Hey, everyone. I'm sorry to do this to you, but I'm just getting too many messages complaining about this fic, its pairings, its plot, its everything. I'm too sick to function, and each chapter takes me at least three hours. It's not worth writing this, especially since I've never actually *liked* this fic. I wrote it for money to cover medical costs-and, once the money stopped, I wrote it out of a sense of misguided obligation to hypothetical readers.

Some of you have been wonderful. I appreciate every single comment that people have left supporting me. I doubt I'll come back to flesh out this story, so please don't get your hopes up too much.

In brighter news, I finally got a wheelchair, so I should be able to leave the house again. I've been homebound for nearly two years now.

I'm sorry to leave you with a chapter fragment and an outline, but I just can't work on this fic any longer. I hope at least a few of you enjoyed it.

Chapter 30b

(Mikoshiba) Mikoshiba comes to understand Kou better. He still admires her, but the hero worship fades to genuine human appreciation.

Chapter 31

As a guard, Rei felt well accustomed to observation. At all times, he prepared his mind and body to fend off all threats his charge might face. He could maximize his peripheral vision, his reaction speed, and his nonlethal takedowns in such a way that he felt almost glamorous.

In the fields, however, he had anticipated finding nothing at all of interest to observe. He felt much less in his element knee-deep in dirt than he did in his immaculate uniform. Pulling weeds and redirecting irrigation could hardly compare to the beautiful work he'd seen and done in his duties at the palace.

Or so he would have said a few weeks before, but Nagisa had a talent for surprising him.

"Rei," Nagisa said, turning his name into an entire sentence-fondness commingled with exasperation. When Rei didn't respond, he huffed and straightened, stretching toward the sun. "Your stares are flattering, but you're leaving me with all the hard work!"

Rei's face grew hot with embarrassment. "Forgive me," he said automatically, then frowned as indignation rankled in his stomach. "I've been working as well. These channels are being built to the specifications I laid out in my own petition to the princess."

"Uh huh." Nagisa rolled his eyes. "I don't think you wrote those down on my butt, sweetie, so staring's not going to refresh your memory." He winked and turned back to his work, humming cheerfully.

Rei had never seen Nagisa devote himself to anything other than dancing. All of their free hours together had been spent lazing about and cuddling, and Rei had developed the impression that Nagisa didn't like to work.

Apparently he'd been mistaken.

They'd been at work in the fields for weeks now, and Nagisa hadn't once shirked his duties. I'm fact, he threw himself into the task wholeheartedly. His bright and determined grin brought beauty to an otherwise dreary task unworthy of Rei's mental and physical faculties. But watching Nagisa use his full weight to drive his shovel into the sand reminded Rei starkly that, for all the easy grace his dancing held, it was still athleticism in its purest form.

"I didn't expect you to be so…" Rei trailed off, his vocabulary failing him, and he gestured weakly at Nagisa.

"Filthy?" he replied, tossing a shovel full of dry earth onto what would eventually be the bank of the canal. "Rugged?"

"Enthusiastic."

At that, Nagisa laughed. "When have I ever not been enthusiastic about something important, goofball?"

(Rei) He's been working in the fields alongside Nagisa. He hadn't known that Nagisa could focus and work at anything quite so labor-intensive. He hadn't thought such a thing could be beautiful, but Nagisa proves him wrong. He gives him a massage for his trouble and receives a somewhat more flirtatious one in return.

Chapter 32

(Makoto) The village is faring well, but he can tell that Haru is suffering. And he is, too. He misses Rin. He tries to comfort Haru anyway. Truth be told, Haru is asexual, but not aromantic. They have a lengthy discussion about what they both want.

Chapter 33

(Nagisa) They've been courting for the better part of a year, and he still hasn't gotten Rei into his bed except for sleep and snuggles. Now that he's recovered, it's time to initiate Project: Seduction and teach Rei how to pole dance.

Chapter 34

(Haruka) Rin has been gone for more than three months, and he thinks he finally understands the agony Makoto and he experienced when Haru left. Late at night, he apologizes for this to Makoto.

Chapter 35a

(Rin) The desert is so much drier than he'd expected. He thought he could be clear-headed out in the dunes, but dehydration makes him foggy. Nitori insists that he needs to drink the last of the water—the water that's binding Nitori to him—or he'll die. It becomes apparent that Nitori will die if he does this, as he's so far uprooted from his own waters. Rin turns back instead.

Chapter 35b

(Nitori) Nitori attempts to guide Rin repeatedly to water. He can sense the distant sea and knows that Rin is closer to that than to his homeland. He tries to reason with Rin to save his life, but Rin is stubborn—he insists on saving Nitori's, as well.

Chapter 36a

(Kou) She visits Makoto and Haruka to see whether there's anything she can do to help speed the recovery process and make the commoners more at ease. She gets closer to Mikoshiba.

Chapter 36b

(Mikoshiba) At Kou's direction, he takes his guards to help work in the fields in the hopes of building goodwill with the villagers. He works alongside Kou and marvels at her work ethic and determination.

Chapter 37

(Rei) With the additional help from the guards and merchants, they finally complete the irrigation changes and finish fine-tuning the other conservation measures. He surveys his work with pride, and, feeling full of confidence, he formally asks for Nagisa's hand in marriage.

Chapter 38

(Makoto) He talks seriously with Kou, who's distressed by the idea that her brother just won't come back. It's been almost a year without him, and her birthday has come and gone. She wants nothing to do with the crown. During the conversation, Makoto notices Kou hallucinating—she keeps talking about a ghost in the corner. (in truth, it's Nitori) It scares her when he says that Rin is safely on his way home.

Chapter 39

(Nagisa) He doesn't want to have the wedding until Rin returns. Rei is worried he won't come back, but Nagisa is confident—or pretends to be. They talk about the future.

Chapter 40

(Haruka) His work in the village is done for the moment. He considers leaving to look for Rin, who's been gone for more than a year, but decides not to force his decisions.

Chapter 41

(Rin) Nitori talks him through the journey home—he's as sure as a compass, and he helps Rin sort out his sulk. When he finally returns to challenge Haruka to another duel, he realizes that he doesn't care whether or not he wins. He doesn't want to fight. Instead, he pulls Haru into a hug and cries for the lost years they could have had together. Haru then gives him the confidence to accept the crown back from Kou.

Chapter 42

(Kou/Mikoshiba) She attends Nagisa's wedding. Freed from her ruling obligations, Kou catches the bouquet-equivalent and asks Mikoshiba out. It rains.