Standard disclaimers apply
As she was recovering in the school's infirmary, Izumiko felt the stress leave her as Miyuki held onto her hand, assuring her of his support through the physical contact. While Izumiko didn't want to admit it, she always felt protected when she was around Miyuki. Why is it so hard for me to talk to him about how I feel about him? I know I love him, but for some reason, I can never tell him.
"Miyuki?" The aforementioned boy lifted his gaze to look Izumiko in the eye, "You can't blame yourself for this." Before the monk in training could protest her request, Izumiko continued her explanation.
"I know you want to protect me but that doesn't mean that you are able to all the time." As Izumiko caught Miyuki's gaze, he found himself trapped by her gentle eyes, "On top of that, you have no control over the actions of others. Besides;" Izumiko shut her eyes as a gentle smile came to her porcelain like face; "you have been protecting me." As her intense gaze locked onto his face once again, Izumiko plowed forward, determined to finish her lecture.
"I know you want to prevent these things from happening . . . but you can't be everywhere at once." As the words registered in Miyuki's mind, a sudden bolt of inspiration struck him.
"You're right; I can't be everywhere at once." A mischievous grin overcame his face at the potential of his crazy idea.
Miyuki called out to Yukimasa. After some heated whispering between father and son, Yukimasa relented; however, he said the ultimate choice would be Izumiko's in the matter.
"Izumiko;" The aforementioned girl turned her attention to the elder Sagara, "Miyuki has a potential solution to this problem." Hope dusted Izumiko's face like a fine blush as she waited to hear the solution from the young monk.
"I had the idea when you mentioned that I can't be everywhere at once." Miyuki's stone face remained intact as he continued:
"Of course you're right; no person can be everywhere at once. That's why I think we need to enlist the help of other students to keep you safe." Izumiko's eyes widened at Miyuki's bold idea. Was this really necessary?
"I know you don't want special treatment Izumiko. But this isn't about the Hime-gami; this is about you." Miyuki's face scrunched up a bit from his frustration, "You can't keep feeling such intense pressure while attending Hojo Academy. Its' only October and you've already had a panic attack. This is not only dangerous for your health, but the way these boys are acting toward you is completely illegal, regardless of who you are." Izumiko nodded, understanding that Miyuki wasn't angry at her; he was angry at how the boys in the school had been acting toward her.
"I trust your judgement Miyuki." Yukimasa's eyes widened at Izumiko's statement; does she have any idea what she's saying! She just placed Miyuki in a place of authority over even me!
"Yukimasa;" Izumiko's call caused the elder Sagara to turn to her, "please don't think that my trust in Miyuki means that I don't trust your judgement as well. While I do hold Miyuki's opinion above yours, that doesn't mean I don't value your experience." She captured that gaze of both monks before expounding on her instructions.
"I would like both of you, along with Mayura and Manatsu, to choose students that are trustworthy, of good character, and are interested in protecting me as Izumiko, not as the Hime-gami." The princess' gaze shifted to Yukimasa as she finished giving her instructions.
"Your task is two-fold Yukimasa. Not only do I want you to assist Miyuki in screening students, but teachers as well." Izumiko hardened her gaze as she gave her final direction to Yukimasa.
"I want to be perfectly clear that Miyuki's word in these screenings is final. While I expect him to listen to your recommendations, I will only allow students that Miyuki has approved of." Before Yukimasa could protest at giving such a task to a novice monk, Izumiko cut him off.
"I do not want to hear your protests! If it weren't for Miyuki, I would still be in an alternate plane with Masumi! I'm tired of how everyone claims to want what's best for me but what they're really after is my power!" Fury entered Izumiko's eyes as she finally expressed how she felt about everyone manipulating her; "Do you know why I choose Miyuki in the first place?" The fury began to calm as recollection entered her eyes; "When we went to Tokyo to see mother, Miyuki choose to comfort me when I was scared. On top of that, he shielded me from the evil spirit, even though at the time he wasn't far enough along in his training to perform an exorcism." Izumiko's now gentle eyes turned to face the young monk in gratitude.
"He did all this . . . before he even knew who or what I was, Miyuki wanted to protect me. He showed me compassion, even when he'd made it clear that he did not see me as anything special and that he hated people like me." Izumiko's gaze hardened into an angry look as she turned to face Yukimasa once again.
"It is because of this, and other times when Miyuki acted with my best interests in mind, that I trust him above all others. If you can't accept that, then you are not worthy of serving me." Yukimasa, thoroughly scolded, bowed his head in both apology and submission to Izumiko's reprimand.