"The way I see it," Madoka said. "Is that Resshin is basically in denial, in a way. He absolutely doesn't want to give Recca his power for some odd reason and is throwing every single excuse that his mind can think of to keep it that way. That's what's got me, because Recca's a pretty exceptional kid. How many are willing to go through all that hell just to protect a girl?"
"He definetely has Koheita's spirit," Homura agreed with a nod. "I remember Koheita well; he'd do anything to protect Sakura."
Kokuu laughed. "Those two…I can't wait to get Koheita and Sakura's opinions on Recca and Yanagi."
"Don't interfere, Kokuu," Rui scolded. "Your meddling has dire consequences more often than not."
"I can't think of why Resshin is acting that way," Saiha stated bluntly.
"Neither can I," admitted Kokuu.
"But there must be some reason!" Madoka insisted. "Why? Recca's about as good as a son as you can get; if Shikaro was half as determined as Recca is now, I'd have been thrilled beyond belief." Shikaro had been Madoka's eldest son.
Homura glanced at Madoka. "I believe it has something to do with the fact that Resshin-- or rather, Ohka-- died when Recca was only one year old. He did almost nothing for Recca, and Recca has no memory of him whatsoever, although the fact that he actually didn't have a chance to do anything for Recca must also be taken into account. There's also Kagero involved here; he's put her through a lot of nightmarish situations too, involving the Time Manipulation Spell and immortality."
"The spell was Kagero's own choice," Saiha pointed out. "Why's Resshin bothered by that?"
"He couldn't protect her well enough to keep her and Recca safe," Homura explained. "That must have irked him badly as a warrior, that he couldn't even keep his wife and child from danger, and in the end that failure forced his wife to take desperate measures to save their son. In a way, Resshin is indirectly responsible for Kagero's current situation and Recca's as well."
"Then he's not responding very positively to all this," Rui remarked. There was just the slightest acidic edge on the woman's voice. "He's just burying himself again in the past, thinking on what could have been done instead of what can be done now. How childish."
"There's nothing that can be done to change what has already happened," Kokuu agreed with a nod. "If he really wants to help Recca now, he'd give him the power of the last flame dragon."
"Resshin's such a guilt wallower, though," Madoka groused. He scowled at them. "So what happens next? We all know where Recca's stubborness comes from, that's for sure. And we should know by now that it's near to impossible to convince father or son of changing their minds."
"We have two choices." Homura let his steady gaze fall on each of the four present dragons. "One, we let things sit the way they are. Resshin can keep to himself, amd we can find a way of maximizing the power of the seven of us so we can form as near to a whole flame as possible. Two, we convince Resshin to join up with us and complete the circle of the eight flame dragons."
Kokuu shook his head. "Don't go trying to change Recca's mind about getting Resshin to burn his tattoo on his arm. That kid will go to hell and back to protect that hime of his. If we tell him the truth, he'll be kicking our butts as hard as he can before we can say one more word if we suggest he forget about Resshin."
"Which truth is that?" Homura asked dryly.
Kokuu looked unusually grim. "He won't be able to beat Kurei without Resshin."
Saiha let out his breath in a whoosh. "Che, Kokuu, you actually had me on an edge for a second there. I thought you had something meaningful to say, not something we already knew."
"Oh, shut up, Saiha," Kokuu snapped, peeved. "I was actually enjoying what little time I had that wasn't filled by your incessant needless stupid comments."
"Boys, boys!" Rui reprimended. "Let's not get carried away, shall we?"
"Boy? I'm 500 years old!"
"Who made you my mother anyway?"
Madoka groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Oh, no…not this again."
Homura sighed. "I'm wishing Nadare was back down here. She could defuse this situation without a hitch."
"Always the peacemaker, that she is." Madoka scratched his head. "Well…you did have a point back there. We have two choices, and I'm more for the second one. I'm not too fond of Kurei, that's for sure."
"I prefer the second one myself," Homura admitted. "But for different reasons. As far as I'm concerned, Recca's done nothing wrong; this is all Resshin's problem, and he's the one that's going to deal with it. Recca shouldn't have to suffer because of his father's sulking."
"That's lovely and well, but who's going to talk to Resshin about this?" Rui asked practically. "Certainly not me; four centuries old or not, he's still a man. All he would do is stare at me."
"You tend to play games too much anyway," Madoka said, his neutral tone keeping Rui from thinking the comment was a veiled insult.
Homura smiled faintly. "I'm afraid I wouldn't be a good choice either."
"You don't talk enough to really get on Resshin's case," Rui commented. "The only way to get Resshin to admit this is to guilt trip him big time, and you, Homura, can't talk enough to keep a fly from being bored."
Homura didn't bat an eyelash, but his tone held a note of irritation. "Let's not get nasty here, Rui. None of us are in a good mood."
"Saiha is definetely out," Madoka decided after a short pause. "You know him; his attitude will definetely get on Resshin's nerves before either of them finish their first sentence. That leaves me or Kokuu."
"Or Nadare," Rui reminded him.
"Or Nadare," he agreed. "Should all three of us go?"
Homura shook his head. "You'll set Resshin back to a defensive attitude again, and that's where his stubborn streak shows the most. You'll want to avoid that as much as possible."
"Kokuu actually knows the current Hokage the best, and Kurei as well," Rui pointed out. "You'll need him along to point out how Resshin needs to help Recca."
"But he throws a lot of attitude in Resshin's face a lot of the time," Homura countered. "Resshin's not too fond of his nerve."
Madoka sighed. "Then again, I think we'd all agree that Kokuu is the most knowledgeable of us on almost anything. Resshin may not like his attitude, but he certainly respects Kokuu's opinion. Besides, Kokuu only throws attitude when he's not dealing with something that's deadly."
"Oh, and Recca's situation isn't deadly?" Rui asked scathingly.
"It's not." Madoka shot Rui a warning glance. "It's urgent, but not dire. We've got a little time."
"True." Homura thought about it. "You know, it's probably best if you and Kokuu go. Nadare tends to get a bit too emotional when it comes to Recca's welfare."
"Besides, I think Resshin's mad at her right now." Rui's eyes seemed to dance in silent laughter.
Madoka chuckled. "Maybe mad isn't the right word. More like resentful that she brought up a sore point."
"Sore indeed," Homura murmered. "Opened up a wound that had festered for four long centuries. That must be painful for him."
"Kami-sama, whose side are you on, Homura?" Rui exclaimed crossly.
"Recca's, of course," Homura returned calmly.
"From the way you talk, you should be on Resshin's side," the illusionist dragon grumbled.
Madoka took a very deep breath. "Look, Rui, I know you're not exactly happy with how things turned out--"
"I wish Resshin would just get his act together." Rui pursed her lips and stood abruptly. "This is sickening from someone who's supposed to be our leader. If this happened during my time, the Hokage would have been extinct and there would have never been a Resshin or Ohka or whatever his cursed name was."
"So Resshin shouldn't be the leader?" Kokuu asked dryly, having rejoined the conversation after an irate Saiha stormed out. "What a show of support, Rui."
"I never said that, Kokuu. Don't you go putting words into my mouth," Rui said severely. "I'm just tired of this. Why does this have to drag on when the solution could be so direct?" She disappeared with a sweep of her robes in a huff.
Madoka groaned. "First Resshin, then Nadare, then Saiha, and now Rui, not to mention Setsuna. My goodness, how sad. Eight flame dragons, and five abandon the meeting."
"Really? It's not that bad, Madoka. Maybe in your time, but in my day, if there were even two people in a meeting, then we were lucky." Kokuu looked as though he couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or amused.
"We might as well just forget about Recca for now, then," Homura said with a sigh. "Tea, anyone?"
Saiha wasn't really big-- he was tall, and well built, but didn't occupy a substantial amount of space. Therefore, the huge swath of charred ground he caused as he stormed through the same woods he had dragged Nadare out of a mere hour before was due mostly to his flame. That BASTARD. Someday, he'd rip Kokuu apart head to toe, if he ever got the chance, and if he ever got mad enough to do it.
Mumbling a creative mixture of swear words that could probably tear the paint off a wall if spoken loud enough, he tore right through a group of bushes, then stopped where he was and scowled.
"You know, Saiha, if you kept that face long enough, it'll eventually freeze on your face," a voice remarked behind him. "And I can't say it wouldn't suit you."
Whirling, he had grabbed the person by the collar and was about to decapitate him or her with En Jin when a barrage of fireballs knocked him away and sent him stumbling and reeling. Nadare? he thought in disbelief.
"Gomen, Saiha," he heard her say apologetically. "But I couldn't let you behead Rui, could I?"
"Eh, it wouldn't have mattered," Rui scoffed. "I would have just changed into a flame dragon. You can't cut flame."
Nadare laughed. "How true." Walking over, she offered him a hand. Saiha just shot her his patented scowl and stood without taking her hand. While he was discreetly brushing some dust off his clothes, Nadare shot Rui a look and rolled her eyes. Rui giggled.
Saiha glanced back at them suspiciously. "What?"
"Nothing," Nadare said, innocently enough. Saiha glared at her, but only the mirth in her eyes disclosed anything. He was sure he was missing something, but he didn't know and frankly, he didn't care. He'd had his share of the womenfolk around here outsmarting him, and from experience he knew it was a lost cause.
"I thought you were asleep," he grumbled to Nadare, keeping a watchful eye on a giddy Rui.
"I was, but Rui woke me up," she explained. "Besides, how dumb did you guys think I was? I can tell a sleep illusion from a mile away."
Saiha's eyebrow arched upwards. "Really," he drawled. "Then why didn't you throw that hissy fit that we all know so well?"
Nadare laughed. "I figured I needed the rest anyway. I seriously wasn't trying to overwork this time, but with Recca's welfare at stake and the final battle approaching soon…"
"We need to solve this problem, and fast." Rui gave him a pointed look. "And that means no giving-Resshin-attitude when we go talk to him."
"What are you talking about?!" he demanded.
"Oh, come on, Saiha." Rui sounded exasperated. "Don't act dumb. You know you always throw this incredibly sarcastic attitude towards Resshin, and like Madoka said, that really irritates him and sets him on an edge. Why can't you both just stop it?"
"Honestly, Saiha, you are such a child sometimes," Nadare said with a shake of her head.
"I am not!" he snapped back. "Resshin's the one who always starts it!"
Both of the women sweatdropped. "I rest my case," Nadare muttered.
Saiha, realizing he'd just proved what Nadare had said about him, lapsed into silence with a look of extreme annoyance on his face. "I'll be good," he mumbled under his breath, severly chagrinned. "Just let me know when." Without another word he stalked off towards the house.
Rui snickered. "Isn't he such a little boy? You'd think we told him to leave his kid sister alone or something that has his favorite toy!"
Nadare chuckled. "Aren't we all kids at heart?"
Rui only laughed. "Strange kids, then."
Madoka looked up sharply. "Nadare, what are you doing out of bed?" he demanded sharply. Kokuu and Homura also glanced up in surprise.
"Cut it out, Madoka," she said, irritated. "I'm not an invalid. Anyway, that's not the reason we came here. The final battle with the Ura Uruha is approaching fast-- you know that as well as I do. We need to get Resshin into this, whether we agree with him or not."
Kokuu nodded, but his voice was strained. "And how do you propose that?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted. "That's why I came here." She laughed ruefully. "A full circle, isn't it? We started here to help Recca, and we're ending here to help Recca."
"Well, there's more at stake now than there was before," Madoka said grimly. "Guess who Aoi managed to dupe into going with her as a prisoner to Kouran's hideout."
"What?!" Rui exploded. "You can't tell me Recca fell for something as stupid as that!"
Kokuu toppled to the floor. Sweatdrops appeared on the other three dragons' heads. "Eh…" For the first time since he'd become a flame dragon, Madoka was at a loss for words.
Homura was the first to recover from his stupor. "Ano, Rui…no, it wasn't Recca, it was--"
"Let me guess," Saiha announced derisively from the door. "It's that hime of his, isn't it?"
Homura nodded. "Yes, Yanagi was captured."
"Saiha! When'd you come back?" Kokuu demanded at the same time.
Saiha snorted. "I was up there trying to figure out a way to fix the wall after I punched through it."
"Again?" the other five exclaimed in unison.
"Oh, shut up," Saiha muttered, chaffed that he'd become so predictable.
Nadare stepped in. "Anyhow, we need to stay on track. What are we going to do?"
Madoka looked thoughtful. "Well, we'll need someone to inform Recca of meeting Resshin, someone to tell Resshin to meet Recca, and then set it up."
"Oh, that's simple," Saiha grumped. "It's only what we've been trying to do for the last six thousand days."
"You promised you keep your attitude in," Nadare reminded him.
Kokuu stood. "I'll be the one to talk to Recca. The Hokage know me the best out of all of you anyway. Besides, I think I have the best grip on the situation-- and I have something to tell them that I've been meaning to let out, but I haven't found the right way or time."
"You want to tell them?" Rui's voice was gentle. "Kokuu, if you don't want to, there's no reason to tell them. They won't benefit either way."
Kokuu shook his head. "No, I should tell them," he said gruffly. "This is for the best. I made the madougu they use, and it's the madougu that are making their lives so difficult. It's my responsibility to tell them who made them and in a sense made their lives this way."
Rui nodded. "Alright."
"Then what about Resshin?" Madoka asked.
Nadare stood up.
"Nadare, you and Resshin just don't get along on an issue like this…" Homura began reluctantly.
"I wasn't volunteering, Homura," Nadare said quietly. "We should all go talk to Resshin."
"But that'll make him even more difficult," Madoka objected.
"Then we bully him into seeing the light," Nadare persisted stubbornly.
"Bullying and Resshin don't go in the same sentence."
"They're going to have to."
"You'll get burnt to a crisp then."
"Recca's worth a little pain."
"That's not the point!"
"Then what is it?"
"We can't possibly bully Resshin into anything!"
"Then how else are we going to do this?"
"I can see how they're related," Kokuu muttered to no one in particular.
"I don't know."
"There you go again-- clueless as usual."
"Hey!" Madoka looked genuinely wounded. "I resent that!"
"Well, you can't think of anything better, so I still say let's go with bullying Resshin into this." Nadare turned to the others, but she was especially anxious to hear Kokuu and Homura's responses. They were considered the most pragmatic and wise of the Hachiryu.
"It may work," Homura allowed reluctantly. "But I think another way be more effective."
Kokuu frowned. "You know Resshin's extremely hard to bully into anything…"
Nadare sighed. "I know, I know…"
"…but in this case, I think it's necessary."
"What?!" They all turned to him in astonishment. Kokuu had never been a prevailing advocate of forced decisions.
Kokuu nodded. "You heard me. Resshin's too stubborn for his own good, like Recca. Father and son can't see their own faults anymore than their own merits sometimes. Just like we had to help Recca along, we have to get Resshin to realize this before he starts regretting it."
A perplexed silence reigned. Everyone was feeling more than a little shock, but Kokuu's reasoning was sinking in. And slowly, the glints of determination began to appear in everyone's eyes.
Madoka nodded. "Then it's settled."
"We're all going," Homura agreed.
"We'll be one flame again," Rui proclaimed.
"Saiha…" Nadare warned.
"I said I'd be good!" He glowered at her in an empty threat as the others broke into the first carefree laughter that he'd heard in days. And somehow, he found it comforting. One flame again. Whole. Complete. Inwardly, he smiled. He liked that.
Pausing before turning the doorknob to the meeting room, Kokuu held his finger to his lips, smiled slyly, then peeped inside. After a moment, he turned back to the clustered group. "We're in for it now."
"Why's that?" Homura inquired.
"Resshin's being moody."
"He's in there already?" Rui groaned. "I thought we'd have a little time to prepare?"
Madoka shrugged. "What's the point? Now is as good a time as you get."
"I agree," Nadare said. "We'll catch him more off-guard."
"What is this, a war?" Rui laughed softly.
Homura smiled slightly. "I'm glad it's not a war. War is a terrible thing."
Kokuu entered the room and cleared his throat tentatively. "Resshin-sama," he began. "Could we talk with you about something?"
Sitting at the desk staring at an old, crumbling book, Resshin shot him a scowl. "I'm busy. Talk to me later."
"Later won't do, Resshin." Nadare walked in with the rest of the dragons behind her. "For all we know, Recca could be dead right now."
Resshin stiffened slightly. "Don't you start with that pessimistic speculating, Nadare. I told you, I had enough."
"Why aren't you helping Recca?" Homura suddenly asked bluntly. Everyone stared at him in surprise. Homura usually listened for quite a bit before asking a question and forming his opinion.
Resshin, too, looked surprised. "I told you, he needs to grow stronger."
"We've heard that before," Rui said with a sigh. "Resshin, all we really want to do is help Recca, and we know that's what you want to do too. What's stopping you?"
"Even if there was something, why would I tell you?" Resshin growled.
Kokuu raised an eyebrow. "So there is something bothering you."
"Of course there isn't." Resshin sounded annoyed.
"Resshin, will you please just stop this?!" Nadare said, exasperated. "We're one flame! We can't possibly continue like this, living in constant discord!" Her voice grew pleading. "He's your son! How can you wish for his death? Nobody wants Recca to die!"
"Kurei does," Kokuu offered unhelpfully.
"Who asked you?" Madoka muttered.
Resshin took a deep breath, trying to maintain control. "I don't want Recca dead," he managed to get out through gritted teeth. "I just don't want him to get killed someday trying to protect that girl of his like Koheita died for Sakura--" He suddenly stopped.
Although the room remained silent, the weight of Resshin's unexpected confession made the silence deafening. So that's the reason, Nadare thought, a twinge of sadness pricking her within. She had watched the demise of the couple with a load of regret; seldom had she seen love so pure. Except for Recca and Yanagi, of course.
"There wasn't anything you could do," Rui said gently. "Koheita was killed in battle. You can't watch over someone who's been trained for fighting in a war."
Resshin's head snapped up. "Koheita asked for my help, to keep Sakura from a demented pig of a man. I failed on both accounts. Koheita died, and Sakura killed herself."
"Listen, Resshin," Madoka began. "I know this might sound wrong, but you did technically keep your promise. Sakura wasn't taken to Takasugi..." Resshin shot him a furious glance.
Nadare groaned. "You think Recca and Yanagi will end up like that?"
Madoka flushed. "I didn't mean it that way!"
"That's what's bothering you?" Kokuu asked. His expression was unreadable. "You're afraid that Recca will end up like Koheita-- killed trying to protect the girl he loves from a man who wants her for less than human reasons?"
Suddenly Saiha slammed his fist onto the table with a bang, eyes fairly sparking a fire. "That doesn't make sense, Resshin. If anything, the only thing that's going to get him killed is the fact that you're not helping him out. Without eight full flame dragons, who do you think he can beat in the Ura Uruha? You're just going to make history repeat itself and before you know it, you'll be responsible for Recca and Yanagi's death, not to mention probably the rest of the Hokage as well! How much blood do you want on your hands? Sakura chose to kill herself, Koheita was killed trying to protect her! Their blood was shed by their choice, but if you keep up like this, you'll have the deaths of your son and his five friends hanging over your head for the rest of your existance! And when Recca meets you when he's dead, he'll never forgive you-- not because of his own death, but because you failed to give him the power he needed to protect Yanagi. Do you want that? Do you want your son to hate for eternity?"
Saiha stopped to catch his breath. The other dragons stared at him in surprise.
"Kami-sama, did that knucklehead actually say something meaningful?" Kokuu muttered.
Rui shrugged. "Maybe he's not such a child after all."
Saiha's words seemed to hit a genuine nerve in Resshin. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, shaking his head wordlessly.
Nadare gently patted his shoulder. "I can understand if you're worried about him. He's a bit reckless, with a complete lack of caution and an overwhelming desire to protect his friends. That makes for a dangerous combination. And I can also see why you don't want him to follow in Koheita's footsteps. Koheita was killed trying to keep Sakura from falling into the wrong hands, someone who wanted her for all the wrong reasons. It's happening all over again, with Yanagi and Mori Kouran. But Resshin, are you trying to change what's going on? All you're doing is making it more dangerous for your son as it is."
"I know that! But every time I see him…I think, 'Kami-sama, my son's going to end up dead like Koheita did…' and I just can't stand it! Koheita died, yes, but Sakura was devastated after she found out. She would have killed herself anyway, whether we won or not." Resshin rubbed his temples. "I thought nothing could ever be worse than that bloody situation. I never dreamed that I'd go through the same thing, with my son and another girl!"
Madoka sighed. "The fact that he's your son makes it ten times worse, on top of the situation itself being worse, doesn't it?"
"I never thought Recca would be Koheita's reincarnation," Resshin confessed. "I would have never wished for it, either. On one hand, I admired Koheita greatly. He was one of the finest warriors I had ever met, with a bearing that spoke of nobility written in blood, not bloodlines. He was kind without being too kind, clever, and cared deeply about Sakura. But the fate that befell him! It's not that he was killed-- it's that his death killed more than just himself. It killed Sakura as well, and many of his friends were disheartened."
"Koheita was special," Rui murmered. "The very epitome of what any man should be like."
"So you have mixed feelings on this. You'd feel proud of Recca because he resembles Koheita in spirit, whom you thought highly of. But you also feel that the situation will leave Recca in an even worse situation than Koheita, and also the current Hokage." As usual, Kokuu had everything lined up.
Resshin nodded. "But I keep thinking that maybe, if I don't help him, he'll eventually give up, and just live a normal life. But he's being so stubborn-- why can't he realize that he's being given such a golden chance to live a normal life?" Resshin sounded almost anguished. "I know he didn't choose to be Hokage leader. I didn't either. I want him to escape this cycle. Hokage leaders never led happy lives"
"You'll never be happy unless you let yourself be happy," Madoka returned quietly. "And as for Recca forgetting the idea, you will never convince him, Resshin. Recca's got your stubbornness, and Yanagi is in danger right now. She's been captured by Mori. He needs your help or else he's going to get killed."
Resshin half-leaped up. "Why don't one of you stop him?"
"Would you have stopped Koheita?" Madoka levelled a glance at him.
Resshin sighed. His frame seemed to deflate as he sank back down to the chair. "No," he admitted.
"Won't you please help him?" Nadare pleaded. "He's going to go anyway, Resshin. At least with your help, he'll have the best chance of surviving. And this way, you can make sure that what happened to Koheita won't happen to him."
"I don't think I can do that. I'm not exactly a conventional parent," Resshin said moodily.
"Which is why you can keep a closer eye on him," Nadare explained. "All we want is to keep him safe. At least let him meet you. Don't you want to see your son again?"
Resshin stood and turned his back towards them, instead gazing out the window. "He's grown into such a fine young man," he murmered. "I haven't been there to see any of it. Neither has Kagero."
"He's been happy, Resshin," Madoka said gently. "That's all that counts. And now, you have a chance to be a part of your son's life again. Don't waste this chance."
Resshin turned back around, a familiar mischevious glint in his eye. "I never thought I'd be coaching my son through a death match as a flame dragon," he said with a short laugh. "But I guess there's a reason for everything." He appeared thoughtful. "Of course, he'll still need to prove that he's ready for such an endeavor. What will I need to make sure he's got? I know he has stubbornness, but does he have the necessary patience to be a ninja--"
"Wait, Resshin! So you'll meet with him?" Nadare broke in excitedly.
Resshin smiled-- the first true smile she'd seen from him for days. "Yes."
"And your power? When will you give him the power to unite the flame?"
Resshin flexed his fingers absently. "If he passes my test, and proves himself worthy of it, then he will meet me, and he will eventually receive the power of the last flame dragon. But he'll need to understand his past, too, and what he's up against as Koheita's reincarnation."
"You old buzzer." Saiha snickered. "Giving your son a test just to meet you."
"Aw, Resshin'll be waiting just as eagerly on the other side," Rui teased.
"Will not," Resshin grumbled, but there was no mistaking the light in his eyes at the mere mention of Recca.
As the other dragons joined into the easy banter and teasing, Nadare laughed with them with a freedom that she'd forgotten. She could see the other dragons' tight tempers and nerves dissipate in the conversation. Homura's expression grew less stern, while Madoka's had become less tense and the lines of his face more relaxed. Saiha was back to his regular insulting self, and so was Kokuu. Yet neither was engaging the usual name-calling competition that usually occurred. The biggest change was in Resshin. Before, he'd been tight-lipped and sour-faced, occassionally shooting daggers at whoever happened to be annoying him. Now, he poked fun unobtrusively at Saiha, his face twisted in a wry smile as he watched the other's indignant reaction. Obviously, Recca's plight had affected all of them more than anybody wanted to admit.
"I knew Resshin had a good reason for all that," Madoka said to her in a low voice. Still, the other dragon's eyes sparkled with good humor.
Nadare nodded emphathetically. "You were right," she said sincerely. "I'm glad, too."
"That he's not a heartless bastard?"
"He never was."
"Really. Can't convince me you thought that way."
Nadare shook her head and laughed again, reveling in the freedom of the sound. Now that Recca would have every chance possible against the Ura Uruha, it felt as though a great load had been lifted from her shoulders and placed on the shelf where it belonged.
Seven eighths before had always felt so wrong. One flame was so much better.
Author's Notes: Takasugi was the old-time equivalent of Mori, I would think.
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