Silence dominated the courtyard as Izumi regarded Kouji, and Kouji glared back. The rest of the princess's entourage had left, and only a single guard remained to protect the contrary lady. Kouichi continued to comfort Takuya, but they both watched with interest at to what the girl might want.

Izumi held out her arms, forearms pointed towards the sky, before speaking. "May the lords and ladies keep you safe, and I am heartily sorry for offence that I may cause."

Both Kouji and Kouichi stiffened at her words, which although clumsy and strangely accented, were recognisable as the customary formal greeting in their own language.

Kouichi hurried forwards to face Izumi, and made a similar gesture. "And may they travel with you through life's path." He tilted his head. "You speak the language of the people-of-the-trees?"

Izumi clasped her hands in front of her, and looked down. "I am afraid I do not understand what you said." She shrugged. "I just know the greeting and how to apologise for my mistakes. I would've learnt more, but the envoy only stayed a few weeks at the court."

Kouichi blinked in surprise. "But none of the hamlets have sent people out of the woods. We would have heard since our council was so opposed."

Kouji nodded. "It was decided your people weren't ready to give up violent ways and be our friends." He shrugged. "Wasn't total agreement, but it was given as law."

Izumi smiled at Kouichi. "I've met with elves before, at the court in Emeritile. They had come for negotiations with the Emperor."

Takuya stepped forwards. "How have you been so far? I'd never stepped foot outside my village until I was ten years, almost eleven."

Izumi smiled, and paced slightly to stand in front of him, moving in an unladylike fashion, swinging her hips. "I've travelled far, Demon, but I doubt to your lands." She spun to face Kouichi again. "My father was appointed Ambassador to Emeritile. Every Spring, when the mountain pass opens we return here, and a week after Midsummer has passed, we return there, to negotiate on behalf of King Elbert." She smiled coyly at Kouichi. "In that land, the elves speak with men, although grudgingly." She tilted her head. "I must confess though, I've never seen black-haired elves. I thought you were all blonde or silver-haired."

Kouichi scratched his ear nervously, blushing slightly at Izumi's scrutiny. "Not unknown, but rare. Our father had blonde hair, but our mother had black."

Her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh, where are my manners?" She curtsied slightly. "I'm Lady Izumi Orimoto, of Lowland Point." She straightened slightly, and looked at the boys.

Kouichi smiled, and half-knelt. "I'm Kouichi Minamoto, first-son of Honoured-Kousei Minamoto, of El Metriscule." He indicated Kouji, who took a similar stance behind Kouichi. "This is Kouji Minamoto, second-son of Honoured-Kousei, and my twin." They stood and Izumi curtsied again.

"I didn't realise you were of such high rank, Honoured-Kouichi."

Kouichi shook his head. "It's just Kouichi. We were declared outcast after our honoured-father's death. That's why we are here." He looked angry. "We tried to work in the world of men, but were taken like animals to be destroyed."

Izumi looked down, and smoothed her skirts. "I'm sorry for your loss, and for our treatment of you. We can't be making a good impression as a people."

Kouji folded his arms. "You're not."

Izumi's attention turned to Takuya. "You've not spoken, Demon. Don't you have a name or a land?"

"Sure I do," said Takuya, bowing. "I'm Takuya Kanbara, of Greenfields." He paused. "And I'm human. Just like you."

Izumi blinked. "But the fire…"

Takuya shrugged, and seemed to be fascinated by his hands suddenly. "I don't understand it either. I know humans aren't supposed to have magic, but I do with fire. Kouichi swears I'm human, and as a truth-seer, he could tell if I wasn't." He looked sad. "My magic has cost me a lot. My home and family, and now my freedom."

"You poor thing. Maybe you're a changeling, or some demon-child who got lost."

Kouichi shook his head. "Human. Totally. And his magic is beyond anything our people know."

Izumi watched Kouichi. "I've never heard of elves with your skills either."

Kouji folded his arms. "Rare. Not unknown."

Izumi gave a small laugh that sounded slightly false. "You seem very strange elves, with your un-elflike magic, and your un-elflike hair. I've never seen such young elves, either. You must be, what, twenty-five years of age?" She moved closer to Kouichi. "I like older men." She smiled aggressively.

"Er…" Kouichi backed away from her slowly. "We're probably of an age with you, my lady." He stumbled as the chain caught his foot, sending him tripping into Kouji's arms.

Kouji looked worried as he helped his twin to stand. "Aggressive, isn't she? I think she likes you."

"Likes me?" spluttered Kouichi. "She doesn't even know me!"

"Makes me glad I'm the girly one," teased Kouji.

"Oh shut up." Kouichi shoved an elbow lightly into Kouji's stomach before stepping away from him slightly. "My lady, we're elves, no matter what we look like. Our ears hear the gods will, and we are one with the trees."

Izumi smiled. "And it helps that you're cute. Call me Izumi when we're alone like this."

Kouichi looked nervous. Oh no, she is interested in me. "Izumi, I'm not cute. I'm just different to you, and as an ambassadors daughter you must feel more comfortable in this situation than with the princess."

Takuya covered his mouth with both hands behind Izumi, trying not to laugh.

A female servant came into the courtyard nervously. "My lady?" she asked.

Izumi turned, and then her hands flew to her mouth in shock. "Oh I forgot! She's going to be angry again." She lowered her hands from her mouth to address the servant. "Would you please inform Lady Tomoko that I will be there presently?"

The servant curtsied slightly. "Very good, ma'am." She left to deliver her message.

Izumi turned back to Kouichi, ignoring the strange look he and his brother wore. "I have to go. Lady Tomoko is my etiquette tutor. They say I'm not lady-like. Hmph! As if." She put her hands on her hips. "Just because I don't let men walk all over me, they say I'm not lady-like." She started for the exit, then turned to walk backwards, skipping slightly. "I'll come see you again, Kouichi. Oh, and you too, Kouji, Takuya." She grinned, then turned back to walk, and nearly collided with Junpei as he entered the courtyard. "Watch where you're going, oaf!!" She hurried off, muttering about silly boys who stand in doorways just to trip people up.

Junpei watched her go longingly. "Wow. She's pretty. I think I'm in love."

Takuya grinned and shook his head. "Sorry, she's got her sights set on Kouichi."

"Kouichi?!" Junpei sputtered. "Why like him, he's not even human!" He paused. "Oh, I came because Tomoki asked me to warn you that you won't get fed tonight. He was told his punishment duties were different for today because you insulted Princess Kalinda. Not very wise of you."

"I'll remember that for next time she calls me names," said Takuya, dryly. He then looked at the twins. "What's up, guys?"

Kouichi and Kouji looked at each other for a few moments before Kouichi answered.

"Our mother's name was Tomoko… We just… for a moment, we thought it was her. But there must be hundreds of Tomokos over the land."

"Yeah," agreed Takuya, "And she's not dead or an elf. Don't worry about it. Put it out of your mind."

Kouji shrugged. "It's just… Our people believe that at Midsummer the Gods walk amongst us, and the dead return to see their loved ones, so…" He looked at the ground. "We just hoped…" He blinked rapidly, and Takuya realised that Kouji was trying not to cry.

"Kouji… Kouichi… I didn't mean to…" He moved closer to Kouji and hugged him. "I'm sure your mother is still watching you from wherever it is your people go when they die."

Junpei coughed embarrassedly. "You know, it couldn't've been her anyway. It's still three days till Midsummer."

Kouichi nodded absentmindedly. "It's okay, Junpei. Our festivities last all week for Midsummer, so… maybe…" He sighed.

Junpei patted his shoulder awkwardly. "I'll just leave you be, eh? Maybe I'll come visit you while the festival is on, and I'm not dancing with that pretty girl." He smiled weakly and left.

Kouichi watched him go, and then moved to put his arms around Kouji too. "We know she loves us still, okay? Honoured-father said she would. That all our faults would mean nothing to her, and that she'd see past our surface to what was beneath."

Kouji sighed unhappily, holding onto Takuya. "Would a normal family have been so wrong?" He let Takuya go reluctantly. "Would a normal life for us have been so wrong?"

Kouichi kissed his forehead gently, and hugged him. "We walk the path that Lady Elsa gave us when we were born. It may be a hard path, but we're the only ones chosen to walk it." He let Kouji go.

Kouji smiled weakly. "That wasn't comforting when the Elder said it, and it isn't really comforting now either."

Takuya touched Kouji's arm gently. "Okay?"

Kouji saw the worry in Takuya's eyes, and made an effort to smile wider. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just… sad, you know?" He moved away to sit and think, leaning against the courtyard wall.

***************

Takuya watched the torch flame flicker gently. "I don't understand. What do you want me to do?"

Kouichi smiled a little. "You need to learn control." He walked around the torch slowly. "So we talk this though gently. The fire is so you feel it."

Takuya shook his head. "I don't want to feel it. I feel it, then it takes me over, and I want everything to be covered in flames."

Kouji spoke quietly from behind him, making Takuya jump. "And what is it? What is its feel, its sound?"

"It… It…" Takuya shook his head. "I try to look at it, and it'll wake."

Kouichi kept moving. "Does it matter if it wakes? You're its master, you control it. It can do nothing without your agreement."

Takuya closed his eyes, clutching his token. Please Goddess, I just want to look, not use it. Don't let it take me over. The something in him stirred gently as Takuya focused on the flames, making Takuya jerk backwards and into Kouji, who held him fast.

"What is it, Takuya?"

Takuya forced his eyes open, and the warmth inside himself back. "It's… It's like fire, but it's in me. It's warm, and so strong."

"Is it stronger than you?"

"Ye…" started Takuya, then stopped. It's done what I've told it. I can push it away before it goes too far and I loose myself. "… I'm the stronger one. It does what I tell it."

Kouichi nodded. "Now, put your hand in the flame, but don't alter the flame. Let your warmth protect you only."

Takuya stepped forwards, and felt the warmth in him surge. No he told it. You serve me, not the other way around. He thrust his free hand into the flame, and the warmth inside him struggled harder. He closed his eyes and bit his lip. Stop that, he commanded. He felt the warmth fall back, then move forwards, this time more gently, reminding him of a dog with its head held low after punishment. It started to twine about him, but again he pushed it back. Please do as you're told. He opened his eyes, only to see the torch-flame swell in size as the warmth in him tried to escape again. Stop it, stop it, stop it.

Kouji put a hand on Takuya's shoulder gently. "That's enough, Takuya. You can stop."

Takuya pulled his hand away, and sagged tiredly against him. "It kept fighting me. It wants to burn."

Kouji smiled and brushed Takuya's hair gently, as Kouichi moved the torch away. "But you didn't let it. You won."

Takuya smiled a little and closed his eyes tiredly. "'M stronger than it is."

Kouji picked him up gently, and carried the dozing form of Takuya towards their bed of hay. "You're stronger than you know."

Takuya smiled in his sleep.