 Shibuya

The morning after the trial, Kureto paces furiously around Shinya's dungeon cell as the omega leans against a wooden post with his head down. The beta out of his Kingsguard armor.

"I made a deal for you to keep your ungrateful head on your ungrateful neck a little while longer." Kureto rants.

"I'm sorry, what am I grateful for?" Shinya looks up, "The opportunity to live and die at the Wall as punishment for a crime I did not commit?"

"You threw your life away. You threw it away. It's not a joke. You understand that, don't you?" Kureto asks Shinya with a serious look.

"Of course it's a joke, just not a very funny one." Shinya grumbles, "I couldn't- I couldn't listen to her standing there telling her lies. I couldn't do it."

"You really thought Yukimi, the Master of Whisperers was someone you could trust?" Kureto asks.

"I was stupid enough to think that she was on my side. That deal you made, it was everything Uncle wanted. You do see that? He gets you back as the house heir. The future Lord of the Rock. And he ships me off to Nagoya, out of sight at last. All so perfect. It felt good to take that from him. He knows I'm innocent and he's willing to sacrifice me anyway." Shinya looks out the barred window.

"He's willing to sacrifice any of us." Kureto says.

"Not you. You're the golden son. You could lose a hand and fuck your own sister, but you'll always be the golden son." Shinya says.

"Careful. I'm the last friend you've got." Kureto says stone-faced.

"At least I got to tell them what they really are." Shinya says.

"Yes, brilliant speech. They'll be talking about it for days to come. I thought you were a realist. Didn't realize you'd die for pride." Kureto drawls.

"Don't give up on me just yet. I survived one trial by combat, even though you weren't there to save me." Shinya says.

"I can't save you this time either. My training has proved that I can't beat a stable boy with my left hand, even if Mahiru would let me get within an inch of this trial." Kureto says.

"Where's your sense of adventure? Even if you lose, imagine the look on Uncle's face when you fall." Shinya says.

Kureto huffs a chuckle.

"Our family name snuffed out with a single swing of the sword." Shinya says.

"It is somewhat tempting." Kureto remains bare-faced.

"Well... Aiko fought for me once, she'll do it again. If she wins, I expect I'll be in her debt for the rest of my life." Shinya says.

"If she wins." Kureto says.

"Will you find her for me?" Shinya asks, Kureto nods. "Who does Mahiru plan on naming as a champion? I hope its Ser Fuola Honte. I'd enjoy watching Aiko disembowel that pompous child beater."

Kureto shakes his head in defeat and looks down before returning Shinya's gaze, "No. Not Ser Fuola."

Shinya squints at Kureto before his eyes begin to dilate in realization.

Ser Saito roars as he mightily lifts his sword upright in the air with an alpha man impaled in the stomach on it. The large alpha is shirtless with only slacks on as the man on the sword heaves and groans in pain, his life slowly leaving him as blood pours from his mouth.

Mahiru watches from a distance with a slight smirk of pleasure. She's clad in her black gown with her purple hair down.

Ser Saito turns the sword over as the man's body easily falls off of it leaving a trail of his fresh blood on the dried one.

A guard pushes another prisoner forward from a line of filthy ones, a beta this time.

"Go on, move it." The guard says as the young beta male moves towards the Mountain with a meager sword.

"And you. Come on." Another guard pushes another alpha out.

The alpha picks up a sword and charges towards Ser Saito who parries. The Mountain then slices his stomach to disembowel the alpha causing his intestines to pour out before he falls to the ground.

The Mountain moves towards the beta who throws down his weapon and falls to his knees in front of him, "Mercy. Please. Please, mercy."

Mahiru moves down the stone steps with her entourage of Kingsguard following close behind.

Ser Saito slices into the man with his sword spraying blood as Mahiru steps over the intestines.

The Mountain howls as he continues to strike the beta angrily before stopping when there is nothing left of the man, but pink slush and red blood.

"Ser Saito. Welcome to the capital. Thank you for riding here so quickly." Mahiru gets his attention and steps closer towards the alpha as she looks down at the puddle of the beta before her. "You seem to be in good form."

"Who am I fighting?" Ser Saito asks.

"Does it matter?" Mahiru asks.

Ser Saito only shakes his head slowly in response with a killer look on his face.

In Shinya's cell, the omega stares forlornly out the window. He can hear the footsteps bounding down the stairs.

His door suddenly opens to reveal Aiko Aihara, clad in a red dress with pants, boots, and a matching cape. Something he's never seen her or any sellsword in.

She looks around the dim cell before her eyes find Shinya and she bows her head slightly, "My Lord."

"You have new clothes." Shinya observes.

"Do you like them? Gloves are doeskin. Softer than a virgin's thighs." Aiko smirks.

"I sent for you days ago." Shinya says tensely.

"I've been a bit busy." Aiko acknowledges.

"Doing what?"

"My lonesome days are over." Aiko says, "I am to wed Ahmya Haruka."

"Ahmya Haruka? Doesn't strike me as your kind of omega." Shinya says.

"I wouldn't say I had a single sort of omega." Aiko shrugs.

"She's dim-witted."

"If I wanted wits, I'd marry you." Aiko says.

"When my sister arranged this love match, did she mention that Ahmya has an older sister?" Shinya probes.

"Falya. Aye, I did know about the older sister." Aiko says.

"And you understand the rules of inheritance?"

"Falya is forty and barren." Aiko says.

"She still gets Castle Haruka when her father dies." Shinya says.

"She does. Unless she happens to perish before her father. Then Ahmya gets the castle." Aiko says, mischievously.

Shinya can't hold back a scoff at that.

"What? People fall from their horses and snap their pretty necks all the time." Aiko shrugs.

"You and my sister deserve each other. Why did you bother to come here?" Shinya says.

Aiko sits down on a little rock. "You once said if anyone ever asked me to sell you out, you'd double their price."

"Is it two wives you want or two castles?" Shinya asks.

"One of each will do. But if you want me to kill the Mountain for you, it'd better be a damn big castle." Aiko explains.

"I'm a bit short on castles at the moment. But I can offer you gold and gratitude." Shinya says with slight desperation leaking out.

"I have gold. What can I buy with gratitude?" Aiko muses.

Shinya stalks forward towards the beta, "You might be surprised. A Hiiragi always pays his debts."

"Your sister's a Hiiragi, too." Aiko points out.

"Guren still remains and is Lord of Snowstorm. If I emerge from this with my head still on my shoulders, I may one day rule the Nagoya. I could carve you out a big piece of it." Shinya conjures up.

"If, may, and could. It's bloody cold up North. Ahmya is soft and warm. And close. If I gave you the choice between fucking Ahmya and fighting the Mountain, you'd have your britches down and your cock out before I could blink." Aiko says.

"Does he frighten you so much?" Shinya asks at a loss for words.

"I'd be a bloody fool if he didn't frighten me. He's freakish big and freakish strong. And quicker than you'd expect for a man of that size. Maybe I could take him, dance around until he's so tired of hacking at me, he dropped his sword, and get him off his feet somehow. But one misstep... and I'm dead. Why should I risk it?" Aiko says.

"Because you're my friend." Shinya says.

"Aye, I'm your friend. And when have you ever risked your life for me?" Aiko asks.

Shinya looks down in contemplation as his mind roves over all of his encounters with Aiko, but he finds himself coming up short. She's right and she knows it.

Aiko stands, "I like you, pampered little shit that you are. I just like myself more."

"I understand." Shinya says.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way." Aiko says.

"Why are you sorry? Because you're an evil bitch with no conscience and no heart?" Shinya says, almost despondently while completely honest, "That's what I liked about you in the first place."

Shinya extends his hand and Aiko hesitates before shaking it heartily.

"We had some good days together." Aiko says.

"Yes, we did." Shinya agrees with the ghost of a sad smile.

Aiko pats his arm and gives him a meaningful glance before making her way back towards the door.

"What will you do?" Aiko asks before knocking.

"I suppose I'll have to kill the Mountain myself. Won't that make for a great song?" Shinya muses sentimentally.

"I hope to hear them sing it one day." Aiko says before the door opens, she nods her head down and takes her leave.

Shinya watches the beta leave him, and he can't help but feel the finality of it all as his trial-by-combat breathes down his neck. He just lost his last hope for a champion and realizes just how fucked he is. But, he has no one to blame but himself for this situation.

In the dark of night, Shinya sits against the wooden post in his dungeon cell, dreading the circumstances he finds himself facing.

No light remains in the cell as he finds himself diving further into his pit of despair. He glances up when the loud sound of the door opening catches his attention.

A flaming torch lights the room as the figure comes towards him to reveal Prince Basteya.

"I imagined you'd be back at the brothel at this hour." Shinya says miserably.

"I did spend some time with an absolutely stunning blonde the other day." Prince Basteya says, "His mouth felt like something that went above the seventh heaven."

Shinya huffs a laugh, "Mm, do tell. I've got every kind of filth down here except the kind I like."

Basteya puts the torch on a holder and sits down at Shinya's crouched level. "Your sister."

"Oh."

"Mahiru approached me. We spoke a great deal about daughters. She was trying very hard to pretend she had not come to sway me against you. I think she may have even believed it herself." Basteya says.

"Making honest feelings do dishonest work is one of her many gifts." Shinya says lowly.

"It was difficult for her to hide her true intentions. It is rare to meet a Hiiragi who shares my enthusiasm for dead Hiiragi's. She desperately wants to see you killed." Basteya says.

"She didn't need to bother you. It looks as though I've taken care of that myself. The joy she will feel when my head leaves my neck. She's wanted this for a long time." Shinya says darkly.

"Yes, I know. Do you remember us meeting? Many years ago." Basteya says.

"Faintly." Shinya says.

"Our father brought me and my sister Elina with him on a visit to Hakone. My first time away from Harajuku. I didn't like anything about the Rock. Not the food, not the weather, your accents. Nothing. But the biggest disappointment...you." Basteya says.

"You and my family have more in common than you might admit." Shinya says ironically.

"The whole way from Harajuku all anyone talked about was the omega that had been made into a Hiiragi by the King. We heard many conflicting things about you. That you were tall and short. Ugly and beautiful. Pudgy and thin. Raven-haired and purple-haired." Prince Basteya says. "When we met your sister, she promised she would show you to us. Every day we would ask. Every day she would say, "Soon." You had this habit of keeping to yourself when you were younger, always locked in the library by yourself with no one ever bothering you. Then, one day the library door was open, and she and your brother took us inside. She unveiled you. You were beautiful, in every conventional way. Something I found predictable and disappointing. Until today, I realized that you aren't like your family. Back then, we didn't try to hide our disappointment. I told Mahiru. "That's just a baby." And she said, "It doesn't matter, everyone says he's not one of us. That he does not belong here. I hope they are right. He should have never been brought here.""

"My father, the King brought me home from an orphanage when I was very young. I don't remember a great deal, but he and the Mad King used to frequent our orphanage. Back before the Mad King became mad, he used to help the poor. When they were there, they would always talk amongst each other and pass constant glances at me and only me while looking around. Strangely it was mostly the Mad King. I could tell the difference easily because their cold and imperial looks towards anyone else was rather obvious. No other children captured their attention like I did without even speaking a word to either of them. But, I was always told to respect alphas, especially those in higher positions as a common omega. So, when I was brought to them one day and told that Lord Hiiragi wanted to make me his son in every possible way, what could I do? I was shocked, but they both told me it in the kindest way they could muster, and clearly wanted it as much as I needed it. A chance at a good life on Hakone that not many omegas could ever dream of. Both, Father and Mother loved me and treated me like I was their trueborn son. Father, especially saw to it that I was educated. Even the Mad King was not terrible to me before the rebellion. But, all of them are gone now." Shinya reminisces with watery eyes in defeat. "Well... sooner or later, Mahiru always gets what she wants."

"And what about what I want? Justice for my sister and her children." Prince Basteya says.

"If you want justice, you've come to the wrong place." Shinya shakes his head.

"I disagree." Prince Basteya says before rising with his torch illuminating him and declaring, "I've come to the perfect place. I want to bring those who have wronged me to justice. And all those who have wronged me are right here. I will begin with Ser Saito, who killed my sister's children and then raped her with their blood still on his hands before killing her, too. I will be your champion."

Shinya huffs a gasping breath of grateful relief as he looks up at his new champion.

 Riverlands

On the borders of the Riverlands, Mitsuba and Aoi ride side-by side on their horses past a large green tree.

Once past they see a hidden, smoldering farm hidden by smoke and dark trees.

"Could be food." Aoi says.

"Could be soldiers." Mitsu retorts.

Aoi and Mitsu ride forward into the smoke and dismount. Both women have their swords drawn as they enter the grounds of the farm.

They hear a grunt and follow the sound until they find a man propped up on a well with a bleeding wound in his gut.

"You shouldn't be sitting out here like this." Mitsu says.

"Where else to sit? Tried to walk back to my hut, hurt too much. Then I remembered they burned my hut down." The man grunts out.

"Who were "they"?" Aoi asks.

"I stopped asking a while ago." The man says.

Aoi kneels down to inspect the wound.

"That's not gonna get better." Aoi tells him.

"Doesn't seem so." The man keeps his eyes down.

"A bad way to go. Haven't you had enough?" Aoi asks as Mitsu passes a wary glance.

"Of what? I know. Time to go. Take matters into my own hands. The thought has occurred to me." The man says.

Mitsu kneels near the man, "So why go on?"

"Habit."

"Nothing could be worse than this." Mitsu says.

"Maybe nothing is worse than this." The man says.

"Nothing isn't better or worse than anything. Nothing is just nothing." Mitsu says.

"Who are you?" The man asks.

"My name is Mitsuba. Mitsuba Sanguu."

"You her mother?" The man asks.

"Her sister. Bringing her home to her real family for money." Aoi responds.

"A fair exchange, that is. Always held to the notion of fair exchange in all my dealings. You give me, I give you. Fair. A balance. No balance anymore." The man says, "Could I have a drink? Dying is thirsty work."

Aoi gives the man a drink of water.

"Wish it were wine." The man says after taking a hearty sip.

"So do I." Aoi agrees before plunging her dagger into the man's heart. He looks up at her as she nods and removes the blade. He smiles a tiny bit before he closes his eyes and dies. Aoi wipes the blood off of her knife on his shirt.

"That's where the heart is. That's how you kill a man." Aoi tells Mitsu.

Suddenly, a man screams as he jumps on Aoi's back and bites her in the neck enough to draw blood. Aoi flips the man over her shoulder onto a rock, so that he bangs his head harshly against it. Blood pours from the top of his head. Mitsu and Aoi stand and turn to see a man with a sword.

Mitsu squints in confusion because the man looks familiar before her eyes widen in realization. He was a prisoner of Torrhen to be sent to the Wall. The one who threatened to rape her.

"The fuck you doing?" Aoi asks.

"There's a price on your head." The man says.

"Guess that's what the King does when you tell him to fuck off." Aoi says.

"The King's dead. He drank poisoned wine at his own wedding. The bounty on you is for killing Hiiragi soldiers. 100 silver stags." The man says as Mitsu and Aoi share a shocked glance.

"And you thought you were going to collect it? Didn't think very hard, did you?" Aoi challenges as she holds her bleeding neck.

"You were Torrhen's prisoners when he was taking me to the Wall. He told me he'd fuck me bloody with a stick." Mitsu tells Aoi as she comes closer to the two.

"This day's really not working out the way you planned." Aoi tells the man before turning to Mitsu, "He on your little list?"

"He can't be. I don't know his name." Mitsu says.

"What's your name?" Aoi turns back.

"Ranpan." The man says.

"Thank you." Mitsu says with a smile as she stands right in front of the man. She quick draws her needle and fatally stabs him in the heart, similar to how Aoi showed her.

The man groans in pain and falls to the ground while Mitsu wipes her sword clean on his body.

"You're learning." Aoi says, slightly impressed.

Mitsu sheathes her needle and turns to follow Aoi back to the horses.

In a mountainous and green valley, Mitsu cleans and sharpens her blade as Aoi tries to tend to her wound alone.

It is still day as the horses graze on the grass and Mitsu studies her sister clumsily trying to do it all by herself.

"Rat cunts. Fucking whore." Aoi curses.

"You're doing it wrong. You need to burn away that horrible bit there. Otherwise it's gonna get infected and fester. If you don't do it right-" Mitsu puts down her sword and stands.

"I know what I'm doing." Aoi insists as she struggles.

"Let me help you, it will only take a second." Mitsu comes closer.

Aoi stands up abruptly and backs away. "NO!"

Mitsu's eyes widen at the insistence and they both stand still, silently staring at one another for a long time.

Mitsu finally gives up after a few minutes and begins to pick up her sword to continue with what she was doing before. She sits and returns to her cleaning.

Aoi studies her as her face slightly softens, "Shut up about it. Shut up about everything. Thanks to you, I'm a walking bag of silver anywhere the Hiiragi's hold sway. Which is everywhere between where we are now and where we're going."

Aoi retakes her seat, "I'm as stupid as that hog you stuck back in the village, getting myself stabbed and bitten. No reward is worth this much trouble. Wish I'd never met you. Wish I'd never taken you."

Mitsu remains silent. "Then, why did you?"

"I don't fucking know." Aoi lies, but she does. She knows why she did it. She wanted to protect her sister and take care of her, even if she wasn't good at showing it. She wanted her sister to be safe and who better to be with than her for that. Despite, current events.

Mitsu studies her sister, "Let me wash it out and help you sew it up at least."

Aoi remains silent and keeps her eyes down. Mitsu takes that as an invitation. She stands and walks towards her with the water pouch. Mitsu pours the water on the wound which causes Aoi to wince before she begins to sew up the bite. Aoi carefully and uncertainly watches her sister as she does so.

 Ikebukuro

A horn blows as rangers train in the snowy courtyards of Ikebukuro.

"Rangers returning!" A man announces from atop the dark stone castle.

Yuu, Benjey, and the remainder of his party come through the tunnels leading to beyond the wall.

"They return!"

"Rangers returning!"

"Greetings." Yuu calls out from the front in his dark feathered cloak.

The men in the yard come to greet them with Seishi at the front. Many of the brothers trading hugs with each other.

Banko joins the men, as well.

Yuu and Seishi hug, "All right, Warden?"

Kusunoki and his party enter on the second-story platform.

"Lord Ichinose." Kusunoki says in the usual mocking tone as Yuu finishes hugging Banko.

Asu enters from the tunnel remaining at the entrance and in very good sight.

They all look up at Kusunoki as his eyes find Asu.

"This is no place for wild beasts. Lock him away or I'll let Knob throw him in tonight's stew." Kusunoki threatens.

Yuu gazes darkly at the man before turning and walking towards Asu.

"Come on, Asu." Yuu says to the wolf who instinctively follows him towards the kennels.

In the Great Hall of Ikebukuro, all of the men sit at the tables with the exception of Yuu who stands before Kusunoki at the elevated table on the platform.

"Mel's army was closing in on Rast's Keep when we left. We saw their campfires from Orien Hill. They'll reach the Wall before the next full moon." Yuu says.

"I'm surprised you didn't ride over and say hello. The King Beyond-the-Wall is your old friend, isn't he?" One of Kusunoki's men provoke Yuu.

Yuu ignores the man and addresses Kusunoki, "We need to prepare."

"We've been preparing." Kusunoki says.

"We should seal the tunnel. Plug it with rocks and ice. Flood it and let it freeze." Yuu suggests.

"And how would we range north?" Kusunoki asks.

"We wouldn't." Yuu says.

"Coward. You would cut off our legs, pluck out our eyes, and leave us cowering behind the Wall hoping for the storm to pass?" Kusunoki sneers at Yuu.

"We can't defend the gate against a hundred thousand men." Benjey says.

"This castle has stood for thousands of years. The Watch has defended her for thousands of years. And in all those centuries, we have never sealed the tunnel." Kusunoki says.

"Have you ever seen a giant, Ser Eita? I have." Yuu challenges.

"The bars on those gates are four inches thick. Cold-rolled steel." Kusunoki says.

"They won't stop them." Yuu says knowingly.

"Remind me which order you belong to, Lord Ichinose." Kusunoki mocks.

"The stewards." Yuu says knowing he is going to be shot down in the end.

"Are the stewards responsible for maintaining the tunnel?" Kusunoki challenges.

"No." Yuu says lowly.

"Who would that be?" Kusunoki asks.

"The builders." Yuu says, slightly annoyed.

"Ah, the builders. First Builder Yarwitch, Lord Ichinose here recommends sealing the tunnel, leaving us unable to carry out our duties as sworn brothers of the Watch. Do you agree with him?" Kusunoki ridicules.

Yarwitch gives a long pause of consideration before answering, "No."

"Given your deep knowledge of the Wild One army, Lord Snow, you and Seishi will take night duties atop the Wall until the full moon." Kusunoki orders.

A good chunk of the room lets out laughs. Yuu moves, ready to murder the man before Seishi grabs his arm to stop him.

"Moving on. First Builder, we'll need a hundred barrels of pitch brought atop the wall." Kusunoki continues on with his business.

"Aye." Yarwitch agrees.

Yuu loudly retakes his seat as his large hand comes to rub at his eyes in frustration.

 Shinjuku - Meeridan

In the dead of night, Mikaela Shindo makes his way to his bedchambers. His hair is still down with the multiple braids. The omega is clad in a blue gown with navy dragon scales etched in the top of the gown. The gown is a covered in the navy blue from the top to bottom sides with a light blue chiffon skirt revealed in an open archway of the dress at the front and back. There's an opening on the front that slightly bares his chest and an opening at the back that shows the top of his back.

The omega is wary from his day at the Meeridan court to deal with the matters that his people face. He enters the room that leads to his council table and has to do a double take. Mika looks at the hallway with a guard still posted all the way down that he just passed and then back at Shahal in the dark room.

Shahal is clad in a simple, loose tunic that exposes his collar bones, tight slacks, and riding boots. The man has flowers in his hands as he turns to look at Mika.

"How did you get in here?" Mika asks in sheer wonderment.

"Your door is well-guarded." Shahal gestures to the door with the bouquet, "But your window is not."

Mika makes his way to the alpha, climbing up the steps to meet where he stands near the table.

Shahal hands him the bouquet, "I swam to an island a mile offshore for these."

Mika hands it back to him with an annoyed look, "Don't do that again."

"Never met an omega who didn't like wildflowers." Shahal says.

Mika begins to remove the dragon-themed jewelry, "These are my private quarters. If I want you here, I will summon you."

Mika takes a seat on a backless chair which seems to be rather common in Meeridan.

Shahal kneels playfully to him to plead for forgiveness, "Forgive me, my queen. I live to serve you."

"Tell me why you're here." Mika orders as Shahal rises.

"I came to ask a favor. I only have two talents in this world- war and omegas. You are staying here in Meeridan to rule. That is a wise decision. I respect it. But here in Meeridan, I cannot pursue my talents." Shahal says.

"I've ordered the Second Sons to patrol the streets to stop the revenge killing." Mika says resolutely.

"You've ordered us to be night watchmen." Shahal argues.

"And as for omegas, there are thousands in Meeridan you can pursue." Mika says.

"There is only one, and he does not want me." Shahal says.

Mika refrains from rolling his eyes, "You swore me your sword."

"My sword is yours till the day I die." Shahal says.

"So if I command you to stay in Meeridan and patrol the streets?" Mika asks.

"I'll stay in Meeridan and patrol the streets. Send me to kill your enemies. Any enemy anywhere. Let me do what I do best." Shahal says.

Mika considers the man before him. He considers all he's offering. He's considering the three years that have passed since Makoto and his son's death. Maybe, now is the time to move on. Find something with anyone. He loved Makoto, but he does not know if he was the one he was fated and destined to be with forever since he's died. He's not sure if Makoto was the alpha he was supposed to find and feel the fated connection with since he does not know what it would feel like. Lucal always told him he'd know what it'd feel like when it happened and he still remains uncertain that it ever happened when he was with Makoto. He loved Makoto with all he could possibly give, but was that enough to mean they were each other's fated pair. He does not feel the same about Shahal, but if anything, this may provide a distraction.

Mika rises and moves to pour himself a cup of wine, "Very well. Do what you do best."

Mika retakes his seat with a somewhat hungry and uncertain look in his eyes before ordering, "Take off your clothes."

Shahal smirks at the omega as Mika remains uncertain as he gazes at the strong alpha's toned and muscular chest when he removes his shirt and shoes. The tanned skin being lit in the moonlight. Shahal moves to unlace his pants as they fall to the floor to reveal his huge alpha cock. Mika looks at it admittedly with lust while the fear remains on his face. A little gust of wind blows his blonde hair a bit.

Mika takes a large gulp of wine to finish and rises. He walks towards Shahal and places his arms on his chest to feel the warm muscles. Mika looks at the alpha's pink lips, licking his own. He doesn't feel the need to produce any slick which should be the first sign, but he ignores it, in favor of rising to match his lips to Shahal's one in a light kiss. Mika kisses the alpha who reciprocates, but the omega doesn't feel anything.

A cold feeling soon settles in him as he deepens the kiss. He realizes it feels just like it did when he kissed Makoto. His husband's face flashes in his head causing him to pull away from Shahal with a gasp.

Shahal's eyes widen, "Are you okay?"

Mika remains at a distance from the naked alpha, "This, we-I can't do this. It's not right."

"Why?" Shahal asks.

"I'm not ready." Mika huffs out sardonically, feeling pathetic. "Three years have passed since Makoto died and I still can't move past him far enough to kiss another alpha. Even though his bite mark has faded from my skin long ago."

"It doesn't have to mean anything." Shahal says almost in a plea.

"I know that." Mika looks at him, "Even then, I can't do it. Not yet."

"When?"

"I don't know." Mika says. He feels like he's betraying his memory and love for Makoto if he does this with some random alpha.

The room remains tensely silent until a realization hits Mika about what he really wants.

"It wouldn't mean anything to you?" Mika asks.

"I already said that." Shahal says.

"That's the problem. It would mean something to me to do this with an alpha that I don't..." Mika trails off, for once feeling like his age as he looks at the older alpha.

"Love?" Shahal says.

Mika nods slightly, "Not to mention what this would mean for my reign, a lover is a liability. Giving in as an omegan Queen to an alpha I am not even mated to is something I won't allow myself to do. I value you as a friend and soldier, but that's all it can be."

Shahal looks like a kicked puppy but nods his head, "I'll respect that."

Mika nods.

"Your Grace, a word of advice." Shahal says, "Friends are important, but they're also liabilities too. You can be open around them, even if you are a Queen."

Mika studies the man, "It's rather late for you to leave now, even if you are the head of the Second Sons. You can sleep in the soft chair for the night."

Shahal nods, "Pleasant dreams, Your Grace."

Mika looks back at the man, "You, as well."

Mika makes his way towards his bedchambers as Shahal puts on his pants and settles into the soft long chair for the night.

In the early morning light, Ser Lacus makes his way to the council chambers in the Great Pyramid.

He strides around the hallways and is about to turn the corner before Shahal turns it at the same time, shoving his shirt on his naked chest.

Ser Lacus' eyes widen at the sight of Shahal leaving the Queen's chambers so early in the morning. Shahal plasters a smug look on his face.

"Lacus. Are you here to see our queen? He seems to be in a good mood." Shahal pats a silently fuming Lacus on the shoulder before making his way past the beta.

Lacus looks at the alpha before glancing at the entrance to the council chambers.

The sun shines through the window onto a table where Mika looks down at a spread-out map. The omega has all of his pale blonde hair down.

Mika wears a new dress. An x-shaped cross made of cerulean dragon scale fabric crosses down the front of Mika's torso to his waist, creating a barrier around the waist for a white-grey pleated chiffon skirt to continue all the way down to his feet. There are light-blue cut outs to cover his nipples that strap around to his back to connect with the cross. The dress has cut outs that reveal his naked chest, belly button, and left and right part of his abdomen that are shaped by the cross. Giving Mika a looks that makes him look more open by revealing more.

Mika studies the map as Ser Lacus walks inside.

"Khaleesi." Ser Lacus says.

"You're here early." Mika says.

"Later than some." Ser Lacus says with a bite that Mika catches.

"I take you ran into Shahal. You needn't worry, nothing happened." Mika says.

"I can't trust him, he's a sellsword." Ser Lacus says.

"Didn't you fight for the Gold Company before pledging your sword to Lucal?" Mika challenges.

"I did."

"I trust you." Mika says sincerely.

"Shahal killed his captains and dumped their heads at your feet when he grew tired of their commands. How could you ever have faith in a man like that?" Ser Lacus asks.

"As I've said before nothing happened and even if anything did, I would not have to answer to anyone for it." Mika says slightly defensive, "Besides, I could never have faith in a man like Shahal. That's why I've sent him and the Second Sons to retake Yunkarion."

"You have?" Ser Lacus is now eager to change the subject.

"I have." Mika reiterates.

"Without you there to rule, Khaleesi, I fear the masters will simply bide their time, wait for the invaders to leave and reassert control." Ser Lacus says.

"That is why I've ordered Shahal to execute every master in Yunkarion. The masters tear babies from their mothers' arms. They mutilate little children by the thousands. They train little omegas in the art of pleasuring old alphas and betas. They treat alphas like beasts, as you said yourself." Mika says.

"Herding the masters into pens and slaughtering them by the thousands is also treating men like beasts. The slaves you freed, brutality is all they've ever known. If you want them to know something else, you'll have to show it to them." Ser Lacus says.

"And repay the slavers with what? Kindness? A fine? A stern warning?" Mika asks sarcastically, "I've already tried the ones here, and yet we still face problems in Meeridan. What good has this mercy done?"

"It's tempting to see your enemies as evil, all of them, but there's good and evil on both sides in every war ever fought." Ser Lacus advises.

"Let the priests argue over good and evil. Slavery is real. I can end it. I will end it. And I will end those behind it." Mika declares.

"I sold men into slavery, Khaleesi." Ser Lacus points out.

"And now you are helping me show them to freedom." Mika argues.

"I wouldn't be here to help you if Guren Ichinose had done to me what you want to do to the masters of Yunkarion." Ser Lacus says.

Mika considers this before an idea springs into his head, "The man who came to me the other day about burying his father."

"Hizakh lo Doraj?"

"He will accompany the Second Sons and serve as my ambassador to Yunkarion. He will tell the masters what has happened in Meeridan. He will explain the choice they have before them. They can live in my new world or they can die in their old one." Mika tells Ser Lacus sternly.

Ser Lacus has the ghost of a smile on his face as he nods.

"Well, go and catch Shahal before he leaves. Tell him I changed my mind." Mika tells Ser Lacus.

"Yes, Khaleesi." Ser Lacus says, moving to leave.

"No." Mika stops Ser Lacus, "Tell him you changed my mind."

Ser Lacus nods with the ghost of a smile that mirrors Mika's as the beta takes his leave from him.

 Ebina

Shinoa is clad in a dark cloak over her lilac dress as she walks down the hallway towards the Ebina courtyard. She walks outside into the snow that falls onto the ground of the courtyard, already having covered the ground in white. She looks around in awe as she remembers the last time she ever saw snow was back home in Nagoya at Snowstorm. She feels a wave of nostalgia overtake her as she feels the cool white feeling hit her skin and her purple hair.

She looks down at the snow and decides to do something that reminds her of home. She gets on the ground and begins to construct a model of Snowstorm Castle. She must have spent around three peaceful and unbothered hours outside creating a perfect replica of the snowy castle made out of snow. Once she's finally done, she sits back and looks at her handiwork as a wave of melancholy washes over her at the sight of her former home.

She turns at the sound of footsteps and sees Ryuki emerge, "Hello, Ryuki."

"What are you doing?" Ryuki asks.

"I'm building my home, Snowstorm. At least I think I am. I haven't been back there in a very long time." Shinoa says.

"Why did you leave?" Ryuki asks as he crouches.

"It's a long story." Shinoa says with a rueful smile.

"I stay here in Ebina. Mother says it's dangerous on the roads and I have to keep myself safe because I'm the Lord of Ebina and the Lord of Ebina is a very important person." Ryuki says.

"Yes, you certainly are." Shinoa agrees.

"When will you go back?"

"Probably never. My family doesn't live there anymore and someone burned it down." Shinoa says.

"Oh. Does Snowstorm have a Moon Door?" Ryuki asks.

"No, I'm afraid not. It's not high up in the mountains. It's down on the ground." Shinoa explains.

"That sounds dangerous. How do you make people fly?" Ryuki says.

"We don't."

"What do you do with all the bad people and the scary people and the people you don't like?" Ryuki asks.

"I never did anything with them at all. Omegas didn't take part in that where I came from." Shinoa says.

"Well, I'm Lord of Ebina. When I grow up, I'll be able to fly anybody who bothers me. Or you. When we get married, you can tell me if you don't like somebody and then we can bring them back here and, whoosh! Right through the Moon Door." Ryuki rambles on.

Shinoa remains amused, the boy seems harmless so she plays along. "I like the sound of that."

"Let's put a Moon Door in your Snowstorm." Ryuki suggests.

"All right."

"It can go in here in this big tower." Ryuki hastily reaches to show her, but accidentally knocks down the snow tower he touches.

"Careful." Shinoa gets out too late before sighing, "You've ruined it. Now I'm going to have to rebuild the whole thing."

"I didn't ruin it." Ryuki says defensively.

Shinoa rises and Ryuki does with her, which causes her to realize she's actually taller than him. "You did."

"It was already ruined because it didn't have a Moon Door. I was fixing it!" Ryuki whines.

"Knocking things down isn't fixing them. It's ruining them." Shinoa reprimands.

"I didn't ruin it!" Ryuki starts to whine and stomp.

"You're being stupid." Shinoa says.

"I didn't ruin it!" Ryuki shouts and begins to kick Shinoa's Snowstorm until it no longer remains.

Shinoa watches shocked and angered. She's tired of these annoying, bratty alpha men in her life that think they can treat omegas horribly because of their status. Her bubbling rage grows as the boy stomps and once he stops and looks at her challengingly, she finally lets it all out. She slaps the boy across his face for ruining her happiness. The boy holds his face and gazes at a dazed Shinoa with wide eyes.

Shinoa snaps out of her daze as Ryuki sobs and runs away, "Ryuki, I'm sorry, I-"

"Children." A voice says across from her at the other entrance causes her to turn to see Kagiyama.

"I hit him." Shinoa says.

"Yes, I saw."

"I shouldn't have done that." Shinoa tells him.

"No, his mother should have a long time ago. Consider it a step in the right direction." Kagiyama consoles her.

"If he tells Lady Hyakuya-" Shinoa starts.

"Let me worry about Lady Hyakuya." Kagiyama reassures her.

"I was trying to remember what everything looked like. I'll never see it again." Shinoa says forlornly at the pile of snow where her Snowstorm was.

"A lot can happen between now and never. If you want to build a better home, first you must demolish the old one." Kagiyama tells her lowly.

Shinoa studies the man suspiciously, "Why did you really kill Takashi? Tell me why."

"I loved your brother more than you could ever know. Given the opportunity, what do we do to those who've hurt the ones we love? In a better world, one where love could overcome strength and duty, you might have been my child. But we don't live in that world." Kagiyama tells her closely.

Kagiyama strokes her purple hair before saying, "You're more beautiful than he ever was."

"Lord Kagiyama-" Shinoa starts, almost fearful.

"Call me Taro." Kagiyama says before cupping the omega's cheeks with his cold hands and lifting her face to meet his in a forceful and dubious kiss.

Shinoa closes her eyes as she tries to get away from the strong grip.

Both remain unaware of Lady Fumie Hyakuya watching their entire exchange and fuming with a need for murder and vengeance at another Hiiragi besting her before she turns to leave.

Shinoa finally manages to pull away and looks at the beta in shock and slight disgust, while Kagiyama looks at her with uncertain lust and annoyance at the end of the kiss.

Shinoa makes her way to the Ebina Throne Room after being summoned by Lady Hyakuya after she came back inside from the snow.

Lady Hyakuya stands near the Moon Door looking out of it.

"You wanted to see me, Lady Hyakuya?" Shinoa asks.

"Come here, Shinoa." Lady Fumie distantly tells her.

Shinoa joins her hesitantly at the edge of the Moon Door. They both look down at the clouds under the door and the lush greenery and specks of rocky landscape that can be made out from such a height. The port and lake that can be seen covered by the clouds.

"Do you know how far the fall is?" Lady Fumie asks.

"No."

"Neither do I. Has to be hundreds of feet. It's fascinating what happens to bodies when they hit the rocks from such a height. The impact breaks them right apart. Like eggs dropped on the floor. Sometimes pieces remain intact. You'll find the head sitting on its own. Every hair in place. Amber eyes staring at nothing." Lady Fumie says which catches Shinoa's attention as the woman's voice grows murderously cold with her next sentence. "I know what you did."

"I'm so sorry, Lady Hyakuya. I never should have hit Ryuki, I know it. I promise it won't happen-" Shinoa starts to apologize.

"Don't be coy with me, you little whore. You kissed him. You kissed Taro." Lady Fumie sneers at the girl.

"I didn't. You don't understand." Shinoa's voice gets louder and defensive.

Lady Fumie grabs Shinoa's forearm, "I saw you! You can't lie to me because I saw it with my own eyes!"

"He kissed me. I pulled away." Shinoa retorts in desperation.

Lady Fumie grabs the back of Shinoa's hair in a vice grip and pulls her over until she is kneeled to lean over the Moon Door as Shinoa cries. "Liar! Whore! He is mine!"

"Please!" Shinoa begs as tears begin to pour past her eyes.

"Everyone stood between us and now they're all dead. That's what happens to people who stand between Taro and me." Lady Hyakuya hisses at Shinoa before shouting, "Look down! Look down! Look down! Look down!"

"Fumie!" Kagiyama's familiar voice stops Lady Fumie's rage for a split second as he enters, "Let her go."

"You want her? This empty-headed child?" Lady Fumie shouts in disbelief and madness at being passed up for another Hiiragi.

"Let her go." Kagiyama says.

"She's just like her brother. She'll never love you." Lady Fumie cries while holding back tears. "I lied for you. I killed for you. Why did you bring her here?!? Why?!?"

"I'll send her away. I swear on my life. I swear to all the gods. Let her go, Fumie." Kagiyama implores.

Shinoa's whines can be heard.

Lady Fumie considers this with her grip remaining tight as her face scrunches up.

Lady Fumie pushes Shinoa back by the breast as she lets go of her hair so that the omega falls back onto the cold, stone ground.

Shinoa is paralyzed in fear and relief as she sits back.

Lady Hyakuya finally breaks down on the ridge of the Moon Door, leaning on it to weep.

Kagiyama approaches her carefully and gently.

"Oh, my sweet wife. My sweet, silly wife." Kagiyama says as he comes to her and kneels to her level.

He holds her shoulders as Shinoa recovers and watches the two.

Kagiyama rises with her in his arms as he makes her face him.

He meets her tearful gaze with solemn and cold ones, "I have only loved one omega... only one, my entire life."

Lady Fumie smiles at him in a dazed happiness, believing he means her. Shinoa looks up at the two.

"Shinya Hiiragi." Kagiyama declares darkly with a low tone of voice.

Kagiyama watches as Lady Fumie Hyakuya's face falls before coldly pushing her off the edge and past the Moon Door.

Kagiyama watches as she screams while she falls to her death until he cannot hear it anymore. Shinoa watches the man, surprised that she is not shocked by this as much as she should be.


She only lost consciousness for two or three seconds really; then the pounding of blood in her ears died down, and Anne realised she was leaning heavily against someone, and that that someone was supporting her from sliding to the ground by keeping his arms wrapped tightly around her.

She opened her eyes.

Then she lifted her head and looked up into Gilbert’s fury-white face.

Upon seeing her move a wave of deep relief swept over his features; but the next moment he looked, if that was possible, even more angry.

‘What the hell did you think you were doing?’

Anne had never before heard him – or, indeed, anybody else – use such a voice.

‘I— I just—‘ she began, and realised her teeth were chattering just like that night in the stable, only a hundred times more.

‘Just what?’ Gilbert demanded, his hands slipping to her elbows and grasping them so tight it hurt. ‘Just what, Anne? Are you crazy?’

His eyes had such a distraught look Anne was frightened even more, and she gave into the tears which had been welling up in her throat since the morning – or rather, since Saturday night.

She was vaguely aware that Gilbert was saying something; she felt him move and, horrified at the thought that he was trying to free himself from her, frantically grasped at the front of his coat with both her hands.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she managed through her choking sobs. ‘I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. Gilbert, I’m sorry.’

He said something, but she was unable to register his words and only shook her head against his chest.

This might have gone on forever as far as Anne’s ability to check her own access of misery was concerned, but suddenly she felt Gilbert forcibly tear himself away from her panicked grasp, take her face between his hands, and hold it in an iron grip.

She was so startled by both the suddenness of the movement and the directness of his gaze that she momentarily stopped crying and merely looked back at him in dumb bewilderment.

‘Breathe in,’ he said. ‘And then out. Just like me, okay?’

Anne complied, mainly because she would literally have done anything he told her to at that moment if it only meant that he wasn’t going to leave her.

To her surprise, after a few moments she felt her body cease to shake, and she realised she was once more capable of thinking more or less clearly.

This must have shown in her face, for Gilbert gave her a small, lopsided smile, and asked,

‘Better?’

She nodded.

He let go of her face, and she almost cried out to stop him, but controlled herself. It was no use.

Nothing was any use now.

‘Let’s sit down, then.’

Gilbert’s manner was carefully calm and collected, and although he still looked pale and extremely wary he no longer had that look in his eyes as though he was on the verge of madness.

Anne stood passively by as he looked round and, espying an old tree trunk lying some yards away, put his hand on the small of her back and led her to it as one might a scared child.

She could not help the impression that he was careful to sit far enough away so as not to touch her in any way. Well, she didn’t wonder. He must think her filthy enough to contaminate anything she got near to.

They sat for a moment in complete silence. At last, taking a sudden resolve, Anne looked up and encountered Gilbert’s eyes. His gaze was level, but she saw that there lurked beneath the surface calm that mad rage of a few moments’ ago, and shuddered involuntarily.

‘You can go,’ she blurted out rather abruptly, afraid of what he might say if he were to be the first to speak. ‘If you want to.’

He stared back blankly.

‘Go?’

‘Yes. I mean, if you’d rather not be here.’

‘And what are you going to do then?’ he asked, a sudden sharpness entering his voice. ‘Go back to the edge of that cliff? Is that why you want to get rid of me?’

He sounded – and looked – almost as angry again as he did some minutes previously, and, instinctively, Anne drew away from him a little.

‘Get—rid?’ she stuttered out. ‘I only meant that—‘

‘You only meant to throw yourself off that cliff, did you? Why?’ he demanded harshly as she merely continued to look back in dumb bewilderment. ‘Why, Anne? Does everything—everything we have mean so little to you?’

‘I—I never even considered doing it on purpose!’ she countered, stung into speech by the enormity of the error he was making. ‘I just stood there, and then—I don’t know, I just turned giddy and couldn’t—couldn’t move—‘ she stopped, the memory of that awful moment when the fall had seemed inevitable making her voice tremble against her will. ‘How could you think I’d ever do something like that?’

‘What else could I think?’ Gilbert answered heatedly, standing up and turning upon her fiercely. 'First you go out of the schoolhouse looking—like that, and then when I finally find you, you’re standing on the edge of a bloody cliff—‘ he stopped, running his hands across his face, and turning away.

Anne felt very cold all of a sudden.

‘I swear to you, Gil, I’d never do something like that,’ she said quietly, getting hesitatingly to her feet. ‘I swear it. You know I wouldn’t.’

She touched him tentatively on the arm, and when he turned round she suffered yet another shock.

Gilbert was crying. His whole face was contorted with suppressed tears, and one was actually rolling down his cheek.

Without thinking twice, Anne reached up and brushed it away, and then held her palm against his face.

‘Gil—‘ she whispered, at a loss for words. ‘Gil—‘

He pulled her into him, and held her so tight she could barely breathe. She felt him bury his face in her hair and inhale in a slow, painfully shuddering way.

‘Don’t ever do that again,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Anne, don’t you understand I couldn’t—I can’t lose you, Anne. I can’t—‘ his voice broke a little, ‘I can’t even think about it.’

Her astonishment at those words was so great she pulled away and blurted out,

‘Do you mean you still want to be with me?’

Gilbert stared back in undisguised bewilderment, his arms falling to his sides.

‘What—what on earth do you mean?’

 ‘I mean,’ said Anne with painful precision, her cheeks flaming up. ‘That I can’t—I thought you despised me.’

‘Despised you?’ he repeated, sounding horrified. ‘Anne, are you crazy?’

‘Well, what was I to think after the look you gave me in the morning, when I—‘

‘The look I gave you?’ Gilbert interrupted in an incredulous, increasingly heated tone. ‘Anne, I was not giving you any looks, for God’s sake. I barely know what I was doing. I was trying to stop myself from throttling that bloody bastard, I suppose.’

Anne felt her stomach clench. It had come, then – the moment when they openly acknowledged the part played by Billy in this awful mess.

She stood silent, looking down at her own tightly clasped hands. She could feel Gilbert’s eyes on herself.

‘Anne,’ he said, in a strained but nonetheless gentle voice. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

She looked up and met his eyes.

‘It wasn’t like he’s making it out to have been,’ she said quietly. ‘It wasn’t anything—anything nearly so odious, Gil.’

His eyes were scanning her face searchingly. ‘It-wasn’t?’

‘No,’ she went on, feeling as though her face was on fire. She put her hands up, pressing them against her forehead so that she might be screened from Gilbert’s penetrating gaze. ‘He’s lying. He’s never—he’s never even touched me, except—except for my throat,’ she was stumbling over her words now, speaking with increasing speed and incoherence. ‘But that was only—I don’t know, I suppose he was just trying to scare me. But nothing really happened. He didn’t really hurt me. I swear he didn’t, Gil. He’s just talking the way he is because he knows how it’s getting on my nerves, and—and Josie is in on it too, and—‘

She stopped, for she felt Gilbert’s fingers close gently around her wrists and draw her hands away from her face.

Immediately and unreasonably, she dropped her gaze to avoid meeting his eyes.

‘Anne.’

She looked up. He was pale and his eyes were angry, but he made an attempt to smile at her.

That’s when she began crying. Again.

‘Anne, don’t,’ he said firmly, drawing her into another tight embrace. ‘Don’t cry. I swear to you he’ll never dare even look in your direction again.’

‘No!’ she exclaimed, freeing herself from his arms and looking rather wild. ‘Don’t you see that’s why I never told you in the first place? I knew you’d want to do something stupid!’

‘Well, and what did you expect?’ he countered, frowning. ‘He can’t just go on bullying you forever, and perhaps worse—‘

Anne went white. ‘I thought you believed me!’ she gasped, feeling sick to the heart. ‘I thought you believed me when I said there was never anything—anything of that kind! Oh my God, I knew it, I knew it would be like this— You’ll never look at me the same way again now—you’ll always suspect—‘

‘What are you talking about?’ Gilbert asked in some exasperation. ‘Of course I do believe you, Anne. And nothing—nothing could ever change my feelings for you. You know it.’

‘I know nothing of the kind!’ she countered, sitting down again and putting her face in her hands. ‘I can’t stop thinking about it— And I know you’ll feel the same, even if you won’t admit it—‘

‘Admit what? Anne, what are you talking about? You just said he hasn’t—‘ she heard his voice break a little, ‘really hurt you—‘

‘Because he hasn’t’ she repeated emphatically, finally looking him straight in the eyes. ‘But he—he’s said something—something—‘

She broke off helplessly.

Slowly, Gilbert crouched down in front of her, taking her hands in his and looking up at her with extreme earnestness.

‘Anne, whatever it is, I swear to you it won’t matter. You must not be afraid to tell me.’

She looked back at him silently for a moment, trying to steady her breath.

‘Gilbert,’ she said finally, doing her best to speak calmly. ‘Do you think—has it ever occurred to you that we might perhaps—that possibly—that someday you might want to get married to me?’

Gilbert’s eyebrows shot up at the unexpectedness of the question. Then he smiled an unexpected smile.

‘Once or twice an hour it does, yes,’ he said with mock solemnity.

Anne, although internally trembling with apprehension, couldn’t help a small, unwilling smile of her own at that.

‘I’m serious,’ she said, making a wry face.

‘What makes you think I’m not?’ he countered with a shrug. ‘Anne, if you insist on knowing the truth, I think that if I was rich enough I could even go to the length of dissuading you from continuing your studies if that meant I’d get to,’ flushing slightly, ‘make you mine sooner. I’m no better than Charlie Sloane really, you see,’ he finished with a smirk.

Anne frowned. ‘You wouldn’t do that.’

‘Well, I can’t do it, anyway. But,’ he added playfully, ‘you, being a demure lady, know nothing of the temptations we base fellows are exposed to. The thought of waiting years before we can be together is hardly exhilarating.’

She suddenly remembered the dreams she’d had lately, featuring Gilbert and not in the least demure in nature, and felt her whole body go uncomfortably warm.

‘Indeed,’ she said with rather exaggerated curtness. ‘I’m extremely sorry we girls don’t have to marry at sixteen the way we did in the old days. So incommoding to you.’

‘You have no idea,’ he murmured, and reached up to kiss her on the lips.

Inflamed as she was by his last words, Anne give herself up to the caress, and kissed him back with the old unrestrained ardour.

‘You really are something, Anne Shirley,’ he breathed into her hair.

This phrase brought her back to reality with a thud.

All her nerves going suddenly taut again, she disentangled herself from his arms.

‘Yes,’ she said dully, confronting his startled, slightly distracted gaze with a sudden determination. ‘What am I?’

Gilbert looked back at her with raised eyebrows, as though not sure whether she was just talking nonsense or not. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked eventually, his voice confusedly amused.

‘I mean,’ replied Anne stiffly, sitting up straight, ‘don’t you ever wonder who I really am? As in, who my parents were, and what they did for a living, and stuff like that?’

‘No,’ he said promptly. ‘I don’t.’

She stared at him, and he met her eyes with a level gaze.

‘Don’t look like that,’ he said finally with a small, forced laugh, reaching out again for her hand. ‘It’s not that I don’t care in the bad way. I wish with all my heart I could meet your parents, and you mine, but,’ with a shrug, ‘it just can’t happen, and it’s no use dwelling on it.’

Anne was silent, looking down at their joined hands.

‘Anne, it’s you I fell I love with,’ Gilbert said softly. He drew her closer and, putting his arm around her, tried to look into her downcast eyes. ‘Only you. And you seem to keep thinking I’m going to ask you for some sort of credentials or something. That’s not terribly smart for such a reputedly smart girl, you know,’ he added teasingly.

For all his assumed light-heartedness, when Anne looked up at him his eyes were serious and searched her face anxiously.

‘I knew you would talk like this,’ she said with a sigh she couldn’t help. ‘But that’s only because you haven’t really thought about what it means that nobody knows who – what I really am.’

‘Well, you seem to have done my share of it,’ Gilbert replied with an attempt at a smile. ‘Anne, it really doesn’t in the least—‘

‘But it does, it does!’ she interrupted impatiently, freeing her hands from his hold and putting them up to her forehead. ‘Can’t you see that you might one day regret that you never knew who you were connecting yourself with? Let’s suppose,’ she went on rather breathlessly, looking back at him and instantly regretting it, he looked so bewildered and also, in some vague way, angry once again. Nevertheless, she went on. ‘Let’s suppose we do get married, and you do get to obtain a medical practice somewhere, and then someone starts some—some odious rumour about me—a rumour neither of us can disprove—because it might be true—‘

‘What rumour? What are you talking about?’ he asked, frowning. ‘What could anyone possibly have to say about you? You’re an orphan, for God’s sake, not a fugitive criminal!’

It has come, then – the moment when he would forever cease to see her the way he used to.

‘I am not a fugitive criminal,’ Anne said with whatever calmness she could muster, meeting his gaze squarely. ‘But what if some member of my family was?’

‘It does not matter – as I already told you—‘

Again, he tried to reach out for her, but she moved away. She needed to keep a clear mind, and Gilbert’s touch was rarely conductive to that.

‘Aren’t you afraid heredity might assert itself?’ she asked quickly, before he could say anything more.

At that, he looked involuntarily amused. ‘What, afraid that someday you’ll take to shoplifting?’ Then, perceiving her annoyance at the attempt at jest, he added more seriously, ‘Anne, I do not believe such things are hereditary. And if you try and think about it objectively, you’ll believe the same. There are black sheep born into the most honest families, and the other way around.’

Anne waved this away impatiently. ‘Yes. But when someone gets hold of a story, they don’t bother thinking objectively about whether it’s true or not, they go on repeating it until everyone knows it, and believes it, too—‘’

Gilbert’s voice cut into her irrelevancies peremptorily.

‘Anne, what story?’

She looked at him in silence for a moment, and then, feeling unequal to it, looked down at her hands.

‘For example,’ she said quietly, feeling as though each word was being dragged out of her, ‘that my mother was not—that she was not a respectable person. That she was—might have been—a member of a profession which—which— Oh, what’s the use?’ she broke off impatiently, looking up at him with flaming cheeks. ‘I can’t make it sound any better, no matter how hard I try. What I mean is that my mother might have been a prostitute.’

Gilbert’s frown faded from his face, and he looked back at her with a completely blank expression. In the few seconds’ silence which ensued, the thought flitted through Anne’s mind that it was a pity she had not toppled down that cliff after all.

‘Is that what’s Billy’s been tormenting you with?’ he asked eventually, his voice suspiciously neutral.

‘You can’t deny it is a possibility,’ she snapped back promptly.

‘Anne, anything’s a possibility. And it does not—‘

‘Doesn’t it?’ she cut in with a sort of desperate defiance. ‘Not if someone actually turns out to know it for a fact someday?’

‘Anne—‘

‘Well?’

‘No,’ he said, curtly but with great deliberation. ‘It does not matter. Anne,’ he added more gently, sliding closer to her and taking her face in his hands, ‘it doesn’t matter to me in the least. Do you believe me?’

She did not. She simply daren’t.

‘I—‘

He bent down to kiss her, quick and fierce. ‘Anne, I love you. Nothing can ever change that. Don’t go fretting over this any more. Will you promise?’

‘I’m not in a position to argue,’ she said evasively, giving him a smile she hoped looked genuine. ‘And will you promise something in return?’

He kissed her again.

‘Anything you want,’ he murmured against her lips.

‘Don’t confront Billy about this. Or about anything. Never again.’

She felt his body stiffen, and he looked annoyed as he held himself away to give her a frowning look.

‘Anne—‘

‘You said anything,’ she pointed out, and as he rolled his eyes at that she went on quickly, ‘Really, Gil, it’s just not worth it. I don’t want you to get into trouble because of a pig and an idiot like him. I don’t want you to use physical violence against anyone,’ she added quietly in afterthought. ‘Not ever. Promise.’

Something in her tone must have struck him, for now he looked concerned rather than annoyed.

‘Anne, you don’t think I would ever use it without a valid cause or – or against someone who was smaller and weaker than me?’

‘There never is valid cause for violence,’ she replied quietly, looking away. ‘There’s always a different way. Promise.’

He was silent, and she looked up at him.

‘All right,’ he said softly, putting his hand up to stroke her cheek. ‘I promise.’

Anne turned her head to the side and kissed the inside of his palm. When she looked at him again, it was with an arch look in her eyes such as Gilbert hadn’t seen for what seemed like a long time now.

‘What is it?’ he asked, smiling back at her.

‘I just realised we did skip school, after all,’ she replied, giggling.

But in her heart, she was far from easy.

***

Over the next few days, Gilbert kept his promise to keep away from Billy and, since the latter soon wearied of taunting Anne over this particular subject, all seemed to be in a fair way to unalloyed happiness.

If Anne did not keep her promise to him – and after all, she never really gave one – not to dwell on dreary possibilities any more, she thought she managed to hide it well enough.

She could not help noticing, however, that Gilbert had become oddly quiet, and that there were moments when he got so wrapped up in his thoughts she had to speak twice or thrice before she got his attention.

And, of course, she put the worst and to her mind the only possible interpretation on that fact – namely, that he was after all waking up to the full, awful meaning of the odious possibility concerning her origins she had put before him, and was wondering how to break free of his fatal connection with her.

On a Sunday two weeks later he did not appear at church.

Anne had not seen him the day before either, having been particularly busy about the house, and when the following Monday he was absent from school she felt certain he must be seriously ill and, classes over for the day, promptly turned her steps towards the Blythe farm.

The door was opened by Mary.

‘Is Gilbert home?’ Anne asked rather breathlessly.

Mary looked surprised. ‘Gilbert went to Charlottetown on Friday evening,’ she said. ‘Didn’t you know?’

Anne felt sick. ‘No,’ she replied, hardly knowing what she was saying. ‘I didn’t. Why—I mean, did he go to—for some particular purpose?’

‘He didn’t tell me,’ replied Mary, and then, smiling, ‘I would have thought it much more likely you would be the one to know.’

Anne somehow managed to smile back, and asked, ‘And—Did he at least say when he’d be back?’

‘Well, actually he said he hoped he’d be back before today,’ said Mary, frowning a little. ‘But he also said not to worry if he wasn’t.’

‘Oh,’ said Anne, the terrible certainty that Gilbert had meant to keep his excursion secret from her making her feel cold all over. ‘I see. Well, thank you, Mrs Lacroix. I—I’ll be going. Goodbye.’

She turned to leave, but Mary stopped her with an anxious,

‘Anne, are you all right? You look really pale. Don’t you want to come in and rest for a moment?’

‘No, thank you, Mrs Lacroix!’ Anne, who only wanted to be alone, replied hastily, giving the older woman a smile over her shoulder. ‘I really need to head home. Thank you and goodbye!’

And before another well-meant enquiry could be made, she was out of the gate and in the road.