An hour later, Hibari had stopped crying.  In fact, she was not doing anything, just sitting at her vanity, silent.  She understood that Hotohori might be angry with her, but she couldn't help it.  She had let her hair down, but wasn't brushing it like she usually did when she was angry or sad.  She had absentmindedly picked up her brush, but was only turning it over and over in her hands, staring at her reflection in the mirror.  Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. 

Nantar, she thought angrily.  Well, I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me crying.

She stood up, wiping at her eyes angrily and wishing they weren't still red.  Before she got to the door, however, it opened.  Hotohori stepped into the room and quickly closed the door behind him.  More than slightly taken aback, Hibari gasped at the sight of him.  She almost hadn't recognized him from his clothes.  He was dressed like a peasant, his hair hidden up under a bun covering.  He was still handsome, she noted, blushing in spite of herself. 

"What are you doing here?" She said, a little too loudly.  Catching herself, she continued.  "And why on earth are you dressed like that?" She hissed. 

He smiled at her, making her catch her breath.  Looking a little sheepish, he explained himself.  "You said that if Nantar caught us walking around in the garden together, you'd be in trouble, so I thought that if we dressed up like peasants, we could go out into the city and not be noticed."  Before Hibari could object, he rushed on.  "There's a small festival going on tonight, and I thought you might like to see the city for once, instead of being cooped up in here.  And we won't get caught, I promise."  He held out his hands and Hibari saw that he had also gotten clothes for her.  She smiled and took them. 

"Alright." She said slowly.  "But we can't stay out for very long."  Hotohori nodded, then left the room so she could change.

Ten minutes later, they had snuck out of the palace and into the back alleys of the capital.  Indeed, there was a festival taking place, and Hibari, for some reason unknown to herself, told Hotohori that she had never been to a festival before.  He seemed delighted with this information, and decided secretly that she was going to have the time of her life.  And she did, eating and drinking to her heart's content, playing games of skill (and losing most), watching people swallow fire and even listen to stories being told about the legend of Suzaku.  Hotohori had a great time himself, but all he cared about was Hibari's happiness.  She wasn't like most girls he had met, ones in his harem and advisor's daughters who were all quiet and submissive.  With his seventeenth birthday drawing nearer, some of his advisors had hinted at finding himself a bride, and he hated meeting new girls who only wanted to be Empress.  Of course, when they saw how much more beautiful he was then they were, they went all stiff and polite, he thought, smiling to himself.  But Hibari was different.  She was so beautiful when she laughed.  He hadn't really noticed her quiet beauty at first, but now it was all too obvious to him whenever he stole a glance at her.  At first, he had tried to be polite because she was an ambassador, but now he loved being near her.  But forever? A small voice in the back of his head whispered.  He wasn't sure yet. 

The night ended much too soon, and before Hotohori realized it, he was sneaking back into the palace with Hibari.  They had reached Hibari's room unnoticed, but as Hibari went inside her room, they could hear guards coming closer.  With nowhere for him to hide, Hibari had no choice but to let Hotohori in her room.  They shut the door quickly and leaned against it, listening, as the guard's footsteps slowly died away. 

Hibari breathed a huge sigh of relief as Hotohori lit a candle, illuminating the room.  "Thank you." She said finally. "I really had a wonderful time tonight."

Hotohori smiled a little mischievously. 

"What?" Hibari asked, never having seen him smile that way before.

"The festival is still going on tomorrow night." He said, still smiling.

Hibari's eyes widened.  "Oh, I couldn't!  We could have been caught so many times tonight!" 

Hotohori, visibly disappointed, muttered. "Oh," and headed for the door. 

"Wait!" Hibari said suddenly.  Hotohori turned back to her.  She was staring at the floor, thinking hard, then suddenly looked up at Hotohori, her grin as mischievous as his had been.  "Alright-we'll go again tomorrow."

Hotohori smiled, nodded, and left. 

The next morning, Hibari was finishing her dressing when Nantar came in, without knocking as usual.  He said absolutely nothing about last night, even though he had promised to check in on her.  If he had, in fact, came in to see her, he would have seen that she was gone, so Hibari assumed that he never came in.  In fact, he acted very cheerful this morning, telling Hibari the schedule for the day before leaving and reminding her to wear her crown this time. 

The meetings were equally boring today.  Hibari secretly hoped that they wouldn't go on for much longer, it seemed to her that they weren't getting much done at all.  But then, she realized, if the meetings were over, she would have to go back home to Kotou.  Which meant she wouldn't be able to see Hotohori anymore.  Suddenly, she wished that the meetings would last forever. 

That afternoon, the meeting adjourned and Hibari headed back to her room gratefully.  As much as she wanted to stay with Hotohori, the meetings were still incredibly boring.  She had dinner in her room, and Nantar never showed up to harass her, which meant today had been a pretty good day so far.  She smiled, thinking of the fun she would have that night with Hotohori.  She dressed quickly in the servant's clothing and waited for Hotohori.  He was right on time, and the two headed out toward the gardens, to sneak out that way.  Hibari plodded behind Hotohori silently until he stopped suddenly and she slammed into the back of him.  He turned around, his finger to his lips.  Suddenly, she could hear voices. 

            They crept behind some trees and peeked out to see Nantar and one of Hotohori's advisors.  It was the one who had seemed in charge of everything at the meeting the day before.  Just like Nantar to associate himself with people of power, Hibari thought bitterly.  Probably trying to see if he can get the meetings to go his way by bribing this guy. 

 She looked up at Hotohori after a moment, since she couldn't understand what they were saying.  His eyes were narrowed. 

"What's wrong?" She asked as quietly as possible. 

"I don't know yet." He said angrily.  "But I don't like what I'm seeing."  He grabbed Hibari's arm and dragged her away, still trying to be quiet. 

They didn't have as much fun at the festival that night, each of them lost in their own thoughts.  They headed back to the palace early.  Once again, Hotohori had to hide in Hibari's room as the guards walked past.  The two of them were leaned up against the door again, and when the guards had gone, Hibari laughed. 

"That was close." She said. 

"Why is it so dark in here?" Hotohori said suddenly.  He moved toward the bedstand and lit the candle that was sitting there. 

"She probably wanted it to look like she was asleep if I came in here to check on her." A voice echoed through the room.  Hibari spun around and saw Nantar sitting at her table. 

"What are you doing in here?" Hotohori asked angrily. 

"What are you doing in here, your Highness?" Nantar echoed bitterly.  "I see you decided to go against my orders and take off for the evening, Hibari."  He said, turning to face her and looking with disgust at her clothes.  "Just what exactly did you do tonight?" 

"We went out…into the city, to see the festival." Hibari said, her voice shaking a little.  Nantar's face showed that he clearly didn't believe her.  He crossed his arms.  "That's the truth, whether you believe me or not!" She cried.  "I wasn't doing anything immoral with Hotohori!"

"Hotohori, hmm?  And I never said you were doing anything immoral." He smiled nastily.  "Funny how you brought it up so quickly though…" He shrugged.  "Doesn't really matter anyway, does it?  Since you're dressed for travel anyway, we might as well go."

"What do you mean?" Hibari asked anxiously. 

"We're leaving, your highness, leaving for Kotou."  Hibari noticed suddenly that all her things were gone. 

"But…why?" She cried.  "We haven't done anything yet!  We haven't accomplished anything in these meetings-we can't leave!"

Nantar sighed.  "These meetings were a waste of time.  There is no chance for peace with Konan."  He shot a nasty look at Hotohori, stating clearly with his expression that it was probably all Hotohori's fault. 

"You cannot make her leave if she doesn't want to go."  Hotohori said quietly.  "She's the princess of Kutou." 

Nantar laughed cruelly.  "So?  She doesn't have any real power, especially over me.  She's just a woman, after all."  He turned to Hibari.  "Let's go, Your Highness." His last two words were dripping with sarcasm.  He took her arm and led her out of her room, toward the palace gates where their carriages were waiting.  She took one desperate look back at Hotohori, but he had disappeared.