WO AI NI: Part 3

A MISTAKE

*Sweatdrop* I don't hate his majesty! Really I don't! I love him lots, I just need to do this for the fic. Please don't get mad at me all you Hoto-sama fans!

The days got harder. Tamahome tried his best to pay off the rent. Day after day he sold their crops and got himself odd jobs with the townspeople. Some days, he never even returned home. In those days, he felt so alone and wished that he could see the little ones again.
  Today was one of those days. He had just managed to tell the townspeople that he would protect anyone just for some money. The money he asked for wasn't all that expensive - in fact, not even enough for one meal. But seeing that he was determined at least to gain something, the townspeople agreed.
  He sat under the shade of an apple tree, chewing on a blade of grass. He was worried that his family might not be able to eat in the next week if he didn't find a miracle. He had left Chuei in charge of the family, since he was the next eldest.
  How Tamahome hated the Emperor with a passion! He felt like he could walk up to the palace gates and show the "show" Emperor who was boss! What kind of a stupid law was that to begin with? 'Just a couple more dollars,' Tamahome said to himself, 'and the debt will be paid off.'
  With that, he looked around the field one last time, before stretching out and falling asleep.

                                              * *  *

   Two months later, he was still trying to work off the debt. He hadn't seen his brothers and sisters in four weeks!
  He did his odd jobs and then turned to go back home.
  "Did you hear?" A man asked.
  "I did! The Emperor turned 17!" A woman said.
  A 17 year old Emperor???? What the f*** were people thinking??? Probably an obnoxious brat that only thought of himself and couldn't care less about his people.
  "He's pretty good for his age isn't he?" He heard someone else say. 'I better leave before I say something I might regret.' Tamahome thought to himself. Then he heard a scream. He froze and turned around.
  "Help! Help me please!" Came the desperate plea for help. It repeated again and again. Tamahome looked around. No one was making a move to see what was going on. Instead, like cowards, they ran to the protection of their houses. Feeling anger at them and anger at those who would hurt so intentionally, he ran off in the direction of the voice.
  What else could have been happening. A few guys trying to *abuse* a girl. Beside the girl, was another girl, who was face down on the ground.  A pool of blood was forming around her. It spilled from her ears, her eyes and her mouth. It stained the floor a bright red. Tamahome averted his eyes from the disgusting mess and instead turned them to the criminals.They towered over a little girl - one close to womanhood. She was frightened badly, and covered in blood from head to toe. Perhaps not all of her own...she had welts that covered her arms. His eyes fell on clubs and knives. How relentless!!!
   "Leave her alone." He heard his voice say. He had no idea that his symbol was glowing. That gave the desired affect that he wanted. They turned their attention to him with smirks. "What can you do BOY?" They taunted. They whispered more to each other before they charged at him. Swiftly and firmly Tamahome introduced the floor to all of them. Then he turned to the girl.
  "Are you all right miss?" He sounded strained. She shivered and nodded. Then her eyes filled with tears.  "My sister....my sister...she..." He picked up the knife, dripping with blood. He felt anger rip through him. If that had been his sister...he would never forgive anyone who hurt his siblings even in the mildest way.
As he turned to help her up, his arms were suddenly taken. In surprise, he dropped the knife.
Behind him, government officials and guards. Panic and fear replaced his anger - they thought HE was the one who had done this. The girl was too scared to move or say anything. His mind raced for the words to say.
  Tamahome's hands were bound, and he was led away....

                                              * * * *

  "I swear! It wasn't me!" Tamahome cried, as he hung from shackles. They had spent a good half hour whipping him. Blood dripped from his mouth and from the open wounds that were inflicted when the whip fell. It hurt. But not as much as the pain from the fact that everything was a mistake. His back burned with what felt like a living fire raging through every part of his body. He had given up crying out - they wouldn't stop anyway.
  It was stupid; here he was being punished for something he didn't do. He clenched his teeth but realised he could no longer hold on. His last thoughts were of his family, as he passed out.
  When he awoke, it was to the voice of the girl he had saved. His vision blurred in his pain. "He was telling the truth." He heard her say. "Please, let him go. He saved me." Tamahome's head hurt so much that he couldn't tell what else was said. All he knew was that he was moving, and when he was fully consious, he was bandaged and clothed.
  "What happened?" He asked, his voice sounding slurred. The same girl leaned over him.
  "You saved my life. Don't you remember?" Tamahome looked at her blankly for a moment, and then the scene of what had happened just hours before flooded back to him. He shook his head to clear it away and smiled.
  "Thank you. For saving my life that is." He said uncertainly. She placed her hand on his. He flinched and pulled it away. He wasn't used to girls being intimate with him. She blushed and reached into her pocket.
  "Your...your name is Tamahome ne?" She asked shyly. A man had come to stand with her. She gestured to him. "That is my father. We are very grateful that you saved me. My sister...she wasn't...well, never mind." She handed money to him. "For you and your family. When you feel better, I trust you will be on your way?" At first, he just stared at the money. Then remembering his preposition to the townspeople, he took it.
  "I'm sorry. I wasn't able to protect your sister..."
  Her father waved his hand as if to wave off the subject. "It isn't your fault. Please stay untill you recover." Nothing more was said on the subject. After three days, Tamahome, still not well enough but eager to get home to his family with his newfound fortune, bade farewell to the family.
  He went back to his home - this time with money enough to pay off the rent. He had done his job well this time - It was all because of one little mistake.
  The reaction from his family was as expected - they were thrilled. There was even enough for their evening meal.
  "Now, Niichan give Yuiren doll!" She cried happily throwing her arms around his neck. He laughed and nodded. "Yes, I'll get your doll as I promised."
  "Tamahome. You are injured. What happened in the last four days?" His father demanded, taking Yuiren from him as Chuei and Gyokuran pushed him into a chair to change his bandages.
  "Nothing big. Nothing to be concerned with." He answered, not wanting to worry his father anymore than he was already worried. He was just glad to be home.

                                                         * * * *
 
  He paid off the rent, but the new problem was, they wouldn't return the doll to Yuiren. She was very disappointed. Tamahome was mad. He knew for a fact that this was not part of the law.
  "Don't worry Yuiren, " He comforted the sobbing girl, "I will just get you a new doll. Okay?"
   Yuiren sniffed. "But...Yuiren wants the same one!!" She continued to cry. Tamahome felt helpless. He really didn't want to get  into another issue with government officials. But nonetheless he had promised his sister he would get it back for her, and that was what he intended to do. Tamahome decided to get it back the next time they were in town.
   It was then that his father took deathly ill....

On to part four
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