~~~~(Heisuke's POV)~~~~
It's been a couple of hours since she fell asleep. I watched her sleep a few more minutes before heading downstairs. Everyone was in the living room, with the tv on. I walk in and sit on the couch.

"How is she?" I look up to see all eyes on me. I sighed and answered,

"She woke up briefly. She has many cuts, bruises, possibly some broken bones, and spoke a few words before I told her to get some rest."

"What did she say?" Goemon asked.

"She knows," I said.

"Knows?" Sasuke asks aloud.

"Everything. She knows that she's queen Cornilia's daughter. Right before she dozed off, her exact words were 'I know, that I'm a princess and the story about my mother queen Cornilia'." The room fell silent.

"This changes everyth-" Saizo began, but was interrupted by an agonizing scream. The scream was blood curdling, and you could sense the pain in it. Everyone was still as a statue, then the next we were all jumping over the furniture rushing up the stairs.

We ran down the hall, and push the doors open. Katie was lying there in the middle of the bed, squirming. Her eyes were shut tightly, little beads of sweat on her forehead. She suddenly arched her back, her screams were getting louder.

I rush to her with Sasuke next to me, Saizo and Kortaro on the other side of the bed. Leaving Goemon at the foot of the bed. I tried to soothe her, but she continues to scream. Something wasn't right.

"Sasuke hold her for a sec." He looked at me confused, but did as I asked. Since Katie was on her side, Sasuke gently put his hands on her legs. I leaned over and pulled up her shirt, to reveal her battered back.

"Damn!" Saizo cursed. Katie's back was turning black and blue. Not because of the bruises, but because of the three deep claw marks that ran down her back. They were infected, causing her excruciating pain. "Kortaro, is there anything you can do for her?"

"I can make her something, if the poison hasn't moved too fast." He quickly left. I remembered that when a Ayakashis scratches you, poison slowly spreads throughout the body. Slowly killing you, being in constant pain.

I went to wipe the sweat away, when my hand came into contact with her delegate skin. I brought my hand back, but then slowly went and placed my hand on her forehead. She was burning up, bad!

"I need a bowl of ice water and a cloth, hurry!"

"Heisuke, what's wrong?" Sasuke questions.

"She's burning up, her skin feels like fire." I say when Goemon comes back in with the items I need. I quickly fold the cloth, get it wet and place it on her forehead. Saizo felt her forehead and agreed.

"Let's hope Kortaro can help her soon." He says. I know Saizo cares about Katie, even though it doesn't seem like it. About ten more minutes later, Kortaro comes in with bowl.

"Where are the Ayakashis scratches, we need to apply this ointment directly." Kortaro spoke. I got Katie on her side again, and pulled her shirt up once more. Kortaro applied the ointment to her back, Katie's screams got a tad bit louder from the pain. "Are there anymore scratches?"

"On her legs," Goemon, Saizo, and Sasuke left once Kortaro got back. I rolled Katie's pant legs up, revealing her beat up legs. Kortaro applied the ointment to her legs. "What is this ointment anyways?"

"It's to help ease the pain, and fight off the poison." Shortly, Katie's screams start to die down. A half hour later, Katie was sound asleep. I was left alone with her, changing the water every now and then. I heard a faint meow from down the hall.

I got up and headed for my room, opening the door to see Entei at my feet.

"What's wrong Entei?" He meowed and walks over to Kuroro. I walk over to her, and she gave a sad/pained meow. I knew exactly what she wanted. She was worried about Katie. I pick her up and carried her back to Katie's room.

I placed Kuroro on Katie's bed, close to her side. Entei jumps up and walks over to Kuroro, and lays behind her. I've noticed that Entei has become protective of Kuroro. He loves her, just like I love Katie. Realizing this, brings a smile to my face.

"I love you, Katie." I stayed by her side that night. Listening to her heavy breathing, and fell asleep soon after.

~~~~(Katie's POV)~~~~
Pain. That's all I felt. I was sleeping peacefully, until out of nowhere, my body is in excruciating pain. All I remember is screaming as the pain continued to get worse. My body felt like it had fire running through my veins. The fire sensation turned to an acid burning feeling.

It seemed to get worse every few minutes. After what seemed like forever, the pain started to fade. My limbs began to get heavy, and my senses going numb. It was still hard to breathe, but was better than before. Then once again, I drifted off to sleep......

I woke up again due to the pain slowly coming back. I opened my eyes, to see that the room was dark. My whole body ached, but I could faintly hear breathing. I look to my right and see Heisuke once again sitting in a chair. He stayed by my side, this whole time.

I heard a soft purr next to me, and I turned my head to see Kuroro and Entei. A weak smile appeared on my face, seeing that Kuroro and Entei were alright.

"Kuroro...Entei....you're...alright..." I croaked out, and was replied with welcomed meows. Kuroro had a few bandages on her, where as Entei had none. Entei began to meow loudly, and I was worried that he would wake Heisuke. "Shh Entei, let him sleep."

"Entei, what's wrong now?" I heard Heisuke speak sleepily. I looked over seeing Heisuke rubbing his eyes. I smiled at his appearance. His chocolate brown hair tousled, his shirt slightly open.

"I'm sorry,....I tried....to keep....him quiet.." I croaked out. My throat was very sore and scratchy. Heisuke stops rubbing his eyes, and looks directly at me. His blue-green eyes sparkle, showing his relief.

"Katie, how you feeling? Are you in any pain?" I smile at his worry.

"Water...please.." He walks to my table and gets me a small glass of water. He came over to me and put an arm under my back, making my head lean on his shoulder. I tried to lift my arms but I winced in pain.

"Here, don't force yourself." Heisuke brought the cup to my dry cracked lips. Heisuke tilts the cup up, letting the ice cold water soothe my dry burning throat. When I was done, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.

"Thank you," my voice sounding better. Heisuke smilesdown at me. I wince as a wave of pain washed over my body.

"Where are you in pain?" Heisuke asked sadly.

"My whole body hurts."

"I'm going to apply a special ointment to your wounds. Is that ok princess?" I nod my head slightly, as Heisuke sat facing me. He pulled my torso towards him, so I was leaning against him. Kind of like a hug, but I saw Heisuke grab something from the bedside table.

I felt Heisuke grab the hem of my shirt, and lift it up the back. I felt the cold air hit my back, but when I felt the cold ointment hit my back caused a slight whimper to escape my lips. Heisuke rubs the ointment onto my back gently. His hands glided across my delicate skin, soothing the pain away.

The pain began to fade in my back, but my legs and stomach still hurt. When Heisuke was done with my back, he pulled my shirt back down. He gently laid me back down, then asked if I hurt anywhere else.

"My legs, and stomach." He rolled up my pant legs and applied the ointment to them. His warm and soft hands massaging the ointment. The slight massage was making my body relax and sleepy. Once he was done, he rolls my pant legs down.

"There how does that feel? Is the pain gone?" He asked. I nod but my chest and stomach still hurt. The pain was dull, until I moved. Heisuke sits down next to me in the chair.

"Heisuke....what happened to me?" He gazed into my pink-purple eyes. He sat there in thought for a moment before saying,

"What do you remember?" I wracked my brain remembering all the events. All the beatings, the torture coming to mind. I try to push those memories to the back of my mind. I felt a warm hand on my cheek, and I opened my eyes to see Heisuke with a look of concern in his eyes.

"Shh, don't cry, I'm here." Heisuke spoke wiping a tear away with his thumb. I release a shaky breath and said,

"All I remember was hearing your voice calling out to me. Then I felt the cold air as I was carried outside." Heisuke rubbed my head, smoothing out my hair trying to calm me down.

"We rescued you, and brought you back to the house. You sustained many cuts, scratches, and some dislocated bones if not broken. That's probably by your ribs and stomach hurt right now. Your legs and back are in pain because of poison. You see Ayakashis claws contain poison, so when you are cut with them, the poison slowly moves throughout the body. Luckily Kortaro made this ointment and I placed it on your wounds."

I closed my eyes, the realization dawned on me. How did I get into these pajamas? Who changed my clothes!

"What happened to my clothes?" I saw a tint of pink cross Heisuke's cheeks. Was he embarrassed or nervous?

"Don't worry, I was the one who changed your clothes. With the help of Sasuke, but I promise we didn't look I swear on my ancestors grave. Your clothes were torn and ripped. I also had to tend to your wounds, and gave you clean clothes to rest in." He seemed so defensive about it, but I'm glad it was Heisuke and not one of the others.

I trusted Heisuke more than anyone. I was always alone, and never trusted anyone. But when I met Heisuke, my feelings changed. Over time I've come to realize that I was liking Heisuke more and more. I was beginning to get tired again.

"Heisuke, would you stay with me?" I saw a glint of happiness in his eyes. This made butterflies erupt in my stomach. My heart even warmed at sensing his happiness.

"I will do as you wish, princess." He spoke, his voice hushed as if I was sleeping. He continued to rub my head and held my hand. I started to slowly drift off but before I could, I thanked Heisuke.

"Thank you,"

"For what princess?"

"For saving Kuroro, I was worried about her. And for saving me..." My words were beginning to slur from being so tired. It was quiet after that, until I heard those words that made my heart flutter.

"I will always come for you, never forget that princess. I love you," and I fell into a painless, and most wonderful sleep...
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I hope you guys enjoyed it, and I'm sorry it took so long to update.
I'm going to be very busy for awhile, so updates will be slow.
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