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"Does Hikaru-nii-chan love Murasaki-nee-chan," he asked.

Hikaru blinked at him and then smiled, "I do. But I won't tell her."

The little boy frowned, "Why not?"

"Because if I tell her, she will never leave me and… she will never be safe," he replied, earning a puzzle look from the little boy. Hikaru ruffled his hair, "You won't get it until you're a little older."

"I won't get it even if I'm older," the little boy pouted.

Hikaru smiled, "You will."

Chapter 17: The Tale of Murasaki-no-kimi Part 4

Third Person POV

A YEAR AFTER CHAPTER 16

"How is she?" Hikaru asked as soon as the doctor came out of Murasaki's room.

The doctor shook his head, "Not well. I prescribed some medicine for her, but I'm afraid they aren't going to help her much."

"But you said it was nothing more than the common cold," Hikaru said, a panic tone in his voice.

"It is," the doctor looked at him, "But it's getting worse. She needs to be move to a better environment. This place is too cold and it is only going to make it worse for her."

Hikaru clenched his hands tightly, biting his lower lips in frustration. The doctor looked sympathetically at him. "Hikaru," the doctor gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "I know the princess want to stay with you, but this is no place for her. I have known you for a long time, and I know that you will never break your promise, but she will die if you continue to let her stay here."

Hikaru looked to the close door, where he knew she was sleeping, "But I-"

The doctor gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, "The castle has the best doctors. His majesty, her Intended, can provide her with the best care." He smiled gently to him, "I know you care for her. But, you have to understand that there is no way you two can be together. She is a princess, and you are a soldier. She belonged in a castle, safe and protected."

"I know that," Hikaru said, but his voice cracked at the end, "But I can't leave her. I promised."

"Then you rather she died?" the doctor asked. "You rather she suffered until she died? Are you going to condemn her to death?"

Hikaru closed his eyes tightly shut and turned his face away from the door, "I can't. I promised."

The doctor looked at him for a little longer, but then he withdrew his hand from his shoulder. He sighed, with resignation, "Very well. But remember that if she died, it's on you," with that, the doctor bowed and left him alone.

That Evening

Hikaru sat under the eaves of the house, and stared up at the stars. He had just finished checking on the princess. She was sleeping. He also gave her an extra blanket for protection against the cold. As he gazed up at the stars, he remembered the time when he first talked with her. She was sitting in the same position that he is now. She was the one looking up at the stars then. He remembered her soft eyes and gentle voice, forgiving him for intruding on her.

"What is your name," she had asked him.

"My name is HIkaru, your highness," he had answered.

"Hikaru, meaning light," she had said with a genuine smile on her face. She was beautiful then, and still is.

He also remembered the night they took refuge inside the cave, escaping from the cold. He remembered her sitting down beside him as she gazed up at the stars alongside him.

"My mother used to say that the stars are our ancestors. When a person died, they became the stars so that they can watch over their love ones. When I died I want to become a star too, that way I can watch over my people," she had said.

"I won't let you die," he had said to her.

"What if I did," she had asked him in return.

"Then I would have died before you," he had answered her.

"No you won't," she had said, while her eyes were on the stars, "Because we're together. If we die, we die together."

He never told her how much those words meant to him. It was what kept him going on their journey here. Every single time he felt like they were never going to make it, he remembered her words and it made him stronger. He won't let her died, and she won't let him died, so he became stronger so that they can both live. But now… his eyes dropped to the ground, she's dying and he couldn't do anything about it. He's losing her, and although the doctor pointed out a way for him to save her, he couldn't bring himself to hurt her by breaking his promise to her. By making her go to Shibuya Castle, he would, without a doubt, break her heart… and his in the process.

"Cough, cough."

He looked up just in time to see Murasaki coughing into her hand. She was leaning against the wall. "Hime," he let out in a panic, "What are you doing out here? It's not good for you," he quickly stood up and wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm. Normally he won't touch her like this because it would be consider inappropriate for two unmarried people to touch, but she is unwell and he didn't want her to fall and hurt herself.

He helped her toward his previous sitting spot and gently sat her down when her legs gave out on her. They sat near the lit candle beside Hikaru and he wrapped her in his arms to keep her warm. "I'm fine," she assured him, but her weak tone didn't really guarantee that she was all right. He frowned at her.

"Let's get you inside," he gently moved away, intending to help her up but she quickly took hold of his sleeve to stop him.

"No," she said, "I want to see the stars."

"But," he began to protest but she quickly interrupted him.

"Please," she begged.

His frowned deepen. He doesn't want to let her be more exposed to the cold, but… "Alright," he finally sighed in acceptance, "But only for a little while."

She smiled gently up at him, "Thank you." She moved closer to him and lay her head down on his shoulder. She could feel him tensed lightly, but he didn't stopped her or drew away from her, so she made herself comfortable and moved a little closer. They didn't say anything for a long time, or at least it felt like a long time to her, but when he finally began to relax, she smiled softly. When he was finally relax, she felt him pulled her close by his hand on her shoulder, albeit a little hesitant.

"I had a scary dream earlier," she said suddenly, making him tense slightly. But when he relaxed again, she continued, "I dreamt that the Yasha-clan came and found us here. They took me away and they murder you." Her body trembled slightly from the image of his dead, cold body. She took in a deep breath to calm herself, "I… I was calling your name, but you didn't answer. When I broke free, I ran to you and wrapped you in my arms." Tears began to filled her eyes and her voice began to cracked, "No matter how hard I shook you…" she breathed in deeply, "you didn't wake up. Your body was extremely cold, and I couldn't warm you up even though you were in my arms. I… I couldn't."

"Shh," he hushed her, "It's only a dream. That will never happen, Hime. I won't let it happen," he promised her.

"You were so far away," her voice was a whisper, "I was so afraid. I didn't want you to die… and go somewhere faraway. Somewhere, where I couldn't reach you."

"Shh," he continued to hush her, pulling her close so that she could buried her tear-stricken face against his chest, "I'm not going anywhere. I promised you, remember? I won't leave you… and I won't die and leave you behind." He soothed her by running his hand through her hair, "I won't leave you, and go somewhere you can't reach. I won't."

"But what if," she continued but he quickly shook his head.

"Remember what you said to me," he reminded her, "You said that if we are going to die, then we die together." He buried his face in her hair, "I won't leave you. So don't be afraid. I won't leave… No matter what."

A FEW DAYS LATER

"How is she?" Hikaru asked the doctor when he came out of Murasaki's room. He had been called back to check on the princess after she had fainted suddenly.

The doctor shook his head, "She will die, Hikaru."

Hikaru gasped, "No…"

The doctor sighed, "I told you she need to be move. She is better off in the Castle. There are doctors there that can save her."

"You are also a doctor, are you not," Hikaru said in return.

"Yes I am," the doctor nodded, "But I am not the best. I can only do so much with my knowledge. She needs better care."

Hikaru clenched his hands into fist and looked at the door, "But-"

"She's going to die," the doctor nearly shouted at Hikaru's stubbornness, "Stop thinking about keeping your promise and do what is best for her."

Hikaru closed his eyes tightly shut at the doctor's words.

The doctor frowned at Hikaru. He knew the man love the princess, but she is a princess. He is nothing but a lowly bodyguard. With his rank in social status, he would never be able to be with her, no matter how much he may love the girl. The doctor sighed again, "You can't be with her Hikaru. She's a princess. You are nothing but a mere bodyguard. You can't be with her. The wall between you and her is too strong to break."

Hikaru opened his eyes, but they were looking down at the ground. "I know that," his voice was quiet, "I know she is the princess. I never forgot." He looked up to the door, "And I know that no matter how much I care for her, she and I can't be together." He turned to the doctor, "But I will not leave her. I promised her that, I promised the princess that…" a pause, "I promised the woman I love that."

The doctor sighed for the last time, "Very well. It looks like I can't persuade you after all." The doctor turned from him and began walking away. "Remember to inform me when she pass on," the doctor said as he walked away, "I'll make sure to come pay my respect."

Hikaru bit his lower lips at that and turned away, not wanting to think about anything else. He doesn't want to think about what the doctor is saying, and how true it was. He's killing her by keeping her here. He's allowing her to die, and for what? A promise he made to her? His stubbornness to keep his promise? Is he willing to let her die for that?

He punched the wall, feeling angry with himself. He can't keep her here. She'll die. He thought back to what he said to the doctor. He loves her, and that is why he didn't want to leave her. She told him she was afraid that he would die and go somewhere she can't reach. Well he's afraid of that as well. He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to reach her if he let her go. He's selfish for keeping her here; he knew that. And he was willing to let her die so that she could stay with him just for a little longer. He punched the wall again. He can't keep her here for his own selfish reason. He can't condemn her to death for his selfishness. He can't do that to her.

The doctor was right. She can't stay here. She has to go to Shibuya Castle, where she will get all the best care. He, he have to leave her. No matter how much he loves her, he has to leave her. She doesn't deserve to die like this. He looked to her door again. He can't let her die. He can't.

"I'm sorry, Murasaki."

AN: I'm so sorry for not updating for such a long, long time. I noticed that many of you wanted me to update my stories, and I'm sorry for ignoring them. I was going through some things in my life and I needed the break in order to sort out myself. I'm all better now and although I'm still not completely fine, I'm getting there. So, thank you to those who never forgot me and still ask for updates. I thank you with all my heart, and I hope that with time I will be able to update as many chapters to my stories as possible. Furthermore, I will try to continue this story to the best of my abilities. And do keep in mind that English isn't my first language and therefore there will be mistakes. But do feel free to ask me anything if something isn't made clear to you. Thank you!