An Empire to Conquer Your Heart

celestia193's Author's Note: Ready for something nice, something sexy, and something sweet? You'd better be, because this chapter is all good stuff.

Chapter 23

Looking out from the command deck of his personal warship was one of Hiroto's greatest pleasures. Though it could never quite compare to the beauty of their homeworld, the distant stars and planets shine like gems as their fleet races through space back towards their home.

Still, this was quite a departure from their original plan, and he had his suspicions as to why. "So, Brother, how did your plan to present your Bijin with his new earrings go?"

"Exceptionally well. Izuna was overjoyed by them." Madara smiles, looking out at the stars as well. It never grew old. The view of the universe was beautiful. Almost as beautiful as his Mate. "I owe you for your assistance in that matter."

As expected, Hiroto had suspected that decorating Izuna might be an important step forward in strengthening the Bijin's confidence. "I would have included such gifts with my gifts to your son, but I realized that it would be quite inappropriate for me to effectively proposition your mate."

"Yes, it would have." Madara gives Hiroto a rather pointed look, but shakes his head to clear his possessive thoughts. "I don't think I'll ever be able to describe the look on his face when he saw them."

"Then everything is as it should be. Almost…" Hiroto shoots a side-long glance at his little brother. "Is this festival the only reason we're returning home ahead of schedule?"

"No. I thought since the worlds are in such close proximity that it would be fitting to host the mating ceremony on our homeworld." Madara pauses. He was aware that Izuna was likely still skittish about such things, but he'd guide his Mate through the process.

Hiroto's lips twitch. "Of course that's what you're planning. And does this mean that your guests will be treated to the sight of their king ravishing his beloved mate and consort on the floor?"

"They will not. What millennia do you believe this is?" Madara snorts. Hiroto should know better than that. "Even if I was that traditional, Izuna would never agree to such a thing."

"I tease you, little brother. I know that you're far too protective of your Bijin to expose him to that sort of public attention." Hiroto smirks briefly, before his thoughts become far more…political. "The empire is still growing, Madara, but this could be a valuable opportunity. When your mating is complete…will you be announcing to your empire that you have, gender and title debates aside, taken an empress?"

"I'll speak to Izuna on the matter. I'm not certain he'd approve of that title." Madara wasn't entirely sure how he felt about it either given that Izuna chose to present as a man. "I will make an announcement of some sort that I've taken a Mate and a co-ruler, though."

Hiroto nods. "And knowing you, he'll be more than sufficiently adorned in the royal colors for the ceremony. Does he know what the ceremony and the preparations entail?"

"Not yet, but I have made my intentions clear that I desire such a ceremony and he seemed agreeable...if a little overwhelmed." It was odd, Madara muses. Izuna would attempt to assassinate a king, but ceremonies startled him.

"Then I will seek Father's counsel. He will know an auspicious day to hold the ceremony." While they were not generally a superstitious people, Hiroto knew the power that an auspicious day could bring when presenting a union to the masses. "By the way, I sent a message to Mother about your mate."

Madara arches an eyebrow. "It's a good idea to consult Father, but I can only imagine how Mother reacted to your message. What did you tell her?"

"That you had found your one and only and though it was a challenging start, the two of you are coming together nicely, and that we would be returning home soon with her first grandchild." Their mother had certainly been excited about that. "I also told her of the gifts you had made for your mate and she's insisted that Izuna wear this, as your future queen." Hiroto snickers slightly and withdraws a teardrop ruby pendant on a delicate silver chain with hooks to fasten it in place to hang over the forehead. The pendant their mother received from their father when they were mated.

Madara blinks as he stares at the pendant. "That was incredibly kind of her. Knowing Izuna he'll try to politely refuse it, but I'll have to outstubborn him on the matter." If such a thing was even possible. "Poor Haruka's ribs are in peril, knowing Mother. That woman's hugs rival Father's."

"There is a reason that our mother is the beloved terror of the Uchiha clan." Hiroto chuckles and raises a hand to ruffle his little brother's hair. "And soon we will have a second new addition to our family. Izuna Uchiha…it flows rather nicely off the tongue, doesn't it?"

"Indeed there is and it does." Hopefully, Izuna wouldn't fight Madara on that point as well. He was marrying into the royal family, after all.

Izuna's pale skin shines as a bead of sweat trails down the side of his face and into the high collar of his new training shirt. Every muscle in his body aches, but the high was just too much to resist. He brushes a few stray locks of hair behind his bejeweled ears and tries not to think about how attractive his lover looked in clothes that hugged his body in ways it had no business doing, and revealed his skin more than anyone deserved to see.

His eyes flare cherry red for a split second. Sparring with Madara was always a challenge, but now it had become much harder to predict what his lover would do. Throwing a punch was easy to figure out. So was the direction of a weapon's swing. This sort of practice was…not what he was accustomed to. He shifts in place, not eight feet from the king. He rolls forward slightly on the balls of his feet. His knees bend, ready for action.

Madara smirks. His mate was a vision with his mostly raven tresses clinging to his perspiring skin and exotic irises that flickered between the most hypnotizing shades of black and the sweetest of cherry reds. "You always look so beautiful even when you're about to get knocked on that cute ass of yours."

The view was quite pleasing to the eye, but he knew better than to drag out a fight under these conditions. Madara had forgone his usual fighting style for a less subtle one. No punches or kicks. The only real objective was to pin your opponent or force them to submit.

In light of that, the Chikara King wastes no time in closing the gap between them. He grabs his beloved in a tight grapple. When it came to brute strength, he had the advantage. A fact that was negated by the fact his mate didn't have a reason to hold back. This was as much a battle of wills as of bodies.

Izuna's body twists and folds towards the ground under Madara's weight as he wedges his shoulder into a position to prevent his left arm from being pulled entirely behind his back. His tail whips up and around to grasp Madara's left wrist and twist it into submission to release his arm. "Who says I'll just let you knock me onto my ass?" He presses his knee to the floor and his right leg lashes out behind him towards Madara's knee.

"Using your tail is cheating." Madara huffs as he attempts to defend his knee. His heart thundering with excitement at his mate's close proximity. Izuna's scent was teasing his senses and his bratty tendencies did little to quell his excitement. "And you likely won't let me do anything, but that won't change the outcome of this battle." He chuckles and throws more of his weight against his mate.

Having waited for the moment Madara would attempt to force him further to the floor, Izuna twists his right arm out of Madara's grip and uses his knee to lever himself out from under Madara to roll across the floor. "And just what outcome is that?" His tail whips around behind him, the long, powerful muscles anticipating the next move.

"You'll yield, sulk, and then we'll have a makeup mating." It really was very simple math. Izuna was only delaying the inevitable. "Your retreat maneuvers are impressive, but I'm afraid that's not enough to win." He comes at his lover once more this time with a side grapple technique. Every inch he surges forward, Madara takes special care to avoid his mate's agile tail. Occasionally, he feels the brush of a few scales against his skin during a narrow evasion.

Warning Lemon

This time, Izuna is ready with his tail as the distraction and he pivots in a flash to grab hold of Madara's wrist when it brushes past his tail. "Is setting a trap enough?" He yanks his lover towards him, wedges his leg behind Madara's knee, and turns over as he uses Madara's momentum and weight to push him down onto the floor.

Madara lands on the floor, but succeeds in pulling his lover down with him. "It was a well-placed trap." He smiles, placing an open mouth kiss against Izuna's lips before resuming the fight and rolling Izuna over. Adrenaline was rushing through his veins as Madara revels in their closeness along with the thrill of a good fight.

Izuna's cheeks flush with heat to match much of his rosy ivory skin as his back hits the floor. "Cheater." Endorphins pump through his veins and blood begins to pool uncomfortably quickly between his thighs. He reaches up and grabs hold of a fistful of Madara's wild mane and seizes one thick tan wrist. "You know you're not supposed to kiss me while you're teaching me. It's distracting."

"I know, but how could resist? You have such kissable lips." There was something erotic about having Izuna yank on his hair. Madara still had a match to win, though. He was allowing himself to be distracted a bit too much. His other hand reaches for Izuna's to free the wrist his Bijin had captured. As always, Izuna's skin was wonderfully soft and Madara liked the way his hand fit so nicely underneath his own.

"I bet I would win every single one of our matches if I decided to seduce you." Izuna lifts his chin defiantly as his tail wraps around Madara's thigh, no longer particularly caring about winning the match. What he did care about was doing something about the aching in his core and the slick feeling dampening his training pants.

"I'll concede you're right about that." Madara smirks, taking what little of Izuna's ear that remained undecorated into his mouth. He tugs on it lightly with his teeth. "Who could blame me when my mate prevents such inviting picture, though? It'd almost be blasphemy not to ravish you."

Izuna groans softly and closes his eyes. "You're so cruel to me, Madara. And you call me a bratty tease." His knees rise to loosely encompass his lover's narrow hips. His tail falls from around Madara's thigh as a tent forms in Izuna's pants. And though he knew exactly why he shouldn't, his tail rubs slowly against the hardness and dampness between his thighs. "Ugh…fuck you for doing this to me. We were meant to be training."

"It still counts as training. Stamina is a critical factor in many fights." He licks the shell of Izuna's ear, moving away from the sensitive flesh in favor of leaving a trail of soft lovebites against his neck. "The doors are locked and the training area is soundproof. Besides, I don't think you're really all that angry with me." Madara's hand slides over Izuna's tail. "You're moving this in that way you do when you want attention."

"And just what way is that?" Izuna's eyes open slowly and glow with a lustful red light. "It's my tail, I should be able to move it in whatever way I please."

"I think you know precisely which way I'm speaking of." Madara smirks, pinning his mate underneath him before sliding Izuna's training pants off. "And you call me the tease, you weren't wearing anything underneath and you're already so ready for me." He sucks on the tip of Izuna's arousal to illustrate his point.

"Ngh…no point…wearing anything when you-" Izuna groans as he thrusts up into that wicked wet heat. "When there's half a chance you'll jump me the moment we're alone." He remembered…oh he remembered those months spent here in his youth when he could hardly go a few hours without ending up in Madara's bed.

Madara hums as he takes more of his lover into his hot mouth knowing the vibrations would drive Izuna wild. "Was that a complaint I heard? Do you want me to stop?"

Izuna's cherry eyes burn into his lover with the force of a thousand suns. "If you stop, I will fuck myself right here on the floor and you'll just have to sit there and watch."

Madara chuckles and sucks harder as he pumps his fingers inside Izuna to stretch and prepare him. "I adore how needy you are."

"Oh it will get worse over the next few months." Izuna knew that for a rather unfortunate fact. "And don't pretend you're not just as desperate as I am." Over the last few weeks, Izuna had grown acutely aware of Madara's behavior. Knowing that Madara's basest instincts pined only for him shed new light on the king's passionate, clingy, and moody behavior.

Madara releases Izuna from his mouth with a loud pop before kissing him heatedly. "I never claimed otherwise." He places Izuna's legs on his shoulders. "I was going to go slow, but you should know what happens when you yank a tiger by its tail by now." He brushes his arousal against Izuna teasingly.

"Since when have you ever gone slow?" Izuna shifts in place and presses his hips down to slicken the head of Madara's cock. "You're a king, an emperor conquering the galaxy. Whatever you want, you take."

Madara's eyes flash crimson red. "You do raise a valid point." His mate loved nothing more than to rile him up into a frenzy. The last of his self-control snaps as Madara buries himself inside of his lover. Immediately aiming for that special spot inside Izuna that he knew could make his lover see stars.

"Oh gods, yes!" Izuna's cry of relief and ecstasy slams against the walls of the training room with all of the force of the king's thrusts. He winds his fingers deeply into Madara's mane and his knees push back towards his head as he pulls his lover into a searing kiss.

Madara savors the feeling of Izuna's lips against his. Of the bliss that always came with their bodies moving as one in ways only mates could. His thrusts becoming faster and more possessive as his tongue conquers every corner of his Bijin's mouth.

Izuna's hips roll into the thrusts, allowing each one just a little deeper as his lover's generously endowed cock rubs against every slick inch inside of him. The muscles of his chest flex hard with every shallow, heated breath. And his tongue surges forward to wrap around Madara's and thoroughly taste his heart's passion. For it was warm and strong and encompassed everything it touched.

Madara moans into the kiss. His hands caressing every beautiful, bare inch of his mate's skin they could find. He'd never get tired of touching Izuna. With every desperate moan, his pace increases. His mate's touch was addictive and Madara couldn't wait to witness the magnificent sight of the other man surrendering completely to the pleasure of their bond.

The kiss breaks for an instant as Izuna cries out in pleasure. The searing sensation cascades through him and his stomach grows wet and sticky with his release. Something warm and…thick nestles deep inside of his heart, something…quite unlike anything he'd felt before. His arms circle around Madara's neck as he draws his lover as close as their position allows. "I love you…" The whisper vanishes into a mane of thick jet black locks as Izuna closes his eyes.

Madara doubted there could ever be anyone else who could take his breath away as much as Izuna did. The image of his mate coming undone spurs his own release. Madara pants as he kisses his lover. "I love you too. More than you'll ever know."

End of Lemon

"Mm…" Izuna smiles into the kiss as his limbs go lax and his body warms with the afterglow. "I suppose that's one way to ensure I don't train tomorrow."

"Yes, there is that benefit as well." Madara chuckles, kissing Izuna's forehead. "I'm so glad you returned to me."

"I could never have stayed away forever…" Izuna sighs tiredly. "I could never have found someone to take the place of half of my heart."

"That's a relief to hear. Sleep, Izuna. I'll make sure we get back to our room without causing a spectacle." He caresses his lover's cheek. "I know how concerned you diplomats are about appearing prim and proper."

"Hn, you'd better." Izuna huffs and leans into the touch. Ah…he'd forgotten this part. It had been so long since he felt this way that he hadn't prepared for the sleepiness. Well…at least he hadn't gotten sick yet.

Madara laughs softly as he sets about dressing them. "I will. I promise. Sleep well, my love."

Izuna curls in on himself and his arms lay tucked against his stomach. He drowsily nods off to sleep, cradled in a warm, reassuring embrace.

Soft onyx eyes gaze at the toddler curled up on the bed. Almost five years old, and he still curled up like a kitten to sleep. It was one of the most precious sights in Izuna's life. No matter how many children Izuna had, his bond with Haruka would always be…different, special. But he would love each and every one of them, that much he knew. "I love you Haruka."

The tiny child squirms in his sleep and burrows under the blankets of his Papa's bed. Izuna laughs quietly at the indescribably adorable sight. "…I wonder if one day you'll be in my position…" It was something he'd always pondered, but now it was much more…vivid an imagining.

His ears twitch as the door to the chambers open. Izuna glances over his shoulder and his smile widens as the smell of food reaches him. His stomach growls as his precious other half walks into sight. "I do hope that's for me."

"Of course and it's a good thing too." Madara smiles as he closes the gap between them, sitting by his mate. "I never knew a stomach could growl fiercer than a full grown Chikara warrior before." He picks up a strawberry and brushes it against Izuna's lips.

Izuna smirks and takes a bite of the bright red fruit. "You try seeing how your stomach feels after three days of barely putting anything in it."

"We'll just have to fix that." Madara smiles and grabs another strawberry. "What kind of Chikara would I be if I let my mate go hungry?"

"One who knows to let their mate tell them when they're hungry instead of helping to make them nauseous." Izuna rolls his eyes and bites the new strawberry out of Madara's fingers.

"You can't help but contest every point. Can you, my love?" Madara shakes his head before nipping at Izuna's nose as a 'punishment.'

"Why should I let you get bored?" Izuna glances back down and runs his hand through his sleeping baby's hair. So long as he was in the room, a storm could hit and Haruka wouldn't wake up, but the moment he was gone, his baby could be woken by everything and by nothing at all. "Besides, I have a lot of time to make up for, what with how tired I've been lately."

"I suppose that's true. We should be arriving back on your homeworld tomorrow." Madara glances at Izuna. It was a strange realization. They'd be returning to the place where it all began. "How do you feel about that?"

"Nostalgic." Izuna smiles softly. "It feels lie a lifetime since I was last home. But…I'm not dreading it like I once was. I'm looking forward to walking among my people again, to enjoying our time there. It will be nice to be there, all of us together."

"Good. I'm glad you're happy." He smiles and takes Izuna's hand into his own. "It'll be a fresh start for us."

"Yes, it will." Izuna squeezes his lover's hand. "Have you watched them yet?" He pokes the necklace still hanging around Madara's neck, filled with the videos he'd made for the father who missed out on his child's first few years of life.

"I have. You suffered greatly. Even more so than I did, but Haruka is perfect just as you are." Madara smiles, kissing Izuna's forehead. "Hopefully, his own courtship will go more smoothly than ours did, though."

"Yes, I hope so as well." Izuna lowers his hand to rest it in his lap and turns to face Madara fully. "I just…wanted to be sure that you were prepared. That you knew what you were in for."

"Izuna, I love you. I love Haruka. I'll love all our children. As long as you're willing, nothing would scare me away from having more of them with you." Madara wraps his lover in a gentle embrace. "I was referring more to how you had to endure such a fate almost completely alone. I know you had your siblings, but that is not the same as having your mate by your side."

"I know." Izuna settles against Madara's chest and takes his hands into a gentle grip. He moves his lover's hands around his waist to cradle his stomach. "But this time, I have you right here with me."

Madara nods, but then blinks when Izuna places his hands on his stomach. "Izuna...are you?"

"I've suspected for a number of weeks now. I'm abnormally tired, I've fallen asleep in four different meetings. My appetite suffers and I've been nauseous, but some days I eat like a pig." The last time Izuna had felt like this was years ago. "So I went to see my physician this morning." He looks up and smiles determinedly. "I'm pregnant. Based on my hormones and the preliminary scans, she suspects twins."

"That's wonderful news. We'll invest in some earplugs." Madara beams, kissing his beloved. "Haruka will likely squeal rather loudly when he finds out. Are you happy, my love?"

"I am." Though Izuna would admit that it was something of a surprise that Madara had made good on his request to be pregnant again so quickly. He had thought it might take longer. "You have surprised me, though. I underestimated your virility. I thought it would take you another month or two to knock me up again. It's almost as if you knew my body's cycles better than I do."

"Well, studying your body is one of my favorite things to do. I make it my business to be a dedicated student in this regard." Madara chuckles, resting his head on top of Izuna's.

"Well, are you proud of yourself? Your studies have paid off. And this time you earned top marks for efficiency as well." Izuna presses on his stomach lightly. "You might get twice the reward for your efforts."

"I am exceptionally proud of myself, but it couldn't have been done without such a splendid partner." He smirks as he toys with Izuna's lovely hair.

Izuna's tail curls around his lover's waist. "Of course not." He closes his eyes with a smile. "Who else could possibly keep up with your insatiable demands for sex?"

"Hmm if I remember correctly, I believe it's the other way around." Madara snorts playfully, still smiling. "Though I'm certainly blessed to have such an affectionate lover."

"I can't help it. The hormones make me want you inside of me half the day. What's your excuse?" Izuna remembered how it had been while he was pregnant with Haruka. It was unbearable to only have his tail to relieve himself with.

"I'm madly in love with my mate who apparently hasn't looked in a mirror as of late." Madara smiles, stroking Izuna's hand with his own.

"And I won't look either. I like the feeling of being pregnant and the feeling of being round, but that doesn't mean I want to look at myself in the mirror as I grow fat." Izuna did have his limits, and actually watching his strong, muscular body soften and become…squishy was not his favorite part of pregnancy.

"Izuna, you're the most beautiful man that I've ever known. Do you really think that I'd view you as less attractive when you're carrying our child?" Madara shakes his head. He loved Izuna more than anything, but sometimes...his mate did puzzle him.

"Oh no, I'm fully aware that to you, this will be a great boost to your ego. And every time you look at me, you'll do a happy little dance inside, proud of yourself for accomplishing this, while also hopelessly in love with me for being as utterly perfect as I am." Izuna snorts and rolls his eyes. "Believe me, I've read the romance novels in all their sappy glory."

"Izuna, just be a good little brat and enjoy the sap." Madara shakes his head in disbelief, kissing his mate's cheek. "Because you are not escaping it."

"If only the entire galaxy could see their emperor like this." Izuna sighs dramatically. "Alright, you can have your sap. Just be sure to remind me that I am not, in fact, turning into a whale despite having what may be two children inside of me."

"It's quite paradoxical that this is what causes you to feel insecure." Madara shakes his head. "Perhaps the hormones are already in effect. I shall ravish you at the nearest opportunity to reassure you that you are still beautiful whether you're a sexy guppy or a beautiful whale."

"I am not a whale!" Izuna rounds on his lover with fire in his eyes." I am not going to turn into a-"

"Papa, why be mean to Daddy?" Big onyx eyes stare at the two of them in confusion and curiosity. "Daddy's not a whale. He's a Bijin."

"Oh I'm just teasing Daddy. He's cute when he's annoyed." Madara pats Haruka on the head. "Remember to be extra nice to Daddy. He's pregnant."

"Daddy's…" Haruka knew that word! He looks at his Daddy's tummy and a huge grin spreads across his face. "Baby sister! Baby brother!" He squeals brightly and scrambles into his Daddy's lap to hug his stomach. "I protect you!"

Madara smiles. Haruka was adorable. "That's right. We'll protect Daddy and you'll get a little brother or little sister." Perhaps it wasn't wise to tell Haruka it might be twins just yet. He didn't want to get Haruka's hopes up before such a thing could be confirmed.

Izuna huffs softly, but smiles and pats Haruka's head. "That's right. We're going to have an even bigger family." He glances at Madara with a sweet softness in his gaze. "All of us together. Forever."

"Yes, forever." Madara smiles. He'd finally found them. The missing pieces of his soul. His family.