Zafir opened his eyes, a smile on his face. Light poured in from outside as snowbirds chirped from the window-sill. It was as if the blizzard both outside and that within his heart were gone. However, it didn't last long as he saw there was no one next to him.

He sat up. "Akari?" He called out, glancing around the spacious room. He stood up and walked into the bathroom, but all he saw as an empty, unused bathtub and the other usual stuff. "Where did she go?"

He lowered his eyes toward the white carpeted floor of the main room. "Maybe she went to talk to Lady Rosa. After all, we are to depart to assist Sir Eiji in his quest to find a suitable wielder for Donato."

He quickly put on his lower garments and then picked up his shirt from the floor. However, just before he could put back on his shirt, he noticed a letter on the black marble nightstand by the messy bed. Without hesitation, he picked it up and skimmed through it.

"'I'm returning to the capital. Please tell Lady Rosa that I apologize.' Returning to the capital? Why?" He turned the letter upside down, but there was nothing else. He stuffed the letter into his pants pocket and returned to buttoning his white shirt.

It isn't like Akari to leave without warning. Something must be worrying her for her to go in such a hurry, but what?

"Zafir," Rosalba said, knocking on the door of the Mizu no Kin prince. "You alright? I'm sorry that I suggested that the other day."

"What?" Zafir said, opening the door. "Why are you sorry for?"

Rosalba stared at him in confusion.

"You mean Akari didn't tell you?" a voice called out. Rosalba jumped back and turned to see Lady Miyuki standing beside her. The Grand Duchess snickered. "Sorry, did I scared you?"

Rosa's face reddened. "Uh, no. Well, maybe."

"I'm aware that she left, she left me this note, but she doesn't state as to why," Zafir said, staring down at his bare feet.

Rosalba lowered her head. "Zafir... about that."

Zafir's expression grew stoic. He turned around and picked up his socks and black boots. "I'm going to go on and see if something happened to her," he said once he finished putting them on. Once he was done, he made his way toward Rosa. "I will try not to take too long."

Rosalba grimaced, keeping her head low. "It's all my fault. I should never have butted into your relationship." She spun around and rushed down the long hall. Zafir was already long gone.

"Hey, princess," Roa said as he made his own way to the stairs with Etsuo by his side.

"Sorry, can't talk now," Rosalba said, turning to the right.

Roa leaped over the rail and landed on the first floor unharmed. "Did something happen. That prince of Mizu no Kin ran off as if there were a fire."

"It's Zafir, he's heading to the capital. I need to let him know why Akari left and apologize. I know it might not help him recuperate Akari, but it's the least I can do."

"Zafir? That guy at the ball?" Etsuo asked as he descended the stairs. "The guy seemed so happy yesterday."

"Yeah, he and that blond girl were making out," Roa said. "Bet it went farther than kisses too."

"Roa!" Etsuo yelled. "What did you say to Rosalba about butting into other people's business?"

"Hey, you did it first by healing Hyo." Roa sighed. "Plus, it is our business. That guy entrusted us to watch over her." He pointed at the princess. "Honestly, that guy is so undependable, leaving a couple of strangers to care for the princess while he goes after his girlfriend."

Rosalba bit her lips. "You were right all along. I shouldn't have intruded on the personal matters of others. Even if it was intended to help out my friends." She snickered coldly as she gazed at her red beaded bracelet. "In the end, I only ended up getting both of them hurt. I also need to apologize to Akari."

"I know, right? How selfish of you, princess," Roa said, shrugging.

"Roa!" Etsuo said, sighing. "She doesn't need you to put salt on her wounds."

The two boys watched Rosalba slap herself and stomp away.

"This isn't about me, it's about Zafir and Akari," she said in a low voice as she pushed the gates open, letting in rays of sunlight.

"Let's go," Roa said.

Etsuo gave him a curious look. "What are you plotting?"

Roa winced. "What? Can't help someone without needing to have an ulterior motive?"

"Maybe if it were someone else, but you and Satoru only assist others when it's to your benefit."

Roa gave him a hurt look. "Hey, don't compare me to Satoru. I can help even when there isn't a benefit. Though you're right about the princess. I'm sure you can tell what the benefit of helping her will give us."

Etsuo sighed. "I don't like this one bit."

The black-robed youth smiled at his partner. "If Satoru is right about anything, it's that you're soft. That guy might see that as a weakness, but I see it as a strength."

Etsuo blushed slightly before letting out another sigh. "I'll go along with it as it will help prevent needless struggle." The two sprinted over to Rosa.

Rosalba stopped by the arched doorway leading out of Shirayuki. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the cousins.

"Need some help?" Etsuo asked, smiling.

Rosa smiled back. "I wish I could say that I can do this on my own, but I can't. Though it isn't a bother?"

Etsuo shook his head. "Not at all."

Roa grumbled. "For you, maybe."

The snow-white teenager narrowed his eyes at the raven-haired boy. "Seriously, Roa?"

Roa just snickered.

Rosalba pulled out her pink cellphone and dialed for a taxi. With Akari and Zafir gone, she needed to find another way to get back home. She could've asked Miyuki to have one of her drivers escort her. Though, she had already been so generous in allowing Roa and Etsuo to stay at the palace at her request.

"Huh, what's that?" Roa asked, pointing at her phone.

"This? Don't you have phones in Xeleria?" Rosalba asked.

"Xeleria?" the woman on the other side of the line asked.

"Huh? Oh, hey there, Violet. I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

"Sure, princess, you just name it."

"I was wondering if you could drive us back to the capital. Akari had some issues and had to rush back."

"Issues? Hopefully, not anything too severe. Well, don't you worry, I'll get the car warmed up."

"Thanks," Rosalba said before hanging up.

"Why don't you call Zafir?" Lady Miyuki asked, making her way to them. "Kohri saw him on the way out of the gate. He said my nephew was heading to the east to meet with Sir Eiji."

"The east? So he isn't heading to the capital?"

"Seems he isn't. Though my sons are on their way there right now, so if they run into him, they'll give you a call."

"Hey, do that 'call' thing again," Roa said with shiny eyes.

Rosalba glanced down at the snowy ground as it reflected sunlight into her face and elsewhere. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "No. I wish to apologize to Zafir in person. Also, I get the feeling that he left it behind."

Roa pouted. "How lame! I wanted to see that trick you did a moment ago."

The princess tilted her head at him. "Trick?"

"Yeah. A voice came from the other side of that slab. Is it some kind of communication stone?" Roa said, continuing to watch Rosa's phone with interest.

Rosalba yanked her phone away from his gawking eyes. "Stop that! You're creeping me out! I'll tell you what it is on the way to Makkuroyama."

Roa smiled like a little kid. "Really?"

This guy can be pretty cute in his own way. Hmm, since I'm heading east, I should visit Tetsuya and Serrano to check up on how they're doing. Hopefully, I can join Zafir soon. Hope the guy did not go off flying at jet speeds. If only I were versed at long-distance flight, I could catch up to him quicker...

***

Zafir rubbed his weary eyes as he soared through the sky. He had been at it for the past three hours and flying as fast as a jet, too. Flying non-stop caused him to lose feeling in his white and blue kite-like wings.

Seems I've pushed myself further than I should've.

He gazed down at the rolling green hills below.

I do not have the faintest idea as to where I am. Should stop to find out. No, I must keep on going east. It has taken Sir Eiji too long to locate a suitable owner for the riffle. It is not only Kuroriku that runs the risk of being destroyed by those otherworldly invaders. I must keep this world safe for Akari's sake. Once I'm done with this mission, I'll return to the Kurorikuian capital and ask her why she left.

The Mizu no Kin prince closed his eyes as he quickly lost speed and altitude.

Argh! Come on, do not do this me, body. Just an hour more and I should...

No, it wasn't possible to keep up the speed he was moving in. His wings weren't as sturdy as those of the Kuroriku.

He opened his eyes to see more rolling hills, these ones filled with flowers. The flat land between the hills had fields of wheat. They reminded him of when he was on the road with Rosa and Akari some days ago. The image of the plants dancing aimlessly in the wind blurred as his consciousness faded.

***

Zafir opened his cyan eyes. He found himself in a small room with little furniture besides a tiny television with an old fashioned bunny-eared antenna. "Where am I?" he asked, rubbing his forehead.

"Ya're finally awake," someone called out. He turned toward the door whose red paint was peeling off.

"Who are you?" he questioned the stranger. It was a well-endowed chocolate-skinned young woman with long sleek black hair and violet eyes.

"I'm the one who saved ya life, that's who. What were ya thinking, flying like that? Ya could've gotten ya-self, or someone else killed!"

Zafir averted his gaze. She is correct, that was idiotic of me. I should have been wiser.

"Thanks for helping me," he said, pressing his hands against the bed. A stinging pain ran through his entire spine. "ARGH!"

The girl put down the bowl of water she was carrying by the television and ran over to check on his condition. "Do not press ya-self too hard. It will take days for ya wings to fully heal."

"Days? I do not have that kind of time!" he said, pushing himself. "I have a mission to fulfill." Not to mention, I need to see Akari as soon as possible.

The young woman sighed and pushed him down against the bed. She flashed him a fierce glare. "Ya are a fool. I said, rest. If you do not, then ya might end up losing all use of ya wings or worse."

"Alright!" Zafir groaned as he laid his head back on the pillow, which smelled of lavender. "Can you at least give me my phone? It should be in that coat you removed from me."

The girl stared at his bareback. It was too bad that he couldn't use those wings of his for a while. They were beautiful. They reminded her of the sky and its clouds.

He glanced over at her, awaiting a response of some kind.

Her face flushed. "Right," she said, turning away quickly. She rushed over to grab the coat she had folded earlier into a square and laid next to the television counter. Her hands skimmed through the contents of the coat and found something. She pulled it out, though it wasn't a phone but a locket.

"Do not open that!" Zafir yelled. He gasped back a scream as his back pain flared up yet again.

"I wasn't planning to," she said, putting it on the television counter. "Hmm, there's nothing else here."

Zafir put his hands over his face. "No! I must have left it behind at the Kuroyuki no San castle."

The young man glanced over her shoulder. "Ya said 'castle'? Are ya some kind of noble?" She gazed at the coat and silk shirt she had taken off when she found him to attend to his wounds. "Well, that explains these fancy clothes."

Darn, I should not have said that. And what was I thinking, running off without changing? If this girl wanted to, she could keep me hostage. I could fight her off, but doing so might be difficult with this pain. Even yelling causes it to flare up.

The young woman rose up to her full height and stared down the prince. "I'm not liking the look ya're giving me."

Zafir turned his head away. "What look?"

"The 'oh crud, this gal is going to hold me hostage' look! Just who do ya take me for? I am no delinquent."

The prince sighed. "Sorry. Pardon my slight."

The young woman grinned and extended out her hand to him. "Well, how about we introduce each other? I'm Teresa Kuroriku, and you are?"

Kuroriku? Is this girl related to the royal family? Or is she simply a member of the second house?

"I'm Zafir."

She tilted her head. "No last name?"

"Pardon what I am about to say, but it is not for you to know."

Teresa grumbled. "I see, ya still don't trust me. So be it." She turned around and drew the ceramic bowl over to her. She pulled out a rag that had been submerged in the water. "Turn around."

"Did you not just say a moment ago not to move? And what are you going to do?" the young man asked as she walked over to him.

"This is to heal ya a tad faster. It's a tonic made out of wild herbs. Mother taught me how to make it. Ya only healed this fast because of this tonic, and what seems to be a natural ability to heal with water. Ya aren't from this clan, are ya?"

Zafir turned around, causing yet another wave of pain to rush through his back. "Hurry up and heal me. I cannot remain here much longer."

Teresa pressed the rag against his back, causing him to growl. "Why did you do that for?" the Prince screamed.

"I don't like to be ordered around, especially not by someone I just saved. Now stop whining and take it like a man!"

"Wait, you do not honestly intend to do that again, do you?"

She grinned. "Well, this is the only way to heal ya fast. Ya did ask for it."

"Oi, what happened to you hating to take orders?"

She shrugged and grinned impishly. "I'll make this one an exception."

Zafir closed his eyes. "Hey, listen, I'm sorry. I should not have said what I did."

Teresa snickered and pressed the rag against his back, causing him to yelp. "Sorry, too late."

This girl is a demon! Sky Father, Earth Mother, please give me the strength to survive this trial in life!

Teresa giggled. "Alright, I'll go softer. Seems I frightened you. I expected a man with your physic and position to be braver, though I guess pain is pain."

Zafir's pressed his face against the pillow. How humiliating, having this country bumpkin hear me screaming like a child at the dentist.

He closed his eyes as Teresa gently rubbed the tonic. His tense back muscles relaxed, especially the area between the scapulas, which was where an angel's wings emerged from.

"You are pretty good at this."

Teresa smiled. "Thanks. I have experience from having two brothers who push themselves like you."

"Brothers, huh? Hey, your last name, are you related to someone called Serrano? Or to the royal family perhaps?"

"Serrano? Yeah! He's my cousin! Hmm, make that two brothers and a cousin who push themselves too far. Had to care for that runt too."

Zafir snickered. "That Serrano sure is a hard worker. So, that means you are from the second branch."

Teresa leaned in closer. "Ya sure ask a lot about my family for a guy who wouldn't give his own family name."

Zafir sighed. "If you truly wish to know, it is Mizu no Kin."

Teresa stopped. "Mizu no Kin? Wait, you said your name is Zafir... then you're-"

"Prince Zafir of the Mizu no Kin Clan? Son of the sixth Celestial King? That is correct. I am that Zafir."

Teresa's golden eyes widened a little. "Oh, wow, so I saved a prince." She giggled to herself. "Hmm, maybe I should have asked for a ransom."

Zafir chuckled. "You would not do that, would you?"

"No worries, ya're fine."

The prince smiled slightly. "Thanks, I will repay you when I am feeling better. Say, what would you like?"

"What would I like?" she asked, bringing a finger to her chin. She tilted her head and tapped her chin lightly in contemplation. "Hmm... what can I get away with?"

Zafir flinched.

This girl certainly is a Kuroriku female. Though why are they all so scary?

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter :). What do you think of Prince Zafir and the girl who saved him, Teresa?**