Author’s Notes: I’m so sorry for not putting up these chapters. It’s just that somebody died in my family and I just didn’t have the strength to write. I’m so thankful for all the reviews you guys are sending me! Thank you! I wanted to make this into a manga but I think there was no manga section when I started this story so I put it on fantasy. There’s no difference though… right? Tanaka a girl’s name? Are you sure? Darn! I thought it was a guy’s!

Kumiko

Chapter 14:

By deadkitty1

Everybody was back in the castle residing in his or her own bedrooms. It was a long night that seemed like an earthly dream. Peace was returned to the kingdom and everything was back to normal. Suddenly a dark figure was taking a walk in the garden. Her short hair and white night gown bowed to the breeze of the wind. The girl could not sleep for she had a lot on her mind.

“My adventure is really over, huh?” she said to herself.

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“We finally got rid of this wretched thing!” smiled Kimi destroying the dagger with her spells until it was nothing but dust.

“Great!” smiled the king holding a bunny, “How about we all go back to the castle and get some much needed sleep! I must say all this fighting has worn me out!”

Everyone stared at the mighty ruler, “You didn’t do any fighting!”

“Well yes but…” the king gave a fake cough and changed the subject, “Well then I invite my future son-in-law, the healer, and the doctor to stay at my magnificent luxury of a home!”

“Future son-in-law?” asked Kimi confused, “I’m sorry, your majesty, but Tanaka is…”

“Is what?” asked the princess.

“He’s engaged to me!” Kimi smiled hugging the boy.

“What?!” everyone exclaimed.

“Is this true, Tanaka?” asked Kumiko nervously but found that she was talking to a sleeping warrior.

The doctor looked at everyone, “We would love to stay longer at your home yet we have to go back to our tribe. We have been gone for so long that they would be worried to death.”

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“It figures!” she said pulling some grass from the ground, “Who needs him!”

“I thought you needed me… princess...” said a voice.

The princess looked around yet saw nothing, “I must be delusional! Maybe I do need some rest.”

“You forgot to look up!” a figure jumped and landed right in front of her. He was wearing his usual grin.

Kumiko looked shock at his arrival yet she knew from her heart that he would come for her, “Why are you here?”

The boy surveyed the garden and his eyes landed on her outfit, “Woah! So who gave you that little get-up, princess?”

Kumiko took one looked at her dress and blushed bright red. She suddenly ran and sat down against a tree hugging herself from view of his eyes.

“Don’t try to change the subject! Why are you here?” she demanded from the safety of a tree.

He walked over to the shivering girl who was hidden from the shade of the branches. The expression she had remains unseen yet he knew she was dreadfully embarrassed. Tanaka sat down next to the figure and started talking.

“Well I remember getting a bunch of praises and gifts from my village for saving the day. I kind of enjoyed it but it was a bit suffocating trying to eat Kimi’s handmade food,” he said laughing.

She nodded remembering the word ‘fianc? running through her head.

“I’ll just get to the point. Here, happy birthday!” he presented her with a dandelion, “Um… I’m not one of those rich princes who can afford roses and junk…. Okay so I know you can find it almost anywhere but…” Tanaka was cut from his excuses.

“Thank you,” she said staring at the flower.

“Really? Uh, you’re welcome,” he said confused.

There was silence as the two were resting in the shade. Tanaka couldn’t figure out why a princess, like her, would like a weed, ‘I only gave it to her because I forgot to give her a present for her birthday. Maybe I should’ve stolen one of those bracelets that Kimi had instead of giving her a weed. Now she must think I’m really cheap.”

“How did you know this is my favorite flower,” said Kumiko breaking the silence.

He started at her, “I didn’t. I just thought princesses like flowers so I picked up the first one I saw that was on the ground.”

“That is so like you,” she said glaring then turning to the flower, “It may be a weed but I love to see the seeds scatter when they float away…”

She blew gently on the flower. Suddenly the white fluffs started to descend and then was tossed up by the waves of the wind.

“Did you make a wish?” he asked gently.

“Yes, to get a laptop for Christmas…” she said with a devilish grin.

He smiled at her, “You know, princess, that technology is forbidden in this land. That is what corrupted the humans outside this wall.”

Kumiko stared star-eyed at the sky, “Yes I know… but one day when I become queen, I’ll change that.”

“Yes, I’m sure you would,” he said then started to walk away, “Well it’s been a pleasure talking to you but I’m sure you need you’re beauty sleep like any other girl! See you!”

The princess looked at this retreated shadow, “Wait! Don’t think you’ll get away with this!”

The boy stopped and turned around. She took his hand and gave him a golden necklace.

“What’s this for?” he asked confused.

“For the wedding you’re going to have with Kimi,” she said sternly as not to reveal any feelings she has.

“Wedding? Did you say… wedding?” he said utterly stunned.

She looked like she was ready to kill him, “Of course that’s what I said! Didn’t you hear me the first time?!”

The smile on his face went wider until he couldn’t contain himself and started laughing. His laughter got out of hand and tears started to come from his eyes.

“May I say what is so funny?” she said frowning at his childish antics.

“Ah hahaha!” he said trying to stop himself from laughing, “I’m not getting married!”

“WHAT?!” she yelled.

“Kimi only says that to people she thinks that are getting a bit too close to me. Sure she wants me! Who wouldn’t? Almost every girl is after me blind or not! Though she’s not my type!” he said egotistically waving a hand through his rough hair.

Kumiko looked like a train just ran her over, ‘They aren’t getting married. HE DOESN’T LOVE HER!’

“Hey, are you all right?” he asked worriedly waving a hand across her face.

“Yes!” she said excitedly, “So what is your type?”

He threw a snubbed look back at her, “I thought you would have figured out by now.”

“No, I didn’t,” she said leaning in to listen carefully to what he has to say.

“A smart-aleck princess like you butting into my life. You kept running away. Making me chase you down to hell has been a real pain!” Tanaka said glaring at the sky to avoid her eyes, “Then saving your ass when you don’t want me to.  You crawled back to your stupid castle leaving me to my tribe. I followed you again. You were here exactly where I wanted you. Why can’t you just ignore what your head is saying and listen to your heart for once!”

“I… I don’t understand,” she stuttered.

He looked into her eyes and she saw something that wasn’t there before, “My type is a hard-to-get-16-year-old-buxom-princess-who-won’t-admit-that-she-has-the-hots-for-me!”

All said and done, the young man dove in for the kill. He slid her beautiful hair behind her ears and stole a kiss from the girl. Kumiko being a woman raised to be a tomboy did the only thing she was taught to do. She pushed his lips away from his and pushed him on the ground. She then gave a powerful elbow to his stomach.

“Augh! What the fuck bitch?!” he cursed as a sharp pain cringed in back to reality.

“Oh my! I am so sorry!” she said panicking, “Oh no! The wound is opening up! Ah! I know!”

She ripped the skirts of her nightgown into strips. She then tore open his shirt and began to take the red stained bandages off while carefully wrapping the new cloths around the man.

“Tanaka! I’m so so so so so so so so sorry! It’s just an instinct I have whenever a guy comes that near to me! I never meant to hurt…” she stopped when she heard him moan.

“Oooh! I should’ve expected that coming from you,” he moaned, “Looks like I’m going to have to buy a new shirt…”

“Can you stand up?” she said putting his arms around her neck to help him stand.

“Uh yeah…” he said woozily.

She helped him to his feet and slowly the head towards the castle for some medical attention, “You know, you could have asked if you could kiss me then I wouldn’t have hit you in the first place.”

He started at the girl like she was an alien, “Really? Wow! I never knew old-fashion ladies like you existed!”

“What do you mean by old-fashion?” she said getting irritated.

“Come on! Usually a kiss just comes naturally. You don’t have to ask the person for permission!” he said as if it didn’t matter.

“Well! I was raised to be a dignified princess and when you want something you have to ask!” she argued.

He staggered with the steps he took then stop, “So, I have to ask you if you want to have sex with me?!”

She blushed bright red, “Really! You are such a jerk!”

“Who are you calling a jerk when you’re just an old lady in child’s clothing!” he said enjoying their argument.

“So you just kissed an old lady in child’s clothing!” she said trying to think of a comeback.

“You just insulted yourself!” he said smiling.

“AH! I can’t stand you!” she screeched. Then suddenly, she let him go and he flopped down on the ground.

“Ow!” he complained, “Why do you people always hurt the me when I’m injured!”

The princess bended down close to his face, “How about a kiss to make you feel better?”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” he smiled.

The couple lay in their own moment together. As the story comes to a close a strange music starts playing in the air. A lady was sitting still on the wind looking on at the world.

“Thank you for setting me free…”