The End
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Chapter Four
Endymion sat in the garden, watching the water bubble up in the fountain. It was calm. Serene almost. That's the way the garden was designed.
But the prince felt anything but serene.
Once he and Kunzite had returned to the palace, they had been swarmed on. Of course Kunzite had to report what had happened. Endymion was pulled off his horse into the arms of waiting servants.
Their horses were taken a way to be fed and groomed and generally calmed down. Endymion was ushered inside and into a warm bath. Guards were sent out to deal with the mess that Kunzite had left behind, and to hunt for the remaining bandits.
When he asked about Kunzite, all the prince was told was that the Shitennou was also being taken care of. But he hadn't seen Kunzite since they had returned home yesterday. When they had come home, Kunzite had seemed fine, but Endymion had to admit that he wasn't exactly paying attention.
Endymion shuddered. He had seen a real battle now... a real fight where the opponents really were trying to kill each other. There was no concern for proper rules, no points awarded for getting a touch. And he had felt like he was going to be sick. When he thought about what Kunzite had done...
He shuddered again. At least he hadn't actually seen it.
Finally he got up. He was going to find Kunzite.
He had to ask around for awhile before he finally found the Shitennou sitting in the shade, meditating. His arm was wrapped in white strips of clean cloth... Endymion shivered. Kunzite was hurt after all
"Kunzite-sensei?" he asked softly.
He opened his eyes.
"Can I talk to you?"
"Of course," Kunzite said, indicating that Endymion should come take a seat.
The prince sat down slowly and gazed at the grass for a long time.
Kunzite said nothing.
"I'm sorry!" he burst out, "I didn't listen to you, and got you in trouble and now you're hurt."
"Endy," Kunzite said gently.
"You told me not to go through the forest, but I just had to go exploring," Endymion continued, "And now look what happened..." The prince looked back down again, "I'm no warrior..."
"Endy..."
"And now you're hurt, and you could have been killed!"
"Your highness!" Kunzite said firmly, "Look at me."
Responding to the authority in Kunzite's voice, the prince looked up and met Kunzite's light blue eyes.
"First, I accept your apology," he said, "Secondly, I am not badly hurt."
"But... your arm..."
"It was just a surface cut," he said, "I will be fine. Trust me."
Endymion nodded automatically.
"It is my task to look after you," Kunzite said, "To protect you and teach you."
He looked down, "I haven't been making that easy for you..."
"You could put it that way," Kunzite said.
"They wanted to kill you... and maybe even me," the prince said.
"Probably not you," Kunzite said, "They could get a good ransom for you. You're too valuable to kill."
"And then father would have done anything to get me home safe..." Endymion said softly.
"Most likely."
"I didn't know that you could kill people..."
"Sometimes, my prince, there is no choice," Kunzite said, "People like that make their livings preying on others."
"Do you really think they could have killed you?"
"They wanted to," Kunzite said, "I'm sure they have killed other unsuspecting travelers."
"But, do you really think they could have killed you?" Endymion repeated.
Kunzite looked sideways at the prince and winked.
"I want to go back to lessons," Endymion said, "I have a lot left to learn..."
Kunzite smiled, "I think we can arrange that."
"I'll stay with the pattern dance," Endymion said with a nod.
"That's more of your level," he said.
The prince nodded.
"And," he gave the prince another smile, "That is the sort of fencing that does impress the ladies."
"Girls are dumb," he responded promptly.
Kunzite laughed heartily at that.
The End
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