"So, do you intend to remain here permanently now, Kurogane-san?"
"Yes, your highness. For the most part, at least. Likely I will leave occasionally, to visit the children."
"And the wizard, he will stay as well."
"He depends on me to live. He will stay."
Tomoyo, who had been (shockingly) quiet while her sister spoke, now chipped in, but quietly, since the room was full of attendants and guards, though all some distance away.
"You still have not found a way to end his vampirism?"
He shrugged.
"After this long, I doubt there is a way. His magic continues to get stronger. His eyes are both blue again now...and he needs to feed only very rarely, once a month, sometimes once every two months. It is possible that his magic will eventually become strong enough to expel the vampire blood, but it hardly matters either way, we've become accustomed to the situation."
"Well, that's all very well then. But what shall we do with you? Unfortunately, your former position is now filled by a very capable man."
He forced himself not to show his disappointment at that news...after all, it was hardly surprising, after this long.
"I'm not so sure about that, the soldiers at the palace gates let us through without even asking who we were."
"Ah, well, they will be removed from their positions. That is not the fault of our commander, however; those guards are new men and he will severely reprimand them before reassigning them."
"Very well. Tomoyo-hime, how would you have me serve?"
She tapped her chin in mock thought...it was fairly obvious she already had a plan. She spoke to Souma.
"Have Fai called in. He should hear what I have to say as well."
The woman left quickly. In a few moments she was back, Fai in tow. The wizard stood out like a white horse in a stable of blacks, his light coloring and absurd clothing pulling every eye in the room to him. Kurogane noticed with a roll of his eyes that most of those gazes, both male and female, had a distinct appreciation in them. Tomoyo stepped off the dais and hugged Fai, then stepped back, smiling happily at him.
"Welcome back, Fai-san! It's been too long!"
"Indeed it has. It's good to be back, Tomoyo-hime."
Kurogane sighed when he heard several of the empress' handmaidens gasp quietly. Stupid Fai and his stupid accent. Though Kurogane had taught him the language of Nihon so that, if they were ever separated from Mokona, they could still communicate, Fai had an accent that had taken even Kurogane unawares. His voice, without Mokona translating, was like a spoken song, lilting and soft and warm. Kurogane was used to it by now...but he wasn't very surprised that the women were swooning over it. It was charming, no matter how much he hated to admit it.
When the greetings were out of the way, Tomoyo turned back to Kurogane.
"I've an idea for what to assign you to, Kurogane."
"Yes, highness?"
"You and Fai will be ambassadors. We're engaged in diplomatic negotiations with several nearby territories, and we'll need someone to go and manage treaties and such." Kurogane opened his mouth to protest...he was a warrior, not a diplomat! But Tomoyo held up her hand and cut him off. "Diplomacy includes displaying both our power, and our charm. You, Kurogane, are power...and he," she pointed to Fai and smiled, "is charm."
Fai grinned widely and made a sweeping bow, layering his already charming voice with a sickening amount of lingual sugar.
"I would be honoured to represent Nihon, your highness."
The handmaidens looked liable to faint.
"And you, Kurogane?" Tomoyo gave him a look that wasn't really a question. She knew his answer already. "Will you serve me this way?"
He nodded curtly.
"I will do my duty in whatever way you see fit."
"Very good! But first, you may both rest for two weeks, and then I will give you your first mission. Kurogane, your old room is still yours...we'll put Fai across the hall from you. Is that satisfactory?"
He nodded again.
"Good. Go now, and rest. We will speak more later."