~An American Miko~ Nightmares & Dreams Chapter Twenty-Seven

A month after the fateful attack that forever changed the lives of so many people, a tired Hotohori was sitting in his throne listening to a feud that had been going on between two of the leading houses in the empire. He had gotten nearly no sleep for the whole month and was still plagued every night with nightmares of his wife's death.

He sighed tiredly and rubbed his brow as the nobles kneeling before the throne once again erupted into a shouting match. 'Myst, I wish you were here with me. I need you're help. I can't do this by myself anymore.'

Hotohori opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the feminine shout from behind the dais. "Enough! Can't you see you're wearing his Majesties nerves to a thread? He's been under so much stress and trauma this month, and you're not helping! I will not have you upsetting him any further!"

All eyes turned to the speaker and Hotohori rose to his feet. Myst came forward dressed in her imperial robes and headdress. In her arms she carried the little prince. She looked very tired and a little fatigued, but continued with a strong voice and a matching scowl.

"You people sound like a pack of bitching dogs in heat! I'm tired of it! The lands will stay as they are under the same holdings. Equal! You're two families will not be aloud to intermarry unless the couple is disinherited! Remember, you landholders hold the land. Key word. hold! They are not yours! You simply manage them for the Emperor and the good of the Empire! I don't care who started this mess, but I am ending it! Such petty squabbles should be held off and the energy put to better uses!"

Hotohori had by now come around his throne and lead her to hers, helping her sit as well, then retuned to his throne. "Myst, you shouldn't be up. You're still injured. You came so close that Mitsukake couldn't heal you completely."

Myst waved her hand at him as she settle Boushin on her lap. "Oh pish! I'm just a little weak yet. Besides, I wanted to spend some time with you and Boushin. He's getting fussy because he's teething. Enough of that for now though. Lets finish with this boneheaded feud thing so we can rest."

Hotohori smiled at her then looked back at the people kneeling on the floor. "I think we are finished. The Empress put it all out quite nicely. What do you think?" He looked at his advisors who were standing to the side.

The head advisor stepped forward. "I think Her Majesty has a good solution to this problem. We vote in favor of it if it pleases Your Majesty."

Hotohori nodded. "I think it is a very good idea as well. However, I will add that any formal or informal contact between the two parties shall be chaperoned by an unbiased official and should I receive any reports, you had better hope they be good ones. Is all we have said completely clear to you?"

The people one the floor bowed and said, almost grudgingly, "Yes Your Majesties."

Hotohori nodded again. "Good. This audience is dismissed."

The people shuffled out and Hotohori turned to his advisors again. "Are there any other audiences?"

"No Your Majesty. As far as we can see, your business has been completed for the day."

Hotohori nodded. "Good. Then I will escort Her Majesty back to bed." With that he stood and faced his wife.

Myst gave an exasperated huff. "No you will not escort Her Majesty back to bed! Her Majesty has been in bed for far too long."

Hotohori knelt in front of her and placed his hands on her knees. "Mistyc, you almost died. Kotoku is still sleeping for most of the day trying to recover from almost draining himself dry trying to keep you alive long enough. We still almost lost you after all of that." He took one of her hand and kissed it. "I'm just worried about you my precious wife."

Boushin let out a little baby whine and Hotohori's eyes lit up. He smiled joyously as he reached out and plucked his son from Myst's lap. He stood and held him out above him. He began to talk in almost baby talk. "Yes Boushin. You tell your mother we're worried about her! Tell her, tell her! Yes. Yes."

The baby laughed and Hotohori laughed with him, his deep voice echoing musically with his son's through the throne room. Hotohori brought Boushin back down to him and blew a raspberry on the prince's soft, chubby cheek.

Hotohori made more little goofy sounds and raspberries and before long Boushin was squealing with laughter. Hotohori, still playing would say, "I love you," then give Boushin a quick kiss, then would say it again and kiss again. He did this over and over, then just held Boushin and smiled at him. "Oh my beautiful son. You are so precious to me."

Boushin smiled and played with a lock of his fathers bangs, which stuck out from beneath his hair-box. He spoke in his cute, barely trained voice. "Lovelove Dada! Lovelove."

Hotohori smiled, kissed his son's forehead and ran his fingers down his downy-soft hair. He closed his eyes and whispered, "Yes my son. Much loveloves."

Myst looked up at her family as she watched them. She slowly stood from her throne and steadied herself with one hand on the high back. With her other hand she touched Hotohori's arm. Why don't we have someone make us a picnic and we can go eat it by the lake, pond, whatever you want to call it, in the west pavilion."

Hotohori looked at her. "Why the west pavilion? You've never said specifics before."

Myst chuckled. "Because the ladies from your still existent harem are not aloud to go there. I'm just a little tired of them hiding behind things and ogling you, thinking that I can't see them."

Hotohori grinned at her. "Are you jealous my sweet?"

Myst pretended to pout. "I'm the only one that should be ogling that cute little ass of yours. It's my ass alone to ogle." She reached down and groped said ass and gave it a little squeeze. "Besides, we can bring as many guards as you'd like as long as they don't loom over us. I just want a little time out in the fresh air, then I promise, if you still want me too, I'll go back to bed."

Hotohori finally nodded and shifted Boushin to his right arm, holding out his left to Myst. She hooked her arm around his and held his hand with her other one as they walked.

Hotohori glanced at her as they rounded one of the corners. "Why don't we invite the other seishi and Hakurou as well? I'm sure they could use some relaxing as well. They inquire about you or visit you every day. None of us have been our happiest as of late. We were too worried about you."

Myst nodded. "I think it's a good idea." She looked over her shoulder at the four handmaidens who were almost always with her now that she had gotten used to their presence. "Gyu."

One of the handmaidens came around to stand beside and just a little behind her. "Empress?"

"Have you heard all that we have said?"

"Most of it Empress. Was I not supposed to listen?"

"That's all right Gyu. I'll tell you if I ever want that kind of privacy. Would you please make the proper arrangements for the picnic? We should be out to the pavilion in half and hour. Please arrange plenty of food, for adults and Boushin as well. Also a cluster of guards and picnic baskets and such. Also please notify the rest of the seishi and Lord Hakurou that they are more than welcome to join us, but they may decline if they wish."

"Yes Empress. Will that be all Empress?"

"Yes, thank you. After that, you and the other girls may have the rest of the day off unless I call."

All four of the handmaidens bowed in unison. "Empress." The four of them scurried off in the other direction.

As the royal family passed another hall, Amiboshi rounded the corner at the other end and called to them. "Emperor! Empress!"

They stopped and waited for him to catch up since her was still walking with the help of a staff. As he caught up, Myst put a hand on his shoulder and leaned over to kiss his cheek, making him blush a little.

Myst smiled at him. "Kotoku, you are looking batter, not leaning so hard on the staff anymore. How are you feeling?"

He smiled at his new Miko. "Better Empress. Thank you. And yourself? This is the first time I've seen you out of bed."

Myst nodded. "Please Kotoku, call me Myst. I may be in garb, but I'm not in court at the moment. Walk with us my friend." They began walking again. "You're right though, this is my first time out of bed. Luckily we both have or walking stick, only mine doubles as a husband." She grinned at said husband, who blushed but said nothing.

Kotoku laughed at the look on Hotohori's face.

Myst smiled at the boy. "It's good to hear you laugh."

He nodded. "It's good to laugh. I'm truly happy here. I haven't been this truly happy since before my parents were killed. It would be perfect if Shun-chan were here." He looked sad for a moment and Myst rubbed his back as they neared the royal halls.

"Don't worry Kotoku, as soon as we're all up to speed, we'll go get him."

"Thank you. I'm just a little worried. I've been so weak lately that I've barely been able to feel him through our link. I know it's the same way with him. I haven't been able to send a message to him either because I know that Nakago is watching. I'm just so anxious. But you are right." He sighed. "No use going into a hot zone until we are all fully functional, especially with how powerful Nakago is."

They walked into one of the sitting room in the royal halls to wait until the handmaiden came back with the guards to escort them to the picnic. They sat on some of the plush cushions. Boushin squirmed and reached out for Kotoku.

Hotohori smiled at Kotoku. "Would you like to hold him for a bit? It seems he wants to go to you."

Kotoku smiled and reached out, pulling Boushin into his lap. This left Myst free to scoot over and sit in Hotohori's lap and lean back against his broad chest, which she did happily. Hotohori wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her shoulder.

Myst reached back and expertly pulled the pin from his hair-box and released his flowing brown hair. Myst looked back at Kotoku. "For now though, we are going to have a picnic and relax. We'd love it if you would join us."

Kotoku nodded and smiled down at the prince in his lap. "I'd love to. Would you like me to bring anything?"

Myst shook smiled and shook her head. "Of course not silly. Just yourself."

Kotoku looked up and smiled at her with true, bright happiness sparkling in his blue eyes. "It's a date then."

Myst smiled back at him and closed her eyes, leaning into the young emperor's embrace. 'Happiness. I myself have been a lot happier since I've been here. Just over a year ago is when my life truly started. Even with all the troubles we've had, seeing the happiness in the eyes of a boy like Kotoku has been worth it all. Even I smile a lot more than I ever have now. Just a look at my friends, my seishi, my very family, draws a smile to my face. Suzaku. how you have blessed me.'

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A.N.: YES! There it is! The much asked for next part of my fic! I decided to just let everyone have a rest and developed a deeper relationship with each other before more drama starts! Thank you all so much for reviewing!!!!! I enjoyed reading and rereading all of them! Please keep reading; I'll try to have the next part out soon. I'm not sure when though. I'll be busy for the next week or so, since tomorrow's the 1st of Aug, and that's my 20th birthday. Well, Please keep reading and reviewing! Much more to come!!!!! I really don't know when I'm going to stop!!!!! I have so many ideas!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman