Author's Notes: I struggled with this chapter, and I'm still not entirely sure I'm happy with it. But I best just bite the bullet and get it over with so we can move on into the more "interesting" things, yes? XD Hope you enjoy it anyway. (I'm sorry not much happens). Constructive Criticism is always welcomed.

Ceteris Paribus

Chapter Ten: Can Secrets Make Friends?

Mako quietly turned the handle of her door, trying to slip in unnoticed as she gestured to Takeru behind her to follow just as silently.

"Mako!"

Mako winced with a good-natured smile at Takeru before turning to her sister.

"Yes?"

"Where were you? I was getting worried!" Kotoha's hands were planted firmly on her hips in a scolding manner, but her stance was one full of apprehension, not anger.

Mako smiled quietly. "The fine weather was too tempting; I wanted to venture outside."

Kotoha darted a quick, questioning look at Takeru before looking back at her older sister.

Mako caught the look. "I knew you and Ryunosuke would worry if I went about alone so I asked Takeru to accompany me."

"Are you sure that was a good idea, Mako? I mean…"

Mako waved aside her sister's worries. "We came across a few disgruntled Ladies, but as there was nothing they could do, we simply pressed on."

Kotoha's gaze sharpened and she frowned. "Mako, what did they say to you?"

Takeru, who had been watching the exchange with mild amusement, now took a sharper glance at the princess before him.

Mako's eyes started slightly but she held firm to her smile. "It was nothing of importance," she assured her. "Just the usual gossip."

Kotoha scowled in true form now. "Mako!"

Mako's smile grew wry. "Impressive frown Kotoha, I think someone's been hanging around Chiaki a bit lately."

Kotoha flushed but held her ground, crossing her arms over her chest. "You need to stop only protecting others, Mako. You need to defend yourself too."

Mako regarded her little sister's tense form for a moment before sighing quietly and stepping forward to wrap her tiny shoulders in a hug. "I'm sorry."

Kotoha relented after a moment, returning the embrace. "I don't want an apology Mako. I want you to promise me you're going to start protecting yourself too."

Mako hugged her closer. "I will try."

Kotoha sighed, blowing loose strands of hair out of her face, knowing that was as close to a promise as she would get at the moment. She felt a teasing smile alight her face, making sure to keep her voice low. "So what were the two of you up to for so long while you were alone?"

"Kotoha!" Mako sputtered, her face flushing in an instant, causing her sister to burst out into laughter.

Takeru watched the entire exchange with a practiced eye. Honestly, he was flabbergasted that Mako's sister had been able to pick up the subtleties that Mako was unable to completely hide away. He had garnered a couple himself, but Kotoha had immediately known that the confrontation Mako had had earlier that day had been an ill one. Had he not been there himself to witness it, he seriously questioned if he would have been able to pick up on the shadows of it the way Kotoha had.

No matter how much he looked, he just couldn't find any overt physical signs. He was startled to find that this frustrated him.

Takeru grumbled to himself inside. What was he getting himself into?

The three turned as one when a firm knock sounded on the door with Ryunosuke making his appearance moments later.

"Hime," Ryunosuke greeted formally. "You have a new correspondence awaiting your attention."

Mako's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. "Already? That was rather quick."

She turned to Takeru with a polite smile, her expression completely closed off. "If you'll excuse us for just a moment." She looked to the door as two more faces poked their way inside. She gestured for them to venture further in. "Please, make yourselves comfortable, we will return momentarily."

Mako motioned for Kotoha and Ryunosuke to follow her into her private chamber, shutting the door firmly behind her and locking it on silent hinges.

Chiaki and Genta exchanged questioning glances before looking at Takeru.

"What was that all about?" Chiaki voiced.

Takeru folded his arms across his chest, his brows pulled down in concentration. "She's remarkably talented at hiding things when she chooses."

Genta grinned wryly. "Sounds a little like someone else I know – two someones."

Takeru leveled his friend with a long glance as Genta put his hands up defensively.

"I'm just saying, is all."

Takeru shook his head quietly. "Any news?"

Genta was immediately serious, nodding to Chiaki to check the doors before fumbling in his pockets and pulling out a few slips of paper, a couple of which fell to the floor.

Chiaki scowled as Genta hurried to collect them. "You're supposed to burn those!"

Genta shrugged. "I doubt many could read our language here, even less so in the Inner Sanctuary. The women here are trained in sexual prowess, not intellectual ability, and the servants aren't taught to read or write."

"Even so," Takeru cut in before Chiaki could unleash his tongue. "Be sure to burn them from now on, just in case."

Genta shrugged nonchalantly. "Okay Take-chan, if you say so." He flipped through the little notes before finding the newest one. "Ah! Here it is."

He dutifully handed it over.

Chiaki and Genta watched the entryways and shadows while Takeru quickly read through the message. He sighed quietly before folding it again and handing it back to Genta who stealthily hid them in a safe, inner pocket.

"What news?" Genta asked.

"It's a message from the top again – that person seems to be writing us personally more and more as of late." He shook his head at the thought before moving on, his voice barely audible in the room. "Apparently there is someone of "great interest" in this court that we are to ferret out."

"Person of great interest?" Chiaki repeated. "Is that good or bad?"

Takeru frowned slightly. "I'm not certain, but it seems that this person has gained the attention of our courts. Someone from Aduro is seeking the aid of our kingdom. We're to keep our eyes and ears out for this person and judge for ourselves if the requests are genuine or simply another ploy against us and our allies."

Chiaki snorted. "It's a trick, obviously. Why would anyone from this country be seeking our help?"

Genta's expression was subdued as he contemplated their newest order. "Do you think it's an average citizen of the kingdom, maybe a scholar? We know how desperate the people here are for help; they're too largely ignored by their king – they'd be willing to risk their life to seek aid, even from the 'enemy'."

Takeru shook his head. "The letters are too high in formality for an average scholar, though one from within the palace could be plausible."

"So how are we supposed to find this guy? Send others to watch over all of the scholars within this place?" Chiaki questioned.

Takeru nodded. "At least the ones whom we've been keeping an eye on – the ones sympathetic to their citizens' pleas and country's ruinous state, and perhaps a few others in power as well who fit the same description."

Chiaki snorted. "That's not very many people Takeru."

Takeru winced slightly. "I know." He looked over at his unusually silent friend. "What is it?"

Genta was studying the closed door on the other side of the room. "What about your princess Take-chan? She seems to fit that bill perfectly."

Takeru felt his cheeks heat. "She's not my anything," he mumbled.

"Ah, that's right. You're hers, right?" Genta gave his friend a cheeky grin.

Takeru dragged a hand across his face as he tried to hide his embarrassment, unwilling to even dignify that question with an answer.

Chiaki rolled his eyes at the jab toward Takeru, choosing to ignore most of Genta's words. "I can see your point," he started. "She does seem to fit the description, but like you said earlier Genta, the women here are trained for flirting and deception. If it was the First Princess of this court, then it would be for a con, right? You said it yourself Takeru, she's hiding things – and she's good at it. For all we know, she's been putting on an act this entire time, luring us in, gathering information, and just waiting for the right time to use it against us – catch the network within these walls and turn us into her father to add new, bright red wall decorations for her country."

Takeru and Genta's eyes looked troubled; they couldn't say that the thought hadn't crossed their minds before.

Genta ran a hand through his hair in agitation. "I really hope that's not the case Chiaki. I rather like her – she's different. Besides, Ryunosuke grew up with her, right? She would have had to keep up an act like that almost every minute of every day to fool him, and you can tell that he trusts her judgments, even when they go against his own." He looked at his childhood friend. "We've been around her ourselves for quite some time now, and I haven't seen her change herself just to please someone else or to get her way, she appears rather genuine to me."

He caught Takeru's eye meaningfully. "I stand by what I told you before Take-chan. That's what my gut tells me."

Takeru nodded after a moment, Chiaki looking thoroughly confused at the last exchange.

Genta sighed. "I guess this doesn't solve our little problem though – could it be the Princess or is it someone else entirely?"

Takeru contemplated silently for a moment. "I think it's best if we keep all our pathways open – get the message out to others to be on the lookout for this "person of interest" in seats of power, I'll keep a close eye on the First Princess."

Genta grinned suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Speaking of that, word amongst the servants is that the two of you were spotted out and about alone Take-chan. Care to share?"

Takeru did his best not to groan.

Mako's eyes eagerly swept over the newly coded message; it was in the same style as before and Mako took no time in deciphering the encryption.

Kotoha all but bounced at her sister's side in anticipation. "What does it say? Can you read it?"

"I can read it," Mako assured her in a low voice, her eyes memorizing every last symbol before she opened up the brazier across the room and tossed the note inside, watching intently until every last shred of it had disappeared in the fiery depths of the glowing coals.

She turned to her companions with a worried frown. "They are interested in helping, but seem wary to trust us."

"That's understandable," Kotoha replied confidently. "They don't know who we are – your messages could be coming straight from father's desk!"

Mako nodded.

"What do they want?" Ryunosuke asked carefully.

"Proof," Mako sighed. "Proof that we are genuine in our request."

"What kind of proof?" Kotoha's head tilted to the side slightly in question.

"What are they searching for Hime?" Ryunosuke continued. "Your identity? Secrets from the inner-palace?"

"A show of faith," Mako replied. "They will trust us, if we entrust our faith in them."

Ryunosuke and Kotoha looked at each other and blinked.

"Such as…?"

Mako sighed and sank down to one of the many cushions piled at her feet, resting her chin in her hand. "They didn't specify. Only that it needed to be a gesture grand enough to secure them in their faith of us."

The three contemplated that statement quietly for a long moment.

"What about sending them one of your personal medallions?" Ryunosuke suggested.

Mako shook her head. "For all they would know, someone could have filched it from me and was sending it along." Her eyes unfocused and she stared at the tapestry hanging from the wall unseeingly. "Besides, I think they'd be even less likely to trust me if they found out who I really was – no one in their right minds would trust us if that truth came to light."

Kotoha sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. She stilled, her eyes growing wider as a thought occurred to her. "Mako! What about Takeru and Genta?"

Ryunosuke and Mako's eyes immediately lit on the eager girl.

"They're from Caelestis Via, aren't they? They could help!"

Ryunosuke was already shaking his head. "Genta's a cook – a servant here, and Takeru is a slave –"

"He might be the prince of their country," Kotoha countered. "It doesn't matter what he is here, he'd be important to them, right?"

"I don't know if –"

"Wait," Mako held up her hand to silence them both, her thoughts rapidly running together. "Kotoha might be on to something there."

"I am?"

"Maybe they could help us – help us get to know their country, its culture and its people." Mako's words spilling past her lips as fast as her thoughts appeared.

"Kotoha's right, we don't really know who Takeru and Genta are – who everyone says they are. It's past time we found out, I believe. Time is running short and we can't afford the luxury of delaying this longer just for protocol's sake.

"We know precious little about Caelestis Via." She looked up at Ryunosuke. "If you could gather information on this country from any texts you could find, I would greatly appreciate it. Any other sources too would be most useful."

Ryunosuke hesitated a moment before replying. "What kind of information are you searching for Hime?"

"Language, culture, politics – written and oral, if possible." She smiled. "I know you already have enough on your plate, but if you could simply locate the source material and have them brought here, that should suffice."

"But, I didn't think you could read Caelestis Via's language Mako," Kotoha looked at her sister in bewilderment. "How are you going to understand it without Ryunosuke's help?"

This time Mako flushed slightly, her fingers nervously smoothing out non-existent wrinkles in her clothing. "I've been studying."

Kotoha's eyebrows flew up into her hairline. "Since when?"

Mako's flush deepened in its rosy hue. "I had random characters memorized from prolonged exposure, but ever since our new guests… Well, I thought it might be helpful one day."

"Can you understand the oral language yet, Hime?" Ryunosuke's face betrayed his worry, but what that worry was, Mako seemed unable to fully grasp just yet.

She shook her head. "No, not yet. I am frustrated in that area – you can't hold a conversation with yourself in a language you're learning. All I've been doing is studying the characters and grammar structure."

"That's amazing Mako!" Kotoha's exuberance burst out so suddenly she was unable to contain it.

Immediately all three pairs of eyes studied the door and the relative quiet beyond it. They waited in tense silence for a moment before relaxing minutely.

"Sorry," Kotoha murmured, embarrassed.

Mako shook her head with a smile. "It's okay, nothing to be worried about it – no one could have figured out any context of the conversation from your words."

"But that doesn't stop sharp ears and minds from wondering what caused it – or from curiosity nagging at them to delve a little deeper," Ryunosuke muttered in warning.

Mako nodded and lowered her voice even further, her words so quiet the beating of a dove's wing would have drowned out the sound. "As we learn more about his country ourselves, I will also begin to inquire about Takeru."

"How?" Kotoha looked perplexed. "Genta?"

"And from Takeru himself."

Kotoha bit her lip. "But what if it isn't true? What if Takeru isn't who everyone says he is? Are you sure he'll even answer you?"

Mako's brought her fingers together before her, forming a miniature steeple and studying them intently. "We will simply have to find out." She glanced at Ryunosuke and Kotoha. "He might be their prince and heir, or maybe he's simply a newly instated General for this war, whatever his position, we should find out as quickly as possible."

Her lips tightened at the edges. "I overheard the women gossiping today – the battles seem to be turning ill for our country. Whomever Takeru really is, Father believes him to be the prince of Caelestis Via – that will be enough to convince him to take more aggressive actions against Takeru soon enough. We know he only placed Takeru with me because of my title; he can't be completely ignorant of the rumors about me. Giving the Prince of Caelestis Via to be a slave to the First Prince of Aduro is a battle of titles and inflicting shame; otherwise he would have been killed or given over to someone more like Kamilla at once."

Kotoha sighed deeply. "I'll help Mako, in any way that I can, but" she bit her lip in worry, "please try to be careful. If Father finds out what we're up to…"

Mako tried to smile reassuringly but even she felt the strain in her facial muscles this time and knew she was fooling no one. "I'll try," she promised.

Kotoha moved to sit next to her sister and hugged her tightly, as if trying to keep her safe, if only for a few moments longer.

Mako rubbed soothing circles in her little sister's back, her eyes finding her childhood friend and confidant. "Ryunosuke?"

Ryunosuke was quiet for a moment longer before he bowed deeply before her. "As always, I will do whatever is within my power to help you in your endeavors Hime."

Mako smiled at the formality, knowing it was a hard decision to make for him – his drive to protect her warring with his duty to serve her faithfully.

"If you will excuse me then, Hime. I will go check up on our guests."

Mako granted him his permission, leaving the two sisters alone in their privacy.

Kotoha turned to her sister, a question burning in her eyes.

Mako smiled. "What is it?"

"Is this only for the sake of the "show of faith" with Caelestis Via?" She blurted.

Mako blinked rapidly. "What?"

"I – I've been watching the two of you," Kotoha admitted. "Sometimes, the way the two of you look at each other – at first it was like you were trying to figure the other out, trying to figure out what's going on in the other's mind, but now, now it's – softer." She blushed. "You're starting to trust each other Mako, and I'm afraid that this might ruin that… I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I don't intend to get to know Takeru under false pretenses or for the sole purpose of our agenda," Mako admitted quietly. "I do genuinely want to get to know him better."

A flush rose up on her cheeks. "I wasn't lying when I said it was past time I did so – I think you're right Kotoha, we're starting to trust each other now. And – and I'd prefer not to ruin that as well, but…

"I suppose my plans are three-fold." When Kotoha looked at her for further explanation, Mako breathed in deeply to center and calm herself before answering, she could feel her blood rushing faster in veins as she admitted her plans aloud for the first time.

"This plan is to gather knowledge to help us in our endeavor with Caelestis Via, and it is also a very flimsy excuse for me to pull my courage together and finally get to know the guest our father has so cordially graced our presence with." Her blush deepened at her admission for a moment before her eyes fell. "But it is also for his protection."

"His? You mean Takeru?"

Mako nodded. "Prince or not, Father will come for him all too soon…"

She rested her chin on her knees, her voice the quietest of whispers. "I always look out for those under my protection."

"Mako…" Kotoha began, her eyes troubled before, with a sigh, Mako stood.

"We should return; we don't want to be rude."

Kotoha's lips rose in a small smile, happy to see her sister's usual demeanor returning, but still concerned about the shadows lurking behind her eyes.

"Only you would think keeping a guard, servant and slave waiting rude Mako."

Mako's smile this time was more genuine. "I like to go against the grain when I can."

As the two ventured out back into the main chamber, Mako graciously greeted the occupants of her room, nothing in her voice or demeanor hinting at the conversation that had just taken place moments before. As she engaged in conversation with her guests, guiding them to sit down on the other side of the room, Kotoha made to follow with a smile.

She paused momentarily, a flicker of something out of place catching her eye. She peered closer and noted a scrap of paper on the floor behind a decorative vase. She picked it up and opened it, peering inside at the contents.

It seemed to be a mass of scribbles – unintelligible to her in the slightest. She thought about throwing it in the brazier – it had to be one of Mako's notes, one of the coded ones, but perhaps Mako had kept it for a reason, maybe it had yet to be decoded still.

With a wary eye on the young men in the room she discreetly slid it into a pocket of her skirts with a reminder to hand it over to Mako tonight when they were alone and getting ready for bed.

If it was a secret message, she couldn't let the wrong pair of eyes read it.