Shiroyuki & the Fourteen Dere's

Chapter Eight - Forbidden Love

"Riku!" Shout a familiar voice. He turn just in time to catch the small body of a blond hair girl as she jump at him.

"You're safe! Oh my god! I was worried sick! How could the Council send you to that dangerous place!" Sob her clinging at his neck.

"Mitsue, what are you doing here?" Ask Riku surprise to see the girl. Shion beside him was looking back and forth between him and the girl with a dubious look in her face.

"Oh dear. Mitsue, stop clinging to your brother in public. You're going to make people think that your brother is a lolicon." Said a green hair petite girl chuckling as she approach them.

"Aiko you're here too?" Ask Riku patting the sobbing girl head. "Silly child. Of course I am here for your birthday celebration! How could I your own mother, miss it." Said the girl staring fondly at him.

"M-mother?!" Gasp Shion. "I could believe that she is your sister but your mother?!" Ask her in disbelief.

"I may look like a child but I am already twenty three. Although they call me 'mother', I did not give birth to any of them. They are the childrens of my deceased brothers and I am their legal guardian." Explain Aiko.

"My name is Katsuro Aiko. And this spoil child is Haruki Mitsue." "Oh, urm my name is Shion Kohaku. Nice to meet you." Said Shion.

"I'm guessing that you're the reason why Riku had gone to the Dark Forest." Said Aiko. "I'm sorry." Apologize Shion feeling suddenly guilty. It was a strange feeling but she can't help but to feel flustered under Aiko gaze.

"Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong. It is his duty to escort the Future Queen of Hevn. No matter how dangerous it is. He doesn't have a choice." Smile Aiko. "I am just relief that he had come back unharmed."

"Aiko. Please stop." Groan Riku wishing that she wasn't so protective of him.

"Hmm? Did I say something wrong? Please forgive this old lady for being offensive. Sometimes I tend to say the wrong thing at the wrong time." Said Aiko ignoring Riku pleas.

"Urm, no. It's nothing. Nothing wrong." Told Shion wishing that Aiko would stop.

" I imagine it must be hard living at the Dark Forest on your own. I also imagine that Riku having a hard time just being there. I would never allow anything that could endanger him. He is very very dear to me. But suddenly he was thrown into a such dangerous situation, it makes me very afraid of his safety." Said Aiko.

With a finger, Aiko wipe an un-existing tear at the corner of her eye making Shion flustered even more. She wanted to roll her eyes at Aiko statement but held herself back. There's something endearing about how protective Aiko is with Riku.

"Mitsue, will you do me a favour?" Ask Riku  turning to his sister for help.

"Yes?" Ask Mitsue tilting her head up to look at him. He was taller than her and eventhough she had grown a bit, she is only a twelve year old child.

"Will you take Aiko to rest? I'm sure she is tired from all the worrying. Ask the maid to bring some chamomile tea and make sure she drink to the last drop. It will help her to relax. When its time for dinner, I will come to get both of you." Instruct Riku.

"Okay! We will see you at dinner then. Come on, Aiko and let's get you well rested. Those dark circles aren't going to disappear on their own. And if you keep frowning, wrinkles will start showing up instead." Told Mitsue grabbing Aiko by the arm and literally drag her away. 

But she stop when she got near Shion and gave her a murderous glare.

"You're lucky that my brother comes back safely. I won't hesitate to hunt you down if anything should happen to him. Even if I have to burn the whole forest down to get to you, I will do it." Murmur her.

And to Riku she smile sweetly waving her free hand at him. "Riku, don't forget to come and get us for dinner! Tell Aira to be there too!"

"I'm sorry that you have to endure them. They tend to be very protective of me." Sigh Riku. "Even the Queen? She is your sister too, isn't she?" Ask Shion curious.

"Aira is different. She doesn't show much of her affection to me but it shows in her action." Chuckle Riku.

"Come on. I will show you to your chamber where you will stay until the day of the celebration." Said him.

"What happen after that? After the celebration ends?" Ask Shion.

"I don't know yet. I guess we will see at the end of the celebration." Shrugged him with a grin.

"Too dangerous. This guy is too too dangerous to handle." Mutter Shion under her breath.

"If I was much older, I am sure that I could be a candidate too." Complain Mitsue, crossing her arm in front of her ample chest.

Tonight, the celebration for Riku birthday begin with a private party attend by his family and the candidate for his Future Queen.

Tomorrow, he will announce the girl who will be his Future Queen and Lady Princess.

"Maybe. No one really knows how the Royal Council make their decision regarding the matter." Said Aiko brushing the tangle out of her long hair. 

"I wonder how Aira feel about all this. She had always been in love with Riku. She must be feeling devastated." Said Mitsue.

"Fate is truly unkind to us. The three of us had love Riku so much and so is he. But none of us are right for him and he knows it very well. All we can do is continue to love him and do our best to support him." Told Aiko.

A knock on the door put an end to their conversation. Beaming, Mitsue rush to open the door expecting Riku.

Instead standing in the doorway was her sister, Aira and she had a worried look in her face. "Aira? What's wrong?" Ask Aiko. 

"It's Riku. He had disappear. No one had seen him since last night dinner. The last person to see him was Shizuka but he never show up for their last dance rehearsal." Said Aira pale.

"Aiko, what if something had happen to him? Riku isn't the type to disappear without any word."

"Calm down, Aira. We will find him. But first, we need to tell King Kagya about his disappearance. Maybe he knows where Riku is." Said Aiko taking charge of the situation.

"Now, take me to meet the King."

A/N: Picture above are Aiko and Mitsue