Ash: It's been a long time.

Yumeí: To the point of death threats from Dream. I didn't know she had a mean streak.

Ash: :P Anyways, this must be the most humorous/disrespectful funeral ever.

Yumeí: It wasn't disrespectful! I just didn't want to be sad!

Ash: Whatevs. Read and Review!

Yumeí's POV:

The funeral ceremony was dull. Shin had finally moved to coffin, and there were mourners everywhere. Yumeí fidgeted uncomfortably in her chair, and pulled uselessly on her black dress.

"This is depressing!" she complained to Mylene.

The blue haired woman looked at Yumeí with a disparaging look.

"I think that's the point."

Yumeí pouted.

"When I die, play my favorite music and put a bag of Doritos in my coffin as a joke."

All her companions looked at her in alarm.

"May I remind you, we are in the 14th century?" said Lync, his pale green eyes wide.

Yumeí rolled her eyes.

Just that moment, Tabitha finished her speech, and she waved at Yumeí.

Yumeí crossed her arms and and marched up to the podium.

"Shinoru of Vistan and Isté," she began in a purposefully bored voice, "He lived, he died. May he RIP. And may the Doritos miracle work."

He eyes twinkled as a confused murmur spread throughout the crown. Mylene, Lync, and Volt were staring at her in disbelief.

"There will be lunch at 2:00." added Yumeí and she walked down the podium with exaggerated grace.

The moment she had walked away from the podium, the crowd broke out in confused whispers.

"What?" said Mylene, outraged, "I thought I told her no!"

Shadow Prove, who was standing behind her, rubbed his eyes sleepily.

"She did put some chips in his coffin."

Yumeí saw Tabitha out of the corner of her eye do a face palm, and mutter, "Stupid Superbowl commercial."

Kel looked beyond confused. Shun was mouthing furiously at Yumeí.

"Not funny!"

Arentum looked more amused than confused. Yumeí suppressed the urge to smack him, and walked up to Lena.

"Pay up."

The blue-haired Gundalian noble stared at her.

"It's your brother's funeral!"

"Well I need some sunshine here! Pay up!" growled Yumeí.

Lena had a look of disbelief as she poured out 10 crowns into Yumeí's hand. Yumeí inspected the coins then gave a curt nod. A procession up Saphit Hill began. Yumeí didn't see the need to go. Tears formed in her eyes as she fled to the castle. Why Shinoru? Innocent, crazy, and sweet Shinoru? When she was safely in her room buried under covers and pillows, she exploded.

Zenet's POV

Zenet was outside Yumeí's room talking with Ren when Yumeí began crying. She shook her head in pity. Ren took his hands off his ears. Jesse came around the corner looking disgruntled.

"What combusted?" he groaned, hitting one ear as though he was trying to empty water from his left ear.

"Yumeí" came Zenet's blunt reply.

"This sounds familiar." added Ren, and both he and Zenet looked pointedly at Jesse, who stopped popping his ears.

"What? Did I do something?"

Ren sniffed conspicuously.

Jesse paled a bit.

"The ball?"

"And the war." added Zenet.

Jesse sighed impatiently.

"I told you, I thought she wanted to go with someone else!"

Zenet rolled her eyes, then began shoving Ren down the opposite stairwell while he protested.

"If you cared about her you would comfort her!" called Zenet to Jesse.

"I don't like her like that!" came the indignant reply, but Zenet smirked. If she could elicit a response like that from Jesse, then she knew she had hit a nerve.

Jesse's POV

Jesse stood uncertainly outside Yumeí's door. He could still hear the wails of "Why?!" emanating from the bedroom walls. He knocked tentatively.

"Yumeí? Princess?"

Something crashed into the door and Jesse backed away.

"Go away." came Yumeí's menacing snarl.

Jesse flinched at her harsh tone.

"Yumeí-kun isn't feeling well." came a sweet, innocent voice.

He turned and saw that Zaire of Vistan and Istè was staring at him.

"I can see." he replied.

Zaire continued to stare at him through liquid amber eyes. She brushed her black lace dress before asking,

"What were you trying to do?"

"I just wanted to go in and comfort her." he admitted.

Zaire's eyes widened.

"Go into a girl's room?" she asked incredulously.

Jesse gave an irritated noise.

"Enough of that!" he growled, letting his fangs show a bit. He absolutely despised it when people made such references.

Zaire didn't even look intimidated.

"You can't do that!" she protested.

"Watch me." he hissed back. He put his hand on the doorknob and the knob sparked. The door clicked, and Jesse stormed right in.

The last glimpse he got was a scandalized look from Zaire.

0o0

Jesse's POV

Yumeí was so buried under blankets and pillows, he had first wondered what had happened to her. Then he spotted the familiar antenna.

"Go away." came Yumeí's miserable voice again.

"Make me." retorted Jesse, crossing his arms. A pillow came sailing his way, and he sidestepped it with ease.

"You're generally better than that."

No reply. Just another pillow. This time it smacked him in the face.

"That better?" came the bitter voice.

Jesse sighed.

"I know it may not have seemed like his time Yumeí, but destiny-"

"Enough of the theatre crap." mumbled Yumeí sitting up, eyes puffy and red. "And screw destiny."

Jesse shook his head.

"Ayaa." he said calling her by her pet name. He braced himself for the punch. It never came strangely.

Yumeí only sniffed, then wiped her eyes.

"We have to find who did this."

Jesse remained silent.

"We have to take all precautions. No one can leave the island, unless thoroughly checked. The Tortallans can't go back. The Carthaki ambassador..."

Yumeí curled her lip distastefully.

"Looks like they get their wish. They have to stay in Verithigo as well."

Jesse watched with a concerned light in his eyes as she paced.

"You know, Tabitha won't let you seek out the killer himself. Whoever he or she is, they are a threat to the Royal family."

Yumeí whipped around and let out a feral snarl.

Jesse took a step back.

"Shinoru will be avenged, and if I have to defy the Queen then that is exactly what I will do!"

Shun: Yumeí can be this emotional? I thought she had the emotional span of a-

Yumeí: Yes?

Ash: *grins* Ouch. A storm is coming.

Dream: Yep, Yumeí can be emotional. Read and Review!