Toshinori wasn't sure how he was to tell Inko about how he felt. She had to think that he was only trying to play with her emotions. Really, that was the furthest thing from his mind. The only thing he wanted to do, was to tell her how he felt. It seemed that she wouldn't listen to King Toshinori, so would he have to go as Captain All Might? Would that even be the right thing to do?
It just felt like there was always something in the way. There was something wrong, and he knew that he had to do something to show Inko that he did love her. Even though he had yet to confess it but, he felt that just telling her wouldn't be enough.
Sighing softly, the young man ran a hand through his hair as he wandered around the halls. He was just making his rounds to make sure that everyone was doing their jobs. Really, he'll be happy once he can pass that bill where all slavery was to be outlawed. It was one thing to hire someone, to pay them so to speak in some way such as in his case he would give them shelter, food among other things they would need. But to abuse slaves just because they dared to take one step out of line? That was too far for his liking.
Looking out one of the many windows, Toshinori couldn't help but have a faint smile at the sight. It was starting to snow, and of course the winter ball was to come around soon. He knew that it was proper for him to bring a princess with him but there would be a few problems with that.
One, even if he did have a princess nearby, he wouldn't want to be with them.
Two, he would only want to go with one special woman, whom held his heart in her hands and that was Inko.
Three, well, he didn't want to show the other kings that he still abide by the rules anymore. He didn't care, the only thing he cared about now, wasn't just the happiness of others but his own. Inko, was the one thing that made him feel happy and whole again. It was a feeling that he never knew that he could feel again. It just seemed, well, almost like a dream come true really.
Maybe he should ask Inko to go for a walk with him. Not as his slave of course, he would never force her to do something like that.
Frowning a little, Toshinori reached up and grasped at his heart. It thudded painfully in his chest, a feeling that he never wanted to feel in his life. But knew, that this was to happen when you found love. There was always a chance at the person you loved rejecting you.
Letting out a soft sigh, he tightened his grip over his chest once again before allowing his hand to drop at his side, hidden by the silk of his cape. Maybe he could use this time to check up on Tenko, the poor boy was so scared to be anywhere other than near Inko or himself. Why though, he wasn't really sure though he had a theory on why that was.
It was because both of them had saved the boy. Had risked their lives to protect this boy and in a way, Tenko had imprinted on the two of them. Making it easier for him to feel safe and secure. Any child would want to have such a feeling as that, and it made Toshinori happy but at the same time he feared it. Closing his eyes, the young man tried to calm his nerves down. What could he do? He knew that he shouldn't strengthen the bond but it was against his nature not to help someone. He had too, it was something that was engraved into him for as long as he could remember.
"King Toshinori?" came Zuko's voice, causing the blonde to turn away from the window and have his full attention on the young man before him.
"Yes Zuko?" asked Toshinori.
"It would appear that you have a guest. Said that she came from a far off kingdom and that… you know her?" Zuko said, though he shifted from side to side, being a little nervous.
"What is her name?" asked Toshinori.
"That's the thing sir, she wouldn't tell me. She just kept saying that she wanted to see you and no one else. Um… may I speak without the risk of being punished?"
"You know I won't punish you Zuko."
"Just… humor me please sire."
"Alright, what is it?"
"I don't trust her. You shouldn't either sire, she is nothing but pure darkness and I don't think you should be around her too much. I feel as if she would do whatever it is that she wants should she not get what she wants." Zuko said with a frown on his face. Or, at least his lips had turned downward into a frown.
Toshinori couldn't help but frown at the young man. This boy truly thought such a thing about someone? But how could that be? Why would he be saying such things about a woman in the first place? It just didn't add up, though Toshinori knew that Zuko had never lead him astray since he had been here. But, even then would his trust be tested in this moment. He couldn't really be sure, though he knew that he had to be careful if that was the case.
"Please King Toshinori, do not be left alone with her. At least have me with you, I can't protect you from her should the need arise."
Toshinori couldn't help but frown at the boy for a moment. He was really concerned about him, but the king knew that he couldn't just blame anyone that was within the castle walls. There was a reason for the protection that the castle had and it was to keep threats out thanks to all of the guards that have been posted. But, he could at the very least humor Zuko.
Nodding his head, Toshinori calmly said "Alright, you may come with me. But I am sure that she isn't going to try anything against me. You may be acting rather silly." Toshinori walked with Zuko toward the royal throne room.
Yet, the moment he opened the door, he couldn't help but as himself this. 'Is it too late to turn back?'
Standing in the room, was a beautiful woman no doubt. She had long raven locks that was pulled back in a bun that had threads of silk and flowers weaved through her locks that had been braided at the sides of her head. She had beautiful crystal blue eyes much like his own though far lighter than his.
She wore a long sleeved blue silk dress, and Toshinori could make out the beaded earrings that she had decided to wear for today, along with a sapphire necklace with a gold chain. Blush on her cheeks and of course blue eyeshadow. Yes, she was a beautiful woman, any man would be lucky enough to have her but when Toshinori looks into her eyes. Eyes that were easily the gateways into her very soul and it made him see the king of person she really was.
An ugly person.
"Oh Toshinori!" shouted the woman as she all but threw herself at him. Though he just sidestepped to get out of her reach before he looked down at the woman as she pouted at him. "Why did you do that Toshinori?" She said with a sniffle, trying to play the guilt card it seemed. "That hurt." She said with another sniffle, a fake tear rolling down her cheek.
"What do you want Kira?" Toshinori rolled his eyes at her. Of all the people who had to come and visit him it had to be her? Seriously?
"I just thought I'd come by early for the winter ball! Plus, I was hoping that I could be your date to the dance since you never seem to have anyone to go with but those guards with you."
"My guards? Yes, they are my right and left hand men whom I would trust my very life with." Toshinori calmly said before shaking his head at the woman before him. God, she was annoying. Every time he saw her, or more like she came to see him and she would try to worm her way into his home, under his skin hoping to build a nest there so to speak.
He would always have her removed of course.
"So, will you go with me?" Kira said with a hopeful smile on her face. A smile, that was entirely fake. Toshinori narrowed his eyes as he quickly turned away from the woman and went to take his leave. "Wait! Toshinori you didn't answer me!"
"That is King Toshinori to you Kira. So long as you are in my kingdom you will address me as such. You are a princess, act like one."
"Answer me!"
"I do not wish to go with you now or ever for that matter. I have told you many times in the past since we first met that I do not harbor any feelings for you and it'll come to pass. Leave me be, and let me continue with my life." Toshinori all but snarled at the woman while maintaining his emotionless mask.
"But why? Why won't you go with me? Am I not beautiful enough?" asked Kira with a frown on her face.
Turning to give her the coldest stare that he could muster, Toshinori gave her an answer. "You are beautiful yes on the outside. But I would want my bride to have a beautiful soul to match. Your soul, is nothing but darkness and one that makes me sick to my stomach. You do not care about others, only yourself and what you want. That is something that I shall never partake in now, leave me."
Toshinori went to make his way to the door until her voice stopped him. "Sorry King Toshinori, but I am here until the winter ball. By then, you will be in love with me." Kira said with a smile on her face.
"Hate to disappoint but you'll never have my love." Toshinori answered with a snarl in his words, hoping that it would scare the raven haired woman away from him. Though it seemed that it only made her smile all the more. A smile that any other man would find rather beautiful but really, it was vile and made Toshinori want to throw up his breakfast.
"King Toshinori, we should go. You have meetings to go to." Zuko suddenly said, causing the blonde to look over at the masked guard and blinked at him a moment. He had no meetings, wait. Zuko was trying to help him, trying to give him a reason to leave. Oh thank the gods for that, he would have to find a way to thank Zuko later on but for now he would settle with getting the hell out of here. Being around this woman made him ill for some reason or another.
Toshinori nodded his head to the masked guard before turning his attention to the woman before him. "You may stay, but you are not to order my slaves." God he hated that word more than anything but he knew that it had to be said. The other royals didn't know of what he was planning and he wasn't going to tell them yet. Turning to Zuko, he calmly said "Zuko, make sure you send someone to escort Princess Kira to her room." Leaning closer, he added in a whisper "And keep her away from Inko. There is no way I'll have her around Inko."
"Do not worry my king. I'll make sure she gets a nice room at that." Zuko said as he turned to the woman. For a moment, Toshinori thought that Zuko was glaring at her, he must really hate her for some reason.
"I want a room next to you King Toshinori." Kira said with a smile.
"Sorry but that room is already taken. You'll have to be on the other side of the castle." Zuko said before walking out of the room with Toshinori.
"Sir, who is that woman?" asked Zuko with a frown on his face.
"That is Princess Kira. My parents tried to set me up with her to be my bride but I refused." Toshinori clenched his hands into tight fists as he took a deep breath trying to calm himself. "Since that first meeting, she has tried to get me to marry her so she can be my queen. But I refused her many times in the past. I don't love her, nor will I ever."
"Because you love Inko right?"
"How did you-?"
"It's obvious, plus I have my sources." Zuko said with a chuckle before looking on ahead. Toshinori frowned a little at that. No one should know about his love for Inko. Before, Zuko only knew that Toshinori had 'feelings' for Inko, not love. The only people that should know that would be Hizashi and Shouta. No one else, so how could he know anything like that in the first place? It just didn't make sense to him.
"Who told you?" asked Toshinori with a frown.
"Sorry, I can't tell you that sire. That is my little secret, I may tell you someday but for now that is something I need to keep to myself." Zuko said with a chuckle before folding his hands behind his back. Toshinori wondered if he was in deep thought. "Though, I can promise that no matter what I'll do whatever I can to keep her safe for you my king." Zuko said with a smile on his face.
"Thank you." Toshinori calmly said before he looked down the hall once again. He could hear the sound of children laughing though, it still had him worried about everyone while Princess Kira was within the walls. Last time she was here, she had annoyed everyone to the point that they were ready to poison her but Toshinori had to tell them many, many times that they couldn't do that even though he wanted them to get rid of her somehow.
His heart wouldn't allow them to kill her.
Sighing softly, the young man looked over at Zuko as he said "So, what made you hate her? I just hated her because of her eyes showing me her soul."
"Let's just say, I have a really bad history with that woman." Zuko said with a growl.
"She didn't act like she knew you."
"I'm hiding my face for a reason sire."
Oh, so were they a thing or something? Or was there something more than that? Ugh, this was going to drive him nuts. At this rate, he was going to go mad just trying to think on what he could do.
Looking on ahead, he smiled a bit as he saw Inko walking with Tenko. The little boy holding her hand as they wandered around the halls. He couldn't help but smile gently at the sight, it made his heart soar at the sight of the sight. Inko would make a fantastic mother for sure, though he knew that he couldn't think that far ahead as of yet. Inko still wasn't his bride and he wasn't going to force it either.
"Inko." Toshinori called out, his mask back in place as he made his way over to her. The green haired woman blinked her eyes at him as she tilted her head at the king. "Lovely day isn't it?"
"Yes it is sire." Inko said with a frown on her face. Avoiding all eye contact with the king. It broke his heart seeing this, damn it all. He knew that he had to do something, he had to do this while he still had the nerve to even do this. Taking a deep breath, the young man looked down at Tenko and smiled at the little boy. It seemed that he had calmed down a bit, and for that he was thankful. Though, he wasn't sure if he was getting along with the other children yet as he wasn't around them much.
Having refused to leave Inko's side for the most part. When he wasn't around her, the boy was around the king but he was mostly with Inko.
"Hello my boy! How are you today?" asked Toshinori, giving the boy a small smile before reaching over and ruffled his hair. Tenko pouted at having his hair ruffled but he didn't refuse the action of affection. Which, of course made the blonde king smile at that. It made him happy to see that the boy was starting to enjoy some form of affection though that was most likely from the lack of affection from his parents. Parents that were most likely long gone now.
"Now, tell me this my boy. Do you like living in the castle?" asked Toshinori.
"Yeah, you and Inko are nice." Tenko said, shyly hiding behind Inko before looking up at Zuko. "As if Zuko, he tells me interesting stories about him and his older brother." Toshinori looked over at the masked man for a moment before looking back at Tenko and gave him one more smile before it faded as he looked up at Inko.
"Inko, I need to ask you something important."
"What is it?" asked Inko.
"Well, I was wondering if um… uh…" He was nervous but damn it all. Toshinori knew that he had to say something, had to get this off of his chest and then when the time was right confess his feelings for her at long last. To tell her that he did indeed love her more than anything in the world. Closing his eyes, the young man took a deep breath before opening them and looked at Inko. "Will you accompany me to the winter ball?"
Inko just stared with wide eyes. Her green orbs looked into blue ones as she tried to see any lie in his words. Yet, it seemed that she had seen no such thing as she gave him a small smile. "I will." She whispered softly, hearing those words though made Toshinori's heart beat in his chest so quickly that he feared it would escape him. He couldn't believe it, she said yes! Now all he had to do was think of a way to confess his love, and of course to tell her about him being All Might, the latter being harder than it should since they uh… had already kissed.
Why did life have to get so complicated while it got better?
