Zen's POV
"Mitsuhide, Kiki. Would you two like to accompany me to visit Kiroyuki's training?" I sighed and stopped writing in the documents of taxes and looked up to the pair.

"Training?" I nodded my head at Mitsuhide's question and placed my elbow onto my desk and leaned onto my hand.

"Yeah, she's training the guards right now. She's been doing it for around four hours so far. Izana wanted me to check on her daily when she's training the guards."

"It's a huge honor if a Hyoushou general or royalty would train another country. We need to thank Kiroyuki for this." I nodded my head to Kiki's comment and stood up from my seat and stretched.

"So would you guys want to tag along?" They nodded their heads and followed me out of the doors.

"I'm excited to see young Kiroyuki train the castle guards!" I nodded my head and grinned.

"I truly agree with you Mitsuhide. I'm quite interested myself."

"I bet that Kiroyuki can beat Zen in swordsmanship." I twitched and glared at Kiki but she ignored it.

"Well we'll never know... Plus I'm great at swordsmanship!" I crossed my arms together and frowned.

"Maybe not as great as Kiroyuki...." I glared at Mitsuhide and chopped his head with my hand. He faked cry and whined.

"Why did I get hit~? Why didn't Kiki get scolded?!"

"Because I'm not an idiot." Mitsuhide looked as if he had an invisible arrow that struck him.

"..."

Timeskip
"Now that we're done with the small stuff... We're going to start practicing on your swordsmanship! 'Why do I have a this feeling?....'

"What?!/ The past four hours were small stuff?!/ I'm so sore!" I sweat dropped and walked around the corner to see the men drained with Kiroyuki... She looked more serious and less....sweet and adorable... I shivered and looked over to my right to see Mitsuhide shivering too. Kiki...well...she just had wide eyes...

"I don't want you guys to show mercy to your opponent! Although you're all comrades, you won't get anywhere if you won't practice seriously!"

"But what if we get injured-"

"If you all value your lives then it wouldn't matter! If you and your opponent gives their all, then you'd both be aiming to get less injuries, right?" My eyes widened in shock to see a different side if Kiroyuki's.... It was kinda frightening....

"I'll show an example! Hey Zen! Mind me asking you to a duel real quick?" I flinched and felt Kiki and Mitsuhide smirking behind my back.

"S-sure..." I hesitantly walked over besides Kiroyuki and tried to keep a calm face. 'Damn Kiki and Mitsuhide.... You must be loving this....'

"She's going against Prince Zen?/ She won't be able to win!" I sweat dropped and felt my heart beat fasten as I was nervous because I don't know how strong Kiroyuki may be.

"Here. We'll be using wooden swords instead." 'What?! Does that mean she practices with real swords?!'

"O-okay..."

"Mitsuhide, Kiki. Please be the judges! Now Zen... Are you ready? Don't go easy on me." I hesitantly nodded my head as the guards whispered doubts of Kiroyuki's swordsmanship. I got into position and narrowed my eyes.

"Ready... Set... And begin!"

I was gonna get into a defense stance, but before I could... Kiroyuki charged at me in a flash, making me taken aback. I barely dodged her attack as I felt the pressure and force that the sword gave off. Tightening my grip around the sword, I charged forward with force and clashes my wooden sword with Kiroyuki's. She was easily holding me back with force and gave me a smirk. She released her pressure on her sword and pulled back and crouched down with her head facing the ground and sword behind her back with her left hand. I almost stumbled with the pressure disappearing but held my ground as the guards were exclaiming in awe and confusion. I questioned her form but shrugged it off and charged at her, but she quickly shot up head up and smirked widely in victory and disappeared. I gasped in shock and stopped myself and looked at my surroundings.

"W-where did she go?!/ She just disappear!" I too was confusion and scared like the guards...but I felt an icy chill going down my spine.

"I got you~..." I gasped in shock and turned around but was thrown off by the massive force and pressure from Kiroyuki pushing me with her wooden sword. I flew backwards a few feet away and laid in my spot in agony and confusion...and maybe frustration since I got my beaten by a kid, girl, and well... Kiroyuki...

"H-how did she do that?!/ She beat Prince Zen!/ S-scary..../ .../ She's so strong!" A shadow covered the bright sunlight that once shone on my face and I narrowed my eyes to see Kiroyuki holding out her hands to me. I sighed and placed my hands in hers and got up. I dusted off my clothes and sighed again.

"Sorry Zen! I guess I kinda lost footing quite a bit!" I sweat dropped along with everyone who witnessed this duel and enrage.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST YOUR FOOTING? THAT WASN'T EVEN YOU AT FULL POWER?!" She shook her head and chuckled nervously and cleared her throat to face the group of guards. I sighed and stared at Kiroyuki from the corner of my eyes while walking back to a smirking Kiki and Mitsuhide. I glared at the pair and was menacing.

"As you saw in the duel with Zen, it was rather "serious" with no given mercy. I'd have to admit that I messed up with my footing and skills quite a bit, but both Zen and I didn't show mercy. Zen tried the best that he can to protect himself and tried charging at me with force. Now I want all of you to pair up! Once one has lost against his' opponent, you shall stop for today and we'll wait until the last pair ends! Now pair up!"

"Zen... Kiroyuki actually did beat you in swordsmanship. Maybe she'll beat you in romance." I whipped my head to glare at Kiki and a snickering Mitsuhide.

"Shut up you two! Shirayuki and I are already in love-... You two are unfair..."

"We know your highness." I sighed and rubbed my temples in frustration.

"Shut up you two..."

Kiroyuki's POV
Everyone divided up into pairs equally and waited for my next orders.

"Now remember to not show mercy! Your body should know how much force is needed to not break a bone or to sprain one's limb! I'll explain afterwards, but now, you may begin! Concentrate on your surrounding and opponents!"

I mentally took notes of everyone's expressions and physical conditions... Especially their efforts that they give into this training...

I smirked as one by one, pairs would end their duel and drop their swords and drop to their knees. Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki came up to me while looking at the guards efforts.

"Hey Kiroyuki?" I hummed in response and turned myself to face Zen and the two behind him.

"Yes Zen?" I was paying attention to Zen but I was also using my ears to hear the constant sounds of clashing to also observe the guards.

"What did you mean by your body knowing how much force is needed?... And how are you this strong?!" I smirked and crossed my arms and glared at Zen. Kiki and Mitsuhide walked over to my side and scowled at Zen.

"Are you saying that just because I'm a girl, a kid, and a princess that I can't fight?... Do you want to go for another duel?"

Zen flinched and shook his head frantically.

"N-no! It's u-um-" Zen was cut off by Kiki's statement, making him get shot by an invisible arrow.

"What are you? A sexist?" I mentally was laughing my head off Zen was stuttering to defend himself.

"Why are BOTH of you on her side! You guys are unfair!" I chuckled and gave a high five with Mitsuhide and Kiki and excused myself from them to focus back onto the guards.

"Good job you guys! You guys all have preserve through this tough training! I'm so honored and proud to have a chance to train Clarines' wonderful castle guards! I'll be looking forward to training you guys more! I do hope that you all didn't think I was an uptight and serious princess who seems really scary!"

I was mentally laughing my head off from all of their flustered expressions.

"N-no!/ We'd n-never think t-that!/ ..." I controlled by laughter and giggled lightly. I smiled warmly at everyone and saw their blushing faces of embarrassment.

"Don't worry! Just call me Kiroyuki when ONLY training because it'll cause some confusion of sort if you don't. I'm not that strict to be honest! Well maybe I can but don't worry! Even if I'm strict, it's because I saw your guy's effort and you all quite surprise me. I'll be handing your schedules now!" I smiled and grabbed my bag nearby and opened it to grab a stack of paper. I handed some to Mitsuhide as he too handed some out.

"U-um Kiroyuki?" I nodded my head in response and smiled and waited for his question. "Y-you said that you would tell us that our bodies would know how much force we would use against each other... What did you mean by that?" I gave an 'o' face and smiled.

"Thank you for mentioning that! Well the 'small' workout that you all did helped in advance to train your muscles to have this limit on the force you give out. Once you keep training those muscles, it'll grow strength and flexibility as your duels will only get more tiring." Everyone gasped in shock and awe and bowed down immediately in front of me.

"THANK YOU KIROYUKI! PLEASE CONTINUE TRAINING US!" I blinked my eyes a couple of times and smiled brightly.

"Yeah! I'll be happy to train you all! You all have potential of growth! I like guards who never give up! I'll see you until the next time! Go ahead and take it easy for the rest of the day! You've earned it!" I smiled and they all bowed once more and thanked me as they left one by one.

"Man! I feel lighter already!/ Kiroyuki is awesome!/ I can't wait until next time!/ The other half tomorrow is in for a treat!" I smiled knowing that the guards would do just fine with me and threw my fists in the air.

"Yes! Today was successful!" I jumped into the air as Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki walked over to me.

"I'm quite impressed by your training and strength abilities Kiroyuki!" I smiled and thanked Mitsuhide for his compliment.

"Yeah, you even beat Zen, but I'm pretty sure he's weak..." I giggled as Zen glared at Kiki and a snickering Mitsuhide.

"I'm not weak! Kiki and Mitsuhide! You two are so unfair today!"

"They just love you Zen!... Oh look! Ryu and Shirayuki!" I pointed behind Zen with a cheery smile and he just scoffed. Kiki, Mitsuhide, and I raised our eyebrows in shock and confusion at Zen's reaction and stared at him in questioning.

"You're just trying to trick me again just like on Christmas Eve. I will not get trick again-"

"Zen?" Zen froze with shock and surprise and shakily turned behind him to surely see Shirayuki and Ryu. Mitsuhide, Kiki, and I bursted out laughing while pointing at a blushing Zen. Yeah you hear me, kiki was laughing with us.... It's a rare sight to remember and to see.

"Kiki's laughing..." She glared at Zen then smirked mysteriously as Zen faltered back.

"S-sh-Shirayuki?! Ryu too?! Kiroyuki! You're also unfair!!... Today is just not my day at all...." Zen fell onto the ground backwards while creating a loud 'thud'. His face was tilted upwards with a pale color.... Well more like a face that matched the color of a sheet of paper... Or a white bunny!

"H-hey Kiroyuki... Shirayuki and I saw your duel with Zen from afar..." I smiled and felt my cheeks warming up. I scratched my cheek and chuckled nervously.

"Really?... I messed up didn't I?.." He shook his head and smiled warmly while making my heart beat faster and my chest tighten with sweet pressure.

"N-no... You were e-excellent... You were s-so f-fast and g-graceful...." Ryu pulled up his sweater collar and mumbled out some incoherent words.

"Wow master! I was watching from above and you got tricked by Kiroyuki so many times already!" We all looked at Obi in shock besides myself. He waved casually as Zen was brought back to life and started yelling at Obi.

"Shut up Obi! You go ahead and fight her! And why were you there in the first place?!" Obi jumped down and walked over to me and ignored Zen's outburst of furry.

"Yo Obi! I thought you left awhile ago during my lessons! I guess you stayed a bit longer." He nodded his head and held out his small leather notebook that I gave him for Christmas.

"I also took notes of Zen's failure of the duel and him getting trick!" I gleamed and high five Obi as Zen was twitching his foot as he laid into the ground with defeat. Shirayuki was crouching down besides him and tried comforting him.

"Hey Zen." Zen slowly sat up and looked at me in confusion.

"What?..." I smiled and placed both of my hands behind my back while making my sword besides me jingle.

"Im very proud of your guards today! They're hard workers and their eyes show faith and perseverance! They're loyal men and I'll take care of them!"

"Y-yeah..." Zen had an awe face with blush dusted on his cheeks. I smiled and turned to everyone.

"Who wants to duel now?!" They all sweat dropped nervously and all backed away ten feet away from me. And I mean everyone. I giggled loudly and smiled.

A/N
I'm sorry if this chapter is kinda late... I've just been battling thoughts and I kinda felt like just reading because of my emotions. But anyways, I hope you like it and don't forget to check out my other books/stories! Bye bye.