Chapter Ten
"But there isn't much else I can do, Father."
Azusa gazed up at the figure of the Emperor, a mixture of frustration and hopelessness in his dark red eyes as he met his superior's stoic gaze. "I've spoken to him and reasoned with him but he doesn't seem to be listening to me or to anyone else, for that matter. I wish you'd take things in hand and speak to the boy yourself...Yosho's as obstinate as any of the Royal Line have ever been, and I don't seem to be making much progress."
Shigure raised himself from his throne, eying his son gravely as he made his way across the chamber towards where the prince stood. It was a week and a half now since Yosho had been forcibly returned to Jurai and in that time, the tense relationships between him and his family had not become any easier. He had attended court, and played the part of Prince to perfection, but there was still a defiance and an anger about him that troubled more than just his mother, and as a result, the entire royal court had been put somewhat on edge.
The Emperor sighed.
"Your son is far more trouble than I ever imagined he could be." He said softly. "What do you think I could say to him, that you have not already done so? You think I haven't noticed, Azusa, how he lacks enthusiasm at court and how automatic his good manners are whenever he is forced to speak to someone? I dislike this impasse we have reached. Lady Haruna is secured on one of Jurai's most remote colonies and she is well provided for in those parts. Yosho must learn that he cannot make decisions for himself. This is not about him and his flights of fancy. This is about Jurai and the future of the crown."
"Yes, Father, I know that...and I told him as much." Azusa's brows drew together in consternation. "But Yosho is still young. Barely more than one and twenty summers...sometimes it's easy to forget how young, when you consider how much he has already achieved. I suppose at some point he was bound to act up - all children do, after all. But still, I'm at something of a loss. And Funaho is anxious about him all the more because I can't snap him out of his dark mood."
He sighed.
"If only Misaki had not lost her child." He murmured, more than half to himself than to his father, but Shigure heard him anyway. "Then maybe it would have been simpler."
"Simpler?" Surprise and indignation flared in the old King's dark red eyes and he crossed the room swiftly, raising his hand as he brought it down sharply across his son's right cheek. Azusa flinched back, touching his face in stricken surprise as he gazed at his father in consternation. Never had he seen Shigure direct such anger towards him, although the Emperor's rages could, on occasion, be legendary, and despite himself he took a step back.
"Father..."
"Meaning, of course, that if Misaki-sama had borne a healthy child, you could take the easy route and allow your son to leave Jurai with his harlot." Shigure's voice shook with anger. "I will not allow such thoughts in my palace, Azusa! Yosho is the true heir of this planet and I have told you more than once that he must learn to face his responsibilities. You have been too easy on the boy - and Funaho more than you. He has been cossetted far too much and yet even now you consider giving in to him, simply to keep him quiet and prevent him from speaking his mind. Well I will not have it! Haruna Akamatsu will never return to Jurai's court and Yosho will never marry her. Do you understand? I shall die before I grant permission for such an alliance and I will not have you passing the buck off to a lesser born baby from your brother's family!"
"That wasn't what I meant, Father." Hurriedly Azusa gathered himself, still eying his companion warily as he fingered his cheek once more. "Funaho and I are not encouraging Yosho to pursue Haruna. I only felt that, if Misaki's child had lived, it might have relieved some of the pressure on the succession. That's all."
"You know my will in this matter." Shigure said blackly. "This conversation is over. If you cannot discipline or control your own son, Azusa, how will you control a planet full of people when I am no longer here to oversee your actions? No. Yosho must be brought to heel and you must be the one to do it. Don't fail me, my Crown Prince. Yosho must be made to understand and accept the duty that has been his since the day he was born. Nothing else will do."
With that parting statement, Shigure swept out of the throne room and into the Gallery, shutting the door behind him with a loud bang as Azusa was left alone to contemplate his words. The prince sighed, rubbing his temples as he replayed the conversation in his head.
His father had never raised a hand to him before, and it had unnerved him more than he liked to admit.
"I don't intend to give in to Yosho's whims, but then again, I don't want my son to be unhappy, either." He muttered. "Father sees things only in terms of the succession, and I don't seem any more able to get through to him than I can to Yosho. If only my conversation with Aiko had been more productive. If only Kagato..."
He frowned, sinking down into one of the vacant council chairs as he contemplated the problem.
"I have a son who is of true blood and the direct descendant of Jurai, but he wants to marry an illegitimate girl and there's no way anyone will let him be King if he does so." He mused aloud. "Haru's baby is lost, and Misaki is lucky to have escaped with her life, thanks to the quick thinking of my nephew and his friend. And as for that nephew...Father was right all along. Kagato is...but then..."
He faltered, burying his head in his hands.
"He's right." He murmured. "How will I ever be King over a whole population if I can't even resolve the troubles within my own family?"
"That, my brother, is a very good question indeed."
Aiko's voice startled him and he jerked his head up, seeing his sister standing in the doorway of the high-ceilinged chamber. She did not look happy, her usually sparkling red eyes clouded and opaque and her lips were set in a grim line as she put her hands on her hips, glaring at him. Azusa frowned, getting to his feet and approaching her cautiously.
"Aiko? Have you come to yell at me, as well?"
"In a manner of speaking, perhaps I have." Aiko responded in low tones, grabbing her brother by the hand and pulling him towards the door of the chamber. "Come with me, Prince Azusa. I wish to have a word with you."
"A word...with me?" Azusa stared at his companion, non-plussed. "But Aiko, what on earth is the matter?"
"Shut your mouth and come on." Aiko snapped back at him. "You'll see soon enough, when we get there."
Azusa's brows drew together in a confused frown, but he did as he was bidden, finding himself dragged across the palace complex towards the suite of rooms which belonged to Aiko and which she had more than made her own since she had first reached her majority. She pulled him inside with a remorseless tug, almost dragging him off his feet as she mounted the stairs to her bedchamber two at a time. Azusa's eyes became wide with surprise.
"Aiko, why are you taking me to your bedroom?" He asked mildly. Aiko stopped in mid-ascent, turning to glare down at him.
"Why? Is that somewhere you feel uncomfortable going, Nii-chan?" She asked bitterly. "I wonder at your nerve, I really do. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
"Notice what? Aiko, what on earth is wrong with you?" Azusa stared at his sister uncomprehendingly, and Aiko muttered a curse under her breath, giving his arm another fierce tug as they reached the top of the steps. The princess flung open the door of her sleeping quarters, pulling her elder brother inside as she banged the wooden divide shut behind them. Then she wheeled on him, folding her arms across her chest.
"Well." She said quietly, and Azusa shivered inwardly at the coldness of her tones. "And now you're going to tell me exactly what you mean by going through my papers."
"Your...papers?" Azusa stared at her, aghast. "Have you lost your mind? Why would I do something like that? Aiko, what kind of a man do you think I am?"
"One I thought I could trust." There was an edge to Aiko's tones, and her red eyes darkened as she gazed at him. "I confided in you my biggest secret, and I thought that, as my brother, I could keep faith in your silence and your discretion. I did not expect to find my private papers rifled and that some of them would mysteriously go missing."
"I beg your pardon?" Azusa's own temper flickered into life at the injustice of this accusation. "Go through your papers? Why would I? What benefit could I possibly get from invading your privacy like that?"
"You tell me." Aiko said coldly. "I find it convenient that I just tell you about Kagato and suddenly all my correspondance with his father is gone. Not to mention my diary for the year Kagato was born - that's missing too, and someone has definitely been at my things. If this were any other matter, I'd be reporting it to the palace guard and I would be taking it further. As it is, that's sensitive information and if it were to get into the wrong hands, it could hurt my son beyond all redemption. But I really thought I could trust you, Azusa. And I really didn't think you'd go this far to protect your precious royal line."
"But..." Anger drained out of the Prince as he realised his sister was in deadly earnest. "Aiko, I swear to you, I haven't been anywhere near your chamber. Nor have I sent anyone else here on my behalf. I would not do that! What you told me about your son is distressing for me, yes. But you are my sister and I am not the kind of man who crosses those kinds of boundaries!"
"Then you must have told someone." Aiko turned away from him, folding her arms across her chest. "In which case the whole secret will be across court in a matter of days. I don't care for my own reputation, Azusa. I've encountered malicious gossip before and I've lived to tell the tale. But you underestimate the impact this could have on my bright, clever boy and I will not have his life ruined by an uncle who couldn't keep his mouth shut. I should never have told you. Haru said it would be a mistake, if you were to find out, and he was right."
"Haru said?" Azusa frowned, then, "Aiko, for the last time, I had nothing to do with your papers. If some are missing, it must be unrelated to me. I can't explain it and if you want me to, I will look into it. But I did not do it. I give you my word as a Prince of Jurai."
"Yes...putting faith in the word of Princes." Aiko murmured absently, and Azusa could tell there were tears on his sister's lashes, even though she refused to meet his gaze. "I should know better than that, shouldn't I?"
"Aiko-chan, I did not do this." Azusa put a gentle hand on her shoulder, but she shook it off. "Aiko, please! Calm down! You're being unreasonable!"
"Am I?" Aiko wheeled round on him, grabbing him by the wrists and taking him off guard. "Everything I've worked hard for is in those documents. I keep very little evidence of Kagato's true identity in the palace, for his own safety. But these few things - my keepsakes - I thought they at least were safe. Apparently nothing is sacred. Not here."
"I did not take them, Aiko." Azusa drew his brow together as he considered her words. "But why were you writing to Kagato's father anyway? Why would you put yourself in jeopardy like that, if it was all over a long time ago and if you don't want to dishonour your son by revealing the truth of his birth?"
"We only correspond as friends." Aiko said quietly. "That's all. He was a fine man, when all was said and done. But people might make the connection between them, if they were to discover how long we have corresponded. That's all. Kagato has his father's eyes, and so far I have managed to keep quiet the fact he did not inherit them from Hotaru by claiming they came from Hotaru's mother. But if people were to see his true father, they might realise there is more to that resemblance than meets the eye. So it is not safe, oniichan. You of all men should realise how court gossip can spread."
Azusa stared at her, shock registering in his burgundy eyes at her words.
"You're still in love with this man, aren't you?" He whispered. Aiko's eyes narrowed.
"What's wrong, Azusa? Do you not already have enough evidence to shame your sister before the Emperor?" She snapped. "Does it give you more pleasure to delve deeper into things she doesn't speak of to anyone?"
"You do." Azusa realised. "Aiko-chan, how long has this gone on for?"
"I told you, we correspond only as friends." Aiko said flatly. "There is nothing going on...not since I was seventeen and that's the truth. I've barely seen him in all that time, so your theories fall short of the truth, Crown Prince."
"But you never have re-married, and you resist Father's every attempt to make you so, since Hotaru-dono died." Azusa mused. "Is this why?"
"Princes and Princesses of Jurai cannot marry those they truly love, so they have to find other ways to get around the stigma." Aiko snapped back at him, and Azusa was surprised and discomfitted by the venom in her ruby eyes. "Your son knows this only too well, Azusa - that he can't marry for love, because Father won't get off his high horse and recognise that some things are more important than wearing the right crown and observing the right protocol. Yosho will be trapped just as I was, and if the result is any happier for him, well, I have my doubts. Yes, Azusa...I still love the man who gave my son life, and I love my son as much as I do because I know he wasn't that dour old man Hotaru's progeny but the child of someone brilliant and charismatic - someone who would have married me in a heartbeat if it hadn't been for Father's ideas regarding me. He did apply for my hand, you know. While he was here on Jurai. But Father laughed in his face. He was already engrossed in negotiatons with Hotaru-dono over land, title and money, and because of my situation, I had no choice but to accept the match. But I did not want to marry Hotaru, Azusa. Unfortunately I buckled to Father's will."
"Aiko." Azusa sighed heavily. "You never told me this before."
"And I should probably never tell it you now, considering what you have already done to me." Aiko spat back. Azusa shook his head.
"I promise you, sister, I did not take your papers or your diary." He said solemnly, holding up his hands in a gesture of conciliation. "If you don't believe me as your Prince, please believe me as your brother. I have too much affection for both you and Haru to do something like that - and even if I do have my reservations about what you told me, I would not betray my own blood in such a way. If someone went through your things then I am very sorry to hear it. But it was not me. Of that you can be sure."
Aiko eyed him doubtfully for a moment, and gently Azusa reached up to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
"I promise." He added softly. "And even if I cannot endorse your son's claim to the succession, I will never speak of his illegitimacy to anyone. You are too dear to me for that, Aiko-chan. Far too dear."
Aiko bit her lip, dropping her gaze to the floor.
"If not you, then who?" She whispered.
"I don't know." Azusa shook his head. "But I can look into it, if you would like."
"And generate attention? No." Aiko sighed. "I hoped it was you, Azusa-niichan. At least you I can yell at and reason with. Someone else might seek to take that material and use it for other means - for blackmail, perhaps, or to hurt my son. I wish it had been you, in one of your overprotective brotherly moments. But I am sorry I accused you. I believe you if you say you did not take my papers. I just...I don't know what it means."
"You said the letters were only of a platonic nature." Azusa said gently. "Noone can judge you for forming a friendship, surely?"
Aiko sighed again, sinking down onto her bed.
"When Kagato was born, I was indiscreet and I told him - the true father - about his son." She said quietly. "Since then he has often asked to know things and I have told him - albeit in a sort of code. It wouldn't take much to crack it and read between the lines, so perhaps I have continued to be indiscreet. I have often considered breaking off communications with him - but then I would be punishing him for not being good enough in my Father's eyes. And so, I keep returning his mail, hoping that one day I might see him again. Of course, it's quite impossible. We both understand that to protect Kagato from shame, noone must ever be able to make a connection between them. And Kagato himself believes Hotaru is his father. So I will not shatter the illusion in his young head. It could damage him."
"And the diary?"
"The diary records all." Aiko glanced at her hands. "It's a diary, and I was too young to realise how silly writing such things down would be. I should have burnt it, but I didn't have the heart to. It was my memory of a happy time, Azusa. A time with a man who truly loved me. It might be over, but holding onto those memories is sometimes the only thing that keeps you going. So I did. Fool that I am, I did."
"Perhaps they've just become lost." Azusa suggested. "And they are still here, somewhere."
"I doubt that." Aiko admitted. "You are sure you didn't take them, brother?"
"I swear it on my life, sister."
"Then someone else did." Aiko looked troubled. "And what their motivation was, Tsunami only knows."
-----
"How are you feeling now, Misaki-chan?"
Prince Haru settled himself on the window-seat of the small infirmary room, sending his wife a tender smile as she set aside her book, returning it with a half-hearted one of her own. "Better, I hope? You look better today. But you managed to cause us all quite a scare, you know...I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Well, thanks to Kagato and Mikamo-dono, I will be fine." Misaki said softly, pursing her lips as she met her husband's gaze. "But Haru, I want to talk to you. I'm glad you're here...very glad, in fact. I haven't had company all morning and it's left me time to do nothing but...well...think."
"I see." Haru's expression became grave. "If you're dwelling, Misaki, please, don't. I know that this wasn't your fault and I'm not angry with you. Nobody is, you know. And..."
"I know now that it wasn't my fault, Haru-chan." Misaki bit her lip, shaking her head. "I...I need to ask you something."
"Yes?"
"When it was...announced...at court. My pregnancy." Misaki's eyes flickered with pain as she spoke the words, and Haru came to sit beside her, grasping her hand loosely in his as he did so. "People were kind, weren't they? So many people...so many gifts."
"Yes, but I don't understand..."
"Haru-chan, I'm scared." Misaki whispered. "I heard the doctors talking about my blood tests. They found something in it - something that should not have been there. Something...that could have made me lose the baby. Or even my life, if it had been in any greater quantity."
"What?" Colour drained from Haru's face and Misaki nodded.
"Someone tried to poison me." She murmured, gripping his hand tightly as her voice shook. "And they wanted to get rid of the baby, Haru...noone has ever done that to me before. But who could have...how could I have caused someone to hate me that much? I can't think of anything I've done. Except...except for announce that I was going to have a baby. Haru...what if...what if someone..."
She faltered, and Haru's heart clenched as he saw the tears lurking in the depths of his wife's pretty fuschia eyes.
"What if someone didn't want me to have a baby?" She whispered.
Haru's brows knitted together, a cold feeling settling over his heart as he reflected on his wife's words.
"Misaki-chan, who would do that?" He asked softly. "You having a baby has no effect on anything except our happiness, we both know that. Our children are not in line to inherit the throne, and..."
"And that's true, so long as Yosho is here on Jurai." Misaki nodded. "But Aiko said something to me...and it reminded me about our nephew Kagato and why he's not a viable claimaint to the throne. If something should happen and Yosho leaves, well, any child you and I had would be next in line to inherit. And...and..."
She faltered, then,
"What I'm about to say is treason." She murmured. "So promise me you won't repeat it."
"Misaki, of course. What troubles you?"
"Your Father has never had any grudge against me, but he has always been adamant in his feelings towards our family and our claim to Jurai's crown." Misaki twisted her hands together, dropping her gaze. "And if Yosho was to leave and I was to bear a child that the seers proclaimed gifted..."
"The crown would pass from Father to Azusa and then to our baby." Haru spoke in low tones, anger glittering in the depths of his red eyes. "Is that what you mean? You think that Father is so against us and our claim that he'd go to those lengths?"
"Rivals of your father have been dealt with in such a manner in the past." Misaki reminded him. "People have disappeared from court - gone mad, committed suicide in odd circumstances. Died of mysterious diseases. I'm sorry, Haru...I know it's terrible to say it, but I can't help but wonder..."
Haru sighed, rubbing his temples.
"I see." He said grimly. "And you really believe that you were poisoned, Misaki? That this wasn't just a seizure of some sort, but that there was something more to it than that?"
"Yes." Misaki nodded, anguish in her eyes. "I heard the doctors. They wouldn't say it to me, of course, and from the way they discussed it I think they'd come to a similar conclusion. They...they didn't sound like they planned to pursue it, which is what first gave me the thought. You see, the Emperor paid me a visit himself the night I collapsed. And thinking back, I wonder if...if what he brought me...was designed to..."
She trailed off, her voice catching as the tears began to spill down her cheeks, and Haru hesitated, then slid his arm around her shoulders.
"There is little, unfortunately, that can be done to bring an Emperor to book." He said darkly. "But if you're right, Misaki, I won't forgive him. You and I have been trying for a family for a long time, and that he'd seek to sabotage our happiness in order to further exhalt his precious direct line disgusts me. Sometimes I don't know how that man thinks - I really don't. The way in which he treats my sister and I is abominable. It's never been our fault that our lady mother died when we were born, but he carries it on as if we did it deliberately to spite him. Perhaps this is how he repays me, in his twisted sense of justice. He seeks to rob me of something I do love - and might have loved - in his pursuit of revenge."
Misaki buried her head in her husband's shoulders, and Haru tightened his grip on her, stroking her hair gently.
"We will get through this, regardless." He said softly. "You mustn't speak of this to anyone - you know that if he got wind of it, he'd find it an excuse to take action against us and I wouldn't put anything past the man if he can see to murdering an innocent unborn just to protect his family line. But we won't let him win, Misaki. You and I, we've fought for this for a long time. And we won't stop fighting for it. All right?"
"All right." Misaki raised her gaze to his, and Haru's dark red eyes softened as he took in her tearstained features. Gently he touched her on the cheek.
"You're far too beautiful not to carry those features down into the next generation." He said tenderly. "I don't care if our children are blessed with Jurai's power or if they're not - I don't even care if they're remotely in line to Jurai's throne. I care about seeing you happy, Misaki-chan. And whatever Father may think, I won't give up on that. Will you?"
"No." Misaki shook her head. "Thank you for listening to me, Haru. I've been so afraid, but now..."
"Now we're in this together, like we always are." Haru assured her quietly. "And there's no reason to think he'll try again. He's never sought to hurt you before, Misaki, and I don't believe he will again. He's eradicated the child, that was all he hoped to do. And now we know his mind in this, we can take steps to make sure it doesn't occur again. All right? Everything will be fine. I promise. We'll come through this just fine."
"I believe you." Misaki offered him a faint smile and despite himself Haru was glad to see it. "I love you, Haru. Even if your Father can't see how much worth you have, I do. One day you'll be a fine father - regardless of what Shigure-sama thinks about it. I promise you will."
"Good. You focus on that and forget about the Emperor and his machinations, all right?" Haru responded. "And I should go - I don't really have long. I think that it might be beneficial to my family if I was to do more to support Azusa with his - after all, if Yosho is here, everyone else is safe."
"I suppose so." Misaki nodded, and Haru eyed her keenly.
"If I see Aiko, I'll send her to see you." He promised. "But don't share this theory with her, all right? She's hot-headed enough to confront Father about it and I won't have her putting herself in danger if I can help it. Just sit tight, feel better and get strong again. Okay?"
"I will." Misaki nodded solemnly. "Good luck with Prince Yosho. I think you'll need it."
"Yes, probably." Haru grimaced. He kissed his wife gently on the cheek then got to his feet, heading out of the infirmary ward and down the hallway towards the main entrance. As he reached the door, he almost stumbled over his nephew who let out an exclamation, holding out his hand to steady himself against the wall.
"Uncle Haru! Are we being invaded?"
"Kagato! What are you doing here?" Haru righted himself, casting his companion a startled look.
"I was coming to ask after my aunt's health, but since you've probably just been with her, you can tell me as sure as the doctors can." Kagato eyed his companion in concern. "Is something wrong? You look upset."
"I'm fine. And Lady Misaki improves." Haru said briskly. Then he hesitated, shaking his head. He frowned, resting a hand on Kagato's arm.
"Kagato, listen...I want to thank you and Lord Mikamo for your quick actions in helping my wife. I haven't had a chance to do so, and I'm grateful."
"So long as Oba-sama is well, that's what is important." Kagato dismissed it with a careless smile. "Who would Mother share her gossip with, if anything happened to Lady Misaki? I'm glad she's feeling better - and I won't disturb her myself now. Mother has been very worried about her, but now I can pass on the good news. The doctors are strict, you know - they don't like letting people in to see her of late."
"Yes. I can imagine. But she won't be here much longer." Haru said frankly. "I don't suppose you've seen your noble cousin this morning?"
"Yosho? No, Uncle. Why?" Kagato frowned. Haru's lips thinned.
"It's occuring to me that it's about time that foolish boy started to toe the line and respect his duty to this family." He said quietly. "If you see him, let him know I'm looking for him."
"Well, of course." Kagato eyed his companion uncertainly. "Good morning, Uncle Haru. I'll do as you say."
He made his bow, then withdrew, and Haru watched him go, a frown touching his features as he leant up against the door frame.
"If only he wasn't a bastard prince. Then maybe Father would seek to get rid of him instead of hurting my wife." He muttered. "Clearly Father's always known what Aiko's tried to keep from him, else I'm sure Kagato would never have stumbled out of his cradle. But to attack Misaki-chan just because she dares hope for a baby - my Father's paranoia is outreaching itself, if it really is true. I must do whatever I can to ensure my wife's safety from now on. Come to think of it, it wouldn't surprise me if he'd prevented us from conceiving this long, through one the despicable hench-men he surrounds himself with. I shall watch Misaki's food very carefully from now on. Nobody is going to hurt her again if I can help it."
---
As he drew away from the Infirmary, Kagato paused beneath the shade of a big tree, turning to glance back towards the spot where his Uncle had been. He muttered a curse, clenching his fists as he fought to control his sudden surge of frustration.
"Encouraging Yosho to stay on Jurai is not a part of the plan, Oji-sama." He muttered. "Mind you, coming from you, it will probably have the opposite effect. You never did quite work out how to talk to people, did you? Maybe it will work in my favour, after all. Still, I won't risk it if I can prevent it. He won't be getting your message from me, Uncle Haru. You can be sure of that."
"Are you talking to yourself, Kagato?"
A hand on his shoulder made him jump and he spun around, a rueful smile touching his lips as he met the enquiring gaze of his cousin.
"No. Just Oji-sama annoying me, as ever." He said, shaking his head. "Nothing new, my Prince."
"By Uncle do you mean Lord Haru or my Father?" Yosho raised an eyebrow, and Kagato laughed, amusement flickering in his golden eyes at the implication.
"No, Azusa-sama has enough to do in annoying you, I think." He said amiably. "It was Uncle Haru who was bothering me. But he scarcely has a worthwhile thing to say when I'm in the room, so I don't know why I let him get to me. I just wish he'd learn to relax and stop being so dull and intense all of the time. It gets very wearing."
"I don't often speak to Uncle Haru." Yosho mused. Kagato grimaced.
"And I wouldn't recommend it." He said darkly. "Losing Misaki's baby seems to have made him twice as sullen and unpleasant as usual - I'd steer well clear."
"Well, I'll take your advice." Yosho laughed. "Steering well clear of all of my family seems a wise precaution at the moment, anyway. Although I'm glad to see you, actually. I remember what we talked about, some days ago...I wondered if..."
"Shh...keep your voice down." Kagato snapped, shaking his head. "Do you think my life is worth nothing at all? If anyone finds out that I'm using Tessei and Tetta to find out where Haruna is..."
"I'm sorry." Yosho looked contrite. "All right. So where can we talk?"
"Tsunami's shrine." Kagato said thoughtfully. "It's quiet there at this time of day, and noone will bother us. Though there's not much to discuss. Tessei has been engaged on business for the Emperor of late, and Tetta is about as subtle as a trebuchet."
"Then let's go." Yosho pulled his cloak more tightly around himself. "Before my father comes to find me and drag me into some other negotiation meeting with visiting diplomats. I know he's doing it to wear me down, and there's only so much I can take."
"Cousin, you are getting quite rebellious." Kagato observed drolly, as they stepped through the trees to the big sandstone shrine that loomed over the hillside. "And here we are. There's noone around, so we can discuss it - but you really need to work on your subtlety."
"Yes...I'm sorry about that." Yosho stepped through the stone archway, glancing around them at the peaceful retreat. "So you've had no news?"
"Not as yet, but it will take a while." Kagato settled himself on one of the wooden benches, gazing up at his companion thoughtfully. "Are you really sure this girl is worth all this trouble, Cousin? It strikes me that if you do run off with her again, you might find your claim to the throne and your links to your family are cut off completely. I wouldn't want to be responsible for something like that."
"Kagato, if I knew where she was, I'd jump on the first military bug available and to hell with my claim to the throne." Yosho said frankly. "I'm serious about this - I've never been more serious. I'm only free when I'm with her and it's opened my eyes to a lot of things. I'm a puppet prince, that's all - schooled to think, act and feel in the way my Father and Grandfather expect me to. Any deviation from their expectations is not allowed and I'm sick of it. Haruna never treats me that way -she treats me like a man, not like a Prince. And I'm not as adept at escaping court pressures as some are. I'm beginning to think that I'm not cut out to be King, anyway. I mean, what will I do when Grandfather and Father aren't here any longer? Who will make my decisions for me, then?"
"Yes or no would have done, you know." Kagato looked rueful. Yosho shrugged.
"You asked." He said simply. "Talking to Mikamo-dono the other day further clarified my feelings, too. Kagato, if I was a Prince like you are, it would be so different. As it is..."
"As it is, what?" Kagato eyed him sharply. "What do you mean, a prince like I am?"
"I don't know." Yosho sighed, rubbing his temples. "You never seem to care what other people think. You can make friends when it suits you, but you can also slip in and out of things unnoticed. And you make your own decisions - you always have. I just follow orders. Even when we were boys, it was the same. When they raised those statues outside the Old Palace, they weren't really marking the achievements of two princes. They were marking your achievements and my ability to imitate and obey. That's all."
"You are morose this afternoon, Yosho." Kagato visibly relaxed, leaning up against the wood of the bench. "And you do yourself down too much. You've had pressure heaped upon you from the start. Whenever you beat me in a sword fight, Grandfather would be talking about your prowess around the court as if you'd defeated invading fleets."
"Yes, but I didn't often beat you." Yosho pursed his lips. Kagato raised an eyebrow.
"Of course you did." He said softly. "Many, many times."
"And how many of those times did you throw the fight, Kagato-kun?" Yosho raised his dark red eyes to Kagato's surprised golden ones. "I'm not stupid. I know that whenever Grandfather or his people were around, you'd let me win. You have always been a far better swordsman than I was - but you never humiliated me in front of the King."
"Do you really think I'd be that stupid?" Kagato snorted. "To throw a fight, when it might be my chance to prove to Grandfather I exist?"
"I know you better than that, Kagato." Yosho shook his head. "Don't lie to me now."
Kagato offered him a wry smile.
"Perhaps once or twice." He acknowledged. "But don't think of it as so much a kindness, cousin. Playing the game is the fun part - not necessarily who seems to win or lose each particular battle. Cultivating an appearance of being stupid for my Grandfather was a lot of fun, at times. He could be proud of you and exhalt your achievements whilst I could sneak around behind his back and find out all the things I wanted to know from his knights. It would ruin everything if you decided to tell him I actually have a brain and some vague skill inside of me, Yosho. Please, keep it to yourself."
"Oh, I have too much pride to do anything but keep it quiet." Yosho admitted. "And I am a better swordsman, now. We haven't fought in a long time, but you did inspire me to perfect my techniques. Perhaps now I would beat you, if you accepted my challenge."
"I could, but I won't. Blacking the Prince's eye would not endear me to your Father at all." Kagato shook his head. His eyes twinkled. "I never enter a battle that I'm not sure I can win...and it's been three years since last we put sticks to one another. I know you've raised Jurai's power and been given sword Tenchi as your weapon. I can't hope to compete with that, even if I wanted to."
"Perhaps." Yosho acknowledged. "All right, cousin. Another time, maybe."
"Yosho, about Haruna..."
"Yes?" Yosho cast his companion a quizzical glance.
"Will you really choose her over your right to rule this planet?"
"I told Mikamo and I'll tell you, I'd sooner be able to wed her and have you be Crown Prince in waiting in my stead." Yosho said fervently. "I'm not just caught up in a mad fancy of imagination, Kagato. I love Haruna and I won't be parted from her. So you will help me to find her, won't you?"
Kagato's eyes flickered thoughtfully, and he nodded his head.
"Yes, cousin, I will." He murmured. "After all, who am I to stand between two people who are clearly so much in love?"