The Emperor's Rose

Chapter 72// I Need To Talk To You

The silence wasn't tense: it was fluid and relaxed. The couple was hugging each other with a sense of nostalgia as they realized they had always loved each other. Tears welled up in her eyes as she leaned on his body. The Emperor's soft hands caressed her back. "We're together now...that's the important thing..."he whispered in her ear. Aiko nodded and she couldn't feel more relieved: she was in her lover's arms and that would never change.

The hug slowly melted as they pulled back to look at each other. Passion was floating in their gazes as they leaned forward to press their lips together. She gently laid her arms around his broad shoulders and deepened their passionate kisses. His hands went to untie her sash before the bed creaked underneath their weight.

The moon glimmered over the wedding pavilion as their night of passion continued.
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The dawn broke over the skyline as Aiko and Hisato were asleep in each other's arms, the flower petals strewn over their bodies. Aiko's eyes slowly fluttered open. The first thing she saw was the Emperor's relaxed face, free of all anger and masks. She couldn't help but let out a small smile.

Aiko turned around and moved to a sitting position, ready to stretch her legs. Right before she stood up, two warm hands rested on her waist and pulled her back underneath the covers. Aiko squealed in delight and found herself in the Emperor's arms. "Morning," he croaked out.

"Morning...Hisato," she said shyly, her voice echoing around them. He let out a low chuckle and hid his face in her neck.

"I like that. Call me that more often." Aiko laughed and nodded.

"I will....but only one condition," she murmured, turning to face him. "You will never go with a concubine again." She said, her voice cracking slightly.

Hisato sensed her fear and wrapped her tightly in his arms. "Never again. I will never speak to them anymore..."he nodded, pecking her jawline various times.

Aiko smiled, satisfied. "That's what I wanted to hear."

"Come here," Hisato croaked, kissing her softly. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him again.
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The morning was spent in bed and so was the afternoon. Only when the sun started to dip behind the horizon did Aiko slip out of bed. Their dinner had been brought outside to them, their first meal of the day, and Aiko was quickly grabbing the tray to eat something.

When she walked back inside she found the Emperor sitting towards the edge of the pavilion, on the side which was directly on top of the lake, his feet sloshing in the water. Aiko smiled and approached him, placing the tray in between them and adjusting her kimono so she could place her feet in the water as well. She shivered as it enveloped her feet but didn't flinch.

The warm rays of the sunlight dipped them both into a romantic light. Hisato turned around and grabbed a pair of chopsticks, starting to eat the dinner. Aiko wasn't quite hungry yet and just watched the sunset until the Emperor took a bit of fish and raised it to her mouth. "Open up, love." He said. Aiko rolled her eyes but did as she was told.

As she chewed the food she mumbled, "I can feed myself, you know."

Hisato laughed. "I know that, but it's meant to show my affection and my deep sorrow." He said.

"Sorrow? What for?"

"For causing you so much trouble," he sighed.
Aiko didn't say anything but simply leaned on his shoulder, her hand on his thigh.

"Well, I wasn't the nicest either," Aiko murmured as the Emperor interwove their hands.

"Let's just forget, and live together from now on," he proposed, turning around to look at her. She nodded and admired his eyes as they glowed in the sunlight. He felt his heart flutter with a love he hadn't felt in so long. This love wasn't even comparable to the love he felt for his previous lover. The other paled in comparison.