The Romance of the Seventh Star

Entry 26: In the Wake of Farewell

In days gone by two cups of wine were raised
Pavilion Reminisce our pledge was made
The wise man saw the coming of the end
A child his final dandelion picked
No more his strength the general could wield
The sky is dark because the sun had set

The stormy clouds so far away they seemed
When stars beneath we thought a haven made
Too late we noted that the spring has gone
And all that now remained is rain and rain
Among the dirt the cherry blossoms lay
Cicada, when your song will rise again?

Within the mirror pallid are my cheeks
By tears of sorrow deep the stains are traced
For whom regrets of past be left behind?
Forsaken been the heroes of our myths
Despite the leafy green of glade I longed
My youthful dreams have been exchanged for dust.

So great a city crumbled to the ground
For what is worth this immortality?
A jar of wine and lips of flattery
How carefree is the chevalier to life!
An oath binds me my duty to my liege
My friend has wandered far beyond my reach

The East wind chilled my bones into my soul
How inconsolable the child who weeps
No one is left to sing his songs with him
A crown of flowers left undone and bleak
A golden dream of violets came and went
What can he clasped reminding of the hearth?

No words are left beyond the last farewell
In noble dress stands firm before debris
I cry to heavens I must be content
Despite the dirge that daily haunts the air
There is no fate unless I claim defeat
Do wait, my friend, for me to take my leave.(1)

The boom was faint but it was a jarring shot in the disquietedness of the Seishin princess's bedchamber. Hikari's eyes sprang opened and she felt her heart thumping away in adrenaline even while supine.

A gasp sounded near the foot of her bed, where a couch was placed. It was Kourin, who had similarly jerked awake. She rose from resting her head on the dividing armrest and stared, startled, into the air.

Hikiri sat up and the eyes of both girls met. The battle had begun.

"Help me dress…" The aristocrat requested. She felt antsy.

Sharing the premonition, the attendant laid out a sensible knee-length frock and pair of boots for the princes. There were distant explosions while the two of them were hurrying through their ablutions; and then, protracted silence.

Kourin faltered in her motion of running the comb through her superior's hair. "Genshou-sama wanted to send you back to Seishin no Goten. But the entire capital is currently in a lockdown so…" she tried to fill the void.

Hikari said nothing in return.

In short time, they stepped out of the suite and saw the wisps of smoke rising to the sky in the western direction.

"The four of them would have entered the tunnels by now. I wonder if they met the First Squadron yet," the princess murmured pensively. But she stopped short of entertaining the worse-case consequence of her ex-squadron-mates aiding the runaways.

Without doubt, Konzen Douji, Tenpou Gensui, Kenren Taishou and Goku had to run. Li Touten's war cry of righteousness had full support of the Realm. Only a royal pardon could override this sanctioned act of wrath but that was a far, far possibility indeed. But the question was: run to where?

In fact, Hikari had been spying on the commotion outside the south-west barracks, which was where Tenpou's quarters were. Two of the First Squadron members – Renshi and Jirou – were with her. Like Li Touten and the hundreds of eager executioners, they heard the marshal-adjutant and general's demand for exile.

Demand for exile – how like Kenren and Tenpou… and a practical recourse for Goku and Konzen.

Had circumstances not been so dire, Hikari would have enjoyed the black humour. Trust the pair to be brassy even in the face of promised eradication.

Hours prior, she had had a near panic seizure when Kourin first broke news of their incredible crisis. Her mind had gone blank. When she had finally managed to calm down and consider her limited options, mustering backup for the renegades had emerged as the sensible course of action. And the only reliable defence party she could think of was Tenpou and Kenren's own men, the First Squadron of the Western Army.

Thankfully, Fuudou, the soldier living closest to Kourin had been in residence. And to the princess's immense relief, it had taken very little persuasion for the First Squadron to gather and agree to a plan of support. Her presence had been accepted with ease. Likely, any peculiarity of her personal involvement and assurance of unbarred assistance was mitigated by the more imperative need to see Tenpou and Kenren (and by extension, Goku and Konzen) to safety.

After realising their reporting officers and their friends were planning to gun for the Realm Below, the strategy of the First Squadron had become more defined. Since there was only one exit point by which the four could get to the other world, it had been obvious the route the band of fourteen men must help secure.

Unfortunately, finding out that the Purple Bamboo Palace was closed off by the Eastern Army itself meant the option of available avenue was down to one.

So Kourin had been planted at the Seishin no Goten delegate residence.

Plan A had been for the Nana-hime to gain permission to access the tunnel. Plan B had been for her to serve as a diversion.

Tunnels and diversion… Hikari had been struck by déjà vu. Yes, a long, long time ago, 'Hikaru' had to prove himself to the old First Squadron in a certain simulation exercise. What supreme irony that the same fourteen men were now trying to execute a similar strategy.

The shadow of Enrai had certainly been an easier enemy. In addition, it was no engineered illusion this time.

Hikari and Kourin met the Ni-ouji and Go-ouji on their way to the main hall. The two princelings had the thought to visit their sister. It was no surprise to find the older noble siblings up and about, considering the upheaval outside. Had Hikari not been forced into unconsciousness, she doubted she could have rested.

Both princes brightened up upon seeing their sister. But there was guilt hanging about their expressions as well.

"How are you feeling?" Noboru asked eagerly, reaching out to feel his sister's forehead. He froze and looked upset when Hikari avoided the touch.

"I'm fine, Go-nii-sama," the Seishin princess answered with a polite but empty smile.

Mamoru moved closer to his sister, keen to dispel the obvious withdrawal between them. "We have no choice yesterday, Hikari-ou-mai. I'm sure chichi-ou-sama will lift–"

"I understand… honestly," Hikari cut in, not unkindly. She could not bear her brothers' worry, but neither was she prepared to resume her openness with them yet. "Let's just go find chichi-ou-sama. I want to know what's happening outside."

She continued on her way without waiting for their response. Kourin hurried after. The two princes exchanged frustrated sighs and followed suit.

As counted upon, the Seishin Okimi was in the main hall along with Yuu and Shou. The three men started when Hikari entered with her company.

"May I at least know what is going on, chichi-ou-sama?" the youngest aristocrat asked without preamble. Her tone was calm, a little imploring and perhaps too tentative.

To his relief, Genshou found Hikari's plea something he could acquiesce to. As long as his youngest was not gallivanting out there and putting herself at risk, he could allow her a reprieve through receiving updates about Konzen Douji and others.

So, Hikari learnt that the Western Army military compound had been attacked. The hostages were freed but the targets had not been apprehended. They were believed to have infiltrated the imperial palace. Naturally, Li Touten and his men were in hot pursuit.

Meanwhile, the Seishin Fujin, San-ouji and Roku-ouji had been kept informed. As desirous as the two remaining princelings were to stand with their father and siblings in the capital, they needed to hold the fort at Seishin no Goten.

The six members of the Seishin ruling house waited in the hall of their delegate residence while news bearers entered one after another with their reports, which happened about every quarter of an hour or so. No one mentioned nor had an appetite for breakfasting.

Strangely, nothing was mentioned of a group of Western Army men assisting the rebels. Hikari, whose nerves were pulled with every incoming report, tried to stay heartened.

Then, one messenger stumbled into the hall in a state of great agitation. His expression was of overwhelming fright, sending his audience into a stir.

"The Tentei's dead! Palace security claimed that they're killed by the rebels!" the mid-ranked Seishin personnel gasped.

There was a suspended air of astoundment before exclamations of disbelief broke forth.

The messenger confirmed that this was official news from the Eastern Army, so there could be no doubt regarding its reliability.

"Are they– are they really capable of…?" Shou gave voice to everybody's incredulity and dread after the subordinate had retreated, being ordered to gather as much details as possible on this new disaster.

Hikari was utterly stupefied. She had staggered into a chair with Kourin helplessly hovering near.

"No!" The princess reacted to her brother's ambivalence. "This is preposterous! Who would be stupid enough to–" Suddenly, she stopped short and spent a few seconds in fierce inward calculation. And then, Hikari jumped to her feet excitedly.

"They've been set up… they've been set up!" The youngest Seishin scion loudly concluded. She swept a searing look at her family and friend, declaring, "There's a rebellion happening, alright! But the rebels are NOT Konzen and the three. They're the scapegoats instead!"

Her audience stared, aghast by the fantastic logic and perhaps that she dared announced it at all.

"It's a perfect distraction for the actual insurgent. The whole thing's a conspiracy!" Hikari barrelled on. "Li Touten was heading the troops at the barracks. Who were in the imperial palace to find and report the Emperor dead? They're in the scheme together!"

The Seishin Okimi was dumbstruck. Hikari approached him with her fiery conviction.

"Chichi-ou-sama… you realised it as well, right? Your dream… your dream points to the real traitors of the Realm Above!"

Horror and gagged epiphany electrified the atmosphere. No one remembered to breathe.

Suddenly, the Seishin lord gripped his daughter by her arms. His silver eyes were laser sharp. "Hikari, no one will currently be in the right mind to seek this line of inquiry. In fact, these are dangerous thoughts so don't speak of it."

He glared at the others in the hall imperiously. "Does everyone understand?!"

A decree had been passed.

Before Hikari could argue, Yuu stepped forward to tersely ask, "What will happen at Tentei's court now, chichi-ou-sama?"

Fortunately, the pragmatic question had a steadying effect on all their nerves. Genshou released his daughter and inhaled deeply.

"Legislative power will provisionally be transferred to the magisterium," he answered after due contemplation. "With an emergency like that, they would meet as soon as possible. The five bodhisattvas will be in attendance."

"So Kanzeon-sama will be let out of Shichiku no Miya?" Hikari jumped in. "At least let me speak to her, chichi-ou-sama!"

"There's nothing you or I can do!" the Seishin lord raised his voice, revealing his stress. "It's the martial law right now and no one will be interested in arguing about facts."

Hikari backed away, somewhat quelled.

The elder aristocrat started rolling out his plans. "I need to enter the imperial palace. No doubt, representatives of all external agencies will be summoned." He turned to his sons, "Yuu, Mamoru, the two of you will accompany me. Shou and Noboru, bring your sister back to Seishin no Goten as quickly as possible."

"No, chichi-ou-sama! You can't–" Immediately, the Seishin princess contended.

Genshou swung towards his daughter, his face one of barely reigned distress. "The capital is even more dangerous now than ever!" his tone was rough. "I will have you sent back to Seishin no Goten no matter what!"

"Your sister's safety in your top concern!" Giving no space for the princess to speak again, he commandeered his fourth and fifth sons, who nodded in full agreement. And then, the Seishin lord was striding out of the hall, his two eldest princes in tow.

In the end, she had lied to her brothers. She had never done so outside of fun and games.

But the realisation that Tenpou, Kenren, Konzen and Goku were so unjustly manipulated was the last straw.

Hikari asked for where her weapon, Seiun-ken, was and upon learning her father had kept it in his study, told Shou and Nokoru that she would leave after she had retrieved the sword.

While Nokoru waited for her in the hall, Shou went to arrange for a carriage and to seek news on the ease of traffic at the gates out of the capital. Since the battle had shifted to the imperial palace itself, perhaps they could be allowed exit if they pressurised the sentry enough.

Kourin accompanied her superior to the suite of the Seishin Okimi. However, upon entering the front courtyard of this wing, she was told to stay put.

"Hikari-sama, please think twice!" The personal attendant impetuously reached out and took hold of the princess's hand.

She was no fool. Kourin knew the access to the underground tunnel was nearby. After all, she had helped sneaked the First Squadron into the delegate residence via an inconspicuous servant's door and subsequently led them there.

"I need to do this, Kourin-chan," Hikari smiled soothingly at the other girl. The subtext lay thick and weighty between them. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon."

And because Kourin understood what it meant to repay a debt and that she really, really wanted to be loyal to her dear friend, she let the Seishin princess go.

Of the four gigantic heretical creatures that had been sicced on them, Kenren had managed to kill three and injured the last. It had a head that was a cross between a bear and a boar, with spikes curving out of his humped back and talons as long as the general's arm.

This 'Nataku' had gorged on the sympathetic general in rage and sorrow. It was a monster which had eaten the person who had stared it down with acceptance, consent… and understanding.

The deed was now over. Then, it occurred to the being that retribution against this world which gave him consciousness of its monster-hood needed to be shared among his brethren.(2)

So, this particular 'Nataku' – with blood and tears streaking down its brutish head – lumbered over to the adjoining section of the laboratory, to where a keypad tucked at the back corner. In wild abandonment, it began to bash it with one paw. Soon, it was tearing chunks of plaster and wires out.

There was a high-pitched whine; a mechanical protest dying and then, the metal wall was parting like curtains.

A secret cave was revealed with more cages, each containing 'Nataku'. A few hard slashes and rips decimated the first lock and then the next till there were five of them hulking and slithering out of their nests.

The bear/boar 'Nataku' let loose a resounding roar that caused even the double-enforced mesh panels to tremble. The other 'Nataku' yodelled back in agreement. Each understood what they were to do.

As for the 'Nataku' still half-formed in their giant test tubes, the older siblings would spend this day of vengeance on their behalf.

Upon entering the pathway connected to the subterranean map of the Realm Above, the first thing the silver-eyed girl had done was to tie up the handles of the tunnel doors tightly. She used the thickest curtain cord she had been able to grab hold of while picking up her weapon. Time had to be bought, even if it was flimsy effort and might not obstruct her brothers for long.

Hikari had been recalling the conversation she had with Kenren on the second day of his stay at Seishin no Goten. The princess and Noboru were showing their guests around their stronghold. Despite her fifth brother's begrudging eye, the youngest Seishin aristocrat had managed to have a short private chat with the general.

The Nana-hime had mildly chastised his foolhardiness, resulting in his temporary imprisonment and collection of wounds. Those who cared had been petrified on his behalf, she had impressed upon him. But her pique was false and Kenren had smirked knowingly.

"Sorry for makin' ya worry, hime! I've got de same scoldin' from Tenpou, ya know?" the general had not sounded repentant though. "But com'on… sometimes, someone just gotta speak up. If it's Goku bein' treated like dirt, ya definitely butt in too, yeah?"

And Hikari had felt she perfectly understood where the general was coming from.

Therefore, the Seishin princess ran and ran and ran. She did not know how much time she had to avoid being apprehended herself.

The trip to the imperial palace was accomplished at top speed. Expectedly, security was out in full force within the royal grounds. Men rushed about and the paranoia was high. Fortunately, the Seishin Okimi and his two sons were allowed access.

Major decision-makers of Tentei's bureaucracy were gathered at the senate, which built near the audience hall.

They were hastening through one of the walkways there when they felt tremors beneath their feet. It was odd enough a happening to make the aristocrats stop and look at one another quizzically.

The laboratory was eerily quiet.

Consciousness slit its way into Goujun, as did the pain that constricted his body to the point of numbness.

His left vision was lost.

And he could not feel his legs at all.

Ahh… something must have happened to his vertebrae.

Beyond a little turn of his head, which already demanded too immense an effort from him, the dragon king found himself immobile. It was impossible to flip himself on his back so he could face the opening of the hollow he had fallen through.

Goujun had sharp olfactory senses, though, by virtue of his genes. He could smell the blood even so far below the floor of this disgusting abomination-breeding chamber.

It was not surprising since the place had been painted in the gory detail by the time he had appeared and seen an exhausted and highly injured Kenren struggling to keep himself upright against the metal wall.

The commander of the Western Army supposed the heretical creature was done with its vile task, considering the discernible lack of activity above. He hoped it had been thorough. The general had bid for a full consumption of even his bones, after all.

Since he was alone, Goujun could admit his eyes might be wet.

By the time Shou and Noboru sensed their sister was taking too long and came searching, Hikari could no longer to be found within the ambassadorial palace. Her sword was gone, though it was a question how much the princess would be able to utilise her blade given the suppression of her abilities.

The two Seishin princes could only take the princess's assistant at her word that she had no prior warning the Nana-hime would slip away.

Before the princelings could give chase via the same passageway which their sister had taken, a servant came by to inform them that a messenger was waiting in the main hall bearing a most critical report.

It was news that monsters were mysteriously erupted in the imperial palace, leaving a trail of rubble and the dead in their wake.

She had only used the underground routes between the delegate residence and the imperial palace thrice in the period of time she spent in the capital as the Nana-hime. Two times, the destination was a bureau located at the north-east grid of the royal holding and one time, a ministry at the south-west.

It was hardly adequate knowledge to help her navigate effectively through the labyrinthine levels.

But as an ex-Western Squadron soldier, she knew well the path from the military compound to the one and only dimension gate. It was a no-brainer that the rebels needed to get to the gate and by extension, made sense to meet them there. So Hikari hoped she would hit a familiar corridor as long as she kept descending floors and orientating herself according to where the hall of the gate was.

There had been pockets of guards she needed to avoid. But it was not as often as she had thought and guessed the security forces were more concentrated over the predicted routes rather than from the direction she had approached. Presently, Hikari was stuck hiding behind a corner and planning how to bypass a batch of Eastern Army soldiers who had planted themselves in the adjacent pathway.

Then out of the blue, the floor began to shake. To Hikari's utter astonishment, the structure started to groan. Particularly where the men were standing, cracks were running through the floor, up the walls and plaster was raining down.

It all happened in a split second. The soldiers were yelling; there was a ringing animalistic scream; the stone floor exploded upwards in chunks and a massive thing was slithering out from the crater as agile as a snake except it cannot be one with that enormous bulk.

Hikari did not think twice before hightailing it out of her hiding place, back to her previous position. It was not far – a door to two flights of stairs leading upwards. More importantly, it would shield her from cries of terror and inhuman grunts that occurred when an unstoppable bestial creature was ravaging flesh.

The door shut firmly and hyperventilating princess leaned back against it. Intellectually, Hikari recognised what she had seen; except, it was not supposed to be possible. But puzzles of materialising heretical creatures would have to wait. There was a greater priority.

Counting with deep breaths, Hikari forced her heartbeat to calm to a more normal rhythm. The back of her hand was wet with sweat of fear when she swiped her brow. Seiun-ken was tucked into her belt and she gripped it tight to encourage and ground herself.

She pressed a ear against the wooden panel. The nothing she heard persuaded her to crack open the door. It was truly silent outside.

Warily, Hikari slipped into the corridor and sneaked closer to her prior spot. The absence of any movement about was unnerving.

It was the smell that hit her first – dusty, cloying and coppery. And when she took in the state of the adjacent hallway, the Nana-hime immediately clamped her palm over her mouth. Wide, horrified eyes catalogued the gaping hole in the floor and the bodies callously slew about amidst splashes of blood. There were limbs. And there were also deep claw marks – grooves in the stone that ran almost parallel to one another.

The trail of blood and wreckage stretched far into the path on Hikari's right. It was most fortuitous that the door she needed to get to was on the left. The princess made herself not think too hard about the matter as she ran for the exit.

To her bleak rejoicing, the stairs stretched several floors down. Peeking through a tiny opening of the doors at the final level, excitement flared briefly upon recognising the flooring pattern and decorative motif on the walls. This was it: the dimensional gate was near.

Hikari let herself into the corridor, moving leftward. There was no one about, so – considering the importance of this particular location – she hoped it was a good sign.

Then, she approached the second opening on the left and Hikari realised she had been foolishly optimistic.

The dank, metallic stench introduced the hallway of corpses before they were visible. It was overpowering; more potent than from the slaughter she had left.

Numbly, the Seishin aristocrat took in the carnage. No savage abomination was the cause this time. The signs of a battle between men were certain: injuries were made by a weapon – a blade, specifically.

Apparently, someone succeeded in cutting down these opponents… someone whose weapon of choice was a sword and might currently be lying among them.

The Nana-hime endured the reactionary bile that rose to her throat. Step by gingerly step forward, Hikari made herself scan through the figures on the ground, hoping against hope that she would not see anyone familiar.

But there she spotted him, by the wall.

At that moment, Hikari hated how she could identify that inky shoulder-length hair and lab coat anywhere, no matter the crimson that was pooled beneath and the smears of the same all over the form. Much of it must have come from the gash on his back.

Heedlessly, the princess skipped over the two bodies obstructing her.

"Tenpou– Tenpou!" Hikari collapsed to her knees beside the marshal-adjutant. He was lying on his side and a careful tug laid him on his back. Someone had nicked his right cheek and his glasses were missing. With a gasp, the princess tore her gaze away after a glimpse of the lower body.

Trembling fingers brushed the damp strands of hair away from the strategist's face before drifting down to the base of his neck. There was a pulse, but so long, slow and faint she had to clench her jaws to keep herself from breaking down there and then.

Her shaking hands moved, one under the head in a cradle and the other grasping a shoulder.

"Tenpou! It's me… Hikari!"

Leaning over the limp body, the princess's voice wavered. She kept her eyes glued to the pale, clammy mien smudged by red – still appealing but oh, too cold and still – since it was better than keeping a visual account of entrails spilling out of a gaping gut.

"Wake up…" she begged.

Amazingly, those eyelids peered opened. There might have been a flicker of something – surprise perhaps, had there been enough energy – in those dimmed green orbs.

Hikari wanted to say that she could go run and get medical help. Except she was scared stiff the moment she turned away, there would be nothing left to return to. In the end, the princess could only scrunch up her face and start to whimper, clutching the soldier tighter.

Her eyes flew opened, however, when she felt the lightest of caress on her cheek, along with a hasher whiff of copper.

Tenpou was smiling. It was one of his honest, gentling of features; infinitesimal in measure but depthless in meaning. Those that always made the aristocrat feel she and the marshal-adjutant had finally found common ground and all was serene between them.

"… pity."

With just that, his hand flopped to the sticky floor.

And Hikari's wails had no power to wake the dead.

After the first confirmed sighting of heretical creatures, the situation at the imperial palace turned more chaotic. So far, these sieges of terror seemed confined to the underground and at differing locations. There were, however, worrisome signs that these beasts were making their way up to the open air.

Slightly before they had reached the senate, Genshou, Yuu and Mamoru had been told of this latest calamity that had fallen on the royal grounds. They had been encouraged to leave but the Seishin Okimi had been adamant on meeting either his colleagues of the other external agencies or Kanzeon Bosatsu.

Strangely, the de fecto leaders of the military – speaking particularly of Li Touten – had nowhere to been found. Therefore, there had been no one with enough clout to prevent the Seishin ruling family members from proceeding to their intended destination.

As it turned out, it might have been wiser not to show up.

"Surely this is no time to fling accusations about!" Genshou lost his composure after the third mention of his lapse in advance warning despite receiving the prophecy of Tentei's demise. Yuu and Mamoru were bristling by his side.

There had been a fair share of ministers who opted to seek refuge out of the imperial palace. There were those, on the other hand, who thought it their patriotic duty to stay put, since they seemed to have got it into their heads that the stability of the Realm was now delegated upon their belligerent shoulders.

Kanzeon was also facing her own share of reproof for her arrangement of Goku's stay in the Realm Above. There was no way to get close to the hermaphrodite deity, much less share Hikari's conjuncture of the truth.

The only practical information was the continuous reporting on subjugation attempts of the heretical creatures. So far, only one had been contained. Unfortunately, body counts were still rising.

The goddess of mercy sat in her high-backed seat, stony in demeanour and temper simmering. She could care less about her fellow bureaucrats.

Suddenly, Genshou staggered back, falling heavily into his chair. His dramatic behaviour caught the attention of the nearer courtiers.

"It's broken…" the Seishin Okimi was staring into the air glassily, his face pale.

Flanking their father, Yuu and Mamoru exchanged a worried glance. The telltale rings of light around the Seishin Okimi's eyes were missing so it was not a prophetic moment. "Chichi-ou-sama…?"

"We needed to go!" the Seishin lord snapped back to himself, instructing his sons in undertones.

With only a brusque farewell to his disgruntled peers, Genshou made his leave. Though mystified, Yuu and Mamoru followed after accordingly.

Kanzeon's brooding gaze followed the Seishin no Goten trio as they exited hastily. This was the only incident of note since entering the senate.

Moments after emerging from the building, Genshou and his two eldest sons were taken back to see an obviously panicking Yon-ouji and Roku-ouji running towards them. Within one minute of hearing from Shou and Noboru, the Seishin lord understood why he had felt the seal upon his daughter shattered.

The winds had intensified in the last ten minutes. It was practically a gale of cherry blossom petals now; very suitably supernatural for the occasion.

Finally having had enough of the bickering and castigation, Kanzeon had followed Ganshou's precedence shortly after and simply stalked out of the assembly chamber. Since then, she had been trying to while the time away at the more isolated spots of the royal courtyards.

For, she was waiting. The closing drew near.

And then...

Kanzeon fancied she could pinpoint the exact time her nephew passed into oblivion. Inexplicably, there was simply a vacuum in the cosmos.

Soft pink specks swirled high en masse, agitated. The goddess of mercy raised her nose and took a deep whiff of the scented air.

"Though the branch is flower bare;
and petals scattered.
Fragrance rises as incense."

No one else was around to hear this murmur of goodbye.

Well, her voice would have been carried away at any rate… How fitting.

In the twilight between the doorways of the two Realms, darkness shrouded a little body curled up on floor.

He was left.

Footnotes:

1) An original poem that can only make sense in the context of this fanfiction. Blank verse but with oriental flavour in imagery and symbolism.

2) Clumsy creative license taken here; partly to make up for a slip in a previous journal entry that mentioned a few monsters running around. In the canon, only one creature survived to wreak havoc. But my plot development has modified along the way, creating this misalignment that has to be salvaged.

From Lady Rurouni:

This is it! The death chapter!

Personally, I wonder which is harder – to die (a glorious and self-sacrificing death it may be) or to be left behind to live on. I believe it is a matter of will. But how joyfully one survives is another matter altogether. Each person has their limitations. Then again, one can transcend them. Who knows, as long as there is hope?

And I've definitely been waiting a looong time to write the farewell scene between Tenpou and Hikari.

Review please!