Chương 4: Chapter Two - The Crimson King (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion - "Imperial Dynasty by composer Derek Fiechter"

Kyou figured something was wrong with him. It started the second he laid eyes on that silver haired witch. The memory seared like a brand, as if it didn't happen two days ago. He didn't understand why he spared her life when he could have crushed her. Even now, his heart squeezed painfully at how she was defeated — like a lioness driven into a corner.

From the midst of the mayhem, he noticed a larger man standing over her. The stranger's insidious expression hinted they were acquaintances. He knew it was Kusunagi.

It dawned upon him that the entire ambush had been a set up to kill the Chieftess and to pin her death on the Emperor. Kyou hated being manipulated, especially by a duplicitous traitor. He may be indifferent but he wasn't merciless without reason. To annihilate one's own clan was nothing short of inhumane if you counted the number of innocent lives lost. Although, there was nothing innocent about the Chieftess who had the eyes of someone who had seen death — experienced it —and lived to tell the story. She reminded him of himself.

"You're distracted. You've lost three times today and you've never lost before," Rei drawled, tapping his fan impatiently against his thigh. "Or should I ask who is distracting you?" Rumors of the cold Emperor bringing home a strange woman had spread like wildfire. No doubt, the Kingdom would have heard it by now, Rei thought wryly.

"It's none of your business," Kyou muttered, shifting his attention back to the chess board. "What are you doing back so soon? You were supposed to be gone for a fortnight."

"Tsk, tsk," Rei reprimanded lightly. "And here I thought you would be glad to see me. The mission was easier than I expected and before I knew it, I'm home." He shrugged and leaned forward, his face a portrait of intrigue. "That's enough about me. I want to know about the Ashina clan massacre in Shiryuu. Word in the wind is that you are responsible for it."

"It's true. I would have wiped them out without a second thought if they were part of the rebellion but, Kusunagi got the better of me. He anticipated my arrival and took advantage of the melee to kill the Chieftess. His men ambushed us, and I became the perfect scapegoat for his devious plan. Unfortunately, the Ashina clan paid the price with their lives due to my blunder. It irritates me how a dishonorable traitor believes he has bested me!" His fingers curled into tight fists. "This will be the first and last time he will get away with it."

Kyou was notoriously unforgiving on traitors. "I assume you have a plan in mind?"

"I'm going to hunt him down. He'll regret using me for his dirty ambitions."

Rei whistled. "I pity this man who has curried your wrath." He cocked a brow expectantly, his eyes gleaming with interest. "But what is this I hear about a silver-haired maiden who currently resides in your bedchamber? It's not like you to bring back a wounded spoil."

"GUEST chamber," Kyou corrected promptly. "And she is of no concern to you. She will be gone once she serves her purpose."

"Kyou, you beast! What have you done with her?"

"I haven't done anything. Yet!" He growled in annoyance. "Why am I even explaining myself to you? The witch has nothing to do with you."

Rei's lips danced cheekily. "Witch? Well, this is getting more interesting by the minute. I haven't seen you so unsettled by a woman before. Usually they flock to you like sheep. I must introduce myself to her."

"No!" Kyou barked abruptly.

"Well, aren't you possessive?" His Commander's brows arched in surprise, though his eyes were dancing with mischief.

"Shut up, Rei." Kyou muttered peevishly. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

Rei openly chuckled at Kyou's agitation. He lived for moments to get a rise out of his austere Emperor. If it were anyone else, the Commander would have been executed for his impudence. "Alright, calm down. I won't pry. I'm off to collect my wife from my in-laws."

Kyou recalled his Commander was expecting his first child. Rei was already strutting with paternal pride, treating his expectant wife like a fragile possession.

"How does the Lady Saria fare?"

The mention of his wife had Rei grinning like a lovesick fool. No one would believe he was responsible for the death of thousands. Sometimes, Kyou was envious of his good friend's wedded bliss. To love, care and be responsible for another person's welfare, he wondered what it felt like. Tenderness and affection were as foreign to him as theoretical concepts to a fisherman. All his life, he was surrounded by conflict, death, and misfortune. There was no one to love him indefinitely and those who had, like his mother had eventually passed on. His own father died of a broken heart, and he was estranged from his half-brothers.

"She's getting rounder each day, and I cannot wait for our daughter to be born." His Commander's voice brought him back to the present.

"A daughter?" Kyou snorted. "Isn't that presumptuous of you? What if he's a son?"

"I want a little replica of my dear Sarai but," Rei hitched a shoulder. "If it's a boy, then I will love him the same."

"I hope he's a snot-nosed brat like you."

Hardly offended, the Commander laughed. "I'm counting on it because he or she will inherit my position one day."

Rei was the son of the dead Emperor's right-hand. Retired at an early age, Saburo left the post to his only son. Despite their age gap and contrasting status, Rei and Kyou easily became friends. When they were first introduced, Rei was a newly promoted Commander who recently married his childhood sweetheart.

The antithesis of Kyou, Rei was a breath of fresh air who had no difficulties expressing his emotions. Indeed, his Commander was the crutch he depended on to deal with situations that called for a compassionate nature. Kyou was too callous and straightforward, having scarred victims for life.

His thoughts drifted to the witch in his guest chamber down the hallway from his own. It was risky to put a stranger close by and his paranoia warned him she could be an assassin or enemy spy. Although, those slim arms and slight torso convinced him she wasn't a potential threat.

That fateful night, his body moved before his mind registered what he intended. He crossed the distance and scooped her frailness into his arms, uncharacteristically plagued by worry. He admitted the witch had courage…and maybe that was why he felt sorry if she had died. Kyou brought her back to the palace in her unconscious state and summoned the royal physician, while Jin threw a fit about the dangers she posed. Kyou was aware but, he refused to listen to the voice of reason. His unusual behavior perplexed even himself when the palace servants regarded him with bewilderment.

"Prepare the guest chamber next to mine and get her cleaned up." He ordered sternly, his voice brooked no room for argument. Even Jin couldn't get him to reconsider his recklessness. If Kyou didn't know better, his royal advisor would have killed the witch with his gaze alone.

After handling the Ashina plight, the next time he saw her, she was safely tucked in bed, her face scrubbed clean, and her extraordinary hair framed a heart shaped face. He took the opportunity to study her features, his heart beating faster the longer he stared.

For once in his hardened life, he felt something other than a chasm of emptiness. It was an indescribable emotion…stirring his senses. These unfamiliar feelings she evoked made him wary. And that was a feat because the Emperor of Xi was rarely intimidated. Caution seeped into his mind and instinct warned that this woman could change his life. It was a daunting thought.

Since then, two nights had passed. He wondered if she was awake. Apart from her injury, the royal physician diagnosed she had been sedated by the enemy. It made him suspicious of her relationship with Kusunagi. A twinge of uneasiness prickled at the thought of them being lovers. The idea made him want to howl with rage. But the hostility between them assured him they were not.

Kyou had a fact pinned down. If Kusunagi allowed the witch to live, then she was of value to him.

Well, it didn't matter because she would become his bait. All he needed was her cooperation to arrest the rebel leader, and he was positive she wouldn't refuse. Even if she did, he was going to force her hand because they now had a common enemy — Kusunagi.