On Unions Civil and Otherwise

by Kita-Ysabell

Ten years have passed- ten years to the day- and when Utena and Anthy's engagement party goes somewhat awry, Saionji finds that some things are not so easily forgotten, and faces the bitter possibility that to make good his escape from Ohtori, he must rescue his oldest and closest friend- whether that friend wants to be rescued or not.

36. A Word of Warning

Touga had been smoking for an hour and a half straight when he looked up at Saionji and said, out of nowhere, "Listen, because for once I'm not just saying this for my own benefit."

"The way you say everything else?" Saionji snapped back. Hei was in no mood to talk. There was an exam coming up, and he needed to focus on studying, and with all the energy he'd been putting into Touga's well-being, he was afraid that he was falling behind.

Touga waved away the slight. "Stay away from Kanae."

"I thought you said this wasn't just for your own benefit."

"She's Akio's. Even if you think you know how things are between them, don't underestimate the influence he has on her."

"So, I should have nothing to do with anything he's laid his fingers on?"

In the moment, Saionji told himself that the honesty of the statement justified the cruelty of it. But he knew that wasn't true.

Touga shrugged, his manner suddenly detached. "I wanted to warn you, but clearly, I shouldn't have bothered. It'll be over soon enough, once she figures out what you're really like."