Chapter 12:

Isilra woke up, feeling horrible. Her whole body ached, but her shoulder was throbbing worse than the rest of her. It was still early. She sat up and saw Tatsuha's head on the bed next to her. She reached out to stroke his head, softly. He woke up and looked at her. She smiled at him. "Good morning Tatsuha."

His eyes searched every part of her, searching for blood or any signs of pain. She shook her head at him. "I feel fine, really. It hurts slightly, but it'll be fine." He caught her up in a hug, burying his face in her flowing hair. She tried not to squirm or wince, he was holding her a little too tightly. He was shaking slightly. She hugged him just as tightly. "I'm ok, Tatsuha…really. You didn't have to worry…nothing happened."

"Thank Poseidon, nothing happened. I'm so sorry you had to go through it at all. I'm so glad you're okay. When they brought you in…I was so worried." Isilra realized he was sobbing softly now. She stroked his back, trying to calm him down. She didn't know what to say to make him feel better.

He stopped and pulled back. "I'm sorry, I help on too tightly. You're bleeding a little." She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Tatsuha, please calm down. Really don't be so worried. I need a nice happy person right now; otherwise, I'll just die out of gloominess. So please smile and tell me a joke about the maid or something."

He grinned a little. "I don't know why I expected you to act different! You'll never change! That's why I love you!" he bit his lip he couldn't take the words back and she was staring at him in shock.

"You lov…" a maid entered, saying Isilra had to get ready for the trial. She was supposed to be in court in an hour's time. She also said something about the herbal bath, the doctor had recommended. Tatsuha stood up before Isilra could say anything and left.

She slipped into the bath confused. Tatsuha loved her? But they'd only known each other for a few weeks! Did she love him back? She shook her head, she didn't know. He was really nice to be with and all…but could she commit herself to something like love?

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Tatsuha sauntered around in the garden. Damn! Why did he have to blurt it out like that? He'd dreamt of telling her, but it hadn't been like this in any of his dreams. He had to say it on the day of the trial didn't he? Confuse her even more…if she gets a death sentence I'll never forgive myself!

"She wont. I think father will have to let her off easy." Tatsuha turned around to face his brother, not realizing he'd voiced his thought aloud. "At least, not if I have anything to say about it! She's my fiancée!"

"Oh look who's suddenly started to care! Is it some kind of camaraderie now? What happened to you almost happened to her?" Tatsuha didn't duck fast enough as Eiri's palm connected with his face. He glared at his brother, knowing he was in the wrong, but not wanting to admit it for now.

"Tatsuha, stop it. One more remark like that and that's it. I'll admit that I made some terrible mistakes since Athens, but I'm trying to make amends now and I don't want my face rubbed in it. It'll also help if you stop acting like a child. I'll wait for you in the trial room." Yuki started to walk away.

"Yuki…" the older man stopped and turned to look at his brother. Tatsuha's eyes were filled with pleading. "I'm sorry." Tatsuha hugged his brother tightly. "I'm sorry I'm being such a bastard."

Yuki hugged back. "Tatsuha, I do care and I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I made you feel left out and never was there for you. I'll try to put an end to that now." Tatsuha pulled away and smiled.

"Thanks brother. Um…Yuki I told her that I loved her." Tatsuha flinched a little as his brother stared at him. "You did what Tatsuha?" Yuki was still staring at him. Tatsuha cleared his throat. "It just came out, by mistake. I was so relieved at seeing her alive and well that I blurted it out."

"What did she say?" Tatsuha scratched his head. "She couldn't say anything, because well, a maid came in and I was too embarrassed. Do you think I'll have any chance Yuki?"

"I think you have a very big chance, idiot. But I don't know if she'll say anything just yet. Don't hope for too much right now okay?" Yuki made sure Tatsuha got that. "Then, lets go. The trial will start soon."

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Isilra walked into the court room, calm and collected, though she was quaking with fear underneath it all. She was a foreigner here and this could get her a death sentence, even if she was the fiancée of the heir. She tried to cheer herself up a bit, by looking at all the funny things about court. She almost smiled when she saw that pompous minister Tatsuha always teased, he was standing there with his pot belly and an expression of complete distrust. He had a scratchy voice and put on an accent. Then there was Shuichi looking so scared, he resembled a small bunny surrounded by wolves.

Her thoughts came to an end as she faced the king. He looked very grim. "Princess Isilra of Athens, can you please tell me exactly what happened with Taki of the house Onassis?"

Isilra had practiced this so many times, it came fluently now. "I was walking in the garden, as everyone else was otherwise occupied. There was some cloth…wrapping cloth it looked like on the ground, so I bent down wondering why anything like that would be lying in a garden. That was when I was ambushed. When I woke up, I was at the beach, farther than I had gone before. My wrists were bound together, by two bracelets link by a chain…Lord Taki called it a 'parasite'. I couldn't use my magic. Then he told me he was going to rape me because I had humiliated him many times and shunned his affections. He thought it would also hurt the heir as I'm his fiancée and our love would be tainted. He kissed me and then I bit him, so he slapped me hard splitting my lip. Then when he came towards me I swung my hands, which he had bound in front of me, into his face, sending him flying backwards and onto the ground. That seemed to make him really angry, so he pushed me roughly; I skidded on some sharp shell which cut a large gash in my shoulder. Then he talked about breaking me, the most powerful sorceress in Greece."

Isilra cleared her throat waiting for the atrocities to sink into everyone at court, in a way it was fortunate that she was still bandaged up and he lip hadn't healed. Then she proceeded. "Then he started to push up my skirts and ripped my sleeve. I was desperate, so I tried to convince him about how handsome he was and I finally convinced him that I would couple with him willingly. So he undid my bracelets, once my hands were freed tried to get away, but he was too close. I grabbed a knife that he'd brought with him; I don't know where he got it or why he brought it, it was there fortunately. So we had a small knife fight, for which I am known back home. I waited for an opening, I saw one and I took it. I had blanked my mind out and all I could see was the fight, I ended up killing him. Then the guards arrived and I don't remember anything else, except waking up in my room. That's all your majesty."

The court remained eerily silent. This was the first time Yuki, Tatsuha and Shuichi were hearing everything that happened in detail. Tatsuha was grinding his teeth very hard, anger evident in his face. Yuki looked angry too, Shuichi looked like he was going to faint. The king looked around grimly.

"I'll leave this for the court to decide. Murders have always been decided this way. I will speak first. I am sorry to hear how Taki, wronged the princess, but maybe she shouldn't have killed him. But as it is in self defense, I will place three sentences in your hands. First she will be under house arrest for two weeks, until the matter is thoroughly investigated by the court. Second, she will be given death as is usually done for murderers. Third, she will be sent back to Athens. It is for you to decide."

Yuki spoke for the first sentence, majority of the court agreed, though they decided that a week was enough to investigate the matter. The second sentence was pleaded for by Taki's family. And only one or two asked for the third sentence, but that would be too risky because of the impending war.

The king then sat up. "So judgment will be passed. Princess Isilra you are from this day on confined to your rooms or the temple. For a week you will not go anywhere else, until the matter has been investigated. We will meet again once the investigation is complete."

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"That went well." Shuichi sighed. They were all in Isilra's room. The evening meal was to be served there so she would have company. House arrest wasn't so bad, though it meant she couldn't wander the gardens with Tatsuha, spar with Shuichi or talk to Yuki. But she was supposed to be healing, so it didn't really matter.

"Here, Shuichi." She bent down and healed Shuichi's cut. She paled immediately. Tatsuha caught her as she slumped forward a little. "Couldn't this have waited Isilra? Why are you wearing yourself out?"

"Well, there will be questions asked about what happened to his leg soon, he can't wear his old world clothes all the time." Isilra smiled at them. "you guys worry too much, I've been hurt a lot worse than this, before…that time you had to worry."

"That I can believe, cause you'll always be an idiot!" Yuki smiled. Tatsuha wasn't saying much after the 'incident' in the morning. Yuki was wondering if they needed some time alone, but decided that it might be too much to handle now.

Shuichi sat next to Isilra on the bed, leaning against her a little. He was still a little shaky from the whole murder and trial. No one accused him of anything, but he didn't like the fact that they thought of him as a hero when he'd killed someone.

The evening meal was brought in and they sat joking around together. Yuki decided to leave before sundown. He and Shuichi got up to make their excuses, when the door burst open. "Your, highness you have to come quick. I think all of you should come!"

The soldier ran out before any questions could be asked. They followed him to the kings rooms. Yuki went in first and almost fainted. The room smelt of blood and the king lay right in the middle, in what looked like an ocean of blood.

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A/N: ok cliffhanger ne? chappie dedicated to anyone who can guess how the king died!

Taka