Ukiyo ~ Floating World
Chapter 12: Detours

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. I also do not own history, nor any of the games and such that I mention here. I just put them together in fangirl land.
Author's Note: Things are getting crazy...I do have to apologize in advance for any fans of Sora. Those who may be offended may want to skip this chapter. She doesn't get the best light here, but remember, it's a Taito fic. It didn't seem right not to address her. Additionally, we're getting into some Takari and Taito, and it gets really, really weird with the spirit world. This is what I get for writing when I've been hanging upside down for most of the day.


The air was thick with the heat of summer, and many of the inhabitants of Kyoto were glad to have their handheld silk fans on hand. Night had turned to day as one would expect it to, though it came to quickly for some. It was another day of uncertainty, but this did not stop people from continuing on with their daily activities. Life was so transient that many accepted that tomorrow was a day that had not yet come, and thus, could not be changed. This peaceful thought was enjoyed by many a Buddhist priest. Enough people were afraid that they would be condemned as a Loyalist or a Rebel, but as long as one remained stoic, there was no reason for suspicion to be cast upon anyone. No one knew this as well as Takenouchi Haruhiko, who continued his neighborhood classes as usual. Noisy children and stoic older boys clambered out of the schoolhouse, heads buzzing with Confucian classics and military strategy. Although the Takenouchi school was surrounded by cherry blossom trees, the branches were barren and dead.

The man was not a samurai, but the school had been his father's, and his father's before that, and there were enough in his family who knew of the art of education alongside military prowess. His wife, Toshiko, had her own separate branch of the school, where she taught the disciplined art of ikebana. They were a well-respected part of the Gion community, contributing to the literacy and culture of Japan; because of this, theirs was a home that was rarely bothered, for they were assets to both sides of the coin. The Takenouchi house was therefore one of the most important safe houses for the Hantsuki.

Their daughter, Sora, was often caught in between the worlds of military and beauty, finding herself more at home with her father's line of education than her mother's. As a child, she ran with the boys after classes, deliberately keeping her hair short, to her mother's horror. She was indistinguishable from the boys then, which made it easy for her to participate in sword fights. She often found herself paired with Taichi, who was by far her favorite sparring partner. He never let up during those sparring matches, even when he discovered that she was a girl many years after their friendship had grown. Koushiro, on the other hand, had always known she was a girl, and tended to lighten his hand when he struck. He was a loyal friend, though, and never outed her to her worried mother.

Now a blossoming youth like the rest of her friends, it was no longer easy to participate in the talks of strategy and the practice kendo matches. She was clad in pink by her mother every day and was pried from her quarters to arrange flowers for the ikebana school. Without a doubt, it was a terrible time for a girl of her age, who wanted nothing more than to do as she wished. But this was not a time for girls to do what they wanted. And so she remained obedient, grumbling to herself when she was alone, despairing at the fact that she was unfortunately quite good at the art.

And so it was with a twinge of guilt that she was more than happy to see her friends come by. The only reason they would have to hide there was because the number of safe places for them had dwindled considerably. Koushiro had come by with Hikari and Daisuke in the moonlight, who were looked ragged from the events of the evening. She made sure to shoo her mother away so that she would be able to get the news first. Thankfully, her parents were too weary with sleep to be able to play hosts. Sora hoped that her willingness to supply hospitality would placate her mother while she figured out a way to be of real use to her friends.

The red-haired samurai looked especially stricken. Sora had known him since boyhood, and was one of the few people who could read his innermost feelings. She was not especially skilled in the art, but she knew when a person was doing all they could to conceal a sadness that could not be expressed in daylight. Understanding his need for secrecy, she remained silent as she collected their things to be freshened, leading them to one of the interior rooms where they could catch their breaths. "I apologize for burdening you like this, Sora-san," Koushiro muttered, his mind a world away. "We do you a disservice by making ourselves known here. We rallied forward, ready to head to Mount Kurama, but for fear of being followed, we took a roundabout that took us to you here on Hanamikoji."

"Please, Koushiro, I've always asked you to drop the formalities. You know you are always welcome here," Sora said, pulling open the oshiire and grabbing as many futon as she could hold. "Hikari, I'm glad you're well. Daisuke, I know it's silly to ask, but I haven't gone by to see your plays in a while — how are you?"

The three chatted about nothing in particular for a bit, and they could not withstand it for too long. They were all visibly tired, but Koushiro could not stop himself from looking out the window. None of them had given details of what had transpired, nor where they had come from. Hungry with curiosity, Sora stood behind Koushiro, leaning against the door frame. She did not know what had happened, so decided to start with a topic that she hoped would be safe. "How is Mimi? I haven't seen her for a while. I suppose she must be busy with geiko training," she asked with a small smile.

Koushiro's back stiffened in immediate response to her question. He refused to look back at her. This was enough for Sora to know that something had happened to one of her dearest friends. Now on the offensive, she straightened up and marched herself next to the samurai. "Izumi Koushiro, please, you must tell me what is going on."

"It is not appropriate," he mumbled. "You must not concern yourself with…with these burdens."

It was clear that he was already crumbling. Whether he liked it or not, she was ready to listen. And I am ready to fight, she thought, but she knew those words would not be as accepted. She cursed the backwards thinking of her people. Swallowing her pride, she leaned out the window a bit, staring into the depths of the dark. Cicadas made their presence known, their chirps louder than the soft, concerned voice of the girl. "I can handle a lot more than you think. And if something has happened to my friend, my best friend, I believe I should know."

He raised his fist to his mouth, biting down on his finger. The boy was in agony. Though it wasn't apparent from the outside, his dark eyes hid a chaotic swirl of the events of the day. Sora pitied him, knowing that he had feelings for the geiko. Something was going on, and he would have to tell her eventually. He had to. Although Taichi was, by and large, the boy she spent the most time with, it was Mimi who she considered her closest companion.

The two of them formed a small sisterhood, even though Sora was boyish and liked the outdoors, and Mimi was the very definition of femininity. They complemented each other like night and day, and the only reason Sora was glad that her mother worked in ikebana was that she got to live close to Mimi in Gion. Some days she was jealous of the girl, whose skin was always fairer and hair was always softer. But most days, she admired Mimi, thinking of the curve of her smile, the kindness of her eyes, the sincerity of her voice. Most days, she was happy to stroll through the streets of Kyoto arm in arm, even though she knew that all eyes were on Mimi, and never on her. But it meant that she was with the person who would keep her darkest secrets to herself.

They stood quietly, neither one speaking. They were not ready to back down. Sora would not leave, and Koushiro was too afraid to tell her what had happened. She knew that she had to make eye contact with him. She wasn't much shorter than he was, but she was still short enough that she could bend down a bit to look up at him. His dark eyes were full of worry and fear, and that was all she had needed. "Something's happened to her," Sora said numbly.

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. Koushiro was always calm, always collected. If he was worried, then something truly terrible must have fallen upon the girl. Sora felt her head become dizzy. Her stomach was sick. She needed to know what had happened. "Koushiro, please. If you don't tell me I will simply become sick. I can imagine so many terrible things, and I need to know where my friend is. I can't live in a world without her."

Neither can I, thought Koushiro miserably. But he knew that she had a point. He wouldn't know what to do if Jyou had gone missing, either. If someone hid the details from him, he would certainly try and prod someone until they gave way. He would have never said it to someone in a seat of authority, but he was willing to bend the rules for occasions like this if no one gave him information. The fact that he felt that way and more about Mimi was distressing, and it took every ounce of will power to maintain some modicum of the focus he had trained himself to have since childhood. With a great sigh, he explained the note that was retrieved from one of the trained birds that night.

Hearing about a missing friend is devastating. It was difficult to tell whether the information made Sora's mind feel more at ease or if it made her worse. A twisting knot had formed in Sora's stomach. She put a comforting hand on Koushiro's shoulder, braving a smile. "Thank you for telling me, Koushiro. Listen, I think things will be okay. Mimi is really crafty and we should give her some credit. Remember, you escorted her all the way back here from Odaiba," she said with an anxious chuckle. "And I know she's not the easiest person to transport."

A hint of a smile tugged at Koushiro's lips. Recalling their trip on the Tokaido was a pleasant memory. They hadn't had it as hard as Taichi and Yamato; being with a geiko as renowned as Mimi meant that they were treated to many wonderful stops. To them, the Tokaido had almost been a pleasure trip across Japan. On the few times they had gotten into trouble, Mimi's sharp tongue had done more damage to the ruffians than his sword could ever do. She was certainly safe on her own, but he still felt responsible for not being there for her. "You're right, Sora," Koushiro said, finally ridding himself of the formalities for a moment. "I did not mean anything against her character. Nor did I mean anything against yours. I am lucky to be friends with women who are strong. But that doesn't mean I will stop doing my best to defend my friends."

"That's the spirit," Sora said with a real smile. "Mimi knows that my house is one of the safest places she can go to. Perhaps she's just on her way now and was waiting to make sure I was awake."

"Yes…you're right. She may well be on her way, or is just waiting at one of the safe houses."

"Mimi will be safe. Once the morning comes, we'll send out a message to the rest of Hantsuki to see if anyone has caught sight of her. I know that we'll all be able to breathe once we know for certain."

After a final goodnight and another string of apologies for intruding at such a late hour, Koushiro joined Daisuke in the shared guest room. Sora checked on Hikari, who was already fast asleep in the other guest room. She meant every word of what she had said to Koushiro. The fact that Mimi was missing, out there and possibly alone on this bright night, made Sora uneasy. She hadn't realized that she was holding a scrap of paper and was busily tearing it apart. Shaking her head, she bent down to clean up the mess, praying to Kwannon that Mimi would be safe. She should be on her way here, Sora hoped desperately. She's smart. We've all been taught to take long roundabouts to make sure that we aren't being followed. I'm glad that father and mother took such great care to make our home a safe haven…especially for my friends.

She busied herself with finding an extra futon for Mimi. In her heart, she knew that her dear friend was safe. She had to believe it was so.


Hikari was deeply asleep. Though her body was resting, her mind was wide awake. Before her head landed on the firm pillow, she had felt that something had happened to her brother. Mount Kurama had always been a welcoming place to her; now, after having met Takeru and Natsuko, she felt that her communication with the holy place had strengthened a hundredfold. Murmuring prayers as she slept, she allowed herself to open her mind. The spirit of her body lifted out of her, drifting slowly and gently toward the meeting place ordained by the universe and its gods. A tiny point of light in her mind's eye was where she would see the astral Takeru and his mother.

Light as a feather, her spirit followed the thread connecting her to the handsome boy of Mount Kurama. Her dreamscape resembled the heavens; she was surrounded by a darkness that was pierced by twinkling stars. Everything here was connected. She would never be able to explain this world she could access with such ease to a normal person. Each string of fate was arranged in a way that was chaotic, but still somehow sensible. Rainbow hues made the strings and stars look like a fantasy world of color and light. Each step on the path leading her to the boy made a sound like a chime, and she knew she was headed in the right direction.

Within moments, she found herself in front of a hut, closely resembling the physical one on the mountain. She knocked politely and waited for an answer. "Welcome," said Takeru's voice from behind her.

Startled, Hikari spun around and grinned at the boy. "You mustn't scare me like that," she teased. "The spirit world may not take kindly to such behavior."

Takeru laughed, his white teeth gleaming agains the darkness of the realm. "No, it's just you," assured the boy, taking her hand. "Come, let's go. There's another path we should follow."

"Where is your mother?"

"She's resting. And my bond with you is simply much, much stronger," he said without a hint of embarrassment. It was a statement more than anything else. Hikari would have blushed if she didn't feel the same way.

Together, they walked on the glittering path. He grasped her hand; she was surprised that she was able to feel anything. The warmth transferred to her as if they were truly next to each other, and not components of the spirit world. His confidence radiated, and he looked at home among the stars in the universe.

They wandered on, stopping in front of what seemed to be nothing at all. Takeru gestured toward the empty space, rearranging the particles until it resembled a gallery. It resembled a traditional Japanese home, except with more windows than Hikari had ever seen. Each window framed a constellation in the sky, and she was overwhelmed at the sheer number of stars displayed like works of art that could fit in this seemingly tiny space. The hall looked to go on for miles. Puzzled, she looked to Takeru for guidance. "Where are we?"

"This is the great hall," explained Takeru. "It's a place that only few have seen. Only people with the strongest connections to the spirit world are able to see this in their minds' eye — even fewer are able to remember it after seeing it. Upon meeting you, I believe our energy has grown a hundredfold, at least. I've always been able to see this, but I am happy that I'm finally able to share it with someone."

Hikari felt her heart skip a beat. Unconsciously, her grip on his hand tightened affectionately. "It's beautiful," she whispered, unable to hide her awe.

"Be careful. Some monks have warned that becoming too enraptured by the language of the heavens could result in a terrible beating for the one who showed it to their friends," Takeru said. He had to hide a smile when he saw Hikari's head whip down; she didn't want to be the cause of him getting hurt. "Don't worry. As long as you remember to remain humble, you will be able to take this information back with you."

"Why are you showing this to me?"

"Both of our brothers are in peril. I can feel your anxiety…I can feel you no matter where you are. I believe we are both here to discover why, and how, our brothers will be all right. Come, follow me."

Hand in hand, they walked toward one of the windows. Hikari had studied them in the past, and knew that many of the names had changed depending on the astronomer. They stopped in front of Sode Boshi, a constellation that looked like a kimono sleeve. Others thought it looked like the segments of bamboo; others still thought it looked like a ruler meant to measure the land. She mentioned this to Takeru, who nodded and chuckled, as if she were missing a crucial piece of information.

"Yes, this is all true. But did you know that in other parts of the world, this constellation is known as Orion? He was a hunter to many, a swordsman to some. But a warrior of some class in almost every story you hear," he said softly. "But there is one that is relevant to us. Have you studied the Heian in your books? The story of the wars between the Taira and the Minamoto?"

Hikari nodded, though her mind was still struck by the fact that something as delicate as kimono sleeves was seen as an archer in other lands. The world was truly bigger than she had thought if things like stars could be interpreted with so much variance! To think, people in different regions of Japan thought of it as wood or measuring tools — the views of others outside of Japan must count in the millions. The idea of it was frightening, but welcoming. It would be foolish to stay rooted in one place when there was so much more to discover. "We had delved into this history plenty of times," she said, straining to recall. "The Taira and the Minamoto, or Genji and Heike, fought many years ago to claim control of the Imperial courts. What they wanted, in the end, was Japan itself."

"That's right. Now, this star…" He pointed at the one at the top left. "…Represents the Taira."

With his other hand, he gestured to a star at the bottom right. "And this one symbolizes the Minamoto. These three stars in the middle are what keeps them apart, but also depicts their war."

They studied the constellation in silence. Hikari's head spun with the many different definitions and stories surrounding these stars. She always thought she was bright; she was very good when it came to reading the night sky. But to think that there were more stories than she could have even dreamed of! It was almost too much information, but her brain thirsted for more. Takeru looked at her, willing her to solve the puzzle he had set. "Do you understand the significance of this? Between my brother and yours?"

Surprised by the question, she had no answer for him. How could a battle between the Genji and the Heike have anything to do with their siblings? She wanted an immediate answer, but Takeru's expectant expression made her determined to figure it out on her own. Closing her eyes, she imagined the history that she had learned about so long ago. What did the war signify? Every war caused a chapter to end. That much was certain. The victor of this battle marked the end of the Heian period, and the beginning of the Kamakura period.

Eyes still shut, she spoke quietly, allowing the words to come out of her mouth and arrange themselves into something meaningful. "This war changed everything," she thought aloud. "The Heian period was a time of beauty, a golden period of peace. Murasaki Shikibu wrote the first novel that our world had ever known."

Takeru nodded excitedly, urging her to go on. It was annoying, in a way, like a teacher knowing the answer and waiting impatiently for the student to catch up. But his face was so friendly and so encouraging, as if he needed her help to find the true answer at the end of it all. "That's exactly right. Please, continue. You're almost there."

Taking a deep breath, she allowed her mind to wander to the next segment in time. "The Kamakura period…this is when the samurai became prominent. The Minamoto clan won. They started the warrior caste, established the bakufu government. The strongest survived here, and it was truly the rise of the warrior…"

Gasping, she realized where the hidden symbolism lay. Ishida Yamato, the musician. Yagami Taichi, the warrior. The two were physical representations of times now past. "This constellation is meant to display the end of one era, and the rise of another," she said in surprise. "But…but our brothers don't quarrel. Not even in the least."

"That's right. I believe this is why you are here with me now, so we can understand why this was the first constellation that appeared. Nothing else revealed itself to me when I tried to look for this on my own." They had never let go of each other; propelled by an unknown force, they began walking down the great hall. They were not sure how far they had walked, but the image of Sode Boshi was no longer visible behind them.

They now stood in front of an image of Amanogawa, the Milky Way. Thoughts of the Tanabata festival immediately came to mind. The festival had occurred not too long ago, having always been on the seventh day of the seventh month. The story of the lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi was a favorite amongst many a young maiden. Lovers that were separated, and only allowed to see each other once a year, when the bridge made itself known, and they could be together again for a fleeting moment. It was heartbreaking, but a thrilling story for young women who longed for a mate. "Interesting that the spirits led us here," Takeru remarked. "I don't understand what this could accomplish…taking us from the battle of Genpei to the star-crossed lovers."

The girl's instincts sparked to life. If the spirits were giving them clues, they were still required to work them out. Though she did not know Takeru for a very long time, she knew that he was brilliant in his own way. Perhaps what he did not know very well was how her brother worked. The two of them were required to solve this riddle because it was about their brothers. "Takeru, look. Do you see something here, written in the stars? There is something connecting the two of them," she said, noting a tiny glimpse of red hooked on one of the brightest stars.

As she spoke, the walls of the great hall began to fade, as if allowing her to check on her hypothesis. Her suspicions were confirmed. A thin, almost translucent red line ran between the constellations. The stars were not arranged in the way she would see them in the night sky, but the spirit world did not trouble itself with such constraints. Here, she was able to see a grouping of seven bright stars. Subaru, she thought. A cluster of seven bright stars in the sky, given the name for coming together as one.

Sode boshi, which now also bore the name Orion, a symbol of a warrior and the end of the age of beauty. Subaru, coming together. And Amanogawa, a tale of two lovers being reunited once a year. There was a pattern of separation followed by a reunion. Hikari and Takeru stood there, watching as the stars twinkled in the spirit world, the red thread connecting the three growing stronger and stronger. "These three constellations…" Takeru murmured, finding himself closer to the lovely girl, staring into her crimson eyes. "You're brilliant, Hikari. I didn't even see the red thread at all."

Excited both at their discovery and the newfound closeness, Hikari clutched Takeru's hands in hers and gave a little jump. "It's like they all represent our brothers. They must have been bound together for centuries, being reborn over and over again," she said. As quickly as it came, her delight dispersed. "But…the separation. Must their story always be so sad?"

"It is said that separation makes the heart grow fonder. And remember, they always come together. The Subaru constellation seems to guarantee that. You see…my guess is that the spirits brought us here as a source of comfort. Our brothers have been separated. But it's written in the stars that they will always come back to each other," he said, now at ease. "This must be the answer. Before Yamato and Taichi were born, they must have been busily searching for each other in the stars. My bloodline carried Ishida Mitsunari. Yours carried Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They were renowned for their loyalty to each other; my guess is that Yamato and Taichi carried their red thread generations over, strengthening it with each pull."

Hikari remembered Ishida Mitsunari, the loyal retainer to the Toyotomi clan. Though he was not renowned for his skill on the battlefield, he was one of Hideyoshi's most trusted tacticians. His fealty was legendary, and it was said that when Tokugawa revolted and killed Hideyoshi, Mitsunari swore revenge. To his last breath, his allegiance remained with the samurai. So, even the stars believed that Taichi and Yamato were fated to be together. She knew without a doubt that one would die for the other, though she would rather have them both live and be happy.

Takeru reached out, trying to touch the red thread. They were nowhere near it, of course, and his fingers touched air. The movement was so delicate and serene that Hikari felt herself miss a breath. "Look. Do you see it? Every passing moment, the thread becomes more colored. I wonder if that means their bond grows stronger with each passing second," he said softly, turning toward the girl, running his thumb under her jawline. "This is no secret, Hikari, but our red thread is similar in character."

He traced his way around her cheek and slid his thumb across the softness of Hikari's lips. She gasped; he did not stop, allowing himself to trace the O-shape her little mouth made, feeling his heart beat in his chest as she movewd closer to him. He wasted no time in holding her close, sealing their bond with a warm, passionate kiss. She allowed her hands to trail softly down his back, deepening the sensation. Groaning, he pulled her closer, desperate to fill the gap between them. Though they were both gentle, the closeness they felt was intense. Within moments they allowed themselves the liberty of movement, their garments falling and becoming one with the stars. They embraced each other hungrily, as if they, too, had been apart for years when all they wanted was to see each other once more. Their hearts beat as one as their bodies entwined, thankful for the cover of the spirit world and the bond that they had known before birth.

Somewhere, far in the expanse of the constellations, a dim red thread became bright with color, shining through the night sky of the mysterious spirit world.


Sora was ready to turn the lantern down when a frenzied knock came to the door. "I didn't know Jyou was with you," she said aloud as she walked to the opening. Koushiro, with his superb hearing and ever the samurai, was up and alert at once, refusing to let her open it alone.

"Don't worry, I wasn't asleep yet. And I'd rather not have it be a trap," he said wearily, a firm grasp on the hilt of his sword. "I know it has been a couple of hours since we've arrived, but one can never tell with the shinsengumi…"

The knock resounded again. "Koushiro, you can't listen to that and tell me it's not Jyou," she teased. Still, she was cautious as she toed toward the entrance, sliding the door open slowly.

She couldn't help but gasp in surprise. Jyou was not the only one at the door. The blue-eyed prince who came into Kyoto so recently, the one who she only had glimpses of when he arrived! He was beautiful, a piece of heaven. She could still make out some of the features she had noticed when she watched him as Kiyohime, though she despised the character. It was easy to separate him from that woman, of course. Fumbling to keep her emotions in tact, she quickly allowed the priest and the musician into her home, hoping the heat from her cheeks wasn't apparent. Surely, she would be able to blame that on the summer weather.

It was quick to assess that the situation had become dire. Ishida Yamato was on the verge of tears; Sora felt her heart catch in her throat to see such a delicate, private moment. For some reason, she wondered what it would be like if a man that beautiful cried for her with such passion. But she then realized that it was someone else who was stirring these emotions in him, and she felt a pang of jealousy beat unconsciously in her chest. Jyou spoke first. Equally grief-stricken, he, too, looked ready to break down. "They..they took Taichi," he moaned in despair. "We couldn't do anything…he…he somehow told us to run, he begged us to, and we wouldn't have been able to bring him with us…"

The silence was sudden and uncomfortable. If either of them were samurai, such an action would be so dishonorable and cowardly that it punishable by suicide. The way of the sword dictated that it was better to die with honor, even when failure was the only option. To run away and leave a comrade behind was unheard of. But one was a priest, who was supposed to live and breathe peace and scripture; the other was a musician who had never known bloodshed before he had met Taichi.

Sora ushered them in quietly, leading them to the guest room. With Koushiro, Daisuke, Jyou, and Yamato in tow, this would now have to suffice as the men's quarters. Hikari was lucky that she was the only female guest, though with any hope, Mimi would join them soon enough. In hushed tones, the young men gathered around to talk. Deciding that she could listen in because they were in her home, Sora took her time with looking for extra futons while they spoke. "I can't say I'm not disappointed in at least one of you," Koushiro whispered. "But I understand. When a spirit tells you to do something, it is often best not to ignore it."

"I swear to you, we would have taken him with us if we could," Jyou said again, visibly miserable. "Why on earth would you have left a musician with me? If you had stayed with me instead, Koushiro, Taichi may be with us now!"

"Hey! There's no need for that kind of talk!" Daisuke whispered harshly, the sound coming through his teeth in a hiss. The boy was very defensive when it came to anyone who acted in their troupe. "Yamato had just made a pledge to Taichi-sama. How was he to know that he would have to act upon it within the hour? Most retainers make these speeches and are never called to action for years. I have no doubt in my mind that Yamato would have been able to do so if only he'd had more training!"

Jyou looked away swiftly, attempting to hide his tears. He knew that his words were bitter and ill-placed, but they all felt Taichi's absence. No one had gotten any sleep yet, so for agitation to rise so swiftly was not out of the question. Koushiro cleared his throat, knowing that he was still functioning relatively well. "Let's think, then, for I know that none of us will be able to sleep without some sort of plan. Did Taichi tell you two anything else before asking you to escape? Perhaps that will give us some sort of starting point," he said, keeping his volume low.

"That's all he said," Jyou snapped in between great sniffles. "I would have told you if he said more. Isn't that right, Yamato?"

A stab of guilt ran through Yamato's heart. He was on the verge of tears, but he felt so empty without Taichi that nothing was coming out. Daisuke's words were kind, and he lifted his head slowly, carefully, hoping that he would not break. Jyou was missing one crucial part. "Taichi said something else," Yamato said, his voice muted. "He was trying to tell us both, but I think some of it may have gotten cut off. I'm unsure of how he was communicating with us without moving his lips."

The sound of Yamato's voice sent a chill of wonder through Sora's spine. Even though he sounded like he was going to break, there was no denying that he was as desirable as the sound of a temple bell to a person ready to find nirvana. She held her breath waiting for him to speak again, thankful that the boys were so busy with their discussion that she seemed to have been forgotten. Of course, she wanted to know where Taichi was, too. He was, after all, her best friend. But a darker thought in her mind simply wanted Yamato to speak so that she could drown in it. There was something peculiar about the way he said Taichi's name, and a thought tugged at her mind that she silenced immediately so she could simply listen.

"Taichi…the fool…he wanted to get captured. He did not feign his sickness, Jyou could tell you that. But he said, over and over, that we had to escape. That the shinsengumi would want him alive to find the rest of us, and that they would lead him straight to his parents. I do not know much about honor, but…he is willing to sacrifice his life for the people he loves and the cause that he believes in," Yamato continued, his voice hoarse.

Blinking tears out of his eyes, Jyou hurriedly wiped them on his sleeve. "You're right, I barely heard any of that," he said thoughtfully. "I wonder why? It sounded like so much of what he was saying was muffled, as if he were speaking through water and I was trying to hear him through ice. All I heard was that he wanted us to take our things, and to head straight to Mount Kurama."

"And yet here we are," Koushiro sighed. "Perhaps we should have headed straight for Mount Kurama after all, but I suppose you both ended up here as well. I suppose the journey does not matter as much as the result. Thank you for the report, both of you. It does seem that we may have a starting point. We do know that his parents were last heard of at Bishamondou, and we can assess from Taichi's spirit form that the shinsengumi will keep him alive, thank Kwannon. Men, let us get some rest tonight. Tomorrow we can start early. We should not all go at once; we may have to split up. I will go to Mount Kurama and see if we have any reinforcements that can help us. The second team will start heading for Bishamondou to try and track Taichi — Daisuke, this may be suited for you. We will decide who goes where in the morning. Sora, I apologize; have you been here this whole time?"

Gasping, Sora blushed, hurriedly spreading out futons for the rest of the guests. "I had trouble finding the futon," she lied. "I will see you in the morning."

The young men thanked her as she made a quick bow and ran to her room. Dizzy with information, Sora slunk to the floor, making sure that she remembered it all. Taichi was missing, and allowed himself to be captured. Yamato was the only one who could hear Taichi's wordless spirit-talk. Although she was worried for Taichi on the outside, there was a terrible feeling in her stomach that recoiled with jealousy at the thought of Taichi being close enough to the musician to have a spirit bond. At least I am promised to him, she reminded herself in an effort to calm down. There is nothing that could change that.

She laid down, hoping that sleep would take her right away. She did not get her wish; the thought that Yamato, the man she was to marry, was in the other room. How lucky she was to have someone so handsome! Thoughts of children and a future together clouded her mind, completely pushing out thoughts of worry for her best friend. She knew it was inappropriate, but she had to talk to him. She was desperate to have his attention on her; never before had she felt such a strong need to feel like a woman. The feelings were so strong that they overwhelmed her, and she decided to stop fighting it. Why bother? Her future was already decided for her, and for once, she was happy with the outcome.

The sound of a door sliding open caught her attention. Unable to sleep, she steadied her breath, figuring the sound had come from the men's quarters. She crawled out of bed, sneaking over to the room and peeking in. They were all asleep, and one futon was empty. A koto lay there in place of it, and she knew that Yamato was the one who had gotten up. She could not help but smile at her luck.

Creeping further into the house, she realized that he must have gone out to relieve himself. Swallowing hard, she was glad to have enough decency to not peep on such a private moment. She counted to ten before continuing forward. Yamato was standing outside, facing the inner gardens of the school. What a foolish man, she thought to herself with a small smile. Any samurai worth their salt would not put themselves in such a vulnerable position; imagine if father woke up and saw him standing there. What a fuss that would create.

Sora steeled herself. Because she was going to be his bride, she had to start getting used to approaching him in some manner of speaking. She had forgotten the mannerisms that her mother had tried to teach her, but she felt emboldened by her privilege. Clearing her throat gently, she stepped toward him. He spun around in surprise, his perfect face marred with worry and fear. Were she any bolder, she would have went straight to him and held him in her arms. But not yet. The part of her that played and hunted with the boys saw Yamato like a doe, one that was not to be frightened.

"It is a lovely evening," she said quietly, walking toward him. She leaned against a pole opposite the lean young man. "This is my parents' home, sir. I haven't yet had the pleasure to meet you, and yet here you are, lounging in our gardens at this hour of the night."

"My apologies," he murmured. He was far, far away from the conversation, and Sora wanted him to look at her. No such luck. "I shall go back and rest. I do not want to keep you, nor do I want to offend you and your kind hospitality."

He turned, not willing to introduce himself. Determined to make herself known, she spoke again. "My name is Takenouchi Sora. What is yours?" she asked politely.

The name made his ears perk up. She took the gesture of familiarity as a hint to continue, ignoring the fact that he seemed to distance himself from her even more. "Yamato," he said simply. "I hail from the Yamada school in Edo. Now, as I mentioned, I shall take my leave, so the both of us may rest."

Sora pressed forward, drunk with delight that he was talking to her. So this is what the flirtatious ladies lived for! Perhaps being a geiko like Mimi would not have been such a bad idea. Once again ignoring Yamato's body language, she stepped toward him. He stepped back, right into the door. He would not be able to leave without saying at least a few more words to her. "Funny, that name does sound familiar," she said, feigning ignorance. She remembered the way that Mimi taught her how to talk to boys to get them to bend to her will; Sora was having trouble with the lighthearted tone, but she was still enjoying the moment. "I do believe that you may also hail from a different background. One of a samurai class of old, if I'm not mistaken."

Fumbling to open the door without making a sound, Yamato's brows furrowed in confusion. What on earth was happening? To think, all this time he was Taichi's Kiyohime, only to feel like one of the monks of Dojoji in front of this young woman. He allowed himself to breathe through his nose, trying to recall what Kiyohime might have been thinking at the time. He would not promise anything to this girl. The one he wanted was captured and lost somewhere, and rescuing him was all that mattered. Dancing around the matter would not be wise, but he also did not want his companions to be kicked out, either. With a deep breath, Yamato chose the middle path, remaining steadfast. "It is late, Takenouchi-san. If you don't mind, I would like to retire. I simply needed a breath of fresh air, for my concern for Taichi grows by the second. I thank you for understanding," he said with a short bow, finally getting the doors to open silently.

As if snapping out of a trance, Sora found herself blushing with embarrassment. "Oh! Oh, my goodness. Of course. Please, get some rest. I apologize for keeping you," she said, returning the bow and wondering where the sudden heat came from. What amazed her further was that she had no intention of stopping if it happened again. The thrill of having a man look at her like a woman — even if he looked afraid, which would have made sense, considering actors only could look at other beautifully made up men — was scintillating. "I hope to see you in the morning, Yamato of the Yamada school."

He left quickly, shaking his head, thankful that she did not follow him. What on earth was the girl thinking? He had never been approached so shamelessly before. They did not even know each other's name! Did she even know Taichi? Why did she not care that he was missing? He scowled, wondering how people could be so cruel, but he wondered if he were the same to her. If he turned the tables, he was probably just as cruel, caring only for Taichi's safety. Selfishness was truly a formidable thing. Remember Kiyohime, he thought to himself as he lay back down. It's probably not her fault. But no matter what, I will not lose focus. Taichi needs me, and I will be there for him.

Yamato shut his eyes, clutching Taichi's bell close to his chest. It radiated heat, and for a moment, he thought he could feel Taichi's warm body next to his. He inhaled deeply, imagining the samurai's woody scent. Sleep took him immediately, and was kind enough to bestow a vivid dream within the depths of his mind. He cuddled the souvenir of the samurai close, turning in his futon and unaware of everything else in the world.

In dreams, Taichi was there, his strong arms wrapped around Yamato's lithe body. Neither of them dared to impugn on the strength of their bond. The two of them were one entity, their spirits entwined so tightly together that there was no room for anyone else. Taichi smiled, looking deep into Yamato's eyes. My Yamato, he mouthed, his hands tenderly caressing the small of his back. We'll be together again soon.

Strong, fierce Taichi. He could see the lean, muscular body so clearly. They faced each other, an intimate distance apart. Because it was a dream, he allowed his hands to explore, shivering in pleasure as Taichi rubbed light circles against his back. He grazed Taichi's rigid abdomen, memorizing each line as if he were a koto. Slowly, Yamato allowed his fingers to rise, tracing over the samurai's sensitive nipples up to the back of his neck. The skin there was smooth and darkened from the sun, and Yamato pushed back for a moment to look at Taichi in full, realizing that in this dream, neither of them were wearing their robes. The strapping young man was the very vision of a god. My very own samurai, he thought with a smile. What I would give to be of use to you.

Taichi smiled back knowingly, pulling Yamato back into another embrace. They were warmer now that clothing was unnecessary; dreams were funny like that. He buried his head into Yamato's golden hair, allowing his hands to trail down past Yamato's tailbone, his lips curving into a wicked smile as he found something softer. You are mine; what more do I need? You are not someone to be used, Yamato. You are someone to be cherished, he said, moving his hands since his lips were not. With that, he tilted Yamato's face up to look at his, and pressed his lips onto the musician's. There was no hesitation as he encouraged the blonde's lips open with his tongue, learning more about the boy through touch.

Yamato writhed in his sleep, somehow able to keep himself quiet as the Taichi of his dreams continued his actions mercilessly. After a few more blissful moments, he stopped, an exhausted smile on his lips.

Sora watched him from the peep hole, mouth agape with thoughts of womanhood. Apparently, it blossomed much faster than she had anticipated. Perhaps I should visit more men before they head to bed, she thought to herself as she went back to her room, not knowing that Yamato's thoughts and heart belonged to Taichi and Taichi alone.


Notes:

1. Education (reading, writing, and arithmetic, and more, depending on the type of school) in the Edo period was conducted mainly by priests and monks, though samurai, doctors, and people in other professions were also known to teach. Samurai attended schools sponsored by their domains where they had their own curricula.

2. I won't lie. Writing Sora's part was the hardest thing for me since she was my least favorite character for what I think are obvious reasons. I took some liberties here, since her father technically worked at Kyoto University, and, well, they're in Kyoto now (it seems like Digimon took place in a more urban setting).

3. Japanese homes, even today, tend to have a washitsu, or a Japanese-styled room. These rooms are often completely bare and have oshire, a two-tiered closet for holding things that can be added to the room to readjust it to whatever purpose you need. By day, for example, you can leave it empty; if you need to study, you can pull a small table out; if you want it as a bedroom, you can take out futon. It is a true multi-purpose room.

4. The spirit world that I made up for Hikari and Takeru is basically supposed to be like Rainbow Road from Mario Kart mixed with the spirit check up that Aang had in Avatar.

5. Takeru's warning is based off of a Japanese tale that can be found in Royall Tyler's collection, "Japanese Tales". It is story 120, where a monk is so besotted with awe at what paradise looks like that the one who showed it to him was severely punished.

6. Time for some myths in astronomy! The Orion constellation was seen many different ways around the world. One interpretation in Japan is that two of the stars represented the Taira (Betelgeuse) and Minamoto (Rigel) families; the Genpei war brought the Heian period (794-1192) to a close. The Heian period was known as a gentle, artistic period, and the era following was geared toward an isolationist and warrior path. In other places still, the three stars that formed his belt were seen as bamboo segments to people who lived in areas with bamboo forests, or rulers for people who worked in land management. It also looked like a kimono sleeve (sode boshi), which is a much more delicate view of Orion.

7. The second story we have is based around the Tanabata festival, which occurs every 7/7 of the year. Legend has it that two lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, were separated by the Milky Way and were only allowed to meet again on this day. Depending on where you're hearing the story, the names change, but the stars themselves are Vega and Altair.

8. Subaru is known as the Pleiades in astronomy. They are a cluster of seven stars. In Greek mythology, they are known as the seven sisters.

9. In many Japanese folk tales, if you ignore what a spirit says to you, lots of bad things will happen. Pick up Japanese Tales translated by Royall Tyler, or Tales of Times Now Past by Marian Ury.

10. More information is apparently being studied; in the past, Ishida Mitsunari was seen as a villainous character, but as more history is unveiled, he turned out to be much more heroic. There's a game out that plays like Phoenix Wright that has you controlling Ishida Mitsunari and figuring out tactics on the sengoku battlefield. The tactician part is pulled from the video game, and I am still looking for literature on his actual person.

11. Sora's behavior here very closely mimics Kiyohime's character from Dojoji; specifically, the parts that she did not find attractive at all.