The Devil's Proposal

by my NeverNever land

Disclaimer: Names and characters belongs to the brilliant author, Tachibana Higuchi. Places and incidents are products of my imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

I would also like to acknowledge my use, in gathering information about Garden Isle.

This story is dedicated to people who already saw their 100% perfect love.

Summary: "Everything will be alright," He murmured. "Your with me now." This moment was so perfect, so right, there's no way to doubt it. The overwhelmed feeling of his arms wrapped around me, holding me against him. Every nerves in my body felt like a live wire.

Something of vengeance I had tasted for the first time;
as aromatic wine it seemed, on swallowing, warm and racy:
its after-flavor, metallic and corroding, gave me a sensation as if I had been poisoned.

Charlotte Bronte

First Encounter

In the middle of the forest, there were soft footsteps from a 10 year old boy as he passed through the dark woods alone. With a clenched fist, he fought for his tears from flowing. He left the place that he only knew because there is no reason for him to stay anymore; his father passed away.

As he was trying to find the way out on the woods, the painful memories that he wanted to disappear seemed to keep flashing back...

Mr. Ioran Hyuuga owned huge hectares of land in a small island called the 'Garden Isle'. It was located near the Pacific Ocean and was known for their high-quality of fruits and crops like sugarcane, guava, pineapple and coffee. Hyuuga's Farm was the number one who exported the finest quality of sugarcane in their land.

But that year, the island encountered heavy rainfall and the crops were all washed away by the flood. The sugarcanes were all lied down due to strong force of wind. Almost none of the crops survived due to the storm. The economic depreciated thus the business who lived there was affected by the tragedy.

After the storm, all farmers went out of business because of sudden disaster that washed their crops and almost their home. Even the Hyuuga's were devastated and anxious about their farm because all of their savings and properties were also washed away in the storm. Some farmers already sold their properties for they didn't have any financial support for their business.

A week passed, almost half of the people on the Island immediately sold their properties to the most powerful family on their land, the Sakura Family headed by Kuonji Sakura.

Sakura family also owned hectares of land and other businesses that were operated outside the island. Kuonji expanded his power even to Japan and America thus making him a powerful and feared man on their land. He bought almost half of the island after the typhoon and he manipulated the people for his own sake. Even long ago, he already planned of buying the whole Island for his own Haccienda but the process was not easy to begin with because he can't afford to buy the whole island at that time, but that was before.

Maybe, luck was on the side of Kuonji Sakura which made him almost the owner of the whole land if only he can also buy the Hyuuga's Farm. Kuonji persisted on buying the land that he doubled the amount of the farm from its original value, but on the other hand, Ioran hardly refused the offer.

Last month, his father was arrested and imprisoned by the crime he didn't committed. Someone accused his father of having a plantation of marijuana in their farm. He was drag by the policemen without prior noticed and warrant of arrest. He asked some people to help them but no one dare to go against the Sakura Family. The family that was responsible of their misfortune!

Ioran was still stubborn even he was imprisoned. He knew very well the likes of Mr. Kuonji Sakura, a cold-blooded, heartless man that only knows to abuse and manipulate people for his own interest, and he didn't want him to take full control of the land especially the citizens, even if his life will be the consequence of his action.

"Natsume..." I glanced up and saw my father's soft look. "I'm sorry... I never had been a good father to you." I just stared at him, unable to say anything else because what he said caught me off on guard.

As I looked at him, I realized that my father had aged. The creased were visible on his forehead and beside his eyes. It's like that he lacked of rest. I never heard my father nor saw him like a restless and vulnerable man. He was always calm and an authoritative person. I didn't saw his weakest side, until now...

"I spend almost all my time here in this island. This is where I met your mother for the first time." He smiled. It was the first time I saw him smile after my mother died on an accident. After that tragedy, he kept his self busy. He overworked himself like he was some kind of a robot. Every day of his life was just a routine, like he constrained his self to be happy.

"When I saw her, I saw the most beautiful woman I ever seen. She was standing in front of a store. Then she looked at my way... And at that moment, I know my life will never be the same."

"When your mother died, I just want to die too. I can't live without her..."

"But I thought of you, Natsume. How can I leave you when you also need me at that time. So I worked hard to earn a living so that I can raise you well, but I never take good care of you."

Then, there was silence.

"Time surely flies fast. You're not a little kid anymore... I've done the best I can do. I can't take this anymore."

"W-What are you saying?" Finally, I spoke.

"I... couldn't protect the woman I love. There's no way to atone for a sin like that." "It's tough Natsume... not being able to forgive yourself."

"I must protect this land for your mother, for our memories, and also for you. Even this is the last thing I have to do."

"Please forgive me..." He didn't say anything after that. He just looked into my face like he's memorizing every detail. Then, he left the room without saying anything.

I'm not mad at him... I'd already forgiven him a long time ago...

Little did I know, that will be the last time I'll talked to him.

My mind went almost blank. As if, there was a hole inside that creeping throughout my chest. It's so painful that I found myself breathing heavily...

I wanted to get mad, to scream the hell out of my chest!

I thought I only lost my father, but I was wrong.

That night after the burial, I saw Mr. Kuonji Sakura standing at the doorway. This was my first time I saw him even we lived at the same island. The sight of him, made my knees tremble. He emitted an aura of authority and terror. I gaze deep on his eyes void of emotions. I fought the fear crawling in every inch of my body.

He slowly walked in front of me. Damn it. I can't control my hands from trembling. As he walked closer, I clutched my hands to fists.

He stopped when it was a meter distance from me. He hand me down a piece of paper. At first, I looked at him with a questioning eye. He raised his brow and spoke in a low commanding voice. "Read it."

I read the contents of the paper... My eyes grew bigger when I finally finished reading it. My hands were shaking and my eyes became blurry. I wanted to crumple the paper, to tear it in pieces and burned it to ashes. The paper was turned to be a deed of sale making Mr. Sakura to be the new owner of the Hyuuga Farm.

Then the realization hit me.

The death of my father was not an accident; it was all planned by Mr. Kuonji Sakura! I wanted to hit this man in front of me badly! And as if on cue, Mr. Narumi, a great friend of my father, went beside me and holds my hand as if he knew that I wanted to kill this man in an instant.

I saw Mr. Kuonji smirked by my action and walked passed us, leaving us burning inside. That filthy bastard! I wanted to crush his face. I wanted to kill all the Sakura's with my bare hands!

"Calm down Natsume. You will not win in this fight if you let yourself control by your emotions..." Mr. Narumi said.

"Leave this place and make yourself stronger. There's a right time for everything." "I know your father will not be happy to see you if you will get hurt." He was right. I need to leave this place as soon as possible. I need to be stronger and powerful!

"One day, the Sakura's will fall down from their throne especially him, Kuonji Sakura."

With that word, he decided to leave the place where he grew up, the place where he built his own dreams.

With last glance on the grave of his father, he left with a heavy burden inside his chest and promised in front of him that he will come back and fulfil the vengeance of his death.

"Kuonji Sakura, your days are over now."

7/10/10