The next morning the sound of voices woke Ash way earlier than he wanted to get up. He turned over blinking disorientingly in the bright morning light as he struggled to get his bearings. It took him a few moments to realize he was alone in bed. This wasn't completely unusual since Eiji did get up ridiculously early, but Ash had hoped they might sleep in just this once. Ash was debating whether to go back to sleep or not when the voices outside his room rose slightly. He could hear now make out Yumi's panic voice.

"But why mom?" She sounded close to tears. Ash sat up, his morning haze slipping fast. Something was wrong. As he woke up completely, he suddenly remembered the paper Eiji had read yesterday. The human sacrifice to him was going to be chosen today.

"The Hiereus have decreased it. It's not our place to argue with the words of Ash." Yumi's mother's voice choked up. She cleared her throat and continued. "Eiji, keep your head down. They'll most likely overlook you. There are going to be many young men there, no reason it has to be you."

"It'll be fine mom." Eiji's voice sounded stronger than his sister's and mother's. "Give me a minute to change before heading out." Eiji's footsteps got louder until the door opened revealing his pale face.

"You better hurry." Eiji's mother said in a shaky voice. "If they don't see you outside they'll think you've run away. We could all get killed for treason."

"I'll only be a moment." Eiji closed the door. Turing he saw Ash sitting up in his bed. Before Ash had time to speak Eiji's staggered into his arms.

"What's wrong." Ash pulled him close, feeling Eiji's pounding heart. Eiji's hands grasped the back of Ash's tunic as if he was afraid he would fall apart if he let go.

"The High Hiereus has decided that the human sacrifice will be a young unwed man between the ages of eighteen and twenty." Eiji trembled slightly. "I have to report with the others to the temple in the capital city. They're going to select one of us…" He petered off, his breath becoming panicked and uneven.

"Hey," Ash lifted his chin, so their eyes met. "It's going to be alright. Breath in." Eiji took a ragged breath his whole-body tense. "Now let it out." Eiji breathed out and his head sunk back to Ash's shoulder. Ash gently placed his hand on Eiji's head.

"There's going to be hundreds of young men. They won't choose you." Ash ran his hand through Eiji's hair. "It'll be ok."

"Can't you stop them?" Eiji muttered weakly. "They can see you right?"

"Humans who see gods only hear what they want to hear." Ash couldn't help the slight bitterness that entered his voice. "They're all selfish greedy creatures. Even if I told them not to sacrifice someone they would somehow misinterpret me. If I sent them a dream they would use it as a confirmation that they were doing the right thing. I could make the sun shine at night and they would think I was blessing them. I could appear to them in flesh and blood and, even though they see me all the time, they won't recognize me." Not that it would matter. Ash had appeared as human only a few days ago and could not do it again so soon. Eiji had finally stopped trembling. Raising his head, Ash was surprised to see the sadness in Eiji's brown eyes.

"Am I like that?" Eiji asked quietly. "I'm sorry if I misinterpreted you or-"

"No, you're special" Ash cut him off. "You always see the truth." Gently leaning forward he kissed Eiji's forehead. "Trust me, I'm not worried about anyone who throws a bucket of cold water over me if I sleep in too late."

"It's not my fault you're sleeping habits are terrible," Eiji said attempting a smile. It looked more like a grimace but at least he seemed to have calmed down.

"See." Ash said gently, "No one who twists my words would say that to my face." He detached himself from Eiji and helped him up.

"Come on, let's get you dressed," Ash said softly. "I don't want you or your family to get in trouble because you took too long."

"Are you coming with me?" Eiji asked in a quiet voice. Ash squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"Of course. I'll be by your side always."

It only took Eiji a few minutes to get dress. In that time, he seemed to have finally gotten control over his emotions. When they stepped out together Eiji didn't flinch at the sight of the cart waiting for him. Ash did though. The whole scene in from of him was sickening. Guards were parked around the town center loading young men into a waiting cart. Mothers hung onto their sons. Fathers yelled angrily at the guards. Siblings clung together and peered through windows. Lovers cried in the arms of the ones who were being taken away. Above the weeping and angry voices, the guards could be heard yelling,

"Bring out your young unwed men ages eighteen to twenty to be brought to the capital. This is the decree of Ash, the sun god. Anyone hiding them will be punished by death."

Ash felt Eiji's hand tighten on his own. Glancing over at him Ash found Eiji's face set with a blank expression. Ash squeezed his hand back and murmured.

"Remember, I'm going to be with you."

Eiji nodded mutely and let go of Ash's hand so he could go and hung his mother and sister one more time. His mother practically clung to him barely fighting back her tears.

"It'll be fine mom." He whispered horsey. Looking next to her he saw Yumi. "Don't worry either of you." Yumi hiccupped, tears already streaming down her face as she leaned forward to hug Eiji as well.

"Eiji." Eiji and Ash both looked around to see Eiji's friend Sing standing a few feet away. He was only fourteen and too young to be brought along. Eiji forced a reassuring smile on his face. This time he managed to pull it off.

"I'll be back before you know it, don't worry," Eiji whispered before disconnecting himself from his family and walked to where one of the guards was writing names on a paper.

"Eiji Okumura."

The guard wrote down his name. "Alright, step in the cart." As Eiji moved to do obey, Sing darted forward.

"Wait."

The guard looked up from his paper and glared at Sing. "What is it, boy? We're in a hurry."

"He's not unwed." Sing said loudly. Eiji turned to Sing, a tired expression on his face. Ash fought back a sighed. They both knew what Sing was planning. He was going to try to pass himself as Eiji as his husband. It wouldn't work though. Sing was too young. It could put him in danger to lie to the royal guards. Luckily the guard looked more amused than aggravated.

"Oh?" he grinned down at Sing, "Are you his spouse?" To Ash's surprise Sing shook his head.

"No."

The guard looked taken aback for a second before raising his eyes brows "Alright then where is his spouse? They must be here to vouch for him."

"I can go get him." Sing stepped forward and pulled Eiji to the side. Although the guard couldn't hear the whispered conversation Ash's hearing was better than the humans.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Sing whispered urgently. At Eiji's blank stare he added. "You know, the one you're always visiting? If you tell me where he lives. I'll go get him."

Understanding bloomed in Eiji's eyes. He gave a small laugh and shook his head. Ash clenched his fists in frustration. He wanted so badly to turn human and claim Eiji had his husband but knew it wouldn't work. No one would recognize him, and the villagers would tattle and claim that they were lying. None of them were going to let Eiji go free when their own sons were being dragged away. The more men that went, the safer their children would be. Not that it really mattered. Ash had used that power and couldn't do it again for a while. He regretted how he used it. There had been some interesting food at the wedding and Ash had wanted to try it. It was a stupid use of the power and now he wouldn't be able to turn mortal until at least tomorrow. If he knew this was going to happen he wouldn't have been so careless.

"It doesn't work that way Sing," Eiji said quietly.

"Why not?" Sing's voice rose slightly. He made an effort to bring it back down. "If he's the same age as you he'll be taken away as well. Don't you want to save him? It'll be better for both of you if you claimed to be wed."

"He's not going to be taken away," Eiji said quietly.

"Then why can't he come?" Sing's voice rose pleadingly "Doesn't he love you? What kind of man would leave his beloved to die? He's not even here to see you off. He must have heard the news from his own village. Why isn't rushing here at this moment trying to see you before you leave?"

"He is here Sing." Eiji muttered. "In a way."

"What does that mean?" Sing's clenched his fist in frustration. Eiji smiled sadly but didn't answer and after a moment the guard stepped forward.

"Well? Is your husband coming?"

"Sing meant someone else," Eiji said turning to the guard. "I'm unwed." Sing gulped, tears pricking at his eyes.

"Very well then get in." The guard helped Eiji into the cart as Sing took a few steps back. He stared up at Eiji despair written all over his face.

"Please Eiji!" he called. "Tell me where he is! Don't be so stubborn! You could die!"

"Sing," Eiji took a shaky deep breath. "He can't do what you want him to do." Noticing Sing's angry expression he added gently. "It's not his fault." Ash's stomach churned at his words. Not his fault? He was a god. He gave them sunlight and blessed their fires. Now at the time of Eiji's greatest needs, he was worthless. It was completely his fault. Ash stood rooted to the spot as he watched the last of the young men being loaded in. The guards slammed the back of the cart closed and Eiji's mother fell to the ground with a wail.

"Please." She begged her hands grasping at the dirt. "I know you have blessed my son but please don't take him away from me." She glanced up at the sky. "Ash, you wouldn't kill someone in your favor?"

"Hush." The woman next to her said crossly. "If Ash has blessed Eiji it was probably for this purpose." Around her other families murmured in agreement. Eiji's mother gave another loud wail and tore at her hair.

"No, please no."

Ash tried to steady his breath. He wanted to tell her that it would be alright, that he would never take Eiji's life. Instead, he turned away and floated into the cart as it started down the path. He sat next to Eiji who, once his family and friends were out of sight, gave a small sob and curled against him. Ash gathered Eiji in his arms and shielded him from the sight of his shrinking village.

The ride to the capital took forever. Ash, who was used to flying hated the slowness of the cart. The crying and soft whimpers of the young men didn't help. He was feeling anxious and wanted this day to end. The sooner Eiji went there and was sent back the happier he would be. Eiji lay across his lap while Ash ran a hand through his hair. With the help of Ash's presents, Eiji had calmed down. He was one of the calmest men here. He slept through most of the journey, only waking temporarily to press himself closer to Ash. As they continued towards the capital other carts full of young men joined them. Soon they formed a long row, bumping down the road. Ash took heart at the sight. With so many people Eiji was likely not to be picked. He didn't really want anyone to die but there wasn't enough time to fix this mess between now and the sacrifice. It would take something truly terrifying to change the Hiereus' minds. Even with an animal sacrifice, he wouldn't be able to make them stop. He could refuse to have anything cook or stop the sun from shining, but they would probably take that as a sign that Ash wanted the sacrifice quicker. It was better to just abandon them after fulfilling his part in their pointless war and hide in Eiji's hometown.

It was late in the afternoon when they arrived at the capital. As the cart bumped through the gates Eiji sat up and looked around, temporarily distracted from his worries. Ash has seen the capital many times, but he had almost forgotten that Eiji had never been here before.

"There are so many people." Eiji gasped, staring at the crowds. "and look at all those goods!" He craning his neck to gape at the stands of colorful clothes and strange foods. He wasn't the only one. The other men were also staring wide-eyed at the surrounding bustle. A man wearing strange bright-colored garments and a little square hat pinned to his head passed nearby. Eiji watched him.

"I've never seen anyone dressed like that before."

"He's not from this county," Ash said. "He's a visitor. The capital is a port city so they get ships from all over the world." Eiji turned to look at Ash.

"Are there a lot of different kinds of people here?"

"More than you can imagine."

"Oh." Eiji sat back deep in thought. His eyes landed on something nearby and he nudged Ash. "Hey look they have natto here too." Ash scowled at him.

"Yes, unfortunately, you aren't the only one lacking taste buds."

Eiji laughed. The sound was sweet after hearing only cries and wails for so long. Ash's anxiety lessened as he watched Eiji turn his head this way and that trying to take everything in. Then the cart turned towards the temple district and the shops and stalls lessened. Soon they were surrounded by towering temples for different gods. There were fewer people but many more Hiereus. They rushed around in their brightly colored robes with symbols of different gods on them. Eiji's laughter died away as his fear returned. Here there were no colorful distractions. Eiji leaned again Ash seeking comfort, no longer interested in the world around him. Ash tightened his grip as the main temple came into view, his anxiety growing. In a few minutes, they would arrive and then they would decide who would die. Ash turned away and took a deep breath to calm himself. The chances of Eiji being chosen were small. They would be going home soon. Everything would be alright. With that thought, he turned back to face his temple.