Chapter 2: A new friend

Haruto and I walked down the lonely forest at the dead of the night, we talked and laughed for some moments, and he said:

"My cottage is just a few miles from here, would you like to pass the night"

"Sure, I would love to" I replied.

We continued to talk about how forest conservation would save the ecosystem and environment, I really enjoyed the presence of someone who cares about the environment.

We got to a Haruto's little cottage, I saw a woman inside the kitchen, and I stopped walking, I felt a sense, who was that? Was she who I thought she was?

"Haruto, who is that beautiful lady in the kitchen" I asked

"Hum. she is my sister, she has been living with me, after the death of our parents, so it's just me and her" Haruto said

"Her name is Yua" Haruto continued

"What a beautiful lady with a beautiful name" I told Haruto

"Well, stop liking my sister even before u even get to know her" Haruto said

"Looks like someone is getting jealous'' I replied

When we got inside Harutos's house, Yua kind of signaled her brother to ask who I was

"She's a new friend, Yua meet Hina, Hana meet Yua" Haruto said

"Hi, I've heard a lot about you from Haruto, its nice finally meeting you" I told Yua, even when I just heard her name five minutes ago.

"I just made some soup, would you like some? even if its small, we can all manage it" Yua asked

"No thanks, I'm not hungry" I responded

"Why not, you must have had quite an adventure, you must be hungry" Yua said

"Just leave the buffalo lady alone" Haruto interrupted

I gave Haruto a little punch on the stomach. Yua didn't as well seem to know what we were saying, and I didn't think she cared as well, because she gave a little smile and went into the kitchen to serve Haruto his supper.

Although, Haruto's cottage was very small and not well furnished, but neatly arranged, Yua must really be taking care of the house.

I remembered how I used to see to the wellbeing of everyone back home in the palace, although we had slaves, but they were not used for domestic work, the slaves were either used to pass across a message or run errands which had to do with far places. I mostly did all the cleaning in the palace.

I watched Haruto sip his soup gently on the little table which was meant to be a dining. He was so charming.

Immediately after dinner, I assisted Yua in clearing the table, but she said I shouldn't mind.

Later, I asked Yua where the bathroom was, so I could freshen up. Yua directed me to a small room which was the bathroom, she then told me that I had to fetch some water at the backyard of the house, so I grabbed a bucket, and I went to get some water. Immediately I got inside the house, I went straight into the bathroom for a shower.

I enjoyed the cool water on my body, it was so satisfying, while I was enjoying the shower, someone tried opened the bathroom door without knocking, it was Haruto.

"I am so sorry" Haruto said

I quickly took my towel and put it on my body before he could enter, it turned out the bathroom didn't have a lock. It was so awkward.

After taking a shower, I cautioned Haruto of how manner less he was to have opened the door without knocking on the door. Yua and I slept on the bed, while Haruto slept on the floor. But I did really have a good night sleep as the windows were opened for ventilation, at least it was quite better than living in any forest.

The following day, Haruto went hunting, Yua stayed at home and I travelled back to Baku forest without telling Haruto, I remembered I told my family to drop a letter for me at Baku forest, on my way, I thought of so many things

'' What if my family is in danger? What if nobody is safe?'' I asked myself repeatedly.

After a many hours of walking and resting, I finally got to Baku forest. I looked round the forest, until I found an envelope which said

To: Princess Hina

The palace of Ei sei

The crown princess Hina

Dear Hina,

It has been two days since you left the palace, I know you said you were looking for the missing part of your heart, well you've got prince Kenji, if prince Kenji rules over both kingdoms when I have joined my ancestors, it will be for a greater success. I hope you come back home soon, we are all missing you.

Yours sincerely,

Your Father.

I was so angry, I threw the letter in the air, and sliced it with my Katana. I knew one thing, my father was afraid that Kenji and his minions would destroy the kingdom if I didn't give him my hand in marriage. I went back to Haruto's house, and I wrote a letter to my kingdom with a paper and feather pen. I wrote thus:

The palace of Ei sei

Dear father,

I asked you not to inform me about Kenji, the only time I can return home is when the kingdom is in grave danger or when I've found the part of my heart.

Yours sincerely,

Hina of Ei sei.

Anytime I wrote a letter to my father, I never wrote to him as the king, I write to him as his daughter. I never actually knew that Koda had a prince, I thought it was just a village where people lead each other, I had no idea that there was a kingdom there, well not until Haruto told me that Prince Kane was the son of King Fuji.

Two hours later, Haruto came in with a sack that was filled with gold.

"Haruto, where did you find these huge amount of money? Is it where I think it is from" Yua asked

'' No, don't be silly, I went hunting, and let just say I sold a lot of meat" Haruto said.

"The other sack also contained a lot of meat we can also eat" Haruto continued