Strums and Strolls

Pair of Queens

Momo watched as Jirou played, but soon, the music was tuned out. Momo just looked at Jirou play, the smile dancing across her face and the fire in her eyes. It was then that Momo knew, she was not in love with Jirou's music.

She loved Jirou.

The late night meetings, the gifts and chatter, it all came back to her in a new light. By the time the party was early over, and the guests were beginning to slowly trickle out, she finally made her way and talked to Jirou.

"That was beautiful! There were so many songs I had never heard!" Momo laughed, throwing her arms around Jirou, whose blush soon matched the deep red of Momo's dress. "Everyone was having such a fun time!"

"Thank you for letting me play my music here, and thanks for the money as well!" Jirou laughed, "I wouldn't have been able to play on an empty stomach!"

The conversation exploded, but Jirou could only focus on Momo's eyes, and how excitable she was and how cute she was when she smiled. Sure, Jirou was a hopeless romantic, but this was something else entirely. "You know," Jirou said, "I ain't sure how you do it, but you really do make me laugh more than anyone else."

"I knew it!" A deep voice boomed from beside them – Momo's father appeared suddenly, towering over Jirou. "The unfamiliar face, the unkempt hair, and now the speech! Momo, this Jirou is a commoner, is she not?"

Momo and Jirou froze, but still caught each other's gazes. "Father, I can explain!"

"No need! I know exactly must be done." Momo's father, the crown king of the land, did not look happy, which Jirou knew immediately would be trouble.

"You can't throw her out, I won't let you!" Momo yelled, now standing between Jirou and her father.

"Momo-"

"Do you not remember how you and mother were dancing? How happy you were with the music? When was the last time you smiled like that?"

"Momo listen to me!"

"I won't let you, because I love her, father!" Momo shouted, causing the three of them all to freeze for vastly different reasons.

"You know," Momo's father began, "I was just joking. But I see it's been so long since I had told a joke than I need to work on the humor. I was going to suggest you have her play again soon, but I have a better idea."

With a quick chat with his wife, the king suggested that Jirou, who, previously unknown to Momo, had no home, stay with Momo in the castle, as long as it did not interfere with Momo's studies.

Not an hour later, Jirou and Momo were curled up on Momo's – no, their bed together, Jirou more comfortable than she had ever been under the satin sheets. Sometime in the future, they would rule the halidom as the first ever set of queens, but for now they were still princess and commoner – and that was just fine for them.