A/N: Chapter 4~ enjoy~! read and review please~

~Mayu's POV~

I felt her gaze one me as I pretended to sleep. My arms were around her waist and my ear was to her chest. I seem to like to listen to the steady rhythm of a heartbeat… and from now on, preferably hers. I felt her cheek on the top of my head lightly. I opened up eyes and looked up a little to find that she had fallen asleep. Her hands were also wrapped around my waist as I sat between her legs. I covered the both of us up more to make sure we won't get cold. I hesitated a bit but I moved up and kissed her on the cheek lightly.

"Good night Yuki-sama… you know… I might have fallen for you… I just might have fallen for the Black Prince."

With that said, I settled against her once again and listened to her heartbeat. The sound lulling me to sleep and her nice scent kept the nightmares that usually haunt me away. I woke up the next morning to find Tomochin shaking me slightly. Both the Tomomis' were already awake and seemed to be ready to set out but Yuki-sama was still sound asleep.

"Morning Mayu! Go freshen up while I wake up the dear Prince here."

"Yup… I'll take you to the spring where you can wash your face. Careful though… it's still pretty dark and wet out there. Tomochin… remember she's making breakfast."

"Alright…! Well here goes… YUKIRIN, BABY! RISE AND SHINE DEAR PRINCE!"

"OH MY GOD WHATS WRONG? WHATS HAPPENING? WHAT?"

"Nothing much really… just cook us some food!"

Me and Tomo~mi stood there laughing our heads off as I watched my Yuki-sama flail around and make funny faces. She was so cute… wait… MY Yuki-sama? Where did that come from?

"Mayu? Mayuuuuu~! You there?"

"Oh… sorry I was thinking."

"Haha it's alright. Let's go."

After breakfast, we set out right as the sun rose. Watching the sun rise and the sky change color as we rode along was beautiful. I looked at Yuki-sama and she looked like she was in complete awe. She caught me looking and smiled at me and I smiled back. The rest of the days travel wasn't very eventful except for the Tomomis' occasional bickering and me and Yuki-samas conversations. As we rode on, I sat and got lost in my own thoughts. My goal before was to be useful to people… become a tool if I must… now, all I want is that my first kiss is with Yuki-sama. By the time we got to the Kumo kingdom, it was midday. Medic Kojima was there to greet us and she looked like she was about to burst from joy.

"Oh my god Yuki! Tomochin! Tomo~mi! You two haven't changed! How is Yuko? Is she ok?"

"It's good to see you again too Haruna… and you're little squirrel knight is fine. She misses you too. Lord Akimoto plans to send her over just for you."

"Hey Haruna! Stop flirting with my Tomochin and stick with your own girl! No just kidding… how have you been? Good I hope…"

"As good as I'll ever be… being a medic means seeing a lot you wish you hadn't… but enough of that! Let's go inside and wait for Acchan and Takamina… they're in a conference with generals about the next movement."

"Alright… it truly has been awhile… me and the two Tomomi's have missed you all dearly."

I lagged behind and watched the group exchange jokes, happy to be united once again. Yuki-sama seemed so happy… I can't seem to imagine her mad… not in any situation. So I still cannot understand why they call her the Black Prince. All big sister told me was that it had something to do with her past. The person who then appeared in front of us surprised everyone.

"Sir Sae? I didn't know you were coming!"

"Oh yea… sorry I came unannounced… Hey there Yuki! How have you been? Tomomi's… it's good to see you guys again."

"Oh my god Sae!"

I was jealous when I saw Yuki-sama run up and throw her arms around Sir Sae. I didn't let that show much but I think Medic Kojima noticed. She did, after all, take care of me when both big sisters were gone.

"Haha… get off the knight Yuki or else Sayaka will be after you…"

"Tomochin is right~! She'll send her army after you!"

"But… I haven't seen her in forever! We were like sisters!"

Suddenly, a deep yet feminine voice rose out from behind us and scared us all.

"What's all this ruckus?"

"Mmmmm I don't know Takamina… maybe it's our guest?"

We turned around and standing there was none other than my older sister and the lord of the castle.

"Lord Takahashi. Big Sister Maeda… I have returned."

"Mayu! Welcome back. Come here and give me a hug! I hope Yuki didn't give you any trouble."

I heard Yuki-sama protest in the back while everyone laughed as I walked up to embrace my sister. When I let go, I saw that Lord Takahashi had also spread her arms, showing that she wanted one too.

"Well now… with all this out of the way, how about we discuss official matters? I found out something… disturbing while I was in the meeting."

"If it's that unsettling, we must know as soon as possible."

I watched as Yuki-sama's aura went from playful to serious in a blink of an eye. I watched her move forward and felt myself fall for her all over again.

~Yuki's POV~

We walked into Takamina's conference room to discuss whatever the problem was. I have a bad feeling that no matter what it was, it was REALLY bad. I glanced at Mayu and saw she looked uneasy. I touched her hand and when she looked up, I smiled a reassuring smile at her. We sat down and I sat down with Mayu on my right and Takamina on my left.

"So let's begin… in the meeting earlier, we found out that the nomads have sneaked into here and taken up some post, posing as guards and soldiers. They are within this castle as we speak.

"What? How is that possible? Traitors?"

"I do not know how it happened, Lord Yuki. But traitors are a possibility. Or they could have sneaked in and killed the guards."

"Yes… most likely without us noticing and they know the routine because those guards report to either me or Takamina…"

"Yes… Atsuko is usually who they report to though. Then there is another problem… in my opinion, more disturbing. They have a target… someone they want to kidnap or kill… that target is M-"

Before she could finish, the doors burst opened and standing there were two knights, both with the Hana kingdom's crest on their breastplate.

"Lord Takahashi! I am sorry to just barge in like this but something has happened! One of your guards lay slain in the hallway!"

"What? Show me where!"

We all followed the two knights as they ran to the hallway we passed by not so long ago. There, right in the center of the hallway, was a soldier. Crimson liquid stained the blue carpet but what was unsettling was the words written in the crimson liquid on the walls. "WE ARE COMING FOR HER."

"Lord Minami… who is this girl they are referring to?"

"… Mayu…"

"What? Why would they come for her? What is their goal…?"

"Perhaps to hold her for ransom? They want something."

"That sounds like something they would do… the two Tomomi's could be right."

"Well I'm not sure… welcome Sir Jurina, Sir Anna."

"Thank you Lord Takahashi."

"Pleasure, Lord Takahashi. I wish this meeting was under better circumstances but it's getting worse and worse. Lord Matsui sends her greetings."

"Yes… sorry we were late… we were attacked while on the way here."

"By who?"

"Nomads… I'm sure."

As they were talking, I stole a glance at Mayu to see how she was fairing. She still had a blank look but she seemed paler. Worried. Both Haruna and Atsuko were beside. She saw me looking and I smiled at her. She smiled back but didn't look any better. I walked up to her and as I did, Atsuko and Haruna noticed and moved away. I got to her and slowly wrapped my arms around her. I felt her tiny arms wrap around my waist as she buried her face into my chest.

"Don't worry Mayu… we'll try our best to prevent that. And if they do get past us, I won't rest until you're safe again. Even if it kills me."

She didn't say anything but her arms tightened. Then, we all went back to discuss safety precautions for her. We decided that she would have guards and that she would be rooming with Haruna. After the discussion, we had dinner and went to our rooms. As I sat there, reading, an uneasy feeling came over me and I looked around… something wasn't right. I quickly put on my armor, grabbed my sword, and stepped out. As I did, I saw Jurina, Takamina, followed by Acchan and both Tomomi's step out of their rooms, all armored and armed. We all stared at each other and then. To our left, Anna and Sae stepped out of their own rooms. Also fully armored and armed.

"Why is everyone up and holding weapons?"

"Something wasn't right… so I decided to go check it out."

"Yea… both of us woke up to an uneasy feeling."

"Yea… Tomochin woke up and said I was thrashing… I had a nightmare that someone was killed…"

"I was drawing… then I decided to go ask Jurina something… but as I was going to walk out, I felt something weird so I decided to go armed… I come out to see everyone like this."

"I just had a weird feeling…"

"Ok enough talk… lets go check on Mayu."

We all quickly made our way to where Mayu and Haruna's room was located. Suddenly, Haruna ran out from one of the hallway in front of us. She looked as if she had been running for quite a while.

"Haruna? I thought you were with Mayu."

"I was… but a medic came up and said I was needed. I refused but Mayu said I could go and the medic was frantic. When I got there, nothing was wrong and I realized I was tricked. As I was running back up, two guards attacked me! It was a decoy!"

We all ran faster to the room but once there, we were all greeted with a sight we did not want to see. The door was opened with scratched marks all over it. The blankets were all ripped and the guards lay dead on the floor. They took her.

"Oh god… no… Mayu… MAYU!"

"DAMN THEM!"

"Mayu! Damn it..!"

"Tsk... damn bastards… Sayaka shall be notified…"

"Yes… we shall set out right now."

"Lord Yuki… I shall go notify our army now."

All I could do was nod my head. Takamina, Acchan, and Haruna all showed their grief. I just stood there… I was berating myself. Why did I not ask her to stay with me? Or why did I not suggest telling them to choose a room near us? WHY had I not said anything?

"Anna… can you go notify Rena? I will stay here incase anything happens."

"Alright. Should I tell her to gather her army and come here?"

"Yes. This is already a war… all I have been doing but now, they have gone too far. It's MY turn to fight back. Major Kasai, we will ride back together. You have 15 minutes to get ready."

"Understood."

"Then I will be your Ally, Lord Yuki. They have our little sister… and from what I can see, possibly your future lover."

"Yes… I and Takamina will stand by you to the end."

"I am sure Lord Matsui will also stand by you to the end."

"She will… Rena said she always will."

"Sayaka also said if it were to come to this, she's ready to fight by your side."

As they left, I stayed and walked into the room. Her room had little stuffed animals… most of them were alpacas but I saw some lambs and other cute ones. I walked over to her desk and saw a letter and the locket she had on that night. I picked up the lockets and opened it. Inside, carved into the locket itself were my initials and a heart. I stared at it for a few minutes, and then remembered there was a letter. It looked like she was planning on giving it to me. I opened it and read it. I had to re-read it 3 times over because on phrase jumped out at me. Because of the one phrase, my whole purpose in this war is to rescue her no matter what.

"Mayu… wait for me."

TBC