The Emperor's Strange Wife ✔

7

As Zima was sleeping the cart went to a sudden halt. Zima woke up from the sudden stop and glanced around sleepily.

"We are here," Aki said the carriage door open and the ninja on the horse helped Aki down. Zima was helped out next. As she stood on the ground for the first time in hours she stretched, they were standing on sand, and it was already getting in Zima's shoe. Zima could hear the waves crashing, and saw tropical trees. It was night and the moon glistened. The moonlight gave Zima's beautiful dark brown skill toward sparkle. Aki's long ponytail seemed to sparkle as well. The ninja bowed and Aki dismissed them to leave.

"Did you get any sleep?" asked Zima.

"No." Aki started to walk towards the water.

"You're not tired," Zima called out. She looked around and saw a nicely built hut near the carriage. It was where Zima and Aki were going to be sleeping together in. Zima started to get nervous again.

"I hate sleeping, its when the bad things come," Aki replied. Zima had no idea what that meant.

Zima started to walk towards him and she put her hand on his shoulder. "You need rest, after all the work and travel."

Aki didn't turn around. "You shouldn't exhaust yourself," she continued.

"Are you ashamed of me?" Aki asked still staring out in the ocean.

"Huh?" Zima said confused

"Are you ashamed of me, I'm a man that's scared to fall asleep because of nightmares. Are you ashamed?"

Zima gasped, "Of course not, Why would I care about that. We all have dealt with such pain in our life that it's perfectly normal to be afraid of something. Besides I have to tell you something that you might not like and be ashamed of."

Aki finally turned around. "What," he asked with a questionable expression.

"I know you were looking for nice woman and wife, but my family never told you that I'm not a virgin. I have slept with other men before, I'm sorry." Zima said with guilt in her throat. 

Aki stared back at her, "I never said I was looking for modest women, I don't care how much men you slept with, I was only looking for a woman who stood by my side. And you have been doing nothing but that, you have nothing to apologize for. I would never be ashamed of you for falling in love with someone before me. But your all mine now, and I'm all yours, the past is the past."

Zima relaxed, "If only people were more understanding like you." She went up to him and linked her arm with his.

"I'm guessing your parent s were not happy with you breaking your virginity before marriage," Aki said.

Zima bit her lip, "They weren't, especially my father when he saw me wake up that morning naked, with blood on the sleeping bed. He knew what happened. He didn't know who it was because the boy I thought I loved disappeared before I woke up. But my father didn't care who he was, he just thought I had lesser value because I was no longer a virgin. He called me so many names and didn't talk to me for weeks. He humiliated me, and no one in the village talked to me. My mother forced me to go to these religious ceremonies that were supposed to clean me from the demons that possessed me. I was so close to almost killing myself. But I was not gonna give up, and I'm glad I didn't give up." Zima looked up at Aki and smiled at him. Of course, he didn't smile back and remained emotionless.

Aki was quiet for about five minutes till he spoke again, "Remember what I told you, what we say between each other stays between each other."

Zima nodded.

Aki and Zima started to walk to the hut, "I want you to know who I really am, and what has really happened to me."

Zima tensed up but didn't show off any part that she was scared. Aki first bent over and entered the small door into the hut. Zima did the same. Inside the hut was much bigger than expected. The beds were made. There were two chairs and a table, and including some space for relaxing or meditating.