Kaori hurries down the hall wiping the tears for her face until she unintentionally bumped into Tai, who was walking while looking out to his side at the small field of grass on the other side of the railing.

“Hey, watch it,” he says angrily. “Don’t you ever pay attention?”

She shakes her head and steps back quickly. “No... I’m sorry,” she says shaking her head. “Sorry.”

His eyes fixate on her with a blank stare. “What’s with you?”

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” She forces a small smile and starts to walk away.

“Hey,” he reaches out and grabs her wrist gently, surprised as Kaori had pulled away just before the pain of her touch could affect him.

She looks at him worriedly, both of them standing in a tense silence for a moment.

“I see,” he says quietly. “You’re getting married.”

“How did you-”

“Keiji,” he answers quickly.

She looks away. “It shouldn’t matter to you, right?”

“You’re really irresponsible, you know that?” he says suddenly, his expression irritated.

“If these people need someone to tell them to stop fighting then it’ll have to be this way,” she replies.

“So, you love him?” he asks looking down at her, already anticipating her answer. “Or the very least, you’re open to the option of growing to love him?”

She stays silent in contemplation for a moment before speaking in a timid voice. “I don’t know...”

“Then what good is it to show people you’re unhappy? Humans are idiots and they always will be until the end of time. It’s useless to try and help them understand,” he concludes bitterly.

“Aren’t you tired of them treating you as less than a person?” she asks sadly as she looked up at him directly.

“I’m tired of many things; being treated as less than anything isn’t really something that concerns me that much anymore. These people are unwilling to grow and just accept things because they’re written in a book or because a leader told them, instead of looking for an answer themselves. Don’t feel you should cater to that level of stupidity; it’s a waste of your time and effort.”

“Then, do you want me to say no?” she asks with uncertainty.

He stares at her for a moment then averts his eyes from her earnest gaze. “Tch. What does it matter what I say?” he says turning away from her. “You’re going to do what you want in the end anyway.”

She looks at him with a furrowed brow, yet still seeming curious about his intentions.

“But if you love him by all means, go ahead,” he adds with an annoyed tone of voice.

She stares at him as he walked away from her, his body language clearly frustrated with her. Her eyes seem to brighten as she came to a sudden realization and hurries the opposite way, stopping an armed guard to ask for directions.

❀

Keiji looks at Tai as they stood outside near the entrance of the palace later that evening. “What did she say?”

“She asked me if I wanted her to say no,” Tai responds with little to no interest.

“You told her no then, right?” Breeze asks eagerly.

“She wants to do it for peace then why not let her?” says Tai with a shrug.

“Because she isn’t going to be happy,” Breeze says seriously.

“Then that’s her problem,” Tai snaps back hatefully.

Breeze groans with frustration toward Tai’s curt response. “You’re so clueless do you know that?!”

“Then why didn’t you talk to her?!” Tai yells back just as frustratedly.

“That’s not what I’m talking about!” She sighs dramatically, clearly displaying her irritation.

Keiji puts his hand up lightly, causing them both to turn away from one another. “We’re not to push her but I would have rather you have said something that might have made her decision easier.”

Tai turns and looks at Keiji with a hint of annoyance toward him in his eyes. “I was as honest with her as she wanted me to be.”

Keiji sighs in response, holding back his own disappointment. “Well then, I suppose in the morning we will set off on our separate ways.”

“Eh? What really?” Breeze looks at Keiji pleadingly. “We can’t at least kidnap her or something?”

“It’s against the way we do things,” Keiji says with a small shake of his head. “As much as I would like to entertain the idea, we really shouldn’t.”

Breeze turns to Tai worriedly. “You’d really let her go like that too?”

“Again, it’s not my choice to make,” Tai says with little emotion in his voice.

“But would you want her to?” Breeze stares at him, the silence between them heavy.

Tai turns as he heard footsteps running toward him, then stumbles back as Vicious punched him suddenly.

“You asshole!” Vicious yells hatefully even more angry that Tai blocked his next attack. “How could you let her marry him?” continues Vicious, attempting to hit Tai again.

Tai looks at Vicious with pure hatred in his eyes as he backed away and caught Vicious’s fist in his hand with ease, pushing Vicious away hard.

Shomei quickly runs over to Vicious, assisting Breeze in pulling him away from Tai. “Vicious calm down!” Shomei exclaims.

“What did he do to deserve her?!” Vicious demands from Tai loudly.

“Stop talking about her as if she’s some sort of object!” Tai responds, his voice rising in anger. “She does what she wants and none of us have any right to stop her!”

“You said the same thing when it came to Akiko and if she listened to that stupid way of thinking she would have ended up worse!” Vicious fires back, his tone matching Tai’s.

“This has nothing to do with Akiko!” Tai shoves Vicious forcefully, his anger reaching its limit. “This is about Kaori! And if you even think for a second that anyone has any desire to see her just as miserable with him as she is with you, then you’re even more pathetic than I thought!”

“Tai...” Keiji interjects softly, a hint of warning in his voice.

Tai shakes his head stubbornly, distain meeting Keiji’s eyes before turning back to Vicious. “No, he wants to hear it then let me be the one to tell him. If I had my way she wouldn’t be with him, or you, or anyone else because everything you humans touch dies! But this isn’t my choice, or yours, or anyone else’s! It’s hers! Because she wants to be different from every other god that died for nothing. You want to make it seem as if I’m the one controlling her every decision, but you know damn well that it’s nothing but an excuse for your own shortcomings as someone who let a God die in his name.” Tai steps forward, his voice growing more intense as Breeze and Shomei released Vicious and stepped back. “You can never say anything about this girl being like Akiko because she isn’t, and the more you compare them the more she pushes herself away from the Temple and Noroc.” he clenches his fists at his side, glaring fiercely at Vicious as he held back the urge to hit him with evident difficulty. “You’re the one who killed Akiko by pushing those thousand-year-old lies on her, and no matter what, I will not let you do the same to Kaori, even if it means not stopping her from being with someone she has no feelings for.”

“You keep saying you’re doing nothing, then why is she with you?” Vicious asks darkly. “You might not realize it, but you have her wrapped around your finger and she’ll die in the end because of it, and we’ll be stuck here fighting to survive because you weren’t smart enough back then to justify your own actions either. You don’t deserve her presence and neither does the Emperor!”

Tai punches Vicious down hard, sending him crashing down, walking away quickly in anger right after, while saying nothing else as he left.

Vicious cleans the blood from his lip as he stood back up, simmering with anger himself.

Breeze looks between the two, torn as to what to do, then halts her movements toward Tai as Keiji placed a hand on her shoulder. “uh- but...”

Keiji looks at her knowingly. “Not now,” he advises softly, urging her to wait.

❀

Kaori bows thankfully as one of the servants lead her to the consult room she was looking for.

“Should I announce you, my lady?” he asks with a lowered head.

“No... I should be fine, thank you.”

“Do not hesitate to call if needed.” He bows deeply and walks away from Kaori hurriedly.

She looks at the door for a moment then knocks on it gently, only going in once directed by a familiar voice belonging to Soujirou.

“Enter!” says Soujirou in a loud voice.

She pushes the doors open seeing him sitting on a straw floor, the bottom of his robes spread out delicately around him in a way to ensure he was slightly more comfortable. “I’m sorry for the intrusion,” she says nervously.

Soujirou smiles looking please as he stood up in a effortless motion, the other man in the room with him standing as well. “Not at all, it is actually a very good chance for you to meet my most trusted General.” He motions toward the man lightly. “General Sudou,” he says calmly. “This is Lady Kaori.”

Sudou bows humbly. “A pleasure to meet you my lady. I wish to thank you for gracing Noroc with your presence and wish you well on your path to victory against Aduro.”

Kaori bows a little in response, not knowing what else to do. “Uh... Yeah...” She looks at Soujirou distractedly. “If you’re busy I could always come back,” she says quietly, almost as if she were too nervous to say what she was there for.

“Nonsense,” replies Soujirou with a smile “I promised you my full attention at any time and that is what you shall receive.”

Kaori looks at the General Sudou worriedly. “Is that alright?”

Sudou smiles warmly. “Of course. The call of a goddess is a rare thing to come by and should always be answered in a timely manner.” He turns toward Soujirou and bows once more in respect. “I shall wait outside my liege.” He walks out quietly, leaving the two alone in the room.

Stolen novel; please report.

“He is a very good man that I trust with my life.” He smiles reminiscently before looking down at Kaori. “I presume you are here to deliver me an answer, or have I been so lucky as to have been merely graced with your presence?” He asks with a smile.

“An answer,” she says hesitantly, anxious at the amount of attention he gave her.

“Are you sure you’ve had enough time? There is no rush.”

“I’m sure... I came here to tell you... I accept,” she says with difficulty.

He embraces Kaori suddenly, his actions showing how pleased he was.

She feels the weight of his robes on hers pulling her down but finds the strength to raise her hands up only slightly before deciding not to return Soujirou’s affections.

“At this very moment I can feel there is no man in this world who could be happier than I.” He moves away, but keeps his hands on Kaori’s shoulders lightly, looking at her with a new type of happiness in his eyes. “We must announce it as soon as possible, the people will be thrilled.”

“I just have somethings I want to ask of you first,” she says suddenly.

He places a gentle hand on Kaori’s face before leaning close and kissing her cheek. “Whatever it is you wish it will be done as long as the result is your smile.”

❀

Tai walks briskly down the hall, seeming to have a particular destination in mind until he sees Sudou standing outside the consult room, his posture alert, yet somehow relaxed, as he did so. “Sudou,” he murmurs quietly to himself, bitterly surprised as he saw him.

Sudou turns slightly, sensing Tai’s presence nearby and regards him with a serious gaze before approaching, his hand hovering near the sword at his side. “Interesting seeing you here. Especially with a goddess on the premises.”

“I was invited,” he replies dryly, his eyes conveying impatience more than the tone of his voice. “And you can put your hand down, there’s no use in it. Even you should know that by now.”

Sudou chuckles lightly. “Force of habit at the sight of you. Weren’t you rumored to have died five years ago?” he asks, disregarding Tai’s hateful glare. “Ah, is that why you’re here then?”

“It’s none of your business,” Tai replies sharply.

“Then the rumor I heard where you killed the leader of the New Reform must be true,” he says muses, changing the subject. “I wonder why you were there to begin with. Perhaps to take his place?”

“Are you done speculating? It’s getting old,” Tai asks, his patience wearing thin.

“Old habits die hard,” Sudou remarks, turning away from Tai casually. “I’d be careful here if I were you. Your past service to the empire can only get you so far.”

He watches Sudou place a significant distance between them with hate in his eyes before turning to the door. He pauses as if in thought, not noticing a grim smile on Sudou’s lips just before opening the door and walking into the consult room. He instantly notices Kaori looking down while Soujirou stared down at her with a kind smile and his hands on her shoulders. “Kaori,” he says louder than he intended to, causing her to look over at him with widened eyes.

Soujirou moves in front of Kaori lightly. “May we help you?”

Tai looks past Soujirou and directly at Kaori. “We’re leaving tomorrow. You’re coming with us right?” He asks simply.

Soujirou sighs lightly, speaking in a soft and gentle nature before anyone could say anything else. “I truly do wish you would try to respect my authority while you are in my home.” He looks over his shoulder at Kaori for only a moment before turning back to Tai. “I believe we were busy just now. Planning a last-minute wedding is a bit difficult.”

Tai returns Soujirou’s kind manner with a hard glare.

Kaori steps forward lightly, looking a little unsure as she looked at Tai directly. “It will be tomorrow morning. It would mean a lot to me if you were to attend,” she says quietly.

Tai stares back at Kaori and shakes his head, his expression indistinguishable between rejection and disapproval.

She looks down for a moment at his silent refusal before a maid hurried into the room, leaving her no time to process her own reaction.

“My lady, the room is ready for you,” says the maid with excitement in her voice that she was unable to hide.

Kaori nods as she looked at the maid and follows after her obediently while Tai turned away from Soujirou as his temperate voice broke the silence.

“She has requested your attendance personally. It would be a shame for you to miss it,” Soujirou says with a smile.

“She won’t be happy no matter what you do,” he replies coldly after a moment of silence.

“I’m well aware. But, just as you’ve done, I gave her an option,” responds, his demeanor never wavering.

Tai turns and looks at Soujirou angrily. “And what is she supposed to do? Deny you when you tell her she’ll be treated as a hated criminal for doing what she wants?”

“Is it not true? Everyone would cast her aside should she stay with Yaban. Try as we might, your kind still are the enemy in the eyes of many. I only seek to protect her from the masses, and if she wishes, the Temple as well,” Soujirou counters gently, his tone constant despite Tai’s growing resentment.

“It’s not your job,” Tai replies firmly, his brow furrowed in irritation.

“Then whose might it be Taiichiro?” he asks calmly, knowing Tai was becoming more agitated as he continued speaking. “Vicious? Keiji... Or perhaps you feel it is your duty to atone for your past and do so yourself?” He nods in understanding at Tai’s silence and walks toward the exit. “We all have our place in life, and believe me or not, my place will be with her at my side where I will always continue to love her in every way, no matter how she feels of me.” He smiles to himself at the thought. “The invitation will stand. You are more than welcome if you so choose to attend.” He opens the door and calmly walks out of the room, leaving Tai standing alone in the room to stare at the door in anger.

❀

Kaori looks into the mirror with vacant expression as the servants fuss around her, adjusting her long white wedding dress adorned with gold trim at each hem. A wide silk red sash encircles her waist, tied into a voluminous bow at the back, the fabric cascading elegantly behind her. “How does it look?” she asks absentmindedly, directing her question to the maids attending to her attire near her feet.

“Very becoming my lady,” remarks a maid with long flowing hair, her smile evident.

“Yes, it complements you perfectly Lady Goddess. It’s as if it were made specifically for you,” adds another maid, positioned behind Kaori.

Kaori raises her gaze as the door creaked open slowly, drawing the attention of the attending servant. “Huh?” Her eyes widen slightly as she caught sight of Vicious through the mirror’s reflection before turning to face him. “Vicious?” She studies his appearance carefully, noting his slightly disheveled appearance. “Are you alright?” She turns her attention to servants who had started speaking.

“Lady Kaori, no one should be disturbing you at such a crucial moment in our preparations. We are pressed for time for tomorrow’s ceremony,” the maid interjects with concern.

Kaori lowers her gaze briefly, then nods faintly. “I think he would like to speak with me for a moment. Besides, this is about as fitted as it gets.” She steps down from the platform she was on and walks over to Vicious. “What’s going on? Are you alright?”

“You really said yes?” Vicious asks before answering Kaori.

“Yes. Tomorrow morning is the wedding. I would like for you and the others to attend,” Kaori confirms with a somewhat sullen look in her eyes despite her attempts to remain neutral.

“You can’t marry him!” Vicious yells suddenly, his outburst filling the room with tension almost immediately.

“Sir Vicious!” scolds a maid from across the room, her tone firm yet offended at his words.

“It’s alright,” Kaori reassures with a gentle glance toward the maid, then turns her attention back to Vicious, her expression solemn. “Is there any reason I shouldn’t marry him?” she asks calmly.

“Because one day you’ll wake up next to him and realize you’ve made a mistake,” Vicious answers with a sense of sadness in his voice as he stared at Kaori in desperation for her to change her mind.

Kaori grips her hands together in front of her, her gaze dropping to her intertwined fingers. “Even so, it’ll be a mistake I’ll have to live with,” she says, meeting Vicious’s eyes with a blend of determination and sadness. “I hear a lot of people do these days,” she adds, shaking her head lightly. “Besides, I think I know what I’m doing, and all I ask is for you to trust me with the decision I’m making.”

He regards Kaori with a worried expression of his own. “I’ll try...”

Kaori smiles gratefully. “Can you tell me why you’re bleeding?” she asks softly, referring to Vicious’s lip that was tinged with a small amount of blood.

He touches his lip, noticing the small amount of blood that made its way to his hand. “Ah...”

“Were you two arguing again?” she asks in a gentle yet disappointed tone.

He shrugs slightly, offering no clear response to her question.

“I hope you two solve your differences one day,” she says plainly then turns as a male servant entered the room after a single knock.

“My lady, His Majesty summons you to the pavilion,” the male servant announces with a respectful bow in her direction.

Kaori steals one last worried glance at Vicious before speaking. “I really hope everyone can make it.”

❀

The next morning Soujirou stands on the balcony overlooking the city, observing the thousands of people on the ground below moving excitedly to get a better view of the ceremony that was about to take place. “There seems to be a lot of excitement coming from our announcement.” He turns and looks at Keiji and the others, excluding Tai as they stood behind him. “I’m glad you chose to attend. I’m certain it will make her happy to see most of you here,” he says, addressing them.

Breeze looks around with concern and curiosity, not seeing Kaori anywhere. “Where is she anyway?” she asks Soujirou.

“Last-minute preparations. She should be arriving shortly,” replies Soujirou casually, turning his attention to one of his servants as they spoke.

“Your Highness it’s time to address the people,” says the servant as he lowered his eyes from Soujirou respectfully.

Breeze leans over toward Keiji, keeping her voice low and between the two of them. “Hey, where’s Tai at?”

“He said he had something better to do, but he’s on the deck of the ship now,” Keiji replies with a smile.

“What the hell is his problem? He can’t be acting like this if he’s the one who encouraged her to make her own choices” Breeze says as she rolled her eyes, then turns her direction toward Soujirou as he spoke clearly to the people below.

Soujirou nods lightly and walks to the edge of the balcony looking down at the people below. “People of Noroc! Thank you for arriving to such a wondrous occasion. As you may know, our world is not yet at peace. In the same breath, you may have already heard the news that I have asked the goddess of the heavens herself to take my hand in marriage and she has graciously accepted. Together, with her at my side, we hope to bring peace to this world and ensure the safety of every one of you! After today, I ask all of you, please respect her as you have you have respected me, follow her with the same loyalty, and most of all... Be kind. For she is the reflection of all that is pure in this world. From now on not only will she be my wife, but she will also the influence of my greatest decisions, and, someday soon, the mother of your next leader!!” He smiles as he heard cheers and applause from the people below.

Breeze looks at Keiji worriedly. “A mother? Keiji.”

“She only asked for our trust. We have to support her,” Keiji says with slight worry, both of them unaware of Vicious’s growing anger from behind them as he clenched fists in anger.

Soujirou turns as a man dressed in heavy robes approached them and stood at a short distance.

“Your majesty,” says the priest with a respectful bow.

Soujirou nods lightly and walks over to him, standing at the priest’s side in preparation for Kaori’s arrival.

The priest motions lightly to the guards nearby to open the doors nearby. As the doors fully part, Kaori can be seen standing in the same elegant wedding dress she wore the day before, seeming as though she had been waiting for a while.

Kaori takes a deep, subtle breath before walking forward, keeping her disengaged gaze downward as the see through veil her face gently moved with each step she took. "I asked them to trust me, but right now I can’t even be so sure of this myself.” She looks up, hearing Keiji say her name in a soft and gentle tone that hung heavy with concern and worry.

“Kaori,” Keiji looks at her, knowing he got her attention as she gently stopped and looked over her shoulder toward him. “Is this what your heart wants?” he asks in the same quiet tone.

Kaori directs her eyes downward once more and nods once in confirmation before continuing to walk toward Soujirou to stop in front of him. She looks up at him, his doting expression warm and filled with a sense of love causes her heart to beat loud in her chest with guilt. She brings herself to a weak and hesitant smile in return of his affection.

“You are as radiant as ever,” Soujirou says with a sense of pride.

Kaori grips the flowers in her hands tightly, her mind wandering as the priest started speaking. “I can do this.” She glances over at the others’ sad expressions and offers a reassuring smile with a nod, then looks back at Soujirou. “I should have told them about this earlier. Their faces wouldn’t seem so worried now if I did.”

“As his majesty’s highest priest, I now pronounce you man and wife. Sire, you may now kiss your bride,” says the priest with a smile as he stepped back.

Breeze moves her hands to her face in apprehension. “Oh...”

Vicious turns his head away, looking angry to see Soujirou moving Kaori’s veil from her face and lean in slowly.

Kaori closes her eyes lightly, her face flushed as Soujirou placed a gentle hand on her chin and directed her upward before he kissed her lips so softly, it was as if he hadn’t kissed her at all. She turns away from him, her grip on the bouquet of flowers tightening as she stared down in embarrassment, the cheers and applause of the crowd below drowned out by her heightened emotions.

Soujirou smiles warmly, captivated by the charm of her reaction for a moment before turning and looking down at the people below once more, Kaori at his side. “Your new Empress!” He smiles happily as those below knelt in respect, then looks at Kaori. “Is there anything you would like to say?”

Kaori looks at the people below seeing many hopeful faces staring up at her in anticipation and nods lightly, stepping closer to the edge, looking down at the attentive crowd. “E- everyone. Thank you for your kindhearted welcome. I know a request was asked of you to always be kind to me but all I ask of you, all of you, is to care for each other,” she says sincerely unaware of Breeze and Keiji’s intense interest in her words as she continued on. “As you may have already known, I have trusted myself in the care of the Yaban before, even in the hands of someone who everyone has collectively decided to hate.” Kaori looks down at the flowers in her hands, thinking for a moment as a flash of regret showed on her face before she shook her head and redirected her attention back to the people below. “But I want to be an example. Whatever happened a thousand years ago is in the past. Right now, people shouldn’t be fighting with one another when something much bigger is out there feeding off that hate. We can’t continue to add fuel to the fire that is Aduro. From this day forth I want you all to remember this one request I ask of you. Learn from our mistakes, grow from the pain, and live as we should. After all these years of hurt, it won’t be easy, but if we all work together we can give hope to future generations no matter if they are human, Yaban, Temple followers or even those who find themselves somewhere in between. Please, treat each other with the kindness they deserve.” She bows lightly all of a sudden, taking Soujirou by surprise. “I hope you grant that request!”