This is the third last chapter. –looks around- That's all for my author's note.

Disclaimer: No own –sound of tape rewinding- No own –sound of tape rewinding- No own

Chapter 4: A Night Out

I went out again the next day, and the next, too. I went out for the whole week, until Dad stopped me.

"Kyo, if you're going out everyday, some murderer is gonna walk around like a normal villager and kill you, because he know you're out there everyday." He paused and ruffled my hair. "You don't want Yuki to die because of you, right?"

I quickly pushed his hand off my head, and then grumbled. Well, it is true if there would be a murderer or someone, and they can kill me from afar with their guns, and those guards won't be able to help. And then Yuki would be dragged into it, dead because of me.

I stopped my thoughts. What the hell am I thinking? "Father!" He knew I would think like that.

I stomped off to my room and locked the door behind me. I quickly went to my window and saw that Yuki and Tohru were there.

"But aren't they supposed to be going to the other shops now?"

Oh, yeah. I've been with them for the whole week, and I think they're expecting me.

I laid my head on my hands and stared at her, swooning. Those times when I kissed her hand, they're the only times I get to be close and touching her.

Slowly, they walked to the other shops, looking here and there. For me, probably. And then they disappeared into the crowd.

Everybody in the kingdom knows about me and the two women always going out together, but they didn't know that I am so madly in love with that one.

Everybody in the castle is glancing at me once in a while, wanting to catch that lovey dovey face of mine. Heh. Well, I have been thinking about her double time now.

Tohru and Yuki, of course, know. One look at the way I look at Yuki, and then there you have it. Thank God the villagers don't know, or else all hell will erupt. They're too busy trying to make themselves look good so that the prince will fall in love with them.

Well, get lost, busters! My heart is busy with some other woman.

I laughed at myself, and saw that the cleaners in the hall were looking at me, their eyebrows raised. I didn't care.

And then, I had an idea. Why it had suddenly came to me now, I don't know. I thought hard about it first, and then nodded to myself, wanting to do it.

I went to my room, took out a pen and a paper, and started writing.

An hour later, I felt satisfied. "There." I hold the letter up in front of me, and checked for any mistakes. When I found none, I carefully folded it four times until it was a small square, and then put it in my pocket.

I went to Dad's room, but he wasn't there. I shrugged and walked down to the guards' room. "Five of you free right now?" I asked, peeking my head through the door.

A guard stood up. "But Sire, the King told you to not go out today."

I frowned. "But it'll just be for… an hour. Half an hour. Please?"

The guard sighed, and then bowed, and turned to the other guards. "Seven of us. Come on."

I strained my ears. Did he say seven? "Five!"

"Seven or you're not going out, Sire," another guard said.

I walked away from the door, rolling my eyes. "I don't need a babysitter. Not seven, at least." When we exited the castle grounds, I counted eight. Oh, great. But this'll be just half an hour. The only time I have to find the two wandering ladies in this sea of people and shops.

They were swooning again, and I pinched a guard next to me who was trying to stop smiling and laughed a bit.

I pretended to look at the shops around me, and saw purple out of the corner of my eye. I still looked at the shops, and 'accidentally' nearly bumped into her.

"Ah, ladies," I said, nodding a little to them. "Nice to meet you again."

They bowed. "Good morning, Sire. Yes, it is nice," Tohru said, and I saw she was looking at Yuki from the corner of her eyes. "We… didn't miss you this morning, did we?"

I shook my head. "No, no. I just came out, and I just wanted to walk around a bit. I'm going to go back now. M'lady?" I kissed Tohru's hand, and when I was about to kiss Yuki's hand, I took out the letter very swiftly and placed it on my hand. I kissed Yuki's hand, feeling the warmth there again, and slipped the paper into her hand.

I told her with my eyes to read it privately without Tohru knowing, and she understood, although she was a bit shocked as to why I did that.

I smiled at them, and then went back to the castle. A few hours later, I went to my window to see them saying goodbye to each other. Tohru walked away, waving to her, but Yuki was still there.

When Tohru was out of sight, Yuki took out the paper from her pocket and quickly opened it. I knew by heart what was in there. It is my first letter to her.

Yuki

Meet me at 12 midnight at the usual place where you always wait for Tohru every morning. Tonight. If you're not there tonight, I'll wait for you tomorrow night. If you're not there tomorrow night, I'll wait again the night after.

I'll wait every night for you, even if you're not coming.

I'll wait.

Kyo xoxo

I smiled when Yuki folded back the paper and put it in her pocket. She went back home, and I lay down on my bed, thinking about tonight.

I know my letter was very crappy and not good, but that took me an hour. Did you remember that?

I'm going to confess to her tonight, under the beautiful moonlight.

Okay. There's something wrong with me right now. I'm going all poetic.

I chuckled. Sigh…

I don't care if she wouldn't love me back. As long as she knows that I love her. I know she know that I am in love with her. And I know that it's no use telling her when she already knows. But I want to express it verbally. Not just with my charms and going out with her and her friend and all. I want to… express my feelings to her.

I stood up and hit my head. But I do not want to be Romeo or something. I skipped downstairs for dinner, and the famous King Kazuma, for once, doesn't know what is going on with me now.

I took a long bath, and then slipped into bed. I don't want Dad to know what my plans are for tonight.

I tossed and turned, waiting impatiently for midnight. I knew of a secret way out without catching the attention of the guards outside, and I used that five minutes to midnight.

The cold night air blew in my face when I quietly walked out of the gate unnoticed. I was wearing simple clothes, not those… princely stuff. Long baggy trousers and a t-shirt is what I'm wishing to use everyday.

I arrived at the shop, and glanced around. She's not here yet. I stepped into the shadows and leaned against the counter.

I'm going to wait here for her, forever, whether she's coming or not.

The square is empty after business hours. I always know that.

A leaf crunched not far from me, and I quickly turned around, thinking that it was a ghost or something.

An angel came out from the shadows. She was whiter and even prettier than ever before, and I just want to take her into my arms and taste her soft lips right there and then, but I have to hold back. I don't want to scare her just like that on our first meeting alone together.

"Good evening, Yuki," I whispered, afraid that my voice would break the beautiful silence of the night.

She bowed. "Good evening, Sire."

I quickly ran to her. "No, please. Don't do that. Please don't call me 'Sire' and don't bow to me. I don't really like it. Please, call me… Kyo." I gulped, waiting for her to do just that.

She parted her lips, and I licked mine, imagining it was hers. Oh God. "Good evening, K-Kyo." I've never heard my name sound so sexy ever in my life, and I wish she would say it when we do it…

Okay, okay. Not too far there, Kyo. Hold yourself together. Oh, damn, I think I'm growing h-hard… Oh shit. Kill me!

I took her hand and brought her to a place I knew so well. She didn't hold back, and just walked quickly along.

We arrived at the lake a few minutes later, and she gasped, surprised. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

The reflection of the moon was glowing in the water, and it looked like Heaven from below. The grass was a bit damp, but it was cool to the touch. The water… I've never seen clearer water.

I sat her on the big rock near the sides, and I sat next to her.

We didn't talk for a while. All those time I was thinking, "She came! She came! I'm so happy!" like a kid.

I cleared my throat. "Y-Yuki…" I turned to her, and saw that she was looking at her hands. I brought my finger to her chin and slowly tilted her head up. "You do know why I wanted you to meet me tonight, right?"

I could see her blush, and I took back my finger. She nodded. "And… I have something to tell you, too."

I shook my head. "Please, hear me out first. I don't care if you don't like me like me, but…" I sighed and stood up. "Since the last three years I've been thinking of you, and wanting you. I would always watch you from my window when you came to that shop, and I still do, and also when you're going home. At first it was just… a crush. But weeks, months passed by, and that grew… to like like, which in turn turned to love."

I turned around to face her, and saw she is standing up, wanting to say something. "Say it, Yuki. I don't care if you hate me or something. I don't care if you don't like me. I don't care at all. I just… Say it, Yuki."

She opened her mouth to say something, and then took a deep breath. "I'm not what you think I am. And… Yes, I… don't like you the way you do like me. I mean, I'm…"

I walked to her, and put a finger on her lips. "Shh… It's okay. That's all I need to hear. You know, I…" I brushed my finger on her lips. They were so inviting, and I nearly bent down to taste it. "Right now, what I want to feel the most are these soft, beautiful lips you have here, but… that would be forcing you."

She looked down, and nodded. I tilted her chin up with my finger. "Come on. Let's go back. You must be freezing here."

It was supposed to be a very short walk back to the shop, but it felt like an eternity.

I was… rejected.

"Um… So, Yuki," I said, trying to make small talk. "You didn't tell Tohru about this, right?"

She looked up and smiled at me, and I could've cried right now. "No, I didn't."

"Is she your sister or something?"

"Oh, no, no. She's my best friend. We met when we were in the same town about ten years ago, and instantly became friends. Her… boyfriend died last year, when a shop he was setting up fell on him and crushed his body."

I was speechless. What were we talking about before this, anyway? And this night… It was supposed to be about us only. Tohru… best friends… boyfriend… crushed… "I'm sorry."

Yuki shook her head. "She's still healing from that."

Our 'conversation' just stopped right there, if it even started. Tonight wasn't what I expected it to be. I thought it would be… romantic and all that, even if she doesn't like me back.

"Okay, here we are. Um… Goodnight, Yuki." I looked at her. She's so beautiful. Beyond words. I don't know what to say. So pretty…

My fingers reached out to her lips, and I bent down. I realized what I was trying to do, and stopped. I looked into her eyes. She was shocked, and I felt angry at myself for trying to kiss her.

I brushed my lips on hers and then leaned back. "I'm sorry, Yuki. I… shouldn't have done that. But… your lips… they're…" I took both of her hands in mine. "I love you, Yuki. I love you so much." I kissed all of her fingers, and then left her and went back quietly to my room, where I cried till dawn came.

-

Aw… I so pity him… And you'll hate me more in the last chapter, which is not next.