A Nagas tale

The perfect gift?

It's been four days since I found that the city was not documented in any of the official books. I left the cave early today since Wellemina was holding a baby shower for her babies and I wanted to help set up the area. I look at my book having only gotten information that seemed irrelevant to what I wanted to know. He kept talking about when my children came I needed to bring them out into the forest so they could acclimate to the forest. He talks about children despite me not being pregnant. I sigh reading through the notes. 'Naga are not born with their own aura they only gain an aura when they have eaten within the forest.' I tilt my head wondering if this was true. 'I have my aura so do Dad and Grandpa, what is he on about?' I tilt my head 'I wonder what your clan did.' I look at Don. "Is Ash telling the truth, Don?" I ask he nods 'Yes, normally we Naga are refused an aura due to our connections to destruction.' he explains. I note that down as I walk out of the forest. 'I wonder what your elders did before you to allow such an anomaly.' He murmurs. I tilt my head curious about something new. "Audrey!" I lift my eyes from my book to Leo and Idris. "Oh! Hey guys! out on an errand?" I ask. They tilt their heads "We are here to get something to throw Kogen an early birthday party." they answer. I freeze "Birthday, party." I ask. They nod "Are you not aware that his birthday is tomorrow?" they ask. I lower my book and pen. "I... It's tomorrow!" I murmur. They look at each other "Oh man is this why Kogen's been in such a bad mood?" They ask each other. I feel my stomach drop 'It's his birthday tomorrow and I planned nothing!?' They sigh "Oh my how cruel his wife is." they sob. "I... I had no Idea! I didn't even... ask." I whisper the end finding the action so selfish. 'That means I missed his birthday last year! and I was all sad remembering my birthdays.' I stuff my book into my bag and grab Idris's shirt. "You guys gotta give me a hand!" I panic. Leo pulls me away from Idris "Alright! Alright! We can help." he chuckles. I feel so mortified 'I have been such a spoiled brat and I didn't even ask for his birthdate!' I follow Leo to a nearby table. "Alright! so this is what you need to know!" he takes a napkin and writes down everything I need to know.  His favorite cake flavor and decor Ideas. I look at the shortlist "W..what should I get him?" I ask. They look at each other. "Go with your gut." they chuckle. I am left standing in the center of town with a new list of items. I spot Missy and Otani shopping around. I quickly rush over to Missy.  "Missy!" I step up to her. "Woah long time no talk Audrey." she giggles. I nod "It's been so long and I feel so bad that we are talking now just cause I've been an idiot!" I ramble. She giggles "What can I help you with?" she asks. I nod "It's Kogens birthday tomorrow and I have nothing planned!" I tell her honestly. Otani chuckles "I see, so you want our help?" He asks. I nod "Please! Kogen hardly expresses like towards any dishes and I don't trust my gut on gifts." I panic. Missy puts her hand on my shoulder "I have a gift Idea!" she offers. "great!" I grin "Serve yourself up in lingerie and give him full control of the night." I sigh realizing I'd asked the sister who likes to play tricks. "Why not make him that beef you did before." Otani offers the idea. I look at him curiously "The beef? you mean the birria?" I ask he nods "He said he liked it and the sides you made." I feel the panic settle slightly. I look up at the skies 'I can buy the items and get everything ready tomorrow while he is at work.' I nod "Alright! I can get that done." I murmur. "And Gifts well, go with your gut." he pats my shoulder. "I gave you a pretty good idea for a gift." Missy chirps before Otani moves her along. "good luck Audrey." he waves me bye. I write down the birria before I start buying the items I need to make it. I quickly pop back home and put away the ingredients and decor. I hid the cake so he wouldn't find it before it was time. I walk back into the village now looking for a gift for him. I walk around unsure of what he would like. I spot a few shirts that would look handsome on him and a few cooking knives. I noticed Kogen had a lot of books and liked to simply be lazy when he didn't have to work. I look at the jewelry in front of me and I remember he likes to wear some on occasions but other than that he hasn't even worn his head jewelry since the wedding. I look at the jewelry curious if he would like some. I turn my eyes away from the shop and head to a different stall. I spot a few very beautiful fountain pens on display. I spot a royal purple pen and ask for it 'This looks like such a cop-out gift.' The lady wraps it for me before handing the box to me. I surprise myself with how little I pay attention when I'm around Kogen. I still have a few minutes before I need to go help Willemina with setting up so I spent it shopping some more. I got a few shirts for him and saw a very cute lingerie inside the clothes shop. I decided against it knowing that wasn't really a gift for him. I wander around the shopping district before I stumble upon a blacksmith. My eyes widen as I look at the swords on the wall. 'A new sword? his looks rather beat up.' I look around for a little bit before the smith speaks up. "are you looking for something miss?" I turn to him and nod "W... well I wanted to get a gift for my husband but, I am not very well educated on swords." I explain. He nods "May I ask who your husband is?" The man asks. "Kogen Zer." His eyes widen "I apologize miss but our swords are not qualified enough for such an important person to use." He shakes his head. I nod tilting my head and sigh knowing this would be a bust. "Alright, thank you for the help." I leave the shop and stand in the middle of the shopping area. 'what do I get him?' I look at the shirts and pens in the bag. 'would this be enough?' I shake my head 'They feel so shallow.' I sigh annoyed with the lack of attention. I walk over to the jewelry store again looking at the chokers they had available. 'he wore one before... does he like these?' "Excuse me are these for men?" I ask. She nods "Yes ma'am are you looking for a gift?" she asks. I nod "Yeah, I don't know which would look better." I murmur. She nods "Well why not try picturing the person with the item?" she asks. I tilt my head and think of Kogen wearing the gold-plated choker with the garnet stone on it. I blush knowing he would pull it off well. I look at the silver choker with topaz 'Oh isn't topaz the November birthstone?' I think of Kogen wearing it and I smile "Yes, this one," I point to the choker "Oh this has a matching hair piece." she shows me the hairpiece. They look like beads for braiding hair made of silver and Topaz. I nod "Alright I'll take those too." The lady smiles "For your husband?" she asks. I blush "Y... yeah it's his birthday tomorrow." I tell her shyly. She giggles "Oh! I hope he likes the gift." She hands me the jewelry wrapped as a gift. I pay her for them and quickly head over to Willeminas house. That night was beautiful all of the women gathered to celebrate the new lives coming to the village. The next morning I woke up alone on the bed. I smell food being cooked. 'he woke up early to beat me to it.' I frown quickly getting up. I walk into the kitchen where he is cooking mindlessly as he does every morning. I walk up to him "Good morning." I greet. He turns his eyes to me. He looks a bit upset "Are you alright?" I ask. He nods "Just drank too much last night." he explains. I sigh "Honey, you should have let me make breakfast." I sigh. He shakes his head "It's alright, you should get ready for the day." he shoves me away from the stove. I sigh and walk out of the kitchen 'I wanted to start making food but, I'll have to do that later.' I do my usual morning list. I walk past the kitchen seeing Kogen is done. I help him carry the plates to the dining room. 'he looks so down.' I frown wondering if I should give him that gift right now. I nod 'I should!' I quickly run to my old room and pull out the choker and beads. I take a deep breath ready for him to dislike the gift. I walk into the dining room as Yyvonne does after her morning bath. "Happy birthday." she quickly jumps over to Kogen giving him a drawing she'd made while at school. He smiles "Thanks Yvonne." he chuckles looking at the drawing. I hide the box behind my back feeling so nervous. I sit next to him and take a deep breath. He turns to me curiously I hold out the box with the set "H... Happy birthday." I bite my tongue. He chuckles taking the box "Hm, is this my gift?" he asks. He takes the box I turn away and nod "I... It's okay if you don't like it." I murmur. He chuckles "Hm do you mind if I open it?" he asks. I shake my head "Go ahead." I look at him worried he would not like it. He removes the wrapping and opens the box. He looks at the jewelry silently and unemotionally. 'Does he not like it!?' I panic. "I... It's n.. not good huh." I reach for the box. He lifts the box "You can't take it back." he holds it up and away from me. "It's such a bad gift! I will get you a new one!" I panic. He chuckles "Who said I didn't like it?" He asks. "D... Do you like it?" I ask curiously he smirks "I do." He answers. "To think you'd be bold enough to give me a choker." He chuckles. "B... Bold?" I ask. He nods "hm normally a man will wear a cloth choker to show he is taken before the wedding." I feel my face heat up with his explanation. "When a woman gifts their husband a choker it's a symbol of possession." I look at the wide toothy grin he gives me. "A way for you to show me off as your husband." He points to the beads. "these are for the wife to wear." He tells me. I blush 'Oh my god! I should have asked!' I would rip the box away from him and put it away but he looks so god damned happy I can't. "S...so you like it?" I ask again. He chuckles "I won't take it off." He kisses my cheek. "Let's eat before we head out." he closed the box and hid it in his shirt before we started eating. I feel so embarrassed I gifted him something like that. 'I thought the beads were to match with his jewelry for him to wear.' I eat a little bit of my food feeling a little nauseous at the smell of the fish broth he used for the soup. I eat everything else but avoid the soup "I will get washed up." I look at Kogen as he walks out of the room. I look at the soup he worked so hard to make this morning. 'ugh suck it up!' I pinch my nose and drink the broth. I stand up and walk outside I gag but hold back the urge to puke 'Come on I worked so hard for my old habit to come back like this.' I tilt my head back and take a deep breath. The urge to puke settles and I go back inside to pick up the dishes. I wash them and let Yyvonne get ready for her classes. Once I was done with the dishes I looked at my notebook. 'should I give Ash a rest? I've been asking so many questions he refuses to answer for me.' I sigh making up my mind. 'Today I am going to spend my time with Kogen!' I nod 'I need to come back by noon so I can get the food going!' I plan and walk to the room to prepare for the day. I change into a long-sleeved shirt and a skirt. "Weird how it's not snowing like crazy right now." I murmur. "It never snows like that in this area." I turn to Kogen as he walks into the room with his towel wrapped around his waist. "Ah! I should give you some room to change." I quickly walk past him. He chuckles "Don't worry, I'm saving you for tonight." He taunts. I blush and walk to the door. "Hold on." I turn to him. He hands me the beads "You can do your hair as you like with these." He smirks. I look at the ground 'Leave it up to me to find the perfect gift that shows how I am.' I giggle and walk out of the room. I sit in my room in front of the vanity brushing my hair out I decide to braid my hair and put the beads along the braid. I look at the beads loving how the silver pops in my hair. "What will you be doing today?" he asks. I turn to him I blush seeing the choker around his neck. 'Oh, this is bad!' I smile trying to hide the rush of anticipation that tickled my stomach. The choker only made his neck stand out more to me. The way his muscles looked and the thickness of it. I turn away from him "I was wondering if I could hang out with you for today." He looks at me with a raised brow "Hm, is this also a gift?" he asks. I tilt my head 'Is my presence a gift?' I shake my head "Well we haven't been spending much time together since we got back from the trip and Ash isn't telling me anything." I murmur. "Hm, I don't mind." he answers I smile getting up and walking over to him. "Then let's go." I grab his arm "I really would have loved you wanting to spend time with me be a gift." he murmurs. I look at him "You think me spending time with you is a good gift?" I ask. He nods "I love spending time with you, why wouldn't I find you sparing time for me a gift?" he asks. I rub my arm "W...well I feel like that sounds too stuck up." I mutter. He chuckles "You can be full of yourself around me." he hugs me. He kisses my cheek "I like knowing you would set what you are doing aside just to spend time." he whispers. I blush "I guess I never thought anyone would like having me around." I giggle nervously. 'get out of my sight! you are such an eyesore!' My mother and siblings would say that if I tried to spend time with them. He licks my cheek snapping me back to him. "Why did you!?" I cover my cheek "You are with me not with the people who make you think like that." He grumbles. I giggle "Right, I am spending time with my loveable husband on his birthday." I kiss his cheek. "We should go to the office before we get too caught up with each other." I taunt. He chuckles "As much as I'd love to have you in my arms I do need to finish working." he sighs disappointingly. I nod "Alright let's go." I tapped his arm so we could get going. He nods "Alright, do you have everything?" he asks. I shake my head "My bag is in the dining room." I let him know. He let me go so I could pick up my bag and quickly follow him. We get to the base where we are greeted by the men who are already training. "Hmm, I'll need to train these guys today." Kogen sounds unhappy about it. I nod "Well, I wouldn't mind watching." I murmur turning towards the office where I knew the books I needed would be. "that would be against the rules." Kogen answers. I nod "Hm I guess it would be embarrassing to have a woman watch the training." I murmur. "Do you mind waiting at the office?" He asks. I look at him "Oh you mean right now! sure I don't mind." I answer giving him a quick peck on the cheek before running towards the office. 

 Kogen watches Audrey retreat to his office without much fuss. The men watched curiously as their leader stood in his place. "Good morning sir!" They greet Kogen catching his attention. "Morning." He answers walking over to the men waiting for instructions. Their eyes fixed on the silver and topaz choker on his neck. "Wow, the madam is bold." some of the men whispered "Good morning sir, is that a gift from Miss Audrey?" Hector asks. Kogen grins but says nothing "We will start the basic training again until you are all familiar with it." He booms. He leads the training while Audrey walks into the office looking for the books. Her eyes spot the books again at the top section of the shelf. She spots a step ladder resting aginst the wall near Kogens desk. She walks over to it and sighs 'He pays so much attention and I struggled so hard to get him a gift.' She scolds herself as she takes the ladder to the section she wants. She pulls out the books and sits on the sofa opening the map of Algaria and then the book with the geographical locations around the world. She spends her time reading through the books 'It's crazy to think that these huts are almost like the ones the Indigenous tribes in Africa make.' She thought to herself as she flipped through the pages. 'Are they still making houses like this? or is this book outdated?' She looks at the huts depicted in the book along with the geological map. She became so engrossed in her studies that time flew by so quickly. She looks up at the clock 'Oh my gosh! It's already twelve!' She gets up and quickly puts the books away and cleans up whatever mess she made while waiting for Kogen. She runs out of the office making sure to close the door behind her. She runs past the training grounds where the men are now sparing. "Honey!!! I have to go! I'll see you back home!" she shouts. Kogen looks up at Audrey and sighs. He nods acknowledging her goodbye. She waves bye before walking back to their home. 'Okay! I have to start making the food and set up the decor.' She starts making a list. She stops by the shopping center to pick up some meat and her eyes catch the clothes shop. 'hm... we didn't get to spend much time together.' She walks into the shop and picks out a very cute lingerie set before going to pick up the meat she needs.