Chapter 10: Little Slave Girl

Disclaimer: TOF: Yay! I actually made it to chapter 10!

Kai: Hurray...

TOF: (glares) Would it kill you to show a little enthusiasm?

Kai: Yes.

TOF: (pouts)

'Oh god, what happened?' wondered Kai as he opened his eyes and blinked away the blurriness. He felt really... weird. And he had a huge head ache. He tried to sit up but found he couldn't. His eye twitched as he discovered he was bound to the bed.

He struggled to get out, bouncing the bed and making lots of noise, successfully waking Tala and King from their sleep on the couches.

Tala stood up shakily. He looked at Kai and said. "Oh, you're back." Kai glared and mumbled something Tala couldn't hear since Kai was still gagged.

"Let Kai up Tala. It's fine now." Said King, pulling himself up, using the couch as leverage.

Tala did as King said, narrowly avoiding Kai who tried to attack him as soon as the prince was free.

"What happened to me?" asked Kai as he looked around the messy bed.

"You went into heat." King explained. "Since you're out of it, Rei should be waking up soon then."

"I went into heat?" asked Kai.

"You don't remember?" asked Tala. Kai shook his head.

King shrugged. "That's not uncommon. The after effects of heat can affect people differently." He explained.

*grumble grumble* Kai blushed as his stomach rumbled.

King laughed. "It's not surprising you're hungry. In heat you have no appetite. You've not eaten anything for about a day or two now."

"Let's get some food into you Kai." Said Tala. Kai nodded and the three left the room.

Those in the dining hall consisted of Kai, King, Tala, Bryan, Hiro, Rei, Lee and King Raikin.

Kai and Rei didn't once look at each other, both feeling rather embarrassed after they were told how they had acted.

"Rei," spoke Raikin. "I think today you should take Kai around the city and show him our land." He said. "I have received a letter from King Voltaire and it appears that the Phoenix Kingdom is far to damaged to be rebuilt." Everyone exchanged curious looks. "We have decided to move everyone from the Phoenix Kingdom and bring them here. We still have plenty of room." He explained.

"When will they be coming?" asked Rei.

Raikin smiled lightly. "In the letter I received from King Voltaire, it stated that they will be arriving two days before your ceremony. It's going to take a while as they are evacuating everyone." He informed them.

Rei looked over at Kai. "What do you say Kai? Fancy a walk?" Kai shrugged and nodded. Rei looked back at his father. "We should go now. We'll take Tala, Bryan and a few guards." He said.

Raikin nodded and sent Bryan to gather their most trusted guards.

Rei and Kai finished their meal and then got ready to go. Bryan came back into the room and said he would meet them and Tala at the front gate.

The sun here was bright and warm. Summer was just around the corner.

Rei sighed. There was just so much going on and so soon. He looked at Kai next to him and gave a small smile as he watched Kai look around his kingdom in interest. They had decided to just go through the city on horseback instead of shoving Rei and Kai in the traditional carriage they would normally get carried in.

Kai looked around curiously. Everyone bustled around, only stopping to bow to them and then leaving again. He greeted those who approached him, always speaking politely. His people would be moving here and he wanted the people of Tiger to know that those of Phoenix were polite and respectful.

"How are you liking this place Kai?" asked Rei. Bryan is beside Rei and Tala beside Kai. There are four guards in front and four in the back.

"It's so peaceful here." He said. "And I never realized how big your kingdom was." Tala nodded in agreement. The Phoenix Kingdom was maybe half the size. It's a small kingdom, always was and especially with all the problems they've been having with this unknown clan that had attacked them.

Kai looked to his other side, at all the people when he stopped his horse as something caught his eye. A small girl, maybe around the age of six or seven stumbled into the street from a small house. She had bruises on her face and was carrying a large box that looked rather heavy and was at least double her size.

Kai saw a man, probably in his forties coming up behind her and shoving her to the ground. As soon as he saw that, he hopped off his horse, making their group stop, and ran over.

He ignored the man and knelt next to the girl. He saw her more clearly now. She has deep blue hair to her shoulders and green eyes.

"Are you ok?" he asked gently, helping her get up.

The girl looked at Kai and then at the other man with fear. She went over to him and bowed.

"I-I'm sorry sir." She said, trembling. Kai stared shocked as the man sneered and lifted his hand. Kai quickly got in front of the girl and grabbed the man's wrist.

"How dare you attack a young girl?" He hissed.

The man just glared. "I can do whatever I want with her. She's mine, she's my slave."

"Kai what are you doing?" asked Rei, running over after seeing the commotion.

Kai looked at Rei with cold eyes. "I thought slaves weren't allowed here." He said. A law had been passed by every single kingdom. No one was to own a slave. Servants were different as they chose to serve those above them, but slaves did not have that choice.

Rei glared at the man. "They're not. Guards." He said, as four of them came forward. "Arrest this man. He broke the law and he will be punished."

The man growled at Kai. "Damn you boy. You just lost me my slave." He made to attack Kai, but the guards grabbed him before he could.

"And we'll add another charge onto that. Attacking a prince is a very big crime." Rei hissed, not liking that this man had tried to hurt Kai.

Kai ignored the man as he was pulled away and put his attention on the girl. He knelt next to her and then picked her up into his arms.

"Do you have a family little one?" he asked softly.

The girl sniffed and shook her head. "They're dead." She whispered.

Kai's eyes softened and he looked at Rei, his eyes saying it all. When Rei nodded in agreement Kai looked back at the small girl. "What's your name little one?"

The girl looked at Kai up and down, then Rei. She smiled; something told her that she could trust these people. "Leah." She said quietly.

"Well Leah, would you like to come home with us?" he smiled at Leah's shocked expression. And then she nodded and laughed. "Are you going to be my new mama and daddy?" she asked innocently.

Kai blushed while Rei laughed. "If you would like." Said Rei.

Kai glared when he saw Tala smirking at him in amusement. He stopped when Leah looked at him curiously. He shook his head and said. "Let's get back to the palace. I want to get Leah taken care of." He explained, climbing back on his horse, taking Leah with him.

As the royal princes and guards left, the people of the city who had seen the scene and what was going on, whispered to one another. They were greatly impressed by this new prince. He seemed nice and was very polite to all of them. He would be a great mate for their Prince Rei.

It was at that moment that Kai gained the approval of the whole kingdom and their allegiance.

TBC...

So how was that? Not as long as I wanted but it'll do. Please review and tell me what you think!

Burning