On Unions Civil and Otherwise

by Kita-Ysabell

Ten years have passed- ten years to the day- and when Utena and Anthy's engagement party goes somewhat awry, Saionji finds that some things are not so easily forgotten, and faces the bitter possibility that to make good his escape from Ohtori, he must rescue his oldest and closest friend- whether that friend wants to be rescued or not.

23. Let Me Tell You a Secret

I rise early most mornings, early mornings being a markedly sacred time. In winter, it's still dark out. In summer, the sun's already up. This morning, I paused, looking down at Touga, still sleeping beside me. The light falling through the blinds made a pattern on his shoulder, following the contours, shifting slightly with his breathing.

Let me tell you a secret: the world is perfect at six in the morning, before the inevitable imperfections have come, one by one, to make their stains on the day. And there is a certain freedom to it, moving quietly about the apartment without fear of interruption.

It's not often that I watch him sleep. I wouldn't want to grow attached to that, to his image rendered falsely peaceful. But from time to time, some piece of it still catches me, like the sun making lines across his shoulder.

I don't think there was ever a time when I was unaware of such things, though for much of my life, I turned away from them. Yet this is something that I have had to learn: to sit in the quiet, cool light of dawn; to drink, slowly, a cup of tea; to take merciless enjoyment of such moments, when nothing is wrong.

Sometimes that is enough.