^^ Lee-Ting ^^

--- Tama Arashi-Kumo ---

I laid the sleeping child between Sora's front paws, and he hummed slowly. "This is the tiny weather mage."

"She is. She's also my apprentice, now. Take good care of her, please." I nodded.

He nuzzled her gently, and when she stirred, he nudged her onto his warm coils, and shifted around her to keep her warm and safe.

The baby dragon's, also in his coils, curled around her, snoring softly.

I smiled at the sight, and then sat down against his hide, breathing deeply to center myself, beginning my nightly meditation.

---

A sound to my left repeated itself in a solid rhythm, not exactly footsteps, but more... perhaps wing-beats?

I opened my eyes, and the Chinese Dragon, Qiáng-Lòng, was in front of me, her nose tilted so that her eye was right in front of mine.

"Hello." I murmured in Chinese.

She hummed. "Hello, little Prince. I apologize that I have not greeted you properly. I was... preoccupied."

I smiled. "Indeed. I am happy that Sora is Breeding, I wondered when he would find a mate."

She blinked slowly, the large silver-white pupils dilating. "You are very calm. Your heartbeat is steady, and your breathing is even. You are not afraid of me. Why?"

"I am cursed with Dragon-Eyes. I cannot feel fear." I answered honestly.

She hummed. "Ahh. Draconic Magi, correct? I'd heard that Japanese dragons could curse people... but the proof is here... very interesting. And your hands? Now that I know what to look for, I can scent curses all around you, but strongest on your hands and eyes."

"I am cursed to bring many things into this world, both great and terrible. The sword that cuts, and the hammer that makes." I nodded.

"Interesting Curse... I've decided I like you, Prince Kumo. You may raise my offspring, or gift her to one you feel worthy... though I caution you, if you choose wrong, I will hunt you to the ends of this realm, and beyond. I am understood, I hope?" She narrowed her eyes slowly, smoke rolling from her nostrils.

I bowed my head. "You most certainly are, Lady Qiáng-Lòng. Clearly understood."

She nodded, and set a single egg in front of me, nearly ten times the size of Sora's cousins' eggs, and made of one, smooth, beautiful Dragon's Breath Opal, instead of the normal dragons eggs I was used to, which were Jade.

"She's beautiful..." I breathed, losing the tone I'd kept up for her.

She snorted smoke affectionately at me, and her wing gently patted my head. "Thank you for your kind words. I feel your sincerity. Now I will sleep with my mate. You may run along or stay, it is your choice."

"I always meditate with Sora at night. I will stay. Perhaps you will join me in my Meditations?" I asked, abandoning the royal tone, and she hummed.

"My previous companion did this, the Meditation. She said it helped her think, and control her emotions. Useful, for a human, but for a Chinese Dragon, Emotion becomes Fire in our hearts, and that Fire becomes either Life or Death for our enemies or allies. So I will sleep, I think. Good night." She cuddled up to Sora, who groaned and wrapped his tail around her sleepily.

I nodded and closed my eyes, breathing deeply, and evenly.

In...
Out...
In...
Out...

---

"M-my apologies, Prince Kumo, I let you sleep outside!" Lee-Ting shouted, obviously just woken up.

I gazed at her as the sunrise began. "I was not sleeping, child. Look, though. Japan gives us her Sun."

She turned, and gasped at the glorious view of the ocean sunrise, viewed from the coast of China for the first time.

Almost in sync, the entire harbor raised beautiful colored flags, as if saluting the sun, and Sora hummed loudly. "I will go flying, now. Come along." He held out a paw to Ting, and I picked her up, climbing onto his back.

Qiáng-Lòng hummed. "I will accompany you."

We situated the eggs around each other, and then darted into the sky.

Sora quieted the waves with his Voice again, and then surprised me by perching atop the highest mast like a feather, and singing a beautiful melody, which rose up all the sea-creatures in the Harbor, as they came to the surface to listen. The humans also stopped what they were doing, staring at him in awe.

On cue, the sunlight framed him, his silhouette burned into their eyes and minds forever.

Qiáng-Lòng circled down to our level, flapping her wings leisurely. "You're very Vain, even for a Dragon." She commented dryly.

"I'm very Beautiful, as well. And Humble." He smirked.

I chuckled, and he took off, barely rocking the boat under him, and returned to the palace, sniffing the Opal egg. "When will she hatch, do you think? A week? Month?" He asked, curling around the egg clutch protectively.

She laughed and laid on top of him. "When she wishes. She is a Dragon. She will be ready when she is. And I can make a few more, in that time..." she nipped his fur gently, and I hopped off with Lee-Ting, heading in search of a Bath and Clothes for her.

A servant froze when I appeared, and I bowed my head. "Where are the Baths, and the Tailor?"

She pointed down the hall to the left.

"Are you busy, or could you assist me? I'm not very sure I know anything about Child's clothes." I asked.

She bowed deeply. "I will do my best, Prince Kumo."

I nodded, and set Ting on her own feet, which I noticed were bare. We followed her into a massive room, filled with steam. The middle was dominated by a pool of steaming water, easily 300ft across, in a perfect square.

One side held a mirror-fall, a waterfall so smooth it created a mirror, and the other three sides held luxurious washing stations, big enough for fifty people.

A man sat on one side, with six attendants carefully grooming him, and I frowned. "Are you sure this is not a private bathhouse?" I asked.

"Only the Nobles are allowed to enter, but the Emperor welcomed you to the Court, which means you're a Court Noble." She bowed.

I nodded. "Alright. Help Ting bathe, please, and be thorough, she's been on a ship as their resident weather mage for a while."

She bowed again, and walked a few feet away, sitting Ting down, talking to her softly the entire time, asking about life at sea, and such.

I sat about halfway down the bench, and stripped my clothes carefully, laying them beside me, folded, with my swords laying atop the pile. Then I began to wash my body, as thorough as always.

Ting, wrapped in a fluffy towel, sat next to me. "Master, should I help you wash your back?"

"No, child. Go bathe. And be mindful of your surroundings." I smiled.

She bowed, then pulled the servant woman over to the giant bath, stepping in carefully. She kept her towel on, thankfully, and so I relaxed, and then sat in the pool as well.

A soft, stifled scream made me open my eyes, and Sora settled into the water next to us, coiled slightly, and groaned in happiness. "To think a bath designed for dragons existed... Arashi, I want one of these... and I need a bath."

I chuckled and swam over to him, and, using one of the many soapstones on the ledges, began carefully washing his Hide. "You missed a hell of a fight, you know, yesterday. Demon-Wolves showed up. Even Ting killed one, with the Cannon on the ship." I teased him.

He gasped. "Demons!?!... well, I suppose it was worth it." He smirked happily.

"Ha!" I chuckled, and tapped his side, motioning that I was done with his back.

He rolled over slowly, and gazed at the other human in the room. "I recognize you, Human Lord... you are a son of the Emperor? You smell like him."

The boy blinked. "I am, yes."

"The son of a Concubine, then?"

He frowned. "No." He said shortly.

I tapped Sora's chest. "His mother wasn't a member of the Emperor's harem until after he was born."

"Ahhh, scandals. Wonderful, tell me more? Your human ideas on proper Mating rituals are strikingly amusing." Sora chuckled.

The boy smiled. "We must seem so very silly to you, don't we, Dragon?"

Sora nodded. "You do, indeed. My human, I tolerate, because he is rather kind to me, but others are just silly, with their 'Clothes', and 'Jewelry'. Odd things. If you've not the Frock naturally, I don't like the idea of adding any on. Seems dishonest, attracting a mate in that way."

The boy laughed. "I suppose you're right. But it's hardly civilized to walk around naked, now is it?"

"Hmph. I am naked all the time, and I dare anyone to call me uncivilized... but I see your point... human ego is so fragile. Ah well... Arashi, I like this human, we're taking him with us when we leave." He stated simply.

"Now Sora, what've I said about kidnapping?" I chided him.

"Hmph."

The boy laughed. "You're quite hilarious, Lord Sora. Thank you for speaking to me, I will tell my grandchildren about this."

"Who was joking? I want you to come to Japan. Your Grandchildren shall meet me in person." Sora said incredulously.

"Sora-" I began.

"If the Emperor is allowed his Harem, why not I? Why can I not collect humans who amuse me?" He grumbled.

"The harem is for the Emperor to have as many children as he can, Sora, you know that." I frowned.

"Hmph. I shall have a Human Harem, and they shall breed amongst themselves as they wish, and create even more interesting humans for me, albeit much smaller ones. Humans take so very long to mature..." he hummed.

I snorted and shook my head. "The answer is no, Sora. He may come to Japan with us if he wishes, but you are not your mother, stop trying to match-make."

He paused. "Oh dear, I've figured out why mother is always doing those crazy things... she's not crazy, she's bored!"

I laughed loudly. "Now he gets it."

We exited the baths, drying off magically, and I raised an eyebrow at Lee-Ting's hair, which was puffed straight out when I dried it with a new towel.

She grinned. "I like baths. It isn't like swimming at all."

"Good, get used to them. You shall bath at least once every other day, do you understand?" I raised an eyebrow.

She nodded. "No qualms here!"

"Good word, your vocabulary is reasonably advanced. Now where is the Tailor?" I asked the servant woman.

Sora exited the baths, causing something of a maelstrom, and followed us, as she led us down the palace levels, until we were near the gates.

An open field just inside the wall housed a large barn, and a single cottage, with a White Oak Door.

I blinked at the impressive display of wealth. "A White-Oak Door... now that is a new one... this is the Royal Tailor, you said?" I asked the woman.

She nodded. "Lady Kobayashi lives here, yes. The Emperor has given her many things, and her sons and grandson farm her silkworms."

I nodded. "I see... then I will make sure I reward her for her work. Come, Lee-Ting. Let's get you some clothes that aren't made of grass." I smirked.

She laughed and smacked my hip. "You know they're made of seal-skin, meanie!"

I laughed and rubbed her hair. "I know, I know, I'm just teasing you." I knocked on the door.

It opened, and a young woman of perhaps 30, with a rather disturbing burn scar over the entirety of the left side of her face stood before me, wearing the finest golden silks I'd ever seen.

I bowed slowly, pushing Ting into a bow as well. "Do I have the honor of addressing the Lady Kobayashi?" I asked.

She inclined her head slowly.

"I am Prince Tama Arashi-Kumo, and this is my apprentice, Lee-Ting." I introduced us.

She nodded. "Welcome." Her voice was distorted slightly, because of the burns to her throat. "How may I Help you?"

"Well, Lee-Ting is new in this court, and I would require a entirely new, full wardrobe for her, as hers is, as you can see, insufficient." I nodded.

She blinked slowly, and then nodded, holding a hand out to Ting. "Come." She pulled her inside, waving me after her.

The inside of the house was impeccably clean, and almost militaristic, if not for the insanely expensive materials it was built with.

Her wooden cabinets: more White Oak. Her windows: solid Rose Quartz Crystal. Her Jars of needles and thin threads: whole Fire Opal, and a size I didn't even know existed. It was probably melted down and recast in that shape, but still, the thoughtless display of wealth shocked me, while Ting, who couldn't recognize anything, just thought it was all very pretty.

"You have an extraordinarily beautiful home, My Lady Kobayashi..." I said quietly, gazing at the small Ruby-studded silver chandelier above us.

She smiled, only half her face moving, but still absolutely beautiful, from the left side. "Thank You. Now, What is Needed?"

"Men's Sparring clothes of modest quality, as well as elegant dining outfits. I'd ask her to choose the basic style, and rely on your expertise for everything else." I bowed slowly.

She nodded, and patted a stump that sat in the middle of the room.

Ting hopped up, and lady Kobayashi started measuring her with a knotted rope.

A young man opened the door swiftly, and stopped moving, bowing reflexively.

She saw his bloody nose and knuckles, and I moved out of the way as she stomped over with the fury any mother is capable of.

She didn't yell or scream, she simply glared at him, and grabbed his hands, pulling them to his eye level in a clear question.

"It was nothing, Ma-"

She smacked the back of his skull so swiftly I accidentally whistled in awe, and took a step back when she glanced at me.