Chapter 12

"Lady Hana?" that's sweet of him. It's his room, and he is knocking. I must have scared him yesterday…

"I'm here."

"Can I come in?"

"I thought this was your room, your highness."

"…may I?"

"Yes." Hana chuckled weakly. She continued to brush her hair. Lee had come in as soon as she had woken up, and brought her lots of food. Even though she was told to let the servants do it, she insisted. She then helped Hana into a long white, sleeveless dress and gloves, and wooden sandals after a shower. "But I am not alone." She chuckled as Lee jumped up to sit on her knee.

"Can I brush your hair big sister? I love your hair. Its like touching the sun."

"I fear you must not Lee." Shenlong walked up behind them and lifted her off Hana's knee. He lowered her to her feet, and knelt to look her in the eyes, with a smile. "Because I am the Emperor, and I get first dibs, as they say. And you shouldn't jump all over Lady Hana like that. She is still weak."

"It's alright Shenlong. I am fine." She smiled, and winked at Lee.

"Still." He cleared his throat. "I still get to brush your hair, if you will allow it."

"If it pleases you." She looked to he mirror, but flinched as he touched her.

"CHICHIRI!"

"Lady Hana? Are you alright? Do you want to lay down?"

"No, no I just…had a funny turn." She smiled weakly, and looked to her lap. "Lee, would you be a darling at do that errand I asked of you before his highness entered?"

"Sure thing big sister!" she giggled and ran out, in her pretty little pink dress.

"And…what errand did you send her on?" he asked as he pulled her hair out from the chair. It was like watching liquid gold.

"Oh, I asked her to collect me some flowers." She lied. But she was so blank, he didn't know it.

"I could have arranged for one of he servants to collect flowers for you." He cooed. "Do not be hesitant to ask me for anything, I will arrange it for you immediately. I promise you." He picked the brush from the table, and was about to brush her hair, when a councillor charged in.

"My Lord! It is urgent that you come to the war room immediately."

"How dare you come into mine and my Lady's private quarters, with talk of war."

"Forgive me my lord. But it is urgent." He begged.

"Go on, do you duty as Emperor. I will be here when you return." She took the brush from him, and her hands started to shake. The brush fell to the floor.

"No, I will stay here and care for you." He held her chair, and had a pleading look in his dark eyes.

"Nonsense, I am fine. Lee will be back soon. I can survive until you return." She smiled at him, and he had a twinkle of hope in his eyes.

"Wait for me in the war room." He ordered his councillor.

"Yes sire." He left, and Shenlong knelt down.

"I love you so much Hana. Do you know that?" he held her hands. "Seeing you in such pain, it hurt me."

"Don't…"

"I have to. I have to make you understand that I didn't know the monk. I never did. If I had known he was so close to you, I would not have killed him." He begged and rested his head on her hands, on her lap.

"How could you not have known…he was holding me when you stabbed him…" a tear fell down her face.

"I didn't ever mean to cause you so much pain…I swear it. If I cold bring him back for you, I would. Please forgive me Hana, my heart breaks every time you shy away from me, or flinch from my touch."

"That isn't."

"Don't try to make me feel better by saying it wasn't because of me. Or that you were cold, or that I have cold hands." He looked up. "I do have cold hands, but I have a warm heart. And it belongs to you Hana." He kissed the back of her hands. "I know you see me as the killer of your friend, not as anything more. But if you could forgive me, then maybe you would stop crying at night, or mourning him so. If I let you, you would wear all black. I made sure that you had anything but black in your wardrobe, because I knew you would wear it."

"Shenlong, stop."

"No, no I will never stop. Because I love you with all my heart. I have never had anyone to love before, but now I have you. I have never had anyone to love me before. But now, I have you. Could you love me with time Hana? I know you don't love me now, but could you grow to love me?"

"…I don't know…"

"Would you think about it?" His dark eyes begged her, and she sniffled. He cares for me so much…

"I will think about it."

"Oh Hana." He stood up and pulled her into an embrace. "That would make me so happy. Almost as happy as if you loved me. Please, I need you to have something." He reached into a draw, and pulled out a box. "You are my fiancé, so you should have a ring."

"Oh Shenlong, I couldn't possibly-"

"Just." He kissed her hands and lowered onto one knee. "Just try it for me, for today. Please? Wear it while you think about my offer of future love." He opened the ring box, and held the ring out for her. It was an elegant silver ring, with a deep sapphire the size of a 5p coin, with lighter cerulean demons encrusted around it. The sapphire was in the shape of a heart. He lifted her left hand, and slipped it on her wedding finger. "A perfect fit. It must be a sign from Seiryu himself." He chuckled. "Or Suzaku in your case." He stood up, and kissed her hands. "I must leave, but I will come back to you before day break. I will try." He then lingered, and leaned forward. He kissed her cheek, and his eyelashes tickled her. She giggled before she could stop herself, and he smiled. "That was wonderful, making you laugh, smile…I hope you smile more often Hana. You are radiant when you smile." He bowed his head, and reluctantly made his way out. She slowly sat down in her chair. She looked down to her left hand, and looked deep into the dark heart on her finger. I'm…engaged… she couldn't believe it. She supposed her father, if he was here, would be overjoyed for her. A rich, handsome man who would love her forever, with all he had, marrying her would be all he ever wanted for her. She couldn't ever do better than marrying an Emperor. Then why do I feel like I have betrayed someone by wearing this ring…?

"Don't worry Hana. We will meet again in Heaven, my beloved."

Beloved...I'm his beloved…was…oh Chichiri! She whimpered. But the door slid open and she looked to it, eyes filled with tears.

"Lady Hana!" Tomo ran to her and pulled her up into an embrace. He rubbed her back, and she put her arms around him. "I came as soon as I could." He cooed and smiled. She called for me. She needed me, not Shenlong. Hana held her hands together around his middle, and turned her ring around, so it looked like a plain ring. She then moved it to her right hand, and then turned it around so the gems were out of sight.

"And I thank you for that, Tomo."

"Do you no longer fear me?" he smiled. "Thank the Gods."

"I want to ask something of you Tomo. And Lee, I need you to leave. Please."

"Ok big sister, I will." She giggled and ran out. "I won't tell anyone he was here either."

"Good girl." Lee closed the door behind her, and Hana looked pleadingly up at Tomo.

"I am not a stupid man my Lady. I know why you have called me here."

"I can not give you my love Tomo. And I am selfish to ask anything of you."

"Ask anything of me that you wish Hana. And I will give it to you." He stood back. "Anything." His body rippled and he became, once more, Chichiri. "I'm always yours to serve, you know." She sobbed and he ran to her. She could feel his warm Kesa and fisted it on his chest.

"Just, hold me. Hold me like you did before…"

"I will, you know. I am here for you, no matter what my form, you know." He lifted her into his arms and sat in her chair, Hana on his lap. "Now calm those tears for your favourite boy, you know." She chuckled a sob.

"Thank you for this Tomo."

"Please, call me Chichiri if it pleases you, you know." Even his voice was perfect.

"Thank you…Chichiri." She sniffled, and looked to his lips. She blushed and looked to his eyes. Tomo was acting like Chichiri for her, because he loved her. So how unfair would it be for him, if she forced him to kiss her, as that man, and not himself? Too cruel. But Tomo cupped her cheek, and leaned towards her.

"I know I can't have you as Tomo, but if I can have you as Chichiri, I don't mind. I don't…" He closed his eye, and sealed his lips to hers. The kiss was soft, loving and gentle. Like Chichiri. She thought. And she responded to him. Her hands rested on his shoulders, as she was still quite weak, and she opened her mouth. A tear feel from his eye, as he entered her mouth. His tongue made love to her mouth, slowly and passionately caressing every part of her mouth. His hands rested on her hips, and he pulled back, only to have Hana pull him back into a kiss. He groaned and held her closer to him. She could feel his smooth skin, his prongs tickling her forehead, his scar under her fingers, and the cord to his Kasa hat around his neck. Hana lifted her head, and he gently kissed her neck. "I want to bite and nip you, you know. But it would leave a mark…"

"Never mind Chichiri. I like this, just as much." She opened her eyes, and looked down on him.

Yes, now she knew. Now she knew why she felt marrying Shenlong was a betrayal, why she relived the grief of her friend every night, and every day. "I love you Chichiri." She closed her eyes, and tears fell from them, onto his face. He kissed them away, and gently brought her chin down. He kissed her lips, and she smoothed her mouth over his. I wanted to do this to you from the first moment I met you Chichiri. She saw an image of herself stood in nothing but a towel, and blushing madly as she looked upon his stunned form. I wanted to hold you, for you to hold me as we kissed. Just like this. She saw herself crying into his chest, reliving her mother's death. Tomo tenderly traced her face with his hands as she open mouth kissed him, their lips wet and their breaths laboured. Her long hair fanned out and felt like soft feathers against his face. I wanted to be with you all along Chichiri. I just wish you didn't have to die first for me to see that. Her kiss became more desperate, and Tomo rose to the passion, kissing her just as desperately. She cried even more, as he held the back of her neck and whispered soft nothings into her ear.

"I love you too Hana. I always have, you know. From the first moment I saw you." She hugged him, plain and simple. And he held her back. "You are still very tired my love. You should rest, you know."

"Don't you want more?"

"I am happy that I gave you what you needed. You need rest now, and I am not going anywhere my lady. I will be here when you wake up tomorrow."

"Thank you so much Tomo."

"I just suggest you clean your face before you sleep." He chuckled, reverted back to his original state. Hana saw that half his face paints were missing. She chuckled when she tried to imagine herself wearing the other half now.

"I owe you so much, thank you."

"As I said, I will do anything you ask." He lifted her up and carried her into the bathroom. He held her close to him as he cupped water, and splashed her face with it. He gently washed his own face paints off her, and created an illusion that his face paints were perfect. "I must insist that you rest now." His head shot up. "I sense you have another visitor." He bowed and looked to the back window. "I will leave here." He slipped out, and bowed from outside the window. He then looked up, and smiled. "If you ever need me for anything, I shall be yours to command." He then swiftly left, and Hana whispered 'thank you', before locking the windows and walking slowly into her room. When she stood there, she saw Amiboshi stood there, looking like he saw a ghost.

"Amiboshi? Are you alright?"

"…Lady Hana…" he pulled up his sleeve and ran to her. "…read this."

"I can't. I don't know how to read this."

"…you…you never said…"

"Never said what?" he looked stunned.

"No wonder he said I had to tell you about it. You don't know, do you?"

"Know what? You're scaring me now Amiboshi." She sat down in her chair, and smiled when it was still warm.

"Lady Hana…if I said the word Kioko, would that mean anything?" she jumped, her eyes wide.

"I know that name…I do…but where from?"

"Lady Hana, you are like me."

"What do you mean?" he knelt by her, and held her hands.

"Lady Hana, you're a twin."

AN sorry this one was shorter, but the next chapter will be up soon.

From

Draguna