Dismissal

Tohru was pushing the tray of the food towards the hallway of the rooms of the Sohma princes when the head maid stopped her.

"The Prince Sohma Hatori had ordered that you are not allowed to see any of the Princes starting today," explained the old woman, a pitying look in her wrinkled face.

She was stunned. "I-I…what am I suppose to do then?"

"His Majesty, The King Akito, will use your services starting today."

"Eh?"

Kyo groaned exasperatedly as Kagura went on and on her usual declaration of undying love for him as she brought him breakfast in bed.

"…and furthermore, I promise to cook for you everyday each and every kind of fish species here in this kingdom and other neighboring kingdoms," continued Kagura cheerfully. "Isn't that exciting?"

"Yeah," said the neko dully. Where's Tohru?

He didn't know that he had spoken his thought out loud. Kagura said nothing, but her face crumpled. Yet she continued her chat.

"I promise to love you each day, every day, until the very, very last day of my life-"

"Yeah, yeah." Kyo made a shooing motion. "You can leave me now to eat alone."

Kagura hid the hurt look in her face. "But I always serve you breakfast!" That is, until she came along.

"Not today. I will eat alone," said the prince, stressing the last word again.

Kagura pouted. "Alright!" She marched out of the prince' room and slammed the door. As soon as it closed behind her back however, she leaned weakly on it. She fought back her tears.

I have loved you ever since we were children. You are the only one I loved all my life. Why can't Kami-sama grant me my only wish…for him to love me back Why? Why?

And now, a maid comes along…and immediately, he wanted her.

A tear spilled down her cheek.

I love you, Kyo. Very much, in fact. I'm not willing to give you up that easily.

Tohru nervously knocked on the gargantuan door before her.

"Come in," said the familiar voice she recalled as Hatori's. Immediately she felt her heart race in fear.

Now what?

She opened the door and was let in to a lavishly-designed room. At the center was the four-poster bed accented with silk curtains. Sitting on the bed were Hatori who was treating a sickly-looking young man with a faraway look in his eyes.

"Now you're here," said Hatori, standing up. "I will leave you and His Highness to talk."

The two were left alone in the room. The man spoke first.

"Please place the tray on the table," he said politely.

She nodded and did as told. He then ushered her to the bed by him. Although nervous, she did as told.

"I am Sohma Akito, the clan head," began the young man.

She gasped. "Eh?" The king of Kaibara?

"And…I heard a lot of things about you," he continued. "And…you know about the Sohma curse?"

She stiffened.

"It doesn't matter. I thought my relatives are very good in hiding their identities, and Yuki, of all people, revealed it to you." Akito gazed at her with unreadable emotion.

"I-I promise not to reveal this-"

"I know you won't." Akito forced himself to sit up to look at the maid straight in the eyes. "Anyway, I just wanted to see you personally. That is why I ordered Hatori to suspend your duties with the other Sohmas. I want you to do something for me, and I hope you have the sanity not to refuse a king."

"Y-Your Highness?"

"I will not have you hanged if you promise to leave this place as soon as possible and attempt no communication again with any of the princes."

"Ah!" Her heart froze.

"I'm sorry, but there's an unwritten law in our clan. Any outsider who learns the secret of the Sohmas must be killed, but since you have tried so hard not to reveal the secret, then I had the compassion." Akito laid himself down the bed again. "May I have my cup of tea?"

Shaking, she took the cup by the saucer and held it out towards the king.

"May I ask you to leave right after I finish my cup of tea?" he asked.

She was shocked, making her lose her grip on the saucer. The hot liquid fell on the king.

***

"Tohru!" The Saki patriarch was stunned to see Tohru on their front door. He embraced her. "My child, what happened?"

She smiled weakly. "I was dismissed from the palace."

Hana came out too. "T-Tohru?"

"Hana-chan!" She hugged her friend tearfully. "Hana-chan!"

The daughter looked at the bewildered father then took the crying girl in. "Hush, Tohru. Let's talk inside."

"What?!!" Yuki stood up from his seat in the library, shocked, to put it mildly. His burning purple eyes burned Hatori. "You dismissed the maid from her service just because she dropped tea on King Akito by accident?"

Shigure was equally stunned. "B-But it was just an accident…"

"Accident or not, that's blasphemy to the king," said Hatori.

Yuki was outraged. "You will not get away with this, Hatori," he promised.

"If I were you, Yuki, I would just concentrate on wooing the princesses of other kingdoms. That is suppose to be your job in your age first and foremost, and not meddle with my decisions." Hatori eyed him testily. "When have you learned to waste your time on that maid anyway?"

The prince stopped in his tracks.

"Heavens forbid, but I hope you are not starting to have feelings for that maid."

This made Yuki leave the room in quiet fury.

Shigure shut his book close and stared at the smoking doctor. "You are a pathetic pawn, 'Tori. You didn't decide that for yourself. He manipulated you yet again. Why are you allowing yourself to be the hatchet man for his diabolical schemes?"

Hatori looked at his cousin. "Mind your own business."

"You were just like Yuki once upon a time," said Shigure. "Remember that clumsy maid some years ago?"

Kana's face flashed in the doctor's mind, but his unaffected mask remained. "I forgot."

"Liar."

"Yuki."

The prince turned around and saw Kazuma looking at him. He immediately bowed. "Sensei, forgive me but I'm not in the mood to practice martial arts. What is it that you want to say?"

The weary face of the man broke into a fatherly smile. "Follow your heart. It will lead to the right path."

Yuki froze.

"Where does your heart want to go?" asked his teacher.

He clenched his fists. "I…still have to prepare for the arrival of the Princess Murasaki. She's going to visit again."

"You disappointed me, Yuki," said Kazuma sadly before turning his back on the prince.

"You got dismissed because you spilled hot tea on the king?" The Saki male didn't know whether to cry in outrage or laughter.

"Otoosan!" said Hana threateningly. She turned to Tohru. "Don't worry. I'm not planning to go back anymore to the palace, after what they did to you. We'll make do with our little land, and enrich it, together with my parents. I do not need that salary anymore."

"Hana-chan…"

"We'll be ok, Tohru. I promised your mother that we will take care of you. We will, Tohru. No one can hurt you anymore," said her best friend.

She looked at Hana tearfully. She didn't dare tell her two important facts.

One, about the real reason why she got dismissed.

Two, that despite of everything, a part of her still wanted to go back to the palace.

If only to see the person she had slowly, foolishly, learned to love.

Even just a glance.

tsuzuku