Airi and Yoshi; Innocent

Airi's POV

It was a hot day in summer, as I raced through our large gardens carrying my child in my arms. My heart was racing, time was running out…soon the count would be done.

"Arta, quick" I whispered to my three year old son, "we'll hide here!" we ducked behind the bushes that were dotted with white flowers. I clung to my child, he was breathing heavily from the run.

"Mama!" he gasped, "mama…I hear them, they're getting closer!"

I clung to him, "Ssh, I know my dear…be quiet and maybe…maybe they won't find us!"

But soon as I said that, I heard footsteps circling us, I remained silent, holding Arata close to me. Just keep walking…don't see us! Don't see us.

Suddenly the footsteps stopped…we couldn't hear a thing; my heart was racing even faster.

"Mama…are they still there?" Arata whispered.

"I don't know my dear...stay quiet, I'll check" I replied, I crept to the left, all I could see was the long black shadow of our pursuers. However…it soon disappeared. .

Have they moved away? Is it all clear?

Suddenly a rustling came and hands appeared through the thick green leaves, Arata and I let out a scream, we had been found.

"Found you!" sang the deep male voice in the way had when we were children. He held our little one year old, Aya in his arms. She giggled and clapped her hands when she saw us.

My son and I laughed, Arata ran to his father as I took Aya in my arms. They clowned around in a way a father and son would. Yoshi lifted him into the air. Aya giggled on my lap as I bounced her there. It was a wonderful sight to see them play like that…my daughter had only recently found her feet and clumsily ran to her father and brother, who welcomed her lovingly.

"Okay now settle down before someone gets hurt!" I ordered getting up and walking to them.

The children groaned, wanting to continue their fun, luckily I had my husband to back me up. "Listen to your mother, come on…a picnic has been set up, let's eat."

The servants came and took the children to settle them by the wonderfully laid out picnic they had prepared.

It was me and Yoshi…he gazed at me for a long moment before offering me his hand which I gladly took.

"Will we ever tire of hide and seek?" he chuckled.

I laughed and melted into his side as we walked together…my best friend and soul mate…the most beautiful man I had ever known. I have to admit that often I feel sug, all the people that refused to befriend him or even look at him in the past due to his curse, they'll never truly know what they missed out on. I however…saw him for what he truly was, beautiful…it was easy really, his eyes were large clear windows to an extraordinary soul. I know that he still is haunted by his old face, I'm aware of the nightmares he has that it will return.

He once asked me "do you worry curse were to return?"

I didn't hesitate to answer "no". It wasn't the total truth…the only thing that worried me was what it would do to him emotionally. What if it drew him into a deep depression that I can't pull him out of and I lose my husband forever?

But no…if his former face were to again emerge I would still take pleasure in kissing every inch of that face because it is the face of the only man I have ever loved. I was proud to be his wife…not just because he was handsome, not because he was a prince…it was because he was a good and noble man. I love the way he holds me at night and looks into my eyes. I love how he makes me blush, how he makes me smile…how he makes me feel like a young teenage girl…I still have the biggest crush on my husband! I still am overcome with giddiness when he notices what I'm wearing and likes it. I still feel like swooning when he looks and smiles at me in a certain way.

As we walked in a comfortable silence I felt his lips touch my head, I blush and giggled. We had been married four years now and had two children with plans of having more…is it strange for me to still be so excited at being with him?

We sat down at the picnic, the servants lingered and I offered them to enjoy some of the food. Yoshi had been raised in a castle by a demon lord; he was used to having servants. I however was from a small village and the fact that they were willing to actually serve me.

I was showing the children how to make daisy chains and placed them around their heads. Yoshi and used to do this together, however as he got older it wasn't the most manly activity.

However, I was not as talented at this as he was and I could see he wanted to intervene. Eventually he gave in and began joining in.

It was adorable to watch him, I saw the little boy, concentrating so hard on making the perfect daisy chain. It made me smile.

When he was done he beamed at me and lovingly placed the flower crown on top of my head. "Princess Airi!" he declared. I giggled and kissed him tenderly.

"Prince Yoshi!" I shot back.

Simultaneously we called out "rulers of all poopy heads!" with pride and then fell back laughing. Our children were so confused; their parents were acting like children their age.

He was still that young boy to me…making daisy chains and playing hide and seek with me. He was still the only one who could find me. Out love…it was still so incredibly sweet and innocent.

Not intense, not turbulent or ferociously fervent. No…it was pure, tender, joyful and deep…it was an innocent love, so completely untarnished.

Yoshi's POV

Watching her frolic bare foot in the gardens with our children…the wind blowing in her hair…through the flowers and ribbons she wore in it. It was mesmerising…she was mesmerising. The way she looked over her shoulder and smiled at me playfully…checking to see that I was watching her.

Airi was still that humble village girl I fell for. I adored the way she would shy away from the servants and thank them for their kindness when they would treat her with respect.

My wife was an extraordinary woman…she was an incredibly beautiful girl who loved an ugly boy. She saw the beauty in everything and everyone…whether they old, fat or cruel… she could always see something lovely in them even if they didn't see it themselves.

She made me better, braver and stronger…she made me a man. I never would have thought that I would have a wife and children, they were my miracle. My wife loved me, really loved me almost as much as I loved her, why she chose me still eludes me, but she was mine and no one else's. Or rather I should say, she was ours…for she was belonged as much to her children as she did to me.

I was completely myself with Airi, she knew me better than anyone, better than I knew myself.

Now, in the past Airi had many suitors…amongst them were Lords and wealthy men. Many of them handsome and brave, yet she chose them. Airi had kissed one other man to my knowledge, that merchant boy who had the privilege to be her first kiss. I however had only ever had eyes for her…women had expressed interest in me when I was younger because of my status, but none of them compared to her.

I had never met anyone so genuine and kind. She was modest and true…she loved so truly and unconditionally.

Our love was still so innocent, nothing could tarnish it.

Next Morio and Mana