Entry 10: Against the Tide

Where beauty is, then there is ugliness;
where right is, also there is wrong.
Knowledge and ignorance are interdependent;
delusion and enlightenment condition each other.
Since olden times it has been so.
How could it be otherwise now?
Wanting to get rid of one and grab the other
is merely realizing a scene of stupidity.
Even if you speak of the wonder of it all,
how do you deal with each thing changing?(1)

The desires of the Four against that of Li Touten and his company; the non-desires of the Four against that of Li Touten and his company – who has the right to define what is life or otherwise?

The compliance of the Four against the entire Realm; the non-compliance of the Four against the entire Realm – who is able proclaim what is proper or otherwise?

One day Li Touten was the lord of all; the next everything we must despise.

One day the Four we were told to repugn, the next they are no more the enemies.

Those clamouring voices – how potent they are over our senses but how undecided they seem!

I have written much on what the Four dared abandon for the integrity of their own will. Yet, I claimed that it was never their intention to play the lone voice in the desert. Hence, the greater marvel is that which propels them to set their faces as flint against the powers of the entire Realm. Surely it is one thing to resist the intruding tide, another to walk against it!

What gave them that nerve? Many would call it foolhardiness rather. Could they not have simply chosen a less perilous route of turning a blind eye; to be apathetic – neither favouring the inward passion cry nor the cacophony of the maddening crowd?

To insist on dealing with each thing changing seemed a tall order. Is it not possible to seek out a space without beauty or ugliness, knowledge or ignorance, delusion or enlightenment; to neither rid one nor grab the other?

We have often heard – the futility of all things and of all ends render the desire itself futile. To see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil would surely prompt nothing of the same.

Alas then, as Konzen Douji himself realised, that was also a fool's paradise…

Hikari had been extremely buoyant the day she returned to the First Squadron as active member despite the direct plunge into a whirlwind of military action. She thought herself more mature and reliable; having seen the errors of her self-centred impetuousness, her character refined due to the disciplinary period. She was moved by the outpouring of congratulations, good-natured ribbings and heartfelt claps on her shoulders and back. She deemed these her hard-won accomplishments; relishing the sense of fulfillment that came with earning the place among her comrades by her own efforts.

Surely, as Hikari assimilated herself more deeply into the role of 'Hikaru' – obliged to function in pace with others of common rank, whose reliability and effectiveness was dependent on an ability to keep to the rule – she began to realise how she had been taking for granted her previous entitlements as Nana-hime of Seishin no Goten.

In another words, the disguised princess found herself regularly re-evaluating many perspectives she used to have; becoming more contemplative of what she observed around her.

For the first few assignments she had after her comeback, Hikari was a boundless source of enthusiasm, even when drained as much as everyone else by the time the army made their way back to the Realm Above after a job done in the Realm Below.

Besides, the morale running through the First Squadron was high not only due to the reinstatement of 'Hikaru' but also because Tenpou Gensui was clearly reciprocating the men's worry over his lone ranger commandership and corresponding disregard for his own safety. If Hikari was learning to be more sensitive of her teammates' welfare, Tenpou Gensui was learning to trust the strength of his soldiers. Thus, there was a greater tightness to the teamwork of the First Squadron.

As Tenpou showed the same willingness to engage the other squadrons, there was a collective appeal towards his new style of tactical leadership and a heightened sense of unity. This increase in buoyancy was crucial, considering the very real physical and mental strain on the soldiers.

It was inadvertent that Hikari would come to compare the leadership she was currently experiencing to the only style she had known of from her own court. Tenpou Gensui and Kenren Taishou, she observed, had no qualms about being pally with their underlings – normally regarded as their social inferior.

This was especially true of the general. It was not long before she realised that the attentiveness he had shown to her person – whether in terms of strictness and levity – and the ease in which he interact with her squadron-mates was part of his wider tendency to approach the hierarchal order in a rather loose manner.

In fact, it dawned on Hikari – to both her amusement and sympathy – that her immediate reporting officer was actually averse to hobnobbing with his uppers.

There had been a few official events which Tentei's government had organised, that required the attendance of military personnel. Kenren's reluctance to participate was noticeable, especially so when he was certainly no shrinking violet among his men (and less so among the female company).

Hikari could sympathise with the general, because she herself had her share of polite mingling back in Seishin no Goten, where her mood and interest level at each relevant point of time did not necessarily tally with what was expected of her behaviour. Therefore, Kenren's poorly concealed face-making at any friendly reminders to interact among the politicians and 'play nice' became a source of subversive entertainment for her.

The marshal, on the other hand, seemed more mindful of his place within the social structure. He might be high ranking within the operational half of the celestial military. Still, in the liaison with the administrative authorities – ministers whom, by virtue of their job scope, had higher visibility in Tentei's court – he had to pay attention to keep relations cordial.

Certainly, Hikari was boggled when she first saw how able the marshal was in navigating through the political milieu. His manners were impeccable and he said the right things that pleased. If he off-put anyone by chance, his reputation as an oddball was the perfect excuse. In short, Tenpou Gensui had designed, for the public eye, a very convincing (or deceiving) image of affability and respectability. That was a back-handed compliment, considering her insight of the man as a slob – albeit an incredibly intelligent one – who would not even bother with his ablution under normal circumstances. Yet on hindsight, she thought she should not have been so surprised, considering what she knew of his immense intellect, capabilities during missions and his use of congeniality as a facade. But this discovery of another facet to Tenpou's personality underscored how deep the waters he really was.

These two commanding officers were not the only influence over Hikari's changing perception of the imperial government belonging to the Realm Above. Compared with the more egalitarian and even boisterous approach of her military friends, what was once categorised as politeness submitted to her by the Seishin courtiers and attendants, no matter how cordial she remembered them to be, now felt inhibited and distant. As was the norm in peer relationships, she was privy to her squadron-mates' unflattering opinions and grapevine stories concerning various courtiers and decisions made within Tentei's administration. It had seemed that undeserving salutations was rampant among his officials.

This knowledge of the manner in which her current company dealt with the bureaucratic associates made Hikari uneasy, for it gave her a very different take on the dynamics among the courtiers from what she had been used to. As Nana-hime of Seishin no Goten, she had never thought to challenge the deference to her person, taking for granted that she was given respect simply because it was the natural order.

Kenren's snubbing of Tentei's officials, Tenpou's underlying duplicity and the alternative opinions of her military friends were making her second-guess the regard of her self among the members of her own court. However, what truly made her aghast was the realisation that her two commanding officers and the others were likely justified in their wariness against the other authorities. For now that she was occupying a status from the bottom side of the social spectrum, there were plenty of opportunities to experience any condescension lacing the treatment of the ordinary soldier, or even just the man on the streets. Her understanding of what it meant to be 'one of the folk' had evolved from the rose-tinted introduction to the simple life to a more all-encompassing education in its disadvantage as the subservient class.

Hikari had felt doused awaked with cold water the day she realised that certain deplorable incidences – starting with her altercation involving the ex-First Squadron general Enrai and counting the way to the minister-what-not who was of the opinion it behooved the Western Army to solve as soon as possible its own short-handed problem (when he was also talking about the corporate celestial imperative to rid the realms of cosmic defilement) – were not isolated events of arrogance but indicators of a breakdown in the moral system at large.

The ruling class and its related judicial buttress – she could no longer deny – was nowhere as benign as the Buddhist tenets of their realm had required. Suddenly, Hikari felt self-conscious of her own attitude as one of the aristocrats, as well as that of her family.

This barrage of disturbing observations and doubts made her realise how much leeway she had been given, by both her family and members of her court, in being sensitive to the interpersonal undercurrents of negotiations. Simultaneously, her appreciation for her family's management of Seishin no Goten grew, aware of how her noble parents and older brothers had always been more conscientious of their responsibilities than she was. (And she fully trusted that they were of a much more reliable character than the incompetent sycophants many of Tentei's officials were turning out to be.)

And coming back to the most urgent issue plaguing the celestial army: that of their inevitable breaking point. The boost in their spirit could only last so long before the debilitating pressures of the heavy and hazardous workload set in. Less than two months after Hikari's return to the First Squadron, the military had their first death among the men.

It was already optimistic statistic, considering.

Due to the need to spread out manpower, Tenpou had been forced to steadily reduce the numbers sent to deal with each heretical creature. This was how desperate the scenario though the Eastern Army had already been called in to assist, in between their chief responsibilities in the Realm Above.

Such a move was a gambit. Strategies, no matter how superior and weaponry, no matter how hi-tech, were not sufficient against the brute strength and animalistic craftiness of the monsters, especially when there was the non-killing law in place.

However, the marshal drew the line at allocating less than one-third a full squadron per case (with the First Squadron as the exception, given its already small size). This meant some of the monsters had free reign to wreak havoc among the habitants of the Realm Below before the celestial military could spare the men to deal with them.

More than once, Hikari had to witness a scene of carnage; some destroyed village or a wrecked town which an insane abomination had tore through stone and flesh in mindless rage. Of course it reminded her of her first simulation exercise and she quickly decided that reality was much sicker and much more senseless.

She also remembered her first excursion to the Realm Below – which seemed a lifetime ago, but was in fact only six months – when it had been self-indulgence rather than any empathy for the potential disaster caused by a heretical beast that had prompted her to draw her sword.

And she felt herself so very ignorant.

Summarily, Hikari was as eager as any other soldier in the Western Army to seek solutions to their predicament. Unsurprisingly, no one had dared to sign up with the military although a mass recruitment drive had been announced. And with many entering the battlefields despite existing weariness and injuries which required optimal recovery time that simply could not be spared, it was a losing race to prevent more casualties.

Thus, Hikari pursued one of the most common inquiries – none of which anyone seemed to have any answer for – surrounding the dilemma: that of why this ridiculous number of abominations had emerged in so short a time.

"Has Seishin no Goten observed any unusual phenomena occurring among the stars?" Hikari asked as she wearily nursed a hot cup of tea. She was at her monthly meeting in the Seishin delegate palace. It was already nightfall and she had arrived not too long ago. She should have been there since the morning had not the army been activated again. "A faulty astral pathways, perhaps? Something must be going wrong somewhere to account for the sudden appearance of so many heretical creatures!"

The fifth and sixth Seishin princes, Noboru and Yoshi, both shook their heads.

"Even if you haven't asked, Seishin no Goten has been busy lately scanning through our data to check for any irregularities among the astral bodies. So far, we have come up with nothing." Yoshi told her with a frown. The youngest prince was the most scholarly among the six, his mild and patient disposition well suited to his chosen expertise. He looked similar to the second prince, Mamoru, though not as tall; lean, long slender facial features but with a more assured gaze. His straight hair was cut at chin length.

"How could that be?" Hikari nearly sloshed her drink on the embroidered silk table cloth as she roughly set down her cup in frustration. It made no sense: heretical creatures were caused by a freak coincidence of unnatural and natural factors, many of which were direct or indirect results of energy fluctuations in the constantly shifting astronomical system. "How could the stars not show anything at all?"

"Maybe it has nothing to do with the stars, then. Perhaps the other cosmic departments have information to offer." Yoshi quickly replied, obviously having been thinking of the probabilities as well.

"Chichi-ou-sama(2) will be arriving in the capital in two days' time." Noboru spoke up abruptly. The most handsome of the Seishin princes was still the current delegate, though his tenure would end in a few weeks time once the standard six month period was over. It would be Shou, the fourth prince's turn next.

Hikari sucked in a sharp breath. Yoshi remained unaffected so she knew the information was no secret.

"Tentei has called for a convention which includes all heads of the various cosmic departments." The fifth prince continued. "Of course, Chichi-ou-sama must be present. The subject at hand is the current chaotic situation of the Realm Below."

Silently, Hikari digested the news.

The pause was broken by Noboru's next question, which tentative quality was at odds with usual decisiveness, "Hikari-ou-mai(3), are you sure you wish to continue your stay in the Western Army? With things the way they are… we are concerned that…"

A flash of defiance lit up Hikari's tired mien. "I'm staying put. Don't try to persuade me otherwise, Noboru-ou-nii(4), Yoshi-ou-nii(5). I know the current stress on the army was unforeseen. To pull out due to such a reason is simply cowardly." Her tone brooked no argument.

Expectedly, it was Noboru who leapt into the debate instantly, driven by his impetuousness. "Hikari-ou-mai, I know of your reasons why you are willing to stay in the army. But the circumstances have now changed. You have to bear in mind that you are not a mere soldier. In fact, you are not even a real soldier! You are actually Nana-hime of Seishin no Goten!"

"I've been exiled, if you recall," came Hikari's sardonic rejoinder.

"And you are expected to return; 'Hikaru' ultimately does not exist!" Noboru raised his voice at this point. "Are you not getting too engrossed with your false identity and have forgotten the prestige of your actual self?"

The Seishin princess found her fifth brother's final rhetoric so absurd she was at loss for words. Yoshi grabbed hold of her hand to distract her, knowing if he did not interfere, his two more hot-tempered siblings would likely get into a fight.

"Hikari-ou-mai… you must understand." the sixth prince did not try to hold back the plea in his voice. "You are our noble sister, we want you safe."

Angry and disappointed, Hikari glared at the two men. "What about my friends in the Western Army? Do you expect me to abandon them now in their time of need?"

Noboru's fists on the tabletop were clenched as he bit out, "We appreciate the work of the celestial army, of course, but you… you're not one of them!"

Hikari felt quite accomplished. Half a year ago, her response by now would be to storm out of the room in protest.

She took a deep, steadying breath, firmly withdrawing her hand from Yoshi's grasp. "Well, you have to take the matter up with chichi-ou-sama then, considering it was his idea to kick me there in the first place." Despite her enforced composure, there was no mistaking the icy quality of her tone. She rose to her feet, ignoring the stunned expressions before her. "I better retire; I need to refresh my disguise and tomorrow's likely to be another tough day."

So the Seishin princess left the room in a flurry, without allowing her older siblings a chance to add on to the conversation.

The two princes stared at the empty doorway in dismay, not even bothering to run after their sister and try to persuade her mind. "She has changed." Yoshi's apprehensive assessment articulated their troubled thoughts. Noboru only tightened his lips in worry.

No one thought much of her moodiness, since exhaustion had become the norm for many in the army. So she was taken back when Kenren caught her before she could enter the canteen on the third morning. He asked after her, saying she was not acting herself since her return from the Seishin embassy.

Of course, Hikari could not tell him of the dispute she had with her brothers. Instead, over their breakfast, she shared with him the news – or the lack of it – from Seishin no Goten in regards to the source of the disturbances in the Realm Below, knowing full well she was leading the general to assume that was the reason for her vexation.

"I see…" Kenren rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, perhaps someone might throw up somethin' on de' matter during de' convention today."

Hikari nodded her head in silent assent. Apparently, news regarding the meeting had broken out within the time she had spent at the delegate residence. There was a tangible excitement in the air; the citizens realising that the situation with the Realm Below had gotten so bad organising such an event was necessary. "Are you expected to attend? And Tenpou Gensui?"

"Nah. It's less 'bout military matters than it is to pool information together an' thrash out what's messin' up below," the general shrugged over his mug of coffee. "Goujun's there though. Tenpou's stuck here; seein' that we'll be called out anytime. Only thing we can do right now is to hold de' fort till the big brains figured out what went wrong… if they can first find their own."

The Seishin attaché rolled her eyes at her reporting officer's mockery, used to it by now.

But he guessed right: barely half an hour later, the alarms were wailing. The soldiers fought three creatures that day without help from the Eastern Army, since the latter was needed for the security of the convention at the imperial palace. Someone broke an arm and two men were nearly mauled by one of the monsters with razor nails at least fifteen inches long. It was slightly before twilight by the time the army could return and the buzz raging through the Realm Above was that they now had a Toushin Taishi, named Nataku, among their ranks.

One week later, Hikari had still not gotten over how surreal it felt.

She was rested, hale and hearty with not a single (new) bruise on her body or aching bone – pretty much the general state of health of the Western Army. It was to be expected, considering that all they had been doing for the past days had to been stand around at some vantage location while a boy, who looked as if he was still in his pre-pubescent years and did not even come up to Hikari's chin, stared down and fell their targets on their behalf.

Yes. After having to hold down rabid monsters capable of ripping out one's innards with just a flick of a single claw, dodge flying hunks of dirt and rocks and at times pick through the bloody and smoking wreckage of some fallen lower realm community practically on a daily basis for months, the sudden inactivity was somewhat… befuddling.

That brought her where she was, drifting through the perimeters of the barracks with a preoccupied look on her face.

It was the breeze that brought awareness of the presence of another in the vicinity; specifically, the arid scent of burnt hay that threaded through the cherry blossom night air.

Hikari stopped in her tracks immediately, scanning the cherry woods around her. The smell was associated with two men she knew. She cranked her head up higher and peered through the mass of dark craggy limbs and pale petals. True enough, snug in the fork of two thick boughs of the tree just five steps to her left, with an elbow propped against the wood and his head resting on a fist, was the bored-looking First Squadron general.

The latter lazily lifted his free hand and wriggle his fingers in greeting at her. Under the light of a gibbous moon, Hikari could see the little glow of orange-red which was his burning cigarette, protruding from between his lips.

"You could have just called out to me," the Seishin soldier raised her voice a little, her tone wry. The place was tranquil. There was no need to shout even if the other man was rather high up.

Kenren plucked his cigarette out of his mouth and snuffed it out against the inky bark beneath him. "Ya' looked deep in thoughts. Wouldn't wanna disturb ya'," his baritone voice floated down easily.

Hikari noted that her superior was still in his uniform. She had changed out of hers hours ago, the Western Army having been dismissed from all duties since the mid-afternoon. There had been nothing else for the soldiers to do after all. The day's disposal of abominations had been taken care of by the newly installed Toushin Taishi.

She wondered what Kenren was up to, stuck up there alone in an isolated part of the military compound. That she did not see the marshal around was a mark of interest to her, given the obvious camaraderie developing between her two commanding officers within the last two months.

Suddenly, the disguised princess squinted. "Are you drinking up there?" she thought she saw a familiar round khaki-earthen bottle tucked by the side of his waist.

The attractive general lifted up the inferred item as the answer. Against the pale surface of the container, Hikari could make out a written character for wine. "Want some?" he asked, smirking at the Seishin soldier on the ground.

Hikari shook her head, not quite exasperated but not exactly all amused either – her frequent reaction to her immediate superior. The general had the respect of his squadron for being an effective leader with amazing martial skills – they once saw him kick a ten-storey giant lizard in the head and the creature was actually knocked aside – who watched out well for his men, except he clearly did not care to behave as, well, dignified.

The option of carrying on her path crossed her mind and Hikari cast a look in the direction she had been taking. Though her feet were simply wandering, she knew she was likely to end up at Tenpou's personal dojo, which had become her place of solitude.

However, a weighing glance at the friendly general persuaded her that she was not opposed to Kenren's company. Besides, he was already done with his smoking and did not look to be lighting up another stinky-stick. So, smiling, the Seishin attaché approached the massive tree on which the other man was making himself at home. The bark was rough and the ancient trunk had deep grooves and knobs that proved helpful to someone needing to climb their way up.

"I thought ya' with de' others downtown?" Kenren said as Hikari settled herself on a near branch and was busy slapping her palms together to get rid of the dirt. "You're back early." He was referring to an ad hoc dinner arrangement among the First Squadron members.

"Not in the mood, I guess." In fact, she had not been the only person who excused themselves early from the gathering, which had turned out to be an unusually sombre affair. It was clear that Hikari was not the only one feeling perturbed by the abrupt cessation of life and death combats. She turned to look at the other man. "What are you doing here alone, drinking?" she asked, casually curious. "It seemed to be rather, hmm, maudlin."

Kenren eyed her with a look which said he was perplexed by her choice of words. "It's a nice night, de' flowers bloomin', de' wine's great; dis' is appreciatin' life, kid. Got'ta learn to smell the roses."

Hikari stared at her superior in awe. "Never imagine you to be the poetic type… Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

She nearly giggled when the general grouched about getting a smart-mouth instead when all he lacked was the company of a woman. Having gotten used to these unintentional statements of situational irony, the Seishin soldier decided not to rise to the bait. "Where's Tenpou Gensui?" she diverted the conversation.

"Said he needed to catch up with his readin' now dat' we've got plenty of spare time." Kenren answered before lifting his bottle to his lips.

Hikari made a sound to acknowledge that she had heard him. "Is he feeling better… from the death of Hajime-san?" she asked next.

It had only been around a fortnight since the death of the Third Squadron member. Senji, her Third Squadron friend, told her that Tenpou had not even been at the battle site during the moment the man was killed. The marshal had managed to rush there only after wrapping up another subjugation case a few miles away. There had been no time to mourn for any fallen soldier, not till this week. Senji had informed her only yesterday that the funeral rites would be held in three days time.

Yet, everyone could notice that Tenpou's pleasantries were forced and his patience far less generous from that point on. Some of her squadron-mates, who had been around since his beginning as the second highest ranking commanding officer said he was acting the same way when this other soldier died some time back. However, Kenren had continued to hang around the green-eyed man nonchalantly and this encouraged some of the First Squadron men to approach the marshal and offer words of support.

'I have yet to accept the ephemeral essence of life' – Tenpou's self-confession had often ghosted over her thoughts recently. Honestly, Hikari had almost forgotten about it in the two months since that sincere dialogue with the marshal at his personal dojo, so swept up was she with the Western Army's recent crisis. It was not until she saw how affected the marshal was by the death then were his words recalled and better understood.

Tenpou Gensui was a person of deep waters indeed…

"Not as gloomy," Kenren conceded and then, quirking his lips at his subordinate, continued, "He knows we won't let him be alone an' think weird thoughts by himself."

Pleased, Hikari returned the general's smile. "I supposed we should be glad for the appearance of Toushin Taishi Nataku."

One thing the disguised princess has learnt not to underestimate of the general, despite his cavalier mannerism, was his astuteness to the undercurrents. He could startle her with his sharp observations, like now, when he raised his brows at her and commented, "Ya' don't sound convinced."

Hikari meet the bold gaze of the tall, lean man uneasily. She wanted to confide in him of something that had happened just two days prior, when the First Squadron had made up part of the glorified entourage attached to the blue-haired Toushin Taishi. Since the general had been present, he would know of the incident.

When the soldiers had emerged from the teleportation chamber built in the depths of Tentei's palace, Li Touten had been waiting outside in the corridor for their return. Nataku Taishi had hastened his feet upon sight of the man. Hikari had been near enough to see the face of the War Prince… it was transparent and hopeful, that of a son seeking for his father's approval.

It was Li Touten's response that made her uncomfortable. The tanned, Afro-braided man had smiled at the golden-eyed boy but his expression resembled no gentle paternal pride. Instead, the dark hunger and vicious triumph in his gaze could not be mistaken for anything other than avarice. The disguised princess had adverted her eyes so she would not be caught staring, feeling unexplainably chilled. She wondered if anyone else had similar thoughts that something seemed… unnerving… about the undersecretary.

She had heard the rumours; impossible not to since the golden-eyed Toushin, as well as his father, had been the hot topic on everyone's lips. Apparently, Li Touten was the one who assured the Tentei that his son was capable of carrying out his new duties alone, which accounted for the imperial order given for the soldiers to watch and not interfere unless necessary. This one week was the Toushin's probation period, so to speak, and the War Prince was passing with blazing colours, so much so that the government was conveniently ignoring the very legal issue of Li Touten's breach in the rule that prohibited coupling with non-celestial beings – logically the very reason how Nataku existed in the first place.

The Seishin attaché freely confessed that she knew next to little about Li Touten, other than him being one of the faceless personnel within the Western Army sizable administration. She had caught a few glimpses of the man around the barracks, mainly during the period when she had been suspended and was sent to help out in the administrative office. His position of the undersecretary, while decent, was of no high rank; a mere assistant to one of the lesser department heads. Frankly, Hikari paid him no mind and his name had not even registered to her till these past few days. Within her vague impression, the grizzly-bearded man had seemed self-effacing even if he possessed a perpetual look of disgruntlement; not saying much and scurrying to do what he had been ordered to by the often irate clerks at the main office.

How curious that a man's station can flip so drastically overnight!

Yet, Li Touten and his son's meteoritic rise to fame and accolades was no crime. It was quite the logical progress, in fact. So, because she could not really pinpoint what exactly was discomfiting, Hikari ended up talking about the most visible controversy. "Well… it is kind of disconcerting." she began hesitantly, "to see a figure of a young boy standing over the bloody carcass of a creature at least a hundred times his size."

That sentiment was very true. The thoroughly petrifying shock she had from the witnessing the process of an actual slaughter – from the powerful manifestation of Nataku Taishi's sabre, the cleaving of the monstrous beast and the unbelievably massive splat of blood that made a miniature river – had nearly send her collapsing on suddenly wobbly knees. It was a perverse sight: a deceptively fragile-looking boy wrapped in white billowing sleeves; staring vacantly at a split colossal shell of red oozing innards; one hand gripping a blade as if it was light as a feather though it looked as tall as he. The sick coppery stench that had started to permeate the air did not help matters. It was then the implication of appointing a Toushin Taishi slammed into Hikari.

The organisational manual she had read when she first entered the Western Army had certainly not been informative in regards to this 'provisionary position'.

However, it was that guilelessness on the Toushin's face as he looked up at Li Touten which Hikari could not forget. "Taishou… he broke the non-killing rule – he is defiled by definition of the very foundation of our Realm yet we keep him around and send him to deal with creatures which we also define as impure." the Seishin princess barely paused to breathe as her gush of conflicting feelings piled up into a near-ramble, "And in a literal stroke he settled the problems of the Western Army that have been wearing us out for months. Yet we call him a heretic; the very same which is our problem in the first place – 'a handy slaying tool' – I hear others talking about it … I… I… I don't even know if I'm making sense." Her fingers dug into rough wood. "Is Nataku Taishi a monster that looks like a boy or a boy that's just…"

The wide eyes of the Seishin soldier – Kenren could feel it even if it was too shadowed to see clearly – were confused and searching as he stared at the latter and softly admitted, "I think I feel sorry for him…"

A terse silence followed the admission when the attractive reporting officer did not immediately respond. Kenren tipped his bottle against his lips, taking his time for a good mouthful and to formulate his reply. The kid was really, really too green for the rotten business of the army and the court, he thought to himself. Suddenly, the piquant taste of his beverage was muted.

"Don't lose ya' sleep over it, kid," the general sounded gruffly offhanded when he finally spoke. "The asses sitting up there in their comfy cushions hav' always been a buncha' mules. No point screwin' up your brains over their decisions."

Hikari wondered if she should balk at the advice, even if she was not questioning her superior's well-meaning intention. It did not seem useful in assuaging her doubts and was more like drivel derived from the vein of Kenren's usual skepticism over the Above Realm's higher leadership. But an intriguing thought occurred to her. "Is that why you're here drinking alone?" she asked unthinkingly.

"Don't make me out'ta be mawkish like you. I'm a bigger man than dat'." Kenren dryly rebutted her. He was distinctively amused though. "I mean it: idiots are not worth breakin' a sweat over."

Still, Hikari beheld the general dubiously. However her love for mischief had just spotted an opportunity to poke fun at her companion and it edged her ill humour away. "So suave?" she teased in a mock serious tone. She waved a hand at the wine bottle in the other man's hand. "How about bring that along tomorrow? Take sips as you enjoy some live action!"

Kenren shot his saucy subordinate an unreadable look, "Sure. Why not."

"Should we arrange for snacks?" Hikari needled with an attitude of one waiting to see how much prodding a hedgehog would take before the spikes shoot up.

"Go ahead."

"And you'll stop calling me a kid."

"Only after ya' able to take five strikes from me without landing on ya' butt." Kenren calmly replied without missing a beat.

The general might not be able to catch the subsequent sulky mutterings of his subordinate but its sentiment ran across the short space between them loud and clear. Kenren snickered to himself as he tossed back another shot of wine. Hikaru needed another five hundred years before he could ever one-up him – which would be never.

He could, however, perceive that the Seishin soldier was a lot less a 'kid' than he was before.

That was good.

Footnotes:

1) A poem by Ryokan, a Japanese Zen monk-poet (1758 to 1831).

2) Chichi-ou-sama = Lord (noble) father

3) Hikari-ou-mai = Hikari (noble) younger sister

4) Noboru-ou-nii = Noboru (noble) older brother

5) Yoshi-ou-nii = Yoshi (noble) older brother

Thoughts from Lady Rurouni:

The usual invitation for feedback, thoughts, queries – which I know is ignored. Hehheh…

Nevermind.

I would like to share my thoughts concerning this chapter as I discovered how… important it is within plot progression and character development.

I was quite, quite excited about Entry 9. If you recall, it was the chapter where my OC Hikari reconciled with Tenpou. Due to my bias towards Tenpou/ Hakkai, I have enjoyed producing that chapter very much and was telling ArticFire, how difficult it would be to progress from that point.

One of the advices she gave me was to allow the OC Hikari to observe her environment more, through which she gets more drawn in to the political climate – which I agree.

So this chapter, or Entry 10, clearly shows the growing maturity of the OC Hikari and the acceleration of political awareness within the plot. This in turn will translate to greater integration into the lives of Tenpou, Kenren, Konzen and Goku in the future.

I believed I am quite pleased with the progress of my fanfic so far.

One thing I wish readers will critique on is my characterisation of the canon characters. I wish to know if I am spot on with what they say or do…

(And by the way, this is an edited version of what has been posted up, after my beta-reader ArticFire got back from her student exchange trip.)