A/N: I finished this chapter while packing for New York. Am I superwoman or not!?

I need to give credit where its due. This story is inspired by the movie A Frozen Flower. The plot is mine of course, but I've taken certain inspirations from the movie. For example, Rido being gay and struggling with his sexuality. In the movie, the king doesn't struggle with his sexuality, but it's a big taboo between him and the queen. The queen is also forced into an affair with a royal guard. but that's not what's going to happen here, hehe. If you have the time, watch the movie – the plot in itself is very good, but the costumes and the settings are breathtaking. Fair warning – ya gotta be 18 to watch it, and to read this story, heh.

Maybe I'm weird, but having 8 reviews on this story already is pretty amazing. I used to maybe get 2-3 on IWBH before, but after Secretary I've gotten a few more readers. So thank you!

you dizzy him, you are unbearable
every woman before or after you
is doused in your name
you fill his mouth
his teeth ache with memory of taste
his body just a long shadow seeking yours
- W.S.

Brown eyes narrowed in distrust upon the approaching man.

Shaking her head and releasing her brown curls, the woman schooled her features into an expression of neutrality. Now was not the time for her temper to override her control; gritting her teeth together, she forced herself to shut off all emotion for the evening.

As he loomed closer, she opened the front of her kimono, softly pushing off the silky fabric off her right shoulder.

Serve him until he is satisfied. That is your only purpose in the palace.

A warm hand stilled on her shoulder, blocking her own hand. Raptly, she glanced up at him, her neutral expression melting into one of shock as she lost composure.

Wine-red eyes smoldered upon her. She watched as his chest rose and fell calmly and evenly, like a secret lullaby willing her to sleep. Though she resented him, she wasn't blind to his beauty; and as he stared at her with the utmost patience and affection, she couldn't help but feel her guarded heart begin to beat a little faster.

"This is not why I called you tonight," he whispered, his hand hot on hers.

"It's not?" She stutters, shaking her head when she remembers who she's talking to. "I mean, how can I serve you tonight, your majesty?"

A small smile crumbles his lips. Eyes glowing with affection, he squeezes her shoulder gently. "Sleep with me tonight."

She freezes. "Yes, that's what I wa–"

He bent down so he was eye-level with her. Startled by his proximity, a scarlet blush bloomed on her cheeks. "Am I less of a man if I ask a woman like you to simply share my bed tonight, for the sole purpose of peaceful slumbering?"

"N-no, your highness," she whispers meekly.

"Good," he smiles, returning to his height and patting her hair. He discards the heaviest layer of his royal robe on a nearby divan, and circles the bed. Next to her, he lays down softly on the mattress, a sigh leaking from his supple lips as he relaxes.

Gaping, she watches his still form, her eyes flickering around the room to see if this is some sort of game of his. Did he not ask her to his room for pleasure? What was her role, then?

"Come," he says gently, eyes closed while his hands lay folded on his stomach.

The woman stares wide-eyed at him for another few seconds before she manages to wake up from her stupor. Hesitantly, she clumsily makes her way onto the bed, settling down next to him.

The sound of her strained gulp echoes in the silence of his breathing. She stares at the gold-plated ceiling and traces the intricate patterns and design adorning the precious metal. The king's suite sure is fit for the king; every corner and crook oozes of opulence and luxury.

"Umpf!"

Like a snake, his arm reaches out and brings her close to his side. Her gasp enters the silence of his chambers and disappears just as quickly as it came. The king tucks her head under his chin as he breathes quietly, the sound of his heartbeat echoing throughout his chest and into her keen left ear.

"What is your name?" He whispers.

Frantically, she tries to calm her erratic heartbeat.

"Juuri, your highness," she replies.

"Juuri…" He repeats, and the way he says her name so adoringly makes her heart beat even faster. "A beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

Her head twitches as she automatically tries to bow in gratitude; Juuri tenses, realizing that she's in bed with the king doing… nothing.

"Well?" His voice wakes her up from her nervous stupor.

"H-huh?"

"Aren't you going to ask my name?" The king wonders, dark eyebrows high on his forehead as he peeks down at her.

"Why would I do that!?" She balks, temporarily forgetting her manners. "Of course I know your name, you stu– uhm, I mean, I am content addressing you by your title, your highness."

His chest rumbles with laughter; like she's fleeing an earthquake, Juuri turns frantically towards him and looks at his flushed countenance as he laughs almost maniacally.

W-what is going on? Has he lost his mind?

"My, you really do have a temper, ne?" The king grins, wiping a lone tear. "It seems I wasn't wrong about you. Your training must've been horrible on such a wild woman yourself."

"W-wild woman!?" Juuri screeched, once again forgetting who he is and what he controls in their land. "What, do you think I am some sort of savage woman who runs around with wild hair and ye–" an unlady-like snort escapes her mouth as she berates herself for loosing her temper so quickly. "I mean, i-if that is what your highness thinks of me," she grits through her teeth, "I will be sure to find ways to improve myself so I can please you better."

"Don't bother," the mad king – as she now has declared him – waved an elegant hand in the air as if he is swatting away a fly. "I like that about you. You are not like the other girls; sophisticated, low-voiced and meek. You have fire and passion, and even if life has tried to tame it, you still can't resist chasing after your freedom."

"Such a detailed observation," Juuri quipped. "You only met me today, your highness."

"I've had my eye on you for a while, Juu-ri," he says, voice smooth and soft. "I saw you two weeks ago when you were walking in the gardens with the other concubines. I was immediately captivated by your beauty."

A fresh blush stained her cheeks. "Thank you, your highness."

"And also," he added, eyes shimmering as he smiled at her, his face so close she could feel his breath softly fanning her face, "when I saw you yelling at the other girl for swooning over me because I was just "a moron king, not some superhero", I fell in love with you immediately."

Her eyes widened comically. "Y-you heard that!? I didn't mean to, I mean, your highness, I am so so–"

"What is my name, Juuri?" The king interrupted calmly.

"It's… It's Haruka! As I was saying, I'm so so–"

"Address me by my given name, then," the king smiled gently, his face glowing with amusement.

"Fine, Haruka, as I was say– wait, no! I'm just a concubine and I'm not allowed to address you in any oth–"

Quickly, he flipped them over and pushed her into the mattress, towering above her as he lowered his face towards hers. Juuri gulped at his proximity, flustered beyond belief by his odd behavior.

"Haven't you realized already? You are more than just a concubine to me," Haruka whispered, his eyes smoldering. Raising his hand, he caressed her soft lips with his thumb. "I want you to be mine. Mind, soul and body. I won't treat you as some servant, nor do I expect you to please me even when you detest me. I want to seduce your mind and grasp your heart along the way. I want you to love me… not as the king, but as a man."

He closed the distance between them and kissed her. His lips were soft and tentative, testing out her limits. Against her better judgment, after remaining frozen for a few seconds, Juuri responded to his kiss, her hands coming around his neck and filtering through his soft hair.

The kiss was far too short for her liking. The king withdrew and gazed at her with outmost affection. Seeing him up close, Juuri had to admit to herself that the rumors were true; the king was the most beautiful man in the kingdom, surely. It was almost surreal – and to a certain degree – daunting to be so close to someone so beautiful.

"The face you make after a simple kiss, Juuri…" Haruka whispered, stroking her red cheek. "It really makes it hard for me to resist you."

Fumbling for words, she stuttered. "T-then don't. I mean… you are the king after all, what I have is yours to take. If you want me, just say it and I'll give myself to you, your highness."

"Ah, there it is," disappointment shone in his eyes as he lay down next to her. To her horror, she immediately missed his warmth.

"You still recite your script. Your highness this, your highness that. Haven't you realized already that I can see through it all? It's not in your nature to be this submissive and willing. The scholars ruined your character by forcing you into this role."

He turned on his side and eyed her. "Until you reveal your true self to me – the wild and stubborn woman who owns my heart – I won't do anything to you. Until you can give me all of you – and not just your words and your body – but your heart and your soul – I will keep my hands to myself."

Stunned, she gaped at him. He couldn't be serious, could he? Ever since she was a young girl, she'd been trained to do this; serve the king and please him. Let him use her body for his pleasure; entice him and make him weak with desire.

That's what they told her to do. That's what they'd said she would amount to.

Concubine. Lover of the king, serving him whenever he called.

For years she'd fought the system; yelled at her teachers and cried in her sleep, but in the end she'd given up. The punishments were harsh, and eventually she relinquished all control. She learned to talk the talk and do what was required of her; her voice became quiet and her form submissive.

It was better this way; keeping quiet and dulling her flame. It was the only way to survive.

But there he was – the king – the man she was supposed to serve and give herself to – telling her that he wanted her to just be herself. To give up pretenses of submission; to speak freely with him and, most importantly, give him her heart.

To… love him. As a man.

Juuri couldn't wrap her mind around it.

"Stubborn girl," Haruka whispered affectionately, flicking her nose as he smiled. "Come here."

Whether it was her fatigue driving her, or an actual need to be close to him again, Juuri couldn't say. Despite her confliction, she obeyed and scooted closer, freezing momentarily as he wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head under his chin. In the lingering silence she listened to his steady breathing and the lull of his heartbeat, feeling her own synch up to his. As she snuggled into his chest, Juuri couldn't help but think that if heaven existed, it had to be in his arms.

The two drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Months passed.

Every night, she slept peacefully in his arms into the early hours of morning. True to his word, the king hadn't done anything to her; he hadn't touched her nor had he even kissed her. He'd kept his hands to himself, as promised, resorting to only sleeping with her at night.

Still suspicious of him, she'd asked around the court to hear if the king had taken in another concubine. Surely he had to have someone else since he wasn't touching her?

But no, whenever she asked, wherever she looked, she was always met with the same answers; the king had not yet taken in another concubine, and for the time being, she was considered the only one. The other girls had been dismissed months ago.

It vexed her, to say the least. Every day she'd watch him address the court and the people; she'd listen to his steady and calm voice; watch as he towered above everyone with utmost grace and dignity. He reminded her of a lion; proud, wild and powerful. Maybe even deadly. To think that someone as himself proclaimed to love her; to want her as more than just a servant, but as his lover in every sense of the word, puzzled her and occupied her thoughts constantly.

The man had everything; the kingdom, the love of his people, wealth…

And the Queen.

"I see my husband has chosen you as royal concubine." Her voice, so silky and soft, was as cool as the silver of her eyes.

Juuri bowed in respect, secretly frightened by the Queen's grace and ethereal beauty. She felt herself shrink in the scrutinizing glare of the ice queen.

"Y-yes, Jouusama."

"Is…" The queen faltered, clearing her throat. "Is he happy?"

"With you, Juuri, I am always happy. Knowing that you'll wait for me at night, and that I get to have you in my arms, fills me with endless joy."

"Uhm…" Juuri trailed off, keeping her eyes on the ground as she fumbled for words. "I… imagine he is, your highness."

"Has… has he touched you?" The queen paused, releasing a shaky breath. "Has he… laid claim on your body?"

The nervousness in her voice; her tense shoulders and her flickering eyes…

The broken quivers of a woman whose heart is breaking in her chest…

Juuri swallowed heavily. "No, your highness. He refuses."

The Queen grew quiet; her pale pink lips sealing together in pensiveness. The silence stretched on for minutes; wearily, Juuri felt her knees ache with impatience. Still, she remained rooted in place, showing her respect for the queen.

"I see," was all she replied, turning on her heel and walking softly away. Milky white hair trailed after her delicately, reaching the floor like silver silk.

You, who are so kind and warm… Why do you hurt her so much?

Her frustrated cry was yet again answered with silence.

Tired feet trekked on the hardwood floors, repeating their path from seconds before. One, two, three four – turn – five, six, seven, eight…

"Argh! Why!?"

Silence answered her again.

"I told you it was dangerous! I told you that it wasn't safe! You stupid, moronic, troublesome and stubborn king! ARGH!"

She ran a hand through her hair, tugging at her curls impatiently. She turned and stalked towards the window, glancing outside, foolishly hoping to catch a glimpse of him. The view of the red sunset greeted her; the sky bled vermillion red on the horizon, painting the scenery with shades of crimson and burnt orange.

"I WARNED YOU, DIDN'T I!? SO WHY DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME!? IDIOT!" Juuri screamed at the top of her lungs, her cry disturbing the peace and serenity of the royal gardens. In the distance, she spotted birds fluttering from the trees, alarmed by her scream.

"You were right, stubborn woman. I should have listened to you."

Juuri spun around quickly, her heart hammering in her chest when she recognized the voice she'd longed for. Her body froze at the sight of dirt and blood on his cheeks; instantly she was overwhelmed with both fear and relief.

"Haruka!" She cried, running into his open arms. Her impact sent him stumbling backwards towards the closed door; surprised, he blinked as she quivered in his arms, clenching his shirt.

"How dare you… how dare you make me worry so much!? Do you have any idea of what it felt like waiting for you these days?"

A warm and wet sensation manifested on his chest; amazed, he watched as her tears dripped onto his shirt while she wept.

Haruka smiled softly, patting her back. "I apologize, Juuri. I didn't mean to make you worry."

"Harukaaa," she sobbed into his chest, "when they said there was an attack and that you'd been injured, I… I didn't know what to do with myself. I… I got so angry! I told you, damnit, I told you it was dangerous!" Angrily, she pounded her fists on his chest, grimacing through her tears.

"Ne, Juuri, it seems like you know my name after all," Haruka chuckled gently, arresting her arms mid-air. "Does this mean that you have accepted me?"

"Baka!" She yelled in his face, crying still. "How can you talk about that in this situation!?"

"Because seeing your face like this; baptized in tears you shed believing I was injured – makes me feel happy," he whispered, brushing away her tears.

Juuri sniffled, entranced by his amorous gaze. Her heart wouldn't calm down, even when she knew he was safe and he was right in front of her.

"You're an idiot," she whispered, "and you're stubborn and ridiculously patient. When I yell at you, you only smile and tell me I look pretty. When I try to tell you that I can't accept you, you only shrug your shoulders and tell me you'll wait forever if you have to. When it rains, you cover me with your umbrella, even when I tell you its unfit for a king to get drenched in the rain. You…"

"Juuri…" Haruka whispered tenderly.

"You…" She trembled, blinking through her tears. "You are a moron and an imbecile and an idiot and… you've won me over."

His eyes widened.

She raised herself on her tip toes and kissed him fiercely, filtering her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. His arms came around her immediately, holding her tightly as he kissed her back with all his might. He tasted of cinnamon and mint; of afternoons spent in front of the fireplace; of comfort and warmth – like home.

Unwillingly, they parted for air, panting as they gazed into each other's eyes.

"I surrender, Haruka," Juuri whispered, her eyes warm and soft.

"Say it," he begged against her lips as he guided her around the room. "Say the words I've longed to hear for so long."

Her back landed on the mattress. She pulled him close as he nestled between her legs, needing to feel him.

"I love you."

A shaky breath escaped his lips; in awe, he stared at her if she'd just spilled the secrets of the universe to him. His eyes shimmered with joy as he gave in to his joy and grinned at her, nuzzling her affectionately. "Say it again, Juuri."

"I love you."

"Again," he commanded, earning a giggle from her.

"I love y–"

He kissed her hungrily, capturing her lips with his. At his mercy, she kissed him back, smiling into the kiss as the relief of finally figuring out her wavering heart washed over her. The king – the ruler of their kingdom, the man she viewed as a dangerous lion – she loved him. She loved the man that hid behind his stoic demeanor and calculated words; the man that worshipped her and teased her, who waited, waited, and waited until she was ready.

That night, he made love to her and changed her life forever.

She surrendered completely, crying out his name as her world shattered while in his arms.

Giving her heart to him would be fatal, but she would take the risk anyways.

After all…

"Juuri…"

The way he said her name made her feel invincible.

"Why don't you love me?"

A streak of crimson sprayed on the mirror.

"Why is it her – and not me? What does she have that I don't?"

Rain dripped outside her windows, sad and lonely as the air thickened with moisture. It reflected her blackened heart, which grew duller and duller by the minute; the walls of her suite closed in on her; faces of people in the paintings surrounding her twisted with mirth as they laughed at her.

"Look what you've done. Look. You've killed me. You've killed me and left me for dead; vultures are circling my body yet you offer no words of sympathy. You've killed me, you've killed me…"

The mirror shattered into a thousand pieces as her fist connected with the shiny surface; she screamed in agony, not from the pain that manifested in her wound, but the pain that blossomed in her heart and tore her apart from inside. Labored breaths fogged up the remaining pieces of the mirror; she viewed herself pensively, watching how the broken mirror twisted her features.

"Am I not beautiful enough? Does my face disgust you?"

Her claws angrily tugged at her silver hair, feeling the struggle of her roots being pulled from her scalp as she screamed.

"Why can't you see me? Why can't you see me?" She chanted, lost in her heartbreak.

"Mother…"

Her son's hesitant whisper was lost on her. Instead, she wept hopelessly in front of the mirror, sinking onto the floor like a broken anchor making its way to the bottom of the ocean.

She wanted to stay here on the cold tiles forever. Down here, no one could hurt her.

"Mother!" Rido gasped, rushing over and cradling her body.

His mother cried into his chest, gazing up at him, her face drenched in bitter tears.

"I gave him everything I had. I did all I could do. I even gave him such a beautiful son, yet… he can't see me. I'm… nothing to him."

"Mother, please," Rido cried, hugging her. "Don't say that. Please."

"You have your father's deceitful eyes, you know that?" She whispered harshly. "I can see it in you. In your blood lies the lies of your father to me. There are secrets you carry that are far too great for this world. I should hate you for wearing his face and speaking with his voice. I should hate you for being half me and half him, a false proof of the love that never existed between him and I… but I can't," she whispered, kissing his cheek. "My beautiful son…"

"Mother," the young boy quivered, feeling the unease crawl up his spine as she continued to kiss his face. "You've lost your mind. Don't let him control you anymore. Free your heart, please…"

"One day, Rido," Shizuka whispered, silver tears running down her cheeks, "you'll understand the pain behind a love that can't be requited. Only then will you know the extent of true heartbreak."

"He's beautiful," she gushed as the child suckled on her breast, his eyes closed in concentration.

"Would you have expected anything less of us?" Her lover whispered, tenderly stroking the soft curls adorning their son's head.

She snorted. "Tch, I guess I'll have to add "painfully arrogant" to my list of your awful attributes."

"You love all of them," he reminded gently, kissing her forehead.

"I do," she agreed, watching as he got up from bed. Dressed in slacks and a black shirt, Haruka did not resemble the man who wore the crown. Instead, he looked like a normal man with normal worries and struggles; no kingdom resting on his shoulders.

Her son released her breast, finished with his feeding. She gathered him in her arms and walked over to his crib, gently lowering him down and covering him up with blankets. In silence she watched him wave his limbs around before finally settling into sleep.

His arms wrapped around her from behind; she relaxed into his embrace, the strength of his arms and his calming scent enveloping her. Soft kisses trailed up her neck; she smiled despite herself, feeling warmth spread all over her body.

Being the man that he was, after discovering her pregnancy, he'd secured a small estate not too far from the palace for her. Trees surrounded the serene area; outside was a small lake, and the scent of flowers and wildlife wafted constantly in the air. It was everything she'd ever wanted; Juuri had never told him specifically about her dreams of a quiet life faraway in nature, but she'd alluded to it more than enough during intimate hours spent with their limbs tangled together in bed.

Somehow, he'd seen her dreams and made them come true.

While she was pregnant, he made sure maids and nurses were present to tend to her needs; and whenever he was free, he'd spend days and nights in her sheets, whispering to her growing belly and massaging her swollen feet. Together they'd dream about the future, ignoring their untraditional circumstances.

"Must you go?"

To think that a year ago she'd refused him entrance to her heart was absurd. To think there was a time she didn't trust him; where she thought the only way she could please him was by offering her body, and not her heart, seemed so unnatural. Due to his everlasting patience and kindness, she'd fallen for the king head first; landing in his arms that held her so gracefully.

Watching him leave was the hardest thing.

He sighed sadly, nuzzling her neck and inhaling her delicious scent. "Unfortunately, duty calls. There is a certain kingdom that needs my attention, though you know I'd rather devote my time and undivided attention to you and our son."

"I become greedier and greedier between your visits," she whispered as she turned in his arms, grasping his shirt. "There must be something wrong with me."

"I accept your greed," Haruka replied tenderly. "In that aspect, we are alike. I want you all the time, every day, every night, every hour… if not only just to hear your voice, but to touch you and hold you close… My hunger for you is never ending."

Juuri bit her lower lip. "Despite our circumstances, we are the lucky ones in this tragedy. You are allowed to love me in secret as I am allowed to cherish you in secret; together we've created a beautiful child that continues to bless us every day. On the other hand..."

His face hardened. "Do not speak of her," he ordered tersely, turning from her embrace.

"As a woman, I can't ignore the heartache in her eyes whenever she gazes at me," Juuri whispered. "As someone who looks up to her, I cannot forget that I am the one who has caused her so much pain..."

"My marriage is strictly political," Haruka spoke with his back turned towards her. "Her affection for me is displaced; her hunger is for my power and title, not my heart."

"You know that isn't true," Juuri said, frustration coloring her voice, "she is madly in love with you, and has been for the longest of time. Why do you deny the truth in front of you? You, who are so kind and warm towards me, who shelters me and protects me... How can you treat her the way you've been treating her? Why do you hate her so much?"

Stormy eyes flickered towards her as he spun on his heels, his royal capes swirling around him. "Because she represents everything I despise!"

Alarmed, she took a step backwards, not used to her amicable lover raising her voice.

"Because our engagement was decided before I was even born; because all my life I've been chained to this decree of ruling the kingdom without any choice in the matter; because her eyes remind me of duty and obligation; of a kingdom I do not want nor do I need, but must protect because I've inherited it. This..." He breathed, gesturing to his handcrafted robes and expensive rubies, "is not the life I wanted for myself. This is not who I wanted to be."

"Haruka..."

"That's why I fell madly in love with you, Juuri," his eyes glistened with emotion. "In you I found a kindred spirit; someone who was forced into a role they never wanted. Someone who was stripped of their choices and fought against it with all their might. Your flame ignited something in me that I'd lost; passion and excitement - a will to take control of my life and pursue my heart's desires. Only with you, do I feel this way..." Calmly he approached her.

"With you, I am free," he whispered, cradling her face gently in his hands as he stared into her eyes. "With her, I am enslaved to the crown. Her love for me is distorted, and I can never return it. Because you captured my heart and soul from the moment I first laid eyes on you."

Tears welling in her eyes, Juuri decided that there were no words fitting to his confession. Instead, she responded by reaching up and closing the distance between them, kissing him while filtering her fingers through his hair.

She could feel him relaxing into the kiss, letting go of his demons and his struggles. As their lips parted, she hugged him tightly in her embrace.

"Juuri, my love, my life…" He whispered against her hair. "In the midst of all tragedy and chaos, you are the only light I hold onto. You give my dull life color and meaning. I love you and our son unconditionally, and I swear to you that I will protect you both with my life. Come what may."

Juuri nodded, inhaling his scent.

"Come what may," she repeated, hugging him tight.

This time, it wasn't just the nightmares that woke him up.

Heart beating in his chest, Rido sat up from his bed sharply; heterochromatic eyes eyed his darkened room in suspicion.

When he found no one in his room, his hand found its way to his chest, resting above his beating heart. He had a bad feeling emanating from his stomach; it grew heavier the longer he pondered upon it, feeling his heart accelerate as sheer panic and a need to see his mother manifested.

In a rush, he was out of bed in no time, evading the guards outside his chambers. He ran into the royal gardens and stared ahead, unsure of what had called him.

"Rido... Be a good boy and obey..."

He shook his head fiercely, ridding himself of the voice in his head that constantly haunted him. It was not the voice of his nightmare that had drawn him out here, but...

He put his hand on his chest and closed his eyes, reconnecting with the feeling in his chest. In a daze, and without a conscious thought, he stepped through the lush gardens as if he was sleep walking. Although it was dark outside, he could still sense the sun rising on the horizon not too far away; dawn was approaching quickly, and with it his trepidation rose.

Something is wrong...

As the feeling intensified, he bursted into a sprint, running through the gardens until he reached an all too familiar spot.

The cherry blossom trees were withering all throughout spring - it was uncommon and unheard of, and the royal gardeners had deemed it a bad omen. Grey and brown blossoms covered the grounds and sullied them, like a graveyard for withering flowers.

But the thing that unsettled him the most was not the sight of the withering flowers, but the creature that laid in the midst of them all.

Silver glittered in the fading moonlight; the crimson hue of blood stained the grass and turned it black like the night.

He fell onto his knees in grief.

"Mother?"

There was no sound or movement; his mother's sleeping face was still as a statue; pale as a ghost and serene like the calmest ocean. Her small smile spoke of peace and nirvana; of enlightenment and fulfilment.

"Mother?" He croaked. Flashes of his childhood filtered through his mind; her smiling face as she played with him when he was a child; her bell-like laughter whenever they strolled through the royal gardens; her serene expression whenever spring came around and the cherry blossoms bloomed...

He touched her cheek and withdrew immediately; her ice cold flesh confirmed his worst nightmare of them all.

His tears bled into her crimson-stained lavender kimono as he wept over her dead body, crying out into the approaching dawn.

When the royal guards heard his cry and found him, they were unable to remove him from her. He cried and held onto her frozen body, begging her not to go.

"I need you, I need you..." He wept, hot tears blurring his vision as they dragged him away from her corpse. "You are the only one who understands me... Oh mother, why?"

At her funeral, as they burned her body to ashes and watched her disappear into nothing, he knew why.

As he gazed into the cold eyes of the man he called his father, a dark rage began to fester inside of his heart, like a burning wick.

Night after night he lost himself inside a new lover; basked in their cries and laughed when they hurt; until he was satisfied, he would continue to nurture his rage until his heart was completely burned to a crisp.

And then he would get his revenge.