Authors' note: I am so incredibly sorry for not uploading. Thank you all for commenting and sticking to this fanfic. The comments I have read were just so magnificent, I grinned the whole time :) so here is the new chapter. I hope you enjoy it and thank you again for all the reviews!!!!:)

Disclaimer: I do noooot own trc (though I wish I did, muhahaha)

Chapter 8 "She did this on purpose"

"Lalalala…"

"Tomoyo, I am glad that you are so happy that you're singing" Rioushin told Tomoyo lovingly. "In fact, these last few days you have been in very high moods…may I wonder as to why that is?"

"Oh, no reason in particular" she smiled at him and resumed eating.

Kurogane shoved something into his mouth to conceal his broad grin. They were at breakfast. A week and a few days had passed since their secret meeting in the woods. From that day on, they had met every night. Kurogane was highly satisfied that he had won back the friendship of his princess, but he knew that these nightly meetings would have to stop as soon as she was married.

He felt a light ache in his stomach every time they parted, because he always had to hold himself back and try not to kiss her. At the moment he was trying to be the best friend he could be and it would go against the law to kiss a woman who was promised to another man (not that he cared…).

"I expect our upcoming wedding is making you so happy. I too am very excited!" Rioushin beamed.

Being reminded of the wedding made Tomoyo's spirits fall immediately. "I guess so, my love"

It was only 2 days till she and the prince would be united, and she couldn't have felt worse.

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Tomoyo eyed her wedding kimono disdainfully. Luckily, her fiancé was standing behind her, unable to see her expression. Kurogane was standing next to him, and Rioushin, Tomoyo liked to think, always looked like a shrimp in comparison.

I wonder what Kurogane thinks of this kimono….I really don't like it. But it doesn't have to be nice. I don't care what Rioushin thinks of me.

"What do you think of it? In Kentaji this is highly popular with the ladies. But I made sure you have the most magnificent one." Rioushin stated proudly and smiled at Tomoyo and then at Kurogane. He had started to like Kurogane after he had found out that he didn't feel anything for his princess.

"I think it's very…beautiful." Tomoyo lied.

She looked at Kurogane and he lifted an eyebrow.

Yeah, I thought so, too.

"Good. You will look stunning tomorrow. You should try it on later, to see if it fits you properly." He walked over to her and hugged her around the waist. "I will have the most beautiful bride in the whole of Japan."

Sigh.

She looked over to Kurogane, who had turned his head away from them, pretending to be interested in a few birds that were chirping in a cage nearby.

Well, he doesn't care about me anyway. I think he only feels friendship towards me. He hasn't kissed me since we apologized to each other so that should be a sign that he doesn't like me, right?

"Tomoyo, I have another surprise for you."

She looked back to him "Yes?"

"My father has informed me of something. I wanted to tell you tomorrow, at our wedding, but I can't bear it any longer", he smiled broadly "My father has given us a castle of our own as a wedding gift!"

"What?" Tomoyo and Kurogane said simultaneously.

"Yes! Isn't it wonderful? In Kentaji we have lots of castles, all over the country. The one he has given to us, Hanako Castle, is near my father's home, Hitsujo Castle. It's a very beautiful place. We shall move there directly after our marriage."

Tomoyo was speechless. Move away? Away from her family? Away from her people? Away from Kurogane?

Kurogane- that's what made her mind work again.

"That's wonderful, but will we have servants there? Or guards? Kurogane could come, he is after all my personal guard" she said, trying to point out that she needed protection and therefore Kurogane.

"I did want to take him with us…", Rioushin said and a flame of hope wavered inside of the girl "…but I asked your honored sister and she said that we wouldn't need him because my father had told her that he had already arranged for servants and guards in Hanako. I told her that we could still take Kurogane and make him head of all the guards, I mean such an experienced swordsman would be most advantageous, but she insisted upon leaving him here."

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"DAMMIT!"

Kurogane punched the wall, leaving marks where his large knuckles had hit.

That BITCH Ameterasu! She did this on PURPOSE!

He was standing in his room, tyrannizing his furniture. So far a chair, a window, and a drawer had been broken in his rant.

After hearing those 'happy tidings' from Rioushin, Kurogane had politely excused himself saying that he had totally forgotten that Souma had wished to talk to him.

He paced up and down his room.

What shall I do? What shall I do?! She'll LEAVE. She'll be gone FOREVER!

A quiet knock stopped his pacing. He strode over to his door to open and glare at that wretched person who dared disturb him now.

It was Tomoyo.

"Oh" his expression went limp.

"Can we talk?"

"Sure. But not here. Let's walk around"

The last thing he wanted now was to let her see the mess he had made in his room.

They walked through the mighty castle until they came to a deserted corridor.

"I don't want to leave" Tomoyo looked at him with firmly.

"I don't want you to leave either"

"I talked to my sister. She says I have to go. It's hopeless."

Kurogane looked down at her. She wasn't standing as straight and dignified as she usually did. If this was how she would walk around now, shoulders slumped, head slightly down, he would really have to kick Rioushin's ass.

What could he do to comfort her? Tell her he would like to rip Rioushin to pieces and toss them across the country? Nooo…too brutal. But he bet she had already thought he would do something like that if he had the choice. How about telling her how he felt? Maybe.

So he sighed, leaned against a wall crossing his arms and looked to the heavens.

"Kurogane..?" Tomoyo stared at him for keeping so calm. She had thought he would go crazy.

"Don't worry. It's gonna be fine. That guy loves you and I think it will be a nice place to live. But I have to tell you that I-"

Tomoyo cut through "Oh, Kurogane I hope you're right. I'm just so sad that I have to leave my family behind. And my friends. And you."

Kurogane tried again "Well, princess, I will always be there when you need me. You'll always have my friendship. And my…"

Love. Come on, you idiot, say it!!!!

Tomoyo looked up. "And you're what?"

"My…"

Love love love love!!!!!!!!

"Uh…"

"Yes?"

"My…"

…l…o…v…e.!

"My services."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Tomoyo chuckled. "Thank you, Kurogane. And I thought you wanted to say.." she put a hand on her cheek and leaned on it.

"Huh? What?" he looked up. Could she have guessed??

"Oh..nothing" she chuckled again "Just me...daydreaming, I guess."

"...ah..."

DAAAAAAAAAAAMN YOUR RUDDY STUPID ASS, KUROGANE!!! YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT!

He cursed himself over and over in his head.

"I have to go now. There are preparations to be made...and the prince's father will be arriving shortly. Good bye" Tomoyo smiled at him and turned to leave, but Kurogane (who had stopped slapping himself mentally) quickly took her hand.

"Tomoyo...You can always count on me. Don't forget."

"I know." she laughed at his surprised expression "Thank you!" she called over her shoulder before she disappeared behind a corner.

He stood there alone for a few minutes before he came to a decision.

Where is Ameterasu?

A/N: thanks for reading!:D the next chapter will be up shortly.