"True love doesn't happen right away; it's an ever-growing process. It develops after you've gone through many ups and downs, when you've suffered together, cried together, laughed together." - Ricardo Montalban

Epilogue.

I hummed an unfamiliar tune as I was sewing my son's school uniform. I saw his shirt's button slightly loose so I decided to sew it. I admit that this would be my first time to sew clothes and I better make haste with this because--

"Mom," a calm voice spoke out that made me snap out of my trance.

I stopped whatever I was doing and lifted my head to look at my son, who looked like a mini version of my husband. "Oh, hi dear. Are you done with your homework?" I asked with a bright smile and prevented the urge to pinch his cheeks and hug him to death.

"Yes," he affirmed then shifted his gaze towards the item I was holding. His cute face fell into a small frown then his head slightly tilted to the side, showing confusion. "Why are you sewing my shirt?" He asked with a quizzical tone.

I started to think that maybe, just maybe an old man possessed him because he acted surprisingly matured for his age. But then I realized, that these sides he was showing today reminded me of a certain someone.

Not only does he look identical to his father, but also... he thinks a lot like his father.

"Oh, I saw the buttons on your shirt slightly loose and--"

He didn't permit me to execute my sentence for he abruptly took the white fabric from my hands then without hesitation, tossed it to the side.

"Let the maids do it." He stated then lied on the sofa, his head rested on my lap and offered me a playful smile.

"You sly little creature." I commented with a giggle then caressed his soft crimson hair.

Oh, my gosh. He looks so adorable.

"Play with me instead." He muttered after a while and my face lit up.

"Really? Let's play hide and seek!" I said, excitingly.

He chuckled dryly. "Alright, but you're it."

My face fell into a frown and I quickly shook my head. "I told you hide and seek is too troublesome!"

This mansion is too large, like too large. Large is even an understatement. And I know my son is very clever, it's impossible to find a child like him in a place like this. Besides, he'll punish me if I didn't find him so why did I even suggest that game?

"I want to play something else." He said after a while and I shifted my gaze on his face with a questioning look. I immediately tensed up because he was wearing that smirk I don't like, not even a tad bit.

"What is it?"

"Shogi." He said then sat up and looked at me as if gauging my reaction.

He always played Shogi with his father and that became their bonding. And I wonder who always won between them?

"Okay," I agreed which made him smirk in satisfaction. "But I need motivation, dear." I added with a smile then stuck my tongue out to him.

He bit his lower lip and pretended to think. That's the only trait he got from me.

"The loser gets a punishment." He stated with an innocent smile. But I can see through him, behind that cute smile is something you wouldn't want to know.

"Don't you know that your great grandfather was a professional shogi player?" I asked him with a knowing tone.

"So?" He asked just as he pulled out a shogi board from the cabinet nearby.

"I learned how to play shogi from him." I bragged to which he only chuckled in response.

"And I learned how to play shogi from dad," He countered which made me frown. He shifted his gaze at me just as he finished putting the shogi pieces to their rightful starting places. "And you never once won against him."

"Shut up, Seiichi." I pouted then crossed my arms.

We played for like an hour and a half and I can't help but notice his play style. My lips suddenly curled up into a smile because they are really similar to the bone. I knew that this would happen, considering the fact that he is the emperor's son. He would have been absolute as well.

"And now for your punishment, dear mother." He looked at me with such glint in his eyes as a playful smile already made its way to his rosy lips.

I faked gasp, clutching my chest. "You're going to punish your mom?" I asked in disbelief.

Before he could answer, the door suddenly opened and my face brightened up, my husband came to my rescue.

"I'm home," Seijuro muttered and flashed us a gentle smile.

"Welcome home, Seijuro!" I said with a bright smile.

"Ah, dad, welcome home." Seiichi greeted with a knowing smile. "You're just in time for mom's punishment."

Seijuro raised an eyebrow in question, his lips forming a smirk. "Oh, is that so?" He glanced at me and I gave him a 'Help me' look. "And what have your mother done to earn a punishment?" He asked then patted his son's head.

"I beat her in shogi." Seiichi stated blankly.

"Seijuro, your son's going to punish me! Aren't you even going to help me?" I whined with a pout.

Seijuro chuckled. "Well, I can't do anything about that."

"I hate you guys!" I exclaimed.

"We all know you don't." Seiichi said with confidence. "And I'm not going to hurt you or anything mom, I just wanted to taste your tofu soup."

I blinked. "Eh?"

"I want you to cook dinner for us."

I mentally heaved a sigh of relief. I thought for a moment that my own son plans to torture me or something.

"That's your punishment?" I asked with a slight tilt of my head.

Seiichi shifted his gaze to his father and gave him a smile. "Dad, I can't think of a real punishment. Will you punish her for me?"

"I'd love to." Seijuro agreed then looked at me. "Shall we, Yurika?"

I gulped then quickly stood up. "I told you I'll be cooking!"

--

"Mom, dad," Seiichi called out just as we finished dinner.

"Yes, dear?" I asked and took a sip of my juice.

"I want a sister."

I choked on my own beverage, coughing nonstop as I cover my mouth with a napkin. I was in pure shock to what I heard from my son. "You want a what?" I asked with wide eyes I'm afraid my eyeballs might fall out of its sockets.

"A sister." He repeated and I looked at my side because Seijuro was only beside me. He was looking intently at my son with an unreadable expression.

"W-Why would you want a sister?" I stuttered.

"It's lonely without a sibling." Seiichi shrugged.

I heard Seijuro smirk. "As you wish."

My jaw fell to the floor and my mind went completely blank. "WHAT?"

Seiichi smiled then bowed to his father. "Thank you, dad, mom." He gave us a small smile then stood up. "Thank you for the meal." He muttered then walked out of the room.

"Sei,"

"Hmm?"

"What did he just say?"

"Isn't it clear? He wants a sister."

"Oh," I took another sip from my juice. "And you think it's that easy to give him what he wished for?"

"Yes, it's that easy." Seijuro stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Besides, he's been a good boy so might as well reward him." He smirked then stood up. "Let's go."

"Go where?"

"Where do you think?" He had that mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked down on me.

I shook my head then bit my lower lip. "I don't want to think." I mumbled with my head down because a mad blush already tainted my cheeks.

He chuckled. "I love you, Yurika." He suddenly said.

"You know that I love you more..." I pouted.

Then out of the blue, Seijuro grabbed me by the chin and planted a kiss on my lips that made my blush grow deeper. And before I could kiss him back, he pulled away then moved to whisper something in my ear. "I'll wait for you in our room," He then bit my earlobe, which sent an involuntary chill on my spine. "And don't make me wait for another hour. Because if you do... you know what will happen." he chuckled darkly then walked out of the room.

I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. I gazed at my lemon juice and chuckled lowly, the irony.

Even though how many years have passed, he still looked handsome as ever. I never and will never get tired of looking at his face. He can be a sadist, intimidating and everything however I fell in love with him despite the fact. That's how love is, you accept them wholeheartedly for who they are and not for what they are.

Love is not like when you say that you love tofu soup but you don't eat the vegetables because you hate it. You accept them as a whole.

Gosh, Yurika. You're getting all poetic that you don't even know how much time has passed.

Thank you, subconscious. Really.

I've been pondering for almost an hour.

And yes, I was totally screwed. Seijuro might probably double my punishment for tonight.

fin.