Zinnia

He was afraid to dream, tonight he struggled against an intelligent force trying to change the dark and demented images Yugi plagued his mind with. She was making it her duty to torture him as her payback. As evil, as she is, she added another log to the fire and ingrained a gruesome image of Ryoko with the fetus spilling out of her abdomen. He snapped up, with a loud cry.

"Dammit." Hotsuma flipped his front mane back. 'Screw you, Yugi.' He mentally curses the child lying back beside his love.

"It was just a dream." Ryoko caressed his hand and drew it across her side interweaving their fingers.

"I don't want to go back to sleep. It was so vivid." His forehead wrinkled as he pulls her closer into him. Throughout the night, sleep became a battle for her as she stirs under his weight. He trapped her like prey as if he was a bear in hibernation.

The Golden medallion crept through the hole of the entryway and in no time wash the village with an orange glow. Some time passed, his lashes fluttered, hearing the collective sounds of happy children outside filled their tent. He buried his face into the pillow repressing a groan. A sly grin crept across the pallid cyan haired owner face as beautiful images of the future enter her dreams; this was newfound happiness. A happiness that she only saw in her soap operas. But for an odd reason, the great divine pursued her with such a blessing it was something that she did not deserve.

In their tightly spooned position, his well-defined nose tickled the space of her neck then left a soft kiss there. He smiles watching her stir twisting to him not wanting to part from her pleasurable slumber. Mechanically, her arm dipped between their half-naked bodies, sprawl fingers scratching her middle. He became aware that her leg tightly sandwiches his, it comforted her at night surprisingly for him as well, yet this is was becoming painful.

Successfully moving out of her grip, he places a loving kiss to her quietly snoring lips and brushed his nose repeatedly against hers until those yellowish-brown orbs open.

"Morning lover." Those vibrant eyes greeted him, how could someone wake up so flawless with just two and a half hours of sleep—he computed.

"Morning," He smirked his sprawl fingers run down the side of her soft skin and bump.

"Morning, my son."

"Son? How are you so sure?"

"Just do." He expressed with an air of arrogance. She sighs and peers down briefly hiding her blush before looking to him adoringly.

"How about a name for him? I say Hachiro Jr." Ryoko smirk passing her fingers through his mane, moving it out of his face.

"Oh, heavens no!" Ryoko mouth gaped and seizes the opportunity to quickly mount him, taking his hands and placing them to her hips.

"We have more than enough time to choose a more suitable name." Hotsuma chuckled pulling her down to his bare chest.

"Yes, we have a lot of time!" Ryoko nibbled his ear.

As the two were on the verge of locking lips a shrill cry startles them.

"Afedersiniz! I'm so sorry!" Takara covers her eyes and ran out of the tent. "I have a letter!" The woman rolled the container into the room. He flips the container over grasping the worn letter that spilled out. As he read Ryoko watches his expression go from a look of concern to fury.

"Who gave this to you?!" Lobbing the panel out his way and squares Takara up outside startling those that passed by.

"A…villager reported it lying in front of their entryway." Takara tensed up backing away. Hotsuma caught glimpse of Ryoko approaching from his peripheral and demanding that she goes back in. He crumbles the paper up and bolted from the agitated expectant woman.

"What is going on? Where are you going? Hey!" Ryoko kept a watchful eye on his retreated form, once he was out of sight Ryoko index finger lifts winding to the flustered woman.

"Takara you better start talking and fast!" Ryoko commanded holding the woman by her shoulders. The olive-skinned woman quickly led Ryoko back into the tent, filling her in on the necessary information. "He killed his own brother?! Hachiro…that bastard…we have to go back!" Ryoko balled her fists stalking to the entryway before she was pulled and pushed against the wall, though Takara protected her back with her own hand. "What the hell?!"

Takara yelled mere inches from Ryoko's face. "It's not safe for you. Hisao is very powerful, he has no regards for gender, ag-" Ryoko shoves back knocking the woman to the floor. Her saber readied and threateningly pointed down to the center of her face.

"I know how concern you are for me, but dammit, I been through worse! I have a plan, you are not going to say anything about it, understood?!" At her nod, Ryoko extinguishes the sword and walked through the entryway. She stopped briefly waiting for the woman to walk out. When Takara finally showed herself, she saw the look of pulls her into a reassuring hug. "Hormones, I guess."

A mixture of bellowing and blaspheming filled the midafternoon air, Hotsuma sternly stood before the disgruntled young adults and middle-aged men delivering the news of the pending war."I am going to be straightforward, many of you will not return."

"Give my middle finger to Hisao!" A young lad expressed in the native tongue. The group of men exploded in laughter.

"We only lasted ten minutes with the last battle, we are not cut out for this one." Another shrug.

"Let silver hair lady fight our battle! She's sadistic. You saw how she took down-"

"Enough!" Hotsuma frowns at his words. No one was at liberty to talk about his goddess beside him.

"It is no use in fighting anymore, this life has been comfortable for many years. And besides, they have a bigger army than us."

Hotsuma inhaled sharply, these men were either stubborn or cowards. He could care less about revolution; he could single-handedly wipe out his uncle and his army, but all he needs in this lifetime is his princess and their child. For Ryoko, he already morphed himself into this 'Hero' figure. This tactic alone will greatly win her over, and she will be his forever. Yugi. How could he have forgotten her? Her last words to him not only echoed in his mind every hour of the day but made him feel sick to his stomach. Ryoko was his weakness, and he knew Yugi would come up with some sickening way to use it against him. Adjusting his specs, he was wrapped up in his thoughts he did not see the elder beside him.

"Hisao is barbaric, he's murdered children, women, and elders. For the young and middle age men, he will give the option to join his army or suffer his wrath…I know how it was like."

The Elder looks to the crowd his lengthy matted gray hair moving in the wind. "Go spend time with your family, love them and rest up! We will show Hisao what we are made of! Go!" The men immediately disassembled.

"Thank You for that."

Rheumy chocolate eyes found Hotsuma brooding amusing yet-flaunted an expressionless look as he drew in the distance, "Please ask, I can feel your questions swarming within you."

Hotsuma shuttered, "Who are you?"

"I knew your mother very well. It was an honor having her as a student very smart woman." He chuckled at Hotsuma's still confused mien.

"I am Chiaki's husband, Osamu…Shaman."

'Witchcraft.'

"Right." His eyes narrowed at Osamu; voice sounded pain. He found it readily difficult to exhibit such feelings for others. Unbeknownst to Osamu, this small interaction had benefited Hotsuma in learning more of his past, specifically his mother.

"Congratulations on the child by the way." Osamu pats Hotsuma back walking by. Hotsuma tensed as the unexpected thoughts of his mother flood to him. He closes his eyes, it was also a constant fear that he would eventually forget her like her laugh and her smile, but her eyes were unforgettable. Enough! A quivered sigh escapes from his mouth, he needed his princess.

Ryoko straightened her posture, she lifted the arrow and draw the cord back. Leveling her breathing her index finger met her cheek releasing the arrow from its hold without much of an afterthought. She missed the target, "Dammit." Ryoko spoke slowly lowering the bow.

"That was just a warm-up." She commented slyly over her shoulder.

"With Archery, it is not a competition." Takara translated to the women adding it to the nitty-gritty of Archery discussion.

In his mess of emotions, Hotsuma hastily walks into their camp. All that greeted him was the hot air and flies whizzing by his air. Where could she have gone? He has distinctly told her to remain inside, but its Ryoko we are talking about here. She's not one to go along with orders unless it is her own. You are familiar with this, Hotsuma?

'Where the hell could she have gone to?'

"Ryoko?!" He looked around agitatedly, many scenarios ran through his mind. Could Yugi have gotten to her? No, of course not. He was not gone that long.

Ryoko heaves another sigh and drew another arrow, she could not fail again, she will not allow it. Fixing her stance for a second time, she raises the bow and draws.

Moistening her lips, 'No sweat.' she anchored and aim feeling triumphant, this was going to be successful!

"Ryoko, what the hell are you doing?!" Hotsuma shouts hiking up the dirt path.

"Dammit!" The woman growls.

The yell jolts her causing her to release the bow prematurely, it came to rest in the dirt. Recognizing her intruder Ryoko hastily fan the women away, she noticed the darkness in his eyes, as he draws closer. Before she could say anything, he snatches the longbow from her breaking it in half over his knee; then brandishes the mangled weapon in her face.

"What in god's name were you doing? May I remind you of your condition, you could have hurt the child, yourself!" He threw the longbow a great distance away.

"You were ordered to stay in the tent!"

"Ordered?! Oh, why don't you just put me in chains, rope, handcuffs then?!" She shoves him away from her, "Is that what you want? Stop being so damn protective!"

Seeing that they had an audience, the slack-jawed expressions and wry looks from onlookers including Takara, he brought her in hovering over her.

"Don't test me Ryoko, I can make sure you never get away from me." He glared down at her wolfishly, lifting her chin on his index finger while the other hand wrapped around the back of her small neck. As their faces were mere inches from each other, their breaths mingling with the other. Hotsuma made sure she was giving him her undivided attention. Ryoko's jaw moved as if to speak, she settled her hands around his wrists and glared at him wanly. The more she squirmed in his grip the tighter and darker he became.

"Let go of me." Ryoko retorted darkly, she broke away from his grip, giving him another shove and hastily fled.

Hotsuma watches her leave then turned to the other nervous woman, Takara. The woman made a break for it, but he was too quick. He caught up to her taking hold of her hair and hauled her to the top of the incline until they were out of view from the hamlet. Hotsuma thrust her forward and she fell to the warm and rugged earth with a grunt. Her face was dirty from the gust of dirt and sand, the wind picked up as she was noticed that she was overlooking a cliff. Wide-eyed she looks to him with tearful eyes, this confirmed that there was something off about him. Takara shook her head with a dash of woe etching across her features.

"This is how it ends…" She wiped the tear from her blistered cheek.

"You don't remember me, do you?" She blacked. Hotsuma brows quirked and he folded his arms.

"Does it matter if I don't." His voice was empty.

"We were young and broken back then. I protected you with my life."

He rose his hand, "I do not remember you and don't need to." He breathes, "Ryoko means everything to me and now our child. You allowed her to put herself in harm's way. I can't trust you being near her."

"Ryoko!" She shuffles in her spot, "Is capable of taking care of herself!" Takara whispered,

"I was your senior sister, your protector! You were only 11 and I 15 when we were drafted. You spent days and nights not eating curling up in the corner building a strong desire to avenge your mother. I instructed you not to until you became older and shrewder to seek the Blood and Glory for her and our people from the clutches of our oppressors." She scuttled closer, "That afternoon when the Galaxy Academy was attacked, you disappeared at 24 years old. Though you were an adult it destroyed me, that I could not protect you."

"Your point?" He asked aloofly.

"For centuries I fear that you were dead! Now here you are! Treating me as if I am a stranger. Who are you? What happened to you?"

"I guess I'm confused, I do not know."

"Suspecting and knowing are not the same. Even though…there are no ways of knowing for sure, there are ways of knowing for pretty sure." A childlike voice interrupted the two. The pair of sapphire eyes realized the black mass building behind the unsuspected woman.

"There's always someone who knows something. Such a pity." Yugi expressed acutely as she walked down the crystalized steps.

Takara crept in the position where she could get a good view of Hotsuma and the solid child. Her eyes darted between the two, golden locks…blue eyes.

"You're just a child. I think…W-What are you?" Takara astringently asks the little girl, her heart pounding within the walls of her chest.

Yugi smiled mischievously and held Hotsuma's hand, he flinched at her cold touch.

"Your 'Young brother' did die when the Galaxy Academy was attacked. What you see before you, is my marionette. My favorite of course."

Takara growled, pulling her sword from the confines of her dress springing for the child.

"You give me back my brother!"

"Yugi, No!" Hotsuma shouts as the young child dematerializes. In a split second, Takara's eyes widen, time stood still. Her mouth trembled, fighting to form words, the gargled sound emitted from her mouth. "Dammit…" Hotsuma whispers.

"All right." Yugi drops her hand, marveling at her talent and her victim. The pool of blood grew at her abdomen, seeping through the fabric of her plain dress. Hotsuma sprinted to the woman's side, supporting her back and head leading her to ground. Yugi breathes sharply, pads of her fingers resting on her forehead. "Now look at you, the evidence is all over your clothing," Hotsuma growled at the young child duplicate, then peered down at the gravely injured woman.

"I'm sorry." Takara nods before closing her eyes.

"I can't believe you!"

"Obviously, it was not a difficult task." She smiles. Hotsuma growls ignited his saber, her brows rose. "Enough!" She waves her hand, reversing time.

"What?" Hotsuma found himself standing outside of the tent. He reaches out cautiously to the flap of the tent and peered his head in finding Ryoko peacefully napping.

He peers down at her, his fingers fiddled with her silky strands. She's real. His hand moved down to the side of her swollen stomach, his thumb grazing the fabric of her dress anxiously. How any of this is real? How can Yugi be this powerful to reverse time? Sapphire eyes trace over Ryoko's latent face. His heart melted, just as his problems.

They shared love, a forbidden love only to become victims of a cruel fate.

He brushed back her bangs, "You're hurting me. I never thought I'd love you this much." Ryoko reaches out to his hand while her eyes were still close removing it from the side of her face. She turns from him burying her face in the covers. "Princess…"

"Go away."

"Princess, I apologize about earlier."

"I thought we were partners, no longer withholding secrets from each other." Ryoko flinched feeling his face near hers, his lips brushing over her cheeks tickling the little fine hairs there. "You can't leave me in the dark, Hotsuma." Her voice came out in a whisper.

"Forgive me." She turns peering up at him smirking at his puppy dog look.

"That has to be the lowest of the low." Ryoko sits up removing the sheet. A fleeting feeling fell over her as if she was supposed to do something or was in the middle of doing a task.

"Take my hand," He offers his hand.

"For God's sake, what now?!" Ryoko whined reluctantly shuffling off the bed.

"Hotsuma. What's happening? Where are you taking me?" He grins not answering her question. He continues to walk beside her, their clasp hands over his heart. Ryoko hates surprises.

Hotsuma held her hands and kissed her knuckles just outside a white and well-kept tent.

"It is okay, princess."

"I hope so, I followed you this for." Ryoko glances around the room, it was clean with a heavy floral scent that reminded her so much of earth at Springtime. A fleeting sensation filled her stomach, it reminded her of butterflies. Hotsuma gazes down and touched her bump, it's now the size of a pear. Rustling ending their beautiful moment to watched Chiaki unravel the four feet thick blue cord and places it in her free hand, she looks up and smile at the two. Ryoko amber eyes darts to her partner curiously. "What now?"

He gave her his infamous charming smile, "Weeks ago I've told you, I wanted to be the one to make you feel radiant." She tilts her head to the side, "This is the beginning of forever." At his words, she felt her cheeks grew warm. It felt like a fantasy; the universe had a strange way of orchestrating such things. For her, she still could not fathom why she was chosen for such a stroke of luck.

Chiaki spoke in the native tongue, while Hotsuma translated.

"This a handfasting ceremony. We will be entering into the bonds of marriage." Ryoko gulps at the mention of 'marriage', she glances up at Hotsuma her expression unreadable. Their hands came together his grip tightened around her little hands. "With this cord, it is a symbol of the connection between our lives." Ryoko took a big inhale and peered down at their clasp hands, Chiaki wraps the cord and tied it loosely.

Chiaki begins the vows, Hotsuma continuing to translate.

"These are the hands that will love. These are the hands that will hold and comfort through the years. These are the hands that will give support and encouragement. These are the hands that we will each work with, create with, and use to build a life together.

The knots of this binding are not formed by these cords but instead by our vows,

the promises we make in our hearts and uphold each day through our actions.

Remember, we hold in our own hands the making or breaking of our union." After their emotional 'I do's' Ryoko allow the tears to drip down her cheeks, giving that their hands were still knotted. Hotsuma was more than ready to kiss them away. As the cord was removed, Hotsuma feverishly reaches out to her and kissed her passionately, bearing down on her lower lip that caused her to moan. They reluctantly parted, her lips pouty from the intensity of the kiss.

"This has to be the best day of my life." She gives him another peck. This was more beautiful as the day they met, as she nestled into his chest. He hoped that the minion was seeing this. Hotsuma secured his love under his arm, walking out to the crowd of villagers with shining adoration. A little girl with Raven-colored locks, emerge from the crowd with a floral crown. Ryoko held her face in her hands, she was adorable and she hoped that she will bear a child as beautiful as the little girl in her hands.