Chapter Six

AT THE CASTLE

Boris sat on his throne and thought, 'my dear daughter, why have you run away? I thought that every girl would want to be a princess but you…I don't understand. What reason would you have to run away? Was it because of me making you go to the ball with Tyson? Come to think of it, she did have a weird look on her face when I made that announcement. Maybe she ran away because of Tyson or maybe she just wanted to run away. I'm so confused; please daughter you must come back. You're the only one who can take over the throne when I'm gone. Without you this castle and empire will disappear forever. Return to me my daughter, the empire needs you.'

Suddenly a girl about 17, dressed in pink and white walked up to him and kneeled down, "Sire, is there anything I can do for you?" She asked. He shook his head, "Unless you can being my daughter back to me then no." She sighed then said, "I'm so sorry sir. I wish I knew why she ran away then maybe I could have been some help to you."

Boris shook his head and said, "No, you are a big help for this empire. Don't think any less about that my dear Mariah." Mariah nodded then stood up straight, "If you need me sir just call." He nodded then she bowed and walked out of the throne room where all the other maids were waiting.

"Well? Did he need anything?" Mariam asked. "If there is I'll take care of it." Emily offered right away. Mariah shook her head, "He's still too worried about his daughter to even need anything. I'm getting worried about him. I wish there was something we could do." Ming-Ming turned away and said, "If she never returns his highness won't have any use for us and he'll fire us. Then it'll all be her fault."

Mariah gasped, "Don't talk like that! Princess Keomae is a very nice person. She probably ran away for some reason we'll never know but I bet it's a good reason." Ming-Ming hmphed then said, "It had better be." Emily smiled, "Don't worry you guys. She'll come back. No princess could survive that long out in the wilderness for too much longer. I'm surprised she hasn't returned yet. Don't give up hope yet, we'll be getting paid sooner then you think." Everyone nodded then they walked off in different directions.

BACK TO KAI AND KEOMAE

Keomae slowly trailed behind Kai as they walked through the seemly endless mountains. "Man, these mountains are like never ending!" Keomae commented. Kai smirked, "Well they are very long and wide but don't worry. We should be seeing the other side in about another hour or so." "Ugh!" Keomae sighed loudly making Kai laugh. "Oh come on. Smile or something I mean we did make it this far without getting captured or killed. That's got to be a good sign." Kai encouraged her.

Keomae smiled, "You're right Kai. I should be happy. We're almost to our finally destination and once we're there just think, no more worries about being found and being returned to Tyson! Yay!" Kai chuckled again then said, "You really do hate him, don't you?" Keomae crossed her arms over her chest then replied, "Of course. If you knew him the way I do then you'd hate him too. He's not what everyone thinks. He's sick, perverted, and has some major issues."

Kai laughed again then said, "You know, I've never laughed this much in my entire life time. It actually feels good to laugh every once in a while." Keomae smiled and ran up to him and wrapped her arm around his and smiled up at him, "See, I'm good for something." He smirked wickedly and said, "You're good for other things too you know."

Keomae stopped dead in her tracks and let go of his arm and turned away blushing madly. Kai laughed then slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer and said, "I was only kidding but seriously you are good for other things like bandaging wounds and making me blush." Keomae smiled then wrapped an arm around his waist and said, "Yeah. I guess you're right."

They walked like that for about 10 minutes when Kai noticed that the sun was almost gone. 'We'd better pick up the pace or we'll never make it.' He thought grimly. "Uh Keomae, we should really start going faster if we want to make it there before the sun goes down." He said quickly. Keomae looked up at him and stopped dead in her tracks, "I agree but what did you have in mind?" He thought for a minute then he smiled at Keomae and scooped her up in his arms.

"Uh, Kai! This isn't what I had in mind!" Keomae said. Kai had her in bridal fashion, which made it easier for him to carry her. "We need to make a run for it. I'm afraid you just don't run as fast as me so I'll carry you instead." He explained. Keomae sighed then wrapped her arms around his neck then he took of in a quick walk then in a sprint.

AT ANCIENT CITY

Hilary paced nervously by the window, 'Where are they? It's nearly dark out and he's late, not too mention the fact that he's about a week late! Uh! I can't wait for very much longer, I'm so bored! Where is he!' She thought angrily. Ray walked into the room and smiled at the nervous Hilary. "Hey Hills. What's wrong? You worried about Kai?" He teased. Hilary glared at him then stormed over to him and said, "Yes, I am worried. He's a week late and I'm getting very bored and anxious."

He stepped back then smiled, "Sorry, I was only joking around. You've got to relax and chill out for a minute, you've been up tight for days now." Hilary sighed and said, "Your right, I should relax but I can't. He's so late, it's not like him at all." Ray smiled wickedly and teased, "Well maybe the princess has made an impression on him. Maybe he won't be coming after all. He's probably running away with the princess happily in love."

Hilary gasped, "No way! I mean, I don't care if he loves her but he won't desert his mission for her." Ray shook his head; "I won't put it past him if he's in love with her. She is pretty so she might have changed him in ways we won't ever understand. He probably won't want her to die." Hilary turned away, "I've been thinking about that. If we kill her, he'll hate us for ever if he really is in love with her."

Ray smirked, "Well maybe she's not as bad as every says she is. I mean she did run away from her royal life so she can't be that cold hearted. She might not be a thing like her cruel father. If we take the time to get to know her maybe we'll see what Kai sees in her." Hilary thought about what he had said and thought, 'could he be right? If I really try and get to know her will I change my mind about killing her?'

Daichi jumped through the window and announced, "The sun is beginning to set and there's no sign of Kai or the princess anywhere. But I did hear something not too far away. So maybe there's still hope." Max sat on the windowsill and smiled, "He's right. There is something out there. What, I don't know but we'll keep an eye out." Hilary faced him and asked, "Do you think its Kai?"

He shook his head, "If it were Kai he would've been more noticeable and the princess would've been a little noisier. Besides, whoever or whatever is out there its quiet and trying not too be seen or noticed." Kenny ran into the room breathing hard then he bent over and panted. "Kenny, what's up?" Ray asked him. "I uh just came to say that uh Mystel is taking the patrol alone. He told me to hurry back here because we heard something and he wanted me to inform you guys."

Daichi laughed, "So he sent you racing back here just to tell us that? How pathetic!" Max nodded, "Yeah and besides we already no there's something out there, we heard it too." Daichi calmed down and added, "We saw it as well." Kenny gasped, "Well what is it?" Max shook his head, "We're no sure, it's using the shadows to keep hidden." Ray leaned against the wall and wondered, 'I wonder if its-'

Suddenly Mystel walked into the room and said, "Sorry guys. I can't pinpoint the location of whoever's outside. I don't know who it is but it sounds like its more then one person." Hilary sighed, "Great, then how are going to find out that information?" Ray smirked, "Leave it be. Obviously they want nothing to with us so why worry? Just drop it."

Daichi yawned, "Fine by me. My head hurts from thinking so much." Max laughed then grabbed his head and gave him a noogie, "As if you can even think with that thick skull of yours!" He teased. Daichi growled then tried to get away but with no success. "Let me go!" He yelled. Max laughed then shook his head and continued torturing him.

Hilary walked over to the window where no one was and looked out. She rested her head on her hands and thought, 'Kai should be here soon. But why is it that in my heart I don't want him to come. Is it because I know that once we kill the princess he'll hate us for the rest of our lives? I'm so confused, should I be loyal to Kai or to my mission? This is so hard!'

Ray leaned against the wall again and thought out loud, "I hope Kai gets here soon." Mystel and the other guys all nodded then Kenny looked outside past Hilary's head and commented, "It's getting late." Everyone nodded then Hilary gasped startling them all, "KAI!"