Minako Zalencia stretched her pale arms above her head with a yawn. She felt her right shoulder give a satisfying crack, and the muscles in her back twisting delightfully. Hours upon hours stuck in a carriage made her bones feel stiff.
"If you'r so tired, just sleep." The tall man sitting beside said with a bemused smile, tilting his head as he did, the sun streaming through the carriage window making his choppy light brown hair appear almost golden.
"But I'm not THAT kind of tired, Ryou." Minako grumbled, glancing up at him with a pout, before looking out the window at the dense woods around them.
Ryouta was one of her three attendants and childhood friends. Ryouta was the middle child of the Iyka brothers, at twenty-two years old and as annoyingly tall as most were compared to Minakos lax height.
"How many kinds of tired could they be?" He irked a brow.
"Well, there's tired from staying up late, tired from being exhausted from working all day, tired from being sick, tired from being cramped up in one space for a long time. The list goes on." The small girl explained as this was all of great importance.
"Tired from oversleeping, tired from exposure to intense pain, tired from overeating-" Ryouta nodded, joining in and listing off several different kinds of 'tired' he could think of before a voice, several octaves deeper than his own interjected.
"You'd know plenty about overeating, Ryou!" Kohaku, the eldest Iyka brother had pulled his horse up to the carriage window and giving his younger brother a mocking smirk.
Minako and Kohaku laughed at the annoyed huff Ryouta sent his older brother.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. You guys are just jealous that I can eat as much as I want and not put on any weight." Ryouta said, in attempt to patch his wounded pride.
"Only you would be proud of eating like a pig." Kohaku rebutted and only laughed louder, green eyes twinkling.
"Mina! Do you see what I have to put up with? Do you see how he treats me!" The younger brother turned the girl beside him with a pled. Minako started at him, both brows raised. "What?"
"Eat as much as you want without gaining weight, huh?"
"Oh, right. That's kinda stupid to say to you." Ryouta nodded. "Anyway back to the injustices of being the middle child."
"Here we go again..." Sighed Kohaku.
"Help me out, Mina!"
"Oh, sorry. What were you saying? Forgive me, I wasn't listening." She told him with an innocent expression.
"Thats it! I'm not speaking to either of you ever again!"
"Uh huh, thats nice Ryou." Minako looked past the younger brother to Kohaku. "Haku, can we take a quick break, please?"
"Are you sure? We only have another three hours or so until we reach Clarines."
"Please? I've stuck in here all day! Just ten minutes, pretty please?" Minako pulled her face into a pout, widening her pale blue eye and tilting her head so several strands of her black hair fell over her face.
"Enough with the face, Mina. It makes me feel like I've done something wrong." Kohaku sent her a slightly annoyed look.
"So, can we stop?"
Kohaku sighed, smiled and rode up to the front of the carriage where the youngest Iyka brother sat at the reins, dressed in brown and greens like his elder siblings.
"Shou! Were taking a break."
"But where already so close." The usually stoic brother stated.
"PLEASE SHOU! I'm going crazy in here stuck with Ryou!" Minako stuck her head out the window to shout out to her youngest attendant.
"Understandable." Shou nodded emotionlessly and pulled gently on the reins.
"I HEARD THAT!" Cried Ryouta.
The carriage pulled to a stop beside a small clearing, Shou completely ignoring Ryouta.
"I'm going to take a quick look around. You two stay with the princess." Kohaku dismounted his white and brown horse and moved off into the woods.
Shou climbed down from his seat to pat the horses that had been on the move all day, meanwhile Minako shuffled to the edge of her seat, her left knee bouncing with excitement.
"Calm down Mina!" Ryouta laughed, seeming over the shots his brothers had fired. "Shake your leg any harder and the things gonna come off."
"Just really want to get out of this box!" She bit her lip in anticipation as her right knee also began to bounce.
Shou stopped by the window and glanced in at he and his brother's charge, rolled his eyes and turned his gaze towards the woods as Kohaku stepped out.
"All clear, Mina." Kohaku sent Shou a nod and the younger brother opened the door just as the princess came flying out.
"Catch me!" She cried out as all three brothers moved on reflex, Shou catching her in his arms, being the closet.
"Be careful!" Kohaku scolded her immediately.
"I'm fine! I knew one of you would have caught me." Minako shrugged as Shou lowered her to her feet.
"That's not the point!" Kohaku threw his hands up in frustration.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic." Minako waved him off and skipped off into the clearing, taking a deep breath. "It feels so good to be out of the carriage."
"You're going to be six feet under if you keep pulling stuff like that." Kohaku said as he moved to help Shou with the feed bags for the horses.
"See what I just said?" Minako looked over at Ryouta. "Dramatic!"
"Just make sure you stay in the clearing, Mina!" Ryouta gave a laugh and moved back over the carriage to pull out food for themselves.
"I will." Minako took in another deep breath. She could feel the cool, clean air filling her lungs. She spun on the spot and did several cartwheels, enjoying the freedom of being in the outdoors and not bothering to think about the complications of cartwheels in a dress.
These three brothers had been more then her attendants for years. They were family. Kohaku had been with her longest, ever since she was four and Minako could hardly remember a time before Kohaku was at her side. He was only sixteen and she was a skinny little brat. Well, almost would still call her such even these eleven years later. Each brother after Kohaku had also become her attendants at the age of sixteen, Shou only being in service for the last three years, having recently turned nineteen. These boys were the most important people in her life, just as she was theirs.
Minako fell down on to her back with content sigh.
"Your going to get grass stains all over your dress." Kohaku stood over her, casting a shadow larger then her whole body.
"Thats nice." She smiled up at him.
"Get up and eat something." He sighed, reaching a hand down to her.
She couldn't help but laugh little and take his hand. He pulled to her feet with ease and began looking her over for cuts and burises, once he was satisfyed he nudged her over to where Ryouta layed out a simple meal on a blanket. Minako sat down beside him, eagerly waiting for food. Ryouta passed her a sandwich and she barley finished the word 'thank you' before said sandwich was lodged in her teeth. Ryouta barked a laugh.
"What was that about me eating like a pig?"
Minakos come back was muffled by the food in her mouth.
"Hes right, Mina." Shou said softly, sitting down across from them. "Slow down."
Minako shot then annoyed looks but proceeded to chew her food more carefully.
"In a few hours we'll be at Wisteria castle." Kohaku came to sit with them also. "Excited?"
Minako nodded enthusastically and swollowed loudly.
"I can't wait to see Zen, Izana and Kiki and Mitsuhide and everybody. Its going to be great! I've heard rumors all the way here about a girl with hair as bright red as an apple and that she works in Wistal castle. I hope its true, it sounds amazing."
"Sounds fake." Ryouta added.
"Don't be such a pessimest, Ryou. Oh, do you remember last year when Mitsuhide ate that werid purple fruit on a dare? And it was this werid creation that had somehow escaped from the Herbalist wing and he turned yellow and passed? That was hilairous!" She laughed.
"Oh, I remember." Ryouta chuckled. "Mitsuhides such a sucker."
"You think hes confessed to Kiki yet?" Kohaku asked with a wide grin.
"You mean, has Kiki confessed to him yet." Shou corrected.
"I can't believe you still think shes gonna confess before him, Shou." Ryouta shook his head.
"It'll happen." Shou said calmly, biting into a pear.
"Well, my moneys still on Mitsuhide. I mean, he'll probably faint from embrassment afterwards, but he'll do it all the same." Kohaku shrugged.
"I think it'll be Kiki." Minako added suddenly.
"Seriously?" Ryouta nearly choked on his food in shock, Shou slapping him firmly on the back.
"Why do you think that?" The eldest brother raised a brow.
"Womens intution." Minako shrugged.
Ryouta coughed again. Minako gave him a sour look, before slapping him on the back.
"Ow!"
"Choke quitely would you!" Minako stuck out her tounge at him, which Ryouta returned
"Hurry up and eat the both of you! Were back on the road in ten." Kohaku grabbed a sandwich and stood, making his way back over to carriage. "Ryous at the reins."
"See what you did!" Minako slapped Ryouta on the arm. "Now hes mad at me."
"Oh, please." Ryouta snorted.
"This is your fault."
"Is not!"
"So, your blaming me!"
"Nine mintues!" Kohaku snapped at them from the carriage and the two threw seething glares at one another in silence.
Shou stilfed a laugh, glow of amusement in his hazel eyes hidden by the shadow of his hair. He patted the blanket next to him, Minako shuffling over to his side and finishing off her sandwich with a pout.
-The Little Princess-
Several hours later found Minako back in the carriage. She layed sprawled out across the seat, her head in Kohakus lap, fiddling with the end of his long dark plait. She was bored. Not a rare thing during her seven day trip through the country.
"Haku, how much longer?" She whined softly.
He smiled down at her and nodded out the window.
"Anything look familar?" He asked.
Minako sat up, immediately looking out the window and being met with the large stone archway that opened into the capital of Clarines. She lit up instantly and watch the people going about there everyday lives. Living, loving and dying. So many people. It reminded her of the seaside market back home on Dellamine Island.
"Remind you of home?"
"It's almost like the seaside market." She nodded happily. "All the stalls and people. The only difference is the lack of seagulls and salt in the air."
"Not to mention the fact that this time of year all the Corona Islands are covered in four inches of snow." Kohaku chuckled.
"Yeah, that too." Then Minakos pale blue eyes lit up in a most concerning way. "Do you think I could yell loud enough that Izana and Zen could hear me?"
"Please don't." Kohaku paled slightly.
"Party pooper." Stuck out her tongue and turn her attention back to the world outside the confinement of her carriage. "You don't think they'll get bored of me do you?"
"You ask the same thing every time we come back here. And I always tell you the same thing." Kohakus green gaze softened, as she refused to look his way.
"Tell me again? Please?" Her voice suddenly seemed far too small for her loud and cheerful personality.
"They adore you, Minako. Every single person in that castle does. Prince Izana and Prince Zen are no different. You have nothing to worry about."
"I know. I'm sorry I always ask." She nodded.
"Look at me," Kohaku said firmly and she slowly turned her gaze to him. "Smile, little princess."
Minako felt her lips pull back into that beaming smile at the words she'd heard many times in the last eleven years. She swore it didn't matter how many times she heard those words, they would always make her feel light. Like big problems were nothing but dust in the wind.
"So, do you think that maybe the girl with red hair is real? I know Ryou thinks its a lie, but why couldn't it be true?" Minako asked.
"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't." Kohaku shrugged indifferently. "Just don't get your hopes up too high on the words of rumors."
"But don't you think it would be pretty?"
"Sure. But I've always preferred brunettes myself."
"You're a brunette." Minako fixed him with a deadpan stare.
"I know what I am." He sent her wolfish grin.
"Yeah, a total moron."
"Ouch." Kohaku slapped a hand over his heart.
"You'll live." She laughed and returned her gaze to the familiar sight.
-The Little Princess-
The two princes of Clarines stood side by side, flanked by attendants, servants, and guards, all awaiting the return of there friend from the north.
"Excuse me your highnesses, an unmarked carriage has just entered the grounds." A guard bow before them.
"Traveling safely as always." Izana smiled thinly.
"Thank you." Zen nodded and the guard moved to stand with the others.
"How much do you wanna bet she hasn't grown an inch." A guard could be heard whispering not quite as quietly as he thought he was.
"Ah, but she's so cute. I don't want her to get any bigger."
"Oh, I know, I could just put her in my pocket."
Izana turned his gaze in the general direction of the line of guards and a hush fell over them immediately.
"How like Minako." Izana almost sighed. "Causing such excitement before shes even here."
"Indeed." Zen found himself agreeing.
The two straightened as they saw the carriage come into sight, Ryouta Iyka at the reins, Shou Iyka on horseback. Before the carriage had even come to a stop, the door was thrown open and a flurry of thin, pale limbs, dark hair and white and green fabric dove directly into Izanas ready and wonderfully familiar arms.
"Mina, I swear..." Kohaku gave a low growl, only to be ignored.
"Big brother Izana, I missed you!" Minako squealed and buried her face in his chest.
"And I you, Minako." He answered, smiling down at her good-naturedly.
Then just as quickly as she was in Izanas arms, she was out of them, diving into Zens, who laughed at her over zealous behavior.
"Big brother Zen!" She squeezed her arms around him, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck affectionately. "I missed you too."
"Its great to see you again. You look strong." Zen ruffled the top of her head as he had always done.
"Of course I'm strong!" Minako leaped back and pulled up the kimono like sleeve of her dress and attempted to tense what small amount of muscle she had.
"Very impressive." Came a familiar and slightly sarcastic voice.
"Mitsuhide!" Minako then threw her arms around him like she had done with the princes, before turning to blonde woman beside him. "Kiki!"
"Welcome back, princess." Kiki smiled gently and hugged her back.
"Its good to be back!" Minako beamed and turned around to look at the procession of people she had hugged and saw her three attendants bowing before the princes of Clarines.
"Its an honour to be welcomed back once more. You have our thanks, your highness's." Kohaku spoke on behalf of his brothers.
"Its a pleasure to have you all back." Zen smiled in return.
"If you don't mind, your highness's, we will make our way directly to the medical wing as perusal." Ryouta added.
"Of course, you are free to do as you wish." Izana replied.
"Right away?" Minako asked, her smile falling little.
"You know the rules." Kohaku nodded.
"That I do." The small girl sighed, but smile none the less and looked over her friends. "I can't wait to enjoy the company of each and everyone of you."
She bowed her head slightly and then turned to lead the way to the medical wig, where she already knew what was awaiting for her.
"I shall accompany you." Zen smiled and moved to catch up with the fellow royal, Mitsuhide and Kiki following only steps behind.
Minako waved an beamed as she passed the guards and servants, causing giggles and blushing all around. It feels good to be back, Minako thought to herself.
"So, Zen. I heard a rumour and I need some confirmation or I might just die." Minako held out her arm for him to take.
"Oh, well we can't that." Zen took her arm in his. "What rumour might this be?"
"Its about a girl. One with hair as bright as an apple."
Minako felt Zen stiffen beside her for singular moment.
"...Would you like to met her?"
"SHES REAL!?" Minako and Ryouta cried out in unison.
"She works here." Mitsuhide added.
"Your kidding..." Ryouta gave almost a pained groan.
"Her name is Shirayuki." Kiki couldn't help but smirk. "Shes a court herbalist here in the castle."
"That's amazing! I'd love to met her." Minako beamed up at Zen.
"I thought you would." He chuckled at her excitement. "And I think you'll both get along great."
Kiki and Mitsuhide exchanged meaningful glances.
"Is she nice?"
"Very." Minako instantly noticed the warmth in his voice, even with only one word being spoken.
"Is she smart?"
"Yes, shes very intelligent."
"Is she pretty?"
"Shes beautiful." Zen froze as he realised what he'd said exactly.
Meanwhile, Minako looked quite like the cat that'd caught the canary.
"Beautiful, huh?" Minako looked up at him devilishly.
"I-uh-"
Suddenly Mitsuhide was laughing.
"Too late now Zen. Cats out of the bag."
"Shut up!"
"Come on Zen! I want to meet her." Minako grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards the medical wing. "She sounds amazing."
With Minakos surprising firm death grip, they reached the medical wing in half the time.
"Chief Garack!" Minako opened the door she knew lead to the chief herbalists study with glowing smile.
"Ah, if it isn't princess Minako. Welcome back." Garack stood up from behind her desk. "Here for your check up?"
"Yes, but first-"
"Check up first." Kohaku placed a hand on the small girls should before she could take the chance to dash off.
"But I want to met Shirayuki." Minako looked down at her feet with a grumble.
"Thats not a problem." Garack smiled warmly. "But shes working out in the garden with Ryuu at the moment. I can call for her, so you can met her as soon as I'm finished. Sound good, your highness."
"Sounds great!"
Kohaku sent chief Garack a grateful nod. Despite how often he need to remind Minako of her condition and how often she needed to be scolded for being careless and stubborn, he didn't enjoy watching that smile fall from her face.
"Your way to good at that." Ryouta shook his head.
"Its gift alright." Zen added.
Garack lead them to the infirmary, where Minako turned to the closets person to her; Shou, and let him lift her tiny frame seamlessly on to the examination table. Then another person whom Minako knew from the previous nine island winters she'd spent in Wistal castle entered the room.
"Hi, Yutsufusa!"
"Ah, Yutsufusa. Just who I need." Garack turned to him. "Do me favour and go tell Ryuu and Shirayuki that I have a little present for them." Garack winked at Minako as Yutsufusa nodded and left to do as requested. Minako giggled. "Ok, now princess, lets begin. Would you gentlemen please leave. If you wouldn't mind staying, Kiki, I may need your assistance."
"Of course." Zen nodded and lead all but Kiki out.
Minako stuck out her right arm for the chief to inspect closely, then her left. Followed by each leg. Then Garack gently grabbed her face and ran her fingers over her skin and neck. She looked at her eyes and in her mouth an ears and then motioned for Kiki to help her down.
"So, Zen told me Shirayuki is beautiful." Minako said as Kiki lifted her down off he table.
"Well, hes not wrong." Garack barked out a loud laugh. "Turn around, please."
Garack begun to undo the buttons along the back of the dress, revealing pale skin and lightly protruding spine vertebra.
"Zen also said that shes very nice and very smart." Minako added curiously, unabashed at being undressed.
"Its all true. Shirayukis a very hard worker as well. Sometimes were all worried shes going to drop on the stop due to her unwavering dedication." Garack continued her examination.
"Now, I want to met her even more." Minako giggled lightly when the chiefs hand brushed her abdomen.
"And you shall." The chief smiled at her and helped her back into the dress. She scanned along a shelf of books before pulling one out with 'Minako Zalencia' written on the cover. "Just a few questions and if everything seems ship shape your free to go."
"Yay!"
"Ok, how have you been sleeping lately?"
"The same as usual. I fall to sleep anywhere from eight to ten pm, and sleep until around seven or eight. It depends if I do anything really strenuous the day before." Minako reports.
"Good. No nightmares?"
"Nope."
"Even better. Hows your appetite?"
"Again its about the same, I haven't vomited in over a year now. I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks in between if I get hungry, but the boys watch what I eat so they don't let me pig on anything. I still don't really put much weight on, but my doctor back home said its not to concerning given my height."
"Well, its good to know your attendants have a eye on you. No dizziness, or fainting spells, feeling for fatigue?"
"Nope."
"No trouble breathing? Tightness in your chest?"
"Nope."
"No random bleeding or bruises?"
"Nope."
"You haven't noticed any hearing or sight loss?"
"Nada."
"Good." Garack laughed. "And no pain at all?"
"Oh, yeah heaps. Its unbearable." Minako said with a wide toothy grin, Kiki couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sense of humour completely intact I see." Garack glanced down at the book and then back up to Minako. "Alright, princess. All done."
"Thanks chief." Minako quickly attacked her with a hug before dashing out the door and right into the back of a poor unsuspecting bystander. "I'm so sorry! It was my fault!"
"How many times have I told you be careful!" Kohaku grabbed hold of the back of her dress.
"I said I was sorry..." Minakos voice trailed as she saw who she'd ran into. "Your Shirayuki!"
"Ah, yes? I am." The red haired girl said, her face a painting of confusion. "And your princess Minako?"
"Yes! Thats me. I'm really sorry I ran into you like that. And please, just call me Mina. Also, I know you probably hear it a thousand times a day, but your hair is beautiful!" Minako beamed brightly, despite being held an inch off the floor by her eldest attendant. "I heard it was like an apple but now that I see it for myself, think its more like the Amaryllis flowers."
"Aren't those native to only the Corona Islands?"
"They are. I should know, my families been there for hundreds of years after all." Minako shot Shirayuki a bright smile, shaking herself out of Kohakus grasp. "So, your a herbalist right? Is it fun? Do you like working here?"
Shirayuki gave a smile, equally bright and pleasant.
"I love it."
Minako stepped forward and grasped Shirayukis hands.
"Were going be to the best of friends, just you see." The rays of sun that seemed to follow her everywhere dimmed for but a moment. "If you want to, that is."
"Of course I do." Shirayuki only continued to smile.
"Ryuu!" And then Minako had dashed off again, wrapping her arms around the only other person in the area who was at all close to her height.
"M-Mina. Your back. Ah, welcome back."
Minako stood back and grinned at her ever growing group of friends.
"I'm so glad to be back."