Gomennaisai minna!

*Cries horribly*

I am so so so so so so so sorry to the power ∞ (infinity). I know I am a horrible authoress for hanging this story for such a long time! I'll make up for it! I promise!

So without further ado, let's start, this chapter of "Story of the Prince and his Princess, Snow White".

''You...are leaving?"

Yusuke, Yumiko and the rest of the inhabitants of Rokoro, all stood beside the couple. Zen's eyes were still filled with confusion.

"Yeah. That is my home. I am done running. Its enough." Shirayuki said with a calm smile. Then she hung her head low.

"I thought, my vulgar red hair can't be accepted by anyone. It will remain a new thing to everyone forever. It will remain a mystery, a confusion, but..."

Shizuka, and Shizuku were surprised. Zen was also astonished. Yumiko, Yusuke, Kosuke, and the other elders were shocked with their eyes wide open. Shirayuki was crying!

"Shira..." Zen was about to say something, when she stopped him. She wiped her own tears, and said, "You all people proved me wrong. You weren't nobles, princes, yet, you have a heart bigger than others. Thank you all for taking care of me." Saying, she bowed down in front of them.

Yusuke and the others smiled. Aunt Sakura smiled at her, and said, "You are finally doing the right thing. Now, don't ever run away anymore."

Yusuke, Kosuke, Yumiko, and all the others bid them a hearty goodbye. Slapping Zen's back hard, Yusuke said, "Don't leave her alone ever again." "I never did!" Zen said.

Everyone laughed. Suddenly, Grandpa Nobu said, "I have horses. A tunnel of this village is connected to the main city of Clarines. You all can continue going from that." Then he became quiet, and sighed. "I had wished that an amazing child like Shirayuki would stay with us over here forever."

Everyone's faces became unhappy. Then Yumiko said suddenly, "Come to visit us again, okay?"

Zen and Shirayuki became cheerful. Both of them shouted, "Yeah! We definitely will!"

The tunnel was dark and deep. While they bowed to the honorable family once again and rode away on the horse provided by Grandpa Nobu, the others waved back. "COME BACK TO MEET US AGAIN, PRINCE ZEN AND PRINCESS SHIRAYUKI!" Shizuka and Shizuku shouted.

"Are you sure?"

Zen suddenly asked, as they were midway through the tunnel.

Shirayuki became confused first, then smiled and replied, "Yeah."

"But you liked it there more than Clarines." He said.

"Liking a place doesn't mean I can abandon my home!" She said. "Clarines is my home. Kiki san, Mitsuhide san, Obi and all the others, they are my home." She said.

"And me?" Zen joked.

Shirayuki sighed, and said, "You are...my life."

Zen's eyes widened. Before he could ask anymore, Shirayuki buried her face in his back, and wrapped her hands around his body. The serene place seemed beautiful. Zen blushed, and whispered, "You are my life, my soul, my heart, my everything. You are everything for me. You taught me the real meaning of life, Shirayuki."

The castle finally came in view. As they neared it, they finally found him waiting there.

"Aniki!" Zen shuddered.

As they neared the palace, Shirayuki's hold on Zen became stronger.

"Welcome, little brother!" Izana said when they finally arrived. Zen stepped on the ground from the horse.

All his aides; Obi, Kiki, Mitsuhide; were standing beside Izana.

"I am back. Today is the last day of the second month, and I am back, so you can't ban me from the kingdom." Zen said.

Izana's face became stern. "But, why is that girl with you?"

Shirayuki was about to say something, when Zen said, "She is my companion. She stays with me if I want her to!"

The air became tense. Everyone was nervous.

"Oh Zen!" Shirayuki murmured. This was the reason she was running away. She didn't want conflict between two brothers.

Izana sighed. "Oh stubborn little brother." Then, he sais, I, Izana Wistalia, challenge you to a sword fight. If you win, she stays, if you lose, she...dies!"

Zen stood in his arena, and Izana threw to him his sword. "The one to accept defeat first, loses."

Shirayuki and all the others watched with bated breath. What will happen now?

Zen sweat dropped. If he loses? Shirayuki... Dies? He must win!

Izana charged forward. Zen as well. Both of them clashed their swords. Izana laughed cruelly. "Now you won't win!" He said.

"I won't lose!" Zen said.

The fight was intense. Each if the brothers wanted to triumph over the other. This was uglier than the fight Zen and Yusuke had. After 15 minutes also, the brothers were fighting.

"Why do you want that girl so much? There are other girls too!" Izana asked.

"I love her only!" Zen said. "You don't understand! You never loved anyone!"

Izana's eyes widened. He cut Zen's arm slightly. Blood oozed.

"Zen!" Shirayuki shouted.

"Ow!" Zen cried in pain.

"Don't joke!" Izana threatened.

"I am not joking!" Zen shouted. "She, she saw me when I was invisible! She nurtured me with her smile! She cared me with her power! She looked after me like a guardian! Why don't you understand?" Zen tried to hold his sword, but his arm was badly bleeding.

"Oh Zen!" Shirayuki said. The other aides didn't say anything.

After sometime, Mitsuhide said, "Izana sama, why don't you drop the acting now?"

Zen became surprised. Izana's eyes widened. "Don't, Mitsuhide!"

"What, Mitsuhide?" Zen asked.

"He is acting. He is lying. He won't kill Shirayuki. It was all a lie, to test your love for her."

Everyone quietened down. "He did this to see if you love her truly."

Zen became surprised. "Brother?"

Izana sighed. Kiki said, "Yes Zen. Mitsuhide is right."

"So?" Zen was about to say something, when Izana said, "You won. The fight is over. Just like you wished, that girl gets to stay. I hope you are satisfied now!"