Act VI: Take my Loneliness Warning: Sexual situation ahead The day passes slowly for Munenori. He talks to himself, "Man, I'm bored. There's nothing to do here. I can't find Aritsune, like I'd really want to. Akari is becoming all strange and angry. I don't even have a pet to play with. Yamaneko is spending all his time with Akari and Chuuwa...where is Chuuwa?" Soon it is almost evening and Kourou arrives back at his house. He enters and finds Aritsune waiting at the table with a meal all cooked. She is dressed in some of Kourou's clothes. "What's this?" he asks. "Well, if you are going to let me stay here, I should find a way to return the favor. So I decided, why not a nice home cooked meal?" Kourou smiles and Aritsune returns it. He walks over and sits beside her. "Smells good," he comments. "Yeah, I bet you didn't know I was good cook." "Never thought of it actually." "Well, let's eat." The two begin their dinner. Aritsune speaks, "I hope you don't mind me borrowing some of your clothes. I was feeling unkempt in those old clothes of mine." "That's okay. I don't mind," Kourou answers. "While you are here. Feel free to use whatever you need." "Thank you." Aritsune and Kourou continue eating in silence. When they finish, Kourou walks into another room and starts a fire. Aritsune sits down in the room. "I figure a fire is a nice relaxing thing for you." Aritsune nods her gratification. Kourou sits next to her and they both stare into the flames. "What has it been like for you?" Aritsune asks. "What do you mean?" "Well, you're a young guy and have risen to your current position rather fast. How doe sit affect you?" "It doesn't affect me much," Kourou answers. "Isn't it lonely?" "Sometimes. I mean, I'm surrounded by people most of the time, but nothing special." "Oh, that's gloomy," Aritsune says with much concern. "I'm use to it," Kourou responds with dejection. "I didn't exactly have too many people to look after me. Mother was around for awhile, but she hardly paid any attention to me." "And your father?" Aritsune asks. "Never knew him." Kourou drops his head, "I'd blame that on mother. She probably didn't know who he was either." Aritsune just stares at Kourou as he says, "Lonely perhaps, but I make it by anyway." "You had friends, didn't you?" "Not really. I've been kind of a loner." The two sit in silence for a little while when Kourou speaks up again, "I pulled myself from the grasp of a obsolete community to enter a long established school of higher learning. While there, I became immersed in the resistance. I soon found myself the officer of Charon and establishing a successful underground business chain. Hence, I kind of turned Charon into a very productive settlement which led to my command I have now." "You did it all by yourself?" Aritsune asks. "Primarily. I did not let too many people help me. I always did what had to be done by myself." "Even such a large project?" "Not like I had anything else to do or anyone else to do it with." Again, the two sit in silence. After awhile, Aritsune rests her head on Kourou's shoulder. Kourou is slightly stunned by this, but doesn't mind. "Everyone needs to have someone." "Well, my mind set has not been that way." "But you have to be lonely. You can't tell me you're not. Didn't you ever want someone to be just for you?" "Well... I... maybe..." Aritsune picks her head and looks at Kourou as he continues to stare into the fire. "I have dreamed. Thought of a life away from this hectic state. Just with myself and the one I loved. But there has not been anyone I've loved." Aritsune wraps her arms around Kourou burying her face in his chest. "But have you thought of who might love you?" "Aritsune...?" She lifts her head and her eyes meet his. Their eyes slowly close as their lips touch. Aritsune slips her hand under Kourou's shirt and pulls it over his head. Kourou undoes the buttons on the shirt Aritsune is wearing and pushes it off her shoulders. Aritsune gently pushes Kourou to the floor and gets on top of him. Kourou sees the light from the fire flicker on Aritsune's smiling face. He whispers to her, "I'm not lonely anymore..." Munenori wakes up and leaves his room on the way to breakfast. He knocks on Akari's door to see if she is out yet. He hears a groggy answer. "Who is it?" "Akari? It's me, Munenori." "What do you want?" she asks. "Are you feeling alright?" "Not really." "May I come in?" "Okay." Munenori opens the door and finds Akari still in bed with Yamaneko cuddled next to her. "I'm getting a little worried. I hardly hear from you and I can't find Aritsune or Chuuwa anywhere." "I'm sure Aritsune is fine." "Well, she can probably take care of herself. But what about you? I worry about my cousin." "I don't know what's wrong with me. I just feel sick." "I think you should see a doctor." "I don't know." "Come on, I'll help you." Munenori helps Akari out of bed and the awakened Yamaneko follows them. Aritsune and Kourou wake up next to each other. The fire is still smoldering as they get up. They eat breakfast together while staring lovingly at each other. "What do you have to do today?" Aritsune asks. "Well, I a little trip to take," Kourou answers. "Hitoshi is going to be busy working on papers in his office, Kouten has to lead meetings, and I have to go "scout" things." "Oh, okay." "What do you have planned?" Kourou asks. "Oh, I don't know. I'll find something to do." "Okay." They finish their breakfast. Aritsune gives Kourou a kiss and a hug as he leaves. After he is gone, a sly smile creeps across Aritsune's face. She leaves from looking out of the doorway and gets dressed to leave. Munenori waits with Yamaneko in the waiting room of a doctor's office. Akari walks out with the doctor. Akari thanks the doctor for his help as they leave. Walking outside Munenori asks her, "So? What is it?" "Well..." Akari stalls. "Is it anything dangerous?" "No." "So it should go away soon then?" "No." Munenori stops and looks at Akari with a questioning look on his face. "Um, then what does that mean?" Munenori asks. "It means...I'm pregnant." "Wha!?" Munenori exclaims. "How did that happen?" "How do you think it happened," Akari states angrily. "Oh, well, I mean...." They continue walking in silence for awhile. "So what are you going to do now?" Munenori asks. "I don't know. I wish Naitsuu was here." "Why?" "Why!?" Akari gets angry again. "Because it's his child!" "Oh...oops." Akari, now very annoyed at Munenori, hurriedly walks away and Yamaneko runs after her. Munenori thinks to himself, It must be the pregnancy hormones. Aritsune soon is waiting outside the office building of the leaders of the empire. She walks in and up to the receptionist. "I want to talk to Hitoshi." "I'm sorry, he's busy right now." "Tell him it's Aritsune. I need to talk to him." "Well, I'll try, but he doesn't want to be disturbed." The receptionist buzzes Hitoshi's office and he answers, "What is it?" "There is a young lady by the name of Aritsune here that wishes to talk to you." "Aritsune? Let her see me." The receptionist speaks to Aritsune, "Well, I guess you may see him." Aritsune nods to the receptionist and heads up to Hitoshi's office. She reaches outside his door and knocks. "Who is it?" Hitoshi asks from the inside. "Aritsune." "Come in." Aritsune opens the door and walks in. "Hello Aritsune. How are you?" "I could be better." "Oh, that's too bad. What may I do for you? Please, sit down." "No. I don't need to sit down for what I'm going to say." Hitoshi is a little startled by Aritsune. "Well, then what is it you want?" Aritsune stares coldly at the temporary ruler of the empire. "What I want is for you to give up control of the empire." "I can't do that," Hitoshi responds surprised. "If you can't give up control, I will take it from you," Aritsune states with determination. "Excuse me?" Aritsune ignores Hitoshi and walks out the door quickly. Hitoshi just stares enraged and confused.