*munches on sugar cookies* Thanks, Yin. =D And I'm trying to make these things long enough, they seemed pretty long when I typed them up on Microsoft… o_o; And thanks to all who reviewed. D Reviews are my life, you know… Really, I live off of them. When people review, it tells me that you guys like my story enough to tell me so. =D So thanks to all who reviewed! And for everyone else? REVIEW OR ELSE! =| *dishes out pizza*

s t a r t c h a p t e r

Chapter 3

Apologies and Information

She was in a forest – a pretty forest, full of forest sounds. Luscious in color, the dark and light greens blending to create the perfect leafy canopy above her… And the rich browns and blacks set the tall, elegant tree trunks around her. And beneath her feet, there was no undergrowth, merely a carpet of soft earthy loam. Her footsteps were almost silent. The sunlight filtered through the awning in rays to illuminate patches of earth, here and there. Cheerful sounds of birds chirping greeted her ears, the fresh smell of Nature touched her nose, and the beautiful scene in front of her rewarded her eyes. Lips curving into a smile – a rare, treasured smile – she moved forward, marveling at how the natural carpet muffled her steps.

Now she was standing on a cliff. She could see the whole forest stretching across the world, as far as the eye could see. Someone's hand descended lightly on her shoulder. She knew she should panic, but the peaceful air ground out the fear in her. The hand shook her shoulder, but she didn't turn around… She wanted to gaze out at the calm forest below her. She was shaken again, more roughly. Her eyes closed as she tried to yell 'Stop!'… The words wouldn't come, and she thrashed until she lost her balance. Her eyes flew open as she… Rolled off the bed?

"Oh!" Chiara gasped, entangled in her blankets. She gave a startled noise, somewhere between a shout and a squeal. No forest. No cliff. It was just a dream. She was right here, on the floor of her room, on the third floor of the Hiwatari manor. She blinked unseeingly towards the person who had disturbed her sleep, her mind still lost in her dream.

The young woman gazing back at her was around her age, a couple of years older. Slick sun-kissed hair slid down her back in a curtain of gold. Her hands were placed upon her hips, and she was dressed in the mandatory clothes given to a female servant – plain, black gown. Behind flaxen bangs, two eyes of cerulean twinkled in merriment as her full rose-tinted lips opened to let out a warm laugh.

"Why, Chiara, you must've been having a nice dream – you didn't want to wake up!"

Fully awake now, Chiara scrambled to her feet, kicking her blankets away. Half-tripping over her nightgown, she threw a hug upon the older girl.

"Ceramina," she cried, "I haven't seen you for three weeks, and I thought they dismissed you!" She let go, and stepped back to give a laugh of her own; she was almost surprised at the sound, for she laughed so little these days, and smiled even less. And she laughed again, just because she liked the feeling of happiness.

"Dismissed me?" Ceramina repeated with a little mock-gasp. "Oh, Chi, you are so… So… Never mind, I can't think of the word at the moment. I was just sent away for a while to recover my health." Her ocean-hued eyes noticed the look of puzzlement over her younger friend's eyes, and added, "I developed a bad cough and Governor Hiwatari requested that I go somewhere less urban. Fresh air, you know."

"Oh…" The happy balloon within her stomach had deflated a bit at the mention of Kai's grandfather. She pushed those thoughts away for the time being, and plastered a grin over her face. "So, what're you doing here?"

Ceramina gave her a strange look, moving to automatically fold Chiara's rumpled blankets. "Were you not informed, my friend?" She placed the folded sheets upon the bed, and smoothed the covers as the sixteen-year-old shook her head mutely. "In an effort to get Master Kai to lighten up a bit, the Governor has organized a… A…" The golden-haired young woman stopped there, seating herself upon the bed and apparently thinking hard.

Chiara waited impatiently. Now, as she remembered, Ceramina always had a problem with words. And she was the soft type, never arguing with the higher class, or making a scene. Just the opposite of Chiara, but that's why the two became best friends. Like a south magnet to a north, opposites attract, right? She grabbed her servant wear, giving the blonde a shake of the arm as she pressed, "A what? A what?"

"An outing, that's the word!" A smile exploded across Ceramina's features. "A sort of picnic thing, and it'll be an all-day event too! Oh Chiara, what's the matter?" she said worriedly, for the raven-haired girl had just scowled and flung her black gown upon the floor. "Chiara," Ceramina frowned, picking up the dress and laying it carefully to one side.

"A picnic. A picnic!" Chiara's voice was rising steadily, increasing to a shout. "And I suppose I have to go, well that's great! Just another chance to humiliate myself! People will walk by and see me, and they'll think I'm some lazy ass who couldn't get a job so I came here to work as a stupid slave!" The last word was bellowed with such force that her friend cringed visibly.

Without another word, Chiara began to change, hurling her nightwear to one side and savagely pulling her gown on. Ceramina stared at the carpeted floor, her slim fingers fidgeting with the edge of her own dress.

"Chiara," she began, but was cut off as the girl growled, "I'm going. Kai needs his apology." With those last words, she hurried from the room, angrily kicking the door open and slamming it shut. Left alone, the blonde could only gaze helplessly at the door.

If one was near enough, they could've heard her whisper, "Oh, Chiara, why can't you just accept things?"

-Meanwhile-

With his arms crossed behind his head, Kai lay prone upon his bed, in his room. Wearing nothing but the navy cargo pants, the sixteen-year-old stared blankly at his ceiling. Chiseled chest rose and fell steadily as he breathed, allowing his mind to wander aimlessly. He wasn't thinking of anything in particular, and the only reason he wasn't up and about was because he had nothing better to do. He was bored. Rolling over onto his stomach, he blew up, watching a lock of cerulean blue flop half-heartedly to the side. He blew again, and the lock of hair rose slightly upon his breath, and then fell to tickle his nose as he breathed in. Although it was probably only five minutes, he seemed to lie there for hours, until his silent reveries were interrupted by three, sharp knocks upon the door.

He sat up, one knee drawn up to his chest. Another few knocks rapped the door, and he snapped impatiently, "Quit your knocking and come in."

The door opened hesitatingly, and Chiara's head poked in. She let out a sharp squeak, and pulled her head back. Her voice drifted in through the half-open door.

"Um, I'll wait."

Chuckling humorlessly, Kai pulled a shirt roughly over his chest, and then leaned back on his hands. "I'm done, what do you want?"

She peeped cautiously around the door. Rather pink around her cheeks, she shuffled forward. "I'm here to give an apology," she muttered, rocking back and forth on her heels as she stared at her hands.

Kai allowed a few seconds of silence to pass between the two. "Look up when you speak, stop muttering, and stand still." He gave a small nod as she obeyed, causing his blue-gray bangs to shiver across his visage. More silence passed, until Chiara pulled forth the courage to speak.

"I'm sorry you had to spend your free time chasing after me and I'm very thankful, and I won't try to escape again, and I'm sorry," she said dully, looking into his face. His mauve optics gazed into her own until her eyes watered slightly and she looked down.

"Yes you will."

Chiara frowned slightly, eyes flicking up sharply. "What? I mean, pardon?"

Kai shrugged, a half-hearted gesture, one shoulder lifting an inch, and then falling to its usual state. "You will try to escape again. You don't like it here. You want to get out."

The girl remained silent. She did want to get out, to be free, but hell will freeze over before that happens. Besides, one guard had hinted that if she tried to get out again, her family would be killed. Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes; she missed her mother. How was her father doing? Were they well? Did they miss her? Swallowing a sob, she continued to stare at Kai, willing herself not to cry. She would not show weakness. She failed miserably as tears made their way down her cheeks. She let out a soft, choking sob, crumbling to the ground. Hugging herself, she bit the edge of her dress in an effort to stop crying in front of her master.

Kai watched her impassively, yet his heart went out to her, this lost sixteen-year-old, who had been torn from her parents at so young an age, who had braved three years alone, who cried to sleep and who woke to harsh insults and work. He wanted to comfort her. She was to be pitied, that was to be sure. He watched the way her shoulders shook as she tried to stem the flow of tears. Ah, he was getting soft; he wasn't even punishing the other servants anymore. This wasn't good. He was supposed to be the icy grandson who didn't care for anyone. Oh well. Devoid of emotion, he grabbed his pillow and squatted down in front of her, allowing his bangs to drift forward to hide the sympathy in his eyes. He held out the object towards her, and she accepted it without hesitation, burying her face within its softness as she bawled. She wanted her mother. She wanted her mother so badly.

Fifteen minutes later, Chiara was sitting upon Kai's bed, hiccupping now and then as she received more information about the outing. She clung to the pillow tightly, as if the world would disappear if she let go. Tearstained face was wiped upon the edge of the object as she took deep breaths.

"I've decided to bring you along, because you want to get out so much." He paused to watch the sudden smile fly across the girl's face. "And your friend, what's her name? Ceramina," he went on without waiting for an answer. "And Ray." The smile upon Chiara's face promptly melted into a look of puzzlement, the frown upon her lips a thoughtful one.

"Ray?" she repeated wonderingly.

"Don't question me, Chiara," he said automatically, adding, "Ray, he's a friend."

"He's some rich kid of some other rich Governor," Kai said matter-of-factly, rubbing an arm. His eyes roved from her face to blink dully at his tattoo. Letting a finger slide down the beauteous piece of art, he regained his composure and said, "Grandfather approves of him. A real… 'Lady's man'," he imitated flatly, a brow rising skeptically as Chiara let out a tiny laugh.

"Lady's man," she chuckled, hugging the pillow.

"What's so amusing about that?" The other brow rose to join its companion as he questioned her. Bare arms were crossed over his chiseled chest, emotionless lips drawn into a small frown.

"Reminds me of when this guy tried to flirt with me," she explained with another chortle. Clutching the pillow to her chest, she rocked back and forth.

"… And?" A twinge had hit his stomach as she said her sentence. Hm, he'd have to probe his own feelings later, he was starting to feel distinctly nervous around her. And sometimes, he felt unsure of himself. This was really not good; he was really softening up. Not good, not good.

"I beat him up." She managed a weak smile.

"Good riddance," he said vaguely, pondering if she'd beat Ray up if he tried hitting on her. He almost chuckled. It was pretty funny, actually. Of course, if he did try and flirt with her… His face darkened slightly. Well, he'd be there to put him 'back in line'. Not that Ray would flirt anyway, he was quite decent. "So Ray will be there, and so will Ceramina. And any others that Grandfather wishes to bring. We'll be at the Cruor Park for the whole day, and far into the night. So keep your wits about you, and get a good sleep on the previous night." He nodded once to match Chiara's bobbing head as her mouth opened.

"When is this?" She carefully placed Kai's pillow to its original place, and smoothed the cover of it as Kai considered her question.

"Mm, tomorrow." Chiara glanced up sharply. That soon? She nodded again, sighed softly, and jumped to her feet as someone knocked quietly upon the door. Kai glanced towards the door, and called, "Come in."

It opened noiselessly, and a shadow fell across the floor in front of the frame way as a laughing voice rang out.

"Kai," it said with a small chuckle, "Is that your girlfriend?"

e n d c h a p t e r

Oh-my-gosh! =o Who is it? Who can it be? Eh, if you were smart, you'd probably already know. XD So… How did you like it? I just couldn't resist adding Ray, it was a spur of the moment. =D I think this chapter was a bit on the stinky side. o_o Hopefully, you won't agree with me. Anyway, review. PLEASE review. Review, review, review. If you do, I'll… I'll give you a carrot! =D *throws carrots at random people*