"To answer your question Minato…" Her crimson eyes peek up to catch Minato's attention once again, "You guys won't make a decent couple."
The blonde displayed a disheartened expression on his face, "I think you guys would make a wonderful couple. If you ever doubt your feelings for her, I will personally beat you up myself, got it?!"
From the deadpan expression on her face, he knew she was quite serious about her threat. She would probably plan to follow through with it once she gave birth.
The young man could not help but to wear a smile on his face after hearing her statement, "Then I will not ask you again. I'll take my leave then."
By that time, the twins head over to where she patiently waits for them in her wheelchair, "Did you two enjoy yourselves?"
The twins nod their heads up and down in synch with one another, "When can we go back to Master Canaan?"
Eva stared at her children and recognized a little bit of her and Aikka perfectly blended together to create the two that stood in front of her.
"Mommy, you're zoning out!"
"Oh, I have a lot on my mind lately but you two can go tomorrow. Minato and Natalie will walk you there...together." She mentioned to her twins once she realized that she conjured a plan in her head.
Kiera and Kieran were peering at one another while their mother was off in a daze and giving each other a high five as if they already have their very own plan for the pair.
Small smiles were the only thing evident on their faces as it holds more than what a normal bystander would understand.
0000
Natalie slowly processed, what all her father had just revealed to her, while she was in his office. 'All that time I thought it was only because he wanted to train under my father. It never crossed my mind that their motive would be that!'
She was rubbing the temples of her forehead since she could feel a slight headache from recollecting all memories that consist of her and Minato.
Her stomach begins to angrily growl because she did not properly feed it in the past day or so, 'I can at least stop by the kitchen to grab something to eat.'
On her way to the kitchen she catches a glimpse of Princess Mai, who seems to be on the exact same mission as her.
"Princess Mai!" The raven haired beauty politely exclaims once she recognizes the princess.
The sound of her voice caused the princess to turn her head and was in complete awe that it was Natalie who had called her.
Once the green eyed woman manages to catch up to Princess Mai, she notes that there was a wide smile present on her face, "It's so good to see that you are back! I had asked that Minato fellow where you were when you were gone."
Natalie slightly froze after she heard what the princess just revealed to her, "I am well. I just needed a break from the life of a solider that's all."
Mai nods her head in agreement with what she tells her and comments, "You look well rested. Sometimes resting is the best remedy, at least that is what my mother told me. Are you on your way to get something from the kitchen?"
"Yes, I am. Are you heading there as well?" The raven haired woman automatically assumes.
She was instantly reminded that the girl in front of her would be the light to spark the Krogs invasion of her homeland, Noursaia.
Natalie could judge by her reaction that the kitchen was a last ditch effort so she decides to play along, "It would seem as if our destinations are the same. Would you care to join me for dinner?"
"That would be nice." Mai supplies a response to her question. The duo soon arrived and entered inside of the large dining hall.
0000
Rick decided that a little trip to the dining hall would do him some justice. He had been completely swamped in so much work that he almost forgotten to take care of his own health.
His eyes survey the pile of papers on the side of his desk with his signatures on each and every one of those sheets.
A sigh of relief escapes his mouth as he leans back in his chair while he mentally details, 'Now all that is left is just sending these off…I guess I can use Minato or Natalie to deliver this for me.'
The image of those two brought a small smile to his face when he recalked how the two always sparred with each other at the end of their visits.
'Now that was something that I could look forward to with every visit.'
His stomach growled at him for not being fed properly, 'There's still a lot left to do but at least I got most of it done.'
The raven haired male stands to his feet, pushes the chair from underneath his legs, rounds his desk and makes his way out of his office.
'Maybe there will be something interesting happening in one of the soldiers' report when I come back from dinner.'
The very moment he exited his office he ran in to Minato, who appeared to head in the same direction as he was, "Minato" "Rick".
"I never got around to telling you this but thank you for finding and bringing Natalie back home." Rick sincerely thanks the blonde boy, who currently walks beside him.
"It was the least I could do for such a close friend of mine and my master." He humbly accepts the older man's sincere statement.
He could not help but wear a small smile at that statement, "While we're on Namikaze, he recently sent me a letter that stated the purpose for his return to the castle."
The blonde instantly halts after he listens to the good news, "So does that means he has finished his rounds? It would be good to see Master Namikaze again after three years."
"I agree. We will make sure that he has a nice stay here. Anyway...Natalie was in my office earlier."
"I revealed to her why you and Namikaze visited us as often as you did." The male hints as he eagerly anticipates the facial expression that he would have when he tells him the real reason behind their visits.
The young man wore a look of confusion etched on his face, "I thought that it was for his breaks from traveling and spending some time with an old friend."
"I told Natalie earlier so you can ask her about it once you see her. By the way, are you heading to the kitchen?" Rick finally asks where the young lad destination.
The knight elected to physically answer that question with a nod of his head in a 'yes' manner, "Good, just checking that's all."
0000
The entire castle was ultimately convening in on the dining hall.
However, it was a completely normal routine since it was dinnertime. There were some empty stomachs that needed to be filled.
Natalie occupies her regular seat, which is the third seat to the left of the head of the table. Princess Mai uncomfortably settles in her seat in front of her.
The pair glance up to see that King Aikka ambles his way in the dining hall, "Good afternoon ladies, did you enjoy the nice weather we had in Noursaia today?"
Her green eyes carefully study the princess actions and her response, "My people bragged about the weather every time they would visit Noursaia. Now, I see what they are talking about!"
'Did her voice just go up another octave?' She was presuming after comparing the tone from with her and now towards King Aikka.
"It's not something unusual for us. It usually cycles its way around to the spring months now." He explains to her blantly unaware of the sudden change in her tone.
"I would agree most. It seems as if we're going to have some spring babies. They're just anxiously kicking the crap out of my stomach." The queen's voice suddenly verbalizes among the trio.
Her sights immediately realizes that Princess Mai's sudden burst of enthusiasm was instantly cut short. The princess slouches a little in her chair, which leads the solider to conceive, 'She's really infatuated with King Aikka.'
"Good afternoon Natalie and Princess Mai," Eva politely greets the other two, who sits among her husband at their rather long rectangular shape table.
The pair managed a "good evening" when the raven haired woman noted something was absent, "Where are the twins?"
Bouts of laughter and footsteps were running against the stone material was suddenly capturing the solide's sense of sound, 'Oh there they are...'
"It appears as if Rick and I have come across two lost kids that were running amuck in the castle." Minato's voice can be heard along with the noise of quiet present.
Crimson eyes repeatedly exchange glance between Natalie and Minato. Right then was it clearly displayed to her that the two formed some kind of connection with each other.
"You two, sit." She quickly orders her children in a stern tone as the twins immediately cease their horse play and straightens up.
The king could not help but smile at how his wife managed to keep control over their kids from a wheelchair.
She then clears her throat, which catches the twins' attention again.
"Good afternoon Princess Mai, Natalie, Minato, Sir Rick, Princess Mai, mommy and daddy." The twins robotically greet everyone at the table before they settle in their seats.
"Queen Eva...Prince Kieran and Princess Kiera are well disciplined. Women from my kingdom should take a lesson or two from you." Princess Mai sincerely asserts after she witnesses Eva's no-nonsense discpline toward her twins.
The queen chuckles a little at her statement before she assures, "It's just a thing called tough love. I learned that a lot from growing up."
Everyone else instinctively filed in the empty seats that were available. Rick sits to the left of Princess Mai while Minato claims the seat next to Natalie.
"Dinner will be out momentarily. The chef is putting the finish touches on the dishes." A servant announced after they realized the dining hall was filled with hungry people.
"If that is all, then it's fine." The king says before the servant dismisses themselves back to the confinements of the kitchen.
Crimson eyes scan the room that presently contains her closest friends, family, and diplomatic relations, "I would like to make a announcement."
Those who were present at the table concentration shift towards Queen Eva and her very own husband, who focuses in on her as well.
"As you all know spring is right around the corner, which means it is almost time for the annual Dance of the Flowers Ball."
"In true Noursaian fashion, we would like to extend an open invitation to Princess Mai's kingdom as well as some of the military officials to participate in this ceremonial event." She airs her announcement.
Natalie and Minato's eyes instantly face Rick, who serves as not only the Head of the Royal Guards but the Knights of the Round and the entire military as well.
He was the one to ultimately speak on their behalf. "It would not only be a honor for the Royal Guards and Knights of the Round but for the entire military to take part in the Dance of the Flowers as well."
The pair silently rejoice at the fact that their superior officer graciously accepts the invite, "My kingdom would be honored to attend such a prestigious event as well."
After the pregnant woman earns the go ahead from both sides, the queen speaks up again, "It is within the time span of six weeks from now. That should be enough time to send word to your kingdom correct?"
The princess nods her head in agreement to the plan. By then the servants made their way in the dining hall with plates of hot food.
"Well then since that's settled, let's eat!" Aikka proclaims to the people, who sits in front of him.
0000
Dinner was slowly but surely reaching an conclusion. Those who remained in the room soon dismissed themselves back to their respective rooms.
Natalie was really needing a break from the crowd but was appreciative that they put her running away on the back burner and was focusing on more positive things.
"Hey Natalie, wait up!" She pauses once she overhears someone yells for her to stop.
The raven haired beauty halts in the middle of her stride, peers over her shoulder, and spots a tuff of blonde draws near her.
"I see you haven't lost your speed, even after all this time." He jokes with her, which earns a small smile across her face once he says that.
"...or it could be that you're becoming slower with old age." The woman retorts as it prompts him to flash her, his wide toothy grin.
"You might be right. I'm starting to feel it now." The young man agrees as he points to his chest for extra emphasis.
The captain shakes her head at the older boy's actions, who reveals, "I was just talking to your dad right before we were entering the dining room."
The solider slightly froze up after she listened to what he just told her, 'Could he have told him the real reason why they visited us?'
"He mentioned that my master, Namikaze, you remember him don't you?" The man inqusitively poses to her. His obsidian eyes closely monitor her face as she nods her head in a 'yes' fashion.
"Yeah, how can I not forget that perverted old man with the blazing orange hair who has the fine taste for exquisite wine and sake plus women." The raven haired beauty dramatically proclaims with her arms across her chest.
The blonde felt no ire as to how she particularly described his master because it was her honest personal opinion.
"That's the one!"
"Your father told me that he was finishing up his rounds before coming back and with the timing of Queen Eva's announcement, he will probably be back in time for the Dance of the Flowers."
The green eyed captain silently huffs at the thought while she rolls her eyes.
"If you say so...but Minato," She suddenly pauses.
"Yes, what is it Natalie?" The knight asked surprised that she just stopped in the middle of her statement.
"If there's something that you want to ask me then go ahead. I'm all ears, you know?" Natalie purposely demands of him.
"Rick told me that I should ask you about…."
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Author's Note:
12.10.16 Major editing revision
06.26.17 Major cleaning edits