Hey there! I know my previous chapter was short and boring and everything, so this one is extra long! Hope you enjoy

"Kahoko! Get me some coffee!" Len's voice came echoing down the corridor, where Kahoko was busily dusting the place.

She swore quietly under her breath before yelling back in as cheerful a voice as she could muster "Of course, Len! In a minute!" She tossed the feather duster aside and stomped off into the kitchen. While waiting for the water to boil, Kahoko sighed and leaned against the gleaming metal sink. The kitchen was deathly quiet; no sound of shoes pattering across terracotta tiles, no sound of the frying woks sizzling over hot fires, or the steady chopping of the knife. The usual aroma that filled the kitchen wasn't there, not even Sebastian's cute face was around, with that charismatic smile of his, always ready to secretly slip Kahoko another of his heavenly pastries. Everyone was away, and the enormous kitchen would remain empty for the rest of the week. Kahoko swore under her breath again as she got to making the coffee. Trust Len to mess up everything! When she and Queen Misa had returned from their shopping trip, Len had immediately dragged his mother aside, insisting he needed to speak to her in private. And urgently.

Queen Misa had left her son's study with a mischievous glint in her eye and shortly after announced that she felt she needed to take a break and was planning on going on a short holiday. Of course, Len just so happened to suggest that all the serving stuff should come along too. Before the week was out, the whole castle was packed and ready to have some good fun at the beach, including an excited Kahoko. But what a shame, the prince had caught a sudden bout of cold! Of course, the serving staff suggested that it would be better if they stay after all, but no no no! The (suddenly) kind-hearted prince begged them to continue without him, saying he couldn't bear it if he knew he was the one responsible for snatching their holiday away from them. Just one person staying behind would do, he said, one would be sufficient. Everyone readily volunteered, not minding that they'd have to sacrifice their holiday. But Len said "Well, I think my personal maid will do. How about it?" and so, Kahoko got stuck with the job of taking care of the 'ill' prince. Great.

The coffee was ready now. Kahoko held the steaming cup carefully and brought it out, making sure she had got the matching saucer to go with it. Just the other day, she'd put the light blue teacup with the rose pink saucer, and Len had nearly hurled it at her in anger. She was not going to take any more chances.

She entered the drawing room to find Len sprawled over the chaise lounge, one arm draped over the arm rest, the other holding a thick leather-bound book in which the prince was totally engrossed in. For a moment, Kahoko felt her old feelings of affection for Len surge back. He looked even more dashing than usual, his handsome face wearing a serious (but cute) expression, the bright morning sunlight outlining his elegant reclining figure in a golden glow. But the moment was soon over and Kahoko snapped out of her trance.

"Here, your coffee…sir," she said sarcastically setting the cup down on the mahogany coffee table.

But if he detected her sarcasm, Len didn't show it. He simply gave as sickly a cough as he could manage, as he always did every time Kahoko was around. (To tell the truth, his cough was rather convincing. But he had had acting lessons since he was a young child, so as to learn how to at least appear approachable) He lifted the cup to his lips, but after a sip, grimaced and spat it out. He banged the cup down on the table with such anger that Kahoko even flinched.

"You call this coffee?" he thundered "This is horrible! It's nothing but sugar water! Do you want all my teeth to fall out or something?"

With a resigned sigh he plopped back down onto the chaise lounge. "Make me another cup. This time, it'd better be perfect," he ordered, and went back to his book.

Gritting her teeth in anger, Kahoko picked up the cup with a trembling hand and headed back to the kitchen, slamming the door as hard as she could behind her.

A couple of minutes later, Kahoko returned with another cup of coffee. By then she had cooled down a bit after giving the fridge a couple of good kicks and managed to say in a civilized tone "I've made your coffee again, as ordered, sir."

But what Len said next made her blood boil again.

"Nah, I don't think I want coffee after all," he yawned, standing up and stretching. "It's awfully stuffy here! I want to get some fresh air, bring me to the gardens!"

Kahoko was about to explode now but took a few deep breaths and held it in. "Very well, sir," she replied in a painfully polite voice.

15 minutes later, they were in the splendid gardens. Len, who insisted his physique was still far too weak, was on a wheelchair while Kahoko pushed him.

"What a lovely day," Len said, turning around to smile sunnily at Kahoko.

"Oh, it certainly is," she beamed back, but thought 'Stupid fool! It's all very well sitting on a wheelchair, being pushed through the garden, but it's not half as fun being the one pushing you know!' It was a rather chilly autumn morning, and Kahoko regretted not wearing a thicker coat, and her long red hair kept blowing annoyingly into her eyes. But Len, on the other hand, wore an annoyingly happy smile on his face, and whenever Kahoko suggested returning indoors, he would cry "Oh not just yet! Just a little while longer!" But he was alright, in his cushioned wheel chair, with a thick blanket draped over his legs and a long scarf wrapped around his neck to keep him nice and warm.

Half an hour later of pushing Len through the palace gardens and halting where he ordered, Kahoko was getting a bit fed up. "Let's get back in now Len. You're still not feeling well after all, it's high time we go back and let you get some rest," she persuaded. "No, I want to stay longer," Len said indignantly, and folded his arms. Kahoko's grip on the gold-leaf covered handles of the wheelchair tightened. She couldn't care anymore! Her arms were sore, her feet aching and she was shivering all over! She was going back no matter what.

"Hyahhhhhhh!" she screamed, abruptly wheeling Len around and started running back towards the palace like there was no tomorrow.

When they were back in the grand hallway of the palace, Kahoko collapsed on the marble floor. She was panting heavily, that run had certainly taken it out of her! Len calmly got up from his wheelchair and said, in a cheery voice "That was such a refreshing wind! You are quite a runner, Kahoko!" 'Oh for heaven's sake!' Kahoko groaned inwardly, 'What is wrong with this guy?' She was so livid that she considered hurling her high heeled boot at his head.

"You know, all that fresh air has whet my appetitie. How about some coffee?" the prince suggested.

Kahoko reached for her shoe.

But before she could throw it at him, Len said "I don't want any of that coffee you make. I want a different coffee, from the outside."

Kahoko was so shocked by Len's statement that her jaw comically dropped and her arm, raised high overhead clutching a boot, froze. "Wha-what?" she spluttered, after a few minutes of stunned silence "Are…are you actually suggesting that we go…out of the palace?"

"Well, I'm the prince of this kingdom, aren't I?" said Len with a frown "Last time I checked, I was allowed to leave the palace."

"But…but there isn't anyone to escort you this time! No bodyguards, no servants…not even a carriage!" Kahoko protested. She couldn't believe this! A prince bending the rules like this so casually, like it didn't matter. 'Kazuki would never do this sort of thing!' she thought to herself. But deep, deep down inside a stir of excitement fluttered in Kahoko. A chance to escape from the palace! Alone! And there was hardly a chance of anyone catching them. The thought of spending an entire day outside the palace walls was a delicious one and although Kahoko vehemently protested, she allowed herself to be dragged along.

Half an hour later…

"I'm telling you, this is a bad idea…" Kahoko anxiously fiddled with the hem of her dress. She kept casting nervous glances at Len, but, unlike her, his conscience did not seem the least bit affected about sneaking out of the palace. He was simply gazing coolly out of the carriage window, and from his reflection she could see his expression was serene, almost bored, in fact.

"When are we going to get there?" he muttered impatiently, checking his gold pocket watch.

"You were the one who wanted to come here, so you'd jolly well wait patiently! Stop whining like a brat!" Kahoko snapped, irritated. This was not going well. The carriage was unbearably hot and stuffy, and her conflicting emotions were swirling round and round inside her, making her touchy and most moody. Also, the starched calico dress she was wearing was highly uncomfortable compared to her normal wear. She plucked at the high, stiff collar, annoyed. Before she and Len had left, she'd made sure they were disguised in commoners clothes; the maroon, flower patterned calico dress was the only thing she had found remotely to her liking when she had rummaged through the servants quarters. Her long hair had been tied into a single braid down her back, as she had seen many peasant girls do.

Finally, they came to the town square. Buildings from cafés to shops to banks surrounded it, every square cobble stoned inch of it was filled with people and in the middle of it all sat a huge stone fountain, its water glittering in the morning sun.

Len hastily tossed the cabby two gold pieces, swung the carriage door open and jumped out.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" he beckoned Kahoko, was still inside the carriage.

She couldn't believe it! She was actually there! In the town square! Alone! Okay, so maybe she was with an extremely malicious companion, but still… Dumbfounded, Kahoko stepped out into the town square and felt the sun's warm rays on her skin. She took in a deep breath, and as the cool summer breeze caressed her face, she felt as if she was flying in the azure sky. Exuberance rose within her, so this was what it felt like to be free!

But her joy of freedom was short-lived when Len's cold, harsh voice pierced through her thoughts, reminding her of the real reason of their visit. His precious coffee. With an annoyed sigh, Kahoko had no choice but to follow the disguised prince through the throngs of people crowded in the town square.

"Where are we going, by the way?" she asked loudly. It was hard to hear one's own voice amidst the racket in the square.

"To get coffee!" was the reply.

"I meant, WHERE are we going to get the coffee?" she yelled once more.

"I don't know! Are there any cafés selling good coffee here?"

Kahoko stretched out her hand and grabbed Len's arm. She somehow managed to pull them aside to a not-as-crowded-but-still-crammed corner, and the two found themselves practically glued to a brick wall.

"Are you telling me, after all this frustrating trouble we've been through, you don't even know where the heck you want to go?" Kahoko hissed her voice dangerously soft.

"Well, I hardly know my way around this place, what do you expect?" Len retorted, seemingly oblivious to Kahoko's rising temper.

Kahoko felt more than tempted to punch the smug brat in the face, but held her fist back. Starting a fight here was just begging for trouble, plus it would probably blow their cover. Although she was happy to be outside the palace walls, Len was rather dampening her high spirits. Like a wet, acidic blanket of malice and spite, thought Kahoko. At the same time, she was glad that Len seemed to have dropped his chirpy, all smiles, and goody-two-shoes act. Cold, icy Len, with his knife of a tongue had scared the life out of Kahoko, but sweet, optimistic Len with his honeyed, sugar coated words? Now that had just drove her completely nuts as well as scared her to death.

While Kahoko had been taking deep breaths to calm herself down, her eyes shut and her mind lost in her own sea of thoughts, Len had spotted a prospective café for him to get his coffee.

"Hey!" he called out to Kahoko "Let's try this place!"

Kahoko's eyes snapped open and she saw which café Len was pointing to. She ignored Len's beckoning hand and fervently signaled for him to come over to where she was. She recognized the café…it was Rose Café, the very one she and Queen Misa had visited barely days ago. Seeing as Len still stubbornly insisted on not moving, Kahoko, with one hand covering her face from the café window, scampered over.

"What's wrong with you?" Len shook his head disapprovingly "You are so weird! Why are you covering your face like that?"

"Oh shut up you snotty brat!" Kahoko snapped, losing her cool "This café's owner is your mum's friend!"

Len looked at her with an uncomprehending expression on his face. "So?' he said, puzzled "All the better then! Maybe she'll give us a discount!"

Kahoko rolled her eyes, and a random thought flitted across her mind 'What a scrooge! He's the prince of this place and he still wants a discount?' and then 'Never mind that now! Is he stupid or something?'

"Are you totally insane?" Kahoko whispered angrily. She'd have loved to shout, but for fear of Rose recognizing her voice, she did not dare. "Do you realize the severity of this situation? If you just walk in there like that, we're totally gonna be found out!"

By now, Kahoko had forcefully dragged Len some distance away from the café and was talking to him in front of a costume shop.

"Then why don't we just…"Len waved his hands around a bit, trying to think of an idea, when he caught sight of the pair of large sunglasses in the shop window and had a sudden spark of inspiration "…disguise ourselves?" he finished. Without waiting for Kahoko to say anything more, he took her by the hand and they entered the costume shop.

Fifteen minutes later, they walked out of the shop, with an extremely satisfied salesgirl waving a cheery goodbye behind them. Len was wearing a circus ringmaster's scarlet jacket, complete with tail coats and golden buttons. A shining black bowler hat sat on his head, and a pair of large, horn rimmed glasses was perched on his nose. To top it off, he had a fake toothbrush moustache and he looked absolutely hilarious. Kahoko was wearing a golden, curled wig and a great big floppy hat that shaded most of her face. But she'd also gotten a pair of large sunglasses (the ones Len saw at the shop window in fact) just to be sure. Kahoko hadn't wanted to change her dress too but Len had forced her into a ridiculously poofy hoop-skirt dress (as revenge after Kahoko had made him wear his own ridiculous disguise). Kahoko just hoped her skirt would be able to fit through the café door. "I feel like an absolute bumbling fool!" groaned Kahoko, self-conciously tugging at the hoop skirt, as if hoping it would somehow become less puffy. She and Len were receiving stares from what seemed to be just about everyone on the street, the expressions on the passers-by faces ranged from amusement to outrage. Kahoko felt her face heat up and she felt like dying from humiliation, unlike the ever cool Len, who seemed not in the least bit perturbed by the stares they were getting.

"You idiot! Why did you make me wear this horrible…thing?" she cried, pinching Len's arm.

"Oh come on, grow up a bit! Still pinching people like this…tsk tsk," Len snorted in an annoyingly superior voice that made Kahoko want to kick him in the shins "Anyway, if you're so mad at having to wear this, it's really your own fault."

"Wha-what?" Kahoko spluttered indignantly.

Len pointedly fingered his toothbrush moustache and glared icily at Kahoko through his glasses, emphasizing his point. Kahoko simply scowled at him and retorted "Well, this way you have a less likely chance of being discovered. Or would you rather I made you wear that stupid monocle and the thick, bushy beard we saw at the shop?"

Len tried imagining wearing those and decided not to argue anymore. They halted abruptly in front of Rose café, and then, in silent agreement, hesitantly stepped in.