This chapter tells us more about Reiyka and her mom, Lady Miyuki. :) Hope you'll like it. (note: italicized means it's a flashback!)
SHOUTOUTS: first of all, thank you for all the people who have been reading my fanfic, it feels nice to know that you guys like it, hehe. here goes! Elemental Dragon Swordman: thanks for putting me to your favorite story list, XiaBubbleQueen: hi thanks for the review!, extermi2: thanks for putting me to your story alert, Lela Rye: thanks for the review!, guardian of vampire: thanks for putting me on your story alert, and to invisible-gurl: thanks for the review… YOU GUYS ARE HELPFUL!! :)
"Reiyka! Look at you, all dirty, AGAIN!" her mother said, scolding her lightly. Lady Miyuki gently took ahold of her daughter's arm to wipe away the grime. Reiyka stood up from the floor. She was playing with a piece of colored paper, having set it on fire. Her face was smudged with ash. "Come here!" her mother laughed.
"No!" cried Reiyka gleefully, trying to run away. Her mother easily caught her again, laughing harder.
She tickled her daughter until finally, breathless, pleaded mercy and succumbed to a washcloth with scented water. Reiyka smiled, quiet, as her mother combed her long tousled hair. She liked it especially when she warmed her hands (chakra) to make them straight and shiny or wavy (like a curling iron). Her mother wiped away the bangs that framed her face.
"Reiyka, act like a lady." her mother said, smiling, spanking her bottom teasingly. Reiyka squealed, giggling.
"But I want to be a fighter!" she exclaimed, waving her arms, pretending to be doing hand signals. "Like Van's father!"
Her mother sighed. Since she was an only child, Reiyka didn't have any other children her age to play with in the palace. Her only friend was Van, the son of her husband's bodyguard, who lived with them.
"But you're a princess, and someday, you'll be like your father. He will give you the chance to govern over the people."
"Eck!" Reiyka had said, sticking her tongue out. "I don't want to be like him! I want to be like you!!" Lady Miyuki laughed really hard and kissed her forehead. Reiyka hugged her in return, burrowing her hands on her mother's soft pink dress.
"Why is that, my little one? I don't do anything, why, I only stay here at home!"
"That's the thing, ma! Dad's always away, he's so busy!" Lady Miyuki's smile faltered a bit. Seeing this, Reiyka felt bad.
"That's only because he serves our village, Reiyka." she replied, but she knew inside that it was a lie. Reiyka knew her mother was smart, knowing about Asagani's meetings with various village leaders. Her mother, in turn, knew that Reiyka knew the same
Her mother kissed her cheeks. "Always know that your father loves you very much, even though he doesn't show it that much, Reiyka. Even if sometimes, we don't understand him."
Reiyka never really did, even after that memorable day. She could never understand why in her father's presence the atmosphere at home was hushed. The servants never dare to speak out to their master about the care of his only daughter. In fact, there was even talk that the king had been disappointed that their only child was a girl, and not a son who could carry on the line. They had also felt sorry that their queen was belittled by her husband, who she loved and respected very much.
Lady Miyuki knew that the only reason that Asagani acted like that was to protect the Glass Village from the threat of possible extinction. And so working very hard and rising to power, the Glass was getting distinction from the great shinobi nations.
Even though somewhat comforted by her mother's words, Reiyka could still feel the tension in the air. Almost always whenever her father would get home, she could sometimes hear the both of them argue about something, so much so, that sometimes she and Van would try to eavesdrop like some sort of ninja mission, but then they'd always be discovered and scolded by Nikita, Lady Miyuki and Reiyka's lady-in-waiting.
It was when her father was scheduled for a big meeting again with village leaders at the village called Konoha that everything had changed. 2 days before Asagani was going to leave, Reiyka discovered her mother crying by herself in her parents' bedroom. Reiyka had started to cry also, but her mother had just stopped and smiled. "Now, now…" her mother said bravely, embracing her tenderly. "It's nothing… Everything will be alright…"
It hadn't. The next day, Lady Miyuki was found dead in that room, poisoned. It was believed that the poison was intended for Asagani.
The funeral was celebrated by the whole village. Everyone mourned the loss of their queen, who was benevolent and cordial to everyone, who was a faithful wife, and a loving mother. It was Asagani who was probably devastated the most, for even though he cancelled the trip, he didn't show his face to the village, and after a month of mourning, returned to his ways of always going away, once again coming home about once in every 2 months.
Reiyka felt sorrow in her heart when her mother's body was cremated by the prestigious Glass Leaders, of which her father was part of. A glass monument was situated above Lady Miyuki's urn, which faced the horizon. Her sorrow was mixed with anger that she felt in her father's distance. But she always tried to remember her mother's teachings and instead found solace in Van's friendship. Whenever she was not studying, they always left the palace, trying new techniques and weapons that he invents every now and then. Reiyka then grew up learning to be outspoken and wanting to prove herself in the challenges that life outside the palace walls had to offer.
Reiyka closed her eyes, feeling her tears dry. Sniffing and wiping her eyes, she said a silent prayer and left the room.
She was just about to go in front of Gaara's office door when she heard Van calling her. He was wearing a dark blue shirt and black pants. Reiyka nearly laughed when she saw his hair look crisp. "Hey, Baki, Temari and Kankurou just returned. They practically flew all the way there, they were so fast…" he said, apparently impressed with them. "They had delivered the message to Sir Asagani."
"And?"
"…Your father's coming to pick you up in around 3 days."
"What?!" Reiyka yelled. Van covered his ears with his hands, feeling the walls reverberate. "H-He'll what?? He knows I'm here..? I…" For the first time, Reiyka felt apprehensive about coming face to face with her father, who she wasn't that close with.
"Relax!" said Van. He laughed, clutching his stomach, seeing the look on Reiyka's face was precious. "Baki explained everything to him. Anyway, the reason he's coming is to protect you in case Haide will come after you when you go back to Glass." She exhaled with relief. "You should have seen your face!"
She punched him on the shoulder. He winced. "Gosh, you're stronger than me now," he observed a bit teasingly.
"That's right!" She prepared to go inside Gaara's office again, but this time Van pulled her slightly.
"Wait, let me treat you to dinner." he said, grinning, taking out a small coin sack. "Consider it my birthday/graduation from my training/good luck-you're-gonna-be-a-princess-gift." Reiyka laughed and let herself be beckoned by Van (and her stomach craving for free food), momentarily forgetting Gaara.