We spent time in that room again, that tiny protected room, Roberto and myself curled up against each other as we watched a movie together. Fantastic Planet... a pretty weird film about aliens and humans, or something, but a movie that Roberto apparently loved.

I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I had to admit there were some 'animals eating humans' scenes that made me feel very uncomfortable. It wasn't a movie that made me want to kiss- no matter how much Roberto tried to get a mood going.

The leader, Atsumu, returned near the end of the film and he sat nearby entranced by the film. He was so interested that Roberto actually restarted the film for him.

I found myself more or less edged to one side as the two men sat side by side, engrossed in the movie, and a little bored. Okay then. A little pushed aside, I eased my body onto the couch, and leaned against the armrest on my side of the couch.

Roberto took thirty seconds before he pulled my feet into his lap. I resisted a moment, glancing sideways at the two of them, but if Atsumu had noticed he was clearly pretending not to.

"Let me rub your feet while we watch." Roberto offered.

"In public?"

"It must hurt to use this leg. Come on. We're not in public."

"Don't mind me!" Atsumu chimed up. He seemed totally at ease with this... and I shook my head.

For a moment I entertained the thought. I … I would have liked it. My sore calf liked being touched, at least where it wasn't tender, and my feet were so sensitive right now … especially on my good leg from all the weight it had to carry... so the idea of being massaged...

I wanted it.

But Atsumu, a complete stranger, was sitting right beside him. I couldn't stand the idea of sticking my feet in his direction or having him sit there... while I felt really good. I was still kind of embarrassed that Roberto and I had snuck in 'sexy time' earlier.

"No. My feet smell." I muttered, trying to free my feet, adding, "Prince Roberto."

Roberto seemed a little hurt that I'd used his title and I sighed, regretting that, as he slowly put my feet back down. He had been trying to be nice- I knew that. I'd only said it to try and remind him that we weren't alone.

Luckily Alberto appeared, like the magic butler he was, as if he'd more or less caught onto the weird mood. He made a show of standing between us, gathering up the papers from the lunch before, but he did shoot Roberto a look.

"You shouldn't ask any Lady such a thing." He chided Roberto, adding, "Excuse him, Miss Sophia."

Roberto was pretty disgruntled now. "I was being nice."

"You're forgetting your place."

This got Atsumu awkward, I could tell, and there was a silence as the movie continued to play in the background. Alberto continued to clean up the table, face passive, and when he glanced sideways at me, there was a slight smile in his face.

He was amused.

I wasn't sure why till I saw Roberto's face. He really did remind me of a put off kid right now, arms crossed, glaring at the movie. Okay. It was kind of funny. All that over a rejection for feet rubbing.

"Why are you here, anyway, Al?" Roberto pouted. "Weren't you going to help somewhere?"

"I am. Miss Sophia has been sent for. I'll help her upstairs."

"I-"

"Are remaining here." Alberto's voice raised, suddenly, as if this was an argument they'd had beforehand. He stood up as he pushed the papers and trash into a plastic bag and easily tossed it to one side. "As agreed. You remain safely hidden at all times."

"But what about Phia?" Roberto grasped for my hand. "It's not safe."

"Prince Roberto- I am the wrong person to discuss that with. You will have to wait for Prince Keith to discuss that." Alberto held out a hand to me. "Would you like help up, Miss Sophia?"

I accepted it. "I probably won't be there long anyway. I don't know that much about dressing up."

Atsumu' stiffened, his head tilting to one side ash e lifted his head to touch something in his ear, and as I watched he stood and moved to one side of the room. There was a radio in his ear and he nodded, murmuring something that I couldn't hear, before he smiled at us. We'd all turned to watch him. "Don't worry! Just Hiro wondering where Sophia is."

I wasn't sure he was telling the truth. Alberto must have decided he was, however, because he took my hand and pulled me to my feet without waiting for permission.

"Okay then. I'll be upstairs somewhere."

"No!" Roberto stood up as well. His voice raised all of a sudden. "I don't want her to go."

"It's agreed." Alberto responded. "Prince Kei-"

"Is not your boss! I am." Roberto actually stomped his foot as he reached out in an attempt to grab me.

"When you're worthy of it, Prince Roberto, and not raising your voice like a child. You are far too old for such an undignified display." Alberto gave me a gentle shove as he started towards the exit. "Prince Keit-"

"Where is he? I'll talk to him."

"If you would stop ignoring me, Your Highness, and behave your age you would have already known. Prince Keith is in his room."

Roberto was gone in an instant.

Alberto sighed, holding up a hand as we heard Roberto leave down the hallway, before he started forward slowly as he led me out. "I do not expect you'll be needed there long."

"Good luck with Roberto." I responded.

Through the dark hallways we went, the cobwebs clinging to hair, up narrow stairs, our feet as silent as we could make them while we heard voices in rooms that we passed by. This room was a little more of a hike and so I rested halfway, leaning against a wall, listening to a pair of maids in the other room gossip a little. Then onwards we went, passing by a room where I could hear my Big Brother arguing with someone, and up another staircase.

The walk, a good twenty minutes of winding passage and dangerous staircases, came finally to the right room.

Alberto let me into the room, bowing, as he informed me, "Please send a message when you're done."

"Will do!" Hiro sung, as he lunged for me, looping arms through mine... and the crutch. "Let's dress up."

"Both of us?"

"Why not? We've got hours to fill!" Hiro was already in women's clothing and in a wig, leading me into his/her room, with two or three dresses hanging off the bed frame. "I was thinking..."

I sat there on the bed as Hiro explained his/her ideas, overwhelmed, not sure if I liked turquoise with white or white with coffee or jade with jungle... and it was mid sentence, when Hiro was trying to explain the difference between jade and turquoise and what kind of change it'd have for his/her appearance, that we were interrupted. The door flew open. Nearly broke in the strength. Big Brother came in with a wheelchair, face red with anger, his breathing fast as he charged in. "You!"

Even Hiro/Bella took a step backwards at the look on his face.

"Relax..."

"Where have you been? Get into the wheelchair." My Big Brother wasn't asking.

My heart sunk. Okay then. I was busted. Hiro/Bella stepped forward, trying to smile as s/he said, "It's... it's okay, Sophia-chan has just been hanging out..."

"Quiet, woman."

Hiro/Bella went quiet as he exchanged a look with Riki.

"Get in."

My mood sank down to be with my heard as I did what I was told. I'd had just a few hours freedom, a few precious hours, and this was why Roberto had been so anxious. I supposed he was right. My brother didn't just take the crutches, he literally threw them out the window, and marched off.

Hiro/Bella and Riki didn't abandon me, to my surprise and relief, but followed close behind.

My Father was downstairs in the ballroom, ordering, making preparations, his voice a little louder than I remembered it last. When he turned to face me I felt fear. It was silly, all he did was look, but I could … I could sense how furious he must have been right now.

How long had they known I was gone? How angry was he? I was afraid to ask.

"Where have you been?" His voice was low, dangerous, and there was even a rumble of thunder outside. Might have been funny another time. Right now though I instinctively knew how much trouble I was in and … and this wouldn't result in being grounded.

"I was with … with Bella..."

"Hiding?" He shot a look at Hiro/Bella suddenly, furious, and his voice rose. "Were you hiding my daughter?"

I wished I hadn't said it. I felt like Hiro/Bella was now in danger as well. Riki must have thought the same thing because he moved between Hiro and my Father, that smooth smile on his face, as he responded, "They were watching romance movies. She fell asleep and-"

"She can answer for herself. Bella."

"It was that. We were watching romance movies and she fell asleep. She was so cute that I left her..." Hiro/Bella responded. He sounded so feminine, so girly, and even a bit frightened. I didn't want Father to harass these two.

"Did you unlock her door?"

"She was locked in?"

"Then you did it." My Father's eyes snapped to me, glaring, grasping the chair as he bent down over me. "Locked it to make it look like you were still inside."

"Um... so... sorry..." I didn't have to pretend my own hesitation. All the strength I'd gathered all day just sank away to my ankles. I felt kind of sick.

"That's not good enough. You will obey us, Little sister." To my shock my Big Brother actually stormed towards me, hand raised, and went to strike me.

My Father grabbed my brother's hand as he went to strike me, snapping, "Don't cause more marks on the face. Look at this face. How are you supposed to show up tonight?" He made it sound like it was my fault, as he grasped my hand and twisted it in one direction and then the other, frowning at the bruises he'd left. "The makeup artist will be needed."

"Um... I can do that."

It was shocking to hear Hiro speak at that moment. Not because he was unwelcome, because his suggestion was clearly welcome, but because Hiro sounded like a shy girl. I stared sideways at him as my Father released my face.

Then, totally unanticipated by me, I felt him shove me onto the ground. Painfully.

"Call off the search. Sophia." He was standing over me all of a sudden, actually looking irritated, sliding something off. A belt? I felt sick all of a sudden. "You were told to not leave your room. Did you think I was suggesting it last night? When you behave, I will be kind to you, but when you defy, we must... for your own good, ensure that you never do this again. Use the belt."

He shoved it at my brother.

The moment he raised it... I peed myself a little, the sudden shock and terror just sky-rocketed, this horrible anticipation of pain that my body was ready for. It was hard to pay attention all of a sudden- like my brain just went 'Nope, you're on your own', and checked out while Big Brother hit my legs with the belt. Maybe it was because of the pain, it really hurt on my bad leg, or maybe it was shock. It wasn't exactly 'violent'... it wasn't like he was trying to whack my leg off... but it hurt. I suddenly wished Mum was here.

I knew that I was making sounds, some kind of weird whimper, except that it really didn't feel like it was me doing it. I really had disconnected from my body. Even when he'd finished and I was hoisted into a wheelchair it took a few minutes before I really could pay attention to anything outside my brain. But … I was aware of faces, of Hiro's face, my Father's completely emotionless face, and some horrible kind of expression on my Big Brother's face that my brain refused to process as 'enjoyment'. Riki was there too. I'd briefly forgot about that.

By the time I could- I was being wheeled behind Hiro back to the room. He didn't have to pretend shock now, he kept glancing backwards at me, as if he couldn't quite believe what he'd seen. We ended up in his room once again, Hiro speechless, while I tried to snap out of the daze I had been in.

"It wasn't that bad..." I muttered to myself, in an attempt to snap back to reality, trying to get my brain to focus. Embarrassing.

I was sore and shocked, an hour later, sitting in Hiro's room again. We were under guard now- several of Father's bodyguards 'protecting' us, and I knew that Hiro was as shocked by what he'd seen as I was hurt.

Strangely enough I felt … more upset for him, right now, even though I was the one sore. I think Father did it because Hiro/Bella had been there, maybe as an example, or maybe he'd decided I needed more 'discipline'. I didn't know.

"It was that bad." Hiro's voice cut into my brain and I felt a hand on my shoulder all of a sudden. He'd shut the door on the guards, I realised, and was kneeling beside me in the dress, his face pale even now.

Riki was kneeling at my legs, ignoring me, applying something to them. I stared at him for a moment. When had he appeared? Or had he come upstairs with us? When he caught my stare he explained, "Cream for bruises."

Oh. "Thanks."

"How long have they been doing that?"

"To me? Only since … last night." I hoped this would relax them. As if it'd be some kind of proof that it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked. Still, when Hiro dropped a blanket over my shoulders, I couldn't deny that I appreciated the warmth.

"That makes sense." Riki muttered to himself. He stood up and moved towards a laptop.

"Does it?"

"He means that they're becoming afraid." Hiro's voice dropped to a low whisper. He'd sounded like a girl this entire time but with the whisper he'd returned to his normal voice I wondered if the guards were outside listening in... probably. "People do bad things when everything is spiralling out of control."

"Is that good news for us?" I asked very quietly, whispering, and Hiro finally smiled as he nodded. Oh. Phew. Good news.

"It's a complication- you being here too- but trust us." Hiro patted my shoulder as he stood up. "We need to think about dresses! Not be sad."

He was back to 'Bella'.

As 'Bella' did her giddy search for gowns, a very vocal exercise that echoed loudly around the room while 'she' flung dress after dress on the bed in piles, Riki was muttering away on his laptop with turned away from us.

Roberto's face crashed into my mind. Oh boy. If he'd seen that would he be trying to get into here? I was pretty concerned about that now. When our eyes met, Riki inclined his head slightly, and I hoped I could take that as 'Roberto is tied down'.

Right?

"Don't you want an orange dress?" Bella's voice cut in and I gazed up at her suddenly, as Hiro/Bella waved a bright orange dress in my face, holding it up against the good side of my face. "You have the right complexion. I'm so jealous!" He was totally into it now, singing away, as he thrust a golden yellow dress at my face in the same way. "You can wear all these bright colours!"

"Well, you wear them all the time, you have beautiful bright hair." I responded as I went a bit red. I wasn't sure that Hiro/Bella was completely acting right now with the compliments.

"That's so sweet!"

With the help of Hiro/Bella I got distracted by dresses. Dress after dress appeared, far more than I could have ever expected a man to own, though I did recognise some of them from my own room as well. It was possible Father had bought me more dresses and had them all brought down. I didn't want to think about him right now though so I ignored that thought.

"You're wearing this." Hiro finally decided as he tossed a white dress at me, suddenly, with tiny orange flowers along the skirt's hem. "So your fiance can think of weddings. And I'll wear white too. We can match. What do you think?"

"Um. Okay." I was really worried about Roberto right now. I nodded as I tried to smile, sitting up in my wheelchair, stretching my arms.

"It's decided then. Come on- let's get ready." And like that, I was wheeled into the bathroom, Hiro shutting the door on Riki.

Hiro applied makeup, very carefully, the true feelings appearing every now and then as he dealt with the covering up job. I sat there and watched as he reapplied makeup to his own face with a steady practised hand, admiring his skills, because he suddenly resembled an artist rather than a woman/man putting on makeup... every stroke was so careful, so thought out, and by the time we were both done, he really had done an amazing job on both of us.

You couldn't even tell I had bruises on my face. It was amazing.

"I want your hair to be braided and curled. Okay? It'll be done up behind your head and fall over your back. And I'll..."

Hiro took off on the next part of it, taking his time with my hair, before he was doing his own. Before I knew it I was alone in the bathroom all of a sudden with my dress and having to somehow put it on, leaning on the sink, trying to not fall on my ass. Hiro had picked a dress which was thankful pretty easy to pull on, though it clung a little around my chest, this swishy white material that covered legs that were coming up in fresh bruises. Finally I tugged the straps up over my shoulders, brushed smooth the orange ribbon under the bust, and slumped back into the wheelchair. Phew.

Hiro was dressed by the time I was, waiting, and as soon as I knocked to let them know I was ready, Hiro appeared in his matching 'white and jade' dress. I had to actually remind myself that Hiro was a man at the sight of him...

"All right." Riki was suited up as well, standing, and breathed in slowly. He reached out to take my wheelchair handles. "We've discussed tonight, Sophia."

That was all he said. I tried to gather my frayed nerves though... tried to read between the lines. Did he mean that they'd planned how to keep me safe? I didn't know. Had they discussed with the others downstairs what had happened? Maybe.

All I could do now was trust that they had Roberto tied up... and I wasn't going to be forgotten.