Chapter 5: Five Days Time

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Back in Hattusa, everything was quiet. Uncomfortable quiet. The princes and Yuri were not talking to each other, and without Yuri's usual upbeat attitude, the palace seemed grey. Ryui and Shala were voicing their worries openly, until Hadi scolded them and sent them back to work.

"I am more concerned with Prince Zannanza's life then Prince Kail's love life. Prince Zannanza did kidnap a concubine of Prince Kail's, and Prince Kail is being accused of negligence for not stopping them." Ilbani intoned.

"But, all of Prince Zannanza's actions were because of Queen Nakia's dark water!" Ryui/Shala cried. I still couldn't tell them apart. I should work on that.

"And how will you explain that? We have no proof. Queen Nakia is probably persuading the king to punish them harshly." Ilbani mumbled.

I considered all of this for a moment. I didn't have time to think of a plan before a messenger came. Summoning Prince Zannanza, Prince Kail, Yuri, and I to his palace immediately. I guess my plan will have to come to me on the way to his majesty's palace.

Inside the Imperial Palace

All four of us kneeled in front of the King and Queen. I noticed that the entire ministry was there as well. I mentally thanked Ilbani for tutoring the basics of the Hatttusian legal system. Perhaps if we can convince the ministry it was not kidnap, we might have a chance.

"The princes are supposed to be role models for the people. To have you two behaving so childishly is a disgrace!" The King's voice boomed. " A regular punishment for kidnap is a year's worth of income. As you are princes, I will fine you 200 times that! You will each pay 80 silver mana!"

"That is not enough!" screeched the queen. " Your Majesty said so yourself, a prince is a role model to the people. I demand that they be stripped of their rank!"

"WHAT? Such a drastic thing…No way would the ministers allow that!" I thought, thinking we would be able to get out of this seemingly unscathed. That is, until the first minister stood up, then the next. Then more and more. They were agreeing with that witch! With the ministry on her side, even the king cannot overturn the decision!

"Then, it is decided. Kail Mursili and Zannanza Hattusili will be deprived of…"

"NO! This can't happen. It can't!" I gritted my teeth. I almost called something out just to buy time before Yuri beat me to it.

"The kidnapping was planned! A ploy!" Yuri shouted.

"Silence, girl!" Nakia cried

"Wait. I wish to hear what she has to say." The King said, turning to Yuri.

"Uhm…well" It seems her courage had left her.

"If I may Your Grace." I jump in. "The 'kidnapping' was merely a hoax to get Princess Yuri, Prince Zannanza and I to Kizzuwadna and prepare the troops." I say confidently spinning my web of lies.

"It is true that without the preparations, there would have been now way for us to repel the Prince of Darkness." Ilbani claimed, backing my story up.

" What? Why did you not inform us that Mittani had attacked? And guards in Kanesh clearly saw Princess Yuri was taken against her will! It could not have been an act!" Queen Nakia fumed, trying to scavenge any pieces of her plan still intact.

"Well, deceiving the royal guard is not something to flaunt around. I was unsure as to who were spies and decided the plan best be kept confidential. As for Yuri's actions, I take full responsibility for that. It all happened so fast, that I had assumed that Prince Zannanza or Prince Kail had informed her of the plan, and they in turn presumed that I had informed her. I had failed to make sure she had all of the information, and for that I take full responsibility." I finish, bowing my head low as I was taught.

"Such ingenuity! You will all be greatly rewarded for this later." The King beamed at his son. "And you, young girl, you are proving to be quite the tactician. We may have more use for you soon." The king said addressing me.

"I thank you for your praise, Your Majesty." I say bowing low to hide my victorious smile. I did glance up though, to see Queen Nakia's furious face.

Back at our palace, I finally let out a giggle that turned into full on laughter. All of the relief came crashing down on me as a realized we had completely foiled Queen Nakia's plot. My mood sobered a little as I noticed Yuri, Prince Kail, and Prince Zannanza go directly to their rooms for the day. Seems there is still some tension.

"Are you going to try and fix them?" Ilbani asked from behind me.

"No. It isn't my place." I say airily as I walked to the bathing chamber. "Will I see you for our lesson tonight?" I ask

"Of course." He said, smiling just the littlest bit.

In the bathing chamber, I struggled to get my clothes off. My movements were restricted thanks to the injury on my back. I could call Hadi, Ryui and Shala in to help me…but I just couldn't get used to the whole "having maids" thing. Finally getting my clothes off, I prepared to step into the water. Before I saw the mirror.

Reflected in the mirror was still me, but so much different. My hair was now cropped above my chin and looked like a messy bedhead with uneven strands here and there due to the wonderful job I did cutting it. Bruises marred my skin, which was losing its former pastiness and gaining some color due to the constant sun exposure. My figure was beginning to fill in, I still wasn't much, but I wasn't a stick anymore. But my eyes…they looked… colder, harder. I turned away from the mirror and began to slowly lower myself into the water. It was nice, until I reached my wound.

I breathed in sharply and whimpered as the hot water met the base of the cut. It felt like I was boiling alive as I tried and failed to go any lower. I quickly jerked myself out of the water, gasping as I sat on the edge of the water, my feet still dangling in. For a moment, I considered just getting it over with, like dunking your entire body in cold water to get it used to the temperature. That idea was quickly dismissed as I shuddered and felt the leftover waves of pain lace up my spine.

"It is acceptable to ask for help sometimes." A voice stunned me as I turned to face Ilbani.

"Ilbani? What is it? I'm taking a bath." I say, but my voice betrayed me and cracked.

He sighed loudly. "And how is that bath going for you, hm?" He asked, slightly playfully. "A bit hard to take a bath when you can't get in the water, I would think."

I scowled but had nothing to say. He was kind of right in this case. "I'll figure it out." I grumble.

"Mmmhmm. And while you do that, I'll go ahead and wash your back." He said, a wet cloth already in hand. " It may not be like a bath, but it's better then no bath at all."

I didn't even have time to protest before he was behind me, gently cleaning my back with the wet cloth.

"Ilbani! I can-" I start.

"Woman, will you just accept the help?" He said curtly, still cleaning my back. "This is going to have to be bandaged again later anyhow."

His hands were light. I could barely feel his touch, until he began to clean closer to the wound. I hissed a bit as the cloth came in contact with the stitches. It wasn't immensely painful as it was yesterday, but it still hurt quite a bit. One thing I will admit missing in Japan was Advil. I clenched my hands and took a slow breath in, then let it out gradually.

"This is going to scar…" I heard him mutter.

"You know, in Japan, they used to say a scar on your back marks a bad warrior. It means they turned their back on an enemy. Is it like that in Hattusa too?" I muse out loud mostly to try and keep my mind away from the pain. I winced. It was sort of working.

"We have no such belief in Hattusa." Ilbani said plainly after a long silence. He seemed about to say more, but must have thought it better to keep quiet.

"But a scar on a 'lady' isn't that great, huh?" I said, reading his silence. "I think a lot of cultures think that way. In our time, there were often ways to remove scars."

"Would you want to remove it?" He asked while reaching for fresh bandages.

"Nope." I laughed, scooping up some bubbles from the tub and blowing on them, scattering them everywhere. "This scar is part of me now. Erasing it won't that part of my life. It just hides it." I raise my arms for him to wrap the bandages. I couldn't raise them past my shoulders. How can I practice the bow like this? I huffed, realizing I couldn't do any horseback riding for a while either.

Ilbani got up. " I will be in your room tonight for our lesson. Don't take too long in the bath." He said before walking out of the room.

It was getting dark as Ilbani and I sat at the desk in my room studying. Today, Ilbani wanted to explain some of the mythology to me; to be more specific, the myths surrounding Ishtar and Ereshkigal. He said it was important to know who Yuri and I were portraying.

Ishtar and Ereshkigal were daughters of Ninurta. Ishtar had chosen to be the goddess of war, fertility and light, while her sister Ereshkigal was forced to live in the underworld as the goddess of death and darkness against her will. She was not known to be caring, but nor was she known to be cruel.

I had always been more interested in Greek mythology in Japan, and I immediately tried to make connections. Ishtar was paralleled to Athena in all aspects except fertility. Ereshkigal…well it was obviously Hades himself.

It would seem like an awful thing, to rule over something so dreary as the dead. That's why Ereshkigal and Hades were forced into it. But at the same time…The ruler of the dead has a decent amount of power. To rule over and have so much unchallenged power…it takes one with a stable moral compass. I thought back and realized I did not remember any truly negative stories of Hades. No illegitimate children, no spiting humans without a good reason…truly the man kept to himself most of the time. The abduction of Persephone though…It seemed odd to me. The girl was the goddess of life and vegetation before, yet no children of theirs were ever recorded. There were many theories for this. The most prominent: Hades did not want to end up like Cronus. With a child stronger then him that may one day overpowers him. But many of the main gods feared that, and to solve it, they merely ate their children, or killed them. But Persephone had never been recorded having any children at all. Alive or dead.

I had my own theory. I think that Hades took Persephone…because he was lonely. I don't think he needed a wife. I think he needed a friend, and Persephone's bright personality may have brought some light into his world.

My musings were interrupted as Yuri burst into my room angrily.

"Yuki! Can I sleep with you tonight?" She stormed in without awaiting an answer, plopping down on the bed, still fuming.

"We will finish this lesson another day." Ilbani got up, and bid us good night before leaving rather quickly. Coward.

After he departed, I faced a still seething Yuri. "Are you and Prince Kail still fighting?"

"He doesn't believe me! I know it! I can see it in his eyes!" She wailed, falling back on the bed with a sigh of exasperation. I was at a loss; I was good with battle strategies, but love advice? May as well throw me into the lion pit.

"Well…He's only upset because he's jealous, right? Otherwise it wouldn't bother him at all." I say hesitantly. This really isn't my area of expertise.

She seemed to consider it for a bit though, and the idea pacified her enough to fall asleep. I looked at her, sleeping so soundly. She looked too innocent to be in such a world, but I knew she was strong. Even then, I wish she didn't have to be strong all the time. I wish she would lean on me more, so she can have time to act her age, to act like a child.

I suddenly realized how hypocritical I sounded. Hadn't I been snapping at Ilbani for wanting the same thing for me?

"It's acceptable to ask for help…" I say sleepily to nobody in particular before drifting off to sleep.

"NO! Station guards in East Anatolia. Keep an eye on Mittani! We can NOT have our caravan's disappearing!" A voice was screeching at the poor soldier that probably got the shortest stick and was facing a now livid Queen Nakia.

"Goodness, she is even more…spirited then usual." I comment dryly from our safe perch behind a pillar.

"Yes well women seem much more formidable once a month." Came Ilbani's deadpanned remark. I glance at him, suppressing a smile.

"This is nothing to joke about. She only gets this worked up if something that affects her is going awry. I hear she was awaiting a delivery from Babylonia." Prince Kail spoke next to us. As we walked past Yuri, he ignored her and in turn she turned up her nose in disgust.

"They are acting like children." I say under my breath.

"They still haven't made up?" Ilbani whispered.

"It's worse." The three sisters and I chimed in unison.

I accompanied Ilbani to the war meeting that the king was holding. To my surprise, it seems our goal is to completely destroy the Mittani kingdom. Then, to my utter shock, the King turned to me, asking if I believed that this would be a sound idea. Well, so far I knew that Hattusa would be ok until the war with Egypt; I assumed that we had a chance at defeating Mittani.

"Your majesty, considering our numbers, and the fact that we have use of iron, I believe the war will lean in our favor, but we mustn't underestimate the prince of darkness and his strategic skills." I answer.

By the end of the meeting, things were beginning to come together. It looks like war with Mitanni will not be avoided. Prince Kail noticed then that Yuri was missing and set off to look for her.

"War with Mitanni." I sigh. Truly I would have preferred to avoid war. Even if I was almost completely sure Hattusa would come out victorious, I was not sure who would be lost during the war. I rotated my shoulder; the wound on my back was slowly healing. I had been able to do a couple of shots with my bow already. I wondered if I would be well enough to fight in the war…

My thoughts were interrupted when Yuri and Prince Kail came and began explaining some new information they had learned from Queen Nakia herself.

"Dragon's Eye? Can such a thing exist? It sounds too good to be true." I frowned.

"I believed it to be legend as well, but if it is real, I shudder to think what would happen if Queen Nakia got a hold of it." Ilbani said.

"Then we shall go after it before the Queen can get it!" Yuri cheered ecstatically.

Prince Kail had been quiet for a long time. When he opened his mouth, well I wasn't too happy with what came out: "I will not be taking the goddesses into war with me. They shall remain in Hattusa."

I scowled but said nothing. Yuri on the other hand looked heartbroken.

"Please take me with you! I can handle Malatia! Please!" She begged.

"No. This war could last for years. You have to be in Hattusa to be able to go back to your Japan." Prince Kail turned coldly.

"No, Please don't leave me behind!" Yuri was sobbing now, but Prince Kail had already walked off.

"Are you unhappy about staying in Hattusa?" Ilbani asked me later, after Yuri had left with Hadi.

"I will follow wherever Yuri goes." Came my answer.

"I didn't ask that. I asked if you are unhappy about staying in Hattusa."

Unhappy? I contemplated that a moment. Usually, as long as I was with Yuri, I was completely happy. That hasn't changed, but hearing that I would not be taking part in the war sparked a tinge of anger in me.

"I don't know." I answer truthfully.

"Do you wish to go back to Japan?" He prodded.

"You're awfully meddlesome today." I sneered back.

"Well if you would stop being so secretive then I would have no need to meddle." He retorted.

"…I don't know." Came my quiet answer. "I just don't know anymore." It's true I've had more joy here then in Japan…But I still had things left in Japan. Words unsaid. Dreams in progress. But the happiness in Hattusa was intoxicating. But if Yuri wanted to go back to Japan, we would go back to Japan. I had decided that from the beginning. But do I want to go back? That I wasn't so sure of. Where was "home" for me?

Yuri had been in a foul mood all day. She was just the picture of misery, crying into Hadi's shoulder. We needed to fix this. It has gone on far enough. I decided right there and then.

"Yuri. Do you realize what you will risk if you go with Prince Kail? Knowing that, do you still want to go?" I asked gently.

She nodded, her head buried in her arms.

I pulled the three sisters aside and we began our own plot. As Hadi got the picnic basket all set up, the sister's went to find Kikkuri and I sought out Zannanza.

I sighed happily as I watched Prince Kail dash off after Prince Zannanza and Yuri at full speed on his horse.

"You guys think it worked?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Of course it did! Did you see the anger in his eyes? He looked like he was out for blood!" Shala grinned. I proudly noted that I could now tell them apart…most of the time.

"I deceived the prince…We are going to pay for this later…" Kikkuri moped in the corner.

" Oh hush, Kikkuri. It'll all be worth it if those two can patch things up!" I snickered,

stretching my arms over my head contently and sauntering off. Maybe I will be well enough for the war after all.

When they returned, Yuri announced that we were joining the war. I did feel a pang of excitement at that. I smiled as I went to my room to prepare and pack.

"Wow!" I breathed, watching the huge procession of people pass. The army was huge! Even Ilbani was coming with us this time! I had already met Rusafa due to the archery lessons, but it was my first time meeting Kash, Mattanamwa, and Sharma.

That night as Ilbani was talking by the fire, I made some mental notes. First, that the Mittani were excellent charioteers, second, the area surrounding was all flat plains. Not so good for people who preferred archery like me. And worst of all, we would not have iron for another three months time.

" I will take Malatia in five days time." Prince Kail had assured us. When he outlined his plan with Ilbani and I, I will admit it was genius, but I made it clear that I would be playing the part of spy in his little charade. Not…what all the other girl's roles.

Yuri's POV

I sat cuddled up in Prince Kail's lap dressed in a pathetic excuse of a dress. The three sisters were dressed similarly, Hadi serving Prince Kail wine, and the sisters serving fruit. All this as Prince Kail feigned being a frivolous prince. Yuki had taken one look at the outfits they urged her to wear and scrunched up her nose, snagging a clay tablet instead. She was currently sneaking around town documenting the locations of all the armories, entrances to town and escape routes from the palace.

I felt like a job like that suited her better anyhow. Not that she was sneaky or not fit to pass as a concubine, Yuki had the talent of blending into the shadows. The talent of observing. She could pick out weaknesses after only a short time in battle. True she wasn't as strong, but she was quick and agile. If it's her, I know she wont get caught.

"Urp!" I was pulled away from my thoughts as Prince Kail suddenly kissed me, pouring sweet wine into my mouth. I had never been a fan of wine…He suddenly stood me up and twirled me in a circle, showing me off. Is this how a concubine feels?! I feel like a piece of fruit on the market!

I giggled as I thought of the violent fit Yuki would have thrown if Prince Kail had subjected her to this.

Yuki's POV

I grunted a bit as I pulled myself up to the top of the towering tree. I pulled my dark cloak tightly around myself; blending into the leaves. I pulled the animal hide and charcoal out of the bag slung over my shoulder and began mapping the area. I quickly jotted down a quick map, highlighting the armories and exits.

Once I was satisfied with my map, I quickly maneuvered myself from my high perch and landed noiselessly on the ground. I had to get this back to Ilbani in Hakim's palace without being seen. I eyed the guards standing by the gates of the palace and instead grabbed hold of the uneven stonewalls and began climbing into a low window.

Once inside, it was easy to find Ilbani, who was speaking with the Hakim, something about his job being "demanding." I flattened myself against the wall and pulled the cloak tightly around me, effectively disappearing into the shadows.

"Did you do it?" Ilbani asked once the Hakim had left.

I laughed, "Of course I did. How did you know I was there?" I inquire, genuinely curious. I thought I had done a good job hiding.

"The bath oils you always use smell of Hyacinths and lavender. Even here, you have the lingering smell that does not quite fit in the room." He explained.

I huffed. I knew that scent would give me away, but I hadn't used any oils since we were in Hattusa. I had assumed the journey here had eliminated the sweet scent.

"Don't mope. I only knew because I had become so familiar with it. I quite like it actually. Anyhow, Princess Yuri has secured a deployment map and we should have five more days before the Prince of Darkness is due back. In the meantime, I would like to you be our eye in the shadows." He said. I noticed how quickly he hid his compliment under a barrage of orders.

"Sneaking around and spying? Yeah. I can do that." I grin. "I'll keep and keep a look out for the dragon's eye too." I add before heading towards the window. I would sleep outside for the night.

" Going in and out is too risky." Ilbani grabbed my wrist, "Too much room for error. The Hakim has assigned me a room; you can stay with me. If he finds out, I will simply claim you are a village girl I had brought in. Simple."

I scrunch my nose in distaste, " I'm being a spy so that I could avoid that part of Prince Kail's plan." I grumbled, but followed anyway. A place on the floor of a palace sure beats an alleyway any day!

The next day was dominated by the formal celebration. Only Prince Kail and Ilbani were invited though, apparently, women had no place there, so Yuri was waiting outside. The dining room was too bright and open for me to be able to conceal myself, so I was also forced to wait outside.

I was never one to stand still though, so I quietly explored the palace. On my explorations, I was surprised to see Kash, hustling his way toward the dining room. This could not bode well.

"Kash." I breathed so quietly that it could have been mistaken for the wind, but he heard me and turned toward the sound of my voice. Double-checking to make sure there were no guards, I stepped out of my hiding place.

"Kash, why are you here and not with Prince Zannanza? " I hissed. We still were supposed to have four more days.

"The Prince of Darkness is on his way back now. The Hakim's message got through." He replied seriously. I cursed as I too hurried after him to the dining room.

"We can't go in. They will get suspicious that we know and then we'd all be in for some trouble." I say as Yuri, Kikkuri, Kash and I struggled to think of a plan.

"Someone has to warn him." Kikkuri panicked, "otherwise the Prince of Darkness will be back to behead Prince Kail…"

Before anyone could stop her, Yuri had pushed open the doors and was standing at the entrance of the feast chamber.

"That damned girl," I cursed under my breath, putting my hand on the sword on my hip to get ready for a bloodbath. I was just about to draw it when Yuri let out the girly-est, most high pitch squeal and cry, running toward Prince Kail.

"Oh Prince Kail! I am oh so very lonely in our bedchamber. Won't you come keep me company?" She wailed in a voice that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Who knew the girl was so good at acting entitled and bratty?

Prince Kail carried her out in their dramatic exit and immediately took charge of the situation. Even with our plan in order, it would need more time. Time that we did not have anymore.

"I'll go out to meet the Prince of Darkness and stall for as long as I can without fighting him directly." I volunteer.

"No. You'll end up killing yourself." Ilbani protested, but I was already dashing out toward the gates outside the city. Time to meet this Prince of Darkness

I was a couple miles out of the city and was hiding in some dense shrubs. I laid in wait. My only goal was to slow him down. I readied my bow and then I hear the sound of horse hooves and chariot wheels against rough dirt. He had come ahead of his troops in his rush and was alone.

I saw him coming toward me and readied my bow. Right before he crossed my path, I let loose and arrow, lodging it snugly in between the spokes on the chariot's wheels. This caused one of the spokes to snap and send the chariot careening. The prince jumped off before the chariot could crush him and it was obvious he knew what direction the arrow had come from.

"Come out. Fight like a man, not cower in the shadows." He demanded.

"Hehe, not to fight in the shadows, huh? What an odd thing to say for a man who is known as the Prince of Darkness." I laugh, standing up and unsheathing my sword.

"A woman? Who are you?" His voice was cold and stoic as he drew his sword as well.

"Why, I am known as Yuki Ereshkigal. Or I guess the Goddess of Darkness. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." I purr with venom in my eyes. I needed to stall. Not fight. I know that in a sword fight, he would win hands down.

"Hah! The alleged goddess of Hattusa? It will be a pleasure to behead you and send your remains to Mursili!" He barked. My gaze did not waver. I stood resolutely ready to fight.

I quickly leaped back as he charged me. Unlike Prince Zannanza, this man didn't wait and size up his opponent. I put as much space between him as I could and turned again. He was already attacking once more; I sidestepped and deflected his sword to the right. He swung in a sweeping motion from side to side. He was slower then Prince Zannanza, but there was more power in his swing. Even with an iron sword, I know my strength would not be enough to snap his bronze. At least, not in a head-on attack…

I charged this time; I bent my knees and aimed incredibly low. He repelled every one of my attacks, but I could tell it was getting to be a challenge as I dipped lower and lower. Finally, he swung low, trying to catch me off guard. Perfect. His first strike had caught me off guard, and I wasn't quick enough. The blade shallowly cut between my left shoulder and neck and extended to the top of my breast. I didn't flinch and tried to push him to swing lower.

He swung from the left to right, incredibly close to the ground. Before it touched me, I jumped and landed directly on the flat of the blade. With the new leverage and his strength in check, I raised my own sword and drove it into his, shattering it in half.

He immediately abandoned the sword, turned and raced to his fallen chariot, retrieving a new blade. I didn't move an inch. I just watched as he turned and readied his new weapon, surprise etched on his face.

"You are fairly fast, and from the damage to my chariot from your arrow, incredibly accurate. So tell me, why is it that when I turned, there is no arrow sticking out of my back?" He leered at me.

I looked at him incredulously, "Attacking one who is unarmed is cowardly."

"It is war." Was his sarcastic answer, "You do what must be done."

"Well if I can help it, I will wage war with some integrity." I smile, "Though if you wish to do it over, you can turn your back again and I can shoot." I tease.

I could hear the sounds of running horses in the distance.

"Looks like the rest of your group is here. Which means it's time for me to go!" I whistle and immediately Huwant comes trotting up. I hop on and leave the dark prince and rush back to Malatia.

Ilbani's POV

"That was the last gate!" I shouted as the eastern gates groaned open, making way for hundreds of Hittite soldiers. I double-checked Yuki's map to be sure that all the gates had been taken care of. The map was incredibly detailed, even specifying which gates were more heavily guarded then the others and how many people it required to open each separate gate.

Yuki. Where was that girl? Nobody has seen her since all of the chaos broke loose. That habit of disappearing was becoming a tiresome habit. It wouldn't bother him much, except that whenever she disappeared, she was doing something she knows I would have disagreed to.

I clench my fists under my robe, pushing through the tumultuous crowd in search for the tiny foreign princess.

"Not a princess." I reminded myself, remembering how she seemed to despise the title. It was true though. She was by means no princess. No princess would help some beggars, none would train and study hours on end; and surely none would take up a sword in battle. Yes she was no princess. She was not soft-spoken, polite, and she didn't like waiting around for someone to save her. Yuki Ereshkigal was no princess. And I hope to the gods she never becomes one.

There she was. Plowing through the streets on her horse, I was rattled as I saw dark red stain on her shoulder, the color spreading and slowly soiling her white tunic. When she got to me and dismounted, it took every ounce of my willpower not to shake her and demand that she would act like a princess sometimes. At least then I know she'd be safe.

"Where in the world were you?" I demanded.

"I went to stall the Prince of Darkness." She stated as if it were obvious. "I bought some time, but he is still on the way here.

"You fought the Prince of Darkness? How idiotic! And here I was beginning to believe that you were truly wise. She scowled at me and rode off as quickly as she came.

I sighed. Even though I knew she did the right thing, that those few precious minutes of stalling had been priceless, I was still upset. Upset that for those prized minutes of time she bought us, she was injured. Or perhaps it upsets me more that I can never protect her. My swordsmanship was passable, albeit lacking, and I was always behind front lines, not fighting the enemy directly.

I turned sharply, what was I thinking in a time of war? I should be focused. She'll be fine. She always is. I try to convince myself.

Yuki's POV

"Malatia is ours! We've won!" A cheer shook the city. I grinned, raising my sword high in cheer. I flinched and held the wound on my shoulder to try and staunch the blood flow. This scratch was nothing compared to the last injury, so I got off pretty easy this time.

"What?! Mittani has Yuri?" That question stopped me in my tracks. Hadi, Ryui and Shala were out of breath in front of Prince Kail.

"Hadi… where is she?" I voice was deathly calm. When Hadi pointed a direction and stated that she was headed toward Mittani, I made a dash toward Huwant. I'll be damned if the prince of darkness thinks he would take her without consequences. Before I could move two feet, an arm wrapped around my middle, holding me back firmly.

I turn angrily to stare at Ilbani, who had an unyielding look on his face. My fury was unmatched at that point.

"Let. Me. Go." My words held and edge sharp enough to slit throats.

"No. You are injured. And what can you do? One girl like you? Charge into the Mittani Empire and take the entire army down?" He snarled back at me.

I knew he was right. I knew it. But…I can't just sit here! Yuri was…Yuri was God knows where! She could be dead. I felt my anger dissipate into dismay and hopelessness.

"Please. I have to do something…" My words fell into a whisper. A final plea.

"No." One word. That single word broke my world apart.

"Ryui, Shala. Go after her." Prince Kail commanded. In a flash, they were gone.

"Me too!" I cry making a move toward their departing figures, only to be stopped by the arm still firmly around my waist. "Let go! Let me go!" I scream. I was losing it. I took a series of slow breathes, forcing my heart rate down.

"Yuki. You are tired and hurt. We will get her back. You must be patient." Ilbani soothed. But I did not want to be soothed. I wanted Yuri back. I let out a shriek of utter rage and sorrow, the sound echoing off the walls.

"Prince of Darkness. You best watch your back." I declared to no one.

That's it for now! I'm following most of the story line from the manga so far, and thanks for all the super nice reviews! It's my first time writing so it's nice to know people are enjoying the story! If you hadn't noticed, the romance is leaning in Ilbani's direction so far. Thank you for reading this story up till now! It means alot to me :)