"Oi, Sonoko-kun!" Heiji said, trotting into the kitchen and waving down the girl, who paused, skillet full of something that smelled delicious, to glance at him.

"Ohayo, Heiji-kun. Breakfast is already over, but I think Ai-chan saved something for you, she's in the scullery doing the dishes." Sonoko said as she went back to her task.

"That's good to know, I'm starving, but that's not why I'm here, I need your help with something." Heiji said, glancing through the small door and spotting Ai-chan at the sink, as usual.

"Me? What could you need me for, its not as though you can have me as your personal chef or anything, but I'm sure there's someone around here who would take up the job, some of the castle maids would die for that kind of job, you know-." Sonoko rambled on before Heiji stuck out a hand to stop her.

"No, not that! I was wondering about the new chamber maid, the one who was taking care of Ayumi-chan and who doesn't have assignments yet?" Heiji said, eyeing the cook.

"Oh, you mean Kazuha-chan! What about her?" Sonoko exclaimed, wondering what kind of juicy gossip the prince was about to tell her.

"Do you know who she's getting assigned to?" Heiji asked and Sonoko grinned discretely.

"I heard Her Majesty would be handling her assignments as soon as Ayumi-chan was well again, as she was doing a fair job as the girl's nursemaid. I actually heard she was considering just making Kazuha-chan a full time nursemaid, she has a pleasing bedside manner, or so I heard. But, apparently, she doesn't think too highly of you, Heiji-kun, she heard some rumors...." Sonoko trailed off.

"All nonsense, of course." Heiji said, with a devil's grin that said quite the opposite.

"Of course." Sonoko chimed back. "Why did you want to know about her?"

"Why, I heard she didn't like me! I take that as a challenge!" Heiji exclaimed and Sonoko nearly face-palmed.

"What exactly are you proposing?" Sonoko deadpanned and Heiji grinned.

"I solemnly swear that I will make this girl, this 'Kazuha-chan', fall in love with me. And you, Sonoko-kun, are going to help me!" Heiji said.

"See something you like?" Sonoko grinned suggestively.

Heiji waved her off. "I haven't even seen her yet, but it wouldn't due for one girl in the castle to not be swayed by my dashingly good looks."

Sonoko frowned. "I refuse to help; you'll break her heart, to make someone fall in love with you just as a way to inflate your ego! I won't stand for it, you can be sure. Not get out of my kitchen before I'm forced to call on Ran-chan!"

"Sonoko-kun...." Heiji started.

"I refuse!" Sonoko demanded, having already turned around to pay more attention to the meal she was making. It was actually a get-well meal for poor Ayumi; Sonoko rather missed the girl's cheerful disposition.

Heiji grabbed her arm and forced her to turn around. "I wasn't asking, Sonoko-kun, I order you to help me. To do otherwise would be treason."

Sonoko turned a horrible shade of undignified red, before wrenching her arm from his grasp. "Some days, I absolutely hate you, Your Highness, I'll help you rather than catch a date with the block, but I think you to be a horrible sort of person and I hope you're happy with that. I thought we were friends of sorts, but your willingness to command me around in such a way proves that theory wrong! I will help you and I will hate it! Now, get out of my kitchen and don't you dare go into the scullery or I shall spit in all of you food from this day forth!"

Heiji felt her words sting him inside but he didn't let it show on his face as he gave her a grin. "As you wish, Sonoko-kun. Ja ne!"

Sonoko fumed for a few more minutes before calming down some. She looked down to find she had burned the dish slightly and decided that it would not be fit to send a burnt meal as a get-well present. She poured the meat onto a spare plate. "Ai-chan!"

The girl walked in, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. "Yes, Sonoko-sensei?"

Sonoko handed her the plate. "I burnt this slightly, but it should still be pretty good, share it with the boys and pass on this message for me; do not, under any circumstances, treat the prince with anything other than cool formality until I say otherwise. And you may eat the breakfast you saved for him as well; if he comes asking for it, I was mistaken. Do you understand?"

Ai took the plate. "Yes, I understand completely. He is being unnecessarily cruel, is he not?"

Sonoko grimaced. "And not even for a slightly noble reason! He doesn't even know what she looks like! Oh, Ai-chan, how could he do such a thing? I realize he does not understand emotions all that well, that he is young and brash and, most of all, male. But is it possible that he is really this mean-spirited underneath his exterior?"

Ai looked at the plate. "I have a great liking for Heiji-san, but I can say that he has much to learn about the world and about girls. Maybe he'll learn is lesson this time. In the process of hurting others, one often injures thyself."

"How true. You are wise as you are cute, my lovely Ai-chan." Sonoko said and Ai turned, a grimace on her face.

A remark like that was not to be dignified with a comment.