Authors note: THANK YOU ALL MY READERS..THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER OF THIS STORY. I am sorry for torturing you with the cliff hanger…it was just soo fun =D. PLEASE REVIEW, thank you for all the reviews you've given me. Enjoy! SUPER CUTE! SUPER SHOCKING! LALALALA FUN! Read my next story, coming soon (hint: brotherly incest!)

Shout out to: Shiroi-chan113, she is hilarious and always gives me amazing long reviews, thank you for being so dedicated!

Ch. 11 Shattered Illusions

The pain Ryoma had felt in his chest was just growing more painful and the warm liquid was seeping into his kimono. *I wonder how long it takes for a person to die, wait…why am I still conscious?* Ryoma opens his eyes, amazed at the fact that he wasn't dead and wasn't going to be anytime soon. He looks sympathetically at the crying Kano who was hitting his chest with all her might. Ryoma looks to his left, smiling at Fuji who seemed to have gone through hell in those few seconds. Ryoma whispers an 'I am sorry' and looks up at Kano.

"Why didn't you do it? Why didn't you kill me Kano?"

Kano glares at Ryoma with tear filled eyes, "Because…"

Ryoma smiles, "Because?"

Kano grabs Ryoma and shakes him, "Because I care for you okay! I just can't do it! I just can't shrug of these 7 years and kill the brat I've been taking care of all this time. I am too attached to you…"

Ryoma laughs, "It's now that you know this? I thought you were the more mature one Kano! And I even was scared of your evil charade."

Kano shakes her head and slumps next to Ryoma, "My brother is cursing me from heaven right now…"

Fuji winces, and moves towards Kano, "Ugh..K-Kano, he won't curse you because it wasn't the king who gave the order for that massacre."

Kano glares at Fuji, "I am not going to kill Ryoma so you don't have to lie to me."

Fuji shakes his head, "I am not lying. It seems that you lived in the northern part of the village, right?"

Kano nods, "What does that have to do with anything?"

Fuji sighs, "That is where I lived as well so I witnessed the massacre which was lead by my uncle."

Kano gasps, "What?!"

Ryoma nods, "It wasn't my father's order; he had no idea of the massacre until after it happened. Fuji's uncle has driven by jealousy, so he killed the villagers, your brother, and Fuji's parents.

Kano looks at Fuji, "Jealous of what?"

Fuji's eyebrows furrow, "He was jealous that my father was a general and that he was only a knight. He gathered a few men and went on a killing spree. I had witnessed him killing my parents, so I joined the army for revenge. After the massacre, my uncle went into hiding, but a few years later I found and killed him."

Tears trail down Kano's face, "So all these years of harboring hate in my heart were because I assumed the worst? I almost killed Ryoma based on lies I've told myself! I hurt you Fuji…I am so stupid. I am now going to get imprisoned because I was rash."

Ryoma shakes his head, "No, I promise I won't tell my-

With a loud bang, the door opens and in rushes the palace guards, the king, and the queen. Kano stands up and Ryoma stands in front of her, acting as her shield. The king looks around the destroyed study, and stares at the wounds Fuji has. He then looks at the minor cuts Ryoma has and at the witch he was hiding behind him.

The queen's eyes express relief, "Thank goodness you are alive, Ryoma!"

The queen goes to rush over to Ryoma but the king stops her, "What is the meaning of this Ryoma? Why are you protecting the women that just tried to kill you?"

Ryoma looks at his father, "I can expl-"

The king yells, "No, guards please take Kano to prison. You are lucky I won't have her killed because I care for her, but trying to harm the prince is unacceptable."

Kano walks towards the guards but Ryoma pulls her back, "NO! I won't let you imprison her, father! She just made a mistake, she regrets it now! Kano didn't hurt me, so please don't do anything to her!"

The queen yells, "Why? How do we know she won't try to kill you again? How do you know she is not lying?"

Ryoma runs his hands through his hair, "Please…just listen. To make a story short, Kano believed father gave the order for the massacre that happened five years ago. She was going to take revenge for the brother she lost in that massacre, but we explained the truth to her. Also, when Kano was going to kill me, she stopped herself because she cares for me. If you imprison her, then you'll have to imprison me as well."

The queen looks at Kano sympathetically, "So that is what it was…"

The king sighs, "You kids are such a handful…how are we going to explain this to the guest and to Lulu?"

Kano gasps, "Shoot, poor Lulu!"

Ryoma and Fuji glare at Kano, "What did you do to Lulu?"

Kano smiles nervously, "I kinda knocked him out and tied him to the bathtub faucet. I am really sorry."

Ryoma jabs Kano, "You witch! How could you do that?"

Kano grins, "I was just controlled by the anger, I am happy he is fine."

The king looks at Ryoma, "I will spare Kano, but you'll be in charge of covering up all this mess."

Kano kneels on the floor, "Thank you your highness, I promise I'll be out of here in less than an hour."

The king laughs, "Oh no Kano, who said you are fired? It's worse punishment having to take care of my son for a few more years."

Kano smiles brightly, "Thank you so much!"

Fuji looks at Ryoma, "Isn't that great?"

The queen smiles, "Kano, please tend to Fuji's wounds and get both of them new clothes. We'll talk to you after the celebration. Please change clothes as well."

The guards, king, and queen leave the room and walk towards the dining room. Kano opens the last drawer of the broken desk and takes out a bottle of a light bluish substance, a cloth, and bandages. She walks towards Fuji but is stopped by Ryoma.

He smirks, "Leave this to me. Can you please go change and get us our clothes."

Kano grins as she walks out the room, "I'll take my time."

Fuji smiles as Ryoma walks towards him, "Hmm doctor Ryoma, I like it."

Ryoma laughs, "You talk too much for someone who's hurt."

Fuji chuckles, "It is not a serious cut…does that remind you of anything?"

Ryoma takes off Fuji's shirt, "Yes, of the first time you touched me. Our situation has changed hasn't it?"

"Is it that I am the one that is hurt now or that we have touched much more since then?"

Ryoma blushes and gently kisses Fuji, "Both."

Fuji winces slightly as Ryoma cleans and bandages his wounds, "I am looking forward to protecting you prince Ryoma…what I said back then still hasn't changed."

Ryoma smiles, "I know."

Fuji looks at Ryoma sadly, "But what if Kano hadn't stopped, I wouldn't have been able to stop her."

Ryoma holds Fuji's face, "But she did, and I am alive. I would have died earlier if you hadn't stopped me from drinking that poison."

Fuji kisses Ryoma's fingertips, "I would have killed myself if you would have died."

Ryoma shakes his head, "I wouldn't have been happy if you did that. We aren't Romeo and Juliet."

Fuji smiles and brings Ryoma closer to him, "You've proved it."

Ryoma smiles, "Proved what?"

"That you aren't a figment of my imagination trying to relieve my loneliness."

Ryoma blushes, "Those are my words..."

Fuji caresses Ryoma's cheek, "If you weren't real, my sadistic and masochistic mind would have taken you away from me, but it didn't because you are here with me."

Ryoma smiles, "I am real, but are you?"

Fuji pouts, "What do I have to do to convince you?"

Ryoma laces his fingers around Fuji's, "Stay with me forever, even after my father tries to kill you when he knows you are my lover."

Fuji holds Ryoma's chrysanthemum necklace, "Forever? That is too short of a time."

Ryoma smirks, "Then until when?"

Fuji kisses the necklace, "Till eternity."

-Epilogue…Kinda-

Fuji laughs when he sees Ryoma jump from surprise, "You still haven't gotten used to it?"

Ryoma sighs, "You come into my bathroom at the most unexpected times. Hurry up and get in."

Fuji smiles and undresses, "So impatient to see me naked, aren't you?"

Ryoma kicks Fuji, "Che' at least I am not the weirdo that hides in peoples bathrooms, waiting for them to come bathe."

Fuji laughs, "I only did that the first time, after that I didn't have to hide."

Ryoma smiles as Fuji embraces him from behind, "It's been two years from then hasn't it?

Fuji grins, "I know, it feels like all that just happened yesterday."

Ryoma plays with the water, "It really has been that long since Kano tried to kill me…"

Fuji shakes his head, "It amazing how a misunderstanding can become so big. I am glad people believed that you guys were only 'playing around' and it wasn't anything serious."

Ryoma laughs, "I can't believe they bought that, even Lulu forgave Kano."

Fuji smiles, "He was the hardest to convince."

"Remember when I announced that you were my lover in my birthday celebration?"

Fuji frowns, "I'd rather not. I had a hard time running away from the guards and your father. I still don't understand why you decided to announce it that specific time!"

Ryoma smirks evilly, "Parents are more accepting after their son suffered a life threatening experience."

"So you are telling me that your father went easy on me?"

Ryoma nods, "Exactly, smart aren't i?"

Fuji sighs, "I don't want to picture how your father gets when he is seriously mad."

Plays with Fuji's hand, "What shocked everyone the most is the engagement between Mioko and Tezuka!"

Fuji laughs, "I didn't know that leaving them alone to look for you would result in this."

"Tezuka told me it was love at first sight and that they started meeting up after my birthday."

Fuji rests his head on the edge of the bathtub, "Mioko looked really beautiful in that wedding kimono, blue suits her well."

Ryoma smiles, "You are right but I am just happy she didn't pick purple.

Fuji rustles Ryoma's hair, "Your family is so unexpected and rash, but you guys make good decisions."

"Do you mean about picking Lulu to be my successor?"

"Do your parents know about that…"

Ryoma laughs, "Yes, I spoke to them a few weeks ago. Since Lulu is now nine, he is old enough to start learning how to lead a country…or so they say. I feel bad for Lulu, there goes his childhood."

"We are here to make sure Lulu experiences things that you didn't when you were young. I don't want him to become a spoiled brat."

Ryoma crosses his arms, "Are you calling me a spoiled brat?!"

Fuji chuckles, "You were before you met me."

Ryoma punches Fuji, "Idiot."

Fuji laughs, "I thank you for choosing me."

Ryoma smirks, "Choosing you? Choosing you for what, a bodyguard?"

Fuji smiles sadistically and pinches Ryoma's nipple, "Yeah, of course, only a bodyguard."

Ryoma winces, "But I didn't pick you to be my lover, I condemned you."

"Condemned me?"

Ryoma smiles, "I condemned you to be by my side for eternity."

Fuji smirks as he lowers his head to kiss Ryoma, "And I accepted happily, my prince."