Here it is, sorry for the delay. I've had sooooo much homework lately that I can't get online to update! This is the second last chapter of this story. As I mentioned, I've started another story following this plotline. Anyways, please R/R!



Ruki's POV:





I glanced around. The firelight made shadows play over the faces of my captors. I shivered slightly. It seemed I was to be auctioned off. Some crazy thing about breeding me. I kept quiet, silently plotting my escape.

"The freak is sold then. This year she breeds with Heru."

I looked over to see an ugly man in his early twenties coming towards me. He undid the chains around my wrists.

"Come, to my tent."

As we got farther away from the others I began to resist. I twisted his arm and kicked his shine. If only I weren't in this blasted skirt! Heru scowled at me.

"You'll obey girl or die."

"I'd rather die than get close to any of you!" I spat angerly.

Heru frowned. He raised a fist when suddenly he lost his breath, falling to the ground. I jumped back and looked up.

"Are you okay Ruki?"

"Jenrya!"

There was no time to chat, Heru was trying to stand up. Jenrya kicked him hard.

"You mess with her, you mess with me."

Heru glared up at him.

"You freaks don't deserve to live! If I yell the others will all come running. They'll kill you both!"

I took the tie out of my hair. It was like a rolled up bandana. I used it as a gag for Heru.

"Let's get him out of here. We can't have him telling his friends."

Jenrya nodded. He hoisted the man onto his back as we began to half-run to the forest.

"Jenrya! Ruki! Over here!"

Kaze was waving at us from behind a large rock. We ran over and Jenrya set down Heru, who had passed out.

Now that we were sitting, Jenrya turned to me.

"Did they hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine. Just shaken up a little."

"So you're Jenrya's girlfriend!"

Jenrya winced and Kaze grinned. That's when I noticed the girl sitting with us.

"Who are you?"

"Just a friend of these guys. Jenrya is quite stubbern. How do you manage to put up with him?"

"Well, I. . . I. . ."

I glanced at Jenrya who shrugged. I took this as a sign to just go along with her.

"I manage. He's not the only stubbern one."

Yelling from the direction of the theive's camp stopped our chit chat.

"She escaped! And she took Heru with her! I bet that damn partner of her's helped out! We should have killed him when we had the chance!"

"We have to get moving." Kaze whispered. "Leave him here," He motioned to Heru. "He'll just weigh us down."

The four of us rose and ran swiftly through the forest. The shouts behind us grew louder. Just when I thought we might make it I felt my ankle roll. I but my lip to keep from yelping in pain as I fell to the ground.

"Ruki!"

Jenrya was instantly at my side giving me a concerned look.

"Is she okay?" Kaze asked.

I winced as Jenrya touched my ankle gently.

"It's starting to swell. It must be at least sprained." Jenrya replied. "I'll try to carry her, but it will slow us down."

I shook my head.

"No, leave me here. No use both of us getting killed."

"Are you crazy? I'm not leaving you now! They'll kill you!"

Kaze and the girl didn't say anything as we argued, but they were anxious to start moving again.

"Don't worry about me. You have to make it back. Takato, your family and anyone else you know must be worried sick about you! If you carry me I'll be putting us both in danger!"

"Ruki I can't leave you!"

"Gawd, stop being so stubbern! Just go already!"

"Me? What about you! I'm not leaving you to be murdered!"

"Jenrya, please." Fresh tears were forming in my eyes. My ankle hurt like heck and fighting Jenrya hadn't been my plan for the evening. "Just leave me. Why do you even care?"

"Because. . ."

He hesitated. Uncertainty showed in his grey eyes. I should have known he had never cared.

"Just go!"

"Ruki," Jenrya spoke softly making me feel horrible. He was such a good acter, pretending to care about me. As he reached over to help me up I slapped him hard.

"Just leave me alone!" I screamed. "Stop pretending you care! Please just go!"

Everyone looked stunned as I broke down into sobs again. This whole day had been an emotional drain. I wasn't sure what I was doing anymore. My head was so fuzzy and my thoughts mixed up. . .

Someone lifted me and began to run. The thieves were closing in on us. Their shouts loud when they discovered their friend. After that I didn't hear much else because everything went black. . .

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This time when the dream came it wasn't as pleasent. I gazed around at the lake. The surface was frozen, the Sakura trees bare. I shivered and hugged myself.

"It reflects your personality."

I turned and felt myself smile.

"Jen-san!"

But as I neared him, he stepped away. His grey eyes were hard and unwelcoming.

"I've never done anything to you, yet you break my heart. How could you Ruki? How could you do this?" He waved a hand at our surrondings. "You did this. You froze everything."

I gasped. "I did not! I. . ."

"How could you?" Jenrya continued to murmur sadly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to, I never meant to. . ."

"How could you. . ."

Jenrya slowly faded from my vision, leaving me alone in the frozen dream land.

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A/N: Okay, before you all complain about Ruki crying again, I try NOT to write stuff like that in, but it just comes sometimes. It hopefully will be one of the few times I have her break down like that. It ruins her character personally. Please review, and I'll see you in chapter 9!