The Homura

Aboard the Homura, the Kasai royal ship...

Prince Hao yawned and stretched his legs on top of a vacant chair even though he was only wearing a bathrobe to breakfast. He had a wonderful time last night. He couldn't decide on which part of the ball was his most favorite: (1) Tamao with loose bowels, (2) seeing an enemy prince almost passed out or (3) the commotion that rocked the entire venue literally.

Alas the excitement from last night had worn out and he was stuck again with these boring people. He spotted his twin brother stealing glances at his personal maid who seemed to notice what he was doing but chose to ignore him. It was excruciating to watch these two. Breakfast could have been more exciting if there was a third wheel of the jealous kind but Tamao opted to have her morning meal in bed in case she needed to run to the toilet afterwards.

"You seemed a bit cheerful after what happened last night," Anna stated her observations while slicing a bacon into little pieces.

"Well the incident did spice up the event," Prince Hao sipped his coffee with extreme satisfaction. "Let's just say, the party was a blast."

"I heard that some people were severely injured and you're okay with that?" The blonde looked at him in disgust. "Where did you disappear to by the way? Your twin brother was so worried I had to slap him to his senses."

"Oh, you were, little brother? I never expected that. Just to satisfy the curiosity of your lady here, I was outside comforting a certain lass who had loose bowels last night. Poor girl. She got so exhausted from all the trips she made to the ladies' room. I wonder what she ate or drank to upset her stomach at the ball. She stank like the sewers of Kaminari."

Anna gripped the knife until her knuckles turned white.

"Speaking of those other wretched kingdoms, I saw the prince of Kaminari being accompanied to a carriage by none other than my ex-fiancée minutes before the explosion. Isn't that a bit strange? He seemed too drunk. I wonder where he got the liquor. I had been inquiring about it but the waiters were as clueless as my brother here."

"How would you know that it's him? You are just jealous that your ex-fiancée found a far better man than you. " The blonde did not wait for his answer. Instead, she stood up and threw her napkin on the table. As expected, Prince Yoh followed her and left his twin brother all by himself.

Anna settled at the part of the ship overlooking the busy port. She could see the roof of the disastrous Royal Friendship Ball venue from afar. She was relieved that Prince Ren was unharmed but disappointed that they were not able to meet. It was another missed opportunity to return to Kouku.

"Are you okay?" Yoh reluctantly placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I cannot rely anymore on Ren. Fate appears to be playing a joke on us. If I wanted to come back, I would have to stop depending on him and find my own way home. But... I cannot do that alone while I'm in your kingdom. Will you help me go back?"

The prince nodded. She need not ask for his assistance because he had promised not so long ago that he would assist her no matter what.

"Will you… come stay with me?" she blushed.

The prince looked surprised. His heart was tickled at the mere thought of Anna wanting him to live with her.

"I can't," he whispered after much thought.

The girl smiled. "I was expecting that from you." Yet deep down, she had wished that he had said yes even though it was too risky for her to keep him by her side.

"I do not want to endanger your life by living in your kingdom as a fugitive. If I stay in Kasai and become king, I will try everything in my power to invalidate the peace pact between the four kingdoms so we can freely see each other anytime."

"Better keep your promise then, Yoh Asakura."

The prince raised his right hand. "I swore to the Great Spirit." Then he took the blond girl's hand and squeezed it.

"I'm looking forward to that day when I can be with you without any complications... When that day comes, I will forever be by your side..."