chapter 2 fantasy

eight years had passed eversince the marriage of that day, akio look at today as he wore in all black as he look out the weather it is a perfect spring day outside with bird chirping around the tree, as he realize he had a fan near his belt that was tied by his own servant that had served him as a child, he looked at the bronze mirror to see a man that had skin pale and can be easily compared to a women, his face was hairless and smooth as the silk he sees many women worn, and with his eyes and hair resembles the dark night beneath the moon, as he was often called the shining prince for a reason that he can understand today, as this is the first time he know his beauty and charm

"what day is today again ?" akio asked as he raised his hand to make sure the clothing doesnt fall

"it is the day you married to the daughter of lord hijiri, my lord" as he bring akio hat out, put on the side as he tied the hair into a bun for the hat

"how long has this wedding been planned ?" he wondered if this was planned out by his father or is some other worldly things that make the two fate to be together

"at least eight years, my lord" as he replied while making sure the clothing he wore is smooth like the hair of the young prince

akio could only though of that day, the day that changes everything as he is concerned if this day will be like that day where everything is changed once more or will it be the day that make the changes back

"my lord was lucky to be able to marry such a young and beautiful women of many talents, not to mention her status, especially after many had known her, everyone would do anything just to take a glimpse of her combing her hair, oh, she is a woman that many would desire" he said as akio though of the day where he heard news of many sons of nobility wanting to see her with lots and lots of gifts given just to catch a glimpse of her beauty though he had befriended her brother now that he think about it he never actually seen what she looked like, he just think it is too thick skin to even do such a thing to outright do this publicly but rather he would do it privately so that his fathers face wasn't thrown out of the window then again maybe this wasn't necessary consider that she is now his and his alone to see, he was curious if the peeping situation will stopped after this marriage, as he look at the mirror nice again his hat was already put on top of him, as he face toward the mirror he sees that the suit fit him very well he even moved his hand a bit to see if it will fall

"you done it well" he praised as he walk toward the door hoping to met his bride in the shrine nearby

meanwhile

akako was putting white make up as it makes her skin pale like snow, with her teeth painted black to make her make up appeal more, her servants tied her hair low as she also added some red dot on her forehead in the shape of a flower, with her clothes in colorful colors that make her comparable to the seven daughter of the gods the cloth decorate with some animals, plants, seasons with some flowers in it, as each layers make her attire heavier and heavier with at least twelve of them, but to her this is what she got used to wear in winter it could be more than this many, and in summer there could be less than this, but now she just hope that the shrine she is going to doesn't need much walk with it her headdress came and it was a simple headpiece made of gold with his family sigil shown on top of it decorated with red jadeite alongside with some smaller piece that combined together looked like a bouquet of flowers from the outside it is as if your looking at a the flower shine in a pot of gold, as she looked at the headdress, the door slid open and it was the lady in waiting of her mother, as her mother enter the door before her lady in waiting slid back the door once again, her mother arrived letting the servant know that she want to have a private conversations between the two alone, as akako servant knew this they walk out the room leaving only a mother and daughter inside, as her mother got closer she began to clearly see her mother face, she had small wrinkle shown on her face this made she realize that her mother had became old, as she now realize she might had a hard time taking care of her till the end, as she may not be able to visit often, to her no one is more closer than her and her parents, her parents is everything, and with it she hope she could visit more often, she hope that she can see them till the end of their times, yet traditions are traditions, now she had a new life within the castle wall, a life which she had to grow quickly as she cannot be like what she act when she was at the comfort of her home, as her mother kneel, she take a look at the headpieces with a smile on her face she put the headpiece on her daughters head, as she looked at her daughter began to tear up she put her hand on her face wiping of the tears

"today was meant to be a happy day, these tears, are like the same tears i had when i married your father, like this headpiece your wearing my mother had passed it down to me as well, and now, it shall be yours to keep" as she made a warm smile that her daughter see often, but to her daughter she know those smile hidden the tears she wanted to released

this smile she know for so long contained her pain and struggle she tried to kept away from her, sometime she wonders why

the time had came as both the bride and the groom arrived to shrine as each of them walked slowly to the temple enjoying the scenery with closed family member stand beside the long stairs to the main shrine, as the shrine had a long stairs that can be symbolize as a way to heavens, and above this long stairs are a table with a pair of gifts, and two cups of liquor

aiko cannot believe that this was his bride, he had heard many times about his beauty before but he had never seen it in person, as akako raised her head to look at her husband she was in shock as his skin was smoother than silk, yet paler than the yellow moon, he is worthy of the nicknamed the shining prince for a reason, eventhough she never met him but she had heard many news about him mostly from people who had eye witness account of him, the lookof her now husband simply make her heart beat faster as they began to raise their cup to let their partner drink the one they hold, though there are no sign of cheers nor smile as the scene was simply calm, with the wind blew the fallen leaves of the stairs, they began to walk down the stairs with each step they look down to see each had word etch on them, from the highest carved saying them having the red string on their pinky finger that brough them together, to the middle with their marriage, and to the lowest and the last with them reaching old age together, to akako each step she imagined how her life will spend together with him, aiko however look to his step mother feeling as if he was surrounded by strangers as he got closer to his family, he doesnt even know if he should call his father emperor or father anymore especially his wive, he might as well view them as simply stangers

"my son..." the emperor said as he got close to aiko to take a closer look to his son

"is something wrong, dear father ?" aiko asked hoping he could just get out of this place away from the strangers

"you remind me of the time i married you mother, lady koi" the emperor seeing the image of his marriage back then yet ashamed that he couldnt be with her much from his duty

"really even after many years you still have her in your heart father ?" aiko asked simply thinking of the emperor bringing lady koi was just a shameless an insult to her, as he simply could never forgive his own father finding a replacement for lady koi

"of course i do, why would you ask such a question ?" the emperor asked realizing that aiko wasnt happy when mentioning lady koi

"nothing father or should i say my lord...if there is nothing else i'll be bringing lady akako to our own consumation"

aiko said as he take akako hand

"i see if that the case then you may take leave" the emperor replied as he understand what made his son acting like this he know that he didnt support the idea of someone taking his mother place, yet he knew that he became old and he just wanted someone to be with him till the end of times, he look to the stair remembering the last step but to him eversince her death the promise the two made was broken now he is but a man waiting for death to take him to lady koi place

as the emperor see his son walking in front of a carriage akako sits on as they take they're leave further and further away from the shrine he ordered other to go with the carriage as he want to stay here for a while, leaving him all alone as he go to the stair as he look to the writing on the last step of the stair, he remember what lady koi said to him that faithful day, "we will follow the writing on the stairs we step on, till the end of times i will always by your side" these word comeback to him as he see the writing

"why must you go first, my bride?" the emperor sigh after saying such word "when that day come i hope i can see you once more, i know you wont harm me, but will you forgive me for what i done ?" he whisper to himself before he slowly walks away turning his back from the shrine and following the carriage path

the carriage took some time for them to reach to their destination as akako look at the sun slowly goes down as they reach their destination, and by the time they came, she came out of the carriage to see that they arrived to her own house, while seeing two more carriage prepared to bring the emperor and his wive back to the palace with guards heavily armed with weapons, she see her parent coming, though she didnt see her husband anywhere, as she go to her parents for a chat, aiko meanwhile look at the water beneath the bridge, as he see the sky began to go dark, as he is waiting for the emperor to came to the carriage so he can continue into the consumation he now just hope the emperor can come quickly as he felt tired from all the walking, he look through the water to see the emperor arriving he look up to see he wasnt showing any sign of tiredness from all those walking though putting all those aside he get to the emperor carriage as he opened the covers to let him enter, as the emperor got in he look to his son who barely look back at him, as he quickly bring lady akako to the small palace quickly he sigh as he ordered to return

aiko and akako both arrived to their room that the servant prepared for them as the door slide open they see it is a simple bed that was lay down on the floor, the bed is big enough for two person, they can see the room was quite dark without any candle, though it is enough for them, as they set foot into the room, they lit the candle and with a single sheet of paper behind the fire it was able to make the room brighter, aiko put down his head accesories before he disrobe his outer layer of his robe revealing the white robe he wear within.

akako was sitting beside the table as she put off her accesories, she began to disrobing as well, as they both got onto their bed, they simply prepared to sleep, hoping they would get used to it, eventhough the room wasnt as dark as before yet they still cant felt comfortable sleeping like this not to mention how close they were to one another, akako look to her husband seeing him closing his eyes facing toward her, she can see small glimpse of his chest within the white robe, but she tried her best to ignore it facing the other side she closed her eyes slowly drifting to sleep before she felt her husband hug onto her, for the first time ever she ever felt a man this close to her, for aiko this is the first time he ever embrace a woman as they slowly fell asleep in each other embrace

the emperor still in his carriage as he look to the sky while the carriage brought him back to the castle wall, he see a small comet pass by, as he remembers what it meant, he simply hope he can be prepared for what it is to come whether it is to the people or to himself, he closed his eyes hoping to fell asleep as the carriage carrying home yet it seems to be harder for him to do so than usual,as now he remembered that he must prepared feast for tomorrow, as the tradition said, the food will be send to lord hijiri house alongside with gift of jewelry and such, though as he see the starry night sky every matter began to fell off of him, as he began to fell asleep in the carriage as it brought him back

aiko meanwhile fell asleep facing toward his wife yet each time he closed his eyes he is reminded of the book he had buried, yet each time he try to fell asleep he is reminded of his mother, yet he can't seem to remember what she looks like, as it calls it's name with each word annoys him more and more yet he can't seem to escape her even after many years no matter how he try to forget it will kept bugging him more and more yet with each time the appearance seems to be harder to tell, even though he know his stepmother was married because she had an appearance of his mother yet he knows that she isn't her he know he shouldnt see her as his mother not even a single second yet her appearance began to clouds his mind as it began to replace his mother looks, changing it into her, no he though as he suddenly awaken from his dream the first thing he saw was his bride, sleeping soundly with the moon shine bright behind her back illuminating the room in blue yet it also illuminated her beauty, he got up hoping to calm himself from what he had dreamth of, as he slide the door open to the backyard, he simply sat there look at nature.

seeing the koi beneath the pond, looking the the bamboo tree swaing a bit from the wind, he can felt the wind on him, yet he still resist from going inside, as he sat there eyes closed meditating to the calm waters and winds, hoping to ignore the wind completely, yet as he closed his eyes he see it again, leaving no choice but to kept his eyes opened through the entire night he took a deep breath, calming himself, as he look to the moon and stars, he can see one of the star as himself, and lady akako as the moon, from the outside they all seem closed but within he knew he never really loved her for her true self but rather for her looks but also because of their arrange being set long ago, he look back to his bride in pity that they both have to do this, yet to him this is also a reward as well, he look back to her bride who is on the bed, he walk back to the room as he slid the door shut, he looked to his beautiful bride as he prepared to do 'the act'.

the day color began to change as the emperor slowly opened his eyes, he look to see that the servant had carried him close to the castle wall, he realize in a few hours he will be going to the court, though he didnt have to worry much as he had the gift prepared all need to prepare are the feast, the carriage stops within the castle wall, as he got out look around him before crossing the bridge to his castle, he quickly ordered to send these gifts to general hijiri house, as for the feast, he made the invitation to go with the gift though it will only take a minute or two as he had though of what contained within the invitation, since it was a personal thing he think it would be fitting to put the letter alongside the gift by his own hand, he simply slip them beneath the rope that tied the gift together, he ordered four man carry them into the carriage with some guards on the side to kept an eye, as they march they had banner of the family emblem of a cup floating above the water beneath as it is said that the emperor ancestor founded this land with a cup put to the ocean and let it see where it brough them

the bodyguards was about to march before he decided to order a messenger go to general hijiri house by horse, while the gift will get to there through the guards, at least he hope to let this invitation be receive before sundown, with the messenger ready, it quickly rode its steed as it pass through the guards along with its gifts, and goes to its destination in full speed white the carriage filled with gifts will follow suit, though in a much slower pace compare to the messenger

the emperor now prepared to enter for the court meeting today general hijiri won't be coming as the order was in the message itself, he simple walk into the castle, enjoying the Beautiful sunset as he walk in

lady akako awoken with nothing on her as the first thing she see was her husband face beside her, as she doesn't remember much from last night, but from the look of it, it seemed that whatever happen they really did it, she though they won't be doing it last night but it seems that it not what she expected, she quickly put on the white robe as she prepared to wear the clothes for day to day basis, she got out of the room leaving aiko behind, she see her servant had prepare the meal on the other side of the room, she see the servant had prepared a bowl of rice, a bowl of soup filled with tofu and some seaweed, and a bowl of steamed chopped deer meat, and a bowl of bean, to balance it out, she remain silent while she enjoy her meal as her mind hoping aiko doesn't wake up at such a time or else thing would be real awkward but this also meant she can't see anyone else but her husband, and her family members, and no one else, this so something she was practice to do before this marriage, though her personal lady in waiting come to room silently as she had receive news

"lady akako, I had just receive a news" a personal lady in waiting of akako enter her room

"what news do you bring this time, mrs. aoi" akako asked curious to see what news was brough today

"from what i gather it seems my lady will be need to prepare for a feast tonight, lord hijiri had just recieve a letter from the emperor" lady aoi whisper to akako ears telling everything she know so far

"a feast, interesting, lady aoi, would you mind help me decided the dress to wear for tonight" lady akako looking to her lady in waiting and wonder what would she chose for her

"my lady, your not going to pick them yourself, im worried i might chose one that not suited to my lady personal taste" lady aoi worried hoping she doesnt chose a clothes that ruin people point of view on lady akako

"im confident you can make the right choice, mrs aoi, since you had known me for a while now." lady akako said hoping to remind aoi that they had more than just servant and ladies, but a close friend that can rely on one another

"if you say so..." lady aoi said wondering what should she choose for lady akako, thinking of a clothes that would fit tonight feast as she walk out of lady akako room, leaving her alone to enjoy her meal

lady aoi walk to lady akako room as she ordered servant to prepare the bath for lady akako, and ordered to get the undergarment ready, which consist of two layers of white silk robe, a short white silk robe of lower calf length, and a very long red skirt with two split legs, while she continue to lady akako room to choose her clothes, she used the wooden structure that was used to put clothes on it, she pick out a red unlined silk robe eventhough there are darker color like red violent but since it was a feast with the emperor and his bride its best not to wearing rare color to showing off, she quickly pick out a series of robe around five of them each in different color, such as red, white, blue, green, and purple

she pick up silk robe with scarlet color used to support the outer robe, now the most important part as she will pick up a white robe with red patterened and decorated silk and it is shorter and narrower than the previous, but it will indicate the rank of the wearer, she quickly pick up a jacket that was originated from their neighbour country of the west that reach to her lady waist, now the last part is what they consider a formal attire, it was a white apron like train skirt, worn on the back let it trail behind, with adorment dyed into it

she put up each attire one by one, she do it carefully not to make her lady felt uncomfortable, as it finish, she step back and take a look, she was more worried that her lady woundt like it, as it indicate it will fail she worriedly walk out as she had to prepare for her lady bath as her duty was to help her wear her undergarment, she enter to see the silhouette of her lady in the bathtub behind the small fence made of cloths to give her privacy, she quickly walk to the servant as she's holding one of the underground and waiting for her lady to finish

"lady aoi, you came just in time" lady akako said as she got out of the bath as she step down from the stair that she got up to get into the bathtub, lady aoi quickly cover the undergarment around her as she put two layers of garment so that the water wouldn't risk exposing her modesty, she then ordered to bring the short silk robe to cover her lower half preventing exposure of her body, she quickly cover them in them, though looking from afar she can result mistaken her foe a shrine maiden but she quickly put the Ted skirt on akako now lady akako is ready, as lady akako walk toward her room lady aoi followed behind her not to accidentally step on the cloth that trailing behind, as the servant wasn't needed at the moment and only she is allowed to help lady akako wear her proper clothes

lady akako enter her room as she look to the wooden stand she got close to take a closer look, as she see quite a colorful clothes that wasn't too show off, she gladly that lady aoi had manage to choose one that fit with her taste

"aoi, would you please ?" akako look back as she see aoi walk in front of her getting her clothes ready with each layer lady aoi carefully and safely put them as she was trained to do so with the last part finish she walk to get the tools needed to lady akako hair but was stopped by akako herself

as she wanted to comb the hair herself as she sat down look to the mirror she began to combing them slowly and carefully as lady aoi see a grateful lady sitting in front of her combing her beautiful and smooth black hair as she see her looks in the hair she didn't see lady akako but rather a goddess that came down to earth like the ones in the tale of orihime and hikoboshi she now understand what he felt when he see her by the river as she was trance by her looks, her beauty from the mirror as she shook her head a bit before she walk out

"if you need anything else I will be waiting outside" lady aoi quickly walk out of the room as she remembers what duty she had but somehow he sight kept bugging in her mind she quickly walk to look at the carriage as lady aoi will be using it to the feast soon as she see the red carriage prepared she also making sure that prince aiko carriage was good as well as soon as the lady and the prince is ready the carriage will be easy to use especially since it will take some time to arrive there as she check around it she see it was ready to use and just in time as lady Alamo had just come out with make up apply to her face and ready to go, while the prince was nowhere to be seen

"has lord aiko got to the carriage yet? " Lady akako look to see the two carriage prepared

"no, my lady were haven't seen him yet" Lady aoi replied

"it's alright I'll just wait for him in the carriage" lady akako said as she enter the carriage waiting for her husband while lady aoi waiting outside

she look through the silhouette as she see her waiting in their patients but in someway she can tell something isn't right though it does concerned her what the young prince was doing at the moment as they wait...waited...and waited... until the messenger arrive with a word

"I have came to bring news from prince aiko himself" the messengers said as lady aoi look to the carriage to see lady akako reaction

"tell me..." akako response behind the silhouette

"the prince had ordered for you and princess Akako to go first, he will following soon as he had personal stuff to deal with" the messenger explain though all went silent as lady aoi look to the silhouette she see lady akako remained silent for a bit before she continued "tell lord aiko to hurry and be in time" lady aoi look to the messengers as it accept the order and return back to the palace, lady aoi now concern for lady akako especially hearing such a news let alone this is their first day going somewhere together not to mentions that everyone can tell it is a lie

Lady akako soon ordered to bring her there first as servants carried the carriage as lady aoi followed bedside the carriage walking alongside her

along the way lady aoi look to the scenery yet she was pity at the lady behind the carriage due to her weren't allowed to be seen by people outside her family nor husband and she can tell that she try to hide it that even she couldn't believe there would be someone like this but she can't do anything else but as she continue to fallow the carriage she can hear something, she heard the sound of crying from within the carriage she can hear the clearly due to her distance, she can tell she is hurt by prince aiko action as she want to Help her out but... what can a lady in waiting so eventually in a public place like this with so they arrived at the palace where the feast was set as she picked the curtain away letting akako step foot out as she and lady akako enter the palace