Author needs help: Does anyone know hot to put paragraphs for stories that go on fanfiction? I save my files in .doc. Thanks for reading and enjoy! I'll continue to work hard.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"You are a good listener." Kyou gives a smile. "You did not speak one word as I talked."

Talking to Tohru calmed him down. The tension he felt for weeks finally let loose. She didn't judge him so he spoke without fear

"She makes me daydream but awake at night." Kyou chuckles. "I have never known a more bewitching woman."

Tohru's face appears calm but internally she screams 'I want to tell you I am that woman!' Her hands grips hard as rocks as she remembers Prince Kyou will not marry a woman of her status.

Tohru takes a deep breath. "May I ask Prince Kyou something?" Kyou nods.

"Has Prince Kyou thought she has special reasons for running away?"

Kyou narrows his brows and tightens lips. "These thoughts have crossed my mind."

"Then forgetting her is the best to do." Tohru casts her eyes to the moon and hugs her legs to her chest.

Kyou speaks without hesitation.

"I will no such a thing even if it is her wish. She should not have given me her affections if she was to escape. Now I have no choice but to hunt her back."

Tohru felt thrilled at how much she meant to him but fearful that she would be found out. Then what would she do? She'll only make Prince Kyou disappointed by her status. Princess Emiko would feel so hurt being rejected by Prince Kyou. Her country and Kyou's country would not form an alliance by marriage and could have terrible disputes. She knew for the wellbeing of everyone Prince Kyou could never know her secret.

She is happy enough being close to him. He is a head taller and Tohru likes how he lowers his face when speaking to her. She took special pleasure when watching him sweet his bangs from his eyes. She notes how he bumps his fist on the wall when angry. All of these things were very, very precious to her.

Kyou was terrible at waking up. He found it difficult just to open his eyes. He could feel sunlight burning at him through his eyelids. He found it strange that his bed was hard as wood and he was sleeping in a sitting position.

"Hmmmmm…" He sighs while smiling in his sleep. This was the first night he slept without dreaming. Something warm and soft was in his arms and he held it tighter.

Tohru also found it hard to wake up this morning. She was wrapped up in something warm and tight. She tried to push herself up but found she couldn't break free.

"What are you two cozying around here for?" A playful voice spoke above them.

Tohru opens her eyes to sees Kyou's head above hers and his arms around her.

"Ouch!" Kyou grunts as Tohru pushes him away quickly.

"Sorry!" Tohru peers in his face with a worrying look, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. Just a scratch." Kyou clutches one of his arms. "Sorry about invading your personal space."

"It's fine." Tohru felt like her face was on fire.

"So…you two sure seem lovey-dovey. Should a prince who's about to get married be on such close terms with a maid?"

Kyou and Tohru look towards the direction of the voice.

"And who are you to be lecturing me?" Kyou was annoyed.

A tall girl, blonde bangs across half her face, arms crossed over chest, stood in front of them.

A flash hit Tohru. "Have we met before?"

The girl squints and bends to get a better look. "Hmmm…you do look kinda familiar…but you don't look the type I usually fight."

"No! No!" Tohru waved her hands frantically.

Arisa squints harder and bends lower until their face touches. A look of realization crosses her face.

"You remember right?" Tohru is excited.

"Oh! You're the one who ran off with my lunch the other day! I was looking for you!"

"No! We met when I was cleaning the deck on the lower floor. You helped me when one of the head servants bothered me. You're name is Arisa right? I can see you have forgotten me so I'll just say my name again. It's Tohru Honda." Tohru never felt she burst more words at once than the previous sentence.

"Sorry, sorry! I was just kidding! I knew who you were all along!" Arisa slaps her knees and bellows, as Kyou secretly wonders if she is telling the truth.

"So…the royal prince with a maid. Sleeping side by side out on the deck. What will people think?" Arisa makes a 'tsk, tsk' noise while shaking her head.

"We were just chatting." Tohru protests, "please don't think there's anything inappropriate going on between us!"

"Who's going to believe that?"

Kyou groans and pounds against the wall. He turns to Tohru. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made you listen to my problems Now people are going to think you are involved in a scandal. I made a foolish mistake."

Tohru felt tears rushing to her eyes. If she had not selfishly looked for him last night this would have never happened. To think that she was the one who had caused him problems but he was apologizing to her made her despair. She wipes away her tears with great effort and speaks.

"It's okay to make mistakes, but not repeating it is how life should be—to realize when you're wrong and what you should do about it…that's what my mother always used to say."

Kyou's eyes widens at the words. Where have he heard those words before? He felt his head spinning. That night at the party, the masked stranger had said the same thing! (author's note: refer to chapter 5) But why is Tohru saying it now? He forces himself to slow his breathing, which was speeding up abnormally.

It could very well be a coincidence. He reasons. Lot's of mothers have this belief.

Tohru didn't notice Kyou's erratic change. She was too busy trying to convince Arisa.

"Please Arisa! Don't tell anyone what you saw. It would damage both our countries' relations. "

Arisa narrows her eyes and hisses, "Why do I care about that? You all don't know what a sham King Issaru is putting up. He isn't noble or righteous behind closed doors! If you only knew what he was truly like!"

"What? That's treason if you're heard!" Tohru gasps. "Are you not afraid for your life?"

"The only thing I'm afraid of is not completing my revenge! I welcome everything else with open arms!" Arisa laughs.

"So what do you want in exchange for your silence?" Kyou cuts in. "Money is not an issue."

"You greedy royals think money can buy everything? Not this time."

"So what do you want?"

"There is actually something." Arisa looks at Tohru and smiles.

"If it is anything dangerous I'll do it. And that's final." Kyou states.

"But what I want can only be done by Tohru." Arisa shrugs. "It's your call."

Tohru tugs at Kyou's sleeves; he looks down at her warning her not to; She stares back firmly without backing down; and finally, Kyou sighs in defeat and gives her a nod.

Tohru takes a deep breath and turns to Arisa. "What do you want me to do?"

"Hello. My name's Tohru Honda."

"She's the friend I was telling you about. Ask her and she'll tell you everything you need to know." Arisa told the head servant she was serving under.

The head servant had a large face and unfriendly eyes. She squints at Tohru and furrows her lips in disapproval.

"So where was Arisa last night?" The head servant barks.

"O-outside with me Madam!" Tohru felt herself shrinking a little.

"What were two doing?!"

"We were watching the stars Madam!"

"Do you know it's against the policy to go out by yourselves?"

"But we were on orders Madam!"

"Orders? Who!"

"Princess Emiko's! Madam!"

"And what would she want with 2 maids?"

"Because I'm her personal hair dresser madam? And we are on good relations!"

"Let me see you letter of authenticity!"

With shaky fingers, Tohru took a piece of parchment out from her dress and handed it to the head servant.

"Hmmm...it says…oh my!" The head servant suddenly spoke in a much warmer tone.

"How is the princess doing dear?"

"Fine. Madam!" Tohru was more scared at her change of attitude.

"Please don't call me madam! You're rank is above me! Not everyone is lucky enough to address the princess' hair!"

"So you believe me now?" Arisa asks in a annoyed tone.

"Yes, yes. Whatever is fine with the Princess is fine with me." The head servant was all smiles as she ushers them out with a great big smile.

"So that is what you wanted me to do?" Tohru asks. It was easier than she had imagined.

"Yup. You've been a big help." Arisa pats her head like she is dealing with a puppy. "You have no idea how much!"

"The king sure is spendin' a lot of money on shows and parties." A jester said in the dressing room for the Royal Theatre Company.

"He's just tryin' to showoff to that Prince who's gonna marry one of him daughters. He wants to let him know just how rich he is." Another near him cuts in.

"No wonder taxes have been getting higher and higher. The previous king spent a lot of money but not like his son!" The jester hangs his head in shame.

"Not to mention his other unmentionable deeds…that poor girl…" More and more tosses in about what they know of the king.

"What happened to her?"

"God blessed her as a beauty and fate played a cruel joke on her by putting her in his castle…."

As the group mingles amongst themselves two figures were whispering in a far corner.

"Did you get caught?" The same temptress who was in the previous show asks a girl(see chapter 11).

"Nope. Had a little girl be my alibi." She answers.

"A little girl?" The temptress raises an eyebrow. "Where did you find her?"

Arisa laughs. "She's Princess Emiko's maid. You won't believe this---I found her sleeping in Prince Kyou's arms on the deck!"

"What? That Prince sounds like a pig! I've heard rumors about him being a womanizer. Did he seduce her?"

"No." She crinkles her nose. "What was weird was they were clothed. He also seemed to be protecting her."

"Regardless of clothed or not. Why is the prince so close to a maid when he should be courting the princesses? And why of all girls is it the Princess' maid?"

"I don't know. But I have a feeling the maid'll be a neat little pawn in controlling the Prince. Let's keep an eye on her."

"Alright. But you have forgotten our original goal have you?"

"Of course not. You know I only listen to Lord Akito and the Red Crimsons!" (A's N: refer to chapter 9 for Red Crimsons info.)

"Good. Everything starts tonight. So be on guard."

"Don't worry Rin." Arisa grins. "We are taking over this ship and nothing's gonna stop us. Lord Akito will be proud."

Rin nods back. "Let's go then."

END CHAPTER 11

Author's note: So if you've read the previous chapters 3 years ago you might want to review just to find out what Red Crimsons, Tohru's mother's teachings….some of you may be even going..Arisa? What the? And Rin? Well..it's all back there. So now the story is heading for yet another climax. Kyou is starting to find out who Tohru is. The ship's gonna be taken over. King Issaru's a bad king? (I'm sorry king! You had to be bad to make the story work!) and what is Arisa's revenge about? Please review! I love reviews and they encourage me so much and lets me know how much you guys want me to update. If no one cares…then I'll just quit. .