"The Private Relationship Between Azusa and Mitsuki part 4""The fight over Mitsuki"
When Azusa woke up, he found himself arrested in the prison inside the imperial palace. The prison was built from the imperial tree and even for a top Jurai warrior, it was hard to escape from. However learning the ways to communicate with the imperial trees from Seto through their chases, he managed to escape from there. Finding the transporter was blocked, he reached the Terrace of the Mitsuki's garden by climbing Heaven's tree sidewall. There Mitsuki was meeting the Jurai King (who was her grandfather) she was weeping for Azusa and for her fate.
'Mitsuki!' waiting for the Jurai King to leave the room Azusa crept in and called for Mitsuki.
'lit-tle Azusa!? How did you get here..?' she replied in surprise.
'Mitsuki,' not answering to her question Azusa grabbed her hand. 'Let's leave Jurai!'
'What!?'
'It is because that you are near the Heaven's Tree that you are kept here, isn't it? Then all you have to do is leave Jurai. .. I promise I will always be with you.'
'little Azusa...' she looked at Azusa in a dearest face, tears poured out from Mitsuki's eyes.
'You told me you wanted to see the outside world, didn't you?' Then I'll take you there. Let's leave together.'
'little Azusa.. you have just returned to Jurai..'
'I wanted to be strong, strong enough to protect my mother and all. I didn't want to join the imperial family or to be a Jurai King. I don't care about such thing!' Azusa poured out his feeling, which he had kept in his heart. He was not old enough to use the exact word for his feelings toward Mitsuki, but what he said was enough for her. Though she replied..
'I don't have .. the right to do that.'
She could not accept his feelings.
Suddenly a clapping of hands was heard from behind them.
'Who is it!? .. Aarh no!.. Lady.. Seto.'
It was Seto who was standing behind him.
'You are the first person who has ever said Jurai does not matter, little Azusa.'
'Don, Don't call me little Azusa, you grimalkin!!' he shouted.
'.. it seems that I can't call you little Azusa anymore,' she murmured in a sad tone and then, looked at Azusa, her face straightened. 'I'm sorry but you can't take lord Mitsuki with you.'
'Why?'
'.. because I will not allow you to.'
'..!!' Azusa was confused by this when suddenly Seto gave out a fierce force aimed at him. Her force was stronger now than when she faced the pirates three years ago. It was her preparedness. Teaching Azusa for 3 years as a conservator she knew well that she couldn't overcome him without using her full strength.
But Azusa drew his sword and faced her, without flinching from her force.
'what?' he himself couldn't understand what made him do so but he automatically sprung over to Seto.
'Tee-he,' to this Seto showed an expression of surprise and joy.
Usually those who face such fierce force ran away. But it is hard to escape from one who overmatched you and in this case it is the best to step forward and fight rather than trying to run way.
Diving toward her Azusa swung his sword down while Seto fended from it with her sword. Energy sparks flew from their swords and in the flashing of the lights Azusa thought that he saw Seto smiling in a kind face.
'You have become strong,' Seto murmured in a small tone which none could hear.
And then Azusa lost consciousness.