Dreams

Chapter 5

"Thoughts, problems, and everyday life"

Chiharu, Naoko and Rika sat in front of their cabin enjoying the spectacular view and chatting. It was a sunny June day and they were loving it. Especially since it was a weekend.

On weekends the girls had little to no work because Yamazaki-san was barely around, but if he was, he'd be hiding in his room most likely. This was great for them because not only did they have less work, they had less problems hiding Chiharu and Takashi's relationship.

"You know something," Chiharu stated, "I think I actually miss Meiling-chan a little bit."

"Well I actually can't wait until she comes back," Naoko said with a big smile.

They laughed. Meiling and Xiaolang had left about 2 ½ weeks ago with a promise from Meiling that she'd return to check up on Takashi and Chiharu's relationship and to set Naoko up with one of her friends. Of course, Xiaolang just shook his head and nonchalantly stated that once you've lived with Meiling forever you get used to her.

Suddenly Rika's expression went from happy to very serious, then she said, "So wait, that means Mihara-chan gets a prince, Yanagisawa-chan gets a princess' friend who's probably a duke, but what does Sasaki-chan get!"

With a smirk Chiharu said, "Sasaki-chan gets the knight that's always flirting with her."

Rika blushed, "He doesn't flirt and besides, he's way older than me."

Naoko sighed, "My dear Sasaki-chan, you've been "blinded by love". Can't you see his many attempts to make you happy. Even ask Mihara-chan, she's an expert about being "blinded by love"."

Chiharu glowered at Naoko but said, "Yanagisawa-chan's right(except for her last comment), and age shouldn't stop your feelings, nothing should. Trust me."

Naoko turned to Chiharu, "What do you mean by 'except for that last comment'. That comment was very accurate."

Chiharu glowered at her again, "No it was not. I wasn't 'blinded by love'."

"Hello, don't tell me you've forgotten what I told you the 1st day you slid down the banister."

"What about it? When you told me that you had no evidence to back it up!"

"Yes I did! I've known Yamazaki-kun since he was 2, I've lived here since he was 3 and in all of our years as friends I can tell you that none of those things happened to us and they wouldn't unless Takashi planned it."

The verbal argument carried on a few more minutes but the argument was still continued in the form of a staring contest between the two girls. As they were "arguing" Takashi walked over scratching his half dry hair.

"Sasaki-chan, what are they doing?"

"Arguing?"

"Oh…I'm slightly afraid to ask this but, over what?"

"Whether Mihara-chan was "blinded by love" before you guys started going out."

"I see," he said looking slightly confused but deciding to watch.

After a few minutes Takashi asked, "How long until this finishes?"

"Until one of them starts laughing."

"Aah," he said nodding his head with a mischievous smile.

Just then Chiharu burst out laughing for apparently no reason at all.

"Cheater!" she yelled.

"Nan? Just because you lost doesn't mean that you have to call me a cheater," Naoko said obviously offended.

"I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about Takashi-kun," Chiharu stated turning around to fuss at the now whistling Takashi. "He tickled me knowing I'd laugh to make me lose!"

"Nah-Ah," he said smiling as Naoko and Chiharu both stuck their tongues out at him.

Rika just laughed at the 3 as another "argument" ensued, only this time it was over who could keep sticking their tongue out the longest. Living here Rika had seen some of the weirdest ways of arguing ever, from who could tickle the hardest, and who could laugh the longest, there were so many that she couldn't count.

Of course, she didn't participate in most of these, but she felt it was safer to watch. As Rika thought about this a tie between Chiharu and Naoko was announced.

"That's not fair," Takashi said, "Chiharu cheated!"

"I did not!"

"You did too!"

"I did not!"

Rika and Naoko just laughed as Takashi and Chiharu continued their argument. Weekends were the best!

After lunch Takashi and Chiharu decided to take a walk out by the forest. They did this almost every weekend. It was their "alone" time.

Takashi put his arm around Chiharu as she rested her head on his shoulder. He looked up at the sky as he sighed and turned so he was facing Chiharu.

"What's wrong?" she asked a little scared of what he was going to say.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold chain. Chiharu stared in awe as he produced a gold heart locket. If the locket wasn't already beautiful in itself engraved on it was 'Y heart M' going diagonal one way and the other way was 'T heart C'. In the middle it said 'I luv u…'and on the back it said 4ever.

"Here," he said looking down at the ground as he handed Chiharu the locket. She opened it and revealed a portrait of Takashi on one side and of the whole group on the other.

"I…Um…hope you like it."

"Like it, I love it," she said gleefully as she wrapped her arms around Takashi. Then she looked down sadly.

"What is it?" he asked worried.

"I wanted to wear it all the time, but I can't because then Yamazaki-san will find out and who knows what he would do to you…to us."

Takashi sighed, "You're right, but you can keep it with you while you're working and at night you can put it in your drawer or in your suitcase. Nobody would ever find it there."

Chiharu smiled and put her hand on Takashi cheek, "Don't worry it'll be fine, Takashi-kun. Not even Yamazaki-san can tear us apart."

Takashi grabbed Chiharu's hand and said, "You know something we haven't done today?"

"Hmm?"

He leaned in and kissed her.

"Mihara-chan, wake-up."

Chiharu yawned and turned her head.

"Mihara Chiharu, get up," Takashi insisted poking her a bit.

"Three more minutes," she mumbled once again shifting positions.

"Chiharu-chan, come on!" Takashi whispered loudly, this time slightly pushing her.

Chiharu woke up with a shock, which, with the help of Takashi's push, lead to her falling out of her chair.

"Chiharu!" Takashi said sliding out of his chair and catching her.

The whole class stared at them as they quickly got back in their seats. They both looked down at their books immediately.

"Is there a problem you two?" Kibi-sensei asked.

"Iie, sensei," they answered as the bell rang.

"Okay, class, remember to read all of the next chapter and to finish your study guide. You're dismissed."

Takashi and Chiharu collected their books and hurriedly walked out of the door. They immediately went to their lockers where they both sighed and then turned to each other.

"That was your fault you know," she said nonchalantly to Takashi as she put her science book in her locker.

"No it wasn't. I just tapped you, you're the one who didn't keep your balance."

"Oh good one 'you didn't keep your balance.' I was asleep for goodness sake."

"Somehow I knew you'd say something like that. The Europeans say that people who sleep like logs often blame other people for things."

Chiharu scoffed, "I can't believe you, you say it's my fault and then you bring one of your stupid lies into this."

"It is your fault and it's not a lie."

"Whatever you say, Yamazaki-kun," Chiharu said as she shut her locker and walked off.

Takashi sighed, shut his locker and followed Chiharu. Man, why were girls so difficult?

"Chiharu, wait," he said following close behind her.

"Doshite? There's nothing I have to say to you…at the moment."

Takashi smirked, the last part indicated that she was warming up to him, "Come on, Chiharu."

Chiharu turned around, glanced at Takashi and then kept walking.

"Chiharu," he said again this time grabbing her arm.

"Let me go," she said angrily.

"I just want to know what's wrong," he said looking into her eyes.

She stared at him as he gradually let go of her arm. No sooner then he had done this Chiharu put her hand on her head, closed her eyes and tripped backwards.

Takashi quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. He pulled a little harder than he thought he had and Chiharu ended up bumping right into him. She rested her head on his shoulder as she let out a huge sigh.

She looked into his eyes. Somehow just from looking at his eyes she always knew what he was feeling. She sighed again, she hated making him worry.

"I'll be fine, Takashi. I'm just tired and my dad's been on my case a lot lately and then it's the…well…you know what I mean."

Takashi looked away, "Uh…Yeah."

He was about to say something but couldn't think of anything. It was like his mind just went blank. As they had gotten older Takashi recalled more situations like this.

They weren't that much different than when they were younger. Well at least he didn't think so. Maybe it was just the way that the world turned.

He reassuringly put his hand on Chiharu's shoulder, "You know what, I think I know something that will make my oujasama happy."

"Nan?" Chiharu said shifting her weight.

"This," and he kissed her.

It must of last for less than a minute but it made Chiharu feel a lot better than she had all day. No matter how annoyed she got at him, Takashi always knew how to cheer her up.

"You sure know how to read my mind, Takashi," Chiharu said giggling.

"The ancient Polynesian's said that people who were really in love often developed telepathy."

"Honto ne?" Chiharu said sitting down at her desk.

"Hai, and they also said that telepathy starts from the heart and not the mind."

"I think you're actually on to something there," She said smiling as Ukiyo-sensei walked into the room.

"This isn't fair," Naoko grunted as she hurriedly stirred a bowl in her hand.

Chiharu nodded her head, "I know, this better be pretty darn important to make us cook such a big meal."

"And on a weekend at that," Rika added.

All of the servants were slightly upset because at the last minute Yamazaki-san had decided to have a humungous dinner so that he could announce something very important. It was so important that even the servants were to be in the room when he gave the announcement.

"I hope he's dying or something like that."

"Mihara-chan, that's mean," Rika said slightly shocked, "and besides, if Yamazaki-san got sick my okaasan would have to take care of him. You wouldn't want to put that burden on her."

Chiharu said, "You're right. No one should be subject to taking care of that terror."

Naoko smiled, "We just better be glad that we're Yamazaki-kun's personal helpers and not Yamazaki-san's."

Rika and Chiharu looked at each other and then nodded. It was scary to think of what would've become of them if they were working directly for Yamazaki-san instead of Takashi. How would they've survived?

"Are you wenches done with the appetizers yet?" Yamazaki-san said from the doorway.

As Rika made sure that Chiharu didn't say anything…bluntly truthful, Naoko sighed and replied, "One more, Yamazaki-sama. It'll be done in a few minutes."

"Well hurry it up already," he grunted turning towards the stairs. "Yamazaki Takashi get your butt down here now!"

"I've been trying to do that for the past hour," Takashi said hastily coming down the stairs, "but it's kind of impossible when you have a billion knights in front of your door and your window!"

When the girls saw him they almost dropped the bowls and plates out of their hands. For Naoko and Rika it had been years since they'd seen Takashi so dressed up. For Chiharu it was a first.

He was wearing a long red button-up shirt with two sides of gold buttons and a design on the right side with the emblem of Yamazaki-san's kingdom. He was wearing black pants and black polished boots with brownish-gold laces. He had white cuffs on and his hair was slicked down giving him a more mature look to him. He was also wearing his leather sword belt with his favorite court-sword at his side.

"Just be happy I let you out before it actually started," Yamazaki-san said with anger in his tone. "The last time I had one of these things you ran off and I had to delay the whole thing!"

"The last time you had one of these I was 13 and had been forced to do I don't know how many things I didn't want to do(including talk to that dumb girl). Besides if you'd sent the right people looking for me you would've found me easily."

Yamazaki-san glared at Takashi. He was a smart-mouth just like his mother. "Sasaki-chan."

"Hai, Yamazaki-san," Rika said a little worried.

"I'm making you responsible for Takashi-oujisama until dinner. If he runs away or does anything stupid you, him, and your okaasan are all going to pay severely. You understand me, wench?!?"

"Hai, Yamazaki-san," she said louder than she'd wanted to as she tried to fight back tears.

"Now stay here, gaki."

Takashi just stared angrily at Yamazaki-san. He always treated people like they were nothing even though the truth was he was the nothing.

Takashi walked over to Rika, "Are you okay?"

Quickly wiping away her tears Rika looked up and said, "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just I don't like being yelled at, that's all."

"I don't think anybody does," Chiharu said reassuringly.

"Yeah, nobody does," Takashi said sharing a glance with Rika. Being the prince had some benefits, some downfalls, and some in between points. One of the in between points was the fact that every servant that came and left had a reason for both and he knew them all.

For instance Melina had been married off because she was flirtatious and Yamazaki-san was afraid that she would get pregnant and not be able to work for him. It's kind of strange though, considering that in the end because of him she got pregnant.

Naoko had come there because her okaasan was Takashi's okaasan's friend, so when Naoko's otousan had lost his job Takashi's okaasan let Naoko's okaasan have a part time job watching Takashi. A year later Naoko's otousan became very ill and died so Takashi's okaasan gave Naoko's mom a full time job there, also providing room for them to sleep.

As time dragged on Naoko steadily learned how to do her okaasan's job. Though she was young she still excelled in it. About 4 yrs. After Takashi's okaasan left Yamazaki-san fired Naoko's okaasan but kept Naoko. Naoko was heart broken and know never talked about her okaasan.

Chiharu had been selected because unknown to her, her okaasan and Takashi's okaasan had been good friends. Before Chiharu or Takashi were born Takashi's okaasan promised that her and Yamazaki-san would do anything Chiharu's okaasan needed in time of trouble. They even signed a contract.

When Chiharu was out looking for a job one of the soldiers recognized her name and immediately told Yamazaki-san. He hired her on the spot knowing that if her okaasan found out he hadn't helped her that he'd be sued.

Last but not least was poor Rika. Her story was the worst of all. Her family had gone broke several years earlier, when she was about 3. The best job they could find was working for a rich lord not to far from the castle.

He was one of the cruelest human beings(if you could even call him that) alive. You make the simplest mistakes he'd yell at you or worse beat you. Daily Rika watched as people were brutally beaten and raped all by that man. She said nothing until one day as Rika helped her mother by taking out the trash she saw her father murdered by this man. She was only 4 at the time and so had no clue what to do.

Eventually she ended up telling a very compassionate woman she met on the road who just happened to be Takashi's okaasan. With all the power and authority she had Takashi's okaasan sued the Lord and ended up taking Rika and her okaasan into her own home. This, unfortunately, was a few months before Takashi's okaasan left for good.

Takashi sighed. He knew way too much about way to many people yet he couldn't even help most of them. He mentally cursed at himself for being so useless.

"Takashi," Chiharu said waving her hand in front of his face. "Takashi-kun, you were spacing out again."

Takashi quickly came back to reality, "In most western civilizations they believe that when you space-out you are traveling into an alternate universe."

"Honto ne?" Naoko said taking a pan of the stove.

"Hai and they also say that people who space out repeatedly have a higher intelligence level."

"But what does their intelligence level have to do with them traveling into an alternate universe?" Rika asked her eyes completely dry now.

"Well, the aliens from the alternate reality are searching for life-forms with higher intelligence levels to educate their civilization, so they take the ones who they believe have potential to their universe regularly."

"Oh my gosh, Takashi-kun," Chiharu said scoffing at him. "Where do these lies come from? Your brain really can't be big enough to fit all that."

"Are you implying that my brain's small."

"You said it not me," Chiharu said as she turned back to her work.

Takashi almost said something but lost his train of thought when Yamazaki-san came in again. This time looking a little more annoyed.

"Hurry up with those appetizers!"

"There done and waiting for your command, Yamazaki-sama," Naoko said.

"Wait about 10 minutes and then bring them," he answered then turning to Takashi, "You've got your court-sword right?"

"Nah, this thing in my belt is just an accessory I picked up from the nearest merchant."

"Cut the smart act and prepare yourself, you already have a few challenges in line for you."

Takashi let out a huge sigh. "Now come-on, you've got some very rich ladies waiting for you."

Takashi and Chiharu shared a glance out of the corner of their eyes as Takashi said, "I'll be there in a second, just wait."

"Fine but hurry it up!" Yamazaki-san said turning away with a loud swoosh.

Chiharu went over to Takashi and totally ignoring Yamazaki-san's comment about ladies said, "You seem less than excited about your spars. You're usually so thrilled."

"Well, that's because usually my opponent's are worthwhile. The guys who Yamazaki-san makes me fight are either stuck up duke's and squire's who think if they know a few tricks they'll impress the ladies, and the other bunch are old lord's who've never won a true spar a day in their life and don't really care if they win or not because if they do know how to spar they won't spar because they believe that letting me win will give me pleasure though it truly doesn't."

"Whoa," Chiharu said astonished, "Talk about a big answer for a small question."

"Well better go before Yamazaki-san makes another appearance in here," Takashi slowly got up to leave but as he reached the doorway he stopped, turned to Chiharu and said, "Don't worry about me and those ladies, it's a known fact that most of them aren't good kissers."

Chiharu blushed as Takashi walked out of the room with what he believed to be his last smile of the night on his face.

"I hate this class," Chiharu grumbled to Takashi. She didn't understand why all 9th graders had to take health class. They didn't learn much in the class anyways, especially not with Ukiyo-sensei for a teacher.

Somehow he always found away to put "teen intercourse" into his topics. One day, the whole class remembered, they went from talking about hypothermia to talking about sex. Another time, they recalled every 5 words Ukiyo-sensei said being intercourse.

Chiharu just couldn't understand why the school decided that since they're going to high school next year they're probably going to have sex. I mean, her and Takashi had been going out for years and he hadn't tried anything. Same for Sakura and Syaoran.

If Ukiyo-sensei wasn't bad enough he always had to spend like 25-50 percent of the class talking about something stupid. His class was the hardest to get to sleep in without getting caught.

Takashi rolled his eyes as Ukiyo-sensei said something mumbled. He thought he said something about AIDS or maids or something like that. Man, this class was so boring why couldn't he just let them go to sleep.

"And guess what class," Ukiyo-sensei said enthusiastically, meaning trouble, "Today we're going to watch a video about what really goes on when you have sexual intercourse and the consequences of teen sex."

The room was filled with groaning. Everyone hated these videos. They were so boring.

With a smile Takashi said, "This is actually a good thing, believe it or not. If we're watching a movie Ukiyo-sensei won't be able to tell if we're asleep or not."

"Good thinking," Chiharu answered, "you just might be helpful yet."

The room was silent except for the ruffles of clothing, shifting of positions and the reoccurring sound of silverware hitting silverware. Everybody was intently listening to whatever it was that Yamazaki-san had to say.

"I have gathered you all here to announce my departure from the kingdom tomorrow," he paused as gasps were heard throughout the room, "but fear not, for I will return in a weeks time. Until I return I'm am leaving my highest ranking lord, Edogawa-san in charge of the kingdom with the kingdoms highest ranking knight, Terada-san as second in command and Takashi-oujisama surveying."

Takashi and all the servants looked horrified. If Yamazaki-san were the devil Edogawa-san would be his twin brother. Edogawa-san was the bark, and Yamazaki-san was the bite. Neither was worse than the other, they were just evil in different ways.

The servants all had down-cast looks on their faces as they blocked out the rest of the announcement. They knew it wouldn't concern them, it probably about some stupid race or something like that.

"This'll be the worst week of our lives," Takashi mouthed to Rika, Chiharu, and Naoko.

They all nodded in agreement. Just from watching him they knew that he meant trouble. This was horrid.

A/N: I am so sorry about this chapter taking so long but my computer kept messing up and then I had to transfer the file to a different computer and then I tried to fit this another part in the story while I've been moving and so I was typing that but I looked at how long it was and I decided to cut it in half and put the other half in the 6th or 7th chapters. Then I've had all these ideas for other stories that I've been trying to type and I've had so much writers block and basically I'm just really sorry for taking so long and I'm really grateful to you people for still reading.

Back to the story so yeah some couple issues early on, eh? I don't really know why I added it, maybe it was because I wanted to add the kiss part because I typed that part after watching an episode on the O.C. where Ryan says something like that to Marissa(I was in Korea when I first started typing this so our channels didn't play the O.C. until the season was already over I think???) Anyway, I know it's not really telling a lot of stuff but what it did say will come up in the future. Including their health teachers lesson

Please R/R and once again I'm sorry,

spacehikariangel

Oh and if you didn't get what Chiharu meant by "it's the…well…you know what I mean," answer this one question: what comes after a sentence?