[KIYOMI]
"You look so beautiful," Kiyomi said as she stared into Sakura's eyes. She had been watching the Lycan queen for a while, and while it was something that Sakura wasn't used to, the Lycan queen had no complaints this time.
She was just glad to be here on the same couch as Kiyomi. She loved that Kiki had not pressed on the issue of pets because even the goddess knew Sakura didn't have a reasonable explanation for what she had done.
Otaru had warned her against it, and she had tried to forget.
But that way, before she had seen Izanami Watanabe in her courtroom.
Perhaps that was something that Sakura had always needed to understand, that at the end of the day, there would always be solutions to whatever problems they had or she had. She would be alright, yeah?
"I stink," Sakura whined as Kiyomi held her close.
She had been trying to get herself into the showers to clean up, but Kiyomi had insisted on sitting on the couch with her. Of course, Kiki wanted to eat her out, but Sakura felt insecure, which was new for a woman who had been pleasured by her pets barely days ago.
Then again, her pets were not Kiyomi. Sure, the contract was supposed to claim it, but for Sakura, Kiyomi was different. She was a bright light in her life and she was about to screw it up, not for anyone or anything.
So, they had settled on staying on the couch, which was still something that bothered Sakura. She wanted to be clean for Kiyomi and that didn't seem to be a bother for the good doctor.
Maybe it was because she had seen Sakura in worse states, or maybe because she just wanted to spend her time with Sakura for as long as they could. Besides, the realm wasn't exactly thrilled about their union anyway.
"And I love you, my sweet rebel," Kiyomi said.
Sakura couldn't help the way her face flushed at the little compliment. She had missed Kiyomi so much, and she wasn't sure what to do now that they had grown some space. But then that was also alright because Kiyomi wasn't asking for anything.
She just wanted to be with her Erasthai, even if it was in silence for the longest time.
"But—"
"You're okay. You don't have to worry about anything. But if you really need to take a bath, I'll come with you," Kiyomi offered politely, knowing that if that happened, they would probably spend days in that shower.
It was sediment on her face, and the tiny smirk she gave Sakura, something that made the Lycan queen suddenly change her mind.
"Honestly, I wasn't even that stinky. I could just freshen up with my magic, and we will be fine," Sakura said as Kiyomi stared at her amusingly. She loved the woman beside her, and it was the one thing that had kept her sane for months.
"Come, lie beside me," Kiyomi offered.
Sakura was tempted to say no, but she wasn't sure how long it would be before they got to do this again. Their lives were slowly getting complicated, and they knew it too. This was what anyone would call a fleeting moment, only that for the two of them, nothing was fleeting about this.
This was their bond.
Their love.
Their union.
This was something they would fight for, regardless of what happened along the way. They would get to their destination together, and happiness was the one thing that they had promised to give each other.
"Petal…" Sakura began once she was settled in Kiyomi's arms. He loved her and wanted to stay and spend more time with Kiyomi. She wanted this to be their routine, just like it had been before Sakura had gone back home again.
She wanted this to be something that was theirs and theirs alone, but there were so many forces that were fighting against their union. Forces that neither of them could control.
It was like walking into hell, and the only thing there was ruin and more ruin. It wasn't ideal for them. And they knew that, too.
"I'm here. You can tell me," Kiyomi urged, and Sakura let out a soft sigh.
"It's been hard coming back to you," Sakura said softly, her voice almost fading that if they both didn't have Lycan hearing, they wouldn't have caught it. But then it is their reality right now. This was their truth.
"Is that why you hurt Izanami, so you could come over and supervise her healing?" Kiyomi asked as she stared into Saki's gentle eyes. The Lycan queen was staring at her like Kiyomi Kimura was her world, and she would do without her.
It was a new look, one that Kiyomi hadn't ever seen in Saki's eyes, but also one that she knew so well. That right there was the stare of longing, of desire for something so hard to get into and through.
That was something that would cost them a lot and as they looked at each other as Kiyomi held that tender gaze, she knew that eventually decisions had to be made.
"I found a way… but you will hate me for it," Sakura said.
Kiyomi listened, playing with Sakura's hair like this was just them talking about what life had become, without the pressures of the fact that one was a queen and the other a rogue who had nothing to keep her sane in Doiwa.
It was almost like they were normal, but normal was overrated. Wasn't it?
"You are a queen, Saki. And I am a rogue. They are just some things that we won't ever agree with, regardless of how much we love each other. It is a normal I have come to accept because no matter what happens;
"... I will always love you," Kiyomi said, even though deep down she hoped that it wasn't something that would break her already shattering heart. She couldn't imagine what it was that Sakura was about to talk of, and honestly, she wished that it wasn't as bad.
Then again, her mind raced back to the high guards he had crossed over. To Otaru and the skepticism on his face. And even Izanami, whose rage-filled eyes had done nothing to mask the pity she had in her eyes for the woman who was meant to fix her up.
It was like the universe was playing a game that would only ever end up with Kiyomi hurt and damn was Kiyomi worried. But even then, she masked her scent so she wouldn't come off as scared.
She didn't want Sakura to worry about her any more than the woman already was.
"Doiwa is coming after you, petal. The laws, the council members push for so many reforms. There are whispers at court about the ministers wanting me to take on a new Erasthai and prove to them that you mean nothing to me," Sakura said carefully.
Kiyomi stiffened.
She should have expected this. The kingdom of Doiwa was known for its power and there had never been an instance when the royals ever got to mate the rogues.
It was one of the many things that Sakura had loved about it. The power that came with oppressing the rogues… until her fated mate was a rogue. And now she didn't know how to think.
"I am coming to hunt you, officially… after you treat Izanami," Sakura breathed defeatedly.