OK…listen to this:

First, I'm taking the risk and posting this chapter. Dunno why but I'm posting it.

Second, this chapter IS NOT EDITED, so expect grammar and spelling mistakes.

Third, this chapter will be posted temporary 'til Star finds the time to edit it.

Fourth, well, tragic…tragic…tragic…tragic…OOC

Fifth, Sakuragi's Fans, I device you, Don't read it…'coz Sakuragi is really evil here.  

Sixth,Your reviews please…tell me what u think

First night

Chapter Three: Broken souls

A lonely old traveler entered the silent village of Shohoku. He looked at his surroundings, puzzled. The village was decorated with colorful banners and flags, and scents of fresh wine and food were still filling the air, but no signs of people celebrating, no sounds of joyful laughs and chatting. Nothing but the dead silence covering the whole village.

"That's strange" murmured the old man "Where is everybody? Did I mistake the date of my grandson's wedding? Or maybe it has finished already? But it doesn't make any sense. The night isn't over yet, and usually wedding parties continue until the next day. Well, I'll go to my grandson's house, maybe I'll find them there" And so the old man continued on his way through the silent roads.     

***

The fire blazed slightly, lighting up the dark room. A figure sat facing the fireplace, his eyes were following the flames as they danced in front of him. Suddenly, a soft knock was heard, followed by the sound of the door opening, but he didn't make any move to know who was it.

"Shinichi" Fujima said softly "Are you going to lock up yourself here all night?"

Maki didn't answer, he kept staring at the fire, as it was a wonder. Fujima sighed and walked towards his lover.

"Shinichi, locking up yourself here will not change anything" Fujima paused a minute "What happened has happened. There is no way we can change it"

"How is Sendoh?" Maki asked dryly.

"Sendoh?" Fujima bit his lip "God helps him. He is heartbroken. Koshino is at his place with all the others trying to comfort him. I'm going there right now, Care to come?" Fujima placed his hand comfortably on Maki's shoulder.

"Me? Go to Sendoh's place? And face everybody after what I have done?" Maki covered his face with his hands, sobbing "How can I face everybody after today Kenji? How? How can I look in everybody's eyes and claimed that I can protect them from anything might harm them after what I have done today? How can I face Miyagi, Ayako and Sendoh after I have tied up with my own hands the most important person in their lives to that horse? How? Tell me Kenji, how?"

Fujima kneeled in front of Maki.

"Shinichi, You didn't have another choice…Lord Sakuragi was going to take Rukawa whither you were the one who tied him up or not. Everybody knows this. Believe me no one is blaming you…and as for the villagers, they know that you're the one who'll protect them with his life, if anything happened to them"

"No" Maki shook his head "They don't…not after today. I let them down. I let my friends down. I let you down. I let myself down"

"Shinichi…"

"Please, Kenji…I want to stay alone"

Knowing that talking to Maki now won't modify Maki's desperation, Fujima whispered softy "As you wish"

With that he stood up and walked outside the room, leaving a very desperate Maki alone in the dim lighted room.

***

Koshino sighed deeply; his foot kept tapping impatiently on the wooden floor of Sendoh's living room. He dropped his head backwards remembering all the past events.

After Rukawa was taken away, Sendoh kept crying on the ground. All Koshino and Mitsui's attempts to persuade him to go back to his house, went in vain. So they forced him to get up the ground and took him to his house.

In his house Koshino took him to the main room, which was prepared to be Sendoh and Rukawa bedroom. As soon as Sendoh entered the room his sobs became harder and harder. The sight of the beautifully decorated room, stabbed Sendoh's heart sharply.

Koshino supported his friend until they reached the bed and helped him to lay on it.

He stayed near Sendoh as he cried his heart out until the latter get tired and fell asleep.

When Koshino entered the living room, he saw that Miyagi and Kogure, the herbalist, had arrived. And now they were all sitting silently every one lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, they heard soft nocks on the door. Koshino got up and opened it to see Fujima standing in front of him.

"How is he?" worried Fujima asked as he entered the house and had a seat.

"He's sleeping now" Koshino answered, "how is Maki?"

Fujima looked at the silent Miyagi in the corner of the room warily, "He's blaming himself hardly. He's ashamed of you Miyagi" the last sentence was barely audible.

Miyagi looked up at his friend with red-eyes and shook his head "He shouldn't be, Fujima. He had no other choice. I'm the one who should be blamed. I left my homeland running away from this. And now it happens to…to…" biting his lower lip hardly, Miyagi tried with all his power to control his falling tears, but he couldn't. he covered his face with his palms and burst into tears.

"Miyagi" Kogure placed his hand on the guy's shoulder "even you couldn't do anything to rescue Rukawa-Kun. Any resistance would've caused the death of one of you guys. There was nothing you guys could've done"

"Kaede-Kun isn't only my brother-in-law" Miyagi whispered "I have watched him grew up ever since he was five. I have loved him…protected him…lulled him to bed…played with him…I have considered him as my son…the son I never had"

The four boys looked at Miyagi with sorrow filling their eyes. They knew how true Miyagi's words were. The young innkeeper has always loved and treated his brother-in-law as son more than brother, especially that he and Ayako hadn't blessed with children after two years of marriage.

"If you only let me smash that lord's face, Koshino. Non of this would've been happened" Mitsui said firmly

"And cause your death, Mitsui" Koshino felt anger rising in his heart "and maybe caused the whole village to be set in fire"

"That lording could not do such thing…lord Akagi ha-"

"I'm afraid he could, Hisashi-Kun" Kogure cut off "He's a Lord…and lord Akagi had put him in charge. Do you think that he won't find a good excuse for burning the village?"

"But the first night law is forbidden in Ryonan"

"Even that didn't stop lord Sakuragi from claiming his right as a noble…and until when do you think lord Akagi will be able to fight against the nobles, huh? Do you think that he will have the strength to fight for a long time? No, Mitsui. Just like our king…one day this law WILL be employed in Ryonan too…it's only a matter of time" Koshino looked at his friend sadly as he revealed the horror truth.

Mitsui looked at him in disbelief. "No…it can't be" he whispered in horror.

"Yes, it can" Koshino replied.

A painful scream echoed through the house, all of a sudden.

"Sendoh" Miyagi jumped from his seat.

The five friends rushed towards Sendoh's room.

***

"Damn, I'm late again" Sendoh murmured as he ran though the roads of the village.

Finally, he reached his destination. He smiled when he saw the slender body of his lover sitting alone near the lake. Sendoh walked on the tip of his feet, trying not to make any sound. When he was behind Rukawa and was ready to surprise him…

"You're late again" Rukawa said.

Sendoh sighed, disappointed and sat near Rukawa.

"How come you always ruin my surprise?" Sendoh complained.

Rukawa chuckled "You want to surprise me?!!! Come on time once, and I'll be surprised"

"Come on, Snow" Sendoh protested "No kidding…tell me how you feel my presence every time I try to surprise you?

"You are in my heart, remember. You own it " Rukawa smiled warmly  "I always can sense your presence, especially when you're near"

"Really? Then I guess I'm with you all the time, huh?"

Rukawa nodded whispering "All the time, Akira"

Sendoh got closer and cupped Rukawa's face. He was about to kiss him, when Rukawa pulled away.

"What is it, Kaede?"

Rukawa looked at Sendoh thoughtfully "You won't kiss me that easily Sendoh Akira. Want to kiss me? You've got to catch me first" with that Rukawa stood up and ran away from Sendoh.

"Oh, yeah" Sendoh stood up and ran after Rukawa "Well, when I catch you, I'm going to eat these cherry lips of yours…you'll see"

Sendoh ran faster and faster, turning to reach his lover. But no matter how fast he ran, Rukawa kept getting farther and farther.

"KAEDE" Sendoh called his disappearing lover "DON'T GO AWAY"

Suddenly, everything around Sendoh became dark.

"KAEDE" he called again "KAEDE, WHERE ARE YOU?"

But no one answered him. Then, Sendoh saw himself in the public square. Everyone was there, dropping his or her heads down. He saw himself standing motionless as Sakuragi dragged Rukawa away.

He shouted with full lungs "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

He jerked from his bed violently, cold sweat was falling down his face, and his breaths were short and fast. His mind was blank and empty.

He didn't feel the presence of his friends as they surrounded his bed.

Koshino placed one hand on Sendoh's shoulder "Sendoh?"

"He took him away" Sendoh maundered between his breaths, his tears slowly started to fall "He took my snow away…I haven't done anything to stop him"

"Sendoh"

"I haven't done anything…I should've stopped him…I should've stopped him"

Realizing that Sendoh was getting hysterical, Kogure quickly took a bottle from his bag, pour its contains into a cup and handed it to Koshino, who was sitting at the edge of the bed trying to calm down his friend.

"Let him drink it" he whispered to Koshino. Koshino nodded taking the cup from Kogure.

"Sendoh, drink this" Koshino said softly.

"He took Kaede away…he took him away from me" Sendoh continued unaware of his surroundings "Kaede…I want my Kaede back…I want him back"

"Sendoh, drink this" Koshino pushed the cup towards Sendoh's mouth.

"No" Sendoh pushed Koshino's hand away "I want Kaede…I don't want anything but my snow…I want him back to me"

"Kosh…you better force him to drink it" Mitsui suggested.

Nodding, Koshino cupped Sendoh's face and forced him to drink the liquid.

After a few minutes, the young man was sleeping deeply, murmuring Rukawa's name between his breaths.

"We better leave him now" Miyagi whispered.

And so everyone left the room.

***

 "So what should we do now?" Fujima asked when they reached the living room.

"There is nothing we can do, Fujima" Miyagi shook his head "all we can do it to pray so this nightmare ends soon"

"You guys better go home and have some rest" Koshino said, "I'll stay here for the night. Sendoh needs someone beside him when he wakes up"

"I agree with you, Koshino" Kogure agreed "He can't spend the night alone, although the drug will make him sleep until morning but he still needs some support."

"Why not me or Kimi-kun stays here?" Mitsui asked, "You have wife and child waiting for you, Kosh"

"Thanks, Mitsui. But I prefer to be with Sendoh when he wakes up. I'm sure that Rika and Tino-kun will be fine."

"Don't worry Koshino" Miyagi said "I'll take them to my house for the night…they will be safe there"

"Thanks Miyagi"

Suddenly, they heard soft nocks on the door.

"Who possibly could be?" Fujima exclaimed.

Koshino went and opened the door. An old monk stood in front of him smiling.

"Good evening my child. Is this Sendoh Akira's house?" the monk asked warmly.

"Yes father…come on in" Koshino made way for the old monk to enter.

"God bless you my boy…good evening my children" the monk greeted the young men.

"Good evening" Miyagi replied "you were looking for Sendoh, father?'

"Yes, my boy… My name is Anzai and Akira is my grandson. I have been told that today is Akira's wedding, so I came here to attend the wedding and see my grandson's husband. But it looks like that I've missed it."

Everybody dropped their heads thinking whither to break out what happened or not. Koshino, however, made his decision quickly. "It was better for you that you've missed the wedding, father"

Anzai rose an eyebrow "Why is that, my boy?"

Koshino told Anzai what happened in the wedding and how Sakuragi took Rukawa away. The old monk listened silently until Koshino finished his story.

"I see" Anzai nodded his head "and how is Akira now?"

"He is heartbroken, father" Miyagi replied, "he had cried to sleep and now Kogure gave him some sedative drug to make him sleep without nightmares"

Anzai lowered his head in response. He hadn't thought for once that something like this would happen in Ryonan even if Lord Akagi weren't here. But it had happened and to who? To his only grandson.  

"I'm sorry that you have to hear this about Sendoh, father" Fujima said softly "and what makes me sad even more that my boyfriend was the one who had tied up Rukawa to lord Sakuragi's horse by the lord's order"

"Don't blame yourself or your lover my child" Anzai looked at Fujima with warm eyes "I'm sure that he hadn't any other choice. It's all predestined my kids. God is testing our will and strength. We should be as strong as he wants us to be and accept his will "

"You're right father" Miyagi murmured softly.

"Well my kids" Anzai smiled warmly "you better go back to your families. It's quit late now. You can come tomorrow and check on Akira"

"Good night father" everyone greeted the old monk and left.

After everyone has left, Anzai went to the main room of the house were Sendoh was sleeping.

 //My poor son// he sat near the bed //my poor two boys //

***

The castle was drowning in the dark and silence, as if no one lives in it. There wasn't any sound that could be heard, except for soft sobs, which were coming for one of the rooms in the second floor.

Rukawa raised his head, which was hidden between his knees, slowly. His fresh tears were rolling down his cheeks crossing a long red wound along his right cheek.

He reached out his hand and brushed the wound gently, then his hand traveled from his wounded cheek down to his right bare shoulder and arm, brushing as well the red thin lines that spread all over that area. His right side was still screaming from pain as well as his whole body, conducing the pain to his heart and soul. Memories from the last evening hunted him, preventing him from resting his troubled heart and mind.

FLASHBACK

The sun was already set down, when he opened his eyes to face a strange embellished ceiling. His body, especially his legs, was aching him very much. He got up and looked at his surroundings. He was laying in a king-size bed, which was in large bedroom.

The room was fancy decorated; every thing in it was highly expensive and inestimable. Blinking several times, he tried to figure out where was he and what happened to him before he loses his conscious.

Images slowly returned to his mind after a short time. Images of him being parted from Sendoh forcedly in front of the whole village, his sister's crying, Maki's shaking hands tying him up to Sakuragi's horse, Sendoh staring at him helplessly and everybody watching him sadly. Then, the images shifted to him dragged by Sakuragi's horse for 3 miles to the castle. All the way to the castle, he was trying to keep his balance while running after the rushing horse. At the time they reached the castle, he was so exhausted that he fainted as soon as they stopped waiting for the gate to be opened.

//I must have been moved in here after that// Rukawa concluded. He got off the bed and walked to the nearby window, watching the silver moon in the sky //Akira…please forgive me, I had to do this…I had to//

"I see that you have woken up" a voice cut off his thoughts

Rukawa turned around to see Sakuragi leaning on the doorframe playing with his quirt. A large smirk was lightening his face. Rukawa, however, didn't reply. He stood in his spot glaring at Sakuragi with icy glares.

Sakuragi moved towards him, followed by a servant carrying large tray. Rukawa's eyes followed the servant as she put the tray in a wooden table and got out the room.

"I thought that you must be hungry after today's events, so I ordered the chief to prepare a good dinner for you"

Rukawa didn't reply this time either. He just walked towards the bed and sat on its edge, looking at the ground.

"I don't think I catch your name" Sakuragi stood in front of him, raising Rukawa's chin with his finger "What's your name again?"

Rukawa pushed Sakuragi's finger away with his hand and dropped his face again. His action made Sakuragi very angry. It was the first time that somebody refuses to answer him, not to mention that Rukawa actually shoved his finger away.

"I said WHAT. IS. YOUR. NAME?" Sakuragi held Rukawa's chin, forcing the boy to look at him. Rukawa, however, didn't reply or show any kind of affection. He only stared back at Sakuragi with dangerously cold and icy blue eyes. After a while, Sakuragi released Rukawa's chin, glaring at the guy, who was still focusing his cold gazes on him. His anger rose even more and his right hand squeezed the quirt tightly. Suddenly, Rukawa felt a sharp slash crossing his right check.  

Trying to minify his anger. Sakuragi slashed Rukawa's right check with all his strength.

Losing control on his emotions, Rukawa's fist flew towards Sakuragi's face. But the latter managed to catch it before it contacted with his jaw.   

"So, you're trying to be tough, huh?" Sakuragi smirked "Let's see how mush tough you are?"

he pushed Rukawa back and started to whip his right arm hardly. Rukawa closed his eyes, and dropped his head swallowing the pain silently. Although the lashes were getting harder and harder every moment, Rukawa didn't groan or allow the tears that formed under his eyelashes to fall as if his whole life was depending on it.

//Akira…// Rukawa clutched the sheets underneath him tightly// I love you//

After a while, Sakuragi stopped. Panting from tiredness, He stared at the silent Rukawa as the latter's red blood socked his white right sleeve. Rukawa remained motionless and his eyes were still closed and his head was dropped down.

"You're not going to say a word, huh?" Sakuragi asked. But it was more statement than a question. "Fine"

Suddenly, Sakuragi pulled Rukawa from his collar towards him, fixing his brown eyes on Rukawa's blue ones. Rukawa stared back with dead blue eyes.

"I'll have you, no matter what you do" he whispered "and if you want to remain silent for the whole evening then FINE *smirk* In fact, this way is much more better. *Smirk*all you have to do is to be quite while I get what I want or the village is not that far…and your lover's neck is not safe yet"

Upon hearing Sakuragi's last words, Rukawa widened his eyes in horror. he didn't make any move or release any sound as he felt his body was pushed on the bed by the young lord.

Approaching towards the lying guy, Sakuragi took off his shirt, on his face tagged an evil smirk.

END OF FLASHBACK

//Akira// Rukawa hugged his knees tightly to his chest, sobbing //I'm sorry//.

His heart ached as he remembered how he lost his innocency so easily and without a fight.

Village is not that far…and your lover's neck is not safe yet

Sakuragi's words were ringing in his ears and mind all the time, and he couldn't fight back or protest against anything Sakuragi wants, because he knew that if Sakuragi got angry, God knows what he would do to him or to his lover.

Rukawa bit his lips hardly// Akira…I don't deserve you anymore…I'm not worthy for your love…I'm not your pure snow any more…I'm sorry//

His eyes scanned the dim lighted room with lost unfocused  gazes .

Suddenly they caught a circle shiny object. The object was thrown carelessly on the ground between his half-torn clothes near the bed. He slid out of the bed slowly, making sure that the other sleeping youth doesn't feel his leaving and kneeled on the ground. His hands reached out slowly and took the shiny object.

It was the pendant that Sendoh had given him during the wedding ceremony as a symbol of their union. He closed his palm tightly on the pendant and shut his eyes as he remembered the feeling of Sendoh's hands warped around his neck while putting on the necklace. He had swore not to take it off his neck that day but Sakuragi had pulled it violently off his neck and threw it away that evening and he couldn't say a thing.

Slowly, he neared the pendant from his heart, whispering, "Akira…I'm sorry"

T.B.C.