Tatsuya ordered the seafood ramen when the waitress came. "Yeah, it is nice." He replied. As they waited for their food, Tatsuya began to reminisce the times he brought Himiko here. His smile faded when he remembered that he was going to propose to her just next month. He even thought about doing it here. 'Why did she have to be taken away from me?' He thought sadly.

Dai's stomach growled when he saw the ramen. When he heard Lady Hitomi ask him to join her, he almost jumped up with happiness. He was about to sit down when he saw tears in her eyes. "Lady Hitomi!! What's wrong?!" He asked in a panic.

Himiko looked over at him and realized she was crying. Wiping her tears away she gave a sad smile.
"I'm sorry....It was just something from my past...i think." She admitted to him. Himiko felt bad for putting him through that, but the memory was just so painful. It was like she'd been ripped from her home, no it was like that. Still she couldn't let that ruin his day or anyone else.
"Forgive me." Himiko told him as she started to eat her food. Every so often she'd look over at the ramen and shed another tear, and she couldn't understand why.


Ayame smiled completely ignoring the fact he had a frown. Once their food came by she started to eat with a smile.
"If you like we can go to my place tonight. I'm sure daddy would love to see you." She was just trying to get him there. Once her father brought it up everything would be fine. Eating small bites as she continued to think everything through. The sooner he was hers the better. Just in case Himiko magically showed up.

Dai nodded and turned to sit nxt to her. As he ate his own ramen, he noticed the tears that fell once in a while. He decided that his Majesty should be informed about it soon.

At that moment, Kichiro rushed into the room. "Hitomi! There you are!" He exclaimed. He had finally managed to escape his best friend's wrath. After checking her room, panicking, then checking in on a servant at where they might be, the Emperor found his way to the private room.

Tatsuya blinked and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry Ayame, but not tonight. I have some things to take care of with my own family. We were very close to Himiko's family so we've decided to arrange the burial ceremony for her father." The death of Himiko's father also took a toll on him. It almost felt like losing a family member in his eyes.

Ayame wanted to throw her bowl of ramen at the wall. She couldn't win at all with him, and it was starting to drive her crazy. Still a sweet smile on her face as she practically broke her chopsticks from the anger simmering inside.
"I see, I'm so sorry to hear that."


Himiko was startled by his actions, but glad to see him.
"Yes, I'm having lunch with Dai. Was that wrong of me?" She asked him innocently. Really she hadn't learned their edict so she didn't know any better if this was wrong. But she liked Dai he was nice to her and around if she got lonely.

"Oh no, nothing's wrong with that." Kichiro said as he took a seat across from Hitomi. He also shot a jealous glare at the guard. Dai sweatdropped. He'd try and apologize later to his Emperor...

"Do you like the food Hitomi?" Kichiro asked after he was done glaring Dai to death.

"I'll try and see if I can meet up with you tomorrow. I doubt my parents will make me work so much. They're pretty worried about me." Tatusya replied. He thanked the Heavens for such understanding parents. They knew his love for Himiko and how much it hurt him that he had lost her. But in order to make them, and Himiko, happy, he would try and be as happy as he could.

Himiko noticed the strange look Kichiro was giving Dai. Looking between the two of them she frowned slightly.
"Is something the matter? You two don't look all to happy." She pointed out as she continued to sit beside Dia and almost ignore the Emperor. After all it was Dai she'd been getting to know today, it was only natural she would.

"The food is wonderful, but one can't enjoy it if others are unhappy." She told them both in hopes they would smile and move on from whatever had made them so strange.

"I see." Ayame told him as she finished her noodles and started to work on her broth. She had no idea that Tatusya had been planning to marry Himiko. Nor did she want to know. Ignorance was truly bliss sometimes.
"Well the sooner you come over the better you'll be I'm sure of it." She smiled.

"Oh, we're not unhappy, right Dai?" Kichiro asked with a smile, turning to the guard. Dai quickly smiled, though he was slightly sweating. "Yeah, we're happy!" He turned his smile to Lady Hitomi.

Kichiro was quite jealous of the fact that Dai got to spend the day with her. He had to make up for lost time... "Hitomi, would you like to take a walk with me around the gardens after you're finished with your lunch?" He asked kindly.

Tatsuya smiled at Ayame. She was always looking out for him and he felt so blessed to have met her. "Thank you." He whispered while taking her hand in his, "That means a lot to me."

"No problem....I need to be going." Ayame told him as she got up and pushed her chair. It was getting late and she would get no where tonight with him like this.

"I'll see you around." She smiled as she walked out and headed home. This whole thing was a disaster in her mind.


Himiko smiled as she nodded excitedly. Right now she was just glad to get away from the bowl of noodles that was making her crazy. Himiko was just oblivious to what was going on with the boys, and so she just had to propose it...

"That would be fine, will Dai be joining us?" She smiled.

(I know its small I'm sorry. I'm trying to type it on an ipod.))

(I tried that once, so not fun...)

Kichiro's eyebrow slightly twitched, but he kept a smile on his face. "Sure... no problem." He replied in a calm, even voice. But Dai knew that his Highness didn't want him entruding in his time with Lady Hitomi.

"Thanks for da offer, but I can't go with yous." Dai said as he stood up, "I have ta... Go check in with the guard captain!" Kichiro was going to remind him that he had been promoted, but the guard quickly left before the pair could say anything. The Emperor blinked, realizing the reason why Dai left. 'Thank you!' He mentally thanked before turning back to Hitomi. "Well, I guess it's just the two of us." He announced, beaming with happiness. He almost radiated with it...

Tatsuya quickly paid for the bill and started out of the ramen restaurant. He thought about Ayame for a moment, wondering if he would have time to see her tomorrow. That was pushed out of his mind when he came closer to his home. He had to ready himself emotionally for his parents. Seeing him strong might lighten their burden of the funeral.

(O yeah tell me about it. I'm using my friends computer, and I'll have mine back soon.)

Himiko felt bad knowing he wasn't going with them. He had done such a good job keeping her company and watching over her.
"It's a shame...Dai-san is so nice." She said without thinking. That strange little prefix at the end of the name just seemed normal for her. And she didn't even notice it.
"Have you eaten yet Emperor?"


Ayame got home and sighed. Her father was in the study as always.

"I thought you were having company?" He asked her.
"He was busy, you can talk to him some other time father...I'm going to bed." She said defeated. After saying their good nights she just went up to her room and crawled into bed.

"Yes, he really is." Kichiro replied with a genuine smile. He did like the guard and how he was kind in his own way. He nodded his head when Hitomi asked him if he ate. "I did. It was delicious." He added, "Now then, are you ready for that walk?"

(sorry! Can't think of anything else...)

Himiko smiled and got up waiting for him at the door. There was still something bothering her about the food, but at least it would pass once they were away.

"Whenever you are, but don't you think its a little late to be outside?" She asked him. The dark wasn't something she was fond of right now. Being in a new place it made her uneasy, but at least with someone else she would be okay.

(Its fine its a slow part of the rp lol)

"It may be dark, but its the perfect time to see the gardens." Kichiro stated, "You'll know why when we get there." He held out his arm politely and waited for her to take it with a smile. He didn't want to just drag her out there. That would be just plain rude!

(Lol, it kinda is. We'll kick it up a notch after the garden scene)

Himiko took his arm and followed him to the garden. It was obvious they it would be something amazing since he was the emperor. Already knowing that she really wasn't sure if she'd be excited or not, but it was nice to see something different. Only thing was everything including herself was different to her now.

Himiko didn't make a sound as they walk on, she was to busy thinking about dinner and how it bothered her. Her hand was playing with her necklace again as she thought about it, but she remembered her manners.
"How was your day?" She asked him in hopes to strike up a conversation. They'd been together all this time and she wasn't even talking to him. It was just rude on her part.

(sorry I've been away!)

"Hm, oh it was good." Kichiro replied with a smile and a nod. He didn't want to go into detail because it was anything but good after he had talked to Hitomi that afternoon. His demonic assistant had dragged him to his office and made sure that the Emperor looked through all the important documents. It took forever...

He mentally sighed, but soon perked up when he saw he was getting close to the gardens. When they got to the door, he turned to Hitomi and gave her another smile. "Here we are." He said and opened the door. Behind the door revealed a garden filled with different flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors. It was magnificant; but it looked almost magical under the paper latnerns that hung lazily above the garden. A pagoda stood a bit off from the gardens and was also surrounded by softly glowing lanterns.

Himiko was amazed seeing such a sight. The aroma of the flowers was sweet and overwhelmingly intoxicating. Looking around it was almost unthinkable that such a place could even be made. Moving on past him him she looked through the flowers and listened to the water.

"This is a truly magical place. You're home is amazing Emperor." Himiko told him sweetly as she found herself lost in the garden. It brought about such amazing feelings for her, and it almost made her feel alive. Awakened from the strange daze she'd been in this morning.

(I'm sorry I've been away for so long. I never meant for it to happen. Between my dog and my little sister my laptop was trashed. So it was being fixed, and it still came back broken...::Sigh:: People just can't fix things anymore. Forgive me.))