Author's notes: I'm back again guys! I apologize for the late update, but I have started working full-time at my uncle's restaurant and didn't have time to update (he's a tyrant when it comes to work). Now I'm back though and intend to continue my story. I didn't expect anyone to review this fanfic of mine, but thank you all for your encouragement. I will not let you down (I hope).

Disclaimer: I don't own D. Gray-man.


Chapter 3

Silence was unnerving, especially in an awkward situation such as this. The sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor was the only sign that someone was there. Miranda followed Klaud silently and dutifully as she led the way. She knew the princess well enough to understand that she was angry. Why though? Why would anyone become angry because of what they said to her? She was fairly used to this kind of treatment. After all, she came to believe that she, herself, was useless. She was ready to voice out her question, but their walk came to a halt and they stopped at Klaud's room.

"We're here" was the only thing she said and ushered Miranda inside. Miranda started panicking because the princess brought her here for a talk. What if the princess fires her? Tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes. She needed to apologize quickly.

"I'm sorry" said a very nervous-looking Miranda.

"What for?" asked Klaud with a confused expression.

"I spoke out of line, but I felt the need to defend you, your highness. I know that is not my place to-"

"That's enough, Miranda. There's no need to apologize for what you did. You did what you felt was right and that was very brave of you. I'm proud of you, Miranda." She smiled gently at her.

Everything became silent once again. Miranda, still in shock, processed Klaud's words, and once they registered in her brain, she blushed profusely. "She's different from anyone I've met and worked for before. She's kind and patient with everyone. She even chose me as her lady-in-waiting."

Still blushing, she managed to return her friend's rare smile. Being her lady-in-waiting sure had its advantages. Miranda knew that aside from her father, she's the only one who has seen Klaud smile. She didn't mean to brag but her smile itself was a sight to behold for she rarely smiles. Her smiles, during social gatherings, lack the usual warmth. She just smiles for appearance's sake because she knows that these noblewomen are eager to find something negative to comment on about her in order to stain her good reputation. Whereas, right now, she's smiling at her with her guard completely down. That's why, Miranda is so happy to serve her.

Suddenly, Klaud frowned. "Although, I'm supposed to be a little angry at you for demeaning yourself while you were defending me"

"I'm sorry" came her automatic reply.

She just sighed while Lau Shimin snickered as if finding the whole situation amusing. "Let's just go to the town"

"Yes."


Cross sighed. He was supposed to return to the Aureliun kingdom by now. That annoying prince was going to kill him by demanding more training because he was absent for a whole week. It's not that he didn't like the prince or something along the lines of that. They were friends somehow, for reasons unknown to the both of them. It's the training he despises. "I guess being the best general has its drawbacks." He feels like he's wasting too much precious time training whereas he could do something more exciting that involved him, a woman and a bed. Speaking of which, last night was blast. He had forgotten that woman's name but he knew she was good at what she was doing.

"I've decided. I will go to that town" he thought as he entered a town. Besides, what's a day or two going to do to me anyway? I still have to train the prince once I return." The town he's just entered looked very prosperous because it belongs to the Amalthea kingdom. The king was taking a really good care of his people. Anyways, he didn't come here to admire the king. He came here for another reason. Yep, you guessed right. He came here for… hunting.

He was aware of the looks some of the women were giving him. They were captivated by his looks and their eyes reflected the lust they felt. He smirked. It couldn't be helped that he was that handsome (A/N: someone needs to kick him off his high horse). He passed by them and they sighed. Of course being a ladies' man, he didn't let the opportunity slip. He stopped in front of a brunette-haired woman, took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. She instantly blushed.

"You are a sight to behold, my lady" he said in a suave tone that caused her blush to intensify.


Klaud sighed in contentment. It was so nice going out to the town. She felt confined within the castle walls and under everyone's watchful eye. Here, she could do anything she wanted.

"If I may your highness, what are we doing here?"

"I wanted to go out for a walk. I'm sure that you know that we're leaving in one week. Once we leave, we're going to stay there for two months. That's why I want to see the town before that."

"I see. Then, let's go to the market as well!" Miranda said excitedly and she just nodded her head.

"One more thing" she said in a somber tone.

"Yes, your highness?"

"While we're here, you can call me by my name you know." Her words were followed by a small pout.

"Um, I don't kno-". She was cut off by Klaud's probing stare. She gulped.

"As you wish your high-, I mean Klaud" she replied nervously.

"Great! Let's go now" she said as she dragged Miranda with her hand.

They finally reached the market. It was bustling with people. Stalls were everywhere, each selling different things. The people here looked happy and they loved their king. It made Klaud happy to see her beloved people like this.

Klaud was looking at the stall that was selling handmade jewelry. She wasn't interested in those expensive jewelries as she had a lot of them. She was ready to walk away but something managed to catch her eye; two pendants made out of silver. They were quite simple and that's why she loved them. The pendants were shaped like a half heart and once they connected they became a complete heart that said "Best friends" on it. One was carved with a sun on it and the other was carved with a moon on it. She instantly thought of Miranda and her. Although they were completely different in personality, that didn't stop them from becoming friends. Miranda's bright and kind personality went well with her seemingly cold and indifferent one. That's why Miranda reminded her so much of the sun.

"Is there anything that you like, young lady?" the stall owner asked.

"I would like these two" she replied, pointing at the two pendants.

"That would be 1000 gald, please."

Klaud handed a small pouch to him and took the pendants. "Keep the change."

"So, what did you buy?"

Klaud showed her the two pendants and gave Miranda the one with the sun carved on it.

"E-eh, but I didn't ask for anything."

"It's yours. I have my own pendant as well. I consider you my best friend and I would be honored if you were to accept my gift, however simple it is."

Miranda was moved by Klaud's words. "No, Klaud, I am the one who should feel honored seeing that you consider me as your best friend. I shall accept your gift."

They put on their respective pendants and clasped each other's hands. "Best friends forever" they said in unison. Lau Shimin whined in order to remind them that he was still there. They giggled at the white monkey's antics.

"I guess it's almost time to go home, right Miranda?"

"Yes. Eeep! I almost forgot! I need to attend to some matters. You should go ahead of me your highness. I will eventually catch up to you."

"No worries. I will go for a short walk as well. Once you finish, come here and we will go home together."

"I'll be back quickly, then."


"I guess I could roam a bit more." She resumed her walk while Lau Shimin was faithfully perched on her shoulder.

She liked what she was seeing so far. As she meandered once again through the crowd, she came across a happy family. A little girl was holding onto both her parents' hands, smiling joyfully. Seeing them so happy, she couldn't help but remember her own childhood. Her mother was beautiful. Long golden hair, eyes the color of dawn and pale skin. Her father said that she took after her mother, just a younger version of her. Her mother used to bring her to the town as well. Those were the happiest days of her life. As she was reminiscing, she didn't notice where she was going and that resulted in her bumping into someone.

"I'm sor-" was what Klaud wanted to say before she was rudely interrupted

"Watch where you're going, don't you have eyes to see?" somebody snarled.

"I already said I'm sorry!" came her indignant reply while she lifted her chin to glare at the stranger. He was weird from what she could see. He had long, red vibrant hair, was annoying tall, that she had to look up at him, and a half moon mask on the right side of his face. He seemed shocked.


Cross was in a bad mood. He was talking to that brunette when, suddenly, her husband appeared. Her husband accused her of cheating on him, but she defended herself by saying that he was the one who tried to hit on her, not the other way around. Of course, being a love-struck fool, he instantly believed her. Cross had to run for it.

"The nerve of that bitch! How dare she accuse me of trying to hit on her? Well, I did, but who was the one who encouraged me? And that fool fell instantly into her trap! These two complete each other; the love-struck fool and the manipulative bitch. If I ever-" still absorbed in his angry train of thoughts, he didn't pay attention to where he was going until he bumped into a soft body.

"I'm sor-"

Seeing that he was rudely interrupted from his thoughts and that he was already in a bad mood, he snarled at the poor stranger "Watch where you're going, don't you have eyes to see?"

"I already said I'm sorry!" replied indignantly a woman. Wait a moment… a woman? Oh shit. He was royally screwed. He needed to make amends and soon. Otherwise his reputation would be destroyed. "We can't have that, can we?"

He looked down at her, ready to apologize, and was initially shocked. No, not because she was ugly. On the contrary, she was very beautiful. However, she was glaring at him right now, him of all people! No woman has ever done that! They always sigh and giggle whenever he smirks at them. And if they ever got angry, he would help them forget their anger. This woman, however, was a different case. She was still glaring at him. Perhaps, she's angry because he snarled at her. That must be it. No matter. He will change that expression of hers in a matter of seconds. They will start talking to each other and hopefully do something more afterwards. She was a beauty after all and he needed to have her as soon as possible.

"Please forgive my insolent behavior, my lady. I didn't mean to yell at you" he smiled at her in what looked like a charming way. He was right; her expression did change but not to one he was expecting. She rolled her eyes and then scowled at him. Yup, he didn't expect that, at all.

"Cut with the crap. Your sweet talking doesn't work on me" she replied.

For the first time in his life, Cross felt as if he had been slapped in the face. Never before has any woman resisted his charms. That was a first. To say he was shocked was an understatement. It didn't help that the white monkey, that was perched on her right shoulder, was sniggering at him. It was another blow to his already bruised ego.

"…"

"Well?"

"Perhaps, if I were to treat you to dinner, would that suffice as an apology?" he asked suggestively.

"That is your way of saying sorry? Have you ever apologized to someone properly? If not, then you must be out of your mind to actually believe that I would accept this poor excuse of an apology. I'm leaving." To further prove her point, she turned around and left.

"What did just happen?" he thought as he watched her retreating figure fade into the distance. His day was turning from bad to worse.


Klaud was fuming, no, she was seething with anger. How dare that man snarl at her and then casually ask her for her forgiveness? It was as if he never yelled at her in the first place. He thought that he would get away with it with his sweet talking and inviting her over for dinner. The nerve of that guy! He may have persuaded other women with this method, but not her! She took pride in herself for being different from those women. "I hate hopeless men. Hopefully, we won't meet again." Without noticing, she reached the meeting spot but Miranda still wasn't there. Her brow furrowed. "Miranda sure is late. Could she have gone ahead of me because I was late and she didn't find me? Or did something happen to her?"

Klaud shook her head, hoping that nothing happened to her dear friend. She was ready to look for her but, as if sensing her thoughts, Miranda appeared. She was blushing profusely for some reason.

"So… what happened?"


I finally finished chapter 3. Yay! I wonder though, have I gone a bit rusty from my long absence? Anyways, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it so far.