Hikari woke with a start, hearing the door to her cave prison open.
"Get her up. Get her cleaned up. Get her dressed. Get her fed and watered. You have one hour," the elf's voice sounded.
Hikari raised her upper body up from her cot on the ground. She could see light streaming from the torch the elf sat in the brackets on her wall. She watched him shoved another person into the room with them. Then he tossed three bags into the room afterwards. Last, he slammed and locked the door behind him.
"What's going on?" Hikari asked, voice cracking as it came out of her parched throat.
The person in the room was a young looking girl, probably four or five years younger than Hikari. Even though the girl was right in front of Hikari, Hikari found she still could not sense her. She wondered if her own hunger and thirst led to that.
The girl looked like she was mostly demon and little bit part tree. Her skin was a pale grey-muddy color, her hair was a dark grey-muddy color. Her hair was twisted and kinked, like roots from a tree. Her eyes though, were a vibrant green. She looked scared. Her lower lip was trembling. Hikari felt a wave of pity for the girl.
"What's your name?" Hikari asked, trying to mimic Mother's soothing tone.
The girl looked at her, wide eyed. "Maiha," the girl said.
Hikari inclined her head. "Hi, Maiha. I'm Hikari. Do you mind telling me what's going on here?"
Maiha hesitated. "The king said to get you ready," her eyes dropped.
Hikari shifted, going towards one of the bags on the ground, in hopes there were food or water in them. She found a bottle of water, setting herself on it almost immediately. She drained it down. Plain water never tasted so sweet. She looked over Maiha. She looked withdrawn, yet watched Hikari without blinking.
Hikari dropped the water bottle on the ground, rummaging through the bag for something to eat. She found some, sat down on the ground, and ate without tact.
She pushed the empty food container away, rummaging into the bag, wishing she could find another bottle of water to wash the food down with. No luck in the first bag. She pulled one of the other two bags over, and managed to find a larger jug of water in one. She went to drink from it.
"Stop, princess," Maiha gasped.
Hikari still took a drink from it anyway, albeit a smaller one than she planned. "What? Why?" she asked, wondering just how much of a savage she looked like to this little demoness. "And I'm not a princess."
Maiha stepped over to her, trembling like a leaf. "That water is supposed to be used for you to wash up. You can't drink it."
"Wash up? For what?" Hikari asked, nose twitching. Things were getting suspicious. Maiha stamped her feet on the ground. "What's the matter?" Hikari asking softly.
Maiha looked down. "I'm not supposed to tell you anything..." she said glumly. "Just to get you ready."
Hikari studied the girl and then shrugged her shoulders. "Alright, get me ready then," she said permissively. She went over to one of the empty chairs, sat down, and waited.
Maiha came over to her, sitting the jug of water by Hikari's feet. She dug out soap and two towels out of the bag. "Princess,... you should undress," she said shyly.
Hikari turned up her nose at that idea at first, but thought it best second. "Do not call me princess, do not look, and do not help me." She wanted to take care of herself by herself.
"Yes..." Maiha said, going over to the cot. She grabbed the third bag, digging a new set of clothes out of it for Hikari.
"...my lady," Hikari advised. She set to cleaning herself up. She avoided touching the ward around her neck. All the while wondering at what would be happening when she was ready and done with. Maiha was going to be too sheepish to answer questions, but Hikari tried another tactic to get information. "You're from one of the nomadic tribes, in the Northeast, aren't you?" she asked.
Maiha was not looking at her, but rather seemed fixated on the straightening out the clothes from the third bag. "Yes..."
"The wood demons' tribe?" Hikari pressed carefully.
"Yes..." Maiha answered.
"I haven't been up there in years," Hikari started conversationally. "It was a far trip and I hated it. Mother insisted I go meet the tribal leaders to show I meant them no harm as their new lady and they could be autonomous under my leadership... blah blah blah... I was like six or seven and Mother told me everything I should say and when to say it and how to say it. How have the tribes fared these past ten years or so?"
Maiha made no answer, but Hikari did hear her break out a sob. Hikari looked over at her. Maiha stood still, arms wrapped around her middle. The poor thing looked like she was trying not to cry.
Hikari finished toweling herself off, wrapped the biggest towel around her, and stepped over to Maiha. She put her hand on the Maiha's shoulder. Maiha flinched at her touch, stepping away from Hikari.
"He said you sent him... and that if I anger you in here, you'll burn me," Maiha choked out.
Hikari clicked her teeth. She took the clothes from the chair, changing into them. Not quite her style, but clean. She put her hair up into a bun towards the top of her head. Once the ward was off, it would be safe from her fire dragon that way. She spoke, trying to soothe the girl."I don't even know he was alive until he took me. Or even who was until like last night or yesterday or something like that. As for burn you, I can't do anything with the annoying ward stuck to my neck. I hate them. I have it in my mind to destroy every ward in the country." She looked at Maiha. She dropped her voice down to a whisper. "I don't suppose you could remove the ward for me? I could get us out of here if I could access my fire dragon."
"He'll punish me if I did. Or my tribe. What's left of us anyway," Maiha admitted.
Hikari stepped closer to the girl. "What happened to them?"
Maiha seemed to trust her now, rambling out, "he came to us a few years ago, having been overseas he said for nearly three decades. Amassing his treasures and wealth. He said he was the future king of Hayato. He said the prince and king were mismanaging the country, so he would save it, starting with us. That he was your grandfather and you were on his side. That you were the Lady of Alaric and were supporting him in this en devour behind your parents' back. So then you would be queen after him. He told us if we were loyal to him, we would be rewarded generously one day.
"The wolf tribe joined him first. Then a few others. Mine didn't... Most of my tribe is gone now, slaughtered. The rest of us are enslaved to serve him and the wolf tribe. They were the biggest tribe. He made them his own personal army. They're the ones who found these caves near the Alaric Castle. He put his shield around it so now one would know we were here. He kept a skeleton crew here, biding his time for a planned attack. Then his spy in the capital told him the prince was staying here. He wants the prince. Likely to hold hostage and make the king come for him."
"What shield?" Hikari asked.
"That's his mental ability. He can shield a fairly big area from anyone sensing who or what is in it," Maiha explained. "I can't even sense you now, my lady, even though you are standing right here in front of me."
Hikari frowned at that. "That would explain why I can't sense anyone." She asked Maiha again. "Can you take this ward off my neck, please?"
Maiha shook her head. "He'll know I did it," she squeaked.
Hikari did not press the issue as the girl seemed really scared. She would have to bid her time and wait for a chance to get the ward off her neck.
Both of them jumped when the sound of the door opened. In came the elf, looking regal and giddy. A small, circlet crown rested on his clean shaven head. The sight of him spooked Maiha, who looked down to the ground.
"Lovely," the elf said, staring at her. He waltzed over to her.
Maiha retreated farther into the room, going over by the cot. She started to make the bed of sorts by throwing the one blanket over it.
Hikari stood stock still as he approached her. He stopped in front of her, a bit closer than she liked. "Your hair should be down though, to cover up that ward from plain sight, just in case." He moved swifter than she expected, reaching his hands around her head and making her hair tumble down over her shoulders. She did her best not to flinch away from his touch.
"I prefer my hair up," she said weakly.
"The ward was a precaution, but it might upset someone or someones to see it. Best to hide it for now." He arranged her hair around her shoulders and neck to hide the ward. "You're invaluable. Without you, I would have none of this. The elvish-demonic nomadic tribes alliance. Your father, from what I heard of him, would never understand. Your mother is neither an elf nor a demon, and won't have a role in our future. But you're the oldest, and both an elf and a demon. And a lady. I can build off of that. Use it to become king. And one day, when you're older, you'll become queen." His hand dug in his pocket. "All those tear gems lead to a lot of wealth, but I saved one." He pulled out a necklace with a tear gem tied on the end of it. She kept herself still as he tied it around her neck. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have the prince within my grasp. I have waited years for this opportunity. We're going to be separated for a while, but if you can prove to be loyal, I'll get you back. Think you can handle that?"
"Of course," she lied, too scared to say anything else.
He smiled down at her proudly. He pulled her in for a big hug. She hugged him back, making herself do so. "Let's go, princess," he said, taking her by the hand to lead her out of the room.
Hikari let him lead her out of the room. She stole one last glance at Maiha, who was forgotten about by him. Hikari winked at her. Maiha watched her go.
The elf lead her down a tunnel light by torch after torch. His pace was either too fast for her, or she was still too weak from not eating or drinking for several hours. Her stomach did feel a little upset. He reached a squad of wolf demons, soldiers, not bandits, as they thought. The elf greeted them, talking with the head one, Okami. Hikari listened in quietly, finding out Okami was the head of the elf's guard, a general of a sort.
After speaking with the wolf demon soldiers, the elf lead them out of the caves. Hikari blinked up at the sunlight, eyes smarting. She looked around the forest they entered into. She thought it felt vaguely familiar.
"Keep up, princess," the elf told her, pulling her faster along next to him.
"Where are we going?" she huffed out, a little ashamed of how she struggled to keep up with him.
The elf stopped abruptly, turning to face her. "This might be my one chance to get the prince. I hope you understand that," he pressed. "Your parents and others are scouring the forest for you a lot more intensely than I expected. They can't find my cave base. So I sent them a note agreeing to give you back to them. I don't want to give you up, especially since I only got such a short time with you, but this will help us reach our end goal, trying to remember that." Hikari looked up at him, not sure how to respond to his words. She frowned. "Don't look like that. Don't be too upset with me." He bought all his words, which scared her.
"You'll want to get me back?" she asked, drawing her words out slowly and carefully.
"Oh course," he smiled down at her. "You're the princess and my heir."
Hikari looked down at the ground. She nodded glumly, pretending to be sad-ish. He turned and kept them walking at their brisk pace. She could not him to carry out that plan. She had to reach her parents, get away from him, and tell them everything. She studied the forest around her, looking back towards the cave entrance they came out of. She had to remember all that. Every tree, every rock, every bush, every blade of grass. Then they could go free Maiha, and who ever else was enslaved in the caves.
"Come on, princess, keep moving. We have to make it to our destination in time," the elf huffed.
Hikari looked up at her. They must have been late or about to be late for the meeting up with her parents. He was not happy about it either. This would throw him off. She took a risk and dropped, pretending to faint.
He dragged her by the hand for a a few steps before he stopped. "Princess Hikari, get up," he ordered shortly. She closed her eyes, laying there, pretending to be unconscious. He pinched her forearm unexpectedly. She winced at that. "You're awake, so you're fine. Get up," he ordered.
"I can't," she breathed out. "Too tired... too hungry... too thirsty..."
"Too human," one of the wolf demon soldiers grumbled.
"Keep your mouth shut," the elf ordered. "Princess," he strained out. "Princess, we can't stop. We can't be late."
Hikari nodded as best she could from the ground. She knew the longer she delayed, the more flustered the elf would be, and the better position her parents who have against this psychotic bastard. She pushed her upper half off the ground, started to stand, but let her legs give out beneath her. She breathed as deeply and rapidly as she could. She hoped her decision to fake weak would not stop her from being given back to her parents.
"It's all that little sprite's fault," the elf said. "I bet that little girl didn't even feed you."
Hikari realized he was referring to Maiha. "She did," she rushed out. "She did. She begged me to eat. I think I ate too much. I feel weak, and my stomach hurts," she pouted thickly.
The elf snapped his fingers. "Okami, pick her up and carry her. Gently," he ordered.
"No, I should walk," Hikari started, trying not to look too miraculously better as she tried to get up.
Okami was already looming over her. He scooped her up in his arms, and held her up in the princess carry. Hikari's nose wrinkled. He smelled like a wet dog that had been water logged for too long. She would have to endure it.
"Let's pick up the pace," the elf said. "We cannot be late. I won't tolerate it."
The elf took off jogging, with Okami and the other wolves not far behind him. Hikari wondered if actual her weakness had originally slowed them down, but her fake weakness lead her to be carried, so they were going swiftly now. She wondered now if she should not have faked weakness.
"Almost there," the elf said, stopping himself before entering the clearing near that farm house Hikari and the others had fought a couple of the wolf demons weeks ago. He stepped over to Hikari in Okami's arms. "Princess, you need to walk now. You cannot appear to weak right now."
Hikari thought about it. She could keep up the fake weak act or she could stop pretending to be weak, get out of Okami's arms, and get back to her parents as soon as possible. She made a decision, biting on the side of her tongue with her canine teeth. It hurt, making her eyes water.
"I can't," she said, blinking rapidly to make it look like she was ready to tear up. "Please don't be upset with Maiha for this."
"Who?" the elf asked. "Ah, that sprite child." He swore. He waved his finger in her face. "We'll have to carry her. Make sure when you see your parents get you back, you tell them them that little bitch is the reason you don't feel well. Let's go. We're late as it is."The elf lead their way into the clearing.
Hikari wished she could sense someone, anyone. The elf lead the way into the clearing in front of the abandoned farm house. She could hardly see around him as Okami kept his distance behind the elf. She certainly saw Brother, the prince, half of Father, and half of Mother. It took everything in her willpower not to jump out of Okami's arms and run over to them.
The elf called out, "sorry we're a little late-" he began.
"What did you did to my daughter?!" Mother shouted across the clearing, cutting him off.
The elf bristled. Louder, he said, "Sorry we're late. She isn't feeling well, she-"
"Why?!" Mother roared.
Hikari felt a strange tickle in her head. Father was in her mind. 'I'm okay,' she thought. 'I'm faking it.' Father said nothing back, but she could feel him moving him around in her mind. She thought about everything she went through in the past... she wasn't sure how long she had been held captive.
'Two days,' Father's voice said.
Meanwhile, the elf had answered Mother. "She was fed too much by a disloyal demon. I'll be sure the child be punished for her mistreatment."
'Don't let him hurt Maiha,' Hikari pleaded to Father.
"If it happened under your watch, it's your fault," Mother accused.
The elf bristled more. He snapped his fingers at Okami. "I grow bored of this. Return her," her ordered.
"I can walk," Hikari rushed. "I can walk." She slipped her way out of Okami's arms. Then she remembered to look weak. She faked unsteady on her feet.
"That's not what overfed looks like," Mother commented harshly.
"Just hurry with this," the elf said. "Go to your mother," he ordered her. She walked on, but he stopped her when she walked slowly passed him. He clamped a hand down on her shoulder. He leaned his head down and whispered in her ear, "it's only temporary, princess."
Hikari forced herself to walk slowly towards her family, save her younger brother, and the prince. She heard the elf snap his fingers. Okami was walking a few paces behind her. She looked back at him, wanting him to stay away from her.
She was walking slow on purpose, trying to keep herself calm. She looked over at her family and the prince. Mother took two steps forward, but Izo stayed her with a hand on her forearm. Father was staring behind her, hardly blinking. The prince drew a steeling breath. He stepped forward briskly towards her. He coming to get her.
The prince reached her about half way between the two groups. He stopped in front of her. "Have you been hurt?" he asked her, looking her over.
"I- not too much," she answered.
He was studying her, eyes resting on her neck. "Why's there a ward on your neck?" the prince snarled.
Without another word, he stepped up to her and ripped the ward off her neck. He looked over at the elf, tearing the ward half. Hikari breathed a sigh of relief to feel her fire dragon again. She felt the temptation to round on Okami, but she would not risk it. It was better if this return of herself to her family did not start a fight.
"Let's just go back," she said to the prince. She started walking towards her Mother, but noticed the prince stayed still. "Takashi?" she breathed. The prince did not say anything. "Takashi," she said, grabbing his hand and tugging on it.
The prince said nothing, but turned around to face her. He pulled her in close. She saw him bend down, so she arched her neck up towards him. He kissed her. He pulled away too soon. She looked up at him, blinking and perplexed. She pushed herself up onto the balls of her feet, kissing him this time.
"Enough!" the elf shouted. "I thought you said you hated him! Okami, get him over here and to me."
The prince pulled away from her, pushing her gently away from him. He turned around, walking towards Okami. "Wait. What are doing?" she asked, not quite sure what was going on. Hikari heard someone moving behind her. She looked back just long enough to see Mother jogging over towards them. "Takashi, what are you doing?"
Mother reached her. "Hikari, just come back with me, right now, please," Mother pleaded as she took her hand, trying to pull her back with her.
Hikari turned around to face Mother, shaking her hand out of her grip. "What is going on?" she felt her voice go tight.
Takashi walked over to Okami, refusing to look back. Okami took Takashi's hands, yanking them behind his back. Okami produced the same rope with draining wards that had once been used on Hikari. He tied Takashi's hands behind his back.
"I'm trading him for you," the elf called out to her. "See the big picture, remember?"
Hikari's brain caught up. Takashi was being traded for her. The elf would use him as bait to lure the king, to kill them both. "No!" Hikari protested.
"Hikari, please," Mother said next to her. "He's letting you go, but only if we go right now." She grabbed her arm firmly, squeezing hard.
"I can't, no, not without him," Hikari protested. Okami was starting to lead Takashi over towards the elf.
Mother looked up, and back over at Father. "Hikari, we have to go. Now," she hissed. She did her best to shove Hikari towards Father and Izo.
"Wait a second," the elf said. "My note specifically said bring her family and the prince for the trade." He snapped his fingers three times. The wolf demon soldiers behind him drew their swords from their belts.
Mother shot a glance at Father. She looked back over to the elf. "We did," she countered.
Hikari was still struggling to get away from her. Okami had started to march over to the elf with Takashi.
"How many grandchildren do I have?" the elf asked, with a smirk.
Mother gave Hikari a shove towards Father. Her wind dragon was on her neck and in her hands as an ax in a second. She put herself in front of Hikari. "Hikari, run. Now!" she ordered.
Hikari took the chance, running not towards Father, but around Mother and towards Okami. She had her fire dragon around her neck, ignoring the smell of burning hair. She had it down in her hand as a sword, going after Okami. Okami shoved Takashi towards the other wolf demons. Takashi stumbled and fell to the ground. Okami drew his sword from his side.
Everything next seemed to happen so fast. Hikari reached Okami, engaging in a sword fight with him. The elf ran towards them first, sword drawn and heading straight for Takashi on the ground where he had been shoved. Mother moved fast. She jumped in front of Takashi, blocking the elf's sword as he swung it down at the prince.
Other wolf demons started coming towards them, but she heard Father shout and then send his black hellfire dragon after the lot of them, cutting them off from the rest of them first, and rounding on them and burning them to a crisp second. Hikari heard Mother cry out. She spared a glance over at her, seeing she was fine, holding her own against the elf. She looked frightened though, wide eyed in terror. She was backing away from the remaining hellfire flames smoldering on the grass nearby. Hikari turned her attention back to Okami, trying to use her small stature against him. She glanced back to check on Father, knowing an attack like that surely would exhaust him as much as it would spook. Izo had Father leaning against him, he looked about ready to pass out.
All the while, Takashi was shouting, "untie me! Someone untie me! I can help!"
Hikari had been watching the others too much instead of watching Okami. He ducked down around her, hand swooping over the ground. She charged after him, ready to plunge her sword down on him. He dodged her blade, slamming into her. He would have knocked her down had he not have grabbed her and pulled her against him in time. He had a piece of the ward in hand. He pressed it against her neck, sending shock wave after shock wave through her. It was too painful for her to even scream. Her fire dragon returned to its slim form, raced up her neck, and back underneath her skin. Only then did the pain stop. Okami held her against his chest. His left hand held the ward piece on the left side of her neck. His head loomed over her right shoulder. His sword was pressed against her torso, ready to slice across it at a moment's notice.
"I knew you faking being that weak," Okami growled in her ear.
Hikari stayed still, watching the others, and watching for a chance to break free from Okami. Mother was still fighting protectively in front of the prince, swinging her ax with at the elf, trying to protect the prince.
"Kill him!" Father called out as loud as he could from Izo's arms. "Get the prince," he panted over at Izo. He shoved Izo away, but sank to his knees on the ground.
"What?" Mother called back, not taking her eyes off of the elf.
Izo ran towards Takashi, grabbing him and dragging him away from Mother and the elf. Once at enough of a distance, he busily untied the prince's hands.
"Nanashi, quit holding back and kill him," Father said from the ground. He was fighting to stay conscience. "Do it now!"
"But he's-" Mother responded.
"I know what he is, you... to..." Father was visibly shaking. He slumped his head down on the ground.
Mother rounded at the elf, coming at him harder. She wanted to kill him. Now that Takashi was out of her way, she was moving more freely. She swung her ax over and over at him, making him back away.
"Okami, if I die, kill Hikari!" the elf yelled over to Okami. Mother paused her swings, standing at the ready to start attacking again. The elf laughed in her face. "You won't touch me now," he threw at her. He charged at her now, with Mother only trying to keep herself from being hurt.
Then an arrow shot passed Mother's head, passing straight through the elf's throat. Hikari turned to see Takashi with his conjured up bow and arrow. He shot another arrow towards her and Okami, slicing along the outside of Okami's right hand with perfect precision. Okami dropped the sword he was holding against her.
Takashi held another arrow knocked and aimed at Okami. "Let her go, surrender, and you can live," he offered Okami.
Okami growled next to her, "you killed my king." He brought his mouth down on the right side of Hikari's neck and right shoulder, digging his teeth into her.
She screamed as loud as she could. Takashi's arrow launched, piercing Okami through the eye. Once he died, his body slumped, bringing her down with him.
Mother rushed over to her pulling her away from his body. "Izo! Heal her!" Mother called over to Izo.
Hikari felt like it was starting to get harder to breathe and that her front and back were soaking wet and sticky. She thought she heard the sound of bird wings.
Izo was down next to her. He raised his hands over her, but paused. "The wounds, she needs medicine for it first," he said, tapping against his pockets.
Hikari watched as he pulled out the vial that held an herbal solution to help fight infections. Usually he would give it to who ever he healed. He shook the vial, eyes going wide. He opened the vial, peering inside of it.
"Izo, she's bleeding pretty badly," Mother pleaded.
"I didn't top it up... I forgot to top it up," Izo said. "When you got shot in the shoulder, I just, I didn't..." He threw the vial away from himself in a short fit. He bent down over Hikari, healing her anyway. "We have to get her to Asa right away for medicine," Izo said, yanking her up. Hikari felt her stomach roll as Izo hoisted her onto his back in a fireman carry.
Mother was quick to take charge. "Get her to Asa then, as fast as you can. Prince Takashi," she called over to Takashi. "Get Hiei and get him back to the castle as well. He'll be fine, but he won't be awake for awhile." Mother had her wind dragon out, but as a set of dragon wings on her back. "I'm going to fly ahead to the castle, get as many people as I can, and make for those caves."
"What caves?" Takashi asked her, bewildered.
"The caves Ichiro had occupied as a base with some more of the wolf demons and slaves from the other tribes. They need rooted out," she ruled.
"How... how do you know that?" Takashi pressed.
"Hiei read about it in Hikari's mind and passed it all to me," Mother answered. "Now get going!"
Mother flew off at that. Then Izo took off running towards the castle with Hikari over his shoulders. Takashi went and grabbed Father, picking him up, and running after her and Izo.
Hikari felt overheated by the time they got to the front of the castle. As they went into the front hall, Hikari noticed about two dozen people waiting out front, a variety of weapons at the ready. Hikari recognized them as some of the castle staff and those in and around the nearby village.
Once they were in the front hall of the castle, Takashi sat Father down on the floor at the first opportunity. He huffed, rolling his shoulders and neck. Izo still held Hikari over his shoulders though. She could see from her vantage point Mother rushing down the stairs with Asa behind her. The two of them ran over to the three of them. Izo slipped Hikari off his shoulders gently. She felt dizzy when he did that.
Asa was over to Hikari, touching her forehead and looking her over. "She's hotter than she normally is. And much paler."
"Asa, you are sure you can handle watching over her and the castle and the prince?" Mother asked.
"What?" Takashi said, stepping closer to Izo. Hikari wished he had stepped over to her instead.
Mother looked at him, at all three of them. "I flew ahead and gathered some others together. Hiei read Hikari's and... and Ichiro's mind... I know about the caves he was garrisoned at. I know how many of them there are loyal to him, or enslaved by him. If we go now, we can catch them by surprise and root them out. I'll lead the charge. Asa will stay and guard the castle just in case something happens. Hikari is to weak to fight and might be ill, so she stays. Prince Takashi is too valuable. Ichiro might be dead, but the his followers might still want to kill him. Izo, I need you with me as a healer."
"What?" Takashi exclaimed.
"No," Izo said calmly.
"I can fight still," Hikari protested.
Mother blinked, not sure who to respond to first. Izo started before she could. "No, I should stay. Asa needs to watch after Hikari. I will take command of the castle instead."
Mother nodded at him. "Okay. Then I need to get going," she stated. She started to turn to head for the door.
"My angel, you are not going without me," Takashi stated confidently.
Mother turned a fierce gaze on him. "No, you can't. Ichiro wants you and your father dead. His men might still try to kill you."
He was bristling. "I am the prince of this nation. I will not hide within some castle walls and let you fight my battles for me."
"But-" Mother started.
"No buts," he stated a bit rudely. "I'm going with you. If something happens to me now anyway, Ichiro is dead. Jiro is still alive. So is Shura, and so is Hikari. If I die, the monarchy is still safe."
"What?" Hikari asked, not quite tracking. She started to feel tired of standing. She leaned against Izo.
Takashi looked over at her. "The line of succession. After my father, it's me, Jiro, Jiro's son Shura, and then you and your brothers. When my father offered to put your father in the line of succession, he turned it down."
"Oh," Hikari said, feeling suddenly woozy. She wished Izo would put her on his shoulders again. She leaned harder against him.
Asa stepped over to her. "You need to lay down as soon as possible."
"And we need to go as soon as as possible," Takashi told Mother. "You know the route and you know all about the caves, so you lead us, you lead the way."
Mother looked nervous, but nodded. She turned to both Izo and Hikari. "As soon as your father awakens, tell him what happened and if he can, have him join us." She stepped forwarded, kissing both of them on the forehead. "I love you both, and will be back as soon as I can." She looked over at Takashi. "Let's go," she nodded at him.
Hikari watched the two of them run out of the castle. She did notice Takashi give her a quick glance before going through the front door.
"You better come back, vain boy," she called after him.