Since I haven't updated I'm just gonna cut to the story. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Ritsu stood up quickly sputtering slightly as he stared at the smirking man before him. He couldn't believe his eyes, it wasn't possible!

"Is something wrong Rii-chan?!" An asked standing up and moving to take her fiance's arm. Ritsu didn't miss the way Takano's eyes narrowed at the contact and it sent nervous butterflies into his stomach. He felt An's grip on his arm tighten and so did his stomach. He wasn't sure what to say or do. His eyes went from An to Takano and then landing on his father who was now glaring at him.

Finally he choked out a quick excuse and ran from the room, a concerned Kohinata heiress following after. Takano turned and bowed to Lord Onodera before briskly walking out of the room after the two. Lady Onodera glanced at her husband cooly. "I hope you know what you're doing. Dear." she said her green eyes glinting almost maliciously.

Lord Onodera spared his wife an uninterested glance before rising up and peering down his nose at the woman, "It's time that boy realized his place and purpose. This is the only way." With that he turned on foot and left the room, his wife glaring daggers at his back.

In his room Ritsu was officially panicking. Pacing back and forth in front of his window he wanted to scream and vomit all at the same time. He half expected Takano to appear behind him any second, but the wolf didn't. Trying to calm his rattled nerves Ritsu opened his door to call for some tea only to jump when he found An standing outside hs door.

"An. I'm sorry I worried you, please I'll." Ritsu started but was cut off.

"Are you sick Rii-chan?" An asked worry clear on her face. Pushing into Ritsu's room with surprising force she stared up at him with big brown eyes. "Is it your stomach again. I know how it hurts sometimes!" Ritsu opened his mouth to speak but An cut him off again. "Why won't you talk to me? Did I displease you?" An's eyes began to tear up. "Please tell me what i can do for you. I love you." With that An threw her self into Ritsu's arms. "Please tell me Ritsu. Tell me you love me. please. You never this once!"

Ritsu remained quiet for a moment. His arms loosely around An. His head swirling. Then as if in a trance he said, "I do." It felt wrong. His stomache turned with bile and he wanted to push her away, but he couldn't. He just stood there letting her tears soak his haori, and her hands to wrinkle it. He felt numb, but he didn't understand why.

Outside the young heir's window, Takano watched the scene with narrowed eyes. He barely contained the urge to rip the girl off the boy and throw her out of the room by her hair. Somehow he restrained himself and waited for them to say goodnight. He thought about slipping in through the window but thought better of it. He didn't want to scare the boy any more than he had.

It took an hour but An finally left.

"I'll send up some tea." An called as she walked down the hall towards her own guest room. Ritsu called a thank you before sliding the door shut and flopping down on the floor. He was too tired to panic anymore and his head hurt. He glanced up interested when there was an abrupt knock at his door.

"Who is it?" he called not wanting to move. The door snapped open and Ritsu sat straight up as his father entered his room.

"Do you not even have the courtesy to stand before a Lord?" the man growled as his son scrambled to his feet. Lord Onodera watched with distaste as his son gave an ungraceful bow. Growling he spoke, "Because of your display at dinner I wasn't able to tell you. You will be accompanying me tomorrow on an errand tomorrow to see the woodcutter. I will expect you at dawn to be saddled and ready. No exceptions." With that the Lord turned on heal and departed not even waiting for a reply or confirmation.

Ritsu stared after his father for a minute, before collapsing back on the floor. He glanced wantingly at his closet where his futon was folded and sighed as he stood to fetch it, nearly groaning as there was yet another knock at his door.

Feeling as if an evil aura was surrounding him he moved to the door promising death to who ever was behind it, before feeling slightly remorseful as he scared the wits out of a poor maid who had brought him his tea. Snapping his door shut, Ritsu walked to his closet and threw out the futon and a pillow not caring where or which way they landed. Flopping down on the futon, Ritsu stared up at his ceiling. He fell asleep with his head swirling with thoughts.

The next morning, Ritsu quickly dressed and headed out into the courtyard where his father and a group of guards were already mounted and waiting to leave. His father was at top a pure white stallion and glared at his son. "A Lord is to keep his time." he growled turning his horse away and riding out of the gates.

Ritsu sighed as his own chocolate brown mare was brought to him, all ready saddled. Making a quick sweep of the belts of the saddle, and running a hand down the mare's neck. Ritsu quickly mounted the horse, whispering a quiet greeting to which the horse answered with a toss of it's head. Smiling Ritsu patted her neck before looking up. He felt a chill run down his spine as he caught sight of Takano riding up beside him upon a pure black stallion.

"Shall we go Rii-chan?" Takano asked, releshing in the blush that formed on Ritsu's cheeks. before following behind the flustered brunette.

Ritsu rode up beside his father, ignoring the glare he recieved. They rode through the village, Ritsu's father nodding to villagers here and there, following the road that lead to the farming district, and then into the forest. Takano kept close to Ritsu their hoses eyeing each other in the way horses did. They kept silent. Ritsu ignoring Takano's existance, just as his father ignored his.

After a while they entered the forest and it seemed that Takano moved even closer. Ritsu glanced at him curiously but never met Takano's eyes for they were constantly scanning the trees surrounding them, almost as if he was expecting an attack. Ritsu although confused turned away. He wasn't about to start a conversation with his hired stalker.

They came to a large clearing where the woodcutters cottoge stood, it's large dark fram loomed as if from a dark fairytale. It wasn't a cottoge persay but more of a small mansion. Ritsu couldn't help but be reminded of his grandmothers home. He was also a bit jealous.

They stopped infront of a large foyer with a large cherry wood front gate, and dismounted their horses. Ritsu glanced around the clearing as he relinquished his hold on his horses reigns to a guard. His eyes moved to the entrance taking in the intricate paintings on the walls of various charactors and flowers. Then he noticed a painting above the door of what looked like...a wolf, painted in such detail that it was truely a wonder on who painted it. However, he was really starting to hate wolves.

He met his fathers glance and moved to his side. Lord onodera's look was withering, but it was short lived for just as he was about to say something. the front door opened and a man appeared with light brown hair and brown eyes. He wore dark blue hakuma and grey and white striped haori and stood with a samurai's confidence that surprised Ritsu. The man seemed pleased to see them for a smirk etched itself on his face.

"AH Lord Onodera." he greeted Ritsu's father with a bow, "it is an honor to have you visit me. How may i serve you?"

"A most gracious welcome," Ritsu's father spoke, humor clear in his voice. "I hope we were not too unexpected. Kirishima Zen. This is my son...Ritsu." Ritsu bowed to the man before him confusion clearly written on his face. "Ritsu. This is Kirishima Zen... The Woodcutter."

Ritsu smiled at the man before him but Takano froze, his head shot up to stare at the man in the doorway. This human man was the woodcutter? This man was the man who had killed thousands in the war of the shogun. The man was demon in human flesh, but what made Takano ready to bolt out the door was the personal connection Takano had to the man. Although he had never met this human in person, this man... was responsably for the masacure of the wolf clans.

AN: DONE! I hope to have the next chapter up soon but with me you never know! However, my friend EricaW9 on youtube made a video for this story that i thought was pretty cool. Though I am one of the weirdest people on the face of the planet. SO if you'd like watch it! watch?v=cRKJasHPsOc ! Well R&R!