AN: UPDATE. I used Google translate for the Japanese phrases and words. If you need to translate some of the material please go there. Next chap I promise to put in translations.


=Chapter Nine=

Amy blinked her jade eyes in shock and surprise after hearing what the female retainer had to say.

"Ummm...sumimasen?" the cherry-pink female stammered.

"His Majesty requested that I escort you to his chambers." the retainer repeated.

"...May I ask why?"

"Forgive me milady, but I was only instructed to escort you."

Amy let out a low sigh, trying to stifle it. This whole thing caught her completely off guard.

"Well...alright then." she said softly.

The young flower followed the retainer through the vast halls of the palace, with her mind racing and going in eight different directions. She could feel her heart jumping frantically around in her ribcage. What or why did Shadow want her in his chambers for? Then after some thinking, she got a few ideas which made Amy feel stupid for not even considering it earlier. But at the same time, she felt very, very nervous. Apart from that one night a few months ago, when she first came to the palace, the sakura hedgehog had never really been alone with Shadow. At least for a longer period of time like Tikal, Blaze and Rouge before her.

'Just stay calm.' Amy mentally told herself. 'You can do this. And like Tikal said, it's not like he's cruel or anything...'

After going up four staircases and down two hallways, they finally reached the Emperor's chambers. Amy wasn't surprised to see a few guards in that area along the way. By now, she was a little used to seeing them around. Both Amy and the retainer then stopped at the door.

"Here we are, milady." the retainer announced.

Amy was a little befuddled as the servant began to take her leave.

"Um...is it alright to go in?" the cherry-pink female asked blankly.

"Of course, milady." the retainer replied with a cheerful smile.

Amy turned back towards the door and took one deep breath before entering. Inside, she saw Shadow seated on a small cushioned chair, and reading a scroll. It didn't take long for him to notice that she was there.

"My lord." Amy said, bowing a little after their eyes met.

The ebony hedgehog neatly rolled the scroll up and placed it down next to his chair and got up to greet the young flower.

"Chisanai." he said softly, taking Amy's trembling peach furred hands into his crimson striped ones.

Amy had wanted to ask him why he had summoned her there out of curiosity, but Shadow captured her in a gentle lip-lock before she could. The embrace left her feeling quite dizzy. Amy tried to keep a straight stance and act like a 'proper' young lady. The Emperor wrapped one arm around hers and led her into another part of his chambers. It was a private dining area which led Amy to assume that she was having supper with him tonight. Butterflies began fluttering around in her belly despite trying to keep a clear head so she could be able to eat. Though it would have been nice to be warned beforehand.

'I wonder why all the sudden he wants me here.' she pondered. 'But then he's the Emperor after all and he can do as he likes I guess.'

Shadow stood aside so Amy could take a seat. The sakura hedgehog sat down and waited for the midnight clad male to sit himself. To her surprise, he sat next to her diagonally instead of across from her. It made her a little more anxious, but she took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. As soon as they were both seated they started eating. Shadow noted how quiet Amy was. She was certainly a shy one.

"Chisanai?" the crimson splashed Emperor softly called out.

"Hai?" Amy responded with her head straight up.

"What else can you tell me about your family?"

The cherry-pink female blinked a few times. Was he trying to drum up a conversation?

"Er..well sir, my mother was mainly the head of the household." Amy explained, while being mindful not to talk with her mouth full of food. "She was in charge of everything. And I was supposed to help her with most of the chores and the servants."

"Was not your father the head of the family?" Shadow asked, looking up from his bowl of soba noodles.

"No, sir. I had said before that I never really knew him because he was away most of my life. I never saw him at home."

Shadow stared at her with a concentrative expression as she talked. Then he returned to his meal. What Amy told him seemed to back up Rouge's theory that Amy was greatly depraved for a person of her social status and since her father was a general in the Imperial Army for heaven sakes, there was no reason for her to be regarded somewhat like a middle class citizen. And it certainly wasn't what General Rozu himself had told him in their little interview during the midsummer.

"I see." Shadow murmured.

"I'm not ungrateful, it's just...I wish I'd known him enough as a father..."

A saddened look came over Amy's features. She sat very still, looking down at the table with her hands now in her lap. The ebony hedgehog took her hand and gently squeezed it, making her look up.

"Let's not focus too much on the past, my dear." he told her softly. "Keep your mind here and now where it properly belongs."

"Yes, my lord." Amy obediently replied.

But she understood what he was trying her. If she kept thinking too much with what had happened between her and her father, she wouldn't be able to move on with her life. And now that she thought about it, she was actually much happier here than she was living at her family's manor.

XXXXXXX

An hour later, the pair had finished their evening meal and Amy had the mindset that perhaps in a few minutes, she would be escorted back to her own quarters by a retainer. The young flower was now the only one sitting at the dining table, patiently and politely waiting to be excused while Shadow was considerably near her looking over a few more official issues. However as the minutes ticked by, Amy was starting to wonder if she was going back to her room or not. She contemplated asking Shadow, but was a bit too shy to even say a word about it. Finally, Amy decided it shouldn't hurt to do so.

"My Lord?"

"Hai?" Shadow replied.

"I'm...I'm wondering if I am to return to my quarters?"

"A retainer will be coming, but not to escort you back, Chisanai."

Amy's head was starting to spin. But before she could really think about it, the retainer that Shadow had mentioned came into the room. The sakura hedgehog stood up and followed her into another part of Shadow's chambers. Now Amy was really confused, but she politely kept her thoughts to herself. The retainer led her to a small adjacent area where it was shaped like a typical walk-in closet. Then Amy realized that the servant was there to help her get ready for bed. And if that was so, it also meant that she would be spending the night with the Emperor.

'Oooh...watashi no yo-sa...'

"Is milady well?" the retainer politely asked.

"I'm...I'm alright." Amy stammered.

"Your face has gone red, milady."

"Oh! Um...I apologize..."

Amy's hands flew to her muzzle in an attempt to hide the raging blush that had come over her features.

"You mustn't be so anxious, milady." the retainer kindly advised. "Lord Shadow is always gracious to his consorts."

"...Arigato." Amy squeaked in a small voice.

The retainer helped her out of her attire and into a nightgown-like kimono that was white with red and green plant-like patterns. When the servant pulled out a comb to help brush out her quills, Amy intervened and insisted that she could do so herself. A few minutes later, the retainer politely took her leave and now Amy was alone. Her mind was going haywire right about now. She knew sooner or later she and Shadow would consummate their relationship, but the prospect of it still made her feel incredibly nervous. Maybe she wasn't quite ready for this yet. But what could she do? It was her duty after all. With a big, deep, heaving sigh to keep her heart beat in check, Amy came slowly out of the little closet-like area and went towards the main bed chamber. Amy didn't quite know what she should do next, seeing as how this was all very new to her. And yet highly expected from a noblewoman.

'Just try to relax.' the cherry-pink female told herself.

Then her ear twitched to the sound of footsteps coming towards her. Amy turned and saw Shadow in a simple black kimono with blue and purple flame patterns. Before Amy could react to his presence or even acknowledge him, the ebony hedgehog pulled her into his arms and began nipping at her neck. Amy held in a gasp but couldn't make her body stop trembling at his touch. Then he scooped her up and carried her bridal style all the way to the bed. His action was so sudden and unexpected that Amy clung to him in order to keep her balance and not fall off him.

"We must feed you more often, Chisanai." Shadow commented. "You're lighter than Tikal."

Amy held in a giggle as she continued to blush. Shadow gently placed the young flower on the bed and then went around the room, putting out the lit candles and lanterns. The room got darker and darker with every tiny flame extinguished. Amy was having a bit of a hard time keeping her heart from crashing around in her ribcage. Finally, when the whole room was pitch black, Amy felt extra weight on the bed. And then the midnight clad male's arms wrap around her frame, pulling her towards him. Shadow nuzzled her face and neck. His deep purrs causing Amy to blush harder and her ear to fold back a little. Shadow gave her a gentle kiss to her forehead while grasping a handful of her quills.

"O-yasumi, Chisanai." he whispered lovingly.

Amy blinked a few times in surprise. Perhaps they wouldn't consummate just yet. Shadow rested the sakura hedgehog's head carefully onto his snow-splashed chest and began stroking her soft pink quills. Exhaustion soon set in and Amy was started to drift asleep. But not without one last word for the night.

"...o-yasumi nasai." Amy murmured.

"Pleasant dreams, my sweet flower." Shadow replied quietly back.

XXXXXXX

The next morning, the clouds parted a little from the nocturnal storm, allowing the seemingly magenta sun to peek out from them. Goldcrest birds flew about for morning catch and tweeting as the sun rose higher and higher into the grey and blue sky above.

Amy's ear twitched to the sounds of early morning nature. She began stirring in her sleep as a result. Rubbing her tired jade orbs, Amy nearly expected to wake up in her own room. Then she remembered that she was still in Shadow's chambers. It was this memory jog that made her fully awake. Her blurry vision becoming clearer by the second. Amy saw that she was in the very same position the night before. A blush instantly appeared on her peach muzzle and she froze in place. Then Shadow emitted a heavy sigh , making Amy freeze completely stiff. Noticing that his bride was awake, he started petting her quills in a similar fashion last night.

"Ohayō, Chisanai." the crimson-splashed Emperor quietly greeted to her while nuzzling the bangs on her forehead.

Amy started trembling a little again and rubbed her eyes.

"...o...ohayō gozaimasu." she said in a low voice, sort of trying to hide her face away.

Shadow continued to look down on her with a softened look on his seemingly hard features. Then he slowly and carefully rolled over so that he was on top of her. Out of pure, natural, and simple instinct, Amy let out a startled squeak. Shadow, with the cherry-pink female all tangled up in his hold, started to groom her fur and quills. Amy was now sort of buried underneath him. She remained very still and submissive, much to Shadow's surprise. Even Rouge, Blaze, and yes, Tikal too, weren't this submissive. They'd often make him 'behave himself' in manner of speaking. Perhaps Amy was a little too obedient. For him at least. It wasn't always a good thing when a person never said no. He carefully rolled back to his side and saw Amy sort of curled up against his form. She timidly looked up at him as if she were still ten years younger. He gave one little peck on her nose and nuzzled underneath her chin, causing her to purr a bit.

"I hope you slept well?" Shadow asked her.

"Yes, my lord." Amy rasped in reply.

"Excellent."

He continued nuzzling under her chin again, making Amy feel ticklish. A few seconds of this and she couldn't help herself from giggling lightly and purring profusely. Although the young flower didn't notice, Shadow was rather enjoying her reactions. He pulled her a little closer and started nipping at her ear.

"Watashi wa watashi no chīsai hana, anata o aishiteimasu." the ebony hedgehog whispered to his mate.

Amy blushed madly at his affectionate declaration. She felt a load of electrical butterflies in her belly while heat rushed to her face. Suddenly, Amy felt her eyes tear up, though she hardly knew why. Blinking a few times, she raised her hand to quickly rub the water out her jade orbs. However, Shadow intervened by gently taking her hand into his own and using the other to wipe the tiny beads of liquid from her eyes. Then he pulled her into another lip-lock. This time, Amy kissed him back without any reluctance as she had before. It was the first time in her life that she felt truly loved. The sakura hedgehog breathed a little heavily when they broke apart. The Emperor held her close to him and went back into her neck. She emitted a little gasp when she felt him bite her, marking his territory. She almost laughed aloud when she heard him growl a little. Afterward, he nuzzled her on her forehead.

"Watashi wa,-nushi no kage o anata ga daisukidesu." Amy whispered.

In response, Shadow gently kissed her forehead and then began lovingly petting her quills again.