I have not created the Tenchi Muyo! characters in this story. They are property of AIC, Pioneer and Masaki Kajishima.
Chapter 1 - Freedom of a Man
It was a sunny afternoon, the song of birds drifting through the mild air. Two figures, one male one female, stepped out of one of the many portals leading out of the royal palace. The young woman was wearing a colorful Juraian robe and the wind played with her long brunette hair ever so slightly.
"What a wonderful day," she said and took a deep breath of fresh air.
"Thanks to weather control," the young man walking beside her replied with a grin.
Though it wasn't a traditional robe, the outfit he wore still had a very formal look to it. Obviously both of them had just come from some occasion.
They remained in the gateway for a second, taking in the beautiful scene laid out in front of them, before they decided for a pathway seemingly at random.
"What do you think about the emperor's announcement of his journey to the remote colonies?" he asked to start a conversation. But the woman just looked at him, somewhat bored.
"I agree with him. Our empire covers countless worlds all over the galaxy. He is the emperor of all those planets so I guess he should be present in the outer regions as well. And since there is no current threat to Jurai prime his presence here is not a necessity." She made a short pause but continued before he had a chance to reply. "Please Yarasho, stop talking about today's council session. Let's change the subject."
"As you wish." He nodded but she knew that he was disappointed about her aversion to talk about politics.
"I really enjoyed yesterday evening."
Yarasho gave her a strange look, uncertain why she was warming up this subject again. They had already talked about Azusa's birthday celebration in detail last night. Nevertheless he responded.
"Yes. It was great. If you ask me, it was even better than the last one." He smiled mischievously and added, "Or at least the girls were more beautiful."
"You!" Sanara raised her hand like she was going to slap him, but her sour expression wasn't genuine. It quickly turned into a smile. "You're ridiculous."
"That's why you love me, isn't it?" he asked in a playful tone.
But before she was able to respond a movement attracted her attention.
"Hey, it's Azusa over there, isn't it?" she pointed at a moderately clothed man moving towards the forest at a rather swift pace.
Yarasho watched him for a moment. "Broad shoulders, a plait, improper clothes and walking way too fast to look his status. It's definitely him," he concluded.
"I wonder why he is in such a hurry to get into the woods." Sanara gave her friend a questioning look but he just shrugged it off.
"I don't know. Maybe he is going to meditate." In fact Yarasho knew that his half-hearted guess couldn't be right. Meditating was the last thing Azusa was going to do in the forest. Through the last months Yarasho hadn't even seen him in the nursery, which was a much better choice for someone who was trying to achieve a bond.
"Would you meditate in the woods?" she asked not convinced of Yarasho's words.
"No," he admitted. "But I'm not Azusa." 'And sometimes he does things I would never do,' he added in thought.
Sanara looked at him with suspicion. They were being together for almost four years now, so it was justified to say that she knew him quite well. She knew when he was trying to make fun of her or when he was saying things just to tease her. And she knew when he was hiding something.
"Azusa has changed during the last year," she stated.
"Well. He's finally grown up."
"That's not what I meant." Sanara tried to read Yarasho's expression, but he looked away. "Remember his birthday one year ago? He danced with me almost the whole time and I got the impression that he was really annoyed by the occasion. But yesterday evening he was the perfect gentleman, asking a lot of young woman to dance. I was really surprised. I don't know how to say, but he seems more contended now."
"Maybe he is," Yarasho said as if he didn't really care about Azusa's state of mind.
"Hm." Sanara nodded and remained silent for a while. But just as Yarasho was about to heave a sigh of relief she spoke up again.
"I don't want to interfere with other men's business, but could it be that Azusa has already found his bond?"
"Without telling me?" Yarasho seemed to be slightly offended. "No. If he had found a partner, I'd be the first to know. There would be no reason to hide it anyway."
"You're right. I guess he would go through the ceremony immediately and say goodbye to Jurai for a while." She smiled imagining what kind of adventures Azusa would face then.
Suddenly she became aware of another person walking towards them. As they moved closer Sanara realized that it was a young woman, wearing a plain blue dress emphasizing her slim figure. Two long black plaits swayed with every step she made.
"It's Kiris." Yarasho said pleased and added whispering, "Without the chamber maid's dress, she looks really cute."
He got an elbow into his side immediately. "Indeed. It's hard to recognize her." Sanara whispered back just before the chamber maid came into earshot.
Kiris stopped and bowed slightly. "Miss Sanara, Master Yarasho."
The young pair slowed their pace to a halt as well.
"A nice day to take a walk," Sanara said and saw a faint hint of red flushing over Kiris' cheeks.
"Indeed it is, ma'am," she replied trying to avoid Sanara's gaze.
"Well then...," Yarasho took his girlfriends arm and gently pulled her along. "... enjoy your day, Kiris," he said and gave her a wink just as he walked past her.
Sanara noticed neither Yarasho's wink nor Kiris' red face as the young woman hurried away. However, she got a really bad feeling all of a sudden.
Yarasho said something but she wasn't listening. A terrible idea had come to her mind and as she turned around once more she found herself proved. Kiris was headed for the woods.
"Hey, Yarasho." Sanara grabbed his arm rudely and forced him to stop. "Don't tell me she is the reason of Azusa's contentment." Her voice was full of anger.
"Well, maybe she is," he shrugged. "What does it matter?"
"What it matters? She's just a chamber maid." Sanara got annoyed at her friends ignorance. "This relationship is going to lead into disaster!"
"Calm down, San. Don't begrudge him a little fun."
"Fun?" Her eyes sparkled. "Maybe for you it would be just fun. But Azusa is different. He's probably taking the whole thing serious."
Yarasho shook his head. "Serious? You said it yourself she's his chamber maid, so how could he take it serious?" Sanara was about to respond, but Yarasho continued in a reassuring way. "Let's head for the fountain. And believe me, there's absolutely no reason to worry."
"I doubt that," she replied and remained silent for the rest of the walk.
A soft breeze was blowing through the leaves. But except for the rustling sound it produced only the distant song of the birds could be heard. Azusa was resting against the trunk of an old tree, watching his surroundings.
The old tree was located in the outer region of the Royal Woods. There was no pathway leading to it, which was the reason why Azusa liked this place so much. During his childhood whenever he had had a quarrel with his parents, he had often come here to hide. It had always been a safe place and it still was.
But today, like all the other times throughout the past months, he hadn't come to visit the old tree because he had had an argument. Azusa smiled internally. The reason was a more pleasant one.
He heard the snap of twigs and seconds later a blue shape came into sight. Azusa felt his heart beating faster as a smiling Kiris stepped towards him.
"Hello. I hope I didn't make you wait too long," she said in her wonderful soft voice. Her beautiful brown eyes were resting on him as if she was waiting for something.
"No," he answered after a moment and shook his head. "And even if, ...I... would have waited... as long as I had to." That wasn't what he had wanted to say. He had planed to tell her that he would wait for her for all eternity if he had to, but it sounded so stupid in his ears. What he had said made no sense either, nevertheless Kiris seemed to understand. She smiled and took his hand.
"Want to go to our place?" she suggested and Azusa agreed.
Their place was the narrow line of meadow between the woods and the outer wall. Usually nobody would get the idea of walking along the huge wall that separated the royal idyll from the bustle of the city below. So the quiet meadow was a place where nobody would disturb the heir to the throne and his chamber maid.
Azusa waited until Kiris had taken a seat next to the wall and placed himself beside her, paying attention not to sit too close, which was indeed unnecessary because they had already been as close as possible before anyway.
"So you attended the council session today?" she asked knowing that starting a conversation was the easiest way to get Azusa to relax some more. And it worked.
"Of course I did. But like the last time there wasn't really much to discuss. My father announced that he was going to undertake a three months journey to the outer regions of the empire. This was somewhat unexpected, especially so because my mother is going to accompany him."
"They didn't tell you before?" Kiris watched Azusa and he shook his head curtly.
"There was no reason for them to do so. The head of the second house, Yarasho's father, is going to be the deputy in the emperor's absence. He is a wise man and a capable leader. I doubt that there will be any problems."
Kiris nodded slowly. "Times are quiet. Let's just hope it will stay that way. So when are the emperor and his wife going to take off?"
"Next week," Azusa answered immediately.
Kiris didn't respond anymore. She just stared to the ground obviously lost in thought. Her fingers were playing with a dark purple flower, one of the many that surrounded them.
He kept watching her beautiful face and then, all of a sudden, felt the urge to kiss her. Slightly embarrassed he turned away and cleared his throat.
"Well... another topic was the preceptor's suggestion to have more men stationed in the capital. He explained that the activity of some smuggler gangs had increased and they were about to become a threat to economy. I think he overestimates their influence, but of course I understand that we have to put an end to scum like them. "
Kiris nodded and Azusa continued trying to avoid another moment of unpleasant silence.
"Last point was the admission of a planet called ...", he scratched his head. "Nah... I forgot."
Now she looked up and smiled at him. "Names don't matter."
"Right. It was a rather small and distant planet of no importance anyway. But its sovereign sent his only daughter to marry one of our royals. Yarasho told me afterwards that she's supposed to be a beauty and that a member of the fourth house already claimed her."
"Are you sure about that?" Kiris asked slowly, still brushing her fingers over the petals of the little purple flower.
"Well, of course not. It was just what Yarasho told me. I don't know where he got his information, but usually he is right when it comes to such things. What does it matter?" He looked at her, but their eyes didn't meet.
Her fingers closed around the stem of the flower and without effort she tore it off.
"Nothing."
She wondered if Azusa really did not realize the implications of the story he just told her or if he simply suppressed such thoughts. A member of the royal family marrying a beautiful princess from a small kingdom far away. Yet she couldn't reproach him for it. Right from the beginning she had known that there would be no future in their relationship, but she had denied the truth, had clung to the faint hope that everything would work out, that they would run away together.
"What's wrong... why the sad face?" His voice was soft and filled with emotion. It was the same voice that had made her realize his feelings for her back then.
Her attempt to give him a smile failed miserably. "It's just...," she couldn't go on because she felt her eyes swelling with tears.
Azusa watched her, struggling with himself. He wanted to comfort her, wanted to touch her and make her laugh again. But there was still a voice in his conscience that was trying to keep him back, telling him that it was simply wrong to care for his chamber maid in such a way. And yet he loved her.
Kiris felt a warm hand touching her face and closed her eyes. Little wet drops were running down her cheek.
"I'm sorry," she whispered and wiped them away.
Azusa gently pulled her into his embrace. "Why are you crying?" he asked meeting her moist brown eyes.
He didn't get an answer, instead she leaned forward and kissed him. First he was surprised but soon he returned the kiss. It lasted only a few seconds but for this short time Azusa felt complete. Everything that had occupied his mind before, every worry became unimportant. Once again he realized that the young woman in his arms was more than he could ever wish for. And never would he give her away.
"You're crushing me," Kiris squeezed out. Azusa let her go and apologized quickly.
"It's ok," she responded a little more cheerful now. "But I better get going. There's still a lot of work to do." She rose, causing Azusa to do the same.
"My room is quite messy too, so..." He trailed off.
"Well...," she said with a suggestive smile. "I guess this particular job will have to wait until late evening. Am I right?"
He nodded, a huge grin on his slightly flushed face. "See you then." He quickly kissed her goodbye and out of habit she gave him a curt bow before she walked away, the flower still in her hand.
As she was out of sight he sat down again. He had gotten to know Kiris as a bright young woman who was full of life and spirit. But recently she seemed to be shaken by sudden fits of sadness more often. He wondered what depressed her. Maybe he should ask her tonight.
He didn't ask her that night, not the one after, not one of the nights they spent together throughout the next three months. And she didn't tell him either.
She tried to forget about the dark shadows of the future when she was together with Azusa. Mostly she succeeded and they spent wonderful hours. In the nursery where he often took her while his parents were on their journey, in the gardens and in his room. As she snuggled up to his warm body one of these nights, she would never have imagined that their relationship was going to last only two more weeks.
The deafening roar of an explosion tore the night apart.
Azusa opened his eyes and saw a red glow chasing the darkness away outside. Immediately he sat up.
"What was that?" Kiris clung to him fearfully.
"I don't know. But I will find out." He shoved her arms away and moved to the window that was only a few steps away.
As he opened it screams of fear and barked orders invaded the room. Quite a number of guards and knights had gathered near the fountain. Some of them were pointing in the direction of the woods, where a column of smoke rose up into the sky.
"There seems to be a fire." Azusa was taken aback. Somebody must have set fire to the Royal Woods. But who would dare to do such a thing and why?
"Did somebody throw a shell?" Kiris asked behind him her voice filled with terror.
"I don't know." He leaned out of the window and looked in the direction where the smoke was rising. The wood was dense over there, so he couldn't make out any movement on the ground. But if it was the beginning of an attack the intruders would have already reached the palace. Azusa leaned back and turned to his chamber maid.
"I don't think we have to worry," he finally said wearing an expression that told exactly the opposite. "Probably just some city kids who have overdone it."
"But... I heard an explosion," she uttered anxiously.
"You mean..." Azusa looked at her carefully and noticed the fatigue in her eyes. He hadn't heard anything, but obviously Kiris had been lying awake for some time. Considering that she was telling the truth, there was indeed reason to worry.
"I'll go take a look. You stay here," he decided, closed the window and started to dress. Kiris turned on a dim light and placed herself on the edge of the bed, watching Azusa, her uneasiness written all over her face.
He was just about to put on his boots as somebody knocked on the door, making him freeze in mid-movement. The knock was repeated, this time with more urgency and Azusa felt a panic quickly welling up inside of him. A glance at Kiris told him that she was experiencing the same.
'Fool!' he scolded himself. Whoever was outside there would never dare to come in without permission. And even if, there was nothing unseemly in the emperor's son having his chamber maid in bed. Nevertheless Azusa felt like a rabbit in a trap.
It knocked a third time.
"Who's there?" Azusa shouted firmly, moving to the door.
"It's Yarasho. Who else should it be, sleepyhead?" a well known voice replied.
Azusa heaved a sigh of relief. "Wait a sec."
He quickly finished dressing himself, and did not realize that Kiris had stepped up to him. As he was about to open the door two slender arms wrapped around his chest.
"Be careful, will you?" Kiris whispered unable to suppress her worry any more.
"I will," he promised although he didn't think that there was any threat waiting for him outside.
She let him go and stepped aside so she would be invisible from the other side of the door.
The door hadn't even opened completely as Yarasho already greeted his friend. "Man! Our palace would sooner be burned to the foundations than you would be ready to step out of your room."
"As much as I can see, there's no fire in here," Azusa replied coldly.
"It was just a joke." Yarasho gave him a grin but became totally serious the next moment. "Is Kiris with you?"
Azusa was too stunned to react, as Yarasho suddenly stepped past him and took a look into his room.
"Hey!" he shouted and tried to stop Yarasho, but his curious friend had already discovered the young woman behind the door.
"Nothing to worry about. I just wanted to..." He stopped in mid-sentence and eyed Kiris, much like he saw her for the first time. She was only wearing a nightgown and retreated a step becoming aware of Yarasho's strange look.
"What?" Azusa's voice was filled with anger, anger about his friend simply entering his chamber without permission and staring at his girlfriend like a lecher.
"What do you want?" he repeated with more urgency and pushed Yarasho out of his room.
"No need to get rude." Yarasho freed himself from Azusa's grip and smoothed out his clothes. "On the way here I heard that some of the chamber girls were searching for Kiris. So I came to tell her."
Azusa growled and turned around to Kiris. "You heard him? So better get going." After she had given him a nod he closed the door behind him and addressed Yarasho again.
"Was that all you wanted to talk about with me?"
Yarasho's expression was completely serious now. "Of course not. I also wanted you to join me in investigation of the latest happenings."
Azusa's anger was replaced by curiosity. "You know what's going on outside?"
"Well." Yarasho smiled confidently. "I've met one of the guard captains and he told me that somebody must have thrown some kind of fire bomb over the wall. The undergrowth caught fire instantly, but he said the knights were already on their way to kill it."
"They better do. In any case, if you are right, the damage will be minor. So who would risk such a foolish attack on the royal palace and why?" Azusa wondered.
The Palace had always been a sanctuary of peace and civilization, widely accepted as untouchable by the people. The mere thought of someone daring to attack it all of a sudden was frightening.
"I guess it's only a rumor but I heard that a certain smuggler gang is already under suspicion. But personally, I doubt they've done it. With a direct attack they would only prove the threat they pose and force the council to agree to the suggestion of having more men stationed in the city."
"You have a point there, but..." Azusa interrupted himself, as the door behind him was opened and Kiris stepped out. She was now clothed properly in her usual chamber maid dress.
"Thanks for the information, Master Yarasho." She bowed slightly towards the young man and then looked at Azusa. Something in her eyes made him feel uneasy, but she just said goodnight and hurried away.
Yarasho's gaze followed her and he nodded in appreciation. "A beautiful girl indeed. But it almost seems like she has gained some weight since she's with you. Oh well, the life of nobility. It's probably difficult for her to accustom to." He grinned as if he had made an especially educated joke.
Azusa felt anger rising up again but he decided to ignore the words. "I thought we wanted to investigate. So come on," he ordered.
Yarasho nodded, grinning even more and both of them made their way out of the palace.
They hadn't been allowed to look at or even come close to the place where the fire had raged. The knights had vanquished it immediately but the traces had still been visible on the next day. An area of about ten square meters, covered by nothing but black ashes. The trees next to it had lost all their leaves to the heat and Azusa remembered that their bleak look had instilled a strong feeling of sadness in him back then.
Standing in the same place now, two weeks after that incident, he realized that the trees were regenerating even faster than he had expected. The sun was just about to make contact with the horizon and the small water droplets on the tiny green leaves and buds shone in the dusk.
The one responsible for the fire had been arrested a couple of days ago. The emperor himself, who had just returned from his journey, had announced the sentence. The lunatic would stay in a Juraian prison cell for the rest of his life. And Azusa was satisfied with it.
"What are you thinking about?"
Kiris' voice made him remember that he wasn't alone. He had come with her to this place with a certain intention.
During the last weeks she had withdrawn more and more into herself. She had cleaned up his room only when he was with Yarasho and rejected his invitations. Whenever they were together she was taciturn and depressed all the time. Even her question had carried a sad undertone.
"I thought about the crazy guy who did that," he pointed at the still recovering patch of grass and wood.
Kiris nodded somewhat disappointed and followed Azusa, who left the pathway to cross the scarred place and walk over to one of the trees which had remained untouched by the fire. The ground was still moist from the rain weather control had scheduled this afternoon, so Azusa stopped and turned around to face Kiris.
She wasn't wearing her usual uniform or one of the other dresses he had seen on her. Instead her body was covered by a rather long and loose fitting robe. Upon second thought, he realized that Yar might have been right with his comment back then.
"Don't look at me like this," begged Kiris. Her voice was low but full of despair.
"Sorry," Azusa replied but Kiris had already turned away. He didn't need to see her face in order to tell that she was crying again. He stepped up to her and gently put his arms around her waist from behind.
At first she winced, but then she allowed the contact and relaxed.
It wasn't easy to overcome his hesitation, but finally Azusa forced himself to say what had remained unspoken for too long now.
"It's been nearly half a year we are together now? Those months have been the most joyous ones in my life and nothing has changed with that. Nevertheless I see you crying so often now. What's wrong? Maybe I won't be able to understand, but I will try."
She remained silent, but he felt the soft touch of her fingers on his arms. And after a while she started to talk.
At nightfall Azusa had tried to find some sleep, but without success. Too many disturbing and outright unpleasant thoughts had been swirling around his mind. Then he had decided to go to the nursery. It had been strangely quite there, almost like the trees themselves were resting. Azusa had taken his place at the edge of a platform and had kept thinking as long as he had stayed awake.
Now he stepped out into the dawn over the palace. But it was dawn only by daytime, for dark clouds covered the sky and a harsh wind blew. Azusa knew that it was going to be a rather cold and stormy day, but he hadn't been able to stand the musty heat of the nursery any longer. After the experience he had made this night, he needed some fresh air, even if it was cold and unpleasant.
For some minutes he simply stood there unmoving and enjoyed the feeling of the wind playing with his hair. Then he took one of the pathways leading into the woods, towards the small river. Originally he was supposed to meet with Yarasho for training this morning. But yesterday he had asked Kiris to seek out Yarasho right before the appointed time and tell him that he had other business to attend to.
He didn't want to talk to his friend now. Even if he explained the difficulty of the situation Yar wouldn't understand. He was too easygoing and would no doubt tell him to simply end the relationship. But it wasn't that simple. Azusa sighed.
Leaving the way he noticed that the grass under his boots was wet with morning dew. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to sit down at the river. But at the moment he had to deal with greater problems than a wet backside.
The river divided the eastern region of the royal woods. There was only one narrow bridge to help crossing the stream of water without getting wet feet. Azusa used it and turned east, because there was a slight bend in the river a little farther ahead where nobody crossing the river could spot him by accident.
He walked on until the bridge behind him was swallowed by the surrounding vegetation. Finally satisfied with the location, he sat down right next to the water, hoping that it would help to ease his mind.
His eyes followed a tiny leaf floating over the stream. It made contact with the surface of the river right next to his position, but was carried away by the force of the water the next instant. It would probably leave the forest together with the river.
Azusa wished he could do the same. In principle he was a free man and tonight he had finally acquired the means to go wherever he wanted. But he couldn't just leave the palace without Kiris, nor would he be allowed to stay with her any longer.
There were only two options and both of them would bring about bad consequences. Maybe the easiest way to solve all the problems would be to marry Kiris. But, Azusa's shoulders slumped, his parents would never agree to a marriage with a commoner, let alone a chamber maid. So the only way out would be to leave Jurai together with her. But then again, this would mean to reject his heritage. As the heir to the throne, Azusa felt obliged to the people of Jurai. He knew, to escape from that responsibility was to betray the empire.
"Damn!" he swore, picked up a twig and threw it into the water. The wood was carried away instantly, which served only to intensify Azusa's fury about his desperate situation. Out of anger he took a stone from the ground and plunged it into the river full force.
"No situation without solution," a voice suddenly spoke up behind him.
Azusa turned around in fury. "I'm going to throw you in the water like that stone, if you scare me like this again," he shouted at Yarasho who immediately retreated some steps, making a defensive gesture.
"Sorry buddy."
Azusa relaxed a little and Yarasho used the chance to step forward again.
"Hey, I didn't want to disturb you." He seated himself a few feet beside his friend. "Just ignore me and keep throwing stones if it helps you."
A dangerous fire was burning in Azusa's eyes. "Why did you come? I thought you had been informed that there would be no training today."
"Oh yes. You have important business to do." Yarasho's voice was cynical now. "Kiris told me that. And...," he watched Azusa closely at his next words. "... she told me more."
Nothing moved in the face of the young man but he didn't reply either.
"Listen." Yarasho chose his next words carefully. It was very important that Azusa heard what he had to say now and not like so often lost his composure before he had a chance to finish.
"I'm your friend, you know that. And as a friend I want to help you. It's a difficult situation you are in, no doubt about that. But no matter what the situation, there's always a way out."
He didn't know where to place the look Azusa gave him, but at least he didn't shout and that was reason enough for Yarasho to continue.
"I guess the best solution is to make Kiris leave the palace."
"Make her leave the palace..." Azusa repeated and nodded, but his voice had an undertone that made Yarasho feel very uncomfortable. "... so that's your suggestion as my friend. Then let me tell you something. I will not let Kiris down, so spare me with your suggestions."
"But Azusa, just keep your anger out of the picture for a moment and try to think about the whole thing." The words didn't come out with as much emphasis as Yarasho had intended them to. Sanara had warned him that it would turn out like this, but he hadn't been about to believe that Azusa would be so narrow-minded.
"You are the heir to the throne of the mightiest empire in galaxy. A few decades from now and you will be the emperor of Jurai. Royal blood is running through your veins. You are special and..."
"... she isn't," he was interrupted by Azusa. "That's what you wanted to say, isn't it?"
"Well..." Yarasho shrugged and decided to put all his eggs in one basket. "Of course she isn't. She's an ordinary Juraian and will be accepted as your woman by no one."
"Who gave you the right to judge like this," Azusa shouted making Yarasho flinch.
"I'm only telling you what's reality," he countered. "Once your parents take notice of your relationship with Kiris, they will banish her immediately. No word of you will change this."
Azusa stared at him for a moment than he fixed his gaze on the river again. "I'm aware of that," he said calmly.
Yarasho was stunned. If Azusa had already realized that the relationship to Kiris had to be put to an end, everything would be a lot simpler. But before he could become too pleased with the turn of events, Azusa continued.
"The only way to stay with her is to leave Jurai."
"What?" Now it was Yarasho's turn to shout. "You can't be serious. You are going to throw your life away just because of a girl? If you leave Jurai, you will loose everything. In order to maintain his reputation the emperor would be forced to exile you. Don't tell me you want to spend the rest of your life as a lumberjack on some desolate planet."
He expected a harsh answer but Azusa remained silent, obviously thinking about this option. Suddenly a good thought crossed Yarasho's mind.
"You can't leave the planet anyway." He smiled confidently. "If you call on a ship all of a sudden, someone is bound to notice what you're up to and believe me I won't help you out."
"I don't need your help." Azusa looked at him again, he wasn't shaken in the least by his friend's revelation. "Call it accident or destiny, I've bonded last night. So I only have to go through the ceremony in order to be free to go wherever I want."
Yarasho felt deceived. For an endless moment he tried to think of another argument he could use to counter, but there was none. Things had turned out the worst possible and there was nothing he could do about it anymore. Looking at his friend sadly, he spoke with a resolute voice. "I won't allow you to leave Jurai forever."
A small part of Azusa's mind felt frightened by the sudden harshness of the otherwise always cheerful Yarasho but the main part was swept away by rage.
"So what are you going to do about it," he asked challenging, knowing that there was no way Yarasho could stop him if he really wanted to leave the planet. "Are you going to knock me out?"
Yarasho remained serious and his voice was cold as ice, as he spoke. "I'm not going to do that. It won't be necessary. All I have to do is to tell the emperor."
"You!" Azusa's eyes grew wide. "You won't dare!"
A faint hint of a smile appeared in the corner of Yarasho's mouth and that was enough to let Azusa loose control. He jumped to his feet and hammered his fist right in the others face. Yarasho's head was thrown back and as he recovered a thin trickle of blood was running down from his nose. For a moment he stared at Azusa totally perplexed, then anger started to burn in his eyes.
"Is that your way to thank me," he shouted, wiping off the blood with his hand.
Azusa stood right in front of him, and although it seemed impossible, his gaze became even angrier at Yarasho's words.
"Thank you for what? For all the useful tips about dealing with women? You are the one to blame for this whole mess. So shut up!" He threw another punch at Yarasho, but this time he blocked the attack.
"Wait a moment!"
Azusa was not about to wait, but his next attack met only thin air, for Yarasho had simply teleported out of his range. He let out an angry growl and was just about to turn around, as a terribly powerful blow struck his neck. He went to the ground instantly.
"I told you to wait a moment." Yarasho said in a wicked voice. "Did I get this right? You are blaming me for your mess?"
Azusa pushed himself up. The cold moisture of the dew had chased away a lot of his anger, leaving behind a very unpleasant feeling.
"Of course I do." He turned around to face Yarasho. "You've been the one to suggest giving it a try with Kiris. Don't you remember telling me stuff like unique opportunity and gain some experience?"
For a few seconds Yarasho stared at him speechless then he started to laugh. "You're really odd, you know. I mean...," his face became more earnest. "... you took that very serious, don't you?" Yarasho shook his head in disbelief. "I was just making fun, Azusa. Never would I suggest you to start a relationship with your chamber maid. Hell, she's just an ordinary girl, one of hundreds serving in the palace."
"No she isn't. She's something special." Even in his own ears those words sounded stupid and Yarasho wiped them away with a simple gesture.
"Aw, Azusa. There's another lesson you haven't learned yet. Love will spoil the fun. Whenever you really feel attached to a girl, your judgement will be reduced. Your view will be hazed and you will be unable to see all the other beautiful women then."
"How can you say something like that?" With every word spoken Azusa regained more of his lost confidence. "I don't see where being together with another woman I do not love would be fun. Guess what, Yar...," he made a pause, "... I think you're the odd one of us. Using women just by taking advantage of your power... it annoys me."
The words were meant to hurt Yarasho, but he just bent his head a little and replied, smiling, "At least I don't father kids."
Azusa went pale. "She told you?"
"She did. But...," he looked to the dark clouded sky for a second as if searching for words before he met Azusa's eyes again. "... it wouldn't have been necessary. Sanara suspected something like that already. And guess what, she told me that everyone would be able to see it very soon."
Small circles started to spread on the river's surface. Azusa felt the cold drops on his skin but he didn't care. If it really wasn't much longer until Kiris' pregnancy would become obvious he had to act fast or everything would be lost. No. He stared at Yarasho who had made a few steps back, searching for cover under one of the mighty trees. It was too late already. And deep inside he knew that Yarasho was about to do the right thing.
"What I wouldn't give to read your thoughts now. But...," Yarasho briefly glanced up towards the dark clouds. "... the weather is getting worse. I've no intention to stay here until the rain stops, so let's head back to the palace and finish our conversation there."
Azusa, whose hair was totally wet by now, didn't move. "There's nothing to talk about anymore."
Yarasho rolled is eyes. "Come on, Azusa." His head lowered, he moved out to him into the rain but Azusa just shook his head.
"I will stay here. Leave now."
"You're so stubborn. But as you wish. I will let you stay when you answer me one more question." Azusa nodded briefly, yet a wary expression appeared on is face.
"Who did you bond to?"
Wondering why Yarasho wanted to know something like that Azusa didn't respond immediately.
"Kirito," he finally said.
Yarasho seemed to be quite surprised but he didn't ask any further. Instead he walked past Azusa. But before he could leave an iron grip closed around his arm.
"Yarasho," Azusa looked at him, his face set in stone. "If you still call yourself my friend, don't act against me."
Yarasho returned his gaze, unblinking. "As your friend I have to." He freed himself and hurried away.
Azusa didn't look after him. His eyes were fixed on the river again. A couple of leaves were drifting in the current. Again and again they were pushed under water by the now pouring rain, but they would be carried farther away, no matter what happened. He instead, was forced to stay, while everything he cared about was washed away.
Chapter notes:
You have probably noticed that there was a chronological jump of one year from the last chapter to this one. Actually I don't like interrupting the current of narration that way, but since this story isn't supposed to turn into a novel and a lot of stuff has to be told, I have to make use of time jumps.
I know I dealt scarcely with the relationship between Azusa and Kiris. Sorry about that, but I had no intention of writing a love story. It just seemed necessary to introduce a little background in order to give you an understanding of the character's point of view.
Thanks for the reviews. I've made some kind of bet with Kryo. He said I would get five reviews, I said no more than three. Well, we got four, so neither of us won the bet. (And don't you dare to review the first chapter now :-) But I would be really happy to get a review for this chapter, cause I'm curious what you think of it.
And also thanks to Kryo, who helped me again with this chapter.
Yours Tamrin