Alrighto! Here's the 16th Chapter! By the way, I hope you support my second story, The Heartbreaker! Anyway, I'm having a author to reviewers for next chapter! I just love writing that part! Hehe! Enjoy!

Chapter 16 – First step out

"Woohoo! This is so fun! Wee!" Toyoko laughed, the wind blowing her hair, making it shine. She was so full of joy. However, Akito was just sitting on Black Night, and holding on the ropes. Black Night had run around chasing Sugar at first, but slowly, as if affected by Akito, began to just trot along.

Toyoko pulled Sugar to a halt. She shouted to Black Night, "Gallop! Bring some life to that lifeless body sitting on you! C'mon Black Night!" She waved at him.

Akito heard what Toyoko said, but pretended not to notice. What was the point? Let her think whatever she wants. I've seen through her trick now. Trying to hurt me with words. HUH! Who does she think she is? No affect on me at all, you'll see!

Akito clenched on to the ropes tightly. He held on to it firmly, as if daring Black Night to move. Black Night felt threatened. He threw Akito backwards and tried to shake Akito off. He started to run about, and ran straight at Sugar, and Toyoko.

Akito held on for his life. He did not realize horses would act this way when threatened. Suddenly, he felt himself thrown off balance and landed hard on the grass. He laid there with his eyes closed for a while. When he opened them again, he saw Toyoko gently stroking Black Night and feeding him something to eat. She had gotten down from Sugar, and she was now standing side by side with Black Night.

After that, Toyoko patted them and they both seemed to thank her before going off on their own. Toyoko then turned to Akito with a concerned look on her face. He was surprised. He thought she would be laughing at him, and even talking about exactly how he fell off and how funny he looked. But she didn't.

She hurried towards him and helped him up. Once he had gotten his balance, he pushed her aside. Toyoko did not look the slightest offended, but she teased, "Prince did not learn his manners well? Shouldn't there be at least a 'thank you'? Or was I supposed to help you?"

The way she said it, it made Akito felt so bad that he found himself bowing his head and saying thank you to her. She smiled and replied, "No problem, that's what's friends are for! Let's go home, I'm tired."

Surprisingly, Toyoko did not talk to him at all on their way home. He did not know that she knew her words had an effect on him and left him to think alone. Akito could not get the sentence out of his mind. "That's what's friends are for!" Is she my friend? Will she be willing to be my friend? Or is she just toying my feelings around? Who is she actually?

"Finally! We're home!" Toyoko announced.

"My home. Not yours," Akito retorted.

Toyoko shrugged. "Whatever. Get some sleep, tomorrow, we'll have a less wild day."

Akito turned to her, "I'm not going anywhere with you again!"

Toyoko shrugged again. "Not like you have a choice. See you tomorrow!"

With that, she turned and left.

Akito walked slowly into his pitched black room. Suddenly, he felt the loneliness he had always felt when in this room, whether anyone was with him or not. Then he felt his frustration coming. It was always that way, him feeling lonely, then angry. He felt trapped. More than usual, that is.

After that wild day outside, with all those greenery and brightness, he felt more lonely, angry and trapped then ever. But he couldn't get out of it. How he wished Toyoko could come and pull him out of that piece of darkness now.

What am I thinking? Didn't I always feel like that?

He shook his head and proceeded to the bathroom and washed up. Then, he sat on his bed, the darkness looming over him. That darkness had always haunted his thoughts, mind, dreams. Wherever he went, he felt the darkness.

Except today. I never felt so free. The greens, the never ending sky, floating clouds…And Toyoko.

Since when had he started to see those things? It all felt so new to him, yet it had always been there the day he was born. Curse that day he was born. How he wished he had never come into this dreadful, scary world. He hated everything, everyone, himself.

His eyes had gotten used to the dark by now, but as he closed his eyes, darkness started to loom over him, swallowed him up, again.

(In Toyoko's room)

As Toyoko came into the room, she saw everyone gathered in her room. Ritza, Mingzashi and Shimaya.

The three turned around when they heard the door open.

Mingzashi cried out, "Toyoko! Where have you been? When we woke up, we could not find you anywhere! Hang on… what's that smile doing on your face?"

Mingzashi raised her eyebrows when she noticed the smile on Toyoko's face. It was a smile she saw normally on people in love.

Ritza gasped in mock horror, "Toyoko! You've fallen in love with Akito?"

Shimaya decided to join in the fun. "Yipee! Toyoko and Akito sitting on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Toyoko glared at them. "Hey, I just went out with Akito today. It's what I came for in the first place, wasn't it?"

Mingzashi rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Like we'll buy your excuse. Shimaya! Repeat what you said again!"

Shimaya happily chipped in. "Toyoko and Akito sitting on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Yay!"

Toyoko sighed in defeat. "Alright, all of you. I've had a tiring day. Return back to you rooms and leave me in peace, pretty please."

Laughing, the three of them returned to their rooms, leaving Toyoko alone.

Unknown, Hatori, who had been listening outside the door, left quietly.

Toyoko sighed, washed up and got into bed. The lights were off, and she stared at the ceiling. Finally, she sat up and got out her diary.

Dear Diary,

This was a wonderful day that I was blessed with. Akito is not bad, actually, just a lost little kid in darkness, hatred. I really hope that after today, he had at least taken a step to be able to fight against hatred. I really do. I hope he had realized.

I have not much time left. I promised I would break this never-ending curse once and for all. I'm not backing out now. Please, let Akito understand. Lead him out of the darkness, pull him out of hatred. I want the best for him.

I'm thinking of changing his room colour. That black room gives terrible vibes. Seriously, even I felt scared and lonely in that room.

Then there's something weird going on. Mingzashi, Ritza and Shimaya kept thinking I have fallen in love with Akito, which is kind of impossible. Oh well, wish me luck for tomorrow.

T.T

Thank you!