Chapter 45

The first thing Airi did after learning of her father's plans was to go to her mother and beg for help. She sat on her mother's bed and the tears started flowing on her beautiful face. Momo felt sympathetic, but she had no intention of opposing this marriage.

"How can you support something that will make me miserable?" Airi cried out.

"Airi, it seems this way to you, but it is for your happiness actually. The feelings you have for captain Kira are not love and he told me personally that he does not love you too."

Airi looked her mother straight into the eyes, completely heartbroken.

"I don't believe you!"

"It is true. I did not want to tell you, because I knew it would hurt you, but he did tell me. He just wanted to be nice to you and mislead you."

Airi shook her head.

"You are just telling me this to make me give up, but you are the one who chased him away."

Hinamori moved her hand to her daughter's.

"Airi, love and devotion do not come that suddenly. It takes time. You have to give Teru a chance."

"It is easy for you to tell me this, because no one forced you to be with father."

Momo was quiet for a while.

"I did not love your father at first."

"What?" Airi seemed confused.

"When they send me to be his concubine, I only loved him as a friend. I did not see him as a man. But then we grew closer and after your brother Hideki was born, I realized I had always loved him."

"So you were forced to be with father?" Airi was utterly disappointed.

"It was not that way." Momo was trying to explain it better. "Airi, I have never regretted being with your father. It is the best thing that has happened to me. But once, when I was your age, I never believed I could be happy with him."

"But you have never loved another man either?"

"No."

Airi stood up.

"I love captain Kira, mother. And I will fight for my love."

"Airi!" Momo raised her voice. "Your father will never agree to this marriage. If you tell him, you will only endanger Kira."

If she was more rational, she would have listened to her mother's words, but Airi just ran out of the room and hurried towards her father. She would tell him the whole truth, no matter the consequences. And she would have done it, if it was not for the scene that occurred in front of her eyes.

"I will never do it, Your Majesty! Never! And I will never forgive you and my mother! You don't exist for me anymore!"

It was Kiara who was shouting in front of her father's chambers. The guards were blocking her way. Her hair was unruly, there were tears in her eyes and she seemed as wild as a wolf.

"Kiara?"

She turned in the direction of the voice.

"Oh, Airi! Do you know? Your father is sending me to become Havri's bride!"

Airi widened her eyes and opened her mouth in shock.

"What?"

Kiara wiped the tears from her face with her hands.

"It can't be true…" Airi said more to herself.

"But it is! Your father is a monster!" Kiara moved past her and left her alone in front of her father's chambers.

Airi stood still for a few minutes before moving closer.

"Let me in!" She commanded, but the guards stood firm. "Father! Let me in!"

There was nothing to be heard from Toushiro's room.

"FATHER!" She started screaming in front of the door.

Not long after Toushiro opened the door, visibly angry and let her in.

"Is it true? Are you really marrying Kiara to Havri?"

"It is."

"How could you do it?" Airi shouted.

"I owe you no explanations." Toushiro raised his voice.

"How can you be so cruel?" She shook her head.

Toushiro remained stone-faced.

"If this is all you are going to tell me, you can leave."

Airi looked at him with eyes full of anger.

"It is not! Kiara won't marry Havri! And I won't marry Teru!" Toushiro raised an eyebrow. "Because I love captain Kira! And I am going to get married to him!"

The blue-green orbs suddenly changed their color to a darker one. She expected her father's anger, but not that much.


The door to Momo's room opened with a slam.

"Get out immediately!" Toushiro shouted and the maids ran outside, scared.

Momo was already feeling unwell, but she stood up bravely, facing his anger. She knew the storm was coming.

"What does this mean?" Toushiro was moving left and right in front of her, unable to control his feelings. "Airi is in love with Kira? She wants to marry HIM!"

Momo remained quiet.

"Why don't I know of it?"

"Because this is just a young girl's delusion, Toushiro. He saved her one time and now she thinks she loves him."

"A young girl's delusion?" He shook his head. "She told me she wants to marry him!" He repeated, his eyes sparkling with anger.

"We both know that this is not going to happen and she will soon forget about her wish."

"Correct! It is not going to happen, because Kira won't even live much longer!" He spun around, but Momo caught his hand.

"You can't do that, Toushiro!"

"Why? Because he is your dear friend?"

She sighed and released him.

"Because he has no fault that Airi thinks she is in love with him. He was just being polite to her, because she is your daughter. And because Airi will never forgive you if you do kill him! She will hate you until the end of her life!"

Toushiro seemed shaken by this prediction. He stood still, looking into Momo's eyes. She turned her back to him and moved by the window, refusing to talk to him any longer. She was more indifferent than she had ever been. He stormed out of the room. Momo sighed and moved to sit on the sofa, shaking.


The same afternoon Rangiku arrived with her daughter in the middle of the storm. No one came to greet her and she knew something was really wrong. Masami was pale, thin and dressed in black. She had become a widow a week ago. The first person she went to greet was Momo.

"Rangiku!" Momo exclaimed happily when she saw the familiar face.

Rangiku did not return the smile. Momo realized why moments later when Masami went in too. Momo moved her hand in front of her mouth.

"Did he…?"

Rangiku nodded her head.

"Oh, Masami, I am so sorry!" Momo moved to embrace the girl.

Masami returned the hug weakly.

"Thank you."

"Airi is always asking for you. She will be happy to see you, if you want to meet her too." She said.

"I want to rest for a while."

"Of course. Your room will get ready right away." Momo said and made a sign to her servants to accompany Masami and help her settle in.

Rangiku caught Momo's hand in silent thanks.

"I am so sorry, Rangiku. He was so young."

"Yes. She is truly heartbroken. It was a perfect arranged marriage, but…"

The years have taken their toll on the blonde-haired woman. She was now past 50 and she was beginning to look old. The wrinkles on her face had gotten more and more during the last years. Ever since Byakuya's accident she had started feeling tired and hurt, but her daughter's sadness was the thing that tormented her soul the most.

"How is Byakuya?"

Rangiku looked at Momo and said nothing, but the other woman understood. He was just as bad as them.

"Now tell me about you. What is this terrible silence all around? You look so pale and tired."

"I am fine." Momo smiled.

Rangiku raised an eyebrow.

"It is just political tension. King Mashir was here last week and we are all anxious."

"I want to hear everything." Rangiku said and asked for two cups of tea.

"No. Right now is not the time." Momo caught her hand.

"Right now is the time. I need to know. I can't keep thinking about my own personal problems." She sighed. "Please."

Momo's eyes filled with tears.

"Rangiku…"

She started pouring her heart out, sparing no detail. Rangiku was listening patiently. She knew about the upcoming danger, but not about Toushiro's recent decisions. The only thing which Momo kept from her was her pregnancy.

"Did you tell Toushiro?" Rangiku exclaimed angrily.

"Of course not."

"Why? He needs to know. Or…tell me…did you…"

"No!" Momo shook her head. "I couldn't. I was about to, but I just couldn't do it to him and to myself."

"Of course you couldn't. You saved Toushiro's honor and your marriage."

"I wonder about that…" She looked to the side. "If I had done it, maybe Kiara wouldn't have to go through all this."

"Momo, are you really that naïve to believe it?" Rangiku's words were almost reprimanding. "These men are pigs who treat women like sexual objects. He would have asked for it, even after humiliating you."

"It is too late to speak now. Toushiro would never listen to me."

"I think he will. He is going through a crisis. He needs your honesty and help."

Hinamori shook her head.

"He does not need me. We don't share the same views and values at all."

"Since when?"

"Since…I don't know! Ever since he became the Emperor he started changing for the worst. He's become colder, more distant and selfish. He does not look at me like he used to. I feel like sometimes…he sees me as a burden. And the worst thing is that…I start feeling hatred towards him…" She looked down, ashamed.

"Momo…"

Both women were quiet for a few minutes. Hinamori had tears in her eyes from the sudden confession. The emotions had piled up inside of her and she could hardly stop them now.

"He is under a lot of pressure. It is like he has your family to love and cherish and protect, but this whole empire is his family too and he must always protect all of them. So he can't really focus on you. Byakuya stopped being an emperor 10 years ago, but he still thinks more of the empire than us. And I can't blame him. He has it harder than me."

"I know that. And I understand, but…sometimes he becomes so different and even cruel. I am scared that he is changing and slipping through my fingers. I am losing him."

Rangiku caught her arms and turned her, so they were face to face.

"You have to save him. You are the person who has known and loved him since he was a little boy. You have to bring him back to himself when he needs it."

"I don't know if I can."

"Of course you can. Now go and talk to him. Tell him everything and we will see how he will react."

Momo was reluctant to do so, but Rangiku was ready to force her if she had to.


When Momo went inside Toushiro's chambers he did not even look up from his desk. She suspected that he had no work to do, but used the documents as an excuse. She knew he was still angry at her, but she was also furious.

"Your Majesty, there is something I have to tell you." She said coldly.

He finally looked up.

"Another secret, Your Majesty?"

She bit her bottom lip, trying to calm down. He shook his head and looked down again. No, she was not giving up this time.

"Actually yes. About your trusted ally king Mashir."

"And what is it?"

"He proposed to me…to spend one night with him in exchange for your contract."

Toushiro was still for a moment, before standing up.

"What?"

Hinamori's anger was all gone. Now only shame was left on her face.

"That night while he danced with me, he told me that he wanted one night with me to accept your conditions. He said "You are a grown up woman, Momo. Just one night with me and your husband will get the alliance he needs so much. Think of it as your duty as an Empress."

Toushiro moved in front of her. His eyes were sparkling with anger and humiliation. He grabbed her arms.

"Is that true?"

"Do you think I would lie about such thing?"

Eyes to eyes they both examined еach other's faces.

"Then why are you telling me this now?" Toushiro raised his voice and tightened his grip on her.

"You are causing me pain."

"Why did you keep quiet until now? This guy looked at me, making fun of me, trying to humiliate me and I knew nothing, acting like a complete fool."

"What about me? Do you think it was nice to be polite to him, while he kept on throwing dirty looks at me, then openly proposed to me to spend the night with him like I was some cheap whore? I did all of it, because you wanted me to keep your alliance going!"

He released her, feeling ashamed. It was not the Emperor in front of her, it was Toushiro. Her loving husband.

"I am so sorry, Momo." He moved his hands to her cheeks. "I am sorry."

"It was not your fault." She said. "You didn't know."

"But I knew he was an arrogant jerk and I was ready to send my niece to his awful son, because I was desperate to save our Empire."

Tears started running down her cheeks, wetting his fingers.

"Did you do it, Momo?" He asked quietly, afraid of her answer.

"What?"

"That night when I woke up and did not find you next to me, were you with Mashir in his bed?" His look was not gentle anymore, but scary.

She looked down. His hands moved under her chin.

"Look into my eyes and tell me the truth!"

"No! Of course not! I couldn't do it, even though I thought about it."

He sighed.

"Thought about it? And where were you and why?"

She opened her mouth to say the truth, but she couldn't. Because that meant telling him of her nausea and pregnancy. And she knew he would never allow her to terminate it, if he knew. So she stuck to the available part of the truth.

"I was thinking on the balcony. I couldn't sleep. When I closed my eyes, I saw only that guy and his ugly face, I felt his hands on my waist while he danced with me. And I imagined what they would do if I went there."

Toushiro pulled her into his embrace and closed his eyes.

"No one will ever touch you and offend you again, Momo. After I am done with Yhwach and his people, I will destroy Mashir too."

"No, Toushiro. You don't have to." She looked up worried. "Just…don't do that to Kiara."

"Of course I won't. If I knew from the beginning, I would have killed him right on the spot." His voice was low and he spoke slowly, but she knew well, that he did it when he was terribly angry and serious.

"I am sorry, Toushiro. I should have told you, but I was ashamed and confused. If it wasn't for Rangiku, then…"

"Rangiku is here?"

"With your sister. She lost her husband."

"Oh, God! She sent a letter, but I did not even open it." He closed his eyes and exhaled.

"It is all right. She knows how hard it is for you and she reminded me of it."

"We still rely on her to solve our problems."

"That is what mothers do. Protect their children."

"No more secrets, Momo. Promise me that and I promise too."

"I promise." She answered.

Toushiro smiled and caressed her cheek again. She pulled him down for a kiss, feeling both grateful for having him back and sorry because she still did not plan on keeping their baby. She just had to focus on her other children and duties now.


In District 2 Tsunade was hoping to get pregnant again soon, because her relationship with Hideki had warmed up a bit and he slept in her bed at least twice a week. As far as she knew there were no other women since that one incident a few months ago. That dirty concubine was out of the palace now and she was calm.

Hideki on the other hand did not care much about becoming a father again so soon. He was young and healthy and he had plenty of time to produce a heir. He was a doting father to his little daughter.

"Your Highness, the people are complaining about the taxes again. They say that the drought had destroyed most of their harvest."

Hideki rubbed his forehead.

"I will go to the market tomorrow and I will personally look into this situation. Now I am tired. I want one warm tea before going to bed."

"Of course." The old servant bowed and left the room.

The one who came with the tea was Rika. She bowed politely and moved closer with the tray, leaning down to leave the cup on the table. Her voluptuous mounds were visible through her cleavage. Hideki gulped. Her body suddenly became very seductive to him.

"Your Highness, if that is all, I wish you good night!" She looked down, waiting for his reply.

He stood up.

"It is not all."

He moved closer to her.

"Look up."

She obeyed. Her innocent blue eyes had become wider. Her blonde hair was carefully tied into a bun.

"Why have I not noticed how beautiful you are until now?"

She did not answer, but her heart started beating faster. He moved his hand to caress her cheek, then took a hold of her waist.

"Your Highness…I…shouldn't be here." She said, worried.

"Why not? You are my concubine." Hideki's hand grabbed one of her breasts. It was nice to the touch.

"But…Her Highness will never forgive me."

"She does not have to know." He moved his hands to untie her dress, pushing the sleeves down to reveal her nude breasts.

Rika looked like she was about to cry. Tsunade was really scary and she knew it better than anyone else. But she could not refuse the prince. It was her duty to serve him.

Before knowing it, she was already completely naked, sitting onto his bed. Hideki took off his shirt and untied his trousers. Then moved on top of her and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.


Toushiro was having dinner with Rangiku, Momo and Masaru. Both Airi and Masami had refused to come and were busy suffering together. Each had her own pain to share.

"I sent a notice to Soifon. I hope I receive an answer soon."

"Kiara will be relieved and happy." Momo smiled.

"You have taken the right decision again." Rangiku encouraged.

"Does this mean that my marriage is also not happening?" Masaru looked at his father, hopeful.

Toushiro smirked.

"It does."

"Great!" The young boy slammed his fist onto the table happily.

"Masaru!" Momo looked at him, knitting her eyebrows.

Toushiro held in his laughter.

"Masaru, I will find another bride for you soon."

"Your Majesty, please think of my brother Takashi first!"

A knock on the door interrupted the dinner. It was not long after when Soifon pushed the door open and went inside.

"Soifon! You received my notice!" Toushiro said.

"Kiara is gone! She had run away!" She said, panicked.

Toushiro stood up. Momo dropped her fork. Even Masaru's smile quickly disappeared.


Our Emperor has it hard all the time! We are also going through a hard time right now so have strength everyone! I am recovering from a sickness right now, so I took more time to upload. Hope to continue the story more regularly now!