Chapter 3

Nanny was an old sprite who had lived in this particular kingdom longer than most sprites chose to live in a certain kingdom. Most roam around from place to place, but she chose to stay here. Miko, the man with the hoarse voice, explained that he would tell her what nanny was talking about. And he and his partner, Kinako, were going to lead her back to prince Zushami after they were all done.

"It's like opening your eyes for the very first time!" Kinako explained. "She puts something over them and then poof! You can see again!"

"It really is amazing!" Miko raved.

Mei wasn't paying much attention to their words as she stumbled along the path.

They came to their destination and Nanny said a few things that were translated into nothing important to her, for she had already heard it all. So after a few minutes, she found two wet, mushy things colliding with her eyes, being pressed gently and softly. Their coldness was indescribable but the feeling of water seemed to seep into her mind. The pressure was released and the wet things removed. Her eyes were born anew.

As she gazed around at this magnificent world around her she noticed big fuzzy lumps here and there. Miko caught her stare and explained,

"Nanny likes to try to clean; she says if she is to be a doctor figure, her hut should be nice and clean. But of course it's of no use because she has so many dirty customers in here on a daily basis that she can't keep up with her dusting."

Mei nodded, and for the first time, saw what Miko and Kinako looked like. Miko had blond hair, short blond hair that revealed a forehead that should have been kept hidden. He was short and stout but had a kindly smile and sparkling eyes.

Kinako had brown hair; it was curly but tame, and his eyes were hunter green. He was tall and slim but he, also, had a trustworthy look about him.

"Ready to go?" Kinako asked.

Mei looked around and kicked a particularly large dust bunny when Nanny had her back turned. "Yes." She replied.

They walked back to the princes' room, which was a long unpleasant walk. The walls were black and brown, covered in filth, dust, dirt, grime, and, unsurprisingly, soot. The floor was sometimes a long corridor, sometimes a spacious hallway, and others, a long narrow strip that could send some frightened person toppling over to their death. She shook the thought out of her head and kept going. When they arrived at the princes' room, he was waiting for them outside his door.

Zushami had red hair; his eyes were like deep pools of temptation that called for her to dive into. He looked at her, and with a single glance, drilled holes into her soul. His apparel was very appealing to Mei also. He wore a black shirt that had sleeves much bigger than anyone else's arm. His pants were slim, and black also. To top it all off, on one shoulder, the left to be exact, he wore a wonderful red velvet cape, that engulfed his arm completely, even the overgrown sleeve.

"There now, that's better. So, Mei, how do you like my kingdom?"

"It's wonderful." Mei lied.

"I know, I don't like it either." Mei flushed.

"It just needs some-

-Cleaning? I've tried." He finished.

"The passages are sometimes dangerous too." Mei suggested.

"You're absolutely right… in fact. Alonzo!"

A gray sprite came to the princes' side and bowed, well… as much as a round floating puff ball can bow, to Mei. "Order my men to change the dangerous passageways!" He insisted, and then translated so the sprite could understand. Apparently it did, Alonzo bowed once again and scurried off to find the 'men'.

"I…I was only stating my opinion, really, you don't have to change it just for me." Mei hurriedly said.

"But don't you want them changed?"

"Well it is safer…"

"Then they are changed, anything else you want to state?" Mei shook her head. "I'm sorry, I've forgotten my manners." Zushami took her hand and bowed low. "Would you like anything to eat or drink? Or would you like to see the living quarters?"

"Wait, sleeping quarters? I…I can't stay here. I have to get back to my family! This house is to be demolished in three weeks and I have to get twenty thousand yen on the fifth day of the second week! I appreciate the hospitality but I must get out…"

She prince had a look of despair on his face…

"Mei… The last time another human came in… she tried to leave also… but, she… she died trying." A gasp escaped from Mei's astonished mouth.