Review Responses:

MagicxMusicxMelody: It's more of Klaus being a nosy person, actually, LOL. He doesn't know about Shun and Alice's history together *yet*. Let's see what this chapter holds! (o'ｕ≦o)

pretty-on-point: Unfortunately, there are a lot of nosy people like Klaus in real life. Klaus is a REALLY dense person in this story so he doesn't know about Shun and Alice's history together just yet. Julie was talking telling Alice and Klaus about how she was interested in Shun, so Klaus wanted to be a good friend and introduce him to her, LOL! Stayed tuned for this chapter to see Alice's response! (*・∀-)

Innocent-Diamond: I apologize that I wrote the last chapter so horribly that it gave you anxiety! Shun and Alice are going to talk/discuss more things in this chapter so hopefully everything clears up a bit! (・ωｰ)～

cherry-tree-of-life: There will be a bit of a confession in this chapter so stay tuned for that~! (*＾∀゜)

Chapter 6

"Do you still love me, Alice?"

"Wh - What?" Alice pushed Shun away as she sat straight up, scarcely believing her ears. What did he just say?

"Do you still love me, Alice?" He repeated once more as he held onto her forearms in a gentle, yet firm grip.

"Shun, I - I have a husband. I cannot - " The redhead female stuttered, feebly.

"Do you still love me?" Was all he said, his gaze never leaving hers.

Alice knew that the most logical answer would be 'no'. Because saying 'no' would save her the trouble and sleepless nights that he gave her ever since they were reunited. Because saying 'no' would mean that she would be able to forget about her past. Because saying 'no' would mean giving them both a chance of moving on from each other and with their own lives.

Just as she was about to answer, he tried once more. "Angel." Her heart skipped a beat at hearing the endearing pet name he had given her when they were thirteen. "Do you still love me?"

"Y - Yes." She managed to choke out as tears welled up in her chocolate brown orbs and the female allowed them to stream down her cheeks. "I still love you."

Shun let out a small laugh as he brought her body closer to him, tipping her chin up so she could face him as he gently wiped her tears with his thumbs. "And I, you." With that, the raven-haired male held her face with his hands and kissed her hard and long, as if he never wanted to let her go. Her body seemed as if it was acting on memory and instinct as she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, essentially molding their bodies together. If anyone saw them the way they were in that moment, a number of vile things would be said about her. After all, proper ladies do not have affairs behind their husbands' backs. In that moment, however, Alice was tired. She was tired of suppressing her emotions, tired of acting like the perfect wife. Because in that moment, nothing mattered but the both of them.

...

"When we were torn apart at sixteen, Grandfather dragged me off to the kingdom of New Vestroia." Shun murmured as he rested his head on her shoulder. The two of them were still outside on the balcony and wrapped in each other's embrace with Alice sitting between his outstretched legs. The redhead female leaned back against the raven-haired male as his grip around her waist tightened. "I didn't want to stay long but Grandfather insisted that I spend at least a year. I thought New Vestroia was all he wanted from me, but imagine my horror when he wanted me to visit Neathia and Bayview."

"Hmm." His childhood lover hummed as she traced nonsensical patterns on the hands that were around her waist. "What exactly were you doing there in all of those places?"

"Grandfather heard that the guards of New Vestroia went through the most rigorous training and wanted me to train alongside them." Shun slipped an arm off of her waist and with his now free hand, he twirled a lock of her orange-red hair. "He wasn't joking. Well, I had completed the training and was ranked first. King Keith wanted me to serve as one of his personal guardsmen but because I promised Grandfather that I would stay in New Vestroia for only a year, I declined. Grandfather was upset, as you can imagine, and I suppose that was the reason why I was dragged off to Neathia."

"Neathia..." Alice mulled over the word before her memory came back to her. "Wasn't Neathia in a war with - "

"Gundalia? Yes, yes it was. I served in the war as a war general to the former Queen Serena and one of then-Crown Princess Fabia's advisers." The redhead let out a gasp as the raven-haired male pressed a kiss on her right cheek. "The title sounds impressive, Angel, but don't be deceived. Grandfather and I arrived in Neathia when the war was nearly over - I only stayed there for six months. I really must thank King Ren and Queen Fabia for falling in love - they were the ones that ended the war. Otherwise, I would have been in Neathia for much longer than what I would like."

"Didn't you visit Bayview as well?" She inquired, trying to remember the list of places he had mentioned he had visited when they were at the ball all those weeks ago.

"I did. Grandfather hadn't planned on dragging me to Bayview; it was originally supposed to be a town we were supposed to stop by before going back home. Unfortunately, that was obviously not the case. The weather there was horrible - there would be storms nearly every other day and it rained for nearly an entire month. We were stranded there for four months and it took us two months to get back to Wardington."

Alice was silent as she was trying to absorb all that Shun did when they were separated. "You have done much more than I did in two years." The redhead female said at long last as she shifted where she was sitting so that she could rest her head on his chest.

He let out an amused chuckle. "I suppose so, but marrying the Klaus von Hertzon is no easy feat." There was a momentary lapse of silence. "How does he treat you? Klaus." Shun asked in a soft voice.

"He ... treats me well, I suppose." She responded, slowly. "I hardly see him at all; he would either be busy with work or attending those work-related balls. I've talked to you more than I ever did with Klaus the entire time I've been here." Alice teased, trying to lighten up the conversation.

Shun hummed in thought. "As long as he hasn't harmed you in any way, I suppose he's a decent man, even if he is incredibly nosy." At that, he let out a scoff. "I swear, he must really want to play cupid if he is constantly asking me if I'd like to meet with other women."

She let out a laugh before a yawn interrupted her. She was so absorbed with Shun's stories that she forgot the time and how exhausted she was getting.

"It's been a long day. You ought to get some sleep, Angel." The raven-haired male coaxed, gently as he got from where he was sitting. Scooping her into his arms, he made his way towards her bed whilst she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from falling.

"Good night, Angel. I'll see you soon." He whispered as he set her down on her bed and kissed her forehead tenderly, pulling the covers up to her chin. Sensing that he was about to leave soon, the redhead grabbed a hold of his wrist, forcing him to stop.

"Don't go." Alice mumbled, sleepily as she made some room on the bed for him. "Stay with me?"

Shun let out a small laugh as he climbed into the bed, his body pressed against hers as his arms were wrapped around her figure. It didn't take long before Alice succumbed to sleep but as she was drifting off, she thought she heard him saying "Always".

End of Chapter 6.

Note: Whoo talk about being busy! Shun's done more in two years than I ever did in my entire life, LOL. Anyways, yay, the Shurisu / Shun x Alice ship is still alive even after all of these years! I also want to make a quick disclaimer : I realize that the story has cheating in it and I just want to say that I do not condone cheating! For the sake of this story, it will be used but in real life, I do not support it at all! If you have any problems in your relationship, talk it out to your partner but do not cheat! I know that this may seem like a dumb disclaimer, but I just wanted to put it out there just in case anyone questions it. With that being said, please let me know what you thought of it and I will see you in the next chapter! Ciao ciao~! v(｡･ω･｡)

P.S : If you want to read about a scene that was part of the original plot of this story, you can check out my oneshot titled Anywhere But Here! No pressure, just a suggestion! (＾ω＾)

Question of the Chapter : What is your favorite summer fruit? Mine's is mango! (o^^)o