Disclaimer: I do not own POT

Author's notes: Finished this 2 days of the challenge but was waiting on comments, well, I suppose it wasn't my best but I tried. = S Sorry for people who didn't enjoyed it and to those who does, I am glad. It was very different and very alternate universe. Let's get off my rant and onto the story! No one voted so… yeah.

Chapter 7: The Flag Black

Black was a sign of death and penalty to just kill them. I suppose deep down inside of my heart, I felt angry, betrayed and used. That feeling resides in my heart so strongly that I wonder if there was any pain greater than the ones she had caused me? I remembered saying that I wanted to kill the reason with my two bare hands if it took physical form… and it did. I wanted him dead more than anything in the world, if he died then she would be mine, her heart would be mine. I have probably never loved anyone the way I loved her… but I laugh bitterly at the thought of killing the man and keeping her alive, because it was no different from our marriage. I just know that she might throw herself off the cliff and die to be with him, and so in a way, I am granting her wish. She could finally be free from me and be with the person she loves. They die together like the tragic lovers in every sad story.

Have you ever seen someone look so scared and so sad? I have seen countless murderer and cheating men or cheating wives cry and beg. I have seen the way dejection and resignation comes to these people… but never had I expected to see these expressions in the face of the woman I love… Perhaps her reaction was weaker or more reserved but I knew that she whimpered I was almost tempted to leap over the table and gather her into my arms so that I could hold her and comfort her. To think that I still felt so strongly about her hurts me, because it shows me who I was when she existed in my life. I was weak towards her, if she told me that by my death would gain her love, I would have done it. She could drive me to extremities I alone never dared to venture and I am helpless even when I should have all the power to turn away from her.

I felt sick when I watch her expressions and at times, I felt like I couldn't look any further. However, I couldn't look away, because I need to see this. I had to be sure that she was dead so that the part of me that developed because of her would vanish. I wanted to be who I was in the past, I wanted to be who I was in the past, so sure, unwavering, confident and able to function without worrying about what the other thought of me. I watched as they dragged Tezuka and Sakuno to the execution table where their heads will be chopped off. Tezuka seemed to try and fight a little but when he saw the look in my eyes he didn't fight any further and for some reason his eyes were seemingly trying to tell me this was a mistake. It was a mistake… it was a mistake to let him live any longer than he should, I can't be the man who could watch my wife leave with a man she loves more than life itself.

Sakuno was now crying and I could hear her calling out for me and at that point, I felt sick to the stomach and dizzy with a strong desire to look away because I can't bear to watch. Eiji and Momoshiro probably looking at me in disgust, and they must be very upset as well. The executioner noticed that I am very disturbed about this and decided to cause as less harm as he could. I knew that because he barely said much as he hand firmly grasp around the axe he swung it but just seconds before asking for his axe. It was to make sure they do not know he was going to swing it and wipe their head clean off and this deluded me to think that the pain was going to last longer and when that one axe fell onto her head, it felt like my life drained out of me, not only my life, I felt a large part of me died with that one axe fall. I felt like there was nothing colder than my body and her blood on that axe, my eyes seared with the memory of her dead and my heart died. I felt like her death didn't alleviate the pain I felt if anything, it made it worse… I knew that the moment I could never get her back.

Crowds gasped, many wept and some cheered much to my disgust. I instantly removed myself from site, refusing to look at the pool of blood or Sakuno's lifeless body any longer. I didn't need to actually see it, I knew that scene was forever imprinted in my head and I would never be able to sleep. Just before I exited the place I said to my messenger.

"I want her buried with that man."

The messenger nodded without saying much he vanished to complete my request. Riding back, fresh tears came down my cheeks… I lost the one I love and she was no longer in my grasp. I could no longer hold her, kiss her, feel her… her presence wiped off from the face of the earth. That hurts way more than anything I have ever felt in my life. It couldn't even compare with all the pain of betrayal she had costed me. It was debilitating me, I felt like dying as it was. I knew some of my people hated my actions and others could rationalize but I assume everyone would know how much I grieve for her. I loved her so much that the pain of her betrayal couldn't even measure up to the pain of her death. I realized it too late, what I realized was that I wanted to make her happy. Even when she didn't love me, I wanted to her to be happy and if it can't be with me then, with someone else.

"Ryoma, you bastard!"

Momoshiro really gives a hard punch as I felt the bruising on my cheek starting to happen. I had no feelings, it was already numb when I sentenced her to death. I killed her and it seems that, that was enough to kill off any feelings I had for anything. Nothing hurts at this point because my pain of loss was by far so much more painful than anything anyone could do to me… I haven't slept in 3 days, her death haunted me so often that even when I am awake I still feel the nightmare. It was like trying to wake up but to find that the long nightmare wouldn't end. Momoshiro wiped the blood off his hand like mine was the worst kind of blood, I couldn't have agreed even more.

"Sakuno went into that room because she was talking to General Tezuka for the final time! BASTARD! She was planning to finally return your selfish love!"

My eyes widened and I asked myself if Momoshiro was deceiving me or was it just my ears hearing things I want to hear? It was like the nightmare just got worse and as the brain consumed the information like a man in the desert discovering water while my stomach continued to churn with fear of what I was hearing. I couldn't respond to his words, I doubt I would ever find the words to respond to his response because I was shocked, so shocked to the point that I can barely register his last few words.

"Bloody hell… she was pregnant with your child as well."

Have you ever felt mad? I don't mean anger… I meant insanity. It was like every part of my brain decided that it could not understand process and function. She was with my child and she loved me? I felt my blood run cold, and this news was the final key to ultimately stop my heart beat. How could they do such a thing to me? Why tell me days after her execution? Why does the Lords above do this to me? Was this punishment? Was this the revenge the Lords gave me for being heartless and blinded by all the pain of betrayal that I let it lead me to doing a decision said to be the worst in the entire century and probably centuries on. Have Momoshiro no heart? To tell me news that could undo my entire existence, they might as well grab a sword and plunged it down my heart, lord knows I deserve it. Tears streamed down my face and I couldn't care less who was in the room with me. I slammed my hands down onto the table.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER?"

"Why? Why? Why did you have to tell me now… why…"

I tried to stop my painful cries as I swept all my documents onto the floor in sheer pain and anger. Momoshiro and Eiji saw me and they seemed to be hesitant but they responded

"She left a journal… rather pieces of paper she asked from guards… her last words… were… Ryoma, I love you."

Those words I can only hear it in my dreams, those words she wrote with her own hands. Those three words I wanted from her… She loved me! Hell she loved me! Oh my god… mother of the lords above! I have done the cruellest thing in the world. She had my child to boot… someone… I can't take this kind of pain any longer. I am a fool and a terrible fool in love! I deserve nothing! Nothing! Not even such bliss that Sakuno was about to give me. Momoshiro and Eiji were worried about me because my face gave no expression after 3 hours of true grief. They were reluctantly left and that was when I took my chance. I wrote a quick letter and signed it and added my personal seal. I left my seal next to the letter as I rode out to her grave.

The nights here were cold as I made my way up the small hill to see a tombstone for her name and next to her was Tezuka's. I fell on my knees before her own grave as I touched it the way I usually caressed her.

"Sakuno… oh god… Sakuno. How could I be so blind? After all this, I never learn. I forced you into marriage and when you finally turned my way, I killed you with my two bare hands. I don't deserve you or what you wanted to give me. We were going to have a baby, why in the name of hell did you not tell me? Why did you not bother to let me know sooner? If only… if only I had listened to you… if only I could turn back time."

I hated crying but it seems ever since I fell in love with her, tears were all I could give to her. I looked at her tombstone as I pulled out a sharp dagger. Glinting in the moonlight, that blade reminded me of the moonlight I first forced her to marry me.

"Sakuno, if we meet again in the next life… could you find it in your heart to forgive me? If I am not too rude, could I demand you to love me once more? I may have been a selfish fool in love with you, but I am only like that when it comes to you. Only you can make me feel so stupid, possessive, jealous… and so horribly in love."

With one swift move, I plunged that dagger straight into my body. As I felt my life rushing out of me, I could hear distant horses and screams of fear and panic… but that no longer matters to me. All that mattered to me was that I was soon joining Sakuno, and if I was condemned to hell… at least I know I deserved to be there. My blood was wet and sticky but laying there beside her tomb, I find it strangely serene. As if we had finally come to peace with one another, maybe after chasing each other and missing, we had finally met up. This time… I won't be that foolish again.

"Oh my god! Ryoma! You bastard! Doctor! Please check his pulse! How is he?"

"…."

"…. ….. … I am sorry… our highness… is… is no longer breathing…"

"It can't be…"

"Nya… but look… Ryoma has a look of serenity. It was as if he had finally made it out of the vortex of pain and hurt..."

"It can't happen! Ryoma! Wake up!..."

"…Wake up! Ochibi! Wake up!"

I opened my eyes, annoyed at the constant shaking done by Momoshiro no doubt. I was so annoyed as I opened my eyes slowly and looked around to find that I was surrounded by my tennis team members and Sakuno was right beside my bed, watching anxiously.

"Oohh you are awake ne Ochibi!"

"How are you feeling Ryoma?"

Tezuka asked me, I turned to him and said

"I am fine."

"Good. Alright team, file out."

Before the rest could complain, Tezuka added

"Or it would be 30 laps when we get back."

The whole team left without another word, but Sakuno remained right beside me as she seemed to be very concerned. The dream I had was so vivid I thought I was really living that dream, Sakuno seemed to notice my distress even when I was sure it didn't show on my face.

"R…Ry…Ryoma… ku…kun. Y…you were… hit on the… the head… are… you ok?"

I turned to smirk at her before giving her a short gentle pat on her head. She was surprised but she looked at me with a blush on her face as he responded

"Mada mada dane,"

I took her hand in mine and I could see her blush going deeper and I couldn't withhold my own triumphant smirk as I leaned down to capture her sweet lips with my own. It was short but that was all I need and she was so red I thought she was going to faint. I liked that part of her as I said

"You love me right Ryuuzaki?"

Sakuno blinked as if secretly wondering if I had hit my head too hard but she answered with a bright shy and hesitant smile

"..h…hai"

Inside, my heart calmed itself as I thought to myself… she finally smiled at me lovingly…

=End=

Or is it? Join me to see if there is a next chapter, those who hated this chappie, sorry, this a good way to end it.