Disclaimer: I do not own Akazukin Chacha.

Loving from Afar

By: Enigmatic Ice

Chapter 4

Lord Genus went to the general direction Shiine and his friends are going to just before he ambushed them. After just a little further of walking, they came up to a huge white door, same as the one they passed before. Lord Genus left him hurriedly on his own in front of it, saying that it will be his quarters, excusing himself by saying that he must be somewhere else.

Shiine thought that he is going to sleep in a big room since he will be staying in the royal wing, he thought right. But upon entering, he never imagined his room to be this grand. There was even a separate dressing room attached to it, with a large bathroom off of that, and another connecting door led to still another bedroom, which, to his shock, he realized was the princess's bedroom. She'd been put in the gentleman's half of the royal bedroom suites. Why? Surely, the palace had other rooms for guests; he knows many of them existed even without looking at the palace's plan.

This wouldn't do, must be a mistake, and he would have to tell Lord Genus just as soon as he calm his nerves. To accomplish that, he sat down on the edge of the bed but oddly enough, he felt excited and happy emotions dwell inside him. But he knows he should not support those feelings.

'I can't let myself get close to her again like the last time. I can't, it would be too painful… I'm not going to put myself in that same torture.'

Shiine stood up from the bed; his eyes focused and readied himself to talk to Lord Genus.

'Now, all I need to do is to find his Excellency's aura and I'm ready to go. He concentratedand after several seconds, 'Right, so he's in the Royal library, I'll go there now.'

Shiine teleported himself out and into an isolated place in the palace gardens that is nearest to the Royal library. He did this so that no one else would see him if he ever landed. He wouldn't like it if anyone in the palace would see him just appear at some place out of nowhere. He then walked towards the library where he felt the aura of the old king.

As he strode towards the gardens, he saw Chacha and Riiya talking near the entrance of the labyrinth in the royal garden. Something tugged inside him upon seeing the sight, but nonetheless, he ignored it. He knew he feels jealous, but he also know that he couldn't act on his own emotions. He wouldn't dare near his two best friends this time, afraid to be hurt further.

'I'm such a coward'. Shaking his head, Shiine just proceeded to continue his walk towards the library, bothered.

He spotted the royal library just in front of him. It's big and it contains most of the information and ancient text in the kingdom. Outside, it looks just like an Old Catholic church, minus the statues of saints and the cross. Above the door lays a glass insignia of the royal family.

Shiine opened the door and went indoors. Inside, Shiine was surprised to see that the library actually has three storeys and has a tall ceiling where light could pass through because of the transparent glass material. The middle of the three storey library is void; through it, Shiine could see the three floors. There are large number of books and shelves, old tables and chairs could also be found on the different parts of the library. The sight made Shiine smile. This is actually the first time he went inside the Royal library, and he knows this will be one of his most favorite places in the castle.

After admiring the whole library from the ground, Shiine then proceeded to where he feels Lord Genus's aura. He easily found him, sitting comfortably in one of the soft settee in the library, reading a book.

"Ughhmm", Shiine cleared his throat, hoping to get attention from the older man.

"Excuse me your highness…" he paused, waiting for some indication if the old man noticed him.

Slowly, Lord Genus looked away from the book he is reading, and looked towards the man who interrupted him from his reading. To his surprise, he saw Shiine in front of him, looking anxious about something he clearly knew of. 'Darn. I thought I will not see him until Dinner! How did he know where I am that fast anyway?!' Although reluctant, he knows that he have no other choice but to talk to the young magician.

"Yes Shiine? Is there something that you'd want to discuss with me?"

"Yes your highness and I am very sorry to interrupt your reading," Shiine said, bowing his head in apology.

"Why don't you sit sown there Shiine, and maybe relax a bit. You're too stiff! If you carry on like that the girls in the kingdom would stay away from you!" Lord Genus's chided, chuckling a bit with his own joke.

Shiine sat down immediately, wanting to discuss the subject he came for before the sun went down. He has to have another room for the night or who knows what he might do!

"Lord Genus, ummm, you see, I think there has been some confusion in my sleeping quarters."

"Huh?" the ex-king looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean by that my boy?"

"I think, I have been placed in the wrong room. I think your highness, I have been placed in the princess's adjoining bedroom", at that, he particularly looked at the lord's book in hand, trying hard not to blush.

Lord Genus faced him squarely, but his eyes seem to pass through Shiine's body. He doesn't look as if he is seeing the younger man right now, as if he's mind is else where…

"Your highness?" Shiine asked cautiously.

The ex-king bolts up quickly after hearing the younger man's quiet voice as if he just waked up from his stupor. "Oh! Right, right… your sleeping quarters. Well Shiine, I want you to know that you are situated accordingly, that is the room you are supposed to make your room. It will make your job a lot easier, since it will give you full access on the Chacha if ever she will be in trouble."

"B-B-But!!!! That's unacceptable! It might bring shame to the royal family if word goes out!"

Shiine shouted furiously at Lord Genus, with a deep red blush adorning his face. He can't believe this is happening to him! He just couldn't decide if luck is on his side or does lady fate is playing games with him. Guarding the princess is torture enough for him but why? Why do they have to share one room?!

Then it hit him, what Lord Genus said makes perfect sense. It will give him the opportunity to guard her much better with the idea. But he is not brought up this way and if the whole castle would know it, the princess's reputation will be put in jeopardy.

"Don't worry Shiine, everything will be okay if the people know that the reason you are always by her side is because you are protecting her. They wouldn't need to know that you stay in the same room as my granddaughter. I know that you'll find a way to do something about that"

Shiine shoulders sagged by an inch, not wanting to let anyone see his frustration inside. He's sure if his highness will see it, he might laugh at him because of it. There is only one thing to confirm about his current circumstances.

"Do King Carlos and Queen Bessie know this already?" was his quiet consent.

With his answer, Lord Genus beamed, understanding that he already conceded.

"Of course they will agree! There might be some discussion about both your arrangements but I'm sure they'll agree!"

Shiine then sit up straight in his chair. His weariness in the situation, gone and he instantly become alert.

"So they didn't know about it yet?" he asked making sure.

"He he, yes… don't worry my boy, I'm sure we'll cover it at dinner."

o0o

Dinner with the royal family that night has been good. His father is also present in it. He anticipated that the king would be furious at the sleeping arrangement with his daughter, knowing that in is quite unpleasant if the whole kingdom will know the fact that he will be staying in a room with a direct link to the princess's bedroom and also the fact that there is a possibility that the youngest advisor might take advantage of the situation. Shiine thought that surely, the king and queen will object.

But to his amazement, neither his highness nor his queen objected in the arrangement. They are confident with him that he will not do anything naughty and that they just want to get an assurance from him that no one except the people involved know about it, which is not a problem to him, because he doesn't want anyone to know either. He is aware that he could just go to the farthest end of the castle and teleport to get to his room.

However, Shiine found it somehow very vexing on the fact that they could just say things like that without actually mulling much thought about it. But, he doesn't want to complain. He knows for a fact that they are just like that since the beginning, yet they made it look like such an advantage. The country on which they are ruling is stronger now, if ever he wonders about some proof on their sanity.

The problem is, he doesn't know if he could trust himself not to do anything wrong. He is well aware of his strong attraction toward princess Chacha, he even entertained the fact that maybe, what he's currently feeling is love, true love. And the fact that he and the princess will be sharing the same room until the reported threat is over. Hopefully, it will not last long; he will make sure of it. And after that, he knew that he will return to his old job, as one of the king's advisor. If that plan happened, then, he will do everything in his power to avoid her, being the coward that he is.

He entered the bathroom, where the connecting door to the princess's sleeping quarters could be found, and knocked. After hearing a quiet come in, he entered.

Inside the room, Shiine found Chacha sitting on her bed, in her night clothes and apparently, preparing herself to sleep. He unconsciously gulped at the sight. Sure, the princess might not be wearing something provocative; she wore the type of nightclothes she usually wore when they are still children. But, being the young man that he is, he is aware of the raging hormones inside of him.

'I have to do this fast'

"Umm… excuse me princess…"

"Shiine, you don't have to be so formal when it's just us! As a matter of fact, you don't even have to call me princess! Just plain Chacha would be fine. Like what you always do when we're kids!"

"But Chacha! What will everybody say if they hear me call you like that?" he half-complained, half-whined.

"Why would that be a problem Shiine? Riiya always call me by my name, you should too, and you're one of my best friends after all." She saw him about to protest, "No more buts Shiine! I'm warning you!" the princess said decidedly, pointing her finger in the air as if lecturing him when she saw him about to protest again.

"All right, if that's what you wish Chacha" he beamed, liking the way he utter her name. "Anyway, I'm just here to put this device here in your room," he said while showing her a small black button sticker.

"What is that?" the princess said while she closed in on the young prodigy. She looked at the thing on his hand.

"This is a security sticker I made. It will tell me if something is wrong or bad happened in this room once I've placed it. Now, where do you think will be the most inconspicuous place I could put this to? Do you have any idea?" he asked, looking at her.

"Oh! I know the perfect place for it!" she said as she snatched the black button from Shiine's hand and went to her bed. She jumped in and put the sticker on the middle of her queen size bed's head rest. After putting it there, the small sticker looked like it is just like a decoration; it blended well with the bed's intricate designs.

"Perfect!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, good job Chacha!" he said while smiling. "Now, Chacha, take this" he said, handing the princess a thin white gold bracelet with a single ruby, "This bracelet is important, with this, you could call me if you need help anywhere, anytime, just by thinking about me, needing my support."

"Oh! I see, so if I would think for example, 'Shiine help!', then you would immediately come to my rescue?" she asked curious.

"Precisely. And one more thing, this bracelet could change form. It could be a bracelet or a ring if you want it to. I made it so that the people around won't think very much of it"

"Wow! That's so cool! You're so smart Shiine!"

"Listen Chacha, this is very important, I have two things I want you to promise me"

"Huh? What is it Shiine?"

"One is that I don't want anyone to know that this…" he said as he points his finger on the bracelet, "is a security device, remember that this is for your own benefit, I made this so that you will not be too annoyed with my presence around you all day"

"Huh? Why wouldn't I want you to be around?"

"You don't want me to be around you on your private business wouldn't you?"

"Uhh… of course not! And the second one?"

"I don't want anyone to know that the bracelet could change into a ring. Okay?"

"Okay, but why?"

"I don't want anyone to be suspicious of it… Remember Chacha, only the two of us should know its use, is that clear?"

"Okay Shiine! I understand. But about the button sticker, could everyone know about it?" she asked, her eyes darting at her bed's head board.

"Yes, but only for the people who knew the circumstances."

Author's Notes:

Hey there! Fourth chapter is finally up! Sorry for the wait.Anyway, I would like to thank IL0VEAnime65 for her review, now I know that some threats could be pleasing. I hope that you'll keep reviewing! Another person that I would like to thank is Patzmelody,your continuous patronage and faithful reviews, your review kept me writing, thank you very much.

Another thing, people, could you please review? Pretty please? It will boost up my confidence if I would see some more reviews. Tell me what you think, even it is just one word.