ghikiJ: First and foremost, I'd like to apologize for this delay. I was hospitalized for a week and focused on recovery for another so the chapter lied forgotten until I was well enough to write. Secondly, there's a lot of emotions invested in this particular chapter and truth be told this is one of the very first scenes that Athyra and I thought about when we began planning Kaguya. Hopefully everyone will enjoy it despite of its length. I didn't plan for it to be this long but there are loose ends that need tying. Thanks for waiting and your continued support of this story.
Athyra: Happy birthday Rin~ Yes we got that time stamp!XD It's yet another turning point in this story, one of the most emotional ones even, so I shall not speak further and hope readers will enjoy this update!
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Act IV: First Turn
Chapter 23 – Stardust
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The flint struck and sparks flew in the dim atmosphere of the evening, momentarily showering the darkness with a burst of light. Like tiny falling stars, the sparkles made an arch as they fell on the bed of tinder in the middle of the ring, where a fire was born from the tiniest of embers. With a few confident puffs of air, Nishikino Maki successfully ignited their last campfire before Tenkatsu.
"Not bad," said Yazawa Nico, who was helping Koizumi Hanayo with their campsite chores. She dumped their sleeping bags by the fire as the redhead fed it some wood. "I can tell you practiced, Maki-chan." Her praise was paired with a small grin.
The Kaguyan heiress ignored the warmth that enveloped her ears and snorted, unsure whether the ninja's commendation was sincere or not. Nico had a bit of a track-record of feigning praises after all, just so she could tease her afterwards. "It's not that hard once you get the hang of it." Besides, lighting a fire like this was hardly worth any praises. It was merely a survival skill, one that she should have known since the beginning. Now, if she had a way to cure stupidity, then that would be praise-worthy.
"Maki-chan worked really hard to learn all the camp chores and it's really paying off, wouldn't you agree?" Hanayo was always quick to settle whatever tension was brewing, but Maki did appreciate that at least the handmaiden saw value in her efforts. The redhead worked especially hard just to alleviate the brunette's exhaustion in providing her with comforts and consideration during their whole trip.
"Lesson learned," Nico agreed, "But this should be the last time we'd need to travel so low-key. After all, tomorrow we will enter Tenkatsu. The road back to Kaguya should be less troublesome."
"Yeah, we're really almost there, huh?" Maki felt like their journey had been the longest yet the shortest she had ever taken. Each and every step was gruelingly tough and there had been many scares along the way, but at the same time, she had created so many memories and bonded so closely with her companions that it felt like they had been traveling together all their lives. Reaching their destination suddenly seemed so surreal now.
"Yup! We're almost there. Rin will have a lot of things to show you and Nico-chan, but Kaguya will have to come first. Rin's already thought of what approach we should take when we talk to Hoshizora-sama."
"Oh, really? And what is that pray tell?"
The Princess of Antares smiled brightly, though albeit forcefully, at the ninja, "Just trust Rin! You'll see."
Trust Rin. Maki trusted Rin, but after all she had learned about Antares, it had become harder and harder to put faith in the country they had hoped would help them. She was not even sure whether this venture was safe at this point, knowing how Tenkatsu treated people like Hanayo. A part of her conscience wanted to drag her new friends back to Kaguya and think of an alternative plan, to protect them from what awaited them in the city of stars, but it was too late now. They were here.
"First though, Rin has a request to make."
Maki arched her eyebrows. She knew now that the princess was naturally a goof, so whenever Rin became serious and formal like this, she could not help but feel nervous. "What is it?"
"Well~ Everyone's been so tense since this morning, so Rin was hoping that she can ask everyone to relax, ne? Everyone being nervous makes Rin feel nervous too nya, and Rin is just coming home. There shouldn't be any reason to be so antsy."
"Rin-chan…"
"No one is allowed to be nervous!" The princess insisted with a decisive pout. "This is just another night for us, got it? Secondly… well this one… um…"
The redhead glanced at her other two companions as Rin squirmed by the fire. "Just spit it out, Rin." Her nerves were already frayed and she could not take much more the princess' confusing antics.
"Maki-chan… Rin thinks we need to talk."
"Talk?" Maki blinked then looked to Nico from the corner of her eyes. "What about?"
"Um… alone, if you please…" The princess gave the other two an apologetic nod, "Uh… sorry. But since Maki-chan will be questioned the most, Rin thought she would… um… brief her about the court."
"That's awfully formal for a private conversation," Nico remarked though she eventually shoo-ed them away with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "But fine, fine, you two nobles talk about that boring stuff while Hanayo and I hog all the food. Go, shoo. Just don't get in trouble, got it?"
"Hai! Arigatou, Nico-chan!"
Maki would be lying to herself if she said that Rin's uncharacteristic demeanor did not make her wary. The princess would normally just drag her places, like how she did when they were back in Kaguya or Orihime, so for her to ask for permission of all things was as weird as a rain shower during a sunny day. Despite her personal feelings about this whole arrangement, however, Maki stood up and followed the sheepishly smiling Antarean.
A myriad of thoughts followed her as she stepped over some fallen branches and made sure that her legs would not be scratched by shrubs. She waited for Rin to say something, anything, just so that she could gauge what this conversation was truly about, but the latter just kept on walking. Overhead, the reds and oranges of the evening sky leeched out, ebbing away and making room for the indigos and blues of the night sky. Even the chill in the air was settling in, leaving goosebumps on Maki's exposed skin. Her worry grew by the minute, and the minutes ticked by like an eternity.
"Rin," she said, as she pushed away a low-hanging branch with her hand after what seemed like hours of hiking. "Where are we going?"
"Someplace we can talk, Maki-chan. Rin wanted to show something to you before… tomorrow."
Maki glanced over her shoulder and found that the campfire she had lit earlier was barely a glow in the distance. "Aren't we far enough?"
"No. Please, Maki-chan, trust in Rin-rin, okay? There… there is much to tell nya. Gomen ne." Rin smiled, but there was determination in that smile rather than joy. It was not the same happy beams and grins the princess had blessed them before. More and more, Maki's confusion grated at her.
"Rin," the redhead tried more firmly this time. "If this is about that incident at the hot springs we can just… forget about that, okay? There's no need to do this."
That had the princess halting. Tension made her tiny shoulders rise, which in turn, had Maki wondering if she said something wrong. Subconsciously, she moistened her lips at the memory and reached for a lock of hair to twirl as she always did whenever she was nervous or agitated. "If it is about that, we can just talk about it here." Though, really what was there to talk about? Maki herself did her best to push that thought in the back of her mind, where it would do the least harm. Otherwise, Rin's kisses would haunt and rob her of sleep.
"It's not that nya," Rin whispered so softly that the redhead strained to hear. "Though Rin is a bit sad that Maki-chan would rather… forget. Anyway, I just want to give you a few pointers about my dad. Come on, just a little further now."
The two were practically climbing now, each step a struggle to conquer. They were ascending a natural staircase of rocks and roots. They held onto branches to prevent themselves from falling though there was an instance in which Maki almost slipped. Rin was much more sure-footed than she was, however, and definitely lighter on her feet. She made the climb so effortlessly that Maki said, "I hate how fit you are."
"Nya? Rin just likes to climb. Hehe it's sort of a requirement if you live around here. Here, Maki-chan, watch this last step." The Kaguyan stared at the hand being offered to her. In spite of the darkness, she knew that it was slightly dirty due to tree bark, though she was also sure that it was as dependable as those sentinels' branches. She had learned that though Rin was unsure of herself and many other things, she could be as solid as a rock, reliable and hellbent on making sure that she did not put her friends' faiths down. The offered hand reminded Maki of the first time the princess helped her climb her horse. Rin was a small person, but her strength had helped Maki sit on the horse solidly. It was rather amazing really.
"A-arigatou," the redhead mumbled as she stepped that last platform, joining Rin upon a cliff's edge. From there, it was as if she stood at the edge of the world. The mountainside dropped off almost vertically from where they stood, and beyond was a vast inky blackness that stretched from the bottom of the valley up towards the night sky. The mountains were like dark fists, jutting out from the ground in an attempt to reach the stars above. And the stars…
"Wow…" Maki gasped at the cosmic spectacle before her. Stars were sparse in Kaguya, dotting the sky as if the gods had sprayed luminous white paint over a dark blue canvas. There she had been able to discern constellations and other shapes but here, it was as if the sky itself glowed. A thick band of light slashed the dark night in half, forming a river of stars that glimmered as they flowed downstream. Where the light was thickest, Maki could not even tell one star from another for they formed dense clusters of silvery jewels. In Kaguya, it seemed like stars were solitary sojourns of the galaxy while here in Antares, atop its mountains and through its crystal clear skies, they communed in the heavens.
Indeed, above them, was a city of stars.
"Tenkatsu is just beyond there," Rin raised their joined hands to point at a glowing mountain that looked like it was attached to the galaxies above. Lights were everywhere, not unlike the stars that curtained the sky, and they shimmered brilliantly against the dark backdrop made of shadows and silhouettes of elegant architecture. A palace sat on top of the mountain with its grandiose roofs that were lined with red and yellow lanterns. Beneath it was the city itself, which also glimmered with torches and lamps of various colors. Maki could even see the main road that lead from the city walls towards the castle with its green and yellow lights.
"That is your home?" The Kaguyan asked, more to herself than the princess. All of the sudden, Kaguya seemed bland compared to Tenkatsu's flamboyance.
"Rin was born and raised there nya, and tomorrow we'll be at the gates. Now that you know more about Rin's country and how things are, Rin must also tell you more about the lord that rules Tenkatsu." Maki felt the princess squeeze her hand and saw that Rin was looking at the dark cold ground instead of the wonderful sight of the sky and the city. "Maki-chan, you have to promise Rin that you won't do anything drastic while you're in Tenkatsu, no matter what happens, okay nya?"
"What is that supposed to mean…?" Hearing that only made Maki wonder if she would be forced to take drastic measures, but she gave her friend a chance to continue.
The princess sighed and flopped down on the grass as if she had lost all her energy. "Otou-sama… he'll be mad, Rin already knows it. Rin was unable to marry the Kaguyan prince, then she arrives in Tenkatsu without so much as an entourage. He will be really angry because Rin failed to forge an alliance with Kaguya."
"But that's not your fault!" Maki kneeled in front of the princess and gripped her shoulders, already missing the comforting hand in her own. "Taka-sama was gone by the time you got there."
"It won't make a difference," Rin smiled tiredly. It did not reach her eyes. "Otou-sama will be mad regardless, especially when he sees what Rin did with her hair." Chartreuse eyes were glazed over with a thin sheen of tears as the princess ran her hand through her short tresses. "Rin cut it because she thought she was free of Antares. After all, Rin was supposed to marry the prince and live in Kaguya as part of the marriage pact but here we are."
"I don't understand," Maki's grip tightened, "Why would that even matter when there are things that are more important? If Antares really wants to be allies with Kaguya, then this is the chance to extend that desire… even without marriage."
"Maki-chan, that is what Rin wants to warn you about. Otou-sama only cares for the benefits a country can give Antares. When the marriage deal was created, Kaguya was still prosperous, rich with resources and it looked like a promising trading partner. Hikari-nee explained this to Rin before she left, that Otou-sama only allies with countries that have more to give and less to take." Of course, that was what any ambitious merchant or dignitary would want, why not a king? "Now that Kaguya has been wasted away by war, only marriage could satisfy the agreement. Otou-sama called it an investment."
"An investment?" The redhead did her best not to grit her teeth together. Of course, the Antarean ruler would think of it as an investment. Had Rin married Taka, she would have been the future Empress of Kaguya, and her children would one day rule the country, cementing Antarean ties with the Kaguyan throne. Antares would then assist Kaguya against Mikado in order to make sure that a Kaguyan heir with Antarean blood was born and raised to rule. It was a ridiculous deal too, Maki realized. From a political standpoint, marrying off the lord's youngest daughter was the hardest, yet here Antares would not only be able to do that, but also make that unwanted youngest daughter become an empress. The benefits to Antares were immeasurable.
"That's all gone now, as you know."
"Then why are we even doing this, Rin?"
"Because Rin thinks Maki-chan can make a difference nya. Rin decided to make this journey because she can present a case. Kaguya truly needs help and Rin thought that if she declares that in court, at least some nobles would be moved to join the fight even if Otou-sama doesn't give his blessing. The Moritsuno surely would… but as Rin thought about it more and more, she realizes that Maki-chan has a bigger role to play." The princess looked at her as if she was pleading for help. "Rin heard that Maki-chan is an heir to the Kaguyan throne, right?"
"Y-yes, if Kotori-hime does not marry and produce an heir of her own, I'm only two steps away from being Empress, after my mother. The Nishikino Clan is a cousin to the Minami Clan for generations and they intermarry whenever there are younger children from the main houses. But what does this have to do with anything? Kotori hasn't even married yet and she has a lot of suitors. I don't expect to get anywhere near getting the crown as long as Kotori is alive."
Rin frowned thoughtfully, "Rin knows, but we might be able to use that to our advantage nya. The Kaguyan heir, coming to Tenkatsu in a hurry, that would make Otou-sama at least hear us out. Rin warns you though, he will try to find a match for you in Antares if it comes down to marriage negotiations again, but at least Rin doesn't have brothers. So, um… as long as you refuse the suitors for being below your station then we should be fine nya."
Maki's face scrunched up at the thought. She could not even remember the last time she had to deal with her own suitors back in Kaguya. In a way, she thanked the war for distracting all the young lordlings vying for her hand. "I'm not marrying anyone, Rin."
"Rin knows that, but it's a political tool nya?" This side of the princess was surprising, pleasantly so. Maki had always thought that Rin was a simple, carefree spirit who did not care much about politics and how society worked around her, yet now she was proving to be somewhat politically savvy. "We would have more leverage if we can bargain with Kotori's hand, nya, but uuu… we can't decide about anything without her consent. Besides, Rin doubts there's anyone in Antares fit to marry the future Empress. Even Rin's cousins in the branch house would not be acceptable."
"I-is there another way aside from marriage?" Maki was definitely not comfortable at the prospect. "I have other things to offer Antares in terms of resources and technology. I was hoping that we could just buy military support somehow."
"That's a possibility of course nya and it's definitely worth a shot. Otou-sama is shrewd though and would try to bargain a more permanent investment. Maki-chan doesn't have brothers, does she?"
Maki sighed, sat next to her friend, rolled her eyes and twirled a lock of her hair, "If I did, then you would have known by now, wouldn't you?"
"Hehe, just trying to imagine a red-haired man with violet eyes is weird nya!"
"Eh? Why in the world would you even—"
"Well… because if Rin married a brother of Maki-chan's then everything would be much easier. We can just explain how it didn't work with Prince Taka and then switch the engagement to another." The princess mussed own hair in frustration and lied back spread-eagle on the grass. "Why didn't Maki-chan just become a guy nya!"
That prompted the Kaguyan to chop the Antarean's head, "Well I'm sorry for being female, baka! Had I been male, then… they'll probably make me marry Kotori instead." The thought sent a chill down her spine. As much as she loved her cousin for who she was, Maki could never imagine being married to the kind princess. The thought never even crossed her mind, especially since her cousin seemed enamored with someone else anyway.
"Maki-chan, this whole marriage business is exhausting nya~"
"You're the one who brought it up! Now even I'm confused on what to do—"
"What if Maki-chan poses as a prince and then we get married in Tenkatsu and— itai nya!"
Red-faced, the physician smacked the princess' head again and then pinched her cheeks so hard that a tear beaded on the corner of the latter's eyes. "That won't work and you know it!"
"Ifsh vishful tinking!"
Once she had determined that the punishment was enough, Maki let her go and rubbed her temples, "Seriously, you have an outlandish imagination. Even if I somehow pass for a man and we get married, a whole slew of roadblocks will await us, like children that the court will definitely look for at one point…" A minute of rambling passed before she realized that she was seriously considering the idea and momentarily forgot that they were both women and the idea itself was ridiculous, bordering fantastic.
"Hehe~ So Maki-chan wouldn't mind marrying Rin then nya?" The princess' grin was so wide that the redhead thought her face would split in half.
"I-I-I d-didn't say a-anything like that!" Horrified that she had given Rin some sort of ammunition for teasing, Maki crossed her arms and turned away, certain that her face was probably redder than her hair. She shrieked like a banshee, after all, and now the princess was laughing at her. Incensed and mildly humiliated, she tried to salvage her pride, like she always did. "I-if a-all conditions were right t-then I… w-wouldn't mind… I guess. I mean… it'll be like adopting a pet cat, not marrying a wife."
"Eh? Rin is just a pet?" Why was this princess such a good actress? She swore the sniffling was real so she faced the other girl only to find Rin feigning hurt and faking her sobs.
The Antarean's efforts were rewarded by a chop to the head, the third one that night.
"Seriously," Maki grumbled as she ignored the whimpers of pain beside her. "You're such a big headache."
"Gomen," Rin wiped a tear from her eyes as she rubbed her sore head. "But Rin will miss teasing Maki-chan so she's taking advantage tonight."
"What do you mean that you'll miss teasing me? Our countries are neighbors so it's not like we'll never see each other again." Visiting would definitely be rare enough, but it was not impossible. And if the two countries became close trading partners with the Nishikino Clan at helm then Maki would have plenty of excuses to come here in the future. Still, the thought of not seeing her friends dropped a heavy and cold weight down her stomach.
"Right!" Rin wore that fake smile again, the one that did not reach her pretty eyes. Maki wanted to wipe it away, peel it off, knowing that there was a genuine, beautiful one underneath. The princess only looked right with a real smile on her face, like how the night sky must always have stars to look magnificent.
The redhead tore her gaze away once she realized where her thoughts laid and cleared her throat. "Let's just present our report to court. I think honesty would go a long way when it comes to war matters. The trade between Kaguya and Antares has been affected by the war for a long time now, so I'm sure the noble merchants and common folk would want a remedy. Furthermore, there are Antareans in Kaguya too and as long as Kaguya remains at war, both countries can't guarantee the citizens' safety."
"Maki-chan sugoi nya! Rin is very glad you came with us."
"O-of course! I learned some politics during my studies despite concentrating on medicine and the healing arts." While she was sure she sounded confident, Maki felt everything but confident. She could feel a lock of hair around her finger and the twitching of her eyebrows after all. Her anxiety paled in comparison to the surprise that washed over her when she felt Rin's arms suddenly enveloping her in a hug. The princess was purring like a cat, cooing at how happy she was that Maki was her friend. She even rubbed her cheek against the redhead's, not unlike that one time in Kaguya. The affection made her as stiff as a rod and uncertain of how to react. She never got used to hugs, whether if it was from her mother, Kotori, or Nozomi. She simply felt awkward with physical contact, and it was no different now.
Yet this might be the last time she would get to enjoy Rin's surprise hugs, at least for a long time. Maki thought of the last hug she shared with her dad and immediately grew teary. No, this would not be the last time, she swore but she still could not make her arms move, she could not make herself hug back somehow. What was this hesitation? It was not as if they will part the moment she returned the embrace. The redhead languished at her inability to be honest with her feelings and simply do what she wanted to do that she missed the opportunity. Rin had pulled back, her lips quivering, even though she still smiled.
"But you know, Maki-chan, Rin pulled you away from the camp for a different reason, nya…"
Maki's heart dropped at the sorrow that unexpectedly dampened the princess' voice. "Y-yes… I thought it was weird that you need to talk to me alone when the others know what we'll be talking about."
Rin chuckled sheepishly yet sadly as she hugged her knees to her chest, "That's because I have a very important request, one that they mustn't hear… involving Kayochin."
The sudden lack of cat-like expressions and the way Rin referred to herself in first person made Maki's heart slam against her chest like a drum in apprehension. The orange-haired girl only ever spoke like that when she was completely serious, and Rin was serious about very few things. Talking like this made her older somehow and Maki was not sure about how she liked this serious princess, for since they met, she had grown fond of the goofy cat. That was Rin to her, this was not.
"W-what about Hanayo?" Maki bit her lower lip when the princess reached for something inside her own kimono's sleeve. The night was only bright enough to reflect minimal light over the small rectangular seal in Rin's hand. It was made of wood, and the symbols and characters on it were inlaid in simple bronze. Maki's violet eyes widened at the numbers engraved in it, having seen the same exact numbers just last night.
"I don't want to make Kayochin live in Tenkatsu anymore," Rin started as she enclosed the seal in Maki's larger hands. Her fingers were trembling and cold. "She was very happy during our time in Kaguya and she made a lot of friends there. She doesn't need to live in a place where she's not treated like a person. Kayochin… She's very important to me so I want the best for her. She's my best friend, Maki-chan, my twin sister… maybe my soulmate. We've been together for so long that I don't remember an instant in which she's not there with me, but she…" Rin trailed off to swallow a sob that filled her throat with uncertainty. "Kayochin will be very happy with you, Maki-chan. You like Kayochin too, right?"
Maki was speechless as she studied the seal in her hands. What was happening? Why was Rin giving this to her? "W-wait…" She choked out, "I cherish Hanayo as a good friend, one of the very few I really have, but… Rin, I can't."
The princess was truly crying now, as if she had parted with her very soul. The agony in her face was plain, and it radiated throughout her whole body in small quakes. Rin fought her own sobs, lest she would break. Did she not know that seeing her like this shattered Maki as well? "Y-y-you have to, Maki-chan… for Kayochin's sake. P-please. R-Rin will be fine. Kayochin d-deserves to be happy after s-suffering all her life. She'll be happy in Kaguya… with you."
"I can't…" Her hands shook violently as she tried to return the seal. "Don't make me do this, Rin." Even Maki's voice shuddered excruciatingly. "H-Hanayo loves you. Don't you remember how she behaved when she thought you'd send her away? Rin, I can't… don't… She'll be devastated, you know that."
Rin stubbornly wiped away the tears streaming down her face. Taking in a deep yet shaky breath, she said, "Ano ne, Maki-chan…" The princess' voice was so quiet that Maki almost did not hear her through her own heartbeats. "Did you know that the month we spent in Kaguya was the first month in a very long time in which Kayochin didn't have a bruise? I-in t-that single m-month, Kayochin wasn't in pain. I-in t-that m-month Kayochin was happy every day. S-she became friends with Kotori-hime and you and everyone by being able to be herself. I-if she stays with me… that will all disappear and Kayochin will be hurting again. There's only so many times I can keep a rod from striking her, Maki-chan. I-I t-try but I know there are people in the palace that still hit her because of some dumb reason. T-Tenkatsu isn't a place for her happiness. It's in Kaguya, I know… and you're the only one who can take her back there. K-Kayochin deserves it."
As she listened, Maki felt her own heart cracking. This was a person who deeply cherished another and was therefore willing to sacrifice the companionship she enjoyed just so that her precious friend would be happy. This was a slave owner who shed tears for her servant's injuries, who shielded her from those painful blows the best she could. This was Rin baring her bleeding heart out to Maki, showing her hidden wounds and frailties. She was stripped of her mask and her smiles, and was left only with the fear that Hanayo would once again be subjected to the cruelties of Antares.
"For the longest time, I've only shown this to Rin-chan," Hanayo bowed her head in shame, and Maki could understand why despite the fury bristling in her chest. She knew what slaves were and what was done to them. Just thinking about those horrors happening to such a gentle and kind person like the handmaiden infuriated the redhead so much that she wanted to break something, but she reined in the anger for Hanayo's sake. "I-I'm glad I'm able to share this with you, Maki-chan. I-I hope you don't treat me any differently."
"Of course not!" The Kaguyan did not realize she had raised her voice until she saw the brunette shying away from her and making herself look as small as possible. "I-I'm sorry, Hanayo, this… this is a lot to take in. But rest assured that I d-don't see you any differently, okay? Y-you're my friend, right? That's just a tattoo to me, nothing more. You're still Hanayo."
"Arigatou, Maki-chan," The handmaiden's bow was deep and revering, as if she was truly moved by Maki's words. She stayed like that for such a long time that Maki had to pull her back up, and when she did, she saw tears flowing down Hanayo's cheeks.
When the redhead fussed about it, the brunette only shook her head and said, "It's okay, Maki-chan. I'm just really really happy. To have a friend who you don't need to keep secrets from, I think that's the most precious thing in the world. Before we met you, it was only us, Rin-chan and me. I-I know we're troublesome but I'm sure I speak on behalf of Rin-chan too by saying that you've become a very important person to us, Maki-chan. You've become part of our world."
That moment and the expression of sheer relief on Hanayo's face tied knots in Maki's stomach now. She too was in agony. The pain was borne from grief and anger, and she could not decide which one to act upon. She wanted to scold Rin for being insensitive about Hanayo's feelings, but she also wanted to embrace the crying princess, who was equally hurt by this decision. Rin must have thought about this for a long time and, if so, suddenly her recent downcast demeanor made sense. She was preparing to part with her best friend, and though Maki was not familiar with the feeling, she could relate to it whenever she thought of her father, who she loved very much. She had been a child when he died, but the wound that his passing had left still bled from time to time.
Right now, Rin must feel like she was tearing out her beating heart from her chest.
"But what about you?" The question just came out from her mouth before she knew it. Maki wanted to shout out in frustration but that would do little good since the orange-haired young woman seemed set on her decision. However, if Hanayo was not happy in Antares, it was highly unlikely that Rin could be happy there too. "What about you, Rin? Have you ever thought about yourself?"
Rin choked in her tears and her sobs drowned her ability to speak, but the redhead held firm. She waited until her words came. The Antarean hoarsely croaked out, "I… I'll be fine. N-no one hurts me a-and…"
"No!" This time Maki grabbed the princess's shoulders and forced the latter to look at her. "That's a lie and you know it. Rin… I-I… I can't hurt you. I-if I take Hanayo with me, assuming that she does come, I won't be able to live with myself knowing that you're alone. Sure, no one hurts you, but you're hurting now, aren't you?"
"N-no…"
"Aren't you?!" The Panther of Kaguya snarled and shook her friend until was wide-eyed in shock and biting her lower lips in denial. "Don't lie to me," Maki hissed, "You can tease me, make fun of the things I do, you can even drag me anywhere, but never, ever, lie to me." She pulled Rin flush against her and hugged her tightly, though she was not sure whether it was because of her desire to comfort the princess or if it was because she did not want Rin to see her cry too. The smaller girl clung onto her clothes and pressed her face against the crook of her neck as her shoulders quaked while she bawled out her grief. When did Rin become so small and vulnerable? Since when was she in such pain? It hurt Maki to think about it.
"I-I'm sorry, Maki-chan." The princess' cries were muffled by the redhead's clothing. "I-I am hurting… s-so much. Thinking that you and Kayochin won't be around hurts. Thinking that I might not see you again hurts even more."
"It doesn't have to be that way…" The Kaguyan whispered gently to calm Rin down. She even stroked the latter's soft orange hair to soothe her. Maki held her precious friend even though she felt so helpless at alleviating her distress. All she could do was be there and murmur calming nothings while she waited for the worst of it to cease. As the sobs subsided an agonizing eternity later, the princess' arms around her tightened as if the latter did not want to let go. Maki realized that she did not want to either and simply sat there, tucking Rin's head under her chin.
"You will come back with me to Kaguya," Maki decided, inaudibly damning anything that would prevent her from fulfilling her words. "Knowing that you're so distraught about returning home… no, just no. You're coming back with me, do you understand? Nico-chan will think the same way if she knew. She'll get us back to Kaguya before you know it."
"Maki-chan, y-you know we can't do that," Rin sniffled and let out a shuddering sigh. "K-Kaguya needs help. We can't be selfish. Rin… doesn't want Maki-chan to lose her home."
Maki clenched her jaw and tried her best not to gnash her teeth together. Rin was right. They were in Antares for a purpose and Rin and Hanayo marched all the way here knowing what awaited them because they cared so much about Kaguya. They knew what was in store for them in Tenkatsu, they have always known, Maki recognized, and yet they still insisted because of her. They were doing this because of her, weren't they? The fact slammed at her conscience like a hammer.
"B-baka! My home won't fall that easily," Maki retorted after she made Rin face her, her grip taut around the princess' shoulders. "We're in a dire situation but Kaguya has survived this long. With Eli, Umi and Honoka's leadership, Mikado won't be settling in my province anytime soon. I won't allow you to sacrifice your happiness for me, or for anyone, Rin. I-I feel like I'm leading you into your cell… d-don't make me feel this way. I hate it! I'm not even certain why you're doing this anymore, knowing what is going to happen."
"Why?" Rin murmured as she wrapped her fingers around the Kaguyan's wrists. Her grip was so weak and gentle, when she should be just as frustrated as Maki was. "I just thought it was the right thing to do. I want to prove myself to Umi-sensei, to support Eli-chan, and I want to be a hero like Honoka-chan. Nico-chan inspired me too, and told me that I should continue my own story so I will. But, during this journey, I think I found the real reason why I don't feel as scared, or as worried about my return to Tenkatsu. Kaguya can be Kayochin's new home, where she can live happily and with respect, so Rin must preserve that place somehow, and more importantly—"
"Did I not just tell you that you shouldn't disregard Hanayo's feelings about that matter—"
"…Rin loves Maki-chan." The princess peered up at her with clear chartreuse eyes, determined and unrelenting. True… in spite of the fact that her hands were still shaking, her fingertips cold. "S-so Rin must do everything she can to make sure Maki-chan will have a home to return to and a hospital to run after her adventures. Maki-chan, you help so many, a-and you do a lot of good. T-this is the least that Rin can do for you and the people Rin has come to care for in Kaguya."
This dumb fool. Maki almost said it, but what Rin had told her snatched away any words that were forming in her mouth. You dumb, noble, and selfless fool. She opened her mouth to respond, to tell her that she was an idiot for thinking that she had to do all these things, but Maki's voice was gone, spirited away by Rin's revelation. From left to right, the Kaguya shook her head as a tear trickled down her cheek.
"Rin…" She shakily said once she could force her throat to form words. Taking the princess' hands into her own, Maki gently raised the disheartened princess' head with them. Tenderly, she pushed away the damp orange locks that matted on the shorter girl's face. "Look at me."
Rin's eyes were red and her eyelids were swollen from crying, yet they remained bright. Maki recalled those same pair of eyes meeting hers when she looked out the window of the apothecary and how luminous and innocent they were, how kind and generous. She remembered how much those eyes made her dull days more interesting, and how the person who owned them gave her an opportunity to fulfill a dream of freedom.
"Nya?" The meow made Maki chuckle deeply and fondly, surprisingly glad to hear it again. She wiped away the wetness from Rin's cheeks with her thumbs, for tears did not belong on the princess' face, only grins and laughter.
She kissed the Antarean's forehead. "I never asked you to do this for me. No one did. If the others learn that by promising to help, you're sacrificing yourself, they would refuse it instantly." Her lips graced Rin's eyelids afterwards, hoping that the loving gesture would finally stop the tears. Nozomi had done this to her once upon a time, when she was just a child. "You can be a hero in other ways. I think you already are, just by making an effort to help. Honoka would be mad at you if she knew the fine print. Kotori would be saddened. Eli and Umi would certainly disapprove, Nozomi too. Nico-chan would be livid, if she's not already mad like a shrew about it."
Their foreheads rested against each other as they pondered their friends' thoughts and how they were doing now. Rin's breaths still shuddered, Maki could feel it against her lips, but at least she was finally calming down. The orange-haired girl looked into her eyes with all the sadness and disappointment in the world, yet in spite of this, all Maki saw was the wonder beneath those negative emotions.
"K-Kayochin won't be happy about it either, would she?" The princess murmured so quietly that the redhead barely heard it despite their proximity.
"No, she won't."
"And… what about you?"
"Heartbroken."
"G-gomen nasai, nya." Rin sighed and closed her eyes. "Rin just… wants to be useful to someone."
Orange tresses mingled with crimson locks as the two young noblewomen remained as they were, their breaths mingling with each other's and the chilly night breeze. The need to be of use to someone, to do good, and to provide for people you care about were things that every human being strived for. Maki certainly did. She struggled to find her niche, her place in the world, and in many ways, she was still searching for a place where she belonged. The desire to leave Kaguya and spread her wings was partly caused by the hope that perhaps she would find a place where she would feel complete, where she would be appreciated and feel appreciation in return.
Suffering this lack of self-worth was evidently very different than watching someone else, someone she cherished, to struggle with it. The heiress found that the latter was more painful.
"I care for you, Rin." Maki was astonished by how calmly she had said those words. "I… I don't need you to be useful to me or anything. I just want you to be who you are. T-that's the person I grew close with, the person who became my friend, the one who confused and frustrated me, yet somehow knew how to calm me down. That's the person w-who brightened my day and exasperated me at the same time." The person who kissed me and shocked me out of my fears, the one who robbed me of sleep and sanity, yet provided me a weird sense of security. Rin was so many things to her, was she not? She and Hanayo had become such poignant parts of her life in this short span of time that Maki could scarcely recognize her former self now.
"Maki-chan…"
"And because I do… I…" Maki bit her lower lip so hard that she thought it might bleed. There were so many words, so many feelings, that she wanted to say and tell Rin, yet her throat clogged, blocked by all the sentences. Her mind told her that she had said too much, that the princess did not need her trivial opinions and emotions, yet her heart just wanted to lay everything bare, to be cleared and freed from its doubts.
Words had failed her, and when she realized that, Maki just closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Rin's. This was okay, right? Thoughts and emotions were so chaotic inside her that this was the only way that she could express just how invaluable this selfless idiot was to her. She tasted salt in their tears, and Rin's lips were clammy from crying, but she never felt any more connected with another person like she did now. She was reminded of their previous kisses, of how clumsy, unexpected and confusing they were, and decided that those encounters had been different. The urge to repel the invasion of personal space seemed to have reversed now, for all Maki wished to do was hold Rin and protect her from all who sought to make her any less than she was.
A small whimper escaped the princess' throat as they came even closer, entangled in each other. Her tears seemed to flow even more freely as their mouths slowly moved, tentative and unsure. Maki soon felt the warmth of Rin's arms around her neck and the tender caress of fingers through her hair, and those quieted the trouble in her chest somehow. Instead of nervousness because of the close proximity, only a mysterious calm washed over her. Her heart was pounding hard, yes, but only because of happiness, of knowing that, in some way, Rin took comfort from her and depended on her.
Maki held the princess as close as she dared and cradled her on her lap. Rin was wide-eyed when they parted, searching, ever searching with her cat-like eyes, "M-Maki-chan… y-you just k-k-k-k—"
"W-w-what d-does it m-m-matter?" The Panther hissed in reflex as she bristled in embarrassment. "Y-you kissed me first, remember?"
"Rin did, didn't she?" The orange-haired girl's face was warm to the touch. Was she blushing? She definitely tried to avoid eye contact as much as she could while fiddling with her kimono's sleeve flaps like a shy maid. Maki would have given anything to see Rin's pink face, and cursed the darkness that hid it from her eyes. I've never seen her blush before… not from awkwardness anyway. "R-Rin d-doesn't even remember w-why, nya…"
The Kaguyan narrowed her violet eyes, "You mean to tell me that you took my first kiss without any thoughts?"
"B-but, it's not l-like…" The princess played with her sleeves more intensely now, like a fidgeting child being scolded by an adult. "L-like Rin said, Rin just wanted to kiss Maki-chan. But now that Maki-chan has kissed Rin… um… hehe~ Rin feels so giddy nya. There are butterflies in Rin's tummy and she feels all warm inside." Her giggles made Maki smile, even though she was doing her very best not to be overwhelmed by her own feelings. She shared Rin's thoughts of how high she felt, how light-headed, and unbelievably free. The butterflies in her own stomach were practically pelting her with wings, so much so that she actually feared that her insides would tie up in knots.
"So Maki-chan doesn't hate Rin-rin?"
"O-of course not! I-I never did… you just confused me, that's all." Even so, Maki could not make eye contact with the princess, not when her face was so hot that she thought it might melt. "L-like I said, I've never kissed anyone before so…" When she was younger, she daydreamed that her first kiss would be with a handsome prince, tall and charming, deep-voiced and intelligent. Back then, she wondered if the first man she kissed would be her future husband, the future lord of her province and her heart. Too many stories had that in their plots that she was brainwashed. Obviously, that was too perfect to happen. Her first kiss was with a princess; an annoying and exasperating princess who acted and sounded like a cat, who ran on rooftops, dressed like a boy and would prefer to eat only ramen. Her reality definitely ended up way different, though thinking back on it, Maki doubted that her imaginary prince could make her feel this way.
Rin tackled her onto the grass before her mind could turn towards more embarrassing facets of her fantasies. "Maki-chan, daisuki nya!"
"Omph! Rin!" Too late. The cat was purring and rubbing herself against her. Maki sighed and stroked the princess' firefly mane. "Seriously… you're impossible."
Rin pushed herself up onto her elbows and grinned down at her, "But Maki-chan makes Rin so happy!"
Maki's ears burned at the declaration. She was tempted to shove the princess off of her but the expression on the latter's visage was what she had been looking for all night. Joy was finally painted on Rin's face that was plain enough to see, for her smile was bright, brighter than even the stars above them. Her eyes crinkled in gladness as well and they looked at Maki like she was a treasure, someone of utmost importance. "Y-you don't have to say it like that, baka…" muttered the redhead, still unable to stare directly into the princess in fear of being blinded. "You make me feel weird though."
"Eh? Why weird? Rin hasn't done anything weird nya!"
"N-no… but you still do." Maki sighed and wished she could tell the cat-like girl how awkward she always felt whenever they were near each other, and how a mere touch would sometimes send a pleasant bolt of electricity up her spine. She could not say that, definitely not, for she would end up sounding freakish and she did not want that. Still, all the experiences she had had with Rin were memorable, new, and exciting. Maki might not have met the man of her dreams, but Rin had, somehow, made some of her dreams come true. After all, when she longed for a friend, the princess came falling down from the roof. When she craved for adventure, Rin reached out with a hand and let her tag along. And when she wondered how being close to someone truly was, the orange-haired girl locked her lips against hers. Those experiences would never inspire fantasies or novels, but they were her own.
"You made my life weird." The expression on Rin's face was priceless; a mixture of shock and trepidation that was quickly replaced by bewilderment when Maki gently cupped her cheek. With the clusters of stars above Rin's head, it was like touching a celestial being, a star-child.
Her hyper and idiotic star-child, who meowed.
"You called me Tenshi once," Maki combed Rin's fringe with her fingers to straighten it out since some stood up on ends. "And I've told you many times to stop. Me, I'm only human; selfish, arrogant, and awkward. Full of faults. You, on the other hand, are everything I'm not. So, really, you're the angel between the two of us." She chuckled as she poked the princess' cheek with a finger, "Tenshi-hime."
Rin flushed and hid her face against the Kaguyan's neck. "Maki-chan, hazukashii nya!"
"Eh? That was supposed to be a compliment! Now you know how I felt when you kept calling me Tenshi-sensei in front of everybody."
"But Rin couldn't possibly be a tenshi."
"To me, you are. So shut up about it." Maki scowled, irritated that Rin made her say such awkward things. "And I'm not tactless like you are, I won't call you that when others are around."
Outgoing as she was, the princess lacked a great deal of self-esteem. "Why are you being suddenly so shy about it, anyway?"
The Antarean lifted her head and scratched her pink cheek with a finger, "R-Rin doesn't know nya… hehe. But… a-ano, Maki-chan…"
"What is it?" The redhead said as she shifted on the grass to a more comfortable position. She was feeling somewhat cramp with Rin draped on top of her, but she could admit that she liked the warmth. She scarcely felt the cold night with the princess so close and it was nice.
"C-Can Rin kiss you again?"
"Okotowarishimasu."
"Eh? No fair!"
"Okotowarishimasu."
"Maki-chan! Mou, you can't kiss Rin and not let Rin kiss you back nya!"
"Betsuni… I can do whatever I want." It was such a sweet feeling, getting back at this adorable feline. Maki enjoyed it so much that a smile betrayed her intentions.
A mischievous grin formed on Rin's face upon her discovery. Emboldened, the princess leaned down and touched her nose to the redhead's, "You told Rin that Rin always does what she wants, when she wants it."
"Hmm… yes, I did." With her eyebrows raised, Maki wondered where the smaller girl was going with this. "What about it?"
Rin kissed her, as warm and passionate as she did just minutes prior. The redhead allowed herself to be lost in it, to let the heat envelop her and simply shun the outside world, even for just this moment. In spite of this, she remained hyperaware of the galaxies peeking through the dark curtain of the night, how the stars shined and made the orange strands of Rin's hair glow like tamed fire. No one else knew of their feelings at this moment, aside from the two of them and the cosmic clouds beyond this earth, and Maki found that thrilling, filling her with giddiness and excitement. Her pulse raced as she opened herself to Rin, truly tasting her for the first time, and concluded that this girl was worth all the scare and the confusion.
Up above, the starry sky showered them with light, falling stars and stardust.
The four of them arrived at Tenkatsu's gates early the next morning. The sun had just risen and it shrouded the city's great doors with its white glow. Though impressive, the gates intimidated Maki for she now only saw them as the portals to a dungeon. Still, the thick doors that protected the city of stars was gilded with bronze and inlaid with silver constellations to show the astrological knowledge of the people within. The child in her wanted to just stare at them and learn from their decorations, but Maki was quickly brought back to reality by the rows of arrows and spearheads that glittered atop Tenkatsu's walls.
"Who goes there?" The captain of the city guards hollered from his tower. "The gates are about to open but state your names and your purpose in Tenkatsu."
Maki gave Rin a squeeze. She rode with her today, silently supporting the latter with small encouragements. Hanayo's seal lied heavy in her pocket though, never allowing her to forget its presence. The princess adamantly made her keep it for the handmaiden's sake, and since she did not know what to expect in Tenkatsu, Maki had reluctantly agreed.
"Lay down your weapons!" Rin yelled up at the captain, her voice sounding more like a little girl than a noble of great rank. "It's me!"
Cautiously, the soldiers on the ramparts looked at one another, unable to recognize the voice and see the face of the person who commanded them. Rin had worn the headwrap today as well, to mask her identity until they were at the gates. And now that they were, the princess carefully removed it from her head. Layer after layer, the cloth fell and revealed the firefly hair beneath. Maki heard a gasp from up above from a man who recognized his liege.
The captain remained steadfast to his job though. "Who?" He asked just as the orange-haired girl completely pulled away the cloth from her head.
"I am Hoshizora Rin! The Fifth Princess of Antares! Open the gates for me and my friends! I have returned from Kaguya!"
The captain's mouth was agape, and a moment later, horns blared thunderously into the morning sky. "Open the gates!" Men shouted behind the wall. Soon, the gates groaned and Maki heard gears turning and the clinking of chains. Once, twice, three times the horns roared, and upon the dying note of the third one did the gates only truly open.
"The return of royal family members," said Hanayo timidly when asked about the fanfare that the Kaguyans found foreign. "They blow the horns three times when the princess' return home or when the lord comes and goes."
"This country definitely doesn't lack flamboyance," Nico observed.
And she was right.
When the gates have completely opened, Maki saw hundreds of commoners by the gates and out on the streets. Some were still in their nightclothes, though most were vendors and customers of the marketplace. They all bowed solemnly as Rin rode past. However, soon, children were hollering "Hime-chan!" or "Rin-hime-chan, welcome back!" and when they did even the adults found it in themselves to smile. Their princess grinned and waved at them. She even paused to receive a hot, flaky pie, from a baker who was only too glad to have his youngest princess back.
Maki let out the breath she was holding. At least they should not have any problems with the peasants and common folk.
"It's up there that we need to worry about," Nico told her as she rode next to Rin's horse, and Maki readily agreed.
She looked up at the towering castle of Tenkatsu and steeled herself. Up there would be where they would have to speak to Rin's father. Up there was where the fate of both her friends and her country would be decided.