The Girl in the Tower Learns the Truth
Ren stared at the girl in front of him for a long moment, before finally coming to his senses. He smiled back at her and said, "Yes. It's nice to finally meet you, too, Kyoko."
Ren was surprised; she wasn't quite what he had expected. Well, actually, he didn't really know what he had expected, but he knew he hadn't expected her to be so pretty. Even with cuts on her face and leaves in her hair, her eyes were such a beautiful color, her face was so expressive, and—Ren mentally shook himself. Now isn't the time to be thinking about that! We're in the middle of the woods at night with who knows what sort of beasts lurking around, outside the woods her mother is waiting for us, and we still have to get back in one piece!
Turning to Kyoko, Ren saw a confused look on her face. "Why are you here?" she asked.
Ren took her Kyoko's hand and started pulling her in the direction he came from. She let go of his hand when she realized that he wanted her to follow him. "I came to find you," Ren said simply.
Kyoko felt warm as she contemplated this. Her friend had come to find her. He had been worried about her! After a minute of two, something else occurred to her. "How did you know where to find me?"
"I saw that the door to the tower was open, and I realized that the only one who could have opened it—the only one who had the key—was your mother. So, I went looking for the Fuwas' inn, to ask them who your mother is. They refused to tell me, but they sent their son to guide me to your mother's estate."
Kyoko looked up at Ren in shock and horror. "Shoutaro is here?"
Ren grabbed Kyoko's waist to guide her away from a tree root she had been about to trip over. "Don't worry," he reassured her. "He won't bother you. You don't even have to speak to him if you don't want to." Ren moved his hand from her waist, only to take her hand in his and give it a gentle squeeze. "Also, I'll be right there."
Kyoko smiled up at her friend and squeezed his hand back. "Thanks," she said shyly. She left her hand in his; it was oddly comforting, holding hands with Ren.
They walked in silence for a while longer, ducking branches and stepping over roots, until Kyoko came up with another question. "How did you know I was in the forest?"
Ren hesitated to answer. They were nearly at the edge of the forest now, and he could the murmur of the servants' chatter. Kyoko hadn't noticed it, lost in her thoughts as she was. Ren took a deep breath; it was time to tell her. "I saw your mother outside the forest."
"My mother?" Kyoko's eyes went wide with fear, and she would have bolted if it weren't for Ren's grip on her hand. Instead, she began to shake, fearing that she would share her father's fate.
Ren set the lantern he had been carrying down on the ground, and turned Kyoko to face him. With one hand holding hers, and the other on her shoulder, he called her attention to him. "Kyoko." She looked up at him, and he could see the fear and desperation in her eyes. "Kyoko," he repeated, trying to make his voice sound soothing, "you don't need to worry." He shook his head to stop her from protesting. "I won't let her do anything, I promise."
Kyoko slowly stopped shaking, but her eyes remained fearful. She knew Ren kept his promises—he had promised he wouldn't abandon her, and had even come looking for her when she went missing—but…
"Ren, I know you're a noble, but so is my mother. She's a powerful woman. And she—My father—She—" Ren knew what Kyoko was trying to say. It was easy enough to guess, from the way her mother had spoken to the Fuwas' son.
"Actually, Kyoko, I'm not a noble." He stopped her before she could make a ruckus. "I'm a prince." Kyoko stared at him disbelievingly. "Actually, I'm the Crown Prince."
"But the Crown Prince's name is—"
"Kuon." Ren finished the sentence for her. He smiled at her sheepishly, and said, "Actually, I kind of lied when I told you my name is Ren."
Kyoko raised an eyebrow at him. "Kind of?" She sounded more annoyed than shocked, but Ren—Kuon, rather—was hopeful that she would forgive him for lying to her if he explained.
"Ren was the name I would use when fighting outside the palace." He once again looked sheepish at her disapproving look. "It was also safer for me to travel as 'Ren' than as 'Crown Prince Kuon.'" Kuon was relieved to see Kyoko's understanding look.
"So," he said, changing the subject, "you have nothing to worry about when it comes to your mother. She won't be able to do anything to you, with me as your friend." Kuon smiled cheerfully, but Kyoko's face fell.
Kyoko stared sadly at the ground, unwilling to look up into her friend's face. "Kuon," she said, "I don't think we can be friends." At this, Kuon lost his cheerful smile and became confused. Before he could ask any questions, however, Kyoko continued. "You're the Crown Prince." At this, she glanced up at him, her eyes sad, before returning her gaze to the ground. She spoke softly, sounding ashamed. "My mother may be a noble, but my father was a servant. Someone like you should never associate with someone like me." Kyoko pulled her hand away from Kuon's, taking a step back, away from him. Kuon kept his hand on her shoulder, however, and pulled her closer to him, into a hug. Kyoko was so shocked that she could only stand there, wondering what Kuon was doing.
"Kyoko," he sighed, sounding disappointed, "don't you want to be friends?" Kyoko nodded vehemently against his chest, and Kuon allowed himself a small smile. "Then it doesn't matter who your parents are, or who my parents are, or our different statuses. We are friends, no matter what anyone else says. You're someone I can trust and be honest with, and I hope I'm the same for you." Kyoko nodded, beginning to smile. She was infinitely glad that Kuon was her friend.
Kuon pulled back from the hug, once again picking up the lantern and taking Kyoko's hand in his. "Ready to face your mother?" he challenged. Kyoko nodded, still a little hesitant, but feeling reassured by the hand holding hers. Together, they headed for the edge of the forest, and the awaiting chaos beyond.
