Disclaimer: I do not own Revolutionary Girl Utena, its characters, nor am I making money for writing this. I do, however, own the plot of this fan fiction.
The Green Rose often sought solace in the folds of his country estate off the coast of Midianaire, a beautiful countryside of greens, blues, yellows, all the colors of his council members, and then some. That was one reason that a trip to this sanctuary never found him feeling alone. He was in the company of his favorite person, himself, and all of the colors of the other favorites—though he might never openly admit it—in his life. He had journeyed to the estate for what he had intended to be a peace-filled, thoughtful, weekend of just he and Mouse, another undisclosed favorite, his cat. Whenever his Red friend went on a new color venture, he gained resolve at the place where fond memories were shared between the two. His new color venture of the hour was now of a Purple nature.
In spite of an unfounded feeling that he was being watched or followed, it had been a pleasant trip up. He chuckled to himself that maybe this feeling was more wishful thinking than anything else. He contented himself that he and Mouse enjoyed the solitude of each other's presence. The quiet was pleasant and soothing to Saionji's easily ruffled sensibilities. Without notice, he gently stroked the soft coat of his companion and lay back and dreamed of the color Red and all of its associations. He reveled in times when he was allowed the luxury of such rich and precious dreams. He almost felt guilty at the ecstasy of the longing such contemplations afforded him. He wondered if Touga had the same thoughts, enjoyed the same rapture.
The Green Rose stepped from the train in the dusk of the evening with his backpack mounted on his back and his furry companion pinned snugly within the curve of his arm. His thick tufts of green draped gently over the feline and its warm moist breaths acknowledged the friendliness of their touch by tenderly blowing them up and down. This motion established a kind of cadence that Saionji marched to making his way to the familiar boundaries of his estate.
He and Mouse arrived at the big wooden door of the manor as night spread its blanket over the surroundings and pronounced that everything done from that time until the dawn would only be seen in the light of an artificial means. This was more of what Saionji loved about his treks. He retrieved the key from the secret key box stashed outside the manor door and fumbled a little as his usually sturdy hand inserted the key and listened for the heavy thud of the overturned deadbolt that suggested that he gained entrance.
"Huh," he heard himself grunt at such elation over such a seemingly meager accomplishment. He looked around outside, having not been able to quite rid himself of the feeling of being shadowed, before he stepped inside the cool domain and was greeted by a calm atmosphere that to him said, "Welcome home."
Saionji released Mouse to run free about the house. He dropped his pack in the entrance hallway and proceeded to walk about the place and inspect. Everything looked in order, despite his feelings of something being upset or out of place. He strode to the kitchen to see what in the way of food the caretakers had left in the cupboards and refrigerator. He could cross a trip to the market off of his list of things to do. The place was well stocked. Though it would be totally unnecessary for warmth, he checked to see if there was an ample supply of firewood in next to the fireplace. He often lit the fire out of a sensual need rather than one of climate. There was yet another item he could check from his list. He was pleased at the first leg of his retreat. All things seem to set in motion to guarantee the kind of getaway he had anticipated.
The shower had been particularly satisfying. Now sitting the glow of the fire, he relived the scene. He recalled that as the warm water trickled down his body, he gently touched himself and closed his eyes to imagine that his own hands were the hand of his friend. He leaned against the shower wall and slowly slid down to the floor in an agony that could have only been made sweeter by the presence of the one for whom he longed. With tears of ecstasy falling freely from his eyes (he told himself they were induced by the sprays of water in his eyes), he trembled under the caresses of his own hands. He sat there on the shower floor and knew that this was the only time he could be emotionally free, when he was alone or as fate would have it, in the presence of his most loyal companion who he imagined would rather die than disclose his master's vulnerability, Mouse.
Saionji sipped a glass of his favorite sake and shared a tin of tuna with faithful feline. He spoke to Mouse freely of the latest happenings at Ohtori Academy with the student council. He advised Mouse of the cruelties of love. He enchanted Mouse with the playing of his guqin and softness of his usually gruff tone. He recited his favorite poetry lyrics. He questioned and confided to Mouse in a tipsy slur, "Do you feel that? I don't want you to think I've lost my mind and you, poor thing, are alone with me in the middle of nowhere with no one to run to for help, but there's someone here, a presence…no more like, like an es-s-s-sence. The essence of someone is here with me, with us. Do you feel it? I think it's him. But, it feels different. I can't quite place…" He trailed off and did not continue.
Of course, Mouse sat quietly staring into the fire until his master fell asleep, the deepest slumber he had experienced every since the new purple color, Shiori, had caught Touga's attention. Mouse sat and stared, unmoved as the shadow of the presence his master had mentioned came closer and stood over Saionji's slumbering body. In the shadows, the presence stood over him and stroked his soft green tresses. It leaned over him and stared wonderingly.
Then the figure smiled. It leaned closer to him, blew its warm breath on his exposed chest. Gently licked his lips. Quickly kissed them and whispered in his ear, "You're not as tough as you pretend. It's hurting you too."
Another soft kiss followed this revelation. Saionji turned from his side to his back as if to welcome the affections, but never awoke from his two-fold intoxication of love and drink.
End of Chapter One
BlackRoseVixen05: Thank you to all who read and enjoyed the first chapter! Please leave my Mother some nice reviews and hopefully the second installment will be coming soon. Ja ne!