Once again Yumi guided the team through another hallway. This one seemed roomier then the other. The walls were a nice wheat yellow and weren't covered in creepy portraits. Two minute later Yumi stopped in front of a door. She put her hand on the handle and smiled at the group. She slowly opened the door and disappeared into the bright sunlight.

The group followed, they had to put there hands up to shield the light from there eyes (all except for Shino). Once their vision got used to the blinding light, they saw the most beautiful garden they have ever seen.

"Welcome to the main attraction! And my fave place in this whole dumb kingdom." Yumi winked.

Everyone was overwhelmed by the garden's beauty. It was filled with flowers that were all the colours of the rainbow and with delicious fruits or vegetables that looked so ripe that you could just walk up and pluck them from their stems. Naruto and Kiba tried to fight the urge to do so. Akamaru jumped off of Kiba's head started to sniff around the garden. His nostrils filled with so many different aromas at once, he snorted and ran back to Kiba.

"Wow this is so pretty. You must have so many gardeners to manage this." Sakura said, smelling one of the purple flowers with thorns on the stem.

Yumi shook her head. "Nope."

"HUH?" Everyone (except Shino who was watching a bee travel from flower to flower) said.

"Well… there is one guy that helps out. But it's mostly me and Riko, when she has the free time. She is the daughter of our royal chef so she is very busy." Yuki explained.

"Riko is the chefs daughter?" Kiba asked.

"That's right. Remember the great food you had when we first met. Well Riko made all of that." Yumi smiled.

"So you take care of this whole garden?" Shino asked.

Yumi nodded proudly. "Yupperz." A white butterfly fluttered around Yumi. She held out her hand and the butterfly landed on the tip of her finger. "This used to be my mothers garden." She said with a soft smile, watching the insect flex its white wings.

"Your mother?" Naruto remembered back to the portrait of the pail woman.

"Yea… Gardening was her passion. She would spend countless hours out here…" Yumi pictured her mother with a yellow sun dress and dirty gloves bent down beside a patch of flowers. Her mother's warm smile spread across her face. "Sometimes when I was little… I would go outside and just watch her. I would hide behind that tree there because I didn't want to disturb her… She seemed so happy when she was out here."

Shino studied Yumi's face as she talked. Her face seemed to brighten every time she would mention her mother. Naruto frowned.

Yumi shook her head startling the butterfly which flew away. "Anyways… why don't we go visit Riko. I bet she is having her break right now." She quickly changed the subject.

They went back into the castle and followed Yumi towards the kitchen. They had to go down a flight of stairs before reaching the entrance of the cooking area. There sitting on a chair outside the door was Riko.

"HEY Ri-ie!" Yumi shouted.

Ri-ie? Everyone thought.

Riko looked up at Yumi walking towards her. She smiled and stood up from her chair. "Hello Yumi."

"Guess who's here Ri-ie?" Yumi said teaseling.

Riko looked over Yumi's shoulder at the group behind her. "Oh my! It is so nice to see you again."

"Same here." Kiba said, Akamaru rolled his eyes.

Riko walked over to the group with a large smile on her face. "I guess you must be the bodyguards the king was talking about. Oh who is this?" She asked turning to Sakura.

"Hello my name is Sakura." She said studying Riko's face. Wow all the girls here are so beautiful… She thought.

"It is very nice to meet you, my name is Riko."

"We just visited my mum's garden and thought we would visit you." Yumi said smiling. "Now who wants a tour of the kitchen?"

"ME!" Kiba said enthusiastically. Akamaru barked with excitement.

Shino, Kiba, and Sakura followed Yumi into the large kitchen. Riko was just about to follow them in as well.

"Um Riko?" Naruto asked.

Riko turned back around to face a frowning Naruto. "What's wrong Naruto?"

"Well… how exactly did Yumi's mother die?" He asked.

Riko frowned.

"Oh um… you know what never mind I asked. Heh heh." Naruto quickly said.

"No its okay…" Riko said. "It was very tragic for Yumi… Her mother was the closest to her. After her death Yumi locked herself in her room for days. I brought her up food but she hardly ever ate. You see… when her mother gave birth to Yumi, she was very weak afterwards. Everyone thought she would get better but they were wrong. After a few years she just got worse and then was bedridden. Her complexion was even paler then before. Then one night she left us…"

Naruto frowned.

"Hey what are you slowpokes doing out here?" Yumi asked as she poked her head out of the entrance. "Common everyone wants you to cook us something Riko. You are the best at cooking." Yumi said with a large smile on her face.

Riko smiled back. "Oh please… don't say such embarrassing things like that." She giggled.

"Don't be modest. Now get your butts in here." Yumi winked and disappeared inside once again.

Naruto stared at where Yumi once was.

"That girl is always so cheerful… I admire her so much." Riko said before entering the kitchen herself.

Naruto shook off his depressing slump and followed in behind. He took a good look around. It was a very large kitchen. Everywhere you would see tools for cooking and shelves of food. In the middle of it all was a large counter where everyone was circling around. Riko was getting ingredients ready and putting them on the table.

"Where is everyone?" Naruto asked.

"On their breaks. Which is good cuz if my father catches you guys in here I'll be in trouble." Riko said. "Now how about I make you guys some ice cream since its so hot out."

"PERFECT!" Yumi was craving for something sweet.