Chapter 4

The Orochi was out in one of the gardens inside the Imperial Palace, training new recruits, when a soldier came to him and told him that Ayu requested his presence. After passing down the duty of training the recruits to a Kensei, the Orochi began to walk to the throne room. As he was walking to his designation, he wondered why Ayu asked for his presence. It's been several weeks since they wiped the Blackstone legion from the face of the earth. Unfortunately, Apollyon was successful in her objective, as the Samurai, Knights, and Viking began to fight against each other once again. As a result, the two had to put much of their time defending their borders, training new recruits, attacking enemy territories, and the like. They rarely ever had the time to be alone with each other and Ayu never gave him her answer for his feelings. To be honest, he was rather nervous what it would be. He wondered if she would reject his feelings like before or accept them. If it was the former, he would accept it, though he would be hurt by it for a bit. If it was the latter, however, he wondered on what they should do after that. And more importantly, how they would handle the political storm that will inevitably happen if their relationship comes out to the public.

Despite him being the Emperor's champion, he was still a commoner and Ayu was a Daimyo. And Daimyos were expected to marry another Daimyo to keep the bloodlines intact. He personally disagreed with it and believed nothing was wrong with marrying a commoner. Still, it was done for generations and there will be no doubt that people will be opposed to their relationship. He sighed in frustration at the mere thought of dealing with traditionalists. He soon arrived at the throne room and he saw Ayu yelling at several of her advisors, particularly the civilian ones. He wisely kept away from the conversation as the advisors that were being yelled out were looking at their empress in fear while the rest looked at each other in discomfort. After she calmed down, Ayu ordered her advisors to leave, which they did in a hurry. Once they were alone, the Orochi began to walk to Ayu, who was holding her forehead as if she had a headache.

"Is something the matter?" Asked the Orochi once Ayu noticed him.

"My advisors for the people and economy were being difficult for me. They said that we should cut the funding that was diverted to the needs of the people and to focus on building structures worthy for war as well as increasing taxes for them." Explained Ayu. "I disagreed. We need to focus on the needs of the people as much as we can afford. They suffered enough already. And if we don't focus on their needs and increase they're taxes, they will rebel against us. Something that we can't afford right now." The Orochi nodded his head in agreement. Though he understood the reasoning of the advisors, they needed the support of the people as well. Besides they were doing well currently. They didn't need more money to train and pay soldiers and the frontlines were far away from the nearest city belonging to the Samurai.

"What are you planning to do instead?" Asked the Orochi though he already knew the answer.

"I plan let the funding for helping the people remain as it is. As much as it pains me, we need as much money for the war." Said Ayu, angered at the war between their people, the knights, and the Vikings.

"So am I and many others." Said the Orochi. "But what's done is done. Right now, we need to focus on preserving our unity and surviving this war." Ayu simply gave a grunt of agreement before getting up to the throne and walking to the Orochi. As she was walking to him, he noticed that she wore her old armor rather than the armor that was made for her. He rose an eyebrow at this. Upon seeing this, Ayu explained.

"If you're wondering why I'm not wearing the armor made for me, it's because I much prefer my own. The balance is all wrong and it feels a little heavy. Our blacksmiths are adjusting it as we speak." Explained Ayu as she was now close to her friend. They look at each other for a few moments before Ayu spoke again. "Come with me." She then held out her hand, surprising the Orochi.

"Excuse me?" Asked the Orochi, wondering what is up with Ayu.

"I wish to speak with you alone." Said Ayu. "I told my advisors to leave me alone for an hour, so we have an ample time alone together. But first, I wish to go somewhere more private." With that Ayu began to walk away from the throne room and to one of the gardens within the palace. The Orochi followed her soon after. As the two were walking the Orochi spotted several soldiers pass by. They gave them a few stares but otherwise left them alone. Soon, they arrived to the most reclusive garden in the palace. He knew this one well. It was the emperor's private garden, where only he and his family can see. Though now, since both him and his family are dead, this garden was now Ayu's. She sat near a cherry blossom tree and patted the ground next to her. The Orochi, getting the silent message, sat near her. There was an awkward silence between the two for a moment until Ayu spoke. "I think it's time to discuss your feelings about me." The Orochi stayed silent, bracing himself for her possible answers. "Since your gift to me, I've been thinking of the ramifications of being with you, the gains of doing so, and if I wanted it. To be honest, I'm still not sure if this is a good idea to be with you. But then again, some things are not as what they seem."

"So what are you saying?" Asked the Orochi, confused on what she is saying.

"I'm saying that, being with you is a risk. It could fracture our people again or it could be used as a symbol of change. But it could also be a blessing, if only for a personal gain." Said Ayu before turning toward her friend. "I want to know if you're willing to risk our people's unity to be with me." The Orochi stayed silent. Was he willing to risk his people's unity to be with Ayu. His heart tells him to say yes but his mind is telling him to say no. After some deliberation on the subject, the Orochi made his decision.

"Yes. I want to be with you, even if it means the fracturing of our people." Said the Orochi. He then grabbed Ayu's hand and squeezed it gently. Ayu looked at her friend before taking her menpo off, revealing that she had a smirk on her face.

"I never took you for the selfish type." Said Ayu. "Just so you know, it will be an uphill battle for me. You'll have to face traditionalists as well as spending time on fighting a war. There won't be much time between us. So, let me ask you again, are you willing to face all this to be with me?"

"Yes." Said the Orochi firmly. "I knew that I'll have to confront traditionalists sooner or later for being with a Daimyo but I think it is all worth it to be with you." Ayu just shook her hand in amusement at her friend's answer.

"You always were a stubborn idiot." Said Ayu before smiling. "But a well-intentioned idiot." She then closed the gap between the two, pulled down the Orochi's menpo, and kissed him. "And your my idiot." The Orochi smirked before kissing her back.

Seven years later

Cross was silent as Ayu finished her story. Once she was done, he spoke.

"So that's the reason why you want peace?" Asked Cross. Ayu looked at him with an impassive expression.

"One of the reasons. I'm sick and tired of war, losing my people to a pointless war, and I want to secure a future for future generations. Don't you Cross?" Asked Ayu.

"I do." Said Cross before a thought crossed his mind. "Did you and he have a…" Ayu glared at him, silencing him.

"Yes. We did. Two daughter and a son." Said Ayu. "And if you must know, I'm also doing this for them. So, that they won't have to experience what we all have." Stigandr, who was silent for most of Ayu's story, spoke.

"I understand." Said Stigandr, earning some shocks looks from Cross and Ayu. "Although my people raid and pillage, we also know the importance of family. I had a sister that was killed during this god-forsaken war. She left a child behind and so, I took upon myself to raise him." He sighed and looked sad for a moment before resuming. "Sometime, when he thought he was alone, he cried for his lost mother and sometimes I had to comfort him. And while I was raising him, I realized the fruitlessness of this war and how many children are being made motherless or fatherless. So, I made a vow to end this war so that children won't have to be raised without a parent." Explained Stigandr. Ayu looked at him with approval. Cross was silent before speaking.

"I have a son. And though I want him to be a warrior, I also want to raise him in a time of peace. So, that he can experience some form of peace before he is thrust to the reality of this world." Said Cross. "I'm sure that a lot of other Knights wish this as well." The three then looked at each other.

"I guess we all have a reason for this." Said Stigandr with the other two nodding their heads in agreement. "So, what do we do? It's not like we can undo generations of hate."

"Like I said before, it will start with us." Said Ayu. "If that's not enough for the people, remind them why they fight. Not just for their survival, but also for their families and children. A lot of my people fight because of their families."

"And mine as well." Said Cross. Stigandr just nodded. He knew that there were Vikings that also fought for their families.

"So, I guess that's it for today." Said Stigandr before taking off. Ayu was about to leave when Cross stopped her.

"Are any of your children…" Ayu stopped before replying.

"No. They're fine." Said Ayu before leaving. Cross sighed before leaving as well. After a long horse ride and giving his report to the lord Warden, Cross was back in his estate. He said his hellos to his servants before opening the door to his son's room. He saw that he was sleeping. He sat on the bed before placing his hand on his child's forehead. He mumbled a quick 'I love you' before leaving. Meanwhile Stigandr was thinking about his sister's son and gave a quick prayer.

"Sister, I'm doing this for you and your son." Said Stigandr. After a few hours of crossing the sea, he spotted his homeland. As his ship was approaching a harbor, he noticed a figure. He smirked. "It seems he inherited your patience, sis." Thought Stigandr as he saw his sister's son waiting for him.

While all this was happening, Ayu was walking to the throne room, bracing herself for another shouting match with her advisors, when three children came out of nowhere and hugged her. She smiled before returning the embrace.

"Were you three behaving while I was gone?" Asked Ayu. The three children looked at her, smiling.

"Yes mother. We've been good." Said her son.

"Can we spend some time together, mother?" Asked her youngest daughter. Ayu smirked.

"Alright but only for a few minutes." Said Ayu. Her children let out a shout of joy before dragging her to their quarters.

"When is father coming home?" Asked her oldest daughter.

"He'll be home soon." Said Ayu. "He's probably already back." And to her expectations, he was already home. Taking a stealthy approach, the Orochi was already at his family's quarters when they arrived. His children ran up to him before hugging him. Ayu smirked before joining in the embrace.