Disclaimer: I don't own Princess Tutu.

A/N: Sorry it took so long, i have WAY too many fics under my wing. But here we are, chapter two! A lot less wordy...

"Please... Help me..." The boy barely whispered before falling forward and collapsing into the puddles with exhaustion. Ahiru ran over to him and struggled to lift him up. Fakir blinked for a moment before going over and helping Ahiru pick up the boy and carry him inside. With a struggle, the two managed to drag him up the stairs and into Fakir's room without being noticed. They finally lay him on the bed and Fakir turned to Ahiru.

"How did you know he was going to be there?" he asked. Ahiru just shrugged, looking down at her hands.

At this point, the boy stirred, and awoke. "R-Rue..." He opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing his head. His eyes seemed to brighten as he saw the two. "Fakir! Ahiru!"

Ahiru blinked and Fakir raised an eyebrow. "Do I... know you...?"

"You don't remember me?" he asked quietly. Getting no reply, he smiled. "I guess you don't have any memories of the past story. Oh well, you'll remember in time. I see you've already found each other. I am Prince Mytho. And... I need your help."

"With what? And how the hell are we supposed to help you?" Fakir asked doubtfully, crossing his arms.

"A new story is unfolding. Someone has taken the one I love, and hidden her somewhere in this world. I don't know who it could be... I thought our story was over." Mytho sighed before giving Fakir and Ahiru a determined look. "But I must do anything in my power to rescue her."

The other two were blinking quite disbelievingly by now. "But... how can we help you?" Fakir asked.

"I don't know but you're the only ones I can trust here... Can you help me look? I'm sure... I'm sure you'll find some way to help me." The prince asked pleadingly.

Fakir sighed. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to refuse this person. "Alright then. For starters, you need some dry clothes and some sleep. You look awful. You can take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor. Ahiru... you can sleep next to him, I guess. My bed's big enough."

"T-Thank you, Fakir. You're still as kind as always." Mytho gave him a tired smile.

Mytho retreated into the closet to change, and Fakir began spreading sheets on the floor. Pretty soon, Both the boys were settled down, but Ahiru was still standing.

"Come on, Ahiru." Mytho told Ahiru from the bed. She paused a moment before shaking her head and flinging herself down on the floor next to Fakir. Mytho laughed. "Looks like she wants to sleep with you."

"D-Don't say it like that!" Fakir blushed crimson and then looked at Ahiru, who just lay there, looking innocently up at him. He groaned in defeat. "Fine!" He fell back onto his pillow. Ahiru grinned wide before snuggling up against his chest with her arms around him. Fakir blushed deeper, if possible. "H-Hey, you don't have to go that far." When she didn't reply, he sighed and hugged her back. "You really are a troublesome duck, aren't you?"

Mytho watched them with a smile. They really are still the same... Their feelings haven't changed at all, even if they don't realize it. "Good night." He said quietly before switching off the light. The other two didn't hear him from each other's arms.

Soft light streamed into the room as Ahiru blinked awake. She blushed slightly, finding herself tightly tangled in Fakir's arms. As she tried to slide away he held her tighter. Ahiru smiled and enjoyed his warmth a moment longer before gently removing his arms. As she sat up she looked towards the tall windows. The curtains were open, and Mytho's body was sillhouetted against the white glow of morning. His body moved in fluid motions, as he spun and leapt on his toes, as if telling a story. Ahiru couldn't tear her eyes away. He turned and stopped as he saw her. "Oh, good morning, Ahiru." He smiled. Ahiru just sat open-mouthed and stared. He laughed and held out a hand. "Would you like to dance?"

Ahiru stood and hesitantly took his hand. He pulled her and spun her in circles, but she clumsily tripped, and would have fallen forward if he hadn't caught her. He laughed. "I guess it isn't for everyone. But here's something I'm sure you can do." he lifted his hands to a silent mime. "It means 'I love you'." He told her with a smile.

She mimicked his movements perfectly and tilted her head. "I... love... you...?"

Mytho nodded. "That's what you say to the person who means more than the world to you. Someone you... love."

Ahiru's words fell softly and choppily from her lips, but her question was clear. "Someone... I... love?"

At that point Fakir sat up. "Nnn? You two are already awake?"

"Good morning, Fakir. Are you ready to help me search?" Mytho smiled.

"Yeah. Let's get dressed then. Oh... Good morning Ahiru." Fakir nodded towards Ahiru.

She looked at Mytho, and then at Fakir before lifting her hands into the mime Mytho had just shown her with a smile. With that she took the clothes Fakir had offered her and hopped into the closet with a blush.

Fakir blinked. "What was that just then?" He asked Mytho.

Mytho laughed. "I think she just said 'I love you'."

Fakir turned red instantly. "E-EH? D-Don't be silly. We just met!"

Mytho raised his eyebrows mysteriously. "Really? Is it really the first time you've met? You can feel it, can't you?"

Fakir was silent. "I... don't know what you're talking about..." He said in a very unconvincing tone.

Ahiru emerged from the closet just then and the conversation ended.

They began their search just after a rushed breakfast. As the day went on, signs of unease were beginning to show on the Prince's calm face.

"Hey, the library." Fakir pointed. "Someone could easily be hidden there. Let's look, why don't we?"

"Yeah..." Mytho agreed quietly.

Fakir sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her, wherever she is, okay? Dark curls, pale skin, and ruby eyes, you said? I'm sure she's here." Fakir tried to comfort him.

Mytho smiled. "Thank you."

They split up in the library, looking in between shelves and in unnoticed corners. Not long into the search, Ahiru bounded over to Fakir with a book in her arms. She thrust it at him. Princess Tutu.

"Oh? Yeah, I wrote that book." He laughed nervously. "I didn't think they'd actually publish it, but well... here it is. Want to look through it?"

Ahiru nodded energetically. Fakir sighed. "Well, I know we're pressed on time, but... I guess a skim couldn't hurt." The two sat down and Fakir opened the book. "Well, basically, it's about a Prince who shattered his heart in order to protect the world from a Raven. But then, the Princess Tutu began collecting the shards of his heart and returning it to him. Then there was a knight who swore to protect him, but had failed, and a duck who was turned human to be in the story and harbor that Princess in her body. Princess Tutu was in love with the Prince, but could not express her love because if she did she would disappear forever. The Prince loved the Princess in return, but was under the control of the Raven's daughter. In the end, the Prince realized that he actually loved the Raven's daughter, who turned out to actually be a Princess who loved the Prince with all her heart. And the duck and the knight realized that the ones they loved were one another. And finally, Princess Tutu sacrificed herself and disappeared, and the other four lived as they should. The Prince was no longer heartless, and went on to be with the Raven, who was no longer evil, but a beautiful Princess. The duck returned to be a duck, and the Knight became what he truly was, a Writer, and although the two did not end up together, they continued on to live side-by-side, hoping to meet again."

The two stopped at the last line. "This... story..." Fakir said quietly before looking up at Ahiru. "The duck... and the knight... and the Prince... it couldn't be. But... I wrote it, so, how..."

"Is it really the first time you've met?"

Fakir shook his head. "N-no way. I'm getting way too caught up in my own story. It's ridiculous!"

"You can feel it, can't you?"

"Come on, we have to keep looking." He put the book into a shelf and pulled Ahiru up.

From the other side of the bookshelf Mytho smiled slightly. "Are you finally beginning to remember?" It was then that Mytho himself remembered something.

"Fakir, Ahiru, I know where we can look!" He panted, catching up to them in the library. "It's a place... only we knew about..."

Ahaha another cliffie!