Narrator here. Okay, before this chapter begins, I have something to say to all of my loyal readers:

(gets down on the floor) I'M SO SORRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYY! PLEASE FORGIVE THIS UNWORTHY ONE FOR HER LAZINESS AND HER WRITER'S BLOCK AND HER CRAPPY INABILITY TO MAKE THIS THE BEST CHAPTER YOU'VE EVER READ AND FOR MAKING YOU PUT UP WITH ME FOR SO LONG!

Seriously, ya'll, thanks so much for your patience - I've gotten more than a few prods to keep going with this fic, and I'm terribly sorry for not having gotten this out sooner. Truth be told, I wrote myself into a corner, and my creatice writing skills just plain up and died. (cringes) Yes, I'm aware that's a crappy excuse, and I will try my darndest to make it up to you. (puppy dog eyes



Intermezzo

Chapter 6: Pastorale

"Hyuuga?"

"Or possibly even somewhere in Higo."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Not to be rude or anything," I said, "but are you sure that information's accurate?"

"As sure as I am of anything," Yukimura with a placid smile.

'There's a ringing endorsement,' I thought sourly, not appreciating Yukimura's nonchalance. "But why? Why would Akira-san and Hotaru-san go all the way out to Kyuushuu at all?" I wondered.

"They were in Hokkaido last year, so why shouldn't they head south for a bit?" Sasuke asked impatiently, "For all we know or care, they're making a tour of Japan."

Yukimura and Sasuke had come by after breakfast in order to lay out the details of the next leg of our journey. Apparently, I had been the only one who had no clue as to Akira and Hotaru's present whereabouts; Yukimura had kept tabs on everyone once we parted from Mibu country (and shared his information with Kyo right off), and Hisui and Migeira of course had Hisui's vision.

"Perhaps they wish to head to the continent," Migeira suggested, "With things seemingly calm here in Japan, the wars between the Ming and the tribes of Manchuria might prove interesting for two warriors with no ties to anything here."

I found that highly unlikely, but kept it to myself.

"Maybe they will attempt to succeed where Toyotomi-sama failed?" Yukimura quipped.

The scathing look Migeira sent Yukimura and Yukimura's annoyingly sunny grin in reply gave me the strongest urge to giggle, so I hid my face with my steaming teacup and pretended to be extremely occupied with my ginger-tea.

"But wouldn't they need an army for that?" Hisui asked in all seriousness, blissfully oblivious to the byplay yet again. "And besides, they'd have to conquer Korea first."

"Hurrrrrr…" Sasuke made a low growling noise in his throat as he glared at Hisui, as though it was all his fault that the conversation had drifted off-topic. It wasn't very fair, but then I doubt Sasuke would ever fault Yukimura for being himself in front of the present company.

I got my first inkling that the newest member of our group had taken to Hisui like oil to water.

With a sigh, I leaned ever-so-casually against Kyo's arm. He glanced down at me out of the corner of his eye, his stoic mask of a face unflickering.

I sighed again, very softly, so he'd be the only one to hear. Batting my eyes would have been pushing it.

Kyo made an irritated "harrumph"-ing noise.

I sipped my tea and turned my attention back to the others.

"When and where are we supposed to meet up with this boat of yours, Yukimura?" Kyo asked.

All other conversation came to a screeching halt as everyone looked at him. I think Yukimura was as surprised as anyone that Kyo had finally started to contribute to the discussion.

"Four days from now," he replied smoothly, "Just south of Wakayama."

Kyo raised an eyebrow. "That's a hell of a quick arrangement," he noted, "How did you send for a boat to Kyuushuu in so short a time?"

"I didn't," said Yukimura, shaking his head, "It was… prearranged."

"Prearranged?" Hisui, Migeira, and I echoed in unison. 'Convenient? I think not!'

"Why do I feel like all of you are suspecting me of foul play all of a sudden?" Yukimura laughed as if someone had told a reasonably funny joke. He waved his hands. "If you're thinking, 'Did Yukimura-sama let everyone believe that he wasn't going to help unless Kyo-san fought him, when he really was all for it from the beginning,' you're giving me too much credit! Even I can change my mind if the argument is convincing enough."

Oddly enough, I had begun to suspect Yukimura of just that; it seemed rather too easy that Kyo winning the duel with his Suzaku had made Yukimura's mind up for him. Maybe, just maybe, Yukimura was even more twisted than anyone had given him credit for, and had met us at the teahouse with every intention of helping Hisui, even if it meant helping the Tokugawa down the road.

Then again, as Yukimura himself put it, perhaps I was giving him "too much credit."

My headache was coming back again.

"How, then, was this 'prearrangement' made, and for what purpose?" Migeira asked heavily.

Yukimura shook a finger at him. "That would be telling," he said, "Is it not enough that you have the means to achieve your goal?"

Apparently, Migeira wasn't inclined to think so, but Yukimura had a very good point - chalk good (and bad) fortune up to karma, and leave well enough alone. After scrutinizing Yukimura for several moments, Migeira let the matter drop without further words.

"I thank you for your largesse, Yukimura-dono," Hisui said, smoothly gliding over the ill mood with his customary politeness, "Your aid has proven invaluable and I wish there was only some way that we could repay it."

"I'll keep that in mind," replied Yukimura, clearly amused.

"So, we're done here?" Sasuke demanded, "We leave tomorrow, at sunrise. There's a lot to be done between now and then."

I'm sure it was purely unconscious on our parts, but everyone looked expectantly at Kyo.

"Hn," was his eloquent closing remark.

"Thank you," I whispered in Kyo's ear as Yukimura and Sasuke left. Migeira informed everyone that he was returning to the temple, and followed them.

"Sasuke-kun was right," I said, standing up and straightening my kimono, "Hisui-kun, I'm going to need your help if we're to have enough medicines for the trip."

"As you say, Yuya-dono," Hisui agreed readily, "But should you not have something to eat first?" He indicated my untouched portion of breakfast.

I felt my stomach lurch as I glanced at it and quickly turned away. "No thank you, Hisui-kun," I said, forcibly regaining control of myself (dammit, I'd never experienced altitude sickness this badly!), "I'm not hungry. Let me just get a couple of containers from my chest and we'll go."

"A-All right," Hisui replied with a worried tone.

As I was riffling through my chest, selecting a few empty and near-empty jars for the medicines, I heard Kyo enter the room. "Hisui-kun and I will probably take all day in the apothecary," I said, opening the bottom drawer and taking out a sheaf of notes left by Taka-sensei on how to prepare a wound-cleaning elixir I was still shaky on, "I hope you won't be too bored, left to your own devices." I smiled at him over my shoulder.

The expression on his face startled me. "What's wrong?"

I had assumed he was concerned about something, but as soon as I asked, he became irritated. "How can you possibly want to spend more time with that annoying brat?"

"If you're talking about Hisui-kun," I said, not knowing where his sudden hostility came from, "of course I want to spend more time with him. He's serious about learning about medicines, and he can help me prepare them. It makes sense."

He shrugged, as if I was speaking gibberish. "You're pushing yourself, playing mother to that little brat," he muttered, "Just stay here and don't cause trouble."

My conversation with Yukimura yesterday was too close to my memory for that comment to not sting. "I'm fine, Kyo," I said, more sharply than I meant to, "Don't think that I can't figure out my own limits."

"That's what I mean." Clearly, he wanted to have the last word or nothing at all. "You're so busy keeping that brat entertained, you're not thinking about yourself."

"Well, you obviously seem to think you can take care of that for me, telling me what to do," I said sarcastically, getting angrier by the moment. 'I really thought that there wouldn't be any need to argue anymore, and here he is, acting like he's jealous of Hisui-kun…!' I blinked, wondering where that absurd thought had come from. Kyo, jealous, of anyone, let alone a kid like Hisui was so incredibly silly that it… that it… '… almost makes sense.'

"What, did you swallow that sharp tongue of yours or something?" Kyo asked with his trademark cruel humor. But there was something else, too…

"Kyo, are you…?"

"Perhaps Kyo-dono should come with us to the apothecary, Yuya-dono?"

Kyo and I both jerked our heads toward the open shoji leading out into the common room (apparently, Kyo had neglected to close it behind him). Hisui stood there, looking somewhat abashed, but he plowed on despite Kyo's withering glare. "Yuya-dono did say that she was concerned that Kyo-dono would have to spend his day without company, and since Kyo-dono is obviously concerned that Yuya-dono has not been feeling well lately, perhaps if he were to…"

Sweeping up Tenro so that it made a sharp rattle in its saya, Kyo got to his feet and threw aside the shoji leading out onto the back porch. "Keep your damn suggestions to yourself, fucking brat," he snarled at Hisui before striding away in the general direction of the temple.

Awkward silence filled the room, until Hisui said in a meek voice, "Yuya-dono, I … I apologize. I spoke out of turn."

I sighed, massaging my temples as my skull pounded like a taiko - honestly, did men emit an aura or something that made women's heads ache so much? "You were only trying to help, Hisui-kun," I said, "Though you really ought to choose your battles a little more wisely before stepping in like that." Oh, the sweet irony of me, Shiina Yuya, Off-the-Cuff-Mindless-Arguer-Extraordinaire, advising a kid to be careful when opening his mouth! I sighed again and got to my feet. Hisui immediately took a couple of the jars from my overcrowded arms and we made our way to the apothecary without further incident.


'Hm, Yukimura wasn't kidding when he said these falls were beautiful,' I thought, pausing to catch my breath as I stared up at the white foaming cascades above me. The falls emptied into a seemingly fathomless yet crystal clear pool, which I was currently trying to cross on a "bridge" of incredibly slippery moss-and-lichen covered stones. I recognized a couple of specimens that Taka-sensei had taught me were ideal for treating burns and suppurating wounds, but there was no way I could have them collected, dried, and prepared before tomorrow. 'With any luck, we'll not be needing any of the medicines Hisui and I spent so much time on this morning,' I half-prayed.

Bits and pieces of the conversation I'd had with Hisui in the apothecary floated up like the leaves that danced on the surface of the pool at my feet before disappearing over the next waterfall.

"Yuya-dono?"

"Hm?"

The rhythmic rasping crunch-crunch of the grinding wheel paused as Hisui gathered his thoughts (or his courage). "Am I… a burden?"

I almost singed my finger tips on the narrow flame I had been using to adhere the sleeping potion to my needles. "What on earth makes you say that?" I demanded.

Hisui bowed his head. "This morning, when I spoke so foolishly… no, even before then… I have caused discord between you and Kyo-dono. He considers me as I would a thorn in my sandal, does he not?"

"Well…" As miserable as he seemed, there was no point in trying to make mochi out of millet and vinegar. "Yes, I wouldn't say Kyo's fond of you. But then, he's not the type to be friendly with anyone at first." 'If ever,' I added to myself. "Give him time. Best thing you can do is to stay out of his way as much as possible."

"But, he is taking up my quest; how am I to accomplish such a thing?" Hisui asked somewhat plaintively.

He had me there. "Try, all the same. Think of Kyo like a mean, hungry tiger, or something - the wrong thing at the wrong time will set him off, and the result won't be pretty." I was trying to be funny, to set him at ease, and I'll admit the mental image of Kyo with tiger stripes and a tail made me giggle inwardly.

Unfortunately, Hisui didn't seem to appreciate the joke. "Is Kyo-dono truly so disagreeable?" he said softly, almost to himself as he returned to grinding. His face was pinched in an anxious frown. "Why, of all the warriors in the world, was he chosen to fight for it?"

"Probably because he's the best and the strongest," I said matter-of-factly, "No matter who the enemy is, Kyo is not the type to quit and run away. He'll fight as long as there is breath in his body, if the fight's worth it."

Hisui seemed surprised by my answer. "And saving the world… to a man like Kyo-dono, is that a worthy fight?" he asked after a moment.

"I… I honestly can't answer that question, Hisui-kun," I replied, "All the same, give him a chance. You have confidence in your vision, don't you?"

"Yes!" he said immediately, eagerly.

"Well, then…" I smiled triumphantly, "Have the same confidence in Kyo. And yourself, you're a lot stronger than you think you are…"

"I'm not asking for much," I told my rippling reflection in the water, "I just want them to work together without causing me headaches." Hisui was suffering from a lack of faith, in himself at the very least. Granted, he was very young and sheltered; too young and sheltered, in my opinion. Migeira must have been insane, taking him on such a dangerous journey. Kyo, on the other hand… if my earlier notion hadn't been a passing moment of insanity, he probably just didn't know how to deal with someone like Hisui.

It would be best if I took my own advice and watched my step around Kyo, but then, that's not really my style.

Yukimura had suggested the falls beyond the temple as an excellent place for a relaxing walk after the hours I had spent in the apothecary. If I just happened to stumble onto Kyo along the way, so be it. Besides, it was getting late - the sun would be setting in less than an hour, and it would be rude if he missed the farewell dinner Yukimura hinted was on the agenda.

"Yosha!" I breathed as I stepped down onto dry, solid earth. Even if it was summer, evenings on top of a mountain are cool enough without dunkings into ice-cold pools.

Ka-BOOM!

"Augh!" I almost fell over backwards, both from the suddenness of the explosion and the shock wave that followed it. Still, I recognized the aftermath of a Mizuchi attack when I tripped over one. At least I had found Kyo, but I didn't appreciate being nearly scared to death. Temper on medium boil, I thrust my way through the thick tangled hedge in front of me - oh, was I going to give him a piece of my mind when I found him!

"Kyo! Grrrrr… Kyo, where are you?" I demanded. My hair and my kimono snagged on thorns hidden within the vines and bushes; it did not improve my annoyance in the least.

"Look what I found." I stopped struggling at the sound of his deep voice, rumbling with sarcastic humor. And there was the object of my search, peering down at me through an opening in the branches and grinning hugely at my discomfort. "A loud-mouthed rabbit who's gotten herself tangled up."

"Shut up and help me get out of here," I managed through clenched teeth.

"Give me a reason," he replied, still smirking.

I really, really, really wished glares could fry people on the spot, or at least cause them dire pain. "Fine, I can do it myself!" After a little more thrashing, a lot of swearing, and a good rip on my left kimono sleeve, I finally pulled myself out of the blasted thorns.

I don't think I've wanted to kill anyone more than just then.

"Keep frowning like that and you'll give yourself wrinkles," Kyo informed me.

'Must… resist… urge… to… maim…' "What the hell do you think you're doing, firing off a Mizuchi like that?" I berated him, "You scared me half to death! I could have fallen into the pool and gotten hypothermia!"

"Didn't know you were there," he said dismissively.

"Right, and I'm the Merciful Goddess descended from Heaven," I muttered sarcastically, examining my torn sleeve and feeling extremely Put Out.

Kyo turned and started walking away from me. "Hey!" I called after him, "I'm not done with you yet!"

He paused, looking over his shoulder with an expression of boredom. "If you came all the way out here to nag me, you could have saved yourself the trip," he said, "It's not like I wasn't going to come back."

It's silly, but just the way he said it, so cold and mockingly, I couldn't help the same sudden sensation of defeated emptiness I had felt when Yukimura suggested Kyo wanted to leave me on Kudoyama. 'Would he do it again, leave me behind?' "Right…" I agreed softly, "Um… sorry." Kyo didn't say anything, so I plowed on, trying to recover my lost momentum. "Listen, Kyo, I was wondering if…" I was going to ask him about going a little easier on Hisui, but I was suddenly distracted by the sight of the destruction that surrounding us. Apparently, that Mizuchi hadn't been the only one. Trees, bushes, even boulders looked they had been tossed around by a particularly violent oni. Judging from the scorched earth that radiated in several directions as far as the eye could see, he'd been letting loose some pretty impressive Suzaku in the bargain. "…What the hell have you been doing here! Were you trying to set the mountain on fire or something?"

Kyo rolled his eyes. Before he could start walking away again, I grabbed him by the arm and yanked open his kimono. "My, the rabbit's eager today, isn't she?" he asked.

"Quit being a pervert, I just want to make sure your wound hasn't reopened because you were screwing around!" I snapped at him, scanning the bandage swathing his chest for any tell-tale red flecks, "How about your leg? I was going to take the stitches out of it tonight, but if you've gone and torn them…"

His hand clamped down heavily on my shoulder, prying me off of him and holding me at bay. "Kyo!" I protested angrily, "Tomorrow we might face more of those demons and I have to know that you're all right!"

"I don't recall asking you to take care of me," he said lowly, "And I certainly didn't ask you to determine my limits for me."

"I wasn't…!" For crying out loud, all of our "conversations" of late seemed to circle back to the same old tired theme – the second I tried to show one ounce of concern for Kyo, he took it as a personal insult! Of course, he'd always been like that, but this time, it wasn't something I could just allow him to shrug off like it was nothing. "Kyo…" 'Deep breaths, girl, try and calm down…' "Humor me, just this once, ne?" I asked, smiling wryly and laying my head against his arm, "I promise, from now on, I won't nag you or even try to keep you from hurting yourself if you just let me take make sure you're all right."

"You mean, you'd give up your favorite pastime of trying to tell me what to do?" Kyo asked sarcastically.

"That's not my 'favorite pastime,' jerk!" I snorted, "You have no idea what my favorite pastime is!"

"Can I guess?" Kyo grinned wickedly and whispered something in my ear that made my cheeks flame bright red.

"We only did that one time, you pervert, and only because you didn't say anything about the…!" I couldn't continue, mainly because I was too embarrassed, but also because Kyo was watching me with amusement.

I swear, pissing me off and/or embarrassing me are his favorite pastimes!

"So…" I coughed, pretending the last two minutes didn't happen, "Are you going to let me check your wounds or are we going to have to stand out here all night?" The sun was already turning the western sky fiery red and the shadows around us were closing in.

"Whatever…" He finally let go of my shoulder.

Keeping my triumph to myself, I only observed, "There's no point in staying out here; all my stuff is back at the guest house anyway, so I'll check on you after dinner." I hadn't seen any blood on the bandages around his chest, so there was no immediate cause for worry.

Kyo gave me a Look that clearly read, "Well then, what was all the fuss about?"

Smiling to myself, I took his hand and started walking back toward the path I had forced through the brambles. Kyo pulled me toward a clear trail farther down that was wide enough for the two of us to walk through comfortably (I would have noticed it before if I hadn't been so bent on strangling Kyo).

"Ne, Kyo?" I spoke up as I started crossing the pool in front of him, "You have agreed to help Hisui-kun, right?"

When he didn't answer, I stopped to look back at him.

"If that's what you want to believe, fine by me," he said indifferently, looking off toward the falls.

"So, it's the fight and not the end of the fight you're thinking about," I said, mostly to myself. Did it really make that much of a difference? So long as Kyo went along with Hisui's vision, the end result would be the same, right? The threat would be eliminated and life would go on like normal (well, as normal as life ever got with Kyo around, at least…).

But then why was it that I got a sinking feeling in my stomach as I looked at Kyo, with the shadows steadily concealing his face from me?


"Take care everyone!" Yukimura bid us all an enthusiastic farewell, gleefully hugging Sasuke good-bye so hard I swear Sasuke suffered a couple bruised ribs. Kousuke and Saizo were also there to hand off some useful supplies and wish us a safe journey.

"Yuya-san, you're breaking my heart, leaving me like this," Yukimura said quietly as he helped me pull my newly re-stocked medicine chest onto my back.

"Somehow I doubt that, Yukimura-san," I said mildly, biting down on the urge to start yelling at him, "You knew I wouldn't have accepted your offer in the first place."

"Perhaps," Yukimura cheerfully allowed, "You aren't one to give way once you set your mind on something. Please remember to keep your mind on Kyo-san, ne?"

I stiffened, thinking he was making fun of me again. But when met his eyes, I could see that he was being completely serious despite his careless manner. "I will, you can bet on that," I assured him.

He nodded. "Thank you, Yuya-san." He smiled brilliantly at Kyo, who had loomed up behind him so quietly I hadn't noticed.

"Please don't give Sasuke-kun too much trouble, Kyo-san," he purred, "He has enough problems taking care of me."

Kyo shrugged, but there was a tension between the two of them I hadn't noticed before. "I'm not his babysitter. You should be lecturing him, not me."

Yukimura took it in stride. "Ne, Kyo-san, I was just trying to be your friend," he teased, "I only offered some friendly advice."

"Tch - I've had my fill of that lately," Kyo snorted, his gaze flicking momentarily to me.

"Some things never change, I suppose," sighed Yukimura, leaning his cheek against his hand almost flirtatiously, "All the same…"

I really wish I could figure out just what it was they had talked about during their duel; apparently Hisui hadn't been the only person to set Kyo on edge lately.

Sasuke led us down the mountain on a trail that was mercifully gentle compared to the one we had used the other day. No one talked, which wasn't all that unusual, but there was a thick feel to the air that wasn't just the humidity that was gathering as the sun rose. I was about to ask Sasuke about his trip to Osaka when he, Kyo and Migeira came to a sudden halt. Instinctively, I grabbed Hisui, pulling him close to me into the middle of the group.

"How long were you planning to follow us?" Sasuke challenged the empty air, looking back the way we had come.

There was a pause, and then Mahiro seemed to materialize in the middle of the trail. Her gazed flicked over every person in the group, resting momentarily on Kyo before she spoke to Sasuke. "What did you expect of me?" she asked, "I see Onime no Kyo and Migeira, a former wielder of a Muramasa, in the company of Sarutobi Sasuke of the Sanada Jyuuyushi for reasons I do not know. It is my duty as an Iga kunoichi to investigate."

"Maybe," Sasuke allowed, "But if you're going to investigate, you'd better be more careful at not letting us detect you."

Mahiro's eyes narrowed; she was plainly irked at being found out.

"Consider this a warning," Sasuke continued, "Turn around now and go back to the idiot you call your master - tell him to keep his nose out of other people's business if he doesn't want it cut off."

"I serve Tokugawa Hidetada-sama and no one else," Mahiro said stiffly, "Even you can't order me around, Sarutobi Sasuke."

Sasuke quirked an eyebrow, his face otherwise deadpan - I had a feeling things could get really nasty really quickly. Anxiously, I looked over at Kyo, since out of anyone, Mahiro would listen to him. Probably.

"Mahiro-dono…"

I started, looking down at Hisui.

"Mahiro-dono," he repeated firmly, gently disengaging himself from my hold, "Does my word mean so little to you?"

'Eh?' I wasn't the only one gaping at him in astonishment - Kyo and Sasuke looked at least as surprised as I felt, while Migeira looked like he'd been cracked over the head with his own shakujou.

Mahiro looked extremely uncomfortable. "You must understand my position, Hisui-sama," she replied with such deference I stopped gaping at Hisui to stare at her, "Even if I can accept everything you have told me, I cannot ask my master to do the same. You ask the impossible of me."

"I do not, Mahiro-dono," Hisui riposted, still sounding abjectly polite despite the rebuke, "What I told you, it is undoubtedly the truth."

"But…"

"Your liege places more trust in you than you seem to place in yourself, Mahiro-dono. Perhaps that is why you doubt."

Mahiro blinked; suddenly, she smiled slightly, her eyes softening with all-too unaccustomed warmth as she regarded Hisui. "Did you ever stop to consider that you might place too much faith in me, Hisui-sama?"

"Never," said Hisui with a shake of his head, "I do not even have to rely on my sight to see the measure of your spirit."

Mahiro's smile widened and she laughed, softly. "You really know how to flatter a girl, don't you? Very well - I don't envy you the task you've set for yourself. I have it far easier in comparison."

"Perhaps; will you bid us to leave you now, freely?"

"All right." The smile dissolved into perfect reticence. "Come back alive, all of you," she said to us, "Or Hidetada-sama will never forgive me."

For some reason, she seemed to look especially hard at me before she vanished.

"Hisui…" Migeira began in a somewhat strangled voice after a moment.

"I took what course of action I thought best, Migeira-oji-sama," Hisui interrupted, in almost the same tone he had used with Mahiro, "She had to know. Her lord must know, or we risk acquiring enemies we do not need."

"Nevertheless," Migeira said sternly, "It is a matter we shall discuss. Later."

"Yes, Migeira-oji-sama," Hisui assented.

Personally, having gotten over my surprise at Hisui addressing Mahiro with such authority, I thought Migeira was being rather severe; the kid had managed to send Mahiro off without conflict simply by saying he trusted her. With what, I wasn't all that certain, but I could guess. Besides, I trusted Mahiro, too.


Evening was deepening the shadows to dusky purple and I was looking forward to setting up camp and getting some sleep. We'd been traveling along Kudoyama's foothills since early afternoon, avoiding main roads whenever we could. Thanks to Sasuke's lead, I think we made pretty good time, but even more importantly, there had been no signs of pursuit, demonic or otherwise.

"So, what is it we're looking for exactly?" I asked somewhat drowsily, stifling a yawn. Pine needles lay in a thick carpet all around our feet, muffling our steps as we walked (not that Sasuke or Kyo really needed the help); they also hid the mass of knobby roots the radiated from the trees surrounding us, and I was starting to trip up more than a few times. Yep, definitely bed-time.

"The dwelling of a hermit the roshi of the temple told me about," Migeira replied, somewhat impatiently, "Gokuro-sama alluded to the man's impressive spiritual power and said that he may have sutras or holy devices that would be most helpful against our foes."

"He's also supposed to be completely insane," Sasuke interjected helpfully, "But maybe that's just a rumor."

I frowned. I had enough crazy people in my life already, and I didn't want to meet another one - until I'd had some decent sleep, at least. "Is it really that important that we find him, today? Can't we look for him tomorrow?" Okay, I'll admit it, I was starting to sound whiny, but I was nearing exhaustion.

"We've already gone far enough out of the way," Sasuke told me sharply, "We must be within three li of the coast by tomorrow, and stopping now will mean we've wasted half a day's travel for nothing. Complain the monk if you're going whine to anyone about this."

Migeira made a soft huffing noise, and said, "I have already told you that I shall not take any more time than is absolutely necessary - I believe you over-exaggerate the severity situation."

'Greeeeeaaaat… as if my feet killing me and my head pounding and feeling like I'm going to fall asleep where I stand or hurl at any minute wasn't bad enough, now I have to deal with a pack of snarky males sniping at each other,' I added to my internal litany of complaints. But I was being uncharitable - Hisui wasn't joining in, and Kyo was staying above it simply by ignoring the fact that the rest of us existed.

Which was also starting to piss me off, come to think of it.

Hisui gasped softly and stopped dead in his tracks. "Oji-sama…" he managed in a somewhat strangled voice. His eyes had gone wide as if staring into a far-off distance.

Migeira looked at him, his eyes widening slightly also. "I see," he said, going back to where Hisui was standing. His attention (and Hisui's) was focused on the space between two twisted pine trunks, remnants either of fire or lightning strike. As far as I could tell, they were staring at empty air, but Hisui and Migeira seemed pretty excited about it as they conferred for several minutes in low, hurried voices.

Sasuke and Kyo were beginning to look irritated when Migeira finally turned to us. "Here," he said, gesturing at the rock face, "We've arrived."

"I thought the other monk was supposed to be the crazy one," Sasuke noted flatly. I silently seconded the observation (no, I wasn't feeling cranky in the least.)

Migeira quirked an eyebrow at him, but instead of retorting, he turned back to the empty air that had excited him and Hisui so much. Muttering what sounded like a sutra under his breath, he raised his shakujou. "May the holy radiance of Buddha unveil before us the True Path," he intoned in a clear voice, bringing it across his body on a wide sweeping motion.

The air… dissolved, shadows shifting into solid shapes where nothing had been before, revealing a clearing with a small, run-down shack that at one time might have been a shrine at its far end. "An illusion, to keep out unwanted visitors," Migeira explained unnecessarily.

"There is also a trap laid, a barrier against unclean things," Hisui added, sounding uneasy for some reason, "I believe it wisest that Migeira-oji-sama or I go first."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kyo sneered, "Are you trying to say that the rest of us aren't worthy?"

Hisui shook his head. "No," he replied, "It is a standard warding spell, found on the perimeters or most temples and holy places, but…" He stared at the shack, biting his lower lip nervously. As for myself, I'd never seen a place more likely to be haunted; naturally, the sun chose that exact moment to disappear behind the mountains, plunging everything into near-complete darkness. 'Greeeeeeaaaat…'

"I do not know," Hisui said after a moment, "This barrier is stronger than most, which would speak to the houriki of the hermit, but… there is something in its nature..."

"Maybe he just likes having his peace and quiet," I suggested, trying my hardest not to sound nervous, "But we didn't come all this way to stand on the guy's front porch, right?"

"Certainly not," said Migeira, "Hisui and I shall lead - there should be nothing to concern yourselves with."

I'd had to have been a complete idiot not to notice how he held out his shakujou in front of him as though he was expecting a blow at any second, or how Sasuke and Kyo had partially unsheathed their swords.

We had almost reached the bottom step of the decrepit shrine when Migeira abruptly held up his hand to halt us.

"Who approaches?" an ancient, shrill voice queried from behind the worn shoji, "If you are bandits, there is nothing of value here; if you are seekers of enlightenment, you are welcome."

'He certainly doesn't sound insane,' I thought, knowing that didn't really mean a thing.

"Worthy hermit," Migeira replied in a loud but respectful voice, "We are indeed five travelers have journeyed day and night in search of enlightenment, and would hear your wisdom and teachings to aid our quest."

"Enlightenment, my ass," Kyo snorted. I shoved my elbow into his side.

The shoji slid open with a violent screech of warped wood on warped wood, and a man who looked like he had been alive when Honen first began preaching tottered out onto the loudly creaking porch, supported by a thick staff of gnarled wood. Rheumy, almost solidly white eyes fixed on us blearily, though I doubt the monk could see much in the wan light of the rising moon and the dying firelight spilling out from the interior of the shrine.

"Ah, Amida Buddha-sama, what strange guests you have delivered to my doorstep tonight," he mumbled, "An impatient sohei, a youngling shin-gon-guji, an incarnation of Tarani Bosatsu, a small oni with gold fire gaze, and a large oni with blood-burning eyes."

Well, maybe he wasn't as blind as I thought; being called a bodhisattva was rather flattering. I could tell everyone else was as surprised as I.

"Worthy hermit…" Migeira began.

The hermit held up a hand. "Gokuro-sama has sent you to find me, but not because he thinks I can teach you more than he," he interrupted, "I believe I have something you want, yes?"

"You have a most discerning mind, worthy hermit," replied Migeira.

"Hm… my name is Isara, sohei-kun; where's you're niginata?" He gestured toward Migeira's shakujou. "Or are you hiding out from Oda Nobunaga's sohei-killers? My hut is not an ideal sanctuary, though I would be remiss if I turned a brother away."

"Er…" Migeira, understandably, was a little put off.

"Ano… Isara-sama, Oda Nobunaga has been dead many years," Hisui said bravely, "The sohei of Mt. Hiei have also died or been scattered to the four winds. My uncle is an adherent of Eisai-sama."

"Eh?" The hermit, Isara, frowned at Hisui, "Are you certain?"

"Pretty sure," Sasuke affirmed.

"Oh. Well, you can come in anyway. No sense in having you sleep out in the forest as long as you're here." He turned into the shrine, obviously expecting us to follow.

"A senile monk who'll probably croak any second - you've certainly chosen the perfect advisor for us, Migeira," Kyo said as he climbed the creaking steps.

I admired Migeira's ability to hold back on his retort - he probably thought shedding blood on a hermit's doorstep would be rude.

The hermit was shuffling about the back room of the shrine, muttering to himself as we crowded in. I immediately drew back in disgust as I saw a couple of rats scurry into a hole in the floor on the other side of the dying firepit, squeaking raucously. The floor itself might have originally been pine or oak, not that you could tell from the accumulated decades of filth encrusting it.

"Sit down, sit down!" the hermit called over the clattering of what might have been earthenware, a bronze gong, and firewood, "No need to be shy!"

Kyo and Sasuke sat down, katana placed against their shoulders for immediate action, but I could tell from Kyo's expression he was finding this all to be one big joke. Hisui whipped a swatch of clean cloth from somewhere in his haori and hastily scrubbed out a clean patch of the floor for me to sit down on. I thanked him with a smile that he returned.

"Ano, Migeira-san…" I ventured cautiously in a whisper, "Do you really think he can help us?"

"Depends, young lady." I jumped as a cup of barley tea in a chipped clay cup was plunked down in front of me. "Are you willing to accept help from a crazy old man?" He grinned at me, showing off a mouthful of badly-worn teeth.

"Ummm…" For some reason, meeting his gaze made me uncomfortable. I suppose my tolerance for people with eccentric quirks was lower than I thought. I forced myself to smile back politely. "We will accept any help you give us, Isara-sama."

"Hm." The hermit finished passing out the teacups before sitting down on the tattered cushion on the other side of the firepit. "Let me guess what you're here for, sohei-kun," he said to Migeira, "I have in my possession a sacred sutra, as well as a reliquary that supposedly increases the houriki of its possessor tenfold. You wish to borrow these, yes?"

He was a lot more direct than most senile people I've known. "You have discerned my purpose immediately," Migeira said in relief, "I of course do not ask that you relinquish such treasures lightly. We have grave need of them."

"I imagine you do," Isara replied in a strange voice, "But what if I were to tell you that you could not have them?"

Migeira paused, caught off-guard. "I understand they are precious to you, Isara-sama, but please - they are needed in the wider world to fend off a great evil. We would be a greater disadvantage then we are now if you do not help us."

Isara shrugged. "I am a hermit, young sohei, thus I do not truly care what takes place in the wider world. Have you ever considered that perhaps this "evil" you speak of is the will of Buddha? What right have you, or any of you, to contest this will? Struggling, fighting - they only lead to needless suffering and death."

I wanted to yell at him, tell him he was wrong, say that there were times when fighting was not only right, but the only action you could take. I wanted to tell him I didn't believe in fate that could not be changed by willpower - I knew too many people who had changed their own destinies. But my voice died in my throat, and my body felt too heavy to move. A little voice begged the question, 'What if he's right? What if it's nonsense to fight against what's coming? You're too small and too weak to fight fate.'

"It is best to simply let happen what must happen. The weight of your very existence drags you down, since in this world, lacking of virtue, your suffering is your own, and can never be relieved except in death." The hermit's litany continued, words falling heavier and heavier on my ears. I struggled to look around, to see why no one else was protesting. Migeira looked dumbstruck, but for whatever reason, I thought his eyes looked peculiarly flat… almost dead…

"Even if you should fight, do you think it will change the world? The very nature of mankind is toward destruction and cruelty. It is best to simply withdraw, to cut yourself off from the struggle, to sink into the shadowed comfort of the self."

Hisui's head was bowed, his bangs shadowing his eyes, his shoulders slumped. Sasuke was staring into the fire, as if completely absorbed by it, his hand slack on the saya of his katana. And Kyo… 'Why die for this madness? You can't do anything, you have to depend on others to fight your battles. You don't even know if you can trust Hisui or Migeira or Sasuke or Kyo…' Right then, I knew the voice was lying, had been lying this whole time, that it hadn't been my voice at all. 'I trust Kyo! I trust Kyo with my life!' But the voice droned on, 'You don't know that, you don't know that for sure, you'll be abandoned again…'

"SHUT UP!"

At first I thought the yell had only been in my mind, one final, feeble attempt to fend off the deadening cold of despair.

But it was Kyo.

I heard Tenro sing from its saya as Kyo's voice faded into a growl. Suddenly, I could move again, my hands fumbling and numb as I retrieved my needles, as though I had just woken up from a deep sleep. Migeira, Sasuke, and Hisui had likewise snapped from their enchanted stupor, the former two with their respective weapons at the ready.

"Ohohoho… You're not so easily defeated, then. I almost had you, even you, Onime no Kyo," chuckled the monk, the reedy shrill of his voice becoming a chilling, harsh whisper, like his vocal chords were freezing in his throat. His mouth contorted into a wide and gaping maw, while his eyes faded from white to total darkness that consumed even the flickering light of the flames.

The air around my body went cold and grew heavy, an oppressive lead weight that threatened to drag me down into the floor.

"Demon…" I gasped, and realized I had just uttered the understatement of the century.


Music for this Chapter:

Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 ,"The Pastoral"


Preview of Next Chapter: Moresca (because all of you are so patient and deserve it…)

"But that's a gai-jin ship!" I pointed out.

"Obviously," replied Sasuke, "Why else do you think I'm having you dress like that?"

-0-0-0-

"I appreciate your concern, Hisui-kun, really," I said, trying to keep the exasperation from my voice, "but you don't need to spend every waking moment looking after me. I'm a big girl, you know."

"Ah, yes, Yuya-dono, it is as you say," Hisui replied, looking flustered, "but, ah… forgive me, I am concerned for your condition, and I do not wish you to…"

"'My condition'?" I echoed, starting to get irked despite my best efforts, "Hisui-kun, for the last time, I had sea-sickness. Now that we're on dry land, I doubt very much I'm going to have to worry about it."

"But, Yuya-dono, I was not referring to your sea-sickness!" Hisui protested uncomfortably, "I was talking about your…" He trailed off, biting his lips as he stared at me.

"My… what, Hisui-kun?" I was at the tail-end of my patience. "If you don't think I'm strong enough to come with you and the others to find Akira-san and Hotaru-san, spit it out!"

-0-0-0-

I looked from Kyo to Akira and back. "If it's the only way, I suppose," I said, ignoring Hisui's cry of protest, "you'd better do it."

"Like you could have stopped me," Kyo snorted.

I raised an eyebrow. "Just try not to be stupid…"


Dictionary:

Hyuuga, Higo – Names of feudal provinces during the SDK storyline. Hyuuga is now Miyazaki prefecture, while Higo became Kumamoto. Both are located on the island of Kyuushuu.

Kyuushuu – (more often spelt "Kyushu" in Western texts) Kyuushuu is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands.

"make mochi out of millet and vinegar" – "mochi" are sweet cakes, most often made from a special rice flour. This is not an actual Japanese saying, but I wanted Yuya to say something that was somewhat appropriate to Japanese culture!

Sohei, sohei of Mt. Hiei – Sohei were warrior monks of the Tendai Buddhist sect in Japan that grew in power from the Heien era on. They became so strong that they could coerce daimyo to obey them. Oda Nobunaga, fed up with their resistance to his efforts to unify Japan, dispatched special forces to take out their strongholds. The last holdout of the sohei was the temple of Enryaku-ji on Mount Hie, which Nobunaga razed to the ground in 1571, effectively ending the sohei as a significant military and political force in Japan. Mt. Hiei lies northeast of Kyoto, on the border between the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures.

Tarani Bosatsu – A bodhisattva (Buddhist equivalent of "saint" or "divine being") who in Japanese tradition holds a pomegranate (symbol of prosperity) and a lotus, and is normally depicted in pale green color. Tarani is not well known, and springs from the tradition of the female cult in India (where Buddhism originated) dating back before the 11th century.

Niginata – The bladed staff-weapon of choice for sohei. If you want an idea of what it looks like, check out SDK manga volume 17 – Saisei (aka Tomoe Gozen) wields a huge niginata.


Sources: Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica. I would put in all the other webistes, but since this site edits those out...

Salute!