-Team Yamato gets a mission which involves the Royal Family of the Land of Fire. However, they soon find out Team Hebi's there too. And just what is Sakura's relationship to Lady Cornelia and Lady Euphemia? WARNING: DARK SAKURA FANFIC AND INCLUDES CODE GEASS CHARACTERS-Based on Hong Kong drama 宫心计-

Yay, finally a new chapter! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in such a long time. My mom hasn't been letting me on the computer and, while I was on, I had so many things to do. It's crazy. So . . . yeah anyway, I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter. I worked a bit hard on it, and I'd be grateful if you enjoyed it.

Chapter Seven

"Lady Marianne, I've brought Eulalie here to pay respect to you."

As Sakura and her godmother bowed their heads, they prayed to the late woman. Sakura didn't protest. After all, she had wanted to come back to the temple to pay a bit more respect to her mother. However, she did question why the Empress had brought her here. Sakura hadn't been blind when Schneizel had taken the throne way back when. She knew of the trick Villetta had used to help her grandson, and she knew very well that Villetta had hated her mother. So why…?

Sakura mentally shook her head, forcing herself to drop her trail of thoughts. After all, being in the palace would make one a bit paranoid. Why not just relax for once?

When the two finished their prayers, Villetta sighed. "It's been so long… I won't ever forget that day when your mother first came to the palace. She was so young, so beautiful too…"

Sakura stared at her godmother, a bit shocked, though she kept her poker face. Didn't her godmother hate her mother? Just what was Villetta playing at?

"Back then, you and your sister were brought into this world and this palace—this accursed life… Both of you were only two years younger than Guinevere, but you three grew up together, the best of friends. And although you and Euphemia were separated, you two are still like sisters." Villetta turned to face her goddaughter, holding Sakura's hands and stroking them. "Now, both of you are brought back together. You should help and love each other. Don't let some trivial matters ruin your sisterhood."

"Euphemia and I will always be good sisters," Sakura assured the woman, still unsure as to where this conversation was headed towards.

"Guinevere, also. She may have been wrong in her conduct, but she is still your cousin. You must treat as such."

". . . I . . . I know, Daibo."

"Now, Guinevere is the Emperor's Noble Consort. As her cousin, you should feel happy for her."

Sakura was a bit more hesitant now. In her head, the sentences "If I had things my way, Guinevere would be working as a maid" and "She's unfitting of her title" ran through. But she tried to keep a sincere smile on her face as she said, "I know that, Daibo… Regardless of what's happened, I do feel happy for her…"

Villetta smiled, patting Sakura's hand. "I feel relieved when you say that, Eulalie…" She released Sakura's hand and walked away, her back to her goddaughter. "I can see who's conscientious at work. Those who work hard and improve will be given a chance. I was in your shoes once. I know of the hardship you've been through. I know how you've been violated. Guinevere bullied you. She even put poison in your blush once. Of course, she was wrong in doing so to secure her position. However . . ."—she turned around with a stern look—"You weren't so meek either. You fought back and exposed her hateful conduct with a trick."

Sakura kept her head down, trying to seem ashamed. But how could she if she only did so to protect her and her family?

"I know very well how you two tricked each other," Villetta said, walking back towards her goddaughter. "Obviously, Guinevere really isn't your match at all."

"Please don't worry so, Daibo." Sakura pleaded at eye level now. "I only did so to give Guinevere a lesson. I meant no harm. She is, after all, my older cousin. I didn't want anyone to be gossiping about her bad conduct but, from now on, Guinevere and I will work hard to learn from you, Daibo."

"That's good to hear," Villetta smiled, pinching Sakura's cheek. "I get another good daughter then."

Sakura smiled. It would seem that her godmother could easily be won over. Guinevere really wouldn't be her match, not by a long shot.

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

"I really can't believe you're still alive, Rin. I mean, it's been so long and—" Kakashi just rambled on and on. Soon, he caught himself and just simply asked, "How have you been?"

"Just fine," Rin giggled. "I see you've changed quite a bit. You've never really spoken to me back then, and now you just don't seem to stop."

"Do I?" Kakashi asked, completely oblivious. "Well, thank my genin team for that. They're quite interesting, you know."

"I can see that," Rin said. "They're just like us when we were small. That blonde boy, Naruto, just doesn't seem to stop going on and on and showing off just like Obito was. That Uchiha boy is really something else, kinda of like you, and Lady Eulalie…" She sighed. "I never thanked you for taking care of her for all these years… She's so much more confident than she was before. She's grown into a fine lady."

"Oh, well…" Kakashi cleared his throat. "It wasn't really so much my doing, you know. Lady Tsunade also had a hand in creating the new Sakura."

"Sakura, huh?" Rin thought about it for a moment. "It's a very nice name… It's so befitting for one such as her."

"Well, you should see her outside of the palace," Kakashi chuckled at the memories. "She's a fiery little girl, the exact opposite of how she acts inside this place."

"Well, of course." Rin said. "Inside this place, she's watched every single moment here. So she isn't criticized, she must act like the perfect girl lest people smear her."

"You've changed too, Rin."

The used-to-be kunoichi smirked. "I'm glad you noticed. It took you long enough."

"Actually, it seems that I've mistaken. You're still as smug as before."

"Hey! You haven't changed either! You're still as cruel!"

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

"Arthur, so much has happened since you've left," Lelouch said to his pet cat's grave. "Eulalie has returned to the palace, did you know that? She's come back to us. I wish you could see her. She's become so beautiful. She had wanted to see you, too, but… Arthur, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from the Noble Consort's wrath, but I promise you I'll avenge you in some way. You have my word." He bowed to the grave.

There was a giggle. "Your servant bows to Your Lordship."

Lelouch whipped around, fearful that it was one of the Empress's servants. But when he saw that it wasn't, he smiled. "It's good to see you again, C.C.. I was worried Lady Guinevere had found another way to punish you."

C.C. smiled back. "No, she hasn't done anything, so I came to the temple to give my thanks. I'm lucky to have Princess Eulalie on my side. If not then things would have turned out differently."

Lelouch nodded his head, to which C.C. giggled again.

"Why do you laugh?" he asked.

"I feel so happy to see the real Prince Lelouch again."

"What?" Lelouch asked, confused.

"The real, clever you. Not the dumb idiot you."

A smile tugged on the boy's lips, but he couldn't smile. "That Prince Lelouch didn't exist in this world long ago," he said. "Do you still remember when we met as kids?"

"Yes, I do. Back then, Your Lordship was only ten years old."

Lelouch nodded his head. "During that time, everyone in the palace thought I was particularly clever and gifted," he said, nostalgia flowing through him. "But the more clever I was, the harder it was to stay alive. The Empress thought I would give her bad luck and seize the throne, becoming a threat to her children. Back then, she wanted me dead. If I didn't fake insanity, I would have gotten killed already. For the sake of my aunt and sisters, I've played dumb to survive all these years."

"Everyone wants to live. Who wants to die?"

"I'm not a ten-year-old kid inside, but I can't live an ordinary life like normal people. Do you know how painful it is? Have you ever lived in terror like this? Everyday like I do?"

C.C. felt bad for Lelouch because she knew how it was. "I have. I lived like that once too…" she said, surprising the prince. "Back then, my father was exiled to a faraway land. My mother and I went into hiding. We were afraid to get caught as we would have been stuck inside the palace with no way out. And in the end, I still came to the palace. But I learned something. I live everyday honestly with my heart."

"With your heart?" Lelouch asked.

C.C. giggled once more. "So long as there are three good things in my heart, all the adversities will go away. Speak good works, do good deeds, and show goodwill. Being nice to others . . . when they're happy, I feel happy too."

"Fine then, I'll model on you, C.C.. Speak good works, do good deeds, and show goodwill. I really want to be happy just like you."

"Don't worry, My Lord. I won't tell anyone of your secret."

"Thank you, C.C.." And in that time, Lelouch decided that C.C. was indeed very beautiful.

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

Lelouch walked into his aunt's room. "Obasan, I came to see how you are doing."

"I'm fine…" Cornelia's voice was soft and low. "You can leave now."

"Obasan, are you sick?" Lelouch asked, walking closer to her bed.

But Cornelia just waved him away.

"If you are, you mustn't just lie there. Why don't you tell me what's wrong with you?"

But Cornelia shook her head, hiding underneath her covers.

"Obasan…" Now Lelouch was sure something was wrong. He grabbed the blankets and threw them off his aunt, only to discover her beaten with tears running down her face. "What's happened?" he asked, the anger and sorrow evident in his voice. "Who beat you? Was it the Empress? Did she do this to you?"

Cornelia sobbed.

"Why did she do this to you?"

"Today, I went to see the Empress as usual," his aunt told him. "She was in a bad mood, and she suddenly brought up the past. She said that back then your mother and I seduced the late Fire Lord. Therefore, he didn't make her his queen. It's been so many years… I can't believe she still minds that… She's never actually forgotten about it… She got mad and hit me…"

Lelouch couldn't believe his ears. How could the Empress do such a thing? He glanced over his aunt's wounds. "Your ear?" he asked, noticing a large amount of blood coming from it.

"Back then, your father said my ears were beautiful," Cornelia explained, caressing her bleeding ear. "They looked so beautiful with earrings on them, so the Empress hated it… She said I seduced the Fire Lord with that. She got so mad when she spoke about it, so she pulled off my earrings…"

Lelouch didn't want to hear anymore. "I'll . . . I'll ask the imperial doctor to give your treatment." He held back tears. "You'll be fine."

"Don't bother…" Cornelia grabbed her nephew's hand.

But when Lelouch stroked his aunt's, Cornelia recoiled.

"Itai…"

"Let me see…"

Cornelia shook her head, but Lelouch wouldn't take no for an answer. He pulled up her sleeve only to find more bruises, more serious ones.

"Does the Empress want to kill you?" he asked, enraged. "She's almost broken your limbs! She lives such a luxurious life, but my aunt and my sisters are tortured badly. NO, I need to speak with her."

With that, he stormed off.

"Don't! Lelouch, don't go! Don't do anything reckless! Lelouch!"

Outside, as Lelouch was leaving the chamber, Sakura came up to him, and she and Karin bowed to him.

"Oniisama?" Sakura asked, once she straightened herself out. "What is it? What's wrong? Are you going somewhere? Why is Obasan so—"

"It's good you're here, Eulalie." Lelouch said. "You are a medical ninja, am I correct?"

"Yes…" Sakura said, still confused as to why her brother was so angry. "But I don't see where this is going. Are you injured, Oniisama? Did someone—"

"Not me, it's Obasan. I fear that the Empress has almost broken our aunt's limbs."

The two girls' eyes widened. "What?"

"What does Your Lordship mean by that?" Karin asked in place of Sakura who was too shocked to say anything.

"Today, our aunt went to see the Empress as usual, but the Empress was in a bad mood."

"But . . . she brought me to the temple today," Sakura protested. "She . . . she seemed to be fine to me… Why would she—"

"I don't know," Lelouch said. "Maybe she was just using an excuse. I don't know. Just . . . please look after Obasan for me." And he started walking again, but Sakura quickly grabbed his arm.

"Oniisama, what are you going to do?" she asked, almost as if she were crying hysterically. "You're not . . . you're not going to do anything reckless, are you?"

"I don't know," Lelouch said once more. "All I'm going to do is speak with the Empress. How it's going to turn out,"—he shook his head—"I don't know." And he was walking once more, but Sakura tugged on his arm.

"Don't go, Oniisama." Sakura pleaded, her eyes wide with fear. "If you do anything reckless, the Empress and Fire Lord will use that as an excuse to get rid of you."

"I don't care."

"Oniisama!"

"All I know is that I don't want to live like this anymore. My family is suffering, and I can't put up with the Empress and Fire Lord any longer. This damn Fire Lord is too cruel. His grandmother isn't any less. They don't deserve their positions!"

"My Lord, please!" Karin begged, "If someone catches you saying that—"

"It doesn't matter!" Lelouch's voice was raised. "I am a man! My family lives in fear every day, and yet I can't do anything about it! I feel so useless! I couldn't even protect my pet cat! Now, my aunt is being tortured to death! Do you expect me to sit around while the situation is worsening? I don't want to hide in my shell like a tortoise—I'd rather die heroically!"

"Fine!" Sakura spat. "You want to die heroically?" she asked. "Then stay still and listen to me!" Her voice was like a knife, cutting through Lelouch's anger and calming him down long enough to listen to her. "Listen closely: the General and I have a plan to rid ourselves of this problem, do you understand? I need you to stay put until I give you the go. If not, my plan will not succeed. Do you understand that?"

Lelouch thought about it then reluctantly nodded his head. "But . . . Obasan… I fear for her. If your plan isn't put into action soon then—"

"That's why I need you to listen closely," Sakura said. She glanced at Karin, and the redhead walked off, making sure no one was around to hear this.

Sakura turned back to her brother. "I need to do this perfectly if you are to bring Obasan and yourself out of the palace while things get hectic." From her sleeve, she took out a small container. "This is powder made from a wax tree, and this is what you need to do. You need to…"

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

"My Lord," the servant pleaded, "You can't go in there. The Empress has given the order. No one can go in."

"I don't care!" Lelouch yelled as he stormed into the throne chamber. "Get out of my way!"

"My Lord… My Lord, you really can't go in…"

"If you get in my way again, I'll hit you!" Lelouch raised a fist and, when the servant cowered in fear, he stomped into the throne room. "Hmp!"

"Prince Lelouch, why are you so unhappy?" the Empress asked.

"Why did you bully my aunt?" Lelouch cried in his idiot act. "She's got bruises all over her! You're such a bad guy! Her ear is still bleeding!"

"Aunt?" the Empress asked as she rose from her seat. "I'm your aunt as well! In fact, I'm your sister's godmother! You can't even tell who has more seniority? You even yell in here?"

"I don't care," Lelouch crossed his arms. "Lady Cornelia is my mother's sister. She's my aunt, no matter what you say. Listen,"—he pointed a finger at Villetta—"don't you ever bully her again or I'll—" He pulled up his sleeves.

"How dare you! What do you want?" The Empress was appalled at the boy's behavior. How dare he make such a ruckus! She was about to reprimand him when she caught sight of some rashes.

"Your . . . your arms?" she asked, her eyes widening.

"My Lord," Meeya, the Empress's maid, asked, "Why are there rashes on your arms?"

"Oh, no…" Lelouch said, also noticing the red spots. "What's this? It's so itchy!" he cried, starting to scratch his arms.

"Is it the epidemic?"

"Epidemic?" The Empress and her maid exchanged worried glances. "Guards!" Villetta yelled.

The sentry walked in, bowing to the Empress."Hai!"

"Drag Prince Lelouch out this instant!"

But Lelouch pushes them away. "Why are you dragging me out?" he asked. "I haven't finished scolding her yet! Let me go!" But seeing that it was futile to resist, Lelouch just glared at the Empress. "I'm not done yet!" he yelled, pointing a finger at the woman. "Don't you ever bully my aunt again or else I won't be nice to you!"

"DRAG HIM OUT!" the Empress screamed.

"Hai!"

"I'll ask people to clean the chamber thoroughly right away!" Meeya said, once the guards had finally dragged Lelouch out of the throne room.

"Go, go!"

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

"Epidemic?"

"Is it true?" C.C. asked. "Don't try and scare us."

"It's true. I heard it straight from the Inner Services and from Karin, too." Suigetsu explained. "There are rashes all over Lady Cornelia and Prince Lelouch. The Imperial Doctor confirmed it's the epidemic. So did your cherry blossom."

"They must have gotten infected by the people outside the palace." Rin said, thinking things over. "I heard that many people in the city have already died from it. Everyday there's a pile of dead bodies. It's so scary."

"That's why no one dares to go near them." Suigetsu clarified. "Not even your cherry blossom is allowed to see them."

"How are they doing now?" Naruto asked, a bit worried for his teammate. After all, the people who were sick were her family members. Sakura must have been worried.

"The Empress has given the order to lock them up in their chambers," Juugo answered. "They aren't even allowed to come out."

"How about Sakura and her sisters?"

"Yes! What about Sakura-san?" Lee seconded Ino's question.

"She and her sisters haven't fallen ill yet," Sasuke said.

"But what if they are infected?" Naruto asked. And then a horrible thought came to him. "Oh, no! We've all been around them, and they've been around Prince Lelouch and their aunt! What if they're infected but don't know it and passed it on to us? What will we do then?" He jumped around frantically.

"Then we'll all die together!" Sasuke said, annoyed with the dobe's antics.

"Oh, stop it. There's a rule in the palace." Rin explained. "If they're really sick then they'll be sent some place outside of the palace."

"How sick are they?" Kakashi questioned.

"C.C., why don't you go and find out for us?" Suigetsu suggested. "You keep saying that people must show goodwill and do good deeds. You are His Lordship's friend. Why don't you check on him? But after visiting him, don't come back lest you infect us too."

"Cut it out," Sasuke ordered.

"No one dares go near Prince Lelouch and Lady Cornelia right now," Rin added. "Who will visit them?"

✿｡.:*A few days later*:.｡✿

Lelouch heard footsteps outside the door and a small knock. "Just leave the food outside," he said. "Don't come in."

"It's chilly at night," a familiar voice said. "Please mind your health, My Lord."

"C.C.?" he asked as the girl came in.

"I haven't seen you in a few days, My Lord," the green-haired maid said. "I came to see how you're doing."

"Why do you still come here?" he asked. "Aren't you afraid of the epidemic?"

"I don't care about what happened. I just want to know if there's anything I can do for Your Lordship and Lady Cornelia. I'm afraid that you're fighting this alone and that there's no one to help or support you."

"But you must take care lest you get infected."

C.C. smiled. "So long as I'm doing good deeds, the Heavens will protect me."

Lelouch's smile was only short-lived as he sighed. "Everyone treats my aunt and me like ghosts—even my sisters are forbidden to visit. Only you take the risk to come and visit me. I—"

"Don't feel upset, My Lord." C.C. said. "Apart from me, there are many others that care about you and your aunt. Just look at my attire. Head Rin made the excuse of taking the laundry to be washed just so I could sneak in here. She asked me to send Your Lordship her regards."

Lelouch nodded his head. "Don't worry. If I really were sick with the epidemic, I wouldn't have let you come in here. I wouldn't have allowed you to come some close to me lest you get sick."

C.C.'s eyes widened. "So . . . My Lord, you aren't…?"

But before C.C. could finish her sentence, Lelouch put a finger to his lips as to silence her. "While my sister was in Konoha, she took it upon herself to become a medical ninja." he explained. "Eulalie read many medical books during that time. She was the one who came up with this plan. She said that, if I touched a wax tree or just the wax tree powder, I'd get rashes as if I were infected by an epidemic. Now that there's an epidemic outside of the palace, even the imperial doctor daren't give my aunt and I a thorough checkup."

"My Lord, why are you doing this to yourself?" C.C. asked, worried for his safety.

"My sister and I have a plan but, in order for it to succeed, my aunt and I must leave and take absence for a little while. I want to make use of this epidemic to leave the palace with my aunt. It's the only way to get out of here."

"You want to leave?"

Lelouch nodded again. "The Empress holds grudges against my family since she wasn't made queen back then. That is her greatest regret in life, and she thinks it's my aunt's fault that she wasn't able to do so. She hasn't let go of her hatred, despite all the years that have passed. Being her goddaughter, Eulalie is safe from the Empress's wrath. But the rest of us aren't. My aunt has already suffered through so many hardships. If this carries on, my aunt will be tortured to death sooner or later. For the sake of my aunt, we must leave."

"But even if you leave the palace, there are still so many uncertainties outside!"

"If I have to live under someone's mercy, I'll be living in terror every day. I'd rather go to a faraway place and change my name. I won't even mind wandering to the ends of the earth. This world is a big place. There has to be a place for my aunt and me."

C.C. sighed in defeat but smiled. "As you have already decided, My Lord, I wish you a safe journey and hope that you find a new life soon."

"C.C., I will always take you as my good friend. You're my friend who I will always think of. After we have left, my sisters will still be here to look after you. Thanks to that, I feel relieved."

"But after you leave, I fear that I may never see you again, My Lord. Let me take this opportunity to bow to you—"

"No, you needn't do so."

"—to bid you farewell."

"There's no need to." Lelouch said. He took out a small rose. "Do you remember this?"

"Yes, I do. It's the flower I gave you when you left the palace."

"I left the palace when I was twelve, but you gave me sweetness in bitterness. Today, I faked the epidemic, but you weren't afraid of it and even came to give me your support. I will never forget your grace to me."

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

"With everything that's happened, Lady Eulalie, you must be very worried."

Sakura smiled and bowed her head slightly. "Thank you for the concern, Your Majesty, but, of course, I would be. My brother and aunt are the ones ill with the epidemic, after all. The two of them have been sick for so long, and there isn't any sign of them getting any better. And I fear for the others in the palace."

"Eiya, Eulalie." Villetta tsked. "Your dearest brother and aunt are sick with the epidemic, but you worry about others? You have a very big heart."

"I thank you for the compliment, Your Highness."

"Seeing as things are, why don't we send Prince Lelouch and Lady Cornelia away lest they infect other people?" Schneizel suggested.

"You would allow them to leave the palace?" the Empress snapped, her anger evident in her voice and eyes. "How could you do so?"

"Your Highness, His Majesty only said so out of compassion and sympathy." Sakura defended the Emperor. "Why get so mad about it?"

"Eulalie…" the Empress said gently, patting her goddaughter's hands. "I'm only mad because there are other uncertainties outside of the palace. I fear that your brother and aunt will not get any better if they were to leave."

"Oh? Is that so?" Sakura asked, trying to sound innocent. "I . . . I didn't think of it that way."

"Well, it doesn't matter. Leave this matter to us, okay?" Villetta said. "You should go back to your chambers and rest."

"Well . . . if you insist. I'll take my leave now then."

And once Sakura and Karin were out of the room, the Emperor consulted his grandmother. "I don't understand. What is so wrong with sending that idiot and that bitch outside of the palace?"

"Your Majesty, this morning, the Imperial Doctor reported to me that he had found in the records of the Imperial Clinic the prescription used by the late Emperor to deal with an epidemic similar to the ones that ail the prince and lady." Villetta explained.

"Really? Does it work?" Schneizel asked.

"Back then, the prescription did suppress the epidemic, but the dosage is very strong." Villetta continued. "In fact, it's poison. Not everyone can endure it. If the epidemic can't be cured, the person will be poisoned and will die immediately. I want Lady Cornelia and Prince Lelouch to take it."

"There's no point in doing so much for them. Just let them die."

"Your Majesty, you've failed to take a macro view." Villetta scolded. "If they die because of the illness then people will say that we are cold-hearted, that we didn't do anything to try and save them. But I shall do something. I shall use them to test the medicine. If they are cured then there will be the medicine to cure others in the palace that are sick. This can help the people, too. We won't need to be afraid of the epidemic anymore."

"Then everyone will be indebted to me…" Schneizel said, finally catching on. "They'll be completely loyal to me." He chuckled.

"But if they are poisoned instead of cured then that is the will of God. It has nothing to do with us."

"Your Highness is completely thorough in your plan. Let's give them the medicine and see if they'll be killed."

Outside, Sakura's hands rolled into fists. "How dare they…" she snarled.

"My Lady, what are you going to do?" Karin asked.

Sakura thought about it for a moment. She knew she couldn't visit her brother and aunt to tell them of this, and she couldn't confront her godmother and god-brother about this. It would seem she needed to resort back to trickery on this one. "Karin, find out who's the maid that's going to deliver the medicine to my brother and aunt and get Sayoko for me."

"But . . . then what shall you do, My Lady?"

"I'm going to save them, no matter what it takes."

✿｡.:**:.｡✿

"Your Ladyship, Prince Lelouch…" The maid bowed to them, a tray in her hands.

"Why do you come here, Head Inoue?" Cornelia asked.

"The Empress told me to bring these two bowls of medicine to Your Ladyship and Prince Lelouch," the department head said, referring to the two bowls on the tray she held.

"The Empress gave us the medicine?" Lelouch asked.

"Yes, but this is an unorthodox prescription used to fight another epidemic when the late Emperor was still alive."

"An unorthodox prescription? How so?"

"To fight the epidemic, this medicine is extremely toxic." Head Inoue explained. "If the toxin can't fight the epidemic then the person who drinks it will die!"

Cornelia and Lelouch exchanged worried glances. Was the Empress getting more aggressive about getting rid of them?

"Obasan, don't people use medicine to cure illnesses and save lives?" Lelouch asked, continuing with his idiot act. "Why use it to kill people? Hm… Obasan, let's not drink it."

Cornelia gave him a small smile then turned to the maid. "Head Inoue, we don't need it. Take the medicine away."

But the maid got on her knees and cried. "I can't do so! The Empress wants me to see you finish it before I leave! My deepest apologies, Lady Cornelia!"

Eiya = go for it; heave; ugh

Yay! Chapter finished! And I'd like to take this time to promote my oneshots. If you like Howl's Moving Castle then you'll like my Momentum oneshot. If you like Spirited Away then please check out Real Emotion (the shortest oneshot you'll ever read) and Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave. And if you like SasuSaku, please read Always with you, 영원한사랑& 여성시대, and BALLAD. If you hate Karin, please read Z! Z! Z! -Zip! Zap! Zipangu!-. And if you like NaruHina, please read Appears. Thank you and please review!