I don't like the previous chapter much, probably because it's Soi. Haha. My mind didn't wander like the other chappies. But I kinda like how it ended. Sorry for that conceited line. :D Anyway, this is already chapter 12 so updates might not come as fast as I want. I'm also working on a follow-up chapter for Prince Next Door, Are You Seiryuu?, and Eien no Monogatari. To be honest, I already have the first parts but I'm stuck somewhere. Maybe I'll get more ideas after this fiction. Haha. I'm also working on an extra chapter for Basketball Date. ;)

Obsessed Dreamer: Well, writing the last chappie bored me, really. -_- I write fanfic because I want to shy away from what I normally write. In the morning, I write serious stuff so I want to spend my nights writing something light.

Khryztinne: I agree—Nakago is for Yui and Yui alone. Haha. But it wouldn't be exciting if everything is so easy for them. Haha.

ThePinkMartini: Yeah, she's the Holy One but I wasn't lying when I said this is a complicated story that needs thorough thinking and conceptualizing. :)

Disclaimer: FY is not mine.

Binds that Lie

By Slavedriver2008

THE WISDOM PLACED her fingers on Yui's wrist, listening to the pulsing beats of her heart. She then moved toward the sides of her neck, feeling, listening. She sighed and slowly shook her head. Yui wanted to ask her what went wrong but she was too weak to speak, let alone open her eyes. She could even barely move her arms and legs.

"Your chi is too low," the old woman said. "It is a surprise that you are still alive, Holy One." She took the green tea on the side table and slowly placed some drops on her lips. The bitterness spread at the tip of her tongue but she could not wipe it off.

"Mako-sama, what should we do?" it was Momoshita and her usually happy face was filled with worry. Yui blinked slowly, she was dazed and weak. She wanted to close her eyes and sleep.

"Her chi will regenerate in weeks. She will have to rest and make sure nobody touches her, Momoshita. Her condition is very critical," the woman said. "Even the slightest touch can steal the girl's chi. Make her drink green tea three times a day and water in between."

The temple master's wife nodded and assisted the old woman out of the house. Shinji licked her face, worry sketched in his big yellow irises. She smiled back at the boy and even the small deed seemed to have taken all her willpower. The temple master walked in and pulled the boy, bringing him out to the river. The sun was about to rise and darkness filled her room. She was alone and she doesn't feel good. She should sleep and give up. She wanted to rest. She was tired.

A warm hand touched her forehead and when she opened her eyes, saw familiar teal orbs. The handsome man smiled, his ageless face lit with such act. His long hair barely moved when he leaned down to place a warm cheek on her forehead. His arms wrapped around her body and she mumbled contentedly in his arms.

"Look at you… Should I relive your pain and take you back? You belong by my side." He moved away and pulled her lifeless arms. He placed his fingers on hers, palm meeting palm. "No? Not yet?" he smirked and moved on top of her, placing his forehead on hers. He smirked when their hands met. "Then for denying immortality, accept my gift."

Warm blue light filled her body, moving through every pore, every vein in her system. She arched to him, throat letting out a deep heavy moan. His arms wrapped around her waist, her back, making her skin throb with life and numerous unexplainable wonderful sensations that continued to linger in her flesh. It filled her the way a raging waterfalls would fill the stream. Her nails dug on the skin of his back and she screamed as he overflowed in her body, taking away her consciousness and the unbearable pain she used to feel.

MOMOSHITA DROPPED THE bowl of rice when Yui walked out of her room into the kitchen. Yui smiled at the woman and the disbelief turned to sobs when she finally spoke.

"I'm fine, Momoshita-san, I was only probably very tired last night," she said softly.

Unlike earlier, Yui was full of energy. She doesn't know what happened or how it did. But the moment he showed up in her dream, strength returned to her once lifeless muscles. She blushed when what they shared trailed in her thoughts. Whenever she gets sick, it was always his arms that guided her back to life. Yui doesn't know why she felt so attached to him, why her soul unconsciously calls him, why every breath, every movement, was in reference to his holy name. As the temple master's wife arranged her a bowl of steamed rice and fried fish, Yui realized that she was in love with him or attracted to the god he was supposed to be.

"Eat well, Yui. We were very worried about your condition since you only fell ill when you came here," she said and Yui nodded in response. "Ashita will be happy to know your condition has stabled. Even your brother will be very happy." The temple master's wife touched her forehead and nodded. "The fever is gone too. I will get fresh jasmine for you and make your tea," she said, leaving her in the kitchen.

Yui bowed to the woman and gave thanks before eating her meal. When she looked up, Kaen's pale hostile face greeted her. She smiled at the older woman, remembering the way she smiled back last night. She didn't respond. Kaen placed a basket of fruits on the table, offering it for her, eyes still lacking emotions.

"Arigatou for last night's massage, Kaen-san," she said softly and the woman's jaw clenched. "Will you do it again on my back tonight?" she asked, smiling wide.

"No," she answered. Yui turned, surprised. "The shinchiseishi… She agreed to meet you tonight," she said and Yui's face lit up. "Eat well… I will signal you when it is time to go."

KAEN ROWED THE boat and it moved farther and farther from the village. Yui can barely see the tips of the dragon temple and the distance made her wary. Yui smiled at the older woman and she only nodded in response. Her arms were strong for someone who used to make perfumes and massage men's back in the brothel. Her hair was tied in a high bun, which showed off the smallness of her beautiful face.

Yui wondered what Shinji was preoccupying himself in the village. It was already late afternoon, and a few more minutes, the sun would set and the village would be drenched in the darkness. Kaen promised they will be back before nightfall but with the slow movements of the boat, the princess knew they could not make it back on time.

"Kaen-sama… are we still far from the warrior?" she asked when the village was completely gone from sight and the boat slowly navigated the mangrove forest. Birds filled the decade-old branches, feeding on worms and small fishes that linger near the roots.

"Across the swamp is the hidden village. We cannot pass by the swamp in the middle of the day—the sun will burn us," she explained and Yui nodded. The red-haired woman did not speak more and Yui sat still, watching the low lingering sound of birds.

When they were out of the swamp, the sky was already dark and when she looked back on the mangroves, Yui's eyes met the darkness. Now she was afraid. On top of mangrove branches were snakes, if it fall on the boat in the dark, they will surely be in danger. Yui hated snakes, it scared her. They were lowly versions of dragons, they slither instead of fly, and when they crawl on the ground, the skin at the back of her neck prickled. Snakes were traitors, she thought. And betrayal was not something she took lightly. Any member of the royal family knew that loyalty is important to stay in power.

The boat made a sound as it hit the soft banks and when Yui looked ahead, found dilapidated stilts that used to serve as poles for houses. The gloomy air of the broken village made her skin prickle and the cloudy night sky brought fast pumping on her chest. Kaen stood up and walked toward the darkened soil, looking ahead, deep in thoughts.

"Kaen-san…" Yui stood up and jumped on the soft earth. "Kaen-san—" Lightning hit the boat the moment she alighted, and the wood shredded into pieces, piercing her skin and causing small gashes that bled. Yui screamed, falling to the ground. A large wood had hit her leg and she could not stand. "KAEN—"

"Does it hurt…?" the older woman asked in a cold voice. "That's what they did to my mother. They cut off her feet and then her arms…" Kaen stepped further inland, looking at the dark sky. Thunder broke, lightning hit the poles a few feet away, burning it into charcoal. She raised her hand to the stormy skies.

"Kaen-san, what is happening to you?" she asked, struggling to stand. She pulled out the wood and screamed from the pain. Yui threw it away and it hit the waters, blood flowing languidly on the surface.

"You did it to my mother!" She turned, anger evident in her eyes. "YOU DID THIS TO ME!" Blue light shone from under her robe and Yui saw a sign on her left thigh.

Soi. Basket

"Kaen, you're—"

"I WILL KILL YOU THE WAY THEY KILLED MY MOTHER!" Lightning hit the ground but Yui managed to move away. She screamed as rays of light aimed for her. The sky was in a rage and the waters moved violently with the harsh winds. "How does it feel to suffer Yui-sama?" She laughed and Yui's eyes widened.

"Stop this—this is not you!" she screamed and the woman sneered, eyes filled with hate. "The Kaen I know would cry in Seiryuu's temple, she'll make the best perfumes with flowers she picked herself—and she has hands that give the best massages. KAEN—" Lightning hit her and she screamed as it whacked her body. She fell on the ground, bloodied and trembling, but still conscious.

"You don't know the real Kaen…" Lightning continued to rampage the sky and Yui choked blood. "You can never stay awake for long, I already made your chi weak… You trust too easily, Yui-sama… Your heart will bring you death…"

"This weak heart can see the real you… and it is the girl who wanted to be loved…" she whispered with hardship. Another bolt hit her and she let out an ear-splitting scream before everything faded in the bright white light.

"YOUR BROTHER AND sisters need food and only the okami can give us money," a woman told a young girl of twelve. "But in order to give us more, she needs you to serve the brothel, Kaen."

"I understand mother," the girl answered, smiling, trying to hide the fear that gripped her heart. "I will work hard so we can repay her. When the debt is paid in full, I will come back and help you in the fields." The old woman nodded, smiling sadly. She embraced the girl and started to sob.

"You were so young when I found you. I took care of you all these years and gave you the bes I could, you might not come from my navel but you came from my heart. Kaen, when you have paid the okami, there is no need for you to serve us," she whispered. Tears fell on the girl's eyes and she shook her head.

"You are my only mother and I will serve you until I can." She wiped the tears off the woman's face. "When I come back, I will never go away again…" She smiled sweetly, hiding her own tears.

The woman nodded and together, they walked toward the brothel. Once they arrived, they were sent to the okami's room. The older woman scrutinized her face, pulled her hair from the bun and asked her to take off her clothes.

"How many men have you slept with?" she asked roughly and Kaen looked back quizzically.

"She is a virgin, okami." It was her mother, she smiled at the dark-haired woman. "Kaen is not very good in household chores but she has very soft but strong hands." The okami nodded and then asked her to get dressed.

"Ida, bring this girl to the room and give her a good brush. I have a customer who wants this type," she said roughly and the servant pulled Kaen away from the okami's room.

Pain shot through Kaen's heart and she was about to run back to say goodbye to her mother when she saw the okami hand the latter a heavy bag of coins. Her second mother smiled, opening the pack and eyes glimmering as her head estimated the amount, a face Kaen never saw before. The woman nodded, greedily.

"Don't be stubborn," Ida said. "The okami will be mad if I don't give you a quick bath."

Kaen let herself be pulled away to the cold waters of the brothel. Her stomach clenched. Why was she taking a bath? Why wasn't she tasked to clean the rooms? When the woman started to spray her perfumes, she looked at her with big brown lonely eyes.

"I wonder why my mother seemed happy to send me away…" she whispered, silently hoping Ida would give her an answer. She brushed her long hair and placed a pin to secure it into place.

"This pin belongs to me, I bought it with my first pay. I will give it to you. Take care of it," she responded and Kaen sighed. "All of us suffered the same fate… This is the curse of our beautiful face," she whispered, lifting her chin and smiling sadly. "Tonight, you will be a real woman."

Before Kaen could say or ask more, the room's door slid open and an old man stepped in, eyeing her from head to toe. Ida bowed down at the man and stepped out of the room. Kaen bowed down and followed the older woman but the man grabbed her arm and turned her around.

"I paid the okami for you to entertain me," he whispered, smiling mischievously. Kaen's eyes widened when the man pushed her to bed and pulled the ropes around her robe. "Don't struggle too much or you will get hurt, girl."

"STOP!"

She pushed the man away, in a state of panic. Her hair fell from her face and the pin dangled from the low bun. She pushed the man and immediately ran out of the room, passing by other men who eyed her, laughing at the terror sketched on her face. She covered her robe tightly around her young body and ran out of the house, tears falling on her cheeks.

"MOTHER, DON'T LEAVE ME HERE! MOTHER!" A hand clutched her hair and pulled her back and she fell on the ground, her back hitting it hard she thought her ribs would break.

"BAKA! Don't test my anger!" He slapped her, his hand heavy and strong.

She whimpered as he continued to slap her face, pushing her on the ground. The pin fell completely. He pulled open her robe and she screamed, struggling but failing. His dirty hands roamed over her body, touching her. Her skin prickled at his awful breath and she cried in desperation as he separated her legs.

"Help! Help!"

The sound of horse's hooves approached them and a hand landed on the man's back, the stranger throwing him to the side easily. When she looked up, a beautiful pair of blue eyes appeared; surrounded by the kindest face she had ever seen. Kaen pulled her robe tighter as she looked at the man who came to her rescue. His face took her breath away and her young heart beat loud.

"Hurry up before the shogun looks for us!" The blond young man turned around without saying anything, walked away with an expressionless face, the cape of his armor flapped in the gentle mid day breeze. "NAKAGO! Hurry up!"

YUI'S EYES WIDENED and she sat up immediately. "The last warrior is in Shinryu palace!" she screamed aloud but she covered her mouth immediately when a familiar handsome face welcomed her to consciousness. His clear blue eyes were surprised at her sudden outburst and fascination danced in them as he looked through her face. Cold fingers brushed her cheek and she flushed immediately at the gentle movements of his fingers. "Ayuru…?"

"You're awake…" he whispered in recognition and she heaved a sigh of relief. She immediately leaned on his strong muscular chest and wrapped her hands around his waist, embracing him tight.

"I'm so happy to see you…" she stammered. His fingers brushed through her short hair and Yui doesn't care if he finds out she's a girl. She wanted to be close to him, to feel his body, to make sure she was alive and the lightning had not consumed her completely. "You saved me again… You always come when I need you. When I'm in danger I always expect you to save me…"

"Hmmm…?" he asked and she looked up, his blue eyes bore softness and a blankness she could not define. He gave no teasing, nothing from the same face she remembered him by. He smiled, a sad breathtaking smile. "How was your little adventure?"

Her cheeks brightened as he gently reached up to touch her cheek. Before he could touch her, he stopped himself and moved away, standing up and heading for the table to consume a half-full glass of wine.

"I've found four warriors since we met," she told him. "I'm only lacking one and he's—"

"In the Kutou palace, in Shinryu," he finished for her and she nodded, sitting on the side of the bed.

They were in a tent and they were both wearing a robe. It was warm on her skin. She didn't know how she ended up in Ayuru's tent when she was with Kaen—the warrior Soi—earlier. She looked around, wondering where she was or if the encounter in the ruined village even happened. It was probably a dream or this could be the dream.

"Hai, I've seen his face in my dream…" She sighed and stood up from the bed. The image was blurred but she remembered familiarity when their eyes met. Thunder broke from the sky outside and it sent a shiver down her spine. Her flesh still stung from the impact. "His mark is…on his forehead," she closed her eyes to remember how he looked like.

"A mark…?" Ayuru asked softly, turning to her. "Like this?" Yui opened her eyes and the room glimmered in bright blue as a sinuous line formed on the blond swordsman's forehead. His hair danced lightly with the rays and she gasped when she realized what it was.

Nakago. Heart's Lodging.

"Bless Seiryuu…" She found the last warrior—and he was someone who had been with her all along. She stepped toward him, dazed at the sight of the mark. A strong power stopped her and she stood frozen, surprised at the surge of power he easily used to limit her movements.

Ayuru laughed, light at first and then becoming loud, almost vicious. The blue light disappeared in the tent but the mark stayed on his forehead. Beautiful and scary. Yui realized that, like Kaen, he was different from the man she met months back.

"I gave you a chance to escape princess," he said softly and Yui's eyes widened. How did he…? "But you wasted it by falling into my lap. What kind of education did the scholars give you? Or did they even give you one?" He walked toward her, eyes sharp and fierce. Coldness filled her, making her body tremble.

"Ayuru—"

"Don't call me Ayuru—I am Nakago." He smirked, sensing the fear he lit in her. He lifted her chin and raised an eyebrow. "I am now a shogun of Kutou. And you are merely a fallen princess," he said with distaste. "Do you know how much your head costs?"

"Let go of me," she said sternly but her voice faltered and he smirked. She was scared of him, scared of the knowing power he emitted and the effect he had on her. There was also the look, the angry controlled look in his eyes—it was different from the one he gave her when she woke up, much different when they first met. "What do you want…?" she asked, trying to fight back the tears, straining to hide the fear but he sensed it too easily.

"A warrior has shed his armor for you, the least you could do is to entertain him." Thunder broke from the sky and his eyes danced in the light, watching with fascination the surprised that sketched over her face. He moved his hand down the robe on her neck.

"Don't touch me!" she screamed, pushing him away. He stepped back, surprised. She ran behind the table and he turned with a stern face. The air around them shifted and the storm continued to fall mercilessly over the tent, engulfing her screams and every hope she had. "Don't come closer!" she said, unsheathing his sword that was mounted on the wall along with his armor. Nakago laughed, entertained.

"Do you think you can use my sword against me?" he asked. He walked closer, each step made her heart beat unbearably loud in her ears. The wine glass rose from the table and flew toward her.

Yui gasped and ducked. It hit the tent wall, breaking into thousand numerous pieces. A thin slab sliced the side of her neck and she made a face as it bled and throbbed. He started to walk at the sides of the table and she stepped away, keeping the sword as a shield against its master. She knew she will lose, she knew no one will save her, she knew he will have his way. But if she can delay it for a little longer, hope might come. She doesn't know how long she needed to wait, how much more flying glasses she could evade.

The air inside the tent was suffocating her. It was scorching and sweat drizzled her back, her forehead, her arms and legs. She swallowed hard as he lifted the wine bottle and poured the dark red liquid on another glass. He drank from it, not taking his eyes off her. The mark on his forehead never waned and she blinked back the trembling of her arms. She will never win against a warrior. But if she can take another step, she will be on the side of the door. One more step and she will have a chance to escape.

After finishing the glass, the bottle flew toward her and she screamed as she evaded being hit. He stepped again, circling the table in hurried movements. Another broken piece flew to slash the sides of her robe. Her feet stepped on broken shards of glass and she winced. Before she can straighten up, the glass flew to her direction and she swung the sword, breaking the glass immediately in mid air. The broken pieces flew and cut her cheek, blood trickled down her chin. Nakago doesn't look too happy.

The shogun took another step and she toppled the table over, immediately running toward the door, the shards sinking deeper into her skin. A force stopped her but she allowed herself to fall on the ground, slashing the rope that held the candles on the ceiling. The wood crashed down on the carpeted ground, breaking and engulfing them in the darkness. Something moved in front of her and with heart on her throat, she swung the sword at an unknown force. It stopped, sinking on flesh.

Slowly, blue light emanated in front of her eyes, forming a cursive writing on skin. It lit his handsome face and she gasped as he tightened his hold of the blade, blood flowing from his palms to her fingers. He pulled the blade closer and she stepped forward.

"No more games. I want you now," he breathed out.

The mark brightened and she was thrown back into the tent, hitting the hard wall in a force that made some bones break. She coughed blood. Instead of falling, he nailed her to the wall, spreading her arms across. She was bloodied and weak and every part of her body throbbed. It didn't help that Soi hit her with lightning bolts earlier, and that her body was still very weak. Heavy footsteps came closer, she can hear it clearly in the dark.

"Please… Don't…" she whispered as tears fell from her eyes. A hand pulled the ties of her robe and a cold hand palmed her waist, circling it in light delicate movements, parting the robe to expose her nakedness. Calloused but surprisingly gentle. A warm tongue swiped the blood on her cheek and she squirmed. "Stop—Ayuru... Ayuru stop—"

"Look what you did to yourself," he breathed out as he planted kisses on the sides of her jaw, licking the open wound on her neck and moving his teeth along her shoulders. His breath was warm and heavy and as he moved closer, she felt the taut muscles of his naked body. There was no force in his movements but she was too weak to fight back. She was too weak to move away. She was too weak to defy what her body seemed to want as well.

"Ayuru…" she cried as his mouth moved toward the valley between her breasts, leaving goosebumps on her skin. "Ayuru, help me…" Her cries came out louder and she choked on her tears. Her consciousness was slowly fading away, but it did not stop the heat that he trailed on her skin. "Stop…" Nakago pulled her toward the carpeted floor and loomed on top.

The mark on his forehead glimmered lightly and she can see his body, his shining blue eyes. She placed her hands on his chest, pushing him away. Unlike Tomo he would not listen, he would not be assuaged by tears. Before Yui lost consciousness, she remembered his eyes, they were dancing in the lack of light.

"Yui-sama…" he whispered, voice trailing in her dreams.

A/N: Whoopsie, things happened a little fast here. I wanted them to meet again and it didn't help that everyone who's been reading this fic expects them to meet SOON. Anyway, the scene was a little gory and bloody but I hope you like it. Heehee. Please do tell me what you think!