This wasn’t the first time. In fact, it was every time.

You and Giyuu had been married for almost a year. The marriage was arranged, but not forced. You loved each other deeply. But every time you attempted to consummate your marriage, he just couldn’t do it. Sometimes he would freeze. Other times he would tremble. More than once he’d cried. He felt awful. He wanted to desperately to be one with you. He wanted to give you the intimacy you both yearned for. But he just couldn’t do it.

You had been raised with two loving parents. They had taught you the ins and outs of marriage. How to communicate consent, how to initiate, how to care for one another afterwards. Giyuu wasn’t blessed with such an experience. He had no past experience, no knowledge, and no idea how to communicate his emotions.

So there he sat, by the edge of your shared futon. His eyes were tired and full of shame. He was embarrassed. Humiliated. Feeling as if he had failed once again.