#alimorweek

There was an amazing woman behind every great man, they said.

Meant that every man had the biggest support to help him stand whenever his legs got wobbly, when his body got weak, when his mind lost. The woman stood behind him, catching him when he was almost fell. The woman kept him steady when his own legs couldn’t stand properly by helping his body to walk slowly but sure. The woman took his hand when he was about to break apart. The woman couraged when he was about to give up. The woman extended her hands to avoid the man from falling into depravity.

To Alibaba and Morgiana’s case, it was the same, but not exactly similar.

No, no, she was not really standing behind him.

She was around him.

She was on his left when the attack came from the direction. She would kick, would raise her fists, would throw her fiery fire towards the enemies. She wanted to be the useful pillar for him.

She was on his right side when a sudden huge power terrorring him from there. She would defence him no matter what, she would use her all for him, she wouldn’t let him injured if she still could stand on her feet. She wouldn’t give any chance for enemies to touch his figure nor to lay even a finger on his body. Because she was his first household members, the first being a part of his support.

She was before him to encourage him when he was hesitated in any kind of moment. Like the time when one of his most trusted subordinates in palace betrayed him, she told him while standing just some inches before the king, “You are not that alone. You may be betrayed by one of your best friends in the kingdom, but you still have a lot surrounding you. And I’m ready ... to give my all for you. To support you, to keep you happy as you always be.”

And she was behind him when he turned his back to hide some secret things he wanted to keep by himself. At the moment, she would reach for his back and encircle her hands around his body, in slow motion, to whisper against his spine, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to tell me, but I’m here as your supporter,”

(Then he would spin on his heels to hug her, and later, he would give up from his persistence of not telling her. He would mutter his problems and she listened with all of her attention directed towards him only.)

.                                                          

Then the support wouldn’t be complete without any interchanging.

He was her support secretly.

The Fanalist was didn’t get accustomed to show weakness before the others. She had tendency to be always strong and fight without any doubt and no matter what the hindrance, she wouldn’t step back until the last energy used.

In everyone’s eyes, she was the great general of Balbadd and the wise queen even though she had no aura of a lady. She possessed an enourmous power no one couldn’t expect (even for Alibaba himself).

However, the was no single human without weakness.

And when her power was reaching its lowest level because her nightmares and hesitations ate it up, he was there. He was the one who support her a lot and the one who would wake up without her knowing when her dark past attacked her on her dreams. On his waking up, he would kiss her on shoulder and the red marks was the proof of his gentle whispers to calm her down.

Sea breeze didn't get her any calmer, failed to make her facade any better. It was so rare to find her in a deep contemplation like this. Even Alibaba, one of her closest acquaintances, didn't seem to be familiar with it.

He took place beside her, leaning his build on the wall of docks. He looked for her attention by staring unblinkedly and cleaned his throat, but seemed like her thought was flying further than he thought; she didn't seem pay attention at all.

Or, she was pretending?

"Hey."

It needs seconds for her to finally aware the presence of the former prince.

"Oh—Alibaba-san."

"What gotten into you? You don't look ... fine? Did you get dizzy? I thought you fine with getting on boat."

"No, not at all," she smiled kindly, a little forcefully—Alibaba marked.

"Then just get into your room. It's getting late, our journey is still long enough, you should take a lot of rest."

The exchanged gaze lasted for longer than it was intended to. By looking at his eyes, she then realized; it would be fine if she told him what bothered her since hours ago.

"I want to be stronger and stronger, Alibaba-san."

"Hey, what are you talking about? You are already extremely strong!" his smile radiated, "You are the one who can lift me and throw me without any problem, you helped me a lot!" he even raised his fist to prove how amazed he was with her strength he acknowledged.

"But ..." she curled her fingers into fist. "Toto and Olba are parts of your household now—no, not like I hate the fact. I'm glad that you have more members in your household, but I ... I want to be stronger, I want to create more techniques with my household vessel," she touched her necklace, "So that my existence won't fade in front of you."

Alibaba's shoulder lumped. His facade softened, and he felt like in urge to lift his hand to touch Morgiana—she looked so fragile and sad at the moment even though she had just voiced her determination.

"I want to protect you more and more with my strength and with all of my power," Morgiana closed her eyes, fingers still glued onto her spare household vessel. "Because I want to be by your side forever as my gratefulness. You freed me and give of a chance to do what I want."

Alibaba took several pace to close the gap. She clutched her fingers, startled and lowered her head more. Yet, he was frowning a bit.

"Morgiana. Your necklace ...."

Morgiana awared that there was a glint of light sourced from her spare household vessel. The ruby crystal which was the center of beauty attraction from her necklace was showing red sheening radiance. Then,  seconds later , the light turned into a flame. Alibaba stepped back and Morgiana was sent into a big shock. In no time, the flame and some unseen white rukhs flooded the atmosphere between the two—then the flame directed to her fists, shielded them, got bigger and redder.

“Whoa! Morgiana, it—it was incredible! Wha-what is this?” Alibaba touched her arm, staring closer at the flame-covered fists of hers. “This is amazing! Try it, try it!” he released and suggested her by pointing his finger into the sea direction.

Instinctively, she threw one of her fists into the free air, resulted the flame flying towards the sea. After that, her necklace produced another fire to cover her empty fist again and it was back to be fiery.

“I ....” she still couldn’t blink even a bit. Her pupils dilated widely and she was staring blankly to her fist, everything seemed unbelievable for her.

The flame was gone after she calmed down, and it was the chance for Alibaba to express his amazement by embracing her into a sudden, tight hug.

“Congratulation on activating another technique! You are becoming more wonderful, Morgiana! How I feel thankful that you are my household member! Whoaaa, I like you more and more!”

A tint of blush showed on her face, words to express felt like gone. Eventually, she said nothing, somehow enjoying his praising her. Getting stronger and be more useful for ones she endeared were her main goals, and getting praised was an extra, a bonus. Beautiful extra.

When he released, he held both of her shoulders, “Maybe I have some household members, but the first one is the most special!”

Morgiana’s eyes shone brightly as sheening as the ruby on her household vessel, which became more lively now since becoming her new weapon to protect him, to strengthen him, and to support him whenever he needed.

What Morgiana had witnessed hours ago when acrossing before Toto and Olba near their room had been a thing reigning her mind at the moment.

Asking it directly to Toto or Olba was on the bottom of her priority list. No, no, it would be embarrassing. She would shame herself. Toto and Olba hadn't noticed her—because they had been so busy with the thing—when she had been near. It sounded kinda shameful if they found out that Morgiana had seen the intimate moment. It was right that she was befriended with Toto, regarding her words that she liked Morgiana's presence near her, but still; she felt not right with the decision of asking directly.

Then, Alibaba might be the best choice.

She approached him near the corner of the ship. Alibaba, just as his early time of sailing on this ship, was in the deep thought. Half of his face was consumed by orange-ish ray radiated from the setting sun. She slowed her pace, hesitated a bit on her half way. He was thinking, he was musing concentrately. She felt didn't have any right to bother. Taking some steps back would be better, maybe?

"Oh, hi, Morgiana."

If it wasn't because of his noticing her first, she wouldn't have gained her courage back.

"Yo. What's up?"

Morgiana lowered her head. O, the floor seemed so clean, but not her mind.

"May I ask something to you, Alibaba-san?"

He formed a smile. His serious facade disappeared in no time by the time his corner of lips reached his cheeks, "Sure, sure, go ahead."

With all of her innocence, she raised her read, finally meeting his eyes with hers. She gathered the last nerve she could gain at the moment, them eventually asking, "Why do people kiss?"

Dang!

Alibaba was dumbfounded. But, uh-oh, choosing not to answer this and run away would be the worst choice making him no gentleman at all. He had to reciprocate this. "Um—yeah, it—it is because they love each other!"

"Will it be more passionate if you love that person more?"

The red tint could be seen on Alibaba's ears. "W-why and ho—how can you conclude it in that way?" while scratching his head, he was also stuttering a bit.

"I saw Toto and Olba did it such a passionate way. They have said love to each other many times, too."

They are suck. Disgusting. Tch. Alibaba cursed. The reason was obvious, was no beyond the jealousy. How could the two, who were his household members, being so lovey-dovey wherever and whenever as they pleased even knowing that their master was a ... poor single, he thought.

Even he had Morgiana, it wasn't that kind of relationship at all. Morgiana still needed to learn ... and Alibaba tried to understand.

"Alibaba-san?"

"Uhm—yeah?"

"How does it feel ... if you do it with whom you love or like?"

His eyes widened. The crimson blush was no longer on his ears only, it started to flood his face. What, what, what was this? Has Morgiana just tried to suggest me to kiss her? Okay, calm down, think about it carefully ... is it?

"Y-you want to ... know how it feels?"

Her nods were slow, reflecting hesitation but triggered by her desire to find out the fact.

"Um-m—you ... you can try it now, anyway. You know whom you love, right?" he giggled, he scratched his cheek, still couldn't hide his blush.

"Whom I love ... which?"

Dang! Dang!

"'Which'? How many men you love right now, Morgiana?" he was totally shocked. Then, then—how about Morgiana's confession yesterday? Hadn't she told that she was liking him? Then what was that? She lied? He was totally blank, frustated, confused, and dumbfounded at the same time.

It broke his heart.

What a pathetic single Alibaba Saluja was.

Then ... his household members ... his master—everyone ... would laugh at him. Hard.

"I love a lot of people, Alibaba-san. I love everyone who loves me."

"No! Not exactly like that!" half of him was relieved, half was try to think any ways which could make Morgiana learn. This girl needed a lot of lecture regarding her innocence of love. "For kissing case, it is done with people you love romantically. An opposite gender you love wholeheartedly not as a father, mother, or friend or even sibling. In exact words ... your lover. Like those two brats."

Morgiana blinked several times. "Oh ...."

Alibaba nodded fast.

"So the more you love your lover, the more you can kiss him or her?"

"YES!"

Then what will you do, Morgiana? I haven't had my first kiss, by the way, and—

"With whom I like ... I want to try it someday ...."

You can have it now!

But Alibaba was no a good man when it came to love story and and everything related to it. He stood like a statue there, hesitated to do any single thing. Stepped closer to her? And practiced what she asked to him? Ugh, would Morgiana accept it? What if she got angry at him?

"I want to try when I am ready," she once chain lowered her read. "With whom I like. I-I want to know how it feels. T-thank you, Alibaba-san!"

And she was gone.

What happened to Alibaba?

His hair was a victim of his rampage of not being a good, gentle, and nice man when it came to this kind of thing. It became more messy and he got three horns on his head as a result.

.

After getting back from toilet, Alibaba saw Morgiana's room's door was left open a bit.

"What a reckless of you," he sighed and reached the door. "Sea breeze in midnight is not good for you."

At first, he just wanted to close it but then seeing her sleeping figure ... made him attracted.

He used to sleep with her on the same bed a lot, but he thought he had never seen her face when she closed her eyes like this.

What a cute girl.

His scanning stopped at her slightly agape lips. Her soft, steady breathe was a completion in making him more allured.

And here it was, the new history of Alibaba's love journey.

He laid his lips on hers, he closed his eyes. Her lips were ecstasy. Saccharinic. But, he wasn't dare to plant his lips deeper, he didn't want to interrupt her deep slumber. Enjoying the surface had already been this blissful, it felt enough from him at the moment.

It was beautiful.

.

"Morgiana."

He met her when heading to a big table where the breakfast served.

"Yes, Alibaba-san?"

"How was your sleep?" he grinned. Please, please God don't let blush to appear, please, please. "What did you dream of?"

"I ..." she averted her gaze from him. "It was a nice dream. Maybe ... I was in a paradise ... or oasis? I think I haven't visited that kind of place."

She sacrificed her freedom just to serve him. No, not in the bad way. Morgiana, however, was elated and honored to receive a certain reward from him even the reciprocation was a sacrifice.

.

“It’s Morgiana-sama!”

“Hurry up, settle your stuffs, they are so messy, at least show your cleanliness before her!”

“You, too! Your clothes is dirty, how can you say so to me?”

Just in few seconds, the conversation had to be stopped as the proprietors bowed down a little to the general coming at that way. The Fanalis’ smile was rather bleary, but the ones standing in front of her knew that she was not intimidating them. Her move ceased as she took some bananas in her hand. She raised them, “How much the price of this?”

“—No, Morgiana-sama, it’s free for you!”

The owner could see Morgiana frowned a bit. The proprietor of fish-specialized shop right beside the grocery started to preparing some fish Morgiana usually bought—for she caught Morgiana's glance directed at her while the grocery owner talked about that.

"No, I will pay this. Just tell me the price."

"It's fine, I guarantee it—"

Morgiana shut him up with showing some gold coins. His eyes showed glint a bit, undeniably interested with the money she was offering.

"I have to pay for this. If not, you would be loss because your workers need their right, their monthly salary."

She was no wrong, and the owner couldn't talk more when she put the coins on the rack. "If the price was still the same as last week's, then this would be enough, wouldn’t it?"

She was right, since the slavery system had erased in the country and replaced by the new act of employment, the owner had to spend more money on paying his employees. He was forbidden to employ slaves anymore which he had a lot of them before Alibaba Saluja, the new king on the throne, set the act.

He was thrown back to the reality when hearing a cheery greeting from the owner of fish to Morgiana who had changing place of standing already. She had been acquaintance with Morgiana longer than everyone thought. Unexpectedly, she was a friend of the general when they had been slaves before.

Ah, maybe the general was right, he decided. Morgiana wouldn't consider him as bad for letting the general, the queen, pay the thing he sold, right?

"How’s life, Morgiana-sama?" she asked, when Morgiana scanning every racks, choosing which fish she wanted to have.

"Please cut the formalities," she said with rather stoic face, "I'm still your friend, Kanna," Morgiana seemed like interested with the big fish in the corner.

"How's life of being a queen, a wife of that gorgeous king, Alibaba Saluja?" Kanna smiled teasingly. "But it felt so rare to see you wandering around the market like this. I remember when you were still a general only, you often taking exercise outside the palace and helping people in this market. And you often doing a patrol with some troops all over the important places in the town. Even you were a leader and rather busy, you always have time at least once a week to visit us and to make sure that there was no chaos around. Are you that busy inside? You have tons of servant, actually, right?"

Morgiana separated some fish from its grouping she was going to buy. Their eyes meet, and by the time, Morgiana smiled. A small curve, but indicating the fact that it was so light for her to say such thing, "I sacrifice my freedom to be his queen."

Kanna raised both of her eyebrows, "What do you mean, Morgiana?"

"Alibaba-kun always has me beside him whenever he lead important meetings. He said that he is so proud of showing someone he treasures a lot. And he is a type who will be glad to have his wife around when having meals. He also always bring me out to formal visits to another country or towns."

"It's kind of sweet, my pal. You may lost your freedom and sacrifice some things you used to enjoy the most but don't you think that they are the sweetest moments in your life?" patting her pal's shoulder, Kanna offered another reassuring smile. She could see in Morgiana's eyes that she didn't mean to talk bad about her husband at all.