Night fell, and Kiku yawned as he crawled into his bed. Once laid down, Nao promptly tucked him in.
"I'm not a child anymore." He protested weakly, not really minding the comforting gesture.

"No, you're not." She agreed, "But I'd be lost without having someone to tuck in at night."

"You always were quick to mother's bedside..." Kiku said softly.

"Your mother would be proud of you. She was an amazing woman... And you're growing up to be an amazing man."

"You mean woman." Kiku said a bit bitterly.

Nao gave a sympathetic look before changing the topic, "You know, when your mother introduced me to your father, I could have killed her with the look I gave her. What a show off prince he was..."

"But she married him anyway." Kiku said, and Nao nodded.

"Yes, even when I disapproved, she married him anyway. I was wrong though. He turned out to be a fine husband."

"Perhaps... But what about a fine father? Hiding me away from the world..." Kiku's gaze fell to the window. He noticed something shimmer as it slithered across the garden.

"Kiku, you know we-"

"The white snake." Kiku sat up, cutting off Nao's sentence, "It's in the garden."

Nao looked out and frowned, "I don't see it."

"It went under some bushes." Kiku said, a small smile appearing on his face.

Nao chuckled and gently pushed him back down onto his bed. "Good night, fortune hunter."

"Good night." Kiku whispered back.

~

"Princess." A light tapping came with the morning sun. Someone was knocking on his door, "Your father asked me to wake you." Oh, it was him. Arthur.

"I'm awake." Kiku yelled, trying to make his annoyance clear, though admittedly the knocking had woken him just at that moment. Normally he was a morning person, but the bad news from yesterday had put him in a sour mood. And he decided Arthur's voice was not the most melodious thing to wake to.

He chose a red kimono with a tree branch pattern that held yellow birds. When he opened the door he was greeted by Nao. He tilted his head in confusion.

Seeing the expression, Nao smiled, "Arthur went to breakfast. Try to play nice."

"You tell me to play nice with a fool, ma'am." Kiku said with bitter sarcasm.

"Fools are for laughing. Try to find joy around him."

"How can I?" Kiku demanded, raising his voice. "How can I find joy in a man whose face reminds me of my father's death... and even I think... My..."

"Mothers?" Nao asked, then shook her head, "Don't think of him as death. Think of him as a wish... Your father's wish."

They entered the dining room where Akihiko and Arthur were eating.

"You're late." The king said, then glanced at Arthur, "I'm sorry. She's normally quite punctual."

"No need to fret on my behalf." Arthur said, "Everyone has reasons to keep them in bed. After everything that's been said, I believe she's holding up better than I would."

Kiku pulled Nao close and whispered, "Is he making fun of me?"

"No, dear, he's trying to be sympathetic. Though, I think he's... Um... Milking it a bit."

"You think?" Kiku let her go with a huff, and they took their seats.

"Father, why did you send him to wake me?"

"Because I want you to get used to the idea of it." Akihiko said in a stern tone. It meant what he was about to say wasn't something Kiku would like, but was an absolute, "From now on, he'll be helping Nao with some of her daily tasks involving you."

Nao looked just as surprised as Kiku, but smiled and said, "takes some pressure off these old bones." She gave Kiku a reassuring glance.

"Great, so the first thing I'll hear in the morning is going to be hi-" Kiku froze mid thought when another crossed his mind, "The snake!" He quickly ate the rest of his food and stood up.

"She's in quite a hurry." Nao smiled.

"Did she say snake?" Arthur frowned. He stood and followed Kiku, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"And he's quite rash to save her." Nao commented again, passing a glance to Akahiko.

"That lad will do." The king nodded, "Nao, I have something to tell you..."

Kiku was hunched down under a willow tree. The snaked had chosen to rest there, curled up in its shade.

"Maybe I could find you some mice?" Kiku offered. The snake raised its head, but lowered it again. "Don't care much for human contact, do you?" He said with a small smile. Suddenly the snake stood up tall, looking over Kiku's shoulder, and hissed.

"Look out!" Kiku turned to see Arthur yelling and pulling his sword.

"Don't you dare!" Kiku said, standing up and spreading his arms out to shield the hissing snake.

"But it could be venomous!" Arthur said, pausing in confusion.

"It is not harming anyone. This snake is good luck, killing it would be blasphemous!"

"Blasphe- That's rediculous."

"So the soldier's true colors start to show." Kiku huffed, now crossing his arms.

"What does that mean?"

"You don't care about nature. If it looks harmful, you'll just kill it right off without just trial, wont you?"

"So you're an environmentalist?"

"There are some things tradition doesn't allow for." Kiku explained angrily, "While you're in my country, I'd appreciate you doing your part to learn our customs."

"You're... A brave girl." Arthur said.

Taken back by the compliment, Kiku paused, "Th-thank you..." He then shook his head, "You know I loath you."

"I'm not too fond of you either, princess." Arthur nodded, "But that doesn't mean I won't put my life on the line for you."

Kiku blinked, "You-"

"I was trained to follow orders," Arthur explained, "No matter how odd or uncomfortable they may be, I serve the queen's orders absolutely."

"The queen..." Kiku said in thought, "Is this the worst thing she's made you do?"

"Ah." Arthur smirked, "You are the one that determines that. We'll see when this is done."

"What do you mean when this is done?"

"When your father returns and the war is over." With that, Arthur walked away.

Kiku watched him leave, a small smile on his face. Then turned to the snake. It was gone, "Scared him off..." Kiku frowned.

Nao's smile faded as she watched Arthur walk away from Kiku. Her gaze on them from the window.

Kiku felt the gaze and turned, waving to Nao, "Coming out?"

"I saw that look you gave him." Nao said as she entered the garden, "Tell me, what did he say?"

"It's silly." Kiku turned away.

"Nothing that makes you happy is ever silly, child."

"Well... He said 'when'... 'when' my father returns."

"When he returns... What? What then?"

"What doesn't matter." Kiku shook his head, "He said when! He has faith... He said when." Kiku repeated it a few times.

Nao smiled, looking at Kiku with eyes that told him she knew something about him that even he had yet to figure out.

~

In her own room that evening, Nao fell into a coughing fit. She gazed at a picture of her sister, "It seems I'll be seeing you soon..."