Whoa happy 10 everyone! I feel like I just started? Anyways. The reviews I've been reaping in have been so amazing. I read everyone of them. I thank you all so much. Hope you all have wonderful days

Anyways a bit more on the story. I did in fact research a lot about this era and I pay attention in global XD. I actually drafted this story in class one day and now its a real story with a plot. If this works out I might do another fanfic in a different era... hmmm tell me your thoughts!

Chapter 10: Sealed

Misaki walked into a small room that was brightly lit with candles. Her friends and nurse stood the door. Each one gave her a hug.

"You looked so beautiful today!" Sakura told Misaki.

Misaki smiled. "Did you enjoy the festivities?" she asked them.

Shizuko nodded. "We had a wonderful meal with the other ladies in waitings"

"The food here is simply divine!" Sakura announced. "...not that our food isn't" she amended quickly.

Misaki laughed. It was a shame she could not taste any of the food because it looked very well prepared.

Shizuko began unlacing Misaki's dress and helped Misaki step out of the heavy garment. Misaki sighed in relief as her corset fell to the floor along with her stiff petticoats.

Satsuki carefully undid Misaki's hair, taking extra care in returning the jewels to their proper cases. She then brushed Misaki's hair with long fluid strokes. Shizuko poured water from a pitcher into a bowl for Misaki to wash up. Misaki slowly washed her face and rinsed her mouth out. She was glad to be rid of the taste of wine.

Satsuki rubbed an ointment of Misaki's skin. Misaki stood in nothing but her chemise. Goosebumps raised on her arm from the night. Sakura and Shizuko simply held her hands as Satsuki began smoothing down her hair.

"Just relax" Satsuki soothed. "The Duke is a gentleman...he'll take care of you"

Misaki licked her lips and nodded. "How long does it take?" she asked.

Satsuki paused. "Your wedding night? It depends...sometimes it's fast and other times it could be all night"

"I hope it's over fast" Misaki said.

Satsuki shook her head. "Tis something you won't understand until later. Union is something cherished and pleasurable."

Misaki didn't quite understand but went with what Satsuki told her.

"You are ready" Satsuki said.

"Thank you" Misaki said trying to keep her voice steady. Shizuko and Sakura hugged Misaki.

"Goodbye" they said sadly.

"Misaki" Sakura cried, clinging onto her best friend. "I don't want to leave you"

Misaki smoothed Sakura's hair. "Shhh" she said. "This parting will not be forever" she promised.

Her nurse gave her a big hug also. "My lady will always be in my heart"

"I don't quite understand the marriage chambers" Sakura said after everyone composed themselves. "But the Duke seems to be a fine man." Sakura observed.

Misaki smiled at her friends. "I know..." she said hoping it was true. She kissed her beloved friends on the cheek. Misaki then walked up to the heavy door and pushed it open. She quietly closed the door behind her and examined the large room. Everything was lit dimly by candles. Shiny brass threw rays onto the ceiling and beautiful tapestries hung on the wall. Misaki walked around the room. She was curious and led her fingers brush against a small table and then reach out and touch a grand mirror. She smiled at her reflection.

"Chin up" she told herself. "You are still Ayuzawa Misaki and nothing can change you." Misaki moved on to examine the rest of the room. The bed was luxurious just like everything else in the rest of the room. Misaki parted the sheer curtains revealing a wide berthed mattress with fresh linen sheets as white as snow. The bed had a canopy that elegantly masked the bed itself.

Misaki sat down and pulled her knees to herself. The curtain dropped down and Misaki wondered if anyone could even tell she was sitting on the bed. She could see fuzzy outlines of shadows and objects but not much else.

Time seemed to stop moving. Misaki sat on the bed absentmindedly counting the patterns on the head board.

A shadow loomed near her and startled Misaki.

"Its just me" Usui said. She watched his shadow move about. It looked like he took off his jacket and laid it over a chair. Something clattered onto a bureau and water sloshed into a bowl. It sounded like he was washing his face.

Misaki sat motionless until Usui pushed back the curtains. Misaki glanced up at her husband. The word sounded so foreign to her.

"You looked beautiful today" Usui said.

"Thank you..."

Usui casually laid on his back and looked up at Misaki.

"You can lay down" he said, sensing her discomfort.

"Am I suppose to?" Misaki asked, feeling rather embarrassed.

"If you want to. You don't seem very comfortable sitting in the corner" Usui said with a small smile.

"Um okay..." Misaki said scooting over a little.

"You don't have to be afraid" Usui said. He held his hand out to Misaki. Misaki gingerly placed her hand in his. He gave her hand a squeeze and rubbed his thumb along the top of her hand and over her knuckles.

"I know we don't know each other" Usui said. "But I want to know you...Misaki"

Misaki looked up. Her name on his lips sent shivers down her spine. It was slightly thrilling.

"We have a life time" Misaki reminded him. Usui chuckled.

"Yes we do" he agreed. He sat up and put his other hand on Misaki's cheek. His thumb traced her soft lips and then brushed over her cheekbones. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers.

Misaki stiffened slightly. Usui had kissed her at the altar but it had been short. The kiss now was different. She felt his lips move against hers and worried about what she should do.

"Just do what feels natural" Usui said as if he read her thoughts.

Misaki closed her eyes and tried to act natural. She kissed him back letting her feelings guide her. Usui's hand cupped her cheek as he deepened the kiss. His tongue traced her bottom lip as he parted Misaki's lips.

The kissing made Misaki feel lightheaded. She felt her shoulders relax as she melted in.

They eventually broke apart for air.

"Misaki..." Usui said breathless. Usui was positive that Misaki was a virgin. Her careful upbringing assured that but her shock at his kiss only reminded Usui to take things very slow with her. They looked at each other. All they could hear was each others' breathing.

"Is it over?" Misaki asked puzzled. This wasn't how Satsuki explained it to her. Satsuki never even mentioned kissing.

"Is what over?" Usui asked.

"The marriage night"

Usui blinked a few times understanding what Misaki was asking.

He laughed. "No, not yet" he said grinning.

"Oh..." Misaki said wondering what was going to happen next. "Are we doing the next step?"

Usui smiled lovingly at his innocent wife. "What's the next step?" he asked her.

Misaki blushed. "Don't you know?"

"I never realized there were 'steps'" Usui explained.

"Oh..."

"I'm curious to know though"

"My nurse said that we..." Misaki's voice faded into a mumble.

"What?" Usui asked trying to make sense of the mumbling.

Misaki just blushed. Satsuki swore that Usui would explain everything more specifically to her but he didn't even know what she was talking about.

"...take our clothes off..." Misaki said making a horrified face. Usui looked at her and then put his face into a pillow. His shoulders shook with laughter.

"What?!" Misaki exclaimed. "Was my nurse lying to me?!"

Misaki got this feeling that Satsuki was making a fool of her. Maybe there was a misunderstanding because Usui was still laughing.

"My apologies" Usui said running his hand through his golden hair. "Union between man and woman doesn't really have steps" Usui explained. "It's more instinctual"

Clearly Misaki didn't have such natural instincts...

Usui held out his arms and pulled Misaki to him. His hands smoothed down her hair.

Misaki breathed in his scent. He smelled of fresh soap and warmth.

"Just do what you want to" Usui said. He leaned in and captured her mouth with his. The kiss wasn't gentle this time but Misaki felt herself responding with the same fervor. Usui pulled Misaki's arms around his neck and pressed her on her back onto the soft mattress. His lips trailed along her jawline and down her neck.

Misaki gasped at the new feelings she was experiencing. Usui's hands trailed over her stomach making her skin tingle.

"You have much to learn" Usui growled. His hand started pushing up Misaki's chemise. Misaki immediately stiffened but Usui rubbed her shoulders to remind her to relax.

"...But there's plenty time" he reassured her. Misaki's breathing was fast as she stared back at Usui. Misaki for once in her life was terrified. Satsuki warned her that there was pain, not that she was afraid of pain itself but she didn't understand why her body was reacting in such strange ways.

"Don't worry...I'll be gentle" Usui promised.