Day 2 (on Day 7) but this one's a little different. I'm thinking of making it into a longer story so here's hoping (again, gotta find a way to get rid of my anxiety but yeah..)

Day 2: AU

It was just a mistake.

Green eyes scrunched as the hand squeezing his wrist slapped it on the stone, his fingers turning quite pale from the grip while the man mercilessly pinned him to the rock.

Fear made the young man freeze, his blood like ice and his heart pounding in his throat. Nausea threatened to relieve him of his meagre meal and his lungs couldn't seem to take in enough air.

Daring to peak up at the city guard, tears blurred the sight of the sun reflecting off the curved blade, the hand coated in a black wrapping clenched tightly around the handle of the weapon.

Lips quivered as words refused to leave the sanctuary of his mouth, the pleading he wished to relay nothing more than air escaping his lungs.

It was stupid, what he'd done. Stupid and dangerous enough to warrant the loss of his hand.

The child just looked so hungry...

Teeth found his lower lip as the young man braced himself for the sickening thud that would inevitably come before his scream of agony as the sand would become thick with his blood and cover the darkened drops made by his tears.

Fingers around his wrist tensed as the body adjusted, the alternate arm pulled back further before coming to swing towards the offending arm, a public punishment that was as humiliating as it was excruciating. So much pain and embarrassment, all for trying to feed a hungry girl.

Moments were hours as the young man waited for the blade to crack through his bone and mar his flesh, for his arm to be detached from his body. Throat swallowing and, with fear streaming down his face, opened his eyes to look up at his assailant, the dark shadow now assisted by another.

The other man was bulkier, taller than the guard that held him down. Scanning the other, the green eyes took note of the man's sword sitting comfortably at his hip, his outfit the same as the guardsmen's. Same, but slightly different.

His sword had jewels inlaid in the hilt and blade, his clothes were of gold and royal reds, deeper and richer than the usual uniforms. The guard holding down the retail merchant didn't need to react for the former to know the other held a high enough status to never be seen in the commoner area.

"That's enough," the stranger's voice was deep and demanded respect, his teal eyes narrowing at the now nervous-looking guard.

"B-But sir-"

His justified protests were cut off by the setting of the strong jaw and intense eyes, a black brow raised in curiosity.

"Yes sir," the guard stammered out meekly, his eyes darting as he looked from one to the other.

With a scurrying that would make a mouse envious, the guard returned to his post, his curiosity and desire to turn around was only outmatched by his fear of the guard that now presided over the shocked young man.

"You alright?"

Finally feeling the shackles of shock fall off of him, greed eyes turned slowly up to the young man, his head shaking along with the rest of his bulky figure.

"I... u-uh-"

"I'll take that as a 'mostly'," the young msn murmured, his hand reaching down to help pull the young man up by the upper arm, the shaking legs unsteadily trying to find their ground.

Raising his hand up to his face, the green eyes scanned the lines in his palm and the tips of his fingers, still attached, still his own.

"Sorry I was late," the guard continued, watching the other hand rubbed his wrist, still trying to cement the notion that his hand was still on him, "guess I wasn't too late though."

"I-uh..." the Adam's apple bobbed dangerously as he finally found the ability to stirng along a simple sentence.

"Th-Thank you..."

"Don't thank me," the young man started, his arms crossing over his well-muscled chest, a small smirk playing on his lips, "thank Rin."

At the mention of his friend's name, the green widened, wondering just what the rightful heir to the throne of their land was doing to protect him.

"R-Rin?"

"Yeah," the short head of black nodded, "happened to be in his tower and saw the scene the guard made. Had me slip down and make sure you were doing alright."

The news was a slight shock; while Rin was a childhood friend of his, they hadn't seen each other in what felt like an eternity, not since Rin was locked away in the prison of a palace.

"H-He did?" his eyes blinked in confusion.

"Yeah," again the stranger nodded, his eyes watching the other seem to quiver in embarrassment.

"Even... even though-"

"Even though you really did commit the crime?" the guard finished, his smirk slipping wider on his lips before it became more serious, "Rin's chosen not to see it, or ignore it, or pardon it or... whatever," his shoulder's shrugged, "he just asked me to come down an stop it. Rin gives the word, I make sure it happens."

"Rin gives... than you're-"

"His Captain of the Guards," an arm sweeped around his middle as his crown dipped to the floor, "Sousuke Yamazaki, at your service," his teal eyes raised to lock with the green, "though you're friends with Rin, I don't believe we've ever met."

"N-No... we haven't," the young man murmured, "I-I'm-"

"Makoto Tachibana," Sousuke grinned, "Rin's mentioned you before. You and your... friend."

At the mention of the blue-eyed vagrant, Sousuke seemed to stiffen, his shoulders seemingly rolled and his jaw returned to the tense lock that Makoto first saw him with.

"You gonna be alright getting back?"

The change in direction of the conversation surprised the merchant, his eyes widening as he suddenly recalled their situation .

"B-But the guards... the food-"

"The guards won't bother you and the merchant's already been paid," the young man brushed off the concerns, "Rin wouldn't want you to get hurt again so... no doing nice things anymore."

"Says the guy that did the nicest thing of all," Makoto grinned, Sousuke's hand tightening on his arms.

"I wouldn't keep that thought in your head," Sousuke told him grimly, his back turning to the young man, "don't get in trouble again, I don't think I can come save you again."

"W-Well... th... thank you... for this time," Makoto smiled, the teal turning to look at the young man before waving to him.

"Get back," the young man grinned, "don't want to see you getting in trouble again," his teeth flashed in the desert sun, "I'll be back to make sure about that."

Standing alone in the alleyway, Makoto tightened his robe around his chest, unsure of weather to be grateful or weary of the young man's proposal.