"You will cease this madness Hitomi!" her father shouted as she slowly pulled her sword underneath her bed.

"Don't worry father if he proves that he's quite excellent, why then I'll be more than happy to be his damsel in distress and he will be my knight in shinning armor." She could here her father's harsh breathing from behind her.

"Duel?" he asked.

"Yes, I challenge you to a duel. I wouldn't want a guard who couldn't even beat his own princess now do I? What do you think?".

"You're mad."

"Not quite. You can call me cautious; I wouldn't want to end up protecting you rather than you protecting me." She grinned up at him.

"Don't tell me you're afraid Van Fanel, excellent but not known? You, afraid of a mere girl like me? Well, I don't blame you many of our soldier already fought me but not one of them even laid a single scratch in my body which my father was happy about."

"And you aren't?"

"Not really, fighting always includes wounds and if you aren't hurt it becomes dull. You'll then realize that they are no match to you."

"And this is from an eighteen year old girl?"

"Woman, Van Fanel. You will tend to remember or else I just might not be too considerate next time. So do you accept or not?"

"How can I ignore an invitation given by a woman?" He answered as he bowed to her.

"You will not fight the man Hitomi. You will listen to me once and for all!"

"Your father is right Hitomi. You don't know him. And just like what your father said before he's quite skilled and you wouldn't stand a chance against him. He'll have you without breaking a sweat." Yukari said tying Hitomi's belt ribbon tightly. She also helped on tying her hair.

"You've told me before father that you're proud that I'm excellent in handling a sword."

"I didn't say excellent. I said I'm proud that you are good in handling a sword." Her father said as he passed back and forth around the room looking worried.

"No you said excellent." She retorted.

"No it was good!" He answered back as he continued walking around the room.

"I'll just tell Van that you…" her father began but she cut him off.

"No you will not, father. You will not dishonor me by doing so. I can do this and if he is truly excellent in handling a sword he will not hurt me that much." As she pulled the sword out of its box casing, she gazed at it. Then slowly pulled a white cloth at her side table and slowly polished the sword. The sword is thin and long, its handle embedded with red rubies shining brightly as the sun from her window hits it. She slowly pulled it up then down, testing it. It was specifically made for her, light and yet deadly.

"Here." Yukari gave her a strip of cloth that she securely tied at her right hand then took hold of the sword again. She looked back at her father and Yukari who are both looking worried.

"I'm going to be fine. There's no need to worry." She smiled at them.

"Its already afternoon, my lady." She looked at the maid standing near the door. She nodded towards her.

"Are you sure?" Yukari asked one last time. She answered her with a smile and glitter of excitement in her eyes.

"I fought many men before, Yukari. I'll fight once more and the result will be the same." She answered as she walked towards the door.

"I hope so…" Yukari whispered as she holds both her hands tightly against her chest.

"Always remember, keep your breathing steady. Don't make him anger you. Look him in the eye. Don't falter… just fight." She stopped as she heard her father whispered.

"I will father." The door opened and then closed.

She slowly took deep breaths. * Inhale, exhale… * She looked around. This is the first time she'd seen so many people curious enough to watch the match. Some are whispering at one another and some held worried looks that made her want to shout at them that she's quite excellent but then there are some who's just curious. Then she turned and looked at the man standing several yards away from her. His stance relaxed as if he's not going to a battle but rather for a tea, which made her angrier. She pulled her right hand up, that held the sword and in a flash cut it in the air. Many looked amazed.

"Are you ready, Van Fanel?" she asked.

"Whenever you are, Princess." He didn't even bother to hold out his sword rather crossed his arms across his chest.

"Then what are you waiting for?" she asked her irritation increasing.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked back and grinned at her. She gritted her teeth as she stared at him.

"You asked for it." She whispered in anger and charged. Everyone went wild, many of them shouting for the Princess. * She's fast…for a girl. * Van thought as he looked on the approaching Princess. When her sword was inches away from him he dodged so fast that Hitomi instantly stopped and turned around and saw him standing behind her.

"You're far too slow for me Princess." He said as he backed away with his hands still crossed his chest. He could hear her intake of breath comes faster. Then out of the crowd came a voice.

"Don't make him anger you, Hitomi!" Yukari shouted somewhere in the crowd.

"Remember what the King said!"

"Yes… I know…" she whispered then took several calming breaths. Then she slowly pulled herself together and looked him in the eye.

"And what, if I may ask did your Father told you to do?" She could hear the mockery in his voice. She slowly straightened and just stood there waiting. * He doesn't want to fight, why then let's play your game Van Fanel *

"That's none of your business... Well, since it seems to me you aren't interested in fighting we'll just have to rectify that wont we?" She then smiled. She gave him her smile that always fascinated many soldiers that she fought. She slowly walked towards him but he didn't step back but instead waited for her to come closer. * Good…* When she's mere inches from him, her sword at her side. She tiptoed and whispered at his ear. Many people gasped, she could hear them speak.

"What is she doing?"

"My God! She's a Princess she shouldn't stand there near that man!"

"What is she planning?"

"Why not fight, Van Fanel? Do you think me too slow, too inept? Or are you afraid that if I hurt you, your self-image will be destroyed and many young women will be too disappointed to take you to bed?" she heard him took a deep breath. * Good… You're a man Van Fanel like many others. * She was about to step back but he took hold of her upper arms and whispered back at her ear.

"Not really Princess. You are slow and you are inept but your tongue is far more deadly than your skill. Let me tell you one thing Princess. Whores don't bed men for their skills in fighting or their, your so-called self-image but rather they bed men for how much pleasure and how much gold they could give, always remember that Princess." Then he roughly pushed her away. She stared horrified and speechless. Off balance once more. * No! You won't let him stun you, Hitomi! You won't! * She slowly smiled.

"I didn't know that. Why, I haven't met that much whores in my life. Maybe after this fight, I'll ask one or maybe I could ask one of yours?" she saw his eyes blazed.

"Are you going to give me her name or are you going to let me find that out myself?" He laughed that startled not only her but also the crowd. He was on her the next instant.

"As I've said before, your tongue is deadlier than your skills." He said as he took hold again of her arms and held it against her side. She struggled, trying to push him away.

"You will let go of me right this instant!" Her breath hitched as she felt his breath at her neck.

"Do you know, Princess that by the way you're talking you knew far more than a simple Princess should know." She tried to push him away but he held her immobile whispering words below her ear.

"Or maybe you have a lover. Is that it Princess? You have a lover who doesn't know how to please you, that's why you're angry with me because many women do find me quite irresistible and unfortunately I find you more like a child. Is that why you're at the garden in the middle of the night, to look for your lover?" she gasped. * How did he know? * She looked him straight in the eye. * No, oh no! * She pushed him hard, away from her. He let go and watched her looked shocked. * Your lavender scent and long brown hair gave you away, Princess… * He thought as he stared at her face.

"You're that man! You're that pervert man!" she screamed. She then pulled her sword up and slashed several time but not one single blow hit him.

"How dare you? I'm not a wench and I don't have a lover!" She shouted at him as she repeatedly brought down her sword towards him. He looked at as she got lost in her anger. * She needs to learn control... * She stopped breathing hard.

"Are you finished?" he asked. * Damn him! Damn him! Damn him! *

"You should remember, Princess that in fighting you should learn to control that temper of yours because it will be the one that will be the cause of your beautiful death sooner or later." She blink he was on her again. She didn't have time to move he's fast and she's tired. He pushed her to the ground both her arms above her head, which he held with his right hand. She fought back trying to pull her hands but he held her so she tried to kick him but he already solved that by straddling her.

"Get off me! You pervert! Get off!" she struggled but to no vain. He sat there looking at ease.

"Surrender." He said. She stopped breathing her mind went back. Flashes of memories came flooding back to her.

_________________________________________________________________

"Surrender." the guy with silvery hair told her. She drew stiff holding the sword in front of her.

"Don't come near me! You will leave sir. My father will come and he will have your head with the other bastards with you." She screamed as she looked behind the silvery haired guy at the soldiers wearing black cloak just like the man in front of her.

"Really now? Why didn't I know that? You know Princess you are being stupid. You're surrounded in your own room. It's either you'll surrender and give me your mother hiding behind you or I'll have you for dinner." He smiled evilly at her.

"No! You will leave. You killed our soldiers but you'll never kill me or my mother, I'll have you for breakfast first!" she charged as he laughed. He dodged all her attacks. She saw it coming but couldn't move the sword that came far too fast for her to evade. Metal meets flesh. She shivered as she felt it went through her side, cold.

"Hitomi!" she heard her mother screamed holding her body as it collapsed to the floor.

"No! Hitomi, wake up… Hitomi please don't leave me, Hitomi." She heard her mother said. She slowly opened her eyes, saw her mother crying caressing her face.

"Hitomi…"

"Mother…" she whispered back she tried to move. * I have to protect mother. I have to. * But her body won't let her. It hurts, hurts too much.

"Your daughter is brave and stupid, your majesty but quite beautiful. Now it's time for us to finish our business here." She saw her mother picked up her sword.

"You'll die!" Her mother screamed and charged but the same sword that wounded her slid through her mothers' chest.

"No!!!" she screamed.

___________________________________________________________________

"No!!!!" there's anguish in her voice as she screamed. Her eyes blank, she stared at the man on top of her.

"You killed mother! You killed mother!" everyone stared, shocked. She went berserk, trashing about. * What the hell! * Van thought as he tried to stop her. She was strong and was trying to push him back, away from him. He stumbled as he moved away from her. She gripped her sword tightly as she stood up. He was on his feet but she's already on him the sword slashing through his shirt but made no contact with his flesh. She was breathing hard, her eyes vague and wild.

"You killed mother… You killed mother… You killed mother…" it was like a chant, she keeps on repeating. Yukari came running.

"Hitomi! Hitomi, stop this!" But Hitomi didn't hear her. She came charging towards Van.

"Hitomi!" Yukari screamed.

"You killed mother!!!!" He dodged but it was too late the sword already sliced a bit at his left arm. He pulled his sword and stopped her sword from slicing through him. He took hold of her hand holding the sword, she tried to move away but his gripped tighten. He stared at her eyes.

"You will stop this instant, Princess." His voice hard but she only struggled trying to get away. He then twist her wrist making her dropped the sword. When she was about to pick it up again he took hold of her arms and shook her. He then stopped and looked her straight in the eyes once again but she still held that vague, wild look. He then drew his right hand and slapped her across the face. Everyone gasped.

"Oh no…" Yukari whispered. Hitomis' head snapped back from the impact of the blow. She slowly looked at the man in front of her. Her eyes widen.

"Why did you slap me?" she asked horrified.

"You bastard! Why did you slap me? You're not only a pervert; you're also an overconfident beast! How dare you slap me? How dare you?" * At least you're back to normal… * he looked at her. She pushed hard as she could to get away from him but he held her tightly.

"I slap you because you went a little crazy. You thought I'm the one who killed your mother." His voice serious and she could see the intense look from his eyes. He let go of her.

"Its over." He said then sheathed his sword then left the courtyard. She stood there looking at her sword at the ground, lying there lifeless. * "I slap you because you went crazy. You thought I'm the one who killed your mother." Did I really think he killed my mother? No…no… if he walks away it only means I lost… no I won't accept defeat, I won't! * She picked up her sword.

"It's not over Van Fanel! You come back here or I'll slice your back to get your attention!" she shouted her sword pointing at his retreating back. He stopped and turned.