Chapter 7 - shock of a lifetime
"Ming-ah...Ming-ah wake up. Mother is calling you."

The young girl opened her eyes to see that she was still wearing her favorite red kimono. Sitting up, she tried to recall the events from the night before. She had lost her necklace and had asked Shiro to help her find it...or was it a dream? She looked over to the other side of the room to see the curtains billowing in the wind. She never left her window open.

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Garbed in a red dress, Ai descended the stairs gracefully, her raven hair flowing like a pitch black waterfall. Quite suddenly she stopped in her tracks. Why was there someone downstairs? Who was this person? Another blacksmith...maybe a friend of her sister? As she glided down the steps she recognized him. It was a childhood friend of her late brother. What his name was Ai Ming could no longer remember. Perhaps he had come to court Weili...but then why had her mother summoned her downstairs?

"Ai Ming! It is not good to keep some one waiting should they call for you! Now come, I would like for you to meet your fiancé, to whom you have been betrothed for many years."
Ai Ming could not believe that her mother still believed in the customs of old. Her? Betrothed? Why was she to be married off first? Why not Weili? Ai was shocked beyond belief...how could this be? She was too young…still just a novice! Well, maybe a supernovice, but a girl of 16 is still too young!

"I'm sorry mother...but...I...I cannot comply..."

Tears streaming down her cheeks, she ran past her very bewildered mother and her equally bemused Fiancé.

No...this cant be...dear Odin, please help me find Shiro!

Her plea was granted and she spotted the thief just about to leave the city. Without even thinking, she sped towards him and encircled her arms around his torso, her tears like a fountain of crystals.

Shiro was surprised by someone suddenly seized him from behind. He knew from the sobs that it was Ai. He pried her arms away and turned around to face her.

"Ai-chan, what's wrong?"

"My...my mother...she's arranging a marriage for me...I...I cant...I don't want to marry him...I hate him! He was always playing tricks on me when I was a child. I can't even remember his name! Shiro what am I going to do?"

He gently wiped a tear from her cheek and stared deep into her jade eyes.

"Ai-chan, I must return to Morroc now...I'll be back for you, just give me two weeks..."

He planted a kiss on the top of her head, then drew her closer in a tight embrace.

"I promise you Ai-chan, I'll be back soon, two weeks isn't that long."

Breaking away, he strode off down the path, his vision blurred.