A/n Hello dear readers. I guess last chapter was quite a cliffhanger. haha I had to duck from a few of you. Writing is going quite well actually. I'm looking forward to what's to come. thank you for all the lovely reviews. I'm so glad ya'll stick with me even though I'm averaging only one update a month. Yikes! I hope to speed it up a bit as all three of my stories are starting to reach their middles. Goodness, I'm not sure If I'm cut out for Epic lengths. but they are just so much fun to write, but also so much work.
On to the story!
Content warning.
Kenshin was silent as he watched Kaoru sleep beside him, tucked safely in bed. He didn't think he would ever forgive his uncle for trying to use rape as a punishment. He knew how Kenshin felt about rape and how much rape harmed the Water fae. To think that if he hadn't told Sano to spill the secret he might have raped Kaoru and harmed her and the child she carried.
Kenshin's jaw ached as he continued to clench it. His ki flared and he climbed out from the bed lest he wake his wife.
But as their punishment had been paid, his uncle acted like all was well. He had moved on from their transgressions. Kenshin coolly refused their dinner plans and requested their meals be brought to them in their room. Kaoru needed time to recover from her ordeal. The lie flowed smoothly off his tongue and he didn't wait for the King to answer before walking away.
The news of their expecting was kept between them. Kenshin didn't even want Sano to know, not until they left this cursed castle. There was no way the Earth man could control his actions knowing the female in his care carried life. And that alone would give them away.
Kenshin jerked upward at her words, sweat dripped into his eyes and he scrubbed it away with a swipe of his hand. His mouth was open, he knew, but couldn't shut it as his eyes flickered down to her lower belly. She had grown soft in the middle around her navel. Cautiously, almost fearfully, he reached out and palmed that slight swell.
"I just thought you were finally putting on some weight." He said softly.
Kaoru huffed. "I've been trying to make it seem that way," she confessed.
"When?"
"When?" Kaoru echoed.
"When did we do this?"
She shrugged her small shoulders, her mess of hair tumbling down her back. "Early, one of our first times together. Perhaps even the first time...in the forest."
That early? "You're months along." He frowned, sitting up carefully to more thoroughly palm her middle. "Shouldn't you be larger?"
Kaoru gave him a smile and set her hand over his. "Only just now four months perhaps a little less than that. So I'm fine. I'll be growing big soon enough."
Growing big with his child. Kenshin paced the room and paused at the great windows that showed the sunset. He planted a child in her early on. Here he feared they would go childless and run the risk of upsetting his people with an adopted child.
"You let me drag you across this dry, desert land while you were with child!" Kenshin grabbed her by the shoulders.
"I knew you wouldn't let me come if you knew." She said quickly. "I had to do my loyalty vow because you had already given yours to the Water King. What would they think if we returned and I had not pledged my loyalty?"
Anger burned anew. Why would she risk it? She had sun poisoning that Megumi had healed and then had to take energy provided by Sano. But he knew why and she was right, he would have turned around and marched right back to the Keep. She was always thinking of how to appear better in the eyes of his people and frankly, he was sick of it.
"Never hide anything from me, Kaoru. We can't work together if one hides something from the other."
"You never would have kept it secret." Kaoru mused with a huff. "Over protective that you are. I don't even know how you plan to hide it now."
But he had great motivation. He'd die before letting his uncle know of her condition. He would learn by letter, hopefully just before the baby is set to be born before he could pull out any more of their old traditions to ensure a strong baby.
After their conversation on the balcony, he gathered her up with the ribbons of what was left of her dress and carried her down the flight of stairs. He was still naked, with wings, horns, and a tail. He met the three startled witnesses waiting at the bottom. And he deposited Kaoru in Sano's arms. He loathed to release her but he could trust no one more than Sano.
"Put her to bed." He growled. The fighter turned and hurried away without a word. He then turned and lied to the King about Kaoru's condition. It was easy to fake his rage Because he was already enraged just thinking about what could have happened. He put in his request for meals to be served to them and then marched through the whole castle, naked and fuming. Waves of heat rolling off his body drew curious onlookers who didn't expect to see the King's Nephew in the bare and half a dragon. He caused quite a stir but it helped cool the violence that threatened. His dragon wanted nothing more but to plunge his hands into someone's chest and pull out their beating heart and eat it.
By the time he reached their rooms he was calm enough to be contained in their four walls. Kaoru was exhausted by the ordeal and was already asleep, Sano sat at their table and let Kenshin talk to him until his wings, claws, horns, and tail slowly vanished back into his body.
Kenshin was able to dress and he excused Sano for the time being. And here he stood. Kaoru woke when supper arrived, ate, and went right back to sleep. He feared she was exposed to a little too much sun during the ordeal and so this sleep was good for her.
He picked at their leftover fruit and poured himself another glass of wine and settled in for a long night.
... . . ...
Kaoru enjoyed her day of solitude with Kenshin. They ate and talked and slept curled up together. They didn't mention her condition very much, wary of any eavesdroppers or even spies. Kenshin seemed more than convinced enough that his Uncle was keeping a close eye on them through his servants. So they didn't talk freely even around their own people to protect them.
It was the Fire way. Kaoru discovered. Kenshin didn't seem upset or surprised about this. But he was extra cautious now that he had a secret to keep. Kaoru looked from her vanity as Kenshin walked in.
"Oh, good, you're dressed and getting ready."
"Yes. I figured I have to come out into public at some point." Kaoru sighed as Odeta set the last pin in her hair.
"My father is here," Kenshin announced.
"What?" Kaoru shot up from her seat. "Now?"
"Yes, he's waiting to met us."
Kaoru turned to look at herself in the mirror. "I'm not dress properly for such a meeting." She was in a summer day dress. She looked down at the lemon yellow frills. It was not as flamboyant as her evening dresses.
Kenshin reached out and took Kaoru by the hand. "You look lovely my dear. Now come."
Kaoru let Kenshin link his elbow with hers and lead her out of their rooms. She set a hand on her bare throat, wincing at the lack of decoration the Fire women always seemed to never be seen without. Her slippers were flat, not the slight heels she should be wearing. She couldn't believe that Kenshin's father was already here. Had it already been a week since they had arrived?
Kenshin led her away from the Throne room and instead down another hall. This was part of the castle she had yet to see. There were very few people here, only servants. This must be a more private area of the castle. "Kenshin." Kaoru huffed as she quickened her steps to keep up with his strides. "Is there anything I need to know about your father?" He wasn't like his brother, was he?
Kenshin came to a halt and Kaoru nearly tripped. He steadied her with a hand. "He's a warlord like me, and believes me to be an idiot."
"Eh?" Kaoru gasped as Kenshin pulled her to a door and unlatched it. Inside Kaoru found a large library. It was many, many times larger than her father's at the Keep. She had never seen so many books. Thick, plush chairs sat at a grand window, and a small fire crackled in the giant fireplace despite the already constant heat. One side of the room was taken up by a table large enough to seat two dozen people. But there were no chairs, instead, the table was carved into a large map of the Four Kingdoms. A war table. A few dark figures carved from wood scattered across it. There was a hint of tobacco smoke still in the air. At the war table stood a tall man in a white cloak. He turned at the sound of the door opening.
"There you are, I thought I would have to wait here for you all day."
His voice was low, easy, and yet intimidating. He had ink-black hair, which was strange for a Fire. Though, in the light, she could see the sheen of red. He towered head and shoulders above Kenshin, and his clothes were simple for someone who was the Royal Brother. His eyes seemed kind, but there was a hard look about them. As if he had seen so many horrible things. Kaoru suddenly shied away, dropping back behind Kenshin as the father regarded his son.
"Idiot son of mine messages me to come as fast as I can to say hello because your stay is brief and you leave me to stand around here in this library? Why are you in such a rush anyways?"
Kenshin's lips twitched upward. "Nice to see you too. It's been a few years."
"You don't even bother to come visit your old man. Pish." The old Lord scoffed, finally moving away from the table. He took a few steps, his eyes on the head of dark hair behind him.
"Is that the little mud covered brat you married?"
At his words, Kaoru jumped and pressed closer to Kenshin's back but her Husband moved and Kaoru found herself standing alone. Her eyes fluttered up at the tall, dark man with massive shoulders wrapped in a strange white cloak. Quickly she lowered herself into a curtsy. "It is my Lord."
"Don't call him that," Kenshin grumbled as he pulled her back upright before she could finish her curtsy. "It'll go right to his head."
"Let the girl call me what she likes." His father snapped, bumping him away and taking Kaoru by the hand to press a kiss to her knuckles as he bowed. "Never did I dream you would grow into a lovely woman. My idiot son lucked out."
Kaoru flushed, her eyes glancing over to Kenshin. He gave her no indication of what she should do. In fact, he looked amused by the whole situation. She gave his father a soft smile as her eyes returned to him. "You flatter me, my Lord."
"I speak the truth girl, that is all." He stood back to his full height but kept Kaoru's hand in his and pulled her to stand beside him. He tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow and turned, pulling Kaoru further into the private library and away from Kenshin. Her husband, it appeared, did not inherit his father's great height. He also didn't have his father's stronger features. Kenshin did have his sharp chin and a favor for overly long hair. Hiko however, had inky black hair. It was startling to Kaoru. If not for the burning eyes, Kaoru would have mistaken him for a fellow Water. With his great height, he could pass as an Earth.
She knew it was considered a grave taboo to ask a Fire his lineage if he appeared to not be pure. She was unsure if that taboo still held these days but she felt it would be rude to ask such a question regardless. She was curious, yes, but in the end, Kaoru didn't care about bloodlines. She was, however, painfully curious about Kenshin's mother, what a delicate thing she must have been to take the seed of such a grand man and birth a lithe Kenshin. To take Hiko's dark features and turn out a classic looking Fire baby. And if she were honest, she was curious as to who her baby might resemble.
"You stay there, boy," Hiko growled over his shoulder as he pulled her away. Kenshin arched a brow but was content to wander to the other side of the room and appear to be deeply interested in the large tomes. Hiko led Kaoru to a window clad in iron bars and the pair of them gazed down into the city that spiraled out from the epicenter that was the castle. "Tell me Kaoru, and tell me true...is my idiot son treating you well?"
His voice was strong and powerful, it was easy to imagine him roaring orders over a raging battlefield. Kaoru blinked."Why yes."
"He's not mistreating you? Yelling, or rude, no name calling? He's not beating you? Or raping you?"
Kaoru balked at the force of his words and she felt the color drain from her face, leaving her feeling chilled. "No my Lord, never, not once." She said. Her voice was a harsh whisper. She glanced over her shoulder to the delicate, yet strong form of her husband. "How could you suspect that of him?"
At her tone, one side of Hiko's lips turned upward. "I suspect surprises from my idiot son. You are not lying to protect yourself, are you? I'll put him in the ground, I don't care if he's my only son."
Kaoru squared her shoulders and turned to fully face the great man. "No, Sir." She bit out. "He has shown me only the greatest of kindness and gentleness. He abhors rape. He told me you did as well. I'm surprised you would even suspect such a thing."
At her fearlessness, Hiko gentled and set a hand on her head as if she were his child. "Sweet thing, you have a fire within you."
Kaoru's breath caught. Surely he couldn't be talking about her child? She fought to keep her hands away from her belly. He only meant her spirit, of course. Kaoru struggled to calm her racing heart.
"I only wanted to hear it from you. Kenshin is and will always be a Warlord, but he has a gentleness in him, thank the Gods, or else the Air fae took my son and turned him into a hellish monster. I'm glad to see that is not the case. If you say he is kind with you, and you do not show any signs of abuse, then I will believe you and let him live for now."
Kaoru could suddenly feel every bruise from the Ritual that sat just under her clothing. She understood now. Kenshin and Hiko really were father and son. A kind, warm heart lived within them both. Emotion threatened to close Kaoru's throat, and so she nodded silently.
"Yes, I understand." She said after she was sure her voice would hold. His giant hand caressed her hair before cupping her chin and lifting her face up to his.
"Waters are so easy to read." He muttered, gazing deeply into her eyes. "You love that idiot son of mine."
Kaoru fought to keep from falling into such dark and wise eyes. "Why do you call him an idiot?"
"Because he is," Hiko said simply, removing his hand from her face. "He did some really stupid things, but I'm glad to see that he seems back on the right path."
Kaoru wanted to ask what those stupid things were, but she figured he was talking about not taking his place at the Keep sooner. Perhaps it was a sore point for him so Kaoru felt it would be wiser to not ask. Maybe she would ask Kenshin later. For now, she was Lady Kaoru of Aiga Keep and she had to properly greet the man.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, father-in-law."
Hiko huffed. "None of that In-law." He cut his hand through the air. The harsh movement caught Kenshin's attention but the man kept to his side of the room, but he was aware of their tones and body language even though he couldn't make out their words.
"Oh," Kaoru blinked rapidly.
"Call me Hiko. I would love for you to call me Father, but I understand if you are not ready to give that honor to another." He bowed his head.
The thought of calling another man Father hurt Kaoru, it pierced her in the center of the chest. So much so that her free hand pressed the area between her breasts. And yet within the pain, there was something else. A warm feeling. "I may one day call you Father, but you are right, I'm not yet ready to assign that title to another. Maybe...if you don't mind. I'll grow to call you Dad, my Father didn't much care for that. He was a much older fae, of a different time."
Hiko's chest swelled. "I would love to carry such a name. And you are my daughter, a beautiful woman is just what this family of warriors needs."
Kaoru smiled and felt a warm tear slip from her eye. Hiko said nothing but swiped it away with his thumb. "Hell, none of that now," he said gently.
Kaoru sniffed and quickly dashed any other tears that might escape with her fingertips as she felt more than heard Kenshin round up behind them.
"You made her cry?!" Kenshin took Kaoru away from Hiko and turned her so he could see her face.
"Happy tears, My Lord Husband, I assure you. I never thought to have a father figure again."
All of Kenshin's bravado deflated and he gave his father a rare look of gratitude before gathering her in his arms.
"I knew Water's were emotional creatures, but..." Hiko's words died away as he took in the sight of his son lovingly hold the small young female to his chest. Emotion of his own started to build. He had hoped his son would be accepting of his arranged marriage, but it seemed there was more than just that between the two young ones. The way she tucked her face into his neck and the way he soothed her with soft words and a gentle touch of her back.
The boy loved her. And she, him. Hiko knew his son was being a stupid idiot for keeping away for so many years. He crossed his arms across his massive chest. "Well, that's the best proof that I could ask for."
... . . ...
Misao realized two things now that Aoshi slept with her in her room. One of them was that he was a very light sleeper. She couldn't roll over or turn without him waking up and throwing an arm made of rock over her to keep her in bed. She hadn't been able to sneak out for snacks in days. Not that she would now, with possibly a killer among them. But Aoshi could come with her, right? But Aoshi wasn't the type to eat between meals apparently and he really didn't like to eat before bed. Whereas Misao couldn't fall asleep if she was hungry.
She was going to have to start squirreling away bits of dinner to munch on later. She really didn't want to make a habit of ringing the kitchen for food since this time of night was the only time those poor workers got to rest. That was why she started sneaking in there so many years ago. But alas, trapped under Aoshi's arm that seemed to weigh just as much as she did kept her completely stuck. It was a real struggle if she had to get up and pee.
The second thing she had learned was that Aoshi very, very much rather be on top. Not that Misao was complaining any. It was rather delicious having such weight over her. But she grew suspicious quite early on. The closest he ever let her come to being on top was their first time, when she was in his lap out by the stream. Since then,…well since he started sleeping in her room, she was always under him.
Again, there was nothing Misao could complain about. She finally had the bedmate she wanted and there was something about watching him work above her, when Misao was in her right mind to pay attention of course. Because of their height difference, he kept his feet on the floor and would pull her to the edge of the bed. Misao suspected this was also so that he could keep the bulk of his weight off of her. But three times she instigated sex starting on top or at least in his lap and each time he had flipped her over and changed positions.
Was he that much of a control freak? And why was she laying here thinking about this? She should be asleep. Not that she could sleep now. She pressed her legs together, annoyed with the deep-seated ache that just didn't seem to want to go away. Aoshi almost always took her in the very early hours of the morning. Misao guessed after a night of waking up every ten minutes as she wiggled into a comfortable position wore him down enough that he caved in. Even he didn't have the discipline to hold out for long. But it was the middle of the night now and she really didn't want to wait or else she would never get to sleep.
Misao rolled to face him. He wore a tense expression, even in sleep, though, she assumed that her constant movements in the night kept him from getting any real sleep. She would need to get a bigger bed. It was almost comical how he was able to lay in her bed and make it look like a child's bed. He slept naked, which was a surprise for her. She didn't think Aoshi would want to leap out of bed and into an emergency while naked. But then again, it made things much easier.
Her fingers drifted down the muscles of his stomach. At the first cool touch on his heated skin, his eyelids fluttered open. "You should be asleep." He whispered, his expression unchanged. Misao rolled into him, forcing him to roll onto his back and she straddled his hips as she sat up.
"I can't sleep when my stomach is all growling." She countered as she pulled her night gown from between them so that she could feel his heated skin on her legs. She no longer wore undergarments to bed, they always came off eventually. His cock was already twitching from the contact and she rocked against him, feeling the length of him slide along her already slick folds.
As predicted, with half lidded eyes, he moved to sit up and he braced himself up on both elbows. "You seem to be displaying the wrong sort of appetite." His voice rumbled in the darkness. Misao leaned forward, purposefully pressing her breasts against his chest as she reached for the lantern beside the bed and turned it up, lengthening the wick just slightly, enough for her to be able to see a bit better. She felt him shudder as she slid her way back down. "Woman, it's time for sleep." Even though the evidence that he was ready pressed into her thigh.
She only smiled at him as she lifted and lowered herself over his cock. She sunk down, letting him fill her, he reached up and braced himself to move but Misao took his hand off of her and bent over him again to deliberately set his arm back on the bed. "No, you stay." She told him. she had never denied him when he wanted to change positions, so this was new to both of them.
He looked ready to argue but then, slowly, he relaxed back on the bed. His eyes turning into glowing embers in the dim light. It wasn't like him to accept her terms so easily. Being half asleep apparently made him complacent, at least with her. She didn't sink all the way down, not even halfway down his cock before pulling back up again and repeating the action. It was a tease, a delicate dance and Misao had no idea what she was doing. She reached down with both hands and pulled her nightgown up and over her head, tossing it to the side and Aoshi's enormous hands came up to clutch at her breasts.
While it was nice having him with her almost all the time now, she missed seeing him work. She wanted those hands, rough from forging, she wanted his sooty hand prints on her moon pale skin. She wanted him hot, worn and sweaty from a long hard day.
"You should go back to work," Misao said as she continued to lift and lower herself over him.
His breath hitched as he thumbed her nipples. "Why?"
"Because you like to do it. And I first lusted after you while watching you work. I wanted those hands that forced metal into weapons to be on me. Soot and all. I wanted you to give me as much attention as you gave those swords. And I want all that pent up power to come out while you're fucking me."
A tremor ran down his body and his head fell back and he arched his hips up, wanting desperately to sink his whole length into her. Aoshi didn't talk much during sex and Misao knew it was because he couldn't. His voice broke and caught as he tried to say words and he always fumbled over them. And now with her vantage point on top, she could watch him. She was far more alert now that she was doing all the work and for the first time, she could watch as he slowly, painfully became undone. The way he arched back, exposing his throat to her. How the muscles in his chest moved as he took quiet, deep breaths. How he could grab both ends of her headboard because his arm span was just so huge. She could even see the hint of glowing green light as it dance just outside of her vision.
This giant of a man who could kill with a single swing of his sword, or break bones with his bare hands, and command hundreds with his voice… she had writhing under her. A short, skinny girl, just two years into womanhood. She was taming him. Like a rider breaking a stallion. The great angry beast with his grunts and growls was no match for her.
His hands trailed from her breasts to rest at her hips. He was so much larger compared to her that he could circle her waist with his two hands. His fingers massaged and molded the soft flesh of her hips and attempted to press her further down onto him but Misao resisted.
"Misao." He breathed, his eyes fluttering shut as his lips pulled over white teeth with a whine. "Misao…please."
She raised a brow. She had yet to hear him beg before, so this was new. Her hips rocked in a shallow motion, still keeping from letting him plunge himself as deeply as he was wanting. "Perhaps you could leave me with my guards for a day and come back to me, exhausted and filthy."
His head shook, sending his hair fanning out around him.
"I'll be more than safe, you know?" She argued back. "Just a once or twice a week? I would hate for you to fall out of practice." She asked sweetly. She was proud of herself. Her voice stayed rock steady. She wanted to pant and keen as her angle was causing him to brush up a spot inside of her that felt positively sinful. If he held out, she was going to come undone before he could.
"Please?" She added.
His breath left him in a whoosh. "A-alright." He huffed as he shifted one hand so that his thumb could slip into her folds and rub that sensitive nub. Misao's head fell back as it was her turn for her breath to catch.
"Alright what?" Misao pressed.
"I'll g-go back to smithing …at least twice a we-week." He said between clenched teeth. His brows furrowed as he tried to concentrate. He was making little sounds in the back of his throat.
Misao arched up and slowed to a stop just before the head of his cock would pop free. "Swear it."
He raised his voice for the first time. "For fuck's sake Misao, I swear it!"
She slammed down onto him. He bottomed out, bumping into her core and Aoshi's hands went back around her hips as she rocked against him. His hands urged her faster, harder and she watched as he panted for air.
See, she gave an inch and he took a mile.
He had her in control now, his hips lifting to meet hers. Misao was biting her bottom lip to keep silent even as each time he bumped her womb it felt as if sparks were going off under her skin. His thrusts grew sharp and quick, then, all at once, his breath caught and his hips rolled to a stop. With a grunt and then a deep rumbling sound of satisfaction as the soft green light gathered and pulled into him, Aoshi sagged into the bed. Spent.
Misao's survived his take over. Her triumphant grin was short-lived, however, as she saw there, in the dim lantern light, Aoshi open his eyes to look up at the ceiling and great fat tears rolled down the sides of his face and into the bed.
... . . ...
His hands looked small on the bark of the tree next to his father's. Yahiko took a moment to compare the size. They said he was a few short years from being a man, and going off with his father, but it was hard to think his hands would grow that much that fast.
Yahiko glanced to his left where his mother's hands rested on the Great Oak. His gaze traveled up her arm to her face where she sat with her eyes closed, her soft mouth moving silently in her prayer. Yahiko should be praying too, but found it rough to focus. Dark eyes dipped down to the swell of life growing in his now Sacred Mother's belly. The High Priestess blessed his mother that evening at services. Men and women of the village came to set a hand on his mother's belly and bask in the power of life.
Yahiko recalled the same thing before his sister was born. He was a little too young to understand much, but now he realized how very important his mother was, how beautiful it was to have the Goddess within you. And he was proud that he still belonged to her and her power. His heart gave a painful shudder. As much as he wanted to run off with his father and the rest of the men, he didn't look forward to leaving his mother behind. Who would watch his little sister if he was off in the woods? Who would help with the new babe? And all the little things around the house that he did for his mother. Who would do them when he was off with the men?
Yahiko closed his eyes as he felt the tree's power pulsing into him, soothing his fears and worries. He would pray for an answer. But for all his prayers, the only answer was the feel of the warm, loving embrace of the Goddess. Yahiko focused his mind and let the rush of nature flow into him. He was the tree, his hair the leaves rustling in the warm summer breeze. His roots ran deep and held tightly to the solid earth below. Life pulsed up from the soil, filled every nook of bark that was his skin, the sun warmed him and fed him. He in turn provided food and shelter for animals. His gaze turned deeper into the forest. He could feel every swaying branch, every touch from crawling insects, to the lightest of feathers on a bird's wing. The root of each tree tangling with the one next to it and on and on it went.
Somewhere, deep in the forest, the Great Stag with his enormous head of antlers stepped silently through the leaf litter. Looking for his love, the Goddess. She would soon be growing with his child and he wanted to spend each hour with her before he would die. The forest rushed away and Yahiko felt himself fall back into his own human body again.
Blinking, his eyes focused on the small head of his sister beside him, still whispering her clumsy prayers at the tree.
He felt more than heard his answer. Spend each day, each hour with them. Cherish it as if it were the last. For the day that he would be a man would be sooner than he wanted it to be.
... . . ...
Misao wandered into the church. It was her normal time to take to her prayers so the Priests were expecting her. Her guard followed close behind as Aoshi was in the training rings with the men. He had this second job to do and usually she would be right there, watching him. But it had been some days since she took to her prayers and today she needed counsel. Vitae approached her and welcomed her like always. He took her hands and wished her well. But before he could pull away, Misao took hold of his hands.
"Yes, My Lady?"
"I was actually wondering if perhaps I could talk to someone about something." Misao felt her cheeks tint. "I usually only have girl talk with Lady Kaoru and well I don't actually fell comfortable talking about this to anyone except for you."
His eyes grew worried. "Why yes Lady Misao, I will gladly listen, please, tell me what troubles you?"
Misao and Vitae slipped into the private alcove and her guard stood watch outside. The pair sat at the stone bench closest to the little water fountain. "I've taken Sir Shinnomori as my bedmate." She started.
Vitae's eyes brightened. "That's wonderful, My Lady. Although, I confess that he appears to be quite a bit much for you. And a little, how to put this…stuck in his ways."
"Oh, he is." Misao agreed. "But that's what drew me to him in the first place."
"Then what is it that is troubling you, my dear?"
"Is…is it quite normal to cry after sex?"
Vitae blinked. "Why yes, it's very normal. I believe most women do at some point cr-"
"No, not women…men." Misao corrected, her blue eyes darted away for a moment. There was a strange feeling. Like she was betraying Aoshi's trust by talking about this.
"Has Sir Shinnomori wept after sex before?"
"No. Well…not that I know of." In truth, she wasn't at all sure. She tried to recall the past week and a half. As Aoshi took her in the early dawn, it was often still very dark, with the drapes over her windows. Sometimes he was a bit vocal when he came, sometimes the only thing that gave away that he had come was the surge of green healing energy. A few times he tucked his head against her neck. Was he hiding tears? When he swiped his hair out of his face, or sweat from his skin, was he really wiping away tears? "I actually don't know." She finally said as Vitae let her sit and think.
"If you feel comfortable, could you explain the circumstances of when you did see him weep?"
Misao relayed what happened that morning. She edited out that she was teasing him, as that felt too private to did say that she was trying and succeeded in talking Aoshi into going back to his work, at least a few times a week. After she was done. Vitae sat for a long moment, his aged eyes swirling in thought. Misao lowered her gaze to the pure white of his robes and took comfort in the way he almost glowed.
"There could be many reasons why men cry after or during sex, Misao." He said finally. "The simple answer being happiness. Tears are also a release of emotions. It doesn't always have to mean sad or upset. Tears come when you are happy, or very angry. It's the way the body is better able to cope. Perhaps Sir Shinomori is very happy with you, that the act of sex is a great comfort to him, he is thankful to have you in his life. It may even be something as simple as it was a really good orgasm. It is also possible, since you woke him, that he was not guarded enough as he would usually have been. Perhaps being on the bottom makes him feel vulnerable. Both physically and emotionally."
"How will I know what it could be?" Misao asked.
Vitae reached out and patted her hand. "My dear, you'll have to talk to him and ask."
Misao winced. "I know for us it's easy to say, but I understand it that Fire's have taboos on men crying."
"It's normal for Fire's and even Air's as much as they like to look like they feel nothing." The priest agreed. "But all you can do is ask and see if he will talk with you. It is the best thing to do, since it is also possible that something triggered a traumatic memory, and you most likely wouldn't want to repeat it."
Misao nodded."I should have asked, this morning, but the moment was gone and I was so shocked, I didn't know what to say."
"He may or may not answer you right away. If he doesn't want to talk about it, don't push him. He will tell you in his own time.
... . . ...
"You mean you're only staying for a few days?" Kaoru gasped, clutching Hiko's hand tightly. "But you only just arrived."
The three of them wandered up and down the rows of vibrant cacti and succulents. The spiny waxy looking plants was a surprise of bright pinks, oranges, and yellows. Kaoru almost reached out to touch the bright colors but Kenshin pulled her back before she could harpoon her fingertip on the wicked spines. Kenshin wasn't happy having Kaoru outside in the middle of the day, but the garden was in shadow at the moment and Kaoru assured him that the heat was not unbearable and the air wasn't as dry.
"Well I would stay a bit longer, but as I understand it, you will be here only five more days yourself." Hiko rumbled, giving the pair a questioning look. "How did you convince my brother to let her stay less than a month?"
Kenshin quickly relayed the message they had received about Kaoru's cousin being left in charge of the Keep and being attacked by someone on the inside. One of Kenshin's own men. Hiko listened closely and nodded in approval.
"I agree that heading back to root this out is the best thing to do. I'm glad Houjin thinks this as well. After I heard about the Dragon Ritual I started thinking my littler brother was turning into a bit of an idiot." The older man clasped his hands behind his back as they turned the last corner where a cactus loomed high over their heads, at the base of it grew bright yellow and orange flowers that looked much like daisies, but smaller. "But if my dates are correct, my foolish son here is dragging your back through the desert during the monsoon."
Kaoru glanced over as she felt Kenshin falter his step.
"Damn it!" Kenshin hissed. "I forgot, that I did. Is it already that time?"
Kaoru blinked. "I don't understand. If it's the wet season then it should be a much better trek home." At least for her Water kin. No wonder the air didn't seem as dry.
"Yes, but sometimes the storms are fierce. We have massive dust storms that can last for days. Dry lightning could cause wildfire which would be deadly for you. And flash flooding. I know flooding is nothing you need to worry about, but for me and my Kin..." Kenshin trailed off.
Hiko slapped his son on the back. "Keep your head above the water." He joked. "But I doubt you'll be caught in a flash flood, you'll hear it coming for miles if you know what to listen to. And I'm sure Kaoru here would be able to tell as well."
As the older man chuckled at his son's predicament, Kenshin lifted his head. "I actually have a request of you."
"Oh?" Hiko continued to stroll slightly ahead of the couple to look at some twisting vines growing deep purple flowers. He reached out and touched one with a delicate finger.
"I was hoping to have the family portrait, that I did."
Hiko turned, brow arched. "Well, you do have a suitable home to rule over. A mountain of a Keep like that might be in need of some paintings and I have more than a few to give you."
Kenshin huffed. "The walls are covered in dark hair Water fae and mermaids. However, more so, it's my favorite painting of Mother."
Hiko sighed as if the request would cause him long-suffering. "Very well."
... . . ...
"Kenshin." Kaoru was braiding her hair. She was dressed in a nightgown and already sitting in bed. Kenshin was content to lay beside her, his hand possessively palming her belly.
"Mmm?" Was his only answer.
Kaoru wondered where his thoughts were. Was he planning his future with this child? Was he thinking of names? What were his secret hopes and dreams for this baby? Kaoru wanted to ask and yet also wanted him to keep those secrets in his heart.
"What disagreements did you have with your father to keep you two apart for so long? He loves you so. Even if he calls you an idiot."
Kenshin stilled, his hand settling heavily over her navel.
"I know I asked you this once before and you said we would talk about it some other time." Kaoru quickly added. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
Kenshin's eyes were glowing deep dark amber and they flickered up at her. With a sigh, he pulled his hand away and sat up in the bed, and leaned against the pillows. "My father has the right to call me an idiot. I was an idiot. We may not have seen each other, but we kept in touch well. And he disapproved of a relationship I had developed a few years ago….with a woman."
Kaoru was not expecting that. She shouldn't have been surprised, she figured he had to have some sort of relations outside of his marriage to a child. To think otherwise was foolish. She blinked. "Oh?"
Those bright glowing eyes looked away and there was a long pause where Kaoru could see his jaw working. "I loved her." He said softly.
Kaoru felt the hurt in his voice and it hurt her. She felt a strange mixture of pain for him and for herself as well. There was another out there who had his love first. This was not some tryst to spend his sexual energy and frustrations on. This was real and serious. It was not in the Water fae to be jealous. Perhaps if she had known the woman, she would feel differently, but at that moment she felt the weight of shame that came from such an ugly emotion. "Oh." Was all that would come out of her mouth. She winced inwardly at such a lame reply. "Your father didn't like this woman?"
"Oh he didn't know a thing about her. But she kept me from you, and that was enough for me to fall in his eyes."
Kaoru felt a jolt. "The year before my father became ill, when you were supposed to come and learn about being Lord? You didn't come because you were with her?"
Kenshin nodded. It was strange seeing his eyes flicker up at her and then away. As if unsure. "I didn't care about some rock or the brat I had married." His voice seemed calm, but Kaoru knew him well enough to pick up the slight undertone in his voice. A hint of a growl and a sigh at the same time. "I don't want to talk to you about this." He admitted. "I know it will hurt you, that I do."
Kaoru's lashes fluttered. She could understand that. But she wanted to know only one more thing. "What made you finally come?"
His jaw flexed again. "I was about to break this treaty by staying away, I had to come…..and…..she didn't want to be a mistress. So she left me, I had no reason to stay away at that point."
Kaoru felt equal parts upset for him and hurt, just as he said she would be. He came only because his first choice left. She knew it was stupid to feel upset about that now, but she did. She had come to see Kenshin in a warm and loving light, but the truth was, he was against this marriage from the very first. He was happy now, only by chance.
Still...she would take the higher ground. She would not ask the what-if questions. What if she stayed, what if she agreed to become a mistress? Would he have arrived at the Keep with her in tow? Would their relationship be nothing more than eating together at the Head Table and producing an heir while his love was saved for the mistress? "I'm sorry." She said sincerely. "To lose someone you love-"
Kenshin gave his head a shake, sending his red hair to whip wildly at his shoulders. "I know now that I didn't love her, I never really loved her. I lusted for her beauty and the life she offered me." He turned those fiery embers for eyes at her. "What I have with you Kaoru, I don't think I could ever have with her. You understand me, you put up with me, more than you should, that you do. You support me and you're not afraid of me. I can not imagine not having you." He pressed to her side again, his large warm hand drifting down to her belly. "You are to give me the greatest gift." He whispered against her cheek.
Kaoru felt tears in her eyes but she blinked them away and gave him a watery smile. "Then we are even." She set her hand over his. "You gave me the greatest gift as well."
But inside, her heart was breaking.
Poor Kaoru. those pregnancy mood swings are rough sometimes. This is a bit of a filler chapter, but I thought that after something as intense as the last chapter, a nice mellow one would be welcomed before things amp up again. I quite like Papa Hiko. He's fun to write, I should use him more in my new stories.
I have about 25 more chapters of this story that are done but are still in rough draft form. And at least 20 more chapters are outlined. So this will be my longest fic yet. and Talk about putting in blood, sweat and tears. But I'm determined to finish it!
Thank you so much for reading.
Reviews are loved!