Please feel free to listen to Beck 'Up all night' (especially for the party)

Misako had woken to the sun streaming in through the window. Looking at the blue sky beyond the white linen drapes, she felt calm and serene. That was, until she rolled over...

She lifted her gaze over the blocky figure 'who was that?' she scrabbled for her glasses... 'Hhh!' her breath caught in surprise, instead of her glasses that were usually on her bedside table Misako had picked up a full beard and moustache combo. A quality clip on... WU!

'Eep!' She dropped the hairpiece, jumped out of bed and scurried to the bathroom. She found her spare glasses and put them on. In the mirror she saw her image. She had her Long 'n' Loose hair on... What was she thinking? It had been languishing in the back of the accessories, multi compartment drawers for, what... years? Not since Garmadon wooed her with his silver tongue and bad boy behaviour... and lets face it, he was a Lord, so he didn't have to try too hard! 'Hmmm... Eep! Wu!' What happened last night?

Her mind raced 'Oh yes... It was Wu's 380th birthday!' She put her head to her hands and shook her head. How can she have allowed this to happen? She popped her Long 'n' Loose hair off and replaced it with her long plait. At one stage in her life as a high kicking archaeological explorer the long plait was an incredibly sexy look. Garmadon said it reminded him of some film star or Game character, what was her name? Lama Crufts, or something like that? Looking at herself in the mirror she pondered that somehow it didn't have quite the same look now. Had she subconsciously known this last night? Had she actually made an effort? Oh yes. Yes, it was all coming back now, including the snogberry punch... She raced to the loo.

When she had composed herself, she sat on the closed seat and remembered.

The team were excited. A party. They were a joy to be around, their exuberance could not be dented by anything... even demented evil entities, skeleton hoards or the worst of them, Vermillion! Processed snakes with legs... ugh! She shuddered. They really were a hardy bunch and the thought of a party was just too exciting. Nya had started the ball rolling, with talk of what to wear and how to impress Jay. Though, she really didn't need to try with Jay being completely besotted, she could literally wear processed snake and he would still fall at her feet. Then Maya got in on the action. The poor love hadn't seen any fun for 12 or so years but was still a siren 'How does she do it?' I think I may have said as much' Misako told herself, which had set the beautifying ball in motion.

By the time Nya and Maya had finished with her she was transformed. They had made her drag her old accessories out. Had put her glasses away, she really only needed them for reading. But seeing as she read 98% of the time she just kept them on all the time. Maya had loaned her a dress... Oh, it was a beautiful red Cheong Sam. A wistful look came over her. 'Ugh! It was then! That's when she started thinking about Wu. The letter. The letter he wrote that had melted her resolve to choose a lover. It was... well, words beyond words in a time when words and pictures were all they had to express themselves. There was nothing else to distract them, except studying or maybe a little gardening. It was a simpler time. They didn't have any nonsense like the myriad creations from Borg Industries to distract them. Words were the thing and these words had whispered a sensual, erotic desire through every delicate stroke of the brush. Only she thought the words had been Garmadons and it was eventually his hand that stroked her.

But how could she not consider it? She had been duped. There was never a repeat of the letter from Garmadon. Nothing close. But she had made her decision and you did not go back in those days. But these days... She had looked in the mirror and seen herself rejuvenated. Nya and Maya were jumping around and telling her how fabulous she looked and she could see it too.

When Nya and Maya had left she had gone to her desk. She unlocked her private draw. She only kept one thing there. The letter.

For years it had been the one thing that kept her true to Garmadon and helped her keep faith in the good that she knew still existed within him. But now it just screamed how evil he actually was. Even before he completely transformed, he was weak enough to take from his brother. That was it. That was the simple truth and there was no getting away from it. It would always mar her feelings towards him and she was ready to move on.

The party had been in full swing for over an hour and she had not left her room. She could hear the music from below.

The lanterns in the courtyard welcomed the guests. She watched as they arrived. Representatives from the United Snake Clans, old enemies were now friends. Ronin. 'Jay better keep an eye on him' she had thought as Nya had welcomed him. Skylor. Misako had laughed out loud watching Kai dance up to her when she arrived 'Is that a thing now?' Skylor seemed to like it though. She had come with a couple of friends and Cole had practically lost his head when one of them walked past him. I didn't think he would have any trouble, seeing the sly look she gave him 'We might see her again' she thought. Zane... Lovely Zane was to one side of the courtyard dancing by himself. He feels music like no one else. There was one song that began playing. He felt the beat, his arms and fists pumped through. It was as if he was dancing on hot coals. It really should not have looked right, but it was. It made me laugh and he heard me. Only Zane. He was smiling so beautifully at me and beckoned me down, so I had to go. I could feel the beat too, in my heart. I knew this evening was going to be something different.

I emerged from the temple into a magical scene. Night had fallen; the lanterns and lights in the trees made me feel that I did not know where the temple ended and the starlit sky began. I was amongst the stars and Zane gently lead me into a dance. It was a contemporary beat, but Zane lead me through it. I twirled away from him to stop only meters away from Wu, his white robes glowing in the night. He was smiling at me and walked forward to take my hand. He pulled me closer to him, holding my hand up to his chest; his other went to my waist. He certainly wasn't Zane, but he moved to the beat in his own way. Slower, every other beat had a longer sway between. He held my gaze...

'Misako. You are exquisite'

The song became very clear.

'just wanna stay up all night with you, just wanna stay up all night with you... There's nothing that I wouldn't rather do, just wanna stay up all night with you, with you'

I wanted that. Wu could see it in me I was sure and I felt embarrassed and stuttered, pulling away, I wasn't able to look him in the eye. He kept hold of my hand. He didn't let me go. I caught a glimpse of Zane beyond us, pulsing through the song like some sidestepping disco crab and I could not stop myself from laughing. Wu turned too. He shook his head and looked down to me.

'Kids!'

'Kids' I replied.

'Drink?'

'Drink' I nodded.

That was it. We both knew where we were heading and this is how I have ended up trapped in my bathroom with a beard on my bedside table.

There was a knock at the door.

'... I'm not here!' I squeaked.

'Misako' Wu's level voice came back through the door.

'I love you'

Silence...

'I told you last night too... A few times'

Silence...

'If you will let me... I would like to continue telling you'

The door slowly opened 'You will?' Misako asked.

'You won't be able to stop me' Wu smiled through his repositioned moustache.

'Do you remember the letter?'

'Every word'

'Would you read it to me?'

'I don't need the letter to tell you that and more'

My knees were weak. He moved towards me. I stepped back, the bathroom door stopping me. He pushed himself gently onto me and began...