Disclaimer: I only own what is mine. My OCs and Ideas.

A/N: I am so happy to be posting this story finally! I think there are some nice twists right away with the first chapter. But... maybe... something else?I had so much fun writing Neon and now that I finished it yesterday, I am ready to start this story with no hesitation. Anyway. I am excited to begin this new book and without further ado... I present to you 'Lights'! Please Enjoy! And don't forget to review!

Chapter 1

Aiko walked into the stables slowly. She hadn't seen Danny in two weeks and she was nervous to see if he had changed some or none or all.

But, at the same time, it felt like she was just meeting him for the first time. All over again.

Aiko took a deep breath as she walked in the main entrance.

A small stable boy greeted her and told her where she could find Danny.

Aiko walked toward the back where Danny was.

When she saw him, her fears melted away. Danny was sitting on the floor near where a baby foal was standing. He held out his cupped hands and the fowl quickly buried its nose in his hands. He slowly pulled back one hand and stroked its head.

Aiko stayed back, still nervous about how to act, Danny hadn't really said what he wanted to be called. He had addressed the note with his title, but now he was just Danny. Nothing new about it.

Aiko just stood back and watched him. Having to smile at his sweet nature. She gave a small cough as to not scare him.

Danny turned and smiled at Aiko. "Come here." He smiled.

Aiko nodded and walked over also sitting down on the ground.

"She's cute, isn't she?" Danny asked.

Aiko reached out at also pet the foal. "Yes."

It was quiet for a while. "I think I want to name her Heather. Do you like it?" Danny asked.

"After your mom?" Aiko waited for a nod. "I love it." Aiko's heart picked up a little with her choice of words.

"Thanks, I still feel alone," Danny sighed. "I've been missing my parents more than ever recently and I just don't understand why that is. That was the motivation behind the name. But I also don't want to. I don't want to call her that, because as cute as it is, it hurts me a little."

"Are you ok?" Aiko asked.

"Yes, I'm just... really uncertain all the time it seems." Danny sighed. "Being King is a lot of work."

Aiko nodded quietly, "I guess that will happen to you."

Danny was quiet for a moment before standing up. "Do you want to get some food in the market or do you want to just start moving along and try our luck in the forest?"

Aiko also got up. "I don't mind stopping on the way, as long as we have time."

Danny gave a nod. "Let's head out then."

They had agreed on Japanese food. It was a quick stop; Danny was outed by a small child not even three minutes after entering the building.

He had kept his face mostly covered but he had blamed it on the height of the child being able to see up and under.

Aiko had to try to stop herself from laughing as Danny tried to motion the kid to be quiet as the child told his mother.

What had followed was embarrassing to Danny. And Aiko thought it was the funniest thing that morning.

The mother had rushed to apologize and everyone had now started watching the situation at the mentioning of the King's name. Danny assured the mother it was alright. Whispering picked up, and Danny said he would wait outside while Aiko got him some food. They ate together out on the curb, without much conversation.

They had been riding for what felt like forever, Danny was in front and Aiko followed him. She hadn't tried to talk to him yet, he just felt so formal.

So far away, although he was just a few feet ahead of her.

Danny had started the conversation first. "So… did you and Ryu have a nice day yesterday?" He asked slowly.

"Yes," Aiko smiled. "She was so happy to get to just be free."

"She is very free spirited. She ditched her tutor yesterday to hang out with you. He came to me and I told him there was no helping it, she was long gone with her freedom." Danny gave a longing sigh. "Thanks for coming, by the way, this is my freedom right now."

"No problem," Aiko replied cheerfully.

"I have a question, though," Danny began slowly. "Why are you keeping your distance? You don't seem to be your normal self."

"It's just… you are the King now. And I was worried you would have changed. Or like maybe you wanted to be addressed a certain way, all the little things I was unsure about how to say them." Aiko explained softly. "Do you want me to address you a certain way or anything?"

"Dragon Lords! No!" Danny said quickly. "I want you to call me Danny. You can address me otherwise if you feel the situation calls for it."

"Right." Aiko smiled softly.

The path began to widen and Aiko gave her horse a nudge and got up next to Danny. "Do you think this lead is any good?" Her curiosity began to rise.

"Honestly? Not at all. But it was the closest one, so the shortest trip. And the council doesn't want me to be running off with the engagement party at the end of the week. But they agreed to let me check out this pathetic lead. We are not likely to find anything, but I am not in the palace so I do not care." Danny sighed. He looked over at Aiko.

Aiko rolled her eyes. "Lovely. I guess you are glad for the little company, though."

"Yeah, I don't really have people in the palace my age to talk to. There are some servants, but they seem to be a little hesitant of me, the only other person to talk to is Ryu," Danny sighed.

Aiko sighed. "Well, the party at the end of the week will give you some excitement, won't it?" She had a slightly evil idea cross her mind, but she knew she was going to end up hurting herself using this plan. "Ryu told me you already have chosen a wife," She began slyly trying to get under his skin.

"I have."

That was it the only reply. The only thing he said. His neutral expression didn't change.

Aiko sighed inwardly. "Is all the paperwork sorted out?" She pressed on.

"Not yet, I have a few more things that need to be checked over."

The same unchanging expression.

"Ryu also said you wouldn't tell her who you plan to marry," Aiko added. She was regretting starting this. But she did nothing to change the subject.

"That is because Ryu is a gossip. She's a twelve-year-old girl." Danny replied easily.

"Is she nice?" Aiko asked.

"Yes," Danny replied.

"Do you know her well?" Aiko asked.

"I think so," Danny replied.

"Is she pretty?"

"Yes," Danny replied. He didn't seem to be catching on. But then again Aiko could not see his face.

"What do you like about her?" Aiko asked.

"Most everything," Danny replied back with a cheerful voice. "She is perfect, she is sweet and kind-hearted. Excellent queen material. The council really likes my choice, but I didn't just pick her because she has all those qualities, or because the council likes her."

He took in a deep breath. "I want to really get to know her more too. It just seems like she is a mystery, and it's all right there for me to uncover. I want to know more about her," He looked over at her with a confused expression. "Why are you interested?"

"Because you've been like my brother all my life, I would do the same thing to Davos if he ever gets married," Aiko said as calmly and neutrally as she could. The "like-a-brother" card had punched her in the stomach.

All those things he said. He had to have been describing some noble girl who was quiet and shy and timid. But at the same time she was strong-willed and highly intelligent. Aiko's head hurt thinking about such a person.

But, it was a good match... the person he described... she would be able to work well with Danny. And Danny sounded as if he was wholeheartedly decided that she was the one.

He sounded like the world was perfect, or at the very least, his was at the moment.

Aiko's warrior background had broken her disillusion on this years ago. The world simply didn't work like that. Her heart pulled in her chest.

Danny gave a small smile. It was a little deeper, though, something in his eye. "The trail is getting narrow again. Get behind me."

"Sure," Aiko obeyed the order.

"So… then… I believe this is in order," Danny spoke easily.

"What?" Aiko asked.

"Who are you going to marry?" Danny asked.

Aiko felt a knife in the back. He was about to do it to her. "I don't know yet."

"Are you certain?" Danny asked.

"Yes, there have been many attempts but nothing so far. You know Dad can be protective of me," Aiko filled in. "On top of that, they all forget that I am a warrior. That's a turn-off…"

"Right," Danny replied easily. "I guess it's all one strange and twisted game."

"Sure is feeling like it," Aiko grumbled.

"But don't worry about it," Danny called back. "Life is amazing in how things will work out."

Aiko sighed. So innocent and precious. Thinking things would work out. She looked up at the trees that covered the sky from view.

Aiko wiped her eyes. Danny wasn't breaking her heart a little by a little on purpose. It was just happening. He didn't know that she was hurt by him not noticing her. But she had been like his sister all their lives.

They kept riding for what felt like forever. There wasn't much to talk about. They had tried a few more times to strike up a conversation, but none lasted very long.

When they finally came to an opening, Aiko looked around amazed. A full half day of riding for a beautiful view.

Danny dismounted his horse and easily and took his reins in one hand and Aiko's reins in the other to lead the horses. Aiko watched as they walked into what appeared to have once been a monastery.

"Beautiful." Aiko smiled.

They walked through a large passageway and into an enclosed courtyard you could see the sunset over the building.

"I guess it is getting late," Danny said looking up at the stars. "How about we set up camp and check things out in the morning?"

"You aren't worried that there is someone else living here?" Aiko asked. "You said it was a lead."

"I don't think so…" Danny said easily. "Here would be an ideal camp site."

"Unless you want to hide higher up." Aiko pointed to the other stories of the building that all had walkways on the side. "Then you could see intruders."

"But if someone was hiding from the Yu-Ti, you would think they would spend much more time in trying to get as far away as possible," Danny added on. "So this isn't a good spot. But… it's an option."

"Do you want to sleep down here or find somewhere more sheltered?" Aiko asked.

"Sheltered is good, although I don't mind sleeping out here under the stars." Danny decided.

"I'll take a look around." Aiko offered.

"I guess I can get some of the water from the fountain boiling to kill germs and see if I can hunt down something for you to eat. If I can find some fish, then we can both eat." Danny said easily. He chuckled to himself. "I got yelled at for skipping lunch a few days ago."

"Such a bad boy." Aiko rolled her eyes.

"Well, I was busy and lost track of time," Danny said in his own defense. "Anyway, let's get to work."

Aiko had found a small room right off of the courtyard. There was nothing inside. It was just an empty room but it would prove useful enough or shelter them as they slept, although it was a little small.

Aiko had walked around everywhere and looked around. There were all sorts of untouched artifacts here. But just being inside felt spooky. So she stayed outside.

There were no signs of inhabitants. She had searched everywhere.

When she got back the courtyard, Danny had left a note drawn in the dirt saying he had gone to get food, and he had not yet prepared water to be purified. Leaving Aiko behind with the horses.

Aiko sighed. He was at least going to feed her.

She walked over to her horse and opened up a bag and got some supplies out. She set up a fire and began to boil some water. She didn't want to get sick, and she knew Danny's work would just pile up without him to deal with it.

Aiko looked up from the fire and to where Danny's bags were. She wanted, so badly, to just go through them and see if she could find anything interesting. But she had to resist the urge.

Danny had returned right as it got dark. He had three fish and was wet up to his knees.

"Did the fish give you any trouble?" Aiko joked as she looked him over.

Danny sighed as he passed the fish to Aiko.

"I guess so. Can you make a force field so I can get some dry pants on?" Danny asked going through his bag.

Aiko gave a nod and a green force field went up.

She held her concentration on the shield while she speared the fish and set them up to cook.

"I'm done," Danny called.

Aiko easily dropped the shield. "Thanks for getting dinner." She smiled. "It's nice of you."

"No problem. We need to eat to keep up strength." Danny replied.

They sat quietly for a while. Every now and then Aiko turned the fish to evenly cook them.

"Hey you know what I kind of miss?" Aiko asked softly.

"What?" Danny asked.

"All those quotes you have in the back of your brain." Aiko smiled. "You know the ones that the team never understood."

Danny gave a sad smile. "Um, what about them?"

"I want to hear one. Anyone you want." Aiko prompted. "I miss the old Danny. The Danny I grew up with. I mean I like the current King Daniel. But I want Danny back. Is that little kid still in there?"

Danny looked down at his lap. His face got a little red. But also sad. "Somewhere he is inside of me. He is still alive. But abandoned. I can't be childish. I have so much responsibility now. Aiko, don't you get it?"

"Well, for tonight I want my old friend back," Aiko commanded. "And I want to hear a quote."

"For you," Danny smiled. "Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk."

"And one for me…" Danny thought for a moment. "I have one but I don't want to say it." His face got redder and redder.

Aiko watched him nervously. He was finally showing some emotion. "Are you ok?" She asked softly.

"Laozi once said; 'Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.'" Danny recited red faced.

Aiko took a deep breath. "Do we need to talk about something? Danny it's not healthy to just bottle stuff up. Are you ok?" She was getting goose bumps.

"I know." Danny sighed. "It's just one major life change after another."

"Are you talking about getting married?" Aiko asked. She didn't want to really talk about her. She admitted to herself that Danny was great and all… But she didn't want to hear him talk up this girl he was going to marry and have her heart broken.

Danny gave a nod and watched the fire. "I'm just nervous about everything and I want it to be over with. I want to finally have a normal day and stuff."

Aiko sighed. "I know what you mean. A lot of suitors have been coming by. I don't really like any of them. Dad's been doing the negations and he doesn't really like anyone either, plus he wants me to be happy. For the rest of my really long life."

Danny smiled. "You are lucky to have him."

"You wish your mom was here? Don't you?" Aiko asked.

"I've been wishing that a lot lately. I just want someone to be there." He looked up at the stars. "But I know she is watching me. I know she is proud. I can see her smile if I think about it enough."

Aiko wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "There you go making me cry." Her comment was meant as a joke. But her voice was too sad.

"Hug?" Danny offered, holding out an arm toward her.

Aiko got up and walked over to him and gave him a side hug. He rubbed her shoulder gently.

Aiko got up after a moment to retrieve the fish. She left one in the ground and she gave Danny one and ate the other.

It was quiet as they ate. Danny allowed Aiko to have the last fish to herself since she beat him done.

When they were done they set up their camp near the small room but still outside.

Aiko laid down on her mat watched the stars as Danny got the horses settled and pulled something out of his saddle pack and took it back over to his mat. He played with the small black object and Aiko watching him for a while. She didn't know what it was, but she didn't ask.

Danny took in a deep and shaky breath. "Hey, Aiko?" He started.

"Yes Danny?" Aiko said looking up.

"Can you sit up for a second?" Danny asked. "I want to talk to you…" his face showed he was uncomfortable. He was blushing some.

Aiko sat up and faced him.

"Thank you for coming with me. I didn't want to come alone." Danny smiled as he looked down at the object in his hand.

"Sure no problem." Aiko smiled back.

"I also want to apologize, we shouldn't have been talking so much about my royal life and stuff. This was a break and it wasn't really…" Danny trailed off. "Like how marriage just kept coming up. And how scared I am. I don't want people to know that. But I guess you can know I'm scared because I trust you."

Aiko felt her heart speed up. "Oh, um, thank you, Danny."

Danny stood up and walked over to Aiko and pulled her up.

They stood there for a moment. Danny rested his hands on her shoulders. Their eyes were locked. Slowly his hands moved down to her hands.

Aiko felt her face rush with warmth. And Danny could see it. He was also a little pink.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

Danny took a deep breath. "You may not understand this… it is a thing of the outside, but can you just go with it?"

Aiko gave a nervous nod. Danny's hands were now not holding her wrist but holding her hands. His fingers in hers, and his palms were warm and strong.

He pulled back after a movement and a hand went to his pocket. He reached into it and took one step back. He looked up at Aiko one last time before he opened the small box.

Time literally slowed down. Danny watched the box for a moment in reality, it was much long though. It felt like eternity.

Aiko's senses were on high alert. She was confused. What was going on?

Danny slowly put back his one leg and knelt down before Aiko. He looked up at her and took her hand.

"This is really happening…" Danny smiled to himself. He adjusted the box some and gave Aiko's hand one last squeeze before pulling back and turning the small box to face her.

Aiko's mind started to race though all the memories she had of Danny. Every last one. The good times. The bad times. All these little things anyone else would call insignificant. But the things that meant the world to Aiko. She couldn't stop it all from playing in her mind.

She had a feeling she understood what was happening. But she didn't want to be wrong. She wanted so badly to be right about this… About Danny…

She remembered the small frail boy who spent a few days in the spare guest room, near death, close enough to give up. But strong enough to wake up. To try his hardest to live in a world that would always be hard for him, one that never let him ret.

He was so innocent then, so small and weak. And mysterious. His strange hair and pale skin. His strange language Aiko hardly knew at the time. She had grown so close to him. She loved him. She still did. She would never let that feeling go. She had someone to care for way back then. Someone who really needed her. She was needed.

He needed her then and apparently still now.

Aiko's eyes began to get wet, she understood more than Danny may have thought but she was so scared it wasn't what she hoped. So scared to be rejected and hurt.

She felt like she had dropped all defenses and was going to be killed. She had silently given Danny everything.

It was his move. And he was taking his time.

Aiko's heart raced in her chest. So nervous about everything. It was just getting faster and faster blood rushing through her veins.

Her eyes were now ready to cry. She bit her bottom lip to try to hold it in.

"Lady Aiko Kung," Danny began softly. He looked up at her face, and Aiko knew she was a mess. "I love you. And I want to ask you something."

Aiko didn't know her heart could go any faster.

Danny slowly turned around the box so Aiko could see the ring inside. He looked right up at her, unafraid of anything that could happen. He was mesmerized by her. His eyes were fixed on her in such a way that they might not ever come off. But he was watching her reaction. His soft smile, and green eyes were both shining against his embarrassed face.

"Lady Aiko Kung? Will you please do me the honor of making me the happiest man in the world, in this dimension, and every other one in all of existence? Will you marry me?"

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