For those of you who don't know: Sinkshipping is AmanexAtem, Gemshipping is TK BakuraxRyou and Mizushipping is Priest SetoxKisara :D

I wanted to start this while I was still 'in the mode' :D But I should warn you that this is just the prologue and I don't plan on updating it in quite a while :/ I need to get my other stories finished XD Anyway, thanks for reading :D :D :D I hope you like this~!

Also; the title is a play on 'Love in the Time of Cholera'. The story isn't based on that movie or anything, I just liked the sound of it~! Lol XD

It was nearly midday when the two people arrived outside the palace gate. The hot, Egyptian sun bore down upon them and the peasants' rags they wore were literally soaked with sweat.

One was lagging several feet behind; a young girl in her mid teens with long, white hair and gentle brown eyes. Her feet were dragging against the dusty earth, bound in cloth for the meagre protection this offered. The other was barefoot, but didn't seem to notice. He had the same long white hair and brown eyes as his sister and looked to be in his late teens to early twenties.

Finally, the girl let out an exhausted gasp and sank to her knees, panting. "I'm sorry, Ryou; I just can't go any further."

Ryou instantly ran back to her, crouched down and placed an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, Amane; we're here, see?"

Bleary-eyed, Amane looked ahead at the unwelcoming palace walls. She let out a sigh of relief; she hadn't realised how close they were.

But her relief was short lived. Suddenly, she froze up. "I don't want to do this, Ryou; I'm scared."

Gently, Ryou put his arms around her and rocked her back and forth gently. "You don't need to be afraid, Amane; I'm going to be right here with you. We need work, and you and I both know that there's no better place to find it than here in the palace."

"But I'm a girl, Ryou! And you're a boy." Amane bit her lip, a tear falling from her eye. "We don't do the same kind of work; what if they separate us?"

Ryou kept rocking her and gently kissed the top of her head. "They won't; I won't let them. And if they do, I'll find you again. I promise."

Amane wiped her eye. "Thank you, Ryou. I know you will. It's just…what if we do badly and get thrown out? Then we'll be moneyless again."

Ryou smiled, trying to reassure her. "We'll always have each other, and that's all we need."

Amane wasn't convinced. She bit her lip.

What could she possibly do? She knew that Ryou wanted them both to be safe; ever since their parents had died six years ago, he had been taking care of her alone.

Amane wished there was something she could do to pay him back. He had done so much for her; she couldn't even list it. And yet, no matter how hard she worked to help share his load, he always worked harder. It tortured Amane to feel so useless.

She didn't want him to worry about her; he already had enough to worry about. She didn't want to tell him that she didn't want to go. She didn't want to be a burden on him.

Nodding wearily, Amane pushed herself off her knees, taking Ryou's offered hand.

She hated being so weak; she tired so easily that couldn't dream of walking long distances, her arms couldn't move anything heavy. And she was always sickly and pale. She wished that Ryou would just give up on her; she never provided him with anything and she dragged him down. She truly was useless. She had to cling to and rest nearly all of her weight on her brother as she staggered the last few metres to the entry to the palace.

There were two guards waiting at the gate. They barred the siblings' way.

Ryou stopped in front of them, gently releasing his hold on Amane. She swayed unsteadily on her feet; she was just so tired...

"My sister and I are here looking for work," Ryou said, keeping his voice level.

The guards looked at each other. "I'm afraid it isn't as simple as that."

"We're willing to stay here all month if necessary," Ryou went on without breaking a sweat. "Don't tell me you don't have any work available; there must be something...anything."

After exchanging a few glances, the guards looked Ryou and Amane up and down. Despite the heat, Amane shivered.

She could only imagine what they must have looked like; two scraggily peasants crawling to the palace as their last hope. At least Ryou was fit and strong. Maybe he would have a chance.

"You can go; your sister shall stay here. We won't have any use for her."

Amane gulped, hanging her head low.

Still, Ryou was unfazed. "I don't believe that's for you to decide."

They looked amused, and burst out laughing. "Whatever you say." One of them turned around. "Are you coming or not?" he asked, calling over his shoulder.

Amane blinked, surprised. They had actually agreed?

Ryou didn't wait around; he grabbed Amane's hand before she could protest and led her after the guard.

The palace wasn't especially large, but next to the tiny lean-tos that Amane had grown up in, it was positively daunting. She clung to Ryou, peering out around herself with a mixture of fascination and fear.

The guard led them to a door. "In here is the person in charge of servants; if he can find work for you then great, if not, it's your bad luck. Go on then," he added with frustration when neither of them moved. "I don't have all day."

Casting one more look at each other, Amane and Ryou entered the room.