Authors note: OKAY! Lalalala surprise, jupp Kano is the spy, who would have guessed? This is going 2 be a fun packed chapter with a lot of moving from one character to the other so PAY ATTENTION! This story will soon end… sad right? Well enjoy and PLEASE REVIEW, thank you for all the readers who have reviewed...i appreciate it!

Credits: My friend Lawlerbear (not his real name obviously) helped me with the fighting scene! He rocks! The fighting scene is a bit…imaginative and hard to follow unless you picture it. It was fun to make though.

CH.10 Open wounds

Fuji stands up, putting the little bottle into his pocket and dashes out of the room. *WHAT SHOULD I DO! Ryoma is with her right now and she might kill him! They didn't tell me where they were going so they can be anywhere in this huge palace! Calm down Fuji…let's check the garden.* Fuji runs to the garden and opens the door, rushing inside. He run around the garden but finds no trace of them. *Where can they be…somewhere rarely anyone would go? It must be a soundproof and isolated place, where no one can hear Ryoma screaming. SHOOT!* Fuji runs down many stairs and across long hallways towards Ryoma's study. His study was the most isolated and lonely place in the palace, if it weren't, Ryoma wouldn't be able to concentrate while working. Fuji opens the door right in time to see Ryoma holding a cup of wine which Kano had served him. As Ryoma places it to his lips, Fuji takes the book closest to him an aims it at the cup, knocking the cup out of Ryoma's hand.

Ryoma looks at Fuji as if he was crazy, "What is wrong with you Fuji! That drink is a gift I received from Kano!"

Fuji walks up to Ryoma and hugs him with all his strength, "Thank god…"

Ryoma pushes Fuji away, "What? Are you okay?"

Fuji whispers in Ryoma's ear, "Did your father warn you about the spy in the palace?"

Ryoma nods, "Yes, what does this have to do with anything?"

Fuji stands in front of Ryoma and glares at Kano, "Ryoma please believe me when I tell you this…Kano is a spy. She wants to kill you and she would have succeeded if you drank what was in that cup."

Ryoma's eyebrows furrow, "What are you saying Fuji? I can't believe you would accuse Kano of such things! She's been by my side since I was a kid!"

Fuji sighs, "I know it all sounds outrageous and even I couldn't believe it, but I found this in her room. Also, yesterday night, I found her lurching around in front of your room."

Ryoma takes the bottle of poison from Fuji's hand and reads the label, "Still…she must have an explanation for this right? Kano, defend yourself."

Kano lets her long brown hair loose and smirks evilly, "Oh my little prince Ryoma, if this bastard wouldn't have interfered, you would have been dead by now."

Ryoma bites his lip, "…you are lying right?"

Kano laughs, "You are so intelligent yet so naïve at times. NO YOU BRAT, I am not lying…I HATE YOU with all my heart."

Fuji backs up and holds Ryoma's hand, "Why deceive this family all these years Kano? Why did you wait until now?"

Kano tilts her head creepily, "Why did I wait you ask…why did I wait seven painful and disgusting years? Because, today Ryoma turns 20 and that is the age in which my brother was MURDERED BRUTALLY BY ONE OF HIS FAMILY'S SOILDERS!"

Pity could be seen in Fuji's eyes, "…I am sorry Kano, but why are you taking it out on Ryoma, he hasn't done anything.

Kano eyes tear up, "Sorry? How can sorry bring back my brother! And yes...Ryoma wasn't the one who sent the order to murder all those village people and my brother, his father was. BUT, it'll hurt him more losing his sweet, beloved son."

Fuji shakes his head, "Kano I think you got it all wr-

Kano draws out a short sword from her kimono, "SHUT UP FUJI! This has nothing to do with you! I am not wrong; this is the emperor's fault. Didn't your parents die as well in that massacre? How can you forgive this corrupt family so easily? JUST BECAUSE YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH RYOMA?! Your mother and father must curse you from heaven for not carrying out their revenge. But I'll carry it out for you as well as my own!"

-Meanwhile-

Lulu's eyes slowly flutter open and he winces at the immense pain he felt in his head. He looks around and realizes he was on the floor of his bathroom. He tries to get up but his hands are tied to the bathtub faucet. "How did I get here…oh!" He tries untying the rope around his hands by biting and pulling. *I have to tell everyone that nee-chan knocked me out and tied me up. She is also planning to hurt Ryonii-san!* After a few minutes of struggling, Lulu frees his hands and runs out of his room. He runs towards the dining room where all the guests had arrived and were waiting for the birthday boy. Lulu runs to the middle of the room, panting heavily, and screams to attract their attention.

The queen recognizes the voice, "Lulu?"

Mioko looks at Lulu, "Who is that adorable little boy?"

The queen walks up to Lulu and smiles, "Everyone, this is a new addition to the family. His name is Lulu, Ryoma brought him home."

Lulu tugs on the queen's kimono, "Queen, Ryonii-san is in danger! Nee-chan, I mean Kano, is going to hurt him!"

Tezuka looks at Lulu, "What nonsense is this boy talking about?"

The queen smiles nervously, "Yes Lulu, now is not the time to be joking around."

Lulu shakes his head, "I am not lying!"

The king kneels down next to Lulu, "How do you know he is in danger?"

Lulu looks at the king with teary eyes, "Kano tied me up and told me she was going to hurt Ryonii-san; then she knocked me out!"

The queen looks at Lulu's reddened wrists, "He has rope marks…"

Lulu starts crying, "Please believe me! Ryonii-san needs help!"

The king yells, "Where is Fuji? Has anyone seen him?"

Mioko nods, "He rushed out of here a while ago, we haven't seen him since."

The servants help the panicked queen have a seat, "…I hope Fuji is with Ryoma right now."

The king sends a servant to get him the guards outside, "Who would have thought I'd ever need to use my guards inside. Don't worry Rinko, Ryoma is safe…have faith in Fuji."

Fuji draws out his katana and whispers to Ryoma, "Please…just stay in the corner."

Ryoma shakes his head, "No, this is my fight!"

Fuji growls, "Just stay! She is skilled and you know I can fight better than you."

Ryoma sighs, "Dammit, fine!"

Kano grabs her sword horizontally, like a kunai, "Are you love birds done? After I kill you Fuji, I'll kill Ryoma so it doesn't matter who comes at me first."

Fuji smirks and walks closer to Kano, "Hmm… assassin style? It fits your twisted personality Kano."

Kano smiles, "Thank you Fuji."

Fuji holds his katana in front of him in a kendo stance, "I don't want to kill you Kano."

Kan laughs, "Too bad the feeling isn't mutual. Kendo; amazing how a soldier is fighting in this style instead of kenjutsu…this will be easy."

"We'll see about that."

Kano lowers her head so eye contact is broken between them and mutters, "I am sorry." She lunges forward swiftly, swinging her entire arm vertically near Fuji. Fuji catches her wrist as she swings but she escapes, and leaps back. She attacks Fuji once again but he quickly brings the sword to parry Kano's. As soon as the swords part, Kano quickly slashes Fuji's left side, barely grazing him. Fuji grips his left side and swings at Kano, slashing her right arm.

Kano smiles, "Not too bad Fuji, your lacking the killing intent though."

Fuji glares at her, "You have enough for both of us."

Fuji swings once more but Kano jumps up and balances herself on his katana. With a smile she does a back flip, kicking Fuji to the floor. As she attacks him, Fuji grabs Kano's arm and throws her over his head. She lands on the desk, breaking it, and Fuji comes in to stab her. However, Kano quickly rolls to the side and takes a book, flinging it at Fuji. He dodges it, giving Kano an opening. She crouches, gets behind Fuji, and cuts his left leg. Fuji winces and swings at Kano, barely grazing her cheek. She twirls, dodging Fuji's next attack, and slashes in an upward diagonal across his back. Kano kicks Fuji's back, causing him to land painfully onto the broken desk.

Kano slowly walks up to Fuji, wiping the blood off her cheek, "Pathetic, you would have beaten me if you actually wanted to kill me. This is what you get for not having resolve." She steps back, barely avoiding a book that was thrown at her. She looks towards the corner, smiling menacingly.

Ryoma glares at Kano, "Get away from him. It's me you want to kill…"

Kano laughs evilly, "So Ryoma has the balls to stand up for his little lover, amazing."

Ryoma grabs the sword on display, "Unlike Fuji, I actually want to kill you right now."

Kano grins and dashes towards Ryoma, "Too bad your skills don't compare." She kicks Ryoma from the right, sending him flying straight into a bookshelf. She picks him up by his kimono and flings him to the other side of the room.

Fuji struggles to get up, "S-stop Kano! None of this is the emperors or Ryoma's fault."

Kano kicks Fuji in the stomach, "Shut up and just watch how I kill your lover." She grabs Fuji's katana and walks over to Ryoma who was weakly lying on the floor.

Ryoma looks at Kano with fear struck eyes but smirks, "You think doing any of this will bring your brother back to life? It won't, it will just make him feel ashamed of you. "

Kano slaps Ryoma, "It might not bring him back to life, but it will give me life and satisfaction to see you die. Especially seeing you die by your lover's blade."

Ryoma sighs, "Did these seven years not mean anything to you?"

Kano shakes her head nervously and raises the katana over Ryoma's chest, "…they didn't mean anything. I just wanted to gain your trust to later kill you."

Fuji keeps struggling to get up, "Ryoma! Fight back, what are you doing laying there?!"

Ryoma ignores Fuji, "Weren't those only your intentions in the beginning?"

"Those were my intentions in the beginning and now! I never cared for you, can't you just accept that!"

Sadness emits from Ryoma's eyes, "I wish I could say the same, but I did care for you. I wish I could rewind time and prevent your brother's death, but if I did, I wouldn't have met you. If revenge will make you feel better, then kill me."

Ryoma closes his eyes and balls his hands into fists, prepared to take the pain from being stabbed through the chest. His ears hurt from Fuji's screams in the background, telling him to not give up. Ryoma wishes that Fuji would say 'I love you', because if he didn't say it now, Ryoma wouldn't be able to hear it ever again. He smiles, knowing that the same thing applied to him, this is the last time he would be able to tell Fuji 'I love you '. As he opens his mouth to say it, he feels a strong pain in chest and warm liquid soaking his clothes. *I always thought you were supposed to see your life pass by as you die, no wonder all I thought about is Fuji…*