"No! I'm far too old for that!" she exclaimed horrified at the suggestion.

"You will listen to me girl. You will do what I tell you to do or it will go badly for you, you hear me!" His voice hard and menacing. She looked at her father, wearing a king's clothes and crown that is ready to fall off anytime.

"Father, we've been through this before and my answer is still no. I know I'm stubborn but that is that! I won't have someone following me around like a dog. I won't have it, Father. I won't!" For the first time she saw real anger at her fathers eyes. He slowly rose from his throne and shouted.

"Enough! I've had enough of your so-called stubbornness Hitomi Kanzaki! You will obey my orders! You're only a daughter to me and have you have no right! No right at all to disobey my orders! Now go to your room and stay there!" he shouted. The servants around them stood rigid staring at the king whom they've known to be patient to his only daughter.

Hitomi stood frozen. * Father never shouted at me before * she thought. "I don't need a personal guard, not now not ever. You have taught me how to fight since I was about six why the hell would I need a guard now? I'm eighteen father, eighteen and you're telling me that I'm having a guard! I will not accept it!" she wailed walking towards her father.

"That's why I'm getting you a guard, Hitomi. You're eighteen and I don't want to risk anything that might happen to you. You're my only daughter, my only child. What would I do if I also loose you just like your mother…"

"Stop…please let's not talk about mother it's been two years now since her death. I don't want to remember it."

"Hitomi…"

"Please father, let's not talk about it."

"If that's what you want. Now about the guard…"

"Are we back to that again!" she wailed again frowning at her father.

"Yes. And I won't change my mind. You'll get the guard whether you like it or not. This is for your own good. I want someone who'll be by your side." The king slowly sat back down at the throne.

"But, I have Yukari with me…"

"That's different."

"How so, father?" she asked crossing her arms.

"Hitomi…" his voice warming.

"Do I have a choice?" backing and walking towards the door. But before she left she turned around and said.

"But I won't promise that I'll go easy with him. I'll make him regret accepting your offer. I'll make his life a living hell." She said and slammed the door as she got out.

"What am I going to do?" the king said staring at the ceiling.

"What! You'll have a personal guard!" Yukari was walking back and forth in front of her. Yukari has been her friend since Yukari's parents move in to their country. She's always been with Hitomi ever since then.

"You heard what I said… It's depressing! Who would ever want someone following you around? Father said it's for my own good but you very well know that I can protect myself. He taught me how to fight himself! I just bet that I'm a better fighter than that so-called personal guard of mine!" She was sitting at the side of the bed but she couldn't help it. She stood up and threw the pillows around the room.

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!!!!!!!" she shouted. Yukari stood there unmoving. Then she shook her head.

"You never change." She said looking at her friend. Hitomi stopped and looked at Yukari questioning.

"You never did grow up. I've been your friend for so many years and yet here you are throwing your old tantrums again. You're eighteen! What do you think an eighteen years old girl would do with this kind of problem?" Hitomi gasped. * Never grow up! What does she mean by that! *

"For once Hitomi be more patient and please control your temper. Maybe that's why your father is getting you a guard; you always act so out of control … impulsive. You always act on how you feel without even thinking."

"I do not!" Hitomi screamed.

"Yes you do! You always do! How many times your father did call you because of all your childish fist fights huh? And how many times did your father called you because of all the trouble you cost at the village?" Hitomi didn't answer and looked away instead.

"See…Come on now Hitomi cheer up! It isn't that bad."

"It's worst!"

"I don't need a guard what I need at this point is air!" she whispered walking towards the window.

"Hitomi!" Yukari called on her.

She silently got out the window and took hold of the bed sheets tied together securely to the window frame. She slowly climbed down.

"I'll be back soon, promise!" she called to Yukari.

She looked up at her window as she climbed down slowly. She's lucky that there are so many bed sheets at her room. As she jumped down to the ground, she slowly straighten her clothes.

"An old way of escaping but works anyway." She said smiling. She walked at the side of the castle to the wood garden. She looked up, staring fixedly at the full moon. The moon serves as her light as she walked around. She couldn't sleep so decided to take a walk, which she doubt she'll get if ever she had a guard.

"You just have to accept it!" she said to herself. She was about to take a sit at the side of a tree when she felt a hand that grabbed her arm and slammed her against the tree. She gasped, surprised. She didn't have time to even scream, all she could do was stare at the man holding her hard against the tree. She could feel bite of the tree against her back. She couldn't see him clearly but she was certain it was a man; no girl or a woman can hold and slam her that hard.

"I don't like being followed, wench" his voice cold and hard. Her eyes widen. * Wench? Wench! He called me a wench! * She was about to say something when his head slowly comes near her. Her eyes widen as his head slowly descend. She stared as his lips as it touched hers. Warm, soft lips met hers. She couldn't breath, couldn't think. She just stared at the unknown man kissing her. She couldn't see him clearly; it's far too dark. But it doesn't matter. She doesn't care… What matters is that lips… * No! Hitomi wake up! You don't know this man! You can't let him kiss you! * \ She tried to push him away but he's far too strong so she drew up her foot and stamped it on his. He drew back not from pain but from surprised.

"How…how dare you! I am not a wench!" she then drew her hand and slapped him in the face she then turned and ran towards the castle. He looked surprised and then caught a glimpse of her long brown hair.

"Long brown hair?" he whispered frowning.

"Are you looking for me?" a voice from behind said. He slowly turned. * The wench? *

"I've been following you but you're fast." She said walking towards him.

"So you're the new personal guard of the princess? Well…let me warn you. Our princess is different from other princesses. She can fight, she swear, she's also bad tempered."

"What do you want?" he asked. She moved closed and starts touching his chest.

"You." She answered. He pushed her away.

"Hey!" she wailed.

"I don't like wench." He answered and left.