THE KINGDOM OF HEARTS

Chapter Four- Whimsical Love

AN: OMG! THIRTEEN reviews, I'm on a roll! Thanx you guys! I also wanted to clear up any hazy spots so far. Ritsu was the eavesdropper, Sakura is Ayame's crush, and in the story, it is TWO days after the Midnight Feast. Stuff still hazy: whether this will be a Yukiru or a Kyou, if Tohru is really the chosen maiden who will marry Akito, AND Akito's age—is he old or really young? (I haven't decided yet! ^ ^)

AN: Many questions will clear up in this chapter, so read on peeps!

TIME: 11 A.M / Raining outside

"Love…" Yuki murmured, as he gazed outside his bedroom window, where it was wet and muddy.

He couldn't stop thinking about a certain someone. Who? A certain princess with long, brown hair.

Ever since Tohru arrived at the castle four days ago, Yuki had been struggling to keep his emotions under control. Moreover, it bothered him that he actually had to try to keep his feelings hidden; because it had always come naturally to him. Yuki knew that he was changing considerably.

In the past, whenever Tohru came to visit the castle, he had not once felt any feelings for the smiling, brown-haired girl. Actually, that was all he knew her by--smiling, brown-haired girl. And here he was, trying not to blush, stutter, or act strangely in front of Tohru.

But the thing that puzzled him the most, was that Tohru accepted his offer to have a picnic with him. He, after years of avoiding and ignoring her, and she still agreed to have a picnic with him! After the picnic, he found out three things about her. She had servant friends named Uo and Saki; she loved animals, especially cats; and she always had a smile on her face, no matter what.

Yuki realized why Kyo was so obsessed with Tohru, it was impossible not to. Yet, he also felt jealous that Kyo could talk to Tohru easily, without being pressured or feeling shy.

And so he sat at his window sill, trying earnestly to think of a way to be with Tohru alone. However, it would never occur to him, that it would be Shigure, who would help him find a way….

*While Yuki is questioning his feelings for Tohru, Ayame is in his sewing room*

          "Hm…" Ayame said to himself as he observed the pink and red kimono for the last time. "I invited Miss Okinawa to have tea with me today, but will she like this kimono?"

          After only a few moments, Ayame stood up and shouted in his optimistic voice, "Of course she will! She will absolutely adore the kimono and ask me to marry her, and we'll open a sewing store together, and have ten kids that look just like me, and—"

          "Uh, Ayame?"

          Ayame whirled around to come face to face with Sakura, who had worn her pink hair in a long ponytail and was wearing a black Oriental style top with a matching long skirt.

          "Ah! Miss Okinawa!"

          "Ayame, it's okay if you call me Sakura. Besides, I am two years younger than you are!"

          "^ ^;;; Yes, I guess you're right!… Um… Here!" Ayame said hurriedly, as he presented her with the pink and red kimono.

          "It's lovely, Ayame! I love it!"

          "Yes, it's exquisite, isn't it? I made it because I thought it would look stunning on you! ….Do you like it?"

          "Oh, yes, I do!" Sakura replied as she gave Ayame one of her gorgeous smiles. Then she pranced around the room and gazed at the mirror with fascination. Like Ayame, one of her hobbies was staring at her reflection. (AN: No idea if that is true, but c'mon, this is a fan fic!)

          "Ayame, can I try it on?"

          "Of course you can! There's the dressing screen!"

          While Sakura was dressing, Ayame's yellowish-green eyes sparkled with anticipation, as he made a pot of peach tea. (AN: he, he, he! I'm sure you're wondering what's up with all the peach tea! Nothing special, I just really like peach tea, that's all! ^ x ^)

          All of a sudden, Sakura's voice cried, "Ayame! I can't seem to tie this obi right!" (AN: Obi is pretty much a sash that holds kimonos together in the front)

          Ayame's eyes glittered like yellow, canary diamonds, as he said innocently, "Would you like me to help you, Sakura?"

          "Yes, could you?" Sakura said absentmindedly. Although she was an experienced, patient tutor, when it came to the minds of men, she was completely clueless.

          Ayame slowly walked towards the dressing screen, with a mischievous smile plastered on his face, and his heart thumping wildly. When he came behind the dressing screen, Sakura's beautiful, lavender eyes gazed into his, as she said, "Ayame? Are you alright? You don't look so good!"

          However, Ayame was not listening to Sakura. All he could focus on were her entrancing eyes, her rosy lips, and her body….

          "Ayame!" Sakura shouted, causing Ayame snap back into reality abruptly.

          "Ah, yes?"

          "Ayame! The obi, will you please help me tie it!"

          "Of course. All you have to do is…." Ayame said as he expertly tied the obi into the fashionable taiko-musubi style, which puffed out like a pillow.

          "Thank you, Ayame! Where did you learn to tie an obi so well?"

          "Well, I learned it by myself… It just came naturally to me!"

          "You're so talented Ayame! Will you teach me how to tie an obi?"

          "It would be my pleasure, Sakura…" Ayame whispered, and as his eyes softened lovingly, he leaned in to give her kiss.

          "Ayame……"

          "Yes?"

          "THE TEA KETTLE!!! IT'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE!!!"

*While Ayame frantically tries to stabilize the treacherous kettle, Kyo is once again at the arrow shooting range*

          Swoosh! Another arrow cut through the air as it landed in the middle of the wooden target.

          However, the whole time Kyo was shooting arrows all he could think was, "Damn Yuki! Who the hell does he think he is? 'Don't get in the way of Princess Tohru and me!' Oh yeah, like I'm gonna give up Tohru? Dream on, pretty boy! You may be my twin brother, but I'm not giving up Tohru!"

          Whoosh! An arrow hit home, splitting Kyo's recent arrow into two.

          "Huh?" Kyo muttered, as he swung around and gasped at the blonde female, who was armed with a bow and a sack of arrows.

          "Miss Uotoni?"

          "Please, call me Uo. Can I call you Kyo? Prince Kyo just doesn't fit your style."

          "What?!"

          "Honestly, Yuki acts way more princely than you do."

          "Did you come here just to make fun of me? Is that it? Well, I'm not in the mood of taking your shit, so just…. Just go away!"

          Uo let loose another arrow, causing Kyo's arrow to split into fours. "Listen, Kyo. I'm sorry. I didn't come here to piss you off…. I just came here to talk about Tohru, that's all."

          "Yeah? Well talk then."

          "I want you to stop meeting her, Kyo. You're hurting her very much… She doesn't like you anymore! She likes Yuki now…. a lot…."

          Kyo's crimson eyes widened. Although he didn't want to believe a word Uo was saying, her words reflected everything that he feared the most… Of losing Tohru to Yuki…

          "You're lying." Kyo said instinctively, although his brain was screaming, "You idiot! You screwed up! Tohru hates you! She loves Yuki now!"

          "Kyo… You don't need to hide your feelings from me… Are you angry? Kyo?"

          "Uo, why am I causing her pain? And how do I know you're not lying?"

          "She told me….that she loved Yuki very much….and that you remind her of her father. Kyo, do you know how her father died? He was murdered by a poisoned arrow, right in front of her eyes…."

          "Stop it!" Kyo hollered, trying to steady himself against a wooden pole. He was weak from the ongoing rain. For some reason he felt drained of all energy when the weather was bad. (AN: Just like the cursed cat! But remember, there is no curse at this point of the story!)

But he couldn't help himself, as everything around him became hazy….

          "Kyo?!"

*As Kyo is carried to Hatori by Uo; Hiro, Paul, and Kisa are in the garden, and have just finished playing in the pond.*

          Hiro shakes the excess water from his brown hair as he says, "That is the dirtiest pond I have ever been in! Don't they know how to take care of a pond?"

          "I don't think it was that bad." Paul said passively as he lies in the grass, his beautiful aquamarine eyes gazing up at the sky.

          "Yeah, I had lots of fun!" Kisa added hopefully.

          "Well, in that case, I'll forgive the pond. What should we do now?"

          After a moment of silence, Kisa said, "How about we tell stories? I love hearing stories!"

          "Paul, tell us a story now!"

          "Hm… What kind of story?"

          "Oh! The story of the twelve Zodiac animals! I love that story!"

          "Hm… It's very sad, though."

          "Just tell the stupid story, Paul! You're wasting time again!"

          "Fine. It began when God wanted to throw a party for all the animals on Earth. So, he sent word to all the animals that the party would take place early in the morning the next day. And he told them not to be late. Well, the Rat didn't like the Cat, so he decided to do something very mean."

Paul paused and then continued by saying, "He told the Cat that the party would take place at a different time. And so, while eleven of the animals went to the party the next morning, the Cat was sound asleep, unaware of the party he was missing. When God found out that the Cat was not there, he was very angry! So, a servant hurriedly grabbed a boar, so that there would be twelve animals. Thus, the Cat never made it to the party, and he never became a Zodiac animal. The end."

          "That was incredibly lame, Paul." Hiro said immediately.

          Kisa gave Hiro a disapproving look and said, "Paul, I loved your story!"

          Paul looked at Kisa and said quietly, "Kisa, do you like pastries?"

          "Yes, I do!"

          "I make really good strawberry pastries. Do you want to go to the kitchen to make muffins?"

          "I would love to!"

          "I'm going too!" Hiro said, sensing something was wrong. Hiro knew that Paul rarely asked Kisa for anything. And as he watched Kisa and Paul talk, he noticed that Paul, who usually had a small grin on his face, now had a big smile. Hiro suddenly became hot, and his stomach tightened as he yelled, "Kisa! Can I hold your hand?"

          Both Kisa and Paul stared at Hiro, surprised at the sudden request.

          But Paul just smiled, almost knowingly, and took Kisa's hand and wrapped it around Hiro's, and he walked ahead towards the kitchen by himself.

          Hiro was shocked at what he had just done, he had wanted to yell at Paul for talking to Kisa, but instead, he asked Kisa if he could hold her hand.

         "I must be the world's biggest retard." Hiro thought, as he led Kisa by the hand to the kitchen.

*As the trio head towards the kitchen, Shigure is sneaking along the corridor on a mission.*

          Shigure, who was humming to himself cheerfully, was deliberately taking small steps towards Tohru's bedroom.

          "I can't wait to see her face when I tell her the news!" he thought, and when he finally reached her door, he tentatively knocked on the door softly.

          Since there was no answer, Shigure opened the door and tiptoed inside.

         "Tohru? It's me, Shigure. I have something to tell you!" he purposely whispered, so that Tohru couldn't hear him coming in. (He wanted to surprise her, that sly dog! ^ ^.)

          Shigure could hear running water going on in the bathroom, as he settled himself in one of the comfy chairs that decorated Tohru's bedroom.

          "Ah, Tohru's getting ready in the bathroom!" he thought happily. Soon, he was lost in his own perverted thoughts and hummed jolly tunes to himself.

          Suddenly, the air became dark and eerie, and Shigure sensed that something bad was behind him. He slowly turned around, totally unexpecting of what he would see….

          "Tohru is not in her bedroom right now." Saki said in her monotone voice, her deep lavender eyes gazing intently on Shigure.

          "…….." Shigure was completely lost for words as he gaped at the dark beauty before him. She had smooth, pale skin, which contrasted greatly with her long, dark hair. She also had incredible violet eyes, which seemed to spark with mystery and intelligence.

          "I apologize if I startled you. I am Saki, the maid, and a close friend of Tohru. And you are?"

          "Uh…. I'm Shigure Sohma," Shigure said uncertainly, who noticed that Tohru's room now had deep, mauve curtains, creepy candles, and a portrait of a black rose,  "the foremost advisor of King Edwin. I came here to tell Tohru---"

          "She is not here, Mr. Sohma, please come back later."

          "But—"

          "Tohru is not here. Please leave, I am cleaning right now." Saki said as she motioned Shigure to leave the room.

          "Do you by chance know where Tohru is? I have to tell her something very urgent!"

          "Mr. Sohma… If I knew where she was, I would have told you that already. Now please leave."

          "But, Saki! Today is her birthday! I wanted to lure her into the ballroom tonight, because we're throwing a surprise birthday party for her!"

          Saki paused for a moment and replied, "In that case, I shall help you find her, Mr. Sohma."

          "You can call me Shigure. Where do you think she is?"

          "Hm… I sense that she is in the kitchen." Saki murmured her lavender eyes unnaturally blank and a peculiar strand of hair standing straight up, looking ridiculously like a satellite.

          "Well, then, I'll go to the kitchen!" Shigure said quickly as he got up to leave.

          However, Saki's pale, white hand grabbed Shigure's shoulder as she said, "I think I am done cleaning, Shigure. I shall go with you, if that is fine with you."

          "Um…"

          "Well?"

          "Okay! Just please don't hurt me!"

*While Shigure and Saki head towards the kitchen in hopes of finding Tohru, we see a magnificent room with King Edwin sitting at a desk alone."

          "Dear Step-brother," King Edwin read silently, "it has been many years since I have sent a letter to you. As you already know, my son, Akito, is looking for a bride. Of course, I commanded that the bride be of royal blood. Edwin, I am sure that you know that Akito is similar to me in numerous ways. If the maiden that you choose does not meet the liking of Akito or myself, Akito himself shall dispose of that maiden. I hope you are prepared, dear brother. I am near my deathbed, and my temper has grown increasingly shorter than before. My hopes are with you. From your brother, Ayden."

          King Edwin slowly closed the letter and let out a bone-rattling sigh. He himself was near his deathbed as well. The chosen maiden was the only thing that could prevent or cause a war between the East and the West.

          "My dear sons," he whispered as he walked to his bedroom window, "please forgive me."

         With that, King Edwin called for a messenger to send a message to Emperor Ayden and Akito.

King Edwin had chosen a maiden for Akito….  

AN: Aaaahhhh!!! Summer is ending too fast! Only a month left till school starts again! T T

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chappie! ^ ^ I'm sorry that the ending was kinda short—it was supposed to be a cliffhanger for the next chapter! *author avoids the rotten tomatoes*

Kyo: Author, your story sucks! I mean, can't there be more of Tohru and me?

Yuki: I agree and disagree. You should delete Kyo from the story, and there should be more romance scenes!

Kyo: Deleted from the story? I'm gonna teach you a lesson!

Yuki: Now where did I hear that one?

Kyo: Shut up!

Haru: Your story is boring! Where is all the action and violence?

Hiro: Yeah, really! I mean, you only had one scene with Kisa and me! You seriously have no writing skills as an author!

Me: Humph! Can I not hear a single compliment? Must I be subjected to such cruel words?

Kisa: Hiro! That was really mean! Author, I think your story is really nice! Will you please include Paul, Hiro, and me in the next chapter?

Me: *wipes away a tear* I will, Kisa!

AN: Peeps! Thanx for the reviews! They really are the only reason why I write this story! Please tell me if this is worth writing! Submit now!