A/N: I'd like to thank rainbowmonkeycakes and ZanyAnimeGirl for the reviews. Much appreciated. I hope everyone is liking the story. ^^


Derrick had never been in this room before. Maybe once. A room he thought was a waste of space with an outstretched table and a large chandelier in the center and a few strange pictures on the walls. He kept his mouth shut tight, like every other time he'd gotten in trouble.

"Have a seat," The Queen said it more like an order than a pleasant invitation. This time the King, the princess, and the Queen were seated around him. So he knew he was in some deep waters.

Derrick edgily took a seat next to the King. He half expected him to curse him out right then and there.

Oddly, Rima spoke first. She'd never been sitting in on a "little talk" before. "You're one of the workers friends with the Jester, am I correct?"

Derrick stifled a smart remark and nodded. Maybe she'd give him some special treatment like he suspected she gave Nagihiko.

The Queen seemed to ignore them both. "Now, Derrick, I suspect you would like to stay here. I do believe that you have no where else to go, correct?"

Nodding absentmindedly again, he felt like a kindergartner getting scolded for something he didn't commit.

"Listen to me. How do you expect us to let you live here if all you do is disobey?"

Shrug.

"What do you think your punishment should be? Tell us, please."

Derrick felt like picking up a piece of fine china and breaking it over her miniscule skull. It was one thing getting in trouble for something he did do (apparently not well enough), but taking one for the team was harder to explain. But the last thing he would do is rat out Nagi.

The Queen eyed him with extreme petulancy and hate in return for his thoughts, waiting for a response.

Suddenly, all eyes turned to a petite blonde girl as she spoke. "I went to Nagihiko Fujisaki's room earlier. He wasn't there.." She stared intently at the worker.

"That's the Jester, right honey?" The King surprisingly said the first thing he'd said that day.

Rima didn't reply, just kept right on glaring in the direction of Derrick.

Derrick rather smugly returned her glare. He couldn't stand her. If he could call her every name in the book without getting thrown out, he would.

"I don't know where he is. It's a big castle, princess," Derrick spat hatefully. Why was she always in his business anyways? They didn't go together. A rich snob of a princess and a careful jester who actually works for a living. Opposites do not attract.

"Yes you do," Rima raised her voice a notch. "You two are close friends." She lowered her voice on the last part, silently wondering how Nagihiko could be friends with such an impolite lowlife.

"What do you want of him, sweetie?" Her mother asked quietly, placing a gentle hand on her daughter's.

Rima jerked her hand away. "He would've answered me by now! He always does," She gritted her teeth, hoping her anger would scare Derrick into telling her. She just knew he knew something. Nagihiko always told her everything, didn't he?

The King coughed loudly. "You're overreacting, dear."

Derrick almost laughed at her ridiculousness. He wasn't sure who was the fool at this table. He was ten times as stubborn as her, and he'd be damned if he was scared of a little princess who has never worked a day in her life.

"I still don't know what you're talking about."

Rima could almost feel her insides burning with determination and loathe for this boy. "Well then," She took a deep breath.

"Maybe you can think about it, while you're living on the streets!"

The whole room seemed to fall into silence. It was a stony silence for Derrick. He always thought if he was leaving, it'd be at the mercy of the Queen or King. But never the princess. He knew what she meant. She wanted him gone, fine, he had come to hate this kingdom.

Derrick shoved his chair backward and stood, causing the chair to topple over. He didn't bat an eye. He clenched the end of the tablecloth with one hand, having half a mind to yank it with every bit of strength he had. He glared at each one of them for what seemed like an eternity. For years, they'd made his life hell and he didn't know why he'd stayed. They were just a bunch of upper-class snobs, and that is all they would ever be.

Rima, who had lost a bit of color, was watching him with slightly fearful eyes. She didn't know what he was capable of.

Stopping at the doorway, feeling the need to punch something, he looked back at them one last time.

"Fuck you all," He spat ungratefully, before continuing his slow walk up to his room to gather his few belongings. He had no idea he'd be leaving today as well. Those three words were a brief summary of what all he wanted to say, all he could've said, but they weren't worth the words. No matter how rich they were.

As he walked away, he could hear the King telling Rima she was overreacting, and that what she said wasn't necessary. He could hear something about Rima telling her father not to push her. And he could hear the Queen baffling out something like, 'What did he just say?'. But he could care less, really.

As he packed his things, he came to realize he didn't regret a word he said. In fact, he wished he'd said more. They probably thought he'd steal from them, but in real, he didn't want a thing to remember them by. He wouldn't miss anything, except maybe the nice cigars. A few friends. They probably won't even care he got kicked out. He wished he would've left with Nagihiko. Instead of being mercilessly thrown out.

He let the humongous door shut loudly as he departed, shooting a backwards finger to the castle he detested so much. All without saying a goodbye to Mari or anyone else.

-x-

After an asprin and much talking, Rima and her parents decided Derrick wasn't worth going after and that Nagihiko would turn up. Meanwhile, Rima took it discreetly upon herself to check the spare rooms in the working wing of the castle. Most of the workers were out and about, so she figured they wouldn't mind much.

Either way, she was certain something had happened to Nagihiko. But how? She had just seen him the other day. Surely he'd tell someone before going somewhere.

"You," Rima reached out and grasped the arm of a clueless Mari, hoping to get information out of her.

Mari slowly but surely shook off Rima's hand, not wanting any royal germs on her. She wanted to say that 'You' was not her name, and to go ruin someone else's day. But instead, she put on her fakest smile. "Yes, princess? How may I help you?"

Rima knew full and well that barely anyone in this castle respected her. Nagihiko was one who did, though. Another reason why it was so important to find him. He took her seriously.

"I'm looking for someone," Rima said assertively, staring deep into Mari's eyes, hoping she wasn't hiding something like Derrick. "Nagihiko Fujisaki, the Jester."

It had only been a few seconds, and Mariana was already sick of the princess. Being one who often criticized Rima and started rumors about her in the basement, she hated being one to speak with her. However, she remembered her earlier encounter with Nagihiko and debated on whether to bring it up. That would only make her more willing to find out something, Mari silently debated. She knew Rima and Nagi spent time together, but she never came out like this looking for him.

"I don't know anything about his whereabouts, princess," Mari said with a slight bow of her head, taking all of her willpower. "I hope you understand."

Rima seemed to glare at her, not daring to trust. She didn't want to lose two workers in a day.

It suddenly occurred to Mari how much she wanted to slap Rima across the face as hard as she could. She imagined Rima's shocked face and it brought a smile to her own.

Rima simply sighed deeply and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. He'll turn up, she tried to reassure herself. Not even bidding Mari a thank you, she continued her long walk back to her separate floor.


A/N: Did you miss Nagi in this chapter? ;D I'd love to know who you all feel sorry for here. Nagi, Rima, Derrick? It's pretty mixed if you can look at the big picture. As always, thank you for reading! =)