tampered | Log: Complete

When: January 8th

Rating: PG

Characters: Rue (

fairyta1eprince )

Summary: After skillfully "losing" Fakir and Ahiru on their supposed double-date, Rue and Mytho finally get a little time alone with each other. Doubt weighs upon them both, but for now they're just happy to be together again. [ ooc: The other two have a log coming, I swear. Been trying to finish it all week. ._.; ]

Log:

When Ahiru and Fakir were properly distracted, Rue smirked mischievously at Mytho and dragged him into the first building she saw, waiting until the other pair walked pass them and left their sight.

She released her Prince and crossed her arms.

"I hope Fakir won't ruin that because he's alone," the Princess muttered, not very hopeful about the knight's wooing skills. She glanced at her Prince, nearly blushing. "I… I think he likes her, Mytho. It's an impression I had since he arrived."

Mytho let himself be dragged off without protest and blinked golden eyes curiously back at his princess. " Honestly, I didn't really notice anything. He was being more of a jerk toward her as far as I could see." The prince glanced out the way they came, then back to his fair-skinned princess. "Did you set them up or something? And what gave you an impression like that?"

A lot must have gone on before he came to the city, Mytho reasoned with himself. Afterall, hadn't Fakir and Rue both said they also got along with each other? It seems a lot of things had changed. Not that he minded. It would just take a little while to let everything soak in.

"I did set them up today." Rue smiled, pleased with her arguably good deed and offered her arm to continue the stroll. Her ruby eyes met his golden ones and inclined her head. "He has an unusual urge to protect her, above all other things. He was worried to tears when she was gone for a while," she commented. "They were living together prior the City, Ahiru told me that Fakir wanted to stay with her even if she was a duck. She was missing him as I missed you, Mytho."

It could be a strong friendship, but there was something in their nervous interaction that spoke to Rue louder than words. There was tension and not necessary negative.

"Did I do wrong, Prince? It's my job to see this as Princess," she asked, pouting. Did Mytho dislike this behaviour?

The situation between Fakir and Ahiru still didn't add up, since the prince had only seen them briefly interact since he arrived, but Mytho pushed that aside. He trusted that Rue knew what she was doing. And she was certainly observant enough to notice any changes in either of their behaviors. Besides, the thought of the stoic and bad-tempered knight doting on the cheerful and naive Ahiru was quite amusing.

Mytho took her free hand in his, offering a gentle squeeze. "You didn't do anything wrong, Rue," he assured her. "And setting them up like this was quite clever," he added with the hint of a smile. "How did you get them both to agree to it?"

The prince pulled her a little closer as they walked, enjoying her warmth after having missed it for so long. And now it seemed he would get his time alone with her afterall. A very welcome change in plans, as far as he was concerned.

Rue thought about her actions briefly and accepted Mytho's squeeze with a mildly pompous air. "Hmph, I know this was clever, my doubts are silly, Prince," she said, then smirked mysteriously. "I have my ways to provoke your knight, Mytho. He's very agreeable once you know what to compromise."

She clung further into her Prince as Mytho pulled her. Closing her eyes, Rue was glad to be near him, feeling such joy that rivalled the despair that the separation had caused. It was not just his loss but the fear about his welfare, fighting the Raven's blood by himself.

"To the gardens, Mytho? We can't go to the Cafe."

"That sounds wonderful, Rue," he agreed with a smile.

Distantly, Mytho wondered how much she'd suffered being stuck here. Some of the curses they'd told him about sounded horrible. He wished more than anything that he could have been here to support her. She knew, just as he did, how terrible the Raven's blood really was. How it begs for you to give into the darkness inside of you.

But now they could fight it together. That thought alone should have comforted him. It really should have. However, he couldn't help but wonder if Rue would even be able to trust him. As Mytho, and not the prince.

"I'm going to assume you know how to get there," he said after a moment, his tone a little sheepish. "Even though that's where I arrived in the city, I can't recall how to get there."

Rue smiled fondly, traces of mischief melt by love and happiness to share time alone with him. His presence was something that she was used to have close during these years they were together.

"It's not too far from here," replied Rue, motioning forward with her head. The scent of flowers was slowly clearing the city air, captivating to those who strolled near to visit the garden if only for a moment. "Just remember to never approach the cherry blossom tree," she reminded him with concern.

When Rue heard Mytho had been under it, the girl nearly had a heart attack. The stories the circulated in the network made her fear for his safety.

The aroma was quite nice and Mytho briefly closed his eyes, enjoying it. Rue's mention of the tree he'd arrived under gave him a slight jolt of guilt. He hadn't meant to appear under the pretty cherry tree in his nightclothes. It just sort of...happened. Were his friends and his love always going to have to look out for him? He was the one who was supposed to be protecting them. They'd done enough for him already.

"I know," he nodded once. "I won't go near it."

Xanadu itself was beautiful. Not that his gardens in the kingdom back home weren't...but he didn't want to think about that. He'd stay here forever if it meant he didn't have to leave Rue's side again. "Do you come here often?"

Rue rushed her pace and pulled Mytho to follow her toward the entrance of the garden. The roses without thorn greeted their sight. She looked for a good bench to sit together amongst the red blossoms.

"Is it beautiful?" she said happily, forgetting about the tree and the separation. The present was what mattered, Mytho was with her in Xanadu, they were together and would never be apart again.

"Not very often, I stayed in the Opera House to practice," admitted Rue while her pale cheeks gained some colour. "I didn't want to forget how to dance just because you weren't there. When I dance, I closed my eyes and thought I could feel you, next to me. It helped me."

"It's unlike any garden I've ever seen before," Mytho replied, looking about Xanadu with wide eyes.

Her next words brought another dose of guilt with them and he turned his head away for a moment, eyes drooping slightly. "I gave up dancing after you disappeared," he stated. "There were plenty in the kingdom who would partner with me, but I wouldn't have it." Why hadn't he been able to keep hope like she had? Why had he given up? He didn't want to dwell on such things right now. Turning back to her, the prince smiled. "I'm glad you were able to keep up with your dancing. I suppose I'll have to work up my skill again to catch up to you."

Passing by one particularly lovely patch of roses, he paused just a moment to pluck one free and wordlessly tucked the flower into Rue's dark hair. He wasn't even sure what possessed him to do so, but it certainly accented her beautiful eyes.

Rue smiled, gazing at Xanadu with wonder. "It holds many breed of roses and other flowers…"

She hesitated to speak when Mytho's features shifted in unease, wondering what she had said or done wrong. Her mouth pouted slightly, listening to his confession that filled her with more affection. "You could not dance with anyone because you feared that would be seen as replacement, my Prince. There is nothing to be forgiven," she assured him, touched by Mytho's fidelity.

She was about to sit on the bench when the Prince tucked a flower on her dark hair. She turned to stare at him with her cheeks tinted with pink and a foolish smile on her lips. The Princess touched the blossom and sat on the bench, closing her eyes peacefully, waiting for her Prince to sit so she could rest on his lap as the fragrant petals and green leaves fell on her face.

"Like the old days, Mytho… Just you and I."

She couldn't be happier.

Mytho knew he didn't deserve Rue's love. She'd loved him so much and so deeply, even when he had been lacking a heart, even when he had been chasing after Tutu for the light of his lost heart. It was Rue's words of true, undying love that saved him from sacrificing his newly-restored heart to the Raven. She broke the spell with love that knew no bounds.

Even now her words were a comfort and understanding he'd been aching and yearning for. But despite knowing what he didn't deserve, the prince was forever grateful to his raven-haired princess. He would find a way to make himself worthy of her. Somehow. Maybe one day his love in return would be enough. And they could live happily ever after, like they were meant to.

Setting himself down on the bench beside her, Mytho ran a hand through the long, thick locks of her hair, brushing the flower with the tips of his fingers. "But we can dance together again," he told her with a soft smile. "And that makes me very happy. Being with you again is all I could ask for."

Studying her peaceful face, he trailed his hand down the side of her cheek, brushing the skin tenderly. "I don't want to be seperated from you again, Rue."

No more dark nights alone in his castle. She was here. He found her. And nothing would take her from him ever again.Closing his eyes, Mytho gently rested his head on hers and took one of her hands in his.

Moments like this were worth waiting for.