Shou pushed the small glass vile across the table and Minako took it without a word. She removed the stopper and didn't even glance at the brown liquid or bother to make a face at the foul taste. She'd been taking this particular concoction for the last six months and it seemed to be working as she should. It gave her body the nutrients it refused to collect from food as it did with the average person. If she counted, she could remember over dozen different herbal mixtures she'd taken in the last decade, eventually each one loosing its potency. Her families private doctor only hoped she grew strong enough before there was simply no more medication to try.

Now, that she'd taken her vitamins she was allow to indulge in breakfast. Shou took back the vile and pushed the plate of porridge and strawberries towards her.

"Thanks." She barley manage to say before a spoon full of porridge was in her mouth.

Shou cracked a small smile at the sight, which faded when his brother entered the sitting room.

"So, whats on the agenda for today, princess?" Ryouta leaned down behind her, reaching for a strawberry.

Shou flicked the stopper from the vile at his older brother from across the table, striking him right between the eyes.

"Ouch! Damn it Shou..." Ryouta rubbed his forehead and backed off.

"I was thinking hide-and-go-seek." Minako smiled and popped a strawberry into her mouth. "Playing with Obi should be great fun."

"Thats nice." Ryouta said in a rather defeated manner.

"And you can hide anywhere in the castle grounds."

"Last time you did that someone went missing for a whole day."

"Then we'll have everyone hide in pairs this time. Problem solved." Minako took another mouth full.

Kohaku walked in carrying a metal box, and sat down beside Minako at the table. He pulled at a string around his neck and brought forth a sliver key, unlocking the box. Kohaku lifted out the syringe and a small glass bottle of white liquid, he twisted the lid and the top layer came off, he then stuck the needle though the now open pin prick in the second layer, allow him to pull back the plunger and fill the syringe. Minako didn't say a word or halt her eating. She simply stuck out her left arm.

This injection was quite different from the vitamins supplements she drank each morning. This was more along the lines of life and death. When she was born, two months earlier then expected, her mother was told she only had days, if not hours to live. Her mother demanded they do all they could of her baby and against all odds Minako exceeded the doctors expectations. But surviving her childhood had not been a simple affair and to this day she finds herself dependent on an injection to keep up her bodies strength. Three days without the injection and she would slowly start to fade away to nothing.

Kohaku grasped her forearm firmly, to hold it still and aimed the needle at the tell tall marks in the inner joint of her elbow. The thin metal sank into the skin and flesh and Minako didn't cry out or flinch. She didn't feel any pain at all. He pushed on the plunger, she could feel the liquid being pushed into she blood stream, a familiar sensation. She just keep eating.

Kohaku removed the needle, quickly pressing a small square of cotton to the small bead of blood that rose to the surface. He placed down the syringe and begun to expertly wrap a bandage around the joint of her arm. When was done, he packed the things away and allowed Minako to have her arm back.

"So, hide-and-seek?" Asked Ryouta.

"Hide-and-seek." Minako confirmed with nod.

-The Little Princess-

"Greetings everyone! Are we ready to start?" Minako beamed out at the small crowd around her. They'd collected anyone interested and available for little game, off duty guards and servants for the most part. They stood around her now in the court yard, ready for the fun that seemed to follow Minako. The crowd cheered loudly and Minako smiled wider. "The entire castle grounds is the playing field. Anywhere you are unable to access with out opening a door is allowed. And this time around everyone needs to pair up. We don't need another disappearance like last time. Not saying any names like Nagai."

"I feel asleep. I said I was sorry!" A servant cried out in embarrassment, sending a laugh sounding out through the crowd of people.

"Hey, princess!" Obi called out, jumping down from a tree, landing in front of her. "Can I play?"

"Sure! Oh, we should ask Shirayuki and Ryuu as well."

"That'd be a waste of time. Their both waist deep in an assignment for the chief, I don't think hey getting out of it anytime soon either." Obi pretended not the notice the glares he as receiving from Kohaku and Ryouta, instead focusing on Minako.

"Awe. That's to bad." Minako looked downcast for a moment. "More fun for us then!"

"That's one optimistic look out you got there, princess." Obi chuckled.

"I have to be optimistic, with these three suckers following me everywhere." Minako laughed gesturing to her attendants, two of which rolled there eyes. "Now, Obi, how do you feel about being it?"

"Are you sure you want me to be the one searching? You won't last long."

"Is that a challenge I hear?" Ryouta frowned.

"Maybe." Obi crossed his arms over his chest.

"This good be either really great or really bad..." Came the mutterings of a guard.

"Its settled! Everyone Obis it!" Minako turned to the man in question. "Start counting to one hundred in five...four...three..."

The participants slowly began backing away, ready to make a run for the best hiding spots.

"...two...one!"

Everyone scattered like mice, Minako jumped on to Ryoutas back and they made a bee line for the forest area, Shou and Kohaku in tow.

And Obi began to count.

"One...two...three..."

"...twenty-seven...twenty-eight...twenty nine..."

"...fifty-four...fifty-five...fifty-six..."

"...eighty-nine...ninety...ninety-one..."

"...one hundred." A smirk far to wicked for anyone playing a simple children game washed over Obis features. "Ready or not, here I come."

Screams were spreading across the castle grounds as Obi stalked the other players as if they were his pray, coming up from behind them and scaring the living day lights out of them. Twenty minutes later, he had found the thirteen others Minako had gathered, but had found no sign of the girl herself or the Iyka brothers. Obi had searched every inch if the forest looking for the others. They'd likely ran in that direction because they knew he was looking.

Obi returned to the court yard where the others had regrouped.

"You guys haven't seen the Princess Squad have you?"

Several of the members shot Obi sour looks.

"I didn't see them." A blonde maid spoke up.

"You were hiding in the archery range, right?"

"Yes, I was and I didn't see them."

"I was in the stables," Another girl spoke up. "They weren't there either."

Obi stopped for a minute and thought to himself. Minako was hiding with who were rumored to be some of the strongest and most intelligent combatants alive. But of course Obi had never seen any of this himself. Nothing but rumors and stories of battle told in bars.

The eldest, Kohaku was know as 'The Kohaku Hurricane', a sword play, archery and hand to hand combat prodigy with a nonexistent list of defeats, said to have so much raw strength combat feels like fighting against a hurricane. 'Ryouta The Rattlesnake', and middle brother. Rumored to have the exceptional speed and sense of smell of a rattlesnake, as well as the sensory ability to sense another person from there own body heat. Supposedly he uses the venom of a rattlesnake to kill his enemy's, but Obi found this highly doubtful. Then there's the youngest, 'Slit-Throat Shou', a killer from the shadows, whispers tell of a crystal hilted dagger used for the final slice, besides this he's mostly bathed in mystery. Likely because he's still so young, Obi thought. If the Iyka brothers were anything like the drunken stories he'd been told and they were utilizing there often inhuman skills in this little game of hide-and-seek...he may have a problem.

"I know the four of them normally stick together, but maybe they split into pairs?" Nagai, the man Minako had called out earlier speculated. "Princess Minako did say that we should go in pairs."

Obi thought on this for moment. It was entirely possible.

"In that case," Begun a guard. "Then the princess is most likely with Kohaku."

"Your probably right." Nagai agreed.

"Maybe they cheated? Went and hid inside a room?" The same blonde maid from before suggested.

"No, thats not like her."

"Princess Minako would never cheat. Don't know about that Ryouta though..."

Soon the thirteen participants were talking over one another, swapping theorys and possibilities.

She's probably somewhere close, Obi thought, watching her handy work in unfold.

"We should help Obi look!"

"Yeah!"

"There's fourteen of us including Obi, so two teams of seven?"

"It'll take us far to long to cover ground with only two teams! I have to go back on duty in fifteen minutes!"

"Four groups of three and one of group of two?'

"Three groups of four and one of two?"

"Seven pairs would cover the most ground."

"Listen up, everyone!" Obi finally spoke up. "Were going to spilt into seven pairs. Two pairs to the North, two to the East, two to the West. Nagai, you and me will head South to the forest and retrace every step. If you catch sight of the princess or one of her attendents, then send one of you South and I'll do the rest. We all in agreement?"

Shouts of confirmation rang out and the group dispersed into opposite directions.

"Obi, sir?" Nagai watched the other hurry off. "As much as I appreciate being included, one of the guards would been a much better choice if you think the princess and her attendants are in the forest."

"Don't sell yourself short. You've clearly got experience with her, where as I only just met her yesterday." Obi explained, as he turned and started South. "I need to understand how she works to catch her and the princess brigade. How long have you known her?"

"Uh, four years now?" Nagai ran to catch up with Obis pace.

"Great. Now, where, based on her personality, where do you think she's hiding?"

"Um, well, I agreed with what Nanami said; She not a cheater. But..."

"But?"

"She'll probably find away to work around the rules. She made then after all." Nagai explained.

"That does seem like her." Obi agreed. "And the Iyka brothers? They'll just follow her around and do whatever she says, right?"

"Well, of course, that's their jobs, but they tend to get into most of princess Minakos little pranks, themselves. Their usually pretty harmless, not that I'd ever fight them." Nagai managed a small laugh.

"So, there pretty tough?" Obi asked causally.

"Really tough. Last year I saw Shou sparring with prince Zen and they were perfectly matched!"

Now, Obi had an idea of how this might go down, he had good reason to feel nervous. A year was a long time to improve and if the youngest brother was assumedly the weakest of the three then the possibility of the elder two siblings were right to be feared. Thank god this is just a game, Obi thought to himself.

"So, do we have a plan of attack or...?"

"Oh, right." Obi blinked, Nagais question pulling him from his thoughts. "We need to stay within sight of each other for starters. We'll start with the East side. I'll stick to the trees, you keep an eye on the ground. Let me know if you see anything suspicious."

"Okay, yeah. I can do that." Nagai nodded, biting his lip.

"Calm down, man." Obi laughed, clapping him on the back.

"No, I'm calm. I'm calm." Nagai smoothed out his dark hair.

"Okay, then." Obi pulled himself up into the nearest tree gracefully. "Let's do this."

Obi took off though the trees, Nagai hurried to keep him in his sight, all the while glancing around for any signs of life.

Meanwhile, Kohaku and Ryouta stood a safe distance away, watching the two other men in silence. The two linked gazes and Kohaku nodded, the two turning back and disappearing into the trees. They made there way undetected to the front wall, where Minako and Shou stood waiting by the main entry.

"There back?" Minako asked.

"Yes. Obi and Nagai are pushing South from the East." Kohaku nodded.

"This is so much fun." Minako giggled, practically jumping on the spot. "How much time until they find us?"

"Not long." Ryouta shrugged. "Obis fast, he'll catch up in no time."

"Then let's get into position." Minako grabbed Kohaku and and they rushed off in the trees.

"Let's do this." Ryouta stuck out his fist with a wolfish grin, staring at his younger brother until he relented and bumped his fist against his.

Shou pulled forth his hood, Ryouta following in suit. Then they too took off into the trees.

-The Little Princess-

Nagai looked around nervously. He could hear birds and the wind rustling gently though the trees, but nothing else. And knowing that there could be other people out there lurking about made the fact that he couldn't spot a single sign of them all the more disturbing. Deceit made him more uncomfortable then ever. Nagai almost fainted when Obi dropped down from the tree in front of him.

"See anything?"

"N-no!"

"Me neither." Obi crossed his arms against the back of his head. "They could be anywhere in here. They probably know exactly where we are and what were doing as well. Anyway, we'll cross over to the West section at the gate and work our way back towards the castle."

"Okay." Nagai nodded as Obi pulled himself back into the tree.

Nagai let Obi get several trees ahead before he took a step backwards and tired not to squeal when a hand wrapped around his mouth and thin arms wound around his waist. Obi slowly disappear from sight and the grip on him loosen and vanished.

"Gotcha." Minako beamed up at him.

"You two nearly scared me half too death." Nagai leaned his arms on his knees and gave a wilted sigh.

"Sorry, we couldn't help it." She patted his shoulder sympathetically and turned to Kohaku. "It won't take long for Obi to notice he's gone. Let's go."

Kohaku knelt down and Minako climbed onto his back.

"Come on, Nagai." Kohaku nodded down to the shorter man and they hurried off towards the castle, plan well into motion.

As they left the forest Shou came towards from the castle on horse back.

"Everything in place?" Minako asked him as he came into ear shot.

"Ryouta should be laying down the last touches now, princess." Shou nodded. "Then he's heading East."

"Prefect." Minako grinned as Kohaku lifted her to sit infront of his youngest brother. "I'll go get ready. You know what to do Haku. Have fun."

She sent him a devilish wink as she and Shou hurried off back towards the castle.

"I'm really not great at this whole cloak and dagger, deception business." Nagai sighed.

"Don't worry, your doing fine." Kohaku clapped him on the shoulder. "Where almost done. Next step is for you to come screaming to the seeker that I've been sighted."

"OK. Simple enough, I guess." Nagai nodded in defeat.

"Good man." Kohaku nodded, before dashing off North West.

"Here goes nothing." Nagai scratched at the back of his head before turning back towards the forest. "Obi! Obi I saw Kohaku! Obi!"

It was mere moments before Obi came swinging out from the trees, landing several feet infront of him.

"What happened to you?" Asked Obi. "You disappeared."

"It was Kohaku. He abducted me and then ran off!"

"Which way did he go?"

"That way." Nagai pointed North West.

"Thanks." Obi shot off on foot.

Before he could reach his destination he heard shouting from the East.

"Obi! Obi! We saw him! We saw Kohaku!"

"Say what?" Obi eyebrows furrowed together.

"Quick! Someone get him! It was Kohaku!" Now there was yelling from the South.

"Were being played by a princess." Obi summarised as he now stood with two of the pairs, gathered by the large open herb garden.

"Obi! Obi!" Came cries from East again.

"Played like a fiddle." A maid who arrived from the East panted.

"What do we do?" Another servant asked between gasps.

"Look over there!" Nagai suddenly bolted up right, pointing over at a quickly receding figure that disappeared behind a distant building.

"I got him!" Obi took chase as if on instinct.

Obi ran as fast as he could force his legs, but he never seem be any closer. He gritted his teeth as the figure jumped a low stone wall with ease, only gaining more momentum from the force.

"So fast..." Obis cat like eyes narrowed suspiciously.

Kohaku wasn't the one said to be the fastest, Obi thought, it was the middle brother, Ryouta. What kind of game of hide-and-seek is this?

As he leapt over the wall, Obi eye'd a nearby pillar. He twisted in mid air and planted two feet and his right hand against it and flipped though the air as he pushed off, aiming for the other mans feet.

It was as if the man knew what he was doing and threw himself to the side out of Obis grasp. The man let out a short laugh, already back on his feet and headed around the next corner.

Obi refused to give the man the satisfaction of his anger, or letting him know that the challenge was surprisingly enjoyable. He took off after him once again. Obi rounded the corner only seconds after whichever Iyka brother it happened to be leading him on a wild goose chase around the castle grounds.

As they twisted around the aide of the building, Obi found himself heading towards one of the large glass paneled green houses. Obi forced himself to move faster and the man disappeared though the open green house door.

Is he an idiot? Thought Obi in confusion. There's only one way out of that place.

He barreled his though the door and didn't have the time to stop himself from diving right into a white sheet stretched over the entry way.

"What the hell!" He thrashed around on instinct like a capture wild animal as the sheet was wrapped around him by strong arms.

"Surprise!"

Obi froze at the multiple voices surrounding him, colored in joy and amusement. A small hand pulled away the fabric cover his face and a triumphant face smile at him.

"Good game, but I still win." Minako giggled as she poked Obi in the cheek.

"Yeah. You nearly had me there." Ryouta pulled back his hood and laughed, releasing him and stepping away, most certain not looking like he'd just run a mile. "Your pretty fast."

"You can talk about fast." Obi frowned.

"You weren't the only one who was tricked." A guard scratched at the back of his head with a chuckle.

Obi looked over at the group of the same of thirteen members of castle staff who'd helped him search with the princess and her attendants.

"Yeah. It was all of us." Added a maid, brushing off her dress with her hands.

"Well, not all of us." Another guard shoved Nagai forward from the crowd. "Seems we have a traitor in our mist."

Obi looked at the blushing servant in surprise and it was only now when he noticed the decorations about the green house and the table of refreshments in the corner. Not to mention Shirayuki and Ryuu standing amongst the small crowd.

"Uh, what's happening?" Obi blinked twice. "I'm confused."

"I like you Obi." Minako placed her thin hands on her hips, that was covered by a decorative pink ruffled dress. "So I decided to have a little party with you as the guest of honor."

"And the game?" Obi looked at her in slight disbelief.

"Oh, that was just for fun." Minako titled her head to the side innocently. "And to mess with your head a little bit."

The pride on Minakos attendants faces was obvious.

"Well. You got me." Obi could do nothing but smile in defeat. "I bow to your superior skill in the art of hide-and-seek."

"This was nothing." Ryouta patted Minako on the head cheerfully. "You should see the games we play back home."

"Yes, well, some of those games wouldn't be all that appropriate here on the mainland." Kohaku reminded him, pulling back his hood, long plait falling down to his waist.

"Inlanders." Ryouta sighed good naturedly.

"How were you involved in this little scheme?" Obi unraveled himself from the white sheet and stood over Nagai.

"I- uh." The man looked up at him, not sure what to say.

"We needed an inside man." Minako skipped over and slung her arm giddily around Nagais shoulders.

"What she said." He shrugged hopelessly.

"Were you guys in on this too?" Obi turned his gaze over to Shirayuki and Ryuu, who had been standing in silence.

"Oh, no! Not us." Shirayuki insisted. "Ryouta and Shou came to us earlier this morning and ask us to come and supervise the party so none of the herbs and plants would be damaged during it."

"All the princesses idea of course." Kohaku added.

Obi looked down at her girl in question with a curious expression.

"Quite the force to be reckoned with aren't you?"

"Well, you had fun didn't you?" Her eyes shone hopefully.

"Yeah." Obi nodded with a small smile. "It was fun."

"Great!" Minako jumped up and wrapped her arms around his midsection. "That's what I wanted."

She then turned to the gathering with a flourish and noble bow, as if proving her royal roots.

"Now, please enjoy the refreshments provided for us by the amazing kitchen staff and music by our surprisingly talented brother in arms, Nagai!"

"Thanks." The servant gave her plain look, laughter and applause filling the air.

"I looked after it like you asked." Shou carried a finely polished silver flute over to Nagai.

"Thank you." The man smiled gratefully. "My grandfather would be rolling in his grave if anything happened it."

"Something happy, please." Minako requested sweetly.

Nagai nodded dutifully a raised the flute to his lips, play a cheerful upbeat tune.

"First dance is mine!" Ryouta smiled and scooped Minako up into his arms.

The princess laughed, curling her arms around her attendants neck, her feet hanging high off the ground. Ryouta spun her gently, a firm grasp on her waist.

"Careful, Ryou." Kohaku said as they twirled past him.

"You don't have to tell me that old man." Ryouta stuck out his tongue at his brother.

"I'm not that old!"

"Really cause I think I can see a wrinkle or two, grandpa."

The air was once again filled with laughter.

Ryouta put Minako softly back onto her feet to argue with his brother.

"Say that again, you little brat!"

"Grandpa."

Minako shook her head fondly and linked her arm with Shous.

"Let's go talk to Shirayuki and Ryuu."

Shou nodded and lead them around the dancing that had begun.

"Shirayuki!" Minako beemed at the red head.

"Hello, Mina." She received a smile in return.

"Are you not going to dance?"

"No, no. Its not my strong suit. I'm happy just watching."

"Yeah, I guess you wouldn't be all that interested if big brother Zens not here, huh?"

"I'm sorry, what?" Shirayuki blushed brightly, but Minako had already moved on.

"Dance with me Ryuu?" Minako clasped the boys hands.

"Oh, I-uh."

"Nah, uh, princess." Obi swooped in, claiming her hand. "I am the guest of honor aren't I?"

Shou took a single step forward and Minako turned to him.

"I'm fine." She assured him.

"I'll be watching." The words were spoken to Minako but they knew who they were meant for.

"Shall we?" Minako curtsied gracefully.

"We shall." Obi said as he lead her out amongst the dancers. "Now don't expect anything fancy, princess."

"Don't worry." Minako gave him an impish grin. "I can make any look good."

Obi changed his grasp on her hand and twirled her several times on the spot.

"Good thing you already have something to work with." Obi smirked down at her and she laughed.

By now the two eldest Iyka brothers had noticed where there charge had disappeared too and stared at the royal messager with mildly irritated expressions on their faces.

"It'll be fine." Shou appeared beside them. "She'll get tired soon."

Shou had been right. After dancing with Obi, Minako approached a lone guard who gladly took her hand. While she looked as energetic as always, the three brothers could tell that she was loosing steam.

"The princess looks like she's having the time of her life." Obi sauntered over to them.

"For now." Ryouta shrugged.

The royal messager sent him a questioning glance.

"She's getting tired." Kohaku explained. "Her health is quite poor. Her stamina won't last for too much longer."

"Is she sick?" Obi irked a brow. "She looks fine to me."

"She was born weak. She'll likely be like this her whole life." Kohaku added.

"If she lives that long." Ryouta interjected.

"Ryouta!" Kohaku snapped viciously under this breath.

"Its true." Ryouta shot back. "And its not like its a secret."

"Still. There's no need to talk like that." Kohaku sighed, casting a glance over at a giggling Minako.

"She's feeling it." Shou pointed out.

"Yeah, I can see it." Kohaku nodded and walked off to collect her.

"She looks just as hyper as before." Obi said. "Maybe even more so."

"Exactly." Ryouta crossed his arms over his chest. "When she starts feeling fatigued she tries to play it off. She forces herself to be louder and more crazy then usual. Its easy to see when you've known her for years."

Across the green house they heard Minako protesting.

"But Haku I'm having too much fun!"

"Come on, Minako."

"Please? Five more minutes?"

It was now that her legs decided to give out. Kohaku had her in his arms but she could hit the floor.

"Damit. Stupid legs." Minako sighed and leaned into Kohakus chest.

"Let's go." Whispered into her hair as he lifted her in his arms.

His brothers followed him without a word.

"Is she alright?" Shirayuki was suddenly at Obis side.

"I think she just needs rest." Answered Obi, staring after the three attendants and the princess in the eldests arms.