What's Done In The Dark: The King's Concubine

Dear Diary 6

An hour later, they were both up and refreshed. After breakfast, Darien took Serena's hand and left the house. Together with Raino by their side and a picnic basket, they walked deeper into the forest. She marveled at all the big, long and strong trees that made up the forest.

"How many of the trees can you recognize?" Darien asked.

"Mmm…Oak, Cypress, Acacia, Amur lilac…that's about all." Serena answered.

"You have a good eye." Darien praised. They continue on as Darien named the trees along the way until they reached a very old cypress tree in the middle of the woods. It was so old that most of its branches had tilted downwards to create a cocoon at the bottom of the tree. Surrounding the tree were little colorful flowers and a few inches away was a small pond. Serena felt she had stepped into a painting! So beautiful was the scene that she stood shocked and took in the fresh scent of nature.

"Wow." She whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.

"You like it?"

"Like it!? I LOVE IT!!" She yelled, running around the tree with her hands open wide like a bird. Darien watched her with proud eyes. Seeing how much fun she was having, the Lion decided to join in on the chase around the tree. He ran after Serena, who giggled and raced him around the tree twice, though the Lion had run around it nearly ten times.

Darien laughed at their antics, his eyes glowing with warmth and adoration. He was amazed that Raino took to Serena so well. The only girl that Raino had liked before was Hotaru; that was when they were younger. But after she betrayed Darien, it was as if she had betrayed the Lion too. It wanted to attack her. At the time, he became so violent that it was unanimously decided that he should be killed. But Darien had not allowed it, purchasing this house and forest as his own; he brought the Lion there to stay. Raino had returned to his normal gentle self but it had been made very clear that it and Hotaru were never to be in the same place. It was the only reason Hotaru herself had dared not step a foot in the forest house, she was frightened. Darien had also brought other women and the Lion had tried to have them for breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on the time of day. It had never liked any of the women Darien had brought to the forest, except Serena.

Why her? What made Serena different from those women? True she had refused him totally, seemed to posses a very strong determination and a very kind nature but several of the girls he had brought seemed to posses some sort of those traits. So what made Serena really stand out? So much so that the Lion which normally is angered when other female step into the forest house to be so good natured? Was there something he wasn't seeing but Raino could? One thing he knew for sure was that Serena was special and he had accidentally fallen in love with her. There was a time he had thought he knew love, but compared to the confusing feelings in his heart he felt for the blond girl, that long ago time paled in comparison.

He blinked when he saw a quick hand flash across his face. He looked up to find Serena and Raino staring at him. Though Serena's face was caressed with concern, Raino looked more like he was smirking or wanted to laugh. There were times the Lion knew better his feelings than he did himself.

"Is something wrong?" Serena asked.

"Ah sorry, just lost in thoughts." He said with a shrug. He then took Serena's hand and used his other hand to open a way for them to enter the cocoon of the tree.

"Wow, it's clean. I thought there would be thorns and branches hanging in here." Serena said.

"There was, I just wanted a place I could hide when needed so I cleaned it up."

"Hide from what?"

"Reality." He answered shortly. From the corner of her eyes, Serena stared at him. There was too much to this king to make a full assessment. He had deep secrets burdening his heart, too many thoughts in his head and his actions were complicated.

He must use this place a lot. She thought to herself.

"May I have the picnic basket?" he asked Serena. She blinked; she had forgotten she was holding it. Handing it to him, her initial reaction was confused. They had just eaten breakfast, so why eat a picnic now? But when he took out a blanket and began spreading it on the floor, she understood. They had to sit somewhere after all. Grabbing the other hand, she helped him straighten it up. But before either of them could sit, Raino walked up and sat in the middle and put on a toothed grin.

"Raino!" Darien yelled unhappily. Serena giggled madly.

"Oh well, he has chosen a place best for him, we might as well make due with what we have." Serena said after she had calmed her giggling.

"But it's not fair! I wanted to sit by you."

"Think of it this way, we are connected through the Lion." Serena tried to cheer while Raino nodded his head in agreement to her statement. Darien growled at the lion and glared, though Serena was sure the lion was smirking at Darien.

"Oh never mind!" Darien said and sat at Raino's left side, Serena sat on the opposite. They sat quietly for a while, Serena lost in thoughts and Darien lost in thoughts of her. She unconsciously started to massage the Lion's mane who growled in his throat in pleasure at her gentle caressing.

What are you thinking? Darien wondered as he tilted his face to watch her concentrated one. He studied her face, when lost in thought, her eyes were darker and her brow creased in attention. Her lips were puckered up and her face showed so many different expressions that he was marveled. Now he was more curious than before.

"Ahem!" he said which caught Serena's attention. She stopped her massaging of the Lion to turn a confuse eyes on him. Raino turned his eyes on Darien to give him a nasty look but Darien just smiled innocently at the both of them.

"What's wrong?" Serena asked and he sighed.

"I want to know your thoughts." He said simply.

"My thoughts?"

"Yes. What were you thinking about just now?" Serena looked at him for a minute and turned back to stare at the pond; unconsciously she began to massage Raino again. Though the Lion made sure to keep half his senses awake to hear her thoughts too. He knew she would tell what she was thinking, she just needed time to put it into words but Darien who didn't understand her silence was going in sane. He began to construct ways in his head to make her talk but all his ways had to deal with make out sessions. Truth be told, he was dying to hold her and kiss her, but he had promised to be good and would keep the promise.

"My thoughts huh." She said and he sighed in relief.

"Yes, your thoughts."

"If you were in my case what will you think about?" She asked. Darien thought for a minute.

"I suppose the logical thinking will have to be about the situation I am in." Darien answered. She nodded.

"Yes. I am thinking of you, the queen, myself, the future, and what this all mean and how I ended up in this situation to begin with. I am not blind Darien; no one in this kingdom will ever accept us together. You are a married man and not just any married man, a king! There would be a chance for us if you were a normal man, but you are the king of our entire kingdom! And I am just a maid who amounts to nothing. If this ever gets out, you will loose the respect of the people, it will cause so much trouble for you. I can't begin to understand the full extend of what you will have to face but one thing I do know is that I will not be able to do anything to help you." she confessed, her eyes still focus on the pond though now her sapphire eyes were liquid blue sea.

Darien thought of her words, he knew everything she had just said was the truth. But he was impressed that not once had she mentioned how it will also affect her. How people would despise and hate her, the shame and horror it would bring to her. She was worried about him!

"And what about Hotaru? How will she feel? As the queen, the only one she can fall back to and be herself is with her husband, but if her husband is out romancing someone else, who does she have to depend on?" her voice grew more hysteria with her every word. Darien looked at her worriedly. Suddenly she stood up and stared at him, misery smearing her pretty face.

"Darien I can't do it!" she said, her eyes wide with panic. Darien was alarmed. He knew where she was getting at and he would be damn if he let her get there.

"Serena calm down."

"Darien, please be serious! This, me, you, us…there shouldn't be a us! This is all wrong!" she backed away from Darien's outstretched hands and he sighed. She had too strong a moral for him to win against her with petty assurance that he would protect her. Raino got up and walked out of the cocoon tree, they needed their privacy but he wouldn't be too far away.

Darien walked up to Serena and backed her against the tree. Now his own panic turned into blistering anger!

"So what? So what if the whole world hates us or that Hotaru is hurt?! What about me?! Why are you caring what others will feel and think and completely ignoring what I feel and think?!"

"Darien It's not that I don't care wh.."

"You don't care!" he snapped off her sentence. She looked at him with alarm. His eyes were Icy blue. It was no longer Darien she was talking to but the king who always wanted his way.

"You don't care a thing about me! What you care about is how these people who could give a rat's ass about you will think? What is the matter with you!? Do you think I worked this hard for us to get this far only to have you turn your back on me? No way sweetheart!" he spit the words at her. "We are in this together until the very end! You will not leave me! Not you, even if I have to lock you up in a room forever, I will make sure you never even consider leaving my side!"

"Darien!..." he caught her off by smacking his lips on hers. Hungrily he devoured her lips, completely forgetting about his promise. He picked her and dropped her on the rugged ground. she winced at the pain that action brought but so lost in his anger, he didn't realize he had hurt her. With no common sense, he bent on her, his lips back on hers as his torso laid over hers. His hand traveled her body, grasping and stroking with hard and merciless fingers. He massaged her breasts harshly as her body twisted in pain. She needed to come up for air but he wasn't letting her.

Over and over she tried to push him of but it had been proven time and again that he was much stronger than her. Painful tears trailed down her cheeks. The cool moisture touched him and the spell his anger had on him broke. He blinked and looked down into her scared tearful eyes.

"Sh**!" he groaned and quickly rouse off of her. She brought her hand up to cover her face and balled herself up. Darien watched her with remorse and regret.

"Serena…I…I am so sorry…" he apologized seeing how traumatize she was. He had made a promise to not attack her and he had. He sat up and pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his head on it. She wasn't moving and hadn't said a word.

He felt like crying. He didn't want her to leave him, not like how his first love had left him. Looking at her frail and shaking body, he just wanted to pick her up and hold her until she was all better. But he knew, she wouldn't be coming around him ever again. Was he wrong to want to keep her by his side? Should he let her go? Back to that house and into the hands of that filthy bastard Adams?

No, there had to be a way to save the situation! There just had to be! Back then he had been unable to do anything, his hands had been tied and although the conditions were similar, this situation was much different! Serena was more special to him than SHE could ever be. What Serena needed and deserved was an explanation, something to let her know that he was serious about her and needed her too much to let her go.

"Before I left our Kingdom for the US to study at Harvard, I used to love Hotaru. Hotaru, my brother, my sister and I all grew up together. I had always had a crush on Hotaru, she was a sweet girl with a very open personality. Back then, I was the least favorite child of both my parents but my mother did treat me fairly as my siblings. My father on the other hand didn't even want to see my face. I have no idea why I was the black sheep of the family all I knew was that the person there for me most was Hotaru. I loved her so much that when she said yes when I asked her out, I nearly died in happiness. We went out for 6 months and I was getting ready to pop the question. But then one day as I sat in my room, she came to see me."

Flashback

A knock came at the door.

"Darien, open up. It's me." the minute he heard her voice, his heart roused up in happiness. He didn't stop to wonder why she was coming to his room so late in the evening; it was improper and in implied a lot of things. But so infatuated with her as he was, he did not pay attention to the improper conducts. He went and opened the door and she feel into his arms. He hugged her tightly.

"Oh Darien, I've missed you so much." She confessed when they parted from their hug. He chuckled.

"But we were jut together a few hours ago."

"I know but I can't help craving for you." she said and sat on his bed. He sat beside her.

"So then, what can I do for you my craving princess." she looked at him and took his hands and held it close against her cheeks.

"Darien, we've been together for 6 months. We will always be together. I just want to have your everything and be your everything." She said and roused up. Moving closer to him, she crossed one leg over his on the bed and her other leg stood in between his. She placed both her had at his cheeks and from her heightened position looked down at him. It was then he noticed that the top part of her breasts was left exposed, and he fought hard to still his arousing body.

"Darien, please make me yours completely. Body, mind and soul, make me yours alone." After she said that, she kissed him, rolling her tongue over his. Automatically his hand came around her waist as the kiss deepened. They both tumbled on the bed. He pulled away to stare at her.

"Are you sure?" he asked, wanting to do it and the same time wanting to wait until they were married.

"Please make love to me." after she said that, her eyes so pure in desire, all his lingering uncertainties washed away. Soon after their bodies molded in passion and possession.

End of Flashback.

"If only I had known the betrayal that single act would bring, I would have saved myself some dignity. The next morning, I woke up to find her gone from my bed. I didn't think much of it then, she probably had to get away before a maid found us out. I dressed and headed for Breakfast. Breakfast had to be eaten with the entire royal family so it was something I never quite enjoyed. But when I appeared there, Diamond wasn't there. Where is big brother? I remember asking. Father didn't even pay attention to me, Rei looked at me with pain filled eyes and mother grinned up at me. For the first time my mother was smiling at me and my sister was staring at me with painful eyes? When had the world turned over!? 'Diamond is with his fiancé.' Mother answered. I blinked, when had Diamond become engaged?! And why was I now hearing about it? 'Fiancé?' I asked in surprise. 'Yes, your brother is to marry Lady Hotaru. Do you not think they make a remarkable couple? The heir of the kingdom marrying the daughter of the richest man second to the crown's daughter! A match made in heaven!' Mother said enthusiastically. I felt my stomach was made of acid. I grabbed a seat and sat down quickly so I wouldn't fall flat on the ground. There had to be some sort of mistake! Hotaru was with me! I decided to blindly ignore all evidence pointing that Hotaru and Diamond were engaged so I could ask her in person. They were gone all day touring and accepting peoples well wishes, by the time they came back it was dinner time. I was walking down the hall trying to sneak into Hotaru's room but I didn't need to."

Flashback

A familiar sound came from the hall that led to the kitchen. Rushing there, he saw Hotaru dressed beautifully in a purple dress that showed off all her womanly curves. For a minute he forgot the problem at hand and just stared at her, images of their passionate night burning like a candle in a room of darkness. When he made up his mind, he heard what was being discussed. Hotaru was talking to a lady with long brownish green hair, magenta eyes and very graceful proportions. Darien had seen the lady many times; her name was Lady Trista Maiu. She was Hotaru's governess.

"I hope what you are doing doesn't come back to haunt you." Trista was saying.

"Oh come on Trista, Darien is just not in my league."

"Even so, you are just going to hurt him. What if he makes claims in regards to your relationship?"

"That is where I played my cards well. No one other than himself, Diamond and I know about our relationship so there will be no proof for him to claim we had anything going." Listening to the gloat in her voice, he remembered the many times he had wanted to go public with their relationship and she had talked him out of it. He gripped the side of the building as his legs buckled.

"What I don't understand is if it was Diamond you wanted all along why did you bother to date Darien?" Trista asked.

"Because, if I hadn't Diamond wouldn't have paid any attention to me." she answered.

"Pardon?" she sighed.

"Diamond was always with the big breasted and gorgeous super models, no matter how good I look the truth is I don't compare to them in looks. Now Diamond has a history of taking things Darien is interested in. If he knew Darien and I were dating, he would take interest in me. So I made sure he knew we were dating and like I predicted, I am going to be his wife in a week!"

"But Darien loves you. What are you going to tell him?" Trista asked. Darien didn't wait to hear her reply, he up and ran to his room. From the shadows, Raino watched everything.

End of Flashback

"In my room I didn't cry, I didn't want her to see me break down because of her. As I expected, she came to my room with excuses that she had no choice and that her family pushed her into the marriage with my brother. And that she loved me more and so on. Even knowing she was lying, I still slept with her that night and every night until the night before her marriage. I knew it was wrong, I should not be with her but I couldn't help it. Inwardly I cried and prayed for a way to break free of her hold on me. The night before her marriage, she came to my room to have her normal dose of me but Raino was there and he snapped at her. I had to restrain him with all my strength as he tried to bite and lash at her. She ran out of my room and I cried. At the wedding, Raino once again tried to take a snap at her, it was as if all the fury and pain I held in me and couldn't express, he was doing it all for me knowing very well it could cost him his life. In the end, I bought this house and forest, brought Raino and a few servants here and left for the US." Darien took a break from his story. Still Serena did not move or respond and there was no indication that she was listening. Still he wanted to get the things of his chest, he needed to tell her everything so whether she was listening or not, he would go on and bare his heart out to her. Even if telling her wouldn't do any good, he wanted her to see why he was the way he was.

"I studied four years at Harvard. I didn't even come for my father's funeral and you know, my mom with frail health fell into coma soon after my father died. But when my brother died and the kingdom was left with a baby heir, I was brought back here. As tradition dictated, I was to take Hotaru as my wife in place of my brother. But do you know the sad part of this? I was still in love with her. Pathetic I know but I was still attracted to her. I decided then that I would put everything behind me and start anew with her. I know my reign is only until Helios is old enough to take the throne, so when he takes the throne, what happens to me? Used and discarded over and over again. Half a year into our married life, I discovered a secret so shocking and so disgusting that I could no longer see Hotaru as the girl I fell in love with. That secret managed to break a little of the hold she had on me. The child, Helios was not my brother's child. He was a product of an affair between Hotaru and our high priest. But of course the only ones who know this are the two of them, Trista and myself. It was then that I decided I would have nothing to do with her ever again. Legally I was married to her but our marriage would only be legally. In an over night, I created a barrier between the two of us, how could I expose her? That child had no right to the throne and I was just going to sit and watch her take the throne of what rightfully belonged to me or to any child I would have with her?! I didn't and still don't know what to do. I wanted to confront her about it but I was afraid she would break my defenses and win me back to herself but then I met you." here he stopped to take a breath.

"I met you and as if by magic, the chain that I thought connected me to her turned into a rope. I realized then that it had always just been a rope so I untied the rope. Yet the connection between you is a chain, one that cannot be untied or cut, not even death can loosen it. Serena, I love you. What I felt for Hotaru was nothing more than infatuation, lust to hold on to someone I believed cared for me since I didn't get much care and love from my family. So scared to loose the only person who cared for me that I allowed her to us me and get away with it. I know I lust for your body, for your touch and skin on mine but Serena my heart yearns for you in a way that I have never felt before. I know what we have or could have is real, please don't leave me. There is so much for us to explore together, so many possibilities. And I know we have millions of obstacles in our way but we can overcome all of it, so please, give me a chance to show you a world you've never been before." He got up and scooted to her side. Softly he ran his fingers over her exposed skin and gently he bent and kissed her cheeks.

"Love me Serena, please don't leave me." he whispered and got up. He walked out from the cocoon tree and realized that it was in the mid afternoons. He decided to take a walk, from the shadows, he saw Raino and signaled him to watch over Serena.

When he was gone, Raino walked slowly back into the cocooned tree and licked Serena's cheek. He used his paw to pat her back as her body shook in sobs. Finally she removed her hand from her face and turned tearful face on Raino. The big Lion licked her face and she threw her hands around it, burying her face into his fur.

"He's been hurting so much." She said when she could find her voice. She had paid absolute attention to everything Darien had said and though visibly she had not reacted, she had been crying for him. She now understood him better; she understood why he took things by force. He believed if not by force there would be nothing he could take because everything he had asked for was denied him. And he didn't ask for much, just someone to love and care for him.

She had been too wrapped up about images and what people would think of her, she had ignored his feelings. But after hearing his story, she knew it was too late. She was in love with him and because he had asked her not to leave, she couldn't do so.

"Raino, is it ok if I stayed with him? Will I be making the right choice?" she asked the lion. The two of them just stared into each others eyes, her crystalline blue against his golden cat eyes. The blue sky that housed the golden sun. She knew if anything happened, when the people found out about her and Darien's relationship, the one creature in existence they could absolutely count on was Raino, he was loyal to the end.

"How about we prepare a surprise for him?" she asked with a smile and the lion roared in approval. Giggling, she picked up the picnic basket and let the rug stay on the ground and left the forest, Raino leading her safely back to the house.

Raino returned back to the tree to wait for his master who reappeared thirty minutes later. He sighed in disappointment when he found Serena gone. Was she gone completely? Had she grabbed her bag, taken a carriage and left back to her little town? If that was what she wanted, he couldn't stop her anymore. He sat under the tree for hours until the sun vanished on the horizon. Finally he got up and left for his house, dreading going to his room now that she was not there. He postponed going in there by having lunch in the dinning room alone. From the side Raino just rolled his eyes, he knew what Darien was doing. Finally, when there was no longer any excuse to ignore the room, he picked him self up sluggishly and managed through the halls to his room. As always, whenever the sun set, the candles in his room were lit. Not look at where he was going; he stepped on a piece of paper. It was just a blank piece of paper folded in two. He opened it and found a message.

I am a girl who likes to dream

My dreams are always too big, too wild

But meeting you, being loved by you was not one of them

I couldn't see such a thing happening

So when it did happen, I was scared and tried to run a way

He blinked at the odd letter. If she wanted to say goodbye, couldn't she get straight to the point? He looked up around the room and found two other pieces of paper. One by the door and one on the table stand. He picked both of them up and read them in other by the numbers at the bottom.

Every direction I tried to run I was blocked

Every road I took led back to you

Fear gripped me so strongly

But then you said what I thought never to hear my whole life

Those three letter words gave me hope

But I realized I was hurting you and myself

The second paper said. He unfolded the third paper.

I am sorry for hurting you

I am sorry for trying to run away

For not trying to know you better

For only thinking of myself

For being a coward

He read and his eyes bleed tears. He walked to the door that opened to his room and as he tried to open it, another paper fell down. He picked it up.

I know only the love for a brother

Only the love for a friend

But I do not know the love you seek of me

Because I have never loved like that.

But if the love you seek is the one I feel

This feeling of hopelessness without you

This feeling of need for you

This feeling of completion with you

This feeling to be together forever

Then I want you to know that I Love you

So right it feels to tell you this.

I LOVE YOU.

The tears at his eyes finally fell. He looked up and sitting on his bed was none other than Serena. The blanket was pooled around her waist but her upper body was left bare. Her breasts, big and beautiful stood on her chest; her eyes just stared at his own. Slowly he walked to her as if any quick move would make her run off. When he reached her side, he just stood there staring at her and fighting to keep his hands to himself.

She stood up on the bed, putting her hands on his shoulders for balance and the pool of blanket fell away, leaving her standing nude before him. Using one hand, she cupped his cheek and stared into his eyes for a minute.

"Darien." She breathed, a shudder ripped through his body at the breathy way she called his name. There was uncertainty in her actions but he saw the determination as well.

"Darien, I don't know what the future have in store for us. Neither can I say I have the strength to fight along side you to the very end. But I know in this minute that I do love you, I want to protect you, and I want to be with you. I want to be the one you can trust, the one you can depend on. I lack so many things but in you I found more than I thought possible. You are a strong king but a gentle man, the king who takes things by force is the king that belongs to the people of the kingdom but the man who loves me, who has been hurt countless times, who suffer in silence and only asks to be love is the man I am in love with. I want to be with you not for your crown, not for the precious stones of the earth. All that parishes with time but love last eternity. You said it yourself, we have something real between us, there are a lot of setbacks but as you said, we can overcome it all if we are together. Until the day come that I can officially be your wife, will you take me, Serenity Angelina Cyrus as your mistress?" She said. Though her voice as steady, her eyes were shaky. Uncertain, ready for rejection.

Darien stared at her as if she had grown three heads and a tail behind his back.

She wants to be with me! She wants to be with me! She wants to be with me! Were the only coherent thoughts in his head.

The longer he took in answering, the more scared she became. It wasn't until she moved her hand off his cheek that he realized that she was withdrawing from him. He stopped her hand from leaving his cheek. He looked up at her with a watery smile. He was so relieved that he wanted to cry out of happiness.

"I…" his voice was thick with emotion. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. "In my heart, you are already my wife. But I promise you, soon not only will my heart acknowledge that truth but the whole world will too. Thank you." he said and drew her into his arms. They clung to each other, finally at ease that their feelings were laid on the table and able to share it with each other.

But then Darien groaned and moved aside.

"Are you just trying to punish me or something?" he asked her with suspicious eyes.

"Huh?"

"Just how much control do you think I have with you completely naked before me!?" She understood what he meant and giggled.

"Well maybe I don't want you to control yourself." She admitted and closed her eyes tightly. He stared at her, was he hearing right. He took her hands.

"Is this what you really want." She nodded with her eyes closed.

"Open your eyes and answer truthfully." She opened one eye to stare at him and he chuckled. The other eye opened too.

"Yes, this is what I want." She answered after a big sigh.

"You won't regret this right?"

"No."

"And you will be here tomorrow morning right?"

"For as long as you need me I will be here."

"That's all I wanted to hear." He said and kissed her. As they kissed, his clothes came off and they were on the bed before long. This being her first time, Serena studied Darien's movements, repeating to him what he did to her. Of course knowing this was her first time with a man, Darien went slowly so that she wouldn't be frightened and eased her into the ecstasy that came after the initial pain had evaporated.

In the forest, Raino let out a loud roar, his master had finally found his other half. And while Darien and Serena did not know that they were soul mates, the Lion knew and he would protect what the two had for as long as he lived.

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Thank you so much for those who reviewed and waited for so long for an update.

I just recently got a job that allows me to travel all over the US....because of that the times i will have to update stories is very stretched cause with my job, i am only home for a day and a half and when i am home, i am very busy but i will try to update my other stories as quickly as possible.

I also like to apologize if i cannot reply to reviews like i used to do....with the limited time i have, if i spend it on replying to reviews, i will not have time for an update. so if i don't reply to reviews...please forgive me for it though i would still love to read all your reviews^^

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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!^^