Unknown Day, Unknown Year

"Faster now, dearest! You're not lagging behind on purpose now, are you?"

Akari huffed, bracing against a wooden torch pillar for support. She was not built for walking this much! She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, chasing the sunlight out of her eyes as she glanced around for her lover.

The village was quiet apart from the clanging windchimes and the sounds of children running along back to their homes for the evening. The humid heat of summer was finally cooling and the blood red rays of a setting sun sparkled on Akari's hanging earrings. She crossed over an old stone bridge, her eyes trailing on a pair of spotted Magikarp as the two large fish swam into the growing shade of a cherry blossom tree.

"Volo! Volo, where did you go?" Akari bit back another groan of frustration. She loved her husband to death, but if she were being completely honest, his tendency of running off without so much as a peep was starting to get on her last nerve.

"Right behind you, my dear." A sharp finger poked into the space between her shoulder blades.

Akari yelped and spun around, caught easily by Volo's deft fingers as he pulled her in close. "You- I told you to stop doing that!" She whined, relaxing into his grip as he playfully spun her around.

"But it's my favorite thing to do! And besides! How could I not when you practically look like a lost Growlithe?" Volo teased. His wide smile was warm and even, a low chuckle rising from his throat as he released his grip on her, seemingly enjoying how flustered she'd become. "Fine. I suppose we can take a breath if you're already this winded." He paused and then shot her a very smug look.

"Oh, be quiet you! We've been walking all day!" Akari complained, seating herself roughly on a carved wooden bench beside the path. "Of all the places to build your stupid town, why'd you put it on the side of a mountain next to a cliff? And why did you put our house way at the very bottom?"

"Why not?"

Akari took a long drink from her waterskin before regarding the man beside her with an acidic glare. "One of these days, you're gonna get it, Volo. I mean it."

"You're threatening me?" Volo let out a loud chuckle, almost falling from his perch. He combed his long, blonde hair back with his fingers, adjusting the sleeves of his white and gold kimono. Like her, Volo was adorned from head to toe with golden jewelry, the most prominent being the golden crown of thorns pinned to his hair. The golden bangles around his arms jangled noisily as he leaned over her. "You know I can't help it."

"Bullshit."

Akari took another deep swig of water, exhaling sharply through her nose. Volo had decided earlier that day that the two of them would be going on an outing through town; just the two of them. The king and his beloved queen. We really had to leave home, Akari grumbled inwardly. We couldn't have just stayed home and relaxed for the day in peace and quiet? It wasn't her fault that a headache was throbbing behind her eyes.

Volo had been excited since the two had gotten up that morning. He'd been particularly grabby and had been much more affectionate with her the previous night than was usual for him. She wasn't worried about getting pregnant, no. She'd been taking the medicine Volo had set aside for her specifically to prevent that for ages now. That, and her husband always made sure that she was taking the medicine, his good mood always seeming to return the moment she would show him her empty glasses of water.

Maybe he was looking forward to something then? Akari snorted. Right. If she knew her partner- and she did- he was planning something. She would just have to follow along after him and figure out what he was so worked up about.

"Remind me again where it is that you're so excited to drag me to."

"Oh-ho! Now that-" Volo drawled- "is a secret. You'll just have to wait until we get there. Don't worry. It'll be worth the wait. You'll see."

"I sure hope so." She regained her breath, locking her arm in Volo's as they stood and continued their jaunt through Celestica Village.

She couldn't remember the village looking prettier than it did that evening. The carved cobblestone paths had been cleared of weeds and the short flowering shrubs looked as though they had recently been trimmed. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The ornate pavilion they walked through, lined with murals of gold and silver, painted with dyes and filled with the sounds of laughter, had never been more welcoming than then.

As they approached, the remaining people in the plaza swiftly bowed and took their leave, their eyes lingering on Akari for a second more before they disappeared into the growing shadows. Akari didn't blame them. It was hard not to notice the king with how he glittered in the sunlight and how his fine clothes billowed in the wind like bright wings. Even more so when Akari considered herself to be the second flashiest thing right after her beloved.

When Volo had first chosen her to be his partner, he had wasted no time in getting her fitted for luxurious clothing much like his own. He'd gifted her with all manners of frivolous things such as silk togas painted with rich colors, sapphire earrings the color of the morning sky, draping necklaces, and even an engraved golden ring.

"Only the finest for you, my sweet seraph," Volo had cooed, picking out all kinds of finery to bestow upon her. He had said this while Akari was in between changing her kimonos, the two of them hidden behind a partition as Volo's fingers had inched closer to Akari's obi. "Anything for you."

She'd been hesitant to accept his gifts at first. She barely even remembered how they had first me and when. But as she passed by a pool of water and glimpsed her reflection, she let a self-satisfied smile play onto her features. She was living well with somebody that she loved and who loved her in return. She didn't need to dwell on the past. She only needed to focus on herself and her husband and that was all.

Volo hummed at her side. "My, you're suddenly in a good mood, my dear. Whatever are you thinking about?"

"Mmm, nothing much," Akari replied softly, leaning slightly against Volo for support. Lucky I am, to have been chosen by you to be your bride. Oh, but you'll never hear me say that aloud, though.

As the sun began to sink over the horizon, Volo had playfully covered her eyes with his soft hands, leading her step-by-step off of the weathered cobblestone path into lush grass. He was careful to keep her steady and not before long, Volo had stopped her with a hand on her back.

"Keep your eyes closed," he commanded her gently. "No peeking."

"Of course, my king."

Volo graciously left her and only for a moment. Stone clinked against stone. Something unfolded in the wind. Where the air once had a chill to it came a wave of burning heat. Volo took a hold of her hand and gently seated her on something warm and-

"Please tell me I'm not sitting where I think I'm sitting."

Volo burst out laughing, the hand on her back trembling from mirth before his arms encircled her waist. "Ha- no, my beloved seraph! You're not- how vulgar!" He choked. "This is a public place!"

A public place…? "My king, may I open my eyes now?"

"You may."

Akari opened her eyes, taking in the sight of a full moon rising over the Coronet Mountains. Cold moonlight sparkled on her skin, making the light of the nearby torches all the more brighter. From afar, a group of Yanmas took to the skies, the hum of their wings filling the silence.

"The gardens? This is where you wanted to take me?" Akari grinned. She whirled around and hugged him, burying her face in his chest as his grip around her tightened. "Volo, you big idiot! This was what you were so excited about? Watching a sunset from the gardens? We've both been here before!"

"I know, my dear. But… I had something else in mind. Humor me, if you will." He briefly separated from her, his silver eyes scanning the perimeter of the park. Something snuffled in the underbrush. A bark lifted from the shadows. Volo nodded, his stoic expression turning warm once more. "Good! We're all set."

"Set? Set for what?"

"You'll see," Volo replied. He gently led her to sit in the tall grass, gesturing to a luxurious tapestry adorned with a basket of warm food steaming in the cold. "I had to post a public notice to all the people that the garden was reserved for just the two of us tonight. A very big headache to enforce."

"But it's a public garden. Isn't that… wrong? You didn't need to clear a whole park just for the two of us to have a picnic." Akari pointed out, her mouth already watering at the prospect of eating.

"I wanted it to be private. Just the two of us. No spectators."

"That's what the privacy of our home is for." Akari took out a small bowl of warm rice and a platter of cold melon pieces, her eyes widening as she pulled out a handful of fresh grapes. "Where did you even get these? These aren't even in season!"

"Only the finest for you, my dearest."

Volo had carefully stowed Akari's things elsewhere, sitting himself directly next to her. And then, the two began to talk leisurely about the day and their activities. After the food had been finished and the stars had fully come out, Volo had taken Akari's leftover food and stowed it away, bringing her to lean against him as he reclined to watch the stars.

"I hope you enjoyed this little outing of ours, my dear."

Akari nestled into Volo's side, sleepy from the food. "I did." She yawned. "Still don't know why you had to reserve the whole park just for this, but thank you."

"I'm the king," Volo retorted smugly. "My word is law and I decreed that the town garden belongs to just us tonight."

"Just for tonight?" Akari wondered aloud sleepily. She then propped herself up on her elbows, rivulets of her black hair falling into her face. "Why on earth would you reserve a garden for a picnic?" Akari then scowled, noting Volo's sly smile. "Tell me we're not spending the night stargazing again. Volo, I swear, if that's what this is for- you know you have to give me two days' notice!"

"It's not my dear. I promise." And with a wink, Volo had unceremoniously pulled Akari into his lap behind the cover of a pillar. He closed his hand over her mouth to keep her surprised squeal from echoing along the mountains. "Keep quiet now, love," he murmured into her ear, his voice low and rough. "I've been planning this for a long time and I'd hate for you to exhaust yourself this quickly."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Akari grunted, playfully swatting at Volo's fingers as she attempted to uncover her mouth.

Her answer came in the form of Volo's fingers trailing along the front of her obi, his slim fingers easily undoing the intricate knot before the bulky fabric came undone onto her lap.

Akari froze. Before she could peel herself away, Volo had her pinned against his chest with one leg across her own smaller ones, quietly shushing her as his fingers moved to slip into the inside of her kimono.

"I'm not going to hurt you, love," Volo whispered. He pried apart the sides of her kimono revealing her bare chest to the cold air as his hands hungrily sought purchase in what lay beneath. "I would never hurt you. You trust me, don't you?"

He paused in his ministrations, slowly taking his hand off of Akari's mouth to hear her answer. He wouldn't do that if he didn't trust me, Akari's thoughts reasoned. We're just in public. It's different than doing it at home, sure. That's why I'm scared. I'll just stay quiet and do as he says. I don't want him to get mad… Volo would never hurt me… right?

"…Akari?"

"Huh? Oh, uh- I trust you, my king! Really! I do!"

Akari shivered as their eyes locked, her neck craned upwards at an uncomfortable angle. Volo's eyes were hard and sharp like ice in winter. Only a second later did his eyes soften.

"Of course," he murmured, one hand caressing Akari's side while the other resumed cupping her breast. "Of course, my sweet seraph. Just relax. Let me do this for you."

Akari tried to relax but… she just couldn't. She was used to Volo's soft touches. Even then as his hand trailed lower to skim her navel and sink past her undergarments- why did she feel so disgusted and scared?

"I can't!" she whimpered, folding inward on herself. "I can't do this! Not out here! I trust you but I just don't feel comfortable-"

"It's alright, my dearest," Volo cooed. He readjusted Akari so that she was now straddling his lap facing him. Akari noticed with a twinge of unease that despite Volo's tone being laced with honey, his expression was anything but. He took hold of her hands and clasped them softly within his own. "If you're uncomfortable with this, then by all means we can go home."

"Really?"

Volo winced, his eyes narrowed with annoyance. He pinched his nose. "Yes, really. I may have jumped a bit too soon," he admitted with a tone of false frustration. He carefully stood and guided her to her feet. "I'm so sorry, dearest. I should've asked you first."

"Yes, you should've," Akari retorted haughtily. She then paused. "I forgive you… for now. Now can we please go home? It's freezing out here."

"Not looking like that, you aren't. Here- "he held aloft her obi- "put this back on and then we can go. I'll go and fetch your things. I'll be only but a moment."

"Of course."

As he stole away further into the gardens, Akari slowly retied her obi around her waist, making sure that the sides of her kimono were firmly tucked. She really hoped that nobody had been eavesdropping on them and that Volo had told nobody of what he'd been planning. She huffed. Sometimes, her husband could be a real asshole!

Volo returned within a moment, handing Akari her waterskin with a remark about her looking pale after his little stunt. After a few sips and a lighthearted chuckle, the pair slowly began to make their way out of the gardens.

It had been only a handful of minutes before Akari noticed that her headache had flared back up and with it, a terrible dizziness. She made to lean against Volo, her husband dutifully responding by picking her up as though she weighed nothing but a handful of grapes.

The headache and dizziness worsened still, the light of the torches wavering in her vision as the stars above shifted and duplicated, her husband's image growing foggier by the second. She opened her mouth to speak, pausing at the slurred distorted voice that came out instead. Her tongue felt heavy, and her jaws ached, a faint ebb of panic settling into her bones as she fought to breathe.

And like a nasty bug, that alarm of panic was quelled, washed away by an intense confusion and tiredness. Maybe she was just tired. Maybe she had been tossing and turning all of last night. She gave a feeble yawn, letting her head rest against Volo's chest. She'd wake up tomorrow morning and feel like garbage, most likely. At least she knew that Volo would take care of her until then.

And as Akari sank into blissful unconsciousness, she was not privy to the man completing his fifth lap around the secluded section of the gardens. He carefully draped her lax body in the same soft space of grass from before, tearing apart her obi and kimono with his impatient fingers before resuming his motions from before, albeit far,far rougher than needed be.


July 21st, First Year

Akari awoke sore and unspeakably thirsty, reeling from phantom pains along her thighs and groin as she turned onto her side. Everything hurt. Her face, her neck, her arms- she could only feel her battered body as her consciousness ebbed and petered out, back and forth like the tides of the sea. Something soft and warm moved around her, a touch of light sparking to life as a calloused hand wiped her damp hair from her face.

"It's okay," came a soft voice in her ear. "You can go back to sleep, my dear. You're safe."

Akari persisted though, weakly raising her head to locate the sound. That voice sounded familiar and she- she…? What was she supposed to be doing? A cold breeze forced its way in, causing the hairs along her arms and legs to stand up straight. She couldn't speak and it hurt to breathe. She flinched as something cold and hard was pressed up to her mouth.

"Drink. You're thirsty, aren't you? My, I can't remember the last time I saw you awake! Here, have something to drink, my dear."

Whoever it was carefully held the back of Akari's head, allowing her to take small sips of a cold and sweet beverage. When she'd finished, she licked her lips and then fell back into her bed, clammy and confused and exhausted.

The calloused hand returned, gently smoothing her hair.

"Sleep well, Akari. Get better soon."