Disclaimer: I do not own PMK or RK.

Chapter 7: Parting Sorrow

Sunset. Hijitaka watched Okita help Hotaru bring in the potatoes. His little Souji-chan's growing up. It seemed like only yesterday Souji was a nine-year-old kid running about with a bamboo sword... He still recalled how the boy's eyes lit up when he was presented with a real sword. If he could turn time back to that moment...well, it's too late to change that now...

He lit his pipe and smoked it leisurely. They had made up over their earlier quarrel. However, he cannot help but feel that there is now a gulf between them. He wondered if Tatsu felt the same way about Tetsu. His young page was growing, and fast too. Saizou nudged his foot.

"You too?" The poor pig can't figure out why his master's been ignoring him. Hijitaka patted Saizou. Both man and pig watched Okita chatting happily with the young cook. Finally, Hotaru excused herself. Okita watched her go with a sad look. Hijitaka felt the younger man's pain. Okita's illness is unlikely to...

"Okita-san! They're back!" Heisuke ran helter-skelter past Hijitaka. Saizou squealed in protest. "Yamanami-san is back!"

"How's Tetsu?" Okita asked. Heisuke shook his head sadly. He hadn't heard the full details of their journey yet, but if Tetsu is in that state...Okita ran with Heisuke. Hijitaka followed. It definitely can't be good news. Saizou buhied angrily at being forgotten.

Yamanami broke the bad news to Akesato and Hana. A job he loathed to do but knew he had to do. He had gone into Shimabara with Heisuke and asked the old madam to meet with them. Fortunately, the girls were in and not occupied by a party as they feared.

Hana had burst into tears and bemoaned what a hard life Saya had. Heisuke lent her his shoulder to cry on. Poor girl. Akesato was shocked by the tragic turn of events. She had expected Saya to lead a happy life after leaving Shimabara.

"It's my fault..." she cried. "I shouldn't have let her go...if only..."

"Akesato-san! It's not your fault!" Yamanami took her shoulders firmly. "None of us could have known!" She turned a tear-streaked face to his; then buried it against his broad chest. He held her close to him, feeling her heaving sobs. His cheeks were wet. Yamanami hadn't realized that he was crying along with her.

Heisuke watched Yamanami and Akesato. They were standing so close they seemed to be one. Was there really a love that can cross all boundaries? A love that defied the set laws of society? Looking at the couple, Heisuke knew he was looking at its proof.

The front of Heisuke's yutaka is already damp. He looked down fondly at the girl still weeping in his arms. Hana-chan. Maybe one day... He gazed out the window. The street lanterns were being lit, reflecting the first stars that appeared in the sky.

Tetsu sat on the roof. It was turning chilly but he didn't mind. The stars twinkled overhead, cold and distant. Is Saya cold where she is? It must be so much colder up in the mountains.

The whole day he had fought off well-meant but often clumsy attempts at consoling him. Not even the closet was safe. Harada ripped off the door. It had been replaced twice before.

He had demanded to see the mass grave where the victims were buried. There he had wildly screamed Saya's name and tried to dig up the earth with his bare hands. Yamanami had to knock him out cold. Afterwards Tetsu had spoken to no one. He hadn't even cried, for he had no tears left to shed.

"Tetsu-kun?" Susumu peered over the roof ridge. "Is it alright if I sit with you a while?" Tetsu moved aside so the shinobi could join him. They sat for a while in silence side by side under a starry sky. It was Tetsu who broke the silence.

"Susumu, does it ever stop hurting?"

The shinobi struggled for a while before answering. "Not really. Time can dull the pain, but it cannot dim the memories. I still remember my sister. It hurts even now, but I think it'd hurt more if I forgot. In a way I feel she's still with us...in our memories, in here." Susumu touched his chest where the heart is.

Tetsu recalled Ayu-nee's smile and the way she always listened. Then he tried to conjure up Saya's smiling face. The tears came. He wiped them away with the back of his hand. "Susumu-kun, it's getting cold. You needn't be here..."

"You were here for me after neesan died. I'm returning the favor." Susumu looked away as Tetsu sobbed. Maybe he should go visit his sister's grave tomorrow. It's been a while. He hoped he'll be able to get some nice flowers this late in the season. Looking up at the stars, Susumu never realized how beautiful they are till now.

Neesan, can you see the stars too? Don't you think they are lovely? The crying had finally stopped. Tetsu had cried himself to sleep on the roof. We can't leave you here, can we? Susumu carefully carried the boy down from the roof.

Author's notes:

Senbi's taking it a bit slow. Can't figure a way for Saya to return to Kyoto yet. I'm also developing the other couples and characters in the story. Poor Saizou's being ignored. Maybe Hijitaka & the pig should learn to get along.