Chapter 6
Days later, he awakened to a healthy body and a warm female body snuggled closely and wrapped tightly in his arms. He lay there, in the hours before dawn, enjoying the feeling.
"I see you've found your happiness and your magic, Kuon." A male voice commented from the opposite corner of the room.
Kuon glanced in the direction of the familiar voice. "I-I'm sorry, Rick." He said in a small remorseful voice as his hands caressed the sleeping angel. "I didn't mean to."
Rick laughed. "No apologies needed. You've earned it. Mistress Tina had no right to do what she did to you. There was no way to prevent it."
"But you died because of me." He insisted quietly.
Rick shook his head. "No, had it not been you it would have been her. As you should remember, she was very close to where you had been. Had you not been there, it would have been her that I pushed." He explained.
"I never really thought of it that way. You honor me Rick. Is there anything that I have in my power to do for you?" Kuon quietly asked.
Rick shook his head and smiled. "You already have, Master Kuon." He told him with a wide smile and faded.
He glanced down at the female in his arms as she stirred. "Good morning." He smiled gently.
She reached up and caressed his face. "Are you feeling better?" She asked tenderly.
He nodded. "Better than I've felt in a long time."
She smiled softly, nodded and snuggled back into him. "Good, I'm glad Kuon."
"Thank you Dark One." He sighed out in contentment.
She shook her head. "Kyoko... Please call me Kyoko. I enjoy how it sounds on your lips." She blushed and buried her face into his nightshirt she had made him for the colder winter nights.
"Very well Kyoko. Thank you." He pulled her a little more closely and they both drifted back to sleep until the sun had fully risen and they could see it glisten off the snow through ice covered windows.
On one particularly clear day, still thick with snow, Chiori and Reino came for an impromptu visit. Kyoko hadn't received a message or expected anyone until Spring, so when she heard the knock on the door, she thought it had been one of her usual town females that had use of her services.
She opened the door in surprise. "Chiori? What brings you here on such a cold day?" She asked with a little worry. "Are you or Reino sick?"
Reino grinned a little in the background. "Something like that, but she won't take my word for it." He winked at Kuon.
Kyoko furrowed her brow and Kuon looked at him a little stunned and confused.
"I haven't been feeling well lately." Chiori commented as Reino took her coat and hung it on a hook next to the door.
"Lately? Shouldn't you tell her more like three weeks, My Love. You've been sick every morning for the past three weeks." He held of three fingers with a smirk on his lips and she groused. "and she's been cranky, tired and... and sore all over." He added.
Kyoko smirked at her. "I see... Three weeks, you say, Reino? And you wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that, now would you Reino?" She smirked mischievously and she watched the pair blush. She pulled Chiori to the table and pointed to the chair. "Sit..." She commanded as she pulled out some peppermint herbal tea and prepared it with the hot water that had been sitting in the hearth.
After it had steeped in the cup for a few moments and the smell of mint permeated the room, she slid the mug to Chiori. "Here, drink this. It should help with the nausea."
After Chiori had drank half of the tea and her stomach finally calmed, Kyoko knelt before her, taking her hands in hers, while Reino and Kuon casually carried on their own conversation. "Well Kyoko? What's wrong with me?"
Kyoko sighed and shook her head. "Chiori, when was the last time you had your monthly cycle?"
Chiori furrowed her brow. "I don't see what that has to do with... any... thing... CURSE! YOU HAVE TO BE PLAYING WITH ME!" She looked over at the two men that had been startled with her outburst. Reino just chuckled and Kuon looked at Kyoko in confusion.
"I am not playing with you, Sister." Kyoko told her as she began rummaging around for a piece of parchment. She tore off a little piece of the page and cast a spell on it. She pulled out a long, sharp straight-pin, heated it over the candle flame, let it cool, then pricked Chiori's finger, letting a couple of droplets of blood hit the page. As soon as it hit the page, the red liquid bloomed out and curled around, then turned a bright shade of pink. Kyoko pointed to the three curls and the partially formed fourth. "See... Almost four months. You will give birth in the Spring." Kyoko announced factually.
Reino laughed. "See? I told you My Love. Our daughter will be born in Spring."
Chiori groaned. "Yes, yes. I know you already told me. Try not to rub salt in the wound, Dearest."
"Now, no more traveling by horseback after today. Am I understood?" Kyoko scolded and gave Reino a chastising glare. "And you only have one more week of sickness. I will give you enough peppermint to get you through the nausea. Be sure to eat more meat and drink plenty of milk. You will need it." Kyoko told the pair and they nodded in unison. "Also, I will be by to check on you once a month to see how you're doing."
Chiori sighed. "That's completely unnecessary Kyoko. I don't need someone mothering me."
"That may be the case, but you are like a sister to me and a fellow tribe member. I would like to be there to make sure any new members arrive in safety and receive the proper markings."
"Of course. I apologize. I almost forgot about that." Chiori conceded. She turned to Reino. "So, shall we get back home? Mother is supposed to visit this evening and I suppose I need to let her know of the news."
He nodded and began preparing her things for the trip back.
"Oh, tell your mother I said hello." Kyoko told her as she packaged up the tea for her.
Chiori nodded. "By the way. Mother is very happy for you." She said quietly with a smirk as she gave a quick glance to Kuon. "She saw you in town the last week."
Kyoko blushed and nodded. "Tell her I said thank you." She whispered.
Kuon stood behind her as she closed the door. He wrapped her in his arms to warm her from the cold air. "Come. You're freezing." He told her as he gently rubbed her arms to warm her.
During a hard winter, the days are cold and the nights are even longer and colder. The warmth of another is appreciated and when it is from one that resides deeply in your heart, it's blissful. In the darkened stillness of the night, with only the glow of a flickering hearth, lips began to timidly taste, hands cautiously caressed and the pair was soon locked in a passionate embrace. Before they were aware, only the warmth of the furs covered their bare bodies and he was soon tasting of the sweet elixir that only she could provide.
He kissed her softly, exploring her sweet lips and mouth. Green eyes gazed lovingly into gold. "My Dearest sweet Kyoko... I bind my heart to yours. I vow to be yours for eternity."
Her eyes glistened with small tears of joy. She caressed his face gently. "And to you I bind my heart for eternity, my Love, my heart, my Kuon."
He smiled angelically and kissed her tenderly once again. Their union was sealed as they became one and the sounds of their passion echoed through their home.