Author's Note: Do you know how many bleeeepping times I wrote 'she' or 'her' for Nuriko?!?!!? Grrr…In my mind he's a girl because in the book they always call him a girl, but for certain reasons I am calling Nuriko a guy in this story so it doesn't get so confusing.
Also Hotohori might be a little OOC in this chapter. Sorry.
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The Emperor's Wife
Chapter Two
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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"
"Taiisu-kun?" Nuriko looked up at him curiously. "Who is that?"
"Taiisu-kun is an oracle that lives far away on a hidden mountain. She is said to have great powers and to be very wise. Maybe we can seek counsel from her?" Hotohori explained as he laid back down on the bed. "She may be our only chance to find a solution to this problem."
Nuriko sighed and laid his head down onto his lover's chest. "Yes. I guess so."
Hotohori smiled wearily as he ran his fingers through Nuriko's long masses of tangled hair. He had an ominous feeling that this was going to be a long and taxing expedition for them. And why now, after they'd finally found their happiness? Why did this have to happen so suddenly?
"Hey, koi?" Nuriko asked abruptly, snuggling his face closer against Hotohori's soft skin, his warm breath tickling the emperor's sensitive flesh.
"Yes?" Hotohori answered turning to look into his deep hazel eyes feeling himself absorbed in their beautiful depths.
Nuriko gently lifted his head and placed a soft lingering kiss on Hotohori's aching lips. "Let's leave…soon…I don't want to put this off…I want us…to be happy…" He said as he slowly retracted from the kiss, running his tongue lightly over his own lips tasting the remnants of his lover. "You're the only thing that I have in this world and I don't want to lose you…ever…"
Hotohori smiled softly and wrapped his arms tightly around his beloved. This was truly the happiest he'd been in a long time. No words could ever capture the moment quite right, to be holding the only person he truly cared about in his arms and not be afraid of anything because he somehow knew that even if things would be difficult that they would somehow get through them together. There is nothing better than knowing that you will never be without someone again.
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"The horseis ready, Your Highness." Came the call of his main advisor. "I implore you to reconsider this foolish rendezvous. A trip out sightseeing in your country is the not the best—"
"Doubting my judgment already?" Hotohori teased good-naturedly. "I ensure you, if I intend to serve my country as the emperor I must know what my country is like. I intend to know every single rock and crevice."
The advisor frowned, his brow furrowing. "But, with all due respect your Highness, why take her Majesty the Empress as well? And why chose to travel without an escort? It is folly! Think of all the thieves and scalawags out there! For one so esteemed as you to travel without guard is sheer suicide, even if you are quite formidable with your sword."
Hotohori's eyes glimmered with amusement. "I'm pleased with your concern, but I assure you I have thought this out thoroughly. I will travel in disguise to keep attention away from myself and my Empress and I'm sure that my sword will be enough to protect against any other threats. Also, might you be underestimating the power of the Empress? She is quite a fearsome opponent as well. Such a fiery spirit." He said, his eyes misting over slightly with admiration as he began to talk about his beloved.
His advisor let a grin spread across his face. His emperor, though young, was quite wise already and, of course, quite in love. "I give up, your majesty. Travel safely. May I ask of when you will return?"
Hotohori's face scrunched up in thought. "I suppose in maybe a month or two at the most. It is in fact a large country. I leave the pressing issues up to you. I trust in your judgment. I shall return swiftly!"
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Nuriko happily changed into his new robes, or more like old. They were a soft faded brown color with a floral design of ivy twining around the border. He was used to the luxurious and fancy gowns and robes of the Empress, but these in all there simplicity and normalcy seemed to please him more. With a happy sigh he twirled them around and laughed giddily. He couldn't wait to be away from all the restraints of a 'elegant' and 'refined' life and spend his time out on the road….alone…with Hotohori. Nuriko squealed out in sudden delight and rushed off down the hall to find his koi.
Hotohori was just steadying the strap on his horse when he felt arms wrap tight around him and he grinned. Sure enough it was Nuriko's happy voice that greeted him.
"Mmm...Hello koi. Are we ready to leave yet?" he asked zealously. Hotohori turned around in his arms and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
"Now we are. Did you pack everything you need?" He asked as he managed to release his lover's arms from around him and lifted Nuriko up onto his horse.
"Yes. It's all ready! I'm so excited." Nuriko squealed happily as Hotohori climbed up behind his Empress in disguise.
"There's nothing to separate us now…" Hotohori whispered heatedly into Nuriko's ear, his hot breath disturbed the free locks of hair that drifted around his face and making them twirl excitedly. Nuriko's breath hitched excitedly and they were off, riding out past the castle gates and to the world beyond.
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"Someone intends to visit do they, eh?" the old woman said quietly to herself with a grin. It had been quite a whilesince she had played with the lives of foolish mortals who tried to seek her hidden forbade. "Even if you are an Emperor I can not allow you to reach me first without proving yourself worthy."
The old mystic hobbled over to her table littered with old artifacts and books, but more importantly to the mysterious orb that sat enthroned on the pile of old rubbish. Looking in it's sparkling depths she 'hnned' and laid her fingers gently across the crystalline surface and her eyes gazed deep. She could feel the power swelling, a vision forming. And it was…
"Nyan Nyan wants to be part of the story too!!! She deserves it much more than ugly old lady!" came the cry of the little child creature as it appeared out of nowhere in front of her face and smiled impishly.
"Damn you!" the mystic cried as she whacked it away. "You screwed up my entrance!"
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The day was quickly fading away for the two lovers as they journeyed down the road and away from the city that rested at the foot of the castle.
"How long do you think it will take to get there?" Nuriko asked curiously as he felt the cool evening's caress on his face.
Hotohori shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not entirely sure. It could take us a week or maybe even a couple months. I've heard that Taiisu-kun can be very stubborn sometimes and make it difficult for those she does not want to come to her hidden mountain."
Nuriko fingered his hair with apprehension. "Do you think she won't want to see us?" He asked the question that had been in lingering uneasily in the back of Hotohori's mind for quite some time.
"No… There's no reason that she wouldn't see us, koishii. I'm sure of it."
Hotohori frowned nervously for a moment, but Nuriko missed it due to the fact that he was seated in front of the emperor. The two lovers fell into silence for many minutes.
"Wow look at that place!" Nuriko exclaimed excitedly as they breached the top of another agonizingly tall hill. Hotohori's eyes squinted through the fading darkness to see a building in the distance. It appeared to be a hot spring resort of sorts.
"A bathhouse all the way out here?" Questioned Hotohori quizzically, but his inquiry was not heard over Nuriko's excited jiggling in front of him.
"Can we please stop there for the night? Do we have the money? Oh, it would be so wonderful!" Nuriko said, trying his best to turn around on the horse and persuade his lover with pleading eyes.
Hotohori smiled reluctantly and nodded his head, falling prey to his beloved's beautiful eyes. With a sigh he pulled the horse's reigns in the direction that would lead them to the entrance of the beautiful and elegant resort.
Trotting into the courtyard of the establishment they were greeted by a young boy in a green uniform. He bowed to them as they approached and got down off of their horse.
"Good evening, welcome to the Azamuki(1) springs, Mr…Mrs…" he said and as he addressed each one of them he turned and bowed again. "Do you wish to check in?"
Hotohori nodded and the boy walked up to their horse. "I will stable your horse and bring your supplies up to your room. If you proceed in through the front door there should be someone waiting to assist you."
"Thank you." Hotohori said as the boy lead their horse off. Hotohori was left in deep thought.
"They sure are polite here, aren't they?" Nuriko commented as he grabbed Hotohori's arm and pulled him along to the front door.
"Yes, they are." Hotohori answered absentmindedly.
The resort turned out to be quiet an elegant one indeed. The entrance room was decorated with an assortment of furniture to sit in, as well as many expensive looking vases and paintings(2). Hotohori and Nuriko made their way up to the front desk where an older man sat in the same uniform as the young boy had been wearing.
"Ah, more customers! Welcome." The man said as they approached. "When you rent a room you can also rent the use of a private bath room for half the cost!"
Once the business of acquiring a room had been finished they wandered down to their room to find that their bags were waiting outside the door for them. Hotohori heaved his and Nuriko's things into the room and he turned back to his beloved.
"Why don't we got to the bath now?" Hotohori said with a slight glint in his eyes. "It would be nice after our long ride."
Nuriko grinned and hooked his arm around his lover's. "Yes that sounds wonderful!"
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The steam from the water rose and created a thin mist overits surfaceas Nuriko gingerly stuck his toe in before he joined Hotohori in it's depths. He let a loud sigh slip from his lips as the heat rushed up his body.
Hotohori let his eyes wander over Nuriko's bare beautiful body. Nuriko's violet hair clung to his smooth damp skin beaded with little drops of water and perspiration. His whole body was relaxed and his eyelids were closed, his long eyelashes curling out and contrasting with the pallor of his skin. His full lips were parted slightly as he breathed in the warm vapor from the bath.
"Feel's good…" he said quietly as he leaned his head back against the edge, unaware of Hotohori's eyes on his body. Gentle hands clutched him and lips were softly placed on his. Nuriko reached out and tangled his hands in Hotohori's hair that he could feel draping all over his body as he pulled him closer and deepened the kiss.
The kiss broke gently and slowly and Nuriko felt a shiver cascade down his spine. He opened his eyesleisurely and grinned at Hotohori. "Maybe we should head back to our room early."
Hotohori slid his hands down to grasp just above Nuriko's hips. "There's no need to return…we could just stay here." He murmured suggestively.
Nuriko giggled and placed a light kiss on the tip of Hotohori's nose. "You're just so cute sometimes." Hereplied happily.
Hotohori nuzzled the crook of Nuriko's neck and planted warm kisses on the delicate skin. "And you're just…so…beautiful…"
Nuriko surrendered to Hotohori's warm caress and closed his eyes he felt waves of pleasure ripple through his body as the water splashed playfully around their bodies. Hotohori's fingers worked their way down Nuriko's body, gliding over each curve of every muscle in the aesthetic man's body. Nuriko curled his fingers around the back of Hotohori's neck and brought his lips crushing against his own in another feverish kiss.
The battle for dominance was fierce at first, but Nuriko slowly let Hotohori have his way with him, as was usual. Nuriko never minded though. He knew that Hotohori enjoyed it more this way and Nuriko was willing to do anything to please his lover. Speaking of pleasure…
Nuriko and Hotohori both moaned loudly as they joined. They both climaxed soon, unable to hold back their intense desire for one another. Hotohori sagged down on top of Nuriko and sighed with ecstasy. It had been so long since they had been so utterly alone like this.
Once they had both returned to reality Hotohori and Nuriko cleaned themselves off again once last time and climbed from the bath and dried themselves off. Throwing on a thin white robe Nuriko exclaimed with dismay, "My toes are all pruny!"
Hotohori chuckled and tweaked Nuriko's nose. "That's what happens when you stay in the water too long"
Nuriko pouted. "Hey, it wasn't my fault! You're the one that started it all."
"And you played along." Hotohori said as he planted a swift little kiss on his cheek. "But now we better get to bed. We have a long day ahead of us and I don't know about you, but I'm dead tired."
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The bed was soft and comfortable and Nuriko found he had no trouble falling asleep in the tight embrace of Hotohori. The night was unusually calm and only a slight breeze blew in through the window that was propped slightly open. It crawled slowly throughout the room disturbing nothing, but the hair on the two lovers heads, twirling the lose strands gently in a slow enticing dance.
And then from the darkness came a voice, soft and sorrowful, the voice of a young girl. "brother!...brother!" it pleaded mournful, its innocent voice echoing ever so softly throughout the room. "Please come to me brother!"
Nuriko eye's snapped open at the sound of the voice and his face grew deathly pale. The one word that stumbled from his lips as he rose from the bed was "…sister!"
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1) Does anyone know what Azamuki means in Japanese? Hehe. It will give you a clue on the story. (I would have named the resort something in Chinese because this is set in China, but I only know Japanese.)
2 )I have absolutely no clue what a real bathhouse would look like ok?