Evening had blossomed and bloomed into sunset, which had grayed into full night before soft, shuffling steps with a distinct three-tap gait graced the flagstones of Kutou Palace once more. The back entrance through the garden was the most subtle way for them to reenter, and after the trouble they’d gone through to slip away unnoticed this afternoon, and thus avoid being missed by important persons - or identified as themselves in public - they were loath to surrender their near anonymity, now. A few bright orange and pink blossoms nestled in the soft teal hair of a rosy-cheeked young woman, who for all that she leaned both on a staff, and on the arm of a young man beside her, looked as lively as hale as any other maiden who’d been about the town tonight, and her laughter as they moved was cheery and musical, though soft, due to the late hour. “The way you stammered when he said, ‘the Emperor himself couldn’t find a more attractive girl for his arm…’” The thin shoulders shook with her laughter, and when the wind cut through the courtyard as they moved inside, she simply cuddled a little closer to the warmth of his bulk beside her. “So subtle of you…”

Shun was smiling brightly and looking more carefree than he had in some time. His shoulder length brown hair was loose and danced in the gentle wind. His soft green eyes also danced as he leaned down to kiss the top of Chisaka's head. "And you lot say I can't pass for anyone but myself." He attentively tucked his cloak around her shoulders as they went into his private sitting room. It was the closest garden exit to Chisaka's room that was not more frequently patrolled. "At any rate, if you wanted someone who would behave more suavely, you could always denounce me and start courting Ryou…" He laughed warmly. "Although Hisoka may have a thing or three to say on the matter."

He slid the door closed between his sitting room and the garden, and turned back to her in the dim light. "Have I said yet this evening how glad I am that you agreed to come?" He was just leaning down for a gentle, proper kiss when a voice spoke up behind him.

"If you play your cards right, my boy, tonight could be your night…"

Shun felt his eyebrow twitch. He ignored the spirit of his father, and leaned in to kiss her anyway, although he cut it perhaps a tiny bit shorter than usual, in order to turn and begin assisting her once more down the hallway toward her room.

"I mean it, son. She is certainly pretty, and Seriyuu knows you’ve had a thing for her ever since you were old enough to notice she was a girl."

Another twitch. They reached her room, and he pulled the door open for her. He was about to wish her good night when his father spoke up again.

"You know, if this hesitation has anything to do with your lack of experience, I would be more than happy to help talk you through your first time…" A thoughtful noise. "I believe that was a tradition for the Imperial family for some time, though it ended with my grandfather, I believe…"

This time, in addition to his eyebrow twitch, he balled up one fist, and made a small sound of frustration. Clearing his throat, he glanced down at the beautiful woman with him. "Would you mind if I stepped inside for a moment?" Waiting only for that, he stepped inside her room and pushed the door closed before he turned to where his father was phasing through the wall behind them. "I would very much appreciate it if you would go somewhere else and leave me alone for a while. I could tell you what village Rumaty was in, when last I heard, or I am sure the girls are in their room."

The huff that she would have ordinarily given, in irritation at his obsessive attention, instead became a little giggle, and her eyes closed briefly at the little kiss. “Nonsense - he just wanted to sell you the flowers… even if I’d had the face of a bald monkey, he’d have made that comparison.” His comment on the general made her roll her eyes a bit. “He’s got far too much fool in him for me to be bothered to train out, anyway. On that front, Hisoka is a better woman than me, and I wish her the thousand happinesses that her endurance and tolerance entitle her to.” She lowered her voice still more, as they let themselves into his sitting room, and tilted her chin to receive the kiss, smiling softly. “A few dozen times, yes. Luckily for you, I’m just as-” His eyebrow twitched then, and she frowned - this wasn’t the first time tonight that he’d flinched a bit, and after brushing it off a few times, she spoke with mild concern, this time. “You’ve been twitchy all night, Shun… is something… wrong?” She looked truly worried for a moment, but then shook that aside with a smile and a casual air. “You weren’t afraid of fireworks, when we were little.” That was a little joke, and paired with how she turned to lean against him again as they walked.



She moved on from that a little as they moved too, instead returning to their former topic of discussion. “I’m glad I came, as well. I admit, I was hesitant about this idea - I thought surely we’d be spotted… but between the chaos of the festival and the clothing you recommended, we were just another young couple out enjoying the evening.” That was fond, and she leaned her head in against him as they arrived at her door. “It was… so nice... just to be regular people for once, and not have to worry about people seeing, asking questions… even if you did blush horribly, when you kissed me and they started wolf-whistling.” She giggled again - and he twitched again, and made a noise of frustration that caught her attention once more, making her frown more deeply. “Shun? What-?” He stopped her question with one of his own, and she looked surprised by his request. Ultimately, her answer came in the affirmative, but with a formality that said she had mentally stepped back to assess the situation, confused by this sudden change in his mood. “It is hardly the place of an advisor to tell the Emperor where he may and may not go, within his own palace… of course, you may come in, if that is your wish.” She stepped in then, eyeing him oddly as he moved in to shut the door behind them. It was then, as he addressed what appeared to be her door, that she understood the cause behind his strange behavior, and spoke up knowingly. “Ah… Emperor Shui? You so rarely grace my humble quarters with your presence, sir.” That was somehow both very formal and respectful… and just a bit tongue in cheek, which was all too characteristic of her nature. She next gave Shun a little smile, recognizing this line of irritable conversation with his father. “So that’s why you’ve been twitching all evening?”

Shun noticed the shift in Chisaka and sighed, leaning down to kiss her forehead gently, speaking low, though there was no one but his father to hear. "I am sorry. I know my behavior has been…unexpected. I was hoping if I ignored him, he might leave."

"The only reason I would need to leave, my son…" his father spoke up behind him once more, "would be if you and the delicate little flower were about to get on with the process of creating your heir."

"No, Father."

"Ah, then tell the girl good night, and head off to your room." A tiny pause. "As you have the last four times you have taken the time to spend with her in the evening, doing what have you, before kissing her cheek and heading off to bed. Alone."

Shun sighed again. "I swear upon my royal bloodline, first thing tomorrow I'm sending a messenger for that Wardsmith in Hokkan. Perhaps he can come up with something to banish troublesome former Emperors…"

His father did not seem troubled by this threat. "I am simply saying that it couldn't hurt to talk to the girl, and see if she is willing. Goodness knows you've pined after her for long enough. If it is mutual, you are wasting valuable time."

Now that she had the strangeness in his behavior clarified, she shook her head a bit, patiently. “And when has that ever persuaded your father not to do exactly as he liked? After all, by your age, he already had you, and defied quite a scandal to see you put into your place. I’d say that he’s a man who is accustomed to using every iota of his considerable power and influence in order to achieve exactly what he wants… even from the world beyond this one.” The exchange between father and son continued, and even though Shun carefully kept most of the details out of the conversation, she was no fool - she’d known both of them for most of her life, and she resettled her staff to more firmly support her, speaking up with calm expectancy. “Nonsense - quite frequently, his former Imperial Majesty has invaluable insight into important matters. You would be loath to banish him altogether.” Keen blue-green eyes went to the door again, though of course she could not see him. “Though judging by how annoyed you are, at current… am I to understand that his choice of obsession has not yet wavered from his most consistent request?”

Shun was just about to justify banishing his father when Chisaka spoke up again. He blushed faintly, and it was in his mind to deny her claim, and come up with some other topic that he might be arguing with his father about, but…

Chisaka knew better. Even discounting her strong mental abilities, she had known him for far too long for him to successfully hide much of anything from her. Looking at her, he sighed again, blushing just a shade or two darker. "Yes. It is his usual topic of concern. I would think he would understand that I have no interest in causing another illegitimacy scandal, beyond which this is… all so very new for the both of us."

"If you start saying things like that, the girl is going to think you do not find her attractive, or do not wish to enjoy her… intimate company."

"Of course I find her attractive, I love her!" This was a confession born of frustration with his father, so that he did not realize what he had said until it had left his lips. His eyes grew wide as he looked down at her, and yet he knew that it was true.

"Well, then get on with it, son. After all, she may not believe your little confession just now, if you do not prove that your words are backed up by action."

He shot his father another look, even as he wracked his mind to think of what to say to Chisaka. He had meant what he said, but he also did not want her to feel pressured. This was not the way he had ever done anything in his life. Looking down at her once more, he bent for another gentle, proper kiss. His voice was almost reluctant when he pulled back, and spoke softly. "You do not need to listen to this endless argument…" As his father suggested, though there had been a fair bit of snark to it, he would tell her goodnight and go to his room to continue this argument in privacy.

"Why should that bother him?" The thin shoulders shrugged, and she moved toward her couch, leaning her staff against the wall nearby and seating herself, mostly because he was too distracted to fret about her, at the moment. In fact, it was that very distraction on his part which prompted her continued commentary - if he was too distracted to worry about her, his mind was occupied, indeed. "It all worked out well enough for you, in the end. As for new…" She blushed a little herself, a delicate shade of pink. "We've known each other all our lives, Shun. Is it really that strange that now that we are seeing one another more seriously, your father brings up his favorite subject?" Initially, in her mind, there was no more to it than that, and she was clearly prepared to move on with their evening without giving the matter any more attention. His outburst changed the equation somewhat, though, catching her a little by surprise, and making her blush deepen a bit.



Green eyes dropped to the top of her head, and she felt the burn of them as surely as if she had looked up to meet them. She knew him well enough to be aware, even without reading his mind, that he hadn't intended to blurt that out, and undoubtedly had been just as surprised as she was. So it was that she held her tongue, waiting for him to emotionally process these developments before she turned her gaze back to him, and returned the kiss, with more confidence than he evidently felt. "I am quite familiar with the argument already, Shun… and the fact that it is entirely irrelevant." With only that enigmatic comment, she stretched up for another kiss, and then turned her gaze to the place she'd last seen Shun address. "If you'll excuse us, sir… there are a few things I need to clarify, with your son."

Shun had been too busy glaring at his father to prevent Chisaka from crossing to her couch, and making herself comfortable. He did follow her, however, and crouched down in front of her to take one of her hands. He was just trying to figure out how to explain his outburst when she spoke up again and asked his father to leave so she could 'clarify a few things.'

"Of course, little flower…" Shun turned and watched his father leave, and he felt a little bit of tension leave his shoulders, at least until he turned back to Chisaka.

He thought about it for a long couple of seconds, and then took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I... hadn't meant to say that, but that does not mean it is not true." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "We've been so close for so long, how could I not love you? But do not think that I wish to pressure you into anything if you are not ready. I will also not let my father do that on my behalf, misguided attempts to help or not." He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. "I have enjoyed my time with you, like this, too much to let anything spoil it."

Unable to see the departed Emperor, she nevertheless felt how Shun's energy changed, when his father left the room. He took her hand then, and she couldn't help smiling a little at the repetition - albeit awkward - of his accidental declaration. And in fact, she laughed softly, and bent to kiss him soundly. "Shun… I have known and loved you as one of my dearest friends since we were both barely toddling. Do you suppose that I stopped, simply because we have grown?" She squeezed his hand in return, and scooted aside on the couch, patting the seat beside her to invite him to sit. "And do you suppose that love cannot grow, like we do?" Her eyes closed at the soft touch on her cheek, and she sighed, leaning over against his chest. "Your father, in all of his power, has no influence over my decisions, especially where they concern you." She tilted her chin for another kiss - solid, sure, and a shade deeper and bolder than Shun had ever dared. "And do you intend to let him influence your decisions?"

Shun relaxed some when she was clearly not angry with him, and returned each kiss as good as he got. He noticed a distinct change in the way she kissed him, and he gladly moved to sit beside her, wrapping both arms around her and holding her close as she leaned against his chest. He sighed again, both in contentment and feeling reassured by her words. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the consecutive kisses, and bent to steal another before he answered her.

“You are right. Of course you are…” Another soft laugh. “You always are. I said I wanted the smartest woman in my kingdom to be my top advisor, so I don’t know why I had my doubts.” He was content to just sit holding her for a while, but at last he spoke up again. “I am… willing to take that next step if you are. As you say, I have loved you all my life, and have come to realize that, in addition to being the smartest woman I know… you are also the most beautiful.” He reached up and gently curled a teal lock around one finger, smiling with the upcoming tease. “Though it is entirely possible that all those whacks to my head with your staff have knocked something loose, and I’m not thinking clearly…” He leaned down for another deep kiss, closing his eyes as his hands slid down her back to rest at her waist.

“A smart man, who knows when he’s been beaten.” That was a returned tease, given as she made herself comfortable in his arms, looking up into his eyes with a little smile as her next comment became more sincere. “I have never considered myself ill-used or unhappy… but these last weeks with you have been among the most joyous in my memory. More than anyone in my station of birth has any right to expect, in this life. By rights, I should have been married off to some minor lord somewhere, and be turning out little hellion whelplings, save none would have had me…” She shook her head, closing her eyes against his shirt as his hands found her waist. “If anyone understands the numbering of days, it is I. I’ve no desire to waste whatever is left to me, on the hope that tomorrow morning isn’t my thousandth.” One small hand took his, cradling it delicately to guide it to rest upon the silken knot of her obi - an invitation. “So if that is what I’ve rattled loose, in that great, thick head of yours…” She collected another kiss, and gifted him a smile. “...then I suppose it is my duty to deal with the aftermath… isn’t it?” Her head tilted again, this time to land a soft kiss directly over the thin skin at the corner of his jaw, at the pulse point.

"Hellion whelplings?" Shun laughed softly. “I don’t believe you for a moment. You would never allow your children to behave thus.” His smile was fond as he added, “I am sure many would have you, but Seriyuu saw fit to place you in my path, and finally opened my eyes to see it.” He did not mistake her silent invitation, and carefully leaned in for another kiss as he accepted it.

~ ~ ~

Shun rested back on the soft pillows and attentively pulled the blanket up over Chisaka’s shoulders as she rested, cuddled up to him. Holding her close, he thought over their conversation earlier, and one thought became clear in his mind. He debated for a moment about whether or not to bring it up before he realized that she could read him like a book, and if he tried to keep his thoughts to himself she could pluck it from his mind as easily as one plucks grapes from a fruit bowl. With that realization, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Chisaka… you know I have never liked when you reference your thousand mornings… I do not like to think of my life without you… but, you are right. Tomorrow could be your thousandth, for all the certainty we have in life.” He considered his next words for a moment. “And if it is, I want you to spend it as my wife. Will… you marry me?” He couldn’t help a small smile. “And perhaps together, we can turn out some little hellion whelplings…”

A little stir brushed the line of her cheek over the skin of his chest, and then adjusted to find a more comfortable position before her eyes opened, slowly and heavily. “Tomorrow could be your thousandth just as easily, love.” A tiny stretch permitted her to place a kiss at his collarbone, and she rested back again, sighing. “We are promised nothing but now, this very second between us… not a breath more.” She turned so that her forehead was tucked against the side of his chest, eyes closing again. “I am more aware than most… but it does not change the reality that any of us resting peacefully tonight could quite simply not awake, when morning comes.” Intensity came into her features then. “Time is a thief… but it will fight me to the last breath in my body, and to my last morning, before it takes anyone that I hold dear.” She stretched for a proper kiss then, slow and deep, and when she pulled away, her breathlessness for once had nothing to do with her health. “I will. But I won’t wait through an absurd, formal courtship for the sake of the people, before you are mine.” A little giggle. “After all, your father will really be after us, now. And I believe he had opportunity, within his lifetime, to learn to regret allowing the duty of propriety to determine the course of his personal life.” A smile, which lent significance to her next comment. “If I am to be your wife, then I will expect the right to dismiss your father from the room with frequency.”

Shun listened to her words. He wanted to deny them, but he knew she was right. Ignoring that, as humans, they could die at any moment… as seishi, there was ever the possibility that they would have to give up their lives to protect Akahana. With that thought in mind, an impulsive plan formed in his head, and though it was a spur of the moment decision, he knew it would be one he would never regret as long as he lived.

Looking down at her, he tilted her chin up for a kiss. “Let’s marry… tonight.” He nodded to himself as if confirming a thought. “It’s the Dragon Festival… even I know that many couples elope during this particular festival… at all hours of the night. We could simply be just another pair of young lovers.” He bent for another kiss, grinning like a child promised a treat. “We can worry with something more formal later, but for now… What do you say, my love?” He waited only for her to agree before he climbed from the bed and began to gather up his clothes. “I’ll go properly change, and get Shian, and meet you back here within the half hour. Can you manage dressing, love, or should I wake Otome?”

Blue-green depths locked onto him at the idea he voiced, and she giggled again. “What… now?!” Despite her tone, it was clear that she wasn’t bothered at all by his impulsivity - quite to the contrary, there was laughter in her voice, and she indulged in the kiss a little before responding. “Deng and Gao would have a fit.” She named two of the advisors who were carried over from his father’s rule, and who were also known for their barely-disguised contempt for having a “child of the Kasai girl’s age” considered to be their equal, especially as she was not particularly high born. “They’ll each have sixteen fuzzy kittens, to find that the Emperor married ‘that girl’ during the Dragon Festival, like a common man.” She grinned, and then laughed heartily. “Let’s do it.” She was slower to rise from the bed, finding herself more wearied by the evening’s activities than she’d care to admit, but was quickly denying the need for assistance. “I’ve been dressing myself since I was two, thank you very much, your Imperial Highness.” She bowed dramatically low then, a curiously graceful motion for such a frail looking woman. “However… if you aren’t to be the Emperor tonight, perhaps it would be best that you wake her, anyway. A commoner needs two witnesses, and despite the various strangenesses of his mind, I am reasonably certain that Shian only counts as one.”