Looks like we're a chapter away from our 30th chapter! Whoo~ thanks for the reviews from the last chapter. I also hope you guys will check out the Maid-sama event. The results for the best stories in each category has been decided so please check it out ;)

Ugggh, it's so boring typing chapters without Misaki and Takumi together~ chapters will be so boring to read, I'm really sorry...

~Enjoy


~XXIX~


September 12th, 1413
Walker Castle

The first thing Maria did after officially settling down into a chamber, was investigate. Afterall, she had placed personal feelings first instead of work that Richard sent her. Maria, knowing there were consequences for her to turn her back on Richard, wanted to help Takumi at all cost.

Besides, Richard's goal in mind was to get Takumi married with Ayame. Maria thought that as long as Takumi married, there wouldn't be a problem...right?

"Hello~" Maria sang when she peeked inside the jousting/training grounds beside the castle.

"Ah, My lady Maria," Kanou smiled.

Kuuga and the other three stopped their fighting practice and greeted her as well. "Good morning,"

"Can I borrow a bit your time or is now a bad time?"

Kuuga shook his head and stashed his sword away while wiping the sweat off of his forehead. "Of course not. What is wrong?"

Maria entered the large building and crossed her arms under her chest with one hand pressed to her cheek. "Actually, I was hoping if I can ask questions regarding Gerald and that lady Takumi is so fond of: Misaki."

They all looked at one another before turning back to her. Kuuga said, "Gerald and Takumi told us to swear not to talk about that."

"Well Takumi already told me everything very briefly. I already know about the deal you guys made with Gerald for Misaki so can't I get it in more detail?" Maria inquired.

Kuuga scratched his head and said hesitantly, "If that's the case then...okay."

Maria smiled and headed over them to sit on a seat. "Takumi told me this deal that depended on Misaki's life started when she was poisoned?"

They all nod.

"Then tell me, do you know she got poisoned in the first place? Knowing Takumi, he would've got you to guard Misaki with your life right?"

"With someone he loves, yes he told us to do that."

"Then how'd she end up in a horrible condition?" Maria inquired.

"Something happen," Kuuga ruffled his hair in annoyance. "All of us are guilty of that."

"What're you talking about?"

"I mean, for some reason, none of us could remember how Misaki ended up in that condition. All of us were at Misaki's side, we know that much. We brought her to her room and the rest is fuzzy." Kuuga explained. "When...we woke up the next morning, we were in our chambers and Misaki was laying in bed poisoned."

Maria frowned. "Anything else you found suspicious?"

Kanou spoke up. "Uhm, I thought that Gerald and Katrina were both suspects of this. Takumi also suspects that Gerald's the reason behind former Queen and King Walker's deaths. I used magic to dig into Gerald's head while talking to him but I couldn't find anything at all."

"Also, I don't know if this is necessary information but, Misaki was yelled at by Ayame just the other day. We still don't know exactly what happened but, Ayame found her medicine— which was crucial for her to have— in Misaki's hands." Kanou said.

Maria crossed her arms and touched her chin while she stared at one spot in the ground. "Is she guilty of it?"

"I don't believe so," Kanou said immediately. "I was telling her yesterday that there was no way for her to have taken it. I had it in my chambers and almost no one knows where that is except Cedric."

Maria looked up. "You all seem to have alot of faith in this woman."

They looked upon one another again. Kuuga laughed. "Of course we do. This woman brought the kingdom back to life again. She brought our king to life again. We wouldn't believe that she's the kind of person to steal. She's a queen afterall, it'd ruin her reputation."

"Great," Maria grinned. She looked at Kanou and instructed, "Indulge yourself into some research about the human mind and look up some magic on it and tell me what you find. It should give you some answers."

"Eh?"

Maria just smiled and left the training grounds. When she closed the doors behind her, she leaned back against a wall and flipped open her paper fan. She brought it up to cover half her face.

All answers screamed that Gerald was behind everything but, she can't just rely on words. She needed proof.


Meanwhile

"WHAAA! NOOO!" Sakura screamed. "MY LADY, MY LADY HELP MEEE!"

Misaki watched Sakura running around the river with a flustered and terrified expression as Goda chased her around while laughing maniactically.

"What's wrong Sakura?!" Goda yelled as he chased her around. "Never seen a snake before?!"

"KYA! NOOO! GET IT AWAY FROM ME!" Sakura screamed, her voice jumping to all kinds of pitches.

"Why?!" Goda laughed, waving the snake around by its neck. "It's harmless~"

"NO!" Sakura yelps. "EW GET IT AWAY!"

Misaki just sat there on the grass laughing at the scene before her. It's been quite a few days and everyone around her has helped her settle into her own home again. Misaki watched Sakura crying while running around Goda and it made her sigh.

"Goda, stop bullying her." Misaki called out.

Goda looked at her and smiled, showing his bright teeth. She looked up at the clear white sky and sighed. I wonder how he's doing…

"I'm back."

Misaki looked back to see a blond man walking towards her. For a while, she had thought that this figure was Takumi coming for her but she's been let down a few times.

"Hey…" Misaki smiled.

"Here you go...the bread you requested." Goki said, laying the plate of bread on the grass.

Misaki's eyes lit up. These bread were the bread that she had brought the first time when she went to the village with Takumi where they had kissed for the first time. This bread brough back many memories to that day and it made Misaki's smile grow.

"Something about this bread you like, right?" Goki asked, examining her peaceful expression. "Does it remind you of King Takumi?"

Misaki wasn't surprised by his question. Since all that she's been doing was thinking and thinking about Takumi. All that she's been doing is bringing them memories back and making her heart suffer.

"Yes…" Misaki sighed, taking the bread and taking a bite out of it. She muttered, "Why? Is that a problem?"

"Nope…" Goki shook his head. Goki had stood up and stretched a bit. "Let's go."

"Go?" Misaki looked up at him. "Go where?"

Goki gave her a look as though it was rolled his eyes. "Duh. Horseback riding, what did you think?"

"Horeseback?!" Misaki stood up aruptedly. Her eyes were sparkling.

Goki laughed. "I'm assuming you didn't go horseback riding for the last few months."

Misaki shook her head and started to walk towards the castle sheds, grabbing Goki's hand as she did so. She looked back and called out, "Goda, I'm leaving so take care of Sakura for me!"

"EHH!?" Sakura cried in shock. "MY LADY DON'T LEAVE ME!"

"I'll take good care of her!" Goda yelled back as he swung his large arm about Sakura's shoulder. There was a large scheming expression plastered all over his face.

Misaki chuckled.

When the two of them reached the castle horse sheds, Misaki ran inside feeling a little too jumpy. She ran all the way to the back, passing by many of the horses until she found her dark chocolate brown horse e with lucious raven mane just like her.

Misaki's eyes grew as she reached a hand out to touch her horse. "Hana…!"

The horse seemed to have reacted to Misaki's touch and neighed excitedly.

"She missed you," Goki said as he grabbed a saddel off the rack. "Everytime we come in here, she looked really sad you know. She usually doesn't put up much of an appetite either..we were concerned."

Misaki frowned. She looked back at Hana and continued to rub the bottom of her neck affectionately. "I'm sorry for leaving you so suddenly…"

Hana neighed and bumped her nose against Misaki which made Misaki laugh, feeling Hana nuzzle against Misaki's touch.

Goki grinned a little as he brought his horse out and threw his saddle over the back of his horse and hooked it on. He came back to Misaki and grabbed her a saddle too. "Here,"

Misaki stared at the saddle.

Goki raised an eyebrow. "Do you remember how to hook it on, my lady?"

"Of course!" She said defenselessly. She grabbed the saddle— it was heavier than she remembered— and walked behind her horse. She tried to throw it over Hana but it started to feel a little too heavy.

"Have you been losing your strength?" Goki wondered as he helped grabbed the saddle before it fell and bought Misaki down with it.

Misaki frowned. "Probably...damn, I haven't been training much since I left." Misaki watched Goki strap the saddle in for her.

"Don't worry, while you're here, we can always continuing with a little training." Goki assured as he finished up. "Okay there, we're ready to go."

"Thanks…" Misaki said as she grabbed hold of the rein around Hana and guided her horse out. Goki followed behind her with his white horse.

When they were outside, Hana stomped her hooves and Misaki laughed. "You haven't been out in a while have you?"

"Hey, my lady, want to race?" Goki asked, hoisting himself up on his horse.

Misaki grinned. "You bet." She huffed and grabbed onto the saddle to help herself get up on Hana's huge figure. After a few attempts and Goki laughing, Misaki's was finally on Hana's back.

She smiled, she really haven't been on a horseback in a while and feeling the broad muscles of horse's back moving under her, felt somewhat relaxing.

Misaki brushed Hana's raven mane. I wonder if I'll ever go horse backing with Takumi… Misaki thought to herself. That'll be fun.

"Ready to go?" Goki's voice interrupted her. She looked at Goki to see him prepared to race.

Misaki grabbed hold of the rein and slapped it to make Hana race off ahead of Goki. Misaki felt a huge smile growing and a loud laughter threatening to escape but she let it all out.

"Hey..! That's cheating, you didn't say go!" Goki screamed from behind her as he, too, slapped the rein on his horse and raced after Misaki.

Misaki turned her head slightly and stuck a tongue out while pulling one eye down and laughed.

The two of them raced down the hill and a few minutes later, they reached the bottom and now they were at the beach that was located just very close to the Ayuzawa Castle.

When they were there, Misaki pulled on Hana's rein and that made her stop slowly just before they reached the water. Miskai cheered, "I win…! How many wins has this been for me? The 20th time? Maybe higher?"

Goki sighed as he was a few seconds behind her. "You had a head start my lady."

Misaki shrugged. "If you were faster, you would've caught up to me and won."

Goki rolled his eyes.

Misaki was going to say something but she felt something twisting in her stomach and made it feel heavy. Misaki clasped her hands to her mouth.

"My lady?" Goki asked, concerned.

Misaki felt like she was going to puke. She felt it bubble to her mouth but she held it back. "Ughhh…must be horseback sickness." She muttered through her teeth. "I haven't rode a horse in a while after all...plus I just ate."

(A/N: No guys this isn't what you think. It's not pregnancy like you think lol chill, I know you're overreacting right now.)

Goki got off his horse. "That's true. Then let's rest for a bit...maybe it was a bad idea for horseback riding without a little practice run first."

"No, I had fun." Misaki shook her head. "Thanks…"

Misaki looked away and wiped the corner of her mouth without look at her hand and rested her chin on Hana's mane, loving the way it tickled Misaki's neck as the wind blew.

Misaki closed her eyes and stared at the horizon. I hope I'll get to this with Takumi…


"I knew you'd come back here sooner or later." Maria crossed her arms as she watched Gerald hopping out of the Fujita carriage. "You've been hiding out at the Fujita castle this entire time, bastard?"

Gerald rolled his eyes. "It's good to see you too Maria. How long has it been I wonder."

"A few years enough for me to forget you exist." Maria said harshly.

"Ouch. Aren't I your precious cousin?" Gerald asked. "We're family."

"In your dreams." Maria flipped open her paper fan and held it over her face so that only he eyes were visible. Her eyes reflected her disgust. "Stop fooling yourself. We both know you're a bastard way before today. If anything, since that day, I've never considered you my family."

Gerald shrugged as he held a hand out to help Katrina out. She nods to Maria in acknowledgment but Maria didn't return it, instead she walked down and towards Katrina. When she was in front of Katrina, she touched Katrina's small face.

"Is this the young Princess Katrina Fujita?" Maria grinned. "Such a cute and adorable little girl...I truly love girls as cute as you...too bad you're so daunted with hatred." Maria said sourly. She glared at Gerald. "Look at what you made out of this innocent princess."

"Gerald didn't make me like this." Katrina said in a grown womanly voice instead of her childish one. "Misaki Ayuzawa made me this way."

Maria quirked on eyebrow. "What do you mean by that."

"Nothing much." Katrina closed her eyes.

Maria frowned. "So this is why you two joined forces? Because the two of you share a hatred so you're going to use each other to get revenge?"

"We're leaving." Gerald said. "I'm a little hungry so if you'll excuse us. Maria, enjoy your stay and when you go back, give Richard my regards please."

"Seething bastard." Maria growled, grabbing Gerald by the neck of his shirt. "Do you have any idea how much of a liking Richard took for you? He did alot for you, he even endured the breakdown his kingdom got because you decided to frame him. You made everyone point fingers at an innocent man."

Gerald's smile stretched. It pissed Maria off at how smug he looked. "So?"

"So?" Maria scoffed. "He had a serious heart attack because of the stress. Takumi— who actually really likes Richard— wouldn't have been able to say goodbye because he was blinded by hatred. Because of you. You're just enjoying the show aren't you?"

Gerald continued to look into Maria's eyes. "I never really liked the old man anyways. Can you let go of me now? You don't have proof that I did all of these things do you?"

"There's one other person that was in on your little schemes. Hinata Shinatani." Maria smiled. "I'll ask him to spill everything, and if it's for his precious Misaki, he'll tell me."

"So you'e going to believe the words of the man that nearly killed Takumi?" Gerald inquired. "Wrong move,"

"At this point, to save Takumi, I'll have no choice but to believe him." She said. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? How can you even show your face here?"

"Ashamed of what?" Gerald asked. "I'm innocent of all these things… you're falsly acusing me."

"Tch."

"You're a smart woman, Maria." Gerald slapped her away. Maria kept her hard glare on him as he brushed his shirt and walked passed Maria. "But not smart enough."

Katrina didn't even look at Maria as Katrina followed Gerald.

"For such a young age, Katrina, you're really pitiful." Maria muttered. Maria turned around slightly to give Katrina a look. "I hope you know that the path you're taking, the path of eternal grudge, isn't going to take you anywhere."

Katrina continued walking.

"I know, but at least my grudge will be satisfied."

Maria crossed her arms and touched her forehead, she was really getting a headache.

"Let's talk another time, Maria." Gerald called. "Peacefully."

Bastard...


That Night

Ayame was laying on her stomache while she watched Takumi sit infront of his desk, scribbling away on whatever work he had.

Ayame pouted as she dug her two-headed spoon into a bowl of sliced fruit and brought it to her mouth to eat as she stared at her fiance work. Ever since that woman— Misaki— left the kingdom, Takumi had kept himself a little more silent than usual.

Takumi rarely spends time with Ayame anymore and even when she goes to visit him instead, he doesn't say anything for the entire time. It made Ayame feel upset.

She couldn't stand it when she isn't noticed, especially by Takumi. She jabs her fork into a mango piece angrily. It was all because of Misaki Ayuzawa that Takumi's life is like this. Complicated and sad.

Ayame pushed herself off the bed and stuffed a piece of strawberry in her mouth. She also jabbed her fork into another strawberry and made her way to Takumi.

When she got to Takumi, she held out the fork with the strawberry. "Try some strawberries." Ayame offered.

Takumi didn't even give Ayame a look. "I'm okay."

She frowned. "Try it." She said again. "Your fiancee is asking you this."

Takumi didn't even react to that. He just continued keep his eyes down at his work.

Ayame, laterally pissed now, pushed the strawberry into her mouth and grabbed Takumi's head so that she could him to face her. As soon as he faced her, Ayame brought her mouth to his, passing on the strawberry into his mouth. Ayame felt him tense up.

When the strawberry was inside his mouth, Ayame kissed him passionately but she could feel that he wasn't reacting back and it made her grab a ball of his hair, pressing him against her.

She opened her eyes slightly and she saw that Takumi didn't even close his eyes. They were open and in them, his eyes were dark as the night and they showed no sign of affection to the moment.

But before she knew it, Takumi held his hands on her hips and pushed her back.

Ayame's eyes were wide. "Why'd you pull back?"

Takumi averted his eyes and gently pushed Ayame off him.

"Takumi!" Ayame scoffed. She watched Takumi wipe his mouth. She pointed her finger, "Hey, I'm suspicious but, did you really mean it when you said you loved me?!"

It was barely noticeable but she heard the slight hesitation. "Of course I meant it."

"Then why are you pushing me away like this?" Ayame asked, walking over so that she was behind him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled her nose into his neck.

"Ayame," Takumi warned. "Please, let's take it easy."

"No." Ayame whispers, her breath tickling his neck. "I want you to prove to me that you really love me. Prove it to now me right now, Takumi."

Ayame watched his hand clench into a fight fist. She frowned but chose to ignore it.

"Please...Takumi…" Ayame cooed. She closed her eyes and held onto him tighter, hating that he was avoiding her whenever she would touch him.

"Ayame," He warned again. Ayame could hear the impatience in his voice that would make you tremble in fear but she held on.

"No…" Ayame whispered, planting a kiss on Takumi's neck. She loved his smell.

It happened a little too quickly though. She closed her eyes for a second and when she opened them, she was no longer behind Takumi. She was now underneath him and Takumi was on top of her with an expression that not even she could read.

She smiled. Did she do it? Did she bring him out? Was he finally going to touch her and share affection with her?

Although she couldn't quite see his face because of the suddenly darkness of the room casting a shadow over his entire face, Ayame smiled anyways and closed her eyes, waiting for him to make love with her.

Seconds pass and now, she could feel his warm breathe and it made her smile. She waited...nothing came to her disappointment.

Opening her eyes, Takumi was no longer on top of her. In fact, a blanket was over her body now and Takumi was halfway across the room. He grabbed a cloak as he made way for the door.

"Takumi!" Ayame yelled, sitting upright. "Where are you going?!"

"Out." Takumi answered. "You can sleep here for the night, you must be really tired."

"Wait—"

"Ayame, I love you, alright?" Takumi stated without taking one look at her. "You can trust my words right? It all doesn't have to be action."

He left the room.

Ayame sat there with her shoulders slumped and her eyes down. What am I doing wrong?

Was it wrong for her to want the love of a man she loved since she was a child? Was it wrong that she was a little jealous while Misaki was here? Was it wrong of her?

Ayame frowned. It's always been like this. No matter how powerful or beautiful she was, they all rejected her. She hated rejection. She just wanted a little attention.

Ayame felt tears stinging her eyes. Something— a cloth— touched her damp cheeks gently. Ayame jolted and looked up to see her loyal butler, Carson, staring at her.

"Don't cry." He said.

Ayame looked down and accepted the handkerchief. "I'll...find my prince one day right?" She frowned. "Takumi...isn't accepting me yet...even though he says he loves me."

Carson didn't say anything.

Ayame moved over a little bit. She murmurs, "Lend me your shoulder, Carson."

Carson moved to sit on the bed while Ayame leaned on his shoulder and begin to quietly sob, not bothering to control those tears anymore.


That's all for now. I was thinking, all of you guys are threatening to kill Ayame or telling me to just kill her...but in the next few chapters, I'm thinking you guys might change your minds about that.

Anyways, check out my short story called, 'You're My Dream'. Goodnight everyone!

Review, Favourite and Follow!

~WhiteAngel83