Chapter 4-

One week later...
"Come on, Kumo! We need to get supplies!" I yelled to the bedroom door which I hoped he was behind.
"One minute! I just woke up five minutes ago!"
I impatiently tapped my foot. Finally the door flung open.
"About time!"
"What do we need any way?"
"Besides food that doesn't consist of blue berries? I need clothes. Do you expect me to wear this every day?"
"..."
"How are you going to pay for all this any way?"
"I have some money."
"How much is some?"
"Enough." and with that he went out the door and I followed him.
We got half way down the road, then I saw the palace. It's beautiful! It's made out of rainbow
crystal!
"..." I was speech less. Kumo knew what I was thinking, though.
"It's beautiful. Isn't it?" he stood next to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
"AHHH!!!" we heard a scream come from the palace interrupting the peaceful moment.
The main gate opened and some one was tossed out. It was Heza.
"Heza!" we ran over to her. "What happened?" I asked her.
"Sorry I was so agitated last time we met but think about it, how would you feel if you were late to
see the king? I tried to 'borrow' some thing and I got kicked out. It's a good thing they don't
believe in beheading…"
"You tried to steel some thing!?! What and why!?!" Kumo practically screamed.
"That rainbow cup thingy. I can't tell you just yet. It would put you in danger."
"The Kokoro Chalice?" I asked.
"Yeah. That's the one!"
"I need to 'borrow' it to save some one's life, but I can't find a way to do it! Can you help
me?" The question was directed to me completely. She was totally ignoring Kumo.
"I suppose. I'm already wanted."
"For what?"
"I'm not quite sure."
"Hmm. Okay, then. Let's go!"
"Hold on. Kumo! You coming?"
"Not with her." He gave an evil glare at Heza.
"He wasn't invited any way."
I ignored her. "Please, Kumo? You promised to protect me."
"I didn't know you were INSANE!"
"Fine." Heza and me walked off behind the castle. "Oh, yeah! Take my rat!" the rat ran to Kumo. That's the last we'd hear of each other for a while.
"Kurai! Are you done yet?" Came Heza voice from the other side of the building.
"Yeah! Coming!" I replied. I ran over to her. She was down on her hands and knees looking for
some thing.
"SHHH!!! I'm listing to see if this is a good place to blast."
"What!?!"
"You don't want any one killed when I fire my blaster. Do you?"
"No, but..." WHUMPH! KABOOM! Heza had fired a gun at a weak spot with no people behind it in the
wall.
"Come on!" she ran into the castle through the hole.
"Aren't they going to notice?"
"Nope. I used a holographic projector to make other people see the wall,
not the hole. It's fine until some one leans on it. Okay. We have to go separate ways. Here’re your instructions."
"Wait! I'm having second thoughts about this. What if I'm not on the right side or you’re lying?"
"Like I said, everything’s in the instructions." Heza is standing in the
hole made buy the gun and I'm out side with an odd look on my face. After saying that she
disappeared into the castle. I sat on the ground and read my instructions, then them up. The rest was mostly about what to do in certain situations. The
part on what to if you had to ride a hippocampus looked interesting, though. Just then some thing
accrued to me: I must be insane! No, I am insane! Taking on a mission I know nothing about! People do stuff like this every day, though. Plus I must be getting paid. I puled out the instructions again:

...Your pay will be 7,000…

Okay, then. I'll do it. I feel bad about spending Kumo's money any way. I wandered through the
building for quite some time. Surprisingly there was no sign of any people... What's that? I
heard a noise and saw a shadow coming near me. This isn't good. I backed up and instead of
feeling a wall behind me there wasn’t any thing there . It must be a window. I tried, but couldn't catch my balance so I fell out the window. If I screamed they'd capture me for sure but at least I had a slight chance if I was quiet. Just then some thing painfully broke the extremely long fall.
"Owww..." I moaned.
I kept my eyes closed. I was very dizzy. I touched the back of my head. It was bleeding in the
spot where I bashed my head on the wall in the prison. It must not've healed properly yet. I
opened my eyes a little to see where I was. It turned out that I was on the back of a small
dragon. There was a person on it with me. It's hard to see. It was a guy wearing a cape... The
guy that saved me! Oh, what was his name... Sugoi? No… Suteki! I wanted to sit up and thank him but I passed out. All I remember after that is feeling a hand on my head.

"Are you all right?" That voice sounded very familiar…
"Kumo?" I moaned with my eyes still closed.
" My name is Prince Gurei. I live here. "
A prince!?! I opened my eyes and sat up. I was sitting off to the side in a long nicely decorated
hall. The prince was standing over me. I backed up until my back was touching the wall.
"It's okay. I won't hurt you. You won't even be charged with breaking and entering." He said. He
put out his hand and I took it. He pulled me up.
"That doesn't look suitable for visting royalty!" My new clothes were starting to get worn out again. "We're having a ball soon. Why don't I ask some one to get you a dress and a room and you can join me?"
"O-okay. T-that would be g-great." I was totally in shock and disbelief.
The prince led me to a room. It was very beautiful. Every thing was peach colored.
"Here. Some one will bring you a meal and a change of clothes shortly."
"Thank you, your highness."
"Call me Gurei. Okay?"
"Yes, Sir." He smiled and left the room.
I flopped down on the bed trying to figure out what happened. The bed was so nice and soft. I
must've fallen asleep (I seem to be falling asleep at strange times often lately. I hope I can get back into a proper schedule soon). I awoke to the sound of knocking on my door.
"Come in!" I sat up on the bed. The door opened. It was the prince.
"Darn servants." He handed me a dress. "Here. You'd think in a castle this big you could find a
servant to give the guest some clothes."
I unfolded the dress. "Oh, thank you! It's beautiful!" I said. He smiled and started to leave.
"Wait! Why wasn't I killed for sneaking in to the castle?"
"I have my reasons." He smiled then he left.
I didn't feel like thinking about what he meant. I picked up the dress. It was ice blue with a ton
of frills and lace and that kind of stuff. I took my clothes off leaving only my underwear on.
Just then the door opened and Gurei came in. He was reading a book while walking.
"I forgot to tell you, the ball's at nine. ‘K?" he looked up from his book and blushed furiously
at seeing me in my underwear.
"Oh. Sorry." I quickly finished slipping into the dress. "Nine? Okay, but where is it?"
"It's almost nine now (8:49). Why don't I take you down there?'
"Okay."
We walked down the many halls and passages. Part of the castle must be underground. It's not this big from the out side.
"I can't believe your so trusting. I could be leading you to a beheading, yet you follow me. Why?"
"I-I don't know. You make me feel safe I guess. On the other hand, why trust me?"
"Now that you’re not armed, you’re not much of a threat. Though, in a sense I don't trust you. I know why you're here. I even know what your parents did to get to sent to jail." I stared at him. A little piece in the back of my brain was jumping up and down screaming 'Man this guy's cool!' another 'How in the heck does he know that!?'. I said nothing, though.
Finally we came to a huge set of doors. The Prince, Gurei, knocked on it and it opened to a
room that should've been full of people. It was set for an extravagant party. We walked in,
Gurei snapped his fingers and music started playing.
"Do you want to dance until the guests get here?"
"Um...I've never really, exactly danced before."
"It's okay. I'll lead. Just follow me."
We started dancing. To tell the truth it was a bit boring. I sort of wished Kumo was here.
"Hello? Am I late?" a voice came from behind the big doors.
Gurei walked over and opened the door. "Lady Shiori! You're a bit early actually. Where's your sister, Lady Hikari?"
"She's not feeling well..."
Just then a mob of other guests came in the door. They all started talking to Gurei. I never much
liked crowds or parties so I backed off towards the window on the other side of the room. Some one started to walk past the windows outside. Kumo! It's Kumo!!! I tapped on the glass. He looked at me and smiled. I held my finger up and mouthed 'One minute'. He nodded.
I casually walked out of the room, then ran down the hall. I reached my room and my regular clothes. I continued to run toward to door. Some one grabbed my arm. I spun around.
It was Gurei.
"Where are you going? You’re still a criminal you know."
I yanked out of his grasp and pulled out a power stick (a stick with an electrical charge) that Heza had given me just in case.
"D-don't move!" I was scared to death. I know he wouldn't hurt me, but I wanted to be with Kumo
and my rat and even Heza!
"I didn't want you to know right away, but since it looks like I'm going to die any way," he
nodded at the stick. Grinning, to show he was not taking me seriously "I'm the person that saved you. Twice."
I lowered the stick and shook my head. "You can't be the person who saved me. And of course you’re not going to die, it’s only a stick."
"Why can’t I be the one that saved you? Princes have been known to save pretty girls."
"Because! Besides, who the heck would choose a weird name like ‘Suteki’ as a disguise.!" Well, he is a lot like Suteki, now that I think about, but still! Why would a prince-that doesn't rule my country even! - rescue me!
"Fine. Don't listen to me. Go. The king isn't here today. He'll never know about this. Just remember
you can always come back here to see me. I'll still do all I can to help you." He smiled and
disappeared down a hall. I ran out of the castle and to where Kumo was waiting. Glomp! I hugged
him very tightly.
"Heza found the cup her self. She sent me to find you. Is every thing okay?"
I pulled away. "Yeah. I'm fine."
He handed me my rat. "Here. He missed you. You know you really cute in that out fit, Bishoujo."
Blush! I was still wearing the ball gown! "Thank you."

I petted the rat and set him on my head. "Where's Heza?"
"Over there. Why don't you tell her we're ready to go into town?"
" ’K. HEZA!!! WE'RE READY TO GO!!!"
Kumo cringed at my load voice. "I COULD'VE DONE THAT!!!"
Heza walked over. "Okay. Let's go."
"Shouldn't I change first or some thing? I don't want any one to notice us in case the guards are looking for me."
"Quickly." Said Heza

After quickly changing, I rejoined the group and we started back down The Road.
"Hey, Bishoujo?"
"Yeah?" I answered.
We where walking along that stupid dirt road again. Heza was a bit ahead of us.
"How do we know we can really trust her?"
"Give it up already! She's okay. And we out number her anyway."
"Yeah, but she has all those weapons and stuff!"
"Lalala! I can’t hear you!" and with that I ran to join Heza.