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

A/N: So anyone who keeps up with these author's notes knows that I had like ten chapters pre-written for a while now. If you didn't remember, then this is just a refresher. I only have one more of those chapters left. So for me, it feels like this story hasn't been progressing much because I already had a ton of stuff laid out. But now, it's time to clear the cobwebs and get these gears turning in my head. Hey, maybe I can do some writing tomorrow. I should have the time. I'm excited to get this going again. I can't wait to see where it takes me. Anyway! Enjoy everyone!

Reviews:

ArtemisBAMF1218 - Ah yes, we are at the party scene, aren't we?
Oh, Ryu, she's great. Her name, Rhynisha, is Indian, while she may go by her nickname, Ryu, a Japanese name. Japanese traditional clothing would be things such as kimonos and yukatas. While Indian clothing would be more likely for women to wear pants and a top, which would be what Ryu was used to already. She is a rule bending, however, that is all too true.
I like how you point out the sisterly bonding. It's mentioned in Neon, and I hope to cover it in Ryu's story. But Ryu does need someone like Aiko in her life as a role model, like an older sister.
Hmm, I didn't think about it in that sense. But it does seem like Danny does spend a lot of time standing on a pedestal when he's not around. People have their opinion of him, and Ryu and Aiko know him a little too well to fall for that kind of thing.
Anyway, I know you are looking forward to finding out what the gift is, but there's going to be some fluff induced melting before you can find out... if you know what I mean! Anyway! Get on with it then! Enjoy!

AliceTheCactus - Hello! Thank you for taking the time to comment! I love to hear from readers and it's exciting that you have been reading this story from the first book! Wow, it sure has been a long time in the making. Thank you for the praise and I hope to hear from you again! Thank you and enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 23

Aiko walked into the foyer calmly. She held her posture perfectly.

Everyone was so dressed up and formal looking.

Aiko sighed as she stepped in slowly through the main doors.

Everyone who got a look at her bowed or greeted her in one way or another.

Aiko noticed some people she knew. And other she didn't.

Aiko looked around cautiously for Danny. He was here somewhere.

"My Lady," a voice said directly behind her. "Strange to see you walking around without your parents."

Aiko turned to see who was talking to her and saw the smiling blond she was looking for.

"Hey Danny," Aiko smiled. "Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks." Danny smiled. "It's been a long day. Just office work today, no meetings or anything."

Aiko smiled. "I guess that's nice."

Danny nodded.

He smiled at Aiko and the pair stood in awkward silence.

"So, seventeen more days?" Aiko asked.

"Yeah." Danny nodded. "And only ten more days of seeing each other. We have to spend the customary week apart."

"It's going to be a long week." Aiko sighed.

"Yeah, we have a lot of finishing touches to do this week. We have to practice the ceremonies and make sure that everything is working right." Danny added on. "So, you can go ahead and expect to spend the next week at the palace. Every day."

Aiko sighed. "Sounds like fun."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Not really."

Aiko sighed heavily and looked Danny over from head to toe. He was wearing bright gold as opposed to his preferred calm green.

"Dragon Robes?" Aiko asked she raised an eyebrow. "It really clashes with your hair."

"Yeah, I know. But these are a tradition." Danny sighed. "So, you know, I didn't get much of a choice."

"Did you do anything for your birthday?" Aiko asked gently. "You know, besides work?"

"I trained this morning with the other Weapons." Danny smiled. "I didn't see Ryu this morning. So I guess that is a gift in itself."

"She was with me all morning." Aiko smiled.

"Really? What were the two of you up to?" Danny asked.

Aiko smiled. "Working on your birthday gift." She teased playfully.

Danny's expression was blank for a moment. Then his face lit up. "You didn't have to."

"I kind of did, you didn't have to get me anything for the double seventh." Aiko pointed out sharply.

"Aiko, I'm going to be your husband. I'm supposed to do nice things for you." Danny sighed.

"Danny, I'm your wife, my job is to do things for you. That's the culture." Aiko sighed.

Danny sighed and laughed to himself. "I guess a difference in culture."

Aiko laughed to herself too. "Well, I still have a gift for you. And I'm going to give it to you tonight, after dinner."

"Ah, there is the young royals." A voice smiled.

Aiko and Danny looked up.

A pair of adults, a man and woman were standing next to the couple.

"Master Bhatt." Danny recognized quickly.

Danny turned to Aiko.

"I don't believe you have formally met. Aiko, this is Master Bhatt, he is on the council as the Master of Written Law." Danny said easily.

He turned to the master. "Master, this is Lady Aiko Kung, as you know, my betrothed."

Master Bhatt smiled at the pair. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady Aiko."

He bowed deeply and Aiko easily and calmly returned it. "Likewise, Master."

Aiko had a feeling she knew exactly what was going on. There was going to be a long conversation.

The other woman seemed to notice too, Lady Bhatt. She smiled but her eyes showed she was a little bored.

"Your Majesty, if you have a moment, I need to speak with you…" Master Bhatt began.

"Of course," Danny nodded.

Aiko had a feeling he really had no honest way out of the conversation.

"Lady Aiko?" Miss Bhatt smiled. "How about you come with me and meet some of the other Master's wives? Or do you prefer to stay here and talk politics?"

Aiko gave Danny a quick slide glance while waiting on his approval.

Danny gave her a quick and informal nod. "You can go if you wish."

Aiko looked back to Lady Bhatt. "That sounds like a nice idea."

Aiko sighed as Danny lead her up to the main table. It sat at the front of the room and clearly was more important.

"What's wrong, Aiko?" Danny asked slowly.

"I'm worn out," Aiko admitted. Her hand was in Danny's warm rough hand. They dangled effortlessly at their sides. "But everyone I met was quite nice."

"You are used to physical endurance. Mental endurance is what you must work on next." Danny smiled. "Plus, it's not usually this bad. It's just a busy time. Our wedding, my birthday, the double seventh. It is just one thing after another. But once things calm down you will see it's not as crazy as it appears. Some days when you don't come to the palace, I just work quietly and go to meetings and all of that. There's nothing to it."

The pair walked around the table and Danny let go of Aiko's hand to pull her chair back.

Aiko smiled. "You're a gentleman."

She easily took her seat and Danny pushed her into the table. "Thank you."

Danny easily sat down next to her in his own seat.

"So, the menu is complete." Danny joked. "Tonight, we get a small sample."

Aiko smiled at him. "Sounds pretty good. I could eat."

Danny looked at the seat to his left. "Hm… Ryu should be here."

Aiko looked at the seat too. "So, she's the same as ever."

"She's young. She'll change to adapt to her new home." Danny commented easily.

"So, does she have friends?" Aiko asked.

Danny looked back over at Aiko. "Does she?"

A young girl walked over with a tray in her hand, she didn't speak as she placed a bowl of rice in front of each of them and a bowl of soup.

She looked to Ryu's seat.

Right as she did the Dragon Lord's portal opened and Ryu stepped through in a beautiful dress. "Sorry, I'm late." She slid into her seat and the two bowls were placed in front of each other."Xièxiè!"

"Xièxiè." Aiko and Danny echoed.

The girl held the tray down and bowed before walking off.

"So, does she?" Danny repeated his question.

"Yeah," Aiko smiled. "She actually does. So don't worry about it. She is doing just fine."

Danny looked over at Ryu who was chowing down on her rice. "That's good."

He studied his sister for a moment with a distant expression. Not touching his own food.

"Danny, are you ok?" Aiko asked.

"It's nothing," Danny said easily. "I'm just thinking."

Aiko sighed as she picked up her spoon and took a drink of her soup. She watched Danny carefully.

"Honestly. You didn't have to get me anything. I'm king, and I am going to marry you." Danny sighed as he walked with Aiko down the hallways.

Aiko smiled. "No, I got you something. End of story. Plus, you told me you already got me a wedding gift."

"This isn't a game. It's just us trying to do something nice for each other. It's not a competition, alright?" Danny narrowed his eyes and looked Aiko over. "And your wedding gift shouldn't be brought up. Alright? You'll understand when I give it to you, but it is personal. It means something to me."

"But you're winning," Aiko complained.

Danny sighed and rubbed his temple.

"Does your head hurt?" Aiko asked.

Danny looked over at her. "No, I'm fine. Just a little aching."

Aiko smiled, stopped walking and turned to face Danny. "You should take care of yourself."

Danny smiled and reached his hand out, his hand cupped her cheek. "Don't worry about me."

Aiko watched him, her face didn't heat up at the fact he had cupped her face.

"Danny… I'm serious. Don't get sick, and don't make yourself sick. Ok?" Aiko watched Danny very carefully.

Danny smiled. He stepped forward and pulled Aiko toward him.

Danny frowned at her a little and pulled her closer. Putting his free hand around her waist.

Aiko's face instantly went dark red. Her eyes were wide and embarrassment shone on her face.

Danny laughed at this and pulled her head forward to plant a kiss on her nose. Which only made it worse.

Aiko didn't bother to pull back from his grip. "Danny…" She complained as she leaned forward to lean her head on his shoulder. "Danny…"

"You're cute when you're embarrassed." Danny smiled.

Aiko sighed. "No."

"I have to enjoy this now," Danny explained. "You one day won't be embarrassed so easily."

Aiko sighed. "Meanie."

"No, I think so secretly love it when I do stuff to make you turn red." Danny teased.

Aiko looked up at him. "Hm."

Danny sighed. "So when will you be giving me my gift?"

Aiko looked up at Danny. "Um, whenever Ryu gets back here."

Danny pulled Aiko a little closer to him, both hands on her waist.

Aiko sighed and put her arms around Danny's neck. "What's this for?"

Danny stepped forward with one foot and Aiko stepped back. "Daniel?"

"What?" Danny asked.

"What's gotten into you?" Aiko questioned.

"I don't know, love?" Danny suggested.

Aiko shook her head as the pair danced around the private hallway some.

"Danny," Aiko sighed to herself.

Danny started to hum to himself and Aiko listened to the tune carefully.

"I know this one." She muttered.

"Yes." Danny prompted.

Aiko sighed as she racked her brain. "I know this one…"

Danny smiled at her. "And do you know where it is from?"

Aiko sighed. "Are there words?"

"Yes," Danny replied.

"Sing them," Aiko ordered.

Danny's face lit up. "I don't sing, you know that."

Aiko looked up at him. "Do it. I want to know where this is from."

"Taking over this town, they should worry. Put these problems aside, I think I taught you well." Danny's voice had gotten much quieter to sing the words. They were mostly spoken, but his voice carried the tune in it a little bit.

Aiko smiled. "Oh, go on. I don't know it." She looked him in the eyes and grinned. He wasn't completely cooperating. But it was enough.

Danny sighed. "That we won't run, we won't run, we won't run."

Aiko smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. Getting more into the rhythm. "Skip to the chorus."

Danny sighed. "You know it, don't you?"

"No…" Aiko lied.

Danny sighed heavily, playing along. "Howling ghosts they reappear, in mountains that are stacked with fear. But you're a king and I'm a lionheart. A lionheart."

Aiko smiled. "We danced to this at prom."

Danny nodded. "There it is."

"You have a pretty voice," Aiko mumbled. "It's comforting."

"Thank you," Danny replied.

Aiko pulled her head back and got up on her toes to kiss Danny on the cheek. "I really love you."

Danny's hand travel up to her back and hugged her. "You will never know how much I love you. I cannot explain it."

The pair stood together in their embrace for a while.

Aiko was enjoying Danny's calming smell of candles and mountains, as well as his warmth.

Danny's chin rested on Aiko's head. He was enjoying how the two of them standing there hugging felt so good, and how their bodies fit so nicely together.

"Don't let go," Aiko muttered.

Danny's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "Why would I?"

"I know you would never." Aiko smiled.

"Your chi is tired. I think it's time for you to go to bed." Danny smiled. "You need your rest."

"No, you haven't gotten your gift yet."

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"Shut up," Aiko said playfully. "I had to."

Danny sighed. "Alright."

"You two are goals. I mean literally." A voice interrupted.

"Ryu." The couple said at the same time in matching monotones.

"Goals!" Ryu sang.

"Is that the same box that I used for your gift?" Danny asked.

Ryu looked down at the box in her hands.

"No…" Aiko trailed off.

"There is a sitting room not far from here," Danny said. He pulled back from Aiko and held her hand as he led her to the open room.

Ryu easily followed.

Once they arrived, Aiko looked around. It wasn't much of its own room. It was more like a chunk had been taken out of the wall and a room had been built there.

Aiko smiled as Danny lead her to the couch.

Ryu sat on the one across from them.

Aiko took the box from Ryu and held it in her lap. "We only finished because the three of us worked really hard on it. Mama, Ryu and I."

Danny nodded.

Aiko smiled and put it in Danny's lap. "Ok, open it."

Danny smiled as he easily opened the lid of the box.

He read the fabrics before him. "A Wonderful Eighteen Years."

"Pull it out." Aiko prompted.

Danny easily lifted the fabric out. "Wow."

He unfolded it. "Wow."

"Happy Birthday. It's been a wonderful eighteen years." Aiko smiled.

"Aiko…" Danny's voice was a whisper. "How did you manage this?"

"Dad always made us keep journals, remember? 'Clean your slate for when you train, bring no trouble into the temple, leave it outside.' I went through and picked the dates. And Ryu and Mama helped me put it together." Aiko smiled.

Danny had it held up so Aiko couldn't see his face.

Danny sighed and put it down in his lap. "Thank you."

Aiko smiled. "I picked enough memories in eighteen years to fill it. We had more than enough."

Danny wrapped an arm around Aiko. "Thank you so much."

Aiko wrapped her arms around Danny's neck. "I'm glad you like it."

Danny pulled back with a smile. "I love it."

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