Their next few fights were against mostly unremarkable opponents. Jenn was the one who had the hardest time— though she was the most physically imposing of the three, she felt that, compared to Gregory being able to see into the future and Yukiko being able to come from any shadow, she was the weakest of them.
With just two more days before the final eight, the three friends felt a growing tension. Gregory was concerned for another reason, as well: neither had asked about what the men had done when they separated for Gregory’s bachelor party.
When meditation ended, he glanced at Yukiko and Jenn. “Today and tomorrow left,” he said.
“Makes me wonder who they’re going to pit against us,” Jenn said.
“None of us faced Nick, Jason, or Michelle yet,” Yukiko added, “though Hayworth defeated Michelle.”
“Nick, Jason, and Hayworth are the only other ones left undefeated, like us,” Jenn said.
“They might end up pairing us off so they can find a way to stuff others into the final eight,” Gregory said.
“That does seem like a likely outcome,” Yukiko agreed.
Gregory hard-shifted the topic. “Are the two of you okay? You’ve been a little off ever since the parties.”
Yukiko and Jenn exchanged a look before Yukiko sighed. “We’re fine, dear one. We’ve just been thinking ahead. There is something that we need to discuss with you, but we’ve decided it’ll wait until after the wedding.”
“It’s best that way,” Jenn added.
Gregory eyed both of them, and nodded. “Okay… I was just concerned that maybe something had happened to hurt your friendship.”
“No,” they said together.
When Gregory’s eyebrow went up at that, Yukiko coughed. “Things aren’t what they were, but it isn’t bad. Will you give us until after the wedding before we talk about it?”
“I’d give you anything, Yuki. I was just worried for you both.”
“You’re a good man, dear one,” Yukiko said softly.
“Yes,” Jenn agreed.
“Let’s go rinse off and see who we’re fighting,” Gregory said, feeling a little embarrassed.
As they went to leave, Yukiko slowed her pace. “I’ll catch up to you in a moment, Jenn.”
Jenn paused at the door, looking back at them. “If you’re not there in a couple of minutes, I’ll bring some cold water back here.” A hint of a smile touched her lips when she said it.
“Better make it two buckets,” Yukiko giggled.
“Deal,” Jenn said as she left, shutting the door behind her.
The moment the door snicked shut, Yukiko was in Gregory’s arms. Her soft lips met his with equal passion. After a minute of kissing, Yukiko pulled away from him.
“That wasn’t the real reason I wanted to stay behind,” Yukiko admitted. “I just need to know, dear one… If I asked you for something, would you give it to me?”
Gregory’s face went red at her phrasing. “Uh, Yuki…”
Yukiko giggled. “No, not that! We’ll have that soon.” Her smile slipped and her face became serious. “There’s something that I will ask you for, and I—”
“Anything,” Gregory said just as seriously. “Yuki, you’re my heart. If my heart wants something and I can give it to her, I will.”
Yukiko’s eyes glittered. “I love you so much that it hurts, dear one… What I’ll ask for might hurt us both a little, but I believe it’s the right thing to do.”
Gregory took her back into his arms. “Yuki, I know that you want everything for me, like I do for you. I trust you to do what’s best for us.”
A single tear escaped as she began to kiss him again. Gregory held her tightly, returning the kiss, but holding back so it was a sweet, lingering kiss, instead of an impassioned one.
The two of them drew apart when the door opened again. Jenn was standing there with a bucket in each hand and a smile on her face.
“I’m com—” Yukiko started to say.
“I’m just doing as you asked, Yuki,” Jenn cut her off, setting one down to get a good grip on the other bucket. “I take it you wanted to be doused to make sure you cooled off?”
“Wait!” Gregory sputtered, moving a little away from Yukiko. “We don’t have extra clothes on us!”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have taken so long,” Jenn said simply as she pulled back her arm.
Yukiko vanished from the room, leaving Gregory as the only one in front of Jenn.
“Oh, for Aether’s sake…” Gregory grumbled.
Jenn’s arm went forward and Gregory winced, turning sideways. When nothing happened, he cracked an eye open and looked to the door. Both Jenn and Yukiko were repressing their laughter, and when he saw them, they began to laugh in earnest.
“What just happened?” Gregory asked.
“I knew you two didn’t have clothes, so the threat would be enough,” Jenn laughed. “It’d look bad for the clan if you showed up to the arena dripping wet.”
“I figured it out when I got behind her,” Yukiko giggled.
Shaking his head, Gregory started toward the door. “I see… Maybe I should pay you back.”
Jenn turned and bolted. Yukiko followed her, laughter trailing down the hall as they went. Gregory chuckled, picking up the empty bucket that had been left behind and making his way toward the showers.
~*~*~
The sky was overcast, and a warm wind blew as the three friends stood to the side, waiting for Magus Paul to post the match-ups for the day. The other novices were split into groups based on their clans. Some of the smaller clans joined together to be a little safer while the clanless kind of huddled together.
“Surprised no one’s been challenged,” Yukiko said softly. “All of us are here. It’s an easy time to issue one.”
“They wouldn’t want to until after they see the match-ups. Don’t want to have two fights that close together,” Jenn replied.
Paul came striding toward the novices with a roll of papers in his hand, his eyes moving from group to group. Coming to a stop in front of the board, he turned to face them. “Novice Dimitry Drog was found an hour ago, his neck snapped. That means one of you won’t have a match today, which makes his death suspicious.”
Novices started eyeing each other, but Hayworth spoke up, “I thought the list of who fights who isn’t known until you get them from the council?”
“That’s how it’s supposed to work,” Paul said, staring at Hayworth. “Interesting that it was your opponent who ended up dead, isn’t it?”
Hayworth stood there blinking for a long moment, then sighed. “Because I’m stupid enough to just kill an easy opponent instead of just beating him? Many things I might be, but stupid is not among them.”
“You’re plenty arrogant enough to think you could get away with it,” Nick said.
“Or another clan could have done it to harm the image of my clan,” Hayworth said, turning to Nick. “Another clan that’s currently being embarrassed by a fringer, for instance?”
Nick’s face went still. “Did you just insinuate my clan had something to do with it?”
“Enough!” Paul snapped. “The Woven Blade clan has asked the council to investigate, and they have agreed. This death has set things into motion that the culprit couldn’t have expected. So, if you know anything, you might wish to speak with the council before it’s too late. Novice Hayworth, you are to come with me.”
“Yes, sir,” Hayworth said stiffly.
Paul attached the papers to the board and motioned Hayworth to start walking ahead of him. Hayworth looked affronted, but did as he was bade.
Nick chuckled as they passed him. “Enjoy the talk, Hayseed.”
“Novice Shun,” Paul said, coming to a stop inches from Nick, “taunt another novice in my care, and your clan will have other troubles.”
Nick drew himself up to his full height and gave Paul a cold look. “Many clans try to intimidate or harass the Eternal Flame, Magus. Few can do more than briefly annoy us.”
Paul gave Nick a wintry smile. “You have been warned.”
“Nick, we should get moving,” Jason said. “If you fight first, it could be a problem.”
Nick snorted and walked away from Paul and Hayworth. The rest of the Eternal Flame moved with him like baby ducklings following their mother. Once they had checked the board and left, the smaller clans moved to check their match-ups, followed by the clanless. As they drifted away, Gregory and the others moved up to find theirs.
Checking the match-ups, Gregory shook his head. “Figures.”
“You get Nick, and Jason fights Jenn,” Yukiko said. “I fight Matilda? And all as the second fights of the day in three separate arenas…”
“Matilda’s in the Woven Blade with Dimitry,” Jenn said, “and she had been in my classes. Her magic is ice, and while she’s weak with it, it’s still dangerous. Be careful, Yuki.”
“We didn’t have ice in our class. What can it do?” Yukiko asked.
“Making the ground slick, dropping your response time… I’m not sure what else,” Jenn replied.
“Hmm,” Yukiko said. “I’ll be careful. We need to go. Greg, you’re in the main arena. I’m in green, and Jenn’s in blue.”
“Don’t hold anything back,” Gregory said. “If we beat them, we might not fight them again.”
“We will, but you need to, as well,” Jenn said seriously.
“Take my core,” Yukiko said, shoving it to Gregory. “I won’t need to recharge my ring, but you will.”
Gregory took it and met her eyes. “I’ll be waiting for you.”
“No, I will be waiting for you, dear one.”
“I’ll be waiting for both of you,” Jenn said, taking off at a jog.
The couple exchanged a look and ran off after her.
