"Are you sure you should be doing this? After all, your wrist..."
"That's why you're doing most of the work."
"Of course. Can't have the Master hurting himself."
Touga declined to comment.
"What's the rush? I would have thought that-"
"I didn't."
Saionji faltered in surprise for a moment. "Not even the nurse?"
No response.
"I see. So that's how it is." He smirked. "Shouldn't that lift the curse?"
"The curse is just starting."
"What do you mean?"
A pause; a gasp. Touga began to relax.
"According to the terms of the curse, when I find the one...she won't love me back."
One green eyebrow arched. "Back? Are you saying-"
A sigh. "I've never felt this way about anyone."
"I'm hurt."
Touga ignored the dry sarcasm. After a moment, Saionji sighed.
"So, there's no way to end the curse?"
Disappointment soured the redhead's glow.
"Some nonsense about dreams."
"That's not very helpful."
"Tell me about it." Touga stretched awkwardly. "What did you bring me for breakfast?"
A snort. "Get up and see for yourself."
Charming smile, eyelids half lowered. "Can't you see that I'm an invalid?"
"Oh, of course, My mistake."
Again, Touga ignored the sarcasm. "I'm to keep the bandages dry. Arrange a sponge bath for me, won't you?"
"As you wish, Master."
"Oh, and Saionji?"
The maitre'd turned with an inquisitive look, and discovered that all the amusement had drained off the redhead's face.
"You and Utena are the only ones who are permitted in that room. Why was she the one who found me?"
A look of smug superiority spread across Saionji's face. "While you weren't, I was."
The green-haired man left before Touga could formulate a response.
Breakfast was a disorienting mix of strange and familiar for Utena. Sitting at a small table, eating Wakaba's cooking with her, was an island of normality in the sea of what had happened since the last time they'd shared a meal.
"Are you sure?"
Utena rolled her eyes and grinned. "I think I'd remember if he did." She held up her left hand, displaying the Rose Crest for what seemed like the tenth time.
"But you're wearing his pajamas."
"Have you seen the kind of things in that wardrobe? I'm not wearing anything that's more than fifty percent lace."
Wakaba looked interested. "If you're not going to wear it, can I?"
"...be my guest."
The brunette squealed in joy and started rummaging through the drawers of things Utena rejected the night before. "So you really didn't do anything with him?"
"I really didn't," Utena said with a sigh. "I changed in the closet. He never saw a thing."
"I bet you got an eyeful, though." Wakaba held up a collection of silk ribbon and lace, then shook her head and put it back.
"Wakaba!"
"You're blushing, Utena," the other girl said with a grin."...he did hit on you though, didn't he?"
The pink-haired girl snorted. "I think he could hit on girls in his sleep."
"Hey...did you leave first, or did the nurse's aide?"
"She did, why?"
Wakaba peered hard at Utena. "Did he hit on you before she left, or after?"
"Before. After she left, the most provocative thing he said was 'stay with me'. What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"He likes you," Wakaba said in awe. "He let you criticize him, and he didn't try to get you in bed when you were alone with him. Saionji was right. He likes you."
"I'm sure he was just in shock," Utena said dryly. "Give him a day or two to recover, and he'll be back to his usual man-slut self."
"I don't know about that." Wakaba examined something filmy and found it to her liking. "I bet he doesn't hit on you unless someone else is there to see it. And I bet he'll give you anything you asked for."
The idea of that kind of power made Utena uneasy, and she attempted to deflect the serious tone of the conversation. "D'you think I could get him to give me something to wear besides dresses?"
Wakaba giggled. "If he doesn't, raid his closet."
Utena contemplated the black silk pajamas. "I may just do that."
The girl giving Touga a sponge bath wasn't much older than Miki, and she looked thrilled to have been selected. The majordomo kept his eyes averted as much as possible and wondered if the lord of the castle had summoned him just to torment him.
"I want to do something special for Utena," Touga said, stifling a wince as he leaned back in his chair. "To thank her for her quick action last night. What can you tell me about her, Mister Student Council Secretary?"
This, Miki could deal with. "Utena Tenjou. Dresses exclusively in male clothing. Active participant in just about every sport Ohtori has to offer, grades are mediocre."
"She's athletic?" Images of Utena's toned muscles danced gracefully through Touga's mind. "Does she practice any kind of swordfighting?"
"I'd have to check with Vice President Saionji and Treasurer Juri, Mister Student Council President.," Miki answered, grateful for the refuge of formality.
"Do that," Touga told him as the girl began slowly tilting his chair back, guiding his hair into a wash basin.