Disclaimer: I only own what is mine. My OCs and Ideas.
A/N: Alright, so a sweet Aiko and Danny chapter. I've been reviewing the other upcoming chapters. Oh so much sweetness is coming up I want to drop hints but at the same time, I want to keep a little surprise! Oh, I am so excited for you guys to read these next upcoming chapters; so much fluff. Anyway, can't wait to update again, enjoy this chapter.
Reviews:
ArtemisBAMF1218- Oh man, oh man, you are going to love what is coming up. Did you mention death by fluffiness? Oh, it's coming. It's coming. Thanks once more for the praise!
OK, here we go. I had pictures online of the dress that I hope I can find again so I can write another description or two.
I like what you mentioned. How normal people, who have never met Danny, react to him and think about him. It's interesting, because Aiko's known him forever and thinks nothing of it. Yes, I think Asha will become a character who pops up again in the future. It was fun to write a little parallel and let Aiko see a small example of what other's see. And the questions of all topics; Aiko is not everyday ordinary. So it is fun for her to have to answer questions and it is awkward about it and all that other stuff; surprised and flustered.
Anyway, oh man… this upcoming stuff. The wedding is a good 10 to 15 chapters away still… but you are going to love what is coming up next! Enjoy!
Chapter 18
"Aiko, are you alright?" Danny asked as he walked into his office.
Aiko had been lying on the couch with her eyes closed. Her feet were kicked up on the arm of the couch. Her arms were folded on her stomach and she smiled to him.
Aiko opened her eyes and looked at Danny who was standing over her as she laid on one of the couches in his office.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Aiko sighed. "I went to put an order in for my dress today."
"How did that go over?" Danny asked.
Aiko moved her legs and sat up. "The seamstress I met is crazy." She reported as Danny sat down.
Danny nodded. "I can imagine."
"And I must go back for fittings and stuff," Aiko sighed. "I'm tired."
"When did you get up this morning?" Danny asked.
"I don't know. Not long after sunrise?" Aiko guessed.
"I know, I've made this point, but… Aiko, you can't throw all this stress onto yourself at once." Danny smiled.
Aiko sighed. "I'm fine."
"You passed out last week." Danny reminded. "And the other day you could hardly stay awake."
Aiko bit her lip. She looked at Danny waiting for him to continue.
Danny just watched her with soft but stern eyes.
The pair stayed like that for a while, just watching each other. Danny's expression a little tough and Aiko's more playful.
Aiko started to giggle after a little while and leaned into Danny's side.
Danny smiled as he wrapped an arm around her. "Someone's happy today." He laughed with Aiko some.
Aiko pulled back. "It's just you're great. I'm excited to marry you."
"You were nervous just the other day," Danny noted with raised eyebrows.
"I don't know." Aiko smiled.
"Hormones?"
Aiko jerked up to see Ryu who was standing in front of the pair. Her portal closed beside her and she crossed her arms. She was dressed in training robes.
Aiko's face started to burn a dark scarlet. "Ryu!" Aiko yelled.
"What?" Ryu smiled. "Girls have strange hormones that make them change attitudes all the time! Danny, you need to be taking notes, you are marrying her."
Danny's face also briefly flushed pink. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
"Or dead?" Aiko followed up.
Ryu laughed. "Nah, I'm on my way up, I just thought I would drop in and say hi."
Aiko's face was still burning. "Ryu, out!" She ordered.
"Seriously?" Ryu asked. "What's up with you?"
Aiko glared at her. "Leave."
Danny shooed Ryu away with his hand quickly.
"Fine, see you at dinner." Ryu shrugged as a portal opened beside her and she left.
"Are you alright, Aiko?" Danny asked. "I don't think I've seen you snap at Ryu like that before."
"I'm fine," Aiko mumbled. "She had it coming."
Danny shook his head. He didn't say anything but he smiled.
"What?" Aiko asked.
Danny stopped and watched her for a second. His eyes were bright and showed he was in extreme thought.
He just watched Aiko for a minute. Before closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What?" Aiko pressed slowly.
"I was just thinking, and doubting," Danny admitted.
"Doubting what?" Aiko asked quickly.
Danny leaned back and slouched on the couch. "Aiko, in America you can legally get married at the age of eighteen. That would mean both of us. I'll turn eighteen right before we get married, but you'll still be seventeen."
"That law has no power here. It's not a law around here." Aiko smiled weakly at Danny.
"I know. But, you see…" Danny sighed. "Laws are generally made for a good reason. They generally have the good of whoever they apply to in mind."
Aiko sighed and leaned back on the couch with Danny. "Yeah?" She asked.
Danny turned his head to look at her, "I was just thinking. We are both so young. I mean… I'm not trying to doubt this. I want this."
Aiko watched the tapestry on the wall. "As do I."
"And we have both thought this through." Danny went on.
Aiko nodded.
"I guess I'm the worried one now." Danny laughed. "Your father would tell us if something was amiss."
"I guess." Aiko shrugged.
"If Ryu thought something was wrong, she would not be able to stop herself from reporting it to me," Danny added.
"She doesn't know when to stop." Aiko agreed.
Danny sighed. "Do you think we are making the right choice in this?" He offered his hand to Aiko who took it.
"What can you do if it's not?" Aiko asked.
"I don't know. Push the date back?" Danny suggested. "Do we need more time? Are we ready?" He gave Aiko's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Aiko smiled. "Don't move the date. Pushing it back will make everything crazy for us. More time means more chances to worry."
Danny sighed. "I don't know." He looked back to the tapestry.
Aiko did too. Their hands still held between them.
"How far along are the preparations?" Aiko asked.
"Let's see. I made you an appointment with the Abbey; for two days before. I decide to make Ryu go with you; just to get her out of the palace." Danny began.
"Oh joy." Aiko sighed.
"My clothes have been started too. The order of the ceremonies was switched. The Immortal one first, then the Chinese one," Danny also listed. "I've seen the guest list…"
Aiko sighed. "Oh no."
Danny smiled to himself. "Lots of people are invited. And since this is a royal wedding, I am certain that the majority will come."
Aiko sighed. "I hate this already."
"Turns out there will be celebrations all weekend after the wedding. So, we will get to be out in the city and see it all. It sounds amazing." Danny smiled.
"I bet. I remember when we were little there was a wedding celebration that was huge, and we saw the bride being taken to her new home in a sedan chair." Aiko smiled.
"That will be you." Danny grinned.
Aiko groaned. "Uhg…"
Danny smiled and got up from the couch and walked back over to his desk.
He moved some papers around before picking up a stack and walking back over to Aiko.
He took his seat again and slipped off his sandals folding his legs lotus-style. "Your parents and I have already covered the Bride Price and Dowry," Danny said as he looked over the list.
Aiko sighed. "Don't mention that. What else?"
"Hm, we need to buy some things, I guess," Danny said handing the list off to Aiko.
Aiko scanned it.
Then her eyes landed on the one item that did not have a note or check. "Tea Ceremony." She whispered.
"I was… I was not going to bring that up." Danny said quietly. "I just… I don't think we need to do it."
Aiko looked over at Danny. He seemed a little hurt, but not too upset.
"I understand," Aiko nodded her head. "I think we should do it."
"Hm?" Danny asked.
"It is tradition, it is an important ceremony to welcome me to your family," Aiko said quickly.
"Do you know how to do a Tea Ceremony?" Danny asked.
"Nope," Aiko replied honestly and bluntly.
"What have you been learning at all of your lessons then?" Danny asked. One eyebrow was raised in confusion.
Aiko shrugged. "Practicing my calligraphy, posture, mannerisms, reading… boring stuff like that; and lots of time getting yelled at because I messed something up."
"Aiko, the point is we don't have to do a Tea Ceremony," Danny said bringing the point back around.
Aiko looked up at him. "I want to."
Danny sighed. "I'll see if I can find anyone to teach you."
Aiko smiled. "Entertainment?"
"Ryu readily volunteered for that one." Danny rubbed his forehead. "I told her no."
"That means a whole night's worth of stuff. Performances, music…" Aiko trailed off.
Danny took the paper back. "We nearly forgot the most important thing."
"What?" Aiko asked.
"Your coronation to become queen. You have to take the vows and go through the Final Say Spell." Danny smiled. "We've been so focused on just getting married. We forgot that you have to be formally crowned."
Aiko sighed heavily. "What, will that be just like yours?"
"Should be," Danny smiled.
Aiko sighed. "The spell?"
Danny nodded.
"What was it like?" Aiko asked. "You made the comment that you saw so many things. Or something like that."
"The spell…" Danny began. "It hurt some. You can feel physical discomfort. And it's different for everyone. What I saw will be different from what you will see. You might not even remember it when it is over."
Aiko watched Danny as he thought for a moment. "It's about being judged. It looks at everything you have ever experienced; all these things that you remember, things that are important in your life. You just feel so exposed, because you see everything right there."
Aiko gave his hand a squeeze.
When Danny looked up at her face, she smiled. "I'll be fine."
"During the spell, time becomes irrelevant. You feel as if you are there for a long time, but in reality, it is only a few moments." Danny finished.
Aiko sighed. "So, Immortal Ceremony, Chinese Ceremony, and then my coronation?"
"Then the celebrations," Danny smiled.
Aiko sighed and shook her head.
Danny smiled. "Despite all the doubting between the two of us, I think this is going to be fun. Getting married."
Aiko smiled. "You think so?"
Danny nodded. "Yes, I do think so."
Aiko watched him. "I'm ready. Totally ready."
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