Chapter 17: Constant State of Confusion
"Enter," said Lord Sesshomaru behind the large wooden panel framing his chamber's doorway.
Inhaling a deep breath, Sae pushed the door and set foot into the lion's den. Already by his tone, she could tell he was in a mood. During her time closed in the lord's chambers, Sae had come to learn his telltale signs of annoyance. However small, if one was to pay extra close attention –which Sae had- the evidence was there.
Not that it really helped her in any case.
"You wished to see me, my lord," Sae spoke, straightening her shoulders. When the lord was at his most irate, the first thing she had come to learn, was that giving him even an inch would allow him to take the whole mile. Although he hated disobedience, for some odd reason, he seemed to hate weakness more.
"Where were you and Rin all day?" he demanded coldly, his actions never seizing from where he sat by the fireplace, his hands slowly wiping off what appeared to be fresh blood off his sword.
Her eyes fixated on the crimson covered blade, Sae fought the urge to take a step back. "We were uh …" she hesitated for a mil a second, remembering her promise to the girl. "Gardening. Yes, we were gardening all day."
Still the lord continued to ominously clean his sword as he spoke. "Is that so? I sent one of my men to search for her and she was not in the gardens. I gave you a chance to redeem yourself by taking care of Rin. Not running off with my only ward like a pair of disobedient children. "
"I know my lord and I-"
"So I am beginning to wonder if your incompetence is not just as a personal slave," Lord Sesshomaru continued, as if she hadn't spoken. "But at anything that you do. Were you aware that Rin had her fitting today? I had a seamstress delivered to the castle to take her measurements for the silk I had purchased specifically for Rin."
Inwardly, Sae grimaced; Outwardly, Sae lifted her chin. "I apologize my lord, I was not aware of her fitting."
"Clearly," came the lord's sardonic tone. "It has only been a day since I assigned you to be Rin's caretaker and already I am beginning to wonder about my decision."
Sae's stomach felt as if it were about to drop. She didn't want to be taken away from the little girl. She had come to be the only beacon in her life. Since Sae was now all alone, Rin was fast growing to be the only reason Sae felt as if she could continue on without falling into sadness. Her sweet, innocent nature was a balm to Sae's lonely soul.
She could not go back to her desolate solitude, everyday wallowing in her feeling of emptiness.
"Please my lord," Sae began, swallowing back her panic. "I-I will do better. I swear it! Just … just give me one more chance. I can prove to you that I am a good caretaker for Rin."
She finally got his full attention and his motions stopped, a brief stillness settling in the room.
When he spoke again, his voice was tinted with an emotion Sae could not distinguish. "Can you now?" he said, softly laying down his weapon on the table and smoothly rising to his feet.
Sae knew it was rhetorical but she felt compelled to retort, "Yes."
Lord Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at her tone. "And how far are you willing to go to prove yourself to me?" he asked covertly, moving stealthily closer, his large frame seemingly bigger and bigger as he closed in.
Sae felt her instincts twitch. "I do not understand. What do you mean?" she spoke carefully.
The lord brushed past her, his wide shoulders lightly grazing her bare arms. "It is exactly as it sounds, female. How far are you willing to go to prove your worthiness?" his voice trailed after him as he continued to walk behind her.
It took everything Sae had to stand still and not turn to track his movement. She opened her mouth, "I-". But she could not form a reply, her self-preservation fighting against her affection towards Rin.
"Well?" prompted the lord, from somewhere to her left.
Sae inched around and found him leaning against the balcony windows, his arms crossed over his broad chest in that condescending manner of his. "What exactly must I do?" she hoped her voice sounded as confident as his; the last thing he needed was more reasons to try and cower her.
He remained against the glass door, watching her, the moonlight softening the hard planes of his face. "Let us see, you are an orphan servant girl in my castle with not a penny to her name. What do you think you could possibly offer me to prove yourself?"
Sae thought for only a moment. "I can fight."
A brow lifted. "You wish to combat me?"
Sae blushed, realizing how stupid that suggestion was. She may be good for a human but she knew the lord could defeat a hundred men with just one swipe of his sword. "I … I do now know then," she admitted, unsure what exactly he wanted her to say or where he was going with any of this.
"Think," his eyes focused on her face. "What can you, as a woman, offer me."
Her lips parted to repeat the words; abruptly, she shut them, belatedly understanding what he was implying. Her eyes narrowed. "I am not going to– to kiss you just to prove myself."
His untrustworthy look of serenity remained. "Shall I return you to Jaken's care then?"
"No!" came Sae's immediate protest, before thinking better of it. Worse than being put back in the kitchen's was having Jaken in charge of her tasks. His pompous loud nature was almost as unbearable and grueling as the labor itself. "I-I mean no, my lord."
"Choose then, female."
Sae swallowed, suddenly very nervous of what he was asking. This was probably the worst case scenario for her turbulent inner battle. It was too soon. She had no time to prepare herself for this. How did one separate logic from emotion? In her mind she knew the lord was just playing with her yet some part of her could not control the rapid beating of her heart.
Before she could stop herself, she took a few steps towards him; her eyes roaming over his solid frame. He stayed in his casual position, his arms crossed, and his face as reserved as ever. As she neared, she focused on his eyes, those golden irises that sometimes hinted at some type of emotion.
But she could find none.
At the last moment, just a pace away from coming into contact, Sae stopped.
"What are you waiting for?" his taunt was apparent.
Sae looked up into his face, comprehending that she was once again a puppet being pulled by its strings. This was not the best idea. In fact, perhaps this was the worst idea she had ever contemplated doing. She didn't think she could fight down her reactions if he touched her. And then he would be in control. She already felt as if she had lost so much, she couldn't lose herself too.
Rin would understand. The girl was kind and generous that way. Even if Sae had to sneak off just to spend a few moments with her a day, she would. Working under Jaken's watch was not the end of the world. She could do it.
"No," as she shook her head she began to take a step back. "I cannot-"
Sesshomaru leaned forward, grasped her waist, lifted her to him, then let her fall against him.
With a smothered gasp she did, her slim limbs flush against his, her breast to his chest, her hips to his upper thighs.
Every nerve, every muscle in his body felt hard against her soft frame.
Eyes wide, Sae looked up at him.
His golden eyes more intent than she had ever seen them, he bent his head and kissed her.
Her lips parted in shock; he took immediate advantage and claimed her mouth. Claimed, tasted, plundered, just a little before settling into a more seductive movement.
Sae didn't struggle physically –her body remained passive in his arms, instinctively accepting his embrace –but she battled nonetheless, fighting doggedly and valiantly to hold aloof.
His lips on hers, his tongue stroking hers, he angled his head over hers and with his other hand, dragged her closer into his heat. Almost instantly her lips softened, then returned the pressure of his –more impulse than considered action –but then she realized what she was doing, froze for a heartbeat –then gave up. Gave in. Stopped fighting and joined him.
Her sudden change in tact –not capitulation so much as embracing the inevitable –seemed to please him. A low growl escaped his throat as he responded; letting their mouths meld, their tongues tangle in a more flagrant, more explicit engagement of their lips.
Unable to help it, she met him, was with him, through the greedy, heated caress. Naively urged him on with a small gasp when he broke the kiss, sliding his lips to the hollow beneath her ear while his chest swelled and he inhaled her scent.
But then he returned to her mouth, demanding, not yet appeased.
Her lips were lush, hot, innocent, the slick cavern of her mouth a sensual haven as he kissed her. He sank deep, and she leaned against him, using his chest as support.
He took this as a chance to release his until-then immovable grip on her waist, he spread his hands and pressed his palms to her back, without thought satisfying his curiosity to learn what this particular girl felt like –every curve, every long plane, each supple muscle, each swell of female flesh.
Raising his hands to the back of her shoulders, he cupped them in his palms, then slowly ran his hands down, tracing the long planes of her back, the indentation of her tiny waist, and the flare of her hips. She shuddered, feeling goosebumps rise over her skin.
Never before had she felt like this –as if there was something, something taking over, driving her to surrender to the touch, to embrace every second of sensation. She felt heated, nerves alive, her breath no longer hers but his –her body wrapped, trapped in his arms. Her rational mind couldn't take it in, but her senses couldn't seem to focus.
There was a slither of a thought that broke through. The desire to feel, just once, what all that silver hair felt to the touch. Her hand, until then pressed against his upper chest, slid up to his shoulders, gripped, then eased and slid to his nape, then slowly into his long hair.
It's so soft …
She felt the slide of silky white strands, so much softer than she had assumed, over her hands as her fingers twisted around the velvety texture.
Lord Sesshomaru finally broke the kiss, lifting his head and waited for her to gather her wits.
Sae discovered her mind reeling, her lips throbbed, swollen and thick. She hauled in a deep breath and opened her eyes and forced herself to meet his.
They never looked more wolfish, their expression still very intent.
"You must be quite dedicated to Rin," the words, gravelly and low, laden with an iota of mockery, made her snap back to reality.
Her mind refocused in a rush. Sae shook her head, let her hands fall down to his shoulders, and pushed. Hard.
And he budged not one inch.
A very odd sensation skittered down her spine, novel and distinctly startling.
She was stuck, trapped between his hard body and iron clad arms. It was a strange sensation to be held this way. Not pleasant but in no way unpleasant. It was only ever something she felt in the lord's presence. An urge to get away but an even bigger impulse to get closer …
Sae blinked, inwardly snapping free of the ridiculous notion. "Let me go." She endeavored to infuse every ounce of will into those words; she lifted her chin to try and hide her sense of vulnerability.
His expression hardened. "Do not forget yourself, girl. You do not tell me what to do," a dangerous warning was evident in his voice. "Remember I am lord of this castle and you, no matter what position, are my servant."
Sae grinded her teeth, the earlier warmth slowly starting to evaporate. "Of course … my lord. But I must get back to my duties to Rin. I promised to read to her before she lays down for bed."
She was lying of course, but she'd pretty much say anything to escape at that moment.
For a second he didn't move, just contemplated her. "Only because I wish it so," he stated arrogantly, eventually losing his grip on her and letting her go.
Breathing a little more easily, Sae quickly put distance between them and retreated towards the chamber door. "If there is nothing else," Sae bowed, not waiting for his official dismissal before swiftly reaching for the handle.
"For now," the ominous words were every bit as explicit as his kiss.
Sae held her head high, not designing to answer, swept past the door and into the corridor.
It had just been a kiss, a part in the lord's silly games he played with his subjects. Especially her, whom he seemed to enjoy to torture particularly more than he did others. Sae just happened to be an easy target, that's all. Because of her inexperience, the lord found it easy to throw her off balance. No matter what he'd just did, he wasn't –would never be –truly interested in her. It would do her well to bear that in mind.
He was the lord and she was his slave.
Nothing more.
If she repeated that statement often enough, maybe she could learn to protect her heart from foolish feelings. Because every time he kissed her, Sae felt something softening within herself. That no amount of logic or reason seemed to stop it from happening.
And before she knew it, she'd do something as stupid like fall for him-
No! Sae's stride became almost violent. I refuse to let that happen!
She needed to remind herself why she loathed him in the first place. To remember the demon who had caused her such hopeless despair. Then she'd get her perspective back and be done with all this turmoil. All she had to do was find the right person to refresh those painful memories.
And she knew exactly the person for the job.
"Saaaaaaae," Rin whined, pulling on her caretaker's arm for what seemed the hundredth's time. "Can we go and play now? It's so boring just standing here all day."
"We've only been here for an hour," Sae replied distractedly, barley noticing the consistent yanking of her hand. Her eyes continued to scan the field, stopping on every pair of broad shoulders that looked familiar before moving on to the next, unable to pinpoint the right ones.
"Stiiiiill, it feels like all day!" Rin continued on bemoaning. "Why do we have to watch the soldiers train anyway? It's no fun at all."
Hearing the distinct bellyaching in her young voice, Sae tore her eyes away from her search to peer down at her in exasperation. "Rin, you promised you would wait for me so I could look for someone." Sae reminded her, hoping to have just a little more time. "Then I promise to take you back to the garden and play whatever you'd like, okay?"
Rin sighed. "O-kay," she said grudgingly, settling back down on the grass and picking up her doll; her mouth still set in a pout.
Half amused half nettled, Sae returned her eyes to the green colored field scattered with men from the lord's army. The clanks from their swords and their jeering shouts filled the warm afternoon air. It had been just yesterday that she had concocted this plan, and yet Sae was not one step closer to carrying it out. Her main ingredient –the person to remind her of the lord's cruelty –was nowhere to be found.
Where are you Touya?
It felt almost a lifetime ago that she set eyes on her twin brother's dear friend, yet in her mind his face was as clear as if she had seen it yesterday. The last time Sae had caught sight of the grey eyed, brown haired man had been a couple of days before Youhei's and her attempt to free themselves. He had been essential to their escape; having provided the schedule and route the castle guard's took every night. Without that –and his confidence of their abilities –they would never have made it as far as they had. And Youhei would never had gained his freedom.
She owed him her gratitude, if not for her own freedom but her brother's, then for the risk he took to help them break free without once asking for anything in return. Which meant everything to Sae. She had not grown up trusting many people, especially men, but she knew deep down that she could trust Touya with her life.
Plus, who better to remind her of all that they had suffered at the hands of Lord Sesshomaru?
"Come on, Touya, where are you?" Sae muttered, beginning to search in earnest. All servants knew that the army trained on the open field on the right side of the castle every afternoon for 2 hours. It was now reaching well past mid-day and Sae was aware that her time to look for her friend was running out.
She did not think that she could get away with brining Rin out to the training fields two days in a row. The lord had made it clear this morning that he would be watching her actions like a hawk. And any plans not meeting his approval would be dealt with swiftly and mercilessly.
If she was going to find Touya it would be now or never.
"ALL RIGHT MEN, GOOD WORK!" a painfully familiar voice boomed, echoing throughout the trees. "PACK UP YOUR EQUIPEMENT AND GET BACK TO BASE!"
"No," Sae whispered in despair, watching as the men stop their training and begin gathering their supplies.
The owner of the roaring voice bellowed to the general Sae had first encountered –a name she had never been able to recall –who was leading the soldiers towards the back of the castle where the army was stationed.
Rin took notice of the line of retreating men. "Does this mean we can go to the garden now?" she asked expectantly, her big brown eyes shining with excitement for the first time in the past hour.
Scanning the horizon in one more fruitless attempt, Sae began to feel dejected. "Yes, Rin it does." She exhaled sadly, feeling her heart tighten in her chest. Until that moment she had not realized how much she truly wanted to see her friend's face. And it hadn't just been to help distance herself from Lord Sesshomaru. But for the fully selfish reason to look upon the features of a male she had come to trust and whom reminded her of her brother.
"Let's head to the garde-"
"Sae?" a deep voice spoke in surprise. "Is that you?"
Whipping around, Sae came face to face with a pair of piercing grey eyes. "Touya!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her relief. Before she could think better of it, she ran towards him and jumped into his arms.
Clearly caught off guard, Touya let himself be hugged, his face stuck in a stunned expression.
"I'm so glad to see you!" Sae continued happily, tightening her grip around his thick neck; unaware of his shock. "I was so afraid I would miss my chance but then here you are! You have no idea how much I missed you!"
"Sae," Touya finally said after another moment of stunned silence. He pried her arms off his neck and set her away from him. "What –I mean why-? " he couldn't seem to form a coherent sentence and ran his fingers through his locks in frustration. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh," Sae realized her mistake, having forgotten that Touya had been unaware that she'd been locked away in the lord's chamber. "I didn't make it," she said sheepishly, holding out her hands.
His eyebrows came down in a scowl. "Youhei-?"
"He did!" she reassured him quickly, instinctly knowing where his train of thought was going. "He's … free. I'm the only one that didn't make it."
Touya uttered a foul word, with great feeling.
Rin gasped, clearly not accustomed to such language. "He just said f-"
"YES HE DID!" Sae quickly covered the child's mouth before she had the chance to repeat it. "But that's not something a little lady say, okay Rin? So please do not repeat that word. Ever."
Rin nodded, behind the palm covering half her face.
"Good," Sae sighed, just envisioning the look in the lord's eyes after hearing Rin speak such foul language. She's never be in Rin's company ever again. Perhaps not even in the same life time. She shook off her feeling of foreboding.
"You –you are Lady Rin," Touya said in realization, obviously unaware in whose presence he'd been.
Automatically, Rin curtsied, like her instructor had taught her. "A pleasure to meet you, sir."
His well-honed instincts kicking in, Touya bowed low in great respect. "The pleasure if all mine, little miss."
Rin blushed, clearly taken by the tall broad shouldered soldier.
Sae rolled her eyes, having seen this scene a thousand times before. Touya, as well as Youhei, had always been very popular with the ladies.
"TOUYA HANAZAWA!" a male voice boomed.
All three of them turned, to see the general shouting from the other end of the field, his face set in a pudgy glower. "GET TO BASE, IMMEDIATELY."
"YES SIR, RIGHT AWAY SIR!" Touya hollered back, right before quickly turning towards Sae. "Meet me by the path leading to the well, where you found your brother hiding from me." His eyes concentrated on hers. "At midnight, Sae, don't be late."
"O-okay!" She called out, barely having enough time to comprehend what he said before he stocked off towards the back of the castle.
"Who was that?" asked Rin in awe, staring after the strong male in admiration.
Sae smiled, "Just an old friend."
The rest of the day was spent in the secret garden, where Rin had Sae play all sorts of games with her. Mainly those that involved pushing Rin on a swing or playing hide-and-go-seek, but Sae had fun nonetheless; spending the evening lost in a world where only she and her young friend existed. Until nightfall, when they both returned inside and got ready for bed.
After reading Rin her favorite story of the beauty and her beast, Sae hugged the girl goodnight and slipped into her room. Where she waited impatiently for the hour to chime twelve. In the meantime she thought of what Touya would say. Perhaps he would reminisce of the troubles he and her twin brother had caused the Generals their first weeks of being placed in the lord's army. Or perhaps he would tell her of how much her brother had spoken of their life after they gained back their freedom.
Either way, Sae was more than ready when the clock stoked midnight.
Silent, and without detection, Sae made her way down the staircase and out of the castle doors. The night was warm, and the moon shone bright in the dark purple sky as she made her way down the dark path leading to the watering well and into the tall shadowing trees surrounding it.
"Touya?" she called out softly, the rustling of leaves filling her ears.
When there was no reply, she continued on, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had faced worse than the pitch black darkness that surrounded the castle. There was not much in these woods that would scare her now. Not when there were certain horrors that she had already witnessed.
Sae finally stopped in front of the exact tree she had found her brother many months ago and looked around at the quiet night. The only sounds she could hear were the cricketing of the grasshoppers and the hooting of the owls, the other night life a low melody in the background.
"Touya?" she called out again, futilely hoping he would respond this time.
But when once again she was meet with dead silence, Sae began to suspect that her friend had been unable to attend their rendezvous.
As the night continued to sound all around her, Sae knew she had something to say. Even if the reciprocate was not there to hear it. "Thank you Touya," she spoke to the night, looking up at the ever bright moon. "Thank you for being the only person my brother and I could count on. I know it must have been hard on you, planning an escape that did not include you. I know you wanted to leave almost as much as we did. And thank you for being the friend of a twin that had a sister like me. You are the most honorable man I have ever known. Please forgive us for our singlemindedness. We hadn't meant to be so selfish."
"I forgive you," his voice said, from the darkness covering the trees. "Of course, I do."
"Touya," she breathed in ease, glad to see his large frame emerging from the forest. "I was afraid you wouldn't make it."
"I never miss my appointments," he replied casually, striding up to her. "Especially ones involving a girl I consider like a sister to me."
Sae swallowed back her emotions, feeling her eyes sting from his words. It had been a long time –forever it seemed –that she had been called sister. "And I'm grateful for it."
"Now," he reached the space in front of her. "Explain to me why you are still here and your brother is not."
Taking a deep breath, Sae proceeded to tell him all that had occurred. From Youhei and her escape to what had happened afterward. As the tale went on, she noticed his face becoming grimmer and grimmer. Not an expression she had been accustomed to.
"So, you are telling me you are now stuck as Lady Rin's personal servant and the lord is nitpicking at everything you do, just so he may punish you as he likes?" Touya's voice grew louder as he spoke.
"Sshhh!" Sae hissed, holding up a finger to her lips. "What if someone hears you!?"
"Let them hear!" he burst out, obviously past being calmed down. "Everyone should listen to this injustice! I knew the lord to be an emotionless and conniving demon but never could I imagine this kind of behavior towards an innocent like you! Despite the rumors, I had come to hope that most of them had been exaggerations, just tales told by the village people to scare the children."
Touya began to pace, his movements oozing with frustration. "But it's worse than I thought. Lord Sesshomaru is despicable! To think, after everything that he put you through he keeps you on a short leash just to torment you every day; like a toy he pulls out to play for his amusement. It's –it's abominable!"
As his last words echoed in the night air, Sae's face was set in a grimace; fearing that the others from the castle would overhear her friend's outburst. The last thing she needed was another "talk" in the lord's chambers. "Touya," she began, putting up her hands as a sign of appeasement. "I understand your anger. Believe me, I understand what it feels like to see the lord's inexcusable actions time and time again. To resent the way he so callously disregards the feelings or thought of others. The desire to reap what he sows. "
Touya's scowl grew bigger. "Then-"
"But!" Sae cut in before he could interrupt her. "Many of the tales are much exaggerated. I do not think half of the things they say he does are actually true."
His eyebrows scrunched together. "What do you mean?"
Sae took a breath, not believing what she was about to say. "I mean do not believe everything you hear, my friend. From what I have seen, the lord does not spend his days chasing after chambermaids or tormenting all those who dare cross his path."
"He may not be going to those extremes," Touya's jaw twitched with displeasure. "But he still treats people, particularly you, with little if no respect."
"Not all," Sae admitted. "Just humans."
Touya threw his hands up in the air. "Exactly. Why do you even care to clarify the difference? You out of anyone should be wanting his downfall. He took you and Youhei away from the only home you have ever known, let you almost die at a tournament that could of gained you your freedom, punished you for dressing as a male even though you did it to save your virtue, and then kept you caged in his chambers to personally see to your torment."
Sae made a face, hating to be reminded of everything that had caused her pain. "Well that's not exactly how it happened …" her sentence trailed off, catching the look on his face.
His expression was black, his eyebrows low over his eyes. "And when he had you lashed? How exactly did that happen Sae."
She flinched, almost like she could feel the leather hitting her skin all over again.
Touya caught the reflex, his features automatically softening. "Sae …" he exhaled roughly, running a hand threw his dark locks. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to sound so harsh. I know you have suffered, I had no right to throw that back in your face."
"No, its okay," she shook her head, hearing the sincerity in his voice. "You are right, the lord did do that."
An awkward silence fell over the two companions, the quiet symphony of night life playing all around them.
Sae stared off into the distance, trying to understand her turbulent thoughts. She had come in search of Touya specifically for a purpose. So he could remind her of all the reasons she should hate Lord Sesshomaru. To clear all those confusing emotions that kept bubbling up to the surface whenever she looked upon his face.
But as soon as her friend started speaking of the lord with such harsh judgment, something about it had just felt … wrong. As if she was betraying him. Which was ridiculous because she owed him nothing. Not her affinity, not her compassion, and most certainly not her loyalty.
Yet, Sae could not help but feel as if her plan to have Touya break the spell the lord seemed to cast over her was not going to go as she planned.
"Sae" Touya broke the silence, taking a step towards her. "Why am I here?"
"What?" Sae looked up at him, still stuck in her thoughts.
His eyes spoke of impatience. "Why did you seek me out? You purposely came out to the fields to look for me, did you not? Do not misunderstand, I am very glad to see you, although I wish the circumstances would be better. But what did you want to speak to me about?"
"I just-" She hesitated, not wanting to admit the real reason she had sought him out. "I just … wanted to see you. I needed to see a familiar face, that's all."
A look of understanding lit his eyes. "You miss him," he stated, shifting closer and throwing an arm around her narrow shoulders.
Sae swallowed a lump that began to form in her throat. "Yes," she replied honestly, knowing that at least that statement was true. She did not need to lie about missing her twin. She felt that lose every day. "I miss him a lot."
"Me too," Touya admitted, his words cloaked in sadness.
Sae did not move for a few moments, savoring the feelings of mutual sibling-like affection. She had almost forgotten how much a simple hug from someone she trusted could comfort her. It may not solve all her problems or worries, but it did help her feel as if she were not completely alone. And for all intent and purposes, that was a gift within itself.
"It's getting late," Touya finally pulled away, looking up at the location of the moon.
Sae followed his line of vision. "Yeah, you're right," she agreed, albeit sadly. Perhaps this encounter had not gone as she had wished, but seeing Touya again, being reminded that there was someone in the castle who had known her brother enough to miss him as much as she did, gave her strength. If she had people like Touya, Daichi, Rin, and Asumi by her side, then she could pull through anything that was thrown her way. No matter what the outcome was.
"Promise me something Sae," Touya said in a serious tone.
Sae turned to him expectantly. "What?"
He rested his hands on her shoulder, looking her straight in the eye. "Promise that you'll take care of yourself. If not for your sake or even mine, but for Youhei's."
"I promise," Sae nodded solemnly.
A familiar smirk suddenly curved his lips. "Because you know he'll just start whining about it the minute he hears that I let you get hurt on my watch."
She snorted, a smile beginning to form too. "He could whine all he wanted but we all know who the stronger twin is."
Touya chuckled while shaking his head. "Despite everything, you are still the same Sae."
"And no one's going to change that," she replied confidently, walking towards the path leading to the castle. "No one."
Touya followed suit, his long stride easily catching up to hers. "I hope so, little sister. I really hope so."
*Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. Any violence, perceived abuse, or negative behavior should not be taken literally. The plot is for entertainment purposes only. This author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material.