DragonClaw

Two people never came back. One, my father. Two, my brother.

*The Dragonclaw didn't really turn out like I wanted him to. In fact, all I want to do now is kill this character off, but I can't *sigh*. Comment on whether you like him or not.*

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I heard his slipper land softly beside my knee, and the whisper of his sword sliding from his sheath. I felt the blade slip around my neck, a perfect parallel. I held my breath waiting for the finishing blow. The Dragonclaw's breath felt hot against my neck as he leaned in, his lips brushing my ear.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to make this as painful as possible."

"Please don't," I whimpered.

He chuckled.

"I don't believe you have a say in that, Chizuru."

With that, he was silent, and I could feel the space between my neck and the sword decrease, now only millimeters away. Hot tears of fear and sadness rolled down my cheeks, even though I promised myself I wouldn't cry when I died.

Three years ago, it was a cold winter, the coldest it had been in years, and my siblings were not faring well. At the time I was fifteen, Sakura was twelve, Yuki was eight, and little baby Soji was only three. We also had a little brother called Takumi, only 5 years old.

Halfway through the winter, Takumi caught a horrible sickness. We had no money to pay for medical treatment so all I could do was sit there next to him and try my hardest to keep him warm, either by piling all of our threadbare blankets on him or by wrapping his small, fragile body in my arms.

One night, Takumi wouldn't wake up.

I remember shaking his arm, and having no response. His skin was cold and clammy, and very, very pale. I wouldn't give up. I slapped his face, demanding he come back to us. I gave my little brother mouth-to-mouth, pushing air into his lungs.

But nothing brought him back.

I had always been still hoping that Dad would come back that day, and have some miraculous treatment for Takumi. But I was wrong.

He never came back.

I started crying the next day, when we had to hand him off to the stoic-faced guards, dressed in black, the grim reapers that took my brother away. When we got back to the shack, I collapsed on the dirt floor, sobbing my eyes out. But then I noticed that the other three were staring, tears welling up in their eyes, as they watched their wall, their older sister, crumble and break.

I realized something back then. That I was in charge of taking care of the family, after Dad ditched us and after Mom killed herself when he left. They were my charge, my responsibility. I couldn't let them see me cry. I had to be strong for them. That was the day I promised to never cry again, to always pull through the challenge, even if death stared me in the face with dark, soulless eyes.

I had to.

The fact that I broke that promise will ever haunt me, even when I'm dead. I broke the vow I made to them, my siblings.

I can't even say I'm sorry.

"Have sweet dreams," the Dragonclaw whispered, his breath harsh on my neck.

"Stop!"

The word flew out of my mouth without me even realizing it.

"What did you just say?"

My voice trembled, and I literally thought I would shatter into a million pieces right then. His voice was so full of spite and hatred that it was suffocating.

"I said stop."

I opened my eyes, and immediately regretted it.

For right in front of me, a breath away, was his face, my eyes level with his. And he had such perfect blue eyes. The blue that the sky is, the blue that the oceans are. You could drown in his eyes, in happiness and perfect bliss. Not to mention his hair. His hair was the purest white, like clouds or the tip of a wave. It hung over his face, and I was guessing that it was waist-length, much like a crystal clear waterfall on a winter day. A very attractive crystal waterfall.

He was the hottest man I had ever seen in my whole life.

Too bad though that he was trying to kill me, and he didn't look exactly happy at the moment. Wait, what is wrong with me!? Why am I thinking that this monster is attractive?!

"If you are done checking your King out, I would suggest you try to remedy your situation. Or else your King will have to make your death even more painful, and maybe hurt those around you as well." The Dragonclaw's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"You don't know who my family is, and I will never tell you." My voice quivered at the thought of it. He can't touch my siblings. They've done nothing wrong, they're only children! My siblings haven't even done a single crime. I'm the one that steals, not them!

"I could ask around town. Nobody would ever dare to hide any information from the Dragonclaw. In fact, I could even bring them here, and make you watch every single one of them die. I haven't decided on the method yet, though. Should it be by sword, or by burning, or drowning? Here's a good idea! Let's try something different for each one of them. Then you'll be the last one left. I'll make sure to save a very special death for you."

My confidence shrank by the second, while my fear grew larger. The Dragonclaw could do that. He could do that, and no one would stand against him. After all, my siblings and I are orphans, street-rats. Nobody would miss us.

"Please forgive me, my lord." I lowered my head, hoping that he would pardon my siblings, even if I had to throw away my dignity to do that.

The Dragonclaw's thumb slid under my chin, and jerked my face back up to meet his. I involuntarily raised my eyes to his again, and I noticed that he was smiling. Not a happy smile, but a smile that said no-way-is-that-ever-happening.

"It's too late for that, Chizuru. As soon as I break your legs to keep you here, I'm going to go find your family. Then we can all have a cute family get together. With me of course."

"Please, don't. Do anything you want to me, but please don't hurt them."

"Nope!" He put his hands on my leg, preparing to snap it, but then a rock hit him in the head. A small, fist-sized rock.

"Stay away from her, mister!"

I would recognize that voice anywhere.

Sakura.