Hello~!

oh wow this has become interesting!

I just cant believe it took me this long to get around to it sooooorry!

anyway to my lovely royal boys.

Akio studied the hustle and bustle around him, frantically trying to get an answer that no one would give him. No one even paid him any mind. All he could gather was that no one could find Mizuki. That she had went to the garden and never returned. That was when he spotted a frantic Ryuu, talking to Seiya and some of the palace soldiers.

"Ryuu, Seiya, what's going on?" Akio asked running over to them, hoping to finally get some answers.

"And who exactly are you?" Ryuu asked looking at him confused. Akio couldn't believe this guy. Yes, maybe Akio had won Mizuki's heart but for him to go this far-!

"Stop kidding around, where is she, what's going on?" Akio asked with narrowed eyes.

"Whoever you are, you have no need to worry. The Princess is currently being looked for and it is not a civilian matter."

Civilian? What the hell?

"Ryuu... do you not recognize Akio?" Seiya asked, looking at Ryuu oddly. It had been 2 decades for Seiya, but probably only two weeks for Ryuu. And Ryuu killed Akio, how could he not remember? What was going on?

"Is he a new palace guard or something? No, I don't know who he is," Ryuu replied looking at Akio like examining a flower, a simple glance over. Seiya went to speak again but Akio cut him off.

"You killed me, how the hell do you not remember me!" he growled out, "You made Mizuki cry a few times, and each time she came to me. How can you not remember me?"

"Seiya, why was this brute allowed in the palace? Perhaps the psychiatric ward would be more accommodating for him, and to think he feels he has the right to call Mizuki by her given name," Ryuu said, completely ignoring Akio and looking to Seiya for an answer. Seiya was speechless.

"Ryuu, you met him when you went back with Mizuki," Seiya said lightly, stepping in front of Akio, who looked like he was going to punch Ryuu.

"I never went back, Seiya, what are you talking about? I just got back to this planet last week with my Mother."

Akio couldn't believe what he was hearing. Ryuu had never been in the past? Then who was the one who was there?

"But you were there, Ryuu, I remember," Seiya said, his face painted in confusion. Akio felt comforted that he wasn't the only one put off by this.

"Seiya, I haven't been here since last year, surely you should know this," Ryuu replied, which caused Seiya and Akio to share a look.

"Fine, we'll deal with this later... Seiya, what's going on?" Akio continued. He just wanted to talk to Mizuki, that's all, but as far as he had gathered no one could find her.

"She's been kidnapped, we think, there's no solid evidence besides her brooch which was found in the garden when Ryuu went out to look for her." Seiya replied much to the confusion of Ryuu.

"Seiya-! Why are you telling it all to this man?" He asked with a surprised tinge to his voice.

"Ryuu, you don't know him, but, he is extremely close to my daughter, he deserves to know, and he could probably be a tremendous help to us. He is a skillful swordsman and experienced in battle. I will explain more to you later but between the two of you," Seiya said, pushing them towards the gardens, "You two together are the best hope we have to finding my daughter. Cooperate for her sake. Go look for anything that could help us."

Akio sighed, but knew better than to contradict his ruler, moving into the garden. After a few minutes of silence Akio sighed.

"Where did you find her brooch?" He asked, half expecting the prince to throw some edged retort back at him.

"Near her willow tree." Ryuu replied curtly, walking towards the slight hill that the tree was, pointing to the side.

"That's where it was?" A nod was the only response.

"Okay. So we'll assume her attacker threw it?" Akio murmured, more to himself, circling the tree before stooping down.

"Who exactly are you, Akio, how do you know my Fiancé?" Ryuu asked, moving around the tree to watch Akio pick up and study a white bloom with red tinges.

"You don't need to say my name so suspiciously. As Seiya said earlier, we met in the past and I am close to her," Akio replied studying the flower. It was neither native to the area nor in any of the castle gardens. Akio then noticed a rock. Picking it up he looked at it as well.

"Close how? You do understand me and her will be married soon, I have the right to know."

"Well that does not matter, whether you will be married to her or not. She is not marrying you by her own choice, nor does she love you, so you really do not have any business inquiring about the details of our closeness. This is odd..." Akio muttered feeling the edges of the rock, sheer and sharp unlike the usual garden pebbles.

"How dare you say things like that!" Ryuu hollered grabbing a hold of Akio's collar, "You have no right or business in this matter or with my soon to be wife!"

"You mean the one of whom I love and agreed to marry me? Who still wears the ring I gave her? The one who sat in her personal garden with me holding her as she cried herself to sleep when she had to agree to marry you, again? The one who we should be looking for instead of wasting precious time arguing like this!" Akio growled drawing himself to his full height and yanking Ryuu's hand off his collar, "Get your head out of the game, you already won. What we need to do is find her before it's too late."

Ryuu looked at the man dumbfounded. He wasn't sure how to retaliate against that. This man said he won, by the marriage, but he was still frantic to find Mizuki, Ryuu could feel it. He narrowed his eyes slightly then looked at the rock and flower.

"What's so special about those?" he asked in a scoff.

"They aren't from around here. My guess is that the abductor dropped them or brought them here. Other than that I don't know much, they'll have to be analysed by someone else," he replied picking them up again. Ryuu plucked the flower from his hands.

"Nerium Oleander," Ryuu said absently, "Now that is odd, they don't grow anywhere near here, and due to their toxicity, I don't think the palace would have any on the grounds..."

"You know plants," Akio stated, he hadn't expected this guy to be useful.

"I have a lot of time to read," he scoffed again setting the flower on the stone bench, "... And I enjoy nature, a lot. Let me see that rock." After a few minutes of examination Ryuu stated that he knew where it was from.

"It's an old mountain range, about a 2 week journey from here. I'd say that's a good place to start, we need to leave soon."

"2 weeks! Mizuki may not have that much time!" Akio growled out, grabbing at his own blonde hair.

"Maybe, but it's all we have to work with. We need to get supplies in order, a day of rest, then we'll leave," Ryuu countered, "I don't like it either but it's all we have to work with, and we want to be prepared." Akio growled lightly again, he didn't like that this guy was making sense, it just didn't seem right. This kid was going to be marrying the love of his life and yet he had to listen to him. All because he was making sense.

"Fine."

Mizuki awoke to a gentle caress against her hair, a cool hand that every now and again would trace over her face, feeling its contours, running their gloved thumb along her cheek, her lips, her jaw. She didn't want to open her eyes and disrupt the moment as the minutes ticked by. She heard a light chuckle.

"I know you are awake Mizuki, it's okay to open your eyes," Oleander's voice said to her. Mizuki smiled, but her eyes stayed lightly shut.

"But you might stop, or leave again," she said. Oleander smirked lightly; he had her hooked so easily. This was the first woman Cassava had allowed him to keep for himself, and he was happy he took the offer.

"Never again, my dear princess, that didn't end so well last time," he murmured to her, pressing his lips to her temple tenderly. Mizuki opened her eyes lightly, looking at him in the soft morning light. Oleander pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, Mizuki looked at the red violet eyes, an uneasy feeling coming over her, though she couldn't place it. Oleander smiled sweetly.

"Is anything the matter? You looked a little spooked," He murmured, taking off his glove and touching her jaw lightly. He knew it would be wearing off soon, but usually most were fine till midday. Mizuki blinked a little, shaking her head lightly.

"It's… it's nothing, Oleander, I just… Nothing, it must be a side effect, that's all," She murmured as the ill feelings washed away with his touch. She was just over reacting, that's all…

"Side effect? Right, don't worry, my love, you are safe and sound now, I'm here and I won't leave you alone," he said, pulling her closer. He needed to be careful, but, as long as she thought everything was a side effect, it would make things a lot easier for him. Mizuki rest her head on his chest with a light sigh of contentment as Oleander pulled on his glove again.

"Oleander, why are you wearing gloves? It's plenty warm in here…" Mizuki murmured against the soft silky surface of his shirt, peeking up at him.

"It's a flower thing, Mizuki, when you go through the ceremony later you'll understand. Sometimes, the flower one chooses has different properties, mine happens to be a bit poisonous, it's okay in small doses, and you used to have a fairly strong resistance to it, but after being away for so long I don't want to risk hurting you, is all." He said, leaning down to place a chaste kiss on her soft pink lips. Mizuki nodded lightly when he pulled away, "Later? As in today?"

"Yes, my dear, you were actually supposed to be bound to me the day after you were taken from me, I know its short notice, but the other women will help you get ready for it," Oleander said sitting up with her, "You don't mind do you?"

"No, no, of course not, this is what's supposed to happen right?" Mizuki asked, taking him at his word.

"Of course, by the end of today we will be married, finally, Mizuki, my love, my Silverbell…" he murmured to her happily, stroking her cheek charmingly. Mizuki placed her hand over his, leaning her head into the combined hands. A feeling washed over her, on the very edge of hazy, like this had happened before, with someone she loved, and that it had been a sad memory. She took this as a good sign, she was remembering him.

Oleander smiled, running his thumb over her smooth, porcelain skin, the pale color of creamy alabaster. She was a perfect flower, so beautiful, so delicate, just like princesses were supposed to be. They always made the best new comers, they always adapted well into the community.

"Here, I'm actually supposed to be in here helping you get dressed, Cassava will be upset but I couldn't bring myself to wake you up, you were so peaceful," he murmured to her, helping her out of bed and holding the dress up to her.

"Right, of course…"

holy crap, i am beginning to LOVE Oleander

but seeing as he's kinda like my latest boyfriend, minus the creepy bits, thats to be expected.

Pleas, Read and Review

laters

~Morei