A/N: So, right off the bat I'm gonna go ahead and spoil this chapter by saying no, Yori does not appear this time. However, to help her get her next week, I decided to release an additional chapter on THURSDAY so that next MONDAY she will finally make her appearance. So, in the next week(ish) there will be 3 chapters instead of the usual 2. Consider this my Happy Holidays gift to y'all ;).

YUKI

"It's time to put you to work out in the fields where we really need you," Mando told the princess and her knights, grinning.

The farmer led the trio out the back door of the house into the brisk morning air. Before them was the barn, a building Mando and Etsuko had built themselves years ago. To the left of the barn was the pasture, and to the right were the crops that the farmers cultivated. Yuki and the knights had volunteered themselves to help with the more difficult chores to repay the family for their kindness, and today Mando had decided they should help with the animals and crops.

"I need one of ya to tend the horses and another to help me with the vegetables. I got two horses, one has got a mean streak. That would be Lily, the white one. I brought them in earlier so we could brush 'em and such." They stepped into the barn, and Yuki immediately saw the pair of horses before them, swishing their tails in their stalls. "Other one's Won." He gestured to the dark brown horse beside Lily.

Hanabusa stepped forward, reaching out his hand slowly although warily towards the white mare. "She's gorgeous," he observed with appreciation.

"Purebred. She only likes my wife, though. Careful there, boy."

The blond lord had almost succeeded in touching the horse's nose when Lily suddenly snapped at him. Hanabusa jumped back, snatching his hand away. Yuki flinched, worried for a moment until she saw that the knight was alright. Mando laughed and shook his head.

"Told ya so," the farmer chuckled.

"I'll help with the crops," the blond said smoothly, patting Zero on the shoulder.

The silver knight shrugged, moving closer to the mare. He, too, approached slowly, and when the mare shook her head and pawed at the ground nervously he maintained his calm, waiting for her to steady herself before continuing. Within moments he was stroking the horse's nose. Lily nickered softly, nudging his shoulder and looking at him imploringly for food.

"Well I'll be damned." Mando folded his arms, looking over to Zero and nodding. "Ya got a gift, there."

"Horses have always liked Zero," Yuki giggled, remembering the days back home at Ashgate. No matter how ornery the horse, they always seemed to have a special connection with Zero. Yuki couldn't blame the animals. Zero was very special, after all. His presence always calmed and steadied her. She thought perhaps it was the same for horses. Hanabusa, however... She snickered under her breath. Not so much.

"Yuki, would ya mind staying to help Zero here? Just in case?" Mando asked.

"Of course!" Yuki replied immediately. She would have rather helped in the barn, anyway. She wasn't particularly strong, and the thought of working in the fields did not appeal to her in the slightest.

"In that case, if ya don't mind cleaning the barn a little and then the horse's stalls. They're gonna need more food and water and a good brushing, as well."

"No problem." She smiled, speaking for Zero as well, who was still scratching a very happy Lily.

"Come find me if ya need anything." With that, Mando gestured to Hanabusa, and the pair were soon out of sight.

"Okay Zero, what first?" Yuki asked, ready to work but unsure what to do, and followed the knight's lead as he began tending the pair of horses.

The morning went by sluggishly at first, as Yuki was unaccustomed to manual labor of any sort, but before long she felt that she was getting the hang of it. It wasn't hard, tending to the horses and cleaning the stables. Zero was far better help than she, naturally, but with time she believed she could do almost as well.

Picking up the broom where she'd left it, she swept the loose hay into a pile. In the time that they had been here, Yuki felt that the mood had shifted drastically. They had fled the capital in fear, with the threat of discovery dogging their every step. Once they had found Mando and Etsuko, however, that had changed. The days had slowed and gradually become more relaxed. Yuki felt closer than ever to both of her knights. More than that, she felt almost more at home here than at the palace, at court…

I could do this, Yuki thought, returning the broom to its rightful place in the corner. She turned, eyes scanning the barn and the yard beyond. The morning was peaceful, accentuated by birdsong and the various noises of the farm. A few chickens strutted past, pecking at the ground in search of food. In the field, she knew, Hanabusa and Mando were tending the crops. It was a simple life, uncomplicated by the politics and etiquette of the court; a life that she knew little about. Despite that, such a life appealed to her. It did not seem so far-fetched now to find a piece of land and build a new life, far away from the pressures of the palace and the tyranny of her cousin... A life together with Zero...

Yuki paused, watching as the silver knight combed through Lily's mane, his fingers checking for snags that might catch on the brush. Out here in the countryside, Zero seemed more at ease as well, slipping easily into the role of farmer. Now, tending to the horse, the silver knight's usual stern, unreadable composure had fled, leaving his expression peaceful and somehow vulnerable. She watched him lean close, eyes crinkling at the corners as the mare attempted to nibble the ends of his hair, lips almost echoing the ghost of a smile. The hard surface of his features had eroded away, unguarded before the animal, and the tenderness that he directed towards the horse made her heart twist a little. If only Zero would show her such tenderness as well...

She shook her head slightly, attempting to dislodge this sudden seed of envy. Zero was her knight, after all. She spent more time with him than almost anyone. To want more was beyond selfish. And yet... Her eyes followed his fingers as they gently untangled the mare's mane, followed the hint of that smile on his lips. She was beyond selfish to want more of his attention, more of his affection. At court, it had been easier to occupy herself with other things, to maintain the boundaries between the two of them, but here it was far less so.

Her hand rose, touching her chest as that slight pain wormed its way outward. Moments passed, indeterminable, and she remained as she was, watching him groom the horse. She could have watched him forever that way, unaware and unguarded. As she did, the emotion lodged in her chest loosened, spreading slowly through her veins. It was an emotion she had denied and hidden for years, one that was forbidden, and yet... She wasn't sure when this feeling had begun to fill her, but as she stood there, trapped by the sight of such an expression on her knight's face, sudden recognition burned into her heart with cold fire.

The thought dropped heavily like a stone through her mind, rippling out as her fingers tightened into a fist. I love Zero.

The realization left her reeling for a moment, stunned. She could not remember when such a feeling had begun, only that it had been present for as long as she could remember. She had tried to tell herself otherwise, tried to disguise it, and yet it had remained, waiting beneath the surface of her mind until this moment when it broke free again. She could not deny it any longer. She loved Zero, completely and fully; she always had. She loved his quiet, constant presence. She loved their long walks and chats, loved the way they could simply sit and read together. She loved watching him practice, loved the fluid motion of his arm as he swung his sword through the open air. She loved the way his hair fell across his forehead, the way his eyes caught and softly muted the light, the way his lips moved as he spoke. She loved the sound of his voice. Everything...

She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a slow, deep breath to steady herself. Perhaps, deep down, despite Kaname's character, the true reason that she had not wanted to marry him was because of Zero... Because she could not shake the bond that she felt with her knight. And maybe, just maybe, she wasn't certain if she wanted to return to the palace at all, because if she built a new life for herself, there was a chance that she could do it at Zero's side...

"Do you need a break?" the knight's query snapped her out of her thoughts.

Still dazed, his question struck her with confusion. For a few seconds she fumbled mentally, pulling together her thoughts to respond. "No, sorry, I was lost in thought," she apologized quickly, giving him a warm smile.

"You can leave things to me. I'm alright," he repeated, but Yuki shook her head.

The princess began to protest, when suddenly a call from Emiri interrupted her.

"Lunch!" the girl announced.

"I'm hungry," Yuki said instead, suddenly grabbing the knight's wrist and dragging him out of the barn behind her. "Let's eat!"

She turned back and beamed, radiating happiness and energy towards the silver-haired man. It was a complicated emotion, but somehow she felt lighter, unburdened with the force of a love she had kept hidden even from herself.

If only she knew how Zero felt in return...

A/N: Everyone is anxious for Yori to appear. But this is the end of the farm "arc" so the next time we see our trio they will at last be in the Virid Wood. Still, this is a very important chapter for Yuki. At least she isn't trying to deny herself anymore!