Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction ❯ Love's Honor ❯ Chapter Eleven ( Chapter 11 )

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

Chapter Eleven

Enough light of the new day filtered in through the small
window high up in the room to illuminate the cozy chamber.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, her two ladies in waiting
still gently snoozing, Utena finished tying her hair back
with a ribbon of pink silk. Since she was planning on
remaining in the fortified manor, there was no need to hide
her lush mane under a hat. Fluffing out the wavy ponytail
of soft curls, she rose and crossed over the wooden floor,
pushing open the door.

On the pallet next to the arched doorway, Tatsuya remained
lost in slumber as well. A gentle smile settled on her
face; at least she hadn't lost both her faithful guardsmen,
though the death of Ryu remained a dark spot in her mind.
Her attention caught by sounds coming from the main room of
the hunting lodge, the slender warrioress made her way into
the hall-like chamber.

Saionji and his clansmen, along with the single remaining
Kiryuu warrior, were standing together in a small knot a
distance away from where Touga remained asleep near the
fireplace. Catching sight of most of the men clothed and
awake made her softly gasp and stand there in the archway
leading to the corridor from whence she'd come. It wouldn't
exactly be proper to go further without any sort of an
escort. Still, seeing them up and about made her curious.
"My lord, you're awake at an early hour," she said, resting
a hand against the stone of the entryway.

"Hmm?" the Verdant Gryphon responded, startled by the
feminine voice. Glancing about and noticing the woman
standing nearby, he grimly smiled. "Ah, 'tis you. Aye, and
all the better that I'm up with the dawn. I mean to rush
home as swiftly as I can."

"Are you taking your warriors with you as escort?"

"Actually . . ." Saionji paused with a frown, then shook
his head. "No. I'm going to travel alone. I have a
feeling my men are needed here moreso than galloping through
the forest with me. I'm on my own lands after all, and it
would only be the ride to Pinehaven I must worry about."

"Then what of your men?" Utena asked, gesturing toward the
group of solemn-looking warriors.

"I'm sending them out to patrol the immediate area," the
gruff chieftain responded. "Even here, with the current
strength of our party -- including you, my lady, but with
Touga wounded -- we are in danger from another attempt so
long as we have only these numbers. If someone should try
again, you would be more vulnerable with only two men, so
I'm leaving you my three as well."

"But what of you, my lord?"

Saionji gave the pretty woman a confident smile. "As I
said, these are my lands. Alone, I can travel as swiftly
and by whatever route I wish, and I'm certain that there's
little here that'll pose a danger to me. I'm traveling
deeper into Saionji territory, and should encounter more of
my clan the closer I get to Pinehaven. Of us all, you who
stay here run the greater risk."

Utena returned the other's smile, nodding slightly in
acknowledgement. "Thank you, Lord Kyouichi. Fare well on
your journey, then."

"I'm certain I shall," he responded. Clapping one of his
clansmen on the shoulder, he gave them the order to leave
the lodge and take up their patrol around the building.
They filed out through the door opposite where the
rose-haired maiden stood, closing the heavy oaken portal
behind them. "Expect me back with more of my clansmen when
the sun's halfway to the western horizon. I'll return as
swiftly as I can," he said to the one who had so thoroughly
enchanted his foster brother. Then he was gone as well,
disappearing out that same door.

A headstrong man, that one was, and good in his own right
though at times his passionate nature got the best of him.
Utena smiled faintly, her eyes settling to gaze at the tall
form stretched out between chair and footstool. He was in
the exact same place she had left him, face tilted upward
toward the ceiling with his head resting against the padded
back of the chair, one arm lying across his breast while the
other dangled down against the side of the seat. His bare
feet were propped up on a padded footstool, the long legs
stretched fully out. Beyond the soles of his feet, the
great fireplace gaped open, the last of the embers from the
fire the night before long since cooled to ash.

More than likely he was going to be rather stiff in the
joints when he awoke, she mused, silently making her way
over to stand next to the chair. At some point in the
night, he'd stripped off his clothing save for the now
one-legged trews, leaving almost the whole of him exposed to
her aquamarine gaze. She couldn't help but stare at him,
his sleek, potentially deadly, masculine beauty made somehow
more enticing by the innocent tone sleep gave his features.
And as she stared at him, she could once again see the lad
he used to be.

His hair had been shorter then -- just brushing against the
tops of his shoulders -- but it remained the same
flame-bright silk. His eyes, she knew, were still the same
intense dark azure. How she ever could have forgotten was
beyond her, but as she watched him in repose, she knew him.

Faint memories came to her, like shadowy dreams. She'd
watched him before, sleeping like this, but she had been so
much smaller then . . . Like a moth to a flame, the girl
she had once been had been drawn to the boy he once was,
knowing somehow that she had found someone to hold back the
frightening darkness of reality. Other images were there,
of her watching him and his friend go about their lives as
best they could with a younger child trailing after them.

Lost in thought, she almost didn't see the redheaded
chieftain's head turn toward her, the cobalt-blue eyes
opening to stare back. "Oh!" Utena gasped, startled.
"You're awake."

A corner of his expressive mouth quirked upwards. "I've
been so for a short while, but I thought it better to try to
continue resting. Good morning, my lady." However, it had
been the feeling of eyes upon him that had kept him from
drifting off -- her eyes -- and now that he was truly awake,
he became aware of a rather urgent need.

"Good morning to you as well, my lord," she responded,
stepping back when the highlander groaned and sat up,
dropping his feet to the floor. She continued to watch,
wide-eyed, as he pushed himself up from his seat and
balanced precariously on his feet, the majority of his
weight supported on his uninjured leg. "Careful," she
warned as he attempted to take a hobbling step, though she
couldn't help but wonder just why he was getting up in the
first place.

The traumatized muscle was stiff; any movement sent pain
shooting through him. (Still, it can't be helped,) he
grimly thought as he struggled forward.

The lone remaining Kiryuu warrior yelped softly in
consternation as he noticed his lord's stumbling gait.
Rushing to assist in some manner, the sandy-haired clansman
was halted by a gesture from Touga to stay where he was.

"Stubborn man," Utena murmured, dashing forward while the
Red Tyger continued his attempt to walk. Wrapping an arm
around his slender waist, she grabbed his left hand and
placed that arm across her shoulders. "You'll strain the
stitching if you persist on proving to everyone how
impervious you are," she complained. Though she longed to
ask him just what did he think he was doing, she thought
better of the question and remained silent, waiting to see
why he was so determined to walk.

Touga relaxed slightly, leaning against her to allow her to
help bear his weight whenever he raised his right foot. "I
need to keep the muscle somewhat mobile, my lady. It'll get
better the more I walk," he responded. (Besides, I do have
my pride . . .) Glancing over at his retainer, he called
out, "Michiyo, fetch me some fresh clothing from my
saddlebag." As the young warrior hastened off to do his
chieftain's bidding, Touga limped the rest of the way to the
garderobe with his feminine companion's assistance. Once
they were there, he pulled open the door, graciously
ignoring the sudden blush of embarrassment that colored
Utena's face when she finally realized his motivation.
"Thank you for the help, my lady. When Michiyo returns,
have him toss my clothes inside."

"As you wish," Utena responded, meeting his gaze despite the
continued heat in her cheeks. Of course he'd need to
relieve himself after sleeping all night; she could hardly
tell him to do so in the fireplace -- or worse yet, in the
chair in which he was sitting. "But I'm determined to see
you stay off your feet, at least for today."

"I shall do as you wish, within reason," Touga replied. He
smiled down at her as he slipped from her grasp. "You're
going to help me back to the chair."

"Aye," she said, noting that the scarlet-maned chieftain was
merely stating a truth they both already knew.

He disappeared behind the portal then, leaving her there to
stand waiting alone with her thoughts. Her mind turning
from her embarassment, she focused on a stray memory from
her childhood. Even the return of Michiyo only pulled her
from her musings long enough to relay to the Kiryuu clansman
his lord's message. Touga had promised her, long ago, that
he would show her the stars since she was as pretty as they
-- and he had. He had recalled who she was even when she
had not remembered him.

And he had made her another promise, one that -- like the
other -- he would strive to keep no matter what cost now
that he was a man of power. Utena frowned slightly at that
thought.

When Touga emerged, he was clothed in scarlet-trimmed violet
garb decorated at hem, wrists, sleeves and neck with
silver-threaded knotwork embroidery. Without a word, he
leaned against the side of the garderobe's entry and held
out his left arm in a gesture signaling his willingness to
accept her support once more.

The slender noblewoman smiled at him, noticing that he was
bearing slightly more weight on his left leg, and she
slipped next to him to take up once again the burden of
assistance. She also noted that he had been correct; his
gait was steadier and his steps more fluidly graceful on
their return trip. The moment he became settled in the
chair and had his bare feet propped upon the footstool, she
stepped back and looked him over. "I know who you are," she
finally said.

"Mmm?" he responded. Something in the way she spoke kept
Touga from pointing out the obvious -- that she should know
his identity after spending so many days in his company.

"You're the one . . ." Utena gently said, "the one that
pulled me from the water, who took me to your father's home
and watched over me."

"Aye," he softly answered. "And it was from Kiryuu Keep
that your relatives took you when you were returned to
them." How he remembered that, being forced by his father
to travel to one of their clan's more distant holdings
without the girl in tow. He had thought she would be safe
there in the keep, that she didn't need him to guard her
from the world for those two days. He had been stunned to
find her gone upon his arrival home; no little rose-haired
moppet ran to greet him, and all his father had to say was
that she was where she belonged. Even now, thinking on it,
the helpless melancholy set in once more. He'd failed her
then, and it had taken him a while to get over her absence
-- so much so that not only had Saionji been worried about
him, but so had his little sister. It was about then that
the golden-haired child had started keeping her brother
company as much as she was allowed.

A concerned expression settled on Utena's visage as she
watched his gorgeous eyes darken in sadness. Had the memory
of her presence in his life become some sort of perfect
fantasy, then? If so, then she feared the reality could
never match. What Utena was it that he hoped for? The one
his mind may have created or the woman she had truly become?
"Why the sadness, my lord?"

Those orbs of deepest azure turned their gaze to her at the
question. "I had promised that I would keep you safe, that
you would never get hurt again if I could help it . . ."

"I know . . . And the child I was then needed a protector
like that. But time has changed us both, my lord . . ."

"Did you ever resent me for abandoning you?"

"No, because I wasn't abandoned. You were only a boy then
yourself. You had to do as the adults said, and I belonged
home with my aunt and her family." Sighing softly, she
lowered herself to kneel next to the sturdy, well-padded
chair. She knew what she had to do; just as she was testing
him against the virtues of Amor, so she too would be asked
to uphold them. She had to be honest. "I release you from
your promise to me, Touga."

He stared at her in amazement, then slowly sat up. "Why?"
he managed to finally choke out, cobalt gaze still focused
on her. Couldn't she see how much it had meant to him?

How uncertain of himself he looked in that moment, something
she knew was a rare sight. Smiling, she reached up and
lightly caressed one of his cheeks with her fingertips.
"Because I don't need you like that. I've grown, and I've
learned to take care of myself. I don't need a guardian
deciding what's good for me and what's not. I want to take
my own risks. I'm afraid . . ."

At the feel of her soft fingers against his face, Touga shut
his eyes. Savoring the touch, he became aware of a
different ache then either the one in his leg and the one in
his heart. "Of what?"

"I've only been able to observe what you've become in the
span of a few days, but I feel as if I've somehow always
known you. You would cling to your promise should it remain
there, doing all you could to carry it out, even were it
against my own desires. You have the power now to keep your
word, but I fear how far you would take it," Utena answered.
She let her fingers slide upward to gently stroke his mane
of red hair. "I don't want a keeper. What I desire is a
partner."

"I wish for a partner as well . . ." Touga admitted in a
voice barely heard. Then he wryly smiled. "You sound so
sure, yet only days ago you had given little thought to the
future of your life beyond your quest."

"It was a mistake -- an oversight -- on my part," Utena
conceded, nodding in agreement. Letting his hair slide
through her grasp, she lowered her hand. "But ever since
you showed me my lack of foresight, I've been thinking about
the matter."

"And now you know what you want?" he softly queried.

"Aye," she murmured, the low tone of her voice coaxing him
to open his eyes. When she spoke no further, he did look at
her, cobalt-blue gaze meeting her sea-blue one. "But the
quest comes first, my lord," she added by way of a reminder.

"It means so much to you then, even now?"

"I made a promise that I must keep."

"Then I accept being released from my vow, my lady. But
there's one thing I must ask, and I pray you are generous,"
he said, his eyes continuing to stare into hers.

She furrowed her brows, curious as to what he would ask of
her. "And what boon do you wish, Lord Touga?"

"When your quest is done and your childhood promise kept,
whether I'm the champion you've sought or some other, give
me the chance to get to know you better. I'd like for you
to stay on as my guest at Kiryuu Keep."

Utena frowned thoughtfully. To do so would certainly keep
them in the close proximity needed for them to learn what
sort of people they had become, but it would also leave her
own lands in the hands of her stewards. In and of itself,
that wasn't a terrible thing; her stewards ran her lands
anyway, since she traveled often in the pursuit of the task
given to her from the tender of the rose arbor. Though she
had hoped to take up the management of her demesne once the
quest was complete, her holdings wouldn't suffer by having
her men watch over them for a while longer. "I . . . Aye, I
would like to do that," she finally answered.

Touga smiled at her. "Thank you, my lady." Then his smile
grew a bit more. "A shame we have neither goblets or wine."

"Oh? And why's that?" the pink-haired noblewoman asked,
curious once more.

"Because I'd offer a toast to the future," the highland
chieftain replied.

The young warrioress laughed softly, then switched to a
related topic. "Speaking of futures, when are you going to
tell your sister what's been decided?"

"Almost as soon as I see her next," Touga answered, his
smile turning wry as he imagined his sibling's reaction.
"'Tis far better to get the tantrum over with as soon as
possible, for the sooner she gets over it, the sooner she
can be made to think more rationally. Besides, it's not
fair to her to not let her know right away. After all, it
is her life."

"A shame she can't be allowed to make her own choice," Utena
said, once again thankful for the provisions in her father's
will. That legal paper had long ago stated that should
anything befall both of her parents, the young heiress would
become the ward of her aunt; so long as her aunt made sure
Utena was comfortably kept and would never be forced to
marry against her wishes, that relative would be able to
claim the Tenjou domain's income for her own until such time
as the rose-haired girl was married.

"Lady Utena, were I to allow my sister to do as she pleases,
she would try to be my wife in all the ways that were
allowed for someone of her relationship," Touga responded,
shaking his head slightly. "No, that fledgling is one that
must be kicked from the nest before she realizes she can
fly."

"She sounds very devoted to you."

"Aye, and too much so for her own good," the Red Tyger
swiftly admitted. "With Father often busy in the past and
now dead, my sister and I have only had one another, though
I do consider Saionji family as well. She's always sought
to capture my attention and dedicated herself to learning
all a lady should to run a household properly so that I
should never worry about that as I deal with other matters
that concern the clan."

"Don't you think that marrying her off is only going to
chain her down?" Utena asked, looking at him with an
expression of curiosity. "How can she fly when you decide
her fate?"

"Because her desire isn't proper, nor have some of her
actions been either as she's done what she could to keep for
herself the role she's made. In all honesty, I'm partially
to blame." Touga frowned, reaching up to tuck a silken lock
behind an ear. "Looking back on it, I must confess that my
darling little sibling discovered a quest of her own. When
she began, I encouraged her to continue on -- after all, any
lady of her position needs to learn how best to run a
household. Later, when I began to see how devoted she had
become, I ignored it. Her care of the household made up for
any bedevilment she caused those who sparked her jealousy.
I didn't want to give up the good work she did, so I looked
the other way as she made sure in her way that she would
always be the one closest to me."

"And now you've changed your mind?" the slender noble
queried.

"Aye, Nanami and I both must face reality -- we're not
children anymore. The moment I take my dynastic obligations
seriously, she'll think her entire world's crumbling around
her." He frowned at the image, then added, "To continue on
in this manner will only make both of us miserable. I
regret having to be so tough on her, but she won't deal with
this without being forced to do so. I've done what I can to
make the situation the best that I can for her."

"How do you know that it's the best, my lord?"

"Because I know my sister. Fear motivates her -- fear of
the unknown, of leaving all that's familiar." That he
discovered this himself only recently made him feel annoyed
at himself, but Touga was willing to acknowledge that it had
come from him turning a blind eye to his sister's behavior.
"She feels vulnerable knowing that her life's dictated by
politics. She's already stated that it would be better
where she given to someone she already knows. And there's
no one she knows better than Saionji, save myself."

Utena nodded, aware of the history between those involved.
"I admit that politically such an arrangement would further
strengthen both clans -- "

"My lady," Touga said, cutting in, "in all honesty, the
political arrangement was a secondary -- though still
important -- consideration. My sister needs someone she
knows and can trust to treat her well, someone she can grow
to admire as she admires me. My foster brother needs
someone who will look after his household as his clan
continues to recover from the feud that decimated it. He
also needs someone who can handle his passionate nature. He
would overwhelm a weaker woman, and though he may enjoy
having a cowering servant to wife, it wouldn't be the best
thing for him. Nanami will certainly put him in his place
should he act without thinking." Touga leaned against the
back of the chair, letting his mind wander over memories of
the trio of nobles growing up. "There's a fondness already
there. As I've mentioned before, my sibling's always
tolerated my friendship with Saionji."

"What if that's merely because she considers him a brother,
just as you do?" the rose-haired maiden asked. "After all,
you even convinced your father to accept Lord Kyouichi as a
foster son."

"Well . . ." The scarlet-maned chieftain intertwined his
fingers and tapped his extended index digits against his
lips for a moment. "Considering her somewhat inappropriate
adoration of me, I'm sure she'll adjust well in transferring
her affections to a sibling *not* related by blood. I see
it truly depending on how well Saionji can win over her
heart."

The pretty maiden merely nodded, her eyes glancing
momentarily around their surroundings. Somehow, she needed
to test his ability to trust those he loved, and yet it
seemed as if there was little that would shake his faith in
those closest to him. That he was here, resting comfortably
while Saionji was off on a dash back to Pinehaven was
evidence enough that there was probably nothing that would
make Touga doubt his foster brother's friendship.

No, the test would have to involve his little sister. Her
childishness . . . "My lord, who watches over the clan when
you are off on business?"

Touga raised his scarlet eyebrows in surprise, mildly
wondering at her query. "I generally leave the household to
Nanami's charge and rulership of the clan to Ichiro, the
captain of my household guard."

"You don't let your sister rule in your place?" Utena asked,
pursing her lips in a gesture of thought.

The highland chieftain shook his head in the negative. "No.
Though Father allowed her to learn something of politics and
the rulership of the clan -- after all, any of the blood
royal may hold the coronet so long as the clan endorses the
choice -- she's too impulsive yet to truly handle more than
just the household of my main fortress."

The lowland noble frowned slightly. Perhaps here, then?
Times at the moment were uncertain. Should Touga be sent on
the quest to retrieve the magic blade and rescue the spirit
of Love, he would have to leave his clan behind in capable
hands. War threatened, and generally the people turned to
those mandated by blood to rule over them in such
circumstances. Were the Red Tyger gone, the Kiryuu would
expect to turn to Lady Nanami -- the captain of the guard,
more than likely a member of a cadet line of once-royal
blood, just wouldn't command quite the same loyalty as a
member of the truly noble senior line. There was magic from
the very beginning of time held in royal blood, a pact to
put life and limb in jeopardy for the sake of those watched
over in exchange for the bounty of the land, and only those
directly descended from a prince of the land held that
power. Yet Utena knew for a fact that whomever held the
power of the Champion would have the forces of Light and
Life there to offer protection and plenty to the people
watched over by that one.

War may be possible and the clan left vulnerable, but in
exchange for taking the risk and winning the challenge,
Touga would gain the blessings of the best of luck, harvests
yielding their fullest, the herds, flocks and people at
their healthiest. Such was the promise of the power
inherent within the one chosen as worthy of being the new
Champion.

For her part, Lady Nanami needed to learn independence from
her brother -- or so it seemed to the pink-maned maiden.
This would certainly give the younger Kiryuu that chance, as
well as give her and her clan an opportunity to come to
trust Lord Kyouichi. If Touga wasn't available for advice,
then perhaps the golden-haired princess would turn to the
Saionji prince since he already had experience in ruling his
clan. That her redheaded companion expressed a reluctance
to allow his sibling to rule gave her the test she needed.
"Then, my lord, I have decided upon the final task you must
perform."

The highlander chieftain blinked, deep azure gaze settling
upon her. (Trust . . .) he thought, his heart skipping a
beat as he wondered what he would be asked to do to show
that he trusted those close to him. Reining in his desire
to ask her outright what his quest would be, Touga waited in
silence for her words.

"Allow your sister to rule over the Kiryuu while you journey
to seek out Love's Honor," Utena said, slowly rising to her
feet. "Tell her she must rule over the clan fully since you
won't be available to advise her. Remind her that she can
ask anyone else help should she be unsure how to proceed on
a matter."

The scarlet-maned lord stared up at her in astonishment.
Turn the Kiryuu over fully to Nanami while he was elsewhere
was reasonable enough, but for how long? What of the
possible war with Ohtori? "My lady . . ."

"Aye?"

"How long would I be away from my lands? Should conflict
come while I'm away . . ."

"Are you saying that you cannot trust your own sister with
the well-being of your people?" Utena gently asked.

"Not quite, my lady," Touga responded, frowning. Well aware
of the ideal to be truthful in all matters, he hesitated at
actually defining his thoughts on his sibling's merits. "I
can trust her to do her best. I am just not certain that
her best will be good enough should we find ourselves
fighting against the Ohtori. She was never expected to be
Father's heir and chieftain, so she's not had the same
training I have had."

"I'm aware of that, my lord. However, she is of the blood
royal. God forbid something should happen to you, but if
so, your people would be facing the same situation but
without you there to step in should something drastic
happen," the young noblewoman softly continued.

Touga's jaw tightened, the thin line of his lips becoming
harder in tone as he thought it over. So much hung in the
balance. Nanami was inexperienced, though she had been
taught something of rulership. How could he be asked to
stand back and watch as his people struggled on without him,
especially with conflict in the air? Would it really be the
best for the clan? Steepling his fingers together, he
closed his eyes and rested the extended digits against his
lips.

(I want to be this champion, yet I fear for my people . . .
My sister means well, but should the Ebon Phoenix strike . .
. I trust my sister with my life, and yet I have my doubts
when it comes to the lives of others . . .)

Utena carefully watched her companion, sensing the deep
hesitation within him. (So he is uncertain when it comes to
his sibling in this capacity . . .) Intertwining her
fingers together, she frowned at her own presumptiveness.
How could she ask him to choose between this ideal and his
people? Even the choice itself was against the very virtues
she hoped to promote. No, it was time to trust in this
candidate herself. "My lord, I beg your forgiveness. It's
not proper to me to make this sound as if you must choose
between your people and some quest of idealism. Please, let
me explain something to you. In proving your worth, you
better things for your land and your people."

"How so?" the highlander asked, opening his eyes to look at
her once more.

"The one who wins this quest would have all of Light on his
side. No ill luck would hound him or those in his care, the
land he rules would prosper to its fullest. Sickness would
be at a minimum among his animals and his folk, and all the
bad things that plague mankind would find little purchase
within his holdings." Noting that she had his full
attention, Utena nodded. "You may have guessed that this
quest had something to do with Faerie. It does. The Rose
Arbor resides in that Other Realm, and that is where a
candidate must go. The entrance to the mystic path to the
Arbor is a seven-day journey from here; should all go well,
you will only be away from your lands a fortnight. Should
you be the one worthy, you will have all that is Seelie
blessing you and yours."

"Only a fortnight?" Touga echoed, thinking it over. Two
weeks wasn't so long, all things considered. With the paths
only now being open to travel, it could possibly take that
long for the Ebon Phoenix to gather enough of his forces to
even start a campaign. Any opening conflict would more than
likely begin with the Kaoru, unless the impending alliance
between the Honorable Shadow and that clan diverted the
beginning of hostilities to the Saionji. Even then, it
would take time to shift forces into position within the
Kaoru lands -- and the Red Tyger was under the impression
that Lord Miki would do what he could to avoid his folk
being put into such a circumstance.

Then again, it would be slightly longer than that, as the
dull throbbing in his left leg reminded him. More then
likely, he was looking at a number of weeks before his limb
was healed enough to handle the stress of walking, let alone
riding on horseback for long periods of time.

"If all goes well," the young noblewoman replied.

"What exactly do you mean?" the elegant chieftain queried,
raising his eyebrows in curiosity. There was more here to
be learned, he was certain.

Utena glanced down at her still-intertwined hands. "A year
ago, on my fourteenth birthday, I had a dream in which I was
told the time had come to find one worthy of being Love's
Champion. In that dream, I was shown where to find the way
to the Rose Arbor, and it was there that I met the Fey who
cared for the roses that grew there. She told me about the
quest, the things that needed to be done to find a new
Champion, then sent me on my way. But she also warned me
that there were those out there who would do their best to
see to it that a new Champion wouldn't be found. I was told
to be careful, to watch my step . . ."

Touga inwardly froze, his startlement hidden deep beneath
his outwardly relaxed and attentive exterior. Lord Akio was
apparently searching for this youthful lowlander at the same
time he was agitating to extend his power further north.
Those who had attempted to grab Lady Utena from her mount
had seemingly used magic of some sort to keep themselves
hidden, both from the party they had attacked as well as,
presumably, the Kaoru patrols spread throughout that clan's
homeland. If this Champion gathered to him the benefits of
the helpful side of Faerie, it would be reasonable to
believe that someone opposed to finding a new Champion was
in league with the harmful powers of the Other Side. Was
that then the deciding factor for the Phoenix to make his
move now, that he had dark powers at his command? "My lady,
do you know of any reason why the Ohtori are looking for
you?"

The slender warrioress blinked, startled by his question.
Admittedly, she knew of Lord Akio and had seen him on a
number of occasions in the court of her king along with
others of his rank, but there were no reasons he could be
searching for her of which she was aware. Other than
perhaps an interest in her hand in marriage, she had to
admit -- the Tenjou lands were extensive and well cared for,
bringing in quite the income and thus making Utena a
desirable heiress. Even so, she was legally free to choose
her own husband by the dictates of her father's will. The
Ohtori were a clan under the auspices of the fragmented
northern kingdom; as far as she knew, there were no
alliances Lord Akio had with any of the nobles among the
southern lands. "No . . . My father had no alliance with
him, and there are no plans for me to wed anyone. Granted,
I could be taken by force -- my holdings could be prize
enough for an attempt -- but I can think of no legitimate
reason to be sought out by Lord Akio."

"Do you happen to hold some sort of key to the Rose Arbor in
Faerie, or can just anyone find the path?" he asked, dark
azure gaze staring at her intently.

"No, you can't . . . Aye, I have the key, or so I was told,"
Utena answered, turning slightly pale.

"What's there at the Arbor?" he demanded, the hair on the
back of his neck rising. If the young maiden held the key
to this place of magic, it would make sense for the Ebon
Phoenix, were he one determined to keep a new Champion from
being discovered, to be searching for the one holding what
was needed to reach that site.

"The Fey woman who tends the roses. She is the one who will
determine if a candidate sent to her is worthy of being the
new Champion of Love," the lowlander noble responded.

Touga frowned, that cold feeling still clinging to him.
More than likely, Ohtori wished to take the key from the
young lady and make his way there to the Rose Arbor. If he
were allied to Unseelie powers, then he probably could cause
harm to the Fey who would be the one to choose a new
Champion -- and none of the mortal clans would be able to
stand against the Phoenix were he to wield darkling magic
against the highlanders.

A fortnight, and that would be if he were healthy. With
this wound, how long could they all hold out against one
that could have black magic on his side? "Lady Utena,
listen to me. I have reason to believe that the men who
attacked yesterday were sent by Ohtori. I was told by a
reliable source that he was searching for you, and I'm
certain those men were trying to abduct you, not kill you."

"The key," she gasped, looking worried. "Could he be
someone opposed to the finding of a new Champion?"

"Aye, we should assume that. I fear for all of us. Ohtori
seems to be readying to war against us while he looks for
this key you hold. Would that I weren't wounded! It could
be months before I'm healed enough to attempt this, even
should you find me worthy to send on."

"My lord," the pink-haired maiden said, giving him something
of a faint smile, "I have the ability to speed your healing.
A gift given to me by the tender of the roses in order to
help with my task, but considering you were wounded on my
behalf, it seems, and leaves you and yours vulnerable, it's
only right I should use it on you." Leaning forward, she
lightly placed her hands over where she knew the wrapped
wound to be, being careful to not cause more pain by her
touch. "I know not how swiftly you will heal once I am
through, though I suspect you will grow more tired than
usual while it works."

He closed his eyes and leaned hard against the back of the
chair, grimacing slightly at the twinge of pain even her
light touch generated. "Any help in this would be
appreciated," Touga softly admitted, not liking at all the
thought of having to send out his clansmen to die defending
their land while he personally would be unable to share in
their risk should they be forced to fight as summer wore on.
The grimace faded to a look of mild wonder as her hands on
his leg seemed to radiate a gentle heat that soothed away
the ache from the wound. A sense of energy, like the
radiance of the noontime sun, filled his awareness, making
him tingle in a not-unpleasant sort of way, a sense that was
accompanied by one of peace and well-being. That the
lowlander was using magic was obvious; that the force was
from the powers helpful to mortals was equally obvious.

For a long moment, all was silent between the two, the
others in the large room carrying on their various
conversations. At last, Utena opened her eyes and lifted
her hands from her redheaded companion's leg, the tingle of
the magic still noticeable to her even as she felt the warm
power fade away. "I was told that this would make the
course of naturally healing take less time, but I was to
warn anyone I used it on that they should be certain to eat
well and sleep should they become tired while the wound
healed."

Touga smiled at her, cobalt-blue eyes opening once more.
The leg no longer throbbed with pain, and that alone was
quite the relief. "I'll be certain to take care of myself.
My thanks, Lady Utena."

She returned his smile. "It's the least I could do."
________________

The golden rays of the sun, lancing through the broken cover
of fluffy white clouds high above, were angled toward the
east when the door to the hunting lodge was rather
forcefully opened. Everyone present in the large room
jumped, startled, their minds having been occupied with
their various amusements. Off in a corner, Tatsuya and
Wakaba had been holding a low-voiced conversation, the man
at arms occasionally glancing about and the handmaiden
working on some embroidery project. A discreet distance
away from them, Shiori had been working on stitchery as
well, the sandy-haired Michiyo hovering near her as the
slender brunette had been flirting with him as she worked on
her task. As for the pair of nobles, Lady Utena had found a
Nine Man Morris set tucked away in one of the cupboards
about the lodge and had challenged the Red Tyger to a game.
Touga's hand remained poised upon one of the ruby-colored
glass markers -- they appeared as smooth, oval gems of a
rich hue, the other markers of the lady being a deep
cobalt-blue -- as he turned to look at the source of the
sudden disturbance.

"Lord Touga?" a voice roared out, somehow sounding rather
concerned, the tone punctuated by the slamming of the solid
wooden door against the wall. Seemingly filling up the
portal, a shadowed figure paused there at the entry, violet
eyes scanning over the room.

The sound made the redheaded chieftain suddenly grin. How
amusing for his friend to be that concerned despite all the
anger and jealousy that had marked their relationship since
their adolescent years. "All's well with us, Saionji," he
said, swift to reassure the other lord. "There's been no
signs of trouble at all here this day."

"Good," the verdant-maned noble responded, visibly relaxing,
his expression of apprehension fading into his usual scowl.
Stepping inside far enough to allow those who followed him
into the comfortable setting of the hunting lodge, Saionji
stopped a number of feet away from where his foster brother
and the lowlander were sitting, a wooden board with
concentric squares attached by lines at corners and the
centers of the squares' sides etched into the varnished
surface sitting between them. "I've brought enough men to
secure this lodge while I lead the others back into Kaoru
territory." Before Touga could respond, Saionji then said,
"And when I got to Pinehaven, I had something of a surprise
there."

"What do you mean?" the elegant lord asked, the tone of his
friend's voice making Touga quite curious. Something was
amiss, though not a something overly alarming.

"Where's my brother? I want to see my brother! Get your
worthless hide out of my way!" demanded a somewhat shrill
and feminine voice from outside. Judging from the increase
in volume, the source of the voice was rapidly coming closer
to the entrance into the lodge. A flurry of activity made
its way through the open door, the emerald-haired man
beating a hasty retreat to allow in the golden-maned girl.

"Nanami," Touga said, his expression taking on the look of a
man expecting to need quite a bit of patience in the
immediate future. Across the wooden game board, Utena
raised a hand to her lips and concealed an amused smile.
The redheaded lord appeared to be a man getting ready to
meet his own untimely demise. However, the rose-haired lady
couldn't help but be surprised at the other Kiryuu's
appearance.

The young noblewoman in question rushed past Saionji's tall
form, her gold- and saffron-colored skirts swirling about
her as she made her way quickly toward where her brother sat
in the comfortably-upholstered chair. "My lord! My lord!
Are you all right? They told me that you were hurt! What
happened?" Nanami demanded as she crossed the floor.

"I'm fine, Nanami," the Kiryuu prince swiftly replied,
giving his sister an unconcerned smile despite his surprise
at seeing her there. "I took an arrow in the leg, but it's
not a serious injury. However, I need to know something.
What on Earth are you doing here? Why aren't you back home
at the keep?"

"An arrow?" the younger noble yelped, her dark violet gaze
sweeping over her sibling's outstretched legs as if she
expected to see a pool of blood showing on his trews. "Let
me see, my lord."

"I'm fine, Nanami," Touga repeated, his voice taking on a
hint of steel. "It's been looked at and taken care of well,
so don't concern yourself over it. Just answer my
questions, please."

"Oh, very well," Nanami huffed, folding her arms over her
chest. "I'm here because you *weren't* where you said you'd
be. You're supposed to be at Pinehaven," she complained,
her voice taking on an accusing tone.

"Saionji was called away for something important and I asked
to accompany him," the older Kiryuu answered. "But what
were you doing at Pinehaven in the first place?"

"Well, I got the message requesting the gold, and since it
seemed like an odd request and it was so much gold in the
first place, I didn't feel comfortable just sending it with
one of the men, and I figured that it would be much better
if I were to take the gold to you since that would mean that
I knew for sure that you got it like you'd asked," Nanami
replied, her youthful face still showing her concern for her
sibling. "So here I was all ready to give you the coin but
you were *gone*, and that left me just having to wait and
wait and wait for you to return."

Closing his eyes a moment, Touga held up a hand in a gesture
for his sister to stop with her explanation. "What did you
do with the coin, then?"

"Oh, I held onto it until Saionji came home," Nanami began,
only to have the Verdant Gryphon interrupt.

"It's safely in my treasury, Touga. I explained to your
sister that you had requested it on behalf of our agreement
and she turned it over to my custody before we traveled
here," Saionji said, watching the pair of Kiryuu interact.

"Good," the Red Tyger responded, a smile curling the corner
of his lips. "Then that's one obligation on its way to
fulfillment."

"Speaking of obligations," the other highland chieftain
said, "I'm taking my leave to return to the Kaoru lands. I
have a full dozen of my men assigned to stay here, and your
sister's escort's remaining here as well."

"Sounds like we'll be well protected should something
happen," Touga remarked.

"Are you expecting something to happen?" Nanami asked,
alarmed.

"No, no, of course not," her brother was swift to reply.
"However, we *were* attacked, and we don't wish to take any
chances."

"Touga, I'm going to leave now. I don't want them left to
the scavengers any longer than necessary," Saionji informed
his friend, turning and walking toward the door.

"Good luck to you, Saionji," the other lord replied,
flicking his cobalt-blue gaze to the other man for a moment.
Once the door shut behind the green-haired noble, Touga
turned his gaze back to his sister. "Have a seat, Nanami.
There's a couple of things I need to discuss with you since
you've made the journey here."

"Oh?" the golden-haired girl said, her expression turning to
one of concern and curiosity both. As Nanami glanced about
to search for a chair, Utena gave the other noblewoman a
looking over. Touga would certainly tell her of the plans
he had for his sister, but what of the challenge the
lowlander had set for him? Would he address that as well?
Wood scraped against wood as the younger Kiryuu spied a
vacant chair and dragged it over to sit next to the side of
the board between Touga and Utena. Other sounds swirled
around them as a number of Saionji and Kiryuu clansmen
walked into the lodge and took up positions throughout the
large room, their relaxed banter a low murmur. "What do you
want to discuss, my lord?" Nanami asked, appearing abruptly
quite nervous.

"Your future," the scarlet-maned chieftain replied.

Nanami blinked, then all the color drained from her face.
Leaning forward, she grabbed hold of the sleeve of her
brother's violet-hued tunic. "No! No, I'm not going to be
married off! How could you?" she demanded.

"Nanami, please," Touga sighed, his expression becoming
strained. "You already knew that I would have to look into
the matter. I told you as much during the spring
celebration."

"You also said that there'd be no more talk of the future
then," the Kiryuu princess snapped.

"I meant then. It's another day, dear sister. And I have
someone in mind for you who has agreed to negotiate a
contract."

"Who?" Nanami demanded, her anger giving her face color once
more. "And what are you getting in return? What trinket
are you getting in exchange for my maidenhead?"

Utena blinked, startled by the younger girl's very frank and
outspoken question. Quickly glancing at her redheaded
companion, the lowland warrioress noted that Touga seemed to
be doing his best to remain patient and in control.

"There's no excuse for such a lack of manners," the Red
Tyger softly growled, eyes narrowing in displeasure at his
sibling. "Now, you will comport yourself in a seemly manner
or you will be removed from my presence and I shall carry
out negotiations without your input. Do I make myself
clear?"

Nanami swallowed hard, suddenly intimidated by her brother's
menacing presence. Lowering her dark violet gaze, she
turned her head away from him. "Aye, my lord." She'd
overstepped the boundaries, and the thought of having her
future decided without her say made her realize that her
brother was right. Any frank disagreement should be saved
for a private moment between them, not shouted out in front
of company and followers alike.

Touga nodded slightly, then reached up with a hand and
gently pried his sibling's fingers from his sleeve.
Wrapping his fingers around his sibling's hand, he leaned
back against the padded chair. "That's better. I truly
want your involvement in this matter, dear sister, but I
will not stop the world for you. Now, to answer your first
question, the 'who' is Lord Kyouichi."

(Saionji?) Nanami blinked. Lifting her head, she stared at
her brother with a stunned expression on her pretty face.
For once, she couldn't think of a thing to say in reply; of
all the possibilities that had flashed through her mind at
the thought -- all of them had been horrid ones, of
lecherous old lords or overly-proud younger ones -- none of
them had been of the emerald-haired youth that had grown up
with her and her brother. But there was nothing, truly,
that the Saionji could give her brother in either power or
land that would compensate him for her loss, so why did her
brother agree to this?

"Of all those in this world, there's none you know better
than Saionji," Touga pointed out, still holding his
sibling's hand. "For the sake of himself, I've released him
from vassalage. I couldn't continue with him being
subordinate to me. For your sake, I offered your hand in
marriage to him."

"But you could have gotten so much in exchange for me -- "

"Aye, but I want to see you happy, Nanami. You're my sister
after all. And I can't think of anyone better," the wounded
chieftain replied. "Aye, he needs a lot of work. I see
that; his temper still gets the better of him now, but if
anyone can deal with his thoughtlessness, it's you. I have
faith in you."

The golden-haired girl blinked again, this time tears making
her dark purple eyes brighter than usual. He had faith in
her. He was doing his best to find something good for her
because he'd rather please her than increase his wealth or
power. "But is this truly the best for the clan?"

"Think about it," Touga gently said. "The Saionji are our
neighbors. We've had conflict before and a feud that made
us enemies. This will unite us by blood into kin. Both
clans can only grow stronger with such a union. They were
decimated by the feud -- I'm certain you saw the state
Pinehaven is in -- and they need someone of your skills to
help them recover their prosperity."

That much was true, Nanami silently agreed, nodding her
head. They were in a dismal state of affairs, but looking
back on it, she was certain she could straighten things out
were she in charge. And her brother did have a point, that
it would be good for the Kiryuu to turn once-enemies along
the border into kinfolk obligated to mutually protect one
another.

"And Saionji needs someone at his side that he can depend
upon. I can't think of anyone better for him than you."

"Aye, that's true, my lord," the yellow-haired princess
responded, thinking the circumstances over. "I know I can
probably manage his household well through the lean times
he's going through, and he *is* familiar to me. I just
never thought of him in that manner . . ."

"Do you not like the idea?" Utena softly asked, her sea-blue
gaze focused upon the other noblewoman.

Nanami frowned, turning to glare at the lowlander that dared
stick herself into the conversation. "I didn't say that. I
just never considered being given to him."

"And now that you know you are, what do you think about it?"
Touga asked.

"Well . . . Truthfully, I don't *hate* the thought," Nanami
confessed. Saionji was a known factor, a familiar presence
though he had been sent away a few years ago. He was a
caring man, brutally honest, easily offended. As a child,
he'd been subjected to an inferior position and had
countered it, turning it into something admirable and
becoming the best friend of one who should have been his
foe. Much of his brusqueness and negative traits could be
explained from the circumstances of his childhood; deep
within, Nanami knew Saionji was a good man despite outward
appearances. "I suppose I couldn't do much better, though
being impoverished isn't fun."

"That would depend on what you want, dear sister. If you'd
rather have riches no matter what the lord is like, I'm
certain I can find something else for you," the
scarlet-maned chieftain said. "But you know as well as I
that once he's won over, Saionji is the most loyal of men.
And honest. You'll always know what's on his mind."

"Aye, and that's certainly a point in his favor," the other
Kiryuu responded. "And given enough time and proper
management, the poverty won't last overly long." No, she'd
rather have a man she could respect than have all the riches
in the world and be taken to bed by a horrid man. And
Saionji could be one to respect, though it would take effort
to make him drop the worst of his mannerisms.

"I'm certain you can help him with that. So what say you?
Will you accept this arrangement then?" Touga asked,
watching her carefully.

Nanami stared back at him, her face slightly pale. No
matter what, she would be eventually married off. That was
just the way of the world. That her brother was making an
attempt to arrange something to please her was a favor that
he didn't have to perform. It would be either take this or
reject it for something unknown. She frowned, only to let
her brother know that she wasn't happy about the fact that
this was how the world worked. "Aye, I'll accept it. I
truly think you can't do any better, and since he's
agreeable as well . . ."

"Thank you, dear sister," the Red Tyger replied, lifting
Nanami's hand to his lips for a respectful kiss of
appreciation. He then let her go, turning his attention
momentarily to his pink-haired companion. Noting that Utena
was carefully scrutinizing his interaction with his sibling,
he clamped down hard on the twinge of fear that lanced
through him. Ever since their conversation that morning,
nothing more had been said about the trial of Trust or his
thoughts on turning over the Kiryuu to his sister's
rulership, yet he was under the impression that he had to
decide one way or another soon. Deep azure eyes staring
once more at the yellow-clad princess, Touga gently sighed.
"When we return to Kiryuu Keep, I'll announce your upcoming
engagement to everyone. And I have another announcement I
must make."

"What do you mean?" Nanami asked, her frown deepening.
Something seemed a bit amiss.

"Nanami, listen to me carefully. This is very important.
I'm being asked to put my trust in you in order to prove my
worth for a certain matter," Touga began, meeting her dark
violet gaze with his own. "For years, you have run my
household well, and Father made certain that you knew
something of rulership. I trust you with my life and with
the lives of those there at Kiryuu Keep, but now . . ."

A sudden sense of apprehension filled the younger
clanswoman. Though his words made her glow with pride, she
could tell that whatever he was asked to do made him
worried, and she didn't like the idea of being a
disappointment to her wonderful older brother. "Please,
trust me. I'll do whatever it is you need if this task is
so important to you. I just agreed to marry Saionji after
all."

Touga nodded, giving his sibling a smile. "I know, and your
willingness to accept the agreement makes me happy. But I
need to turn over rulership of the clan to you for a short
while."

"Me? Be chieftain?" Nanami asked, astounded. Shaking her
head slightly as she mentally recovered, she shrugged and
returned her brother's smile. "Well, that's not so bad. If
something happens, I can always ask you what to do."

"No, I'm afraid you won't be able to do so. I'm not going
to be there at the keep for you to ask," Touga responded.

"But . . . why?"

"Your brother needs to be free to claim something, and he
cannot do so as long as he's tied to his lands," Utena
replied before the redheaded lord could say something in
return.

"You," Nanami growled, turning her attention to the
pink-haired lady. Ever since she showed up riding in on her
brother's horse, Touga had been acting strangely. "This is
all your fault, isn't it? Making him look to marry me off
and now you're taking him away for God knows how long . . ."

"That's enough, Nanami," the Red Tyger said, voice low in
warning. "I'm doing as I choose in this matter; no one's
taking me anywhere. However, you must keep your energies
focused on the chieftainship. Listen to me."

Catching the tone of his voice, the younger Kiryuu glanced
back at her sibling.

"There's talk of trouble. The Ohtori could be preparing to
war against the highlands this summer. That's why I went
with Saionji to talk to the Kaoru," Touga said the moment he
was certain he had her undivided attention.

"But, if that's the case, then how can you choose to abandon
the clan to me?"

"It's not abandonment. I have reason to believe that
completing this task will help us against the Ohtori.
Besides, you will have all those who advise me there to
ask," the Kiryuu prince replied. "And the moment I return
home, I shall retake control. I only expect to be gone
perhaps a fortnight, perhaps a week more, and I cannot truly
leave until after I'm healed." Reaching out, he set a hand
on his sister's shoulder. "You are of the royal blood. You
have the knowledge and the tools available. And I have
faith in you. I trust you to lead the clan well." Taking
his hand from her shoulder, he gently rested it over his
wounded leg. "Yesterday, Saionji and I were attacked on the
way here. The arrow only pierced my leg, missing the bone,
but we lost four Kiryuu to the dastards. Had I taken the
arrow elsewhere, you could have been permanently the
chieftain."

The blond noblewoman paled, seeing the truth in his
statement. She would have been alone then, expected to
lead, and he would not be there to resume command once this
other task was done. As Saionji's wife, it would be assumed
she would stand in for him those times business took him
elsewhere. Once again, her brother was attempting to do her
a favor, giving her the opportunity to improve herself
before some horrid twist of fate forced her into such a
role. "I understand," she finally said, gently smiling.
"I'll make you proud of me. I swear."

The determined light in his sister's large eyes made Touga
faintly smile. So she would try her best. He truly
expected no less from her. Turning his cobalt-blue gaze to
Utena, he asked, "When does her rulership begin?"

"Why the hell are you asking her?" Nanami demanded, her
scathing glance focused on the other woman. "Since when is
she the one to dictate to you what you should be doing?"

"Enough," Touga growled again, his handsome face showing his
irritation.

The lowlander looked the pair of siblings over for a moment.
So he was willing to do as she asked. One step in the right
direction. And the younger sibling had a point as well.
"There's no need to do so until you take your leave of your
folk to make your journey," she replied.

A slight nod, and Utena watched the highland nobleman's
expression relax. "Very well." His gaze turning to his
lap, he glanced down at the ring adorning the fourth digit
of his hand. "When we return home and I'm healed enough to
travel, then you will become chieftain of the Kiryuu for the
length of time I'm gone. Again, I expect it to be no more
then a month at the very outside once I leave, and I hope
for it to be sooner."

"But what happens if the Ohtori attack while you're gone?"
Nanami asked, her expression worried as she gazed at her
wonderful brother.

"I'm certain our people and you will handle it the best you
can. However, there's no point dwelling upon it before it
happens," Touga said, his voice sounding slightly weary.
Fatigue was beginning to claim him, and he idly wondered if
this wasn't one of the effects of Utena's healing magic.

Nanami blinked, then looked at her sibling. How strange to
see him suddenly looking so vulnerable, no longer the
invincible warrior she'd come to expect. (My poor brother,)
she thought, once more frowning.

"Ladies, please . . . If you could perhaps leave me to rest
now?" Closing his eyes, Touga turned his head away from the
two sitting near him. His leg was beginning to hurt again,
and a strong sense of needing sleep was slowly robbing him
of consciousness.

Concern crossed Nanami's face; her usually strong and
healthy sibling now appeared tired and pale. Standing up,
she gestured to the pink-haired annoyance to rise as well.
"Come on. He needs to rest up in order to heal."

Utena stood, choosing to ignore the younger Kiryuu's faintly
rude tone. The Red Tyger had done as she had asked. From
what she knew of him, he would strive to keep his word.
Though joyful that he had done as demanded to demonstrate
his trust, an odd sense of apprehension gripped her. One
had passed the tasks imposed; now it would be time to
prepare the way to the winning of the sword. Noting that
the yellow-clad noblewoman was waiting for her to take her
leave first, the slender warrioress turned away and began
walking toward the room given her and her handmaidens. Let
him rest for now; he was still wounded, and had been quite
tolerant of her company all day long. He would need his
strength that night, and she was certain his sudden fatigue
now was a side-effect of her earlier healing.

Come the darkness, the path would need to be made ready as
the tender of the Rose Arbor had instructed.