A/N: Hey guys! I am finally back. I am here to dump my latest obsession *cough cough*. I am very sorry for being gone for so long I have been busy with my college studies and I got married! Not really, we're still engaged but we have actual rings now (yay :D). So with my return I have added some more social media surrounding my writing and I have decided to focus more on my writing. You can find links to my other social media on my home page. I will also be picking up 'Fire Starters' again and will hopefully finish it. I know how it ends I just need to write it.
So I'm done ranting! Enjoy the new work!
~Story Start~
Yumemi sat awkwardly with a nervous smile next to the tall red-haired king, Munto. The oval table sat in the middle of the open coliseum, the Heavenly Beings sat on one side with the human representatives sitting on the other. Voices flew around, some angry while others were more calm. Yumemi heard many different languages most of them unfamiliar and began to fidget catching Munto's attention immediately.
"Are you okay, Yumemi?" Munto gave her a soft, yet quizzical look making her blush.
"Ah, no! I'm okay, just a little unsure what to do with everyone yelling." Munto gave a knowing smile and a small nod.
"Sometimes, you just have to let them yell and say their piece before joining into the conversation. You want them to know they are being heard and their worries are not taken lightly." She looked up at him with admiration.
"Do you understand what they're saying, even with the differing languages?" He nodded again looking around at the others at the table.
"Mostly, many of them have the same concerns. Our sudden appearance has many on edge, understandably of course." She nodded, looking at a red faced man who was practically snarling at another man. It looked as though the tense situation was getting more tense. "Well then, I think that's enough." Munto slammed his hand on the table with a resounding bang that had everyone jump and spin on him. He stood looking over the gathered crowd and bowed his head ever so slightly. Yumemi, looking up at him with a smile, felt a tug of affection for the tall man.
"I understand all of your concerns well," he said using Yumemi's own native tongue making many of the gathered leaders rely on translators. "I can assure you we mean no harm to you or your people below. We simply wish to live harmoniously with you. Our worlds could no longer exist separately, as our world was dying and yours was at risk of joining in the destruction. We will be willing to host you all once more in the future at a formal summit where we may decide on possible treaties and alliances between our people and yours. I am afraid we will have to end this table meeting now, formal invitations will be sent out by the end of the month. We hope you may stay awhile and become acquainted with our home and culture. Thank you again for coming on such short notice." He ended his speech with a small bow of his head and held his hand out to the young blonde beside him. Immediately whispers broke out as the leaders suddenly noticed the girl who sat beside the king the entire meeting.
"What is this?!" A woman's voice rang out in offense. "Why is there a human girl here? Did you take her?" She screeched in indignation as Yumemi stood with her hand in Munto's. Yumemi sensed the shift in the room almost immediately. She stepped forward in defense.
"Not at all!" Silence save for the whispers of the translators. "I was the one who helped create the bridge. Munto wanted me here to see this gathering for myself and so invited me. I chose to be here." The woman glared at her.
"And you do not see a problem with his intentions towards you? You are clearly a child on the arm of someone so important like a prized trophy!" Yumemi bristled and beside her Munto glared. "Your naivety will get you killed, Girl."
"My name is Hidaka Yumemi not 'girl' and you will call me by my name." The woman was stunned by the sharp tongued teen. "You are clearly misunderstanding the situation as you're obviously not used to interacting with people with manners." Someone off to the side snorted as the woman look about ready to burst with offense. "You are all alive because of Munto and I. We both deserve respect for that at least and your rudeness is swiftly uncalled for. Now if you'll excuse me, I haven't eaten all day." Promptly turning on her heel, Yumemi could hear the woman guffaw trying to form words and a few people hysterically laughing. Munto took her hand again with a triumphant smile on his lips.
"That was well done," Yumemi blushed.
"Not really," she muttered embarrassed. "I shouldn't have lost my temper." Munto shook his head, his smile unmoved.
"You handled it rather elegantly. It could have been much worse and I am quite sure she will not be opening her mouth to spout such nonsense again." Yumemi then realized their hands were still clamped tightly together as Munto continued to escort her to the domed gardens. Blushing she slowly removed her hand. Frowning Munto continued to speak. "May I be honest with you, Yumemi?" He spoke so quietly she almost didn't hear but she nodded in encouragement nonetheless. Taking a deep breathe he paused at the top of the sloping, spiral staircase.
"I do believe she had a point." Yumemi watched him closely, doubts tickling the back of her mind. "I have basically presented you to them as my trophy. And that is not how it should have gone. You should have sat to the side, possibly with your family and definitely with your two friends. They had as much of a hand in helping as you or I, and now I feel poorly for ignoring their existence." She snorted quietly at his confession.
"Munto," his expectant look made her smile. "You and I both know I am no ones trophy and will not be displayed as such. Ichiko and Suzume were invited by me, but they declined as they were nervous and shy at the idea of being questioned by important people. My family on the other hand, I still haven't told them just how much involvement I had in this and I think I want to keep it that way. I don't want my family, of all people to treat me differently. I want my family to stay just the way they are." Munto understood then, why he had so much appreciation for the delicate girl to his side. He held out his hand again and she took it without hesitation.
"You always surprise me, Yumemi." She blushed and dipped her head shyly. "And that," he said delicately lifting her hand and placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. "Is exactly why I adore you so." Yumemi felt her face flush, the heat reaching all the way to the tip of her ears.
"Munto, wha-?" He stood straight before her facing towards the stairs.
"Shall we go now? You haven't eaten all day, remember?" He turned to her, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. She pouted disapprovingly.
"Alright," slowly they descended the steps, Yumemi rattling her brain for the meaning behind his feelings.
A/N: Aaaand I'm gonna leave it there for now. This somehow already got to three pages. I feel the characters are pretty OOC, but I'm trying, guys. Once I get a hold of the manga I can characterize the pair better. I also haven't decided if this is gonna be just a one-shot or a multi chapter story so I'm leaving it open for now. Moving on! Please~! Review, Follow, and Favorite!