Nanashi hated Kaname when they were kids, and now she hated him even more as the current major of Sarayashiki. He was worse than his father as major before him he seemed. He touted about how important the history of the town was to everyone, to the nation, and even to the world. You would think it was a grand city with a massive port and of international importance. It was really a backwater town with a high opinion of itself, higher than the mayor's of himself. He insisted the town inherited 'The Angel's' museum, and it was an important part of history, culture, and tourism for the town. It generated money from travelers coming in and out of the port. He would not close it, nor even consider removing the statue, as it was now in his charge.

Nanashi stormed out of the mayor's office, Hiei following behind her. She felt the temptation to ask him about destroying the statue and museum...

She stopped abruptly in the entrance, see Izo alone in front of her. "Izo, what is it?" she asked him. Hiei was just behind her.

"The royal family is here," he answered.

Nanashi gritted her teeth, hating this sudden news. She recalled writing to the king after she found out Hiei hid a letter from him. She told him they were not going to be in Alaric, instead going to Sarayashiki for her uncle's death. King Hayate must have set sail down the river from Hayato City instead of going to Alaric.

"Why?" Hiei asked shortly.

Izo shook his head, unsure. "Hikari and I saw the royal ship coming in from upriver and dock. People were getting off of it when I left her where Father told us to wait."

Nanashi felt suddenly nervous. "How long did you leave her alone?" she asked, concerned. Hikari really wanted to go the museum. It had been difficult to keep her away and convince her. Outright forbidding her just enhanced her resolve.

Izo hummed to himself, looking suddenly guilty. "Ten... more like fifteen minutes ago..." He scratched his brow. "Easily could have been twenty minutes ago..."

Nanashi scowled. Hikari could move fast. They would have to move faster. "We need to find her," Nanashi ruled, leading the way out of the mayor's office building and into the thick of the crowd to find her daughter.

Izo led to where he had left Hikari, much too close to the museum. "She was right here," he said, his voiced mixed with annoyance and stubbornness. "Hikari!" he called out, weaving his way through the crowd towards the museum.

"Hikari!" Nanashi echoed. She had better not be in that museum. If she were...

They were calling around the front of the museum, when a short, black hair figure came running out from behind the museum. Hikari huffed up and over towards them.

Nanashi stepped over to Hikari. "Tell me you did not go into the museum," she demanded, trying to keep her temper at bay. It was not just Hikari that was upsetting her right. Hikari looked frightened. She would not looked Nanashi in the eye, but she shook her head wordlessly. Nanashi scowled. "You were trying to get into the back door, weren't you?" Hikari looked down at her feet. "Answer me."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled out.

"You will not be left alone the remainder of this trip," Nanashi ruled. She was grateful that Hiei did not respond, either to agree nor disagree with her choice in punishment. She turned, facing Izo. "You either," she decided. Izo flinched at that, but said nothing. Hikari looked irked, but kept her mouth shut. Normally if she was incised, she would complain.

Hiei spoke up, "we need to go. Unless you want to to get caught up with the royal procession?" Nanashi turned her attention to him. "How did he know we were down here?" he grumbled.

Nanashi felt her own self turn squeamish. "I told him," she dead panned. "I wrote and told him before we left Alaric."

"Why?" he grumbled, annoyed in his own right now.

"Because we wouldn't be able to receive him at Alaric," she answered. "He's the king. We couldn't very well ditch the king behind his back. He rules the country. He and his ancestors were chosen to rule by the Great Hawk Spirit." She felt her mind start to spin about what the king could do, more so what the queen could do to convince people of something, when their mind was put to it...

Hiei looked like his temper was rising higher and faster than hers was currently. "You shouldn't have done that."

"You shouldn't have hidden that letter," she said louder than she wished she had.

"Um, excuse me," a confident woman's voice called out from behind them, "have you seen a tall, young man? Long blonde hair?"

Nanashi turned around in time with everyone else. She was not sure who recognized Ayane first, her or Hiei. Ayane did looked surprised to see them. She gave a swift bow towards the lot of them, saying in rapid succession, "my angel, my lady, gentlemen."

"What do you want?" Hiei asked rudely.

Nanashi frowned at him. "Lady Ayane, how have you been?" she asked awkwardly, giving her own bow in return.

"Good, my angel," she said with a smile of mostly contentment. "How have you been? It's been quite a while," she responded.

"We've been good, but my uncle has just passed away," Nanashi answered.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Ayane answered. "The king heard you would be traveling down here, my angel. He figured it had been such a long time, so he wanted to see you and your family, as well as this town. He figured he would kill two with one stone as you say."

"We were just leaving the town, today," Hiei told Ayane abruptly.

"Oh," Ayane answered. "I see...Um... Have you seen the prince...?" she asked slowly.

"Did he run off again?" Nanashi asked, trying to use her words appropriately.

Ayane sighed. "Off the ship, and gave my husband the slip," she frowned, looking annoyed.

"Your first problem was having Jiro babysit him," Hiei griped.

Ayane gave him a cutting glare. "It wasn't his fault. Prince Takashi was told to stay and wait for mounts to found, and he spirited himself away, likely wanting to explore the angel's hometown."

Nanashi felt herself blush in spite of herself. He still hero worshiped her, even after all these years.

"Best of luck in finding him," Hiei said. "Come on," he side stepped his away around Ayane.

Nanashi blinked, a little put off by his rudeness. "We should help find him real fast before we leave," Nanashi said tenderly. "One time he disappeared, a pack of dire wolves set on him," she pointed out.

"Mother," Hikari's voice cut quietly in the midst of them.

Nanashi turned around, facing her. "What is it?"

"He's in the museum," she said, head hung down, eyes trailed on her shoes. She turned her toes in as she stood.