(R POV)

"Where to next?"

I muttered glancing around at the crossroad. I tugged my hood up slightly as people passed. I glanced at the passerby's sadly, knowing that I couldn't be like them no matter how hard I tried. My brown cloaked fluttered in the breeze causing me to tighten my hold. Another harsher wind almost knocked my hood back off my head. I sighed gripping it tightly, not wanting to reveal what I was.

My nose twitched at the familiar smell of Elm Fern. I glanced over at an elderly man, the smell of herbs lingered on him. An herbalist most likely, Elm Fern was good for many different remedies, but was one of the stronger smelling herbs. The man took the left walking down towards the kingdom of Tanbarun.

I twirled a piece of my hair on my left forefinger. Tanbarun sounded like a nice place to head, while I was at it I might learn more about various medicines from their kingdom. With the decision made I walked leisurely down the dirt path towards the kingdom of Tanbarun.

Two days later

(Zen POV)

"Mitsuhide, Kiki, I'm going on ahead!"

"Jeez, you're going from a place like that again?"

I chuckled throwing myself over an old wall that connected to our vacation home. As I jumped I saw a brown humanoid shape on the ground. My concentration faltered and my foot stabbed the wall making me plummet. My left arm hit the ground first. My left hand stung from being the first part of my body to hit the ground.

"Ow"

I muttered, gripping my hand from the pain.

"Are you alright Zen? Are you injured? Did you hit your head? What's one plus one?"

I looked up, wearing a blank bored face.

"One, huh, who are you again?"

The tall man with green hair and chocolate brown eyes leaned down pointing at his face.

"It's me, Mitsuhide!"

"Oh, was that your name?"

"Kiki! You too?!"

I laughed at the two and turned back to the sleeping person. Who was this person? Why were they out here? Did it have something to do with me? I considered waking the person, but caught a glimpse of an envelope with a red wax seal bearing the crest of Tanbarun's royal family. Why would a person have a letter from Tanbarun way out here? Bending down I grabbed the letter from the cloaked person's satchel.

"Who is that?"

Mitsuhide asked, bending over me a second later when I didn't answer him. He read the letter alongside me and I snorted.

"This isn't the nicest letter, the prince should work on his handwriting, and letter formatting skills."

Mitsuhide chuckled at that and handed it to Kiki so she could read.

Dear Beauty,

Talk of your splendor and exquisitely stunning beauty has reached my ear. I have made the decision to grant you the honor of being my concubine. I will send a man to pick you up at five Monday evening. Be sure to dress your best for presentation.

Yours truly,

First Prince of Tanbarun, Raj

So the idiot first prince of Tanbarun wanted this girl. I changed my thought flow knowing many took males to be there concubines as well. I glanced over the letter again when Kiki gave it back. Monday was yesterday which meant this person missed their appointed meeting.

"Why do you have my letter?"

I glanced over the voice was soft and had a lilt to it. It reminded me of a singer's voice, and yet it had that hidden confidence to it. The voice was pleasing to the ear, more so then any other voice I had heard. It had a lowness that most women's voices didn't have so this was most likely a male. The cloaked figures cloak remained on, hiding the person in its fold.

"I'm reading it."

I said matter of factly. With a reply like this I'd expect the person to yell angrily or snatch the letter or at least say something snarky. Instead the person simply asked in his unbelievable voice.

"May I have it back?"

"Not unless you remove your cloak."

"Oh… you may keep it then."

I blinked surprised not expecting that answer. I considered pressing the issue, but decided to simply introduce myself. I held out my left hand wincing as I realized it was my injured one. A large red mark was forming where I had hit the ground.

"I'm Zen"

The person's hand appeared from the folds of the cloak. It was a milky pale color, without a blemish to be seen. The hand reached for mine but before making contact it stopped and pointed.

"You're injured, how?"

"I fell mid-jump after catching sight of you."

"I'm sorry, may I?"

I actually heard a pang of actual sadness or regret in the person's voice. The person had opened a brown leather satchel, the same one that I had taken the letter from, pulling out a small glass jar. Inside a yellow cream rested waiting for use. The person made a move to grab my arm but I pulled back.

"It could be poison or something. How can I use it if someone gives it to me all of a sudden? It's not like I'm a dwarf or something. I'm not going to trust someone so easily. In other words, I've no business with you."

I held my sheathed sword in the air near the cloaked person, expecting them to run off. This person seemed to have a habit of not doing what normal people will as the person simply sat there.

"Right…"

"If you understand, then get going."

I gestured with my head for the person to leave. Instead the persons hand went up gripping the top of my sheathed sword tightly. The cloaked figure plunged the sword downwards hitting into their right arm. I heard the smack and winced knowing that would hurt. I watched curiously as the person undid the lid of the jar and spread the cream over the reddening skin.

"Unfortunately, I don't make it a habit to carry poison around."

I gaped, openly surprised, dropping my sword. This person had one surprise after another to show me it seemed. Mitsuhide burst out laughing behind me.

"He got you, Zen."

I bent down chuckling.

"Sorry about that, that was rude of me, may I ask your name?"

"R"

I blinked, R that certainly was an odd name. It was probably only the first letter of the person's name, which meant they didn't trust me fully.

"Nice to meet you, R. It was half your fault that I missed my landing in the first place."

I said intending it as a joke.

"Sorry"

The voice whispered from the cloak. I felt a bit bad, I had expected this person to be annoyed not to actually feel bad. This person was way too innocent and didn't seem to understand jokes and serious talk.

"Its fine, come on in and you can treat it."

The person followed me in, sitting next to me.

"This is an unoccupied house, but we hang out here. The one losing at chess over there is Mitsuhide, and the one winning easily is Kiki."

"Zen, how can you say for sure that I'm losing without even looking?"

"I can just tell."

I said, not looking at Mitsuhide, who was most likely making an annoyed face.

"You are losing"

Kiki said settling the matter, leaving an upset Mitsuhide. I turned back to R.

"You should take off your cloak."

"No"

"Why not?"

"I said no"

"I won't judge you."

"No"

"Tell me why at least."

"No"

I sighed giving up at last, R finally finished wrapping a bandage on my arm. The cream soothing the stinging bruise. I held my bandaged arm above my head.

"Wow, you're good at this, R"

"I'm used to it, I'm studying herbs."

"An herbalist?"

"I guess"

"Well, why did an herbalist like you deny becoming a concubine to prince Raj. With the prince's power and wealth you could undoubtedly become an amazing herbalist."

"Freedom."

R finally said. I stared at the person surprised by the answer. Finally I smiled and said.

"I see, now than are you a man or women?"

"Boy"

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen"

I blinked slightly surprised, only one year younger than me.

"Now that I know that, will you take off the cloak?"

"No, I'm taking a walk."

I looked over hoping I didn't upset the boy too much. The boy stood up, heading for the door. I ended up following after him.

"Well, why did you come with me?"

"It'd be dishonorable as a gentlemen to allow an injured boy to go into the woods alone."

I said rubbing the back of my head, worried he'd tell me to leave. Oddly he didn't say anything other than continuing through the woods.

"The time and air flow differently from the town here."

"Yeah I know what you mean. You like it a lot?"

"Yes, it's relaxing."

I found myself at ease with this new person. How long has it been since I felt this ease with anyone other than Mitsuhide and Kiki.

"Those were your honest feeling just now weren't they?"

I blushed slightly looking away, deciding to change the topic.

"So why does the prince want you?"

"Ask him, not me."

I sighed noticing the boy's change of mood at the mention of the prince.

"Let's head back."

"Alright."

At the door a brown basket with a white cloth hiding its content's sat. Mitsuhide and Kiki walking after us.

"That's the ribbon I tied on an herb jar I left behind for a sick women."

"Huh?"

I said lowering the basket causing the white cloth covering it to drop. As the cloth fell I caught sight of apples coated by a white chocolate. Why white chocolate?

A note from prince Raj was attached, asking for R's return.

"How'd he find me?"

"He probably went through all the border crossing records."

"He would go that far, huh?"

"If there's something he wants, he probably already counts it as his own."

"Even if it means caging it? No way, right…"

He trailed off, letting his sentence run off, instead of finishing it. The word cage had made him lower his head, clearly upset. I wished I could see his face, to better understand his emotions. We walked in sitting at the couch once more. The boy reached forward grabbing an apple. A droplet of white chocolate falling down.

"It's starting to go bad. This whites no good anymore."

"White's supposed to be the color of innocence and destiny. Some say it's the color of balance. You like White?"

I asked trying to get him to stop sounding so down, and saying such things.

"Sometimes"

"The meaning of white somewhat reminds me of you, well at least the innocent part. Don't blame the white it might connect to something good when you least expect it."

Silence ensnared the room after that. I stared at the boy remembering his words about the white going bad. He sounded as if he was talking about a different white then the apples. I found myself hoping my words helped cheer him up. I was seriously becoming ensnared by this boy, desiring for his happiness. To think I only met him this morning.

Another droplet of white chocolate fell down staining the boy's hand. I stood up and grabbed his hand, bringing the apple he held to my mouth. I took a bite and tasted the sweetness of the chocolate. I glanced down at the boy whose cloak had risen up, before falling back down. I was positive I had seen a flash of gold.

"Don't do that Zen, you should get it yourself."

Mitsuhide commented from the stairs.

"What're ya…"

I started running over to him. I coughed almost choking on the apple. A strange feeling entering my body.

"You should either talk or eat don't do both."

"I didn't call you, stay out of it!"

"Man, that hurts."

"Zen."

"What!"

I asked whirling in annoyance before realizing who was speaking I calmed slightly, noticing a nauseous feeling overtaking me.

"I said something stupid, sorry. What you said about the color white, thank you."

My mouth set into a firm line.

"R, you shouldn't eat that apple."

"Huh?"

I raised my hand to my mouth feeling sick to the core.

"Kiki, Mitsuhide… Don't get… mad…"

I felt my vision falter, and my feet giving way. I landed on my knees, falling back. Mitsuhide jumped the railing of the stairs, landing under me as I fell.

"Zen, what's wrong!"

I distantly heard, before losing consciousness.

(R POV)

How could I be so stupid? Of course the apple was poisoned!

"It's poisoned!

I said, finally placing the sweet smell I had scented from the apple.

"Do you have an antidote?!"

"Even if I did, I couldn't give it to him, till I knew for sure what type of poison it is. If I give him the wrong antidote he could become worse."

The door opened behind us, a man associated with prince Raj walked in.

"Oh? The boy was not the one who ate the apple?"

"Who're you?"

Kiki asked threateningly grabbing a sword. My eyes went wide in recognition.

"You're…"

"Hmm… oh well"

"Do you have the antidote?"

"Do not worry a certain person has the antidote, I trust you will come with me quietly."

I glared but nodded, not wanting Zen to die.

Two hours later

"Oh, so it's you, I see. I am surprised, you really are a half-blood. The talk of the people really was true then."

My cloak lay on the ground from where prince Raj threw it. He stared intently at me whispering words such as handsome, or gorgeous as he slowly circled me.

"The antidote."

I half muttered, half hissed.

"Hang on a sec"

Prince Raj said with a wave of his hand. He sat on a throne like chair and said.

"The world is a frightening place. The fact that I courted you, and you ran away has made me a laughingstock. In town, and in the royal palace."

He sighed dramatically.

"Man, thanks to that public opinion of me has plunged. However, the rumors all agree that it's your fault. So, in order to clear my good name, I'll have you ask to be my concubine."

I hissed lightly, hating this man already. Trying to control people was something I despised.

"Even if you're a half-blood, I didn't want to cause a person embarrassment, so this is the solution I painstakingly came to."

"What about the antidote?"

I asked placing Zen's needs over my own. The prince looked at me smugly.

"Oh, right if you just nod your head like a good kitty, I will have it delivered promptly, or would you rather I have this delivered instead."

Prince Raj held up a white chocolate covered apple, it fell from his hand making a thump on the ground.

"White is the color of destiny, right?"

My eyes widened at the use of the word, destiny. That was one of the words Zen said. I felt my lip curl in a snarl, I didn't like prince Raj saying that word. The apple hit my foot lightly rolling back. I stared at the white chocolate, already knowing what I had to do. The man who told me about the color white trying to make me feel better. The man with the silver hair, and bright blue eyes, and that caring smile. I had to save him.

(Zen POV)

My head hurts, and yet the one thought is of that boy. The boy hidden by a cloak. Where was he? I wondered as I ran through the Tanbarun palace, followed by Mitsuhide and Kiki. My sword tightened in my grip as I heard a voice, undoubtedly belonging to prince Raj.

"For me, now that I know you're so easy on the eyes, I do not want you to be far from me."

I chilled at those words trying to figure out which door in the long hallway, it was coming from.

"Wh…what?"

"My apologies. Prince Raj, take me as you wish, but give the antidote to Zen."

My eyes widened at that, he was doing this for me. He was selling his body for someone he knew so little about. Why? I knocked into a guard who yelled.

"Wait, stay back!"

I slammed into the man sending him flying into the room.

"I object!"

I yelled, walking in. My eyes landed on prince Raj first, before turning to a new figure. My eyes widened at the figure. White hair whiter than all other white covered his eyes, and in the back passed slightly past the neckline. Pure gold colored eyes lay behind the stunning white hair. The skin was pale and milky, without a single blemish. His lips were so perfect, and his face had a slight dusting of pink, showering color over his pale cheeks.

He was handsome, no he was far past the stage of handsome. He wore a long sleeved black shirt and white pants, with a black belt. In his hair was a long strand tied together on the left side by a black band. A black and gold chain necklace with a heart shaped design lay squarely on his chest.

"Zen?"

R said, looking slightly shocked. His gold eyes glittered behind his hair.

"Bastard!"

A guard said charging me. I side-stepped hitting him hard with my sword, sending him flying. Mitsuhide and Kiki stood outside keeping two guards on the floor. I whirled on prince Raj, angrily.

"Will you please stop retching such dirty jokes that sully that boy's ears."

"Zen!"

R said, walking over.

"Hey R, tie this for me."

I held up my hand, the bandage he had so carefully tied had come undone.

"What about your body?"

"I've been building up an immunity to poison slowly in case I ever got poisoned."

"But…"

"I see, so you are the man who was poisoned! Oh, that was unfortunate. I was planning on making that half-blood immobile and taking him home with me."

Did he just call R a half-blood? My thoughts were redirected to anger at his attitude towards R. R stood silently rewrapping my bandage.

"So you're the one who handed over those apples, huh?"

Prince Raj stopped pacing, and glanced over annoyed.

"Watch how you speak to me, boy. There's a big difference between our social status!"

I glared and said.

"Excuse me, first prince of Tanbarun, prince Raj Schenazade."

I walked forward past R confidently with Mitsuhide and Kiki taking either side.

"Well, this is annoying, but let me introduce myself."

I held up my sword, showing the golden mark of the kingdom of Clarines.

"Hm, that crest is…"

"Nice to meet you, I am the second prince of the kingdom of Clarines, Zen Wisteria."

Prince Raj gaped at me, horrified. I glared at him as R walked over.

"Did you forget who you are, do you know who I am?"

I chuckled and smiled at his confused eyes.

"I'm serious R, but I never thought I'd be poisoned by a prince from a neighboring kingdom, prince Raj!"

"You…you…you have no proof that I have the poison!"

"There's plenty, isn't there?"

Kiki said from behind me.

"We can test that in an official inquiry."

Mitsuhide said causing prince Raj to throw up his hands backing up.

"Th-that's…"

I walked forward towards the prince, causing him to fall backwards into his chair.

"Well then, why not we have a trade, idiot prince. If you don't want your foolish actions to be made public, then swear you will never approach R again or say his name!"

Raj seemed to have forgotten the situation he was in, as he cocked his head and asked.

"How do you know the half-blood…?"

I cut him off, but not before hearing prince Raj call R half-blood again. I moved my sheathed sword forward and Raj yelped his chair falling backwards, hitting into the glass doors. The doors were thrown open and he tumbled out hitting his back against the cement fence. He stared up fearfully, throwing up his hands.

"A-all right! I promise! I just swore!"

I relaxed, glad that was done. Without looking away from prince Raj, I said.

"R, I'm sure you have a ton of things to say to him. If you're going to complain do it now. Let it all out."

I glanced back at R, his face a complete mask. R walked forward towards the trembling prince.

"To the north, you have a village called Viet, it was flooded last week. They need supplies and extra help. These people rely on you, you should help. Also, give the antidote to Zen."

With that R turned, and I stared surprised he hadn't vented his anger.

"Why'd you say that?"

I finally asked. R wasn't looking at me as he said.

"The problem is already solved, I feel no need to speak more on it. Not when there are others out there who are in need of speaking to the prince on their problems, and have them solved."

"He might not solve their problem."

"True, at least I'll know I tried."

R really was so innocent and thoughtful, he reminded me of a child. He also looked like a child of thirteen maybe twelve. I drank the antidote on his command, noticing his eyes looked slightly brighter. We made it back to the house in complete silence. My thoughts revolving around what prince Raj meant by calling R half-blood. Half-blood the term used for half-animal, half-human creatures. There said to have three forms, animal form, human form and a mixed form. However most half-bloods only have an animal, and mixed form.

I hadn't noticed any animal parts on R, then again I didn't really look. It was unlikely R was a half-blood considering most half-bloods stayed in their separate, magically protected kingdom. While the most of the half-bloods don't have magical abilities, there are said to be exceptions. It's also said the creator of this world, Zen Royale, graced them with his presence.

"Thanks."

I glanced over from where I sat, to see a kneeling R.

"What is it R?"

"Thanks, for helping me, but, I'm..."

I had stopped listening halfway through as I noticed something twitch atop his head. I gazed at the two pure white ears. Without thinking I stood up, walking over. I kneeled before R, and rubbed my hand over his left ear. It was soft and velvety and I smiled. Cats were always my favorite animal. R fell back, causing my hand to lose the feathery soft ear.

"Please, don't"

"Why not?"

I asked, noticing R's neutral face, his eyes glittering with some unknown emotion.

"When a half-blood is in a mixed form, we allow no one but those we love to touch our animal parts. Touching them signifies closeness between two people. Forgive me, but I allow only those I fully love to touch them."

I gaped, not knowing this. I blushed slightly as I heard Mitsuhide whisper something about love.

"Sorry."

"You didn't know, its fine."

"I thought all the cat half-bloods died out."

I said, wondering if that info was wrong. One look at his distant, sad face and I knew it wasn't wrong.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up past memories."

"I'm fine, I should be the one apologizing for getting you poisoned."

"It's alright, it's not something you need to be apologizing for."

"Zen ate it himself, the three of us should have been more careful, that's all."

Kiki added to my sentence. She glanced at Mitsuhide.

"Mitsuhide carried on like he would die if Zen died, and got all teary-eyed."

"Don't tell about that!"

Mitsuhide yelled from beside Zen.

"How sad."

"Alright, next time I eat fruit, I'll have Mitsuhide peel it for me."

"Was that what we were talking about?"

I laughed cheerfully. I smiled at R as I stood, walking over in front of his kneeling form, I caught a glimpse of his white tail whisk from behind him.

"R, do you remember what I said about the color white?"

R nodded, and I smiled.

"For me I hope the fact that were together right now is destiny. The paths that we've followed to make it to this point, you've chosen, after you decide on your path it's up to you to follow it."

"Zen, you"

"What?"

"You have an amazing way of thinking."

"But it's not how I think, it's how I live."

R closed his eyes and when he opened them they were filled with a new unknown emotion.

"R, what's your answer?"

I asked, extending my arm. Slowly he reached up taking it.

"I want to continue my destiny with you, and see where it leads me."

I smiled at that and for a minute his lip curled up in the start of a smile. He really was handsome.