Hiding Behind a Mask

For a week, Sanemi slept in the barracks and he was sad for a couple of moments then angry the next, the knights were feeling both sides to Sanemi's feelings. That they decided to put an end to it. It was time for sleep and they gathered around Sanemi who was taking his shoes off to go to sleep. "What?" He asked in a harsh bored tone. 

"Commander, we love having you here and everything, but you gotta go back to the castle with the lady." One of the said, the rest agreeing. "It is not right for a husband to be away from his wife for so long after an arguement, you should storm in there and assert your dominance!" One yelled. "Hell no! I wouldn't!" One yelled back. "You see that woman's face! She looked like she was going to eat commander alive!" He continued. Sanemi sighed really loud and rubbed his face in his hands. "She won't talk to me even though I go in there and try to talk to her." He muttered. "My lady called you back to the castle." The butler said as he just walked into the room.

Sanemi looked up at him shocked. "See there you go commander! Maybe some time away was what you guys needed!" One of the knights yelled.

"Maybe we need more time!" Sanemi yelled in his head as he got ready for bed, Giyuu on the other side already asleep. She was indeed not happy, but she let him back into the bed, but she was not talking to him or even looking at him.

The more time passed the harder it was on Sanemi to just sit there and not listen to her voice or feel her gaze, it was driving him crazy. Then there was a sudden banquet as the castle was restored and they could host one. The people of the village were invited and the knights were too. Sanemi learned from the butler it was tradition for the house of Tomioka but her father stopped doing it saying it was a waste of money.

He walked in late to the banquet as he was sending a letter to his father to ask for advice on how to get Giyuu to forgive him. He opened the doors and was shocked to see Giyuu dancing with other women from the village, the knights and other men clapping as it was a cheerful moment. As he walked in he was starstruck with how lively she was dancing that he bumped into a table knocking things over and causing a loud noise. 

As he picked it up he noticed everyone and Giyuu had stopped dancing and was walking away, to stand on the side lines and watch. He ran to the middle and grabbed her hand. He knew they had a song, a specific song they both enjoyed. And he decided to try and sing it to grab her attention, he would do it when they were alone and she would love it.

His singing wasn't that good but it seemed to put the people watching in awe, but then Sanemi could tell it wasn't working and he stopped and sighed. But Giyuu suddenly started to finish the song from him and he gained hope. She turned around a smile on her face, he smiled and they started to dance. The music picked back up, the artist singing the same song they were, everyone joined in on dancing. 

The people watching, watched in awe as they could see the joy in Sanemi's and Giyuu's eyes as they danced together. The knights were happy that they wouldn't be tortured during training anymore and that everything would go back to normal.

After the banquet, Sanemi and Giyuu laid side by side, naked as they couldn't keep their hands off each other as soon as they got into the room. Giyuu slept silently and Sanemi watched her. He smiled and pulled her close, holding her in his arms. He was glad to have his Giyuu back.

And things went back to normal for a while until Giyuu suddenly started to get sick. She was vomiting everything up, the only thing she could consume was blood, but even that made her quesy. Sanemi stayed by her side the whole time, he didn't care if he got thrown up on he just wanted for her suffering to stop. It eventually calmed but just to be sure he called for a healer from his father's land.

But his father caught wind of his daughter being sick and came along. He basically pushed past Sanemi and ran to Giyuu's side holding her hand in his. "My dear, how do you feel?" He asked. Giyuu chuckled. "I am doing better." Giyuu said. Sanemi rolled his eyes at his father's antics and let the healer in. "Nice to see you too father." Sanemi said rolling his eyes.

"I guess good to see you punk." Kyogo said. He had been calling Sanemi a punk since the day they left, as Sanemi got demoted from Kyogo's son to the punk that is married to his daughter. Sanemi rolled his eyes and the healer stepped in and did a check up on Giyuu.

"Ah...no bad news at all, only good news." He said with a smile. "Her constanly throwing up and being sick is good news?" Sanemi asked. "Old man, if you are having dementia, I can help you retire." Kyogo said. "Sanemi, Father, let him explain." Giyuu scolded.

"You are pregnant my dear." He answered. The room went quiet and Giyuu looked enraged and Sanemi was shocked. He knew he was in trouble even though it wasn't intentional but he was worried what would happen to Giyuu. 

"Sanemi...you better pray to god this is a boy..." She said glaring into his soul, she was not happy, she was angry and scared. Sanemi went to her side and held her hands. "I'm sorry." He whispered. Kyogo knew as Sanemi explained in his note and he frowned and went to her other side and held her in his arms. 

End of Chapter Ten.