"Hey Koda?"

"Yeah?"

"I need to ask you something."

"Yes? What is it?"

"When we grow up, do you think we will still know each other?"

"Of course."

"Will we live happily ever after like the king and queen?"

"From my understanding, we're supposed to. It is our job according to father."

I remembered this. It was a conversation I had with a girl when I was about 10 years old. I couldn't remember her name though. I never could. After the big panic over money in their family, I never saw her again. A few years later, the situation was resolved but they still had a few problems. Then, I had forgotten about her.

I woke up soon after the dream. I looked around the room. Even though I knew it was just a memory, it still felt very real. I wondered why I was remembering everything from my past and all these strange things were happening to me in such a short period of time. I had woken up a bit early. It was about four o'clock and school didnt start for another 3 hours. It wasn't that long of a wait. The only hard part was to find something to do.

I started walking down the hall. There wasn't much light. The only light was that of which shined through the windows and there weren't many of those in the hallways. I had memorized these halls but it was still a little bit difficult. You would never know which maid or butler left carts or who knows what else laying about.

"Koda? What are you doing out here? It's four in the morning."

I was startled. I whirled around to see who it was. It was Azami. The light from her bedroom window had given her figure away and she was the only one who's bedroom was right next to mine. None of the maids or butlers were allowed to sleep in the bedrooms next to me. They never were. My parents believed that I was a light sleeper and that one sound would cause me to wake up.

"I just had trouble sleeping is all. You should get back to bed. Your going to be very tired if you stay up any longer." I told her.

She shifted her position and then turned on her light.

"No. That's ok. I was having trouble sleeping too. So, what were you planning on doing." she asked.

"I was going to go for a walk out in the woods."

"That's dangerous! You shouldn't even have that kind of thought in your head!"

She was whispering the entire time but it seemed alot louder to me. She looked very angry.

"I was kidding. You take things way to seriously. Anyway, that was not my idea. I was just going to go down into the library and study. I was planning on taking a walk through the palace but I think you might disagree with that." I laughed.

She laughed and punched me in the shoulder.

"Could I come? Maybe it would make me tired enough to go back to sleep." she asked.

I sighed.

"I suppose. Did you want to study or take a walk?"

"I think studying will make me fall asleep faster." she replied.

She never fell asleep. Of course she was tired and crabby the next day but I wouldn't tell her that. All I could think about for the next week was the locket and the same reoccuring dream of that girl.

One day, after school, I went out to the stables where Kinji was. He was grooming the horses as usual.

"Hello, Prince Koda." he said.

"Hey Kinji? Want to go for a ride? I need to get my mind of things for a while." I wanted to get away for a while and get my mind off of that girl.

"What? But the King and Queen said..."

"Nevermind what they said. I'm sure it's fine. The grounds have been inspected over a million times already. Besides, all you do is work and study. I think you could use a break. Just grab a horse and let's go."

"Alright. But I'm not taking the blame for you." he said.

He grabbed the horse he was grooming, Romeo. My cousin Leah had named him. It was a gift from my father to her. I still don't understand it but I don't think it matters. Romeo was just a little smaller than Shoka but just as fast. Finally, Kinji was convinced enough not to feel guilty and I could tell he felt comfortable.

"Who's that?" he asked. He may not have been guilty but he was still a little scared of what could happen.

I looked further down the way and noticed a figure.

"I don't know." I replied.

I went down the path and, because I was curious, didn't notice I had signaled Shoka to run.

"Your majesty! Wait!" Kinji yelled, but I didn't pay attention.

Kinji followed me. His many attempts to stop me failed. I was getting closer. I could see the figure better. It was nothing, as I had assumed. It was only a castle guard. The other one was only a few feet away with a lantern.

"Your majesty!" the first guard yelled, "What are you doing out of your quarters? And out of the palace for that matter."

"Prince Koda! What were you thinking. Your going to get yourself killed doing things like that." Kinji's voice started to trail off as he saw the guards.

"It just the castle guards. Stop worrying so much Kinji." I laughed.

The second guard looked my way after Kinji had yelled my name. He came closer to us.

"Your majesty, we must take you back to the palace. His majesty, the king, will not be to happy to hear you've been lurking about again." he said.

I looked over at Kinji. His eyes were wide.

"Kinji?" I yelled.

He snapped out his little daydream.

"Yes?"

"Run!"

I grabbed the reins and Shoka was off. Kinji finally caught up. All of the castle guards had horses which meant if they didn't have the horses with them, they weren't to far. We heard them yelling in the distance. When the yelling stopped, we knew they were going to get their horses.

"We have to get to the stables as soon as possible! Get the saddles off as soon as possible. Get the horses into the position they were before. Make it look like nothing ever happened." I yelled.

"Fine but they already saw us and the horses. What are we going to do?" he asked.

"I've got a plan but you have to do exactly as I say. My parents would never mistrust you."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell you but we need to get to the stalls first!"

I saw all of the horses in the distance. Before we knew it, Shoka and Romeo were already tied up again. Kinji was just about to put Shoka's saddle up when we heard the soldiers. They were coming. Kinji didn't notice yet. He had just hung up the saddle but I pulled his arm back. I told him to be quiet and we hid in one of the horse's stalls. Kinji was going to ask what was going on but before he could, the soldiers started to talk. I put my hand over his mouth. He might have screamed if I hadn't. We could hear the horse's hoofs on the ground walking around the stalls. After going around them twice and inspecting them, they finally stopped.

"They must be inside. We must alert his majesty." one of the soldiers said.

The two horse's hoofs began to beat on the ground again and it became quieter and quieter until there was nothing left. I took my hand off Kinji's mouth. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to recollect himself.

"Sorry." I said.

He sighed and glared at me.

"Alright. Start grooming the horses. My mother and father will probably be out here any minute. Just act normal. We have to act like we are having a good time. Let's just have a conversation while your grooming the horses. I'll make something up about Miu or something when they close enough to hear us. We just have to laugh. And slow down your breathing. You sound like you just ran a mile. It won't be believable enough if your tired. If they ask you anything, just act innoccent. Deny everything. We were never out there ok?"

"Got it." he replied.

Just as I had predicted, my parents came running toward the stalls. Kinji did as I had told him and I began to talk.

"You remember Miu right?" I asked Kinji.

"Of course." he laughed.

"Well, today she had to go to gym class and ran straight into me! She felt bad because, Oh I can't remember what it was, but something in my back pack shattered and...." I couldn't finish. I didn't get the chance to.

"Koda!?" My father yelled.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Why were you out in the woods? You know the rules!" my mother yelled.

They were angry. I just hoped they wouldn't see through everything.

"What?" I looked at Kinji, "I was never out in the woods."

"Kinji? Why do I hear that you allowed Koda to go out there and you accompanied him?" mother asked.

"Um... I'm sorry, my queen, but I never left here. There is far too much work to be done. All the horses still need to be fed and as far as I know, Shoka never left this spot either. Prince Koda would not be able to take Shoka without my notice." he replied.

"Koda? What is going on here?" this time it was father.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I only got out here about a half hour ago. I came out to talk to Kinji. You really think I would go out into the woods and cause a fuss like last time for a third time? If anyone came out and told you I was wandering in the woods, you would believe them, lie or not. I can tell you right now that the woods can cause you to see things that aren't really there. Maybe that's what happened." I yelled.

"I guess we should have more faith in you. It is our job as your parents." My mother said.

My father agreed.

"You two!" he pointed at the guards, "You are dismissed. Well, we must be on our way then. Koda? I would like to see you in about an hour. We have some business to discuss." he smiled and they both left.

Kinji let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Nice job. I think you should go into acting. The theatres are always hiring." I laughed.

"Knock it off. I can't believe I lied to them. You made me do it!" he yelled.

"Kinji, I---"

"Pardon my rudness your majesty, but I don't care. Now, if you will excuse me your highness, the hour is late. I bid you good night." he said.

He started to walk away from the stalls but then turned back.

"Prince Koda? Let me be clear. I didn't lie for your freedom. I lied to keep my job and my home."

He turned to walk away and walked through the garden door of the palace. That made me feel guilty this time. I had no time to think about such things. I had to meet with father now in only half of an hour. I leaned against one of the stall pillars. What did Kinji mean when he said he wanted to keep his job and his home? I never thought of Kinji to have a hard life. I looked at my watch. The time counted down from twenty minutes to fifteen minutes until finally it was time. I had to get into the palace before it became dark and it was already starting to. I ran to the door of my fathers study and knocked on the door. He said come in as usual.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked.

"Yes. So, how is Kinji taking it?" he said.

He took off his reading classes and started to put the papers and books away on his desk. I didn't answer right away and his eyes darted toward me.

"Taking what?" I asked.

"Oh, come on Koda. Stop this charade. I already know what you two did." he sounded annoyed.

"How did you know?"

"Ah, my son. I'm your father. I know everything about you. It's the same with Kinji. I've known you both since you were little. I know what you two look like when you lie. Your mother may be blinde but I still have some good eye sight as to what is going on." he laughed, "I just really wish that you would just tell me right away rather than acting like nothing ever occurred. The only reason I made this rule is because I need to keep my only child safe. Just admit it and it will be a matter that is already resolved."

"You're right. I did go out into the woods. I forced Kinji to go out there and also to lie. I just needed some freedom. Besides, Shoka needs to be ridden at some point."

He nodded his head and smiled.

"I understand. I will see what I can do." he said.

"There is also a matter that I wanted to discuss with you."