Aqune was stirring a pot absently in the kitchen when Buguese came across her. Not that Buguese knew much about cooking, it was never something someone of his ranking had to be concerned with, but it seemed to him that far too much steam was emerging out from the pot.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"Uh…" Aqune jumped, just as soon as she realized what she had been doing. Rather, what she was supposed to be doing, which wasn't spacing out. Now, on top of the steam, a reddish liquid was oozing from the sides of the pot. The girl promptly turned the entire stove off, as it was the quickest fix. "Buguese, I'm sorry," she continued, to acknowledge him.
"You don't need to apologize," he answered. However she was cooking wasn't going to offend him. But it was unusual for her to lose focus. "What is going on, my dear?"
"I just have a lot on my mind, I suppose," replied Aqune. She bent over to open a cabinet beneath the stove, which she pulled some rags from. She began to try and wipe up what she had spilled. Maybe not the greatest idea when the stove's surface was still so hot, but that was only further indication she wasn't thinking straight.
"That's understandable," Buguese answered. He felt the same. "But if you're to start a fire, that would only give us further trouble. Maybe you should get some rest."
Aqune shook her head.
"It's alright, Buguese. I have to cook something for dinner. Even if I went without, that wouldn't be fair to you, or the others."
"You don't have any reason to cook for other Insectors," Buguese argued. "I know you enjoy it, and it may be convenient for them, but it is not a necessity. The military presence in the castle is much lower than it was during the actual war."
"But yet, it isn't all over," Aqune answered, her face looking troubled. "Maybe I'm naïve, but I always thought, when the sun was finally returned to this world, and the greenery, humans and Insectors could live in peace with one another. Because now, there should be no reason for anyone to fight."
"Aqune…" Buguese replied. The man reached out, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I too wish that you were right. I have no desire to fight a war ever again, and most people share this sentiment. I don't think there will ever be another war, so to speak. Still, there are too many unsettled feelings on both sides. Even in this better world, there will never be an end to incidents of hatred and violence."
"I… I don't want to believe that," Aqune answered. "There must be something that can be done. Something I can do."
She said those words, but her heart was shaken. Of course it wasn't that easy. All she could do now was hold Buguese. To take in his comforting presence. He covered her body with his cape and would let her stay this way for a while if it helped.
All along, Buguese had a good idea of what had inspired Aqune's current unease. It happened just the other day, while she and some of the other Spider Riders were in an Arachnan town, delivering fresh fruits to the villagers. It was a simple act to spread joy. To share the abundant harvest Spirit Oracle had blessed the castle town with. But not all villagers would accept anything that came from Aqune, a "traitorous" Rider who sided with the enemies during the war. To them, she was just as bad as an Insector. And now, she was the fiancé of Buguese, the Insector Emperor. Aqune stayed strong, and didn't protest. She refused to bother anyone if they had a problem with her. But later that night, she went back to Buguese and cried.
Buguese wished he were there. If he had been, he would not have allowed such injustice. He himself, other Insectors... they may have deserved that. But not Aqune. However, much as Buguese imagined the satisfying taste of forcing the humans to take back their words, he realized all the same that Aqune wouldn't have wanted that. What would more conflict solve?
He held her tightly.
"I love you more than anything, my beautiful Aqune," Buguese whispered to her. But could mere kind words solve anything either? he doubted it. If their positions were reversed, he was sure he would appreciate them, but knew in his heart they would change nothing. He wished there was something more he could do for her.
Buguese had an idea, when he saw ahead of him the mess that was left on the stove. A foolish idea perhaps, but it was something.
"Aqune, I was wondering something," he began awkwardly.
"Hm?" Aqune replied.
"Would you mind teaching me how to cook as well as you do?"
Aqune let go of Buguese in surprise.
"Uh… well, I wouldn't mind," she answered. She smiled, the idea sounding rather fun, but it was an apprehensive smile. "But, why so suddenly?"
"Well, you enjoy it, don't you?" Buguese questioned. He sort of regretted asking, but he couldn't back down now.
"Yes," Aqune replied. "It's relaxing, and I love sharing what I make with other people."
"That is why," Buguese answered. "Because it is something that makes you happy."
"Yes, I would!" Aqune replied. "And I'm sure if we worked together, the job could get done faster."
"Exactly," Buguese answered. Though, confident as he pretended to be, he honestly expected he might just drag her down, if he wasn't good at it. And as good as her? He shouldn't have even suggested something so ridiculous.
"Here, Buguese!" the girl picked up a rag and tossed it to him. "We should clean this before we start over."
"Very well," Buguese replied. Despite his own doubts, he was very satisfied with his decision. Already, it had brought the liveliness back to Aqune. As the girl he always saw as the light to his dark, he loved her the most at her brightest.
