CHAPTER THREE: FACE TO FACE

"Come into the light."

Their first day in their new home passed without incident; they
got up, bathed, dressed in fresh finery, and went downstairs. 
There they ate, and afterwards were given an outside tour.  They
marveled at the garden, blooming to a magnificence they could've
scarcely imagined; they ohhed and ahhed at the river and the
woods; they truly and freely enjoyed it all.  
 Their guards, Jade and Naosu, also found themselves enjoying the
stale ground, for though they knew every inch of it, showing it
to someone made it fresh.  After this, they checked the horses;
Aiko's and Kiri's had been administered to.  They then proceeded
to meet the crop of horses the castle kept for the men that lived
there, and agreed they were fine animals.  Soon, it was evening,
and they took their supper and went straight to bed.
 That night, the four men were summoned to the Prince's chambers. 
He gestured them to the scrying table (for that was what it was,
allowing him to watch those in his domain), and bade Naosu to
pick up the rose.  It was a very special item, it and the other
items all in tune with him; this, though, had no set properties
but a variety, depending on the need.  This time, he wanted
truth, and so asked him to describe his day.
 "Why the rose, m'lord?" Naosu asked hesitantly.  Did not the man
trust him after all of these years?"
 "It is due to the extremely powerful nature of the women, my
friend," he replied.  "You still have my trust, Zoi."
 "Sire, the Silence..."
 "Can be set aside in certain places.  Here, I deem so."
 Zoisite (for the time being) nodded, and went ahead and told of
all he had done.  The rose stayed the truthful white throughout.
 He repeated the process with Jade, and then asked the remaining
two for their thoughts.
 "You are right, sire.  They are powerful, though adapted in
different ways.  Also, they are extremely perceptive.  The Lady
Hiko was always looking about, as if seeing something else; the
Lady Arashi kept a constant eye out.  Both may have heard us,"
Kunzite reported.
 "The Lady Arashi is protective and suspicious to almost a fault,
m'lord.  I truly believe she had a guardian position," Nephrite
added.
 "Interesting," replied the Prince.  "And what impressions did
you get of their personalities?  They are all attractive ladies;
you must have studied them a little."
 Each man colored just a hair.
 "The Lady Kiri, who I spoke with, is shy, yet intelligent--
extremely so," Zoisite responded hesitantly.  "I believe she is
more fascinated with this place than anything, and would do no
harm to anyone who did not harm the Lady Serin."
 "I concur," Jadeite added.  "I myself talked with all five, but
the ladies that made the most impression upon me were Lady Hiko
and Lady Aiko.  There is an extremely strong friendship between
the two, even though Hiko is quiet, shrewd, and quite...uh,
creepy.  Her eyes have a way to read your," and now he paused,
seeking about for the right words.  "Several times it felt as
though she read my soul.  Aiko is light, cheerful, and a touch
flighty, yet I do not think is a true presentation, for she is
not stupid."
 "Trust Jade to be intrigued by two women," the Prince murmured. 
"Yet, continue."
 "I shall illuminate more of the Lady Arashi," Nephrite broke in
quietly.  "She is, as has been said, extremely protective and
strong.  I doubt that any of us--pardon, my liege--could defeat
her in a simple battle.  Beneath that, though, I believe she is
quite uneasy here.  I am not sure why, yet I shall..."
 "Endeavor to find out?  Excellent."  For a moment, he studied
him.  "You seem fond of her already."
 Nephrite was slightly taken aback, but replied, "I will try to
find a reason not to be if you wish, my liege."
 "Don't be a fool, Nephrite.  Though her stay is short, be fond
if her if you wish.  She is most likely worthy."  He looked about
then, taking a careful sniff of the air, and turned to Kunzite. 
"My friend, you have not reported yet."
 "I tell of the Lady Serin, yet it is very hard to do so.  She
defies most words.  Quite lovely, very bright, and yet...I feel I
cannot do her justice with words.  She is innocent, but not
naive; very attached to her guard, yet it go both ways."
 "Such a rare circumstance," muttered the Prince.
 "However, there is much to her I cannot see," Kunzite continued
without missing a beat.
 The Prince looked as thoughtful as possible, and moments later
said, "Your words have intrigued me.  I shall reveal myself to
the Lady Serin, and gauge her reaction.  We shall see how she
stands up."  A moment, and then, "You are dismissed."
 So it was that the next morning, as the five ladies nibbled upon
their breakfast, that Ryu came to the table.  The other three
were already there, do a variety of tasks; Naosu was engaged in
reading a book and eating an apple, Kishi was taking his morning
glass of wine as he watched the women, and Jade was alternating
between his crossword puzzle (same as the day before) and eggs. 
Ryu took this in briefly, contemplating his own food, before
turning to his duty.  "Lady Serin, the Prince will see you now."
 Her spoon stopped halfway to her mouth; her heart started to
pound.  However, she quickly regained her composure, and put the
utensil down.  Wiping her face delicately with a napkin, she
stood, folding the square of linen up again to set beside her
plate.  Despite the coolness of her features, he could see the
way her hands trembled, and felt compassion for the Lady. 
Briefly, he wondered, <Has she, too, sensed his terrible power? 
She was the first to claim enchantment.>
 "I am ready, m'lord."
 It was then that the Lady Arashi looked up.  "You cannot go
alone, Lady.  Allow me..."
 "The Prince requested her alone," Ryu interrupted.
 "He is right, Arashi.  You should stay here, finish your food. 
I will be fine," Serin quietly said, giving her a small smile. 
However, the guardian could see the fear that lurked in her eyes,
and her face went grim.
 "You should have at least an escort, Lady.  It would be improper
for you to..."
 "Do you question Ryu's honor?  Or the Prince's?" broke in Kishi,
setting his wine upon a shelf.
 "Must I?" she snapped back.
 "Do not push me, Lady," came the hoarse voice.
 "Please, stop!" Serin called out, voice falling to futility. 
Each was spoiling for a fight, and she knew it.  Helplessly, her
eyes fell to Hiko and Aiko, pleading.
 Aiko stood first, Hiko giving her an encouraging glance. 
Quickly she moved to Arashi, and laid a calming hand upon her
shoulder.  The women's eyes whirled to her arm, and immediately
lost some of their fury.  The tension partially defused, she
moved to where she thought Ryu could've stood.  She bowed her
head to the man, and quietly began.
 "Lord Ryu, Lady Arashi does speak a valid concern.  Though we
doubt not the Prince's honor, nor your, Propriety doubts.  What
we know is all right, Propriety does not.  Therefore, it demands
that our Lady Serin have an escort, at the very least to the
Prince's room."
 "And what of inside that room, Lady?" he asked quietly.
 She kept her head bowed, and so he didn't see her bite the
inside of her lip.  The salty taste of blood seeped from one of
the older scars inside it, and with it came an answer.
 "Royalty may shoo propriety out of the room, but that doesn't
mean it cannot stand outside the door," she said softly.  
 Every man in the room--and all were still present--looked at
Ryu, whose eyes had widened a touch.  For, quite unknowingly, she
had quoted him almost directly.  And who can resist the power of
his own voice?
 He gently touched her shoulder, for just a sliver of a moment. 
She looked up, blue eyes questioning; he smiled at it, and said,
"Since you spoke so eloquently for it, Lady Aiko, I shall permit
you to come along."
 "Why thank you, Lord Ryu," she began, looking to Hiko.  Yet,
swiftly, both of them paused, and she looked back to where he
should've been.  "Me, Lord Ryu?  But..."
 "You spoke for it, Lady Aiko.  And we must go.  We have kept the
Prince waiting too long as it is."
 So said, he turned to go.  Lady Serin and Aiko exchanged looks,
and then looked to the others.
 It was then, swiftly, that a spoon flew off the table and into
the air, rocketing towards the door.  As suddenly as it had
moved, it stopped, hanging in mid air.
 "I keep forgetting," said the spoon with the voice of Ryu.  "You
can't see me, and don't know where to go."  He sighed softly. 
"Come."
 Both ladies followed him now, stifling giggles at the sight of
the moving spoon.  It swung almost merrily in the air, held the
door open for them, and then proceeded up the stairs.  However,
soon their giggles stifled themselves, for the hallway grew dark. 
Instinctively, Serin reached out and grabbed Aiko's hand, and the
woman squeezed reassuringly.  
 "I am frightened," she whispered softly.  "Aiko..."
 "Shush...Lady.  You will be all right."
 "Oh Aiko..." Her hand squeezed tighter, almost frantically. 
"Something's going to happen.  I can feel it, my heart's pounding
madly.  Oh dear..."
 "It's all right, Lady," came Ryu's voice.
 "We're here for you," Aiko said quietly, squeezing softly again. 
"We won't..." she looked to the spoon, which tipped up and down. 
"We won't leave," she promised.
 "Completely," added Ryu.  "The Prince may not like us in the
room, but we shall be outside for you.  'Tis proper, you know,"
and Aiko imagined a smile in his voice.  That same voice now
softened.  "The Prince is not a bad man, Lady, must a very lonely
one.  He will not hurt his company." 
 Lady Serin's breathing began to slow, and she gave a short nod
to both.  They proceeded in silence, even as they moved further
into the darkness of the castle.
 "Is there light?" Aiko finally asked.
 "It is very hard to keep light in the Prince's wing," he
admitted.  "Torches tend to go out, and it's usually very cloudy
on this side of the castle."
 "You mean he must live in darkness?" Lady Serin asked,
astonished.  "Because of the enchantment."
 "Yes."
 "Oh, the poor man," she whispered, drooping a beat.  Aiko looked
sharply at her, realizing that she was developing sympathy for
this Prince.  She quickly quelled the urge to reproach her; it
wasn't wise to press the Princess.  Most likely, she would be
more disposed to him, not less.
 <It is an irony, though, that the child of Venus does not like
men,> whispered a tiny voice.
 <I like them.  I will not love them.  I will not...> she allowed
the thought to slip away.  It was an old refrain, with old
questions and, always, the same answers.
 It was about then that Ryu called out, "Lady, are you all
right?"
 "What?" Aiko asked.
 "She's pale."
 Aiko, taken completely from her thoughts, studied the Princess. 
She was pale by nature, but now that complexion had taken on a
silvery tone, and she almost seemed to give off a light.  The
hall about them brightened by a degree, and all without any
notice by Serin.  It seemed completely natural.
 It was then, though, that they came to the Prince's lounge,
where he had deemed the meeting take place.  Lady Serin was quiet
as Ryu directed Aiko on their entrance.  She responded a little
when Aiko broke contact, but that was only to take a deep breath
and shore herself up.
 "I will announce you from behind, all right?" Ryu asked, and she
nodded.
 "Are you ready for this, Lady?" Aiko asked quietly.
 "I am ready."
 "Then let us proceed," he said, and opened the door.

 The Prince had awoken to something he had not felt for awhile:
anxiety.  Throughout the morning, as he bathed and was combed
(for a Prince is still a Prince, even as a creature) there was an
odd feeling within his stomach, a slightly detached part of
himself that wondered, <What will she think?> Every time the
question arose, he scowled and buckled down his thoughts as he
garbed himself.  This time, he felt the cloak would not cut it,
and dressed himself in loose fitting dark silks.  Seeing himself
in the one remaining mirror--faithfully hidden each day--he
preened a bit.  He thought he looked very good, really.
 Then he sat down to wait.  And squirm.  And wait some more.
 "Kunzite no baka!" he growled many a time to the empty room.
 Once or twice, he stirred from his spot to go to the window,
shadows almost moving with him.  He sighed as his fingers
clenched the windowsill, his thoughts ashambles.  
 <I'm a fool to think this would work.>
 <I cannot think this way.>
 <Seen a mirror lately?>
 <She is a wonderful looking creature...>
 <And you're not.  Well, all right, concessions to regal
looking.>
 <It won't be my looks that restore.  I must remember to be...a
charm...to hold my tongue.>
 <Fat chance!>
 He would sigh again, and move back to his chair.
 Finally, when he thought the butterflies were going to eat his
stomach away, the door opened.  Quickly he adjusted his cloak,
facing away from her.
 The sounds of soft footfalls greeted his ears, along with
shuffling ones behind that.  "The Lady Serin, my liege.  And
the..."
 "Leave us," he cut in, not giving him any chance to finish.
 There was a bit of whispering, including one last "Good luck,"
and then the door closed.  His heart skipped a beat, for he
realized he was now completely alone with this woman.  This woman
he'd put every hope into.  This woman who could be like...
 "Do you require anything, m'lord?"
 "Yes, Lady...Serin?" He liked the feel of the name.  "Your
company.  Please, sit down."
 More soft footfalls, and a chair being taken.  Quickly he
realized that he should get that for her, and hopped quickly up
to grab the chair.  To Serin's amazement, he easily hoisted the
heavy oak chair and set it over by the fire.  She watched
curiously as he set about arranging the chair, fussing over where
it sat, how close to him, how close to the door, etc. etc. 
Finally, she came up and placed her hand on his arm, saying,
"It's all right."
 Shocked, he stiffly let the chair drop, almost hitting their
toes.  Fluidly he slid back to his seat, turning it slightly so
as to see her better.
 They didn't talk for awhile, as both adjusted to the changes in
the room.  Finally, he said, "Serin.  True name, or the Silence."
 "The Silence, m'lord," she replied stiffly.  She felt warm and
uneasy in his presence, an odd clash.  "It holds for forth
throughout the castle."
 "My men and I...we have taken the leave to speak outside it.  We
have been friends for too long."  He shifted in his chair, hands
tight on the grip.
 "Is that allowed?  It'd be lovely if we...I mean..."
 "You may, Lady, within our room only.  This I guarantee."
 "Oh no...your men..."
 "They cannot enter the Hall of Flowers without my permission,"
he replied, voice slightly hardened, eyes flicking to the fire.
 "Thank you so much, m'lord.  You are too kind," she said,
venturing to give him a soft smile.
 He turned again and looked upon her, so soft and light in his
shadows.  In fact, she seemed to stand in her own rich moonlight,
the highlights playing in her liquid turquoise eyes and silvery
hair.  As he stared at her, his gaze became so intense she could
see the navy blue of his own eyes, twinkling in the caped
shadows.
 Caught off guard by the complexity within them, she blushed and
looked down.  And, in freak coincidence, she looked right at the
furred hand that gripped his chair.
 Color--all color--drained from her face, and she sucked in a
very soft breath.  The moonlight around her snapped off, and the
room seemed to surge with shadows.  She looked up at him once
again, and found his quizzical eyes.
 He understood, and his mood darkened at his own carelessness. 
The shadows seethed.  "I see you have noticed my peculiarity,"
came his voice, now a deep rumble.
 "My...my...my Lord?"
 Swiftly he stood and tore off his cloak.  For the first time,
the Princess saw him without any trappings, an animal in man's
silks, blue eyes boring into her with ruthless care.  She took in
the great wolf's head, colored a deep brick red with those dark
blue eyes, pricked ears painted white on the inside, the midnight
black of his...hands (five fingers) and feet (more like paws); a
small white tip disdainfully wagged into her vision.  Her eyes
widened, more and more, and she took one short breath, then
fainted dead away.  
 The castle's mood abruptly changed.  Kiri, supervised by a
crossword making Naosu, looked about in surprise as thunder
clashed about them.  Arashi and Hiko, out tending to the horses
and debating on whether or not to ride, felt a chill overcome
them, and headed back to the house.  Their watchers, Jade and
Kishi, shuddered at the sudden tension, and followed in
seriousness.  
 The Prince turned from the door where he had deposited the woman
into Ryu's arms, Aiko's eyes still burning him, and strode
swiftly to his solarium.  Upon arriving, he scooped the rose up
from the table and demanded, "How fares Serin?"
 A shift of colors, and the petals settled on an extremely light,
delicate pink, shot through with a bit of blue.  He sighed,
already knowing what the rose told him: she was healthy, but
delicate and anxious.  Frustrated, he threw it back on the table. 
Pacing about, he tore off his silk clothes, scattering them about
the room in anger.  Throwing open a large window, he strode onto
his private balcony just as the rain began to fall.  He stood in
it, letting his coat soak through, eyes unseeing as his emotions
blazed within.
 "Useless," he whispered.  "Utterly useless."

 Naosu rushed into the "infirmary," an older section of the
castle he often walked in, and was greeted by six pairs of eyes. 
Kiri, who followed shortly afterwards, gasped and nearly dropped
the glassware he'd asked her to carry.
 "Steady," he whispered to her, moving over to the laid out
Princess.  "What happened?" he asked, voice unnaturally calm.
 "She fainted...we think," Aiko reported, nervously looking
towards Ryu's position.  
 "Met the Prince?" he asked quickly, checking her eyes and
breathing and pulse.
 "That seems to be the case," Ryu agreed gruffly.
 "What did he do to her?" Arashi demanded, and Hiko eyed him
darkly.
 "Nothing," Aiko said softly.  "I don't know what..." she looked
helplessly at the other two, flustration evident.  "Please excuse
me."  She quickly slid past him and Kiri, head down, cheeks
glinting.
 "You'd be wise to follow her," he told the rest.  "I hate people
breathing over me."
 The Gens began to move out; the other two stayed.  "But..."
 "My Lady," Jade broke in smoothly, "he is right.  I am sure that
in his position, you would say the same."
 Neither Lady looked reassured as Naosu beckoned Kiri over with
the jars she held.  He reached down for a pestle and mortar, and
then looked up.  "This is going to smell awful," he told them.
 The men left; the ladies moved not, and Kiri frowned.  After
all, he was being more than polite!  "Hiko, Arashi, leave or face
me," she said quietly.
 "Kiri," Arashi began to protest.  "She..."
 "Is in capable hands," came the fierce retort.  She set the jaws
carefully down for her invisible companion, fixing the two with a
harsh look.  Kiri was normally quite shy, except when it came to
the medical profession.  It was the only place she truly felt
worthy enough to speak up; it was her joy, one of the only.  She
almost seemed to glow, eyes lighting with the righteousness of
her words.
 Needless to say, the two ladies quietly made their polite
excuses and left.  Naosu looked at her admirably, quietly opening
the two jars as he watched the flush and power leave her face. 
<Interesting,> he thought.  
 "Thank you," he said quietly.
 "Anything else I can do?" she asked quickly, hopefully.
 "Mix these," he said, tone taking on a slightly more imperious
tone.
 "My pleasure," she replied quietly with a small smile.  "Can you
pour them out in the right concentrations?"
 "You seem to have the knowledge."
 "I thought you'd like to do something," she said, proceeding to
measure out the correct amounts of the substance with an accuracy
that surpassed his own.  He was surprised; he'd always found
women doctors to be, in his opinion, sloppy.  <Yet, this is her
LADY,> he reminded himself.  <Of course she'll be careful.>
 She ground the ingredients together, creating a thick, greenish
paste that gave off a fairly harsh smell.  She looked curiously
in the direction he had been before.  "What now?" she asked
quietly.
 "Just a moment," he replied, then a dropper came floating over. 
She watched as he squeezed out twelve, thirteen drops of water
into the concoction.  A slight hiss, and then she felt a warm
hand close over hers.
 "wha.."
 "The pestle, Lady," he said softly, and she wished she could see
the softness she heard.  
 "Oh," she murmured, a faint blush staining her cheeks as she
turned away, letting the pestle go.  He caught it and quickly
mashed the ingredients together, then watched.  A bit of whitish
gas puffed up from the mess, wafting towards him, and he was
surprised at the true color of the mixture, a broad shade of
green he'd never been able to achieve before.
 "Very good, Lady," he murmured appreciatively, looking her way. 
But she had not stayed; she had moved up to the edge and taken
the Lady's hand.  She appeared to be watching her breath, a most
gentle look on her face.  He was loath to interrupt it, though
such sentimentality was unappealing to him.  Yet...it was a
lovely picture.
 "Lady?"
 "So fragile," she whispered.  "So..."  She looked up to him.
"Yes?"
 "We need to give this to her."
 "How?" she asked, eyeing it dubiously.  "I know it's not
injection...do we feed it to her?"
 "You can make it, but you can't administer it?"
 "It...uh...memory gap," she confessed softly.
 "All you need do, Lady, is waft it under her nose."
 She looked at the bowl, and suddenly her eyes lit up. "Oh yes!
That's what it's...well, it's different where I come from.  We
call it smelling salts...which reminds me, I must take my
saddlebags from the tack room."
 There was a loud clap, and she nearly jumped; even Serin
muttered a tiny cry.  However, she quickly realized that he had
just been calling a servant.  "Take the Lady Kiri's bags from the
tack room to her room.  And pick up whatever else you deem
necessary for the others."
 Kiri looked about for someone, but saw no one.  "Are they
invisible as well?"
 "No.  They're part of the Prince's enchantment--his care. 
That's what scared your comrades in the stables."
 "But are they enchantment created, or just some form of life
that neither of us can see?" she asked as took the bowl, placed
it beneath Serin's nose, and gentle wafted the fumes at her.  
 "That is a good question, Lady Kiri."
 "Doesn't that get in the way?"  Her voice was rather distracted,
her focus being on Serin.
 "What?"
 "Lady.  Lord.  Most titles.  If I'm to stay here for a
fortnight, and well...continue to...speak with you, uh, well,
shouldn't we just drop them?" 
 "Intriguing.  You can stop wafting now," he said, coming about
and gently lifting the bowl from her hands.  
 "Oh..." She shot the retreating bowl a darkly sympathetic look,
then quickly turned her focus back to Serin.  Color was slowly,
slowly, returning to her face.  "And why is that intriguing?"
 "Nobility loves titles, and you are most definitely nobility." 
He took her hand, and turned it upward, stroking gently along her
upper palm.  "Not a callus."
 "Hmm...oh...I thought," she swallowed, face flushing.  "There
should be one." It was hard to keep her composure when all those
chills were running up and down her spine.
 "It is a touch stiffer than I expected, Lady.  Oh, pardon, Kiri. 
I will agree to drop my cumbersome titles for you."  He remained
holding her hand, the soft, tiny appendage fitting so wonderfully
there.  She kept her eyes down, and for some reason he found
himself wanting--CRAVING in fact--the sight of them.  
 "I thank you for your consideration, Nao...Naosu," she said
quietly.  "Now..."
 "Yes?"
 Serin chose that moment to take a breath, and quickly both
snapped away from each other.  "Lady?" Kiri breathed, taking her
hand.  "Lady, are you all right?"
 "Oh...oh, so...eyes so..."  She stirred more.
 "It'll take her a..."
 "...minute or so to come around quickly," she interrupted. 
"That, I remember."  She moved closer, saying, "Lady Serin, it is
I, Kiri.  Aisuno Kiri, your friend of many years."
 "Ki..Kiri?" Her eyes began to flicker open.
 "Yes, Lady Serin.  We are staying in a hidden castle, far off
the path, on Earth.  It is under an enchantment."
 "Kiri...enchantment..." Her eyes opened completely, and she
blinked twice.  "But you're..."
 "The Silence, m'lady."
 <Drat,> Naosu thought.
 "Oh yes...the Silence...wait!"  She shot up.  "Oh dear, where AM
I?"
 "You're in the lower section of the castle, Lady, in an
infirmary of sorts," Naosu interjected smoothly.
 Serin's eyes widened, and she whispered to Kiri, "Who was that?"
 "He is Naosu, my Lady, one of the Prince's friends and
guardians.  He has helped me to treat you," Kiri replied with a
hint of a smile on her face. "And very well, if I may say," she
added, eyes flicking to the spot she thought he'd be in.  He
caught the look.
 "The Prince?  Oh dear...I fainted, didn't I?" 
 "Yes, Lady, you did.  It is not uncommon, actually," Naosu said,
voice almost sympathetic.
 "I suppose it wouldn't be...oh dear.  It must have made him feel
terrible," she murmured.  Carefully, she swung her legs off the
edge, and pushed herself down with a wince.  "My head pains me,"
she whispered.  
 "A by product of the mixture, and harmless," Naosu assured.
 "Hmmm...Kiri, do you know where I can find out what happened?" 
Her eyes turned a sad shade of blue.
 "I don't..." she again glanced to where Naosu could've been.
 "My guess is that Lady Aiko and Lord Ryu brought you here.  Try
them," he filled in.
 "Yes...thank you," she replied, and carefully made her way out.
 "Should we not attend her?" Kiri asked.
 "No.  I believe your friends, Kishi, and Jade will find her
soon.  There is a small waiting room nearby."
 "Oh."  Now her eyes grew serious, and she quietly added, "Why
does the Prince make people faint?"
 "I believe you shall understand that very soon," he replied,
voice low.  
 "Oh," and there was a note of disappointment there.  She picked
up the pestle and mortar, and looked about.  "Where is there a
sink or such?"
 "You wash your own equipment?"
 "I always felt I had to."
 "That is not our policy here, Lady.  Please, leave it be."  He
quickly took the dish from her.  
 "Then what do I do now?" she asked, voice almost frustrated,
eyes unknowingly seeking his aid.
 "Hmm..."  He thought for a moment, and then smiled.  "Kiri, do
you play chess?"

 Serin found Aiko a little before she came upon the others.  The
woman was curled up on a window ledge higher up on the wall, not
quite blocking the light.  Serin would've never known that she
was up there except that she heard a shuddered breath.  Groggily
she froze, saying quietly, "Who is there?"
 "Oh...Serin?  It's only me, Aiko."
 She peered up at the voice, squinting until the blond woman came
into view.  "Aiko?  What are you doing up there?"
 "Thinking.  Pity myself mostly."
 "Oh Aiko, please come down.  We must talk."
 Her head raised slightly from where it touched the wall, and she
quickly hopped from the ledge, landing lightly despite her long
dress.  "Yes, m'lady?" she sniffed, brushing away a hair that was
tear stuck to her face.
 "I need to know...how did I get here?"
 "Well," Aiko took a breath to clear the shudder from her voice. 
Again, she tried.  "Well, Ryu and I stood outside the door, not
talking--I have a feeling he's not the type conversation--when
all of sudden the door opened.  The Prince was there, wearing his
cloak and gloves...and I thought it so strange that he would wear
gloves..." she shook her head.  "Then he handed you to Ryu and
said something guttural, so we brought you down here to Naosu. 
As for the others...well, we met Hiko and Arashi coming down, but
I have no clue how Kiri found out."
 Serin was silent throughout, her blue eyes watering slightly. 
Finally, she looked down, saying, "Today I have committed a great
offense, Aiko."
 "Lady..?"
 "No, please do not ask.  It embarrasses me that I," here she
paused, looking about, and then lowered her voice, "being who I
am, should be so easily overwhelmed."
 "Fainting is not illegal, Serin."
 "It is not ME," she replied softly, eyes darkening swiftly.  A
silver shimmer seemed to form about her, and though she could not
discern the emotion in her voice or eyes, Aiko knew she was
angry.  It wasn't that the Princess had a fierce temper, but
fierce convictions, mostly imbued through the close ties she had
with her mother.  "I did not mean to be so overwhelmed...it was
his eyes...and...no!"  She shook it off.
 "Why did you faint, Serin?" Aiko asked, voice hardening a touch. 
<If he...I will...> rumbled her thoughts.
 Her glow dimmed, and her eyes turned downward, alarming Aiko. 
"Serin?!"
 "I must go, Aiko," she said.  "I have...to
think...about...about.." She smiled, rather hopelessly.  "I need
to go."  She turned, and began to make her way up the castle hall
again.
 "Lady Serin!" Aiko followed for a few paces, adding, "Please
talk with Arashi and Hiko! They'll be...mad..." she stopped as
the woman turned, nodding slowly.  Her blue eyes were so clear,
almost glowing from within, and they stopped the woman in her
tracks.  She then returned to walking up the passage.
 Aiko's fist clenched, and she felt her eyes begin to well with
tears, though she did not want to or know why she would cry.  She
bunched up and leapt back into the air, returning to her window
perch, wanting to let the light cleanse her.
 It took awhile, but it did, for Aiko's head rolled back, and she
fell into a deep, formless sleep.
 Among the higher shadows, a pair of gray eyes watched the whole
scene.  Strangely, he felt his sympathies tugged towards the
young woman, this Aiko who had so easily described him.  He found
himself descending, and effortlessly picking her up; moments
later, her laid her upon her bed.  It wasn't just that she was
pretty, he reflected, but there was an odd, odd air about
her...it beckoned to him.  He reached out his hand to brush away
a stray hair, and found it lingering on her face.
 He snapped back as if he'd been burned, and closed his eyes,
quickly sweeping his mind clean of such things.  He needed to
contact the Prince, to tell of what he'd seen.  <Perhaps,> he
thought quietly, <she WILL be his salvation.>
 
 "Where is she?" Arashi raged, eyes a boiling forest green.  "She
should've been up by now."
 "Kiri knows," Hiko replied quietly.  Naosu's "waiting room" was
comfortable but not plush, the only white room in this old
section, complimented by wicker furniture.  There was also a
dumbwaiter which allowed refreshments to be lowered down if
needed, and a few scented lamps which lit the room with a calming
golden light.  
 "Sure, Kiri knows, and Naosu," she glanced about, not knowing if
the other two were present; however, he caution flashed away and
she finished, "is probably some sort of pro.  But..."
 "Arashi?"
 Both women jumped up from their seats, nearly tripping over
their dresses, and started for the door, just as Serin peeked in. 
She had no time to speak, for Arashi scooped her up into a fierce
hug, starting her giggling a bit.  "I'm okay, so put me down!"
she protested.
 "I was worried...well, we were," the woman replied, carefully
setting down her fragile Princess.
 "I know," she replied.  "It's why I came looking for you."  Her
face softened, and her eyes were a watery blue and so serious
that Hiko could not ignore the message.  
 "Lady, what's wrong?  What happened?" she asked quietly.
 "I have something to think on, Hiko, and it vexes me much," she
replied.  Slowly, she pulled herself away from the two, and gave
a short curtsey, starting for the door.
 "But what..."
 "I must do this alone," she interjected quickly, cutting off
Arashi's phrase.  Now she brightened a bit, saying, "Come to my
room after dinner, and I shall tell you the good news, and the
bad."
 "Good...bad?" Hiko asked.
 "She has good news?" Jade asked Kishi.  The man shrugged in
return.
 "It is all I can say for now.  Please, do not press," she added 
from the door frame. "Till later."  Then, she was gone into the 
hallway, and neither pair knew what to make of the scene.