Akashi walked out of the room only to find Reo with his head low and a few tear drops on his cheeks.

" Are we leaving ?" asked Reo.

" Yes , along with her. " answered the emperor as he walked away.

Reo looked up at the red head and gritted his teeth , trying his hardest not to burst out crying. He walked into the room where Akira stood sobbing.

" Why? " he questioned.

She looked back to find someone other than Akashi and quickly wiped her tears away.

" So-rry . Who are you? "she asked as her voice cracked.

" I'm Reo Mibuchi. I came along with Akashi sama. " he says sternly.

Her eyebrows meet but she soon gains her composure. " What can I do for you?"

" Why did you have to break his heart ? Do you even know how much he loves you? What has he done to you that you hate him so much? " he questions.

His face molten crimson, eyes popped and tree trunk neck strained. Akira parts her lips in an attempt to respond , but Reo continues.

" He'd do anything for you , anything! He conquered kingdoms just so he could find you. He has been looking for you since five years and now this is what he gets? "

Tears well up in her eyes and this time she doesn't even attempt to stop them from flowing down her cheeks. Her face turned red and her hands were clenched into fists as she dropped her gaze to the floor trying to absorb every word that slipped from his mouth.

" You don't deserve him! " says Reo as a warm drop of tear slipped out of his eyes.

Akira looked up at him , her eyes red , cheeks wet , one arm over her stomach while the other now on her chest. She wiped her tears off her cheeks and looked into Reo's eyes.

That was enough for him to regret every single word he uttered.

She gave him a weak yet painful smile.
" You are right. I don't. " she said as she turned on her heels and walked away.

Reo stretches his arm forward to stop her but a short yet strong arm grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. Before his eyes could figure out who it was , a hit landed across his face.
The slap was as loud as a clap and stung his face. It had been an open-handed smack and it had left a red welt behind just below his eye. He staggered backwards, clutching his face, eyes watering.

He expected to see a red haired man, but instead his eyes meet a pair of blue eyes. A woman with short brown hair , face almost red , fury and pain shielding all her features. She gripped his arm and dragged him along with her.
He didn't even bother to protest against her actions , instead he followed her as she pulled him along. She led him left and along a long hallway , into a training room and then into someone's personal chamber.

Once they were in, the woman shut the door behind her and turned to him, while Reo looked around trying to figure out who the room belonged to. But to his surprise , all he saw were paintings.
The room was large enough to accommodate three adults , but there was only one bed which collided with one of the four walls. A simple wardrobe and a table, and many unframed paintings , scattered almost everywhere.

He ignored the female that stood beside him and stepped forward to take a closer look at the walls dominated by paintings.
His eyes were moving from place to place trying to decide what to focus on. Paintings reflected nothing but the chaos inside the artist. Reo , with a pained expression on his face , glided his fingers along the corners of each painting.

Every painting was unique in its own way, but they all had one thing very much in common. All of them were potraits.
They were potraits of none other than the red emperor.

" It's all Akira's work. " said the brown haired woman from behind Reo.

He quickly turned to face her as his mouth was slightly agape from shock.

" I couldn't care any less about who you are , but let me tell you one thing , " she lifted her fore finger up and spoke " you have got no rights to talk rudely to her."

" I'm sorry, I really am.If only I knew- " uttered Reo as he looked down.

" She joined five years ago. I do not know much about her past. But Akira is a girl who has lost hope. She is living for the sake of life . She doesn't talk much , but her paintings do. I do not know who the person in these paintings is, but whoever it may be , it is very much evident that she has immense love for him. " said the lady as she pressed her lips together for a moment.

" I've found her crying at night , I tried helping her but she doesn't let anyone enter her domain. It is like she has built walls around her and nobody is strong enough to break it. " she said and lowered her head.

" I know some who can " replied Reo.

The woman slightly narrowed her eyes at him and he spoke up again.

" Can I please see her again ?" asked he.

She gave him a small nod before leading him out and away from the room they were currently in.

She eventually took him to Akira and warned him once more to mind his words this time.

~~~

" Akira sama " Reo called out from behind her , as he stood at a distance away from him.

Akira turned to face the very much familiar male. She did look at him, but not even a single word escaped her lips.

" Please forgive me. " Reo falls to his knees.

" Reo , please leave! " She replied politely yet rudely.

" I apologise for my -"

" You said nothing wrong. I just need some time alone." said she.

Reo stood up with a heart full of guilt and pain. " As you wish" He bowed once before leaving the building. He rushed out of the gates and looked around for Akashi.
Rubbing the little sweat that had formed on his forehead with the back of his hand , he took quick steps. After a while , he finally came across a red haired someone walking way ahead of him. He ran forward to catch upto the emperor. Once they were beside each other, Reo bent a little in order to steady his breathing.

" Ak-Akashi-sama , where are we-" before Reo could finish his sentence , the sound of fluttering of a bird's wings cut him short.
A white pegion landed on Akashi's arm , as he brought it forward. He noticed a little piece of paper with the royal seal on it attached to its legs and quickly pulled it out.

Receiving a letter or a message, all of a sudden and that too from a pegion horrified Akashi.
Memories of how he was too late to save his mother when she reached out for his help sent shivers down his spine. Akashi closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening up the piece of paper to reveal the message.

Return as soon as possible. Rakuzan is under attack.

_______________

[A/N]

Okay. Okay. Okay.

I have no idea how this chapter turned out to be... and I know I need to clear up a few things in the book. Everything will be crystal clear in two more chapters.

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