A/N: I only watched the anime, so these short stories are all based on that.

CHAPTER ONE
KING AND DIANE

Did…did she just ask me…

"Hello? Are you alright?" Diane tugged on her pigtail, twirling the strand around a finger. The longer he waited to respond, the more she began to pout, before finally turning away. "That's alright. I understand." She started to walk.

"Wait! No, Diane!" King called to her and she turned, but he didn't know how to continue. His emotions were twisting his thoughts, suffocating him and he couldn't find the words.

"Hm? What is it?" She was waiting for him and he was blowing it.

"I, uh, I…yeah." He took a deep breath in and then out. He walked toward her, not daring to meet her eyes. He held out a hand in offering. "Yes, Diane, I'd be happy to go with you. Truly, nothing would make me happier." His blush heated his cheeks all the way to his ears, but he only trembled a little.

With every passing second he feared her rejection. What if she never takes my hand? What if I somehow misunderstand something and…

Her fingers were light as they slipped over his palm. Then she yanked his entire arm to her side and he had to follow until their shoulders crashed so that when her head leaned neatly to the side, it was nestled near his cheek.

For a moment, a quiet panic overtook him. Overwhelmed he nearly lost it, but when she started walking his feet moved too. And soon they were sitting together, their legs draped over the edge of what used to be a wall, and night had descended and, somehow, King had not blown it.

"Thank you for going with me. I had the best time." Diane said, licking her fingers of the sweet bread she'd eaten.

"Yeah, me too." He said simply, but it was not even close to what he felt. He looked up as the fireworks started, but they did't hold his interest. Diane watching the fireworks, however, was much more fascinating. The colors dancing over her face. Her smile. Her excitement. The way she pointed and nudged his shoulder, asking if he saw that cool one. He could get lost here, lost and never look back. Just sitting with her.

"It was you, wasn't it?" She said, suddenly she was not looking at the fireworks, but at him. His head nearly fell off his fist where he had been resting it while he drifted into fantasy.

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"I mean, you're that boy that I found all those years ago. The one who stayed with me when I was a little girl. Harlequin."

He was quiet for a long time, but his nerves were more settled than they had ever been. He wanted to answer her, but what if things changed? She had no memory of him before and that time…that time had meant more to him than any in his life.

She shifted, looking away and her tone was laced with irritation. "I know it's you, okay?"

"Diane, what's wrong? Why are you—"

"Why didn't you tell me?" She turned to him suddenly, nearly knocking him backward. "Why, King? We've been traveling together all this time…and before…why didn't you tell me? Do you know how important you were to me? When you left I knew that I'd probably never see you again. I was okay with that because I knew that if it was possible you would come back. Well, you did and you didn't say anything." A few hot, angry tears dripped down her cheeks and she hid her face as she furiously rubbed them away.

"I…Diane…" King wanted to comfort her, to apologize, to explain. She was so hurt by him and he had never dreamed…he never imagined that she would…care.

"Oh, save it. I…it's fine." She wiped at her nose and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"No." His voice is firm enough to get her attention, but she was still pouting. "No, it's not fine. I'm so sorry, Diane. I…honestly, I had wanted to tell you so many times. But, but you…" He swallowed down the words, shame made them bitter on his tongue. "I just…I thought…" He shook his head, willing himself to speak.

"What is it? Just spit it out already." Her voice was loud, urgent, she was in his face and he had nowhere to run.

"Because...because I was afraid."

"What?" She moved back, giving him some space. "What were you afraid of?"

"Diane, I had made a promise to you. I never…I have never broken that promise, but I was afraid, that maybe, that because of your…because of the captain you might not…that is…"

"Oh, King."

Tears froze in his eyes, the frustrated, angry tears he had been holding in were stopped by the sudden gentleness in her tone.

When Diane looked at him, it was shy and coy, she hid behind her hair in that adorable way and he really couldn't take much more of this. His heart was going to give out. His nerves would kill him.

"I guess I understand, but you see, I've never really stopped loving you either."

"Huh?"

She was suddenly leaning on her hands, her face moving closer. Too close. She kissed his cheek lightly, just the barest touch.

"D…Diane…"

She blushed and her knuckles hovered over her mouth. "I'd like to start over, if that's okay." She set her hand down and it landed, purposefully, on top of his leg. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to do this kind of stuff more often."

His heart was too loud. He couldn't hear. The lingering warmth on his cheek had his mind at a standstill.

When she looked at him, at his catatonic shock, she rolled her eyes. "Look, do you want to be my boyfriend or not?"

"I…I…" His heart was ready to burst, but he had to say something. Say yes. Say yes, you idiot. "I…yes. I…I would, yes."

"Good. Then that's settled." She sat back, lounging while he was staving off an apocalyptic meltdown in his chest. She turned to him suddenly, eyes narrowed, "Oh, and just so we're clear, that means there won't be any funny business with other girls. Alright?"

She was deathly serious, but suddenly King was laughing.

"Just what the heck is so funny about that?" Her hands moved to her hips.

King wiped at the tears that fell with his laughter and he couldn't stop for a few minutes. But when he did, he was calmer. He looked into her eyes, and he was utterly sincere when he said, "Diane, I don't want any other girl."

She blinked and it was adorable.

"But…but that doesn't mean…you could…" She was twirling her hair in her fingers. King reached forward and touched her hands, then gently holds them steady.

"Diane, you have always been the only girl I see. That hasn't changed and it never will." He was smiling at her, to assure her and because he couldn't possibly stop smiling even if he wanted to.

Even when she knocked him over with the force of her hug and her laughter rang like music in his ears.

Next chapter: Gilthunder and Margaret