STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIED.
A/N: I was sure that by this time, this story might be already forgotten. What with the late updates and extended plot. I don't need to apologize, for there is no more apology left in me. I've exhausted it all for the past chapters and I know even u guys are tired hearing it. However, gratitude had always filled me and I am constantly reminded of my duty as an author by your heartwarming praises and reviews. Everytime I open my fanfic account, I never fail to receive at least five new messages in my inbox, all of them telling me the same thing—that my story is worth reading and updating. Even in facebook and private emails I received these messages and I never grew tired reading them all. It's a wonder how an inexperienced, unprofessional author like me, who has tangled sentences and pathetic grammar receives such love and support. If my thank you is not enough, I don't know how to repay ur kindness.
My dear readers, you are everything to me. Thank you.
Enough drama, on to the next chapter.
WARNING: Lime at the near end of the chapter. Minors, back off.
If you want to. (winks)
----Chapter Eleven--
"Do you find any?"
Teaf shrugged her shoulders and shook her head to her mistress. "I was so sure there was one on this side but for some reason I could no longer track it. This is the one that's supposedly leads to his library," the maidservant patted a few blocks on the wall and was obviously confused as to why she cant open it.
"Cant you find another one?" although her mistress posed a calm face, her voice had an obvious sign of hysterics on it. "There must be at least one open passageway around here," she, herself, was knocking on the wall, searching for that odd sound that would mark the entrance to a passageway out of the hell they all call the king's chamber.
"Would you mind if I ask you something, Your Highness?" Teaf received no answer of confirmation but she shot her question anyway. "Why do you want to escape? It's your wedding night, isn't it? I thought couples love the wedding night the most?"
When Fuuko's shoulder slumped down, Teaf thought she might have said something offending but she was more drown by confusion to think of saying sorry.
Fortunately, however, Fuuko didn't take offense on her young maid's words and actually know where the young girl's coming from. Although Fuuko was not much of a romantic even when she was a little girl, she had thought the same as Teaf about weddings and wedding nights. It's supposed to be a grand and joyous occasion—no hard feelings, no dread for the future and no regrets for decisions made—apparently, she was experiencing all of those.
She knew she was beginning to be suspicious and that was the last thing she had to be. She decided to draw a long breath and finally settled on the mattress. The king's bed was huge and soft, and immediately she felt a bit calm and comforted.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried," she lied, she was shaking with terror and no amount of mattress would be enough to completely calm her down.
"Worried of what?" Teaf had come near her, flashing wide innocent blue eyes.
Fuuko found her face heating up. She doesn't know if its appropriate to discuss this matter with a young girl so she decided to explain it as a whole concept without details. "This is the first time I got married and so I'm confused as to what to do."
Teaf frowned a little, the cringe on her nose a proof of her slight violent reaction over her Queen's statement. "And you think escaping will do you any good, milady? Knowing His Highness, he would tear the castle open in search of his wife."
Fuuko doubted that. Tokiya is a selfish toad who would care less about anyone but himself. But she certainly doesn't want to say that at the moment, not with the maidservant looking a bit offended of her attempt to fly away from their King. "Im not escaping," she declared with more force than what she intended. "I merely want a time out—" her words were cut off by Nanashi's entrance in the room.
"His Highness sent me to tell you that he will stay inside his study for tonight due to some sudden problems that we have to work on. He sends you his goodnight and specifically told me to instruct you never to go anywhere without an escort." Nanashi was grinning when he delivered his message and Fuuko wasn't sure if he's jesting or not so she answered him with a skeptical look meaning to silently pry the truth from him. Joker could sense her irritation and that made him escape a loud roar of laughter. "Twas the truth I just told you. I was hoping you'll be happy to know that," and then with a shrug of his shoulder he added with an amused grin, "Or are you feeling humiliated that your husband has to ditch you on your first wedding night?"
That notion made Teaf giggle as she made the reply to Joker. "She's planning to escape, Your Grace. Twas a fact were actually searching for a means of escape from this bedchamber without being noticed by the guards outside the door."
"Is that so? And did you succeed thus far?" Joker was thoroughly enjoying this bit of information and he stared at Fuuko as though she was a hopeless case. Teaf shook her head gently. "Nay, but we tried."
"Well then, like I said, His Highness wont be here tonight so you could resume your plan of flight tomorrow," he turned his heels back to the door, intending to depart. "You both have a pleasant evening." He nodded at Teaf and bowed at Fuuko before he took off and left them.
Two seconds after the closure of the door, Teaf was not at all surprised to hear a long sigh of relief behind her and she genuinely smiled at her mistress. "Are you happy, Your Highness?"
Fuuko stood up from the bed and was brightly grinning back. "More than happy, I could die now."
"Well, would you want me to assist you with your pre-slumber rituals now?"
"I would wish nothing more, Teaf."
---TF---
After a warm bath for half an hour, Fuuko was dead sleeping a few minutes after she tucked herself to bed. The maidservant remained by her side until she was won over by sleep.
Just a few minutes after the first faint glow of light sip through the sides of the curtains and hit her sleepy eyes, Fuuko stirred, disturbed. But what awakened her was not the offending sunshine, which was not even enough to justify morning, but the possessive mouth over hers that had taken advantage of her sub consciousness.
She raised a fist, ready to knock down the offender, but her attempt was caught midway and finally, the monster raised his silverhead to gaze upon her. "Is violence always your way to say good morning?"
She glared at his handsome face, wondering how he could remain a beauty even at this horror time of the morning. "Not usually. But if I have my way, I'll wake you up with a dagger buried on your heart. Doesn't that sound divine?" she looked at him with a grim smile.
He quirked an eyebrow upward. "Really now. Would you care to know what I want buried inside you? I have it to my highest esteem that that would be divine."
A surge of embarrassment and anger mixed on Fuuko's face and she struggled away from him. "Get away from me!" she snapped.
"Make me," he said as he dug his head on the side of her neck and showered starlight kisses over her skin.
She shivered at the first touch of his warm lips and instantly felt extreme anger over her primitive reaction to his sweet assaults. This is insanity and she should hang herself. This man is obviously having his way and without the slightest effort. "Do you always do this to all ladies who slept on your bed?"
"No. I hadn't brought any woman here to begin with," he whispered huskily over her ear.
"I will not believe you if you feign innocence over the status of your virtue."
Tokiya snorted. "I bring them somewhere else," his lips traveled over her cheeks and that gentle touch seemed more intimate than any open mouthed kisses they'd ever shared but when their eyes met, Tokiya knew he was defeated. Once again.
There was that warmth in those sapphire pools and such confusion, as though she was witnessing his moments of inner struggles. When he was scowling or angry, he was beautiful but with this look of vulnerability, as though he was searching on her face the answer to all the questions only she could provide, Tokiya was a scene to behold.
No longer taking all the prodding stare, Fuuko whispered her next word with mild hostility. "What?!"
Tokiya blinked, scowled at her and moved out of the bed as though she was carrying a contagious deathly disease. Fuuko knew she should be thankful of that sudden evasion but she wasn't. Instead, she was feeling a mixture of emotions that were too close to be called disappointment that she was debating over how to punish herself later. Raiha, her mind screamed. Think of Raiha.
A knock made them both looked at the door and with a raise of his palm, Tokiya opened it and revealed Proteus and Afuira. They bowed but Proteus was the first one to notice the unnerving air of awkwardness. "I assumed nothing wild happened last night?"
Fuuko's heated face was enough to fry an egg but Tokiya merely answered the comment with a disinterested shrug.
Proteus frowned a bit, not with disappointment but more of surprise. "And I thought the youth is packed with raging hormones. Guess I'm mistaken."
"We have to prepare for the second wedding day. Are Your Highnesses ready?"It was Afiura.
Tokiya first nodded and moved towards the entrance. Fuuko followed a couple of seconds behind.
--TF---
Unlike yesterday, the second wedding day was less demanding and Fuuko even had a time for a little rest after the first ceremony in the morning. As she requested, she was declared an Umi but no changes were made. Although that decision arose suspicions and confusions from the council, it was Tokiya's final decision that made all debates ceased. That actually surprised Fuuko, thinking he would even be the first one to announce protest. When she asked him about it after the ceremony, he only cocked his eyebrow at her and said, "Would you rather I didn't do that?"
"No. But—"
"I would appreciate some gratitude instead of questions about my decisions."
She wasn't able to answer a good comeback as he turned around to leave. When he was about to turn left of the corridor and be completely out of sight did Fuuko call him back. He halted and she shouted "I'll find a way to pay this act of force thoughtfulness."
He obviously heard that, but he didn't show any sign of acceptance. He only stepped a foot forward, and another foot...and another…until he was completely out of her sight.
--TF—
"This is a catastrophe..." the head of the council, a man in his sixties, shook his head as he inclined his defeated back on his huge chair. He has long silver hair, long white beard and was covered from shoulder to sole with a velvety blue shimmering gown. He had creases all over his head and wrinkles around his weary eyes. As he slumped himself on his chair, murmurs of protests continuously roamed around the council hall and he could sense a pounding headache coming. "It was our King's decision to give his wife more time to decide about the grave matter. He is obviously also not in favor of the new Queen's decline to acquire the Umi's power, as what's supposed to be done."
"However, Your Grace, the woman's obvious refusal to be one of us clearly shows her disinterest of being our Queen. Are we to give us and our proud nation such insult? I don't think so," it was the Marquess of Mudshire, Faudron, who shouted his protest and gain enormous amount of nods and approval from the other men. The council was composed of eleven members, leaders of the eleven most influential families of the kingdom, among which one will see Proteus, Nanashi and the Head of the Council, Duke Keith Iceburst, Neon's father.
"She didn't refuse to be our Queen. I believe the lass willingly pledged herself to the task," Proteus's booming voice echoed throughout the room, the servants who occasionally refilled their wine glasses squeaked in terror.
"But she refused to be an Umi," the Marquess countered. "If she is so inclined of the task as how you declare her to be, she should be dying to acquire our power. It pains me to think that a highlander roams around the kingdom acting high and almighty in front of our civilized well-bred society. I cannot stand by here, as a part of the council, and see my daughters curtsying over a lowly highlander."
There was a shout of approval from the left side of the table and it was followed by some noncommitted murmurs. Proteus groaned at his seat, his temper flaring and his ventricles popping out of his head. Joker watched the whole scene with crossed arms and a look of amusement, he scanned his eyes at the members, noticing how they vehemently showed their responses of approval over Faudron's speech. The Head of the Council, though, looked like he was going to have a heart attack over what to decide on and Joker thought it was his time to make a little speech to end this argument once and for all. When his mouth opened to talk, a man across his table beat him to it, and he was forced to close his mouth and hear the words from the youngest member of the Council, Duke Austin of Rainford.
"Gentlemen, if you'll be so kind as to give me permission to voice out my thoughts, I would take it as an honor," he bowed at the Head of the Council, gained his permission and began his speech. "It seems to me its pretty senseless to discuss about a matter that had already happened without slight chances of reverting. I understand we are all exhausted and would most likely want to retire to the safely cavern of our own homes. I know, cause I am too. The king has already gained our approval to give him more time to change his wife's mind, it may not happen as soon as when we expected, but we have no choice but to rely on his ability to placate his wife's—"
He was cut of by Faudron again. "And if she remained stiff about the idea?" his cerulean eyes were challenging the new member of the council, who had just started when he was given the position after the death of his sire a week ago.
Duke Austin was not a bit offended by the interference, if anything, he was taking the scrutiny quite smoothly for a man his age. "I was to explain that when you cut me off, milord. Like I said, we have no choice but to trust on our King's judgement and so I suggest we give him a month to change the queen's mind. If worse comes worst and Queen Fuuko doesn't bend or go along with tradition, we will then use the power of the council to set a divorce—"
Proteus looked incredulous. "We cant do such thing!" he roared and Joker didn't dare stop him for he, himself, was feeling the same thing.
"Let the Duke continue!" Neon's father was thoroughly exasperated at the way his members are arguing over the issue. With a nod, he gestured the young royalty to resume.
Austin mildly smiled at Proteus, meaning to pacify the commander and silently telling him he meant no harm. "Like I said, we would set a divorce only if the Queen chooses not to be an Umi and," he emphasized, "—if our kingdom doesn't wish her to be their queen. If at the end of the month, she remains a highlander but gains the kingdom's approval, I say we honor the latter and let her be." He finished and sat back on his chair with a silent thud.
The council was then speechless. The lad actually made sense.
Proteus, who was about to shoot cannonballs everywhere, was now smiling in amusement.
Taking advantage of the other members' preoccupation, Joker finally spoke. "I guess that suggestion perfectly made sense. If the kingdom likes the queen and would want to retain her despite her highland blood, who are we to impose contrary decisions?"
"Don't look so hopeful. Our proud clansmen would never bow to a highlander, its always the other way around. You're agreeing to a plan that we all know wound end up to that fateful divorce," Faudron countered yet again. "I say we set the divorce now and choose one of our own to be the king's bride—"
"If you're so determined it wont work, why are you hastening the divorce? Are you afraid the contrary of your belief would happen and Queen Fuuko might, indeed, gain the kingdom's good graces?" It was Austin and Joker couldn't help but whistle in amazement. The lad certainly inherited his sire's wits and brain as well as his cunning way of diplomacy.
The Marquess was red on the face and Duke Keith cleared his throat, not taking the heated argument any longer.
"Gentlemen, I suggest we all settle our horses and start the vote. Those in favor of Mudshire, raise your left hand. Those with Rainford, raise your right." To his exasperation, each side gain five votes and he knew he would then be the final judge yet again. He sighed, thoroughly spent now. "Umi-kami, I'm too old to deal with this," he muttered. "Seeing no future harm on Rainford's suggestion, I allow the council to wait before we make our final decision. However, I believe one month is too long a wait and will have to cut it short into two weeks. Six over five, majority wins." He stood up. "Meeting adjourned. See you in two weeks time gentlemen," he said and walked away.
Proteus escaped a loud sigh of relief and smiled feebly at the young Duke, because, although the decision was on their favor, two weeks was still such a short time to achieve their success. "You have a good brain on top of your shoulder, lad."
"I just did what I thought was fair on both sides," the handsome fellow merely shrugged, but he was smiling in delight.
"Don't look so happy, gentlemen. You cant be so sure of the outcome in two weeks' time. I don't think your Queen would be so lucky as to get the Umi's praises. She'll be forsaken before you know it," Faudron stood from his chair and glared at the people who dared opposed him earlier. Four of the other members of the council did the same and together, they walked out of the council hall.
"Snob bunch, aren't they?" Liam Fishcourt, the Marquess of Newpool, commented with disgust and the others nodded agreeably.
"My Lord, we could not thank you enough for making yourself our ally," Proteus slightly bowed at the Marquess and he was answered by a toothy grin.
"You know I've always trusted your judgement, Your Grace," the Marquess responded.
"My daughter, Mikaro, practically adores the new Queen and I believe there's a high chance this plan would actually work. It could be a hard job for her to be accepted in such high class society, but if you need anything, let us know so we could give any means of support," Earl Duncan patted Proteus arm and winked at him.
"We will, milord. And I hope Lady Mitsumi is recovering from her illness," Proteus added.
"My wife is well, thank you for your concern, Your Grace. And if it isn't much of a bother, she was requesting for Lady Afiura to visit her once in a while."
Proteus grinned. "I'll tell her just that."
Behind the elderlies' back, Joker whispered to Austin. "This is what happens when we're the only bachelors left of the group. We get left out."
--TF—
At sunset, the ballroom had been full of people. If yesterday's ball had been for close kins and relatives of the King only, this evening had been a celebration of all Umi royalties and well known families.
Although Fuuko could sense the disdain feeling among some, she was warmly welcomed by the rest and for a few hours, she felt a bit relaxed.
Until she saw him.
She knew it was him, her eyes could never deceive her. She knew how his indigo locks flutter with each move he takes, she memorized the broadness of his shoulder, his familiar stance that could very much differ him from the rest of society, she knew it was him, she could never be so sure to it as she was now.
He was standing on the balcony, his elbows resting on the terrace, and his eyes looking at someone beside him. He was smiling, talking animatedly with whoever was behind the blue curtain.
Why and how he was able to get out of the dungeon to be here was a question bugging her mind endlessly, but at the moment, it isn't as important as actually seeing him here—free, safe and very much alive.
Pulling her heavy skirts up, she sauntered towards the balcony, passing from Umis to Umis and barely greeting back those who extended their congratulations. She was walking too fast, she was a white blur amongst the crowd and dancers and when she finally reach the edge of the ballroom, where with just one step she could finally be with Raiha, she was whisked and twisted around, meeting the demonic ice cold eyes of her enemy, her nightmare and her husband.
"I've torn down the place looking for you," he was clearly irritated. "Don't you know the bride and the groom should stay beside each other on their wedding ceremonies?"
She was immediately annoyed herself. "Well, forgive me, Your Highness, as much as I want your attention all by myself, I was given the thought that you wish to stay with Miki all night long than choose the company of your bride, so I did what I thought was only wise to do, I granted you your wish."
He glared at her, guilty of her accusation but didn't want to admit it. "If you haven't been ignoring me all evening and hastily running away everytime I get near you, I would not have chosen the company of another woman," he snarled.
She glared at him, guilty of his accusation but didn't want to admit it.
"What in the world are you two newly weds bickering about? You're not even fully married to start with, you still have one day more."
They both glanced their guilty faces towards the sound of Neon's voice. Behind the alluring Athena was the purplehaired man of Fuuko's dreams. He looked surprise to see both of them but not as surprised as Fuuko seeing him. She was practically gawking and no amount of make up was going to cover the paleness of her face.
Tokiya snaked a possessive arm around her and pulled close, whispering something on her ear. "Forgive me, I forgot to tell you I invited him to come here. If it's distressing you, I could order them to leave."
In a heartbeat, Fuuko was staring at Tokiya as though he was a means to an end. She frantically shook her head, gaining a bit of composure and as much as she doesn't want to admit it, Tokiya's slow back and forth carress over her spine was making her feel relaxed.
"Your Highness, I understand that Raiha has caused too much anguish to you and your family. It must pain you to see him here. Were leaving this instance," Neon pulled Raiha with her and Fuuko was about to cry out a halt but Raiha beat her to it.
"Are you Lady Fuuko?" his voice was gentle, his eyes the warmth of the day, and his familiar demeanor was everything she had ever wished to feel again.
"She is Queen Fuuko to you," Neon corrected.
"You look familiar," he whispered as though he didn't hear anything. Fuuko didn't know why but she was shaking tremendously. "What…what is wrong with you?" her voice was barely audible and then it became strong and demanding the next. "Don't you remember me?"
"He doesn't remember a thing. We made him temporarily forget all about him and his past. His mind is practically empty," Tokiya alleviated her confusion.
"No…" she whispered, looking at the innocently smiling Raiha with tears stinging her eyes. She stared at Tokiya then, "No," shaking her head frantically, convincing him that she was out of her mind. "What did you do?!" she punched his chest with one hand. "How could you?! How could you?!" and then she was punching him consecutively with both fists.
Neon started to interfere. "Your Highness, I can see you're thoroughly distressed about this, were leaving now. Forgive us," she bowed quickly and pulled Raiha with her. Raiha continuously looked at her, his face a look of both confusion and mortification as he let himself get dragged by the female commander.
"No, wait!" Fuuko cried out. "Wait, Raiha-kun!"
Tokiya held her wrist, twisting her so he could get a good look at her face. He searched, scanning her teak-stained cheeks and reddening eyes. Why in the world is she crying? At the moment, he was at lost for words. She was hiccupping, crying still and before he could ask her his probing question, she had already run away.
Then slowly, he looked at his hand, the one that had held her wrist. "What…was that all about?"
--TF—
When Fuuko came back in the ballroom, she was once again congratulated by the Umi royalties who had just come to join the celebration. She saw Tokiya at the center of the ballroom, standing proudly near his throne, practically ignoring some of the women's comment of him standing alone, wifeless.
Sniffing her tears back and tilting her head high again, Fuuko gently swayed among those women and with a mild smile, halted their gossip by saying "I only needed a few moments of fresh air. I didn't intend to leave my husband without a wife," she walked passed them after contenting herself by seeing how the women's faces blushed with embarrassment.
"May I have this dance?" Much to her surprise, the invitation came from her husband, and he kept his face rigidly looking forward as he gently shoved his hand in front of her.
With a pace of eternity, she lifted her hand and placed it over his'. When they marched towards the dancefloor, the whole room went silent and the dancers vacated to the side to give the newlyweds a dance to be shared alone.
They stopped at the center of the room, all eyes being captured by the handsome couple and then they faced each other—she uncertain, he uncaring.
When the slow tune of waltz began, he took her hand, kissed it and pulled her close. And they started their slow dance, as though they have all the time in the world.
She refused to meet his eyes, he didn't look at her. They danced as though it was their sole purpose on the dance floor, to dance and entertain—no feelings involved. Not one. Not a little.
This coldness has lingered until all guests were long gone and both of them were all alone inside their bedchamber.
"Say something," she finally whispered, unnerved of the stoned silence coming from him.
"What do you want me to say?" his voice was as cold as the night air and Fuuko practically shivered down to her toes.
"Tell me you hate me," he kept her gaze on the roof of the poster bed.
"Give me a reason," he has his back on her at the far side of the bed opposite her.
"For being me, for entering your life and ruining it, for marrying you when we hardly like each other, for loving another when I am clearly committed to you, for—" she wasn't able to finish her ramble because he had rolled over the mattress and pinned her hands over her head.
"I don't hate you," he hissed. "I despise you." If he spit on her face, that would no longer be surprising. He looked like he cant stomach looking at her anymore but she chose to suffer through it. "How you could love a man you only met once is beyond my sane thoughts, you disgust me."
She could feel his naked chest heaving and pressing over her thinly covered breast and she could hear his heart beating soundly against the silence. Funny how this loud sound could be heard from a man whom she thought doesn't own a heart.
"That's good enough for me," she countered. "Cause I loathe you with every breath I take."
"Good to know that despite our obvious differences, we share mutual feelings for each other," he muttered dryly, his eyes darkening against the moonlight and Fuuko knew what was coming next.
He dipped his head and crushed her lips in a kiss that was all violence and vengeance. She knew it meant to punish and humiliate her, and by damn it's serving true to its purpose. He bit on her lower lip as she dug her nails on his back. His tongue was thrusting forcefully, demanding entrance and when she knead, they battled. She was pulling and pushing his silver mane, he was reaping and tugging her night gown, tearing it to pieces.
When he pulled away to breath, he saw her emerald eyes turning black with passion and hatred. He could see his reflection through those orbs and he could see how identical their expressions were.
"I hate you with all my heart, I wish you die this very second," she snapped at him.
"And I hate you, more than you'll ever know," he snapped back and gently bit her collar bone while capturing one naked mound with his long fingers. He heard her moaned and Kami help him, but he knew he could never stop. This woman…this heavenly creature…was going to be the death of him.
He lowered his head to where his hand was and he licked the tip of one nipple, pleased when she finally cried out his name. When her fingers began pulling his head invitingly, he wasn't able to resist the abundant feast. God, how he hated this woman. How he hated the way she could control him like this and still get away from it. And damn, how he hated himself, he's liking her all the way more.
This is pure insanity. He is absolutely crazy over her. Terribly, agonizingly crazy.
He was feasting over one breast when he realized she was no longer pulling his hair, but instead was caressing it lightly as though a mother to her child. He stopped, and the gesture was more painful than being hit by an arrow in a battle, his eyes turning back to its normal hue and they settled on her face.
"I don't understand," she breathed.
"As well do I," he responded and rested on her side, covering her breast with the blanket.
They let the awkward silence passed and then Tokiya unceremoniously broke it. "Do you love him?"
"From the first day I saw him," she answered without reluctance.
"You're insane."
"I know. Do you love Miki?"
"I was about to propose to her the day you came. She was the concubine chosen to be my bride."
Good Lord, she cant stand this any longer. Another long pause lingered, each feeling the other's breathing, waiting for the other's say on this web-tangled revelations.
When Fuuko no longer heard any slight movements or even his harsh breathing, she assumed he had fallen asleep and whispered with the dejected feeling of an adulteress to her husband, a defeated warrior to her enemy. "Goodnight, Your Highness," she forced herself to close her eyes.
And much to her surprise, he whispered back. "Goodnight…Your Majesty," he said and moved back to the far side of the bed away from her.
--TF—
A/N: This is kinda confusing. Even I am already confused of how this couple's mind works. As u can well measure, this story is actually just getting started. I have already resigned from my job and has more time on my hands right now so earlier updates might be witnessed. For you this chapter might be boring, but I love this story and I'm holding on to it. The next chapters will be more awesome, and I'm looking forward to your reactions to it.
Keep me posted with ur thoughts. Share it by clicking the review button!!