She watched as the city few by her windows, her chauffeur making his way efficiently through the crowded streets. Joining her inside was her rather imposing, but well-meaning, father and his over-bearing assistant. The limo slowed as they came upon the first wall of the gates to the castle.
"Once we're all settled in, Nikki, we need to sit with the baker about your birthday cake," her father's assistant informed her. Nikki sighed and her head hung at the thought.
"Once we're settled I need Kagome and Sango sent to my chambers, I'm not interested in meeting with the baker right now," Nikki replied. Her father wanted to chuckle at her defiance but knew his assistant wouldn't hear of it.
"Your birthday ball is in four days," the assistant reminded her sternly.
"Yes, thank you," Nikki crisply replied, "I forgot when my birthday was. I forgot when I'm the one to be sold to the highest bidder." Her father shot her a sharp look. "I said not now."
"Kitten," her father rumbled as she returned to staring out the window, "please stop fighting everyone." She scowled but remained silent. "We had a very nice morning shopping, all you need to do today is tell the baker what kind of cake you'd like."
"The kind that'll allow me out of this prison of a life," she muttered. Her father sighed and shook his head, otherwise pretending not to hear her, but his assistant was obviously not having her attitude today.
"Some prison, a beautiful castle with a family and kingdom that adores you," she snapped back as Nikki turned and prepared to fight. "To live a life any female in the kingdom would give her right arm to have."
"They want to be trapped in a life where they have no choice in anything; what they wear, how to act, what they eat; then open these prison gates and let them in! I can't even choose what I want to be, maybe I didn't want to do this, maybe I wanted to be an actress or a writer or teacher." Nikki snapped angrily, tears threatening to escape as she lost all ability to keep her temper. "Instead, I have to choose between ten males I've never met in my life, for the safety and welfare of my kingdom and those girls who can be anything they want when they grow up, and marry one of these pathetic slobs who couldn't find a female on his own! They want that hell, they can have it. I'll hand it all over, live in the streets, without a squeak of protest." Her father looked at her surprised while his assistant bristled, her response ready to be thrown back at her opponent.
"Enough," he ordered as she sighed and backed down from the argument. "Aimi, tell the baker that Nikki is pre-occupied for the afternoon and we will give him a response to the question later. In fact, have the design choices sent to my office, where we'll meet once Nikki has calmed down." His assistant nodded and prepared to do as ordered.
"Of course, my lord," Aimi replied respectfully. "I apologize for losing my temper with the princess." He shook his head and waved her off as he watched Nikki return to staring out the window.
"I have the feeling," he replied, "that pushing her to fight back might have helped more than hurt this time." The limo stopped and they were all allowed out. "Before you vanish into your chambers, Nikki, you will join me for a walk in the gardens." She followed him but otherwise said or did nothing to acknowledge him.
He led her into a garden, quickly she realized it was one of her father's personal ones. When she was younger, Nikki had been taught about her father's love for nature, so when he built his home and castle he incorporated many gardens. It was a love that brought him and his mate together and was also passed on to their six kittens. He pointed to a seat and she sat down, looking away as she prepared for a lecture on decorum with the staff. She had also quickly learned in life, her father did not tolerate ungrateful, spoiled brats.
"I understand that this isn't fair to you," he told her, surprising her some, "I have asked a lot of you six over the years. You all have risen to the tasks presented to you beautifully and without argument. I am not a fan of the position we're in anymore than you are."
"Yet you're the one who can change it," she whispered.
"Sweetheart, the change you're thinking of will benefit no one and hurt millions of innocent people," he replied as tears streamed down her face, "And I know that you would never want to hurt our people." She looked away, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I have never said being in our position was easy, it won't get easier either. As we grow older, as we change and grow, we must make choices that effect not just us, but everyone around us as well." He moved to wipe a tear away from her cheek, but she scowled and got up. As she paced he watched her.
She was only eighteen, but she was far more advanced than her years. Her long dark red hair, porcelain white skin, and emerald eyes showed the youth of her age. But her lithe form and cunning mind betrayed the training and trials she had endured as princess. He was no longer looking at the tiny kitten, constantly disheveled and a mess, but a young woman with her own mind and a sophistication that left him in awe sometimes.
"I've explained why things must be this way, my dearest," he told her softly. She stopped and turned her back to him, leaning on an arbor that held ruby red roses as she softly sobbed.
"I have always done as you asked," she whimpered softly, "I can't do this. No matter how I try to convince myself…remind myself of the consequences..." He knew the idea was going to be hard on her, especially since her brothers never had to do such a measure.
"If I had another child, it would not be your burden to bare alone," he told her as he tried to console.
"You have six!" she snapped and faced him angrily. "But I am the only one kept on a leash! I am the only one who's freedom to choose something so basic was ripped away! You can't sympathize, you can't even imagine knowing how it feels!" He looked at her as she stood so defiant in all her fury and pain, of which he was the sole cause. He approached her and pulled her into a hug. He held tight as she fought, continuing to do so as she went limp in his arms and just sobbed at the pains of her heart. "I will never have that joy of waking up in the arms of the one I love," she whimpered and sobbed, "but in a cage summoned only when needed. My children will never know the happiness of seeing their parents happy together. My children won't even be from a happy union, but under the stress of a peace keeping tactic." She pulled away as he looked at her, her broken heart revealed on her innocent face. "But the freedom of one is outweighed by the masses again." She turned and ran away as he tried to think.
The broken hearted lord sat down as he tried to think of what to do. He couldn't come up with anything as his own heart broke for his daughter, the promise of her happiness given to his mate on her deathbed shaking him to the core. His own tears streamed down his face as he suddenly felt and realized what he had truly condemned his daughter to.
"My Lord?" one of his generals called out as he approached with the head maid. They both looked at him in concern as he shook his head and looked away. Quickly he composed himself before facing them. "What is wrong, my Lord Higashi?"
"Nothing, I'm fine," he gruffly answered. "Your reports?"
"Yes!" the soldier answered and stood at attention. "The attacks on our western boarder have ceased for the time being. We are reinforcing and resupplying as we prepare for the ball in four days." Higashi nodded, he was happy to hear that the agreements were being honored so far.
"The palace is prepared and staffed for the arrival of our guests," the maid informed him as well. "Lord Jiro has made sure to organize the ball where the princess is unavailable." Higashi nodded in agreement.
"Yes, she is still taking this quite hard," Higashi agreed. The maid nodded in sympathy while the general shook his head and crossed his arms.
"Does she not see the good her marriage will bring to her kingdom?" he grumbled.
"No matter the greater good, it is still hard to give up one's own freedom," the maid replied. They were starting to sound like Higashi's conscious.
"Reiko, please take Nikki her favorite tea to help her calm down," Higashi suggested as the woman bowed and walked off. "Make sure the castle is fully secured for when our guests arrive, I have a feeling they will show up at least two days advance of the ball." He bowed and rushed off as Higashi headed inside as well. He walked into his office to find the cake plans on his desk with some warm green tea waiting.
"She'll stop eating again," his oldest son warned as he walked into the room. Higashi nodded as he thought about what was going on in his castle. "I can't believe there is no other path to peace than this."
"Seiji, I have tried everything I can think of and what you've thought of," Higashi replied exhaustedly, "they agreed to these terms."
"Because they believe this will weaken us!" his son declared passionately. "Nikki is our princess and symbol of our kingdom…"
"I know, Seiji," Higashi growled in warning. "Wait until you are surrounded and can't fight, where the sacrifice of your strongest piece will win you the game. I've fought to prevent this for two years, I can't help that we need their help so desperately." Seiji nodded and looked away. "This is my failure, I'm truly sorry that you lot are the ones to fix it."
"I know, father," Seiji sighed heavily, "I just…I can't stand the thought that we'll lose her." Higashi nodded as he looked at the cake plans. "How do you think this will end?" Higashi sighed as he say back, tea in hand, and tried to think.
"No matter what, Nikki loses, the wars stop," Higashi answered. "As for how your sister will do in two days, I haven't the foggiest. I just hope she calms down enough." Higashi took a sip of his tea as his oldest kitten and heir nodded in agreement.