Raphael had been standing outside the door leading into the vast kitchens for what seemed like hours. His muscles were tensed up and his heart was trying to pound out of his chest. Knowing that the kitchens were most likely at mad-house as the ball approached, he had sent in a nervous looking young man in to find Sakura.

Over the cacophony coming from inside he heard raised voices, but the words were too garbled for him to make it out. He huffed in annoyance and crossed his muscled arms over his chest, pacing angrily.

Finally the doors burst open and a red-faced Sakura was marched out by the furious head cook.

"Enough of this nonsense girl! If his Highness wishes to speak with you, you shall obey!" The tubby woman shook her slightly but Sakura's face remained stubborn and angry.

"And what if I do not wish to speak to his Highness?" She spat out, giving Raphael a heated glare. If it was possible, the cook's face turned a deeper shade of red and she raised her hand to slap Sakura. Sakura held her ground, but her body was taught as she braced herself for the slap.

In a move that surprised not only the cook and Sakura, but also Raphael himself, Raph stepped in and caught the cook's arm.

"That is...unnecessary." He said simply and released her arm. It flopped to her side as she gaped at Raphael. She recovered quickly from her shock and immediately began protesting.

"But sire! Her insolence is inexcusable! Especially in your presence..." She trailed off as Raphael glared at her, his patience already thin. Obviously the cook was looking for a reason to punish Sakura publicly for something that had occurred in the kitchens. But Raph did not have time for petty disputes, he was wasting valuable time arguing with this infuriating woman.

"Leave us." He said and when the stubborn woman didn't move, his eyes blazed with anger and he looked over her. "I said, leave us. What part of that don't you understand?" He growled dangerously.

Reluctantly the cook released Sakura's arm from her death grip and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Raphael and Sakura in a tense silence.

Sakura rubbed her arm and glared at the floor, waiting for the Prince to speak.

"Sakura...I need you to talk some sense into Leo-" he said quickly, but before he could go on and explain the situation to her she cut him off.

"YOU want ME to talk some sense into him?! ME, the lowly servant girl?" She hissed furiously and advanced on him.

"I don't care if you're the prince or the fucking king! You have ruined EVERYTHING!" She screamed, tears building in her eyes and spilling over her rosy cheeks.

Raph winced and opened his mouth to say something, but in a flash Sakura's hand slapped his cheek, leaving his face burning and stinging. The hall echoed with silence as Raph cupped his cheek in shock and Sakura glared. As Raph looked closely at her, he saw that while she was still angry and confident in her anger, her eyes were filled with sadness and fear.

He sighed and when he saw her eyes flashing and she opened her mouth to once more chew him out.

"Wait." He interrupted her and held out his hands in surrender. "I deserved that..."

Sakura froze and watched him warily, waiting for him to continue.

"I didn't understand. I've been raised in this class system and I...I was jealous of Leo...and you." He crossed his arms over his chest protectively and shifted slightly.

"Jealous?" She whispered and Raph's cheeks took on a red tinge.

"I was jealous o' Leo cause he finds love and he gets to be king? It's not fair. We all got arranged marriages in da works and...and he suddenly gets ta buck the system?" Raph sighed and looked over at Sakura.

"And I was jealous of ya...because Leo was payin ya so much attention when he's only ever had us. I felt like ya were takin him away..." He sighed.

"But now I know that ya weren't. Ya were good for him, fer all of us! And now he ain't talkin to me and if we can't get 'im down from that fuckin roof Saki is gonna be king!" His voice rose steadily as the panic in his eyes became more prevalent.

"Woah woah what?" Sakura hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder and Raph grabbed her arm.

"Ill explain on da way! Let's go!" And with that they took off running down the hall.