Kiroyuki's POV
My eyes slowly opened and ached terribly. I groaned and sat up in a...bed? I looked around my surroundings to find myself in a small room in a white bed. More of the same white beds were decorating the room.

I looked out the window besides the bed and saw the bright waxing crescent moon with multiple gleaming stars in the night sky. It pained me to look out into the sky so I whipped my head to face the oak wood door. My eyes started to water, scared to be alone in the unsettling silence. I started whimpering and small droplets of warm tears streamed down my chin.

'I'm scared! It's dark and I'm alone... I don't want to be alone right now-' The sound of the door opening caught my attention and I quickly picked up my head to see Zen and Shirayuki together. Their faces immediately dropped in worry. I quickly wiped away my tears with my sleeves, but immediately pulled away at the fabric once seeing the blood stains.

"Princess Kiroyuki, are you alright?" I faced back to the group and identified that voice as Zen's and shook my head slowly.

'I honestly didn't like them saying my name so formally... It pains me so much that I failed my people...'

"P-please drop the f-formalities... Just K-kiroyuki...." He nodded his head and neared the bed, making my muscles stiffened.

"Sorry for startling you, but we came to wake you up for departure. Shall we?" I nodded my head and removed the covers and grimaced at the red stains on my dress. I stopped in my tracks and stared mindlessly at the blood. Forgetting that the pair was waiting for me, I quickly snapped out of my daze and stared at their concerned expressions.

"S-sorry but um... May I change real quick....?"

'I don't want to see the blood stains.... I feel like I will throw up...'

"Of course! I'll have Kiki and Shirayuki bring you a change of clothes. Shirayuki, can you inform Kiki to get Kiroyuki a change of clothes?"

"Sure! I'll be back. Kiroyuki, would you like Zen to stay with you?" I nodded my head in agreement because I didn't want to be alone. I'd rather be with someone that is an ally than to be alone right now.

Shirayuki quickly left to get Kiki and my spare change of clothes as Zen sat down next to me onto the bed.

"...Zen?"

"Yes Kiroyuki?"

"... What are your attendees like..?." I felt my eyes getting moist and stared into the stone ground while trying to hold back my urging tears that threatened to fall.

"Well first of all, they're wonderful and skilled in combat and swordsmanship. They always make sure that I'm safe and sound although they can get really mad about me running away from the castle at times. Especially Mitsuhide. But I'm grateful for them. They don't treat me like I'm high and mighty, but treat me as a normal person, that's why I respect and care for them. I'll protect them with my life if I had to. If you mind me asking... Why do you ask?" A steady stream of tears fled down my face. I thought how lovely his answer sounded, but how painful it sounded to think back to my attendee, Miss Nani.

"Argh! I'm sorry! Please don't cry!" I shook my head and tried lifting my head to meet my gaze to his.

"S-sorry! I-I didn't mean to m-misunderstand! But, I-I'm just happy that... You have such w-wonderful a-aides! I h-have so m-many re-regrets not being able to pro-protect so many d-dear ones..." I sobbed into my sleeves and was embraced into a tight yet gentle hug. I cried and cried until I calmed down. He slowly let go of my shaking figure and gave me a warm smile.

"Kiroyuki-" Zen was cut off by a female voice and a gasp. I looked over to the door to see Shirayuki and Kiki standing there.

"Wow Zen, shut up and stop making her cry would you?" Kiki was pretty too. She had blonde hair that was in a side ponytail draped over her shoulder. I think that her purple armour blended lovely with her pale skin.

Shirayuki gasped and ran up to me.

"Are you okay Kiroyuki?! Why are you crying? Did Zen say anything weird?!" She glanced at Zen and he was taken aback with worry and fear of the wrath of the two ladies.

"K-Kiki! Shirayuki! I did nothing I swear!" He backed away into a corner while panicking. I slightly smiled in adoration of their friendship.

"It's okay. Zen was just trying to comfort me." Both Shirayuki and Kiki nodded their heads in understanding and I looked out the window to try to find someone.

"... Where's Izana...?" Shirayuki was nervously scratching her head while Kiki and Zen adverted their gaze elsewhere.

"Well... He had some important business to attend too that involved keeping you here with us." Shirayuki answered.

"Oh...."

  'I'll just ask Izana myself later...'

"She's going to change so we should wait outside. We'll be outside the door if you need help." I nodded in response to let Kiki know that I understood and dropped the spare change of clothes onto the bed. I stripped off the bloody clothes and threw them onto the white covers of the bed. I picked up the new change of clothes and dressed into it quickly so that I wouldn't waste any time of the essence. I fixed my pigtails and hesitantly picked up the worn out and stained clothes and walked out of the room and was greeted by Kiki and Shirayuki.

"Let's go..." They nodded their heads and I followed them out to the icy cold wind and snow. I shivered at the contact of the wind and painful memories struck me. I winced at the thought and hurriedly walked past Kiki and Shirayuki and stopped near the horses.

'I don't want to be reminded of it when I  see the snow or night sky... It hurts so much to have such daunting memories....'

Some guards saw us off as they also said their goodbyes to me too. I was taken aback, but I waved goodbye back. I didn't want to be rude so I tried my best to appear happy with a small smile. I ended up riding with Obi. He kinda reminded me of a kitty cat.

"Kiroyuki right?" I nodded my head and slightly turned my head to face Obi.

"Do you like studying about medicine and herbs?" My eyes suddenly lit up and I nodded my head frantically. Obi chuckled along with the others towards my cute actions.

'They're really kind people.'

"If you want, I could  teach you a thing or two about the types of herbs and how they're used. What made you interested in herbs?" I looked at the ground and held back tears. I heard Shirayuki and the others panic, but I shook it off.

"I came to study herbs and medicine to help my people or beloved ones..." I gave a bitter smile and finally looked up to see everyone's expression which took me by surprise...

They had sparkles in their eyes with gapped mouths. Even Kiki... (Tee-hee!)

"Um... D-did I do or say anything....?" I questioned as I analyzed their faces once again.

"N-no! You just look really cute and angelic like... You have such a pure heart!" I flinched and looked at them in shock and surprise.

'Did I really hear correctly...?'

"... Thank you...?" The rest of the ride to Clarines was cheerful and lively as we soon reached the gates. They let us entered and some other guards came to take the horses away to the stables. It was actually pretty warm since I've never been in warmer climates. I felt light-headed and swayed back and forth on the tan-like stone path. Sweat droplets tickled down my forehead rapidly and onto the ground. I was crouching on the ground, clutching my head.

"K-Kiroyuki! Are you okay?!" I heard Shirayuki's voice call out to me as multiple footsteps came towards my direction. It varied from loud, metallic, soft, light, and hurried footsteps and I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Black spots emerged from the corners of my eyes and it soon covered my whole entire vision.

But the last thing I saw was a young boy with chocolate-brown hair and beautiful aquamarine eyes in front of me.

Ryu's POV (Yass! My little sweet muffin is finally introduced! Sorry...)
I was walking towards the herb garden to collect some lavender for a relieving tonic and go stock up. As I made my way, there was a large crowd of people on my right making a huge commotion. There were guards, maids, and... Prince Zen with his aides, Shirayuki, Obi...? I rubbed my eyes making sure Inwas seeing correctly and it was indeed not a hallucination. There were screams of worry and concern.

"Princess!" And "Hurry and inform lord brother Izana!" Were mostly what I heard, but a princess?

'I never heard anything about a princess visiting. Wait! Is she sick or injured?!' I rushed over to the crowd and fought my way to the middle of the crowd. I gasped from the beauty of the sight and froze for a second. Regaining my composure, I quickly bent down and touched her forehead, but immediately retracted my hand back. It was blazing hot like a fire's touch.

"Ryu!" I whipped my head towards a female voice and met eyes with Shirayuki and the gang.

"She needs some space. The heat of the people are making her incredibly high fever worse!" They nodded their heads and calmly cleared the concerned group. They left back to their duties as another presence entered the scene. I turned around to meet his highness, Prince Izana. He crouched next to the girl's panting figure and exhaled a sigh. I stayed right next to the girl as he got up and faced me and the others.

"Hurry and take her to get medical attention quickly! Make sure the room that she is staying in is kept cold! I'll leave her in your hands." Prince Izana took one last look at the sleeping girl's form and hastily walked away. Mitsuhide gently took the girl and rushed with Shirayuki to the medical hall. I was left there awestruck with Prince Zen, Obi, and Kiki.

'The girl was all too beautiful... She had snow-white hair mixed with some blue and silver and her pale skin had complimented it. I luckily got to see her eyes before they closed and they were strikingly gorgeous with more mixed colors. Her face was small and delicate, but sharp.'

"Ryu?" I snapped out of my daze to see Obi waving in hands in front of my face.

"...oh, hi Obi..." He chuckled and I saw that it was only me, Obi, and Zen left. I guess Kiki had left.

"Are you in awe from seeing the princess?" I immediately felt heat radiate to my cheeks and I didn't know how to respond.

"Obi, don't scare Ryu like you're some kind of creepy interviewer." Obi gave a blank face and pointed at himself innocently as they engaged into a small argument.

"U-um..." Both of their attention was now towards me. "What did you guys mean by 'princess'...?" They looked at each other then back at me.

"Well, I think we should walk and talk. I don't think Izana would mine me telling you. Just keep it a secret okay?" I nodded in agreement as we walked towards the medical wing.

They told me all the suffering that she went through while running away from her now fallen kingdom and how Izana said that her character dismounted in such large gap.

'That's why she had such high temperature... She's from the North kingdoms... She wouldn't get any heat there... I wonder what types of herbs she would of have there...'

We soon reached the medical wing with tons of herbalists scrambling and rushing everywhere.

'This princess sure is important. Wait. Obi and Zen never told me her name...' I sigh and found Shirayuki down the hall.

"Ryu! There you are! Do you think you can file down her temperature for me? I have to grab some herbs to stabilize her condition! Also, couldnyou make sure she's cold enough?" I nodded my head as she told me what room she was currently in. I entered the room and was greeted by a cool atmosphere and an ill snow princess.

I quickly walked over to the desk besides the bed and placed down the new records book. I removed the towel on the princess' head with hesitation and touched her forehead.

'Her temperature cooled down a bit from before, but it's still really hot...'

I took notes onto the files and placed the feather pen down. I picked up the towel once again and submerged it into the bowl of cold water. My fingers automatically felt ice cold, but it was fine. I wringed it out and placed it back onto her pale and small forehead. I stared at her hypnotic form and unconsciously touched her right side cheek.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open and I panicked and shot up from my position while stumbling on myself. I forcefully sat on the ground as blood rushed to my face in embarrassment. I was flustered when she weakly sat up and faced me. She was trembling and her eyes were watery.

"W-who are you...?" Her voice was soft and quiet, but sharp. She sounded like some kind of goddess.

A/N

Yasss! They finally meet! Wooho! .....sorry....
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed and please continue supporting or go check out another story of mines. Thank you! >~<

(Edited 7/17/18)