Chapter 3 - Accident

If Tohru was nervous before, it was nothing compared to how she was feeling now. Prince Yuki was even more charming than she had imagined, with charisma and a perfect polite character to match. She almost felt burdened by how she would retaliate to his intellectual comments.

The two were seated next to one another in a long dining table in the separate Ball room. Kyo stood guard with other officers and maids occasionally giving Yuki a scowl. Akito the king sat at the head of the table with various wines and platters assorted in front of him, and several members of the royal family sat down at the grand table enjoying the dinner the chefs in the kitchen had prepared. Shigure was on Akito's left side cleaning away his plate with much satisfaction. He eyed Yuki and Tohru interact with one another with interest as the two chattered about their hobbies and interests.

"So, princess, I'm sorry that this marriage was planned such short notice." Prince Yuki politely said spearing one of his roast lamb steaks. The food was in fact quite good in Junishi. He was used to cold and herbal food back at home.

"Oh, yes, I mean, I'm sorry as well." Tohru blushed trying to form her sentences with more ease. "But I'm sure we'll be able to draw closer to one another soon."

Yuki smiled and nodded. "I hope so."

Just then the Grand Chancellor announced with trumpets the start of the Ball in the second room. "All visitors. Guests, royals, please enter, with her highness Princess Tohru in front."

Tohru smiled and got up (a bit difficult with her heavy dress) and Yuki offered her his arm once more as the two entered the Ball Room in the next wing. The two were scheduled for the first dance, and everyone was to follow afterwards.

Kyo watched as Tohru blushed. Yuki gently placed his hands on her waist and hand and led her as the music began. He had on his perfect manners. She seemed like a completely different person the way she smiled and confidently spoke to him as the two circled around the ball room.

He was forced out of his trance when a maid accidently bumped into him and apologized. "I-I'm sorry. I'll watch where I'm going next time."

She then looked up and saw Kyo's hair and eyes and exclaimed with surprise. "Oh! You must be her highness's new palace guard!"

Kyo frowned. How did word travel around so fast?

"Yea. I am, and you are-?"

"I'm lady Kisa." Kisa smiled at him her arms full of presents the guests had brought for the princess. "I'm her lady in waiting. And closest to her chambers."

"Ah I see. Guess we'll run into each other more than." Kyo nodded at her. "Is princess Tohru alright with the marriage so early decided?" He almost smacked himself for asking. He had no place or right to.

"No." Kisa didn't seem to think his question strange or imposing at all. "She actually doesn't really know what to think of it. She just found out yesterday."

"Yesterday?!" Kyo blinked and his jaw almost dropped. What short notice…

He glanced once more at the dancing princess and watched as she smiled and spun in her golden dress. How did she handle all the pressure of being the princess and smile so big like that?

"Lady is strong." Kisa smiled following his gaze to princess Tohru. "She always does what's best for the kingdom."

Kyo nodded silently, his mind turning blank. "Oh…yea, guess I should go check some areas." He murmured suddenly remembering his duties and why he was there.

"Alright, let me know if you need anything officer Kyo." Kisa smiled at him and walked off with the several gifts.

…

Tohru was almost out of breath. The rapid dancing as well as her tight dress didn't really help her situation.

Prince Yuki was very polite, however he still held an air of holding several secrets or boundaries. He wondered whether or not he should try to find out more about the princess, or act coldly so that she would want to break off the marriage. However, so far he was having a great time conversing to her. He had never met such a cheerful and optimistic person. As the final song ended, Prince Yuki bowed to her. "I'm sorry princess, there are some people I have to pay my respects to."

"Of course." Tohru replied breathlessly and smiled. "I'll be out in the garden for some fresh air."

He nodded and smiled at her warmly before turning away. Tohru sighed and laid a hand to her chest. She definitely felt a bit hot. Maybe some fresh air would help?

She avoided the crowds and chatters of several nobles and visitors in the ball room, and finally made her way to the arched doorway that let to the botanical gardens. As she stepped outside feeling the rush of cool air, she felt immensely better by the air that now passed through her hair and dress. The night was bright for the full moon was out, and she could hear the quiet trickles of several fountains nearby. She decided to take a small stroll before heading back inside.

After several minutes Kyo was almost dozing off in a corner of the ball room when Kisa ran up to him her eyes almost brimming with tears. "Officer Kyo! Have you seen princess Tohru?"

"Tohru?" Kyo sleepily asked. Then he straightened up right away and blinked wildly. "The princess? Where is she?"

"That's what I must know! We might cut her birthday cake soon, so please find her!"

Kyo nodded in bewilderment, and began to scope the hallways and ball room in search for a small brunette. Where had she gone after her dance with Yuki?

He looked around for the familiar silver hair and noticed Yuki was calmly listening to a large circle of noble guests. They seemed to want to get on his good side since he might be a future king, however Yuki's smile was frozen in place as he conversed with them.

Kyo wondered about the stress of being a royal, but then shook his head bitterly. They might have it hard, but he had a hella hard time climbing his way up as well. No one had it easy…

He then spotted the doors that lay open to the botanical gardens. Taking a chance, Kyo decided to follow the corridors and out the door into the gardens.

…

While Kyo was searching for her, Tohru had taken to sitting on the ledge of a very large fountain, enjoying the peaceful rhythm of the water's sounds. She still couldn't breathe very well, however relaxing like that made her feel a bit better.

Suddenly, as Kyo stepped into the pathways to the fountain, crows inside the garden hedges burst out with large cries. Tohru exclaimed in surprise as some flew up towards her, and suddenly she was falling headfirst into the fountain below her. She gasped as water immediately began to weigh down her dress and into her mouth that she gasped open for air. She knew how to swim, but she had always had trouble learning how to breathe!

"He-lp!" She cried flailing her arms as the dress dragged her deeper into the water. She couldn't breathe! She couldn't even stand up! What could she do?

Kyo stopped hearing the familiar voice in the distance and immediately made his way through the hedges to the source of the sounds. He gasped as he saw flailing arms splashing above the ledge of the large middle fountain.

"Your highness!" He called and headed straight for the fountain quickly worming his jacket off of him before plunging headfirst into the water. Kyo hated water almost as much as he hated Yuki, however he knew the princess was drowning somewhere below. He opened his eyes frantically searching and found her almost unmoving in the corner of the base. He quickly swam towards her and pulled her up and out of the water gasping for breath. As he carried her to the ledge and placed her there, he hoisted himself up and out of the water. He took the princess once more in his arms and laid her on the ground feeling horror stricken that she wasn't moving. Her lips were blue and hair matted against her face. The dress underneath his arms felt like gold bricks combined with the water that soaked it through.

Kyo desperately tried initiating CPR, first giving Tohru a few chest compression, but to no reply. He held his ear against her mouth and realized she wasn't breathing at all!

"Damnit." He cursed and eyed the tight corset on Tohru's chest. He had heard her complain about how tight it was to Madame Rin before he had entered her chambers. Was it cutting off her need for air?

"Forgive me, princess Tohru." His gritted his teeth face turning red as he quickly got out his knife from his boot and cut away the binding in the sides of her dress. He took off the first layer of the heavy dress, tossed it to the side, and then cut the back of her corset averting his eyes from her drenched body as he tore the bindings.

The corset immediately sprang off, and Tohru finally gasped awake, her eyes blinking wildly in front of her. She coughed water out and Kyo quickly helped her sit upright and patted her back with the heel of his hand to help her receive more air.

Just then chatters of surprise were in the garden and a group of maids along with Kisa quickly made their way through the garden.

Kisa immediately made her way to Tohru with cries of alarm. "Oh! Goodness! Princess! Are you alright? Are you alright?!"

Tohru coughed and shivered violently. "Y-yes" She said hoarsely. She then noticed at her indecent wearing of clothing as well as her damaged corset that lay a foot away from her. "What happened?"

She then felt the foreign pressure on her back and yelped loudly seeing Officer Kyo holding her up. "O-officer, i-I'm so sorry, I mean how did you? How did i?"

"Enough." Kyo's face was bright red after what he had just done, but kept his voice as clear as he could. He looked to the maids and to Kisa. "Please take her back to the chambers to rest. She almost drowned just now."

"Y-yes!" Kisa tearfully helped Tohru up and several maids wrapped a thick cloak around her to shield her body from the outside. "Princess oh goodness we're so sorry, we don't deserve forgiveness! We'll order the royal physician to come right away!Please go get some rest!"

Tohru sighed. Her body felt extremely fatigued, however she felt that she was missing a large part of what had just happened. All she remembered was sitting next to the fountain, then sudden darkness. However she felt that officer Kyo had been a large reason as to how she was saved.

She turned to him. "Thank you. I am indebted to you." She bowed her head and smiled weakly to him.

Kyo blushed averting his eyes from her. "No, your highness, I need more forgiveness than anyone right now." He shook his head and bowed. "Please forgive me for my indecent acts."

"Indecent acts?" Tohru asked confused. "What do you mea-"

"Princess, please hurry inside you'll catch a cold!" A maid called from the distance bringing warm slippers for Tohru to change into.

"Oh, alright." Tohru blushed slightly at the havoc she had created and let her maids lead her back inside up to her chamber. "Please let the guests know they are free to enjoy the party until midnight. I will not attend until the last half to say goodbye."

"No, you have to rest princess." Kisa whispered her face filled with shame.

"No, it's my responsibility as the host of the party. I had my share of fun." Tohru smiled gently. "And I have to say goodbye to Prince Yuki."

Kyo watched as the group of girls headed up the stairs and sighed scrunching his hair with his hand. He definitely had crossed the line of respect to a royal.

On top of that he had seen the princess in her under bed clothes! Not that it revealed anything major, it was still indecent for a man and stranger like him to see…

Kyo frowned and tried to not think of that. He had been so worried though. Even if he was punished, he was just glad that she was safe, and unhurt. He squeezed out some of the water drenching his clothes and put on his dry cloak. He had to be more careful from now on. She was a strong princess, but she was in fact clumsy at times. He wondered if anyone had noticed her steal out of the ball room like that...

Kyo sighed and and began to walk back towards the castle. He decided he would at least stand guard in front of the princess's room while she rest.