Sayuka wasn't really into shopping as much as Aurora was. Being in the other world and dressing in jeans and short skirts/dresses and here being forced to wear ones to her ankles or lower just didn't appeal to her. Still she knew she had to find something in case her father really forced her to go on this date.
After they finished shopping they returned home and Sayuka went to her father's office and knocked.
"Enter." Tohma said and looked up. "Ah Sayuka did you and Aurora find a nice dress?"
"Yes, father. However I'd like to request to bow out of this date."
Tohma raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and why would you want to do that?"
"Simply put father, I refuse to go on this date! You are wanting me to go on this date but yet you're tying my hands in terms of what I can and can't do, can and can't say. What you want isn't for me to go but for me to be Aurora and try to win Yuri-Heika that way. If you believed that Aurora or someone like her from this world could win his heart you would not have sent me to his world. You wish for me to be Aurora on this date father then I refuse. If you want me to be Aurora then send Aurora instead as I am NOT going to go on this date with the list of rules you will undoubtedly lay out. You wish to be there for my first date with the Maoh fine I will not argue against that. But for me to agree to go I must be allowed to dress and talk how I want. Not having you dictate what I can and can't say."
Tohma blood was boiling, "You insolent little brat! You have been in that other world far too long. You have the nerve to back talk me and…"
Waltorana cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Waltorana I'm sorry I forgot you were there, you should have to listen to this brat's babbling…"
"Not at all. I actually believe she's right."
"What? What do you mean she's right?"
"Tohma if what this girl says is true then I too object. I do adore Aurora, very much so. However if I believed that just any pretty face or high class girl would do then I would not have rushed all the way here learning you had a girl that has knowledge of both worlds and has lived in both worlds. Did you know that after learning of the Maoh dating his protector I had the word spread across town and that men and women of all ages flocked there. Some hoping the Maoh would see them fall instantly for them based on looks and personality and dump his protector for them, while others went there to protest his dating his protector. Naturally he did neither. If I felt that the way to get the Maoh to finally look and see someone new was to throw a beautiful high class well educated young lady at him then I know quite a few lovely ladies just right for the part. However having met the brat and seeing him interact with people and even talking to ladies only to go right back to his protector told me all I needed to know."
"That proves nothing! I'm sure all he needs is a good woman! Most of the women you described were probably a lot older. Aurora, is a little younger than the Maoh granted but I'm sure they'll work out fine."
"Then I have wasted my time in coming here and you wasted yours on this girl."
"Yes I did send Sayuka to that world to be the perfect mate for the Maoh. That was when her guardian had kept her under wraps and kept her on the straight and narrow. Since then her guardian has informed me that since the engagement arrangement that I had set out wasn't going to happen anymore she has started to disobey and stay out all hours of the day and night!"
"What! That's not true! I'll be an adult in the next few weeks so it shouldn't matter! I didn't see the need any longer to have to continue day in day out school. Go to Earth school, no making friends, no socializing, no NOTHING! Go straight home start Shin Makoku school, eat supper, more school work then to bed. Get up early do Earth school homework that couldn't be done the night before barley pass any Earth classes! I got tired and wanted to do something so in junior high and now again in high school I joined a baseball club at school. It does take away from Shin Makoku school time because I come home late and try to do Earth homework and wait till I have time on weekends to Shin Makoku work that no one but Turner knows or cares about! And yes it is true that once the engagement was called off I did start making friends and when not at baseball practice or a game I have started staying late at school or go to a friend's house. But I always come home before supper I haven't despite what he has told you go traipsing off at all hours of the day and night to who knows where!"
'Actually it's not really baseball it's more like softball but there is no way father or anyone else in this world would truly understand the difference if I tried to explain, especially since baseball is virtually unheard of in this world. Turner refused me at first not wanting me to take time away from my dual studies but when I told him Yuri-Heika was playing the same sport and this would be something else to be us closer he quickly agreed to let me join the schools girls softball team.'
"I don't know what this baseball thing you're referring to is, but you shouldn't be doing what ever it is! You should be studying!"
"I don't exactly know what this baseball thing is either, but I have heard it's some strange sport that the Maoh plays on earth." Waltorana said.
Tohma frowned, "I see, still you shouldn't make it top priority. You should have done the little baseball thingy and went straight home. I do admire you were trying to relate to the Maoh with this but it shouldn't have taken away from your studies."
Seeing a losing battle Sayuka sighed and said, "Yes father."
"I'm done here, Tohma when that brat breaks Aurora's heart know that you only have yourself to blame." With that he turned to leave and get someone to fetch Taka.
Sayuka turned and without a word to her fuming father ran after him.
Tohma hit the desk in a rage as Sayuka slams the door. "How dare Waltorana! That brat will fall instantly for my beautiful little Aurora. He'll see, he'll see he was wrong and be forced to admit that I was right. I am so disappointed in Turner. He knew Sayuka was to be a future mate for the Maoh but yet allowed that world to change her too much instead of pulling the reins and molding her into the perfect mate! Oh well I had dreams of powerful children coming out of Sayuka, but my Aurora will at least produce beautiful well mannered children and hopefully some of the Maoh's power will go towards my future grandchildren." He then started laughing.
x-x-x-x-x
Kyohei was listening through the door and had just barley managed to move and not be caught by Waltorana and the Sayuka. He returned in time to hear his father's speech. He shook his head and sighed and walked away, "Poor, Poor deluded father. Although I still don't believe Sayuka could ever hope of gaining Maoh-Heika's attention especially not in any of those ugly ass clothes she brought with her. But to throw her away and believe that he will dump his protector for my little sister, miss prissy, miss perfect. That's just laughable. To think father honestly thinks the Maoh will take one look at Aurora and fall madly in love at first sight. Che, yeah not in this reality, by all the accounts I've heard the whole reason Maoh-Heika gained such an attachment to protector was that he had been to his world at least once. Now father thinks that between Sayuka who has lived in his world and Aurora, that the Maoh would chose Aurora. Well apparently father has gone stupid in his old age. Sayuka may not be perfect like Aurora, but I'm sure she'd be more the Maoh's type from everything I've heard about him. I guess I should stock p on that new thing called chocolate that Aurora has herself addicted to. She'll need it when the Maoh throws her away like yesterdays news. Then again maybe I should double that, after all since the Maoh and his protector are doing it like rabbits every chance they get poor Sayuka may need comforting as well."
x-x-x-x-x
Sayuka ran and caught up to Waltorana in the hall by the front door, "Lord Waltorana, wait."
Waltorana turned and looked at her, "I do not blame you for this."
Sayuka shook her head, "No but sir if you would, please. We both know this will never work out. I have a plan that just might work. But I'll need your help. Even after father learns that Yuri-Heika won't be swayed away from his protector so easily he still would never allow me to be me! I know this after the way Aurora was talking and gushing and going on and on about Yuri-Heika's accomplishments and other things she's heard and read about. Father I don't think when he sent me to that world realized how big of an impact it would have on me and how far I would stray from his image of an 'ideal mate'. After watching Aurora grow up he began training and grooming her he soon realized she was his 'perfect mate' image. Sure he says he brought me back to meet with the Maoh but truth is it wasn't me father was talking to in regards to how to deal with Yuri-Heika. I could tell by the way he was staring he was talking to Aurora. I believe I could have helped Yuri-Heika as much if not more than his protector who had only visited that world for a few short months, years before. Even if we couldn't become engaged or wed it still would have been good for father's business and even this country had he bothered to introduce us! But no he threw me away and said I could do as I pleased. I did try to tell him these things but he told me I knew nothing about politics. So seeing as how nothing I could say would persuade him I returned to the other world. But if you agree to help me I can meet Yuri-Heika. Can I guarantee success and that he'll dump his protector for me? I wish I could but at least when they realize I have knowledge of Yuri-Heika's world it'll at the very least make them sit up and listen!"
Waltorana thought about it. 'She is right there's no way to prove that that bratty Maoh will fall for her after one meeting or even multiple meetings but I've heard from a spy that his protector tried to protect the brat from his feelings by distancing himself thinking the boy would be better off dating other people before even considering himself a candidate. Sure he might have strong feelings possibly even be in love with the brat. But once he sees the kid talking to a pretty girl and learning said pretty girl somehow has knowledge of both worlds my plan of driving a wedge between them might still work.'
"What exactly have you got in mind young lady?"
Sayuka smiled she knew that if things went right she'd soon finally get to talk to the Maoh!
"Well…"
x-x-x-x-x
Meanwhile at Blood Pledge Castle Conrad was helping Yuri get ready to travel and prepare for his date with Aurora. "I don't wanna do this! I don't want to be forced to go out on a date with some girl! Why did Gwendal agree to this without talking or asking me first?! He knows we're dating!"
Conrad sighed, "I understand your feelings Heika. But this girl happens to be Waltorana's goddaughter. I believe this is another way Waltorana plans to seek his revenge by using this girl. As for Gwendal, Tohma von Radford is a very influential person and he fears possible war or retaliation if you were to refuse to meet with her."
Yuri sighed, "It doesn't make it right. I mean what good does it do if I meet and go out with her when in the end I'm only going to break her heart anyway?"
Conrad smiled sadly and said, "You should give her a chance Heika."
Yuri turned and glared before smirking and saying, "Well Sir Weller why don't you find my boyfriend and ask him if I should 'give her a chance'? After all, my boyfriend would never say such a thing."
Conrad sighed, "Yuri I love you, you know that. But it's not fair of you to give up everything for me. You shouldn't throw away a chance with a girl for me, she…"
"No, I know your doing this because of all those stupid death threats coming in recently claiming you'll taint me and all that crap. Not to mention all those people throwing themselves at me." Yuri then grabbed Conrad's collar and kissed him, "I love you! This girl won't change that!" Yuri blushed as he admitted, "I-I think on some level I've been in love with you since we first met."
Conrad was shocked, "Yuri."
"Besides this girl is probably another one of those snobby, stuck up rich girls; she's probably no different than any of the other women I've been forced to endure at parties. They are all throwing their selves at me because I'm the king. Then they start blathering on and on about what all I've accomplished, and blah, blah, blah! I've heard it all before, again and again and again. The only reason she wants anything to do with me at all is because I'm the king, because of who knows what Waltorana has told her about me. If this were a party and she didn't know I was the king she most likely would be ignoring me! So no I will not be giving you up for any snotty rich girl!"
Conrad sighed, yes the sudden death threats aimed at him for daring to touch Yuri and the glares of people that show up wanting Yuri to choose them instead. Then going into town and seeing the same sort of glares, were making him second guess his decision to give in and let Yuri know of his feelings for him. Then agree to start dating him.
x-x-x-x-x
Tohma is anxiously awaiting them with Kyohei, Aurora and his wife Sakari. He just knew when the Maoh laid eyes on Aurora he would fall for her instantly. His wife and son however disagree.
Aurora still couldn't believe Sayuka did it and that her father was allowing her to meet and go out with the Maoh.
Flashback
"You wished to see me father?" Aurora asked.
"Yes, it seems Sayuka has rejected the very idea of meeting Maoh-Heika."
Sakari frowned, "Why would she do that?"
"Sayuka told me she wanted me to take her place because she feared father wouldn't allow her to talk about the other world and she would need to learn to speak to the Maoh is proper terms."
Sakari frowned harder confused, "Tohma, why would she think that? After all the whole reason you sent her to that other world was so that she could better relate to the Maoh. What would make her think you would restrict her like that?"
"Because I was planning to restrict her, she'd start blather about stuff and confusing me when I plan to chaperone. I didn't want to have to listen to her spotting nonsense and alienating the Maoh as well."
"In other words you were intimidated by things you couldn't understand and then realized that you'd much rather your daughter meet and try to catch the attention of the Maoh." Sakari said.
"And what is wrong with that?"
"What's wrong is I told you I didn't want Sayuka to be raised in some strange world. But you insisted. She'll make the perfect mate you said. We'll be connected to the Maoh maybe get to move into the castle now you decide that because the Maoh is dating his protector that he'll instantly fall for Aurora."
"You don't think I'm pretty enough to catch the eye of the Maoh mother?"
"Aurora I love and you're beautiful. But no amount of beauty will win his heart. Maybe you can win him with your personality. But I don't believe even that will be enough."
"Sakari how dare you! How dare you tell our daughter that she's not good enough for the Maoh."
"No, how dare you get her hopes up thinking she has a chance! You and I both have heard that one reason Maoh-Heika was always so dependant and eventually fell in love with his protector, was because of the knowledge he gained from being in Yuri-Heika's world. Without that connection he will always look to his protector."
Aurora slumped, "So your saying that Sayuka would have had a better chance."
Sakari sighed and hugged her daughter. "I'm sorry but yes."
End flashback
'I'll prove you wrong mother! I'll prove to you that father made the right choice and that I will be the one the Maoh will fall in love with!'