A/N: Thanks to all the people who have been sending mails, I really apreciate it. I'm sorry this took out so long, but I was abroad in Europe doing some research for my other proyects, I think I have something concrete by now…

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this piece, It really helped me out in Florence and I really liked the outcome.

Breathless.
By Ran Mouri.

Chapter 02.

"I don't get it, Yuki-san."

"It was just a comment, I'm sure Satoshi-sama wasn't trying to offend you."

Yukio frowned as he heard those comments. It was Ssaturday and he was having breakfast with the Shrine Maidens that looked after the temple all morning. These, not standing the eerie cold atmosphere of the household decided to interrogate their young master until he spilled all that had happened between himself and his brother in law.

"I'm sure it wasn't on purpose, Yukio-san." Summed Sachiko, the oldest maiden, as always she had her long redish hair in pigtails and her glasses precariously hanging from the tip of her nose.

Chieko, the youngest, blinked in confusion as she played with her lime green hair.

"But, what kind of comment is that?! He called Yuk-san a gold digger!!!" She snapped. Yukio just kept sipping his tea.

"Oh, please!" Sighed the redhead. "He's a Kohsei, they are millionaires, I'm sure it's just a conditioned answer to those kind of personal questions. Yukio-san is the… er… Widow of his brother, why would he want to hurt him? He's supposed to look after him."

"That's what I would like to know too." Answered the other woman stabbing her toast with her spoon. She didn't like the new Kohsei master, he was cold, arrogant and had in more than one occasion questioned her ability to be of any use at the shrine and her lack of sense of decorum, always staring at her from his window when Yuki-san wasn't home.

Sachiko, on the other hand, thought he was organized and very efficient, a refreshing change after the mess Satoru-sama, god bless him, had made of the financial accounts and supplies lists over the years. Tho, Chieko still argued that she was sure the Kohseis were a bitchy family with no love for one another, and that the new master was putting all his frustration on their poor young master and protégée, knowing that Ogata-sama wouldn't lift a finger in favour of the little orphan.

"You should have picked him, Yuki." The greenhead huffed as she finally ate her toast. "Hayato-donno is younger and nicer, he would have never done that!"

The boy lowered his teacup, after all the time he had spent with both maidens he knew he had to let them argue and wind themselves up before interfering with their chat, it was easy and gave him time enough to eat.

He sighed…

"Hayato-san is younger, I know, but there were many things about him that wouldn't let me pick him." He closed his sky blue eyes for a second and could remember as clear as water that night. With his back pushed against a wall and Hayato's hands under his clothing. His mouth dropping blurred kisses on his neck and his breath stinking of alcohol caressing his skin.

'Since the moment I saw you…' He had whispered. Yukio was scared, too scared to move, he knew his brother in law was drunk beyond recognision, he had seen him drinking all over the service and crying in secluded corners.

He felt pity…

'Since you saw… me?' The boy had asked, hesitant. It was better to keep him talking and busy that having his alcohol smelling kisses on his shoulder.

'Since I saw you… I thought you were so pretty, a little doll you were, so small and delicate.' Then Hayato took one of his hands, running his lips all over his fingers reverently. 'And now, you are a man… your hands are not as soft or pale as they were before… this calloused fingers drive me mad, do you know why?'

The boy shook his head, Hayato's smile widened.

'Because…' He growled nipping at his index finger. 'They show you are no longer Satoru's unapproachable doll, you know how to work with your hands and how to be a real man. You, are real now…' The brunette hands moved swiftly, trying to memorize his body just by touch, searching those spots he knew would make his prey weaker.

'And now, you are totally mine too. Tradition makes you mine…' Those piercing green eyes fixed on his own blue ones. 'And I won't let you go like brother did, you are never leaving my side.' Yukio was starting to get scared for real, those eyes were so livid, something in them told him he had to be careful around this man.

Then, Hayato dropped his bomb.

'The others can't remember your beautiful face, they were too drunk, I think. But I would never forget you, my pretty Rose…" The boy's eyes widened. In seconds he had changed from the scared little rabbit hiding from the snake, to the man Hayato told him he was, he had wanted so much to slap the bastard, leave his fingernails etched on his cheek. But the brunnete wanted a man, and a man he would be.

He clenched his fist…

And hit his target under the chin, sending him sprawling to the floor.

'It's hard to believe the man Satoru-sama spoke so fondly about is the same bastard that is treating me so poorly.' He hissed wipping his hand on his sleeve. 'Yes, I was a Rose, and yes, your brothers won't remember that… But now I am your brother's widow.' As he said this he knelt by the falled man's side. Whispering dangerously into his ear.

'And as such I will be respected.' Without another word Yukio left his brother in law on the floor. Never looking back as he walked to the main hall.

That same night, Yukio chose Satoshi to be his guardian.

"So, Yuki-san." Mussed Chieko pulling the boy from his thoughts. "Hayato-donno was drunk and since then has done nothing but apologise to you. Why don't you write Ogata-sama and tell her you changed your mind and want him?"

A sigh…

"Because Satoshi-san is right, he's more fitted to take care of the temple, and keeping Satoru-sama's house safe is more important that some petty insults."

Both women stared at eachother for a few seconds.

"I guess you are right." Sighed Chieko, defeated. "At least you have us to support you through, right?" Yukio smiled.

"Thanks, Sachiko-san, Chieko-san. I really appreciate it."

Satoshi stood by the doorway a few more minutes, trying to make some sense of what he had heard. It really seemed the boy loved his brother, he was up to any mistreatment he would send him as long as the temple was safe and stable.

He didn't understand that kind of devotion. He tried to remember the faces of the women he had been with, none smiled with the same sincerity that boy had when thinking about their loved ones.

A cold feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. He wasn't jealous, no, maybe a little envious his brother found someone who held such a deep love for him.

What had he done to find it? To earn it and keep it for himself? Was that what Hayato had seen, and wanted to try and win the boy's heart too? He still had the numerous letters his little brother wrote him, begging to change his mind.

He stared at Yukio once more.

'What do you do, that all Kohsei loose their minds?' He asked himself with a frown. 'Whatever it is, now you are mine, and will be until I find out what do you do to bend one of the country's most powerful family to their knees.'

Finally he took some seconds to check on his appearance and entered the small dinning room. Yukio was alone, waiting for him with his breakfast ready and a cold, polite smile on his face.

"Good Morning, Satoshi-san." He greeted softly, ready to leave.

"Good Morning, Makino-kun." He answered as he took his seat. "You are up early today."

The boy nodded.

"Well, yes. Chieko-san and Sachiko-san have to leave an hour earlier today, so they came now to cover up that time. They have to go to the doctor so I had no heart to tell them no to." Satoshi raised an eyebrow.

"Is one of them sick?" He asked politely.

"Oh, on!" Smiled Yukio. "Sachiko-san is pregnant, so it's just a medical check. Just to make sure everything is all right."

"I see. Then I'll write a note for your school… so they let you go home early today." Blue eyes blinked at him.

"Early?"

"Yes, I guess you want to go with them, don't you?" It was like magic, the boy's face, so guarded until now, lit up with inner light as he heard the news.

"Yes!! Thank you, Satoshi-san!! I'll go get ready immediately!!" And he disappeared to his room. Satoshi stayed a little longer on the table.

Smiling.

"I'll find out what your magic trick is, boy… you'll see."

To be Continued.