The start is going to start off in third person pov because I'm gonna reveal some of Emma and Mienne's childhood memories and it's easier to write in 3rd sorry if it confuses you! then it's back to 1st person pov xD
A small girl with mid-length brown hair,no older than 5 years old and another small girl with mid-length black hair are side to side as they peeked into the oven where freshly made cookies are cooking,the smell making their mouths water.
A small chuckle came from behind them and the brown-haired girl whipped around,her eyes brightening at the figure in the door way and she ran into her Grandmothers arm's,who returned her embrace.
"ahh~ you got some cookie dough on your checks,Emma darling" The old woman hushed softly,taking the edge of her apron to wipe of the smudge before kissing her forehead,which Emma giggled at and stepped out of the embrace.
"Grandma! the cookies are nearly ready!" Emma exclaimed excitedly as she jumped up and down,her blue orbs shining as she tugged on her grandma's blue flurry apron in her excitement.
The old woman has dirty blonde hair slightly grey with age,bright green eyes,sagged shoulders,pale skin almost the same as Emma's,she was dressed in long brown skirt and a white fleece with a blue fluffy apron of it. You could also see the veins on her hands,showing her old woman is Emma's grandmother,Anne and she is 73 years old and live in the countryside along with her husband,Ban. The countryside also has a temple in which Emma frequently comes to now and then.
Anne pats and ruffle's Emma's hair playfully,smiling gently down at her softly.
"Then why don't I teach you have to make some home baked chocolates from the beginning again?", Anne questioned her grandchild,Emma who seemed lost in thought as she seemed to ponder over it and the other girl,Mienne came to grab her hand as they stood side by side.
Emma nodded her head a few minutes later,a big beaming smiling on her face and she runs to the cupboards,getting the equipment and ingredients that they need.
They practiced and practiced making homemade chocolates but Emma and Mienne only ended up making failures that turns out to be a big blob of purple,until all the ingredients ran out.
Emma frowned at the big purple moving blob,turning her head to the side as she poked it with a fork,making it bounce back at her therefore it made Emma pout in denial. She didn't want to admit defeat as her grandfather taught her to fight with the sword,be one with the sword along with help from Mienne.
A laugh came from Anne as she watched from the sidelines and she ruffled Emma's hair again,gently.
"It takes time! maybe one day,you're husband will eat your own cooking!?" Anne exclaimed happily as she wiped of the chocolate that managed to get on Emma's neck and elbows.
"He will?", Emma asked,curiously tilting her head to the side as she stared innocently at her grandmother whom nodded at her question.
"A way to get to a man's heart is through his stomach!" Anne boosted proudly as she used the wooden scoop to point at Emma before she started to ramble on about her days as a teenager,cooking for all her crushes until she found Ban.
As old as Anne is but she young at heart.
Emma POV
"Emma!" A distance voice echoed from a distance away and wanting to sleep more,I digged deeper into the covers and moved into myself.
"5 more minutes..." I sleepily mumbled as I clutched the blankets closer to me.I felt tugging at my blankets and covers and knowing it was Mienne that's waking me up also knowing whats she going to do,quickly wrapping my legs around the covers ,so she couldn't take them.
"Geez! Emma!" Mienne shouted lowly as to not wake others or the other presence known as Mor-Mor sleeping on the floor with a red fluffy blanket over him and was sleeping soundly.
I feel some tugging on my covers and I instantly clenched onto them more tighter. I heard a 'tsk' come from Mienne's direction.
"I'll take Mor-Mor away from you!" Mienne threatened lowly,almost a growl and I could feel her tugging my blanket. I snapped my eyes open as what she said looped around my head and I jolted up,shaking my head frantically at her.
"I'm up! I'm up! Don't take him away!" I cried before I pretended to start sobbing loudly. I could hear Mienne sigh lowly before she chuckles softly.
"Fine! I won't!" Mienne started,letting out a giggle "but you're acting doesn't on work me,you know maybe it will on others" Mienne pointed out as she started towards my wardrobe,now full of training suits and robes and It's an courtesy of Hakuei because she pointed out that I hardly had many clothes with me so Kouen given some money to Hiiro to buy me what I needed.
If only I would've know that I was going to be transferred or transported some where else; I would of packed!
I got knocked put of my thoughts as something fluffy but heavy landed on my head and obstructed my vision with a blue tinge. I huffed as I took it off and sent a playful glare to Mienne who had Luccy and Mor-Mor in one hand and the latter had a new sheath; It contrasted Mordred's colour (Blades name) so instead of a gold sheath,it had a obsidian sheath with red highlights along with a yellowish gem stone in the middle of the sheath.
I reminded myself to thank Shou later then I reminded myself that Kouha -via trickery- managed to get to agree with him,doing my hair and dressing me Kougyoku got invited too but I don't mind that.
"Emma!" Mienne called out and I blinked at her before I saw her hands moving and she threw me both of my swords. In reflex,I embraced them and put them down on my bed as I untied my stash and let my bedtime robes hit the floor.
I put on the blue and white Kimono that Mienne got out for me then I fumbled to tie it up but Mienne stepped in and finished it off.
Mienne then handed me my dark blue belt with two hoops at my left side so I carefully placed Mor-Mor and Luccy into them,tightening them to make sure they don't fall out.
A soft knock on the door came,starling me slightly.
"Emma-sama! It's Hiiro,I've come to do your hair!" Hiiro called lightly from the other side. I pouted slightly as Hiiro called me as I was a higher standing than her,putting that aside: I opened the door and greeted Hiiro with a smile before sitting myself on the stool in front of the mirror,waiting for the normal tugging as Hiiro started to brush it.
Normally,Hiiro would ask what hairstyle I wanted but she grew accustomed to me,letting her do as she wishes with my hair. Hiiro finished my hair and I stood up,looking into my reflection in the mirror and I smiled happily at it; it was a princess braid with both sides joined by a rose clip and the rest is together in a ponytail so it wouldn't get in the chocolate mix considering its the 14Th February 2017,Kougyoku and Hakuei is going to cook with us.
I turned to Hiiro,smiling before i enveloped her into a tight hug,making Hiiro let out a squeak of surprise and she lets out some complaints saying it's inappropriate.
"Not really, where i come from a hug symbolizes friendships and I told you to call me Emma not Emma-sama!" I complained loudly as i scratched my checks.
"We'll be late if we don't go now'" Mienne interrupted as she grabbed my hand and we both ran out towards the kitchen.
I blinked at her before it dawned on me.
'We set a time up before everyone else so we can cook lots!' I thought before I let out a nervous giggle and I grabbed Mienne's hand,opening the door then started to run towards the kitchen where Kougyoku and Hakuei should be waiting for us.
And the closer we got to the kitchen,the nosier it got as a bunch of kitchen staff and maids was huddling around the kitchen door,that's ajar and a purple mist came out of it,bringing a delicious ,but somehow stinky smell our way. In response, I pinched the bridge of my nose so the smell doesn't reach my nose, I looked towards Mienne who's done the same before nodding at her,as we started our way into the huddled crowd before one of the maids noticed us.
"ah! Mienne-sama and Emma-sama!" The maid cried out in relief before she shuffled over to us,going onto her knees and giving us a deep bow.
"I'm sorry! we'll clear this...dilemma up as soon as we can!" the maid apologized loudly,attracting the other kitchen staff and maids,whom joined the other maid in bowing towards which made me jumped back a bit,unnerved by their behavior.
"Stand up please and what did you mean by that?" I asked curiously as I tilted my head slightly before moving so the maids stood up as i tapped them on their left shoulder one by one. The maid leaned down so she was in par of my ears.
"Hakuei's cooking" the maid whispered as her voice shook slightly,her eyes darting around nervously as her expression appeared frightened and on guard.
I looked towards Mienne and i presume we are thinking of the same thing.
...
...
How can Hakuei's cooking make the staff of the palace this terrified!?
But the sight that greeted us as we entered the kitchen,answered our questions.
They are piles of brunt chocolate on the sides with random things sticking out of it like for instance; a bottle of what it looked like to vitamin D tablets. Then theirs the table in the middle of room which ingredients,that are rare but not supposed to be in chocolate; spicy hot sauce,more vitamin bottles,seaweed,squid and many others.
"Hold on!" I shouted lowly as I pointed to the eight legged sea creatures with shock then I pointed to Hakuei and Kougyoku,who's finally stopped what their doing at separate cooking stations and from here I could see Kougyoku's face go deathly pale.
I pointed to Hakuei and Kougyoku before pointing to the squid that's laying dead on the table,my finger shaking as squid and chocolate never mix...well and let's say we tried it before and the results was disastrous.
"Are you really going to use that squid with chocolate?" I asked and by Hakuei nod,I brought my hand to my face with a big 'slap' as I sighed out loud. From the time I've been with the Ren family,I've found out that Hakuei could be stubborn and unmoved to persuasion once she made a choice.
But then a thought crossed my mind,something that might not work and end up angering someone in the process (hopefully it wouldn't).
We'll have to get rid of the chocolate without Hakuei noticing otherwise disaster will fall!
I beckoned over the pale Kougyoku,who stumbled over to us looking like she might be sick and I catched her when she nearly fell before gently helping her to walk outside the kitchen as Hakuei started to cook again over a pot with that purple smoke coming out of it.I quietly closed the door behind me so I wouldn't disturb Hakuei's cooking or get caught by her as we work out a plan to get rid of her chocolates.
I quickly looked left and right at the now empty halls as I presumed the staff got into trouble with the head maid and scattered in a hurry to return to their normal duties within the last few minutes. I gestured for Mienne and Kougyoku to get closer and they did,shoulders touching shoulders as our arms wraps around each other in a protective stance.
"We need to do something with Hakuei cooking!" I whispered-yelled as I started to sweat as I visualized everyone dying by chocolate of all things!?...and squid
"Agreed!" Mienne whispered as she nodded furiously that much i think she might end up with brian damage and I looked at Kougyoku who looked scandalous and nervous as she was fiddling her fingers within the sleeves of her shift.
"B-b-b-b-but what are we S-s-s-spoused to do!?" Kougyoku stammered out lowly with a small blush rising on her checks.
"Anything we can think of!" I replied before I ushered Mienne and Kougyoku back into the kitchen.
Plan 1: Whoopsy-a-doo
This plan was normal as it's literally running into the pot of purple sizzling chocolate and therefore making it go everywhere but Hakuei is making a lot of chocolate; enough to feed an army as she has 3 batches in the oven,4 batches cooling on the side,not burnt and next to the 20 dishes of burnt chocolate and she currently making another 3 batches.
But they won't be that much soon!
I'm currently making a bittersweet batch of chocolate for Kouen as I asked Kouha and Hakuei if he likes sweet things and they both said no he didn't so this is what I'm making.
'I hope he likes it!' I thought to myself as I stirred the chocolate mix with me standing at an angle to keep an eye on Hakuei until she moves with the plan and I'll give a signal to Mienne who going to walk into her.
Meanwhile,I touched the tip of my pinky into the chocolate mix and sucked on it afterwards. Sighing dreamily with the taste of chocolate melting on my tongue and leaves an aftermath taste of coffee and a hint of kiwi.
Nodding in bliss at the taste,I summed up that it was ready to go into the chocolate mold which is a sword so I turned off the heat,set the pan on the cooling rack before putting oven mittens on and carefully tip the mix into the sword shaped mold before gently tapping the sides to get it even and satisfied by the eveness,I put the mold tray into the fridge.
That's when I realized that Hakuei put chocolate in the oven!
'No wounder why it's burnt' Lucifer commented and I could imagine him,smiling slightly while Andras stayed silent,which is more weird.
I nodded in agreement that Luccy's statement as it only brings disaster.
A sound of loud bubbling reaches my ears,I turned my attention fully towards Hakuei,who's looking at the purple substance with a smile on her face before she takes the pan off the stove and onto the cooling rack. Taking this chance, I beckoned towards Mienne who sighed lowly before picking up her pan then walking towards Hakuei and an 'imaginary banana peel' popped out of nowhere and Mienne slipped on it and went flying into Hakuei and her pan of chocolate,spilling it all over them.
"Ah! i'm sorry Hakuei! we'll need to go and get changed!" Mienne exclaimed,grabbing Hakuei's hand and pulls her out of the kitchen but not without throwing a wink at me.
Now onto plan two!
Throw-Everything-Outside-The-Window-Plan!
"Come on Kougyoku!" I exclaimed before grabbing a few plates of burnt and not burnt chocolate before lobbing it out of the window at high speed,earning me a few curses from the gardener as he got hit with them then stomped off,mumbling about reporting it to the first prince but I couldn't care about that right now.
We needed to get as much out of here then get out ourselves to give our chocolates out!
''How are you doing,Kougyoku?" I asked as I turned around to be meet with a wall of chocolate in my face that's hovering in the air and if i remember correctly,Veniea is a water djinn and not an wind one. And boy I was right!
"Move it!" An arrogant and annoying voice commanded and it could belong no other than to the Kou's Empires Oracle,Judal. And not wanting or being bothered to anger him on purpose,I quickly moved aside and barely dodged a whole load of plates that was sent out flying out of the window,followed by a loud crash and a loud curse coming from someones mouth.
I looked at Judal with eyebrows raised in a silent question.
What,you're not going to apologize?
Judal let out a huff before crossing his arms,looking off the side. I felt my eye twitch at his childish behavior but let out a breath as I knew it's pointless getting him to try and apologize of all things as I spent time with him during Mienne's magic lesson (unwillingly of course) but i've to realized what kind of person he is although he seems...lonely.
'Well guess we're the same but in a slightly different way' I thought to myself as I threw out some more burnt chocolate out of the window before sighing then I grinned as my chocolate should be cool enough by now.
Skipping over to the fridge,letting Kougyoku and Judal handle the rest of Hakuei's disastrous cooking and opened the fridge to be greeted with a fully frozen non disastrous chocolate for Kouen and the other chocolates she made 3 days before for Koumei,Kouha,Kougkoukou,Judal, Hakuryuu and Hakuei along with some cookie's for the palaces staff and I poked the chocolate to make sure they are done then take them out and put them into heart shaped boxes with the similar colours like red,blue or gold. I gently placed the chocolates into the boxes before putting and tying around the ribbon before doing it into a bow ,nodding as I'm satisfied with my work and I picked up the boxes part from four which was Kougyoku's and Judal's along with Hakuei's and her brothers as she is going to see him today.
I already gave Hiiro and Mienne's theirs a week ago as i bought and practised a little too much so now I only have three peoples left to give; Kouen,Koumei and Kouha's. From what Hakuei yesterday,it seems that the three of the princes are having a meeting in Kouen's study so i'll have to give it to one of the guard drop the chocolate of for them three before going to train in the mountains again.
Mostly training to control her flames into shapes and attacks although none of the Ren family knows about this as I wanted to surprise them including Shou and his younger brothers.
or so I had thought as the doors to the kitchen slammed open and there stood in all his righteous and beauty was the first prince,Kouen Ren.
Surprised my his counter, I nearly dropped the boxes of chocolate as they bounced back and forth in my hands but before they landed on the floor,Kouen managed to catch them and I sighed in relief as I didn't want to destroy them and have to remake them as the day was almost over.
I was expected for Kouen to hand them over but to my surprise he stood there looking at them,something keen to confusion in his eyes before his eyes widen slightly as he came to realized something then he looked at me,his gaze firm.
"It's valentine's day" Kouen stated firmly and it didn't sound like a question but I nodded anyways and I tilted my head as Kouen let out a small sigh,his fingers pinching his nose.
"Time to eat something...incurable I guess" I heard him mumbled under his breath then I realized he must of been talking about Hakuei's cooking
"If you're talking about Hakuei's cooking we have it all covered" I commented,smiling brightly at him as I flashed him a thumbs up.
Kouen snapped his head towards me so fast i thought it'll break off and I could see the upturning of his lips. I could also plainly see relief flash across his eyes.
"I See" Kouen hummed out in response before he eyes moved to my right,to the middle of the kitchen and I saw his face go pale slightly as he eyed the ingredients laid out at the table.
"Now I've done what I needed to do,The meeting will continue" Kouen announced before turning around on his heel,nearly reaching the door as I snapped out of my daze of him unexpectedly being here.
"Wait! Kouen!" I called out and quickly grabbed onto his sleeve tugging it harshly.
Kouen POV
I jerked in shock as something pulled me back from going out the kitchen door to restart the meeting and I turned slightly to see Emma holding onto my sleeve tightly before she blushes slightly and quickly lets go.
"Sorry...it's just...uhm" Emma mumbles loudly,trying to find her words. Seeing this type of behavior made me 'tsk' at her and I narrowed my eyes on her slightly,silently telling her to hurry up as I'm growing annoyed by her mumbling.
"Ah! Here!" Emma exclaimed loudly and shoved something against my chest,making a wrinkling sound like wrapping paper.
I blinked at her before looking at the items against my chest finding 3 boxes with different colours; Blood red,Pink and green. Then I looked back at her,an eyebrow raised at her and asking a silent question.
"Valentine's chocolates; Blood red for you,Pink for Kouha and Green for Koumei...I kinda suited them to match your tastes" Emma informed me as she moved her hands to her back and clasped them together.
"Our tastes?" I asked curiously as I don't particularly like sweet things compared to Kougyoku or Kouha.
At the question l,Emma nods as a big grin formed on her face.
"Yours is bittersweet as you don't like sweet things Koumei is cream filled chocolate in a shape of a squid and Kouha has strawberry filling" Emma informed me as she pointed out her points with her fingers and she ended with three fingers up.
"I see" I hummed out in thought "You didn't have too" I announced which made her frown and shake her head.
"It's fine! You're giving us a place to stay so it's at least I can do is give you something" Emma exclaimed,waving her hands about as she tried to explain.
I felt my lips twitch slightly as i found her flustered state amusing but I snapped her out of it when I passed Kouha and Koumei's chocolate boxes to her again which made her blink at me as Emma tilted her head to the side.
'She seems kinda cu- huh what am I thinking of!?...I don't have time for this!' i complained in my thoughts as I catched myself thinking other than world conquest and protecting my family.
I swiftly turned back around,looking over my shoulder at Emma as I turned my thoughts elsewhere; to the chocolate.
"It's better if you hand those two their chocolates yourself or Kouha will complain" I comment before I strolled out the door and the only thing that i heard was her hurried steps as she followed behind me.
"Hold on! Aren't you in a meeting?" Emma called out as she finally caught up and started to walk at my side. I took a glance at her then faced forward again.
"And?" I commented,unaffected by the question as I didn't mind her presence.
"I'm a woman...aren't I not allowed in? That's what Hakuei and Kougyoku told me" Emma informed me as she twiddles with her fingers slightly.
"If it was official meeting yet as you haven't done anything to prove your worth of being a general...yet that is but this is just between me and my brother" I explained to her as I took a right,walking down a familiar corridor towards my study with Emma following after me.
"I see" Emma commented as she nodded towards the guards who saluted her as she walked into the study with me and the door made a humph sound when it closed.
The sound got the attention of Koumei,Kouha and Kouen's household members,Gakukin and Kokuton Shuu greeted me with a nod and a smile while Shou En pats my head gently,carefull of his inhuman strength and Seishuu Ri frowned at Emma's appearance.
"Emma-nee!" Kouha called out excitedly as he wraps his arms around Emma whom in return his hug,smiling. She also extend out the chocolate boxes so they didn't get squished by Kouha's hug.
Kouha noticed the chocolates and grinned widely as he pointed to the chocolate,excitement evident in his eyes and I saw Emma nod in response aa I made my way to my seat,taking off my cape and weapons before I sat down,calming observing Emma interaction with my siblings.
Emma pov
I couldn't help but grin at Kouha's behaviour at revicing my chocolate for him as he made a joke about keeping it forever,making me shake my head at that which Kouha pouted out and started to eat the chocolate with sparkles in his eyes.
While with Koumei and Kouen,it seems they are saving the chocolate for their own time or something of that sort as their boxes remain on Kouen's desk,untouched.
Kouen noticing my stare,smirked slightly.
"I'll eat them later unlesss..." Kouen trailed off and I noticed a glint in his eyes.
"Unless what?" I ask,tilting my head to the side as I'm curious to what Kouen is thinking as he rarely tells anyone.
"Unless you feed me" Kouen starts,pointing to his lips as he smirked "Mouth to mouth of course" Kouen finishes.
I couldn't help but to feel slightly embarrassed by that from Halloween and onwards Kouen sometimes teases me,time to time but I also couldn't help the slight heat that I feel coming from my checks.
"Ooh- shut it! You can eat it yourself!" I complained,nearly yelling as I span on my heel and heads towards the door only to have it opened up revealing..
A smiling Hakuei and a tray full of that octopus choco with that purple mist from it and looking at it made me clutch my stomach in slight pain.
"I have chocol-oh my! Are you okay Emma!?" Hakuei said in a panic,kneeling down near me as I'm now clutched to the shelf,holding my stomach as the memories of this event from when me and Mienne ended up making octopus chocolate resurfaced,making me feel ill and sweat a lot.
"I'm fine!" I assured her before looking at her tray and glup slightly.
"You made more?" I asked her,pointing towards the chocolate that seemed like it's moving slightly!?
Hakuei nods at that,smiling as she brought a finger to her lips and tilted her head to the side.
"Somehow my chocolates I made before suddenly dissappeared as I was getting changed,I had more time so I made some more" Hakuei informed us,pouting slightly before she looked towards me.
"Want to try it Emma?" Hakuei holds one of the chocolate ridiculously close to my mouth and I moved away instantly,shaking my head frantically before I jumped up and ran out of the room.
"NO WAYYYYY! THAT WILL KILL ME!" I yelled out before speeding up as I noticed Hakuei is right behind me and I skimmed the corner before Hakuei nearly caught my arm.
"It won't!" Hakuei responsed as she waved the chocolate around before she stopped and stared at something on the ground.
Curious to what she's looking at,I quitely tiptoed near her and looked down,noticing a croackrouch before noticing the twitch in her lips as she brought down the piece of chocolate she did offer to me and brought it down onto the croackrouch with a thundering whack,instantly killing it.
Not wanting that to happen to me,I quickly shoot up and started to run in the direction with Hakuei,who noticed and started to chase after me again.
I'm a horrible author this wayyy over due but here it is xd i was busy with college as i have done another musical and been tired from it,not a lot of time to write too oh well i have the rest of this week off so I'm hoping to get 2 more chapters done before college starts.
Also thank you for the reviews,comments ect.. They make my day! Any questions? Free to ask