I put in some time skips because a) I didn't want to add in boring stuff and b) I'm tired and lazy
Enjoy!!!
DATE: AUGUST 10
"Where is everyone?"
"Summer Holidays."
"Oh," Ryoma sat down next to Tezuka and looked at the thick book he was reading.
Ryoma wearing a sheer light green no-sleeve shirt that stopped above his naval and a darker pair of shorts with green slippers. Tezuka was wearing an undershirt with light gray shorts and no shoes as he lightly kicked his feet in the cool lake.
They were by Lake Ayana (which they named in honor of her) and it was late morning on a lazy Sunday.
"Ne, Kunimitsu?"
"Hmm?"
"Just what is everybody's job here?"
"Oishi's the Ambassador in our administration."
"What of everyone else?"
"Inui's the alchemist and main healer. Eiji presides over the congress and senate. Momoshiro and Kaidoh are both heads of the military and Fuji's the vice."
"Vice? I've never heard of that position."
"If you and I are out of the country or unable to rule, Fuji takes over."
"Hmm…" Ryoma leaned back and folded his arms under his head as he closed his eyes.
--
"Emperor Kunikazu died? When?"
"Last June sir, desu," The scrawny boy said as he looked at his leader.
The man before him was tall and muscular with small, cold golden eyes and gray hair styled upwards.
"Why am I hearing this now?"
"We just received word."
Akutsu Jin looked at the boy, "Go to Seishun as a work boy. I want you to spy on them for me."
"Hai desu," the boy said as he ran away to pack.
A brown haired man sat behind Akutsu and had a worried look on his face.
Kawamura Takashi rose and walked to the door.
"Jin, I'm going to bed early, okay?"
Akutsu waved him off as he read through some files.
Kawamura nodded even though the other man couldn't see and walked down the hall.
Was Akutsu going to attack Seishun? Kawamura could still remember his life at the palace before his father was charged with murder. His father had been a coward and destroyed their lives by packing everyone up and fleeing to Yamabuki.
When he'd arrived, he met Akutsu and they initially became friends. But his father, desperate to regain some political face, married him off to the ruling family.
Kawamura opened the door to his bedroom and walked in. He frowned slightly at the messy room.
He, even though it was against his nature, was resentful of his new life. Yamabuki's capital was nothing like Seishun. Here, everything was in the slums. People died from poor hygiene and disease everyday and Akutsu thought nothing of it. His only concern was taking over Seishun.
The palace was considerably smaller and a lot less fanciful. The walls were somewhat depressing with their dull gray color.
"Takashi," A rough voice called. Kawamura jumped and turned to his husband before lowering his caramel colored eyes. "Come here," Akutsu demanded. Kawamura knew what was going to happen. He walked towards Akutsu and stood before him.
"What were you doing?"
"I was doing nothing," Kawamura quietly said. He winced and clutched his cheek where Akutsu just slapped him.
"What were you doing?" He repeated.
"Thinking."
"Of what?"
"S-Seishun."
Akutsu grabbed Kawamura's shoulders and slammed him on the bed before biting the slightly smaller man's neck.
"Jin," Kawamura gasped out as he tried to push the heavier man off of him.
Akutsu ground his hips against Kawamura. The brunette gasped and resigned himself to his fate of being raped again.
--
Taichi Dan looked around the piers in Seishun and saw a prospering city full of life. Merchants in bright colors laughed and sold to paying customers and children ran in and out of the legs of adults and crates of goods.
Dan was in awe. Yamabuki was never this lively! Something green caught his eye and he turned to see a boy wearing almost see through clothes with about six scarves wrapped around his waist to hide any private parts. Another teen was near him with brown hair and blonde highlights.
There were talking to an old elderly woman who had trays filled with hot, steaming buns.
Dan was amazed at how beautiful they looked together, but then remembered he had to go the palace. He took out a map of Seishun's capital followed the path. About an hour later he found the palace and was looking at it from a bush.
He heard hooves to his left and turned to see the two boys from the piers galloping towards the palace.
"Mitsu, you're cheating!" The black haired boy laughed as he told his white horse to go faster. The older man's black and strawberry roan horse sped up to beat the white female.
"You're just slow!" The brown haired boy called back.
"Come on Snow!" The white horse sped up and zoomed past the unknown (to Dan) older boy. The brunette sped up even more and they arrived at the gates at the same time.
"NO! Another tie? When am I going to beat you!?" The raven haired boy shouted as they hopped off their horses and walked through the opening gates.
Dan walked up to the gates and quickly snuck in when he thought no one was watching. He looked around and saw the boys had disappeared.
"Can I help you?"
Dan jumped and looked at the man behind him.
"Hai desu," He stammered, "I'm Taichi Dan, desu, and I would like to speak with whoever is in charge of the castle's staff, desu, because I would like to work here, desu."
"Oh, now you have to go to Emperor Ryoma for that. Come with me," The guard guided the small black haired boy to the study. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer.
"Who is it? You better not say 'interrupting' and then an animal!" The voice called from inside. Dan heard the guard chuckle and wondered what kind of emperor this Ryoma person was.
"It's the Lion!"
"Tigers and Bears oh my! Come in!"
The man laughed and opened the door.
Dan's brown eyes widened as he saw the boy from the piers.
'He's the Emperor!?'
Ryoma folded his hands and smirked at the guard. "Now, now Lion, eating little boys will only get you in trouble."
"I do not eat little boys; he wanted to talk to you about working here." Ryoma quirked an eyebrow and waved Dan over to him. The boy obeyed and Lion left.
"What's your name, Shorty?"
"My name is Taichi Dan, desu; it's an honor to meet your Highness, desu!" Dan bowed and Ryoma nodded.
"Hello Dan, I'm Ryoma," Ryoma moved some papers, re: swiped them off the desk, and leaned forward and sniffed.
Dan was confused at why Ryoma just sniffed him but did not say anything.
"You're from Yamabuki."
"H-how did you know, desu?"
"I've the best nose." Ryoma tapped his nose and brought out some new papers.
"What are your skills?"
"Um, I good messenger and can remember things really well, desu!"
Ryoma, who always trusted his gut, felt that gut say to him that Dan was bad news despite his appearance.
"Act the innocent flower, yet be the serpent under it," Ryoma whispered to himself before smiling. 'Keep your friends close, enemies closer and potential enemies closest.'
"Welcome to Seishun, Dan. I'll take you to Kiki, she'll show you around."
Ryoma rose and led Dan down a corridor that led to the servants' mansion. A woman with red hair and green eyes greeted them.
"Kiki, this is Dan, show him around." Ryoma spoke shortly. Kiki instantly knew that Ryoma was suspicious about Dan by how short the introductions were. Normally he would've gone into a long explanation of how everything worked and how everyone was.
"Yes Emperor, come this way Dan." Kiki turned around while holding an arm over Dan's shoulders. She turned around and mouthed to him:
Yamabuki?
Ryoma nodded and pointed to his eye.
Keep a close eye on him! Kiki nodded and she walked away.
--
Ryoma went back to the study. 'So, Yamabuki is trying to attack Seishun again with an indirect way?' Ryoma smirked as he brought out some parchment and a quill.
Dear Sakuno,
Thank you for the letter, I received it earlier this morning. But I have a favor for you.
Yamabuki, the driving force of the Iopines, is planning something to attack the palace here. A boy named Taichi Dan showed up this morning and requested a position as a messenger I guess. Do they seriously take me for a fool!? You, as my most trusted friend and absolute best spy in Les Angels, could, maybe, go to Yamabuki as a servant and tell me what they're planning. You don't have to. I'm just asking.
However, if you do go, you know what to do, eh?
I'll be waiting for your response,
Ryoma
Ryoma waved the paper around to dry it off and folded it before placing the royal wax seal on it.
--
Sakuno opened the letter and read it before smiling.
She began to pack immediately. No more was she living in the cottage incognito!
Within two hours she was on the ship to Yamabuki.
--
"Yes, I would like a job as a maid here. My parents are extremely poor and they tried to send me to the palace there, but they weren't accepting anymore maids." Sakuno said as she talked in a small voice to Kawamura.
'The gullible fool,' Sakuno thought cruelly as she saw him give her a sorrowful look.
"I'm sorry," He said as he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "We have many positions open, I'm sure there's one you can easily take." He gave her a small smile and she made herself blush.
"Thank you so much!"
'He's such a weak ruler!'
Sakuno was shown to her small room and given the tasteless uniform. She put on the drab thing and grimaced at how the gray dress gave her no shape whatsoever.
She braided her hair up and left the room to start snooping.
--
DATE: AUGUST 12
Ryoma,
I've discovered not a lot. The main emperor has been seldom seen, but I've managed to get some info off of the second.
Yamabuki definitely sent a spy to you. It's Dan. It's amazing how much information this man could spill if you acted like a pitiful fool. I would keep him close; I suggest making him your personal messenger with coded messages. If he's able to crack the code that should tell you he knows something.
Thanks for giving me something to do!
Sakuno
Sakuno sealed it and whistled. Her black hawk swooped down to the window.
"Ari, bring this to Ryoma for me." Ari nodded her head and took off into the night.
--
Ryoma frowned at the letter.
Never underestimate an Angel. That was Les Angels saying.
KunImitsu, I've decided that during midwinter celebratiOns, we Go To my hOme to visit my side of the familY. I'm sUre they miss you.
"Dan!' Ryoma called. Dan scurried into the room and bowed.
"Hai Emperor Ryoma, desu," Dan greeted.
"Can you deliver this to Kunimitsu; he should be talking with Fuji and Kaidoh in the war room." Dan nodded and took the letter before running out the room
He stopped when he turned around the corner and opened the letter.
'Why are there letters capitalized?' Dan read the letter over and over; he didn't even notice the figure creeping up behind him.
'I, O, G, T, O, Y, U… I…something else.' He thought hard. 'I toy gou? I…I…I GOT YOU!'
"'I GOT YOU', what is this?" Dan asked out loud. He heard a rustling of cloth and turned in time to see the last of a shadow turn around a corner.
--
Ryoma walked into the war room and clapped his hands before slamming the door shut.
"What's wrong?" Fuji asked when he saw Ryoma's face.
Ryoma walked up to the low table in the room and sat down before making everyone lean in.
"Taichi Dan, citizen of Yamabuki, sent here by Akutsu Jin to spy on us so he could plan an attack."
"How did you find this out?"
"The minute I saw him I was suspicious. I sent Sakuno out to spy."
"That sweet little girl?"
"She's one of the best spies in the land."
"Doesn't she live in the woods?"
"You think the best spy in Les Angels would live in the open? I think not!"
Kaidoh looked at the map. "So how do we stop another attack from the Iopines?"
Ryoma and Tezuka smirked.
"Simple, kill the chick before it hatches." Tezuka said as Fuji smiled evilly.
"Defeat them before they could rise. I love that way of thinking!"
"Fshuu, I'll have to actually talk with that idiot."
"Sorry Kaidoh," Ryoma apologized. He knew that those two couldn't even look at each other.
Kaidoh rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine. It's him you need to worry about."
"Tezuka, shall we call to the senate to declare war?"
"Yes, Ryoma, we need you to set up a plan of attack with Momoshiro and Kaidoh. Les Angels is known for their stealthy war tactics."
"Aye eye Buchou," Ryoma saluted. "Let's go Kaidoh!"
--
Tezuka, though on the outside, appeared to be the type of person who would rather go to negotiations than to the battle front. Truth was, he hated talking to people. Sometimes they would be so stuck up and they think only their opinions are right. Other times they wouldn't know what they were talking about. What really pissed him off was when they had an annoying voice. But above all…above all of the reasons in the world of why he hated talking to people…SOMETIMES THEY HAD STINKY BREATH!!!
So why deal with it? Tezuka thought that if you went to war you wouldn't be talking to the people you're fighting. If they had strong opinions, they couldn't voice them because Tezuka's sword would be in their throat. If they didn't know what they were talking about, Tezuka would slit their necks. Annoying voice? Tezuka never found the scream of someone dying as annoying. Stink breath? There would be so much death and blood that he wouldn't be able to smell it.
Tezuka paused in his thoughts. Maybe he was the devil disguised as an angel instead of Fuji?
All in all, Tezuka thought the better option was war. Oh goody, war…just the word made the blood in Tezuka's body pump with vigor. The thought of riding on a galloping horse to his enemies and the screams of the dying echoing in his ears, it made him feel excited. But not nearly as much as being with Ryoma.
--
Ryoma dragged himself from the war room where the shouts of guards rang clear. The young boy decided to NEVER be in the same room with Kaidoh and Momo alone. EVER!!!
Ryoma managed to carry himself to his bedroom where he fell -face first on the large bed. He kicked his slippers off and pulled the covers over his body. He was sooo tired, yet he got plenty of sleep every night- well, he smirked, almost every night. Not to mention that his stomach felt like it was eating and throwing itself up.
He groaned as a wave of nausea washed over him and his world spun. He stayed very still until everything had become right side up again. Ryoma sat up and regretted it right after.
Another wave of dizziness swept over him which incited more nausea. He ran to the basin in the washroom and regurgitated everything he had that day.
What was wrong with him?
Maybe he should talk to Inui…Ryoma shook his head.
'Never am I going to that dude! He might kill me with his "juices".'
Ryoma decided to see Edna, the other, nicer, MORE NORMAL healer the palace.
Ryoma walked down the stairs until he got to the ground floor and into the medic wing of the palace and knocked on Edna's door.
Edna answered the door after the second knock and smiled when she saw Ryoma. Not to mention that she was relieved it wasn't Tezuka asking for more headache relievers.
"Can I help you with something?" Edna's crystal blue eyes twinkled merrily as she asked Ryoma.
"I've got the stomach bug."
"Really? Well, come on; let's see what we can do!" The once-brown-now-gray haired woman ushered him in.
--
Edna first checked Ryoma's temperature before his throat and ears and began asking him questions.
"Have you ever had the stomach bug?"
"Nope."
"Have you eaten anything that you could be allergic to?"
"Nope."
"Do you become dizzy at times?"
"Yup."
Edna paused so she could jot down what he confirmed. She knew what was really wrong with him.
Hell, probably the whole castle knew.
The dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps…the glow that surrounded Ryoma now.
"Ryoma, I think I know what you may have."
Ryoma had an expression on that clearly stated that he knew what was wrong with him and had already told her.
"You're having a baby."
Ryoma couldn't help the first words to come out of his mouth.
"But I'm a boy."
Edna chuckled as she sat back. "Need I remind you of what your body is capable of doing? That is one of the reasons why you were so desired by many kingdoms."
Ryoma sat there like a gaping fish before a newer, BETTER, more REVELANT question popped up.
"How could this happen? I'm only twelve!"
"Well, for a girl to start her monthlies, she's normally between twelve and fourteen, for a boy, they could start the process as early as six years old, but never after ten. You probably had the ability to carry a child from when you were about nine."
Ryoma didn't remember anything after that…he couldn't.
He woke up to see a concerned looking (or as concerned as he could get) Tezuka hovering by him.
Ryoma scrunched his eyes together as the light from the setting sun went straight into his eyes like a high concentrated ray of light.
"Are you okay?"
Ryoma nodded as he sat up slowly and winced at the slight throbbing in his head.
Tezuka grabbed Ryoma's arms and lifted him up.
"What happened?"
"You fainted and hit your head earlier today."
Ryoma looked down towards his stomach after a moment.
How could he tell him?
Ryoma jumped slightly when he felt Tezuka's hand on his tummy.
"I already know," Tezuka whispered before kissed Ryoma.
--
Ryoma was safely held within Tezuka's hold with his back against his chest.
Tezuka was lightly rubbing circles over Ryoma's stomach as Ryoma was drifting in between sleep.
Tezuka was amazed at this turn of events. He never imagined he'd be married, much less becoming a father at age fifteen. He then thought about the pending war. If the senate agrees, they could invade Yamabuki. If they invaded Yamabuki, Ryoma would want to fight but then he couldn't.
"We shouldn't tell anyone."
Tezuka glanced at the blur that was his husband. He had removed his glasses for the night and had no intention of putting them back on.
"I want everyone to know on their own."
"That's devious, let's do it."
"Nuh-uh, doing it got us into this." Tezuka playfully shoved Ryoma away and dove under the covers.
"Mitsu! I'm going to get you sooo bad!" Ryoma jumped up and began pounding on Tezuka's back.
--
Fuji sighed happily as he lathered his chestnut hair. Now don't get him wrong. He does not wash his hair as a habit like Ryoma bathing in bath salts. He just likes the feeling of the soap being massaged into his scalp.
Fuji began to softly hum a song he remembered when the door to his and his lover's bedroom slam open.
"Takeshi, is that you?" Fuji called out, hoping it was his lover.
Momo opened the door and smiled at his petite love. "Sup, Syuusuke."
Fuji smiled sincerely as he stepped out of the large bath and grabbed a towel to wrap around his hair; he didn't need to cover his body- Momo had seen it all already.
"Why'd you slam the door?" Fuji sat on the bed and laid back with his legs open- teasing Momo.
Momoshiro really couldn't answer the question completely since Fuji began to run his hands along his slim, toned body.
"You've got to stop doing this, how are we supposed to talk?" Momo asked with a smirk as he climbed up Fuji's body. Fuji smirked as well and pulled Momo up by his shoulders and planted a rough kiss.
"It's not my fault that you're so good in bed."
Momo didn't answer but he quickly attacked Fuji's slim neck.
--
Dan looked distressed as he sat on his bed. He held his head in his hands as he thought about what he was going to do. He had no information to send back to Akutsu.
Dan decided at that moment that nobles in Seishun were nothing like those in Yamabuki. They were tight lipped with everything involving the government.
He removed his headband and threw it at the wall.
What could he possibly say?
--
DATE: OCTOBER 11
Sakuno glared at Akutsu from under her bangs. She had heard about the type of relationship he and Kawamura had and was disgusted that someone who treated their spouse that way was still alive.
But then again- he was emperor.
Sakuno was currently standing against a wall in the dining hall where Akutsu and Kawamura were eating. Kawamura was sporting rather nasty bruises and seemed to be force feeding himself.
Another maid entered and bowed, "Emperor Akutsu, I'm sorry but you have a visitor from Seishun." Akutsu growled slightly but left. When the maid scurried after him, Kawamura leaned back and hurriedly pushed his plate away.
"Are you done milord?"
Kawamura jumped slightly before nodding. Sakuno smiled and took his plates but not before placing a blue jar in front of him.
"Its bruise balm, you bruises should heal within two days." He smiled at her in thanks.
"Thank you."
Sakuno nodded once more and went to the kitchens.
'Who could be here from Seishun?'
"Boo!" Sakuno screeched and nearly dropped her plates.
She couldn't believe her eyes. Ryoma stood in front of her in all of his short glory. He wore black breeches with a pale brown shirt and his hair was tied into a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
"What are you doing here? Seishun is a few days' sail!"
"Uh, do you know how long it's been since we last talked?"
"I don't care. Does Tezuka know about this, Ryoma?"
"Shh! I am not Ryoma! I'm Dominic, Dommy for short."
Sakuno nodded before frowning, "What, you can't trust me with a job anymore?"
"No, I just wanted to stop by here on my way to Rikkai. I wanted a place to stay and Tezuka was like 'no way are you staying in an inn!' so he sent me here!" Ryoma finished in one breath.
"I don't know who more of a retard is."
"What?" Ryoma tilted his head to the side.
"You are," Sakuno hung her head.
"Whaddya find out for me?" Ryoma chirped as they went into her room. Sakuno bent down and pulled a stack of papers from under the bed.
"These are all reports I've written. They contain all I know."
"Twenty eight…thirty pages worth? They really have loose tongues here."
"Yeah they do," Sakuno said as she said she sat on the bed. She noticed that Ryoma seemed to glow and that he was a bit more…not so skinny. "Have you gained weight?" Ryoma paused in his reading, and munching of a random apple that appeared out of nowhere, and stared oddly at Sakuno.
"What kind of question is that?"
"The kind you answer. Now answer."
"You'll find out soon enough."
Sakuno rolled her mahogany eyes. "How soon is 'soon'?"
"Seven months."
Sakuno was about to nod but caught herself. Realization dawned on her and she looked at Ryoma, okay, she gawked at him.
"Your eggo is preggo?" (NOTE: I do not own that quote. It's from JUNO!!!)
"Mm hm, do you have anything to eat? I'm awfully hungry."
Sakuno went over to her dresser and picked another apple from the fruit basket on top.
"Wow, you're going to be a mommy!"
Ryoma choked on his food. "W-w-what!!!!???? Whoa, what in the world is that supposed to mean!?"
"The one that bears the child is always the mother."
--
"I'm coming with you?"
"Why do you think I came here?"
Sakuno smiled hugged Ryoma before packing all of her belongings. That night, they would sneak out of Yamabuki.
--
Sanada never felt compelled to do it, but he did it anyways. No one told him he had to scout the perimeters of their castle every night, but he did it anyways. Just in case, he always told himself.
So imagine his surprise when he found a young girl, no older than fourteen, asleep next to a boy, no older than thirteen, high up in a tree.
Sanada peered up at them with his cool brown eyes before blinking. When he reopened his eyes, he saw an endless sea of gold.
The black haired boy yawned before climbing his way down. He took something out of his pocket and Sanada was ready to draw his weapon if need be. Instead, the boy pulled out a paper and looked at before looking at Sanada. He repeated the action about five more times before nodding.
"Emperor Sanada," The boy said with a groggy voice. His eyes were half lidded and his words slurred from sleepiness.
"Yes, may I help you?"
"I'm looking for you and um…oh crap what did I come here for? Yes! I remember um…no I don't."
Sanada quirked an eyebrow before jumping back as another one landed in front of him.
Sakuno turned around with a dead look in her eyes.
"Back. Off."
Sanada stepped back a few times. Sakuno stepped forward and Sanada stepped back again.
"Who are you?"
"Sa-sa-s-sakuno…YAAAAWWWNNNN!!!"
Sakuno yawned and sat down on the forest ground.
"Ignore her," Ryoma said as he gave the older girl a bored stare. "I'm Ryoma, Yukimura should be expecting me."
"And what of her?"
"Bodyguard," Ryoma yawned shortly before rubbing his stomach. "Do you have any food? I'm awfully hungry."
Sanada swallowed and nodded. "Come to the palace then…" He trailed off as he looked at her, wondering what he should do with her.
"Carry her and let's go."
Sanada, without thinking, picked the slim girl up and carried her after Ryoma.
Ryoma stopped after a while and turned around. "Where is the castle?"
"This way, follow me."
--
"Seichii, Seichii, come out here!" Sanada whispered to his napping spouse. Yukimura awoke slowly and rubbed his bluish purple eyes and swiped some blue hair from his face.
"What is it Gen-kun?"
"Do you know a 'Ryoma'?"
Yukimura started to shake his head before his eyes widened. "Oh yes! Ryoma is Tezuka's husband!"
Sanada eyes widened. "He got married?"
"Yes, before Kunikazu died."
"Oh, I've never heard of him."
"Les Angels' second prince?"
Sanada made an 'o' shape with his mouth. "Ryoma's his name; I thought it was Ryoko or something."
"No, no dear," Yukimura lightly kissed him on the lips before grabbing a robe. "I do believe that they have waited long enough."
The two went down to the greeting hall where Ryoma and Sakuno were. Sakuno was sleeping and Ryoma was stuffing his face.
They royal couple gaped not at Ryoma, but Sakuno. She had moved their thrones together to make a makeshift bed and was snoring softly.
"I hope you don't mind, she always does this at our house."
"Les Angels or Seishun?"
"Both," Ryoma ate another slice of ham before moving onto the corn.
Sanada was slightly appalled at how much a little boy like him could eat. "Are you pregnant or something? You eat an awful lot!" Yukimura whipped around to glare at his husband for his insensitivity before turning to Ryoma to apologize.
"No, it's okay."
Yukimura lifted an eyebrow, "Well are you?"
"Nope."
Yukimura shrugged and sat down. "What do we owe this visit to?"
"I'll tell you in tomorrow. I need Sakuno to tell you the details but she's knocked out." The three turned to the sleeping girl's form and sighed as one.
--
Sanada sat back at the mind blowing news. Yukimura was silent as he contemplated the facts.
They could team up with Seishun and defeat Yamabuki, or reject the offer and let Seishun be attacked. Of course, there was Rikkai's history with Yamabuki. After the failed siege on Tokyo, they tried to come after Dai.
Yukimura narrowed his eyes at the memory. That experience continued to haunt the whole kingdom to that day.
Why?
No one knew until after the attack. Yukimura had begun having the worst stomach cramps in his life, unbearable pain rippled through him all of the time. And then one day when he woke up, he was covered in blood.
He had gone to the healer, Renji, only to find out that he had a miscarriage.
Yamabuki needed to be destroyed.
"We'll join." Yukimura said. Sanada looked at him, but Yukimura grabbed his hand under the table. The larger boy was shocked to feel it shaking slightly. He knew why now. Yukimura was remembering.
Ryoma sniffed the air and picked up on the change in smell. Yukimura's scent had changed, he was distressed about something.
"What's wrong Yukimura?"
Yukimura looked at Ryoma. "Nothing's wrong."
Ryoma narrowed his golden eyes. "I can smell it. What's wrong?"
"Bad memories, that's all."
Ryoma tilted his head and nodded cutely.
"By the way, where's Tezuka?"
"He had to stay with Fuji to go to senate hearings. He threw a hissy fit over me having to leave alone."
"Tezuka…throwing a hissy fit?"
"He started ranting about how 'unsafe' it was and how 'vulnerable' I am."
"How un-Tezuka like," Sanada murmured.
"That's because I made him doughy!" Ryoma said proudly as he puffed his chest out.
Sakuno let her head thump onto the table they were sitting at. She began to drool slightly as she began dreaming.
"Is she always sleeping?"
"Nah, normally I'm the one sleeping a lot. What happened to her?"
--
Kunimitsu,
Hello Mr. I-don't-want-my-husband-leaving-without-me-!, I stopped by Yamabuki to pick up Sakuno, as she was our contact there. We're in Rikkai now and have managed to a treaty of alliance. I think Sanada doesn't know, but Yukimura is definitely onto something.
What is he onto you might ask? You know, down there. Where the baby is…yeah…he's sticking that nose of his where it doesn't belong. Speaking of the baby, it's getting bigger. It's becoming a bit harder to hide the bump under my clothes. Luckily, the morning sickness is long gone. However, I can't stop eating! I feel like I'm eating for four instead of two.
I can't stop eating and my jaw hurts and my teeth hurts and for some reason, I think Fuji did something to me in my sleep because I have an insatiable craving for all things spicy.
I'm tired now,
I shall bid thee a farewell with thy love, sweet mate, alas and adieu,
Ryoma
Ryoma yawned and changed into his nightclothes. He changed out of his pants and put on some shorts. He removed his shirt and looked at his reflection.
His stomach held a slight bulge to it that was rounded. He shivered at the thought of it being bigger in a few months.
'Don't think. Just sleep. Don't think. Just sleep.' He repeated in his head as he crawled into bed.