❁
He uttered her name from his lips – and Izumi could’ve sworn she felt her chest swell with warmth. Soften then, she did; because curse her fragile heart. Curse how vulnerable he’d always managed to make her feel. The empress couldn’t even be angry at him properly. A small part of Izumi even wished Osamu would snap back at her, because it would’ve been much easier to stay angry if he was, too – yet the empress knew the samurai wasn’t like that. He’d never become upset with her.
Realizing this, a hopeless cloud of guilt surrounded her for even daring to wrinkle her nose at him in such a way – to reduce him to a state where he’d flattened his ears and asked for forgiveness. no, what had gotten into you, foolish girl?
You….you still don’t understand, Osamu.Her voice softened considerably, still wounded. Her mind was still racing with reasons to be angry at him, but her guilt overpowered that anger.
The moment you leave this realm is the moment my world crumbles, why can’t you will yourself to understand that? To understand how important you are to me?she said, her muzzle lowering to the ground, eyes shutting tightly.
While trapped in those mountains, I longed for nothing but to know that you were safe. For a moment where I’d be able to be by your side again, because the thought that i’d never get that chance again before I died hurt the most…She had no choice but to be honest – at least to some degree – lest her true feelings scare him away. After all, he was but a soldier by the contract they made for him to protect her, her family, and her pack. She could never add the burden of her love on his shoulders, for he already carried too much.
She sighed. Her eyes peeked up ever so slightly to look at him.
I told you before, didn’t I? That you are stuck with us…., stuck with me. You will not die and you will not be forgotten to me or this pack. Not as long as I'm here. I’ll never let that happen.Her brows furrowed once more in irritation.
So don’t you dare talk like that again….
What was this childish stubbornness? Izumi didn’t even know what she was rambling on about anymore…
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