I am simple

Yet confusing

I find rich cakes with

Heavy cream

Nauseating

But light tea and biscuit

To my taste

The scent of wild flowers

Seems sweeter than any perfume

And silk

Isn't half as treasured as

The quilt I sew by hand

Can you understand me?

More than myself?

1 UNEXPECTED

CHAPTER TWO

"Here," Meshyou said as she piled a heavy load of laundry into Tohru's arms, "After you finish washing those you can start on the dishes, and after that the halls need a sweepin', the floors can be scrubbed too."

Tohru felt herself staggering as she raised her neck and saw the mountain of dirty china stacked on top of each other. Her arms throbbed, her eyes could hardly open, and a headache was invading her brain.

"I'm sorry," Meshyou smiled kindly at her, "you are such a hard-working girl, and you've done so much already, I suspect you're tired."

"Not at all, Meshyou-san works more than anyone I know." Tohru shook her head vigorously, " If anyone should be tired it's Meshyou-san."

"You are such a sweet girl," The older woman sighed, "But we are all going to be working extra hard these days."

"Why?"

"They say some foreign prince is coming to Holaine, and the King wants to hold a huge banquet for his welcome. It's been crazy these past days, and you haven't even seen the kitchens. The cooks are striving for perfection, very competitive those people, they're on the warpath with each other every morning."

"A prince?" Tohru asked as she followed Meshyou out the door, "What would a prince be doing here?"

"I'm sketchy on the details, but it's something about an marriage alliance, they say the prince has to choose a bride from one of Holaine's three princesses."

"A bride…?" Tohru echoed.

"Since the King has no sons, he wants his son-in-law to be his heir. So whichever princess the prince chooses will be the future queen. I wonder which one he'll pick?"

* * *

The sky was clear and the air was fresh, if Kyou wasn't forced into something against his own will he might of enjoyed this outing---but he was, so he did not. The marriage business had come as sort of a shock to him, and it was wearing off a bit. Kyou didn't usually care about the things he was forced in to, but the fact of being forced into anything bothered him much, much more. He was, after all, his own person.

But did he let this show? Hell no. He was used to situations like this, his entire life was forced onto him, but experience made him a teacher. Kyou grinned and slouched in his seat, showing a confident yet relaxed expression, he would never have made it this far in life if he couldn't control his emotions. Emotions…another sentimental and touchy subject, to Kyou it was extra baggage, something you couldn't just put down and leave behind, but choosing to use it or not was another matter…

The ship swayed slightly and waves splashed, seagulls flew ahead with its wings gliding on air, Shigure looked…green.

"We are reaching Holaine." He said, more to himself than Kyou.

"Can you wait that long?"

"I'll manage," Shigure took a deep breath and willed his dizziness to go away, it didn't.

"Your father, his majesty wishes to tell you of his deep regrets, he had diplomatic business and couldn't make it to see you off. But he'll be at the wedding."

Another good reason to get married, Kyou's brain responded, to get away from family.

"I accept his regrets, but I'm not sure if they are that deep."

"Kyou…forget about the past…it was a long time ago…"

Kyou's eyes hardened like cold marbles. "I'll forgive him when my mother comes back to life."

And they were silent for a long time after that, until Shigure excused himself to go somewhere and throw up.

The ship sailed on.

* * *

Tohru scrubbed stubbornly at a dirty spot on the dish that just did not go away.

I will not be frustrated. She thought in frustration. I came from long line of women excelled in kitchen cleaning; my mother, my grandmother, my grandmother's mother, and probably even my grandmother's grandmother, I can't let one little spot get in my way.

"Tohru-san!" Meshyou called as she sailed through the kitchen, Tohru promptly dropped the dish in surprise and it clattered loudly in the sink.

"Have I got news for you." Meshyou beamed so brightly that Tohru smiled along with her.

"What is it, Meshyou-san?"

"That prince has just arrived! The whole palace is buzzing about him."

Tohru felt butterflies in her stomach for some reason; maybe it was because of all those fairy tale stories of brave, gallant princes rescuing damsals in distress or fighting dragons that her mother had told her as a child.

"I wish a prince would come for me." She would used to say every night before going to bed.

"One day, he will come." Her mother had told her.

"I have never seen a prince before." Tohru said curiosity.

"You will see him tonight, he'll be at the banquet."

* * *

"What do you think Kallies? Is the food better or worse than your home country?"

"I think it doesn't matter which country it is from, as long it taste good, then it is quite enough for me. And the food here is excellent." Shigure took a swig of wine before returning to his plate.

The banquet was huge. Kyou and Shigure sat with King Issaru at the largest table with the three princesses and a few other privileged guests. Maids came out once in a while and served a new dish, as if there weren't enough already on the table.

King Issaru roared into a hearty laugh.

"Good thing you came right before the Banquet, we had spent month preparing for your arrival. I'm sorry my daughters cannot see its success, for some reason they decided not to come, never less, you shall meet them tomorrow."

"My gratitude can not be spoken through words." Kyou picked up his wine glass and gazed at the liquid inside, his mind was starting to spin.

"You can thank me by drinking to a new toast." He quickly filled Kyou's cup and raised his in a cheer. "To the future! May our countries join with a happy marriage!"

"Here, here." Kyou muttered along with the others and gulped it down.

"You fine?" Shigure whispered when he noticed Kyou's face.

"No." Kyou grumbled back, the alcohol was starting to rush to his head. "I'll be right back."

Before anyone could say another word, he excused him self and left.

Shigure shrugged. "When nature calls, what can you do?"

* * *

Tohru was carrying a very large, silver plate that was piled tall with food. In fact, the food was piled so high that Tohru had trouble seeing behind it. Her feet stepped carefully after the other, it was very important that she did not fall…

* * *

The night air had done him self some good, his head was cleared and he tried to find his way back to the banquet with out getting lost. Kyou knew he was nearby, sounds of chattering guests and mild laughs could be heard, He closed his eyes and allowed a moment of relaxation as he continued his path.

* * *

Tohru gripped tighter on to the plate and hurried her steps; she could hear people and sense the brightness of oil chandeliers. Suddenly footsteps were heard from behind and she turned her body around…

Kyou heard a loud crash and then some one fell on him, a mound of food showered on the two of them and a chicken leg hit his forehead.

"I'm so sorry!" Tohru panicked and tried to get up, but accidentally elbowed him painfully in the ribs and fell on him again. Kyou drew in a sharp breath from the pain before pushing her off him less than gently.

She crouched on the floor and gazed up at him, unsure of what to do. The candles that lit these gloomy hallways set off a soft glow around her face, her eyes were innocent and pure, without a trace of gray in its clearness.

He could dismiss her, or just walk away without another thought; she was just a plain maid.

"Thank you." Tohru felt a hand slip around hers, helping her up and steadying her.

"Be careful next time and elbow someone else." His smile was almost teasing as he turned and walked away.

* * *

The main course was served, and now multicolored deserts found themselves toward tables.

"Aha…this one is especially good, you must try this, and this and this…"

Kyou politely accepted and took a small bite of everything King Issaru shoved in his face. It just so happens that everything was good to the King, so it must be eaten, whether he was hungry or not.

King Issaru's eyes suddenly brightened as he beckoned a passing maid to stop.

"This is our country's special, our tarts and pastries must be sampled, take one."

* * *

It's Him! Tohru thought in alert as she looked at Kyou, the person I crashed into, he must be really important if he's sitting at the King's table. I wonder who he is, a Duke? A Lord? Or---

"What do you think Prince Kyou?"

Kyou took one and bit into it, he forced a laugh down as the maid stared at him in complete shock.

"It's delicious." He smirked and reached for another one, leaning close he whispered.

"Don't drop this one."

As if awakening from a coma, Tohru's fingers slipped from the plate…and there was chaos.

Author's note: Exactly two pages longer than the first chapter; this is good, this is very good. If you read closely I'm dropping out hints about Kyou's past. In the 1st chapter Yuki calls Kyou his ' half-brother', and Kyou's hatred for his father, his life… but there is a reason for all of that, and to find out what---you'll just have to R/R. I am very worried, I get inspired a lot, and when ever I do, I usually start a new story, meaning I don't finished the one before that. I hope I won't have to stop working on 'Unexpected' until a long, long time.