The Secret of the Destiny…

Chapter One: Betrothed

Miaka was happily dreaming about her coming birthday.

"Happy Birthday!" her mom, the empress greeted her as she handed her a gift. "Happy Birthday, my little sister," her brother, Hotohori kissed her on the cheek and gave her a gift. "Happy Mistress Miaka!" her father, the emperor, yelled at her. Miaka was confused. "Mistress Miaka!" her father yelled again and again.

"Mistress Miaka!" Nuriko, a servant in the palace, tried to wake up Miaka.

"Ummm….what's the matter? Miaka was back to reality. She started to rub her eyes.

"Master Hotohori's calling for you," Nuriko answered.

"Why? This early, what could he possibly tell me?" Miaka asked.

"I don't know… I have to go now, Kourin's waiting for me," Nuriko turned to leave.

Miaka stood up, put on her slippers and went to her brother's room. There she saw Hotohori sitting on his bed and staring at the blank sky outside his window. The symbol on his neck can be brightly seen because of its color. Miaka always asked about the history of the symbol, especially when her brother is there with her and making her fall asleep.

"Did you call for me?" Miaka asked.

Hotohori looked at her, and then smiled. "Yes, please sit beside me," he answered.

Miaka sat beside him, and then stared at him. "What do you want to tell me?" she inquired.

"You know, someday you and I will be married." Hotohori said then looked directly into Miaka's eyes.

"Brother, you're crazy," Miaka chuckled, "A brother and a sister can never be married," she laughed heartily.

"But I'm serious, Miaka. When you reach the age of twenty you'll be married to me. You and I are already betrothed," Hotohori replied soberly.

"But why? How? I don't understand…"Miaka looked confused.

"Young Master Hotohori, Mistress Miaka, Your Highness is calling for you," a servant entered and bowed in front of them as he went out.

"That will explain everything," Hotohori said as he held Miaka's hand and helped her down the bed.

They went out of Hotohori's room and went to the place of the emperor, their father. There they saw the empress, their mother, some of the women in their father's harem, and some servants.

"Leave us," the emperor commanded the servants as well as the women of his harem. The servants bowed before as they went out of sight, as well as the other women.

"Saihitei, my son, since your older brother died in a war with the neighboring countries, you are now the heir of my throne," the emperor spoke.

"He knows that already, my dearest father," Miaka spoke.

"I know, and I believe he already told you that you are betrothed to him," the emperor began.

"Yes, but how can that happen? We're of the same blood," Miaka replied.

"Honey, you and Hotohori are not of the same blood," the empress finally spoke.

"Mom, I thought you won't tell her yet," Hotohori said.

"The sooner she knows about this the better," her mom answered. "Miaka, you are not Hotohori's sister. You are the daughter of a soldier who couldn't pay his debt to us and so gave you as the payment," the empress said.

"Mom, you're joking, right?" Miaka was teary eyed now.

"No, she's not joking, Miaka," Hotohori answered for his mom.

"You know about this, don't you?" Miaka asked as tears started falling on her cheeks.

"Yes, I'm sorry if I didn't tell you earlier…I don't want you to get hurt," Hotohori explained as he hugged Miaka.

Miaka escaped from his embrace. "I hate you!" she yelled. Hotohori let go of her.

"I'm sorry," he said then he went away.

"My son," his mom tried to stop him, but he still went to his room and locked it.

"Who are my real parents?" Miaka asked as she held back her tears.

A woman came in, and went to Miaka.

"She's your mother, Mrs. Yuuki. Your father died a couple of years ago," the empress spoke.

"Miaka, it's me, your mom," Mrs. Yuuki hugged Miaka, "It's been a long time since I've last seen you," she cried.

Miaka pushed her away. "You're not my mother!" she yelled as she went to the empress' side, "This is my mother," she yelled.

The emperor bowed his head and nodded. "I knew this would happen," he whispered to himself.

The empress fell on her knees and started brushing Miaka's hair of her face. "Miaka, you have to accept the truth, I'm not your mom. If you want to stay with us, it's alright but you must remember that if you'll stay, you have to marry your brother when you reach twenty," the empress explained.

Miaka glanced back at Mrs. Yuuki then to the empress. "I want to stay with you," Miaka decided.

The emperor smiled. "Very well then," he said.

"You promised me you'll give her back to me by the time she reaches five," Mrs. Yuuki demanded.

"But you heard the child, she doesn't want to stay with you," the emperor replied.

Mrs. Yuuki went to Miaka's side and carried her. "I'll get her whether you like it or not," she started to run away.

"Get her!" the emperor commanded.

Instantly, soldiers came and got Miaka from her true mother. They dragged Mrs. Yuuki out of the palace. She shouted curses to the emperor as the soldiers dragged her away.

"Your brother will surely be happy," the empress said as she hugged Miaka.

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It was already Miaka's birthday. She woke up early because she was too excited. She immediately went to the kitchen. As she was entering, she heard some servants gossiping as they worked.

"Mistress Miaka and Young Master Hotohori's engagement will be announced later to the visitors," one servant said.

"What? Our little babies will be married someday!" another servant exclaimed.

"Yes, because Mistress Miaka was just adopted, therefore they don't have any blood relation," the other servant commented.

"If I was Mistress Miaka, I won't marry Young Master Hotohori. Imagine, everyone knows her as the sister of the prince and then people will suddenly discover she will be married to her brother. It will surely be a shame for her," the servant said.

Miaka immediately went to her room. She's confused now. For a six-year-old girl, Miaka was very thoughtful of what people might think of her.

"They have a point; I'll surely bring a shame to my family… Maybe I'm not meant to be a princess…" Miaka thought.

"I'll go to the village now!" a servant yelled. Miaka peeped outside her window. A man was pulling a large cart with him. A sudden thought came to Miaka's mind.

"Maybe I can fit in one of those bags," she thought as she eyed at the bags on the cart. "And then I can get out without anyone noticing," she added. Miaka quickly went out of her room.

She was planning to pass through the back door so no one can see her but she must pass through the kitchen first. She went near to the kitchen and peeked inside. No one was there! She immediately entered and went out through the door.

"Whew," she exclaimed when she went out. The man she saw a while ago was now pulling the cart outside.

"I have to go in one of those bags," Miaka told herself.

The man stopped and went back to the warehouse once again.

"This is my chance," Miaka thought, and then she run toward the cart. She went inside a bag and rolled to a ball so that it won't be obvious a girl was inside. It was an advantage for Miaka that she's small so it was easy for her to fit inside a bag. Suddenly, she felt the cart moving.

"See you later!" the servant shouted once again.

"Goodbye everyone, I don't know when I can go back… but I will, I promise," Miaka thought as she struggled to keep her position.

There! Is it good/ bad? Please review!!!