LOVE'S HONOR

From: diannasilver@hotmail.com (Dianna Silver)

Chapter Sixteen

"Utena!"  The shout was a cry of outrage and desperation.  Images 
flashed through Touga's mind of the beautiful woman: the first time 
he saw her when she was talking to the unicorn, her exquisite 
femininity the first moment he saw her gowned as befitting her 
station, her gracefulness when they had danced underneath the stars, 
her smile, her courage . . .

To see her lying bloody upon the ground broke his heart.  If there 
was any chance she yet lived . . .

The Ebon Phoenix gave his rival a smirk.  (I shall see that you are 
the one consigned to oblivion, Light of the World,) Akio vowed.  With 
a shout that rang out over the din of the battle, the Ohtori prince 
spurred his stallion again into a full gallop.  Pulling his sword 
from the scabbard slung from his belt, he raced toward the scarlet-
haired prince, determined to cut the mortal down.

No time for anything but defense.  Touga lunged forward and pulled 
Love's Honor from the ground.  The heft and weight of the sword were 
perfect; the hilt felt in his hand as if it were made solely for 
him.  Blizzard burst into a gallop at his master's signal; the silver 
blade gleamed with reflected light as the Red Tyger rushed to meet 
his foe.

(What are these things?) Juri asked herself while coming to a halt 
and scanning the battlefield.  She had yet to truly connect with a 
blow against one of the enemy; every time she closed to attack, hound 
or churl swiftly retreated from her and turned their attention to 
another.  Before her wondering eyes, she saw one of her men scream, 
then abruptly convulse and collapse.  From the akimbo way his body 
landed, she knew the Arisugawa warrior was dead -- yet there had been 
no obvious attack.

Tatsuya swallowed hard as he watched the flowing pool of shadow leave 
the body of the man it had engulfed.  How could any of them fight 
against such an incorporeal enemy?  Nearby, he heard the snarls of 
the spectral hounds, the feral growls of the ogres and the cries of 
the battling men.  Though the highlanders were fighting valiantly, 
they were hardly a match for their Fey antagonists.  One of the 
Kiryuu clansmen next to the lowlander man-at-arms was battered to the 
ground by a strike from a massive club.  Shouting in fury, Tatsuya 
intercepted the trio of Fey hounds that raced to tear apart the 
fallen man while the ogre moved on to a more threatening target.  
Hack and slash, stab and tear, he fought off the canines while the 
sandy-haired warrior regained his senses.

Cursing under her breath, the Panther chased after another of the 
giant men.  Her followers were being slaughtered around her, yet none 
of the massive warriors or the mangy wolfhounds would stay near her 
long enough for her to do more then slash at the air where they had 
once been.  Discovering that her pursuit was again in vain and noting 
that the youth that traveled with Lady Utena was in trouble, Juri 
wheeled her mount around and came to the lad's assistance.  She 
skewered one of the lanky canines on her sword just as it made an 
impressive leap for Tatsuya's throat.

Amazingly, the hound's body vaporized into a plume of black smoke.  
The Arisugawa prince stared at her blade, stunned.  Maybe -- just 
maybe -- all the talk of Fey and magic and dark forces were more then 
mere tales to frighten the foolish and gullible?

Steel rang out against steel as the two male chieftains clashed 
weapons and wills.  A cold grin fastened upon his face, Akio swung 
again and again at the man holding the Champion's sword.  Each slash 
drove his rival just that much further back; the Light of the World 
was as weak as the flesh that housed it.  This would be easy, just as 
the Phoenix had known it would be.  Only he was strong enough to 
survive; he had come into being out of necessity and had been cut 
out, thrown away.  He would claim all that he was entitled and he 
himself would cast aside the Light, forever.

The man's strength was astounding.  Each blow fell hard and fast, 
beyond anything Touga had ever experienced.  It was all the Red Tyger 
could do to parry or block the sword strokes threatening him; each 
counter sent vibrations down the length of the ruby-adorned weapon 
that made his arms and shoulders ache.  Though years of training and 
conditioning had given Touga an endurance that easily saw him through 
most battles, the fight at hand was swiftly taking its toll.  If 
there was power within Love's Honor, he had yet to tap into it.  An 
exquisite blade on its own, it was merely a sword even in his own 
hand.  The perfect balance only helped the Kiryuu prince conserve 
what endurance he had

He parried another stunning blow; the scarlet-maned chieftain hissed 
in pain as the deflected blade of his opponent scored a superficial 
cut.  Once again in the frantic contest, Touga pulled back on 
Blizzard's reins in an attempt to get some breathing space.  Perhaps 
there was a key to fully awakening the sword that he was still 
missing.  The Tyger glanced fleetingly at the circle of stones 
crowning the hilltop behind him.  He had nothing to lose and 
everything to gain if he should try.

Chaos reigned around the emerald hill.  Ogres battered the mortals 
while the shades and dogs picked off those separated from defensive 
groups.  Juri rode among them, forcing many of the enemy to retreat 
from her painfully cold presence and destroying those canines not 
fast enough to escape her righteous fury.  Even the hulking forms of 
the wart-covered ogres felt the searing chill of her weapon, smoking 
at the sword's touch.  The highlanders had begun to group together to 
better defend themselves, thus forcing the dark Fey into closing 
their ranks as well.

Among the whirlwind of frantic action that covered the battlefield, a 
single form stood placidly on the hillside.  Her body clad in the 
royal gown, the sun-ray tiara crowning her loose locks of flowing 
violet hair, Anshii stood over the body of the fallen warrioress.  
With her hands clasped in front of the voluminous skirt, the rose 
tender looked demurely down at the wounded maiden.

A hand stirred and fingers clenched.  A cough made the rose-haired 
girl's body shudder and more bright blood fell to stain the grass.  
Arm trembling, Utena fought against the pain and the sensation of 
drowning, willing herself to remain conscious.  (Touga . . .)  With a 
lurch, she managed to get her hand under herself though the effort 
forced up more of the sanguine liquid filling her lungs.  The world 
blackened around her as her body spasmed in the throes of the fit.

It quickly passed.  Raising herself up on a quivering arm, Utena 
lifted her head and searched for the man she had come to love.

Yes, love.  It was an emotion from not only the here and now but from 
ages ago.  The hold of her flesh on her spirit was weakening, and 
with that relaxation of her prison came an awareness of what she once 
was.  She had dwelt within that timeless realm, her beloved roses 
scenting the air and making a bower of beauty fit for herself and her 
lover.  They had always been together, matched in perfect partnership 
and bound to one another in the deepest mysteries of the Sacred 
Marriage.  Just as all men were reflections of her Champion, all 
women were reflections of herself.  And her Champion traveled among 
the world to bring it the Light of Amor.

But hatred had seeped into the world, and the Light was slowly 
dimmed.  She had tried all within her power to cure her beloved of 
the illness that threatened to swallow up the Light.  Nothing 
worked.  At the last, she had taken from her lover -- her partner, 
her equal -- the focus of his own power and had turned the blade 
against him.  Her own hand had slashed him apart in an attempt to 
excise the growing illness.

He had not survived.  Though she had acted out of love and 
desperation, she had destroyed him.

Utena watched through tear-filled eyes as Akio and Touga fought near 
the ring of monoliths.  Her heart and soul in almost as much agony as 
the body of mortal clay that was her prison, she understood the dusky-
skinned prince's words.  She had brought this about by cutting apart 
the Shadow of her Champion from the Light; now the two fought not 
only for the right to wield the Champion's power but for dominance 
within his existence.

The Shadow was stronger.  She could see how easily he was directing 
the conflict against his other half, how he played with the mortal 
the Light of the World had become.  "Together, beloved," the rose-
haired maiden whispered before collapsing upon the ground.

Touga pulled hard on the reins; Blizzard whirled to the right and 
cantered, putting some distance between his master and the Ebon 
Phoenix.  Standing stones were often gateways into Faerie.  Even if 
the Whispering Knights were ancient traitors, the ring itself may be 
what was needed to bring to life the latent power of Love's 
Champion.  The Kiryuu prince encouraged his mount to accelerate into 
a full sprint with a shout and a tap of his heels; horse and rider 
headed straight for the megalithic structure.

While the remaining mortals were still locked in their desperate 
struggle against the minions of the Shadow, Akio growled and gave 
chase.  All could be lost if his weaker half was able to find a way 
to make the dead Champion's energy stir to wakefulness.

Too late.  The scarlet-haired human entered the embrace of the 
menhirs and Love's Honor reacted to the presence of the Light of the 
World.

Calm filled Touga's awareness, brushing aside the hurt and 
exhaustion.  That brilliant whiteness he had touched once before 
flared through him, consuming him, giving him insight and skill born 
of the ages.  Gone were the lines of weariness and pain; the prince's 
expression became one of infinite tranquility.  As he pointed the 
weapon skyward, the silvery blade exploded into a fountain of 
brilliant white light.

The radiance burst through the ring of ancient stones and washed over 
the battlefield.  Everywhere the whiteness touched one of the dark 
Fey, that creature disappeared in a howl of unearthly agony.  Those 
few who escaped the pure brilliance of the Light fled for the 
sheltering shade of the forest.  To a man, the remaining mortals 
shielded their eyes from the beautiful but almost unbearable sight.  
Tatsuya stood in awe as he saw what he swore was a nebulous, ghostly 
figure overlapping Lord Touga's form.  As the Kiryuu chieftain 
lowered the sword first to the side then lifted it to a defensive 
position across his chest -- the blade cut the air in arcs of light --
the young man-at-arms saw the radiant spirit mimic the movements.

Akio narrowed his eyes against the blinding sight.  So the Light was 
fully awakened . . .  No matter.  He would still conquer and be all 
that remained of the fallen Champion.  (The world has beaten that 
weakling once before, and I am far stronger than that!)

Cobalt blue eyes sprang open, the light of ages shining in their 
depths.  The infinitely patient being that wore the look of the 
Kiryuu prince waited with Love's Honor held in a ready pose while the 
Shadow of the Champion raced toward him.  The moment Lord Akio 
crossed the boundary of the megalithic ring, the white illumination 
strengthened into a blaze that rivaled the sun.

The remaining mortals shouted in awe and terror as the brilliance 
forced them to look away or be blinded.  Even the normally skeptical 
Panther could not deny that something beyond the ordinary was taking 
place.  When the light suddenly disappeared, it took the span of a 
few heartbeats for those remaining on the battlefield to realize that 
it had gone.

So too were the Phoenix and the Tyger; their horses galloped out of 
the stone circle devoid of their riders.  Gone also was the fallen 
form of the lowlander noblewoman -- and the mysterious queen-like 
figure standing watch over Utena's body.

Juri shook her head, uncertain what to think.  The Arisugawa prince 
quickly dismissed it and turned her attention to picking up the 
pieces.  If this was merely a lull in the battle, she and those still 
alive and able needed to be prepared for the next onslaught.
________________

Light and Shadow opposed each other as day and night amid a sanguine 
sea of roses.  Flanking them to either side were the bier of the dead 
Champion from which they had fallen, and the thorn-torn figure of 
Love herself to the other.  Huddled among the flowers at Love's feet 
lay the bloodstained form of Lady Utena, chest heaving as she fought 
for breath.

Akio lunged at his nemesis, determined to maintain the momentum he 
had gained.  Touga easily parried the blade seeking his abdomen, 
knocking it swiftly to his right.  The Light brought his blade back 
to the left in a slash at the Shadow's exposed chest.  Akio leapt 
back a pace.  Love's Honor scored the air where the Shadow had been, 
the weapon making a breeze that stirred the Phoenix's lavender mane.

Unwilling to allow himself to be put on the defensive, Akio pressed 
forward once more, seeking to bind his blade against the Champion's 
own steel.  Touga met his charge and the air resonated with the 
collision of metal.  Eyes full of seething hate met a gaze of 
serenity as the men strove each to press the other back.  Without 
warning Akio lifted his forward foot and shoved it into his foe's 
gut, sending the Kiryuu chieftain reeling.

As Touga fell back he knew Akio would seek to immediately capitalize 
on his advantage.  When the Shadow rushed forward once more Touga 
twisted aside, letting Akio's momentum carry him past.  The dark Fey 
prince stumbled as he failed to meet the expected resistance.  
Quickly regaining his balance, the Phoenix turned to face his 
opponent.

Again their eyes met, and wills clashed as steel had a moment 
before.  (I will kill him,) Akio swore, allowing his mounting 
infuriation with Touga's passive expression to add fuel to the fire 
that drove him.

But as the heat in the Ohtori prince's eyes rose, the glacial calm of 
his opponent transformed into the utter immovability of a mountain.  
More certain than ever before that he would not be defeated, Touga 
felt no fear.  Light would defeat Shadow and Love would be renewed.

Tension mounted between the opposing forces over a stretching 
eternity before, howling like some primordial beast, Akio surged 
forward to meet his opposite number.  Again and again the Fey's steel 
and Love's Honor met and recoiled, slashed and stabbed.  Every blow 
was parried; every riposte knocked aside.  Back and forth, side to 
side they moved, day and night dancing amid that flowery sea.

Akio drove a fearsome stab at Touga's eyes in a sudden desperate 
gamble.  The Kiryuu prince retreated.  Neither man could overcome the 
other.  Something had to give.  Worry began to trickle across the 
edges of Touga's calm certainty; frustration was writ large across 
the dusky face of the Shadow.  Just as the battle was about to be 
enjoined once more, the Light of the World heard a single word.

(Together.)

With that voice came a spectral embrace; love, acceptance, passion, a 
perfect togetherness without end wrapped themselves around him, 
adding to his strength.  Before his wondering gaze, the blade of 
Love's Honor was enveloped in a glimmering, rose-pink light.

Emerald eyes widened in shock.  Akio took a step back as he realized 
the significance.  For the first time since being cast aside, the 
Shadow feared for his own existence.  "No . . ."

Utena was with him; the Light's beloved -- his inspiration -- wielded 
Love's Honor in equal measure.  Together they could undo the tragic 
mistake that had torn apart that balance between Love and her 
Champion. 

Now it was the Light of the World in control, his powerful strokes 
and swift lunges forcing Akio back.  Struggling to merely defend 
himself, the Ebon Phoenix kept retreating from the combined force 
attempting to bend him to its will.  Each slash of that glowing pink 
blade before his eyes made his terror increase; his arms ached from 
the resounding power behind each blow he parried.  Steel rang out 
loudly as Touga forced his opponent to give way with every sweeping 
step forward taken.  Akio barely countered a forceful lunge; losing 
his balance, the dark Fey fell to the rose-strewn ground.

The Light of the World pounced upon the fallen Shadow, pinning Akio 
to the ground.  Meeting the Phoenix's terrified gaze with his own 
peaceful, compassionate one, Touga lifted the glowing sword high 
above them both.  "I claim you as my own once more, my Shadow, my 
passion, my strength."

Akio wanted to cry out in denial, to plead for his continued 
existence as a separate entity, but the mesmerizing gaze of his other 
half froze him in place.  Those deep azure eyes filled with all he 
was missing, all he ever longed for, were the last thing he ever saw.

Touga reversed his hold on the sword.  Love's Honor plunged down, 
severing the ties between the Champion's Shadow and the shell of 
flesh and blood.  As darkness swirled around him, reintegrating 
itself to the fragment of the Champion within, the Kiryuu prince 
closed his eyes and lifted his head.  The rose light surrounding the 
blade faded as Utena's presence around him withdrew.  In a matter of 
moments, he was alone again -- but more whole then he had ever felt 
before.

In the distance, cruel vines and hatred-tipped thorns fell away from 
the form of the spirit of Love.  The sundering had been undone, her 
mistake rectified.  Once more her partner was whole.

Sighing deeply, the Champion of Love opened his eyes, then glanced 
momentarily at the shell that had once housed his darker aspects.  A 
twinge filled him as that part of him brought to mind Kanae's agony 
at learning of her husband's fate.  The least that could be done 
would be to return to the Ohtori heiress what remained of the man she 
had known; there would be closure for her then.

Next his eyes fastened upon the white marble bier there in the middle 
of the field of roses.  Walking the few paces distance, the Champion 
gazed down at the sight.  (How odd, to be staring at my own body and 
to be aware that were I to look in the mirror, I would see a face not 
my own.  No, this visage is mine as well, but . . .)

Clad only in her gorgeous violet hair, Love watched with tears of joy 
in her eyes as her beloved gazed down on the incorruptible shell to 
which he would return in the fullness of time.  The flesh still held 
him in its grasp, but what was once a prison could be an opportunity 
to experience so much.  To be one of the dreamers instead of merely 
the dream . . .

Leaf-green eyes then stared down at the body lying among the roses.  
Obligations remained, agreements needed to be fulfilled.  The flesh 
called to her, drawing her back to its embrace.  Love closed her 
eyes, accepting the familiar garb once more.  Of all the virtues of 
Amor, trust was the most important.  Lady Utena was trustworthy; she 
would not let those relying upon her down.

He could not stay.  Even in these few short moments after being made 
spiritually whole, that part of him known as the prince of the Kiryuu 
was reasserting itself.  Honor and duty called; there were people in 
the mortal realm counting on him.  Clad in flesh as he was, he would 
be better able to bring the Light of the World to all those in need --
he was now a part of that realm rather than an outsider seeking to 
influence it.

And he needed to know if Lady Utena yet lived.

Just as he was about to turn, a familiar presence made itself known.  
The same endless love surrounded the Champion as a pair of slender 
arms embraced him from behind.  A smile on her face, Utena pressed a 
cheek against Touga's back.

They stood there for an eternity with no need for words, only touch.  
They were together -- whole -- as they were always meant to be.  She 
adored all of him, even the Shadow, and hoped she could be forgiven.  
He forgave her and returned that love.  Around them, a warm breeze 
blew over the roses and sent a cloud of scarlet petals swirling 
about.  Where that zephyr touched, the fragrant blooms changed to 
purest white.

"We should return, beloved," Touga finally said, breaking the silence.

"Aye," the pink-haired maiden replied.  She gave him a momentary 
hug.  "When we return, Love and her Champion will slumber once more."

"I know," the Kiryuu chieftain answered while he turned to face her.  
He smiled down at her, overjoyed to see her there and apparently 
unharmed.  "I look forward to the challenge of discovering this 
aspect of you, my love.  Your quest is over.  It's time to let Lady 
Utena just enjoy life."

"And I look forward to discovering more about you," she responded, 
sea-blue eyes meeting his dark azure.  "Though I have been impressed 
with what I've seen so far," the slender warrioress admitted.

"I'm honored," Touga said, taking one of her hands in his and raising 
it to his lips to kiss the back.  Once he released her, he slid 
Love's Honor into the scabbard at his side.  His usual weapon had 
been dropped to the ground in favor of pulling the Champion's blade 
from the earth into which it had been stabbed.

When he held out his hands to either side and offered her a warm hug, 
Utena willingly stepped forward into his embrace.
________________

"Prince Juri!  Prince Juri, come quickly!"

Coming awake, the Arisugawa chieftain growled at the annoyance.  
Against her better judgement, she had ordered the survivors to make 
camp at the foot of the megalith-adorned hill.  Her sunset-hued locks 
falling loose like a tousled waterfall to her waist, the Panther took 
a moment to brush aside the strands tickling her face while she 
pulled herself from the bedroll and stood.  "So what is it?" she 
asked of the man standing there.

"You need to come up to the ring, my prince," the Arisugawa warrior 
insisted.

Juri stifled a sigh and pulled her nearby cloak on over her battle-
stained clothing.  Of those that had rode out from Grove, only a 
third were not casualties of some sort.  Half of the ones lost were 
dead, the other half suffering wounds that would probably cripple 
them for the rest of their lives.  All were to be commended for 
facing -- and besting -- a foe beyond anything she had ever 
experienced before.

Her clan had the greatest losses, but that had to be expected since 
the Arisugawa had been the largest of the group in numbers.  Of the 
men from Clan Kiryuu, two were dead and one severely wounded, while 
the lowlander noblewoman's man was hurt but not seriously.

Night had fallen hours after the argent blaze had engulfed the 
standing stones and driven off the uncanny foe the highlanders had 
faced.  While waiting to see which of the battling princes would 
return, Juri had seen to it that the wounded were tended as best 
could be done out in the field and the dead buried.  A glance to the 
campfire showed her that some of her men were on watch; a look to the 
sky gave her the impression that the hour was deep in the 
night.  "Well, lead on, then," she ordered.

The dark-haired warrior turned and strode off.  Trailing behind him, 
the Golden Panther climbed the grassy rise, wondering darkly what it 
was she was being awakened to see.  The moment she stepped between 
two of the massive, ancient granite stones, a voice greeted her.

"Good morning, my lady prince."

Juri blinked in surprise.  Standing there in the very center of the 
circle was Lord Touga -- looking as proud and handsome as always -- 
his arms around the slender figure of Lady Utena.  At their feet lay 
the obviously dead body of the aggressor, Lord Akio.  So the Tyger 
had conquered after all.

The Arisugawa chieftain cooly smiled.  "I would never have forgiven 
you had you made me camp out here an entire year."
________________

The day was a glorious one, the springtime sunshine dancing among the 
boughs of the evergreen forest.  The small procession made their way 
along the dirt trail, the warriors acting as guards chatting amiably 
amongst themselves.  After all, home was only a short distance away.

The center of the group was dominated by an ox-drawn wagon, the pair 
of massive wooden wheels rolling smoothly over the packed earth.  
Within the conveyance rode the one seriously injured Kiryuu, his 
condition remaining stable despite the travel.  Arranged about the 
wagon were the remaining warriors while ahead of the lumbering animal 
pulling it rode Wakaba and Tatsuya.  Once again the pair of 
lowlanders were holding a rather animated conversation.

Touga glanced over to his side, smiling at the maiden riding next to 
him.  They had spent much of the journey talking about all sorts of 
things, taking the time to get to know one another better.  So far, 
he was quite impressed though there was one thing that bothered him.

Utena felt her companion's eyes upon her once more.  She returned his 
smile even as she thought back on all that had transpired since they 
had awakened to find themselves holding one another in the center of 
the Whispering Knights.

Lord Ruka was dead, and had been since the day he had disappeared in 
the middle of winter.  Touga carried within him memories from the 
part of the Champion that had been Lord Akio, and he had been able to 
relate to Prince Juri her vassal's fate.  In scouting the lands 
around the Rose Gate, the Phoenix had come upon a stranger.  The 
azure-haired man had challenged Akio's right to be there; in the 
ensuing battle, the Tsuchiya prince had been killed.  Later 
recognizing who the man had been, the Phoenix had decided to use the 
situation to his advantage.  Learning of Lady Shiori's almost 
obsessive devotion, he had talked the noblewoman into being his spy 
within the Tenjou entourage, pointing her to where she could meet up 
with the holder of the Champion's brooch.  As had been discussed with 
Prince Juri, Shiori had disguised herself as a servant and had shown 
up at the Tenjou estate, begging to be given shelter.

Touga had lead Prince Juri to the shallow grave out in the woods 
where the Ohtori prince had buried his victim.  At the very least, 
Ruka was able to be interred with his ancestors and the Tsuchiya 
would go on to declare another prince.

The news had broken Lady Shiori's heart.  Though Touga was able to 
remove the ring from the brunette lady's finger and thus free Shiori 
from any lingering obligation to the Fey prince, nothing anyone could 
do had been able to lift the young noble's spirits.  When they had 
left Grove, Lady Shiori was still shut away in her room wallowing in 
grief.

Prince Juri had seen to it that Touga and Utena were well-provisioned 
for the journey ahead, though she was obviously affected by her 
childhood friend's grief.  Pledging to them the Arisugawa's thanks 
and friendship, the Panther had stood on the battlements of the 
fortress and seen them off.  The sunset-haired chieftain had also 
seen to it that the mortal remains of Lord Akio were taken back to 
the custody of his wife, Lady Kanae.  Both Utena and Touga knew, deep 
within, that the Ohtori heiress deserved that much.

Hopefully, the Phoenix's death would avert the upcoming conflict and 
the summer would be a peaceful one.  The planting would be well 
underway by now, and it looked to be a good growing season so far.  
His mind on that, the Red Tyger asked, "My lady, how long has it been 
since you've been on your lands?"

Utena blinked, startled by the question.  "I've been away for a year 
and a half."

"Now that all's said and done, it's probably time for you to oversee 
them for a while."

"But you asked me to stay on as your guest . . ."

The Kiryuu chieftain nodded.  "Aye, I did, but I've been thinking.  
War's been averted, and you have no way of knowing how well your 
stewards are managing your lands.  As the lady of the holdings, you 
have an obligation."

"As do you," Utena pointed out.

"True, but I have a sister to whom I can hand the chieftainship.  Do 
you have any family that can oversee your people?"

"No, but . . . Hand the chieftainship?  Why would you?" the slender 
lowlander asked in astonishment.

Touga gestured to the surrounding world.  "I am the Champion of Love, 
the Light of the World.  I have obligations that go beyond one clan, 
but I must see to the others or be untrustworthy.  By divesting 
myself of the chieftainship, I can fulfill them all."

The rose-haired maiden frowned in thought.  He had a point.  She too 
had promises to keep now that the one made so long ago had been 
discharged.

Noting her expression, the scarlet-maned highlander smiled.  "Fear 
not.  One of the first things I shall do is help you see to it that 
your lands are well organized.  From there, we can take it moment by 
moment.  Besides, if I'm to be your husband in time, your people 
really need the courtesy of having me introduced."

"Husband?" Utena asked, staring at him.

Touga laughed.  True, they were still coming to learn about one 
another, but the emotion they felt was one that transcended all of 
time.  Neither one would be truly happy without the other.

But that was a matter for another time, when negotiations could be 
made and contracts forged.  For now, it was a time to just be 
grateful to be alive and in a world of such rich experience.  

FIN



Author's Notes:

This has been a blast to write.  Starting with a sudden idea I got 
from reading a role-playing game scenario, it's been something of a 
whirlwind writing session for me, considering it's only taken me 
about two months to write it out.  I hope you've enjoyed this romp 
through a land full of magic and liked seeing the Utena cast in these 
roles.  I honestly think this is one of the best things I've written.

Of course, it wouldn't be near as good were it not for my close 
friend/beta reader/editor, Corvus.  Once again, he's helped me out in 
ways beyond merely how well I phrased this or that.  I may have dug 
the diamond from the ground, but he's the one that's really made it 
shine.

If you've wondered why I've not tied up *all* the loose ends, be 
assured that I plan another fic in this world in the near future.  
I've enjoyed the realm of Lord Touga and Lady Utena so much that I 
plan to make a return trip.

Thanks again, dear readers, for taking the time to look over my 
work.  C&C is always welcome and I can be emailed at 
diannasilver@hotmail.com