Chapter 3

Kiyara's eighteenth birthday came and went. The day right after was hard for everyone, even Kurama, who was still staying with them. That day Masami fell deathly ill. No one knew what was wrong, or what to do. Kiyara was in tears. Shun was worried, about both of them and comforted Kiyara at every given opportunity. Kurama was the same way. He and Shun were at war, and Kiyara still had to tell them about her love.

"Kiyara..." the queen called her to her side.

"What is it Grandmother?"

"You'll have to...tell them now."

"I'm still afraid."

"They...love you. Both of them..."

"But...I'm afraid!"

"If you know how they...feel, why be scared?"

"I...I just am..."

"I'll be watching...Kiya..."

Masami's eyes closed and her body went limp. Kiyara cried, tears streaming her face.

"Grandmother! Grandmother! Wake up!" she cried, but she knew she wouldn't, ever. Masami had died. Shun and Kurama both ran in.

"What happened?"

"She's gone!" Kiyara cried. Shun hugged her. Kurama checked her pulse.

"No..."

"Shh, Kiyara, it's alright" Shun said, stroking her hair.

"She's gone..." Kurama whispered.

Kiyara's tears began to stain Shun's shirt. He looked worriedly at her.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"Why? Why'd this have to happen?"

"All things are inevitable," Kurama said, kneeling next to her, laying his hand on her back. "There's nothing we can do to change them."

"But..."

"Kiyara, come on, lets take you to our room" Shun said, pulling her up with him and leading her off.

After three weeks of crying, Kiyara finally smiled again. But she couldn't laugh. She didn't have the heart to anymore, because she saw her grandmother die. She was at her side as she died. She remembered what one of the servants, Susan, had said to her, years back.

"You aren't like us. Go off with that idiot, like always."

The words had hurt Kiyara. It was after she had found out who she was. The queen had comforted her. She was always there for her. Now Kiyara didn't have that comfort. And she had to rule a country without knowing how to. There was a knock at the door. She had moved to the queen's room, and Shun had taken over her old room.

"Come in..." she said. Kurama walked into the room.

"Feeling any better?" he asked. She nodded.

"Better than yesterday."

"I love you Kiyara."

"I...I don't know what to say..."

"Come away with me."

"I can't. The country would fall."

"Then let it."

"I can't leave Shun."

"Is he all you care about?"

"I care about you both!"

"You sure don't act like it!"

"I love you and him!" she yelled. Kurama looked at her in surprise.

"Y-You do?"

"Yes. I have for four years."

He walked over and hugged her. She blushed.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I was afraid."

"I see."

She sighed.

"I have to do something now."

"Then go do it."

She pulled from the hug and left him there in the room.

"Shun! I need to talk to you!" Kiyara called, knocking on the door. He opened it and he blushed some, upon seeing what she was wearing.

"Nice outfit" he said. She looked down, realizing she was in a rather low cut dress.

"Uh..."

"What do you want?"

"I need to tell you something. May I come in?"

"Yes." He stepped aside and let her into the room.

"I want to say..." she stopped and blushed at him.

"What is it?"

"I...I...I l...I love you..."

"You...love me?"

"Yes..."

"I love you too. I have for a long time. Five years."

"R-really?"

"Yes. I wanted to tell you so many times but I couldn't."

"Then..."

He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers softly, wrapping his arms around her waist, closing his eyes. She was caught off guard for a second, and then closed her eyes, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck, embracing him, kissing him back. She blushed as he kissed her, and pulled away after a bit, her heart pounding, finding it hard to breathe.

"There. Your first kiss was with your best friend..." he said, smiling at her. She returned the smile warmly, still blushing. She noticed he was too.

"So was yours" she whispered. He nodded.

"That's true" he said, leaning down again. "Would another be too much?"

"No."

Kiyara walked out of Shun's room in a daze. Her lips tingled from touching against his, even in the slightest bit. But she had enjoyed it a lot. She headed back toward Kurama's room. She knocked.

"Come in!" he called.

She opened the door and peeked in. Then she turned crimson in her cheeks.

"K-Kurama! Where's your shirt?" she cried. He blushed.

"Princess!" he cried. "I thought you were one of the servants! Forgive me, please!" He grabbed a shirt and pulled it on quickly.

"It's alright..." she said, still blushing.

"Thank you..."

She walked over, closing the door behind her.

"I have a gift for you."

"What's th-" He was cut off as she leaned up and kissed him. He closed his eyes and pulled her close to him, kissing her back softly, his hands resting on her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, blushing deeply. She pulled away, and felt the same as she had with Shun.

"Wow..." she whispered. He still held her to him.

"Yeah."

She blinked at him. "What are you doing?"

"Stay with me tonight?" he asked.

"I can't."

"Something to do with Shun?"

"No. I just can't."

"Please, my Princess?"

"I'm sorry Kurama."

"Why can't you?"

"It is against me."

"We won't do anything we shouldn't. I just want you to be at my side tonight, because I love you so much, my love."

She sighed.

"Alright."

That night, Kiyara lay at Kurama's side, unable to sleep at all. She kept thinking of how badly it would hurt Shun if he found out where she was. She imagined him knocking on her door, needing her for something. She came to a decision and got out of the bed, quietly walking back to her room. Shun waited at her door. She hugged him.

"Where were you?" he asked.

"That doesn't matter..." she said, then pulled from the hug, only to be kissed softy by him. She returned the kiss, and opened her door. He pushed her into the room.

Kiyara blushed when she realized what she had done. She hid herself under the blankets.

"I shouldn't have allowed you to do that..." she whispered to Shun.

"Why not? You're of age."

"But...it's against me."

"Kiyara Jukay, will you marry me?"

She blushed even more.

"What?"

"I want you to be my wife. Will you?"

"I...I don't know Shun..." she said, hugging him.

"Think about it."

"I will..."

"And sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"We just made love. I'm not uncomfortable."