I have just recieved the closest thing I have ever gotten to a flame. I'll show you a fic that's doomed to a 'DEAD end'. If you want to flame me, you have my permission. But show a little spine and make it a signed review, or at least put your email. I only get upset with those who hide behind a false name to make rude comments about other's stories.

Chapter Eleven: The Game of Love

[It just takes a little bit of this

A little bit of that.

It started with a kiss, now

We're up to bat.

A little bit of laughs,

A little bit of pain.

I'm telling you my baby

It's all in the game of love...]

-The Game of Love, Santana feat. Michelle Branch

Yumi and Ulrich approached Jeremie and Aelita. "You don't have to do this!" Ulrich's urget whisper rang on deaf ears, and Yumi didn't falter for a moment.

"Yes I do." The certainly with which she spoke was like a slap in the face.

Before Ulrich could object again they reched Jeremie and Aelita. Jeremie looked stunned to see Yumi again, and Aelita looked an odd cross between releived and shocked. Ulrich noted with a degree of satisfaction that Jeremie had Aelita's hand in his own, and he looked at the mainservant pointedly, allowing her to follow his gaze down to where her hand clasped Jeremie's. She turned red and shook her head to indicate it wasn't what it looked like at all.

All eyes shifted back to Yumi as she curtsied low before Prince Jeremie. "Your Highness," she started. He voice sounded strained to Ulrich. "I have thought about what you said to me before the ball, and have come to the conclusion that I agree with you. It would be an honor to marry you."

There were audible gasps all around, the loudest coming from Jeremie himself. Talk about the last thing you expect. His mouth opened and closed several times before he was able to speak.

"You...want to marry me?"

Something flashed behind Yumi's eyes. Aelita saw it, but couldn't guess at it's meaning. "It is my duty as the Princess of Japan," Yumi confirmed grimly. Ulrich was glaring at Jeremie and the Prince found himself fliching under the guard's stern gaze.

"Then as Prince of France it is my duty to marry you," Jeremie agreed sullenly. Victory had been dangled in front of his nose and then snatched away in a cruel trick of fate.

"Shall we return to my chambers then," Yumi ordered in form of a question. She and Ulrich turned silently and started to move away, with Aelita trailing slightly. Jeremie was forced to sigh, an action he had been doing quite a bit lately. So much for freedom.

-----

"It is a pleasure to see you have returned," Aelita said as they made their way down a corridor. "We were very worried about you, Yumi."

"I missed you, Aelita, but I learned something while I was out," Yumi told her.

"You mean besides how to act," Ulrich snapped in a tone verging on sarcastic. Yumi chose to ignore that comment and continued talking to Aelita.

"I realized how good I have it here, and that I shouldn't let a silly thing like who I marry throw such a wrench into my life (that sentence was another anachonism I believe). It's selfish of me to go against the wishes of my father in such a manner." Aelita's jaw dropped.

"Marraige isn't a silly little thing! You can't treat this like a game, Yumi! Marraige is a commitment, and who you choose to marry could decide the fate of your country," the maidservant burst out. Ulrich didn't speak, but was inclined to agree with her.

"Are you arguing with me?" Aelita recoiled. Yumi saw the hurt in her maidservant's eyes and bowed her head in shame. "I'm sorry, Aelita. But this is my life and my descision. I can't fight my father forever, and I'm sick of trying. It's over. He won, I lost."

"You only loose if you quite," Ulrich murmered, making sure Yumi didn't hear him. He made thw wise descision to stay out of the conversation.

The procession stopped sharply as they reached the doors to Yumi's chamber. Odd wasn't outside. Ulrich opened the door for Yumi and Aelita.

Odd and Naomi were on the couch that sat by the fireplace, engaged in a serious lip-lock. Aelita started giggling and Yumi and Ulrich made identical 'a-hem' noises in unison. The couple jumped away from each other, faces flushed.

"Who's your friend, Odd," Ulrich inquired with a smirk.

"Oh, you don't know, do you," Aelita said in a soft voice. "This is Naomi, she arrived from Japan this morning. She's here to help me with my duties."

Naomi rose, face still scarlet. "Your Highness." she started to bow to Yumi in the Japanese style, but Yumi stopped her with a wave of her hand.

"No formalities, okay? You can speak freely with me, and I will with you. Unless of course you are reporting back to my father." Naomi shook her head vigorously. Yumi smiled. "Well then, it's nice to have you with us, Naomi. This is my other guard, Ulrich. I see you have already met Odd," the princess added as Naomi and Odd began blushing again. "I do hope there aren't any rules here about servants courting." More blushing.

Just then there was a knock on the door, causing both Aelita and Naomi to make a mad dash for it. Naomi won, and opemed it to reveal that Prince Jeremie had returned. They bother curtsied and moved away to allow him to enter the room.