An Empire to Conquer Your Heart

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. We hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 21

It wasn't the first time Izuna had woken up to warm, strong arms holding him, but it had been a very long time since he last felt so sore and loved it. A smile curls his lips and he opens his eyes to stare into the relative darkness of Madara's bed. The curtains were drawn so that he could sleep without being woken by the tiers turning on the lights.

But he knew better than to think he'd beaten his warrior lover awake. "Good morning, Madara." He leans back into the warm embrace as the tanned arm loops tightly around his stomach.

"Morning. I was wondering when you would wake up." He kisses the top of Izuna's head. It was as if the universe finally made sense again. He had his Mate back. "As beautiful a picture as you do make sleeping after being thoroughly ravished, I imagine Haruka is likely getting impatient to see us."

Izuna groans softly and turns over to bury his head in a pillow. "Do I have to get up right now? Can't we wait until he charges in to see us?"

"If you want to explain to our adorable, innocent four year old why Daddy and Papa are naked, we could do that." Madara shakes his head in amusement.

Izuna glances out of the pillow with one dark eye and his ears wiggle irritably. "I'm sure that Tamaki and his new friend can distract him for a little bit longer."

"Probably for a little while longer." Madara glides his hand over Izuna's arms with a teasing lilt in his voice. "Was I too rough on you? Have you become a delicate flower? I can always accommodate you if you prefer a gentler touch these days."

"I just spent two days in your bed, being taken every way I could think of and then some. I fail to see how that makes me a delicate flower." Izuna just…needed a break from sitting right now. Or standing. Or walking. Or kneeling.

"You're adorable when you sulk." Madara kisses Izuna's forehead and smiles, caressing his cheek. "I suppose a small nap won't hurt."

"Or maybe a few hours with a masseuse…" Izuna's ears flap like wings for a split second. "Wait, do Chikara even have masseurs?"

"Of course, we do. Though if anyone is going to give you a massage that would be my privilege and no one else's." Madara huffs at the thought. Izuna honestly thought he'd let someone else put their hands on him in such an intimate fashion?

Izuna's ears perk up in interest. "Oh it's only going to be your privilege is it?" He slides his elbows underneath him to prop himself up. "And just how do I make an appointment with the King's Spa?"

"Yes, only my privilege and for you, you simply make the request." Madara smiles, capturing Izuna's lips with his own.

His protests silenced, Izuna sighs into the kiss and rolls over onto his back. His lips part to welcome the taste and touch of Madara's tongue.

Madara revels in the kiss for a few sweet moments before pulling away. "Mmm now which areas would you like massaged?"

Izuna laughs softly. "Thanks to you, everything between my neck and my thighs aches. So I suppose you'll have to start there. But no funny business, you can try knocking me up again later. I'm already going to have trouble walking today."

"You pulled the tiger by the tiger. You knew what the consequences would be when you decided to do so." Madara chuckles, deciding to start with Izuna's elegant neck. His large, rough hands gliding gently against the delicate skin for a moment before sliding further down and over his chest.

Dark eyes slide shut and a soft purr rumbles in Izuna's chest under the gentle touch. "At least admit that you liked watching me touch myself. You love watching the things that my tail can do for me."

"I love watching you and knowing that you're waiting for me to take you." Madara growls with approval, his hands moving faster over the sculpted chest before him.

Izuna laughs and catches Madara's hands. His eyes flick open and he smiles. "Are you trying to give me a massage or seduce me?" He turns back over onto his stomach and releases Madara's hands from his grip, only for his tail to take hold of one strong hand and press it against a tightly knotted muscle in his back. "Slowly, and press the heels of your hands in deeply."

"I was thinking both." Madara laughs softly, but presses the heels of his hands against Izuna's back nonetheless. "But I suppose that would be counterproductive at the moment."

"Yes, it would." Izuna lays his head on his arms and closes his eyes. His expression scrunches a little and a tiny whimper escapes his lips, then a sigh of relief as one knot comes undone. He breathes slowly and steadily to relax his tightly wound body. "After all, don't Chikara pride themselves on tending to their mate's needs?"

Madara continues with his ministrations, working all the way up his Mate's bare back. "We do. Though normally you try to deny me that right."

"So then…where is the balance between what I think I need and what you think I need?" Izuna hums thoughtfully, pondering the problem. Communication had been one of their most lacking departments, but now it was time to fix that. Izuna was a diplomat. He should be able to fix communication issues without a problem. "Madara, in your eyes what do I need?"

"Why do I feel as though this is a trick question?" His hands move lower, working on Izuna's thighs now. They were getting along so splendidly. That sort of question was like tempting fate. "Every Chikara is taught that they should showcase their love for their Mate by protecting them from physical harm, defending their honor, and lavishing them with whatever forms of affection they can think of. Everything from praise to gifts to sex. We are mostly warriors and understand the risk that carries, so it is also our duty ensure our Mate and children are provided for." It was all very simple, elementary, and for some reason completely eluded Izuna despite his brilliant mind. "We may not always succeed at this endeavor, but any decent Chikara will try his or her best to give their Mate all these things."

"And do both mates take on that role? Or only the dominant one?" Thus far, Izuna hadn't seen any indication that Madara wanted him to do the same. Were they not equals? Not in rank, of course, but with one another?

"That is the instinct of every Chikara. Every Mated pair is of course unique, but the most important aspect is that we complete one another and would do anything for our Mate. Some Chikaras express their love in a more assertive manner, others more gentle, and many fall in the middle." Madara tilts his head as he kneads Izuna's firm backside. His Mate was reacting better than he would have expected, but he couldn't help but feel a bit wary at the line of questioning. Bijin were apparently quite different than his people when it came to culture and even biology to some degree. "In most pairs, one partner does display more 'dominant' traits as you call them, but there is no rule to say that there has to be one dominant and one submissive in every match."

Izuna chuckles softly and glances up at his lover. "Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes Madara, I'm fully aware that you see yourself as dominant, and I've accepted and even encouraged that, I know. And that's fine, it works when it's the two of us alone. I just…" Izuna sighs softly. "You've had so long among your people to prove yourself. You've fought battle after battle and you've won so much single combat that no one has the guts to challenge you."

Madara frowns. He would never understand Izuna in some ways. "Since when have you encouraged me to be dominant? You fight me on almost every matter imaginable." The idea that Izuna acknowledged him as dominant almost makes him laugh. "And I don't understand why you're upset that I've excelled. Do you want a weak Mate who would struggle to protect you and Haruka?"

"No, I love that you're strong." Izuna's tail wraps gently around Madara's forearm and stays locked there. "I love that you can protect me and our baby. And you're very dominant, Madara. I only tease you so much because it brings out that side of you and I like that. The struggle of it gets me excited, even if in the end I bend over for you." That was the simple truth of it. "But my point is that you've proven yourself so much that your strength in unquestionable. And right now…I'm still proving myself. I've achieved my goals on my homeworld and proven myself capable of taking on the challenges of a Bijin. Now, I'm faced with proving that I can take on being a Chikara too. Because…in being your mate, I'll effectively become one. I'll never be as strong as you are, but I know that I can defend my pride and make you proud if I have your support pushing me forward. You've proven that you're strong. Now I want to prove it too."

Madara moves up and kneads Izuna's back more. He pauses, taking in the full weight of his Mate's words. "Well, I'm glad that you like it. Your actions and words are contradictory more often than not, but I wish you'd realize you have nothing you need to prove to me. I can understand the need to prove yourself, though. I wish that you didn't have to feel that way by sheer virtue of my title."

"I know you wish it could be different. But…I actually don't." Izuna smiles and looks ahead, seeing past the headboard and into the future. "It gives me a goal to strive for. Of course, I can hardly go around fighting while I'm carrying a baby, but once the second one is done, I think I could stand to fight a few of those battles I've been putting off. And you'll come watch me, right?"

"You don't wish it was different?" Madara tilts his head. Izuna would always be an enigma. "Of course, I'll come and support you as any proper Mate should."

"Well, if you weren't the king, we probably wouldn't have ever met." Izuna hums softly, his ears twitching to the melody. "If you hadn't come to conquer my planet, I would have gone on to become a diplomat and probably been sent to handle trade agreements somewhere far away from you. So no, I don't regret that you're the king. And if that means I have to keep working to prove myself in the eyes of your people, then that's a mountain I'm willing to climb."

"Those who haven't seen it already will come to see it in time. You're worthy to rule at my side." Madara sighs, kissing the top of his lover's head. "If anyone can hammer that lesson into the thicker skulls of my more obtuse subjects it will be you."

"Yeah." Izuna's ears flick happily at the attention. Then his ears perk up as he goes over Madara's words a second time. Right…mating Madara would mean he would officially be Madara's consort, politically. With all of the powers that entailed. "Right…I forgot that I'll be more than just your diplomat, I'll be…more involved in your higher political discussions. That's going to take some getting used to." Wow…it was a good thing he'd gone home to learn how to do this. "It's good that I'm at least partially trained for that…"

"Yes, I suppose so." Madara places a soft to kiss to the back of Izuna's neck. "Though you needn't worry so much. Anyone who can withstand my passion is more than equipped to handle anything thrown at them."

Izuna purrs happily under the gentle touches and his eyes slide shut with a smile. "You're right…you make me feel like I can do anything." His tail thumps happily underneath the covers of the bed and he pulls his hair to rest it by his right cheek, exposing the moon-pale skin of his shoulders.

Madara smiles as he kisses the exposed skin. "Good. I'm glad. Mates should make each other feel stronger." Even after all these years and likely countless hours of training, his skin was still so soft. Madara could spend all day just caressing and kissing it.

"Yeah…" Izuna turns over onto his back and reaches up to his lover. His fingers dance along Madara's cheeks and he pulls the fierce king in for the softest, sweetest kiss.

Madara smiles as he savors the soothing feeling of Izuna's kiss. "I'll admit that I do find your bratty behavior exciting, but I also like it when you allow yourself to relax."

"Me too." Izuna curls up against his lover and hums as his tail trails up Madara's arm. His fingers play with the thin chain around Madara's neck and the ruby and sapphire earring hanging from it. "You kept it." He smiles softly and plays with the swirling ornament.

"Of course, I did. It was the last thing I had of yours." Madara watches Izuna through lidded eyes. His gentle touches lulling him into a state of tranquility.

"Yeah, and…fitting. I gave you the earring of my sex and you gave me the chance to start our family." Izuna rests a hand on his stomach and runs his fingers over the lightly scarred skin. "Madara…would you do something for me?"

"It is fitting when you put it that way." Madara tilts his head at the request. Izuna never asked for anything. "Of course, what is it?"

"I'd…like to go home with Haruka. And I'd like you to come with us." Izuna had learned his lesson about not explaining things properly the last time. "I know that I'm not going to have the chance to go home very often from now on, but after my current assignment is finished, I'd like to go home and attend the Santsuki festival. It's in three months and I haven't had the chance to take Haruka to one. I know that it would be cutting it close, but…it's a festival meant to celebrate family. And I'd like the chance to celebrate mine." He reaches out and squeezes Madara's hand.

Madara blinks. A festival? That's what Izuna wanted? "Of course, we can attend this festival. If it's important to you, it's important to me." He kisses the top of Izuna's head. "Though...I do have concerns that my presence will intimidate your fellow Bijins."

"I wouldn't worry too much about that. Most of my people don't know your face. They would know you for a Chikara, but not for the emperor unless you told them so." Izuna's people weren't big on publicizing foreign politicians. "Of course, if we meet with the elders, then I'm sure your identity would become known quickly. They would be sure to make a place of honor for you, if you wanted it."

"That's not necessary. There's no greater place of honor than at your side." Madara caresses Izuna's cheek and smiles. "Very well then. I'll travel as if I were any other Chikara."

Izuna laughs softly, trying hard to imagine Madara acting as if he was anything but the king. "Okay." He presses a kiss to Madara's cheek and then rests his head against his lover's shoulder. "Just make sure that you don't eat the morning before we go. Otherwise you'll have no room for tasting all of the food."

"I'll keep that in mind, but I'd rather taste you than the food." Madara smirks, wrapping his arm around Izuna.

Light flares in Izuna's eyes as he smiles cheekily. "But weren't you just saying something earlier about going to see Haruka? He must be missing us so much."

"I was and you're right." Madara sighs, kissing Izuna's forehead. "Knowing Haruka if we don't go to him soon, he'll come to us. So, it's best for us to collect him now."

"Then I think you might have to help me dress, then carry me back to my rooms. I think it might be another day or so before I can walk again." Izuna's cheeky smile grows a little brighter.

"That's true. Though if you hadn't insisted on yanking the tiger by the tail, you'd still be able to walk." Madara chuckles as he slides out of bed, reaching for some clothes for Izuna. "I hope you learned your lesson."

"I learned that having you yank my tail is just as fun." Izuna snickers quietly. "And that you're even better at kissing me when your wicked tongue is busy with what's between my legs."

"You must be the cheekiest Bijin in all of existence." Madara rolls eyes with fond exasperation was he pulls Izuna in for a kiss. "But I love you anyway."

Laughter fills the room as Izuna tries in vain to escape the kisses. "Did you realize that before or after you decided to take me to bed and try for another baby?"

"Oh I realized that a long time ago." Madara captures his lips in the kiss.

Izuna smiles as he surrenders to the kiss. Madara's warmth was comforting and his passion was addictive. And Izuna wouldn't have him any other way.

A short while later, Madara smiles as he carries Haruka into his quarters. His Mate was already dressed and safely nestled in their bed. Which was good because Madara had a very excited four year old in his arms. "Did you have fun with your new friend? Papa and Daddy want to hear all about your adventures."

"Haru had lotsa fun with Kayda. Haru showed Kayda the flying ships!" The tiny hybrid grins brightly and waves his arms. "And I taughts her to count to five!"

"You taught her how to count all the way to five? That's very impressive." Madara smiles, playing with Haruka's unruly hair. "You'll make a fantastic commander one day and it's nice that you showed her the ships."

"Haru had to carry Kayda like Papa did." Haruka squirms around his his Papa's arms and points to his back. "Carried her like that!"

"Oh goodness." Izuna sighs with exasperation as he holds his arms out for his baby. "Did you really kidnap a two year old to go show her the ships?"

"Yes Daddy!" Haruka grins even more brightly. "Tama-chan was funny, her face was alllll red."

"Izuna, I think I'll arrange for Tamaki to receive a raise." Madara rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "The woman has more than earned it." Madara chuckles turning his attention back to Haruka. "You're very strong to be able to carry her like that. Just make sure not to get hurt, okay?"

"Okay Papa!" Haruka snuggles into his Daddy's arms and closes his eyes. "Missed you, Daddy. Next time, Daddy stays with Haru at party."

Izuna's eyes widen slightly, then he smiles and wrap his arms tightly around his baby. "Of course, Haru. The next time we go to a party, you can ride in my arms the whole time."

"That's much better." Madara smiles approvingly. Perhaps things really would be as they were always meant to now.

Izuna looks up at Madara and tilts his head. Silver strands brush against the topaz markings on his cheeks as he reaches a hand up to his lover. "Come here. You're part of this family too."

Madara takes the hand and smiles. "Always, my love." Hope and warmth swells in his chest at Izuna's words.

The Bijin pulls the king to sit by his side and squeezes the strong hand tightly. "Could I ask something else of you, Madara?" Izuna knew that the answer to anything and everything he wanted would likely be yes, but still he wanted to ask rather than assume. "Two things, actually."

"You're full of surprises today. Three requests?" Amusement dances in Madara's eyes as he watches his lover. "I'm listening. What is it you desire?"

Izuna sighs and fiddles with the diplomatic earring hanging alone from his ear. "I…may be resigning from my homeworld's diplomatic party soon over a difference of opinion. There will be talks over it soon, where the final details will be decided." Then he lowers his hand and looks up at Madara with a fire still burning in his eyes. "But despite that, I would like to remain on independently as one of your diplomats, as joining the diplomatic party was effectively just the means to get me here. I had a feeling that my demeanor would ruffle some feathers. It has since I was a child. But that is my second request of the day."

"Granted, but I can't say that I'm impressed with that lot." Madara raises an eyebrow, his lips curling in displeasure. "I'm to understand that a group of diplomats is upset you respected the local customs of the people you're trying to win over? It would seem that would be an integral part of a diplomat's role." He shakes his head. Madara had long ago given up trying to understand what little he knew of Bijin culture. It was...bizarre. "Never mind. Your position as an independent diplomat is granted."

Despite the request, Izuna laughs a little and squeezes Madara's hand. "This may be hard for you to believe Madara, but generally it's not wise for a diplomat and mediator to go around picking fights, especially with the people they're meant to be negotiating with or on behalf of. This is the only people we've ever dealt with where diplomats are apparently allowed to pick fights and they aren't immediately called out by those that they're serving with. I will own that I made a challenge knowing full well that I should have left it to you. That was my choice and I could have chosen otherwise. Had I been anyone else, my actions would have put the party at risk of retribution for challenging one of your officers. Had I been anyone else, I could have gotten my companions killed, and that was reckless of me."

"You're wrong. Even if you were a stranger to me, your honor was challenged. You had the right to address it no matter your species or vocation." Madara watches his Mate utterly baffled. He had never heard anything so ridiculous. Diplomats were supposed to win the respect of others by allowing themselves to be doormats? "So, would the other Chikaras. Personal opinions do not factor into it. The right to challenge someone to defend your honor is one of the oldest and most sacred laws of our culture. I'm frankly shocked that this is apparently not...commonplace."

"I know that it's strange to you. There are many peoples out there and there are a few that use trial by combat in extreme situations, but none quite as liberally as the Chikara. It's an…interesting system, and in its own way it's fair and honorable. It's a system that I personally understand enough to know works exactly as you say. But my actions shouldn't be the example of how to deal with conflict when those actions could have dire consequences when applied with other peoples." Izuna…rather liked the passion of the Chikara, actually.

"You are a king, Madara, that is true. But you are also an emperor now, so unless you want to push for conformity, it might benefit you to be more aware of where your people stand in relation to others. The first time I challenged you to a fight, I was taken prisoner and they were afraid I might be executed." And for a time, Izuna had believed that as well. "I can't blame them for being worried about an entire group aboard a foreign vessel where only one member can defend themselves. If we angered someone enough for them to want revenge and murder us in our sleep, what could we do? The damage would already be done, and there's no restoring lives lost. The relationship is still new and they're afraid of earning the ire of those who could hurt our people aboard your ship."

"If they're so afraid of earning our ire, they could stop bullying my Mate." Madara huffs, everything with the Bijin was complicated. Still, there was some merit to Izuna's words. He might never agree with the traditions of the Bijin, but they were a part of the empire. "I don't need conformity. As long as they acknowledge their place as part of the empire and meet their obligations as citizens of our empire...they can do what they like on their home planets. It'd be impossible to force every conquered planet to follow our cultural norms. That could take generations and much bloodshed just to achieve on one planet. It'd be the most inefficient way of running an empire I'd ever heard of."

"Yes, that's true." Izuna sighs and sets down a now sleeping Haruka who had babbled himself to sleep in his Daddy's arms. "You know, in the end, they're doing me a favor. It means that there will be one less entanglement to distract me from you, from my goals, and from our family. It's hard for me to be caught so in between. To desire peace and stability like a Bijin, but crave passion and strength like a Chikara. Like two halves of a coin at war with one another as I try to cling to who I am and who I'm becoming. It's…" Izuna toys with the earring. "It hasn't been easy, but I'm still fighting."

Madara sighs, taking Izuna's hands in his own. "I'm sorry. Being what I am causes you so much pain. Things would have been easier on you if I were a Bijin, but I can't change who I am and neither can you." He kisses his Mate's forehead and smiles. "I wouldn't want you to even if you could. You're perfect just the way you are and if your people can't accept that then they simply do not deserve the reputation they have as an intellectual species."

"Nothing worth it is ever easy." Izuna returns the smile with a gentle gaze. Then his gaze falls to Haruka. His fingers leave Madara's and reach out to softly stroke along Haruka's gilded ears. "But the most difficult paths are often the most rewarding." Which reminded him of his third request. "There's one more thing I'd like to ask of you."

"I suppose you're right about that. What's your final request?" Madara toys with Izuna's hair. He loved how long it had grown.

"I want to fight with you." Izuna looks back at his lover with a flame of determination in his eyes. "Not on the battlefield, but in the training arena. I want to start fighting again, and I know that you won't always be able to take time away from your duties to train me, you already taken plenty of time away from them as is. But I'd like to be able to fight you now and then, one on one."

Madara instinct was to say no. Fighting with his Mate just seemed cruel, but he knew that look in Izuna's eye. His Mate wouldn't change his mind. Once he got an idea into his head, there was no stopping him. "We can train together now and then under certain conditions. One of which is Haruka won't be present during said training." Their son wouldn't understand. He'd think they were sincerely trying to hurt one another.

"Fine, not until he's a little older and understands what training is." Izuna huffs softly and raises a hand to Madara's cheek. "What's wrong? Years ago you were so eager at the prospect of training me yourself. You were downright disappointed when I asked for Kaito instead."

"It's different now. I didn't realize you could…" Madara glances at Haruka, "That you could get pregnant. I also know how stubborn you are now. You're strong, but I still don't want to hurt you."

"Then the second condition will be a handicap for you." Izuna's hand trails around to the back of Madara's neck where he tugs on the thick hair there. "No strikes to my stomach. Besides, it would just be sparring, I don't expect you would use anything close to lethal force. What other conditions do you have?"

"Those were the main ones that sprang to mind immediately." Madara sighs, leaning into the touches. "If I think of others, I'll let you know."

"Okay, then we'll abide by those and amend them if there's a reason to." Izuna leans in and presses his forehead to Madara's. Then he smiles cheekily. "Just promise me that you won't put me on my knees and cut off all of my hair in front of half your court if I lose. You can have a few locks, but I worked hard to grow this out again."

"I only did that because I had to punish you for an assassination attempt." Madara huffs, tugging on Izuna's hair. "Besides, I enjoy pulling on it too much to cut it."

"Is that right?" Izuna smirks and pecks his lover on the lips. "Then I suppose that means it's safe for me to decorate myself a little more. I still have those beads from my first mission. I know it'd not much, but I might be able to find other things to decorate myself with while I'm out on my missions."

"I wouldn't mind, but you don't need them. You could wear nothing, but a potato sack and still be the most beautiful man in the universe." Madara smiles, returning his lover's kiss.

"I'm sure. But I'm still a Bijin, Madara. The name of my kind means 'beauty' for a reason. If I don't decorate myself, I feel either naked and exposed or invisible and overlooked. I would compare it to you going into battle without a stitch of clothing on, but I get the feeling that it wouldn't bother you very much to fight with everyone able to see the glory of the royal jewels as they fall before you." Though that…Izuna might actually like to see. He was sure that his lover would look glorious as he fought with nothing but sweat to cover his skin.

"Well, then we'll ensure that you're decorated to your hearts content." Madara chuckles at the imagery. It did seem to be tempting fate even for him. "I prefer to fight with my clothes on unless you consider our coupling to be an exotic battle. Then I suppose I prefer to fight without them."

Izuna smirks and presses a teasing kiss to Madara's lips. "I think that's my favorite sort of battle too."