Imprisoned to Love You [Edited]

♦⊱ Chapter 23 - Trouble Brewing ⊰♦

Ruka pov:

I woke up feeling refreshed thanks to a good night's sleep after two days of near-insomnia. I sat up while rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, glancing at the empty space beside me on the bed. I pouted slightly for Kichiro sama wasn't there, however, immediately blushed as I recalled the kiss that we had shared yesterday.

Sparing a soft laugh in fluster, I got off the bed to go to the bathroom and wash up for the day. As usual, dressing up was aided by Kyo chan followed by doing my hair in a simple hairstyle, though getting into the kimono dress was completed on my own thanks to having got the knack of it over the days.

I walked to the dining hall with a skip in my step, my smile widening when I spotted Kichiro sama already at the table waiting for me. He met my eyes when he heard me walk to him and I took a seat in his lap after a moment of flustered squirming. Breakfast was served as usual and we ate in comfortable silence. I ate slowly, enjoying the food while Kichiro sama waited patiently for me to finish after he was done with his meal. He then wrapped an arm around my waist and we stood before I stepped away from him so I could face him.

"Um, Kichiro sama?" I called softly, blushing and keeping my eyes averted to the floor. I could feel his penetrating gaze on me and I took the courage to look up at him though my lashes, "May I hug you?"

I noticed him twitch at my question but said nothing, only watched me silently. Assuming that he didn't mind me hugging him, I closed the gap between us and wrapped my arms around his torso while resting my cheek against his chest and shoulder. The content of this physical contact as well as the warmth of his body flustered me, rising a blush upon my cheeks. I involuntarily cuddled into him just as he wrapped his arms around me to hold me in return. My smile widened at that and we remained as we were for several minutes.

When I pulled away, I looked over his handsome features. I was tempted to reach up and touch his features but resisted. My blush darkened though, when his eyes darted to my lips. When he met my eyes again, I smiled more and raised my head a little. I closed my eyes and barely seconds later felt Kichiro sama's lips on mine.

I think Kichiro sama really liked kissing...okay, I liked kissing him too but for someone who was experiencing love for the first time in his life, I found it adorable that he had come to like this gesture. His kisses were soft though, tender and innocent, and it made me adore him even more. A man who was so intelligent, so skilled, and so powerful was so pure at heart and I just couldn't get enough of him.

It seemed to me that he was testing the situation. He was unsure of what we were doing, unsure of what he was doing, fear, hope, and perhaps even a sense of contentment clearly felt in the softest contact of our lips. He often copied what I did to kick the passion up a notch between us and it always had my heart racing and my mind completely muddled.

All said and done, I felt honored and jubilant that I held a special place in his heart and in his life.

I was sure that if Kichiro sama hadn't had a dark and unfair past, he would been the kindest and most affectionate person in this world. He would have been an emperor loved and supported by all. If he could be so kind, so gentle, and so generous with me when I had given him affection and importance, I could only imagine just how kind and generous he could have been if he had been loved for who he was while growing up. I'm sure there would have none who could even be compared to how much of an amazing person he would have been.

Well, he was still amazing now, even if he was overly stern in most matters.

I suppose I could say that I was a little selfish no matter what I had thought about. I was happy that I was the only one who got to see this gentle side of his, to be the one to receive this tender affection from him. It made me feel even more special than what I probably was.