Ikuto rubbed his temples. He was about to leave, but he turned back to scowl darkly at Amu. "Amu, with me."

"But-!"

"Now!" With that, he stalked off.

Amu shadowed Ikuto from a distance. Everything, from his stiff shoulders to his irritated march, radiated anger. He lead her down a stairway and into a room she'd never seen before. A great desk occupied the center, with a small couch to one side. A concerned Tsukasa had laid Hikaru, now unconscious, on the couch.

Amu rushed to the boy. She patted his hot forehead. Her worried glance to Tsukasa brought no comfort; he guarded his expressions carefully.

"How is he?" Amu asked.

Tsukasa shrugged. "He's sleeping, at least."

"Amu!" Ikuto snapped. He stood by a door that had just appeared in the seamless wall. Amu entered the hidden room. The beautiful, paneled walls displayed rows of books. More books spilled across the floor. An alcove served as a bed. Everywhere Amu looked, she saw diagrams and hastily written notes.

"Wow," she breathed.

Having closed the door, Ikuto fell into a chair. He breathed in and out as if to calm himself. "You caused some trouble today, Princess."

"I didn't know!" Amu defended herself.

He gave her a tired look from between his fingers.

She tried again, "I'm sorry, I really didn't know."

"Which is why I need to tell you. Ask away."

"Why did Hikaru break down that way?"

"Right to the point," Ikuto chuckled drily. "Princess, this ship isn't just for a bunch of pirates. It's shelter for anyone who needs a home. We have runaways, criminals, people who want freedom."

"Like me…"

"Like you."

"You were never just pirates?"

"No. I've tried to make this ship into more of a family. We all need one."

"Hikaru…?"

"Hikaru Ichinomiya. He is the grandson of King Kazuomi Hoshina. He ran away three years ago. I don't really know what happened to him when he was a child, but I know what happens when we ask. Whatever it is, it scarred him deeply. At the mention of the King, or Easter, he goes into these fits. I forbid anyone of ever mentioning it."

"Will he recover?"

"Yeah," Ikuto sighed. "He's just a kid, so he bounces back. Tsukasa thinks he locks his memories away, so he won't go mad."

"So, Hikaru's a prince?"

"An heir, like you. Oh, he has cousins willing to take his place. But he's the true heir."

"So that's why he knows so much."

"Right." He caught her gaze. "More questions?"

"Why do you protect us like this?"

"It's my job, isn't it? I can offer you what you want. You're all just kids. It seems unfair for you not to have a proper childhood. I know this isn't the best place to grow up, but it's better than where anyone aboard this ship came from."

"What happens when everyone grows up?"

"Then they can go, if they want. Some never grow up, and some realize that they belong elsewhere. Hikaru may decide to become a prince someday, and, until he does, his palace can wait for him."

"And if reality catches up too quickly?"

"It won't," Ikuto growled.

Amu leaned against a shelf. She couldn't look him in the eye as she said, "What happened to the guards chasing me?"

"We lost them long ago."

"They'll find me eventually."

"And we'll just keep running. Hikaru may be a prince at heart, but you're not, Amu. You weren't born for the life that was given to you, and you know that."

"I don't think I have a choice anymore."

Then Ikuto was holding her tenderly in his arms. "You always will have a choice, Sparrow," he promised her.

"Captain? Hikaru's up," Tsukasa called through the door.

Ikuto fell back from the princess. He rubbed his shoulders, uncomfortable. "We should…" He nodded to where Tsukasa waited in the next room.

"Yes," Amu agreed. She pushed past him, trying to ignore the little skip of her heart when her shoulder brushed against his.

Upon seeing her, Hikaru grabbed onto Amu's leg and refused to let go.

"Hikaru, it's okay now," she soothed.

Tsukasa and Ikuto were exchanging muttered thoughts, but she didn't bother listening.

Hikaru perked up a little when Amu stroked his hair. He raised his face up and grinned happily. There was no trace of princely wisdom in his face. His eyes, though red-rimmed, were that of a little boy. Hikaru Ichinomiya did not look like a haunted child. Amu jumped when Ikuto put a hand on her shoulder and leaned over her to wave at Hikaru.

"How do you feel, Hikaru?" Ikuto asked.

"Great! I'm kind of hungry, though."

"I'll get Utau on that right away."

Footsteps flitted down the stairs. All eyes turned on the door as Utau burst through, breathless and smiling.

Speak of the devil, Amu thought wryly.

"Ikuto! Ikuto, I-" Utau stopped abruptly when she absorbed Ikuto's friendly proximity to the princess. "Sorry for interrupting."

Hikaru scampered past Utau and up the stairs.

Tsukasa said softly, "Hello, Utau. Did you have something to tell Ikuto?"

"Yeah, I did. And I will tell him, when we're alone."

Amu squirmed under the violet eyes. "I'd better go back up."

Ikuto's hand kept her in place. "No, Amu, stay," he ordered.

Utau's gaze moved to Ikuto. They stared each other down. Utau's eyes pleaded silently, but Ikuto's glare was firm and unwavering.

Amu studied them for a moment. Ikuto's hand was loosening as he concentrated on his sister. Suddenly, Amu wrenched herself away, throwing a half-hearted, "Goodbye," over her shoulder. Tsukasa, keeping up his calm façade, followed her up and suggested, "Amu, I've got some cleaning for you."

"Sounds good!" she called, already on the fifth stair.

The door swung shut. At the sound of its closing, Amu sat on the sixth stair and buried her head in her arms. She had always been spoiled, petted, always adored. Knowing that someone hated – no, loathed her brought shocked tears to her eyes.

Tsukasa's arms went around her shoulders. He was so wonderfully comforting that she tucked her head into his chest, blubbering against his chest.

"She hates me. No one has hated me before."

"I know, I know."

"What do I do? I wish she'd disappear!"

"Don't wish that."

"Then, what do I do? How can I sleep in the same bunk as her?"

"You need to remember that you are a princess, Amu."

"What do you mean? I'm not a princess! I've lost my castle, my kingdom, my dignity! I'm no princess!"

Tsukasa sighed. "You'll understand soon enough."

Amu sniffed and roughly wiped away her tears. Since she'd reached this ship, it felt like she cried almost every day. Tsukasa pushed away her grubby hands and rubbed her face with his shirtsleeve.

"Thanks," she mumbled. "I wish my dad was like you."

"Maybe he was and you just never noticed."

"I don't think so."

He paused. "You know, I still have some jobs for you, if you're interested."

"Alright."

They traipsed up the stairs together, Amu still sniffing faintly.

Amu scrubbed away at the floor of the sleeping quarters with a brush and a pail of what Tsukasa called soapy water and what Amu called ordinary, salty ocean water. It had been a while since the incident with Utau, and she'd regained her happy disposition. She had removed everything that qualified as grime. Everything, except for the black smudge that she now doused in "soapy water" for the third time. It was starting to give under the constant cleaning. Amu smiled, exhilarated by the thought of finally getting off her knees.

A pair of black boots stepped up to Amu and stopped. "Stay away from him."

"What?" Amu looked up to see Utau glaring down.

Utau stamped her foot. "Stay away from Ikuto!"

Amu stammered, "Oh! I-It's not like that, we're not-"

"Oh, shut up. As if you can pretend that there's nothing going on. It's bad enough that you're here. He goes out on a little business, and he brings back a princess? You really couldn't just say no to him, could you?"

"I came here for some peace of mind! I did not come here for that pirate!" Amu couldn't look the blonde in the eye.

Utau's hand latched onto Amu's shirt and she shook Amu like a rag doll. "Don't call him that. He didn't become a pirate to steal and grovel for princesses. He's here for us, all of us. And he's a better person than you or I could dream to be. Don't you dare look down on him! You…" Utau gasped and threw Amu down. "You know nothing! You don't even know why you're here!"

Rubbing her back where she'd landed, Amu said, "I'm here to gain some freedom."

"Yeah, right. He hasn't even told you yet, about that damned lock of yours."

Amu's hand went to the lock. "What do you know?"

Utau scoffed. "I'll tell you this; you are not here for your stupid freedom."

An eerie silence descended after Utau had left. Amu knew that the crew was watching her, waiting for her to scream or cry or fuss. So, she didn't. She swallowed her damaged pride and dusted off her tattered attire with dignity. She didn't shed a tear and didn't make eye contact with anyone. Head held high, she followed Utau to the deck, where she sweetly asked Tsukasa what she should clean next. She understood. She was a princess. If she couldn't be a princess with parties and lavish presents, at least she could still act like one now.

Hi.

Busy month.

Too many concerts.

Need sleep.

Desperately.

Love you.

Bye.

~Willow

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