A slight breeze blew past the brown-haired male as he walked, making sure his black belt was tight; the looser hanging ends wouldn't be a problem to him. His gaze was straight forward, ready to pick up any sound. Alert. Ready for anything. Behind him, tapping was heard, but it was all in his imagination. It was typical that a friend of his, one with long silver hair, dress brushing against the ground, a one that he commonly escorted, would be there, but she had other matters. Beyond the slight tapping that his mind made, he would listen for anything unfamiliar.

It didn't matter because he was fine with being alone. Along his side, in his "sheath" a racquet bounced light against his leg. Many like him had to have it. Coupled with the set of round projectiles in a pack, he knew he was fine. The racquet (of which had rather smoothly-sharp edges) and ball combination of fighting was rather stylistic, passed down from father to son. Even in this day in age, it was pretty strict. Unfortunate, but as a male, Hiyoshi Wakashi didn't notice it too much.

Clash!

Grey eyes darted around. A loud racket, dead ahead.

Tup! Tup! Tup!

He dashed, though one beside him – appearing in such a sudden fashion, this one beside was a blue-clad male – ran faster, racquet drawn and the green projectile shot, hit rather quickly. Hiyoshi noted a slight limp in his step, the ball seemed to be a weaker shot anyway.

'Gekokujou,' Hiyoshi thought, pulling out his racquet and shooting off, hit harder, blazed better than the blue-clad male's ball. This was enough to cause a two group disperse among a group of armed people.

"Oi, you! Black belt! Go after the other set," the male said, going after one of the groups.

"Hmph," Hiyoshi muttered, deadpanning. Yet, he turned and ran, going anyway. The rush in the nameless male's voice must have meant something.

He gave chase in quick, sturdy paces, running past and through bushes, dodging around trees, using the shadows just well enough to get the best shots in. He would have to get this over with quickly. His stamina could run out if he wasn't careful. Hit and send a ball their way. Grab their attention.

He sparred, swinging his racquet and meeting with the edges of theirs. They were skilled, seasoned, but pivots and quick hits, quick steps back and right aimed kicks, Hiyoshi was able to get them to back off. Barely. He'd have to work harder – which he would so definitely do.

In their rush to flee, they had pushed down a girl, tied, shoved her aside roughly. It was only proper to help her and ungag her.

The breeze came back, blowing her dark-red hair in in as she opened her brown eyes slowly. She almost looked… kind and gentle. For just a moment. But that view Hiyoshi had ended as soon as her lips formed a dismused frown, arms crossed as she glared up at him. Standing hadn't made much of difference as her dress – very characteristic to Hyoutei – touched the ground, long at a bit baggy on her skinny, short body. "Were you the one that shot those balls toward the middle?"

"Yes."

Her frown didn't let up. "You almost hit me!" She had shouted, "But, you did get those guys to go away."

Hiyoshi listened as he watched her pick up a dropped racquet and ball bag.

"I'm sick of it!" She screamed, pouting… actually, it was more of a purely anger driven scowl. "He needs to let up, let me do whatever I want!"

She pulled out a talker from the bag and powered it on. She fiddled with it for a moment, trying to find the right… channel, probably.

"Ryou," she finally said, "Junny okay?"

"Junko's safe, Gina." The voice that Hiyoshi knew he recognized had answered.

"You sent an interesting guy to help me out. Doesn't seem to talk much, yet anyway. Take Junny home. Don't tell him where I am. You know the drill. I don't need to drag Junny into this anymore."

"Gina, you better be careful. He keeps asking me. And next time, don't get caught."

"Shut it, Ryou. I know what I'm doing."

She shut off the talker and whirled around to look at Hiyoshi. "State your name, sir."

This girl couldn't have been much older than himself, Hiyoshi figured. Maybe a bit more than a year at best. He stayed silent, studying her.

She put her hands to her hips, before quickly moving and holding up the racquet toward his throat. "I said state your name, mushroom head."

"Hiyoshi Wakashi, from Hyoutei, escort class."

"Just an escort? Good. I can handle beating you if I had to." She seemed relieved, almost. "If you were one of… those castle guards, or even a knight, then I'd be worried."

Hiyoshi frowned, but let it go. "What are you doing out here?"

"Running from my problems, trying to beat out the society, typical things. You?"

Hiyoshi raised an eyebrow, "…Walking and patrolling the path I usually take."

"That's what I'd expect from an escort. How boring."

He chose to ignore that, "Who were those people?"

"My dad's servants, castle guards, probably that other guy's helpers, a bunch of suppressors, that's who."

"And they were..?"

"What is this, twenty questions? Trying to bring me back to the city. What else? Look at me. I'm a girl who's out here, dragging her friends down with her, holding a racquet. I hate it."

Hiyoshi decided not to ask more questions. He was about to speak when the girl cut him off, "I'm Mukahi Gina, yes, I know how to use a racquet, and you, Hiyoshi, are now stuck with the task of helping me."

"What?"

"No taking it back. Escorts have to listen to a princess, no matter how minor we may be."

Just like that, Hiyoshi found himself wrapped up in the biggest escort job he'd ever face. So much for being able to become an elusive but strong knight, appointed by the king. Then again, Hiyoshi had wanted to rise past the king and take over. He knew he had the capabilities, believed he did. This seemed like a death trap, but he was stuck.

"You're listening, right?" She asked as she sat back down, pulling the skirt end of her dress to bunch it up as much as she could.

"Yes, I am..."

"Am what? Spit out the title you know you need to."

"M'lady." He sighed.

"Good."

Hiyoshi blinked, watching her next move.

Shiwing!

She cut through the bunched up part of her dress and finished the job carefully on her other side. She then stood again, examining the shortened skirt of her dress. "Much better!" She said, happily, jumping up and flipping, landing perfectly on her slipper covered feet.

"And now to deal with one of my other identifying factors. Man, I should've done this a long time ago, Hiyoshi! Assist me!"

Hiyoshi wondered what on earth she could want to do now. Only a few minutes of knowing her, and she was already ridiculous and barely spoke like a princess. But, he had to. Militant honor.

She gathered and held her hair with one hand, behind her, "Hold my hair together for a minute." She ordered.

"Why?"

"Would you just do it? Stop questioning me!"

"Fine."

And Hiyoshi did as he was told. Honestly, he didn't even agree with her going against the system the king and his advisor had in place. It was there for a reason, tradition through the years. Really, she shouldn't even know how to use that racquet… though that was a little contradicting to his own past, in which he had taught his friend how to at least defend herself with a racquet, if the time ever came. But, he digressed, suddenly feeling his hand drop from the sudden release of pressure on the straight hair he held.

His grip loosened and the hair in his hands fell to the dirt-covered ground.

"There. Now come. I know a place we can hide and situate ourselves."

Hiyoshi reluctantly followed. This girl was interesting, but also hard to deal with. This was an odd sort of change.

"Oh, don't expect me to tell you my life story. And you are going to help me even out my hair~!" She said, bolting forward, expertly ducking into a forest and dodging by jumping through the thin gaps and over the branches.