Disclaimer: It's still not mine; not matter how many times I check, Akimine-sensei's is still on every copy of Samurai Deeper Kyo manga…

Pre-chapter Author Notes: I can't believe how many of your reviews have admonished me for not updating in so long (cringe). I actually don't know if this chapter is going to make up for it, but I tried, I really did! Unfortunately, there's going to be another long delay before the next one, unless I can find a job really soon…

Being an adult sucks sometimes.

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Intermezzo

Chapter 5: Minuet

"… though given the amount of time Tokugawa devoted to securing his hold on the provinces who stand by their loyalty to the Toyotomi," Yukimura was saying, smiling pleasantly at his assembled guests, "I suppose he cannot be blamed for the fact that Edo retains much of its dispossessed origins, ne Migeira-san?" He might have addressed the question to Migeira only because Migeira happened to be the one sitting directly across from him, but it was open to everyone in the room.

"Tokugawa did a remarkable job of transforming a humble fishing village into a powerful military center, worthy of supporting a claimant to the title of shogun," Migeira allowed, his phrasing calm and diplomatic, "Naturally, though, such progress cannot be matched in all sectors of development. Given time…"

"Oh, yes, time," interrupted Yukimura with a laugh, "Such a valuable commodity and so often undervalued. Much like fidelity owed to one's lord and master."

I bit down hard on the umeboshi I had just placed in my mouth as I looked over at Yukimura's other dinner guests. Sanada Nobuyuki's expression did not change, as if Yukimura had just made an inconsequential observation about the price of daikon; Mahiro, kneeling in attendance behind him, stiffened, but otherwise did not react.

Meeting Mahiro earlier that evening had been something of a shock, not only because it had been at least three years since I had last seen her, but also because of what her presence at Kudoyama portended. There was no way that she, an Iga kunoichi, loyal vassal and personal bodyguard of the shogun himself, could have waltzed into the stronghold of Tokugawa's Enemy #1 on a mere whim, even taking her part in our little adventure into consideration.

When Yukimura's elder brother sat down to dinner across from me, I began to understand the situation, especially Yukimura's earlier odd behavior. No matter what happened at Ieyasu's tournament three years ago, there was probably still a lot of tension between two brothers who stood on opposite sides of the fiercest political war in Japan to date. So far, I had only the vaguest of ideas as to why Nobuyuki was visiting his brother at all – it certainly wasn't out of a sudden desire to renew familial bonds, if Yukimura's attitude and insinuative comments throughout dinner had been any clue.

"I wonder if the roshi of this temple would be so kind as to allow my nephew and I to attend a sermon while we avail ourselves of your hospitality, Yukimura-san," Migeira said, bravely trying to find some new direction of conversation to divert the building tension in the room, "Certainly you, as an honored guest of the monastery, would have some small influence to make a request on our behalf."

"I would gladly do such a favor for you, Migeira-san," Yukimura answered benevolently, "Though Gokuro-sama will be disappointed that I am not asking for my own sake. He believes I allow too much of my attention to my spirit to be diverted by my earthly pursuits. But then, I can look forward to plenty of time to spend in contemplation on this mountain, should the climate remain unchanged."

'Nice try, Migeira-san, but I think Yukimura's a little too wound up at this point to let things drift,' I thought sympathetically. It was enough to spoil one's appetite, which was really a pity, given the quality of the dinner. The bland saltiness of the nijimasu no shiyaki was perfectly balanced against the vinegary pique of the sunomono and sweet umeboshi; I wondered briefly if either Saizo or Kousuke were the talented chef, since it made sense that only Yukimura's most trusted subordinates would prepare his meals. Poison is too often the convenient solution for political (perhaps even familial) problems...

As long as I was thinking of poisons, I wondered if Yukimura would let me use the plants in his herb garden. The hemlock would come in handy for my needles, but there were also a multitude of other, more benign plants I could use for medicines that would come in handy down the road. 'Too bad it isn't autumn; that way all the root plants would be ready for harvesting...' Ginger especially would be useful for treating the altitude and heat sickness I had been experiencing of late. I'd have to check and make sure no one else was having problems adjusting...

Lost in my own little world, I didn't follow the flow of conversation until I felt, rather than saw, Kyo stiffen beside me. I looked at him quizzically, but before I could ask what was wrong, Hisui spoke up in a shocked voice:

"'Siege cannon' Yukimura-dono? Surely you are mistaken."

'Okay, obviously I missed something.' Since everyone was staring at Yukimura with differing degrees of either shock or censure, I turned my attention to our host.

"I think not, since it was an underling of Hanzo-san himself who confirmed the intelligence reports that have been coming to me for the last six months," Yukimura retorted pleasantly enough, but there was an icy edge of steel in his voice that made me shiver. Behind him, seated in attendance like Mahiro, Saizo flinched.

"Perhaps Houjo-sama acted out of ill-tempered rashness to have so boldly threatened you, Yukimura," Nobuyuki interjected, "but such a matter should not be..."

"If you are worried that the secret dealings of the Tokugawa are in danger of being exposed by the present company, nii-san," said Yukimura, "you ought to have advised Hidetada-kun to exert more influence on his strategist. As it is, I'm sure Kyo-san and the rest of my guests have little desire to entangle themselves in the affairs of warlords. Ne, Kyo-san?"

"Makes no difference to me who thinks they're the ones ruling Japan," Kyo said with smirk.

"There, you see?" Yukimura asked his elder brother, as though that settled it, "What's done is done, nii-san, and try as you might, you can't erase the fact that the Tokugawa are going to challenge Toyotomi Hideyori-sama's claim directly, or that you countenanced a Tokugawa attempt to win my allegiance."

I raised my eyebrows at that. 'Well, that explains why Yukimura's been so pissy.' I can't imagine being my usual charming self if my sibling had called on me only to ask that I betray everything I held dear.

"You know that I had no part in it," replied Nobuyuki, his tone expressing no hint of whatever emotions he was holding behind his dispassionate mask, "I was as surprised as you when Houjo-sama made his boast."

"Surprised only in that your friend Hanzo-san sent such an idiot on such an important errand and did not trust you with it himself?" Yukimura almost snapped, all trace of earlier feigned mirth evaporated from his demeanor.

Things were starting to get out of hand. By the way Nobuyuki's eyes flashed, this was just the latest outbreak in a long-running argument between the two brothers. Might they suddenly decide to abandon verbal sparring in favor of settling it with steel?

Abruptly, Nobuyuki got to his feet, his lips a thin line as he bowed to the room in general. "Please excuse me for the evening," he said shortly, opting to exit through the open shoji that led out onto the moonlit porch instead of through the shoji behind Yukimura. Mahiro was on her feet at almost the same instant; she bowed silently and followed Nobuyuki out into the night.

I could feel the tense silence that followed in the wake of their departure like a tight knot between my shoulders. Yukimura said nothing, but only picked up his chopsticks and resumed eating as though nothing had happened. Migeira and Kyo had no problem following his example, but I noticed that Hisui kept glancing at Yukimura and then at the empty tray Nobuyuki had left behind, an intensely worried expression on his face.

'Something tells me this doesn't bode well for our little quest,' I thought numbly, fiddling with a bit of fishbone as I tried to adopt the same nonchalance as Kyo and the others, 'If Yukimura's been so directly threatened by an agent of the Tokugawa, he has no motivation whatsoever to help us, even with everything Hisui said earlier.' True, Yukimura had seemed quietly accepting, but since when did he ever act without a hidden agenda of some sort? Someone in Yukimura's position, a samurai devoted to Toyotomi's heir and the fallen Western faction, exiled from his lands but still possessing the hearts and loyalty of his vassals and others besides, could survive only by manipulating any and every situation to his advantage. The future Hisui had illuminated might still appeal to him, if Yukimura was confident enough in his ability to defy Fate.

'Not to mention the fact that we haven't even seen Sasuke since we arrived.' The complete absence of the young onimitsu was another thing that had begun to worry me intensely. Was it because he was hanging back, observing from the shadows until the time he (or Yukimura, for that matter) thought appropriate? Or was it because he wasn't even at Kudoyama? And if that was the case, why hadn't Yukimura mentioned it when Hisui named Sasuke as a desired member of our party? Was it some sort of delaying tactic on Yukimura's part – and for what purpose? He had known something of the bizarre attacks on holy sites, he had said as much – did Yukimura know more than he had let on?

The more I thought about it, the darker and more sinister the entire set-up became. Tip-toeing around the matter was not going to get us anywhere, and if Hisui was right, we were on borrowed time already! 'He needs to be completely straight with us for once!'

Only problem was, I really couldn't think of a way to make him be just that.

Yukimura set his chopsticks down with a sigh. "You all probably think that I am a disrespectful younger brother to have treated nii-san in such a manner in front of guests," he said lowly.

'Eh?' Had some benevolent kami heard my plea or was Yukimura really feeling guilty all of a sudden?

"Partisan loyalties that divide families are not unusual, Sanada-dono," Migeira replied, "But I must admit that I am quite concerned to what you have alluded to tonight. Do you truly believe that the Tokugawa shogun will risk another civil war to cement his control over Japan? And that he will enlist the aid of foreigners to do so?"

Yukimura suddenly looked very tired as he nodded, once. "Perhaps the future your nephew envisioned will come to pass, no matter what you attempt to do to stop it. Unless of course," here he smiled again, but it was a pale, mocking parody of his customary mask, "you intend to eliminate all who seek to gain control of Japan and would thus go through any means to achieve that goal, even another destructive war. I include myself in that category."

"There must be a way to prevent a war, Sanada-dono," Hisui spoke up abruptly, "There are other avenues – you yourself befriended Tokugawa Hidetada several years ago and worked side-by-side with him to achieve a common goal! Could you not do the same thing again, when something so important, the fate of the people of Japan, rides in the balance?"

"We had the same goal, Hisui-kun," said Yukimura with marked patience, "You must understand that things change."

"But why must it change?" Hisui pressed, even as Migeira laid a restraining hand on his arm, "What makes power so much more important than...!"

"I apologize, Sanada-dono, my nephew has led a very sheltered life and cannot be expected to fully comprehend the delicacy of the political situation at hand," Migeira interrupted forcefully; I noticed he kept his grip on Hisui's arm. Hisui, surprisingly enough, looked downright rebellious, instead of retreating immediately into deferential silence as I would have expected.

"Actually, from what he told me this afternoon, I thought your nephew was remarkably perceptive," said Yukimura, sounding more like himself, "But to answer his question, things must and do change – if it becomes necessary to keep the Sanada from being obliterated, to protect Toyotomi-sama, I myself will lead the charge into the heart of the Tokugawa camp and take his head. I would expect no less from the shogun."

'Yukimura, you can't possibly mean..!' It's one thing to know something is the way it is in your mind, but it is something else entirely to have it confirmed. I suppose I am almost as naive as Hisui in that way; I knew Yukimura could be a pragmatic bastard, but I wanted to deny it with all my heart when I heard him spell it out so plainly. When it came down to it, I wanted to believe that Yukimura and Benitora would be loyal to their friends despite opportunities and damn good reasons to betray them, as they had those years ago.

"It can't come to that!" I protested, "Yukimura-san, you wouldn't! You wouldn't, and Benitora wouldn't! You were friends! Doesn't that mean anything?"

Migeira gave me a despairing look, obviously tempted to override me much the same way as he had Hisui. Kyo, meanwhile, watched the whole scene play out like it was on a stage. It pissed me off to no end that he hadn't even tried to convince Yukimura that what he was talking about was wrong! If anyone could knock some sense into Yukimura, it was Kyo, and yet he had done nothing to help.

"Ah, so Yuya-san has finally been informed of the true identity of our erstwhile comrade," Yukimura laughed, shooting Kyo a sidelong smirk, "How long did you keep her in the dark?"

"It must have slipped my mind," Kyo said neutrally.

"Hm, yes, there were more important things for you two to discuss than the guises worn by others." I'm pretty sure I blushed at the emphasis Yukimura placed on that particular word, and I glared death at him for being so inappropriate in front of Migeira and Hisui.

Kyo shrugged. "She would have figured it out sooner or later, if it was that important."

Actually, at the time Kyo let it slip, I thought it was very important; just thinking about it (and the ensuing embarrassment resulting from remembering all the times I had manhandled the heir to the Tokugawa shogunate) was enough to rile me up even further.

"You are avoiding my question, Yukimura-san," I said pointedly, "Why must it be that way? Why must you fight against someone you called a friend?" I pretty much knew the answer already, but something in me wanted to believe that there was something more important to samurai like Yukimura and his brother (and Benitora and even Kyo) than power!

Yukimura got to his feet, a pleasant smile on his face. "You are all quite tired from your journey, and I have been less than an ideal host, exposing you to these concerns of mine. It would be best if you were to retire now." He turned to leave, Saizo standing and opening the shoji for him. "Sasuke will return tomorrow evening from his errands in Osaka. Good night."

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That night, I pointedly ignored Kyo as I got ready for bed. If I spoke to him, looked at him, even, I would have exploded, and an already horrible situation would have become infinitely worse. Nothing was going the way we needed it to, and he didn't even seem to care!

Still, I almost wished he had picked a fight with me, so I wouldn't be the only one guilty of stirring up discord. At least then I would have known something of what might be going on in his head. But no, the jerk mirrored my silence and attitude perfectly, almost as if he was the one giving me the cold shoulder! He didn't even join me on our futon, and opted to sleep with his back up against the wall beside the shoji, his katana propped up on his shoulder.

I fell asleep with tears of frustration stinging my eyes...

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"Ohayo gozaimasu, Yuya-dono!" Hisui greeted me cheerily as I stepped into the sunlit common room. The shoji doors on either side were open, allowing the cool morning breeze to waft through, but I could tell it was going to be another hot and humid day by its smell.

"Ohayo, Hisui-kun, Migeira-san," I said groggily as I knelt down beside Hisui. A small iron pot of miso bubbled on the glowing coals in the fire pit and there was another pot full of rice, but I consciously avoided looking at them. Thanks to my lovely night of frequently-interrupted sleep (due in no small part to stress, I imagine), I had woken up with a severe case of nausea once again.

"Where's Kyo?" I asked them. When I had woken up, I immediately noticed that Kyo's place against the wall was vacant. So early in the morning, and he was already avoiding me. That didn't bode well for the rest of the day.

"He went with Kousuke-san earlier this morning after she brought us this breakfast," Migeira said, ladling a bowl of miso for me. I refused it with a polite shake of my head.

"Why?"

"Yukimura wished to discuss something with him... in private," Migeira replied. Migeira was adept at keeping a stoic facade, but even I, as crappy and strung-out as I was feeling, could tell that he was rather anxious.

"Maybe he wanted to talk about last night's little episode," I suggested. 'But why hadn't he woken me up to tell me where he was going? Kyo no baka!'

"Perhaps. It could be that he wanted Kyo's assessment of the situation."

"Kyo-dono might be our best advocate, after all," Hisui said hopefully, "Yukimura has every reason to trust him more than me or even ojii-sama."

'That's assuming Kyo plans on going along with your little quest,' I thought. I still couldn't figure out if Kyo had committed himself the way Hisui seemed to think he had. But I wasn't about to say that to the kid. At least one of us needed to keep their optimism. "I'm sure if anyone can convince Yukimura to do anything, it's Kyo," I said, because it's easier to speak words of meaningless assurance than to lie to someone like Hisui.

"Hm," Migeira agreed noncommittally, obviously sharing my sentiments.

Hisui poured me some tea from a pot that had escaped my notice. I took the ginger-scented steaming brew gratefully and sipped it, the bitter-mellow taste waking me up and making the queasiness subside.

"Migeira-san, about what happened last night..." Even if Kyo wasn't here to put in his two mon, I could at least get Migeira's opinion of everything. "Why would anyone threaten Yukimura-san with siege cannon?"

"Because they were foolish, as Yukimura said. And the threat wasn't meant for him, really; it was directed at Toyotomi Hideyori," Migeira said gravely.

I drank a bit too quickly and burnt my tongue. Coughing slightly, I put my tea cup down stared at him. "But why? Threatening the heir of Toyotomi Hideyoshi is treason!" Even though Tokugawa Ieyasu had received the title of shogun from the Emperor, he and his entire clan were still bound by oath to protect Toyotomi Hideyori, who was to succeed his dead father as kampaku, Regent of the Emperor, when he was of age.

"And who would prove such treason, Yuya-san?" Migeira asked, shaking his head, "We have Yukimura's word, and the words of witnesses who are loyal to the Tokugawa. Given Yukimura's state of exile, if he were to level a charge against an agent of the Tokugawa and thus the shogun himself, he would easily open himself up to counter-charges and even give his enemies an excuse to eliminate him with imperial consent. And as I said, the threat was meant for Hideyori; it is quite unlikely that the taiko's heir was threatened directly."

I frowned. "So what do you think Yukimura-san will do about it?"

"I'm fairly certain he will at least inform the Toyotomi of the matter," said Migeira, "but beyond that, he has very limited options."

"And the siege cannon?" I pressed, "If they're meant for Toyotomi Hideyori, that means an attack on Osaka castle. And that's a pretty obvious act of treason, don't you think? It seems rather stupid to have them at all."

"Tokugawa-dono can claim that he procured them for Toyotomi-dono's protection, as is his duty," Hisui said. I had almost forgotten he was there. "He cannot simply eliminate Toyotomi-dono, because Sanada-dono and other clans and even daimyo who support the Toyotomi claim are too powerful, and would immediately rise up against him.

"The surest way to purge Japan of all opposition to the Tokugawa is to accuse the Toyotomi and their supporters of treason against the Emperor. Once this is accomplished, the shogun, as grand master general and the Emperor's defender, can eliminate his enemies on the battlefield, because anyone who stood against him would stand against the Emperor. Only those most loyal to the Toyotomi would choose such action, and they would be forced to defend Osaka, the Toyotomi stronghold, against innumerable enemies.

"Even though its walls are thick, gai-jin siege cannon might prove strong enough to pierce them. That is what worries Sanada-dono."

'I thought Migeira said this kid didn't understand politics,' I thought as I regarded Hisui's miserable expression with a sense of wonder, 'Sounds like he actually has a pretty good handle on things!' "But all that depends on Tokugawa being able to make a believable charge of treason," I ventured.

"It has been done before, countless times," Migeira said, "But these are all matters of "if;" our present situation is one of "when," which is why me must do everything we can to convince Yukimura to release Sasuke from his duties long enough to help us!"

Hisui nodded, his sadness disappearing like a rain cloud evaporated by the sun as he beamed. "I know he will!" he declared, "Sanada-dono is a good man, who believes whole-heartedly that he must choose the course that is best for Japan. He will most certainly come around!"

'...and then again, maybe he doesn't have a clue.' I stifled the urge to sigh. This was one of the downsides of becoming older and wiser in the ways of the world. You couldn't keep a firm grip on the hope and certainty of childhood if you didn't want to end up disappointed at every turn.

Or worse, wind up dead.

I quietly finished my tea and stood up, vaguely considering plans of tracking down Kyo and Yukimura. Not that I missed Kyo or anything; far from it. I just wanted to know if what happened last night had been a ploy on Yukimura's part or if... 'If what? What can I possibly do to get through to him if I can't even talk with Kyo on a normal basis?'

"Yuya-dono, Kousuke-dono said that we have been granted free reign of her lord's herb garden, should we be so inclined," Hisui mentioned hesitantly, "Also, there is a room that has been set aside for the preparation of medicines at the main house if you wish to use it."

"Really?" I asked in surprise. 'How thoughtful of Yukimura! Hm, do I want to track down Kyo-the-Uncommunicative and Yukimura-the-Sly and try to beat some sense into/out of them or do I want to do something that will actually have positive results?' "Hisui, how do you feel about a hands-on lesson in herbal medicine?"

You would have thought I offered to take the kid to New Years in Kyoto. "If it is not an imposition upon you, Yuya-dono..." he said, trying to sound politely casual, but unlike his uncle, the kid had no ability to mask his emotions.

"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't being sincere," I replied with a laugh. Hisui jumped up immediately and ran to grab the book I loaned him out of his room.

"Would you like to accompany us, oji-sama?" he asked Migeira even as he was already half-way out the door, heading for the garden.

Migeira shook his head. "I shall decline," he said, then looked at me, "I will spend the day at the temple if you have need of me."

The message was clear. 'If there's good news, come get me. If there's bad news or demons attack, come get me.'

I bowed. "Enjoy your meditation," I said as I followed Hisui outside.

We spent several hours in the garden, and I'll admit, I think I got more out of it than Hisui. My training with Taka-sensei had been long, detailed, and arduous, but hardly comprehensive, not with the small amount of time I had been allowed with her. Even so, I got a warm fuzzy feeling just watching Hisui as he hung onto my every word as I explained the uses of every plant, their preparations and care, and the times and seasons of their growing and harvest. Was this how Taka-sensei felt, opening my eyes to new wonders and possibilities?

Her words from one of her last months alive came back to me as Hisui carefully opened the waxy petals of dragon's blood to see the flower's heart:

"Ah, to be a teacher – that is to hold the highest honor and carry greatest burden, to find indescribable joy and have your heart broken by the most devastating disappointment..."

I remembered more: Kyo had just returned after disappearing for nearly a month. He had been silent and brooding a whole week leading up to his departure, and he was barely any more communicative upon his return.

As always, he never thought to tell me what had made him leave like that. Or return, for that matter...

"That sounds a bit like love, if you ask me," I replied jokingly, carefully handing her a teacup brimming with a pain-killing tincture of opium poppy.

Taka-sensei looked at me, her obsidian eyes as sharp as ever despite the pain I could see in them. "Of course it's love!" she snapped, "Anything worth anything in this world has a price of pain and suffering attached to it! I would have thought you had learned that lesson thoroughly by now."

I bowed my head. "But what if I'm not strong enough?" I asked.

Her fingers, gnarled by arthritis and callused by decades of toil, gently raised my chin. "You are very strong, Yu-chan," she said, her gaze meeting mine, "I have never stated it quite so plainly before, but only because I thought I had the time to help you to see it for yourself. You are stronger than you know. Why else do you think that great idiot you insist on loving clings to you like you are life itself?"

"How can you say that!" I protested, "He's so cold sometimes and I don't know what he's thinking or if I'll ever reach him! He's left me and..."

"... he has always returned, ne, Yu-chan?" she interrupted, quietly but firmly, "You chose a dark and thorny path when you chose a life at his side, but I don't pity you. You are strong, but even more important, you are not alone. And you know that."

"But he...!"

"Why things are the way they are, why he leaves but always returns, why he suffers in solitude and dark silence while you weep alone in the light..." she continued gravely, "why you will always be drawn together no matter the distance... it will all become clear, but only if you have the courage to stay with him."

"Courage..." I repeated.

It had been one of our last lessons and perhaps the one I struggled most to understand. 'How could she have been so certain?' I wondered, as I often had before. And strangest of all, I had been so utterly reassured at the same time. Even now, repeating that word, "courage," made me feel lighter, as if the weight of the world wasn't hanging over my head and pressing me into the earth.

Hisui yawned just then, a nearly face-splitting yawn that he tried to smother with dirt-encrusted hands. "Ah, I apologize, Yuya-dono!" he exclaimed as soon as he could speak, "I am afraid that I spent too long on my star charts last night. It will not happen again!"

I had to laugh. "If you're tired, Hisui-kun, you should have told me," I said gently, "Besides, it's starting to get too warm out here. How about we go back to the house so you can rest a bit? We can go take a look at Yukimura's apothecary later, if you like."

Hisui had a bit of struggle between relief and guilt (over what I couldn't even begin to guess!), but finally he nodded in agreement. "As you wish, Yuya-dono."

We had culled back the hemlock (very carefully!) and dug a few angelica roots that had more or less ripened. I wanted to talk to Yukimura himself before I took full liberty of his garden, but this small harvest was enough to start some of the medicinal preparations I had in mind.

The hearth was cold when we entered the house from the back porch after washing our hands in the well water. Someone (Kousuke or Saizo, perhaps?) had come through and shut the shoji in all the rooms and left cold smoked fish in a small wooden box beside the pot of left-over rice. I was pretty hungry from skipping breakfast earlier and dug in almost immediately; Hisui declined and went into his and Migeira's room. I checked on him about five minutes later and found him sprawled face-down on a half-folded futon, dead to the world.

'Star charts must be more exhausting than I thought,' I remarked to myself as I closed the shoji, 'I wonder why a kid who can see the future needs to bother with astrology, though.'

I cleaned up what little mess I had made. There was still plenty of food left for Hisui when he woke up and Migeira and Kyo, if and when they decided to come back. Maybe I had time to get some sake from Kousuke, since Kyo would almost certainly demand that with his lunch...

'Dammit, why is that even when I'm mad at him, I can't but think about him?' I thought irritably, practically yanking the shoji out of its runners as I stepped into our room, 'If there was a way to just make all thoughts of him vanish so I could have some peace for one hour, I...'

The sight that greeted my eyes sent my inner tirade into a screeching halt. "Kyo... why are you bleeding?"

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"... Kuso, woman, you don't have to tie that bandage so tight!" Kyo growled at me.

I glared at him and gave the bandage a spiteful jerk. "Quite complaining!" I hissed, "You're the one who went out Kami-sama knows when and got himself all cut up, not to mention the fact you have yet to give me a straight answer as to how you ended up like this or why I found you rummaging through my medicine chest like a sneak thief!"

"I told you, ask Yukimura if you're so hot and bothered about it and leave me alone!" he snapped right back, "I didn't ask you to bandage me up!"

"No, you didn't, but you were doing such a half-assed job of it that Taka-sensei would have rolled in her grave if I had left you alone!" was my waspish retort, "So be quiet! I'll go see Yukimura-san when I'm good and ready and not because you told me to!"

So long as I was spun up in righteous indignation, I could ignore the way my heart seemed to freeze in my chest the moment I had seen the blood stains soaking into the tatami, courtesy of the rather nasty gash across Kyo's chest. What had possessed him to go out without his armor when he knew that blood-thirsty, power-crazed demons were lurking about is beyond me.

Worse than the anger and frustration, though, was the fear. 'How close was I to losing him for good this time?'

I tied off the bandage around his chest; thankfully, the wound hadn't been deep enough to require stitches this time around. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" I asked in clipped tones, purposefully concentrating on the medical supplies I had pulled out to treat him.

"Hnph."

"Is that a "yes" or a "no," Onime no Kyo?"

"No. Nothing you need to worry about."

I clenched my hand into a fist and had forcefully tell myself not to hit him, because that would be plain idiotic when I was trying to heal him. "Fine." I took up the bag of cattail pollen I had collected on the road. "If you don't need my help anymore..." I got to my feet and retrieved the hemlock and angelica from the main room. "I'm going to see Yukimura-san now," I tossed over my shoulder. I didn't wait to hear his reply, because I knew he wouldn't bother.

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"Ah, Yuya-san, I was expecting you!" Yukimura hailed as soon as I emerged from the bamboo "wall" separating the guesthouse from the main one, "Come and share some of my sake."

One look at him, and suddenly Kyo's cryptic comments made sense. I glared at Yukimura witheringly, crossing my arms over my chest.

Yukimura blinked quizzically. "Why, whatever is the matter, Yuya-san?" he asked, all innocence.

"Sanada Yukimura-san…" I began in a very low voice because it's rude to yell at your host, "Why in the hell were you and Kyo out cutting each other to ribbons when demons are tear-assing around Japan!"

"But we weren't," Yukimura said, pointing to his bandaged torso, "Kyo-san only managed to catch me with the bare edge of the tachi-kaze from his Suzaku, so I got away with some mild burns and a small gash that Saizo treated. A friendly duel, nothing more… Are you certain you do not wish to sit down Yuya-san? The sun seems to be affecting you."

'Oh, I'll affect you, you smug, cat-faced sneak!' I thought viciously, wishing there was a way to make people spontaneously combust just by glaring at them. The nerve of those two! Stupid idiotic males, what were they thinking, having a potentially lethal duel without regard to what was going on in the real world? Stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID! No matter how Yukimura tried to laugh it off, I could plainly see that he and Kyo had gone at it for real. In addition to the bandage swathed around his chest, Yukimura was sporting sizable burns all up and down the left side of his body where his loose blue yukata didn't cover him. 'If that's his idea of a "friendly duel"...'

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll decline the sake," I said very calmly and politely as I sat next to him. It took all my will power not to reach out and wring his neck.

Yukimura shrugged affably. "More for me, then," he replied cheerfully. His manner was really beginning to grate on my nerves, because I knew it was an act.

"…nice today, isn't it?"

I started, then realized that Yukimura had been talking to me. "Er, yes, it has been," I said. 'Oh for Kami's sake, what are you doing chatting about weather?' "Yukimura-san, you really shouldn't be…"

"Though it's a trifle warmer this year than last," Yukimura continued without skipping a beat, "The best season here is certainly mid-spring."

"I'm sure it is, but you and Kyo shouldn't have…"

"Of course, if you stayed here, perhaps you would find autumn more to your liking. I would be honored if you would."

"I don't know, but…" I paused, realizing I must not have heard him right. "Yukimura-san, what did you just say?"

Yukimura leaned back on his hands and sighed, looking up into the eaves of the overhanging roof. "How about it, Yuya-san? I think you would like it here very much: it is quite peaceful… when I'm not being harassed by Tokugawa minions, at least. And I have heard of your interest in herbal medicine and being a healer; surely you would see to it that my garden is put to good use once again."

Gaping at him seemed to be the only appropriate response. I wanted to pinch myself, wondering if I was experiencing a hallucination brought on by sun stroke. "You can't be serious," I said abruptly, certain that it all had to be a lame attempt at a joke.

"When I want to be, I can be quite serious, Yuya-san," he replied lightly, but without a smile.

"B-but… why? Why would you even think that I would ever take you up on such an offer…?" I sputtered, abandoning all sense of tact in my utter shock.

He took it in stride, though. "Is it really so terrible a thought, staying here with me?" he asked, pleasantly enough, but it only served to make me angry.

"I have no reason to stay here, Yukimura-san. When Kyo leaves, even if he chooses not to help Hisui-kun, I will leave with him.

"Unless you're also thinking of asking Kyo to stay," I added as an almost sarcastic aside.

Yukimura shook his head. "My invitation is for you and you alone, Yuya-san." He held up his hand as I began to protest. "For your safety… and Kyo-san's peace of mind."

I loathed the way he seemed to be pulling the proverbial tatami out from under me with almost every other sentence, but his last remark was so cutting I couldn't scrape together the wherewithal to interrupt him.

"Kyo-san told me this morning that he intends to accompany Hisui-kun, if only for the battles he sees ahead. I believe he also understands that it is a battle he cannot avoid, not if he wants to protect you." Yukimura didn't even seem to be speaking to me anymore, as if he was merely thinking aloud. "He will be driven by two desires, Yuya-san: the desire to fight as a warrior and defeat anyone who gets in his way and the desire to protect one person above all others. And there is a chance that those two desires may clash... to his ruin."

"So you're saying that I would just get in the way if I went with Kyo?" I asked after a long moment of silence. I was angry, but at the same time, Yukimura had touched on something that I had tried to not think about, even before that night in Tokubo: when it came down to it, how much did Kyo really need me? He lived by the edge of his blade, and if he had his attention divided between defeating his enemy and protecting me…

'Am I insisting that I have to go with him because I think I can help him, or is it just my pride?' Maybe it was both at the same time. But more importantly, the very thought of letting Kyo go and risk never seeing him again made me feel as though someone had reached into me chest and was trying to wrench my heart from my body. I was scared for him, scared as I had never been before because I had been given a glimpse of the enemy and the price if Kyo failed. And I wanted to be there for him, be strong for him, but if Yukimura was right...

"Yuya-san?"

"I want to be with him," I said, my voice hardly more than a whisper because I was trying so hard not to cry, "More than anything else, I want to be there beside him, no matter the danger. I could stand it, then, the fear and the danger. If he left me behind, I..." "Courage" Taka-sensei had said. Reining in my emotions, I looked directly at Yukimura. "I can't do anything else, Yukimura-san," I declared fiercely, "This time, I can't accept simply waiting."

Yukimura appraised me silently with half-closed eyes and an air of dispassionate scrutiny. I held his gaze, as if simply by not looking away, I could convince him that he had been completely wrong about me. "I see," he said at last, "Very good, Yuya-san." He didn't sound pleased or displeased, nor even surprised. It irritated the hell out of me at how well he could conceal his thoughts and emotions so easily. "Would you still be so adamant if Kyo-san had suggested that you stay here instead of me?"

"Did he?" I asked, feeling a pang in my chest as my conviction seemed to evaporate like steam.

"No, as a matter of fact, he didn't," said Yukimura, once again all smiles and cheerfulness, "Truth be told, right after I suggested the arrangement to him, he decided to use his Suzaku. A simple "no" would have sufficed, but at least I got a chance to test myself against it." He got to his feet and held out his hand to me. "Now, I gather from the plants you brought with you that you would like to make use of my apothecary. Shall we?"

I wanted to do several things all at once right then: laugh out loud, cry my heart out, kill Yukimura or kiss him, and run back to Kyo and pillow him in ways that probably wouldn't help his wounds. "Thank you, Yukimura-san," I said simply, picking up my herbs and taking his hand.

---------------

The moon was already rising by the time I ventured back to the guest-house. A cooling breeze shushed through the bamboo and flickered through my dampened hair, wreathing me with the scent of mountain pine. I paused, letting the wind sigh over me as I contemplated the waning silver-white profile.

Once I had gotten to work in the apothecary, amid the surprisingly extensive array of herbs and medicinal plants, I was able to focus all my roiling emotions into the familiar tasks of measuring, grinding, and mixing medicines. Preparation for one of the most effective wound-treating ointments would take another day at least, but I had enough material on hand to get it well under way.

Yukimura stayed with me long enough to observe the first stages. I used the opportunity to ask him about last night, if he really meant everything he said about Benitora and Tokugawa ambitions.

"Don't believe for a minute that I meant any disrespect to our erstwhile companion," he had replied with a disarming grin, "I merely pointed out that the facts, that gai-jin cannon have been procured, that Tokugawa riflemen are being trained by a gai-jin captain, and there have been increased contacts between the Tokugawa and gai-jin tradesmen, all point to one conclusion."

"And if the Tokugawa move against the Toyotomi?"

"I will do my duty," Yukimura stated simply. He half-turned his head, looking at the elaborate storage chest that took up nearly half the room. "But then, it might be wiser not to wait for the Tokugawa to make their move."

"Yukimura-san, what do you mean by that?" My nausea from earlier in the day returned full force at the thought of what Yukimura could be planning.

"If you will excuse me, Yuya-san," Yukimura said, standing up and bowing slightly to me, "My brother and Mahiro-san will be expecting me to see them off. Given our dismal display last evening, it would be rude of me not to be there. Nii-san might think I'm holding a grudge."

"One last thing," he said as he paused in the doorway, "Sasuke will be coming with you to help out in Hisui-kun's little quest. Kyo-san convinced me that it might be worth his time."

"Oh… thank you, Yukimura-san," I said. I know I should have been relieved, ecstatic even, but something about the way he said it made me wonder…

'I don't know who gives me a worse headache, Yukimura or Kyo,' I thought grimly, shaking my head and tightening my grip on my bundle of fresh laundry. Kousuke had sme use the main house's bathing facilities after I had finished in the apothecary, and loaned me a new yukata so I wouldn't have to send for anything from the guest house. Having the more mundane details of daily living taken care of unfortunately meant I had all the more time to spare to agonize over things like Kyo's reticence, Yukimura's ruses, and (let's not forget) the dark fate hanging over Japan. 'It's not like I can make things any better just by worrying about them!' I scolded myself, but I still couldn't help it.

"You got lost or something, nee-chan?"

I jumped at the question that seemed to come out of thin air, and then immediately realized it was only Sasuke. He had obviously just come from the guest house and was looking at me with a bored expression, though I could have sworn I saw amusement there at having startled me.

"Sasuke-kun! It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Given the circumstances, I was more happy to see him than ticked that he had gotten the jump on me yet again.

"Hn." He held his arms behind his head, his gaze not wavering from me for an instant. "I've been talking to Kyo and the other two," he mentioned, "I'd say that kid was crazy if wasn't for what I've seen myself."

"So, you've run into some of the demons in Osaka?" I asked. 'They really are attacking everywhere. How many of those things have been set loose?'

"Near there," he replied, not bothering to elaborate, "Those things put up as much fight as some of the lesser Jyuunishinshou when they're cornered." He grinned, and it wasn't a nice grin. "I'm really looking forward to this little quest you've put together. I figure whoever's pulling the strings has to be more entertaining."

He would put it that way, and I have no doubt that that was pretty much how Kyo thought. "I'm glad you're coming with us," I said truthfully.

He shrugged. "Migeira says I'm supposed to help save Japan. Makes no difference to me, seeing as I've been nothing more than a glorified messenger boy since Nobunaga and the Mibu have vanished off the face of the earth."

"So, even if you're helping the Tokugawa in the end…?" I couldn't help asking.

"If that's the spin you want to put on it, suit yourself, nee-chan," Sasuke said neutrally. As he turned to leave, I noticed that he had replaced the dai-katana he had lost in Mibu country. "We'll be leaving in two days to pick up the other two. I hope you don't get seasick easy. Good night."

'Seasick?' I thought, staring after him. Sounded like something Migeira would have to explain, since Sasuke wasn't one to provide information freely. "Good night," I called after him and began weaving my way through the bamboo back to the guesthouse.

"Yuya-dono!" Hisui called from the porch as I approached, "Wonderful news! Sarutobi Sasuke-dono has agreed to help us after all!"

"Yes, that is good news," I replied with a smile, stepping up beside him, "I guess you were right about Yukimura-san."

Hisui nodded cheerfully, beaming for all he was worth. "I do believe Kyo-dono had something to with it, though he has been less than forthcoming."

"That shouldn't come as a surprise," I said, more to myself than to Hisui as he opened the shoji for me.

"Yukimura couldn't have been that much interested in blabbing. You certainly took your time," Kyo remarked, seated at the far side of the fire pit with a jug of sake on hand and the remains of dinner spread out in front of him.

"I don't think Yukimura-san's ever been wounded seriously enough to cramp his glibness," I replied, "Although I did spend most of my time in the apothecary."

"Yes, we will certainly be in need of medicines on the journey," Migeira said almost jovially, "I commend your forethought, Yuya-san." He obviously was in a better mood than this morning, and doubtless Sasuke's visit earlier had much to do with it.

"Are you hungry, Yuya-dono?" Hisui asked, practically bouncing with ill-concealed glee. I suppose he had been more anxious than even he had let on. He knelt beside his uncle and picked up the remaining empty rice bowl.

"Thank you, no," I said, "I'm a little tired, so I think I'll just turn in for the night." My questions for Migeira could wait until tomorrow.

"Ah, sumimasen, Yuya-dono!" Hisui exclaimed, "If I had been there to help you, perhaps…"

"No, it's all right Hisui-kun. You can help me tomorrow. Good night, everyone."

"Good night," Migeira and Hisui chorused after me.

I didn't bother to light a lamp; the combined moon and firelight through the shoji was enough to cast everything into grey twilight, so I could put away my clothes and spread out the futon without difficulty. That done, I retrieved my comb and began working out the tangles in my hair. Hisui and Migeira's voices, pitched low out of politeness, filtered through the rice paper. I wondered how much longer I would have to wait…

Some time, as it turned out. The comb wasn't catching a single knot and my hair was bone-dry by the time the fire in the other room was banked, its red-orange glow fading as Hisui and Migeira retired to their own room. I bit my lip, fiddling nervously with the comb as I kept my eyes on the shoji. Would he come, or wouldn't he? Might he decide it wouldn't even be worth the effort of moving from his place?

I had begun to debate whether I should just go back out there when the shoji slid to, and he entered like a silent shadow.

I bowed my head, relief flooding through me.

Kyo didn't bother to approach, merely standing in the doorway for quite a while. I could feel his eyes on me, so I began moving the comb through my hair again. He said nothing, other than making a sound that might have been a sigh (or a grunt of annoyance). Only then did I look up at him, my hands stilling and drifting into my lap. His dark outline stood out from the lighter shadows, but I could not see his face, though he surely could see mine. Neither smiling or frowning, I waited for him… to speak, to move toward me, I'm not really sure which.

Abruptly, he moved from the shoji and sat down in the same spot he had fallen asleep the night before, his back to the wall, his katana propped up against his shoulder. A stray moonbeam glinted garnet as it caught his eyes, staring into mine.

It was up to me, I realized. Placing the comb aside, I got to my feet and walked over to him.

Kyo didn't look up as I stood over him, my arms folded across my chest. "You could have just said 'no'," I said quietly, after a moment.

"Hn."

"You could have killed him."

"Hn."

"Kyo?"

"Hn?"

I reached down, sliding ever-so-carefully into his lap, mindful of his wounds. "You're an idiot," I told him frankly as I straddled his waist and regarded him with a stern Look.

His expression went from surprised to irritated, and then to surprised again as I kissed him, mumbling, "But I love you just the same."

Neither of us slept in the futon that night.

------------------------------

Music for this Chapter:

Boccherini's String Quintet in E (Minuet)

Vaugh Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

-----------------------------

Dictionary:

Kunoichi - female ninja

Roshi - the head monk of a Buddhist temple, responsible for teaching younger monks and guiding them toward Enlightenment

Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Toyotomi Hideyori - Hideyoshi (1536-1598) is perhaps one of the most colorful and important characters to emerge from the Sengoku Jidai. Born a peasant, he became one of Oda Nobunaga's lieutenants through personal courage, martial skill, and strategic brilliance. After Nobunaga's assassination, Hideyoshi assumed control, and turned toward making peace for the war-forged unified nation Nobunaga left behind. Because he was not born a samurai, Hideyoshi could not claim the title of "shogun," and so he was granted the title of taiko in 1590 (also kampaku, Imperial Regent and essentially the Emperor's protector and overseer). He formalized the Japanese feudal system, essentially dividing the classes into rigid castes and making the samurai class the supreme governmental unit. He also sought to expand the Japanese empire, invading Korea (in 1592 and 1597) with ambitions toward Manchuria and perhaps even the whole of China. None of his campaigns were successful and after his death, Japanese forces were withdrawn from the continent. As mentioned in the story, Hideyoshi wanted his son, Toyotomi Hideyori to succeed him, and entrusted his care to his greatest enemy and ally, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Historically, once Hideyori came of age and challenged Tokugawa for the shogunate in 1613, Tokugawa refused, and in 1614, defeated the last Toyotomi supporters in the second siege of Osaka castle.

But as we know from the anime, one element of history was changed…

Gai-jin - "foreigner" or more literally, "barbarian" (the Japanese did not have high opinions of those who were not Japanese!). In this story, I'm perhaps placing a little too much emphasis on contacts between the various factions in Japan and foreign elements, but it is historically accurate that Westerners engaged in trade with Japan and thus exposed the Japanese to new forms of warfare and different ideas from around the world. The Portuguese had been granted a virtual monopoly over China-Japan trade, but by the Battle of Sekigahara, the Dutch and the British were making attempts to gain their own piece of the action.

To get a good idea of how Westerners had gained a marked foothold in Japan in the 15th and 16th centuries, I recommend reading James Clavell's Shogun, a fictionalized account of a shipwrecked English pilot in Sengoku Japan, based on the historic experiences of William Adams.

Additional Sources:WashintonState University website I'd give you theurl, but isn't loadingwebpage addresses


To My Reviewers: Please be patient with me, I beg of you! (sobs)

Luna-magi-2005: Shhh, yes I know it's wonderful, but not everyone's caught on yet. And that person who e-mailed you on a review – I think that's just a case of someone taking themselves too seriously!

Ginny-cry: Actually, that would be an interesting cross-over. Hmm, I'll have to think about it! (btw: Battousai/Kenshin would kick Kyo's butt. No questions, even though I'm probably going to get flamed for that). And I'll also see about fulfilling your other request… this is a romance fic after all!

Genjy0-Sanz0: And it wasn't much of a stretch, either. I had fun writing Hisui's reaction to it.

Kitsune55: I would like to do just that, but I suppose the experience is limited by how Yuya perceives things. She works from her experiences, and has a hard time seeing from Kyo's point of view (perhaps she'll learn how to do that better). I think Kyo's biggest problem is that he's afraid of being more open, because when you're open, you're vulnerable. He's been living his whole life that way, and even Yuya can only slowly make him see that it's all right to let people in. Don't worry, Kyo's going to do some major growing up – if not in this installment, than definitely in part two of the trilogy (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

LadyWater2010: How fortunate for me that I have masochistic tendencies! I'm growing, I'm growing, I'm growing… (starts chanting)

Mimi-san: I'm glad you're enjoying the historic references. I'm beginning to think I'm going overboard on them though…

Vegita-dias Thank you vegita-dias-sama, for being so understanding! (bawls and glomps vegita-dias). Your praise makes me so happy, because if someone of your caliber thinks this story is worth reading, it's definitely worth the time I put in to write it! (And as for your deduction… I'm going to have fun pursuing that line, don't you worry…)

Natty1066: Thanks! I did manage to graduate on time, but I'll have less of it to devote to fanfiction. (Boo) And I'm so happy you thought I did well with Yukimura in the last chapter. What do you think of him in this one?

Triste1: Well, you gotta figure anyone who can teach Yuya as much as she did in three years has to be pretty remarkable. I'm thinking of writing a side-story, just to tell how they met Taka-sensei. And we can replay the whole scene where Taka-sensei bruises Kyo's shins with her walking stick…

Froz Flame: Shoot, I thought I was being subtle… well, you can be sure more than a few of the characters are going to be surprised. And stick with your writing; as LadyWater-san says, it is a challenge we grow stronger for overcoming!

Nekozuki1776: And the really funny part is, Yuya only has a vague inkling that Kyo's jealous! I don't know if you were surprised by who the "houseguests" happened to be - what was your guess? And keeping Yuya's secret is only half the fun…

animegrl1047: (sweatdrop) Insomnia's a wonderful thing when put to good use, isn't it? Though I think I've been spending too much time on fanart and not enough on fanfiction, to judge from the reviews of late. And Benitora's in Edo, where he belongs, though I'm wondering if I ought to have him pop up after all… And Saitou's still Kanashimi's (unwilling) pet. Don't expect that to change anytime soon!

Arin Ross/Arain Rowan/Anee: Yes, I'm still alive, though just barely… I'm sorry to have made you wait so long, but life in general and writer's block in particular has been a real bitch. And here's a cookie for Anee-chan for her deduction! (pats Anee-chan on the head). I'm hoping you picked up on it because you were reading into the story, and not because I made it obvious… and yes, there's going to be a whole lotta fun with that plot point! Prickly pear cactus? (sweatdrop) That sounds painful. You should just stick with duct tape like Kanashimi does. Oh lookit the butterfly! (has Hotaru moment) Thank you for the wonderful review, it had me in stitches, and good luck on your own story!

Alyson Metallium: Meh, I'm a manga snob myself, but when the idea for this story sprouted in my head, I had only seen the anime and read maybe three volumes of manga (no way I could be manga-accurate with that info!) If I could start over from the beginning, I would, but that would mean this entire story lost… and I'm so poor a writer I can't do that! The various plot points are having a field day in my head, and it's murder trying to get them in order. I wanted to spend more time on Yukimura in this chapter, since he's such a great character and I honestly don't know if he'll be showing up again until part three of the trilogy. Or something… yeah…

Ahem! So, I hope you liked this latest chapter, though I know it is nowhere near good enough to make up for the delay. I'm going to work hard on the next chapter… ASAP, I promise!

(sneaks Akira away from Alyson)

Starian Princess: And the Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything is 42. (nods sagely) Thank you for your comforting words – it's awesome know that I have a fan like you cheering me on!

Chibi Tenshi: You went back and reviewed every single chapter? (blushes) Wow, I'm… stunned. Flattered and stunned. Especially since you're such an excellent writer yourself. The anime was definitely a travesty – this fic began as something of a way for me to make up for it in my mind (stupid feggin' ten-year-gap!). And I know it's kind of unbelievable that Yuya can become a healer in three years, but if you recall in the anime and the manga, she seemed to be doing a pretty decent job of tending to people already. I guess the real test of healing is taking on real world problems, and if you have experience, it becomes second nature. Taka-sensei built on Yuya's established foundation and honed her skills, so that she could do more. Also, Yuya's constantly learning as she travels with Kyo, don't forget that! As for the Kyo-Hisui-Yuya triangle… yep, that's going to lead to some fireworks down the road. I'm so glad people are taking a liking to Hisui-kun and thinking he is a believable character. One thing I think even the manga lacks is a proper foil for Kyo, someone who is his opposite in attitude and motivations, while sharing the same goal (I suppose Muramasa would have been a candidate for that slot, if he hadn't died…).

Kyo can be "scarily perceptive" but he can also be remarkably dense. I'll let you decide what that's going to mean in later chapters… but can you imagine Kyo and Yuya going to a temple to actually get married? If he didn't scare off the priests, he'd certainly have a hard time limiting himself to three choko of sake!

Thank you so much for your voluminous reviews, and I hope this latest installment lived up to your expectations. Salute!

One question, though: What is Shinshi Doumei Cross?

Ella: I love Akira, too! (huggles Akira, and then throws him into a Plot Hole before he can ice her). I do wish I could write this story in respect to the manga, especially since Bontenmaru is such a cuddly teddy-bear and Akari kicks ass, but that would mean going back and rewriting a whole lot of stuff. Also, I haven't read near enough of the manga to be anywhere close to accurate!

I do hope you will continue to read and enjoy regardless…

Previously-recorded: So you have requested, so it shall be! (winks) How do you like Yukimura in this? I hope he didn't turn out too dark, but he's helping set the tone for the rest of the story. As for the great Kyo/Kyoshiro debate… I think that last shot in the anime was done just so that it was anyone's guess as to who won. For myself, I believe Kyoshiro was ready to die, and in fact wanted to, to make up for all the things he had done wrong (i.e., betray Kyo, resurrect Nobunaga, kill Yuya's brother). Kyo, on the other hand, had every reason to live: he had solved the mystery of his origins, he had defeated his life-long enemy (besides Kyoshiro), and there was Yuya to consider. I suppose it all depends on your reading of the characters as to the conclusion you reach.

Kate and AyiAh, gomen nasai for being derelict in my duties! I apologize to all of my readers and to all of and everyone in the whole world for being so lazy and irresponsible! (prostrates herself) GOMEN NASAAAAAAIIII! I AM ASHAMED THAT I HAVE INFLICTED SUFFERING ON FELLOW FANFICTION READERS THROUGH MY INADEQUACY, I'M SORRY! GOMEN NASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII…!

wham A black iron skillet whacks Narrator on the head, cutting short her histrionics.

KanashimiWe've had enough of that, thank you!

Narrator: (swirly eyes) Orooooo…

Kanashimi(sigh) C'est lavie!

Salute!