Hi no Himitsu (The Fire's Secret) : Chapter 5 - Revelation

Nijuninichi. Shigatsu. (April 22)

Kino Makoto fidgeted with the hem of her new orange blouse. It was the shirt Minako had suggested when they shopped the day before. Minako said that it would be a welcome change. Club Zu was no ordinary club. It was a haunt for university graduates trying to unwind. It was crowd full of artists and hip intellectuals.

Makoto wouldn't have known. She was only there for about thirty minutes and was not even able to watch the band before they played. If it weren't for that idiot... she fumed. She wouldn't have been sitting on this blue couch. She had been waiting there for the past fifteen minutes too.

Where had he gone?

Makoto turned her head towards the kitchen and tried to see if he would come out from behind those misplaced boxes. There were tons of them still lying over the place. How could her star pupil be this unruly? Oh well... they should have flaws after all, and he doesn't try to hide it either. She stood up and decided to go towards the corridor that he sneaked into to tell him that there was no need to bother. She can handle going home on her own. And just as she was about to, her foot had accidentally bumped into a wooden object from behind the boxes that lay. Her reflexes acted just in time to catch it from falling to the floor.

An acoustic guitar? She held the shiny instrument by its neck and gently touched the strings. Ah...sou... he's a musician.

Sugoi... she whispered, impressed. She could just imagine him playing it in Club Zu. Why, if it hadn't been for that unfortunate incident, she would've probably seen him play. For some odd reason, being a musician suited Sanjounin well. His rough and slightly calloused fingers were marks of a musician. It would be interesting to know what he would've looked like playing that guitar.

"Anoo... sensei!"

His deep voice interrupted the images in her head as he entered his own living room. She quickly raised the neck of the guitar and leaned it against the cardboard boxes where it originally stood. When she turned to him, he quickly gestured for her to sit down on the sofa where she had patiently waited for him. She frowned at him as sign of disapproval and obediently sat down to where he had pointed to.

Sanjounin took some cotton, poured some alcohol on it, and taking Makoto's left hand, rubbed it on the wound on the back of her fist. The stinging sensation only made Makoto twitch in pain, and the moment that she did only brought nothing but ecchi thoughts in Sanjounin's mind, he couldn't help but smirk.

"What's so funny?" Makoto curiously asked, frowning.

Sanjounin shook his head and peeled the gauze from its package. "Nothing," he answered, plastering the piece of bandage on her wounded fist. "I just thought you were really something down there at Club Zu."

"He was trying to hurt her," Makoto answered defensively, taking her hand off from his grasp to cross her arms. "I had to come in and help."

Sanjounin nodded this time. "There's no excuse about that," he said. "He does deserve that punch. I just never thought you were that strong. I always figured you were... " He paused and rubbed his chin, smiling mischievously.

"I was...?" Her grimacing eyes inquired.

Sanjounin sighed, hesitating for a moment. "More... feminine," he finally answered.

Makoto blushed. While she engaged in a lot of domestic chores and even revelled in most of them, nobody had given that kind of impression on her. Most especially not one coming from a guy -- her perfect and disorganized star student even. She tried to compose herself and attributed such unwarranted opinions to her blouse. Dressing up gave such an impact. She wondered if she could take lessons from Minako-chan.

"Anooo...What do you mean by that?" she calmly challenged, making sure that he would not get away with it easily.

"I meant nothing by it," Sanjounin answered truthfully. And he would've elaborated more on his answer except he saw the worried and curious expression on her face... and actually wanted to keep it that way.

"M-most people often think... that it's the other way around," she explained. "That is why I'm very surprised."

Sanjounin chuckled -- that was exactly what he had expected.

Makoto winced and shook her head. She tried to regain her composure by trying to change the subject. "I-"

"-I've been dabbling into different kinds of music for a long time," he promptly interrupted. "I would like you to hear some of the music I've been playing... if you're interested."

"Music?" She looked down and tried to hide her interest in the subject.

Sanjounin nodded. "Hai!" he said as he rose to his feet. "Come on over to my room and I'll show you."

"Y-your room?" Masaka... what casual invitation already, she thought, trying her best not to assume any other 'ideas.'

Sanjounin nodded again. "That's where I keep everything that's important to me," he said, his voice trailing as he walked towards his room. "Come on inside as soon as you're ready. I'm going to go in and set it up. It's quite heavy"

Yappari... Makoto thought to herself when he left her alone in the living room, fidgeting with her hair contemplating on whether to accept the invitation or not. First, how can a guitar be heavy? And why did it need to take long in setting it up? And why did he sound so casual in invitating guests to his room? It was hard to be objective when strange ideas kept popping into one's head especially when one very good looking shounen who probably had a lot of experience gave that kind of invitation.

First off, she surmised that Sanjounin was not that type of person. But who was she? An ordinary girl who may just happen to tickle his fancy just because she was his sensei? She tried to erase all these thoughts and found herself in front of the door of his room contemplating whether to enter it or not. She heard the soft twangs of the strings on his guitar. He must be very talented. The notes also sounded familiar... like the ones she used to sing in elementary school. Okashii na... She would think that Sanjounin would at least play heavy music like those in Club Zu instead of folk music. She put her hand on the cold door knob and gulped.

"Ahh... there you are, sensei!"

Makoto's eyes widened. Sanjounin sat on the floor with the claws of the instrument on his fingers, playing folk music with one of his prized instruments -- the koto. Makoto couldn't help but smile. Meet my 'boyfriend'... the koto player! She could hear herself laughing. "T-this is your instrument?" she asked, chuckling.

Sanjounin smiled, still focused on his koto and not noticing her amused expression. "Yes, I became a professional koto player when I went to Sapporo," he told her proudly. "I apologize for the mess in my room," he continued, referring to the various black cases, nicely organized this time but minimized the space around his bed. "I keep most of my instruments in here so it will be safer, so I don't let people in."

"All these instruments are yours?" she can't help but be impressed, although not by the mess by far.

"You can play the koto with the contra-bass for music we call alternative jazz," he explained. "I try my hand at the contra-bass once in awhile. Maybe in the future I'll get to show you."

Makoto smiled as he tried to pluck the koto with the usual folk tunes. Sanjounin seemed to be good at almost everything he tried his hand on -- from playing all kinds of instruments to cooking sukiyaki. Sitting in front of him while he played the koto, she was glad to have given him the benefit of the doubt. And sitting there with him reminded him of a distinct image... like one such person in junior high school...

"What are you thinking of, sensei?" Sanjounin chided, looking at her and smiling.

"That was... what my sempai used to hum and sing whenever he was bored," she blushed.

Sanjounin smiled, adjusted the claws on his fingers, and shifted to a happier and different tone. "What instrument does he play?" he asked.

Makoto paused and thought for a moment. "Anoo... I think it's... the guitar," she answered.

"Sou ka..." he said, plucking the strings tighter. "That was the one thing I used to do in high school as well." He paused and gave her a jeering look. "But it was too easy. I got bored with it."

Jukunichi. Shichigatsu. (July 19)

Kamui Asano dutifully straightened his tie as he stood outside the door of his father's office. Nishida made him consciously aware of this date as his father's busy schedule had not allowed him to see his son for months. With considerable credit to his father, Junichiro Asano made sure that he would have a meeting with his son at least once a month by taking him out to have a one-on-one dinner and catching up with his education and activities, especially since he had great plans in grooming his own son as his successor.

The meetings were not always this formal when Kamui was younger and he was lucky enough to experience closeness with a real father as he grew up spending weekends being taught baseball and flying kites with him. However, as the elder Asano began to hold higher and higher positions in public office and being convinced that his son had to grow independent while he was still young, the meetings grew less and less and formal addresses were required in the very few meetings that he had as part of the protocol.

An audience with his father such as this one was always treated as a political meeting. Therefore, Kamui made sure that his appearance was true Asano perfection by preparing his suit and a bunch of well-prepared inspiring stories on his life that he was ready to tell his father.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu, Father," Kamui confidently greeted and bowed as soon as he entered Junichiro Asano's office.

The elder Asano was standing by the window looking at the gardens from the view in his office. He smiled as soon as he heard his son's voice and walked towards him. "Ahh... I am so glad to see you again, son," Junichiro said as he patted his son's shoulder. "Take a seat."

Kamui did as he was told while his father went to his own seat at the back of his desk. "I have very good and important news to tell you," his father announced happily. "You will be the first one to know outside of the DLP."

"You are to become its next president?" Kamui asked. He had read the news of a possible shuffle in the Diet in the papers. The speculation at least that Prime Minister Teruhiro Saeki would be replaced for poor reforms was all over the headlines. His father was recently involved in the meetings of the DLP and was next in line to its candidacy.

Junichiro Asano smiled. "My son is truly brilliant," he said, gleaming. "We shall know the outcome in the fall while there are talks on the Cabinet and upcoming reforms. There is however, one obstacle to my candidacy."

Kamui exhaled. He knew the answer but he stared at his father and waited for him to speak instead.

"Hino Ryoichi," the elder Asano answered with a gleam in his eye. "He's a brilliant man if only he hadn't turned his back from the DLP. His new SCP party actually seems to have a chance if they can get four independents to go on their side."

Hino Ryoichi. The mere sound of his name made Kamui lose focus on his father's concern for the rival, but rather on Hino-san's daughter. He just realized that he had not seen her for more than a month even though he also attended lectures and audit classes in Waseda. She belonged to a different campus and his schedule was extremely busy. There was just the one time he caught a glimpse of her taking the bus near Waseda Dori. His long absence might have actually given Kishino-kun and the others a headstart. Even though he was sure that he was a lot better than Kishino-kun and all the others combined, he was actually concerned with the competition.

But now he must keep his focus on his own father's issues. It would seem odd though that it would be these same issues that would remind him of Hino Rei.

"It seems that he's still that big of a threat to your campaign," Kamui commented.

"No more than I am to him," his father confidently answered. "Hino-san and I go way back in Waseda. It is actually ironic that he now seems to hate me for my success."

"Hino-san seems to have a penchant for pushing for unpopular reforms in the Diet," Kamui explained. "And often argues that many of his colleagues in the Diet are still quite conservative." He stopped himself from saying anything further lest his father knew that he was a burgeoning Hino admirer by studying his proposed reforms for his thesis in Waseda. And recently last April, developed a parallel fascination for his offspring as well.

"That is Ryoichi-kun for you! Always a stubborn man!" Junichiro Asano exclaimed, laughing, almost echoing the thoughts of his son regarding his daughter. "Well then, have you already thought about your future, Kamui?" his father asked, changing the subject.

"I am looking into it, Father," he quickly answered, hiding any tinge of uncertainty.

"You have completed Law at Waseda for a mere four years. That's quite an achievement."

"Arigato gozaimasu, otoo-sama," Kamui thanked his father. "As we have discussed earlier, I shall give you my answer at the end of August."

"I am actually considering that you study in London," Junichiro Asano suggested. "Going there will you give you a better worldview to prepare you for your career."

"I shall look into that, Father," he politely agreed, his gaze firmly fixed at him.

"Very well," Junichiro Asano smiled. "I guess we will be looking forward to decisions made at the end of summer. My leadership of the DLP and your decision on how to approach your own career. Hopefully we both get very good results."

Kamui tried to hide his resentment. Even his decision by the end of August would be subject to his father's approval and only his father would get good results. At the very least, he was thankful that his father at least gave him half a year to think since he graduated from Waseda last September on what to do next. At that time, he had almost assured the elder Asano that he would pursue his studies abroad, possibly in London or Germany and come back to Japan to serve as a civil servant. But things had changed since he came back to Japan and he was seriously contemplating on staying, had it not been for the existence of his own father's rival.

Kamui stood up and bowed to his father. "Thank you for your time, otoo-sama," he said. "Ich wünsche Ihnen Erfolg."

"You should practice your German more, Kamui," his father grinned, being very fluent on the language.

"Do you see that?" He pointed to the framed banner that bore the image of two leaves crossed on top of the other. "That is the Asano family crest which was used by our ancestors ever since the feudal era. One of our ancestors was Yoshiaki Asano. Do you know who he was?"

"Haii," Kamui answered. "He was noted to be a patron of the arts during that time."

His father nodded. "By the end of August, we should be known by more important things such as public administration and management rather than for sitting around and doing calligraphy," the elder Asano never ceased to confidently smile as he spoke. "I shall only expect the best from you."

"That you can be assured of, otoo-sama," this time the younger Asano answered truthfully and without hesitation.

"I was only playing with you!" Junichiro Asano slapped him on the shoulders and laughed. "Come on, son! Lighten up!"

Kamui forced a smile, not knowing how to react to his father's usual jovial temperament. He then politely bowed and went towards the door to take his leave.

"By the way," his father called as he was about to open the door. "I am sponsoring a couple of fireworks in the summer celebration at Sumida River. I think it is best that you come and take part in the celebration."

...

"Gomen nasai," Rei answered, after gently sipping her tea. "I am too busy to take part in such celebrations."

"Hino Rei-san, your father himself requests you to go," Ono Kagura-san calmly replied, trying her best not to lose her patience. "He will be one of the guests of honor that day in Sumida River and will be sponsoring a various hanabi for the citizens to enjoy as well." Ono-san smiled proudly as she announced.

Rei gracefully put down her cup of tea and shook her head. "Won't it be better for the citizens if it had been donated to a scholarship trust fund?" she asked poised after taking a sip of her tea again. "It's like burning money," she added bluntly.

Ono-san tried to regain her composure from that last remark, tightly squeezing the tea cup she held in her hand. "That Junichiro beat us to a lot of philantropic events than you can imagine. Besides, it's a highly regarded celebration since the 1800s," she answered in a tone marked with full restraint. "Your father is a guest of honor there. Well... supposing that Junichiro would not go and ruin everything, your father will make sure your family name gets recognized. Your father highly insists that you go to-"

"--To show to the world that he raised a daughter alone?" Rei answered in monotone. This time, she was the one tightly clenching her fist. She looked at Ono-san who winced as she sat in front of her. "Tell my father I am very sorry but I am very busy," she said as she flipped her hair. "Tell him, 'Omedetou' and I--"

"--He has asked me to check the Dean of your college to excuse you for the activities that day," Ono-san interrupted. "He has also asked me to check with your grandfather and he has agreed to relieve you of your duties as well. It seems that he would not take no for an answer, Rei-san."

Rei put the cup in her lips and discreetly sighed before she took a sip of her tea.

"Gomen nasai, Rei-san," Ono-san apologized, much to Rei's surprise as it seemed Ono-san had been sensitive to her disappointment so she didn't try anything to hide it. "It is only one day and it is important to your father," Ono-san continued. I think you can behave yourself enough for one day just to endure it."

Or maybe not.

Rei noisily slurped of what remained in her cup like an uncouth child playing with food. It was her way of saying yes.

...

Nijushichinichi. Shichigatsu. (July 27)

"Are you ready, Kamui-dono?"

Kamui nodded and straightened his tie. From the raised platform, he could see the masses that thronged by the banks of Sumida River. Some of them were dressed in yukata enjoying the cool breeze of the summer night. The guests on the reserved seats in front of him were engaged in noisy gossip, each one trying to outdo each other as to who knew which famous person that was in that event. He actually wished he could just be in the crowd of regular people in yukatas, taking their girlfriends to enjoy the special hanabi (fireworks) of the night, instead of sitting by his father's side trying to look presentable to the cameras.

There were a lot of media people covering the event and one network dedicated itself to covering all that was there. Already, Kamui could spot the places where he could slip out undetected by anyone, even and especially by Nishida whose attention was directed towards his father's security. But he wouldn't. There was no reason to do that. Tonight would mark his place among the power brokers in the Diet.

"Red Two! Red Two!" He overheard the voice on the valet's radio.

"Yes, I copy," the valet answered.

"MP Hino is coming," the voice said, instantly startling Kamui. "I repeat, MP Hino is coming. Please gather all escorts to the entrance."

"Yokai!"

"Ahh... Asano-dono is here sponsoring the event as well." He was a tall figure and towered even higher than some of his bodyguards. He fixed the cuffs of his coat and forced a smile. "Omoshiroii..."

"It is, isn't it?" Ono-san smiled as well, trying to catch up with the fast pace of her boss as he walked towards the entrance along with all other bodyguards. "This sign of unity will give us good publicity with the press!"

He nodded. "How are you doing, Rei?" he asked, disappointing Ono-san that his attention immediately diverted away from her.

"I am fine, Father," she answered as she walked by Ono-san's side behind Ryoichi Hino, obviously a famous and respected politician. Already, he was being hounded by a couple of photographers even though he was not yet inside the event area. She was used to attending lots of festivals herself but those did not gather much media attention. It was only at this time that she felt safe by Ono-san's side.

"Kagura! Make sure you take care of my daughter," Ryoichi Hino instructed. "I am very sure you will enjoy this occasion, Rei." He looked behind his back at her and grinned. "There is someone I want you to meet."

Ten minutes ago, Kamui had a dilemma. He wanted to meet the man he had admired himself -- the author of various reform bills in the Diet as well as leader of the SCP Party, and at the same time have his moment with his daughter. Kamui did understand how trivial the dilemma was but he was quite convinced that the mere thirty minutes of the day would change his life forever and he did not want to fail. When finally he had decided to, he took no moment to spare in carrying out his plan. It was actually very easy -- easier to carry out his plans in a place surrounded by security than slipping out of Waseda.

Now Ryoichi Hino is taking the steps up the stage where he stood beside his father as part of his entourage.

The First Agenda.

"Ahh... Hino-dono! Good evening!" Junichiro Asano happily smiled as he bowed.

"Asano-dono, good evening!" Ryoichi Asano's greeting was not as enthused as his rival but he courteously smiled as he bowed.

"I am very glad to see you part of this event as well, Hino-dono!" Junichiro Asano happily greeted. "It looks like this will be the biggest event for Sumida River ever since they started this a hundred years ago!" He laughed heartily.

"It seems the media is happy to see us together in a place where we're not bickering," Ryoichi Hino said without flinching.

Kamui chuckled. Ryoichi Asano sported the same sarcastic grin and he was a man of a few blunt words, exactly like his daughter. His own father in the meantime remained jovial despite the sarcasm and even laughed appreciatively complimenting Hino-dono on his "good nature."

"By the way, this is my son, Kamui," his father introduced soon after.

"I am very pleased to meet your acquaintance, Hino-dono," Kamui formally replied as he gave a very low bow. "I am an admirer of Technology Reform bill three years ago. It was a great benefit for our economy." It was a safe compliment as it was a bill his own father co-authored... at Kamui's own urging in fact.

"It would not have been so without your father's support," Ryoichi Hino replied, sincerely smiling at Kamui. "It's admirable that your son is concerned about our nation, Asano-dono. Not everyone remembers that bill."

"It was the subject of one of my papers in Waseda," Kamui proudly answered.

"You also came from Waseda. Subarashii..." Ryoichi Hino's eyes lighted at his young comrade. "My daughter also studies at Waseda." He turned to the woman beside him. "Ono-san?"

Ono-san exaggeratedly grinned, looked behind her and after a moment of realization, began searching her left, right and behind her for the young girl she thought was just by her side. Signs of panic began to show on her usually perky face.

Kamui tried his best to act calm and composed as though he had not known who was lost nor show any sign of concern as to her sudden disappearance. A continuous 'Beep' that rang inside the pocket of his coat was overpowered by the deafening sounds of the sound system where the emcee announced that the program for the Sumida River Festival is about to begin.

"Anoo... " she worriedly began.

The aides of both famous gentlemen quickly escorted them to their place on the stage while the distraught Ono-san profusely apologized to Ryoichi Hino's obvious gaze of disappointment at her. And so it was then that Kamui approached her as she seated herself between his father and Hino Rei's. He bent down near her shoulder to make sure that both Ryoichi Hino and his father would hear.

"Daijoubu desu yo, Ono-san," Kamui spoke with gentlemanly concern. "I shall find her."

The Second Agenda.

Hino Rei walked back and forth, hugging herself with her own arms to ward off the cold from the breeze. Her father's aide who brought her there received instruction from his radio that he was to secure the backstage from any threat to MP Hino. Apparently, she was a lower priority, being left to wait there outside the stage area for her own instructions as well. She stared at the couples dressed in yukata walking towards the park with their hands linked, listening to the emcee's introductory remarks regarding the historical events of the Sumida River Festival.

"Are you alright, Hino Rei-san?" She could barely hear the familiar voice underneath all that booming sound.

Kamui, handsomely dressed in a formal coat and tie, stood in front of her smiling. She smiled back, happy to have found a comrade in the situation. But before she could utter a word to greet him, light flashed in front of her. Squinting to get rid of the black afterimages from the camera shots, Kamui had already dragged her by the banks of the Sumida River, and she found herself walking briskly along with him without as much of an opportunity to protest on the situation.

"Reporters!" Kamui answered what was in her thoughts. "We have to get rid of them."

"Matte!" she shouted, skidding her heels to stop. She shrugged his hand off her arm and looked at him angrily. "There must be a better way than this!"

Ten minutes later, Kamui was rowing a boat on the Sumida along with a few couples wearing their yukata and waiting for the fireworks to begin. Hino Rei was resting her chin on her hand, her eyes fixed on the sky waiting for the fireworks as well. Kamui laughed. He did not expect the situation to progress this good -- sitting with a bijin on a boat on the Sumida waiting for the fireworks, like a perfect high school date. It was her idea.

"What's so funny?" Hino Rei asked.

"Nothing! I--"

Beep! Beep! "Red Two! Red Two! Report your situation! Over!"

The little radio on his pocket was too persistent in beeping over such a 'small' emergency.

Beep! Beep! "Red Two! Red Two! Hino-dono's daughter is missing. Ono-kachou said that she didn't give instructions for her to leave--"

"She's alright," Kamui spoke in low, muffled voice on the radio. "She got lost. She'll be on her way there shortly."

Beep! Beep! "Thank goodness! Her father--"

Click.

"Uso..." she sneeringly told him, giving him a sharp look, now that she knew who was behind all this ... 'misdirection.' The one who led her and her father's aide away from the stage.

"Don't worry, Rei-san. They will be okay," he answered with a smirk. "I assured Ono-san not to be worried. I told her I will find you."

"Then row farther and just tell her that you had trouble finding me," Rei answered, rolling her eyes. "Is the one about the reporters staged as well? Or are you a fugitive from justice?"

Kamui shook his head in disbelief. "You really don't read the newspapers, Hino-san?"

"I am too busy to read the papers," she answered defensively. "It is all about politics, which is a dirty business." She actually wanted to elaborate more on her father's distorted plans on the Sumida River Festival, but she did not ask a lot of details from Ono-san to defend her point to him.

"You should read more, Hino-san," he answered, smiling and shaking his head. "You obviously don't know that they keep the good news of politics in the inside pages. Your father is even proposing a very good bill in city management."

"He is a brilliant man," she replied. "But it is ironic that he wants to seek better management of the city than his own affairs."

"I actually admire your father's work," Kamui admitted. "Even more than my own father. Your grandfather agrees that you took after him in the skill of administration, especially with how you manage the Shrine."

Rei sighed. "The Shrine is a legacy that I will inherit from my mother's side, especially now that my grandfather's strength is failing. I will not let him down. But I try to do things differently, although..." She paused. "...I think my mother not have wanted it managed any other way."

Kamui laughed. "You really should read the newspaper more, Hino-san!" he said again, much to her irritation of repeating the irony of her ignorance one more time. "You'll know that you don't do things much differently from your father!" He laughed again.

She winced at him. "How is it that you know a lot about my father and want to be like him?"

Kamui thought for a moment as he stared at her, her eyes full of resentment at the man he admired. "There are a lot of things that he did for the country. I studied his works and he's a very keen reformist. That's the part of him that I want to be."

Rei sighed, feeling guilty. "Anoo... I guess that's the part of him I don't know much about," she confessed. "All I see is my father, who detached himself from us so that he could be that person who can accomplish all those things for the country. But that is the person you admire the most."

"Do you really hate him that much, Rei-san?" Kamui asked.

She fixed her sad gaze on the oars of the boat. "My mother was already very weak but my father was too busy to tend to her. In the end, she died alone."

She paused to sigh. Kamui was looking straight at her, listening intently. "Maybe it is impossible to be devoted to those two things. My father did so and failed. I don't want to go and have children. I don't want to bring grief to them."

Deja vu. She remembered having this conversation on the dinner of her fourteenth birthday, except back then, in front of him was her father's successor and assistant.

"I too do not wish to have children," Kaidou-san said.
"We are the same," Rei answered. "Kindred spirits."

Kamui sighed, but he did not lift his gaze away from her. "I guess that's the part of your father that I don't know much about," he confessed, smiling. "And that's not the part of him I wish to be. I think it is possible to be devoted to the country and have a good life with my family. I surely intend to have children. Lots of them."

She found herself reeling in disappointment, as it broke the illusion of her deja vu. Kamui was the very opposite of what she had expected for herself, and everything that she thought she aspired for. He was even bold enough to vocally express his disagreement with her as well.

"You sound very sure of yourself," Rei was at a lack for words and voiced out her thoughts out loud instead.

"Because it is true," Kamui proudly replied. He leaned closer to her and smiled. "I shall prove it to you."

The debate was interrupted by a large boom followed by a series of small explosions. Various colored hanabi filled the sky with scattered beams that glimmered on their faces. The Sumida River Festival had begun.

Kamui leaned back. "This looks like Hino-dono's contribution to the festival," he told her, pointing to the sky.

Rei nodded. "This is where my father had burned his money on," she sotfly answered, still defiant, her eyes still transfixed on the sights in the sky.

"I know," he replied. "I recognize Hino-dono's style. He is more subtle. My father is more extravagant than this."

Rei squinted in surprise. "Your father?"

The sound system boomed amidst all the explosions. It was the emcee's voice generously showering the hanabi exhibition with various kinds of praises. Finally after offering her thanks in behalf of the people, she announced, "We would like to thank our donor, MP Hino Ryoichi for his contribution to this event. And for our next presentation, we would like to present the contribution of our sponsor, MP Asano Junichiro!"

"Asano... Junichiro..." Rei repeated in a whisper as soon as she heard the emcee's announcement of a certain 'Junichiro' that Ono-san spoke with disdain as she rode with her in the car that followed her father's entourage. And now it was again spoken alongside her own father's name, and this time bearing much more gratitude and honor. No wonder Ono-san was furious and her father might as well be.

And now she herself was a victim of a scheme from the same Asano, although she would not admit that to her father and Ono-san, especially when it was this Asano who took her far away in a place she would rather be in.

She saw that Kamui was looking at the sky, tints of red and green specks from the hanabi shone on his face. He was smiling -- smiling because he was right. His father was indeed more extravagant than his own rival. The explosions were more startling and loud because the fireworks were bigger and brighter. There were more elaborate displays of patterns than the previous exhibition that the audience clapped at almost every instance.

Just then, a wave tumbled on the side of the boat causing Rei to lose balance from where she sat. She exclaimed in surprise as she dropped in Kamui's arms with her knees scraping the floor of the boat and her chin lying closely on the lapel of his coat. It took her a moment to realize how to handle the intimate accident since Kamui himself had not done nor said anything.

"G-gomen!" she stuttered, lowering her head in case she blushed. She leaned with her hands to get back to her place and her carelessness had allowed her to slip back into that same position with him when another wave hit the side of the boat.

Kamui reached for the radio inside the coat of his pocket clicked on the button that returned the signal. "This is Red Two," he spoke in a normal tone this time. "I have found Hino-dono's daughter. We shall be there in fifteen minutes."

Rei would not admit that she was even the tiniest bit disappointed that what just happened did not affect him, speaking nonchalantly over the radio like that. Not unlike Kishino-kun would. She would rather fix her concentration on the elaborate hanabi making its last few presentations, the grandest of them all, even though these represented the fact that someone had burned more money than her father. It would be a lie not to admit they were not the least bit admirable. She muttered a soft, "Sugoi..."

Kamui, on the other hand, was finally successful in calming down his heartbeats to slower palpitations since the brief contact was over. And since he was not able to take charge over that situation (and he normally would've), he turned his gaze on the radio that he tightly clasped in his hand and so satisfied himself with catching a few glimpses. By now he had known that Hino Rei would not appreciate being stared at, even when she looked her best alone with him inspite of the fireworks, so he tried his best not to make her feel conscious and uncomfortable.

Beep! Beep! "Red Two! Red Two! You said you found Hino-dono's daughter? Please confirm."

Kuso! Kamui did not appreciate this interruption. He only had fifteen more minutes left. "Yes. I have," he coughed.

"Usotsuki... Liar..." Rei whispered, smiling at Kamui's latest attempt to make an excuse. He grinned back.

"Asano... Kamui-dono?" The voice on the other end of the line asked after a long pause. "Is that you?"

Click.

Kamui turned off the signal on the radio and threw it to the Sumida River, as the sounds of firework explosions filled the air, finally silencing the radio forever. Rei was very much relieved. There went the only piece of evidence that would link Kamui to being behind all this commotion of her missing from the event. Ono-san would surely not appreciate being outsmarted by any Asano.

"Ryoichi Hino-dono's daughter is missing? Ahh... sou ka... so he has brought her here."

"Please don't worry about her, sir," Ono-san reassured. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hino-dono's former assistant, who is now an MP himself!" She smiled exaggeratedly. "Won't you like to be seated there on the stage beside him?"

The man who looked too young for someone in his early thirties fixed his glasses and shrugged. "I'm not a guest of honor so I will have to decline. Gomen nasai," he apologized. "I overheard Rei Hino was missing so I wanted to offer any assistance in finding her."

Ono-san grimaced. "Ano... she will be very delighted of your utmost concern," she replied sarcastically.

He nodded and smiled. "I surely hope so."

"Do you want to go to the stage and meet her? She will be there shortly in order to join her father."

"I am honored but I shall do that some other time," he humbly declined, shaking his head. "Just tell her an old friend of hers and her father's came by and would love to meet with her soon."

- tsuzuku -

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chiisai noto:
Remember, Kamui Jadeite. Kenta Kunzite. Soujirou Zoicite. Sanjounin Nephrite. Just a little reminder. - Check the author's notes for reference.

I'm soooo sorry if this chapter was delayed and it's boring. ;; It's not that I ran out of inspiration... well, real life things such as being out of the job market affected it, but I'm trying to fix up the story real soon. Gomen nasai... ;; This part is the introduction of what's going to happen next in both Rei and Kamui (Jadeite's) lives. If you know the manga, you'll already have a hint on who the last person is. - Of course, this is a Rei-centered fic so that aspect is going to be included. And yes, the part about Jadeite having flashbacks on Rei being attacked by ravens will be included. There will have to be a magical aspect here since they're all still senshi but that will for later. In the meantime, the political conflict between both Asano and Hino families are starting here... I shall try my best to finish the next chapters and elaborate how that will affect their lives.

BTW... LOL! Fixing the grammar errors. hehehe... was too busy to even edit my own story! ;;;;