Sorry for the delay in updating guys. My cousins were here, so I didn't have much time to update :S BUT, they left yesterday, so now I'll have MUCH more time to update :) Enjoy the chapter, and, again, sorry for the delay. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 12

Rui's POV

I opened my eyes to see an unmoving hand on my forehead. I looked to my left only to see that the hand on my forehead belonged to none other than Lu Ten. I stared at him, surprised. I hadn't even heard him enter my room, let alone my house. I kept on staring at him, and, slowly, a serene smile spread over my face. Just looking at him made me happy and feel all warm and fussy inside. After a few more minutes, he shivered. Shock filled my mind, before worry took its place. I gently moved his hand from my face and I slowly got out of bed. I walked over to the other side of the bed and grabbed my blanket off of the bed and draped it over the Prince, lovingly. He stirred, but didn't awaken. I smiled at his innocence.

Even though he had yelled at me earlier, I wasn't angry with him. I realized that he was right, and that I was wrong. I shouldn't have decided something so stupid. He was right; if I went through with what I said I would go through with, I would be destroying at least 3 lives. I would be destroying his because he would be separated from me, despite the fact that he loved me. I would destroy his wife because she would never fully receive the love she was entitled to receive from her husband. I would also be ruining my own because I would be broken and incomplete my whole life. Come to think of it, I would probably be destroying General Iroh's life as well, because his life is in his son's happiness.

Therefore, I decided to apologize to the Prince as soon as woke up. I stared at the Prince for another minute before smiling to myself, giving him a kiss on the forehead, and then walking out of the room.

I went into the kitchen to begin breakfast, because I knew that the Prince would probably be hungry when he woke up, and, besides, I was hungry anyway! So, I made some pancake batter before taking out the pan, making the necessary preparations on the pan and on the stove, and placing the pan on the stove to heat. After another 5 minutes, I began making the actual pancakes.

I was on the fourth pancake when Lu Ten walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and yawning. It was such a funny sight to see that I began giggling. I think that's when the Prince finally realized that he wasn't in the palace, because he had jumped as if he had gotten a shock as soon as he had heard me giggle, making me laugh even harder.

He looked around, disconcerted. His eyes kept flitting around for the source of the sound, until they rested on me. It took him a few seconds to actually realize who was standing before him. His eyes widened when they rested on me and he suddenly gasped. He ran straight over to me and fell at my feet. I looked at him, my eyebrow arched. He just sat there for a minute before actually saying something, and when he finally spoke, he spoke in gasps, because he was sobbing.

"I'm – so – s-sorry f-f-fo-for what I s-s-s-said," he sobbed, harder than ever. I couldn't move; I was frozen in shock.

"What?" I asked him, my mind blank.

"I was horrid to you, I shouldn't have yelled, I – " but before the Prince could finish his sentence, I had kneeled down so I was levelled with him, put a finger on his lips, and had whispered, "shhh…. It's ok, Lu Ten. I'm not mad – and – you were right, so I should be the one apologizing. So therefore, I am sorry," I finished, sadness spread over my face.

As soon as I had called Lu Ten by his name for the first time ever, his eyes had widened. I had nearly smiled in amusement. Nearly.

After I had finished my apology, Lu Ten had put his hand on my hand that was on his lips, and had gently removed it from his face, and put it in my lap. He then, slowly, took my face in his hands and forced me to look at him.

"I love you."

I smiled.

"I know."

And with that I leaned in and kissed him.