Rose Bloomed from Fire by Fenikkusu Ice

Prologue: A Moment from the Past

'Rose Bloomed from Fire'

By Fenikkusu Ice

Prologue: A Moment from the Past

*******

The moonlight shone through the rose garden, accenting their beautiful color and warmth, as a tall silhouette of a man stood patiently in the centre. At first glance, one would think he was a man, but his smooth silver hair, claws, pointed ears and stripes on his arms and face proved otherwise. He was a demon of merit; he was the great General of the youkai army of the west. His smooth flawless face bestowed no emotion whatsoever though his medals showed the many years he served his lord and people. His eyes were a different story though. The golden irises shown with worry and uneasiness as if a dark feeling crept upon his soul, shaking it with its presence. His thoughts were interrupted by a small sound in the bushes that caused his senses to rise on high alert as he turned around with a flick of his red cape.

A maiden stood in her tattered violet dress between two rose bushes. Her brilliant blue eyes expressed relief and happiness at the sight of the General while his own eyes and mirrored her emotions and his face softened.

She smiled as she approached the demon then grimaced when she felt a cut on her index finger. His eyebrows furrowed with worry as he closed the distance between them in a few strides. He held her hand and kissed her finger while looking down into her irises. She caught a glance of the rose she had given him as a token of her love that was pinned on his collar and her smile grew. She had her head down but her face highlighted a pretty shade of red that he found cute and attractive.

He brought his other hand under her chin and tilted her head up. What he saw in her eyes were happiness, worry and love. He understood her completely. He comforted her by bringing her into his warm embrace.

Their situation seemed impossible yet it happened. How could a servant of a human lord and the general of a youkai lord come together? The humans and the youkai have battled for generations and generations resulting in useless bloodshed with neither side surrendering. If they were ever found out, they would be tried for treason and executed immediately. Even for a youkai of his status, his actions would not be forgiven. She was a servant so executing her for her betrayal would not damage the human army; she was practically useless to them. For this reason, they would not hesitate to kill her.

He turned his head away from hers, still locked in their embrace. He had asked himself time and time again the reasons why he would let the woman he loved to see him. He knew of the consequences of their forbidden love. He spoke to her, even tried threatening her to get her to leave him. He could not bear it if something happened to her. He would not mind at all if he alone would be punished with death because of their love, if only she would survive unhurt. This would not be the case if they were discovered.

He felt her shift, and bestowed his gaze upon her once again. Golden irises clashed with blue ones as they slowly closed their eyes, closing all of the distance between them and their lips met. It was a passionate kiss, one out of the many in which they shared through the secret meetings they have had for the past 6 moon cycles. His tongue gently swept her bottom lips, silently asking for permission. She obliged his offer, and she moaned, as he tasted the sweetness of her mouth. He growled deep within his throat as she returned his advance, and then she sucked on one of his fangs as well. They had never gone beyond kissing for their meetings were always too short-lived.

Ever since their first kiss, he did not care about her status in life, whether it was in human society or youkai society. He did not care that she was a human and that other youkai despised her. All that mattered was that she was in his arms right here, right now.

He suddenly broke off the kiss when he sensed other auras closing in on them. They were surrounded. For a brief second, fear flashed into his eyes. He feared not for himself but for his love.

He hugged her tighter when he realized that they would not be able to escape; there were too many youkai surrounded them and not only that, but they consisted of very powerful youkai. He knew his limits; he did not wish to take on so many all at once and leave her unprotected.

All at once the youkai pulled her away from him, as he was pulled away from her. "Sesshou!" she cried. Both of them were held tightly; with the general held by ten of the strongest youkai that were under his rank. His lord clutched a torch in his hand as he shouted, "My fellow youkai! Our general, Sesshou, has betrayed us by loving a lowly human servant girl. Does anyone oppose his execution?"

A chorus of "NO!" erupted as they raised their fists. And with that Sesshou and the woman were dragged away from the rose garden to an area where a pile of wooden sticks, and tree branches resided. First they kicked and punched them, weakening them. Sesshou heard the screams of pain from his love and clawed his way to her. She was battered. Blood was running down her cheek where a cut ran across her face. Several of her ribs were broken and she suffered a blow to her head as well. He was not in a much better condition. Blood dripped from a side of his mouth, a gash was across his stomach and his side was bruised.

He went to her side where she was laying and held her to him, mindful of the injuries she had. Her eyes were losing their strength and he could tell that she had difficulty breathing. For the first time in his life, his eyes expressed pleading as he looked up upon his lord.

His lord gave no indication of mercy or pity as he gestured for his soldiers. By now Sesshou was too weak to fight them as they tied him and the woman to two separate wooden posts, across from each other, too far for them to hold each other.

"Burn them!" the lord commanded. Torches were tossed into the branches and sticks.

As the fire rose, burning both of them, their gazes locked. Through his youkai hearing he could hear his love's last words, "I will always love you Sesshou. I'm sorry." He shook his head. He should be the one who needed forgiveness not her. It wasn't her fault at all.

She smiled a sad smile as she closed her eyes for the last time. He watched her disappear in the flames. He watched her die before him. The other youkai would not even bless them with letting them die in each other's arms; they were too far away to even hold hands. A single tear appeared on his cheek as he whispered his own last words and resting his gaze upon the star-filled sky,

"I will love you always my sweet. Please forgive me," before his eyes closed and he disappeared in the flames. The rose remained a little longer before it too dissipated in the harsh heat of the fire.

*******