The Emperor slowed down, his eyes catching sight of Tachikaba.

A small spark of joy lighting his heart.

"Tachikaba!" He yelled happily, walking closer to her. She smiled elegantly, her eyes shining like the ones of a vixen. Even her happiness was polished and elegant. A true lady.

If her cousin had been running towards her, Aiko would have yelled and enclosed him in a hug. But, of course, Lady Tachikaba was more reserved. Only a small part of her immense joy showing. "Hisato, finally getting married I see," she said. Her tone subtly teasing.

"Ha ha, very funny," the Emperor joked with sarcasm dripping from his words. Aiko felt a stab pass the dense fog surrounding her heart. The Emperor was never that happy to be around her.

"And I must say, you're bride is very nice." She said, pointing with her fan to the empty shall that was Aiko.

Aiko blinked a few times and smiled, trying to activate her life source. But she couldn't manage. The kiss shared by the Emperor and his favorite concubine shattered her happiness. She couldn't be happy. It felt like she was trying to light a paper on fire in the middle of the storm drowning her heart. Impossible.

"Yes, She's very...lively..."The Emperor said. His eyes searching for a spark of something, anything in her eyes. Joy, hate, anger, disinterest. But there was nothing. He quickly slithered to her side, passing a hand on her waist.

The Emperor shivered. Aiko was cold. As cold as a corpse. Stiff like a board. She wasn't leaning in him either. The smell of poppies seemed to have left only a faint trace of rotten flowers.

"Where's Hashimoto?" The Emperor asked. Aiko looked up like him, the curtain covering her eyes barely lifting, a question written in her eyes.

Who's this Hashimoto?

"Tachikaba's husband," he whispered in her ear. Aiko nodded gently.

A calm silence enveloped them. The gurgling of a small river and the almost non existent pitter patter of the flower blossoms falling on the floor was the only thing breaking this silence.

"Tachikaba!" A loud and clear voice rang through the garden. Shattering the peaceful silence. The small group turned around.

A long and slim figure was approaching them.

Tachikaba smiled. She snapped open her fan, raising her hand and waving her golden fan back and forth.

The man came closer. The distance shortening, making his face clear.

Clear eyes

A slim nose.

Sharp jawline.

He looked a lot like the Emperor.

"Honey," Tachikaba said, slinking closer to the person Aiko realized was Hashimoto.

"My beautiful rose," Hashimoto said. His eyes sparking with joy at the sight of his wife.

Aiko widened her eyes. Her heart squeezing.

The Emperor felt her tremor slightly. He stared at her as she regained a brief flash of light in her eyes. The red flecks becoming clearer. Her soft scent seemed to explode around her. Her body becoming warm.

The Emperor assisted at this transformation in shock. Her fire seemed to be flickering back to life.

"M-My b-beautiful...rose..."Aiko stuttered. Her teeth almost glued together. She used the forces of three gods to speak.

The Emperor stared at her, trying to understand what those three words could mean.

While the Emperor tried following Aiko's fast paced mind, Aiko was feeling her world close in.

The sky seemed to crush her. The air heavy. She couldn't breathe. Her chest falling and rising frantically. Cold sweat rolling down the sides of her face. Shivers shaking her body.

"Aiko?" The Emperor asked worried.

Aiko didn't hear, lost in her memories.

A beautiful boy stared at her. He had long brown hair. Grey eyes, a perfect nose. A remarkably beautiful jaw line.

"Who are you?" Aiko asked. The boy snickered.

"I should ask this question." The boy grinned. "It's fine by me. I'll call you my beautiful rose then."

"My beautiful rose...."

"My beautiful rose..."

"My beautiful rose..."

"He's my knight..."Aiko whispered in shock. Her heart thrumming against her ribs.