CHAPTER125

I do not own Skip Beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

~~Magical Summer trip ~~

~~ partX~~

~~(because I don't care anymore,

fucking hell, there is no end of this summer trip)~~

A wonder or A trouble?

"So, where are you taking me?" Kyoko asked to distract herself, just as Ren parked the car in front of a humongous wood palisade. Several, to be precise, as she bothered with paying attention to the junctions connecting them. There was no corner to them, whatever side you looked, and she was unable to see any beginning of the curve in them. It was dreadfully high too. The fact this was mostly wood panels made her ponder what would happen in case of a storm, too. One big whoosh and it would collapse on its front in one single go. The enormous–fence?–if you could still call it that–rendered it impossible to anyone to know what was behind. Not that she was sure they were entering that. But the gigantic thing mostly stood at the centre of grassy lawns full of trees and bushes, if not for the car park facing the entry.

And the last human structure she had seen was at least two hundred metres away, which meant this very giant, the highest possibility.

"Well … Here."He said, in such an annoyingly laconic way. "I thought it was obvious." He gave her a crooked grin, and she fought against getting cranky. He hadn't done anything, it was not his fault. Her day just had both its wings shot this morning. Playing on repeat in her mind, a screeching chorus of Julie's morning words kept echoing in her, like a broken disk, rattling on the same passage and unable to progress further.

She hadn't needed to finish her sentences… In fact, Kyoko had made sure Ren's mum would not finish them. She couldn't, wouldn't let it happen.

'I don't want you to misunderstand… I don't want you to misunderstand…'

'As his mum, I couldn't help but be curious…'

'I have to look out for him … I have to look out for him…'

She pressed her hand into the handle, and her foot stepped out.

Words weren't needed anyway … she thought as she got out. What Kyoko prevented her to spell was clearer than crystalline water source under the merciless shine of the sun, alighting every dirt spot nearing or lazying around that spring. And blame was not even a luxury her heart permitted her. In Julie's eyes, she only saw the expression of a mother caring for her son, having the deepest love she could ever imagine witnessing on a woman's face for a child. And while the most immature parts of her gnawed at her with jealousy, there was nothing she could reproach to a mum's concern. Her inadequacy was there, crying in the eyes of even the most compassionate people she knew. And she hadn't even meant to tell her off. Yet, Kyoko had been unable to not sense it as a rejection. Yet another person that would tell her… She wasn't enough.

She had been thinking that on her own, she had always known. But seeing Julie-san–Ren's mum–trying to shuffle her way out in how to tell her she was not the right person for her son … with all the kindness she possessed draping her, as she awkwardly tried to explain, to tell her…

Hell, Kyoko had even been able to say that … to feel that … despite her opinion on her, she still regarded her … with something akin to a little affection. Which, for the tiniest amount of time they spent knowing each other … was already a feat. And her, thinking she was not appropriate for her son, honestly sounded legitimated. Ren was…

He was…

He was…

He is…

Her mental imaginary even failed to express with proper words how insanely she felt about him, about whom he was… Imagining herself as the perfect companion for him was beyond her abilities. She knew her weaknesses. Let alone the fact it would need him to be interested in the first place. And despite his teasing bouts, she knew all too well, it was not the case. They were close, but it was not like that. As much as her heart broke just thinking this.

But she guessed, yes, despite everything, she had to be proud of herself for one thing. She could totally imagine she would not be the best, the perfect option for him. It was obvious. But she would not have gone as far as saying she would have been the worst. No. She would even be able to think she might have been a palatable partner. Lacking in some areas but not too bad in some others. And the mere fact she was currently able to think that made her chest proud of herself. Somewhat… Somehow… That stubborn fairy had managed to help that… Oh, she knew. She was aware her self-view was not the best. And she damn well knew only a couple of months ago, she would not have been able to think that way.

But hell–despite all the teasing, all of it being jest and nonsense and babbles–she could not tell herself she would have been the absolute worst partner. Not anymore. Not after meeting his ex. She couldn't convince herself his ex would have been a good choice … if only for how well she knew him.

That might have been one of the only pros, but it was one. She knew him better than most.

That, and her cooking.

Besides this, she thoroughly admitted she was lacking. Not that it truly mattered in all this. Ren's mum hadn't been talking to her about the potential of being a good fit, she had seen through her, and noticed Kyoko felt something, and her words–as delicately and awkwardly as she tried to put–had been a warning. That she should not try to pursue him in any shape or form. Because it was a misfit. Because his mother would not let it happen. Because she was not welcomed in such a role. Because he would never see her that way? As if I ignored that! Her thought rang angrily in her mind, as the beat of her chest sank further.

No matter what Julie-san had seen or her warning; she had never planned to say anything, and that hadn't changed. The only thing that it did was made her aware of how far she had been slipping. She had been nearly constantly on guard around his parents since she came; yet, she still managed to reveal it to one of the people that should never have known. And the terror she felt now acquainted with that, snatched her insides in a jarring cracking frost.

Accompanied by it–and Ren's bond to Julie-san pushed aside–was that tremendous feeling of … not being lovable enough to a mother figure she admired … yet again. And while she couldn't quite say she loved Ren's mum yet–due to a lack of enough time spent in her company, she was sure–, she already appreciated her a lot.

It felt like she was just bounded not to be accepted by any maternal person, however.

And if her mental understood the whys, the lack of appeal she might have, it still hurt like hell. Besides Ren…

Besides Ren, Julie-san–as well as Ren's father, of course–had been the first people she desired so much the approbation and the affection of … since her own mother. She had wanted their affection because they were Ren's parents, because it would have made her a little closer to him, a little closer to something she would not have. Being with him. But more than that.

She had also wanted their affection because of who they were. Because they were such wonderful people, and just by spending those couple of days with them, a desire that had only extended to Kuu–and that she had quashed drastically in the past–, had begun to be stretched to Julie-san too.

And she knew. She knew. She had always known. Always.

She knew the chances she had not to be appreciated. She was aware of the usual percentage of people that could like her. She knew. She always expected it. She had been used to that. She still was. The shock shouldn't be there. Not a speck of surprise should have been present. But yet. What had changed? What made it so? Why? Why couldn't she get rid of it? When? When had it happened? That insufferable bloom of joy and life. That irrepressible faith. A hope beyond her rational mind. One she could not, did not understand. Everything was telling her it should not have happened. Could not have happened. That she was too prepared for it to happen.

But it did.

It didn't make sense. It didn't. Her body hurt with how much she was trying to repress that bloom. As she fought between her mind and the madness inside her heart whispering insanities. Nonsenses.

Lies.

Why did it hurt so much? It should not have.

Why?

Yet, she couldn't help it. The disappointment was all the same.

The pain of what she wouldn't have roared inside.

The door shut behind her, making her jump at the sound. She did not remember closing it.

An arm stretched on one side of her, pressed a palm against her door's side in front of her unseeing eyes. She was drowning in pain but warmth soothed her sore, bringing back sense in her nerves when a rigid shape wrapped itself around her waist. No more movement was made but it was enough for her to see the chest a few inches away from her nose until she tilted her face.

Their gazes met.

His worry. His confusion.

Her conflict. Her pain.

The silence.

Her emotions crashed into the outside world, and she drifted her eyes away as the wave overlapped to run down her face.

Her bust smashed against his chest as her strength left her, unable to resist the allure he held, and fractured, she remained whole only by the embrace of his arms. She sneaked her head in the crest of his neck, hiding to the world, and leaned for support. Engulfing the life that was his scent in hope it would mend the wounds she felt inside. Or cover them behind a sweet smell-good smoke screen, at least.

Her own limbs wrapped around his blades and the high of his back, to grasp at his shoulders from behind. She couldn't control herself.

"Give me– …" 'a minute,' she was about to say but she couldn't complete her sentence. She didn't want to put a timer, a limit. Because she didn't want to. Because she was not sure she would be able to pull back would the minute end.

"Anything."He said as she was preparing another word, readying her lips to work.

Her heart plunged at the devoted willingness her mind made her hear in his whisper.

" … a moment."

He folded her in him, and she felt his fingers in her bangs, pressing her harder against him, his biceps tightening around the low of her back. She grabbed even harder at the feel of him. Why could it not be? Why, why…

WHY?!

She let herself rest in his arms, letting her emotions rage at the unfairness of the world, a volcano exploding inside. And as she calmed down and lied against his chest, she could feel his puzzlement. With no wonder. She had seemed totally fine this morning. Pretty sure, she had been remotely so, besides the damn ex-girl memories she still carried. He did not ask to explain. Not even the tiniest questioning was made. He just held her. And brushed her hair with his hand, letting her relax and so mercifully gave her the time she needed.

She mumbled an apology after a while, and she felt his arms strained around her further. The urge for him to crush her even harder washed inside her, her desire reaching to the aspic of preferring to be hurt so long as he would continue to grip harder, and harder. Maybe if he pursued to squeeze without ever stopping … at one point, she would mould herself to him. And there would be no other solution but to accept it. She scoffed at her own unreasonable thoughts.

"Can I do anything?"She heard by her ear.

She made a vague move of negation, and inhaled deeply, knowing it was time she'd end the ridiculousness of her behaviour.

She stepped back, and glanced at him from the side as she rubbed the remains of her outburst with the heel of her hand. He didn't let her go far as he brushed her other cheek with his thumb. Their eyes crossed again, and he gave such a worried pitiful look, she couldn't help to chuckle through her collect of pain, as she tried to tuck it back inside. It stretched a smile on her face, painting a weird grimace between it and the pain she knew had not yet managed to conceal fully. His palm stayed against her cheek all through that, giving warmth to the coldness she felt now that she wasn't in his arms anymore.

"… I'd like to ask … but…"

She grimaced, and glanced away.

'Sorry.'

Quiet came for a whole two seconds, before he added softly, the confusion still present but so acceptant she feared the tears would come back.

"Grab me anytime now or later, if you need or want to."

"Thank you."

He pressed her back against his side, and she felt the very light brush of his lips on the crown of her head. She swallowed with difficulty, overcome with guilt at the concern she could feel oozing from him in waves. Even as he hushed himself.

She couldn't help her next words, not getting she was doing the reverse of what she had been hoping.

"It's nothing too serious…"

He let out a sarcastic scoff that sounded strained.

"Sure… I do have something that might help…"

She glanced in his direction, seeing his somewhat hopeful face, and he tilted his chin toward the massive structure ahead.

"The place we are going."

That had the benefit to make her curious, and she forced a light smile to breach a face.

"Do tell."

She could tell he was pretending not to have spotted how forced it had been, but he turned his face in the direction of the structure.

"Come with me?"

She did.

They marched up to the building–in all fairness, it nearly appeared as fortifications to her–, Ren forbidding her to see or read any panels she might notice. Going as far as standing in front of one not to let her see.

She arched a brow but let him do as he pleased as a huge door of logs creaked open to let people in.

They entered with a couple of other groups. Some families, and some couples, but they were not even fully inside, he slid his hand in front of her eyes.

"Again?" She asked, getting amused at his antics, despite herself.

"Again, yes."

He led her to what she could only suppose was a bench, based on the feeling under her butt at least. And he made her swear not to open her eyes while he would go to the reception.

He returned a couple of minutes later, which felt like a small eternity not having anything she could see or distract herself with, and not knowing when he would come back. Besides his 'it won't take long', comment, before plopping her on her bench.

"Can I open my eyes, now?"

"Nope." He refused and grabbed her fingers, pulling her up and standing, before leading her forward to who-knew-where. She heard the slight amusement of people they passed by and felt her cheeks colour.

"Ren…"

''We will be here soon, wait a little more,"He said and she obeyed, albeit reluctantly.

She didn't get any clue around her, as he had deliberately asked some guard or official something of this structure if there was a less crowded entrance, so she didn't even get to snoop on people discussion to get any foresight on where he was leading her. At the end, her only insight was the ground sensation under feet, changing fast, but also very suddenly, to turn harder or sharper. She was unsure, but it just made an infinity more sound as they walked on it than before.

Clang. Clang clang clang. Even with shoes that clearly didn't possess pointy heels, it still made sounds. She could not only hear her own steps, and Ren's ones, but also the ones of everyone around. An odd rushing sound also got to her ear, between the sharp taps of feet.

And then, Ren stopped. And with it, the sound of feet evaporated to only let clacking of people passing by them echo around.

He made her twist around, and her ears picked on the far closer rush, though, it felt more like a roar, right now. And her brain decided it had decoded what she was hearing, it set up on sounding like water, just as the same time she told herself it was ridiculous. They were inside a building. Not outdoor.

A sudden blast of air bringing half her locks in her face gave doubt to her precedent thought, and her confusion grew.

"You can open your eyes, now."He said, chuckling as she pushed strands away. Her lids broke apart.

The first thing she saw was the far wooden wall of palisades they had gone through–a couple metres from them–, standing in all its height, proud and supported by more logs tilted at an angle, to the wood fence and leaning on the ground. They were spread at intervals on all the length of it. A small concrete cube with someone inside and a tiny window lied barely steps away from the entrance, and seeing people stopping by it, she could imagine it was the reception.

She had been wrong too, they were outside. The sky glowed its azure tone, spotted by clouds, and it was the sun hitting her skin, hot, that had made her raise her head and notice.

A shimmering spark attracted the corner of her eye, but she took a step backward. Intended on asking if she could turn around to Ren to check the source of what she had seen, she heard the clanging of her foot on the ground again as she moved. Reflexively, she tipped her head down, her eyes enlarging at what was on ground. Bricks. Crystalline bricks, a light-blue hue to it. They seemed even more rigid than concrete, even if, to her ignorant eyes, it had the appearance of glass. And nearly the whole pathway from the entrance to where she stood was made of them. That what she had been hearing all the while Ren led her blindly.

It appeared she was on a bridge. Or, the very beginning of it, at least. The path they had walked had just started to elevate itself, and she could see the start of monumental guardrails–they were reaching neck levels for her–on her left and right.

And damn was that bridge colossal.

One that could have contained at least four aligned trucks. And not side by side, queueing one behind the other. That was how large it was. Yet, that was not the most surprising.

She made a step again and it clang.

She couldn't shake the feeling she had had before, though.

That transparent blueish tone made of smooth bricks that shined a light glow under the light high above their heads.

"What material is it made of?" She said to her left, in Ren's direction.

"Make a guess."He said. Oh, he was enjoying her fascination alright. She prepared herself to be mocked.

"It isn't glass, right?"It just couldn't. The level of preparation and hardening it would take to make it solid enough, to create a path like that. Hell, if the bridge she was standing on and was currently barely getting a glimpse of … was full of glass, the logistic to do that would be just-

"It is."

"Truly?"

He snorted.

"Truly."

"Well … wow."

"Indeed."He commented.

"Stop mocking me, would you?"

"Who said I was?"He countered, the voice slightly too evasive.

"It is carved in every syllable you are pronouncing."She grumbled.

"I'm sorry my letters are so shameless."He said, and she was waiting for the moment he would break.

"Shut up, Sir."

"Yes, Ma'am."

She sidestepped from him, ignoring the light chuckles that finally made light to her ears, and still keeping her back to the path right way people were going, a disbelieving suspicion rose in her as she placed her hands flat on the cold surface of the handrail.

She leaned over the guard, giving the discovered sight a prolonged stare. A river. A huge rushing river was running under their feet. Which now made a lot more sense for the curvy bridge on which they were standing. If there was a bridge, there was often a water stream of some sort under it.

She had half a mind to twirl around to see the other side, and barely paused to ask.

"Can I turn, now?"

"You can." Ren said and she could still hear his silent amusement in his voice.

She didn't, however. Instead of properly rotating, she walked to the opposite balustrade, finding the load of driving water rushing out. But contrary to what she could have expected, it didn't go into a straight line to pour out away, it curved immediately afterwards, in the direction of where they were going.

Again, her gaze followed the river until it couldn't, as it disappeared somewhere under the beginning of infrastructure, looking moulded right out of the same blue glass the bridge was made of.

She lifted her gaze slowly.

Her mouth dropped as her eyes recognized the shape immediately. The numerous pointy towers, the famous clock, the arch entrance leading on a drawbridge, even the double doors, opening by its centre. It was all there. Every brick composing the feature one was there in real, under her eyes. In a humongous size too. And made of construction-transparent blue glass, only. She felt dizzy imagining how someone had been able to not only conceive that, but construct it. The thickness of the glass necessary for the structure to be safe for everyone.

"No way…"

In front of her, a masterpiece architecture of crystal blue glass, stood. A castle. Resplendent in its shine. It glimmered a trillion sparks for each ray of sunlight striking its surface, glowing as if made of the purest jewels. Sapphires and magic imbued maybe. The light entering at impossible angles and creating criss-cross of rays deep inside the structure itself. It gave halos and new colours bloomed, made of fuchsia and indigo. Sometimes Emerald and Turquoise. Sometimes just a profound blue. Twilight tinted. Spaded with myriad pins of light. It shined. As if you had borrowed the tapestry of an ocean right when the sun is pondering its glow in its cerulean mirror, to paint it on the infinity of glass she could see.

It was breathtaking. It left her gazing and gazing with no end. Trying to catch every hue, every change cast on the glass, every reflection curve.

It was not any castle too. It was The Castle.

The famous Disney Castle.

It even had its small hillock and the only way to join it was the huge glass bridge they were standing on.

"Where are we?"She enquired, too awed to even question her sanity.

He cleared his throat, and if she had not been so stunned by the sights, she might have heard he had been containing more expressive merriment to come out.

"At an exposition."He said, and her silent arched brow made him precise. "A permanent one."

That didn't look like an exposition at all. That looked like a fucking damn castle.

She gave him a pointed look, making him snort.

"If you prefer, you could say it is a side venture of the main parks."

She barely held her shock.

"This is a park?"

"Kinda … kinda not."

Under her inquisitive stare, he smiled mysteriously.

"You'll see."

He waved forward.

"Come?"

She nodded, and in a daze at the majesty of the fortress, she was led inside, walking on a moulded down glittering mirror drawbridge, and passed two front towers. The taps of their feet clinging behind them and the other visitors.

Massive doors–the only area made of vibrant light wood–let them in, and they found themselves on the border of a corridor, a gallery of blue glass going both ways and supported only by columns and arcades of countless arches crossing at their key stone. Cuts into the outer walls adorned colourful stained glass windows, widely opened, and hot air rushed in by intervals, making her realize how fresh and agreeable it was, once they entered and doors had closed behind them.

She was shocked too. It left her wondering on the logistics on how to avoid a castle of glass to turn into a furnace.

"Isn't it like a greenhouse?"She questioned, while Ren was given a plan and a pamphlet about the castle. "How were they able to make it so cool and refreshing here?"

She remembered how hotly the sun had hit the glass outside. It was breathtaking but she could only imagine the heating effect of that.

Ren leaned on the window sill as he unfolded the pamphlet, and she sat by him, trying not to idle her sight on his forearms, uncovered after he had rolled back the loose shirt he was wearing. And failing as her eyes picked on the veins peeking here, just above the curve of his muscle, and there, just before his wrist. He made a move with his index, which made it even more prominent and she nearly missed his words.

"Here. They put on air-conditioning."

She has a hard time imagining AC being enough to cool such a big structure when it was hit by enormous temperatures.

"That must consume a lot."

He nodded.

"It's said their cooling system is powered by the sun in summer, though, by the use of transparent solar panels, while a heat pump is working during winter. Also, you were right, it is a greenhouse."

"Wait, truly?"

She leaned over his shoulder to peek.

"Yes. They have two orchards and a vegetable garden. And their own irrigation and filtration system. It is actually all self-sufficient."

How huge was that castle?

It had appeared grand from the outside, but she would never have imagined it was that huge. They had thought this through, too. She gave a glance around, wondering where was situated all of that, and how many stories it held.

"It is said it is as big as Saint-Michel Mont, and some people are living within the grounds."

She stared back to Ren, and he grinned at her.

"It was written on your face you were wondering how big it was."

She smiled, chuckling, before pausing.

"Wait, people are living here?"

"Yup." Ren said, before pointing at different areas on the adjoined plan. "They need people to take care of things, considering the scale too."

"And you can find the princesses all around the grounds." They read aloud at once. One with more excitement than the other.

"Princesses? I thought the outside was where stopped the resemblance … like a side project or something."She said, her perplexity growing what this place was really about.

He bumped her shoulder with his own.

"I picked this place thinking about someone."He pointed out, a fond stare directed toward her. "Of course, there would be the minimum fairy tale entertainment."

Touched, she shifted her gaze away.

"But this castle is really unique … they managed to ally fun with living areas and ecology, so I thought it would be really interesting to visit." Ren added.

"It is. I still can't fathom how a living house–well castle–can be made of glass only, and on such a huge span."

And as she said this, she stood back to gaze around again.

"I have never visited the place myself before … but I know of a bit more … you have seen nothing yet."And as he graced her with a nefarious grin, he folded back the papers still in his hand, and put them in his pocket.

She crossed her arms.

"You are not going to let me see it, aren't you?"

He stood.

"Nope. They say you can visit it all in one day, so you will have time to see it with your own eyes at some point, anyway. No need to spoil you the surprise."

She chuckled.

"Alright Sir. Lead the way."

He did, and they went in search of beverages, admiring the foliage and vines carved on the columns of glass as they went.

§§§

They had been wandering around for a while, just admiring the whole intricacy that permitted the castle to be, as they went through corridors and halls gliding left and right, or through deeper hued twirling staircases dancing up pillars of glass or climbing up walls, when they reached a large octagonal hall with more columns and room she could measure. Light shining from above, it descended through transparent arched roofs by ricochets of subdued rays, to hit, in the mid-point of the octagon, a dominant fountain. Of glass too, it splashed droplets high above their heads to fall back in a rainbow rain into its carved basin.

Following the lead of the room's shape, walls leapt up and high above on eight sides before angling them to meet a lengthy glass beam in use of the keystone. But if above, it could be designated as walls, passageways pierced each of them to wandering paths, in no less than twelve tunnels. The humongous-ness of one side only, giving plenty of room for two of them to be carved in each.

Inscribed glowing scripts enlightened the glass stones of the paths, bringing forth an enchanting eerie light to them, as it gave both a needed brightness and information in where said-corridor led.

Making their way, they perused the inscriptions around, noticing a few leading to the visit of the towers and the orchard gardens. Others led to living and eating quarters you had the ability to both visit and use. But there were also attractions. Costumes and dancing areas. Stands of souvenirs and refreshments disseminated along the ways. Characters to find. And more.

Ren stopped in front of one of the sides, two tunnels facing them. The paths closer to each other than the others. On the wall, just between the two passageways were carved as such:

Labyrinth of glass.

Whatever the path you may take, only one will conduct you the other way. Be careful with your choice, as the intertwines of galleries could bring you on the wrong stone if per chance you first were wise.

Entrapped you may be in the mirror gallery if on the wrong way you lay.

Help, you might seek,

But beware,

Whether lover or family,

Only a prince or the noblest of hearts can you trust,

As some might fancy, advancing without you through this race,

Or viler,

Hindrance your own progress,

If so much as they possessed sombre magic.

She was finishing to read the last lines–a smile rooted on her face at how out of fairy tale book it sounded–when she heard the shuffle of Ren's movement, and he gave her a positively nefarious grin, driving her instantly suspicious, despite the nonchalance in which he crossed his arms behind him.

"Ready?"He asked.

"Ready?"

'The first one out can have a wish granted.'He stated with a glowing smile, unfolding his limbs from behind in a too careful manner. So at ease it appeared as if he was lifting arms from a former deep slumber, lenient and snail-paced in their movement. It was treacherously in disagreement with the tense readiness of his shoulders.

"What do you–"

Her mind was barely starting to connect dots as her mouth was still pronouncing words that he had bolted into the right tunnel, leaving her in his trail.

It took her another half-second to realize, and she delved into action.

"Oh you…"

Her grumble escaping her as she plunged inside the left path.

§§§

She ran into the pathway, her legs pushing with strength to accelerate, knowing he already had an advance. The path's walls were apparent only so with the beautiful lamps embedded in the floor. As if mysteriously alighted from the inside, they glowed.

But just as Kyoko accelerated, she slid on the sole of her sneakers–not quite appropriate to run on smooth surfaces, and provoking a little bump of her shoulders against one wall–permitting her to take note of how near to the other tunnel side was. In fact, with the transparent glass, she could directly see through the people running and walking inside the other passageway.

A bubble of laughs erupted in her as it led her to see an immobile tall figure she recognized, a mere second before the walls thinned. Until a crossroad appeared, allowing her to see Ren caught in the clutches of one Elsa princess, singing her heart out in her castle of glass. A wisp of air escaped her as she chortled, bending in half for a second as she crossed eyes with Ren–still in his conundrum–, and appreciated the quality of the singer performing 'Show Yourself'. The princess had wrapped silk of icy-toned bands around his torso, and had them knotted to silver rings screwed into the walls. He was all-and-well captured. And in front of the lady, he looked as if he were in the middle of analysing how he could untangle himself without tearing the silk ribbons. How had the performer lady managed to capture him was the most dazzling question.

She whizzed at the thought, imagining the scene.

"I see you are in good ribbons." She said, rising her voice so he could hear her from where she stood.

She bowed to the princess.

"Thank you for the help, princess."

She bowed in return.

"It is quite my pleasure," Elsa replied, coming closer, "though I do not know if the whole result should be awarded to me or not."

Kyoko let out of a half-amused half-confused sound and so the princess continued, a little louder so that Ren, busy trying to unknot the bands, could hear them. She crossed her hands over her belly, properly.

"I have several pairs of those, you see," She explained, pointing at the tangles around Ren, "Usually, people are not so scrupulous to tear them if they are in the middle of a race to the out, especially."

Kyoko's lips shook.

"Furthermore, your friend stood immobile for the whole first song before asking," and here the princess accentuate on the last word, "if he could remove them as he was in a hurry."

"But I only departed a minute later than him, how is that even possible?" she asked, confused the performer would have had the time to sing a full song before she arrived.

"The left tunnel is much longer at the beginning than the right," the princess said, "I was in the middle of my third song when you arrived. Naturally, I took the opportunity to entertain him by trying to sing my full repertory. Or, at least, that was my intention before you came."

"I see."She said, leaning a hand on the wall, her thoughts consumed by Ren, too polite to ask the princess to let him go, and not daring to pull on the ribbons too much.

The clicking sound of the rings clanging against the wall made her and the princess look back, as the princess's latest pray finally managed to grab at it. He glanced in her direction.

"I'm glad to be a source of amusement, ladies."He said, giving her firing eyes that ran a chill the length of her back, and he pulled at one layer of the knot. "It won't prevent me from catching up, I promise."

"I'm afraid I must go, princess," she said, "though I would have like very much to know how you managed the feat of capturing him so thoroughly."

The princess chuckled.

"I understand. He will be free soon, I think."

She lifted her foot to go before turning back to Elsa.

"We are allowed to change paths whenever we want, right?"

"Of course." The performer said with a smile.

"You seem busy, so excuse me if I go first." She threw to him, just as he was attempting to free the last layer of the first ring.

He gave her half a glare, half an amused gaze as he pulled untied the knot.

"Enjoyed yourself with your blue ribbons."

And she departed, curving to the angle and taking the opposite tunnel she had chosen before.

"Do you mind if I tag along for a little while?"The Elsa princess asked, a few feet behind, running too. "I will retell how I set my trap to you."

She continued to run as she enquired.

"Not interested in seeing him getting free, I gather?"

The princess laughed, lifting her robes higher.

'I'm much more interested in witnessing when he will catch you.'She replied, with a twinkling glim in the eye that made Kyoko blush. She wondered if she should rectify her, knowing she was assuming they were a couple but the princess prevented it when she added.

"So long as it is not the first day you've known this man, of course."

That made her laugh, recognizing the line from the movie, and how it mocked the other princesses, sometimes.

"We are friends of long dates."

"I see."

The lady didn't say anything more but Kyoko caught her looking at her with a dubious look for a second, and she wondered if like Julie-san and Ren's ex she deemed her unworthy. Not that she had confirmed anything just now, but she had not denied it properly, so she could imagine the lady was assuming it was just a polite way not to move into personal matters. If so, she could only imagine how inadequate she was finding her, for the man she had just tangled in ribbons and left behind.

She was pulled out of her sombre thoughts as the princess retold how she had captured Ren, all the while running, and making her quite impressed with her, following her even in her gown. Even granted that Kyoko had slowed down to be able to talk, it was quite impressive. She ran fast, that was one of her fortes. Even at this slower pace, it was still quite an effort, and she even apologized to the lady, expressing even with the tangles, she was quite sure her friend would catch up easily.

"That is quite alright." Elsa replied. "I'm afraid you won't escape it anyway."

"How so?"

Oh, she knew Ren was fast, and she was pretty sure she was being too indulgent by even slowing a smidgen here. But the princess had no way to know that.

"The right tunnel might be shorter at the beginning but they are way more convoluted afterwards," the princess said, "you will find yourself slow downed by many detours to find the right path. The further you progress, the more it turns into a labyrinth."

And not too soon had she said it, she was faced with a dead end and had to backtrack to take another way.

The princess stopped as Kyoko was pivoting, and pushed a brick in the glass wall, and a click echoed as a pan of the wall broke out, making a appear an opening. It revealed a room she could only guess was part of the private quarters of the staff.

"I think I will have to leave you there." The lady explained apologetically and she sounded winded as she spoke. "I doubt I could follow your rhythm much longer and you might want to hurr–."

That's when they heard feet on the side of the dead end she had just taken. Ren had caught up.

"He had just taken the middle way, it is another dead end. Go."

"Thank you." She replied with a smile.

"Tell me who won if we cross again before you depart."

She nodded, no idea if they would meet again before the end of the day, or if the princess schedule aligned, but hoping they would.

She saw Elsa rummaging in a box, and she got two sets of icy ribbons out, before placing one in Kyoko's palms.

"Here. Might come in handy."

She chuckled and thanked her, finally bidding her goodbye.

She made her way back toward the three branches cross, racing to the left one as she started to hear the echoing sound of feet again. He was not far behind.

She accelerated.

Unfortunately, it also meant her feet sounded harder on the ground, and she was positive he heard her when his own sprint started to close up suddenly.

She turned a corner and arrived right in the middle of another three ways choice hall.

"Crap."She cursed. She had no time to hesitate. She had to choose one right now.

"Look who is here." He said, emerging from the same path as she came out a minute ago.

"Damn it."

His laugh reverberated against the walls as she threw herself into the middle one. Only to be faced with another dead end thirty seconds later, and nearly colliding with the wall with how fast she had been running. Her shoes were really not the best weapon on this floor. She kept having to control on the sides not to slip when she was turning.

She had barely made three steps back Ren was there, the blue ribbons in his hands and ready to launch them, clearly.

She didn't linger and tried to by-pass Ren by the right, just as he was thrusting the cloth's circles on her.

She dipped down and squatted on her knees an inch before they wrapped around her, using her slipping shoes to her advantage this time, to continue her sliding movement even in her crouch. And propelling her forward the moment she felt stable enough.

He was right on her heels as she emerged from the tunnel, and she curved wildly to the left passage, laughing as he missed catching her and swore. She knew it would not be long before he would catch her, however. She might be fast but she knew with his size and strength, he would have no trouble. Plus, so far, she had had a few seconds to spare, with him trying to diminish his delayed tangle.

But he was only half a second behind her when she had got out of that last impasse.

She was distracted from her thoughts when he nearly hit the wall just behind that was angling suddenly, and she had just passed.

"Pfffhahhahaa…"She couldn't help it, she had to. He was scowling so hard at the floor. It appeared she was not the only one having trouble with stability here.

"Not finding your proper … footing?"She enquired in a heaving breath, running even harder from him.

"Enough to catch you and tie you up."He said, and this time his fingers were barely a hair away from landing on her. She would not avoid next one.

She was proved right at the next corner.

She took the first curve but another angle came fast after, and she was seized around the waist in the middle of move, her feet leaving the ground with how hard he caught and lifted her, laughs erupting from her at his savage ways.

"Got–"

Which didn't prevent them from ending up on their butts, when in their abrupt halt, they tumbled down against the wall before reaching the hard smooth floor.

" … you."He mumbled through his uneven respiration and his own chuckles.

"And a good bruise on the backside."She added, in snitches still, and trying to catch her breathing in spite of how tight he was circling her with his forearms.

"Worth it."

He dropped his forehead on the back of her shoulder.

"Damn, you run fast."

"I was trying to win."She pointed out.

"I noticed." He said, and she could hear his smile. "Me too."

He bent back his legs–making her take notice, she was sitting between his legs and effectively distracting her–as he began to wrap band of ribbons around her, keeping her safely secured with his other arm.

"Seriously?"

She could feel his amusement as he replied.

"What do you think?"

He proceeded to circle her with more layers around her arms, pinning them to her sides. He was very focused on his task, tightening just enough for it to be a struggle for her to get out of it, but without hurting her either. He made a big bow on her front, right above her stomach, when he finished, looked tremendously proud.

She looked at the bow before looking at him, and back at the huge but adorable bow. She resisted. She resisted. She did.

"You do know the running part happen with legs, right?"She said, lips quivering, and attempting to mock stand, before he pulled her back to him. She didn't push back, she knew she would not have won in this position, he was holding to her too tight. He made the top of her back linger on his chest, and circled her legs in the next instant.

"Don't worry about that, I have it all … under control."The tone delightfully devious near the end, as he snatched the ribbons given by the princess from her pocket and showed it to her.

He made them dangle in front of her with a smirk.

"How did you even–"

"I saw them peeking out as I ran after you."

"Those are mine."

He grinned.

"They are not leaving you, so, I don't see the problem."

He began binding her ankles with them, folding them several times around before tying them on the front, and finishing the knot by a goddamn fluffy bow once again. He even ruffled its wings and ears a couple times with the tips of his fingers when he was done tightening it, looking pleased. This was too much. Too…

She bent forward in her bindings, and they pressed against her plexus, making her breathless, but she could not even attempt folding out.

Too cute.

Her belly laughs shook her whole form as she stared at her adorable ankles bow.

Man, she couldn't believe she had been nearly crestfallen with pain barely an hour before. How did he do that? Make everything sound okay in an instant.

"May I have the pleasure to be in-the-know on your immense amusement?" He asked. "Though, I might have a guess."

She lifted her head and leaning her cheek on her knee to look at him despite the ties, she gave him teary eyes.

"The bo-bows." She hiccupped.

He smiled as he crossed his arms.

"What? If I must wrap something up in ribbons, then it requires an adorable bow on it." He stated. "Especially if it is you."

She howled at his response and bumped her forehead against her knee voluntarily.

"Gosh, you are too cute."

How was it so fun to be with him. How did he do it?

How was he so fun?

"You even played with the wings…" She mumbled, the image rooted in her mind, of him fluffing it out, just so.

"I was verifying it looked good." He said, his voice a little strange, and she idly wondered if she had vexed him but couldn't begin to calm down and care just this moment.

She snorted.

"Huh-huh … indeed … one ribboned person must look perfect."

He poked her side.

"Stop mocking me."

"I'm not." She gasped. "It is just so–… damn … charming."

She gave him a fond smile, heart swelling when she accounted for coloration tinting his cheeks subtly. Man … this is nice. She thought, leaning on her thighs to observe him so. His embarrassment shined in the way he tilted his neck, moving his expression away from her, yet he looked also pleased, in an abdicating kind of way, oddly. Right here, in the tilt of his frown, above his eyes. So…

She moved in the best capacity she could, and bumped the top of her shoulder against his chest.

"Now that we have reasserted how endearing you can be…" She dragged on until he had his eyes on her, narrowing, and felt pride, at poking fun at him, about time it would be her turn after all! "Maybe you can enlighten me…"

He waited for her to continue.

"What are you going to do with me?"

She pointed down at her orchestrated predicament with her chin.

He leaned forward.

"Can I do anything I want?"

His eyes gleamed with mischief. Oh the– … He had switched tables again.

But she would make him back off. She was in no mood for this endless games, after how raw she felt earlier. And she was sure a little poking back would make him just– … retreat. On his teasing. It was not like he was serious so, he would not have any interest in pursuing it.

"Is that your wish?" She enquired. "But you have to win first."

He opened his mouth, and were interrupted by the screeching sound of a wheel rolling further on the right. They had just the time to avoid the collision with a small rolling cart, as Ren pushed backward and against the wall.

They lifted their gaze and could not help their common gasp at the hideous witch pushing the cart, the depiction of the evil witch in Snow White. Black cloak, twisted back, crooked nose and missing teeth included.

"Oh my, I hadn't seen you there." She said, the true person shining for a second, before an altogether way-too-convincing maleficent smile broke, "but maybe you would care for one of my apples. I heard they are to die for."

She peeked down at them from her spot, arching a brow at the wrapped ribbons around Kyoko.

"I could have proposed some more devilment to one of my choosing from you two, but…" She quacked deviously, "I think this lad had it already into motion."

She felt arms slipping under her waist and her knees as Ren hoisted them up, securing his hold on her in his arms once up. She decided right there and here that she would not protest one bit. She had, after all, the perfect excuse to be carried. She was tied after all.

"Indeed," Ren said to the witch, with a light bow. 'But we'll take an apple.'

"Oh. Smart choice, mister."She said with another cackle. "That will be five coins."

Ren started to struggle to fish out his wallet, and Kyoko could not help her snickers.

"I would help you," she said, wickedly, "but I'm in a bit of a bind."

He snorted.

Eventually, he lifted a knee, and made her rest there to free one of his hands and paid the five dollars to the woman, before lifting her back.

The witch presented Kyoko with the apple on a stick, and she managed to grab it with the top of her fingers, pushing against the ribbons so they would rise up a bit.

"It is frozen cream in here, so make hast so it doesn't curse you," She warned and rolled her cart away after another devilish bow.

Ren started to walk, and she pondered if she should feel like price or prey as he moved with assurance with her, holding her high.

Her teeth crunched into the apple–reduced to wait the good will of Ren to be dropped down, and wishing to distract herself from the sensation of his arms under her thighs and waist–, and felt surprised by the light delightful sting of the citrus taste under the coldness of the creamy ice. She finished off quickly, after unsuccessfully proposing a bite to Ren, and barely a dozen more minutes passed before they emerged. Ren was proudly holding her, grinning at her like a cat who got all the cream in the world.

"So, what do you wish for?"She enquired, and his eyes hooded in a rogue troubled gleam for an instant, bringing a foreboding sensation in the hole of her stomach, before it dissipated.

"I will tell you when I've decided."He said, and she was not sure if she believed he had not chosen yet, or if he did not wish to tell her.

He put her down. Careful, he set about untying all the bows and knots, kneeling in front of her, and she very much wished she could tell him off. Even knowing she truly needed his help for her feet, at the very least. Instead she observed him keenly and helplessly, as he untied the very bindings he made with a smile, way too happy about this situation. The further it lasted and he remained this close, the more restless she felt, enticed by the ever-light touches he needed, to work on the knots. The pads of his strong fingers applying pressure at her ankles on the outside left there, then on the inside of the right foot, driving her up the walls when it had the fortune to rub against nude skin, rather than the trim of her pants.

The blue bands got loose, and he lifted himself up to work on the ones wrapped around her midsection and arms, as soon as he was done, making her unable to breathe as the crown of his head tickle her chin with its smooth strands as he bent forward close.

The ribbons fell away a minute later and he stood.

"All good."He said, folding the icy pieces of cloth.

"Thank you."She said with relief and sarcasm as he stepped back–he was the one responsible after all.

He snorted.

"It was worth it."

tic-tic, tic-tic.

§§§

END OF CHAPTER.

PS: Well, hello, dear gentle readers. And welcome back. Sorry it took me so long to return, I'm plotting, I'm always, as you might have guessed.

I hope this chapter won't fall too flat, but it is also preparing for more...for many, many things. As such, it needed.

I thank you in advance for your time and for all the adorable reviews you, readers, give me, and I hope you will enjoy this.

Kisses to you all. I wish you happiness and love.

Mimagfan.

AUTHOR OUT.