We are nearly at the end of this journey. I hope you will enjoy the rest.

The final two chapters will be released back to back on May 21 and May 22. Thank you so much for your patience and support.

Chapter 20

[05.15.2020]

"The Black Dragon," Syuusuke murmured. He stood on one of the Kawasaki's wooden piers, looking out at the dark river.

Black River, the widest and longest river running through the empire, had nutrient-rich silt lying under the strong currents, which turned its water dark and gave it its name. According to legends, the river had once been a dragon whose scales were as dark and lustrous as obsidian. It was said the dragon had waited a thousand years for the day when it would rise to the heavens, growing larger and more powerful as it waited. But when the auspicious day came, the dragon found its body was too great and heavy to rise in the air. So the black dragon lay down on earth again, its tail resting on the tallest mountain, its head stretched toward the sea where it was born. There the dragon lay sleeping to this day, dreaming of the distant skies, and as it slumbered, tears fell unceasing from the dragon's eyes and formed a river as dark as its scales. And so the Black River was also known as the Black Dragon River, or simply the Black Dragon.

"Dragon? You mean the one in the legend?" Yuuta questioned. His brother nodded, but his distraction was clear to see. Yuuta hesitated, then lightly touched Syuusuke's elbow. "Hey. They'll make it."

When Syuusuke raised his head, Yuuta did not fidget under the weight of those blue eyes. It was strange to see that his brother, who never showed weakness before another person, was anxious. For once in their lives, Yuuta found himself being the one trying to reassure his older brother. The thought felt alien after a lifetime of the opposite, but also – nice. Maybe even a little bit flattering.

"Anyway, we even managed to clear out Ro garrison from here, so—"

"Movement," Echizen snapped, coming to a halt right in front of Syuusuke like he didn't even notice Yuuta was there. "Headed this way."

Syuusuke was instantly alert. "Ours?"

"Not sure yet. Momo-senpai's leading a scouting party to check."

"Number?"

Echizen's golden eyes bore into Syuusuke's. "Three thousand, give or take."

"About right," Syuusuke murmured, and Echizen nodded tightly in agreement. Yuuta watched them, once again struck by how quickly and easily they understood each other. "How far?"

"Less than an hour for the head of the party. Rest – up to half a day. Come to the flagship bridge, we're meeting for updates."

"Hey," Yuuta interjected, growing more certain by the moment that Echizen was definitely not including him in the conversation. All right, so maybe he was also a bit annoyed by the strange mutual understanding between the two of them. But definitely not jealous. Saeki was deluded.

Echizen blinked at him, as if finally noticing him. "Oh. It's the little Fuji. I guess you can come too."

"Little—" He was a head taller than Echizen, and he was not going to let the little brat get to him. "Yeah, real funny, Echizen."

In the end, it was Kawasaki that Ro's hidden division attacked, not Takatsuki. The Seishun fleet, left with a skeletal force while Tezuka led most of their division on land, was quickly overwhelmed and forced into retreat. As per Irie's advice, they had led the reinforcement up the Black River to Kawasaki, and had run into the retreating Seishun fleet not far from the harbor city. Between Syuusuke and Saeki, they made a quick work of reorganizing the Seishun troops. The start of the trouble was when they ran into the advance party from Tezuka's army led by Momoshiro and Echizen. Syuusuke and Echizen had literally taken one look at each other, and apparently that was all they needed: Echizen grinned fiercely, Syuusuke smiled back, and ten words into Echizen's crazy suggestion, Syuusuke took it up and finished for him. Before anyone else had a chance to say something, their insane surprise attack on the Ro garrison occupying Kawasaki was underway. Even Saeki and Momoshiro had stared at them, speechless, startled by the odd connection that clicked into place between the two of them.

The reckless plan actually worked, however, and they had managed to drive Ro garrison out of Kawasaki. Hopefully in a few days, Yamabuki's own army would arrive to defend Kawasaki from further attacks. At any rate, Yuuta and Saeki had a different mission to attend to, now that they had successfully secured Kawasaki. Neither of them was very happy about doing this at Irie Kanata's behest, but both agreed it made sense.

Yuuta cleared his throat. "Actually, as soon as Saeki-san has his team back together, we should get going."

His brother hesitated, perhaps mindful of Echizen's presence, but replied. "Yuuta, you and Saeki already took enough risk helping us this far. You don't have to do it. You have a life waiting in the imperial capital, and An-chan."

Yuuta gave him a look. "Are you kidding me? I'm not leaving you halfway through this. Besides, what Saeki-san and I will be doing, there's nothing dangerous. We're just going ahead of you and keeping an eye out for trouble, that's all." They even had a merchant vessel loaded with ceramics and other goods as a cover, as well as dozens of messenger pigeons stowed away in a secret compartment. Yuuta hated to admit it, but Irie had really covered every base.

Syuusuke's expression stopped him short. In all his life, Yuuta couldn't recall another time Syuusuke looked so open, his expression full of affection – and sadness. "Then, Yuuta, I think it's time." Syuusuke's voice was quieter, more tender still, for the next part. "One way or another, I will not be returning. So..."

In other words, this was goodbye. Logically, he'd known Syuusuke would be leaving, but it was only now that the idea rocked him to the core, that his brother would really be gone from his life. They wouldn't see each other for years. Or perhaps never again, but Yuuta quashed that thought. "...So."

Echizen considered the both of them, wide-eyed and unblinking, then stepped away. "One hour," he warned over his shoulder. "You should get ready to set sail soon, little Fuji. Soon as we know who's coming at us, we may have to leave right after."

With that, Echizen strode away, though his strides were more of a trot given his short height. Yuuta allowed himself a moment of smugness over that tidbit.

Then, he was face to face with his older brother. And Yuuta had no idea what to say. "Did Irie mention—?"

Syuusuke nodded. "Yes, but he said it would be better not to reveal our destination to anyone, even you and Saeki."

Yuuta sighed, running a hand over his short hair, spiking them up even more. "Probably best. We can't give away what we don't know."

"Yes."

There was a short stretch of silence. "It was Tezuka-san all along, huh?"

Syuusuke laughed, soft and fond, perhaps a little surprised himself. "Yes."

"Well. As long as you're happy," Yuuta offered gruffly. This supportive stuff was hard.

"Yuuta, our great-grandfather's bow..." Syuusuke trailed off, which was rare.

Yuuta frowned in confusion, then understanding dawned on him. "No. I never liked archery much. You're the proper heir. So you should keep it."

Syuusuke gave a slow shake of his head. "Nee-san was the true heir. The one who lived up to the legend of the Divine Archer." Yuuta vividly remembered the stories from his childhood, that Yumiko was so gifted an archer, she could shoot down an arrow in flight. "Yet she left it behind."

"She left everything behind," Yuuta said, and was surprised to realize that was the truth. It wasn't just her silken robes and sheared locks of her beautiful hair Yumiko left behind when she ran away. She had discarded everything including her name and her family, the tangled imperial bloodline and all. "You're not. You're going as Seishun's Fuji Syuusuke."

The heartfelt smile that brightened his brother's entire face brought yet another flush to Yuuta's face. "I'm very proud of you, you know," Syuusuke said very softly. "And grateful. I know you rushed your betrothal announcement for me, not for yourself." Syuusuke's eyes, when they looked up at him, were of the same breathtaking blue shade as the autumn sky, as beautiful as the glistening sea of Rokkaku's shores. "I always thought I was the one who had to protect you. But before I knew it, my baby brother had begun to protect me. You've grown strong, Yuuta."

Yuuta ducked his head, feeling pleased and proud and shy all at the same time. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed when a shout interrupted the moment. Echizen was sprinting toward them, lightning-fast.

"Fuji-senpai! The captain!"

That was when Yuuta realized the rumble in the distance was the sound of hooves approaching. A dozen riders, dusty and clearly battle-worn, rode into the view. At the head of the company was a familiar figure on a white horse—

Yuuta stared, speechless, as Syuusuke flew toward them as if on wings, as if noticing nothing else in in his path but Tezuka. Tezuka had his left arm in a bloodstained sling and was handling the reins one-handed, the blue of his uniform so covered with dust it was barely recognizable. A pang went through Yuuta's heart when he realized Tezuka was also looking only at his brother, pulling sharply to a stop and jumping off his horse in one smooth movement. There was a sound from somewhere, inarticulate, heartrending, and suddenly the pair was embracing so closely, Yuuta couldn't tell where one ended and the other began. Tezuka closed his eyes, brows drawn together in almost painful relief and joy, pressing his lips to Syuusuke's hair. Then they were blindly seeking each other's mouths until their lips met.

The passion with which Tezuka kissed Syuusuke was startling. Yuuta swallowed and looked away. The depth of emotions between his brother and Tezuka was impossible to miss. He was happy for his brother, but a part of him was inexplicably sad. Ever since they were little, Yuuta had always known he came first in his brother's thoughts. But now, looking at the way Tezuka cradled his brother's neck as they kissed again, and the way Syuusuke leaned into the touch with a sigh, Yuuta knew from now on his brother would always choose to go with Tezuka. Like a single stream dividing into two, they would never go back to the days when Yuuta's happiness was what mattered the most to Syuusuke.

But, like two streams, maybe they would meet again one day in the wide open sea where all streams were destined to gather at the end. If this was a goodbye, it would not be a final one. He wouldn't let it.

The thought finally eased the knot in his heart, and Yuuta looked at the pair again. Syuusuke was touching Tezuka's face with such naked happiness and relief, it was hard to look at the two of them without feeling moved. Instead of looking away this time, Yuuta smiled. When they parted here, he would go with a hopeful heart, knowing his brother was in love and was loved in return, and was leaving not to disappear but to find himself. That way, he could look forward to the day they would meet again under a brighter sun.

"You've brought that with you?"

Yukimura half turned, looking over his shoulder at Sanada, who stood watching him from the doorway to his cabin. "It's not nice to spy on people, you know," he reminded Sanada, who snorted.

"You left your door open. Renji's looking for you." Sanada entered the cabin without waiting for an invitation, and Yukimura returned his attention to the beautifully lacquered bow. Next came a quiver full of personalized arrows with ornately etched shafts, fletched with glossy raven feathers. "You don't use your bow often in public."

"It's something of a private endeavor," Yukimura admitted. When he started the long rehabilitation process, countless hours spent retraining his weakened arms to hold a sword again, the bow, his favorite from childhood, presented a particularly difficult hurdle. His arms could not draw the weight, his hands were too unsteady for a sure aim, and his body too uncertain of its balance to hold his stance. The bow was the last part Yukimura recovered, the part that reassured him that he was indeed back to his old self. Even though he was honored with personalized arrows marking him as a master archer years ago, he did not exhibit his skill with the bow in public. His bow was too precious a gift to share frivolously with others who did not understand what it meant to him. Even among his treasured teammates, very few had seen him shoot.

"Because of Fuji?"

Yukimura shook his head. "He just reminded me, that's all. That I can't afford to hold back. Not any part of me. I must use everything I've got."

"Seishun's fleet was confirmed passing the City of Mito," Sanada noted, a displeased frown on his face. City of Mito was one of many harbor cities that lay along the length of the Black River, but this particular harbor belonged to the Takashiro dominion, which lay to the east of – and downriver from – Seishun. That Tezuka's fleet passed Mito was incontrovertible proof that the fleet's destination was not Seishun. "What a disgrace. Tezuka should not have done it."

Yanagi had dispatched spies to Mito, not only to confirm that Seishun was heading downriver, but also, if opportunity should present itself, to ascertain whether the Emperor had indeed given an imperial order. And – once ascertained – to secure it.

Tezuka's flagship had stopped by the City of Mito, only for a few hours, but long enough that the Rikkai spies did not miss the chance.

Yukimura's lips turned up at the corners. "But he has managed quite well in this campaign. He lifted the siege at Suita in a record time. Takatsuki is Tezuka's victory also, not Daimaru's, no matter what the report says. Granted, without the Emperor mobilizing Shishigaku, it would have been impossible, but Tezuka nevertheless completed all that he set out to do, despite the odds stacked against him. The Emperor isn't mistaken in his choice." Yukimura's voice turned serious, and if there was respect in his eyes, there was also a cold wariness. "He is far stronger than I expected. And now, he has the young prince, a dagger poised at the empire's back for years to come." When Yukimura met Sanada's eyes, his gaze was pure steel. "Just as I thought, I must be the one to defeat Tezuka."

"I won't give you the chance. I'll crush Tezuka myself."

The declaration had the immovable weight of a mountain behind it. But there was also a note of challenge in it. "Will you?" Yukimura returned. As he expected, Sanada's eyes turned darker, fighting spirit kindling in his gaze. "Tell me, Genichirou. Is it that you don't want me to risk it because I am the Lord of Rikkai? Or that you want to fight Tezuka yourself?"

Sanada didn't answer. Yukimura wondered if Sanada even knew the answer himself.

"He is the leader of Seishun even if not by title. I have to defeat him myself." Sanada still did not say anything, and Yukimura left it at that. It was well-nigh impossible to turn Sanada from his purpose when his heart was set on something. Deciding to leave the argument for another time, Yukimura ran loving fingertips down the lacquered wood of his bow, then checked the bowstring. With one sinuous pull he bent the bow with his left hand, and fastened the bowstring with his right, feeling the hum go through the entire length of the bow. Long time no see. A song to greet him, like an old friend welcoming him. Speaking of bows.

"About Fuji," Yukimura started, lightly plucking at his bowstring. "It's very likely he'll be there. Make sure he doesn't leave the field alive. Or any of the core members of Tezuka's team."

"Fuji?" Sanada's dark brows knitted together. "Why Fuji? This will be his first battle. While I don't deny he has potential, he would be no threat on his own."

Fuji was also the beloved nephew to the Empress, but Sanada must know that would have no bearing on Yukimura's decision, hence not commenting on that part. Of course, it also meant Sanada's objection was out of an actual desire to spare Fuji rather than mere form. Sanada's attachment to talent had to be witnessed to be believed. The usually strict and rigid general's regard for their young ace, Kirihara Akaya, was a subject of much ribbing within the team, even as Kirihara remained oblivious.

"That's what I thought at first. But if he lives, he may bring up yet another dragon in his wake."

"The boy," Sanada rumbled. Echizen. Of course. Yukimura knew Sanada had not forgotten his defeat at the hands of the young upstart. But Yukimura also knew Sanada, and knew Sanada's esteem for young Echizen must be no small thing.

Yet Sanada did not say anything more, not even to point out Echizen was only sixteen years old, barely out of childhood. Yukimura thought he understood why Sanada wouldn't – perhaps couldn't – bring himself to ask whether they could not spare Echizen, even though he wanted to. In that tournament arena, it wasn't just Tezuka who had swayed the audience with his unflinching resolve. Echizen Ryoma, the son of a Shitennou, had faced Sanada Genichirou in an all-out match with unbreakable courage that set fire in the heart of every person who had watched the tournament final. Even though Sanada liked Echizen, he was not blind to the danger the boy would become in the future any more than Yukimura was. By the same token, Sanada knew this was one thing Yukimura would have no choice but to refuse if asked, and – just as importantly, Yukimura wasn't sure whether his refusal was something Sanada could forgive. Therefore, they said nothing to each other, and let the heavy silence sit between them like a naked blade.

"Tezuka must be dealt with," Yukimura said resolutely, breaking the silence. "And anyone irrevocably connected to Tezuka, those who will not forsake his cause. But if others in Tezuka's army should surrender afterward, there is no reason to waste well-trained soldiers. Particularly now, when we may soon be facing both Ro and Beikoku in war."

Some hidden tension in Sanada seemed to ease, noticeable only now that it was gone. A compromise, offered and accepted. Sanada acknowledged Yukimura's words with a solemn nod, waiting.

"Renji estimates Seishun will make it downriver to Sendai in less than three days. By then, we will have joined our fleet assembled at the mouth of the Black River. We will set up a blockade just upstream from the City of Sendai." The City of Sendai was scarcely five leagues from where the Black River flowed into the sea. The mouth of the river itself was too wide and dotted with islands to be blockaded efficiently. But just a few miles west from the City of Sendai, there was a sharp bend in the river which briefly narrowed its waterway before flowing into an open stretch all the way down to the sea. Rikkai boasted a fleet of nearly two hundred warships. Nothing, they both knew without saying, would be able to pass through their blockade unscathed. Laying down the bow in his lap, Yukimura fixed Sanada with a bright-eyed stare. "Do we have an idea of their numbers yet?"

Sanada scowled. "There's no knowing exactly how many were sent to reinforce them, but from what we know of Seishun's total armed forces, Yamato could not have sent more than six thousand. Assuming Tezuka had some losses or had the sense to leave the wounded behind in Shishigaku, we'd still be looking at a full division or so." There was a pause, then Sanada continued, voice darker. "Sendai is the last place we'll be able to catch them before they sail into open sea."

Yukimura nodded. "Seishun doesn't have large warships. And given the Emperor was able to move the reinforcement virtually unnoticed, those ships can't be bigger than mid-sized warships, with three or four hundred men per ship at most. Seishun's original fleet was what, thirty-five? No matter what, we cannot let them pass our blockade. Once they're past Sendai, they'll be able to dart between islands where our ships won't be able to maneuver fast enough to follow."

"Then we'll be sure to stop them before that." It was only because Yukimura knew him so well that he recognized a thread of hesitation in Sanada's voice. "Losses will be unavoidable. I doubt Seishun will go down quietly."

"No. They'll go down fighting to the end. It's exactly what we'd do in their place." Suddenly feeling tired, Yukimura rubbed his forehead. "All this, over who gets to sit on the thrice-damned throne. When this is all over," he vowed, grim and determined, "I'm going to make sure this sort of idiocy doesn't happen again."

"Including the Empress?"

Yukimura's eyes narrowed. "Especially the Empress. I shudder to imagine that harpy behind the screens."

Behind the screens – the only way a woman could rule the empire as of yet. With the current heir apparent presumably in flight with the Seishun's fleet, the Empress must be counting days before her adopted son, Prince Masara, was officially declared the successor, and by the same token, ensure her own rule over the empire.

"We'll still have Hyoutei and Shitenhouji to contend with," Sanada reminded him. He needed not mention Atobe must be consolidating his own set of influence even as they spoke.

"If he's got any brain, Atobe will use this opportunity to solidify his own support," Yukimura said coolly. "Because this will be the last time we leave Hyoutei to act so freely. This whole business with Seishun is a pinnacle of bad timing in so many ways."

"First we'll focus on Seishun. Rest can wait."

Yukimura couldn't help a chuckle. "With you, some things really are that simple."

Sanada didn't so much as shrug. Yukimura reached out, tracing light fingertips over his cheekbone. Sanada let him for a few seconds before catching the wandering hand with his own. "We'll crush Tezuka and his forces. We will win this war. We will bring peace to the empire. Isn't that what you plan?" Sanada asked in a voice as unyielding as a stone.

A smile, small but real, curved Yukimura's mouth. "Yes."

"Then keep your thoughts focused on your goals. Think of nothing else."

Just like Sanada to say that. Often likened to a demon of war, Sanada's overwhelming concentration during a battle was what distinguished him as the heir to one of the Shitennou, Sanada Gen'emon. It reminded Yukimura of the old saying that no tiger ever begot a dog. Quite unfortunate, that he would have to cut down the heirs of the other three Shitennou at once. But to realize his vision of a unified and strong empire, to fulfill Rikkai's destiny, it was necessary. That was why Sanada chose him, chose Rikkai, because Yukimura had the resolve to do whatever was needed.

Yukimura turned his hand to clasp Sanada's hand firmly. "Yes."

Even if the Emperor's departure from the palace had gone unnoticed, his return was not so anonymous. Nor did the Emperor make any attempt to hide or explain the absence of his son. In addition, five hundred elite imperial guards had vanished along with their lieutenant commander, Oni Juujirou. How on earth their sovereign and the commanders of his imperial guards managed to keep all this a complete secret was a subject of much speculation for the whole court.

If the Empress had any thoughts on the matter, she kept them to herself.

Shiraishi did not try to make his visit to Atobe discreet. For one, Atobe was officially courting his sister, and clandestine dealings would serve no purpose.

"Did you expect this?" he asked as soon as the two of them were alone in Atobe's office.

Atobe shot him a sharp look. "No." Then, with transparent irritation he added, "I should have."

"Seishun's fleet was seen moving past the City of Mito," Shiraishi noted. "And Rikkai is moving their own fleet to the mouth of the Black River. No official explanation was given." Shiraishi caught Atobe's eyes, expression grave. "Is it what I think it is?"

Atobe's mouth tightened. "Very likely. No doubt Rikkai's destination is Sendai."

"Ah." If Tezuka was escorting the young prince, then he would have to lead his troops out of the empire. The fastest way was to go down the river by ship and cross the sea. If Rikkai was trying to block their escape, the abrupt bend in the river near the City of Sendai presented a strategically sound position. "And if Tezuka has an imperial mandate? Even if Seishun technically withdrew from the field of battle without permission, they did complete their mission. And if the Emperor gave Seishun a direct order, Rikkai wouldn't have any grounds to stop them."

"If the Seishun fleet is given a chance to present it," Atobe pointed out, his acid wit fully unsheathed. "And if the order doesn't mysteriously go missing at some point." Shiraishi grimaced. Subterfuge and sabotage were commonplace tactics to undermine political enemies. "Tezuka hasn't sent anything to the Department of Defense after submitting his last report that Suita and Takatsuki have been secured. And Yukimura didn't even bother with an official explanation why Rikkai fleet has been moved. For all I know, Yukimura will claim it was a training exercise afterward. At this point, Seishun isn't stupid enough to try and talk their way out of it. And even if they wanted to, Rikkai wouldn't listen."

Shiraishi sighed and leaned on his left elbow, putting his chin in his bandaged hand. "So – it's safe to assume Tezuka won't be returning." One way or another. He didn't need to say it aloud.

"He shouldn't have picked a side," Atobe gritted out.

Shiraishi closed his eyes with a sigh. "Did he have a choice? Would the Emperor have left him alone? Or Rikkai and the Empress?" When he opened his eyes, Atobe did not avoid his gaze. "For the Emperor, Seishun is probably the only chance for his son's survival. And Rikkai would suffer no rival, because it'd polarize the empire over the issue of succession. If there was a way around it, I'm sure Tezuka would have taken it."

"Yes, but now the balance will be broken. Rikkai will suffer some damage, yes, but Seishun isn't strong enough to break Rikkai's back just yet. Which means once Tezuka is out of the picture, Yukimura will return to being the only hand at the reins of this war. A sweeping victory against Ro, and Rikkai's influence will grow unchecked once again."

"If Seishun makes it, though?" An idea was rapidly forming in Shiraishi's mind. Wild idea, certainly, and potentially a useless venture, but an idea nonetheless. "If Tezuka escapes with the little prince, and remains a thorn in Rikkai's side?"

"How?"

"The main force we sent. From what Oshitari and Zaizen reported, they have reached the City of Chita, and first leg of their main supply line runs up the Black River to Lake Niwa – straight through the part of the river that Hyoutei and Shitenhouji control. And Rikkai just redirected their remaining force to stop Seishun. But Hyoutei and Shitenhouji," he said with a slow grin forming on his mouth, "have most of our forces stationed near home."

"We take the main supply line in the pretext of securing it," Atobe concluded. "Force Rikkai to divert part of their fleet to establish an alternate supply route. It may not be enough, but it's a start. It just might give Seishun an opening." Shrewd grey eyes studied him. "You like Tezuka."

"Yeah," Shiraishi admitted honestly. "Don't you?"

"Better than Yukimura," Atobe conceded.

"It's interesting." Shiraishi plucked at his sleeve, thoughtful. "You would have at least tried to get Tezuka on your side first. Yukimura immediately went for the throat. I presume that's why Tezuka challenged Rikkai in the tournament. He was objecting to Yukimura's ruthless style of leadership."

"One needs a measure of ruthlessness to lead," Atobe observed.

"Maybe," Shiraishi allowed. "But was that the only way?" He met Atobe's eyes, not provoking but in an honest query.

Atobe's mouth quirked, the expression rueful. "Maybe not," Atobe replied. "Something you and I can keep in mind for the future." After a heartbeat, Atobe's expression became more serious. "Are Shitenhouji and Hyoutei together in this?"

"You will become my brother-in-law." Since his sister Yukari had accepted Atobe's suit, that part was almost guaranteed. "Neither Hyoutei nor Shitenhouji can manage Rikkai alone. And soon, Seishun will be out of the picture. The empire needs a new balance."

"My family has held every seat in the imperial court except for the throne." Atobe's voice held a hint of pride. It was true that the Atobe clan was one of the most prestigious families in the empire. Generations of the Atobe clan had been the Ministers of Left and Right, Prime Ministers and regents. Small wonder they considered themselves kingmakers, the true power behind the throne. "Ultimately, the future of this empire does not rest in the hands of its ruler alone, but on those who have the power and the vision to shape it. We can provide both, you and I."

"Then Shitenhouji is with Hyoutei." Shiraishi gave him a closemouthed smile. "For as long as this new balance lasts."

Atobe's answering smirk was challenging but genuine. "Then we have an accord."

When Tezuka awoke, it was just before dawn. His body still ached faintly, too taxed to the limits recently to feel fully rested, but his limbs did not feel weighed down with weariness. Rather, he felt warm and clean, his skin still tingling with the memory of Fuji's touch. The night before, Fuji drew him a bath – a luxury he was reluctant to accept while they were still in the middle of a campaign, but Fuji was quietly insistent in the way only Fuji could be – and took the time to thoroughly wash every inch of his body. Afterward, it had been so easy to catch Fuji's hand and pull him close. Fuji had smiled, radiant and gentle, and leaned down to kiss him. And then...

The place next to him was still warm, but Fuji was gone. Tezuka sat up on the bed, looking around, and found no trace of Fuji in the cabin. With some reluctance he rose and dressed in a simple robe, throwing on an outer robe before he strode out of the cabin.

The deck was mostly deserted, manned only by a minimal crew keeping the ship on course, with Seishun's exhausted soldiers resting below decks. At least motion sickness was not much of a concern among them: being a riverside dominion, Seishun's troops regularly drilled on ships.

He found Fuji on the raised stern of the ship, staring at the sky just beginning to turn lavender and rose. Fuji was wearing only a white sleeping robe and looked even more slender than he was. When Tezuka made his way to his side, Fuji didn't turn around, but leaned into him when Tezuka came to wrap his uninjured arm around Fuji.

"Regrets?"

Because there could have been many. Foremost being the farewell to his beloved younger brother and his childhood friend, both of whom left on a merchant ship ahead of Seishun's fleet. And none of them was likely to see home again in a long time. Perhaps never, if their fortune took a turn for the worse.

Fuji shook his head minutely. "I regret nothing." Fuji's fair skin was almost bluish in the pallid light before the sunrise. Yet, looking at the gentle smile playing on Fuji's lips, Tezuka thought he had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. "This was the first choice I made for myself in a very long time." He craned his neck to meet Tezuka's eyes, softened blue on warm brown. "This is the only choice I know I will never regret."

Thoughts were clamoring for his attention already. The likeliest place where Rikkai's fleet would be stationed to intercept Seishun's ships, the odds they would face, their troops exhausted and many wounded, with Rikkai's fresh and out for the kill. Soon, he would have to turn to those thoughts, to figure out some way to keep his men from being slaughtered. And the thought of his men, having to turn their blades on their own countrymen...

"What about you?" Fuji's question was quiet, almost lost in the breeze.

"There is no way to avoid this fight," Tezuka said, more of a question than a statement.

Fuji was silent for a moment. "I thought you would feel conflicted. Seishun or Rikkai, they are still our people." After a pause, Fuji spoke again. "Do you remember when we stopped at Mito?"

Tezuka did. There hadn't been a pressing need, but Fuji had insisted that they stop for a few hours while Fuji went ashore with a few members of their team. Afterward, Tezuka learned Fuji had gone to meet one of Irie's agents in the harbor and hadn't thought much of the incident.

"I told you I was there to meet one of Irie's spies. That was one reason. The other was...there was an idea I wanted to test. Irie agreed to set it up for me." Tezuka did not prompt verbally, silently waiting for Fuji to continue. "While we were out, someone broke into the flagship and stole the order from the Emperor."

Tezuka frowned. He had noticed someone had entered his cabin. But the Emperor's order wasn't in his office: Vice-Commander Oni had insisted on carrying it on his person at all times for safekeeping.

"You planted a fake," Tezuka guessed.

Fuji nodded. "Irie agreed casting a pebble to safeguard a pearl may buy us a few days. And Irie's spy at Mito confirmed that she saw a number of people she recognized as Rikkai spies. So, it would seem Rikkai has already guessed you moved the fleet under a direct order from the Emperor and took steps to remove that order from your possession." Fuji's eyes held regret, but also understanding. "I had an opportunity to speak with Yukimura before I left," Fuji said with a nearly inaudible sigh. "I liked him, much to my own surprise. And I think I see what you saw in him. But the Yukimura right now... He does not see any other paths. So he won't stop until you are dead, and anyone who follows you and won't give you up will be eliminated. So – no, there is no way for us to avoid this fight." The last was said with a soft exhalation which might have been a sigh. "Do you regret taking on Rikkai now?"

Tezuka considered it for a moment. "I never saw the point of regretting anything. Even if I could go back in time, I'd still make the same choices." He dropped his gaze, knowing that even though his choices were his own, there were others who would be forced to pay for them. That was why, despite protests, he had left many of the injured back at Suita, under the care of his officers, Nishi Hideto and Hayashi Daisuke. And at Kawasaki, he had explained to the troops what they would be facing if they were to carry out the Emperor's order, and allowed anyone unwilling to remain and guard the harbor city instead. A surprising number had chosen to continue, and two of his junior officers, Arai Masashi and Ikeda Masaya, had to be all but forced to stay behind to lead those who remained at Kawasaki. "But I never meant for anyone else to be mixed up in the consequence of my choices."

"That's just like you." Fuji's smile was a little sad around the edges. "Can we win this, Tezuka?"

Tezuka did not answer. They had a little shy of ten thousand men on forty-five ships – vastly outnumbered by Rikkai's famously well-trained troops waiting for them. He might very well be leading them all to their deaths. Including Fuji, he thought, swallowing against a suddenly lump in his throat, who might have chosen a certain doom over a life of ease. His heart couldn't help a painful contraction. Wouldn't it have been better for Fuji to go with his brother, to live and remember?

"You're brooding." The smile was back in Fuji's voice. "We haven't lost this fight yet, you know. Besides..." Fuji turned in his one-armed hold, just enough so that they were face to face. Blue eyes bore into his earnestly, startling in their openness. "Is there any shame in fighting to the end, even if you lose? Who is to say it means any less than fighting for the winning side? At Kawasaki, you told everyone what was waiting for us and gave them the choice to stay behind. Those that remain with us now are the ones who would not leave you even in death." Fuji's lips curved, blue eyes somehow gentle and fierce at the same time. "We believe in the choice that you made. That's why we're all here. Why I came here, to be with you. You are worth fighting for, Tezuka Kunimitsu. Will you tell us that we're mistaken?"

To be regarded with such trust and loyalty was humbling. And it would be worse than cowardice to dishonor their feelings. Whatever it took, he would see them through this. Tezuka took a short breath to steel himself. "No."

"Then take my word for it. I regret nothing. Not my choice. Not my fate, whatever it may hold. Not even that our time together might be cut so short."

Their lips sought each other's out like two poles of a magnet, forever attracted, forever seeking each other. Tezuka kept their kiss slow and lingering, all of his gratitude and love cradled in their embrace with infinite care. When Fuji opened his eyes, the beauty of those shimmering blue eyes nearly took his breath away. Fuji's fingertips caressed the side of his face, so very gentle, and Tezuka caught his wrist, pressing his lips on the smooth skin.

This time, when they kissed again, Fuji's arms wrapped around him with a desperate strength, pressed against Tezuka until they were all but melded into one. Fuji's breathing was quick and light when they broke apart. "Stay with me," Tezuka murmured.

"Forever," Fuji answered, his voice silk and steel, sweetness mingling with determination.

Tezuka leaned forward until their foreheads touched and closed his eyes. In a minute, he would lead them back to his cabin, and spend the last of their predawn hour mapping each other's skin, savoring every heartbeat. Afterward, they would rise and join their team to prepare for their fight, impossible odds be damned. They would soar into battle together.

But just for now, he could rest against Fuji, buoyed by Fuji's strength and faith and love, warm despite the chill of the dawn.