Author's Note: Alright, everyone, we're now climbing the climax of the story…and I'm so honored to say that this fic turned out to be more successful than I expected – all because of your support and patience in waiting for me to update. I hope you'll all like it and support me til the end.

Another thing, I really tried to fit Hiei in here…but he simply won't fit my plot…so, it's final, he won't be appearing in this fic…anyway, there will be lots of him in the future fics.

Disclaimers Applied!

Thanks for the reviews:

Amber, Botan and Kurama Lover, Anon, sailor-z-360, Lady Meru, FrozenRiver, Elementalmoon, Mizustarangel, GCN-anime-dragon, sunshine14586, TR, deity of death1, TPM-girl, Whitedragoness, junyortrakr, Lady Nightshade, i won't tell, Kitsune Kit, Haperitz, FallenStarDust, Penny: Angel of Darkest Dreams, animegrl15, balletanimerose, Crescent Venus, Nazz2.0, GolfChick, The Vampire Story Hunter, Himiko-sama, Darkhope, annetheatre

STOLEN HEARTS
Chapter 16: Breaking My Heart

There was a grim silence surrounding the Grand Hall that night.

Kuronue was sitting down on the couch, head bowed, while Kurama sat on his chair, his elbow resting on top of his desk, as he massaged his now aching temple. Reilan paced back and forth, as Botan sat down just across Kuronue, her back getting stiffer and straighter with each passing minute.

Suddenly, Reilan stopped pacing and whirled to look at Kuronue, "you know, that woman was a spy."

Kuronue looked at him, "I figured as much," he said quietly. He should have known better. It was such a goddamn coincidence that on that very short and dangerous mission, he found some romance on the side. Good thing she didn't try anything dangerous while they're together. He hated killing his women because they turned out to be an enemy the next time they meet.

Then, as if nothing happened, Reilan resumed his pacing for another ten minutes.

And maybe it was just all too much for Botan, who lived all her life in a simple farm, that she let out a whimper. Her lips quivered as if she was about to cry.

"I can't take this anymore," she said as she stood up and headed towards the door.

Kurama was up in an instant, intercepted his wife and enveloped her in a hug. She melted in it, welcoming the warmth and comfort he brought with it. "Everything's going to be alright, sweetheart."

"It's all my fault," she sobbed as she buried her face on his chest and cried, "It's all my –"

"Sweetheart," Kurama interrupted, "you shouldn't blame yourself for this. This is not your fault."

Botan looked up at him. "But I –"

"Don't be ridiculous, wife. I stole you from the monster. So don't blame yourself for this."

But Botan wouldn't accept it, shaking her head to let her husband know what she thinks. She just couldn't let her husband do this very noble job of taking the blame when it was really her fault. "Husband –"

She didn't have the chance to continue what she was about to say because Kurama looked at her sternly. "Wife, I'm ordering you to stop blaming yourself this instant," he said and signaled for his two friends to go out.

His extra sensitive senses had noticed their discomfort of trying hard not to attract enough attention to both of them because obviously, they were witnessing something private – even if he and his wife had been close to them.

Besides, he needed to sort his wife out.

"As you wish, husband," Botan said meekly and began to pull away from him.

Kurama wouldn't let her. "And while we're on your very accommodating mood, I want you to give your promise to me."

"What promise?" she asked, her face showing genuine confusion.

Kurama looked exasperated but did not dwell on it too much. He knew his wife was too rattled with what's happening, "The one about you following my orders until this war is over."

"Oh."

"Give me your promise now, wife. I don't want you to cause me trouble while I plan for our –"

"But, I'm not –"

"The promise. Now," he said, voice rising slightly for his patience was slowly losing, "or I'll lock you up in our chambers just to make sure you don't get into trouble."

Botan looked afraid. Surely he didn't mean that! But her husband looked so firm that she had to swallow the lump in her throat, "I promise, husband."

Botan was fuming as she paced back and forth their chambers. She could not believe the nerve of her husband. He had actually ordered her not to go out of their chamber.

It would have been better if she hadn't given her promise to her husband. She completely disregarded the idea because as far as she knew her husband, he wouldn't let her go without her promising to obey him.

Of course, she completely understood that he's only looking after her, but isn't this a bit too much? At least, he hadn't put guards outside the door or she would really blow him up.

She paced for another five minutes, and not really a patient person to start with, gave one last groan before opening the door and stepping out of the room.

It was chaos. Youkai were running everywhere that they hadn't noticed her at all. She was about to go back to her room when –

"Milady!"

"Olic. What's happening around here?" she asked as she felt a déjà vu hit her.

"What are you doing outside your chambers? You should stay there, milady," he said, pointedly ignoring her question.

"What's happening here, Olic? And where is my husband?" she asked, her voice frantic, as she held his hands.

"Err, milord went out with Sire Kuronue. Sire Reilan's handling the affairs inside," Olic said, hating every second that his mistress's face showed fear.

"Why? What are they doing outside the estate?"

"We're being attacked, Lady –"

"What?" she asked, aghast, then sprinted towards the stairs, not hearing Olic's calls for her to come back.

They were outnumbered with three to one but they were obviously winning the battle. Botan found that out as she crouched down, hiding behind rows of bushes as she watched the battle took place.

With that, she slowly breathed, glad that at least, they have a more than a fair chance of winning this war. And, as Raizen's troops began to retreat one by one, a small smile escaped from her lips.

Her people gave a wild cry of victory and only then did she had the nerve to stand up to go back to the estate as quietly and as quickly as possible. Her husband would be furious when he found out she didn't follow his command, but with luck, he would never find out about it.

And then, she saw him. An enemy trying to hide in the shadows, small built, an evil glint in his eyes as he looked at her husband – and launched his arrow.

Time seemed to freeze for him, her future life flashing in front of her eyes – a life without her husband. And if it were possible, she experienced agony, fear, regret and darkness in a span of a second.

She wouldn't let him die.

She wouldn't let him leave her.

Not when she was –

"NOOO!!!" Botan screamed, coming out of her hiding spot, running towards her husband and throwing her body and full weight at him.

The surprise and impact of her weight made him stagger and step backward, the arrow hitting –

Kuronue.

What happened next passed quickly to Botan. The angry soldiers chased the retreating enemies, leaving no survivors. Kuronue lost consciousness as he fell, and Kurama…

He looked at her furiously, she shivered at the cold, golden eyes that turned to her.

Reilan walked grimly as soldiers and villagers passed him in a hurry. It was now known in the whole keep that Kuronue had been hit – badly. No one knew if he would live or die. Thus, the distress of everyone.

"Sire," Olic greeted him, though a bit aloof.

"What's the update?" he asked in an uninterested manner. He shouldn't be the one doing this. But Kuronue was heavily injured and Kurama was so distressed about his wife and Kuronue.

"They're here," he said, making Reilan frown.

"Damn," Reilan muttered to himself, then turned to Olic. "Lead the way."

Olic nodded then turned around and walked, Reilan following closely behind, until they reached the front gates.

Soldiers wearing a different color of plaid were arguing with the guards and Reilan could make out some curses because the guards won't let them in.

Of course, the guards were only doing their jobs. It was a strict command to them that they must not let a stranger in. And because of the rigid training, they adhere to the laid down rules, not to mention the fact that the punishment are severe.

Reilan cleared his throat when he sensed that the outsiders were slowly losing their patience.

All had kept quiet and the outsiders timidly backed off. The guards looked at their lord nervously.

"Well?" Reilan asked his troops.

"They're asking for an entrance in the estate, Lord Reilan," one of the brave guards told him. Reilan vaguely recalled that he's a candidate for a promotion for the next season.

"Ah," he said and turned to the outsiders. "And you are?" Of course, he knew who they were, but still, thieves are well-known for being distrustful.

"Soldiers from Yomi's estate. We are here to offer our alliance to the kitsune for the war," one of the outsiders said and based on his stance, Reilan assumed that he's one of the higher ranking officials.

Reilan raised his eyebrows. "And how are we to know you are loyal to our lord?"

"Why, you –"

"That's enough, Tora."

"Lord Yomi," Reilan greeted in a way that obviously lacked respect.

Yomi ignored the greeting. "Where is the kitsune?"

She followed him as they went back to the estate and in the two hours that they were together, he never talked or at least looked at her.

They reached the Grand Hall and when she realized that they were alone, "Kurama –"

Kurama turned to her angrily. "Didn't you promise me you're going to obey me?"

"Well, yes, but I –"

"And didn't I tell you to stay in your room?"

"Yes, but –"

"Then why are you so goddamn stupid? Didn't you realize the seriousness of the situation we're in? You could have been killed!" he yelled.

He didn't care even if the whole keep heard him shouting like that to his stupid wife. She deserved it.

She deserved every minute of his shouting after what she had made him go through.

For a moment there, when she screamed, he thought of losing her, of her being killed, of her leaving him. And then she threw herself at him before he could see the arrow he was quite sure would hit his wife and eventually end her life.

For a moment there he grew afraid – not for her but for him. He was a thief and he was selfish…if she died, then where would that left him? She was the sole person who can make him feel that weak, or afraid.

And right there and then he realized his greatest weakness – he's afraid of his wife.

She flinched at the volume of his voice but she didn't back down and cower in fear. "You could have been killed, too, you know," she said weakly, not having enough strength to argue with him. She can't understand why he was so angry and damn ungrateful when it was his life he saved.

"That's not the point."

"Well, what is, then?" she asked, clearly upset but her insensitive husband failed to notice it.

"The fact that you disobeyed me and broke your promise," he said icily.

Now, that really stung. Botan knew about her mistake but something good had come out of it, "I saved your life, you ungrateful youko. If you were in my place, what would you have done?" she muttered.

Kurama looked at her, annoyed. "If I were in your place, I would have obeyed my husband and let them handle the rest."

"Then you would have been hit. I saved your life, husband. Don't you care about it at all?"

He cared, of course he cared. But he'd be damned if he'll admit that to his wife. Kitsunes are proud – and if there's something he didn't want to do, it was admitting he was wrong.

"At the expense of my friend's neck, I don't," he said truthfully, devoid of any emotion, knowing full well he couldn't tell his wife a straight no.

Tears welled at her eyes as she held her long skirt to control herself from crying, "I will choose you again, anytime, anywhere, husband."

And for a second there, she thought she saw his eyes softened, but it turned angry again before she can be sure.

"You are not going to do something stupid again. If I have to tie you up just to make you safe, then by gods, I'll do it," he said trying hard to harden his eyes. It was hard enough to lecture her when she was looking so upset like that…she's making it harder by baring her soul to her and showing her emotions.

She looked down, bit her lip and looked as if she was about to cry. Kurama instantly felt sorry, he should have gone a little gently with her, but he was so angry and afraid – if he hadn't stepped backward, the arrow would have hit her at a critical spot.

He closed his eyes in defeat. He would have to apologize.

"I'll do it again, husband, if it will save your life," she said weakly, as she looked up at him.

He suddenly changed his mind about apologizing, instead, his eyes darkened dangerously, "this conversation is useless. You will not speak to me again unless you're going to admit you're wrong and will apologize for what you have done."

He stood there for about half a minute, expecting the apology.

It didn't come.

"Very well. If that's how you want it to be," he said stiffly, his face showed indifference. He turned around and started walking away.

She wouldn't let him. "Husband?" she called after him. He stopped but didn't turn around. She took a deep breath. "I did all that because I love you. I don't want to lose you, Kurama."

Kurama stiffened. That was the last thing he expected her to say. But it still didn't change anything. He wouldn't let her risk her life for him just because she fancied herself to be in love with him. "If you loving me mean that you're going to do stupid things in the name of love, then I don't need your love. Save that for our future children," he said then started walking away again.

"But husband –"

He felt sorry, really. He knew what he said was cruel and she didn't deserve it. But if this is the only way to prevent her from doing drastic things, then so be it. "Not one word from you unless it's an apology, understood?"

And because his back was on her, he didn't see her bit her lower lip hard, blood flowed from it, to prevent her tears from flowing. "As you wish, husband."

And only when he was outside the room did she allow herself the luxury to cry.

Author's Note: Wait, before you throw anything at me for being mad, I'll just hide, alright? And before you do, be a sweetheart and drop me a review…maybe you guys will be able to decide if Kuronue will live or if the couple will make up in the next chapter… winks

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