Synopsis: Hotohori and Nuriko have now become husband and wife, emperor and empress, keeping it a secret from the council that Nuriko actually is a man. When the council starts pressuring Hotohori for an heir what is he to do since it is surely impossibly for Nuriko to bear any child? NurxHoto

Author's Note: I thought of this when I was watching my old Fushigi Yuugi dvd and I think it was the episode that Hotohori and Tamahome first find out that Nuriko really is a man. I was thinking if Nuriko and Hotohori ever had gotten together there would be a lot of problems, especially because Hotohori is the emperor. The emperor NEEDS to have an heir, so how would Nuriko be able to give him one? I couldn't think it imaginable that Hotohori would find someone else to bear his child because I think that isn't very like him. Anyway, I'm sorry if the characters seem a little OOC. Also it's almost like Miaka and Tamahome don't really exist.

The Emperor's Wife

by Neko-Kyolover

Hotohori stood in the pavilion by the pond the last rays of the dying evening shining down on his sparkling greenish brunette locks as he gazed with distraught eyes at the shimmering waters. It had been a year now since he had married his beloved Nuriko and accepted him as his "formal wife" although it was much more than that to him. He had never had any consorts before because he simply had not been interested as ones such as them. They could never compare to his beauty, how could they be fit to be his empress?

Nuriko was a whole other story though. When Hotohori had first found out that the beautiful 'woman' was actually a man he had been flabbergasted. So there actually was another man out there that could compare to his own magnificent beauty! He had honored Nuriko and had told no one that he was a man. Hotohori was surprised to find himself undisturbed by Nuriko's forward advances, even with the knowledge that he was a man. Eventually Hotohori had grown attached to the feminine man, in ways that he found somewhat uncomfortable, but one can not deny their feelings, no matter what they are. Hotohori had decided to keep it a secret from the council that Nuriko was a man and when he told them that Nuriko and him wished to be married they were overjoyed that he had finally picked someone.

Now Hotohori wasn't regretting his decision nor was his love for Nuriko fading in the least bit. No, Hotohori was so distraught because a new problem had arisen, a problem that he did not perceive occurring. Even though Hotohori was still very young, only just becoming 20 years old this year, the council was already pressuring him for an heir. They were anxious and worried for their young emperor because his health had not been good lately and they were paranoid bastards ( -Hotohori's thought). They did not want to see their kingdom ever without someone to guide it and they were insisting that this would be a good 'investment' to assure the future safety of the kingdom. Now that he had picked his wife, it was only fitting that he produced the required heir and maybe a few other children just for precaution.

Hotohori was disgusted by this idea that he was going to be forced to have children. Not that he didn't want them, but he did not want to think of them in those terms, just something that he needed to have. Hotohori hadn't really thought about the idea of children, since that he had fallen in love with a man after all and the anatomy of a man wouldn't bear a child no matter how hard they tried. Hotohori was sure though that if ever did want to have children he would want to do it out of love not duty.

Hotohori was also fearful that they would discover that Nuriko was a man. If that were to happen he wasn't sure what would occur, but he knew that their relationship would be altered forever. The council would be horrified and they would probably try to make Hotohori disown Nuriko, maybe even have him executed, not that he would ever let them of course. What Hotohori was even more scared of, something that he knew might actually have to happen was that he might have to find another woman, one who was able to bear his child even if Hotohori did not feel any love for her. That was what he was so worried about.

"Your Majesty, it is growing late. I suggest that you retire for the night. There is much business to attend to tomorrow." One of his courtiers proclaimed, approaching from behind him.

Hotohori started. He hadn't known there was anyone else was there. He must have been too deep in thought. "Yes. I think I will. Thank you." he said trying to smile as he stepped out from the pavilion and onto the walkway. His heavily embroidered red-orange robes dragged lethargically on the dusty pathway to his private rooms, his footsteps seeming so faint and delicate to his ears.

He sighed when he finally reached his room and shut the whole world outside. He was both surprised and delighted to find that Nuriko was waiting for him inside.

"Darling, you're finally back!" Nuriko squealed as he ran over to the tired emperor and threw his arms around him. Nuriko's long violet braid went flying up into the air as he sent them both careening to the ground in a mess of arms and legs.

"It's nice to see you too…" Hotohori managed a weak whisper, barely able to breath with Nuriko's entire weight on his chest.

"I missed you ssssssssssssssssoooooooooooooo much!" he exclaimed, snuggling his face against his lover's chest.

Hotohori struggled to sit up and gasped as breath was finally let into his lungs. "Nuriko…not tonight…I'm tired…"

Nuriko pouted, his pretty face scrunching up. "But you're always tired!" he whined, snaking his fingers into Hotohori's soft locks.

Hotohori sighed and leaned forward to place a small kiss on the end of Nuriko's petite nose. "Yes, I am the emperor after all."

Nuriko pounced on him again, pinning him to the floor with a laugh. "No excuses. I haven't been alone with you in two whole weeks!"

Hotohori chuckled and reached up one hand to stroke Nuriko's soft pale cheek staring deeply with warm brown eyes. "You know…it's times like these that I think you might actually be more beautiful than me.."

Nuriko huffed. "Is that the best you can do? Feh, your such a jerk sometimes you know that…" Nuriko's tone was harsh, but Hotohori could tell he was only playing.

Hotohori grinned. "I guess I'll have to try harder then…" Hotohori gently brought his hand around and placed it on the back of Nuriko's neck, pulling him downward till their lips met in a caressing kiss. Nuriko let out a soft moan as their lips slowly broke apart and the warmth of Hotohori disappeared from his lips.

Wanting more Nuriko leaned down once again and placed his lips on Hotohori's, nipping slightly so that Hotohori parted his lips and gently let Nuriko slid his tongue into mouth. Hotohori's hands smoothly found their way down to rest on top of Nuriko's slender hips as their tongues caressed and explored each others mouths as though it was something new that they had never discovered before.

As they finally separated from the kiss Nuriko giggly whispered, "We're never going to make it to the bed at this rate."

"Oh…I can fix that…" Hotohori purred softly making Nuriko shiver slightly in anticipation.

Hotohori gently stood up, taking Nuriko in his strong arms and carrying him over to the big bed that was positioned in the middle of his room. Gently he set his beloved down on the soft blankets and carefully climbed above him so that he could stare down into his intense eyes.

Without saying a word Hotohori ran his hands down Nuriko's body, pulling his robes loose and bringing his lips to gently kiss the tender skin of his neck. Nuriko tilted his head back, exposing more delicate flesh to be tasted, his eyes closing as he began to moan in pleasure. Hotohori could feel his heart beat faster with every moan that escaped his beloved's mouth and he let his lips move farther down Nuriko's neck and onto the curve of his collarbone where he gently sucked while his hands moved lower to remove Nuriko's entire ensemble.

Nuriko snuggled next to Hotohori, laying in his arms with his face pressing against his lover's bare chest. He smiled and ran his fingers down it giggling as Hotohori shivered. Hotohori gained his revenge by gently nibbling on Nuriko's earlobe and bringing his fingers down in a circling motion to his lower back. Nuriko responded instinctively pressing his lower region tight against Hotohori's which made the emperor let out a loud moan that smothered Nuriko's greatly.

"Do you always have to be so horny? We just finished…" Nuriko began but Hotohori cut him off with another kiss, roughly smashing his lips against Nuriko's in a kiss that was purely lust.

"Wasn't it you that came here looking for sex?" Hotohori whispered heatedly, burying his face into Nuriko's locks of hair that had come unbound in their play.

Nuriko pouted again even as he felt his hands start to dance across Hotohori's skin once more. "It wasn't just that I came here for…I wanted to ask you something…" Nuriko admitted as he looked away.

Hotohori gently took a hold of Nuriko's chin and turned his face to look straight into his eyes. "What was it that you wanted to ask me?"

Nuriko bit his lip before reluctantly answering. "I wanted to know….what …what are you keeping from me?"

Hotohori's eyes widened. "What makes you think that I am keeping something from you? If I am doing it I am doing it unintentionally."

Nuriko burst out in hysterical tears and turned away. "You….You seemed so depressed lately…Can I not please you anymore?!!"

Much to Nuriko's surprise Hotohori burst out in laughter. Nuriko turned around to yell at him, but only found that Hotohori's lips were locked with his preventing him from speaking. "No far from that…sometimes I feel that you please me too much…" Then the grin on Hotohori's lips faded. "it's just that…the council…"

Nuriko immediately sat up enraged. "What has the council been doing now?…all they do is nag nag nag! Why can't they just leave you alone?!"

Hotohori placed a firm hand on his shoulder bringing Nuriko back down by his side. "Settle down Nuriko…The council is just looking out for the best interests of the kingdom."

Nuriko still wouldn't give up. "That's what you always say. You're always defending them even though they torment you every day! I just wish we could get away from all this…away from all this restriction!"

Hotohori pushed a stray violet lock back in place behind Nuriko's ear and heaved a deep sigh. "I am the emperor and this is my life, one that I have little control of no matter how much power they bestow on me. The more power I gain the more restrictions to myself I find. But…but you do not have to live like this if it displeases you. I could release—"

"NO!" Nuriko interrupted before Hotohori could continue. "I'm never going to leave you…no matter what so just forget about it and tell me what the council wants this time.."

Hotohori looked away, his hands which were gripping the sheets tightening. "They want…an heir.."

"WHAT?!" Nuriko said turning pale. He had never thought about that. He had been too busy being happy about their marriage and their love to remember that Hotohori would require an heir. "..but…what are we going to do!?" Nuriko screeched getting hysterical again. Oh no, oh no, oh no! This was bad. This was very bad!

"I can't reveal your real identity….I don't want to do that…They would just make me get someone else…and I refuse to betray you, Nuriko. I refuse to be with anyone but you." Hotohori said intensely wrapping his arms around his beloved protectively.

Nuriko bit his lip and sighed against his Hotohori. "So how do we handle it? I mean…you're the emperor…you need an heir…" Nuriko mumbled, on the brink of tears.

Hotohori gently brushed his hands through Nuriko's long hair. "I think I may know of someone who could help us….Taiitsu-kun"

A/n: Whadda think? Review please, whether you hated it or loved it.