Conspiracy Anthy closed her eyes as the smoldering roof caved in on them, knowing there was nothing she could do to save herself. Touga and Ruka at the last minute shoved her down hard beneath them, and formed a dome with their backs and arms planted firmly above her. The world went dark as stone and wood rained down on them from above. Touga cried out in pain and collapsed onto her under the killing weight of the rubble...but as she waited , breathing heavily, there was no other sound. Her face was smushed into the seared floor and her body pressed tightly between Ruka and Touga who were pinned around her. Yet as she waited for the weight of the tower to crush them...there was nothing further. Had they been sheltered by Touga's body after all? Worried, she tried not to move lest she upset whatever precarious settlement there may have been of the stone. The cramped darkness was sweltering hot and grew more stale as moments passed. They would run out of air surely...they could be dead before help ever reached them...perhaps Touga and Ruka were already dead and she was even now sandwiched between two decomposing bodies. As her mind began to whir with steadily more panicked thoughts, a tremble in the floor snapped her focus to her present predicament. The stone slabs above them shifted slightly, raining fine grit down onto her face and into her eyes. Blinking, Anthy breathed more rapidly, hyperventilating in fear as another trembled shook the floor and a loud wooden groan sounded. Praying to Dios a thousand fearful prayers, her body trembling, Anthy squinted in her confinement to see past Touga's limp arm. The stones were moving! "N...No...p-please...s-save..." But a tremendous grinding came from above, and miraculously...the stones began to move upward! Anthy watched spell-bound as the slabs shifted and ground against each other, dust raining down on the three trapped people. As they lifted off of them completely, many of the smaller fragments tumbling off of the pile and clattering away, Anthy carefully rolled Touga off of her and tried to get to her hands and knees. Peering about unsteadily for what had saved them, expecting the court mages to be there with their staffs and power...she instead beheld the Guardian. Alone, arms and legs trembling with the strain and collapsed onto one knee, the armored being was supporting the entire tower roof upon her back and shoulders. Her gloved fingers were splayed and her arms outstretched like timbers to bear up as much of the massive load as she could. Her face was a mask of tension and strain, her eyes blazing blue with small flecks like embers flickering from them. Anthy struggled to drag herself and the two men out of the way as Utena ground her teeth and began to shake even more. Utena had...no...the Holy Warrior of Dios had come and saved them at that last moment, keeping the tower from collapsing and killing them entirely. Even now as she looked around them, many sections of the floor and walls were completely gone. Utena must have arrived right as it fell atop them, just in time to keep the tower from being obliterated completely. Like the god Atlas from the old tales in the south, Utena supported nearly the entire roof upon her back was slowly trembling to try and stand. "G-G...G-Guardian!!" Princess Anthy called out desperately, fearful that Utena was ready to collapse. As she looked closer she could see Utena was far more battered than she remembered, and there were sparks and hissing emitting from her shoulders and knees. Her metal gauntlets were shattered in places and twisted outward. There were holes in her armor and one shoulder completely exposed. The shoulder guard completely gone. Trying to summon her power to do something, anything to help, Utena ignored Anthy and struggled up impossibly to both feet. Running feet and shouting voices on the stairs signaled the rescued guards from earlier had arrived with help. Men in armor cautiously peeked around the corner, trying to figure a way inside. But Utena ignored them all still. Miki, his clothes clean and unhindered, shoved past them looking angry. "Get out of my way!" But as he approached and began to wave his hands in the air, Utena's mouth opened in a loud gasp and she tilted her head back in a roar. Like a beast she hunched down under her load...and then stood to her full height in a demonstration of terrible strength. The roof groaned and rose upward, as with a staggering step she shifted her weight. The Guardian's blue flame eyes made her appear blind...and perhaps she was. For she spoke no words and seemed to see no one but her goal. Another bellowing roar and she gave an immense heave toward the open air of the missing tower walls. The roof tumbled off into space, the stray fragments caught by a wind coming from Miki's hands and guided away from the occupants in the room. The soldiers in the doorway paled in fear. No human was capable of such a feat. She truly was one of the gods! Anthy flinched and hid amongst Touga's body as Utena collapsed to her knees, spent. Her pink snarled ponytail flopped along the back of her armor with the movement, as Miki cautiously moved to approach them. His mage eyes spun with blue and gold light as he took in their condition. Anthy crawled on her hands and knees over to her protector, leaving Miki to see to Touga and Ruka's condition. She couldn't seem to stop trembling as she reached out a hand to Utena. But the otherworldly woman gave no reaction at her approach, gazing out with unseeing eyes. "...mmm..my...My...Guardian?" Anthy licked her dry lips nervously. The ordeal still had her heart beating wildly. Utena said nothing, but turned to face her with an alien expression. Her face had relaxed from the rage and anger and tension from earlier. But this new expression seemed more...frightening. Eyes still glowing hotly, she looked at Anthy with a face completely devoid of life and human understanding. After a time the being, for it surely wasn't Utena as Anthy had come to know her, cocked its head to the side and regarded her. It began speaking in a strange monotone. "Charge retrieval completed, re-engaging biometric locks. Mission status...pending. Scanning for hostile targets....hostile targets located within twenty kilometers...none. Enemy removal complete." Anthy touched Utena's cheek but the pale woman didn't register the sensation. The cheek was cold as stone and just as rigid. Hard and unfeeling. Utena simply continued speaking into the open air, as Miki watched silently from across the room. "Scanning designated Charge # 639, Princess Anthy Isala Himemiya, for grievous injuries. Level 3 injuries not detected. Scanning for lower level physical state changes. Injuries detected..." "Ute-Guardian, what are--" "Fracture to left index finger, minor sprain to left ankle, contusion to the upper arm, right cheek, left--" "--calf, and along the shoulder blades...bruising is minor, and can be treated." Miki cleanly cut in, his voice crisp and clinical. Utena's dully glowing eyes seemed to dim slightly as her neck rotated so she could face him. The court wizard had walked over to them after checking on the two unconscious men. His eyes still whirled with colored light. "Yes...you seem to also posses the ability to see wounds upon others. But as you seem somewhat tired, please humbly allow me to assist with the healing. It's the least I can do..." His boyish voice became thick with an unknown bitterness. Utena seemed to tense as he approached Anthy, invisible hackles rising. "I'm just going to use my magik to heal her wounds. The other two are sleeping and are being looked after." Miki spoke calmly and softly, hands out in front as if to ward away an attack. Or to soothe a wild animal. Utena didn't relax, but she didn't move further as Miki close his eyes and placed pale palms just above Anthy's shoulders. A sort of transparent tremble in the air, like heat on a hot road...and the bruises blooming on her back began to fade. Utena's eyes seemed to finally stop glowing, as she slowly came back to herself. "H..h...huh...more...more hocus p-pocus..." Her voice was strange though. Anthy said nothing, feeling an aching tiredness start to wash over her as the adrenaline seeped away. Far down below in the courtyard, men were still shouting orders to put out fires and move soldiers to bolster the guard. Several more soldiers from the doorway had brought in stretchers to take Touga, Ruka, and their companions away to the infirmary. As Miki worked, Anthy noticed through her dull haze that he glanced over at Utena and suddenly stiffened. Anthy jerked her head back to look, catching a movement in the corner of her eye. "Utena!" Utena's eyes rolled up into the back of her head as she pitched forward onto the floor with a heavy clanging thud. The room broke into frenzied chaos as the panicked soldiers rushed to surround them... xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ...... ...... "Listen...another war is coming. But I'm worried that this time we won't come out as the victors." "What do you mean? Surely with you as our War-Prince, we couldn't possibly lose. Everyone believes in you... I believe in you too." "......" "What? What's wrong? You know I love you." "...I know. That's what worries me..." ...... ...... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Her breath hitched as she came back to herself. Her chest rose and fell in a quick deep jerk. The sensors in her head booted up to life, and began tracking her heart rate and blood pressure. Then her eyes slowly opened, letting in blurs of light and shadow. The paper thin lenses in her eyes clicked and shifted about, running through their various configurations until at last her normal vision focused onto the warm brown shoulder just in the bottom of her view. Blinking a few times, and overcome with a feeling of disorientation, Utena slowly tried to lift up her head and get a look around. She was lying on top of what appeared to be some kind of stone altar, there were carving and candles on a mantle right beside her to her right. The altar had been covered with drapes of rich silk and furs, with roses and various flowers strewn about and falling all over the floor. She seemed to be in...some kind of tomb maybe. Or a special room. A church? She wasn't sure, but there were a set of low benches in the far back where the guards were just now rising from. Their faces were masked with red scarves and their white armor held no insignia. One silently motioned to the other and he/she departed out of the room, with another guard coming in to replace them. Looking down at herself she found she was nude, which was disturbing in of itself, but that she was also covered in bandages. A thick red cloth had been draped over her to protect her decency. And down near her legs, Anthy was currently hunched unmoving. Having fallen asleep while kneeling beside her body perhaps. Had she been...praying? Utena pinched the bridge of her nose as the thick incense burning about the room started to give her a mild headache. What on earth happened to her? Anthy stirred, probably feeling Utena sit up, and rubbed at her face. She looked haggard, Utena noted. But seeing Utena looking back at her, she gave a gasp and launched forward to embrace her tightly. Startled, Utena awkwardly gave a couple of gentle pats onto her back. Anthy quickly let go, and moved away once more to give her space. "You're...you're awake. Everyone will be so relieved!" She exclaimed, wiping at her eyes a bit roughly. There were dark circles there, Utena noticed with a frown. Just how long had she been out. Asking the question aloud, Anthy answered. "Days...you've been unconscious for about four days now. The castle half-thought you were dead and had returned to Dios. They feared retribution from the heavens. The other half was ready to start a full-on war against the Black Thorns, and tear apart the country-side to find every last one of them. General Saionji has been like a caged animal since the attack on the castle. And what with the politicians and the general panic and the—" Steadily rising voice was silence as Utena put two fingers to her mouth to silence her. Holding up a hand to get her to pause a moment, the cyborg started them again more calmly. "What happened? The last thing I remember was racing to try and stop the tower roof from falling. I can't recall anything after climbing up the tower." And indeed her wired brain was furiously sifting about to retrieve any conclusive data from its memory banks. But all it could locate were fragmented bits of information and a lot of static. Had she suffered cranial damage? Anthy was looking at her strangely. "You don't remember? You saved us from being crushed, but you collapsed afterward. Miki and the remaining healers took Lord Touga and Baron Tsuchiya away. And it took four of the largest soldiers to lift and carry you back. Miki had us bring you to your quarters to look you over when we found damage to your armor. But it took him hours to figure out how to remove it. You were badly hurt..." Her face looked sad. The machines grafted into her body worked to assess her situation. She had sustained a bit of damage...mostly internal, due to pushing past her limits. But she'd been desperate...angry. Emotional. Something that had always caused her problems in the past. And instead of following protocols the proper way, had taken on the entire army single-handedly and nearly lost Anthy because she had been just out of reach. Another second? Another second and she would have lost someone very dear to her. To the mission. But the programs that constantly ran in the background of her thoughts began to whisper reassuring instructions. If Anthy was lost, the mission wouldn't have to be sacrificed. There was still Akio, the true heir. The male. Anthy was only a Princess, and Utena was required to protect a War-Prince. There was a slight error there, but in the long run, perhaps it would have worked out better if... Utena's mind recoiled at the coldness of that thought. It wasn't her own. But...wasn't it? Now? Wasn't she built that way now? Her head began to hurt more as an inner turmoil quietly began to struggle in the knot of her stomach. But a flood of chemicals immediately washed through her system and the feelings left. She was fine. Feelings were deleterious and useless . She needed to be focused. Her body had eventually healed itself, it appeared. It simply must have required a shut down to divert all effort onto her reconstruction. Dangerous. There must have been a serious system crash if her neurobrain allowed her body to leave Anthy, Akio, and the kingdom unprotected without her. Or maybe I had felt she would be safe...I can't recall... "It's what I get for punching catapults." She muttered, not realizing she had spoken aloud again. Anthy looked up at her bewildered at what must have come out of sudden thin air from the long moment of silence. "I...er...what?" "Catapults. I punched through the framework of a couple of the catapults, because they stood in my way when I felt my internal alarms go off. But I didn't see the scorpio. Silly of me. And that bolt really hurt." "...Was that what made that big hole in your back?" Anthy's eyes couldn't possibly get any wider. "Hmm. I'll admit it was a little reckless, milady. But I lost my temper. It is too bad my artillery gun didn't travel through time with me, or things would have been simpler. Swords take longer." Utena remarked thoughtfully, tapping her finger on her chin as she looked up at the tiled ceiling. The small room she was in had drapes on the walls depicting angels and holy saints. There was a strange symbol on the mantle of the altar behind her, replacing the traditional crosses she remembered from her own time. No doubt the symbol of Dios... "You..." Utena looked down again to see Anthy with her head down and sighing. She looked drained, but still relieved to have the pink haired woman awake once more. "Please promise...you will not do anything like that again. I lost years off of my life." She looked up and gave Utena's shoulders a small shake, forgetting formalities. It made Utena smile. "Is that an order?" The princess frowned. "Yes. Please don't leave us like that again." Utena nodded, still smiling as she put her hand up to her forehead in salute. "Understood. Order received." They were interrupted as the masked guard returned leading an entourage consisting of Akio, his personal guard, Ruka, Miki, and a fellow swathed in robes and strings of beads. There was a mask covering everything but his mouth, but from the wrinkles that lined his hands and chin, Utena could discern that he must be quite old indeed. "Holy Guardian! You have returned to us once more. We are relieved." Akio proclaimed, smoothing down ruffled pale violet hair. The king looked as though he had just rolled out of bed. Seeming a bit harried himself, Ruka came forward and took a knee with the guards who came from the door to move further into the small room. They all bowed their heads reverently as the king kneeled and kissed Utena's hand. Anthy stepped inconspicuously away to the side to also bow her head. The priest was next, saying a small prayer as he gently grasped her hand with both of his wrinkled ones, and placed his forehead onto the back of it. "In Dios' name, light hath returneth to our kingdom." "Amen." Came the murmur around the room. Feeling very surreal, Utena kept the cloth covering her bandaged torso firmly in place. "Please...rise." The group did so. "I would like someone to explain what I'm doing here. Where am I?" The priest eagerly stepped forward, the cloth prayer strips around his waist fluttering with each movement. "Holy Warrior...thou glorious personage now resteth in the Inner Meditation Room of the Temple of the Rose. It was prepared when thou didst fall into deep slumber and did not awake. It was feared that thou coulds't not recover in mortal impure infirmaries...the Seiron-Lord Kaoru and I hads't thou brought here to this purified room that thou mayest rest and heal. Utena felt that familiar tic in the corner of her eye. This guy was even worse than most of the castle servants...and pretty soon she'd probably pick up his speech habits as well. Honestly it really hadn't mattered where they'd put her, she could have repaired herself more than likely in any location. Everyone was so taken with this "god" business... Feeling them awaiting her response, she gave a small cough and answered, "Ah. I am most grateful. The purity of the room allowed me to connect my inner being with the healing power of Dios himself." Sweet lord, did I really say that? She felt a shame color her cheeks a touch. So embarrassing, but that should be enough for them. Yet the gross exaggeration left a funny taste in her mouth. And still...something wasn't quite right. She looked down at herself trying to detect what was off. It was strange...everything was working fine, but...it felt like...something was there that hadn't been there before. Dismissing the notion, she fired off her next questions. "Where is my armor?" "Seiron-Lord Kaoru didth repair it and thy helm. It awaits in the chamber beyond." "My sword?" "It has been enshrined in the castle hall. The nobles and servants feared that without its magic they would be lost while thou slumbered. One of the warrior monks shall fetch it immediately." One of the masked guards took off to do so. "And the enemy? What became of them?" Here, the king answered smoothly, his strong dulcets reverberating in the room. "The Black Thorns have fled, completely decimated in the battle. Word has spread of your deeds, and many seek to join with us to fight back the threat to the north. My kingdom and I are eternally grateful for you assistance Great Guardian. A thousand blessings have truly fallen upon us with your continued protection." "Merely my duty. And Lord Kiryuu and Baron Tsuchiya are both alright?" King Akio smiled kindly. "Indeed. A trip to the healers has repaired Touga's broken arm and fixed Ruka's ribs. They are both nearly completely healed." Utena nodded, satisfied. "Good. I am glad." Akio looked her over, his face showing concern. "Holy Guardian...are you healed then? I cannot beg your forgiveness enough, nor show you enough gratitude. I and my subjects are worried the Warrior of Dios will take offense and Dios himself will turn his back on us..." But Utena shook her head and forestalled his next words. "I am fine now. I apologize for the length of time I slumbered, but I am at optimal efficiency now. I'd like to retrieve my armor and some clothes please." Baron Tsuchiya rose and went to the door to call out to servants who must have been waiting beyond. The King offered a few more words and the priest stepped forward to offer a prayer over them while they waited. Then the two of them departed with their personal guard leaving Ruka to linger at the door way as four servants brought in Utena's ectosuit, helm, and sword. Anthy moved to stand near him as Utena inspected her belongings. Beautiful...so beautiful... Utena thought as she swung her legs over the side of the altar and tied the thick red cloth around torso and over one shoulder like a toga. She moved to stand before the hulking suit, whose neckplate reached her eyes when she stood barefoot. The servants bowed several times, nearly knocking their foreheads onto the ground as she forgot everyone around her and moved to run a finger along the surface of her breastplate. So so beautiful... Miki was a genius. There was not one seam showing, not one crack left upon its surface. All of the holes were gone and the shoulder guards had been retrieved and repaired. The helm was whole and gleaming once more, and the sword had a shine of polish upon it. Sighing with relief she rested her forehead onto the armor and closed her eyes as she held the helm between her hands. A soft cough made her look up. Ruka was still standing by the door, and looked as though he were debating about something. Finally coming to a decision he looked up into her eyes. The navy blue irises locked onto hers intensely. "Lord Guardian...thank you." Utena gave him a puzzled look so he went on. "Thank you for saving us. Not just the Princess, Lord Kiryuu, and myself. But for all of us in the castle...all of us in the town. You saved us, when no one else could have. I know it bothers General Kyouichi, but he's grateful too...you saved so many lives who would have been lost. Thank you. Thank you, Great One. You've brought hope back to our people." As Utena watched she saw his eyes fill with tears. Shocked, she moved over to him and reached out to touch him, but he bowed his head and stepped away. "I was always a man of faith... My father raised my brothers and me to be strong leaders, dedicated to the protection of our lands and the worship of our god. But I never in all my years of prayer, in my required yearly pilgrimages, ever truly believed I would one day meet you. That you were truly real. That Dios wasn't just a pretty tale to keep us from committing acts of sin." He swiped at his eyes distractedly and turned to leave, his back to them. "I won't ever forget what you have done. And I will always serve you faithfully. The Tsuchiya family will forever honor you." And with that he swept out of the doorway. Left alone with Anthy, Utena ran a hand through her hair feeling guilty and humbled. She liked Ruka, he had always seemed level-headed and kind. But honestly she didn't know how she felt about this new persona here in the past...future...whatever time period it was she was in. She felt so...alienated. And it wasn't a feeling that used to bother her a lot back home. Yet now... A hand came and placed itself on the bandaged shoulder that peeked out from her wrap of red cloth. "What are you thinking about?" Anthy asked softly behind her. "Home. And the future I guess." Utena replied after a moment. "I see. Would you like a moment?" Anthy asked cautiously, moving to draw back her hand. But a gentle pale hand placed itself over her own, keeping it there. "No. I've had enough moments to last me. It's time to start moving forward." Utena sighed and drew away from the warmth of Anthy's hand as she gave it a small pat, and began to head to the pile of clothes left on the altar for her. They were all of expensive cloth and silk, swirled with phoenixes and roses and contained a medallion of a carved wooden rose. Utena tossed the red cloth she had been wearing aside, long enough to start pulling on undergarments and breeches. She carefully removed wraps and bandages as she came to them, and sat down on the altar so that she could pull on her new boots. Her military uniform was probably a mess right now, and no doubt stolen by those crazy priests to be enshrined somewhere. She'd have to retrieve it later on. Pausing as she was about to undo the wraps on her chest, Utena looked up to find Anthy watching her. There was something about the way Anthy's eyes tracked her movements that made her slow down. "Anthy?" The green-eyed woman looked up distractedly. "Er, sorry. Yes?" Utena watched her silently for a moment, noticing perhaps for the first time how her cheeks flushed a little under the scrutiny, how her eyes were now anywhere but on Utena, and the more minute rises and falls of her chest. She trained her sensors on Anthy more closely...more closely than she had in the past. Instead of looking for wounds or checking her status, she looked for something else. Why had she never noticed before? "It's nothing, my Princess. Never mind." Perhaps she had never wanted to notice. The ramifications were... Utena shook her head slightly to rid herself of the thought. "...Utena? Please. Please don't...call me that here..." But she looked up again as Anthy drew closer. Her eyes were soulful as she reached out to touch Utena's now-clothed shoulder. She was standing just before the cyborg, their faces level now with Utena sitting down on the altar. Utena's fingers stilled on the rim of her boot top as she finished tugging it up. Anthy's face was much closer than before. Very faintly she could smell scented oils. A mixing of amber and roses on her skin. The cyborg's head began to buzz slightly. "...Prin--" Utena began again, but was halted as slender fingertips landed upon her lips. The words died in her throat. And the fingertips didn't leave. "Please. Not Princess. Not when we're alone. I can't bear it..." Utena looked up into those green eyes, her heart beginning to beat faster. They were too close. Far too close, she could feel the heat of Anthy's body just before her own. So close yet still not quite touching. All at once it was harder to swallow, and Utena licked her dry lips. The fingertips on her lips moved, and drew softly across the plane of one cheek. Tickling and unending until those slender fingers slipped behind her ear, and buried themselves to the thickness of her pink hair. Utena suppressed a shiver. "..A...Anthy..." she rasped, her voice slightly husky now. "...I-I..." Anthy was leaning down before her, her other hand coming to match its twin as she cradled Utena's face to draw her closer. "...Anthy...." Those dark eyelashes were lowering themselves, and Utena could hear a second heartbeat that was beating even harder than her own. Crimson lips parted... "..Someone's coming." And froze in shock. Rearing back as if she had been burned, Anthy barely had moved three steps away when the door burst open and a panting messenger entered. "M-m...hah hah...Milady hah Guardian! G-General Saionji sends you this hah m-message." He gave a bow and produced a sealed envelope. Utena took it, resisting the urge to cough in embarrassment. Glancing it over she gave a nod to the messenger boy who still did not raise his face to look at her directly. "Thank you. You may go." The messenger bowed quickly several times and then fled. Utena sighed, running a hand through her tussled hair. The room was once again silent and still. She gave a sigh as she looked up from the letter in her hand. "Hmmm...I wonder what he could possibly--" But her words were effectively cut off as Anthy now freely leaned in and pressed a hot mouth to hers. The letter slipped through fingers to flutter to the floor. Anthy had pressed her body tight into Utena's chest, firmly leaning up against her body so that Utena's knees held her on either side of her hip. Her lips her soft and full, moving along the knight's as she gave a small noise in her throat. The princess drew the kiss to a close, parting slowly once again and blinking her eyes open. Heavy lidded, she gazed back at her holy protector...whose wide eyes and still outstretched hand showed her shock. Licking her damp lips, Anthy whispered her words just above Utena's own. "I don't want to just be a princess to you... And I don't want to lose to that Juri woman." Her voice was like sultry velvet rubbing inside of Utena's skull. And the way she cocked her head just so...so that the light spilled across her smooth skin in a play of shadow and flesh was...expert. Was done with the ease of practice. Utena trembled. Then, suddenly, Anthy moved back as if to leave. She turned her head, the toss of her hair sending a fragrant perfume wafting across Utena's sense. She could taste roses in the air. But before Anthy could complete the turn fully, she was jerked to a halt as Utena's knees tightened like a vice. Anthy turned back, her eyes burning with naked desire. Instead of leaving, she turned back into the circle of her knights thighs. Utena trembled again as she felt something rising in her. What am I doing? What am I...this isn't... Utena stretched out a hand slowly, barely moving in the air before them. As if Anthy were too fragile to touch. As if the touch of her hand could send her shattering like glass. A wash of reflexive chemicals tried to suppress the sudden surge of emotions that now burned within Utena's cybernetic veins. But they were overloaded by a desire that poured through her body like molten fire. A desire she hadn't felt ache in her since...Dios. A low growl in her throat, Utena's eyes flared with blue flame as she lunged forward. Moving impossibly fast for the human eye. Anthy gave a small gasp as she was pulled forcefully back into the cyborg's body for a second searing kiss. As their mouths worked at each other Anthy moaned again, louder, as Utena's hands found their way along her neck and lower back. When they parted, Anthy swayed slightly and Utena felt her cheeks flush hotly. "And you think to just...make that sort of declaration...and walk off?" Utena asked breathlessly. "Just a sly sort of kiss and then steal away to your room? Who do you think you're dealing with here?" That buzzing in her head was far far louder now. It was starting to make her loose focus of her surroundings. But Anthy was pushing into her body, her hands fisting into her shirt and pulling her down to her lips. Somewhere in her mind, Dios was still smiling and calling to her in her memories. And she felt her heart give a hard lurch. What was she doing? This wasn't right, this was against everything she'd been taught! But the apprehension was overpowered by the feeling of dainty small hands moving low on her backside and giving a tight squeeze. Utena groaned and hooked a leg around Anthy's body to pull her in even tighter. She could feel a hot need surging from deep within her core, sending electricity through her scalp as Utena left a flurry of kisses along Anthy's collar bone. She moved in to lick up the shell of her ear causing Anthy to gasp loudly. The cinnamon-skinned woman's eyes rolled into the back of her head. "A-Ah! Ah! Nnnnngh...I couldn't tell you...it ssssssswasn't right!" She hissed suddenly as Utena sucked onto the pulse of her neck, hot and insistent. "Is now more right?" Utena gritted her teeth in concentration as Anthy bucked her hips in response. The powerful throb between her thighs gave a new surge, sending a spike of arousal up her spine. Anthy wrapped her arms around her neck and dove in for her mouth once more. The silence was broken by the quiet sounds of sliding cloth and ragged panting. Utena gave an mmmmm of delight as Anthy drew back to gaze at her face. "No...but gods above, I can't hold back anymore! It's blasphemy...but I'm already damned..." With that cryptic statement she moved in for another kiss. "And I can't stop dreaming of you." The desire was thick enough in her voice to make Utena shiver again. But before she could say anything back, a loud knock came at the door. "Holy Guardian! Have you finished?" Utena blanched and shot a look at the door. She hadn't heard anyone approach! "She is ready now." Anthy called out loud, and the body at the door retreated slightly. Cursing softly under her breath, Anthy withdrew. "I better go. Everyone is waiting for you." And pausing at the doorway to look back over her shoulder, the dark princess bit her bottom lip and exited the room. Left alone and breathing hard in her sprawling position on the altar, Utena looked down at her rumpled clothing and the letter on the floor. And flopped back on the altar to cover her face with her arms. The chemicals pumping through her veins was enough to make her vision swim, as calculations angrily buzzed inside of her pupils. Her system was restoring order once more...and it wasn't happy. That is if, emotionless silicon and circuitry were capable of such feelings. She was breaching the barrier between Guardian and Charge...and betraying Dios' memory. All at once a wash of sadness leaked through the still burning embers of lingering lust. She heard the ghost of youthful laughter echo through her thoughts, and his image overlapped Anthy's in her minds eye. Her guts twisted again as she closed her eyes tightly. "....Shit." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Down the winding castle hallways, Anthy hurriedly made her way past bustling servants as she headed for her new temporary quarters. She barely noticed as the men and women bowed and moved out of her way. But one individual did not, and as it detached itself from the wall it had been leaning against, Juri Arisugawa moved to intersect the Princess' path. "Princess. Heading somewhere awfully quickly are we not?" The tawny woman commented sarcastically, raising an eyebrow. Anthy halted and looked up at her. For a moment neither said anything. But then Anthy gave a bright sunny smile, causing Juri to blink in surprise. "Hmm." And off she went again down the hall. Baffled Juri took a step after her, suspicious and a little bewildered. Hmm'? Just what does that mean? She's up to something... But Anthy was already gone. Looking back at the direction Anthy had come from, Juri crossed her arms. What on the green earth had her...smiling like that? Juri couldn't remember ever having seen her smile. Not once. Not honestly anyway. It had been pretty, Juri noted, then immediately scowled. Tapped her chin absently she strode off down the hall to go and find those dignitaries she was supposed to meet. Then she paused a moment and looked over her shoulder suspiciously as Utena left the room Anthy had come from, seemingly in a daze as she put on her helm. Juri's eyes narrowed as the armored Guardian turned the corner and disappeared. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Having finally pulled herself together enough to actually leave the indoor shrine room, Utena found herself flanked by guards who walked with heads held high. A dozen or so servants once more halted in their duties in order to fling their bodies to the floor and offer prayers of thanksgiving in her passing. Wakaba was nowhere in sight, Utena noted with a bit of loneliness. The faces in the crowded hallway blurred together as Utena pushed herself onward. She was once more completely encased in her armor, the helm back in place and her cape swirling with every step. Safely concealed and able to mull over her own thoughts, she brooded as her feet took her in the direction of the barracks outside. Coming to the squat spartan stone building, a pair of crossed swords over top of the large wooden door, Utena paused as one of her escorts detached from her side to announce her presence. There was a moment, and then Saionji himself burst out of the barracks looking winded and wild. Wearing a sort of cloth skirt and sash across his chest, a couple other men (dressed similarly) came out behind him. They all looked apprehensive as Saionji rose up to his full height and glared at the cyborgs electric blue eyes, shining from the dark holes of her helm. The two stared at each other, and the men surrounding them took a step back tensely. Utena didn't move, holding his gaze and waiting to see what he would do. But then he lunged out an open hand between them and waited. Feeling surprised, Utena struck out her own hand and the two of the clasped each other on the forearm. Saionji gave a small quirk of a smile. Ignoring the men who seemed to sag in relief, Saionji pulled the fully armored knight into him, giving a clanging slap on her back before releasing her. "Looks as though you took your time waking up. Lazy clod." Lifting her visor, Utena blinked. Then relaxed into a smirk. "Well I figured I'd let you do some kind of work for awhile. Instead of you slacking off to dance around in your pretty skirt." Not the slightest bit embarrassed, he gave a wave of dismissal. "It is the mark of our people to wear our traditional kilts during war meetings. Which reminds me, these are my countrymen." He gestured behind him to the stone-faced men that waited behind him. "From the highlands of Kyou, a bit of a distance from Ohtori. We were just finishing up a meeting of clan heads." The three men nodded and signaled their desire to leave. Saionji nodded and spoke in a rapid tongue as he clapped arms with his fellows. When they had left, Saionji signaled Utena's guards to disperse and the two were left alone. Removing his sash and rough white undershirt, he motioned Utena to follow him inside. "When I came here to Ohtori, it was for many reasons. With many burdens as well. But from that I eventually became a general with a host of men to lead. And then I was made the royal liaison between my people and the king. An honor in other's eyes perhaps. But I don't think my people have forgiven me yet..." He trailed off, not speaking more. Utena turned her back politely as Saionji changed clothes, donning the traditional military garb that was what she was used to seeing. She then followed him outside as he headed for the training grounds. "Things are heating up. I don't know if you know or not. But the King is moving on with his plans for crushing our northern foes and this underground band of killers. The Black Thorns." Saionji spat on the ground at the name. "This...cowardly attack on our people brings us shame. That it was successful, and we could not stop them? More so." His face darkened with rage, but glancing at Utena it melted into a look of tiredness. "Your assistance was vital...but my men should have been able to hold them back. I can't understand how they could have slipped through our defenses so easily!" They wandered over to the side of one of the practice rings, and Saionji leaned his forearms onto it. His expression was faraway, lost in his own thoughts as he spoke aloud his concerns. "I thank you for coming. I don't like you, and I never did. But I can respect your strength. To my people, strength is everything. While I do not think you a god, I do think you are touched by something divine. Perhaps the Fair Lady herself. But I fear...it will not be enough now." He brushed his hair out of his face, and scratched his chin. "What do you mean? Do you think those Black Thorns are planning something more?" Utena asked, her own eyes narrowing. "The attack on the castle... It was too quick. Too abrupt. As if they had popped out of the ground like daisies with swords. The mage-boy Miki suggests that the mages were able to cloak their warriors and enter undetected into the castle town. But I ask you, can such mages exist that Miki's own magical defenses would not have detected?" Utena hesitated and thought it over. Granted she didn't know the lad well or what he was capable of. Except that the rest of the castle regarded him with awe and fear. And he had fixed her armor when blacksmiths could not. Saionji gave her a shrewd look and lowered his voice. "I think something more is at work here. I think we have spies amongst us." Saionji hissed, casting his eyes about. Utena held back a huff of disbelief when she noticed Saionji intensely looking at her. "They knew to attack certain prime buildings, and what our patrol schedule was. They came not from a pure direction, but were filtered about and spread across the town. They were at our outer-gates far too quickly, and they attacked our munitions building. Setting fire to costly equipment and war machines before we finally put them out." As he spoke, his voice grew softer and his expression turned dark. "And...the tower. Anthy's tower. Perhaps it was coincidence, but they attacked the tower while she was inside. I don't know...but there are too many possibilities for my liking, and not enough answers for my questions." His voice fell away on the breeze as they both considered the implications. Finally Utena, her cybernetic brain working through a variety of scenarios, spoke. Her voice was cool as she asked, "And...have we any suspects?" Saionji shook his head. "Not as of yet. I'd like to keep this quiet. Root out the rats and find out where their nest is." Utena's eyes became hard as ice, Saionji noted, as a small smile tugged at her lips. "Sounds fun. And it also sounds like we have our work cut out for us. I don't take kindly to fools attacking those I lend my protection to." Saionji, privately grateful for the "we", couldn't help but wonder what sort of beast lay behind that smile. "Then I can count on your assistance?" Utena nodded once. "Of course. I will do my utmost to help. And I'll keep a sharper ear to the ground." Saionji nodded to himself, still frowning. He opened his mouth to say something, but then seemed to change his mind. Struggling visibly with something, Utena looked at him through her flipped-up visor. "Was there something else you wanted to discuss?" Saionji stilled, his head bent so that his long green hair covered his eyes. Then looking up he seemed to make a decision. "Yes...but knowing you you're not going to like it." His violet his met hers seriously, willing her to listen. "It's about Anthy. And the danger she is to us all." Utena immediately frowned, hackles raising. But she steeled herself to keep her composure. "Oh? And how is it she is a danger?" Saionji sighed, his face troubled. "There are things going on, Guardian. Things beneath the layers of Ohtori and its people. But I have been sworn not to speak of it." He bit his lip, drawing Utena in despite herself. He seemed genuinely worried about something. What on earth was he hedging about? Suddenly he reached out to Utena and clasped her wrist. "But please listen and heed my damn words, you thick bucket of tin! Anthy isn't human. And hasn't ever been I think..." Utena forcibly jerked her arm away, unhappy. "Is that so. One of these..."Magik" users right? I think that was fairly obvious after that show during our duel." Saionji shook his head in negative. "No. The green god's mercy if she were. That woman isn't something so...so commonplace. No, she's the taint of darkness on her soul. A consort to evil of the most unspeakable sort. She communed with demons during her girlhood, and even now...despite all you've done, despite dragging her out from the shadows where she belonged she is still blackened for it!" Utena gripped his collar, bringing his face very close to hers. "Watch what you say, filthy pig-headed--" "No YOU watch what you say!" He snarled, and gripped her neck plate with his bare hands. He gave a slight jerk and leaned in, and her eyes caught a slight movement with his hand. Yet his face took most of her attention. His eyes were wild with anger. But underneath it, perceptible only to her keener-than-average sight, was fear. "That...t-that she-demon! Haven't you ever wondered?! Ever thought to ask why she was out casted? Passed around like a whore, despite being a noble?!" Utena shoved him off, and slammed down her visor, putting a hand onto her sword hilt. But Saionji just regarded her with disgust. "You are so wrapped up within her sweet words and star-touched eyes. But perhaps you should wonder why she would give her body up to the devil's own...including her brother--" "That's enough! I will hear no more of this slander!" Utena sharply cut in, her own anger rising, "I warn you...I will aide you against this kingdom's threat. But I will not hear anymore talk about my Charge in such a fashion. Lest I have to part your head from your shoulders to make my point." Utena's voice crackled with energy. But Saionji merely shook his head and walked away. "Don't come crying to me later when that wench proves me right. She's trouble. Always has been. Even to bed her was a curse they say... And maybe that curse is why everything has gone wrong." Saionji turned his back and walked away, leaving Utena standing there trembling with rage. How dare that arrogant stupid bastard call her out here only to spit out more of his poison! And just when she had thought he wasn't a complete waste of time. A couple of crows cawed from the tree tops, and Utena looked up to glower at them from behind her gargoyle-like face mask. They took wing and flapped noisily away to another, safer, roost. Straightening, she brushed his invisible filth off of the collar of her armor. But stopped as her fingers brushed something. There was a small crumpled piece of parchment wadded up, just along her neck where Saionji gripped her. Did he purposefully place it there? She moved to inspect it, bringing it closer to her eyes. Then her fingers moved to partially unwrap it to reveal a spidery handwriting. Handwriting her mind-wired computer was able to recognize as the same from the note that asked her to meet the rude general in the first place. But an internal warning kept her from opening it. If he had slipped her that note in the midst of their argument...an argument he might have known was sure to happen due to his reluctance to bring up the subject...then he did it to conceal the note altogether. Perhaps from prying eyes? Warily looking about her, without turning her head or body, Utena didn't detect anyone spying. And opening up her circuit pathways to expand her senses outward, nothing living was detected within a radius of fifty yards. Nothing except some birds and a cat or two. But from past experience, she knew that might not mean anything if they had a scope of some kind or a spycam placed somewhere. And surely these people were advanced enough to know how to make a telescope. Right? She refused to even consider magikal methods. It just made her head ache. Deciding it was best to be safe than sorry later, she casually slipped the note into her glove and headed for the castle stables. The horses fascinated her, as they were a rarity back in her own time. And she needed a moment not out in the open. Moving to place her body near a brown mare, who sniffed her warily for any treats she may have been hiding under all of that spiky metal, Utena slipped out the note in between them to quickly read and copy with her eye's camera mode. The note was brief: "Darkness lies beneath the surface of this castle. Check behind the glass to find the true reflection."--S And that was it. What sort of games was he playing at now? Why the riddle? Was he afraid of the note being found? There didn't seem anything odd about it, other than its wording. The wording wasn't something in Kyouichi's character. Was it a clue? But to what? Feeling the wispy touch of what appeared to be the edges of some dark conspiracy, Utena stepped out of the stable and looked up at the broken tower high above. Workers were even now hauling up stone on wenches and platforms. While the tower was being rebuilt Anthy had no doubt been moved elsewhere. But it still was a painful reminder to see what she had almost lost. Anthy... Feeling troubled, Utena turned her attention up at the sky. Then she tossed the scrap of paper into a nearby by brazier. Silently watching it burn out of the corner of her eye, Utena waited until it flared up and crinkled away into nothing but ash. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Touga Kiryuu watched Saionji stride across the field, barking orders at his soldiers from a terrace ledge above. Beside him sat a report that he needed to bring to the king. "Haaaaah. So much work still to do. Eh, Ruka?" The blue-haired man was reclined on a seat, enjoying a cup of wine. "Yes. The rebuilding will take time and be costly. Not to mention that we must still make ready for the feast that the king still insists on. The taxes from our dear people will need to be taken into consideration unfortunately." His tone was said nothing. The foppish man enjoying the morning sun on his skin as he listened to the soldier's chanting their drills. "I can understand the king wanting to show strength and build up morale by having this feast...but really it could wait. We need to insure our own protection is secure, not to mention all of the preparations and housing for our guests--" "Come come Ruka, when has one ever been able to talk sensibly to the nobility? Their majesties will do what they wish. And we are left to perform miracles." Touga laughed, seemingly unconcerned. Ruka frowned. "Yes, but--" "Now surely the castle is plenty big to support an entire populace. And our coffers are hardly small. I think a grand party is just what we all need right now. And with our fine general and our holy Guardian to protect us, I doubt the Black Thorns will bother to show their faces!" Ruka sighed, feeling tired. "You just want an excuse to dress up and chase skirts..." "Undoubtedly! But it is all in the name of our political advancements I assure you." Touga gave a winning smile, his long red hair currently tied up into a high ponytail. "Besides you need to loosen up a bit. Ever since that dear Lady Tsuchiya passed away six years ago, Dios guard her soul, you've been like a ghost. It'll do you some good to get out of the church sometimes and mingle with your fellow human beings." Ruka tiredly ran a hand over his face as Touga came up beside him to clasp him warmly on the shoulder. "And the council misses seeing you at these functions. It'll be nice to chat over hor d'oeuvres and ale. Outside of stuffy paperwork and dull meetings." Ruka sighed. "Yes. I suppose you are right. You are as vile a tempter as always." He cracked a smirk and gave a laugh. Touga joined in heartily, "Naturally!" Ruka finished his wine and stood to leave, giving a farewell over his shoulder as he departed. Touga smiled until the door closed. Then he sighed and slid the report next to him aside. Beneath it was a second. "Sorry about that. I didn't expect him to drop in for a social visit. Ruka's been on edge since the attack, I think it really shook him up." A figure detached from a concealed hideaway within the wall, the stone sliding soundlessly. It moved to take the papers and slip them into its jacket. "Hmm. The king's lack of action is disturbing, even though he knew we were coming. He's up to something no doubt." "No doubt." Touga drawled, his face bored. The figure, small and petite and very feminine, pulled up her face mask and headed back to the secret corridor in the wall. "The Black Thorns appreciate your assistance as always, Lord Kiryuu. But be careful not to be caught in your own games." Smiling and giving a small wave to the girl as she disappeared, Touga smirked and picked up the report for the king. He had done his part to supply the Black Thorns with what they needed. Akio would be pleased. All in the name of our political advancements...Naturally.
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