Ukiyo ~ Floating World
Chapter 14: Fleeting Moments

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, blah blah blah, or Japanese history. All the stuff I researched was just research through books, lectures, the internet, etc.
Author's Note: Thank you for sticking with me so far! I'm doing my best to end everything in this story, because it's just getting to that point. I apologize for all the long drawn-out stuff I've got here, but it's easy to forget how hard writing is. The next chapter may be the last. Or so I hope.

It was a humid, sleepy afternoon, so close to sundown, and movement was not expected out of even the most spark-like of children. The streets of Kyoto had been blissfully silent that morning; that calm was long gone. It had been replaced with terrified shouts. Confusion ruled the city. Women clambered about, ushering their children into tiny hiding spaces as their husbands mustered up their courage to protect their homes. They were helpless without weapons, of course. Those belonged to rebels. The word was like poison on their frightened tongues. It was the braver ones who thought that rebels, certainly, would have those swords, but also the men who held fast to the traditions of the old world. Men who wanted to keep Japan pristine and free of change. Flashes of bright blue robes had run amok in the city. The hunt for traitors to the shogunate had begun, and the loyalists were thirsty for blood. This was the inevitable future. Crimson would stain the blue robes like red autumn leaves against a blue sky.

The chaos had yet to come. The evening prior, Koushiro sneaked out of the house as best as he could once he was sure that everyone was asleep. Had he been foolish in informing Yamato of his whereabouts? Probably. He should have told not one soul, but he couldn't vanish so suddenly. This would be more worrisome than anything else. He could have told Jyou, of course, but the poor boy wouldn't have been able to handle all that stress. It would not do to bother the Takenouchi family of his deeds when they had already done so much for him and the entirety of the Hantsuki. Hikari already had to deal with the disappears of the entirety of her family. Daisuke was too loud and would have informed everyone.

This left Yamato. He could not deny the guilt in his gut; what would the musician do with that sort of information? He may have been studying under the sword for a few moons, but it did not mean that he knew what to do with the whereabouts of a samurai who had decided to stray from his path. He hoped that Yamato would either tell no one, or be clever about it and tell just one person. Perhaps it didn't matter who he told. He only hoped that Yamato wouldn't do something so stupid as to come after him on his own. In fact, Koushiro would bet money that it Yamato wouldn't risk it. The boy was clearly too smitten with loyalty to Taichi that he knew he must have had to stay behind. Koushiro wasn't hurt, of course. He just knew how to study people as he studied books. It was a different sort of discipline. Warriors relied on knowing one's enemy. It was a lesser-known skill to read the faces of everyone around them — certainly, it was a waste to only use it on people one did not like.

Navigating through the night was no easy feat, but Koushiro knew the lay of the land better than most. He had a good head on his shoulders, and would have probably worked with maps if he had not gone the way of the sword. He wished he were as quiet as the ninja he knew, but he had to make do with what he had. At the very least, he was thankful that he wasn't as clumsy as Jyou could be. This brought a slight smile to his face. Memories of times long past were what kept him going. They were what kept his faith in the Hantsuki strong.

He remembered Jyou, always worried as they ran through the Kamo River as children. Taichi's contagious laughter as he splashed Jyou in the face. Sora, joining in, splashing Taichi with the same vigor as a young boy, feigning innocence with her parents when they asked what had happened to her lovely new clothes. The flutter of Mimi's pink kimonos — they were always pink — while she giggled and teased the boys for being silly. She never got her sleeves wet. Koushiro had always admired her for that quality alone.

Having been a maiko at a very young age, she was always in the ripest of positions to get into worlds of trouble. She'd lived a hard life of her own, especially with the lines of the geisha and the courtesan being blurred as it was. The girl was a breath of fresh air, truly a flower that everyone longed to have on display. But she was also a fiercely talented girl, having taught herself all the skills a maiko was required to have from a very early age. She was able to play the shamisen, paint simple pictures, recite poetry, dance, and sing, all with fair proficiency. Her devotion to her art was sincere, and she treasured her body and soul as much as she was passionate about her path in life.

People always worried about her. Sora was often the one who worried the most; Koushiro had the feeling that she worried more than she let on. But Mimi was a brave girl. Always eager to learn something new and beautiful, the girl had stars in her eyes and heaven knew that men paid handsomely for that. Koushiro wasn't one to make ripples in the water. He was afraid for her, too. But he knew she would be okay. The girl was as clever as a mountain cat, and while it sounded like there were many close calls in her line of work, she had always managed to get out of it. They had all thought the same at one time: what if she was lying to protect their ears from the hurtful truth?

But she was the talk of the town from the moment she informed her onee-san that she would not participate in the mizu-age, because her body was her own and such things would not be bought from her. Though her onee-san was unquestionably irate with her behavior, it was clear that Mimi did not need the extra money from that. Many of the elder geisha considered her to be ready for the ceremony whether or not it was sold off to the highest bidder, though there were some who regarded it a grand loss of income. She argued that this sort of thing shouldn't be bought, and in any case, she was making more on her own without it, thank you very much. And just like that, it was dropped. The grumbling from the elder geisha only lasted for a fleeting moment, as she was able to repay all her debts in one lump sum, thanks to all her doting patrons. It helped that she never missed a moment to pout and tell those patrons that her company should have meant more to them than something as fleeting as a mizu-age. The girl could be very persuasive.

The samurai's stroll down memory lane was interrupted by a loud, "Hey! You really shouldn't go off on these night time strolls by yourself, Kou!"

Koushiro brandished his sword in a flash as a dark figure gracefully leapt out of a tree. "Stay back," he growled. "I could have cut our tongue out in an instant, but I'll let you talk."

"Oh, jeez. I really need to stop scaring you guys like this," said the dark figure, removing his mask. "Seriously, can't you tell what my voice sounds like yet? And you call yourself a samurai!"

Groaning, Koushiro re-sheathed his sword and smacked Daisuke in the back of the head. "Yes, Daisuke, you do need to stop surprising people by jumping out of trees, roofs, and in general, anything that is above the heads of unsuspecting passersby. Especially those with swords, like myself. Any samurai worth their salt would have slain you as you stood. Certainly, I do call myself a samurai, but how could you call yourself a ninja with such reckless behavior?"

Daisuke gave a sheepish shrug. "Yeah, yeah, okay, I get it, Daisuke has a big mouth, blah blah blah. It doesn't change the fact that you're doing something really reckless yourself, going after Mimi on your own…"

With a wince, Koushiro slowly turned to the younger boy. He knew exactly who would have that information, but he decided to give Yamato a chance. Perhaps he hadn't told Daisuke outright, which would have made it slightly more forgivable than turning it into an ugly rumor throughout the Hantsuki quarters. "An interesting conclusion. Kindly enlighten me on how you came to such an absurd idea."

The boy ninja looked worried for a few moments. He took a few loud breaths to calm himself before speaking to his elder. Koushiro rolled his eyes, threatening to smite Daisuke again if he didn't quiet down. With a nervous chuckle and a quick slinking back, the ninja began to speak. "Okay, so…I'm not exactly sure who the…er, original messenger was. I was walking along the beams up top as I usually do in most houses, okay? I practiced some of this, a bit of that, and…er…well, something fell out of my robes. It hit a book in the room below me and a note fluttered out of it. Which is obviously really suspicious, if not really interesting, right? And, being the dutiful ninja that I am, I hopped down to take a look at it. The ink was still pretty fresh, and it looks like it was in there on purpose. It was a poem of some sort. I didn't really get it."

He rummaged through his robes and procured the piece of paper, handing it to Koushiro. The samurai looked it over and had to hide his impression with the haiku. It was still unclear as to how Daisuke went about following him. In any case, at least it wasn't Yamato. Taichi wouldn't have to have his head for this. "All right. So you stole this piece of paper from someone's room because you didn't understand it. How on earth does this connect with you following me?"

"Oh, I needed help, of course. I mean, not that I can't decipher things like this. If I had more time I'm sure I could, you know? Or with a code word. Or something. Anyway, I went around looking for you, first, because you're one of the smartest people I know. When I couldn't find you, I looked for Yamato, but when I found him, he was practicing with swords again and said that he's a musician, not a poet, which made sense. I would've gone to the ladies, see, but…er…well, last time I sort of did that…thing where I suddenly appear by jumping from the roof, and they were in the middle of a bath, and…anyway, that was just out of the question. So I ended up asking Jyou, who puzzled about it for a bit, but somehow put together that you were the leaf and Mimi was the cherry blossom or something. Not that I really get it. I mean, I kind of get it. It just wasn't that obvious, you know? If they wanted someone to help, why didn't they just write, Hey, Koushiro's going to go after Mimi tonight, could someone help him out? But no. Why does everyone make things so complicated?!"

Koushiro had a habit where he tuned out most of what others said, since a lot of words were wasted. This was especially true with Daisuke. At the very least, he had to admit that Yamato did a good job. The book was likely in Jyou's room. Hikari would have been faster at deciphering the meaning, but it was fortuitous that Jyou was able to help. Yamato was awfully clever, saying so coolly that he wasn't a poet, so that the message was deflected away from him. In conclusion, the musician was absolutely forgivable. The note may not have even been found if not for Daisuke's antics. The ninja was still talking. Koushiro sighed and put a hand over his mouth. "Stop, stop. I understand. If you're to come with me, you really need to play your part as a ninja and be quiet."

Daisuke jutted his chin out, making a show of his lips being shut tight. He bowed and ambled along next to Koushiro. Now that he essentially made a promise to be quiet, he figured the samurai didn't want to know that he sent the note along to someone else. Certainly, they would need some backup. They didn't even know where Mimi was, after all. It would have been poor planning to go along without sending for help! This much was true, Daisuke reasoned. And then they were on their way to who knows where to locate the missing cherry blossom.

A congregation of shadows descended upon Yamato as night fell. He did not scream. Whatever hint of fear he had known before was pushed down into the depths of his soul. He was a being of the floating world, but now he was more than that. These people were either here to help or harm Taichi, and he had to mask all his emotions as if he were on stage to coax an answer out of them. The ninja were silent, moving like snakes, ready to strike if necessary. Yamato felt unreasonably angry at their entrance, but breathed through his nose slowly, as Koushiro had taught him.

"Well, well. Seems the delicate little musician has learned a few tricks," came the quiet drawl of one of the black-clothed beings. "I suppose that means you're worth it to that Taichi. Though I can't understand what you see in that fool. Hmph, brushing aside help like that…"

"Ichijouji-san. What a surprise," Yamato replied calmly. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Surely, I could not have deserved such an elaborate greeting."

"Oh, goodness. I haven't the time to trade mannerisms with you, Ishida. Besides, you'd lose if you were up against me. If you're going to help, get up and help. If you're going to play around, lay there and we'll do all the work. But first, tell me where Daisuke is. I received his message but he didn't leave me any means of following him."

"He's gone after Koushiro. That's all I know," Yamato replied, rising slowly. "They're looking for Mimi, and I don't believe either of them know where they're going. Aren't you supposed to be skilled at tracking?"

"I am the most skilled at it, thank you very much," Ken snapped. "Fine. I will locate him myself. Are you ready to help Taichi? Unfortunately, he didn't follow me out as I had initially asked him to. I left a few of my troupe there in case he managed to escape, but — "

Quite suddenly, Yamato had Ken by the neck against one of the wooden poles. His blade was drawn and gently kissed the white skin on Ken's neck. "You left him there, did you? That doesn't seem polite at all, Ichijouji," Yamato whispered, dropping polite suffixes. "To the rest of you — I'm sure you're aware that it doesn't matter how fast you move if I'm this close to him. If he speaks for you, he must be your leader, and I'm sure Kwannon wouldn't forgive such impudence if you allowed him to perish."

A dark laugh gurgled in Ken's throat. "My, has the kitten developed claws…no, Ishida. He did not follow me out. But it was because he's a samurai and he wanted to save his family first instead of regrouping with us here. I risked my life and my troupe's. The reality of it all is that we were only meant to save one Yagami, and he was the one who was not being as closely guarded as his parents. That is the truth. If you want more information, Ishida, you will put that sword down, as I am waiting for my people to return to me. We have a series of bird calls, messengers, and codes that you couldn't possibly work out on your own. The choice is yours, obviously."

Yamato released the blue-haired boy nonchalantly. He knew he was at risk, being surrounded by so many ninja, but he was not surprised that Ken was a part of the Hantsuki. He decided it was best to play his chances and assume that in-fighting was frowned upon. After all, that's what Japan was doing as they spoke, was it not? His cold blue eyes regarded the ninja carefully. He did not offer a hand, nor did he express a smug expression of triumph when he saw a slight tinge of red on Ken's neck. There was a hint of fear growing in his belly; never before had he felt this way. It was neither the surge of power, nor was it the fire of steel in his hands. It was the fact that someone would get in the way of bringing Taichi back to a safe place that had set him off, like lighting a brand-new candle. Perhaps that was what fealty was; echoes of the past seemed to agree with him.

With an annoyed look, Ken straightened his robes and gave a signal to his subordinates. "I'm having them trail Daisuke and Koushiro. We have more information than they do at this point, you see. It would be in their best interests to come along with us," he explained, regaining his composure. "As for you, it is unfortunate that you're the only one that they had left to rescue Taichi. Or did you do that on purpose? Truly, I wouldn't be surprised. I suppose you enjoy playing the hero after all."

"Your poisonous words are not necessary, Ichijouji. I was not aware of what Koushiro would do. I was not sure if anyone would follow him. It just so happens that it was Daisuke, and it just so happens that I'm the only one left here that is deemed ready to fight."

"But are you, really? A few moons pass and you think you're ready to draw blood? This little thing on my neck doesn't mean a thing, you know. You may actually have to…dispose of someone. Would you truly count yourself as ready for that?" Despite the distinct displeasure he had whilst talking to Yamato, Ken's voice became serious. "You see, you need to be, if you're going to save him. Last I saw, he was going to pick a fight with one of the Shinsengumi officers. And the boy wasn't even one of the elite, you see. But my sources say that Hida Iori was a favorite of Saitou Hajime, at one time. This, to you, would mean that Hida Iori is likely to be quite the swordsman, one that may even rival your precious Taichi."

He did not skip a beat. Quite possibly, he wasn't thinking straight. But he seemed to have trouble doing that when Taichi was involved, more so now that he had a plausible means of saving him. "I am ready. But I will not lie: I do hope that it would not be necessary," Yamato replied. And it wouldn't be necessary if you had brought Taichi here in the first place.

"Very well, then. I shall divide my squad so that you will have a couple of guards with you to save your samurai. I will take the other half and save my silly Daisuke and his friends."

"That sounds fair to me."

Ken's ears perked up at the sound of a footstep. "I believe we may have a visitor. Kindly show yourself, as we're all armed," he said lazily, waving a hand as if inviting the impostor to just come along already.

"It's just me, Ken," came the friendly, raspy voice of Sora. "I'm sorry to disturb you. I hoped to…ah…have a word with Ishida-san, that's all."

The ninja discreetly looked from Sora to Yamato and sighed inwardly. The poor girl was in for a rude awakening. Yamato may have been blessed with beauty, but it was unclear whether or not he knew how to handle tact. Ken had been doing so for years; he maintained many female admirers, despite being rather clear about his intentions and emotions toward Daisuke. With a slight bow, he exited the compound and jumped off to his next destination.

Sora approached Yamato hopefully, extending her hand as if she were trying to get the attention of a stray cat. "Ishida-san…Yamato. I'm sorry, I…I did overhear a bit. I am worried for you, going off on your own. Can't you wait until Koushiro is back to save Taichi? I'm sure he'll hold out on his own, he always has, you see, and…"

"I'm ready to save him. I apologize for causing you trouble, Takenouchi-san. The plan is already in motion."

The girl mustered up her courage and put a wan smile on her face. "I understand. I just wanted to ask you to be careful. This isn't going to be easy, as I'm sure you know, and…well…I'd very much like my fiancee to come back alive, you see?"

Yamato finally made a motion to look at the girl. "Fiancee…ah. You mean me, don't you? A promise that was made long before either of us were born," he said, the words feeling heavy in his mouth. Again, a situation that required some finesse. He didn't know how girls worked. He didn't really know how people worked. Hoping that he'd gotten things right with Koushiro, Yamato decided to go on. Hearing the truth had to be the best way of going about it. There was nothing and no one in the world that would separate him from Taichi.

"Please…ah…I'm sorry for everything. You must understand. My father and I…we had never seen eye to eye. The moment I left his home, I erased everything that connected me with him. This marriage included. I did not know about it until very recently. I never intended to marry you."

The tears in Sora's eyes made it clear that Yamato had indeed done this incorrectly. He didn't feel bad; he hardly knew the girl. Still, he did apologize. What more could he do? There were no feelings there and he renounced all ties to his father. That's all it was, plain and simple. Perhaps that was the best it could have gone, in any case. He turned on his heel and left, joining a single ninja. "Oh? Just one? Was Ken a bit stingy?" Yamato muttered to himself.

A familiar chuckle came from the shadow. "I think having me is more than enough."

Yamato nearly dropped his blade in shock. "Ta…Takeru? But how…?"

"Brother! As if I would leave you out here on your own. I am not tied to Mount Kurama like a tether, you know. Mount Kurama is always inside my soul, kept secret. Don't you worry."

"I admit I'm surprised that you know a thing or two of sword play, little brother," Yamato teased, lightly elbowing him in the arm.

"All that time in the mountains and you think I didn't once see Sojobo, King of the Tengu, or the spirit of Minamoto no Yoshitsune? Oh, I learned, brother, and I learned from the best. You may actually learn a thing or two from me!"

Yamato slung his arm over his younger brother's shoulders. The reunited brothers walked on together, and with a nod, they burst into a run that would take them to the Yagamis. There was no better way to go about this in Yamato's mind. They would rescue Taichi, who would be able to see his whole family again. They would all go back to Kyoto together.

A troubling thought crossed the musician's mind. But after all that is said and done, what will we do? Will Taichi still want me, or will he send me back to Odaiba?

He pretended that his thoughts weren't clouded and ran swiftly alongside his lithe brother.

The forest was in charge of hiding the Yagami family, though nature only cared so much for humankind.. Taichi let his parents rest under one of the trees, trying to cover them as much as possible. The night had grown cooler, but the moon was still too bright. If anyone in the Shinsengumi compound was looking, well…he didn't want to give anyone an easy time of it. To his dismay, his parents did not look well. The moonlight was bright enough to let him know that the Yagamis had not been treated as well as him. Why was that? What had his parents done that was so unforgivable that they had been locked away from daylight, yet forgivable enough that they were kept alive?

His mother was fast asleep, but his father was fighting to stay awake. A guttural cough shocked Taichi; he hoped no one heard, but he was terrified at the unwelcome sound. Looking around fervently, his heart beat in his throat as he monitored the area for enemies. All was still.

Sickness was a beast that he could not eradicate with his sword. It was bad enough when Yamato was ill in the forest; now his parents lay there, and he prayed to Kwannon that this was exhaustion, that it was something that could be slept off. His breath was shallow. Despite the heat, he found that he was shaking. By not following Ken, he had lost a chance to go back to the Hantsuki for help. This act of valiant heroics meant that he had to carry both parents back to Kyoto proper from the mountain. He cursed his lack of judgment, but he could not deny the fact that he was glad to have them both with him.

Not daring to close his eyes for a second, Taichi did his best to keep his parents comfortable. "It'll be okay," he murmured, distraught that he didn't need to disguise them with earth. Their faces were already caked with dirt. "We'll be home soon. I promise."

The young Hida Iori did a brave thing, surely, but such treason against the Shinsengumi would surely cost him his life. Taichi struggled between thoughts of guilt and the overall feeling of relief that he was no longer locked up in that compound. Iori had given him a gift so important that it simply could not be wasted: freedom. Out here in the forest, he was a sitting duck, but he was one with choices. There was no bound and blind servitude to the Shinsengumi. His sword did not have to be raised against the people he loved, nor did he have to fight for the foolish notion to keep his country 'clean'. There was only so much of the world that could be hidden. Eventually, the world would have to come to them. To him, fighting as a loyalist to the shogunate was like throwing handfuls of sand into the river. Though they may have been stones once upon a time, they were now granules of sand, and they barely produce a ripple in the water.

He didn't dare close his eyes for a moment of grief, but he let his thoughts simmer. He said a short prayer for Iori and hoped that the boy was clever enough to get himself out of this mess. For now, he had to focus on how he was going to get his parents back home safely. It wouldn't be back at the Yagami manor until it was deemed safe, so he had to think of the next safe house. Sora's place, he thought sullenly. I guess that's the next best bet.

It was too soon for him to face the girl who was promised to Yamato. He barely remembered what he had said to that beautiful boy when he was lying on the floor, writhing with fever, but he did remember saying something about Sora to him. What had Yamato replied with? He apologized, surely. But he couldn't remember anything else. He cursed his foggy memory, hoping that he'd be able to mask the shame and confusion with big smile. There was nothing more to it than that. The past is past.

There was no way he could carry both of them on his back. If his father were in better health, he would be able to carry his mother. With two of them on foot, the trek would be more bearable. But that possibility was tossed out the window when Ken left. That blue-haired boy didn't seem to be willing to help with such a matter. He had held out some hope that at least one of his parents would be able to walk, but upon checking, his father's legs had been battered, and his mother was tired and truly exhausted. They looked like they had seen ghosts. Taichi didn't want to ask about what they had to endure.

He longed for his parents to comfort him the way they had when he was a child. But this was not just a scraped knee or the repercussions of falling out of a climbable tree. Taichi thought he wanted the life of a samurai. It used to be a symbol of light, courage, and power. It was a lifestyle and a purpose. And now he knelt on the dry earth of a dense forest, hoping that he would be able to keep his parents safe. The path of the samurai had had its purpose, once. But to fight for this power, simply because the shogun feared the outside world? There was no rhyme or reason. It was like a spoiled child unwilling to accept that their temper tantrums were not effective.

Curse them — curse them all, the damned Shinsengumi! What right do they have to enforce this so-called peace on us? There is no sensibility in all these innocent people getting harmed, Taichi thought bitterly, his fists shaking at his sides.

The familiar jingle of a faraway bell could be heard. Taichi looked up, startled. Though his parents were incapacitated, he knew that no one else could possibly hear that sound. How could a bell sound so faraway and yet ring so loudly in his mind? No…this bell, it…it means…no, I cannot afford to fall now! Please, Kwannon, no, not now…

Merciful Kwannon hears all, but she is never required to meddle in human affairs.

Koushiro and Daisuke walked a fair distance from the Kamo River, making sure to track their progress. Occasionally, they stopped to listen for a sign or a messenger that would tell them of Mimi's whereabouts, but to no avail. The samurai felt his stomach churn, uncomfortable with walking along a river without knowing of the final destination. He knew that she was escaping, and she probably didn't even need his help, but how could he leave her to that on her own? The women of the Gion district were largely unprotected, having only themselves and any friends they were willing to make. While they were highly versed in the arts, a good few of them were unaware of how to use weaponry. Nevertheless, he continued walking, his feet having already memorized the path to Shirakawa, toward the geiko house where Mimi served in Gion. It was a starting place, at least.

Daisuke, holding in all of the questions he wanted to ask, was exhausted by having to keep quiet the whole way. He of course wanted to help Mimi, but why on earth would she stay around the same place that she left? He assumed that some sort of investigating would be done by Koushiro, but that was a part that made him more fidgety than normal. Ken and Koushiro would be the best candidates for such a task, surely. Daisuke was happy as a lookout. And possibly going ahead and getting rid of any enemies to make sure that things went smoothly. Sure, it was a little reckless, but it often got the job done for him, in any case.

The hanamachi was in clear view. Not a sound could be heard; after all, it must have been quite late. But the silence was deafening, and Koushiro was afraid of what he might find here. Did she escape in time? What if she hadn't? He and Daisuke quietly walked forward and remained as hidden as possible in the tiny alleyways, trying to gauge any suspicious activity within the geiko house. He wasn't sure if the silence was the characteristic silence of a night of slumber or if it was something to be feared.

Holding his breath, Koushiro stayed still, listening for anything out of place. He was glad they had taken a winding route to get to Gion; it took longer than the straight path, but he felt better, hoping that they weren't followed. He looked to Daisuke, ready to signal him to get onto the roof.

The ninja looked like he was ready to burst. Rolling his eyes, Koushiro realized that Daisuke needed to talk. He looked at the other redhead expectantly, hoping that the boy would be able to mime what he needed. Daisuke pointed back toward the direction of the Takenouchi residence, then back to where he was standing. It was an odd thing to watch, and Koushiro wasn't entirely sure he could decipher this madness. Bird calls, written scrambled messages — those were things he could handle, and based on Daisuke's performance, he was glad that charades was not one of the chosen methods of communication for the Hantsuki.

Finally, after a long series of pointing, possible insulting, and other silent impressions, Koushiro gave a sigh and whispered as harshly and as quietly as he could, "Just say it!"

Daisuke let out the breath he was holding, which was thankfully soundless. "Whew. Thank you. Just wanted to tell you that I told Ken," he said, his words mashed together. "So, uh, don't get frightened or anything if he just shows up behind you."

"And I am behind you," Ken whispered, nearly startling Koushiro out of his skin.

"For Kwannon's sake, why can't the two of you announce yourself like normal people?"

"Because we're ninjas," Ken replied simply. "Now, Izumi-san, I understand you're undergoing some sort of reckless rescue mission. How very unlike you."

Koushiro reddened. "We shouldn't be talking here," he muttered. "It's not safe. We don't know who's listening."

"I can tell you that no one of importance is in this building right now. The reason why you couldn't hear anything is because this entire district is asleep, but this particular building is evacuated. For the most part, anyway. The head geiko is still in, though she's in shock. And so is Rokujo."

"The woman who sold out all the others? And the leader? How could they be of no importance?" Koushiro asked, his blood starting to boil. All due to jealousy, he thought to himself angrily. Why must people act like this?

"The very one. But listen, I've already listened in. The woman lives in the middle of the house, so she can't hear us, but I can tell you that she's awake and she looks terribly distraught. The point, now, is that I don't believe she'd know anything about Tachikawa-san's location."

"We don't know unless we interrogate her," Koushiro said, voice deadpan. For all the times he had asked Kwannon for mercy, it was hard to believe that this was a young man who believed in forgiveness at this moment in time.

"Don't be brash, Izumi-san. It honestly doesn't suit you at all. You're smarter than that. You know Tachikawa-san is smarter than that. So let's not stoop to Rokujo's level, yes? Simply not worth it," Ken said with a shrug. "Besides, if we stick around a bit, we'll hear from the others. I went looking for you two specifically and I sent the others out to find any traces of her. We'll be able to track her without a problem."

Daisuke beamed, his heart swelling with pride at Ken's capability. He nudged the blue-haired boy appreciatively and looked back to Koushiro. The samurai was still seething, and his eyes were closed, probably in an effort to find himself at peace. Daisuke felt for him. He knew what it was like to have the person he cared for most missing for unknown amounts of time. While Koushiro wasn't looking, Daisuke grabbed Ken's hand and squeezed it tightly. Ken held on tightly, glad for the warmth of his companion. They'd spent too long apart.

The two of them would never admit it, but they were with the Hantsuki to bring people back together whenever possible. They'd reunited many a lost love. Of course, they were paid for their services, but they did enjoy this aspect of their job. Daisuke was the one who was more likely to break from protocol. Ken, on the other hand, did things by logic, which was a ruleset of its own. Deep down, he was ashamed to have left Taichi's family to their fate. It was something he didn't want to tell Daisuke. For now, though, he could continue being helpful by locating the missing geisha.

Ken beckoned them away from the alleyway and back near the gently rushing waters of the canal, further away from the other buildings and closer to a vantage point. They hoisted themselves up to the roof of Mimi's geiko house, knowing that the two people in the building wouldn't hear them. The vantage point allowed them more visibility to the rest of the city. The water was loud enough to cover their footsteps, and soft enough that the sensitive ears of the three young men could distinguish the secret sounds of the Hantsuki. They lay there for what seemed to be ages until Koushiro's ears perked up. An unusual bird call. Three shrill renditions. Three ri away, approximately. Another bird call signaling safety. Mimi was not too far off — but from where they were, the distance matched up.

"No…she's near Bishamondou, isn't she?" Koushiro asked quietly, feeling the blood drain out of his face. "Ken…were you able to get Taichi to safety?"

It was Ken's turn to blanche. He hoped to have this chat with Koushiro alone, not with Daisuke looking at him like he was a god. There was no avoiding it now, though. Koushiro's head, as usual, was in the right place. Taking a deep breath through his nose, the ninja willed himself to speak without wavering. "I was able to get to Taichi, yes. But he did not want to follow me, because his parents were still inside the compound. So, I…I left him there. I could not take him with me because he was not willing."

He could already feel the wave of disappointment. Daisuke's shining eyes flickered as his smile faded, now looking askance. Withered by the change in mood, Ken looked away. He couldn't meet their eyes. "I know what my mission was. It was to rescue Taichi-san. I tried to get him to follow me, I swear. But after I left…I'm unsure of the status of Bishamondou."

Koushiro grimaced, his sword hand shaking. He knew that the Shinsengumi compound was near Bishamondou, which was covered with trees. Plenty of hiding spots, surely, but chances were high that the Shinsengumi were more knowledgeable about those spots than Mimi would be. And if some of her regular clients were of that circle, she would be recognized nearly immediately. It was hard to disguise beauty, especially to men who only seek pleasure in such things. "She couldn't know, then," Koushiro said in finality. "We have to hope to catch up to her and divert her away so that she can make her escape safely."

Ken and Daisuke didn't wait for Koushiro's permission. They immediately began setting of bird call after bird call, so loud, clear, and crisp that it would have woken anyone in the building below them, but it was a state of emergency. The three of them would make themselves scarce as soon as the message was sent. Once they alerted the other ninja, Daisuke and Ken looked to the samurai. "We're much faster than you by a long shot, Koushiro. We'll go ahead and make sure she's okay. You're relatively fast, but you know where Bishamondou is. Can you meet us there? You can escort her once we've diverted her. Would that be acceptable?" Ken asked solemnly.

The samurai wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. No, nothing is acceptable. You left Taichi on his own, no one is sure if he's safe, and now Mimi is in danger, too! His thoughts raced around his brain like wildfire smothering a dry plain. But he forced logic to override his thoughts and simply nodded.

The ninjas leapt up and away, leaving Koushiro to fumble with his conflicting emotions. Once the two boys were up in trees, Daisuke put his hand on Ken's shoulder for a moment. "I know that you're feeling bad about this, Ken," he murmured. "But you're doing something about it, so it'll be okay."

Ken wanted to sneer, to brush it off. Ignoring the problem would be so much easier. But he knew he couldn't hide from this boy. "Hah…yeah. I suppose. I'm…not bothered at all. I just need to do the right thing," he said, confidence wavering. "But I could have one the right thing with Taichi-san, too. What could I have done, though? Would bringing him along with me, kicking and screaming, regardless of how he felt — would that have made my decision vindicated?"

The red-headed ninja brushed his hand against Ken's cheek. "It was a tough one. I know. I would've saved Taichi and I would've tried to save his parents, too, and let's face it. Even I have to admit that I would've probably been killed, and I would've done it anyway, because I'm not so bright. I don't think you'd be too happy. And I wouldn't be happy at all if something happened to you."

With a sigh and a hint of a smile, Ken brushed his lips against Daisuke's for a delicious moment. They embraced each other, savoring the short time they had together. The future was uncertain; going into such dangerous territory when someone of value was essentially kidnapped was a plan destined for failure. But they were strong of heart, and it was not as if this was an unheard of decision made in the past. Life was fleeting, and that was the truest adage they knew. They would be lucky to get out of this alive, but they were ninja. Their identities were based on risk. The boys parted, grinned at each other, and continued toward Bishamondou. They'd always been rather lucky, anyway. Tonight would not be any different.

The wheat-haired brothers ran through the night. Yamato knew that he was fast, but there was something different about the wind — he had never been quite this fast before. Takeru, clothed in black, led the way. As he followed his younger brother, he felt as if the wind were guiding him toward Taichi, sheltering him from sight. It was an uncanny feeling, and his chest felt like it was lighter than a feather as they sped through the darkness. Every once in a while, Yamato thought he could see an ema dangling from Takeru's belt. It was odd to see something so familiar on someone he hadn't known for years, but he decided to pay no mind to it.

Before long, they came to a gradual stop outside a copse of greenery. Takeru brought a finger to his lips and motioned for Yamato to follow closely. The musician surveyed his surroundings carefully. It was not unlike the forest he and Taichi had stayed in whilst traveling on the Tokaido. The Bishamondou temple entrance could be seen with relative ease; but if he strained his eyes, he could see another compound, hidden higher up and well-covered by the trees. The forest was dense, and Yamato had to force himself to be brave, trying not to jump at what he thought were shadows of the Shinsengumi disguised by the trees.

They stepped gingerly, though avoiding the dried leaves on the ground was a surmountable task. Takeru was listening intently — for what, Yamato couldn't say — and after about ten minutes he stopped. Yamato swallowed hard, feeling his body go cold. The memory of the severed head along the Tokaido struck him fiercely at that moment. He felt himself sway, immediately steadied by his brother. Remember Taichi-san, Takeru mouthed. And so he did, and did all he could to regain his strength.

Shaking with trepidation, Yamato trudged forward, focusing all his efforts on keeping his footfalls quiet. Takeru looked like he wanted to bound ahead. The musician motioned him forward, but Takeru shook his head. It was too dangerous to wander this area alone. The intense silence of the forest was unnerving, and they hoped that it meant all the Shinsengumi were fast asleep in their quarters.

Yamato stopped in his tracks when he heard that familiar bell. The fear drained from his body in an instant. That clear sound was the bell that Taichi had given him so long ago. How could he distinguish it? He couldn't be sure if he was right, but it sounded so right, so sure. He turned away from Takeru, following the sound of the bell as if in a trance. Takeru, who did not hear the bell, felt puzzled, but made sure to keep close to his brother in case of danger. He trusted the spirits, and had the feeling that they were on Yamato's side, if only for this point in time.

They found Taichi's limp body on the forest floor after following the invisible path Yamato walked. Stifling a groan, Yamato fell to his knees, scrambling with the small bag of supplies he had had prepared earlier in the day with Jyou. He put his cold hands over Taichi's forehead. Once again, it was warm with fever, but his body was losing heat quickly. The samurai had been bloodied up a bit, but at least he had no open wounds. Takeru put a reassuring hand on Yamato's shoulder before inching forward, on the lookout for the Yagami parents.

Blinking tears out of his eyes, Yamato began to work. He took the gourd from his belt and tried to pour some water into Taichi's mouth. Were they too late? What had happened? Please, please, Taichi, don't let this ridiculous fever be the end of you, Yamato begged. Wake up and I'll get you home.

A cough. A sputter. Taichi was coming to. Fumbling with the pouch, Yamato procured the herbs that Jyou said would help with a fever. As instructed, he chewed the bitter greens in his mouth, and leaned over the samurai. He placed his lips over Taichi's, easing his mouth open, and pushed the medicine in. Barely able to sense much, a bewildered Taichi only saw Yamato, feeling the musician's soft lips, his tongue. There was a bitterness in his mouth, but he was happy to pretend that he had just awoken from a very long nap to a very odd but lovely kiss. He swallowed whatever was given to him, but remained still so that Yamato wouldn't leave.

But the blue-eyed young man parted from his samurai, his eyes shining as he looked down at Taichi. "Thank Kwannon," he croaked, stroking the samurai's jawline. "I thought I had lost you."

"Me? Ha…never," replied Taichi, who began coughing again. The medicine was terribly bitter, after all.

Yamato shook his head, remembering to keep quiet. He lowered his voice. "Taichi, we're not safe yet. My brother is looking for your parents. We will take them with us. The Takenouchi household should still be safe, and once we determine your home is not targeted, we'll bring you back there. That's what I've been told. Please, let's get out of this horrible place."

Brother? Parents? Takenouchi household…stop, please, hold on, I don't know what's happening, please slow down, Taichi thought groggily, his head pounding. He felt better knowing that Yamato was here, but he still felt disoriented. What kept happening that caused him to lose consciousness so quickly? Flashes of red kept pounding through his mind, but he couldn't put his finger on it. A Tengu, a bell. It all seemed familiar, but he had trouble putting things together.

"Taichi? Come, please, you'll be all right. Let's get you home," Yamato repeated gently.

When did Yamato become the one to take care of me? Taichi thought. How bizarre. I must be dreaming. But here he is, stroking my hair, my cheeks, telling me things will be okay. This isn't so bad…this is quite a good dream, then…

"Brother, let's go. I've found them, but I can only carry one of them. His father's legs aren't functioning correctly. I'm unsure of why. His mother is very frail — I don't think they fed her anything," Takeru whispered grimly. "Is he able to walk?"

Mother? Father? What happened to you?

Sudden flashbacks took over. Taichi's head reeled back. Images of the Shinsengumi, the constant training, Hida Iori's sacrifice, seeing his parents after they had been taking. It was not a dream. It was not a nightmare. This was reality! He longed to snap some sense into the rest of his body, but as he commanded his body to rise, it did not respond. It was as if the rest of him had fallen asleep and forgot to wake up. He struggled, desperate for control, but all he could do was hold Yamato's steady hand. He looked up at Yamato's ocean-colored eyes, drinking in the worry emanating from the musician.

"I'll be fine," he murmured, his throat dry. "I…c-can't walk yet. But I will. I need to rest for a few moments. But we should start getting them out of here. You're…Yama's brother?"

Takeru's smile reached his eyes. He was just as handsome, but more boyish, and the resemblance was obvious. "Yes. I'm Takeru. Pleased to meet you, Taichi — you're the one person my brother has chosen to follow. I knew that the bond you share with him was strong, but now that you're together, it's radiant. You may not know it, but it feels warmer around the two of you. It's your auras, merging together as one. It happens every time you are together."

Taichi and Yamato blushed simultaneously, but couldn't help smiling in return. Such an intimate statement was hardly heard uttered aloud in this day and age. Taichi tried to sit up, but only made it halfway before falling onto Yamato's lap. "Takeru…if it's all right to ask, would you please take my mother there first? I don't think she can make it, and I can help my father. I'm sure I'm the only one who can. But please be careful."

"Of course. I'm happy to be of service. I'm afraid none of the herbs will help your mother; what she needs I food," Takeru replied, motioning to his brother, who was rummaging through the herb bag. "But you must both be careful as well. We're much too close to the Shinsengumi compound, and I fear that we've spoken too many words. Be as quiet as a mouse, remember the words upon your ema, and you will be safe."

With that, Takeru bowed, gingerly raised Taichi's mother upon his back, and ran silently toward the Takenouchi house. Taichi and Yamato exchanged looks of confusion. How had Takeru known about the ema? Now was not the time to ask questions without answers, so Yamato continued to tend to Taichi and located Taichi's father, administering any herbs that might help him recover as well.

The night would be long, but now that they had each other, the samurai and the musician felt that survival was a possibility that was whole and true.

Notes:

1. In many ukiyo paintings and Japanese literature since the time of Prince Genji, wet sleeves were old symbolism for free-flowing tears, often because they were so besotted with love in either joy or grief or something in between. Mimi never getting her sleeves wet meant that she wasn't a girl who cried, especially over romantic notions.

2. It's very, very important that people know the distinction between a geisha and a prostitute. The lines had been blurred in today's society, due to the events of World War II. By that time, many women had to go work in factories. Prostitutes would then refer to themselves as "geisha girls" to the American military men; all the while, the world of the geisha began to decline without true geisha to carry on the art. During this time period, the geisha role was still under construction, so to speak. Its origins go back as far as the Heian period (starting in 794), when Japan favored a beauty-obsessed elite class. During this time period (the late Edo period and the emergence of the Meiji era), some geisha would also perform sexual acts, while others still would strictly keep their entertainment to their many talented art forms.

3. Each maiko had an onee-san, or elder sister, who was meant to teach her the ways of the geisha as time went on.

4. Mizu-age is the coming-of-age ceremony for the maiko; once the older geishas deem her ready, the topknot is symbolically cut off; it has at times included the auctioning off of a maiko's virginity. During the Edo period, this occurred with courtesans. (Again with the blurry lines.) To this day, it is argued whether or not mizu-age should be considered prostitution. The practice of exchanging virginity for money was outlawed in 1959.

5. Being a maiko meant having a huge debt to pay off from the very start, from training to nice clothes to whatever else was needed. Patrons would help pay for them, and the money that they earned would go toward paying off that debt.

6. Saitou Hajime was one of the youngest captains of the Shinsengumi. He had changed his names numerous times. By late 1867 (in November), he had changed his name to Yamaguchi Jiro. His skills with a sword were feared by those in the Shinsengumi.

7. I may have mentioned this before, but Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a swordsman of old, playing a major role in the Gempei wars in the late Heike era. He was born in 1159 during the Heiji Rebellion; his father and two oldest brothers were killed by the head of the rival Taira clan, and he was spared. He avenged his family's death in the Battle of Dan-no-Ura by destroying the Taira clan. There are many works of literature, in books, plays, etc. that talk about that fateful battle.

8. In Kyoto, geisha are also known as geiko. The Gion district starts around Shirakawa canal, which flows into the Kamo river.

9. A hanamachi is literally a "flower town". It is the name for the geisha districts.

10. One ri is equivalent to approximately 2.4 miles.