YnM Fanfiction

Sakura

Written by Calis

Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Yoko Matsushita-sensei

Chapter Four: Silver Ghost

" Nani? Who dares to interfere? " Yutai spurned around, surprisingly quick for someone with his bulk.

" I merely even out the odds to make things a little fairer. "

That voice!

It's the same from my dream!

Oriya struggled in his attempt to see and received a rap on the head for his troubles. He would have tried to break free but something told him that it was not the right time to do it. When Yutai took a step back in shock, Oriya was stunned himself to see that his rescuer had single-handedly dispatched Yuji and his three followers who were guarding the door without even raising the slightest alarm. He was leaning against the door almost indolently with his arms crossed against his chest with four prone bodies sprawled at his feet. Oriya recognized the white uniform of a Judoka but could not make out the features since shadows cast by the dying day, hid his rescuer's face in darkness. Yutai recognized the intruder however.

" Muraki Kazutaka... Why don't you just mind your own damned business? " Yutai swore but there was a quiver in his voice.

Fear...

He is afraid...

" I am doing just that, Nikami. I don't want to waste my time patching him up again. " The familiar voice spoke with faint amusement.

He emerged from the shadows, moving with unconscious grace and swiftness of a hunting cat. The last golden rays of the sun lit his hair from behind casting a silver nimbus about him. Oriya's heart almost skipped a beat when he finally looked upon the face he so desperately wanted to see. It was a face of perfect masculine beauty that appeared to have been sculpted out of white marble by the hands of a master artist. The high cheekbones gave not a sense of delicateness but of strength and a pair of silver wire spectacle frame only enhanced eyes of a strange mercurial shade that was a slight tint darker than his hair. For a moment, Oriya thought he saw the faint image of huge white wings enveloping the silver figure.

" Muraki Kazutaka..."

Oriya whispered the name that would be forever branded into his memory.

" He broke my brother's nose and we're not leaving until he gets a little payback! " Yutai blustered before he charged straight at Muraki.

He swung a roundhouse punch wildly and the silver-haired youth evaded it with ease as he moved with adroitness that made Yutai looked like a clumsy bull with his blundering attacks. Yutai's face was red with anger and the humiliation of being ridiculed in front of his cohorts as he failed time and time again to even get close enough to touch Muraki. His size has always given him the advantage in a fight but this time against a more agile and skilled opponent. The faint derisive smile that tugged at the corner of Muraki's lips as he danced beyond Yutai's reach was like a fuse to the rage that was boiling within the hefty boy.

" Argghhh! Why can't you keep still and face me, damn you! I'll wipe that smirk off your face with my fists!"

" I don't think so, Nikami. " Muraki stated apathetically

Instead of dodging this time, the strange handsome youth with silver hair stood with his arms slightly raised in the traditional judo grappling position. Yutai ran at Muraki again with his ham-like fists leading the way, all sense of caution thrown to the wind with the onslaught of his ire. Grasping the arm that was swinging right at him, Muraki spun around and executed a perfect Morote Seoinage, sending Yutai soaring over his shoulder with the two-arm shoulder throw.

Yutai landed heavily with a solid thud and Oriya almost thought that he felt a small quake at the impact. He lay stunned for a moment with the breath knocked out of him but from the hate that gleamed from the small pig-like eyes, he was far from cowed. The heavy eighteen year old climbed ponderously to his feet but instead of learning from his previous experience, Yutai rushed straight at Muraki. However, this time he had a nasty surprise waiting for the judoka. He suddenly pulled out a switchblade and slashed viciously down on Muraki's head. Oriya tried to shut a warning but before his throat could work, he saw that Muraki had intercepted the path of the blade by grabbing Yutai's wrist with both hands. However, Muraki flowed with the momentum letting it propel Yutai forward even as he step in with his body lowered, forcing the bigger youth down to his knees even as he executed a Ude Hishigi Waki Gatame on Yutai's right hand which held the nasty-looking knife.

" You should have known better, Nikami. "

The voice that had haunted his dream chilled Oriya this time with its cold emotionless tone this time. Yutai's right hand was disabled by Muraki's arm lock and the young man with silver hair began to apply more pressure. Feeling the pain that stabbed through his immobilized arm, Yutai struggled futilely and he broke out in cold sweat when he realized just what Muraki meant to do to him. The switchblade fell onto the mats that covered the dojo floor with barely a clatter.

" Release him. "

He said it softly but there was no mistaking the sound of a command. However, no one moved to obey. Oriya did not know whether it was out of a sense of misplaced loyalty or simply fear at the strange developments but Yutai's cronies still clutched him tightly. Flashing them a humorless smile, Muraki rewarded them by twisting Yutai's arm slowly. Yutai's eyes bulged wide in fear even as a high almost inhuman scream tore itself out of his throat. The hands that still seized Oriya jerked instinctively at the blatant show of violence but still they did not let him go.

" How unfortunate... Forgive me, Yutai. For they give me no choice. " Muraki sighed.

With a quick abrupt jerk, he broke Yutai's wrist with a sickening crack. Even Oriya could not help but flinch when Muraki released his utterly defeated opponent as he straightened leaving Yutai to slump at his feet. When those cool silver eyes swept over him once more, Oriya found himself the sole object of Muraki's regard. Not willing to share Yutai's fate, the other bullies have fled. Their loyalty had vanished in the face of fear that they did not even cast a backward glance at their injured leader as they run like whipped curs with their tails between their legs.

" They didn't hurt you? "

Oriya's heart felt a painful urge when he felt the full force of those peculiar orbs up close. He was tongue-tied and totally unprepared to have the source of his dreams make such a dramatic transition to a devastatingly and devilish handsome young man. He stood rooted to the spot unable to form a coherent reply as Muraki continued to look at him with warmly amused eyes. They stood facing each other in silence for a while as the twilight gathered outside.

" I'm... I'm fine. " Oriya mumbled a reply finally.

" Don't worry, Oriya Mibu. They will no longer bother you from this day forth. " The deep sonorous voice assured.

" T-thank you. How..how... did you know my name? "

Oriya cursed inwardly as he stammered nervously. He was acting like a stupid sixteen-year-old right in front of the mature older youth. Mortified, he dropped his head breaking the eye contact between them and turned away with his face flushed with embarrassment. So much had happened within a single day and Oriya's mind was in a twirl, making it hard to think clearly. Finally remembering that he has yet to thank Muraki for saving him twice, his head reared up but he found himself alone in the dark dojo.

Like an elusive phantom, Muraki Kazutaka was gone but Oriya thought he heard a faint whisper.

" Oriya... I know everything about you. "