Hey guys! It's the day of Christmas Eve here! I'm back home in the states to spend Xmas with my family. I'll be going back to Manchester after New Year. So this means I'll be posting a whole bunch of chapters! Yay!

To start it off, I'll post one chapter today (24th) and one on Xmas Day. Since some are still confused about the previous chapter, I'll explain everything with details on the next chapter (posted on the 25th).

Anyway, enjoy!

Naru was imprisoned in the same place were Mai was kept when she was captured. The room was hot and the smell of mold was overpowering him. He didn't mind though, his problem was not about the room or the situation he's in. His problem was his own father and how he's going to stop him. He had the chance, if only he was a bit more careful the war would've been over by next week. But he was blinded by Mai's sudden disappearance, the will to get her back was the only thing keeping him sane. He counted the days he was in the godforsaken room, it was almost a week. His father wasn't going to let him die that easily so he was provided with food and water.

On the seventh day, five soldiers went and got him. He wasn't dragged or anything, he was just surrounded by them as they walked towards the same room where Mai was almost raped. When he entered the room, he saw his father holding the document that he found, waving it casually. "Ah, son, you look well," Akago said, eyeing Naru. He didn't get any reply so went straight to business.

"I have sent a message to your so-called father about your capture, I will gladly give you back… in one condition that is. I'm sure that she will do it without a second thought once she finds out about it" he started. 'She? Mai! But doesn't he have her already? Unless… She better stay out of this' Naru thought. "I've also received some information about your little princes arriving later this afternoon back in the Western Lands. I thought that I should just get the ship sink and let her die, but it was too easy… not my style. So, we will meet her there, but you have to play the part… or at least look it, since your father did not reply, I suggest we go pick her up, ne?" he smirked.

Two soldiers entered the room and held Naru down on the floor. He saw his father walking towards him with a candle and the document in his hands. His head was jerked back to his father's face. Akago placed the candle in front of him, the document barely touching the fire. "With this gone, there's no asking that I will rule this land. After I kill your princess, of course" Akago lowered the document to the candle and let it catch on fire. "With or without the document, you will never have this land" Naru told him. Akago, angered by his words, kicked him in the face. When Naru lifted his head up, he smirked even with a bruise forming on his right cheek. Akago looked at the two soldiers and left the room. Once the door was closed, he could hear the soldiers throwing Naru around the room, beating him up to look the part.

Mai found that Naru went out to find the treasure when he thought that she was kidnapped by Akago's men. He left to rescue her. After her nightmare not long ago, she begged Gene and Luella to come back to the Western Lands. Luella couldn't say no to her but Gene wanted her to stay in that safe place. He knew that if his brother was there, he wouldn't let Mai go somewhere dangerous. But when he saw the look on her face, he knew that even if he forced her to stay here, she will find a way to go back there. Her eyes gave away the love that she has for Naru, it was obvious to everyone else, except his idiotic little brother. With accompanying her, they arrived in the Western Lands. They didn't plan on going to a city so the ship that they took arrived in a small village, not far from Martin's hideout. The villagers were stunned when they saw Mai walking out of the ship. Her hair cascaded down her back, she wore a simple white dress that ended at her knee, paired with white flats. Mai consciously walked down the dock, Gene right beside her. They didn't notice a couple of fishermen smirking evilly at them, planning something dreadful.

Before they reached the carriage waiting for them, two men fired a gun. The villagers ran away in fear while Mai was on the ground, covered by Gene. 'An ambush' he thought. Once the shooting stopped he wanted to escape with Mai, but he noticed that the people guarding the carriage were already dead. Gene heard someone walking towards them. He stood up instantly with Mai, pushing her behind him. He was shocked to see his biological father five feet from him. Mai cowered behind him, remembering what he almost did to her. "Hello, son. I see you've delivered the package" Akago greeted, smiling at Mai. "I won't hand her that easily to you" Gene spat at him. "I knew you would say that," on cue, two fishermen stood behind Gene and Mai. Akago stepped aside to let two soldiers pass who were dragging…

"Naru!" Mai called out, she was going to run to him but Gene held her back. Tears were already forming in her eyes after seeing the state Naru was in. He was battered, bruised, a bit bloody, and he didn't show any sign of moving. Akago grinned when he saw how worried Mai was, he knew, no doubt, that she'll give up herself to save him. "I have a proposal for you" Akago started. "I'll hand him over without anyone else getting hurt" he continued, watching Gene and Mai's face. Gene knew he wanted something in return, but he didn't dare to ask him. Instead, Mai got the courage to ask what he wanted in return, "What do you want?"

"A trade. You for him, simple" Akago stated.

"No" Gene bluntly answered.

"But Gene!" Mai protested.

"It's my job to keep you safe, Mai. Handing you over to that man is not going to happen" he explained.

"Ah, since there's no trade… I guess there's no use of having this battered man around. Tie him up to a dump him in the ocean" Akago ordered his soldiers. Mai reacted quickly, "No! Please, don't!"

Akago smirked hearing her beg. He saw Mai punched Gene in the face, knocking him down and walked towards Akago. Gene stood up as quickly as he could but he knocked out unconscious by a blow on the back of his head. The last thing he saw was Mai looking back at his brother's unmoving body who was a few feet from him.

If you're mad about Naru getting beat up, please don't kill me!

Next chapter will be posted sometime tomorrow, watch out for that.

Reviews? Comments? Questions? Corrections? Suggestions?

Please don't hesitate to PM me! I will gladly answer anything!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!