Seven: Procession – La Promessa di Sfuggire alla Morte-

A/N: It's time Nami goes berserk…and fluffy

"…and then we'll take this route here and at this point, the crowd will surely be overwhelming. Squad Three and Five will do a barricade from here to here." Rufus said, tapping the whiteboard in front of us with a thin metal stick. Almost immediately after breakfast, the family and the men in black were ushered to the meeting room (I had no impression that the rest house had a meeting room) and the surprise meeting (for me) started. I was seated at my father's right, who sat at the principal seat. On my right, however, was Darren. In front of me was Uncle Georg and to his left was Aunt Elisa. Phillip was happily playing with his toy boat and he kept on running around the room.

Tsuchiura decided to stand behind by the door, together with the men in black. I frowned at him and told him to sit beside Darren but he stubbornly refused. "I'm fine here." He said and a small smile crept on his face. I grabbed his hand and urged him to come to the table. "Come on! Don't be a jerk now. Sit with us." I insisted. He chuckled low and pulled away his hand. "You should go back to the table. Look, they're about to start." He said and the lights dimmed. I grumbled at him and sat back.

The agenda of the meeting was the security and route of the 'little' procession to announce my upcoming introduction to the world. There was a projector at the back and images of streets, landmarks, cars, corners, and even notorious people were being shown.

"Will it be fine if I join you in your car?" Darren whispered over to me. I smiled at him and nodded. "Sure thing, Darren. I'd love to." I said and he grinned back. I was able to glance at Tsuchiura and I caught him glaring at…me? What now?

"Will there be more, Your Grace?" Rufus now asked my father who leaned back on his chair, tapping on his chin as he eyed the whiteboard that now held an image of the route map. Father shook his head solemnly at him. "You've done a good job, Rufus. I see no problem." He replied and stood. The rest of the nobles stood as well. "Make the preparations faster. We don't want the Union to butt in at our business." He added and walked away. The other nobles bowed as he left and most of the men in black quickly followed him. Soon, the room was empty save for me, Tsuchiura, a few henchmen and Rufus were left inside. Rufus was still whispering more commands and pointers. Tsuchiura, on the other hand, was still leaning by the wall, staring in a far off distance.

I tapped him and stood beside him, imitating his stance. He growled low and shifted. "What's wrong? You're awfully quiet." I whispered. He paused quite some time before sighing. "Nothing. I just don't feel like making your life a living hell." He said low and chuckled. I rolled my eyes and hit him with a slight punch. "Knights aren't supposed to treat their masters like that." I said and looked up at him. His jaw tightened a bit and he cocked his head towards me. "Ah, so how should I treat you, then, Lady Nami?" he asked with his lips curling up. I felt a slight skipping of my heart with what he did.

"Uh…well, what about escorting me as I get a tour of the house?" I offered and he considered it for a moment. "Alright. As you wish, milady." He said and did a bow. I laughed at him and the other souls at the room looked at us. Rufus nodded and smiled at us when I indicated that we were going out.

We first decided to start from the lobby then to the right wing then to left wing. Attendants and butlers kept on running here and there. Not one soul seemed to be placid.

As we were walking, I noticed that a figure was at the other end of the hall. I squinted and leaned forward. "Can you see who that person is?" I asked as I tugged at his arm. He looked at the same direction and grunted. "It's your cousin. Darren, I think." He replied. Almost at the same time, Darren's figure came running towards us. "Darren!" I said when he joined us. He smiled at me and nodded at Tsuchiura. "What are you doing here?" I asked him when he went to my other side. "Ah, my father's room is in this wing. He asked me to get something and I was about to leave when I saw you two." He answered and we continued the tour. "What about you, Nami? What brings you here?" he asked this time. "We're touring the whole house. We hadn't had the chance to do it yesterday, right, Tsuchiura?" I beckoned to the man at my right. Tsuchiura nodded and decided to fall back a few steps. "Will it be fine if I join you in your tour? I might be able to show you lots of hidden passages." He offered with a wink. "Sure. That's going to be great. What do you say-"

"I just remembered that I have something to do." He interjected and waved. "Huh? What are you going to do? I thought that we'll tour together?" I asked back. He chuckled and placed his hands in his pockets. "I have to call home and tell them that I'm fine. Sorry." He said and bowed slightly. "Cant that wait?" I pleaded him just before he turned. "I'd really like to join you but I think it's time I call my family now. They are dead worried, for sure. Besides, I ought to give an explanation to the school." He said and turned, prohibiting me to ask further. "Do you know the way back, Mr. Tsuchiura?" Darren called to the retreating figure. He looked back and smiled. "Yeah. I'm having the hang of the place. Thanks!" he called and jogged away.

"Too bad he cant come with us. Anyway, shall we?" Darren held out his hand to me and I accepted it with a small smile. "I'm in your hands, Darren." I responded. "It's actually Sir Darren. I was made a knight by Elizabeth a few years ago." I felt my mouth turn to an O. "No kidding?" I asked.

"Does this handsome face look like it's lying?" he said and we ended to a laugh. "But to answer your question, yes. I used to live in England and I should say that I've been giving great services to the Queen and her subjects."

"What sort of services are those?" I asked. He shrugged and looked down. "I'm actually the tutor of the Queen's nephews in swords." He said a shy smile appeared on his face. "That's awesome! I'd like to see you practice!" I excitedly said. "Sure. Just tell me when and I'll show you." He bid for us turn back and do the other wing.

The rest of the day made me devoid of free time. After our lunch, I was only made to rest for a good fifteen minutes before Rufus took me to my room where Aunt Elisa and Aunt Veronika were waiting with a man that I haven't seen from before. "Ah, she's lovely." One man said. Rufus nodded and left the room. "What's happening here?" I asked when two maids came to me and began to remove my knitted blazer. "Your dresses have arrived. This is Mr. Maris. He has been making dresses for our family ever since. Let's see what you will wear for tomorrow and for the ball." Aunt Veronika replied and my two aunts took the lead of bringing out the dresses.

The one that I had chosen for the next day was a simple light purple dress that fell shortly above my knees and had dark blue lining on the hem. It had cute pleats and I chose a silver high heel shoes to don my feet. Aunt Veronika gave me a cream wide brimmed hat as a gift.

As for the ball dress…

A knock came on the door and instantly, Tsuchiura's green head peeked in. Our eyes met quickly and he gaped. "Ah, the young man! What was his name again?" Aunt Elisa whispered to Aunt Veronika.

"Tsuchiura!" I said and ran to him, forgetting that I was still wearing the dress for tomorrow, as part of the dress rehearsals. He looked at me from head to toe and fell back a step when I was near. "Uh…I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll just come in next time. Sorry." He quickly said and bowed to my two aunts who started giggling. "No, it's fine, young man. We're almost done. How do you like her?" Aunt Elisa asked. I felt a flush run to my cheeks.

"I think she's beautiful in this outfit. She looks dashing." He replied coolly, a soft smile gracing his face. Aunt Veronika nodded and fanned herself. "Thank you for your opinion. And this one? Nami would be wearing this for the ball." She said and raised the dress laid on the bed. Tsuchiura's face lighted up a bit and nodded. "Fantastic choice, ma'am." He responded. Aunt Elisa smiled and stood. "Wonderful. Well, Nami, it's time we take our leave. Mr. Maris, please come with us for a moment." She said and the trio walked out.

"W-What the hell were you saying to them? Fantastic? Dashing? Since when did you use those words?" I bombarded him. He raised his hands and laughed. "Why, I'm just telling the truth! You look great. I like it." He said and my heart did another round of crazy dancing. "S-Shut it." I grumbled and walked to the bed. "Anyway, how was your phone call?" I asked as I carefully slid the dress to its cover. "They were okay. Looks like Mr. Lehrer had already called them from Day One." He answered and I heard his trudges on the carpet. "Hino says she misses you now." He said softly. "Hmm? Did she have the impression that we were together?" I asked, quite surprised that I was included in their conversation. "Ah, that. She said that there's a rumor. It's funny; they think that we ran off since we disappeared at the same day." He added with a small chuckle. " But she misses you more, right?" a playful smile came from me. "Hah. Funny." He grunted.

"Did you tell them anything about me?" I asked quietly when I was finished. He shook his head and looked out the window. "I didn't mention anything about you. I just told them that I needed to accompany a relative here and will be back soon, though I'm not sure when." He responded, drumming his fingers on the sill. I walked to him with my head bowed and took his hand. "Will you sit beside me on the parade tomorrow?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Hmm? What about Darren?" he asked. "How did you know—Aha! You're eavesdropping!"

He rolled his eyes and leaned at the corner of the window. "It was a guess. He seems to be quite the protective cousin. I used my head for that." He said and grinned. "Well, given that excuse, I still want you to be beside me tomorrow." I insisted. He looked quizzically at me and pulled back his hand. He crossed his arms and sat on the sill and rocked to and fro.

"Hey! Don't sit there!" I told him and pulled him away but he resisted with a chuckle and leaned out to the open. "Tsuchiura Ryoutarou! For Christ's sake, you're not an acrobat!" I shrieked and he laughed back.

"You're such a worrywart. I wont fall fro-"

Suddenly, he flapped his hands forward and a look of panic surged from his face. His legs went straight and for a moment he looked like he was falling out to the open. "Ryou!" I cried and pulled him back to the room.

His body began to fly in, and as I stepped back abruptly, I lost my footing and fell. The sudden pull also made him to lose his own senses and he fell forward towards me. A thud emerged from the floor and the vibration seeped through a small circumference with us on the center. Panting breaths embraced each other as our wide eyes met. "N-Na—"

I didn't wait for him to finish. I leaned forward and hugged him, my arms curling on to his neck. "You stupid and no-use jerk!" I said and a rally of tears flowed from my eyes. My heart was pounding hard because in a flash, I thought that I was going to lose him. I burned the image of his panicked face from my head and buried my face to his chest. "O-Oi! I c-cant breathe!" he gagged as he kneeled to raise ourselves. I didn't want to let go of him. I want to be very much assured of the fact that he is still here, that he is alive and that he is in my arms.

"Sorry…"

"Shut the hell up!" I shouted at him but didn't let go of my grip.

Eventually, I felt his hand slide up to hold me too. I can feel a slight shaking in his body. "I thought…I thought that I was going to fall down. I thought that I would die." He whispered, his mouth inches away from my ears. I shivered at the feeling of his breath on my ears but nonetheless, I didn't let him go, even if the pounding of my heart has subsided. "Don't say that! Don't say that you will die or that you will go away. Don't say it, please." I hissed. I felt that his body moved so that he was sitting now, his left leg folded up and I was on the space that it made, leaning on his folded up leg. "I felt scared because if I did fall, I wont be able to fulfill my promise." He answered. He kept on stroking my head, while his other arm snaked to contain the wholeness of my body. How in the world was he ever to do that, I do not know.

"If you die…who will protect me? If you go away, I'll be lonely. I'll cry. You don't want that, right? You have to stay with me. No matter what. And that's an order." I said and finally let go of him, looking at him in the eye to prove that I was serious.

He nodded and lifted my chin. "I promise." He said and leaned in to kiss my forehead.