What is the Price? (Gwain, PM to join)

[Tsumiko]

The sunny afternoon that had started out with so much promise and bliss had quickly disintegrated into a day of unbridled sadness and anger. Tucked away in the tight corner of an underused alley, the hushed, muffled whimpers of someone crying could be made out. A woman had hidden herself away, unwilling and unwanting to move. The dress that she wore was splattered with green paint. The faint scent of something awful had faded greatly over time, but was still present to those in close proximity and to those with a keen nose. Tsumiko had ran here blindly, just searching for somewhere to be alone. Alone, there was no one to hurt; there was no one to cause grief.

All her life, those she loved most had suffered and it weighed upon her heart in the worst of ways. Even friends and strangers alike were no longer exempt from her curse. Four men were just injured in her name for a crime they didn't even commit. Sure, they were intending to, but they didn't. She wouldn't have let them. And then there was... A knot formed in her throat, resulting in another round of fresh tears. The songstress knew that all he was trying to do was protect her, but her choices led to him hurting others. In her eyes, it wasn't the blonde that hurt the men, but the misfortune that followed her like an unwanted nightmare. She wasn't fit to stroll about in public. They weren't safe.

She tried to ignore the unhappiness that plagued her with smiles and laughs and memories made from good times. That facade was always shattered in one way or another, though. Tsumiko, when she was alone in her little room at the Inn, pondered just what she could possibly do to rectify this awful trait. There were days where she just didn't go out, avoiding interaction with the public. After a while, cabin fever and a need of personal items pushed her outside. That and being a hermit didn't pay the Innkeeper... Other days, she debated ending her misery – permanently. Though for as many times as she thought about it, the songstress was never able to go through with it. She was a coward, in that aspect. Too afraid of pain, she just ended up crying to herself every time. It wasn't like there would be anyone to miss her. Most would just think of how they haven't seen her in a while, if they even chose to thin about her. In a universe filled with people of every type, she was practically alone, albeit by her own choice.

Beyond her cowardice, there was another reason - a promise. A promise to continue smiling no matter the hardships she'd face and to share that smile with the world. It was the last request her mother ever made of her, and one that Tsumiko vowed to live by. It was her happy-go-lucky nature that convinced her mother to hang on as long as she did. But it was that same promise that spread her jinx to the worlds. She wanted to make her mother proud and live the life she said she would, but was it worth it?

Was it worth seeing someone smile just to give them a reason to cry?

Sitting there in the solace of the alley, curled into a tight ball as she hugged her knees, Tsumiko wished to make herself as small as possible. Maybe she would blink from existence. Heh... If that was possible, it would have happened a long time ago. Back when the first event of sadness happened, the one that began to nurture her hole filled heart. As much as she wanted to fill those holes, the fear of causing someone sorrow had walled off her heart from creating new, lasting bonds. Every now and again, she'd dismiss her superstition and try again. But yet again, her interaction with someone had ended in nothing but pain.

She was not fit to love nor was she meant to be loved.

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain, in his usual, laid-back and calm attitude, came onto the Radiant Garden scene with a rather chipper look on his face. The man had grown quite accustomed to the world and felt it reminded about him about his last home. He wondered if Marigold and her Hands felt the same way, but something told him that they did. The sun rays were a very, very positive aspect to the whole town and gave it a very illustrious glow. The man took in the sight and sniffed the afternoon air. He exhaled a deep breath and his smile grew even more. Many of the townspeople who lived there knew him as "That Happy Guy," rather than his actual name. He expected as much though, for all he could ever do was just enjoy each day as it came to him.

"I wonder if Marigold intends to take over this world... I wouldn't mind if it remained the way it was now, but who knows. She's been rather different as of late." Gwain took note of his eldest sister's strange behavior, but quickly shooed it off for the time being. The man wanted to do a lot of exploring today and was extremely hyped on the inside to do so. Gwain stretched out his arms and did his normal routine of getting limber, as he walked the town square. The place where the others found his sister was possibly the farthest he had been so far, as well as the alleyway where he met Ysl'Dae.

The king decided to start in that general area and so, from the town square, he started off towards the more subtle and quiet areas of Radiant Garden. He did his ritual, which included saying good afternoon to most who passed him. Though he was an alien in every sense of the word, people respected his will to just be so casual and nice to everyone. Gwain always grew up with the mindset that if his sister was going to be pegged as the evil, merciless sibling, then he was going to be the one to bear the weight of that stigma and turn it into something positive. All the negativity of those they took over, he went into swiftly turn into something positive. Never once did he ever consult his sisters on helping him do so. Those thoughts ran through his head each and every day. The more they conquered, the more weight on his shoulders. He was a king and a king had to do his job at the cost of his life.

"These people and those worlds beyond... I wonder what it's like for them. Life confined to their own planet, to their own livelihoods. They must not even begin to realize the endless possibilities out there and yet..." Gwain trailed off as he looked up into the afternoon sky, a smile remained on his features. "And yet, they're happy! Humans are such a simple, yet strong species. No wonder Marigold never wants to be on their bad side. They could end things with just sheer willpower alone!" Gwain made a loud note of his thoughts and started off in a hearty laugh. Good thing no one as around to view him as the "Lunatic Guy." The king eventually composed himself and continued onward with his stroll. After walking for a while, a sound of sorrow, whimpers more like it caught his trained ears.

Gwain turned in the direction of where he was hearing it from and started to follow it. The whimpers were muffled, but they were still audible. The smile off of Gwain's face disappeared and he felt a sudden jolt in his chest. What if someone was being attacked and the attacker was trying to silence their victim. His brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed.

"Not on my watch..." The man said to himself and broke out into a sprint. With his speed alone, it didn't take Gwain long to appear at the alleyway. The whimpered sounds came in a lot more clearly and the voice belonged to a girl, obviously. That was when the man saw it. His recent friend, Tsumiko, curled up into a tight ball, paint on her beautiful dress. The young lady was crying and Gwain felt shocked for a split second. The king titled his head at the girl and gently made his way over to her. She more than likely heard him already due to the clanking sound of his metallic boots, but it didn't matter to him. He wasn't trying to surprise her. Should Tsumiko look up to see, she'd be introduced to the strong image that was Gwain.

Gwain towered over her, but he wasn't intimidating. He man held out a strong, yet gentle hand. His muscular figure fit perfectly inside of the sleeveless chest plate that was his armor and the chainmail vest that partially covered his muscular forearms. The man knelt next to Tsumiko with his hand out and his crimson red eyes were soft with concern, not pity. Despite how sad the situation looked to him, he remained with a smile. A smile was always something someone needed to see when they were in a bad place such as this.

"Hey, hope I'm not disturbing. A beautiful girl like you shouldn't have her face stained with tears. Same with your dress." Gwain had a strong, baritone voice, but his words were soft and reassuring.

[Tsumiko]

The metallic sound of footsteps echoed against the stone walls of the alley, getting louder as they neared. She knew that she was most likely already heard, but Tsumiko tensed up and tried to stop her whimpering just long enough for whoever it was to pass by or lose track of her location. Unfortunately for her, the steps got louder, and a shadow passed into her line of sight from the little nook she hid in. Looking up, she gazed upon a familiar face. The red eyes of Gwain looked down at her, concerned playing his expression.

Seeing her current state he came closer, holding out a hand for her to take as he knelt before her. It was a kind gesture that meant no ill-will, but the songstress shrunk away from it. It didn't help that words he spoke emanated that same kindness. She shook her head and looked away from him, somewhere off to the side, as she sucked on her bottom lip – a habit she unintentionally formed to silence herself. It didn't however stop her tears from falling one after another, spurred by how gentle he was being with her.

She didn't deserve that kindness, however. She earned all of her sorrows. Tsumiko hated letting people see her cry for the simple fact that it brought others down in spirits and into her problems. And yet she wanted nothing more than to be comforted, to be told that everything was going to be okay like a small child. But she knew it wouldn't be. The fact that she was seemingly cursed still remained and she didn't want to involve someone like Gwain who had done nothing but show her kindness.

With her eyes still averted, Tsumiko released her now red lip with a light 'pop'. “I-It's not safe f-for you here. It's not safe for a-anyone,” she hiccuped, struggling to form words from her choking throat. “You should g-go. I'm sure there's still mu-much for you to see here,” she turned her eyes to finally look at him, a broken smile making its way to her lips that she struggled to keep up. “I'll b-be okay. I promise. I j-just... needed a moment to m-myself was all. S-Sorry if I caused y-you worry.”

It wasn't the first time she told that lie while smiling. To dismiss the concern of others with a dismissive “I'm okay” so that their mind was at ease had become second nature. It was part of the mask she wore every day. When deep in her heart, all she wanted was someone to tell that it wasn't okay, that it was alright to cry and hurt and to show a little weakness. That would involve making someone feel something negative, however, and that was definitely not allowed.

Tipping her head to the side, she bettered her smile to look more natural as she wiped her tears away, putting in a lot of effort to get them to stop in the first place. “H-Have you been to the entry garden near the main square yet? I think they have the prettiest f-flowers in the whole city. I highly suggest it, though I'm sorry that I won't be able to take you there...” She mingled a misplaced giggle into her words, using her forearm after the majority of her hand was dampened. She had a feeling she couldn't make Gwain forget what he'd seen, but she'd damn well try.

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain tilted his head at Tsumiko's broken display, as she attempted to smile and make everything seem like it was okay. Not everyone knew this, not yet at least, but Gwain dealt with a whole bunch of girls and women in his family. He, besides his dad, was the only male and had to learn the ins and outs of women on an emotional scale. The man didn't lose his smile at all and only blinked at her responses. His hand was withdrawn for now, but he was going to try again once he felt like that the blue-haired maiden was more inclined to be in his company

His eyes never once left Tsumiko's being and he could tell she was in pain, deep pain. This pain rivaled his older sister's pain and he himself knew what that meant all too well. Out of the four, Gwain was the only sibling who knew about his sister's conditions. When compared to the maiden, sure, it wasn't exactly the same thing, but those eyes and actions made it so much more obvious that the young lady in front of him was battling her own demons. The man sat down besides Tsumiko, not too close to make her uncomfortable, but close enough to let her know he was subtly and politely saying "no" to all of her requests.

"You know, you shouldn't make a promise that you can't keep." Gwain said softly with a smile. The king looked towards the wall and thought long and hard about himself. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he just realized that Tsumiko was worried about his well-being. The man joked about the whole situation and lifted up one of his arms. He flexed it fully, showing the muscular structure and a few veins popped out. Gwain showed off that he was well-equipped for any sort of danger at the moment. "I can handle most dangers, don't worry about me. However, if it isn't safe for even me here, what makes you think it'll be safe for you? Not that I'm saying you're weak, but I wouldn't anyone to catch you unawares. I'd feel a lot happier knowing I could keep you safe." He admitted and turned to look the woman in the eyes. His smile still remained.

The man showed an understanding and a higher sense of knowledge. He could tell the young girl was lying, but wouldn't make it obvious that he knew. When they were compared to each other, the alleyway was a little cramped when Gwain sat down, his legs almost reaching the other side of the wall. Sure enough, the man could have easily protected the both of them, if anything happened to them. He wasn't worried. Nonetheless, he continued to listen as Tsumiko continued her attempts to get him to forget about her current situation. The king couldn't do that to her, not even if he wanted to.

"That does sound rather beautiful, it does, but... I'd rather you come with me, Tsumiko. When you are ready, of course. I'll give you all the time you need right now, to let you vent whatever emotions you need to vent, but I think it'll both do us some good to go see the flowers with each other. Don't you think?" Gwain asked with a bigger smile. His own aura radiated positive energies. He wasn't at all disturbed by her crying and wasn't brought down by her mood. Rather, he wanted her to take that time and just cry. Whatever she's feeling, he wanted her to feel and also know that she didn't have to go through it alone and that she had a friend in him.

[Tsumiko]

The red-eyed man sat against the wall beside her, not fooled by her feeble words. The songstress couldn't blame him on that end but wished him away for his own safety. Given enough time, surely something bad was bound to happen. Though something that he said had struck a cord with her.

“Don't make a promise you can't keep.”

Tsumiko had only wished someone told her this years ago before her mother passed. Perhaps then she wouldn't feel such a strong obligation to what felt like her mother's dying wish. She agreed to that request, promising to share her bright light with all the worlds and make them a better place, one smile at a time. In the beginning, it was so easy. The burdens of life flew right over her childish existence. As she grew older, however, that changed. Nothing was as simple as she hoped it would be.

She had been staring at her knees, but when Gwain lifted his arm, flexing it, Tsumiko's silver-blue eyes shifted towards him. His antics momentarily had her forgetting what it was she was sad about. As he continued to speak, that changed. Her eyes drifted back to her knees, brows knitted together as she stared at them. “It's not something that you can ward away with physical might, or even mental might for that matter...”

Turning her head away from the king, Tsumiko rested her cheeks atop her knees as her arms loosely circled them. For the fact that he had only known her for a short amount of time, she found it both odd and comforting that he was so kind. In an abstract way, he seemed to radiate it in a more genuine way than she ever did. Her kindness, while mostly performed naturally, was part of the mask she built for herself. The fact still remained that she was letting someone see behind it at her inner self. And for the second time that day, no less.

Within mere seconds, the tears that she struggled to lock away came bursting forth in floods as Gwain continued with his amicable ways. Her whole body began to tremble and tense up. Her face was now buried into her knees as she bawled. Try as she might, the songstress just couldn't will herself to stop. She was told to vent, but Tsumiko couldn't help but somehow feel guilty.

“I'm sorry. I-I can't... Nothing good will come from knowing me,” her words were hardly coherent between having her face hidden and her consistent hiccuping. She continued to ramble on in a way that was even less understandable.

And that's how she remained for a good long while, sobbing uncontrollably into her knees. The fact that Gwain was watching no longer fazed her. How long this when on was beyond her grasp, only that it happened for what felt like hours. With a final hiccup, Tsumiko tipped her head up, blankly staring at a brick on the far wall. Her eyes were red and puffy, the stinging she felt was akin to a burning sensation. It went without saying that there was a persistent need to sniffle, and a dull pressure upon her temples. And so she sat, too drained to move.

"No one should have to see me like this," Tsumiko mumbled. "For that, I am sorry."

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain sat there for as long as he was needed and kept his smile all throughout. He could tell that a person like Tsumiko always bottled their feelings until it was ultimately too late and broke under the pressure. Doing things like that led to very severe problems later on in a person's life and the man could see it on the young woman's face. The king only took quick glances towards the girl and didn't want to make it awkward by giving her prolonged stares. Rather, he just looked upon the blank wall and remembered himself as a blank canvas from a long time ago. He and Tsumiko shared one thing in common...

The family rose up in name and power, thanks to the efforts of Marigold. Gwain remembered when his older sister returned to the castle, her beaten and bloody frame stumbled in from the secret back entrance. The woman carried two necklaces and those accessories belonged to their parents. Gwain was both shocked and angered by his sister's actions, but saw it clearly on her face that she had been defeated from the entire ordeal. The tears that choked her and the despair that radiated all from her being. He eased up and went to her, consoling his sister and letting her know that things were going to be okay. After that point, Gwain knew that he was going to have to do a lot in terms of supporting his sisters through the inevitable change and to prevent the curse of the Darkson family, from reaching his little sisters.

Cutting back to now, Gwain remembered how easily things became complicated and how much he had changed as a person. He was always laid back, but never had purpose. The king had a purpose now and the title, "The Burdened King," meant something more positive, than negative. Gwain took another look towards Tsumiko and realized it had been a long while now. They were the same in the respect that they both had damaged paths and only wanted what was best for those they cared about in the end. Something like that weighed more than any might. It came from something much more important.

"You try really hard to warn people away from you and try your best to push them away, but... I can tell... I can tell you don't want that, right? I mean, it's just an assumption on my part, but I can tell with each word, hiccup and tear, that you don't want to be alone in all of this. You just want to be happy with others." Gwain stated rather firmly, but he wasn't pushing the observation on the woman. He merely smiled and wondered if what he said was correct, or resonated well with the girl. Regardless, he had something else he wanted to comment on.

She mentioned something about physical or mental might not being the thing that one could solve their problems with. He had a counter to it and smiled softly.

"You're probably right, it's not something you can fight with physical or mental might, but it's something you can fight with a strong heart, as cheesy as that sounds." The king said with a soft chuckle and gently beat his breast. The sound of his gauntlets hitting the metal of the chestplate clanked loudly. Gwain had hoped he didn't bother Tsumiko too much with the noise.

As time went on, the young maiden had eventually calmed down. She let out a final hiccup and started on about how he shouldn't have seen her in that state and even apologized for it. Gwain sighed softly and shook his head. He took a gently hand and softly pet the girl in a comforting way. The man looked over to her and gave her a smile that showed she didn't bother him one bit. He retracted his hand over to his mouth and let out a hardy yawn.

"Listen... We all have our moments of weakness. We can do our best for our friends and families, but in doing so, we forget to do the best for ourselves. Those tears of yours are good. Letting them out and showing that you have such weaknesses only proves that you're human in the end. Don't apologize, Tsumiko, trust me. I don't mind one bit helping out a friend in need." The king said and assured her happily. He wasn't one to be annoyed by helping out others.

[Tsumiko]

The truth of the matter was, the King's initial statement resonated throughout Tsumiko's entirety. This showed in the grip she had on her elbows, which tightened significantly, and the stare that was placed upon the wall. It went from spacey to focused. The truth was that she didn't want to be alone, and yet seemed fated to be so. There was a time that she sought happiness with others, to spread and share it from the bottom of her heart. But years of lonely solitude warped that simple wish. Over time, it merely became a mission to make others happy while foregoing her own needs.

She had broken down one's basic needs to live happily into five categories: survival, power, freedom, love and belonging, and fun. Each of these were necessary, though changed in demand depending on a person and their character. Of these five, Tsumiko felt as though she possessed only two. Survival and fun. She made ends meet, using her talents to do so. Through her mask, she dared to forget her troubles and enjoy whatever task that held her focus. She had no family, and true friendship was beyond her grasp. Sadly, the closest thing she possessed to a home was the room at a local Inn. And on most days, she felt beyond powerless to change destiny. Chained by a fate that held her down.

Fate was a fickle thing.

Tsumiko looked to Gwain from the corner of her eye as he banged against his chest plate. Strength of heart, huh? She shook her head. “How strong can a heart truly be if it is fragile from the start..?” she asked, returning her gaze to the wall ahead of her. Full of holes and empty voids, her heart grew ever more delicate as time wore on. It was only a matter of time before it shattered all together, and no amount of tape or glue would be able to mend it. What would become of her when that time came, she wondered. Would she still still bear her smiling mask? Or would it crack and shatter as well? If having a strong heart was the only way to combat her fate, then was she destined to fail from the start?

The songstress' sight began to shift ever so slightly as her body unconsciously leaned into the gentle touch of what lay atop her head. Looking to her left where Gwain sat, she seen that he had placed his hand there. As she blinked at him, a mild hint of surprise could be noted in her eyes. She was surprised that, despite telling herself to move away, she didn't; that the level of peace she took away from that simple action was so high; that the smile he never once dismissed was so... honest.

Tsumiko's logic came flooding back when the weight on her head was lifted. Did he really just yawn? With a self-depreciating smile, her gaze returned to her knees. Perhaps she was boring him? If that were the case, she couldn't blame him. Who would want to listen to someone cry for as long as she had. But maybe... he was just that relaxed. One could only hope.

He recalled her attention with a soft tone, causing her to look over at him once again. To show weakness... was okay? Though Gwain's overall laid-back and kind nature was comforting as it was, hearing him say that came as a shock to her. He spoke as if he knew exactly how it felt, which made her wonder... Did he too wear a mask? Tsumiko didn't think it all too likely, but the possibility made her curious.

Letting her head drop back onto the stone wall behind her, the songstress looked up toward the blue above. The carefree form of white clouds drifted by in blissful solace, free to float wherever they please. In a way, the red-eyed man beside her seemed much like those clouds. Taking in as deep a breath as her lungs would allow, it was followed shortly after by a slow exhale. “You aren't going to give up until I'm in better spirits, are you?” she said after closing her eyes.

It felt strange, being so open with someone she met only days before when it was practically her life's mission to bury the self she hid deep within. The need to force a smile didn't exist, nor did the need to pick herself up when all she wanted to do was mope. She had allowed Gwain to see a side of her that not many ever had. It was strange, yet comforting.

“Though I do suppose I'm feeling loads better than what I was. So for that, I guess a  thank-you in in order, so...” she shyly rolled her head to the side, toward Gwain. “Thank you. And since you helped me, anytime you need something I'll be happy to oblige. B-But it's a one time offer so think carefully!” Tsumiko quickly turned to the side, leaning on a hand as the other held up a single finger. The look on her face was entirely serious, but the habit embedded into the expression made it come of as somewhat silly. “And it can't be anything funny, either! Actually, I changed by mind,” she leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms under her bust. “Your request has to undergo meticulous consideration and be approved by me. And I won't be held responsible for any misfortune that happens during the time period in which your request takes place.” Giving him a stern side glace, she waited to see what his reaction would be. She was ready to give a smack down and storm off if that's what it came to.

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain was strangely relaxed despite how emotional the entire situation was. Tsumiko reminded Gwain of the Darkson family females. He was only 20, but in those years of living, he was able to meet a lot of them and see how each one acted. They were strong and willing, if not a bit lustful and destructive. However, their best qualities lied in their ability to muscle through their own emotions and forget to take time for themselves. Despite how much they desired conquest, they were mostly people of self-less cause. That's what he saw in Tsumiko. A strong, self-less woman, who often forgets to put herself first in most situations. A small chuckle left his lips.

The king turned his attention back to the woman and realized that even through her tears and sadness, she was still a beauty. Nothing could destroy that image of her in his mind. A small blush streaked across his face and Gwain noticed that he had started to check out the girl a bit. The man's face immediately shot back to the wall and his blush deepened. Gwain told himself that it wasn't his fault and it was because of Tsumiko's attire, that attracted him to her site. The king didn't want to be labeled as a perv, not in this new universe at least.

Tsumiko mentioned something about a fragile heart and could it be strong, if it were weak from the thought. Luckily for that thought, Gwain pulled himself away from the perversions of his mind and went into thinking of an answer to Tsu's question. A snap of his fingers symbolized that he figured it out.

"This is me speaking from experience and from a persona philosophy. A person and their heart, is only as strong as the person's will to keep themselves strong. Yes, this means those who are naturally weak willed, have their hearts naturally broken when under intense duress. But you, Tsumiko, you look like a person who has seen and done a lot. Your heart isn't fragile and just by being with you in this alleyway, I can tell you're strong of will. Whatever you must have done and for however long you've done it, you've grown stronger for it. Even if you had a weak heart before, it has grown stronger now." Gwain stated and turned to face her again. Something about Gwain was that he never wore a mask. His smile remained true when he was happy, but should it have disappeared for any reason, he would show it in a very subtle way. The king was good at hiding his emotions, but only when it was around people he couldn't trust. He decided that he could trust Tsumiko with his emotions.

It was strange how he had just met this girl some time ago, but here they were sharing philosophy and an emotional moment. Gwain actually enjoyed himself. Not only was Tsumiko a kind and beautiful woman, she was also smart and put a lot of thought into her words. The king would lie to himself if he said he didn't feel a sort of attraction to the young woman. She was somebody who he would mind sitting down with and constantly speaking about anything that came across their minds. The primal side of him wondered about her combative skills and how good she was in a fight. His lustful side wanted to know if she were experienced in the ways of carnal desire. She drove him to think about topics that he hadn't touched in a long while.

He laughed softly when she asked him that he wasn't going to leave, until she was happy again. Gwain nodded.

"Nope. Not until I get to see that cute smile of yours again." He admitted. The king didn't just compliment the woman as a form of cheering her up, no. Gwain was genuine with each word he spoke and picked his words carefully, to make sure he wouldn't cause more harm than done. It made the man smile more, knowing that Tsumiko had in fact, become a bit more happier than when he first found her. She was inclined to thank him and he was inclined to deny such a act, telling her that it wasn't necessary to do so. However, before he could do so, Tsumiko mentioned that she could do one favor for him. Just one and he had to think about it meticulously.

Gwain already had a thought in mind and had been thinking about it when the girl first mentioned the flower garden. Tsu was adorable, trying to get him to think carefully and to play it safe. The woman looked rather silly, but that was fine, he liked that. The man gently pet her again as a way of seeing if it would calm her down. He often did this gesture a lot with his younger sisters and they usually gave off a calming response to it. When she concluded with whatever happens to him is his fault, Gwain couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh. The king knew that now or never was a better time to say it.

"I want to go on a date with you, Tsumiko." Gwain said easily and looked into Tsu's eyes, with a charming smile as he did so. "More specifically, I want to go on a date with you, to the flower garden you mentioned earlier. What do you say?" The king asked, his smile remaining. This was a gambit on his part and it could go either way. In spite of what could happen, Gwain felt confident and comfortable enough to ask the young woman out on a date.

[Tsumiko]

A heart was only as strong as its owner willed it to be. Her heart was only as strong it she willed it to be. Reflecting upon herself, Tsumiko could see the truth in his words. While the bad experiences she's had left her feeling empty, there were always a good one every once it a while to reinforce what was left. She was better for it. Given enough time, she always picked herself up a dusted off her sorrows to face another day. Sometimes it felt meaningless, that everything she ever did was hopeless. Even if it was through the smile of a mask, she persevered and continued forth. If that wasn't strength, then what was?

The soft chuckle to her side drew her attention back to the king though she remained as she was with her eyes closed. His words had her puffing her cheeks out in flustered embarrassment. Even if he thought Tsumiko had a 'cute smile' he didn't have to be so blunt about it. So far, the only time she ever heard that line, someone was trying to get in her pants. Those same people usually found themselves in pain and tears as they held themselves.

When Gwain said it, however, it didn't sound so… lewd, for whatever reason. The honest truth was that the songstress had never been in a romantic relationship, though she did have the unsavory habit of “unintentionally” being a tease. Even so, she was proud of the fact that she remained chaste.

As she sat there, looking at Gwain from the corner of her eye, the stern stare she presented him with softened as he pet her once again, melting into a look of curious innocence at his smile. The same as before, Tsumiko was leaning into that hand without much conscious thought. But curiosity gave way to confusion as he burst into laughter, mingled with annoyance at the fact that she was being serious with what she told him. It appeared, however, that he already knew what he wanted to ask of her and did so without a hint of hesitation.

“A d-d-d... A da-date?” the songstress could feel a heat in her cheeks flaring up as she stammered with wide eyes. This guy... He did not mince his words, did he? Practically flying to her feet, Tsumiko waved her hands in front of her, poorly masking just how bashful she was feeling with a sheepish grin. “S-Sorry, but I, uh... I'm... I-I don't...” Her eyes were on everything but the king himself as she looked around for some excuse. It didn't take long for her eyes to wander over the green, paint-covered dress she wore. Pinching the hem, she held it out to make a point. “I don't want to walk around looking like th-this. And the rest of my clothes are... are in the wash!Yeah... So... m-maybe another time..? I-I could take you there, I mean...”

She wasn't outright lying to him, though Tsumiko did bend the truth. This was the last clean outfit she had left, the others either in great need of some TLC or in the same state as the dress she wore. And she didn't really want to walk around in a slightly smelly, paint stained dress. That and, as awful as she felt now that she was capable of more than just mindless ramblings, she wasn't quite expecting Gwain's request to be so... initmate. Through her for a loop, that did.

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain could have sworn that Tsumiko was part cat, with how easily she leaned into his hand and naturally responded to his touch. The response was cute and reminded him a lot of his younger sisters. That was normally a good sign too, telling the king that his comforting wasn't being too invasive and was actually working on the woman. This was all being thought after his request, so he was pretty much proud of the fact that he was cheering Tsumiko up.

However, something really funny occurred. A blue blur flew up and started to frantically wave its arms all over the place. Gwain smirked and felt pretty good that he got that girl back onto her feet again. Gwain stood up and started to stretch out his legs. He let the girl continue with her bashfulness, noting on the grin she wore while trying to look around for an excuse. The king had seen this display before and it usually happened when he came towards women with such a proposal. A good thing for him, was that he didn't do it often. Tsumiko's case was that she didn't want to walk around in a dirty dress and even stated that her own clothes were all too dirty. The man titled his head at her and feigned sadness.

"Oh is that so? Well, I suppose that makes sense after all, I wouldn't want you to be..." He started at first, but then his charming smirk came back. Even Tsumiko would be able to tell that he had a plan to stay persistent as usual. "Wait, I just remembered. My older sister Marigold is still here. She's a fashionholic, always dressing to kill in her own business like way. However, I'm sure she'd have a few outfits that could fit your style, no?" The king winked at her and chuckled softly

The man was indeed persistent and had only been in one real relationship. Due to his past type of business, things didn't end to well with he and his mate. From then on, Gwain did whatever he did with men and women alike, no biases. However, he yearned for a lot more after The 5 Years War. The man wanted so much more than just a casual relationship, he wanted love. Actual love that came from the heart. Gwain looked at Tsumiko and his eyes brightened with a bit of hope. He saw a woman who was both strong of heart, but also of mind and will. She appealed to him on a deeper level than just appearance and he wanted to break the ice with her. Take a chance and hopefully make something of it. That was the reason behind the request and why he was able to say it so easily. At least no one could say he didn't try.

"Well? Want to see what she may have in store for you? If not, I'm always able to take a rain check." He said, not wanting to come off as too strong, just in case he might have already did. Gwain's smirk remained and he crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for her answer.

[Tsumiko]

After standing up, Gwain gave her the sad look of disappointment. It didn't take long for that frown to flip into a smirk. For Tsumiko, a smirk either meant one of two things: a cocky attitude or a mischievous nature. While she couldn't really peg the king as either, it did seem as though he was up to something, cogs turning in that mind of his. The expression seemed to suit him in, well... a charming way. His solution was in offering to lend the songstress some of his older sister's clothes.

In silence, Tsumiko stared at him with a bright red face, blinking in thought. She's only met Marigold once, twice if one included the brief moment in the Traverse Town tragedy. From what she remembered, the woman had quite the taste when it came to clothing. Looking from Gwain, to the ground, up at her dress, to the wall beside her and then finally back at the red-eyed man, she weighed her options. There was no longer a reason to say no. The expression she wore didn't change, though she did take a deep breath and sighed.

“Th-Then I suppose there's nothing to say no to, huh?” she said with a light-hearted giggle.

She didn't do well in hiding her nervous smile. That much she knew all too well. But she couldn't help it. The gentle, confident air that Gwain emanated was so soothing. Though he did well to bring her into better spirits, she was still concerned. Even after telling him that a friendship with her wasn't a very bright idea, he stuck around. It wasn't that she was thankful, the songstress was just worried that the king would only be repaid with sadness. He was either really brave or really stupid, either way he earned some merit in her eyes. He had been warned. That was all she could do for now.

“Lead the way then, good sir,” she tipped her head to the side with eyes closed, a smile playing her lips. Her first date... This wasn't exactly how she always dreamed it would be, but this was the hand fate had dealt her. This was going to be quite the adventure. For better or worse.

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain expected the girl to say no to his request and his offer to lend her some clothes, but was actually quite surprised that she said yes. When she did, his eyes widened just a bit and his smile broadened. The king was quite happy and was more than ready to lead her to the ship. Once she was ready to head off, Gwain waited for her to join him by his side, before he started off from the alleyway. He would admit though, that her nervous smile, despite her deep sigh, was absolutely adorable. There was just something about Tsumiko that made him feel so much more into life. Even though he found her crying profusely, she was still able to maintain her strength and displayed her own knowledge. Not only that, but she showed a side of her that she kept from everyone. Gwain respected the girl immensely.

Their walk wasn't going to take too long and Gwain was feeling exceptionally happy. The fact that a girl said yes to him made the king extremely happy, but suddenly, a wave of nervousness swept over him. He took in a deep breath and felt the blush on his face beginning to intensify. He hadn't been on an actual date in a real long time. One that wasn't fueled with lust or passion, but genuine interest for the other person. The king felt as if he was out of the game, probably out of his mind. His smile disappeared slightly and if Tsumiko were to look up at him, she'd be able to see his own nervous face. That more than likely would have been a relief to the beautiful girl if she were to see him in that state.

Eventually, they'd arrive at the landing area of where the Lancelot touched down. This ship radiated a bit of heat, showing that it had been used recently. Gwain turned to the side to look towards Tsumiko and gave her a soft smile.

"Don't worry about having to address her as Queen Darkson or anything like that. When she sees me with you, she'll be a lot more relaxed than usual." Gwain explained with a smile and started to input a series of complex codes and commands on the ship door. Tsu may have not known this, but Gwain had designed every ship that the Darkson family flies and owns. He knew how they worked and what it took to get them open, which he just displayed. The door would come open and the king being a gentleman, let Tsumiko go into the ship first.

Marigold had her attention turned to the door when she heard the numbers going off. She sat in the command chair, dressed casually in a plain-white t-shirt that showed off her bust, a pair of black jeans and wearing only white socks. Her luscious, snow-white hair was tied into a ponytail. When Tsumiko appeared into the ship, the queen raised an eyebrow. The only person who knew the ship was Gwain and the fact that a girl came in must have meant that her little brother brought a girl with him. Mari remembered the girl too. The queen remembered her name and smiled softly to her. She crossed one leg over the other and chuckled softly. The king came in right behind the songstress and Marigold smiled even brighter towards him.

"Hey, sis! I'm sure you remember Tsumiko, right? You met her when we found you here some time back." He said.

"Of course I do. Someone as beautiful as her isn't easily forgotten." Marigold complimented softly and looked the girl up and down. She noticed the paint splashed on Tsumiko's dress and her expression changed to an appalled one. That was for a split second, however and she quickly looked back up to meet their eyes. Her expression lightened, but she started smiling again. "Which brings me to ask. She's not like the commoners from around here. Tsumiko has grace and beauty... Why is she with you?" Her question was also like an insult being slung to Gwain. It was all good fun with the siblings though, as she let out a soft chuckle.

"Came to get her changed, sis. We're going out on a date and Tsumiko said she couldn't be dirty, so I brought her here. Said that you could lend her some clothes for the day." Gwain explained and softly chuckled in response to her question.

As if on queue, Marigold stood up from her chair and kicked her brother out the ship. She closed the door behind him before he could complain about anything. The queen put it on total lockdown after that. The woman turned to look at Tsu, her yellows eye brightened with excitement.

"Men shouldn't be around when women are changing, am I right? Now then, let's get you out of that filthy dress and get you into a little something... Seductive?" Marigold asked and gently placed her hands onto the shoulders of the girl. The queen's scent was pleasant and smelled lightly of roses. Her hands were soft, gentle, very caring and delicate. The woman gently slid the dress off of Tsumiko and glanced at her body from all angles. The vampire woman circled the songstress and was taking in every detail of the girl's body and then snapped her fingers. "I got it. You're the sexy type. Large bust, gorgeous figure and a face that is to die for. You would look great with something like this, Tsumiko."

Marigold went over to the section of the ship and input a series of codes, which allowed a door to spring open and reveal a sprawling wardrobe. Clothes hung on hangers and were on a rotating belt, that showed the queen's large amount of clothing. Her hands went fast through all of her options and she started to pick out clothes like clockwork for Tsumiko. The queen pulled out a black corset with gorgeous floral patterns, a pair of simple black slacks and a pair of sleeves that were meant to be worn separately from the clothing. Mari was in the zone and was extremely happy with what was going on. She handed Tsu the clothes and while she was ready getting dressed, she wondered about what sort of shoes she could give to the young woman.

"Hm.... Oh, I know... These are perfect." The woman said aloud and brought out a pair of white heel boots. She handed them to the woman and looked all the more excited when she saw the outfit nearly completed on her. "Tsumiko, you are drop dead gorgeous. You are definitely on a higher tier than most women I see nowadays. I thought people like me were a rare breed of beauty, but now I meet you... My brother better not screw this date up, or I'll have him by the balls." She threatened lightly and gave out a small laugh. The queen was more interested in how the songstress was going to look and genuinely felt happy for her brother. Hopefully that was the woman he was looking for. If not, Marigold wouldn't mind taking her for herself.

Mari took the ship out of lockdown and smiled sweetly towards Tsu when she did.

"Whenever you're ready, go out there and knock him dead. Make him work for you, make him fight for you, make him want you. My brother will be like putty in your hands when you work it correctly!" Mari advised and sat back in the command chair. She let out a deep breath, proud of the fact that she was able to dress someone as beautiful in Tsumiko, in an equally beautiful outfit. "Damn, I'm good..."

[Tsumiko]

She never thought she'd see it, but looking over at Gwain the songstress could make out a small blush. It was cute, and had her inwardly smiling. The confident, laid-back man that had asked her on a date without hesitation was showing her a nervous side. He even for a surprised for a moment that she agreed, giving her a wide smile. Tsumiko's first response was to laugh, shielding a smile with her hand. She didn't want to come off as rude, laughing at him. It was his nervousness that had placed her at ease as she joined him in the trek to their destination. Where that was was a bit of a wondrous mystery that she was excited to find out.

Along the way, the songstress opted to make some minor small talk to help take her focus off her nerves. For the most part it worked as she enjoyed the company. It was only when they arrived at the marvel that was the Lancelot that she was at a loss for words. It wasn't the first time that she had seen a Gummi ship, as they were her main transportation between worlds (paying her way do to so, of course, since she had no ship of own), but this one in particular... was well crafted and had a lot of thought put into it. Tsumiko had to give mad props to whoever designed it.

Though the one thing that had her amazed the most was the crazy amount of effort needed to get inside. As Gwain gave her a bit of advice on his elder sister, his hands were working away on a series of complex access codes. She nodded at him, staring in awe. “O-Okay...” Did they really need such a level of security? The songstress was aware that the family had business of sorts, but she supposed in hindsight that she didn't really know all the fine details.

When the door finally opened, she watched Gwain make the chivalrous act of enforcing “ladies first”. With a happy laugh, she presented him with a curtsy before ascending the ramp and stepping inside the ship. Not even three steps in, she froze mid-step. Making eye contact with the woman that sat in the captain's seat, the raised eyebrow made her feel somewhat out of place. Even more so than the look she got, the quiet chuckle Tsumiko confused her. What was so amusing? Was she being laughed at? Gwain's voice from beside her did wonders in calming her racing heart and mind.

Though it couldn't stop the deep blush that was a result of Marigold's blunt compliment. Her eyes, which had been directed at Gwain, slowly cranked towards the woman. The gaze she was being stared down with made her want to hide in embarrassment. It felt almost as if the queen could see into her very soul with that stare. Fidgeting nervously, Tsumiko played with the fabric of her dress within her fingertips. She remembered well the air of authority that Marigold was capable of possessing and exerting. While the atmosphere was by far more relaxed, she couldn't help but wonder if all this was a good idea. And yet, despite the serious tone held within the air, she was being showered with compliments. Though she felt out of place being segregated from the “commoners”. She very much believed herself as one. There were se- Wait. Did Marigold just question her being with her brother? Tsumiko had to bite her lip to suppress the giggle she was tempted to give.

She didn't catch what Gwain had said to get his sister to stand so quickly, but it caused Tsumiko to give her her undivided attention, watching as the king was punted from the ship. She could hear him land with a loud thud, and was unable to see if he was alright due to the ship being placed in lock down. Looking from the door to the queen's lit up eyes, Tsumiko nodded. Standing at such a close distance, her nose picked up on a pleasant scent. Flowers, roses specifically, was a welcomed change from a lingering smell that was a result of the stink bomb that was dropped on her. The damned thing was the reason for her dress's sorry state and the green that was everywhere.

S-Seductive? The thought of her wearing something as such had her blushing madly, wide-eyed. And it didn't help that the songstress was stripped so effortlessly. By reflex, she brought up her arms in a poor attempt to shield her exposed skin, though she still maintained a level of confidence. “Th-thanks..? Ahem!~ Thank you!” She postured up, swallowing her embarrassment now for whatever reason and facing Marigold with one of her trademarked, practiced grins. The mysterious shiver that crept down her spill from a lack of clothes had her thinking that perhaps the mask could be laid to rest for the day.

As things were handed to her one by one, Tsumiko put them on. As the outfit began to assemble itself as the queen's directive, the songstress made an odd realization. It was strangely similar to the outfit she typically wore which consisted of a front-laced corset, pants with detached sleeves and a hood. Only what she put on was by far more elegant, and the fabric was of a higher quality. That, and everything seemed to hug her perfectly in all the right places. Was what she normally wore really considered seductive..? Finishing up with a pair of heeled boots, she thanked Marigold for yet another compliment, smiling at the final product with an odd sense of pride. Though something she said made her somewhat concerned on the inside.

Tsumiko never once thought herself better than others. Her life's goal was to provide support and a source of happiness to the people she met. That wasn't possible if she spent her days towering above them. No, in fact, the songstress considered herself beneath them. She was only a tool for their happiness, a gateway formed from her own misery. Though listening to the woman, Tsumiko blinked at her, making a hefty note to give the date a good review despite what happens. Doing otherwise seemed to not have a good outcome for Gwain.

Knowing that he stood somewhere on the other side of the door Marigold was unlocking, a confusing wave of raging nerves suddenly washed over her. She couldn't ever remember a time where she was so concerned about what someone thought of her. Being concerned about what people thought was a daily struggle, yes, but not to this degree. She was nervous, but excited. A bright, gentle smile made its way to her lips in response to the queen's sweet one. Hearing her advice, Tsumiko couldn't help but laugh at the images that floated into her mind. She could be flirtatious up and down with someone, but the thought didn't sound as amusing. There was time for horse play at a later date.

Prancing up to Marigold after she had sat back down in her chair with a proud grin, Tsumiko gave her a quick embrace, once again immersed in the soothing scent of roses. She hoped that she wasn't being obscenely informal, but the songstress wanted to express her thanks with honestly. “Thank you, Mari-san,” she giggled, standing up straight as she faced her with a dazzling smile. “And while putty is nice to play with, I'd... rather let things unfold naturally. I want to get a feel for things before I start subjecting him to coy notions.”

With a smile that hinted at a devious undertone, Tsumiko turned to exit the Lancelot. Stepping outside, her silver-blue eyes scanned the area in search of the red-eyed man. When she spotted him, she ran to stand before him, hands laced shyly before her. There was an awkward, toothy grin that was slapped upon her face, eyes squeezed shut as she leaned forward. She chuckled at her own antics, unable to keep it up for very long before bursting into laughter. She was so giddy that she was shocking even herself.

“You ready?” she asked, her smile radiating the excited vibes she felt. Answer or no, Tsumiko looped her arm around his and began to pull him away. There was a slight skip to her step as she began leading the way.

Through the streets of the ever beautiful city of Radiant Garden, she made way for the garden that was their destination. Arriving at the main square, she turned away from the castle gates and down a ramp. Through a small tunnel and the antechamber, down a set of stacked stairs, the two finally arrived as the expansive area that was the garden. It was for the most part just open space similar to the square, wherein its edges were lined with flowerbeds. But here, the fountain at its center was elegant in appearance, surrounded by carefully selected blossoms. On the far side, a towering archway served as a metaphorical gateway into the world.

Looking up at Gwain with a broad smile, she giggled at him and released his arm, signaling their arrival. Walking up to the fountain, she crouched down and stroked one of the flowers with a delicate touch, her other arm wrapped around her shins. She began humming unconsciously as she did so. This placed had always seemed to have an affect on her.

---

Long post is loooong. Deal with it and any grammatical errors.

[Gwain Darkson]

Marigold had hugged Tsumiko back lovingly, after the songstress was dressed to kill. The queen felt like Tsu was someone who respected status enough to know her boundaries, but wasn't afraid to push them. It wasn't until the younger woman's comment regarding putty and how she'd eventually subjugate her younger brother to her coy notions, did Mari realize just how much of a real woman she was deep down. The queen's smile broadened and her eyes widened in surprise. She was definitely Darkson material.

"Have fun on your date and keep the outfit! Think of it as the symbol to our new friendship." Marigold said as Tsumiko turned to leave. The woman turned her chair forward and yawned, stretching out her body when doing so. This new universe definitely appealed to her and the people in it even more so. She was looked forward to meeting more and more people as time went on.

Meanwhile, after Gwain was punted from the ship, he stood up and grunted a bit. His sister was always so sudden and hands-on when ejecting him from anything. However, it didn't bother him, because he wasn't ever physically hurt by it. Once he was up on his feet again, he quickly went off to go get changed himself. He realized he couldn't be in his battle gear all the time and needed to show a more "date" worthy sense of attire. These thoughts and actions stemmed mostly from the fact that the king was nervous on both the outside and inside. This wasn't a dream to him and on the other side of his sister ship, was a woman who could drop him dead, with her smile and just a few words.

"Okay, you've been out the dating business for a while, but... Just take deep breaths and go with the flow. Go with the flow." He repeated in his mind and took several deep breaths. Soon enough, his smile returned to his face and the blush on it lessened (this was because he wasn't around her. It's totally coming back). The king used this moment to step over to his own closet space within his ship, the Sleipnir and opened it to reveal his wardrobe. Gwain picked out his clothing carefully and decided on what he was going to wear. The king dressed himself nicely in a plain-white, long-sleeve, button up shirt, with the cuffs on the shirt being not buttoned up and the sleeves rolled up neatly to his forearms. The shirt hugged his body and showed off his defined muscles beneath it, but still looked a bit loose on him. He wore a pair of black slacks and tucked the shirt in them, holding everything down with a simple black belt. After that, he put on a pair of black loafers and made sure that everything was nice and neat on him. The king felt like his outfit was incomplete and knew what he needed most, a vest. Gwain grabbed a thin black vest and flung it on. He had the top two buttons on his shirt buttoned down for comfort and made sure the vest fit nicely.

After his own image preparation, Gwain ended up leaving the Sleipnir feeling exceptionally nervous, but he overcame it. He imagined the thought of how beautiful Tsumiko was going to be and due to that, he felt happy. A girl like her said yes to a man like him. The king smiled a smile that would remind Tsu of when he first met her and when he just recently cheered her up. The man waited a few feet away from the ramp are of the Lancelot and watched as it came down moments later. Out from it, was the silver-blue eyed woman, who looked dazzling. Gwain blushed brightly and gulped nervously, yet his smile didn't disappear, in fact it widened. The songstress was beautiful beyond any words that could be used, yet he couldn't stand there like an idiot and not compliment her. From her own smile and giddy looks, the king wondered if she were just as happy and nervous as him. When she burst into laughter, he couldn't help but join her. Her energy was infectious in a good way and Gwain loved it. He beamed with delight at Tsumiko and offered his arm to her.

"Tsumiko you're just... So gorgeous." The man said to her after their bursts of laughter. Whatever nervous feeling he had was suddenly released when that compliment was spoken. Gwain straightened himself up and when she felt her arm loop around his, he knew that this wasn't a dream at all. "Yes. Shall we?" He asked, but was the one being pulled away by Tsumiko. The king didn't mind at at all and liked the fact that she was woman who took charge when she wanted to. He felt it must have came with her strength.

The man's arm was strong and secure, almost as if Gwain was subconsciously telling Tsu that she was going to be safe with him. His broad smile never left his lips as they walked together. Gwain's nervousness had also left completely when he felt each slight skip taken with a step by the woman. He ended up memorizing the directions and turns they took, so that when it would be time for them to leave, he'd be the one to lead her back. Eventually, hey soon arrived at their destination and the king's eyes widened in shock at how beautiful the place was.

Before Gwain, was a masterwork of gardening and architecture. The man stared at the arch that lied in the distance, the gateway into the kingdom itself. The centerpiece that was the fountain was built beautifully and its elegance was only complimented by the bed of flowers that surrounded it. The space was dedicated to all of the world's inner beauty and served as a very remarkable place. Gwain caught Tsu's eyes when she looked up at him and released his arm. He smiled warmly at her and followed closely behind her when she went over to the fountain. He slowly spun around and took in the sights of everything around him and marveled in its beauty.

"This place is so beautiful, Tsumiko. You were right, it really was a place I needed to visit. I'm so glad I'm visiting it with you." Gwain said softly, as he turned to a complete 360 and looked down at the crouching Tsu. Her humming was sweet and gentle, very melodic and warmed up the king even more on the inside. She was adorable and just like the many flowers in the garden, was a gorgeous flower he'd be willing to protect.

[Tsumiko]

“And I'm happy that you got me out of my slump to join you,” she said from her position, tipping her head to look up at him with a grin. She had thought it earlier when she had seen him, but her nerves had made thinking of any degree somewhat difficult. He was pretty dashing. Where he was showering her with compliments, Tsumiko felt as though she was falling short. The only thing she could come up with was to make some sort of coy remark and get a kick from whatever his reaction. It might have been her lack of actual dating experience. This was a whole new realm for her, and she wasn't all too sure how she should be behaving. She wondered if it was making her come off as awkward.

She spun on a foot at she stood up, facing Gwain when she stopped. She flashed him a toothy smile, but was honestly at a loss for what else they could do. All that was asked of her was to join him to the garden. Now that she had, what more was there? Looking around, she noted that there were a few others present in the garden, admiring the blossoms. She watched them with a vacant smile, trying to formulate some sort of idea from their actions. The light scuffing of feet approaching them, from behind her.

Out of curiosity, Tsumiko turned to see just who it was. She blinked in surprise when her silver-blue orbs landed upon a boy no older than five in appearance. He wore a snazzy little suit appropriate for is age with a head of wavy, honey colored hair and deep blue eyes, which were cast downwards in a shy manner. In the boy's hands, which were jutted out in her direction, was a single flower. The yellow tulip had the songstress cocking an eyebrow with a playful grin. Not too far off behind the lad, a woman stood and watched him with an amused grin.

Bending down to his level, Tsumiko took the flower from him with gentle fingers. “Why thank you, kind sir. But I have to ask... Why you are giving be such a pretty flower?” she asked, bringing it close to her nose as she looked at him.

He fidgeted a bit, turning to look back at the woman the songstress assumed to be his mother. He got an encouraging nod as a response and turned back to face Tsumiko. “I-I wanted... to say thank you...f-for making my owies go away the other day. M-Mommy said that flowers were a nice thing to say thanks...” He eyes shifted all about as he fumbled his words. At one point, he looked to Gwain and his eyes widened for a small moment before diverting his eyes again. “S-So when I saw you, I told my mommy and she said... and she said that that flower was a really good one to give you.”

Inwardly, Tsumiko was frowning. She didn't remember this boy at all, though hid the fact with a warm smile. She never really bothered to remember the faces of those she met unless they left a lasting impression on her. Looking down, Tsumiko had to think for a moment as to why his mother said that one. It couldn't have just been... Ah now she knew. The yellow tulip, while previously believed to represent a form of sadness, was now a symbol of happiness and sunshine. 'A little ray of sunshine' she called them. Perhaps the boy's mother was as versed in the language of flowers as the songstress.

Cupping his cheek with a gentle hand, she giggled at him. “Then thank you for such a lovely gift. I will make sure to take very good care of it,” she said before removing her hand.

The boy almost instantly shot her a happy smile, holding excited fists near his chest. “Really!?” She nodded at him. “Th-Then would you mind singing like you did before?”

Tsumiko blinked at him in surprise. The smile she wore turned seemed to crack ever so slightly, that expectant look he had as he looked at her bored right through her. Could hardly say no to that without some guilty repercussions. Turning to give Gwain and apologetic chuckle, she hoped that he wouldn't mind her little tangent. Facing the boy once again, she pondered what to sing for him. And then it hit her. A simple, melodic song would do just fine.

“You and me together we'll be.
Forever you'll see.
We two can be good company,
You and me.
Yes, together we two -
Together, that's you,” she gently tapped the boy's nose.
“Forever with me,” she pointed towards herself.
“We'll always be good company,
You and me
Yes, together we'll be.”

The songstress stopped for a moment with a dramatic pause. Gracefully spinning to her feet, she positioned herself so that she could look at both the boy and the king. With a gentle, radiating smile, she continued with the last verse. Each word was tender, and Tsumiko did her best to emanate a loving vibe.

“You and me
Together we'll be.
Forever, you'll see.
We'll always be good company,
You and me
Just wait and see.”

The boy was running in place with glee, giggling after he noticed that Tsumiko was done. “Thanks lady! You're the bestest!” Without warning, he flung himself at her legs and hugged her. It caught her but surprise, but she smiled at him and waved him off as he joined his mother to tell her everything she just saw.

Lowering her hand, the songstress let out a soft sigh. She hated to admit it, but dealing with young ones, though was very entertaining and eventful, was sometimes exhausting. Bouncing to face Gwain, she pulled on another smile. “S-Sorry about that. Just couldn't seem to say no,” her tone matched the apologetic face she gave him.

[Gwain Darkson]

One of the things about Tsumiko that Gwain simply adored, was her smile. She looked extremely pretty whenever she shot him a grin, giggled or just smiled in general. A girl like her didn't deserve to have her face plagued with tears and despair. Not wanting to fall behind on all the smiling, Gwain smiled back at her and his blush showed itself. He decided not to hold back with what he was feeling. The king was going to keep his actions classy and tasteful, but his face and eyes would reveal all the emotions he felt and was going to feel. From what the songstress would be able to tell from his eyes and smile, was that he was very happy with all that was happening so far.

Though, despite how much he was happy, the king wondered what else it was that they could do. The man placed a hand on his chin and lessened his smile. He was in thought at this point, but made it look like he was thinking deeply about Tsumiko. That way, he could distract her with an embarrassing use of psychology, since she seemed to be quite the critical thinker. Either way, Gwain decided that he should more than likely treat her to lunch and spoil her with sweets. Thankfully, another distraction came up in the form of a small child.

The man noticed the young boy moments before Tsu did and gently smiled at the boy. For now, Gwain withdrew himself and allowed the two to converse with one another. From the brief retrospection the king heard between the boy and the songstress, Gwain understood that Tsumiko had helped the boy from a past time. He crossed his arms and smiled towards the two of them, watching as the young man gave the songstress a flower. A thought went off in his head and he knew he should do something very similar.

"Darn... There are so many different flowers here. Maybe... Maybe a rose, yes, a rose! Um, red for passion, white for innocence, pink for happiness?" Gwain's mind began to run fast and he was freaking out on the inside. The man only stayed composed on the outside, as to not show that he was over-thinking everything. He didn't want to show that awkward side to Tsumiko. Not yet at least. When she turned towards him with the apologetic chuckle, all he could do was grin back at her and nod. The king was fine with her doing what she had to do.

His inner thoughts became quelled when Tsumiko did her thing. Her heavenly voice began to fill the small area involving the three of them and Gwain could only smile. The king was extremely surprised at how melodic her voice was when she put effort into it. The man grew up with women who could sing, mainly his mother and older sister. They both had extremely beautiful singing voices, but Tsu's voice came in as a very big surprise. She was definitely up there with them, if not on a higher scale than them. He was impressed thoroughly and actively blushed when the woman turned to sing to both he and the boy. When he felt her loving vibe through her song, Gwain knew exactly what sort of flower he wanted to give to her.

After her song was done, The king gave a very appreciative and light clap. He didn't want to disturb the peace with a loud clap, though, he did wish he could show her how much he really enjoyed the tune. When the young boy had gone back to his mother, Tsu apologized for taking the time to sing. Gwain immediately shook his head and smiled warmly to her.

"Don't be, Tsumiko. That was such a wondrous tune... I haven't heard such a heavenly voice in such a long, long time. I guess I should be thanking you too." He said with a smile and brought up his left index finger. Gwain wanted her to wait there for just a moment. The king went over to the bed of red roses and gently picked out the healthiest looking one. He took a quick minute to gulp, before he stood up, turned towards Tsumiko and walked back over to her with a blush and smile. "If you don't mind me repeating the gesture of the young boy, I'd like to give you this beautiful red rose, Tsumiko. I hope you like it." The man said softly and gently handed it to her. He looked into her eyes the entire time and tilted his head, his smile never once leaving. Gwain enjoyed the songstress's presence very much and figured that he would definitely treat her to lunch and however much food she could ever want.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko hardly considered her voice heavenly, but it was encouraging all the same to hear him say as much. As Gwain held a finger up, signaling for her to stay put, she blinked at him with a curious expression. She had the naive idea that if she tipped her head to the side, she'd be better able to see what he was doing. Not that she really needed to see to know. He paused there for a moment, staring at the flowers before him. The songstress wondered if perhaps something was wrong.

It appeared that that wasn't the case, however, as he was soon returning to where she stood. In his hand was a large, red rose. She looked up at him with an obvious blush though took his gift with a bright smile. The red rose, a symbol of deep passion and enduring love. Though it was of the most beautiful, it was also well-known for its thorns. And well.... thorns... She shook her head wildly within her own mind and wondered if perhaps he was aware of it's meaning. The thought of it created an ever deeper shade of red on her cheeks.

“Thank you!” she said with a giggle. It was then that she took note of the light pink color tinting the king's cheeks. It was an adorable expression that she found rather tempting. She looked down at the two flowers in her hands, and a smirk grew in her mind.

Placing the tulip between her lips, she used her now free head to repeat the gesture in which the red-eyes man gave her moments ago, playfully telling him to hold on. Taking the rose into her fingertips, she snapped the stem so that it was only an inch or so long and placed it blossom elegantly into one of her long pigtails. She thought that the red would compliment her outfit nicely. Once more, Tsumiko held up a finger and pranced over to the flowerbed and stuck the stem into the dirt. Bury life where it was born, she supposed.

Clapping her hands together to rid them of the dirt, she returned to Gwain's side with a happy grin. With one hand, she took the yellow flower from her lips, the other reached out for one of his large hands. Raising it up, she stuck the tulip in his hand, coercing him to close his fingers around it. She repeated the process with his other hand. Tsumiko then placed both her hands over top his with a gentle touch. Leaning down, she placed a gentle kiss upon the yellow petals. From this position, she cast her eyes up at Gwain to see his reaction before posturing up.

“I give to you this flower, the symbol of happiness and sunshine, as a token of my gratitude. You have been a shining ray of light on this day. Treat it well, as it was a gift from a friend, and so too shall you rest in my heart as this bloom rests in your hand.” Inside she was laughing hysterically, not sure of how much longer she could keep a straight face. She fared well, however, and finished with an bashful giggle.

Tsumiko told Marigold that she wasn't going to tease him, and she didn't intend to. The opportunity, however, was to great to miss out on and she had to do it. Just once wouldn't harm anything. Right? Slipping her hands off of his, they moved behind her, where she laced them together. Looking him in the eye, she awaited to see his reaction.

“Where to now, good sir Gwain?” she asked with playful charm.

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain grinned happily and nodded when Tsumiko accepted the rose. He was quite glad that everything was working out so smoothly, a thought that made him wonder about something. She was a kind woman, who sang to children and healed the weak, yet she claimed that she was some source of bad luck. How was that possible? He may not have known her past, but he wondered if she dwelt on it and drew that conclusion herself. Another possibility was that she experienced a lot of misfortune recently that caused her to develop such negative thoughts about herself. Yet, it could have been a combination of both.

He didn't have long to ponder the thought. Tsu was being adorable again and she placed the red rose he gave to her in one of her pigtails. The accessory complimented her well and the man felt very happy that she loved her present. The king watched her go back to bury the stem and pegged her to be sentimentalist. He was one too to some degree, so he could connect with her little action. The songstress came back to his side and took the tulips from between her lips. She looked up at him and gently raised one of his hands, so he could hold the flower in the palm of his hands. After that, she closed his hand around the flower and made him do the same with other, before she placed her hands over his. Tsumiko then kissed the petals, her lips gently grazing against his fingers.

"She's... She's too smooth. This can't be the same Tsumiko, could it...?" Gwain asked himself. His face flushed at the gesture and the songstress would be able to see the king take a gulp. The man's breathing hitched slightly, but he caught his composure once more. Only when she giggled, did he let out a nervous chuckle. Gwain's chest rose and fell a little quickly, but he tried his hardest not to let his kingly nature crack. "I'll keep the flower safe with my life, just as I would for you, Tsumiko. I will hold it close to my chest, just like how I hope to hold you close to it one day." The king answered smoothly, accepting the yellow tulip and placing it in the breast pocket of his vest. Two could play the smooth game and that was one game he wasn't rusty on.

"I'm thinking lunch. I'll treat you to all the food and dessert you want, Tsumiko. Point out what you want and it's yours." Gwain said with charm that equaled Tsu's. He offered her his arm and when she took it, he'd be the one to take the lead this time around and walked back slowly with the songstress to the town square. Along the way, he continued to make small talk with the woman. Smiling and blushing faintly the entire time.

[Tsumiko]

The intense blush was beyond adorable. It captivated her complete attention in every way. In fact, the songstress dare say that she was indeed starting to fall for all of his bashful, nervous mannerisms. It's not to say that the confident, kingly traits were to be any less favored, for they all were an important part of the man standing before her. The same one that had responded with a sly remark of her own. Though she was laughing, she could feel her blush returning. When was the last time she felt this carefree? Or her face hurt from a smile she couldn't put away? The last time was... on the beach of Destiny Island with...

Tsumiko felt her smile crack and shook her head violently to hide it and shake it away before responding to Gwain's statement with a mischievous smile. “Aaanything?~” she asked as she leaning closer to him, a finger placed against her chin. She pondered the possibilities as she looped her arm into his. After a short time of walking, talking, and otherwise getting to know each other better, she knew exactly were it was that she wanted to go.

Tsumiko has led him to a cute little cafe, made quite eye-catching by the vibrant colors splashed on its exterior. The owner was a former resident of Disney Town before it... met an unfortunate end. He opened the cafe to bring a little piece of home with him. He was a kind enough gentleman, if not a little whimsical. She wondered just how a dignified man like Gwain would handle a place such as this.

Looking from the cafe up to the king, Tsumiko smiled big and took him by the hand to lead him inside. Opening the door, a small bell jingled and an employee from behind the cafe's counter looked up from her conversation with another customer.

“Welcome!~ Please take a seat anywhere you like and I'll be right with you, nya!~” she said. The woman had a rosy pair of feline-esque ears atop her head that shot up on point as she spoke.

“Kay!~” Tsumiko giggled, taking a seat in a booth at the corner of the establishment. Looking out the large window to her side, there was a sense of excitement that she couldn't shake.

Soon after Gwain had joined her, the employee arrived and handed them a set of short menus. The cafe was known more for its exotic choices rather than a large selection. Without even looking at the menu, Tsumiko already knew what she wanted. She wanted to be respectful towards the king and give him a chance to make his choice.

“My nyame is Kat, I'll be here to get you whatever you need,” she placed a pair of collectible coaster on the tabletop as she introduced herself. It was surprising how some people in the correct circles would pay lots of munny for one of these. “Do we knyow what we'd like to drink, or do we need a moment meore?”

“I'd like...” Tsumiko trailed off, her eyes shifting towards Gwain who sat across the table. Turning back to the woman, she waved her closer. Confused but intrigued, she employee leaned closer and let the songstress whisper into her ear.

Kat blinked, but soon smiled with delight. “Sounds purrrfect!~ I'll be right back, then.”

As the woman walked away, Tsumiko looked at the king with an oblivious smile of sorts, playing dumb to whatever question he might present her with. She might not have experience in the dating biz, but she at least had a few things she's always wanted to try in the event that she ever ended up on a date. Which she did. So now she'd try them. With that guy. Over there.

[Gwain Darkson]

The king enjoyed how upbeat and mischievous the girl was. She was really something and often reminded him of a toned down version of his sisters. A random thought occurred to him, which made his face flush briefly. The man wondered, that with how things were going he would want to invite her on a second date. Should that second date go well, there'd maybe even be a third one. After the third one, Gwain would want to be official with the woman. His thoughts ran so fast with images of them holding hands, cuddling with one another and eventually, the image of them kissing, that his body quaked just a bit from the thought. Gwain's eyes widened suddenly and he let out a nervous chuckle.

"Y-Yeah, anything you'd like. Your wish is my c-command!" The man found it really hard to speak, but his body stopped with the quaking. Instead, he focused on the here and now with Tsumiko, extremely happy to be sharing in the small talk they had. During which, they eventually came to their destination. A cafe with a rather interesting and eye-catching design was in the town. The vibrant colors were definitely different and it made Gwain chuckle softly. He liked the place. "This place looks pretty cool. Wonder what sort of food they have."

Gwain hadn't noticed that the leads hand changed, but the one thing he noticed was that Tsumiko was quick to grab the man's hand and bring him into the cafe. The act was sudden, but the king laughed and was led inside. The waitress on the other side of the counter was a neko-girl, a strong hint that gave it away was her ears that perked up when they entered. Gwain followed Tsu to the corner booth and noticed that they still held hands. He gently released hers out of fear that he could have been overstaying his hands welcome. The king blushed once more and sat across from the woman.

When the menus were brought to them, Gwain picked his up and started to scroll through them. Didn't take the man any more than a few moments, before he put down the menus and knew immediately what he wanted. A large grin was on his face and he turned to face the waitress when he was asked if there was anything he wanted to drink. Before he ordered, he watched as Tsumiko whispered her order into the cat-girl's ear. The king raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly. He was going to poke the question at her later. But before that, he wanted a drink.

"Can I get a large mint green tea?" He ordered and watched as the waitress left. When she had disappeared form view, the king quickly turned his head and looked into Tsu's silver-blue eyes. His own crimson-red eyes already asked the question before he did, but he wanted to ask just for good measure. "The way how you ordered and that smile are all traces of a devious little plan. What did you do, Tsumiko?" He asked with a laughter and leaned forward.

Gwain tilted his head and looked into the young lady's eyes. A charming smile formed on his face, as he became very relaxed in the cafe and was still feeling the excitement from being with Tsumiko. His blush receded and Gwain felt at ease. The day was turning out very well and he was feeling particularly more charming than usual.

"You know, your eyes are very beautiful. Very serene and gorgeous, much like the rest of you. I have to say... I'm at a loss for words. Never once have I had the company of someone so intelligent and beautiful like yourself. I consider myself a very lucky man to even be on this date with you." Gwain threw compliment, after compliment at the young woman, unaware that he could have been making her uncomfortable. Nonetheless, he spoke what was on his mind and the genuine truth. His observations of her were nothing less of the truth.

[Tsumiko]

At his question, Tsumiko responded with an innocent smile and small shrug of the shoulders. She hadn't realized she done it, but both her hands were placed in the warmth between her thighs, unintentionally accentuating her womanly features. She was so focused on trying to keep her nerves at a manageable level and not letting Gwain think she was a basket case that she was loosing track of what her body was doing.

As a pair of red eyes looked into hers, Tsumiko could feel a gentle blush creep on her cheeks. It exploded in magnitude as he began complimenting her. It wasn't that it made her uncomfortable, the songstress just unsure how to respond. It left her feeling elated and bubbly, tying her stomach in giddy knots. She wanted to return the gesture, so that he might be able to relate, but found herself unable to think of an appropriate compliment for a gentleman such as Gwain.

For as hard as she was trying to stay focused, her attention was easily split by the sound of loud whispering off to her side. Tsumiko, without turning her head, flashed her eyes in the voice's direction to see the rosy-eared woman leaning on the counter, waving her over. Her eyes shooting back towards the King, she blurted, “AND YOU HAVE PRETTY HAIR!~” before making a speedy retreat over to the counter.

There was no doubt in her mind that she just made a fool of herself. Her embarrassment was written plain as day upon her face. She could her the neko chuckle at her misery and the songstress looked up at her. “Sorry to pull you aside when things seem to be getting interesting,” she started with a suggestive smirk, keeping her voice low. The action only seemed to intensify the tomato red face she sported. “But I'm afraid our machine seems to be having problems. Which is strange considering I just made that guy one more even ten minutes ago, nya.” She thumbed a man sitting at the far end of the counter. “I'm going to see if someone in the back can fix it, but in the mean time, is there something else I can get for you?” With a disappointed sigh, Tsumiko looked to the side in thought, unsure now. The woman hummed in thought for a moment before snapping her fingers. “Don't worry, miss. I have the purrrfect thing to... sweeten the deal. I'll be back in a jiffy, nya!~”

The songstress turned confused silver-blue eyes to the woman as she disappeared behind the swinging door leading into the back of the restaurant. She stood there awkwardly, not sure if she should be waiting or if she should return to the table. Looking over at her shoulder, she looked in his direction, still quite baffled by her ungraceful conversational skills. She wondered why it was so difficult to keep herself composed, something easily done with any other person granted her so-called mask was on. Her well-guarded heart was quaking with an unknown resonance. It was foreign. It was bubbly. It was similar to attraction, which she's felt before, only stronger, more potent. A potent attraction... Could this be what lo-

“I found it, nya!~” Tsumiko jumped at the sudden slamming of the back door as the neko-girl kicked it down. Held in her hands, high above her head was a small star-shaped fruit. “It took me a sec, but I remembered that we had gotten a special item from off world, nya!~ It's going to be used in a new dish that hasn't been finalized yet, so this is my special treat as an apology for spoiling your sweet little plan. Take it and I'll be over to take the rest of your order.”

Tsumiko tensed up at how loudly the woman was talking, voicing in a vague manner what she was trying to achieve. Though looking at what was in her hand, the songstress glowed a fresh shade of red. She wasn't given much of a choice when it came to taking it due to the pushy nature of the employee, and so took it and slowly shuffled back to the table. Even as she sat down, her eyes never left the fruit. Her think-pan was sizzling from intense concentration, burning up as it debated on what to do and how to handle it.

[Gwain Darkson]

Gwain's eyes wandered just a bit, when he saw that Tsumiko began to accentuate her womanly features. He didn't mean to look, but his baser instincts took over for just a moment, not to mention his vampiric nature beckoned to him when he looked at her soft skin. She was such a well-endowed woman, with qualities beyond physical appearance that Gwin appreciated greatly. The thoughts in his head seemed cliche, but he knew they were true. She was perfect. Regardless of how the rest of the day turned out, the king couldn't get out of his mind that the songstress was a perfect woman in his eyes. His heart rate started to rise and his blush grew a little bit more due to nervousness. This was after his series of compliments, as he saw her flush from it all.

A small chuckle came from his lips, as he felt like he hadn't lost his charming touch. The king was thankful for that, because he didn't want to come off as dry or boring to Tsu. He even felt it extremely adorable when the songstress blurted out that he had pretty hair. Gwain felt like the might have paid back Tsumiko after her little flower tease from earlier. A confident smile appeared on his lips and he glanced over her his shoulder, as he watched her run off. The man sat back in his booth and let out a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"How can there be such a woman like her? I'm not dreaming either, but if I am... I don't ever want to wake up. A dream with her would be better than a reality without her. Wait... Am I falling in lo-?" Gwain wasn't able to finish his sentence, as Tsu came back. Her face was painted with red and she held a star-shaped thing in her hands. The king raised an eyebrow at it and started to look at it from different angles, trying too figure out if it were some fruit or pastry. It looked good though. After checking out the star-shaped object, the man turned his gaze up to the woman's reddened face and stared into her silver-blue eyes, that scanned over the fruit. "That's a cute looking... Fruit? What is it, did the waitress give that to you?" He asked curiously, hoping to snap the young woman out of her entrancement by the fruit.

[Tsumiko]

She could see Gwain leaning from one side to the other, trying to piece together what it was that she held in her hand. There was a small part of her hoping that he already knew what the fruit was to avoid having to describe its symbolic meaning, but his reaction told her otherwise. As he spoke, she didn't move an inch, merely cast her eyes upwards to look into him. Taking one deep, deep breath, Tsumiko breathed out and leaned back against the back of the booth.

“Have you... ever heard about the legend of the Paopu fruit?” she'd ask, her hands folded neatly in her lap after having placed the star on the table. Looking at him, she was doing her best to calm down and not be a space case. Waiting until the king gave her his answer, she wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. It was something more of a superstition and not everyone has heard of it. Tsumiko, being that she traveled quite frequently, heard of the story from an elderly man and his wife. “W-Well... The story goes that if two people ever share a Paopu fruit, their destinies become woven together. They'll always remain a part of each others' lives, no matter what. Bu-But that's just a myth... I think...”

Not so sure of herself anymore, Tsumiko cast her eyes off to the side and out the window. The sunny afternoon sky was now dotted with gray clouds, making her wonder if it was supposed to rain. She really hoped not. As she stared out, she wondered if she really could move on with her life and forgive herself for the lies and pain she'd given others. Questions raced through her mind like a rocket. Was she really worthy of the blessing that was love? What if her curse affect Gwain, too, and caused him hurt? Could she live with herself at that point..? Probably not. But she wanted to know. She wanted to know what a happy life was really like. A pair of shy silver-blue eyes drifted back to the man sitting across from them. There wasn't a single thing wrong with him. He was confident, considerate, charming, and was quite the looker. Though even with all the wonderful things, she was still somewhat afraid. Of what, though? A self-proclaimed curse? Or of commitment?

Taking another calming breath, looked upon him was a bright smile. Her uncertainty, her nerves, all of it had washed away. She wanted to give it a shot. He already said that he'd take responsibility for any misfortune, so what was there for her to worried about. “It wasn't what I initially wanted, but it'll do just as nice, if not better. Gwain,” she said his name with a gentle earnestness. “Would you like to share this Paopu with me and intertwine our destinies?”

Not even a moment later, the neko-woman returned with a small tray, looking at the couple with a grin she hid poorly. “Here we go, nya!~ A large mint tea for you! Aaand I took the liberty of picking something for you!” As she spoke, she placed a large red tea cup and saucer in front of the king and a tall yellow cup filled to the brim with chocolate milk for the songstress. The sight had Tsumiko blushing with wide eyes. It was surprising that the woman chose something she she herself would pick, but felt somewhat childish in the fact that it was indeed chocolate milk. She even got one of those crazy straws to go with it! She chuckled at Tsumiko's reaction but otherwise ignored it. “Nyow. Do we know what we'd like to order or do we nyeed more time?”

[Gwain Darkson]

"Can't say I have. I'm a foreigner around these parts, so any legends would be beyond me." He said with a light chuckle and waited for her to explain. When Tsumiko began to explain the legend of the Paopu Fruit, Gwain's face began to turn pink just a bit. The songstress had just dropped a big hint, or something that was a big hint. He had hoped he wasn't over thinking it, but kept his mouth shut and just listened to Tsu explain. "I-I see... That's an interesting legend right there, not to mention a rather romantic one. Talk about coincidence, right?"

Gwin laughed softly and hinted at the coincidence that on their first date, she suddenly came back with a fruit that could intertwine their destinies forever. Once more, images raced through the king's mind and he was introduced to an even brighter future. The man saw himself and Tsumiko, back on his home planet. They stood in the family's flower garden and the songstress was dressed in a gorgeous, flowing mermaid dress, with a veil over her face. The king stood nervously at the altar, his younger sister Celia the priestess. The woman joined him after walking upon a velvet carpet and gently took her hands into his. The two put on the rings, exchanged their vows, then leaned in for a slow, gentle kiss that bound them forever.

These images caused Gwain to suddenly flush a deep color of red. He sweated only slightly and couldn't believe that his mind stretched so far into such a dream. His breaths came in heavier and the man's gaze shifted constantly between Tsumiko's beautiful silver-blue eyes and the Paopu Fruit. A feeling like this hasn't happened in such a long time for Gwain, a very long time. The man had went through the tragedy of losing his first love in a freak accident and remembered how greatly his heart had suffered. He became so scared of the ordeal every occurring again, that he kept everything casual and never tried to take any of the other girl's who came to him seriously. Not once did he believe that he could fall in love again, but this time, without the fear of losing the one who he would try to love. That fruit, if any of what's said about it true, then he and the songstress would be together forever, in a sense. Their destinies forever intertwined.

Tsumiko looked back up at Gwain, into his eyes and gave him a very soothing smile. The instant he looked upon it, his own nervousness and insecurities washed away. The king took a deep breath and closed his eyes while doing so, before exhaling it a moment later. He smiled brightly at her. She was happy with the Paopu Fruit and showed her earnest heart when she said his name. The woman asked if he would like to share the Paopu Fruit with her. Gwain nodded softly.

"Lady Tsumiko, if sharing that fruit with you means having more romantic dates like these, being in your gorgeous presence and being able to stand by and protect you, then I simply cannot refuse. I'd love to share the Paopu Fruit with you. I want us to be linked together through our destines." Gwain said softly, but with such a resolute voice. He looked deeply into her eyes and smiled wide. Such a commitment was not one to make lightly, but a small part of the man knew that the minute he asked Tsumiko out on the date. Just like then, it wasn't something he had to think about too hard. He wanted to be with the woman.

Eventually, the waitress came back and delivered their drinks. The man thanked her with a genuine smile on his face and chuckled softly when he saw the cat-woman hand Tsumiko the big glass of chocolate milk. All the songstress ever did was just be adorable. When it came to being asked what they wanted to order, Gwain knew exactly how to go about this.

"Give us two of everything on the menu." He said casually, but was being very serious. There was no doubt about that Gwain was a rather large man and needed as much food and energy that he could get. Not only that, but his mentality often asked, "why make things complicated with choosing one thing, when you can choose everything?" Because of that, the king had no problem with ordering two of everything. One set for him, another set for Tsumiko. Whatever she couldn't finish, she could always hand over to him. The man looked back down and shot the songstress a very confident smile. He was telling her that he could easily eat everything without even thinking about it.

[Tsumiko]

Tsumiko was shocked by his ready willingness to accept her offer. Sure, she's the one that asked, but she wasn't expecting to agree with such ease. This was the first day they spent quality time together, and yet... the king said he wanted to commit his destiny to hers. His tone was adament and sure, both of which made her racing heart flutter in her chest. He wasn't hesitating at all. The songstress turned her eyes onto the glass in front of her, fidgeting with shy bashfulness. They didn't long remain there when Gwain answered the neko-girl with with seemed to be an appalling answer. Two of everything?

The rosy ears atop the woman's head stood at attention. She blinked at him for a second, the pen held against a pad of yellow paper froze on the spot. “Y-You sure, nya? There's quite a few selections, what with sides and such. That, and there's a whole list of desserts to pick from...” she waited to see if his mind would change at all, though seeing that it wouldn't she lowered the pad of paper and gave a hesitant nod. “Sorry, sorry. I'll go put in your order, nya.”

She left, leaving the two alone once again. Slowly, Tsumiko turned her eyes to the red-eyed king. His smile bore no shame, even seemed confident. Tossing her silly stupid crazy straw into her milk, she propped her cheek upon a fist, supported by the table. She stared at him, trying to formulate the correct wording as to why as she sipped on her beverage. With a playfully ashamed shake of her head, she reached out for the fruit that lay between them.

Picking it up, the songstress gave it another long, hard stare. Was she really ready to lower her walls? Ready to let someone in? She wanted to have faith in the future and believe that she could have a happiness not endangered by lingering shadows. But was now the time? Tsumiko gripped the star firmly between her hands, ready to apply the pressure necessary to break it in half. Holding it close to her nose, her eyes drifting closed, the scent of the fruit reminded her of something.

--------

The door to a small home opened and a tall black-haired man walked in. He wore a proud smile with stylized facial hair surrounding it, a sack slung over his shoulder. With a loud, hearty laugh, he announced his arrival.

Two small girls in matching dresses, around the age of five, ran into the family room, each with their own excited cheers. Standing before him, he looked down to see identical faces – the faces of his beautiful little girls. Kneeling down, he set the sack beside him and placed a hand upon either of their heads. A woman with graceful white hair approached them, a gentle smile on her face as she dried her hands on the apron she wore.

“Tsumi,” he said, looking to the silver haired twin. “Tsuki,” he turned to the black-haired twin. “Have you been good?”

“Of course, papa!~”
“Yes, daddy!”

Both of them nodded their heads eagerly. Every time their father came home, he would take a moment to ask them this same question. With a quick confirmation from their mother, they always got a gift for behaving. It was one reason they were so excited to have him come home. That and it made their mother happy. She gave a gentle nod to her husband and he grinned at the girls, holding up to them a finger as he reached into the sack at his side. He stopped for a moment, looking at them with a playful grin, teasing them. Both stared at the bag with wondering, excited eyes. He gave a hearty laugh before pulling out his arm, showing them his surprise.

Each tipped their head in opposite directions, their eager faces deflating into confusion as they stared at it. Not the reaction he was expecting, he chuckled and sat on the floor, motioning them closer. They could hear their mother giggling behind them, and they turned to blink at her loving smile before climbing onto the man's lap.

“This,” he said, holding it for them to see from inside his arms. “Is called a Paopu Fruit. It's a magical fruit that you share with someone you really, really love.”

“Like how we love you, papa?”

“Exactly like that!”

“What makes it magic, daddy?”

“Well, that's the mysterious part, now isn't it? They say that if you share this with someone special, you'll always be connected by the bonds of destiny.”

“What's a dessiny?”

“Ah... Well...” he trailed off, looking up at his wife for an assist.

She giggled, crouching down to place gentle hands upon his. “Destiny is a very powerful force that guides us to the future we are meant to live. It brings us to the friends we make, the events that change our lives, and the love that we share with someone special,” she said with a soft voice, looking her husband with a warm smile. He flashed her a amiable grin, waggling his eyebrows in a fashion unknown to the two girls on his lap. This earned him a playful tap on his shoulder as the woman stood up once again.“This fruit is said to change the course of destiny, binding those who share it to one another, for better or worse. But they say that those who have remained very happy.”

Looking down again, the man began to break apart the star-shaped fruit in his grasp. “That's why I brought it home so I could share it with the most important ladies in my life. So that way, no matter what happens, no matter where we are, our destinies are forever intertwined. We'll always find our way back to each other.”

The two girls looked up at him with wide smiles, finding what their father said to be the best thing in the world. There was nothing they loved more than their parents and each other. If eating a magical fruit meant they could be with them forever, then nothing would make them happier.

The four people in the room was soon handed a fraction of the star. The yellow exterior held inside it a juicy red-orange fruit baring several large seeds. It was sweet, but the tangy mix of it reminded the silver-haired child of something citrus-y. Looking to her sister across the way, she bit into it with an eagerness. Its taste matched that of its smell, only was slightly more bitter.

In that moment, she was simply blissful, unaware of what the future did indeed have in store for her. What destiny had decided to put her through. In that moment, destiny was simply a complex idea outside of her reach of understanding. And that was okay.

---------

There was a small smile that played Tsumiko's lips, eyes still closed with the happy warmth the memory gave her. She was so simpleminded in her youth, living every day with no plan beyond having fun and being happy. She had forgotten all about those carefree days. Yet here she was, about to share another with someone who she could potentially spend her life with.

Something her mother said rang again in her ears. “This fruit is said to change the course of destiny, binding those who share it to one another, for better or worse. But they say that those who have remained very happy.” For better or worse, her destiny had changed. Perhaps the reason that things happened the way they did was because fate didn't agree with what was happening, retaliated against her. Perhaps their happiness just wasn't meant to be, and something more was in store for her.

Slowly, her eyes opened and peered at the table. The smile still on her lips, her eyes shifted towards Gwain. Her father dared to share it with the lights of his life. And the king had appeared before her as a shining light when she needed it most. Maybe this was the path that destiny had truly wanted for her.

Holding out the fruit she motioned for Gwain to take it. Having someone become a part of her destiny was a scary thought, but being a part of someone else's... That didn't seem so bad. “Would you like to do the honors..?” she said with a gentle smile. She was too nervous to do it herself, believing that it might spell out bad things to come.

She jumped only slightly at the sudden unanimous groan that seemed to come from the back of house. Seemed like the workers were content with the slow day they were having.

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