~The First Stanza~

Verse 03: Crystalline Princess

Rumors can spread as easily as wildfire. The fact that a monster created by Frost was defeated is a huge deal, especially when the said monster was crafted from Ouji-sama himself. Eh, but that doesn't really matter to me. What I'm curious about is the one who did it. Hyoujin was no pushover. And yet... a human was able to overcome him. That excites me. I think Gurando-san called these humans Kamen Riders. I would love to test my strength against them. But our beloved Ou-sama hasn't been himself... It's getting more frustrating to wait more and more.

You would think that after all this time of service that his majesty and his wife would grant me some respect. But no. Even Hime-sama treats me cruely (as she should), but that is besides the point. I think she's taking the term "ice princess" to a whole new level...

***

"Onee-san, where are you going?" asked the adoring face of Chiharu. Ayaka looked back and replied to her softly,

"Work. But don't worry, Manager-san is going to look after you." Chiharu made a face and moaned,

"No! He's a mean Oji-san!" Ayaka giggled and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He's a bit rough around the edges... but please be nice to him... okay Chiharu-chan?" She was back to being sunshine and rainbows. Chiharu still was pouting but nodded. Thanking her, she walked out the door, leaving the key under the mat. Making her way down the snowy and ice-ridden roads, she traveled down passages and twisting alleyways, finding herself in front of an empty abandoned building. It was clearly vacant, with mold growing on the support. The roof was laced gently with snow, giving it a homey feel. The door was ripped off its hinges, but was still in place, not connected to anything. The windows were also shattered, giving the place a final touch. She walked over to the house and knocked on the door.

Immediately, a voice spoke in a low whisper that it was amazing Ayaka could hear it at all.

"Password and ID?" Ayaka placed her pin into the keyhole and said just as lowly,

"Six Heralds Tell The Coming of Spring." The door glowed brown for a second until it faded. The porch of the house bent down, revealing a secret passage way. Walking downwards, she found herself deep underground. The wooden structure of the house gave way to a cave-like tavern. She walked through it and lit the torches on the walls. Electricity was hard to wire at this location, thus the need for such archaic demonstrations. She finally came to the end of the tunnel, which lead to a highly technological door. She placed her pin in the middle of the contraption. It analyzed it with a blue ray and the door clicked, letting it open. As it slowly slide into the wall, her eyes had to adjust to the blinding light behind it. Once she could see properly, she walked forward, greeting everyone she met with a smile. Up a set of pale stairs she went, which led to an elongated hallway. There were two rows of columns, fastened after the works of the Greeks. Only the patterns shown in the columns were that of several types of flora. Her footsteps echoed as she went down the empty hallwall. At its end was a large set of doors. Before she could knock, as husky voice answered,

"Come in Ayaka-san." Ayaka grabbed the handle of the door and opened it slowly. The room inside was expansive. Not only that, but it resembled a garden. There were at the very least over a thousand flora species aligning the walls, in various arrangements. She felt warm as she ever did, as the flowers had some sort of claming effect on her. To her right was the figure of a man, who was tall, about six foot five. He had hair that stopped at his neck and which was a caramel color. He was wearing a business suit of sorts, with a red tie. He was clearly Japanese of descent, like her. He was tending to the flowers as she bowed in respect.

"You called me Shirayuki-san?" He didn't answer her right away as he was busying realigning a set of flowers. As he placed them correctly, he turned to her and nodded.

"We have recieved a report about a potential Frost target." He walked over to the small desk in the corner, seemingly out of place in the room. Out of the drawer he took a folder that was thick and said

"Daikane Keiko-san. She is the daughter and heir to the Daikane family. Which as you know, the Daikane family provide funding for Ie Arashi, which provides the entire nation of Japan with heat via their personal gas line." Ayaka nodded and replied,

"So you want me to protect Daikane-san?" He returned her nod with one of his own.

"That's right. Under no circumstances can she be allowed to be taken by Frost. Understand?" She replied with,

"Hai! (Yes). I will protect her with my life!" He smiled.

"Your always so cute when you devote yourself." She blushed and bowed once again. She left the floral office and out of his sight. As for himself, he returned to tending to his blossoming flowers.

***

Ayaka was now face to face with the preteen daughter of Daikane Genta. She had straight black hair and colorful strands down her front, dyed to look pink. Her wardrobe was perfectly black, with a shirt which read "CRUSH YOU HARD" in English. She was still smiling, hoping to ease the tensions between them. Instead, it was further strained. Keiko replied by saying,

"I don't need a babysitter. Especially one as pop-star hapy as you." She let that one go, because she WAS a popstar. But she did correct her by saying,

"Umm... Daikane-san, I'm your body-guard. Not babysitter." She blew her hair up and replied,

"Same difference. I'm saying I don't need you following me around."

"But Daikane-san! Your in danger!" She gave a sarcastic chuckle.

"Proof? No one has attacked me."

"It's to prevent anything from happening to you." She shrugged and said,

"Whatever. If you want to follow me around, I don't care. Just stay away from me." Ayaka could feel something was probably bothering her. She just couldn't put her finger on what precisely. So, she spent the ret of the door following her charge.

She went everywhere. An underground rock concert, the arcade, the movies, and even the restroom when necessary. It was clear she was trying to shake her off. But her training in tailing a suspect wasn't going wasted in this predicament. She kept on her, turning corners and glancing the ice on the floor for shadows. Thankfully, there were none.

Although, from all of the activities, she surmised that Keiko had no friends. And it was even more obvious that her parents neglected her due to their business. She was trying to entertain herself was all. Scared to open up to others. And she was perfectly fine with that. Until later on that is. She caught Keiko trying to buy what seemed to be a fine white powder, which instinctively she jumped to think of the term drug. She literally dashed over to her side, catching both the dealer and Keiko by surprise. Holding out a legitimate badge she said proudly,

"You are under arrest on the charge of illegal possession." From her boots she slipped out a pair of hand-cuffs which she twirled around her fingers. The man tried to run for it, but she slid across the ice on the floor, being the athelete she was, and knocked him down. She quickly placed the hand-cuffs on and called the actual authorities. Within minutes, they arrived to arrest the man (owing to the fact the station was right across the street). She turned her attention to Keiko who was furious.

"Why?! Why did you arrest him? I need it!" It was clear she was hooked. Ayaka gritted her teeth and did something she hated doing. Which is to say, she slapped Keiko across the face. Emotional, she cried out,

"Baka (Idiot)! I get your life is hard, but maybe you wouldn't be so miserable if you let someone else in!" Holding her cheek, Keiko began to tear and scream as well.

"Like who?! I don't have 'parents' and no one wants to even talk with me!" Ayaka continued more,

"Like me!" Keiko was stunned and stared at her dumbly. She continued,

"I'll be your friend. But only if you'll open up to me..."

"Ayaka-san..." Before she could answer, the ice behind them burst, revealing another ice monster. This one was sparkling and had the figure of a woman. Her ips were a super contrast of blue, resembling the temperature of her body. She wore a crown of sorts on her head and her left arm was that of a sharpened blade. She licked the blade and moved forward.

"Ah... Daikane Keiko. I was ordered to take your memories. Let's get this over with." She began running to them as Ayaka pushed the younger girl out of the way as she dodged the charge herself. Taking the pin out, she threw it into the air, causing the blet to appear after the cherry blossoms convened at her waist. Catching the pin, she slid it into her belt and cried out,

"Henshin!" Once again, she was covered in her armor and gave the Hyouhime monster a punch to the gut. Only her gut was made of ice. Still, the effect was desirable. She backed upalittle a said breathely,

"Sakura?" She tapped her blade and smiled.

"Gurando-sama has placed a bounty on your head. The Frost who can get your memory flower will be granted rewards unimaginable!" She ran forward, swiping the blade to her right. Ayaka bent backwards, avoiding the blade barely. She raised a leg upwards into a kick which nicked the monster's chin. She tried again by stabbing her in the chest, but Ayaka sidestepped and punched her in the jaw, making her spin around, holding her fragile face. She took the opportunity to throw a kick to her back. Quick as lightning, the monster grabbed Ayaka's foot and picked her up in anger.

Tossing her into the side of the building, Hyouhime ran over to her and picked her up by the shoulder. She began to mercilessly slash into Ayaka, who was protected by the armor, but still felt the pain from the force of the blows.

"Auhhh... Ughhh....!" The blows continued, with each one knocking the wind out of her. In the distance, Keiko shook her head. She couldn't let the one person who reached out to her die. Especially not like this. So, totally out of character, she cried out,

"AYAKA-SAN! I... I... I WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND!" Ayaka stopped the blade as the monster brought it done for a final swing. Picking up her head slightly, she said,

"D-Daikane-san..." She raised her leg and kicked back, knocking the monster away from herself. She said aloud,

"Dai- No... Keiko-san... I want to be your friend too." She smiled behind the visor and Keiko, through her tears of happiness, smiled back. But the monster was still there. She took out a disk that was pink for it's main color and white on its side. She picked her leg up and slid the disk onto a latch on the armor. Instantly, the disk began to rotate severely, glowing pink. Both of them were transported to what seemed to be a swirling meadow of cherry blossoms.

"Wha-What is this? What is this warmth?!" cried out the Frost as Ayaka hit the ground with the leg that housed the disc and was propelled into the air. She did a backflip whilst there and stopped in mid-air, amongst the storm of cherry blossoms that encircled them, carried by a fierce wind. Using the momentum of force, she dived down, extending the disk leg out into a kicking position. With a cry of,

"Ha!" She, accompanied with dozens of cherry blossoms behind her, barraged the monster. Unlike the first one, this monster shattered on impact, being cut into thousands of pieces. Undoing the transformation, Ayaka ran over to Keiko and checked to see if she was alright.

"Are you okay?" She answered with a hug, which caught her of guard.

"Yes... Arigatou Ayaka-san." She held out her pinky.

"Friends forever?" She grasped it with her own and they shook.

"Friends forever." She agreed and they smiled, happy to be friends.

Chiharu is initiated into the Hanako Renchu. What exactly is this mysterious company up to? FIND OUT NEXT TIME!