The Flip Side

Sorry for the delay, I've been working on my other story that's Klaine for the Glee archive. It is pretty popular but doesn't have a lot of reviews...

Anyways, do to my writers blockage this chapter is short since my sister, Emma, forced me to update... Hopefully as I try to get my mojo (hehe, that's one of my old nicknames. I used to be obsessed with The Powerpuff Girls and my favorite villain was Mojojojo, hehe, so for the longest time my family called me Mojo...enough with my backstory.) back and these chapters can start getting longer and then we can start my new story called Operation: V.A.M.P.I.R.E.S. for more info on the story, check out my profile.

So let us get on with the story!

Words: 4,420

Previously on Kuki Enchanted:

Ace had opened his mouth to retort or issue a command but Sir Monty stopped sobbing and lunged at me. He pawed at my dress with a sort of mad fever in his eyes. He ripped away the gold brooch fastened to my collar. As he peered at it closely, I took the opportunity to tuck the faerie-made shoes under my legs, out of sight from Sir Monty's greedy eyes."Is this real gold?" He bit it. "Empty your purse!" When I simply stared at him in disbelief, he shoved his hands in my purse himself, even as I tried to squirm away. "What do you have?"Only the comb that I used to straighten out Eva's hair with and an old handkerchief that I had already used. "Silver-plated," Sir Monty declared, examining it closely. "I shall keep it! What else?" He flew at me again, but this time Mother stopped him, gripping his wrists."Monty, we have each other now. What else matters? Love is the most expensive of all treasures." Despite her newfound (and enforced) affections, I knew she was lying through her teeth. "Besides, once I begin to travel again and do some more trading, I will earn back all that we have lost, and much more. I will keep us all in the lifestyle in which we are habituated too."Sir Monty would not be deterred. He raised a shaking hand and pointed his finger down at me as he returned to his seat. "I'll not have that pauper living as an equal in my household. She shall have to earn her keep!"Mother's eyes narrowed dangerously, but her voice stayed honeyed. "My love, Kuki is my only child who I love dearly though sometimes I may not show it that much to her." She said, her eyes met mine and I felt a warm feeling spread in my chest. She turned her attention to back to Sir Monty. "I expect her to be treated with due respect. She shall not be a servant in our home. Do you comprehend what I'm saying, Monty?"Sir Monty said nothing in reply, but the murderous expression on his face did not bode me well.

We rode through the night. Ace and Nigel soon fell asleep, slumped against the windows and taking up the entire bench, but Sir Monty stubbornly stayed awake and alert, glaring down at me while he absently stroked Mother's head. I wondered at how she had managed to doze off with him touching her like that. I supposed that Henrietta's magic had been all-consuming; they truly were in love, as much as each of them surely loathed being in such a state. I eventually lay down on the carriage floor; apparently, Mother's idea of respect did not include moving over so that I could sit next to her on the bench.

We arrived back at Uno manor the next morning, and I left my new family quickly, thankfully avoiding any orders from Ace, who was still quite groggy. Kami was not due to arrive at the estate until the evening after next, but I sought out Jackson, who was laundering the many linens and cloths from the wedding banquet.

"Kuki! I'm so happy to see you," he said, rushing forward to greet me. "There's this stain on this table cloth, and I couldn't get it out. And my mom is at the market and won't return until tonight, and if I don't get the stain out by this afternoon then Sir Monty will kill me." He said, on the verge of having a panic-attack if he wasn't having one already.

"Let me see it" I held out my hands and he pressed the cloth into them. A dark purple stain covered the material. "Gravy, and the material is very fine. Silk, and giant-harvested, if I am not mistaken. Sir Monty certainly has expensive taste. It will need to soak for a good half-day, Jackson. Add a cup of honeydew to really work the stain out."

"Thank you, Kuki! I owe you one!"

"Yes, well, I have Sewing Mistress to thank for that" I replied, running the material through my fingers.

"So, what were you and the prince doing before me and Eva stumbled upon you." He asked, wagging his eyebrows at me.

"It is purely platonic." I said to him, "And that reminds me, Jackson. You should be more careful. Running around with Eva last night? Holding her hand in front of the prince? You two could have easily been found out. I don't want my friends to get in trouble," I added softly. "Do you know what people would say if they saw you and Eva running through the corridors."

"No, but the same goes for you and the prince, I have a feeling you two will be wedded one day." Jackson said.

"I don't think so." I told him, thinking of our almost kiss. "We're only friends."

"Eva and I will be wed one day," he carried on, calmly folding napkins.

"What!" I exclaimed as I dropped the napkin that I was helping Jackson fold.

"I love Eva, more than anyone in the world. And she loves me." Jack said, the dopey smile from last night back on his face."

"You only met last night!" I exclaimed, I refused to believe in the whole 'love at first sight' thing. Sure I knew about the tragic tale of Pyramus and Thisbe, but that love story didn't end up in a happily ever after.

He gave me a large smile. "Yes, but we got to know each other very well." He said, "My brothers would be very proud of me." Just as he said this, his two brothers came up to him.

Barney looked that most like their mom. He had light skin and crazy blonde hair and a tall build. His brother, James, resembled Jackson more. He had the same dark skin and chocolate eyes.

"Hey little bro," Barney said, "Heard about you and Lady Evangeline, way to get the bang on." He said, inhaling a deep breath.

"Please don't..." James said in futile attempt, but his plea was unheard by his brother.

"I said a bang bang, bangity bang, bang bang bangy bangity bang. I said a bang bang, bangity bang, bang bang bangy bangity bang. I said a bang bang, bangity bang, bang bang bangy bangity bang."

"Come on..." James said as he pushed his brother in the direction back to the manor house while he kept singing.

"I said a bang bang, bangity bang, bang bang bangy bangity bang!"

"I will never understand your brother." I said as I watched his brother push him into the servants door.

"No one does, it's just how us Daniels' do it." he says, waggling his eyebrows.

It was just as well that we did not continue our conversation in that way, because Nigel soon appeared in the doorway.

"Jackson, I left my clothes from the wedding in my room for you to wash. Can you go get them?" he asked, grinning at him.

"Really, Nigel," I snapped at him, "could you not have brought them here youself? Did you just let the garments fall off your body as soon as you set foot into your room?"

Nigel's brow furrowed, but Jackson stood up and bowed. "Yes, Master Nigel."

Nigel moved closer to me as Jackson left. I sighed, disliking the change in company.

"Elizabeth and I have ended our courtship," he confessed, frowning down at his hands.

"I am not surprised," I replied, feeling quite uncharitable, "it was obvious you made one another miserable. And you would have never chased after her if the boys at Gallagher and Poppa Monty had not discouraged you from courting Rachel in the first place."

Nigel gave me a wounded look, but quickly recovered, "You think you could convince Abbagalia to court with me?" he asked, "You two are friends and I'm sure she wouldn't mind getting a raise in her social status at school if she were to court with me."

"Don't you dare! Abba doesn't deserve to be your rebound! I thought you were better than that, Nigel Uno!"

I realized I was yelling, stalking towards Nigel and sticking a finger in his face. He looked quite alarmed and was backing away, hands raised in a sign of surrender, though he was a full head taller than I.

"I just…Elizabeth is gone, and I miss Rachel, and I'm lonely," he protested feebly.

"I don't care! You have no right to use me as a way to get a courtship!" I took a deep breath. "Perhaps you should stay away from girls altogether for awhile. You clearly have no knowledge on how to court girls." I thought before adding, "You spend too much time with Barney." I said, knowing that the two were friends. "You're a womanizer just like him!"

Nigel's eyes widened and he shook his head vehemently, and he moved to the door. "Would you kiss me?" He asked hopefully.

"I would never! Are you really that much of an idiot to demand that someone kiss you! You are not Jupiter! You can't just go anywhere you like and just have girls begging for your courtship! You will always be hurting someone by doing so! For Jupiter is was Juno, for you, it's Rachel."

Nigel winced at my harsh words but fled anyway, looking rather guilty. "Grow up, Nigel!" I called after him, clenching my trembling hands into angry fists and fighting away the flood of memories of an ordered kiss.

The following morning, Wally came calling. My heart jumped to my throat as I watched him ride his beautiful white stallion up the path to Uno manor through my new bedroom window. I raced down the stairs only to find myself face-to-face with Ace.

"What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously.

"It is none of your affair," I sent him a baleful glare and tried to move around him. He stepped in front of me once more as the manservant announced Wally's arrival. Ace glared at me.

"Going to slobber all over the prince some more, huh? I do not think so. I don't think he wants you around him."

"He is here to see me," I snapped, my trembling hands closing into tight fists at my sides. I could feel a flush creeping up my neck, I was sure Ace could see the red against my fair skin.

"Go to your room and stay there," Ace growled menacingly, his eyes alight with satisfaction. I noticed him twisting Father's ring round his finger. "I'm sure he wants nothing to do with you. He'd surely enjoy my company over that of you, Kuku."

"And here I thought they were one in the same," I said dryly as I willed myself to stay in place, despite the growing aches and nausea in my body. Perhaps if I could stay long enough to have Wally come in and order me to do something else…

Ace took a step closer to me. "Shut up. Go to your room, and don't come out until the prince has left."

I clenched my jaw and glared at him for a moment longer, but then let out a gasp of pain. It was too much. I let my body direct itself back up the stairs, my eyes lingering on the main entrance. But I was neatly tucked away in my room by the time Wally finally entered the manor. I banged my fists against the walls, hoping he would hear and come investigate, but the wood seemed to be too thick.

I spent the first quarter hour of his visit at my doorway, trying to will my body forward and out of the room, but I only ended up crumpled on the floor and cringing in pain. The rest I spent seething by the window, watching for his departure.

When he emerged from the manor another quarter hour later, I found myself pressing my hand against the window pain, desperate to reach out to him. I curled my hand into a fist, shaking with rage. How I wanted to fly at Ace and pull out his thick hair! Useless, I merely watched as Wally mounted his horse, giving a gold coin to the stable hand, and kicked the stallion into a leisurely trot. He turned in his saddle for one last glance at the house, and I raised my hand in a wave, but he didn't seem to notice as he twisted back in his seat.

That night, I opened my faerie tale book and found an entry from Wally's journal. I hesitated to read it, but assured myself that if the book was showing me, it must be important.

He had departed for Ayortha. And as it turned out, he had seen me in the window.

It seems as though Kuki is avoiding me. I came calling to her today, and her newly made brother, Jaceon, informed me she was out but would return shortly. I waited as long as I could, but the company was, well, less than pleasant. I much would rather have conversed with Kuki than either of her two brothers. Nigel was polite and untalkative, being stared down by his brother, who insisted on talking about subjects that bored me to death. How I long for Kuki to come and make me laugh with one of her jokes.

As I rode away, I looked back for one last glimpse of her new home, if I could not have a last glimpse of her. She was standing in the window, looking down at me. She must have been there the whole time. Why did she not come down to see me? Surely she knew I had come calling. I worry that I have truly made her uncomfortable, or perhaps even angry. If she is angry, I wish she would have approached me and told me so. She has always seemed so honest. I planned to visit again this evening and leave for Ayortha in the morning, but Father insisted we leave tonight.

Perhaps she is angry or scared because I tried to kiss her. Perhaps I embarrassed her in front of her new family by convincing her to slide down the rail. Perhaps they were displeased with our behavior. I wish I could have told her that I intend to spend my first night in the Ayorthian palace sliding down all the rails and making a fool of myself. I think it would make her smile. I do so love to make her smile; it seems that she does not do so often.

Instead I had to listen to her oaf of a step-brother try to impress me with his knowledge of whatever it was he was talking about. How is it that one girl can make a subject of conversation so amusing, where a boy makes it almost painful to endure?

And endure it I did, while Kuki hid from me upstairs. It pains me to think that I have damaged what we share, as I have never known a truer friend.

I yearned to set his mind at ease, but wondered how I could explain my odd behavior. I decided to simply start with a greeting, but found myself hesitating even at this. I did not know how to greet him properly. Calling him Wally when we spoke was one thing, but to write it down? Dear Wally sounded disrespectful, but Dear Prince Wally and Dear Highness did not speak well to the close nature of our relationship. I worried my lip as I considered the conclusion as well. Yours truly was again too formal, but Your friend sounded silly and childish.

I skipped to the body of my letter, putting aside those bothersome details for a moment.

I have been confined to my room. My new step-father is most displeased with me. I assure you, it has nothing to do with you. He is insulted that I disappeared from the wedding celebrations so early. My punishment is not so dreadful, when one considers that my chances of encountering certain, shall we say, trying family members drastically decreases if I cannot venture from my room.

My only regret is that I could not come out and see you when you came to visit. I saw you arrive and leave, and I waved to you while I stood at my window, but you must not have noticed. Three more days of my sentence remain. I know that you have left for Ayortha by the morning, so I cannot hope to see you and say good-bye, which makes the punishment seem less awful, somehow.

I do hope you will still write to me, and not just of Ayortha, but of yourself as well. I have many burning questions, and most are quite audacious. What was it like having tutors all to yourself as a boy? Did you ever study with other children? I assume you excelled in everything taught to you…but perhaps you did not, I know for a fact you did not pay attention during your language classes? Was there a subject of study you despised, obviously besides language classes? When did you come to understand you were a prince and would one day be king? How did you feel? Feel free to ignore any of these questions if they seem to you impertinent.

I told him about my childhood, those happy years with Father, Aunt Morgan, and Kami, playing games and baking, singing for Father, listening to he and Kami tell me stories of the faeries, and Aunt Morgan and Father's constant quarreling. I did not mention Henrietta's curse or the fact that Kami was a faerie.

In my next letter, I promise to tell you more of deportment school, my Ayorthan friend Abba, and how Lady Rachel and I managed to become dear friends, despite our initial animosity. I shall also tell you of Fanny and Patton, the elves I befriended on my travels. If you reply quickly, I shall reward you with Kami's recipe for salmon pate, so that you may try it out and impress your Ayorthian hosts.

I must ask you to engage in a little subterfuge: please address any letters you decide to write to Kami rather than myself, and do not mark them with your name. You are shocked, I am sure, at this suggestion, but I can only hope that one who flies down stairwell rails with such reckless abandon as you can overcome his hesitation at my proposition.

Adumma ubensu enusse onsordo.

Ubenu abila amikia,

Ikuki

I closed the letter with the Ayorthan words for "please write soon," and wondered how long it would take him to discover their meaning. I signed off with "Your listless friend, Kuki," as the adjective made it seem less immature. After further deliberation, I added "Dear Prince Wally" for the greeting. I addressed the letter to the royal family in Ayortha, and hoped that helpful hands would convey it to Wally.

I read Wally's journal entry once more before putting out the lamp. As I lay in bed, trying to fall asleep, I could not help but wonder what my step-family had in store for me.

The next morning, Mother left to begin her travels and earn back the money she had lost.

Before she left, we spoke privately.

"I leave in a quarter hour. At least that stupid faerie left me my own sense of reason and will so I actually can leave, though I am sure I shall pine for Monty every day. What an idiotic gift!" She picked up her letter opener and held it like a dagger. "If I could carve out the part of my heart that beats only for my husband. You know what, Kuki? I should just do it right now."

I rolled my eyes. There was no chance of Mother ever causing herself harm. "Why must I stay here with the Uno's?"

"You are an Uno now."

"I'm a Sanban!" I snapped.

"And besides, you have nowhere else to go," she continued as if I hadn't interrupted her, "you ran away from Gallagher's, and you won't find better company with me on my travels. Don't run off again."

"You are better company than they are, Mother." It was true; despite my dislike of my Mother, she was still preferable over Sir Monty and Ace.

"High praise, indeed. Now, bid your mother farewell."

"Good-bye."

She patted me on the shoulder. "I prefer to love my husband from afar. I shall not soon return, Kuki."

"I care not." I responded to her.

But it didn't take me long to realize that I did care about Mother's long absence. As soon as she left, my last form of protection left with her.

Once Mother's carriage was out of sight, Sir Montgomery stopped bellowing his sorrow, dabbed at his eyes, and instructed Jackson and the manservant, George, to take my things to the servants' wing. My new room was the least of the servants' quarters, more a cell than a proper living place. With a tiny window and no fireplace, I guessed it would be quite cold in the winter.

Once my things were moved, Sir Montgomery called for me. Ace stood by his side, arms crossed, and a smug expression on his face as I entered the tea room and took a seat by the door. Nigel was there as well, gazing out of the window glumly.

"You are not to sit, Kukihana," Sir Montgomery sniffed, "it is improper and impolite to do so in the presence of your superiors."

I glared at him and remained seated. His eyes bugged out, and he spoke again, appalled.

"Did you not hear me? You are not…"

"Stand up, Kuki. And stay standing," Ace ordered, a smirk on his face.

I gritted my teeth and clutched at the edges of the chair seat. Sir Montgomery watched in fascination at my efforts to stay still. It was, as usual, too much. I stood and felt my symptoms dissipate.

"Kuki is very obedient, Father," Ace gloated, coming to stand right next to me, "Kuki, tell Father just how obedient you are."

"…very obedient," I bit out. I ground the heel of my shoes into his toes, and he let out a high-pitched yelp. Far too loud than any boy should be able to at that.

"What is this?" Sir Monty asked as Ace moved a safe distance away from me.

"I don't know. But she'll do whatever she's told."

"Truly?" Sir Montgomery squeaked, his eyes lighting up.

Ace nodded.

"You mean all this time, she would have listened to me, too?" Nigel asked in disbelief. I glared at him, but he refused to meet my eyes.

"Hop on one foot three times, Kuki," Sir Montgomery commanded excitement evident in his voice. My legs shook as I tried to resist, but soon I was hopping up and down.

"Jaceon, you're so clever!" Sir Monty exclaimed, pinching Ace's cheek as he tried to squirm away.

"As clever as he is handsome," I commented blandly.

They both looked at me in confusion.

"But Ace is not very handsome," Nigel piped up, clearly still bewildered.

My little triumph was bittersweet, but I still smirked at the look of insult on Ace's face.

HAHAH I love that line from the book originally "As clever as she is beautiful" hehe, Sure Ace is supposed to be hot in the KND universe, but not here, let us just say he's a little fatter and not as cool as he seems.

Next chapter: Things get a little complicated when Wally replies, and how is Kuki to cope with being a maid in her own house? You'll just have to see!