A Heart That Belongs to Him

14: Leaving Home

~Heian Era~

Sukuna 13, Kosuke 15

The farm they lived on was always quiet. The only sound was ever the birds chirping, the wind blowing, or a small trickle from the stream nearby. It was peaceful, quiet, everything Kosuke loved. She would never give up her quaint home for anything.

Until one day, a letter came from the emperor. How that happened, Kosuke had no idea.

Ryomen snatched the scroll from her hand. "Do you really think you're so important that the emperor himself wants something from you?" He walked behind her, looking at the still rolled up scroll in his hand.

Kosuke sat on the small deck of her home, looking at Ryomen out of the corner of her eye. "I'm sure it's not for me, that's why I'm waiting for mother and father before I read it."

"But it's addressed to you."

"I don't care, maybe it was addressed wrong."

Ryomen sat down next to her and handed it back. He hated how tall she still was. She was fifteen now and he was thirteen. But at least she was probably done growing, standing at 182 centimeters Ryomen hoped she was done growing. She was taller than just about everyone at the village.

"You don't think the emperor is sending guards to arrest me, do you?" Kosuke asked, a certain nervousness hidden behind her voice.

Ryomen scoffed. "No. He wouldn't send you a letter."

"Of course." She shook her head. "But you don't think it's anything bad do you?"

"I'm sure it's fine." He took her hand without really thinking about it and squeezed it.

Kosuke looked down at their hands, a warm feeling growing in her chest. When they were younger, her being older than him didn't really matter, she always envisioned marrying Ryomen. She had grown up with him, her parents obviously liked him, she found him handsome, and she loved him. It was an easy choice. But now that Kosuke was practically at marrying age and Ryomen was still a boy she couldn't see him as anything but a friend. There wasn't a single non-platonic feeling in her bones when she looked at him. It scared her. What if when she got older, she would never love him again? Everyone else looked at him like he was a monster, no one would ever love Ryomen the same way she had, unconditionally.

The sound of wood clogs hitting the gravel came from in front of the two. "What are you two doing?" Her mother asked with a smile. She was always encouraging the two to grow closer. Unlike her father, her mother wanted the two to end up together.

Ryomen and Kosuke were both quick to let go of each other's hand and scooted away from each other. Kosuke slipped her shoes on and took a step towards her parents.

"I have a message from the emperor." Kosuke held the scroll out to them.

"What?" Her father took the scroll from her.

"The emperor? What does it say?" Her mother looked over to the scroll.

"I haven't read it yet. It's addressed to me, but I think it might be a mistake."

Her father looked down at the scroll, hitting it against his hand. "Here." He handed it back to his daughter. "It's yours to read."

She took it and opened it. Her eyes scanned the scroll, widening at every word. "Oh my-" Kosuke gasped.

"What is it?" Her mother took slow steps towards her.

Kosuke closed it. "It's nothing, not a big deal." She walked towards their house, wanting to go in and forget about the content of that message.