“I cleared my afternoon for you, come meet me later, I have a surprise.”
Her heart raced in her chest, there was something in his gaze that made her both terrified and excited. What could it possibly be? She should tell him no, but he’d piqued her interest.
“Alright.”
He let go of her hand, and she jogged away before he could detain her further.
Ryuu joined her, jogging at her side. “Is he the reason you’re running late this morning?” Ryuu said with a quirked brow.
She shrugged. “No, there was a small altercation, nothing important.”
They reached Hikaru and Souta, who greeted her with quick bows, which she returned reflexively. Ryuu stood behind her, arms crossed over his chest. “I told you they’re never going to accept you if you keep fighting them.”
“Well, that’s fine with me, cause I have no problem with them hating me.”
Ryuu heaved a long-suffering sigh. At times he felt more like a father with his nagging than a teacher.
“What were you two talking about?” Ryuu murmured, his gaze flickering toward Kaito.
Her face heated with embarrassment. “Nothing, really.”
Ryuu gave her a disbelieving grumble.
Kaito hadn’t left as she expected but leaned against a nearby wall watching her. After months of avoiding him, her resolve was starting to crumble. He’d said he would make her come to him, and as much as she tried to fight it, she couldn’t deny the draw she felt. The least she could do was see what his surprise was, it couldn’t hurt, could it?
2
Kaito leaned against the armory building, his eyes trained on Suzume. When they’d first met, she’d been arrogant and stubborn. The first thing he had seen when he’d woken from centuries of sleep had been her. Shoulders squared as she confidently challenged him. But even then, he could see it was nothing but words and wind. Now every movement she made, even while talking with that bastard, Ryuu, was done with a head held high. She was no longer propped up by false confidence but with certainty. She threw her head back in laughter and playfully slapped at that bastard’s arm. It took all his self-control not to march over there and shove them apart. What did Ryuu want from her anyway? Begrudgingly, he’d allowed him to stay in his palace. But every moment he was around, it was like a knife twist reminding him of Kazue and her betrayal that gave that bastard life.
Ryuu and Suzume broke away from the group, and entered the sand sparring ring. He’d made sure that this place was repaired first. When she’d first come to the palace, Suzume’s power was growing but still needed mastery. Now, as she bowed to that bastard and took her place across from him, he could see her skill. On occasion, he’d broken away in secret to watch Suzume practice. And though he hated that bastard, he must admit he was doing an excellent job at teaching Suzume.
He leaned forward trying, to get a better view as the two opponents circled one another. Her form was good; her footwork still weak but improving. Perhaps it was time they sparred again; it had been months since they’d done so. Suzume thrust toward Ryuu, who blocked her, followed by a parry. Suzume stumbled a bit, and Kaito took a step forward. But before Ryuu could bring down a blow on her back, she had recovered and was on the offensive again. There was a fire in her gaze that was never there before, and he must admit it had a certain allure. The wood of their staffs clacked together as Kaito inched closer and closer to the edge of the ring. Ryuu’s staff struck Suzume, and she stumbled backward.
“You’ve got this!” Kaito shouted to Suzume.
She glanced over her shoulder toward him. And in that moment when she looked away, that bastard used it as a chance to strike. His staff caught her around the ankles, and she fell to the ground, the butt of his staff pressed to her neck.
“You need to focus more,” that bastard said with a menacing gaze.
Kaito strode over toward them, and shoved that bastard’s staff aside.
“Don’t you think you’re being too harsh.”
“Don’t you think you’re interfering too much?”
Kaito balled his hand into a fist, what he wouldn’t give to punch that bastard in his smug face.
“You’re interrupting my practice,” Suzume said, placing herself between Ryuu and Kaito, her arms crossed over her chest.
He clenched his teeth to hold back an argument, she was too stubborn and too blind to his kind gesture, just as she had been with the hitotsume. He knew she didn’t need him to fight her battles, but he wanted to defend her and protect her from the dangers of his world. But how quickly she jumped to his defense crawled under his skin and continued to pick at his insides like carrion. Couldn’t she see he was doing this for her?
“My mistake,” he said, taking a step back and out of the ring.
Suzume turned her back to him, and faced that bastard instead. “We should get back to work.”
Fists clenched, Kaito slunk back to the fringes of the sparring ground. But he wasn’t going to let this go quite so easily. And instead, he stalked the perimeter of the sparring ring, eyes trained on Ryuu. Who, much to his agitation, refused to acknowledge him. When Suzume would glance in Kaito’s direction, he’d give her a sharp rap. The same sort of knock Kaito would have given one of his subordinates if they weren’t paying attention.
He’d given her space, because he thought that was what she needed. Suzume didn’t like to be told what to do. And at times, he found her stubbornness charming. But the glacial pace at which their relationship had been progressing, was starting to wear upon him. He’d held himself back, thinking with time and patience she would come to him. But as he had given her space and focused on restoring the palace to its former glory, this bastard had used the opportunity to get his claws into Suzume, monopolizing her time and turning her against him. That would end today, he was done waiting.
After an agonizing eternity of pacing and waiting, her training was over. A rosy glow graced her cheeks, and sweat plastered tendrils of her hair to her forehead. That bastard reached up and stroked Suzume’s head. His hand lingering on her crown, and she looked up at him and smiled! A smile that should have been reserved for Kaito. That was enough. Kaito strode across the yard toward them. How dare that bastard casually touch her, and why didn’t she knock his hand away? She didn’t have feelings for that bastard, did she?
Kaito grabbed that bastard by the arm and yanked him away from Suzume. The bastard met his gaze. Kazue’s eyes. It was Kazue’s dark eyes staring out of that bastard’s face. At times it was easier to pretend, but there was no denying it; this was her son. The bastard shook free of Kaito’s grip.
“Practice is over, now she’s mine,” Kaito said to Ryuu as he grabbed Suzume by the shoulder, pulling her closer to him.
She wriggled in his grip, tugging herself free. “I’ve only just finished, can’t you give me a minute to catch my breath at least?”
“She doesn’t belong to anyone,” Ryuu said with a threatening edge to his tone.
That bastard. Maybe he’d given him too much leeway, made too many concessions to him for Suzume’s benefit. Perhaps it was time he taught him a lesson.
“I hope you didn’t presume to challenge me.” Kaito bared his teeth at the bastard.
“When I do, you’ll know.” He stood up straighter, trying to make himself look more intimidating. It would be easy enough to destroy him; as a half-breed, he wouldn’t have even a tenth of his strength. Kaito smirked to think of the look of humiliation on the bastard’s face when he brought him to his knees.
“You two can fight it out, I’m going.” Suzume flapped her hand as she slipped past him.
He was lucky Suzume walked away. The bastard’s lesson would have to wait for another day. With one last glare at the bastard, Kaito followed after Suzume, jogging to catch up with her.
Threading his fingers with hers, she glanced up at him, eyes wide but didn’t protest or pull away.
“Come, I have something to show you.”
They strode throug
h the courtyard, and the yokai parted before them. Some bowed, others reached out to touch the hem of his sleeve. Everywhere they went, the whispers followed, Kaito held his head high. He reveled in their attention not just for himself, but for Suzume as well. Never before had a yokai publicly taken a human as their lover. In the past, it had happened in secret. The children of such unions reviled and ostracized. That was why Kazue had betrayed him after all. Perhaps if he had not kept Kazue in secret, tried to undermine her power, things would have been different.
He shoved those thoughts away. Kazue was gone, and he wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. Some among his subjects disagreed with his choice of partner, but all of them could agree Suzume was powerful and worthy to stand at his side. While he had slept, the world had changed, humans ruled, and if the yokai were to survive, they would need to adapt. And Kaito would lead the charge into this new era.
“Is the surprise humiliating me in front of all the yokai by parading me around like your pet dog?” Suzume asked, her gaze flickered furtively to the yokai that crowded the halls.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about, you are my woman, the envy of every other woman in my kingdom.”
She snorted, but he ignored her. It had taken time and planning, but after today she would have no reason to not walk with her head held high.
Past the crowds, they entered into the inner ring of the palace. Where only his innermost circle of trusted advisors could enter. It was quieter here, and outside the prying eyes of the court, Suzume exhaled. Just beyond the first row of buildings, their first surprise awaited. Kaito tugged Suzume along, bringing her to the inner courtyard garden. As they approached, the perfume of sakura blossoms filled the air.
Suzume gasped, letting go of his hand to approach the blooming tree. “How can they bloom in winter?” She reached for a low hanging branch, her delicate hands red and chapped.
“I asked Hikaru for a favor, he used his mastery of plants to coax this tree to bloom,” Kaito said plucking a blossom and putting it in her hair.
She stroked the petals of the flower, as she stared mouth agape in wonderment at the tree. “It’s beautiful, this was the surprise you wanted to show me?” She turned toward him. Her expression one he’d never seen before, it was softer than usual, unguarded and beautiful. It took all his self-control to not kiss her right then and there, but this was only the first part of his surprise.
“I heard they were your favorite.”
She turned back toward the sakura tree, but he caught the flush of color on her cheeks though she tried to hide it. “You didn’t have to do this...”
“That’s not all,” he grabbed her hand again, leading her up the steps.
“There’s more?” she asked, her voice rising with excitement.
“Turn around and close your eyes.”
A single brow rose. “Are you playing a trick on me?”
“I promise, it’s not a trick.” He spun her around and covered her eyes with one hand. “No peeking.”
She wriggled in his grip, her body shimming with excitement, and with his free hand, he slid the door open. Then carefully led her into the room beyond. When the master carpenters had arrived, he’d set them to the task of building this room to adjoin his own. It boasted a large sleeping platform draped in hanging curtains to give privacy, a sitting area large enough for entertaining, a balcony overlooking the ocean and a door which connected this room with his own, allowing them the freedom to meet without risking being seen by the prying eyes of the court. In the center of the room, silken kimono and jewelry had been laid out as well.
“What is it, the suspense is killing me?” Suzume squirmed in his grasp.
Kaito led her to the center of the room. “Ready?”
She nodded her head vigorously. “Just let me open them already.”
Kaito chuckled before removing his hand and stepping back so he could see her expression as she took it all in.
Suzume skimmed the room with her eyes, her smile fading as she did. Was it not enough? Should he have given her more silk and jewels?
“What is this?” Suzume asked.
“I had this room made for you,” Kaito said, gesturing around the room.
Arms wrapped her upper half, her gaze traveled around the room, they rested on the silk and jewels. She took a few steps toward them, and stooped down to pick up a jeweled hairpin. A single bell dangled off the end of it and delicately chimed as she picked it up. Without a word, she set it down, picked up the silken kimono with the pattern of cherry blossoms on a dark purple background, and frowned.
“Do you like it?” Why wasn’t she saying anything, she’d been in awe of the cherry blossoms, and he thought she would be ecstatic over the gifts.
“Why did you give me these things?” she asked quietly.
“Do I need a reason?” He stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her, but as he tried to pull her close, she slipped out of his grasp, and she walked over toward the door, which connected the two rooms.
“Where does this room lead to?” She asked. He couldn’t get a proper read of her expression. She should be excited, shouldn’t she?
“It connects our two rooms,” he purred and stepped closer to her, but as he did, she put up her hand.
“Before when you said I was your woman, what did that mean?”
“What are you talking about?” He tried to tame the irritation in his voice.
“Just answer the question.” Her gaze flickered over him.
“I think you know what I meant by that; I’ve been patient, haven’t I?” He stalked closer to her, and she backed away until her back was against the wall. She tilted her head back to look at him. He pinned her to the wall as he leaned against it over her. “You’ve been playing hard to get, but I’m done playing, Suzume, I want you.”
He dipped his head down to capture her lips in a kiss.
“What am I to you, a consort, your concubine?” she asked as his lips ghosted over hers, there was a catch in her voice.
“You are whatever I say you are.”
She shoved him hard and caught him by surprise as he stumbled backward.
“You can’t buy my affection with presents, and I won’t be anyone’s concubine. Ever.” Suzume turned on her heel, storming out of the room.
Buy her? What was she saying? Kaito chased after her. “Suzume, come back here!” he growled.
But she ignored him, retreating into her room across the courtyard where she slammed the door shut.
He could chase after her, force her to explain herself, but there was no use. It wouldn’t make a difference. He roared in frustration, and retreating into the room, he upending the chest of jewels and silk, the items scattered around the room, and it did little to soothe his temper. Even Kazue, who’d resisted him on their first encounters, had not been this infuriatingly stubborn. When would she stop running away from him?
There was a knock at the door, and Kaito spun around prepared to rip the head off whoever it was that dared to speak to him.
Shin, an okami and his best friend, leaned against the doorframe. “Did I come at a bad time?” he asked with a hardly repressed smirk.
“Don’t get me started,” Kaito snapped.
“Then I wasn’t mistaken in that I just saw Suzume storm out in what looked like indignation.” Shin’s smirk only infuriated him further. When he had first returned to swear himself into Kaito’s service after freeing himself from his old master, Kaito had been relieved to have him back. But right now, he was questioning whether or not to murder him.
“She’s impossible. I bought her every gift she could have wanted, jewels, silk, I had this room remodeled just for her. But does she thank me for any of it? No!” Kaito paced around the room, and tried very hard to resist the urge to kick and tear the entire room apart.
Shin picked a silk kimono, running it over his clawed hand. “You’re really using these old tired tricks on her?”
“What would you have done differently
?”
Shin shrugged a shoulder. “Presents were never my style, I have other ways of seducing a woman.”
“Don’t let Akane hear you talking like that,” Kaito said, halfheartedly. But Shin had nothing to worry about him and his mate, Akane, their bond was strong.
“I imagine it wasn’t the presents that sent her running off in a huff,” Shin said.
“That’s the thing, I don’t know why she insists on running from me. Everything was going exactly as I planned, and then she asked me what I thought she was. Shouldn’t it be obvious?” Kaito growled low in his throat.
Before, when he’d been the ruler of all Akatsuki, he’d have any woman falling at his feet. Chasing wasn’t necessary; they came to him. Could she have feelings for that bastard, Ryuu, had he read her wrong and she wasn’t interested in him?
“What did you tell her?”
“Tell her what?” Kaito asked, running a palm over her face.
“When she asked what she was to you?”
“I don’t remember, we were just talking, and she mentioned being my concubine…”
Shin shook his head and tutted. “You told her she wasn’t a concubine, didn’t you?”
“No... why would I? I’ve had countless lovers and concubines, all of them were eager for the role. Even her mother is the concubine of the human emperor...”
And then it hit him like a ton of stones, the reason Suzume had been so angry wasn’t because she didn’t want to be with him. It was the term consort. The jewels, the silk, even this room, it was all hollow with a title. This wasn’t about gifts, this was about a title, if he were going to make her his, he would have to make her his empress.
3
Suzume’s feet pounded on the sand. Her breathing ragged. Just a bit further. Just a little faster. The ocean roared as the waves crashed over one another, before reaching toward the shoreline, dragging sand and shells under the endless churning cycle. Suzume timed her breaths, as she put one foot in front of another. She needed to focus her thoughts on just her breaths, her stride, the swing of her arms. Don’t think about the silk, or the jewels. Sea spray splashed across her face. Don’t think about that door that connected those two rooms.
The Fractured Soul Page 2