DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything except all of the OCs...*bows* Thank you!

IMPORTANT A/N: From now on Shuuei will be called Tamao, okay? :)

CHAPTER 2

Tamao's POV of her current life now ...

Hello, everyone! My name is Shuuei, 15 years old and the crown princess of Konan. My birthday is on the 22nd of June and my height is 159 cm.

Before my mother's sudden death, she gave me a nickname, Tamao, after one of the Suzaku warriors, Tamahome. I don't know why but every time I hear his name, my just heart races. Maybe it's because I was born under the cancer horoscope or something or maybe Tamahome is actually the love of my life. Nah, what am I thinking about? I don't even know him. Besides, I already have someone in my heart... Ahem... Let's leave that aside for now.

So, my hobbies are horse back riding, eating, sword fighting, strolling around the palace and secretly chit-chatting with my two best friends in the whole world, Korin and Houki from the harem. Oh! And I recently started learning martial arts after my previous tutor tried kill me a few months ago. Really, I ain't joking. I feel much safer now that I don't have to depend on Korin to save me from trouble all the time anymore.

My dear narcisst brother, Saihitei, is the fourth Emperor of Konan. A lot of people said that we don't look alike but I just told them a genetic skip. Saihitei is always away out to do his royal duties, leaving me alone in the palace. Heh. As if I have the power to rule the country while he's gone. I can't even step out from the palace without his permission! Good thing there's Korin and Houki to keep me company but we have time limits to our visits at the isolated garden we hang out almost every day at. (It's actually forbidden for a princess to meet anybody from the harem but who freaking cares?! Korin and Houki are the most awesomest buddies anyone could ask for!)

However, the palace is still quiet and boring. I feel like Konan is already in the brink of destruction. Oh, Priestess of Suzaku! Please save me from this miserable boring life!

Hmm... The priestess of Suzaku...

Mama said that she'll be very different from us.

I wonder how different is she...

It was noon. The sun was in the middle of the sky and Tamao was in her studies waiting for her new tutor.

Tamao stared up to the ceiling as she leaned the chair dangerously far back, sighing. "I'm so bored..."

The previous four attempted to kill Tamao and with Suzaku's blessing, she survived the all the straggling and the stabbing from the first three but the fourth was really unexpected. The fourth tutor was a drop dead gorgeous young man named Jin. He was a smart, kind and hardworking man. He didn't seem suspicious at all. Tamao fell for him at first sight. When she gathered all her confidence to confess her love for him, all of her confidence faded away the moment she saw Jin kissing another girl from the harem. Boy, did she bawled like baby in Korin's arms that night. A few days later, Tamao thought she gave up on Jin until he asked her to meet him at the isolated garden near the harem. He wanted to tell her something important. (And that time Saihitei was unfortunately out...) Innocent Tamao did so and he was there, gorgeous (according to Tamao) as ever and waiting for her. Tamao gave in to his seduction trick, he kissed her and then suddenly... It happened so fast. He started to losen her robe and tried to get under her clothes and rape her. Fortunately, Korin was there in time to bash Jin up. The imperial guards came afterward and arrested him. And like other three, Jin was immediately put into execution on the spot.

Since that day after the incident, Tamao started learning intense martial arts in order to protect herself without depending on others. (Because it seems Korin was always there to save her when she's in trouble.) With that, Tamao has been acting a little rough lately and her appetite increased a lot. But everyone just let her be.

Yesterday, the prime minister Haku announced to Tamao that she'll be having a new tutor tomorrow. (Which is technically today.) and reassured her that the new tutor was interviewed and tested strictly before they decided to hire the person. With four and many other assassination she experienced, she has slight doubts whenever it comes to having new people in the palace. Especially with Saihitei out frequently.

Tamao lost her balance and fell backwards at the sudden knock on the door with a loud thump. "Princess Shuuei?! Are you alright in there?" A voice asked through the door.

She quickly recovered herself and stood up and silently groans in pain as she picked up the chair with one hand and other holding her headpiece in palace. "I'm alright!" She replied, sitting down and she smoothed her hair. She cleared her throat and said in a calm voice, "Come in." Okay, too calm.

The double door opened and Haku stepped in her studies with a young pretty lady, slightly older than Tamao, beside him.

"Ah, Haku. Good afternoon." Tamao greeted in a very neutral voice.

"Your highness, I apologize for making you wait." said Haku, bowing his head deeply to her.

"It's okay, Haku. I didn't mind waiting." Tamao said with a small smile. HAKU! I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE BREAKFAST, DAMN IT!

Haku raised his head from the bowed position and turns his hand to the pretty lady. "Princess Shuuei, this is your new tutor."

The pretty lady steps forward and bows deeply to Tamao. "It's an honour to meet you, Princess Shuuei. My name is Mirin."

A woman? It was unusual for a woman to be a tutor. Tamao ignored that thought and slightly bowed her head. "Same to you, Mirin."

Haku clasped his hands together in delight, "Okay. I'll leave you two to get along and start learning something. If you would excuse me, your highness. I need to go now. I have a few important things to deal with."

"You have my permission to leave." Tamao said to Haku.

"Thank you, princess." Haku gave another repectful deep bow before he left.

The moment the door closed, the room falls into awkward silence.

Well, this is rather awkward... Tamao though as eyed Mirin carefully from head to toe. She doesn't look suspicious or anything... I should ask her something. "So, Mirin." Tamao began.

"Yes, your highness?"

"How old are you?" Tamao asked politely.

"Eh? Oh! How old am I? My age? I-I'm eighteen this year." Mirin nervously answered, wipping her forehead with the back of her hand.

Tamao smiles softly at her answer. Ah, she's the same age as Korin and brother. She looked at Mirin again and blinked, realizing that Mirin is drench in sweat and her face is quite pinkish. "Mirin, you're sweating and your face is a little reddish." Tamao pointed out.

"Am I?" Mirin turned redder in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, your highness. I'm just not used to the weather here yet."

"Not used to the weather here, are you? You're not a local?" Tamao asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mirin shook her head. "I'm from Hokkan, your highness." She answered.

"Hokkan?" Tamao tilted her head, recalling some of her past lesson about the world map. Hokkan is the biggest country among the four kingdoms and their god is Genbu. They're the first to be summon their God... Then Tamao trailed off in her thought, leaving Mirin to sweat-dropped at her too-serious thinking face.

"Your highness?" Mirin timidly called out.

Tamao shook her head and looked up to Mirin, "What?"

"Do you know where's Hokkan, your highness?"

"Yeah, I do. Kind of. I only know Hokkan as the biggest country among the four kingdoms and they are the first kingdom to summon their God, Genbu."

Mirin nodded. "That's not bad, your highness but do you know how the people live there?"

Tamao shook her head again at he question. "No."

Mirin took a small careful step forward, "Well, your highness. Do you want know?"

A smile creeped onto her lips. "Yes, please!"

Mirin took a seat in front of Tamao and began to tell her everything about Hokkan. Their traditions, clothing, food and etc. But what really caught Tamao's attention was the snow.

"Snow?" Tamoao echoes. "What's snow?"

"Ah...? You don't know what snow is?"

Tamao shook her head.

"Erm..." Mirin lingered as she tried to think of an easier way to explain what snow is to this curious princess, who have never seen snow in her life. It must be clear and simple, not scientificly. "Well, snow is basically like ice particle droplets falling from the clouds and they are called snowflakes. The best part is, if it snows all day, it will create a white blanket through out the land!"

"Ah! really?!"

"Yeah, you can make snow balls and snow angels and many other stuff. Wait, doesn't Konan go through winter?"

Tamao thought for a second. "Konan does go through winter but it rarely snows. Maybe it snowed before when I was younger abut I am certain it barely snows here. The air is just really really cold. The weather in Konan is awfully kind." She said.

Mirin smiled "So I'm sorta in luck during winter then" She remarked, wiping her forehead.

"Snow..." Tamao said softly as she imagined it snowing in Konan during winter. Everyone will be playing happily under the snow, including the palace workers. That'll be really great.

"Korin~! Houki! Korin~! Houki~! Kourin!"

Tamao brightly called out as she ran across the small bridge connected to the gazebo. As expected, Korin and Houki were there.

"Tamao?"

Half way climbing up the stairs, Tamao accidentally stepped on her dress, causing her to fell over.

Korin and Houki instantly rushed over to Tamao.

Korin grabbed Tamao's wrists, pulling her up effortlessly in one motion. "Oh god, Tamao. You're such a klutz." Korin said annoyed. "You practically fall off nothing these days."

Tamao scratched the back of her head. "Hehe, sorry. My instructor let me out late and I had to rush to take a bath and come here." She said quickly.

Houki patted the dusts off Tamao's dress. "Are you alright?" She asked.

"Never been better." Tamao brightly answered.

Korin's eyebrows flinched and his head jerked back. "Wow, you're suddenly so brightly happy. Did the fall screw up your head or something?" He bluntly asked.

"Maybe." Tamao answered, tilting her head slightly and smiled as she leaned back against the pillar. "Korin. Houki. A new tutor came in today." She announced.

"A new tutor?" The two gasped in horror, exchanging stunned looks at each other and looking back at Tamao again.

And thus"What did the new tutor do to you?! He screwed up your head?!" Korin asked.

"Did the new tutor tried to kill you again?" Houki asked.

"Is your new tutor a guy or a girl?" Korin asked.

"Where's your new tutor from?" Houki asked.

"Tell me! Is that person a guy or a girl?!" Korin began to demand.

"Ko-Korin, could you back up a little?" Tamao nervously said.

"Eh? Oh... Sorry..." Korin and Houki had been leaning closer and closer at Tamao's face at every question they asked and they got off guard. But Korin had to start demanding, he leaned so hard at her face that he had pushed his friend half way over the railings of the gazebo. He backs away until Tamao steadied herself back onto the ground. "But you better spill it! Is it a guy or a girl?"

"A girl, okay." Tamao said. "Her name is Mirin, 18 years old."

"Oh, same age as me~?!" Korin suddenly perked up. "She's a girl? It's rare for a women to become tutors.?" He asked with full of interest. Tamao wasn't expecting this sort of reaction. If it was a guy, I'm sure he'd flipped. "Is she pretty?"

"She's pretty." Tamao answered.

"Not beautiful?"

"Don't push it, Korin!" Tamao hissed.

"Ne, Tamao. Where's she from? Is she a local?" The question Houki has been desperate to ask.

"No, she's from Hokkan."

"Hokkan?" The two echoed.

"Yeah, according to the prime minister, he said that she passed the strict interview and the test. She also told me that she passed the scholar's exam with flying colours. Oh, and she told me everything about Hokkan! The previous four didn't really tell me anything about Hokkan before. Because, you know, each of them tried to kill me." Tamao clapped her hands together. "Ah~!It's a big opportunity for me to have a tutor from Hokkan~!" Tamao happily said with sparkling eyes. "Ah~! She told me so much stuff about Hokkan! What really caught my attention was the snow! Small ice particles falling from the clouds during winter, it must be beautiful~! I really want to see it snowing~! Ne, Korin. You've seen snow before, right?"

"Y-yeah, I did. In my uncle's village." Korin recalls. "It was really beautiful but it can get really cold if you stay out too long. You could get froze bite and stuff."

"Hmm, really?" Tamao turned to the railings. "Oh, how I wish it would snow right now!" She shouted out to the sky.

"Dream on, Tamao. I wish I could bring you to my uncle's. It's in Konan. But you can't go anywhere without His Majesty's permission and it's impossible for me to ask him for you." Korin said, softly patting Tamao's head. "Which reminds me, when is he coming back? That Emperor is really wearing off my patience." He demanded.

"Wel... His Majesty left on Sunday and today is..." Tamao looked down at her fingers as she quickly did her math, counting the days that have passed. "Saturday... Saturday. So that means he's coming back tomorrow!"

"Oh, finally! Listen up here, Tamao! Your brother better come to the harem or else I'm gonna lose it!" Korin said impatiently as he clenches his fist at Tamao.

Tamao gulped and plastered a smile on her face, "I'm sure he'll go there soon."

"Princess Shuuei."

Tamao jumped at the sound of the voice and whipped around, "Oh, Jia. It's you." She sighed in ultimate relief.

Jia is Tamao's personal servant and she knew from the beginning that Tamao was hanging out a lot with Houki and Korin. Tamao told Jia to keep it a secret and so far she's doing a great job."Good evening, Lady Houki. Lady Korin." Jia politely greeted, bowing her head to them.

"Hey, Jia!" Korin greeted back casually as always.

And Houki politely greeted her back, "Good evening, Jia."

Jia raised herself up. "Princess Shuuei, it's time for dinner." Jia announced.

"Dinner?! Yoopee~!" Tamao bounces as her gluttony side took over her. "See you two tomorrow! Come, Jia! Dinner is incredibly important!" She chanted, linking her arms with Jia's and dashed away.

"Slow down, your highness!" Jia's voice echoed.

Korin chuckled softly, "Oh, Tamao and her gluttony side." He said and shook his head. "Only food can distract her from anything."

Houki nodded quietly.

"Isn't it weird?"

Houki looked at him, "What's weird?"

"Tamao eats like a pig, no, like a wild boar yet she doesn't gain a single weight. I just find it really, weird." said Korin.

"Well, Tamao is always hyper and moving around alot. But she did mention once that she has a big but a quite limited appetite." Houki said, remembering something like that.

"Tch. Who cares? If there were two gluttony people in this palace, I'll go crazy." Korin admitted, sighing longingly. "Good thing His Majesty isn't like that. Oh, my beautiful Emperor~!"

Houki sweat-dropped. "Oh, Korin."

Tamao gasped deeply with a start as she sat bolt upright, panting desperately for air and the right side of her head began to throbbed again. But this time it was harder. She cupped head head between her hands and tried to control her breathing. She leaned forwards until her head stopped throbbing and lifted herself back and looked out the window. It was close to dawn...

This is her first time waking up this for a princess like Tamao, she depends on Jia and the other maids to wake her up and get her dress for the day.

Tamao can sleep back if she wants to, but she was quite restless and her mind was still messed from the dream. It was same as last week's dream except, it was much different. A voice calling the name Miho, asking where she was. Then a red light shined and the character 'ogre' flashes her awake. The character 'ogre' that Tamahome, one of the Suzaku warrior, bares. Just like her brother who bares the character 'star' on the left side of his neck.

Instead of going back to sleep, she got out from her bed and shuffled to her wardrobe and put on her training robe and pants, tie her long hair up into a bun and braid the excess hair.

She opened the door carefully and sticked her head out to check her quiet surrounding before she took off jogging silently through the quiet corridors, rooms fill with sleeping tired people. Weirdly, there were no soldiers guarding this part of the palace so she was freely jogging. The fresh morning air hitted her face and soothed to refresh her mind. She tried to recall her dream but she was afraid her head might hurt again.

Coming back to her senses, Tamao doesn't know how long she was been jogging and she finally stopped on top of the Suzaku shrine, panting from the jog. She fell back and sat on one of the steps of the stairs. She wiped the sweat off her forehead as she peacefully watched the sun slowly raising from the mountain peaks and smiled at the breath-taking view. "I never knew watching the sun raising would be this peaceful." She murmured softly. "I should do this more often..." Feeling the warmth of the morning sun radiates her skin, her eyes becomes heavy and slowly closing to relax until a scream split the air. Tamao jumped onto her feet and her eyes scanned the courtyard in panic. Nothing? She shrugged it off and sat back down.

Shortly after, she heard a voice screaming, startling the lights out of her because she recognized the voice. "Princess Shuuei is missing!" Then with that, the palace became a complete chaos with imperial guards and staffs, waking up and running around, searching for Tamao.

"Oh, Jia..." Tamao sighs. After a moment, Tamao stands and climbs down the stairs and calmly made her way back to her room, shaking head at the situation.

Jia woke up with a fresh face and sat up and stretched her whole body before she got out from her bed and washed up and got dressed.

After tying her hair neatly into a bun, Jia started her morning routine by going to Shuuei, or what her two bestest friends called her, Tamao's room to wake her up and prepare her for the day.

Princess Shuuei must be really excited that His Majesty is coming back from his trip. Jia happily thought as she quietly entered the room. "Princess Shuuei, Princess Shuuei. It's time to get up now." She said in a soft voice, walking towards her bed

No groaning response.

That's odd. Tamao would normally groan and asked for another 5 more minutes of sleep. "Princess?" Jia tied the bed curtains. "Princess?" She reached her hand out to nudge Tamao's shoulder but strangely she felt nothing there. Curiously, Jia pulled out the blanket and got the shock of her life. Her blood stops flowing and her mind goes blank. After a few moments later, she regains her senses and screams.

All the imperial guards on duty heard the scream and rushed to the princess' room, "What happened?!" The head soldier asked.

Jia ran to the door and shrieked, "Princess Shuuei is missing!"

Their eyes widen in shock. "What?!" The head soldier peered into the room to see an empty bed. He gulped in fear. "Split into 5 men per group and search for the princess immediately! Now! Search every inch of the palace." He commended.

"Yes, sir!" The guards said in unison and they begin their search.

The news of the missing princess spread like wild-fire, causing almost everyone to wake up and find for her. Tons of unfortunate events happened to their dear princess and some of them nearly killed her. The people who worked in the palace for years, fear for what consequence they'll face if that happens. Of course, none of them want that especially when their Emperor is out a lot.

Jia ran frantically through the corridors and then spotted a young girl calmly walking from the opposite direction. "Excuse me, girl!" She called out.

The girl stopped and looked at Jia with her grey eyes.

Jia observed the girl from head to toe and has her strange feeling that she looks really familiar. Especially her grey eyes. She shook the thought out of her head and asked the girl, "Have you seen Princess Shuuei?"

The girl just gave her a smile and brightly said, "Good morning, Jia."

Jia stared at the girl for a moment with wide eyes. "Pri-princess?!" She blurted out of realization, a bit shocked.

Tamao nodded and clasped her hands behind her head. "Oh, Jia. I didn't expect you to over-react." She said, chuckling.

"Wha-what do you mean, your highness?! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Jia snapped and demanded, "Where have you been all morning?!"

"I just went out for a run around the palace." Tamao replied.

"W-why for?"

Tamao shrugged. "Just wanted to clear some things in my mind..."

Jia heaved a sigh. "Please, your highness. Please don't ever do that ever again. Everyone was worried about you. We don't want anything happen to you before His Majesty comes back from his trip." She told Tamao.

Tamao looked down and her lips twitched "Sorry..." She mumbled

"Now, let's get you clean up, your highness." Jia hurried as she ushered Tamao back to her chambers.

The palace finally calmed down after they announced that Tamao is found and things went back to its normal routine for everyone.

Today's breakfast isn't that lonely with Prime Minister Haku around but it's rather irritating that he was lecturing Tamao about this morning chaotic incident. It took forever for breakfast to finish!

"Do you understand that, you highness?" Haku asked.

"Yes." Tamao anwered solemnly.

After breakfast is finally over, Tamao went to her studies and was startled to find Mirin looking awfully tired.

Tamao gasped at the sight, "Wow, Mirin. You look... really tired. What happened?" She asked.

Mirin flinched at her question, "I-I had a really hard time sleeping last night. It was really hot." She answered quickly and rubbed her shoulder, "But don't worry, your highness. I'm alright!" She said all too brightly.

Tamao looked uncomfortably at Mirin. "Okay...?"

During the lesson, Mirin winced every time she moves her shoulders. She reassured Tamao that she's perfectly fine (even though she looks like she's about to pass out soon.) and continued the lesson. Class was then cut to short when Mirin starts to complained her head hurted and Tamao suggested that she go take a rest. She couldn't reject the princess' order so she wobbled back to her room.

With plenty time to spare, Tamao did her usual strolling around the palace as she recited the names of the seven Suzaku warriors and finally making a stop at the garden. "Hotohori, Nuriko, Chichiri, Tasuki, Chiriko, Mitsukake and Tamahome..." As usual, she paused at her favorite name and a pain stabs the right side of her head and it throbbed hard and rapidly as her dream forcefully flashed through her head. She fell on her knees, one hand cupping the right-side of her head while the other keeps her from tipping over. Tamao squeezed her eyes shut to stand the pain until it calmed down.

After a catching few breaths, just when Tamao is about to stand, a flying-kick send her back down to the ground, completely.

"You idiot!" Korin shouted in a puffing breath.

"Korin!" Tamao heard Houki's voice behind him and she ran and crouched down to Tamao. "Why did you kick her for?!"

"Well, she totally deserves it!" Korin said, crossing his arms together. "That's what she freaking gets for making us worried this morning."

Houki sighed and help Tamao up to her feet. "Are you alright? Can you stand?"

Tamao stood upright and steadied herself, rubbing her back and winced at the pain. "Yeah, I'm fine." She said, limping to the gazebo and at on the bench.

"I think you hit her too hard this time, Korin." Houki said to Korin.

Korin looked at Tamao with slight concern.

"No, no. My back is fine, my instructor kicks me in the back tons of time." Tamao said, twisting her body. crack. and relaxes.

"Good! My super strength didn't kill you!" Korin said sarcastically. "Now freaking spill it! Where the heck did you went this morning that made the whole palace go insane?!" He angrily demanded, leaning forward at Tamao's face.

Tamao jerked back and tried her best not to blush at the closeness of their faces and raised both hands in front of her face to shield her pinkish face. "Calm down, Korin. I just had a nightmare."

"A nightmare?" Korin echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Tamao sighed when he pull back. "Yeah, I've been having bad dreams lately. When I woke up, my head was throbbing and I was in utter confusion so I decided to go out for a run to clear my mind... That obviously didn't work. Why are you so worked up about?"

Korin let out a disbelief 'ah' and roll her eyes. "Why am I so worked up about?" Korin snickered. "It's because of you!" He points at Tamao. "I was dreaming that His Majesty and I were getting married and just when our lips were about to touch, your paranoid maid had to ruin it all! I sprung out of bed, heard Jia screaming that you were missing. I quickly pulled Houki out from her room to hunt down for your new tutor, we had barged into every room until we found her. Interrogated her and I was this close to pull her arms out from their sockets and someone announced that you were found and unhurt. That's why I'm worked up about!"

"You guys what?" Tamao exclaimed, shocked.

"But we apologized to your tutor before we left." Houki said.

"We did left a warning threat on her though." Korin added.

"Did we?" Houki asked Korin.

"Yeah, I did." says Korin with a nod.

Tamao stares at the two in disbelief. "You guys scare me sometimes." She remarked.

"I scare myself too!" Korin admits. "It's like every time you're in danger, my body will automatically reacts to save you." His brow creases at the thought.

/thump thump/

Tamao felt her cheeks heated up and her heart races. She quickly dropped her head, shaking the feeling out from her head. Pull yourself together, girl! She ordered herself.

"And about your dream." Korin began and Tamao looks up to him. "What is it about?"

Tamao frowned. "I don't feel like talking about it. Every time I try to remember the dream, my head hurts." She said, touching her head and continued, "All I know right now is someone calling the name Miho, a red light-"

A right light? Korin thinks, catching his attention.

"And-"

"The Emperor has come back!" An announcement cut in. "The Emperor has come back!"

"His Majesty..." Korin began

"Is back..." Houki finished.

The two looks at the princess who looks like she's about to explode of happiness. Last week for a few days, Tamao was endlessly complaining about how she hates her brother and hates it that he always have to go away! But what Tamao always says in the end, she can never hate Saihitei.

"Brother..." Tamao murmurs and pounces onto her feet and spring off running.

"There she goes again... Off to His Majesty's presence and into his arms without any permission while we have to stay here in the harem!" says Korin bitterly.

"Aww, cheer up, Korin. You'll have a chance one day when the Priestess of Suzaku comes to our world." Houki tells Korin.

"When the country is in brink of destruction? I don't think so. Remember what Tamao said, His Majesty is hopelessly in love with the Priestess of Suzaku. If she comes to our world now, our chances to have His Majesty will be gone."

Houki's gaze falls to the ground.

Korin turned his heels to the railings and gazed out to the pond and saw Kinboh and Yuno walking out from the harem and they were happily talking about something among themselves. That's weird, they had a huge fight two weeks ago and avoided each other. Girls don't talk to each other after big fights, especially when it comes to Kinboh and Yuno... Not a good idea. What are those two bitches talking about there? Korin called the two bitches because they were a bunch of pure annoying bitches! And he doesn't like the sight of seeing them together. He sense trouble. A lot of trouble. Something smells fishy here...He took a step back. "Erm... Houki."

"Yeah?" Houki said, looking up.

"I'm going the harem for a while to get something..." He said, slowly walking away.

"O-okay..."

"I'll be back in a jiffy." He said as he hurried to Kinboh and Yuno and pretended to bump into them. "Oh, sorry! I didn't see you two there." He got in character of a gossipy girl.

"It's alright." Yuno said with a half smile.

Korin tried to look surprise."Oh, Kinboh. Yuno. I thought you two were avoiding each other after the big fight two weeks ago." He said.

Kinboh smiled softly and linked her arms with Yuno's. "We manage to make up somehow."

"Oh really?" Korin asked interestingly as they began to walk together in the same pace.

Tamao dashed through the corridors and finally reached at the throne room just in time as His Majesty, Saihitei stepped out from the caravan. She stopped in her tracks to shout, "Brother!" Tamao called out.

Saihitei turned his head and smiled, "Shuuei!"

Tamao ran towards him and the two siblings embraces each other. "I miss you, brother..."

"I miss you too, Shuuei..." Saihitei whispered back. He pulled apart a bit. "Have you been good while I was gone?"

"Of course." Tamao nodded.

Saihitei hugged her again. "Oh I miss you so much..."

"Brother, I'm sorry that I sulk last week." Tamao apologized.

"No, Shuuei. It's my fault, I should be the one apologizing."

"It doesn't matter as long as you're back home..."

"Shuuei..."

"Brother..."

Tamao rested the side of her head on his chest and then saw a troop of imperial soldiers carrying two people to the dungeon way. "Damn it! Let go off me! Let go off me! I've got nothing to do with this girl!" A male's voice yelled. Tamao got a glimpse of one of them, a girl. About the same age as she is. The girl is dressed in a strange set of clothing, made up in a really short brown skirt and a matching jacket and she has red hair that's tied up into two buns and she has dark green eyes.

Saihitei lets go but his little sister's arms are still around his waist and her eyes still focused at the troop of soldiers. "Shuuei? What are you looking at?" Saihitei asked, snapping Tamao back to her senses.

"Oh, nothing..." Tamao said, shaking her head.

"Let's go in now, shall we?" Saihitei said, wrapping an arm around Tamao as they walked side by side.

"Brother, who-" Tamao was about to began.

"Your Majesty." Prime Minister Haku and his adviser blocked their way. "We need to talk about what happened just now."

"Now?" Saihitei asked

"Yes, your Majesty." Haku confirmed, bowing his head deeply.

Saihitei looked down at his puzzled sister, "Shuuei, can you excuse me?"

"Oh, it's okay. But what happened just now?"

"I'll tell you later." Sahitei told her. "Don't worry. It won't take long." Saihitei said, lightly patting his sister's head and rushed into the throne room with Haku and his adviser.

And the door slamed shut in front of her face.

Tamao slumped her shoulder and glared at the door, "Way to ruin the moment, Haku." She muttered darkly and sticks her tongue out and shuffled across the corridors again. "I wonder what they're talking about in there..." She just shrugged it off. "Who knows? Hmm... Where should I go now while brother is in there? I think I should go back to the garden. Korin must be hyped up that Saihitei's back~!" Tamao smiled, now walking in a normal pace. She turned into the corner but suddenly stepped fast back and scurried into an open door a little further down the corridor, closing it behind her as the footsteps stopped a few feet away from where she is.

"What? Are you serious?"

Tamao's heart races at the familiar gossipy bright voice. Korin...?

Tamao turned around and ajared the door big enough for her to peer out, Korin was with Yuno and Kinboh. Kinboh? Yuno? What the heck are they doing here in this part of the palace? Tamao thought suspiciously and didn't bother to wonder why Korin is with them.

"Yes, I'm serious. Gentokuin personally told me everything." Kinboh said a boastful tone.

"Gentokuin personally told you? So, you're telling me that Princes Shuuei is not a royal blooded?" Korin asks.

"It's so damn obvious. The princess barely looks like His Majesty." Yuno stated.

"True. But Ta-" Korin is about to say Tamao but quickly covered up with what Tamao always say, "-it could be genetic skip."

"Genetics?" Kinboh scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That's ridiculous. Princess Shuuei is not even related to any of the royal family. Moutaiko just found her wandering around outside the palace all by herself and badly injured ten years ago. Moutaiko took her into the palace and personally nursed her back to health. Then Moutaiko suddenly decided to raise Shuuei as her own daughter after Shuuei started calling Moutaiko-"

"Mama..."