My Queen - Pekobuki

Chapter 1: The party

TWs/CWs: alcohol mentions

Ibuki Mioda sat up in bed, blinked, coughed, and fell backwards again onto her pillow. She lay in silence for a moment. Then, "Chihiro!" There was a small pitter-patter of footsteps, and then a small face peaked around the bedroom door.

"Yes princess?"

"You don't have to call Ibuki that!" Ibuki giggled, sitting up again.

"Sorry Mioda!" Chihiro smiled.

"You can call Ibuki Ibuki!" Ibuki rolled out of bed. She squeaked as she hit the wooden floor with a thud. "We've known each other long enough!"

"Thank you, I'm honoured," Chihiro ran over to help her up.

"You're Ibuki's friend Chi! Can Ibuki call you Chi?" Ibuki jumped to her feet. She bent down a little to be on eye level with her assistant.

"Oh! Um, sure!" Chihiro bit their lip anxiously.

"Thanks Chi!" Ibuki bounced excitedly, then stopped and thought for a moment. "Ibuki should... get ready. Does mother have anything for Ibuki to do today?"

"No I don't think so," Chihiro opened Ibuki's wardrobe and started to look through outfits. "Oh! She said there's a family coming around for a few days starting tomorrow, she wants you to get to know their son." Chihiro glanced over at the princess who had laid down on her back on the floor. "She really wants you to get married Ibuki."

Ibuki groaned. "But Ibuki doesn't wanna marry anyone, boys are gross! Ibuki doesn't wanna have to kiss one or whatever, that's just uncomfy."

"Hey I used to be a boy! Shush!" Chihiro giggled. Then their face fell. "Sorry, I shouldn't retort."

"Huh? Na! It's ok Chi! Ibuki doesn't mind!" Ibuki grinned. "Fine fine Ibuki'll be nice!" she rolled over onto her front and leaned on her elbows, laughing. "Ibuki still don't wanna get married though..." she mumbled, frowning. "Living with someone you don't love for the rest of life all the time just sounds painful."

"You might love him!" Chihiro turned around and held out their hand, helping the princess to her feet. "Maybe you just haven't met the right prince yet!"

"Ibuki's never liked a boy though, for all eighteen years of Ibuki's life, Ibuki's never loved a boy," Ibuki looked at her feet thoughtfully.

"Um how about you wear a shirt today?" Chihiro quickly changed the subject, offering her a shirt they'd pulled off a shelf.

"Ooo! Yay!" Ibuki's face lit up as she took the shirt and started to get dressed. "Thanks Chi!" But she'd realised something now, and it was hard to stop thinking about. Ibuki's never liked a boy. How is Ibuki ever gonna marry one?

"Ibuki's borrrred," Ibuki muttered to herself. She'd been wandering around the palace grounds for an hour now, bored out of her mind. "There's nothing to do heeeeeerrrrre!" She whined.

"Bored are ya?" Said a voice behind her. She spun around.

"Ohmygod hi!" Ibuki shook her hands in excitement.

"You doing ok?" Kazuichi asked, walking over so he could talk without shouting.

"Ibuki is bored," the princess frowned, crossing her arms. "And you?"

"Eh, tired, heh," the gardener put his hands on his hips. "Nice morning though." He looked up at the sky. "Argh!" He rubbed his eyes. "Stupid fuckin' sun."