The Emperor's Rose

Chapter 53//We Used To Be Friends

"Guards!" The Emperor yelled, his head swivelling towards the door. The sudden movement jolted Aiko around. She gripped his shoulder tightly, almost slipping. The Emperor quickly realized and steady her with both hands. A group of four guards entered the room. They clacked their heels together, and bowed down. Their posture still as a rock.

"Kick this man outside of the castle." He said sternly, his eyes brimming with darkness. Maybe remembering the memories he had created with him. The Emperor had finally broken free from the curtain that covered his eyes, and he had seen the real Goro. But that couldn't erase the countless memories they had stored in their minds.

Feeling betrayed by your friend is harsh, and painful. The knife with which you are hurt with seems to be covered in a deadly poison. And after the knife has been removed, a part of your heart feels like it shattered into pieces, slowly scattering at your feet.  Pieces of your memories can be seen on the shards. Beautiful, but long gone and dangerous. If you touch them, the sharp edges will cut you. You will try to forget them, as they continue to lay as traps around you, but one day, you will step on them, and the pain will never truly end. The wound will bleed. Maybe never stopping.

Aiko saw all this in the Emperor's eyes, her heart clenched. She gently rubbed his back. The Emperor didn't notice. His eyes followed the guards as they effortlessly picked Goro up, and pushed him outside. Their katanas pressing on his lower back.
Before Goro disappeared definitely from the life of both, he turned around. His eyes were cold. "We used to be friends." He spat.

The Emperor stiffened. "We used to be friends before I saw what you really are." The Emperor answered. His composure seemed to not have changed. His tone glacial. His eyes freezings. But his body had stiffened against Aiko's. Saying those words had costed him a huge effort.

"So he can feel pain too." Aiko thought, as her eyes lowered on the tatami floors. It seemed almost unreal that the Emperor was feeling such intense emotions that weren't anger or desire. It seemed like a figment of her imagination, a fragment of an impossible dream, but here she was, seeing this extraordinary event. Aiko also realized that the Emperor hadn't killed Goro. Her eyes widened. He cared a lot for him. More than he should have.

While Aiko was immersed in her thoughts the Emperor called the last guard. "Take my sister off from the roof, and invite a priest in this room. We need to purify it." He said, his voice void of emotions.

The guard bowed. Aiko turned her head. The sky had darkened. Only the faint blush of the setting sun illuminated the sky, turning everything into silhouettes. Unclear and mysterious. The trees moved gently in the wind. Birds flew soundlessly. Fumi's body swayed in the wind. Dangling from the roof. Her long hair tangling. Her kimono glinted darkly in the soft light. Her eyes were closed. Aiko felt the image burn in her retina, never to be forgotten.

The Emperor gently turned her head to the side.
"Don't look." He whispered gently. His lips grazing her ear. Aiko closed her eyes, shivering slightly. She leaned her head on the Emperor's shoulder, tired. A strong headache was pushing against her temples.

He slowly placed is hand on her waist, asking permission. Aiko didn't move, she didn't take his hand off. She just let it rest on her waist, letting it warm her up.

The Emperor seemed to sigh internally, as the couple walked slowly towards the Emperor's rooms. Ready to send letters to the the mysterious family members that had been mentioned earlier.