Yukino didn't notice exactly when they passed into the Earth Realm, but one moment she looked down and there was snow and the next there was slush.

"Are we there yet?"

"No. And don't start with that."

"Okay." She grinned internally and let a few moments pass. She opened her mouth.

"Don't even ask it." He snapped.

"Damn." It's no fun to travel with someone who can read your mind.

Is it your life goal to drive me insane?

There's nothing better to do out here.

How about not getting killed? Kasai pointed to three griffins, two of whom were staring at them.

The two attacked. Yukino threw ice at one, temporarily throwing it off course. The other one attacked Kasai, managing to scratch his arm. The two met again in mid air, a sword appearing in Kasai's hand. There was a short tussle, but Kasai managed to cut it in half.

He turned quickly to Yukino, expecting her to be in trouble, but saw her lounging against an ice statue that used to be a griffin.

"Have fun?" She asked.

The last griffin lunged and was turned into an ice sculpture mid air. It fell and shattered into a million pieces.

Kasai blinked. "Nice."

"Thank you."

They continued, the sword disappearing again.

"Hey, how do you do that?"

"What?"

"The appearing, disappearing sword trick."

He shrugged. "It comes with being what I am."

"A fire elemental?"

He blinked innocently. "Didn't I tell you? I'm a demon."

"Touché." She smiled a little. "I suppose I should have thought of it when you mentioned your age. You weren't kidding with that then?"

"No. I really am that old."

"Don't worry grandpa. I'll take care of you." She grinned at him.

"Brat." He grinned back, and this time she noted the slight fangs hanging out of his mouth.

She loped her arm through his, leaning her head on him. "This has to be the weirdest group I've ever heard of, and there's only two of us so far."

"What is a normal group when it comes to these adventures?"

"I'm not quite sure, but I'll lay odds it doesn't include opposing elements."

He chuckled and they kept walking.


By the time the slush turned to green grass, Yukino had fallen behind Kasai and was slowing down. She wrapped her cloak around her tighter, clinging to the small amount of cold it offered her.

Kasai turned to her with a sigh. "What's wrong?"

"I… don't feel good." She fell to her knees.

He knelt next to her, feeling her forehead and pushing her hair out of her face. "It's just the change from the Ice Realm to the Earth Realm finally affecting you."

She leaned against him. "I feel like crap."

"I know." He picked her up, letting her head rest on his shoulder. "Just go to sleep. It will be easier for you."

"Okay." She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes. Knowing he could still here her, she thought: Kasai's pretty strong for an old guy. Hot too.

As she fell asleep, she could feel him slowly turning red.


When she awoke, she had been placed in a bed, her boots and daggers on the floor next to her. Thankfully, her cloak was still on her, offering her a little bit of coldness. A glance out the window showed it to be night outside.

Yawning, she rolled out of bed and walked to the door where she could hear the soft murmur of voices. She pushed open the door and peered out through the crack.

Kasai sat at a table with an elderly man who looked like an elf. They had cups in front of them and a third cup sat before the last empty place.

The elf looked up and smiled at her. "Ah, you're awake!"

Kasai turned and sent her a small smile. "Hey. Feeling better?"

"Hullo." She moved into the room and slid into the empty chair. "I'm feeling a little better."

"Here." The elf pushed the drink to her. "This has a potion in it that will help you feel better."

"Yay." She drank, immediately feeling the effect of the potion. "Thank you very much!"

"You're welcome." He smiled at him. "I'm called Elder, and I'm the leader of this village. Lord Kasai and I were just discussing how we might find the Princess."

"Any ideas?" She asked.

Kasai grinned a little. "I could go around and shake peoples hands. Whoever doesn't die is the princess."

She blanched. "Killing people is bad, Kasai."

"Are you sure?"

YES!

He fell over. "There's no need to yell."

Elder looked between the two. "Right. I had a plan. I thought that perhaps we could spread the news around that there is a Prince here looking for someone to marry. Lady Yukino could pose as an advisor and screen the girls before they come in."

"You want me to go out and shake people's hands?"

"Yes. It's better than having Lord Kasai do it."

"That's true." She paused for a moment in thought. "How will me touching them affect them and me."

Elder thought a moment before he spoke. "With the potion it shouldn't affect you at all. As for them, it will make the girls feel slightly nauseous, but they'll be fine."

"That sounds fine." Kasai sat back with a happy smile.

"I can do that." Yukino nodded.

"Good." Elder smiled at both of them. "Now, we should sleep. Lady Yukino, your bed in the room you just left. Lord Kasai, your bedroom is over there."

"Where are you going to sleep?" Kasai asked.

"On the couch."

"Oh no you don't. I'm not putting anyone out of their bed."

Yukino opened her mouth to speak.

"You're sleeping in there Yuki." Kasai said, glaring at Elder.

"Nonsense my boy. You're sleeping in the guest bedroom."

Kasai opened his mouth to argue back.

"I'll just be going to bed then, shall I?" Yukino backed out of the room, leaving the two to argue over sleeping arrangements.


Yukino awoke the next morning to the sound of Kasai crying out. "Why'd you kick me?" He yelled.

"It's time to get up." Elder said happily.

"I don't want to." Kasai groaned.

There was the sound of a body hitting the floor, and Kasai crying out again in pain.

"Up!" Elder said, still sounding overly cheery.

Yukino decided to get up before he could kick her out of bed.

She changed clothes, and was struggling with the zipper on her dress when there was a knock on the door. "Just a minute!" She called, franticly trying to pull it up. The damn thing seemed to be stuck.

The door opened and Kasai stepped in. "Oh good, your up."

She held her back away from him. "Do you know the meaning of the words 'Just a minute'?"

"No." He watched her edge away from him. "What's the problem now?"

"Nothing." She said, freezing.

"Come here."

"I don't want to."

"Woman, come here!"

She slowly moved over to him. He grabbed her shoulders, turned her around and zipped up the dress.

She gasped, feeling a little light headed. The dress was designed as a corset, and was very tight.

He leaned over her to whisper in her ear. "Maybe if you got a different style, you wouldn't have trouble with it."

"This is all they give us at the temple."

"You're not there anymore, are you?"

She turned to glare at him. "Are you going to get me new clothes? Because I sure as hell don't have any money."

"You could raise some. Have people give the Priestess a gold piece every time she swears."

She stuck her tongue out.

"Come on. Elder has breakfast ready."

Yukino followed Kasai out to see Elder laying dishes on the table. "Do you need any help?" She asked.

"No, no. Sit down, child." Elder smiled at her and placed the last dish on the table. The three sat down to eat.

The meal was passed in silence, and all three helped to clear the table. Yukino moved to the door, straightened her dress and cast one last look at the other two.

"Where do I tell the girls to go who aren't the Princess?" She asked.

"I have a group of people over to the side who will help them deal with the nausea." Elder told her.

"Oh." She walked out.

There was a long line of girls in front of the house, leading down the street and almost out of her sight. She sighed, then put on her best smile.

"Thank you all for coming! I'm the Prince's advisor. I just want to ask a few questions before I let you in to see the Prince. So if you could just line up, we'll begin." She looked at the first girl who came up to her and stuck out her hand. "Hi. What's you're name?"

The girl took it, and turned slightly green. "I'm Taylia."

"What makes you more special than some of the other girls?"

"Well…" Taylia paused, holding onto her stomach.

Yukino sighed, still smiling. "Please move over there. We'll let you know if the Prince wants to meet you." She turned to the next girl. "Hi. What's your name?"

That went on for quite sometime.


It was a little past noon, and Yukino's smile was becoming a little strained. If this girl isn't it, I either need a break, or we need a new plan.

"Hi." She said to the brunette before her. "What's your name?"

The girl smiled, shaking her hand. "I'm Tsuchi."

"What makes you more special that some of the other girls here? Why should you meet the Prince?"

"Well…" Tsuchi looked thoughtful. "I actually am not interested in meeting him, I just want to challenge him. I mean, Prince's are supposed to be strong, right?"

"Yeah." Yukino's smile became genuine. "How do you feel? Nauseous?"

"No. Should I?"

"Nope! Wait here a moment." Yukino turned to the long line of women. "Thank you all for coming today! We'll call you if we need to meet any of you again!"

There were several groans of disappointment and the crowd dispersed. Yukino ushered Tsuchi into Elder's house and collapsed against the door, glaring at the two lounging men.

"Problems?" Kasai asked.

"You could have warned me there were so many damn people in this town."

"Oops?"

"On a high note, I found her!" She pushed Tsuchi forward. "Meet Tsuchi. Tsuchi, meet Prince Kasai."

Tsuchi looked between Yukino and Kasai. "That's the Prince?" And she burst out laughing.

Kasai looked like he thought he should be insulted.

"I like her!" Yukino cried happily.

"I hate you all." Kasai said.

"Now, now children. We have much to discuss. Why don't we all have a seat?"

"Elder?" Tsuchi cried.

Elder turned a little red. "Yes, well… Kasai?"

"Don't look at me, I didn't orchestrate this mess."

Yukino sighed. "In short, Tsuchi, you're the Princess of Earth. We have to go collect the Prince?" She paused and waited for Kasai's nod. "The Prince of Air so that we may restore balance to the world."

"I'm not a Princess."

"It's based on a legend." Elder said. "You're only called a Princess, because it means you're a special elemental."

"Oh. Do I have to marry the Prince?"

"No."

"Good." Tsuchi turned to the others. "Who are the two of you?"

"That's Kasai, the Prince of Fire. I'm Yukino, the Princess of Ice."

"Kasai, do you have a girlfriend?"

Kasai turned red while Yukino fell on the floor laughing.

"Yes, damn it!"

"Oh." Tsuchi looked a little disappointed.

Yukino sat up, pouting. "Hey…"

Shut up, Yukino.

Why did you tell her you have a girlfriend when you keep telling me no?

Because I'm sick of getting asked that question!

"Hey Kasai?" Yukino spoke out loud.

"What?"

"Who's your girlfriend?"

"Augh!" Kasai hit his head on the table.

"Perhaps we should call it a day?" Elder said, looking at him and trying not to smile. "After all, Tsuchi needs to pack."

Tsuchi left, promising to be back early tomorrow.


Yukino woke the next morning when the sun reached her face. She dressed, with a little less difficulty than the day before and walked out. The Elder waved at her from the kitchen. Kasai was snoring on the couch.

"Oh, can I wake Kasai up this morning?"

Elder grinned at her. "Go ahead."

Yukino looked at Kasai, sprawled out on his back on the couch. With a wicked grin, she jumped on top of him.

"Oof!" Kasai said, instantly awake.

She grinned at him. "Morning!"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Waking you up. Are you awake?"

"Unfortunately." He grabbed her and flipped them over so he was laying on top of her. "Seriously, what are you doing?"

Marveling in being trapped under you.

He turned red. You're trying to kill me, aren't you?

Maybe. She grinned. So, whose your girlfriend?

"I don't have one!" He rolled off the couch.

"But you told Tsuchi…"

"Never mind what I told Tsuchi. I don't have a girlfriend."

She pouted. "You do. You just don't want to admit it. Who is she?"

"I DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!"

"Are you ready for breakfast?" Elder smiled at them.

Kasai stormed off.

Tsuchi showed up after breakfast, and they got ready to leave. Elder walked them to the edge of the village where they said goodbye to him. He pulled Yukino to the side and spoke to her as the others went ahead.

"Lady Yukino, I want you to take this potion with you. It's the same one I gave you earlier. If you ever have to go to the fire realm, you may need this. However, it should last for about three weeks."

"Thank you!" She gave Elder a hug and smiled. He returned the smile and waved to them until they were out of sight.

He smiled to no one in particular. "I don't know if I should feel safe, or run for my life."