Edo Verse 1

He approached the woman silently, not wanting the princess to get distracted by his presence. When he close enough to her, he called her softly. "Hime-sama..."

The pink-haired still staring at the night sky, not looking at him at all. The legendary samurai could feel her sadness. All things that happened to her were painful enough for many people, not to mention she's still a rather young princess. And the only family she have was her father -the Emperor- since her mother died when she was little. Not to mention the castle was too hard for her to survive alone without anyone beside her.

"Our life in this world -
to what shall I compare it?
Its like an echo
resounding through the mountains
and off into the empty sky."

Tezuka Kunimitsu pinned down in his place. The said woman has extraordinary talent in art, like what everyone else in castle said so. It wasn't his first time hearing her reciting a poem, however, listening to it always gave him the thrill.

"Teruhinanomiya, it is cold outside. Please wear your robe." He walked closer to her and put the robe on her shoulder. She turned back and their eyes met.

For some seconds of eternity, they stared into each other's eyes. Tried to find the hidden meaning behind the heart. Like others said 'eyes are the window of the soul, right?

A silent, cold night of October wrapped both of them together, seeking of warmth from each other. The princess was the one who broke the moment though. "Please don't call me by that name." She already stated it hundred times already but perhaps custom is still custom. They call you by your official name though you didn't want to hear it anymore for the rest of your life.

The samurai nodded obediently. "I am very sorry, hime-sama."

She stole a glance into his hazel eyes once more before turning back to face the starry sky.

" Scarce had my mind received with wonder,
  The thought of newly fallen snow–
  Seeing the ground lie white–"

"Ah, this will be our first winter here..." She talked to herself, hands clutching tighter to her robe, looking absolutely cold. Nine months has passed after their arrival in the Kiyomi Palace, Rie-hime mother's home before she got married to the Emperor of Dere. The princess has left her palace in the main castle, and run to her mother's home with the samurai: to survive from the Emperor's concubine jealousy towards her.

" Thus death or parting separates us each from the other,

Deep under the mosses..."

The stoic man could saw tears dropped from the princess' beautiful eyes. He didn't know what power made him able to touch the woman's cold cheek and wiped her tears.

"I-I'm sorry... I just... Remember about okaa-sama..." She replied shyly, perhaps afraid to show her weakness in front of other people. She hide her face using her sleeve, walking away from her protector. "Let's go back inside."

Maybe she was thinking another thing, or the memories of her late mother taking all her power out, made her stumble on the way back. Fortunately, Tezuka Kunimitsu was such a great samurai with great reflexes; he managed to catch the princess before she hit the ground.

That fall made their distance become closer. She can feel his breath on her neck, and he can see her wet amethyst eyes, staring straight at him as if asking for him to stay beside her, although she never stated it and he knew that she's a person who doesn't want to rely on someone and choose to stand on her own feet.

Though, how can you ignore a weak, fragile woman like her? She may looked pretty strong and individualist on the outside, but months he spent with her giving him insight of her condition inside.

Her fingers traced his face slowly, carefully.

The moment lasted for some minutes before he lifted her, brought her inside and put her down in front of her room.

"Have a good sleep, hime-sama."

And he left. Though the warmth of his breath and body still lingering on her skin.