Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Honor ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

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

Chapter Four

The dance ended as spontaneously as it had started, the two
of them letting go of one another, mutually taking a step
back. Where Touga felt a growing sense of profound peace,
Utena continued to feel unsure. No longer did he have the
feeling that something precious was slipping away; once more
she wondered if she was somehow being foolish, letting her
guard down around the around the mysterious and elegant Red
Tyger.

"Lady Utena?"

"Aye?" she softly responded, aquamarine gaze steady upon his
visage.

"Please . . . Once again, I beg you to forgive me. I've
been utterly uncouth and overly forward both, making you
uncomfortable even though that certainly wasn't my intent.
You must certainly think me a typical highland boor." He
made no move to get closer; he stood there, unmoving,
staring back at her. Giving her a somewhat abashed smile,
he ran the fingers of a hand through his wind-caressed
scarlet hair.

"I'm not overly used to such attentions," Utena replied,
turning slightly and glancing once again up at the twinkling
stars. "All I've truly thought upon is my quest." (And I
swore an oath that I would never be so helpless again,) she
mentally added, the echoes of her parents' deaths sounding
once more in the back of her mind.

"I promise to comport myself in a seemly manner from this
point on," the Kiryuu chieftain said, low voice holding a
solemn note of conviction. "I swear I won't knowingly make
you uncomfortable again."

High above in the eastern sky, a bright streak flew across
the velvety darkness. Though she tracked the path of the
falling star with her gaze, he words were directed at her
companion there. "I forgive you, Lord Touga."
________________

It was about time they came back. Her lips turned down in a
pouting frown, Nanami watched as her darling brother and
that abnormal pink-haired woman returned to the Great Hall.
The blonde girl's scowl deepened, not liking the rather
dreamy expression on her older sibling's face. Though they
had left the celebration arm in arm, Nanami was quick to
notice that they didn't return in that same manner. Lady
Utena had walked in first, the tall form of the highland
chieftain trailing along behind her. (Perhaps there's
nothing to fear after all?) the violet-eyed Kiryuu thought,
a satisfied smile replacing her scowl. (I just knew my dear
brother wouldn't like a maiden of that sort.)

Touga halted there before the hearth, the firelight dancing
over him and casting his face into shadow. Nanami continued
to observe the rose-haired lady's progress as she continued
on into the heart of the hall, gracefully making her way
through the Kiryuu clanmembers drinking, dancing and
otherwise enjoying themselves. Noting that the stranger's
goal was to speak with her handmaidens -- Utena had stopped
near the longer haired servant and had gestured for the
shorter-haired brunette to join them -- the blonde girl
swiftly decided to take the opportunity to perhaps get that
dance after all. Picking up her orange and yellow skirts,
Nanami quickly made her way over to where her brother stood
with his back to the cheerful blaze.

"My lord?" she began, giving the chieftain a big grin and
grasping him around the arm once more, hugging it to her.
"That dance?"

Turning his gaze from the angelic form of his chosen
princess, Touga looked down at the blonde clutching his arm.
She gazed adoringly up at him, a hopeful light in her violet
eyes. (How she's grown, even in just the last couple of
years,) he suddenly noticed. (I truly should give some
serious thought on what marriage to arrange for her.)
Nodding slightly, he gently took his sister's hand. "I
think I can spare you a dance, Nanami."

Leading her out to an open place on the rush-covered floor,
the sweet scents of the crushed herbs hanging in the air,
the Kiryuu prince moved through the steps of a stately
dance, cobalt-blue gaze fastened upon his sibling. A
spirited child, she had matured into a willful maiden, able
to keep even the laziest of the household staff at staying
on track with their chores. However, he had noticed a
growing sullenness within her, dampening her inner fire.
Inwardly frowning, he mulled over what could be the cause.

"Thank you so much for the dance," Nanami said, smiling up
at her wonderful sibling. He always knew what it would take
to brighten her spirits.

He echoed her smile, though he silently continued to pick
apart the puzzle of what she'd become. Looking her over --
for once objectively, through the eyes of the clan's lord
and not her older brother -- he could see the adult she
would soon become there in the image of her. That awareness
brought with it an uneasy feeling as he thought on her
actions of late. Ever since their foster brother had been
sent away, Nanami had become increasingly clingy while
becoming more sure of her place as lady of the manor. (And
the worst bouts of temper seem to be when I entertain
thoughts on a future bride . . .)

Fingers of a hand entwined, the two Kiryuu siblings
continued the stately movements, their steps precise from
long years of dancing with one another. The music swirled
around them, and it was easy to consider them the most
elegant and regal pair of those performing the dance. It
didn't matter that earlier his attention was on another nor
that they had left together; Touga was all hers in that
moment, and Nanami loved every minute of it.

"Nanami."

"Aye, my lord?" she replied, still staring at him with a
look of adoration on her beautiful face.

"This should be the last dance I share with you," Touga
softly answered, watching the reaction on her visage.

Startlement, then disbelief, followed by a poignant hurt --
they played across the younger Kiryuu's face as she faltered
in the steps and then came to a complete stop. For the span
of a couple of heartbeats, she could only gape up at him,
violet eyes wide. "B -- but why, my lord?" Nanami finally
stammered out.

"We're not children anymore," he began to explain, slipping
a hand around her waist to gently guide her from the center
of the hall's floor and toward the side where they could
continue the discussion with fewer around to perhaps
overhear. "I'm an adult now, the chieftain of the Kiryuu.
For the good of the clan, I need to begin seriously the
search for a wife -- "

"No wife will ever know our people and our staff as well as
I," Nanami said, her voice sharp as she interrupted her
older sibling. "I'm the one who can make sure that the
supplies aren't wasted, that the work's being done -- "

"Nanami . . ." Touga growled. It wasn't seemly at all for
her to cut his words off like that in public.

"Take a wife if you must, but let me still run the
household," the blonde noblewoman pleaded.

"And what should my spouse do then? Sit around as a pretty
decoration?" The young lord shook his head, discarding the
idea. "No, dear sister. It's isn't right. It will be my
lady wife's place to watch over my household."

"Then what about *me*?" she asked, violet eyes reflecting
her fear and continued hurt. What would happen to her once
she had no place here? For as long as she could remember,
she had done her best to be indispensable to her beloved
brother, to carve out a little piece of security in an
uncertain world. She had dreaded this possible talk for
months, ever since she had turned thirteen.

"Why you'll make some lucky nobleman a perfect spouse,"
Touga answered, giving his younger sibling a smile. After
all, she had all the skills and talents -- bolstered by
experience -- to be able to step into a manor and take
control for the good of all. "Whoever marries you will gain
a knowledgeable chatelaine who will see to it that his
servants aren't cheating him and that all are comfortable
and well cared for. Do for your husband as you have done
for me and you will be eternally appreciated."

"I don't *want* to be married. I don't *want* to run
someone else's house. They won't know me and they'll hate
me as an interloper come to take over command," the younger
Kiryuu protested, shaking her head violently in a negative
manner, the loose locks of her golden hair swirling about
her distressed appearing face.

"Nanami," the scarlet-maned lord said in mild exasperation.
A swift glance around assured him that those perhaps close
enough to hear the family discussion were too busy reveling
to take note of his sister's increasingly agitated state.
"You can't change the way the world works. Children grow up
and get married, eventually having children of their own.
It's not your place to act as my spouse; you're my sister."

"You've found someone, haven't you?" the blonde noblewoman
queried, her voice rising in pitch and volume alike with her
growing distress. "And now you're just going to toss me
aside like some useless piece of property."

"Of course I'm not going to treat you in such a shabby
fashion, Nanami," Touga replied, his voice low in a murmur
meant to be reassuring. "You're my sibling after all, a
Kiryuu of the royal blood. However . . ." His tone
shifted, becoming at once hard and frosty. "It is none of
your affair whether I've discovered someone worthy or not.
What *is* your concern is the fact that you are of an age
where negotiations for a suitable marriage should begin."

Nanami only stared up at him, gawking, hurt and anger both
reflected in her large violet eyes. She was going to be
replaced, shoved away from what control she had and her
familiar, comfortable surroundings. After all her hard work
to maintain a place for herself in her brother's keep, she
was still going to end up the property of some stranger,
given in exchange for some trinket of power to adorn the
Kiryuu coronet.

Watching his sister turn pale and appear on the edge of
swooning, Touga's irritation with the turn of the
conversation increased. (Does she think me a monster for
planning to do what is only right and natural?) Reaching
out, he put a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Come now,
Nanami. Surely the thought's not *that* terrible."

"No, I won't do it," the slim blonde hissed, pulling roughly
away from his touch. "I won't submit to some stranger, the
privilege of disporting himself between my legs bought by
some land or a pile of goods and gold, all for the glory of
Clan Kiryuu. I refuse to be an object that can be beaten at
will and seen as only a pretty bed toy."

Touga stood there, staring at her in stunned silence,
confused more by her assumptions about the situation than he
was by her uncouth bluntness. This is what she had been
dwelling upon, the thoughts that had been robbing her of her
natural fire? "You wound me," he finally managed to choke
out. "Do you *truly* see me as so callous by nature?"

"You are the Kiryuu. I know you pretty well, dear brother,"
Nanami shot back, arms coming up to cross over her bosom.
"If it means the well being and prosperity of the clan at
large, you would sacrifice anything to achieve it."

"But you are also a Kiryuu, and you are my little sister.
Do you really think that means nothing to me?"

"You're already determined to cast me out, no matter what."

The scarlet-haired prince groaned, burying the elegant
fingers of a hand in his long mane as he pressed a palm to
his forehead in frustration. "And you are determined to
have us speak in circles. Think with your mind and not with
your heart for once. I understand your uneasiness at
change, but I have your best interests at heart."

"I know how you treat me," Nanami replied, her voice still
full of barely suppressed fury. "You are kind and
reasonable, honorable and chivalrous, but many a lord in
this world are *not* that. But you are certainly one not
above selling me off to the highest bidder if it means a
greater good to the clan as a whole."

Touga stared down at her, deep in thought. "Would you feel
more at ease were you given to a man with which you were
familiar?"

"Well, of *course* I'd be more at ease with someone I
already knew," she answered, her tone scathing. It seemed
such a lackwitted question in the first place. "But there's
none I know that I would be interested in marrying. I'm not
*interested* in marrying at all."

An image passed before his mind, the echoes of a number of
memories hanging there. Lowering his hand from his
forehead, Touga seized upon the idea, turning it over in his
thoughts. What were its strengths? Where were its flaws?
Would it be worth it to work on achieving it? Cobalt blue
gaze focusing once more on his sister's elegantly gowned
form, he gaze her a bit of a smile. "Enough talk of the
future for now. The winter is over and we should celebrate.
Tomorrow shall come soon enough."

She just stood there, looking flushed in ire and uncannily
fragile.

The smile grew just a bit as he held his arms out to either
side in a welcoming gesture.

Recognizing it for the signal that it was, the blonde Kiryuu
abruptly choked back a sob and rushed him, throwing her arms
around her brother's magnificent form in a tight hug. She
felt him hug her back, a hand gently stroking the loose
golden locks of her hair. "Shh . . . It'll be all right,
Nanami. I'll make sure it all works out. I promise."

Despite it all, despite their conversation, she believed
him. Everything would be all right.
________________

The only sounds that broke the peacefulness of the Great
Hall were the popping of the hot coals burning in the
fireplace, the snoring of some of the drunken partygoers who
had passed out on the rush-covered floor or against the
tapestry-covered walls and the occasional laughter or soft
conversation between those still awake. The celebration had
since wound down, with most of the ladies retiring for the
night, including the youthful hostess once she had made one
last round of the hall and kitchen to see that all was well.

Azure eyes lifted up from where they had been gazing deep
into the dark liquid of his golden chalice. Though far from
being inebriated himself -- Touga had paced himself well
when it came to sipping at his wine throughout the impromptu
party -- he was certainly feeling warm and relaxed as he sat
there in his ornate chair behind the high table. To his
surprise, he noted that Utena and her two men at arms were
among those still there in the large chamber.

In all honesty, he had been concentrating on the idea that
had sprung itself upon him at the end of his somewhat tense
conversation with his adoring little sister -- so much so
that he hadn't noticed the rose-haired lady's continued
presence as she had spoken with the others there. The more
he had looked it over, the more he thought about how good it
would be for those involved. And that thought, coupled with
the rediscovery of how beautiful Utena looked, brought a
slight grin to Touga's lips.

Glancing over at the table bolted to the wooden dais,
Utena's breath caught in her throat at the discovery of the
highland chieftain's gaze upon her once more. She had
lingered in the large chamber in order to observe him and
his people more, watching their interactions. Aside from
what appeared to be a tense conversation with a golden
haired girl who just had to be the lord's sister from the
affectionate way she clung to him, Touga appeared to be what
his clanmembers claimed: fair, intelligent, just, and a good
ruler for them.

Curiosity got the better of her; raising up her skirts
enough to walk comfortably, she made her way over to the
high table.

"Lady Utena," Touga said by way of greeting, flashing her a
smile. "I must confess to being slightly surprised to see
you still here. Have your ladies retired for the night?"

"Aye, they have," the rose-haired maiden replied. "However,
I had wished to tarry a bit longer than they."

The scarlet-maned lord merely gave his guest a slight nod of
acknowledgement.

Utena continued to stand there, glancing at him every so
often then looking away again before she could be accused of
staring. Into the silence, she finally asked, "So what are
your plans for the morrow, my lord, if you don't mind my
asking?"

"Not at all. I don't mind you satisfying your curiosity,"
he said with a bit of a grin. "As for my plans, I believe I
shall pay my brother a visit."

"Your brother?" she echoed, perplexed. From what
information she'd managed to gather from the people of Clan
Kiryuu there, Lord Touga and Lady Nanami were the only
offspring of the former chieftain.

"Well, Lord Kyouichi Saionji's not truly a blood relative,"
he started to explain, taking another sip of what remained
of his wine. "The heir of the neighboring clan, he was
raised here at Kiryuu Keep. Father had demanded the
Saionji's only son as a guarantee that the peace for which
he'd sued would remain in effect."

"He was a hostage, then?" Utena asked, lifting a thin
eyebrow in surprise.

"Aye. He was, but I always treated him like the brother I
never had. He deserved better than being just a prisoner,
an unwitting pawn because of an accident of birth. The feud
between our clans did far more damage to the Saionji than it
did us; noting what sort of man Kyouichi would be, I did
what I could to see to it that he got whatever advantage he
could living among us."

"Advantages such as?"

"A more comfortable life for one," Touga responded, setting
his nearly empty chalice down. "The Saionji land isn't
nearly as productive as ours, and the war between us only
made things worse. He never went hungry or cold while he
was here, and he learned the skills of a warrior from my own
trainers. Together we watched Father administer the
demesne, and I like to think that he picked up a better
understanding of what it takes to be a good ruler in doing
so. Kyouichi's father nearly ruined his clan."

"And you did all this out of the generosity of your heart?"
the pink-haired maiden asked.

"More or less. Saionji -- " Touga softly chuckled, thinking
back on the series of events leading up to his foster
brother's choice of familiar address. "The other Kiryuu
originally called him merely 'Saionji' as an insult, but he
adopted it as a badge of honor, hence my calling him as
such," he explained, then continued, "Saionji has always
been a dreamer, an idealist. I consider him a friend as
well as a brother, hence I used what leverage I could with
Father to see to it that Saionji's potential was cultivated
instead of left to wither. That he would one day be the
lord of the lands next door to the west was only a fortunate
bonus."

"Meaning?" Utena urged. She was beginning to become
somewhat fascinated by the Red Tyger's apparent
intelligence.

"Were he the meanest of peasants yet the same in
personality, I would have done the same." It was a simple
statement, but it showed an intriguing depth of character.
"I always do my best to treat my friends well."

"So what sparked your plans to visit him? When I first
thought of traveling here, it was said that you would
probably remain at Kiryuu Keep until well into springtime."

"I realized just how much I miss having him around," Touga
replied, elegantly shrugging. "Besides, I've heard lately
that the winter wasn't kind to Clan Saionji and that the
chieftain's ill. I'm their overlord, so it behooves me to
see how they're faring."

"I see," Utena softly murmured. She paused a moment, her
azure gaze steady upon the gorgeous scarlet-haired noble,
then queried, "Would you allow me to travel with you? After
all, I must have more time to get to know you if I'm to
discover if you are worthy of being the champion I seek."

"Have you decided upon any tasks for me yet?"

"No, I have not." She shook her head, the soft strands of
her wavy, rose-colored hair glimmering faintly in the
torchlight that illuminated the stone-walled Great Hall. "I
know not enough about you to set challenges that would test
your mettle."

"If that's your wish, far be it for me to naysay you. I
would be delighted to have your company while I visit
Pinehaven," the young chieftain replied.

"Pinehaven?"

"That's the name of the fortress from which the Saionji
rules his lands. It's a relatively short ride from here,
but I would like to leave with the sun still in the eastern
sky. Be ready to go when I call, if you please."

The rose-haired maiden nodded. "I give you my word that I
shall be ready to travel on the morrow." Giving him a bit
of a smile, she held out the skirts of her attire and
executed a little curtsy. "If you'll excuse me, I believe I
shall retire for the night."

"Good night then, Lady Utena. Sleep well and I shall see
you come the morning," Touga said, lifting up his golden cup
once more and lifting it in her direction in a little
salute.

"And you as well, my lord." Gracefully turning, Utena
strode across the rush-covered wooden floor, making her way
out of the Great Hall to return to the guestroom down below.

The redheaded noble remained there, still as a statue,
cobalt-blue gaze watching her until she disappeared from his
sight. With that, he smiled and lifted the golden chalice
to his lips, finishing off what remained of the deep red
liquid within.
________________

Sunlight streamed through the canopy of evergreens, dappling
the brush-covered ground below the crowns of the stately
trees. A few lingering spots of mist hovered in the places
where the shadows clung, not yet chased away by the golden
rays of the sun and the mild temperature of the springtime
morning. In mid-stride, a horse snorted and shook its head,
making the tack jingle.

The party that made its way along a dirt trail leading up
over one of the ridges that defined the forested glen in
which Clan Kiryuu lived was a small one. At the head, on a
magnificent black charger, rode Touga, his lean form relaxed
and obviously at ease perched atop the prime specimen of
horseflesh. Behind him trailed along a quintet of clansmen,
each one riding a sturdy rouncy, their lord's guest's people
in the center of their formation. Tatsuya, Ryu, Wakaba and
Shiori were astride their respective mounts, each one a
hardy horse used to hours of casual traveling.

Sitting atop her own white palfrey, Utena glanced over at
the redheaded lord to her right. Although she and her
people had been ready to ride at first light, Touga had
insisted that they all broke their fast before mounting up
and traveling to the other clanhold. She had to admit that
sitting down at table and eating was much nicer than trying
to eat on the move, and the morning meal served up had been
a simple but very satisfying one.

He certainly made for an enchanting sight, looking competent
and dashing alike as he rode along the trail on an animal as
gorgeous as he, his long hair shimmering in the daylight.
The rose-haired maiden found herself growing a tad warm as
she looked him over; that mane of scarlet-hued silk was
perhaps his best feature -- save for his cobalt-blue eyes --
and practically begged to be touched by its appearance
alone. In that moment, he looked every inch the prince she
knew him to be.

Feeling someone's gaze upon him, Touga flicked his own from
the trail, searching for the source of the sensation.
Noting the steady stare from aquamarine eyes, he smiled and
gave his gentle companion a nod of acknowledgement. Utena
once again was dressed in her rather masculine-seeming
clothing, her long hair bundled up and hidden beneath her
soft hat of rose-pink cloth. The dirk was once again
sheathed at her side, and Touga found himself wondering just
how knowledgeable she was in handling it. It could be
intriguing to discover what skill in swordsmanship she
possessed.

A glance back to the way before him told him that they were
nearing the top of the ridge. Once over the crest, they
would be on the outskirts of the other clan's land. Holding
up a gloved hand, he gave the silent order for the party of
travelers to stop.

"What is it?" Utena asked, looking around. Did the
chieftain somehow sense some trouble?

"There's nothing to fear," Touga quickly reassured her,
catching the faint quaver of nervousness in her voice.

"I'm not afraid," the maiden replied, frowning. Was her
unease that obvious?

The highland noble merely smiled, then continued on to
explain, "As you well know, whenever a lord comes to visit a
vassal, it is the responsibility of the vassal's household
to support his lord and his lord's followers."

Utena nodded. "Aye. There are some great lords who are
misers, traveling from vassal to vassal to live off the
households that must take them in, staying until the stores
are nearly depleted and then moving on," she replied, a
frown crossing her beautiful face. Such nobles truly
disgusted her, to be honest; to endanger so many lives from
such selfish greed was a horrid thing to do.

"Indeed. And if the stories I've heard are true, then
Saionji will be hard pressed to comfortably feed us as well
as those already there at Pinehaven." Twisting in the
saddle, Touga gestured to his escort of five warriors. "Fan
out and go hunting. Bring what you capture on to the
Saionji stronghold. Try to down enough meat for a fortnight
if you can. Regardless of your success, report to Pinehaven
when the sun is just above the western horizon."

"Aye, m'lord," the quintet of Kiryuu clansmen responded. At
the chieftain's signal to go, they scattered, riding off
into the woods in different directions.

When the last of them had disappeared into the shadows of
the evergreen forest, Touga turned his attention back to his
companion. "Once we cross over the summit, we shall be
descending into Saionji territory. I truly don't anticipate
any trouble; they are my vassals after all, and they honor
their lord's agreement for peace despite any lingering
hatred that may exist. Your two men at arms should be
enough of an escort for us, and the meat will be
appreciated."

She stared at him, somewhat impressed. That he thought of
others above himself was made more obvious; he truly cared
about what was happening to the other clan.

"Of course, I need to figure out a way to make my gesture
not seem to be an insult," the scarlet-haired man added.
Tapping his heels to his charger's ebony-hued flanks, he
started riding along the trail once more.

Urging her buff-colored palfrey into a matching pace, Utena
continued riding at the chieftain's left. Behind them,
Wakaba and Shiori softly talked amongst themselves, Ryu and
Tatsuya flanking them and on the alert for any possible
trouble.

"How could being generous be seen as an insult, my lord?"
the pink-attired maiden asked, startled by his words.

"It could be seen as a gesture that I feel as if the Saionji
couldn't properly support their overlord," Touga explained.
"They do have their pride after all."

Put that way, Utena could suddenly see what her companion
meant. He did have a point. "So what are you going to do?"
She couldn't help but be intrigued as to how he would handle
the matter.

"I'm going to offer it as a gift from one foster brother to
another, as both a token of my wishes for his father's safe
recovery from illness and as a celebration of the ending of
winter. That should soften any thought Saionji may have
that I must assume he cannot care for his own."

It seemed a reasonable enough plan. Falling silent, Utena
took to looking about herself as the small party continued
on their journey. Reaching the crest, she tugged on the
reins a moment to look down on the valley below. The forest
continued there, though it seemed to her as if the canopy
wasn't as dense. At the bottom of the glen, she could see
the faintly shining silver ribbon of a small river, while
here and there she could see fields of farmland carved out
of the ancient woods. "You said that their lands aren't
nearly as productive as yours?"

Stopping as well, Touga let his azure gaze sweep over the
land below. "Aye. They are a bit more sheltered from the
weather; the mountains that rise above the other side of the
dale seem to keep them from getting the same amount of
rainfall that we get. Their soil is stonier as well,
yielding fewer crops despite their care in managing the
tillage. As a result, they have fewer animals to hunt and
less grain to reap. The winter was hard on us, though we
managed. I fear it took more of a toll on them." That
said, he urged his mount into a walk once more, beginning
the descent.

She followed along after him, catching up once more to ride
at his side. The trail continued along, weaving its way
between the trunks of the trees rooted into the relatively
steep slope, continuing at times to run along the side of
the ridge and then switching back on itself at a slightly
lower elevation. Despite its somewhat tricky nature, the
path seemed to be one well traveled.

However, Utena found herself staring at the Red Tyger time
and time again despite her need to pay attention to the
trail they followed. She had to admit that the more she saw
of him, the more she liked, and he had stepped back to give
her room to breathe. She'd seen enough to have her interest
piqued; now she felt like she needed to find out more about
what sort of man he truly was. The champion she sought had
to have a soul worthy of wielding Love's Honor, a soul she
could truly respect. "My lord, may I ask you a question or
two?"

"Of course, my lady. Ask away," Touga answered, glancing
over at her. He'd noted her continual looks at him,
recognized them for what they were, an awakening realization
of an interest in him as a person. Knowing that it would be
far better for her to develop an affection on her own, he
did what he could to patiently prove himself to her.

"I'd like to know what you think about some situations," the
rose-maned maiden began, aquamarine gaze scanning along the
track they were following. "Say that once upon a time you
did something not so honorable, something that you now
regret, and a good friend of yours knows about it. And then
say that this friend of yours gets angry with you over
something, insulting you in front of everyone at court by
bringing up this lapse in your honor. Your friend realizes
that his own action was wrong but all he'll do is offer only
a token private apology because, after all, he only spoke
the truth. Would you accept what recompense he offers, or
would you demand more from him?"

His eyes focused on the way ahead, the redheaded lord
frowned thoughtfully as he analyzed the question. "Well, my
immediate reaction is to say that I would accept whatever my
friend offered and leave it at that."

"What about the slight to your honor? After all, everyone
would know about what you did?"

"True, but then again, it was something I regretted,
therefore I knew it was wrong and would wish that I could
undo it somehow. Anyone of a charitable nature would
forgive me that, seeing that I was remorseful. Only those
not honorable would hold a mistake like that against me,"
Touga replied. "We are all human; none of us are
infallable."

"And you don't think your friend owes you more for making a
mistake as well?" Utena softly asked.

"As I said, we all make mistakes. What kind of friend would
I be were I to not forgive someone with whom I had that sort
of bond?"

"I see," the pink-haired girl replied, taking a moment to
once again look over at the noble figure sitting astride the
black charger. Inwardly, she was quite pleased to hear his
answer; he seemed to put forgiveness before personal pride.
"Well, then . . . What about this situation, my lord?
Pretend for once that you are a vassal and not a prince."

Glancing over at her in sudden curiosity, Touga raised his
eyebrows. (I do believe she's testing me in some fashion,)
he silently remarked. Wondering what she would propose
next, he encouraged her to go on. "Very well, Lady Utena.
So I have a lord over me now."

"Aye," she responded, nodding. "And say that some dastard
has killed members of your lord's family. Your lord has
taken into custody the one he utterly believes is
responsible, however, you know beyond all doubt that the man
in question is innocent. Furthermore, there's no hard
evidence of the man's innocence, only your testimony. Your
impassioned lord, blind to the virtue of your word because
of his emotion, is crying for vengeance and demanding you to
slay the man. What would you do?"

"Well, I certainly would not kill a man innocent of the
crime, no matter how loud my lord called out for his blood.
Justice should come above all else, for it is a virtue
beyond any loyalty to a fallible, human lord. Should my
lord go for the man himself, I would intervene, since it's
quite obvious his grief is getting the better of him. All
he truly would need would be enough time to calm down and
approach the situation in a rational manner. Once he was
calm, I could then tell him again how I know the man to be
innocent."

"You would have sworn an oath of fealty to him, and part of
that oath is to obey one's lord," Utena pointed out.

"The oath of fealty also includes support and advice unto
one's lord. I can think of no better advice or support than
to keep my lord from making a fool of himself by murdering
an innocent man. Any killing not sanctioned by justice is a
murder; my lord is better off not becoming such a man. And
no ruler worth his coronet should allow himself to be so
blindly ruled by his passions," Touga replied.

"So it's your belief that justice comes before loyalty?" the
masculinely-attired girl asked, her aquamarine gaze settling
yet again on the man astride the ebony charger.

"Justice is something toward which all good men should
strive, and any good ruler must have that virtue among
others. To be otherwise is a disservice to those men to
whom he's pledged protection and sustenance."

"What of the common folk and the peasantry?" Do they
deserve to be treated with the same justice we nobles
receive?"

"Aye. They are men and women as well. Without them, the
lord would be nothing; it's in his best interests to treat
them accordingly: in their proper station, but with
justice," the scarlet-haired chieftain answered, his black
stallion continuing to make its way along the path through
the evergreens.

"I am most impressed, my lord," Utena finally admitted, an
expression of slight wonder on her beautiful face. "There
are many who would say that the meanest villein would not
deserve the same right to equal justice."

"I'm not a man that condones taking any other man's property
-- or womenfolk -- by force, be they the highest of nobles
or the lowest of peasants," the Kiryuu prince said, shaking
his head slightly, long hair glimmering in the sunlight.
"In my observations, we all bleed red, we all are hurt by
much the same things, and we all are mortals who eventually
die."

The pink-clad maiden smiled, pleased yet again at his
response. (He sounds so sincere. I do believe he truly
means every word he's uttered,) she thought, a warm sense of
happiness filling her. Others had piqued her interest
before, but nearly all had answered the questions posed to
them in some way or another that had left her feeling as if
they had lacked some essential quality. Those that had
passed her interrogation usually failed at some task she set
for them as proof of their true worthiness. Men both of
high estate and low had seemed at first glance to be
possibly the one in the few years she had actively sought a
wielder for Love's Honor, only to be found wanting,
unworthy.

(But this one . . . He could be the one, I feel.)

The ground around them began to level out, the trail
straightening, no longer switching back on itself. Behind
her, over the creak and jingle of the leather and metal
tack, the muted sounds of the woodland creatures, and the
soft thudding of the horses' hooves against the packed dirt
of the pathway, Utena could hear the murmurs of
conversation. Though she couldn't make out the actual
words, the impression she got was that Tatsuya and Wakaba
were talking amongst themselves, Shiori occasionally
throwing in her own opinion on whatever it was they were
discussing, and Ryu remaining as stoically silent as usual.
Just knowing that her servants were engaging in such an
expected and normal action made her feel quite at ease as
she rode along at the side of the dashingly handsome
chieftain through unfamiliar territory.

"It won't be much longer," Touga announced, glancing to his
left to give his fair companion a smile. We should be
coming to the edge of the fields cultivated by the villagers
that live around the fortress itself in a short while."

"That's good to hear," Utena acknowledged, nodding slightly.
"So what is Pinehaven like?"

"It's a keep surrounded by a wooden palisade, the whole on a
small island in the center of the River Whitewater that
flows along the floor of the glen. A gatehouse with a
moveable bridge allows access from the bailey within the
palisade to the mainland. The village that makes up the
rest of the clanhold has its buildings strung out alongside
the river, with a few of the villeins' cots located along
the opposite bank. Surrounding that on both sides of the
Whitewater are the fields the people tend and pastures for
the clan's herds. For what they have, it serves well and is
quite defensible."

It sounded very much like many other strongholds that
existed within both the highlands and lowlands. Smiling,
the rose-haired maiden thought the place seemed charming
indeed from the description given it by the Kiryuu
chieftain. "I look forward to seeing it, my lord," she
began, then added, "I have one more scenario upon which I
should like to question you . . ."

"Ask away, my dear lady. I continue to be eager and willing
to show you proof of my worth," Touga replied, flashing her
a charming grin. She was turning out to be an intelligent
maiden, a trait that he admired along with her beauty and
spirit. The more time he spent in her company, the more
certain he became that she would be the perfect one to have
as his princess. Her earlier words that she would marry
none other than the champion of love she discovered kept him
determined to win that title for himself.

"A priest of your faith and a man have come before you and
you are to judge the man. According to the priest, the
defendant is a heathen who utterly desecrated a site sacred
to your faith, destroying the sanctity of the place, and the
cleric demands that you do what is right and kill the
defiler. The man, however, when asked to present his side
of the story, tells you that his actions came about in a
blinding rage, brought on by his brother's death. You
further determine that the man's brother died because the
cleric refused to offer any aid at all to siblings who were
not of the same faith since they worship gods the priest
believes are evil. How would you decide the case?"

"It's obvious that the man is guilty of the defilement," the
scarlet-maned nobleman began. "However, I personally don't
think that a punishment as harsh as death should be given to
one who acted in outrage at the death of a brother."

"Even if the now-ruined site is one you yourself worshipped
within but now cannot for the hand of the Divine is no
longer there?"

"It would be of little consequence, Lady Utena, for such a
situation would only be temporary. The power of the Divine
is absolute; there is nothing in this world that a single
man can do to a sacred site that would keep it from being
resanctified should the Divine wish it to be," Touga
replied. "The Divine is greater than the hand of any man.
No, the man is guilty of a crime and would be punished -- I
would levy a fine in goods against his property and then
have him spend time in prison to think over the rashness of
his actions -- but I would not execute a man for such a
deed."

"So you would choose mercy over piety?" Utena questioned.

"I would choose mercy because it is warranted in this case.
The man acted out of passion, his grief getting the better
of him. However, I would not say that the choice was
between that and piety."

"Why's that?" she asked, intrigued by his denial of the
term.

"Because piety is the devotion and reverence of the Divine,
no matter how you believe it manifests, and doing as the
clerics always say isn't necessarily demonstrative of pious
behavior," the highland lord answered.

"But if the clerics are the tools of the manifestation of
the Divine, you need be obedient to them to be pious," the
maiden said, her aquamarine gaze focused steadily upon her
companion.

"Not true. Remember, they are humans just as we are and
they are not infallible no matter what they may claim. And
they are not the only tools through which the Divine works,"
he countered. "The clergy are to see to only the spiritual
protection and sustenance of the people; it is the role of
us in the noble estate to see to the physical protection and
sustenance of those same people, and in doing so, we too are
tools of the Divine. Who's to say that perhaps the Divine
chose to take away the blessing of sanctity to that place by
using the man's distraught grief as the instrument of that
choice? Neither you nor I can guess what the Divine Will
may truly have in mind, and despite all their claims, the
clergy are just as blind. No, I can be very pious indeed
even as I spare that poor wretch's life from the howls of
the priest to have his blood."

Utena fell silent then, thinking over his words. It hadn't
occurred to her that maybe the angered man in her scenario
was just a tool to carry out the will of the Divine. That
he had thought of it impressed her. Lord Touga of the
Kiryuu Clan was quite the man she was quickly discovering.

They emerged from the edge of the woods, the path now
crossing over what was obviously tilled soil. Off in the
near distance, the thatched roofs of the clansmembers could
be seen just above the horizon, the silhouette of a tower of
some sort somewhat behind them. It still being the very
start of spring, Utena wasn't surprised to see the arable
fields with their earth still unbroken by the plow; she knew
from her own experiences that the villagers would be using
these first couple of weeks to check over their plowing
equipment and repairing it before putting it to use in
earnest.

Soon -- very soon -- they would be riding through the
gatehouse into the keep at Pinehaven. The rose-haired
maiden smiled at that, curious now to see just how Touga
would interact with his foster brother. She had a feeling
that it would reveal even more about his character to see
this meeting between Saionji and the son of the lord that
had taken him hostage. "'Twill be nice to cross over the
bridge and enter the fortress," she said.

"Indeed."