Hi, there! Happy new year! New year new chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 10

Tezuka Kunimitsu stared his little bride. If usually his face was bright with smile or small smirk but now was not. Not with that little frown and sharp tone but still the smaller man looked, well, adorable.

As his way home the night before, he had thought a lot about him and his bride. His days with the smaller man weren't easy but meaningful. There were lot of things he learned from his bride; his resoluteness to help the wifes and women in Tezuka's clan, his firmness to defend his opinion about Kikumaru, and his unconditional love to his family. Fuji agreed to marry someone he didn't know only to make his family happy and safe.

Tezuka realized as the days went by that Fuji had an admirable heart and powerful mind. He was glad the bride his grandfather chose for him was someone who was so strong, endearing and amazing. Still, inside those strong will was hidden a fragile man.

Fuji wasn't someone who shared his fear or problems with people, Tezuka knew that. The smaller man also tended to resolve it himself, like what he did with Nakaba. Tezuka saw it himself when he came to the small man in the middle of forest, alone with Nakaba; Fuji was trembling, battered and hurt. But, the blue eyes man said nothing nor cried for help. He kept it all bottled up.

Tezuka was very sure the smaller man said nothing about it to his sister, to keep her in the dark. Till when did he plan to keep it to himself? What would happen if he finally crumbled? Who would he depend on? What would he do when the time he was the one who need the protection?

That was what pulled Tezuka more to the younger male.

"Have you calm down already?" Tezuka asked after offering him to sit down.

"I'm calm." Fuji who sat on a chair at the left side of the table next to Tezuka, snapped at the bespectacled man.

"Hn." Tezuka took it quite acceptable.

"I can't believe you did something so stupid. What part of one year you fail to understand, huh?" Fuji asked again. "Don't you think about the consequences? Your life, my life and more importantly; my opinion? I can't be tied down by you here. I should go immediately after one year. Do you hear me?" Fuji asked in annoyance when he saw Tezuka drank his tea calmly.

"Hn."

"And now you say you won't erase these." He pointed at the marks. "Ann tells me that it's permanent. Forever." Fuji sighed helplessly.

"You don't have to be so stiff about it. You can stay for how ever long you wanted."

Fuji snorted, "You, Mr. Stoic is telling me not to be so stiff? One year is long enough for me. We clearly came to an agreement that this only last for one year. An agreement is to be fulfilled. Can't you see it?"

"Actually, no. My place is good enough for you and your family, you also have found new friends here. Is it that bad to stay?"

Fuji answered without blinking, "Yes, it is. Staying for too long is not a good choice. I have to go. It's better this way."

If Fuji asked whether Tezuka failed to understand their agreement it was an understatement. Tezuka definitely knew what one year meant; it meant that he had only four seasons to spend with the lithe man, it meant that his time was limited, it meant he would lose Fuji in less than ten months at the most.

Tezuka feared that he wasn't prepared fpr that. Not at all. Not when he was used of Fuji's presence, not when he was aware of the miniscule differences of Fuji's smile and not when he long to hear Fuji's soft voice.

"...That's why, undo this." Fuji concluded tiredly after a long talk which Tezuka didn't pay any attention to.

"I refuse."

"Why?!" Fuji asked in frustration.

"It's a custom in our clan to mark each other. As a sign we are devoted to each other. A lifetime devotion."

"So basically you tell me that this will stay with me forever? Like real forever?" Fuji asked the brown eyed man. "Can't we do something about it? No, why did you do it in the first actually?"

"Because people won't believe in this." He referred as their faking marriage, "If we don't do the custom. People will notice and start to ask why don't we mark each other." Tezuka answered flatly.

Fuji narrowed his eyes to see whether Tezuka was lying or not. "And if I don't want this mark, does it mean I have to kill you first or vice-versa?" He remembered that only old members or the one who lost their beloved one who didn't have the marks.

"No, not necessarily."

That raised Fuji's hope, "Really? There's a way to undo this, right? Ann tells me it's permanent but I think there's always a way to undo some magic. Moreover, you are their leader, there should be a way out for you, right?" He asked happily.

"Hn."

"Then do it."

"Not yet. Not when we are still tied in this."

Fuji groaned inwardly then he smiled, "Ah, right. That's fine. Just tell me how." He shifted closer to Tezuka, a hand on his ear, ready to hear the secret. If Tezuka didn't want to then Fuji would redo the marks himself.

Tezuka played along, he move forward till his mouth was in line with Fuji's ear, "It's..."

Fuji smiled in anticipation.

"..a secret." Tezuka whispered softly.

Fuji's hand slipped down, "Wha.." He looked at Tezuka dumbfoundedly. "You.."

Tezuka stood and messed with Fuji's hair, "You'll find out in the end." and headed to the bedroom to change.

###

That night when they were retired to the bedroom, Fuji asked Tezuka about the secret again stubbornly. "I'll tell you eventually." Tezuka answered Fuji, still reading his documents while sitting on the bed with his back leaned on the head of the bed, not looking at the smaller man at all.

Fuji rolled his eyes, "It's not like the world will end if you tell me."

Tezuka lowered his documents, "It won't."

Fuji climbed on the bed, kneeling next to Tezuka and nodded enthusiastically, "Right? So, tell me. Tell me how to undo it."

Tezuka sighed, he put the documents away to the nightstand next to him. "Why do you so eager to get rid of them? It won't disturb you or your life. Like you say, it's not like the world will end if you have them."

Fuji sat next to Tezuka, he pulled his knees to his chest, chin on his knees, "Because being a Fuji is associated with bad omen. I don't want to see your great clan crumbling down because of us. We are the danger." He answered after a long hesitation.

There were times when Fuji talk, his smile would turn into a small unsure smile, his tone would turned bitter. The young male indicated random things and it confused Tezuka sometimes, just like this time.

Tezuka suspected something had happened and left Fuji traumatized. His suspicion was proven by Fuji's nightmare which came occasionally. The first time happened at their first night at the market. Fuji tossed and turned in their bed, drenching in sweats, murmuring things Tezuka didn't understand.

The bespectacled man didn't like the deep frown on Fuji's face. So he tried to calm the small man down; he changed Fuji's damp outfit to his own (which turned into a big fuss to the maid said Oishi, Tezuka failed to get what to fuss about it), brought Fuji into his arms and whispered softly that he would protect the lithe man no matter what. It worked, at least Fuji was calmer and whispered a small thank you to him in his unconsciousness.

From that day, Tezuka vowed to protect his stubborn little wife with all his might. Arranged and unwanted marriage it was but Fuji had come to be a part of Tezuka, his clan, and himself.

The nightmare didn't occur only that time. Many nights ahead, Fuji's night were filled with scared whimpers and tears. Tezuka took the liberty to wrapped his arms around the small torso; he sometimes whispered softly to assure Fuji that he was fine, sometimes he would pat Fuji's back softly and sometimes he would brought Fuji deeper in his arms to protect him from the evil from Fuji's dream. Either way, Tezuka would always ended with staring at his bride till his sleepiness beat him.

"No, you're not. Tell me, I'll try to understand. I'll help." Tezuka said as soft as a whisper.

Fuji shook his head, "No. It's better you don't know. Perhaps these marks would never hinder me but when they know where I got them from, they'll come to you. They'll try to find more Fuji here and destroy you if they find nothing. I don't want that. It will destroy me, too." He sighed while staring at Tezuka with so much sadness filled in his eyes.

Tezuka scooted closer to Fuji, "Then tell me. Who are they? Where are they now? I'm sure we can do something about it. There's always—"

"There's nothing we can do about it, okay?" Fuji cut off. "I have learned it myself. There's nothing I can do about it."

"Therefore, we need to work together." He tugged Fuji's chin till the smaller man looked at him. "Look at me. I don't blame you being scared about them. But everything has changed, now you have me, Kikumaru, Oishi, my clan. It's not easy for you and your family. It must be a long and tiring journey for you. We will help you just like how you help us."

Fuji shook Tezuka's hand away, he placed his forehead on his knee, his chin length hair blocked Tezuka from his view. "No. Don't bargain it. It's futile. There's nothing we can do." He sighed.

"Fuji.."

"Please.. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to lose you guys, too."

"I see." Tezuka leaned back to his previous position and cleared his throat, "Since you turn down my offer, then I regrettably have to withhold your request."

"What?! You can't do that! I object that! It's an unfair of you."

"Ah.. So does your stubborn silence." Tezuka replied flatly with closed eyes.

"That is that and this is this! They are different!"

"It's the same. I need you to believe in me, to tell my what scares you and I want to help."

"No." Fuji refused.

Tezuka looked at him and shrugged, "Well, I have no obligation to tell you the way."

"Oh! For the love of— I tell you to believe in me for your own goodness! It's my gratitude for you! It's safer this way. Why don't you just believe in this one time, huh?" Fuji asked furiously.

"It's also my intention. I want to keep you safe. Believing goes both way, Fuji." Fuji opened his mouth to rebutt but Tezuka continued, "Talking about this is meaningless. Tomorrow is another long day, let's call it a day and get a decent sleep. We can talk about this in the near future."

"But— I—"

Tezuka slid under the thick blanket and turned his back to Fuji, clearly decided that he had finished talking. Fuji could only gaped at the man and blinked dumbfoundedly.

In the end he got nothing from Tezuka.

###

"Good morning." Fuji smiled at Kunikazu at the next morning.

"Good morning to you, too." The old man replied with a warm smile from the table, in front of him were simple yet warm breakfast. "Where is Kunimitsu?" He frowned while Fuji was putting a rectangular shaped thing wrapped with a nice blue silk wrapper.

"Busy. He is gone when I woke up." The younger male answered while tucking out his well stacked box filled with wide range of foods. "It's too lonely to have a breakfast there so I come here to have a nice meal with you, is that okay?" Fuji asked.

"Well, I really love to but I think my grandson will be happier to have a meal with you."

"He isn't even there, besides, I prefer to talk to you." Fuji murmured lowly at the last part.

Kunikazu laughed, "You guys have a fight, don't you? Marriage is supposed to be like that. One day you fight and the next day you forgive."

Fuji held his urge to roll his eyes, "He is one stubborn man. Can't even talk and convince him, he won't even listen!" He placed several rolled eggs and side dishes to small plates he brought along with him and served it to the older man.

"He supposed to listen. I shall remind him that he has someone next to him whom he has to respect and love now." Kunikazu nodded while placing a grilled fish to Fuji's plate.

"I appreciate it but please don't. We'll try to find a way out ourselves. It's bad enough to have to you hear about it let alone asking you to help me." Fuji refused politely. He was more than capable to solve his problem if only his 'husband' wasn't that hard-headed.

"Then I'll let you be. I know both of you will be alright." Kunikazu replied and asked Fuji to eat before his foods turn cold and before people start to come and started the day.

They have small talks while enjoying their breakfast. Fuji had been having breakfast times at Kunikazu's place, partly because he felt sorry for the old man to be alone in his big house (the mothers came and lined up only when the sun had rose up in the sky till early night so basically the old man was alone beside those time) and partly because he enjoyed talking to the old man, much, much more than talking to his grandson.

It occurred in Fuji's mind to ask about the marks to Kunikazu but it would make the ex-leader of Seigaku clan got suspicious about it so he decided not to ask. Perhaps he shall ask his sister but he doubted she knew about it.

His only chance was waiting for Tezuka's explanation or..

"Ne, Ann-chan, can you tell me more about these marks?" Fuji asked that afternoon.

"You mean the Blood Vow?" Ann asked and Fuji nodded firmly.

Ann stopped working on her herbs and looked at Fuji in confusion, "What about it?"

"Just my curiosity, Tezuka I mean my, err..husband, never tells me the detail and since I have never heard or seen these marks before, I really want to know." He said with a stammer.

"I see, that's why you looked so shocked yesterday about it, right?" Ann caressed her bulging stomach slowly, "It's understandable since Blood Vow is an ancient magic. Let me think, Takeshi told me that it was created by our ancestors. At that time marriage was a rare occasion, they lived nomadically and it was difficult to build a family in such situation. At that time the man would propose to woman, but often time they would be married in at least another year."

"That long?" Fuji never heard about such thing.

"Yup, since the man ought to build house where they would live on, a garden for his future wife to work on or a field so they could work together to build their familiy." Ann picked another herb from a bamboo tray in front of her. She was helping Fuji making some cough medicine.

Fuji hummed while smashing his herbs on small mortar, "So what is the relation?" He was clueless.

Ann explained to him patiently, "Because at that time the population was so low also the distance of one clan to another was too far, it's easier when you marry someone from your clan but if you weren't...the man was afraid that his bride would be taken away by another man so they made a vow, where the bride promised the groom that she would wait and the groom to the bride that he would definitely come back to her." Ann sighed dreamily. "Although we don't really need it now but our clan still continues it."

"Aa.. That's why. With those specks nobody would dare to snatch the bride, I see. Does it disappeared only when either of the spouse die?" He said the marks as if it was a plague.

"Certainly." Ann put another herb into the mortar. Fuji asked why it vanished only the spouse died, "Since either of the spouse wouldn't want his beloved to feel the pain too long. They must move on eventually."

"There's no another way to undo it, then?" Fuji asked impatiently.

"Of course, no. It's permanent. I'm so proud everytime I see the marks on Takeshi's face. I know he would always be mine and nobody can say otherwise." she said in more low tone, "Can you imagine when you were promised to someone and wait patiently then one day it disappeared from your face?"

Although he insisted to erase the marks, but now after hearing Ann's last sentence, he felt a little bothered by the idea of how to erase it.

###

Another month passed; the snow started to melt, the day turned brighter, the temperature was getting warmer. The clan was ready to welcome the spring.

"When will we have this spring festival?" Yumiko asked happily, Yuta was running around the field with another kids. They had been cleaning the field for a week and although almost all the ladies and men were helping but they only managed to clean half of it.

At first Fuji took the duty lightly, why fussing about cleaning some field? It's just a small field, it wouldn't be that hard, right? Yet, he was proven wrong. There were many things to do; you scrap clean the snow, pluck the dried weed, chop down some dangerously rotten branch of the trees around the field, fix the broken chair, stall and table from the storage room, not to mention how slippery the ground was since the snow was melting, and so on. In the end, he was exhausted. They usually started after their breakfast and didn't stop until the sun had set. The ladies took turn to cook their lunch and dinner, while the rest was continuing the works. Of all the time, Fuji enjoyed lunch time the most, like this time. They were sitting under sturdy big pavilion right at the left side of the entrance of the field. The ladies had spread out comfortable blankets on the dry ground and placed various cooking in the center of them. They talked and eat while the kids ran around the cleaned area, poking around the tree, but there also kids who just loved to sit and enjoy the scenery. Just like Fuji. Although they were only half way but he could see why the villagers loved this place, it was an open area with tall large trees surrounded it. The air was so fresh and nice.

"In next three weeks. While we are cleaning and decorating this field, the man will start to hunt, Tezuka-sama will send invitations to other clans. Oh, I can't wait to celebrate!" Ann explained with the same enthusiasm.

"What do you usually do in the festival?" Fuji asked.

Ann grinned, "Oh, we do many things; eat, drink, sing, dance.." she giggled, "And a main attraction at the end of the spring festival." she added mischievously. She pointed to the left of them, to thick dried tall coarse grass and bushes, "Over there, perhaps we can't see it yet but actually it was a deep cliff all along."

"Isn't it dangerous?" Fuji could hear nervousness of his sister's tone when she asked.

Ann shook her head quickly, "No, it's not. Don't worry. We had built two rows of strong fence at the edge of it. Children are only allowed to go to the inner row, so don't worry."

"And what about this main attraction?" Yumiko asked again, clearly confused by Ann's words.

Ann raised her brows several times, "We'll see, we'll see when the time come." she said while looking at Fuji. Whatever it was, Fuji decided, he wouldn't like it.

"Ah, so you guys are having your lunch."

"Kazu-jisan." Ann greeted the old man.

"Kunikazu, my dear lazy friend, I heard you weren't going to come. Time is catching up with you, eh?" Ryuzaki asked next to their group and laughed.

Kunikazu laughed, "Not everyone have your bull stamina, Sumire." He joined them then.

Fuji looked at the old man, his complexion wasn't that bad but it wasn't that good either. Fuji didn't remember whether the old man had his breakfast, "Let me serve you, what do you want, Kazu-jisan?" He scooted next to the stern-looking man and offered.

"Ah, don't mind this old man. Just enjoy your food, my son." He pat Fuji's knee lightly.

"You haven't had your lunch yet so you must." Fuji pressed. Kunikazu frowned, "Later."

"I insist." Fuji said with a smile but firmly.

Kunikazu glanced at Fuji in annoyance to scare him, Fuji had seen the similar gesture hundred times from a specific man and honestly, it didn't work on Fuji.

Fuji heard Ryuzaki laughed loudly, "This one has got you, eh? Just do as he says, we know you won't win against him."

"I got myself another stubborn grandson, didn't I?" Kunikazu replied, he said in proud tone rather than annoyance. Fuji couldn't help but to smile at the older man.

They ate in silence after that. The ladies and men started their work at the next half hour. Ann had gone to Kunikazu's house to send the kids to their afternoon nap with Yumiko. Fuji prevented Kunikazu from helping, "Did you sleep well last night?" He frown when he pressed his fingers on Kunikazu's wrist and felt the low energy flow of the old man.

"A very nice sleep, as usual." Kunikazu responsed immediately and they both knew he lied.

"You need to eat and sleep well. With the spring festival coming, we won't have much time to rest." Fuji reprimanded softly with a sigh.

Yet before he could add another speech, Momoshiro rushed toward the pavilion, "Kunikazu-sama, it's urgent!" The black haired man informed them that there was an accident happened, a man in his group disturbed a bear hideout unknowingly and was beaten up badly. "I don't know what to do. It might be not good." He glanced at the crowd where the ladies were working diligently, to the injured man's wife, to be exact.

Kunikazu whispered his surprise and said quickly, "Let's go to check him. Let's hope it's not as bad as Taku's case." He ordered the man to show the way. Fuji followed them but he made a detour to Kunikazu's house first to take his equipment then joined both men who wasn't that far yet.

"Who is Taku?" He asked while they were walking.

"Taku was a young man who died on summer two years ago. He was on hunting at that time and was attacked by bear." Momoshiro replied while helping Kunikazu to step on the narrow muddy road.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He truly did and thanked the deities above to keep them save in the last ten years despite walking aimlessly in the forest all that time. "Does the bear always attack the villager?"

"They usually don't but there is always bad times. We usually go hunt on group to watch each other's back but there's also some bad days."

"I see." He tightened his grip on the box strap, he hoped today wasn't the man's bad day.

They arrived in less than fifteen minutes, Fuji saw several men with dark and sorrowful expression, there was a four feet tall makeshift wall made of dark cloth erected around the injured man and a man shouted Tezuka's name to tell him that Kunikazu had arrived.

Tezuka approached them, "How is he?" Kunikazu asked quickly.

Tezuka led them to the man, "Not good. We arrived a bit too late, he supposed to wait but he wants to hurry and goes back to the village." Then he explained the man's condition, "He lost so much blood and his body is getting colder. I have tried to press the wounds to stop the bleeding but.." He sighed.

Fuji held his breath when he saw the man, there was a big scar on the right side of his face, blood was covering almost all of his tattered clothes and the ground around him.

"My poor son." Kunikazu knelt down next to the half conscious man, didn't mind about the blood seeping to his nice wool trousers. "You'll be fine, we'll make sure of it.."

While his grandfather was calming the man, Tezuka shifted his attention to Fuji. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm helping, too. Send the rest away, please." He answered quickly.

"No. You must not be here, it's you who need to go back home."

Fuji shook his head, "I can help you. I swear! Just send them away." Fuji flicked his to the men around Tezuka and him.

"There's nothing you can help with today. He is.."

"..going to be okay." Fuji finished Tezuka's sentence.

Kunikazu was whispering next to them, "I doubt it, my son. He is..defeated." The old man rubbed his face in frustration, "I don't know how to tell her.."

"Kazu..." The man, who was in his mid forties and black hair, called while writhing and gasped lowly. Kunikazu stepped back to the man immediately.

Tezuka wanted to follow but was stopped by Fuji, "Listen. We are run out of time, I can help you, just send the men away, please." He begged.

Tezuka shook his head, "There's nothing we can do about it. We just need to give him.."

"I can help him. Don't you forget about the little boy and the young mother I helped last time?"

"No." Tezuka said sternly.

There was a stubbornness in Fuji's face then suddenly, "I...I won't ask you to tell my about the mark anymore, I'll follow your lead just..just let me.." He said desperately.

There was a glint in Tezuka's eyes then he nodded, "Alright."

Tezuka then asked Momoshiro, Kunikazu and the rest to go back to their village, to inform the wife, the ladies to prepare medicine and to bring strecher, more cloth and coat back to the forest after that.

The men, especially Kunikazu refused but they relented in the end.

Soon after they gone Fuji knelt on the man's right side, the man was so pale and shivering badly. Fuji checked his heart beat and his breath, not good. "I need you to cooperate with me." He whispered to the man, when he got a weak nod he proceed to work on.

Fuji took his sister's blue stone out and used his power to put the broken bones back, closed the injured tissues, organs, anything he found as quickly as possible. Tezuka was helping him as efficiently as an amateur man could, actually he was really a great assistant, the bespectacled man knew where to press and put bandages as Fuji wished. Fuji was risking his life figuratively and literally with his action but he didn't care. He had to help the man in front of him and if Tezuka found out his strange power, the bespectacled man didn't say anything, not yet.

Two hours later, Fuji slumped down from his position, drained. He did his best; he closed all wound, injured organs and broken bones, although he could do nothing about the blood lost but it could be repaired slowly by the body. It would be a long road but the man would survive.

"Tezuka-sama!" Fuji heard Momoshiro called from afar and felt someone pulled him into a nice embrace.

"Don't tell them.." He whispered to that someone, "Please.." and he went black out.

###

Tezuka Kunimitsu knew he wasn't fair to his little bride as he walked back to their village with his little bride in his arms, unconscious. Fuji wanted to help the man so desperately, yet Tezuka used his pure intention to get his goal; for Fuji to give up his mind about the marks. At first, he truly didn't want to let Fuji to help, it was too late, after all. Yet, Fuji insisted to. Actually, Tezuka wanted to let Fuji to do as he wished but before he could voice it, Fuji promised to let the issue about the mark go. Tezuka wasn't a fool to let the chance go. In the end they got their win-win solution or rather, Tezuka got both win solutions while his bride..

Looked so pale, cold and not moving in his arms. Tezuka began to worry and panicked about him. Had something happened to his bride, it was Tezuka himself to blame.

Yumiko welcomed them at the gate together with Kunikazu, the wife and the rest of villagers. All of them crowding the men, leaving Tezuka and Fuji in his arms alone.

"Syusuke.." Yumiko ran to them. The woman checked his brother and then sighed.

"He did it, didn't he?" Yumiko asked and Tezuka nodded, "And he fell unconscious immediately."

Tezuka knew Fuji was someone special, but never before he could do a miracle.

"Figures. He used all of his power, stubborn little brother." Yumiko said with warm tone.

"What should we do now?" Tezuka asked.

"Let's clean him and let him sleep. He usually sleep for days after using his power. Some nice sleeps, good foods and nice hugs will be sufficient." Yumiko informed warmly and if Yumiko wasn't worried about Fuji's condition it meant Fuji was fine.

###

Tezuka went to his grandfather that night.

"Is your wife okay?" His grandfather asked right after Tezuka sat across him. The crowd had gone after the big fuss in the afternoon. The man had been sent to his house to his wife, Tezuka suggested the wife to give his husband nutritional foods and bed rest for at least two weeks (it was actually Yumiko's suggestions after she checked the man) and he promised to send foods for them regularly.

"Ah, he has been sleeping since this afternoon." Yumiko informed to leave Fuji alone and wake him up only when the time to eat.

"He saved Won, didn't he?" Kunikazu asked again while pouring tea to his grandson.

Tezuka hesitated but nodded, "Ah.."

"He told you to keep it for yourself didn't he?" Kunikazu crossed his arms, "It doesn't need a genius to connect the dots, Won wasn't going to be alive, everyone knows that but then after we left you and Syuu-kun alone, he survives. We both know you have no such power to create a miracle, Kunimitsu." His grandfather said after a while.

"Ah.. Fuji did it. It's my first time to see such thing."

"It's not for me." Kunikazu stared at his grandson, "Do you remember how I met Syuu-kun? Kunimitsu, I need you to know, my time is coming." He looked to the opened door at his left side, a night view with clear sky and clean air. "I often dream about your grandmother lately. She is getting tired of waiting for me." He smiled solemnly.

"You've been saying about this since last year." Tezuka commented. His grandfather blinked and laughed, "That's right. I know it's been that long, huh? No wonder your grandmother looked upset in my dreams. But, aside of that, I am serious when I said I knew my time was coming. That day, when I met Syuu-kun in the forest, I had a bad heart attack, don't look at that, I couldn't help it, no? I thought at that time 'ah, this time is real', I regret nothing but it breaks my heart whenever I think about you and leaving you alone. I just wish there's someone to stay next to you when I am not here anymore."

Kunikazu smiled, "and miraculously, Syuu-kun appeared in front of me that moment. He didn't only heal my sickness, I have to admit that it was quite severe, however it is gone right after Syuu-kun helping me. He also disperse my worries. He is the answer of my wish to the deities above, Kunimitsu. To be your soulmate."

"Is that why you pushed us to marry?"

Kunikazu replied with a smile, his grandson didn't look mad, not the slightest. "What are you going to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"About Syuu-kun's power. It's a great ability, isn't it? Are you going to tell others?"

Tezuka caressed the tip of his small cup, the tea in his cup was barely warm now, "It is. But I don't think it's necessary to tell the others. It's Fuji's ability and it's Fuji's right to use it as he wishes. It's unquestionably a great thing since we will have a very dependable healer. Indeed, there always will be people who get hurt or fall sick in the future but there's only one Fuji. We won't burden him with such responsibility and hurt him."

He would never, no after he saw how pale and drained Fuji was. He still remembered how cold Fuji's hand when he tucked the man to the bed, how he shivered and murmured softly for Tezuka not to tell anyone. Fuji even under his half unconsciousness made him promised thay and only let Tezuka go when he was assured that nobody would know.

Was it possibly related to Fuji's insistence of erasing their marks and persisting to leave after their one year pact? Fuji looked and felt terrified to something or rather someone. Was there someone else who knew about Fuji's ability? Tezuka almost sure that there was and whoever it was, they weren't good news. They were also the answer of Fuji's nightmare.

Tezuka needed to start his investigation to get his answers since it was impossible to get the answers from Fuji himself.

"...okay?"

"Ah?"

His grandfather tsk-ed, "Where are you and your mind just now, young man? I say I'm pleased with your idea. It's not good to push Fuji into every single problem we have in this clan. He might help but we mustn't rely too much to him, it's unfair for Fuji."

"Ah.."

"About Won's case, I told the villagers that he was saved by some travellers who were happened to pass by and helped you. Fortunately, there aren't too many superficial scars from the first so people won't be so suspicious about it."

"What about Fuji's condition?" Tezuka asked with raised brows, he hadn't talked about it to anyone and was a bit surprised nobody had asked about Fuji's condition yet.

"Ah, there's the problem. I told them he helped, too but it was too much for him so he black out after that." Kunikazu then added again, "It's unfair for him but I think it's better this way, hopefully he will not be involved in such incident anymore in the future."

Then it occured in Tezuka's mind that his grandfather was testing his standing about Fuji's ability, his grandfather knew about it before Tezuka and the old man wanted to know whether his grandson would exploit it or protect it. Really, his grandfather should have more faith in his grandson. "Ah.. Your worries are useless and baseless but thank you, grandfather."

Kunikazu chuckled when he realized his grandson knew his intention in the end, "Now, go home. Stay next to your spouse and make sure he is fine." He stood and sent Tezuka to the door.

###

Fuji blinked tiredly and groaned when he found the surrounding was still spinning although not as bad as before. He remembered someone was helping him to drink and to the loo several times. He didn't remember who, though since he was too tired and his vision was blurry yet he knew that person was so patient with Fuji's whines and Fuji's needs. The blue eyed man even felt grateful that that person was next to him when he needed help, it must be his sister, he decided. It was only her who knew his condition after using his power.

He sat up slowly when the view wasn't spinning that much anymore. He took the glass full of water at the table next to his bed. He realized that he was already in Tezuka's bed, in Tezuka's house and wearing Tezuka's clothes; all too big and too long.

How long had he been sleeping? There was no sign of Tezuka or his sister. He stepped out of the bed and opened the window, it was early in the morning.

He decided to get ready and visited his sister and Ann, and perhaps had a nice breakfast with Kazu-jisan.

"Good morning, Tezuka's Fuji-sama, nice to see you finally get up, how is your cold? Kunikazu-sama told me you fainted that day since you had a cold. You have been out for three days." a woman who me met on the road greeted and scolded him for not being careful.

Ah, so he spent three full days in bed, it wasn't a surprise actually, with those wounds he had to heal. But he was glad he did it.

The woman then excused herself after that. Nobody knew about his secret. He was relieved, very. Fuji decided to go to Kunikazu's house first to thank him and perhaps Tezuka too, for keeping his secret.

"Kazu-jisan, it's me." He knocked the closed door. "Kazu-jisan?" He leaned and put his ear on the door, it was too quiet. Usually the old man would have readied to start the day. "Kazu-jisan, I'm coming in.." He pushed the door which wasn't locked.

###

"Good work for you."

"Good work for you too, Tezuka-sama." The gate keeper replied to Tezuka. The nightshift had just finished and was replaced by another people. Tezuka asked regular questions regarding the status and report as he usually did.

"We got a massage." another guard shouted from the tower of the gate. He then brought it to Tezuka. "Shall I let the owl go?" He asked.

"Not yet, perhaps it needs immediate reply." He opened the letter and read carefully.

"..Tezuka-sama..Tezuka-sama!" a man running toward them.

"What with the fuss early in the morning, Mako?" The guard asked in annoyance.

Mako stopped in front of them, he placed his hands on his knees to take a breath, "You..you have to go to Kunikazu's house now..he is..your grandfather.."

"What with the damn stutter, son?" The man roared again, Tezuka raised his hand to stop another ranting from the older man.

"Your grandfather, sir..he passed away."

"You are serious? Are you serious, Mako?" The man next to Tezuka gasped loudly. Mako disclosed while pointing back to the tall building behind him, "My wife was walking past his house and heard someone cried, it seems like Fuji-sama found him first. Fuji-sama is very shocked. You must hurry!"

"Rado, send this message as a reply." Tezuka handed over a paper he wrote hastily. "Stay in your post and let me know any new news." He said to the guard.

Tezuka then walked back to his grandfather's house. His minds was filled with both his grandfather and his wife. One was who had been a part of his live and always been in his heart for long while the other one was just entered his life yet took the largest part of his heart.

That's for this chapter. Thank you guys for being patient with me. Happy new year to you!

Thanks for your lovely review, Fujiyuki-san, tefufans-san, Guest-san, supremekikay24-san, smile-san, liliac-san, Ai and August 19-san, yourlovelyfuji-san and pinkrabbit-san.