Aiko's eyes fluttered open, the bright sunlight blinding her. She scrunched her eyes, sitting up. Aiko rubbed her eyes, yawning. She gingerly touched her cheek, wincing and quickly pulling it away. It still hurt. Aiko shivered as a particular draft of frigid wind slid over her. It was cold in the room, she realized. "Luckily ,this cover keeps me warm." Aiko thought, gliding her hand over the red silk cover that had been draped over her. Just as her hand passed over the dragon that had been sewn in the centre, she realised she didn't have a cover when she fell asleep. Aiko frowned in confusion. "I wasn't even sitting on the couch..." She realized, eyeing the couch she was seated on, questioningly.

Aiko decided to leave it be, thinking she probably moved during the night and wasn't awake enough to remember it. She threw the silk covers to the side, rumpling them. She got up from the couch, stretching. Aiko was about to walk to the screen doors and breathe in some fresh air when her eyes caught sight of the dark shape snoring quietly in the bed, almost drowning in the sheets.

The Emperor was resting in his bed his hair slightly humid from last night's bath. His covers were thrown to the side, making the man shiver in the chilly air.

Aiko shook her head, yanking the covers over his body. "I'm doing this, so you sleep for a bit longer and don't bother me." Aiko hissed, ignoring the small voice in her head that told her she did this to protect him from the cold.

She turned around, opening the shoji doors. Her eyes crinkled happily as she observed the wonderful garden the Emperor possessed. The spring situated in the middle, dominated the garden. Aiko rubbed her shoulders, cocking her head to the side as she decided to step on the cold, grey and overused steppingstones. She shivered as her bare feet touched the ice covered stone. Even if it hurt, she didn't mind, the pain a solid grasp on reality. Aiko then slid on the frozen soil, wincing as her feet touched it. She looked down, and scooped a portion of soil in her hand, watching it run through her fingers.

This reminded her of when she would run away from her house and hide in the darkness of the shadows in the forest. Falseness and pure hatred stung the air with its putrid smell in Uncle's wretched house, making it unbearable.

Aiko inched closer to the spring, dipping her hand up to her elbow in the water, swirling her fingers.

A rose petal floated down and gently landed on the surface of the spring. The small petal caused so many ripples that the spring's surface changed, now different from what it had been before. And only a small petal had caused such a change.

Aiko looked up. Only dead peach trees surrounded the spring. Their leaves were absent since it was winter. "Where did you come from, huh?" Aiko asked herself as she gently picked it up, a few drops of warm water sliding down her hand. As she felt the soft texture of the flower, a memory flashed into her mind. "My beautiful rose..." A distant voice said in her mind. Aiko smiled nostalgically at the memory. In the times when she ran away from home most often, she would always meet with him.

Him...

The love of her life. She rubbed the petal in between the pads of her thumb. When she had met him, her life had started to become colorful. She sat down, plunging back into a sea of memories.

She was running away from home as usual, leaving behind the chaotic-ness of her lifestyle. As she stumbled her way through the forest, she bumped into someone. She looked up.

A beautiful boy stared back at her, observing her as if she were a dragon and not just a simple girl. He had long, brown hair tied in a bun. "Who are you?" Aiko asked, cocking her head to the side. The boy shook his head, crossing his arms.

"I should ask this question." He said, his voice haughty. Aiko crossed her arms over her chest as well, feeling compelled to copy him.

"I'm not telling you until you tell me who you are." Aiko replied stubbornly.

The boy grinned. "It's fine by me. I'll call you my rose then. Beautiful rose." He pointed at her kimono. The one she was wearing that day was a simple one, just a little rose sewn on the corner of her sleeve. A blush crept up Aiko's face, turning her face red. Aiko started racking her brain for a suitable nickname. The main character of an old Western tale she had recently read flashed to mind.

"Then I'll call you my knight." She answered back.

"I do not mind." The boy retorted.

"My Knight...." Aiko remembered smiling. The memory of their first encounter now brought bittersweet tears to her eyes. The first and only love of her life. Until one day, he just disappeared, evaporating like the dream he seemed to be.

"And I never knew his name." She mumbled aloud, lost in thought.

The Emperor had been watching the whole time, woken up by Aiko's gentle touch. He had observed her as she walked outside, wondering why she was subjecting herself to the cold. He observed her attentively, curious about her behaviour.

"I want to know more." He thought, the desire to fully possess everything that could help him control Aiko, starting to grow.

Aiko stood up. She let go of the petal and watched it flutter down on the soil in front of her. She turned around and walked back inside, shivering. Aiko lifted her gaze and found the Emperor looking at her. She wondered how long he had been awake and blushed, thinking he might have seen her acting strangely. Aiko dismissed it and told herself it didn't matter even if he did see her.

"What?" She hissed, snapping the shoji doors shut behind her.

He smiled darkly. "Nothing."

Aiko strolled past him, not even sparing him a glance. She grabbed the discarded cover on the couch, and draped it over the Emperor's bed, starting to make his bed. "If I do this, he'll let me go quickly. There's nothing else to do." Aiko thought, smiling happily. Aiko turned around, adjusting her sleeves after she was finished. "I'll be going now." She started saying as she headed for the door.

As Aiko reached for the handle, she felt him grab her wrist. "I'm sorry but, you're my personal maid. You must spend the day with me." He whispered, pressing his body against her, his breath tickling her ears. She shivered and pulled away from his grip. The Emperor grinned. "Today I have a meeting with the court. You will have to stay behind me the whole time. Not moving or talking. Obey me and I will be tolerant," He stated, touching her injured cheek, his voice threateningly sweet.

Aiko gritted her teeth. "I will not obey you." She replied, trying to keep her cool. The Emperor's gaze hardened. His hand was as fast as lighting as he slapped Aiko again.

Always on the same cheek.

Aiko felt immense pain.

Before everything went black.