There comes a time in one's life when you are able to co-opt a genie into writing part of your fic for you. Now is that time. I introduce Aikori_Ichijouji's branch of our Renventure; they have authored everything from this chapter to this branch's end! LET US ALL COMMENCE THE FLAILING IN WONDER
"I think not. No rest for the chaste." Kijima nudged Ren awake. "It is far too cold and this fire is far too weak for you to doze off. Sleep now and you sleep forever."
Ren grumbled and wrapped his end of the cloak tighter around himself. Kijima shook his head and continued to blow on the paltry pile of twigs, trying to coax some semblance of warmth from them. Mostly, it just caused the pair to choke on the curls of white smoke that threatened to suffocate the entire cave.
"We could always use the lute for kindling," Kijima suggested, pointing at the instrument case Ren left leaning against the entrance.
"That'd be sure to summon the bard in an instant," Ren huffed a gravelly laugh. "I think he'd know if anything happened to it, regardless of where he is."
"We should absolutely do it, if such is the case." An impish grin spread across Kijima's face.
"Kijima," Ren warned.
"It was only a jest," he defended. "Besides, even I know he's as protective of that as you are of that odd thing hanging around your neck"
Ren grunted and shifted closer.
"Still not going to tell me what it is, are you?"
Ren sighed. Talking would keep him awake, but this was at the bottom of the list of broachable topics. "It is a memento and a promise. That is all you ever need know."
"Fine," Kijima drawled. "Knew you'd be stingy with the details, you—OH!"
Ren was left off-balance when his supporting structure moved away to shuffle closer to the cave's opening. He managed to right himself before crashed onto the ground. With the warmth of the cloak and its wearer now gone, the chill returned with a vengeance and his teeth chattered their lament. His companion had opened the fastenings to the bard's lute case and riffled around the interior.
"What in the Three Kingdoms are you doing?"
"Hikaru's a bard," came his vague explanation. "Logic would dictate that he has some parchment in here we could use for a better fire."
Ren's preemptive argument died on his lips at that. They were trapped in a tiny cluster of rocks in freezing temperatures. Needs must and all that.
"Behold!" Kijima cried, holding a handful of pages aloft. "I have uncovered loot from the lute!"
"I would use the blank ones, if there are any," Ren cautioned, ignoring the weak attempt at humor. "The last thing I need is a death by lute string because we burned a prized sonnet."
"Oh, boo, you've no sense of fun." Kijima whined, moving to sit beside Ren once more. "All right, let us see what we can use."
Ren took the opportunity afforded him by Kijima's distraction to yank part of the cloak around himself. Kijima squinted next to him, trying to use what dim light the smoldering branches provided to scan each sheet. Each blank he came across was dropped into his lap as he continued his search. He mumbled intermittently to himself and Ren heard the words 'Kyoko,' 'golden eyes,' and 'more romantic horseshit.' He tucked his head as far as it would go into the collar of his armor and tried to ignore the desolate glow of his pendant.
"Oho, what's this?" An exclamation from his companion pulled Ren from the fringes of sleep. "Methinks there is more to the bard's tale than he has let on. Listen to this:
"Your heart still yearns for another.
And I'm left with little sway.
Still I'd praise Fortune's favor for all eternity
For, in spite of that,
You chose to look my way."
Ren let several beats pass in silence before answering, until he was sure he could manage an unwavering voice. "So?"
"So, it means there is a previously unknown complexity to the relationship between Hikaru and his lady." Kijima's hands shook with excitement.
"That is none of our concern and an invasion of his privacy." Ren fixed Kijima with a reprimanding glare. "Now, find the rest of the blanks and put the others back."
"This was all I could find, actually." Kijima pointed to the three empty pieces of parchment. "So, unless you want to freeze to death, help me decide which of these we can bu—"
Shh-thunk.
An arrow lodged itself in the ground just outside their shelter with a piece of paper tied to the shaft. Ren lost no time in scrambling forward to snatch it out of the snow. Kijima huddled against him as he removed the paper and unfolded it. A crude map was scrawled onto it with a dotted line leading towards what looked like a fire and a rather comical stick figure that, Ren assumed, was supposed to be Hikaru.
"Bring the lute and your companion before sunrise, or else."
Reader, we are at a crossroads. If you would like to hunt down whoever sent the mystery note, go to Chapter 29. If you would like to stay in the shelter, go to Chapter 30.