Keeta Ama: You're welcome! Hope you like this chapter!

Lemonade Sherbet-2015: Thank you… And, I hope this chapter shall keep you hooked too!

Guest: Thank you! Hope you like this chapter!

Silver Amathyst: Thank you very much! Hope you like this chapter!

Catherine-storms: Well, this chapter is about the proposal and let me know if you thought the same! If not, let me know what you thought… Ah, that's okay (about the song). Hope you like this chapter.

Um, fast update, eh? I know, I know. Also, I have a very important announcement to make. It is in the end notes of this chapter. Hopefully, you'll all be supportive. Thank you.


The irony of the fact that Tenma was actually carrying his child and also that he was standing in the courtroom, gleaming like a fiery crystal, was hard to reciprocate though it was good to his heart. It has been too long and Kyousuke knew that he wasn't a sight to see with his stubble and more than disheveled appearance. But, Tenma was perfect… With his round belly and confident posture. His voice was a bit changed though and it was to be expected. They were children when they were married to each other and age changes people – physically and mentally.

"Proposal?" the Emperor chuckled disbelievingly. "What, may I ask, in your good hands, do you probably have to offer me that would be of a maximal importance?"

"Let's make this private, shall we?" Tenma suggested.

"An Emperor and… what should I address you as? Perhaps, a commoner? Since you have been disowned ever so disrespectfully by your husband and Mother-in-law…" Evan snickered and taunted.

"You do not seem to understand the essence of my bargain, Emperor… I shall respectfully ask you once again… A private discussion, please," Tenma gritted out through his teeth as his eyes flickered towards his former husband for a fraction of a moment.

The Emperor, Saryuu Evan, regarded Tenma for a few moments before nodding his consent to Tenma's suggestion.

"Very well then, if you insist. Guards, take the prisoner to the dungeons!" he ordered, eyes never once leaving Tenma's form though he waved his right hand dismissively to the guards beside Kyousuke.

"No, wait! I need to speak to Tenma!" Kyousuke struggled in his captors' grip and the chains securing his body rattled as he was led, very unceremoniously, on the ground, towards the exit.

Tenma's head snapped towards Kyousuke and mimed the direction of their exit. All that was left in the wake of their leave was Kyousuke's strangled gasps and shouts and pleas of 'No' as he was dragged out of the courtroom. This wasn't the time to be disappointed but to plan so that his former husband got what he wanted from the start – his precious Eden. A choice, Kyousuke made, between Tenma and the Kingdom. He chose the Kingdom and deep down, Tenma wired himself to respect his husband's decisions. And, if all Kyousuke wanted was the pride and glory of the Kingdom, Tenma would do anything, anything at all, to make sure that the ruler of Eden would remain to be Kyousuke forever.

"Matsukaze Tenma, I demand your precious attention," he heard the Emperor snap at him and he realized that he'd been staring at the door through which Kyousuke was dragged out by Feida's guards.

"Yes, I apologize," Tenma resigned himself to his fate now.

There was a very soft sound that breached the boundaries of silence that fell over the courtroom. The flap of wings… Rune's pigeon flew into the courtroom and settled itself on its owner's shoulder, like always. Distantly, he heard Rune pet his bird and coo to it soothingly.

"Rune," Tenma started and turned around to face his fake guardian. Rune stopped petting the bird.

The pigeon, accustomed to Tenma's voice, recognized his presence and flew towards him, perching itself atop his brown bush of a hair. He gently plucked her out of his hair strands and caressed its feathery frame. The pigeon shook its little head in surprise at the touch and made little sounds of comfort. Pets liked to be fondled lovingly. A small smiled graced Tenma's features as he felt the familiar scratches on his palm by the bird's claws.

"You knew me," Rune said and the Emperor watched the exchange between his Minister and Tenma.

"Yes, I did," Tenma acquiesced.

When Tenma didn't seem intent to elaborate his answer, Rune spoke up again.

"Would you mind telling me?"

"No, I do not mind," Tenma frowned but let the pigeon fly away into the skies through the open window.

"You see, the first sign, was the pigeon… Pearly white with shades of blue… Not many use a pure white pigeon now, do they? Usually, any kind of parchments are delivered by the local mail service or personal family messengers with a good ransom. Pigeons are meant for complete privacy that is needed in royal affairs. Not even the Landlords afford a pigeon! Also, your pigeon had a thin gold bracelet to its left claw – a symbol of royal possession. That meant, you were a royalty," Tenma stated as he paced towards a chair to sit down.

He sighed in relaxation as the weight of his belly was relieved from his thighs, knees and feet.

"You don't mind if I sit, do you? I'm pregnant and it is difficult," Tenma shrugged and he did not wait for the approval of neither the King nor the Minister.

"And here I thought you were a flesh of ignorance!" Saryuu Evan chuckled heartily at the smug expression on Tenma's face and the stunned expression of his Minister.

"I've had my share of knowledge, back in the days," Tenma said absent mindedly as he thought back to the days he spent in the dungeons, learning things theoretically but never practically. "People often assume, no, they tend to judge the others by the way they look and hold their attitude. What they are not capable of looking for is the person beneath the skin they look. That one is entirely different."

"Sure, they are… You are not as vacuous as I thought you to be," the Emperor complimented as he gestured for his Minister to sit, before seating himself next to Tenma.

"Your robes were the second sign," Tenma addressed Rune. "Actually, I might say, those were the final sign for me to conclude that you were on a mission to get me to your King. You were careful, I add. But not smartly careful. Your robes, I presume, one or two of them, had the symbol of Feida. It was hard to decipher as the insignia of your Kingdom was, surprisingly, a pigeon!"

"You always had a pigeon perched upon your shoulder and since I had the mind to look carefully at the crest on your robes, I saw a word, 'Fei', stitched at the center of the pigeon. And, that was enough to understand," Tenma said, clarifying all doubts that Rune seemed to have.

No words were spoken as the ruler of Feida and the Minister of Feida processed Tenma's speech. In the meantime, Tenma allowed his thoughts to drift towards his caged husband. His husband's unkempt persona was not the one he remembered seeing during his time with Kyousuke. That would be the after effects of their love making session. But, the one he saw today was a defeated Kyousuke who held on to the reality by a thin cord that was tied to Tenma himself. He did not know in the least how to lift up his former husband's spirits. Belatedly, he decided that he would have a conversation with Kyousuke so that his former husband can cry out his heart's content, into Tenma's inviting arms.

"Very perspicacious indeed! Rune, he is seemingly not the one I expected him to be," there was an appreciative edge to the Emperor's voice, almost as if in a hazed state of glee.

"Indeed," Rune agreed dully, feeling bad at the little slips of his identity. "Tenma, you need to know this… Though my intentions were to betray your trust and offer you to the Emperor, I've always been concerned about you and your child…" Rune said, his face taking a hurtful expression, which inanimately begged for Tenma believe him.

"An explanation isn't necessary and I offer my humble gratitude to you, for taking care of me and my child," Tenma swiped a hand down his belly, "though your intentions were not noble."

Rune smiled gratifyingly and Tenma returned it with a grin of his own.

"So, the deal now," the Emperor said as he turned in his seat towards Tenma. "What do you wish to offer me in return of your former consort's Kingdom?"

"Well, I've heard and I am confirmed that you were out on a hunt for me. If that is irrevocably true, here I am… What did you require of me? Let us start with the basic query," Tenma said.

The Emperor, who was a replica of Tenma, except for his eyes, voice, hair and age, centered his concentration on Tenma and the latter did the same. Rune was shut out of their mind space which they seemed to share together, irrespective of the third person in the very same room. Rune could not understand the hidden meaning behind their words and looks but he stayed, as a support, to both of them.

"Actually, that one isn't the right question from my side, Tenma… Why don't you answer my questions instead? I suppose you were once drugged, weren't you?"

Though Tenma knew what the Emperor was talking about, he couldn't come to terms with the situation because that was the day, his life crumbled to infinite bits with no one to rearrange them. He was left in a puddle of sobbing mess, all alone, with no support to balance himself against. And, the cause was a person who he thought of as a friend, Hikaru. The name itself sent disgusting shivers down his body.

"What has that to do with you pursuing me?" Tenma glared daggers at the Emperor.

"Have you known that the drug you took would not only induce lust in you but would lead to miscarriage?" the Emperor asked and Tenma paled.

"What?" he gasped.

"Hikaru did not know that you were pregnant but he made sure to slip a vial of antidote into your glass. He had begged me for forgiveness for administering the antidote to you without my permission. I've let him go because the cause of sending him was to break you and your husband so that I can get a hurdle free entry into Eden. And, here I sit, on the throne of Eden! I hope I answered your question," Evan said.

"You? You sent Hikaru? He was a… A spy? My God!" Tenma exclaimed as his right hand shot up to massage his throbbing temples.

"He had his confines to work for me. And, I see that I was successful in my endeavors though I did not know about the pregnancy till Rune wrote about it to me. Hikaru, unbeknownst to him, saved the life of your child," Evan remarked.

"No…" it was too much to take in for Tenma. He had not expected that. His child had been in danger because he had accepted the drink offered by Hikaru. A tremor ran through him at the thought of losing his baby. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on his belly and he received a soft kick of acknowledgment from his baby.

His child had been kicking for the past two weeks but this day, it was different because he came to know that he missed his miscarriage very finely.

"A very lucky man you are…" Evan commented. "Now isn't the time to reflect on the past, is it? What matters is that you and your child are both alive. I wouldn't say safe though because a man with flesh isn't safe inside a lion's den," Evan said and raised an eyebrow at Tenma's scared expression.

Tenma wasn't any more focused on his current predicament but was lost to the imaginary thoughts of what would happen if Hikaru had not tried to give him the antidote. His child would have died and his husband wouldn't even have the satisfaction of knowing that he was a Father… Until now, Tenma hadn't bothered to let Kyousuke know that he was pregnant.

"Stress is not good for you, Tenma! Calm down, take deep breaths," a voice lulled him to calmness as he did what the voice told him to do. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply and exhaled, willing away the knots of stress from his mind and coming back to a relaxed state.

"You're doing good… Come on, deep breath again," the voice coaxed him and he realized it was Rune's voice talking to him. With one last exhalation, he opened his eyes to see that Rune wasn't in his seat but by his side, rubbing circles on his chest and it calmed him down.

"Thank you," Tenma said and Rune retired to his seat when he was sure that Tenma was perfectly okay.

"Your Majesty, please state less stressful facts to him. It is good neither for the child nor him," Rune said politely.

"I did not know… I was just telling the truths. But, I apologize for the inconvenience I cause to your child," the Emperor frowned at Tenma's behavior.

"What would you know? You've never been a Father," Tenma spat out and Rune gasped in horror.

Saryuu Evan's face coiled into a dark pit of anger as his fists clenched. He so desperately wanted to punch Tenma till he was an unrecognizable mess of skin and bones but the sight of his rounded stomach kept him at bay.

"You do not know how hard it is for me right now to not end your heinous life! You said you had a proposal… Whatever it is, stuff it down your receptacle. Hear my deal out now… The Kingdom for your submission," the Emperor said, after getting up to his feet as he stared down at Tenma who once again curled a protective hand around his child as he looked up at Evan who intimidated him with his height over him.

"My… Submission? What do you mean?" Tenma asked in a low voice.

At that question, Evan daringly snatched Tenma's left hand from its persistent position on his convex belly.

"Complete submission, as in, your hand for marriage! I need a heir to my Kingdom and I don't impregnate anybody without a solid bond… I do not want my heir to be a rogue child," the Emperor all but screamed as he crushed Tenma's wrist in his grip.

Tenma's eyes widened in horror, so did Rune's. Marriage? Heir? That wasn't what he wanted to negotiate with the Emperor initially. He had decided to talk him into sharing the Kingdom under mutual benefits. Kyousuke would be ruling the Kingdom but the more confidential affairs of the Kingdom would lie in Evan's power. That was what he wanted… Not sacrificing himself.

"No, no! I can't!" Tenma struggled to wrench his hand out of the Emperor's grasp.

"Oh, you can't? What happened to your credence, you unworthy fool? You dare to stand up against me with your half-witting bravery and now, you back out of the deal I offer? Where does your loyalty lie?" Evan's face was mere inches away from his'. Somewhere between verbally humiliating Tenma, the Emperor crouched closer to Tenma's terror stricken face.

"My loyalty lies with Kyousuke…" Tenma said and Evan felt powerful as the boy's voice trembled in fear.

"I accept that you had the effrontery to challenge me, Matsukaze Tenma… I might add that it was amusing till before. Now, this is the only deal I shall offer you. Your submission for the Kingdom. And, that means, you shall be giving an heir to my Kingdom, to Feida. But, mind you, you will not have the pleasure of any royal facilities that would be offered to the wife of the Emperor, not even the barest hint of respect. Those shall always belong to my rightful wife, Aoi… You will not receive any love from me or the residents of my Kingdom. You shall be nothing more than a servant... One night is all I give you to decide..." The Emperor drew back from Tenma and stood straight.

There was no mercy in his look and there were no hidden lies. He meant what he said.

"Rune, order our best guards to arrange a plush cot for our endearing guest here in his former husband's prison. I see that the tension between the broken apart love birds hasn't been dissipated. Besides, the Father needs his child and so does the child need its Father's love. Send some food to Kyousuke and make sure our guest here receives edible food as well," Evan ordered as he strode out of the courtroom, his marmalade colored cape flowing behind him as he walked.

"Oh my God!" Tenma heaved out the breaths he held as he buried his face in his palms. The tears he held in till then fell freely from his eyes, coating the insides of his palms and a few drops manages to seep through the gap between the fingers to wet his cotton grey robes.

Tenma's entire body racked with harsh sobs as the reality began to settle in. He was sure that this time, he was doomed for life. Saying yes to the Emperor meant complete separation from his former husband. He had been threading on thin ice, hoping that, one day, Kyousuke would be back by his side and they could live together. There was no desire in him to live anymore. Each day, each moment, he always wished that one day, roses would surely bloom in his life too but fate was too cruel to him as it only intended for him to face the thorns on the stems of the rose plants. Roses seemed to be a far cry in his life.

"Tenma, I'm sorry for everything," Rune apologized and Tenma cried harder.

Rune truly felt sorry for the boy. This wasn't meant to be anyone's life. Worse was not even sufficient to describe Tenma's situation. A choice was put forth and it wasn't a good one. All Rune could do was follow the orders of his King. So, he left a crying Tenma and went about to cater to the needs of Kyousuke and Tenma.

"Tenma?" the voice caused him to stiffen as his head snapped up from his palms.

In his peripheral vision, Tenma could make out the Royal Physician of Eden.

"Takuto-san?" he said in shock as he took in the Physician's weak body. A guard was beside him with the blunt end of his spear pointed at Takuto's side.

"Move!" the guard yelled as he pushed Takuto with his spear.

"Ah!" Takuto groaned in pain before settling on a chair beside Tenma.

"What have they done to you, Takuto-san?" Tenma asked, wiping his own face as he took in the cuts and bruises decorating the Royal Physician's face. He didn't want to know what happened to his body if the state of his face was that worse.

"A victor breaks his prisoners in war, Tenma… We all are broken. Are you all right?" Takuto asked and his voice was very coarse like stones.

"Yes, I'm fine…" Tenma nodded.

"If you are, then you wouldn't be crying when I saw you earlier," Takuto stated and Tenma stiffened.

"It... It was... I was concerned about everyone, that is all," Tenma lied, not wanting the Physician to know of the deal.

"If you say so," Takuto said after a brief pause, regarding Tenma for a while.

They let the issue drop.

Takuto noted Tenma's pregnant state and asked him about it as he told him about the drug induced in him. Tenma then explained what the Emperor had told him about Hikaru and the antidote. Takuto was more than relieved that Tenma's child was alive; the heir of Eden was alive. And, then, Takuto informed Tenma that he was ordered by the Emperor to check upon him. Tenma waved him off by telling the Physician that he was absolutely fine.

"All these moths, Kyousuke locked himself in his room, consuming alcohol and blaming himself for the death of his child. He'd be very happy," Takuto said.

"Wait… Kyousuke knew that I was pregnant?" Tenma asked.

"Yes, he did. I told him. You should have told him, Tenma," Takuto said.

"And risk losing my child? He left me, Takuto-san… I couldn't risk losing my baby to him. The husband always has the upper hand in a relation and I feared that he would separate me from my child the moment he was born," Tenma admitted.

"I understand…" Takuto said and when he was about to continue, the guard nudged him with his spear again.

"Your time is up. Get moving!" he chided and Takuto nodded.

"Well, I'll take my leave now. I suppose I'll be visiting you again. Talk to Kyousuke, if you can," Takuto waved goodbye before strolling out of the room with the guard.

Tenma supposed that he could mull over the deal later. His concern was his former husband now. Kyousuke knew of his pregnancy and berated himself for a miscarriage that did not occur. Kyousuke went through a lot of pain and the least he could do was allow his former husband the opportunity to reconcile. He walked over to the dungeons and in the mid way; he came across the Prime Minister of Feida. There was an open lawn beside the ground floor corridors and he saw Rune with his family. He was talking to his children, who were obviously twins, as his wife stood beside him with an arm wrapped around Rune's waist. He longed for such love and evidently, it wasn't in his life anymore.

"Tenma," he heard Evan's voice and shut his eyes, clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, partly in anger and partly in fear.

"What do you want now?" Tenma asked, failing to set the tremble out of his voice.

"I'm here to escort you to your former husband. Let's go, shall we?" Evan asked and Tenma managed to nod his consent.

The walk towards Kyousuke's cell was silent. All the guards bowed to their Emperor in due respect and Tenma couldn't help letting out a scornful sound at that. If Evan heard him, he didn't seem to bother as he did not comment. Tenma was horrified at what he saw. The guards of Eden were held captive and some of them were being beaten bloody.

"Tell them to stop! They'll die!" Tenma screamed at the Emperor, halting him in his tracks.

"Why should I? They are not my guards and they do belong to a Kingdom which is under MY rule now. And, I get to decide who lives and who doesn't. If you wish to save them from their misery, accept my deal. That is only way they shall live. Come on," Evan said as he walked forth without waiting for Tenma's reply.

Tenma's eyes took in all the blood, all the pain… His ears heard all the cries of anguish, agony and pain… He could smell the blood mingling with the cold floor…

"Ah, there's your consort, the former one!" Evan exclaimed.

Tenma dared to look inside the bars and was devastated to find Kyousuke in the corner, curled into a fetal ball.

"You are starving him!" Tenma accused as he clutched at the Emperor's collar.

The guards immediately set to attack Tenma who dared to talk back to Evan and laid hands upon him. But, Evan waved them off and pried Tenma's hands away from their position on his robes.

"You are in your enemy's territory. One wrong move and there will be nothing left of you," Evan said, moving dangerously close to Tenma.

Kyousuke, who woke up due to the commotion, set his bleary eyes upon Evan and Tenma, watching their exchange.

"You stay away from him," Kyousuke said weakly as he managed to sit up.

"Or what, dear King?" Evan chuckled, knowing that Kyousuke could do nothing but make empty threats.

"Get him some food right now, please!" Tenma requested, though there was anger beneath the plea.

"Patience! Food and your other necessities will be arriving shortly. I've made clear of that earlier, haven't I?" Evan said, looking down at Tenma as the door to Kyousuke's cell screeched open.

It was then that some guards arrived with a small yet elegant bed and some maids brought wide varieties of dishes into the dungeons.

"Place them inside neatly," Evan ordered and pulled Tenma away from the door to let the guards and maids in. After their required work is done, they took their leave by bowing deeply to the Emperor.

"Are you satisfied now?" Evan asked as his grip on Tenma's right bicep tightened.

"Yes, I suppose I am," Tenma croaked out as he winced at the pain.

"One night, Tenma, is all you have. You will be reported to the courtroom by dawn. Now, I shall take my leave," Evan said, more likely, warned, and left the place.

"Tenma…" Kyousuke said in relief as he tried to stand but failing miserably.

"Kyousuke," Tenma walked to his side to support his husband. As much as he could, he hauled his weak husband towards the bed and sat him over it, before plopping down over the plush cot beside his former husband. Kyousuke relaxed into Tenma's touch and let his tired self rest against his former spouse as his hand snaked up to rest on Tenma's belly. His head fell effortlessly onto Tenma's inviting shoulder, Tenma caressed his husband's blue locks and Kyousuke was lulled to sleep at the soft massage.

They had a lot to talk, Tenma thought to himself as he let his head rest over Kyousuke's, before his eyes fell shut.


PLEASE READ THIS:

As I've mentioned in the previous chapter, my final examinations are going to commence this weekend and will continue till the end of next week. Meaning, I will be free on the next week's Saturday. So, my next update will be on either 23rd of April or 24th. That is all I needed you guys to know and hopefully, I won't lose your support regarding this story. Thank you.

PLEASE REVIEW!

Bye.

~Wheezy.