Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Honor ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter Three

The stew was heavenly, the broth a delicious blend of spices
that complimented the chunks of vegetables swimming within.
The venison was also divine, the succulent meat perfectly
roasted and then braised in an onion, mint and red wine
sauce. Holding down a piece of the meat with her
two-pronged fork, Utena sliced off a morsel with her plain
and very serviceable eating dagger. Stabbing it with the
point of the knife, she raised the meat to her lips and
pulled it off the utensil with her teeth. Next to her, the
scarlet-haired highland chieftain chewed on a bite of his
own supper, cobalt-hued gaze watching her.

She sat at his right, in the place of honor there at the
high table, her graceful form well-suited to the carved
rosewood chair next to his throne-like one. Protocol
dictated that since she was a lady of noble blood, he should
not only share a trencher of stew with her, he should also
choose the best of the meat for her, cut it up for her and
feed it to her. However, she had had other thoughts; she
had swiftly asserted her independence in such matters with
glaring looks and soft sounds of distaste when he had
attempted to treat her in a courtly manner. Taking the
hints, Touga had let her dine at her own pleasure.

Not that he truly minded. He liked the fact that she could
be headstrong and stubborn when it came to her independence.
He could probably easily forget that she was a lowlander.

"The fare is absolutely wonderful, my lord," the rose-haired
maiden pronounced, her voice easily heard over the sounds of
a soft instrumental piece being played by the troupe of
musicians. "My compliments to your cook and his staff."

"I shall be sure to pass them along, my lady," Touga
responded. Taking a sip of the sweet red wine -- Nanami had
refilled his golden goblet, returning it to him as he had
taken his seat at the high table, a sullen expression in her
violet eyes -- he added, "So tell me, fair Utena, why
exactly have you come to visit my domain?"

"Well . . ." Utena began, pausing long enough to swallow a
mouthful of the stew. "I'm on a quest."

"A quest?" he echoed, surprised at the answer. Adventures
such as those were more for knights and warriors than they
were for angelic lowland maidens.

"Aye. I seek a champion."

(Ah. Well, *that* certainly is an endeavor appropriate to
the talents of one of the fairer sex,) the redheaded lord
silently mused, the hint of a smile coming to his face.
"And just what sort of a champion are you searching for?"

"A very special one," Utena murmured, lowering her dagger to
the table and lifting her aquamarine gaze to stare at him.

"And what sort of man would this 'special' champion be?"
Touga gently insisted, leaning toward her slightly. The
thought flashed through his mind that he could be what she
was looking for, and he smiled just a bit more. He truly
liked that idea, the longer he mulled it over. There was
something utterly captivating about her.

"He would have to be one who would champion the virtues of
Love . . ." she responded, looking away, slender fingers
resting lightly on the cool metal of her eating dagger.

A scarlet eyebrow arched upward at her words; again, it was
an answer that he hadn't expected. (Love?) he wondered,
continuing to stare at her.

Of course, he was familiar with the concept of courtly love.
Troubadours and minstrels sang the virtues of those who
loved on a purely spiritual plane, the great ladies of the
land held courts where questions of love and romance were
asked and answered, and many a chivalrous knight sought
inspiration and hope from their love's token and presence.
It was quite the fashion in the lowlands, though the
highlanders were too practical and pragmatic a folk to
pursue such a sport in a passionate manner. As the prince
of the Kiryuu, he had gone to some of the great courts as
the representative of his clan, so he had observed the sport
of romance as practiced there. That the maidens and ladies
adored it so was all the impetus he had needed to adopt such
mannerisms himself.

She was still looking away, her gaze focused on some distant
point. In the ambient light of the Great Hall, her wavy
pink hair took on a darker hue, one that tantalized Touga
with a half-forgotten memory. "Forgiveness, generosity,
honesty, justice, mercy, and trust . . ." he spoke, his
voice a low purr, reciting the six virtues held above all
others in the pursuit of courtly love. Her hair shimmering
in the firelight, it beckoned to him, urging him to reach
out and stroke it, to discover if it was as soft as it
appeared to be.

"What -- what do you know of the virtues?" Utena queried,
still looking away. She could feel the heat rising in her
cheeks as a blush, her heart suddenly in her throat. The
very idea that this gorgeous chieftain could be the one she
had been searching for made a thrill shiver down her spine.
Something about him made her fervently wish that he could be
the one after all.

(Her romantic quest must mean a great deal to her, to make
her react so,) Touga idly noted, observing his companion's
growing nervousness. That he too was having some sort of an
effect on her was made clear as her maidenly blush deepened
slightly when he leaned closer to her. He felt a smug sense
of satisfaction at seeing her respond to his presence like
many other women had reacted before. "I know that to truly
follow the ways of Love, one must be free of the poison of
the sins of Hate," he murmured in reply. "A heart dedicated
to Love must be large enough to be forgiving of the
fallacies of us imperfect humans, must be generous to those
in need, must be honest in the dealings with others, must
uphold the tenets of justice and never arbitrarily settle a
matter, being merciful in such judgements . . ." Giving in
at last to the temptation, he reached out and ran the
slender fingers of a hand through her shimmering, wavy
pink-hued hair. "And above all, it must be trusting of the
one it loves . . ."

It had all the softness of the finest of silks, the
rose-colored strands flowing over his skin like water. An
unusual sensation washed over him, making his breath catch
in his throat. The delicate shade of pink, the soft feel of
it . . .

The slight tug on her hair brought her back to reality.
Softly gasping in sudden outrage, she shoved his hand away,
irritation narrowing her aquamarine eyes. "Curb your
familiarity, my lord," she commanded.

He pulled his hand back, strangely afraid of the wrath he
saw in her lovely eyes. "Forgive me. You're absolutely
right. I should have controlled myself." Leaning back, he
found himself fervently wishing that his impulse hadn't
turned any possible affection into dislike. "But I truly
couldn't help it, fair lady."

The color in her cheeks now was due to her continued
annoyance at her companion's lack of polite manners.
"Enough flattery, my lord."

Touga nodded slightly, setting his mind to regaining his
suave composure. "What will you do once you've found this
champion you seek?" He truly was curious about her quest,
though it seemed a little on the silly side as far as he was
concerned.

"I need him to perform a task that only he can achieve,"
Utena responded, her voice low as her angry expression
slowly faded.

"What is this task, my lady?"

"I . . . No, I cannot say, not to anyone other than the
champion I seek," she replied, once more turning her azure
gaze to staring off into the distance. Strangely enough,
she looked haunted now, as if she carried a great weight on
her slender shoulders.

He felt a small stab within his heart at seeing her so
troubled. He suddenly wanted to reach out to her and gather
her in his arms, to stroke that silken mane of hers and tell
her that he could deal with all of her troubles. "And what
would happen should he achieve this task successfully?" he
softly murmured, cobalt gaze fixed upon her beautiful form.

Utena turned to stare at him again, gorgeous eyes wide in
sudden amazement. (What would happen?) she asked herself,
abruptly realizing that that was a question she had never
dwelled upon. Always, ever since the night she had seen
Love's suffering, she had focused upon saving the tortured
maiden. "I . . . I fear I've not thought that far ahead.
The quest itself has taken all my energy."

"Would you consider such a man worthy of your own love?" the
redheaded chieftain queried in response, blue gaze still
fastened upon her. "Could you find it within your heart to
marry the champion you find?"

(Marry? Would I have as a husband such a man?) Frowning
thoughtfully, she turned the idea this way and that,
exploring the possibility. So focused was she on her
promise that again, this was something she had never truly
brought to mind. Even so, she knew; she would want such a
man for her own love and protector. "Aye," Utena finally
said, the syllable a soft breath. "I would marry none
other." The more she dwelt upon the thought, the more
convinced she became. No other would do for her, save the
champion she discovered, for he would be all those ideals
she had kept close to her heart for so long.

A flash of silken pink hair, a cherubic visage . . . The
image hung there in the back of his mind, tantalizing.
(Could it be possible?) Touga wondered, taking a sip of wine
from his golden cup. So intent was he on the puzzle and the
sight of her that he truly didn't notice at all the taste of
the deep red liquid as he swallowed it. "Lady Utena . . .
Do your parents yet live?"

Surprised by his question, she gave him a look of mild
astonishment. It seemed quite the change in subjects, to be
honest. (Perhaps he wishes to let my family know that I've
arrived at his stronghold safely?) she thought, trying to
deduce his reason for asking the question. "No, my lord,
they do not," she answered, shaking her head in a negative
gesture. Taking a moment to eat a couple more spoonfuls of
her cooling stew, she continued, "They died a long time ago,
when I was a little girl."

"If I may be so bold, what happened to them?" Touga asked,
that odd sensation getting stronger. A thrill of fear hung
there, though he couldn't say why he was afraid of what he
would discover.

Utena dug around in the remains of her stew, scraping off
some of the soaked bread of the trencher that acted as a
bowl. The image of long ago came back to her from where she
had buried it: the carnage, the crimson blood staining the
ground, the absolute terror and sense of overwhelming loss.
"We were on our way to someplace here in the highlands,
though I don't recall now what our destination was to be,"
she responded, her voice a barely heard whisper. Her mind
focused on the memories of long ago, she didn't notice the
scarlet-haired lord next to her lean closer again to catch
her words over the strains of the gently playing music. "As
we were passing through a great stand of evergreens, our
party was set upon by men who came pouring out of the woods.
We were surrounded, Father and our knights fighting
furiously with the strangers. Nurse grabbed me and ran,
somehow making it past the ring of strangers, and she fled
with me, carrying me into the forest. A couple of the
strangers broke off attacking our party and chased after us
. . ." She picked around again in her trencher, idly
stirring the contents, her thoughts a million miles away.
Distantly, she could recall the sounds of steel on steel,
the shouts of outrage and the cries of pain, the screams of
the women, the harsh panting of her frightened nurse's
breathing. Face turning pale, she resumed her low-voiced
narrative. "Nurse fell, tripping on something. I hurt my
knee, but I was otherwise all right. She screamed at me to
run, and I did. The strange knights . . ."

Next to her, Touga's face took on a slightly pained
expression; she had gone through so much. Noting her just
sitting there silently, her skin far whiter than was its
normal wont, he gently prodded her with another question.
"How did you escape?"

"I . . . found a fallen log, one hollowed out by decay. I
couldn't outrun them, not their horses, so I crawled into
the hollow. They were too busy with Nurse to see me take
shelter there . . ." Again she could hear the horrible
screaming, the terrible sounds; tears welled up in her
aquamarine eyes. "They rode off, shouting at one another to
find me. I stayed there for a long time, until the sun was
low in the west. It was silent around me, save for only the
noises of the forest animals."

"Did you go back to where your parents had been?"

Utena nodded, her mind recalling the sanguine scene that had
greeted her young gaze there. "They were all dead, their
blood staining the ground. I didn't understand at first.
Mother was lying atop Father, and I tried to rouse them
both, but they didn't move. But then I realized the truth,
realized that I was all alone. I ran away from the scene,
into the forests. I tried to run away from it all, but I
couldn't . . ."

God how he wanted to reach over and comfort her yet again in
that moment. She looked so vulnerable and scared just then
as she relived being the little girl she had once been.
Touga frowned, taking another sip of the wine in an effort
to curb his almost overwhelming impulse. The story she told
sounded like one he'd heard before, and again he caught a
flash of a memory, of a girl-child trailing after him,
looking upon him with a mixture of happiness and trust.
Suddenly feeling very brittle, the scarlet-haired lord
slowly lowered his golden chalice to the surface of the high
table. "What happened to you next, Lady Utena?"

"I ran and ran, and then a storm came. I fell off a cliff
into a lake . . ."

It was her! He stared at her, blinking in astonishment,
seeing in her now the promise at which her child self had
hinted. The rose-colored hair was perhaps a few shades
lighter now, her face angelic instead of cherubic, but the
eyes were as he remembered them. After so long, had Fate
truly brought her back to him? "And then?" He wanted her
confirmation, wanted to hear from those tempting lips of
hers that she was the girl he had saved from the waters of
the lake all those years ago.

Utena stirred in her stew a bit more. How could she explain
her vision and her determination to live for the day she
could free Love from her eternal torment? He would probably
laugh at her and call it a fanciful hallucination. No, she
would keep that vision to herself, sharing it only with the
champion she found. *He would understand, the moment he
touched Love's Honor. "I'm not certain, though I must have
been pulled from the waters or perhaps I managed to swim to
shore. The next thing I clearly recall is waking up in the
stronghold of a local lord. I stayed a few days there,
until my identity became known, the news of my parent's
death had been spread and my remaining family had come to
take me home to Rosehaven. I do remember . . ."

Touga leaned over just a bit more, straining to catch her
next words. "Aye?"

"There was someone there, someone I trusted . . . Someone I
knew would take care of me . . ."

"Who was this person?"

(Who was it?) Utena asked herself, fingers of a hand
reaching up to stroke the gold and ruby brooch fastened to
the neckline of her sideless surcoat. (I can't recall, only
that I knew I was safe around that one.) Try as she might,
neither a face nor an image came to her. All she could see
in her mind's eye was the spirit of Love struggling against
the hatred-poisoned thorns of those gold and silver roses.
"I'm sorry, my lord," she finally said, giving up the
effort. "I can't remember. It was too long ago."

The disappointment gave him a bitter taste in his mouth.
Frowning, his ire suddenly sparked, he snatched up his cup
once more and took a long drink of the wine, trying to wash
the bitterness away. Though she may not remember him, he
certainly had the memory of her. She had followed him
everywhere, always wanting to be near him. Those few times
when his mother had tried to keep her in the women's solar
along with his younger sister Nanami, the rose-haired girl
had withdrawn into a silent brooding that only lifted when
she was allowed to trail along after the Kiryuu heir.

And he had come to appreciate the child's company, that
fierce protectiveness that had come upon him as he had
ridden home with her remaining in his heart. He had sworn
to see to it that nothing would harm her so long as she
remained among his clan, and despite his youth -- he had
only been of ten winters then -- it had been a self-imposed
duty he had taken seriously. He recalled the day her still
living relatives had come to take her away with a bit of
nostalgic sadness; though understanding why she had to leave
with them, he had wanted her to stay where he could continue
to watch over her.

As Touga gazed upon her now, seeing the young woman she had
become, he realized just how much he had missed her after
her family had claimed her. Now that she was once more at
his side, he found himself disliking the idea of ever
letting her go again. Circumstances had been beyond his
control back then; he had power now, and the ability to care
for her if only she'd allow it. The boyish affection he had
had for her turned into something else, changed by his
awareness of her as a young lady almost grown. Somehow,
some way, he would make her his. (But to do that, I must
prove to her that I am the champion she seeks for this
mysterious task,) he silently mused.

The scrape of the rosewood chair against the dais floor
caught his attention. Utena slowly rose from her seat, her
expression one of mild distress. Faintly alarmed by the
look, the Kiryuu chieftain stood also, holding out a hand in
case he should need to swiftly steady her. She didn't look
well from what he could observe.

"Forgive me. I think I need some fresh air," Utena said,
looking about the Great Hall for a way out. Too many images
long buried had been stirred up by her tale; she needed to
get out of the crowded and noisy chamber, away from everyone
in order to recompose herself. She hated letting anyone see
how vulnerable she had once been. Never again would she
ever be as helpless as she had been on that dark and bloody
day.

(Fresh air . . . Outside?) The thought triggered a memory,
bringing to mind the two of them. He could see her again,
the little girl he had saved, her enchanting gaze staring up
at him . . .

(Everyone here says I'm such a pretty girl. Why do they say
that?)

(Because you are pretty.)

(I am?)

(Haven't you looked at yourself in the still water of a
pond? Or in the surface of a silver mirror?)

(No . . .)

(Well, you are. And do you know what's the prettiest thing
about you?)

(What's that?)

(Your eyes. They shine as brightly as the stars in the
heavens.)

(The stars?)

(Haven't you ever seen the stars? They're the little points
of light in the night sky.)

(No. I'm always told to stay inside when the sun goes down.
I've never been outside at night.)

(Tell you what . . . Would you like me to show you the
stars?)

(Oh aye! I would like that very much.)

(Then I promise. I'll show you the stars and how brightly
they shine.)

"Lady Utena, come with me," Touga said, stepping next to her
and offering her his arm. (Would she remember those words?
That promise?)

Despite her feeling of illness and her need to retreat from
the large hall, the young noblewoman narrowed her eyes in
suspicion at her companion. Was he attempting yet more
liberties with her person? "What are you about, Lord
Touga?"

"Nothing harmful, I swear," he responded, doing his best to
reassure her. "I'm merely offering to escort you to a place
where you can get the fresh air you want. Please . . . Once
I lead you outside, I will leave you in peace should you so
desire."

Her aquamarine gaze lingered over him before she finally
acquiesced. Taking his arm in hers, she stiffly nodded.
"Very well, I accept your offer."

A ghost of a smile turned up the corners of his mouth as he
lead her from the dais there next to the large fireplace.
Around them, the jovial atmosphere continued, the rest of
the clan drinking, dancing and frolicking to the energetic
music now being played by the troupe of entertainers. Past
the fireplace he guided her, across the relatively short
distance from there to the iron-bound wooden door in the
center of the tapestry covered wall, her other hand holding
her skirt up so that the fabric wouldn't drag on the rushes
covering the oaken floor. Pulling open the door with his
free hand, he entered the antechamber with her, leaving it
for someone else to shut it once they had passed. Cupboards
rested against the walls of this room, with plain wooden
chairs of simple construction arranged in groupings
throughout the space. Torches set in metal brackets
fastened to the upper areas of the walls illuminated the
room, just as similar ones lit up the other chambers Utena
had seen of the keep. Also like the other rooms, tapestries
were hung here and there, partially as decoration and
partially as insulation against sound and weather both.

They walked through the room at an angle, the tall nobleman
heading for the archway over in the corner of the room off
to their left. From what she could recall of the
structure's layout, it was there that the spiral staircase
that ran throughout the entire height of the keep would be
found. Utena remained silent as they walked along the short
passageway to the stone flight of stairs, but when her
escort started to travel upwards, she hesitated, frowning.
"Where are you taking me, Lord Touga?"

"Please, my lady, let me surprise you," he replied, pausing
and looking down at her, his expression one hard to read in
the flickering light of the torches.

Her response for a long moment was only to silently stare up
at him, her look one torn between suspicion and irritation.

"Come now, Lady Utena. You seek a champion for Love, yet
you cannot be trusting yourself?" Touga gently chided her,
hoping to turn her ideals against her.

"Very well," she murmured, her back stiffening. (How dare
he imply that I don't follow the virtues of Amor?) Turning
her gaze to focus straight ahead, she started up the stone
steps.

Grinning slightly at his little victory, he walked with her;
arm in arm, the highland lord and the lowland lady ascended
to the top story of the keep. From the short passageway
accessing the stairs, Touga lead her through three more
chambers. The first, the one that the archway opened upon,
seemed to be an office; the furnishings and décor there were
consistent with what Utena knew to be that which was
necessary to keep track of the accounts of the demense's
income and what taxes would be owed to the crown. The door
through which he escorted her next revealed what seemed to
be a plush bedchamber with a decidedly feminine air. The
large four-poster bed was draped with delicate and gauzy
curtains, the tapestries here were of floral designs and
scattered about were the signs of weaving and sewing,
including a small loom and embroidery hoops on stands. "My
sister Nanami's chamber," Touga explained as he strode
across the carpet-covered floor to the ironbound oaken door
opposite the one through which they had entered.

Utena remained quiet as they passed from the bedchamber
into what appeared to be the women's solar. Another room
with a decidedly feminine atmosphere, she could make out in
the torchlight a number of large looms in the corner,
baskets of wool with drop spindles and carding brushes
nearby, more embroidery hoops and chairs, chests and other
pieces of furniture that gave evidence of this place being
where most of the work of the handmaidens would be done.
Around a corner in the curving outer wall she was lead, arm
resting lightly against the crook of Touga's; the short
passageway the arched entrance accessed lead to a sturdy
wooden ladder. Letting go of her, the scarlet-haired
chieftain gave her a smile. "Allow me to open the hatch for
you."

"We're going up onto the roof?" the young noblewoman asked.

"Aye. You'll get your fresh air there. And there's
something I'd like to show you."

"Whatever could that be?" Utena queried.

The smile he gave her was tender and mysterious all at once.
"You'll see, my lady." Turning away, his long hair fanning
out slightly as he did so, he nimbly climbed up the ladder's
rungs. Sensitive fingertips brushed against the underside
of the hatch until he found the iron bolt that locked it
shut. The sharp noise it made as he shoved it open echoed
in the narrow confines of the hallway. A heave and a grunt
and the hatch lifted upwards; he took a couple more steps
up, pushing the square-shaped door to bang against the stone
flooring of the level outer ring of the roof of the keep.
Looking up into the night sky, he grinned as he could see
the glittering points of the stars high ahead. It was a
perfect, clear night, and the sight was a stunning one.
Finishing his ascent, Touga crouched down in a kneel next to
the dark square in the floor and leaned over, extending a
hand back down. "Gather up your skirts and be careful, Lady
Utena," he directed.

Frowning in slight annoyance -- did he truly think she was
that helpless? -- the rose-haired maiden grabbed a handful
of her attire's fabric and lifted it up so that she could
take the ladder safely. One by one she stepped on the
rungs, feeling the Kiryuu prince's hand on her shoulder to
help steady her up the rest of the way. As she started to
step out onto the flat stone roof, his hand shifted, taking
her free one in it and tugging her up the rest of the way.
A cool breeze wafted past, sending her hair dancing in its
wake; she instantly felt better with the coldness tickling
along her exposed skin.

Pulling her closer, Touga murmured, "Look up, into the sky.
What do you see?"

Curious, she did as asked, too intent upon seeing what he
wanted to show her to notice how close he held her against
his tall, lean form. Above them, the vault of the
night-blackened sky soared on into infinity, the velvety
darkness dappled by the sight of the sparkling stars in all
their glory. Twinkling points of white -- many of them
tinged in silver-blue, orange, red and yellow -- glimmered
and shone like the most precious of gems. "The stars," she
whispered back, aquamarine eyes taking in the wondrous
panoply. Of course she had seen them before, but at that
moment, it was as if she was truly looking at them for the
very first time.

"They are glorious, are they not?"

"Aye . . ." Utena responded. (Would you like that?) a soft
voice in the back of her mind queried.

(Aye, I would!)

(Then I'll show you the stars . . .)

Taking in a deep breath, the pink-maned maiden suddenly took
notice of how close she was to the gorgeous lord, feeling
his strong form against hers through their clothing.
"Don't! Don't get so close to me," she protested, pulling
away.

Suppressing his growl of annoyance, Touga managed to softly
chuckle as if her reluctance was of no consequence.
"Forgive me." He let go of his hold on her, content to just
stand there and watch her as she walked about the keep's
roof. He had caught the look of awe and wonder on her face
as she had stared up in the sky; her reaction was enough to
give him hope.

Utena slowly made her way over to the battlements along the
outermost edge of the keep, her slender fingers stroking
along the weathered stone. The highland chieftain left her
confused, her emotions in turmoil. Part of her wanted to
stay near him while the other part insisted on keeping
herself independent and focused upon her promise to end
Love's torment. Underneath that star-spangled sky, she
could see the wooded lands surrounding the Kiryuu
stronghold, the ridges on either side rising up to meet the
horizon. (He must surely be the ruler of all he surveys,)
she mused.

Cobalt gaze focused upon her silhouette, Touga observed her
as she stared out into the distance. Her beauty and her
innate nobility surrounded her like a mantle, taking his
breath away. He knew, without a doubt, that she was the one
meant for him, his one true princess. He couldn't bear the
thought of being parted from her; the idea made him feel
hollow and empty inside. "You're beautiful."

His words called out to her, catching her attention.
Whirling, she gave him a look of exasperation. "What? Not
that again, please . . ."

"It's true. Your beauty and nobility shine on everything."

Utena sighed, the inner emotional chaos only becoming
stronger.

Touga stared at her. "Is there any way I could be this
champion you seek? After all, I do believe you are my one
true princess."

"I -- I don't know . . ."

His booted feet made gentle sounds against the stone surface
as he approached her. "Let me try. I'll do what it takes
to prove myself worthy," he implored, kneeling down at her
feet. Never before had he been so serious, save for a vow
taken long ago to keep this very same girl safe from the
dangers of the world. Taking her right hand in his left,
the curtain of his long scarlet hair slid forward to shelter
his face as he tenderly kissed the back of her hand. "Allow
me this chance, precious lady. I implore you . . ."

Utena shivered at the brush of his soft lips against her
skin. Feeling suddenly lightheaded, she could only stare
down at him in wonder. He appeared earnest and sincere,
abruptly humble there before her as he knelt on the cool
stone floor. Swallowing hard, it took a slight effort to
find her voice. "There are tasks I must impose to have
proof that you are the one I seek."

"Name them and I shall do my utmost to achieve them."

"I must have some time to think of suitable ones, my lord,"
the rose-haired noble replied.

"Then time you shall have. Just name your tasks when you
are ready, dear Utena," Touga said, hand still holding hers.
He slowly rose, once again attaining his normal height.
"For now, would you honor me with a dance?"

"Here? Now?"

"Aye. The stars are perfect jewels to compliment your
beauty, and the sounds of nature all the music we need." He
stepped closer, gently grasping her in a hold for one of the
slower, statelier dances. The night breeze swirled past
them, making their silken manes of scarlet and rose ripple
slightly.

Looking up at him, seeing the hope and the fear of rejection
there in his lovely azure eyes, Utena felt her resolve
crumbling. One dance couldn't hurt, especially now that she
had agreed to allow him to prove his worthiness to be the
champion of Love she so desperately sought. To deny him
would extinguish the warm light she saw deep within the
cobalt depths of his eyes. "Very well," she whispered,
surrendering to his hold.

Elegant and graceful, the two of them moving in perfect
accord, they danced there under the light of the stars. The
playful nighttime wind swirled their hair and rippled their
clothing as they stepped this way and that, their bodies
almost against one another, the fingers of a hand
intertwined. All was peaceful as their entire world
narrowed down to just the night, the stars, the dance and
the beauty of that seemingly timeless moment.