Chapter 2

Why? The only word and question that was able to cross Takaya's mind at the time. 'Why?' He asked himself as Naoe walked away and left him standing on the deck of Chuzenji's Lake. It was autumn and the breeze circulating the lake was getting cold. "Naoe, you bastard!" He cried into the jacket that Naoe had coated him before he left. His hands were gripping onto the collar of the jacket as he heaved a sigh and thought, 'Did you save me because I am Takaya or because I am to be Kagetora?' He continued to stare over the vast area of the lake and once again wondered to himself, 'If I were to become Kagetora completely, then would I have earned the right to think about you? Should I even consider you like that?' Naoe had just confessed his love for him, but didn't give him a chance to respond, to tell Naoe what he wanted or how he felt. "Naoe, you idiot!" He growled to the lake. Then, as he caught his breath, he sniveled. "No, I'm the idiot."

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A Month Later…

"What is this? Where am I?" Takaya found himself floating in the middle of strange and dismal space. He was surrounded by darkness. All he was able to see was Naoe's fainted shadow walking away from him. All he was able to hear was Naoe's footsteps; they continued to tap from the soles of his Bostonian shoes and as he walked further away, the tapping faded.

"No, Naoe!" Takaya called from behind, but Naoe didn't respond. "Naoe, come back!" He called again. "Nobutsuna Naoe, I order you to come back!" He demanded in a deep and strong tone of voice. "Please… don't…!" He cried out. He tried to reach for the figure that was leaving him behind, but his body was frozen; he couldn't move. His body didn't want to take order from him. He kept on calling out, but somehow Naoe couldn't hear him. His breath got coarse and dried as he continued to beg for Naoe to return to him. "Please… don't leave me…" Soon, Naoe disappeared and the world around him turned completely dark. It turned into a pitch black color; a color of nothingness. Everything became blank and his mind became empty as he screamed the last bit that was left in him, "NAOE!"

"Takaya, are you okay?" Yuzuru asked his friend, who screamed himself awake in class. Everyone's eyes were on him; he had suddenly emerged from his seat, stroked his sweaty palms onto his desk and kicked his chair backward as he got up. He was preoccupied with his heavy breathing and didn't notice the dozens of eyes that were gazing at him including the professor.

"Mr. Ougi, this is very inappropriate during class time. I find it disturbing that you are sleeping in class, but what disturb me the most is your attitude recently." The professor scolded his student, but his student didn't reply. He continued to catch his breath as he leveled his eyes to meet his homeroom teacher. The professor sighed at the sight of Takaya's straight face. He showed no expression whatsoever, like he didn't care or careless about what just happened. This worried the professor as he instructed his pupil outside. "Go take a seat outside the classroom and take some time to think about what happened. I want you to focus on what purpose you are here for and why are you in school?"

Takaya rolled his eyes from his teacher then to the dozens of other eyes that were staring at him. He didn't bother to argue, more or less, to embarrass himself any further. He complied and excused himself from the classroom.

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Later during lunch, Yuzuru and Chiaki found Takaya sitting on the roof. He was staring into the sky with his arms crossed behind his head. It appeared that he was chanting something to himself. "That bastard! He's in my dream again. Why…? Why didn't he come back? Even when he's not around, he still managed to piss me off!" He filled his lungs and blew the unseen element up through his throat and out of his mouth, all in one heavy blow.

"What's that for?" Chiaki sneered as he and Yuzuru advanced to the disturbed boy. "If I don't know better, I think that you miss your partner."

Takaya rolled his hazel brown eyes and again sighed heavily as he dropped his arms, resting them on his knees, head down and closed his eyes. "Leave me alone." He said, flat and cold.

"What's wrong Takaya? You've been acting strange lately." Yuzuru asked politely as he took a seat beside his friend.

The question didn't register into Takaya's mind. His mind had already drifted off to another dimension. 'Damn it! Why am I so tired? I've been thinking about that bastard all this time that I haven't had a descent night of sleep. When did I become like this? Why did his absence bother me so much? I was doing just fine. Then he came in and changed everything that I knew of. He changed everything. It's all because of him; he's the cause of my changing. He's… the cause. Why in the world did he tell me that he loves me and then leave like that? What does he expect me to do? Why does he do this to me?' He groaned.

Yuzuru patted his friend's shoulder, "Takaya, are you okay?"

"Huh?" He lifted his head up, recognizing the worry look from his friend's eyes; he took a deep breath and replied calmly, "I'm fine."

Still concerned, Yuzuru turned to ask his wheat blonde friend in a ponytail who was leaning against the fence about two feet away from them. "Chiaki, do you know what's bothering him?"

"More or less." He replied bluntly.

"What is it? Does it have anything to do with Naoe?" Yuzuru wanted to know. It was strange of Takaya to be screaming Naoe's name in class like that. He must be worried about Naoe's new mission.

Takaya growled. "Nothing is wrong with me okay? I've just got scolded by the professor and he's making me write a paper on what purpose I'm here at school for. What do I want to accomplish? Hell with him! How would I know? I have enough as it is: school, exorcising ghost and protecting Miya. What more do I need to do? I don't have time for this crap."

"True, that is the least of your worries.…" Chiaki smirked.

"What do you mean by that?" He shifted his attention to the boy with a smear look on his face.

Chiaki didn't respond; he knew too well that Takaya was lying, though not completely, yet his main worries were not school, exorcising ghost or the least, not the damn paper assignment. He was worried about the subordinate that was missing from the scene.

Yuzuru felt a disturbance between his two friends, "What's going on? Am I missing something here?" He asked Takaya.

"No." His friend replied.

"Then, why are you being so distance lately? And, why did you scream Naoe's name like that? Did something happen to him?"

"No." He replied again, still flat and dull.

Yuzuru paused and didn't proceed with anymore question; he knew his friend was certainly bothered by something or someone, but didn't want to say it. This was typical of Takaya trying to keep it to himself.

Silence.

After a long pause, the stubborn boy sighed, "What is going on with Naoe? Why isn't he back yet?"

"So…, you're worrying about him?" Chiaki with his mocking tone of voice asked the obvious.

"Hell no! Why should I?" He argued verbally, but inside doubt was troubling him. He looked straight forward to a distance across the roof, 'What is wrong with me? Why do I have to lie? He's been gone for a month. A freaking month! What could he have been doing all this time?'

"Then, what's your problem man?" Chiaki could feel it in his chest; he was about to explode. He couldn't continue to deal with this nonsense any longer.

After another pause, Takaya exhaled his frustration and again buried his head in his arms. He shook his head slightly and bluntly he said, "I'm just tired with all of this; possessors, warlords and vengeful spirits. I had just about enough of it! If I hadn't met Naoe, then none of this would happen. I'll be just another normal high school student minding his own business."

"Stop acting like a child and grow up!"

"Why you?" He immediately stood up and Yuzuru followed him. "I am not a child!" He roared.

"No, you're not. You're Lord Kagetora, the leader of the Netherworld Uesugi Army. As a leader, you should act like one and stop moping like an idiot."

"I am not Kagetora!"

"Why are you making this more complicated than it is? There is no way that you can deny the fact that you are Kagetora, no matter what you say."

Takaya looked away to find the concrete floor of the roof. 'I know that Kagetora is a part of me, but why can't I accept him? Part of me wants to become him and the other part of me doesn't.'

Chiaki keenly observed the hesitant boy as he adjusted his tone and addressed the boy with a straight voice. "Did something happen between you and Naoe again?"

"It's none of your business."

The blonde boy sighed, "You know what? I'm very tired of this, too. It's been four centuries and the same cycle continues to follow you and Naoe. Can you give a man some room to breath here? You need to end whatever mess you have going on with him."

"What do you mean? I didn't do anything wrong. It's not my fault."

"No, it's never your fault and that's the problem. Kagetora, you're always been so self-centered and wouldn't submit to your own mistakes. You are the reason why Naoe turns into the man he is today. Everything is your fault, but for some god forsakes reason, you seal off your memories and now you live your life as Takaya Ougi, and yet you still repeat the same mistake again."

"Why is it my fault? I don't remember any of it."

"Then you should!" Chiaki lifted his weight off the fence and walked toward Yuzuru. "I have enough of this idiot. I'll see you inside." He said as he caught his friend's eyes in response and walked away.

Yuzuru let out a quiet sigh and turned around to find his other friend standing inertly. "Takaya…, I agree with Chiaki that you're making the situation harder on yourself. You are Kagetora and you know it. This doesn't change who you are, at least in my prospective, you are you. It makes no difference whether you are being address as Takaya or Kagetora."

"I know, but I just…" He couldn't accept it. For some unexplainable reason, deep down, he felt a force holding him back and burning inside of him. He took a deep breath and gripped tightly onto his shirt above his left chest as he walked toward the fence. "Can you leave me alone for a while? I need some time to think."

"Sure." Yuzuru gave his friend another pat on the shoulder and left.

Takaya remained quiet for a moment as he stared into the open space and hung his fingers in between the wires of the fence. 'Kagetora… Why can't I remember? Why did I seal off my memories? Is it because of Naoe?'

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On the way home after school, Takaya tried to block out any unpleasant thoughts of him and Naoe and concentrated in the conversation with his friends about the activities in the north. Recently, there had been many spiritual gathering in that region.

"Have you received any news from Naoe?" Yuzuru asked walking between his two friends.

"From what we know so far, Shingen is hiding somewhere in the northern region where the vengeful sprits are gathering. Naoe and Haruie are trying to see if there is any connection between the two. It's been tough for them to locate the warlord with Kousaka Danjyo skimming around the areas." Chiaki replied walking on the right side of Yuzuru.

"Shingen…?" The boy in the middle frowned.

"Yeah, a high number of samurai spirits are gathering for no reason at all. They don't usually leave their designated ground unless someone has been directing them to do so. There is a high possibility that the Takeda is behind this, but we're not certain of it yet."

"But…, isn't Shingen still weak from the last battle he has with Takaya?"

"Yeah, but remember he still has that freak, Kousaka." Takaya cut in a response as he walked his bike along the left side of Yuzuru.

"Takaya is right. Kousaka is a clever man. He may look like a creep, but you'll never know… that man has so many tricks under his sleeves." Chiaki agreed.

"Do you think the Takeda will try to possess Yuzuru's body again?" Takaya asked.

"That's always a possibility and no matter what their objectives are, Yuzuru is too important to ignore. If any warlord wants to rule the Underworld, then they will definitely either try to control him or get rid of him."

"Why? What is so important about me? I don't have any exorcism power like you guys have."

"No, but you're wrong. You have extremely great power, but it's hidden inside." Chiaki replied.

"I do?"

"Yes, but the power that you possess is still unknown. All we know is that it's powerful enough to destroy both the netherworld and this world if it was to be used improperly."

"Hey, buddy. I guess that makes you the most powerful being on earth." Takaya tried to tease his friend a little.

"Come on, don't joke like that." Yuzuru looked at his friend. "For one, I don't even know how to use it and two, all I seem to do is getting in the way. You and Chiaki have to stay here and protect me. I feel like a poor defenseless child."

"Don't say that, it's our job to protect you, not just because you're the target of every warlord, but because you're my best friend."

"I know, but…" Yuzuru looked at his friend; he could still sense some trouble seeping from his friend's expression. "Don't you have more important things to do than protecting me?"

"Like what?"

"Like getting your memories back…"

"I don't need them."

"Why not? It seems to me that all your misunderstandings and troubles arouse from your missing memories, so if there is a way to get them back, then you would be able to use your exorcism power to its fullest and maybe…"

"And maybe what?"

"Maybe you'll find out the reason why you seal off your memories and accept who you are."

The idea of getting his memories back made Takaya felt nervous, yet he managed to keep his composure and kept on walking. "If Kagetora sealed his memories, then that could only means that something happened in the past and he didn't want to remember it. I think that it's best to leave it this way. Right now protecting you is our highest priority. Like Chiaki said, you are the key to both worlds and we don't want to lose you to any lunatic that wants to rule this good for nothing Underworld."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

The rest of the way was quiet. They arrived in front of Yuzuru's place and Takaya made way, "I'll see you guys tomorrow." He climbed onto his bike and started the engine.

Yuzuru waved as his friend disappeared into a distance. He stood there for a moment and thought about Takaya's response earlier about Kagetora's memories. He turned to Chiaki, who was still with him and asked, "What could have happened to Kagetora in his past live that would result him to seal off his memories?"

Chiaki narrowed his eyes and studied Yuzuru. He didn't respond. The reason why Kagetora sealed his memories was still a mystery to him as well. The only rational reason he could think of was Naoe, but he wasn't a hundred percent certain about that. Thirty years ago, Kagetora had left Naoe with no option, but to do what he did. Naoe was lost and he couldn't control himself. Kagetora wasn't in any better condition. The two of them didn't make any sense to him at all, yet he still worked with those two idiots for so many years.

"Chiaki? I've asked you a question."

"Man, I don't know." He replied. "Kagetora…, he's been through a lot. I don't know where to start, but I can tell you one thing. He's a troubled man."

Yuzuru guessed as much. Kagetora must had been through many difficulties for being the son of a warlord and served as a leader of the Netherworld Uesugi for four hundred years. Of course, he would had encountered many obstacles and endured many pains. "I guess being a possessor isn't much fun, huh?"

"No, if I were given a choice to start again, then I would chose to be a normal human and live a normal life without worrying about warlords taking over the world and damn vengeful spirits that wouldn't rest. In a way, I understand how Takaya feels because he has been living that life until Naoe confronts him about the Netherworld Army. Unfortunate for him, he is Kagetora and as per Kagetora, he cannot escape from his fate."

"Yeah, I understand." Yuzuru said feeling sorry for the weight that Takaya had to carry on.

"Okay, man. I have to go, too."

"Alright, I'll see you in the morning then."

Chiaki stood by as he watched his young friend entered the protection barrier that he and Takaya had created to maximize Yuzuru's safety. The purpose of the barrier was to zap away frail spirits and to give him enough time to call for help if one of the warlords or possessor ever tried to break in and abduct him for any false reason. Once the young teen entered the house, Chiaki headed home.

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It was during the middle of the night and Takaya for once was having a decent wink of sleep. Suddenly, the phone rang and woke up the sleeping boy. He eyes stalled up as he groaned, "Who the hell would call at this hour?" The phone rang again for the fifth time and he picked it up. "Hey…," He answered bleakly.

"Kagetora! I'm glad it's you." The voice at the other end of the receiver replied.

"Haruie? What's wrong?" He could hear the high pitch in her voice; she sounded like she was in a rush and out of breath.

"Yuzuru is in danger. Naoe and I are heading to his place. We need you… go to his place right now."

"I'm coming…" He immediately dropped the phone and rushed out of his bedroom. He pounded onto his sister's bedroom door and yelled at it. "Miya, I'm going out! I'll call you later!"

"Okay." She managed from her brother's disturbance and went back to sleep.

Takaya arrived and the first thing he noticed was the protection barrier was broken. How and who broke it? He quickly jumped off his bike as he caught sight of his subordinates. Naoe was throwing orange fireballs to a distance tree. Haruie maintained a protection circle and Chiaki was behind them, kneeling down. It looked like he was hurt.

"Look and here comes the master…" A voice from behind Takaya spoke.

"Kousaka! This is your doing, isn't it?" Takaya replied in an angry tone of voice.

"No, afraid not." He leered.

"Don't lie to me! Where is Yuzuru?"

"How would I know? Aren't you the one that's protecting him? I should ask you the same question."

"You bastard!" Takaya growled. "Let me send you to the other world then I don't have to deal with your skin anymore."

"No, you should watch your own skin." He mocked.

A red fireball immediately aimed at Takaya from nowhere. He had no time to cast a protection spell or to dodge it; he had to take this one on. The fireball reached it target within a second or two and a blast, "Boom!" It came in contact. The vibration of the blast withered the air as Takaya opened his eyes and to his surprise he wasn't hurt, not even a single scratch found him. He lifted his head up and stared at the body that was shielding him, "Naoe!" The man gasped and collapsed forward into his arms. "Why? You bastard! That was my hit!" He growled in disappointment. Instead of promoting the battle with his presence, he created a setback and involved one of his subordinate to get hurt. And, of all people it had to be Naoe.

"Oh my, isn't this cute? His lord and his servant mingle together." Kousaka snickered one last time as his vanished into thin air.

"Kousaka!" Takaya roared. He was pissed at the man who got him all distracted.

"Kagetora be careful, the enemy is still about." Naoe whispered as he stood up with his lord's help.

"We've got what we came for." A mysterious voice transmitted from no where.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Takaya demanded.

"We'll meet again, very soon, Kagetora Uesugi." The voice replied and faded into the night.

"What the hell happened here? Where is Yuzuru?"

"We were too late. He was taken by the time we got here." Naoe replied between his heavy breathing.

"Who took him? Kousaka? The Takeda?" Takaya interrogated.

"Kagetora, we need to get these two somewhere so they could rest. We'll fill you in on the details later." Haruie suggested as she hauled Chiaki on her shoulders. "Where can we take them? Your house is nearby right?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to get my sister involves in these kinda stuff, so home is not an option."

"My temple. Get me there." Naoe said as he dropped on the ground and coughed. The back of his shirt was all torn from the impact earlier and Takaya was able to see through the opening; burning patches of flesh and the scars from the previous battles. Takaya took a deep breath and looked away for a moment. His eyes were sore from seeing such a nasty sight of Naoe that he had never imagined before. The man was always calm and handsome, so it had never occurred to him that he could had bear such ugly scars beneath all his rags.

"Right then, let's go. We need to attend their wounds before they get infected." Haruie dragged Chiaki into the passenger seat and Takaya handled Naoe into the back seats of the car.

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The ride to the temple took one and half hour. They arrived at the main hall and an attendant greeted them. "Young master! You're hurt!" The attendant addressed Naoe. "Please let me attend your wound." He took his master into his arms.

Naoe broke away and directed his attendant, "No, please show my guests to their rooms. I can take care of myself."

"But, you're hurt."

"I'll clean him up." Takaya volunteered. There was something different in his voice, it was a little spiteful but concerned at the same time.

Naoe was pleased to hear that as he gave his attendant a look of discontent.

"Yes, I'm sorry for the improper manners. Please follow me." The attendant bowed to his master. Then he led Haruie and Chiaki down the hallway and assisted them with their needs.

"Well, where is your room?" Takaya asked bluntly.

"This way." Naoe led the way to the opposite side of the house while leaning his arm on his lord's shoulder for support. They entered the room and he settled down on his bed.

"Where can I get some water and bandages?"

"Down the hall and to the left."

Takaya left and came back with a bowl of warm water, a washcloth and some bandages. As he walked inside the room, he could see the Naoe's glowing eyes staring straight at him. This made him felt a little nervous, but he hid his nervousness under a sturdy voice. "Take off your shirt."

Naoe unbuttoned his front coat and dropped the torn garment onto the floor. Then he did the same with the white blouse as he exposed his front chest.

The young boy stared at the man before him. He was beautiful. 'Shit! What am I thinking?' He shook off the thought and seated himself beside Naoe. "Turn around."

The older man obeyed and turned his back toward the boy.

Takaya immediately winced at the sight and gasped for air. He had forgotten about the messed up picture from before.

"I know it's ugly. Will this displease you?" Naoe asked, in a low yet calm tone of voice.

"No." He replied as he dipped the towel into the warm water and rinsed it with his hands. He applied the moist cloth onto Naoe's back and gently wiped the burnt residue. With every stroke, he examined each permanent mark on the man's flesh. He recognized these scars; they were from their previous battle where Naoe had done the same in using his body to shield him from danger. 'Why? Why do you have to risk your life to save me every time?' He pondered silently to himself. From what he understood, he knew that Naoe was affectionate to him and would protect him from any harm. Yet, he couldn't help but wondered if there was ever a chance that he was no longer the vassal of Kagetora Uesugi, than would Naoe even consider risking his life to save him, to save Takaya Ougi? Would he even be interested in another person other than his lord? "Naoe?"

"What?"

He wanted to ask, but hesitated, "Uh…, nothing." He said as he placed the towel into the dirty bowl of water and covered the injured area with the white strips of bandages. "You're done."

"Thank you."

"Excuse me, sir." The attendant slid the door opened and kneeled beside it. "Here are some clean yukatas for you and your friend. I'd set up the room next door for him as well, so he could rest there." He placed the clean clothing inside the room by the door frame.

"Thank you. You should call it a night too. We'll be fine by ourselves." Naoe replied.

"Yes sir." The attendant excused himself and closed the door.

"Who is he?" Takaya questioned as he stood up and grabbed the clean change of clothing.

"He's an assistant here at the temple. He's been working for the family for quite some time and he takes care of the temple in my absence."

"Here, I guess this one is yours." Takaya gave Naoe the larger yukata of the two. "Can you manage yourself?"

The older man took the outfit while staring into his lord's eyes. He would love to have his lord stripped and dressed him right now, but it didn't seem to be very proper of him. Even if he had suggested it, Kagetora would never grant him his wish. Why would he? He hadn't considered Naoe's feeling for four hundred years, so why would he now? "I'll manage." He said calmly.

"Good. I'll go to my room then."

"Sleep well, My Lord Kagetora." Naoe said with a slightness of life in his voice.

"You care take… and get well soon." Takaya said hesitantly as he reached the sliding door.

"Kagetora…"

"Don't get any wrong ideas! I just don't wanna see that ugly side of you again." He said as he turned around and caught a pair of dark moving eyes; they looked hurt. He gasped and held onto his breath. 'Why did I say that?' His words came cold; he had shattered the little hope that Naoe had without knowing it.

"I'll be fine." Naoe managed a response and broke the silence between them.

"Good, I'll see you tomorrow, then." At that, Takaya quickly escaped his suffocation and found his room next door. He exhaled the pressure from his inflated lung and started panting. As he regained his normal breathing he changed into the soft yukata and snuggled into bed.

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It must be no more than two hours since Takaya drifted away to sleep. His drained body was craving for nourishment, but his mind didn't allow him to rest. Once again he saw a tall and broad man was about to leave him. He was in a dark room and he found himself sitting on a futon reaching his arm up grabbing the hem of the man's kimono. The man had his back to Takaya and didn't respond. Instead, he shrugged his arm away to free the grip from the kimono and walked out. This man was cold, he didn't turn back not even once to look at Takaya in the eyes. Who was this man? Takaya wasn't able to see his face, but he could sense it in his heart. It was Naoe. It had to be him.

The man left and Takaya woke up dripping like it was a hot summer night with no air conditioning. He immediately fled his bed and found himself standing in front of Naoe's bedroom. 'Why did I come here? Is Naoe inside? Should I…?' He stood at the door for no more than five seconds; he entered the room quietly. He had to check. He had to make sure that Naoe was in that room. As he entered he shut the door behind him and quietly he walked toward the bed. A keen smile found him as he found the man in his dream sleeping soundlessly in his gray yukata. He was relieved.

"Naoe." The name slipped through his mouth as he admired the gorgeous man lying in bed. He moved in closer to take a better look at the man; he looked so vulnerable. How can someone looked so peaceful in his sleep be so sadistic and difficult to understand? He took another step and another step and before he knew it, he was touching the man's face. The man was in a deep trance; he must be worn out from his fight earlier. Something was drawing him closer and closer to the man sleeping before him; it was like an invisible magnet, too compelling to resist. He could feel his internal organ burning as he leaned closer. Soon, he was only inches away from the man's pulps and before he knew it, his lips were bracing on the other man's flesh.

Instantly at that moment, flashes of images from nowhere engulfed him. The images were weak, but the sudden streams were too much for Takaya to bear all at once. They spun in his mind and his entire body was shivering. He closed his eyes and tried to shake them off.

Naoe also felt a sudden rush of energy wave as he opened his eyes; he didn't believed what he saw above him. His Lord Kagetora was on top of him; he was leaning forward with his arms on both side of Naoe's body. The first thought came to his mind, 'This must be a dream.' He lay still to admire his lord. If this was a dream then he wanted it to last as long as it could. He thought of reaching his arms out to hold his lord, but he hesitated; he was afraid that if he had done so, then he would wake up and his lord would disappear too.

Takaya took a few seconds to let the images faded out and as he opened his eyes he caught a pair of purple dots staring at him. His heart skipped a beat. He quickly realized the position that he was in and jumped off onto his feet. At the same time he withdrew, Naoe managed to catch his arm and got up. "Naoe!" He growled while looking at the man holding onto his wrist. "Let go of me!"

"No." The taller man replied boldly as he stepped in closer to his lord. He didn't care whether this was a dream or reality anymore; it didn't matter to him. The only thing that mattered to him right now was the person standing in front of him.

"Let me go!" The young lord demanded again, still strong and resisting.

"Lord Kagetora." Naoe held on tight.

"I'm not Kagetora!" He tried to escape Naoe's grasp, but instead of freeing his captured wrist, his other wrist was also taken. "Naoe, what do you think you're doing?"

Naoe looked straight into the young boy's sharp eyes. "Kagetora…, it's you who have done this to me: your game, your love and your lust. It's you; you've been playing with me for four hundred years, depriving me of the one thing I desire most."

"What are you talking about?" Takaya tried to pull away, but the older man gripped on harder and pulled him into an embrace.

He held onto the young body tightly as he inhaled his misery. "Why do you have to be so damn stubborn? You treat me like a toy. You play with me whenever you want and then dispose of me whenever you're done. I guess this serve me right; I am a merely servant to you, to serve you and to give you everything, but not to expect anything in return. What more can a man give you? How many more years do you need me to serve and obey? When will you forgive me for my mistakes so long ago? Is a possessor no longer considered to be human? Am I such a meaningless soul that you will not release me of your torment?" Naoe was trembling; he afraid of Kagetora. What would he say? What would he do?

'Naoe…' Takaya could feel his heart racing against the other man's chest. He could hear every word echoed as the man breathed and his calm voice spoke with much bitterness. He peeked up to see the older man's eyes; they looked painful. Why? Was he the cause of this man suffering? No, it wasn't him; it was Kagetora not him, but was there even a difference? He could sense resentment seeping from inside of him. He couldn't help but wondered. Did this feeling surfaced because he was to become Kagetora? Why did Kagetora torture this man? No, why did HE torment this man? He couldn't remember and he didn't want to remember.

"I'm not going to let you go." Naoe continued as he gently placed a kiss on Takaya's black bang and rested his head on his lord's shoulder. "You had given me too much baggage to let go. The same way that you're not going to let me go; I will never be able to let you go. You're mine Kagetora… You're all mine…" He grabbed his lord's yukata and loosened it from the shoulders. Then he started kissing his lord, little by little, from his shoulder up to the side of his neck and sucked on his earlobe.

The younger boy closed his eyes and kept quiet. He knew that if he opened his mouth; he would shatter this moment. He had decided a month ago that he would surrender. He wanted to surrender to Naoe whether it was to his passion or to his wrath; he didn't care anymore. All the dreams that he had of Naoe leaving him, had taunted him for a while. He didn't know why, maybe it was a part of Kagetora's memories or it was he, Takaya who didn't want Naoe to leave him. Right now, at this moment all he wanted was for Naoe to hold him, just like this, to be in his arms, to be protected in his big and secure wings. "Naoe." The name slipped through his lips once more yet softly and in a pleasing way.

Takaya without noticing what he was doing so, he arched his head up to give Naoe more access. The older man continued to kiss the boy, trailing his way along the lining of the boy's face as he tongued his way down from the tip of the boy's chin to the hollow indent of the boy's neck. He slid his hand into the boy's yukata, brushed it over the boy's nipple and felt the firmness of the boy's abdominal muscle along his waist line. Soon the yukata was hanging from the boy's hip and exposing the upper part of the boy's body.

'This must be a dream.' Naoe thought as he admired the young body and felt the tenderness cupping under his hands. 'This is not real.' He continued; his Lord Kagetora would never submit to him this easily. 'This has to be a dream…, but I don't care.' He continued to mark his lord's body. Now his head was right on top of his lord's chest. "Naoe…, no…" The boy whispered as Naoe got aggressive, seeing the lust seeping from his lord's eyes; he turned the boy over and laid him flat on his back with his knees hanging from the edge of the bed and toes touching the hardwood floor. He stood silently, mesmerized by his lord's beauty as he leaned forward and brushed off the strands of hair that was covering his lord's gorgeous face. "You're beautiful." He said as he clashed their lips together and held his lord's chin firmly in his hand.

Naoe's compliment triggered something deep inside Takaya. He didn't know what it was, but it opened a channel in his head and attacked him with shock waves of unwanted emotions.

Honor.

He ignored this as Naoe pressed against his body. The man continued to kiss him, tasting his soft lips and feeding a slick tongue into his mouth.

Shame.

His body shivered. This one he couldn't ignore; his body wouldn't allow him to. It squirmed by itself, trying to get away, but Naoe secured it tightly and retreated lower to his chest.

"Don't deny me of this… not now…" Naoe said as he continued to caress the boy's standing nipples.

Takaya tried to withhold the pain, but the pain was growing stronger as Naoe progressed faster. He could feel the man's breathing slithering down as hot air past his navel and his body burned.

Death.

The boy immediately arched his chest up and gasped for air. Something had just shot him right through his heart. He felt numb. He felt revolted. He felt his entire body was drained out and all that was left of him was a lifeless corpse.

Right at this moment, Naoe pulled off the remaining of the yukata and let it fell beneath his lord's feet. He glided his hand from the knee, onto the thigh and inward toward his lord's growing fruit.

Love.

Rejuvenation. For a brief moment, the boy felt a big pair of wings embracing him, protecting him from his agony and gently reviving him from his death. Soon, this feeling shattered as Naoe swallowed his hardness.

Betrayal.

"No…!" The boy growled as he tried to withdraw, but Naoe leeched on. He continued his suction forcing the boy to leak with every stroke. The boy couldn't control himself any longer; the feeling of disloyalty, unfaithfulness and treachery shock him over and over every time Naoe slid his hungry mouth in and out. He couldn't tell whether it was pleasure or pain that was eating him. All the components that sum up to Naoe betraying him was too much for him to swallow. He couldn't take it anymore. "Stop! I don't want this! Get off me!" He whimpered as he kicked the man off him.

Naoe fell onto his buttock as he observed the frantic boy. He didn't understand. Why would Kagetora refuse him? Wasn't this his dream? "What's wrong? Your body was responding to me, I could tell that you liked it."

"No, I don't! I don't like this!" He cried.

"You're toying with me again. Don't do this me!" Naoe breathed as he pulled himself up and approached the boy.

"No! Stay away! Stay away from me!" Takaya screamed as he ignited a powerful barrier and blasted Naoe strongly across the room. The man dropped onto the floor and lay unconsciously. He quickly grabbed his yukata and put it back on. He gripped tightly on to the front of his outfit and walked up to the body across the room. "Why?" He heaved a sigh as he looked at the harmless man below. He was about to give in and let Naoe do whatever he wanted, but the emotions that flooded through him were too strong. They didn't belong to him; they must belong to Kagetora. Whatever they were, they were significant enough to create a wall between him and Naoe. "What happened between you and Kagetora?"

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End of Chapter

Smile: I'll update as soon as I can.