Dear Readers,

Your chapter… Kinda feel "ugh" this morning so please forgive my lack of words.

Love,

Wolf Princess Aya

Lasting Memories

Yusuke kept glancing out the window during breakfast. His body may have been there at the table, but his mind most definitely hate drifted long ago else where.

"What are you looking for?" Maya asked sweetly, leaning her head on her hands and fluttering her eye lashes. Yusuke remained oblivious. He only awoke out of his trance like state as Kurama kicked him hard under the table.

"OW! What hell was that-" he began, but cut off as Kurama glared at him.

"What were you looking for?" Maya repeated slower.

"Err- I mean- I was just seeing if the weather was good enough for travel," Yusuke smiled nervously. Maya relaxed and continued eating; occasionally looking up at the vizier, mouth bulging with food, and fluttering her eye lashes. Yusuke smiled sadly at everyone around the table and then sighed quietly as he returned to his bacon, disappointed that lovely lady Keiko was not outside.

"Now," Hari continued, "as we were saying about when we should be going to the palace. . ."

Botan did dishes silently in the kitchen. She imagined each plate to be her heart, and she was scrubbing them clean of the prince. But though the dishes ended up cleaner then they had ever been before, Botan's heart still felt sore and sad.

She placed the plates on the side of the sink and looked sadly out the window, where clouds were beginning to look dangerous again. Perhaps she could sing a song. Singing usually made her feel better.

But for the heart ache of the prince, it seemed to do nothing. Her ears pricked as she heard someone approaching silently.

'Who's coming!'

She quickly hid in the broom closet, though not sure why. Something told her not to be seen.

As she peaked through the crack between the door and wall, her eyes widened to see Prince Kurama walk in.

He looked around as if searching for someone. Walking over to the sink, he silently picked up the rag she had been using and sighed.

With a final sad look around the room, and a quick glance outside at the garden, he walked back to the dining room table just as silently as he's come in.

Botan walked slowly and cautiously out of the closet after she was sure he was gone.

'What was that all about?' she thought curiously, allowing herself a single peak at the prince in the dining room, his back to her, from the corner of her eye. 'Was he looking for . . . for me?'

Kurama sat silently down at the table again, looking quite disappointed with his failed attempts.

"What did you need this time?" Sayo asked, her voice sugar coated.

"I was just looking to see if there was any syrup," Kurama replied promptly, looking down at his plate and picking up his fork.

"Oh! Well, sweetie, you should have said something," Hari giggled.

"Botan!" she and the other two ladies barked towards the kitchen. The girl, the maid he had been looking for, walked slowly out of the kitchen. Maybe he should have mentioned it to Hari. Would've been easier.

"You called?" she asked timidly, her eyes towards the floor.

"Botan, did we not TELL you to make sure there was enough syrup?" Sayo smiled sweetly, though her voice was full of irritation.

"I- I checked, and I used as much as should be needed-" "Are you telling us, then, that the PRINCE doesn't know when we need MORE syrup?" Sayo hissed. Botan's eyes widened.

"Oh! I am- am so sorry-"

"You stupid girl," Sayo said so softly that Kurama had to strain to hear. Botan whimpered quietly, biting her lower lip.

"It's all right," Kurama said automatically, not being able to stand their rudeness to the girl any longer. "I didn't notice this jar of it." He indicated the bottle of syrup he had been using before. "She did an excellent job."

He smiled warmly at her, and she smiled a small, nervous smile back. He suddenly wished he could see her smile without being afraid. Sayo pursed her lips.

"Well," she finally said, though it was evident she was angry she didn't get to yell anymore, "It seems we have sorted out that little problem. Go get your things, Botan. You and Hari will be leaving to the castle with Prince Kurama later today." Hari smiled warmly at Kurama, and Kurama grinned back.

"We will be leaving today, and Yusuke, Maya, and Mrs. Sayo will leave tomorrow with the return of the carriage," Kurama said to Botan, who nodded, curtsied, and left quickly.

An hour ride to the palace with the prince and Hari.

Delightful.

'The only thing that could be worse,' Botan thought bitterly as she packed her moist dress and her other few possessions, 'would be walking 2 hours to get there, like I did for that ball.'

An hour ride, he thought. That should be plenty of time to figure out why this maid reminded him of someone.

Kurama looked after the protruding back of the maid until she closed the kitchen door behind her. Hari leaned into Kurama's shoulder for a moment after she finished eating, then announced that she needed to pack. Kissing him on the cheek, she happily walked upstairs to load her pink, lacy trunks full of pink, lacy items.

'I will never again,' Kurama thought as he imagined a room full of Hari's things, 'criticize the royal decorators. So long as they steer away from pink and lace.'

Yup… I hate pink too, my sweet Kurama-kun! I just love you… (Snuggles Kurama plushie)

Aya-chan