Chapter 7:

A/N: this will be a short chapter.

Yuki looked around this party seemed really boring. Shuichi was sticking to Isilra like a limpet! He wished he could just go and yank him off to the bedroom. Tatsuha suddenly materialized at his side. Yuki grimaced the last thing he needed was his kid bother boring him even more. Bt Tatsuha didn't say much, he just stared at Isilra for all he was worth.

"Isn't she really beautiful?" Yuki stared at his brother, whose voice sounded all dazed. "Are you alright Tatsuha?"

"Yeah! She kissed me in the garden today…" Tatsuha smiled at some unseen person…Yuki jerked backwards and banged his head on the pillar. "She what? Why?"

"I don't know. We were in the garden below your rooms and I was showing her flowers. When I stood up she was looking up at something and then she turned and grabbed me. She is a very good kisser." Tatsuha said.

Yuki glanced at Isilra and his eyes widened as he realized what she might have seen. Then another thought struck him. "Why were you with her in he first place?"

Tatsuha frowned. "Taki was trying to molest her and when I came upon them he was kissing her, then she threw him over her hip and insulted him."

Yuki smirked looking around for the stupid Taki. When suddenly Tatsuha grabbed him. "You don't love her do you? I mean I forgot she is to be engaged to you…but tell me you don love her!"

Yuki looked at his younger brother in surprise the man looked so intense! "no I don't think I do…" Tatsuha sighed, and the grimaced. "I can't think why you don't…I think I do!" suddenly things started to brighten for Yuki…maybe the party wasn't so boring after all. He caught sight of Taki making his way toward Isilra. He didn't like the very sweet smile on the princess' face. It looked like she was up to something.

He saw them move out to the dance floor and frowned slightly.

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Isilra enquired after Taki's health and apologized for her earlier behavior. She let him steer her for a while looking for an opening to humiliate him worse than he ever had been before…no one kissed her and got away with it!

Suddenly she saw it! She smiled at Yuki standing behind Taki and at Tatsuha who was ranting about Taki. Then she missed her step and tripped over her silks. Taki over balanced and fell back wards. Isilra stepped back wide eyed as he fell into the big bowl of orange juice on the table.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry lord Taki! Let me help you up." She glanced around even the king was having trouble keeping his face straight. Taki slapped away her outstretched hand and glared at her. Then he bent down and whispered into her ear. "I'll get back at you for this…do not doubt it!" Isilra smiled at him sweetly before moving off to join Shuichi in a conversation.

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Yuki went out to the balcony where she was standing. She looked up and smiled at him. "Prince Yuki, how have you been?" Yuki stood next to her looking out over the city.

"Fine. You know don't you? About me and…" he got cut off as she raised her hand to his lips. Then she nodded.

"I know, but before you say anything else I didn't come here willingly to marry you and I don't think it's wrong. I do know that your love is pretty strong…" she looked out at the distant sea.

"But you kissed Tatsuha. Was it because you saw us?" Yuki looked at her questioningly.

She grinned unlike a princess. "Well let's just say I had to stop him from seeing you and I'm impulsive so I did. It was good though…you have to be more careful!"

Yuki grinned slightly at that. "I will be from now on. Its been nice talking to you Princess Isilra. i have to go now." Isilra decided to go back in with him.

In the shadows, Taki grinned slightly, it was all starting to make sense…

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A/N: ok now I really need your opinion. It was a short impulsive chapter, written slightly in a rush cause I just wanted to get it out of my system! I also thought there should be some bonding between Yuki and Isilra… after all they're the ones who might be trapped in a loveless marriage! Ja

Taka