(This story has been rushed thus far and I have messed up some facts and over looked some key terms. I will be changing Kou's name because as Dark_Trinity pointed out she sounds like the Kirin of Kou not of Han her name is now Rihan. It may be wise to reread the story up to this point. Today is Tuesday March 23, 2004 I will have it all changed before the end of the day so if this is your first time reading this story then you have read the corrected story no need to reread.)
Sonya walked into her new room and opened the closet to see if there was something she could ware. She found a red kimono with the image of an oriental dragon on the front.
"Umm Kiki are you around?" She said loud enough for anyone out side the door to hear.
"Yes your majesty I'm here." Kiki said walking through the door.
"I thought you were." Sonya chuckled.
"I am your chamber maid your majesty it is my duty to wait outside until you need me." Kiki said bowing.
"The man who died today what was his name?" Sonya asked.
"Yakoul Ya-cool your majesty." Kiki said picking up Sonya's BDU's
"Does he have any family?" Sonya asked.
"He leaves behind a wife a son and a brother." Kiki said rather gloomily.
"I understand. Does this kingdom have a flag?" Sonya asked.
"Yes your majesty." Kiki said. "It's a white flag with a red dragon like the kimono you're warring."
"Please go get one." Sonya said.
"Right away." Kiki said and bowed and walked out of the room.
'I promised him a Military funeral with full honors.' She thought. 'To do that I need more Marines. I need to go home and tell them what has happened.'
Kiki returned a few minutes later with a folded flag in her hand and set it on the bed.
"Kiki, Rihan is gonna be back in the morning right?" Sonya asked.
"Yes your majesty." Kiki said.
"Ok I want to make this funeral for tomorrow afternoon." Sonya said.
"Yes your majesty." Kiki said. "Will you be needing anything else?"
"No, thank you." Sonya said. "I need to do some thinking."
"Very well I'll be just outside so call if you need any thing." Kiki said and bowed.
"I will, thank you." Sonya said as Kiki walked out.
Sonya laid on the bed and sighed deeply.
'What the hell was that bird?' She thought.
She laid on the bed for several hours just thinking about what she was gonna do.
'If I stay with my unit then this land will continue to suffer and Kou will die then so will I.' She thought and sat up.
"Kiki." She said standing up.
The door to the room opened and Kiki walked in.
"You called?" Kiki asked.
"I have been doing some thinking." Sonya said walking to the window. "I was planning to return home and stay there but if what I have been told is true then this land will suffer and Rihan will die."
"Yes your majesty that is right." Kiki said.
"Then I really have no choice." Sonya said. "I will stay and be queen."
"Oh I'm very glad to hear that your majesty." Kiki said smiling. "I want to talk to Suyo."
"Umm your majesty I think we should let Suyo be alone for now." Kiki said apologetically.
"Why?" Sonya asked a bit puzzled.
"Well Yakoul was his brother." Kiki said.
"Oh I see." Sonya said. "Thanks."
"Your welcome your majesty." Kiki said and bowed.
Kiki walked out of the room and closed the door. Sonya continued to look out the window at the failing light.
'It's so beautiful.' She thought. 'I wonder what the guys are doing.'
Fort Freedom Iraqi
"Marines form ranks." Sergeant Ellis yelled.
The team was formed according to ranks in a matter of seconds.
"Ok team because Blaze is not here she is classified as AWOL Absent Without Leave and will be arrested on sight." Ellis said. "However we are not going to stand around and wait for her to return. High command has ordered us on PT Physical Training from sun up to sun down."
The whole team groaned and complained.
"I share your remorse." Ellis said. "Because she is under my command I to will be doing PT. To start the day we have a five mile run around the parameter of the base full gear with loaded weapons."
The team geared up and assembled in the yard. Sergeant Ellis led them in stretches then began the run.
Han Palace
Sonya walked away from the window and went to the door and opened it.
"Is something wrong?" Kiki asked from where she was standing.
"No I just wanted to stretch my legs and see the palace." Sonya said.
"Would you like me to accompany you as a guide?" Kiki asked.
"That would be great." Sonya said.
"Where would you like to see first?" Kiki asked.
"You lead I'll follow." Sonya said.
"Grand tour you got it." Kiki laughed.
The first place Kiki showed Sonya was the throne room. Sonya looked around the large room and saw only a few guards and a large stone chair she assumed was the throne.
"This as you have probably guessed is your throne," Kiki said pointing to the stone chair.
"Big throne." Sonya said walking up the steps.
She sat on the stone throne and fidgeted uncomfortably.
"Gonna need pillow." She said with a slight laugh.
"The dinning hall is this way." Kiki said walking to a door on the right hand side of the throne room.
Sonya followed Kiki into the dinning room that was filled with a smell that made her mouth water.
"Ok when is dinner?" Sonya said inhaling deeply.
"It will be ready very soon." Kiki said.
"I don't know what that smell is but it smells great." Sonya said.
"It's boiled peaches in alcohol." Kiki said.
"Oh man that kills it." Sonya said. "I'm not gonna have anymore alcohol."
"The alcohol is only for fragrance." Kiki said. "You can eat it all day and not have any affect."
"Well I'll test it." Sonya said.
"You'll like it." Kiki said.
They left the dinning hall and walked down a corridor and into a dying garden.
"Very soon this garden will flourish." Kiki said. "Look its already starting."
Kiki pointed to a single blade of grass sprouting from the ground.
"Tentei has already accepted you as the rightful ruler." Kiki said.
"How does my being the ruler affect nature?" Sonya asked.
"The ruler and nature have a direct link to each other." Kiki said. "If a ruler dies or rules the kingdom unwisely then the plants will suffer."
"I see." Sonya said looking at the blade of grass. "I think I'm beginning to understand."
"That is good to hear." Kiki said. "But you still have a lot to learn."
"I'm up to the challenge." Sonya said and bent down and touched the blade of grass.
The blade seemed to react to her touch and swayed side to side as if it was waving at her.
"I do believe that dinner is ready shall we eat?" Kiki asked.
"Yes I'm starving." Sonya said and stood up.
They walked back to the dinning hall where the table was laden with more food then Sonya has ever seen in one place at one time.
"Wow." Sonya said looking at the table. "Please tell me there are gonna be more people eating then just me."
"You can have all the people you want join you." Kiki said.
"I'd like to have you, Sana and all the guards that went with me to the town join me. And if he is willing Suyo." Sonya said.
"As you wish." Kiki said and bowed and walked out of the hall to gather the guests.
Kiki returned a few minutes later with Sana and the four living guards that went with her to town.
"Your majesty Suyo has gracefully declined your offer." Kiki said.
"I don't blame him." Sonya said walking to her chair at the head of the table. "Please be seated."
They all sat down at once and the waiters poured a sweet smelling drink into their glasses. Sonya took a sip from her glass to see if it was alcoholic. Determining it was not she stood.
"I'd like to make a toast to Yakoul who died trying to save the people of the village." She said.
Everyone stood and raised their glasses.
"To Yakoul." They all shouted and drank to his memory.
They all sat back down and began eating.
"What is this drink made out of its delicious?" Sonya asked.
"It's made from the seeds of a Palma garnet." Kiki said.
"I like this." Sonya said and drained her glass.
"It's best not to drink too much of it." Kiki said. "Because it's so sweet it can make you sick to your stomach."
"I'll keep that in mind." Sonya laughed remembering her earlier run in with the vase in her room.
They all ate until they thought they would burst then Sonya pushed back from the table.
"Thank you all for joining me." She said standing up. "This has been a more than interesting day for me. I think I'll get some sleep."
"Sleep easy." Sana said bowing.
"Goodnight your majesty." Kiki said and bowed.
The guards all stood and from what they thought was right they saluted. Sonya smiled and saluted in return then walked out. She got lost a few times but managed to find her way to her room. She fell on the bed and fell instantly into a dreamless sleep.
