Destiny

Author: HanaHeart

Beta: Mikawa

Fic Information & Disclaimer: See the Prologue

Chapter: Two

The sun set slowly behind the mountains, coloring the horizon with a beautiful mixture of red and orange. Sendoh stood in his chamber's balcony, staring at the crystal mountain as the red rays of the sun tinted it with red shades. However, his mind was occupied with other things other than the beautiful scene in front of him.

His right hand tightened its grasp on the round object he was holding as images of what happened this morning kept flashing in his mind.

He sighed deeply, looking down at the pendant in his hand.

/What is going on around me/ he asked himself repeatedly, without a getting a clear answer.

What happened in that mine wasn't something the young prince had expected to witness. Two murders…and a boy was badly beaten then electricuted, nearly sending him to his death. Sendoh wondered why the guards behaved like that. He wondered if his father knew about what was going on in that mountain.

Sendoh shook his head at the last thought; his father was a good ruler. He's a man of principles. And his hatred towards anybody wouldn't allow him to betray his values, not even towards the slaves. If he knew about what was happening, he'd stop it immediately.

But then, who's responsible for these horrible happenings if not his father?

Looking again at the pendant in his hand, his mind drifted to its owner…that boy was so young, maybe one or two years younger than he was, but he was treated so badly, punched and kicked non-stop then electricuted. What crime did he commit to deserve such punishment?

And the pendant, how did the boy come to possess such a pendant?

He studied the crystal piece carefully. It was such a bibelot, round glassy-blue crystal with the warm smiling face of Hera, masterly engraved in the middle of it, surrounded by small cupids (Eros) flying around it.

Hera, the queen of all gods and goddess, the protector of marriage, and Eros, god of love, and protector of all lovers, Sendoh smiled warmly, thinking of the meaning behind this combination. However, seeing such a pendant in the possession of a slave wasn't something he expected. It was true that the wingless slaves worshiped Hera, unlike his people who preferred Zeus' worshiping instead, but that specific pendant was special, and Sendoh had seen the exact same pendant in the Palace before.

He had seen it in the paintings of his ancestors, on his mother's chest once or twice, and then it was given to him as present on his eighteenth birthday last February. Unconsciously, Sendoh's other hand reached under his tunic and felt for the crystal object around his neck.

This was an heirloom from his great ancestor…Emperor Sendoh Yoshiakira

He was told that the pendant was a gift from the emperor's lover to him as a promise of everlasting love and devotion. It was supposed to be one of a kind…made especially for the ancient Emperor. Then, how did a slave come to own an exact copy of it?

Sendoh wondered if the one in his hand was false…

"Akira…Akira…" Sendoh snapped from his thoughts at Koshino's voice. Looking behind him, he saw his friend leaning against the entrance of the balcony and staring at him with concern.

"Hiro," Sendoh said. "How are you? How long have you been standing there?"

"I'm fine," Koshino said with a frown as he approached Sendoh and stood next to him. "I've been standing here for a while now, waiting for you to notice me, but obviously your mind was in another world."

Sendoh sighed and looked back at the horizon; his hand tightened around the crystal pendant.

"I was thinking." He said softly. "You're right; my mind was in another world…a world that I haven't expected to exist in Ryonan…few kilometers away from me."

Koshino's body tensed, remembering their encounter this morning.

"I have many questions that I can't find answers to, Hiro." Sendoh continued. "Many doubts in my heart that I can't suppress."

"I don't know what to say, Akira." Koshino said. "We are in the same boat. I've asked myself many times whether that little girl deserved to witness her father's death and be killed herself in the same brutal way or not, but I couldn't find a satisfying answer. Just because they were slaves, it doesn't justify treating them like their lives are worth nothing…"

"Do you think my father knows about what is happening there?" Sendoh asked.

"No, I don't." Koshino said. "Emperor Ookawa won't allow such barbarity, even if it comes to the slaves."

"Then why did the guards act that way, if my father doesn't approve of it?"

"I doubt that his majesty knows about what's happening." Koshino said. "The slaves' matters are part of General Sawakita Eiji's duties not his majesty's."

"Sawakita!" Sendoh looked at his friend in surprise. "Do you think he's the one who prompted the guards to do so?"

Koshino nodded. "Sawakita's hatred towards the slaves is not a hidden secret. Everyone knows that if it's up to him, he would exterminate the slaves completely."

"If that's so, then he must be stopped immediately." Sendoh said determinedly. "I'll talk about it with my father at dinner tonight."

"Be careful, Akira." Koshino warned. "The emperor will be very mad if he knew that we went to the mines without permission."

"Don't worry, Hiro." Sendoh smiled slightly. "I'll find a way to open the subject, without telling anybody that we went to the mines."

Ayako dried the cloth in her hand from the excess water, before wiping Rukawa's forehead with it. It has been almost four hours since they got back from the mines and still her little cousin hadn't woken up, but who can blame him. He was exhausted from all the beating he had received, not to mention being electricuted with 110-volts of electricity. A tear rolled down Ayako's cheek as she remembered the incident in the mines.

Rukawa had defended her when Fukuda tried to tear up her clothes and for that, he was beaten up and electricuted with no mercy. Ayako was brought back to reality by her brother's voice shouting from the living room.

"AYAKO, YOUR FATHER AND I ARE STRAVING…WHERE IS OUR DAMN DINNER?"

Ayako sighed and looked down at the sleeping boy before standing up and leaving the room to serve dinner to her father and brother. She placed the hot stew on the ground in front of them then sat, and the three started to eat silently.

"Ayako, how is Kaede now?" Mitsui Kouyou asked.

"He's resting." Ayako replied. "He seems to be breathing normally, but I'm still worried about him."

"What happened back there, Hisashi?" Kouyou asked firmly. "Haven't I ordered you and Kaede to stay out of trouble?"

"Yes, you have, father." Hisashi answered. "But that Fukuda has gone too far this time."

"What has Fukuda done this time?"

"Well," Hisashi looked at Ayako with uncertain look, trying to find something to say. "He…he…he…he…he…he…"

"He did what, boy? Spit it out…" Kouyou snapped impatiently.

"He tried to molest Ayako." Hisashi said in one breath.

"WHAT?"

"Nothing happened, father." Hisashi said quickly, hoping to calm his father's rage. "Kaede was near them. He pushed the jerk away from her."

"Damn…" Kouyou cursed under his breath. "Not again."

Hisashi and Ayako winced upon hearing the anger in their father's voice. Nothing would stop their father from going out on a killing spree if he put his mind into it.

"Father," Hisashi said. "Nothing happened. Like I told you, Kaede managed to prevent that bastard from touching Ayako."

"Ayako," Kouyou said firmly.

"Yes, father?" Ayako looked up at her father; tears gathering at the corner of her eyes.

"I know that what happened wasn't your fault." Kouyou said. "However, for your safety, you should always stay near Hisashi or your fiancé and away from Fukuda, understood?"

"Yes, father." Ayako said timidly.

"Now, would you leave us please? I want to have a word with your brother."

"As you wish, father." With that, Ayako stood up and left the room hastily.

"I have entrusted you to take care of your sister and cousin in my absence, Hisashi." Kouyou said accusingly after Ayako's departure. "What you have been doing there?"

"I'm sorry, father." Hisashi said, lowering his gaze, ashamed. "I know that I have failed you."

"Hisashi," Kouyou said quietly. "I think I've told you the circumstances of your aunt's death, and I've warned you to take care of your sister. I don't want what happened ten years ago to repeat again."

"I know that, father." Hisashi said. "But at that time Ryu was telling me about what happened in the other side of the mine, I didn't notice that jerk hanging around Ayako."

"What happened on the other side of the mine?"

"Houshu and his daughter were killed." Hisashi spat.

"What?" Kouyou widened his eyes in horror.

"Yes. Ryu said that some guard killed them both, cold bloodedly."

"This has gone so far." Kouyou said more to himself than to Hisashi. "They killed an old man and a child. They tried to disgrace our family. What will they do next?"

"Don't worry father." Hisashi said heatedly. "The Houshus' blood and my sister's honor will be avenged. I'll gather the boys tonight and strike the guards' camp—"

"No," Kouyou said. "You must lay low these days. Sawakita and his men are up to something."

"But father—"

"I said no, Hisashi." Kouyou cut off. "They're trying to anger you. Even if the murder didn't have anything to do with your sister's incident, we can't take the risk. I fear that they are trying to force you into their trap…the same way they got your aunt's husband. After your aunt's incident, Kanojo lost his temper and went like a madman to seek revenge. He lost his concentration and they managed to arrest him and his men."

"But father, Uncle Kanojo was a great fighter." Hisashi said. "You always said that he had led the resistance since he was fourteen."

"Yes, he had, Hisashi." Kouyou said. "But after your aunt's death he became reckless and because of that they managed to pull him into the trap. I don't want the same thing happen to you or to your friends."

"Then should I stop our missions?"

"Not completely." Kouyou said. "Let them know that the resistance still there. Hold back a little bit and choose your targets carefully. Take only the people that you really trust in your missions. And stay away from Fukuda these days. His turn will come very soon."

"OK, father." Hisashi said. "Anything else?"

"Yes, keep Kaede out of all this." Kouyou said. "You're the one who should look after him."

"Yes, father." Hisashi said with a sigh. "But he wants to take part in the resistance so badly. I don't know what to do when he keeps nagging me about it. Can't you allow him to take a small part like smuggling guns and food or something?"

"I said; keep Kaede completely out of this…end of discussion."

Koshino glanced at Sendoh from behind the book he was reading. Sendoh was sitting silently in front of the balcony glancing through the glass, absent-mindedly for nearly two hours. Koshino frowned at his friend's strange behavior. Sighing heavily, he decided to stop that mental torment and find the underlying cause of Sendoh's distress.

"Akira. Akira," Koshino said, putting down his book. "Akira!"

"Huh?" Sendoh snapped out of his reverie and looked at his friend. "What?"

"Is something wrong?" Koshino asked in concern. "You've been strangely silent ever since you came back from dinner. Something wrong?"

"No." Sendoh answered before looking out the window again.

"There must be something on your mind, Akira." Koshino said. "You don't usually stay silent for two hours. What is it?"

"Lots of trash." Sendoh snorted.

"Akira, this is serious." Koshino said firmly. "What's wrong with you?"

"Wrong with me?" Sendoh said, dreamingly. "Yes, that's right. It must be right. I can't be the only one right and the rest are wrong." He smiled slightly. "Yes, I'm wrong and they are right."

"Akira," Koshino said solemnly. "You better tell me what's bothering you, or I swear by Great Zeus I'm gonna give you piece of my mind. And believe me, you don't want me to do so."

"Then I'll send you to prison." Sendoh said quietly.

"Very funny." Koshino said. "I've been your companion since childhood. I know that you won't have the heart to send me to prison."

"That's true." Sendoh said, looking at his friend. "At any rate, you are welcome to do whatever you like, Hiro. It doesn't matter anymore. Everything seems so strange around me. Nothing is as it's used to be. I won't be shocked even if we switch places." Sendoh snorted slightly. "Everything around me seems so wrong."

Hearing what Sendoh has just said, made Koshino feel uncomfortable. His friend and prince sounded so uncertain…so lost…

"Akira," Koshino tried again. "What's wrong? Tell me."

Sendoh sighed as he stood up and walked to the small table at one corner. He poured himself a glass of red wine before looking back at Koshino.

"It's about the slaves." He said.

"So you've talked to his Majesty…What did he say?" Koshino asked.

"Talked?" Sendoh snorted, gulping down his drink at once before pouring more. "He hadn't given me any chance to talk. He had said everything without me even asking him. He said things I hadn't expected him to say. Every word that left his mouth, had stabbed me deeply in the heart…to the extent that I felt he isn't my father any more…Not the father who taught me how to respect life…how to appreciate others…how to cherish everything good in life."

"Akira, what did he say exactly?" Koshino frowned.

"During dinner," Sendoh began. "My father was unusually distracted…"

FLASHBACK

A strange atmosphere was reigning as the royal family dined. Emperor Ookawa was unusually silent and lost in deep thoughts. Akira and his mother exchanged confused glances. Empress Hato frowned at her husband's strange state. Nothing had bothered him this way before. All his life, Emperor Ookawa had managed to keep his duties, as an emperor from disturbing his feeling as a father and husband…the Empire affairs had never disturbed their peace as family. Thus, seeing her husband distracted that way while he was having dinner with his family was very abnormal to the Empress.

"Darling," Empress Hato said. "Is something bothering you?"

But the Emperor's mind was too far away to hear his wife. Hato exchanged a worried glance with her son before looking at her husband and trying again.

"Dear," she called. "What's wrong?"

"Huh?" Ookawa snapped from his reverie. "What is it, my dear?"

"I asked you if something was bothering you, dear." Hato said, frowning slightly.

"Nothing is bothering me, dear…Nothing." Ookawa forced a reassuring smile before returning his attention to his untouched food.

"Ookawa," Hato said solemnly. "It's clear that there is something bothering you. You're not your usual self. Tell me what's wrong, darling. I may be able to help you."

"Alright, you win." Ookawa sighed in defeat. "There is indeed something bothering me. I've seen Sawakita before dinner; he said there have been some disturbances again in the mines…apparently, two slaves had been executed."

Akira almost dropped his fork from his hand upon hearing his father. He looked up at his father's face, trying to read his emotions, but there wasn't any emotion on his father's handsome face. He couldn't tell whether he was upset with news or pleased. Neither his tone nor his actions indicated anything.

Akira looked down at his food, thinking. Apparently, his father knew about what was happening in the mines. He wondered, though, how much his father was informed. Did his father know the true circumstances surrounding the deaths or not? How did Sawakita explain the deaths of an old man and his little girl?

His thoughts were interrupted by a bored sigh from his mother…

"Those slaves!" Hato sighed. "I can't believe the commotion they make! When will they stop disturbing our peaceful life with their presence? What have they done this time?"

"Sawakita said that one of the guards had spotted an aged man who wasn't working," Ookawa replied. "He whipped the man when he hadn't returned to work when he was ordered to do so, then, he killed him because he was useless. The second slave was apparently his daughter…she had hit the guard with a crystal stone. That's why he killed her."

"That's what bothering you?" Hato asked indifferently. "I can't see what's unusual with it. Executing slaves because of uselessness is an everyday event. I fail to see what is making you so worried."

"It's not that which worries me, dear." Ookawa said. "I'm worried of what Sawakita had told me about the resistance that exists among the slaves. They are trying to rebel against us. And some of the guards in the mines and the concentration camps were assassinated. I fear that these executions will provoke those rebels even more and make them attack more of our guards."

"That's indeed horrible." Hato said. "But, darling, those rebels must be stopped. You can't surrender to their threat. They are but a bunch of thugs. I'm sure Sawakita would be able to catch them and punish them properly."

"Sawakita had suggested arresting everyone he suspected and force them to confess." Ookawa said. "But arresting and torturing young people will decrease the work in the mines. And we're in desperate need for the crystal energy these days."

"Then what will you do about it?" Hato asked.

"Well, I've been thinking about something Sawakita had said." Ookawa said thoughtfully. "It's supposed to send a message to those rebels."

"And what is that?"

"The elders." Ookawa said. "He suggested announcing that any slave who reaches the age of 50 would be executed. This would send a warning message to the rebels and at the same time, get rid of those useless elders who can't work in the mines."

"What a brilliant idea, my dear." Hato said. "That would surely solve the problem."

Unable to hear anymore, Akira stood suddenly from his seat causing a loud sound.

"What's the matter dear?"

"I—I'm finished." Akira stuttered, looking everywhere except to his parents.

"But your plate isn't empty yet, my boy." Ookawa said. "You've hardly touched it."

Akira looked up to his father with an odd look in his eyes. "I'm not hungry anymore." He said softly, looking away. "Besides Hiro must be waiting for me right now. I have to go." With that, Akira left the dinning room without looking behind him. He felt as if his whole world had crumbled around him.

What happened to his parents? His mind screamed at him, repeatedly. What happened to his perfect world?

He could not believe what he had heard with his own ears. His loving parents…his loving kind parents…they knew about it. They knew about the horrible treatment that the slaves were enduring, yet, they didn't care. In fact, they were planning to execute innocent people...for what? Uselessness? Disability to work?

Akira's legs couldn't support his weight anymore and the world around him started to spin. The shock was so great that his mind couldn't absorb it. He leaned on a nearby wall as his tears started to fall uncontrollably.

END OF FLASHBACK

Koshino gasped in horror. He looked at his friend's face, trying to assure himself that Sendoh was only pulling a joke on him.

"Akira, you're joking right?" Koshino said disbelievingly. "All that trash you've just said, didn't happen, right?"

"I wish it was, Hiro. I wish it was." Sendoh said, drinking another glass of wine. "Even now, my mind is still refusing to believe. I asked myself why we are different. Why are we masters and they slaves? We were told that we're a superior race because of our wings, but does the presence of wings really determine the superiority of a race? Does it, Hiro?"

Koshino shook his head, not knowing what to say. What Sendoh told him was a great shock. The Emperor had always been a kind and just man. How could he permit such things to happen…even to the slaves? It was impossible to believe.

"I can't believe that I have been bluffed by my own parents." Sendoh said softly. "I can't believe that the man I've always wanted to be like turned out to be that heartless."

"Don't be hard on yourself, Akira." Koshino said after a moment. "Maybe if we tried talking to them, they'll understand. If we explained to them that what is happening is simply a brutal thing, even if they were slaves, I'm sure they'll listen."

"Hiroaki, it's no use." Sendoh said. "You hadn't heard how they were talking. They were talking about this matter as if it was the weather. Their hatred is bigger and larger than anyone could imagine. Trying to reason with them will be a waste of time."

"Then what, Akira?" Koshino growled. "Should we shut our mouths and eyes? For Zeus' sake, Akira, a child was murdered! And now you're telling me that Sawakita is planning to execute the elders and torture the others! Should we shut up and watch? God, every time I remember that child, I feel the urge to throw up! We can't stand and do nothing."

"You're right, Hiro." Sendoh said, a strange light sparkled in his eyes. "We can't stand and do nothing. We have to do something. And our path starts with this." He took out the crystal pendant from his pocket and showed it to Koshino.

"Your necklace?" Koshino watched the jewelry with confusion. "Why would it have anything to do with the slaves?"

"Because this isn't my necklace." Sendoh said with a small smirk. "My necklace is here." He pushed his tunic a little, revealing the crystal pendant around his neck.

"But if that's your necklace, then what is that?" Koshino asked. "And wasn't your necklace supposed to be one of a kind, by the way?"

"Yes," Sendoh said. "So imagine my surprise when I found this around the neck of a slave in the mines."

"A slave from the mines?"

"Yes, do you remember that slave-boy, who was electrified back in the mines?"

Koshino nodded.

"He was wearing it around his neck."

"And you took it from him?" Koshino asked, eyeing his friend angrily.

"Yes."

"Akira, what were you thinking?" Koshino exclaimed. "Someone could've noticed your presence …"

"That's not my main concern now, Hiro…" Sendoh said firmly. "I have more important things on my mind."

"And what is more important than being caught in a mine where we shouldn't be in the first place?" Koshino folded his arms in front of his chest, scowling.

"This." Sendoh sighed, pointing at the two pendants. "We have two identical pendants when only one is supposed to exist. Doesn't this make you curious about the origin of the other one?"

"Well, maybe one is false…" Koshino shrugged.

"I don't think so." Sendoh shook his head, taking his pendant off his neck and weighing the two in his hands. "They even have the same weight. And they are an identical copy of each other, except maybe for…"

He turned the two pendants and studied their backs.

"Well?" Koshino asked, noticing the frown on his friend's face.

Sendoh handed Koshino the two pendants "Look at this…"

"This is the Sendoh Family Crest." Koshino said, studying one of the pendants. "But whose Crest is on the other one?"

"I don't know." Sendoh said. "But this one was around the slave's neck."

"So it could be his family Crest." Koshino said simply.

"A slave?" Sendoh said pointedly. "Hiro, such Crest belongs only to a noble family. There is no way that a slave could possess such a pendant by mere accident."

"Why are you interested in this, anyway?" Koshino asked. "How is this pendant supposed to help us help the slaves?"

"I don't know, Hiro." Sendoh sighed, "But I have a feeling that is spurring me on to find out more about these pendants. I have this feeling that they hold a secret behind them…a secret from the very far past…something related to the non-winged and their suffering… something related to me."

"Then how do you suggest the slave got the other necklace? And which family do you think this Crest belongs to?"

"That'll need some research in library." Sendoh said with a small smirk. "Think that Aida would help?"

"I doubt that he wants to see you again after the mines, Akira." Koshino said.

"Well, he has no choice." Sendoh said. "I am his prince and he's obliged to obey me."

"God help him then."

The two friends smiled at each other, and then left, looking for Aida.

As the night covered the earth with its black cloak, a magical mist ran with the soft breeze through the trees of the forest as if to conceal from any prying eyes whatever was hidden between their long branches.

A white dove flew from above one of the trees and landed next to the river. Suddenly, a white light shone from the creature as it transformed into the most beautiful woman a being could ever see.

The beautiful Lady stood up, gazing at the moon. Her sleeveless, white silk gown shone in pearly light under the moon's silver rays, along with her jade-green eyes and golden hair. And her full rose-red lips twinkled with the stars in the sky as they formed the sweetest and most seductive smile.

"Aphrodite, O'Goddess of Beauty," a calm voice called from the shadows. Aphrodite turned around, still smiling seductively. She bowed her head slightly upon seeing the newcomer.

"Athena, O'Goddess of Wisdom," she said, gently, greeting the other goddess. "To what delighted reason do I owe the pleasure of thy visit?"

"The time has come for the lost truth to be found." Athena said. "The past will come back and justice will finally be fulfilled. The young Prince is on the path to uncover the long forgotten truth and bring justice to those who had been wronged."

"O'Goddess Athena," Aphrodite said, sitting under a maple tree. "What would Great Zeus say when thou, whom he favored above all the gods and goddess, are trying to free those who worshiped Fair Hera instead of him?" The goddess asked in bold coquetry.

"The dissidence between Great Zeus and Fair Hera will not meddle in the way of justice." Athena said, frowning at Aphrodite. "Lies and injustice have lingered in this land for two hundred years, now; the time has come for the truth to be known and the chains of oppression to be broken."

"And where do I fit in such a matter, Athena?" Aphrodite asked slyly. "I am not a goddess of War or Wisdom such as thou, nor am I a goddess of Justice or Truth."

Athena regarded the goddess of Love and Beauty before she spoke again. "Long ago, Hatred had resided where love should had grown. And the tears of injustice had watered the earth with its bitter taste. Now, love must conquer hatred and bring justice to these lands. The two lost hearts must unite in order for the truth to come to light."

Aphrodite smirked mischievously. This was proving to be interesting for the beautiful goddess, who enjoyed playing with the hearts of mortals and immortals alike.

"And whom are the hearts that must unite?" she asked with a playful smile on her face.

"Thou are aware whose hearts should be united." Athena said, pointedly, with a frown. "After all, it was thou who linked their fates in the heavens."

Hearing this, Aphrodite laughed in amusement. It was indeed interesting.

"Very well, O'Goddess of Wisdom," she said finally. "Love shall bind their hearts till there be nothing to break them apart…as it was planned in the heavens." With that, the Goddess of Love and Beauty waved her fair hand and sparkles of light escaped from them and flowed into the air of the night.

Next day, in the Crystal mines…

Sakuragi took deep breaths, trying to restore his strength. Cold sweat dripped off his forehead, as the redheaded guy continued to cut through the crystal rock with a heavy crystal-cutter machine.

Feeling the need for a short rest, he looked around to make sure that none of the guards was watching him, before dropping the heavy machine from his hand.

He wiped the sweat off his face and ran his hand through his hair. He turned around to see what his friend Minami was doing. He sighed in defeat, when he saw his older friend staring helplessly at the opposite side of the mine with dreamy eyes.

/Minami Tsuyoshi/ Sakuragi shook his head in amusement. /He's helplessly in love with that Kitsune. I wonder what has kept him from approaching Kaede until now/

Minami stared at Rukawa as the latter worked silently in the farther corner. Ever since they met when Rukawa's father was executed and Rukawa moved to live with his uncle, Minami had been developing some feelings for the silent boy. It had started with pure friendship and brotherhood but as the days passed and the two boys grew up, Minami's feelings towards the younger boy had turned to great love and affection.

However, Minami had never tried to approach the boy and make his feelings known, fearing Rukawa's rejection too much; besides, the boy had never treated him as anything other than a friend or elder brother. In addition, Rukawa never showed any kind of interest towards any one. So Minami contented himself by watching his center of affection in mute adoration from a distance.

Sakuragi sighed, shaking his head again. Either his friend hadn't realized how deeply he was in love with Rukawa or was afraid to confess. Either way, Sakuragi Hanamichi was going to give him a hand. Smirking to himself, Sakuragi walked over to his friend.

"You know, staring all day at that Kitsune won't change any thing, Minami. Neither will it make your feelings known to him," Minami heard Sakuragi saying from behind his back.

"I know," he answered, not tearing his eyes from Rukawa.

Sakuragi sighed, "Then why are you still standing here? Go and tell him about your feelings towards him…it's easy. Go and tell him 'Kaede, I love you' and then kiss him on the lips passionately…that's all!"

Minami snorted; everything was so simple in Sakuragi's eyes.

"No, that's not all, Sakuragi." He looked at his redheaded friend. "Telling Rukawa my feelings towards him isn't as simple as you think."

"Why? Kaede is my friend too, and I guarantee you, he's not thinking of anybody right now."

"That's the problem, Sakuragi," Minami looked back at the raven-haired boy. "He has never shown any interest in anyone. He has kept himself away from everybody, surrounding his heart with barriers of ice, refusing to open up to anyone except his relatives. I'm lucky that he has accepted me as a friend. I don't want to risk this by revealing my true feelings." Sakuragi sighed, shaking his head disapprovingly. He wanted to help Minami and Rukawa. Despite their arguments and quarrels, he and the raven-haired boy were close friends. And it annoyed Sakuragi to see his friend isolating himself from the others, living in a world of his own, surrounded only by the memories of his dead parents.

"Hey Minami, I have an idea." Minami looked at Sakuragi expectantly as the latter continued, "Why don't you tell Micchy about your feelings towards his cousin? He's your best friend and I'm sure he'll be glad to help you win Kaede's heart." Sakuragi winked.

"No, Sakuragi." Minami shook his head, "I won't talk to Hisashi about Rukawa."

"Why not? At least he won't try to strangle you to death as that Gori did when he caught me kissing his sister."

Minami chuckled, remembering the day when Akagi tried to strangle Sakuragi to death after seeing him kissing his sister Haruko under a tree. It took so many men to separate the angry guy from the younger one.

Minami smiled sadly, if his case were that simple, he wouldn't be facing this dilemma now. But his problem wasn't that simple. His problem was that the boy he loved had isolated himself from everyone, preferring to live in the shadow of his past and memories. Minami sighed deeply.

"I still think that you must tell Micchy." Sakuragi shook his head.

"Tell me what?" Mitsui's voice came from behind, startling the two. They looked at the scarred boy, and Minami wondered for how long Mitsui had listened to their conversation.

"Micchy," Sakuragi glared at the older boy, "Don't you ever do that again! I hate being startled that way."

Mitsui snorted, raising an indifferent eyebrow. "It's not my fault that you've been off-guard, redhead monkey."

"Why you!" Sakuragi's face became redder than his hair, "Whom you're calling redhead monkey, scarred face?"

Mitsui rolled his eyes in clear annoyance; he would had loved to give that redheaded a small lesson about respecting his elders, but he reminded himself not to lose his self-control and do something foolish again. He shook his head, folding his hands in front of his chest. "Why don't you raise your voice a little bit more?" he snorted. "I'm sure that there are some guards who haven't heard you yet."

Sakuragi glared at Mitsui angrily, wishing if he could give the latter a hard punch on his face. But Mitsui had a point, if the guards caught them not working, they would all be in great trouble.

"You win this time, Micchy." He waved a warning finger in front of Mitsui. "But this isn't over between us yet."

"Whatever." Mitsui shrugged, turning to Minami. "So, what you were going to tell me Tsuyoshi?"

Minami gulped, not knowing what to say. He looked at Sakuragi for help, but the younger boy only grinned back, pretending not to notice.

"I—I was—" Minami started, trying to think of something. "I was going to ask about Rukawa. Is he alright after yesterday?" the words came out of his mouth in slow, hesitant pieces.

Mitsui raised an eyebrow. "He's alright. Can't you see him by yourself?"

"Of course, he can." Sakuragi slapped Mitsui's back playfully. "But he was worried because of Kitsune's heart, besides, he seemed to be in a bad mood today." Minami glared at his redheaded friend.

"His heart is fine. Kimi's medicine was very effective. As for Kaede's bad mood, I don't blame him for that." Mitsui sighed. "He got a harsh lecture from father this morning. And not only this, he also discovered that his pendant is missing."

"The light of Hera?" Minami asked. "Where could he have lost it?"

"I don't know." Mitsui shook his head, "It must have fallen somewhere on our way to the camps yesterday. I'm sure that I saw it around his neck yesterday, when I laid him near the rock."

"Don't worry, Hisashi." Minami assured. "I'll tell the boys to search for it on our way back to the camps."

"Thank you, Tsuyoshi."

"Yo, boys," Sakuragi whispered. "I hate to interrupt this warm display of friendship, but I think that Fukuda has his eyes on us."

The three looked up and sure enough, Fukuda was watching the trio with observant eyes.

"Time to go back to work then." Mitsui whispered. "See you tonight at midnight in the usual place, ok?"

"New operation?" Minami asked.

"Maybe." With that, Mitsui walked away. Sakuragi and Minami exchanged knowing looks before returning to work.

Ayako was on her way back after emptying a basket full of small crystals stones in a nearby cart, when two strong arms pulled her to a hidden corner behind a large crystal rock.

She tried to scream for help, but she was silenced by a passionate kiss on her lips.

"Hi, beautiful." a familiar voice whispered. "I've missed you."

Ayako shoved the young man away from her and glared at him angrily. The guy grinned sheepily at Ayako's death glare and gave her the most angelic face he could muster.

"Didn't you miss me, dear?" he asked innocently. "We haven't seen each for quite some time."

"No, I didn't." Ayako scowled. "And I wouldn't care even if you left and didn't come back."

"Oh, really!" he raised an eyebrow, teasingly. "Look into my eyes and tell me that you hate me and you never want to see my face again, then."

Ayako looked deeply into man's brown eyes and smiled brightly. She could never be mad at her fiancé for long, no matter how mad she was.

"I can't." She raised one hand and ran it through his hair, "Because I love you more than anything in this world. And I can't live without you, Maki Shinichi."

Maki smiled and pulled her closer into a light embrace. "I love you too, sweetheart." He leaned forwards until their lips met into deep kiss.

"Where have you been, Shin?" Ayako whispered in his lips, "No one has seen you for a whole week."

"I was arrested." Maki pulled away from the kiss. "They had pulled me from my bed during the night."

Ayako gasped, terror was clear in her blue eyes.

"Don't worry, love." Maki smiled reassuring, "I'm alright…as you can see."

"Oh, Shin!" Ayako buried her face in Maki's strong chest; tears were falling silently from her eyes. "I'm afraid…I'm so afraid of losing the ones I love. I was worried when I hadn't seen you for so long. What if you didn't return? What if you died under the torture? Shin, I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose anyone I love and care for."

Maki buried his face in Ayako's curly hair, smelling her beautiful scent. They two stayed like that for a few minutes before Maki pulled away and looked deeply into Ayako's blue eyes.

"I'll always come back to you, Aya," he whispered, wiping her tears with his thumb. "No one can take me from you or make me forget your lovely face."

"Shin, be careful please." She ran her hand along his face. "The path that you and my brother are taking is too dangerous. I don't want either of you to face uncle Kanojo's fate."

"Your uncle was a hero, Ayako. The path we are taking is the only way to make his sacrifice worthwhile, to make his dream come true and grant our people freedom."

"You talk like my father and Hisashi." Ayako looked away sadly. She knew that what Maki said was true, but she was afraid of losing her beloved.

Maki turned her face towards him, meeting her eyes with his. "I know that your mind agrees with every word I say, but this is afraid of losing its beloveds." He placed his hand above her heart. "Let it know that no matter what happens to me, I'll always be inside it, giving it the love I've always felt." Ayako nodded silently, her tears falling slowly down her cheeks.

"I have to go now before I'm missed." Maki brushed lips with her briefly. "Tell your brother I'll be waiting for him at the usual place tonight." With that, Maki disappeared into the darkness.

"And I'll be waiting for this endless war to end. And only the gods know whom I'm going to lose in it," she whispered to herself before she left too.

Meanwhile, Sendoh, Koshino and Aida spent the day sitting on the floor in Sendoh's chambers surrounded by history books and old documents and reading about Emperor Sendoh Yoshiakira, trying to find out more about him. The three boys discovered that the non-winged were free once but had been enslaved because of a civil war between the winged and non-winged people; however, none of the books they had read gave a clear reason for that war.

Koshino sighed as he threw the book in his hand away. He looked at his two companions with a bored expression.

"This is useless, you know." He said finally. "We have read many books but all gave the same result. There is no mention for why a war started between the two people. I think we're wasting our time. And we still can't find that mysterious Crest."

"It wasn't totally a waste of time, Hiro." Akira said, placing a book nearby. "At least we know how the non-winged were free once and were enslaved after a civil war. We just have to know why the war started."

"That's strange." Aida said softly as he studied a document in front of him, completely oblivious to the other boys.

"What's strange?" Sendoh asked as he and Koshino moved closer to Aida.

"Emperor Sendoh Yoshiakira was the first Sendoh to rule Kanagawa." Aida said. "Before him, Kanagawa was ruled by someone called Suishou Kakou."

"And your point is?" Koshino asked.

"Emperor Sendoh Yoshiakira was a nobleman in his predecessor's court. He was chosen as an emperor to Kanagawa because Emperor Suishou hadn't had an heir to the throne and the Sendoh was related to the Emperor." Aida said. "My documents state that the former Emperor had died under strange circumstances."

"What circumstances?"

"I don't know." Aida replied. "The documents don't show. After that, Sendoh Yoshiakira claimed the throne and the war broke out."

"Could the death of Suishou Kakou and the war after it be related with the enslavement of the wingless people?"

"It's possible that they could have murdered the Emperor and tried to rebel against Sendoh." Koshino suggested.

"But, enslaving an entire race because of that? No, that doesn't explain it." Sendoh said.

The three boys sat in complete silence, trying to find a convincing answer but with no success. Finally, Sendoh stood up and walked towards the doors.

"Where are you going, Akira?" Koshino asked as he and Aida stood up as well.

"I need some fresh air." The young Prince said, running a hand through his hair. "I'll have a walk in the gardens."

"Want me to accompany you?" Koshino asked in concern.

"No need." Sendoh said quietly. "I'll be fine. I just need some time on my own." With that, he left the room.

Sendoh walked through the rows of roses in the large gardens of the palace, lost in thought. He wasn't even sure why he wanted to know the truth. Why was it important for him to know about what happened in the past?

Is it because he wanted to know why should he hate the slaves?

Or is it because he didn't approve of his people's treatment of the slaves and wanted to free them or at least treat them better?

Sendoh sighed and looked up at the horizon. The sky was painted with beautiful shades of red and orange. And the sun was ready to give her place to the moon.

"Goddess Athena," he whispered softly to the sky. "I am at a loss. I feel as if my perfect world has shattered, without any clear reason whatsoever. I want to understand the truth. I want to know the reason of this destroying hatred that suddenly fills the air around me. I voice so many questions, yet the answers are not to be found. Please, Athena, help me. Guide me with your righteous wisdom onto the right path." Tears silently fell down Sendoh's cheeks as he bowed his head to the setting sun in complete surrender.

Suddenly, a bright white light shone from the point where the rays of the sun met with the top of the far mountains. Sendoh looked up and gasped in awe and shock.

There in front of him stood a woman, holding a spear, in golden battle armor, her golden helmet pushed back to reveal her elegant beauty, bathed in white light…It was Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom.

"My Goddess!" He exclaimed, dropping to his knees and bowing his head.

"I came to answer thy plea, my young Prince." Athena said in a kind tone. "What is troubling thy heart?"

Sendoh looked up, meeting Athena's kind brown eyes with his sad blue ones.

"The truth, my Goddess," he whispered, "I yearn for the truth."

Athena smiled warmly at the Prince. "Everyone is searching for the truth, young one. But which truth do you seek? The truth that your people want you to believe or the truth about mortals' envy and darkness!"

"What do you mean, my Lady?" Sendoh asked in confusion.

Athena sighed deeply. "Thou are not yet prepared to gaze into the past, let alone face it." She said quietly. "But, thy heart is pure, and for that I will help you and guide your troubled heart to see the light of truth." She walked to the kneeling Prince and offered her hand.

Taking the Goddess' hand, Sendoh stood up and bowed his head. "I shall be forever in debt of your wisdom and kindness, my lady."

Athena smiled warmly. "The answers that thou seek shall not be found here, my child. If it is the truthful answers you seek; thou shall look where thou started." She said, turning her head and looking at the Crystal Mountain.

"With the slaves?" Sendoh asked in confusion, following her gaze.

"Yes, child." She said. "Thou must start searching for the answers among them; precisely where thou came across this." She said, placing her hand above Sendoh's chest then above his pocket where the two pendants were.

Sendoh took out the one in his pocket and stared at it. "Where I came across this…" He repeated softly. "The answers I seek are among them, with that boy. But My Lady-" Sendoh looked up at Athena but the fair Goddess was nowhere to be found. He looked around but there wasn't any trace of her. He looked back at the pendant and formed this resolution: he would stop at nothing to get his answers, no matter what happened. With a determined look, Sendoh headed back to the palace.

Rukawa entered the cottage quietly, closing the door behind him. He crossed the space to his and his cousin bedroom silently. It was three hours after midnight and Rukawa knew that if his uncle caught him returning from outside this hour, nothing would save him from his wrath. His uncle would never lay a hand on him, but one glare from the old man's eyes could send shivers down Rukawa's spine.

Rukawa sighed as he opened the door bedroom carefully. Looking at his cousin's bed, he saw that Hisashi was out of his bed as well.

/Probably another resistance meeting. / Rukawa mused as he changed his clothes and lay on his bed. He was so tired after the long day's work in the mines, and all he wanted to do was sleep…but even this small pleasure was denied him, his mind too full with the happenings of the day to allow him to rest.

Unconsciously, his hand stretched upwards, looking for the light of Hera.

/SHIT/ his mind yelled as he remembered that he had lost his pendant the other day. He sighed deeply, wondering why he had to endure all of this. For long time, he had been living in a small world that consisted only of his relatives and his memories. He had been living on the edge of life, ever since he had seen his father executed.

Rukawa turned to one side, trying to push those memories away. He knew that pondering would not change anything. It would not bring his parents back to life again.

Rukawa stared at the emptiness, thinking. After his father's death, his people had looked to him to lead the secret resistance movement. But, he was only five-year-old kid, barely able to pronounce his name at that time, and with diseased heart, he wasn't fit to lead a group of rebels…

So Kanojo's brother-in-law and second-in-command, Mitsui Kouyou had taken the responsibility of leading the resistance and raising him up. Now, the leadership had passed to his son Hisashi. Rukawa wanted to badly to take part of the resistance…to be part of his father's dream and liberate his people from slavery. But his uncle refused to involve him in this.

Rukawa shifted to the other side, in an attempt to push his thoughts away.

He knew that his uncle was worried about him because of his illness. And he knew that his illness wouldn't allow him to have a big role in the resistance. Yet, he longed to be part of it.

Nevertheless, He was lucky to be alive until now, considering the conditions he's living through,.

He often wondered when his heart would give up fighting and simply stop beating. Up to now, Kogure's medications and his family's care had kept him alive, but until when? He wondered.

He wondered if his heart wouldn't allow him to have someone close to it one day…

The sound of the door opening snapped Rukawa from his thoughts. He lifted his head slightly to see Mitsui sneaking into the room.

"You're late." Rukawa stated coldly.

"So?" Mitsui said, raising an eyebrow. "I was at a meeting. It took time."

The older boy walked to the cabinet and changed into his sleeping robes.

Rukawa watched his cousin suspiciously as the latter changed. He raised an eyebrow when he saw two red marks at the base of the other boy's neck. Rukawa smirked devilishly.

"It must have been an eventful meeting." The raven-haired boy said.

"Yes, it was." Mitsui said indifferently, lying on his bed. "Maki and Ikegami are back. They were arrested last week for information."

"I see," Rukawa answered, staring at the ceiling. "And they must have given you a sample of what they endured during their imprisonment."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Mitsui asked sleepily.

"I'm talking about those two love-bites at the base of your neck." Rukawa said, coolly, with a smirk. "Maki must have been very rough. I wonder what Ayako would say if she knew that, her boyfriend screwing her brother. Or maybe it was Ikegami?"

"Shit!" Mitsui jerked up from his position and ran towards the bathroom to see for himself. Rukawa's smirk widened and he sat up on his bed upon hearing another curse coming from the bathroom.

Mitsui came out of the bathroom, rubbing the base of his neck roughly.

"Do'aho, you can't make them go away by rubbing them." Rukawa said, shaking his head. "The marks will become bigger and uncle Kouyou will surely notice."

"Damn!" Mitsui exclaimed, throwing himself onto the bed again. "I didn't notice those marks. I should have been more careful."

Rukawa sighed deeply, lying back on his bed. "I would never understand you. Can't you keep your hands off him whenever you are in the same place? Sometimes I really pity Kogure for having a big pervert like you for a lover. Don't you do anything but screwing like rabbits all the time?"

"What a nice expression, Kaede." Mitsui said dryly. "You seem to have been spending lot of time with father lately, you sound just like him. But for your information, I'm not a pervert and I can keep my hands off Kimi. But, we love each other and I can't see why we can't spend time with each other. We know how to control our feelings. Just that we are in a resistance group doesn't mean that we should ignore our own feelings…unlike someone I know."

"Whatever." Rukawa said indifferently, rolling over to face the wall. "Do whatever you please, Micchy." with that, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Mitsui sighed as he started at Rukawa's back, before closing his eyes as well.

T.B.C.