Here's a short, cute chapter for you all named:
A Present from Me to You
Danni watched as the retired gladiator came in to treat Sinbad. She found out that the same thing had happened to Alibaba. Deciding Sinbad shouldn't be disturbed, Danni decided to stay away for a while. She guessed the sickness was getting to Sinbad's head for the 'marriage proposition' was still in her mind. She then assumed he was hallucinating, so until he was well again, she would stay clear. Walking down the halls, she heard a small 'meow'. Looking to the side, she spotted a black and white kitten. The kitten traipsed over towards Danni and rubbed against her legs. Curiously, Danni bent down and observed the animal. In the past, she would have ignored things like this but she guessed it was time for a change. Slowly reaching out, she petted the cat. It purred under her touch. Deciding it wasn't so bad; she picked it up and held it to her chest.
It meowed and Danni interpreted it as the cat wanting to be pet some more. Complying, she walked towards the training arena. There, she witnessed Kougyoko shouting at Zayne to adopt a proper stance.
"Come on," Kougyoko gritted her teeth, "It's not that hard!"
"Geez… Sorry that I'm not a professional like you," he rolled his eyes.
"You fight like a woman!" she growled.
"And you fight like a man!" he retorted.
"What are you two doing?" Danni asked.
"What's it to you?" Kougyoko glared.
"I couldn't help but notice the harsh training you were putting Zayne through," she said nonchalantly.
"It's not like you care," Zayne shrugged.
"You're right," Danni agreed, much to Zayne's chagrin, "But if you're going to teach someone to fight, you should at least allow them to be in a relaxed state of mind. You can't learn if you're stressed or nervous."
"If you know so much," Kougyoko folded her arms and looked away, "Why don't you come and train him?" At this suggestion, Zayne's ears perked up. If Danni were to train him, he would have a much easier time.
"I'd have to decline," Danni held up her hand. It was as if a 100 pound brick fell on his head as she said this.
"You're so mean," he whispered.
Danni just looked at him.
"Either way," Kougyoko started walking away, "I am done with this. I've got a meeting with Sinbad and I won't afford to be late."
No one made a move to stop her and after she was completely gone, Danni looked at Zayne.
"Aren't you supposed to be a qualified body guard? Why do you need training?"
Zayne's fingers and eyes twitched in annoyance. "It was the only bearable job out there."
"So that's how Kou operates," she commented absentmindedly.
"Don't bad mouth Kou!" he pointed a finger.
"How can you put up with that air head?" Danni asked.
"I'll answer you after you answer my question," he said. "Why do you have a cat?"
"Is it a crime?" she asked.
"Just answer the damned question," he said irritably.
"I found it just a while ago," she pointed behind her.
"Okay then," Zayne put a hand on his hip in a manly way, "I put up with Kougyoko because it's my job."
"I see," she resumed petting the cat's head, "I don't believe that's the only reason."
Zayne sighed. "Fine. We were childhood friends."
"I still believe there's more to it," she said to which the cat meowed in agreement. "You can't lie to me. Tell me or I will tell Kougyoko what I believe."
"Alright, alright," he gave in completely, "I sort of have small feelings for her."
"I see," she put a hand to her chin, "But she likes that womanizing king."
"That is something I don't get. Sinbad isn't that great," his hands were fisted at his side.
"On the contrary," Danni differed, "He is great and this kingdom is testimony of this."
Zayne had no choice but to agree. Sinbad was the Great Traveler, the King of the High Seas.
"Don't let your jealousy get you down and don't look at Sinbad as competition," she advised.
"That's easy for you to say," he pessimistically said.
"I guess it is," she shrugged.
"Any other ideas?" he asked as the two sat at the table. While the two conversed, the cat curled up in front of Danni.
"Nope," she answered.
Zayne sighed. He really wanted to get Kougyoko away from that perverted king.
"Somewhere deep inside I think Sinbad's just playing with her feelings for the benefit of himself," he gritted his teeth.
This made Danni think for a bit. It was a rational belief.
"What makes you think so?" she asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" he questioned, "If he has good ties with Kou, he'll have another ally and that makes him stronger. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't put it pass him if he were using you to add to his army."
"You're wrong," Danni looked at her finger nails nonchalantly, "You see, I initially wanted to join his ranks. He didn't have to coax me."
"He could be using you in another way," he said.
"You may be right," she shrugged, "But either way, you may be right about Sinbad using Kougyoko."
"But she wouldn't believe me," his black hair fell in front of his eyes as he said this.
"Do you believe she likes you?" Danni then asked.
This caught Zayne off guard but he answered anyway. "I don't know."
"Then there are two ways t find out," she started, "Either you could ask her or you could try to get her jealous."
"I most definitely am not going to ask her," he said.
"Why not?" Danni questioned.
"Because it just isn't right," he waved it off.
"It would hurt your manly pride if she said no, am I right?" she asked.
Zayne stayed silent.
"Alright, that means we have to see if she would get jealous," she told him.
"Oh I know," Zayne got an idea, "You and I could-
"Don't even go there," Danni interrupted.
"But you're the only person she could get really jealous of," he explained.
"I have nothing that air head princess could want," Danni rested her head in her palm.
"But she doesn't like you," he pointed out, "And Sinbad in turn would get jealous as well."
"Why would I want Sinbad to get jealous?" she asked.
"I don't know. I thought you guys were close," he answered with a shrug.
"I don't think it's like that but whatever," she replied, "I will go along with it but not to help you."
"Then who are you doing it for?" he asked.
"Myself," she lied.
"I see," he held his chin. "Alright Miss 'I Don't Care'. We've got ourselves a deal," he held out his hand. Instead of shaking his hand, Danni picked up the kitten and walked away.
"So mean," Zayne cringed.
When she was in the hall, she noticed the cat got restless.
"What's the matter?" she asked dryly.
"Meow," it answered.
"You're a smart little guy," she commented before heading to the kitchen. "You must be hungry."
There, she asked the chefs to prepare a cat dinner for her little friend. In turn, she and the cat got chased out of the kitchen.
"No cats allowed!" shouted the head chef.
"I guess I'll have to buy something for you then," she fished out a couple of coins out of her pants.
Taking the cat out, they visited a dairy shop. There, they bought a small carton of milk. The cat's eyes lighted up at the sight of food.
"Not yet," Danni said before entering the fish market. There, she bought one small fish into and requested it be cut into small pieces for her little friend. The fishermen sweat dropped but complied. She set the milk in a bowl she 'borrowed' from the kitchen and the fish on a platter.
"There," she straightened to examine her accomplishment. The cat happily ate. This was the first time she had felt so close to an animal. Then again, Sinbad could be referred to as such.
"When you're finished, we'll go back to the castle," she informed the cat. She knew that somehow, the cat understood her.
After it finished, the two made their way to the castle. There, they encountered their worst nightmare… Jafar.
"Didn't I kick you out?!" he pointed to the cat which cowered behind Danni's shoulder.
"It's with me," Danni defended the cat.
"It doesn't matter. This is a castle not pet shop," he irritable said.
"It's not going anywhere," Danni defiantly said.
"If you don't take it out, I will," Jafar growled.
"Jafar," said person turned around to stare Sinbad in the face, "It's alright."
Jafar glared at Danni and the cat; especially the cat that was victoriously meowing in the safety of Danni's arms.
"You win this time," Jafar then turned to Sinbad.
Meanwhile, Sinbad took the time to observe the position the cat held in Danni's arms. He then made a mental note to not only watch out for Aladdin, but this cat as well; especially if it was male.
"I see you're better," Danni noted. At this point, Kougyoko came down.
"My future sister in law will be visiting and I don't need any foolishness happening while she's here," she said.
"You mean Serena?" Danni asked much to the surprise of Kougyoko.
"How do you know her?" Kougyoko seethed.
"Let's just say I've been around," she shrugged.
"You give the most infuriating and vague answers," she growled.
"Not my fault you can't pick sense out of it," she shrugged again.
Kougyoko turned away from Danni.
"In other words," Sinbad took the lead of the conversation, "We need to prepare for her arrival."
"That has nothing to do with me," Danni deadpanned before walking away, "I'm just a free loader."
Sinbad sweat dropped at her reply.
"She's so disrespectful," Kougyoko sorted.
While the others discussed Serena's visit, Danni took the cat to her room.
"You know what," she said, "I think you're now a permanent fixture so you would need a name. But what should I name you?"
"Meow," the cat made a sound.
"Meow," Danni repeated the cat's sound. "Alright then, your name is Meow."
She then checked if the cat was a girl or boy.
"You're a girl," she noted.
"Meow," the cat said.
"Yes, meow," Danni replied. "Anyway, you can take the left side of the bed. Poops are done outside. Are we clear?"
The cat meowed before jumping onto the left side of the bed.
"Good girl," Danni said before leaving. Serena's coming was unexpected. She never thought the blonde haired woman was serious about visiting. Kouen must be pretty upset with her for it though.
"Danni," Yunan's voice wrung in her ears.
"What are you doing here?" she asked without turning around.
"I came to see how you were responding to the treatment," he answered.
"That's a poor excuse," she deadpanned to which Yunan cried silently.
"Is it working?" he then asked, wiping a stray tear away.
"Feeling is coming back slowly," she informed.
"Thank goodness," he said.
"Now get out of here," she shooed him away; "I don't want Sinbad seeing you."
"Oh and another thing," he turned around, "Did you like my present?"
Danni for a while until it hit here. "The cat came from you?"
Yunan nodded.
"Surprisingly, I do," she answered truthfully.
"I'm glad," he smiled before heading off.
"Thanks," she thanked him awkwardly before he left.
"No problem," he waved.
I need to take the time to thank all those readers who followed and favorite and reviewed. You have all been very kind and it is not fair to you if I go in an undesirable direction. If you want to point out a mistake, come out and do it. Don't wait for someone else to do it. If you prefer discretion, private message me. I will make the necessary changes. Think of it as a story for your enjoyment, not mine. If you enjoy it, I will most definitely be happy. If you have any suggestions, don't be shy to come forward. No suggestion is ridiculous. It will be taken into consideration and I will see how it fits in the story.
Sincerely,
AnimeFreak145