Disclaimer: I only own what is mine. My OCs and ideas.

A/N: So mentally dead right now, and Mid-Terms have not even started yet. So dead. And then science... I can't get a straight explanation on how this chapter works. And my English test got pushed up a day! My sanity is slowly slipping away from me. Very slowly... but hey! Writing is the best escape in the world. (But I have the problem of everyone being on my case about reading more.) I am just waiting for Christmas to hurry up and get here. Next Generation: Anna should update soon! Enjoy!

Reviews:

ArtemisBAMF1218- Yeah, they are great siblings. So cute. I think even without permission, Ryu would have popped in. She is a very important character as this story keeps showing up and being there. She is their little fan. And it's great. And Danny being nervous... he's so sweet. And the pair of them talking and just hanging out. it is fun to write. So you mentioned Ryu being a good test to future wives; my friend recommended an anime to me, and one of the main characters is a lot like Ryu. I watched it just last week, so it wasn't my inspiration, but it's a great show: Engaged to the Unidentified (only 12 episodes).
Yeah, just their families know. It will be public and official in about a few chapters.
The quote I remember from my World History teacher, who was honestly the best. Loved her so much and I miss her too. Yeah, Azula could attest. Their married life is great. I already have so many ideas for their newlywed life. So cute! Yay! Enjoy!

Guest - I keep the peace for now, but they have their bumps in the road. Before and after getting married. Ryu is mean to them. But, she loves them, she really does enjoy getting to be front and center to watch the two of them.
I think this will just stay in third-person. That's how I started Neon and I guess this is how this is going to go. Romantic moments? Some will be coming up. Some little sweet and awkward moments between the pair. or at least more fluffy moments. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Aiko slowly walked into Hiroshi's house. The party was that night.

She had agreed to hang out with Ryu, Hiroshi, and Kasumi the afternoon before the party, just to have a get-together.

"So… Danny couldn't make it?" Hiroshi asked as they all sat around his house.

"Yup. He's getting the final things out of the way for tonight." Ryu smiled as she threw herself on a couch.

"Do you know the lucky girl for the evening?" Hiroshi asked instantly.

"Nope. Because I am a gossip apparently." Ryu smiled. She wore a smile in such a way it was clear she was lying.

"You do know who she is… don't you?" Hiroshi asked.

"Of course." Ryu smiled. "Swore not to tell but… oh, I know."

Aiko sighed. "How does Danny put up with you?"

"Don't know." Ryu shrugged.

Aiko fiddled with her hands. The ring was safely tucked away. It was unnoticeable. She hoped, at least.

"Aiko, have you found a husband yet?" Kasumi asked as she walked over.

"No." Aiko lied as best as she could. "Father's tried. But men are simple minded."

"True that." Ryu smiled.

Kasumi looked over Ryu who laid on the couch in pants and a casual top. "Please tell me you have an actual dress you are going to wear." She sighed.

"Yeah, Danny said I have to look nice. I get to do a magic demonstration tonight for entertainment. I have been practicing for hours!" Ryu bounced up. "Want to see it?"

"Um… sure." Kasumi smiled. "Would you two like anything to drink, before I forget to offer you anything. I have some Bancha tea from earlier today."

"Sure," Ryu said easily. "But I don't get why you are offering it to us."

"I'll have some too, I guess." Aiko smiled.

"It's polite Ryu." Hiroshi sighed. "When you have a guest it is polite to offer them a drink or snack if you have some available."

"Right…" Ryu sighed.

"Forget whatever academics you are learning; culture is what you need," Hiroshi smirked.

Kasumi walked in and poured two glasses one for Aiko and the other Ryu.

"Don't remind me…" Ryu sighed… she downed her glass in one gulp. "Danny's got that idea too…"

"What?" Aiko asked.

"He knows that I am 'overly socially unacceptable' and he has a solution." Ryu groaned.

"What is it?" Aiko asked sitting next to Ryu.

"A week or two with Geisha." Ryu sighed. "I don't want to! It's nice and all but sounds boring!"

Kasumi glared at Ryu. She put the pot of tea down on the table and walked over with the metal tray that the pot was on and whacked Ryu upside the head.

"How dare you call that boring! It is a Japanese cultural tradition! And I think it serves you right! You would learn so much about how to be more ladylike!" She started her rant.

She raised her tray to smack Ryu again and Ryu held her head and ear that had been whacked.

"Ouch!" She whined.

"Kasumi…" Hiroshi started. "Calm down…"

"Ouch! That hurt! Baka!" Ryu cried.

It took a minute. For Aiko and Kasumi to notice why it hurt so much.

The metal in the tray.

"Ryu! I'm sorry!" Kasumi said quickly.

She started to rush to work. She put the tray down and ran to get some herbs.

"For your sake, I hope you have only boys!" Aiko joked to Hiroshi.

"Kasumi would be able to handle it." Hiroshi agreed. "She's smacked me plenty of times this week alone."

Aiko gently got Ryu to remove her hands from her burning red ear.

Kasumi hurried back in and started to get to work. Treating the burn as if it were a regular burn. "So sorry about that Ryu. But I forgot. And I don't know if there are certain herbs that will heal this kind of burn so I will just do my best to heal it."

"Hey, where did you learn the word 'baka'?" Aiko asked. "It's not Chinese."

"Japanese." Ryu smiled. "That tutor of mine, he's got to hate me."

Aiko sighed. "He said that to you, didn't he?"

"Only twice." Ryu smiled. "Danny caught him the second time."

"He did?" Hiroshi laughed. "Is he still your tutor?"

"Sadly. Danny thought it was funny because apparently; I am annoying, only sometimes." Ryu sighed.

"You are." The three teenagers all said at the same time.

Kasumi started to wrap up Ryu's pointed elf ears. She carefully twisted a thin bandage around her ear and covered most of it.

"It's noticeable." Ryu sighed. "Isn't it?"

"Yes." Aiko nodded.

Ryu sighed. "So yeah. A week with the Geisha would teach me to shut up right?"

"You know, when Danny was a kid, he did something similar. Every summer he went to a monastery to train." Aiko smiled. "It really helped him improve his Chinese because no one there spoke English. And he would watch how everything worked socially. It really helped him get used to stuff."

"That and it was for his own protection." Hiroshi sighed. "When Scorpion found out Danny was heir…"

"Same guy I met?" Ryu asked.

"Yes." Aiko gave her a nod and then looked her over with a critical eye. Ryu had been captive for a month. And she was also in rather a bad shape when she returned, worse than Danny. But Aiko hardly noticed the signs anymore.

Ryu noticed. Wordlessly she pulled down her collar for Aiko to look at a wound.

Aiko started to examine her shoulder. "It looks infected." She commented. "Ryu you have been getting proper treatment right?"

"Not really." Ryu sighed. "Are you ok, Hiro?" Ryu asked.

"Hiro?" Aiko asked.

She looked over to Hiroshi who was hot pink and covering his eyes. "Stop taking off your shirt when I am around!" The teen yelled. "Modesty!"

Aiko sighed. "Hiroshi. Calm down." She looked up at Kasumi. "Now I really am going to pray the two of you only have boys."

"Thanks." Kasumi sighed. "We haven't even been married a month and you have started that already. Remind me to repay the favor."

"Sorry!" Aiko rushed to apologize. "I didn't mean to offend you! It was a joke! I have spent way too much time in the outside!"

"People there have horrible humor!" Ryu rushed in to help.

Kasumi sighed. "It's fine. Just don't do it too much."

"You got it." Aiko nodded. "I didn't mean to overstep."

Kasumi looked at Ryu's shoulder. "Does look to be nearly completely healed."

"That's not a bad one." Ryu sighed. "Got this nice one on my stomach…"

"Leave your shirt on!" Hiroshi snapped quickly.

"Is the palace healer aware of your injuries?"

"No…" Ryu trailed off. "She's kind of scared of me…"

"Mistress Ratana?" Kasumi asked. "I guess I understand. She's a little older than me… unmarried, last I heard… you should try to befriend her… she is a nice person."

"She's taught me a few herbs…" Ryu smiled. "I guess I could stand to try to make an effort."

"You could use more friends." Aiko pointed out.

"You should let Mistress Ratana or I look at your wounds." Kasumi side quickly.

"Sure…" Ryu sighed. "Later."

"So, what is married life like?" Aiko asked sweetly.

"You will not honestly believe how much he can eat." Kasumi sighed as she looked over at Hiroshi. "But, it's different. I have finally moved in completely."

"Dad's kind of hit the age where he isn't working much anymore…" Hiroshi added. "So that means I get to run the shop."

"Shop?" Ryu asked.

"I'm a master weapon's smith." Hiroshi smiled. "Where did you think all my weapons come from?"

"I didn't think about it," Ryu admitted.

"And the shop is one of the oldest in the city. There are only two or three others." Kasumi smiled. "So there is a lot of business."

"Only problem is I haven't had time to get to do other stuff. I'm going to have to take on more help." Hiroshi sighed. "Too much work for just me to handle by myself. Plus, I have plans with my life. I like being a smith and all, but honestly, I want to be in your brother's personal guard, Ryu."

"Good luck with that. I know Danny well enough to know he wouldn't just give it to you." Ryu laughed.

"I know…" Hiroshi smiled. "We all have a level of self-respect. I would be mad at him if he used his position to help me out. If anything; I would like him to make it as hard on me as possible."

"Right. How are you going to get help?" Ryu asked.

"I have two younger brothers. One has already had some training and the other is interested. They want to move in for work." Kasumi sighed. "I love them and all… but that requires a lot of work to move them in, and also that means my brothers move in."

"And that is bad," Ryu noted.

"Yes. I love them and all… but honestly… it would be like when you moved in with Danny." Kasumi smiled.

"How would you know how bad it has or has not been?" Ryu asked.

"I was talking to Danny the other day. I was helping Mistress Kavi with rounds and I was in the palace to see if Mistress Ratana needed more herbs and I ran into Danny. We talked for a while." Kasumi smiled. "He seems to be doing fine."

"He is." Aiko nodded.

"And how would you know?" Hiroshi asked. "You two been hanging out recently. And not inviting us? Aiko… come on!"

"Aiko has been at the palace a good deal." Ryu smiled.

"What? Why?" Kasumi asked.

"Danny's put me in charge of an important assignment." Aiko recited. She blushed some. "Danny's having me help track down Ryu's mother. And because this is so sensitive and important, I think Danny and I are the only two working on it."

"Yeah, you checked out a lead, what last week?" Ryu prompted.

"It was nothing. Danny wanted an excuse to leave the palace mostly." Aiko laughed to herself.

She was joined a little.

Aiko felt herself getting anxious. There was not much longer until all of this would be done and official. But… she was going to have to wait.

"I think Danny's looking forward to getting married." Ryu smiled.

"What makes you say that?" Hiroshi asked.

"Well…" Ryu started. "He didn't sleep last night. He's anxious about today. I used some magic on him and he passed out. I was not about to go through that again."

"He's been unable to sleep many nights since he was crowned?" Kasumi asked. "What's wrong?"

"He's just stressed about stuff. That I am not allowed to mention apparently." Ryu crossed her arms and smiled.

Kasumi sighed. "He's doing the best he can."

"So, tell us about this girl that he wants to marry." Hiroshi prompted.

Aiko felt her heart race some.

"I am not allowed to say much, besides the fact that she likes me." Ryu grinned her toothy smile.

"That might as well be Aiko! I didn't think anyone would really take that much of a liking to you." Hiroshi commented.

"You are going to invite us to your engagement party, right Aiko?" Kasumi asked.

"Of course. I don't have any plans right now, however." Aiko smiled as she lied.

This was going to be a long evening.

Aiko held her hair out of the way as Māmā tied up the back of her dress.

"You look wonderful." Māmā smiled. "But you seem nervous."

"I am… I am excited… but…" Aiko sighed. "I am so nervous."

"As shocking as it may be to you… I remember my engagement party to your father." Māmā smiled. "All those years ago. I married him I was your age. He was already about a thousand years old at the time. And I was nervous too. But your father and I would not let you do this if we thought you would not be happy for the rest of your life."

Aiko bit her lip. "How long will that be? I'm immortal… but Danny?"

"The Iron Fist grants him immortality. He can still die like we can, but as long as he takes care of himself. He will get to live a long life with you. Maybe you two will end up like your father and me." Māmā smiled.

"I don't know… there are so many things I don't know…" Aiko sighed.

"What do you mean?" Māmā asked. She walked around to stand in front of Aiko and she stood there.

Aiko let her hair down. "I don't know… I just don't feel close to Danny right now… kind of like I don't know him."

Māmā smiled. "Aiko you have known him just about your whole life! You know him very well!"

"I know… I think I am just nervous." Aiko sighed.

"Don't be. Danny loves you." Māmā said reassuringly.

"I know. Ryu said she had to use magic to get him to go to sleep last night because he is so anxious." Aiko smiled.

"He is so sweet." Māmā laughed. "You know your father was just as awkward as Danny is now. It's almost romantic."

"I wonder if he can hear you." Aiko smiled.

"Don't know." Māmā smiled. "You look ready."

"Thanks…" Aiko smiled.

"Come on." Māmā held out a hand and helped Aiko off the stool. "You are ready for all of this. You are going to be fine."

"Thank you, Māmā." Aiko smiled.

Māmā gently tucked Aiko's hair behind her ear. "Let me pull your hair back and out of your face."

Aiko nodded. She smiled as she stood still.

Māmā easily pulled back her hair from the sides of her head to the sides and tied them together in the back as a long braid that fell on top of the rest of her hair.

Aiko smiled as Māmā walked back in front of her.

"Are you ok?" Māmā asked.

Aiko wrapped her arms around Māmā quickly. "I don't know anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to leave you… I don't want to leave." Aiko sniffed quietly.

"You are not leaving yet, sweetie," Māmā said as she rubbed her back.

"I know… but…" Aiko sighed. "I don't want to move out and move on. I want to stay here. I am scared."

"I know. I was like that too. I didn't even know your father before I was arranged to marry him." Māmā said gently. "But you know Danny well…"

"I know, but I… I was talking to him when he was over for dinner… and afterward, we went up to the roof and we were talking. And it just felt like I didn't even know him that well."

There was a knock. "Aiko, are you ready to head out for the party?"

Māmā smiled at the voice. "Come in."

The door opened and Master Kung walked in. "Is everything alright in here? Aiko? What's wrong?"

Aiko looked up. She wasn't wearing any makeup so her face was only a little red.

"Nothing, Bába," Aiko muttered.

"She's nervous." Māmā supplied. "She doesn't want to leave home."

Master Kung smiled knowingly and walking over. "You will cry many more times between now and your wedding day. But you need to not worry. Nothing is going anywhere."

"Right." Aiko sighed. She let go of her mother and looked up at her father.

Master Kung put a hand on her shoulder and with his other large rough hand he wiped her eyes. "You are going to be fine tonight. Just take a deep breath and calm down. I love you."

Aiko smiled. She cupped her hand over her father's that was on her cheek. "Thanks, Bába."

"You look as beautiful as your mother." He smiled.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Now, please. Be happy for me. Today is an important day. And you look most fitting for the occasion."

Aiko wrapped her arms around her father's stomach. "Thank you Bába."

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