Chapter Text
Aiko stared up at the ceiling, lifting her hand to examine it. As though there would be some mark from a few days ago.
”I can’t believe that guy! The nerve of him to touch you!” Reina huffed, she was too loud for the time of night it was.
“Not now, Reina. You’ve been up in arms about this for days.”
”Yes! Because you two are getting too comfortable with each other! Have you forgotten who he is?!”
“Of course not.” Aiko closed out her journal with her other, finished ones.
”So why are you two getting all buddy buddy with each other! In fact- you’re getting worse than buddy buddy!” Aiko paused, feeling her cheeks redden.
”Don’t go twisting it.” Aiko argued. “It’s not like that.” Reina bristled.
”Are you serious?! Do you not see that dopey looks he gives you?!” Aiko furrowed her eyebrows.
”Why are we fighting so much as of late?” She asked finally.
“Because for someone so smart you’re making dumb decisions.” Reina crossed her arms. “Are you at least planning on telling the others?” Reina asked finally. Aiko paused.
”I…don’t know.” She admitted. “Maybe Mayumi would be understanding…but she’s resting after creating the Crystal Mirror, stress will only tire her out more. And Shizuko…,” Shizuko, kind and patient as she was, would be so disappointed that Aiko was talking with a Mercenare general.
Aiko clenched her fists. She knew this was risky. And she knew it was selfish. But…she didn’t want to walk away from this just yet.
Was it even just about the knowledge anymore..?
Aiko shook her head. Now was not the time to think about that.
”Trust me, Reina. No matter what, no matter who I hold connections with, I won’t let any of that waver my resolve in protecting my kingdom.” It was true. No matter what, Aiko would protect her home.
Whatever relationship she was forming with Ego would not cause her to falter.
The next day, Aiko was sitting down on a bench near the training grounds where Shizuko and Micheal were sparring.
Michael lunged at Shizuko who swerved around him, kicking up sand as she did and using the dust it created to knock the sword from his hand.
“Great job, your majesty! You’re getting better by the day!” Micheal praised. Shizuko bowed as she handed her sword back to him.
”Thank you, Sir Klondike. But it seems as though you were going easy on me.”
”Don’t be like that. You’re a tough opponent. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were doing some secret part time training.”
Shizuko giggled and shared a brief glance with Aiko.
Something like that….
”Ah, Lady Aiko. I didn’t see you.” Michael greeted. “What brings you here today?”
“Don’t mind me, I just wanted some fresh air.” Aiko assured him, continuing her drawing. Michael looked over her shoulder.
”Wow, is that me? It looks so realistic!” He gazed down at the image Aiko sketched.
“Mhm. I often draw when I’m bored. It also helps to notice smaller details on a person when you do.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she examined her drawing. “Can I see your dagger? I need to get the design on the hilt.”
Michael seemed hesitant but he handed it over to her. Aiko examined it.
”I’ve never seen this design before…. Where’d you get it from?” She asked. Michael scratched his cheek.
”I don’t know. It was a gift, no idea where it came from.” Michael explained, Aiko examined the delicate design and made a quick sketch before handing it back to him.
“Well, I should get back to work.” Michael took it from her hands, waving goodbye.
Aiko and Shizuko watched him leave, Aiko casted a glance at Shizuko.
”You two are quite close.” Aiko observed, “what’s your relationship again?” Aiko’s heard rumors going on between her friend and the captain. The royal family has always been close to the Klondikes.
”Is he your fiancé?”
“Oh goodness!” Shizuko gasped. “I sure hope not! We’ve been friends for awhile but I’ve only ever seen him as a family friend.”
”Besides,” a voice spoke up beside them and Aiko turned her head to see Shizuko’s red peacock fairy: Mamoru, floating out for behind Shizuko. “The Precure can’t be distracted with things such as romance while a war is at foot.”
”Hey, Mamoru. It’s been a bit.” Aiko said as small peacock bowed.
”Pleasure to see you again.” He fluffed his feathers out.
Mamoru has always been extra careful when it came to what they did as Precure, but the no romance thing did feel a bit superfluous, they are Precure and according to the fairy’s, Precure greatest power is love.
But, Aiko didn’t say that out loud. She’s learned how to hold her tongue.
“Anyways, I should get going. I wanted to drop by Moonglave.”
”Are you going to visit Mayumi?” Shizuko asked.
“Mhm. I have something I want to ask her.”
“That’s wonderful! I made her a basket of cookies but I won’t have any time to get them to her. Give me one second.”
Aiko walked up to Mayumi’s door, knocking gently.
Mayumi opened the door, her eyes looked tired but the second they landed on Aiko they lit up.
”Aiko!” The door burst open and Mayumi practically jumped on her friend.
”Nice to see you too, Mayumi. How have you been feeling.”
”Great! Yeah I was tired for a bit but it was soooo worth it! The Crystal Mirror was so strong! It purified a whole city!”
“I know, it was impressive.” Aiko extended the basket. “Shizuko made these.”
”Ooh! Her cookies are the BEST!” Mayumi took the basket from Aiko and immediately took a bite of one.
”Anyways…while I’m here, I have a question.”
”You always do! C’mon, shoot!”
“Well…, I was wondering…do you think an atmosphere with dark energy prevent produce from growing?” Mayumi seemed taken aback by the question.
“Well…it really depends if dark energy causes plants to wither…I don’t think it does but I dunno much about it. Hm…oh!” Mayumi snapped her fingers.
”My great great grandma told me something once! Apparently a long long time ago, like a few centuries ago, people started getting really sick from a fruit that was fullll of dark energy!”
A fruit full of dark energy..? Does she mean Nirra?
”It was so bad that farmers were having a crisis because they were ordered to burn fields that showed signs of it growing. The people showed signs of aggression and became very paranoid of others. She said that the doctors couldn’t find the a cure, any doctor that came in contact with the dark energy inside were infected as well.”
Why hadn’t I heard about this?! What happened to the records on this?!
“What happened to the infected?” Aiko urged Mayumi.
”I dunno….” Mayumi admitted, putting a finger to her chin. “My great great grandma heard it from her great great grandma who heard it from her grandma. So I don’t know all the details.”
Despite the unfinished story, Aiko had went mining for gold and came back with diamonds.
”Thanks, Mayumi. I have to go, I’ll visit in a few days.”
”Bye!” Mayumi waved as Aiko bounded across the path.
“What’s that look for?” Reina poked her head out from Aiko’s hair.
”This must have a connection with the Mercenares history. And why haven’t I ever heard of it?”
”It’s not like medicine is your area of study.” Reina crossed her small arms.
”Such an important event should be taught in schools, not even something you’d have to dig for! There must be a reason…. And maybe Ego has some idea…. I wonder if there’s anyway to reach him…our next meeting isn’t for another week.”
“Are you just conjuring an excuse to see him sooner?” Reina asked before she was cut off with a squeak by Aiko pushed her back into her hair.
Aiko had sped back to her home, saying a quick hi to her dad behind a canvas, and opened her bedroom door.
Ready to storm over to her desk and begin writing a letter, how it would get to him be damned, Aiko was stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a letter resting atop her desk.
Picking it up gingerly, Aiko examined the stamp. The shape of a batwing….
Ego steadied his feet as he blocked Gouma’s attack. The two jumped away from each other and Gouma shot forward. It looked as though he was about to attack with his sword again, but at the last second, he pulled back and brought his leg down on Ego’s chest.
Ego had formed a shield around his chest just in time.
Grasping his sword with two hands, Ego brought it down on Gouma’s form. Gouma had jumped over just in time, dropping to his knees as Ego sliced at him, elbowing him in the gut.
“You may be stronger, baby brother, but I’m smarter!” He jeered as the sword was launched from Ego’s hands. “By a long shot.”
Ego sent a sidelong glare before bending down and picking his blade up.
”I was going easy on you.” He shot back.
”Mhm.” Gouma gave a teasing hum. Ego rolled his eyes as he tossed his sword back in its stand, landing lazily on the wall. Gouma followed, tossing his blade to the side. It landed perfectly.
“I’m just kidding, you know.” Gouma added. “I’ve seen what you can do. My goodness, you can be brutal. Those humans never know what’s coming to ‘em!”
At the mention of humans, Ego paused, gaze following the direction of the Moonglave village.
Aiko….
His heart flooded with warmth at the mere thought of her. Must he wait another week to see her again? One week has already gone by and Ego missed her dreadfully.
Ego has found himself lying awake at night, eagerly awaiting when he could see her again. Whether it be just sharing knowledge about their cultures, or just talking or ranting about their lives, he's come to cherish those moments dearly.
“-go! Ego!” Ego was snapped out of his daze. He turned his gaze down at Gouma.
”Sorry…what did you say?” Ego asked. Gouma groaned.
”What’s with you?! These past few months you’ve been so out of it. Like you’re distracted! Is the war getting to you? Are you sick?” Gouma reached up and pressed a hand to his forehead.
“I’m fine…I’m just…excited for this to be over.”
”It will be soon.” Gouma pulled away. “King Mercenare is planning his attack. And…once we win…his most successful generals will be rewarded! Won’t have to pick up a sword for the rest of our lives! Isn’t that amazing? A comfortable life- just the two of us!”
”Yeah…that sounds nice.” Ego agreed. “I’m going to take a break. See ya.” He waved off his brothers concerns and walked away. He walked until he got to a field of flowers, sitting down.
Ego picked up a flower, closing his eyes and he tried to weave his energy into it. Opening his eyes, he saw half of it having withered away. He clicked his tongue and tossed it, picking up another one.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each flower had varying ranges of success. Some were worse than the last. An hour in, Ego felt ready to give up. Deciding to try one more time before calling it quits. Opening his eyes, they landed on the soft purple glowing petals.
Ego’s eyes widened as he examined it.
He’d…done it.
Something so small, so inconsequential, somehow felt like he accomplished something great….
His chest tightened with joy.
She was right….
Ego hurried back to the camp. It was childish, how giddy he felt, but he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to share this small achievement. And it would be helpful for her research.
Asking for another meeting after only one week…it was risky, and he didn’t know how she’d feel about it…but he wrote it nonetheless.
Ego tapped his foot anxiously. Why was he so nervous? It was just another meeting, another night of sharing knowledge. Has that book she lent him been getting to his head?
Fingers drumming against his knee, Ego tried to calm his heart when he suddenly heard footsteps.
“So…you said you wanted to show me something?” Aiko asked. “It’s a little earlier than usual…but your letter looked like it was written in a hurry. Did…something happen?”
Was she…worried? Ego couldn’t stop the bright smile that grew on his face.
”I wanted to show you something…I’ve been practicing.” He extended his hand. “Are you okay with teleporting?”
“Teleporting?” Her green eyes shined with interest.
“Absolutely not!” Reina shrieked, poking out from Aiko’s hair. Aiko pushed Reina down into her hair.
“I don’t mind.” She agreed. Something in her look told Ego she had something prepared had he decided to teleport them to the ledge of a cliff and toss her off. He’d expect nothing less.
Aiko took his hand and he teleported the two of them to the flower field; Aiko stared with intrigue, but there was also a softness to her eyes.
“It’s…beautiful….” She whispered.
“It is.” Ego agreed. “I’ve never…paid much mind to such things before but…as of recently…” he reached down and picked a flower. Cupping it in his hands, he closed his eyes.
Ego held it out towards Aiko. Peering in, she noticed the purple flower.
”You managed to…”
”I did!” Ego exclaimed boyishly. “I didn't even know I could do something like this!”
”You seem excited.” Aiko had her hands behind her back as she walked into the white flower field.
“I know! I am! It’s amazing! I don’t think I’ve been excited about something since- ever! And it’s something so small! Something that should mean absolutely nothing and yet it feels like everything!” He turned to face her. They were a few inches apart.
”It’s thanks to you…. You treat everything with such fierce curiosity…you see deep meaning in even small things- things I would’ve normally not spared a second glance!” He turned his head, gesturing to the whole surrounding area, walking further away.
”It’s an amazing accomplishment. No matter how small, believe me. Small accomplishments are far bigger in the grand scheme of things.” She picked a flower, letting it blow from her fingers.
”And besides, it means I was right. I win this one, General.” She added on humorously. Ego laughed.
”Maybe I’m on some weird joyful high…but I don’t mind it at all…. I’m glad I can see things like this… and…” he turned his head back towards Aiko.
She stood there, the wind blowing softly through her hair. The moonlight hit the flowers, and her eyes…those intense, sharp, emerald eyes.
It felt…ethereal….
Is she…an angel..?
Ego clenched his fists. He knew what this was now. There was no denying it. Even if he didn’t know what it felt like- he knew.
He bounded over to Aiko. Reaching out, he took her hand, pressing and gentle kiss to her palm.
”Aiko…perhaps I’m a fool…perhaps I’ve lost my mind…perhaps I don’t even know what I’m talking about…. But I’m sure…if what I feel for you isn’t love…I don’t know what it could possibly be.”
Aiko’s eyes widened.
“Ego..? Are you sure you understand what you’re saying..?”
”I do.” He said without hesitation. “You’ve captured my heart, as dark and wretched as it is….”
”Aiko. I love you.”