Chapter Seven

The Lost Prince of Thesselle

Kyo and Hatsuharu quickly drew their swords as they cautiously looked out into the darkness. Yuki had his bow ready with three arrows on his left hand while Momiji on the other hand was blissfully asleep, unaware of what just happed.

"Wake up you idiot!" Kyo muttered as he kicked him on the foot. Momiji let out a yelp and instantly woke up. "Trust an idiot like you to sleep through a situation like this" He muttered under his breath. Momiji looked as if he was about to cry.

"Fire is not allowed in the forest" The voice muttered.

"Who are you?" Yuki yelled. "Show yourself!"

Girlish laughter eerily filled the air and the ground started shaking. Out of nowhere a horse, the colour of night appeared from in between the trees. The horse let out an enraged neigh and slowly the horse started changing. Bright coloured lights, the colour of blue and black started surrounding the horse until it was completely engulfed by it. Slowly the lights started fading and instead of a horse stood a beautiful young girl with black hair that flowed past her hips and dark brown eyes. She slowly stood up with a hostile on her face. On her right hand she held a silver coloured spear that was giving off dangerous sparks.

"Fire is not allowed in the forest of Gedrallef" She whispered. She took a step forward towards them as she swung her spear dangerously to intimidate them. "It will defile the forest and anyone who defiles the forest must die" She said with finality. She gave a leap and vanished into the trees. The whole forest was silent as Yuki, Kyo, Hatsuharu and Momiji clustered together in a protective circle. The leaves on the trees rustled and there was a cry. The girl was leaping down at Hatsuharu, her spear held in one arm, ready to slash him. Yuki, Kyo and Momiji both took out their weapons when thick green vines started wrapping themselves around them.

"Hatsuharu!" The three of them yelled as they struggled to escape the steel like grip of the vines that encased them. The girl heard this and smiled a mysterious smile as she crouched down into the ground, her spear was poised high in the air, ready to strike. Hatsuharu eyed her warily as he slowly unsheathed his double edged swords. Then without warning the girl struck. She moved faster than lightning as she swung her spear towards Hatsuharu, he quickly parried it and the sound of metal against metal filled the air as the two continued their dangerous dance of death. He attacked, she countered, she attacked and he dodged. It was like a never ending dance that could only lead to death. The girl had the advantage over range since Hatsuharu couldn't go anywhere near her without the risk of losing his head. He finally breached through her defenses and he struck her in the stomach. A huge gash was made and blood started pouring out of the wound. The girl watched the blood flow with a mysterious smile on her face. She placed her hand on her stomach and looked at her hand in awe as blood started dripping down her fingertips.

"I bleed…" She whispered, looked at him and smiled. "You are a worthy opponent" She mumbled. "Too bad you're a human" She said. The girl looked at her wound and it the wound started closing. "And a defiler of the forest" She finished.

"What are you?" Hatsuharu asked. The girl coolly looked at him in the eyes before replying.

"You don't need to know" She whispered. She was about to attack again when the bleating sound of sheep filled the air. "No…" She whispered angrily. From behind the trees sheep started appearing, big and small, young and old. They watched Hatsuharu and the girl; their huge brown eyes were filled with interest. There was a huge gust of wind and out of nowhere a huge lightning ball filled with electricity struck the girl squarely on the stomach; the blow sent her flying a few meters away. The girl lay sprawled on the hard forest floor, her body crackling with electricity from the lightning ball that was shot towards her. She slowly picked herself up and wiped away the trickles blood that were accumulating in her lips.

"Show yourself you coward!" The girl yelled as she looked around her surrounding wildly. She was only greeted by silence. There was another blast and the girl was sent flying in the air again. She quickly stood up, transformed into a horse and ran away. It was no use fighting an enemy that you can't see. Hatsuharu stood there, his forehead furrowed into a frown. What's with her? But most of all what is she? He thought before he went to help Yuki, the orange head and the blond from breaking free from the vines that bonded them. Hatsuharu tried to cut the vines using his sword but whenever he managed to cut a single piece of vine a new one would grow. HE was starting to get frustrated, neither might nor magic could break the vines.

"How do you get rid of these blasted vines?" He angrily asked himself.

"You ask them politely to let go of your friends" A boyish voice from behind him replied. Hatsuharu quickly turned around and saw that it was from a blond boy about the age of twelve. The boy was carrying a shepherd's staff in his hand, just beside him stood a ram with horns that went in circles.

"Who are you?" Hatsuharu asked suspiciously. The boy simply ignored him as if he didn't hear him.

"Can you please let go of his friends?" The boy asked in a fake sugary sweet voice. There was a slight glow and the vines slowly started unwinding themselves around Yuki, Kyo and Momiji. The three fell down on the ground with a loud thud.

"That hurt" Yuki quietly said to himself. Kyo heard this and he sneered. Yuki ignored him.

"Are you okay my prince?" Hatsuharu asked in a worried voice. Yuki nodded in reply.

"Thanks" Hatsuharu gratefully told the boy. "What's your name?"

"What makes you think that you have the right to know my name? Do you actually think that you're worthy enough for me to tell you? Sheesh! I hate people like that! They think that they have so much authority just because they're older!" Hatsuharu looked at the boy in shock. What caused him to change all of a sudden? Maybe he has mental problems. Hatsuharu thought to himself. "But since you beat Rin, the wind guardian I think that you're worthy enough to know my name. I'm Hiro, Hiro Sohma. One of the guardians guarding this forest and don't you dare forget that"

"You're the lost prince of Thesselle. The only son of lady Satsuki" Yuki silently whispered.

"Of course I am! Don't I look like a prince? Besides you're wrong about me being the only child. I heard from very reliable sources that my mom just gave birth to a baby girl. I think her name's Hinata" Hiro finished. "Anyway what makes you think that I am not a prince? Don't I look princely enough?" He asked angrily. Such attitude. Kyo thought annoyed. And to think that he's still so young. He must be a pain once he grows up.

"You do" Yuki hastily added even though the boy before him was dressed in an unrecognizable garb. "It's just that the eldest prince of the kingdom of Thesselle ran away from home five years ago. They never found him, only his cape torn into shreds" Hiro simply shrugged.

"Well, since you obviously know who I am tell me who you are" Hiro told him but it was more like a command.

"My name is Yuki, Yuki Sohma" Yuki replied in a formal, regal voice.

"The youngest prince of the kingdom of Filore" Hiro said with a nod "And who are you?" He asked Kyo with a raised eyebrow as he eyed his worn out tunic and faded boots. Kyo's cheeks turned red with anger as he watched Hiro continue his rude inspection.

"Kyo Sohma" He replied.

"A peasant no doubt" Hiro added as he continued his rude inspection. Kyo angrily lunged at him but failed when Momiji quickly grabbed him on the waist.

"Remember that he saved our life Kyo!" Momiji yelled at the top of his lungs as Kyo tried to get free from his grip. Kyo grunted a reply before effortlessly throwing Momiji off his back and sulkily walking away.

"Touchy isn't he?" Hiro asked. "Yuki-san since you and your friends are lost in this forest I will gladly offer my helping hand. It's not safe for travelers to travel alone here in the forest and besides without I don't think you'll be able to get out here alive"

"Why?" Yuki asked in reply. Hiro gave him an exasperated look in return.

"Man, you're dense and to think that you're a prince. There are three other guardians in this forest, sisters; unlike me they don't like having strangers around. They're the main reason why most travelers come in the forest but never come out but if I'm with your group you will all be safe"

"Why?" Yuki asked.

"Sheesh! Is why the only word you can say?" Hiro asked heatedly. "I'm just one of the guardians. The three trust the strangers I accompany and therefore they won't harm you" He finished.

"I'm tired" Momiji yawned before curling up into a ball. "Sleepy…" He whispered before dozing off.

"I guess everyone's tired and wants to rest" Hiro said with a sigh.

"It's cold tonight" Yuki shivered.

"Don't worry I'll keep the air warm" Hiro reassured him as he pointed his staff to the air.

"But-"

"I don't need sleep" Hiro replied. "I'm used to sleepless nights. Besides even if I do fall asleep my sheep can sleep around you and your friends in a circle to keep you warm"

"Thank you" Yuki said before dozing off.

Hatsuharu lay down on the hard forest floor and closed his eyes. So her name's Rin. He thought with a slight smile on his face. He didn't know why but he just couldn't keep her out of his head. She was the most beautiful and toughest woman he's met. It was funny since in his head Hatsuharu had always thought that beautiful women were weak and strong women were ugly. It looks like I'm wrong. He thought with a smile. I hope I'll meet her again. Hatsuharu fell asleep with a smile plastered on his face.

It was in the middle of the night and Kyo couldn't go to sleep. It smells too much of sheep. Kyo thought, wrinkling his nose with disgust. Unable to stand it any longer he got up, picked up his swords and went on a stroll. Tohru. He thought, looking up at the skies.

"I'm coming Tohru" Kyo whispered to the skies. "I'm coming"

From the corner of his eye Kyo spotted a movement nearby the bushes. He quickly unsheathed his sword before cautiously approaching the bushes. A figure emerged from the bushes and ran away. Kyo momentarily froze on the spot. It was a girl with long chocolate brown hair and doe brown eyes; she was the very picture of Tohru. Kyo chased after the girl, forgetting everything that his Sensei, Kazuma-dono had told him, that some magical creatures used their power of shape shifting to lure unwary prey.

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So sorry for the long update. I was very busy because of school work and also because of my piano recital (thank goodness it's over). I would like to thank Kenya DarkKyo, faeryespell, A Hopeful Face and a Smile, the-everglow, littleduck and Fan999123 for reviewing, thanks everyone.