Castle Thief {A Momojiro Tale}

Chapter 18

     "No," I denied, "I am fine, I swear." I tried to shuffle out of the room, maybe find a different dress to change into. Maybe just retire to my room. "I should get back to-," 

     I halted, Yaomomo's hand snagged my arm, "Jirou," she whispered, "please, I haven't seen you in so long."

     "Are you joking?" I snorted, "you know as well as I do what would happen if we're seen together." yanking my arm out of her grasp, and stepping back to look her in the eyes. "I really should get back."

     "Jirou!" she pleaded, "there's no one in here! Please just stay for a little while." 

I would admit, I was tempted. Just a minute ago I would have happily traded my life for a glimpse of her spinning in her red and black ballgown, the colors of her kingdom. Even now in this dingy powder room, as breathtaking as she was that night we stole away to the village. I bit my lip as I hesitated, she took that as a sign that maybe, I really did want to see her.

     Her eyes watered, "oh Kyouka," she brushed a strand of hair away from my sweat covered forehead, her weight shifted forward, towards me. I even felt myself tilting towards her involuntarily, "I'm so sorry,"

     "Why?" I whispered, the question hanging unanswered in the stuffy air of the powder room for what seemed like forever, "It's not your fault."

     She sniffled, "Yes it is, if I hadn't made you take me out that night we wouldn't be in this mess."

Momo's knees were shaking, she looked ready to collapse. I was overcome by the urge to hold her up, wrap my arms around her and squeeze until she knew how much I needed her. The only repercussion? A potential beheading. 

Worth it.

I slid my hand under her arms, around her waist to encircle her back. Her breath caught in her chest, my heart was beating fast. 

Momo let me support her weight, her arms slipped tentatively around my back, hands clutching the fabric of the servant's dress I wore. 

     Her wet eyelashes fluttered against my neck, "It's okay," I murmured, "It's okay," I would repeat that until she finally believed it. And maybe part of me needed to hear it too.

     "How can we fix this Kyouka?" she asked, "everything feels irreparable." We. 

     "We'll figure it out somehow Yaomomo," I whispered, "I promise."

--

Back at the ball with Ashido everything seemed different. I squinted suspiciously at the tray I was holding, it looked the same. The musicians were still playing, the rich were still dancing, and my friend was still batting her eyes at the "pretty butler" across the room.

Nothing had really changed.

But that wasn't all the way true either.

After Momo had regained her composure she stood up, puffed out her chest and asked me to help her hide her blotchy cheeks and reddened eyes. Then we had sat on the floor of the powder room and discussed what our lives had been like for the past week. Mine was dull, and hers seemed even duller. 

Her father had put her in more classes on manners and how to be ladylike. She had shudder just talking about it. I confessed I didn't think I would last an hour with the strict teacher she had described to me, Madam Garhwhal, she called herself.

I described the duties of a servant, she laughed when I told her how Arisu had assigned me to duties as a stable-hand, surely in an attempt to get me even farther away from Momo, but i was instead thrown off the back of the slowest, tamest mare in the entire country. 

I had almost forgotten how much I liked to see her laugh. Almost.

The memory brought a smile to my face, I couldn't fight it back, I accidently smiled at the snobbiest, meanest looking man reaching for a glass of champagne. Ashido made a face at me from behind his back, I almost laughed directly in his face.

     "That was mean," I told her once he was gone,

     "I don't know what you're talking about," she professed innocently, handing off another flute-necked glass to a woman with the biggest feather I had ever seen perched obnoxiously in her hair. "You seem very chipper," she chirped at me.

     I grinned into my hand, "Now, I don't know what you're talking about." I said. I had just been barely able to scrub the stain out of my dress after Momo had left to go back to her princessely duties.

     "Oh come on!" Ashido whined, "you have to tell me! It's so boring here!"

     "I thought you said you loved these balls?" I teased,

     "Well I changed my mind," she huffed, "I think they're boring! So please tell me what happened!" she begged, "Please, please, please, please, please!"

     "Okay, okay!" I succumbed to her please, I beckoned her closer. She eagerly leaned in. I cleared my throat, "So, you know the princess?" she nodded exaggeratedly, "I'm not allowed to see her, right? But..." I looked around paranoidly, no one appeared to be listening in to the two gossiping servants, so I continued, "I just did."

     "What?!" Ashido squealed, I quickly hushed her, looking around again, "Won't you be beheaded?" she asked, eyes wide.

     "Well, technically yes." I admitted, "but_"

     "Jirou!" she protested,

     I hushed her again, "I know, I know," I sighed, "but it's not like I have anything better to do here!" I waved my arms around, almost spilling my tray again. "We'll see each other eventually anyways, this castle is big, but not that big."

Ashido was speechless, spluttering unfinished thoughts.

     "It's not like anyone will find out anyways," I reasoned, "It was only for a few minute, and it wasn't like it was on purpose." I dismissed.

     "Okay sure," Ashido said once she was over being appalled with my sound logic. "But what it they do!"

     I shrugged, "So what?" I said, "It's not like I have a life outside of the castle anyways."

I don't have one inside the castle anyways, at least, not without her.