Utena curls up softly under you, relaxed in the comfortable bed, a hand
lazily, singularly drifting down your back, still sleeping and completely
content, an expression of peace that's rare in these last days for her
along her fine and sculpted features.

Touga is apparently the one to stir first.. as he slowly takes a deeper
breath.. the sign of consciousness..as he rolls to the side a bit..feeling
the fabric of the sheet hastily thrown over himself and his lover..one
hand runs along his face.. brushing aside his long crimson strands..as
his eyes slowly open.. taking another deep breath as he looks over to your
slumbering form..

Utena mrphs faintly when you move and puts her other arm around your neck,
trying to hold close to you so you can't get away from her.. as if she's
fearful you'll slip from her arms and disappear... she frowns vaguely,
hair an absolute MESS of disarray, but it's adorable and charming.

Touga smiles a bit..as he slips his arm beneath your shoulders.. scooping
your head up upon his smooth muscular chest..holding you there gently to
prove he isn't going away.  As for now... he just lets you rest.. as he
lays his own head back..staring at the ceiling... letting the thoughts
sort through his mind..so many things..

Utena stirs some finally... though nuzzling her cheek against your chest
and her body tight against your warm side. In a deep murmur, she lets out
a small 'mrph' sound and opens the heavenly blue eyes that match her name
and purpose... lifting her head dizzily. "... touga...?"

Touga continues his thoughts for a moment in silence.. before finally
answering, "..Yes Utena?" He tilts his head up a bit..smiling down to you
in his arms... his hand lightly reaching up and beginning to brush your
unruly hair back proper...

Utena reaches up slowly and smiles to you in a warm and bleary manner, a
slow riser, this girl seems to be, as she toys with a long strand of your
brilliant red hair. "... you didn't leave me.." She leans up, craning her
neck to kiss your cheek, and sighs wearily. "Don't want to get up.. I
don't even want to move from being like this.'

Touga feels your lips press to his cheek.. and for some reason.. can't
help feeling a sense of.. completeness.  Being whole.  As if this was
something he's wanted for so long..but couldn't have before.  A profound
satisfaction..almost like a revelation... he can't help but let out a
small quiet laugh, before intoning, "I'm sure we can sleep in.. all my
appointments were canceled."

The very dimmest memory comes to her; she's been torn from your arms after
a night like this before. She remembers very dimly; shakes her head in
sadness... but smiles and snuggles back tight again as you speak exactly
the kind of words you want to hear... though it also feels like a cold
shower of reality and a reminder that we have a fate to deal with as well
as our own pleasures.. She makes a little circle on your chest with her
finger and nods slowly.

Touga prefers not to think about what needs to happen next.  He paid
dearly for this happiness.. so is unwilling to give it up so readily yet.  
As he finally brushes back all of your pastel locks into a less wild
shape.. his hand runs along your cheek gently, as he questions, "So.. tell
me Utena.  Tell me about.. your parents." for some reason interested in
the answer.

Utena mms softly and closes her eyes, leaning into your warm touch as she
sits up a little on her elbow and adjusts a pillow underneath her to make
her more comfortable, one small breast brushing against your chest. "...
Not a lot to say, I guess... They worked hard all their lives.. enough to
put their kid through a boarding school in London. I was really a
different person before this, Touga... I was really quiet and never
questioned anything around me.. I just tried to stay out of people's
ways." She laughs softly at the irony. "But.. there's nothing remarkable
to be said about it.. they were just parents, I guess... why?"

Touga he nods at that a bit.. Likewise shifting back so his head can rest
upright on a pillow...he speaks, ".. Because... I know.. somehow.. we've
met before...

Utena is silent for a few moments, before she nods. "I know. Didn't you
feel it when we first met..?"

Utena reaches out and traces the strong line of your nose with her finger
tips, lightly. "I knew when we first met there was something. I don't
really know a lot more now... except.. that we've been like this before.  
Maybe we lived in some other life together."

Touga comments, ".. Yes... but.. we both have parents... we simply could
not have met anytime previous to this.. I don't know how these.. feelings
are possible.."

Utena frowns a little, sitting up, her hair falling over her shoulder.  
"Don't you believe that people could live more than once?"

Touga comments, "Of course.  Many of the Kings have had multiple lives..  
yet.." he pauses, ".. I didn't think I have...  Or you for that matter.  
And as your the Victor.." he sighs.  Not really knowing what it means.

Utena's memory gnaws at her vaguely but she ignores it. "I don't know.."  
She finally says quietly. "But we've been like this before, and I had to
leave you. I know that much..." She exhales. "I don't want to do it
again."

Touga chuckles as he gives you a gentle squeeze with his arm, "No.  I
certainly won't leave you now.  Not now or ever." he vows with a smile on
his lips.

Utena giggles faintly despite herself and hugs back... then looking to
meet those exotic eyes of yours with her own. ".. So, tell me about your
parents, Touga... your family. I told you mine.."

Touga chuckles a bit, "Fair enough.." he takes in a breath before
breathing it out in rememberance, "I was raised since birth to be a
Prince." looks to you.. waiting for your expression before smirking a bit
wryly, ".. I was trained by those who attend the court and crown.. a man
of station and nobility.  Groomed for great thing... or so they said."

Utena hehs softly, though in this life she wasn't born with the obsession
with Dios, and so her expression is a mildly wry one.. as the only Princes
in this world have tried to do her harm.. she shakes her head, and
listens.

Touga answers further, "Of course.. I didn't know it at the time.. but I
was being groomed to become one of the Kings.  I was taught many things..  
the truth of the world.. The Power Fetishes.. the hierarchy.  Ooh.. I had
a childhood of course.. I suppose." he smiles, "..I was a bit more
pampered than the next kid.. however.. I still was expected to be..
perfect."

Utena frowns at the mention of the power fetishes. "I still don't
understand the fetishes... just.. dark miracles..? Or is there more to
it..?" She sighs. "I should know all this all ready. I'm coming in so
completely unprepared.. why did it have to be this way...?" But she
escapes those pessimistic toned thoughts and nods you to go on. "It wasn't
a lot of fun with that group, I bet."

Touga answers you, "Actually.. it was fun.  It was extremely fun.. and
that is the problem." he purses his lips a moment..before continuing,
"..eitherway.. it's amazing you know as much as you do.. The Circle of
Kings has tried to destroy any organization or person who remembers the
Truth.. We were amazed when you killed The Queen..

Utena closes her eyes a moment. "... I was taught. It wasn't something I
knew on my own."

Touga mmns, "The one you call Michael?"

Utena nods quietly. "... He's more than you think, Touga. But.. in a way
all of this, I guess was meant to happen. I don't know..." She sits up a
little, rubbing at her eyes. "I need a shower, but there's no reason we
can't share one.. do you want to? We can keep talking there."

Touga chuckles with a coy grin, "Of course.  Love to." as he tosses the
sheet off..and begins to stir from bed.

Utena shamelessly eyes your magnificent form for several moments, blushing
some of course, though not NEARLY as much as she would have even hours
before.. she knows that body now, deeply and thoroughly. Fortunately
there's a shower stall type thing off to the side of the room, making this
a convenient thing.. in fact, the bathroom was where you were taken off to
be cleaned off when first found and brought here. She grins a little, her
hair hanging against her back in straggled strings, and pads off lightly
toward the shower, not concerned about clothes just yet.

Touga just knows your looking.  As he shamelessly stretches out before
you.. working out the kinks as it were.  And he unabashedly looks over to
you..smiling completely.  Of course he doesn't blush at all as he's
completely familiar with the female form.. as his experiences are legion
with it.  As he follows you into the bathroom.. continuing the
conversation a bit however, "..As for your question about the Powers..
Fetishes.. We don't like to think of them as Evil Miracles.. as you seem
to think of them.. they're...  more like fond and dear wishes.  Powers we
have the obsession of attaining.

Utena hms softly and steps into the tub, bending over slightly to turn on
the water, adjusting until it's good and hot. The bathroom isn't very
ornate or elaborate.. it looks like what it is.. a small room in the
basement of a very old church. But it's functional. When the water's warm
enough for Utena's liking she gestures to you to follow and slips into the
flow, sighing and letting the spirals of silver wash away grime.. thinking
to herself before speaking, "But, it's what they ARE, Touga.. miracles
gone wrong. The queen.. her wish to live forever.. she sacrificed
children..  young girls. It was..." She trembles,visibly. "Horrible."

Touga steps into the shower behind you.. placing his hands on your
shoulders a bit.. as he lets you get a good rinse for the moment.. as he
intones, "Well.." taking another moment to think about his reply, ".. it's
simply how the world works Utena.  Her fetish was..she wanted to be
beautiful and live forever.  She heard the legends of Lady Bathory..and
..because she believed in them so much.. it came true when she tried it.  
She was over 200 years old, Utena."

Utena mms, and leans back, nodding slowly. "I still don't think what I did
was wrong." She bows her head, "And I won't, ever." She reaches beside
herself to get a bit of shampoo and turns to face you while working it
into her hair.. also giving room that you can get under the nozzle
yourself.

Touga lets you lather your hair for a moment as he steps under the spray..  
letting the water plaster his hair down along the sides of his head
thickly.  Running along his shoulders like dark crimson as he intones,
eyes closed as he faces the spray, "She was one of the more... demented of
the lot.  But there are others worse.. those who're are as twisted as
their wishes."

Utena passes you over the shampoo silently... and still admiring, while
she has a head full of soap and her pink curls are caught up in white
lather, a little of which drips down her shoulders and chest. She frowns.
"Like what kind of worse..?" asking softly.

Touga mmmmns.  "Worse." deciding against elaborating.  As he steps from
the spray..taking the shampoo and applying it..reaching up and lathering
his long crimson locks as well.. tilting his head back as he intones
further, ".. remember Utena.. all the myths of monsters and terrible
creatures came from the minds of humans.. imagine what can happen if
people can actually make themselves like that in actuality.." he chuckles
at the irony, "What was first called 'A curse by the Gods' is now 'A
blessing by Mankind'... Touga continues, "With the power of miracles.. the
depths of our imagination can be brought forth and made real.. for
better.. OR worse."

Utena has to fight- with serious effort- the urge to lean forward and kiss
your neck when you lean back like that, and sighs... "Yeah, I can imagine.  
I guess.. what do we do now? Where to we go? Neither of us are safe
here.."

Touga intones as he finishes the lather.. directing the spray on his
head..which begins to wash the suds down the cascade of sanguine, "We
can't escape.  There is nowhere on this world they can't track us down.  
The only way out.. is through."

Utena nods slowly, her hair falling down in strands of pink laced with
white as she lets you get your perfect red tresses done first- damn
egotistical men (^_-) and exhales, "I know there's no where safe. But
there has to be a place to START. Who's the weakest of the Kings? If we
have to be predators, let's do like real predators do, and move on the
weakest first."

Touga's smile widens, "My my... quite a vicious streak you have there
Utena..." as he passes the nozzle to you, Looking down finally as he
continues to brush back his hair from his eyes, "Indeed.  It's hard to say
any of them are weak.. however obviously Queen Elizabeth was the least
prepared.  But now.. the rest will be on their guard.  It's hard to sneak
up to the hornets nest when it's already been kicked.

Utena sighs, and takes the nozzle, tilting her head back and directing the
spray into her hair, sighing. Giving you ample time to admire her if you
feel the inclination while she fusses up her hair in one hand, shifting
away soap until it shines a pale and almost luminous pastel pink.. gentle
wavelets clinging to her neck and shoulders. "... Yeah... I guess that's
true. Still.. what do you think.." She acks a second as soap gets in her
eyes, "We should do, then..?"

Touga indeed takes that moment to admire your slender figure as he
watches, smiling, "Well.. I'm sure a few of the Kings will think they're
above such things... or are too arrogant to think they'll be targeted.  
Like the Siberian King or the African King..  However.. we just have one
complication."

Utena flails around a moment, handing you back the nozzle and reaching for
soap, "Great.. we just NEED those, don't we?"

Touga comments, "You already know this one.. I'm sure Sorrow is on our
trail.. he.. is going to make life especially difficult.  And he's the one
we should worry most about."

Utena says, "And the one that we can't face right now..." She shakes her
head again and quickly rubs herself down rather well with the soap. Try
not to bleed all over her... she mrphs and takes the nozzle back from you.

Touga intones, "Exactly.  He's going to be one step behind us all the way
as we travel the world looking for the Kings." as he watches you, some
might call it shamelessly.  Still smiling.

Utena narrows her eyes a little and passes you the soap, though she's
equally ogling you. Hm. This could be a problem if we're too busy being
attracted to each other to function well..

Touga decides we won't be seeing eachother in the nude during any points
where concentration is required anyway.  You could say.. he's immunizing
himself to the sight. ^_^ As he soaps himself down before you.. he
continues, "How much of the Fetishes... err.. Miracles.. do you know
anyway?"

Utena shakes her head. "I don't know how much I really know. I just
learned.. last night, a couple of small things. I found the way the world
flows, and I think I can use it now. I changed shape. But even though it
feels right.." She sighs and gazes down a moment.. "It's hard for me to
learn." She wanders over and holds the shower nozzle so you can finish
off.

Touga blinks, "you changed shape?" as this surprises him... taking the
nozzle gratefully and washes himself down absentmindedly..

Utena nods. "I ran sideways on walls, too." She grins a little wryly at
the memory, the feeling of flow moving through her in perfect accord...
wistful at the very thought. "I don't know how often I'll change shape
though...  unless I have to."

Touga blinks.. seemingly amazed.. then admits, "I can't even do that.."

Utena says, "What do you mean you can't..?" Utena looks at you. "I thought
you had a lot of power..?"

Touga smiles, "Now now.. lets not get insulting.  I do.  However.. the
ability to shapeshift is a complex one.. walking on walls is comparatively
easier.. but still.  Most take decades of practice to reach those kinds of
levels..

Utena shrugs faintly, done showering; she steps out of the tub and reaches
for a towel to dry herself... but a little whisper sounds in her ears, no
need, just relax and join the flow- small things are harmless... She
blinks a little and gives in, and a flow of pale pink moves over her
momentarily in a spiral from the ground up, lifting her hair away... she's
dry. o.o She lifts her hands and blinks at them a moment obscurely.

Touga steps out of the shower behind you..and notices your spectacle.. he
intones, "Impressive.."

Utena smiles a little, but shakes her head and lets her mass of pink curls
slip through her fingers. "Handy, more like." She grins and turns to watch
you, to see what you'll do.

Touga rather undramatically simply takes a towel and begins to dry himself
the old fashioned way..as he intones, "Very few of us are as comfortable
with using their powers like that.. even the monsterous ones to some
extent."

Utena blinks, and turns eyes that are surprised toward you. "Why?" She
can't explain why it just felt natural and right to her... then again,

Utena is the world's portal and keeper, so perhaps she's in a different
category than the Kings and their kind... she frowns a little.

Touga continues drying himself, "Because.. as outlandish as all their
powers seem.. they try to foster a ingrained believe in 'reality'.  They
only use their fetishes in a ritualistic or combative manner.. when they
have to.  It's a very.. private act if you will.  They don't like
flaunting it in general.  Only Sorrow seems to disregard this.

Utena shakes her head. "I'm not trying to flaunt it. It just.. felt
natural. It doesn't hurt anything.." She sighs, and watches you dry,
drinking in the sight of your form. God knows when we'll get another
chance to relax like this together once we leave this place.. and she can
feel the pressure of the world starting to tug at her, to get back to her
task...

Touga smiles to you between his damp locks.  Spontaneously he flicks out
his towel.. using it as a sling to hook about your shoulders then pull you
close as he smiles, "Remember Utena.. if you let the darkness overwhelm
your spirit..before you've even begun to fight.. you'll never defeat them.  
And we CAN defeat them... and I would so rather see a smile on those
beautiful lips.. than anything else." as his violet eyes look deeply into
your own..as he smiles brightly..and truly.

Utena mrphs! and is pulled close.. a blush ascending her features as she
smiles back, easily enough to do while safe in your arms; she favors you
with that bright grin and her pink lips part slightly, tempted to take
another kiss from you while we're close like this... pressed warmly to
each other, smelling of soft soap and shampoo... her eyes half-close.

Touga chuckles happily.. before indulging himself.. tilting his head
downwards and partaking of your sweet lips..closing his intense eyes as he
kisses passionately and deeply.. practically forgetting to breathe..

Utena brings her hands up and twines them into your clean, damp red hair,
sighing lightly into your mouth, exhaling into you with longing. If there
was only more time. There's a taste of sadness in her kiss, an awareness
that this time is going to fade and sooner than she wants.

Touga can taste that sadness.. but fights it.  He holds you a bit
tighter..a bit more firmly.  Comforting you with his closeness.. his firm
resolve.  Trying to impart to you his own reservour of self-esteem.  
Things WILL work out.. things WILL be okay.. and we will shake the very
pillars of heaven to make it so!

Utena responds softly, an intensification of her kiss as her blood starts
to whirl again... she fights that, too. There isn't time. And though she
loves and believes you.. nothing can change that knowledge in her.. and
the tinge of her sorrow remains... always torn from you, even if we're
still together, we're always torn apart from what we truly desire... she
whimpers softly, and lets go of you, accepting that burden for what it is,
the Victor's fate. Gazing at the floor. ".. We can't keep hiding like
this." in a small voice spoken.

Touga pulls back as you let go...looking down to you for a moment..a bit
of bitterness in his mind.  Why NOT? He thinks.  A playboy has spent a
lifetime of simply indulging in what he enjoys... and as he enjoys you..
he sees no reason to..  He sighs deeply before intoning, "..No.  We
can't..but we have to plan out our trip carefully." pulling the towel
back... now mostly dry anyway.

Utena nods, and turns to leave the bathroom, walking ahead of you, her
hair rippling slightly in the faintest breeze of her passing. Rose scent
drifting back from where she was as she goes to find her scattered items
of clothing and get redressed... a grim set in her jaw. Having just been
able to find love.. and not just ANY love, but the one true and real love
of her soul.. but she has to fight to keep it, she realizes that. She will
do it.  Whatever was left of that quiet and withdrawn girl completely died
last night, just leaving a woman who will do whatever she must to keep
alive and keep her love with her. She replies, "You're the one that knows
best. Where do you think we can be most effective and have the most space
to breathe..?"

Touga takes a deep breath as he enters the room as well.  Hrmphing to
himself as he picks up his ragged clothes..still slashed and torn.  Then
with a quick flourish..he billows the cloth out with a snap..when it
resettles.. it's perfectly mended.  Apparently he does know a few tricks,
as he then begins to redress..looking over to you, "..The Siberian and
African Kings are the most unstable ones.. they're powerbases arn't as
unified.. and if we defeat their soverigns.. they'll fall apart.. just
like Europe's just has." smiling somewhat bitterly at that..

Utena mms softly, sitting down on the bed and nodding. "So which do you
think is better to start with? I don't want to split up and be in two
places at once. Siberia's cold, isn't it... not easy to get to. And
Africa's huge..."

Touga purses his lips for a moment as he considers..straightening his
black uniform, ".. the African King is the more ..dangerous personally of
the two kings.  Prehaps the Siberian King would be the more ..prudent
choice for now.  Not to mention he's closer."

Utena chuckles dryly. "Alright... but Touga.. how are we going to get
there..?"

Touga comments, "Easy enough." adjusting his uniform's buttons one more
time to be sure, "Simple.  I have a few hidden swiss bank accounts I can
divert funds from.  For just such a possible ..eventuality." he smiles to
you, "We're all taught to be.. selfsufficient if need be.  Plane tickets
shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Utena laughs faintly. "You're a dangerous man, Kiryuu Touga.." She smiles
and concentrates a moment..or is that, relaxes into the world? Changing
her hair color, eye color, and making herself slightly taller than she was
before... black straight hair and large green eyes, four inches of
additional height.. "Ten'jou Utena couldn't show her face in public
now...not as she was."

Touga smirks only at that 'dangerous' part.  He watches your
change..shaking his head, "Amazing."  not to be outdone.. he too begins to
shift his features.. a bit slower.  His crimson hair becomes shorter...  
changing a shade more orange.  He becomes just a bit shorter as well.. but
still a few inches over your head yet.  Eye color turning brown.. he
reaches back.. fabricating a hairtie out of nothingness.. making a short
ponytail from what he has.. changing his image almost completely as his
uniform changes into a casual three piece business suit.

Utena laughs softly, still using her own voice. "The couple that slays
together..." She shakes her head, and laughs a little, before turning
serious. "You sure they won't have raided your things since you turned?"

Touga comments, "Only what they knew about.  And about 50% of what they
don't.  I'm sure I have enough stashed away for travel and necessities."
he winks slyly.  Adjusting his new suit.

Utena looks down. "Oh.. clothes.." She hms, and lets her two-toned jacket
and shorts melt into a nicely pressed red women's suit, tailored nicely to
the waist and shaped to fan out just slightly at her hips. Just another
nice modern business-oriented couple...

Touga intones, "So then.. how about.. Raphael and Julia Giovanni hrmm?  
Newly weds looking for foreign investments?  That should be enough of a
cover story for the moment." he decides.

Utena nods, grinning faintly. "That's fine with me. Can you produce the
identification to go with that?"

Touga intones, "Certainly.  I still have many connections and friends whom
owe me favors.  I just need some time with a netphone and it shall be all
setup for us."

And so they prepare...