I keep on getting so many good reviews! Thanks so much for liking this fic! I'm currently in the mood to update my stories so I will really really try to update everything for the week (despite my work deadlines). Again, I'm very thankful for your reviews and I hope you like this chapter the way you liked the others.

CrystalChime13: I really can't say for sure. I've been having so many ideas on Yui-Nuriko that I'm still putting everything into order. Do drop a vote in my poll so I'll know who of the Seiryuu seis will show up in this fic. :D

ThePinkMartini: Yeah, and he's soooo cute! I'm having quite a hard time writing the epilogue of Serendipity in his perspective because I want to make sure I got the character right!

Michi: I was trying to control my laughter while writing the nosebleed part, glad you liked it! Ahahaha! I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.

XxLadyYuixX: I know, Tasuki's so cute. Yeah he's quite random here, maybe because to be honest, I don't want to entertain a Yui-Tasuki pairing in this fic. Tasuki's too nice to be the third wheel!

IamNoAngel: I will try to put Taiitsukun in, though I don't have a particular scene in mind at the moment. Ahahaha, will tell if you if it's possible. :D I still have some vacant chapters. ^_~

Ondoy: Yeah, I think Officially Missing You is perfect for the scene, though I was listening to I Miss You by Incubus while writing the previous chapter. ^_~

Disclaimer: FY is not mine.


Chapter 12: Path of Thorns

By Slavedriver2008


YUI OPENED THE DOOR of her apartment and was pleasantly surprised to see a bouquet of purple tulips. Her initial instinct was to throw it away, she never liked flowers that much. She actually preferred receiving ones with roots, the one in pots with a dainty ribbon. But then, such gifts were considered bad gifts in Japanese culture. She sighed and picked up the flower. She has been receiving flowers for more than a week now, all from an unknown sender. There were really beautiful flowers, roses, chrysanthemums, lilies and so many others she could not name but were beautiful and expensive nonetheless. Of course her initial instinct was to ask who it came from and she would initially think of Nuriko. But then, he was not the romantic type. And besides, he had not called her once for the last two weeks since they broke-up. She missed him terribly. Yui smelled the flowers and smiled, remembering his face and his eyes which were of the same hue as the flower. The comparison made her reconsider throwing it away and instead, she brought it inside and placed it in a vase, fingering the soft petals.

"I miss you so much. Please…call me…" she whispered as if talking to him. She sighed and went out of the house for class, hand clutching her phone in her pocket in case he called.

Not seeing him, not hearing from him, not talking to him had numerous effects on her. At first she hated him so much for running away that night. If he really wanted them to be together, all he needed to do was insist or admit loving her. But then, Yui realized she was asking too much. Nuriko could not love her. He wanted Hotohori. She should have kept that in mind since she started to feel something for him. After hating him for a week, she missed him so much. Then she thought of talking to him, calling him up just to hear his voice. But she never mustered the courage to act. She missed him so much that when he showed up in the coffee shop a week ago, she almost ran up to him and kissed him and held him tight. Oh god, she thought, he was driving her insane.

Yui started the engine of her car and drove off to university. She doesn't have classes today but she needed to have a word with her professor. She was failing her hardest subject—that was the worst effect he had on her. She could not concentrate because he filled her thoughts. She scheduled a discussion with her Anatomy professor so she'll know if she can pass the subject. Or else, she might re-take it next semester, which was not a good option.

She arrived at the university after 10 minutes, still a little early for their appointment. Instead of waiting, she went into his office and was surprised that his secretary was not around. Prof Kobayashi's secretary was always present, she seldom went on leaves. Shrugging her shoulders, she knocked on the door of the room and the professor hastily opened the door.

"Ah, Houngou-san, you're still early. Come in, come in," he smiled and she bowed in greeting.

Dr Kobayashi was the youngest professor in the university, but he was really smart and handsome. Almost all the girls in class blushed when he's around, but of course, he's not as handsome as Nuriko. Yui sighed at the thought, she really missed that jerk. She used to have a crush on the professor when semester started but it turned to merely admiration. If she was not mistaken, he was only in his early 30s.

"Sorry I came too early, sensei. I really want to know what my status," she said, her heart hammering hard. If she failed now, she might have to drop his subject. Either way was not good on her records.

"Ah yes, take a seat. I'll get you something to drink." Yui's brow creased. The professor was never the type to offer drinks in normal days. Oh, she might have looked pale or sick. The man came back with a glass of juice and he handed it to her. She took it and placed it on the table. "Come on, drink it. It'll lessen the tension."

Yui smiled and did as she was told. She took a sip, she was not really thirsty. "About my performance, I'm really sorry I've been getting low grades." She blinked at him and he smiled back, she was suddenly feeling a little dizzy. Bless Seiryuu, she was so nervous she was getting sick.

"Well, to be honest, you have been performing really poor lately." Yui clutched her head, it was throbbing and she suddenly felt sleepy. The professor pulled his chair closer and touched her knee. She was wearing a denim mini skirt. Yui's eyes widened when he started to thumb her knee sensuously. Her heart started to beat loudly. "But there's a way to keep your grades up…I recommend personal sessions…"

The blonde girl looked up to him and he smiled, Yui blinked and fear suddenly gripped her. He was looking at her in the same way the men in Kutou did. "Personal sessions?"

"Yes, I can teach you personally. I don't always do it for students," his hand traveled up her leg. "But you're a special case." With her head throbbing faster and her body trembling, Yui stood up and backed away from him.

The professor immediately grabbed her and pushed her toward the wall. "Please…don't!" He turned her toward the wall and covered her mouth before she could scream. Yui's hair prickled when he ran his tongue on her neck. She struggled to move away but he was strongly pushing her to the wall. Her hands could not reach him and she flailed miserably.

"You're a beautiful girl Yui, I can make you enjoy this," he breathed in her ear. She could feel him tug at her from behind. He was hard. "Just stop struggling and just let me touch you…" he inserted his hand on her shirt and Yui screamed as he cupped her breast. He moaned and tears fell from her eyes. Her whole body was trembling and she knew she could not stop be saved this time.

His teeth sank on her shoulder and she wailed in pain. He was having her way on her breast and it was in pain from the harshness of his hold. He was rubbing himself on her back and if this continues, she will forever be broken. Nuriko…she called him in her head, although it was impossible for him to hear her.

"Nuriko!" she screamed even with his hand on her mouth. The teeth sank deeper. A sound drilled through her confused mind and she stilled, listening to it, the maniac still having his way on her.

Hello, tell me you know…Yeah you figured me out…Something gave it away…Yui's eyes widened, she stopped struggling. Nuriko. Nuriko was calling her. After all these days…

It would be such a beautiful moment to see the look on your face…To know that, I know that you know now… The teeth stopped biting her and her professor, noticing she stopped struggling, made her face him and devoured the flesh on her neck. She winced in pain as he bit her again.

And baby that's a case of my wishful thinking…you know nothing… Well you and I while we do carry on for hours on end…We get along much better than you and your boyfriend…Boyfriend? He was her boyfriend…she was in love with him. His face appeared on her thoughts, the flowers in her living room were probably from him…He had been wooing her for a week now. She then remembered the time he saved her when he was drugged…

Well all I really want to do is to love you…a kind much closer than friends choose…But I still can't say it after all we've been through… What if…he really loved her but was just confused? Maybe she should give him time the way Chichiri told her that night. The phone continued ringing, he was probably worried she was not answering.

And I really want from you is to feel me…as the feeling inside keeps building…and I will find a way to you if it kills me…If it kills me…The phone stopped ringing and teeth sank on her shoulders again. Mustering her strength, she placed her leg between his legs and kneed her professor. He yelped in pain and let go of her.

Confused, she hurriedly clutched her bag and left the room, a little dazed from what he put in her drink and from her professor's attacks. She ran toward the car and started the engine. She drove off, body trembling and in pain, to him. He was her salvation.


NURIKO CURSED. HE HAD BEEN CALLING Yui for a while now and he still hasn't contacted her. He was only able to get through on the first time but the succeeding ones failed. He was in a board meeting and he was extremely nervous. Okay, so she couldn't do anything but he wanted to hear her voice even if it was just a hello. That's what he planned to do anyway, just hear her voice and then put the phone down. When she asked, if she did ask, he will say he accidentally pressed the button and called her up. He grunted, it was a lousy reason but he was still getting the jitters just thinking of proposing to her. Hey, he hadn't proposed to a girl before.

Then there was this nervousness that filled him, the fear that something might have happened to her and he wasn't there. He should really stop being childish. He should just tell her straight what he feels and protect her instead of leaving flowers on her doorstep, which she throws away anyway. He was still feeling queasy, he had to know where she was. A man cleared his throat and he looked up to see Saihitei looking at him with creased eyebrows.

"Huh?" The brown-haired bishounen rolled his eyes and motioned his head toward the other men in the room. Nuriko turned and he gasped when he realized all the executives were looking at him. His father eyed him at the other end of the table and he opened his mouth to explain. "I think I need to go to the washroom."

"Again?" he grunted and Nuriko nodded vigorously.

"Hai, please forgive me. Bladder problems." The executives sniggered and he immediately stood up and left the room.

He dialed her number again on the way to the men's washroom. Some of the office girls smiled flirtatiously at him and he just smiled back, thoughts drifting somewhere else. Yui. he prayed, please be okay. Annoyed, he dialed Miaka's number. She might know where Yui was, they were bestfriends. The brunette answered on the second ring.

"Nuriko? Why did you call?"

"Hi, Miaka…I…" he sighed. "I've been calling Yui but I couldn't contact her. Have she called you today? I'm…I think something happened…But I'm not so sure…" he said, biting his lip. Some of the men at the washroom looked at him while on the way out. They bowed when they recognized who him.

Miaka smirked on the other end. "Why are you suddenly interested? You haven't shown yourself in two weeks, Nuriko. Why the sudden concern?"

"Miaka…please…I just want to know if she's okay..." he massaged his temple, uncaring if the others were listening in on them now. Everyone would probably know about his phone call over lunch but he didn't care. Yui was more important than some office gossip. "Please…" Miaka cursed and before Nuriko could ask her what happened, Taka came out on the other end.

"Nuriko? Where are you?"

"In a board meeting. Well, I just excused myself. Why? Is Yui there?" he asked, panic evident in his voice. "Taka?"

"She just came in. Come here in the earliest you can. I think it happened again…" Nuriko's heart palpitated. "She's hurt and her shirt's torn." Nuriko cursed. "It's like Shin Jin Ten Chi Sho all over again..."

"I'll be there!" he screamed, placing the phone down. When he turned, his father was eyeing him. He doesn't look like his father at all. He was good-looking, yes, but Nuriko's features were mostly from his mother. But he got his eyes, he was the only one of the three with his father's purple eyes. "Father…I need to leave. I'm sorry but someone needs me…"

"I heard," he said stoically. Saihitei was standing behind the Chairman and he was looking at him with a knowing smile. "Is it more important than this company?" Nuriko's eyes widened and he looked at the older man with pleading eyes. He stood there, waiting for his response.

"She's everything to me…" he breathed out. Hotohori cleared his throat and Nuriko reddened. There, he admitted it. "Please don't make me choose, father." He closed his eyes, awaiting the possibility. What if he did make him choose? Man, what will he do?

"Who said I will?" He looked up at the older man with surprise. Saihitei sniggered behind him. "I'll give you the day-off today." Nuriko smiled broadly. "But just this once. Saihitei, tell the other members there's a family emergency."

"As you wish, father." Hotohori gave him a knowing smile before he followed the Chairman toward his office. Immediately, Nuriko turned toward the elevator and pushed his way in. Some of the people gasped when they saw him, some greeted him and he smiled back slightly. He dialed the driver's number, remembering he had no way of going to Taka's place without a car.

"Saito, prepare the car. We're going to the Sukunami residence now. I'll wait for you at the lobby." The crowd parted when he stepped out of the elevator. Lunch break had begun and most of the office people were walking around the building. One of the junior executives bowed to him.

"You seemed to be in a hurry, Chou-san. Had the meeting ended already?" he shook his head.

"It's cancelled. I'll be out the whole day. My girlfriend needs me." He turned around and resumed walking. The lobby buzzed at the mention of the word girlfriend. But it was the least of his worries, Yui does need him. At least that's what he wanted to believe. In less than 10 minutes, he was out of the building and in the road, waiting, deep in thoughs. What the hell happened to her? He tried to calm himself. If she got raped…no, she can't be raped. What if she did? He clutched his hair and looked out the window of the limousine, trying hard to pacify his feelings. You're not the only one who can look at her. It's not my fault your lady lore is a...luscious...woman.

Nuriko dialed Miaka's number and this time, it was Taka who answered the phone. "I'm near your place now...What happened?"

"Yui…she…Her professor tried to rape her. She was able to run away and she's crying in the guest bedroom. Miaka's trying to calm her but she's…She's calling you...Now's your chance man," Taka quipped and he frowned. Chance? To what? Be her knight in shining armor? Be his prince? The bishounen frowned, sadness filling him. What had he done? She experienced this because he was not there to protect her. She needed him. And he let her down. Tears rolled down his eyes. He was stupid.

"Don't be too hard on yourself Nuriko…Be strong, Yui needs you to be strong because she's very weak now. I have to go now. Need to bring water and bandages." Taka ended the call and he sat there, listening on the blank tone. What could he possibly tell her? What can he do to ease the pain? How did Nakago comforted her? He placed his phone back inside his blazer and wiped his tears. Yes, he needed to be strong. He needed to be man for her.

Unfortunately, he got caught in traffic a few streets away from Miaka and Taka's apartment. This must be his most unlucky day. "Saito, I'm going down. Meet me in Taka's house." He jumped off the limo and ran in the bustling streets of Tokyo to the woman he cared so much in the whole world.


NURIKO WAS HUFFING by the time he reached the Sukunami residence. Taka opened the door for him and he frowned at his state. "Don't ask."

"Wasn't gonna," Taka responded. Nuriko was still catching his breath when Taka showed him toward the guest room. Yui's sobbing can be heard from the door and his heart beat wildly. He will see her again, after such a long time. Finally. He pushed the door open and Miaka looked up, slightly surprised to see him. Yui was sitting on the side of the bed, with her back to him, crying.

Miaka walked toward him and eyed him intently, as if saying she'll grill him if he made her cry more. Taka closed the door behind him and he slowly walked toward her crying form. He sat beside her and she looked up slowly. Her eyes widened when she saw him and he hesitantly touched her face. Tears flowed down her cheeks and into his fingers. He wiped her tears and moved her long hair away to get a view of her neck. The sight made him seethe with anger. There were numerous bites on her neck, some blood had clotted but the others were black and blue. There were bruises on her arms and legs. Yui looked away, ashamed.

"Don't look at me…" She moved away but he pulled her to an embrace. She cried on his chest and he kissed her forehead. "Nuriko…Don't pity me…" He kissed her forehead again.

"I called you. Why didn't you answer my calls?" he planted another kiss, this time on her lips, his hands cupped her face. "I was so worried…" He kissed her again, this time longer. He explored her mouth and she let him. They were panting when they parted. Nuriko felt wonderful, it's been a long time since he last kissed her. Oh, it was pure bliss.

"I don't know what to tell you…" she whispered when the kiss ended and as he planted kisses on the side of her lips. "I wanted to go to your office but I remembered I don't where it is…" he kissed her again. She was burning, it was likely that she was running a fever. She looked intently at him, a pained look. "I'm dirty…he touched me…"

"Shhh…" He silenced her with another kiss. "You're not. You'll never be dirty enough for me." He was not imagining it, she was showing the signs of a fever. He leaned down to plant kisses on her swollen neck and shoulder, trying in vain to kiss the pain away. "Let's go home…" he whispered and she smiled, nodding softly. He kissed her one last time and then carried her downstairs. Yui clung to him, as if afraid he would leave. He kissed her forehead again, an assurance that he will stay. She leaned on his shoulder peacefully and closed her eyes.

Miaka and Taka were at the doorway and they smiled when they came out. He didn't say anything. He was aware that the two were listening on them. As he carried her sleeping form downstairs, anger gripped him again. Whoever did this to her will pay. He swear, he will get back at that bastard.

"Ryuuen…" Yui called him in her feverish sleep.

"I'm here," he whispered and she smiled, snuggling closer to him. They were about to go out the door when Tasuki arrived, concern filled his face.

"Is Yui—" he stopped when their eyes met. Nuriko's brow creased and he was frowning as he walked pass him into the waiting limousine. Now, he was angry and jealous. And it was not a good mixed feeling.


A/N: Song lyrics from If it Kills Me by Jason Mraz from the album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. This is by far the most dramatic chapter I've written. Not much humorous scenes—I couldn't decide where to put it. Hope you like it, please do leave reviews!