AN: Warning! There is going to be violence in this chapter between Sang and her stepmother. You can skip it if you wish, the scene starts on Sang's POV and ends with it.

Sean's POV:

The next day...

I was preparing myself for the walk to the shrine. I had finally finished my studies to become a doctor and was now to receive my certificate in our clan main shrine, before the statue of our god.

It was a ceremony that our first lord had started when he first founded the Academy clan. All new doctors were to receive their certificates at the shrine, before the whole clan along with a blessing given by the shrine's shaman.

It was a huge honor, and I felt incredibly nervous about standing before my whole clan for my blessing. I hoped I didn't trip or maybe stutter when it came the time for my speech and the prayer.

My hands trembled as I tied the sash on my kimono, God, I was such a mess. Thankfully my family would all be there for me, Owen had managed to clear our schedules for today.

I stepped out of my room and started walking down the long corridor in the direction to the gardens. I needed a walk to calm myself.

Stepping out in the afternoon sun I glanced around myself and walked over to a bench where I sat down, my hands clenched in my lap.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, counting to ten in hopes of slowing my speeding heart.

The scent of flowers that reached my nose was unlike any I had smelled in this garden before and my eyes snapped open to see Sang-chan standing a few feet ahead of me.

She stared at me curiously and I was shocked that I had not heard her, but dismissed it for my nervousness and lack of attention at my surroundings.

"Something wrong, Sean-san?" She asked in that sweet voice of hers.

I gave her a charming smile that I suspected didn't hide the nervousness in my eyes. "All is fine, Pumpkin. I am just a little nervous about the ceremony this afternoon."

She stepped closer to me, her usual blue-gray kimono looking far too unsuitable for her cute self. This girl deserved to be dressed in cute and high quality clothes, not in this trash the Sorenson put on her.

She moved like a lady but was dressed in the garb of a peasant. A travesty in my opinion, but who was I to judge?

An orphan unwanted by his parents. A nobody, if not for my brothers and my lord to who I owned my life.

"You are officially becoming a doctor, no?" She asked me.

I nodded at her, "Yes, after years of study and work I am finally receiving my certificate so I can truly heal people." I'd rather heal than kill.

She smiled at me, her green eyes warm, kind, making my nervousness go away in an instant, and a sense of safety and stability took over.

I didn't understand my feelings but didn't question them either. That was more Owen's thing. I just accepted.

She moved her hand to her pocket and removed a piece of candy from it, giving the sweet to me. "Here, a little lucky charm for you as well as a reward for doing well in your ceremony."

I took the candy, knowing that the smile in her face was my real luck charm for today and smiled in thanks at her. Standing up from the bench I watched as she walked away, her behind swaying from side to side gently.

Once her figure was lost among the trees and flowers in the garden I walked out of the house and over to the town's shrine, my shoulders back and chin raised proudly.

Today was a beautiful day, indeed.

I hoped someday I could help that girl, too. Her smile and warm, green eyes were all the reward I wished for.

......

Sang's POV:

Leaving the gardens I walked to my mistress rooms. The mistress of the clan Sorenson, had requested my presence and I knew what was coming.

She wanted to punish me for a perceived error on my part.

At least, the household was practically empty now, with Sean-san's ceremony, and since I had received a violin from Wil I would be able to release my pent up emotions later on.

Taking a deep breath I made sure to drop my shoulders and walk with head turned down, keeping my eyes on floor.

Keeping the proper posture in front of the mistress was important.

Pausing in front of the door that led to my doom I took another deep breath and raised my hand, knocking lightly on the door.

"Come in!" Came the hoarse shout from inside.

I opened the door and slipped inside, closing and licking it behind me without her having to order me.

I already knew what to expect. This was part of my routine, already.

Raising my head just enough that I could see my mistress from under my lashes I watched as she stood quietly by her room window.

Her skin looked bright and kind of clammy, her cheeks were flushed in an unhealthy red and the rest of her face looked strangely pale.

Not for the first time I thought that she was sick. In more ways than one.

She turned to study me with glassy eyes, the rage in them the only sing of life in that dark gaze.

"You've been whoring yourself, no Sang?" She hissed at me.

I knew there was no right answer for that question so I didn't give any, choosing to remain silent, my head lowered, practically cowering by the door.

In a matter of seconds she was upon me, her hand flew through the air making the cold wind hit my cheek a second before the burning sensation of her slap took over.

My head twisted sideways from the strength of her blow, but I didn't utter a sound nor make any other movement.

"Take off your clothes!" She spat before turning to her closet.

I took a deep breath to keep my hands from shacking too badly and removed the sash from my kimono. Folding it neatly I laid the sash over the dresser. Taking another deep breath I removed my kimono and folded it as well, leaving it besides the sash. I kept my underthings on, there was no way I was exposing myself so completely to her.

I heard the heavy tread of her footstep as she came closer to me and felt the air move at my back.

"On your knees, whore." Her voice was raspy, the tone cold.

I dropped to my knees before the dresser, my back to her. The hardwood floor bit at my flesh but I ignored it. What was to come would be far worse than kneeling in the ground.

I heard the whistle a second before the flames licked up my spine. The whip was made of a wide strip of leather. It didn't always break the skin, but it left angry welts that burned in contact of my clothing.

"Did you think I didn't notice you talking with those impressionable, young men at Marie's ceremony?" She screamed at me, her voice sharp but with a tired tint to it.

Again I felt a bath of cold air, heard the whistle from the whip and felt flames at my back.

I took deep breaths to help bear the pain.

"You are such a whore, Sang!" She spat, "What did you think you were doing? Did you think any of those men would want more than to fuck you?" She kept throwing her poison at me. "You are nobody!"

Whiiistlee... slap!

Deep breaths, Sang... I told myself.

I had known this would happen. Mistress didn't like to see me happy and I had clearly enjoyed myself with the guys. But I didn't regret the time I spent with them. They were good people. There were so few good people in my life.

"And what did you think you were doing at that garden?" She screeched before hitting me even harder with the whip, this time managing to draw blood. "Trying to steal Marie's husband away?"

I hadn't expected that. I thought mine and Wil's conversation had been a completely private one, but now I saw how wrong I had been.

It didn't matter, thought. My conversation with Wil was just one more excuse she found to punish me. If it had never happened she would have found something else.

"Never try that again, whore!" She wheezed at me before I heard the sound of the whip falling to the ground. "Get out of my sight!" The sound of her panting was loud in the otherwise quiet room.

I didn't make a single sound as I stood from my kneeling position and dressed myself as quickly as I could.

My whole body was trembling with the effort to hold in my emotions but I didn't dare to give her a reaction.

I needed to remain docile and silent.

I tied the sash around my waist haphazardly and left the room, closing the door behind myself and resting my hand against the wall.

The corridor was completely empty, which was a blessing. I didn't want anyone to see me like this. I had never told anyone how bad my punishments were at the hands of my mistress, and I didn't want to share that information now, either.

Taking another deep breath for strength I straightened my spine and walked to my rooms, the rough fabric of my blue-gray kimono chaffing against the welts in my back.

Entering my room without meeting anyone I removed my kimono and cleaned myself as best as I could before putting on one of the news kimonos Wil had given me. This one was made of a soft fabric that didn't hurt my back.

It was also in a dark brown color, which meant no blood-stains.

Once I was done I removed my violin from the closet and headed to the windowsill.

With angry tears running down my face I played all my rage and pain away.

......

Sean's POV:

It was late and Owen and I were still in town, having a quiet dinner together.

We had spent the afternoon with the boys commemorating in town before they all decided to head back.

Me and Owen stayed behind, as we often did, choosing to find a quiet corner to enjoy a bowl of ramen or something else.

"So, you are telling me that the Sorensons brought a killer with them to our clan." Owen was saying, his tone of voice exasperated. "And you didn't bother to tell me sooner?"

I took a sip of my tea before answering him. "She is not a killer, Owen. Killing a bunch of hooligans doesn't make one into a threat against our clan."

"You don't know that, Sean." Owen argued with me, "For all you know she could be a heartless assassin."

I snorted. Sang-chan most definitely had a heart. It could be as interchangeable as the water states, sometimes hard and icy-cold, other times warm and soft, but it was a heart nonetheless.

And I suspected it tended much more to be hot and tender rather than cold and hard.

"She isn't a killer, Owen." I repeated myself.

No, that girl wasn't a killer, she was a lioness protecting those she cared about. She fought against a bunch of hooligans beside my brothers, protecting their backs as they protected hers.

The memory of her warm, green eyes had followed me the whole day. I wished I could see her smile more.

He just sighed in annoyance. "Whatever, Sean." He said, standing up from the stool where he'd been sitting on and walking away.

Dropping some money in the counter I stood too and went after him.

When I reached him we simply walked in silence for a while before he said, "Just be careful, please, Sean."

It was rare for my brother to show how much he cared about me or the rest of our brothers, but we all knew that he did.

These moments were precious and I kept them close to my heart.

I could still remember the day when I found out that Owen Blackbourne truly cared about me.

We had been on a mission for our lord. I had been a part of Owen's team for over six years already and I always stood beside him, loyal and strong even though I wasn't sure he cared any way.

Our enemies had found us and I ended getting severely hurt before we managed to escape. But it had been worth the wound - it was worth many wounds - to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. His clear, gray and hard eyes had been dimmed for a moment, and his firm lips had been shaking.

For that moment in time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation.

I'd follow Owen Blackbourne whenever he led.

"The elder Taylor-san has been acting strangely, recently." He suddenly told me and my gaze flew to his.

I had to agree with him, our dreamer seemed distracted with unpleasant thoughts lately. Luke was always with his head in the moon, but the far-away look in his eyes was normally a happy one.

Now he sported a worried frown that made him look like his brother.

I sighed, "He will tell us when he feels like it, Owen. And no sooner."

Owen frowned at the ground, "You are right, of course. But that don't means I have to like it. My brother has a problem and he is not letting me solve it!" he grumbled.

I laughed. Owen and his problem-solving obsession had always been a source of joy to me.

As well as a proof that the man was only human.

Entering the clan's main house we headed to the office. I knew there was business that Owen still wished to discuss with me.

Closing the door behind myself without bothering with a lock we checked around the room for spies before settling down to talk.

"What is it, Owen?" I asked.

He sighed, "We have a job Sean." He said.

I knew all too well what that meant. A job meant a death.

This time I was the one to sigh. "Who is it this time?" I asked.

"Marie Sorenson." He said, tone grave.

My eyebrows rose before they lowered in a frown. "That is going to cause a war between the clans and many deaths."

Owen sighed again, "I am aware of that, but Jack-sama has given his orders."

That meant that Marie was as good as dead already.

I rose from the couch where I had been sitting and began to pace. A war. So many deaths.

It wasn't right but I knew nothing I said would sway Owen. His loyalty to our lord came first and foremost.

Pausing before him I asked, "Who is going to do it? And when?"

He tilted his head back to study me, "Does it matter?"

Did it? Not really, I didn't want any of my brothers making a kill that would start a war.

"I will do it, Owen." I told him and saw his eyes sharpen in refusal before he uttered a single and firm "no".

I took in a deep breath, preparing to argue, but a look from his gray eyes made me pause.

"You are not doing this, Sean." Owen said to me. "We've spent a great deal of effort so you could stop killing and become a doctor, you are not going back to your old life, that is not for you."

He was right, of course. Killing wasn't for any of them, really, but it had been particularly hard for him, to the point where he often had nightmares.

He was a healer, not a killer.

I sighed in defeat. I couldn't do it.

"North is going to be the one to handle the job." Owen said quietly.

From all of them North and Nathan were the ones who had less difficulty with their job. I was grateful it wouldn't have to be one of the others.

"Very well, Owen." I agreed with him.