Chained to old wounds

CH112

Hayato

I gasped against her lips, my arms locking around her as if I could just hold her and keep her from disappearing foreverThe kiss deepened, her hands tangling in my hair, her lips feverish, like she had been waiting for this moment just as long as I had.

I kissed her back with all the raw hunger, longing I been pushing down for years.

I kicked us to the surface. The water splashed around us as we broke the surface, we gasped long enough to breathe but parted for no longer than that. She laughed, soft and watery, kissing me.

“Hayato… Hayato…”

The world around us faded–there was only her. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, disbelief warring with overwhelming joy and relief.

I broke the kiss for just a moment, gasping for air, my hands cradling her face, my eyes wide as I looked at her. Soaked through as if I’d caught her dancing in the rain again.

“Haruka,‘ I breathed, my voice trembling with emotion. “How… how is this possible?”

She smiled, that same smile I had missed every day since she had been taken from me, and brushed a strand of wet hair from my face. “Does it matter?”

I stared at her, unable to find the words. No, it didn’t matter. Not right now. All that mattered was that she was here, in my arms, and for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, the weight on my

chest vanished.

Tsuneo

The sound of running footsteps and splashing water had drawn my attention. I turned and my heart clenched when they surfaced, still kissing, clinging to each other. My father and my mother were tangled together in the pool, holding each other like the world outside had disappeared. And for a moment, I wondered if it had.

She was alive.

It seemed impossible, but there was no doubting who that woman was. The way they reacted to each other, like magnets unwilling to be separated, had been such a large part of my childhood. I didn’t know what to think. Part of me had thought that I would never see her again, that I would always just be waiting for my father to slip away from me to join her, no matter what anyone said,

1/4

CHIE

yet there she was, kissing my father as though no time had passed.

The shock settled on me, heavy and numbing. I felt myself receding, reliving every moment of the past five years until I met Morgan. I remembered the way my father had crumbled after her death, how he had spiraled into grief so deep that I hadn’t been sure he would ever crawl his way back out of it, yet he kept on ruling. He had never let his grief change him, even as I could see a little more of the light in his eyes vanishing with each passing day.

The relief, the joy, the utter fury stormed through me and I looked at Morgan, imagining what it would have been like to even go one day thinking, knowing, she was dead.

“Tsuneo?” Morgan asked.

“My father is so much stronger than I ever realized

Morgan’s eyes widened, then she smiled and looked over at my parents.

“My father once said that he had never known how strong he could be, how ruthless, how cruel, or how vicious he was capable of being until he held me in his arms.”

My lips twitched. I glanced back at him assured that everything would be alright. They kissed passionately. I heard my father’s breath hitching as he squeezed her close. I met her gaze over his shoulder. She smiled warmly at me. Her eyes twinkling.

She mouthed. I’ve missed you.

I’ve missed you too, I replied. We’ll talk later?

She nodded and waved her hand, shooing us away, little one.

I watched for another moment as my father held my mother close, their breathing heavy and shaky, as if they were barely holding back tears.

I glanced over at Morgan, who had been watching them as well, her eyes filled with the same relief I felt. She caught my gaze and twined our hands together.

“Let’s go,” I whispered, and she nodded.

We slipped away quietly, leaving them alone in the garden of the Phoenix. As soon as we were far enough, I pulled her closer to me, an arm around her shoulder as I led her towards another hidden passageway that led directly to our chambers. The palace was full of these secret tunnels, winding their way through the walls, providing shortcuts and escape routes that most of the court didn’t even know about.

2/4

The moment we were inside the passageway, I glanced at her again. Her clothes were still drenched from when she’d been in the pool, clinging to her skin, and the chill of the stone passage soothed the low burning heat beneath my skin, and she didn’t shiver. She felt warmer than she had before.

She leaned against me.

“I’m tired.”

I chuckled. “You’ve been asleep all this time.”

“Unconcious and in a magical trance is not the same as being asleep.”

“A little further,” I said softly, pulling her closer to me as we navigated the dimly lit corridor. “We’ll get you cleaned up once we’re back in our chambers.”

She hummed and leaned more into me. Her steps fell into sync with mine as we moved deeper into the palace’s hidden pathways.

Finally, we reached the small, concealed door that led directly into our chambers. I pushed it open the familiar warmth of our rooms washing over us. Morgan exhaled, and I could see the

her eyes as she stepped inside, her shoulders relaxing just a little.

the door behind us, locking the passageway, and turned to her.

Let’s get you out of those wet clothes,” I said, my voice gentle as I walked toward her. Her hair was still damp, droplets of water glistening on her skin, and I couldn’t help but reach out, brushing a strand away from her face. “How about a bath?… Oddly, I’ve missed our little ritual than I thought possible.”

She smiled, though it was small and tired, and nodded. “That sounds amazing.”

I cupped her cheek. “How are you feeling?”

She leaned into my touch with a soft sigh, rubbing her hand against my cheek.

“Reeling but I’m dealing, I think.”

That was to be expected. I turned her, nudging her towards the bathroom. I turn on her shower taps and grabbed the basket for her clothes. She dropped them without hesitation and stepped into the shower. I was stunned, struck staring at her. I had never seen her naked before. My blood heated at the sight. Desire rose and burn in him. I tried to tear my gaze away but “Tarofu whispered from the back of my mind.

3/4

CHITE

Our wives are lovely, no?

I scowled and turned, turning on the other taps.

Why are we bathing separately?

I groaned. “Morgan.”

“Tarofu?”

“Yes.”

She laughed. “I’m scolding She laughed. “I’m scolding Pyra right now. I’m sorry, Tsuneo. I’m not sure how long it’ll take for

them to realize we don’t… have that kind of relationship.”

The pause felt heavy. I clenched my fist and took a deep breath.

“Yet.” I said after a long moment. I couldn’t help it. I heard her gasp but she said nothing.

thought maybe she didn’t hear me, but then she spoke.