Perhaps, She Does

xɪɪ.

Present time. He placed the old thick manuscript on his office table before taking a seat. He heaved a deep sigh, massaging his temples before letting in his executive assistant. The latter one placed another batch of paperworks on his table and it means that he will need to stay at work all night to finish it. He asked for a cup of warm coffee but the doors opened and this brightened his whole day. A pair of tiny arms were wrapped around his torso.

"How's our little princess?" He asked before carrying her to sit on his lap. Two-year old Hanahime gave him a toothy smile. She was busy playing with her pink teddy bear that she received from one of his uncles when she turned one.

"Hello, love." Another figure walked in and this time, it was his wife. He smiled softly and he received a quick peck on his lips. He asked his executive assistant to prepare snacks instead. She was wearing a baby blue tulle dress, paired with high heels with the same color.

"I wasn't able to fetch you and Hanahime from the daycare. I'm sorry. Are you mad?" He asked and she chuckled softly before shaking her head. She placed down the small pink backpack on the couch as she took her seat.

"What's that?" She asked when she saw the old manuscript sitting on his office table. He handed it and she started reading. Hanahime looked at her and she got curious about what her mother was reading.

"I found that from my grandfather's chest. I tried to look for the ending but I wasn't able to find it. Maybe you should finish writing it?" He asked and Hanahime went to her mother's side while hugging her teddy bear.

"If I have time, I will try to finish it. This is historical fiction." She said while her eyes were set upon the old manuscript. He started reading the paperworks, signing it before placing it back in the folders.

The married couple has been together for almost three years and their first child is Hanahime. They were classmates from high school until they finished attending university and most of their friends were already married like them. Sho became the CEO of his father's company right after Hanahime was born while Fuyu became a full-time housewife. She had been wanting to be a career woman but she loves her family more than it. She placed down the manuscript on the coffee table and carried Hanahime to her lap since she kept on reaching for it. She hugged their daughter gently as if she was a teddy bear.

"Do you want me to cook dinner for tonight or should we eat outside instead?" She asked and he stopped for a while to think. The little princess stood on the couch and hugged her while asking if they could eat outside instead.

"Your princess is asking for something." She chuckled softly. Hanahime gave him a pair of puppy eyes and he couldn't say no to their one and only princess. He let out a gentle laugh and granted the little princess' request.

Later that night after the dinner, he told his wife that he would not be able to go home since he needed to finish everything first in order to have a whole week of vacation. Fuyu was carrying her sleeping daughter when she walked in their house. She turned the lights on but then, she felt chills down to her spine. She looked up at the huge portraits hanging on the wall and those were the photos of their ancestors. Until now, she couldn't believe that she looked like her great-grandmother. Perhaps, it was running in their genes.

She went to the bedroom and carefully placed Hanahime in the bed. She changed her clothes into sleepwear and then, she tucked her in. She went back to the living room to make sure that all the windows and doors were locked and when she arrived there, she saw a figure sitting on the couch. She clutched on her phone tightly and started calling her husband's number. She almost fell from her spot when she saw that it was him.

On the other side, Sho's phone started to ring and he quickly answered it when he saw that it was his wife. He asked what was wrong but he heard no one. This made him nervous, so he immediately took his things and rushed home. When he arrived there, he saw no one. He looked for them in the bedroom but there was no trace that they left. He also checked every room until he tried to call her back. He heard her phone ringing and he immediately looked where the sound was coming from.

"Fuyu! Hanahime!" He shouted as he slowly figured out where they were hiding. He heard her phone ringing and then, he opened the wardrobe. He sighed in relief when he saw them inside. Both were crying silently and Fuyu's eyes widened when she saw him.

"Run, Sho. Please run." She whispered while giving Hanahime to him. He was confused. He doesn't know what is happening and he doesn't want to leave her alone. She suddenly pushed him away and he started running as she instructed. He was already out of the house when he heard her screaming.

"My dearest winter.." He murmured to himself as he was staring outside the windows. Tears started to fall from his eyes, realizing that he would never have her again. He wasted a lot of time and chances to be with her. He was cruel. He was heartless.

He was the reason why she suffered. He was the reason why she lost her father. He was the reason why she walked away from him. He watched her leave the palace with her husband and their child. He had his chance to offer marriage when she was still into him but he let that chance go and now, he was suffering from the consequences of his actions. She looked up to him, knowing that he was there and staring at him. She could feel it. She could feel his love for her but she doesn't know how to accept it anymore as her heart already belongs to the man who saved her from everything.

"Goodbye, my beloved Sho.." She whispered while looking at him. He smiled faintly before turning away. Perhaps, that was the closure she needed before she could permanently leave Edo and live in another country with Higa and Hanahime.

"Mama?" Little Hanahime called her attention and she smiled softly before turning to look at her daughter. She cupped her cheeks and placed a kiss on her forehead. Then, they went inside the carriage to finally go back home.

"We can go home now, dear." She said gently to her husband and she received a quick kiss on her lips. She couldn't help but to chuckle while they were on their way back home. The little princess started talking about how delicious the food served during the celebration and she was glad that their daughter enjoyed it.

In a short while, they were able to arrive home safely until they heard a commotion not from afar. She called the helper to bring Hanahime inside the house and then, Higa urged her to go inside as well. She assured him that she would follow soon right after asking what was happening. They heard some people shouting, warning everyone about a woman who was carrying a katana.

"A woman?" She mumbled and then, she walked closer to the commotion until she felt something go through her stomach. She looked down and saw her white and pink kimono stained with her own blood.

"Fuyu!" Higa screamed and they recognized who just stabbed her with the katana. It was the Empress. The Royal guards rushed to capture the Empress and Fuyu fell on the ground while gripping tightly on her kimono.

It seemed like the Empress had gone insane. She pointed the katana to her neck and slit her throat, resulting in her to die after a few seconds. Higa carried her immediately and looked for someone who could heal her but it seemed every physician in the town was in the palace since the Empress also stabbed the Emperor with the katana. Both were in critical condition but the first one to give up was Fuyu. After that, they heard the announcement that the Emperor was already dead.