Sorry guys, APs are coming up and so I won't be updating as frequently. ugh I hate APs...can't wait until they are over. Hope you like this chapter. Please review!

Chapter 27: Rumors

"What's wrong?" Misaki asked. She gently placed her hands on Usui's tense shoulders.

Usui came back from court today looking tired and fed up. He kept running his hand through his hair and muttering things to himself. Usui had been in the study for hours now. Misaki had not wanted to disturb him but eventually came in with some food.

"Tis nothing, sweetheart" Usui said sealing a letter. "Only Tora stirring up trouble..." Usui didn't want Misaki to know anything that could worry her. Right now her health needs to come first. Bearing twins was not making her life easier.

Misaki paused. "What is he doing?" she asked. Trouble within the noble class wasn't going to end well for anyone.

"You don't have to worry" Usui said placing a hand on her stomach. "Just take good care do yourself."

Misaki frowned. "Can you please tell me?" She understood politics and wanted to help Usui. She was also bored out of her mind. No one let her do anything. She couldn't even get up and down the stairs by herself.

Usui pushed his chair back and pulled Misaki onto his lap.

"What are you doing?" Misaki exclaimed. Usui just smiled and held her close.

"I just like holding my wife" he said. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"I might crush you..." Misaki muttered.

"Never. You're still quite light" Usui reassured her.

"Can you tell me about court?" Misaki pressed again.

Usui sighed. "Tora has been rather rebellious lately. I suspect that he wants to revolt..." he said flatly. He couldn't refuse Misaki anything. Sooner or later she wins him over.

Misaki gasped. "The Marquess is betraying the crown?"

"The way he acts seems like it..."

"What of the king then?"

Usui shook his head. "Tis the frustrating part. Tora keeps attacking me and trying to make me look bad. I sense his majesty isn't too pleased."

"But you have done nothing wrong!" Misaki exclaimed. "Surely the King is not blind to his own judgement"

"Tora wields a sly tongue"

Usui helped Misaki up. "Don't get any ideas" he warned. "You are not taking part in anything"

"I have not even spoken a single word!" Misaki said defensively.

Usui smirked. "As if I do not know you, Misaki"

Misaki smiled. "There are still many things you not know of me" she said lifting her chin.

"Oh? Like what?" Usui asked, amused.

Misaki looked smug. "I can debate just as well as any man. Surely I can silence Tora's rumors"

"Debate?" Usui asked. Why was he no longer surprised by such male skills Misaki possessed.

"Indeed" Misaki said. "Surely we can make his plan backfire-"

"Uh uh" Usui said, taking her hand. "You don't have to worry about the court" he told her. "I will take care of everything"

Misaki pulled her hand away. "Stop it" she ordered.

Usui raised an eyebrow. "Stop what?" he asked.

"Stop treating me like...like a woman!" Misaki snapped.

This deeply amused Usui. "You don't wish to be treated as a woman?" he asked.

Misaki blushed. "I do not need to be shielded from every petty thing in the world" she argued.

"But are you not a woman?"

"Perhaps-"

"Perhaps...?"

"Alright yes I am but I am just as good as you are Takumi!"

Usui nodded. "Even better" he told her.

Misaki frowned. "Are you teasing me?" she demanded.

"Of course not"

"You are smiling"

"Am I forbidden to smile?"

"Yes!"

Usui's poker face returned. "Yes my lady" he said obediently.

Misaki rolled her eyes and went to sit down. Standing for even a short period of time wore her out.

"Biscuit?" Usui offered her from the tray.

"I brought the tray for you to eat" Misaki reminded him.

"Thank you dearest, but I am not hungry at the moment"

"You must eat to keep up your strength" she reminded him. "We have a long and treacherous road ahead of us..."

Usui took a bite of the biscuit and fed Misaki the other half. "I'm sure everything will work out" Usui said, trying to sound confident.

The Court situation was becoming sticker as the day passed. Tora had secretly rounded up a large army. The loyal nobles were pressing Usui to lead a counter army.

"We have to fight!" they said.

"But what will the King say?"

"We must defend his majesty"

"We should not wage war so lightly"

Usui's mind was filled with everyone's yelling. He was still unsure about leading an army. What if this was all a misunderstanding? Tora wouldn't really be so foolish to lead a rebellion, would he?

"Give it time" Usui told the fellow nobles. "We must not ignite a war if it was can be avoided. We can't waste so many lives so easily."

"When will it be the last straw?" a noble asked.

Usui thought about it. "If Tora begins moving his army, we shall attack" he decided. The nobles agreed.

Misaki read through Usui's letters. She sat in his study looking through every single piece of parchment. Usui hadn't returned from court and Misaki wanted to know the true situation. Usui was afraid to worry her and kept all the details hidden. If he wasn't going to tell her, then Misaki was going to find out herself.

Her golden eyes flitted from letter to letter and compared it to a few book volumes. Out of all her knowledge of war, something of Tora's plan seemed incomplete. Tora was being too cautious. Even if his plan was risky, his execution of the plan was poor. Even Misaki could tell this was a poor decision.

Misaki slowly got up and retrieved a huge book from the shelf. This was the Marquess's inventory. Misaki carefully flipped open the crisp pages. She read the book from cover to cover and then started over again. Her mathematics weren't the strongest but they were good enough to do these calculations.

Tora had purchased too much weaponry and not enough supplies. The amount of food and clothing he had bought would barely cover a medium size army, much less a huge army for a long period of time. The inventory was unbalanced. It was hard to notice but after Misaki read the inventory for the third time she could see clearly see the holes. Tora's army would starve within weeks. Tora was greedy but he was not an idiot.

"What is he doing...?" Misaki whispered. There was enough horses and weapons bought for several armies which had alarmed the noblemen. But the supplies...

"Good afternoon, Duke Usui" someone greeted.

Misaki gasped. Usui was back early. She frantically shoved letters back into their envelopes and tried to straighten out his desk.

Usui strolled through the halls wondering what Misaki was doing. He felt bad for being so busy lately. He also worried about a real war starting. Misaki was very vulnerable right now. Also what would happen if something happen to him? Anything could occur in battle. Lives were lost by the hundred. He shook his head to clear out his thoughts. The thought of leaving Misaki a widow with two children was too much to bear.

He pushed opened the door to his study and froze. Misaki was frantically trying to straighten things out.

"Misaki...?" he asked, feeling slightly puzzled.

Misaki jerked up. The book in her hands fell to the floor with a loud thud.

"T-T-takumi" she stammered. "You're back early..." she breathed. Usui examined her. Her hair was coming out of the bun and her gold eyes were wide.

"What are you doing?" he inquired.

"N-nothing" Misaki said, trying to pick up the book on the ground.

Usui immediately rushed to her side and grabbed her arm. "How many times do I have to tell you not to bend over?" Usui asked. He picked up the book. It was the marquess's inventory log.

"Why are you looking at this?" Usui asked, raising an eyebrow.

Misaki looked away. "I wasn't"

"Look at me"

Misaki glanced over. Usui was staring at her with his intense gaze.

"You are lying" Usui observed.

"I'm not!"

Usui put his hand under Misaki's chin and made her look at him. "I can always tell when you're lying" he reminded her. "You can't hide anything from me"

Misaki blushed. "I was just straightening out your study" she lied.

"We have maids to do that" Usui gently reminded her.

"But I knew-"

"There were important things on my desk?" Usui asked. "Things that talked about the court? Yes, I am quite aware of that"

Misaki bit her lower lip. Why did Usui read her so easily?

"Let's try this again" Usui said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Misaki's ear. "What were you doing?"

"You can't get angry" Misaki warned.

Usui tried to fight a smile. "When am I ever angry at you?"

"I just wanted to know the details..." Misaki mumbled. "You wouldn't tell me anything"

"So you raided my desk?" Usui asked. He picked up an envelope with the seal broken.

"Hardly" Misaki said, lifting her chin. "As the lady of the household, I am entitled to oversee all things"

Usui nodded. "So you are" he agreed. "Good to know you are a lady after all" he teased.

Misaki glared at him. "Very funny..." she said.

Usui casually slung an arm around her waist. "You need to rest" he said, pulling her back to the bedchamber.

"I'm not tired..." Misaki complained.

"I get tired just looking at you stand" Usui said.

"I am quite use to this extra weight" Misaki said standing up straighter. She kept a firm hand under her stomach.

"Very well" Usui said, placing a hand over her's, on her stomach. "Could I ask my lady to join me for dinner?"

Misaki smiled and took Usui's arm. "I shall bestow upon you the honor then," she said lightly.

Usui pulled out a chair for Misaki to sit down and kissed her hand. Usui sat at the head of the long table with Misaki on his right. The maids diligently brought out bowls of soup.

Misaki picked up the silver spoon and sipped at the soup. Her thoughts often flitted back to Tora's inventory. Something was missing in this puzzle.

After soup the maids brought out the second course. The garden salad was arranged beautifully on the silver platter. The healthy greens and rich cheese quickly disappeared.

Misaki wiped her mouth with a napkin and then took a long drink of her glass of milk.

"Would you like more?" Usui asked, gesturing to Misaki's empty platter. Misaki smiled and plucked a carrot off of Usui's plate.

"No thank you" she said, chewing on the crunchy carrot.

Usui took another bit of salad. Food didn't taste right anymore. The thought of war was enough to make anyone's stomach churn.

He dropped the fork onto the table and waved the maids over to clear the plates. Shortly after the table was cleared the third course began. Roast chicken, baked potatoes, fish, and fresh bread filled the table.

Misaki watched Usui take small bites of his dinner. He didn't seem to have much of an appetite. Misaki tried her best to comfort him. She awkwardly placed her hand over his.

"Hello" she said. Why did she just say that...? Out of all the things to say she chose hello...

Usui glanced up and smiled."Hello my lady" he greeted.

Misaki didn't know what else to say so she just smiled at him. Usui took a sip from his goblet.

"Tis rather odd..." he remarked. Misaki was holding his hand and smiling at him. Not that he minded but it was...different.

Misaki blushed. "Are you not hungry?" she asked.

Usui let his fork clatter onto the platter. "I am plagued with worries" he admitted.

"Tell me, Takumi" Misaki said. "I wish to share your burden..."

Usui intertwined his fingers with hers. "War is not a laughing matter" he said. "If war breaks out, I must fight"

"Tis the heroic thing to do" Misaki said nodding.

Usui sighed. "I have no need to be a great hero" he told Misaki. "I simply want to be a husband and a father, nothing more"

"You fear death?" Misaki asked.

"Not for myself but those who would be affected by my death"

"Me...?"

"And our children" Usui said. He felt better telling Misaki. "I fear making a mistake that costs me my life. I also fear leaving the woman I love alone with two children to care for."

"If you must ride into battle..." Misaki began. "You must be fearless. Do not worry for me. Let's promise each other to take care of ourselves"

"I promise" Usui said pressing his cheek onto her palm.

"I promise too"

That night Misaki was brushing out her hair in front of the mirror. Sakura slowly removed the jewels and placed them carefully into a wooden chest.

"Sakura..." Misaki said.

"Yes?"

"Why would one purposely prepare for a losing war?" Misaki asked.

Sakura giggled. "Please spare me..." she said. "I don't understand politics in the slightest"

Misaki sighed. "Why would you wear a gown to a ball that was hideous?" she tried asking.

"I wouldn't" Sakura said. "I am no fool"

"You wouldn't..." Misaki whispered.

"Of course" Sakura continued. "If I knew the gown was hideous I would never wear it. No matter what anyone said"

"Never wear it..." Misaki breathed.

"Misaki?"

"You wouldn't wear it!" Misaki exclaimed.

Sakura felt confused. Misaki never liked talking about gowns...

"Perhaps if you wouldn't wear it...you would fight it either..." Misaki continued.

"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked. Misaki got up from her seat.

"You wouldn't fight!" Misaki exclaimed, rushing out the door. Her simple white gown lined in lace fluttered about as Misaki rushed into Usui's study.

If Tora wasn't prepared to fight a war, perhaps there wasn't a war. He could be pretending for no fool would go into war without supplies.

Usui was sitting in his study. His head propped up by his hand as he stared at the unchanging chessboard. The pieces were laid out as Usui tried to guess his opponent's move. His concentration scattered when Misaki burst into his study. Her long hair was loose and she was dress in white from head to toe.

"Takumi!" Misaki said, breathing hard. Usui immediately got up.

"Why are you running around?" Usui demanded. "What is the matter?"

Misaki collapsed into a chair. "I understand now..." she said.

"What?" Usui asked, wondering what his wife was talking about.

Misaki sat up. "Tora isn't going to fight" Misaki stated.

"Pardon?"

"Tora isn't going to fight! I checked the inventory as well as all the history books on war. Tora has mass purchased weapons but no supplies. He wouldn't fight a lost war"

Usui raised an eyebrow. "Why would Tora plot a rebellion then?" he asked. "Misaki I don't think you understand-"

"I do!" Misaki cut in. She stood up. "You can't predict his battle plan!" Misaki said. She swept all the black chess pieces onto the floor with her arm. "...Because there is no plan!"