Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Warriors series, Koei does.
Finally... after a long absence, Eternal Reverie is continued XDD
for the "second season" of ER, I am planning to change some of the story format, like these new "markers":
0-0-0-0 : a change of scene
– – – : to indicates passing time within a scene
0-0-0 : battle start/end
-0-0- : flashback
What's with the change ? I figure it would be more unique than the previous version XDD smacked
Also, I have no plan to make a chapter as long as this one, so from the next chap it will be shorter since a friend of mine states that it is easier to read than the longer one.
As for this chap~, it is a "festival episode" centering on Sakura and it's symbolism. I might have overused it a bit, but what can I say ? I am a bit obsessed with Sakura and Moon and can't help but to put it in as many chapter as possible. (note: the latter also appeared in this chap). That, and moonlight is a hint to yet another OC that you will see at the veery~ end of the story.
This chap isn't one of my best, and you might get confused over the poor plot. There is some important event that is important to the story, but you could just skip this if you want and return to read it when you have to. Any plot hole you see, point it out on your review or PM me. I appreciate critiques and comment, so don't hold back ^^
0-0-0-0
Through the orange and yellow of the autumn, past the cold, white comfort of winter, a single cherry blossom bloomed among many others at the climax of spring. Soon after, that blossoms scatterers into petals, that rained down upon the ground in a cherry blossom storm. Within days, pink and white petals covered the ground around the cherry tree, and within weeks after they bloomed, the Sakura will wilted and returns to earth...
The Sakura had a special place in the hearts of the people, and they celebrates the blooming in a flower viewing festival, the Hanami. They would eat and drinks with friends and family under the raining petals, and those on higher social scale often adds some entertainment with musics and dances.
Seen close, the cherry blossoms were faintly pink at the base, but from the busy streets of Kyoto, they looked like a fine white mist that veiled over the foot of a mountain. With so many people gathering to admire the blossoms, merchants and innkeepers took this opportunity to profits. Local and traveling artists also showcased their skills in the streets, adding lively melody to the festivities. Among them is none other than Suijin Nure, whose skills dazzle her spectators with every melody flowing from her Shamisen.
The San Kouken often does odd jobs or quests from times to times, though it is more to kill time and train themselves than for money. While they usually worked together (not exactly, Nure would choose an assignment and both Geki and Yaka follows her mostly because of their overprotective tendencies...) each of the guardians had their own preference. Geki would gleefully accept any jobs that is synonymous with the words "fight", "battle", or both. Yaka prefers "calmer" assignment, like transport, retrieval, or protection of an item or person. Nure on the other hand, would often visits nearby town or villages as a musician, bringing stringed instruments with her every time she does so.
When Ying Dao goes to serve the Oda, Yakumo and the San Kouken follows them in their campaign. They rarely joins the fray, but when they does victory is ensure. But at this time of years, the Oda visits the capital to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and Nure decides to use this time to play on the streets of Kyoto. Many people gathers around her to enjoy her music, which is about the ephemeral beauty of the Sakura. Nearby musicians joins in to provides more colors to the melody, and their respective skills melded perfectly. It was a flawless and beautiful play that rivals the performance of court musician, until...
CRASH!
"Noisy flies! Stop those racket now!"
A drunk ronin, currently having a rather bad hangover, emerges from an inn. His appearance and selfish demands ruined the mood sets by the musicians, and he soon got the irks of everyone nearby. However, the drunk ronin had a sword, which made him dangerous to handle. Someone already gone to informed the guards, but it would take a while before they arrived.
The drunkard stumbles around, mumbling and ranting to himself as Nure and the others musicians decided to move somewhere else. Before long, the drunkard saw Nure, and immediately went towards her.
"What's a pretty thing like you doing with these trash ?" the ronin asked, half mumbling, "Why don't you come with me instead ?"
The drunkard's grabbed Nure's arm, but the rain weaver never like being handled so rudely. Nure twisted her arm, releasing the drunkard's grip on her, before pushing him (though it is more akin to throwing him) away. Much to the others' amusement, the ronin tripped on a stool and fell to the ground face first. As passersby laughed on his predicament, the ronin had obviously lost his composure, not that he had any in the first place.
The ronin withdrew his sword, a rather old and ragged one, and stood while sending death glare at Nure. He then charges at Nure with a shout, his sword raised above his head. The rain weaver merely flexed her wrist, her strings ready to strikes at any moment. At that point, someone ran pass Nure and stopped in front of her to deliver a powerful roundhouse kick strong enough to send the oncoming ronin flying. The ronin were out cold due to the impact before he even touched the ground.
"How rude, interrupting the music because of your own stupidity," Nure's "savior"(1), Yamamoto Yuuki, said as he straighten himself up. "You should consider yourself lucky that Ren wasn't here at the moment," Yuuki said with a smile.
0-0-0-0
There is nothing outside the battlefield...
At least, that is what the storm tiger, Raijin Geki believed.
While Nure have skills in music and Yaka possessing a plethora of skills beside killing people, Geki have nothing. The lightning guardian often felt that his only purpose is to be a weapon of war, and so far no one had any success in convincing him otherwise. That is the reason why he was a bit... dismayed over the lack of action at this time of the year. He had tried to accompany Nure, but while he enjoyed Nure's play, other people's performance were just plain annoying to him, mostly due to his sensitive hearing. As for Yaka... the sky will fall before he would do anything but killing each other with that green-eyed shinobi.
In the end, Geki decided to kill some time by doing what every tiger would do when they weren't hunting: go to sleep. Which is easier said than done since the sound of celebration, mainly laughter, musics, and any other commotions, echoes throughout the capital. Even when he picked a secluded spot amongst the cherry trees, those sounds were like a whisper to his sensitive ears. An annoying whispers...
Geki shuts his eyes once more as he lie down under the shade of a cherry tree, his kasa placed over his face to shields his eyes from the sun's glare. Sakura petals were beautiful, even to Geki, but he prefers to enjoy it in either a state of tranquility or with the melody of Nure's koto. Eventually, Geki decided to move to some other spot where he could find some peace, but as soon as he stood up he spot a certain someone on the corner of his eyes.
Gracia, daughter of Mitsuhide Akechi, smiled upon seeing the elusive storm tiger. Ever since her father retells his experience at Nagatsu, Gracia had been trying to remove any trace of animosity among those involved since they were allies now. Ina, Ranmaru and Mitsuhide agrees to do so, however while Nure were more than happy to forgive and forget, Geki refused to do so. Gracia tried to change his mind, but the storm tiger always disappears before she could finish a sentence.
And this time is no exception...
"Geki, wait-" Gracia shouted, but said guardian already turned and leaped into the treetops, disappearing amidst the cherry blossoms. As petals rained down upon her, Gracia looked around for any sign of him, but it seemed that Geki had left the area. Having failed for the umpteenth time, Gracia lets out a long sigh.
"There you are, Gracia-dono."
Gracia turned to see her friend, Ranmaru Mori, coming towards her. As he approaches, Gracia couldn't help but to smile when she saw that he is wearing her gift, a flower hairpin which she gave to him after the battle of Nagashino. The reason Gracia had given the hairpin to Ranmaru is both to cheer him up for Yin Long's sudden defection and as a safety charm as well. Ranmaru could be "a bit" reckless in battle, especially when Nobunaga is in danger. The youth would gladly sacrifice his life if it means saving his lord. This behavior worries both Mitsuhide and Gracia, and some of Nobunaga's retainers even advised the youth against overexerting himself. So far, the safety charm had work, since Ranmaru weren't as reckless as before. Nobunaga's reaction is vague, but then, no one really knows what is the demon lord's thinking anyway...
"What is it ?" Ranmaru asked, curious about Gracia's smile.
"I see that you wore the hairpin I gave you," Gracia said, giggling when Ranmaru blushed.
"C-considering the occasion, I figure that it would be a good time to use your gift, Gracia-dono," Ranmaru replied. The other reason: all of the other retainers would be too drunk to even notice the hairpin. Therefore reducing the chance of him being teased about his "femininity"...
"I see, but Ran, you can just call me 'Gracia', there is no need for the formality," Gracia said.
Ranmaru nodded. "I will, Gracia."
Gracia smiled. "So, what is it ?"
"Mitsuhide-dono were worried so he asked me to accompany you," Ranmaru replied, "He even asked Nobunaga-sama if I can have a day off."
Gracia sighed. "Father... you are such a worrywart..." she said, "What kind of harm will befall me in here anyway ?"
Ranmaru chuckled at Gracia's response. Mitsuhide's concerns for Gracia, which is borderline over-protective, were well-known in the ranks of the Oda. In fact, his worrywart nature rivaled those of San Kouken's Geki and Yaka. The fact that both Nure and Gracia is somewhat "free-spirited" only serves to draw parallels between the men.
"Mitsuhide-dono does that because he care for you, Gracia," Ranmaru said, "And even if he didn't asked me to, I won't let any harm befall you."
Gracia smiled and nodded at Ranmaru's reply. At that point, she noticed that there were something on Ranmaru's face...
"Ran, hold still okay ?"
Ranmaru blinked, and were surprised when Gracia's handkerchief wipe some powder off his cheek. Gracia tilted her head at the powder, and was about to asked when Ranmaru answered it for her.
"Ah that, Nohime-dono tried to dress me up in a furisode, with make-up and all. She said that it would looked good on me," Ranmaru said(2). Lady No however is just one of few people involved in that attempt. She, along with Nene and Ina, "ambushed" Ranmaru when the latter is looking for Gracia. At first, Ranmaru is oblivious at their attention, but he soon realized their plan when he saw the kimono. They managed to put some make-up on him, but Ranmaru managed to escape before he were forced to wear the furisode, wiping off most of the make-up as he ran. "I don't understand why they did that though, those things doesn't fit me at all," Ranmaru stated, his head tilted as he crossed his arms.
Gracia sweatdropped. 'Actually, they kinda do... you're too beautiful for your own good, Ran...'
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past them, carrying most of the petals on the ground with them. Caught off guard by the wind, Gracia failed to held on to her handkerchief, and it is soon flew away with the wind.
"Ah, wait!" Gracia exclaimed as she ran after it with Ranmaru following behind. The handkerchief flew far too fast for them to catch on, but Gracia kept on going anyway. Eventually, they cleared out of the forest and saw a near vertical downward slope ahead of them. Although it is neither steep nor high enough to be fatal if one were to fall over it, there were some rocky surface on the bottom of the slope. Some of the trees below might break a fall, or a neck, but either way, a happy landing is not an option.
After they inched away from the slope, both Gracia and Ranmaru looked around for any sign of the former's handkerchief. Not a moment pass before they found the item they've been looking for. Good news: It is still in good condition. Bad news: It is stuck on a branch that hangs right above the slope...
"Now what should we do ? My father gave me that as a gift..." Gracia lamented.
Ranmaru looked at his friend, and soon pondered about his next move. Since he is so dedicated to his duty in the past, friendship is somewhat of a foreign concept for Ranmaru, mainly because he never had a friend close to his own age before. Before, he would just told Gracia to forget about the handkerchief since it is too risky to be retrieved. Now however, Ranmaru simply incapable of turning a blind eye to his friend.
"Wait here," Ranmaru said as he approaches the tree.
Uh Ran, what are you doing ?" Gracia said.
"I will try to return your handkerchief," Ranmaru replied, "It shouldn't take too long."
"But it's dangerous! If you fall, you could be harmed, if not worse!" Gracia exclaimed. 'Oh, I just had to say that it was a gift, am I ?' Gracia thought.
"Compared to what I face on the battlefield, this is nothing. Just relax and wait for my return."
Gracia sighed. "Just, be careful okay ? I don't want you to die over a piece of cloth..."
Ranmaru smiled, and he proceed to climb the tree, full of confidence...
...when he reached the aforementioned branch, however...
'I said that the things I encountered at the battlefield is worst... but,' Ranmaru looked down, and the branches creaked as he does so. While it is thick and wide enough to accommodate his slim figure, Ranmaru still felt that is is creaking every time he moved. The rocks directly below him only makes things worse. 'Now that I am here, it is actually quite creepy...'
Ranmaru gulped, and he slowly crawled along the branch. When he got near the handkerchief, Ranmaru tried to reached out to it. His fingers brushed against the cloth, but he failed to grab it. Leaning forwards, the page ignores the increasingly louder creaks of the branch he's on as the cloth is within his reach. Ranmaru reached out, and this time he managed to grabbed the handkerchief. "Got it!" he exclaimed.
And that's when the branch decided to snaps...
Ranmaru momentarily felt weightless as he slipped of from the branch, which currently hanging on it's bark. He tried to grab anything to either stop or at least slow his fall, but there were nothing to grab on to. In the confusion, Ranmaru lost his grip on the handkerchief as he falls.
"Ran!" Gracia shrieked, before a black-and-gold blur leaped past her. Raijin Geki had leaps after Ranmaru, diving for a few seconds to catches up with the boy before he flips and slides along the slope. Geki's timing were precise enough so that he could catches Ranmaru as he falls. Seconds before they reached the bottom, Geki jumped off then dive-roll safely on the ground.
Ranmaru were expecting either a horrible pain or death, but he was surprised to finds himself unharmed. The boy were even more surprised when he opened his eyes and saw that Geki had saved him. Both of them were unharmed, but when Geki let go of Ranmaru, it is clear that the storm tiger felt some pain on his leg as he leaned down to hold his knees. Ranmaru hesitated for a moment, before he finally found his voice. "Thank you, Geki-dono," Ranmaru said.
Geki simply scoffed at Ranmaru's words, and tense silence falls between them before both men heard something snapped above them. They looked up...
...and immediately scrambled away to avoid the falling branch.
The accursed branch kicks up some dust into the air, causing Geki to went into a fit of cough. He waved his hand to clear up the air around him when a white handkerchief suddenly covered his face. A pair of golden eyes blinked as he picks up and curiously studied the cloth. "Is everybody okay ?" Gracia's distant shout could be heard high above.
Ranmaru coughed several times before he responded. "We are fine Gracia!"
Geki looked up and noticed that Gracia is looking at him. Sighing, he waved her handkerchief as a respond.
As the dust settles, both Ranmaru and Geki stood up, and the latter did a double-take when he finally noticed a certain piece of accessory on Ranmaru's hair. The youth blinked curiously when he saw Geki staring at him. "What ?" he asked.
The lightning guardian tried to hold his laughter as he pointed a finger to Ranmaru's hairpin, and the youth were momentarily confused about the gesture. "What is it ?" he asked again.
Eventually, Geki chuckles as he shook his head, an act that flustered Ranmaru. "I don't know what you are thinking, but it is definitely not funny !"
As the two of them continued their one-sided bickering, Gracia giggled. "Well, at least they finally get along," She said as she smiled.
0-0-0-0
Back at the streets of Kyoto, Nure is currently looking for Yuuki. After the guards detained the drunk ronin, Yuuki suddenly left without a words. Though she felt that his help is unnecessary since she could handled it by herself (though it also includes massive collateral damages...), Nure felt an obligation to repay Yuuki's kindness. Yakumo had also taught her how it is important to return the kindness they received, no matter how small.
Unfortunately, Nure had never been helped by other people than the San Kouken, Yakumo, and Ying Dao, so she have no idea what to do. Other than that, Nure possessed no knowledge about Yuuki's whereabouts. In the end, she spent half a day running around the capital with some onigiri in hands to look for Yuuki. Without the ability to speak, it is harder than it sounds...
As for the aforementioned ronin, he is now window shopping at a kimono shop. Yuuki does it out of boredom, since he had no other things to do for now. Byakuren had told him and Yin Long that the "main event" will only began when the moon is at it's highest peak. Until then, they will just have to wait. While Yin Long is content to sleep through the waiting, Yuuki decided to take a stroll around the capital.
However, aside from the drunk ronin event, the capital is surprisingly... calm for Yuuki. Walking out of the kimono shop, ignoring the annoyed shopkeeper as he did, Yuuki looked into the sky. The sun has beginning to set, but it would be a while before night came. The black-clad ronin sighed, then observed the cherry trees planted along the busy streets. 'I wonder why Ren told us to wait, the sakura themselves is beautiful enough already,' Yuuki pondered, oblivious to a certain blue-eyed girl that were overjoyed to found him, 'Could it be because he wanted to have a yozakura ? Sure the view of sakura petals raining under the moonlight is incredible, but there is no reason to wait until midnight...'
Suddenly, Yuuki heard a crash behind him, and the ronin turned and saw Nure face-down on the ground, all of the onigiri she carried scattered around her. The water guardian were so glad to finally found Yuuki that she forgot to pay any attention to her steps. She tripped on a rock, snapping her sandal straps in the process. Nure lifted her head, and was rather saddened when she saw the fate of her onigiri. Some were still intact due to the wrapping, but most of them had been ruined.
"Are you alright ?" Yuuki asked as he reached out to help Nure. The rain weaver sighed, before she took Yuuki's hand. Now she owed him twice.
– – –
On a bench under a tree, Nure nibbles on the last onigiri as Yuuki fixed her sandal's strap. Yuuki had helped her to gather her stuff, and after that he offered to fix her sandal. She wanted to protest, but Yuuki helped her anyway, offering the remaining onigiri as he does so. Nure now wondered what must she do to repay the favors...
As she finished the onigiri, Nure studied the ronin who sat beside her. Without the armors Yuuki's slim figure is anything but imposing. His long raven hair, reaching past his waist, and the hair clip on his right fringe made him looked like a girl. Nure noticed however, that his appearance hide something that is rather... sinister, for she smelled an ominous aura emanating from him.
"Done!" Yuuki exclaimed, holding the sandal above his head, "Good as new!"
The ronin then knelt in front of Nure, and fit the geta on her foot. Nure sway her leg to test it, and smiled when the straps held on. Moments later however, she became upset over her failure to repay Yuuki's kindness. Said ronin stood, a finger placed on his lips as he glanced away in thought. Yuuki hates to see others in sadness, and always tried to return the smile to their face. After a moment of pondering Yuuki finally found a way that could lift Nure's mood. He promised Byakuren that he would return in time, but there is always a time to help others, even a complete, blue-eyed stranger.
"Ne," Yuuki began, "Would you like to see the full beauty of the sakura ?"
Nure blinked, curious about Yuuki's statement, but she eventually nods in response. Yuuki smiled as he took her hand, and led her away.
0-0-0-0
Throughout Japan, people celebrates the blooming of the cherry blossoms. At Ueda Castle, the Sanada's flower viewing were more lively as they drink, eat, and dance under the cherry blossom storm. Men shares their experiences and humorous anecdotes with their fellow comrade, and even the lord of the castle, Masayuki Sanada, participates in this joyous occasion. Servants brought food from the castle, and they along with Kunoichi helped to pass them around.
Calmly watching his compatriot under the shade of a cherry tree, Yukimura seemed out of place among the other men of Sanada. As his former lord Shingen Takeda repeatedly stated, Yukimura's personal flaw is his inability to relaxes once in a while, a statement shared by most people that knew him.
"Hey little brother!"
Startled, Yukimura turned to see his older brother, Nobuyuki Sanada. "This is suppose to be the time for you to have some fun, not to sit around all by yourself," Nobuyuki said as he sat beside Yukimura, an onigiri in his hand.
"Nobuyuki-sama's is right!" Kunoichi said as she offered a tray of dango to Yukimura, "If Yukimura-sama stays serious all the time, then Yukimura-sama would turn to someone like that Kotaro !"
"You're saying that my brother here will turn to a psychopath ?" Nobuyuki asked.
"No, I meant gloomy and scary," Kunoichi replied.
Yukimura smiled as he takes the tray, but he soon became thoughtful as he observed the falling petals. "Thank you, nii-san, Kunoichi," Yukimura said, "But when I saw those blossoms, I couldn't help but to remember my own mortality. The battles after this could very well be my last, so I must be prepared for it. If I could, I will choose to die with my pride as a warrior intact."
Yukimura's words surprised and then worried Kunoichi, for she knew well how her lord uphold the samurai code above all else. For the samurai, to die in blazing glory is considered as the greatest honor, for they believed that their true worth as a man could only be seen at the end of their life. This belief caused the samurai to consider the sakura as the one flower that symbolized them the most, for it bloomed beautifully only to wilt shortly afterward.
Nobuyuki's response however, is to roll his eye and slap Yukimura on the back of his head. Ignoring his confused younger brother, Nobuyuki ate his onigiri in annoyance. "Why do I have such a fool for a younger brother ?" he lamented, "The fact that we could die in any moment from now is the more reason why you should try to relax! Tension won't do anything except causing you to be stiff when you're dead."
Having finished gobbling down his food, Nobuyuki stood. "Life is short and unpredictable, and because of that we should make the best out of it. Smile once in a while, write a poem, and enjoy the little things, that is some of the many ways to fully appreciate your life," the older Sanada said, "If you want to be good at something, then you must first be able to enjoy it!"
Having listened to Nobuyuki's personal motto, Yukimura chuckled and smiled. "I suppose you are right, nii-san... thank you," he said.
Nobuyuki smiled in response, before that smile turns into a mischievous grin. "But if you are planning to stay moody then you can give those dango to me!" Nobuyuki said as he lunges for Yukimura's dango, but the younger Sanada saw it coming and move his tray. The two siblings continue to fight for the dango while Kunoichi tries in vain to stop it.
"Come on you guys! There are more of those so stop fighting over it!"
As his retainers laughed at the "entertainment", Masayuki shook his head over his sons' antics. "Whether they are a warrior or not, they are still a child after all..." the cunning strategist stated before he took a sip of his sake.
Yukimura and Nobuyuki's fight for the dango escalates to the point that the two were engaged in a tug of war with the food tray replacing the rope. Unfortunately, Nobuyuki's grab over the tray slip, thus resulting in Yukimura throwing the dangos by accident. The dangos scatters away, until a hand catches one of them.
Sitting on the branch of a cherry tree, Chesster casually took a bite out of the dango as he observed the Sanada. The jester had been bored over the lack of action from Yuuki and the others so he decided to wander around for entertainment. Currently, he went to see the warrior he met at Nagashino, mainly out of curiosity, and was glad that the entertainment they provides were worth the trip. "Quite a lively fellow aren't they ?" Chesster, or Kikuchiyo as he more commonly known, commented, a wide grin on his face.
0-0-0-0
Back at Kyoto, Nure and Yuuki had finally arrived at the location which the latter talked about. In front of them was a tall and sturdy tree, reaching high above the treetops. The rain weaver were unable to see anything special about it, but Yuuki cheerfully asked her to be patient before asking if she could climb a tree. Curious, Nure decided to humor the ronin and jumped towards the tree, leaping off the bark to land on the nearest branch. Yuuki were surprised, but it soon turned into excitement. "Well then, let's race to the top shall we ? The first one to arrive is the winner !" Yuuki exclaimed as he jumped after Nure.
As they climbed, though jumping from branch to branch is a more accurate term, they surprised each others with their respective skills and agility. Nure used her strings to helped her navigates through the branches while Yuuki simply made use of his agility. Before long, both of them almost reaches the top with Nure in the first place, but it was Yuuki who won the race with one last leap. The ronin smiled while looking at Nure, who were several branches below. "Looks like I won," Yuuki said, to which Nure pout in response. But the pout soon turned to a smile, for the race was quite a fun experience for her.
The black-clad drifter helped Nure up to the upper-most branch, and then when she looked at the direction Yuuki is pointing, she saw what he wanted to show her. The view of the capital at sunset. Buildings and landmarks were bathed in orange glow, with vague pink spot from the sakura petals drifting over the capital. Forest of cherry trees could be seen grouped in several places, gathering as if the clouds had descend upon the land. The view from the treetop showed both Nure and Yuuki just how vast and majestic the capital is.
While Nure looked on in amazement, Yuuki smiled to himself, wondering about the thing that Byakuren wanted to show him and Yin Long. 'The view from here at this time is magnificent enough,' Yuuki thought, 'I wonder what will Ren do to top this ?'
Putting those thought aside, Yuuki glanced at his current companion. Nure's wide, blue-eyes gleamed with childish wonder and amazement, smiling as she put the scenery into her memory. Yuuki smiled, glad that he could cheer her up. "My name is Yuuki," he said, "Kaze no Yuuki."(3)
Nure blinked before she gazed at Yuuki. "And your name is ?" Yuuki asked.
Realizing what he asked for, Nure became somewhat panic as she tried to find a way to tell Yuuki her name. This act finally made Yuuki to conclude that Nure is a mute. 'I had thought that she is just shy, but I guess I was wrong... big time,' Yuuki thought as he scratched the side of his head. Yuuki immediately tried to apologize. "Sorry, you don't have to tell me-"
Yuuki's apology were interrupted when Nure showed a piece of blue cloth with the kanji for "Nure", meaning "Wet". Yuuki blinked for a moment, before he realized that the character on the cloth is her name. "Nure huh ? Pleasure to made your acquaintance," Yuuki said with a smile, and Nure smiled in return.
"Not many people choose that kind of name though, but I supposed it somewhat fit the color of your eyes," Yuuki stated as he gazed into the distance, "Blue eyes just like that of the vast, beautiful ocean."
Nure blushed at the praise, before she and Yuuki sat on the branch they were standing on. As the sun began to disappear into the horizon, the sky slowly went into a state of twilight. Various spirits, from deity to youkai appears all over the land, unseen by the oblivious eyes of the mortals. A luminescent bird flew over Yuuki and Nure, which Yuuki identified as a Aosaginohi, and several more kinds of youkai appears in the sky over the capital. Instead of being alarmed, Yuuki and Nure find themselves amazed by the sight of all the mythical creatures that appears, some of which they had never seen before.
As the supernatural event continue to rise, both Yuuki and Nure suddenly felt a brief but powerful presence. Chills spreads throughout Yuuki's body as he felt the aura, and he looked around in alarm. Nure on the other hand, recognized it almost immediately, and she knew that it is time for her to go back. She tugged at Yuuki's sleeve, then pointed towards the ground when she got his attention. "You want to go down now ?" Yuuki asked.
Nure simply nodded in response. The drifter were worried about the presence he felt just now, but since it had subsided, Yuuki shrugged it off. The two then descend back to the ground, once again having a race over it.
This time, the rain weaver won the race, and she excitedly danced a bit before Yuuki finally came down. Nure came up to him, shifting as she tried to convey her question. Yuuki however, had the same question in his mind, and he could already guess Nure's. "Will we meet again ?" Yuuki asked, "That is what you wanted to ask, isn't it ?"
Nure were surprised that Yuuki correctly guess it. Nevertheless, she nodded in response. Yuuki smiled at this, extending his hand for a Yubikiri. "It's a promise," Yuuki stated.
Nure beamed in happiness, and she entwine her pinky with Yuuki to seal their promise.
"Ja mata ne," Yuuki smiled as he said it, before he parted ways with Nure and made his way to where Byakuren and Yin Long awaits.
Nure waved goodbye before she took a different path to the capital. On her way back, she encountered the very source of the earlier presence: Yakumo. The former tochigami smiled as he watched Nure ran up to him, but were caught by surprised when he smelled a familiar scent. While not as acute as when he assume his wolf form, Yakumo still has a heightened sense of smell. And this scent is none other than the one belonging to the drifter he encountered at Nagashino.
"Did you make a new friend Nure ?" Yakumo asked.
Nure smiled as she nodded vigorously.
Yakumo sighed. "If only you knew..." he said, "Fate is cruel indeed..."
Nure tilted her head in confusion as if asking what Yakumo meant by it. The former tochigami shook his head. "It's nothing," Yakumo said, "Let us go home, Yaka is waiting."
Holding hands, Yakumo and Nure walked together to the others. Yakumo talked and asked about their experiences for the day, and Nure smiled when Yakumo told her how Geki had made some new friends. As the rain weaver listened in, the pair disappears into the darkness of the night. Little did she knew, that her next encounter with the ronin...
...would be on the opposing side.
0-0-0-0
Fragile petals of cherry blossoms, dancing and swaying with the wind, was the first things the boy noticed as he stirred from his slumber. From a hill that overlooks the capital, Yin Long could see the entire forest of cherry trees in front of him. Among the blossoms in the distance, he could spot a part of a blank canvas with gold markings on it. The boy guessed that it is probably where the Oda is having their hanami, and wondered is his friends -or rather, former friends- were there as well.
Ranmaru Mori, Ina, Mitsuhide Akechi, these three had stood by his side when they dealt with the bandits that terrorized Mikawa, and they were with him when he first encountered two of the elemental guardians, San Kouken. But now, the position of allies and enemies have been switched when Yin Long defected at Nagashino and Ying Dao join the ranks of the Oda moments after that.
Since he already expected the friendship to end anytime soon, Yin Long was rather calm about it. He would eventually outlived anyone he met, so why should he care about any of it ? Why should he even bother accompanying Yuuki and Ren on their journey ? It would be much simpler if he just turned a blind eye and leave...
So how come he is still here ?
For the second problem, the answer was simple: Yin Long simply unable to let any harm befalls anyone, especially when he knew what will happened. the full effect of what would happen if Ying Dao's presence grow stronger. Since the Yaoguai reincarnate came from foreign land of China, local spirits and deity became wary and suspicious of his intention. The relationship between the spirits and mortal worlds was never been good to begin with, and his arrival brought the tension into the breaking point. With most of them believing that the mortal will either eradicate or enslaves them, all of the youkai would do anything to end Ying Dao's life, but the warlord's powers turned them increasingly desperate with each passing days. The end result of this conflict... is a full blown war between human and youkai.
On their journey, Yuuki and Yin Long had tried to persuaded those spirits to change their mind, and Byakuren personally went to visit some of them when he got the chance. While the majority of the youkai were still bent on killing Ying Dao -and all of his allies, "just to be sure"- Yuuki and the others had successfully persuaded the more powerful one from participating. Most of the success could be chalked up to Yomikage's message, something which made Yin Long realized that this Tsuchigumo Yuuki told him about must be well respected by other spirits.
For the first problem however, the eternal serpent himself were at lost. Yin Long barely knew anything about Yuuki, and he had some suspicion at Byakuren, yet he still to go with them. Maybe because it was his curiosity, or maybe he was willing to give a second chance at friendship. Either way, it is a problem for later, so he will ignored it for the time being.
Yin Long put some more woods into the campfire to keep it burning. Even in spring, the night air is still chilling, and the purple-eyed immortal would like to avoid being frozen alive. Sparks flew from the burning woods and into the fire, drifting upwards before they disappeared. Yin Long sighed as he gaze upon the falling petals, a sense of longing growing in his heart.
[You humans are a rather strange creature, aren't you ?]
Yin Long felt something on top of his head, and he glanced up to see Ren staring into the distance. For some reason, the immortal's head seems to be the Muramasa blade spirit second favorite resting spot, with Yuuki's shoulder being the first. When asked, Ren answered that it is much more fun to mess with the "Hanatare kozo" than Yuuki, who had grown accustomed to Ren's antics. Though it was met with objection, Yin Long soon got used to it. After all, he already survive Kikuchiyo's many mischief. Aside from that, Byakuren had something that earned him Yin Long's respect. A kind of wisdom that one never expect to see in the heart of a literal killing weapon.
[You seek immortality to live a life as eternal as the mighty mountain,] Ren said as he watched the drifting petals, [Yet when you obtain it, you dreamed and longed for the time when your body and soul were as fragile as these cherry blossoms.]
Yin Long glanced away without saying a word. "I never wanted this curse..." the purple-eyed boy said after a moment of silent, "I was mortally wounded, and I couldn't let the elixir falls into wrong hands. I've heard of it's power, but I never would have thought that any of it was true..."
[So... you didn't believe in the elixir's power, but you can't risk to have it misused by anyone else ?] Ren asked, [If you asked me, I'd say that you brought this upon yourself, so why blame the mystics or anyone else for that matter ?](4)
The immortal sighed. Ever since he became aware of his own immortality, he had been trying to undo the effect. Then, he blamed those who made the elixir in the first place, for it's existence is what brought him his pain and suffering. This hatred last for quite some time, however...
"I... don't know anymore... I used to think all of this is their fault," Yin Long admitted, "But as time passes... I had forgotten why. My memory is limited, and it took all of my effort to remember my family's names and faces. After I had seen the people I knew passed away while I am still alive, after I seen them grew old while I remain unchanged, I just don't care anymore. In the past, I often went to search for a companion... but the pain of saying goodbye is the one thing I couldn't handle."
Yin Long stared at his hands, before he clenched his fingers into knuckle. "In the end... I am just afraid of losing my humanity," Yin Long stated, melancholy in his eyes and voice.
Ren stayed silent as Yin Long shared his feeling. Since he is an immortal in the first place, emotional attachment was never a part of his concern. After all, unlike humans, most spirits is not a social creatures to begin with. It is because of this that he were surprised when Yin Long turned to asked him a question. "Byakuren... you are ageless right ?" Yin Long asked, "Then... what will you do when you have to part with Yuuki ?"
Ren blinked before he looked Yin Long right in the eyes. [Why do you asked me that ?]
"Well... you are his partner right ? Doesn't it occur to you that you will outlived him ? I thought that I could learn something from your response..."
Ren rolled his azure, slitted eyes before he landed to a spot across from Yin Long. His long, blue scarf billowed as the wind blew around him, seemingly to cushion his landing. [Listen up, Hebi-kozo, I only tag along with Yuuki because he is interesting. Not many people can wield a cursed blade like the Muramasa without giving in to their blood lust, so I just have to deal with Yuuki's "method" of dealing with problems rather than losing my fun,] Ren replied, referring to Yuuki's preference for pacifism when faced with a conflict. And I am well aware that I will outlived that idiot, but you are mistaken if you presume that I would care about it.]
"But-"
Ren sighed. [You would do well to remember this, kozo. It is not about whether you will outlived your friend or not, but it is more about your memory of them. Take this cherry blossoms for example-] Ren summons a wind that briefly swayed the cherry branches above, sending petals drifting everywhere in a cherry blossoms storm, [-They are ephemeral, yet beautiful. Transience, yet memorable. Not a month past before their flowers wilted and disappeared, but the memory of their ethereal beauty lasted for generations after generations.]
Yin Long were amazed as the wind caused the blossoms to swirl around him. When it subsides, he saw Ren's blue eyes staring at him. [And as for your immortality, you should make use to it. After all, everything will come to an end anyway, including you and me, so why not make the best out of it while we still can ?]
Yin Long smiled, a sincere and joyful smile, before he respectfully bowed at Ren. "Thank you... Byakuren. I shall never forget your wisdom on this day," Yin Long said.
Byakuren returns the smile... before he decided to kill the mood by returning to his usual antics. [I'm glad you finally notice my greatness ! From now on, you shall refer to me as "Byakuren-sama"!] Ren proclaimed as he put his chin up in a rather prideful manner...
WHAM!
….to which Yin Long responded by throwing a piece of log right at the Spiteful spirit's face. At least, that is his intention, but his terrible, terrible aim somehow made the piece of wood flown backwards instead. It still managed to landed on something, so Yin Long turned around and saw Yuuki crouching on the ground, holding his head on the spot that had been nailed by the friendly fire.
"You okay ?" Yin Long casually asked while Ren laughed his heart out.
"Owww... how many times have I told you not to throw anything, ever ? And what's with that respond ?"
Yin Long shrugged. "I apologize, but you already survived worst even than this."
Yuuki pouted. "So cold..."
Ren perched on Yuuki's shoulder, and the drifter flicked his nose for his earlier laughter. Ignoring the spirit's complains, Yuuki turned to his other companion. "So, what did Ren do that made you all riled up ?"
[How did you know that he wasn't aiming for you ?]
"Because Ryuuta have a terrible aim," Yuuki replied without missing a beat. While it is a fact, Yin Long finds himself somewhat hurt by the remark.
'I really need to work on my aim... maybe more calculation before I actually threw something...' Yin Long pondered, though no amount of calculation will ever improve his aim. "I had the impression that Byakuren actually possessed a hidden wisdom and heart, but clearly I was mistaken..."
Yuuki laughed. He had similar though about Ren, though the spirit in question always denied it every time Yuuki confronted him about it.
"So anyway, what else did you do today ?" Yuuki asked, "I had quite some fun at the capital, and I even made a new friend! Though it is quite a pain not to be spotted by anyone from Oda that might recognized me..."
"My day is not as eventful as you. I mostly sleeps or tried to write some poetry to kill the time. I do however, noticed that the Oda is right below, not too far from here."
Yuuki looked around the cherry trees below, and he saw the Oda banners. "Heeh~ I wonder what will they do when they realized that we are right in plain view ?"
[They probably would capture or kill us on sight, or they could try to hire you as a mercenary,] Ren stated, [Though I don't know about their plan for Hebi-kozo here...]
Yin Long glared at the spirit, who returned it with a smug grin. On the other hand, Yuuki decided to put aside the Oda matter and just admire the sakura. The view here were similar to the view he saw with Nure, though from this side he could saw the entire cherry forest without the castle or the town obstructing his sight. While it is magnificent, it is not as special as the sunset view he saw earlier.
"So, what's so special about this place that we had to wait until midnight ?" Yuuki asked, noticing the moon were now on it's highest peak, "I had just saw the best view of the sakura earlier, and I doubt you could beat that."
Ren grinned, before he leaped and changed into his Byaku form. The now lupine blade spirit landed beside the campfire, his two long scarf now floating over and along his body. [You sure about that ? Then how about this ?]
Byaku swiped his tail over the fire, using ice elemental to doused the flame. Without the light from the campfire, the area would became pitch black if it not for the moon. Moments later, Yuuki and Yin Long realized just what Byaku have been waiting for.
Each and every one of the sakura petals gleamed brilliantly, seemingly turned the entire cherry forest into a glowing silver lake. Petals carried by the wind into the sky shines among the twinkling star, creating the image of a swirling silver light in the night sky. Yin Long and Yuuki were surprised and awed by the spectacle, and their admiration grew when they noticed a faint, aurora-like silver glow in the sky.
Yuuki looked up, and saw that the cherry tree behind them were glowing in the same silver glow. Both the ronin and the immortal were at lost for words when Byaku lie down behind them, the blue markings on his body barely noticeable due to the light around him.
[Mirrors have the power to reveal one's true form and aura, and the moon shared some of that power as well,] Byaku explained, [It is powerful enough that only few youkai were able to maintain their disguise when bathed under the moonlight.]
"So that glow... it is caused by the moon ?" Yin Long asked.
[Yes. The life aura emanating from the cherry blossoms reflected the lunar light, thus causing them to seemingly glow. However, not many mortal can enjoy this sight, for only those with heightened spiritual power can even hope to see it... and that is if they are lucky.]
Byaku gazed at the cherry forest, that shone from the heavenly lunar light. He smiled at the nostalgia as he remembered the past. [I used to visit this place many times in the past before I got bound into a sword. I wonder how long has it been since I last saw this sight ?]
It only took a fraction of a second for Byaku to realized what he had said, but the damage have been done. Yuuki blinked before his smile turned into a mischievous grin. "Hee~~ so the 'almighty and superior' Byakuren no Muramasa was a youkai in the past ?" Yuuki asked, "If so, you were insulting yourself when you belittles all of the youkai we've encountered~."
[How dare you! I maybe was one, but now I have become a highly refined being!]
"Oh really~ ?"
[What's with that smile ? Wipe it off your face right now!]
Yin Long sighed as the pair bickered again for the umpteenth time. But the immortal knew that no matter what Byakuren said, his bond with Yuuki is one of the strongest bond he had seen in his lifetime. Yin Long returned his gaze towards the glowing blossoms, and a part of his heart wished that his late family and friends could witness what he seen.
'I won't stop looking for a way to remove my immortality, but I guess I should learn to use it wisely if I have too,' Yin Long thought, having remembered Ren's advise. The immortal looked into the heavens above, a smile on his face. 'I don't know when I will finally reunited with all of you, but I hope you are willing to wait for me...'
The purple-eyed boy then chastised Yuuki and Byaku for their childish bickering, which he did after he had doused their fight with a water spell and threatened to drown them if they continues. With that done, the three peacefully admire the mystical sight, and hoped that they could come back again the following year to witness it once more.
The Sakura is fleeting, yet it beauty remains in the people's memory. Just like how the dream of peace, while never lasted for long in reality, remains as mankind's Eternal Reverie.
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...Aaanndd~~ that's is all of this festival chap !
The next arc will focused on more the canon chara more than the OC, just as I promised you ^^
Though to be honest... I am not so proud of this chap =_=
in fact, I find myself wanting to finish the SM first since they are easier to write XDD nuked
however, this is my first story ! And I will make sure that it will be the first to be finished as well !
so please pardon the poor excuse of a plot and bear with it, okay ?
1) she doesn't really need Yuuki's help, but I have no other terms to use...
2) In Samurai Warriors 3Z artbook (sadly, I only found a glimpse of it online TT^TT), there is one particularly hilarious art where No and Gracia tried to put make-up (to be specific, lipstick) on Ranmaru. Though to be fair, that is not the only thing funny on that picture (hint if you happen to encounter it: pay attention to the background) XDD
3) Yuuki seldom introduce himself with his family name. Don't ask why =_= nuked
4) Some of my friends wondered why Yin Long hated the mystics while he brought this upon himself, well, this is the answer. (note: if you have no idea what I am talking about... I'm sorry TT^TT)
Sakura (桜 or 櫻; さくら) Also known as cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, Prunus serrulata
Hanami (花見, lit. "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms or ume blossoms.
The shamisen or samisen (三味線, literally "three flavor strings"), also called sangen (三絃, literally "three strings") is a three-stringed, Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. It is Nure's second favorite type of instrument.
The koto (箏) is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. It is also Nure's favorite instrument.
Yozakura (夜桜, literally night sakura)is basically a hanami that is done at night.
Aosaginohi (青鷺火, "blue heron fire") is a phenomenon illustrated by Toriyama Sekien in his Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki. It depicts a night heron with a mysteriously illuminated body.
Yubikiri (指切り Japanese for "Finger Cut-off") is basically the Japanese term for a "pinky swear". I forgot why they called it that...
Ja mata ne is Japanese for "see you later", different than Sayonara which are used when one doesn't know when exactly will they meet the other again. Keep in mind that back in the day, the first meeting could be the last one. Yuuki said it because he like to believe that he will meet them again someday.
Hanatare Kozo (ハナタレ小僧 Hanatare Kozō) literally means "Snot-nosed Brat"
"Hebi-kozo", it (I hope) literally means "Snake-brat".
Don't forget to review ^^
