Disclaimer: The usual FY characters belong to Yuu Watase, the other characters and the plot is mine. :]

A New Identity

By Slavedriver2008

RAYS OF THE sun shone strongly against Yui's cheek, creating a pool of heat in the girl's cold skin. Droopy eyelids slowly opened and blue eyes tried to adjust in the brightness of the day. Yui coughed loudly and water sputtered from her mouth, the last excesses of river water that entered her system when she fell into the raging waterfalls last night. The shaking of her body brought back the excruciating pain on her shoulders and she clasped it, trying in vain to prevent any movements. Tears swelled her eyes—the pain was overwhelming.

Brushing away the pain, she looked around and was surprised to find herself inside a cave. Her clothes were almost dry and she was basically in the same state. A memory of someone or something pulling her from the waters flickered in her consciousness. She remembered the current and being dragged deeper into the abyss. Before she lost consciousness, she remembered being pulled toward the surface. Yui briefly saw a glistening symbol on fur. Yet, her brain was too clouded to make it out.

Slowly, Yui stood up and walked toward the mouth of the cave. As she had expected, there were marks of something being pulled inside. The marks were damp, she had the vaguest idea that if she took her robe off, she would find patches of dirt on her back. But what fascinated Yui were the faint paw prints beside the wet marks. Some were inconspicuous while some were outright obvious. Absurd as it may sound, the thought of being saved by a four-legged creature formed in her head.

She looked outside the cave and was surprised at how beautiful the day was. It was as if nothing happened last night. But everything—the trees, the birds, the sun—were telling her one thing: Her father was dead.

The Emperor had fallen.

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she tried to stop it. Crying would not do anything. It would not bring back her father and the high priest and the bard. Crying would not bring her back her status, her old life. Memories fleeted through her consciousness and she tried to remember the incidents before the night fell, trying to look for signs or warnings of what was to come. Looking back, the girl realized that if she were only focusing on the nature of her dreams, if only her attention was not focused on one man, if she had stopped acting like a lovesick teenager, she would have seen the signs. She would have deciphered the meaning of the dream. She would have told her father. She could have saved him.

Trying in vain to forget the ache brought by the night, she walked out of the cave and wallowed in the beauty of the day. Yui was surprised when a little boy appeared before her. From his appearance, Yui could guess that he was around the age of ten. The child has dark grey hair and his eyes were shining like golden coins under the morning sun. He was holding numerous fruits and Yui saw a blush spread on his face when she smiled at him. His eyes suddenly became wary and without one word, he pulled her back inside. The boy carelessly laid the fruits on the ground and hid behind the shadows, watching intently as two palace guards walked from the bushes.

"Any luck in finding the body, Hitsui?" the black-haired man asked his companion. He was wearing a blue armor and on his breastplate was a symbol of the dragon. Yui placed him as a commander, only the ranking officials can wear a blue armor in Kutou's army.

"No luck, Kisa-sama. The body must have been carried off to the farthest village in Kutou. The tide was high and strong last night," the soldier responded and the higher official smirked.

"Have you found any other proof that the girl is alive?" he asked as his eyes looked around.

"None, sir. But any soldier would say that anyone who fell from such height would die instantly," the soldier said.

"Fool! That girl had successfully left the palace without the guards noticing. She could be alive!" the commander screamed and the soldier bowed before him. "The shogun saw her fall and saw blood when she hit the waters. But still, the minister wanted to make sure she is dead," he explained, not to the soldier but to himself.

"The bard helped her escape, sir. And I saw him fall from the shogun's blade last night. The hime would surely die shortly without him," the soldier reasoned out, trying his best to calm the raging commander.

"You insolent fool! Never mention who we are looking for!" He walked toward the soldier and slapped him. "Make another round before we return to the palace. We have to make sure she is dead."

The soldier bowed and walked away, leaving the commander fuming and walking back and forth at the mouth of the cave. Yui eyed the commander and tried to remember his face. Anger seeped through her system. A part of her wanted to kill him for betraying his father. She never saw him before, but she tried to remember the words he had dropped.

One day she will get her revenge and when that day comes, she will show no mercy to this traitor. Yui was deep in thought when the boy suddenly sprang from the cave and jumped toward the unknowing commander. The commander screamed and fell on the ground, the boy angrily biting his arm. Yui's eyes widened and she rushed to them. Angry, the man pushed the boy away, constantly punching the head with his free arm. The boy let out groans of pain but continued sinking his teeth on the man's flesh. Yui tasted blood and she felt her insides trembling from an unexplainable pain.

"Damn it! Let go of me!" the commander grumbled and with one last strong punch, the boy let go and was thrown off him.

Yui rushed toward the child and tried to restrain him. Finally realizing she will be recognized, Yui pulled the boy hastily from the mouth of the cave toward the bushes. The commander pulled his sword and a groan escaped him as pain shot through his body. He looked down at his bleeding arm and screamed curses toward the fleeing form.

"YOU WILL PAY! YOU SON OF A—"

Yui and the boy ran and ran away from the commander, not knowing which way they were heading. Her body was throbbing but numerous thoughts filled her head. A certain minister willed for her death, and probably her father's as well. But who? The shogun was following the minister's orders and betrayed them, at least she was sure who to trust and not.

They were running for a long time and Yui was aching all over. The boy pulled her toward a waterfalls and Yui winced. It was the same falls she fell into last night. Standing at the foot of the falls, she realized how small and powerless she was. Her eyes followed the stream of gushing water and faintly remembered falling, the look on the bard's face, the battle with the shogun. Everything felt like a dream.

The boy pulled her toward the falls and she allowed him to lead her inside a hidden cave behind the tide. She was drenched all over when she walked inside the small cave. The boy immediately left her and Yui stayed inside, thinking deeply. The insides were damp and cold and as the sprays of water hit the rocks and her face, the truth sank in her. There was no attack from the other counties, but there was civil war.

Her father must have known the threat yet he never told her anything. He must have made plans, with the bard and the high priest helping in, but she was not told anything. Remorse filled her, she had tried desperately to fulfill a son's role in the empire. She had studied well, trained fighting as much as she hated it, to be a fitting ruler for the empire once her father died. But everything was for nothing. Her own father never deemed her worthy of overcoming him. He saw her merely as a daughter, but never his successor.

When she was a child, she heard rumors that her father wanted a son. But her mother died when she was four, while giving birth to a brother who also died with her. Despite the need for a successor, Emperor Shin never slept with another woman. So, instead of wishing for a son, he turned his attention to his daughter.

The pain on her shoulders emanated and Yui closed her eyes to let it pass. After all her efforts, after all these years, she was still unworthy of the Hongou name. Tears slid down her eyes and the memories of last night's events returned to her thoughts. It felt ages ago, she thought. Maybe it was a dream, maybe if she returned to the palace, her father would still be alive. Maybe last night was an illusion. But the pain on her shoulder proved otherwise. Her father was dead, and so was Hin Ryu. The shogun had betrayed their family under orders from a certain minister. And she fell from a raging waterfalls and was saved by a child.

The thought of the child made her open her eyes and her gaze met a pair of lonely yellow irises. He was back and he was carrying with him different fruits. She smiled but his face didn't light up the way it did earlier. His eyes showed concern, yet he would not speak to her.

"What is your name?" She asked softly and the boy looked at her. "Did you save me last night?" The boy smiled faintly and nodded. "Why?" The boy stood still and just looked at her, still refusing to speak. "Can you speak?" Ashamed, the boy shook his head. Yui smiled warmly. "Did you get these for me?" She raised her hand and took a fruit.

The boy nodded and smiled. If it weren't for the eyes, she would have mistaken him as a younger version of her father. His image pained her and as she opened the fruit with her hands, an idea struck her. "Can I call you Shinji?" He looked back and she raised the other half of the fruit. He took it from her hands and hungrily ate it. Yui wanted to laugh at the non-caring way he ate his meal. "Shinji?" The boy looked up with a smile. Warmth fill her; she found a younger brother.

After devouring their meager breakfast, Yui decided to clean her wounds and tie it with strips of the still damp robe. Shinji watched her with awe, sometimes with disgust as the cut created bluish throbbing marks on her skin.

As she finished the last ties of bandage on her shoulder, Yui was thinking of a plan. Going to Sairou was out of the possibilities—she doesn't know the bard's friend and she would not risk her life, and Shinji's, looking for a faceless man. Also, traveling to Sairou without a horse was suicidal. From Kutou, she should cross the border and pass south through Konan or north through Hokkan.

Either option was unwise: Kutou had always been in mildly intemperate terms with Konan and Hokkan was too mountainous to cross on foot. Even if she made it across the borders, she would definitely starve to death in the deserts of Sairou. She knew very little of journeying beyond the capital, so going out of the country was not the best option. If Hin-san was here, he would know what to do, she thought.

Yui sighed out of hopelessness. She can also seek refuge in the three countries but doing so could endanger their relationship with Kutou. If she knew it right, a new Emperor would have been chosen by now. She would be branded either as dead or wanted with a hefty sum on her head. Coming out as the fallen princess would not do her any good, she has to test the waters first.

It seemed that the only option left was to stay in Kutou and look for the warriors and the miko. Yui glanced at the boy who was ardently watching her and smiled at him. He blushed and then smiled back. Yes, she thought, staying would be the best option—but she has to make sure they were safe.

Without another word, she walked further inside the cave and unsheathed her dagger. The boy followed him and watched curiously as she began to use the blade to create cracks in the full earth. Satisfied, she placed the dagger down and started to dig a hole with her bare hands. She was momentarily surprised when the boy sat across her and helped her. When she was satisfied with the hole they created, she slowly picked up the dagger and heaved a heavy sigh. This is it, she thought, she had to be reborn. Yui took a handful of her beautiful long hair and without hesitation, cut it. Shinji made a sound and Yui laughed.

"Don't worry, it will grow back. For now, I needed it to be short," she explained and the boy sat back down as she cut her hair and place the strands on the hole.

She needed to do this, she needed a new name. The safest way for her to go around Kutou was to assume a new identity. As much as she hated cutting her hair, she had to sacrifice a part of her if she wanted to accomplish the mission. It will grow back, she thought, and she swore never to cut it very short again. She had no idea how short it was, but the length was enough to expose her neck and her ears. After almost an hour of struggling, she placed the dagger down and started to place back the earth they have dug earlier back into the hole, her hair covered by dirt. The boy helped her and soon, the task was done. Burying her hair ended up easier than she had thought.

She will no longer be weak, she will be strong, she will be the woman fit for the Dragon Throne. Whoever betrayed her family will pay. A life for a life, she thought, Yui swore to kill the man who caused her father's death.

"I need new clothes. Boy's clothes. Do you know where we can get one?" she asked and the boy nodded.

Shinji pulled her out of the cave and into the forest, sometimes stopping to hide in the bushes when he heard murmurs or sounds of people nearby. Yui allowed the boy to lead her to a small village. In the farthest house, Yui saw newly-washed clothes hanging and flowing in the mild wind. Before Yui could decide which clothes to get, Shinji stood up and hastily took everything that his small hands could reach. Yui gasped when the owner of the house looked out the window and glanced outside. The boy had hidden somewhere in the side of the house and remained unseen. He was sheepishly laughing when he returned to where she sat, her body trembling from the illegal deed the boy had done.

"Don't do that again, okay? Stealing is bad," she said and sighed. "I will see what I can do for her when I get back in the palace."

Shinji smiled at her and pulled her farther from the village. The boy seemed to know numerous shortcuts around the area and Yui wanted to laugh at his childishness. He was probably like all the boys his age, eager to play and have fun. Instead of leading her back into the cave, Shinji led her to a creek and she smiled. Yes, a bath would be nice after all she had been through

Yui walked toward the edge of the stream and looked at her reflection. Her eyes widened when she saw her face, she had cuts and bruises all over and her hair was significantly short. She ran her fingers over her blond locks and a tear fell from her eyes. Hideous, she thought, she looked hideous. Her eyes were tired and reddish and her skin was pale. She looked like a peasant boy.

In graceful movements, she dipped her hands in the water and washed her face. The water was refreshing on her skin, parts of her face prickled from the contact but she continued washing herself. She never felt so free. When she looked back at her reflection, she saw a new her. She no longer looked ugly and monstrous. She looked happier. Yes, she was reborn. She was no longer the helpless Kutou no hime. She was a warrior with the eyes of the bravest man she had ever met.

Without one word, she took the battered robe off her and dived into the cool water.

THE BOY SIMPLY watched her, looking around once in awhile to see if someone was coming near the creek. He had never mingled with humans before, they were mean and they would not accept him. But the girl was nice to her and she did not push her away when she saw his eyes. Instead, she gave him a name. Shinji. It was a beautiful name, especially when she said it. It was as if he reminded her of someone from her past.

The boy never felt wanted before and so decided to stay with her. He was curious when she suddenly cut her hair and started to look for a man's clothes. But then, it must have been the peculiarities of humans. Yes, they were different. They put rabbits and animals into a fire while he preferred to eat them raw. They use sticks to eat while he preferred to use his hands.

When he looked for her food earlier, he thought of killing rabbits but she might get scared so he got her fruits instead. He was also surprised when she cut it in half and offered it to him. Nobody offered him food before. In the place where he came from, humans kept him in steel rooms and he was thrown dead chickens and rabbits. They never clothed him and they showed him to everyone. They often whipped him and he remembered bleeding to sleep every night.

Humans were horrible, they laughed at him and hurt him so he ran away last night. He found refuge in a hidden cave under the waterfalls. When night arrived and he knew he was completely free, he saw her fall with a thundering splash. Blood flowed from the water and the boy suddenly felt the need to save her. And so he ran and followed the current, waiting for her body to float on the surface.

When she stopped swimming, he jumped into the water and swam toward her. With his fangs, he pulled her to the side of the river and to another cave he found last night. She must have figured out what happened. Yes, the boy thought, she was a smart girl. And as long as she wanted, he would stay with her.

Shinji heard a sound and she looked at the surface. She was still swimming underneath. Without another word, he hurriedly ran toward the source of the voice to check who it was. The girl showed fear when they saw the palace guards earlier. He would not hesitate to kill them if they crossed paths again. He growled and ran toward the other side of the creek.

AFTER A COUPLE of minutes, the girl bobbed her head on the surface and swam toward the shore. Yui looked around and found the surroundings bare, Shinji was nowhere near the stream. She hurriedly dried herself and wrapped clean cloth on her wounded shoulder.

It looked better now, pale but still better than how it looked earlier. After wrapping the wound, she dressed up and was surprised that the shirt and pants fitted her perfectly. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled, she looked like a boy alright. But there was one thing wrong, her chest were obvious under the fabric. Yui hastily took off the shirt and cut the other shirt with the dagger. Satisfied, she took the strips and wrapped it around her breast, pulling it tighter to make it appear flat. She then placed the shirt back and ran through her reflection. The bulk was still there but it was better than how she looked before.

The silver ring glittered under the sun and Yui gasped. She had forgotten she was wearing it. She held it up and stared bitterly. The ring was the sign of the Emperor. Only the ruler of the empire can wear the ring. It can be acquired when the prior owner died, either it was handed down or it was won.

The ring was a status symbol. Her father said it contained the powers of Seiryuu and the wearer can use the power to his advantage. If she had it right, it now belonged to her. The way it fitted her slender and small finger was proof enough that the ring recognized her as its master. But it was still too early to use it, she needed to hide it. She rummaged through the clothes Shinji took and found a pair of leather gloves. Without another word, she wore the gloves and ran toward the forest, searching for the boy.

An unknown force guided her and she immediately found him, hunched in a bush, looking intently toward the creek, a few meters away from where she took her bath. She slowly walked toward him and was surprised when he turned around and placed an index finger on his small mouth, urging her to keep quiet. Yui giggled and sat beside him. She looked out into the creek and her mouth fell open when a man's body appeared in her line of sight.

The man had his back to her but she could perfectly see his well-chiseled body. His strong muscular shoulders were stretched toward his head and his fingers were running through long sunshine blond hair. Heat ran through Yui's body and she gulped as her eyes ran down to his narrow waist. She blinked and tried to shake the palpitating beats of her heart, it was so loud he would hear it if he listened hard enough.

Not once in her life had she seen such a gorgeous man before. She never had a basis for comparison, yet she felt different looking at him. She let out a sigh to release the tension but the muscles on the man's back tightened and Yui gasped when he turned around and she met his ice cold blue stares. A scream escaped Yui's lips before she could control it and her legs stood up from the bush on their own. The man hastily rose from the water and walked toward her in few big steps. She backed away and resisted the urge to look at the lower part of his body.

Instead, Yui tried to focus on the handsome face that was filled with annoyance. His eyes pierced her and she stumbled back against a tree. Her insides trembled from fear. As soon as he had elicited heat within her, he had also elicited another emotion: panic. Her heart was beating wildly and it palpitated more when in less than a minute, his palm punched the trunk beside her face, trapping her. Her mouth opened but all voice left her. He was leaning close and she could feel the warmth of his breath. His eyes looked intently, anger with a mix of fascination, and she looked down only to regret doing so—the man was completely naked.

Yui screamed and closed her eyes, her face burning. Her body still stiff from standing against the tree, against the gorgeous man whose body she had seen without intending to. She wished he would just disappear when she opened her eyes but when she slowly peeked, he was still looming above her, watching her. She closed her eyes again and the man smirked. He placed a hand on her cheek and thumbed her trembling lips. Yui closed her eyes tighter and the man snickered.

"Are you a boy who looks like a girl or a girl dressing up as a boy?" he asked, his voice was deep and guttural, making Yui's knees weak.

"I'm a boy!" she screamed, her eyes opened and she regretted doing so. She blushed harder when he smirked.

"How old are you?" he asked again and Yui gulped.

"Fifteen. What's it to you?" she snapped at him and he laughed.

"No wonder you squeal like a girl. Your voice hasn't broken up yet," he stated and looked teasingly over her face. "If it weren't for the hair, you'd be a rather pretty girl." Yui's face turned crimson and she looked down, only to regret it again. She screamed and covered her eyes.

"Can you please get dressed?" The man laughed and then moved away. Yui faced the trunk, her face still hot. "Are you done?" she asked and the man chuckled.

"Haven't seen a man's body before? I believe we have the same anatomy. You just have to work hard. You're too skinny," he said and Yui leaned down on the trunk, trying to shake away the image of his naked body from her head.

"Are you done?" she asked again.

"Absolutely. You can turn around now." Yui did turn around and was in a way surprised to find him fully clothed. Despite the fabric, the form of his body was still evident in the way the clothes hang from him. "Like what you're seeing?" he teased and Yui blushed again. "Why were you watching me take a bath?"

"Well, my brother and I…" Yui tried to think of a reason but none came. She looked at Shinji who was looking playfully, inwardly laughing at the way she looked so helpless in front of the man. "…Well…we…" She looked at him and he raised an eyebrow. "…We thought you were a girl," she stated and he laughed.

"Haven't seen a naked girl before?" Yui blushed again and she looked away, briefly wondering how they ended up in such a compromising situation. "What's your name?"

"Aki," Yui said confidently. "My name is Aki."

The name belonged to her dead brother. The brother she lost with her mother. Loneliness spread through her face. Surely, he wouldn't hate her for using his name, right? The man saw the sudden silence in the boy and diverted his attention on the younger one.

"And what's his name?" he asked, his eyes looking intently at the gray-haired boy's golden eyes.

"Shinji," Yui answered "I call him Shinji." The man looked away at the mention of the name.

"Interesting name. He has the same name as the Emperor and probably the same hair," he stated and Yui's eyes widened. The beautiful stranger knew her father!

"Who are you?" Yui probed into his clear blue eyes and he smiled faintly.

"Just some traveler you wouldn't be interested in," he stated. "I hoped you didn't get disappointed seeing me bathe." He smirked and Yui blushed again. "I better go now. I think there is a girl in that side of the creek." He pointed toward the part where they came from. Yui blushed harder. "I saw her jump, though I didn't get to see her face clearly," he muttered and took his bag from the ground. "Fare you well Aki. And you too, wolfbrother." The man turned around and Yui called him.

"What did you call Shinji?" she asked curiously. The man turned around, his eyebrows creased.

"You should stop screaming, you sound like a girl," he said and Yui pouted. "And stop pouting, you're starting to look gay," he teased. "Wolfbrother. Don't tell me you don't know what a wolfbrother is." Yui shook her head and the man sighed. He walked back toward her and brushed the hair on the younger boy's head. Shinji growled in approval. "A wolfbrother is either someone who understands the language of wolves or someone who has the power to transform into one," he stated and Yui paled. She had no idea the little boy was capable of becoming a four-legged creature. "How long have you met this little guy?" he asked and Yui looked away.

"I thought you're leaving," she insisted and the man smirked. "I think you should go now," she added and regretted it when the man turned around and left without a word. "Thank you," she whispered and she thought he smirked.

When she was sure he was far from where they stood, she turned and smiled as he walked away from them. She was still blushing at the thought of seeing him naked but another feeling filled her, it was as if he belonged with them. She resisted the urge to call him back and make him stay. No, she thought, it was too dangerous. He might find out she was a girl. Her heart almost broke when she could not see his figure anymore. Small fingers pulled on her pants and Yui looked down, Shinji looked warily up to her. She smiled, kneeling before him.

"Thank you for saving me last night," she planted a kiss on his forehead and the boy blushed. "Come on, let's find something to eat." She held out her hand and the boy took it. Together, they walked toward the other side of the creek. "Maybe we could return to the village?" The boy shook his head and Yui frowned. "Where can we go then?" The boy pulled her and she allowed it to lead her further into the forest.

The two were walking peacefully when the boy started to growl angrily at the bushes. They stopped walking and Yui clasped the boy's hand tighter. Three soldiers appeared before them and Yui's face contorted in fear, afraid they might recognize her.

"Look, what do we have here? Two boys lost in the woods," one of the soldiers teased. "How about we take you somewhere safe?" the man asked and Yui's back prickled. He was eyeing her hungrily.

"Stop it man, you're scaring the beautiful kid," one of the soldiers nudged him. "Then again, we haven't had a decent lay in months. A boy like him would do." He smirked hungrily and shamelessly eyed her. Yui backed away. The other man laughed.

"Hey, I found him first. I guess you have to fall in line, mate," he teased and Yui turned to run as the men walked toward them. She pulled Shinji but the boy ran toward the soldiers and jumped at one of them. Yui screamed when the boy bit into the soldier's throat and the man gurgled on the grass.

"Damn it, kill the boy!" The other soldier screamed and Yui saw him swing a wood on the boy's head. The boy fell limply on top of the man, his mouth filled with blood.

"Shinji!" she called and picked up a branch of the tree. As much as she doesn't want to fight, she needed to save the child. But before she could do anything more, a heavy blow landed on her head. Her sight waned and she fell into the grass, darkness engulfing her senses.

A/N: Anyway, do you like what you're reading and where this fic is heading? Leave a review, pretty please? :]