Back to ze past

"My..." Yuki grinned. "Quick Witted."

---

Elizabeth grabbed onto his arm tighter. "Please. I couldn't live with myself if I left you behind. You may be the one they blame for my disapearence."

"None but the king know truly of my existance, nothing but rumors. I doubt the King will accuse a shadow of kidnapping" he said, shaking his head. "In any case... were I to leave... You don't even know if this foreigner will take you. I will not even consider leaving unless we had a where, how and with whom." He said, shaking her off. "If you look into this, I will consider it" He said after a moment's pause.

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"But if that was the question, then I would say that perhaps the fool only wanted to amuse himself, a rat, an intruder, a noble... The link is prominent" He said, stepping back from Yuki and spreading his arms. "I may just tell you why, if I have a name to the face,"

"Do you mean that?" Elizabeth asked.

---

"Guess my name and if its correct I'll guess yours." Yuki smiled.

"Have I lied to you yet?" He asked and took up his seat again, gazing at his belongings. "I do not like this, but I less like the idea of you going alone" He said and ran a hand through his hair. "Foolishness. However, you are in the line. It would be neglect to my duties... Why are you all so wayward?!" He asked, shaking his head.

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"Tell me yours and I'll return the favour" He countered, tilting his face so the light from a nearby lantern fell on it. The blue and red bruises marking his features contrasted sharply with the unnatural white of his skin.

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him from behind. "Thank you." She whispered.

---

"Yuki." He said simply.

Shade grumbled good naturedly. "Go on then" He said gruffly, mentally planning what the neccecities would be to take.

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"Yu~ki" He said slowly, trying the name. "Would you say my name is what my mother called me?" He asked, the ghost of a smile playing over his face as he attempted sincerity.

She kissed his stubbly cheek and ran from the room in look of the newcomer.

---

"I'd say your name is whatever you feel is your name, not what people call you." Yuki said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

A girl came running up at this point. "fool, what are you doing out here?" She asked confused

"Passing by" He said, grinning. He pulled Yuki close suddenly. "My mother always called me 'beloved'!" He whispered, laughed, and promptly vanished in the shadows flanking the castle.

"I NEVER SAID WHAT YOUR MOTHER CALLED YOU!" Yuki roared after him before sighing. "Can I help you Mam?"
"Take me with you." She said suddenly, causing the rat to pause.
"I saw you at Dinner." He said. "You sat by the kings wife, your his daughter right?"
"Only my marriage." She said quickly before returning to the matter at hand. "My names Elizabeth, but some people call me Lizzy."
Yuki stumbled on the name. "Liz... Lil... Liry?" The girl didn't care much for how he pronoucned her name.
"Take me with you when you return home." She begged. "I so long to see the world and to escape this place."

"Funny." Yuki laughed. "I always want to return to this place."
"You Speak english well." Elizabeth told him. "You must come here often."
Yuki smiled and nodded. "Alright I'll take you back with me, but only with Henry's Okay, don't want to be arrested now do I."
Elizabeth smiled widley and nodded, she turned on her hell and ran back to her Mentor.

Yuki shook his head. "Odd girl." He smelled a rose.

When Elizabeth re-entered the room, Shade was sat on the floor, adding the last few neccesities to a large haversack. He'd presumed it would work out. He may have doubted the logic of it, but the idea of an adventure had really perked him up.

Elizabeth smiled widley. "So you did want to go all along."

"Do not presume to know your master's mid!" He repriminded her with a smile. "Now, seeing as you're not pouting, I assume all seems well. Quickly, put some things together. Did you manage to figure out when we're leaving or did the most vital fact slip your mind?" He asked, pausing deliberately.

She closed the door tightly behind her. She turned and looked at him again. "Once I get Henry's ok."

"I see... How do you plan to go about that?" He asked, tying up his poison satchel.

"Lie and say I did." She said honestly.

"A wise decision, I think" He said and stood up, swinging his bag onto his back. "I'm sure I can explain my prescence. Not letting a young lady go anywhere unnacompanied" He said smugly. "Where is this friend of yours?" He asked.

"In the garden." She said. "Smelling the roses."

"We'll use a passageway I haven't shown you" He said with a grin. "But first, go and get what you're taking. Clothes, a cloak, use the passageway to your room. Be quick. I'm not sure how careful you were, but if even one whisper of your conversation reached the wrong ears... Did anyone else hear what you said? See you running around like that?"

Elizabeth was silent. "The fool."

Shade paused, genuinely suprised. That wasn't something easily achieved. "The fool?" He repeated quietly. "Well... we know he won't spread it around, he and I have met a few times. He know more about this castle than I do" He said and shook his head. "No matter. Hurry. Go." He said, standing up.

Elizabeth disapeared

Taro tenderly sat down against the wall, obscured by the shadows. He kept a careful eye on Yuki. This was a chance. His grimaced as he touched a hand to the bruises gracing his dace. He had to get out of here. To stay much longer would be risking more than he was willing to give up.

Yuki put the rose into his pocket gently.

---

Elizabeth returned sometime later with a small bag. "Ready."

Shade nodded. "Right then!" He said and pulled on his cape with a flare. "Let's meet this friend of yours" he said and vanished down the corridoor leading straight to the gardens.

Elizabeth close behind.