AN-Sorry for the long wait. I was away and then I was working on my other fanfics…so here is the long awaited chapter six in Yuki's POV! Enjoy!

Chapter Six

Yuki's POV

I'd rushed into town as swiftly as I could, having received an urgent message from Yori early that morning, around seven am. I'd been perched at the breakfast table, leisurely picking at my breakfast of cheese omelette and some bread, unusual for me since I was known for wolfing down my breakfast…despite my father scolding me for being uncouth and unladylike. Today, however, I had a lot on my mind…I was still flustered from our encounter with the Outlaw the previous day, and my chest constricted whenever I recalled the event…the night before I had been plagued with nightmares, all of which had contained the Outlaw…the aspect that had made these dreams 'nightmare' worthy, was not necessarily the presence of the Outlaw himself…it was the fact that in all of these dreams I had been attracted to him…or romantically involved with him. In one dream-nightmare, he'd been moving in about to kiss me when I'd awoken in a tizzy, my nightgown had been soaked with sweat, and I'd spent half the night racking my brains as to why I had this strange feeling inside me.

I'd sat with my knees drawn up against my chest, my arms wrapped tightly around my legs so that I was hugging them. The meeting with the Outlaw had played through my mind again and again as I'd sat there, and I'd become more and more agitated. I'd chewed my lip ferociously, plaited and un-plaited my hair…I'd lay down, tossing and turning, overheated and exasperated as to why I'd been feeling the way I was feeling. In the end I'd pulled my weary body up from the sticky sheets and opened the large window to my room and sat in front of it, allowing the night air to cool me. Still, even such a gesture hadn't calmed me…my eyes had darted across the gardens of my home, scanning the grounds for the Outlaw…as if he'd followed us back earlier that day. In the end I'd shut the window and collapsed back down on my bed, my body too fatigued to stay conscious another minute…still, I'd awoken around six am, and unable to bring myself to sleep in had dragged my sluggish form down the stairs to the breakfast table.

It was actually quite convenient I'd awoken at such a time in the end, since Yori's message had arrived at seven. My father had been twittering on about how cute I looked when I was sleepy, though had mentioned he was concerned by my lack of sleep…my father Kaien was Mayor, yet he still made time to fuss over me and share meals with me as a family. It was sweet, and I appreciated the fact he took time out of his busy schedule to spend time with me…he was the only family I had. My mother had died when I was very young, and I had no memory of her. So now it was just father and I.

Still, the message had come in the form of a servant, he had come to our home on horseback following orders from Yori, who had asked me to meet her in town at half past eight, and stressed that it was urgent. Both father and I had been surprised the message was for me; especially so early in the morning…the both of us had anticipated an urgent message from the Sheriff for my father, or from one of the wealthy plantation owners. Upon dismissing the messenger my father had given me an anxious look before allowing me to desert the remainder of my breakfast to go prepare for my meeting with Yori.

I'd dressed swiftly and leapt on Artemis' back as rapidly as I could, charging into town at lightening speed…now I sat side-saddle on the sleek black back of Artemis, nervously waiting for Yori at the usual place…the same place we had run into the Outlaw the previous day. I daren't ascend from my horse just yet, fearful that the Outlaw would leap out and drag me away into some abandoned building. I shuddered. Why was I even thinking about him? I gripped Artemis' reigns tightly. The mere image of the Outlaw's face in my mind left me feeling a little breathless. Why was I feeling this way? This feeling was one I'd never experienced before in my life…My heart was pounding frenziedly in my chest, and my mind was in a haze as I dwelled on that dangerous man…I was frightened of him…but the feeling that had me in it's fiery grip was not fear. I knew fear well, and though fear was an element in the makeup of this new emotion…it was only a secondary emotion. The feelings I was experiencing were strangely similar to that of infatuation…a feeling not too far off from the sought after love. I shook my head fiercely. No. I wouldn't, couldn't believe that my first 'love' was the Outlaw…I would not allow myself to be added to the throng of broken hearted women that obsessed over him.

"Yuki!" Yori called out. I looked up, a little flustered after dwelling on the Outlaw for so long. She rounded the corner, slowly the pace of her horse and stopping next to me. I smiled nervously at her, still trying to conceal the blush that had formed in the time I had been dwelling on the Outlaw. Yori smiled cheerily at me, surprising considering the urgency of her earlier message.

"Hello Yori…is everything alright? Your messenger told me you wanted to see me urgently so I got here as quickly as I could…" I informed her, watching as she climbed gracefully down from her horse, brushing her cream colored dress off with her gloved hands. She held a hand over her eyes to shield her eyes, despite the matching cream colored hat she wore designed for the job. The sun was steadily rising as it always did in the summer time, and the air was already a little humid. Still, I didn't care; all I wanted was to hear what Yori had to tell me.

"Shall we go to a café and have some team Yuki?" Yori asked dreamily. I gave her a puzzled look, jumping from my horse with not nearly as much grace as she had. She smiled at me, securing her horse's reigns and walking towards the hustle and bustle of the town. I stood awestruck before quickly tying Artemis up and bounding after her. We walked slowly towards one of the café's we knew, she clearly wasn't in a rush…We sat outside in the morning Sun with a pot of tea and dainty china cups on saucers…the whole thing very leisurely done. She sipped her tea silently and gracefully, staring wistfully into the distance.

"Yori…seriously what's going on?" I asked, unable to keep the panic from my tone. The message had been an urgent one…yet her attitude completely contradicted that. She was serene and calm and it almost unsettled me. She turned to look at me, almost surprised by my panicky tone. She placed her tea cup gently down on its matching saucer smiling a little anxiously at me, suggesting that she did have something important to tell me…she was just nervous about doing it. A shiver ran down my spine, why did I have such a bad feeling?

"W-Well…I've met someone Yuki…someone…well a man, a man…who wants to court me…" She told me nervously, apprehensively…but her eyes sparkled as she spoke. My eyes widened. I was surprised. Yori didn't like talking about men and courting. Her father supposedly had someone in mind for her future husband…but I doubted the man she was talking about was the same one her father had chosen. I cocked my head feeling a little uneasy. The Yori I knew would surely tell me if there was someone interested in her…lots of men were interested in her, but she usually spurned their advances…however, the way she was behaving made me suspect that this man was different. That she was interested in him too…but still something bothered me…usually Yori wouldn't even consider a proposal unless she had known the young man for a while…in that time she would've told me about him…she hadn't mentioned any men lately, suggesting that the proposal had been a recent and unexpected one. Another shiver ran down my spine. Something was definitely odd.

"He told me he wants to meet with me tonight…he promised to take me somewhere nice." She continued dreamily. I felt the hairs rise on the back of my neck…why didn't I like where this was going? Was it because Yori rarely accepted to go out with the men that pursued her? Or was it this underlying apprehension that wouldn't leave me alone?

"Yori who is he? You haven't mentioned him before…" I asked suspiciously, mentally scolding myself for allowing my suspicion to ring so clearly through my voice. She looked quickly at me but averted her eyes an instant later. I attempted to meet her gaze but she purposely avoided it, staring out at the busy town around us. The uneasy feeling within me was growing rapidly.

"…that is the thing Yuki he's…well he's not someone my father would approve of….so please, you must swear not to breathe a word of this to anyone else!" She told me, reaching across the table and taking my hands in her own. She stared pleadingly into my eyes, squeezing my hands tightly in her own. I nodded slowly, uneasily. Someone her father wouldn't approve of? A sudden horrifying thought struck me…what if it was…I shook my head. No. It couldn't possibly be that man…She glanced around us, checking to see if anyone was in earshot. Satisfied she could part with this information without the fear of it spreading, she leaned towards me, hovering close to my ear.

"He….Yuki, he's…he's the Outlaw…" She whispered in a tone so low I struggled to hear it. However, nothing could prepare me for such a shock. I released her hands, leaning back in my chair. I recoiled as if the gesture would cause me to forget the information I was just given. I didn't want to hear such a thing. She sat with her hands in her lap, anxiously judging my reaction. I shook my head, refusing to believe my sweet innocent friend Yori would fall for such a criminal. No. This was another nightmare surely. Yori would never be so reckless! She was sensible and level-headed, there was no way this could be true!

"Yori…NO! I can't possibly let you go through with this! Do you have any idea how many hearts he's broken?" I spluttered, unable to get my head around the prospect. She looked a little hurt by my response, but I refused to sugar coat it, even if it hurt her now in the end…perhaps it would save her from a tragic fate. I blushed as one of the staff working at the café gave me a peculiar look. I toned my assault down; giving her the most serious look I could muster. I had to deter her from courting that man!

"…I know Yuki…but I have this feeling I can't describe…it's so invigorating! I simply cannot ignore it…I know he's a wanted criminal…and I know he toys with the hearts of unsuspecting women but Yuki, I'm not a fool…if he tries to do anything unacceptable I shall put him in his place, I promise!" She implored, almost as if she was trying to convince me to give her permission to go…if my blessing was what she was after she was certainly not going to get it! I folded my arms, staring assertively at her. How could I dissuade her from going out with the man? If the fact he was a heartbreaker and a criminal didn't do it, I didn't know what would.

"Yori…this isn't like you. This is reckless and impulsive, now wake up! That man is BAD new! He's wanted dead or alive! Even if it turned out you were the one he would stay faithful to, your father would never accept him, he's trying to throw him in jail! Not to mention the price on his head…someone is bound to kill him one day, and that would leave you heartbroken, so please!" I pleaded with her in a hushed tone. I felt terrible for being so blunt with her, and pain flickered across her expression with every word I spoke to her. I loathed that Outlaw boy right now for luring my sweet Yori into his trap. If he thought I was going to allow her to make such a mistake without a fight, he had another thing coming! I wasn't the smartest or toughest girl…but I would do my best to protect my best friend from coming to harm.

"I know…he is notorious for breaking hearts…and I know I am being unusually impulsive…but that's why I think this must be…fate…I have a good feeling about it Yuki, or else I would never take such a risk…please, I needed to confide in someone, you're my best friend…trust me." She spoke sincerely, trying to reassure me. I frowned. I couldn't believe I was buying this…but perhaps she was right? Yori would never do something so spontaneous under regular circumstances…perhaps there was something special about the meeting between the two. I felt a pang of…some strange alien emotion within my chest at the thought of Yori being with the Outlaw…something suspiciously similar to jealousy. Of course that was a ridiculous notion. I had no interest in him…did I?

"…Yori, I just cannot condone this meeting between the two of you! At night as well…it…it just sounds suspicious to me…I'm sorry. I want to be happy for you but the man IS a criminal after all…I just…I just think it's a set up!" I blurted out, but still I held something back…something spiteful and vicious that I just couldn't bring myself to say…He wanted to sleep with her and then leave. That had been what I wanted to say. I bit my tongue, knowing that those words would be said with malice if they did escape my lips. I didn't want Yori to think I was angry with her…it was him I loathed. She shook her head sadly at me, staring at her lap as she did so.

"…Perhaps it was wrong of me to tell you…I don't want you to worry, I can take care of myself…look Yuki, I know all of this…but I just know I'll regret it for the rest of my life if I miss this opportunity…I'll always wonder what might have happened…" She said wistfully. My jaw dropped. What spell did that delinquent have over my sweet little friend? I cursed softly under my breath, not loud enough for Yori to hear. Even if I had said it louder she still wouldn't have registered it as she stared into the distance. Her eyes looked misty and thoughtful. I wondered what was running through her mind…right now she seemed so far away from me. I felt like I was losing my best friend…

"Yori listen to yourself! You'll regret it more if you meet with him and something terrible happens! Yori, I have a really, really bad feeling about that man, ever since I first heard about him I've had this ominous feeling…a-and I'm frightened that if you meet with him…something horrible is going to happen to you and confirm all of my foreboding feelings….Yori I'm begging you NOT to go with him!" I begged, struggling to keep my plea at a quiet and inconspicuous tone so that onlookers wouldn't become suspicious. Still, I couldn't keep tears from forming in my eyes. I was suddenly very frightened for Yori. I felt a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach warning me that something about the situation was not right…I just prayed Yori could hear and see the desperation radiating from me. She looked doubtfully at me for a moment before giving me a conceding smile. I released a breath I hadn't even realised I'd been holding. She nodded sadly, seeming to register the fear in my tone of voice.

"…Okay Yuki…if you feel that strongly about it I will stay away from him. Thank you for opening my eyes. I suppose it was rather a foolish thing to do…I'm sorry for worrying you." Yori replied, unable to keep all of the sadness from her tone. I smiled gratefully at her, relieved that she was taking me seriously. I smiled, leaning back, finally able to fully relax. I took a sip from my tea cup, glad that I could help her…

…I'd hoped that would be the last time I would hear about the Outlaw, or the last time I'd be involved in anything to do with him at the very least. At the time I'd been certain that was the last I'd hear of him…how wrong I was….

AN-So, lot's of questions! How will the Outlaw react to Yori spurning his advances? Will he choose to move to Yuki instead? And what about Yuki's strange feelings for the Outlaw? Things are heating up….