"Why are you...here..." Tsukiko wheezed as his disheveled kimono revealed his smooth chest, slick with sweat while every inch of his body trembled from his curse.

His dark blue eyes met yours as he wiped the cold sweat off his brow, weakly attempting to keep up his usual flirt.

"Am I so attractive that you can't last one day without seeing me, my dear?" He murmured weakly as he hastily covered the pale skin of his exposed chest, shifting so he lay on his side facing away from you.

He subtly clutched his aching chest, knowing very well your warmth would soothe his pain...but he knew it was better for people like you to stay far away from him. Afterall, he could potentially paint a target on your back due to his position as the emperor.

He cared for you far too much, even more than his own life...So he would stay away, no matter how much it hurt him.