(R POV)

"May I come in, R?"

"Yes, I've almost finished our breakfast."

My landlady walked in, taking a deep breath.

"It smells delicious in here! Ever since you got here, you've been cooking me food, and I must say I've never had food so grand."

I turned to glance at her before finishing buttering the toast. Cooking was always something I enjoyed, mainly because it made others smile.

"All done, here you go."

I walked over to the kitchen with two plates, one for each of us. Two perfectly made omelets lay on the plate with toast and a special sauce I made.

"What's in these, they smell so good!"

"Bacon, cheese, and some spices I felt like adding."

She took a large bite and smiled.

"You should become a chef, I've never tasted anything so good. I doubt they even have food this good at the palace."

"I'm sure they have better cooks than me, besides cooking is a side project for now. I want to strengthen my knowledge on herbs and medicine. I believe my best bet would be to become an herbalist."

"Do you know a lot about herbs?"

"I don't know, I've never met another herbalist to compare my knowledge to."

"Self-taught?"

"I had a teacher, sadly he passed and I was left to study on my own."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be."

"Are you getting used to living in Clarines?"

"Yes. I thought I'd start looking for a job today."

"That's a good attitude, those who don't work don't eat, right?"

"Right!"

"Thanks for the food that was great. I'll be sad when you have to leave. Well I'll see you later, I've got to be going."

"See you later ma'am and thanks."

I sighed grabbing a cloak, back to hiding who I am. At least for now.

1 hour later

"Yes, I'd like to work as an herbalist."

"Hmmm, unfortunately, we don't need anyone right now. However, you…huh"

I shifted uncomfortable at being stared at. I had pulled the hood of my cloak down after entering the shop. My ears flicked self-consciously.

"You can't judge based on looks. What would you do if your regular customer heard you?"

A lady who worked there said.

"I know, I know, sorry about that."

I glanced past the man with the glasses, staring at the herbs I had caught scent of when nearing the shop. They had many herbs I didn't currently have, how nice it would be to have so many herbs to use. One of the female workers walked out of the back holding a tray. She walked over to stand in front of a boy with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was only a couple inches smaller than me, and looked only a year younger. In truth even though I was fifteen I looked younger. The landlady thought I was twelve when I first met her.

"Thank you for waiting. Is this what you were looking for?"

I sniffed placing the scent of the herb the worker held out to the boy.

"Is he your regular customer?"

"Yes, he's still young, but he's a respected court herbalist."

The man looked smug as he said the word court herbalist. I cocked my head unsure as to what that was.

"Court?"

"That's right, herbalist."

He leaned in close his face inches from mine. My ears twitched in nervousness at the closeness.

"I'm sure you already know this, but only the most knowledgeable and skillful herbalists can become court herbalists. Clarines is a country with deep pockets that will support any talented persons."

"I see."

I glanced back over to see the boy rubbing a small piece of the plant. The man with glasses walked back over with a flyer.

"Here's information on becoming a court herbalist. If you pass the test that's held once a year, you'll be able to work in Wistal castle as an apprentice. Oh, thanks for coming!"

The man said glancing up to see the young boy leaving, his head down as he passed me. I doubt he even noticed I was there he was so focused on the herbs. I turned back to the man who said.

"If you're an herbalist why don't you try taking the test? Well it is pretty difficult, though."

"Thanks"

I said, grabbing the flyer, before heading out. Next stop the castle.

30 minutes later

"Stop!"

Two guards said standing in front of the castle gates.

"Excuse me, I'm here to see Kiki or Mitsuhide from the royal guards…"

One of the guards the younger gaped as I pushed down my hood, revealing myself to them. The guard ran over pointing

"C-could you be…?"

The other guard cut him off dragging him back.

"My apologies. We have been informed that you are a guest of Prince Zen's."

"R!"

I glanced up to see Zen atop the gate, he expertly jumped down managing to make the landing and walked over.

"Um, what are you doing Zen?"

"Just getting a little exercise. Can't have my body getting soft with all that deskwork I've been doing."

"You snuck out?"

"Yeah, well. I hadn't seen your face in a while, either…I could finally see you R."

I cocked my head, noting the guard's faces went red when Zen said that. I didn't fully comprehend human's emotions yet since I spent the most of my life with the half-bloods.

"Prince Zen! Where are you?"

I glanced at Zen noting his annoyed look.

"You must've come here for a reason right R?"

"You told me to tell you when I'm heading outside of town."

"All right, let's go, right now!"

"Huh?"

"Hey you guys make something up to tell Mitsuhide for me!"

"Ye-yes sir!"

I glanced back at the guards before running after Zen, pushing my hood up as I did.

"Mount Koto?"

Zen asked beside me. Being stuck with the half-bloods my whole life left me with little to nothing on knowledge of the landmarks. I had heard of Mount Koto from the herbalists, as a great place to find herbs. The wagon lurched and I clutched my hood lightly. After a second the road leveled out and I dropped my hand.

"Yeah, the mountain beyond the sea"

"Huh, what are you going to a place like that for?"

"Herbs and studying"

"Studying, but aren't you already an herbalist?"

"Yeah, but I want to learn more."

"Alright, then I'll bring you to the forest here tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Yeah"

"Thanks!"

I glanced over the side of the wagons. A view of Clarines was visible over the treetops.

"Clarines is nice."

"Huh?"

"It's got a charm to it."

My hood blew off with the gust of wind and I rushed to throw it back on.

"Mommy, it has kitty ears, why's it have kitty ears? The boy has kitty ears!"

A young boy yelled pointing, a small chunk of bread in his other hand.

"Why? Why?"

"Shh, stop it eat your food quietly."

The boy looked down sadly and I sighed, knowing I wanted to see the boy smile again. I let the hood fall and leaned down.

"It looks like real cat ears, doesn't it?"

I made my left ear twitch slightly. The boy smiled widely turning to his mom.

"Yeah, I wanna touch it!"

He held up his hands excitedly and I frowned a tad. It would be hard to deny the boy.

"Hey Mom, I wanna kitty, let's go find one!"

The mom smiled slightly and I pushed up my hood, grateful the boy didn't try and touch my ears.

"Okay"

"Yay, kitty, kitty!"

Zen broke out laughing beside me and I sighed pulling the hood up higher.

Twenty minutes later

"It's busy."

"It's because people from different countries come and go here. All the different cultures are mixed together."

I nodded, checking my hood. So many people made me uneasy.

"Oh, Prince Zen!"

"Hm?"

"I just got some good wine, how about it?"

"Not today. I'll come back."

"Yes, sir."

The bald muscular man walked off.

"Do you know him?"

"He's a wine seller I met before in town. I've bought souvenirs for my soldiers from him ever since."

"Oh."

Zen turned walking off and I hurried to keep up.

"Zen, why do you keep escaping from the castle?"

"Prince Raj of Tanbarun always orders his servants to bring the things he wants to the castle. I heard he gets upset when they don't bring him what he wants, and everyone's sick of it."

"I see"

"You said earlier that this country was charming, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"I think so to. I feel like there are still mountains of charm that I haven't discovered yet. That's why I want to see more, to learn more."

"Good herbs are needed for good medicine."

"Hm?"

"Good land is needed for good herbs."

I walked forward standing next to Zen as I stared out at the vast sea.

"I want to learn more as well. We're kind of similar aren't we?"

Zen smiled.

"The ship's leaving!"

He glanced over to where the voice called.

"I need to get on!"

I turned running towards the docked ship. My hood fell as I ran, but I didn't overly mind. What I failed to notice was the man watching me run. I fixed my hood as I waved at Zen from the ship.

"I hope you find some good herbs!"

"Thanks, I'll be back before dark!"

(Zen POV)

"You seem to be in high spirits!"

I rallied a blow and pushed against Mitsuhide's wooden sword with my own. I gained some ground, leveling my sword at his throat. I smirked triumphantly.

"The escape today was worthwhile."

"Glad to hear it."

Kiki walked over handing me a towel.

"Then you can do the rest of the deskwork in high spirits to right?"

I groaned inwardly, looking up at the vast sky.

"R's working hard too… all right!"

I headed for my office catching Mitsuhide say.

"The R effect is amazing."

(R POV)

I opened my eyes to a dim room, where was I? I remember falling asleep in the forest, but after that everything's a blank. I moved to stand and found my hands bound. I frowned, when did that happen? The barred door opened, and a man walked in.

"I see you've finally awoken, enjoyed your nap?"

"I would've enjoyed it more, had I woken up in a beautiful forest. Not this small cramped room."

The man chuckled, crouching in front of me. He reached out towards my ears. I scooched back realizing his intentions. My hood must have fallen down when he brought me up here. My tail flicked behind me, letting my annoyance be known to those who understood cat language.

"Do you have business with me?"

"If not, I wouldn't be talking to you. What do you think about something even a prince couldn't get his hands on? No matter who it's presented to it should bring in a huge reward, don't you think."

I narrowed my eyes, he was undoubtedly talking of me.

"For example, a half-blood of the rarest kind, thought to be extinct, more handsome than any other before seen... or something."

"Are you saying you're going to sell me?"

"How vulgar. I said presented. There are tons of rich people with strange tastes."

He said rising from his crouched position.

"Why would you do that?"

The man stopped at the door and looked at me thoughtfully.

"I suppose you'll have to become bound to me. After all an unbound half-blood is dangerous."

I snarled at the word bound. A cursed word for all half-bloods, unless becoming bound was accepted by the half-blood, it was considered as cursed. To think he would dare, try and make me bound against my will. Hardly any humans even knew of the process of bounding.

"It wouldn't be too bad to keep you by my side until you accept being bound. What do you think, kitty?"

He grabbed something off a table walking forward. It was undoubtedly a drug. I could smell the plants used to make it from here. The man walked in and sprung gripping my mouth. I thrashed knowing what would happen if I drank that. Sadly the man had the advantage of not being tied up. He managed to get half of it down my throat. I coughed on the bitter taste already feeling my senses dulling and my world crashing down around me.

"Good kitty, stay there until you agree to being bound."

With that he slammed the door shut. My eyesight faded in and out, I coughed weakly. The drug he had given me was specifically made for half-bloods who had yet to come of age. When a half-blood came of age all senses and abilities sharpened, and they became immune to many drugs such as this one. Some even learned magic, but before then your body is weaker to specific items.

Specifically a black flower that humans used in many medicines and foods. This made it hard for all who haven't come of age to be with humans. The man obviously did not know that many half-bloods would die just by nibbling on the flower, and fall sick just by being in close proximity. Then again half-bloods protected that knowledge from humans. If they were to find out what the effect of the black flower did to all those not of age, they could kill off all the young. The man had given me a large dose of it. If I was of age I would most likely become immune to the effects, but I still had time till I became sixteen and of age.

Another spasm hit me and I coughed slightly. All my senses hurt, and my body was racked with pain. I longed to fall into a deep sleep, but knew if I did the drug would work faster possibly killing me. I weakly reached out for my satchel grabbing at a jar. I weakly opened it and stuck my forefinger into the cream. I brought out my finger licking it before I faded into unconsciousness.

(Zen POV)

"What R's not here?"

"No, he hasn't returned."

I narrowed my eyes, worriedly.

"I wonder what in the world happened to him, he told me he'd cook breakfast this morning."

With those words I turned springing onto my brown mare. I urged the horse through the streets to the docks, my eyes set in determination.

(Z POV)

Here's some food you want to eat don't you?"

I kept my head down from where I had pushed myself up into a sitting position. The cream I had eaten had nullified the most of the drug, but my head still rang and my body ached. My thoughts drifted to my landlady and Zen, they'd be worried I wasn't back by now.

I heard him sigh and place the tray on a barrel, as he did that I rammed into the barrel, causing it to hit into him. I pulled at the ropes that I had set to working at as soon as I woke up from the drugs last night. The thin thread left snapped, setting my hands free. My hands were raw from the cord and from constantly moving them up and down against a jutted rock on the wall to break them.

I pulled the rug out from under him and ran out shutting the door behind me. My legs felt sluggish and I coughed clutching my chest. At this rate I wouldn't be strong enough to escape. If it weren't for the drugs I could easily take on the man but my only option now was running away.

I clutched my satchel as I ran, searching for an exit. I pulled weakly at a locked door, but it didn't budge.

"Oh, found you. I have the keys, there was no way out was there?"

I glared defiantly at him as my brain chugged along at a slow pace. He was on the second floor which most likely meant there was an exit.

"Just so you know you're in the middle of a mountain, kitty. Even if you could get out do you think you could escape all by yourself?"

"I…I found somewhere I want to be, somewhere where I can learn what my destiny is. I won't be caught in a place like this."

With that I formed a small plan in my head. I needed to make it to the second floor though. I ended up at a dead end, my luck is horrible. I pulled out some herbs, my fingers shaking in dulled pain. I lighted a lantern where I had placed the herbs inside. The footsteps stopped behind me.

"Did you decide to stop running, kitty?"

I stood up making sure the lantern was hidden behind me as I glared defiantly at him.

"You won't complain if I catch you, right?"

He stepped towards me and I twirled smashing the lantern against the wall. Smoke poured out from the burning herbs. Holding my nose so as not to breathe in the substance I backed up. The man fell onto his knees the herbs that were burned in the lamp taking affect.

"Damn it!"

I ran past him, hearing his scrabbles to follow. I turned to stare at his kneeling form, the herbs definitely weakened him though.

"What the?"

"I burned herbs with paralyzing effects, so the feeling in your body should be numbed for a while."

With that I ran, heading up a flight of stairs. Sure enough the windows on the second floor had no bars. I pushed one open and part fell part jumped out of it, weakly gripping at a tree branch. My weakened body gave way and I thumped down painfully onto the ground. I forced myself up, grabbing out a bit more of the cream to lick. As long as the cream kept working to nullify the most of the drug, I could still move.

"Sorry to make you wait."

I turned to see the man holding a torch.

"Unfortunately, this is it for you."

"Those herbs earlier didn't really have that much of an effect, either."

He was using the wall to support himself. I took a step back, my legs ached from the strain. I turned to run and he sprung gripping my shoulder roughly, he pushed me against the wall. I hissed as he plunged the torch right beside my face, his hand on the other side trapping me in.

"You can't escape from me on this mountain. You know what, if you run away someone else will probably just come after you. It'd be safer if you just gave yourself to some noble or royalty. You'd be protected and live in luxury. Don't you think that would be a good way to go? Don't you, kitty?"

"Never!"

"Then I'll bring you with me!"

He yelled drawing back the torch, my eyes widened as the torch plunged towards my face. At the last second something hit it out of the man's hand. I turned to see Zen staring angrily at the man.

"Who's there bastard!"

The man pulled out his sword lunging at Zen, Zen expertly evaded. Plunging the hilt into the man's stomach. The man gagged and Zen slammed him in the head with his sheathed blade, causing him to fall against a tree. Zen slouched panting before whirling to face me. I stared at him from where I stood against the wall.

(Zen POV)

I made it just in time, I panted in relief, before turning towards R. I placed my hand to the right of his head against the cold stone. He stared at me, his golden eyes seemed dark and bleak. He was sweating and I could see a slight tremble in him.

"Hey R, wasn't this supposed to be a day trip?"

"Zen…"

"Are you hurt?"

I could tell from here, that something was ailing him. The way his eyes looked so dull and his tail was still against his leg, I hated it. I wanted to see the gleam in his eyes, and the flick of his tail.

"Fine."

"I see…"

I gazed at him, trying to figure out whether to believe him, and it was simply the event that made him like this or if he was lying. I didn't have time to think about it, as I turned hearing the man cough.

"You had a guard, huh…What the heck, I was planning on taking the job for myself whenever I presented him, and make some money while I was at it."

My sword tightened in my grip.

"This mansion used to be my house. Our vacation home from when we were still nobility. Now I can only live in hiding like a stray dog. In the past this was a pretty gorgeous house though. Social status and family name can be swallowed up by darkness in a second. People like you who wear nice clothes and act all elegant will have nothing left if you lose your fortune. Just wait until you're covered in filth, but I won't live like this any longer. I don't care how, but I'm going to make money no matter what it takes."

He turned his gaze to R.

"That was when I thought I could use you, kitty. I'd make lots of money showing you off, all you had to do was become bound with me. After you became bound to me no one would want to steal you, since you were already bound. You can still become bound with me, you know you'll be hunted by humans until you either become bound or run back to your hidden country."

I felt R tense at the word bound, clearly he knew what the man was talking about. Whatever it was it seemed the man thought until R became bound to someone, humans would chase him. I'd have to ask him about it later. Right now, I had to deal with this man who was upsetting R.

"Shut up!"

I stepped forward confidently.

"I don't have any desire to know how this boy looks in your eyes. R is not here to be used as anyone's tool."

"Your names R?"

"Don't soil his name!"

"What the heck? Are you his dad or something?"

I stepped forward angrily.

"His dad...?"

I sighed, relaxing my grip on my sword as I stepped back. I glanced at R, who looked slightly better, no longer trembling and his tail was once more flicking back and forth. However one look at his eyes and I could see they were still dulled down by something.

"R, was there anyone else with this man?"

"No."

"Alright, if he's by himself we can take him down the mountain. Even if we don't escort him all the way to the castle, we can just hand him over to an official at the bottom of the mountain."

I stood turning back to R.

"Castle? Who in the world are you? What's your name?"

"Zen."

"Zen…? Zen as in…the second prince of Clarines?"

I turned smiling slightly.

"I'm R's friend."

We ended up taking him down the mountain, R walked by my side as we had tied the man to the horse. I had long ago, during our first meeting noticed R's graceful manner of walking. Right now, he seemed to have lost his grace, and his stealth in the woods.

"You sure you okay?"

"Fine."

I sighed deciding not to press it. If R felt like telling me the problem he would in his own time. We handed over the man to an official and R ran up handing the guard escorting the man a jar.

"Please use this on his injuries."

I blinked, R really was way too innocent and pure. The man turned.

"Hey, kitty where is the place you wanted to go?"

R never answered as the man was taken off.

Next morning

(R POV)

"The officials found out his name was Mihaya, and he didn't seem to be connected to any bandits."

"Oh"

"But just in case I'll be more careful of my surroundings for a while."

"Yeah."

I sighed, Zen wasn't looking at me, even after I tried to start a conversation. I knew he could tell something was wrong with me last night, but I tried to hide my pain. The effects of the black flower had finally worn off, and I was regaining my strength. I was glad to no longer feel the pain and be able to use my senses properly.

"Zen are you angr-"

"No."

I looked down sadly. Zen was the first human I had ever met who wasn't mean after seeing who I really was. I found myself wanting to see how far are friendship would go after this. I didn't want it to end, considering last night Zen said I was his friend. Truthfully, I think I consider him as my friend as well.

"I'm sorry, I messed up. Please at least look at me. At least ten seconds!"

I whispered. He turned slightly towards me.

"Zen, you came to look for me, you called me your friend, thank you. I want you to know that I...I…"

I paused looking up to see Zen smiling a hand on my head, carefully not touching my ears.

"Five seconds was enough."

I gazed up into his blue eyes as his fingers ran through my hair. Pulling away he leaned against the balcony.

"I'll admit I was a little angry."

"Huh?"

"Not at you. It's hard to explain but it was more at myself…"

He held up one of his hands slightly gazing at it with a sad look.

"It was fun just learning more about things outside of the castle. But after learning about them I wonder what I can do."

His hand closed into a fist, his eyes looked determined.

"Zen…"

"R, what that mountain monkey asked you when he left that you didn't answer… The place you decided to go by yourself…The reason why you came to this country…"

"I want to see how you live in this country, the place I can do that is where I decided to go."

I said gazing up at the sky, before turning to look at him, he smiled.

"I hope I can see you from that place to."

I looked over at him, a small wisp of a smile flitted across my face.