Yeah, I'm planning to end this story soon so I can move on to my other pending stories. So, this is the long-delayed chapter of this reading!

ThePinkMartini: The previous chapter was definitely tension-filled. Initially, I want the chapter to show how they are too in love with each other in front of Sai's family, but I guess it became heavier because of the other characters on the table. ;p

LeeRaRa: You think so? I can't say yet but things won't look good for Sai and Yui. We better find that out in the succeeding chappies.

Disclaimer: FY is not mine.

Though I'm always by your side, I still can't see your pains…

But we can send them to the sky… like how the wind carries off the falling blossom…

- Yume no Kakera

"FATHER will be very pleased that we are in the same boat," Tendoh said and the man he directed the statement smirked, taking offense. The sound of the air-conditioning system drilled through the room but it did not freeze the tension between the two men who occupied it.

"I'm not doing you a favor." Kasaru stood up and turned away, hand clutched tight at his sides. "I'm doing this for myself and for Yui because your brother can never make her happy," he said in a soft voice he was famous for. Even if he was angry, Tsuonie Kasaru never raised his voice. The older man raised an eyebrow.

"Either way, if you succeed in luring this woman away from my brother, the better." Tendoh stood up and walked toward the door and turned the knob slowly, delaying the opening of the door. "If you fail I might have to take matters into my own hands. I'm not very patient and you know what I can do."

"Tell me… why do you hate Yui?" Kasaru asked, eyeing him intently. They have been closest before Tendoh was lured away learning how to become Prime Minister. The latter turned and shook his head, closing the door tight.

"I don't hate her, I'm doing this for Saihitei." Tendoh looked at the other man intently.

"You're jealous of him," Kasaru noted and Tendoh's expression became serious. He always hated it when people accuse him of feeling something that never existed.

"I'd do anything for this family," he answered.

"Even to break your brother?" Tendoh did not answer and Kasaru walked toward the door, meeting the glare of the next most powerful man in the country. "We'll both regret this but I've never wanted anything in my life. If Yui decides to still choose Saihitei, I will give way but do not ever lay a finger on her, Tendoh." The man moved from the door, making way for him. Kasaru was about to open the door when he spoke again.

"She can never replace Suzuno," he said out and Kasaru's jaw clenched. "Your lover is dead, why don't you just go back to the family? There's no use running away—"

"If Saihitei cannot protect Yui from the family, I will take her away," Kasaru said, turning toward the man he treated as a brother. "Actually, I believe our little Sai will never be able to do so, that is why I'm doing this. Don't ever assume that I'm doing this for you and for Uncle." Before Tendoh could speak further, Kasaru walked out of the room and closed the door, walking angrily away from the man.

Though fuming, Kasaru knew what he had to do. And Tendoh doesn't have to tell him twice. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number, he had memorized it and can say it out even in his dreams. Rings came from the other end, and another, and another. She was not answering the phone. He tried again, determined to hear her voice. He was stupid to bring her back to the hotel. She would have been his for good. He should have kept her away from Saihitei as much as he can, it was his mistake to test her. He knew better now.

Yui finally answered after the fifth call. "Kasaru…?"

"Moshi-moshi Yui. How are you?" he asked in a happy voice. He can read the hesitation in her voice. "Did I call at a bad time? Is Saihitei—"

"No, no. Saihitei is at work. I'm in my apartment now. Do you need anything?" she asked innocently and a smirk made its way across his face. But he did not let it show, the last thing he wanted was to trigger her suspicions.

"How about we grab something to eat? I'm on my way back to get my guitar for tonight's gig and we could have dinner outside—"

"I'm sorry, Saihitei will come home for dinner and—"

"Sai comes home late, let's get something light. My treat… for helping me out in the flower shop. We could meet in the flower shop if you're not comfortable being seen with me," he suggested and Yui sighed on the other end. "Look, I'm sorry for what happened in the past. Let's push it aside and be friends again, okay?"

Yui sighed and Kasaru can see his victory. She was always an easy girl to please, no wonder she fell for Saihitei. "Fine. I'll see you at the coffee shop in an hour. But I can't stay for long, I still need to cook dinner." They said their goodbyes and he rushed to get his things inside his apartment.

He was tempted to stop in front of her door but they already agreed to meet, there was no use stalking. Guilt crept through him but he pushed it away. He had to do things, had to be bold enough. He had always cared for the younger man but it was different now. If he don't step up and do something, Tendoh will make his move. He said so himself earlier. In their years together, Kasaru knows that every woman Tendoh touches, breaks.

YUI heaved a sigh as she walked toward the flower shop. Kasaru was a few steps ahead but she could not bring it in her to pace with him. This meeting was the first time after the incident in the Seishuku residence and she was getting mixed feelings. In her heart, she felt she was betraying Saihitei by meeting Kasaru. But then, they will do nothing but talk, right? They will be in a flower shop, for Seiryuu's sake!

Surprisingly, when he reached the flower shop, Kasaru turned to her with a smile and offered the door. She smiled back hesitantly and didn't meet his gaze when she entered the shop. It was already closed and it was slightly dark inside. Kasaru opened the lights and closed the door. Silence filled them and she turned to him, evidently nervous.

"The coffee shop is closed today, I'm sorry I should have checked before inviting you. It was open earlier," he broke the silence and she looked away, placing her attention on the flowers. "There's a convenience store across the street. I'll just get us food. Will you wait here? I'll be quick." She nodded and without another word, he ran out, leaving his guitar behind.

"You're crazy, Yui," she told herself as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. Thunder broke from the sky and rain suddenly fell hard, hiding the world outside in sprays of mist and fog. Yui looked for her phone and cursed that the signal was gone. It was probably because of the storm.

After a few minutes, Kasaru stepped inside, drenched in the rain. He immediately placed the food he bought in the counter and pulled off his shirt. Yui turned away, focusing on her phone and facing the flowers. She walked the farthest from him because she was scared of the situation. She gasped when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and he moved his mouth on her ear.

"Kasaru—"

"Did you know that is a traitor's flower?" he whispered, making the hair on her neck prick. "They say it's what Paris gave Helen before they eloped," he whispered. She moved away but he had held her close. "If I give Yui the same flowers, would she choose me?"

"Let me go, Kasaru. You said we'll talk as friends. Stop this—" He held her hand and threw her phone into a bucket of water. Yui gasped. "What is wrong with you—?" He stilled her, tightening his hold of her. He leaned on her head, breathing heavily.

"Do you remember when we first met? I was chained and cursed by one of your warriors," he said softly and Yui's eyes widened. He laughed lightly, knowing the effect of those memories on her. His arms loosened to an embrace and she tried to pacify her breathing. "You came to me boldly, holding the shinzaho in my face, and said: Byakko warrior Tatara—" her eyes widened at the familiar lines. "—I have the shinzaho of the Genbu no miko. I demand you to give me the shinzaho of the Byakko no miko."

"Stop…" Tears fell from her eyes. She doesn't want to remember anything from the book. Saihitei never made her remember those details. But then again, they never directly crossed paths in the book.

"I saw the hesitation in your heart then… and I am seeing the same now." He cupped her face, wiping the tears even with her back to him. His hands were cold from the rain and she shivered under his touch.

"I love Saihitei."

"You love him too, isn't it? The shogun. But look where that love brought you." Yui pulled away and Kasaru let her flow away from his arms. She stepped back, facing him.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, demanding an answer. Thunder broke from the sky and she fidgeted. She was always afraid of thunder and it was the reason why Nakago stayed by his side in Kutou. The memories flood back and her chest felt like bursting. "Why do you have to tell me who you were? Why do you have to remind me of who I was?" She cursed and walked toward the water bucket, scooping her phone and wiping it with the cloth of her shirt.

"You want to right what you did in the book, right? Then choose me, Yui." He faced her with begging eyes. When their eyes met, she saw pain in his beautiful purple orbs. "Release me from the chains, from the pain—" He reached for her and pulled her to an embrace. "Yui, please… please be my miko…"

"Kasaru…"

"You can take her place, I know you can. You can heal my heart and make me believe again," he whispered, trembling. "The brief moment you were mine were the best things that happened to me after she died. Only a miko can replace another miko—"

"I don't want to be a miko!" She pushed him away as tears fell from her eyes. "Please don't ask too much from me…"

Kasaru walked toward her and she stepped back. "The Seishuku doesn't want you," he said harshly and Yui covered her mouth. He reached up to stroke her cheek. "Even Saihitei cannot do anything about that fact. If you continue being with him, they will hurt you and even Saihitei won't be able to do anything. I'm the only one who can protect you, Yui."

"I love Saihitei," she said again as tears fell from her eyes. "I love him not because he's a warrior but because he's a man. If I chose you, I will be lying to myself and I will only hurt you. My treacherous heart will only bring you more pain…" she whispered and he pulled his hand away. "You said so yourself, my heart is easily assuaged. But right now, it only beats for him."

Without another word, Yui stepped toward the door but before she could face the deluge, her stomach constricted and she fell down on the floor in pain. Kasaru immediately walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her frail body.

"Yui, what's—"

"My stomach…" she cried as the pain continued and she breathed sharply as the pain continued to spread through her body. Kasaru embraced her tight.

"I'll bring you to the hospital—"

"No, no! I just want to go home…" She closed her eyes as sweat beaded her forehead. The strength in her body had completely faded and only the pain remained. "Please let me go."

"No, I'll take you home once the rain subsided," he told her gently, whispering comforting words on her ear. "For now, stay with me Yui." She closed her eyes, trying to vanquish the pain but it continued to pierce through her body. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep in his arms.

When she opened her eyes, the pain was gone and they were no longer in the flower shop. Kasaru pulled her closer into his arms and moved his tongue along the curve of her ear. She felt heavy, feverish, and when he moved his hand to cup one of her breasts, her eyes widened. They were naked, under the sheets, on his futon.

"Kasaru—" He moved on top of her, moving his mouth on her neck, gently telling her his need. Rain continued to pour outside but the room was hot. "What did you—"

"You wanted me to do this," he told her. "Did you remember? You pulled me closer, you responded to my kisses… and when we became one, you screamed my name. You even left nail marks on my back," he teased in a heavy voice. The meager light in the room illuminated his beautiful face and his long brown hair had been released from being tied. He leaned down to move his mouth over her neck and the hair on her skin prickled. "Yui, do you really love Saihitei?"

"Stop, please." Tears fell from her eyes as she tried to grasp what had happened. They slept together, she felt it in the aching between her legs and the musky smell that wafted through the room. She covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing but it came out louder. Kasaru stopped and he moved away.

"I guess once is enough for me," he heaved out. He slowly moved to leave the spot between her legs and stood from the bed, naked. Yui saw the marks on his back. Did they really…? She cried louder. She cheated on Saihitei. Did she never really love him the way she claimed?

Sharp rings reverberated through the air and she slowly sat up, trembling and disoriented. She lifted the phone to answer the call. It was Saihitei and his voice scared her.

"Yui, where are you? I'm dead worried!" His voice made her cold and she stopped herself from crying.

"I'm on my way home. I just went to the hospital…" she explained, lying.

"Did something happen to the baby? Where are you? I'll pick you up—"

"No, nothing happened. I just… I'm nearby. I'll see you soon," she told him, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes. She'd do anything just to forget this incident, to turn back time and refuse Kasaru. Had she wanted this?

"Okay, I'll wait. Gods, you made me worried. I'll see you soon. I love you," Saihitei told her and she nodded.

"I love you too."

When the call ended, she stared at the wall for a long time, thinking of nothing. She snapped out of her lack of thoughts and slowly took her clothes on the floor, thrown wildly in every part of the room. She racked her brain for something to refute this incident, to make her believe that this horror never happened. But nothing came. Her hands trembled and her body suddenly felt dirty. She wanted to take a shower, to wash away the remains of their union from her skin.

Kasaru's hands landed on her shoulders as she buttoned her shirt. "I don't regret this," he said, wrapping his arms around her body. His arms were warm but it lacked comfort. "I'll give you time to decide. Tell me when you're ready to run away." He moved away and she picked up her bag, slowly turning and leaving through the door. Before she completely left, he called out. "Yui, I'll wait."

It was the longest walk of her life. Yui's mind was blank and hazy. Tears beaded her eyes but she wiped them away immediately, not wanting Saihitei to see them. She found Saihitei at the door of the apartment, waiting. When she arrived, he immediately turned and smiled wide. She smiled back. She loved this man very much. And her mistake was killing her.

"Yui—I'm glad you're okay." He kissed her gently and she responded, wrapping her arms around him. She'd give everything up just to erase what she just did. When they parted, she was heaving. She moved the tips of her fingers over his newly-shaved face.

"I love you, Saihitei. Very much." He smiled and it made her guiltier. Her heart constricted and she tried to smile wider to hide the pain.

"I already hired a coordinator for our wedding. We'll do the fitting tomorrow. I can't wait to marry you," he whispered and the tears finally fell, her heart sinking. He laughed lightly, taking her reaction as one that was overwhelmed by emotions. He kissed her again and she responded, giving her the comfort she desperately needed.

A/N: This chapter is the longest to write because I've added a new perspective. Yume no Kakera means Dream Fragments. Please do leave reviews!