#himemiya

“What is the point of you going there meeting her?”

In truth he also couldn’t understand himself why he had to grant the girl’s wishes. Well, she was not the little girl he once knew. She was a young woman of 20 years in human age.

She looked exactly like her father. Her eyes, however, possessed a heavier hue of violets that reminded him of hydrangeas in the garden of the former Sunrise Palace. Like countless galaxies peppering the vast space. He heard it from the humans in the Outside World.

The sky was clear of clouds today saved for some stars that sprinkled all over it. The good weather was playing along with his mood. He could easily admit to himself that it was partially because of the girl and he didn’t care the least.

The walk toward the mansion of the present emperor was not far. The path however there was treacherous. Darkness enveloped the area. His will-o’-the-wisp lighted lighted the bridge, which was devoid of Yamauchi guards and the emperor’s own entourage.

It must be her own doing. Yukiya thought. Her increasing clout should be taken seriously. He must look into it.

Standing in front of the heavy wooden door, Yukiya tapped twice until he heard the rustling inside.

“Come in,” a sultry voice said.

His hand gripped his left side as if there was a phantom sword dangling on his waist.  There was a time, some 20 years ago, that it was automatic to search for his tachi whenever he entered an unknown portal anticipating for danger.

A voluptuous being sat up wearing the familiar lilac-white kimono as he opened the door. Yukiya’s eyes went straight to her bare breasts. The Princess knew that she was beautiful and  she was taking advantage of it. But her hair was still short like a young man’s. He knew the owner of the kimono she was wearing. She taunted him. It was irritating. Observing her the similarities between the girl and her father were uncanny. It was as if he was looking at his former master. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“You came….”

“Your letter seemed urgent. So what do you want, Princess? I don’t thrive in games.”

“Neither am I. That’s not important. What matters is that you are here now.”

Yukiya stepped closer, but stopped. He sniffed the air. A perfumed sweetish scent wafted round the chamber.

Ah, it was the dreadful incense Karon that could kill someone when exposed in large doses, but an effective sedative in small amounts. He shook his head and smiled but then turned his head to the other figure on the matrimonial bed. He wanted to know if he was still breathing. After all, this was the same incense that killed Lord Nazukihiko’s mother Izayoi. The teenaged emperor, for what it’s worth, was only sleeping. He didn’t notice that the young woman stood in front of her. Her breasts poked him. He wanted to leave.

“Don’t you want me?”

Deep inside Yukiya the question was absurd.

“I don’t care about my own happiness, Princess. I only care about Yamauchi, which your Father neglected.”

The girl’s face turned red. If Yukiya offended her then he succeeded. All the hurt in the world accumulated in years.

“I get it now. Could it be that you are still wearing envy’s attire all this time?” She said, then continued. “Sometimes the reason is so minute. Like a tiny stone thrown into the ocean, sending ripples to the surface.” He could feel her candle-like fingers touch his face.  Yukiya recalled the day his world crashed. His faith shattered. He was all alone.

“You know that this is not proper. Your duty is to the emperor.”

She scoffed at his reasoning. Yukiya should be above it all, blocking this temptation in front of him. He turned his back. As he tried to open the door, she grabbed him from behind and held him tight. Her cries tinged with anguish and despair this could be their last chance to reconcile.

“Please…”

Please don’t leave me. Please don’t go. Please do not forsake me.

But they did forsake him, didn’t they? He never even had any time to grieve his lord. What he got in return was nothing. Lord Nazukihiko deemed it was best to give all the power to his wife when the time was crucial and the infighting within the four houses got worse. Yukiya thought it was foolish to throw his lot to a young girl. He realised that while witnessing the burning of Sunrise Palace. She might be mature for her age but asking her to run away with him was  not enough to appease his aching heart.

A sharp cold wind broke his reverie. The chill began to envelop his body. He was not aware that she managed to undress him until the last piece of his clothing was in her hands. This was bordering on not so good. He seemed to have lost his sense of danger by only interacting with her. Did he not know that she could kill him? She declared it a while ago.

“These are fresh welts…” Yukiya felt a set of lips caressing them. What should he answer to this softness?

“Princess…”

When she lead him to the bed, the red ropes waited. At that moment he knew that he was lost forever.