Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Yori Dango or any of its characters.

Hime princess

Strangers Fantasy: The clock ticks…

The next day…

Tsukasa woke up to the smell of food. He had a nasty taste in his mouth a massive headache and a very empty stomach. At this point he was ready to eat anything. He turned toward the smell to see a petite figure working in the kitchen.

It had been a long time since last seeing a woman work in the kitchen. He'd become accustomed to the life of the royal court in the Elvaan lands. He watched her move back and forth through the small kitchen checking pots, seasoning the different dishes, mumbling as she stubbed her toe on a stool in the way and kicking it because of its decision to be in her way.

He laughed to himself and continued to watch her; he felt the awakening of feelings in his chest. Feelings that he had put away a long time ago but were still their and changed its shape from one of protection to something else.

He closed his eyes quickly as she turned back to look at him. She mumbled something under her breath about "Lazy no good elvaan, it should be a crime to sleep pass 10am." He laughed a little more internally and than relaxed his body as he heard her footsteps drawing near the bed. He could just imagine it now. 'Wake up dear I made some breakfast for you, you're favorite too.' Why thank you my hime I'll forever cherish this meal as the first one you've ever made me. Let's continue to have these same meals forever. 'Teehee, oh you're such a kidder its just a simple meal.' Anything you make is far from simple my dear as a matter of fact I have a taste for something else that isn't a meal from watching you move around in that kitchen. 'giggle you're so fresh.' Hehe come here and I'll show you fresh. 'Oh giggle…

"What's with that dumb grin on your face, I know you aren't really sleeping."

Tsukasa's eyes snapped open to see not a smiling Tsukushi but a frowning Tsukushi with hands on hips.

"Why do you look so surprised? Is you're highness not use to getting up earlier than 12 o'clock. I swear it should be a crime for anyone to sleep that long. Taking care of you last night as well as everything that happened made me over sleep. I missed going to wash and I'm not going to be able to make any money today with you here. I don't trust to leave you alone in my place."

"What do you think I'm going to do rob you?" Tsukasa tossed away his fantasy image of Tsukushi, this was the real woman. Not the sweet, docile, caring dream but the mean, vindictive, miserable vixen.

"Who knows you're a shady character after all."

"A shady character?" Tsukasa felt his rage building and tried to beat it down with a stick before he continued his statement.

"I have you know that I'm far from shady, my bloodline is pure blue. I'm next in line for the Elvaan kingship and currently the ambassador for our kingdom and this hume town."

"I don't care who you 'say' you are. You could be the king of the chamber pot people for all I know. But I will tell you this, I'm the Queen of this kingdom here in my apartment and I don't trust you alone in it. You're very fortunate that I'm taking care of your sorry elvaan butt…"

SLAP

Tsukasa's hand was still in the air when Tsukushi turned her face back to look at him, a red mark marring her cheek and fire burning in her eyes. Tsukasa had reacted before he could even think.

"Yo-yo made me do it woman. If you had just let me speak to you instead of you going off on me this could have been av-…"

SLAPSLAP

Two red hand prints colored both sides of Tsukasa's cheeks.

"Don't you EVER lay your hands on me again like that. I'm not afraid to fight back no matter how big and stupid you maybe. And I'll always dish out double whatever you do to me, I'm not going to let some stranger treat me this way. I will admit that I may have gone too far but that does not give you the right to put your hands on me in that way."

Tsukushi walked back into the kitchen and pour herself a glass of fresh milk before storming out of the apartment. Doing exactly what she didn't want to do, leave him alone with her belongings.

She ran out into the busy streets walking quickly as tears stung her eyes. Even though she had seemed angry she was actually happy that maybe this person was someone from her past the kind boy in her dreams. When she said she didn't want to leave him alone she just wanted an excuse to stay home and talk with him. Instead she got him angry but that still didn't mean he should have hit her.

She ran by people in a blur and bumped into a gentleman. She mumbled a quick apology and continued to run not really sure of her destination.

"What was that just now Rui? You were staring at that girl strangely."

"Not sure Akira, but she looked familiar some how just can't put my finger on it and when she bumped into I felt something inside."

"That's pretty funny I wonder how Shizuka will feel when she finds out that you're attracted to other women."

Rui gave Soujirou a icy look before continuing on their current path.

"Aww come off it Rui I was just playing with ya. I know you wouldn't cheat on Shizuka, she's rich beyond means and the fiancé that you've dreamed of for a long time."

Rui didn't reply to Soujirou's words just continued walking on. No need to let him know that he and Shizuka had been having trouble for a while. She was against him going to look for their lost princess; she knew the bond that he as well as his other 3 companions shared with her. She was insecure no matter how many times he tried to reassure her.

There will only be one person for the princess and that person is Tsukasa. He, Soujirou and than Akira were fall back plans if anything were to happen to Tsukasa. They would step up as the next to marry the princess and continue the royal line. Even though Tsukasa had the best lineage the rest, equal in their bloodlines, all carried the blueblood that was compatible with the princess, which essentially made them all related through one way or another. They were close each one looking out for the other they were brothers born from the chaos of that fateful day they first lost the princess.

Even though they had been young they still failed in their duty to protect the princess and none suffered as much as Tsukasa who even shared a special bond with the princess. He remembered one time Tsukasa told him that he and Tsukushi played all the time even in their dreams at times. He never really thought much about it until one day Tsukushi mentioned the same thing. He knew right there that they shared something special and were meant to be.

He told both Akira and Soujirou what had happened the day before with the potion. He didn't tell them that he suspected that the princess here was a fake, he made it seem like it was a practical joke. Of course they laughed until they realized how big the problem was. So, the three set out early this morning visiting various inn, restaurants and pubs turning up with nothing.

Rui continued in his thoughts until he reached a small cottage. It looked warm and inviting, he noticed a sigh that said warm food served all day and rooms for rent. He walked up the stairs and motioned to his other two companions to follow. When they entered the cottage they were immediately bombarded with the smell of delicious foods.

"Hello and welcome how may I help you handsome young men today?" The cottage keeper, a short pudgy lady with rosy cheeks and a graying bun on top of her head greeted them.

Akira stepped up kissed her hand and bowed over it with a lot of ceremony. The woman blushed at the attention of such a young handsome Elvaan. It wasn't often she could entertain Elvaan visiting the city. They usually went to one of the larger more established inns and pubs.

"My kind lady we're weary travelers staying at one of the residences within the city. There were four of use but alas now there are only three. One of our companions seems to be lost and we've traveled throughout the city to find him but have come up exceedingly short. If we were to give you a description of him would you perhaps be able to tell us if you've seen him?"

The woman flabbergasted woman nodded her head absent mindedly.

"He's about 6'4, dark curly hair, muscular, a dimple in the side of his cheek, handsome but a foul temper when provoked."

They keeper looked lost in thought but in the end hadn't seen anyone to fit that description.

"If you could give me a minute I'll ask a few of our patrons. If you like you can have a seat and I'll have someone come out to serve you. The meal will be on the house since you've traveled so far just be sure to stop in again next time you're in the city."

"We'd be delighted to do so, I'm sure the food here is 100 times better than at some of the more posh places we stopped by this morning."

The keeper blushed and asked them to sit at one of the tables by the wide window which over looked the streets below.

"Was that really necessary Akira? You almost made the poor woman faint. She's a little too old and round for you're normal conquests."

"Soujirou my aim is to please all women weather it is inside our outside the bedroom. Not only that but kindness will get you a long way especially with a woman of a busy food shack. One which I'm sure sees a variety of customers from all walks of life. I'm also sure she has heard many a interesting conversation. Say perhaps in the future we would need to hear one of many 'interesting' conversations spoken here within these walls…"

"I get you're point you sly dog you. Maybe she has a daughter I can sweet talk."

"Excuse me sirs but I was told by my mother to get you're order." A mousy buck toothed young girl with two long pigtails and a face splashed with freckles as well as pimples stood before them.

"Ugh- ahem I mean hello there what do you suggest."

Akira chuckled a little at Soujirou's stammering through the menu.

As they ordered their meal a young woman after talking with the keeper sauntered over towards their table.

The young girl left the table blushing by the time she reached the 3 young elvaan.

"I hear you're looking for a missing person?"

"Yes that's right, and who may you be my beautiful lady?" Akira quickly stood and pulled out a chair for the new comer.

"I'm just a girl with a little information the description sounds very much like someone a friend of mine found or he found her. It was last night I think as a matter of fact. He seemed to have been running through the streets in nothing but underclothes as a matter of fact. He passed out on my friend's floor. He was tall, curly-haired, muscular and very handsome, if he's your friend I can understand beautiful flowers tend to prosper around other beautiful flowers."

"The person you described is our friend, now could you be so kind as to tell us where he is?"

Makiko smiled slyly. Rui seemed to be the only one that noticed the sly grin before she spoke up.

"First what's in it for me if I tell you? For all I know you could be here to do harm to my friend or perhaps your friend was actually running away from you."

Rui knew it, nothing in this town was given for free, everything had a price.

This time Rui spoke up.

"I thank you for your kindness but we have nothing to give but a promise. I noticed by your attire and as well as your speech what kind of work you do. If I may ask do you enjoy it?"

Rui watched as her face became sullen for a moment only to be replaced once more by a nonchalant mask.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I can assure you everything. As a matter of fact I'm sure you do not have much to live for here in this city filled with corruption one of my companions will be more than willing to take you under his wing."

"That's correct I'm sure Akira will be more than willing to take you as I am married." Soujirou pushed a surprised Akira forward a little.

"Ahem, yes I'd gladly take you under my wing for your assistance in finding our friend."

Makiko looked unsure before Akira stepped up and touched her cheek. She looked up at him and he whispered to her.

"I keep my promises and I pay my debts. You're doing a great service to both us and our mutual lands." He bent down and kissed her hand rubbing his thumb softly in her palm at the same time.

Makiko's eye bowed and she whispered back.

"I-I'll show you were he is please follow me." She backed up a little a blush coloring her cheeks.

They thanked the keeper and Akira whispered something in her ear which made her giggle like a young girl. They left the cottage and followed Makiko down the stone paved streets. A few minutes after they left a gentleman in a black cloak followed leaving his money on the table. The daughter of the keeper bade him goodbye, his spider tattoo temporarily exposed did not go unnoticed by the young girl. The man was gone before she had a chance to ask him what it meant.

The four continued down the road, moving in and out of people eager to get to their destination. The man garbed in black followed close behind but just far enough behind as to not arouse suspicion.

They stopped in front of a store; the man paused to dusk something off his shoe. Makiko admired a horse and giggled as Akira whispered something in her ear; the man asked a street vendor the price of the closest fruit. They walked into a store; the man stood against a streetlamp reading a paper.

This continued for 45 minutes until they turned a corner which the man followed soon after, yet they were no where to be seen. The man turned around only to be greeted by a strong fist across the jaw. He flew back hitting the wall and slid down. He looked at his attacker, the one that went by Soujirou.

"Now that we've stopped moving and we have you're full attention we'd like to know why you're following us?" he cracked his knuckles as Akira moved to stand next to him. Makiko hid behind Akira and Rui leaned against the wall a little further back. It was obvious that the 4 had drew him into a trap and escape from the ally would not be possible.

"I see that I'm in a rock and a hard place, no matter, you shall get nothing from me. Before I go I'd just like to let you know that the time for this the Elvaan kingdom's happiness and soon this whole land, will be short lived so my dear pretty boys and whore please enjoy it while you can."

"We have you trapped what makes you think you'll be going anywhere?" Soujirou moved in closer and paused as his eyes grew wide. The man seemed happy, also as if he was keeping a secret, he bit down on something in his mouth and his eyes clouded over as his body convulsed and he started to foam at the mouth. He fell to the ground his body shaking for a few minutes and than he went still…dead still.

Rui moved from off the wall and inspected the body, he turned him over and a horrid, decaying smell was released from his body. The four backed up covering they're noses a small black spider exited from the man's mouth another from his ear. They came together and paused in front of each other moving various legs as if in a silent sign language. They turned toward the four and than spun a web which caught the wind carrying them away atop the building.

"Did you just see that? Those two spiders looked almost like they were talking."

"Yeah I did." Rui covered his mouth with his handkerchief and flipped open the various folds of the man's garments.

"That's so gross I think I'm going to be sick. How can you go through a dead man's clothes like that?"

"I'm sure we will find some kind of clue as to who sent him." Rui continued but found nothing but a newspaper and a black feather.

"Why do his fingers look so chewed?"

"It's probably a nervous condition Soujirou."

"What kind of tattoo is that Akira?" Makiko pointed to the man's hand.

"Not sure but for some reason it seems vaguely familiar, I think today has made us realize that we aren't the only one here searching for the same thing, meaning we need to work faster. Akira and Soujirou go back to the house and get the princess. Makiko could you please show me to our friend we have no time to waste."

They left the ally in a hurry, the two pairs going their separate ways. After about 10 minutes 2 small arachnids traveled down the side of one of the buildings. They returned to their mutual places within the "dead" man's body. His eyes regained their color as he sat up and wiped the access foam off the side of his mouth.

"You don't say…so they've lost they're friend which will delay them…I see…well than I'll have to tell Amon to move fast as well."

The man dusted his pants off, smoothed his hair and left the ally toward the outskirts of the city.

A big huge thank you to all that reviewed. Yes this chapter was a little shorter than my usual and I'm sure you already know why by now hehe you get a bonus chapter the same day (yaaay). Ok I know I can't reply to ppl but I will thank you all:

Kenni, Missy, JC, Ryoumi, GirlAnime, Sukiss, Cloud X-soldier, Crazy-Fairy (get to work), Len, Dawbygirl, Vetiora.

And sorry for any and all grammical errors this bad boy is hot off the presses.