Chapter 39

Spring was already here. The sunny weather, the singing birds, the flowers, everything made the Palace look even more beautiful and enchanting. The sakura trees were especially captivating and they took much space in the big garden. Byakuya had personally planted half of them. Two laughing girls passed by them visibly in a hurry.

"Deiji, faster! They must have finished by now!" A beautiful girl with brown hair and warm chocolate eyes said. They continued running.

"Your Highness, it is really not appropriate to run. If they see us, Her Majesty will scold me again." The other girl, who had the same light brown her, but her eyes were a strange deep color between blue, green and gray, answered, as she followed behind.

The first one looked back again and smiled so brightly that Deiji naturally smiled back. Soon they reached their destination. The other side of the Palace was smaller, but even more magnificent. They held the meetings with the Emperor here and it was surrounded by large corridors with marble pillars. They made a short pause, underneath, then turned left. The first girl stopped suddenly and turned to face Deiji.

"How do I look?" She spun around in her beautiful pink dress. Her long hair danced around her and her sparkling butterfly shaped hairpins immediately captured the look.

"You are beautiful and shining as always, princess Airi." Deiji smiled, but she looked a little annoyed and worried.

"Good." She spun around and fastened the pace again.

"Airi, it is really better if your forgot about him. He is much older than you. Your father and your mother will never agree."

"Oh, he is only 43. And he is kind and handsome. And I swear that he looks at me like he is in love."

"And you are only 16." Deiji said loudly.

"Love does not know age. These things don't matter. But please, keep it a secret. Because dad will certainly freak out, if he finds out. Who knows what he will do?"

"Most likely, throw him away from the royal army."

"Oh, we are here." Airi stopped in her tracks, completely ignoring the other girl's last remark. "He will certainly pass by here. The road to the 3rd division."

Deiji sighed.

"Oh, come on. Stop complaining. I saved you from another terribly boring breakfast. Seriously, I can't stand stuck up Tsunade. I hope she gives birth to a girl."

Deiji smiled. She disliked Tsunade too, because she always treated her like she deserved no attention and respect.

"But your brother Hideki certainly wants a son."

"There are many other women that can give him one."

"Airi! Don't say that! Poor Tsunade!" Deiji was always scandalized by infidelity, even though every prince had a whole harem of concubines.

"What? I told you. He has already cheated on her. I heard when mother was scolding him the other day. But I don't blame him. She is unbearable."

Deiji felt a bit saddened by the fact. She had always admired Hideki. He was her first love and once she hoped to be part of his concubines too. But to bed another woman, when his wife is just about to give birth, was something she found disgusting, even though the said wife was Tsunade.

"Oh, here they come!" Airi began fretting. She moved right behind the corner, waiting for the right moment. "Now." She whispered and they both stepped forward. "Oh, captain Kira!" She pretended to be surprised.

"Your Highness!" Kira bowed politely. His lieutenant Koichi did the same. But when he looked up, Deiji saw his smiling face. Airi's plan was too obvious from the beginning.

"How are you?" Airi smiled.

Deiji moved to the side behind the pillar, leaving them alone. Koichi did the same. He bowed to her and kissed her hand, something she truly disliked, because this polite demeanor was not sincere.

"My lady, it is always a pleasure to see you."

Koichi was a tall, muscular man with dark skin and mustaches. And he was a big womanizer.

"I hope you are in good health." She answered politely.

"Do not doubt it." He smiled at her and moved closer. He stood by her and she started breathing heavily, because she could not see what he was planning to do and she did not want to look at his face. Then he moved her hair behind her ear. "When are you going to visit me?" He whispered in her ear. This was not the first time he had suggested this.

"I am not going to visit you." She stepped aside, but he caught her arm and pulled her close again.

"Why not? It will be good, I promise." He planted a kiss on her neck and she shivered, trying to move away. He was not letting her. "Aren't you too old to be still a virgin?"

"Let me go! I am not one of your whores!" She raised her voice.

He did not seem bothered at all, as he used his free hand to casually touch her breast through the dress, then licked her neck. His hand moved downwards. Deiji stepped harshly on his foot and used the opportunity to move away from him.

"If you come close to me again, I am going to scream."

He stepped forward, as if to challenge her. Then just whispered.

"You are going to scream in my bed." Smirking at her, he disappeared behind the column. She stood there, totally shocked and disgusted.

A few minutes later, Airi came and her mood was the total opposite of Deiji's. She seemed ecstatic.

"Deiji, I am so happy!"

"Princess, I am not going to accompany you again. I don't want to take part in this."

Airi looked annoyed.

"Did Koichi flirt with you again?" She playfully asked.

"I wouldn't call it that." Deiji did not say anything more, because Airi was just 16, still romantic and pure, but she realized that if the opportunity came, Koichi would force himself on her without any remorse. She swore to herself to keep away from the barracks at all costs.

"Anyway, you don't need to accompany me anymore. Captain Kira will teach me how to ride a horse." She announced, proud of her achievement.

A year ago, when Airi received her first horse as a present by her father, she was impatient to ride it. She went there alone, completely sure that she had the needed abilities. However, her beautiful caramel colored horse was scared by a snake and almost threw her off the saddle. By chance, Kira was nearby and hearing her cries for help, he came just in time to catch her. Since then, Airi had not tried to ride a horse anymore. At first, she did not feel anything special about Kira. Later, on a few occasions she noticed him watching her with some gentle, dreamy expression and thought that he loved her. This look in his eyes made the girl, who was curious and dreamed of men's attention, infatuated with him.

"This is getting out of control. I will be forced to tell your mother." Deiji said.

"No! No, Deiji, please. Stop being so strict and sensible. I love him. And I know he loves me. You know how he looks at me. If mother find out, she will certainly tell father. She does not keep any secrets from him."

As always, Deiji agreed to keep her secrets. She loved Airi and she did not want to be the reason for her to get into trouble. And even though she had also noticed Kira's special look, she was sure that he was decent enough to stop this relationship, before things became more complicated.

As Momo walked down the corridor, the girls bowed one by one.

"Your Majesty!" They all greeted.

She smiled kindly. Then, she reached Toushiro's chambers and came inside. He had still not returned from the meeting. Her eyes spotted an object in the center of the room. It was a painting, covered by a white cloth. Realizing what must be underneath, she smiled and moved closer. She pulled away the cover, to reveal the painting. Her eyes widened and she moved her hand to cover her mouth. It was magnificent. Toushiro sat on his throne and she was by his side, her hand on his shoulder. When the others insisted that Toushiro pose for a portrait of himself, he did not agree. He never liked the idea. But Momo, who has always loved painting, also insisted he make one. So he asked her to paint him. She was surprised, but agreed. The portrait came out nicely, but she was still ashamed to put it in the big hall.

"It is not necessary." Toushiro said. "I already called a famous painter. He will make a portrait of us two."

"Of us?" She asked, surprised.

"Yes. I want it this way. And your portrait of me will stay private. I don't want other eyes to look at it."

So she kept it in her room. This way she always had Toushiro's handsome face to look at.

"So you couldn't wait!" Toushiro said behind her.

"Toushiro!" She turned to look at him. "It is wonderful. He truly is a master."

"He is."

She moved to embrace him and he kissed her forehead.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome, love. I will order him to make another painting of you. And later, he will also paint our children."

"I don't need my own portrait." She said.

"But I do." He smiled.

She moved her hand to his cheek and captured his lips. These days, he kissed her on the forehead more often than he kissed her lips. Sometimes this worried her. It made her feel old and unwanted. So she started paying greater attention to her looks, determined to bring back the passion in their relationship.

"Please, come sleep in my chambers tonight. I miss you." She said sweetly, moving her hand casually to his chest.

"If I don't come, it is because I am tired Momo. I work until late at night."

"Come and work by my side. I will just watch you. Then you cal sleep next to me. I feel lonely if you don't."

He nodded. She rested her head on his chest.

Later that night, the whole family gathered together for dinner. Toushiro looked a little tired and anxious. Momo was worried about him. Airi was so excited about her romance, that she could hardly notice anything else. Hideki and Tsunade stood on opposite sides of the table, against each other and the coldness in their relationship was visible. Only the youngest one of the children – Masaru tried to keep some conversation going when he asked his father about his own concubines.

"Soon enough, my son. When your brother Hideki returns back to his district, you will move to the attached palace and be more independent."

"If mother let me be." He threw a mischievous look at Momo.

"Masaru, you know I have my reasons." She said softly.

After the death of Makoto she was overprotective of all of her children. Hideki grew out of her influence very early and out of them all he was most like Toushiro. He rarely showed affection and he was serious, determined and strong. As the only daughter Airi was always showered with attention, but she liked it, because she was Momo's spitting image – both outside and inside. The only traits of her character that reminded of Toushiro were her love for sarcasm and her straightforwardness. She was her father's weakness and favorite. Masaru was born out of a troublesome pregnancy, only in the 7th month, so his lungs remained weak and he got sick easily. Momo was always concerned for him and did not let him train as much as his brothers. He remained under her wing. Of all of her children only he inherited his father's hair color. On the outside he was just like Toushiro. On the inside however, he was more like his mother.

"When is Takashi coming?" Masaru changed the subject.

"Next week." Toushiro answered, visibly overjoyed too.

Takashi was their other son, who was born a year after Aizen's execution. He was two years older than Airi and three years older than Masaru. Of all of their children, he was the perfect blend of his parents. His looks reminded of his brother Hideki's, but his features were softer. His character was also more liberal and soft, but he was always rational and reserved. Hideki and Takashi had left early for the other districts to take their respective roles as governors. Toushiro considered this the best way to learn to rule an Empire. Hideki moved to district 2 almost 10 years ago and he strived at his role. Momo opposed the idea because she always connected district 2 with her bad memories of losing Makoto, but Toushiro wanted his son to be as close to the capital as possible. That way, we would reach the throne fast enough if anything happened to him. There was no doubt in his mind that Hideki was his heir. He loved all of his children, but his first born always held a special part of his heart and he considered him to be most suited for that role. The others knew it too. Takashi left for district 9 three years ago when he was 15. Since then he had come to visit only once. Now everyone eagerly expected the birth of Hideki's first child and they all gathered in the big Palace one by one.

"What about aunt Masami?" Airi suddenly asked, hopeful. Her cousins were all girls, close to her age, but she always felt Masami closer than all of them.

"I don't know, Airi. Her husband is still recovering. The mountain air is better for him, so she will stay as long as needed."

"Oh." Airi pouted.

"Why aren't you eating?" He asked when he spotted her almost full plate.

"I am not really hungry." She said smiling. "Maybe I am just too excited about the birth of my nephew." She truly was excited but not for the birth of her nephew.

Hideki threw her a playful look as his lips whispered the words "Little fox". Airi started laughing. Tsunade looked really annoyed and asked to go to her room and rest.

"She is always no fun." Airi remarked.

Masaru burst out into laughter. Hideki continued eating like nothing had happened and even though he wanted to laugh too, he just couldn't, because he had to put up with this behavior all the time and he did not find it funny anymore.

"Airi!" Momo scolded her daughter. "She is pregnant. You have to be more considerate of her."

Toushiro stood up from the table and all of them followed. He kissed Airi's hair and moved to the door, saying he needed to work. Momo looked at him hopeful, but his face did not reveal if he still remembered his promise to come to her room later.

When Hideki came inside Tsunade's room he found her in bed, lying on top of at least 5 pillows, holding her abdomen. During the last month she always complained of backache, headache or heat waves. Her closest servant Cao was waving with a fan.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Awful. Now I have cramps in my legs too. I hope that our son will come out soon."

"Your Highness, it is always like that for first time mothers, who carry male children. The pregnancy is heavier." Cao said with a smile.

"I will put up with everything as long as our son is born healthy. I really want to make you happy." She turned to Hideki and smiled at him, but her little games did not have any effect on him.

She always paid great attention to her position as his wife and her efforts. At first he felt sympathetic, because he realized that her mother had been really harsh on her as she grew up. Tsunade was always on a diet to keep her figure slim and her period came when she was 17. Everyone was so worried about her, but doctor Isane explained that her low weight prevented it. Later when she became his wife at age 19, she still kept those old habits and suffered one miscarriage because of it. Now, when she was 21, she still did not eat regularly. She did so only in order to carry her baby to term.

"I will leave you to rest. Good night!" Hideki said politely and turned his back to her.

"Hideki! Aren't you going to stay by my side? The baby might come at any time. I need you to feel calmer." She sat up and made a pained expression.

He sighed.

"No. Because it will become even warmer in our bed and you won't be able to sleep at all. Besides, there are so many servants around to take care of you. I will certainly learn first when the birth starts."

He left the room and she threw a pillow at the door, frustrated.

Hinamori was reading a book in her bed, close to the dim light of the candles. She tried to concentrate, but every little noise, made her look up with anticipation. It's been almost a month since they last made love and she was getting worried. As far as she knew, there had never been another woman in his chambers, but still. She needed him and wanted him to need her too. They were too young to get tired of each other. A few minutes later, Toushiro came inside in his night clothes. She left the book and stood up.

"Toushiro…" She whispered affectionately as she moved closer to him.

She made a sign to her two most trusted companions to go outside.

She had truly prepared for him. Her hair fell into big waves onto her back and it almost reached her waist. She had a red nightgown that was as revealing as she could allow with a thin mantle on top. And she smelled like jasmine and vanilla. He liked that. She now stood barely an inch from him.

"I am so happy you came!" She put her arms around his neck and kissed him, biting his lower lip softly.

Then released him to remove her mantle. Left only in her nightgown, he could see the contours of her breasts, which were rising and falling with her quickened breathing. It was driving him crazy. He moved his hands to caress the soft skin of her arms. She moved closer again and her hand reached for his own robes, but he caught her. Getting worried that he was rejecting her, she looked up, her lips slightly parted. Suddenly he grabbed her by the waist and buried his other hand into her long hair, kissing her with more passion than she expected. His kisses moved to her neck, her collarbones and she moaned into his arms. Without realizing it she was soon completely naked under him onto her bed.

The new chapter is here early! My favorite part of the story comes forward. Hope you enjoy it!