This is the first chapter of my new story! I decided to put it up as a sort of prologue. I wish fanfiction had the option of more genres. Just a heads up - this story's going to be a tragedy, just like all my other stories, and it's going to be really angsty too. It also might be a while before I post the next chapter because I really want to work on the actual story a bit before uploading it. This chapter doesn't count because it doesn't have too much of an impact on the rest of the story. This is the first fanfiction that I've written that's set in modern day, so I'm sort of nervous and excited! I was really surprised by how quickly I finished all of my college prepping stuff, so now I have more time to write. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this first chapter, and please review!

Chapter 1

The girl sat alone in the dim room. She watched the shadows of leaves dancing along the walls as she waited. Her long, slim fingers played with the hem of her dark-green kimono. Soon, her mother would be arriving with a potential marriage candidate. Her hand fluttered up to her inky, black hair, set with ornate, golden, gemmed pins. She had absolutely no interest in marrying someone she had never met before. She shifted her weight from one shin to the other, her legs growing numb. Her light-brown eyes shifted restlessly and she let out a shaky breath. The minutes seemed to drag on forever as she waited. Suddenly, a noise outside caused her to perk up. She strained her ears, trying to catch the conversation; anything to alleviate her boredom.

"Seriously, Heisuke?" A nasally voice scoffed. "You can't even hold on to a single sheet of paper? That's why I wanted Hajime-kun to have it."

"I can't help it! It was windy!" A childish voice complained.

"Well, you were the one who let it blow away, so you should go and get it." The first voice contended.

"But Souji!" Heisuke whined. "It's someone else's house!"

"So? Is that my problem?"

"Hajime-kun!" Heisuke addressed another person. "Help me, please! If you get caught, you're better at giving explanations than I am!"

The girl couldn't make out anything past incoherent muttering.

"Please!" Heisuke pleaded, apparently not very pleased with whatever Hajime had said. The girl could imagine the boy with his eyes as large as saucers and the palms of his hands pressed together. There was another incoherent mumble and Heisuke whooped with joy. Evidently Hajime had complied with his demand.

"Shut up!" Souji hissed at the boy. "Are you trying to wake up the whole neighborhood? You're going to get us caught before we even do anything!"

Her interest in what was happening outside made the girl stand up. She shook her legs out to get the feeling back in them, and slid open the door that faced the garden outside. She stepped off the wooden porch and onto the soft, green grass. Wiggling her bare toes around, she savored the feeling of being outside, in the sun, instead of gazing at it from afar. She wandered along the great expanse of fence, trying to figure out where the men were on the other side, as they had gone quiet. But she stopped when she noticed a sheet of paper caught in one of the small bushes. She moved to pick it up, but a grunting noise distracted her. She looked up and saw a young man with violet hair and the most beautiful cerulean eyes she had ever seen. She gasped in surprise and the startled man slid off the top of the fence without warning. For a moment, everything went dark and she felt something heavy land on her and a pain shot up her back. She let out a muffled cry and noticed that the man had landed on top of her. Her mouth was pressed against his collarbone and he smelled of leaves and cherry blossoms. With a free hand, she tugged on his black kimono. He quickly scrambled up.

"I'm sorry!" He mumbled.

"That's okay." She responded, quickly pushing herself up as he adjusted the collar of his kimono.

They stared at each other for a moment. Her eyes searched his face, memorizing his handsome features.

"Hey!" A voice on the other side of the fence made her jump. "Did you get the map?"

"Did you bump into someone?" Souji added. "I thought I heard someone else."

The pale man in front of her ignored his companions and continued to stare at her. She felt her cheeks grow warm and she turned around to pluck the paper out of the bush. She held it out to him. "Here, this is what you were looking for, right?" He took the paper wordlessly, and the tip of his fingers accidentally brushed hers. She flinched from the electricity that surged through her veins at the contact. Her amber eyes flickered to his blue ones, and she knew he had felt it too.

"What's your name?" He whispered.

She moistened her dry lips with her tongue. "Tsukino Kyrie." She replied hoarsely. "You?"

"Saito Hajime."

"Saito-san, you should leave before my mother returns and finds you here. She-"

"Kyrie, where are you?!" A high-pitched voice screeched.

Her eyes widened. "The exit's that way." She pointed behind Saito. "Just keep walking and you'll find it." She turned and jumped up onto the porch. "I'm here mother." Kyrie quickly closed the door behind her so that her mother wouldn't see Saito in the garden.

"I thought I told you to stay in this room!" Her mother, a severe-looking woman with graying hair, scolded.

"I'm sorry." Kyrie bowed her head. "I just wanted some fresh air."

"I told you not to leave without my permission! What if your skin darkens because of the sun?!"

"I'm sorry."

Her mother sighed angrily. "We don't have time for this. Straighten up. Your fiancée will be here shortly." Kyrie patted her hair into place and tugged on her dark-green, silk kimono before kneeling down again. Minutes later, a young man wearing a formal kimono entered the room and sat down in front of the girl. Surprisingly, the man wasn't unattractive at all. His black hair, slightly curly, framed his thin, angular face. His lips were full and his eyebrows thin and expressive. On the contrary though, his eyes seemed darker than black and completely devoid of emotion, and they scoured her porcelain skin, pale and deprived of sunlight. She averted her gaze, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny. His lips curled into a leer and she felt her blood run cold. There was something about this man that felt sinister. Her mother smiled. "Kyrie, meet Fujiwara Satomi, your future husband."

Kyrie's eyes widened at the words. "Husband? But you said he was just a candidate!"

Her mother smiled as if she were scolding a young child. "Yes, but there really isn't a need to meet the other candidates. Out of all of them, Satomi's the best. He comes from a family with more power and wealth than all the others. The outcome has already been decided."

Kyrie glanced at Satomi, hoping for some retaliation on his part against her mother's decision, but all that came from him was the dark smirk. "Please take care of me, Tsukino-san." He said mockingly.

"There's no need to address her so formally!" Her mother simpered. "Just call her Kyrie. You two are to be married after all."

"Mother!" Kyrie breathed, aghast.

"Be quiet. You'll do as I say." She snapped; then she turned to Satomi. "What do you think of her?"

"She's beautiful." I think she'd make a good wife."

"Well then…" Her mother sighed with relief, obviously glad that he had accepted so easily.

Satomi stood up. "As much as I would like to stay longer, I, unfortunately, have pressing matters to attend to."

"Yes, of course. I understand." Kyrie's mother stood as well and quickly motioned for her daughter to do the same.

Her future husband stepped forward and leaned down until his lips were almost touching her ear. She suppressed a shudder. "I expect you to be as obedient to me as you are to your mother." He laughed once without emotion before pulling away and exiting the room.

When Kyrie was sure that he was gone, she turned to her mother. "Please mother, I don't want to marry him! I don't even like him!"

Her mother's dark eyes turned icy cold as she glared at her daughter, and with a single motion, she slapped the girl. The sound of skin striking skin reverberated loudly throughout the large room. Tendrils of her hair fell loose from her bun as her head snapped to the side. She brought a hand up to the throbbing skin. "I am your mother, and you will obey me!" The middle-aged lady yelled. "Do you think marriage is about love? If you do, then you're still a naïve little girl. Marriage is about strengthening the family and raising its status. If you don't even know that, then don't think about talking back to me. Satomi comes from an old, wealthy, and respectable family. As such, you will marry him."

Kyrie felt tears pricking her eyes as she watched her mother stomp out of the room. Slowly she opened the door to the garden, and to her surprise, she saw a violet-haired man standing on the wooden porch, beside the door. She jumped back, gasping. "Saito-san, what are you doing here? I thought you left with your friends."

"I told them to go on ahead first." He responded quietly.

"Here, come with me." She reached down and grabbed his wrist, tugging him down the hall. She peeked around the corner, checking to see if the coast was clear before pulling him to her room. Once the door was safely shut, she let out a nervous breath and dropped his hand. "Thank goodness. If my mother had caught you, you would have been dead!" She turned around to face him. "So, why did you stay?"

Saito reached out a hand to touch the red cheek her mother had struck. "You're being forced into an arranged marriage…" He stated.

"Yes, with a man I don't love."

"Why don't you tell her you don't want to?"

"I tried to, but she won't listen to me! I'm not allowed to disobey her. She doesn't accept me for who I am. I don't want to stay at home and marry a man purely for his status and connection. I want to be free. I want to experience whatever this world has to offer, and I want to be with someone who loves me!"

"There are people out there who will accept you for who you are. You just have to find them." Saito responded. "Like I have."

Kyrie stared at him wordlessly for a moment. The silence was long and deep, broken only by someone calling her name outside the door. She started in surprise. "Young mistress, I've brought some tea." A servant's voice croaked.

The girl's hand fluttered up to her long, white throat where she could hear her pulse beating erratically. "Fine, leave it there. I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment." She heard the sound of a wooden tray being set down, and then a pair of feet shuffling away.

"I should go." Saito turned to leave, but Kyrie grabbed the sleeve of his black kimono, halting him.

"Will I ever see you again?" She waited for his answer, hoping he'd say yes, but he only stared at her. "Where do you stay?"

"I fight for the Shinsengumi, but it will be impossible for you to meet me at the compound. Visitors are strictly monitored." He responded quietly.

"Then will you come here? Tomorrow, at the same time?" She asked desperately.

The corners of Saito's lips turned up slightly in a miniscule smile. "Yes." Once again, his fingers traced her red cheek, and she felt the same burning sensation she had felt before when he had touched her. He dropped his hand, and like a gust of wind, he was gone.

"Kyrie, are you dressed?" Her mother slid the door open and looked down at the girl pouring over a book. "Good. I invited Satomi over for some tea."

"You did what?" Kyrie's jaw dropped open.

"He's already here, waiting for you. Now come." The old lady turned around.

"Wait, mother!"

She glanced back over her shoulder at her daughter. "What is it? If it's about your marriage to Satomi, I don't want to hear it."

"But I found someone I love!"

Her mother's eyes hardened. "Who is it?"

"He fights for the Shinsengumi." Kyrie said hopefully.

"The Shinsengumi? That group of wannabe samurais?" Her mother snorted. "What can he give you? Does he have any money? Any land? Any power or status?" Kyrie floundered about for words. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. Her mother arched an eyebrow at her silence. "I thought not. Now come. Stop making up fantasies. Satomi's waiting for us."

Satomi smiled coldly as she kneeled in front of him. Kyrie swallowed hard and glanced up at her mother who was practically grinning from ear to ear. Her mother bowed and glided to the door. "Wait here. I'll have some tea brought in momentarily."

As soon as she left, Kyrie leaned forward to confront her fiancée-to-be. "Are you okay with this?"

"With what?" He blinked innocently.

"This arranged marriage!" She explained indignantly.

He shrugged mildly. "Well, yes, for the most part. I don't have any complaints about it."

"But you don't even love me! Don't you want to marry a girl you love?"

Satomi scoffed and his eyes narrowed into black slits. "How foolish. As if I have that luxury." Kyrie frowned and opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "Do you want to know why I agreed to this ridiculous marriage in the first place?"

Kyrie nodded, her amber eyes expectant.

He leaned forward and whispered into her ear. "Don't tell your mother, or I will have to punish you."

She pulled away from the man. "Speak."

His lips curled into a sneer. "The truth is: my family is in a bit of a dangerous position right now. No one really knows of our situation, but we fell out of political favor, and we owe a lot of money. Marrying you would give us the money we need. Plus the emperor likes your family. If I married you, he might show us some leniency."

Kyrie froze. "That's the reason you're marrying me?"

His sneer was heartless. "Of course. Who else would marry someone like you? You talk too much. Women should sit quietly behind their husbands." He turned his head slightly as he heard the sound of footsteps behind the door; then he turned back to Kyrie and brought a finger up to his lips, as if they were best friends sharing a secret. "We don't want your mother to find out, now do we?" He whispered conspiratorially.

The door opened and Kyrie's mother stepped into the room, flanked by several maids carrying trays of tea and snacks. After the trays had been set down in front of them, her mother smiled at the two of them. "I think I should leave you two alone to talk."

"Wait!" Kyrie stopped her, deciding to take her chances. What would Satomi be able to do to her if she told her mother? "Do you know why Satomi agreed to marry me?" She glanced at Satomi who smiled at her innocently and then back to her mother whose eyes had narrowed.

"What nonsense are you spouting now?" Her mother hissed.

"His family isn't as great as you think it is! They're in a lot of debt, and their political standing is shaky! Satomi's only marrying me in hopes that our family can save his!"

Her mother glanced at Satomi. "Is this true?" She asked him, and for a moment, Kyrie felt hope rising in her, that finally her mother would listen to her and cancel the wedding.

Satomi's eyes widened, like a child pleading for favor. "Of course not!" The old lady turned to Kyrie, ready to scold her, but stopped her, his voice soothing. "Don't be mad at her. I understand that she's scared to marry someone she met just yesterday. It's alright, I don't mind it one bit."

Her mother shot the girl a warning look before bowing to Satomi. "Thank you, you are kind. I'm sorry for my daughter's behavior."

He waved a hand, dismissing her thanks. "No, not at all."

As her mother left the room, Kyrie felt her heart drop. She turned to Satomi who eyed her surreptitiously. "What?" She snapped at him.

He inched closer to her, placing both hands on the tatami next to her thighs, and leaning forward until his face was close enough to hers that she could feel his warm breath on her skin. "You know," he whispered, "you must not be as smart as I initially thought you were. I told you not to tell your mother about our little secret, but here you go, spilling it. In front of me, even!" Kyrie felt her heart racing, and her breath came out a short gasps. "I told you, I'd punish you if you told your mother. What, did you think I was just playing with you?" She tried to scramble away from him, but he caught her hands and pinned them next to her so that she couldn't move. Then he smiled. For the first time, the smile reached his eyes, but it was a hungry smile, like a beast whose hunger was never satiated. And Kyrie had never felt as terrified as she did at this moment.

"What are you doing?" Kyrie gasped as his lips grazed her neck.

"Giving you your punishment." He lifted a hand and untied her crimson obi.

"Stop it!" She tried to push him away, but to no avail. "Saito-san!" She cried.

Satomi looked up at her with surprise. "Saito? Who is that? The man you love?" He scoffed and leaned down to kiss her. As his lips touched hers, she opened her mouth and bit him. He recoiled, yelping in surprise. Then he laughed. "What audacity!" He exclaimed. "But unfortunately for you, this 'Saito-san' of yours won't be coming to your rescue." He reached into the sleeve of his kimono and pulled out an embroidered handkerchief. Then he reached over and grabbed Kyrie's cheeks with a single hand, forcing her mouth open. He stuffed the white, square cloth into her mouth, muting her. He pushed her down onto the tatami and pinned her wrists above her head with only one hand. His mouth went back to her neck as his free hand unwrapped her obi. Kyrie closed her eyes and hot, salty tears fell down her face as she realized that no one was coming to save her.

She opened her eyes as the weight on top of her finally disappeared. Satomi tightened his grey hakama as he looked down coldly at her. Kyrie clutched the front of her dark-blue kimono together. Her eyes stared up blankly at the ceiling. Her tears run dry long ago. Satomi scoffed at the sight. "Are you mad at me? Do you hate me?" She didn't respond and he chuckled. "Well, I don't care if you do. It's not like I'm marrying you because I love you. I'm only training my future wife to be obedient, like she should be. Maybe next time you'll listen to what I say."

Kyrie sat up. Her hair was a complete mess. "You're a monster." She whispered.

"I suppose I should thank you." Satomi smirked. "Now I don't have to go to Shimabara tonight."

The door to the room slid open. "I was just checking to see if you two were alright." Kyrie's mother looked up from her kneeling position on the floor and gasped at the sight of her daughter. "What is the meaning of this?!" She glanced at Satomi for an explanation.

He shook his head, his face carefully composed into a mask of shock and surprise. "I have no idea! When she heard your footsteps in the hall, she began to undress and mess up her hair."

Kyrie's mother turned her icy glare to her daughter. "This is the last straw." She hissed, stalking over to the girl. She grabbed her arm and hauled her up. "You come with me."

"Mother, he's lying! That's not what happened!" Kyrie cried.

"And what advantage would Satomi gain from lying?! You have shamed our family!"

"But mother, I'm telling the truth!"

"I told you to stop talking back to me! Since this is what happens when I leave you to your own devices, the wedding is being moved up. You two will be married tomorrow!" She turned to Satomi. "Is that alright for you?" She asked. "I apologize deeply if I've inconvenienced you."

Satomi shook his head and took a sip of his tea. "No, not at all. In fact, I think the sooner the better. But unfortunately, my parents will be in Edo tomorrow, so they will be unable to attend the wedding, and we will be unable to use our estate."

"That's quite alright. I apologize if it is unconventional, but is it alright if you two wed in our mansion. Kyrie won't be riding a Palanquin though, but we will have everything set up here."

Satomi smiled. "I understand the circumstances. It's alright."

Her mother sighed in relief. "That's good. Thank you for accommodating for us. Now, if you'll excuse us, I'm very sorry for the scene my daughter caused." She bowed low and dragged Kyrie out of the room.

"I promise it really wasn't like Satomi said it was!" The girl cried as she stumbled down the hallway.

Her mother opened the door to her room and threw her in. "I am fed up with you! You have blatantly shamed me and this family! How dare you do something like that to Satomi! And now you're calling him a liar?!" She took a breath and closed her eyes, trying to regain her composure. "You will stay in your room until the wedding tomorrow. Don't even think about trying to leave!" Her mother slammed the door behind her.

Kyrie collapsed on the floor with renewed tears springing to her eyes. "Why? Why doesn't my own mother believe me?!" She grasped her upper arms, hugging herself tightly, afraid that she would fall apart if she didn't hold herself together. "I feel so dirty." She whispered. The door opened again, and she looked up, expecting it to be her mother. But a tall, pale man with long, violet hair stepped into the room. "Saito-san."

His mouth parted slightly as he took in her disheveled appearance. He knelt down in front of her and reached out a hand to touch her face. "What happened?"

She flinched away from his touch. "No, don't touch me! I'm dirty!"

His blue eyes narrowed. "No, you're not." His hand found her cheek. "You're not dirty."

"Saito-san." She whispered, squeezing her eyes shut as fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please, I can't take it anymore! Take me away. Get me out of this place!"

"That man…what did he do to you?" Although Saito's face was a blank slate, behind his thinly veiled eyes burned a raging fire.

"I can't marry him. I can't live like that – like a tool to be used only when I'm convenient!" She laid a hand over his. "This is what I want – this feeling every time you touch me. I know I only met you yesterday, but I feel like I've known you my entire life! This hand, your face, your voice, everything seems so familiar to me." She leaned in and kissed him. Her lips pressed against his, and she dared not move. She felt his initial surprise, but then he relaxed and his mouth parted slightly, accepting her feelings.

He broke away from her, but kept his face close enough to see his own reflection in her amber eyes. "I'm not prepared right now, but I'll come back tomorrow."

"My wedding's tomorrow."

Saito's eyes widened. "Tomorrow?"

"It was moved up."

"When is it tomorrow?"

"In the morning."

"I won't let you get married." He stood up. "I'll be here tomorrow morning."

Kyrie avoided looking at Satomi as she took a sip of sake from a small, ornate cup. The mere sight of him made her want to puke. There was no way she would ever be able to forget what he had done to her the day before. She waited a bit for the burn of the alcohol to die before replacing the cup on the wooden tray. After Satomi had done the same, she stood up and padded over to the next tray, shifting her white kimono before kneeling down in front of it. She, her mother, and Satomi were the only ones in the room, and after she finished this cup, there would only be one more before she was officially declared Satomi's wife. She lifted up the cup and sipped the sake. Her hands shook as she set the empty cup down. "He promised he'd be here. He promised he wouldn't let me get married. But we're already at the last cup." She stood up slowly, trying to delay the time. Like the others, she picked up the cup of sake. "He's not coming." She felt the cool liquid touch her lips, and then the door slid open. Her eyes widened when she saw who it was. She dropped the cup, and the alcohol splashed all over the tatami, staining it.

"Who are you?" Her mother cried in surprise.

"I promised I would come." The man looked straight at Kyrie.

The girl stood up slowly, unable to believe her eyes. "Saito-san!" She ran to him. "You came!"

"I'm not too late, am I?"

She shook her head. "No, you're just in time."

"So you're Saito-san?" An icy cold voice shattered their happy reunion.

Kyrie looked back at Satomi who had stood up, katana in hand.

"That's him? That commoner?" Satomi cocked an eyebrow.

"Kyrie!" Her mother shouted. "Stop this nonsense at once! Haven't you gone far enough?"

"It's alright." Satomi glanced at the woman. "I've got this under control. If you wouldn't mind leaving us, please, I'll sort this out." He drew his katana. The aging woman blinked quickly several times at the sword before nodding and scampering from the room. "Now that we're alone, let's get this over with." He took a step forward.

Saito pushed Kyrie to the side and drew his own katana. With a calculating eye, he gauged the distance between himself and his opponent.

"Left handed?" Satomi sneered. He snorted and leapt forward. Saito raised his katana and blocked the attack. With a sweep of the blade, he pushed the black-haired man back. "You're not half bad." Satomi appraised.

Saito set his jaw and wordlessly brought his sword down on the man. The cry of metal against metal rang out and Kyrie flinched. Satomi ducked out from underneath the sword and raced around Saito. He stopped just in front of Kyrie.

"I don't have much time for this play. I can tell you're obviously much stronger than I am." He sighed. "I was really betting on saving my family by marrying this girl, but this is much more trouble than I had anticipated. But there's one thing you must know. I am a very vengeful and egotistical person. So if I can't have her, then you can't either." Satomi smirked

Saito's eyes widened as the man grabbed Kyrie. She gasped as he pulled her towards him. She saw Saito running towards them and she felt Satomi's cool, metal blade sinking into her abdomen. She cried out as the pain finally registered in her mind. "Tsukino-san!" She heard Saito calling her name. She felt herself falling backwards as Satomi pushed her; and she felt a pair of strong arms catch her. "Tsukino-san!"

"Saito-san." She whispered. She glanced down at the hand pressed against the wound. The crimson blood was staining her white kimono. "It's better this way."

"That's not true." Saito gripped her hand in his, not caring that it was slick with blood.

"Can I ask you one last favor? Please tell me that you love me, even if it's a lie."

He blinked in surprise. But he leaned down and pressed his lips to her softly. "I love you." He murmured against her lips. In his deep-blue eyes she could see all his sincerity.

She smiled up at him. "Thank you."