My heart races in my chest so loudly that it is a pounding my ears. I can feel my blood rushing underneath my skin as my body heats. The skin of my groin is stretched tight and even though my robes are loose from her tugging they suddenly feel like too much. As I take a deep breath, I run a hand through my hair to try to contain myself. “Io” I breath out her name. She slowly opens her eyes and bites her bottom lip. I feel myself harden further. As the air pauses, I remember her innocence. “Are you alright” I ask. As she blushes and looks away, I reach out a hand to turn her face back to mine but with hesitation I drop it back to my side. After a moment she meets my gaze again and nods softly. I clear the heat in my throat and lean back toward her. I look at her and notice a shine to her eyes that I have never seen before. Her hair has all been swept toward her back and tucked neatly behind her ears. There is a sheen of pink on her normally pale skin and the pink of her lips have darkened. She looks irresistible in this moment, and I hunger to touch her again. As I stare, she blushes a deeper shade of red.

“I am sorry about the loss of your mother. I hated the thought of you hurting and wanted to ease your pain. Did my kiss make you uncomfortable?” I asked. I had to know how she was feeling. I wanted to know if she felt the same fire that I did.

She shakes her head. “No, it wasn’t uncomfortable. Is kissing always like that?” She asks quietly.

I laugh as I shake my head. “No, not that I have experienced. That was…. well, it was the best kiss of my life” I admit. She seems to beam at my praise and then she suddenly frowns. Her gaze turns from my face to look at her hands and her ears turn red again.

“So, you have kissed others from your village” she says with a tone in her voice.

I clear my voice and speak a little louder. “Yes, Io. I have kissed three others” her shoulders sag at my answer. “But none have brought out the reaction in my body that you have.” I feel the need to assure her she is different. I see her think about my answer as she pulls at imaginary pieces of lint on her dress.

“Is that all you have done Draco” she almost whispers still looking down at her lap.

I reach out with a finger to gently lift her chin so that she will see the truth in my eyes as state “I have never wanted to do more with another until now.”

She blushes again and I am filled with relief that she no longer seems upset. I want to assure her that my intentions mean well. For a moment I ponder what else to say as I release her chin. As she looks at me, I want to tell her the truth. I wonder how she will accept me if I do. So, I take a deep breath to lay my heart on the line.

“I want to tell you something. Something that I haven’t told none other than my mother” I began. For a moment I wonder if I should tell her of my father’s plan for me to marry. I quickly slide that thought out of my mind still silently hoping that my mother can change his. “I don’t want to be a part of the customs and traditions of those of my station. I want to fall in love so that I can marry rather than be matched to someone to bear children. I only want to have one wife that I will cherish for all my life as I hope she cherishes me in hers.” As I turn my gaze to the wall to wait for her response, I hold my breath.

“It sounds like the same thing I want for myself, Draco” she replies.

As I look at her. I feel that there is only one thing left to ask. “Io, may I court you for my bride” I all but beg her with my voice.

“I would like that very much” she says beaming.

My chest fills with joy, but it is short lived. As I look at the opening of the cave, I see that sunset is nearly here and I know that Io must get home. As I stand, I reach out for her hand. She grabs it and rises up from the pile of blankets to entwine her fingers with mine. “Come on, it’s time to get you home” I state. As we exit the cave I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my chest at all that I have shared with Io. I am amazed to have found someone whose dream matches mine. I wondered if she wanted to stay in her village as she aged. If becoming my wife would be enough for her or if she would want to see the world as I did.

As her gaze peered out at the view that stretched beyond the paddy fields. She took a sigh of contentment. “I really do love this land” she says. “Would you think bad of me if I told you that someday I wanted to see more lands other than this” she asks as she gestured at the wide display of earth around us. I chuckled at the fact that she had read my mind.

“No, I had just thought about the same thing. I would love to see more of the world. I want to see the customs that others have built across the land. To try new foods and learn more ways of life. I dream of a journey outside of our home, but it is not something I wish to take on alone. I would imagine seeing the world on one’s own knowing not a single soul would be too lonely of an adventure” I declared.

“If you don’t mind my asking, why would you want to leave behind what you have here “she murmured. “You have riches, family and the ability to get an education. While me and my father do what we need to survive with struggles along the way. I don’t mean to be rude I just see you as having everything” she stammers.

It is such a deep revelation to grasp. Sadly, it is one I have thought about many times. From all that I have learned today I wonder if it is something I should share. When I think of the story, she told me of her mother and the emotion she so easily shared, I realize that she took faith in sharing that with me. So, I owed her the same.

“My life is not as wonderful as people see it from the outside. The home I reside in has over twenty-five rooms and all of them are filled. We have so many servants I do not know all their names. The gardens where my mother grows her herbs is almost the size of the paddy fields you work in” I gush shaking my head. “That is what people see when they look at my home or my clothing” I say lifting the collar of my robe off my skin.

“That doesn’t sound bad Draco. It sounds as if all of your wants are answered with so much” she countered.

I chuckle “Yeah it doesn’t sound bad. Until my father and his ways come into play. What he says in the home is law. Everyone follows and does what he wants with no regards to their own feelings. He is the general. A man with more partners than any other in this region. He has a wife but there are also seven others that are his, including my mother” I spat with disdain. “Since he has done his duty and created an heir with her, she wants nothing more to do with him. She even resides across the land in a home of her own and they rarely see each other. Here in this village, he created he keeps his other women divided with their children in separate parts of the house. Only seeing them on designated days or when he feels that someone has stepped out of line “I practically bellow.

As I take a deep breath, I realize that in my anger I have squeezed Io’s hand a bit too tight. When I realize she is wiggling her fingers to loosen my grip, I feel all my anger vanish. I lift her hand to my mouth and kiss all five of her fingers in apology. “I am sorry. I do not mean to cause you pain. I will do my best to control my anger at my father. It is at no fault to you” I urged.

She blinks her lashes at my face and sighs. “If that is what your home is like. I understand why you would want to leave it. From your description I would imagine it to be a cold place. Especially to be separated from your brothers and sisters.” She lamented.

I sigh as I think of my poor ma. Stuck in her place by his side in a life she did not choose. “I find that the main reason I want to get away is because of my mother. I can no longer take hearing her pain when he goes to the others. She actually loves him and when I see them together it breaks my heart that he doesn’t show her the affection she deserves” I convey.

My eyes mist a little as I think of her pain. As we pass through the fields there is no one in sight. It looks like the workers have gone home for the evening. As we follow a leveled row of soil Io continues to walk in silent contemplation. I find that I am curious to know what she is thinking and if I have shared too much. I do not know what to say to bring our last few moments together on this day back to the topic of us. So, I stay silent and wait for her to process the information.

“I have enjoyed our time today, Draco. I am glad I got to show you my home” she states. As we walk past the first hut in her village, I know we only have but a few moments left.

“I have enjoyed seeing where you spend your time Io. I know that today was a lot. Although, I am hoping that I did not scare you away with the knowledge I shared about my life. Would it be too much to presume that I can begin courting you in two days’ time?” I questioned.

She beams at my suggestion and that tightness I felt in my chest the first time I kissed her cheek returns.

“Yes, I am ready to be courted. I can’t wait to see what gifts you decide upon” she gushes. As she pulls me to a stop in front of her hut she looks down at the ground. “I know that you worry about those who want to know you being after your wealth, to show you that I am not can I ask that your gifts be common items” she pleads.

The thought causes me to frown. I do not like the idea of doing things this way. I want to impress her more than anything so that she will want to be my bride. “I’m afraid that I don’t want to agree to those terms” she lowers her head in dismay as if I am refusing the idea of romancing her. As I lift her chin, so her eyes meet mine I reassure her “I only want to express that I feel you deserve to have everything laid at your feet. To feel cherished by me” I indicate.

She chuckles as she says “I will feel cherished if the gifts mean something. Use your head and your heart to guide your decisions. I don’t need your coin.”

Once again, she has reminded me of the good that can be in someone. Her innocence aside from the people in my village is so refreshing and warm. I cannot resist pulling her back into my arms to kiss her again. She gasps and tenses as my lips meet hers for the second time. As I slip the tip of my tongue briefly between her lips she relaxes into my embrace. I end the kiss. When I pull back, she looks so beautiful with her flushed skin I cannot help but to place another peck on her sweet lips.

A throat clears loudly. I feel her tense in my arms again but his time I believe in fear. She hurriedly takes a step back away from me and I let her go as we both blush crimson. We meet the gaze of her father who stands in the doorway of their home.

“My apologies sir, I was just returning Io home before sunset as you requested” I stammered. As I checked the sky with my peripheral vision, I sigh with relief that there are still a few rays of sun left. As I stare into the eyes of Homura, they do not seem kind. If I had to guess I would say that the father of the girl I decided to court does not think too highly of me.

“It is time for supper Io” he chastises her with his voice.

As I fold my arms behind my back. I deeply bow to her. “Good night, Io. I will see you again in two days’ time” I promise her.

“Good night, Draco” she blurts with a smile. Then she scurried inside her hut as I watched her go. When she disappears, I look back at her father? He raises his hand in the direction of the hill in a silent dismissal. I bow to him once again and turn to make my journey home.

As I make my way through the gates of the estate, I see the servants at work in the garden pulling herbs. My mother is standing on the balcony on the second floor as she gives directions and measurements for what is needed. As I notice her attire my mind snaps to attention at her ceremonial robe. The robe she wears consist of the swirls of many shades of blue. Any movement of the fabric makes an effect of flowing water. As a healer she would only wear these robes when she was out of options for the medicines she bottled, and someone was close to death.

When my mother meets my gaze, I bow. “Who will you be saving today” I shout. For some reason I could not recall the elders that are sick in the village now.

“A young boy of eight was playing in the field last week. A black rat bit him. He fell asleep yesterday mourn and has not awaken since even though his skin feels like fire. I must go and offer my magic as aid. I will be gone a while” she speaks to me as she walks briskly down the stairs heading for the gate.

“Were you able to talk to ba” I murmur as she passes. With a look of confusion, she pauses. I hold up my ring finger to show her what I am talking about so that the servants will not know as if I were to say it aloud.

“It has only been two days my er zi. There is still time. I will have an answer for you soon. Now I must go” she says as she climbs onto her horse. She begins to gallop away before I can ask her anything else. I droop my shoulders at her reply. With days already off my impending wait I feel like time is too short already.

I wish that I could be the one to convince ba of letting me choose my own bride. I know that it would however be a waste of my breath. My mother has a certain art of talking to people and getting them on her side. I believe it has something to do with her healing capabilities. I have never gotten to see my mother heal by her own hands. She says that it is a sacred right between her and the sick. The ones that she brings back from the brink of death will not even tell the stories of what goes on behind the doors when they close. For the ones I have seen in the days after her healings they always look better than before. As if what she does heals all of a person. As I ready for bed I dread what tomorrow will bring as I meet my bride to be and her family.