"Aphmau." Aaron tries to shake her awake.

"Aph!" He tries again and he finally gets a response.

"Where are we?" She runs her head and examines the area. "My head hurts like hell- oh my Irene. Not a-"

"Meif'wa cell? You're not wrong." Michi says, dangling the keys by her finger.

"My Irene, I think I'm starting to miss my mother."

"Why the hell did you bring us here?!" Aaron yells, clenching onto the bars of the cell.

"You don't want to cause wrinkles to that gorgeous face, do we?" Michi laughs, infuriating Aaron more.

"To answer your question, isn't it obvious? You and that girl cost Tu'la a fortune according to that ad plastered everywhere around Ru'aun." She laughs again.

"Did anyone ever tell you you're annoying?" Aphmau interrupts her. Michi sticks her tongue out at her.

"If only that ad wasn't so specific, I'd sent you to the South Eastern Wolf tribe. You'd make the perfect bride for the new heir. Best part? More money for me."

"Don't you dare think for a second you're getting away with this." Aphmau growls.

"You're right. All of Tu'la is." She sticks the keys in her pocket and summons a meif'wa into the room.

"Kawaii~Chan. Your first task is to make sure the prisoners don't escape. Let them go and that's your tail." Michi instructs as the girl before her nods.

"Kawaii~Chan will watch then like a hawk, Michi~Chan. Kawaii~Chan promises." She holds up her hand.

"Purrfect. Until sunset, Tu'la sacrifices." Michi walks out of the dunegon.

"You don't look like a guard." Aaron scoffs and walks to the back of the cell. Aphmau watches him sit down in a corner.

"King Aaron~Kun looks very unhappy to go home." Kawaii~Chan says, "Why is that?"

"He is happy to go home, just not under these circumstances. He's worried for Phoenix Drop and being trapped down here hasn't exactly made him happy." Aphmau explains.

"Oh." Kawaii~Chan mumbles.

"But he is right. You don't seem like the type who would be a guard for a living." She points out. "Why are you even here?"

"This was not Kawaii~Chan's first choice in life. She would much rather open a maid cafe, but Tu'la has no room for Kawaii~Chan's cafe." She lowers her head.

"I. I am so sorry, Kawaii~Chan." Aphmau apologizes, holding out her hand towards Kawaii~Chan.

"What- What is miss Aphmau~Senpai doing?" Kawaii~Chan asks, looking at Aphmau's palm.

"If I wasn't in this place, I'd comfort you. I'm trying my best." She responds. Kawaii~Chan grabs her hand and holds it for a while.

"Wait, Kawaii~Chan can not get distracted. She has to make sure Miss Aphmau~Senpai and King Aaron~Kun don't try any funny business." She lets go of Aphmau's hand.

"Kawaii~Chan, you aren't happy here. You aren't happy serving Tu'la. I saw your frown with you were talking to Michi." Aphmau says, "I bet you don't like anyone here. So why are you still here?" She asks.

Kawaii~Chan wipes her eyes, "Kawaii~Chan grew up here. She does not want to leave without a new destination."

Aphmau gives her a warm smile, "Then come with us." She suggests.

"Huh?" Kawaii~Chan and Aaron say in unison. He stands up to face Aphmau.

"No way! She let those meif'wa throw us in here and I-"

"Aaron, calm down." Aphmau says. She faces Kawaii~Chan, "You can actually be happy there and there is plenty of room for your maid cafe, right?" She looks back at Aaron.

He sighs but eventually nods, "Plenty."

"Kawaii~Chan does not know about that. Her home is here and I don't know who I can trust these days."

"Tu'la wants those diamonds to start a war, they've wanted diamonds for start a war for years. Michi is a sneak and so are the rest of them. Who do you trust more with your life, me or Michi?" Aphmau asks.

Kawaii~Chan smiles and looks around the room, "I know where we can hide out until we find your boat." She finds another set of keys and unlocks the cell door.

"Thank you, Kawaii~Chan!" Aphmau hugs her.

"You are very welcome in Phoenix Drop as soon as we get back." Aaron announces and Kawaii~Chan's smile beams bright.

"Come on, most meif'wa are on break. I can bring you to my home if we hurry."

~~~

Night falls and everything is still and quiet. Kawaii~Chan is in her room and Aaron has passed out on her couch. Aphmau on the other hand, couldn't sleep.

Too much was on her mind. How her father was doing, how Patricia was doing, sadly how Ivy and Lily were doing, How Katelyn was holding up, those wanted posters everywhere in the Ru'aun area, how they plan on going home. But most importantly, how Aaron was holding up.

The stress of running a kingdom that could possibly be in trouble worried Aphmau. She looks as Aaron before walking out of the house. She finds a ladder and climbs onto the roof. She sits at the top and stares at the stars.

In her head, she traces the constellations. Big Dipper, Little Dipper, Orion, and so many more. Until she started thinking.

"It's been a while, Irene." She closes her eyes and whispers, "It's been a long time since we've talked." The wind blow startled her, causing her to pause.

"Will everything be okay? Is my father safe with those women in the house? Is Ein planning some wicked battle against Phoenix Drop? Will Aaron be okay?" She asks, opening her eyes and looking back at the stars.

"All I want is for everyone to be okay." She whispers.

"I know how you feel." She is interrupted by a voice beside her.

"Irene, you scared me, Kawaii~Chan." Aphmau holds her hand near her chest.

"Kawaii~Chan has lost many people in battle. Her father, mother, seven of her siblings. Kawaii~Chan knows you're afraid, but trust Kawaii~Chan, she can sense that you are strong. And so is Aaron~Kun. As long as you two stay by each other's side, everything will be okay." She says.

Aphmau smiles and leans her head on Kawaii~Chan's shoulder. "You know, you're really wise. I envy that a lot."

"Kawaii~Chan has just been through a war again. She can tell you that it's never as bad as you think it is once you step into the arena." She responds and leans her head on top of Aphmau's.

"Thank you. For everything you've done for me and Aaron." Aphmau says.

"It was no problem for Kawaii~Chan. Kawaii~Chan better head inside." Aphmau lifts her head off and Kawaii~Chan stands up. "And Kawaii~Chan heard Aaron~Kun sleep talking about Aphmau~Senpai. Aphmau ~Senpai really lucked out." She climbs down the ladder to leave Aphmau in her thoughts.

"Thank you, Irene."

~~~

"So glad we could finally meet, High Priest." Ein blows down in front of him.

"I don't need your pity." He snaps, "You want something. What is it?"

Ein clears his throat, "I know how much power you have here in O'Kasis and how much you want Phoenix Drop destroyed."

"I'm listening."