Concentrated red eyes looked out of the large floor-to-ceiling window in sorrow, looking to the horizon. Deep in her heart she knew this was not the way it was supposed to happen. She knew she was meant for this day but it was to be much, much later when she was older. Her thoughts trailed to when her mother was alive and what she would have told her to prepare herself for this day.

Before the door was swung open, her eyes shut tight and she thrust her head back to let out the wolf's cry. "Anikka! Stop acting like a complete child and prepare yourself! You have many a-suitor to look into!"

Anikka's cold eyes landed on her father as she stared him down. "I will be there shortly," she spoke in a soft and icy tone of voice that, if spoken in a strong wind, would have been lost.
It took everything in her small power to hold back the fiery anger that blazed deep within her breasts. She loathed being treated in such a way that it impaired what little born-rights she had and vowed after the wedding, that would soon change.

Before slamming the door behind him, he gave Anikka another reprimand for keeping him and her suitors waiting so long. As soon as she was alone in her room once more, the fury that had once burned so strong within her, was extinguished and left behind a large, dark, empty whole. Her soft, thick, dark green curls bounced as she turned her head back to look out the window.

"Oh, mother…how I wish you were here." She spoke in a different tone that wasn't used anywhere near her father. This voice was soft and tender—almost motherly—and even in sadness; it tinkled like a thousand bells.
Anikka straightened her posture as she walked toward her closet to pick out a sensible gown. As she rummaged through the hundreds of dresses, her fingertips grazed the silky fabrics, just barely touching them.

Then her dark red eyes caught the sight of an extremely light yellow gown that was one of the many inheritances that she received from her late mother. It was designed like that of what an Asian woman would wear during the Chinese New Year celebration. The dress had an assortment of flowers, butterflies and colorful swirls embroidered on it. A heart shaped hole was cut to allow others to see cleavage and it exposed her shoulders down. A long slit on either side starting about an inch and a half just under the hip bones and continued down the skirt of the dress—which ended at the ankle.
Anikka's fingers rolled in the material; the soft fabric used on the gown was made with the finest silk worms in all of Makai making it so much softer and more valuable than any of her other dresses she owned.

Anikka sighed as she removed the gown from the hanger and untied the straps to her robes. She snuggled into the dress with a great deal of struggle; her mother's bosoms weren't nearly as big as hers and the rubber-like silk was clad too tight to her skin in her opinion, but then again, all of her dresses felt tight on her. She then adjusted her breasts to fit snug in the gown so that it didn't look if they were ready to spill out of the top half.

She sashayed out to her jewelry box and pulled out a golden lotus flower necklace with matching bracelet, anklet, tiara, and hair chopsticks. Placing the jewelry on and chopsticks in her hair, she left her room after putting on the slightest amount of eye shadow.

As Anikka walked down the hall to the ballroom, she couldn't help but think of what her suitors would be like. "If I could choose what the man I marry would look like," she began as her thoughts wandered aimlessly on to her fantasy life. "I suppose I would have him tall…certainly taller than me. Of course he would have to be mysterious and very dark and yet calm all at the same time. He would have to be charming, handsome, loyal, dependable, and above all ready to put me in my place whenever needed when I'm at my naughtiest."

She couldn't help but giggle at the thought of being "taught a lesson" while she was mating. She had been so engulfed in her thoughts of her dream-demon, that she didn't noticed she was in front of the garden. She looked around and sighed as she took a seat on one of the toads-tools. She was on the other side of the palace and she was too tired from lack of sleep from the night before.

Surely she had more time before her father was irritated yet again and sent the search party out for her when he realized that she wasn't in her room. Anikka stood up and began walking around in the wondrous flower-filled walkway.
She was the "mother" of this garden. She was the one who planted, nursed and tended to all the delicate plants. This was Anikka's home—not the silly tower that she lived in. This is where Anikka's heart truly belonged.

Anikka placed her hand onto a tree's trunk and whispered sweet endearments to the tree as her hand dissolved into the bark. After some time in this position, Anikka pulled her hand out and with it, a triple bass ocarina. It was light brown and a well size for her long thin fingers. She brought the woodwind instrument to her lips and blew as she played a low, depressing tune. Nothing, not even marriage—something meant to be a joyous occasion—could possibly lift her spirits.

As she walked farther in the garden, her song began to slow down and she tried all she could to make it a happy one, but every effort she offered wasn't compensated with the song. Soon she stopped playing and heaved a heavy sigh as she walked to the end of the garden, taking one last look at the flowers she had given to her gray world.

Just then, a voice from behind her purred in a low, husky tone.

"You should be in the ballroom talking with your father and our guests. It isn't princess-like to leave others out of her way like that."

Anikka turned around only to find that the voice that got her heart pumping was a close friend of hers and a castle servant. "Oh, Konemaze! Don't frighten me like that! What are you doing here anyway?" she asked looking at her friend with a certain love in her eyes she didn't show to others.

"I could ask you the same thing, Princess." The demon spoke as he neared her. Running his eyes up and down her body, Konemaze placed strands of her curly hair that had gotten loose from the hair chopsticks over her shoulder as he continued to purr in a seductive way. The rumbles that he made rolled off his chest and burned in her wolf ears as she looked up at the demon in front of her.

He had long black hair that he kept in a ponytail just below the base of his neck and green eyes that always had the power to calm down the okami youkai. His long perked raven ears were very pet-able and she could just get lost for hours upon hours stroking his neko tail with her clawed fingers.

His cold fingertips grazed her lips as he leaned forward and pecked her cheeks. "Why are you so cold?" she asked taking his hands in hers. The cat demon just looked at his princess and smiled. "I was tending to something where it is cold. Nothing you should worry your beautiful head about, my liege." After staring in each other's eyes, the servant finally spoke up after clearing his throat. "Allow me the honor of escorting the woman I love to the ballroom." He said lending Anikka his arm.

She took it gratefully and the two walked through the garden as Konemaze lead the way out. Anikka rested her head on his shoulder and breathed in his sandalwood scent. She loved having Konemaze around even though she didn't love him in the same way that he loved her but he was a companion to her and she appreciated every moment he could offer her. Suddenly, a realization had gone through Anikka's thoughts; soon she would have to leave by herself…without him.

How am I ever going to handle castle life without my best friend? She asked herself.
Anikka loomed through the hallway along with Konemaze as they neared the ballroom, being much more attentive then what she had been before. Before they reached the ballroom, she slipped her ocarina into a vase that was adjacent to the double doors. She sucked in a breath heavy heartedly as Konemaze took the knobs in his hands and pulled, letting some fresh light enter the dim lighted room.

Before Anikka stepped into the room, she looked back at her friend and gave him a meaningful glance letting him know that as soon as they were both free, to meet in her room. As she walked in the chamber, Anikka saw a cross father and a prince trying to hide his impatience. Anikka cleared her throat delicately and walked up to the two men. Her cheeks brightened the longer she felt the burning rage that radiated from her father's body in the pit of her stomach. He was not happy and she was not ready for a scolding. Ignoring her father's disappointment, Anikka bowed slightly at the hips and greeted the guest with a warm smile that burned her on the inside to do.

"Good day, Father. Prince."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess Anikka. I am Prince Krishnan of what would be the Indian cost in the Ningenkai." The prince answered with a bow of his own. He took her hand and brought it up to his lips and placed a kiss in her palm. Anikka growled mentally and stepped back lightly, avoiding eye contact with the male demon. She hated being greeted in such a way that made her feel like some sort of damsel in distress.

This suitor had an Indian accent and dark skin with shoulder length hair that was wavy and dark brown. He was a tiger demon with cold blue eyes. Father cannot be serious about this one…he's nowhere near perfect! Anikka thought as she squinted her eyes.
"What took the princess so long?" her father asked getting the attention of the two demons. Anikka looked at her father and sighed softly. "Please excuse my absence, Father, but I got sidetracked and busy with some work of my own."

'Your work is to accomplish things like this, on time, fully prepared, with no excuses whatsoever! If only you were more like your mother…she was so understanding of these things. I don't know what I'm going to do with you!' Her father barked telepathically, as his red eyes pierced at her like a warm knife through butter.

Anikka tore her eyes from her father and she caught the eyesight of Krishnan. Anikka's father made a low growl and flailed his robes out as he turned to walk out. "I will allow you two to get properly acquainted while I check on other things." After that, he stormed out.

Anikka huffed while staring at her father close the door behind him and turned her attention back on the prince she was alone with. Krishnan gave her a lopsided smile and walked up to her and offered her his arm. "Shall we?" He asked as Anikka reluctantly rapped her arm with his as they stepped out of the ballroom.

"Where would you like to go, my dear?"

"Shall we head to the menagerie?"

"This is your palace; we can go wherever you wish to go, Princess."

"Alright, then, Prince Krishnan."

"Lead the way, my beauty." Krishnan spoke as he smiled at her. Anikka, just wanting it all to end, forced a smile on and turned back to what was in front of them, which he wasn't doing a very good job of. He would have preferred to stare at her body clad in the tight dress. Anikka turned her head pretending to be shy and rolled her eyes in disgust.

Unbelievable! She thought. I can't wait until I can see Konemaze tonight. She closed her eyes and waited for it to be all over.