Disclaimer: I only own what is mine. My OCs and ideas.
A/N: Just have to get this updated quickly so that I can get back to work. I have honestly on too much work for this year... I swear... I just got done with a 10 page English project and I have not even been in school for ten days. Anyway, I'm just going to have to get adjusted and then I'll be back to normal. Read! Review! Enjoy!
Reviews:
ArtemisBAMF1218 - Cool, I honestly like the story so much. And it's cool you've heard it. Sweet lovable Danny, so kind hearted. And hey, maybe Ava did, maybe she didn't.
Well, Ryu has an advantage, she started young. I believe statistics say the best time to start learning a new language is around seven years old, so she would have started around then, so she is not too bad off.
"Pulling Rank" pretty much means that you use your position of authority to get you way, it's often associated with being a little arrogant and cocky. But in Danny's example, he just used his position as king to shut down the conversation when he got sick of it. And Aiko is shocked by this because it is not like him at all. As for what Aiko is going to do as queen to fill her time... we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Ok, so this chapter is pretty good, no Danny, besides references, but he'll be in the next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 22
Aiko woke up the next morning to a sound of someone being not so quiet in her room.
Aiko sighed as she rolled over to face the wall and pulled the blanket over her head.
"It's too early." Aiko groaned. Knowing exactly who had entered her room uninvited.
"Do you have a formal dress? Anywhere? And red. Red would defiantly be preferable." The voice responded.
Aiko sat up a grabbed her pillow, launching it at her blue intruder. "What do you want Ryu?"
The blue girl was dressed in a long Salwar Kameez, an Indian Style dress. In an outstretched hand was the pillow that Aiko had thrown at her.
Aiko sighed as she got up and walked over to her dresser where Ryu was searching through her clothing.
"Did you honestly forget what tomorrow is?" Ryu asked sharply.
"What are you wearing?" Aiko asked.
"Indian clothes involve pants. Chinses clothes don't. Also, apparently, my name is Indian." Ryu smiled.
"Ryu is a Japanese name." Aiko corrected.
"Rhynisha is Indian." Ryu sighed.
Aiko took her pillow back and looked Ryu over.
Ryu was looking back in the drawer. Mostly crestfallen.
"You want to be looking for your mom?" Aiko asked.
"Yeah… It seems clear she is bent on staying hidden, but she should have heard by now about Danny rebuking the law making me illegal. It's been two moons!" Ryu sighed.
"Ryu, we will find her. Ok?" Aiko asked placing a hand on Ryu's shoulder.
"Yeah…" Ryu sighed. "I'm nervous. I mean… what I finally get to meet her… I'm certain that she will remember me, know who I am… but… what is she like?"
"All in due time," Aiko replied softly.
"So, do you have anything to wear? I mean honestly." Ryu sighed as she pulled out a dress. "Like, you need something elegant. Something that screams 'Hey, I'm Queen!' You know?"
"I don't need anything of that sort for any reason." Aiko snapped annoyed. "Ryu…"
"You are going to the party tomorrow, right?" Ryu asked. She put the dress back.
"What party?" Aiko asked slowly.
"Danny's Birthday Celebration, duh!" Ryu exclaimed. "Come on, did you forget his birthday is tomorrow? And there is a celebration at the palace. And if you don't make an appearance… hm…" Ryu trailed off.
Aiko's face slowly started to turn red. She had completely forgotten. His birthday was always right around the double seventh. Within the same moon cycle at least.
"How come you didn't tell me earlier?" Aiko yelled.
"Um, I didn't think I needed to mention it." Ryu sighed.
"I'm an awful betrothed." Aiko sighed.
"Well, I guess that's not an awful thing. You don't have to be betrothed forever." Ryu teased. "This, however, does not bode well for when you are a wife."
Aiko took the pillow in her hands and easily smacked Ryu right upside the back of the head.
Ryu caught the pillow before it smacked her in the head, the second time anyway.
Aiko pulled the pillow back but Ryu held on quite easily.
"I've gotten a lot stronger." Ryu smiled.
Aiko looked at the outstretched arm.
Ryu had never been muscular. Especially after being kidnapped. She had been quite malnourished and thin. Even before all of that, she was strong, but she never looked strong. She was thin and lanky.
But now, her arms were well toned.
Aiko smiled. "Yeah, not as strong as I am."
Aiko let go of the pillow and Ryu fell over, she had been putting a lot of force into holding on. Most of her weight.
Aiko shook her head and pulled up a sleeve and flexed an arm.
Ryu sighed. "You've been training your whole life. I've been training, formally, for two months."
Aiko sighed. "You are behind compared to normal standards. Most people your age go on missions and stuff like that. You are years behind."
Ryu sighed. "I hate it."
"You have magic and they don't." Aiko pointed out. "You are stronger."
Ryu just nodded. "You know something I hate?" She put the pillow behind her head and stretched out on the floor.
"Humans?" Aiko guessed.
"Well, them too. But…" Ryu trailed off. "I really hate daytime."
"Ah, right. Your only weakness. The sun." Aiko smiled.
"And no one else here is nocturnal. Everyone is diurnal." Ryu complained. "I have to be the one to adjust and miss everything. All the time!"
"Well, you are making a decent attempt at staying awake all day." Aiko smiled.
"Midday siesta is a must." Ryu sighed.
"Well, you are not made to be up all day." Aiko sighed. "You have to deal with that."
Ryu nodded sitting up. "So, do you really not have a dress?"
Aiko sighed. "I have dresses."
"So, did you get Danny a gift?"
"No, did you?" Aiko asked.
"I'm saving up for the big wedding gift." Ryu smiled.
Aiko sighed. "I should get him something. He went out of his way and got me a gift for the double seventh."
"Oh, that was beyond amazing!" Ryu smiled. "I had so much fun! I hung out with Taslima and some other students from the temple that I've gotten to know."
"So have you told your brother that you have friends now?" Aiko smiled.
"Uh, no. He still thinks I need a mental evaluation." Ryu said with all seriousness.
"Look, when Danny and I get married, I will not be your confident on your evil schemes against your brother. He'll be my husband. And I will side with him over you." Aiko said pointedly.
Ryu smiled, she chuckled a little bit to herself. She slapped her hand over her mouth as more laughter started to come up.
"Sorry!" Ryu was nearly dying at this point. She was leaned on the dresser and not even trying to control herself. "It's not funny! I swear it's not funny!"
Aiko sighed. "What?" She asked instantly.
"You." Ryu laughed some more.
Aiko sighed and looking up at the ceiling. "Dragon Lords. Do I even have time for this?"
"Danny is a teenaged boy, Aiko. He actually is one. And you think marrying him is going to be heavenly? I've told you I ship this like FedEx. But come on! He's not perfect!" Ryu sighed. "You're marrying my brother."
Aiko tapped her foot impatiently. "I've known him much longer than you have, thank you very much." She said instantly. "And you're just driving him up a wall."
Ryu glared at Aiko. "Yeah, what's your point?"
"I'm happy to be marrying your brother!" Aiko felt her blood boiling.
"Yeah, you know, I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be happy to marry him." Ryu's eyes said it all. She knew exactly what she was doing, poking the caged bear with a stick.
A dagger appeared in Aiko's hands. Nice and dark and purple. "Leave." She growled.
"So, you already know what to get Danny?" Ryu asked.
"You're useless," Aiko complained as she and Ryu stood in the streets. Both wearing cloaks.
"Well, I thought I might know it when I saw it." Ryu sighed. "Guess not."
Aiko sighed. "Should I get him a book or something?"
Ryu tapped her foot. "He has plenty of books."
Aiko sighed. "I… don't know…"
"Could you make him something?" Ryu suggested.
Aiko looked up at the sun. "If I pick something soon, I guess I could make him something and have it done by tomorrow night."
Ryu smiled. She grabbed Aiko's arm and started to pull. "Let's pick something!"
Aiko sighed as she pulled her hood over her face more. It was still early in the morning.
"There has to be something here." Ryu sighed. "There has to be…"
Aiko looked at each side of the street.
Getting Danny something like ink or a book, or anything work related seemed unnecessary. Not personal enough.
Aiko sighed. Eighteen was a big deal. A huge deal.
A milestone in his life, he would be taking the throne as sole ruler. Not having the council always watching over his every move.
Aiko sighed. He was king. There was nothing she could get him, he was king.
Didn't he already have it all?
Ryu sighed. "I'm getting worn out."
Aiko looked up at the sun. "It's getting hot out, you do need your sleep."
Ryu sighed. "Pick something."
Aiko sighed as the pair stopped and Ryu ducked into the shade. Aiko walked over and stood behind her.
"Why on earth is it so hot?" Ryu complained.
"It's not that bad. A little cloudy today." Aiko said looking up at the sky.
Ryu groaned. "So, what are you going to get him?"
"I don't know." Aiko sighed. "Eighteen! This is a big milestone. And I forgot about it. So… today is all I have."
Ryu sighed and shrugged. "I'm guessing you want to get him something personal."
Aiko nodded quietly. "He's difficult to shop for. I'm not getting him another gift until he turns a hundred."
Ryu chuckled to herself. "Wow, I can see this going to ways, you are either a sweet old couple, or you'll be fighting all the time."
"You can really imagine us fighting?" Aiko asked, her voice held disappointment.
"Well… yeah… you guys are getting married. You will be spending tons of time with each other. And you may have done that in the past. But I imagine marriage is different." Ryu smiled.
Aiko groaned. "What do I get him?"
"Something personal I guess?" Ryu suggested.
Aiko sighed and turned to look at the window behind them. It was open and she could see clearly into the shop. Fabrics covered the shelves. Tapestries hung on the walls and some quilts were on display. Handkerchiefs and other embroidered fabrics.
Aiko watched the activity inside. There weren't many people inside. A young girl working on a loom. And a woman was talking with someone who must have been a customer.
"Ryu," Aiko said quickly.
"What?" Ryu asked she was clearly sleepy.
"I figured it out," Aiko said grabbing her wrist and pulling Ryu into the store.
Ryu sighed as Aiko opened the door and pulled her through.
"I will be right with you two in a moment." The women said.
The girl looked up from her sewing, didn't recognize the pair and got back to her work.
"The quiet will be gone in three… two…" Ryu watched as the women finished up with the customer and then turned her attention to the pair.
Aiko smiled weakly as she took the hood off her head.
"One." Ryu finished.
"Lady Aiko!" The woman bowed deeply.
The young girl who was sewing looked up from her work and scrambled to get to her feet, bowing deeply towards Aiko.
"Um… good morning." Aiko nodded in their direction.
Ryu sighed as she pulled off her hood as well.
"And Lady Rhynisha! What a surprise!" The women had straightened up and bowed towards Ryu as well.
"It's just Ryu." Ryu corrected. Only to have her comment ignored.
"It is an honor." The women went right on ahead. "Is there anything I can do for the two of you?"
"Aiko, if you don't hurry up and get ready you are going to be late!" Mama yelled from the kitchen.
Aiko was sitting on the coach studding her gift. Ryu was looking over the mess that they pair had collectively spent all day making.
Aiko had made most of the mess and Ryu had watched, keep her company, and ate food. Only leaving for a while to train before getting back to lounging around.
Aiko sighed and held it up. "Do you think that Danny will like it?"
Ryu looked the gift over. "Yeah, why not?"
Aiko sighed as she gently folded it up and put it in the same box that Danny had used to give her his gift from the Double Seventh.
"Ok, I'm done." Aiko smiled. "That's that. Nothing more to do."
Ryu sighed and she picked up a few books that had been scrambled all over the table. "Here. Go get ready, I'll teleport us to the Palace. You won't have time to walk, and if you run you'll show up a sweaty mess."
Aiko frowned as she took the books and started to rush off to her room to get dressed for the special event of the night.
Danny's Eighteenth Birthday Celebration.
Aiko put the books down on her dresser and quickly looked through for a fitting dress to wear.
Undoubtedly it was going to be a formal event.
Aiko sighed to herself. "Formal. Formal. Formal." She muttered.
Her hands traced over a soft silky fabric and Aiko pulled it out.
"Daxiushan." Aiko smiled.
Aiko rapidly changed into the more formal dress.
She walked back into the living room not long after she had been told to leave, dressed in long and beautiful robes.
Ryu looked up at her and slapped a hand over her mouth as she fell back on the couch, suppressing laughter.
"What?" Aiko demanded.
Mama walked over and sighed heavily to herself. "Aiko sit down and let me fix your hair."
Aiko sighed as she obeyed. Sitting opposite from Ryu.
"Are you nervous?" Ryu asked.
"Yeah. I hope he likes it." Aiko sighed as she picked up the box. "I've spent yesterday and today working on it."
Ryu smiled. "I'll put it in my room to hide it."
Aiko nodded. "Thanks, that will be great."
Mama smiled. "Danny's sentimental. So, this will mean a lot to him."
Aiko smiled. "I hope so."
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