Hello. :3
Shelby started off down one of the open hallways, frantically searching for Shigeru. She desperately looked through doors, ran down halls, checked rooms, until she finally found him leaning against the gated entryway on the seaside of the palace.
"Lord Shigeru," Shelby panted as she bowed briefly. She held up the letter. "We have news from Araluen." Shigeru looked at her and motioned for her to read it. She quickly read over it for him again, and subconsciously left out the last part that Mason had written. Shelby also chose to ignore how informal the letter was, and when she had finished reading, sat down on the stone wall by the gate. After a long silence, Shigeru sighed.
"I am old, young Shelby," he said tiredly. The girl looked up, unsure where he was going.
"Your excellency?" she inquired. He gave her a warm smile, and looked up at the red setting sun.
"I have seen many wars and struggles between different countries. Whether or not they are civil, or between countries, war always brings the same result. Unhappiness, sorrow, and pain." The emperor paused to take a deep breath. "I sometimes wonder is mankind will ever grow up, and get over its selfish pursuits and desires. Because until they do, we will continue to have to struggle with the suffering war brings." Shigeru faced Shelby. "I am sorry that your young mind will be tainted with the lasting effect of war. It is painful, and brings terrible memories to mind whenever I think of the first war I was caught in. It was the same war in which I came to power. I lost my father and became emperor at age fifteen." Shelby looked up.
"I'm sorry, Lord Shigeru," she said genuinely. Shigeru smiled at her gratefully.
"It has been many years, but the pain never truly stops aching." The emperor sighed, and for the first time since she met him, Shelby saw his true age show. She ground her teeth, contemplating the situation at hand.
"I hope this gets solved soon," she said eventually. "I owe my parents an apology." Shigeru looked at the young girl curiously.
"If you don't mind me prying, what for?" Shelby sighed heavily.
"I kind of harped on them about leaving me. I know they have to work for a living, and I am extra work. I wish they knew that I really am grateful for what they do." Shigeru continued to look at the teenager.
"I sense you have more to say?" he said. Shelby looked up at him, and then glumly looked at the ground.
"I really hope nothing happens to them while I gone," she said, her voice trembling. "I have no way to monitor what's going on." She blinked hard. Shigeru sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her protectively.
"I know your parents well, Shelby-San," he said. "And they will solve this problem, and before you know it, you'll be back in Araluen, and you'll be with them."
"I hope so," Shelby said weakly. Shigeru patted her hand, and stood.
"You and Princess Abigail are welcome to stay here as long as needed. You are always welcome here." Shelby nodded her thanks, and the emperor walked away. Shelby stared over at the sky, still thinking. Mason hadn't mentioned it, but it sort of seemed obvious, since the letter was addressed to her, that Abigail wasn't supposed to know about the situation. Shelby did note that she had to come up with some sort of excuse for them having to stay in Nihon-Ja for an extended amount of time. Within a minute or two of Shelby thinking, the princess herself showed up.
"Hey, Shelby," Abigail said brightly. "What are you out here for?" Shelby shook her head.
"I was thinking," she said dismissively. Abigail put her hands on her hips.
"Well, you should be packing. We're leaving in the morning." Shelby scratched her head.
"Yeah, about that..." she paused, wondering how to explain. "I got a letter from your parents. They think we deserve to stay her longer." Abigail gave Shelby a long, questioning glance, and Shelby afraid the princess wouldn't buy it. But after a few seconds, a slow smile creeped on her face.
"Okay," she said excitedly. She turned to go unpack. As she was leaving, she wheeled around again. "How long do we stay?" Shelby swallowed.
"Until they need us back home," she said weakly. Abigail didn't detect Shelby's hopeless tone, and danced off to her room. Shelby faced the sky once the princess was out of sight, and wished she were on her way home.
In hindsight, Shelby was very appreciative to the princess's very gullible demeanor. The days after Shelby received the letter, Abigail got very close to asking about it, but the older girl always reassured her that they would only be in Nihon-Ja for a few more days. That was a total guess, obviously, but Abigail bought it without question. Shelby felt bad lying of course, but she knew it was only the best for the princess, so she did as was commanded.
Shelby was correct in he prediction that the girls would stay in Nihon-Ja only a few more days. Within a week, another letter sent out from Araluen, telling them that the leader had been caught, and that it was safe to come home. Shelby translated it to Abigail that they could come home whenever they wanted, but it turned out, the princess really missed her home, and they left the next day.
Shelby and Abigail both had a very hard time saying goodbye to the emperor and his family. It was true that they hadn't been in Nihon-Ja longer than a few weeks, but both girls felt they had made life long friends. It took several hugs, not only a few tears, and saying goodbye numerous times to get the Araluens on boat home.
"Thank you for coming to see us," Shigeru had said gently.
"Thank you for letting us stay," Shelby replied, and Abigail nodded. Shigeru smiled warmly.
"You will always be welcome here," he said. "We will always welcome you home." Shelby had to bite her lip to keep herself from tears. Harou took the moment to hug her himself.
"It was nice meeting you," he said simply with a smile. Shelby put on a brave smile, and nodded in agreement.
"Thanks for listening," she said. Shelby hugged Shigeru one last time, and then climbed the ramp to the boat. As the ship slowly started moving, Shigeru called out to her. "Don't worry about confronting your parents, Shelby. If I know them like I think I do, they will still love you." Shelby could hardly see, but she could have sworn he winked. She nodded several times.
"Take care," she whispered.
Despite having a hard time saying goodbye to the Nihon-Jan people, Shelby thoroughly enjoyed being at sea, but she had to admit she was eager to see her parents and apologize. The trip was fairly uneventful. Shelby liked to watch some of the crew practice sword-fighting in the evenings, and sparked her interest. She made a mental note to request lessons when she returned to Araluen. But aside from watching the sword fights, Shelby spent most of her time on the main deck, taking in the smell of the ocean air, not knowing when the next time she would smell it would be. She took it in as long as possible, but when the group finally returned to Araluen, she couldn't complain.
The queen herself was waiting at the docks for her daughter and Shelby to return. Shelby also spotted Horace, Gavin and Mason.
"Abigail," she called. "Come up here, will you?" Abigail climbed up onto the main deck from below.
"What's up?" she asked.
"We're home," Shelby answered, her eyes remaining on the royals. The princess sighed contentedly.
"Home," she repeated, and grabbed hold of her lady's arm. Shelby was tall enough to rest her head on Abigail's, so she did. As the ship approached the dock, the hairs on Shelby's arm stood up, she but she continued to breath in and out deeply. Even though everything seemed peaceful and quiet, she couldn't help but feel something was still off. The ship finally reached the shore, and anchored itself. The landing board hit the dock, and Shelby and Abigail slowly walked down it. When they reached the bottom, Abigail ran into her mother's arms.
"I missed you!" she exclaimed into her mother's shoulder. Cassandra wrapped her arms protectively around the princess.
"I missed you too," she said gently. Abigail stepped back from her mother with a smile, and then hugged her father.
"I missed you, sweetie," Horace said, and kissed her forehead. Abigail smiled at him, and then hugged her brother, and then Gavin.
"We missed you too," Gavin told her. Abigail smiled at them, and then looked back at Shelby who was watching them with a sideways smile.
"Hello, Shelby," Cassandra said warmly. Shelby curtseyed a little in the royals' direction.
"Hello," she said simply. The queen smiled at her.
"I think we should talk about what exactly happened here, and in Nihon-Ja. Will you join us for tea?"
This is a short chapter, yes, but I want more interesting things to happen in the next chapters. Well, I guess you could call it that. Also, I know this story is labeled under adventure and romance, so guess what? ;) Romance is coming up.