Aki was resting in the sunlit glade.

The sky above her was sapphire blue, decorated with clouds puffy like the finest-spun cotton candy. Golden sunlight made leaves and grass sparkle like precious emerald. The small stream's bubbling tune was shot with silvery bird songs, as beautiful as music can be. Aye, it was so peaceful and relaxing here, almost perfect.

She had to say "almost" due to the enormous dragon beside her presently. The large, serpentine black head was inches away from her shoulder, and a pair of big golden eyes was staring at her intently. That bony face was wearing an expression usually termed "puppy dog eyes", if you can really apply that term to a giant lizard with wings.

"Please?" The Black Rose Dragon begged.

Aki decided to ignore him.

So half a minute later, the dragon said again, "Pretty please?" Still receiving no reaction, the dragon tried a third time another minute later, "Pretty please with Naturia Cherries on top?"

Aki sighed imperceptibly and slowly sat up. With all the bustle and chaos of the past few weeks, she really could use some peace and quiet, without the Black Rose Dragon acting like a three-year-old. She brushed a kiss on Black Rose Dragon's head (because this works wonders whenever the dragon is about to be refused something), and said sweetly, "My heart, you know I love you. But the answer is still no; you can't attend my wedding."

"But why? Mistress, please! Otherwise it's just not fair!" And with that a whiny howl echoed like that of a wolf on a lonely night.

God, how can a dragon complain so professionally? If the Black Rose Dragon's ultimate goal was to give her a lesson in dealing with unreasonable and obstinate children before her first child, then this over grown lizard was succeeding exceptionally well.

"Come on, Black Rose," Aki tried again to apply logic, "You know you wouldn't fit into most venues, and your tail is a major tripping hazard for other guests." The truth is, Black Rose Dragon's ten-feet long tail covered with thorns as thick as a small child's arm can hardly be called a tripping hazard; it's more like a death trap! Why can't the stupid lizard realize that he doesn't go well with human gatherings that don't involve dueling?

Black Rose Dragon has always got a bit of a temper and attitude, enough to match even Jack's Red Demon Dragon, but he doesn't normally act like an uncontrollable three year old. The only childish demands he ever made were the right to curl up in Aki's large-enough bedroom, and the occasional kisses. These were reasonable enough, and readily accommodated, but attending a wedding for a full day? Out of the question.

The ridiculous demands started as soon as she and Yusei got engaged. That night she returned with a ring on her finger, a dreamy smile on her face, and a body so entirely filled with happiness that she had no strength left to do anything. She hit her bed, dreamy smile still intact, and ready to sleep, when suddenly.

"Mistress, if you don't mind me saying, you are so deliriously happy that you look stupid."

The dragon's voice shocked Aki out of her joy-induced stupor, and she gave a little squeal before laughing and patting the dragon's neck. She said with the brightest smile, "You are right, I am deliriously happy. Yusei asked me to marry him; we are engaged!"

Black Rose Dragon blinked once, before asking, "So when is the wedding?"

"Eh?" It's now Aki's turn to blink. She thought for a minute, and answered, "We haven't discussed it yet. But both of us are busy with our works lately, and we don't get vacations until summer. So I guess it will have to be in summer."

"Summer is good," Black Rose Dragon nodded, seemingly satisfied, and said, "Of course, I will be there as your guardian? How do you humans put it, walk you down the aisle, right?"

Aki yawned, feeling rather tired, and replied without thinking, "Whatever you want, Black Rose…" But just then what her dragon said finally sank in and she bolted right up. "What? No, don't even think about it! My own father will walk me down the aisle! He is my father!"

Black Rose Dragon blinked at her, and then the pointy teeth seemed to form what could be called a petulant pout. "Fine," the dragon said, "So how about I walk as your bridesmaid?"

"You told me specifically you are male! Oh but that's not even the point!" Aki shook her head vigorously, trying to clear her sleep and happiness befuddled brain a little. She took a deep breath to calm herself, before saying evenly, "My heart, as much as I love you, you can't possibly attend my wedding. You are a dragon the size of a large room! That is going to be problematic no matter what."

Black Rose Dragon swished his enormous thorny tail with unhappiness, despite explicit warning from Aki not to do that in her room. It was then Aki knew she had a long, drawn out battle before her. And indeed, some five months later, only three weeks before the wedding, she was still fighting this battle with Black Rose Dragon.

"Mistress, mistress, mistress," Back to the present, Black Rose Dragon whined again, swishing his thorny tail a bit too close for Aki's taste.

"The wedding and reception we planned, there really is no room for you, Black Rose," Aki said, "If you are there, it will only create difficulties for me, for Yusei, for everyone. It's our wedding, I have to consider Yusei's feelings too, of course."

Black Rose Dragon stared at her for a few moments, before turning his bony face into what felt like a scoffing expression. "So it's about Fudo Yusei. He doesn't want me there?"

"It's not Yusei or I don't want you there, only that it's impractical; no, rather, it's impossible. Like I said, Black Rose, you don't fit into most places well. And a wedding is full of people who may be afraid if you were there. We made most arrangements already, and out of respect for Yusei, I wouldn't want to change anything just because you want to be there."

Aki was surprised by her own patience, and was almost feeling confident about her potential as wife and mother. Only Black Rose didn't seem to hear her. The large, bony dragon head whipped up into the sky, enormous red-black wings unfolding. "I will talk to Fudo Yusei myself," the dragon roared non-too-friendly, "I will talk some sense into him!"

At this Aki could only breathe a suffering sigh.