Author's Note: As stated in the summary, I am eunc, just on a different and more active account. So please do not think that this is someone else ripping off one of my stories and report me. That would be most counter-productive for you and me.

If you haven't read "Memory of Yesterday," then reading this might be a little confusing. But you're more than welcome to read anyway.

I haven't quite gotten the "Memory of Yesterday" universe out of my system yet. So I will be writing seven vignettes of sorts just to close the universe off to me forever. Ages are very important as they tell you the progression of time, so I ask that you pay attention to that detail. Anyway, I hope that everyone enjoys this little spin-off. Please tell me your thoughts about this work, be they good or bad. Thank you!

22 rotations) Renard
21 rotations) Kolt/Siva
20 rotations) Folken
16 rotations) Diane
10 rotations) Miyuki

After and Ever
Folken Escarii de Fanel

"What do you think?"

A striped tail of iron-gray and black swayed back and forth pensively. Blue eyes turned away from the gorgeous sapphire-jeweled hairpin and towards the young man standing behind. "I think you got her something like this last week," Siva sighed hopelessly with a twitter of his ear.

The tom's twin, a rusty-iron colored cat man, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I remember her wearing it yesterday when we went out. You can't get this either."

Running a hand through his raven hair, Folken Fanel sighed in frustration while maintaining his trademark stoic face. "I guess then we'll have to look a little more. I can't believe that today is her birthday. And her rotation celebration is going to start soon."

"Ne, Prince Folken, you still have some time," Kolt encouraged cheerfully. His black ears swiveled in time with his swaying rust-colored tail. "And it's not like Princess Miyuki is going to be angry if you don't have a gift."

"Dummy," Siva snapped while slapping the back of his brother's head. "It's her tenth-rotation celebration. It's a big deal to everyone. It wouldn't do if the Crowned Prince were the only one to show up without a gift!"

"Well, it's the idiot's fault for always doting on her like he does! If he would cut back on being such a fantastic big brother then it would be easier finding a gift for Princess Miyuki!"

As the cats continued to bicker about what the Fanelian prince should do, Folken smiled slightly. Kolt and Siva were about a rotation older than himself, and the three of them grew up together in the palace as if they were brothers—or as close as Merle would let them be, considering that Folken was the Crowned Prince of Fanelia. Even though the twins were older, Folken stood a head taller than them, having inherited his father's height. In fact, most of the prince's appearance came from his father: unruly sable hair, a tall and gangly figure, and a slightly darker complexion. Many in the kingdom even declared that the King and Crowned Prince had similar personalities. The most Folken had inherited from his mother were her ears and her eyes, her all-knowing emerald eyes.

Although I wish I had Mother's abilities right about now, the prince groaned silently as he remembered the task at hand. I would have at least guessed beforehand that something like this would happen. At twenty-rotations, an older brother should be able to remember his little sister's birthday!

Sensing the dark-haired man's worsening mood, the brothers stopped in their argument. Siva assured, "Prince Folken, I'm sure that we'll find something. After all, the entire kingdom is excited for Princess Miyuki, and everyone would be willing to help the Crowned Prince with his little sister."

Kolt shook his head in disgust. "Always the optimist, Siva."

"Hey! Are you picking a fight?"

"Want some of this?"

"Don't mess with me, jerk!"

"Yeah? Let's go, moron!" Kolt leaped at his brother and tackled him to the ground. Siva managed to rotate his body so that they would roll on the ground and he would land on top. The rust-furred brother then pushed off his twin and swiped at him with his claws; nimbly the gray tom skipped to the side and went for his counterpart from underneath. The two toms jumped and dodged each other like a circus act, attracting the local children.

"Masters Kolt and Siva are at it again!" they shouted excitedly to their friends. "Look!"

"I think Master Siva will win today."

"Nah, he won twice in a row already. Master Kolt will probably win this one."

Turning away from this typical behavior, Folken searched the market place from where he stood, hoping to see something of interest and worth. To his surprise, his verdant eyes stopped upon a glinting head bobbing in the middle of the crowd. "Prince Folken, what a surprise to see you outside the palace today," a young lady commented as she emerged gracefully from the mass of people. Although only sixteen-rotations old, she stood out against the crowd with her clear skin, vibrant sky eyes, dark wavy hair, and lovely developing form. She wore a pale pink dress with a white Asturian laced collar and matching gloves.

And one of her gloved arms looped into the arms of her fiancé. Twenty-two rotations old, the young man stood at even height with Folken. The Asturian royalty's curling mahogany hair and jaunty smile fit with his royal garments. Upon seeing the Fanelian prince, he expressed the same sentiments as his betrothed. "I thought you would be at the palace with your sister making preparations for tonight," the Crowned Prince of Asturia added.

Folken bowed politely to Renard Aston and his lady companion Diane Schezar in greeting. "I have some matters to settle outside."

"By matters, you mean finding a present for Miyuki?" Renard chuckled lightly. Usually, Folken would be annoyed by such familiar behavior; but since Renard was two rotations his senior and a good old friend, the Fanelian prince took the teasing in stride.

"It's very important," he answered straightforwardly.

"Yes, indeed it is," Renard laughed kindly. "She is after all your most precious little sister."

"I'm happy to be invited to Princess Miyuki's rotation celebration," Diane said as she observed right and left, "but I don't understand why you, Prince Folken, and every other Fanelian is making such a large fuss over the occasion. If I didn't know any better, I would think that you were giving the princess away in marriage, never to see her again in Fanelia."

"It is a lot for a single birthday," Renard agreed with a nod. "In Asturia, your tenth-rotation isn't much to celebrate. That, and it's very odd to see you so fussy, Folken."

Verdant eyes blinked in confusion. "Me?"

"The Prince Folken that we know and remember from those visits in the summer is a composed and indifferent Crowned Prince of Fanelia," Diane explained with a devilish smile, one that Folken had seen on her mother's face many a time. "You're not one to show much affection publicly, nor are you the type to be easily flustered."

"I haven't selected a present for my sister yet," Folken explained lamely. He hated showing this side of him to others, especially those who he would have to deal with constantly in the future. Although a friend, the Crowned Prince of Asturia should not see Folken's weaknesses—as Fanelia's future ruler, Prince Folken needed to maintain his image of strength and solidity.

Why can't I do this as easily as Father?

"And this too is out of character," young Lady Schezar added with a shake of her dainty head. Her dark ringlets swayed with her. "In Palas, you would always be prepared ahead of time, never allowing a mistake or imperfection. It's bizarre to see you so...so human."

Instantly, Siva and Kolt bristled. "Now see here, you brat!" Kolt snapped at the noblewoman while dusting himself off. "You may be a royal guest here at Fanelia, but that doesn't allow you to speak like that to Prince Folken!"

"Yes, there's no reason to be so rude!" Siva put in as he helped his brother and himself.

"I'm not being rude," Diane responded indignantly, turning slightly away from a forming dust cloud. "I'm just remarking on the fact that Prince Folken, a man famous for his flawlessness, has made a grave mistake in regards to his most precious sister. Mother often speaks of how fond the prince is for Princess Miyuki. It's not like him to forget a present for a very special day, nevertheless a very special person."

"He has many things to be concerned about today," Kolt snipped. "It's not his fault that he couldn't prepare a gift for Princess Miyuki on time."

"Yeah!"

"Siva, Kolt, it's all right. There's no need to get angry."

"But—"

The prince shot the twins a warning glare. "It's all right."

"Folken, what are your other duties that it would take so much of your time and thought?" Renard questioned, hoping to divert Folken's growing annoyance. "It must be immense since you've been occupied with it for days now, I assume."

"On top of my regular duties, I've been tending to the memorial rites of some Royal Family members."

At the brief explanation, Folken could see the confusion on Renard's face, the Asturian prince not understanding. Intelligent in many matters of the world, Renard knew that Miyuki had not been born on the death anniversary of any Fanelian royalty. So he was bewildered by what Folken told him. Whose memorial rites were the Crowned Prince attending to?

"Five rotations ago on this very day, the Royal Children of Fanelia were attacked by a dragon," Folken began quietly. "Since it was Miyuki's birthday, I took her and my other brothers and sister out on a picnic to celebrate. Father had gone to Cesario for a summit while Mother was away in Freid to help Duchess Marine during her pregnancy. I was in charge of the country then, and I decided that we would leave the city walls and play near the forest."

He swallowed before he shakily continued, "The dragon...It came out of nowhere. Before I could do anything, Slanzar and Niri were killed. He was ten and she was seven. Goulas did his best to protect Miyuki...he managed to blind the dragon in both eyes before he also fell. He would be seventeen today, and probably a better warrior than me." Folken shook his head at the memories. "By the time I drew my sword, the dragon was about to eat Miyuki with Goulas dying in its claws. I managed to slay the devil and save the only sibling I had left."

There was a moment of silence before Folken said more.

"Mother and Father always tell me every rotation that I'm not responsible for what happened to them," he said almost as a whisper. Especially after the incident, while they had been mourning for their three children, his mother and father had assured him with tears and broken hearts that Folken should not blame himself. The prince could never forget his mother's heart-wrenching sobs or his father's cracking voice while he held the queen. "But, as you see, that's not something I can easily believe."

"Prince Folken always visits the graves and prepares the rites," Kolt explained.

"Not even the King and Queen dare to stop him," Siva murmured.

"Do you see now, little missy?" Kolt demanded from the younger Diane. "It's not at all a laughing matter, saying our prince isn't human. In fact, he's probably more human than anyone in Palas or that damn country of yours. With the rites to ready, Prince Folken still has to complete his duties as a diplomat—earlier he was busy with the dispute between Freid and Ezgardia and settling the trade agreement between them."

Siva put a hand on his brother's arm to quiet him. "You must admit, Lady Schezar and Prince Aston," the black and gray tom said in a gentler tone, "that Prince Folken is not as indifferent or emotionless as people assume."

"I'm sorry." Renard looked to the ground in shame. "I knew that some of the Royal children had died rotations ago, but I never knew the story. I sincerely apologize for my behavior earlier: to you, Folken, and to everyone in Fanelia."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Diane apologized as well.

"It's all right...it's not something that many people outside of Fanelia know about," Folken assured calmly. Now he felt uneasy at the sight of Diane's tears; he hoped that the queen would not think that he had bullied the Asturian noblewoman. That would be the cake topper, the raven-haired man groaned. Mother would eat me alive if she knew I made a girl cry. "You really wouldn't have known. It pains our country to remember, so not many speak about it, nevertheless to outsiders." He then gave them a bow. "Now if you will excuse me, there is still some time left before the celebration's start. I might still find something before then. I will see you two in the grand hall." Folken ran off, Siva and Kolt hot on his heels.

"Sorry, Prince," Kolt apologized first. "We lost our cool."

"We should have kept calm," Siva admitted.

"It's fine," the twenty-rotation old panted as he maintained his sprint. "You were just watching out for me, like always. Now do me one better and help me find a present for Miyuki."

Knowing that they were forgiven, the twin troublemakers saluted playfully, "As you command, Your Majesty!"

They searched amongst the stalls until the sun completely sank behind the mountains and fireworks lit up the evening sky. Princess Miyuki's tenth rotation celebration had begun.

"I'm out of time..." His broad shoulders sagging, Folken sighed hopelessly. "I'll just have to face her empty-handed. I hope that Miyuki will be able to forgive me."

The twins looked to each other with mischievous smiles. "Prince Folken!" they sang together.

"Huh?"

Drumming their fingers together with excited anticipation, the cats with Chesire grins beamed in unison, "We know a perfect gift for Princess Miyuki!"

"What?"

"We'll tell you once we reach the castle," the brothers laughed as they led the chase. An hour and a half later after a flurry of getting clean and finding the proper garments, Folken finally entered the grand hall properly dressed and completely out of breath. Before he could regulate his breathing, a black-haired girl a fourth of his height ran gleefully towards her brother.

"You're here! You're finally here!" the young princess giggled happily. Twirling in her short dress in front of the prince, the ten-rotation old said, "Look, Brother, look! Mother braided my hair today and tied it like this. She said that people on the Mystic Moon wore their hair like this sometimes. What do you think? Is it all right?"

Her shiny ebony hair had been plaited into two braids, each heavy braid then looped back at it's beginning. Deep-blue ribbons bows connected the ropes of hair. The little girl's glowing green eyes stared at Folken for approval. Kneeling before her, he gently touched her hair and affirmed, "They're lovely, Miyuki."

With a smile that belonged both to the queen and princess, Miyuki hugged her brother and thanked him.

Folken having finally completed the party, the celebration then continued, first with dinner and then cake. Afterward, there would be presents for Miyuki to open. Fanelian tradition observed birthdays differently, but their father had remarked how he enjoyed their mother's happier, sentimental tradition more than Fanelia's more solemn one. So whenever King Van could bully his advisers and councilmen into agreement, he would commemorate rotation celebrations in Mystic Moon style.

Father is really far too fond of Mother. It's a wonder how she hasn't left him from being smothered so much.

Once dinner was done, the party moved into the throne room. Everyone presented their gifts to the young princess as she sat patiently on her throne.

When it came to Folken's turn, he told his sister apologetically that he could not get a gift for her. Feeling ashamed for failing so miserably, he told her that he would do anything that she asked to compensate for the present. In response, Miyuki wrapped her arms around her brother's neck and said, "Of all people, I don't need anything from you, Brother."

"But—"

"Thank you for being my older brother. Without you, I wouldn't even be alive today." She smiled at him. "You know, when we were all together, we were happy to know that you were our older brother. Big Brothers looked up to you, and Sister was always proud of you. I wouldn't trade being your sister for anything."

"Such serious yet insightful words for a girl only ten-rotations old," Van chuckled as he pat his only daughter on the head. Turning to his son, the middle-aged man grinned, "Don't you think?"

Nodding, Folken then said, "I may not have a physical present to give you, but there is something else I can give you." I can't believe that I'm actually doing this. But I don't have any other choice... Kneeling in front of his sister, he took her hand and said aloud, "I give you, Princess Miyuki Variel de Fanel, my word as Crowned Prince Folken Escarii de Fanel that I will marry Lady Kore of the House of Songi, just as you asked me to do two weeks ago." He stood up and glanced across the room, where a lovely young Fanelian noblewoman stood with a blush blooming across her face.

This isn't fair to her, Folken acknowledged regretfully as he watched his sweetheart. He had known Kore for most of his life, her being the House of Songi's third child and visiting Fanelia's capital often. But it had only been within the last few moons that Folken had started openly courting her. And now I'm being a bastard by suddenly proposing to her just to have a gift to Miyuki. I only hope that I won't be completely rejected...

Walking up to her, the prince asked carefully, "Is that all right with you? I know that this is sudden, but I—"

"For you, anything is fine," Kore replied happily behind her hands. Blinking away some tears, she turned away, "I'm sorry, please excuse me. I'm just so happy..." She then bowed to the princess, remembering how the engagement required Miyuki's approval. "If you would have me as a sister, Princess Miyuki, I would be deeply honored."

Running up to the eighteen-rotation old lady, the little girl hugged Kore around the legs. "I would be very happy."

Pleased to see Miyuki so readily approve of his future wife, he said to her, "Then I will make the public announcement tomorrow."

"Thank you, Brother. I'm very happy that you've finally decided to marry Lady Kore."

"Are you? Everything that you wanted should only make me happy."

"Ne, but that makes me happy, seeing Brother happy," the little princess confessed. Her words make Folken wonder exactly how well did Miyuki know his heart and the guilt he felt towards her and their late siblings. "Now that you're marrying, you'll always have someone who can stay with you and share that happiness with you." Miyuki then snickered mischievously. "And now I can share all your secrets with Big Sister—I can call you that now, right?—with Big Sister Kore."

Pinking in embarrassment, Folken nabbed his little sister and tickled her with a poker face. "Who do you think you're telling anything to, you little imp? Perhaps I should let Kolt and Siva have their way with you and bully you like they used to? Or maybe their brother Balentin?" Quietly in the Miyuki's ear he whispered, "Or should I fly you up the highest tree and just leave you there?"

Pinching and stretching her brother's cheeks, the princess whispered back, "You know I could fly right back down—and Father would be very angry. Nana Merle might actually be angrier."

Folken blanched at the thought of dealing with the she-cat that had spawned and controlled Fanelia's most dangerous duo. "You win."

"I think it's lovely you're finally engaged," Fanelia's queen agreed while coming alongside her children and future daughter-in-law. She took Kore's hand and smiled. "It'll be nice for Miyuki and me to have you live with us. We've been worried about how traveling from Songi to the capital every other week would take its toll on you." One thing Folken admired about his mother was her constancy; Queen Hitomi's continuous grace and kindness, as well as her long-lasting beauty, had made her famous throughout Gaea. And even now, although she was into her forties and standing beside a maiden, Hitomi did not look all that much older than her late twenties.

Perhaps Kore will be blessed by the gods like Mother has.

"Hopefully your fiancée is not as stubborn as your mother," Van teased his son while patting him on the back in congratulations.

"The only person stubborner than me on Gaea is you," Hitomi retorted.

"Doubtful, beloved."

Folken shook his head at his father. Miyuki grinned sweetly and said in a sing-song voice, "You shouldn't have said that, Father!"

"You're right, Van," Hitomi conceded with a grin that froze Van's heart. "And that's why you're sleeping by yourself from now on. I'll be staying in the east wing because I'm so stubborn." Before the king could get a word in, the queen turned on her heel and began chatting merrily with her future daughter-in-law.

Well...she's merciful and kind to everyone but Father...only because he's asking for it.

"Father, you know better than anyone what Mother's temper is like," Folken sighed tiredly while looking at his sulking parent. "You've known her since you ascended the throne when you were fifteen. Honestly, if you don't like being away from her so much, don't make her angry like that. You're forty-four rotations old and have been married for over twenty; please act your age in regards towards your wife."

"Don't worry, Father," Miyuki comforted as she took Van's hand in her soft little one. "Since it's my turn, I'll ask Mother to forgive you. And because it's my birthday, it's even better."

While the ten-rotation old girl led her father away to reconcile him with her mother, someone placed a strong hand on Folken's shoulder. The Crowned Prince turned to face a smiling Lord Hiigo. "Congratulations on your impromptu engagement, My Prince. I wish you all the good fortune our gods could possibly grant. After your announcement tomorrow, I will make our House ready for another Intended."

"Thank you, Uncle." Although they were not related by blood, Hitomi regarded Hiigo like a cousin, and therefore he basically was family to Folken and Miyuki. And the Fanelian lord had acted like a doting uncle to the Royal Children through the rotations, so he more than deserved the title. The prince knew that his new fiancée would be in good hands with Hiigo. "I leave Kore to your care and tutelage."

"I'm honored," Hiigo bowed formally as he walked away to dote upon the little princess.

Finally left to himself, Folken sighed as he closed his eyes as he thought of everything he was responsible for. He still had the Asturian contracts to look over, as well as the new trading policies from Freid and Zaibach; Ezgardia had a new proposal for agricultural techniques and hoped Fanelia would partner with them...And now Folken was engaged and would have to make all the proper arrangements with the court as well as Kore's parents. Although stressed and pressed with burdens from all sides, the Crowned Prince remembered what his namesake uncle had told him with a smile in a dream five rotations ago.

Take one ordeal at a time...one day at a time.