Shuichi remained in the alleyway for some time, thinking about everything that had happened. He finally knew how he felt about Yuki…he loved him. The more he tried to talk himself out of it, the more it became a reality to him. The very small practical part of his brain was screaming at him that he had just met Yuki and it wasn't reasonable or possible to feel so strongly for him. But he did.

It wasn't just Yuki's looks. Yes, he was absolutely amazing, but there was something more to Shuichi. It wasn't just the kiss either. Something about Yuki drew Shuichi in. And now Shuichi had ruined everything by running away. It was his fault that Yuki had been arrested, and his friend Ryuichi with him. Shuichi felt horrible. The note from Tohma didn't help. It read:

Shuichi –

I've taken the liberty of ordering the arrest of your newfound friend. I'll also have you know that you are expected to return to the palace immediately or I'll have to take even more drastic measures. Think of this as your entire fault, because it is.

P.S. Don't expect to see him again. If you attempt to, I'll have to tell your stepmother and I don't think anyone within fifty miles wants that to happen.

Tohma, the Royal Vizier

Of course Shuichi expected to see Yuki again; he had to rescue him. It had been his fault in the first place that Yuki got arrested. And besides, he was in Yuki's debt. Yuki had not only saved him from the guard but also had given him a place to stay for the night.

Shuichi had a plan; he was going to save Yuki and live in the city. Hopefully with Yuki, but Shuichi wasn't going to count on it. Yuki seemed pretty antisocial. But Shuichi had decided how he felt and he had to act quickly in case something bad happened. Hopefully Yuki was fine…but Tohma could have done anything. With his new plan in mind, Shuichi set off at a quick pace for the palace.

"What, no witty comments this time street rat?" asked one of the guards escorting Yuki. "You're usually full of them."

Yuki gave the guard no response, even though thoughts were flying through his head and giving him a headache powerful enough to kill. He couldn't believe that Shuichi was royalty, let alone the prince. Everyone knew about the prince; he was the only son of the dead Sultan and the Sultana had been trying desperately to marry him off for the last year.

Most had never seen the prince because the Sultana never let him leave the protective walls of the palace. Supposedly the prince was as cruel as the Sultana, but Yuki knew this to be an absolute falsity. The prince he knew was an idiot and Yuki feared for the continuation of the royal line.

But his feelings for Shuichi had over gone a dramatic change. He had started out as a liability and had turned into a piece of meat. And then some feelings had evolved, but Shuichi had lied to him and then failed to save him. Yuki was convinced that he should give up on Shuichi, that his anger would only bring the boy harm, but something wouldn't let him. And that just made Yuki even angrier. So of course he couldn't have the fun of antagonizing the guards. He was trying to make his own mind take a breather and stop plotting the murder of a certain pink haired youth.

"Well this is certainly a first. Hey, captain! He's actually being quiet for once." Said the guard that had been speaking to Yuki.

"I'm a little busy…" muttered Tatsuha under his breath. He had been attempting a conversation with Ryuichi since they had left the alley.

"Oh…right." Said the guard, catching what Tatsuha had been up to. He quickly returned his attention to provoking the prisoner. He usually proved to be fun. But then again, the captain making odd attempts at romancing the other prisoner was quite amusing as well.

"So…how long have you been a thief?"

"Kuma doesn't like you." Said Ryuichi with seriousness clouding his eyes.

"Umm…sorry?" said Tatsuha tentatively, not at all happy that Ryuichi's rabbit and best friend was not on his good side.

"It's alright! Kuma-chan forgives you!" said Ryuichi happily while he gave Tatsuha his best smile.

"How about I untie you? Then we Kuma-chan and I can be friends." Posed Tatsuha slyly. He had no intention of becoming friends with Kuma.

"Yay!" squealed Ryuichi excitedly. He had never been to the palace before.

"You there. Take this one to the dungeons. Tohma hasn't released a sentencing yet. And make sure he doesn't get away this time." Said Tatsuha to his other guards while he grabbed Ryuichi's arm and led him into the palace towards the guard's wing.

"Yes, sir." Answered the one of the guards. He had been there the first time they had arrested Yuki, the only time that the guards had gotten him within five feet of a cell. But Yuki had somehow managed to escape quite easily and calmly walked out of the palace without so much as a backwards glance. The guards were making sure that that didn't happen again.

Yuki didn't make a sound all the way to the dungeon though. He was too busy thinking and plotting his revenge against the guards. He couldn't get the prince off of his mind. Part of him still didn't believe it, but the guards' reaction to the boy was a clear-cut sign. And on top of all of that, Yuki didn't appreciate being lied to and tricked by anyone, let alone someone as stupid as Shuichi had appeared. But his feelings were continuing to evolve, making Yuki angrier still. He didn't want to care for anyone, let alone someone he could never have.

The guards wasted no time in making sure that Yuki was securely locked up. His arms were chained, and that chain was attached to the dungeon wall. The chains were thicker than usual, and Yuki himself was convinced that he wouldn't be getting out of this on his own. Looking around the dungeon, he noticed that Ryuichi and Kumagoro hadn't been brought in.

"Odd…how did he escape if I couldn't…?" pondered Yuki quietly after the guards had left. "Maybe he's still around…"

Yuki stopped talking after that as the dungeon was extremely cold and he didn't want to waste energy speaking. He very soon lapsed into a dreamless sleep. He wasn't cut out for dungeons.

Ryuichi was having the time of his life. Not only was the palace more amazing than he had ever dreamed, but also he had found someone to play games with; Tatsuha. So far they had played a round or two of hide and go seek plus a lively game of tag and duck, duck, goose. Two hours after his arrival Ryuichi was still going strong. But Tatsuha was passed out on the floor. He hadn't counted on Ryuichi having so much energy.

"Hey, Ryuichi…let's play a different game…" said Tatsuha with an exasperated tone.

"Yay! Another game, another game! Game, game, game!" said Ryuichi energetically while he bounced over to Tatsuha.

"Do you ever run out of energy?" asked Tatsuha while he attempted to stand up.

"Nope!" answered Ryuichi as he ran into Tatsuha at full speed, knocking both of them onto the bed. "What game, huh? What game?"

"Ohhh…" groaned Tatsuha. He was sick of being tackled. But then he realized where he was and who was sitting on him. It was all he could do not to pass out from sheer happiness.

Ryuichi didn't give another response; he just continued to stare at Tatsuha with a wide-eyed expression. He loved games.

"Here's the game…" said Tatsuha, getting ready to explain the rules. "Ah, never mind. I'll just show you." With that, he leaned up towards Ryuichi and kissed him on the lips.

After Tatsuha stopped, Ryuichi stared at him and then returned the kiss.

"TAG! You're it!" said Ryuichi as he ran out of the room. Obviously he had assumed the new game was a slight variation of tag. And then he wondered if Yuki would want to play. "Wait…where is Yuki?"

Ryuichi then set out to find Yuki so that he could play the game. Tatsuha followed close behind, eager to expand on his new game.

Shuichi reached the palace twenty minutes after the guards did. He was currently still on the warpath and was hunting for Tohma. He had a bone to pick with him.

"TOHMA!" screamed Shuichi to the empty palace while he stomped through it. "GET YOUR FEATHERED ASS OUT HERE!"

Tohma had been waiting for such an order, and came out from the pillar that he was hiding behind.

"Yes, prince?" asked Tohma politely, trying not to anger Shuichi anymore than he already was.

"Where is he?" asked Shuichi as he crossed his arms.

"Where's who?" asked Tohma innocently. Caspian snickered from his hiding place in the boa.

"Don't play dumb with me! You left me a note and everything, you idiot!" said Shuichi dangerously.

"Oh…that one. If you had listened to my note, you wouldn't be asking…" said Tohma thoughtfully, enjoying the rare anger that Shuichi was exhibiting.

"I don't care! I just want to see him! You don't understand, I…I…" said Shuichi with tears coming to his eyes.

"Stop. You're too late. And it's still your fault." Said Tohma with a serious voice. He was under obligation to make Shuichi's life horrible anyway, so this opportunity to guilt trip him was perfect.

"What do you mean too late?" asked Shuichi worriedly.

"I've already had his sentence carried out."

"He wasn't charged with anything!" cried Shuichi.

"You should learn more about someone before moving in with them." Answered Tohma, getting ready to gauge Shuichi's reaction.

"I didn't move in with him! And I know plenty!" answered Shuichi indignantly. "Now tell me where he is!"

"No, you don't know anything. He's on the top of the most wanted list, he's been a thief for six years, and he's a notorious womanizer. You don't know anything and you don't need to know where he is, or was."

"Was…?" asked Shuichi.

"Under the charges of thievery and kidnapping royalty, Yuki Eiri was sentenced to death. The charges were carried out immediately." Said Tohma with more than a hint of glee.

"No!" gasped Shuichi as he clapped a hand over his mouth and slowly started backing away. "You…you…didn't…"

"Oh but I did. Remember this next time you go sneaking off on your own. Just be glad I didn't tell Mika; you'd be dead too. Have a nice day then." Answered Tohma as he walked back over towards the little used broom closet that he and Caspian called home. "If you have a problem, don't bother taking it up with anyone."

Shuichi stood in the room, shocked. He couldn't believe that Tohma had had Yuki killed. Nor could he believe the things that Tohma had said about Yuki. But then again, Tohma was right. Shuichi didn't know anything about Yuki, except that he had caused his death. Shuichi felt terrible, and the nagging feeling surrounding his heart didn't help matters at all.

Then the tears came. He ran out of the palace and into the welcome trunk of Cinda. He stayed with her for an hour at least, crying his eyes out. And then suspicion started poking him in the subconscious. What if Tohma was lying? What if Yuki was just in the dungeon? Denial was his new favorite word. He set off at a quick pace, hoping to find Yuki unharmed and alive.

As he snuck through the palace, Shuichi was suddenly aware of voices echoing down the hallway. And one sounded familiarly like Tatsuha's. The other was dripping with energy and bouncing off of all the walls in the palace. Shuichi quickly ducked behind a plant to avoid being seen.

"I think Yuki wants to play too!" said Ryuichi energetically as he bounced down the hallway.

This takes place right after Tohma and Caspian have a nice little one-hour nap to celebrate their impending victory.

"Alright Caspian…we need to get our costume ready for this." Said Tohma as he casually stuck his head out of the lair to check the hallway to make sure that Shuichi had disappeared. "Let's go. The coast is clear."

"And why do we need costumes brilliant one?" posed Caspian irritably. He had been denied his daily bath and was cranky.

"So that we can't be identified by the prisoner…" hissed Tohma under his breath as the duo crept out from their infamous hiding spot.

"Whatever. At least you got the prisoner. I don't think I've ever seen one of your plans flow so smoothly. I'm almost proud." Said Caspian with sarcasm. "But where are we going to get the costumes?"

"From the prince of course."

"Are you insane Tohma?! We don't want him to know what we're up to you dolt!" screamed an enraged Caspian. Stupidity in his vicinity is not permitted.

"Of course I'm not. The prince is probably with that elephant. We'll just slide into his room and still a costume…he has plenty."

Five minutes later the two found themselves outside of Shuichi's room.

"We need to find something that won't leave too much of an impression…" said Tohma quietly to Caspian. "We don't want to leave a memory…"

"Good luck with that notion…" answered Caspian as he eyed Shuichi's closet. So far he had seen a dog suit, a sumo outfit, a suitcase with holes for the head and arms, and a giant banana suit. "It looks like a freak show exploded in here."

"I think the big yellow one should work…"

"Are you crazy Tohma!? It's a giant banana!" shrieked Caspian.

"Would you just shut up? I'm wearing this one. You can hide inside the peel." Hissed Tohma while he watched the door for any signs of movement.

The stupidity of his owner was just too much for Caspian to stomach so he decided to keep quiet and let everything be for once. And besides, a giant banana was definitely the easiest choice out of that wack job closet. After Tohma had put on the costume and Caspian had joined him, the two quickly set off for the dungeons to meet the sapphire.

The dungeon was guarded by one man. He wasn't especially bright, and Tohma didn't have any trouble sneaking past him, even wearing the ridiculous costume that he had stolen from Shuichi's closet. The duo descended into the inner sanctum of the dungeon and was almost frozen to the bone. Caspian was the only one there that could complain of the heat, seeing as he was nestled under Tohma's hat.

It didn't take Tohma long to find the sapphire. The man was sprawled in his cell and appeared to be unconscious from the cold. Tohma carefully approached him and gently nudged him with his foot it an attempt to wake him up. It took Tohma a good five minutes to rouse the prisoner. Caspian was beginning to get quite impatient and had already been silenced by Tohma three times.

"Ah, finally you're awake. Your name is Yuki Eiri, no?" asked Tohma professionally.

Yuki couldn't believe his eyes. He was being asked him name by a giant banana. His only thought of explanation was that he must have delirium from the cold.

"What the hell?" asked Yuki drowsily as he tried to stand up. The chains painfully held him back.

"If you want out of here, listen to what I have to say." Said Tohma in a mystical voice while he swayed back and forth in his ridiculous banana suit.

In response Yuki only stared. And raised one eyebrow in a skeptical expression.

"No really. I can get us out of here."

"And why would you want to do that? People don't do something for nothing." Replied Yuki, doubting the banana's words.

"Because I need you."

Again, Yuki gave no response. He was convinced, however, that he must be delirious. It appeared to him that he was being hit on by a banana.

"Are you still listening? I need your help." Said Tohma, trying to smooth things out.

"I don't offer my help willingly."

"Then I guess you'll rot here."

"Guess I will." Replied Yuki stubbornly.

"You little…" whispered Tohma. He hadn't counted on him not agreeing. "Fine, fine…please come with me? Please, please, please?"

"No. Especially not after that." Said Yuki as he sighed. Now the banana was begging him. It was not a good night for Yuki.

"There'll be treasure…"

"Alright, I'm listening. What kind of treasure, banana?"

"Umm…interesting treasure…" replied Tohma while he thought back to the yo-yo and the vinegar bottle that had assaulted him.

"I'm in, I suppose. Anything's better than staying here." Said Yuki. Tohma unlocked his chains with a special key that only Tohma could have laid hands on. He's a wily piece of fruit he is.

"Then follow me…I know a secret way out…" said Tohma cleverly as he slunk to the main door.

"I think you're going the wrong way…the guard will see you…" muttered Yuki in frustration. This fruit was not smart.

"No, no. You'll see." Answered Tohma. With that he approached the guard and started a conversation. The guard only stared in amazement.

"Ummm…uh…." Stammered the shocked guard. He didn't remember seeing a banana brought in.

"So our arrangement is good then?" asked Tohma.

"I don't make arrangements with pieces of fruit…"

"It's me you idiot! I'm Tohma!" hissed Tohma quietly so that Yuki couldn't hear him.

"Then what's your bird's name?"

"My name is Caspian you insolent twit!" said Caspian from underneath Tohma's peel.

"Sorry, my liege…"

"Whatever. Just move." Answered Tohma. He was eager to get moving.

The trio left the dungeon and headed for the palace gates. It had been around two hours since Yuki's arrest.

Ryuichi scrambled down the dungeon steps as quickly as possible. He had left the guard standing bewildered in his stead. To his dismay, Yuki was gone. Ryuichi ran around the dungeon searching, but to no avail. His friend had disappeared. He hugged Kuma and ran back to Tatsuha with tears in his deep, blue eyes.

After watching Tatsuha and the energetic one disappear back down the hallway, Shuichi walked over to the dungeon. The guard bowed low and allowed him to enter. Shuichi went right to the high security cells. But no Yuki. He too fruitlessly searched the dungeon but could not find his midnight rescuer. With a calm resolve that he didn't know he had, he walked out of the dungeon and started running towards the palace gates. He couldn't stay here any longer. Especially after Yuki's death.

I was just checking the chapters out, and dude. I screwed up. I replaced Chapter 5 with the content from Chapter 6. Last night, I hadn't found the root of the problem and instead uploaded a gigantic Chapter 4. …I have to stop trying to fix problems at 3 AM. Bad plan. Now that I have things all squared away, there should indeed be a proper Chapter 4, 5, and 6. Whew. At least I hope so…

-Amaya