Author's Notes

Hi, uh... sorry? Not only haven't I updated for a while but now I'm updating with a short chapter. So once again, sorry. Also, one more sorry because this fic will be going on hiatus for a while. I will not be updating until probably next summer if not longer. Sorry.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of its characters, ideas, etc....

Ruki's POV

I should have been mad. He had given me every reason to be absolutely furious with

him. But I couldn't be mad at him right then, I could only feel an overwhelming sense of

sadness. Mainly because of what I was going to do.

I went directly to my room from the hall and changed into my riding outfit and my heavy

silver cloak. For some reason I was cold. I grabbed a bag and threw in my other riding

outfits and two dresses. I was planning to go stay with Juri and I knew I would be

helping at the inn.

I left the parcel from Juri in the armoire. It was a reason to come back. And if I didn't

come back, it would be a clue for Jenrya.

I sat on the bed and waited for him. I knew he would come to talk to me. Renamon

came and sat in my lap. I was grateful for that. I sat and stroked her fur. Something

she seemed to enjoy. I had left the door slightly ajar and to my surprise something

began moving it open.

I was expecting Jenrya to come into the room. Instead, it was Terriermon who walked

in. I hadn't seen much of Terriermon the past week. I suppose Jenrya was keeping

him under lock and key too. I let him come and sit on my bed.

Then I waited, and waited.

An eternity later I head a knock on the door.

"Come in." I said. Then I stood up and bowed to him as he came in.

"Your Majesty." I greeted Jenrya.

* * *

Jenrya's POV

When she called me 'your majesty.' I knew the only royal title that I deserved at the

moment was royal screw-up.

"Ruki please, I'm sorry." I pleaded with her.

"Why do you do everything she tells you Jenrya?" I winced at the tone of her voice, but

at least she was calling me Jenrya again.

"Ruki we've been over this, I have to or else she can use her influence with her father to

get you removed from your position."

"Only if you let her Jenrya!"

"You don't understand."

"What I understand is that you are a prince of China and that you have authority over

the lords in your kingdom. Last time I checked that included their obnoxious

daughters."

"It's not that simple."

"Jenrya, you've been so busy trying to protect us from AiMei all week. But all you've

been doing is pushing us away." Her voice had settled down to a whisper.

That's when I noticed the bag and the cloak.

"You're not leaving?!" I croaked. She couldn't leave, I needed her here.

"I have to now Jenrya, I'll come back." With that she scooped up the satchel and

headed out the door. I grabbed her wrist.

"You can't leave." I begged her. She leaned up and gave me a quick kiss on the

cheek.

"You'll understand."

And with that she left. And because of my own stupidity I didn't know if I'd ever see her

again.

* * *

Ruki's POV

I didn't bother saddling Pyrocean. I was only going to town. And I was still shaken from

my argument with Jenrya. I didn't want to leave any more than he wanted me to. I

knew that he was upset because he wanted my help with AiMei and yes, I was his

friend. I knew it couldn't possibly be anything more even if maybe I wanted it to be.

Before I left I took a trip up to the hayloft where I had hidden the bow and quiver of

arrows. I secured them over my cloak. There was no reason to hide them now.

Pyrocean kneeled down and I mounted. Renamon trotted along next to Pyrocean as

we walked off into the night. For a brief moment I wondered if I had done the right

thing. I knew that Jenrya had to stop trying to accommodate AiMei because the only

way he was going to do that was to marry her. I felt a twinge at the thought of Jenrya

getting married but I shrugged it off. I motioned for Renamon to jump up and she did,

landing in my arms without having Pyrocean miss a stride.

Pyrocean took the hint and increased his speed as we crossed the large field. I would

go back after AiMei left, while she was there things would only get worse.

We slowed as we entered the forest. As we traveled on the underbrush and dense

foliage forced us to slow our pace further to a plodding walk.

When we reached a clearing I heard a small snap like someone stepping on a dry twig.

I stopped Pyrocean a moment and listened. I couldn't hear anything so I closed my

eyes and strained my ears further. But the only thing that register in my senses was the

smell of impending rain. When I opened my eyes I was surrounded by five fully grown

men.

"Hello girlie, it's nothing personal, but we're here to kill you." said the one in the middle. "It's too bad. She's awfully pretty. Couldn't we have some fun with her first?" Another

one asked.

The rest laughed and made rude noises. While they were distracted I was carefully

taking my bow out and confirming the presence of my dagger.

"Well as long as our lady doesn't find out about it I don't see why not." responded the

middle one, apparently the leader of the group. I dismounted. Most likely they were

armed, but Pyrocean could take care of himself.

"Ah look boys, she's surrendering!"

I smiled as I brought up my bow and arrow and drew back the string I had already had a

bad enough day without people trying to kill me.

"Hardly." I said as I let the arrow fly. It hit the leader where his leg connected to the

rest of his body, not a fatal shot, but one that would most certainly handicap him.

Renamon and Pyrocean had taken the hint and started their own attacks.

Pyrocean reared up and hit one of the men. Renamon launched herself off his back

and landed on the head of another.

I thanked Kami-sama that the clearing was large enough for me to shoot. I drew

another arrow back to hit another guy in the arm.

Pyrocean Knocked down another man. But the one that Renamon had attacked had

thrown her down. I didn't see where she landed.

There was now one guy left. He was charging at me and I saw the glint of a dagger in

his hand. I had one arrow left. If I took aim at one of his arms or legs and missed,

which was easy to do, it could cost me my life.

So I did the only thing that I could do. I took aim at the man's stomach and let the

arrow go. He fell to the ground.

I looked around me. Five men were lying on the ground, wounded, dead, unconscious.

I didn't know.

The rain started to fall. I was confused and stunned. I felt numb as I got on Pyrocean's

back and rode away from the scene. I think my mind was close to shutting down. I

couldn't handle that much stress.

We reached another clearing. Pyrocean stopped and knelt down. I rolled off his back

and leaned on him. That's when it all began to sink in. Someone wanted me dead. Again. Renamon was gone. I might have killed someone.

I looked down at my own hands. There was a time when I wouldn't have given a

second thought about staining them with blood. A time when I might have craved to do

so. Now I was out in the rain with nothing and feeling like I was being torn apart. I

didn't understand who I was. I didn't know where my home was. I didn't understand

why it frightened me so much that someone else wanted me dead. I didn't understand

why I was wishing so hard that Jenrya was there.

But I was alone.

* * *

Jenrya's POV

She had been right. I did have more power than AiMei but I had been scared to use it.

And in doing so, I had hurt her and everyone else around me. I had been stupid not to

see that. The worst part is, Ruki's been telling me this forever, with all her complaints

about etiquette rules. The point was that they didn't matter if you cared about

something. They were stupid rules that the ruling class had come up with to make them

feel superior. So why should they have suddenly mattered so much to me when AiMei

came? She didn't have the power to send Ruki away. I had done that myself.

I wanted to apologize, to tell her I finally understood, but I couldn't. Not until she came

back. And I didn't know when that would be.

I was walking in her favorite garden, despite the rain. Anything that I could do to bring

me even an inch closer to her. But it wouldn't work, because she was already gone.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw an image, a shadow. I turned around and saw

Renamon in the middle of the path.

It didn't make any sense; Renamon had gone with Ruki. Renamon started to run and I

took off after her.

I followed her out of the villa through a field and to the forest. I didn't have time to

saddle a horse.

We continued through the woods. I began to get worried, what if something had

happened to Ruki?

We came upon a clearing. Here, Renamon slowed and stopped. To say that I was

shocked is a rather mild way of putting it.

Five large men were lying on the ground. Three with arrows protruding from them.

I went to the nearest one who had been shot in the leg. He was awake, but drowsy.

"What happened here?" I questioned him.

"The girl, she went berserk, started shooting all of us." Girl? That had to be Ruki. But it didn't sound like her, she didn't shoot people for fun.

"I'm Prince Jenrya. If you tell me the truth, I'll pardon you." 'for lying to me.' I added

mentally. If he had hurt Ruki there was no way I wasn't going to lock him up for the rest

of his miserable life.

His eyes widened at my statement. "Alright, your highness." He said. "If I die, I'd

rather have the truth out anyway. The Lady AiMei hired us to kill a girl with auburn hair

and violet eyes. She said she was in her way. We've been waiting out here in these

woods since we saw her pass here this morning. We ambushed her, but she's a great

shot and that horse of hers is so big and completely loyal to her. After she finished with

up she rode off."

"Did you see which way she went?"

"That way." The man pointed.

"Thank you." I said. "I'll send someone for you later."

I started to get up but the man grabbed my arm.

"If you don't mind me asking you highness, was AiMei wanting that girl dead because

you're in love with her?"

My eyes widened. "That very well could be the reason." I said, not realizing I had just

openly admitted to being in love with Ruki to a total stranger.

"You're a real good judge of character then highness." The man said grinning.

I nodded and went off to find Ruki. Renamon followed me.

I walked for a few minutes before I came upon another clearing. She was there,

leaning on Pyrocean. She had neglected to put up the hood of her cloak so was now

soaking wet. She was staring at something on the ground, and just looked altogether

lost.

At that moment I was elated and pained at the same time. I was happy that she was

safe, but pained because of how alone she looked. Renamon walked ahead of me and

curled up next to Ruki. Then Renamon looked up and stared at me as if I should know

exactly what to do.

I walked over to Ruki and laid a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at me; I was

shocked to see the look in her eyes, there was a sadness there, and confusion, and just

a deadened look that was not Ruki at all.

"They wanted me dead." She said, as if it were the answer to everything, as if it was

her only defense to the rest of the world.

"Ruki..." I hugged her. At first she just sat there like a statue, unaccustomed to any

form of affection as she was, but gradually she slowly hugged me back.

At that moment, I felt really guilty. It was all my fault that she was here. It was all my

fault that an attempt had been made on her life. Her pain was all my fault.

I don't know how long we sat together like that. I just know it was something we both

needed after feeling lost for so long.

Eventually, Ruki pulled away.

"Come on," I said, "we better get back."

She nodded and stood up. She scooped up Renamon and mounted Pyrocean. The

she just looked at me, as if I was doing something wrong.

"Jenrya, are you getting on the horse or not?"

Me? Get on THAT horse? As in, Ruki's horse? As in the horse that hates everyone

but Ruki and has put at least five stable hands out of action for attempting to ride him?

THAT horse?

"Are you sure he won't toss us both off?"

"Jenrya, trust me." And I did. I very cautiously approached the horse and mounted

behind Ruki. Pyrocean slowly stood up and began walking. I fastened my arms around

Ruki's waist. I still didn't trust that horse as far as I could throw him. Still, it felt good

knowing that he accepted me enough to let me ride him, at least when Ruki was riding

too. It was like being accepted into her world. Something that I didn't mind at all.

* * *

Ruki's POV

I smiled, or rather smirked as AiMei attempted to look dignified as she walked to her

carriage.

Last night seemed like a million years ago. Renamon was fine. The men that had tried

to attack me had lived but were banished to go live in the land of AiMei. I felt a bit sorry

for them. Being shot with arrows and having to live forever within miles of AiMei? I

couldn't stand it. Jenrya had told me how AiMei had hired those men to kill me. I am

still rather shocked that AiMei's jealousy went to those extremes, but at least I knew

they weren't following me.

AiMei stopped before Jenrya, "My father will hear of your rudeness towards me." She

hissed.

"What he will hear Lady AiMei, is that you decided to return home earlier than

expected." Jenrya replied.

"You hold no power over me." AiMei sneered.

"Wrong!" Jenrya shot back and I silently cheered him on. "I hold every power over you

for I am a prince of China. And unless you wish the whole court to hear how your tried

to have one of my most loyal servants killed, that is your story."

AiMei screwed up her face ad looked like she was going to scream at Jenrya, but didn't. It was a bit pitiful, but it was her last act of defiance. She stalked off toward her

carriage. Jenrya followed and shut the door behind her, gentlemen that he was.

"And from now one you will address me as 'your majesty'" Jenrya whispered to her

before the carriage began to pull away. She gave him one last fuming look until the

carriage had gone to far down the road and the angle was too much for her neck.

I laughed silently at her from my position on the roof. Something told me she wouldn't

be bothering Jenrya and I ever again.

* * *