A/N:

Sorry this took so to put up. I was really discouraged that nobody responded, but realised that I was writing this for fun and the busses were cancelled today. My parents didn't make me go to school, so I did homework and wrote this.

Chapter 2

Following Through

A few days later Jazlyn was reading on the window seat in her room when Takumi stormed in with a grin on his face. "I did it! And she said yes!!!"

"That's great. How did the talk with mom and dad go?"

"They were really surprised that I wanted to marry her. Apparently they thought that she was just a faze or something" a hint of annoyance worked its way into his voice, but it was quickly lost. "They agreed, as did her parents and I went up to her room and asked her out to dinner."

"So that's why you weren't here last night. I wondered about that…"

"Ya, anyway I took her to the bastion--"

"But that's so expensive!"

"Mom gave me the money for helping out in the shop. And I got the waiter to bring the ring on a plate instead of her desert."

"Ah, that's so cute."

"At first she said no, because she thought her parents wouldn't approve. I told her that her father said yes but she wouldn't believe me."

She let out a little giggle, because that sure sounded like Larissa.

"So we took a little moonlit stroll back to her place, where her parents confirmed what I said. Then we went up to her room and…uh…" Takumi's face turned beet red.

"A little kissing, a lot of kissing or…" Jazlyn was starting to go red too.

"Oh! No!" His face turned even redder, if that was possible. "Just a lot of kissing." He bit his lip and looked humiliated. "Her mother actually came to check on us to 'make sure we were ok.' You have no idea how humiliating that was."

Jazlyn burst out laughing. "I so…wish…I could…have…seen that!"

"So, how's life?"

"Nice subtle change of topic, there."

"Ya, I thought so too, but at least it worked."

: : : : : : : : :

Later that day Jazlyn went out with Takumi and Larissa, to look for a house. There was a bit of sadness in the air, because she had to soon, but they had fun despite it. Around four in the afternoon they finally found a place close by, that everyone liked. They told the owner they would be back with their parents tomorrow, and they headed back, Larissa to her house, Takumi and Jazlyn to their's.

As soon as they got home, one of the maids found them, and said "Your uncle Joseph is here for supper. Your parents expect you both to be dressed properly for supper. They also say that you," she looked at Jazlyn, "will be leaving with him tomorrow."

"Tomorrow! But that's so soon!"

"I know Miss Jazlyn, and I am sorry to hear you'll be leaving. Your uncle also said to give you this." She handed them a crumpled napkin. She started to walk away, but turned and added. "One hour, don't forget," and gave Takumi a little wink.

"What was that about?"

"I saw her wink at you, don't try and deny it!"

"Oh that. She's the one who told me about your meeting with mom and dad."

"That's why she was so… informal." All the maids were told by their parents to treat the family with utmost respect. Though Takumi, Mark, and Jazlyn tried to tell them otherwise, it seldom worked.

"Yes, she helps me out a lot, and I slip her extra bits of material from the shop, because she loves to sew. Anyway, what's with the napkin?"

Jazlyn looked at the food stained napkin they had been handed and started uncrumpling it. "It says 'Takumi and Jazlyn, I know your parents want this dinner to be formal seeing as it is the last supper you will have together, but please dress comfortably as I would like to spar with you after. Sincerely Joseph. P.S. Please pass the message on to Mark as well.'"

"Oh crud" when Jazlyn looked at him he added, "I may be an alright swordsman but my butt still hurts from our last match."

Jazlyn just stared at him and said in awe "He's that good?"

"I forgot you've never sparred with him before."

"Mom always said that I couldn't since I was going to be a lady, I couldn't. Apparently they told him I was going to be a warrior."

"Well, I pity you. The first time I sparred with him, I was disarmed and on my stomach, with his sword to the back of my neck in minutes. I was 8 or so, but that's everyone's first response with him."

"Great…now I'm super nervous. Plus I have no idea what to wear."

"Is that all girls worry about?"

"No, not really. It's just that all my nice clothes are dresses, and I can't fight in them"

"I have an idea. It's something I've been working on in the shop, for ages now, without telling dad. It's just a theory really, but it should work." With that Takumi dragged Jazlyn off to 'Carlock's Finery.'

: : : : : : : : :

When they got there he dragged her past the main store, and into the back room.

He picked up what looked like a pile of fabric and held it out to her.

"Um… I like the fabric," it was a shimmery purple that looked was some shade of green when it hit the light. She continued "but what is it?"

"It's what you're going to wear. The colours will look perfect on you! It's a top that's a bit longer than usual too cover the top of the skirt."

"Try it on, and I'll tell you why it's so special."

She went back into the store and used the dressing room. Jazlyn heard Takumi walking around a bit, obviously looking for something.

"Here, put these on under the skirt." And he threw in a pair of black breeches that looked like they would fit a five year old.

"Takumi! I'm fifteen, not five! These won't fit!"

"Yes they will. They're based off woman's pantyhose, but a solid material, and with no feet." When Jazlyn didn't say anything he added "don't worry, they stretch."

Jazlyn sighed. "Alright."

A couple minutes later she came out, and looked great. The purple and green offset her hair and her eyes perfectly. The top wrapped up around her neck, and tied in the back. There were green and pink beads, which matched the shimmer, all around the neckline. The skirt was a came halfway between her knees, and her feet, and was a slightly darker colour with ties along both sides. There were holes all down the side, threaded with pink lace that was tied very loosely, every little while. There were more green and pink beads (the same as the top) along the bottom. There waste band wasn't a typical tie, but was the same stretchy material as the black bottoms, and it stayed on great. You couldn't see any of the black material.

"I love it! The colour is perfect, and it looks like a dress, but I don't see why I had to put on the black things, or how it helps me fight."

"I'm getting there. There's a reason the waste band isn't a tie. Pull up the shirt a bit, and turn it around so the ties are in the front, and the back." She did as he said. "Now untie all the lace."

She blushed and said defiantly "No! It's indecent!"

"That's why I had you put on the black bottoms."

She blushed deeper, "Oh."

Once Jazlyn had undone all the ties in the front, and Takumi had undone the ones in the back, he started retying them the opposite way (through her legs), but tightly, and they started to look like breaches. She got the point, and did the other side. Once they were done they looked like a very fancy pair of breeches, and she could move, and fight, freely. To top it off, it only took about three minutes to change them.

"Takumi they're perfect! Why haven't you told mom or dad about these? "

"I didn't know if they would work or not. Besides, they'll find out tonight."

"Too true. Would you help me put these back, then we can get going."

"Of course."

A/N: Also the plot is coming slowly, even if you can't really tell. Since I need people to keep reading I'll spill a little: Two important people die, which dramatically changes things

Please respond. Just a quick "I like it", or "I hate it" would work though I'd want to know why.