CHAPTER 7

She heard the words he spoke, but they did not make sense.

"You say that you were foolish, perhaps it was an absurd decision to leave, but you would not have done it if not for my own madness. The fear that came over me when I found you'd gone was deserved. However, I will not accept that I should be made to continue to worry over the state of our relationship. You must answer. Takara," he placed a hand over both of hers, the other he brought to her cheek; with it he guided her head so that he could see the expression on her face. "You need only say 'Yes' or 'No'. I have told you what I hope for, will you accept me?"

It was impossible. Had he not been adamant that this could not happen? He was practically engaged to another! Everyone in the castle fully expected to soon hear news of a wedding to a woman of great stature.

To say 'yes' or 'no'. He truly was like his mother. She'd given the same instruction, though it had not been so difficult to answer the queen. Izana's request was another matter. It wasn't that Takara didn't know what she wanted to say, but it did not seem right.

But, that wasn't what he was asking. He wasn't wondering if she thought this the correct decision, he needed to know if she would accept him. There could only be one answer.

"Yes."

And with that whispered word tears fell afresh because in her heart of hearts she knew it couldn't work, but if he was willing despite all that would be against them then why should she lie?

She spent several minutes lost to weeping, it was both joyous and confused, as Izana held her. An arm around her back, a hand on her head, he allowed her to lean into his chest and ask all the garbled questions that spilled forth.

"Wha 'il p-p-pepl think?...chnged yur mind...don't know why I'm c-c-rying!"

"The staff will undoubtedly be all aflutter, the citizens had no idea of the rumors excepting that I may soon marry. I have my mother to thank for speaking sense through my stubborn blindness and you are crying because you are tired, ill, and overwhelmed. I wish you would stop."

Calm and cool as ever, but she loved him anyway. It was ridiculous and nonsensical and she couldn't make heads nor tails of the situation, but it appeared that she'd lately become engaged.

To a first prince.

Who was to be king.

The tears halted instantly as the gravity of the situation impressed itself upon her.

"I don't know anything about anything," she said quickly, pushing away from her fiance. That word held so much meaning. She wasn't preparing to marry a baker or a farmer, Izana was to be crowned ruler over Clarines and she had no idea what kind of regulations she would have to follow.

"You will learn," he assured as she pulled back. "You are neither stupid or silly, I would not have loved you if you were. The queen would not have given her blessing if she thought you incompetent."

Compliments aside Takara was still leery of the future that was rapidly approaching.

"I'm not sure I'll ever put faith in my own intelligence again," she admitted. "So, that isn't very reassuring."

"Nothing but time will persuade you. I remain convinced that your efforts will see you well prepared." Her eyes fluttered to a close as his voice dropped and he leaned closer. "Takara, the one whom I love, you must never run from me again." His lips ghosted over hers as he spoke. "If you leave I will find you, I will never stop looking for you." He pressed his mouth to hers. "I will always want you."

The confession bubbled to her lips and spilled out, "I love you."

Their foreheads rested against one another and he waited until she opened her eyes to answer in kind, "As I love you."

/~/

Her room had been changed and everything was a whirlwind. There was not a moment of peace to be had as she was outfitted with a new, appropriate wardrobe, and began lessons in everything related to decorum.

Instruction was led by the queen herself and she was no easy teacher. Mistakes were not overlooked and praise was never given until fully deserved. Haruto was not unkind, but she was direct in her delivery of criticism.

Takara spent all her days in intense study, largely sheltered from the pandemonium that swept through the castle. She did not bare witness to the muted hissy-fit thrown by Lord Haruka or the shock of those she'd once worked with. News of rumors was kept from her and she was not privy to the knowledge of the notice that was sent out among the employees, written by Izana himself, when their wild gossip hit new lows. Neither was she aware of the purging that came when a few were found to be incapable of keeping their idle thoughts to themselves.

He would tell her someday, he supposed, but not for a long while. It did no harm to ignore the words of rumormongers who were not worth their time, especially when she was up to her lovely eyes in instructional work.

Truly he was impressed with her forbearance and proud of all that she accomplished in the months leading up to his crowning. She underwent a transformation; ever the one he loved, yet even more so if that were possible. Takara was a wonder and he expected to marvel at her for the rest of their days.

She stood with himself and his family when he was presented to the people as king. They cheered, waved small replicas of the flag of Clarines, and were ecstatic to see that the one their ruler would wed was beautiful.

"She has a kind face."

"An extraordinary beauty to match with our king!"

"She must be wonderful, do you not think she looks as though she must?"

That wasn't to say that all had the same feelings, but that was inevitable. Whoever stood with him would have to face the disapproval of some.

Meanwhile the end of the engagement that never started was met with some hostility, though not by the one scorned. Haki had not loved the intended nor did she begrudge his happiness, it was her brother who took issue with Izana. However there was nothing to be done except sending a strongly worded letter; it was never actually sent to the addressed because the woman in question was able to intercept and burn it. Her brother remained unaware and she hoped to keep it that way. In any case she'd lately found herself entranced by the eyes of a certain researcher and was infinitely grateful that she'd not married the wrong man.

/~/

Nearly A Year Later

It was not often that he was able to carve out an afternoon to spend with Takara, but he'd planned long in advanced for this and he would be damned before he allowed anyone to intrude upon their hard won time alone. So, he'd set guards at all entrances to the garden, ordered that everyone keep far away, and threatened expulsion from the kingdom should they be disturbed for anything less than war or Zen's impending demise.

"Izana."

She was beautiful, he didn't believe he would ever tire of looking at her, and every moment he spent in her presence was cherished above all else.

"Izana."

Her irritation was plain and he couldn't help but recall that she'd been rather short with him as late. He'd wondered at her lack of patience just the day before after she stormed away from him, over something ridiculous, only to fall asleep early that night.

"Izana!"

"Yes, my love?"

The look on her face was far from amused, in fact he thought she might be debating leaving, but an arm about her waist kept her in place. He towed her from the stone path to stand beneath one of the flowering trees and her sigh of resignation was a sign of compliance. Truthfully he was a bit hurt by her annoyance, he could think of nothing he'd done to warrant her continued vexation.

"Takara." Her eye twitched, but she otherwise refrained from acknowledging that he'd spoken to her. Her idea of fair play, perhaps? "I am sorry, dearest," he put his hands to her face, made her look at him. "It's just that you are so stunningly lovely that I could hardly begin to–"

"Stop that," she swatted at him with a huff. "I've never desired false praise."

"My praise is never false, darling." His kiss was not rejected, neither was the second or third, but she pulled back when he attempted a fourth, opting instead to slide her arms around his middle and lean her head against his chest.

"Izana, I have something to tell you."

He stroked her hair; she'd had it trimmed earlier in the day. "Yes?"

"Shirayuki has confirmed it already, so she was the first to know, but she's not told a soul and I did wait a few weeks because I wanted to be very sure-" she was rambling and she realized it, but it was more difficult than she'd thought it would be to tell him of this newest development. She rubbed her face against the soft fabric of his white shirt in an attempt to pull herself together. It was better to say it simply. A deep breath and then, "I am with child."

The hand on her head froze as the world stopped turning and the universe exploded only to be rebuilt with a newer, brighter, brilliant sun at it's center.

/~/

She was woken at a most inconvenient hour in the worst pain she'd ever experienced. Izana was briefly both horrified and terrified, but the midwife was sent for and labor progressed quickly.

"My Lady, you need to keep pushing!"

A wild gasp, "What? Why? What!?"

"Takara, there is another–"

"WHAT?!" Surely that was said in jest and Shirayuki, who was called upon when another set of hands was required, needed a better set of jokes if this was what she thought of as funny because-

"-so you must push again. Once more! The head is already visible. One more strong push!"

Her resolve hardened and with a grip that left Izana cringing she inhaled deeply before pulling on all of her strength. There was another! One son crying and someone else, who was this other life? Later she would tell Izana that she'd been right, remind him of her complaints only weeks ago that the space inside her felt too full, as if more than one little occupant had taken up residence. He'd laughed.

Well, he wasn't laughing now and though she couldn't see his face, she'd closed her eyes as if that would make her stronger, she could feel that both his hands were holding hers. As he pressed a kiss to her clenched fist another cry sounded, just as strong as the first, and the attendant announced, "A girl!"

Takara fell back against the pillows, tears flowing freely as both infants were placed in her arms and Izana felt he'd never experienced a joy like this before.

/~/

Sleep did not exist and it never had.

/~/

The presentation of the kingdom's new little rulers came six months after their birth, once it had been established that slumber was indeed a function of all humans, and Hajime, along with his sister Fumiko, captured the love of their people instantly.

The tiny blonds grew rapidly, violet eyes ever curious and shining, regardless of the trouble they got up to.

Days were full to the brim with light and laughter, occasional tears and a tantrum or two, but the love of Izana and Takara never dimmed. They remained in a perpetual state of adoring affection to their very last days.

And they all lived happily ever after.

The End

A/N: I'm glad so many people enjoyed this story! I'm sorry this final chapter took such a long time to post, I had many things to be doing, but I plan to write more Akagami no Shirayukihime fics in the future (I 3 Izana too much to stay away) & I hope you'll read those when the time comes.

Thanks again for reading!