Hello to all of my lovely readers! Yes, I know, I've missed you all aswell! *Not even the crickets chirp* Fine, no cyber cookies for you! *clutches laptop with a picture of a box of cookies on it.* THEY'RE MINE! MINE I TELL YOU! Also, and please hear me out, my good friend Aoi-chan is hosting a contest and she needs more contestants. That's where you, the wonderful reviewers that I know you are, come in. If you're unsure on what to write, then this could be a wonderful motivation! It's something easy to write and is very fun to write about So, I can only pray that you read the directions and think so too!

"OH, Ichigo, he didn't hurt you, did he?!" running up and grabbing onto Ichigo's shoulders as she stepped through the tresh hold of the castle foyer, Ryou looked absalutely worried.

"Don't worry so much. All it was, was a study date." shrugging him off as she passed, Ichigo walked right up to her room to think.

"Miss, will you be having dinner. If so, would you like it brought to your room tonight? Or, will you be coming down?"

Turning towards the soft voice of her Nanna, she smiled lightly and replied. "I will have to pass. It is already quite late and I had dinner with Ichiro and his family already." upon revealing this, she turned and kept on walking up the elegant red staircase.

"That's another thing I want to know about! I thought you said you were only tutoring him for two and a half hours! It's already eight!" though she believed Ryou to be over reacting, she did see where he laid his case.

"Yes, I will admit that I lost track of the time. But, if you don't hush, I'll tape you up and throw you in a closet where no one can find you." upon hearing the dark threat run passed the girl's sweet lips, Ryou knew that she had picked it up from Ichiro.

"Fine, but I believe your parents do not yet know of your 'arangement' with Ichiro." grinning sadisticly as well as triumphantly, Ryou knew by the way Ichigo froze on her way up the staircase that he had gotten her.

"You wouldn't DARE tell mother and father." turning to glare down at Ryou, who stood nonchalantly at the end of the staircase, Ichigo was praying that all it was, was a bluff.

"Oh, I wouldn't? Then WHY am I on my way to tell them right now?" walking off to the tea room, where he knew her mother and father would be before supper, he grinned upon hearing the light padding of Ichigo's footsteps as she raced down the stairs.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE MISTER!" jumping forwards and clobbering Ryou in the process, Ichigo put him in a Full Nelson. (!!! STRONG !!!)

"OH MRS. AND MR. MOMOMIYA! I THINK YOU OUGHT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR PRECIOUS DAUGHTER IS UP TO!" hollaring this at the top of his lungs, Ryou's grin increased as the king and wueen rushed into the room.

"What is going on, Ryou?" Mrs. Momomiya inquired, gasping down at her daughter, who was on the verge of snapping Ryou's neck.

"Nothing mother." grumbling this as she let him go and stood up, she added, "We were just wrestling like we used to when we were kids is all." (she beats him up even as a kid!)

"Ryou..." meeting the king's steely eyes, Ryou went on explaining.

"I just thought you should know that your daughter has been going on dates." earning an enraged look from the king and an anticipating look from the queen, Ryou continued further. "Mmm, yes. I just wanted to make sure you knew it was with prince Ichiro." grinning as he stepped away, leaving Ichigo to try and defend herself, Ryou decided it best to find a good hiding place for when Ichigo comes looking for him.

"WHAT?!" her father's eyes burned with red hot anger and disaproval, while her mother simply shook her head and added.

"Oh dear, Ichigo. When I told you to find a suitor, I never thought it would be Prince Ichiro." sighing, she bowed her head and walked away, while Ichigo tried to explain.

"WAIT! We're not dating! I'm his tutor! That's it, nothing else!" pleading desperately with her parents, who still seemed closed to the idea of her even REMOTELY assossiating herself with the boy, Ichigo was almost in tears. Not from sadness though, but from frustration. "Why won't you believe me?!"

"Even if it is only tutoring him, dear, we cannot allow you to acquaint yourself with him." her mother's voice had softened, leaving her father to settled as well.

"Your mother is right. This would only end in disaster." his voice, although softer, was still strict and unfeeling.

"Fine...Goodnight, mother...father..." bowing in respect to her parents, she turned slowly and trudged, dejectedly, up the stairs and into her room.

"Ah, don't you even want something to eat?!" calling after her, Nanna sighed as she heard the door to the bedroom close.


"Why can't I place my finger on what it is I feel exactly?" sighing and deciding to walk out onto her balcony and stare at the moon, she hadn't noticed Ryou, who had jsut entered her room.

"Hey, I just came to say that I'm sorry. Yet, and I'm being honest, I'm glad that you aren't allowed to see him any longer-" gasping as he watched Ichigo turn towards him, eyes full of tears of frustration and sorrow, all Ryou wanted to do right then was scoop her up and tell her that everything would be alright.

"Please, just leave. I don't know WHAT I feel right now. It's just that...he was the first person I've met who isn't trying to shove all of these manners and schooling books at me. He's the first person in a long time who I've actually been able to just sit and laugh with." walking away from him, back into her room, she went and rested on her bed.

"No, when we were little, I used to tell you jokes and make you laugh all the time." he countered, walking in and pulling up a chair to her bed as he sait down.

"Yeah, when we were little. But, things began to change as we grew older. I remember the first time it changed. I had run up to you, wanting you to come to the garden and swing with me on the play set, but you told me I couldn't and you dragged me inside, only to hand me a textbook and start teaching me." resting her head gently atop her crossed arims, she simply closed her eyes to him.

"That's because you were to rule a country when you grew up. I wanted to be sure you knew what to do, how to act." he explained, leaning down and rubbing her back.

"Sorry to break it to you, but I think that those things really can't be tought to much an extent. Besides, I don't WANT to rule a kingdom. Can't YOU rule instead?" not bothering to open her eyes to him as she spoke, Ichigo simply batted his hand away lightly before falling into a light sleep.

"Ichigo, why can't you just see that you're the best suited for ruling? You're sweet, kind, you know how to reason with people. You can even hold conversations with people in their fiftys. I only seem to mess things up." shaking his head as he got to his feet, he reached over and turned off her lamp before leaving her to sleep.


"Oh, my. It seems as though my dear kitten has been chained up, unable to move where she wishes. I wonder what would happen if I were to take her away from her troubles though." muttering this as he walked off to prepare for bed, all the prince could think of was Ichigo and how miserable she seemed.

"Sir, you could always just sneak her off to see you." the maid in her thirties handed him his pajama shirt as he walked out of the restroom.

"Thank you. And I don't see why not. I mean, she seems to feel at home here." taking his shirt and putting it on, he tiredly shuffled to his bead and climbed in, shutting off the lamp by his bed

All that night, he dreamt of his beloved princess and how she suffered. It was then that he made the decision to act and save his love.

Alright, review and I will concider sharing with you my beloved cyber cookies. If I feel generous that is! Also, so that I update that much faster and you can find out what happens! Ideas are accepted though! God Bless!