Yuki didn't know how far she would be able to run.
Finally, she collapsed on the ground as fatigue started to take over her body.
She woke up inside a comfortable room with rich and luxurious drapings and expensive tapestries.
The decor inside the room reminded her of the palace, no, the eagle's symbol made her aware that she is someplace that belongs to the Odas.
Sitting beside her is the familiar face of a handsome man with hair the color of spun gold.
"Kaede, what happened?" Yuki asked the beautiful handsome man beside her.
The man smiled and tried to tease her, "Well, you fell asleep for one. And now you have woken up, my sleeping beauty."
"Not that. I'm serious. I need to know what happened. Where is the prince?" Yuki asked, with concern laced in her voice.
"There is no prince. He has become the emperor," Kaede's face darkened, his voice deeper than before.
"What do you mean?", Yuki's eyes widened. If he has become the emperor, then that means…
"Just before we could kill each other, the royal guards came bearing terrible news. The night you were abducted by the masked man, the emperor was killed and so were the entire council of elders. Sporadic massacres occurred throughout the realm." Kaede's fist clenched, remembering the event.
"The entire council of elders... then you mean... my father..." Yuki shouted her father's name when Kaede silently nodded, unable to look at her face.
Kaede's heart felt heavy, seeing the pure agony written in Yuki's face.
He wanted to soothe her, but he was suffering too, his human world father was among the casualties, the only one who acted towards him as one.
They may not have been related by blood, but he had shown him how it felt to be a son. He had been the person who would not give up on him even when he tried so hard to disappoint in everything he did. That person is already dead.
Kaede occupied the space on the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. "Cry for as long as you needed, as hard as you want. Know that I am here for you. Yuki, you are not alone in this."
"What do I do now Kaede? I have lost my only family. I have no one now." Yuki cried on his shoulders, her tears drenching the new general's inner vest.
"You are never alone Yuki. You never will be. You have me. I'll take care of you. I'll protect you. From the emperor, and from everyone else who wanted to harm you."
Yuki trembled in fear when she recalled Jiro's face and the maddening lust written in his eyes.
The monster now had unlimited power at his disposal. How could she ever escape?
"Yuki, let me protect you. Let me be your shield." Kaede kissed the back of her hand as his blue eyes stared right into her soul.
"What are you saying, Kaede?", Yuki asked, knowing the answer to her question.
"I ask that you marry me. This is the only way for me to protect you. His royal highness intends to wed you himself or if you refuse, to turn you into his concubine. We must marry while he is preoccupied with state affairs."
Yuki shook her head. She couldn't have that. She couldn't accept a future like that.
"Please protect me Kaede. Take me away from here. I ask you. No, I beg you. Marry me. Allow me to be your wife."
Yuki grasped the choice she had to make and only wished that she wouldn't live to regret her choice.
"With that cute and chubby face, how can I say no?", Kaede smiled, trying to lighten up the mood.
Yuki hit his arm but her eyes looked at him as if she has seen the only answer to her troubles.
"I will marry you, and take you away from here. My only question is, do you trust me?" Kaede's expression turned serious as he searched her face for answers.
"I trust you Kaede. I trust you with my life." Yuki met his gaze and closed her eyes in total surrender.
Kaede bent his head and reached out for her lips, sealing their agreement with a kiss. Knowing in his heart that he would do everything in his power to protect the woman imprisoned in his arms.
He would keep her safe. Kaede tried to assure himself this as he claimed Yuki's lips as his.
When their lips finally separated, he had convinced himself and strengthened his resolve.
He would not fail, for the alternative was something he could never face.
__________________
They waited a month, Kaede insisted they wait for the full moon before leaving their hiding place.
Yuki kept silent and did not bother to ask Kaede a single question.
She had already told him that she trusted him, so questions at this time felt just unnecessary.
A couple of hours and they were back in the woods, the place he referred to as the Whispering Forest.
Kaede looked at her face, "You told me you trust me with your life, but I have to ask you again. Once we cross the border, we might not be able to go back."
"What do you mean, Kaede? What border? Where are we going?" Yuki asked innocently as she stared into the young man with eyes that reflected the moonlight.
"I'm a faye, a dark faye. My kind refers to us as demons. I traveled through that portal with every intention of destroying the human world and conquering it for my father." Kaede chose to be honest, as he wished with all his heart for Yuki's understanding.
"I knew there was something different about you when you acted insufferable most of the time," Yuki smiled, unable to feel fear towards him.
This is the first genuine smile she had smiled in the month since her father passed away.
She trusted him then, she trusted him still.
Kaede broke into a burst of laughter, "That's all you have to say after my confession?"
"Well, what am I supposed to say? I told you I trust you, didn't I?" Yuki smiled wholeheartedly, a blush appeared on her face.
"You are unbelievably naive, and adorably so," Kaede said as his face lightened, and two fox ears popped out on his head.
"Oh, fox ears, so cute," Yuki said as she touched his ears, which felt like fluffy dog ears.
"Don't go falling in love with me so fast. You know I would enjoy a challenge more than an easy catch," Kaede grinned as Yuki hit his chest with her clenched fist.
"You pompous fox! Nothing really changed," Yuki exclaimed, unable to hide her smile.
"Aye, I'm a fox. A demon fox." Kaede smiled as he reached out for her and embraced her. "But you lady, you did not even flinch. I'm starting to wonder if there is something seriously wrong with you."
Yuki was taken aback by that hug but enjoyed the warm embrace of the friend she had learned to depend on.
"Thank you, for accepting me as I am. I know I'm terribly handsome and all, but still, for you to accept me so easily as an entity so different from yours." Kaede smiled, kidding her but at the same time being sincere.
He had not expected Yuki to just accept him like that. Not that he was complaining.
"Then, Kaede, shall we go now? I'm excited to see the world you grew up in. It is, after all, my first time to go out of this country." Yuki pushed him lightly as the hug was starting to feel uncomfortably warm and heady.
"Ahhhh... your first time. I love taking girls' first time, but I never realized you would volunteer to give me yours," Kaede winked as Yuki protested with his choice of words.
But before she can protest his use of words, the portal opened. It lit up, shining brighter than all the stars combined and inviting them to enter.
Kaede took her hand in his as they walked towards the gateway to another world.