Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 23: HOMEWARD BOUND

Ryogetsu was yanked off Yuuki. He stirred but did not wake. He now lay sprawled out on the floor. Kou seethed.

Ourei looked down at Ryogetsu, then she glanced at Yuuki.

Yuuki started mumbling, trying to relay the truth but his face was red, and the misunderstanding had already taken shape.

Ourei knelt in front of Yuuki. "Are you all right?" she asked. She cupped his face in her hands, searching for something.

Yuuki let out a shaky breath. Why would his voice not come? Was it because of the fear? Eventually he just nodded with closed eyes. Ourei's brows furrowed. She looked out at the garden, nodding.

Sighing, Yuuki got to his feet. The two siblings turned their attention to Ryogetsu drunk and passed out on the floor.

Yuuki wandered through the halls. He did not know where he was heading. He did not walk with purpose. He just knew he would not be able to sleep at the moment. What if something had happened?

He felt guilty. Somewhere inside of him he had hoped Ryogetsu would kiss him. He was disgusting. Ryogetsu was not like Yuuki. He was normal. He liked women. Not men.

Eventually Yuuki stopped at the stables. There was a brown mare still awake. She was a lively thing. Yuuki had ridden her when they had gone hunting earlier that day. He stroked her velvety nose. "How are you, girl?" he asked. She whinnied. She stretched out her head and nipped at Yuuki's hair. He laughed. "That is not food." He pushed her head away. "Wait a moment."

Yuuki had always adored animals. All animals. They were gentle creatures that depended on instinct rather than thought. It was a simpler life than the lives of humans.

Yuuki returned and gave the mare a carrot he had found. "Here you go," he said. She happily nibbled on the vegetable. Yuuki smiled softly as he stroked her head. "I bet you do not have these problems, huh?"

Yuuki wondered what would happen if he mounted her right now and rode away. He laughed at himself. He was not determined enough to leave.

He heard footsteps behind him. He spun his head around. Ourei stared at him. "Oh," he said and stroked the mare's long neck.

Ourei sighed and crossed her arms. She could not understand why he would stay in places where he got hurt. Was it that hard to get away from his tormentors? His brothers had hurt him for so long... Yet it took something horrible to make him leave. And Ourei had a feeling he did not do it on his own.

"You should leave," she said, "Naguchi is taking his anger and hatred toward the Akano clan out on you."

Yuuki stared at her with an indiscernible expression.

He knew, in a way, that Ourei was right. Not only that, but his feelings for Ryogetsu would only hurt him.

He stroked his fingers through the mare's mane. There was something very calming about stroking an animal's fur.

"What should I do?" he asked.

Ourei looked at him. She answered, "Run. Take a horse. Go anywhere. Across the country. Across the ocean. Just run from this godforsaken life you seem to be content with. If that is the only answer it is not cowardice."

Yuuki stared at her. He liked Ourei. He felt that what she was saying was the truth. Running was perhaps the only path open to him. Even if he ran for the rest of his life. Even if he ended up worse off. He had to take the chance.

Yuuki jumped down from the mare, marvelling at how the city had changed. This was the place of his birth. The place of his early youth. This was the home his mother had stayed in. It was the first—the only place he could call home.