My only love,

I'm sorry that after weeks of silence the only thing I can give to ease your heart is a simple letter. I thought it would be best to contact you only after we have made significant progress with our agreement with the Takara clan, you don't have time to waste. Of course, this isn't nearly enough to satisfy you. I wish I could some how package up all my love and send it to you instead. However, once again, this'll have to do.

This will be my second time writing this report. The first time I had gotten half way through before I realized I had habitually written it in French.

Anyway...

...

Amusingly, the samurai seem to be a lot more vocal about their concerns with your orders. I guess they assume they'll be able to speak more freely here or that I'll be a lot more willing to compromise. They say I'm easy to talk to. But they seem a bit let down when I just tell them orders are orders. I know you don't expect or deserve anything less than perfection. Even funnier was how silent they all are when things go exactly as you planned. When will they learn?

Aside from a few of them being argumentative, things have been going smoothly. I'm not completely used to being the leader like this but I'm sure if you could see me now, you would be proud. To command with unwavering confidence is one of the many things I've learned from you and by far it has been the most useful. For that, I thank you.

No, the biggest issue isn't your samurai, but me getting to sleep each night. Laying in a bed and trying to fall asleep without hearing your breathing or feeling your warmth is the strangest thing I've ever done. It reminds me of the days before I met you, and you know how fond I am of those memories.

It's especially upsetting when I want nothing more than for you to hold me in your arms and tell me I made the right decision. Or even to simply say my name. Something as little as that is enough to ground me when I begin to doubt myself. Those are the moments where I miss you the most.

I can only imagine that you feel the same way, laying in bed with nothing but your own company, but you're much stronger than I am. There is nothing that can stop you from giving one hundred percent every single day. I've always admired you for that. The trials you go through, the demons you face...if any lesser person were put in your position they would not have been able to go on. The people of Japan are lucky to have you. I'm lucky to have you.

...

But it's not all bad, in fact I have good news to share. Because of the Takaras' willingness to cooperate, we'll have a healthy alliance settled before long. By the time you're reading this I'll already be on my way home, and I know for sure you're as happy as I am. I can hardly wait to stand by your side once again, and to lay by your side once again. It's true when they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, for I want you now more than ever before. When I finally have you back in my arms, I'll be so excited that, honestly, I won't be able to stop myself from—

Drip.

Takuto blinked, his immersion ruined. A drop of blood fell on the page, obscuring a word or two. It spread out slowly beginning to cover more of the calligraphic writing. "All of me loves all of you," was the last thing he read. He began to wipe the blood from his nose. If anyone was in the warmly lit room with him they would have noticed his unusual expression.

While folding the letter back up, the redhead heard a knock on his door. After allowing them to enter, the visitor bowed deeply before asking permission to speak. The servant was about to report a certain person's arrival but his words got caught in his throat when His Lord turned to face him, revealing that resolute grin and thin trail of blood. The letter was firmly clutched in his right hand.   

Honestly, he found that sight more unnerving than anything.