The Laws Of Love

Chapter 3

"Let me see you for who you believe you are, not who your people dictate you are. And I'll do the same."

"You need a hobby, Takumi." A raven-haired girl tapped the head of a blonde boy sat at one of the bakery tables with a pencil. It had been two weeks since their heart-to-heart on the top of the hill and they had grown closer as friends from that point forward. So close, in fact, that the titles of prince and commoner no longer suited them. Together they were just Misaki and Takumi, two humans and nothing more. Takumi chuckled as she sat across from him and began writing down her order of ingredients to give to the local dairy farmer.

"This'll do just fine, thanks." He swept the paper out from underneath her hand when she paused to think, pressing the pencil to her lips. "You know," He murmured, scanning through the ingredients. "I could easily get you some of these from the palace." Misaki pulled the paper back from his grasp and scrawled down ten litres of milk before looking up at him.

"We've been through this, Takumi. Suzu and I get along just fine marketing with the other villagers." He frowned and she set her hand atop his. "Honestly," She squeezed his hand gently. "We're fine."

"If you say so," He looked up at the clock. "I should probably be off. Walk me to the hill?"

"Don't I always?" They left the shop and started towards the hill, swinging their hands between themselves. "You know, this is really nice." Misaki murmured softly as they reached the bottom of the hill. "I'll see you friday then?"

"Of course-,"

"So this is what you've been doing, Takumi, whilst Patricia lies in bed? How despicable. Socializing with a commoner!" Both heads turned to look up at the figure standing on top of the hill. Takumi gripped Misaki's hand tighter, turned around and dragged her back to the bakery.

"Takumi?" Misaki asked worriedly as he opened the glass door and pulled her through. "Takumi, just stop and talk to me!" He stopped abruptly and turned to face her.

"Let me stay here tonight."

"Wha-? We don't have any spare beds- no, that's not the point! Who was that man?" He let go of her hand and slumped into a seat.

"My father." He answered glumly.

"And you're just going to run away from your family?" She kneeled down in front of him and tilted his chin so that he looked at her. "Trust me, you're not that person, Takumi. You don't run from your problems."

"But the prince does." Misaki glanced down at her lap.

"Have you ever thought that maybe the prince and you are the same person? There's two sides to every story, y'know? Look, I may know this side of you, but the prince is buried in this side of you too." He watched her quietly. "His facade wasn't born from nothing, Takumi. And you know it. Look, go and face your father, and if everything goes horribly... you can cut all ties with me-,"

"No way in hell am I letting you go." He said sternly. "Look, if facing my father is what you want me to do, then I'll do it... but, Misaki, promise me that you'll be here waiting for me if it goes badly." Misaki laughed softly and feathered her thumb across his cheek.

"Where else am I meant to go, you idiot?" It fell very silent within the shop and slowly Takumi began to lean forward, and Misaki did the same until-

"Sis? Can you come and sew my top? It got caught in the door frame again." Suzuna's voice echoed down the stairs and Misaki pulled away very suddenly, her cheeks bright red.

"Go. I'll wait for you here," Misaki whispered. "Coming, Suzu!" She shouted towards the stairs in reply. She led him to the door and they stared at each other for a moment.

"Thank you, Misaki." He leaned down and kissed her cheek before disappearing out of the shop, the glass door swinging shut behind him. She watched him until he vanished from sight over the hill, breathed for a moment, and then went upstairs to help Suzuna sew her shirt.

~o~

When Takumi reached the palace, it was to an empty courtyard. He found his way to the second floor and climbed the stairs, making his way to his mother's bed chambers, stopping short just before her open door.

"Patricia, he was hanging around with a commoner-!"

"I know." Was Patricia's simply reply.

"What, so I suppose he's told you then, has he?"

"Not that she was a commoner, no. But, you see, dear, a mother knows her son. Takumi's a good boy, Yu, but he's not ready to be a king."

"Well he doesn't have a choice! It's in his blood, Patricia. He should just be glad he wasn't born a commoner-,"

"Don't be so sure of that, father. They are ten times the honorable man you think you are. Now, if you'd be so kind, I wish to speak to mother by herself." Yu leapt to his feet.

"Don't you be so ungrateful to your father, and don't you dare compare those scum-!"

"Those scum!? You don't even know these people and yet you discriminate against them all the same! I would've much prefered to be born a commoner than your son!"

"Then you're no son of mine-!

"Stop it, both of you!" Patricia yelled, coughing into her sleeve. "Yu, don't you dare retaliate. Just go and cool yourself off. Takumi, come and sit with me." Yu stormed out of the room and Takumi glanced at his mother, ashamed.

"I shouldn't have said that..."

"He was asking for it... but, no, you shouldn't have." He took a seat on the bed beside his mother and watched her.

"I was thinking... would you be okay if I stayed with her for a few days? Just to give father some space." Patricia grabbed her son's hand and squeezed it.

"Of course I'll be okay you silly lovestruck boy."

"You won't despise me if I leave you here with him?"

"Don't be absurd, I could never despise you, Takumi. As for Yu, well, I married him for a reason, didn't I?"

"But I feel bad... like I'm leaving you here for my own selfish reasons."

"Love is the most selfish thing of all, Takumi. To think that you're not with her every second of every day shows me that I am loved by you as much as she is."

"Misaki. Her name is Misaki."

"What a pretty name. Would this Misaki of yours be brave enough to venture into our palace so that I can put a face to a name?" Takumi laughed, staring at his hands.

"She'd be brave enough to storm in here and knock some sense into father, that girl. In fact, the only reason I'm here is because she knocked some sense into me." Patricia laughed a joyous laugh.

"Do bring her along sometime soon, won't you?"

"I'll try. So you're sure-?"

"Takumi, I'm sure. Go, my boy, go." He kissed her cheek.

"I love you, mother."

"I love you too, dear."

~o~

Misaki was bringing in the last table when he arrived, shoulder bag slung over his body. She looked up at his arrival.

"I take it it didn't go too well then?"

"Besides from my father disowning me? No, it went perfectly fine." She sighed and took his bag from him.

"Don't be sour towards me. Whatever you said probably hurt him just as much."

"How do you know I said anything at all?"

"He wouldn't disown you for standing silent, now would he?" He grumbled something under his breath as she led him upstairs. "We don't exactly have a spare bed and I didn't feel right kicking Suzuna out of her room for a few nights... do you have any problem sharing with me? I can sleep with just one blanket so the sheets are yours if you want them."

"Isn't that too intimate for you?"

"Absolutely... but I'm willing to do it for you... just- stay in here while I go get Suzuna." She opened the door to a small, plain room with a double bed, a set of drawers and a desk, and left to one of the two doors left in the hall. He sat down on the bed as Misaki began to talk. "Suzu? Come'ere. It's common courtesy to introduce you to our guest." A moment later she appeared in the doorway and a younger looking Misaki with pigtails came into view. "Suzu, this is Takumi. Takumi, this is my little sister, Suzuna." Suzuna blinked at him.

"You're the prince." She said bluntly.

"Oh, well, it's nice to meet you too." He replied, still grumpy with his father.

"Play nice, Takumi." Misaki reprimanded lightly and Suzuna peered between the two of them.

"Of all people, the prince had to go for my sister." She shook her head and trailed back to her room.

"Suzu!" Misaki gasped, flustered.

"She's an intersting character." Takumi murmured, playing with the white duvet. Misaki closed her door and sighed, sitting down beside him. She poked at his cheek.

"Stop being so mopy."

"I'm not mopy, I'm just frustrated."

"With your father?"

"With myself."

"Why?"

"Because I made a fool of myself in front of my mother and I wasn't strong enough to talk calmly with my father. I didn't even give him a chance, I just fired from the get go."

"That's called regret, not frustration. Like I said from day one, I'm not worth it, y'know. Go back to your family, Takumi." He caught her hand and held it against his heart.

"Do you feel that?" She nodded slowly, her eyes wide. "Exactly. It's beating because you're worth everything, Misaki. Why can't you see that?" She laughed lightly.

"I haven't been looking." He brought their joined hands up to cup her cheek and rested his head against hers.

"You don't need to look far. Your reflected in my eyes, y'know? In more ways than just the literal meaning."

"Takumi..." He leaned closer.

"You can stop me if you want to. I'll give you three seconds. One," Her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed pink. "Two," He inched closer so that his lips were right above hers. "One." And he kissed her, slowly and luxuriously. And she kissed him back.

Sorry that it took a few days to get this and chapter 2 up. I've been on holiday for the past two days and I had no internet so, clearly, I couldn't upload anything. But I'm back now so expect more and get excited! And, as always, please R&R, it means the world to me!

Xx SweetsPrincess-Sama