Asami's Shadow (Ryoma's POV)

Chapter 30

She was lost in a storm of her own thoughts and I was perplexed. She didn't ask anything further, not about what happened or her parents. Is she afraid?

I wanted to ask, to see where her mind was. Does she remember anything at all?

I left her alone, carefully watching out of the corner of my eye as I remembered her departure.

***
"She's not happy..."

I paused as we were entering the palace. "What happened, Youta?"

He sighed. "So, you know all of us were just gonna go to Yao Lin?" I nodded and noticed my parents watching us. "Well the people of Zhao Ying wanted an audience as well and her parents said they'd go."

I frowned. "Why not go lat-"

He shrugged. "I'm not really worried about that, so much as Keiko has been missing since she was told."

I slowly closed my eyes. "For how long?"

He looked up at the palace. "Uh... five hours?"

I clenched my fists and went to find her. "Ryoma, we are to meet with her parents, I'm sure she's fine."

I shook my head. "She's not, she's missing and no one has been pranked yet. It only gets worse the longer she sits."

My parents exchanged a curious glance. They wouldn't have known, Youta and I got close as kids, but they never came here. They were only here now because I told them about the engagement. They weren't thrilled that they weren't asked about the arrangement. However, when they learned Keiko was the emperor's niece, they got excited.

I went through the gardens and searched through the trees, but she wasn't there. I looked everywhere and stopped when I looked down her corridor. Well... she is mad at her parents right now...

I slowly approached looking at the floor and walls to spot the traps. There were a ton and it took ages to make it to her door. I knocked lightly. "Little Tiger..."

"Go away!"

I smiled. "It's just me. You can't hide in here forever."

"I can!"

I put my hand on the door. "Well... let me hide with you at least. Your traps are still in place."

She slowly opened the door and peeked one amber eye through the crack. "I hate you. How'd you know?"

I chuckled. "Keen eye. Open up before someone sees me."

She pout as she let me in and went to sit in the middle of her bed. "What's wrong, Little Tiger?"

She looked at her hands. "I don't wanna go to the other place. I wanna meet the girl with you guys."

I sighed and sat on the edge. "Did you tell your parents this?" She nodded. "And they said..."

She frowned. "It's me they want to meet. No need to bother my uncle with it."

I stilled. "Did they tell you why?" She shook her head. "Would it make you feel better if I went with you?"

Her frowned deepened. "They said you and Youta must go with Uncle."

I kept myself calm, but I didn't like the sound of it either. Who would want to see Keiko other than to either make her a ward or a proposal. "I'll see what I can find, okay?"

She scoot away when I reached for her. "We shouldn't go..." I arched a brow. "Something bad will happen if we go. I feel it."

I sat back. "Like?"

She shrugged. "I just... I'd rather stay here if I can't meet the girl."

I bit my lip, the last time she said this, we were attacked by bandits. "Does it feel like before?"

She met my gaze. "Worse..."

I eventually convinced her to come out, but she refused to disable her traps. My parents fell in love with her, not that it made a difference to me, but it was nice. Half way through lunch, screams and shouts were heard in the stables. When I looked at Keiko, she innocently bat her eyelashes at me. From there, it seemed pandemonium ensued all over the castle and Youta stormed in, covered in all manner of things.

I couldn't control my laughter as his cousin faced him. "Hmmm... looks and sounds fun out there."

He frowned. "You need to disable what's left."

She raised her eyebrows. "Or what? Gonna make me stay in the castle?"

He sighed. "Keiko..."

She frowned and crossed her arms as she turned away from him. "My answer is no. Leave me be."

He scratched his head. "You know I want you to go with us."

She shrugged. "Tumble and toil in my mess, I'm already being punished so leave me be."

I stood and smoothed her hair. "It's not everyone's fault."

She pursed her lips. "Well the only punishment is to make me stay, so..."

I shook my head and looked at her parents. "She isn't comfortable going. May I ask why she has to?"

They exchanged a glance and her mother flicked her eyes at the girl staring holes into the far wall. "Later, right now... Keiko, this is really unnecessary."

My betrothed didn't speak as my parents looked alarmed. My father frowned. "You did this to the crown prince."

She met his gaze unfazed. "My uncle is fairing no better or anyone outside this room actually."

My mom gasped. "Tha-"

I glared at them. "None of your concern." I thought for a moment. "How about... you disable what hasn't been set off, then we can train with your birthday present, Little Tiger?"

She bit her lip. "Or we can train as they suffer."

I sighed and smoothed her hair again. "No, let's save the helpless then play with sharp objects."

She looked up at me. "It won't end well, Ryoma."

I nodded. "I hear you. Let's do this first." She reluctantly stood and followed me out to get her inventions. The rest of the week was spent trying to keep her contained. She kept telling us that she felt something coming, but the adults didn't listen. Her parents did tell me that the Zhao Ying kingdom wanted to see of Keiko and their prince would get along. They were adamant that they were just putting the matter to rest, Keiko would come home, nothing would change.

When it was time for us to go, Keiko threw a full blown tantrum. It was all I could do to get her to the ground as she screamed and sobbed. If I had known that it would be the last time in a long time I would see her... I never would've let her go. If I had an inkling that she would be stolen from me in more ways than one, I would've fought harder, but I didn't.

I calmed my future wife's fury and sent her with her parents. It would be 2 years before I saw her again, she would have no memory of who she was or me. Another 8 before she stumbled back to me close to death... and all of the rumors in between, all of the false hope, all to face the reality of her world.