The water lapped around her body as she sunk deeper into the tub. The pains had subsided after a day with Kiku and fully in Japan, yet it still sent chills down her spin as it replayed in her head. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him again as the phantom pains ravaged her body. She had lost count of how many times he had woken her up as she screamed out. How many times he comforted her and wrapped his arms around her to get her to sleep once more.

She felt dwarfed in the large tub as she stared into the water, wondering what next would come for both of them. Yet her mind whirled on how Thales almost took her, that no matter what she did, if it wasn't for Kiku, he would've even beat her uncle to her own virginity. It scared her. More on the thought that it could happen again and that time, they would get what they wanted.

"Harper?" she heard Kiku call from the door.

"Hai?"

"You ok?"

"Hai, just thinking." she pulled her knees to her chest as she rested her chin upon them as she heard the door open.

She knew it was taking a lot from him not to run in embarrassment from her. Not because she was naked, but his decency towards women and the naked body. But feeling the warm water trickle down her back from his hand was soothing nonetheless. She hummed in appreciation as he continued, soothing her troubles away.

"Relaxed enough or more oils?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine now."

She heard him rustle things around as she leaned her head against the siding. His footsteps grew faint as he walked away from her, having the panic slowly rise in her once more.

"Kiku, wait?" she stammered out, "Don't leave me. Onegaishimasu."

She heard him pause as she held her hand outside the rim, waiting for him patiently. She didn't dare look up from the water as she knew her face was a mess of tears as her lip trembled. Before she knew it, she felt his fingertips grace her wrist as usual, the only added part was the movement behind her.

"Move yourself up a little."

"Kiku?" she was shocked he was getting in the tub with her.

"I have my shorts on, do not worry." he reassured her, "Just relax."

"But I don't want you-"

"I'm fine."

"Kiku."

"Harper."

That same tone from him, the don't worry tone. She felt his fingertips grace her shoulders as they moved gently along her skin in comfort. Everything he had ever done was by her own accord and ok. Each touch and caress, one he asked from her. Yet now, she craved more.

She gently moved back against his hands as they traced her shoulder blades, "More please. It feels good."

He obliged as his hands traced down her back along the water's edge. She wanted more of it as a warm chill ran through her.

"Are you ok?"

"Yea, just enjoying it."

She knew what it was doing to her, had the girls to help there as they spoke of their active sex lives. She just wondered if it was doing anything for him as she sat in the tub along with him. The water lightly sloshed around her as she felt him wrap his arms around her, just above her breast as he leaned his head against her shoulder.

"Kiku, what are you-"

"Trying to collect myself." he quickly spoke as he moved away from her, "I'm sorry Harper but I have to leave."

"No Kiku, wait!" she grabbed his wrist, now seeing him fully before her.

She somehow kept herself covered as they looked at one another, "I... I... I don't know what I'm thinking. I just... I want you near me. I don't want you to leave. I want you."

"You want me?"

It was then she realized she confessed more than she thought she would, yet she wasn't wrong in her head. All she could think of was someone ruining her and him never wanting her tainted body.

"Hai, I do."

The water moved around again as he settled himself in front of her this time. Her eyes met his as they tried to figure out if she was fully speaking the truth. As she looked at him, she wondered what it would be like pressed up against his chiseled body, feeling the heat of him as he slid against her skin. God the more she thought like that the hotter she felt herself become.

"You're blushing."

"It's hot in here."

"You're thinking."

"Can't help it."

She couldn't really. She wanted to splay her fingers over his bare chest as they moved to his back just to slide down-

"Do you really want this Harper?"

"Nani?"

"Do you want it?"

Did she? Before she could muster up words, she moved towards him, pressing her lips to his in a desperate kiss. Her fingers locked behind his neck as she leaned against him, his own hands sitting upon her hips as she kissed him. Her heart raced as her body grew hotter, slowly not becoming her own. It donned on her what she was doing. Moving away from him, she curled herself back into her ball, pouring out apologies of her actions.

Harper felt his hand cup her cheek, his thumb lightly smoothing over it as tears fell again, "Take that as a yes then. I'm just afraid to hurt you."

"You can't hurt me." she replied. "Others did that and yet I'm still here. And if you mean that, that's a different kind of pain that leads to more. Well, that what I heard the others say."

It wasn't a lie. Her uncle and Thales hurt her worse than anyone ever could have. They took innocence that most sadly gave away just to say they had it, yet she was glad they never made it that far. She wanted it with Kiku, never fantasized about it more until he came along.

"I just want one and I want that one to be you."

She heard him chuckle, "Want to know something? For years after Tomoe and Tokuko's deaths, I prayed that they would come back to me. So, I could love them once more. But they didn't, they just brought me somebody that I can't imagine my life with. Someone that has opened me up more than I ever have before. Someone that showed me that I loved the two of them, yet I love them even more."

Looking up she saw him smile at her as he grew closer to her, "Anata to isho ni itai desu. Anata wo aishite imasu."

Harper's heart nearly sang in glee as he spoke so diligently. She never heard him speak so freely of his heart, yet hearing that he wanted her and loved her was about the greatest thing she could've ever imagined.

She felt his lips meet hers again, the sweet taste of him again filled her as his free hand laid on her shoulder, rubbing circled upon the exposed flesh. Unwrapping her arms, she traced his figure before her, letting her fingers slide over his taut skin, feeling it shudder under her tips. Her back pressed onto the cool porcelain as he pushed her against it. She felt him become feverish, dominant almost as he pressed harder onto her, and she was welcoming him with open arms.

Leaving her swollen lips, she felt him travel along her jawline, leaving little pecks and nips along it as he tenderly made his way to her neck and shoulder. It was exciting to see him like this, yet she wondered where he learned all of this so far.

"Kiku." she breathed out. "Did you-"

She was cut off as his mouth attacked hers once more in a feverish kiss, "Thank Yao and Francis."

That made sense. Harper threw her head back as he kissed her neck again and his fingers traveled up her sides. She was lost in the world he was giving her. One so deep and passionate that she would never want to escape the security of it as his fingers danced around her breasts. She couldn't help the gasping moan that left her parted lips as he latched onto her neck, sucking and teasing the sensitive part as his fingers teased her buds.

Her own hands found themselves doing the very same thing, feeling his scars as they touched and learned his body. She heard a small moan emit from him as she dug her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer to her breasts as he began to nuzzle them. His tongue danced along the sensitive peak sending Harper on a whirlwind of pleasure. She wanted more. Needed more. Arching her back to him, she hoped he would give her more as she panted out.

He pulled away, leaving her desperate for his touch and heat, just to have it pressed against her in seconds, bare as she was. She felt the butterflies flutter in her stomach as the reality of their actions surfaced once more. She wanted it, yet was nervous of it.

"Harper?" she heard him say.

She hummed in reply as her mind was on a tug of war between pleasure and reality, "May I touch you."

He wasn't serious? "Isn't that what you have been doing?"

"Yes, but..." he paused as he looked down on her.

It came clear to her what he was asking, "Kiku, it's ok. I know it's you."

With that she felt his hand move from her breast down to her core, causing a shudder throughout her body. A small fear rose within her, yet she pushed it away as her own hands mimicked his, slowly trailing down his stomach. As his lithe fingers found her folds, her fingers gently wrapped around him. She was amazed of the feeling not only that he was giving her, but how he felt within her palm. The hardness and heat that was him was awing in itself, something she never imagined she would do as her hand moved along his shaft. She felt his forehead pressed to hers as his fingers sunk deeper into her as they scissored and rubbed her walls, pulling pants and moans from her, yet she was doing the same to him as he tried to hold it in. Bliss, that was the word she wanted to describe it, total bliss as her body was ready to play a symphony for him.

His lips crashed to hers, pulling a deep, passionate kiss from her as his fingers left her wanting core, pulling her hand off him and wrapping them around his neck. His hands lifted her knees as he placed them on his hips, the tip of him laying patiently at her entrance. She heard herself whimper out as the head of him slowly slipped in.

"It's ok Harper. I'll be quick." he panted in her ear, "It'll be over soon."

Giving a nod, he sheathed himself within her, pulling a pained gasp out of her. He muttered constant apologies as he peppered her face with kisses, she tried to not let it show that it hurt, she didn't want him worrying more than he needed too. As it slowly turned to discomfort, Harper moved her hips against his, causing him to throw his head back and let out a pleasurable gasp. After that, his hips began a gentle rhythm with her.

She couldn't believe she was there, being loved by Kiku, the man she dreamed and envisioned every day since those blossoms came to shore and now his for all eternity. Pleasure began to overtake her body as the water moved around the both of them.

"Lock your arms and legs around me Harper." he breathed out as his hands wrapped around her body.

Doing as told, she felt him lift her out of the water just to be moved and laid down upon the fluffy bath rug. In seconds, he was back within her, his rhythm a bit fast and deeper as his arms held her to him. It was perfection. His body fit hers in ways she never imagined. His chest pressed against her breasts as his hips rubbed against her own, her thighs felt his skin slide against her as his lips never left her own.

"Oh Kiku." she cried out as her body came alive.

Each stroke of him, each press and touch was setting a fire within her veins, a fire that she never wanted to be put out. Her hands traced down his back, feeling the muscle flex and stretch under the strain he placed it under as he had her. The power of him was maddening, and she wanted all of it.

"Don't hold back." she panted, "Please."

He looked down at her, trying to figure out if she meant what she said. Pulling him to her, she kissed him hard and deep, hoping to get him to do as she asked. Sure enough, he sped up, dove deeper, and hit harder as she found herself nearly screaming his name in ecstasy. She clung to his back, digging her nails into him as her own legs tightened against him, his own hold was of an iron trap, as if he was ready to see her escape him. Like it would ever happen.

She felt his mouth coast down her neck as his tongue dragged along the hollow, his hands found hers, entwining his fingers with hers, careful of the wounds upon them. Wave upon wave of warmth was swarming within her; her body was heightened, tingling with so much pleasure that she felt like she could burst as a strange hot pressure began to grow.

Each stroke he delivered made it hotter and tighter within her, her own conscious far from the world as she felt him stagger in pace and speed. The pressure was almost maddening as her breath quickened and body tingled with the sensation, just to have her world explode in an array of colors and feelings. Her core tightened around him as she lost her breath and the ability to think or remember her name. He gave three more thrust as his own hips stopped moving, feeling him twitch and pulse within her body as he panted against her neck.

Harper came back down from the amazing high, wondering if it was always like that in the world of making love as Kiku kissed her neck and then her lips.

"Watashi ga anata o kizutsuketara, sumimasen." he breathed out, holding himself above her.

"Īe. You didn't." she smiled up at him, pecking his lips once more, "Far from it actually."

She hissed in pain as he finished dressing her hands with the ointments and bandages. His fingers moved delicately over them, making sure no other damage was done after their love making.

"Sorry to have held them so tight. I didn't mean to do so."

"It's ok, I barely noticed them."

His fingers graced her wrist, the gentle calm that filled her was something she would always want from him and never tire from. She could've fallen asleep from his touch, along with the comfortable silk robe and the plush bed, she could sleep for days if possible.

A sudden weight came to Harper's middle, pulling her from her thoughts as her back laid against the back of the bed. Looking down, she saw Kiku holding onto her, his grip nearly tightening with every breath they took.

"Kiku, what's wrong?"

He shuddered against her as she heard him take a sharp breath. She knew that sound, that was tears falling and hurt rising. She tried to get him to look at her as she caressed his cheek and hair, but he stood firm on where he was.

"Kiku please, tell me-"

"I'm not the warrior you see."

"Nani?"

"I'm not the warrior the blossoms showed you or what Tomoe and Tokuko showed you. I'm far from those visions. Years ago I once was but it's not as it was then. I let you get taken." he poured out, "I didn't protect you like I promised you. I didn't keep you safe like I promise or get hurt. I failed you."

Harper was shocked by him, she had never witnessed him show any emotion like that as he clung to her. Why would he think so low of himself? Yet in the same breath, she knew she thought the same of herself as he saw the world out of her.

Combing her fingers through his hair, she spoke lightly to him, "You may not see the warrior, but I do. You may think you have failed me, yet you didn't. You came to my rescue as fast as you could and saved me from Genesis and that bastard. You not only made sure I was safe, but that he would never touch another. You didn't stop at anything to get me back. Not only did you do that, you pulled me from a hell I believed I would live in forever. That I would never love a man nor his touch. Yet here I am before you, not only your capital but your lover."

With a shaky sigh, she watched as he pulled himself away and looked at her, his eyes still unfocused and wet, "You still see me as I once was?"

"I will always see you as a warrior Kiku."

He smiled at her as he kissed her head, laying his own on her shoulder as she held him close, eyeing the little box beside the bed, "Not to get off topic but I saw that in here earlier and I'm a little curious over it."

"Oh, well" he said getting up and picking up the box, "All of the nations have rings from years past either belonging to rulers or past lovers and they have given them to their capitals as a way of marriage between them. I believe you saw the girls already, hai?"

"Hai, I have."

"Well." he paused, "If you weren't my capital, I was wondering if-"

Harper silenced him with a kiss, "Capital or not, I'd still marry you Kiku."

He smiled against her, giving another kiss as he slipped the ring upon her hand. She couldn't help but internally scream in delight as it was fully before her. Yes, little Harper was now a capital and a wife to the man she dreamed of, and nothing was more perfect than that.