I ditch Carol-san and Jared before they can ask any more questions, and head for the utility closet.

My steps have a spring in them that I wish I could make go away. It's too suspicious, and someone's bound to think I'm up to something. But even when I stop and stand totally still I can feel the happy fluttering in my gut that's so exaggerated I know I won't be able to hide it… Not for long, anyway. Taking a deep breath, I slowly pull the ancient maroon vacuum cleaner out of the hall closet, twining the long, gray cord through my fingers dreamily.

Y'know, even though I'm dying to get out of this nuthouse I'm going to miss some stuff about it. Jared and Carol. Being able to be somebody else—someone with no rough past or trust issues or any of that –for a change. Just a normal girl. But I can do that at home, too, probably… I just have to find the strength, right?

I'm gonna really miss Carol and Jared though. Tonight, before I go to bed, I'll say goodbye.

Although… if you marry Ryoshi you'll get to move in here eventually and see them all the time!

My cheeks burn at the dumb, childish thought. Ugh… it's 'cause of that stupid dream…!

Still, though… I smile slightly, the pinkness of my cheeks tingling. Thank God no one can see me right now.

I sigh, and yank myself unhappily out of Dreamland. The damn floor still needs to be mopped. At least this is the last time.

I move the vacuum cleaner aside and feel until my hand wraps around the smooth handle of the mop, and I tug it out of there, along with the bucket. I quickly slam the door shut before all the contents of the closet can topple over on me.

I have to go outside to the hose to get the water, so I dump all the mop stuff at the side of the kitchen entrance. It's a good thing no one else is in there anymore. It's all been cleared out, which is… weird. It's only been five minutes since I left… I wonder where everybody went.

I shrug to myself, grab the bucket, and wheel it, squeaking obnoxiously, outside through the back exit.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ryoshi is smart about his search. First he locates every person in the house, including his mother (in the foyer), to make sure he and Ryoko won't be caught. As usual, no one notices his presence in any of the rooms, even when he starts panting from running around.

"Where is she?" he mutters. Every room so far contained someone he didn't need or was empty. He was so busy glancing around that he tripped over a mop some servant had left by the kitchen, the first place he'd checked. Thankfully there hadn't been any water in it.

No water…

Maybe she's the one mopping! She'll be outside getting some water… that's why the bucket was missing. I'd better go check it out.

Ryoshi takes the stairs to the first floor two at a time and heads for the kitchen.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I pull back my hair—well, my wig's hair, whatever—into a long ponytail, and huff, pushing the heavy bucket into place in the kitchen. The kitchen is pretty big, big enough for a bunch of house servants, and I know from experience this job is going to be awhile. At least it gives me something to do.

I clumsily dunk the mop into the bucket, smelling the embarrassingly nice scent of mop water and Pinesol Cleaner, which I'll probably smell like all day, and slosh some of the water onto the linoleum floor. I watch it flow out over the yellowing tiles, almost in a daze.

I shake my head firmly. Get a grip. You have to stop thinking about Ryoshi 24/7. It's really pathetic.

Even though you love doing it. Secretly anyways.

I sigh and push the mop handle hard, moving it back and forth, back and forth…

I begin to hum without even noticing. I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream…

"Ryoko!"

Great now I'm hearing thin—

"Huh?" I mutter, and turn just as Ryoshi slips on the puddle of water—

—and crashes into me.

"Agh!" I cry out as we fall together. I feel his body slam into mine, his hand under my head. As we smack into the wet floor my head doesn't bang on the tile. He must have held me there on purpose.

An ache runs through my body. "Ugh…," I mumble, trying to sit up.

I can't though. Because Ryoshi is exactly on top of me.

"I'm so sorry, Ryoko! Are you okay?" He asks worriedly.

Does he even notice that we're practically in a sex position here?!

"Uh!" I squeak nervously, "Yeah-yeah-I'm-fine!" I feel the comforting weight of his body shift as he picks himself up—the only difference is that now we aren't touching. He's still over me, my hands at my sides, wrists up in a defenseless position. His emerald irises gaze down at me, filled with protective concern. The dark strands of his bangs have fallen forward, inches from my face. I want so badly to run my fingers through that hair. I feel my right hand twitch.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

"Huh? Oh. Mhhm!"

"Oh…" Ryoshi seems to finally get how… close he is. Blushing he quickly removes himself so I can sit up.

My uniform is soaked in Pinesol water. I grunt and sit up slowly. The undershirt of this thing is white. I wonder if Ryoshi can see my bra?! I glance down. Nope.

It's only an AA-cup bra but still, that would be embarrassing…

Ryoshi's gotten a little wet too. I wonder how he'll explain this to Morino-sama.

"Ryoshi!" I exclaim abruptly. "You can't be here—what about your mom?!"

"She's busy for the day, don't worry. All the servants are either helping them move the furniture around or they've been given the day off. That's why it was kinda weird for me to find you here."

"What?! So I have the day off and nobody told me?!" I exclaim.

"They announced it at breakfast, I think. Weren't you there?"

I frown. "Not long enough, I guess."

He stands up, and reaches down to help me stand up. I take his hand, and the little zap that follows his touches courses through me, lightning fast. I pull myself up and squeeze some of the mop water out of my skirt, and it drips down my legs. Disgusting.

"Hey, you should go change." Ryoshi says.

"Yeah, but I don't know where they keep the extra uniforms…"

"I know where it is. Let's go." He takes my arm and we walk past the mop area together, stepping carefully this time.

"Are you sure it's okay?" I ask.

"Ryoko, anything that's mine is yours, you know that. I'm not going to leave you stuck in wet clothes day," he says happily.

"Well… Thanks, then."

"Anything for you." He replies causally, the constant kindness behind his words exposed without fear.

My flat click on the floor as we walk back behind a hallway I haven't been to. Ryoshi opens a door, revealing dry-cleaned extra uniforms. I step around him and search for my size.

"Hey, Ryoko?" Ryoshi's voice sounds from over my shoulder.

"Mmm?"

"You'll have to change in my room, all the other one's have people around. I checked earlier."

This makes me blush for some reason.

"Kay then." I grab my size.

"Where to?"