Kiroyuki's POV
"I can't believe I finish planning! I need to stretch..... *yawn*.... I'm so tired.... Training guards and soldiers for the past few days and finishing up paper work right after is not a good combination for sleep....."

I slammed my head onto my desk and turned my head to stare at the white walls with a blank expression and empty feelings....

'Its so quiet in here.... My office isn't loud and cheerful like Zen's....or my previous office back at home..... Clarines is less destructed than Hyoushou right now.... Although Clarines seems fine within a simple look.... There's some terrible dealings in secret with thugs and bandits..... I wonder what is made of Hyoushou right now.... If I'm gone... What is happening to my people... Am I leaving them?.... What if something bad is happening right now.... A part of me feels like it's been left back at home-'

*knock knock*

I lifted up my head in a flash and cleared my throat and mind from my depressing thoughts and wonders.....but the thoughts are seriously haunting me dearly..... What if something were to hide a secret from me in the shadows-...

"K-Kiroyuki? May the g-gang and I c-come in?" I flinched at the voice and shook my head vigorously and sighed. Resting my aching head onto one hand I replied back.

"C-come in..." I sighed once more as the door opened widely as everyone entered my office with a smile. I smiled towards everyone and felt my heart beat faster when I saw Ryu wearing the scarf I made for him.

"How's the planning going so far Kiroyuki?" Mitsuhide chuckled heartily and smiled with glee. I smiled calmly at Mitsuhide and replied with a soft tone.

"I've just finish planning everything out...just moments ago actually."

"Sorry if Izana and I didn't help with the plannings..." Zen chuckled nervously and scratched the side of his head nervously. I giggled softly and yawned quietly.

"It's fine Zen.... You both probably had complicated taxes and paperwork.... That must of been hard enough..." Smiling lightly, I felt my eyes droop down softly, but I tried keeping them open.

"Kiroyuki. Are you alright?" 'Kiki... You're too sharp....' I smiled and removed my head from resting on my hand and nodded my head. (This sentence sounds weird to me... Removed her head and nodded it..... Hmmm...)

"... I'm fine!... Kiki... You feel like my older sister! You too Shirayuki!" I smiled and giggled to myself as Kiki gave me a look of approval along with a small smile. Mitsuhide, Zen, and Obi backed away from the smiling Kiki in shock and fear.

"I-is Kiki gonna kill us just like when she punched you to get away from miss Kiroyuki... Master?" Obi turned to Zen as Zen had a face of a fearful flashback. Mitsuhide was standing the furtherest away from everyone. Kiki turned around and glared at the three silly males. (Three musketeers!... But they're idiots... Awesome idiots!)

"M-me?! You think of me as an older sister?!" Shirayuki pointed at herself in confusion and looked both directions. I chuckled and silently yawned without anyone noticing.... At least I hope so...

"Yes of course you Shirayuki!... Both you and Kiki!...." I smiled warmly towards Shirayuki and Kiki, making them come to my side and squeezing me into an embrace. I giggled in joy and saw the tips of their mouths tug upward into a smile.

"You're too cute Kiroyuki! I'm honored to treat you like a little sister!" Shirayuki squealed in delight and squished my cheeks afterwards. My cheeks feel funny now... I just realized that my cheeks are squishy... :p

"If Zen or the two idiots hurt or offend you... I'll take care of them." Kiki glanced over to the three males and ran behind Ryu's back, making him sweat drop while looking at the three pathetic males.

"You two are the best older sisters that I can ask for!!...." They removed me from their loving embrace as I stretched my arms and smiled brightly. I was getting more fatigue but I kept myself awake.

'I can't fall asleep here... I want to spend more time with them... That's what my heart is saying right now... I need to be with them for as long as I can.... I don't know why...but I need to stay awake.... It's more loud and cheerful in my office now...'

"Kiroyuki..." My ears perked up and I nodded my head slowly with a closed eye smile.

"Have you been getting sleep lately?" I froze and leaned further back into my chair and scoffed with a hint of playfulness.

"Pfhh... Ryu! Of course! Why did you ask?" I smiled innocently and felt myself fading away, but I have to stay strong!... I have to...

"You honestly look exhausted... Plus, with the training lessons you've been giving and the planning... You've never got a chance in between that time to rest..."

My eyes widened in shock as my bangs were covering my eyes... This feeling.... It hurts... IT HURTS!.... My heart is telling me that I NEED to stay awake.... I need more time....

"I-I'm fine... Ryu... I'm fine..."

I slowly got out of my seat and immediately fell to my knees. Everyone gasped and shouted in concern. I felt my loose limbs shake like loose screws during an earthquake. Tears escaped my eyes as I curled myself up into a ball. Ryu was the first to run to my side, but I pushed him aside and turned the opposite way from everyone.

"Kiroyuki!/ Are you okay?!/ What's wrong?!/ Shirayuki, Ryu! She should get a check up-"

Shaking my head violently, I raised both of my hands and placed them over my ears..... The chaos of voices in my head and the shouts of everyone made it loud.... All together with everything racing in my mind... It's loud and chaotic just like that night.......

'You left your people to suffer. You abandoned your duty as princess. Are you even worthy? You're pathetic. You let Nani Lorien die. You let your parents die. You'll only put Clarines in grave danger. You'll make Clarines slowly turn into a chaotic kingdom like Hyoushou.... And it's all because of you... You'll even hurt your friends.... And maybe one that may even be more special than the rest... Just kill yourself and
harm won't be in the way of your "friends"! It's simple! You're pathetic!'

"Hahahahahhaahahaahaa! The voices are screaming! It hurts!" I was basically screaming at this point. They all tried to pick me up to bring me to a safer place, but I pushed them away to not touch my pathetic self. Tears ran down endlessly as I felt my mind ache in pain of lightning striking it with every hard blow. Wincing, I quickly stood up and hastily backed away several feet from the gang and fell to my bottom.

"K-Kiroyuki! What's wrong!/ Obi! Get Izana!/ Yes master!/ I'll get some pain medicine and some tonics!/ Kiroyuki!"

They all came closer but kept their distance with careful steps, slowly advancing as they all held the same confused and concern expressions...but why?... I'm a destructive bomb.... I'll set ice and fire to the kingdom of Clarines....

Mitsuhide came up to me and held both of my arms with a strong grip, but with gentle care. I struggled to release myself from his grasp and punched his chest. He gasped in shock and was forced backwards to the group. I shot up and took a couple of steps back, but I felt a sturdy wall behind me, making me stop in my tracks.

'Look~! You hurt the poor boy! Good job~! Now why don't you kill everyone?... Your sword is next to your desk after all!... Create destruction just like back at home.... Make the world suffer.... Only you can stay at the top-'

"Kiroyuki!" I jumped in shock and felt my muscles tighten. I was engulfed into a huge hug..... A caring, sweet, comforting, warm, and lovely hug....

"R-Ryu...?" He tighten his embrace a bit and placed his head at the crook of my neck. I felt my heart beat fasten and my cheeks felt warmer than ever. His hot breath blew up against my exposed skin. Ignoring the looks of the group behind us, we were in our own world.

"Kiroyuki.... I know you're tired and you're struggling in your mind.... I'm sorry that I didn't help you... And now you're suffering...but... I want to help you right now with anything that I can do. I'll help you with your nightmares and scary thoughts."

My eyes widened in shock. My heart ached and my chest tighten. My cold cheeks slowly warmed up and was coated with warm tears of joy. I sniffled a little bit and cried a little faster.

"B-but... What if I-"

Ryu cut me off by wiping away my tears with a sweet and caring smile. I stared into his beautiful aquamarine eyes as they held sincere care and concern..... I could trust his judgement right now.

"I want to help you because you're my first friend and you're precious to me." (NOOO! Friend zone!!... Ryu... Why!... Oh wait... I did that.... OxO)

I smiled and nodded my head with relief. The door opened with force and out came Izana, Shirayuki and Obi. They looked shock at my calmed state and walked forth toward us.

"K-kiroyuki?!"

I chuckled softly and sighed. My head fell onto Ryu's chest. My body could no longer support me right now...

"Thank you everyone... Thank you Ryu...."

My eyes drooped down in complete fatigue as I still felt the same warm and comforting heat from Ryu, who now has his arms around me.

Izana's POV
'I should have known.... Ryu's her temporary "cure". He was right... They have a small bud blooming as the time pass by. I hope the flower can bloom fully before it is too late. Kiroyuki can't fall into the wrong hands... But...'

"Ryu." He flinched and turned his head towards me and tighten his grip around Kiroyuki.

"Take Kiroyuki to her room to rest. Please watch her just in case she stirs in a nightmare. Mitsuhide or Obi can carry her over for you. I'll take my leave."

They all nodded their heads and surprisingly, the small boy could carry Kiroyuki himself... I guess she is really light after all..

Leaving, I left the group to themselves.

'... Kiroyuki.... You may not have as much time as you would wish for.... I'm sorry.... But this is what your father has said to be predicted...and it's going according to everything he said... I have no control over the fate of strings of yours.... I'm sorry....'

A/N
Sorry for the late update! Sorry! Please forgive me!! I was just busy with school, family, personal stuff, and mainly my other stories' chapters! Sorry again, but I hope that you guys like this chapter!!

Go ahead and check some of my other starting stories and please stay tuned!! Bye bye! >o<