Chapter 2

One moonlit night, as cherry blossoms fell like snow, Hana traced the tattoo on Ryuji’s wrist, a crimson dragon.

Recognition finally dawned inside Hana’s mind.

“You’re him,” she whispered. “My promised fiancé.”

Ryuji froze with fear, as his eyes met Hana’s. He saw the tears slightly forming at the corner of her eyes as she realized he had been lying to her all this time.

Ryuji’s eyes held regret. “I wanted you to love me, not the yakuza heir.”

Hana’s anger melted into tears. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I wanted you to choose me willingly,” he confessed. “Not out of duty.”

Hana stared at Ryuji, no she should call him Soto now, she shook her head in confusion. What should she do with this new found knowledge.

She could see from the look in Ryuji’s eyes that he felt immense guilt for what he had done. She also could see that his feelings all this time were not a part of the lie.

“I’ll believe you this once. But if you betray me again or I find you’ve lied to me once more, I’ll never forgive you,” Hana spoke strongly as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Ryuji touched her cheek softly as he wiped the tear away with his fingertips. Time seemed to freeze and he replied confidently, “I would rather die than hurt you. You are my everything, little blossom.”

And with that he placed a gentle kiss upon her lips, sealing the promise between the two. Hana’s arms wrapped around Ryuji and she melted into the kiss, hoping they could stay this way forever.

Their love was a fragile thread, woven between loyalty and betrayal. As Hana grappled with her feelings, her father’s wrath loomed. The Black Lotus and Crimson Dragon Clans clashed, blood staining cherry blossoms were on the horizon.

Not long after they found love, Ryuji and Hana were discovered by her father. He was furious that Soto had broke their pact of sworn secrecy.

Letting out the secret had caused a war like no other. Hana’s father demanded obedience, while Ryuji’s loyalties splintered.

Ryuji faced an impossible choice: duty or love. He surrendered to Hana’s father, offering his life to spare hers. But fate had other plans. The rival clans converged in a moonlit garden, blades unsheathed. Hana fought alongside Ryuji, their love a beacon in the chaos.

As swords clashed, honor tested, Hana’s father revealed the truth, the fragile thread that bound them was all a lie.

Ryuji had infiltrated the Black Lotus Clan, his love a masquerade.

“He is only here to deceive you my daughter,” Kaito yelled. “I was never going to allow the marriage.”

Hana’s heart shattered as petals fell around them. “Why?” she cried at Ryuji.

Ryuji’s voice trembled. “Like I told you before, I wanted you to choose me willingly.”

In the aftermath, Hana confronted her father. “I choose love over vendetta.” She revealed Ryuji’s sacrifice, and the yakuza world trembled. The clans forged an uneasy truce, their oaths rewritten.

“I forbid it! Even if we have come to a truce, Soto can never be trusted,” her father yelled. “You can never be together!”

“We will see,” Hana said defiantly as she turned and quickly walked away.

Hana knew it was too late for her heart to turn back. She would always love Ryuji, no matter who he was or what he had done in the past.

Hana and Ryuji stood at the Sakura Bridge in secret, cherry petals swirling around them. “I love you,” she whispered.

He kissed her, sealing their fate. “Forever.”

He gazed down at her lovingly as his fingers traced her lips softly. “Will you finally speak my real name? I want to hear my name from these lips.”

Hana blushed at his words and although she felt shy, she whispered, “Soto.”

“A bit louder please,” Soto begged Hana.

Hana mustered her courage, looked him straight in the eyes, and spoke with nothing, but love in her voice, “Soto, my love, my forever.”

Soto was overjoyed with happiness and pulled Hana close as he embraced her warmly within his arms. They finally found a bit of happiness amongst the turmoil.

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