Thanks Aika for the review! Any suggestions to make this fic better? =)

Chapter Six: Insight

Reiko's POV:

The Stargazing festival.. the last time he went was with Nuriko and Miaka. I know it would bring back alot of memories.. but why does he still want to go? With me. Haven't I caused enough trouble? First, I lose myself in the mountains, and he finds me. And Kouji too, of course. Then he brings me to the Konan Palace in the middle of the night, and we were attacked. He was hurt. Satumo had laughed and asked him if Genrou like his arrows. And he.. and Chichiri found me when Satumo attacked me. But he still wants to risk getting hurt by bringing me to the Festival? I don't understand.

Last night, he got so angry over me Seeing Reirei. Next morning? He apologizes for it and even askes me to go with him to the Festival. Can't he make up his mind? But I do owe him.. and I do want to go.. If only I could scream! I don't understand what's happening.. everything's so complicated..

About the Festival.. I owe Chichiri too. So I should ask him to come along too, right? But I'll have to ask Genrou first if that's alright with him.

After Genrou asked me to the Festival.. he asked me to eat lunch with him. It's like.. I'm always with him. Why? Is it because he can't leave me alone? with Satumo and Nakuto on my ass and all that. What does Nakuto want? He already took over the palce. He already got rid of the Imperial Family. I'm not a Princess anymore. Why can't he just leave me alone?

When Genrou left my room, servants came in to assist me. They gave me clean clothes made of silk, and fixed my hair. Just like back home. But I'm not a Princess anymore, am I. This isn't Hokkan. This is Konan. The Empress' lands. Her Palace.. I haven't met her yet! I have to see her. Tell her about Hokkan and Nakuto. Then maybe she could help. But.. Why do I bother anymore? Even if she did help me take Hokkan back, what do I, a 15 year old Princess, know anything about ruling a whole empire?

Reiko stepped out of her room with the sunlight in her eyes. This is the first time I'm seeing Konan in broad daylight. Reiko thought.

"C'mon kid, " Genrou was leaning against the wall outside her room with his arms crossed."I'm hungry."

Reiko followed him. "Genrou.. can you bring me to the Empress?" she asked.

"Yeah sure," he put his hands in his pockets. "After lunch that is." He pushed open a door. The aroma of food entered their noses instantly. "I'm hungry ya know."

Genrou watched Reiko as he gobbled up his food. Reiko ate.. like a Princess. Nothing like Miaka, is she? He smiled to himself.

"What are you smiling at?" Reiko looked at him. "You're such a PERVERT! STARING AT ME LIKE THAT!"

Ok, I take that back, she isn't so different from Miaka afterall. "Shut up and eat your food."

"Why would I want to stare at you in the first place? I would rather look at GROWN women." Genrou added.

"So you DO stare at women!" Reiko gasped. "PERVERT!"

"I AM NOT A PERVERT!"

"YOU SO ARE ONE!"

"NO I'M NOT!"

"YES YOU ARE!"

"Can't anyone get some peace and quiet time around here?" Chichiri came walking in. "I could hear the two of you miles away, no da."

"She's calling me a pervert!"

"He was staring at me first!"

"Just eat your lunch, no da" Chichiri shook his head. "Acting like children. no da."

Tasuki and Reiko continued eating, embarrased.

Chichiri plopped himself down on a chair and started eating. Reiko put her chopsticks down. "Chichiri.." Chichiri looked up at her. "Would you like to go to the Stargazing Festival with us? I mean if it's alright with Gen-chan.

Oh, so it's a group outing. Genrou thought. "Yeah, sure. Come along with us."

"Erh," Chichiri could tell what Genrou was really feeling. "I've got things to do, no da. Sorry, but maybe some other time no da."

"Oh," Reiko picked up her chopsticks. "Ok then. Guess it'll just be you and me tonight, huh Genrou?"

Genrou swore he could see Chichiri winking underneath his smiling mask.

I don't really want to go anyways, Chichiri thought. And I'm quite sure Tasuki would want to be alone with her, no da. I saw it last night. I saw that look in his eyes as he watched Reiko run with tears in her eyes. I saw the fire burning in his eyes when he was fighting Satumo. He really meant to kill Satumo for hurting Reiko. He's changed. The night he came back, he was holding Reiko close to him. That was one of the few times he ever held a female like that. Yeah, he's changed no da.

Chapter six is a pretty short one. But in gives a bit of insight on what's going on in their minds. It might help you to understand them better? hahaha. yeah. Sorry for the last chaper's grammatical mistakes and all. I kinda wrote in with one shot and posted it without checking. MY BAD. I'll fix it soon. Thanks again Aika for your review. heh. Glad you liked it. =)