Flaws in the Sky

The Moon

"The moon is quite a show off given the chance. The stars make a sound when they shine so bright. Water so blue and so black."

-Dave Matthews

Humiya's Flashback

" The sun is coming down! There's no sign of the guards or my children!" I shouted, my voice sure to ring around the halls. I stomped down the hallways, my body spewing infuriating aura. along with the loud metal of our royal guard's armor clanking behind me, yelling accompanied. By my side was Kalyo, my trusted personal butler. His arm was locked with mine, trying his hardest to stop me in my tracks. "Lady Humiya! You mustn't be on your feet! You're with child!" I stopped abruptly, causing my following ducks to crash into each other. I spun around, my fists clenched tightly. I stood for what seemed for an eternity.  My heartbeat was so loud and fast I wasn't surprised if anyone else can hear it. My body burns, the heat caused by fear.

Fear.

My children could be in danger, but I couldn't put myself and my unborn child. Kaylo was right. Nothing but concerned faces stared at me, impatiently waiting for a response, a command, something. I parted my lips to speak but nothing came out. Kaylo stepped in front of me, blocking the concerned faces of the royal guard. His hands rested on my shoulder as he said quietly, "I'll take care of it." Putting my trust into him like I always do, I nodded. Kaylo turned around to face the guards.

  "As you all should know, Guards Jin, Jun, Isamo, and Imu were trusted this afternoon to watch over the twins, Prince Ayako, and Princess Ayumi. Their order was to watch and return the twins safely from the northeast forest before sundown. And as you know, the sun is quickly beginning to set. Understand the pain our queen is in and get out there and search for the twins. If you fail to return them by midnight or find no evidence of the twins, there will be extreme consequences. Dismissed."

  The hallway roared "Yes Sir!" As the guard made their leave.

  When the guards left, my body was close to collapsing. "Your Highness!" Kaylo wrapped his arms around me and held me up. My face, safely secured in his chest. He smelt of cinnamon, as always. My arms hesitantly wrapped around his body as tears began trickling down my face. The shock finally hit me of so many things. From my children to my sins. "Your Highness, King Sin'ichi has left the castle momentarily to look for Prince Ayako and Princess Ayumi, let us go to your room to rest"

  Kaylo parted me from his warm embrace. I kept my head down, my shame preventing me to look at my own butler. Or "butler" I should say. Kaylo reached to caress the side of my face, his thumb wiping away the tears from my cheek. He lifted my head and I had no choice to focus on him. Kaylo stared at me with his soft blue eyes and my body melted like the first time I saw those same blue eyes. He leaned in and his lips touched mine and my world crashed down once again. Pain once again rushed through my body and it was difficult to let it show, but I managed. Kaylo pulled away from me and locked his arm once again with mine and we solemnly walked to the royal bedroom.

  He let me walk inside first and he followed behind like a dog. "K-Kaylo I.. We can't do this anymore." The words came out as easy as blinking. The room was cold, the air was stagnant. You could hear a pin drop as quiet as the room was. Kaylo cleared his throat, letting out a soft chuckle. "We can't do what anymore?" His voice was so stern it caused me to flinch. I walked towards the edge of the bed and sat down. I fiddled with my fingers and sighed. "Kaylo, every time I look down, I feel so guilty." I could see the confusion on Kaylo's face once I looked up at him. "I don't seem to understand?"  My lips quivered as a million thoughts ran through my head.

  "I'm pregnant with your child, yet you don't understand? Every time I have to lie to Sin'ichi it breaks my heart." Kaylo flicked some of the silver strands of hair away from his face. He looked at me with those same blue eyes. This moment was going to happen soon, everyday id prepare myself for this moment but those eyes. Those blue eyes were no longer soft. I could see the hurt breaking through his pupils. His eyebrows furrowed "So you'd rather be with the man that abuses you behind closed doors?" His remark caused me to shoot up from where I was sitting "Kaylo that's not fair and you know that! That's not the point, I'd rather be with him because I'm married to him with two, almost three children."

  Kaylo walked closer, his sudden change of demeanor and his height made me go quiet. "Let me correct you, your highness. You're married to him, yet cheating on him behind your back. Also, id like to remind you that two of the three children are his. So tell me the truth on why you don't want to be with me?" Kaylo looked down at me as I stayed quiet. Normally he's very accepting of the choices I make but with this choice, he won't let it go that easily. "Kaylo, I just want this to end. All of this sneaking around and lying to Sin'ichi is putting stress on me and the baby. And now that my twins have gone missing? I need to focus on my family Kaylo, I can't keep being with you."

  Kaylo kept shaking his head "Your Highness-" Before he could continue another sentence I let my hand rest against his chest. "I need you to leave Kaylo." I refused to look at his as I continued "I mean, I need you to leave the kingdom. Being with you while I have this, this ring on my finger is incredibly hard. If you won't let me go, I have to let you go." Finally, those difficult words came out and I looked up to see tears. Knowing Kaylo for almost my entire life, I have never seen him cry, and here we are. I raised my hand and held the side of his face. He let out a stressed sigh as he softly held my wrist. He looked into my eyes and nodded.

  "Since I was young, I've never wanted to be with anyone except you." A hurtful smile ran across my face. "I'm sorry" I whispered out. He shook his head and took my hand that was holding the side of his face into his hand. "It's okay, Iku. As hurtful as it is, you have a family and unfortunately im not apart of it. I intruded the first day I walked into this castle. I was supposed to be your butler, no more, no less. And those emotions we had got into the way and I'm sorry." Kaylo let out a smile that almost looked fake. He took my hand and raised it to his lips and left a kiss on it. I yanked my hand away and held him tightly. A few sobs I was trying to his slipped from my mouth. Kaylo's arms wrapped around me and one of his hands vertically rubbed my back.

  I felt Kaylo pushing me off of him, I complied. He rested his hands on my shoulders and softly nudged me to the edge of his bed. I sat down, knowing that's what he wanted me to do. Without a word, Kaylo made he was tot he washroom that was connected to the bedroom and came back with a wet towel. With his left hand, he held the bottom of my chin and slowly lifted my head up. Kaylo smiled "Even with tears on your face, you're still so gorgeous." He said quietly. I wanted to respond as the guilt refused to let me. Kaylo took the damp towel and wiped away where I was crying.

  "I'm sorry," I said once again as I felt that one sorry wouldn't be enough. Kaylo quickly shushed me. "It's okay, your Highness" He removed his hand from my chin and he properly stood. I tried to stand up as well but Kaylo put his hand on my shoulder that made me stop. "It looks like I'll be on my way now. Your Highness, I hope the prince and princess are found very quickly. I wish you a good night and a good rest of your life."

"Goodbye Kaylo." I said softly.