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

A/N: So, I am going to try to start updating this every Saturday. This is only chapter eight and I think I just finished writing chapter sixteen the other week. And I am super excited, so... why not try to shoot for every week. I've got my other stories to do as well, but my brain just wants to focus on this one. And then there is life and life. Enjoy the chapter!

Reviews:

ArtemisBAMF1218- Ok, so maybe it was not the fluffiest thing in the world. Heartbreak happens. I'm evil, I get it. I'll go sit in the corner.
Yeah, Ryu comes up a ton. She's still learning to get around. But watching her grow is fun. She is still pretty young, about maybe 12.
I can see where you are coming from with the Aladdin reference, but I have a feeling Ryu would have more fun making them both motion sick.
Doubt happens a lot, I mean they are now going to spend eternity with each other. And it's like standing in front of a long dark tunnel without any idea how to go through. Neither have much relationship experience, so... they are both constantly doubting themselves and trying hard to make things right. Happy New Year! Sorry, this took so long! Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Aiko walked into the main living room that next morning late.

And when she arrived she was ready to go back to bed.

It was early morning so Ryu was sitting at the table. With a few books.

"Morning, Aiko," Ryu smiled.

"Dare I ask…?" Aiko sighed.

"These aren't for you," Ryu said crossly. "Davos is letting me borrow them."

"Alright…" Aiko sighed. She settled herself at the table across from Ryu.

"But, Danny wanted to see if you could come to the palace today." Ryu smiled.

"For what?" Aiko asked.

"I guess wedding preparations. It's not easy. You have to set a date and get all this stuff done. And all the stars have to be aligned… blah, blah, blah." Ryu sighed. "Boring stuff. Apparently there was a meeting about you this morning. I got out of it."

"And?" Aiko asked. She had started to prepare herself a cup of tea.

"I don't know… something about you… ask Danny." Ryu shrugged.

"What's the latest gossip on him?" Aiko asked.

"Gossiping is highly frowned upon!" Ryu said in a mocking voice.

"Ryu…" Aiko prided.

"He was beating himself up last night." Ryu cracked a smile. "Upset about making an awkward situation. I did not know how powerful sleep magic is."

"Sleep magic?" Aiko asked.

"I can use sleep magic because I am the Dragon Lord of Night. It's not specific magic… but I can knock people out easily. Without even being close. I've been practicing on Danny." Ryu smiled and her fangs were very prominent.

"Be nice to your brother," Aiko warned.

"Right… well, I have training this morning., Ryu got up quickly. "Excuse me."

Aiko sat at the table quiet for a while. It was late enough for Davos and Master Kung to both be gone.

And Māmā was likely outside working on assigning the field off to the workers who came to make some money.

Aiko smiled. Life was calm for a moment.

No missions no discomfort and awkwardness with Danny… just quiet.

Aiko looked down at the table… it wasn't that being with Danny was uncomfortable. But he was… awkward sometimes…

Aiko sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

The door opened and Aiko looked over and saw Māmā walked in and came over to the table. "Are you hungry?"

Aiko shook her head no.

Māmā took her seat where Ryu had been. "So, how was last night?"

"It was fun." Aiko smiled.

"And he has started to kiss you?" Māmā asked. Her tone was a little harsh but her expression was joking.

"Only on the forehead. And on the hand once or twice." Aiko blushed. "That's all good, right?"

"Of course." Māmā smiled. "He is a sweetie."

"He is." Aiko smiled. "Ryu was apparently spying on us last night, that is how she got the picture."

"It is a beautiful image." Māmā nodded. "What are your plans for this afternoon?"

"Ryu mentioned that Danny wanted to talk to me today about some stuff." Aiko sighed. "I guess I'll be going to the palace today. Word is out that we are betrothed. So I guess it is expected for me to be at the palace a lot."

"Oh, yes." Māmā laughed. "Some of the young girls who work in the field were talking about it. One got brave and asked me if it was true."

"And?" Aiko asked.

"I said yes… you were indeed to marry the king." Māmā smiled.

"I feel in over my head," Aiko admitted. She took the ring and put it on her finger. It was much too big for her.

"I understand that, marrying your father was not easy to adjust to. He's well over a thousand years older than I am." Māmā smiled.

"I love him and all… but I am not sure I can handle this…" Aiko sighed.

"You will be fine. And Danny will not leave you to drown in your work." Māmā smiled. "He is much too good for that."

"I know… I think I was supposed to meet up with him again today… after last night I am a little nervous." Aiko smiled.

"He is a gentleman. You just wait until you get your real first kiss. You wouldn't know what to do with yourself." Māmā teased.

Aiko's face flushed hot pink. "What do you mean?"

"It will be the most wonderful thing in the world." Māmā smiled.

"Right," Aiko sighed.

"So, are you going to run off to be with your wonderful betrothed?" Māmā asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." Aiko sighed as she got up from her seat and finished off her drink. "I'll get some breakfast on the way."

Aiko walked outside and into the yard, plucking a fruit from a tree on her way out.

She walked down the streets trying to be invisible. But everyone seemed to notice her. Everyone looked at her and some children pointed and said things to each other.

Everyone seemed to clear out of her way.

Aiko looked around. It was painful to keep her posture. With all the eyes on her, it was hard to pretend it was a normal day.

Aiko reached for the ring on her chain. She clutched it in her hand tightly. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. This was exactly how Danny must have felt. Every day when he was stared at for the color of her hair.

Aiko continued on without stopping. Her muscles slightly tensed in fear of some type of attack.

But there was no one around to attack her… there was just this feeling…

Aiko sighed as she looked ahead. It wasn't a long walk to the palace. But it was still quite a walk.

The palace gleamed in the morning sunlight. It looked like it was made of gold.

Once inside… Aiko walked around aimlessly on the first floor. Uncertain of how to get to Danny's office where he likely was. If not a meeting…

Aiko sighed and walked into the next room. Which had a curtain as a door.

She pushed it aside and saw a busy kitchen. There was much commotion from the three girls who were in there. stumbling over each other and trying to put stuff away.

Aiko sighed as she quietly returned the curtain to its place.

She was going to get so lost and be found in a few days…

Aiko held her head. It was not good to think like that. She would find her way around.

Danny's was on the second story and… a hallway that went all the way to the left.

"Are you lost?" Aiko turned quickly to face the voice that had asked the question.

A girl stood there about Aiko's age…

"Um… yes… I am." Aiko said softly.

"What are you looking for?" The girl asked.

"Da- King Daniel," Aiko said.

"As many are," The girl sounded like she had heard that before. "He's in a meeting."

"Um… I am Aiko." Aiko introduced herself. "Um… his betrothed…" She felt her face heat up.

The girl's eyes widened. "I'm sorry!" She bowed respectfully. "I have never met you, I did not know you are his betrothed! I have heard your name, but I did not know the face to go with it."

"It's ok." Aiko smiled uncomfortably. "It's just Ryu said he wanted to talk to me about some things."

"The Dragon Lord?" She asked.

"Yes." Aiko smiled.

The girl didn't smile back. She held her head in her hand. "She is more trouble than you could dare imagine. I am certain you know that."

"Yes." Aiko nodded.

"There are stairs at the end of this hallway. Go up them and to the go straight until you are at the end and make a left. All the way down and make another left. That should take you to his office." She said. "Oh! And I am Mistress Ratana. I'm the Monastery's Mistress but I also come here and take care of things."

Aiko smiled and started off. To the end of the hallway and upstairs. Just following the directions until she started to recognize where she was. Aiko slowed down and looked around the hallway. The hallway was interior, but still naturally lit.

There were many hallways on this floor and many rooms it seemed like.

Aiko kept walking straight. She turned and saw the two guard standing by Danny's office and the door was opened. Danny wasn't sitting behind the desk, instead, he was laying on the couch with his feet propped up on the arm of the chair closest to the door. A book covered his face.

Aiko smiled. She walked up to the doorway but stood back slightly.

"Hey, Danny." She called. She shot a glance at the unmoving guards.

Danny looked up and sat up, swinging his legs over so he could sit normally. "Come on in." He gave a nod.

Aiko slowly walked past the guards. She looked at them each. "I mean this in the best way. But, stone guards are very intimidating."

"Well… they are not going to go anywhere. The legend about them in amazing." Danny smiled.

"It is." Aiko walked over to the couch and took a seat next to Danny. "So... What are we going to be doing today?"

"I don't know." Danny smiled at her. "Do you want to do anything?"

Aiko shrugged. "I haven't thought about it. Ryu said you wanted to start making plans for the wedding."

"I don't really want to… I've said it before… this is a blind side of me, Aiko. I don't know all of these ceremonies and rituals." Danny sighed. "I mean…"

Aiko smiled at him. "It's fine."

"I'm sorry about running off last night," Danny said gently. "I thought I heard someone watching us and I got embarrassed."

"Ryu was watching us., Aiko smiled.

Danny's face heated up. "Of course she was…"

Aiko looked up at him and laughed. "You are lucky to have her."

"I know." Danny smiled at the ceiling. "If you would like to trade siblings ever… just let me know."

Aiko rolled her eyes. "I'll keep Davos. He doesn't do very much compared to Ryu."

"Compared to Ryu all he does it breathe." Danny sighed. "Lucky."

Aiko only laughed at this. "So… what type of ceremony will we have?"

"Aiko… I told you… I don't know." Danny said irritated.

"Um… how about a Chinese ceremony?" Aiko offered.

"Do Immortals have marriage customs?" Danny asked.

Aiko gave him a curt nod.

"What about that?" He went on. "I don't belong to the Chinese culture. But you have your bonds with Immortals."

Aiko thought about it for a moment. "Immortal traditions are a very private ceremony. We could have both. It was done for a while. The double ceremony showed closeness and extreme unity. Because you are the King. I suppose that you will be expected to have a grand ceremony. But afterward; could we have one all our own?"

"Of course." Danny smiled. "Sounds perfect."

Aiko smiled. "We would have to talk to my parents about Immortal Traditions. They had an Immortal Wedding. But the traditions are mostly lost."

Danny smiles. "Sounds good. So how do the Chinese ceremonies go?"

"Um… lots of ceremonies and rituals. An Immortal Tradition is that we are not allowed to see each other a week before the wedding." Aiko explained.

"What?" Danny asked. "But…"

"Don't worry about it. We are allowed one form of communication. We can write one note a day to each other at the very most." Aiko smiled. "I loAok forward to getting them."

"More writing." He groaned.

Aiko reached to where his right hand was and took it in hers. She started to massage it gently. "Your calluses are going away but you have other blisters now."

"I know." Danny sighed. "I've been working too hard is what Ryu says."

"She is right. But you have many important things to do." Aiko sighed.

"I know." Danny looked at Aiko and smiled.

"What?" Aiko asked looking up. Her hands were still massaging his sore one.

"You are beautiful," Danny said easily.

Aiko felt heat rush her face. "Thank you." She muttered.

"You've been blushing a lot," Danny commented.

"Oh, uh…" Aiko was unable to produce the answer. "Um…"

"It means that you are comfortable. Correct?" Danny provided.

"What?" Aiko asked.

"I was taught how to read women. You can read other girls easily. Because you are one. But I was taught the basics on how to read a girl's body language. An important tool." Danny explained.

"How is that important?" Aiko asked.

"I don't know." Danny smiled. "But girls can be hard to understand sometimes, so I would like a little insight to read your body language so I can have a slight idea about what is going on in your head."

Aiko put his hand down in his lap. "You have no right to talk. You are confusing as they come." Aiko said easily.

"Am I?" Danny asked.

"Yes." Aiko crossed her arms.

Danny laughed. "But you are comfortable and that matters to me."

Aiko looked up at him and smiled dropping her hands to her lap. "Yes."

"Good," Danny said. He moved and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Aiko looked at his hand carefully, suddenly slightly uncomfortable. "Uh…"

Danny's face burned. He pulled back. "Sorry."

"Ryu said there was a meeting this morning," Aiko commented.

"So, she goes to hang out with you every time she runs off?" Danny asked.

"I guess so, I've been seeing a lot of her." Aiko smiled. "She needs this thing called 'friends'." Aiko gave Danny an accusing glare.

"If I could control her I would at the least make her more disciplined. But I cannot." Danny laughed.

"Don't change the subject. Your meeting this morning?" Aiko asked.

Danny took in a deep breath. "It was about you."

"I know that much." Aiko prompted.

"You have a lot of work to do to prepare to be queen. The council wants you to do all these preparations. And they also want me to plan the wedding without assistance. Which you know I can't do." Danny sighed. "I don't want to give you too much to do. But you have a lot on your plate."

Aiko sighed. She looked at the wall, away from Danny, thinking.

"Aiko. I didn't want to marry you if it meant making your life horrible. I know it sounds like a lot…" Danny began.

"I can handle it." Aiko decided. "I want to marry you. And I knew from maybe day two that this was going to be a lot of work. I can handle it."

She turned back to face him and smiled.

His eyes shown with excitement, and pride. "Thank you."

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