Chapter 40

That night they made love three times. Toushiro loved it especially when Momo was on top of him and her hair rained upon his body. Later, he fell asleep immediately and she watched his face, which still seemed tired and tense. She decided to make a little surprise for him in the morning and get his breakfast in bed. However, she fell asleep and felt so physically exhausted that she woke up after he had long left. Her maids were exchanging playful glances with each other and she knew they had heard everything. She also noticed some red marks on her neck and felt a little uncomfortable. Then, feeling foolish for acting like a young virgin, she started laughing. The girls who were helping her dress up, looked at her surprised, then started laughing too.

"Have you ever been kissed, Deiji?" Airi asked, while brushing her hair with a dreamy expression.

"Did captain Kira kiss you?" Deiji asked loudly and seeing her comical expression in the mirror, Airi laughed.

"Of course not. I just want to know how it feels like and how to do it?"

"I guess it feels good when you want it." Deiji though about Koichi's kiss and felt disgusted. "But no, I haven't been kissed."

"Ahh, I hope we both get to experience it soon." Airi said and stood up. Then she froze in her spot and bit her lip. "But of course!" She caught Deiji's hands enthusiastically. "There is this famous fortune teller everyone is talking about. We can call her to ask about everything." She smiled widely.

"Princess, when your mother heard about her, she said she did not want her here. Besides, I don't believe in these things. And I don't know if it is good to know your future."

Airi seemed troubled, but just for a minute. Then her face brightened up again.

"Mother might not agree, but Tsunade will definitely call her. She will surely pay a lot to know if her child will be a boy and rule this Empire one day."

"I doubt that she is so desperate. The baby will be here soon, then she will know for certain if it is a boy."

"Oh, you don't know her well enough. She will die of curiosity. And lady Cao is a sly old fox, she will surely find a way to get that fortune teller here."

"You are also dangerous, Princess!" Deiji smiled.

Just as Deiji predicted, when Tsunade heard of the famous fortune teller, it took her only half an hour to call Airi and ask her where to find her. Then in the afternoon the woman was brought to her quarters in the attached Palace, under the condition that Airi and Deiji also attend. There were five women in the room- Tsunade, lady Cao, Airi, Deiji and Tsunade's young made, called Rika.

The fortune teller was an old and ugly woman, who was also blind. She used only water and stones to predict the future. Deiji looked at her with great doubt, while Airi was impatient for her turn to come. Tsunade made a sign to lady Cao who went and put a little bag of gold into the pocket of the old woman. She was still quiet. Tsunade rolled her eyes.

"So?" Lady Cao asked. "Will the heir to the throne be born soon?" She smiled at her mistress. Tsunade was so full of herself, that she even felt happy to have others witness her prophecy.

"The one, who will rule this Empire one day, will be born from one of the women in this room."

Tsunade seemed surprised by her mysterious answer and looked at the other women in the room. Airi, who was not a heir to the throne and two maids. Of course, it was her who the woman was talking about.

"Don't try to be mysterious. Tell me, will my child be a boy? Will he rule this Empire one day?"

The old woman took her time, without worry. Then spoke slowly.

"The child you are carrying is not a boy, Your Highness."

These words were like cold water thrown in Tsunade's face.

"Are you certain?" She asked. Then, spotted Airi, who was trying to hide her smile.

"I never lie."

"So how many sons will I have?" Tsunade asked, anxious.

"You will have three children, Princess." The old woman seemed completely untroubled, even though Tsunade was already standing, completely shocked by the heard. The other women had their eyes on her. Feeling humiliated in front of them, she tried to remain composed.

"You are one old gold-digger, who knows no future." She said loudly, then spun around and left the room.

Lady Cao ran after her and after some thought Rika followed too. Airi moved forward enthusiastic to finally ask her own questions, alone at that. It couldn't have turned out better.

"Old lady, will I get married soon?" She asked.

The fortune teller nodded her head.

"Yes. You will."

Airi smiled brightly and looked at Deiji.

"Will my father agree to the marriage?" In her head, she was ready to run away if she had to protect her love, but she really did not want to hurt her father.

"Your father will choose your husband, Your Highness."

Airi raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? Who will be my husband? Will I love him?" She asked quickly, impatient to solve this confusion.

"I can't say his name, but you will love him." Airi sighed out of relief. "He will be tall, handsome with black hair and blue eyes."

"Yes, yes. Wait, black hair? He is blonde."

"He has black hair. That I know."

Airi looked at Deiji. Her maid could feel the next storm coming, similar to Tsunade's.

"How old is he?" Airi asked.

"He is young, similar to your age."

Her smile disappeared from her face and she looked at the old woman with utter disappointment.

"It can't be true."

"I already told you, my Princess. I never lie."

Feeling the tears form in her eyes, Airi looked around, hit the floor with her leg a few times, before also going out. Once Deiji was left alone with the woman, the atmosphere became even heavier. The young woman looked at the fortune teller, tempted to ask something, but she just couldn't bring herself to.

"I am going to get lady Cao. She will send you back."

"Aren't you going to ask me too?" The woman suddenly looked at her. Deiji felt scared. She was blind. She certainly couldn't see her. But how did she feel her so precisely?

"I don't have any questions." Deiji almost whispered.

"But you do. And I know them." The fortune teller smiled. "You will also love and be loved, but your life won't be quiet and ordinary. It will be a battlefield for you. Nothing will come easily. You will have to fight for it."

This was certainly far from her hopes for the future. All she hoped for was an ordinary happy life with her husband and children. She felt scared by this woman and hurried to the door. The old lady said no more.

Deiji found Airi back in her room, sitting on her bed. Her disappointment never lasted long, because she was used to getting everything she wanted.

"You were right, Deiji. It was a mistake to call this woman here. She does not know anything."

Deiji looked troubled.

"Why are you looking like that?" Airi asked. "Did she tell you something nasty too?"

"You are right, Your Highness. She just says some things to surprise us and keep her mysterious aura. None of them will come true."

Airi nodded her head and stood up, having almost erased this meeting from her mind.

Later that night Hinamori was brushing her long hair before going to bed, when Toushiro came inside. The maids quickly left them alone, trying to hide their smiles. He moved closer to his wife and wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck. She looked at him using the mirror and left the brush on the table, moving her hand to caress his hair. When he moved up, she turned her face to him and looked up with adoring expression. Then seeing his tired face, she quickly became worried.

"How are you, darling? Is there anything wrong?" She stood up.

"No. Don't worry." Even now he always kept some things hidden from her. "I am just tired."

"Toushiro, you are always working too much. You have so many advisors and generals and Central 46, but you keep everything under control. You have to take more care of yourself. You are barely 40…"

"Momo…" He said as he moved a finger to her lips. "I am fine." Then he moved to her bed and lied down, making a sign to her to follow him.

She did and moved into his arms. She was still worried for him and looked up at his face again. He smiled.

"I am fine. Really."

From her expression he could tell that she was not convinced, but he still pulled her in for a kiss. She buried her face into his neck, enjoying his smell and warmth.

"Today, I received the first proposal for Airi's hand in marriage." He said softly.

Momo opened her eyes and moved up immediately.

"What? From whom?"

"Teru came personally, followed by his father of course. The boy is very passionate, that is for certain. And he seems genuine. To ask me so bravely and boldly. Shunsui was worried that I would cut his head for this insolence. He kept on excusing his son and laughing nervously."

Toushiro seemed to enjoy this memory. Momo, however was still shocked.

"Teru? You know that I love Nanao. I am certain that she put great deal in the raising and education of her son, but captain Kyoraku…He is a womanizer." She whispered the last part.

"Momo, I am not going to give my daughter so easily. I just wanted to know your opinion on this." He smiled.

She knew that more than anyone else, he was overprotective of their daughter and always kept her away from men's attention. And still at the official receptions and balls, Airi shined so brightly, that she always attracted attention.

"No. She is too young to get married."

"She is 16. You became my woman when you were 17."

"But I always felt protected and safe with you."

He smiled at her confession.

"I will pay great attention to this boy, but as far as I know he is much more like his mother and not like Shunsui. He has no affairs with women."

Momo looked down. Toushiro laughed.

"Love, I am not going to get her married without hers and your consent. Don't worry. But he is a young, handsome boy, a noble, well behaved and she will always be close by."

"Toushiro, I am not ready to think about it." She rested her head on the pillow.

"Ok." He said softly as he moved his hand to her cheek.

The next day Takashi reached the Palace just after they had retreated to their rooms for their afternoon rest. He was most enthusiastic to see his mother. Momo was reading a book in her room, when he entered quietly. One of the maids spotted him and opened her mouth, but he made a sign for her to be quiet. Momo had her back to him and she had not heard anything. When he was barely a few steps away, he spoke.

"If this is not the most beautiful of all the Empresses!"

She dropped her book startled, then turned around and saw her son. She last seen him 6 months ago when she went to visit him, yet he looked so much more mature and handsome to her.

"Takashi!" She stood up and quickly moved to embrace him. "You have grown up again!" She kissed his cheek and he moved back.

"Mother, I am not a child anymore."

She sighed.

"To me, you will always be my child. Your brother Hideki is cold enough. At least you can be softer." With that said, she pulled him into her arms again, smiling widely. "I missed you a lot!"

"I missed you too." He said quietly and hugged her tightly too, before releasing her.

"How was your trip to here?" She asked.

"It was fine. It is getting warmer. The road is green again and it is quite refreshing. What about my siblings? His Majesty?"

All of her sons referred to Toushiro as His Majesty as this was required by the etiquette. Only Airi made an exception.

"He is fine, working as much as usual. He will be very happy to see you. All of your siblings are fine. Now that the family is whole again, we will have a great time together. I will order for the dinner. It has to be something special."

She was so ecstatic, that he did not want to interrupt her plans.

"Great. I will go to see the little troublesome princess."

From all of his siblings, he was closest to Airi. They shared mutual deep affection for each other. Momo smiled.

Meanwhile Airi was talking to Deiji enthusiastically again as she told her all about her horse riding with Kira.

"He was so carefully and calmly explaining everything to me, yet I was so nervous that I barely heard a thing!" She exhaled loudly. "But I will learn to ride a horse, I am sure. When he is my teacher."

"You won't if you focus only on him."

"Deiji! What can I do? When you fall in love, you lose your ability to think rationally."

Deiji rolled her eyes.

"I don't believe that is true for all people, Your Highness." Deiji quietly responded.

"You will when you experience it!" Airi was smiling brightly. "Oh, I am so thirsty! Can you bring me a cup of tea?"

Deiji smiled and enthusiastically moved towards the door. Just when she was about to open it, someone did from the outside and she almost bumped into him. Startled, she looked up, deep blue eyes meeting even deeper blue ones to see a handsome young man. She quickly looked down, barely reaching his shoulders. Takashi kept his eyes on her.

"Brother!" Airi happily exclaimed and jumped from her seat.

Deiji moved to the side. She knew two of Airi's brothers. This should be Takashi then? Before going to the Palace she never had the chance to meet any of the princes aside from Hideki. Then, Takashi had just left for District 9, when she came to Airi's service. And when he had visited later, she was visiting her parents and missed him. The prince opened his arms to embrace his sister. Airi threw herself into his arms and he spun her around. Deiji looked at the scene with genuine delight.

"Deiji, bring one more cup for the tea, please!" Airi mentioned, before Deiji left the room.

Then she noticed her brother's expression.

"Who is she?" Takashi asked, still looking at the door.

"This is my best lady in waiting and friend – Deiji!" Airi smiled. "She is such a beautiful and nice girl." She said, while following his face carefully.

He said no more as he sat next to her, asking her about her health.

The door opened again and Deiji came inside with the tray. She left it on the table and handed the first cup to the prince, without looking up. Her hands were shaking and Takashi carefully took the cup, slightly touching her in the process. Deiji was about to excuse herself, but Airi made her stay.

"Look up, Deiji! My brother does not eat people!" She joked and Deiji's cheeks reddened.

They drank their tea and spoke about their everyday lives. Airi forgot to mention her crush, because she was overwhelmed by her new romantic mission – to unite her brother and Deiji. Takashi was not so secretly stealing glances of the young girl. There was something captivating about her – her white skin, her deep blue-green eyes, her long brown hair were all things he liked, but not the reason she was special. It was the feeling of innocence that was so different from the scheming and seducing concubines he saw every day.

Feeling quite uncomfortable in his presence, Deiji used to opportunity to leave them alone, once they had finished their tea.

"I grew so attached to her. Too bad that she will leave me soon." Airi mentioned nonchalantly, looking at her brother's face with her peripheral vision.

"Why?"

"She's been by my side for 3 years already. I promised to let her leave after three more months. She wants to get married, you know? She is already 21." Airi was trying to suppress her laughter. It was far from the truth. Deiji had mentioned her desire to go back to her family when Airi gets married, but they had not decided anything. And she had not spoken about wanting to get married.

"She is 21?" He said in disbelief. "She looks your age."

"Oh yes, everyone is always shocked to hear it." Airi laughed. "If only I could find a good husband for her here."

"Well, she can probably find love in the palace too." He said calmly.

"Where? Around me there are only women and old men. And occasionally soldiers. But she is too intelligent and pure for a man like them."

Takashi was calm and collected on the outside like their father, but he was a romantic soul like her and their mother. She knew he had not found a woman to love in his concubines yet. And she knew his heartbeat increased during his accidental meeting with Deiji. Yet, when he did not say anything on that matter and changed the subject, Airi did the same.

Just before dinner, Takashi went to greet his father. As usual Toushiro was busy looking over the map and he gave his permission out of a habit.

"Your Majesty!" Takashi bowed in front of him.

Toushiro recognized the voice, looked up and saw his son standing in the middle of the room.

"Takashi!" He smiled. "Come here, my son!" He moved in front of his desk and opened his arms.

Takashi moved closer and embraced his father. He felt Toushiro wrap his arms around him tightly, then patted his back and let him go. The boy always looked forward to these short moments of affection.

"How are you, my son?"

"I am fine. Thank you, Your Majesty. How about you?"

Toushiro nodded his head.

"I am fine too. Just busy with the Empire as usual."

Takashi's attention was captured by the big map on his father's desk. There were some figures there. Toushiro noticed this and put his arm around his shoulders.

"Let's go for dinner. Your mother must be waiting for us."

Takashi nodded his head and threw one last look at the desk, feeling a bit worried all of a sudden.

"Nobu keeps on praising you. He says you govern the district rationally and present yourself as a capable and righteous ruler."

"I am doing my best."

"Good. What about your household? Can we expect another grandchild soon?" Toushiro asked making Takashi a little uncomfortable.

"Not really. I have not found a suitable partner in my concubines."

Toushiro raised his eyebrow.

"Out of all of them? Maybe the arranged marriage is not a bad option after all."

"We should ask my brother Hideki."

Father and son exchanged some looks, which showed that they were also in the light about Tsunade and Hideki's relationship.

The dinner was really a success – the best time they all had since long ago. Toushiro was much more relaxed than usual. Hideki, who always tried to be as serious as his father also laughed a few times. Takashi and Airi were the heart of the family, able to turn every moment into a joyful one when they were together. Masaru felt comfortable in his role as the baby of the family, allowing himself more freedom in his actions, even going as far as to throw peanuts in the air, trying to capture them with his mouth. Even Tsunade was smiling most of the time. Out of all the siblings she liked Takashi the most, because he always treated her with respect. No one was happier than Momo – she was really shining that evening and Toushiro thought that he had not seen her that happy, since the day doctor Unohana had told them that Masaru would live.

Tsunade's face distorted into a painful expression. Hideki noticed this.

"Are you ok, Tsunade?"

"Yes." She answered softly.

Takashi went on to speak about their grandfather.

"He and grandma Rangiku send us all their best wishes, but he does not really want to travel. They feel so comfortable in their residence. The sakura trees he had planted there are just blossoming. It is really calm and refreshing – like the heaven on Earth."

"We haven't visited in a long time, father. Maybe we should go soon." Airi smiled.

Toushiro nodded his head.

"We will go."

He really wanted to visit his father, because he needed his advice and support on State's matters.

Suddenly the sound of broken glass captured everyone's attention. Tsunade had pushed her glass on the floor, and now she held her abdomen.

"Hideki, our son is coming!" She cried out and he stood up immediately.

He and Momo held her as the servants went inside to help her to her room and call for the doctor.

"Don't worry! Everything will be ok, Tsunade." Hideki caressed her back before letting her go and returning to the table. It was not appropriate for a Prince to stay in front of the birth chamber, waiting nervously.

"Now we will see if you really know the future." Airi whispered to herself.

The new chapter is here! Is this old fortune teller a cheater or did she predict everything correctly? Will Airi succeed in her plans to unite Takashi and Deiji?