The caravan was lined up and ready to go. Camels were loaded, guards double checking their supplies and making sure everything packed. The group was minutes away from departing, Kuon included in their group.

Kuon was checking his own supplies when his father approached. The man held his arm wide, smiling as brightly as the sun. He pulled Kuon into a hug, one Kuon returned with less enthusiasm, but not less meaning.

"Are you sure you want to go?" Said Kuu, pulling back and keeping Kuon at arm's length. "This might not be the best idea."

"We've been over this dad." Said Kuon. "I can't stay locked up in the castle. I need to be out here, doing something for our people. If the accursed really want to attack this caravan, let them come."

Especially since it was just a decoy. The chance of the accursed coming to attack the departing caravans was a very likely. This one was a distraction while the real inhibitors arrived safely to its destination in another group. Kuon and a few of the others would meet up with more soldiers later and patrol the area, keeping the real caravans safe. Kuon himself didn't even have all the details, but he trusted his father and Lory to make it as hard as possible for the accursed to take them out.

The biggest reason for him setting out was to keep appearances with Masato. If he really was the spy, then Kuon not going out with the caravan would be a dead giveaway.

"We'll stay in touch." Said Kuu, "I can't believe my baby boy is going to be in charge of his own scouting regiment."

"Speak a little louder, I think the men in the back couldn't hear you." Said Kuon, rolling his eyes.

Kuu chuckled, then ruffled Kuon's bangs. Kuon batted the hand away. He felt a moment of nostalgia, the gesture reminiscent of his childhood when he would get dragged into messes with Shin and subsequently blamed for it. His most common punishment had been said gesture.

"Not the best parting gift." Said Kuon, to which Kuu just laughed.

"I'll see you soon." Said Kuu. "Stay safe son."

Kuon nodded, his father giving him one last clap on the shoulder before walking towards the other occupants of the caravan. It was his duty to see them off and to be seen doing it. Kuon watched his father for a moment, watching how people reacted to their king.

Many turned to look, gaze at him in admiration and respect. He had an energy that pulled people in and brought a smile to their faces. He was a true king, one Kuon could only hope one day to emulate.

With one last look, Kuon pulled on his head warp to keep the sun off his neck. Yukihito came up to him a second later, holding a scroll.

"Last minute instruction from Lory about positioning." Said Yukihito.

"Thanks." Kuon took the scroll, stashing it into his robes. He'd take a look at it later as he had been instructed. "Did you talk to Lory about the pearl?"

"I did." Said Yukihito. "I told him about your plan with Kyoko. He said he'd stay out of it except to keep her safe. Hopefully the accursed are busy enough with everything."

"I doubt it." Said Kuon. The accursed had proven themselves to be resourceful and patient. "But we can hope that this will slip through their cracks. I could really use a break from this curse."

"And you don't think you're pushing it by riding out in the sands for weeks without Kyoko or Rosa to help?" said Yukihito. The man was concerned. He had a right to be so. Yukihito was in charge of most of Kuon's life and schedule, so he knew how often Kuon had needed help from them.

"Why do you think I've been going to see Kyoko so much recently?" said Kuon with a shrug. "To build up stamina for this trip and I've got a few amulets for emergencies. I'll be back before it gets worse."

"If you say so." Said Yukihito, still not convinced. He looked around, adjusting his glasses. "Speaking of Kyoko, why isn't she here to see you off?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe she had class this morning?"

"She didn't." said Yukihito. "It's her day off today. She has no other obligations."

"You have Kyoko's schedule memorized?"

"Of course. I was the one making sure the two of you could meet as much as possible."

Kuon ignored the silly grin that had spread across Yukihito's face as he said it. The man had enjoyed that part of his job with eager enthusiasm.

Kuon looked around, his heart sinking at the thought of her not coming to see him off. He had hoped she would at least stand with the other concubines to bid him goodbye. So far she was the only absent woman in the group. A few noticed his attention and waved. He gave them a nod, ignoring his tightening stomach.

Perhaps he had been pushing it too much these last few visits. Taking so much of her time and then giving her those kisses. Sure they were just on the forehead, but for Kyoko that might as well have been on the lips. The girl was hyper sensitive to those things.

A man at the head of the caravan called for everyone to assemble, signaling Kuon to join them. Kuon responded by mounting his horse, holding it in place.

"Watch out for her will you?" said Kuon.

"Of course." Said Yukihito. "Kyoko has plenty of people looking out of her. You worry about yourself your highness. You're the one going into battle."

"True enough." Said Kuon with a chuckle. He gave Yuihito a salute. Yukihito returned the gesture with a bow.

With a kick of his heels, the horse trotted forward, joining the group lining up to leave. He felt his heart rate quicken in anticipation, excited to be out and riding through the sands once again. It really had been too long since he had done any traveling.

As the group started moving, Kuon couldn't help looking back towards the palace, wishing he could magically will Kyoko there to see him off. The crowd that bid them farewell was decidedly lacking in women with short black hair and eyes flashing with gold.

For a moment he thought he saw something in one of the window, but it was gone.

His hand went to his heart where, under the scarf, was the wooden trinket Kyoko had made for him at the tournament. For some reason, Kyoko hadn't come to see him off. He hoped that everything was alright.

Kyoko slowly peaked back through the window, fingers brushing aside the curtains. She'd been watching Kuon leave from the palace, unable to resist, but too terrified to venture down and face him. The window had been a happy medium between the two, at least until he had almost spotted her.

It looked like she was lucky. He hadn't noticed her. When she returned to the window, his attention had focused forward again, no indication that he had seen her at all. He probably hadn't been looking for her.

She should feel relieved, yet why did she feel even worse?

"When are you going to stop spying through the window and finally tell me what is going on?" said an annoyed voice.

Kanae was siting cross legged on the ground, currently doing some sort of maintenance on her weapons. They were spread out before her on the ground, along with some of her other tools. Kanae was always ready and doing something.

Heart heavy, Kyoko withdrew from the window and sat on a cushion in front of Kanae. She kept her head down, concentrating on the steady methodical movements of the warrior as she cleaned and checked her daggers.

For the thousandth time that day Kyoko wished it wasn't her day off. The work would have been a welcome distraction from her current thoughts. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Thoughts of Kuon laughing at her, pitying her for being an idiot in love had tormented her well into the night.

With the first hint of light on the horizon, Kyoko had burst Kanae's room and nearly took a throwing knife to the face. Kanae had refused to get up, and honestly, all Kyoko wanted was to be with someone. And so she had sat, not saying much, occasionally checking the window for hours until she spotted Koun and his procession.

Kanae gave an annoyed sigh, placing a fist against her hip.

"You do realize how creepy you're being right now." Said Kanae. "Usually you don't shut up and all of a sudden you're in my room and haven't spoken two words together for the last few hours. What is going on?"

Kyoko didn't answer.

"Does it have to do with the accursed? Your classes?... The prince?"

Kyoko flinched at the last one. She heard Kanae give a sigh before putting down her knife. She folded her arms in the lap, voice firm. "What happened? Why didn't you go to say goodbye to him?"

"I don't know what to do." Said Kyoko softly, finally breaking her silence. "I don't even know what to think. I couldn't face him."

Not after yesterday. Not after learning that Kuon and Ren were the same person. It wasn't even that fact that had her so upset. Ren had been a good friend to her, helping her in some of her darker moments and had continued to bring her hope throughout the years just with his memory. If Kuon had a reason to protect that connection, she could accept that, even if she did feel like she had been played.

What had her so terrified was the overwhelming shame she felt in having been caught in her feelings. That he had known this whole time what she had been trying to keep secret. She felt dirty, exposed, as the last person on earth she would have wanted to learn her feelings had known them from the beginning. It was shameful.

"Kyoko."

The soft sound of her own name made Kyoko raise her head. Kanae's attention was completely fixed on her, an uncharacteristic worry lining her face.

"Are you pregnant?"

Kyoko's cheeks burned as they turned the deepest color red imaginable, and she tried to sputter out words.

"N-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n- KANAE! How could you even think that!?"

"Well I'm not the one over here like" And here Kanae struck a dramatic pose "How can I face him? I don't know what to do!" she returned to polishing her knives, "That coupled with the fact you've spent most nights with him, what am I supposed to think?"

Kyoko continued to stare at her friend in shock. How could she think she was… with Kuon's child! Her mind nearly passed out with the idea. They would probably be handsome like him…

"Oi." A knock on her head dragged her from the world of dreams.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

Kyoko rubbed her head and sighed, all of the worry flooding back to her.

"It's nothing, I'm just a bit stressed."

Kanae gave her a look that clearly said "Like hell that's all that's bothering you."

But instead she said "Kyoko, your ramblings give me a head ache, but your silence is unbearable."

Kanae was giving her full attention. All of her knives were sheathed, and her polishing rag lay forgotten.

Kyoko sighed again, and started talking.

"When I was little, I had this good friend. I met him by an oasis not too long after my dad died. I thought he was a fairy because of how brightly he shined. We started talking, and he helped me, comforted me. I was able to move on because of him. We met every day for about two weeks, then one day he said he was leaving. That was the last time I saw him and he never returned."

"Interesting." Said Kanae, still staring at her, "But I fail to see how this applies to the prince."

Kyoko eyed Kanae from the corner her of eye, hesitating.

"Yesterday, I found out that Prince Kuon and that child are the same person."

"Isn't that a good thing?" said Kanae. "Didn't you want to see your old friend?"

Kyoko closed her eyes, fighting the turmoil in her heart. She had been yearning for years to see Ren again. To let him know how much his short visit had meant to her. That he had continued to be a part of her strength for so long. Little did she know he was by her side this whole time.

She should have figured it out. There had been so many hints about his identity. Everyone knew him, the treasure room from his journey, even mistaking Shin for him. So many glaring signs, yet she had been so blind to all of them. She was so stupid for not putting it together earlier.

"The problem…" said Kyoko. "is that Prince Kuon has known for the past months about Ren. He knows that I've been looking for him and has even talked to me about Ren. Told me that he knew him. Yet it was him the whole time."

"The hell." Said Kanae, grimacing. "That's messed up. Why would he not say anything?"

"No idea." Said Kyoko, eyes still closed. "But he's not the only one that knows about my connection to Ren as a child."

Kyoko opened her eyes, her focus outward beyond the palace. She didn't register Kanae or the room as her gut twisted in shame.

"As you know, the phoenix takes the form of the one most important in your heart." Said Kyoko. "When I first met Rosa, she took on the form of the young boy… in front of Kuon."

It took Kanae a moment, but when the realization sunk in, her eyes widened in shock.

"You're actually in love with the prince?" said Kanae. "I had my suspicions…. I'm still not sure what exactly is the problem."

That answer threw her for a loop. She gaped at Kanae's unconcerned face. How could she not see how this was a complete disaster?

"The problem?" said Kyoko. "The problem is that Kuon has known that I lo- about my feelings this whole time! He has to know that Ren is himself as a kid, so he has to know how I feel. I thought I've been so good at hiding them this whole time, but everyone knows. Everyone!"

Saying it out loud made the shame burn hotter. Oh how she wished to just disappear. Kyoko circled herself into a ball, hugging her knees tightly to keep from falling apart. No wonder Lory had known about her feelings. They all had seen the phoenix transform into Ren for her. Who else knew? Kuu. Maybe Shin? Probably the entire royal family and then some.

"Kyoko," said Kanae, voice firm. "I can almost guarantee you that Prince Kuon does not know how you feel about him."

"There's no way he can't." muttered Kyoko, her voice muffled by her knees.

"Trust me, he doesn't. He's an idiot."

But Kyoko wasn't listening anymore. The panic she had been fighting was settling in, unraveling all sensible thoughts as she imagined Kuon knowing this whole time. How he must have been laughing at her every time she told him she refused to fall in love. He was probably disappointed in her. She could just image it, his eyes full of pity and disgust, all the warmth gone. It wasn't hard. She'd seen it once before.

And then suddenly both Sho and Kuon were sneering at her. Laughing at her for thinking that they cared. Just imagining it make her sick.

She couldn't stay.

"I have to leave." Said Kyoko softly.

She couldn't - wouldn't go through that again. The disappointment and anger at being taken advantage of. Of being fooled. It had almost destroyed her the first time. She-

"Are you being serious?"

Kyoko raised her head.

Had this been a different situation Kyoko might have found the expression on Kanae's face comical. She was displaying an unusual amount of disbelief and bewilderment, as if she couldn't comprehend what Kyoko had just said.

"You've had the accursed and their minions after you." said Kanae flatly. "The Dark Djinn himself has threatened you, but when you fall in love with the prince, all of a sudden you have to leave? How does that remotely make any sense?"

The comment irked Kyoko, but she pushed it aside. "This and that aren't related."

"Clearly." Said Kanae, shaking her head. "If you're just going to run away than you're more of an idiot than I thought."

"I'm not running away." Said Kyoko, some irritation coming through.

"Yes you are. Just like you did with Sho. You're ignoring everything else and running."

"I wasn't running." Said Kyoko, her anger flaring hot immediately. How dare she say that about what happened! "He stole my work and betrayed my trust. My dad had died and my mother abandoned me years ago. There was nothing for me there. I had to leave or else I wouldn't have been able to move on."

"And what about now?" said Kanae. "What about all the friends you'd leave behind? Your career? You're promises to fight together? You'd betray your friends and duty because you fell in love?"

Kyoko opened her mouth, then stopped. Could she really do that? Leave everyone and everything because of her feelings?

Kanae was right. There was something different between this and what happened with Sho. Kyoko had a life here, friends, a career and responsibilities she had agreed to complete. Lory had asked her to watch over Kuon, as had Hirotaka when he told her to make sure he didn't fall to the curse. Kuon had asked her to get the pearl and she had a list of clients that relied on her remedies. She'd promised to help in the fight against the accursed, not to mention her own revenge against Sho in becoming a great physician. Could she throw all of that away?

She'd never felt the burden of those responsibilities like she did now. They'd encouraged her. Kept her going. Secured her place here when she didn't feel like she belonged. How could she turn away from everything?

"Kyoko." Said Kanae with a slow hesitance, as if she were forcing the words to come out. "If you leave, you'll never forgive yourself and it will be just that much harder to come back. Trust me, I know."

Kyoko's eyes flickered to Kanae. There was regret and self-disgust in her countenance and Kyoko understood their presence. Kanae had left her own family. Run away to pursue her own desire of becoming stronger, and she had yet to return. That guilt was still haunting her, making it harder with each passing day to return.

And suddenly the answer was simple. She couldn't leave. She had to stay. If she left now, then she really would be an idiot that let her feelings determine her actions. The realization slowly sunk into her, the one chance of escape closing with a bang that reverberated through her soul.

"How am I going to face him?" said Kyoko quietly, desperate for a solution.

Kanae shrugged, the guilt from before disappearing behind her mask of indifference. "You have a few weeks to figure that out. He won't be back for a while, and I still don't think he knows about your feelings. If he did, he'd be acting very differently."

"You really think so?" said Kyoko, unable to keep the hope from her voice. Oh, if that were true it would be incredible.

Kanae deadpanned her. "I know so. He's an idiot."

"You said that once before. He's not an idiot."

"You're an idiot too if it makes you feel better."

Kyoko gave a light chuckle, feeling the first smile in ages spreading across her face. Though her insides still felt like led, talking with Kanae had helped relieve most of the burden. The warrior was right. Kyoko had time to figure it all out before Kuon came home. There was no reason to panic.

Kyoko couldn't determine if the days were dragging by or speeding past. Each moment felt like a million years, especially during the times she had nothing to do. Somehow she found herself at the end of the week in the blink of an eye. Where had the time gone? In day dreams and nightmares probably. It had been a week, but she still didn't have a solution to her problem.

She could do as Kanae had suggested, take a leaf out of Kuon's book and pretend all was well. That of course, hinged on Kyoko's ability to act normally around him. Kyoko knew herself well enough to know that wasn't an option. Or maybe she could come up with a good excuse for acting strange. Nerves from class, or the accursed? Or maybe she could inject herself with a mild toxin and claim illness so she wouldn't have to see him again. Hmmm, maybe that was a little extreme.

A part of her was angry at Kuon, especially after she'd had a good night sleep. He had been lying to her all this time and had gotten his family and friends to lie for him as well. How could he do such a thing! She'd raged in her room for about an hour until her mind wondered back to the evening in his treasure room, going over the things 'Ren' had acquired during his journeys. How he had told her he kept his distance to keep her safe. That he had kept the little scrap of cloth that she had used to patch up his injury.

When she hit that moment in her head, her anger had deflated. Was it possible that 'Ren' was also a secret she wasn't supposed to know about? Or was he lying this entire time about caring about her?

The part of her that had been betrayed by Sho screamed yes! He's fooling you Kyoko! Another part of her said it made no sense. They had been at odds at the beginning of their relationship and had no problem arguing with each other. So it ruled that out. Then what could be the reason?

The answer had come crashing down on her like a ton of bricks.

Kuon kept quite because he didn't love her. He cared about her, saw her as a friend, but to keep it from becoming awkward, he hadn't mentioned that Ren and him were the same person when he saw Rosa transform. It was the only theory that made sense to her, despite Kanae's insistence that Kuon did not realize she was in love with him. That notion was entirely ridiculous.

It seemed that if she wanted to keep her friendship with Kuon, she had to emulate his example. Pretend that her feelings didn't exist.

The thought made her insides squirm. Well, it wasn't like she ever expected him or anyone else to ever love her. She was a plain unattractive peasant girl after all. She gave a large sigh, tilting on her cushions until she flumped into the silk, brooding.

"What's got you sighing?" said Yumi, who was occupying one of the balconies with Kyoko. The concubine was doing some sort of refined womanly thing that beautiful women like her did. Several other concubines were there as well, each enjoying the shade and outdoors. Risa was currently fanning herself with one of those new fans that created cool air, brushing aside her wavy bangs while Utako enjoyed some fruit, her nose in a book.

"Jus' stuff." Said Kyoko, not wanting to divulge to these women her worries about Kuon. For obvious reasons.

"Let me guess." Said Risa, eyes closed as she enjoyed the breeze. "You're pining after Kuon."

Kyoko twitched, glad Risa had her eyes closed so she couldn't see the involuntary movement, yet the concubine gave a satisfied smile as if she had.

"I'm missing him as well." Said Yumi. "he had so little time with us recently and then he's gone. I'm honestly getting annoyed with him at this point. It's rude to make a woman feel so neglected."

"You say that, but you don't have a dozen-plus men to keep track of." Said Risa, snapping her fan shut and pointing it at Yumi. "I'd like to see you manage that."

"I could, easily." Said Yumi with a smirk.

"You probably could."

Kyoko let herself smile, shaking her head slightly at the two. They had been chatting for the past hour, their voices and the brush of the wind playing in the background of her thoughts. She sat up, propping a spell book on her lap to continue reading. Then she nearly dropped it at Yumi's next words.

"You have a greater reason to miss Kuon, seeing as you kept having secret sessions each night."

"They weren't a secret." Said Kyoko, her cheeks pink as she tried to find the page she had been on. "And they weren't supposed to be late at night." She muttered quietly to herself.

"Then what were you doing the whole time?" said Yumi, raising a perfect eyebrow at her. "You won't tell us, so we can only guess."

"Yumi! You know it's not like that, you're teasing me on purpose." Said Kyoko, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance. Risa chuckled happily at Kyoko's plight, adding her own teasing comment to the fun.

"Were you helping Kuon with his curse?" said Utako quietly, looking over the top of her book.

Immediately Risa stopped laughing, Yumi narrowing her eyes. The black haired beauty had caught Kyoko off guard, and she stared at Utako, unable to deny it. Utako looked concerned, the expression unnatural on her usually blank face.

Kyoko put a finger to her lips in thought.

"Let's say if I was indeed helping him." Said Kyoko slowly. "I wouldn't divulge that information now would I?"

"So you have been treating his curse?" said Risa, a little too loud. Yumi clapped a hand over Risa's mouth, shooting her a glare that could paralyze on the spot. Thankfully it appeared that no one had heard Risa's outburst.

"Is he getting better?" said Utako quietly.

Kyoko deliberated again, wanting to sooth their worries, but knowing she couldn't give much away.

"I can't say." Said Kyoko. "But I am worried for him, especially now that he's traveling."

That curse was persistent, coming back each day with a vengeance. She knew she was only delaying the inevitable with her treatment. Unless Kuon found a way to stop it completely, it would eventually overtake him.

The thought sparked within her the burning desire to help him overcome the curse, even if he had lied to her. That part of her feeling hadn't been effected. Kuon was suffering, and as a physician and a friend, she wanted to help.

Something changed in the air.

Kyoko felt it, a ripple of light that sent goosebumps all up her arms. Her spine straightened, expression clearing, some of the dark on her heart lifting. Kyoko looked around, beaming as she observed the subtle changed in the women around her. More smiles, relaxed postures, an extra light shining from their souls. The dark expressions that had painted her friend's face's lessened.

"Someone got really happy all of a sudden." observed Risa.

"Did you not feel that?" said Kyoko, smiling so widely her cheeks hurt. "I think they just activated the inhibitor!"

"Did they?" said Risa, turning to exchange a glance with Yumi who only nodded slowly. Utako had her eyes closed, a small smile tugging at her lips as she hummed a wondering tune.

"This is great!" said Kyoko happily, clapping her hands together. Now they could hold a new ceremony and get new champions. Kuon would be so excited, his curse would probably be a lot lighter now under the-

Kyoko's thoughts stopped, heart thudding. Oh, how quickly her mind had traveled to Kuon as soon as something had happened. She'd wanted to go to him, enjoy his company and talk about all of this with him. Her heart was in her throat as she realized just how much she already missed him.

And it had only been a week.

"There goes jealous wife number one." Said Risa suddenly.

Kyoko followed her line of sight, grimacing when she saw it was Setsuko. The concubine had stood up at the other end of the balcony, carrying her book with her. The woman's gaze fell on Kyoko, locking for a moment. The sharp eyes stared at Kyoko, a silent challenge passing between them. Kyoko had been avoiding her for the past few weeks, not wanting to repeat any of their exchanges. Despite the time, Kyoko could easily interpret the glare Setsuko was sending her.

Are you going to fight, or are you going to be a coward?

Kyoko grimaced, breaking eye contact to turn her attention back on her friends, who were currently chatting again, trying to convince Utako to sing despite her hiccups.

Kanae was starting to worry. Sure, Kyoko was known to be eccentric and strange, but this behavior was a new level of odd, even for her. The woman was currently half sprawled across the floor, banging on what Kanae could only figure were imaginary rats. It lasted for a few seconds before Kyoko's face went blank, introspective, then turned dark as great tears pooled in her eyes.

Kyoko then shot up from the ground, pacing at dizzying speeds then stopped, her face turning completely white.

"Kanae..." she whispered, looking as if she might be sick. "What if he-"

"If he was going to send you away, he would have already done so." Said Kanae, voice monotonous.

"But that's only because he's kind. He-"

"Cares about you and has said so himself." Said Kanae.

"Yes, but what if he's laughing and-"

"He's not Sho. He's treated you better than that moron." It was automatic at this point. She couldn't count how many times they'd had this same conversation.

Kyoko fell quiet again as another flurry of emotions passed across her face. Kanae resisted the urge to hang her head and yell in frustration. This girl was going to drive her crazy. If only the job didn't include following Kyoko around the castle as she wondered and drew the alarmed eyes of all those that also had to witness her fits.

And there were a lot of them.

Kanae grabbed Kyoko by the collar, dragging her from the entrance hall they had stopped in. The girl didn't resist, not fully conscious of the world around her. "We, are going to find Lory and force him to give you something to do."

Kyoko didn't answer, no doubt in another mental spiral. It was getting worse with each day instead of better.

As they walked down another corridor, she spotted two people at the end of it. One was a tall man with dark hair, glowing with a new powerful aura. The other was shorter and younger, face serious despite his young age.

Kyoko grimaced, thinking about doubling back and pretending she didn't see them. The older man looked up, and smiled.

"Hi Kyoko."

Too late.

Kanae resigned herself, nudging Kyoko in the back to get the girl moving. Kyoko's name jolted her from her thoughts long enough to concentrate on the person in front of her. Her face lit up in surprise and delight.

"Hidehito! You're…"

Hidehito gave a laugh, winking at her. "That's right, I officially became a champion. I should have figured you could tell just at a glance."

"This is so great." Said Kyoko, and Kanae had to agree. It meant the inhibitor was working like it was supposed to. The invisible blight and the seeds hadn't caused any problems. "Maybe more people will volunteer now that it's proven to be successful."

"That's what we're hoping." Said Hedehito, giving a nod towards the young man beside him. "Me and Hiou were just talking about him possibly being selected."

When Kyoko asked if he was thinking about becoming a champion, Hiou nodded, but Kanae couldn't help noting his strange behavior. He hadn't said a single word towards her, and he always had something to say to her. Especially when their eyes would connect – like they just did.

Hiou gave her a calculating scowl before looking away, almost as if he were pouting.

"It's still just speculation at the moment." Hiou said to Kyoko, ignoring Kanae. "Especially since I'm so young, but I have been considering it seriously."

The response was lost on Kanae as she stared at Hiou, narrowing her eyes. The boy had noticed her scrutiny, sending her a furtive glance.

"Kanae." Said Hiou suddenly. "I have something to say to you."

His sudden serious surprised her, especially as there wasn't a hint of hostility in it. She inclined her head, indicating for him to continue.

"I have been rude to you these past weeks, and I hope you'll forgive my behavior." He said with a stiff bow.

Kanae blinked at him. "Are you ill?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine."

"Then why are you apologizing to me?"

Hiou gave her a look as if she were crazy.

"What Kanae means." Said Kyoko, poking her nose into their conversation. "Is why now? Why change your attitude after weeks of such hostile behavior?"

More or less, yes, that is what she had meant.

"I realized I was mistaken in my grudge." Said Hiou, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"How so?"

"I thought you were mocking my family's name." said Hiou, with a shrug. "Your comment at the party, and you were imitating our family's fighting forms. I thought you were looking down on our history."

So that was what had gotten him so mad in their duel. He had recognized the forms she had been using and had gotten angry. She couldn't remember what she had said at the party, but no doubt the boy was touchy when it came to his family. People still poked at the dishonor her master had 'supposedly' brought upon them.

"When I learned that your master was my grandfather." Said Hiou, his voice a little sad. "And that you were with him when he passed. I realized I was being a fool. I shouldn't have lashed out so quickly without knowing the whole story."

That tidbit of information was not common knowledge. A part of Kanae was instantly relived that the boy didn't blame her for her master's death. The other part was angry that someone had easily shared some of her background without her permission.

"Who told you about this?" said Kanae.

"Lord Shin did." Said Hiou, who looked confused.

Irritating. Obnoxious. How come that idiot had interfered when she hadn't asked him to? He had no business sticking his nose in other people's business!

"Moko-san?" said Kyoko with caution. "Your face is a little scary right now."

"Hidehito, Hiou." Said Kanae, ignoring Kyoko. "Do either of you know where Shin is right now?"

"Uh, I think I saw him near the east wing an hour ago." Said Hidehito, shrinking away from her.

Kanae rounded on Kyoko. "Kyoko, we need to take a detour."

Kyoko didn't even get a chance to answer. She was being dragged away by Kanae, who ignored everyone as she marched towards the east wing.

How dare he mess with things without her permission! She hadn't asked him to clear up the misunderstanding with Hiou. It irked her. She hated it when other people tried to do thing for her. She could take of herself just fine. She didn't need his meddling to fix her problems. Kanae was going to give him a piece of her mind!

Kyoko trailed alongside her, having to jog to keep up with Kanae's long strides. It took them a few minutes, but eventually they found him… cozying up next to a servant.

An extra spark of anger joined her irritation. Her boots thudded against the floor as she stomped up to him. He looked up from his current companion – some random girl with blonde hair and plump lips – smiling at her in that wide goofy grin.

"Kanae! I wondered if the gods should smile upon me this day, and bless me with the opportunity to see your stunning visage. I see today you are as a lightning show, dangerous and beautiful."

She shoved an accusatory finger in his face, ignoring his words.

"Who told you to go and mess with my business?" She growled.

"Whoh there" said Shin, grabbing the hand in his face and leaning towards her instead of away from her. "You're going to have to be a lot more specific."

Kanae pulled her hand from his grip and poked him hard in the chest.

"Why did you tell Hiou what happened?" she said, jabbing him again with each word. "Who told you what happened in the first place? What makes you think you can butt in? What gives you that right?"

"I seem to have made you angry." Said Shin.

"You don't say!"

"Let's finish this another time." Said Shin, talking to the servant. The woman curtseyed, her face pink as she hurried away. Kanae leaned back, folding her arms as she glared at Shin.

"Another one of your conquests?" she mocked. "I thought Prince Kuon was bad with his harem, but at least he can make and keep a commitment."

"Ouch, you wound me." Said Shin, placing a hand over the place she had been poking him. Then he perked up. "Where you perhaps jealous?"

Kanae sputtered. "I- There's no way!"

"You were! Oh wow, and I thought I had no chance this whole time."

As Kanae watched Shin practically beaming in delight, she felt her irritation growing. Why was this man so exhausting to deal with? Here she was, yelling at him and he was smiling as if all was right in the world. He must have something wrong with him. Why was she surrounded by people with a screw or two loose?

"Don't worry." Said Shin. "I was just talking to her for work. You are the one that has my heart."

"I don't want your heart!" said Kanae, now seriously annoyed. "I want you to stop trying to butt into my business. You had no right to go and tell Hiou about my past."

"But it cleared everything up didn't it? And you never told me I couldn't say anything."

"It's called common curtesy. You don't go around telling other people's private information without their permission."

"Really?" said Shin, tilting his head at her. "So when were you going to take the time to clear things up with him? That grudge was hurting him as much as it was hurting you."

Kanae clenched her mouth shut. He got her there. She had been avoiding talking to Hiou, too scared to find the reason for his hatred of her. Scared and hopeful that someone else would blame her for her master's death. Yet it had been a misunderstanding this whole time, resulting in both her and Hiou nurturing this anger towards each other. It hadn't been healthy.

It was annoying when Shin, of all people, said things that made sense.

"I never asked for your help." She said, trying to put some heat behind the words.

"You didn't have to. I help those I care about." Said Shin happily, then he gestured towards Kyoko. "Which is why I'm worried. Is Kyoko alright?"

Kanae turned her attention to her friend - she'd totally forgotten she was there - and instantly recognized that Kyoko was in another one of her internal spirals of despair. Kanae could practically see the purple coils of gloom emanating from her. Kyoko's face was gaunt as she mumbled something under her breath.

"Don't worry about it." Said Kanae, but Kyoko had noticed Shin's attention to her. She snapped out of her despair, staring at him for a full ten seconds. Then her eyes grew wide as she jabbed a finger towards him.

"You! You also lied!"

That was not what Shin had been expecting. He held up his hands in surrender, confused.

"Kyoko, I don't understand. Why are you both so angry at me?"

"Because you deserve it." Said Kanae, remembering that Shin also knew about Kuon's identity as the fairy boy 'Ren.' He was also part of that problem. "Keeping secrets and spilling others for your own convince. How shameful."

Kyoko nodded with enthusiasm, the two of them standing united against the trouble maker. Shin was apparently getting the hint, finally backing down under their anger.

"I see I'm not very popular at the moment." Said Shin with a shaky laugh.

Chris didn't like being interrupted. In fact, he didn't like interacting with people in general. So when the circular communicator lit up, interrupting him in the middle of training, he wanted nothing more than the hurl the stupid thing across the room.

He sheathed his sword, whipping the sweat from his brow as he casually put his things away and began walking down the corridor. The communicator never said who or where he was meeting, but he always knew the general location. It was so annoying to be working like this, as a common gofer. He should be further at this point, gaining more secrets.

The irritation wasn't showing on his face. He smiled and nodded politely at those he passed, remembering to stay courteous to all the idiots. Hide how he really felt about them.

At the end of the hall he spotted her. One of his confirmed informants. She was a normal palace servant, with long blonde hair and thick lips. The girl was carrying an array of flowers, then 'accidently' dropped some on the floor.

"Here, let me help you." Chris painted on his best 'polite' smile as he bent to help her pick up the flowers.

"Oh, no it's fine!" said the woman, quickly bending down and going for the flowers. Their hands brushed and the woman flinched, more flowers tumbling as she twitched.

That face was as much as a mask as was his.

He ignored her words, helping her pick up the flowers. To anyone passing by, they were just two people, talking and helping one another.

"You have another task." Said the woman in a low voice. It didn't match the flustered face she currently wore.

The woman slipped something from her dress, and Chris grabbed it by reflex, stuffing it in his shirt. But not before he had seen what it was.

"What is this?" said Chris, immediately angry.

"In two hours, ambassador Konoe will arrive at the palace." Said the maid, ignoring his irritation. "He has something we want. A pearl. We need you to go get that from him."

"But why this item?" hissed Chris.

The woman paused, some clarity coming through her act. She was irritated too.

"I don't know, but Miroku said you would know what to do with it." She said, huffing. "So useless. You can't even complete such a simple task. I can see now why they haven't bothered bumping you up in the ranks."

Chirs stood up suddenly, shoving the flowers in her hand. His smile was now dangerous, boarding on a sneer. "Be more careful in the future. You never know what might break if you don't watch your step."

He turned and walked away, ignoring the blabbering fake apologies of the woman behind him. Once he was a few corridors away and alone, he peaked inside his pocket, glaring at the item in his possession.

He should tell Lory about this. About whatever this was… but did he really have to? Nothing in the past few weeks had proved to be significant, and he'd been told to proceed without any changes in the plans.

The woman's voice echoed in his head, sneering at him for being so useless. How many times was he going to hear that word from others?

Chris shoved the item rather into his pocket, going back to his chamber to prepare for the stupid thrown together last minuet plan.

He was seriously going to murder Miroku once this was all over.

Thanks for reading!

Wow you guys, I was blown away by the comments and support from the last chapter. Thank you one and all! You have been a huge encouragement to me.

Spesseps, Kanae's character background is definitely highly inspired by Balsa.

OniPrincess: I'm honored that you would be willing to trust your story to me. I'd be willing to listen to your pitch, but I highly suggest getting an account and pming me the idea. The last thing you'd want is for someone else to steal the idea off the comments section. (Not that any of my fans would do such a thing. Cause you guys are perfect! Yes?) Yes I have read the extra chapters, and they're cute. Haha, You are not the first to encourage (in some cases threaten) me to never drop this story. We'll have to wait and see how the ending goes. You're assuming I don't have the heart to kill off one of the main characters! ;) I'll look forward to hearing from you again!

Guest: Will I be doing the tragic marker arc as well? Not sure. Parts of it maybe, but we will have to see. Not everything in the next arc is outlines, if any of it.

Sorry if I missed your question if you had one! Feel free to PM if you have any questions, rants etc. I love hearing everyone's opinions, thoughts, and strange dreams about this story.

Updates are every other Saturday! Any changes will be on my profile page.

-Blushweaver

My friends!... you are my friends right? My internet friends? My people that sometimes read what I write because blushweaver's here and she's pretty awesome? Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter!

-Im0ut0