Hi there guys!

Well here is the second to the last chapter! Yes. The next chapter after this is the last one. So very sad right? Well I am very happy to announce that the next fic I'll be working on is Beauty and The Beast! I'm so excited to begin working on that right after I submit the final chapter next week.

Anyway, I want to thank Creative Writer 2000, Evie Warner and Schoollie for reviewing chapter seven. shadow visor thank you for reviewing chapter one and two. I also want to thank those of you who have favoured this story and are following it. It makes me happy for you to join us!

Disclaimer: I own the water bottle that I'm drinking from. Does that count? Nope? Okie dokie then…

Enjoy people!

Do I Love You Because You Are Beautiful? & A Lovely Night

"What is she saying to him?" Shigeru asked.

His Grandfather just smiled, "Don't worry. Your sister just wants to get to know the boy you seem to like."

"That's what I'm worried about…" The teen said.

The prince was currently watching Satoshi dancing with his sister. Did he want his sister dancing with the boy he was trying to get to know? Of course not, he wanted to be the only one to talk to Satoshi. He still wanted to figure out why this boy looked familiar. Actually, the more he thought about it, the more Satoshi seemed to look like Ash. It couldn't be could it? He wasn't so sure anymore. He looked at the clock, 15 minutes to midnight. He tapped his foot on the shinny floor, why was Nanami taking her sweet time? Why was he being impatient? He looked around the ballroom. Where the hell was Shu?

All Satoshi did was smile as he danced with Shigeru's sister who was very beautiful. She smiled back at him kindly as she let him glide her across the room.

"You are a very good dancer," She said.

He breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you."

"You know, you've made quite an impression here tonight," She said, "It seems like you appeared out of nowhere by magic."

He laughed nervously, "You don't say…"

"Do we know your parents?" She asked.

He looked away briefly, "Well, my father he…"

"Yes?" She leaned in.

He backed up a little, "My mother she's…"

"Yes dear?" She asked.

He backed up more, "I'm sorry. I have to go."

With that being said, he slipped away to the gardens. Shigeru immediately ran after the boy but not before talking to his sister first. Satoshi was about to try to escape when Takeshi came out of nowhere. The moment the two friends saw each other, they embraced. That was when Satoshi noticed a lady next to his friend. He smiled at her but sent his friend a questioning look. Takeshi simply smiled and introduced her as Junar and said she was a royal adviser to the king. That left the ebony haired boy with a question in his mind, how did Takeshi get a girl like her? It would forever be a mystery he supposed.

"What were you doing?" Takeshi asked.

Satoshi looked down, "I was trying to get away…"

"Why?" The other asked.

He replied, "I don't think I could ever fit in this world. I mean, you know how I'm feeling right?"

"I did but that was when I realized that someone will like me for me no matter where I come from. Give the Prince a try. I'm sure you'll like him," Takeshi said.

He looked up at him, "You think so?"

"I think you shouldn't run off," Junsar said, "The Prince doesn't just let anyone in. You must be something special."

He nodded in agreement. He simply 'forgot' to tell them that by the stroke of midnight, he was going to high tail it out of there. Oh well, they were going to find out when the clock strikes twelve. He wondered what time it was while he watched his friend and the lady take their leave. Not so long after that did Shigeru appear with a worried look on his face.

He let out a deep breath, "Oh thank goodness you are here! Look, whatever my sister told you, I'm very sorry."

"No no it's okay," Satoshi said softly, "I just needed some fresh air…"

He put his arms around the other, "That makes me feel better but still…"

"Huh?" The teen leaned in.

He turned to him, "I want to know everything about you. I even want to meet everyone in your life."

"I don't think you want to…" The boy trailed off.

Shigeru sighed, "That bad?"

"Aside from one person I would love for you to meet, there really isn't anyone else there…" He said, "In fact, those other people didn't even want me to come tonight."

The prince lifted an eyebrow, "I'm very glad you chose not to listen to them."

"Yeah me too," He replied.

The brunette smiled, "I'm very glad I met you tonight Satoshi…"

"Yes…" The other said breathlessly.

And of course, right about now is the perfect time to strike up the band yet again because, it's singing time!

"Do I love you because you are beautiful," Shigeru sang, "Or are you beautiful because I love you?"

Satoshi had never been called beautiful before. He was called by other things but that particular word never really came out.

"Am I making believe I see in you," The prince went on, "A guy to lovely to be really true?"

Lovely was another one of those words that was seldom used when describing the other boy but he took it all in. Everyone likes compliments.

"Do I want you because you're wonderful," He kept singing, "Or are you wonderful because I want you?"

The prince pulled the other boy into an embrace.

"Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream," He held the other close, "Or are you really as wonderful as you seem?"

Satoshi managed to get out of the prince's iron grip and turned away from Shigeru's handsome face.

"Maybe you're imagining me. Maybe I'm imagining you too," Satoshi said before turning around, "Am I making believe I see in you a man to perfect to be really true?"

He went closer to the other and held his hands.

"Do I want you because you're wonderful," He sang, "Or are you wonderful because I want you?"

The pair looked at each other in the eye and inch by inch, they were moving closer toward each other.

"Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream," They sang in unison, "Or are you really as wonderful as you seem?"

For the moment, the rest of the world didn't exist; it was just the two of them in a world of their own making. It was perfect. They stayed like that for a while before Shigeru leaned in closer and lifted Satoshi's chin up and kissed him deeply. A minute later they pulled away, their lips were only inches away from each other.

"I always dreamed that something like this would happen," Shigeru said, "I'm so happy to say that it has. I really don't want this night to end…"

Before Satoshi had even a chance to reply, the clock struck twelve. Pikachu came out from the bushed and leaped onto his friend's shoulder. The teen immediately pulled away from the other boy.

He looked away, "I know you didn't want this to end but I'm sorry to say that it does. As much as I want to…I can't stay. I have to leave now."

"No! I don't even know where you live! How can I find you?" Shigeru asked as he followed the other boy, "Wait! Please wait!"

He shook his head as he picked up the pace, "I can't wait. I really have to go. I hope we meet each other again. I had a really great time with you. You're a great person."

Satoshi was now running at full pace, trying to get some distance between himself and the prince but it pained him to do so. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay but he wasn't ready for the other to see him for who he really was. That scared him more than anything else. He finally made it up the staircase and was heading toward the doors that lead outside when he tripped on one of those statues of armor's weapon. Not noticing that he dropped anything, he and Pikachu left through the doors and almost leaped into the carriage. Within a few seconds the carriage left at full speed back to the house.

The carriage was gone by the time Shigeru and Eevee reached the doors. He cursed his luck. He turned around to walk back to the party when his foot brushed against something. It was a glass shoe. Picking it up, he knew exactly who dropped it. He turned back around and saw the moon shining in all of its glory.

He and Satoshi were looking at the moon at the same time. They just didn't know the other was doing the same thing.

"Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream," They sang in together, "Or are you really as wonderful as you seem?"

Elsewhere in the palace, Haruka and Shu had satisfied looks on their faces. They faced each other for the moment.

"That was good planning on your part," She said.

He shrugged it off, "You know me, I'm a man with the plan."

"Indeed," She said as she turned away, "As much as I want to stay and chat, I should go. Something tells me Satoshi might need me later."

Before she had a chance to leave, Shu pulled her toward him and kissed her cheek.

He whispered in her ear, "Then I wish you a goodnight then…"

She didn't reply. Out of sheer shock and a little shyness, she disappeared. This made the greenette laugh as he made his way to Shigeru's side. He knew the prince was going to need him and he was going to have to pretend he didn't know what just happened. He was good at that.

Later on that evening, Sakaki, his kids, Takeshi and Vulpix were returning from the ball. They all looked exhausted, well everyone but Takeshi. He was happy that Junsar let him dance with her. She was so nice. But other than that, the teen was wondering how Satoshi was going to look like. He was praying that he left no evidence that he was at the ball. Sakaki knocked on the door and soon the door opened to reveal Satoshi dressed as he usually was not a single hair out of place.

Takeshi was shocked. How did he do that so fast? That was something he was going to ask him sometime that night or tomorrow.

When Sakaki and crew entered the house, they found it very clean with the late night tea and snacks on the table already. They were shocked.

"Ash did you detail the house or something?" The man asked.

Satoshi nodded, "Of course, that is what you asked me to do."

"Yes…how long did it take you?" He turned to the teen.

The boy replied, "I just finished a little while ago…"

It was a big fat lie. After he changed back at 12:45, Airisu used her magic to detail the house while Dento made the tea and snacks. Naturally, for the sake of his life, he wasn't going to tell his stepfather that.

"So how was the ball?" Satoshi asked.

Musashi smiled, "Wonderful! Everyone who was anyone was there!"

"Did you dance with the prince?" He asked.

She nodded, "I danced about an hour with him…"

"I also danced an hour with the prince!" Kojiro said.

Satoshi nodded, "That's unbelievable. You two are the lucky ones…"

"The real lucky one was that guy who kept the prince to himself the whole night," Takeshi said.

The ebony haired teen had a shocked look on his face, "Really? Did you get his name? Did he dance with the prince?"

"No one knew who he was," Sakaki said, "I was having so much fun, that I didn't notice if that boy was dancing with the prince or not. Not that it matters. He left at midnight. What sort of idiot leaves at midnight? Anyway, what else have you been up to?"

The boy shrugged, "Oh nothing. I imagined the ball and how it would have been to be there…"

"You couldn't have possibly imagined it unless you see it with your own eyes," Musashi said.

He nodded, "True but I imagined a grand staircase. Candles all around and an orchestra playing…"

"It looks that way…" Musashi sang.

Kojiro nodded, "The way you say…"

"He talks as if he knows," Sakaki sang suspicious of his stepson.

Satoshi shook his head, "I do not know that this is so. I only just suppose…"

He walked toward Takeshi who was standing there looking calm and collected.

The teen went on, "I suppose that when you come into the ballroom and the room itself is floating in the air. If you're suddenly confronted by His Highness you are frozen like a statue on the stair. You're afraid he'll hear the way you're heart is beating and you know you mustn't make the first advance. You are seriously thinking of retreating when you seem to hear him asking you to dance…"

Takeshi decided to play the part of the prince as he started to dance with his friend. He looked toward the kitchen and notice Pikachi and Vulpix laughing. He felt a smile tugging on his lips.

Satoshi then spoke, "When you waltz with him, you whirl around like your feet never touch the floor…"

"That's right they don't!" Kojiro exclaimed.

He went on, "You feel like you are weightless…"

"You don't!" Musashi exclaimed as she stood up.

He sang again, "A lovely night, a lovely night, a finer night you know you'll never see. You meet your prince, a charming prince, as charming as a prince will ever be. The stars in the hazy heaven tremble above you, while he's whispering, 'Darling I love you'. You say goodbye, away you fly but on your lips he leaves a kiss. All your night you'll dream of this lovely, lovely night."

The teens laughed as they kept dancing to no music. Kojiro and Musashi got up and danced with each other which looked very funny since they were awkward with each other. Well who wouldn't have been if they were dancing with their sibling?

"A lovely night," She sang.

He nodded, "How lovely!"

"A lovely night," She repeated.

He twirled her around, "How lovely!"

"A finer night you know you'll never see!" She smiled as she stepped on his foot.

He winced, "How lovely..."

"You meet…" She was twirled around once more.

He started laughing, "A charming prince!"

"As charming as a prince will ever be!" Sakaki joined in, "The stars in a hazy heaven…"

Kojiro sang, "Tremble above you!"

"While he's whispering…" Their father sang.

Musashi sang out, "Darling I love you!"

"You say goodbye, away you fly," Satoshi and Takeshi sang.

Kojiro and Musashi sang, "But on your lips you keep a kiss!"

"All your life you dream of this," Sakaki sat back down.

While he sat back down, he took a good look at Satoshi. The boy was smiling. Funny, he has a similar smile to that mysterious boy who was with the pri—no!

"Lovely, lovely," The four teens sang, "Lovely night~!"

"RUBBISH!" The man bellowed, "That is a load of crap if I've ever heard it!"

Kojiro looked at him, "But father…"

"And here you both are hanging on this—this idiot's every word!" He exclaimed.

Musashi frowned, "Father."

"Enough! Now go to your rooms the both you," He said, "It's late."

The siblings left with frowns on their faces. They were having fun, something they didn't really have too often. It wasn't right. Why did their father have to be so mean to Ash all of the time? That was something they didn't fully understand.

Takeshi, by Satoshi's discretion, left to the room they shared with their Pokemon in tow. Satoshi turned to his stepfather and walked right up to him.

"Why are you so convinced that I don't know what I'm talking about?" He asked.

Sakaki answered, "The thought of you ever finding someone with your methods, much less a prince, it's laughable! You don't fit with anyone and you never will."

"Why?" Satoshi glared at him.

His voice got lower, "Your common. Your father was common. Your mother spoiled you and filled your head with stupid little thoughts of true love. That stuff doesn't exist. Even if you managed to get to the ball tonight, if the prince found out what you really were, he would never love you. Instead he would laugh at you as I would. Didn't you know? It all about title these days and you, my dear, don't have one."

After that was said the man turned and left to his room. Satoshi walked out the door and into the night. He looked up at the sky. Apart of him was hoping that his mother was watching all of this. He knew that if she were to know what was happening she wouldn't want her son to stay there. Closing his eyes, he knew what he was going to do tomorrow.

"My wish came true. Away I flew," He sang, "But on my lips he left a kiss. All my life I dream of this…"

Haruka appeared out of nowhere, "You're not planning on giving up now are you? You're halfway there."

"I have to Haruka. I realized that I deserve more from life than what I've been given. I owe it to myself and Takeshi to do this," He said.

She nodded, "I see. But what will happen if and when the prince comes looking for you? I was told you tripped on your way out and you dropped your shoe. He's bound to come around this way."

"He better hope that he catches me before Takeshi and I take off," He replied.

A new voice appeared, "He will catch you because we're not leaving tomorrow."

Haruka and Satoshi turned to see Takeshi there in all of his glory. He was walking toward them with a determined look on his face.

"What do you mean?" Satoshi asked.

Takeshi responded, "We are going to wait here until the prince comes, no matter how long it takes."

"Why should I? What if Sakaki is right and he doesn't like what he sees?" The other asked.

Haruka shook her head, "Do you really think the prince fell in love with your fancy clothes? I know for a fact that he fell in love with you the person. Like I said earlier this night, your stepfather is just saying things to keep you under his thumb. Though running away will get you up from under it, it won't solve all of your problems. Unless…"

"Well it sounds like someone here has a plan," The older teen said.

She nodded, "If you both are willing to listen, I'll give you both a way out of here and Satoshi in the arms of a very handsome prince. All you need to do is what I say. Are you both in?"

Immediately, Takeshi nodded. It took Satoshi a while longer but soon he also nodded. Haruka smiled brightly, revealing the plan she had to insure their happiness. It really did sound very convincing and it was easy enough for both of them to pull off. Later on, the teens went to sleep for a few measly hours with smiles on their faces. This was going to be the last night they had on these uncomfortable beds and that in itself was something to be happy about.

Haruka meanwhile, told her friends and Shu that the boys were down with her side of the plan. The sun rose from the horizon. Haruka did her half, now it was going to be Shu's time to shine and lead the prince to the boy named Ash who also happened to be Satoshi from the previous night. Boy was the prince going to be happy when he finds that out but all in due time.

What do you think? LET ME KNOW!

If I had everyone who favoured & followed this fic were to review, I would be a happy author. REVIEW GUYS!

Now you all may wonder when you will see the new fic. You will see it in either January or February. The reason behind this is because my job gets very busy around the holidays and around the first two months of the year, things will begin to regulate. I know it seems like it's going to be a long long time before you see something else from me but it's not as long as we think.

All I ask is that you bear with me broskis. Okay?

Reviews = Love

With Love,

SanguisRubeus