Hello everyone! My has it been a while! Im sorry you guys for the delay. Work and school eat my time and I promise to try and update more often. Thank you everyone who is still reviewing! I appreciate it greatly! Just for a Thanksgiving treat...I made this chapter extra long! Please enjoy guys and please review!

Love, Michelle :)

Please Enjoy!

Summer was blazing hot this year. The air was heavy and the Beatles buzzed in the trees as loud as they could. Water was short this year in sector 8. No fights broken out, no war declared. Even the soldiers stayed inside on this hot summer day. 8 months now that Kimiko has lived in sector 8 with the rest of the outcasts. She was becoming more comfortable with where she was. She was being accepted again. No one addressed herself as a princess. Just, Kimiko. And she was perfectly fine with this. Now she is learning new skills that weren't working as well as she wanted them too.

"Ack!" She yelled as she flew backwards landing on her butt and groaned as she looked up to see her attacker simply standing over her like nothing was wrong.

"That, was weak." He chuckled. Rai, The most dangerous man known from all across the lands was teaching fragile little Kimiko moves to fight and defend herself whenever she needed to. Kimiko growled as she looked at the man that was looming over her. He was changing slowly everyday. He looked weaker all the time. He would stay away from the public when possible. Kimiko wouldn't be as worried if he didn't have a strange episode a week ago.

A week earlier...

Kimiko walked down the streets of sector 8 minding her own business. She watched the children play and the mothers gossip to themselves. She took the time to compare the life in the sector to how life was back in the castle. It was basically the same thing only difference was money. Also these children didn't already have their lives planned out for them. She envied these kids. She knew it was the other way around for them but Kimiko knew they had it so much better then she did. She thought to herself, "Is he still asleep?" She looked down to the watched Nicki had given her. 3:46 it read. No he had to be up by now. She found herself more and more needing to be around him. She didn't know why its not like they got along. They always argued over petty things. He was so frustrating to be around. Kimiko was getting to aggravated just thinking about it. But, at the same time she felt sane to be around him. Someone so kind hearted only wanting what was right for the people. Kimiko smiled to herself slightly but all the time the picture of the women would come to her mind Such a beautiful girl. Was it the queen? No Kimiko has met the queen through video chats with her father over compromise that The king would refuse. Maybe one of the princesses? Maybe he fell for one of the princesses. That would make the most sense. Kimiko sighed as she continued walking till she came to one of the alleyways were she heard a crash. She jumped as she saw someone tumbling over the trash cans holding onto their stomach and growling lowly. Kimiko walked with caution till she recognized the person to be Rai.

"Rai!" She cried as she ran over to him.

"Stay back!" He yelled back never making eye contact still holding tightly to his middle hunching over as his body leaned against the wall. Kimiko froze not knowing what would be the best thing to do with this situation.

"Rai what happened?" Kimiko pulled out slowly looking around to see If there was someone she could blame this on.

"Nothing...just not feeling well.." He said weakly still not making any contact with her.

"That is a lie Rai! Your in pain and I want to help you!" She yelled. She wanted someone so badly to come and walk in to see this so she would make it so it wasn't her word against his.

"Just leave me alone.." He groaned as he leaned over farther.
"I wont!" She protested.

"Leave!" He yelled finally looking at her. She gasped to see his eyes weren't green. They were a crimson red. Kimiko was filled with fear and confusion she didn't know what to do. Was it normal for a persons eyes to change color so dramatically? No it wasn't. This wasn't some bloodshot color. There was no sign of his green eyes. Just crimson blood red.

"Rai.." She tried to speak but her tongue was tied. She was is some type of trance that she couldn't get herself out of. She was so lost and confused not knowing what to feel. She was utterly scared.

Her trance was broken as she saw Rai get back up and ran the opposite direction she was in.

"Rai!" She yelled. Her body was moving on its own. She didn't know what she was doing. She was following him that's what she was doing. She ran as fast as she could but he was so much more quicker. Corner after corner they turned. Dodged everything and everyone. She was so close to catching him before she saw him jump on the edge of one of the building and swung himself up on one of the roofs like he did in sector 4. Kimiko had no upper body strength. She lost. She stood there out of breath. She was in a daze. So many problems coming up all at once She didn't know how she will deal with all of it at once. Rai was a closed book and he wasn't going to open up any time soon.

Present time...

Kimiko groaned as she laid on the ground not wanting to get back up. About three days ago she asked Rai to train her. She wants to get stronger, faster, she wants to be able to keep up with Rai. She didn't mention the thing that happened between them and he hasn't said a word about it. She just let it go. He has been acting normal though the past week but you can see it on his face how tired he actually it. She wondered if he even sleeps.

"Come on get up." His voice went through her head quickly. She looked to see his hand reached out for her. She gladly accepted and allowed him to help her get up.

"How did you learn to be so well trained?" She asked through a puff of breath.

"Instinct?" He shrugged. Kimiko gruffed. Instinct, instinct, instinct that's all he ever said. No training ever mentioned, no meditation to reach to your inner beast just. . . Instinct.

"You know that cannot be your excuse every time." She said folding her arms. He was amused and and shrugged again with a smirk.

"Its not an excuse, its the truth. I never learned how to fight I just always knew how to." He said bluntly.

"I can tell you would have killed me 20 times over by now if I was really fighting you." She smiled.

"Nah I don't kill girls." He smirked back.

"And what is that suppose to mean?" Kimiko said pretending to be hurt by his words.

"Well from the way you fight I would say any girl with as much of an anger issue I would expect her to fight better but your proof they don't." He smirked. Kimiko felt her brow twitched slightly.

"Rude." Keeping her cool. "And I thought we were teaching me how to keep my cool too." She spat back. Rai laughed as he walked over to her and grabbed her arms and brought them behind her back.

"Well when you get pissed off enough at someone here is a trick." He started. When someone is coming at you grab their arms so they cant use them. Bring your elbow up so its right above the person neck." He demonstrated. "Then quickly bring down your elbow in the crook of their neck. The nerves in the neck with be affected and quickly knock them out so they'll shut up for a while." He stated releasing her. Kimiko looked at him and did a lop sided smile.

"Can I try it on you?" She asked. He responded with a sarcastic laugh.

"You cant even catch me." He said. That stung Kimiko. Was he talking about what happened a week ago? Did he think it was a joke? She was confused beyond belief. What was it with this guy. Its like he enjoyed toying with her emotions and how she did things. She hated it. She hated the feeling of being in the dark of everything Rai did. What he said, what he does, what he thinks. She thought now that they were closer he would do something that would make the atmosphere easier to breath from. But no. He knew how to make things more difficult. He knew how to make Kimiko drown in her own curious mind. He wanted her to drown. He wanted that so that she wouldn't be able to get back up and ask continuous questions. It wasn't fair. Kimiko was a open book while Rai was a closed chamber. Nicki, John, Clay, all of them, they were so willing to tell their life story to the world. Not ashamed. But Rai, a hero to the people and a villain to society was so closed. Even the people closest to him. It was so frustrating.

"Kim?" His voice, so distant but so suffocating. She looked up at him with hollow eyes. Rai tilted his head to the side in confusion.

What happened to you?" He asked with concern.

"You know why." She thought. She gulped. She felt her body move backwards slightly. She was moving away from him. Why? Hes not going to hurt you. He is worried about you. Kimiko's mind was cluttered with thoughts it was hard to think straight. Before she knew it she was running. Not knowing where but just running. She couldn't see the meadow anymore. She something else though. A boy. She was chasing a boy.

"You cant catch me!" The child taunted. Kimiko didn't stop. She kept going. Who is he? He was royalty. Wearing the robes of a lord, the feathered hat of a king, the heart of a prince. "Is this a memory?" She thought. Before she could think anymore she felt a hand grab her forearm and her body tilting forward. Next thing she knew, She was in the hold of Rai as they tumbled down a steep hill.

Kimiko opened her eyes to see herself on top of Rai as he laid on the ground with his eyes shut. His arms protectively around her waist. She felt her face heat up exceptionally. Her hand was on his chest. His heart was beating. He was alive. She sighed in relief as she got up.

"Rai?" She said as she tried shaking him lightly. No movement. The growled to herself. "Good going Kim." She said to herself. She sat there for a second before something shinny caught her attention. She looked at the bottom of the hill to see Rai's watch fell out of his pocket. She looked back to see Rai wasn't moving still. She walked over quietly to pick up the watch. She held this watch only one other time and that's when she first found it. She opened to see an engravement on the side where the picture once was.

To Raimundo.

With much love and wishes. Happy Birthday.

Love, M.A.P

Kimiko looked at it strangely. Raimundo? Was that his real name? Rai could just be a nickname. It would make sense. Her heart quickly jumped into her throat as she heart a groan from behind her. She looked to see Rai sitting up rubbing his head. Kimiko hid the watch behind her back and smiled.

"Well good morning to you sir." she said politely. Rai looked at her confused.

"Its your fault I ended sleeping away my days." He groaned. Kimiko pouted.

"You were for maybe 5 minutes. Don't be blaming me you don't know where yore going." She said.

"Excuse me? Your the one who ran off and almost over down the hill!" He spat back. Kimiko folded her arms after placing the watch in her back pocket.

"You didn't have to grab me and you know that full well." She retorted.

"Your unbelievable." He groaned passing right by her. Kimiko dropped her jaw and faced the direction he was heading.

"I'M unbelievable?" Kimiko yelled. Rai quickly turned around.

"Yea ya are! You run off with no explanation and I go to help you before your really hurt yourself and somehow it ended up being my fault!" He yelled. Kimiko felt her anger build that she could help then next words that would come spurring out of her mouth.

"Its not like I am the one keeping huge secrets from everyone and wont open up to anyone!" Rai felt his face form into disgust.

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"It has to do with everything you do. I don't know what your hiding but its scaring me that you might loose your own sanity over these secrets you keep covering up!" She yelled. Before Rai could retort, the sound of John and Nicki heading down the hill came to play. Rai looked at Kim one last time and simply said.

"Stop digging yourself in a deeper hole then your already in." Kimiko's eyes shot open wide. What did he mean by that? Was that a threat. Kimiko couldn't interperete anymore when John started talking.

"Rai we got a problem." He said so simply with was nerve racking. John, nothing changed his attitude. A smile plastered on his face all the time. So sarcastic and so mean, and yet on the outside seems so nice and so laid back.

"Whats going on?" Rai asked.

"Jack has attacked sector 5. And it wasn't some regular raid. He actually killed people." Kimiko saw no change in Rai's expression. As he had expected as much. He sighed.

"Alright, grab Clay and the others and lets get-" he was cut off short as he shot forward, holding his stomach and clutching his head.

"Rai!" Nicki and Kimiko yelled.

"Dammit not now..." Rai cursed under his breath. Nicki and Kimiko stood there trying to find a way to relieve him of the pain he felt, while John stood there with an expressionless face. Rai went down on one knee groaning only slightly.

"Rai tell us whats wrong!" Nicki yelled. Kimiko noticed the confusion on Nicki's face. At least now Kimiko knew she wasn't the only one.

"Rai you cant go like this.." John spoke up. The girls froze as Rai lifted his head only slightly. His eyes met Johns.

"The hell are you saying now John.." Rai growled.

"I'm saying is that you are not in good health right now and you overworked yourself. You need to rest." He paused. "Let me lead this rally." He said bluntly. Kimiko felt Rai stop fussing. She looked to see him looking at John dead on.

"No." He said.

"Your in no condition to-"

"I don't give a shit what condition I'm in I cant let you go and you know that John! Your not a fighter and if you go as me you know the consequences!" Rai backfired. Nicki Shook only slightly. It must be hard to hear your brother wants to fight for his life. John made no motion. Just stood there and smiled.

Kimiko wasn't too sure of the situation completely but couldn't see Rai going out in this condition.

"Rai let him go-"

"Stay out of this Kimiko!" He yelled.

"I wont! He is well and I know he can fight! You are unable to at the moment and there is no point to argue about this when we all know the answer!" Kimiko yelled back. Rai fell silent. The birds in the background covered the silence that fell through the air. Then, John spoke up.

"Day by day, we are only fed,

To feed the larger animal said.

We fight to live,

We fight to die.

Brothers we stand,

One will live one will die."

Rai stared at him with cold eyes.

"Ill gather the men and we will be off." As he turned Rai grabbed his hand before he could go off.

"Royal blood shall not be spilled for the life of peasant. Heathe these words for brothers no more." Rai growled. John merely stared for a second before yanking his hand away.

"Take care of him Nicki. Ill be home soon." John said before walking up the hill. Nicki nodded to her brother before assisting Rai. Kimiko couldn't help but to question what had just happened but knew this wasn't the time to ask.

Kimiko laid on her bed staring blankly at the ceiling. Rai hasn't talked to her in two days and John still hasn't returned with the group of men that had left. She recognized what Rai had said to John before he left. It was a verse from the vow made by every royal the claim that they will never give their life for a person under them. Kimiko hated taking that vow but it was the only thing she could do. Why did Rai say that to John? Was John a Royal at one point of time? Kimiko was confused, she didn't know what to do.

Before she could think anymore, she heard the gates from the front open up. John had returned. Kimiko jumped up quickly from her bed and quickly walked to the door. As she was about to open the door, a piercing scream made it to the middle of the living room. Nicki. Kimiko quickly rushed down the hallways down the stairs and out the front. She ran as fast as she could to the gate. Everyone was there before her. No sign of Rai. She made her way through the large group to the front to see the men standing there. Four of the men stood there holding up what looked like a stretcher with a white cloth over something that was laying in it. Kimiko felt her heart stop suddenly. A body. A dead body was under that cloth. She heard a shriek and looked to her side. She saw Nicki on her knees as three people held her down. She was crying harshly. She screamed on the top of her lungs. It was like her whole world was destroyed right in front of her. She looked back at the body that laid lifeless on the stretcher and knew now it was John.

Kimiko's stomach dropped. She couldn't even move. She didn't dare to. She looked behind the men to see dozens of bodies coming in. What happened? How did this battle go so wrong. She tried to function what was happening. She looked back at Nicki as she yelled her brother's name over and over again. Kimiko looked back at Clay who stood there with his hat off, bowing in shame. Kimiko looked behind to Rai, standing as far away from the crowed as possible. Kim saw Nicki, she saw Rai. Nicki stared at Rai for a moment. Stopping her screams. She stood up, walked through the crowed. Clay was hot on her tracks. Rai stayed in place with a blank expression. Nicki's breathing was harsh as she ran up to him and punched him straight in the face. Clay reacted quickly by restraining her. Rai stumbled slightly but continued to stand.

"You Bastard! You Knew! You knew he was going to die you sick son of a bitch! You knew it and you still let him go! Why would you take the only thing I had left from me!" Nicki screamed as she stared down Rai with puffy red eyes. Rai stared at the ground. He didnt make any attempt to talk. He just took what he was being served. Kimiko finally caught up with the crowed. Nicki was furious. Unbelievably angry.

"Are you happy now rai? Your best friend is dead because of you!" She shrieked. Rai just stood there.

"Forgive me.." He said under a whisper. Nicki heard it and quickly kicked him in the face. This cause Rai to fall to the ground and Clay to pin Nicki to the ground as well.

"Your apology wont bring him back!" She cried. It began to calm down and Nicki was released from Clay's restraints as she stayed on the floor curled up crying. Rai stood back up and walked back to his quarters. He stopped for only a moment to speak to Nicki one last time.

"You will never understand, how much I truly hate myself right now for allowing him to go. I dont ask for your forgiveness Nicole, I ask for Johnathan's." He continued walking leaving a broken Nicole, Ashamed Clay, and frightened Kimiko, and fearful town.