Imprisoned to Love You [Edited]

♦⊱ Chapter 24 - Surprise ⊰♦

Ruka pov:

>>Dream

Having got ready after a sumptuous meal, I walked to Kichiro sama's study with a skip in my step. He had said he would be taking me to the market today and I was excited. I planned to enjoy my date with Kichiro sama and eat some delicious snacks and perhaps even visit the local games store.

When I reached his study, I knocked. I heard no response from the other side though so I knocked again assuming that he hadn't heard me knock. I still didn't get a response which made me wonder if he wasn't in his study. Shrugging, I pushed the doors of his study open and peered inside.

"Hello? Kichiro sama?" I called then frowned when I saw him sitting on his knees on the floor.

I walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder while calling his name again, however, shrieked in horror the moment he lifted his face a little to look at me. Blood trickled from the side of his lips and he was as pale as a ghost. Panicking, I fell to my knees next to him while holding his shoulders. He coughed violently, spewing blood across the floor in front of him and it sent me to near-hysteria.

"No, Kichiro sama!" I hollered when he fell against me limply, his eyes closed, his breathing weak, and more blood trickling down his chin.

"Someone! Please help! Someone help me!" I cried out loudly, desperately hoping for someone to help Kichiro sama but all I heard in return was deep laughter.

Turning my head to the sources of laughter, I saw Kichiro sama's ministers watching me with mad grins, four of whose faces were recognizable. Chuckling more, they said in unison, "You killed him! You killed Lord Kurai! You poisoned him!"

My eyes went wide and my heart raced. "No, I didn't do it! It wasn't me!" I hollered, looking back at Kichiro sama in my arms who was no longer breathing. My breathing quickened and I shook him, desperately hoping that he would wake from my voice, "No, Kichiro sama! No, no, please!"

"He's dead! He's dead and you killed him! You killed Lord Kurai! And now, you will die too!"

>>End Dream

I sat up with a start, my breathing quick and my heart racing a mile a minute. Tears fell from my eyes with no control and I blinked rapidly while looking around only to realize that I was in our room, in our bed, Kichiro sama alive and well as he slept next to me.

Energy seemed to drain out of me and I slumped, closing my eyes. I had just had a nightmare...thank goodness what I had seen was all just a bad dream.

I opened my eyes to gaze at Kichiro sama – he looked so handsome in the moonlight, his features calm, his breathing deep. He was absolutely unaware of what his ministers were plotting. Though I was sure he could protect himself, I didn't want to give even the slightest advantage to those ministers to catch him off guard. I wanted to stop them before they could begin any part of their plan.

Unfortunately, I hadn't been able to speak with Kijima san last afternoon or evening – he had left the palace for an errand and was to return only by tomorrow morning. I had to meet him as soon as possible and tell him about this. Even a second late could result in something like what I had dreamed about.

With a soft sigh, I shifted slightly to face Kichiro sama. I outstretched and hand and gently touched his cheek with the back of my fingers.

Kichiro sama pov:

I twitched at the soft caress I felt on my cheek, waking from it. If it were any other time, I would have not hesitated to reach for the dagger under my pillow and do away with whoever was touching me but I knew that it was none other than Ruka who was doing so. I was mildly irked that my sleep had been interrupted but gave and inaudible sigh before opening my eyes to look at her.