miki took my first kiss. . ." Ai blurted out unknowingly.

"Eh?"

"It's all ruined." Ai continued dejectedly.

Risa began to giggle uncontrollably to himself. It was not long enough that he could no longer contain his smile to himself that he began to burst out into huge laughter.

"What's so funny?" Ai looked up at Risa with her famous stare. Risa shook his head in response, though still laughing.

'Why is she so cute? Being so upset that her first kiss was stolen? That's not her first kiss in the first place. Risa smiled in his mind.

"It's not funny at all!" Ai raised her hand and smack Risa on his right forehead - where Risa had attain a cut would on the night Ai was drunk. It was so that Ai had finally realise the rather obvious scar on that forehead. "Why did you have a scar over here? How did you get it?" Ai demanded, unsure what had gotten her to be so worked up. The thought of someone else other than herself bullying the Penguin irked her in a sour way.

"That - I - " Risa stuttered at the sudden question. 'There is no way I can allow her to know what had happen. She would have kill me if she remembers that kiss that night - her real first kiss. If the fact that that Miki had taken her first kiss had caused her sulking, she will kill me off when she found out I'm the actual one who had received her first kiss.'

"Who was it?" Ai demanded again.

Just then a wave of unknown memory came flashing back to her.

"You need to clean up properly. . . if not it's going to get infected." Ai slugged her words. She took cotton and antiseptic cream out of the box and began to wipe it on the broken skin. Ai brought her face really near Risa's, trying to get a better view of the wound through her blurred vision, an effect from the alcohol.

Ai felt her breath halted at the thought of the memory. 'Is that real? or Was that my hallucination or something that I wish for it to happen?' Ai lost in her mind. 'It almost felt like I could feel his warm breath on my lips and my cheeks. . .

"What happened?" Risa's voice broke Ai's thoughts. "Why is your face running so red? Are you feeling cold?"

Ai turned around and came to an direct eye contact with Risa.

"Ye- yes?" Risa stuttered, yet once again. He could sense the difference in Ai's glare at him now. Before he knew it, Ai pulled in face closer to him, holding him by his neck and pressed her lips on his.

Risa tasted a scent of sweetness on his lips. 'Is that the taste of strawberry?' The moment did not last. Before he knew it again, the warmth on his lips were long gone.

Ai pulled away from Risa and quickly stood up to her feet, fleeing away from where Risa was. 'That night was true. It did happened. ' The thought ran past Ai's mind as she raced her way back home. 'But. . . why am I feeling this way? Why was that the memories of the kiss, and that the actual kiss itself don't irk me off at all? Why is it that. my heart raced at the contact? '

@ rndmnwierd : Heheh. Well, the real prince is being abuse by the whole Ikuta family. . .hahahah

@ risa_ai : Yupps. Gaki ate it. . .that's why it tasted different :) Hehehe

@ arisa03 : Well, not before, but now Ai had remembered what happened that night . . . . heheheh

sorry for the long wait!!
hope you have enjoyed this chapter :) hehehe

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 7- 5th February 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on February 04, 2012, 08:12:41 PM

No one can resist the charms of Prince Gaki! XD Ai should just realize that already, lol. I so can't wait to see how they react to each other after this kiss

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 7- 5th February 2012 ]
Post by: Sora-chan on February 04, 2012, 11:48:17 PM

Quote

Risa tasted a scent of sweetness on his lips. 'Is that the taste of strawberry?' The moment did not last. Before he knew it again, the warmth on his lips were long gone.

Ai pulled away from Risa and quickly stood up to her feet, fleeing away from where Risa was. 'That night was true. It did happened. ' The thought ran past Ai's mind as she raced her way back home. 'But. . . why am I feeling this way? Why was that the memories of the kiss, and that the actual kiss itself don't irk me off at all? Why is it that. my heart raced at the contact? '

:luvluv1: :shy2: KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ! :mon lovelaff:

I want more more moreeeee~ <3 this story is so awesome :D

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 7- 5th February 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on February 05, 2012, 03:19:23 AM

jhdbslkdsmdlksdmksladmsk *spazz spazz spazz* AI-CHAN HOW CAN YOU JUST KISS RISA LIKE THAT AND LEAVE HIM IN THE COLD?!?! LOL. At least Risa's manly 'features' did not trigger on the sight of a half-naked sekushi Ai-chwan. LOL Ouji can be such a shipper too. LOL. And Sorry Miki, someone beat you to the first kiss, HA! xD

At least Ai-chan lost her first kiss to someone she will love soon. hohohoho~ Thank you for the epic update Cai-san! I can't wait for more! *insert spazzing penguin here and more random letters*
aoisdjasldjsdlsda;ds

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 7- 5th February 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on February 05, 2012, 06:52:30 AM

MUAHAHAHAHA!! *laughs evilly
Risa stole her first kiss! Go, risa! Go show miki that you two are dating! Then he won't kiss strawberry girl. XD
Update soon! The next chapter should be interesting. I'll be waiting!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 7- 5th February 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on February 08, 2012, 07:38:27 PM

[8] - There isn't a need for reason for liking someone

'Did I accidentally add liquor into the omelette rice that night?' Risa thought silently in his mind. 'I was pretty sure that I had not did that.' Risa continued, coming into conclusion. 'Maybe she had drank some before she returned?'

Risa had been spending the past week thinking back and forth about the same topic - The reason for Ai's sudden kiss that night. He was deluded by the fact that Ai will only kiss him under the effect of alcohol and has been searching for the source of alcohol that may had invaded Ai's system that very night - Ai's birthday.

As the sun continues to radiate heat energy onto the surface, Risa, surrendering over to the heat, sat down beside one strawberry tree and began to fan himself with his palm. "And I thought it supposed to turn cold at this time of the year, in the Land of Strawberry." Risa mumbled to himself. At Eleven, Risa saw Ai exiting the hut. 'Oh. . . She's off to the market place again. . . ' Risa wondered in his mind. But when he saw another figure leaving the hut, he perked up in alertness, shooting straight back onto his feet. 'What was he doing inside? When did he even arrived??! I hadn't seen him coming at all. . .' Risa analysed in his mind.

Risa's eyes were staring immensely at the pair, without leaving them even for a single second. A wave of jealousy aroused within him, with his lips pouting like a duck lips then moments he saw the adjoining hands of them.

"What are you dazing over there, Penguin?" Erina came over to where Risa stood and stopped beside him. "Why are you pouting?"

Risa pulled his stared away from the pair and turned his attention to Erina, pulling the pout into a slight smile. "No, I'm not." Risa lied.

"Are you done over here?" Erina switched the topic and went into the reason for approaching Risa.

"I guess so? The weeds are cleared and the fruits are covered." Risa answered. It was as if Risa is already an expert in cultivating strawberries right now from the way he had answered the question.

"If that's the case, come over with me!" Erina continued, placing her right hand on Risa's left wrist and began to pull him towards the direction she had previously came from. "I need some help over there. . . There's a big patch of ripen strawberries over at that side that's ready to be harvested." Erina finished, dragging Risa behind her.

"O-okay. . ." Risa stuttered and agreed reluctantly, before turning back and looked at Ai for a one last stare. That was when their eyes first met for the day.

Ai narrowed her eyes slightly when she saw Erina leaving together, with Erina pulling onto Risa's wrist. 'Since when had they got so close towards each other?' Ai thought rather sourly in her mind.

"Ai?" A tug on her hand brought Ai back from her thoughts.

"Ye-yes?" Ai stuttered in nervousness, in fear that Miki might sense her sourness from moments ago.

"Why are you dazing over there?" Miki asked. "Are you not feeling well? If so, you shouldn't be working in the fields today." Miki continued concerning with gentleness.

Ai shook her head immediately in denial. "I'm fine." Ai spoke. 'My eyes just caught something that made me went jealous. . . ' Ai shook her head gently to wake herself from the soured thoughts. "Thank you for visi-" Before Ai could finish her sentence, Erina's call for her echoed over the wide field. Ai turned her attention to the source and saw Erina waving her heads widely at Miki and her.

"Ai-nee! The strawberries are ready over here!" Erina cried out loud in joy and excitement.

"Really? I'm coming over now!" Ai shouted back before turning back to Miki. " I got to -" Once again, her sentence was interrupted. This time by Miki.

"Shall I help you out?" Miki offered.

"But you are going to get your hands dirtied. . ." Ai trailed off into silence, trying to stop Miki to help, knowing that she will never be able to be herself when Miki is around.

"It's alright. . . I want to experience how it felt to try out the sweetness of the strawberry as one harvested it." Miki insisted, giving Ai no way other than to accept the offer.

"Okay. . ." Ai agreed almost inaudibly.

Miki tightened his grip on Ai's hand and began to pull her towards the direction where Erina was. And when they reached there, Risa was already hanging his head down, busy picking the strawberries from the stalk and place them in the basket weaved from bamboo leaves.

"Ai-nee, you and Miki-nii can work over that area, " Erina pointed towards an area right ahead of where Risa was before continuing, " While I will work over at that area." Erina pointed towards the direction 180 degrees away from where she previously pointed.

Risa's attention was stole the moment he heard Ai's name. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Ai and Miki swift past him and went ahead of him.

"This is how you do it. . . " Ai pulled her hand away from Miki's and squatted down, showing Miki the way they plucked the strawberries from the plant. Miki, instinctively, placed the hand which Ai's hand escaped from previously on Ai's upper waist, just slightly under her chest. Ai jumped lightly at the sudden contact while Risa's eyes went wide open at that scene.

'Stop touching her at the wrong place, pervert!' Risa grumbled angrily in his mind. 'She won't want you to touch her in this way! She didn't even like your kiss, oh please!' Risa continued. Being unable to contain his anger, Risa picked the closest thing to him - a freshly plucked strawberry - and threw it over towards their direction, wanting to hit Miki, hoping that would stop his rather unmannered touching.

Risa stuck his tongue out and looked away immediately the moment the strawberry landed. "Opps." Risa mumbled softly. The strawberry went on a wrong direction and hit Ai instead.

"Ouch. . ." Ai cried out softly as she rubbed the top of her head, ruffling her hair messy slightly. "What's that?" Ai picked the item that had just contacted her head. "Strawberry?"Ai raised a tone. She looked around her surrounding and could not find where the strawberry may had came from.

"Could it be that the strawberry dropped off the plant by itself and hit your head?" Miki suggested.

"Eh?" Ai looked weirdly at Miki. Ai knew that what Miki had just proposed was impossible. All the plants were at a lower level than where their heads were at, how was it possible for that to happen then. But Ai decided to let it go. So she nodded her head lightly before turning her head back to her work as Miki's arm was wrapped around her waist.

"Phew. . ." Risa let off a sigh of relieve. Unsatisfied that he had missed his target previously, Risa decided to try it again, hoping that the hit will make Miki to remove his hand from Ai's waist. And finally , he did. The strawberry went flying across the field and hit Miki's head at the back in a great force, causing some strawberry juice splashing out from the fruit as the impact was made. "Yes!" Risa clenched his fingers together as he celebrated his success, as he jumped up and down in joy.

"Ouch. . . ' Miki cried out at the hit. Ai turned her attention to the direction the strawberry came and saw Risa celebrating his success. 'I was right. . .It was him who had threw the strawberry. . . ' AI thought silently in her mind. "What had the strawberry came from?" Miki asked as he rubbed the back of his head gently.

"From the plant? Just like what you had suggested previously?" Ai answered quickly, preventing Miki from turning his head back.

Miki pulled back his hand and saw traces of red on it. "Blood?"

Ai took Miki's hand and pulled it to her nose. "No . . . It's just the strawberry juice. . " Ai answered.

Ai stole a glance at Risa's direction and found out that the little celebration Risa was doing was gone. It was replaced by a jealous stare at the eye. 'Stupid.' Ai scolded silently in her mind.

-----------------------------------------------

"Here Ai, try some egg plants. They were gifts from the farmers." Miki offered as he picked a piece of eggplant with his chopstick and held it before Ai's bowl.

Ai hesitated for a moment before sending her bowl slightly forward to receive the eggplant from Miki.

Just then, Risa intercepted. "She don't like eggplant." Risa stated rather flatly.

Ai turned to Risa in surprise.

"How do you know that Ai doesn't like to eat eggplant. Who are you to say when she said nothing about disliking it?" Miki refuted rather offensively to Risa.

"Well, anyone with eyes can see that she HATES eggplant. Have you even seen her eating them? She never takes them, even if they are on the dinner table." Risa reasoned. 'And most importantly, you will never see eggplant in her cooking, even if there are some in the refrigerator. ' Risa added the last reason in his mind.

"I - I " Miki was lost for words.

"I actually don't like them . . " Ai shyed her head down as she confessed weakly.

Risa raised his eyebrow playfully at Miki, signalling to him that he had won the fight and he was absolutely elated.

-----------------------------------------------

Risa closed his eyes lightly as he laid on his bed, trying to fall asleep. That was only until he heard someone walking across the room and stopped at his bed, right above his head. He opened his eyes suddenly and saw a pair of muscular legs right before his eyes.

"Come outside with me." With that, Ai made her way out of the house, not waiting Risa.

Risa got out of his bed hurriedly and tried to follow closely behind Ai. When he reached where Ai was, he was immediately attacked by a flying stone that had contacted his right forehead. "Ita!" Risa cried out loud as he covered his forehead with his right hand.

"Why did you throw the strawberry this afternoon? I know you hate them, but can you respect them properly? They are MY favourite food, you know. No one is allow to treat my favourite food this way. It is to be eaten, not to be thrown." Ai scolded in one breath with her hands tucked at her waist, just like how an angry mother look like.

"I - "

"And how did you even find out that I had eggplants? Did Erina told you?"

"I - "

"So why did you throw the strawberry so harshly at Miki, until the fact that you dirtied his hair." Ai continued again, giving Risa no chance to speak for himself.

"I - "

"That's not - "

"I DON'T LIKE HIM TOUCHING YOU LIKE THAT, THAT'S WHY I THREW THE STRAWBERRY AT HIM!" Risa shouted out loud suddenly, a little angry by the fact that Ai did not give him a chance to explain for himself even though she was pouring him with mountain of questionings and scolding. When he finished shouting, he began to pout lightly, still jealous by the fact that Ai never rejects Miki's touch even though she did not enjoy it.

Ai was surprised by the sudden outburst Risa had just reacted. That was the first time she had seen the Penguin being so angry. She could not imagine that the usual timid and easy being bullied Penguin actually can be so scary.

" Why?" Ai whispered softly. It seems like the table has been turned now. Ai could not explain why she was feeling a little upset after being howled by Risa.

"Because I like you!" Risa replied, without thinking much. After that sentence was blurted out, a sea of awkward silence filled the atmosphere. 'What did I just say?'

. . .

. . .

After a good long ten minutes of silence, Ai began to lick her lips nervously. "But. . . why?" Ai asked rather airheadedly. This is a second time someone had actually confessed to her. As different to the first time, Ai did not feel denial. She had no feelings of rejecting the Penguin. She does not know why. 'Is it because there was a mutual feeling between us? My heart raced like crazy whenever I remember the kiss we had that on that both nights. . .'

Risa slapped his forehead at the airheadness of the question Ai had just asked. He took a deep breath before saying, " There isn't a need for reason for liking someone!" With that, Risa cupped Ai's cheeks with his palms and brought his lips on Ai's, closing his eyes tightly. 'I'm going all out today! Doesn't matter if I am going to survive to see the next sun rise!' Risa thought in determination in his mind.

@ rndmnwierd : hehehe. Ai too realise that she may like gaki too . . . so . . hehehe. let's see what will happen this :) Ai's reaction to Gaki's sudden rage :) heeheh

@ Sora-chan : heheheheh. Thanks!!

@ arisa03 : Heheheh well. . . Ai's confused. :X heeheheh

@ risa_ai : yuppps. .

hehehhe
I think I have missed out alot of points I have planned with some~~thing~~one and i can't remember what's them ;X BUT, I will clear them out at the next chapter.
heheheh.

meanwhile, let me share a photo to keep you guys entertained :)
heheheh

(http://i.imgur.com/Pnzj7l.jpg) (http://imgur.com/Pnzj7)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 8- 9th February 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on February 08, 2012, 08:07:42 PM

AH~! *rolls around* Why you gotta leave it like that? Meanie, leaving such a cliffhanger behind for us~!~! :lol: :lol:

Miki bringing out a jealous Prince Gaki is amazing, I'd never thought I'd see him yell at Ai and then KISS her! I so can't wait for the next chapter, I must know how Ai reacts!

That plushy is so adorable, did you make it yourself?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 8- 9th February 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on February 09, 2012, 07:46:09 AM

I'm sure the sun will rise for you Risa. LOL. Don't worry about it, Ai-chan likes it after all. LOLOL.
GO GET HER TIGER!

Update soon! I can't wait laksdmalsdjsaldjsdsadlsad

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 8- 9th February 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on February 09, 2012, 08:31:42 AM

*dances of happiness
Risa confesses to Ai and kisses her~ Accept him, ai!! I hope miki wouldn't come out and spoil it. :p The thing I remembered most vividly was... Risa throwing strawberries. XD
Update soon~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 8- 9th February 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on February 19, 2012, 03:40:59 PM

[9] - Love and to be love

Risa kept his eyes tightly shut as he pressed his lips on Ai's lips, with his hands feeling the heated cheeks of Ai. That action was an act of fear, in fear that the suddenness of the kiss will result in his own abuse. His eyelids twitched a little after some moments. The warmth he felt on his fingers was still there - meaning, Ai was still there, yet to move back, yet to reject.

'Why? Why didn't I feel angry at all? Why didn't I push him away? Why am I feeling this way again? Just like that night. . . Why is my heart racing at this speed. . . ' Ai thought in her mind as she trembled. ' I hate this feeling. . . ' Ai continued in her mind as her body continued to tremble on its own.

Risa opened his eyes slightly and peeked through the small window, only to find himself facing a Ai, with her eyes closed, eyebrows twitching uncontrollably. Risa pulled away from the kiss the moment he felt the lips on his were trembling. The sudden action cause Ai to flip her eyes open abruptly, coming into an intense eye to eye contact with Risa. Risa gulped nervously at the contact. Instinctively, Risa took a step back further away from Ai and dodged Risa's stare.

'Don't go away . . ' Ai feared honestly from the bottom of her heart.

He looked down shyly on the ground, refusing to look at Ai at her eyes. 'Why didn't she push me away? Why didn't she hit me? Why was she trembling? Was it that I had violated her personal space and she was uncomfortable about it? Did I scared her? But I thought she - she may - But I can be wrong . . . Wh-y? ' Risa thought in his mind in confusion. He closed his eyes tightly, in fear that there might be a chance of a delayed violence from Ai.

His hands were kept at his back, with his right grabbing onto his left. Suddenly, soft tender fingers came creeping onto his upper hands, causing Risa to look up in surprise at Ai. The soft touch tightened into a slight grip, pulling Risa towards to the direction of its owner.

"Why?" Ai asked quietly as she looked earnestly into Risa's eyes.

"I - " Risa shied away from her stare, with extra butterflies flying around in his stomach. "I - I'm - afraid - that - that you - you would - would be - be mad - at me - and - and - hit - hit me - for - for - kiss - kissing you - you this - this - way . . " Risa stuttered nervously."So - I - I wanted - wanted - to - get - get - away from - from - you . . ."

Risa expected something he least expected. Ai began to giggle uncontrollably. Risa looked up from the ground and saw the smile and laughter he never thought he would see from Ai in the whole of his life. Ai removed her hand from Risa's arm and covered her mouth, continuing with her uncensored giggled. 'That was not my question.' Ai thought silently in her mind. "Baka."Ai scolded mercilessly before slapping a light palm on Risa's forehead.

"Ba-ka?" Risa repeated after Ai. He held his hand to his forehead where Ai had slapped previously while staring at Ai. "I - " Risa stuttered again, only to come in realisation what was Ai's question bringing into.

Ai showed Risa one of her playful smile, yet something that Risa had never seen before.

Risa took a step closer to Ai again as he slipped his hands onto Ai's, grabbing onto both of Ai's wrist with his both hands. "I - I think I - I - li-ke no... no ... love you . . . " Risa stuttered again as he felt the gush of warm blood running up his face, flushing his cheeks with a tomato red.

Ai felt the same heat growing at her cheeks. 'Why didn't I felt irked by that confession. This felt different from the way I felt when Miki first confessed to me. . . I don't have the urge to run away from Penguin. I don't have the fear for this love. Is this what it means by falling in love? That this is a mutual feeling between us?' Ai thought silently in her mind, bringing the atmosphere into a complete silence.

Risa kept staring at Ai, still unable to read the clues Ai displayed unknowingly through her subconscious actions. Instead, he took the silence of the atmosphere in the wrong way. He took a further more steps backward away from Ai and released his grip on Ai's arm. "I - didn't mean to steal that kiss from you. . . I - I didn't know what - what had came onto me. . I - I - I " Risa could not find the right words to express his thoughts, leading to his stuttering .

Ai was shock at the sudden lost of contact on her wrist when Risa pulled his hands away. As she watched Risa trying to explain for his actions, Ai knew that he had took the silence wrongly. Without having a third thought, Ai tiptoed and leaned forward towards Risa and silenced his explanations with a gentle kiss on his lips before pulling herself back to her heel. Ai bit her lower lips nervously as she smiled sheepishly. "Think only?" Ai uttered almost inaudibly, looking slightly away from Risa's shocked demure.

Risa could not react to what he had just experienced. 'Did she just kissed me again? Without alcohol? Does that means that she likes me too?' Risa was dazed in his own thoughts that he did not feel the pair of rather gentle eyes starting earnestly at him, waiting for him to snap out of his shocking revelation.

"You think only?" Ai asked again, this time round in a slightly louder voice as she waited patiently for Risa to return. And he finally did.

"No." Risa answered hurriedly, frantically trying to hold AI's hands back to himself. "Not think. Is - is I know I - I - I . . . " Risa blushed even more. He could not find the same courage he had before to speak out his honest thoughts from the bottom of his heart.

"It's enough." Ai interrupted, saving Risa from his lack of words. She looked away shyly from Risa, knowing that she was as equally red as the red penguin before her. "Me too. . . "

Before she knew it, she felt Risa's hands reaching for the back of her head, tilting her head slightly upwards before pulling her in to his lips. The touch brought her heart racing to another level. As Risa right hand slipped from her head down to her waist, pulling Ai even closer to Risa's body, Ai felt an unexplainable wave of ease, calming her heart slightly.

Though the two were enjoying the moment, something Risa least expected happened. "Ouch!" Risa cried out suddenly, causing the intimate contact on the lips to break. Risa backed away slightly and looked at Ai with confusion. He used his right hand and rubbed the back of his head lightly.

Ai panted heavily, trying to catch some breath while returning the gaze Risa gave. "Baka. " Ai scolded lightly. "I can't breathe." Ai continued pouting her lips like a duck lips.

A sheepish smile ran across Risa's face. The shy rub on the back of his head continued as he peeked bashfully at Ai. Ai returned her shy gaze and they shared the contact for a while, before breaking down into an uncontrollable giggle altogether. With that, Ai sank into Risa's embrace, lying onto his shoulder .

"Let's get together, shall we?" Risa regained his suave prince momentum, confessing first time with 100 percent consciousness about his actions.

------------------------------------------------

"General, are you sure that this is where General Takahashi family is staying?" Kanon asked with doubt as they stopped before the said residence.

"This is what the palace had recorded down in the records book." Hitomi answered as they both got off of the horse.

They were both dazed by what they had saw. A rundown mansion that were covered with frost of ice. It was obvious to them that the place had been vacant for years due to the lack of maintenance of the place. Hitomi stopped a passerby. "What happen to the Takahashi family?" Hitomi questioned.

"Ever since the General passed away at the borders during a mission, the whole family crashed. His wife had ran away with her lover, the servants had stole the gold of the family and had ran away soon after that." The passerby replied and tried to proceed back to his way, only to be stopped by Hitomi again.

"Do you happen to know anything about the General's child?"

"You meant the daughter of the family? I heard from the other peasants that the nanny had brought the daughter back to her own hometown."

"Do you happen to know what's the nanny name or where is her hometown?" Hitomi continued asking.

"Not that I can remember. But the nanny's hometown is out of this country. It's at the Land of Strawberry. . . "

SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT!!!!
Was being distracted from writing :X

@ rndmnwierd : Sorry for leaving such a cliffhanger. . . but leaving a teaser for you. . .next chapter will be a nice chapter :) hehehe Yupps, i made that myself :) hehehe. Penguin hugging Strawberry :) hehehe

@ arisa03 : hehee, i updated!! :) heheh

@ risa_ai : That's my favourite moment too, Penguin throwin strawberry. hehehe.

A short chapter this time round. . .
but I promise the next chapter will be long. but it will too be a long wait, since i'm flying back to college in a few days time . . .:X
But whatever I am able to manage, I will try to update as soon as I am able to. . .^.^

De wa, until the next chapter :)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 9- 19th February 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on February 19, 2012, 04:33:57 PM

asdpasdosad FINALLY TOGETHER! ;A;!! Thank you for the updated! m(_ _)m Take care in your flight back Cai-san! Next chapter will be a nice chapter... I can't wait! But of course I can ;A;!

I look forward to your next update! *jumps giddily onto her bed*

EDIT: so many kisses! They've like kissed five times now or more? maannn the next morning is going to be so awesome LOL. ajjasjjsjssjsjs No matter what happens, they're for each other anyway. LOL.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 9- 19th February 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on February 19, 2012, 08:27:41 PM

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You made my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cow: :wub:

But...at the end....Oh... :shocked

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 9- 19th February 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on February 19, 2012, 11:38:29 PM

Cayun~ THAT WAS THE DEFINATION OF PERFECT! Don't rush, take your time, cos your updates are the best~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 9- 19th February 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on February 20, 2012, 05:35:44 AM

Yay! So happy Risa wasn't rejected! (Like Ai could resist him anyways, lol) So, you'd think things would get more simple for them, but I'm guessing that's not the case XD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 9- 19th February 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on February 25, 2012, 08:17:42 AM

I don't remember how many times I've re-read so I thought I'd just reply again. OTL.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 9- 19th February 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on February 25, 2012, 02:05:57 PM

[10] - Birthday Surprise (1)

"Strawberry. . . " Risa whispered softly into Ai's ears as he sneaked behind Ai and wrapped his hands tightly around Ai's waist, before he snuggled his chin into Ai's shoulder.

"Yes, Penguin?" Ai responded in a rather cutesy voice.

"I'm hungry. . . Is there anything to eat?"Risa acted like a spoiled child as he asked, blowing light breathe playfully into the side of Ai's neck, sending a wave of chilling sensation down Ai's spine.

"Stop that. . ." Ai whined as she tried to pull her neck away from Risa. But the grip on her waist tightened, locking her in no way out. "It's ticklish. . . Stop that. . . " Ai whined again.

Risa did not follow what Ai had requested him of. Instead, his fingers began to make their way around the side of Ai's waist and began to do their work, tickling the waist, resulting in the uncontrollable giggling of Ai to echoed throughout the kitchen.

"It's ticklish. . . Don't do that. . . " Ai begged in the mist of her laughter.

"Feed me something. . . " Risa continued demanding from Ai as he began to stop his fingers at work.

"There you go . . . " Ai picked up a piece of strawberry she had just sliced from her chopping board and began to tease Risa with it, pulling it further away from Risa's mouth when Risa pulled in closer to reach for the strawberry.

"You little strawberry . . . " Risa grunted teasingly as he reached one hand for the hand that was holding on the strawberry , trying to fix it in position, before leaning in again for the strawberry. Just as the strawberry was about to be savoured by Risa, pang of reality finally hit him.

"Itai!" Risa groaned loudly as he shot up from his sleeping position on his bed, with his right hand covering the top of his head. "Who's that?" Risa demanded as he looked to his right and left, in search for the offender who had just gave him a smack on the top of the head when he was still sound asleep.

"Wake up, pig!" Ai snigged jokingly as she stood up from her position, at the side where Risa's head was at previously."The sun is getting on your backside, pig. It's time for you to wake up." Ai continued.

Risa yawned tiredly as he ruffled his hair rowdily. "Let me sleep in today. . . " Risa whined like a little child. With that, Risa attempted to make a heavy dive back into the think mattress. Like said, it was only an attempt to. Before ge could do what he desired to, the firm grip on his shoulder had put that action to an halt.

"Wake up!" Came the firm voice ordering. "There's a lot of work to be done in the fields today. "Ai continued, Pushing Risa's weight off her hands, causing the poor prince to stumble forward and hit his nose on the soft mattress. "And that includes giving Ouji his routine walk in the mountain and his weekly bath." Ai finished as she began to stride away from Risa.

"Why do I have to do that" Risa whined as he refused to agree to Ai. "The selfish prince belongs to you. And it would be your chore to do it." Risa reasoned. "Furthermore, he's a gift from that stupid Miki." Risa continued mumbling in an inaudible voice.

"What did you just say? Ai turned back abruptly, asking.

"You can hear me?" Risa asked in utter shock, ignoring the question raised by Ai. With the volume that he went, he had never expect anyone to hear it, furthermore an Ai who was already at a distance away from him.

"Are you jealous?" Ai ignore Risa's attempt for clearance, and went on asking, with a slight playful grin running across her face.

"I- I - I am not." Risa lied while stuttering.

"Are you sure??" Ai taunted, raising her right eyebrow a little while her left eye winked. She took baby steps back to where Risa was. When she reached the 'bed', Ai kneeled down onto the mattress and headed for the retreating Penguin before her.

Risa was trying to retreat away from Ai while seated down, thus losing to the speed Ai was going. "I - I - I'm sure. . . " Risa stuttered again.

"Really?" Ai fooled around with an raised eyebrow as she sat herself on her knees, straddled across Risa's thighs. She pulled her face close to Risa's, so close that she could actually feel the Risa's nervous breath on her nose. Ai goggled a little when she realised Risa was trying to hold his breath back. 'He's really cute. . . . ' Ai thought in her mind. 'And it's uncommon these days to find a guy who blushes when embarrassed. . . He's really something .. . '

Risa, who had his breath stolen by the mere to zero distance between Ai and him, finally gave in to his real feelings. "Yes! I'm jealous! So what?"Risa shouted before diving down into the mattress, wanting to increase the distance between them so that Ai would not discover the greenness he felt for the wealthy suitor of Ai. In simple words, he is embarrassed to have Ai found out that he is jealous of Miki. A playful smile sneaked across Ai's face as when Risa confessed to his real feelings but it remained unnoticed to the penguin as he was already on his back on the bed. "It's not like you will -" The impact of Risa's sudden dive caused Ai to loss her balance on her knees and fall forward, onto the firm chest of Risa and of course, lips to lips.

Risa felt his body heat raised at the sudden contact. His eyes were wide open staring unbelievingly at Ai, whose face was as equally crimson as his own face. Instinctively, Risa brought his loose hands up and placed them on Ai's waist, tightening them up as he embraced Ai.

"Ah. . . " An awkward third voice broke the heated atmosphere among the two. Ai pushed Risa away from her, supporting her own weight up by pushing her palm against Risa's chest and stood up back to her feets immediately. "What happened?" Erina continued asking, in complete oblivious situation about what had just happened.

"Nothing. . ." Ai answered quickly while Risa scrambled nervously back onto his feet.

"Nothing?" Erina tilted her head slightly as she repeated Ai's answer.

"This stupid Penguin was peeking at me again. . . " Ai added quickly, covering up the line she had just made before slamming a harsh push at the back of Risa's head, causing the poor prince to fall back onto his bed, on his knees.

Erina said nothing in response, in trusting of her sister with everything she told her. "I'm going to wash up." Erina stated tiredly before giving Ai her wake up smile. She then made her way to the toilet, leaving Ai and Risa all alone in the living room once again.

"What's that for?" Risa whined as he sat on his ankles, looking up at Ai. "Why don't you tell Erina we are together now. . . She's your sister, isn't that so? Why are you keeping it from her?" Risa continued.

"The time is not right yet." Ai answered rather ambiguously before slapping Risa on the top of his head again.

That had finally gotten onto Risa's nerve. He stood up speedily and came to a face to face contact with Ai. "Can I request you of one thing?" Risa asked in a soft tone, an opposing action as compared to his previous ones.

"Yeah?" Ai shied away slightly.

"Can you not hit my head?" Risa asked with his pleading eyes. "It hurts. . . "

"That . . . " Ai went into silence. It had became so much of a habit to abuse the younger penguin that she was not ready to give away this authority. "It's difficult for me to . . . " Ai broke her lips and spoke softly. " It's . . . It's . . . a way to show my love. . . " Ai continued in an almost inaudible voice.

Risa backed away slightly at that sentence. 'Now that she had said that. . . it seemed so true. . . Her violence was her way to show her love. . . Look at the way she treats Erina from time to time. . . though she may seem violent, but . . . they were not mean in any other way. . . Since she had never expressed her violence to that stupid Miki in any other ways, does that means that he's not my competition at all?' The seriously thinking face changed into a slight smirk, successfully earning him another faithful slap on the head. "Itai!" Risa cried out to Ai, only to find Ai pulling her hands back to herself immediately, with a remorseful expression painted on her face.

"I didn't mean to do it - I just can't " Ai tried to explain, but was unsure where should she start from. "It just came to me when I saw you smirking over there. I - " Ai stuttered. And silence sat in for a moment.

"If that's the case. . . I'll just let it be . . " Risa gave in, resulting in an overjoyed Ai who went straight into his embrace. "But just for today. . . Can you not hit my head? Just for today . . ." Risa added on quickly.

"Why today?" Ai looked up from Risa's embrace.

"It's my birthday today." Risa explained.

Ai pushed Risa away immediately. The smile turned into a pout as she rested her hands on her waist. "Why didn't you tell me earlier!" Ai grunted cutely.

"It doesn't matters, isn't that so? As long as I don't get hit by you today, it's my best celebration already. . . " Risa explained quickly. "I'll get to my work now." Risa finished with a smile, giving a light pat on Ai forehead as the latter continued to pout like a spoilt child.

After Risa had brushed past her, Ai immediately turned back and rushed back into her room and slammed her door after her, successfully catching Risa's and Erina's, who was standing at the main door, attention.

"What happened to Ai-nee again?" Erina walked up to where Risa stood and stopped beside him.

Risa shrugged his shoulders lightly in response.

"I guess it's just the days for her is here." Erina suggested an answer for her own question. Risa turned around and looked queerly at the youngest girl. "Ah, you won't want to know what's that. . ." Erina added on quickly before changing the topic they were discussing about. "What do you need to do today, Penguin? I guess Ai-nee had allocated your work for today, isn't that so?" Erina guessed.

Risa nodded his head in response. "Walk Ouji, Bath Ouji, and as usual, irrigation of the fields." Risa recounted as he counted on his fingers.

"Ai-nee asked you to walk Ouji again? Didn't she know about how Ouji bullies you during the walk?" Erina asked curiously. "I wonder why Ouji always likes to urinate on your feet. . .hmmmm. . . " Erina went into silence.

"Must be that stupid Miki taught him so. . " Risa mumbled under his breath, still sore about the fact that he was always stinted with the ammonia smell after walking Ouji. That was in such a hush tone that it was remained unheard to Erina.

"Anyway, Penguin, can I ask you something?" Erina continued.

"About ?"

"Ai-nee. . . "

"What about your sister?" Risa perked into interest upon the mention of Ai.

"Did you notice the slight bruises on Ai-nee's neck? Do you know what's that?" Erina asked airheadedly. Risa immediately flushed into tomato red upon hearing that. Memories from that night came flashing back into his mind.

"Don't you know how to kiss properly?" Ai scolded Risa as she panted heavily, trying to catch her breath. "I still need to breathe. . . That's not the way people kiss. . ." Ai continued.

"I'm - I didn't mean it. . . It's my first time to actually . . . you know . . . Initiate a kiss. . . " Risa looked down on his feet and explained. "I'm out of breathe too . . .And you don't seemed experienced too . . .since you thought that Miki took your first kiss when I was the one. . . " Risa continued in a quiet voice. That alone had earned him a rightful smack on the head. "Ouch. I'm sorry. . ." Risa apologised immediately. "There must be a way to work out this, isn't that so?"

"So we don't kiss?" Ai suggested.

"That's not what I meant!" Risa added on explaining immediately. "I mean. . . " Risa came into silence as he reached ahead for Ai and positioned his face at Ai's neck, tickling the older with the tip of his tongue before planting soft kiss on Ai's neck.

"Hee hee. . ." Ai giggled uncontrollably. "That's tickles. . "

Risa pulled himself back, coming back into an eye contact with Ai. "This will solve the problem of not being to breath, isn't that so?" Risa smiled mischievously.

"I had asked Ai-nee about it before. . . " Erina continued with her story, not knowing Risa was out in his own world. "She asked me to ask you about it. . ." Erina finished.

"EH?!" Risa finally snapped out of his own world.

"So do you know what's that? You should know about it right? Since Ai-nee wanted me to ask you . . ." Erina continued, still as oblivious as who she is all these time.

"That's - that's . . . " Risa began stuttering. He was up against the wall now. With Ai's desire to keep the relationship a secret to Erina right now, Risa is lost for solutions to explain the situation. "How to say. . . hmmm.. . . Your sister lies to eat strawberry, isn't that so?"

"Erina likes them too as well. . ."

"That's different" Risa argued. "Since your sister likes to eat strawberries. . . So she had someone to plant some on her neck as well?"Risa explained.

Erina furrowed her eyebrows at the explanation. It was getting her to be more confused rather than to understand. "What -" Before Erina could voice out her confusion, the impact of the sudden flunking open of door caught the attention of both. Erina and Risa spunk their head towards the direction of Ai's room and had their jaws dropped onto the ground.

"What's that face for?" Ai asked rather offensively, taking the reaction from the two in the bad way. Ai looked down at herself once again to check her outfit.

"Where are you going today, Ai-nee?" Erina snapped out of her surprise and closed her jaw by pushing it upward.

"Nowhere?" Ai responded. "Why?"

"Why are you so dressed up then?" Erina continued questioning.

"What is wrong with my dressing? I don't think there's anything wrong with it. . ." Ai checked herself up once again.

Erina walked up to Ai. "There's nothing wrong with it. . .It's just that Ai-nee, you never wear skirt at all, let alone a dress, what's more to work in the fields. . . " Erina explained. Ai was dressed in a simple spaghetti top white dress, with the length stopping at her mid thigh, revealing the skin that was always been covered up by the khakis Ai always wore. "I never knew you have these, Ai-nee, when did you get them?"

"This was a gift from Miki." Ai whispered softly into Erina's ear.

"Ah. . . I see. . ."

While the sisters were indulged in their own conversation, Risa, on the other hand, had not moved an inch ever since Ai had gotten out of her room. He was amazed by the beauty of the angel who stood right before her. The pureness that the white dress bring out of Ai struck Risa so badly. He had never knew Ai's beauty this way. It was her difference from the ladies Risa met in all his life in the palace that had attracted Risa to fall in love with such a commoner. 'She's gorgeous . . .Just like a princess . . . '

"Enough of that scorning, Erina. . ." Ai returned playfully. "I'm going off to the fields now. . " With that, Ai brushed past Risa, winking at him lightly before heading towards the door. But Risa had missed the wink. He was still stuck in his own world. The image of the angel Ai had not got out of his mind.

"Penguin?" Erina returned to Risa's side and called out. But Risa did not hear the call. "Penguin?" Erina called out the second time and had gotten the same response from Risa. At her final call, Erina had decided to use her sister's favourite weapon. "Penguin?!" Erina slapped Risa's upper arm, pulling the prince back to the reality. "What are you still day dreaming over here?"

That was when Risa realised Ai was gone. "Eh? Where had she gone?" Risa blurted out unknowingly.

"Ai-nee? She had gone out to the fields." Erina informed effortlessly.

"Ah. . .she's gone. . " Risa continued downheartedly.

"Shouldn't you be walking Ouji now? He's going to make a din if you don't get him going . . ."Erina concerned. "I'm going to change now. . " With that, Erina returns back into her room.

While Erina returned to her room, Risa headed towards the kitchen aimlessly, took the leash and reached for the Ouji who was waiting impatiently at the door. "Let's go, selfish prince." Risa hooked the leash on its collar and opened the front door. The moment he stood out of the house, a warm hand sneaked around his mouth and covered it, muffling any sound that came out of it.

"Keep quiet and follow me . ." Came a low voice echoing into Risa's ears. With that, together with Ouji, without knowing who was the stranger who had just muffled him, Risa was being dragged out of the cottage area, out of the fields and towards the wide far away mountains.

UPDATE!!!!!!!
and I had decided to split this chapt into two so that I can share it earlier to everyone :D heheheh

@ arisa03 : Thanks! I'm back all in one piece :) heheh Woah .. you counted how many times they kissed. . .I had lost count of them when I wrote it ;X heheh and thanks for the second comment ^.^ heheheh hopefully this chapter will bring you back to read it upteem times again :) hehehe

@ Shiawase_Honoo : You MADE my day too!!! I'm glad you like this chapter!! hehe Oh. . . the end . . .hmmm. . . Read on read on :) heheh

@ risa_ai : hehehhe. thanks!! hehehe. (you gotten my name wrong though. . .but we are even now :) ) hehehe

@ rndmnweird : Who will be able to resist our little prince Gaki . . .Hmmmm. . . *wink* You had gotten to know me well ar. . . :) HEHEHEHHE

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 10- 25th February 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on February 25, 2012, 03:23:32 PM

I wanna call you cayun~ it's cuter. Don't mind? XD
Takagaki raburabu~ I'll be waiting for the next awesome update! Ja ne~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 10- 25th February 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on February 25, 2012, 06:42:01 PM

I'm guessing Ai has a birthday surprise for the prince brat, especially since Ouji didn't seem threatened. Hmm, makes me wonder, when I Risa going to come clean about who he really is?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 10- 25th February 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on February 26, 2012, 01:15:23 AM

OMG jdjdjdjhdhs YOU UPDATED! My day has been made ;______; ////

Ai-chan you little... Wait wait that makes that sentence a bit redundant.... Ai-chan that troll. XD. Poor Risa. Awwww, but I wonder what will this Birthday Surprise be. Hoho~ Ai-chan are you trying yo give the poor ~~perverted~~ Risa a heart attack!? Looking forward tothe next chapteeerr~

And welcome back~ and yes I would definitely read this many many times now if you'll excuse me as I re-read again...

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 10- 25th February 2012 ]
Post by: alwaysYou on February 26, 2012, 11:23:25 AM

Hello! Miss ~~baka~~ caiyunki. XD

Love the planting strawberry on strawberry part. Hahahaha. Love such penguin. Shy yet can be daring at times. More strawberry penguin action! Cant wait to read more lovely lovely stuff in the next chp. Penguin birthday rite. I'm sure miss ~~baka~~ caiyunki wont disappointed. Hee hee HEEEEEE

*off to my ailand* ~~you know its hard to comment thru phone huh~~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 10- 25th February 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on February 28, 2012, 01:01:11 PM

[11 ] - Birthday surprise (2)

An unexplainable fear grew within Risa as he was continually being dragged away from the cottage. "Who are you?" Risa kept asking repeatedly through his muffled lips as he was dragged away from the Ikuta's residential area and towards the direction of the mountains, the area where sits the borders between the Land of Strawberry and the Land of Penguin. It was where Risa had came from right at the start, and too, where Risa had met the sisters, or rather, Ai in a rather weird situation. 'Could it be some assassin from the Land of Penguin who had managed to track me all the way from the Land of Penguin to here, the Land of Strawberry?' A worrying thought flashed within Risa's mind. 'I need to try to get away. . . Before my life is endangered. . .' Risa continued in his mind. Before Risa could make his strike back, the hand that were wrapped over his lips released its grip and turned Risa around hastily.

"Happy Birthday, Penguin!" The attacker greeted with a wide smile, sending Risa into a whirl of unexplainable emotions. To think that he had worried about an abductor who may be out for his life, or as a bait in an act to overthrown his father kingdom, it all turn out to be a rather harmless lady (well, she's harmless except for her violence tendencies), surprising him with a genuine wide smile, wishing him a happy birthday.

"It's you?" Risa retorted in a slight harsh tone.

"Who else were you expecting?" Ai tilted her head. She could not understand the reason from Risa's sudden anger.

"You got me there, do you know that? And you could have place yourself in a huge danger by doing that, do you know that?" Risa continued his scolding.

"What danger?" Ai asked.

Risa took a few more deep breath, trying to calm himself down from the burning anger at Ai's reckless behaviour.

Ai waited for a long while, but was still unable to receive her answer from Risa, regarding the type of danger she may had faced from her actions. And when she did not, she pouted. "Not that I had not told you I was going to do that. . . " Ai continued her argument. "Remember that wink that I had gave you at home?" Ai reminded. "I thought you would infer from that it would be a sign for you to prepare yourself for something unexpected. "Ai continued as she crossed her arms slightly. "And look at Ouji. . . " Ai added on. "He did not act offensively to me, which means that the person who cupped your mouth is someone he knew. Baka!"

It was Ai's turn to get angry at the Penguin. She had spent that short amount of time she had between the time she knew about Risa's birthday and the time she had finished changing to think of a birthday surprise for the Penguin, only to be scolded by Risa about her actions. She felt that her actions was not being appreciated. Ai turned around from Risa and attempted to move away from him. That was only until Risa's grip on her wrist tightened and pulled her back that Ai turned to face Risa again.

"I don't mean that, strawberry . . . It's just . . . " Risa tried to explain, but nothing could came out. "I'm sorry. . ." Risa lowered his voice and apologised. "I didn't meant to shout at you like that. . . "

"I'm sorry too. . . " Ai lowered down her tone as well. Risa pulled Ai closely into his embrace, resting his hands on Ai's waist while Ai rested her chin on Risa's shoulder. That was something positive when your partner is just slightly taller that you. "Happy Birthday to you again. . . " Ai continued, whispering into Risa's ears.

"Thank you. . . " Risa whispered back. The tug on the leash broke the hug, pulling Risa all the way forward, causing the poor Penguin to fall forward and landed his nose onto the hand ground. "Ouch . . . " Risa hissed silently, releasing his grip from the leash and rubbed this nose gently.

"Are you alright?" Ai rushed hurriedly forward to Risa as she helped the Penguin up. Risa nodded his head in response before shaking it again, hoping that action would shake away the intriguing pain he felt at the tip of his nose. Ai reached forward to touch Risa's nose, only to have Risa inched back a little, wincing in pain. "You don't look alright to me . ."

"I'm alright. . . " Risa insisted. He supported himself of the ground by pushing himself up onto feet. Ai followed suit immediately.

"Are you sure?" Ai asked again.

"I'm sure." Risa assured.

Once Ai ensured that Risa was fine from the fall, she began to look around her surrounding, only find Ouji missing. "Eh? Where's Ouji?" Ai finally realised. She looked around her surrounding again, but was still unable to find any trace of the ball of brown fur.

"He went for his own walk." Risa answered effortlessly.

"Hmmm?" Ai turned around at looked queerly at Risa.

"He always does that." Risa explained, rubbing his nose lightly again. "He always struggled me off whenever I bring him for his walk." Risa continued. " He will be back when he's satisfied. . . " Risa finished to Ai before continuing silently to himself. "As expected from a selfish prince you see. . . "

"Are you sure?" Ai doubted.

Risa nodded his head firmly. "So. . . Why did you bring me to the mountains?" Risa continued asking, changing the topic.

"Well . . . It's your birthday . . . " Ai trailed off into silence.

"What does my birthday has to do with coming to the mountain?" Risa asked again, not fully understanding Ai's sentence.

"I thought we should spend some time alone. . . I actually thought we can make a visit to the market place. . .But I'm reluctant to leave Erina alone at home when we are out . . .so . . ."Ai attempted to explain, but was silenced off by the finger that pressed on her lips.

"It's alright. . . " Risa interrupted. "This is enough. . . Thank you, strawberry. . ." The unintended word slipped out of Risa's lip.

"Strawberry?" Ai titled her head slightly.

Risa smile mischievously at Ai before making his stance to escape. "Yes, my strawberry." With that, Risa took a step forward made his dash for his life.

"Stupid Penguin!" Ai grunted cutely before she made her chase after the playful Penguin. "I'm going to get you! Since when I am a strawberry and since when do I belong to you?" Ai continued ranting after Risa.

"Since the night you kissed me!" Risa shouted in response.

"You were the one who kissed me!"

"Nope you were!"

"You were!"

"You were!"

And the lovers tiff continued, until the duo reached the waterfall spring where they first met each other. Risa stood running the moment he saw the waterfall, in a rather abrupt way, giving no time for Ai to brake and stop, thus causing Ai to collide into Risa's back. 'That's where I saw her absolutely naked. . .' Risa thought in his mind as he dazed, unaware that Ai had just knocked into him.

"Ita- Warn me before you stop!" Ai cried out loudly. When she realised Risa was not responding to her in anyway, the memory of Risa staring at her naked body came flashing back into her mind. She raised her hand up high. "Stop your perverted thoughts!" Ai pouted and brought her hands down, wanting to give Risa a faithful slap on the top of his head. Before the contact was made, a firm grip made its way around Ai's uprisen wrist.

"Remember our agreement?" Risa smirk slightly. He was brought back to his senses when Ai shouted at his back.

The pout on Ai's face deepens. "Whatever." Ai pretended to be cool about her angry and tried to wriggled her wrist out of Risa's grip as she looked away from Risa's taunting eyes.

Risa changed his gripped to the other hand and slipped his right hand around Ai's left hand. "Once I got hold of this hand, I'm not going to let it go anymore. . . ." Risa said suddenly.

---------------------------------------------------------------

"I wonder where Ai-nee had gone. . ." Erina grumbled to herself as she was squatted on the ground, removing the weeds that her growing beside the strawberry plant. "I wonder how do one even plant strawberries on the neck. . . " Erina continued. "I wonder if they are edible and whether are they delicious or not. . . " Ridiculous thoughts about Risa's pervious explanation kept ranging in her mind. "I wonder what time will Penguin be coming back from the walk. . ." Erina continued mumbling. 'It's just feels so weird not seeing Penguin working in front of me. . . The way he wipes away his perspire while trying to clear the weeds is the most captivating part of him . . . Erina thought in her mind.

Erina looked up from her work, hoping she would catch a view of Risa returning from the walk with Ouji. But she did not. Instead, she saw a young boy, riding on a horse, slowly advancing towards the direction of her house. 'Who's that?' Erina thought curiously in her mind. She stood up from her squatting position, allowing the young boy to take notice of her. Instead of the house, the young boy started to head towards where Erina stood.

"STOP!" Erina cried out loud immediately!" The young boy tightened his grip on the horse, halting the horse in its galloping. "You are going to kill my harvest by doing that!" Erina continued. She stomped towards where the young man stopped. "Do you understand?"

"I'm sorry for that . . .But I haven't realised about that. . . " The young boy apologised. He climbed off the horseback and came before Erina, only to find the Erina so much taller than him. To be truthful, he felt inferior about it. "My name is Suzuki Kanon and I have a few questions for you . . ." Kanon trailed off.

"What?" Erina answered rather rudely.

"Have you worked with the Takahashi's family who was the chief general of the Land of Penguin?" Kanon questioned.

"What are you talking about? Takahashi? General? Land of Penguin? What are all these?" Erina returned the question. She had not understand any of the single thing mentioned by Kanon.

"Are you sure? We have received news that the family who used to work with general Takahashi lived around in this town. . . " Kanon insisted.

"I don't know what are you talking about. Will you please leave?" Erina became offensive, something her sister had trained her to be, since she was always left alone to work in the fields.

"But -"

Without giving Kanon another chance to explain for himself, Erina picked up the nearest stone to her and began attacking Kanon with it. Without no other choices, Kanon hopped back onto his horse and ride away, escaping from Erina's sudden violence. 'Wait a minute!' Kanon finally realised. 'That girl. . . she looked barely 15. . . how would she know about something that happened more than 23 years ago?' Kanon finally realised the mistake he had made.

"Kanon!" Hitomi, on his horse, came over and met up with Kanon. "Is there any information from your side?"

Kanon shook his head immediately. 'There's no way I can allow General Yoshizawa to know that I had screwed up my interview . . .

"Alright. . .let's go down to the next village then . .. "

----------------------------------------------------------------

"This is the first time I held your hands this way . . ." Risa spoke as he brought Ai's hand to himself and rested their hands on his thigh. The duo were now seated on the down facing the down pouring waterfall, much to Ai's dismay due to the fact that she was dressed in a white short length dress. Though that, Risa still managed to convince Ai to sit down. "For a lady, your hands are definitely big. . . " Risa commented.

"That's for sure. . . I have been working in the strawberry farm ever since I'm 5 years old. . . " Ai explained quietly.

"I heard from Erina that you are 11 years old older than her. . . "Risa continued the conversation. "Is she your real blood sister?"

"What do you mean?" Ai asked, in a slightly offensive way.

"Well . . .You two don't really look alike. . . And the height difference is a little. . .Erina is so much taller than you.. . " Risa explained.

"Of course she is my real blood sister. . . " Ai answered rather quietly. She did not like where the conversation was going. So she had decided to change the topic. "Your hands are really small for a guy. . . And smooth too. . .Are you from a rich family? From the way you react when you first came, you looked like one. . . " Ai continued.

"I - I -" Risa stumbled. His identity could well be exposed.

*Worh Worh*

The yelping from saved Risa from his pinch. Risa felt Ai's hands pulling away from his.

"Ouji! What happened to you?" Ai exclaimed in surprised. There came Ouji running through the plants, all covered with a layer of dark brown mud. "What have you gotten yourself into?" Ai continued to baby talk the little prince.

*Worh Worh*

"Ne, Penguin!" Ai turned over to face Risa. "Give Ouji his bath right now. . ."

"Eh? Now? Like here?"

"Yah? It's not like no one had bathe over here before. . .I -" Before Ai could finish her sentence, a gush of blood came gushing up to her cheeks, flushing her cheeks with a tomato red.

"Oh . Okay . . ." Risa dare not deny Ai's order. So he bent down and picked Ouji up before heading towards the waterfall spring. Believe it or not, the prince Penguin was dealing with hated the water. Getting the dog clean was way more difficult than getting Ai to compromise to quit hitting him for the day. With Ouji running all around the shallow waters, it did not take more than 2 minutes for Risa to be completely drench, with trials of squawky water from the mud off Ouji tracing down his temple.

On the other hand, Ai was totally enjoying what she was seeing - Risa getting drenched from Ouji. To her, it was an amazing thing to witness as Ouji was never that rough with her, when Ai bathe him.

"Can you quit laughing?" Risa retorted in disagreement. "I would rather you give some help over here." Risa shot.

"Nah. . . This will be my birthday present to you instead. . . A bathing session with Ouji." Ai joked.

Risa looked up at Ai. "You must be kidding, are you?"

"No I'm not. . ." Ai giggled.

Risa rolled up his wet sleeves in huge displeasure. "Say it again? I should have a better birthday present that this, shouldn't I?" Risa threatened playfully. He allowed Ouji to get away from him and narrowed her eyes at Ai.

"What are you going to do?" Ai found Risa's nestling his eagle's eyes at her.

"What do you think?" Risa answered. Without giving Ai chance to react, Risa made his dive for Ai. Ai was prepared too. She too had made her way to escape. Though Ai was fast, Risa was determined to get Ai this time round. Ai's waist was the first thing Risa reached for. And when he succeeded, he pulled Ai closed to his drenched clothes and body, transferring some of the water onto Ai's white dress.

"Ah! It's cold!" Ai squeaked, hoping that would get Risa to release her from his grip.

"No way." It seems like Risa had knew Ai's intention and broke the bubble straight. The two of the struggled, with Ai trying to wriggle out of Risa's grip, and Risa tightening his grip on Ai's waist. It took them no time to fall down onto the ground, or rather the shallow waters of the waterfall spring, with Risa falling back first. The water splatter from the impact drenched Ai's white dress, making them translucent under the sun light. Taking the chance of the fall, Risa swift over and hovered over Ai.

"I deserve a better birthday present, shouldn't I?" Risa grunt in a rather low and sexy voice.

"Maybe you do. . . But only after you get off me. . " Ai answered.

Risa shook his head, disagreeing to what Ai had just said. Instead he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Ai's wet lips. A single drip of water dripped down of Risa's wet hair and onto Ai's face. Risa did not dare to stay long on Ai's face, remembering what had happened from their previous kisses. So he moved towards Ai's neck and planted soft kiss onto Ai's neck. That was when Risa realised the translucency of Ai dress. He broke the contact and look down at Ai's body before turning back into Ai's eyes.

"You look really pretty this way." Risa teased. Ai broke the eye contact and looked away from Risa as she felt a scotching heat growing on her cheeks. "You are embarrassed, aren't you?" Risa teased again. When he realised Ai had no intention to push him away or to scold him, he was beginning to like his birthday more and more. At least he can have more control in the relationship on this day. As Risa bent down again and planted another kiss on Ai's neck, Ai turned her head upright back.

"Happy Birthday, Penguin." Ai whispered into Risa's ears, sending a tickling sensation down Risa's spine.

"Thank you. . . " Risa mumbled against Ai's skin on her neck. Ai wrapped her hands around Risa's waist and traced her fingers slowly up his spine. Risa giggled slightly before planting another kiss on Ai's neck. The two fallen into their own world that they actually forgotten the fact that they are in the wilderness and that there was a third party around. They were enjoying the heated moment though their clothes were pressing cold on them. That was only until the third party had decided to interrupt the fun.

"Hmmmm~~" Came a whining voice echoing into their ears. Ai flunk her eyes wide open and turn around, only to find Ouji seated at a distance away, with traces of water that Ouji had shook off his body absorbed into the ground, shivering in coldness. "Hmmm~~" Ouji whined again.

"Ouji!" Ai pushed Risa off her. "You're cold?" Ai asked the puppy, while Risa sat in the shallow waters, looking at Ouji with displeasure. "Let's get back, shall we?" Ai turned around to Risa and suggested. "Ouji might catch a cold. . . " Ai commented as she hugged Ouji close to a chest.

Risa shot a killer dagger stare at the panting Ouji, who looked really happy that he had interrupted their moment. He stood up from the waters and took off the outer layer of his clothes before wrapping them around Ai's shoulder. "Though they are wet, at least you are more covered up. I don't want to you catch a cold." Risa explained thoughtfully. 'Remind me to slaughter him if I had the chance to .. . Risa reminded himself as they began to move away from the waterfall spring and towards the direction that leads to the Ikuta cottage.

@ risa_ai : I don't mind though. . hehehe

@ rndmnwierd : You read the clues :) HEHEHEH hmmmm. . . . i wonder too . . .but. . . he's safe . . . .at least for now :) heheh

@ arisa03 : heheheh. Hopefully you had enjoyed this chapter :) hehehh

@ alwaysYou : And woah! You finally commented. :)heheheh hahah. and in your debut comment, you had scolded me baka twice . . *Twitch* hahahhahaha You expected this, didn't you?? hehehe. . .and I don't know how difficult it is to comment through phone. . .so i want MOAR ~~ hehehe JkJK. just as and when you feel like it :) HEHEH

Yupps. . .I'm moving forward! the plot :) heheheh

till the next chapter then :) heheh

and YEAH! This made my 100th post :) HEHEHEH ^.^

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 11- 28th February 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on February 28, 2012, 01:18:26 PM

YES! FAST UPDATE!! And i'm first~ lovely takagaki rabu rabu, but what's zukki doing? O.o oh noes.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 11- 28th February 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on February 28, 2012, 06:15:10 PM

Birthday, yay yay! Takagaki make-out scene is the best present ever! Too bad Ouji interrupted before things could really get steamy, lol.

And Kanon makes another appearance, it seems like they would get skipped over... But it also makes me wonder, when will Risa come clean to Ai?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 11- 28th February 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on February 29, 2012, 04:40:54 AM

Fjfjfjfhd UPDAAAATTTTEEEE. I've read it three times already but didn't have time to reply. Ddkddkdj I wonder how would Erina react to weat AiGaki LOL. Troll Ouji, I look forward to this slaughtering you speak of Risa. LOL I wonder how would they react to Miki... And Zukki you derp. LOL Yossie will scold you like the boss she is.

And too bad Risa didn't get all hot and steamy that would've been sexeh. LOL. I wonder if the day would come that Risa would not be able to control his very manly hormones against a very sexy occassionally naked Ai-chan. LOL

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 11- 28th February 2012 ]
Post by: kawaii beam on March 01, 2012, 12:50:27 AM

ok past few days i've just been too lazy to comment^^; so now that i have motivation here we go~

based off of this last chapter, "kidnapper" ai-chan is epic XD and her reason for wanting to go to the mountian for alone time is just adorable~ ;3; plus wet takagaki is ubber hott :inlove: poor slefish prince lol all he wants to do is be risa's strawberry block XDDDD is that so wrong? lol

overall im loving this so far and im sorry that i dont comment enough ;3; but i am reading :deco: cant wait for next chappy~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 11- 28th February 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on March 02, 2012, 04:16:36 PM

[12] - Two sick birds leading to . . . .

"AH CHOO~" Risa sneezed really loudly as he sat up on his bed, covering his mouth and nose to minimise the noise he was creating. A wave of heaviness fell upon his head, causing Risa to collapse back onto his bed. He pulled the blanket up to his shoulders and trembled at the gush of coldness he felt. Yet, it was no longer than a 5 minutes that he felt a gush of growing heat radiating out from his stomach and up his chest and neck. Without giving a second thought, Risa kicked the layer of blanket away from his body. "AH CHOO~~" Then he sneezed again. Like a blind man moving around without his walking stick, Risa felt his fingers all over at bed, searching for the presence of the blanket he had forsaken just moments ago. "This is so cold. . ." Risa mumbled through his shivering teeth. That did not last either. After he had let off yet another sneeze that was muffled by the blanket, it was pulled off his body again.

"I think I am - " There he sneezed again. "am getting a cold soon . . "

"Good morning!" Came a greeting echoing throughout the small living room. "Eh? Penguin you are still asleep?" Erina continued asking when she saw Risa still in bed, struggling to find his blanket back to himself. "I think it's better for you to get up before Ai-nee wakes up and starts yelling at you to work again." Erina continued.

"Hmmm . . . " Risa replied groggily. He attempted to get himself off his bed, only to find his world turning when he stood up on his feet. He tracked a few steps away from the bed and towards the main entrance as his target. Before he could make his way out of the house to the toilet, he collapse onto the ground, with a very loud thud sounding as his head hit the ground.

"Penguin?" Erina quickly rushed forward to the now unconscious penguin. As she made to his side, he found Risa shivering, with treads of cold sweat forming and dripping down his temple. "Penguin?" Erina patted gently on Risa's cheek, hoping that would wake him up a little. But it did not. So the seeming frail yet muscularly strong 14 year old began to carry Risa up by his armpit from the front just like one would carry a toddler and rested his chin on her shoulder, close to her neck. With that, Erina supported half of Risa's weight on her and began to make her way back to his bed. After Erina had returned Risa back into bed gently, she brushed his fringe away from his forehead and ran her hand on it, only to pull it back away immediately. "You are running a fever, Penguin!" Erina cried out. "It's hot enough to cook an egg on it." Erina continued in panic.

Erina stood up back to her feet and place a single on the bottom of her lips, brushing her dry lips nervously. "What should I do now?" Erina mumbled nervously to herself. "What does Ai-nee always do when I'm running a fever?" Erina asked herself as she paced around the bed. "Water? Hydration?" A suggestion from the back of her mind came. With that in her mind, Erina ran into the kitchen and fetched a glass of water before returning back to Risa. Tilting the glass a little, Erina attempted to feed Risa the water, only to them slipping out of lips and traced down the side of his face, soaking a little part of the mattress wet. "Ah, this is not right!" Erina exclaimed in frustration. "Wait, I need something to cool down his temperature first.

With that, Erina rushed out of the house and into the toilet, grabbed a face towel from the racks and a medium sized metal tub filled with water to it brim before bringing it back to the house. In her haste and panic, she tripped over the legs of the wooden couch and lost her grip on the metal tub. The metal tub flew forward, with its contents spilling out of it and towards where Risa was lying, before landing onto the ground with a consecutive bangs. "Ah!" Erina exclaimed in surprise, closed her eyes and brought her hands to her ears as the tumbling echoed. She peeked one eye open, wanting to check what was the outcome, only to find Risa, lying all wet and drenched by the water that had landed on him. "Oh MY!" Erina exclaimed. She rushed forward and attempted to dry Risa by the small face towel she had in her possession. "He's running a fever. The last desirable thing that is to happen is to have him wet." Erina mumbled to herself nervously. "What should I do? His clothes are wet too. I - I can't just -" Erina hesitated when her hands stopped at the buttons of Risa's top.

"What happened? What's up with that din so early in the morning." A really weak and tired voice which had croaked repeatedly throughout the sentence echoed throughout the living room.

"Ai-nee!" Erina shot up to her feet immediately upon hearing her sister's voice. Not wasting another moment, Erina raced to her sister at her full speed and tugged her on her arm. "Ai-nee, Penguin is running a really high fever and I don't know what should I do."

"He is?" Ai brushed away Erina's hand away immediately upon the contact was made. She did not want to let Erina to know that she was too running a fever as well. With Erina leading the way, Ai followed slowly behind Erina, countering the heavy spells she was encountering to the back of her head. Ai shook her head lightly upon discovering the conditions Risa was in. Ai tapped her hand lightly on Erina's shoulder. "Go grab a change set of clothing with a bath towel for him to me first. After that, fill the tub half full with water and add some ice into in. Get a new small towel and bring them to me." Ai ordered softly. When Erina was gone, Ai kneeled down beside the mattress and began to wipe Risa's face dry with the face towel Erina had left on his face earlier on.

"I'm sorry . . . If you had not passed me your jacket, you wouldn't had fallen sick from the cold . . . Even you gave me yours, I still caught the bug. . . " Ai whispered softly to Risa, touching the sides of Risa's face gently. Her hands stopped when she heard Erina stomping back into the living room. "I can't find any dry clothing for Penguin except for the ones that he wore when we first found him. . . " Erina showed Ai the clothes she found as she spoke. "The rest are still wet from the laundry last night. . . " Erina continued.

"It's alright, that will do. . . Since he's having a fever right now, It would be better if he's all covered up." Ai replied weakly.

"Okay." Erina passed over the clothes and towel Ai had asked. Then she picked up the metal tub from the floor and disappeared out of the main door and into the toilet.

"I'll change you now. . . " Ai spoke to no one in particular. Flipping Risa around, Ai placed the bath towel opened and flat on the area where Risa laid, creating a barrier between Risa and the wet mattress before going on to strip Risa out of his wet clothing and changed the dried ones on him.

When Erina returned from the toilet, she saw Ai panting beside Risa, all done with the change of clothes. She hurried herself into the kitchen and took the ice from the freeze, popped them into the water before returning to Ai again. "There you go, Ai-nee. . ." Erina placed the basin beside Ai and handed the towel to her before she settled herself comfortably beside Ai.

Ai folded the towel into a single strip before dapping it into the cold water, wet the towel thoroughly and took it out, squeezing the excess water out of it and placed it onto Risa's scotching forehead.

"How long do you leave the towel over there?" Erina asked curiously as she watched Ai dealing with a feverish Risa.

"You have to change the towel every 5 minutes until the fever is down." Ai croaked, causing Erina to stare at her curiously.

"Ai-nee, you looked a little pale. . . Are you not feeling well as well?" Erina finally realised.

Ai shook her head lightly, lying a little about her conditions. "I'm well. It's just that my voice croaks frequently when I just woke up. It will get better as the day goes by." Ai continued, wanting to reassure her 'wellness' condition to Erina by speaking more.

"Are you sure?" Erina did not buy Ai's story. Instead, she reached her hand for Ai's forehead, only to be pushed away by Ai's fast reaction.

"I'm sure, Erina. . . " Ai tried to smile. She picked the now slightly warm towel off the Penguin's forehead and washed it, making it cold again before placing it back onto his forehead. And as she did, her heavy spells won her over. As she leaned forward, the heaviness of her head intensified such that she fell forward onto Penguin chest. It took her no longer than a second to fall into an unconscious state.

"Ai-nee?" Erina shook Ai's shoulder gently. Seizing the chance, Erina checked Ai's temperature, only find Ai having the same fever as the Penguin was having. "Eh? I can't handle it when it's the both of you, Ai-nee. . ." Erina whined a little. Erina returned back to her room in rush, where she brought out her letter pigeon, a gift from Miki, and her writing materials. On the paper she wrote ' Miki-nii, Ai-nee is down with a fever, Help needed ! ' . Rolling the paper up into a tube and tied it onto the leg of the pigeon, Erina brought it up to the front door before setting it off, sending out her SOS to someone she knew will come. After she did, she return back to the hut, where she bent down and carried Ai up and returned Ai back to her bed in her own room.

----------------------------------------------

"What happened to Ai?" Miki burst into the hut shouted, asking, only to find the living room empty. "Erina?" Miki called out again.

"Yes?" Erina came rushing out of Ai's room and greeted Miki. "Why are you so fast? It's only an hour? It's a three hour trip from here to Miki-nee's mansion." Erina curious.

"You told me Ai was sick. That's why I rushed the whole of my life to reach here as early as I could." Miki explained in a hurry. He brushed past Erina and went straight into Ai's room, with Erina following behind him. "How is Ai? Is she feeling better yet?" Miki asked while turning his head slightly, looking at Erina through the corner of his eyes.

When the two had disappeared into Ai's room, over at where Risa was, the Penguin's eyes twitched a little. Movements of the eye could be observe from the movement of the eyelid. The eyes struggled to open and when they did, they shut close immediately due to the blinding light that had strike on the sensitive cones of the eyes. 'What happened?' Risa tried to recall what had happen but nothing had came back to him. He sat up slowly, groaning lightly as his sore muscles ached painfully. When he looked down at himself, he realised he was not wearing what he wore last night and it was the outfit where he hid his royal badge in it. 'Who changed me?!' Risa thought worriedly as he patted on his left chest and sigh in relieve when he felt the badge still intact in its original position. The fever he had was all gone. Now, he just felt a little headache and experiencing some aching muscles.

Back in the room, Erina was updating Ai's condition to Miki. "The fever went away a little, but still feverish. . . And she had not wake up once since she hit the bricks moments ago. . ."

"How did she even got herself so sick?" Miki asked as he held only Ai's limp hand gently, stroking it lightly while fixing his eyes straight on Ai's face.

"It's probably from yesterday. . . " Erina trailed off.

"What happened yesterday?" Miki turned around and looked curiously at Erina.

"Penguin told me that Ai-nee almost drowned at the nearby waterfall spring and he had went in to save her when the both of them came back with their clothes all drenched. Probably they had gotten the cold when walking back in their wet clothing?" Erina suggested. "Penguin was running a fever this morning too. . . but it was being taken care off already. . ." Erina continued.

"Why didn't you inform me about this? Ai almost drowning?" Miki confronted, ignoring what Erina had just continued.

"Ai-nee say she's fine and there is no need to inform and trouble Miki-nii. . . " Erina pouted lightly.

"But still. . . " Miki insisted.

"I will inform you the next time then?" Erina complied.

"That's better. . . "

Silence persisted for a short moment before Erina spoke up again. "Miki-nii, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?" Miki looked back at Erina.

"What do one meant by planting strawberries on one's neck?" Erina asked innocently, the question she had yet to receive an answer to, from both Ai and Risa.

Miki eye's shot wide open when he heard the question. "Who taught you that?" Miki demanded, knowing that was another way of describing planting love bits on one's neck.

"Pen- guin?" Erina answered. "I was asking him about the bruises on Ai-nee's neck these days. . . and he said that someone had planted strawberries there as Ai-nee loves strawberries . . ." Erina continued, in total lost as she could not understand Miki's anger at all.

"What?" Without wasting a spare second, Miki released Ai's hand and stomped out of the room, into the living, where he saw Risa, seating on his bed, gingerly rubbing his forehead with his right hand. Miki went straight up to the prince and dragged him onto his feet by his collar. "Come with me!" Without giving Risa a change to refuse or oppose, Miki dragged Risa right out of the hut and towards the back shed, where he slammed Risa heavily onto wooden wall, locking Risa's movement by pressing his lower arm against his shoulder blade.

"ARGH!" Risa grunted in pain. "My head. . . " He brought his right hand up and rubbed the back of his head gently. "What do you want? I just recovered from my fever for your information. I have no time and energy to keep you entertained." Risa continued.

"You brat! " Miki cursed. "What kind of inappropriate things are you doing to MY Ai?!" Miki confronted.

"What are you talking about?" Risa shouted back, though without much strength.

"Don't pretend that you knew nothing. In that house, you are the only stranger there. Say, what's up with the love bits on Ai's neck. Did you plant it there?" Miki denied Risa questions and confronted again. He narrowed his eyes and stared sternly at Risa.

"First of all. . . She's not yours. . . She's mine, get your facts right, Miki." Risa spoke seriously, suddenly.

"So is this your real face?" Miki smirked.

"She never said she was yours. She never told you she likes you." Risa continued.

"What do you know? I have known her for years, and you? Bare half a year. To what qualifications you have to snatch Ai from me."

"To the fact that she had never shown you her true self. . . " Risa taunted.

--------------------------------------

"Erina?" Ai groaned out lightly. The vision of her sister blurred before her eyes as she blinked her eyes repeatedly.

"Ai-nee, you are up!" Erina exclaimed out in gladness.

"How long have I been out?" Ai asked as she rubbed her forehead.

"An hour?"

"How's Penguin?" Ai concerned as she tried to get off the bed, only to be stopped by Erina.

"Ai-nee you should rest more in bed, your fever hasn't gone down much. . ." Erina explained. "Penguin's fever had already went back to normal. . .You don't have to worry much about him." Slight redness went across Erina's cheek upon the mention of Risa's nickname.

"Thank goodness." Ai muttered under her breath as she closed her eyes. It was no longer than 10 seconds that her eyes were opened again. "I think I heard Miki in my sleep. . . .Was. . . was he here?" Erina nodded her head like it was nothing. "And where is he now?" Ai continued asking.

"He ran out of the room the moment I asked him about how you got these bruises on your neck . . ." Erina answered ingenuously.

"What?" Ai sat up straight on her bed. She immediately proceed to get off her bed and rush out of her room. "Stay indoors, Erina." Ai ordered before rushing out of the house. Once out of the hut, she heard sounds of fight echoing from her back shed. "Penguin. . . " Ai muttered worriedly. She was absolutely worried about the safety of Risa because she knew, Miki was a black belt holder, who had won various competitions, not just within the town they stay in, but too competitions that were held across the whole land of strawberry, inter-land competitions as well. This is why the Fujimoto Family is so rich in this rather poor town. 'You better be alive, Penguin. . . '

@ risa_ai : zukki is looking for their lady Takahashi Ai :) heheh

@ rndmnwierd : HEHEHE. . . that adds a reason to why Penguin dislike the dog ;X hahahah When will Risa get clear with Ai . . . .HMMMM. . . .heheheh

@ arisa03 : hahahahha. . .thanks for reading it so many times . . . I don't think it will happen, since if Risa slaughter the dog, the penguin gets slaughtered as well :X hahahah

@ kawaii beam : Heheheh. It's alright to me ^.^ as long as there are ppl reading, I'm a happy woman :) heheh

I cut this chapter shorter than I had planned. . . . I do have the parts I had cut written, but i'm still not satisfied with them . . .So I am going to edit them when I wake up the next morning :) so the next update should be fast! Look OUT! jheheh

De wa . . .Until the next chapter then :) heheheh

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 12- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 02, 2012, 04:55:57 PM

AH~! Miki Risa confrontation!! I wonder what state Ai will find them in and if she will be too terribly upset at Risa for his claim on her.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 12- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 02, 2012, 05:34:51 PM

I wonder if Ai would be able to finally turn down Miki now. Didn't Risa study fencing though? What if his royal badge falls out?! Dkdkdkdkdk update soon Cai-san! Replying on phone is so hard. OTL. ;____; Ai-chan fight for Penguinnnnnn. XD I just read it twice now before commenting ;A;

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 12- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on March 03, 2012, 02:07:12 AM

Fast update! Quickly! I wanna know what happens to poor penguin!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 12- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on March 03, 2012, 05:02:32 AM

[13] - Who are you actually?

"Stop the fight!" Ai shouted with all he might, with all the energy and strength that were left within her the moment she reached the back shed area. She was astonished to find the outcome out of her expectations. There she found, the smaller sized Risa, hand on the front part of Miki's collar, pinning Miki on his back against the shed door, with traces of blood trailing at the corner of his lips. Except for the bruised hands that were supposedly a result from defensive actions, Risa had acquired no more other injurires. On the other hand, the one who was being pinned against the door was in a much more severe condition. Blood could be seen on his lips as well as flowing through his nostrils, eyes swollen. "What are the two of you fighting for?!" Ai continued, with her rather hoarse voice from the phlegm that sat at her throat.

Risa release his grip on Miki and backed away a little upon hearing Ai's voice, giving Ai the chance to slip in between the two. "Strawberry, I'm not the one who had started it - it's " Risa pointed at Miki, only to have the pointed hand pushed away by Ai. Risa found himself silenced by the deadening stare had in her eyes. "I - "

"Say nothing, Penguin. Go away for now." Ai ordered monotonously. Without giving Risa any chances of explanation, she turned her back towards Risa, facing Miki this time round. "Are you alright?" Ai concerned as she touched the swollen eye gently.

Miki did not respond. Instead, he brought his right hand to face and wipe away the blood that were on the side of his lips.

"Your hands are dirtied from the ground. You are going to get your cuts infected by doing that." Ai held onto Miki's arm, an attempt to stop Miki from touching his cut lips.

An unexplainable sourness sank within Risa's heart. Unable to take the situation that were playing before him, he tramped away angrily, away from the pair and towards their secret place. The place where Ai sat to watch the stars whenever she had a sleepless nice. The place where Risa had received his first broken forehead from Ai from the broke wine bottle Ai had accidentally pushed Risa into it. The place where Risa and Ai shared their first kiss and subsequent kiss. The place where Ai threw the stone at Risa when Risa threw a strawberry at Miki. The place where Risa confused his feelings to Ai, only to back away when he took Ai response wrongly. The place where they made up and eventually got together officially. From Ai's special space till their special place. That was where Risa went when he was asked to go away by Ai.

"Idiot!" Risa shouted out loud as he gave the wooden lodge fence a tough kick. "Even for the fact that we are the couple, and she claimed that she does not have interest in that stupid Miki, she choose him over me!" With that, he gabe the wooden lodge yet another kick before stumbling down onto the ground and leaned his back against the fence. "It hurts more in here than the ones on my hand." Risa continued quietly, placing his palm at his chest.

"Wait here. I will fetch the first aid box." Ai informed Miki after helping him to settle down on the ground. She then went into the shed, where a spare first aid kit was kit. She took it with her and returned back to where Miki was.

After Ai cleaned the blood on his face away with the sterile saline, she headed next to his hands, where a broken knuckle on the right was.

"Was everything he said true?" Miki asked, breaking the silence between them as he looked sincerely into Ai's eyes, such that he did not even flitch in pan when the antiseptic solution was applied onto the knuckle.

Ai turned slightly, only to turn away again as the soft stares of Miki was making her guilty. "About?" Ai hesitated for a long moment before asking.

"You and him being an item." Miki spoke out bluntly.

Ai looked down on the ground before giving a soft nod on her head.

"Are you serious, Ai?" Miki became worked up at the response, moving his hands slightly while Ai was still bandaging his hand. "What about me, Ai?" Miki vocalised.

"I'm sorry. . . Miki. . . I -"

"How well do you even know him in the first place? Do you really think that his name is Penguin? That's a stupid name to start with! And what, his backgrounds? Do you know about his backgrounds? Do you know where did he came from?" Miki bombarded. He was utterly upset and worried. Upset that Ai was not being truthful to him when he taught she was. Worried that Ai would be cheated off her feelings and safety by being with Risa, since to them, Risa is guy with no known backgrounds.

"I - "

"Do you even know that he can fight? You don't know, right?"

Ai shook her head lightly in response.

"What if . . .What if he a wanted convict that had ran away? Do you think it's safe to stay with him?" Miki continued asking. "And what about me? I have known you for years. And that penguin? Just months. . . You know that I really love you, don't you? Do you think it's fair for me?" Miki continued when Ai refused to answer her previous questions. When Ai still choose to remain silent, Miki became impatient. He grabbed Ai's wrist tightly, forcing her to look at him. "Look at me Ai. Didn't you say a year? A year? What happens to our 'a year' ?" Miki demanded.

"Miki. . . Just give me some time. . . " Ai unwrapped Miki's hands away from her wrist. "I need to sort out my feelings." Ai continued, in a rather down tone. "And. . . I'm sorry. . . "With that, Ai backed away from Miki and headed straight for the special place, where she knew Risa will definitely be there. "Say, who are you?" Ai demanded immediately the moment she appear at Risa's back. Risa turned back and looked up at Ai for a short moment before looking away from Ai again. "I am talking to you!" Ai raised her voice slightly.

Risa got up back onto his feet, back to an eye to eye level with Ai. "Haven't you made your choice over there? Your actions told me that you chose Miki over me, strawberry." Risa could not understand what had gotten up to his head, causing to say such things. But he guessed that the impact of Ai defending Miki when he and Miki gotten into the fight had made him like that.

"Penguin isn't your real name, was it?" Ai tried to ignore Risa's hostility and continued asking, hoping that would make Risa to come truthful to her. Risa looked away from Ai slightly. "Say, who are you? What's your background?" Ai continued in a weak voice.

"Does it matter? If I am from a wealthy family like what that Miki is, would you like me more?" Risa countered, believing the reason that Ai went defending for Miki was due to the latter's social status in the town. "I can so sure that I love you more than that Miki does! But what, you chose to defend him when he was the one who had initiated the fight." Risa continued. "And you said you love me too. . . But no, you love Miki instead right?" Risa finished, taunting Ai with his demanding eyes. Tears threaded around Ai's eyes, but they were as stubborn as their owner. Never to allow people to know about her real thoughts.

"Penguin? Ai-nee?" A third voice came participating into the conversation. The two of them turned away from each other and saw Erina standing at the back, with tears brimming at the edge of her eyelids. "The two of you are together? Why didn't you tell Erina?" Erina continued shouting through her tears.

"Erina!" Ai called out.

"If the two of you had told Erina, Erina will stop myself from falling in love with Penguin more, since Penguin belongs to Ai-nee!" Erina continued shouting. With that, Erina turned about on her heels and made her run towards the mountains.

"Erina!" Ai attempted to chase after, only find herself losing her consciousness with just a single step out to the chase.

"Ai!" Risa called out Ai's name for the first time as he rushed forward to hold her. "Wake up!" Risa patted lightly on Ai's pale cheeks, only to come to realise how pale Ai was in the whole view. Erina turned around upon hearing the commotion. When she did, she saw Risa, kneeled on the ground, with an unconscious Ai lying on his thighs.

"Ai-nee!" Erina ran back the same path and back to Ai's side. "I told you that you should stay in bed." Erina scolding through her sobbing. "Bring her back to the house, Penguin." Erina asked Risa.

'Even though you were not feeling well, you still came around to stop the confrontation between Miki and I. Why didn't you tell me about it, Ai. . . '

And it's up! It's supposed to be part of the last chapter, and therefore, it stands short alone as a chapter. Hope you don't mind it ^.^ heheheh

hehehehhehe. . .
and I'm moving on again :) heheh

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 13- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on March 03, 2012, 05:06:20 AM

Just broke my heart to pieces. Confusion and misunderstandings. Update soon!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 13- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 03, 2012, 05:27:45 AM

askdjsadksa RISA JUST TELL AI WHO YOU ARE. ;_______________________; And she didn't chose Miki over youuu. She chose you over Mikiiii. ;___; what is this misunderstandingu. ;___;

update soon! Please don't leave us in the dark too much. /creys in the corner ;__;
Poor Erina. ;___; Poor Penguin, Poor Ai-chan.

Oh Miki can go with his stupid dog. /shot.

LOL

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 13- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 03, 2012, 09:58:21 AM

Short updates close together, I like!

But still~! Ai! Risa! Erina! Miki! Argh! I need more~!~!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 13- 3rd March 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on March 07, 2012, 02:03:26 PM

[14] - And I love you so . . .

" You! I can hear your intense conversation with Ai even from onside. Are you out of your mind or what? Do you even honestly like her? A simple question like who are you, and you can't answer her. Why did you further agitate Ai when she is not feeling well in the first place? You did that on purpose, didn't you?" The voice of Miki echoed repeatedly in Risa's mind. When Risa carried the unconscious from the fields back into the hut, he was immediately shooed away by Miki, who had snatched Ai away from his arms. "Get out of here! You don't fit to stay here! Get out!"

And here, Risa stand alone on street that leads him towards the market place. He had been on this street before, at times when Ai had decided to bring him along with Erina when Miki invited her out. 'Where can I go now . . .' Risa thought mindlessly in his mind as he wondered rather aimlessly down the road. He reached his hand into the inner pocket of his shirt and pulled his royal badge out. "Why didn't I just tell her about this . . . " Risa asked himself quietly as he watched the badge spun around the ribbon that was attached to it.

"But I know I can't . . . " After a long moment of silence, Risa spoke again, responding to the statement he had just made. "And I had fallen so deep in love. . . and it is my first love. . . " Risa continued mumbling to himself. "How am I going to tell her that, in half a year time, I will have to leave and return back to my palace. . . As I have a marriage with someone I never knew to fulfil. . . " Risa continued sadly. "And I'm missing her already . . . " Risa finished, stuffing the royal badge back into the inner pockets.

"Does it matter? If I am from a wealthy family like what that Miki is, would you like me more? I can so sure that I love you more than that Miki does! But what, you chose to defend him when he was the one who had initiated the fight!" His last conversation with Ai rang in Risa's mind. "And to think I had said such means to her. . . Why didn't I think properly before I say anything. . . " Risa reflected in regrets. "I - I was at the wrong first, isn't that so?" Risa questioned himself. He sighed deeply once again.

--------------------------------------------------------

"This is weird. . ." Hitomi said to himself as the pair rode slowly on their horses. "We have been through the whole town. . . And we had yet to find the family that had once work with General Takahashi back in the Land of Penguin.. . " Hitomi continued. "And one of the residents actually told me that the family who used to work with General Takahashi lived near the mountains that runs better the two land. . . Why is it that - "

"I - " Kanon spoke out suddenly, breaking Hitomi's chain of thought.

"Yes Kanon?" Hitomi stopped talking to himself and turned his attention to Kanon.

"I - " Kanon was stuck again. He had so much difficulty in trying to admit his 'mistake' that happened a few days back.

"What's wrong, Kanon?" Hitomi prompted again. It was obvious to him that the younger guard had something important to inform him, yet something was holding the lad back.

"Actually . . . I - "

"Is that something that has to do with the Lady we are searching for?" Kanon nodded his head innocently, only to receive a loud response from Hitomi. "Then speak! I won't eat you up or anything. . .But if you don't voice it out rihgt now, I'm not sure if I will really hold myself back to do so. . . " Hitomi threatened, in a serious playful way.

"Actually. . . About the family at the strawberry field near the mountains. . . I actually had not gotten a definite answer from her. " Kanon blurted up immediately, obviously buying the story Hitomi had cooked up with. Hitomi grinned a little at the success of his little trick. "When I went over to the fields that day. . . I had only met a girl of my age. . . and she had drive me out of her sight the moment I start questioning her . . . so . . . " Kanon finished quietly.

"So you are telling me that there is a slight chance that the Lady we are looking for might be at that place, if that information was true. . ." Hitomi asked. Kanon nodded his head, gulping his saliva down his throat nervously. "So what are we waiting for? Let's head back over there!" Hitomi ordered right at the moment, halting the horse in motion and directed it in the opposite direction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"You are finally up!" Miki exclaimed when he watched Ai's eyes fluttered and opened slowly. "You have been out for the whole night!" Miki continued as he held onto Ai's rather relaxed fingers tightly.

"What happened?" Ai groaned in pain as she tried to sit up, only to be held back by Miki.

"You should rest more in your bed. . ." Miki explained. "Don't try to get down your bed today. . " He continued, ending his sentence with a closed lips and a slight smile.

Ai nodded her head lightly, following what Miki had just ordered her to do so. She laid her head pack onto her pillow. "What happened yesterday afternoon?" Ai asked again. "I don't remember a thing about it. . . not the events that had happened before I was knocked out. . . " Ai continued in her weak voice.

Before Miki could answer Ai, Erina, who was also in the room, stood up from her seat in an abrupt way. "Since Ai-nee is up, I will return to the fields to get my job done. . . " Erina curtly informed, before heading for the entrance and out of Ai's room.

"What happened to Erina?" Ai asked as her voice croaked.

"She has been this gloomy since last evening. . . I'm guessing she's just worried about you. . . And she doesn't knows how to show it, that's why?" Miki suggested. Ai nodded her head lightly. "Why don't you keep your eyes close and rest more. " Miki continued. And Ai followed suit just like a young child.

But as she kept her eyes close, blurred images began to form faintly in her mind.

"Penguin isn't your real name, was it?"

"Say, who are you? What's your background?"

"The two of you are together? Why didn't you tell Erina?"

"If the two of you had told Erina, Erina will stop myself from falling in love with Penguin more, since Penguin belongs to Ai-nee!"

Ai immediately had her eyes wide opened and sat up on her bottoms, heaving deep breaths into her lungs her mind accommodated to the newly refreshed memory . "What's wrong?" Miki concerned when he realised the anxiety Ai felt though her rough breathings.

"Where's Penguin?" Ai asked quickly, looking straight into Miki's eyes.

"I drove him out." Miki answered honestly.

"You drove him out? Why?" Ai questioned. It seems like she had gotten back her energy when she had got know of the fact that Risa was gone.

"Why do you still care about him so much when he's keeping so many things from you?" Miki confronted.

After a long moment of silence, Ai licked her dry lips, and piled her lips open. "Because I love him . . . And it is my first time I had fallen in love. . . It's the first time I had actually felt this way. . . And . . . " And stopped and stumbled. "And I . . . I never . . . had felt something for you before. . . Miki. . . " Ai confessed.

------------------------------------------------------

"Sir, are you alright?" Risa was seated alone at one corner of the market places, at the steps that leads to the restaurant when someone had came over and asked him. Risa looked up from his daze and saw a girl in her late teens standing before her, hands rested on her knees and she bent over and checked on him.

"I'm alright. . . " Risa trailed off silently.

"I had noticed that you had been sitting alone here for the whole of this morning, staring into the space. . .Are you sure you are alright?" The girl checked again.

'To be more accurate, it had been since last night . . .' Risa thought silently in his mind. Without voicing out his thoughts, Risa nodded his head in response.

"My name is Aika. . . " Aika sat behind Risa on the steps without invitation. "And I worked at the florist over at that corner." Aika pointed over to her stall at the diagonal corner. "Had a tiff with your girlfriend?" Aika continued, catching Risa in surprise.

"How do you know?" Risa uttered in surprise.

"It's written all over your face, sir. . ." Aika explained.

"Really?" Risa muttered to herself. 'But it wasn't a tiff in the first . . . It was just me, accusing her blamelessly, without even giving her a chance to explain when I was too hiding my identity from her. . .' Risa continued in his mind.

"You know?" Aika started off. "Sometimes, it just takes a flower to hoax your girl back. Come over with me. . " With that, Aika placed her hand on Risa's wrist, pulled him out of his seat and towards her stall. "This. . . " Aika pulled out a red flower that looks like a strawberry fruit. "is call strawberry fields. All the girls here likes this flower as it means. . ." Aika leaned into Risa's ears and whispered the meaning of the flower into his ears. "All girls will be really glad to receive them." Aika pulled away and finished with a smile. "Together with some sunflowers, I'm sure your girlfriend will forgive you," Aika continued as she began to work on the bouquet with the flowers she had just picked.

When she was done, she handed the bouquet, that was made up of the yellow rice paper into Risa's hands. "How much are these?"

"These are free." Aika shone her tooth to Risa.

"Eh?"

"Cheer up!" Aika tilted her head and winked. "And I wish you and your girlfriend the best forever"

As Risa moved away from the stall, he overheard a couple discussing about something that had definitely caught his attention.

"Do you think the situation at the Land of Penguin is going to affect us? Like increased numbers of refuges moving in ?" The wife asked the husband.

"I'm not sure. . . I heard that the King has been in a bad health, and his unreliable brothers were all aiming for his seat, since his crown prince is away from the palace. . .. " The husband replied.

'FATHER! Bad health? Since when? Is that true ? ' Risa panicked in his mind. 'I need to get back now! To Father. . . But . . ' Risa looked down at the flowers in his hands. 'Ai . . . .'

A short chapter this time round.. . which means :) heheheheh

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 14- 8th March 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on March 07, 2012, 02:12:05 PM

Which means a fast update soon, desho?! XD
I waaant. *pouts and whines*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 14- 8th March 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 07, 2012, 02:27:48 PM

Oh no! I really have no idea what Risa will do~! He should at least talk to Ai once more before he leaves. Need more~!~! :panic:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 14- 8th March 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 07, 2012, 04:05:35 PM

NOOOO. RISAAAAAA, TAKE THE FLOWER TO AAAIII~ ;_______; you need to fix this shiz. ;_______; Unless... Unless.. they will forever be apart... until Yossie and Zukkie takes Ai-chan to the palace ;___; Update soon. /gawdmyheadhurtsjustnowOTL

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 14- 8th March 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on March 08, 2012, 03:25:40 PM

[15] - Strawberry Fields - Never Changing Love.

"Kanon, you shall wait here for me while I check out the hut." Hitomi structured as he got off the horse he was riding.

"Okay . . ." Kanon nodded his head lightly. With that slight affirmation, Hitomi began to make his way down the pathway that will bring him to his destination.

---

"And I . . . I never . . . had felt something for you before. . . Miki. . . " Ai's voiced echoed into Miki's ears, catching him unguarded and in surprise.

"Why didn't you tell me right from the start?" Miki asked in a really quiet voice. He was rather hurt by the sentence Ai had just made. "I thought that . . ." Miki trailed off into silence and he remembered something Risa mentioned during their argument they had the afternoon before. "To the fact that she had never shown you her true self. . .

"I - didn't want to hurt your feelings, Miki. I know you have been really exceptionally nice to Erina and I . . . But . . . Except for the appreciation and gratitude for the time you had spent on us, I - I really felt nothing else." Ai felt like a heavy stone was lifted off her struggling heart when these words came through her lips. She had finally found the courage to put these puts to Miki. "I'm really - sor -"

"You don't have to, Ai. I was the problem. I should have read the clues you gave all these while. You were never comfortable when you were alone with me. . . " Miki trailed off into silence again.

"I - Can we still remain as friends?"

"I will be really glad to. . ." Miki answered. 'Even though I could not be the one that you like. . . I will still want to stay by your side, always be watching you, supporting you when you needed some, Ai. . . ' Miki continued in his mind. Ai pulled the blankets off her legs and prepared to get off her bed when Miki was off in his silence, in his world of thoughts. "Where are you going?" Miki snapped out of his daze and asked, when he realised that Ai was already at her room door and heading towards the main door at her full speed.

"I'm going to find Penguin." Ai answered with her back facing Miki.

"I will go with you!" Miki offered as Ai pulled the main door open. Miki expected her to move out of the house, but she did not. Instead, she stood at the door, rooted into the ground as her grip on the door handle tightens.

"Good Afternoon! May I ask if your are the owner of this house, young lady?" That was what Miki heard when the trotted nearer to the door.

Ai nodded her head lightly.

"Are you 25 years old ?" The questioning continued.

Ai nodded her head lightly again. An unknown fear grew wider within her. Something she had dread all these years to happen may have came. 'Say, please let him to be just a mere passerby, and not someone from the Land of Strawberry. Ai prayed silently in her mind. "I'm turning 26 this year though. . . " Ai added on quietly.

"Ah. . . If that's the case, are you by any chance, Lady Takahashi Ai, the daughter General Takahashi of the Land of Penguin?" The visitor asked.

Ai lifted her head up in surprise and gave the visitor her famous shocked face, slipping into moments of silence. By the time she had picked herself out of her shock, it was too late. "No - I'm not. My name is Ikuta Ai." Ai quickly replied.

"Lady Ai, Please do not deny. our reaction had told me that you are the Lady Takahashi Ai I've been searching for. First of all, let me introduce my myself. I'm General Yoshizawa Hitomi from the Land of Penguin."

"Ai?" Miki called out from Ai's back, causing Ai to turn around and look at him for a short moment before turning back to Hitomi.

"For whatever reason you are here for, I can tell you, I am not interested." Ai shot back and attempted to close the door on Hitomi's face, only to be stopped by Hitomi. The latter was way too stronger as compared to what Ai was.

"It seems like you do know the reason for my coming, Lady Ai." Hitomi spoke.

"No I do not." Ai lied. "But, I have no interest in anything that has to do with the Land of Penguin. That's why I had chose to take the last name of my foster family. " Ai continued firmly. "So please leave."

Hitomi rolled his eyeballs slightly to the upper right and cleared his throat. "I see. . . I will be back in another day then. I'm sure you will want to come back with me the next time I'm here." With that, Hitomi bowed and payed his respect to the future queen of the Land of Penguin, before turning around and made his way down the pathway he had came previously.

"You are from the Land of Penguin?" Miki asked when Hitomi was far away from their sight. Ai nodded her head slightly, giving no verbal response to Miki before dragging her feet towards the living room.

"They had finally came. . ." Ai muttered softly under her breath. Though it was soft, it was not remained unheard by Miki.

"You knew the reason for their coming?" Miki raised a key higher at the sudden realisation.

"I had found a letter that was addressed to me from my foster parents belongings not long after they had met with that accident. . . They were suppose to pass it to me when I turned 20. . . but they never had the chance to. If they were still around, they would have send me back to Land of Penguin when I turned 20. . . After reading the contents of the letter, I had decided to conceal the identity of Takahashi Ai within me and had took over Erina's parents last name as mine officially. Erina was still young back then . . . And my foster parents had never called me by my last name. They brought me up just like their own. . . " Ai began explaining her identity to Miki.

"Why had you decided to conceal Takahashi Ai ?" Miki asked quietly.

"Because, Takahashi Ai is betrothed to the throne prince of the Land of Penguin. There's no way I am going to get married to someone I never knew. . ." Ai bit her lower lips stubbornly. 'And definitely not after I had met Penguin . . .' Ai continued silently in her mind. "And to me, this is my hometown. . . I had no memories about my own family. I grew up here. I grew up as Ikuta Ai, the elder sister of Erina. I am no Takahashi Ai."

"Eh - "

------------------------------

"Why is it everything all about Ai-nee. . . " Erina mumbled unhappily as she dug the small shovel roughly into the soil. "Miki-nii likes Ai-nee. Penguin likes Ai-nee as well. . .No one likes Erina. . .. Why?" Erina continued as she pulled the shovel up and dug it into the soil again and repeated the set of actions and sentences again.

"You know what? You are going to kill that plant as you are destroying its roots with your actions." An unexpected voice came echoing into Erina's ears, causing the poor girl to jump up in surprise and screamed repeatedly at the top of her lungs.

"It's me!" A pair of small hands made its way to her mouth and covered her mouth, muffling the ear shrieking screams Erina was making. Erina turned around and stared strangely at the owner of the hands. "Do you remember me?" The deep voice continued as he pulled his hands away from Erina's lips.

"It's you? What are you doing over here again?" Erina raised her hand and gave the young teenager a tough smack on his head.

"I was just passing by this region. . . " Kanon explained and squatted down onto the ground. "Poor plant. . . You almost lost your life, do you know that?" Kanon spoke to the plant which was attacked by Erina during her fits of anger. "Looks like your roots are just inches away from the attack . . . " Kanon continued. "What is this plant?" Kanon looked up and asked Erina.

Judging from Kanon's behaviour, Erina found Kanon harmless. So she took her place beside Kanon and covered the portion where she had took out with soil. "These are strawberry plants. . . " Erina answered curtly.

"All of them?" Kanon was amazed.

"Yes, all of them"

"Wow. . .this is my first time seeing one. . . Though I had always read about strawberries on the books, I had never seen one, let alone to have tasted them before. . ." Kanon continued his amazement.

"Really? You are not local?" It was Erina's turn to be in interest of the foreign boy.

"I'm from the Land of Penguin. . . " Kanon answered without any guard.

"Land of Penguin? There's a place know as Land of Penguin? How is it like?" The studious side of Erina was turned on.

"Hmmm. . .It's much more cooler that what it is like over here?"

"And?"

"Kanon! Where are you?" Kanon heard his name being called. So he stood up from his position and saw Hitomi standing at the two horses, looking for his young subordinate.

"Sorry, I got to go. . . " Kanon looked down at Erina and informed before rushing towards Hitomi.

"Wait a minute!" Erina chased after. By the time she caught up with Kanon, the latter was already with Hitomi, both preparing to ascend onto their horses. "Wait! What's your name? My name is Ikuta Erina!" Erina introduced herself properly to Kanon as she stood face to face to him, back facing Hitomi. "Will you be - " Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a strong pressure attacking her acupoint on the side of her shoulder. Without knowing what had just happened, she fell into a state of unconsciousness, falling straight into Hitomi's arm.

"General! What are you doing!" Kanon exclaimed in utter surprise.

"Bring her back to the palace. She is going to help us a big good time in trying to invite Lady Takahashi back to the Land of Penguin." Hitomi explained as he carried Erina up to his horse before climbing up himself. "What are you waiting? Let's go, Kanon!" Hitomi shouted at the dazed Kanon who had his feet rooted into the ground.

--------------------------------------

"So what are you going to do now?" Miki concerned lovingly.

"They know where I lived. I'm going to move, with Erina and Penguin. " Ai replied in determination. "Ah, Penguin! I got to find where Penguin is!" Ai rushed up from the chair and towards the door.

"What about the fields, Ai? They are your means of living." Miki reminded.

Ai pulled the door open. "Pen-guin?" Ai stuttered.

Risa was caught off guard by the sudden opening of the door. He had been pacing outside the house for a long time, having had not decide on how should he apologise to Ai.

"Come with me." Ai pulled Risa by his hands and into her room, closing the door after her and locked the door. Miki stood firm at his place for a few seconds, watching Ai's action upon Risa's return to the house, before deciding to leave the house for a few moments. After knowing Ai for a few years, he could jolly well guessed the plan Ai had in her mind. A royal family will not take a tainted women into their family, what's more, a future queen of the country. Ai's problem has an easy solution. Miki knew it.

Back in the room, Risa hid the flowers behind his back as he squirmed in his position in the room. "Where have you been all night? I heard from Miki that he -" Ai was silenced. Risa had pulled out the bouquet of flowers before Ai before she could finished her sentence. She could very well understand the meaning of the flowers. Sunflower - Adoration, Devotion. Strawberry Fields - Eternal Love, Never Changing Love. Tears welled in eyes puffy eyes.

"I'm - I'm sorry about what - " Risa was silenced by the softness of the Ai's lips on his. The suddenness of the kiss caused Risa to drop the bouquet he was holding onto the ground and wrapped his hands around Ai's waist, pulling Ai closer towards him. On the other hand, Ai wrapped her arms around Risa's neck as she deepens the kiss, bitting lightly onto Risa's lower lips.

"Ah . . ." Risa cried out softly at the bit. Ai pulled back and stared longingly into Risa's hazels orbs. "Penguin. . . can you do me a favour?" Ai spoke in a really soft voice just beside Risa's ears.

"What?" Risa replied with equal gentleness.

"Make me yours. . . "Ai continued in an almost inaudible voice, before leaning in closer to Risa for his lips.

"Ai, no . . . I can't . . . " Risa rejected immediately. 'I can't do such unfair things to her. . . I can't . . . ' Risa thought in his mind. "I - I - "

Ai pulled herself away from Risa. She had never expect Risa to reject her in this way. Tears were dwelling at her eyes once again. However, unlike the ones slightly before, these were tears of hurt. "Why?" Ai croaked. The sourness she felt at the tip of her nose intensified. "You said . . . that you love me, didn't you?" Ai continued. Tears had began to make their way down her cheeks.

"I - " Risa was still unable to acquire the courage to explain his situation.

Ai wiped the tears on her cheeks away with the back of her right hand. "You don't have to say anything. . ."

"I'm sorry, Ai, but I can't. . . I have to go. . . "

"To where?"

"I - I can't say. . . But I promise, I will be back for you, definitely." Risa tried to hold onto Ai's hands. But Ai had brushed his hands away even before Risa could reach her.

"You don't have to. . . just go . . . " Ai said rather monotonously. She was suppressing her emotions under the blank face she was trying to put herself through.

"I'm sorry. . . " Risa whispered for the one last time before reaching for the locked door, unlocked it and pulled it open. He looked over his shoulder at the Ai who had her head facing the floor. 'I will defy Father just for you, Ai. But you have to wait for me. . . ' Risa thought decisively before turning his head ahead, and raced out of the house.

When Risa was finally out of sight, Ai collapsed down onto the ground and began to sob like a baby. Her heart clenched painfully in her left chest, causing her to lose her breath. 'Why? Why give the promise of adoration when you don't intend to . . Why give the promise of never changing love, when you had already decided to leave?' Ai thought bitterly as her blurred vision focused on the bouquet of flowers that was lying on the ground the same way she was right now. 'Why?'

And It's here!!! hehehe.
I can't promise when will be next update though. . .since. . . uni work is using up most of my time now :( But I will try my best to, since I left it hanging at such a sad part. .. .:X hehehe

de wa, until the next chapter!!

Ja ne!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 15- 9th March 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 08, 2012, 04:30:35 PM

I just skimmed it a bit. But skwbdbdhfhdjsks NOOOOOO. You're destinied for each other anyway... But... But... NOOOO. -this is sorta like because of you OTL- i'll read fully in the morning after getting some sleep. I'll be back cai-san! Fdkansshdjdd.

Also, NEXT TIME MAKE HER YOURS RISA. ~~you shall owe us smut cai-san!OTL~~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 15- 9th March 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 08, 2012, 08:40:29 PM

Aw man! How much easier would things be if he had just come clean to Ai. But I guess it would be less interesting then, lol.

So, Yossui was quite bold with her interrogation of Ai and subsequent kidnapping of Erina. Seems Kanon will have to do something and maybe Risa will help too, when he finds out.

Can't wait for next chapter, as always, you've got me rolling around in suspense, lol

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 15- 9th March 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 08, 2012, 09:27:44 PM

Oh dear. I just read it properly. OTL. Risa y u stupid. ;___; Ai-chan y u no understand?! ;______; Update soon! I don't know what to think of what will happen next! OTL. Will Ai-chan desperately get rid of her purity so she can save Erina and go with Penguin or.... go save Erina and then go meet Penguin? LOLOLOLOL. ;A; Good luck with Univ Work Cai-san and please don't leave us in the dark too awesomely. XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Don't fail! ; A ;!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 15- 9th March 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on March 09, 2012, 01:18:13 AM

AGPMDGPAMGPJGM!! WHAT IS THIS?! Didn't you tell ai that she's marrying penguin?! Didn't you ask penguin to tell ai everything?! *pouts*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 15- 9th March 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on March 17, 2012, 01:48:31 PM

[16] - I miss You

"Ai, What happened?!" Miki rushed into Ai's room as he asked. "I saw that -" Miki halted his sentence when he saw Ai, all collapsed on the group, covering her face with her palm. "Ai." Miki rushed forward to Ai and kneeled to the same level as her. "What happened?" Miki asked in a gentle voice. He did not managed to receive any response from Ai. Instead, he heard soft muffled sobbing coming through the covered face. "Ai. . . " He continued in his gentle voice as he brushed Ai's hair. Ai looked up at him with her teary eyes at the touch. Miki felt his heart melted at the sight of the vulnerability of Ai he had never seen in his life. "Don't cry. . . " Miki continued as he patted Ai's forehead.

Yet that one simple consolation made Ai burst into a huge fit of tears once again. She threw herself onto Miki's shoulder and began to sob into it. 'Why . . . Why does it hurts so much over here . . .. ' Ai thought painfully as she clenched her fist at her left chest. 'Why is it that he had managed to make me feel all these emotions that I had never felt before in all my life. He made my heart race. He caused the adrenaline rush each time we touch. He raised the heat of my body. And. . .Now. . . He . . . ' Tears continued to pour out her tear glands as memories with the Penguin came flashing back to her mind. The fist at her chest tightened. "It hurts. . . " Ai cried out almost inaudibly as she buried deeper into Miki's shoulder.

"Hush . . . " Miki stroke the back of Ai's head gently. "Just cry it out, Ai. It would be less painful if you cry it out." Miki softly whispered as he nudged his chin on the top of Ai's forehead, allowing Ai to completely rest onto his shoulder.

Ai stayed in Miki's hold for a long 2 hours before she could calm herself down and stop crying. When she finally did, she pulled herself away from Miki and found the spot she rested her face was totally soaked wet by her tears. "I'm I'm sorry for that . . ." Ai apologised immediately as she stood up to her feet with the intention to retrieve a towel from her wardrobe to dry the wet spot.

"It's alright." Miki stopped Ai right away, even before Ai could make her first step away from him. "It will dry up soon." Miki continued in a tender voice before pulling Ai back down onto the ground, right beside him. "What happened?" Miki concerned. "You had never cried so much this way before. . . " He continued.

Ai shook her head stubbornly. "Nothing happened. " She continued in her nasal voice.

"Did that Penguin - " Miki asked in a worked up voice. But before he could even finish his sentence, he was already being interrupted by Ai.

"We're over. . ." Tinge of hurt could be detected from the nasally voice of Ai. "He left. " Came the short two worded sentence. Ai bit onto her lower jaw, trying to stop herself from bursting into tears again.

Silence persisted in the room for a moment before Ai felt a pair of warm hands wrapping around hers. Ai looked up and found Miki looking sincerely and gently at Ai. "Marry me, Ai." Ai pulled her hands back to herself straight right at the moment as shock filled her teary eyes. "I didn't mean that way, Ai. I know you do not feel the same way like I feel for you." Miki quickly explained. "But isn't this the only way to help you from the marriage with the crown prince from the Land of Penguin."

"I - "

"It would be just a marriage for the sake of the paper, nothing much else. " Miki added on.

"That would be so unfair to -"

Ai was interrupted once again. "I don't mind, Ai." Miki intercepted. "As long as it involves you, I will go all out just for you." Miki continued.

"I - " Ai was lost for words. She knew it was being unfair to Miki, yet the selfish part of her was asking her to accept, as she really does not want to be tied to someone she never knew, let alone to be someplace so far away where had had not returned to since infancy. "I - " Ai stuttered again.

"Don't probe so much for me. I really won't mind it Ai." Miki urged.

'But I promise, I will be back for you, definitely.' Risa husky voice echoed quietly in Ai's mind.

"Let's go Ai. Let's get Erina and leave this place immediately, before the people from the Land of Penguin returns again." Miki continued, failing to notice Ai's fading out. He held onto Ai's wrist and began to pull Ai out of her room, out of the hut. That was when Ai snapped out from her world of memories.

"Where are we going?" Ai blankly asked when she realised her surrounding was different.

"Get Erina. And the two of you shall stay with me for the moment before we get the paper work done, before the soldiers from the Land of Penguin get you." Miki repeated as he set his sight far away, searching for the presence of the young teenager in the wide strawberry field ahead. "Erina!" Miki called out loudly, hoping that would attract the attention of the girl. But no, Erina was not appearing, even after her name was called out for a couple of time.

Ai plied her wrist away and took a step forward. She was getting wary about the situation. The lack of response of Erina was starting to worry her up. "Erina?" Ai called out for the younger sister too. However, the response she had was the same as Miki. Just pure silence, except for the slight echoing of the voice. "Erina!" Ai furrowed her eyebrow when she still did not get the response from Erina.

"If the two of you had told Erina, Erina will stop myself from falling in love with Penguin more, since Penguin belongs to Ai-nee!"

The confrontation of Erina with Ai and Risa the evening before sounded in Ai's mind. 'Could it be? ' Ai thought worriedly in her mind. "I'm going to find where Erina is." Ai turned around abruptly and disclaimed to Miki before turning away again. She then head towards the mountains, the direction Erina had wanted to escape to before Ai had lost her consciousness the evening before.

"Wait for me, Ai!" Miki chased after quickly. "Do you exactly know where she is?"

"No! But I will find her! She's the only person I care left." Ai continued advancing ahead stubbornly, forsaking the fact her barely healed health and the coldness of the night ahead and headed straight into the mountains.

---------------------------------------

It was already night time when Hitomi and Kanon had reached the land of Penguin. The duo got off the horses they were riding and stood before the gates that will lead them into the palace while Erina was still out, lying forward on the back of the horse.

"Where am I?" Erina slurred as she asked. She sat up from her lying position on her chest and realised that she was not on the ground level - she was above the ground level. "Ah!" Erina cried out in surprise. The next moment, she came stumbling off the horseback and landed onto a pair of soft arms.

"Be careful, you are going to hit your head if you fall off the horseback in this way." Came the young boyish voice.

"It's you!" Erina wriggled to get herself off Kanon's arm. "You are not a good person!" Erina continued. "What's your motive for kidnapping me? Where am I?" Erina continued her questioning, yet to realised another personnel at the site.

"Kanon, she's loud." Hitomi complained.

"I understood." Kanon responded. With that, Kanon placed his finger on Erina's lips, hoping that would silent the older girl. Though that effort, Kanon had failed.

Hitomi shook his head lightly at the childish actions of Kanon. He stood forward and placed his arms over Erina's shoulder. "Young lady, you are in the Land of Penguin right now, and right before you, is the royal castle of the Land of Penguin. And no worries, we are no bad people. We are just bringing you here in advance." Hitomi explained vaguely. With his arms still around Erina's shoulder, Hitomi began to lead Erina through the gates, with Kanon following closely behind them.

"General Yoshizawa has return from his trip and request to see you, Your Majesty." Said the royal guard of the King.

"Allow him in." Ordered the King.

With the permission, Hitomi made his way into the courts, with Erina walking in between him and Kanon. "Your Majesty, we have found Lady Takahashi." Hitomi informed.

"You are Ai?" The king astonished. "I remember Ai to be 2 years older than my son, General Yoshizawa, but the Lady you have brought in seems way so much younger than Prince Gaki." The King continued.

"Return to You Majesty, This is not Lady Takahashi. She's the younger sister of Lady Takahashi." Hitomi explained as he bowed. "Lady Takahashi had refused to return with us. Therefore, I had decided to invite her sister over to the royal castle before going back to persuade her to return with us again." Hitomi continued.

"I see. . " The King trailed off in realisation. "What's your name, Young Lady?" The King asked.

"Who are you? Why should I answer you? And, who's Lady Takahashi? My sister is Ikuta Ai, not Takahashi." Erina rebelled, only to be nudged by Hitomi and Kanon painfully on both her side.

"Have some respect. He's the King of the Land of Penguin." Hitomi whispered lowly to Erina under his breath.

"Sorry for the disrespect, Your Majesty." Both Hitomi and Kanon bowed down in apology. "Her name is Ikuta Erina." Kanon added on.

"You're excused." The King forgave. "Erina, I see. You share some resemblance to the nanny of General Takahashi household. Are you by any chance the daughter of maiden Araso Yukino?" The King continued.

Erina looked away to her side, refusing to answer any questions that was posted to her.

"I guess you are exhausted from the travelling, Erina." The King turned to his guard. "Prepared the Royal guest room for this lady over here and send 4 maidservant to serve her needs." The King ordered.

-----------------------------------------

"Ai, it's getting late!" Miki called out behind Ai. It was already pitched dark and there were no lights in the mountains. Miki could only barely make up where Ai was from the silhouette he saw before him. "Let's get back first before continuing our search for Erina shall we? Perhaps Erina has returned back to the hut already?" Miki continued.

"I'm a really bad sister, aren't I?" Ai keep mumbling to herself.

The next thing Miki heard was a loud thud onto the ground. "Ai?" Miki called out as he made his way blindly ahead to where he felt Ai was.

------------------------------------------

Erina sulked as she sat on the king sized bed that were surrounded by a silken cloth. 'Where am I? Where's Ai-nee?'

"Lady Erina, your dinner is ready." Came the serving maidservant beside her, serving the tray of food before Erina.

"I'm not hungry. I'm not eating." Erina stubborn.

"What about this?" Came the same young boyish voice. It turns out that Kanon had been in the room for half an hour, watching Erina sulking all these while. Erina looked up and saw Kanon holding onto a black bag and offered to Erina.

"What's this?" Erina asked.

"Check it out yourself. I think you will like it." Kanon continued as he settled himself comfortably beside Erina.

Erina stretched hand into the bag and pulled out a green strawberry out of it. "I took it from the field before I left, since I had never tried them before." Kanon explained.

"These can't be eaten. They had yet to ripe." Erina sighed.

"Really?" Kanon sit up in attention, in surprise. "No wonder they taste so weird. They bit on my tongue." Kanon continued as he stuck his tongue, causing Erina to burst into laughter. "You are finally smiling, aren't you?" Kanon turned around and starred at the laughing Erina. "You looked cute with your laughter. " Kanon blurted out without realising.

Erina blushed at the compliment. She looked away from Kanon immediately and at the black bag she held in her hand. Silence sat between the pair before Erina decided to speak up again. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I don't know. . .It was General Yoshizawa's idea. He said it will be easier to invite Lady Takahashi back . . " Kanon answered honestly.

"Who is Lady Takahashi?" Erina pondered.

"Your sister?" Kanon replied effortlessly.

"Why do you want invite my sister back then?"

"She has an arrange marriage with the Crown Prince, that's why?"

"EH?!" Erina jumped up in surprised. "Impossible! Ai-nee has Penguin!" Erina objected.

---------------------------------------

"Ai. . . Ai . . ." Ai felt someone patting on her cheeks as she gradually heard her name being called. When she attempted to had her eyes open, the striking light of the room caused her to close her eyes once again. "Ai . . ."

"I'm up. . . " Ai answered with her eyes closed.

"You scared me. . .You have been out the whole night again .. " Miki explained.

"Really?" Ai tried to sit up and attempted to open her eyes slowly again. "Where Erina?" Ai remembered.

Miki shook his head lightly in response.

Ai's anxiety for her sister was shown all over her face. "I'm going out to search for her again." Ai flipped the blanket off her legs and attempted to get off the bed. When she did, the first thing she saw on the ground, was a dying bouquet of flowers - the ones Risa had gave her last night. Ai bent down at picked it up. It was only a night without proper hydration, and the flowers are dying, with the petals threatening to fall out the bud at any moment. Ai's heart broke when she saw the flowers in its state. 'It's only a night, and it marks the end of the never changing love he promised. . . .'

-----------------------------------------------

"Father!" Risa stomped into the King's bedroom hurriedly. That was his first destination the first thing he reached the palace.

"Risa?" The King was surprised to see Risa back in the palace. There was still half a year away from Risa's year away from the courts. "Why are you back so early? You looks like you had gotten so much skinner, My Son." The King concerned.

"Father are you alright?" Risa brushed the hand on his head away and began to check on his father. "I heard that you are seriously sick. Are you alright?" Risa continued.

"Where have you heard them from, my dear Son? Except for the flu I had acquired 2 months ago, I am in a perfect pink of health since you left." The King explained.

"Eh?" Risa responded. Rumours had complicated the situation and Risa had believed in it.

"But, well, since you are back, we shall go ahead and pull the wedding forward then, since it has been ages the country had any major celebration. " The King continued.

"Father, actually I have something to tell you . . . " Risa spoke up.

"What, My Son?"

"I want to pull off the wedding with the General's daughter. I don't want to marry her." Risa declared as he looked at the king with determination in his eyes. He was fixed and sure. He wanted only Ai in his life and that's all. The lingering thought of Ai's disappointment with him still haunts him. He promised he will be back for her. And he was determined to fulfil that promise, whether or not if there were any objections against his decision.

Update~~~~

yah. . . It's a short transition chapter. . .
Yuppps. Uni work is piling up like a mountain. . .so I will try to find time to write whenever I have the time to . . .
Writing really cheers me up, so . . .:)
hopefully next chapter will be quick, if not, it would be until the next week end already. . .
so yupps ;)

de wa, til the next chapter then :)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 16- 17th March 2012 ]
Post by: alwaysYou on March 17, 2012, 02:09:43 PM

i like eripon and kanon interaction..lol
and rude eripon rox too.. :lol: :lol:

i wonder what the king will react upon gakisan request..

Need more ~~Strawberry Penguin~~ AiGaki :(

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 16- 17th March 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 17, 2012, 07:03:13 PM

Oh man, this is turning into such a clusterfuck. When will Risa discover that Erina is here? I can't wait to see that reaction.

Why couldn't he have just been more honest with Ai~!~!? He should have known she'd say they were through or something like that! :panic: :panic:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 16- 17th March 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 17, 2012, 11:56:10 PM

asdasidjssa ajdsa HITOMI GO BACK AND TAKE AI ALREADY ALKSDJASDKLASDS OR ELSE MIKI WILL TAKE HER~~~ ~~that opportunist little I mean tall one~~ alksjdklsadjklsad

GO KING TELL RISA YOU AGREE SO THEY CAN JUST BE TOGETHER klajsdlksadjsakldsasa /shot Okay done. OTL ;A; Cai-san update soooooooon ; A ;

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 16- 17th March 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on March 18, 2012, 07:42:45 AM

DMAGDMGPGMPJPGMPJA!! YOU JUST WANNA KILL ME, DON'T YA?! YOU JUST DID! T_T Poor ai... Please! Don't let her marry miki! AARGH!! I'm gonna die of depression. YOU'D BETTER UPDATE FAST OR I'LL GIVE YOU CANDY! XD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 16- 17th March 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on March 25, 2012, 02:17:55 PM

[17] - Eh? IT'S YOU?!?!

"I'm afraid not, my Son. " The King replied slowly to Risa's request after a moment of silence. "I've already invited the daughter of the General back into the palace. And she is all ready and prepared for the union." The King finished.

"I refuse, Father." Risa rebelled. "Even if she appears right before me right at this moment, I'm still not marrying her." Risa continued stubbornly.

"You weren't like this before you left for your trip, Risa." The King realised. "You were the one who had promised that you will agree to the marriage if you were allowed to take the year away from the palace. Do you remember about that, my Son?" The King continued.

"That's - " Risa stuttered. It was rare for Risa to stutter in his speech before his father.

"I was right, ain't I?" The King spoke again. Risa hummed his lips tightly together as he looked away nervously away from the King's questioning stare. "Like it or not, Risa, you are going to fulfil that promise you had made." The King finished.

"But - " Risa tried to object, only to be stopped by his father stern warning.

"Risa." The King called firmly, signalling to Risa to stop whatever he had intended to.

"I'm not going to, Father." Risa finally acquired enough courage to rebel against his father again. "Father, " Risa started off. "I had not fallen in love with anyone before when I had made that deal. Now that I had, I am not going to let her go. I won't marry someone I had never even seen before in my whole life. If I have to marry someone, It has to be this girl of my interest, Father. "

"Risa - "

"And you know what, Father? She loves me back too, even when she does not know anything about my background." Risa interrupted, knowing what the King had in his mind to stop Risa's intention - the sincerity of one heart : To the extend if she really loves him, or was it because of Risa's status. "I'm going to speak to the general's daughter by myself when she arrives. Until then, I'm going back to where I had stayed for the past half year and bring the lady I'm interested in back." Risa finished with determination. With that, Risa turned away from the King and headed straight towards the door.

"Risa, wait." The King called out, stopping Risa in his steps.

"Yes, Father?" Risa turned around and faced his father who was seated up on the bed.

"It's really late right now. If you really have to leave, wait till the morning then. . . " The King informed. "I will prepare the horses to get you there earlier. . . " The King added on.

Without saying anything, Risa nodded his head in response and bowed in gratitude, before he excused himself out of the King's bedroom.

-----------------------------------------

"I need to leave this place. . ." Erina whispered to herself as she lied on the comfy soft layers of the humongous sized bed. "I can't let them force Ai-nee to come here with them . . . Ai-nee has Penguin. She can't marry the stupid Prince of this stupid land." Erina continued mumbling. "I need to find a way to get out of here... It seems like that Kanon guy would be guarding outside my room. It seems like..." Erina whispered to herself as she snuggled deeper into the soft pillow.

Just as Erina whispered to herself, a yawn of sleepiness caught onto her. 'Tomorrow... The first thing I am going to do tomorrow is to sneak out of this creepy place.' Erina decided silently in her mind. Just a minute later after that, soft snoring could be heard in the dead quiet room. The teenage had fallen asleep straight away after the whole day of events.

-----------------------------------------

After staying in the bed half asleep for the whole night, Risa snapped his eyes wide open the moment the first light shone into the room. This was the moment he had been waiting for the whole night - to be able to leave the palace once again and set on a journey back to the land of strawberry to bring Ai back with him. He hastily changed himself out of his sleeping attire and into one of his formal clothing before heading towards the room door. As he placed pressure on the doorknob, realisation struck him.

"Wait a minute?! " Risa panicky groaned as he gave the knob a further few fuddling. "Why is the door locked from outside ?" Risa asked in a loud voice, to no be in particular.

Unexpectedly, a reply was received. "I'm sorry, Prince Gaki. His Majesty had ordered us to lock your room door from outside late last night. His Majesty had ordered that, without his permission, Prince Gaki will not be allowed out from his room." Came a deep voice echoing from the other side of the door.

"What?! But-" Risa wanted to refute about the permission he thought he had received from the king last night, only to stop when he realised it was all part of his father plan to keep him in the palace. "Da-" Risa wanted to curse, only to stop when he realised it was inappropriate for him to do so. "What's your name ? " Risa questioned the guard.

"Sorry Prince Gaki. I'm not allow to say. The King had ordered that we are not supposed to make any deal with you in order to get yourself out." The guard replied honestly.

"But - " Risa banged roughly on the door.

----------------------------------------------------

"Hi, we meet again, Lady Ai." Ai opened the door, only to find Hitomi standing outside the door, with a smile on his face.

"What are you doing here again?" Ai asked in her hoarse voice, which had attracted Miki to come to the door from Ai's room.

"What are you doing here again?" Miki asked offensively. "Stop harassing my fiancée. Hasn't she told you to leave her alone?" Miki continued.

"Fiancée?" Hitomi tilted his head to a side as he looked at Miki in baffled. "If then so, why didn't you introduce yourself to me yesterday? Instead, this term is only valid today. Which means, high chances, this is a fraud." Hitomi calmly analysed.

"That - " Miki was lost for words.

"I was right." Hitomi smiled victoriously.

"Whatever about that, it doesn't matter at all. My decision is made. I'm not returning to the land of Penguin with you." Ai chipped it, stopping the little verbal war between Miki and Hitomi.

"Well. . . I suppose you were on your way to search for your younger sister when you opened that door. Am I right to say that, Lady Ai?" Hitomi turned the conversation around and began to use his ultimate weapon he had planned - Erina.

"How did you manage to - " Ai asked, as her eyes went wide staring at Hitomi.

"I'm sorry about that, Lady Ai. But I had taken the liberty to bring your younger sister back to the land of Penguin. " Hitomi crossed his right arm across to his left shoulder as he bowed.

"You what?" Ai raised a tone, with her eyes going even bigger than before.

"Since Lady Ai is going to get married to our Crown Prince, it is understandable that all her family members moved in with her as well. Therefore, I had taken the liberty to bring your younger sister back first without your consent, Lady Ai." Hitomi explained again, this time with a slight smirk at the corner of his lips.

"That's cunning!" Miki broke out in anger as he went straight into Hitomi, aiming for his shoulder. However, being one of the best fighter in the Land of Penguin, that little attack meant nothing to Hitomi. He had managed to dodge it even before Miki reached his hand on him.

Ai bit onto her lower lips, so forcefully that she had began to taste blood in her mouth. Dilemma was filling her heart. She pledged that she will never ever wanted to get married to the person she had never knew in all her life. Yet the fact that her sister was right in Hitomi's possession is swaying her determination. Tears began to linger at the corners of her eyelids.

"You better return Erina to us before I get the authorities from the Land of Strawberry to bring you behind the bars for illegal confinement of Erina!" Miki threatened. "I am the - " A pair of warm hands around Miki's wrist interrupted Miki from continuing.

"It's alright Miki. . ." Ai spoke in a soft voice. "You have did your best to help me. . . " Ai continued weakly as a single tear dripped down her rosy cheeks.

"Ai . . ." Miki called out softly.

"I'm going to send Erina back as soon as I reach there. . . I'm going to leave her in your hands . . . " Ai continued, giving Miki no chances to persuade her out of her decision.

"But Ai. . . "

"Say no more Miki. I had made my decision. Erina is all I have now. I want her to be happy forever. I don't want her to be confined in the palace for the rest of her life. " Ai interrupted again.

"What about that Penguin?" Miki asked, hoping that would make Ai sway about her decision.

Ai smile bitterly at the mention of Risa's nickname, trying to smile away the bitterness and pain she felt within her left chest. "He's not coming back. . . Even if he is. . . We won't be able to be together. . . Never. . ." Ai whined in a really quiet voice. So quiet that no one could hear her at all. "I'm ready to leave. . ." Ai turned to Hitomi as she swiped away the lone tear that dwelled at her chin.

----------------------------------------------

"Prince Gaki, you're back?" A familiar voice echoed into Risa's room, sending Risa springing up from his bed and rest straight towards the door.

"Kanon, is that you?" Risa asked in panic and excitement.

"Yes it's me, Prince Gaki."

"Unlock the door for me, Kanon. . ." Risa begged in his most desperate voice. Soon after, he heard the clinging sound of the keys around the door. Risa placed his hand on the door knob in anticipation. When the clicked sound was heard, Risa pressed the knobbed down and pulled the door straight open. Before he could get passed Kanon, he was pushed back into the room by the former already.

"Prince Gaki, you are not allowed to be out of your room." Kanon explained as he bowed in apology.

"Kanon, I have an important task to fulfil. . " Risa pleaded, knowing the younger was soft at heart.

"But, the King had. . . " Kanon hesitated. Catching Kanon on his off guard, Risa placed a pressure on the latter's pressure point, sending the younger into a temporary coma.

"Sorry, Kanon, I didn't mean to do this. . .But I really have to get back to Strawberry and tell her the truth. . " Risa mumbled as he caught the young boy from dropping to the ground and rested him comfortably on his bed. With that, Risa hurriedly made his way towards the door. He peeked out to the hallway, checking the waters was safe before making the first step out of his room in a sneakily way. "I'm coming Ai. . . "

---------------------------------

"Where is the entrance?" Erina mumbled to herself. She was been wandering around the palace all alone for nearly an hour, after Kanon had bided goodbye with her, quoting that he had a duty to fulfil, and therefore had to leave Erina alone in the guest room. Deep down within Erina, she was cheering. Finally, she had gotten the chance to sneak out of the designated room for her and begin her plan - escaping from the royal palace of Land of Penguin. Though the chance, Erina had totally lost her way in the palace. She could not remember where had she came from the night before nor the exact location of where she is right now. Whenever Erina spotted a guard around, she would hide her slender body behind one of the gigantic pillars they had all around the palace, hoping that would keep her away from the sight of the guards.

"Now, turn right or left?" Erina asked herself in a hushed voice when she reached the cross road once again. She sighed deeply as she closed her eyes, trying to figure out the way she had came from yesterday. "Left." Her guts told her that. Slowly and carefully, Erina took baby steps towards the left and hid behind yet another pillar as she checked for the presence of guards around.

It was amazing that she had managed to find her way to the gates even without having to know her way around the palace. It was already 2 hours since her departure from her room and she had finally made her way to the entrance she had came from the night before. Right before her, she notice a familiar back she had seen from the past, doing the same actions as her - checking out the environment while trying to hide behind a bush of plant. Erina made her way quietly to the back and smack hardly on the shoulder, causing the back to jumped up slightly. "Penguin?! What are you doing over here?" Erina asked in a hushed voice.

Risa turned around, with his right hand covering his mouth as he tried to muffle his cry of pain from the smack. When he realised it was Erina, he pulled his hand away from his mouth. "Erina? What are you doing here?" Risa asked as he furrowed his distinct thick eyebrows.

That earned his another smack on his shoulder. Risa squirmed his eyes close in pain. "I asked the question first. . . " Erina argued.

"That hurts. . . " Risa whined in pain. "I've already invited the daughter of the General back into the palace. And she is all ready and prepared for the union." The King's voice echoed in Risa's mind as Risa tried to snap himself out of his pain. 'Could it be that . . . Erina is the daughter of the General? If that's the case, this would be so much of an easier task to pull off the wedding. . ' Risa thought silently in his mind. "If the two of you had told Erina, Erina will stop myself from falling in love with Penguin more, since Penguin belongs to Ai-nee!" However, yet another voice of memory, Erina wailing out, echoing in Risa's mind made Risa shuttered. 'She said she had fallen in love me that evening, didn't she? If that's the case. . .would this hurt her even more? '

"What are you doing in here? Aren't you with Ai-nee? Ai-nee is in trouble! " Erina cried out in her hushed voice and had expected an equally hushed response from Risa.

However, that was not so. "WHAT?" Risa jumped out from the cover of the bush plant and stood on his feet, looking down at Erina in great surprise. "Ai is in trouble?"

Yes, I had left it hanging there. .
I was not being Evil. . .It's just. . .I feel like it :X hehehe

@ alwaysYou : hahahahha . . . .I want more aigaki too :( hopefully there will be some labu labu after concert tonight. . . :)

@ rndmnwierd : Well now that Gaki had met Erina. . .. heheh. which means . . .

@ arisa03 : hehehe. Hitomi got Ai :) heheeh

@ risa_ai : I won't let Miki get Ai. It's a AiGaki fic in the first place. . HEHEH

Yah. . .sorry for the long wait (and short update?)
I have the next chapter all planned. It's just getting the time and motivation to type it out. . :) hehehe

just a teaser : Next chapter contains a wedding . . . With a slight twist . . . HEHEHE

De wa, until the next chapter !!

:)

hehehe

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 17- 25th March 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 25, 2012, 07:14:41 PM

Caaaaiii-saaaannn~ You better update ~~tomorrow!~~ soon! They better meet next chapter! T___T GO YOSSIE EVERYTHING IS IN YOUR HANDS!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 17- 25th March 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on March 26, 2012, 09:44:11 AM

:shocked :shocked
Cai-san, are you suppose to kill us like this??? :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

No~~~~~~~~ :bleed eyes: :bleed eyes: :bleed eyes:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 17- 25th March 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on March 26, 2012, 12:02:51 PM

*takes out knife and glares dangerously* you'd better update tmr, or else... *runs off* XD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 17- 25th March 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 26, 2012, 06:55:27 PM

So short~! And cliffhanger-y~! C'mon Cai! You're killing us here! :panic: :panic: :lol: :lol:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 17- 25th March 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on March 31, 2012, 04:02:56 PM

[18] - Are you are kidding me?!?

"You are attracting too much attention!" Erina exclaimed as she got onto her feet as well and gave Risa a faithful slap on the top of his head. It was only after she had gave the slap on Risa's head that she realised she was too attracting too much attention with her actions. She wanted to pull Risa down back behind the bushes but it was all too late. The guards who were guarding at the place entrance had saw the commotion and were marching over towards the two. "Penguin! Take this chance and leave! They are already away from the gate!" Erina pushed Risa away from her and hinted.

"But you - Ai - " Risa tried to response, but was too all too late. The guards were all over and widened the distance between Risa and Erina as they grabbed onto Erina on her arms and pulled them behind her back. "Who are you?" They demanded. "What are you doing over here?" The questioning continued as Erina was pulled to the other end of the wing, while Risa was brought away by the other guards around the area.

"Maybe you can answer that question for me? I was unwillingly brought here by your people and you are asking me what am I doing over here." Erina challenged.

"Sorry, but I have heard nothing of this about someone had been brought back into the palace, Young Lady." One of the taller guard replied before continuing. "Did you sneaked your way in? What's your intention?" The sword was pulled out and pointed at Erina as the question was asked.

Erina nervously gulped her saliva down her throat as the sharp point of the sword pointed right in between her eyes. "I'm did not." Erina bravely stood onto her front. "I was brought in here, without my consent. And all I want, is to leave this freaking place right at this moment." Erina continued in a louder voice than her previous sentence as she stared at the guard fiercely, with great determination in them.

On the other hand, at Risa's side, he was being escorted away by the guard to the opposite end the guards had brought Erina to. "Prince Gaki, are you hurt in anyway?" The guard greeted and concerned. He had witness the attack Erina performed on him and was truly worried about any injuries the violent act may had resulted on the prince.

"I'm fine." Risa brushed the guard away and tried to get away, only to be stopped by the same guard again.

"Prince Gaki, I'm sorry that I can't let you go. The King had released orders about Prince Gaki you. His Majesty had said that if anyone were to spot Prince Gaki around the palace, we are suppose to bring you back to him." The guard explained as he gestured out, showing the way he should go - to the courts were the King was at.

Risa sighed deeply. He had lost the battle. He turned around and began to move towards the direction the guard had gestured. 'I'm going to confront Father about this. There's no way I am going to marry Erina. She so much younger, and . . She's not the one I like. It's her sister. . . Why? Why is it that Erina is the general's daughter and not Strawberry girl?'

Upon seeing Risa's entry into the court room as escorted by the guards, the King smiled lightly. "I knew this would have happened. That's why I had made sure that all the guards in the palace are on theirs, making sure that you will make no effort to get away from the palace.

"Father, I really have no intention to marry the general's daughter. I had made an important promise, to this girl, Father. I hope you will understand." Risa tried to explain, trying to sort out the situation in a peaceful way.

"Risa, I hope you will understand that your marriage with the general's daughter is one of my promise to my best partner, who had made his way to the other world without even having the chance to watch his beloved daughter grow." The King replied in the same way, leaving Risa speechless about a rebuttal. "Now that she's coming, I had announced earlier in the day that the royal marriage between you and the general's daughter will be held tomorrow night. The ball is now being prepared, and I hope you will prepare your heart too. Stop thinking about that girl of yours. I don't know where have you met her nor who is she. But I'm sure that she is someone who is incompatible with you, in terms of her status. Remember, Risa, you are the crown prince. Your queen has to be someone of some status. General Takahashi had made great impact to our land. Her daughter is definitely someone of the some status my royal brothers will want. "

"But Father -"

"Say no more, Risa. She's coming soon. You will meet her face to face. Maybe until then you will fall in love with her and forget about that girl, my dear son."

"I won't, Father." Risa bit his lips with determination.

"Your Majesty, we have brought you someone we had found lingering suspiciously around the back wing garden." The guard at door greeted and asked for permission for entry.

"Bring that person in." The King ordered before turning back to Risa. "Now, go back to your room and prepare your heart."

"Father!" Risa tried to whine, but an unexpected call from his back broke his thoughts.

"Penguin?! You didn't managed to get your way out?" Erina wriggled around the guard's hold.

Upon seeing the 'someone' being Erina, the King immediately ordered the guards to release the poor girl. "Release her. Lady Erina is my invited guest." The guards followed the order right in the moment, releasing Erina from their captive hold abruptly, causing the poor girl to almost tumble down onto the ground with her first down.

"Can't you all be more gentle!" Erina whined and instinctively went behind Penguin - someone whom she knew beside Kanon - and seek his back for protection.

"Your Majesty, I will definitely not marry her." Risa changed his way of addressing his father due to the presence of other guards in the room and stubbornly repeated his decision to the King, despite the fact that the King had rejected his decision for the umpteen times. That had resulted a sudden pain at the back of his head.

"Penguin you are going to marry someone?" Erina shouted from Risa's back as she smacked the back of Risa's head painfully. "What about Ai-nee?" Erina continued while the guard held onto Erina, preventing Erina from further abusing the poor prince. "You know what? Ai-nee is going to - " Erina was cut off by the King, who seemed to be unable to get over Erina's rude behaviour towards Risa.

"Lady Erina, please do not be disrespectful to - " Before the King could finish his warning about Erina's rather rough actions on Risa, Risa had intercepted the opportunity and took the time for himself.

"Release her right away!" Risa raised his voice and shouted as he turned around, only to find himself facing a rather angry Erina.

"Sorry Erina, it's about your Ai-nee, and that's why, I can't marry you. . . " Risa apologised.

"Me?" Erina narrowed her eyes as she tilted her head.

"Risa, you knew Lady Erina?" The King raised curiously. Risa's actions was obvious that he knew the younger girl.

"Risa? Isn't your name Penguin?" Erina asked before Risa could rely his father's question.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Risa answered the question from his father first before turning over to Erina. "Sorry I lied. Penguin is not my name. Penguin is the name of the place I came from." Risa looked away from Erina's questioning stare. "I'm sorry, but I really can't. I can't marry the General's daughter."

"Risa, Lady Erina is not the General's daughter." The King understood Risa's misunderstanding and spoke out, trying to clear out that misunderstanding. "Isn't she a little be too young to be general's daughter too? General Takahashi had passed out 24 years ago and this young lady over here is barely 15." The King continued.

Risa's eyes shone up in realisation. "That's right!" He blurted.

"Lady Erina is the younger sister of the general's daughter." the King finished.

"And that means, the general's daughter is strawberry Ai?" Risa turned and looked at Erina in amazing revelations.

"You are the stupid prince Ai-nee is suppose to marry to?" Erina finally understood the situation as she pointed her index finger at Risa, sharing an eye contact with the Penguin.

------------------------------------

"Your Majesty, I have Lady Ai back with me. . ." Hitomi informed as he stepped into the court room. Both Risa and Erina were back in their own respective room. Ai stood aside, revealing herself before the King as she was hiding behind Hitomi all these while.

"Good evening, Your Majesty." Ai bowed her head and bent her knees slightly as she greeted.

"It's you!" The King stood up from his seat in excitement the moment Ai stood before him. He rushed down the flight of stairs and to where the two were standing "How long has it been? You looked exactly like what you were when you were still an infant, my dear child. Ai remained her head bowed, not saying anything to the compliment the King had just gave. The King lifted Ai's face up. "You looked exactly like how your father do, my dear child. " The King continued.

"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment, Your Majesty." Ai responded as she tried to pull her head away from the King's comforting touch.

"Your Father was a beautiful man, my dear. You should be all happy about that." The King commented as he stood away and walked back up the stairs and back to his seat.

"Sorry, but I have no memory about that." Ai continued sadly.

"Your mother was a beautiful woman as well. It's just really a waste that . . ." The King halted in his sentence. He could no longer continue with this topic anymore. He cleared his throat lightly. "Ai. . . Is it alright for me to just call you Ai?" The King asked. Ai nodded her head lightly. "The wedding ball, will be held tomorrow night. "

"Tomorrow night? So fast?" Ai blurted out unknowingly. She sank into a long moments of silence before speaking again. "Can I ask of a request?"

"Speak your mind, my dear."

"Allow Erina to return back to the Land of Strawberry." Ai spoke straight.

"Wouldn't you want to keep your sister with you?"

"I would rather her back in the land of strawberry. Probably, she will like the life back there better."

--------------------------------

With that, Ai was escorted to the guest room where Erina was staying. The younger girl went all straight into her sister's embrace the moment Ai stepped into the room. "Ai-nee!" Erina shouted out with excitement buried her face into her sister's shoulder.

"Erina!" Ai ruffled Erina's hair into a mess as she cajoled the younger girl.

"I missed you so much, Ai-nee. . " Erina mumbled into Ai's shoulder.

"Silly girl. . .It's just a day so . . " Ai patted Erina's back.

"Ne, Ai-nee, I have something to tell you. . ." Erina pulled herself back and looked at Ai in her eyes.

"I have something to tell Erina too. And I will go first. . ." Ai said the same thing as she pulled Erina to the bed and sat her down on the bed. "You are going back to the Land of Strawberry." Ai informed.

"Wait a minute, Ai-nee, why?" Erina stood back to her feet in surprise only to be pushed back onto the bed by Ai.

"You should go find your own happiness back in the land of Strawberry. Maybe, if Penguin really returns, you and him can get together. Erina likes Penguin very much, isn't that so? Now that I am - " Before Ai could finished her sentence, she was interrupted by a panicking Erina.

"Wait a minute Ai-nee, I have something to say." Erina objected as she stood up again. Different from the previous time, she was not being pushed back to the bed. " I - "

"Let me finish my words, Erina." Ai interrupted. " Now that I am going to get married to the prince of this country, Erina you can get together with Penguin. I had told Miki about it already. He will take care of you in my behalf - "

"Ai-nee, listen to what I have to say."

"Erina-"

"Pen - "

The pair of sisters struggled with each other, fighting for the chance for the right for the say, such that by an accident, Ai knocked the back of her head against the sturdy wood of the bed and onto the bed, falling into a state of unconsciousness.

"Ai-nee?" Erina shook Ai's body in panic. Movement of the eyes could be observed through the closed eyelid. "Ai-nee?" Erina shook more but had received no response at all. "Ai-nee wake up!" Erina called out in desperation.

After a short moment, Ai finally flipped open her eyes, waking up from her short moments of unconsciousness. "What happened?" Ai asked in a weak voice, while rubbing the back of her head.

"You hit the back of your head against the bed, Ai-nee. . .Are you alright? Are you seeing any double visions or anything?" Erina concerned.

"Oh yah I did . . . " Ai noted absentmindedly as she continued to rub her sore head. "What were we talking about moments ago, Erina?" Ai tilted her head at Erina and asked.

"About that, Ai-nee, there's something important that I have to tell you!" Erina continued.

"What?"

Before Erina could inform Ai about the identity of the Prince, the maidservant at the door had stopped her from doing so. "Sorry Lady Ai, it's time for you to leave."

"To where?" Ai asked blankly.

"To the Prince room where you will spend the night at, Lady Ai."

"But the wedding is tomorrow. Isn't - "

"It's different in the Land of Penguin, Lady Ai. " Came the simple explanation.

"But I want to spend the night with my sister, is that possible?" Ai tried to negotiate.

"I'm afraid not, Lady Ai."

"It's alright, Ai-nee. . . "

"But the important thing that you have been talking about?" Ai gave Erina a blur look.

"It's not important anymore." Erina smiled. "Ai-nee will find it out by yourself. "

"By myself?" Ai narrowed her eyebrow slightly.

-------------------------------------

Ai felt her heart racing as she heard the room door creaked open. She had been sitting alone in the Prince bedroom for a short while. Thoughts about her unwillingness towards the arranged marriage had been flying around her stomach, making her to feel a sense of queasiness at her stomach. 'Since the day I read the letters left by mom and dad, I had dread the coming of this day. I had even swear that I would rather run away that to put myself in this situation. But now, here I am, sitting on this bed, waiting for the return of the Prince. . . ' Ai thought in her mind. She head soft footsteps nearing her and stopped right behind her.

"I see, you are the General's daughter. . . " Risa lowered his voice - a voice different from the ones he usually had - and spoke behind Ai as he rested his hands delicately on Ai's shoulder. He had just returned from Erina's room. He had initially wanted to surprise his bride at her sister's room. But it had seemed like his bride was sent back to his room even before he had the chance to. Erina had informed him that Ai had yet to know about the Prince identity. Therefore, Risa had came out with a perfect plan to surprise his beloved strawberry and this had explained the low voice he had used on Ai right at this moment.

Ai tensed up at the touch. Her heart raced. Without saying any word, she nodded her head.

"Did you accepted this marriage willingly?" Risa asked again, in the same low voice.

Ai nodded her head unwillingly. She was afraid that her honest answer would earn her something undesirable.

"Are you sure?" Risa was pleasantly surprised. He thought Ai would shook her head at this question. Though that, he had still decided to go on with this little game of his.

Ai nodded her head again.

"Do you have a lover or something like that before you accepted this marriage, I'm curious." Risa asked next.

Ai shook her head, much to Risa's dismay.

"Are you sure?" Risa asked for confirmation.

Ai nodded her head.

That was way out of Risa's expectation. But since things had went on to the other direction, Risa had no choice but to go with his play. "If that's the case. . . " Risa started off with the low voice. "I'm going to make you mine tonight. . . " Risa whispered in his normal voice against Ai's skin on her neck, sending chills of shiver down her spine.

'What's this feeling? What's this feeling of familiarity? Ai thought in her mind.

'Shouldn't she realised my voice already?' Risa wondered in his mind when he did not receive the reaction he expected from Ai. Since Ai did not give any response, Risa had decided to go one step deeper and do the thing he always did on Ai's neck. He licked the cold skin before planting soft kisses on it.

'Why? Why do I feel some much familiarity to this action? But I can't remember a thing. . . It's almost felt like I had . . . ' A wave of sadness washed within Ai, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably . She did not know why, but tears had began to flow down her cheeks. 'Why does this feel like I had betrayed someone important? Why? '

Risa felt the trembling of Ai's body and decided that he had went too far with his little prank. He stopped whatever he was doing and turned Ai around, only to find Ai crying. "Why are you crying?" Risa asked in panic.

"I'm sorry that I had spoilt your fun, Prince. I don't even know why am I crying. If you wish, you can continue with what you were about to do. . ." Ai mumbled in surrender as she looked into Risa's eyes.

"Wait a minute, Ai, it's me!" Risa shot his eyes wide open when he realised Ai did not recognise him at all.

"Do I know you ?"

And i did it again :X *hides*

Sorry for such a long wait, but it was a busy week in college. (and more to come in the upcoming weeks :( )
Putting that aside, I'm sad to announce that, I will only be able to update once a week (the most I guess) since college is driving me crazy :(
But . . . Whenever I can, I will update :)

@ arisa03 : hehehe. they met now :) and :) heheh

@ Shiawase_Honoo : Nope, I'm not :X

@ risa_ai : It's impossible. . . >.<

@ rndmnwierd : Well, it's slightly longer this time round. . .But. . .I have a feeling. . .I'm going to get killed :X

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 18- 1st April 2012 ]
Post by: kawaii beam on March 31, 2012, 04:38:58 PM

:panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic: :panic:

WHY U GO DO tHAT?! ;3; now ai-chan gots amnesia?! GAHHHH~~~ darn u clumbsy ai-chan! XD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 18- 1st April 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on March 31, 2012, 04:53:05 PM

^ THIS!

GO RISA! MAKE HER REMEMBER EVERYTHING! ; A; ! WHAT IS THIS AMNESIA! ;__; Ai-chan are you just trolling with us? ;___________; Cai-san! Why are you trolling with us?! ;__________________________________________________; Please update soon ;______________; All my tears ;_____________;

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 18- 1st April 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 31, 2012, 06:58:54 PM

:imdead: You, you, Ai You made her forget! You evil!!!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 18- 1st April 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on April 02, 2012, 12:34:46 PM

I. Hate. You. Ai forgot every damn thing because of you. XD YOU JUST KILLED ME. HELLO?! AI?! WAKEY!! Or is this an April fools joke by Ai?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 18- 1st April 2012 ]
Post by: Tchips on April 04, 2012, 05:17:45 PM

I'm reaaaally overbooked with school so I've been absent for quite a while, but this... THIS! I never know if I love or hate that kind of surprise you always seem to pull on us!

Hit Aichan's head with a coconut! It works in tv shows :twothumbs

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 18- 1st April 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on April 13, 2012, 04:41:49 PM

[19] - Believe.

The eyes of Risa went to the maximum. He could not believe what he had just heard coming out from Ai's lips. "It's me, Ai." Risa repeated himself as he turned Ai's body around, making Ai to face him straight at his face. "I'm Penguin!"

"Prince of Penguin. . . Of course I know you are the Prince of Penguin. . . If not you wouldn't be in this room right at this moment." Ai replied rather calmly. She could not understand why Risa had reacted in that way. She could not understand why Risa had reacted in the way like he had knew her from before. To Ai, the man sitting before her right now, made no recollections to her.

"Not that, Ai." Risa found himself repeating that same sentence again.

Ai blinked her eyes blankly at Risa.

'She must be fooling around with me. There's no way that she could not remember who am I.' Risa wondered silently in his mind. 'She must be still upset that about the fact that I had left her that evening And maybe that's why she's acting like she don't recognise me . . .' Risa continued in his mind. With that in his mind, a slight smile escaped from his lips.

That made Ai puzzled more. Ai frowned her eyebrow deeply as she observed a rather mischievous grin on Risa's face and in his eyes.

Risa relaced himself and cuddled closer to Ai, which made Ai squirmier uncomfortably away at the sudden closeness of the distance. "You know. . . I am really very sorry about that evening. . " Risa started off in a real quiet gentle soft voice as he placed his hands gently on Ai's shoulder.

Ai felt herself shivering inside all of the sudden. She did not like the distance that sat between them right now. Even though she had expected that to happen, something within her was rejecting the distance. It almost felt like she had betrayed someone important in her life. But yet, she could find the reason why she was feeling in that way.

"I . . . " Risa cupped his hands around on Ai's cheek, making the older girl to face him face to face. He found himself melting in the uncertainties that Ai expressed through her eyes. 'She must felt that the love she had gave out to me being betrayed the day I turned my back on her.' That was the message Risa thought he had received from Ai's eyes.

Ai felt tears following down her cheeks once again. But still, she could not put the reason why she was reacting in that way. Risa shifted his right hand slightly upwards, wiping away the tears that had just fallen away gently. "I'm really very sorry, Ai. " Risa apologised again. "So. . . Let's not continue with the prank you are playing with me, shall you?" Risa continued with overflowing sincerity in his eyes.

That made Ai to push Risa away from her. The frown returned back to Ai's face as she did so, which brought a smile to Risa's face.

'The strawberry I knew is back. The never gentle lady whom I never had encountered before. The pure and real lady whom I love with all my heart. My strawberry. That was what Risa thought. "You are back." Risa continued.

"What are you talking about? I never understood a single thing you had said all these while, Prince." Ai finally spoke.

"Ai?"

"Yes, my name is Ai. But I don't think I am the Ai you know. Because I don't remember a single thing about you at all. Do I even know you in the first place?" Ai interrupted with unexplainable anger. Something was telling her that the prince before her was in love with the 'Ai' he had been calling out for. That made her felt a tinge of sourness within her.

"Of course you are the Ai - " Before Risa could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Ai all and once again.

"If that's the case, why do I even have to be married to you? You had someone you like, didn't you? Why did you even insisted in this marriage? I don't know you and you don't know me. . .Why?" Ai asked in straight.

"I know you are angry with me, but this is not the time to be so narrow-minded about that. I didn't know you are the general daughter I was going to marry to. I know it was my wrong to keep my identity from you, but -" Risa stopped his explanation when he realised Ai was not giving any response to him. "I - " Risa whacked his mind, hoping that his mind would think of a good way to make Ai out of her game.

Ai blinked her eyes in confusion. Before she knew it, she felt a pair of warm lips catching her lips in surprise. A wave of familiarity aroused within her heartbeat, yet, a sense of insecurity filled her mind. She halted her breathing when he felt Risa's hands lingered around her waist, wrapping her tightly into his embrace. Though there was a wave of familiarity, the insecurity she felt exceeded the familiarity. As part of her reflex reaction, Ai pushed Risa away from her, causing the Penguin to lose his balance and felt hardly onto the ground.

"What are you doing?" Ai blurt out as she brought her hands close to her chest.

"We always do that, didn't we?" Risa replied.

"We did?" Ai furrowed her eyebrow, as she forced herself to remember. Though that, she could not remember a single thing at all. Not at all.

---------------------------

"Penguin!" Erina called out to Risa when she entered into the ballroom. She was looking all around the palace, hoping to find the way to the Prince's bedroom, for the fact that she was looking for her sister. However, she did not managed to. Instead, she was lead to the ballroom, where the wedding ball is going to be held.

"Erina?" Risa turned around to the call, with his shoulders slouched low. This is his wedding night. But he was not feeling any excitement out of it. He thought he would have, when he got to know the fact that the general's daughter his father had been talking about was the strawberry girl he had met by chance at the borders of the Land of Strawberry, in a situation that any lady would hate to be in.

"You don't look good, Penguin." Erina commented honestly at the Prince's state. "Have a tiring night last night?" Erina continued teasing.

Risa narrowed his eyes at Erina. "I think your sister is still being angry with me." Risa ignored Erina's statement and commented his thought out.

"Eh?" That was when Erina realised the reason for Risa's lack of energy.

"She said she did not know who I was." Risa continued. "I think she's still angry with me." Risa finished.

"EH?" Erina yelped in surprise. "How can that be? She was still - " Erina wanted to tell Risa Ai's intention to send Erina back to the Land of Strawberry, only to remember a single event that had happened the previous evening. "I think I know why, Penguin." Erina continued.

"Why?"

"Ai-nee may had not remember who you are for real." Erina started off. Risa titled her head slightly, signalling to Erina to continue with her explanation. "Ai-nee had knocked her head against the bed frame last evening, losing her consciousness for a short moment before she left my room and to your room." Erina explained.

"Are you saying that your sister may had lost her memory? That's impossible! She still remembers who you are. She still remembers she's the daughter of General Takahashi. She still remembers that she has to marry to the Prince of Penguin. How is it possible that she had lost her memory then?" Risa analysed for Erina.

"Hmmm? But. . . There's no reason for Ai-nee to be angry with you right?" Erina pouted lightly.

"There is? I think." Risa replied rather ambiguously.

---------------------

The night passed by in a blink of the eye. And once again, Risa and Ai was left alone in the Prince room. Both sat at a rather awkward distance away from each other, stealing glances of each other at the same time and looked away shyly when they realised they were caught stealing glances.

"You really don't remember who am I, Ai?" Risa cleared his throat and asked, after long moments of the awkward silence.

"I - I heard from Erina too. . . But sorry. . . I really don't remember who you are. . ." Ai answered softly and quietly.

Silence was returned between them.

"Are - are you going to - to . . . " Ai's soft voice echoed loudly in the quiet room.

"No. . ." Risa had understood Ai's question. He replied quietly as he played with his fingers nervously. "You can take the bed. . . " Risa continued. 'So it's true that she had an amnesia. . .Until the day where she remembers everything, I guess. . .She won't want me anywhere near her. . . ' Risa thought in his mind.

Ai nodded her head lightly at the thoughtfulness Risa had express. 'I thought I should be glad that he had gave me the distance I wanted. . .But. . .Why is it that I do feel a slight tinge of the sadness about that? Erina too had mentioned that we were together. But How? Why? '

Risa stood up from the bed and hugged one of the pillow, before heading towards the couch at the other end of the room. Ai watched Risa's lonely silhouette that were slowly getting out of her vision. 'Why is it that. . . I do want him to stay close and here. . . He didn't have to sleep at the couch, isn't that so?' Ai thought sadly in her mind. Then she realised what her thoughts were. 'Why am I feeling this way?'

'I need to find a way to make her remember. . . ' That was all what Risa thought in his mind, before he fell into a light sleep. 'I need to find a way. . . I won't make this a regret of my life. I won't. . .

SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT!!!

@ kawaii beam : Eh. . .It was Erina who made Ai lost her memory (in a way. . . ) HEHEHE

@ arisa03 : heheheh *smile sheepishly* heheheh Ai will remember, question will be when it will be . . hehe

@ rndmnwierd : Yes, I am evil :) hehehe

@ risa_ai : >.< Thank you for hating me then :D hehehehe nope, it was not a april joke. :)

@ Tchips : Heheehe. . . . :) I'm overbooked with school too :X hahahah. . . .There's no coconut in the land of penguin :X heheheh only got fish ;X

Yes. . .
It took me long. . .
Short chapter. . . but I generally had gist how the next chapter will go, just have to see, if I had the time to type it out or not. . .

de wa, until the next chapter then.

:)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 19- 14th April 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on April 13, 2012, 06:26:39 PM

Prince Gaki is still so swoon worthy, lols. Trying to be the good guy.

So, what will Risa do then? Back to Strawberry?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 19- 14th April 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on April 13, 2012, 06:46:09 PM

Awwww~ Even if Ai doesn't remember her heart does. Awwwww~ Go Ai! Tell Risa sleeping beside you is fine! Lonely Ai-chan ;A; now with that said and all these suffering, Cai-san you owe us smut -/shot

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 19- 14th April 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on April 14, 2012, 03:16:36 AM

Gasp** I lyk cayun-chan now! xD ai can't forget rii!! NOOO! *faints*
P.s. I have no idea why, but I drew a picture of you. xD wanna see?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 19- 14th April 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on April 14, 2012, 01:58:49 PM

I screamed and rolled on the bed like crazy because of you, cai-san! :bleed eyes:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 19- 14th April 2012 ]
Post by: alwaysYou on April 15, 2012, 09:45:22 AM

:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:
Aichan should just tell the prince that she want him to sleep with her!!!!! :lol: :lol:
At least the Prince seem gentleman enough.. XD XD
looking forward on how Gakisan gonna make Aichan remember him :twothumbs

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 19- 14th April 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on May 05, 2012, 05:01:22 PM

[20] - Aika

'What should I do to make her remember?' Risa wondered in his mind as he strolled in his own pace, down the familiar route he had walked down a few days before. The Prince of Penguin had managed to sneak out of the palace before the dawn break the very next morning of his wedding night without letting anyone knowing, due to the fact that most of the people were still in the celebrative mood to even realise the need to guard the prince. With that occupying his mind, Risa absentmindedly strolled down the street, only to be halted in his way when a rather familiar voice echoed into his ears.

"Hey~" The voice called out, echoing through the empty street. Seeing that there was no really any other people on the street, Risa turned around curiously and say a rather familiar looking young girl waving. Risa pointed at himself, wishing to confirm if he was the one she had called out for. "Yes, it's you." The girl reconfirmed.

Risa hesitantly took his steps back. "Do I know you?" Risa asked carefully.

"You don't remember me?" The young lady reverted the question back to Risa. Risa shook his head in the same way, slowly in fear of offending the younger girl. Instead of showing any signs of displeasure, the girl smiled. Instead of introducing herself, she had decided to ask another question. "So, did you manage to make up with your girlfriend?"

Risa had his eyes shot wide open. "It's you?!" Risa pointed straight at Aika, only to realised his rather rude actions and pulled his fingers back to himself right immediately. Aika smiled lightly at the actions. "So. . . What happened again?"

"What happened again?" Risa repeated Aika's question.

"You are strolling down along this road once again, alone, with the same expression on your face. Did your girlfriend . . . " Aika reasoned and stopped when she realised Risa was sighing heavily. "Are you guys still . . ."

Risa forced at bitter smile to Aika. "Yah, we are still together, even more, we are married now."

"That's great!" Aika commented.

"But, she doesn't remember who am I." Risa interrupted and continued, totally silencing the younger girl.

"She don't?" Aika repeated. "What happened?"

"It seems like she had hit her head and lost her memory." Risa explained, not understanding why he was confiding his problems to a stranger he had only met for the second time.

"She lost her memory?" Aika repeated again. Risa nodded his head in reconfirmation. "But you are married to each other?" Aika asked curiously.

"That- is a long story. . ." Risa bit his lower lips, an attempt to run away from that question due to his identity.

Aika, who seemed to understand Risa's situation, decided to follow Risa's flow and quit asking for more details, pulling the conversation to a sudden silence. It lasted for a short moment, until Aika had decided to speak again. "Have you tried hitting where she had hit her head?" Aika suggested suddenly.

"EH?" Risa had his eyes wide open, staring at Aika with unbelievingly.

"It may help as to regain her memory back. . ." Aika continued explaining when she felt Risa's shock expression focusing at her.

Risa giggled a little. 'That's something you shall never try, little girl . . .' Risa thought silently in his mind. Deep down within himself, he could not imagine what would happen to him if he had tried the suggestion, knowing the violent tendencies of his beloved. 'But . . .she had lost her memories, isn't that so? Maybe she won't remember the fact of her violent tendencies. . . ' Yet another thought clouded Risa's mind.

"What are you thinking about?" Aika asked curiously.

"Nothing." Risa shook his head immediately, shaking away the thoughts that were going through his mind.

Aika looked weirdly at Risa's action. Deciding to push away the thought of uncertainty, she reached her hand into her sling pouch and pulled out a small purple pouch. "This is for you. I think they will help you in getting your beloved's memory back." Aika smiled.

"What's that? Medications?" Risa attempted to open the pouch, only to be stopped by Aika.

"Only open it when you are back at your place." Aika advised.

"But why?"

Aika did not respond. Instead, she just smiled weakly at Risa. Without further saying anything, Aika patted Risa's forearm lightly and began to walk away from the Penguin. Risa said nothing too. he just watched Aika slowly moving away from where he stood, until she was totally out of sight.

"Who is she again?" Risa realised. Even though he had remembered her being the one who had gave him the flowers to patch up with Ai, he could not remember her name at all. Not at all. "How did she managed to know so much?" Risa mumbled under his breath.

-------------------------

"Where is him?" Ai mumbled to herself when she realised she was the only one in the room the moment she opened her eyes from her sleep. Looking around at her unfamiliar surroundings, she could not find the slightly taller penguin who claimed that they were together even before the marriage was known. Strolling over towards the wardrobe in huge un-glam steps, Ai pulled the doors open and randomly picked out one outfit to change into. When she was done, she headed straight towards the door. Once she was out of the door, she found herself lost in the maze of the palace. "Where am I?" Ai asked herself. Deciding that she should adventure her way to where her younger sister was, Ai took her first step forward.

"Where's Ai-nee's room?" Ai heard the familiar voice echoing down the hallway. "You better tell me before I report to Penguin saying that you are bullying me." The voice continued.

"But that's - that's not true . . " Came the unfamiliar voice panicking.

"I don't care. You better bring me to Ai-nee's room now. . " The voice of her demanding sister continued. Ai turned herself around and saw Erina, marching at a faster speed right ahead of a younger boy, whom Ai had a slight recollection of seeing him somewhere before.

"Erina." Ai called out immediately, stopping the small argument that was going through between the two teenagers moments ago.

"Ai-nee~" Erina ran up to Ai immediately, pulling herself closely into her sister's chest. "How was your night last night?" Erina asked curiously.

"What do you mean by that?" Ai enquired, not fully understanding her sister's statement.

"Ai-nee, you really doesn't remembers a single thing about Penguin?"

"Penguin? You mean the Prince?" Ai tried to confirmed the identity.

"Yes, when she says Penguin, she meant Prince Gaki. I really don't understand why she has insisted to name Prince Gaki Penguin, Lady Ai." Kanon interrupted as he paid his respect to Ai.

"You are?" Ai asked.

"Suzuki Kanon. Prince personal guard who had been sent over to take care of your sister. . . " Kanon pouted lightly. Pushing back his sourness, he turned his attention back to Ai. "Is Prince Gaki up yet? He's a really bad waker in the morning and it's about time for Prince Gaki and Lady Ai to pay your respect to the King in the throne room." Kanon continued.

"He is?" Ai furrowed her brows. "But he was already up and out of the room when I woke up . . . "

"He is what?"

"Up and out of the room when I woke up." Ai repeated, this time rather monotonously. She never really liked repeating herself. And therefore whenever she was asked to repeat herself, she always had this monotonous tone and an unsatisfied expression on her face.

"Gosh?! You mean Prince Gaki had ran away again?"

"Baka~" That earned Kanon a smack on the back of his head. "Why does Penguin need to run away again when Ai-nee's already in the palace."

"Sorry, I'm late!!" A fourth voice interrupted the group conversation. They all turned their attention up and saw Risa running over towards them. "I'm ready to go." Risa continued. With a weak smile on his lips, he signalled to Ai to hold onto his arm before they make their way to the King's room. And Ai did, in a rather hesitated way. Without giving much warning to the lady, Risa began to drag them forward, knowing the fact that they were running late. And as they did, Ai was pulled straight into a pillar at the corner.

"What are you doing?" Without giving Risa any time to react, a tough smack was slapped on the top of his head.

"Ita-" Risa cried out. That lasted only for a short moment. Instead of feeling of the pain, an unexplainable wave of happiness was aroused within Risa. "Did you remember me, Strawberry?" Risa asked excitedly as he grabbed onto Ai's wrist.

"Is Prince Gaki alright?" Kanon frowned at the abnormal scene before him. "Why isn't him angry at the fact that someone had smacked him at his head. Instead, he looked rather elated about that?" Kanon continued.

"Because that's Ai-nee!" Erina answered ambiguously. With that, she smacked Kanon at his shoulder, signalling him to send her back to the guest room.

"I don't -" Ai replied, causing the smile on Risa's face to fade.

"But - "

"I thought we are running late? Prince?" Ai continued.

'Even though she don't remember who am I . .. But her violence tendencies still stayed.' Risa concluded in his mind. Pulling his arm up to an angle again, Ai crossed her arm with Risa had the two had began to continue on their journey on to the King's room.

"Where have you been in the morning?" Ai asked suddenly, without realising what she was asking.

"Somewhere. . " Was the response from Risa.

Silence stilled in.

"How did you managed to wake up so early? I heard from Kanon that you are bad with morning. . . " Ai asked again.

Risa sighed inwardly when he heard the question. 'I thought you remembered that I'm bad with mornings. . . but it's not. . .It was an information from Kanon. . .' Risa thought sadly in his mind. Taking a deep breath inward, he replied. "I hadn't slept well the night before. So that's why I had managed to wake up so early. . ." Risa answered honestly.

---------------------

After the late morning greeting, the two had bided apart, with Risa saying that he had some chores to handle to. Indeed he had something to attend to. Something really important to him. Which is how to get Ai to remember. When he was alone at the southern wing of the palace, he pulled the pouch given to him by Aika out of his pocket. Pulling the strings apart and reached his fingers into the contents. What he felt was a piece of paper and dozens and dozens of ovoid shaped items. Pulling the paper out, he read two words. "Strawberry Seeds."

"EH?!" Risa grounded out in a deep voice. "What am I supposed to do with these?"

------------------

"You're back?" It was already late at night when Risa returned back to his room. Ai was already in the bed, dressed all up in her nightwear when Risa entered the room.

Risa nodded his head tiredly. He had spent the whole of the afternoon and evening in the southern wing of the palace, looking for the right place where he could plant the seeds. When he did, he was hit with the fact that he knew no other knowledge about growing strawberries. Ai was the expert. So was Erina. But he had no intention to approach any of them to help. Instead, he thought of returning back to the Land of Strawberry and asked the girl who gave him the pouch for help. When he did, reaching the land of Strawberry after the sunset, he could not find the girl at the usual place. And there it went the day of Penguin.

Risa picked up the clothes that were prepared for him and went straight into the bathroom where he took his bath. 15 minutes later, he walked out of the bathroom, hair wet and slightly refreshed. That was when he had realised AI was still at the same position as she was the moment Risa return. "Are you alright?" Risa concerned.

Ai nodded her head lightly.

"If that's the case, let's turn in now? " Risa suggested. Ai nodded her head in response. Smiling lightly, Risa pulled the dry towel over his head and walked towards the couch where he had slept on the night before.

"Ah " Ai called out.

"Yes?"

"It's alright to share the bed . . . If you don't mind. . . ."

"Eh?" Risa felt his jaw dropping. That was totally unexpected. He had not expected that from Ai. "Are you kidding with me?"

Ai shook her head immediately. "You didn't have a good sleep last night, didn't you? It's just sharing the bed. . .you are not going to do anything funny too right?" Ai tried to smile - the first time she ever tried to ever since she had reached the Land of Penguin.

SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT!!!
it has been really busy time for me all these time that I don't even have time to sit down and write properly. I have this week slightly loosen up. So i'll try to update what I can before I get busy at uni again so . .heheheh

@ rndmnwierd : Hahaha. You are right ^.^

@ arisa03 : Hahaha. she did in this chapter. . (in a sense though :) )

@ risa_ai : hahah. I was just playing around with you with the last comment. Don't take that too seriously :) heeheh

@ Shiawase_Honoo : Opps *hides* are you going to do that again? Cos I have a feeling that. . .I did it again :X opps . . .*hides again* LOL

@ alwaysYou : ~~I wrote the wrong nickname again~~ HAHAHA. I bet you are looking forward to the next chapter. I'm the evil one ^.^ lol

Ps: With Aika's sudden graduation annoucement, I had decided to make Aika as one important character in this story, and thus, extended the storyline. . .So. . .I'm guessing this story won't end as when I had expected it to be (before 18 may) which means it would drag even further into my vacation period since exam periods are near. . .so . . .Hmmm. .. yupps. . .heheh

de wa

until the next time then~~~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 20- 5th May 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on May 05, 2012, 06:01:17 PM

Those seeds. I thought Risa would plant them on Ai's neck again >XD Just kidding. ; A; This was an informative update! And Aika's graduation ;____; let me cry ;____; Anyhow, o A o finally an update! How did your exams go? o A o Hopefully they went well x3 And extending until vacation... does it mean more updates?! /shot xD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 20- 5th May 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on May 06, 2012, 04:15:48 AM

<3 <3 aika, ARIGATOU~!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 20- 5th May 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on May 10, 2012, 04:08:02 PM

[21] - House of Penguins (1)

"AH!" Risa cried out loud, to the fact that his cry was echoed down the rather empty hallway except for a few guarding guards through the closed doors. The two guards who were making their routine rounds turned around and glanced at the door where the cry echoed from. They shrugged their shoulders at each other, smiling cheekily after that. "By the look at it, His Majesty is going to be a grandparent really soon. . " Said one to the another. With that, the two guards turned back to their original direction and began to head towards the next destination. Little did they know that the cry from the Young Prince was something else.

"What are you doing?!" Ai panicky grabbed onto the edge of the soft comforter and pulled it close towards the chest as she asked in a rather low voice, looking towards the other end of side of the bed, where the presence of the Prince was not sighted.

"Pain~" Risa groaned in pain in his low voice. Somehow, his butt had found its way onto the ground, with his head hitting against the side tables, rolling over and landed onto the ground.

"What are you doing?" Ai asked again, this time round in a slightly a higher tone. She sat up straight, pulling herself to a slighter higher height as she tried to catch a glimpse of the fallen Penguin.

"Pain . . .. " Risa mumbled to himself as he tried to push his back off the ground. Once he was seated on his backside, he raised his right arm towards the bed, wincing slightly in pain, and pressed his weight on the bed as he leaned against the side of the bed. With his muscles aching from the strenuous work he had done the whole day, this - the kicking of him off the bed - was the last thing he had expected. "What do you mean by what am I doing?" Risa frowned his thick eyebrows together as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Through the narrow openings of his eyelids, he finally observed the protective stance Ai had while seated on the bed.

"To think that I had trusted you when you say you will not do anything funny." Ai flustered.

That sentence made Risa puzzled more. His mind could not register any meaning in Ai's sentence. "Eh?"

"Where were you touching just now?" Ai continued explaining, throwing a pillow towards Risa's face at the same time, causing Risa to fall back onto the ground yet once again.

"Where was I touching?" Risa returned the question, yet to be awakened to the situation.

"You're still asking?" Ai raised a tone higher while her face was running redder.

"I was touching . . . " Risa trailed off as he remembered grabbing something soft in his grip in his sleep. Then he finally realised what had happened. Rushing up back onto his feet, yet another pillow was landed on his face. "I - I - didn't" Risa was muffled by the third pillow that was thrown onto his face while he was trying to explain his unintentional touch.

"Stop explaining. . " Ai blushed, not wanting to remember the incident that had just happened moments before. "I changed my mind. I think you are better off at the couch." Ai continued as she looked straight at Risa's face, only to realise the slight bruising on Risa's right forehead.

"I understand. . .Stop throwing the pillows on me anymore. . ." Risa agreed on without having a second thought. He bent over and picked up the pillows, throwing one back onto the bed before carrying two of them back with him to the other side of the room where the couch was situated. "I - I - really didn't mean to " Risa articulated across the room. "Touch" was said in a really soft tone, before he continued with the same level "You." "I'm sorry." Risa quickly added.

On the other side, Ai remained silent. 'Why is that scar on the right forehead looks so familiar? It seems like I had seen it before somewhere somehow, on this face . . .'

------------------------------

When morning comes the next morning, Ai woke up again, yet being alone in the room. Risa was gone from the room by the time Ai had woke up. Following her actions from yesterday, she changed out of her sleeping outfit and headed out of the room, this time towards the different direction that had brought her to the west wing garden. She sat on one of the benches and began to stare into space, until a pair of soft lips attacked hers that she had finally woke up from her daze.

"Who was it?" Ai snapped out of her daze and aimed her arm straight towards her attacker.

"Kyaa~" Came a rather high pitched scream as the hit was made.

"Who are you?" Ai stared at the black haired lady seated right before her on the ground with her signature wide eyes. Judging from her wear, her attacker was someone high up on the hierarchy rank. Reaching one of her hands that was once crossed across her chest forward, Ai helped the black hair lady up onto her feet.

"That was unexpected." Came the returned greeting.

Ai smiled sheepishly as she rubbed the back of her head shyly. "I'm sorry. . ."

"It's alright. . It my fault to attack you in that way too in the first place." The black haired beauty responded. "You have really soft lips, do you know that? I bet Gaki-nii was enjoying his way around your lips all these nights." She continued. That sentence made Ai blushed like crazy.

Uncertainly, Ai cleared her throat and asked the question she had wanted to ask ever since the start. "May I know you are?" Ai asked shyly.

The black haired lady pulled her face close to Ai's, causing Ai to pull back hers in surprise. She smiled at Ai's reaction. "You don't remember who am I? You should have seen me at the ball the night before."

"I should?"

"Sayumi, Prince Gaki younger sister." Sayumi introduced herself shortly interrupting into Ai's own uncertainty of memory and took this chance yet again to steal a kiss of Ai's lips again.

Ai jumped away from Sayumi right away yet again. She pulled her left hand to her mouth and cover her lips.

"Just as I thought, soft and sweet." Sayumi teased. "Gaki-nii is really a bad kisser, isn't him?"

--------------------------

"Thank you for coming here today." Risa thanked Aika, who was squatted on the ground, checking out the spouts that were growing out of the soil already.

"You are welcome. It's my pleasure to help." Aika replied politely and the conversation went in quiet again. "It's kind of unexpected of your identity though, Prince of Penguin. . ."

"Don't be that formal with me, Aika. I owe you a big time, Just call me Risa, if you are comfortable."

"Sure, Risa shall it be."

------------------------

"Do you know where your brother is?" Ai asked Sayumi who had now sat down right beside her.

"Hmmm. Probably this time. . .In the court room with Father? "Sayumi replied while staring up into the sky. "Why did you ask that? Shouldn't you be more sure about Gaki-nii's whereabouts than I do?" Sayumi turned back to face Ai and winked.

Ai shrugged her shoulders in response. "He's always gone before I woke up. . " Ai answered honestly.

"Ah. . .I see. . . Missing Gaki-nii?" Sayumi pressed herself close to Ai once again.

"Not - not really. . ." Ai squirmed uncomfortable at the close distance.

"Sayu! What are you doing?!" A rather familiar voice echoed over, saving Ai from the hands of Sayumi. Ai jumped out of her seat immediately and went straight behind Risa instinctively.

"I was just helping Nii you to accompany your wife when you are busy at work." Sayumi answered playfully. She stood up as well and went towards where the couple was. "Ai-nee's lips are really soft. . .Nii, you love them too right? Sayu likes them too."

"What had you done, Sayu?" Risa narrowed his eyes at his younger sister rather sternly.

Sayumi closed herself towards Risa's ears, bending herself towards Risa's height. "I'm had help to train Ai-nee to be a better kisser for you, Nii." Sayumi giggled in a devilish playful way. Risa shot his eyes wide open upon hearing that. Before he could react properly, Sayumi had already made her way away, saving her herself from Risa's nagging reprimanding. Realising Sayumi was gone, Risa turned back to Ai, with an apologetic expression on his face.

"I'm sorry for Sayu's action. She's a bit. . .weird." Risa apologised.

"It's alright. . . She's interesting too. . .though a little too scary too." Ai admitted.

"Let's go over to the dining room together, shall we?" Risa suggested. Ai nodded in agreement, only to find spots of dirt on Risa's sleeves.

"Your sleeves. . ." Ai pointed out to Risa.

"Ah- "

"How did you get them there?" Experiences from working in fields for most of her life had told Ai that it was from a certain type of fertile soil that was found only in the land of Strawberry.

"That - I guess I had brushed against the plant in the work room this afternoon. I'll get it change before going to the dining room. . .Would you like to wait here for me?"

Ai nodded her head lightly. As Risa turned away, a scent of sweet smell rushed passed Ai's nose. 'What's that smell?' Ai thought. Sourness took over. 'Why is it that. . .I do have a feeling that he was lying to me?'

hehehe part 1.
@ arisa03 : Nope, my exams are not over yet. They are coming in a months time. It's the assignments that kills. Hahaha. If you had read through enough, I have very bad productivity during vacations :X lol. hehehe. not sure when will this end. . . but yupps. soon I can say. . .hehehe. prob before june arrives i guess. :) heheh

de wa, until the next time then :)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 21- 11th May 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on May 10, 2012, 05:20:38 PM

; A ; Exams! They are so evil. ;___; ASSIGNMENTS TOO! THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE EXISTED! ;__________________________; Anyhow kalsjdaslkdsa SAYU YOU PERVERT LOLOLOL. xD Forever Kissing Ai-chan. xD And awww Risa lying to Ai-chan, the wife is now wary of his whereabouts. Ai-chan remember alreaadyyyy ;________; Although please do enjoy your vacation, and and, I can't wait for Part 2! x3!!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 21- 11th May 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 10, 2012, 08:07:05 PM

Ah, things are so awkward between them now~! Just when I thought they would get a good routine going, Risa had to get all grabby grabby.

And Sayu! Man, she got off easy with only one hit, even Risa does less to provoke attack.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 21- 11th May 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on May 11, 2012, 12:00:23 PM

NYAA~! Ai's remembering~ >w< I'M SO HAPPY!! Updates! Lovely, fluffy, updates~! ^^

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 21- 11th May 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on May 21, 2012, 02:37:18 PM

[22] - House of Penguins (2)

"He's gone again." That was the first sentence Ai mumbled when she woke up. It had been months since their marriage and Ai had always awaken up with Risa already out of room. The next time she would see her in the very same day would be roughly an hour before the usual dinner time at the Royal Dining Hall. Dejectedly, Ai dangled her legs off the gigantic bed and got onto her feet

'I really wonder if he is that busy or not. . .' Ai thought sadly in her mind. 'Why am I even feeling sad in the first place ? Isn't him just someone I'm dread to be married to all these while? ' Ai continued wondering in her mind. She pouted sadly, to no one in particular as she changed herself out of her sleeping outfit and began her adventure out around the palace along. That was how she had spent all her time all these while. She thought that Erina would be a perfect accompany when the Penguin was seemingly busy with his life, but it was the total opposite. Apparently Erina had found herself busy with Kanon, with the former leisurely torturing the latter with her common smacks on the younger's head.

And her wandering this day brought her to the southern gardens for the first time in the past three months. She had decided that she should avoid the west wing of the palace as possible as she could, due to the Penguin princess who had always aimed to catch her off guarded by stealing kisses off her lips. Though she thought that the princess was weird, she couldn't help but to enjoy the little attention the younger had tried to give, given the fact that the older brother, her named husband, seemed to have no time to keep her accompany in anyway.

'Ah~~ The air smells fresh!!' Ai thought in her mind as she took in a deep breath. A slow after smell filled her nose cavity which triggered a sense of familiarity within Ai. 'The smell of strawberry plant!' The revelation grew. She set her sight afar and saw a little piece of green field, with tinges of redness embedded within them.

"Strawberry? They have strawberry over here?" Ai mumbled to herself as she paced herself forward at a faster speed. "I never knew they had strawberries here. Kanon lied." Ai continued mumbling. She squatted down onto the ground, pulling her long dress slightly to the side to keep them out of the way as she plucked one of the fruit off the flimsy stem and brought it up to her nose, giving the first a little sniff. "Ah, it smells like the ones I really liked." Ai chipped excitedly to no one in particular. Giving the fruit a little wipe on her garment, Ai brought it back up to her face again, this time round aiming for the mouth, with the intention to taste the fruit, only to be stopped in her actions by her nearby conversation she heard.

"Aika, be careful!"

The familiarity of the voice caused Ai's ears to perk up. Slowly and smoothly, she got up back onto her feet without much difficulty and saw Risa standing roughly 10 metres away from where she stood, supporting a younger girl by her waist with one of his hand and another at her wrist, with his face really close to the younger girls face.

"That was near. Are you alright?" Risa concerned as they maintained the position, eyes locking slightly.

Aika said nothing at first. Instead, she just nodded her head in acknowledgement and wriggled her wrist out of Risa's protective grip. "I tripped on the branch." Aika explained. She pulled her weight away from Risa as she tried to stand on the own, only to stumble again.

"Be careful!" Risa called out. "You are still recovering from that ankle sprain you had last week. " Risa continued. "I shouldn't have asked you in today." Risa finished as he talked to himself.

"I'm all fine, Prince Gaki." Aika replied shyly.

Risa made sure that Aika was standing all firm on the ground before releasing his protective stance around Aika. After which, he shifted his attention ahead only to find something soft hard landing straight at his forehead, followed by a slight splatter and dripping of a pinkish red fluid down that forehead. "A - i?" Risa stuttered.

"So I see. . . This is what you have been busy with, Prince Gaki." Ai articulated rather mercilessly. Without giving Risa a second chance to explain for himself, Ai swift the long ends of her dress aside and turned around before stomping her way away from the garden fields. The initial stomps turned fast, with Ai breaking into a sprint when she reached the polished hallway of the palaces, pulling herself further away from the southern garden.

"Ai!" Risa called out loud and wanted to chase after her, only to be halted in motions by Aika.

"Prince Gaki, you are bleeding!" Aika cried out.

Risa wiped away the sticky red liquid on his forehead with the back of his hands. "It's not blood. . . It's strawberry juice." Risa revaluate silently. "She- she threw strawberry at me. . . " Risa mumbled under his breath. 'She actually threw her favourite fruit at me. . .. She . . . Must be really upset isn't that so? Would that mean that . . . she remembers? ' Risa realised. Once again, he took his stance, with a black bag tied onto his buckle, and began his dash ahead to chase after Ai.

"Wish you good luck, Prince Gaki." Aika smiled gently as she watched the figure of Risa gradually disappeared. 'Please give nee-san happiness and everything she deserve.'

-------

'Why am I so angry and agitated?' Ai wondered to herself after she had calmed herself down at a isolated corner of the place she had discovered weeks ago. 'Why am I feeling so sour when I saw that stupid Penguin holding that girl by her waist?' Ai continued in her mind before realising something really family. 'Wait a minute, what had I just called Prince Gaki by in my mind just moments ago? ' Ai thought weirdly in her mind. 'ARGH!' Ai groaned inwardly as she ruffled her hair up into a mess.

"What are you doing alone here?" A clear charming voice echoed from Ai's back, catching Ai off guard as she jumped up in surprise. She turned around swiftly, and saw a young, tall, charming gentleman standing right behind her. He had his long hair tied up in a low ponytail, his hand crossed slightly behind his back as he bowed lightly, politely.

"Who are you?" Ai blurted out without much consideration.

"Maki." Maki simply introduced himself. He paced himself slowly and settled himself on the seat beside Ai politely before continuing. "Mame's older brother."

"Mame?" Ai enquired as she tilted her head slightly.

"Risa." Maki explained shortly, only to receive the same puzzled expression from Ai. "Prince Gaki." Maki explained again, this time round with a term more commonly used by people around the palace.

"Ah- I see . . ." Ai finally understood. She turned her head back and stared straight into the empty space ahead.

"What are you doing alone over here?" Maki asked again.

Ai shook her head stubbornly, refusing to explain the reason for her solitude. She set her sight ahead and kept her mouth hummed.

"Did Mame bully you?" Maki continued concerning as he patted the top of Ai's head lightly, as an act of consolidation.

Ai shook her head lightly in response as she took in a deep breath.

"Angry at Mame for not spending time to accompany you?" Maki continued suggesting, only to receive the same response from Ai once again. Realising that Ai was not willing to talk at all, Maki had decided to remain silent. He sat a little more closer to Ai and decided to just sit silently beside the younger girl, as a form of accompany.

It was until about 10 minutes later that Ai had decided to moisten her lips and begin talking. "I - I'm lost." Ai started off quietly.

"Lost about?"

"Everyone has been telling me that I had knew Prince Gaki and was in a relationship with him before I came into the palace. . ." Ai continued.

"Who's everyone?" Maki asked.

"Erina. . . and Prince Gaki. " Ai answered shortly.

"Ah. . . "

"But. . . I couldn't remember a single thing. Not at all. . . " Ai continued. 'And now, that. He must be lying to me all these while for which we are a couple. Why am I feeling jealousy anyway?' Ai thought in her mind as her vision blurred.

"Don't cry. . ." Maki consoled, causing Ai to tense up a little. She never liked people seeing her tears. Pulling up a strong front, Ai argued.

"I'm not crying. It's just that some sand had managed to get its way into my eyes."

"Really?" Maki leaned in even closer and held the younger girl by her face. "Let me see." With that, Maki leaned into Ai's face as he checked Ai's eyes.

It was so close that Ai could feel Maki's breath on the soft skin of her cheeks. But her heart was not racing. Instead, fear grew. An unexplainable sense of fear. She could feel Maki blowing lightly at her tear stained eyes, as an attempted to remove the said sand from them. 'Why am I feeling like I shouldn't be in this position with another guy?' Ai wondered silently in her mind as she hoped to close her eyes, but failed as the fingers at the corner of her eyes kept them open.

Before Ai knew it, she felt a pair of strong grip on her right hand that was placed behind her back pulling her away from Maki, towards the back of the force. "What are you doing? Nii-sama? Trying to kiss MY strawberry?" Risa shouted. "Don't tell me that you are just helping me to train Strawberry to be a better kisser like what Sayu told me." Risa continued mockingly, still refusing to buy the story his younger sister had gave for the constant kiss attack on Ai.

"My Strawberry?" Ai huffed silently under her breath. The very sentence triggered a precious memory from the bottom of her mind. The memory of her giving Risa his birthday surprise by spending the day out at the mountains. Staring straight at Risa's back view, Ai's eyes shimmered as her voice trembled. "Penguin." Ai whispered.

But that remained unheard by Risa. He was too involved in the conversation with Maki that he had failed to hear Ai's mumbling.

"Why are you thinking in that way, Mame." Maki tried to calm his younger brother down. "Ai said that she had gotten sand into her eyes. I was just trying to help her to remove them." Maki explained.

"For real?" Risa toned down his rude tone.

"That's right." Maki reassured as he patted on Risa's head. "You should have make more time free to spend with your wife, Mame. I heard from Sayu that she had always seen Ai sitting alone at different parts of the palace, staring blankly into the space. I know it's busy to deal with the throne, but, don't forget about your wife. Don't make whatever that had happened to me happen to you. . ." Maki advised. With that, he patted Risa's head once again before he made his way away from the couple.

When Maki was absolutely out of sight, Risa turned around and came face to face with Ai for the first time in the day, only to find light shimmering brightly at her eyes. It was the reflectance of the sunlight against the tears that had formed in Ai's eyes once again. "Don't cry. . ." Risa hushed as he brought up his right fingers and wiped away the tears that are now cascading down Ai's cheeks. "I'm sorry." Risa apologised. "But I hope that you do not get the wrong idea about me and Aika. She's just my helper for my surprise for you."

"Surprise?" Ai asked in a high nasal tone.

"This." Risa unhooked the black bag from his buckle and presented it to Ai. "I know you have been missing eating strawberries a lot. And I know it's difficult to bring them into the palace from the Land of Strawberry. So Aika had gave me a bag of strawberry seeds, in an attempt as a plan to make you remember the past. But after working hard in the gardens for the past 3 months, I realised something really important. It doesn't matters if you remember me or not. We will still be together, even if you can't remember our relationship from the past. Why not let's just start anew, starting a fresh on a new page, writing new milestones together?" Risa confessed.

The tears that grew intensified. She had remembered. She had remembered her penguin. The sweetness, the heartbreak, and can only be grateful that the Prince she was destinated to marry to was indeed the one and only penguin she had love. Yet the whole confession Risa had just presented to her right now is bringing her emotions high up to another level. 'Let's start anew, erasing the heartache that had once happened.' Ai concluded in her mind. And therefore, she had decided to pretend she still could not remember Risa at all, and had only began to accept Risa a little bit by little bit due to the proposition Risa had just gave. With that, Ai nodded her head once.

A childish smile escaped from Risa's lips. He revealed the black bag open and urged Ai to take one of the strawberry. Ai did. She placed the strawberry in her mouth, only to cry out, "Ah! It's so sweet! I miss this taste!" Ai took the black bag over from Risa and sat down on her previous seat, beginning to much on her favourite fruit bit by bit. Remembering that she was suppose to not remember anything about Penguin, she offered the bag to Risa. "Do you want 1?"

Risa hesitated. Not wanting to disappoint Ai, Risa accepted the offer. Picking one red strawberry from the bag, Risa gave the fruit a little bite, only to be awe by the sourness he tasted on his tastebud.

"It's sweet, isn't that so?" Ai chipped excitedly.

"It's sour." Risa honestly replied.

"Eh? Really?" Ai took the remaining of the strawberry from Risa and popped it into her mouth. "Nah, that's sweet." Ai concluded as she chewed up the strawberry into pieces.

Risa stared blankly at Ai's action, shocked that the strawberry girl had made no hesitation and ate the strawberry he had just bitten on.

"Do you want to have another try ?" Ai asked, still chewing on the piece as she offered the black bag to Risa once again.

'The only sweet strawberry I had ever tasted, was the ones you had fed me through your mouth, Strawberry. . .So if I were to eat strawberry again. . . It has to be through your mouth.' Risa thought silently in his mind as he shook his head hesitantly.

Yet before he knew it away, he felt Ai's lips pressing softly on his. The aroma, the sweetness of the strawberry filled his mouth. "It's sweet, isn't that so?" Ai giggled as she pulled her lips away from Risa.

"You - you remembered?" Risa stuttered.

Ai shook her head lightly. "It's just my thank you for your effort to grow the strawberries." Ai grinned. With that, she stood up back onto her feet and took a few steps forward, leaving Risa sitting alone, frozen on stop. "I'm going to share the good news with Erina." Ai continued, shaking the black bag she held on her right hand. "I will see you at the Royal Dining Room at 6, Prince Gaki." Ai finished. With that, Ai skipped away from Risa, slightly exhilarated about the kiss she had just gave Risa.

"I guess, she really don't? Since she's calling me Prince Gaki?" Risa concluded to himself. 'But it's alright. .. because like what I had said, whether or not she remembers, it doesn't matter at all. . .Let's all start the courtship right from the start!'

Part 2 is here! :) heheh

Took me longer than expected. Was really busy and was away during the weekend, so. . .yupps :) heheheh

@ arisa03 : yupps i agree. . .=X

@ rndmnwierd : well, they are back on terms again. . . Well, Ai's hit is for the one she love :) hehehe

@ risa_ai : hehehehe. yupps.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 22- 21st May 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on May 21, 2012, 04:39:00 PM

Aww.........You are so awesome, cai-san!!!! :love:
Maybe the table would be destroyed if I keep read this chap. :bow:
Anyway, about my Aika...
Is she has anything about blood-related with Ai-chan :?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 22- 21st May 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 21, 2012, 06:15:16 PM

Ai finally discovers Gaki's little surprise! And ends up jealous, of course XD

Unexpectedly, Maki makes an appearance and Ai remembers.... but chooses not to say anything.

So, let the new beginnings commence!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 22- 21st May 2012 ]
Post by: xyukie56 on May 22, 2012, 02:49:41 AM

This isn't the end, right? XD :sweatdrop:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 22- 21st May 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on May 22, 2012, 11:37:51 AM

LOVE YEH SO MUCH~!!!!! So sweet. <3 I want a sweeter next chapter. XD SAIKOU~!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 22- 21st May 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on May 24, 2012, 01:40:00 PM

Cai-san! klajsdsklad and LOLOL AI-CHAN DON'T TROLL.

But although, I do think that she will slip up a "Penguin" somewhere anyway. xD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 22- 21st May 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on June 03, 2012, 03:52:31 PM

[23] - Strawberries

"Ohayo!" Risa heard faintly in his dreams. He turned around on the uncomfortable couch and snuggled into the cushion of the backrest, brushing the soft wakeup call away at the back of his mind. Just as he thought it was just a part of his dream, the voice rang again. "Ohayo!" This was way louder than the previous time. He shifted back to his original position, with his eyes still closed. "Ohayo~" The third greeting was slightly softer than the second call. Though that, it was way much more gentler too. Risa could fell a soft breath really close to his ears. That's sent a soft tickle down his spine, causing Risa to struggle his eyes open.

"Hmmm?" Risa whined tiredly as a pout grew on his face. And right before his eyes, was Ai, kneeling beside the couch, with her face pulled close to his.

"Ohayo!" Ai greeted again with a sly smile at the corner of her lips.

"Woah!" Risa sat up in astonishment at the close proximity Ai was to him, only to slam his head at the forehead next to his."Ita." Risa winced in pain as he rubbed forehead.

"Ouch!"Came a lower voice than his. Risa turned his head around, only to find Ai, now seated on her ankles, rubbing her forehead gently, send a deadful stare at the Penguin. With that, Ai stood up back onto knees and swung her hand at Risa's head. "That hurts, you know! To think I had took the intention to wake you up for your morning courts." Ai grumbled slightly.

"Itai~" Risa winced in more pain as he hugged his head with his hands, hiding his head away from Ai's further attack.

"I'm leaving you as you are." Ai informed as she walked away.

"Ah. . . " Risa whined quietly as he watched Ai paced away. "Ohayo. . . "He greeted quietly under his breath, pouting lightly as he did so. Ever since that day at the garden where I confessed to her again, she has been acting really violent to me. . .Just like how she was back in the days. . .Could it be that she remembers? But it could be that since the confession, she had began to loosen up before me, explaining the current violence? It's not like she has been gentle to me before the confession. . . Risa thought silently in his mind.

------

"Ohayo!" Ai greeted gently as she walked into mini strawberry field of the palace. There in the field squatted Aika, who was working her way to harvest the rest of the ripe strawberries.

"Ah, Ohayo." Aika shoot up to her feet immediately, in surprise at the sudden visitor.

"Do you need some help over here?" Ai offered as she tilted her head slightly, shining her gently smile to the younger girl.

"Ah-" Before Aika could reply a no, Ai had already prepared herself for the work by pulling her sleeves up squatted beside Aika stood.

"I used to do all these work too. . ."Ai added on afterwards as she pulled the fruit off the stalk. wiping the fruit lightly on her dress, Ai popped it into her mouth. "Sweet."

"Yupps, they are definitely sweet." Aika tried to make herself slightly comfortable by agreeing to Ai's sentence and got herself back to work.

"You're are from the Land of Strawberry?" Ai tried to start a conversation with the younger girl.

Aika made no verbal response. Instead, she just nodded her head lightly to Ai's question.

"I thought so too. . .You look a little familiar to me too." Ai blurted out, without realising what she was saying.

That caught Aika's attention. "You remembered?"

"Eh, Ah, I -" Ai stuttered.

Aika giggled lightly. That made Ai smile a little.

------

Risa walked into the Royal Dining Room, only to catch Sayumi stealing a kiss off Ai's lips again. "Sayumi, what are you doing again?" Risa grumbled unhappily as he stomped his way towards the two and pulled Ai away from Sayumi.

"Nothing." Sayumi smiled, which irked Risa to a greater extend.

------

"Ne" Ai called out towards the Penguin, who was preparing his bed at the couch for the night.

"Hmmm?" Risa turned over causally and glanced over at Ai, who was kneeling on the bed, seated at her ankles.

"Wanna share a kiss?" Ai suggested, catching Risa totally off guarded.

"Eh?" Risa had his mouth dropped open.

Ai continued her grin, never ever breaking her eye contact with Risa.

After long moments of silence, Risa nodded his head to the suggestion .

" Too late! Time up!" Ai teased, sending Risa onto the ground, on his feet.

"Eh?" Risa's lips dropped open even wider.

That sent Ai to her giggling fit, just by watching the expression on the penguin's face.

"Why?" Risa mumbled under his breath. He could not understand the reason for Ai's sudden actions. She had never been so open about kissing, let alone to tease the poor penguin with the issue.

"You were the one who suggested that we should start all over again, weren't you? But you are not making any move, Prince Gaki." Ai answered, as if she could hear his soft mumble.

"Eh? You mean I could make some moves?" Risa stuttered in revelation.

"I wonder. . . " Ai looked up onto the ceiling of the room as she pouted her lips like a young child. She could not deny the fact that she was missing the intimacy she one shared with the penguin. Yet, playing with her game, she could not admit the fact right before the penguin. And that led to her current interaction with Risa.

"You mean for real?" Risa ran over to bed, just like how a baby penguin does, and lunged forward, with his upper torso landing onto the bed and lower torso remaining on the ground.

Ai pouted lightly, with a slight grin running at her lips.

"Really?"

The grin did not leave Ai face. Risa pulled his face close to Ai's face. Ai did not back away. Instead, she remained at her position. She could no longer contain her giggle. Taking that a sign for okay, Risa climbed himself onto the bed and right before Ai. Holding onto Ai's wrist gently, Risa leaned forward. Ai closed eyes, and waited for the contact she had longed for.

Though the contact was what she had longed for, she could not help but to smack the poor penguin at the head yet once again, when it had continued for a long time. "I can't breathe, Baka!" That was accompanied with the hit.

"I didn't do that on purpose." Risa quickly explained.

Ai narrowed her eyes lightly at Risa. "I hate to say this. . . But. . . Sayu really is a better kisser than you are. . . "

"Eh?! USO!"

Okay, After writing this, I realised its quite meaningless ;X prob just a short filler chapter until the next one.
This would be the last for SP until my exams ends. I'm intending to do one each for each story I'm writing right now. . . so that I won't leave the story hanging not updated for too long a period of time :) heheheh so yupps :)

@ Shiawase_Honoo : hehehe . I hope you won't destroy your table again with this chapter?? hahah. About Aika. . .that's a . .. :) read to find out :)

@ rndmnwierd : hahahah. yupps. jealously made her remember :) isn't that good enough :) hehehe

@ xyukie56 : Nope, it's not the end yet :)

@ risa_ai : you want it, you got it ^.^

@ arisa03 : hahahha. It would be more fun to read with a trolling Ai :) heheheh *smiles evily* hahahaha. I wonder :)

Hopefully you will enjoy this chapter. I wrote it with a stupid smile that had never left my face all these while, so . . .hehehehe

de wa, until the next time ^.^

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 23- 3rd June 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on June 03, 2012, 03:56:26 PM

Ichigo penguin da~i~su~ki!! ^^ exams are important, so if you can't update, don't rush! ^^ i'm contented with this chapter already~ i'll wait, ne?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 23- 3rd June 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on June 03, 2012, 04:32:00 PM

Since I started reading your stories (Since S E A R CH) there are days I go, "I think Cai-san would update today." and you certainly would. Today is one of those. >XD I think I'm becoming a Cai-san psychic or something.

~~I haven't read it >_<! I'll edit this later o A o Or comment again if I forget about this comment. xD~~

EDIT:
LOLOLOLOLOL. LOOOOOOOOL Ai-chan you troll. That was too much. wait for the day Risa just push you down on that large bed, and have his way on you. LOLOLOL. /shot

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 23- 3rd June 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on June 03, 2012, 05:48:34 PM

I was reading this while I was drawing Kuduu in Heian period's man outfit.
Then I had to stop whatever I was doing.
You made me want to freeze myself in the fridge because I was melt by the heat of love :wub: :deco:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 23- 3rd June 2012 ]
Post by: maikeatoot on June 04, 2012, 09:27:10 AM

hi Im new here!i really like your story caiyunki!!!!! specially Strawberry Penguin!!i cant stop myself from grinning( my face hurts) everytime i read this!!!!! :D :thumbup

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 23- 3rd June 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 04, 2012, 12:33:02 PM

So now Ai is just trolling Risa XD It's cute to imagine. Hope they really start to get somewhere soon

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 23- 3rd June 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on June 28, 2012, 10:57:28 AM

[24] - first date ?

Risa stirred slightly in his sleep as he felt a pair of hands tightening around his waist. He struggled to have his eyes open, and saw Ai pressing her face close towards his left shoulder, serenity filled within the atmosphere as her eyes were closed, sleep and sound. 'Am I dreaming?' That was what floated in Risa mind as he registered the face of the sleeping strawberry before his eyes. Memories from past where he kicked off the bed when he had unintentionally touched the strawberry in his sleep at night came flashing back into his minds as the thought grew. He shivered a little, as he felt the pain came accompanying with the said memory. That little action stirred Ai slightly awake from her sleep.

"Hmm? You're awake? Pen-" Ai articulated incoherently through her tired voice, coming into a mumbled ending as she snuggled back into Risa's shoulder.

"Hmmm?" Risa's eyes shot wide apart, awaking from his transition state of waking up to a wide alert state. He swift his head towards his side roughly, jerking his shoulders up and knocked painfully onto Ai's temples, waking the older girl up roughly . That was rough enough to earn him a faithful smack on the top of his forehead when the older girl up from her sleeping position and rubbed her temples gently to ease the slightly swelling.

"What was that for, pen- Prince Gaki?!" Ai grunted angrily, after have had to be woken up in an abrupt manner. She shot her deadly glare at the younger prince, making sure that the prince hand felt the threatening she placed in her voice to cover her mistake of blurting the nickname of Risa.

"That- I - That -" And indeed, Ai had achieved what she had expected. Risa had sank into his state of anxiety, stumbling onto his tongue as he tried to find an explanation for Ai's demand. "I - I - " Risa fumbled again.

Staring at Risa's apprehension, Ai giggled. 'He always like that when he's nervous. That's so cute of him. . . ' The sight of the bashful Risa reminded Ai of the day where Risa had burst out of his usually accommodating self to Ai's interrogation that had lead him to his confession.

"H-m-m-m?" Risa's hum raised half a tone as tilted his head lightly, not being able to understand the reason for Ai's giggles.

"Nothing." Ai bit her lower lips after she replied shortly, knowing that her actions would lead to Risa's realisation of her having had remembering the past memories. She crawled over to the edge of the bed and hung her legs off, getting off the bed in a swift action. "I'm washing up first." She continued before disappearing behind the shaded doors.

"Eh?" Risa had not woken up from the events that had just happened. "Wha- what was wrong with her?" Before his mind could return back to his initial realisation, Ai had returned back into the room.

"I'm done, it's your turn now, Prince Gaki." Ai informed.

"Oh- " Risa crammed off the bed when Ai re-entered back to his vision. "I - I " Without saying much more, Risa made his way swiftly towards the room Ai came from, ensuring that he had kept a distance away from Ai as he did so as he feared more violent acts from Ai. When he was all alone in the changing room, he calmed down and recollected the short events that had happened earlier before. 'She did call me Pen just now, isn't that so?' Risa reflected silently in his mind. 'Could it be that. . . . Risa continued in his mind. 'She said that. . . she had not remembered anything from the past. . . . nothing from the past. . . ' Risa thought absentmindedly as he slipped out of his sleepwear and into the better clothing. 'But - '

-------

"Why are we out here today?" Ai curiously asked as she looked over to Risa, who was standing approximately 3 feet away from her left, in synchronised as they walked down the busy market place of the Land of Penguin.

"I - I thought you are bored of staying in the palace all these while." Risa replied softly to Ai's question. "And you haven't been around to the places around the land of penguin. . . That's why I thought. . . "Risa swallowed the rest of his words.

"Really?" Ai excited in a high tone. Risa made no verbal response. He nodded his head lightly as a form of affirmation to Ai's excitement. Ai glanced over to where Risa stood before looking down at her fingers again. 'He's weird today. . . Why is he so shy today? That's so not the penguin that I had knew. . . ' Ai reflected silently in her mind.

"Hey! look at this!" Risa's thrilled voice caught Ai off her thoughts and directed her attention to where Risa stood previously, only to find the younger male no longer at where he previously stood. Ai set her eyes afar, and saw Risa way ahead of her, stopping before a shallow tank of water. Ai hurried her steps forward to where Risa was. "I bet you have not seen these before."

"What was it?" Ai asked before turning her eyes towards the tank, only to get herself shock by the contents of it. "WUAH! WHAT'S THAT?!" Ai retorted in her low voice as she backed away, hiding herself behind Risa's slightly taller stature.

"Eh?" Risa turned his head around a couple of times, trying to catch a glimpse of the panicking strawberry, but had failed to do so when Ai kept moving against the direction Risa directed his head to. "That's the snake fish." Risa replied calmly, still not understanding the reason for Ai's panic.

"Snake? Take that away from me!" Ai screamed again, this time round in a higher tone.

"That's not snake. That's snake fish." Risa corrected. He reached his hands backward and grabbed Ai by her wrist, immobilising her actions before pulling the older girl back to his side.

"Whatever it is, it's still snake! There's no way I am going to get near to it!" Ai tried to rebel, but was held firmly in position by Risa by the grip on her wrist.

A playful smile ran wide across Risa's face. "I never knew you were afraid of such things. . . " Risa commented.

"What-" That sentence made Ai tensed up. She was uncomfortable in having someone to find out her weaknesses, especially when she had spent her years trying to build up the image of a women who feared nothing, and has the same ability as most man do.

"I never knew you were afraid of such things. . ." Risa repeated again, with the intention to tease Ai after reading her reaction to the previous time he made the same sentence.

"Who said that I'm afraid." Ai bit on stubbornly as she pulled her hand away from Risa and crossed her arm across her chest.

"Really?" A cheeky smile ran across Risa's face.

"For real." Ai insisted.

"Then touch it." Risa challenged.

"Touch it then." Ai accepted the challenged before she could have a second thought about the challenge.

It was Risa's turn to cross his arm across his chest as he waited for Ai to fulfil the challenge. Ai, on the other hand, took baby steps closer towards the shallow tank. Hesitantly, she reached her hand out and towards the surface of the water. 'Come on Ai, you can do this!' Ai urged herself inwardly. She brought her hand down slowly nearer towards the surface of water and hung it over there. 'Come on, Ai! Ai urged herself once again before bringing her hand down into the water. Before she had even touched the surface of the said snake fish, she pulled her hand out immediately, letting off her famous man scream and splashed some bits of the water onto Risa, drenching the young prince at one awkward position.

"I - " Ai tried to explain for herself, that her previous action was not out of fear but accidental. But before she could even do so, Risa wrapped his smaller hands onto Ai's larger ones and held onto it tightly.

"I'm with you, so there's no need for any fear." Risa reassured. With that, he pulled Ai's hand deep into the shallow water and guided Ai to fulfil the said challenge. Once touch, Risa released his grip. "See, you've did it!" Risa praised. That was when Ai had realised Risa's hand had already left the water and she was contacting onto the slimy surface of the said creature all by herself. Ai drew her hands out in panic, screamed, and splattered water on Risa yet once again, this time on his face. "Mou!" Ai grunted playfully as she pouted.

---------

"Do you remember this place?" Risa asked as he held on tightly onto Ai's palm as he stopped before a rather rundown building.

"Hmmm?"Ai look weirdly at Risa before turning over to the said rundown building mentioned by Risa. It took her a second to notice the tattered name tag at the side of the gates. Ai shivered at the sight. "No." Ai tightened her grip on Risa's hand. She attempted to make her turn away, only to be pulled back by Risa.

"What's wrong?" Risa concerned obliviously as he did not know the reason for Ai's such reaction.

"Nothing. Let's go." Ai urged Risa. However Risa did not comply. Instead, he stood firm.

"What's wrong?" Risa concerned again, in his yet gentle voice once again. "I heard from Hitomi that this is the old mansion of your father and -"

Before Risa could finish his sentence, Ai interrupted. "Stop. I don't want to hear anything." Ai mumbled in a low voice. She wriggled her hand out of Risa's and took a few steps away from the mansion. "I want to go back. . . " With that, Ai began to brisk her way back the way they came from.

"Wait a minute, strawberry!" Risa chased after hastily.

After the two were out of sight, there came another figure appearing from the inside of the rundown residence. "Phew. . "

I'M BACK FROM EXAMS!

and sorry for such a short chapter! I'm still trying to get back my pace in writing after a total rest from writing for nearly a month =S
I had the next chapter roughly planned and yupps. maybe the ending too . . so ^.^

de wa, until the next chapter :) hehehe

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on June 28, 2012, 11:26:57 AM

**Starts drumming** :welcome BACK. I WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS. XD OOOOOOOOHHH. Aichan has a sad memory? There's a mystery person? Risa is sweet~ <3

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: maikeatoot on June 28, 2012, 01:44:18 PM

oh yeah this is great!!! come on strawberry ai.!just kiss your prince penguin !tsk!!!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: darkacex99 on June 28, 2012, 03:27:50 PM

ただいま (tadaima) :kneelbow: welcome bakk XD

Im so glad that ai remembers she almost slipped up alot of times :). I wonder who this mystery person at the end is

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: yellow on June 28, 2012, 03:57:33 PM

haha... welcome back :grin:
i wonder who is that mysterious person that has appear in the end...

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: alwaysYou on June 28, 2012, 05:16:27 PM

welcome backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
i dont miss you at all :lol: :P

i'm loving aigaki interaction!!!!
Prince Gaki should just chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu his strawberry :banghead:

i wonder why ai didnt want to step into the building.

pls update soon..miss sadist.. 8)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: kawaii beam on June 28, 2012, 07:09:50 PM

welcome back~! i hope u did well on ur exams? :3

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on June 29, 2012, 12:24:22 AM

Awwwww, if Ai misses the way perv!Gaki interacts with her she should just tell him she remembers 8D. Then everything is easier, Ai-chan. I wonder who was the one in there, Aika? XD

Caaaiiiiii-saaaaaaaannnnnn, welcome back! I knew you'd be updating soon, hohohoho. I'm glad your exams are over! I will pray for awesome results! X3

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 29, 2012, 02:18:45 AM

Cai!! Welcome back! Missed you~!~! :deco: :deco:

And missed this story! Aww, they were having such a good day, until they got to the mansion. Ai is not very good at hiding the fact that she remembers, I'm wondering when the secret will get spilled? Also, who is the person living in the mansion?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on June 29, 2012, 05:51:01 PM

Cai-san, Okaeripon~~!!! :deco:
About your exam, I hope you did it well :heart:

Nothing to talk, thanks for your hard work :wub:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 24- 28th June 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on July 19, 2012, 09:42:35 PM

[25] - Strawberry Exposed

"Ai. . . " Risa, worriedly, chased after Ai as Ai made her way back into their room after the slight incident outside the old Takahashi residence. "Are you alright, Ai?" Risa concerned.

Ai made no verbal or any response to Risa, Instead, she went straight over towards the couch where Risa made his bed for the past few weeks and sat on it, staring blankly into space just as she do so.

Are you alright?" Risa concerned again as he settled down beside Ai and placed a comforting pat on Ai's left shoulder. That gentle tap on the shoulder brought the latter back from her state of daze. "Are you alright?" Risa asked of the third time.

Ai nodded her head lightly, unconvincingly acknowledge to Risa's concern.

"Are you sure?" Risa doubting asked again. "You don't look like you are fine though."

"I'm sure. . . " Ai reassured, yet unconvincingly, again.

"You seemed fine the whole of today. . . It was only until we had arrived at your - " Risa attempted to analysed, but was silenced off before he could even finish his sentence.

"I said stop mentioning about that, Penguin!" Ai flared out, in a serious voice that was way different from the fatigue one moments ago. That silent Risa, and made Risa to glare at Ai with his big eyes. It was his first time seeing Ai in such an anger. Even during back in the days where Ai had always been at a loggerhead with Risa, he had not seen such seriousness from Ai before. And Ai did realised about her sudden actions. "I - I didn't meant it - Prince - prince Gaki, I - I - " Ai stuttered as she tried to explained. "I - I think I'm just tired. . . "Ai lied, hoping Risa would buy her story. He did. Just for that short moment.

"If that's the case. . . " Risa trailed off as he stood up from his seat. He bent over and wrapped his left hand around Ai's waist and slipped his right beneath Ai's knee.

"What - what are you doing?" Ai exclaimed with nervousness as she felt her body weight being lifted off the couch.

Risa made no verbal response. Instead, he just laid Ai on the king sized bed. "If that's the case, you should rest early. . . " Risa continued his sentence.

"But it's almost time to gather at the dining room for dinner. . . " Ai refused as she tried to get off the bed. Her tiredness was just an excuse to stop Risa from questioning.

"It's alright." Risa assured. "I will explain to Father about this." He continued as he held Ai still in her position on the bed, refusing to let Ai off the bed.

"But I -"

"No more buts." Risa silenced off Ai. "Your health matters most to me." He continued. "You don't have to worry about dinner. I will get someone to send dinner up for you later on. . " With that, Risa gently pushed Ai back onto the bed, settled her down onto the soft pillows before pulling the blanket up till her shoulders. "Rest well." With that, Risa planted a soft kiss on Ai's forehead and made his way out of the bedroom.

Once he was out, something struck his mind. 'Wait a minute, did she shouted me Penguin just moments ago?' Risa finally realised. He willed himself to remember what Ai had just shouted at him just moments ago and realisation finally filled in. 'I think strawberry had her memory back. . .I'm positive. . . ' With that idea in his mind, Risa began to make his way down the hallway, not towards the dining room, but towards the kitchen.

Once left alone in the room, Ai shivered. The moment she closed her eyes, unhappy memories began to filled her mind.

It was when Ikuta papa and Ikuta mama had passed on in the accident, leaving Ai the responsibility to look after the stall space, and the younger daughter Ai. Therefore Ai had made the decision to come over to the market place way before day dawn to get the goods out and return home before the noon, just slightly before when Erina woke from her sleep.

"Ai . . . " A middle aged woman called out to Ai as she was seated alone at her stall in the market place.

Ai looked up from her daze and narrowed her eyes at the woman. Stood beside the women was a 12 year teenager, with a similar distinct wide eyes as hers. "You are?" Ai asked, with a slight tone of offensiveness within her.

"Come back to me, Ai. I'll take care of you right now. . . " The woman did not answer Ai's question. Instead, she reached for Ai's hands and attempted to grab them, only to miss them when Ai pulled her hands just right in time.

"Just who are you? Why are you saying such words?" Ai retorted offensively.

"I know who are you. You are Takahashi Ai."

Ai narrowed her eyes immediately upon hearing that. "Go away, I don't know you." Ai refuted. "I am no Takahashi Ai. I'm Ikuta Ai!"

Deep down within Ai, she knew who that woman was. She just had not had the courage to admit so. And that was too the reason why she had refused to listen to Risa to mention anything about her past. She did want to reencounter these memories. Though they only had met once, Ai had a very bad impression of her. Together with the information given by her foster parents in the letter written to her, Ai hated her. And after these 8 long years of no reencountering, Ai had absolutely kept the memory buried deep within her mind, only to be triggered by the visit to the Takahashi's residence.

Ai shook her head lightly, hoping that would keep the memory out of her mind. She closed her eyes, as an attempt to rest, as ordered by Risa. But the moment she closed her eyes, memories came flooding back into her mind, making Ai to flip her eyes wide open the very next moment. Ai sighed deeply, in despair. 'I had expected this. . With that in her mind, she made herself to sit up on the bed and leaned her back against the backrest of the bed. 'Why? It's supposed to be a fun date out with penguin. Why had it ended up in this way? If he had never brought me there, then I - ' Just as this thought filled her mind, a realisation filled Ai's mind simultaneously. "The eyes!" Ai whispered to herself under her breath. "I have seen them somewhere." Ai continued hushing to herself. 'But where?' Ai continued in her mind.

Ai closed herself, hoping that would will herself to remember. But before she could even do so, the creaking of the room door sent her eyes open. Ai directed her attention to the clock, only to realise that an hour had passed since Risa had left the room. Expecting it to be one of the servants who was serving her dinner, Ai turned her attention to the door, only to be shocked find Risa, sneakily, making his way into the room.

"Prince Gaki?" Ai stuttered. "Why are you here? I thought you are -" She was immediately silenced when Risa came over and presented Ai his piece of art.

"For you." Risa offered with his suave smile as he gently shove the plate of omelette rice before Ai.

A slight smile escaped off Ai's lips. "Omelette rice? It's been ages ever since I last ate them." Ai smiled like as a little kid as she took over the plate. Bringing it up to her nose, she took in a deep breath as she enjoy the taste. "Let me guess, you had included maple syrup and strawberries in it." Ai smiled widely at Risa before turning her attention back to the food. Picking up the spoon that was placed by the side, Ai scooped a mouthful and stuffed it into her mouth. "It taste exactly the same!" Ai beamed.

Realising Risa was not responding to her at all, Ai lifted her attention away from her food and towards Risa, only to find Risa staring at her with a smirking smile on his face. He said nothing, only blinked his eyes at Ai. That was when Ai had realised she had revealed her tail way too much, and all she could do is to playfully stuck her tongue at Risa.

"Say, when did you regain your memories?" Risa asked as he climbed onto the bed and sat beside Ai.

Ai shone her teeth at Risa. "Not telling." With that, Ai began to continue to engulf on the food, big mouthful by big mouthful, ignoring Risa's question totally.

"Are you sure?" Risa asked again.

"Hmmm?" Ai continued on munching on her food.

"If you are still not saying, I'm going to use my tickle attack~~" Risa threatened. When he still did not get the response he expects from Ai, he began to wriggle his fingers around Ai's waist, catching Ai off guard and making Ai to drop the plate onto Risa's head.

"Ouch!" Risa whined in pain and rolled his puppy eyes at Ai.

"hehehe." Ai smiled sheepishly.

"I'm gonna get my revenge."

"Try me."

@ risa_ai : heheh. thanks :) yupps, kinda? hehe

@ darkacex99 : Hehehe. Thanks. ^.^ hehe, I think it maybe obvious who that mysterous person could be, but you can read on to find out more ^.^ hehe

@ yellow : Thanks!! hehe read on to find out :D

@ alwaysYou : meanie~~ but you are one special one, LOL! hahah. I update le !! heheh . and i'm not miss sadist =X HEHEHE

@ kawaii beam : Thanks!! I did well, thankfully!! THANKS for the wish :) heheh

@ arisa03 : hahaha. now that Risa found out Ai remembers. . . hehehhe and THANKS ! it works well !! hehehe.

@ rndmnwierd : Thanks thanks <3 hehehhe. the secret is spilled :D and. . . . heheheh. should be easy to guess who's that mystery person too :) heheh

@ Shiawase_Honoo : Thanks thanks!! thanks for your wishes :D <3

yuppps and sorry for such a late update!!
I really had very low productivity at home >.<
was really busy with revamping my room too . but now that majority of the work is done, hopefully i can find more time to write soon!!

De wa, until the next time then :) heheh

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: maikeatoot on July 19, 2012, 09:58:50 PM

waah go penguin.! :) nyan nyan! hm nice chapter please update soonnnnn!! ^_~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on July 19, 2012, 11:46:57 PM

Welcome back! Your bed looking good now? XD. HOHOHO Now that someone's memories are back, some people can finally make some grandchildren! \o/ go Risa! Get your revenge! This gon'be gooood.

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: darkacex99 on July 20, 2012, 02:45:36 AM

YAY risa found out that ai regined her meories :cathappy: sooo cute, it took it rather well too

Risa and ai chenistry is awesome :deco:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on July 20, 2012, 11:29:44 AM

OH AICHAN YOU. DON'T BE TROLLING AROUND. XD YOU'RE BACK. :) WELCOME BACK~ <3 So Aichan had seen 'em eyes! EYES. E.Y.E.S. O__________O

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on July 20, 2012, 03:29:56 PM

Yeah~~~ You're back :welcome
Maybe the person back to that day in Ai-chan's memories is someone we found :)
I can't remember which chap it is (as always) :nervous
And the time for children to run around the palace with the happiness has come!!! :deco:

(Don't mind me :nervous)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: yellow on July 20, 2012, 05:51:44 PM

it kinda fun to see these two like that.... really can't wait for the reveal of the mysterious person who Ai detest...

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: MsSmigge on July 28, 2012, 03:09:21 PM

I finally got time to read this story! I read about 3 first chapters and then I got a veeery long pause.... But now I finished the last chapter and I must say that this story is awesome! :onioncheer:

I like how Ai is so violent to Gaki and says "It's just my way to show my love for you, dear~"
Poor Gaki xD

But you were also evil during this story for leaving cliffhangers and making Ai lose her memory :shock:
But this story is still awesome xD

Hopefully you will update more soon ~~because Ai remembers her penguin now so they can do something fun.~~ ;)

Oh, I almost forgot:
Sayu is freaking awesome too in this story!! xD

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 25- 20th July 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on August 15, 2012, 05:35:10 PM

[26] - Ouji 2.

"You said that, I'm coming!" Risa accepted Ai's challenged. He fought his way through the fingers that held tightly on the plate, taking the plate back into his possession and placed it roughly onto the ground and slide it away from him. After which he made his way onto the bed, while Ai, on the other hand, attempted to make her run for her life.

"What are you trying to do?" Ai uttered while giggling as she hung her legs over the edge of the bed. Before she could even pull herself off the bed, she felt herself being pulled back onto the bed, onto her back and into her soft pillows. In no time, she felt herself being pinned onto her bed by her wrist. "What you trying to do?" Ai giggled again as she glazed lovingly into Risa's eyes.

"What do you think I am trying to do?" Risa echoed Ai's question back to the strawberry, causing the giggle to intensify. "Don't keep smiling like this, little strawberry." Risa continued when Ai did not responded. He released his grip on Ai's left wrist and began to caress her hair, pulling the shorter ends of her hair and tucked them behind her ears.

"So what do you want to do?" Ai teased playfully.

"Hmmm, let me see . . " Risa pressed his lips tightly together as he pretended to think. "Maybe. . . What you asked me to do back then?" Risa continued.

"Ara, what did I asked you do back then?" Ai replied a question in a quiet and teasing voice.

Risa leaned himself closer to Ai and whispered deeply into Ai's ear. "Make you mine. . "

That made Ai giggled again. Risa pulled himself away from Ai and stared at Ai with his puppy eyes. "When did I say that?"

"When you refused to return with Hitomi ?" Risa suggested for Ai.

"Ah, that's because I didn't want to be married to the Stupid Prince of the Land of Penguin. . . " Ai replied playfully. "But since now I'm married to the stupid prince, I guess that request is now being abolished." Ai replied with a smirking smile.

"But since Penguin and Stupid Prince is the same person, wouldn't that request continues to be viable?" Risa reasoned to Ai.

"Since the request is made to Penguin, so only Penguin can redeem the request, not you, Prince Gaki." Ai continued. That playful smile lasted for a short moment before Ai suddenly remembered something really important. "Ah-" Ai exclaimed as she sat up, knocking Risa at his forehead and pushing him off her.

"What's wrong?" Risa asked in surprised.

"Ouji!" Ai exclaimed. "I had totally forgot about Ouji!"

"Ouji? That mutt?" Risa scorned sceptically. That had earned him a faithful smack on the head from Ai. "Ouch-" Risa pouted at Ai with an unsatisfied expression painted on his face.

"I had left Ouji with Miki before I came to the Land of Penguin with Hitomi." Ai continued her explanation after giving Risa her usual treatment. "I want to bring him back to here." Ai asked as she grabbed onto Risa's wrist.

"Eh?" Risa pouted and whined.

"Please?" Ai blinked her eyes at Risa, hoping that would make Risa to soften his heart.

"But it's late now. . . " Risa tried to push the task away by giving an excuse, but it seems like Ai was not going to buy the story.

"Now." Ai uttered.

"But - "

"NOW-"

------

"Mama. . . " Aika called out quietly into the empty space as she took the single photo that was laid down on the concrete ground. Surrounding her was all messes, with traces of hays, dust and webs decorating the pillars and leftover furniture. "Aika had did Mama had asked Aika to fulfil." Aika continued as she stared sadly into the photo. "Nee-chan seems to be living the prefect happiness Mama wanted her to. . . Though Mama's wish for her is to look for someone who loves her dearly and never return back to the Land of Penguin, it seems like this someone is all along the Prince she was engaged to even before her birth, Mama." Aika finished as she shifted herself into a slightly more comfortable position on the hard cold concrete ground.

"Nee-chan really had a hard time growing up, isn't that so? I know Mama had always been feeling guilty about leaving her for Papa when she was just barely a three month old infant. . . " Aika returned the photo back onto the ground and began to set her eyes at the flame of the firewood. "But Mama. . . I think . . . I think. . . I think it's better to remain our relationship as it is. . . Sorry Mama. . . I can't finish your last wish. . . I think. . . Nee-chan is still not ready to forgive any of us yet. . . " Aika sighed deeply in great depression. "Now that the Nee-chan had regained her memory and her love for the penguin, I guess. . .It's time for me to leave this land . . ." Aika came into a decision. "I will start on my journey tomorrow, back to the land of Strawberry, so that Nee-chan will never know about the truth."

-----

"Do we really have to do this at this time?" Risa whispered quietly towards Ai, who was trailing quietly behind him.

"Yes." Ai stubbornly replied, refusing to give in to Risa no matter what the latter had said.

"But -" Before Risa could further refute, he was being pushed forward by Ai out of his camouflage behind a bush stand.

"The guards are gone! Now is our chance!" Ai shouted in a whispering manner. With that, she rushed forward, passing over Risa had pulled the younger male by his wrist with her as she charged over towards the gates that leads out of the palace.

"Wait wait wait a minute!" Risa rattled while being dragged away. "How are we going to get there?" Risa continued asking the duo crossed the gates.

"How did you get there in the first place?" Ai stopped and turned around after they had ran a distance away from the palace, and asked.

"I walked my way there. . . "Risa replied under his breath.

That revoked a smile on Ai's face. "That's how we are going to get there then!" Ai decided playfully.

"EH?" The overreaction reaction from Risa made Ai burst out into laughter. "In this darkness and coldness?" Risa continued.

Ai nodded her head firmly before making her way to Risa's back. Without giving much warning to Risa, Ai encircled her arms over Risa's shoulders and around his neck before pushing her weight off the ground and hopped onto Risa's back. By reflexes, Risa caught onto the pair of thighs that came together with the action. "And piggy backing me too." Ai added on with a mischievous smile across her cheeks, sticking her tongue out lightly as she finished. And of course, Risa had not caught all these little actions from Ai as Ai was facing his back.

"EH?" Risa groaned again, but quietened down immediately when he felt Ai's soft breathing at his ears.

"This is your repayment to me for the fact that I had carried you back from the mountain back to my home when you had fainted from heat stroke the time we first met, Penguin. You know. . .I always had the choice to drag you back home on your back that time. . . "

That silenced Risa. Ai was so right about that and Risa had nothing he could think of to refute his beloved strawberry.

"So let's get going!" Ai whispered into Risa's ears again.

"To where?" Risa decided that there was no other way to get out this situation and had began to gave in to Ai's request.

"Fujimoto's residence."

-------

"Are we reaching yet?" Risa whined rather unmanly as he felt Ai dozing off his shoulder yet again. That sentence woke Ai up. She looked up to her surroundings and began to glaze her eyes through, finding herself in situated a buzzing market place.

"Just over this market place and we will get to Miki's residential place." Ai answered, letting off a small yawn as she did so.

"We are leaving there straight after we had fetched Ouji off that - " Risa halted for a short moment, bitting onto his tongue when he realised his nickname for Miki would be inappropriate to be used before Ai. He hissed slightly in pain. Swallowing a mouthful worth of saliva down his throat, Risa continued in an almost inaudible voice. "Miki's place."

"Why?" Ai pushed herself closer against Risa's back as she tried to get her cheeks to the side of Risa's. She had always enjoy watching the jealous pout Risa had on his face upon the mention of Miki's name. The bigger the pout Risa had on his face indicated the stronger the love the Penguin had for the Strawberry.

"You know the answer, don't you?" Risa pouted wider.

"Ah. . . I see. . .You are jealous of Miki, aren't you, Penguin?"

"Yes I am jealous!" Risa agreed to the statement straight away, having no intention to hide his jealousy. "That's why we are leaving straight after we reached there!"

"And if we don't?" Ai teased.

"If we don't, I am going to drop you off my back now right at this very moment!" Risa threatened. Upon hearing that, Ai tightened her grip around Risa's neck, in fear that Risa would really drop her off onto the group. But that exchanged a muffling choke from Risa instead. "I - I - can't - t - breath- - -" Risa struggled.

"Ah!" Ai loosened her grip immediately. "I didn't mean to choke you, Penguin." Ai apologised to Risa. After which, Ai snuggled around Risa's grip on her thigh and gotten back onto her feet, raced forward to check on the choking penguin, who was apparently still choking his way round when Ai got down from his back. "Are you alright, Penguin?" Ai bent silently and concerned for Risa, who had his right hand patting on his chest repeatedly. Ai pushed away the hand of Risa and took the action over to the work on her palm. "Let's get some water, shall we?" Ai suggested before trying to guide Risa down to a nearby seat.

However, even before she was able to do so, Risa stood back up straight and flashed a playful grin at Ai. "Gotcha!" Risa teased and pinched Ai's cheeks lightly.

"You - " Ai pointed her index finger at Risa and finally realised she had been just fooled by Risa. "Niigaki Risa!" Ai stomped her feet and began to chase after Risa.

"You can't get me!!" Risa teased again as he began to make his dash too.

And there they went chasing after each other at the busy market place, forgetting about their main purpose back to the land of strawberry until some familiar voice called out for Ai.

"Ai!"

Ai turned around, with Risa stopping in his motions, and saw Miki standing at a distance away. "Miki?"

"Ai! You managed to get out from the land of Penguin! I was so worried for you! What happened to Erina? She never returns." Miki rattled on, being glad for the reappearance of Ai, and too worried for the sisters. "I'm glad you are all safe and well." Miki continued and attempted to pull the shorter girl into his embrace. Like said, it was an attempt. Before he could even do so, a strong push on his shoulder widened the distance between Miki and Ai.

"Don't go around and hug other people's wife, idiot!" Risa retorted as he pulled Ai into HIS embrace.

"It's you, penguin. Back from your cowardice? What are you doing, hugging onto Ai, after you had brutally left her when she needs you?" Miki retorted back as he attempted to pull Ai away from Risa.

"STOP!" Ai shouted, intervening into the argument. She wriggled herself out of Risa's protective stance, and went over and stood before Miki. "Miki - "

"And why are you here again?" Miki interrupted Ai and sent a deadly stare over to Risa. Risa did not response. Instead, he just smirked and went over to held onto Ai's hand.

"Miki, Penguin is the Crown Prince of the Land of Penguin."

I'M SORRY!!!! It's been a month since I had last updated! I guess it's because I digress too much :(
Gomen!

@ maikeatoot : Yupps!!! So sorry that I had took so long for such a short chapter :(

@ arisa03 : Well, my room is looking good, but i'm not in there enjoying it =X oops hehehe about that. . .that would be the next story 'arc' until the end. Hopefully i will be able to finish it in 5 chapters. . .hopefully . . .heheh

@ darkacex99 : Yupps. well, cos Ai had a bad time trying to hide it in the first place. =X heheh Ai and Risa's chemistry is absolutely <3 <3 <3 heheh, (irl too)

@ risa_ai : And more Ai trolling in this chapter?? oops and i'm back again =X

@ Shiawase_Honoo : Thank you !! hmmm. one of the person in aichan's memories is someone we have found. . .heheh. and I think you will like it! hehe I can't wait to see little strawberries and penguin running around too . . but - heheheh

@ yellow : Hmmm. It's not really someone Ai detest though. . . you could put it in that way too . . .but . . .

@ MsSmigge : Hi there!! thank you for commenting! I'm glad you are liking this story too :) hehehe. . .If you read my stories long enough, you will realise. . .I love cliffhangers =X *oops* hehehhe Of course. sayu and her being the kissing demon as usual :) heheh. Once again, Thanks!!

And now, as being in my final semester study, work load has increased significantly, and for the fact that I have so many ideas running around, yet, little time to write, I will really try to update my stories as much possible as I could. But right now, my next update to look out for is definitely devolution. *i'm guilty for that story *

de wa, until the next time then! :)

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: maikeatoot on August 15, 2012, 07:47:47 PM

muhaha ! cai-san! thanks for this update i dunno if i could answer my exams tomorrow hahaha!!

okay aish ! so aika is ai's sister? ah okay! and yay! jealous penguin i love yah !! good luck :) !

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on August 16, 2012, 12:31:04 AM

Omg fuisskamsnsna I'm going to be late for work fofnfnxshsjs.

I'll be back Cai-san!!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on August 16, 2012, 12:44:16 AM

Wootsa! xD what's with an early update? xD GOODBYE MIKI. Hello cayun~! xD i'll be back to edit this.
Edit: OH NO. HELL NO. Miki ain't gonna destroy no nothing! :@ I WON'T LET HIM. Poor Aika. T^T I HOPE U AND AI BECOME SISTERS. I just... *sniffle*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: yellow on August 16, 2012, 06:59:21 AM

but... (what)?!
anyway, aika is ai's little sister?!
and she from strawberry land... so she is ai's half-blooded sibling, right?

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on August 16, 2012, 10:14:37 AM

AHAHAHAHAHA, as I thought XD :lol: XD

Thanks cai-san.
Even you're too busy to update, you still manage to bring a chap for us. :bow:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: alwaysYou on August 16, 2012, 03:28:02 PM

love this chp..XD..
been grinning.. :lol:
jus love how aichan is the one controlling gakisan.. :grin:

i wonder how miki will react after knowing gakisan is prince..lol
and i do hope ai will know she have a sis..poor aika..seem so lonely :(

Quote

and for the fact that I have so many ideas running around, yet, little time to write,

just dont eat and sleep :lol: XD :lol: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: MsSmigge on August 18, 2012, 11:56:02 PM

Yay an update! :cow:

Well cliffhangers are nice when you know what happens in the future :bingo: I tend to be a boring person and kill the meanings of things.... :err:

Quote from: caiyunki on August 15, 2012, 05:35:10 PM

That playful smile lasted for a short moment before Ai suddenly remembered something really important. "Ah-" Ai exclaimed as she sat up, knocking Risa at his forehead and pushing him off her.

"What's wrong?" Risa asked in surprised.

"Ouji!" Ai exclaimed. "I had totally forgot about Ouji!"

"Ouji? That mutt?"

As much as I love you Ouji I can't help but agree with Risa... You damn mutt ruined the TakaGaki moment XD

Quote from: caiyunki on August 15, 2012, 05:35:10 PM

"And why are you here again?" Miki interrupted Ai and sent a deadly stare over to Risa. Risa did not response. Instead, he just smirked and went over to held onto Ai's hand.

"Miki, Penguin is the Crown Prince of the Land of Penguin."

Haha! In your face Miki! Hands of Ai-Chan, she's Risa's now! :wahaha:

I am tired as hell again so sorry if this post is a bit weird.... :imdead: :err: :depressed:
But anyways nice update and again you left this story in an exiting moment!! xD Damn you and your cliffhangers... Now I can't wait to read more (and can't wait to see Miki's reaction when she realizes who penguin aka Gaki-San is XD)

Keep up the good work and update soon! :cow:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: Fushigidane on August 20, 2012, 08:33:52 PM

I've enjoyed this read alot so far! :w00t:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on August 21, 2012, 04:45:08 PM

Don't think I've forgotten! :U

I just read it for the 14th time for good measure. ;D

Omg, Risa just make Ai yours already, she wants it anyway. /o/ And it is pretty much still valid since you're still Penguin (the Penguin of Ai's life anyway). And I feel like Miki just got a hard slap across his face. (He needs an Ayaya in his life *hinthint* lmfao)

Update soon *bites a handkerchief*

Also, Why are you not in your room to enjoy it? o A o Are you in a different place right now? o A o

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on October 07, 2012, 04:15:29 PM

*bumps for Cai-san*

Because I can okay? ;____;

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 26- 16th August 2012 ]
Post by: caiyunki on November 23, 2012, 04:17:04 PM

[27]

"So where's the mutt?" Risa asked impatiently as he began to wander around Miki's residence without the latter's guide. All he wanted was to get the dog quick and get out of the place immediately. However the latter two following Risa was not. They were strolling their way through the entrance, chatting to each other what had happened during the months Ai was away.

By the time Ai and Miki had made their way into the living room, Risa had already made his way to all corners of the residence, with the intention to just grab the dog and drag Ai with him out of the residence. "Where's the mutt?" Risa asked again when his failed to fulfil his intention. He could not find the Prince anywhere in the house. To be exact, there was no signs around the house that indicated the presence of a dog. Not even a single peck of fur. "I didn't see him anywhere around this house."

Ai was surprised by Risa's finding. "How can that be, Penguin." Ai commented before asking. "Are you sure? Have you check every single room?" Ai made her way to Risa's side and poked him slightly at his waist, causing the latter to wince in pain at the unexpected attack. "Faking Ouji's disappearance won't influence my decision to be him back to the Land of Penguin." Ai whispered threateningly into Risa's ears.

"I'm not faking anything." Risa pouted in disagreement. "I really didn't see him anywhere around in this house. And how big is this house, there's no way I am going to miss that selfish brat." Risa continued, without realising what had just slipped out of his lips. And indeed, that had earned him a faithful stamped on the feet. "Ouch!" Risa cried as he leaped up in pain. "I meant that mutt." When Risa still felt the threatening glares on him, he quickly added on, "That Ouji." Risa finished with a reluctant silence.

Ai, on the other hand, was absolutely satisfied with the answers Risa had accommodated himself to. "I'm going to find him by myself then, since penguin you are so unhelpful." Ai childishly showed Risa her teeth before brushing pass the penguin.

"Wait a minute, Ai, there's something I have to inform you . . ."Miki finally spoke up, stopping Ai in her steps.

"What's wrong, Miki?" Ai turned around and faced Miki.

"Ouji . . . He's gone. . . "

-----

Aika stood up from the strawberry plants and began to dust the dirt off her long skirt. "The final harvest for this time is done, what's left now to accomplish is the re-fertilisation of the soil in preparation for the next season. I'm sure by then, Prince Gaki would be able to handle that himself. Furthermore, Nee-chan has regained her memory. . . " Aika whispered to herself. Giving the garden one final glance, she turned around and began to make her way to the gates, only to be distracted by the commotion coming around from the other side of the gates, the hallway that leads to the heart of the palace.

"Emergency meeting! Prince Gaki is missing! So is Lady Takahashi!" Aika could faintly make up the message that was delivered to the group of flustered guards.

'Prince Gaki and Nee-chan is missing? What happened?' Aika wondered silently in her mind. Her worried mind made her go in the opposite direction of her intended destination and that had successfully gained attention of the guards.

"Who are you?! How did you get into the palace?! Did you kidnap our Prince Gaki and His Lady?" Aika witness a brunch of flustered guards stomping their way towards her. Without giving her the chance to speak, they had locked Aika's arm behind her back, half lifting her down the hallway and towards the main hall where the emergency meeting was held.

-----

"Cheer up, Strawberry. . ." Risa coaxed as he lifted his left shoulders lightly, gently cajoling the chin of Ai which was rested on his left shoulder. The Strawberry girl was too upset about the news she had gotten from Miki that she had lost the will to walk back to the Land of Penguin that Risa had to carry the older girl on his back while they continued on their journey back home.

"How am I suppose to cheer up now that Ouji is gone. . ." Ai replied unenergetically. "I really like Ouji a lot."

"Hmmm." Risa sank into short moments of silence before speaking again. "It's not like that mutt is dead. He had just ran away from home and is missing for now. There are still chances that we can find him back. . " Risa tried to console, only to receive yet another heavy sigh from Ai.

"But it has been 2 months of searching for Ouji from Miki, and there is still no news about him. . . ."

It was Risa's turn to sigh. Ai's mood was too dampened to receive any words of console, of even hope for recovering Ouji. He looked up from the ground and studied his surroundings. The calming splash of the waterfall brought memories back to him. "Ne, Strawberry, do you remember this place?" Risa decided to cease this chance to change the topic, in an attempt to liven up the atmosphere as well.

Ai lifted her chin off Risa's shoulder and glanced her attention towards the waterfall. "Of course I do. This is the place where I met some perverted penguin who peeked when someone else was bathing." Ai replied rather monotonously. Though in a heavy mood, Ai had not reduce her verbal (and physical) abuse to the poor penguin. Just as she finish her sentence, she sent Risa her famous love hit onto the latter's head.

That was absolutely unexpected to Risa. The unexpected action made Risa to lose his balance, causing him to drop both Ai and himself onto the ground, with himself cushioning Ai's fall. "What's that for?' Risa whined, earning another slap on his head from Ai.

"Why did you fall?" Ai questioned.

"Because you attacked me when I was not prepared at all? Of course I would fall." Risa reasoned as he turned around, pushing Ai off his back and down onto the ground. When he realised what had just happened, he immediately squirmed and closed his eyes, preparing himself for another attack.

However, that attack did not come. Instead, calming light laughter had echoed into his eyes. Risa carefully opened his eyes and saw a gentle smile running across Ai's face.

"Penguin, Thank you." Ai whispered quietly when she found Risa's questioning stare at her. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up." Ai continued, finishing with a shy smile across her lips.

Sensing Ai's shyness, Risa pulled Ai closed to him, allowing the older girl to rest her face in his chest. "I'm pretty sure you will find that Ouji back. . . Even if not, we are going to have more of our little penguin Oujis soon, isn't that so?"

Upon hearing that, Ai tensed up. She sat up straight and pulled herself away from Risa and looked seriously into Risa's eyes. "About that . . . I - I'm , I'm . . . . "

A really short update this time round!
I'm still trying to get back my pace and ideas for the story. After having a long break from writing stories for 3 months, everything seems awkward to me right now, such as the phrasing of words and such. For the new few weeks I'll try to update as much as I can, hopefully, though I will sink back to a busy period of packing my stuffs to move back to home permenantly. . .

Next Update, hopefully I will be able to do it on Sunday. . .

de wa, until the next time then!

PS: Thanks for the comments and the bump :) hehehhe ^.^

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on November 23, 2012, 04:27:27 PM

Ai-chan... she's not ready to have children yet?! /shot and half-welcome-back of sorts ; A ; I'll bump this as much as I can ;__; Because it's such a unique and amazing story. ; A ; We will be waiting!

But hopefully Ouji can be found and oh noez, Aika! ; A ;!!!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: yellow on November 23, 2012, 04:56:35 PM

thanks for the update. I can understand your situation :P hope that you can have your ideas all linked back as soon as possible :thumbsup

back to the topic,
Ai is still not prepared to have little penguins?! :shocked
Just hope that Ouji can be found sooner...
or else, Penguin gonna suffered... i think even if Ouji was found, the abuse towards Penguin from his Strawberry also won't get lessen. *sigh*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: rndmnwierd on November 23, 2012, 11:52:31 PM

Ai-chan~!~! Why you gotta ruin the mood? Cai~!~! Why you gotta have Ai ruin the mood?!

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: risa_ai on November 24, 2012, 10:13:14 AM

Nooooooo!!! Aichan is not ready to have penguinsssss.... *depressed*

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: alwaysYou on November 24, 2012, 03:09:42 PM

Poor prince.. :lol:

Aichan dont want little penguin?!?!?!?! WHY WHY WHY :angry:
If she doesnt want little penguin, then lets have little strawberry, ok? XD :lol:

~~Robot Gaki is more and more rusty now~~

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: MsSmigge on November 24, 2012, 09:18:10 PM

YOU'RE ALIVE!! It was a nice surprise to notice update mark on Strawberry penguin story~ :onioncheer:

Awww Ouji is lost and Ai is all depressed and doesn't want any little penguins? ;___; Well luckily Risa is there for her~

Short but nice chapter. Hope to see more soon! :cow:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: arisa03 on December 08, 2012, 05:09:38 PM

Dropping this by~
Cookie the Little Penguin at the Cincinnati Zoo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wTWWjYTe1I#ws)

because I can ;____;

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: MsSmigge on December 08, 2012, 07:52:45 PM

Quote from: arisa03 on December 08, 2012, 05:09:38 PM

Dropping this by~
Cookie the Little Penguin at the Cincinnati Zoo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wTWWjYTe1I#ws)

because I can ;____;

:imdead:

That was just too cute... :luvluv1:

Title: Re: Strawberry Penguin [ 27- 24th November 2012 ]
Post by: maikeatoot on April 16, 2013, 02:18:30 PM

:catglare: i want an update !!!!!!!!!!! :banghead:

JPHiP Forum

The Hello! Project Fanfics => H!P Fanfics => Topic started by: caiyunki on January 02, 2012, 08:36:36 PM