Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any of the characters related to it. They all belong to Konomi Takeshi. Also, I do not own Fire Emblem or any of the elements from the series.

Rating: T for implied adult themes in certain chapters.

Author's Note: Real life got buuuuuuuuuuusy for the last two weeks. In short, I finally got two full weeks of school for subbing, had to move my brother out of his apartment at his university, started the (horrible) job search, had a band concert... and then last week I stopped writing completely 'cause I was just so x.x mentally (had some rough classes at school). Now it's back to it - one and a half chapters left and like seven word extensions for finished chapters before the story is done in journals and on my computer!

Alright, the second to last scene was written on May 21, 2011. (OMG IT'S ALMOST BEEN A WHOLE YEAR!) It was one of the first scenes I had came up with in my head in the start and it really speaks to me (even though it's emotionally sad and conflicted). Re-reading it for the xth amount of time makes me feel a bit nostalgic for the creating phase of all of this. This scene has hardly changed at all (added like five sentences). The final scene was written sometime in the early fall because I was inspired by something. The other scenes of the chapter were added in November as the battles were being written. It's amazing how this chapter was written in fragments since most of them weren't.

This is one of my personal favorites. The strength of friendship and the love of family to support each other through the high and low times. Staying strong as people say goodbye and part ways, and having faith in them to return successful and safe. And it's Sanada and Yukimura love angst - their relationship is just... words can't describe it, but they mean so much to each other.

Enjoy reading and please take the time to review if you can ^^

Part 3 - Chapter 5 - Night of Farewells

Yukimura woke up the next morning feeling like an absolute wreck. He rubbed his forehead gingerly, trying to recall the night's events, and when they came back in full force, he groaned loudly. He probably had the two worried all night because of how his intense behavior was adversely affecting his frail health.

Reluctantly, he pulled the covers off his body and struggled to sit up. Before he could get out of bed, the door opened and Yanagi and Sanada came in with a large plate of breakfast, a pitcher filled with water, and three goblets. He gave up and fell back against his pillows, relieved to see that they were still functioning.

"Good morning," he greeted them tiredly as they sat down in the same chairs they did the night before and set the plate on his bed and the other items on his bedside table.

"Morning."

"… Did you sleep… at all?" he asked them and they nodded.

"You did… right?" Sanada asked awkwardly and Yukimura also nodded.

"I don't remember when I did… I was in so much pain and then it subsided after a while. I must have drifted off shortly after that."

"We're sorry about that," Yanagi said somberly, pouring the water into the goblets.

"It's partially my fault. I shouldn't have gotten as angry as I did."

"Outbursts and tantrums happen from time to time," Yanagi reminded him and he felt a little better hearing that they did not hold it against him.

"Err… how did you two manage to sleep? I thought you would have been too worried to sleep."

"Brandy," Sanada said gruffly as he drained his entire goblet of water in one attempt and Yanagi poured himself another. "After a glass and a half, I was too tired to be awake."

"I'm sorry for troubling you, Sanada," Yukimura said, knowing that he rarely drank even if it was for leisure. "And you too, Yanagi."

"It really is fine, my lord," Yanagi said honestly as he picked up a cluster of grapes from the plate and started eating them. "We woke up fine and we're not experiencing any form of hangover... surprisingly enough."

Yukimura's face formed a shadow of a smile in response as he picked up a fork and prodded a piece of potato with it. He brought it to his mouth and chewed it slowly, a little lost in thought. He watched Sanada drink through his second goblet of water and wondered if Sanada was taking extra precaution to prevent the slightest sign of a hangover.

"So… are we okay to make an announcement about how you're not going with them?" Yanagi asked shyly, avoiding eye contact. Yukimura heaved a sigh and finished chewing before he responded.

"I have no way of convincing you otherwise now," Yukimura said, indicating his current condition. He was much more pale than he was yesterday, had shadows under his eyes, and his hair was quite disheveled and damp with sweat. "And you're right, I was not thinking about my country above my wants. Thank you for reminding me to carefully sort my priorities."

"Thank you for giving us permission," Sanada said gratefully, grabbing a fork and picking up some of the fried egg with it. "Would you like to tell them or would you like us to?"

"I would like to say it. I have enough strength to address them, but I will have to leave the orders and commands to you for the entire day instead of sharing them with you. I don't think my voice is up to the task."

"Certainly. Is there anything else that you want covered for you?"

"I think that's all for now," Yukimura said, concluding the discussion. "Can you hand me a goblet of water?"

"Of course," Yanagi replied smoothly, handing on carefully to him as he sat up. He took a long draught from it before handing it back. "We have about twenty more minutes of breakfast before we have to depart."

"Warm up the soldiers for the hour like normal and then I will join you at the top of the cliff to speak with them," Yukimura said and they nodded.

"Do you need any assistance to get up there?" Sanada offered and Yukimura shook his head.

"No, I should be fine."

"He wants to carry you up there in his arms like he did before."

"In that case…"

"Yanagi!"

"Don't deny it, you're so predictable," Yanagi said with a mean smirk and Sanada scowled menacingly at him.

Yukimura laughed deeply for the first time since his collapse and they smiled warmly back. He started eating his breakfast with a more cheerful demeanor, getting into a fork fight over the last potato with Sanada. Yanagi seized his opportunity to grab a sausage while they were locked in a frenzied battle and they both glared at him, not because they wanted the sausage, but because they knew he was gloating in his head for taking advantage of the situation.

"I'm sorry that you're not as clever as I am," he said, sitting back down in his chair.

"You impertinent strategist. I should put you in the dungeons for that," Yukimura said seriously, but they knew he was teasing.

"Why not put Sanada there for not being a gentleman and giving you the last potato?" Yanagi suggested. "I'm sure one of your desires is to seduce him while he's chained to a wall..."

"I AM LEAVING!" Sanada said, seizing the water pitcher and thundering out of the room, throwing the door shut with a loud bang. Yukimura wasn't sure if he needed the water to drink or to cool off his head from being immensely embarrassed.

"Hmm, with or without clothes?" Yukimura pondered as he climbed out of bed much easier than his weak attempt before. He didn't realize that his body wanted as much food as it did. Yanagi handed him a small bottle of liquid and he drank it quickly. Suddenly, he felt revitalized and full of his normal vigor and he handed the bottle back to Yanagi with a appreciative smile.

"My lord, you know in your heart of hearts that you want him starting with clothes so you can tear them apart in a show of dominance," Yanagi remarked with a wink and Yukimura smiled back widely in response.

"You know me so well."

Through the high and the low times, he was completely thankful that his two advisers were his two best friends that meant the world to him.

'Well, the revelation went surprisingly well the other day,' Yukimura thought as he went back to his room to change clothes for dinner. It had been snowing heavily for most of the day and his clothes were soaked from the snow melting when he had entered the castle for some business. He wished the snow would stop by the time they would have to leave in the morning.

'And the last day of training was the best day of all of them,' Yukimura continued as he looked through his closet for a new set of clothes. He wondered if it was because it was the last day that they were celebrating or if it was because they wanted to reassure their ruler that they had what it took to achieve a clear victory.

At first, he thought that the soldiers morale would drop even lower than the already undesirable level it was at or that they would protest him withdrawing at such a late notice. However, as his advisers reminded him just before he did tell them, he was just being paranoid, and it turned out that they were right. Shortly after he explained to them that he had been pretending that he was fine because he wanted to be the perfect example of everything he wanted them to be, one of the soldiers yelled out that he respected him for making the right choice for everyone. Another joined him saying that it took an extraordinary amount of bravery to do something that most people would consider as 'giving up', but was really a wise, long-term decision.

Approval spread extremely quickly and they all saluted him in absolute respect. Yukimura could feel the surge of pride come from where they were all the way to where he was on the cliff and submerge him completely. He bowed back even though he was their ruler because he was so grateful that they understood his intentions and did not judge him wrongly.

When they were called back to ease, he explained their exact plans and told them that the departure date was three days from that day. They would train for that day and the next in a more hardcore fashion and then take the final day off to recuperate and say goodbye to their families or people that offered up their homes to them. They were also allowed to have dinner at home if they wished and evening practice was cancelled, which was met with excitement to have even more time at home.

The word 'hardcore' probably wasn't enough to suffice exactly what they were put through, but it was close enough. Yukimura criticized everything mercilessly because he needed to know that everything was going to be perfect and how much pressure they could withstand. Sanada commanded them in a similar fashion, but he geared more towards physical punishment in the form of running and basics practice. Yanagi wasn't nearly as vocal or aggressive as the other two, but he was responsible for extending practices and coming up with the worst possible battle scenarios for a group to try to win.

Despite the brutal ferocity of the Three Demons, they really showed that no matter what was thrown at them, they would not give up. Yagyuu led the way with his Lance Knights in having a positive attitude and firmly reminding them that they were the elite troops of Rikkaidai, and the leaders jumped right on board with them and helped their sections to rise above their already high standard of excellence. It was unbelievable because he knew they were harboring the same feelings of dread, apprehension, and tension that he was.

'Okay, I'm changed, but it's still a bit early for dinner,' Yukimura thought to himself when he pulled his jacket closed and put his belt around it. Suddenly, all of the positive energy left him when it occurred to him that it was going to be their last dinner together for a long time.

'How strange that it never occurred to me until now,' Yukimura remarked as he shut his closet door and walked towards the center of the room. 'It's probably because I've been too busy to focus on how I've been feeling…' He wondered how the atmosphere would be - would it be somber, awkward, or silent? Or would it be their attempt at a normal dinner because they want to leave on a good note? Did they have the willpower and drive to force themselves to be cheerful?

He really didn't want to say goodbye so soon. Everything ran like clockwork around the castle even as their training changed and the troops gathered. He was accustomed to a certain routine and seeing certain people doing specific things at different points throughout the day. Even the chaotic and humorous moments had their own kind of predictability. The departure of the troops would make everything feel more empty and more dismal than what it actually was.

Above all, he would miss Sanada's presence. His visit to Hyotei was already tough enough on Yukimura, but this was for a much longer time and in a dangerous situation. Even though he constantly shoved him away for being overprotective, he really did value how much Sanada was looking out for him. He loved him so much that it pained him to be so close to him, knowing that he was always right on the line of breaking his promise to Sanada and forcing him to be with him. However, he loved him so much that he wanted to respect their mutual decision about putting the country first before anything else even though he knew that it was completely possible to do both things at once.

'Sanada really does have a lot of honor and pride about how he is viewed,' Yukimura noted to himself, aimlessly looking around at his room's contents. His eyes fell on the fireplace and he was reminded of how Sanada had started bringing in firewood over the last two nights like he promised and taking care of the fire. Little did Sanada know that Yukimura would pretend to be asleep, but when he had his back turned, he would watch his every move and take all of him in with his eyes because that was all that he could do without being chided.

He felt fatigued again from pondering such weighty thoughts so he dragged himself over to his comfortable bed and climbed on top of it, not bothering to get under the covers. He closed his eyes, not planning to take a nap, but to see if any energy would return from a few minutes of stillness. However, his mind did not want to slow down and kept thinking over all that he still needed to do in preparation for their departure in the morning, what was going to happen at dinner, and about his intense feelings for Sanada.

Without warning, the door to his room opened and he turned to see a grinning Kirihara, who then opened the other double door from the inside. Jackal came in next with one end of a table and Niou followed with the other end. The others had plates, goblets, and a large amount of food and were hurrying in to set up.

"I really need to remember to lock my door," Yukimura commented softly to himself, recalling how many times people had let themselves enter his room within the last few days. "Umm… may I ask what's going on?" he spoke in a louder, clearer voice and Kirihara looked at him to answer.

"We're having dinner with you!" he announced brightly.

"We could have simply eaten downstairs like we always do," Yukimura replied, sitting up and watching their progress. They had set down the table in the large space where Yukimura painted his artwork and were working on arranging the food neatly.

"You might have skipped out so we brought it to you."

"How very thoughtful," he said, picking up the two chairs by his bedside and bringing them over. "I really appreciate it."

"Besides, you did say that all of the soldiers could eat at home with their families during these last three days," Marui reminded him as he laid out the silverware. "And we're your family."

He smiled warmly at them and they returned it with genuine smiles of their own. Yukimura took a seat, watching as the final preparations were done. Sanada, Yanagi, and Yagyuu had left to grab chairs from their room, and returned promptly to set them down.

"You all may have a seat," Yukimura said after they bowed to him in respect.

"I call firsts on the roasted turkey!" Kirihara said and Jackal handed the plate over to him. "This looks so good!"

"All food looks good to you," Marui pointed out as he dug into a bowl of mashed potatoes. "You eat everything without complaint."

"Hmm, Kirihara not being bratty about something?" Yanagi noted in mock surprise. "I would have never imagined such a thing!"

"Sage Yanagi!"

"Can you pass me the bowl of corn, Sanada?" Yukimura asked sweetly and Sanada handed it over carefully. "And the turkey after Niou is done with it."

"Were we intruding on a nap?" Jackal asked as he was spooning stuffing down onto his plate.

"Not at all. I was just laying down for a few minutes. The battle preparations are rather taxing."

"I hope that this dinner gives you some comfort and vigor," Yagyuu wished sincerely. "We actually cooked all of this for you."

"When did you find the time?" Yukimura asked, surprised at Yagyuu's revelation. "You have been at practice with me the entire time."

"We made it during our lunch when you were with General Sanada and various other commanders setting down flags for where sections are going to camp for the night."

"And then told the servants to warm it up prior to dinner time?"

"That is correct."

"I'm truly humbled by your act of kindness. Really I am."

They all beamed at Yukimura's praise and started eating heartily. Yukimura kept silent for a while, interested in listening to the animated conversation going on. It almost was surreal how normal everything was despite the fact that they were going to depart in the morning to head towards their enemy. However, he knew that this was one of their ways with dealing with anxiety and it was supposed to be a temporary time of pure enjoyment and laughter.

"Jackal, the flavors you bring out of the turkey and your usage of herbs is simply delightful," Yukimura said, slicing some more turkey for himself. "I am half-tempted to keep you here with me so that at least I'll have wonderful food while I'm being held captive within my castle."

"Thank you very much, Lord Yukimura," Jackal said with a charming smile. "As much as I would like to stay, I fear that I would be threatened by a particular someone's return to the castle."

"So, I guess everyone does know," Niou remarked dryly, pouring a lot of gravy all over the food on his plate.

"Know what exactly?" Sanada asked suspiciously and Yagyuu gave Niou a scolding look.

"That you are-"

"What he means to say is that you are the most protective person around," Yagyuu said, completely cutting off Niou, who gave him a fake frown. "And that it is an admirable quality."

"I know that you feel that way about me, Yagyuu," Sanada said kindly towards Yagyuu before glaring at Niou. "However, I highly doubt that is what he was going to say."

"Well, you'll never know now since your Silver Knight will be sticking his lance up my butt if I tick you off at our last family dinner for a long time," Niou said with a nonchalant shrug and mostly everyone tried to hide a snigger.

"I don't get what's so funny," Kirihara said through a mouthful of food and Yanagi gave him a reprimanding look. He hurriedly swallowed his food, avoiding contact with Yanagi's eyes. "About Yagyuu striking you with his lance. That would hurt, wouldn't it?"

"Oh Kirihara, you have much to learn," Marui said, patting him on the back with a smug expression.

"Do not taint him any further, Marui," Jackal warned, reaching around removing his arm from Kirihara's back.

"But he's already-" Marui was unable to finish his sentence before Jackal covered his mouth and hit him on the head.

"Now look what you started, Niou," Yagyuu said stiffly as he spread butter onto a biscuit. "Because you decided to be immature."

"It wasn't my fault that they read into an innocent statement."

"Nothing is innocent when it comes to you."

"So, since it's the last of a lot of things today…"

"No, you may not put your arrows in my quiver," Yagyuu said firmly, taking a bite out of his biscuit as everyone broke up in laughter except for Kirihara and Sanada who both looked very confused.

"Don't you have your own quiver, Niou?" Kirihara asked in an extremely puzzled tone. Marui was practically dying, banging his fists on the table and Yukimura was trying to blink back some tears.

"Kirihara, Niou likes to get into other people's personal belongings," Yanagi explained, grinning widely at how amusing everything was. "It's an exciting game for him to see if he can get away with it."

Yukimura waited until he had stopped laughing and drank some water. He heard Sanada grumbling to himself about respecting people's territory and the qualities of a real man. Yukimura pondered for a moment and decided there was no time better to go in for the kill than now, especially when no one had made their move yet to annoy Sanada.

"Sanada, Lord Yukimura is thinking that he would like you to put your sword in his sheath tonight," Yanagi voiced as he pulled the blackberry pie close to him and started cutting it with a knife. "For good luck." Niou spat out his drink when he heard what Yanagi said and everyone gave up trying to maintain their composure.

"What the hell Yanagi?"

"Yanagi, did you really have to read my mind?" Yukimura asked casually as he finished licking the remains of his food off of his spoon.

"Of course."

Yukimura put a hand on Sanada to calm him down from his livid state. He was sure that Sanada didn't get the innuendo, but he did understand that he was made fun of and Yukimura didn't want to him to get any more worked up.

"Sanada, it's perfectly fine that you don't…" Yukimura started and Sanada shook his head.

"I'll put my sword wherever you want me to put it if it makes you feel better," Sanada said sincerely and everyone immediately fell silent and preoccupied themselves with getting a slice of blackberry pie to keep from even issuing a chuckle.

"Okay, we'll take care of it before I go to bed."

"As you wish."

"Everyone have a piece of pie?" Niou asked, abruptly changing the subject, and they all nodded. "It's my mother's recipe so I hope you all like it."

"It looks wonderful," Yukimura said, positioning his fork above it. "May we dig in?"

"Yeah, looks like everyone's done with the main course."

Yukimura smiled and took his first bite, savoring the delightful taste of the desert. Everyone else was excited about it too, letting Niou know shortly after they swallowed their first bites. Niou was a little pink in the face from all of the positive attention, but he looked like he was enjoying it all the same.

As Yukimura ate through his slice, he observed each person one by one, taking in all of their detail. Kirihara had gobbled through his slice and was in the process of wiping his mouth. Marui was finished shortly after him with a satisfied grin before urging Jackal, who was being neat, to eat less like an old man. Yagyuu's eyes were almost sparkling as he ate, smiling like he was remembering a good memory. Niou was done eating by the time Yukimura looked at him and put his hands behind his head in contentment. Sanada was also quite happy since he was a lover of fruit and he was determinedly eating without letting anything disturb him. Yanagi was eating at the same moderate pace that Yukimura was, smiling to himself as he contemplated how they had missed having this in the castle.

Yukimura let an uncontrollable sigh escape his lips when he realized that he would not be seeing their faces for a very long time and all of his earlier worries and apprehensions came back in full force. They all looked at him in concern and he shook his head.

"Are you alright, Lord Yukimura?" Marui asked and Yukimura gave him a meek smile.

"I guess the easiest way to say it is that I don't want to say farewell," Yukimura said sadly, feeling his heart get heavy with melancholic emotions. "I don't want to say farewell to your moments of joy, anger, humor, cleverness, immaturity… My life is so closely intertwined with all of you that it's just…"

"Lord Yukimura!" Kirihara exclaimed, jumping out of his seat to give him a massive hug. "I'm going to miss you too! I'm going to miss how you're always giving me advice and how caring you are and how you and Sage Yanagi pick on General Sanada…"

Yukimura hugged him back tightly and then released him so he could return to his seat. He saw that Marui was partway out of his seat and he stood up to also give him a hug. Following their example, everyone else formed an orderly queue to embrace Yukimura, some of them whispering encouragement in his ear and others letting him know what they're going to miss about him, the castle, and even training.

"Well, dinner time is coming to an end and we must supervise the troops arriving and setting up their tents for the night," Yanagi said with a sigh. "But before we say our final farewell as a group, we should have a toast."

Yukimura agreed as Jackal uncorked the bottle of white wine and poured a glass for everyone. When he was finished, they all held their glasses in the center, waiting for Yukimura to start.

"To absolute victory," Yukimura said, nodding to Sanada to let him know it was his turn.

"To dominance in strength and determination," Sanada said in a tough, imperious voice.

"To a quick and safe journey," Niou said in a serious voice.

"To limitless pride in our country," Yagyuu said with a warm smile.

"To a battle without many casualties," Jackal said, looking from Yagyuu to Marui.

"To keeping morale high," Marui said with a cheerful grin.

"To making Seigaku wish they had never stepped foot in this country," Kirihara said with a scary smirk.

"To our lord's health so that we may return home with good news for someone stronger and more unbreakable than ever before," Yanagi concluded, making Yukimura smile in return. "And so that we may have many more years of meals, social gatherings, and crazy times as a family."

Yukimura nodded and they all clinked their glasses in approval. As he looked around at them again, he realized that they were very unique individuals with different pasts and different ways of life and that was what he loved about them. Through strokes of luck and interesting circumstances, they managed to end up at the castle, growing closer and closer to each other without any real fighting or disagreement. He really couldn't have been any happier with how everything turned out.

"I also wish that my health would become stable again so that in the very slim chance that one of you does lose…" Yukimura said as he stood up from the table, setting down his finished glass. "I can obliterate you in a sword fight."

"We will not lose!" Sanada said proudly, standing up with a tall, powerful posture. "It's time to go head out. When your sections are done setting up their tents, they need to know that they are to pack up their belongings onto the convoys in the morning before falling into formation and awaiting orders. Then you may go to bed, but you must be awake and ready to go before most of the soldiers are up."

"Yes sir!"

"Farewell and good luck everybody," Yukimura said as they headed towards the door. "Please continue to carry me in your hearts."

"It's a promise that will shall honor, Lord Yukimura," Yagyuu said as they all nodded and departed.

"It will be like you'll be there on the battlefield even you physically are not," Yanagi said as Yukimura put on his cape and cloak and joined them at the door.

"I would hope that I have intimidated the soldiers enough through these last few months with my training tactics and blunt observations of how poor their forms were and how pathetic their fighting skills were that they'll think I'm still around," Yukimura said with a sadistic laugh as he closed the door behind him and walked with his two advisors to the entrance hall.

"Between you and General Sanada, I think we have scarred them for good," Yanagi remarked and Yukimura pushed him.

"Don't think you're in the clear, Yanagi. You're also responsible for their training menu."

"I am," Yanagi said, holding his hands up in surrender. "But they don't hate me like they hate the raging, temperamental commander that will explode at any given time for even the smallest thing."

"I demand perfection! And it's not hate, it's respect!" Sanada growled, charging out of the castle without another look back.

"Sanada, please slow down," Yukimura called out and he stopped. "I would very much like to walk with you two and share my thoughts with the troops for the duration of the night."

"They'll love that. You're an incredible ruler, Lord Yukimura."

"And an incredible person," Sanada added.

"Thank you. For your support and everything," Yukimura said gratefully as he readied himself for another round of hard goodbyes and letting everyone go into the uncertain future and trusting they'll come back safe and sound with the joyous expressions of triumph.

"Lord Yukimura! Wake up!"

"Ugh…"

"Are you alright?"

Yukimura's eyes opened slowly, blinking a few times to bring focus to his hazy vision. As things cleared up, Yukimura found himself face to face with Sanada with a look of the utmost concern on his face. Sanada also had his hands on Yukimura's upper arms, and judging by his current position over the top of him, he had been shaking him quite intensely.

"… I just had a nightmare," Yukimura recalled as Sanada loosened his grip on him and climbed off of the bed, straightening his armor.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Yukimura contemplated as he drew his blankets closer to his body, shivering from the intensity of his dream and by the coolness of his room. Sanada didn't say anything further as he picked up the wood he had discarded on the floor upon his entry into the room and carried it over to the fireplace. He busied himself with coaxing the dying embers back in life, and after a minute or two, the flames danced brightly around around the logs.

"Thank you Sanada. That feels much better," Yukimura stated. It was mostly a lie though - he didn't remotely feel warmed up at all, but he appreciated the effort.

"It's an unexpectedly chilly night," Sanada commented, turning back towards Yukimura who nodded. "Is there anything else you need of me?"

"… Well…" Yukimura started, shifting on his bed uncomfortably.

"You can tell me."

"It's just… I was experiencing my mother's and father's death again…"

"My lord?"

"But this time they told me that they were glad to be leaving me… that I was a worthless son…"

"I am sorry, Lord Yukimura. Truly."

"And then they committed suicide in front of my eyes - grinning as they did so!"

"It wasn't real. It will be okay," Sanada reassured, pulling him securely against his armor with his strong, comforting arms. Yukimura sniffed softly and grasped him tightly, wishing that he would never let go.

"That was it."

"Are you sure?"

Yukimura paused to decide if he was going to continue. There was indeed another part of the nightmare. A part where Sanada called Yukimura a burden on his life - that his destiny was decided before he was allowed to choose what he wanted to do. He blamed Yukimura for keeping him caged in the castle and voiced that a tremendously weak lord like him should have never risen to power. Pulling out his sword, Sanada took his own life - falling backwards in a slow, long arc and staining the flowers in the garden crimson with his blood.

"Not about my sleep," Yukimura said hastily, changing the subject, as he struggled to hold back a dry sob. "I'm still extremely worried."

"About the upcoming battle?"

"Yes. Something unnerves me about it."

"We are Rikkai. We do not lose."

"I don't want to lose you. I don't want you hurt. I want you safe."

"You cannot keep the commander of the army back at the castle," Sanada reminded him. "It is my duty to oversee the troops, to lead them to victory, and to defend your honor."

"I wish I could be there on there on the battlefield with everyone..."

"Absolutely out of the question. Your health is in jeopardy and we need you to stay here and get better."

"I only passed out that one time!"

"We're not taking the chance since you're still feeling faint. We've been over and over this already."

"I know. I know. I'm just being selfish," Yukimura admitted sadly as he pulled away. "I just… care. Too much for you."

"And I the same, my lord," Sanada said gently as he slid off of the bed. There was silence as Yukimura scanned him over and he stared back, puzzled by Yukimura's action.

"Stay with me tonight," Yukimura stated simply.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm cold and the fire isn't warm enough."

"My lord... maybe you'll feel warmer if you put on a shirt..." Sanada said softly and Yukimura threw him a scornful glare.

"I command you to stay in bed with me until the tomorrow morning when you leave," Yukimura said in a steely tone, pulling down the pastel ceruleancovers so that Sanada could climb in. "My orders are absolute. Remember that."

Yukimura didn't care that he was being needy, immature, and selfish, but he did feel a bit guilty about forcing Sanada to do something against his will for his own benefit. Sanada paused momentarily in surprise before he shook his head and started taking off his armor, setting the black metal down against a wall. As Sanada started to remove his shirt, Yukimura felt something stir sinfully in the pit of his stomach as chiseled muscles came into view.

"I'm climbing in now," Sanada announced awkwardly and Yukimura nodded. The bed sank some when his weight was added in a comfortable way and then the covers were drawn over both of their bodies.

"Hold me, Sanada," Yukimura murmured as he turned over on one side to face away from Sanada. Not a long moment later, he felt his bare back make contact with Sanada's naked chest and those large, built forearms wind around his lithe body. His heart felt like it had burst with emotion - of happiness for feeling loved and from sadness for knowing that it wasn't of Sanada's own accord. Sanada's heavy breathing that ensued almost immediately after he was settled echoed inside Yukimura's own chest and he closed his eyes, wishing that he didn't have to say more farewells the next morning.

Sheer exhaustion lingered in every bone of his body and he had to force himself to wake up. Groaning softly, he opened his eyes and saw that he was facing towards his window, but Sanada was not there on the other side of the bed. He felt his heart sink, worried that Sanada may have left in the middle of the night because he was either uncomfortable or wanted a better night's rest. He turned over towards the other wall and saw that a lone figure was sitting in a chair facing his balcony window, presumably preoccupied with things he needed to do.

"Sanada?" he called out softly and saw that he flinched slightly in his seat before turning in his direction.

"I didn't think you would be waking so early…"

"Have you been sitting there all night?" Yukimura asked as he sat up and drew his covers around his body, relieved that Sanada did not leave him as he initially thought.

"No, perhaps only for about twenty minutes," he answered passively. "I couldn't sleep anymore, but I wanted to wait until you woke up."

"You could have roused me," Yukimura pointed out. "I know how you are with being an early riser."

"You need your rest, my lord," he said, standing up and turning back towards the balcony window. It was an impressive sight - seeing him stand there with a tall posture, bathed in faint moonlight on one side and flickering firelight on the other. He knew Sanada needed some time to mull over his thoughts and he lay still, watching him without issuing a sound. As for his thoughts, he wasn't able to determine what they could have been - Sanada was hard to read if he really wanted to hide behind his stoic face.

A few minutes later, Yukimura slipped out of his bed gracefully and picked up two objects from his bedside table. He silently approached Sanada who directed his attention towards him again with an emotionless expression as he stood up. Before Sanada could speak, Yukimura reached up and put his hands around his neck, tying something onto him.

"It's… It's just a necklace," Yukimura explained, feeling the heat rise unexpectedly into his face. It was an extremely unusual feeling for him to feel shy or embarrassed by anything. "I fashioned it with Yanagi's help a while ago…"

He watched Sanada pick up the red gemstone cut in the shape of a curved teardrop and rub it between his fingers, feeling the texture of the ancient writing carved into the smooth ruby. There was also a single rose petal embedded in the stone that was discernible upon closer inspection.

"It's a part of me that I want to be with you," Yukimura continued hurriedly, trying to ignore how fast his pulse had quickened to. "Since I won't be with you in body…At least my spirit will be there."

"Lord Yukimura…"

"I think you need to get going. It's time," Yukimura said hastily as he tried to put on his own necklace, fumbling with tying the knot.

"Let me help you," Sanada offered as he moved behind him and took the two ends of the necklace into his own fingers, brushing against Yukimura's trembling hands. Once he was sure it was secure, he moved back to original spot and took a closer look at it. It was a beautiful sapphire blue, exactly like the hue and brilliance of Yukimura's eyes, and was the same shape as Sanada's except for it was rotated 180 degrees.

"Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you, my lord," Sanada said with a courteous tone. "It's a good luck charm, isn't it?"

"It is. I hope that it protects you from harm and that it will help boost your strength for the fight."

"We will return to you with a few number of casualties and tremendously victorious. I assure you that I will show them the depths of despair for having considered going against our country," Sanada said with deadly seriousness.

"Yes, I have no doubt you and the army will put an end to this absurd nuisance known as Seigaku," Yukimura agreed with merciless confidence. "The sun is about to rise and a new day is going to dawn. You must go."

Sanada nodded as he walked over to his armor and shirt and gathered it up into his arms. Then he pulled his sword out from the sheath that he had put it in the night prior before Yukimura went to bed. He strode towards the doorway with large steps, but before he made it to the hallway, Yukimura stopped him.

"What is it?" he asked, confused.

"I… I…" Yukimura stuttered, appalled at himself for finally caving into his long-harbored feelings that had been repeatedly attacking his resistance for quite some time. "I love you, Sanada. Damn it - I don't care anymore about my promise to you to let our feelings remain unrequited. I love you and I will faithfully wait for the day you return." He felt a large weight get lifted from his shoulders as the flood of emotions finally burst forth in his mind. It was gratefully relieving to finally say the words that he had wanted to say since that day eight years ago, and know that he would not be scolded for his actions because Sanada had to go.

Sanada was predictably taken aback and spent the next few seconds trying to regain his rigid posture and proud composure. Yukimura stared pointedly at him, waiting in nervous apprehension for his response. He found that he was already missing him and Sanada had not even left the room.

"My lord," he started with much less shyness than Yukimura had been anticipating. "I… feel the same. Very much so. Please understand that I do." His dark brown eyes made contact with Yukimura's blue ones for a moment that showed his sincerity before he departed without another word, leaving behind Yukimura, who had never felt so vulnerable and lonely in his entire life until then.