Yes... I know it's wrong to not edit something before I post... but it's been a really long time, and I just wanted to get this out of the way. Perhaps I will go back later and fix'er up.

Aside from that, thank you reviewers who got my butt back into gear and pulled me out of my extensive slump :) Enjoy!

Sachiko looked around her. She was standing in a field that looked vaguely familiar, though she could not place how she knew it. The sky was as dark as ink, which struck her as peculiar, since she could not remember a time the stars had hid themselves from her. Their absence frightened her. She was alone. And she was cold. Freezing, actually. It was a sensation that started at her fingertips, her toes, the tip of her ears, and slowly spread to up, down, everywhere. Sachiko flexed her hands to get the blood flowing. It didn't help. Where am I?

She turned slowly around and saw that she was suspended in nothingness - what the hell was going on?

Sachiko!

A voice broke through her thoughts. A voice that didn't ring through the air, but still managed to fill her mind. She whipped around. Someone was running towards her, and before she knew it, that someone slammed into her. She felt small arms wrap strongly around her.

I found you!

Sachiko was too shocked to say anything. She was about to push the person – the girl, actually – away, but she stopped when she felt a rush of warmth run through her.

This warmth. There was something very familiar about it. Sachiko looked down at the girl. She did not recognize her, but she knew her. She was certain of it.

"What's happening? Where are we? Who... Who are you?"

A flash of pain crossed the girl's face, but the moment had been so short, Sachiko wondered if she had actually seen it had happened at all. And anyway, the girls was smiling at her now. A sweet, innocent smile that made her heart beat-

Wait. Why couldn't she feel the familiar thudding in her chest? Why.. why did she feel so... empty?

Sachiko's hand slowly crept to her chest. Her pursuit was stopped by the small girl, who now began to pull at her. She was unsure of where she was headed, but felt the need to follow her. A few more steps and she could now see that she was being led away from the blackness and towards the tiniest dot of light, which she knew was not there before.

Their pace quickened. That's when she first began to feel it: A dull pain, spreading through her chest.

"Wait!"

They were running now, to a dot that seemed to be getting further away. The pain grew, but the girl insisted on moving faster, pushing them further ahead.

Sachiko inhaled sharply. The feeling in her chest was sharper, more pronounced, now.

She pushed past it. For some reason, she didn't want to let go of the girl.

A few more steps however, and she knew she couldn't go on. Her entire torso felt as if it were on fire now. She couldn't breathe, despite her gasping. She tried to call to the girl to stop, but no sound came out. She fell to her knees, clutching her chest. A wet cough escaped her throat and when her hand came away, she saw blood on her fingertips. What was happening? The pain continued to spread.

Noticing that Sachiko had fallen, the girl stopped. She turned to look at Sachiko. That pained look again... only this time, it didn't leave her face. She came back to her, throwing her arms around her shoulders, she hoisted her up. Pain seared through her once again, as they pushed forward.

"No... s-stop..." she managed. In the corner of her mind, Sachiko knew she was dying, and now, the pain... the fatigue.. she couldn't keep going. "I'm so tired.. please...let me rest..."

The girl's eyes narrowed as she tightened her hold on Sachiko. Ignoring her pleas, she dragged her forward until they were finally in the light. It surrounded her, enveloped her, and spread through her until-

The pain came to a halt. The warmth had returned to her Sachiko blinked rapidly as the girl untangled herself from Sachiko, leaving her bereft. Sachiko's hand snaked out – one arresting the girl's arm, and the other caressed her cheek. She remembered now...

"Yumi.."

Yumi broke into a wide smile, and for the first time, she opened her mouth to say something-

"Saachan!"

Sachiko was taken aback by the force of Yumi's voice.

Yumi looked at her, slightly scared, her lips still moving, but no sound coming out. Sachiko strained to hear her.

Suddenly, she began to fade, causing Sachiko to grow alarmed. She reached out to hold onto Yumi, but a rough jolt disoriented her.

"Saachan! Wake up!"

Sachiko squeezed her eyes tighter, trying to will Yumi back to her, but a rain of soft, but firm patters on her cheek prevented her. Sachiko slowly, groggily, opened her eyes.

"Saachan! Thank God. Can you hear me? Please, say something..."

Sachiko's vision focused on worried, but familiar face that peered down at her. Not the face of Yumi.

"S-Suguru?" She mumbled in a daze.

He quickly, roughly, drew her limp body into a quick hug. She was too exhausted to react.

"Yumi...Where's Yumi?"

"Shh... Saachan, don't worry. We'll find her."

Suddenly she felt an overwhelming sleepiness overtake her. She fought it at first, to see what was going on. She could see people being roused, either on their own, or with the help of healers. Both Madame and Shimako flitted around, one person after another. She began to hear the signs of life, as the night air began to fill with the sounds of groaning and relief, all at once.

One voice in particular stood out to her.

"Reinforcements my foot! The entire battle's over." Sei smirked at her cousin.

She closed her eyes.

"Rei-chan! Rei-chan! Are you okay?

Sachiko was roused from her sleep by the most abrasive of noises. She was no longer in the field, but an infirmary of sorts. Possibly in Hanadera? Having been sedated, her mind was still too scrambled to make out the details. She only processed what she could see.

In the bed beside Rei, Sachiko saw Yoshino burst through the hospital doors, and run straight to her friend. This only mildly surprised her. While it was obvious that the girl cared so much for her friend, she had been certain that Yoshino would have reacted a little more...

"Rei-chan, you Baka! Baka! Baka! Baka! ..." like that.

"Take it easy Yoshino. Rei is already injured enough."

Another person walked through the doors, slower and calmer than the first, though no less worried. That Eriko even bothered to come was a testament to how much she did care.

"Rei-chan! Gomen... I would have come help you fight if someone -" at this she gave a pointed glare at Eriko, "-had alerted me sooner."

Sachiko heard the unease in Rei's voice as she gave a small chuckle. Mm, she'll have to decide whether she wants to back Eriko or Yoshino. Sachiko did not envy the position she was so frequently put in. She wondered if Yumi would ever put her in such a position, and if so, what she would do.

Wait. Yumi... Where is she?

Sachiko began to move, searching for signs of the girl. She briefly recalled Suguru saying they were looking for her, but that was hours ago... right? The sun was up, and shining brightly. It had been dark out when she had first awoken. Yes... Surely they had managed to find her by now?

But Sachiko did not see her. Where is she? Sachiko was certain that she was alive, though in what condition she was not sure... If she were hurt though, the first place she would be is here, so I guess it's a good thing she isn't here?

A cough erupted from Yumi, causing a hot pain to rip through her. She clutched at her chest. All her life she had had to live with these phantom pains. Hurts that were so strong she felt she'd been stabbed. But nothing was every physically wrong. This time however, she felt even worse than before. Ever since last night, when Sachiko had been revived, she felt drained.

She had not realized her state at first. But the moment she had been forced to leave her side, and try to run, she couldn't. Her heart seemed to spasm and her legs gave out. She must have lost consciousness, because the next thing she knew... she was in a prison.

Nobody had come to visit her since then. Had she been forgotten? Was she to be left here to whither away?

Yumi shivered, at from the cold. Or was it because she just realized her fate? To Lilian, she was the enemy who helped orchestrate the attack. Now she would be tried for the attempted murder of most of the prominent knights in Lilian, apparently. If she however, somehow manages to escape that fate, she was could not return to Miyahara. She was now a fugitive with a price on her head. Naomi would not forgive her for her betrayal, she knew. A strangled sob escaped her throat. She had foolishly, followed her heart, and had lost everything. More than everything. What if Sachiko had died after she had left?

Something wet splashed on her hand.

She was crying. She made a move to wipe her eyes, but instead only smeared the previously dry dirt on her face.

"Oh..." She muttered to no one.

"Yumi-san. You're awake."

A voice startled her. Apparently she was not alone. A young boy came rushing towards her bearing a small wash basin and towel. She recognized him immediately. The boy – from the night before. The one she had tried to... er... well, "kill", but couldn't because he had still been alive. She still didn't understand how she had missed that.

Yumi was momentarily frightened. Did he know? Did he remember?

"H-how do you know my name?" She asked tentatively.

"Everyone knows your name. You're the talk of the Castle... They say that you're responsible for the start of the battle... but also the end..."

"Here. Nothing a little water won't get off. There's not much I can do about the clothes though, sorry."

He offered her the wash basin.

Yumi slowly retrieved the bucket and began to scrub, keeping her eyes trained on the boy the entire time.

"A-are you the prison guard?" she asked. She was a little confused that anyone would be here. The sun had only just risen, after all. "Why.. why are you here? If I am a traitor... why are you doing this?"

There was an awkward silence as Yumi looked the boy over. He looked sad.

"You saved my life." He replied at last. "I had died.. I think. But somehow you.. you brought me back."

Yumi stared in disbelief. Wha-?

"I-I'll get you some more water." The boy suddenly spoke up. He dashed away.

Yumi supposed she had made him uncomfortable, though she was glad to have some time now to process everything.

What did he mean by that? Save Him? Brought him back to life? That was the most incredulous thing. It was no gift that anyone possessed, she was sure, and certainly not her.

The sound of footsteps broke into her thoughts when the boy returned.

Except that it was not him at all.

"Yuuki! Yuuki! Where are - ?" A girl stood on the other side of the bars. She stared at Yumi.

"Sachiko." Sachiko gave a small jolt in surprise.

"Youko-sama!" She was so relieved to see her.

Youko made her way towards Sachiko. "How are you feeling?"

Sachiko shook her head in assurance. "I-I'm fine..." She looked thoughtful. "I thought I had died... But then I had the strangest dream, and..."

Sachiko saw the worry in Youko's eyes, and quickly changed the subject. "What about you? Are you unhurt?"

Sachiko took a closer look at Youko. Actually, she did not look as worn as everyone else did. A few scrapes and a minor bruise, but that was all.

"Sei covered me." Youko explained quietly.

Sachiko had a brief image of Sei jumping to cover Youko just as that... that flash, that thing, whatever it was, hit. Which meant the blonde bore the brunt of the impact.

Sachiko quickly scanned the room for Sei , not only because they were friends, Sachiko grudgingly acknowledged, but because she meant so much to Youko, and Youko meant much to her.

"Looking for me?" A hearty voice boomed next to her ear, causing her to jump in surprise.

"Sei-sama.."

Sei's arm was in a sling, her foot was in a cast, and it was clear that her nose had been broken, but still she was all smiles. Sei noticed Sachiko staring.

"I'm fine! I'm fine! It's not as bad as it looks. If anything, this makes me more attractive ..." she joked.

"Hm. Pride in tact – you must be fine." Youko was joking with Sei, but Sachiko saw her reach for her partner's hand which betrayed her calm demeanour. Seeing this made Sachiko miss Yumi even more.

"Where's Yumi?" Sachiko forced calmness into her voice, but failed to keep the quiver out of it.

The two older knights exchanged worried glances before looking back at her. Sei opened her mouth to speak, but then, she immediately closed it.

"Your parents are here." Sei ignored her question.

Sachiko cringed slightly, her concern for Yumi momentarily overtaken by the surprise of her parent's presence. She had hoped to keep her injury from them. Difficult as that would have been, it would have been more difficult with them knowing.

Her father, it seemed, was discussing something with Suguru a small distance away. Suguru's usually cool demeanour was missing. He looked stressed about something, though every once in a while he would give a smile that lacked warmth. Her father would not be able to tell, but she could.

"I see. But that doesn't answer my question. Where is Yu-"

"-She is safe, now-" Sei abruptly interrupted her in a hurried voice.

"Sayako-sama!" Youko suddenly chirped brightly.

Sei clamped her mouth shut as her mother rushed towards her.

"Sachiko! Thank goodness you're alright... what in the world possessed you to go into battle!" Sachiko understood that her mother's harshness came from her worried state. Her mother understood as well as anyone the obligation of a knight. The Ogasawara name could not protect her here.

"Thank goodness Suguru was there in time to save you..." She looked at him with an approving smile. "He's a good man, Sachiko."

Sachiko's mouth hung agape at the last comment. At a time like this? She was playing matchmaker right now?

"Your mother is right, Sachiko."

Her father had arrived. Suguru was only a step behind, an apologetic look on his face. "And after his promotion comes through... there would be no reason not to get mar-"

Suguru cleared his throat loudly, saving Sachiko and himself from an unwanted conversation.

"Kashiwagi-san." Sei drawled in an almost hostile voice.

"How are you feeling, Saachan?" Suguru asked with concerned, briefly acknowledging the presence of the other two Castle Heads. "I was so worried about-"

"Suguru, did you find her?-"

"Saachan... now is not the best time to-" He tried to silence her.

"I want to see her. Suguru, where is she?"

Suguru looked uneasy. He exchanged a look with the two other Castle Heads, who shifted uncomfortable on the spot.

"Saachan... please..."

"What has happened?" Sachiko demanded. She was growing tired of the secrets.

"Sachiko! Watch your tone!"

Youko gave her a severe look.

Sachiko, and everyone else, it seemed, was surprised at Youko's sudden reprimand. The knights grew quiet, and it became a waiting game to see who would dare challenge Youko.

"I.." Sachiko began, but she did not know what to say. She had only been concerned with Yumi. Had she really been that out of line?

It was Sachiko's father who finally broke the silence.

"Sachiko... Naturally you would be concerned as to the fate of that traitor. But rest assured that she has been caught. A trial, where she will be found guilty, awaits her. Please do not worry, she will receive her due punishment. You are safe now..." He gave her a small smile that was meant to reassure.

"It's best just to forget and let go." Her mother added quietly.

They took their leave then. There was some important meeting that was about to take place between her cousin and the King. She strongly suspected it was about his promotion, which would no doubt be expedited now that he would be labelled the hero of this ordeal. Even if he wasn't.

"Eh, Satou-san. Please also come with us. The court would also like your recount of events. Please stay available for us." Her father said with a smile. "You too, Mizuno-san."

Sachiko waited until her parents and cousin were a good distance away before saying anything.

"Youko-sama, I'm sor-"

Youko waved her off. "Never mind that. And anyway... I best not hear that you've been visiting the prison. Sachiko, did you hear me? That's a... a warning."

They left. Sachiko shot out of bed. She didn't care how many rules she was breaking. She would find her.

Yumi, who had been deep in thought, had been startled out of her wits by the loud shrill voice. She now looked at the owner of said voice, and was surprised to find a girl not that much smaller than she, though for some reason, Yumi felt slightly intimidated by this new person. She could tell that unlike that boy, this girl was not in the least bit shy.

"H-he..." Yumi cleared her throat. "He went to get some water."

The girl continued to stare.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Y-Yumi." She finally answered.

The girl stared some more, as if trying the name out in her mind, before she spoke again.

"Yumi-san... You have dirt on your face."

Yumi looked at her incredulously. "Oh... I-is that all?"

"And in your hair. And on your-"

"Touko-chan!" The boy had returned. Thank goodness.

"A-ah, please excuse her. She is too... too young." He did not know what else to say.

The girl glared at the boy named Yuuki, obviously furious at the remark.

She resumed washing, though it was a little awkward now with an audience. Once most of the dirt had been removed from Yumi's face, Touko spoke again.

"Say... you two kind of look alike."

Yumi frowned slightly. This girl seemed to say everything and anything on her mind. She did not know if there was any truth in the statement however. She hadn't really ever pictured herself as a boy.

"Touko-chan... what are you doing here?" Yuuki asked finally.

Touko shot a nervous glance at Yumi before she turned away. "I wanted to see her."

Both Yumi and Yuuki were surprised by this.

"Eh-"

"They say she will be hanged." Touko continued. "I just wanted to see... But this was not what I expected." She added softly, sadly even.

Yumi quivered slightly. Hanged? But...but I've done nothing wrong...

"But I... why?"

Yuuki looked at her sadly. "Yumi-san...I'm sorry. Y-you're... you're being tried for the attempted murder of the only daughter from a powerful family..." The last part came out in a rush as he pulled his cousin away, dragging her out. "I'm sorry."

"Wait!" She called. She did not want to be alone, she was so scared.

Her tears barely had time to form before a loud boom reverberated off the walls as the prison door swung open.

"Yumi?" A voice called.

Sachiko had found Yumi in the Hanadera prison, just as she had been told. She found Yumi standing immobile in the middle of her cell. She had been looking forward, but she had barely reacted at all to her arrival.

"Yumi! Yumi... are you alright? What happened? Are you hurt?"

The small girl slowly came back to life. When she looked at Sachiko, she seemed to see her for the first time.

"Sachiko..."

Sachiko rushed forward, stopping only at the iron bars that separated them.

"Yumi, I'm here. It's okay..."

A single tear rolled down Yumi's cheek before her eyes hardened. She turned away.

"Yumi... what's wrong? Please look at me... come here, please."

Instead, however, Yumi walked to the furthest corner of her cell and sat, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"This is your fault. No... this is my fault...no. No... I was so stupid to think..." She whispered under her breath.

Sachiko began to look around desperately for the key to the cell. What was happening to Yumi? This was not the reunion she had anticipated, and time was running short.

"Yumi...I don't know you're saying-"

"If I had not come back for you, I would not be here." She said, a little louder.

Sachiko froze.

"Yumi..."

"Please just leave me alone Sachiko... I...I'm glad you're okay. But I..." I'm in enough trouble as it is.

Enough of that. Sachiko, who had given up on finding a key, wielded the iron bars to her will until they contorted enough to create an opening. The bars were still warm with the energy she had pummelled into them when she stepped through.

"Yumi.. you're not the only one who has broken a few rules." She thought of her family, and Youko-sama. How disappointed they would all be. But Yumi was worth it to her.

Sachiko kneeled infront of Yumi. She extended a hand to brush another stray tear before it finally settled against Yumi's soft cheek. Yumi settled against her touch momentarily before jerking away. "I will take care of you, Yumi... please don't be scared."

Yumi inhaled shakily, before responding.

"Sachiko... I..."

Sachiko pulled her into a tight embrace. She felt warmth emanate from Yumi, and she held her tighter. At some point however, the warmth turned to heat, and then the heat turned to a burning.

Yumi pushed Sachiko away forcefully, causing her to stumble backwards.

"Yu-"

Yumi was glowing, brighter and brighter by the second. The small girl looked frantic.

"Sachiko! G-get away! Please!" She backed away further from Sachiko, who could not comprehend what was happening.

"Yumi! What's... What's happening?"

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard. It seemed they were out of time.

"There! Over there!" A guard shouted..

Sachiko turned just in time to see a soldier reach out to grab her. Simultaneously, her cousin Touko rushed towards the still radiating Yumi, hand outstretched.

"Yumi-!"

The hand closed around her and she felt herself get thrown forcefully towards a wall. She braced herself for impact, but instead-

-Sachiko stumbled into the street. The wall she was about to slam into was no longer there. Neither was the prison, the guards or Yumi... In fact, she was in the middle of the market, being ogled at by pedestrians.

Sachiko swore in frustration when she realized what had happened. "Curse these Hanadera enchantments!"

The transport had been seamless. She didn't even know she had been projected. The guard who had grabbed her must have had a gift for projection – moving people and things through space. It was not a rare gift, but to do it so smoothly took much practice.

A few people stopped in the street and stared, not all of them strangers. Sachiko glared at them. She couldn't care less at how unrefined she sounded.

A hand landed on her shoulder.

"Sachiko-"

"WHAT?"

Sachiko leaned against a pillar, defeated and slightly ashamed. Had she stopped looking at her feet, she would have noticed the look of amusement on the older knights'faces. But her thoughts were far from Youko right now. She could not leave Yumi in there.

"How was the hearing?" Sachiko asked, not really interested in hearing the answer.

"As expected. Kashiwagi-san got his promotion. Yumi was found guilty – she'll be hanged now. Oh, and by the way, did you manage to sping Yumi free?"

Sachiko's eyes went wide, uncertain of what to process first, but her mind quickly decided. "You knew? You knew that she was in prison, and you did nothing!"

"Is that a 'no'?"

Sachiko raised her fist to strike Sei, but the blonde held up her hands in defence. "Hey, hey! Of course I knew. Why did you think we told you where she was?"

Sachiko continued to glare at Sei, furious. "If you wanted her free, why did you send me? I obviously cannot challenge my superiors and get her out!"

Sei looked at her thoughtfully, ignoring the outburst. "Yes... the question is why I told you, instead of maybe, Rei or Youko... And for the record. If I had wanted someone to challenge the Imperial Courts, then I would not have sent you."

Sachiko did not understand Sei's cryptic message. "Is this a joke to you? Yumi is-"

"Sachiko." Sachiko was surprised to find Youko suddenly at her other side.

"Y-yes?..."

"You're one of the brightest in your year, Sachiko. You know our laws. Neither Sei nor I, or even Kashiwagi-san, can free Yumi. Do you know why?"

Sachiko wrestled with the raging emotions within her, trying to get rationality to take hold. "B-because.."

"Because as the Castle heads.. we cannot break the very laws we enforce. If we did, we would uproot our entire political system."

Sachiko looked at Sei. It seemed she had actually given this much thought.

"But if say, a Compass level knight were to make a request, or let's say, call in a favour..." Youko continued.

Then there would be no foul. Sachiko realized. Someone in her position had enough power to draw attention, but not enough so that her every action was being heavily scrutinized by the citizens and the Kings and his advisors. Sachiko understood now. If Sei or Youko had made such a request, there would be an uproar... especially with elections and promotions in the midst.

"But I cannot just ask for a royal pardon as a favour..." Sachiko interjected. The Ogasawara name had enough clout in the Imperial Courts, but there was no way her parents would sanction such a move.

Sei hung her head, letting out a loud sigh. "Ah, it is lost then. If only I had won the tournament last year, I would have used my prize for this..."

Youko looked from Sachiko to Sei. "Sei. If you had won, you, would have already used up your favour from the king."

Something clicked for Sachiko. She was right. On a trick shot against Sei in the swordfight last year, Sachiko had unexpectedly placed first against the former champion. Her prize was one wish to be granted from the King, which she had immediately used to be pardoned from having to be bonded with the suitor of her parents' choice. He had, in the end, rejected this sadly. He claimed it was a condition of growing up, and as much as he disapproved of political matches... they were her parents, and his advisors. So as it was, she still had one outstanding favour.

Sachiko stood. Once again she marvelled at the unlikely pair.

"I know what to do." Sachiko announced.

She needed to find the king.

Yumi awoke in a bed. A soft, soft bed. She had, in one moment, been in the prison, having her powers bleed all over the place once again – it seemed Sachiko was somewhat a trigger for these episodes- and in the next, someone had grabbed her and managed to drain her of all her powers. It had been that small girl from before... Touko. She had felt her power leaving her, but at some point, she had felt something more than just her power leaving. She felt her life ebbing away as well... she had blacked out, not doubt.

And now she was here. But where was here? Yumi sat up suddenly, only to be pushed back down gently.

"Don't move."

Yumi, ignoring the request, turned frantically to see a familiar set of blue eyes looking at her warmly.

"You hit your head earlier... you should stay still a while longer."

"S-Sachiko? What happened?"

Sachiko smiled widely at her. "You... you're free, Yumi. We got you out of prison."

Yumi blinked in disbelief. "How?"

"A pardon. You've been granted a pardon... under the condition that you serve me in the Chinesis Castle for now on."

Yumi froze. "I... what?"

"Is that alright, Yumi? It was the only way I could get them to agree... I'm sorry... you can't go back to Miyahara."

Yumi was silent at this. She would not have been allowed to return anyway... but was she ready for this?'

"You'll be safe Yumi... I can take care of you, if you'll let me."

Yumi was still unsure of what she was hearing, or what to believe. She was exhausted.

"Sleep Yumi. We'll talk more later."