A Quest of The Heart

Preparations

Yaoyorozu looked to King Enji as he spoke. His eyes glared down at her in a harsh stare. She felt uneasy but could not show it. She remained at attention and appeared calm on the outside.

"Yes, your Majesty? What do you need of me?" she asked.

The King's glare softened into a small smirk as he stood before her.

"Lady Yaoyorozu, with Shouto's bride coming I expect you to keep an eye on them both. Make sure Shouto doesn't do anything stupid or insult the Princess in anyway,"

Enji requested.

"And I'm sure it goes without saying, but you are also ordered to protect the Princess, no matter the cost. Understand?"

Yaoyorozu gave a simple nod and bowed to the King.

"Yes, your Majesty. Of course. I will protect the two of them with my life," she replied with confidence in her voice.

King Enji huffed and turned his back on her, walking back towards his throne.

"That is all. You may go now," he said.

Yaoyorozu straightened up and looked to the Queen and towards Natsuo and Fuyumi. She acknowledged them with small bows and then left the throne room. She walked through the castle corridors heading towards her room, but first, she felt the need to check on Shouto. She approached his room and saw the door was jarred open a bit.

Yaoyorozu lightly pushed it open and took a step inside. She saw him fast asleep in his bed. Without much thought she entered his chambers and walked over to him.

'He looks so sweet and peaceful as he sleeps,' she thought as she looked down at his calm face. 'I wish I could be the one who gets to be beside you Shouto... But, your fiancée will be the one who gets to be close to you... To hold you while you sleep. All I can do is watch from afar and protect you...' she thought as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She hadn't realized how close she was standing to his bedside. Her tears dripped from her face and splashed into Shouto's cheek, waking him up. His eyes peeked open and he noticed someone beside his bed. In an instant he recognized the armor and sat up, looking directly into Yaoyorozu's sad eyes.

"Momo, why are you crying?" he asked, not caring why she came into his room in the first place. "Did that bastard say something to upset you after I left?" he growled slightly.

Yaoyorozu wiped her eyes and sat on his bed beside him.

"Well, the King ordered me to watch over you and your fiancee when she arrives which is what I assumed would happen... But..." Yaoyorozu trailed off as she choked up and held back more tears forming.

Shouto turned his body to face her. He cupped her cheek with his hand and gently looked at her, and she in return looked to him in his warm mismatched eyes.

"But what Momo?" he gently spoke. "Talk to me. I'm not permitting you to return to your chambers like this."

Her cheeks tinted pink and began to heat up as the Prince gently spoke his words. She felt as if she would melt into the warm soft touch of his hand on her face. Shouto smiled as he saw her beginning to relax a bit. He leaned in and lightly rested his forehead against hers.

"You know you can tell me anything right?" he warmly questioned.

Yaoyorozu's face grew even hotter at the contact. She glanced away, embarrassed by her feelings of longing for the Prince.

"Yes... I know, it's just..."

Without warning Shouto closed the little gap between their lips. Yaoyorozu's eyes clenched shut as Shouto pressed himself into her and laid her down on his bed, deepening their kiss. Yaoyorozu returned the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his body, causing him to lightly moan. She took this opportunity to break away from his lips and he stared down at her, and she up at him, both of their faces flushed with color.