Hey girls, here's another chapter for everyone. I've been very sad lately... :( No, it's not because Michael Jackson died or anything. I'm just sad, that's all. Hope it didn't affect how I wrote this chapter...

XxLadyYuixX: Yah, I was unable to proofread some parts in the last chappie so I'm really sorry it got you confused. Anyway, I've been feeling so dramatic lately. I think it somehow affected this chappie...but anyway, here's another chapter for you. :)

Princess-of-doctors: I initially thought I'd have them engage in a sword fight or something but then...ehehe. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Michi: I know, I know. Sai is soooo hot! I'm not sure if I'm writing the characters correctly anymore...I've been assuming this is how they'd react in such situations...n_n

Flowerypetal: Ahahaha. Yeah, everything is supposed to be right in this world. *sigh* Hope you like this chappie. :D

Disclaimer: I do not own FY. This is purely AR. :)

Chapter 18: Let Me Go

By Slavedriver2008

"I believe the lady said Stop," Nakago said sharply. His blue eyes traveled to our state on his bed. I pushed Sai away and immediately stood up, my face flushed from being caught in such a position. Sai stood up, facing Nakago, shielding me from my former seishi's view.

"I believe too that the lady is my girlfriend," Sai said with the same edge in his voice. Nakago smirked at him, his jaw clenched.

"Sai…stop," I said, trying to stand between them in vain.

"Girlfriend? You could not even protect her last night," Nakago said with distaste. "Yui deserves someone better."

"Nakago…please…" I whispered but they paid me no attention. I never thought such tension could exist so abruptly between them—heck, I cannot even imagine them standing before me like this.

Sai smirked and pulled my arm, away from the blonde shogun. "You took her away last night without my consent and I can protect her—"

"I believe she was running away from you, Heiki-sama," the blonde said sharply. He took a step forward and I saw the annoyance in his eyes. "Protect her? You can't even stay with her for five minutes without taking advantage of her weakness. Can't you see that she is ill?"

Sai laughed. "You're accusing me of something you did yourself. Aren't you the one who took advantage of her in Kutou?"

"Sai! Nakago! Stop it!" I said, holding them far from each other in the most I can. Sai pulled me but Nakago pulled me as well. I was caught in between them—two men I loved the most.

"Don't speak like you know everything. I came back for her," Nakago said and I felt hot at the confession.

"Why? To use her again? Too late, she's already mine," Sai said and pulled me. I felt a little hurt when they tried to pull me at the same time. "I won't let you hurt her again."

"Aren't you hurting her? She kept on calling you last night but you didn't come," Nakago said and I felt awful. "You are selfish to have her hanging on to you when you're marrying somebody else." I looked up to Nakago. How the hell did he know that? "Tell me, Seishuku Saihitei, first prince of Japan, who's using her now?"

A pain emanated from my chest. I wanted to cry. Nakago…was voicing out a truth I never wanted to hear. A realization I never wanted to believe. My head throbbed, feeling the effect of the fever throughout my body. "Stop," I said, my voice breaking. "Stop it." Tears left me and I couldn't hold it much longer. Darkness consumed me and I felt myself falling, falling deeper into a sea of loss.

--

Miaka greeted my view when I opened my eyes. She was sad, holding my hand softly. I looked around and was surprised that I was nowhere in Nakago's room and a needle was stuck in my right arm. White filled the room and when I looked again, I realized I was in a hospital. Miaka smiled after she realized I was awake.

"How are you feeling now, Yui?" she asked and I smiled faintly, my head still throbbing. "Your fainted from a very high fever so we brought you here." Calmness filled me and Miaka smiled again. "Do you want to tell me anything?"

"I love Sai…" was the first words that went out of my mouth. Miaka nodded, knowingly. "But I feel…I feel so hurt…"

"Why?" Miaka asked softly and tears left my eyes.

"Because Nakago's right," I said softly, my throat was sore and I still felt hot.

"Yui…Sai is waiting outside…Should you talk to him and tell him what you're feeling?" I pulled my hand away from her and wiped my eyes. I smiled at her and nodded.

"Yes…Please…"

Miaka stood up and went for the door. The door closed and I didn't have to turn to know Sai was inside the room. The sound of the airconditioning system buzzed in my ears. Sai walked toward me and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on my lips. I closed my eyes, relishing the sweetness of the kiss.

It will probably be the last.

His fingers brushed my cheeks and his warm hazel eyes greeted me when I opened my eyes. I love him, gods, I love him more than anything. But this has to stop—him and me. We've hurt each other so much.

"Sai…" He brushed the tips of our noses. Tears fell from my eyes again. God, sometimes I hate using my brain. "Let me go…"

His eyes widened and I saw the pain in them. "Why? Yui…don't you want me anymore?" he choked and I wanted to slap myself. But it has to be done. We were too into each other that it was not healthy anymore.

"I need space. We need space." I placed my hand on his cheek. "I just can't think right when I'm with you…"

Sai smiled, painfully. "I know…I…I'm crazy for you…"

"And I love you so much…you know that right?" He planted a kiss on my lips.

"Yes, I know, Yui…I feel the same way…" he whispered and my heart broke. "But…why…why do you want to…break up with me?"

"Because I don't want to cry anymore…"

"Is it because of Houki? Yui—" I placed a finger on his mouth and he stilled, waiting for my response.

"Do you know what hurts me the most?" I asked and Sai looked at me intently. "It's the fact that you're totally out of my league and that you're destined to be with somebody else and I can't do anything about it."

"Yui…"

"I love you, I really do but sometimes I ask myself if it's the right time for us. Gods, you're mine one minute and the next thing I know, you're for somebody else and I can't take it anymore…because sometimes you're acting like you don't love me at all…"

A tear fell from his eye and my heart broke into a thousand pieces. "Yui…don't say that. I love you—I've never been more sure in my whole life." I was still, we both were, looking at each other.

"Stop running into the fire exit whenever my parents come home. I want us to stop pretending we're not who we are when we're together. Stop hiding me from everyone else." I smiled bitterly. "But we're not ready yet..." I whispered.

"Yui…" He kissed my forehead. All the frustrations and grief overflowed but I wanted to just freeze this moment forever. To remind me he loved me and I loved him. After today, the same emotion might not be there anymore. The thought scared me but I knew I had to face the truth if ever that time comes. When you let go of someone, they don't always come back.

"Until we're ready…just let me go…"

Sai looked at me, realizing what I said. Slowly, he leaned down to kiss my lips and then, softly, painfully, he let go.

A/N: Don't you just feel that sometimes loving someone is more of a curse than a blessing? Hmmm…I'm so sad Yui and Sai have to separate but this whirlwind romance needed a deeper anchor than just sex…right? Please drop your reviews!