"I always wanted to ride a horse. It looks so fun. Especially when Yumi is riding one." Sakura said leaning over the fence.

When they got back Yumi ran straight to the stables and jumped right onto Hotaru bareback. She has been galloping around since then. Smiling and giggling.

Everyone watched outside of the ring. Yumi steered the horse near the fence and trotted over. "Well it's good to get that out of my system."

"Huh?" Naruto blinked at her.

"Well…" Yumi climbed off. "Hey you guys can come in. You can pet her if you want. Hotaru loves attention."

Sakura grinned and hurried in. The others followed. The pinkette stroked the white horses mane. Akamaru sniffed the giant animal but scurried back into Kiba's coat when the horse turned her head towards the puppy.

"Anyways as I was saying…" Yumi brushed her hair from her face. "I just love riding. Not as like a sport or anything, and I don't take it seriously… it's just that I love the wind in my hair. And I often just close my eyes and imagine myself flying freely in the sky." She laughed. "I know it sounds corny but it's true. It's just that my father keeps me so confined in that castle… its great to have that feeling of freedom for even a short time."

Hotaru turned her head and nudged Yumi. She giggled and hugged her friends head, stroking her mane. She pulled herself away and looked over at the others. "So who wants to ride her?"

"Oh ME! ME!" Sakura jumped up and down, waving her arms.. This startled the horse and she started to get restless. Hotaru jumped and bucked.

"Woe… Woooe" Magen said in a deep voice trying to calm the horse down. She slowly lifted her hands and motioned it to settle down. "Shhh… it's okay Hotaru…"

The horse slowly stopped it's jumping. Yumi stroked her back. "Good girl."

"Oh um… I am sooo sorry." Sakura said trembling a bit. That was scary to see an animal so large like that freak out so much.

"No it's okay… Just don't yell or make any quick movements. I bet you don't want to ride her anymore. You look frightened." Yumi said studying Sakura's expression.

Sakura shook her head. "No I will still ride her! I can do it!" She said raising a fist.

Hotaru started to rear again.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" Sakura tried to help the horse calm down.

"S-Sakura… you are too loud." Naruto sighed.

"Shut up Naruto!" Sakura glared.

Hotaru reared even more.

"Ah I'm so sorry!" Sakura turned back to the horse.

She doesn't get it… She's too loud. Everyone thought.

---

"Hey Sakura isn't that bad at riding." Kiba said.

Sakura was slowly walking the horse around in a large circle. Yumi helped by walking along side her, telling her directions.

"Yea… Sakura looks so cool on the horse…" Naruto said with a blush.

Kiba rolled his eyes. "Psh you think Sakura is cool all the time."

Naruto blushed even more. "She is cool all the time though!"

"Oh yea? What about the times she gets abusive?" Kiba asked.

"Well Sakura can be abusive sometimes… and her punches really hurt… and she may yell at me… a lot… almost everyday… But Sakura is still cool." Naruto wept.

"She's not as cool as Riko." Kiba sighed.

"Don't be thinking perverted thoughts while I'm here Kiba." Shino said.

Kiba's face went completely red. "I-I wasn't' thinking perverted thoughts!"

"Sure you weren't." Naruto rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't!" Kiba growled.

"You are so perverted Kiba…" Naruto shook his head.

Shino tried his best to ignore the two boys. He looked over to Yumi. She was looking tot the sky. He followed her gaze. The sky was starting to get dark with clouds. He looked back down to Yumi's worried expression.

Just then another person came into his sights. A woman wearing a servant's outfit walked up to Yumi. They exchanged words for a while. Yumi nodded up at Sakura and Sakura slid off the horse. The servant led the horse away then disappeared into the stables. The two girls walked back up towards the others.

Kiba and Naruto blinked at them confused. "What happened?"

Yumi looked at them with a serious expression. "My father is home."

---

"Wait out here. I will tell him myself."

Is what she said to us before disappearing behind the familiar old fashion door. The door that led to her fathers study.

We stood out there patiently. Silently. To be honest it seemed like I was nervous for her. Everyone was nervous for her.

But I knew we weren't as nervous as Yumi would be right now.

"Hello father."

"Oh hello Yumi." Her father said without looking up from some papers.

"Well I have something to say. Last night… a man came out and attacked me."

He finally looked up from his papers. "Who attacked you? Where were you? Didn't those bodyguards I hired protect you?"

"I am okay and yes Shino did protect me."

"Did the attacker get away? Where were you when this happened?"

Yumi twitched. "Yes and… I was out on the hill."

She noticed her father's expression start to turn to anger. "And why are you telling me this now when you could have mentioned it earlier? We could have caught the attacker."

"Well you were gone when I woke up and-"

"You could have told me that night." He snapped. "See this is what I have been telling you. You have to be more responsible. If you are to be Queen yo-"

"What if I don't want to be Queen?"

He quickly looked up at his daughter. She looked to the side, choking back tears. Her cheeks going red.

"What did you say?" He asked silently. "It is your birth right to become Queen. You should be proud to be crowned to such a respectable family!"

"What family?! All that is left if you and me! And you're always gone or busy! So it's only me! I have no mother! I have no brother! They all left! They left me behind with you!"

Her father got to his feet. "Insolence! How dare you speak to me like that! You will leave this instant and go straight to your chambers! I will have two guards escort you."

Yumi stood her ground.

"I said leave. Now!"

She clenched her fists. "Why do you hold me so close to you?"

"Excuse me? What kind of question is that? Because you are my daughter that's why."

"No… that's not the reason." Yumi couldn't look into her father's eyes.

"Of course it is."

"You don't love me do you?"

"What are you talking about now child?"

"You don't care for me because I am your daughter."

"Why are you still here?"

"You only protect me because you don't want your precious spirit to die."

"I thought I told you to leave my study."

"If anything happened to me, your 'protector' would disappear. You wouldn't have a new ruler."

"Leave me now!"

"You kept me locked up as much as you could just for yourself! Locked in a cage, just so you could have it your way!" Tears streamed down her face. "You wondered why I kept running away?! Because I wanted to get away from this place! It was suffocating me! YOU WERE SUFFOCATING ME! This spirit… this DAM THING HAS CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT GREIF!"

Naruto's eyes widened. Spirit? So I was right. She is possessed by something just like me… and it has caused her grief just like me… He clenched his stomach.

Kiba and Sakura exchanged glances. They didn't know what they were screaming about in there but they knew that Yumi was crying.

"Yumi…" Her father's eye's softened.

Yumi's throat burned. Her eyes stung. She quickly turned and ran to the door.

"Yumi!"

The door opened and out dashed Yumi. Naruto watched her run down the hallway. "Wait! Where are you going?!"

"We have to follow her." Shino said running after her.

The others followed.

---

Gotta get away.

Gotta get away.

She kept repeating in her head as she ran down the halls. She reached the door that led to the garden. She quickly flung it open and ran outside. The clouds made the sky so dark, you would think it would be night.

Yumi dashed down the pathway and through the secret exit. She ran up the hill and disappeared into the forest.

Then it started to rain.

The others ran out the door. Shino looked up at the gloomy sky as the rain drops fell on his glasses. "We have to find her quick before it gets worse."

"That's right. She's afraid of thunder storms." Sakura said.

"Akamaru." Kiba pulled Akamaru out of his coat and laid him on the ground. "Find her scent."

Akamaru sniffed around. Time passed before Akamaru barked and ran down a pathway. They followed after him.

"I hope the rain doesn't get worse. If it does, it may become impossible to follow her scent." Kiba said.

Shino was getting worried. He climbed through the secret passage after Akamaru with the others right behind him. Shino stopped for a moment to let loose some of his Kikaichuu free to look for Yumi as well. He looked up at the hill. To a specific spot where he once sat with a princess.

"The thing is I'm frightened. I-I don't want to be a Queen. I will never be what my father thinks I could be. I am irresponsible, stubborn, and not reliable at all. I'm a child. A child who runs away from her fears 'cuz she has no backbone."

"Yumi…"

---

Yumi tried her best to ignore the rain splashing on her face as she ran down a muddy path through a forest. Not having knowing where she was going. Not knowing why she was running so fast.

She didn't know anything. So many thoughts blurred her mind. It made her head pound in pain.

She found herself desperately wanting to be held. To be picked up into someone's arms and be held and comforted. And say 'It's alright Yumi… It's okay.'

Just like her mother did.

Her chest ached. She stumbled and fell against a tree. Yumi caught her breath. "Why…" She turned her head and sobbed into the trunk of the tree. "Why did you leave me… Why did you all leave me…?"

---

"The rain is getting worse." Sakura said worriedly, looking up at the sky as she ran.

"How far could she have gone?" Naruto asked.

They ran down a path still following Akamaru. Kiba said that the scent was slowly disappearing so they had to make it quick.

Then Akamaru stopped. He sniffed the muddy ground then the air. He lowered his head and slowly walked up to Kiba. "What?! You can't find a scent?"

"No…" Sakura frowned.

Naruto clenched his fists. "We have to find her! Before it starts to storm!"

Just then an insect flew to Shino's shoulder and buzzed up into his ear. Shino listened intensely.

Then he ran ahead. Shino turned into the trees ignoring the calls after him.

---

I have to keep going…

Yumi struggled to move her feet but they wouldn't budge. She gritted her teeth. A strange felling swirled in her stomach. She knew that it was almost time. But that was the last thing on her mind right now.

That she was turning 14 at midnight tonight.

Why does it have to be tonight of all nights? This just makes it harder for me. But I have to keep moving… Or they will catch up… then drag me back to… that place… to my cage…

"Yumi."

Yumi twitched. She slowly lifted her head to see Shino standing a few meters away, watching her. "Yumi…"

"NO! You can't take me back there! I won't go back!" Yumi stumbled to get away but Shino jumped in her way. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!" She threw a punch at him.

Shino caught her by the wrist. She threw another punch at him but it was only to be caught again. He turned her body and pinned her to the tree.

"Let me go!" She struggled but he was to strong.

"No. You can't keep running away." He said sternly.

"Yes I can! Let me go now!"

"You like being like this? You like being a coward?"

Yumi's eyes widened.

"The thing is I'm frightened…"

"I will never be what my father thinks I could be. I am irresponsible, stubborn, and not reliable at all. I'm a child. A child who runs away from her fears 'cuz she has no backbone…"

Tears ran down her face.

"You have to be responsible if you are to become Queen."

"What if I don't want to become Queen!?"

She screwed her eyes shut. Why did I have to be this way?

"Mommy… mommy don't leave me!"

"You will become the heir to the throne. You are more suitable then your brother."

"It's all because of you. You ruined my life. You took mother away. It's your fault. You're not my sister. You're a monster."

Yumi gasped for air. More tears streamed down her cheeks. "I… hate running away. But… I also hate being left behind." Yuki… "I don't want to be left behind again. I- I'm scared."

"You have to face your fears. If you don't, those fears would only take over your life. You can't keep running away. They will catch up with you." Shino slowly loosened his grip on her wrists. "You need to stand up to your fears. Face them head on. Don't do it for others, do it for yourself."

Yumi looked up. She looked at Shino's dark glasses. Unable to determine his expression, or what he was thinking. He lowered her arms and released them and stepped back. "Now… will you run away? Live your life as a coward? Or will you come back with me and face your fears?"

Yumi wiped her face but the rain only made it wet again. A small smile formed on her lips. "Shino… tha-"

"SHINO!" Kiba jumped into the area followed by Akamaru. "Don't run off like that without saying anything! We almost lost you as well! You Bas…tard…" He looked over to see Yumi. "Yumi! We have been looking everywhere for you!"

Sakura and Naruto jumped into the clearing as well. "Jeeze Kiba don't go so fast!" Sakura huffed from exhaustion.

The two looked up. "Yumi! You're safe! Thank goodness!" Sakura ran over and hugged her. "Common lets take you out of this rain before you catch a cold."

Yumi smiled happily. "Okay." She said cheerfully.

"Do you wanna ride on my back or can you walk?" Naruto asked.

"Psh. Don't treat me like I'm injured. I can probably run faster then you can Blondie." She said with a huge grin.

"'Blondie?' Are you challenging me? Alright I'll take your challenge! But don't think that I would go easy on you just because you're a princess!"

"And I won't go easy on you either shorty!"

"Shorty? What's with the name calling??"

"Haha Naruto you're getting burned." Kiba laughed.

"I bet I can run faster then you too Mutt." Yumi said turning to Kiba.

"Yea right. You can't outrun me. You're a girl! I can easily outrun a girl like you."

Sakura glared at him. "Are you saying that girls are weaker then guys?"

"I don't have to say it because it's true." Kiba crossed his arms.

"Alright! Then let's have a race! Girls against boys! We will see who is the most superior sex!" Sakura said punching the air.

"You're on!" Naruto and Kiba said in unison.

"Don't you think it's a bit unsafe to be racing in this weather?" Shino asked.

"It's not raining that much." Sakura said holding out her hand.

"You're probably just making up excuses so you wouldn't lose to a girl Bug Boy." Yumi said with a wink.

"Bug Boy?" Shino walked forward. "I will race. And I will win." He was right in her face. "Princess."

Yumi shivered. "You say that so coldly."

"ALRIGHT! LETS RACE! The first to the castle wins!" Sakura shouted.

Kiba picked up Akamaru and slipped him into his coat. Everyone lined up.

"Ready… Set… GO!" Yumi shouted.

---

The tired King searched the portraits faces until he found the one he was looking for. He stood out in front of a familiar face.

"Hello again Akemi." He said looking up at his former wife.

---

They all jumped into the trees and raced through the forest.

---

"Our daughter has ran away again… I sent all the guards out looking for her. It's raining out so we will have to find her as soon as possible… She said the most troubling things to be today…" He looked up into the woman's painted eyes. "She has your stubbornness." He said with a chuckle. "She also has your spirit. A spirit that longs to be free… And it's my fault to bring her to this state. And I just noticed this now!" He laughed at himself. "Oh how I wish you were still here Akemi… it wouldn't be this hard if you were here. I miss you so much."

---

They jumped branch to branch. Naruto was in the lead for a while until Kiba caught up. Sakura was right behind them. Yumi was beside her and Shino beside Yumi. He looked over his shoulder at her.

---

The king suddenly felt a cold breath on his neck.

"Well you won't have to miss her anymore because you will be joining her soon… father."

---

Her face was glowing. She's truly happy.

"AHAHA can't catch up girls?" Kiba teased.

"Shut up Inuzuka! I'm just getting warmed up!" Sakura shouted quickening her pace.

"Same here!" Yumi also quickened her pace.

She caught up with Naruto. Then became one step in front of him.

Then Yumi ran right in front.

"Wow she's fast…" Kiba blinked.

"Not as fast as me!" Naruto strained harder to catch up.

Yumi laughed. "Oh Blondie too slow?"

"HAHA GO YUMI!" Sakura cheered.

Yumi laughed cheerfully. Naruto slowly made his way up to her side. It was now neck in neck.

"Go Naruto! Make her eat your dust!" Kiba called out.

Yumi suddenly felt a surge of energy. It filled her body. It's getting closer to that time.

Naruto's eyes widened when Yumi moved right ahead. The forest started to clear and they saw the castle ahead. Yumi jumped down from the trees and ran down the hill. Naruto ran right after, then the others after him.

Once the others climbed through the secret passageway they saw a cheerful Yumi and a gloomy Naruto.

"AHA! I WIN! YOU LOSE! GIRLS RULE!" Yumi was jumping and spinning.

Sakura clapped her hands together. "YES! Go Yumi!" She turned and stuck her tongue out at Kiba. "Girls are better then boys." She sang.

"Naruto how could you lose?!" Kiba stomped over to the disappointed blonde.

"She's got so much stamina! I guess I underestimated her." Naruto rubbed the back of his neck.

"Never underestimate someone." Shino said.

"Yea I learned that the hard way I guess." Naruto chuckled.

Shino nodded and looked over to Yumi. Her face was glowing so brightly. A large grin on her face. She laughed with Sakura.

"There she is!"

Everyone turned to see one of the servants running outside. "Oh thank god! Princess you are alright! We thought… we thought you have died!"

"Died?" Yumi studied the servant's expression. She was sad. Very sad. "What's going on?"

The servant looked to the ground then back up at Yumi. "I'm so sorry… It's the King… Your father…"

The glow in her face disappeared.

--
AHHH this chapter is so long compared to the others. Sorry it isnt as well written as i planned. Oh how i wish this was animated TT Then you can see all those lovely flashbacks