Author's note:After being slightly disappointed with my latest chapter I decided to put all of my sweat and tears – well maybe I should say juice money and snack fund but sweat and tears sound way more dramatic – into this chapter. So this time I'm going to give more character to my dashing and enigmatic Prince and my little princess and I'll also show you the ins and outs of being a princess who is in love with her brother but will definitely not end up with him or anything like that because I dislike incest and also since I pair her up with my favorite character in Shugo Chara who by chance was meant to be her perfect match despite their age gap that I decided to just keep anyway - *deep breath* (okay, I dare you to say all of that in one breath!) Well, that's enough dilly dallying, here's the third chapter! ^.^
P.S. Also, thanks so much to those who reviewed chapter two. I love you guys! *big hug* you people are the ones who gave me inspiration and drive to write this chapter so this one is for you guys, special service! :) I also noticed a lot of typos in the previous chapter so forgive me if I don't have enough time to edit it out. If I make some more errors in this chapter, let it pass, ne? I'm sure I'll notice them when I read through all the chapters again. ^.^
Title: A Tale of Timeless Love
Disclaimer: I'm too tired to make a disclaimer, let me sleep for a bit.
*dream sequence*
Utau: You need to finish the disclaimer now! I won't permit you to allow yourself the privilege of saying you own me!
Lostruth: God, must you be so uptight all the time, hime-chan?
Kukai: You should just do it you know, she never stops until she gets what she wants.
Lostruth: then you do the disclaimer and just let me sleep in peace. I still need to cough out your story so you should make yourself useful.
Kukai: but that's – hey! You're already knocked out?
Utau: No choice then, do it Kukai. She sleeps like the dead after writing the whole night.
Kukai: (sigh) Fine. I should get extra screen time for this, you know. So anyway, you readers – even though this is Lostruth's supposed dream sequence we'll just assume it yours too. Lostruth does NOT own us in any way nor does she gain anything from writing a fanfic about us because if she did I suppose she'd be a lot richer than she is now.
-OoO-
Chapter 3 The Prince, the Princess and the Pauper
Amu stared at the small square parchment she held tightly in her hand. She slowly raised it to her face and reread the words that were practically burned to the back of her mind. For the whole hour that had passed since they had returned to the Manor, she sat quietly in her room and had unfolded and refolded that small piece of paper again and again.
Meet me in the garden behind the Manor at midnight.
Those were the words that were written in a very elegant script on the minute piece of scroll that was handed to her surreptitiously by the green-haired aide. She could easily guess as to who had written it and as she sat in the spacious room she was assigned to, she contemplated whether to go or not. The choice to go was heavier when she weighed both choices, the merits of going overshadowed the demerits of meeting with him.
Amu sighed. She felt the reluctance to meet him grow stronger and stronger. She wondered what had happened to the eagerness to meet with the First Prince just a short while ago – ah, that's right. She had already met him – that's what made all her zeal dissipate.
Prince Tsukiyomi Ikuto.
The real son of the previous Emperor Tsukiyomi Aruto, who was also Princess's Utau's older brother. Though Princess Utau had taken on the name Hoshina from Emperor Kazuomi – it was decided upon that the First Prince would keep his original family name, though there was rumor that the Prince himself did not want to change his family name.
But who knew he would turn out to be such a person – not that he was disappointing in any way but… she had expected him to be somewhat more refined given that he was the heir to the throne. The first time they met she hardly felt a Princely aura coming off him, she had even suspected him of being a servant of the castle. In that mistake, she could not forgive herself. To actually mistake the First Prince as a mere servant was practically an insult to the Royal Family.
She didn't want to meet him but if she didn't, it would be disrespectful to him – also, he was going to return her hair pin. He had promised her, even going as far as to negotiate with her using hara-kiri and she really needed her pin back. There was no other way about it, she would have to meet him whether she wanted to or not.
She slowly glanced at through the small gap in the doors that she had purposely made. She saw that the moon was high up and concluded that midnight would arrive soon. Just as she was about to stand up, she heard the door to the Princess's room slide open discreetly. Amu heard the sound of muffled footsteps going down the hall, when the footsteps had disappeared into the distance she stood up and snuck a peek at the Hall. She caught a glimpsed of the Princess's blond mane as she passed a corner.
Amu couldn't help but wonder where she would go at this time of night – well, it wasn't like she was any different anyway. She decided to proceed to the garden stealthily and keep an eye out for the Princess. When she stepped out, she felt a bad premonition. She shrugged it off and made her way to the garden, she was never really one to believe premonitions and fortunes.
When she had arrived a little past midnight she saw the silhouette of a young man standing casually amongst all the plants and trees in the garden. The moon was high overhead and she could barely make out his face in the shadow of the tree he was leaning against. She took a deep breath, she was sure that it was him. She readied her nerves to face him when a girl's voice suddenly cried out.
"Ikuto!"
Amu knew that familiar voice and watched as she rushed towards him from the shadows of a building right across the one she was currently at. It was Princess Utau – and she was still in her sleeping robes. From where she was standing she was sure no one could see her, but she could see both of them perfectly.
She watched in silence as Utau sprinted towards him and wrapped her arms around his torso. It was a strange thought but as she looked at the two of them just then – they almost looked like lovers meeting secretly. Maybe the idea had popped out because of the way the Princess had said his name – it was the way you said the name of someone you cared deeply about.
"Utau!" Ikuto's deep voice exclaimed in a tone of surprise. In the stillness of the night Amu could hear his voice very clearly even though she was quite a distance from the two of them.
"You…haven't shown yourself to me in days! Are you – are you avoiding me, Ikuto?" Utau asked with her head buried in his chest. Ikuto did not return the gesture, his hands stayed firmly at his sides. Maybe it was her imagination but it seemed like he wanted to make her let go of him.
"I'm not." He replied remotely.
"Then why don't you ever come to see me?" she asked, her voice slightly muffled. She sounded close to tears. Amu did not expect this tone to come from someone like the Princess. Where had that headstrong girl she had met gone to?
He didn't seem to want to give a reply to that and remained silent.
"You hate me!" she accused irately.
"I don't," was all he said in reply.
"Then why?" she asked persistently as she pulled away from him. She bowed her head and repeated the question. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Because we are siblings." He replied shortly without any emotion whatsoever. It was different from the tone he had used when he they had just met. The tone he was using at the moment – was extremely cold. It was a tone that was devoid of any emotion, she had not expected him to be able to use such a harsh tone.
"I don't care about that! The only person I need is Ikuto and nobody else! I told you that I love you and you act like this. I don't care about being Princess or having the best voice in the country. What I want is to have Ikuto by my side always telling me that he cares about me and loves me," she said indignantly as her head snapped up. It was then that Amu could see angry tears streaming down Utau's face, her lips pursed together in an attempt to hold them back. Ikuto gave an inaudible sigh.
"Utau." He repeated her name in the same emotionless voice. "I do not see you that way. You are my sister and you will never be anything more than that. I can stay by your side as your brother but if you want me to love you in that way – I simply cannot do it, it's not something possible for me to do even if you are my one and only sister." He replied in a brisk tone. The harshness of it looked like a dagger to Utau's chest.
Amu took a few seconds to let the content of the conversation sink in.
Princess Utau… was in love with the First Prince? Amu thought incredulously. She was in love with her own brother?
She knew this was something she was never supposed to overhear. Something of this sort was not meant to be learnt by the public, even by someone like herself. She knew she should have left but she realized that she was rooted to the spot, her legs refusing to move when she ordered them to.
"Until you can face me without any of the feelings you have now, I cannot show my face to you." He replied resolutely. Utau bowed her head to hide her face.
"My feelings won't change…" she muttered under her breath and she raised her head to glare at Ikuto "I…I hate you, Ikuto!" she cried out, angrily wiping away her tears with the sleeve of her robe. She stormed off towards the way she came from. When she had disappeared completely, he gave a heavy sigh. He looked weary under the moonlight and Amu saw the melancholy in his eyes.
"Isn't it about time you came out from there, oh little sly pink haired kitten?" he asked as his ran through a hand through his hair and turned his head at her exact position. His gaze was unflinching as he looked back at her. Her heart skipped a beat then.
"Come here," He said tiredly. She could hear the exhaustion in his voice.
Amu hesitantly took a step forward into the moonlight. When she did, he gave a similar smile to the one he had shown her before. He waited for her to reach him by the tree before giving a mischievous grin and he suddenly jerked her sideways. She almost yelped in surprise but thought better of it, instead she shut her eyes and readied for the impact. But there was no pain whatsoever – when she opened her eyes she was seated on a patch of grass with her back against the wide trunk of the ash tree.
Something soft suddenly fell against her shoulder and when she turned to see what it was she gasped in surprise.
"Prince!" she exclaimed.
"Lend me your shoulder for a bit, Amu. I'm too tired to stand much longer," He said idly, easing himself against her and the tree. Amu unconsciously blushed at how he easily called her by her first name; she had only ever heard Ami and her foster parents call her by her name so familiarly.
"But Prince, couldn't you simply return to your room to rest?" she suggested, quite uncomfortable being in such proximity to him. It may have been acceptable before – but that was when she hadn't known that he was a Prince.
"There's no need. I'm perfectly comfortable using your shoulder," He said simply and she could guess the smile he had on his face just then. The two of them stayed in silence for a few minutes before Ikuto had decided to break it.
"How much did you hear?" he asked out of the blue, Amu knew he was referring to his conversation with Princess Utau.
"Well… everything actually," She said truthfully. She couldn't lie about something of this sort, especially when it was someone concerned who asked her.
"Were you surprised?" Amu could hear the curiosity in her voice.
"Yes." She admitted. He chuckled at that.
"I suppose people would be surprised if they ever find out," He said as if he was merely thinking aloud.
"They won't." she replied determinedly.
"Hmm?"
"They won't be surprised if don't ever find out about it. I don't intend on telling anyone about such a private matter."
"I know that. You don't seem like the type who likes to gossip. If I thought you were, I would've sent you away immediately – that, and I would never have bothered to meet with you," He said offhandedly like it was of no consequence if the people were to know about it.
"I'm grateful you think so highly of me. But are you sure you should trust me so easily? I could use something like this against you," She said seriously. She was baffled as to how he could be so open with her when they had only met recently.
"Would you?" he asked pointedly.
"Well, no. I could not do something so horrid." She replied promptly.
"Then I'll keep you to your word," He said frankly without any hesitation at all.
"But what I'm saying, Prince, is that you shouldn't be so careless. Just because we are your servants does not mean we wouldn't have secret intentions you don't know about."
"Is that how it is with you? You don't trust people at all do you?"
"I suppose I am like that." She replied honestly. In a way, she truly was like that – ever the cynic. She didn't want to trust people so easily because the world wasn't such an innocent place; she had learned that the hard way when her home and her parents were burned into mere ashes.
"Do you always sound like that?" he asked.
"Like what?"
"You always sound so serious about everything. If I told you to jump off a cliff I'm pretty sure you would do it without any fuss," He said matter-of-factly.
"Truthfully, I would not have agreed to do it." She replied in all honesty. She was rarely this honest with anyone other than her sister. Somehow, she couldn't feel that she was in the presence of a Prince at all and she supposed that was why she let her guard down so easily.
"Really?" he asked with interest.
"Yes. I can do anything asked of me but that 'anything' is limited to things I'm sure would not lead to my inevitable death." She replied plainly.
"You're afraid of dying?"
"I simply do not want to leave my responsibilities so easily. I have a sister I have to take care of so I don't plan on leaving this world anytime soon." She replied steadfastly.
"I suppose that's why you're so serious." He concluded.
"I have to be, or rather, I made sure I was. Being the older sister, I have to be the resilient one between the two of us." she replied unwaveringly.
"I see," He said then added, "My perception of you was pretty accurate."
"Anyway, Your Highness –" she began stirring the topic to where it should have been.
"Call me Ikuto." He interrupted swiftly.
"I can't do that." She replied as quickly as he had interrupted her.
"Why not?"
"It's too disrespectful for a servant like me to call you so intimately." She answered firmly. Why was it that both Princes wanted to be called by their first name? She had assumed they would prefer to be called by their title. Amu was certain Utau didn't want to be called by her first name so easily.
"Then if I order you to do it, you'll do it whether or not you want to right?" he asked deliberately.
"Forgive me, Your Highness but I must ardently refuse to call you such. What would people think if they ever heard me call you like that?" she said trying to convince him as she did with the Second Prince.
"Then you can call me by my name when it's just the two of us." he interjected calmly.
"Will you not have it any other way?" she asked purposefully.
"I can be very stubborn when I want to be." He replied nonchalantly. She took it that he was used to getting what she wanted and she could only comply.
"I suppose it would be alright only in certain situations." She consented reluctantly. There was no use denying someone like him what he wanted.
"You know, I really dislike it when people call me 'Prince'," He said out of the blue – he said it so easily too, like he wasn't revealing something personal at all.
"Why so?" she could hear the curiosity in her tone.
"Because people only ever look at my title but never see me for who I really am." He replied indifferently. His tone was very close to the one he had used with Princess Utau, he sounded calm but irritated somehow. Did that mean that he disliked his status as Prince?
"Which is a heedless and trouble-making Prince who uses his title to do whatever he wants like say, forcing a person he just met to follow to his wishes without any concern to the said person's own wishes?" she said pointedly, trying to lighten up the mood. As much as possible, she wanted to keep him in a good mood.
"What's this? Did you by any chance use sarcasm?" he asked with amusement marked in his tone. She couldn't see his face but she knew he was smiling. She was glad she had succeeded at brightening his mood.
"I suppose I can be that sort of person when I want to be." She replied candidly. It was best to be as honest as possible when dealing with him and she was having trouble doing just that. She really wasn't used to being so open with anyone other Ami.
"You're so amusing." He commented.
"Are you teasing me, Prince?" she retorted with emphasis on his title.
"You said that on purpose. And no, I'm not teasing you. I was simply stating what was on my mind," He said effortlessly.
"I'm not used to people finding me 'amusing'." She commented as if she was simply thinking aloud. It was strange for her to be this honest with someone like him. She supposed that his open attitude was contagious and she made note to keep herself in check whenever he was with him.
"I expect you're used to people finding your hair 'amusing' am I right?" he asked cleverly.
"I hate to admit it but, yes. Anyway, Prince –" she began to change the topic again but once again he interrupted her.
"Ikuto."
"What?" she asked in confusion.
"My name." he replied.
"Yes, I'm aware that is your name," she said tentatively. Then she remembered what they had talked about just a few moments ago. He had probably seen realization dawn on her because he asked her, "Then say it. It's just the two of us right now isn't it?" he asked purposefully.
"Ah. Forgive me, I forgot." She apologized sincerely. She had completely lost track of the content of their conversation, it was probably because he kept opening new subjects any opportunity he had.
"Hopefully that won't be repetitive," He said casually.
"Then, I-Ikuto, about the hair pin –" she regretted the stutter when she said his name but decided to continue what she wanted to say. Unfortunately, it seemed like the Prince would never give her the chance to speak at all, because he chose to disrupt her once again. She resisted the urge to sigh in distress.
"Are you by any chance blushing at the moment?" he asked unexpectedly.
"Of course not! I don't like repeating myself. About the hair pin –" she tried to move the flow of the conversation one last time – the last time her patience could manage and it seemed the Prince had known what she wanted to talk about since her first attempt.
"If you give me something good, I'll give it to you," He said, cutting her off easily. She was sure he knew it was bad manners to interrupt someone when they were speaking but it seemed that he was doing it intentionally.
"But you said you would return it to me!" she burst out furiously – her patience finally at its limit.
"I changed my mind. Entertain me," he said lazily, oblivious to her extreme displeasure.
"That's not fair!" she retorted, trying to conceal the outrage in her tone but failing miserably.
"A master can have certain privileges with his servant, isn't that the policy of servants?" he asked pointedly. Her anger did not bother him in the least.
"I am Princess Utau's aide." She shot back resolutely. She would not be played like a fool. She detested it when people treated her like a child and it seemed like the Prince was just wasting her time for his own pleasure.
"You are Utau's servant, which makes you a servant of the Royal Family – thus you are my servant too." He stated simply in a matter of fact tone.
"You are cunning at twisting your words, Your Highness." She countered heatedly, not bothering to obscure the aggravation in her voice.
"Are you irritated?" he said inquisitively with a hint of amusement.
"More like exasperated." She replied curtly.
"That's good then," He said surprisingly. Amu felt her jaw drop in surprise.
"It's not good." She retorted when she got her voice back.
"Why so?" he seemed completely amused at that moment. She felt another wave of irritation at his untroubled disposition.
"Because I lose my proper etiquette if I lose my patience," She said as she tried to regain the composure she had lost. It was bad enough that she had lost her patience – but what made it worse was that she had lost it in the presence of Royalty.
"Then drop the etiquette. I don't need you to treat me like Royalty," He said straightforwardly.
"What you ask of me is extremely taxing on my part," She said seriously, setting her nerves back to neutral. She had gotten back most of her composure then and she could speak in a tone that was suitable when talking to someone of his rank.
"It shouldn't be. Isn't it supposed to be easier if you act naturally? Having to put on a facade all the time is tiring," He said knowingly. He must be forced to do it all the time, she concluded.
"True enough. I suppose if I refuse your wishes you would just order me to do it, would you not?" she asked pointedly.
"I see you've grasped a tiny bit of my character." He replied calmly. Her shoulder had begun to feel sore just then. They had been in that position for quite a while and she felt the urge to stretch her arm.
"Rather, you're showing me a little too much of your inner nature." She corrected.
"It can't be helped. Acting like a Royal Heir every second of the day is strenuous – I need someplace to loosen up my nerves," He said nonchalantly.
"I suppose that's my role now?"
"You're as intelligent as I expected." He mused aloud.
"There's no need for you to praise me. Anyway, it seems we've been sidetracked a little too much. As much as I dislike doing it, I must repeat myself for the third time; I need to have my pin back," She said firmly and swiftly, leaving no opening for him to interrupt her.
"Straight to the point, I see. Like I said before, you have to give me something good," He said teasingly.
"Do I necessarily have to give it to you now?"
"Not really."
"Then may I give it to you tomorrow?"
"How can I be so sure that you'll keep your word?" he asked in the same tone she had used before, she knew he had done in on purpose.
"If I won't be true to my word you're free to ask me anything." She replied firmly without any hesitation.
"Are you certain? Offering someone anything is a big promise," He said with emphasis on one word.
"Yes. You may take anything from me if I break my word," She said resolutely.
"Alright then, I'll give you your pin back," he said casually.
"Thank you." She replied gratefully.
"But you have to find it yourself." He added mischievously with a smile.
"Ikuto!" she cried out unconsciously.
"Oh. You actually said my name for once." He commented with mild surprise.
"That's not the point! I truly need that pin back," She said with a tinge of desperation in her voice. She would be in big trouble if Emperor Kazuomi would see her without it tomorrow. She did not want him to think she did not appreciate his gift.
"And I said I would give it back to you. I have it somewhere on my body right now; you can have it back when you find it," He said playfully, a teasing smile gracing his handsome features.
"You must enjoy teasing me, don't you?" she asked, exasperated with him once more.
"So you finally noticed," He said with a chuckle.
"You have no compassion for your servants at all do you? I can fully sympathize with the others who know of this side of you." She huffed.
"You still want your pin back, do you not?" She was suddenly jerked sideways and the next thing she knew she was looking up at the Prince's face. "Please be gentle, Amu." He purred and Amu flushed a bright red.
"Don't say something so indecent!" she said as she tried to stand up but she realized that his arm was like a metal bar, keeping her in that position.
"My, my. You're blushing so furiously." He smirked down at her, his eyes glittering impishly.
Amu covered her face with her sleeve and pleaded with him in a tone she had never used with anyone before.
"Please. Return my pin to me." she whispered loud enough for him to hear. Her tone had lost all its steel and Ikuto's eyes widened in surprise.
"It seems I went a tad too far," He said as he removed the arm he kept over her. She sat up slowly, her face still covered by her sleeve. She couldn't see his expression but she knew she didn't want him to see hers at the moment – she was far too embarrassed having to use a tone like that.
"Here."
She lowered her sleeve a bit and peeked at him. He was holding out her pin with one of his hands. He had moved away slightly and he looked a tad regretful. She reached out to take it but his other arm had tugged her at arm and had pulled her towards him again. In a moment, their faces were so close to each other that Amu could feel his warm breath against her face.
"I never knew you could make such an adorable face, Amu." He murmured teasingly into her hair as he placed her pin in her open hand. Amu felt her face heat up at his words. She pulled her hand out of his grip immediately.
"Excuse me. I have to return to my quarters now." She muttered swiftly as she stood up and practically ran back to her quarters. When she looked back she was relieved to see that he did not follow, not that she had expected him to anyway.
When she reached her room her heart was pounding in her chest erratically. It took her a few minutes to compose herself again and when she did, only then did she feel a wave of drowsiness hit her. She suddenly felt extremely tired. It seemed like talking to the Prince more tiring than she expected. At the thought of Ikuto she felt her face heat up again and she decided to expel him from her thoughts as much as possible.
She still had to think of something good to give him but she was too tired to think and before she knew it… she had already fallen asleep – the image of the blue-haired Prince the last thing on her mind.
-OoO-
"Miss Sanjo, might I be permitted to ask where we headed to?" Amu inquired to Yukari Sanjo as the three of them together with Utau walked through the Palace Grounds. Early in the morning after they had breakfast, Yukari-san had asked the two of them to accompany her for the day. Amu didn't have the slightest clue as to why but it seemed Utau was aware and didn't want to trouble herself to explain. She decided it would be better to just ask Yukari directly.
"To the Court Performer's Lodge. We have to have a prior engagement with the Fujisaki family." She replied succinctly. Amu was aware that the Fujisaki family was a renowned family that produced the best court dancers since the beginning of the country of Seiyo.
"Will it be long?" Utau asked quietly.
"Don't worry. I will be the one who will attend the meeting; you and Miss Hinamori may stay in the waiting room until the meeting is finished."
"I see." Was all she said in reply.
Amu had observed Utau since this morning and she noted that the Princess was extremely withdrawn today. She had hardly said a word – the pompous air she had around her had suddenly dissipated into nothing. She supposed that it was because of what happened last night, but she could never let the Princess know that she had overheard her conversation last night with the Prince – even she wished to forget that it had ever happened.
She instinctively gave a sigh when she thought of the First Prince. She always felt tremendously mortified when she remembered what had happened just last night. She resisted the urge to groan as she remembered once more.
"Is something the matter Miss Hinamori? You seem troubled." Yukari commented and Amu broke away from her thoughts.
"It's nothing to worry about," She said in a light tone. Yukari scrutinized her more closely.
"Now that I look closer, you seem to have circles under your eyes Miss Hinamori," She said in a very observant tone. Amu gave a forced laugh.
"Oh dear, it seems I didn't hide it well enough. In truth, I wasn't able get ample rest last night," She said apologetically.
"It's a must for you to be in perfect condition to accomplish your daily duties proficiently, Miss Hinamori." She advised her firmly.
"I will keep that in mind." She replied promptly and Yukari nodded in approval.
Amu hadn't been looking where they had been walking to and before she was aware, Yukari had stopped in front of a large building that looked very similar to the Manor but much less refined. The pond in front of the building was exquisite and eye catching. The building itself was slightly ancient but it was because it was aged that it was charming and unique. It looked like a building that had survived the last war with only minor damages. There were numerous engravings on the wooden rails and pillars that gave the place a certain appeal that distinguished it from the other building she had seen before it.
"This is the Court Performer's Lodge or as the Palace servants normally call it – the Fujisaki Household." Yukari announced as she walked through the garden with ease. Amu and Utau had followed – Amu having a bit more trouble than the Princess in keeping up with Yukari.
The doors had slowly opened when they had reached the entrance and the servants greeted the three of them cordially.
"The Emperor's Aide Sanjo Yukari and Princess Hoshina Utau together with her aide have arrived." One of the serving ladies announced clearly as they stepped past the threshold of the Lodge.
"Please follow me," a female servant said politely as she bowed and walked towards one of the doors in the entryway. The three of them followed the servant until they reached a spacious room with numerous seats.
"This is the waiting room," the servant said as she gestured to the room they were currently in. "The Mistress will see Miss Sanjo Yukari now." The servant added.
Yukari stepped forward and followed the female servant. She turned back right before they had exited the room through another door.
"I won't be long Princess. You may wander the Lodge if you please," She said addressing the Princess civilly. She turned to Amu and her look said Keep an eye on her. Amu nodded in reply to her wordless message. It was her duty after all and Amu had fully intended to do so since the beginning.
When she and the female servant had disappeared through one of the doors, Utau had chosen to simply stand by the window on one side of the room. The sun shone on her lovely face and it was then Amu observed that her gaze was distant and unfocused. She may have been looking outside the window but that didn't mean she was seeinganything outside.
Amu had decided to stand against the wall on the opposite side of the room the Princess was standing at. She thought it would be best to watch her for now. Now that she looked more intently at Utau, it was only then that she saw the faint circles under her eyes.
So she hadn't slept all that well either. She watched as the Princess gave a heavy sigh before turning her gaze towards her direction. She looked more tired than before now that she was able to see her clearly.
"I wish to be alone for now," she said vaguely. She didn't bother to explain and Amu understood – she didn't need to ask any useless questions.
"I understand. I will leave you now." she complied effortlessly with a bow. Just as she was about to exit the room she heard a faint voice from the room. It may have been her imagination but she thought she heard the words Thank you from Utau's direction. Sanjo-san had asked her to keep an eye on Utau but she would respect the Princess's wishes over everything else in any occasion. That was the number one rule for a servant – fulfill your master's wishes without fail.
She was back in the hallway they had passed through before and she decided to simply wander around the lodge. It was the perfect time to return to the pond she had seen just a little while ago when they had arrived, after all, she didn't have the chance to examine it closely due to the fact that Yukari and Utau had not spared a second glance and had walked by it swiftly.
She made her way back to the lovely little pond outside without any hassle. The servants and waiting ladies seemed to have been instructed to let the guests do as they pleased and she was grateful to the Mistress of the house for being so generous and open. But then again – who wasn't generous when Royalty visited your home?
She stood in front of the small pond and gazed fondly at the Koi fish swimming in it. The sun overhead made the crystal clear water sparkle magnificently and Amu couldn't help but be amazed at such natural beauty. When she looked at the water, she saw her reflection and unintentionally touched the pin in her hair – The beautiful pin that had brought her a great deal of trouble in more than one instance. She regarded her reflection on the water for a bit but then she jumped in shock when she saw another face in the water standing behind her.
She abruptly turned and faced an enchanting girl with long dark hair who was smiling at her cheerfully. She had an air of grace around her that was beyond the beautiful robes she was wearing. Her silky black hair was held up into one bundle while a few strands were left as they were.
"Good morning." She greeted pleasantly with a charming smile.
"Oh. Um," Amu composed herself as quickly as possible and greeted her back. "Good morning." She greeted politely with a bow.
"Correct me if I'm mistaken, but aren't you Princess Utau's new aide?" she asked curiously.
"You aren't mistaken. I am Hinamori Amu, Princess Utau's personal aide." She introduced herself calmly.
"I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hinamori. My name is Fujisaki Nadeshiko," She said amicably. So she was a part of the Fujisaki family, Amu concluded.
"Likewise, Miss Fujisaki." She replied swiftly.
"Might I ask you what brings you here this early in the morning?" she inquired.
"The Emperor's aide Miss Sanjo Yukari has business with the Mistress of the Fujisaki Household." She replied promptly.
"Oh yes, I remember Mother saying something about a meeting yesterday," She said it as if she was simply thinking aloud.
"Mother?" Amu asked with a puzzled expression. The girl named Nadeshiko gave a chuckle.
"Why yes, the Mistress of the household is my mother," She said easily. Then that made this girl the successor to the Fujisaki family, Amu realized with a start. It was really strange how she was meeting people of high status so easily, maybe fate enjoyed testing her occasionally.
"If you would allow me to ask why you are not with the Princess?" she said inquisitively. "I assumed that her aide would be with her at all times." She added as an afterthought.
"I am currently complying with the Princess's wishes. She wanted to be in solitude and I decided to let keep away until she would call for me." she replied swiftly, there wasn't really any need to keep it a secret. It was natural for one to want to be alone occasionally; it was the same with Amu.
"Then, would you like to be my companion for the day?" she asked amiably with a sweet smile. It was the sort of smile someone gave that prevented you from refusing anything they asked for. It was the same smile Ami used against her whenever she wanted something really badly. It was one of her secret weaknesses and she didn't expect someone other than Ami to be able to use it.
"I'd love to." She replied casually and Nadeshiko beamed as she reached out and held her hand firmly.
"Let's go then," She said brightly then she tugged her gently back into the house.
-OoO-
When Hinamori Amu had quitted the room, Utau was finally able to let her thoughts wander wherever they desired to go. The first person she thought about was of course – Ikuto, nobody else could occupy her mind completely.
The cold words he had uttered to her last night resounded in her mind.
Until you can face me without any of the feelings you have now, I cannot show my face to you.
He said he wouldn't see her of his own accord and it had hurt her like a knife. She had wanted to see him terribly last night that she had even waited for him to return patiently – but he had told her those words.
Was it really so wrong for her to love him like that? She only had Ikuto – nobody else. Her mother had gotten together with another man when their father had disappeared and she was forced to take on that man's family name. She hated her mother for it. Her life had changed drastically for the worst when their father disappeared.
Their uncle had suddenly begun to act like their dad, her Mom had become slightly hysterical and Ikuto had begun to avoid her. Her usual life had suddenly crumbled into nothing and being a Princess didn't seem so fortunate anymore.
She felt so wretched but she could never let anyone know – she didn't… until just last night.
The events that occurred after her encounter with Ikuto had replayed in her mind one more time…
*flashback*
She ran away from Ikuto with all her might, angry tears streaming down her face. She had wanted nothing more than to get as far away from him as possible then and decided against going back to her room – she was also afraid Hinamori Amu would see her in such a state and she could never allow anybody to see her as she was at the moment.
And so she ran out of the Manor into the Palace Grounds. She ran past bushes and trees not really knowing where she wanted to go. When her legs threatened to buckle beneath her from the strain of running, she spotted the Holy Temple and shuffled towards it immediately. She burst in as quietly as she could manage and dropped to her knees on the wooden floor. Her breaths were swift and shallow as her chest heaved – trying to catch her breath. She felt the perspiration running down her back and face and she wiped her face angrily with her sleeve. The tears she had tried to hold back as she ran had poured out of her as strong and as fast as a river then.
She had been crying for god knows how long when the doors to the Temple opened abruptly. She jumped and her head snapped up as she looked towards the door. The light from the moon shone from the behind the silhouette by the door. She couldn't see who it was but she immediately covered her face with the sleeve of her robe not only because she didn't want to be seen but also because the light that filtered into the temple hurt her eyes.
"Aha! Alright ayakashi, this will be your end!" a young boyish voice shouted triumphantly.
"Oi oi, what are you doing? That's a human, you idiot!" a small boy voice chastised out of nowhere.
"Eh?" the deeper male voice said with confusion marked in his tone. The silhouette by the door which looked like it was fully ready for a fight relaxed to a normal standing position. She lowered her arm slightly and she was able to steal a glimpsed of the stranger.
"You don't sense any evil energy from her, do you?" the younger boy's voice asked pointedly.
"Well, no – " the older boy's voice began to say.
"So how can you say that that's an ayakashi? It's a girl – a 100 %humangirl." The little boy's voice scolded as if what he was saying was pretty obvious. She wondered why the younger boy had put emphasis on the fact that she was human – weren't they all?
"Well how do you expect me to see when it so dark in here?" the older boy complained. He was arguing with someone but Utau could not see where the other 'someone' was. There was only one silhouette so she assumed the little boy was somewhere outside – but it was strange, the voices seemed to come from the older boy's silhouette.
"Then just light a flame yourself, you amateur. I'm sure you can do something of that level by now right?" the little boy asked challengingly.
"Of course I can! Aren't you underestimating me a little too much, Daichi?" the older boy said resentfully then he muttered a word under his breath which she didn't catch. In a second there was a sound of a spark followed by a fire which suddenly appeared and illuminated the face of a young boy with auburn hair and bright green eyes.
"It really is a girl." He mused aloud as he leaned down to look at her closely. Utau put down her sleeve and met his curious gaze with a full-out glare. He flinched away from her when she did that – people on the receiving end of it usually did.
"It's extremely rude to talk about someone when they're right before you," She said severely, her voice still a little muffled from her crying session. She watched in awe as the single flame in his hand suddenly multiplied and flew in different directions. Before she realized it, the candles in the altar of the temple behind her were lighted and were emitting an eerie light throughout the room. What in the world was this stranger? No normal person could make fire appear out of nowhere. She looked up at him suspiciously.
"Ah, I'm sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to – um, interrupt you while you were, uh, crying." He said a bit hesitantly, his eyes avoiding hers. She on the other hand took the opportunity to examine the stranger more closely.
He was in a black hakama with prayer beads around his neck. She had never seen such attire before and it made her all the more apprehensive of the young boy.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him sharply.
"Well, I was walking around and I suddenly heard crying sounds from inside here – so I decided to see what it was." He admitted.
"And so here we are!" the younger boy's voice from before said cheerfully out of nowhere.
"Who said that?" she asked quickly and the auburn haired boy abruptly clamped his shoulder with his hand.
"What are you talking about?" he asked nervously. Utau could easily tell that he was lying and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Don't treat me like a fool! Who do you think I am?" the moment those words left her lips she regretted it immediately. This person had actually seen her crying and she had acted like she usually did. She clenched her fist as he looked at her more intently before pulling away and sitting himself across from her.
"I'm sorry," he said apologetically "I'm not aware of who you are." He admitted, scratching the back of his head with a guilty expression on his face. She felt her muscles relax at his reply – at least he wasn't aware of who she was. She decided to take advantage of this to make sure he couldn't tell anybody else about he had seen.
"I'm insulted. Who are you? Are you a Palace servant?" she asked briskly, putting on a very convincing act. His expression turned somewhat troubled at her question. She waited for him to give a reply – she needed to get some information on him without giving away anything about who she really was.
He ran a hand through his messy hair."I suppose… you can consider me a servant of the Palace." He said vaguely. "As for my name – it's Kukai." He added a little more distinctly.
"Kukai - ?" she prompted.
"Just Kukai." He replied easily. Maybe she was imagining it but she felt that his tone was telling her not to ask further and she thought that it would be best for both of them. It seemed she wasn't the only one keeping a secret. As she was scrutinizing him, something small suddenly jumped out from behind the boy Kukai.
"I couldn't breathe Kukai!" a floating little boy with bright green hair complained with irritation marked in his voice. It was the same little boy's voice the boy named Kukai was arguing with when they had first arrived.
Utau stared at the little boy in shock with her mouth slightly open. It was a small boy that could easily fit in her palm perfectly. He was wearing a green robe with bright yellow star designs and he could speak fluent Japanese. Utau couldn't help but stare at it in amazement.
"Daichi!" Kukai whispered furiously. He tried to grab the floating little boy but it moved out of his grasp effortlessly. The little green haired boy placed his hands behind his head as he put out his tongue at Kukai.
"You won't get me that easily, Kukai. You're still too green." He taunted, keeping out of Kukai's reach as he jumped up persistently, trying to get hold of the floating little boy.
"Daichi!" he cried out one more time before he froze. He slowly glanced at her through the corner of his eye and saw her expression. He straightened himself and kneeled formally in front of her.
Utau took a deep breath before speaking. Even she wasn't sure what to say about a hovering little boy.
"Please tell me I'm simply tired and that little boy is only a figment of my imagination," She said seriously addressing the auburn haired boy. She couldn't bring herself to believe that that little boy was real unless she heard it from him.
"I wish you were," he said as he kneeled in front of her. "But unfortunately it isn't your imagination." he replied disconsolately. He tried to laugh but even she could tell that it was a very nervous laugh. "I suppose there's no use trying to hide it from you." He added resignedly.
"Daichi, come here. I'll introduce you," He said with a sigh, holding out his hand. The little boy flew downwards until he landed on Kukai's open palm and he beamed up at Kukai.
"Really?" he asked curiously. Kukai moved his hand outward towards her.
"This – is Daichi. He's – well, let's just say he's my partner in my part time job."
"Nice to meet you!" the little boy said merrily, jumping from Kukai's palm to the floor in front of her. She cautiously picked him up. He felt very real in her palm as she poked his cheek and pinched it experimentally.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed as she pulled it. So it felt pain? Curiosity consumed her then and she pulled him closer to her face to get a better look at him.
"Hey, Kukai. Lucky, you found a really pretty girl!" he exclaimed excitedly when she pulled him right in front of her face.
"It's so strange…" she mused aloud. She had never seen anything like him before and her curiosity really had gotten the better of her. She tried squeezing him but he didn't squeak like a child's toy. As she continued doing experiments on Daichi, Kukai watched them with interest.
"Kukai help! She's going to cut me open! Oof!" Daichi yelped as she poked his stomach with her index finger.
"Serves you right." He replied curtly, smirking at the little green haired boy.
"Anyway," he said as he turned to address her. "Could you – could you by chance keep our meeting a secret?" he asked carefully.
"Why?" she asked curiously. She didn't really want to pry but he and the little floating boy had caught her attention completely. He looked slightly uncomfortable at her question.
"Let's just say – that it's something not meant to be known by the public." He replied ambiguously and she took it that he didn't really want to talk about it much longer – or maybe he simply was not allowed to talk of it to anyone, much more to someone he had just met.
"You see Kukai is actually a – " Daichi began to say but before he could finish his statement Kukai had grabbed him from her palm and covered his mouth with his finger. He raised Daichi to his face.
"Who was it that kept reminding me to keep everything a secret as much as possible?" he whispered curtly and Utau had heard it quite clearly. Knowing the little boy couldn't give a reply with his mouth muffled by his finger – he let go of Daichi and the little boy flew out of his reach once more.
"I thought rules didn't matter anymore since you introduced me." he replied lazily as he floated downward and settled on Kukai's shoulder.
"Just be quiet and let me do the talking," He said tersely – the air about him suddenly turned serious. She was a tad surprised at the sudden change in his demeanor.
"You're no fun Kukai." Daichi complained with a pout and Kukai didn't bother to give a reply.
"So it's a secret huh," she said audibly to get his attention. He turned to her but this time there was a steely glint in his eyes – the same glint Ikuto had when he talked to her."Are you implying that I would tell this to others so easily?" she asked crossly, without meaning to.
"No of course not – but I have to make sure you won't speak of this to anybody. Especially about Daichi and me," he said calmly, losing all the openness he had shown before. "In truth, I'm not even supposed to be talking to you right now." he added and Utau felt her anger flare at his words.
"So why are you still talking to me then?" she huffed angrily.
"Because I thought you needed company," He said softly and her eyes widened in surprise.
"What made you think I did?" she asked indignantly, was he really implying that she was lonely? Who did he think he was?
"Isn't it sad when there's no one to comfort you when you cry?" he said meaningfully, letting their eyes meet. His unusual emerald eyes were almost entrancing, she thought.
"I didn't ask you to comfort me." she replied shortly, breaking their eye contact.
"But – you stopped crying didn't you?" he asked pointedly and she turned to glare at him but she was surprised to find him grinning widely at her. "Don't try to hide it. You feel a lot better now don't you?" he asked intelligently – his serious behavior suddenly dissipating.
Without knowing why, she felt an immense surge of embarrassment. Did he honestly break the rules just so he could comfort her? What kind of idiot would do something like that for someone he never met before?
What a fool, she thought as she stood up abruptly and ran towards the exit.
"Hey!" he cried out. She turned back and scowled at him.
"Don't expect me to thank you!" she called out clearly before she ran away in the direction of the Manor.
After that she finally reached the Manor just as the sun was on the brink of the horizon. She had stealthily made her way to her room and when she passed by Hinamori Amu's room, she was able to see her through the small gap in the door. The pink haired girl had fallen asleep in her robes and was sleeping in a very uncomfortable position – she wondered slightly what had happened to her but her attention was more on getting back unnoticed.
*end of flashback*
She gave a sigh as she turned away from the window. She leaned her back against the wall and stared at the floor.
She wondered if she would meet him again. Hopefully, he still wouldn't know that she was a Princess, but if he did – she wondered what kind of expression he would give her and what expression she would show him. He was after all – the only man other than Ikuto who had ever comforted her.
-OoO-
Endnote: Booyah! Woah, it seems my chapters keep getting longer and longer! :D I love Amuto and Kutau so I couldn't help myself from making it extra long. Also, Kukai has always been my favorite character in Shugo Chara and I just adore him. :) especially when he's together with Utau! Please pretty please review okay? If you want a faster update be sure to review so I can get the drive to write the next one!