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.

34. A Matter of Pride

Saionji had forgotten, how hard it was to make ends meet without Touga covering the rent.

Whatever the lawyers from the Kiryuu family estate had been sent to inform Touga of, it had happened. The landlady had been very discreet, taking Saionji aside to politely and apologetically explain that the payment for last month's rent hadn't gone through. Saionji had apologized profusely, assuring her that he would have it quickly, very quickly, and ignoring her assurances that it was all right.

"You are a good young man. You work hard. I would be happy to help," she said.

But Saionji could not accept the offer, nor could he ask for more help from his mentor. He begged his manager at the convenience store for extra shifts, and the only hours that could be made available were exceptionally late at night.

He resolved himself firmly not to be bothered by it. There were hardly any customers at that hour, after all, so he tried to balance the resulting exhaustion with the opportunity it provided him for studying. Even when, at four in the morning, he found himself behind the counter in the empty store, made too bright by the fluorescent lighting, reading over the same sentence again and again without comprehending it. Even then, he wouldn't resent it.

He wouldn't resent Touga for not being able to shrug off the consequences of going against his family's wishes. Nor would Saionji resent him for seeming so unconcerned about the situation.

Touga had grown up in the lap of luxury. Money was no object to him, never had been. It wouldn't have been fair to expect things to be otherwise.